Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 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 r 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. 2 1 [ Editor: Liu Jiaming ] Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today A few clouds early, otherwise mostly sunny. High 62F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies in the evening, then becoming cloudy overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 44F. Winds light and variable. 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. 2 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] Yu Jianhua (C), head of the Chinese Mission to UN at Geneva, makes a statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of countries including Non-Aligned Movement, Russian Federation and South Sudan, at the on-going 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sept. 14, 2018. Eliminating all forms of poverty is not only fundamental to the pursuit of a happy life by all peoples, but also important for promoting and protecting human rights, Yu Jianhua stressed here Friday. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan) GENEVA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Eliminating all forms of poverty is not only fundamental to the pursuit of a happy life by all peoples, but also important for promoting and protecting human rights, a senior Chinese diplomat stressed here Friday. Delivering a statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of countries including Non-Aligned Movement, Russian Federation and South Sudan, Yu Jianhua, head of the Chinese Mission to UN at Geneva, made the remarks at the on-going 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council. "Today, nearly 800 million people across the world are still living in poverty, and global poverty eradication remains a tough and long battle," Yu said. He continued that to eradicate poverty and create conditions for better promoting and protecting human rights, nations should work together to vigorously promote sustainable development. "We need to pursue sustained, inclusive, and equitable growth and respect the right of States to independently choose their own path of poverty eradication and sustainable development in accordance with their national circumstances," Yu noted. According to Yu, States should act with precision in poverty relief and eradication and design their strategies in light of the realities facing their poor populations and areas. In this regard, Yu said, measures could include developing public policies directed at poverty eradication, building infrastructure in poverty-stricken areas, providing public services, and creating job opportunities for the poor to enhance their capacity for self-development. "Development must be for the people, by the people, and its benefits shared by the people," he said. The Chinese ambassador also highlighted the importance of international cooperation on poverty eradication, saying that States should firmly uphold an open world economy and the rules-based multilateral trading system, and build a new type of international poverty eradication partnership featuring win-win cooperation. 2 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] 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. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a press conference at the White House this past June in this file photo. Reuters-Yonhap The United States remains committed to enforcing United Nations sanctions on North Korea to achieve the full dismantlement of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday. North Korea is under a wide array of U.N. and U.S. sanctions for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and Pyongyang has sought to win sanctions relief as part of a denuclearization deal with Washington. Pompeo reiterated the U.S. stand that it will not back down from sanctions before North Korea takes credible steps toward denuclearization. "The United States is as committed as ever to continuing to enforce those U.N. Security Council resolutions," he said during a press conference at the State Department. "We believe they are central to President Trump's efforts to convince Chairman Kim that full, final denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is necessary." North Korean leader Kim Jong-un committed to work toward the "complete denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula after his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore in June. In return, Trump promised security guarantees from the U.S. Pompeo said North Korea needs to denuclearize "in a way the world can see that there's been this strategic change in Chairman Kim's core understanding of how he will provide a better future for the North Korean people." "He said it at the summit in Singapore and we are still continuing to have many conversations with the DPRK about how to effectuate in achieving all the commitments that were made during the Singapore summit," the secretary added, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Pompeo also accused Russia of undermining the U.N. sanctions. And he called on the U.N. committee monitoring sanctions implementation against North Korea to maintain its independence from what he said were Russian attempts to change the language in the panel's reports. (Yonhap) North Korean airplane lands at Dalian Airport this past May in this file photo. Kyodo-Yonhap North Korea has resumed flights between Pyongyang and the Chinese city of Dalian after many years of being suspended, amid signs of improving ties between the allies. According to local tourism agencies, an Air Koryo passenger plane, the North's flag carrier, landed at the airport in Dalian on Thursday and returned to Pyongyang with nearly 70 people on board. This marked the first North Korean airplane that had flown between the two cities since November 2006. There will be such flights every Thursday and Sunday. The resumption of the Pyongyang-Dalian flights may reflect improving bilateral ties between North Korea and China after chilled relations over the North's nuclear and missile provocations. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently sent Li Zhanshu, Beijing's third-ranking official, as his special envoy to Pyongyang on the occasion of the North's 70th founding anniversary. Li was seated next to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during the military parade staged this past Sunday. The North also hosted an art performance and banquet exclusively for Li and his delegation in an apparent bid to emphasize friendly ties between the two countries. (Yonhap) U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks to members of the media after chairing a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on maintenance of international peace and security at U.N. headquarters in New York, Monday. REUTERS-Yonhap. The United States has called an urgent meeting of the U.N. Security Council for Monday in response to what it says are efforts by some countries ''to undermine and obstruct'' sanctions against North Korea. The U.S. Mission announced Friday evening that the meeting will ''discuss the implementation and enforcement of U.N. sanctions on North Korea.'' The mission didn't name any countries, but U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley accused Russia on Thursday of pressuring an independent panel of U.N. experts to alter a report on North Korea sanctions that included alleged violations ''implicating Russian actors.'' Haley said the panel should release the original report, which cited ''a massive increase in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products'' for North Korea in violation of U.N. sanctions. It said some products allegedly were off-loaded from Russian ships, which were identified in the report. A summary of the experts report obtained in early August by The Associated Press also said North Korea has not stopped its nuclear and missile programs. And it said North Korea is violating sanctions by transferring coal at sea and flouting an arms embargo and financial sanctions. The Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006 and has made them tougher and tougher in response to further nuclear tests and an increasingly sophisticated ballistic missile program. Haley said earlier this year that successively tough Security Council sanctions resolutions adopted unanimously had cut off all North Korean exports, 90 percent of its trade, and disbanded its pool of workers send abroad to earn hard currency. A U.S. top nuclear envoy visited South Korea on Saturday, days before the leaders of the two Koreas are set to hold a summit next week. Stephen Biegun arrived in Seoul, following his trips to Beijing and Tokyo where he met with his counterparts. He is to meet key officials in South Korea during his two-day stay here. This marks his second trip to Seoul in less than a week. The former Ford Motor Co. executive made his first trip to Seoul early this week since his appointment during which he paid a courtesy call on President Moon Jae-in and held meetings with officials, including Unification Minster Cho Myoung-gyon and Seoul's top nuclear envoy Lee Do-hoon. He came to Seoul again days before Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are to meet in Pyongyang for their third summit, which is expected to focus mostly on denuclearization and inter-Korean relations. Biegun earlier said that a "tremendous opportunity" has been created by the summits among the leaders of the two Koreas and the U.S., and emphasized that it is necessary to "do everything we can to make the most of this moment of opportunity." (Yonhap) President Moon Jae-in holds hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during the April 27 inter-Korean summit. Korea Times By Oh Young-jin At least by appearances, Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader in his mid-30s, is having his way in dealing with the United States, China and South Korea over denuclearization. Besides his rather "young" age, Kim's acumen may be appreciated even more for his country having been an impoverished international pariah that U.S. President Donald Trump almost triggered a war against, according to the recent book, "Fear in the White House," by Bob Woodward. Now, Trump has expressed his gratitude for Kim not including the North's fleet of long-range missiles in the Sept.9 parade to mark its 70th foundation in Pyongyang. He suggested in his chummy tweet "We will both prove everybody wrong" in achieving Pyongyang's denuclearization. Then, Kim also gave a big present to Trump a second Trump-Kim summit possibly ahead of the U.S. mid-term elections in November. Trump's Republican Party faces trouble, much of it attributable to the president. China has become the U.S. President's whipping boy, with Trump blaming it for everything from trade deficits to lack of progress in the North's denuclearization. China's supposed paramount leader Xi Jinping has given up all pretence at trying to court Kim, who he despises, and he is still trying to find an excuse to make a reciprocal visit to Pyongyang after Kim's three visits this year. President Moon Jae-in has been hailed as an honest broker for having two summits with Kim before helping arrange the first U.S.-North Korea summit in Singapore in June. He has recently helped break a stalemate to get the denuclearization process going and is set to meet Kim for a third summit in Pyongyang next week. Now Moon has declared his metaphorical wish to be at the driver's seat in the inter-Korean peace process, a modified form of the goal of Moon's friend and mentor, the late President Roh Moo-hyun, whose ambition was to make the South play the "balancing role" between the U.S., China, Russia and Japan. For now, it looks like Kim is at the wheel and has enjoyed using the thunder he has stolen. Perhaps it is time for Moon to think how to achieve his goal or perhaps to get used to sitting in the passenger seat in the car that Kim is driving. Would the nation accept it? By Li Kaisheng Unfortunately, while most East Asian countries enjoy economic prosperity, the whole region has lived in the shadow of a fragmented security order. Yes, there are some security arrangements, such as the U.S.-led bilateral alliances and ASEAN Regional Forum, but these mechanisms either only protect the limited members or have no muscle to manage regional challenges. So how do you build an inclusive and effective regional security institution? In international politics, institutions usually originate from the need to resolve certain problems. But the different security challenges may have varying possibilities in breeding and establishing an institution. In East Asia, which security issue will create a security institution? The answer may be the Korean nuclear issue. Why? It is because that, compared with other security challenges in East Asia, the Korean nuclear issue has the following characteristics. Firstly, the issue covers the main East Asia players: China, the U.S., Russia, Japan and the two Koreas. If it succeeds, an institution based on the Korean nuclear issue would be a very representative and inclusive arrangement. Any East Asia security mechanism should especially include China and the U.S. But with the South China Sea, Taiwan and Diaoyu issues, the U.S. isn't recognized by China as a direct concerned party, thus it would be impossible to construct an inclusive institution based on these issues. Secondly, in the Korean nuclear issue, most parties share the common important interest of denuclearization. Even North Korea now shows it is willing to give up its nuclear plans if certain requirements are satisfied. The sharing interest is a precondition to create a security arrangement. Relatively, there is less overlap of interest among the concerned parties in other East Asia security challenges. Lastly, the Korean nuclear issue is tied to a series of security challenges, such as how to end the Korean War, normalization of North Korea's relations with a few powers, and the future of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, etc. Fundamentally, these issues should be solved together by a comprehensive arrangement or it is impossible for North Korea to give up its nuclear plans. Of course, it is not an easy task to create a new security arrangement. When the six-party talks achieved progress, some policymakers and researchers believed a new security institution would come into being. But so far nothing has happened. Here, some lessons should be learned and remembered. The most important lesson is always to consider denuclearization as the highest interest. The failure of the six-party talks was in large part the consequence of strategic ignorance of the previous American administrations. During the George W. Bush administration, the Afghanistan War and Iraq War were considered as its priorities; not enough resolve and time were poured into the Korea nuclear issue. The Obama administration insisted on the so-called strategic patience policy, thus fewer initiatives were taken on the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, to maintain the current dynamics of solving the nuclear issue, one of preconditions is that the U.S. doesn't shift its focus from the Korean nuclear issue again. Moreover, to achieve the international cooperation that is the key to denuclearization, the U.S. should stop poisoning its relations with China by ending the trade war. Fundamentally, the U.S. should be ready for a new institution on the Korean Peninsula. If there is no peace regime, it is hard to expect that North Korea would give up its nuclear plans. America has considered its bilateral alliance with South Korea as one of the pillars of its hegemony in East Asia. But for solving the Korean nuclear issue, the South Korea-U.S. alliance may be at least adjusted to some degree. Given that to balance China's rise is one of the potential goals for this alliance, the U.S. is obviously not ready to give up this comfortable tool. Thus, to create a new security institution, China and the U.S. should make a strategic compromise in achieving peaceful co-existence and competition in East Asia. When there is rising tension between two powers, it is not easy to achieve. But in the long-term, even though competition may be inevitable between the established and rising powers, this competition should be based on the rules and managed by some mechanisms. It should be noted that in the process of compromising the two powers and establishing the new security institution, South Korea may play a more active and positive role. South Korea is an ally of the U.S. and friend of China. When strategic distrust is still rooted deeply between two giants, the neutral initiative from South Korea would be more welcomed in regional-order planning. All these efforts should be aimed at denuclearization and establishing a new security institution in East Asia. Since the 1990s, although the Korean nuclear issue has been a challenge to regional stability and frustrated the concerned parties so many times, we have to consider it as an opportunity for building a lasting peace in East Asia. Li Kaisheng is a research fellow of the Institute of International Relations, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, China. 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. Tehillah will open for The Ball Brothers at the Hamilton Life Center on Saturday, Sept. 22. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the pre-show beginning at 6:30 p.m. and The Ball Brothers taking the stage at 7 p.m. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. (Jefferson City,MO) A ballot initiative pushing for ethics reform and the reshaping of Missouris political districts is in trouble after a ruling from Judge in Cole County. Friday Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled that Amendment One, also known as Clean Missouri was unconstitutional and should be removed from the November ballot. Green sited that Clean Missouri violates a provision of the Missouri Constitution that only allows for one amendment to be changed at a time In August Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft certified over 347,000 signatures from voters in support of putting Clean Missouri on the ballot. Clean Missouri calls for a new plan in redrawing of district boundaries during the next census. Currently political districts are drawn by bipartisan house and senate commissions and the maps are adopted after at least 70 percent of commissioners approve the maps. Clean Missouri would change the process and require a state demographer, selected by the state auditor, to redraw the district boundaries and then submit the changes the house and senate commissions. Any changes would need 70 percent approval from the commissions, and must be approved within 2 months of receiving the updated maps before going into effect. In addition to the redistricting, the proposed amendment also limits campaign contributions; caps gifts from lobbyists to lawmakers and their staff at $5; prohibits fundraising for campaigns on state property;requires all legislative records be subject to the Missouri Sunshine Law; and requires lawmakers undergo a two year cooling off period before becoming a lobbyist. Green argues the amendment is too broad, but Missouri Senator Rob Schaaf endorsed Clean Missouri and said the proposed changes are needed in Jefferson City. I hope that it is appealed, and even if it isnt appealed this issue wont go away. The people of Missouri are not happy with the way things go and this issue will be back, Schaaf said. Schaaf also said Clean Missouri was not the only ballot issue calling for multiple changes. Given that the gas tax was allowed to be on the ballot and that legislation clearly had more than one subject, it seems like the court may be a little schizophrenic in its rulings, Schaaf said. Advocates of Clean Missouri have already started the process to appeal Greens decision, but the November ballot has to be finalized by September 25. In August rice shipments saw a strong increase against previous months, with export prices averaging at US$489.1 per tonne. The average price over the January-August period reached US$504.4 per tonne, up 14.6% compared with the same period of last year. China was the largest buyer of Vietnamese rice, accounting for nearly one quarter of Vietnams rice shipments. The average price of rice exports to the worlds second largest economy was US$521.1 per tonne. At the same time, rice shipments to Indonesia fell sharply in August but the aggregate figures for the first eight months of 2018 were still strong, up more than 50 times in volume and 67 times in value. The Philippines was the third largest market for Vietnamese rice with strong growth in August. The country currently needs an additional 500,000-800,000 tonnes until the end of the year to fill its depleted inventory and to stabilise domestic rice prices. 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. The delegation, led by Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh, paid a working visit to the RoK from September 12 to 14, to attend an ASEAN-RoK deputy defence ministerial meeting and the seventh Seoul Defence Dialogue. Vietnam has strong economic, diplomatic and political links with the RoK, so the latter also looks forwards to Vietnams support, Deputy Defence Minister Vinh said. Meanwhile, this years Seoul Defence Dialogue focused on how to build sustainable peace in Northeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific. Officials from 51 countries and leading military-defence scientists from around the world attended the event. At the dialogue, the Vietnamese delegation highlighted the cooperation to ensure marine security, noting that issues relating to this matter need to be solved by peaceful measures on the basis of international law, Vinh said. He added that the Vietnamese sides speech attracted a lot of attention and support from many foreign officials and researchers. He emphasised that the countrys viewpoint on security, including maritime security, has been consistent despite situational changes. In particular, it has to ensure that it safeguards national sovereignty and security, pays attention to the security of the region and other nations, adheres to international law, and does not use or threaten to use force to solve conflicts. Vietnam also demands that the international community behaves in the same manner, the officer noted, adding that its consistent stance received great global support. Aside from participating in the two aforementioned events, the Vietnamese delegation also met with high-ranking officials of the RoK Ministry of National Defence to review their bilateral cooperation and prepare for a defence policy dialogue between the two countries deputy ministers in Hanoi this December. Vinh said the RoK has cooperated with Vietnam in various fields and that this partnership has proven effective. The two sides have also worked together to ensure defence and contribute towards peace and stability. The two sides agreed that in the bilateral strategic partnership, defence cooperation must always be one of the key pillars to enhance mutual trust, he added. During their stay in the RoK, the Vietnamese delegation also had working sessions with RoK post-war settlement agencies, the foreign ministry, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency. The Deputy Minister said Vietnam had thanked the RoK for its assistance in addressing the consequences of war. The RoK recently provided Vietnam with 20 million USD in non-refundable aid to solve unexploded ordnance problems in Binh Dinh, Quang Binh and certain other provinces. It has also helped improve Vietnams capacity of settling war consequences. Additionally, the RoKs support at international forums is particularly important as it affirms that, although Vietnam is a war-torn nation with the international communitys assistance, the country has made active efforts to address those consequences, Vinh noted. Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe When the Los Angeles Times left its historic downtown home this summer, it looked like its longtime headquarters would soon be turned into swanky high-rise apartments and office space. For those unfamiliar: The block known as Times Mirror Square is a patchwork of buildings, connected inside through a maze of corridors and stairways. Plans by the Canadian-based developer Onni -- who bought the complex two years ago for $430 million --have always called for the oldest structures to be preserved. But building new gleaming high-rise towers along South Broadway would require demolishing later additions. Now, new support from city officials may help preserve all existing buildings, raising questions about the fate of the project. The city's Office of Historic Resources put its support this week behind a nomination for historic cultural monument status of all five structures. Former surgeon/biomedical entrepreneur Patrick Soon-Shiong bought the paper earlier this year, moving the newsroom to El Segundo in July and avoiding hefty penalties on the lease of the building once owned by the journalism enterprise. The structures up for monument status were built over decades, from 1935 to 1973, and have a mix of architecture reflecting the style of the city. Ken Bernstein, principal city planner and manager at L.A.'s Office of Historic Resources, called the buildings "excellent examples of Streamline Moderne, as well as the Late Moderne architectural style." Bernstein told KPCC's Take Two that the architectural style played a role in meeting criteria for monument status, as did the building's association with the prominent Chandler family who once owned the L.A. Times and were heavily involved in the development of Los Angeles. Harry Chandler, the Times' second publisher, spearheaded the construction of the Art Deco building that opened at the corner of 1st and S. Spring Street in 1935. It was the fourth home for the newspaper, which first published in 1881. Gordon B. Kaufmann designed this building, which opened in 1935. The Los Angeles Times Building extension (right, seen here in 1979), designed by William Pereira, was completed in 1972. (Photo courtesy LAPL archive) "It's been said that the Chandler family didn't just shape Los Angeles, it literally invented Los Angeles," Bernstein said. Commission members also considered the structures' connections to prominent architects Gordon Kaufmann and Rowland Crawford, who developed the buildings in the 1930s and '40s. But a few more steps need to happen before the buildings would be protected. L.A.'s Cultural Heritage Commission meets Sept. 20 to discuss the structures' monument status, and whether the application should go to the city's Planning and Land Use committee. If all that pans out, the City Council could then put it to a vote. UPDATES: Sept. 15, 1:15 p.m. This article was updated with additional information about the developer's plans current for the property, which include preservation of the oldest buildings News happens every day. Here at LAist, our goal is to cover the stories that matter to you and the community you live in. Now that we're part of KPCC, those stories (including this one you're on right now!) are made possible by generous people like you. Independent, local journalism isn't cheap, but with your support we can keep delivering it. Donate now. Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe This week, the head of the Los Angeles Unified School District delivered his first major policy speech, four months after he took on the job. It was an opportunity for Superintendent Austin Beutner to lay out challenges he sees facing the nation's second largest school district. Challenges other than, you know, getting a labor agreement with the district's teachers union. "If that's all we talk about," Beutner told KPCC/LAist on Friday, "then we are going to stick with the same old status quo we've got that's just not good enough." Beutner didn't change the subject to talk about easy issues. His speech Thursday took on an issue at the center of some of the most bitter teachers union battles in recent years: teacher quality. Here's what he said in the speech: A little backstory here: public school administrators have long argued it's too difficult to fire ineffective teachers, especially after they get tenure. In California, teachers earn tenure earlier than in most other states. But in Sacramento, efforts to overhaul the tenure system have hit dead ends. In the courts, the high-profile Vergara lawsuit, which aimed to throw out tenure laws in the name of improving teacher quality, left teachers unions feeling demonized -- and was ultimately unsuccessful anyway. In an interview with KPCC/LAist Beutner emphasized he isn't trying to make a "fundamental attack" on tenure but he does remain concerned about making sure teachers are effective. "Vergara being tried and adjudicated, right, wrong or otherwise, didn't address the issue of a high-quality teacher in every class," he said. "The challenge still exists." Still, why bring up the issue now -- two weeks after the rank-and-file of United Teachers Los Angeles voted to authorize a possible strike? Beutner's answer: focusing only on the issues at dispute in contract negotiations sidelines other worthy conversations. "There's common ground we can find," the superintendent said in his interview, "and maybe we have to broaden the conversation to find that common ground, rather than going back to the same two or three places where the district and labor have been butting heads for a long time and haven't found solutions." District officials have spent a lot of time talking about the union's priorities -- such as salary increases and class size reductions -- that administrators believe LAUSD cannot afford. (UTLA would vigorously debate them on this point, of course.) As Beutner said in his speech -- delivered to an invitation-only crowd at the RFK Community Schools campus in Koreatown -- UTLA and LAUSD ought to be fighting for more funding, not each other: So did Beutner open up new lanes for compromise? Or reopen old wounds? Legislating teacher quality "is a policy narrative that has come and went," said UTLA vice president Daniel Barnhart, speaking outside the school library where Beutner delivered his speech. And "it's a non-starter when you are unable to sit down and negotiate the basics of class size, the basic student and staff supports that we need at every school," Barnhart added -- referencing the union's charge that the district has been dragging its feet in returning to contract mediation. UTLA members have been working without a contract for more than a year. Beutner offered few details of how he proposed to "manage ineffective teachers out" -- particularly while simultaneously protecting the tenure system that critics say saddles schools serving the highest-need students with higher numbers of low-quality teachers. (Research on the claim is mixed.) Beutner also offered few details of how he proposed to level the playing field for "hard-to-staff schools" by allowing them to hire or train teachers "differently." (LAUSD board members have already voted to exempt the highest-need schools from accepting displaced teachers.) There were other new priorities Beutner mentioned prominently for the first time, too: creating more "transparency" in the teacher contract negotiation process, a better accounting of how resources are spent at individual schools and reducing parent barriers to volunteering in school. But Beutner also issued a warning he's been repeating with increasing frequency as UTLA talks have gotten more contentious. "Los Angeles Unified is not too big to fail," Beutner said in his speech, "and no one is coming to save us if we do." UTLA contends district officials are basing their "fiscal cliff" forecast on projections that, historically, have been way off target. They point out L.A. Unified currently has more than $1.8 billion in reserve. District officials say they'll have to burn through that reserve in order to keep the district solvent for the next three years. But in his interview with KPCC/LAist, Beutner also said he was in "violent agreement" with UTLA that the district must find ways to pay teachers more, to reduce class sizes and to hire more nurses, counselors and deans -- but that the burden for funding these wish-list items rests with Sacramento, not with the LAUSD board. "If we approach this moment trying to find answers only in wound-up rhetoric," Beutner said in his speech, "that will just land us where we've already been." -- UPDATED, Sept. 16, 9:30 p.m.: Added an additional excerpt from Beutner's speech. The event was attended by Denis Rondepierre, a Politburo member of the French Communist Party, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Thiep, the Lao Ambassador to France, and representatives of L'Humanite, the Cuban Embassy, the local government and Vietnam-France friendship organisations. In his opening address, Nhan Dans Deputy Editor-in-chief Le Quoc Khanh stated that this is a chance to strengthen the traditional relationship between the two Communist Parties and their organs. He informed French and international friends of the significant achievements recorded by Vietnam after more than 30 years of reform, noting that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the country has taken a long journey through numerous hardships since the proclamation of an independent Vietnam 73 years ago. The newspapers deputy editor-in-chief recalled General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trongs official visit to France in March, which was a historic event for both Vietnam and France, emphasising that it is a manifestation of the increasingly warm relationship between the two countries. Speaking on behalf of the French Communist Party, Denis Rondepierre highly appreciated Vietnams annual participation at the L'Humanite festival with the pavilion of Nhan Dan Newspaper. Looking back on General Secretary Trongs visit to France, he said that it helped to raise the bilateral relationship to a new height, adding that the visit also created meaningful memories for the Vietnamese Party leader and French peace-lovers who supported Vietnam in the negotiations for the Paris Accords. Denis Rondepierre said he was proud of his Vietnamese comrades, noting that the role and position of Vietnam are very important today, contributing to the struggle for international peace and progress. Nhan Dan Newspapers Deputy Editor-in-chief Le Quoc Khanh speaking at the opening of the Vietnamese pavilion Attendants pose for a photoshoot after the opening ceremony. The pavilion for Nhan Dan Newspaper attracts a large number of visitors. TripAdvisor, one of the worlds biggest travel review sites, wants the world to know that it wont turn a blind eye to fake reviews. To get that point across, the Needham, Mass.-based site commended the nine-month jail sentence and $9,300 fine imposed on the owner of an Italian company who provided hotel and restaurant reviews for a fee. The jail sentence, imposed by a court in the city of Lecce in southern Italy, may be the first for anyone caught writing fake online reviews. The owners name was not released because of E.U. privacy rules. TripAdvisor laid out in great detail last week how the company spent several years investigating the company PromoSalento and turned over the evidence to Italian prosecutors. Advertisement We see this as a landmark ruling for the Internet, said Brad Young, vice president and associate general counsel for TripAdvisor, in a statement. Writing fake reviews has always been fraud, but this is the first time weve seen someone sent to jail as a result. When TripAdvisors digital investigators identified the reviews as coming from PromoSalento, the site either blocked, removed or demoted the reviews in the sites ranking. For the fake reviews that continued to appear, TripAdvisor said it posted a red badge on the listing page of the business being reviewed, indicating that the business was trying to manipulate its reviews. The prosecution comes four years after the Italian Competition Authority, a nongovernmental watchdog group, fined TripAdvisor for failing to warn users that some reviews may be fake. TripAdvisor appealed the fine and convinced an Italian court to overturn the penalty. We appealed the ICAs original ruling as we believed that it was unreasonable and we strongly disagreed with its findings, TripAdvisor said in a statement at the time. hugo.martin@latimes.com To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter. The Story of Ramona Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre stages this site-specific work inspired by the tale of a young Native American girl in 19th-century California. The San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, 320 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel. Sun., next Sun., 7 p.m.; ends Sept. 23. $15-$50. (800) 745-3000. Dearly Beloved: A Union, Out of Wedlock Choreographer and movement artist Andrew Pearson examines LGBT issues in this immersive dance-theater work; for ages 21 and up only. The Ruby Street, 6408 Ruby St., L.A. Thu., 7 p.m. $20-$30. (925) 989-6429. Carmen Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre presents a locally-touring production of a full-length work based on Bizets classic opera. Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach. Sat., 8 p.m. $40-$60. (800) 838-3006. Also, Scherr Forum Theatre, Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Next Sun., 6 p.m. $45-$65. (800) 745-3000. San Pedro Festival of the Arts Performers include San Pedro City Ballet, Kairos Dance Company, et al. (Sat.); and Louise Reichlin & Dancers/Los Angeles Choreographers & Dancers, Tango San Pedro, et al. (Sun.) Port of Los Angeles, Berths 88 & 89, 250 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro. Sat.-next Sun., 1 to 4:25 p.m. Free. www.triartsp.com. Advertisement 2nd Annual Some Enchanted Evening A Night of Broadway Song & Dance Veteran actor Patrick Cassidy headlines this intimate, cabaret-style benefit for Inland Pacific Ballet. Inland Pacific Ballet, 9061 Central Ave., Montclair. Sat., 6 p.m. $50, $95. (909) 482-1590. Reviews by Leah Ollman (L.O.). Openings Summoning the Ancestors: Southern Nigerian Bronzes Bells and other ceremonial objects. Fowler Museum, UCLA, 308 Charles E. Young Drive North, Westwood. Opens Sun.; ends March 10. Closed Mon.-Tue. Free. (310) 825-4361. The War of Nerves: Psychological Landscapes of the Cold War Exhibition uses contemporary art and everyday artifacts to examine the decades-long conflict between East and West. Also on display: Red Shoes: Love, Politics, and Dance During the Cold War, exploring how the conflict affected the world of ballet. The Wende Museum, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City. Opens Sun.; ends Jan. 13. Free. (310) 216-1600. Earth Works: Mapping the Anthropocene Joint exhibition of images by Justin Brice Guariglia spotlighting humans impact on the planet. USC Fisher Museum of Art, 823 W. Exposition Blvd., L.A. Opens Tue.; ends Dec. 8. Closed Sun.-Mon. Free. (213) 740-4561. Also at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. Opens Tue.; ends Dec. 9. Open daily. $8-$17; children 2 and under, free. (213) 763-3466. Advertisement The Flight into Egypt: Drawings in Context The biblical tale is examined in three pieces from the museums collection. The Getty Center, N. Sepulveda Blvd. & Getty Center Drive, L.A. Opens Tue.; ends Dec. 9. Closed Mon. Free. (310) 440-7300. Janet Sternburg: Limbus Layered photographic images by the visual artist explore metaphysical boundaries. USC Fisher Museum of Art, 823 W. Exposition Blvd., L.A. Opens Tue.; ends Dec. 1. Closed Sun.-Mon. Free. (213) 740-4561. Jermaine Dupri & So So Def: 25 Years of Elevating Culture Artifacts, rare video footage, etc., salute the Atlanta-based rapper-producer and the record label he founded. The Grammy Museum, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., L.A. Opens Thu.; ends March 2019. $10.95-$15; 5 and under, free. (213) 765-6800. Hammer Projects: Shadi Habib Allah Welfare policies and their impact on disenfranchised and marginalized communities are interrogated in images and sculptures. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. Opens Sat.; ends Jan. 20. Closed Mon. Free. (310) 443-7000. Knights in Armor Examples of European arms and armor from the medieval era to the 19th century. Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. Opens Sat.; ends Jan. 13. Closed Mon. Special exhibition prices, $20-$25. (714) 567-3600. Project Blue Boy Yearlong exhibition charts the progress of a restoration of English artist Thomas Gainsboroughs famous 18th-century painting Blue Boy. The Huntington, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Opens Sat; ends Sept. 30, 2019. Closed Tue. $13-$29; children under 4, free. (626) 405-2100. Nina Chanel Abney: Royal Flush Parallel exhibitions include paintings, watercolors and collages by the Chicago-born artist that explore urban life and our media-saturated world. California African American Museum, 600 State Drive, Exposition Park, L.A. Opens next Sun.; ends Jan. 20. Closed Mon. Free. (213) 744-7432. Also at the Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, 1717 E. 7th St., L.A. Opens next Sun.; ends Jan. 20. Closed Mon.-Tue. Free. (213) 928-0833. Recommended The Incongruous Body Humor and the human body serve as brackets loosely containing the sculptural work in this 14-person show. Not all here is comic, and not everything manages to muster heat from the rub of expectation against direct experience curator Tim Bergs organizing principle but the show has enough radiant moments to redeem the whole. Standouts include works by Kim Tucker, Kristen Morgin, Jeremy Brooks, Elana Mann and Robert Arneson. (L.O.) AMOCA, 399 N. Garey Ave., Pomona. Open Wed.-Sat. Ends Jan. 20. (909) 865-3146. Over 10 years ago, Chloe Sevigny wasnt getting the type of movie roles she wanted. Though known for an Academy Award-nominated supporting turn in 1999s Boys Dont Cry, she was still playing second fiddle. So she created a leading role for herself with Lizzie, now playing in limited release, about the infamous Lizzie Borden. I wanted to star in a movie, she said. I wanted to provide myself the opportunity and I said I wanted to play this complex character and explore it in depth and come up with our interpretation of the myth of her, the legend of her. Lizzie is a psychological thriller based on the 1892 killings of Bordens father (played by Jamey Sheridan) and stepmother (Fiona Shaw). Sevigny plays the titular character in the weeks leading up to the deaths for which she was accused, tried and acquitted. Shes joined by Kristen Stewart, who was on the cusp of stardom in 2008s Twilight when Sevigny was first trying to get this film made and plays the familys maid and Bordens lover, Bridget. Sevigny says she was very familiar with the Borden mystery having been born in Massachusetts. She even spent a night at the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast, the home where the murders took place. Advertisement We dont set ourselves up for criticism because we dont claim to be spot-on. Kristen Stewart Chloe Sevigny and Kristen Stewart star together in the film Lizzie. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) They spin the whole yarn for you and get you spooked out and they say like 50% of the guests leave in the middle of the night, she said. Once I heard their pitch I said, This is a movie and I want to make it. The original conception of the project, written by Sevignys longtime friend and then-roommate Bryce Kass, landed in the form of a miniseries they shopped at HBO. (Sevigny was near the end of Big Love on the network at the time.) As the production stalled, Lifetime released The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, a television movie starring Christina Ricci, in January 2014. But Sevigny had already invested so much time and energy that she was still determined to get the film made. It took on different forms over the years, but we just decided to make it a smaller film focusing on life in the house and [Lizzie and Bridgets] relationship, Sevigny said. We turned it into a love story. And even though Sevigny had had the opportunity to tackle more complex roles since she initially set out to do the film, she had to see it to fruition. I wasnt going to have it fall by the wayside, she said. I had to see it through. For Stewart, signing on to the project was simple. Just [Sevignys] name on the page and the fact that she had put it together herself and the fact that it was her first time producing and based on my impressions of her from afar and knowing her casually and her work, I knew I would want to be part of it, she said. Stewart then read the script and it proved to be a nice inside look of something I only knew the nursery rhyme version of. I was attracted to the idea of what might lead up to something that heinous and how these two women in similar position [were] bolstering each other and things going wildly out of control. While making the movie, the entire team tried not to allow the obsessive interest the case often inspires to impact their work. Some of them are fanatical, and Ive done book adaptations and things that people are passionate about and when it differs from what they believe it [should be], things can get heated, Sevigny said. So you have to anticipate that but hopefully theyll appreciate what we do and see the beauty and passion in it. Stewart added: For anyone thats already into this, it would make me happy to know they are interested in something slightly reimagined. And we dont set ourselves up for criticism because we dont claim to be spot-on. We present a hypothetical, fully. Its, Imagine if this happened. Kristen Stewart and Chloe Sevigny in the film Lizzie. (Saban Films / Roadside Attractions) Take, for example, the romantic relationship between Sevigny and Stewarts characters. No one truly knows if the two women were lovers. There isnt too much information on [my character] other than her whereabouts during the murder, which led them to want to have the main element of this story be their relationship. Because the one thing you know for sure is that she mustve known that it was going down, because she was the only person there other than Lizzie, Stewart said. She was washing windows for two hours? Really? Exploring this relationship also allowed the film, Stewart said, to explore what life was like for queer women during a time period in which their narratives are often overlooked. There are so many stories that weve seen over the years that would have [LGBTQ] story lines that are not present because they just werent being acknowledged, she continued. Maybe its a period piece or even an older film where they are not acknowledging the gay element that is probably there. I think its really cool to go back and be like, What does gay look like back then? and Who would both of these women appear to be? How would they present in a time when they couldnt be natural with it? I felt super restricted by the clothes alone. You cant be anything but that black dress, that maid. And when they finally did reveal themselves to each other, even though it was barely fleshed out Sevigny interrupted: Its really tender, and practical. And its nice that we didnt have someone like our straight male director step in and say I have ideas about how to tell this story visually, Stewart continued. Nobody was like, Yeah, but lets make it beautiful. I love that [when they have sex its] kind of run and gun, super real. And its not shy and not not trying to show anything. There is an immediacy to it that is authentic and good. As such, Lizzie is instructive, Stewart said, to anyone who makes a movie that is not directly reflective of who they are, or something thats not totally in their wheelhouse. Get your life! Follow me on Twitter (@TrevellAnderson) or email me: trevell.anderson@latimes.com. Stephen. Seth. Jimmy. The other Jimmy. Emmy hosts tend to be recognizable by their first names. On Monday its Michael and Colins turn to emcee the biggest night in television. In case you were wondering, that would be Michael Che and Colin Jost, anchors of Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live, where they are also co-head writers. While the duo is not as well-known as their predecessors, NBC is betting the resurgent popularity of SNL, which is up for 21 Emmys this year, will help boost ratings or at least stop the bleeding. Lorne Michaels, whos reigned over the show for most of its 43-year history, will also executive produce the ceremony for the first time since 1988, and is expected to draw from the shows deep bench of talented alumni. Ratings for the broadcast have been in decline since 2013, as TV audiences have fragmented and Emmy voters have embraced niche shows on cable and streaming networks over mainstream hits. Advertisement Host Stephen Colbert leads a dance performance at last years Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in L.A. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 2018 Emmys: Everything to know before the big show Last years politically charged ceremony, which was hosted by Colbert and included frequent jabs at Donald Trump, weighty acceptance speeches and a controversial cameo by ousted White House press secretary Sean Spicer, scored just 11.4 million viewers nearly tying the record-low ratings of 2016. Some observers were quick to blame the broadcasts political bent for its lackluster performance, but the absence of the blockbuster Game of Thrones from the nominees may have also been a factor. While that HBO drama is back in contention this year, and will compete with other mainstream favorites such as This is Us and Stranger Things, Che and Jost may still feel compelled to take creative risks in order to goose the ratings and create some social media buzz. If theyre too partisan, theyll invite a backlash. Ignore the zeitgeist completely; theyll be called tone-deaf. The Update desk has spawned other well-received awards show hosts, including Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers (whove each hosted both the Emmys and the Golden Globes) and Amy Poehler and Tina Fey (just the Golden Globes so far). Jost has been a writer at SNL since 2005, not long after graduating from Harvard, and replaced Seth Meyers as Weekend Update anchor in March 2014. A former Daily Show correspondent, Che joined him at the desk a few months later, becoming the first African American to anchor Weekend Update and helping bring diverse perspectives to a show that has struggled to be inclusive. Their relative youth (Che is 35; Jost, 36) could be a magnet for younger viewers, and SNL is in the middle of a ratings renaissance. Original episodes last season averaged a weekly audience of 9.4 million, with delayed viewing factored in, making it the second most-watched season of the sketch show in 23 years. But its hard to know exactly what role Jost and Che, with their best bros forever chemistry, play in the shows current success. And they will face a number of challenges Monday night, starting with their untested endurance as hosts. Delivering pithy one-liners for 10 minutes on Weekend Update is one thing, but presiding over a three-hour-plus ceremony showcasing the best in TV is quite another. Theres also a sense among some critics that they are the wrong hosts for the current cultural moment. When the Emmys were handed out last year, Bill OReilly had recently been fired by Fox News, but Harvey Weinstein still had a job, as did perennial favorites Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K. and Jeffrey Tambor. SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- Dwayne Johnson Episode 1725 -- Pictured: (l-r) Colin Jost, Michael Che doing Weekend Update in Studio 8H on May 20, 2017 -- (Photo by: Will Heath/NBC) (NBC / Will Heath/NBC) RELATED: Emmys hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost discuss the big night, their evolving partnership and Tina Feys advice Mondays ceremony, where female-centric shows such as The Handmaids Tale and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel are expected to pick up multiple awards, will be the first to take place in the full throes of a movement that continues to roil the industry. This week alone has brought the departure of men once thought untouchable, including 60 Minutes executive producer Jeff Fager and former CBS Chairman Les Moonves. Awards shows are especially popular with female viewers, yet the last woman to host the Emmys was Glee star Jane Lynch in 2011. Perhaps inevitably, NBCs decision to tap two men for this years gig prompted negative headlines such as SNL doesnt think women are funny enough to host the Emmys. If NBC wanted to leverage the enduring appeal of SNL, there are plenty of women who could have done the job, say the critics, including Fey, Poehler, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph. (Or the network could have hired any number of stars outside the SNL orbit, such as Kristen Bell or Megan Mullally.) Che and Jost are seasoned veterans at topical comedy, and theyve addressed #MeToo from their Weekend Update perch. But hosting an inherently schmoozy event such as the Emmys, making people laugh and being sensitive to public fatigue with polarizing politics while also recognizing the gravity of the moment represents a precarious balancing act. (Another complicating factor? The as-yet-unknown but potentially disastrous aftermath of Hurricane Florence, which is currently bearing down on the Carolinas.) Che and Jost have the benefit of following other hosts into this tricky terrain. Seth Meyers successfully threaded the needle at Januarys Golden Globes, making light of his unenviable job. A special hello to hosts of other upcoming awards shows who are watching me tonight like the first dog they shot into outer space, the Late Night host joked in his opening monologue. 2018 Emmys: Heres the complete list of nominees But unlike Meyers, whos carefully positioned himself as an ally for women and members of the LGBTQ community in the Trump era, both Jost and Che have been accused of trafficking in dismissive, insensitive humor. Shortly after the 2016 election, Jost was criticized for making what was seen as a transphobic joke on Weekend Update. In the run-up to Mondays ceremony, hes hinted that theyll tread lightly on topical material, telling The Times last month that most awards shows are way too self-serious and focused on things that 99% of the country doesnt care about. He also recently told Vanity Fair that, by the time the Emmys roll around, People are going to be desperate to give men a chance, finally. Itll probably be #HeToo by then. Che has gotten even more flak for his views on gender politics, apparently defending Louis C.K.s attempted comeback and right to speak and make a living, in a recent Instagram post. He quit Twitter several years ago after clashing with feminists. Hes also used the platform to criticize standup tragedy, comments that were widely interpreted as digs at Nanette, the acclaimed special from comedian Hannah Gadsby that harnessed the rage of #MeToo and sparked a thousand think pieces. I wanna laugh, Che wrote. meredith.blake@latimes.com Follow me @MeredithBlake Good morning. Im Paul Thornton, and it is Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. Heres the study showing that nearly 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Maria in 2017, a figure that President Trump says is a Democratic Party invention. Lets take a look back at the week in Opinion. Pope Francis had been lauded as a transformative figure in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, a leader who puts a priority on pastoral care and less, much to his critics chagrin, on defending every letter of church dogma. One would think that from this care for the Catholic flock would emerge a different, more open way of addressing the decades-long sexual abuse scandal that has plagued the church. Perhaps we should think again. So far, says the Los Angeles Times Editorial Board, Francis tight-lipped response to an allegation by former Vatican diplomat Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, that he protected an American cardinal he knew was an accused sexual harasser, does not inspire confidence in this popes ability to handle his churchs abuse crisis: If Pope Francis is to retain his credibility amid what one of his advisors called the churchs 9/11, he needs to answer questions about what he knew and did about the alleged sexual misdeeds of the former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Much more important, he needs to recommit his papacy and the church he leads to protecting the faithful children and adults alike from wolves in shepherds clothing. ... Its understandable that Francis might not want to dignify the criticism coming from Vigano, who belongs to an anti-Francis faction in the church and has called for the pope to resign. But this is a pope known for his plain speaking and ability to engage in self-criticism. He apologized, for example, after initially denouncing as calumny charges that a Chilean bishop had covered up sexual abuse by a priest. Later, Francis accepted the bishops resignation. He should now answer questions about whether he knew of reports about McCarricks misdeeds (and whether he believed them) and whether he encouraged McCarrick to resume an active role in the church. >> Click here to read more Could it be . SATAN? The popes sermon earlier this week in which he warned that the devil has been let loose and hes got it in for the bishops, and that he seeks to reveal sins, which people can see, in order to scandalize the people, hearkens back to the old and discredited argument by church leaders that abuse allegations must be kept secret to prevent the laity from losing faith. No matter what Francis believes about the devil, writes Michael McGough, its no excuse for the pope not leveling with the faithful about what he knew and what he did. L.A. Times What say you, attorney general? The churchs history of sex abuse implicates more than just a (very large) handful of bad padres, writes Gustavo Arellano; its also rife with law enforcement failures to help vulnerable parishioners escape harm. Still, California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerras office has put out a statement neither confirming nor denying that it is investigating the states 12 dioceses. Thats not good enough, says Arellano. The church hierarchy inflicted horrendous pain on children for decades and its time that the princes of the church face justice. L.A. Times The Paris climate agreement? Were still in. Jerry Brown and Michael Bloomberg, who just finished hosting the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, note that the United States cannot legally withdraw from the Paris pact until 2020. And, even if this country ends up fully pulling out, enough cities and states are reducing their greenhouse gas emissions to possibly have the U.S. meet its targets under the agreement. That kind of bottom-up leadership will continue driving progress on climate change, no matter what obstacles Washington throws in our way, write Bloomberg and Brown. L.A. Times Jerry Browns been at this for years. Hes perhaps the worlds foremost evangelist of climate-change action now, but back during his first term as governor in the 1970s, he pioneered the energy-efficiency standards that kept Californians demand for power in check. When faced with the prospect of signing off on a new nuclear power plant, Brown instead consulted a particle physicist. The result: new appliance rules that precluded the need for more electricity and, consequently, a new nuclear plant. The Atlantic They found the cocaine in submarines, in speedboats stopped in the Pacific Ocean, in a private jet that crashed into the Caribbean Sea and, perhaps most strangely, in frozen cubes of orange juice transported in trucks. Officials in Mexico, Colombia and Los Angeles seized a total of 7,700 pounds of cocaine and other drugs worth half a billion dollars as part of a four-year investigation into a global drug ring, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. For the record: A previous version of this article said the drugs seized were worth half a million dollars. They were worth half a billion. On Friday, one of the leaders behind the drug operation was arraigned in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom after being extradited from Colombia. Victor Hugo Cuellar-Silva arrived Thursday night at Los Angeles International Airport. According to a federal indictment, Cuellar-Silva is the head of the Colombia base for the organization and is responsible for obtaining tons of cocaine and other drugs from South American labs and coordinating their transportation for sale in the U.S. and elsewhere. Advertisement Six California residents were arrested in their homes Thursday on suspicion of operating stash houses and transporting the drugs in cars to be sold, federal prosecutor Alexander Schwab said. Those arrested were 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; and Jonathan Zamora, 28, of Cerritos. Amparo Yokasta Melo Peguero, 44, was arrested as she was preparing to take an international flight from Boston. Six additional defendants are pending extradition after they were taken into custody in Colombia and Thailand. What weve been able to accomplish is indict an international drug trafficking organization and uproot the leadership responsible for aggregating and transporting multi-ton loads of cocaine, federal prosecutor Benjamin Barron said. Its among the largest drug cases weve ever prosecuted out of our Los Angeles district. One major piece of the puzzle is missing: the Mexican kingpin running the whole ring, Angel Humberto Chavez-Gastelum, who is listed in the indictment. He is also known by aliases such as Don Angel, Rolex and Netflix. We are still very much on the hunt for him, federal prosecutor Ryan Weinstein said. Chavez-Gastelum has made millions by taking the drug operation into his own hands, Barron said, and has ordered the murders of several people who stole from him or cooperated with law enforcement officials. The indictment includes two murders for which Chavez-Gastelum is suspected of being responsible. One victims torture and dismemberment was captured on a video obtained by officials. Chavez-Gastelum is one of the worlds 30 most-wanted drug traffickers and commands multiple top representatives of the drug organization, including Cuellar-Silva, according to a Justice Department statement. If apprehended and convicted of participating in a continuing criminal enterprise, Chavez-Gastelum would face a mandatory life sentence because he is accused of being its leader. Cuellar-Silva and three others including Chavez-Gastelums 27-year-old son, who is accused of running the criminal enterprise would face mandatory minimum sentences of 20 years in prison if they are found guilty. In 2016, two other drug kingpins were extradited from Colombia and are awaiting sentencing. 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. Atty. Nick Hanna said in a statement. We are deeply grateful to the government of Colombia for helping us bring one of the key defendants to justice. Joseph Macias, a Department of Homeland Security investigator, said in a statement that the extradition is a warning to fugitives who think they can evade U.S. law enforcement by hiding out in another country. alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Twitter: @r_valejandra A Compton water district that could be abolished for delivering brown water is waging an eleventh-hour campaign for its survival. The push comes after legislation sailed through the state Assembly and Senate last month that would dismantle the Sativa Los Angeles County Water Districts five-member elected board of directors and install a new general manager by years end. Lawmakers say the legislation is necessary to ensure Sativas 6,800 customers in Compton and Willowbrook quickly receive water free of the manganese that taints the districts supply. As the bill awaits a decision from Gov. Jerry Brown before the end of the month, Sativas board is launching a bid to save the district and their jobs by arguing whats at stake is not simply water but also democracy. The leadership of Sativa and other public water systems in California is selected by voters. By ousting Sativas leadership, board members say, Assembly Bill 1577 would strip power from voters and deny the elected body its right to a public hearing to plead its case. Advertisement The legislation, board members warn, imperils all of the states small water districts, which were created by residents who wanted more control over local services. This bill will not only hurt Sativa but will be impacting other water districts in the future, said Thomas Martin, Sativas interim general manager. We dont know whos next in the chopping block. In the last week, Martin said, he has written Browns office twice and requested a meeting with his staff. When Martin got no response, the board hired a lobbying firm for $20,000 to gain access to the governor. At a news conference Monday, Martin described the bill as a power grab that might result in a private company obtaining the 474 acre-feet of water a year that Sativa is allowed to extract from the central groundwater basin. Martin said those water rights are worth $6 million a year and warns that an outside provider could charge higher prices than Sativas monthly flat rate of about $70. (Los Angeles Times) He said that water quality is improving and that the district has received no complaints in the last two weeks. Projects approved by the board would further increase water pressure and better flush out the manganese, but the State Water Resources Control Board has put them on pause, Martin said. The state water board said in a letter last month that Sativas proposal was incomplete and failed to meet state standards. Assemblyman Mike Gipson (D-Carson), who introduced the legislation, said Sativas publicity campaign is a waste of ratepayers money by a district that says it needs as much as $15 million to fix its aging pipes. We are talking about a water system that does not have the proper resources to address the eroding and aging and failing infrastructure to provide good, clean, quality water to its residents, yet they spend money on a lobbyist, he said. Gipson said hes following the will of ratepayers, who separately launched a process to recall Sativas board. It is not an overreach for the state to step in to ensure minimum standards of water quality are met, he said. If anything, it is unfortunate that this was our only option. L.A. Countys Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO, voted in July to begin dissolving the Sativa water district, which has been accused of supplying customers in Willowbrook and Compton with dirty, smelly water. Authorities have long questioned whether Sativa should exist at all. Over decades, district officials have weathered accusations of financial instability, nepotism, poor maintenance and mismanagement. But when customers began posting videos online of brown water flowing from their faucets earlier this year, new efforts were launched to abolish the district. In July, L.A. Countys Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO which oversees public water agencies such as Sativa voted to dissolve the district. Its a slow process, and one Sativas board could further delay by suing LAFCO or galvanizing customers to force an election in which the voters would decide the districts fate. A provision in AB 1577 would eliminate voters right to contest the dissolution, speeding up the process by months, said LAFCOs executive officer, Paul Novak. Current law requires that LAFCO transfer the services of any public agency it dissolves to another public agency. The bill would allow the state-appointed administrator to select a permanent replacement, which could also be an investor-owned utility. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and LAFCO have asked the state to appoint the countys Department of Public Works as the interim administrator. The bill would shield the replacement provider from liability and make it a criminal offense for the board to divert any assets or sell off the system. Some groups that represent small water districts acknowledge that the extreme circumstances at Sativa warrant immediate action. But others worry about the precedent of bypassing due process to remove an elected body. State water officials say they are trying to comply with the 2012 Human Right to Water Bill, a mandate that every Californian have access to water thats reliable and safe to drink. But thats a challenge with so many tiny water districts that are underfunded and understaffed. About 2,000 water systems across California serve drinking water to fewer than 500 homes. Most are scattered across the Central Valley and pump water into as few as 15 households. These districts were responsible for 85% of state drinking-water citations last year. Experts say tiny water systems lack the economies of scale to pass maintenance costs to their customers while remaining affordable. Some are reluctant to merge with bigger neighboring districts, while some other communities are isolated and dont have viable neighboring districts to join. Thomas Martin, left, general manager of the Sativa Los Angeles County Water District, addresses the media this week during a news conference at the districts headquarters in Compton. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) Until recently, the California water board could only encourage mergers between systems. A 2015 law authorized it to forcibly consolidate a system that has consistently failed to provide safe drinking water. Since then, 11 mandatory consolidations have been initiated. In 2016, the boards powers were further expanded to allow it to appoint an administrator to take over operations of a troubled water system. However, the administrator has to be paid by the state, and the law did not provide funding. The bill awaiting Brown goes a step further and allows the state to oust a water districts entire board. Tucked into the budget bill, which is also on Browns desk, is $200,000 to pay for an administrator to take over Sativa. Advocacy groups that represent smaller water systems said they are slowly being stripped of their ability to operate in ways that best suit their customers. New state rules for testing and reports, coupled with the water conservation mandate during the drought, put a bigger financial burden on tiny agencies, they said. The vast majority of water suppliers in the state do a great job of providing safe, reliable drinking water to customers, said John Woodling, executive director of the Regional Water Authority, which represents midsize Sacramento-area water agencies. Being able to respond when there are problems that come up is really best handled at the local level. Sativa customers said the water district ignored their complaints of discolored, and at times smelly, water. Karen Lewis said occasionally she still has to run all of her faucets until they pour clear. It takes about an hour, down from seven hours when the manganese problem was at its worst earlier this year, she said. angel.jennings@latimes.com Twitter: @AngelJennings With a plodding pace belying still-unspent fury, an increasingly deadly Tropical Storm Florence pushed deeper into the Carolinas on Saturday, inundating homes, toppling trees and pushing rivers far beyond their banks as rescuers in boats and helicopters rushed to keep pace. Six new fatalities were reported Saturday, bringing the storm toll to 11. Nearly a million people, mainly in North Carolina, were without power a day after Florence made landfall a few miles northeast of Wilmington, N.C., as a howling Category 1 hurricane. By midafternoon Saturday, the massive storm was crawling westward at about 3 mph, unleashing havoc as it went. Inland, the peril grew; on the coast, storm surge warnings were discontinued Saturday. As the winds abated, the waters rose. And rose. Advertisement Mayor Dana Outlaw of hard-hit New Bern, N.C., said Florences lumbering pace, with lingering, rain-dumping storm bands hovering overhead, increased the damage and danger. This one stayed around awhile, he said. Floodwaters surged over roads, prompting the closing of Interstate 95 just north of the Carolinas border. With more than 2 feet of rain having already fallen in coastal areas and more forecast for days to come in the western mountains, officials ordered new evacuations affecting thousands. Those included a mandatory evacuation issuedbecause of imminent danger for anyone who lives within a mile of the banks of North Carolinas Cape Fear River and Little River. That took in parts of the city of Fayetteville, population 200,000. 1 / 67 Chavez Gallegos helps his family move out of a flooded home in Kinston, N.C., in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. (Travis Long / Raleigh News & Observer) 2 / 67 A road is washed out by the rains from Hurricane Florence as it passed through the area in Fayetteville, N.C. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) 3 / 67 Flood waters from Hurricane Florence surround a house and flow along the street in Fayetteville, N.C. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) 4 / 67 A man moves his horses from rising water in Lumberton, N.C., following flooding from now Tropical Depression Florence. (Gerry Broome / Associated Press) 5 / 67 Helen McKoy walks down a flooded street in her neighborhood as Florence continues to dump heavy rain in Fayetteville, N.C. (David Goldman / Associated Press) 6 / 67 Homes along the New River are flooded as a result of high tides and rain from Hurricane Florence, which moved through the area in Jacksonville, N.C. (Steve Helber / Associated Press) 7 / 67 Members of the North Carolina Task Force urban search and rescue team wade through a flooded neighborhood looking for residents who stayed behind as Florence continues to dump heavy rain in Fayetteville, N.C. (David Goldman / Associated Press) 8 / 67 Floodwaters from Hurricane Florence rush down Cool Spring Street, inundating the St. James Church in Fayetteville, N.C. (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA / Shutterstock) 9 / 67 Erick Martinez grills chicken on the porch of his home as floodwaters from Hurricane Florence rise in the Magnolia Mobile Home Park north of Lumberton, N.C. (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA / Shutterstock) 10 / 67 A resident walks from his flooded house toward the crew of the Cajun Navy in Lumberton, N.C. (Alex Edelman / AFP/Getty Images) 11 / 67 A boat pushed ashore by Hurricane Florence rests in front of a damaged home in New Bern, N.C. (Gray Whitley / Associated Press) 12 / 67 Floodwaters surround buildings on Front Street in downtown Swansboro N.C. (Tom Copeland / Associated Press) 13 / 67 A sign asks for prayer Friday in Lumberton, N.C., as Florence bears down (David Goldman / Associated Press) 14 / 67 High winds toppled a scoreboard, knocked down a wall and uprooted trees, crushing a car, at a baseball field in New Bern, N.C. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) 15 / 67 A section of an exit ramp on Highway 17 was washed away when Florence hit new Bern, N.C., as a Category 1 hurricane. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) 16 / 67 A man makes a phone call from the front porch of his home surrounded by floodwaters in Jacksonville, N.C. (Chuck Burton / Associated Press) 17 / 67 A store awning partially ripped away by high winds in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Alex Edelman / AFP/Getty Images) 18 / 67 A mother and her infant were killed Friday when a massive tree fell on their house in Wilmington, N.C. They were the first reported fatalities from Hurricane Florence. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP/Getty Images) 19 / 67 Volunteers help rescue residents and their pets from flooded homes Friday in New Bern, N.C. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) 20 / 67 Homes are flooded after a surge from Hurricane Florence flooded the Neuse River in New Bern, N.C. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) 21 / 67 The Trent River (background) overflows its banks and floods a neighborhood during Hurricane Florence in River Bend, N.C. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) 22 / 67 People walk through the high winds from Hurricane Florence in downtown Swansboro N.C. (Tom Copeland / Associated Press) 23 / 67 Mike Kiernan takes photos of the damage to his home in Wilmington, N.C. (Chuck Burton / Associated Press) 24 / 67 A woman holds a baby as she watches rising flood waters on the Cape Fear River during Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, N.C. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP / Getty Images) 25 / 67 Members of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 4 from Oakland search a flooded neighborhood for evacuees in Fairfield Harbour, N.C. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) 26 / 67 Sam Parks walks through flooded Water Street as Hurricane Florence comes ashore in Wilmington, N.C. (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA/Shutterstock) 27 / 67 Kite Boarder Dimitri Maramenides heads out next to Jennettes Pier in Nags Head, N.C. (L. Todd Spencer / The Virginian-Pilot) 28 / 67 Residents drive through flooded Water Street as Hurricane Florence comes ashore in Wilmington, N.C. (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA/Shutterstock) 29 / 67 Wind and water from Hurricane Florence damages the highway leading off Harkers Island, N.C. (Jordan Guthrie / Associated Press) 30 / 67 Residents look at downed trees as Hurricane Florence passes over Wilmington, N.C. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP/Getty Images) 31 / 67 Firefighters arrive at a home where a large tree fell and trapped three people in Wilmington, N.C. One man was taken out of the home in critical condition, and the condition of the others is unknown. (Mark Wilson / Getty Images) 32 / 67 A boat is wedged in trees during Hurricane Florence in Oriental, N.C. (Angie Propst / Associated Press) 33 / 67 Rescue workers rush a man to an ambulance after a giant tree toppled onto his house, killing two other people when Hurricane Florence came ashore in Wilmington, N.C. (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA/Shutterstock) 34 / 67 Mitchell Floor, left, holds a flashlight as Comfort Suites general manager Beth Bratz, center, and employee Dee Branch go to make coffee as Hurricane Florence rages in Wilmington, N.C. (Chuck Liddy / Raleigh News & Observer) 35 / 67 Waves slam the Oceanana Pier & Pier House Restaurant in Atlantic Beach, N.C. (Travis Long / Associated Press) 36 / 67 Electric poles that snapped in half sway from their wires as Hurricane Florence comes ashore in Wilmington, N.C. (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA/Shutterstock) 37 / 67 A sign warns people away from Union Point Park after it was flooded by the Neuse River in New Bern, N.C. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) 38 / 67 The awning of a Shell gas station was torn off when Hurricane Florence came ashore in Wilmington, N.C. (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA/Shutterstock) 39 / 67 Volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team help rescue three children from their flooded home in James City, N.C. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) 40 / 67 Volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team help rescue three children from their flooded home in James City, N.C. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) 41 / 67 Linda Deem walks along the beach as winds from Hurricane Florence are felt in Myrtle Beach, S.C (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) 42 / 67 Linda Stephens checks out the weather as the force of Hurricane Florence is beginning to be felt in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) 43 / 67 Portions of a boat dock and boardwalk are destroyed by powerful wind and waves as Hurricane Florence arrives in Atlantic Beach. Coastal cities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia are under evacuation orders. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) 44 / 67 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 in New Bern, N.C. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) 45 / 67 A child sits on a mattress at a Hurricane Florence evacuation shelter at Conway High School in Conway, S.C. (Alex Edelman / AFP/Getty Images) 46 / 67 Alejandra Rubio comforts her daughter Sarahi Ramos on Thursday in their hotel room in Wilmington, N.C., where they will wait out Hurricane Florence. (Robert Gourley / For The Times ) 47 / 67 Cyrus Lewis watches the surf roll up on the beach beneath the Avon Fishing Pier as the first effects of Hurricane Florence reach Hatteras Island, N.C. (Steve Earley / Virginian-Pilot) 48 / 67 Beachgoers take in the scenery in Atlantic Beach, N.C., on Wednesday as Hurricane Florence threatens. (Travis Long / Raleigh News & Observer) 49 / 67 The Ramos family prepares dinner and watches the weather forecast in their hotel room Thursday night in Wilmington, N.C., where they will wait out Hurricane Florence. (Robert Gourley/ For The Times ) 50 / 67 Vickie Grate, left, waits in a shelter with her son Chris, center, and his girlfriend, Sarah, after evacuating from their homes in Conway, S.C., on Wednesday. (David Goldman / Associated Press) 51 / 67 Doug Lewis, left, and Chris Williams cover the windows of Knuckleheads Bar and Grill in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) 52 / 67 A statue of Poseidon stands along the boardwalk in Morehead City, N.C., on Wednesday. Many coastal areas in Virginia and the Carolinas are under evacuation orders. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) 53 / 67 Sunset on the Isle of Palms, S.C., on Wednesday. Hurricane Florence has weakened slightly, but is still expected to cause potentially life-threatening storm surge and flooding. (Mic Smith / Associated Press) 54 / 67 Boats are dry-docked at the Wrightsville Yacht Club on Wednesday in Wrightsville Beach, N.C. (Mark Wilson / Getty Images) 55 / 67 The Lager Heads Tavern is secured on Tuesday as locals prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Florence in Wrightsville Beach, N.C. (Mark Wilson / Getty Images) 56 / 67 A satellite image provided by NASA and the European Space Agency shows Hurricane Florence on Wednesday as it churns through the Atlantic Ocean toward the East Coast. (NASA) 57 / 67 Willy Cortright, foreground, and Erik Barfield, on roof, cover the windows of a home with plywood panels in Beaufort, N.C. Both said they planned to ride out the storm on the coast. (Robert Gourley / For The Times) 58 / 67 Sandbags surround homes on North Topsail Beach, N.C. (Chuck Burton / Associated Press) 59 / 67 Poolside furniture is placed in the pool of a hotel before the storm arrived in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Mark Wilson / Getty Images) 60 / 67 A mandatory evacuation is in effect in Topsail Beach, N.C. (Mark Wilson / Getty Images) 61 / 67 Daniel Vaughn, left, and Frank Murphy fill sandbags while preparing for Florence in Wrightsville Beach, N.C. (Mark Wilson / Getty Images) 62 / 67 Sunrise in Wrightsville Beach, N.C., two days ahead of the predicted landfall of Hurricane Florence. (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA/Shutterstock) 63 / 67 The bread aisle at Walmart is empty two days before Hurricane Florence is expected to strike Wilmington, N.C. (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA/Shutterstock) 64 / 67 Johnny Mercers Fishing Pier juts into the Atlantic Ocean two days before Hurricane Florence is expected to strike Wrightsville Beach, N.C. (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA/Shutterstock) 65 / 67 Chuck Ledford, left, watches Looney Tunes with his daughter, Misty, as they evacuate ahead of Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, N.C. (Caitlin Penna / EPA/Shutterstock) 66 / 67 Jacob Whitehead, left, and Matt Jones hit golf balls into the surf as Hurricane Florence approaches in Wrightsville Beach, N.C. (Mark Wilson / Getty Images) 67 / 67 People evacuate ahead of Hurricane Florence as they seek shelter at Emma B. Trask Middle School in Wilmington, N.C. (Caitlin Penna / EPA/Shutterstock) In all, an astonishing 18 trillion gallons of rain could fall on the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states, according to the Associated Press. Thats as much water as there is in the Chesapeake Bay, and enough to cover the state of Texas with nearly 4 inches of water, the news agency said. Authorities warned it would be hard to keep pace with where all the water might wind up, how fast the storm would move and where it would tack next. It has been most unpredictable, said South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper warned people who fled their homes against going back too soon, citing perils including flash flooding and falling trees. Follow our live coverage of Tropical Storm Florence If you are safe, stay put.... Dont go back until this storm passes, he implored at a briefing Saturday. This system is unloading epic amounts of rainfall. The triple punch of falling rain, rising rivers and storm surges was already triggering catastrophic floods in several locales. More than 450 people were rescued in New Bern, a city of 30,000 at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent rivers. The Coast Guard brought in helicopters and inflatable boats to pluck people from rooftops, cars and inundated homes. The White House said President Trump had issued a disaster declaration for North Carolina a day earlier, freeing up funds for housing and home repair. Embroiled in a bitter social media dispute over the death toll in Puerto Rico last year from Hurricane Maria, Trump praised first responders and said his administration was fully prepared for whatever unfolded. While the Carolinas bore the brunt, neighboring states braced for an expected blow. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam told residents in the southwestern part of the state to prepare for likely flooding and a risk of landslides early in the coming week. In a few areas, though, the picture was not as dark as feared. In North Carolinas Outer Banks beloved by tourists but highly vulnerable to storms officials began allowing homeowners and workers to go back to the fragile barrier islands. In South Carolina, emergency managers were watching several northeastern rivers that flooded two years ago during Hurricane Matthew, destroying homes and government offices. One of those was the Waccamaw River in South Carolinas Horry County, which had reached 8.9 feet by Saturday; it floods at 11 feet. Forecasters said the rivers crest was expected at 19.1 feet, beating the record 17.9 feet set during Hurricane Matthew. The county has a population of 325,000, with about 20,000 in the riverfront county seat of Conway. Along Conways Waccamaw Drive, residents who have already been flooded out of their homes three times in as many years had hours to decide again Saturday afternoon: Stay or go? Brian Saunders opted to leave, although most of his furniture would have to stay. We cant get it all out its too late, he said as a neighbor helped carry out a few antique chairs, family heirlooms. In North Carolina, unrelenting rains were expected to swell the Cape Fear River to 62 feet next week, 3 feet higher than during Matthew in 2016. The river runs through Fayetteville home to the Armys Ft. Bragg where officials opened emergency shelters and urged riverfront residents to evacuate. Less than 500 feet from the Cape Fear River in Fayetteville, residents of an apartment complex dashed from their homes to their cars in the pouring rain, stuffing their passenger seats and trunks with boxes of clothing, blankets and baby photos as the parking lot pooled with puddles. I feel so nervous, Im going to throw up, said Ashley Pulver, a 27-year-old dental hygiene student who had lived in the complex only a month. In her bare living room, she stood in green rubber boots, looking down at a box of pink childrens clothing and a plush Minnie Mouse in a pink-and-white polka-dot dress. Major flooding was also expected to the east in Kinston on the Neuse River, expected to reach 27 feet by Monday, nearing the record 28.3 feet set during Hurricane Matthew. To the north, officials were monitoring the Tar River and sandbagging the French Broad River to the west and the Lumber River to the southeast. If you live in a floodplain and planned on staying, you might need to reevaluate, said Joel Cline, a North Carolina native and meteorologist with the National Hurricane Center. Theres a lot left to this even though the winds have died down and its inland. On the coast, Albemarle and Pamlico sounds will probably become bottlenecks, filling with runoff faster than they can drain into the ocean, he said. I dont see any portion of the state of North or South Carolina thats not going to be impacted in some way, said Cline. Even with the storms passing, it will be many days in some areas before life returns to anything approaching normal. In North Carolinas New Hanover County, which includes Wilmington and the town of Wrightsville Beach, where the storm came ashore, nearly 90% of the countys homes were still without power. State and county officials hope to open food and water distribution centers for those who did not flee the storm. County Manager Chris Coudriet said authorities were preparing to open centers to provide food and water for up to 60,000 people a day for four days. In addition to out-of-state emergency teams, volunteers from aid groups around the country have converged on North Carolina to help with the rescue efforts. Ryan Bartholomew, who works with the Humanitarian Aid and Rescue Project, flew from Sacramento to Charlotte and then drove to flood-stricken New Bern to lend a hand. It gets to the point where they say, We do need help, said Bartholomew, 32. And were here to help. Hennessy-Fiske reported from Conway, S.C., Megerian from New Bern, N.C., and Jarvie from Fayetteville, N.C. Times staff writer Laura King contributed from Washington. molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com chris.megerian@latimes.com jenny.jarvie@latimes.com UPDATES: 4:30 p.m.: This article was updated with new details including information on evacuations in Fayetteville, N.C., lifting of coastal storm surge warnings, food and water distribution set in county where storm made landfall, some residents returning to Outer Banks, and warnings for Virginia in the coming week. 1:50 p.m.: This article was updated with details about rescues in New Bern and potential rainfall totals and comments from South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster. This article was originally published at 9:10 a.m. Questions arise regarding Egypt's preparedness for flash flooding in the wake of news that autumn 2018 could bring the heaviest rains yet In 2015, seven lives were lost in Alexadria to flash flooding. However, official reports covering that period had expected little to no rain. In the following years various promises were made to prevent an incident of this sort from occurring again. Yet, in the wake of global increases in the effects of climate change, Mahmoud Shahin the Head of Meteorological Authority's Analysis Center two weeks ago warned that Egypt ought to expect a flood season around the 22 September. Meanwhile, the question of our preparedness for dealing with the consequences of climate shifts remains unanswered. Whilst previous floods have resulted in lost lives, damage to private and public property, power cuts, closing of roads, road accidents and public outrage, Shahin cautions that the highest amount of rainfall of 2018 could be this autumn. While official reports failed to predict the 2015 Alexandria flash flood, according to a statement on the official website of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, they assert their reliance on a precise warning system through the monitoring of weather patterns all in an effort to ensure preparedness for heavy rainfall and flash floods. In response to the loss of twenty-six lives across three governorates in 2016, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi promised to improve drainage networks within the span of one year. By December 2017, he issued a statement assuring that these improvements have taken place. In contrast, in another call for improvements, necessary after the flash flooding earlier in 2018 that affected many cities including Cairo, former Prime Minister Sherif Ismail called for precautions to be taken in all governorates to ensure the prevention of flash floods. In a statement to Masrawy last week engineer Abd El-Latif Khaled, head of the irrigation department, said that for the past two months a systematic maintenance and clearance of waterways had taken place, including 117 artificial water passages. He added that the ministry ensures its preparedness for this flash flood season through dams and man-made lakes, robust equipment and established outlines for the direct coordination between governorates. Mohamed Faheem, the Executive Manager of the Information Center of Climate Change, said to Al-Ahram Online that the effects of global warming are not merely confined to rainfall. The summer is expected to get longer and hotter, in which it is predicted to exceed 50% of the year. Meanwhile the winter is expected to get shorter and colder. He elaborated that the changes are obvious and accumulative, and that they are expected to have exponential impact on agricultural production. Faheem, who anticipates rainfall throughout the southeast of Egypt to start around 7 September, states that preparedness for flash floods also varies by terrain: the desert has the largest capacity for storing excess rain but the facilities are lacking, agricultural land should be using the water for rationed irrigation, and urban areas are in desperate need for drainage channels as well as possibly filtering and draining water into canals and rivers. "2-3 billion meter cubed of rainfall is expected to fall this winter throughout Egypt. If we had the facilities to store this water, which we don't, we could plant a million acres in the desert", Faheem says. He asserts water levels of rivers and canals should be reduced to allow for expected increases in water levels. He added that sewers are currently too overloaded to drain rain water. On September 1, Saint Catherine in South Sinai had unanticipated rain which surprisingly caused no damage. The rain provided water for irrigation and formed ponds and lakes between valleys, aiding wildlife. The lack of damage was attributed by many to be due to the precautions taken by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation. On the other hand, Faheem stated that it was not a flash flood, as due to the nature of the terrain, the rain was successfully stored. He attributed the lack of damages to the nature of the terrain and lack of built infrastructure. Faheem sums up, "We are not ready for the next rain season and cities are expected to suffer severe damages due to the lack of separate drainage channels, thus the rain is expected to overload sewer channels." Globally, there is growing significant alarm over these changing conditions caused by climate change. Most recently, typhoon Jebi caused severe damage in Japan forcing the closure of Kansai Airport, near Osaka. On Monday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a speech at the UN Headquarters that "runaway climate change" is an imminent probability if the current attitude to climate change remains till 2020. Runaway climate change is a theoretically anticipated point in which the accumulative effects of climate change would create an irreversible loop of extreme heat, wildfires, storms and floods. This point is suggested by some scientists to be the cause of the inhabitability of Venus. In the midst of different definitions of what constitutes preparedness for adverse weather, and conflicting views on climate change and ways in which to potentially deal with it, the only certainty is that increasing rainfall and colder winter ought to be expected. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. In 1960, roughly 845,000 people lived in the 24 counties along the Carolina coast. By 2000, the number had grown to more than 1.5 million as the demand for beach living and ocean views continued to rise. The coastal population today tops 2 million. The development boom persisted despite warnings that global warming would continue to raise sea levels and could increase the intensity of storms. As in many places with strong Republican traditions, the issue of climate change remains highly contentious in both North Carolina and South Carolina. Advertisement But you dont have to trust the science of climate change to see the obvious: With more development along the coast, there is more to destroy when a hurricane pays a visit. We know that the cost of hurricanes have been rising over time and thats largely due to coastal development, said Christy Dahl, a senior climate scientist at the non-profit Union of Concerned Scientists. We simply have more stuff and more property in harms way. Residents of the Carolina coast are now confronting that reality as Hurricane Florence now a tropical storm bears down on their billions of dollars in real estate. All they can do now is hope that it shows them some mercy. Live coverage of Hurricane Florence Scientists say that it is difficult to attribute any given storm or other extreme weather event to climate change. There were powerful hurricanes before the industrial age started pumping carbon and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. But there has been an increase in the intensity of storms in the North Atlantic since 1970 and growing evidence that climate changes is to blame. Rising ocean temperatures give hurricanes more power. A warming atmosphere gives hurricanes more moisture. And rising sea levels mean stronger storm surges and more flooding. We wont necessarily see more hurricanes but we would expect them to become stronger, Dahl said. That is unless the world drastically reduce its emissions, an unlikely prospect given the current state of global politics and economics. In the meantime, researchers say that a good share of future damage could be averted with better development and land use policies. Roger A. Pielke, professor of environmental studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has studied hurricane damages dating back decades and concluded that the the rising toll has less to do with the power of those storms than with the increasing amount of development in their path. The fact that theres more people and property and wealth is why damage increases, he said. One of the problems is that in the U.S., land-use policy is usually decided at the local level, making it difficult to institute a broader strategy. Dahl said that Hurricane Harvey was especially devastating because rapid development in the Houston area had changed the character of the land in a way that provided limited escape paths for the record rainfall that accompanied the 2017 storm. It went from a natural landscape to having imperfect surfaces like concrete and asphalt, she said. The result was massive flooding. We need to be thinking about two things: where we are developing and ensuring we are not putting more people and property in high risk zones, Dahl said. North Carolina flouted that advice. In 2009, the states Coastal Resources Commission contacted scientists to report on sea level rise. The scientists published a report the next year projecting that by 2100 the sea would rise by at least 39 inches. That was unwelcome news amid a development boom that was pumping billions of dollars into coastal projects. Skeptical of the science and beholden to the interests of developers, the Republican-dominated state legislature rejected the study. Then in 2012 legislators passed a law ordering local agencies to ignore consideration of sea level rise when it came to making development policies for at least the next four years. Bob Emory, who was chairman of the coastal commission when the report was released, was at home Friday in New Bern, N.C. which sits on on ocean and was hit hard by the hurricane already preparing for recovery efforts. In the years since the report was published, development along North Carolinas coast has continued to boom. He said there has been some progress: Several communities have developed policies associated with mitigating frequent flooding. They talk about flooding rather than sea level rise, he said in an e-mail. We are part of the wider world where such discussions are ongoing. melissa.etehad@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @melissaetehad In the middle of a housing crisis, California voters are being asked to consider a ballot measure that would, depending on whom you talk to, either keep struggling renters from being kicked to the curb or cause rents to climb even higher. Actually, the reality of Proposition 10 is far less dramatic and more nuanced, and thats one of the reasons The Times editorial board supports it. Proposition 10 would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, a 1995 law that restricted cities ability to enact or expand rent control. Costa-Hawkins bars cities from imposing rent control on apartments built after 1995 (or earlier in cities that already had rent control in place), forbids rent control on single-family homes and condominiums, and prohibits vacancy control, which is when a units rent stays capped even after the tenant moves out. Under Costa-Hawkins, Los Angeles cannot impose rent control on apartments built after 1978, when the citys rent stabilization ordinance was adopted. Although the housing crisis is widespread, each city has its own challenges and needs the flexibility to adopt its own remedies. Advertisement For years, tenant advocates have complained that Costa-Hawkins ties the hands of local officials so that they cannot respond when rents and displacement surge in their community. There is no question that California is in a housing affordability crisis; nearly 1 in 3 households statewide spend more than half their income on rent, leaving many families one rent increase or missed paycheck away from losing their homes. And in much of California, rents are rising far faster than incomes. But state lawmakers have repeatedly failed to enact even modest tweaks to Costa-Hawkins that would have given cities the option to prohibit exorbitant rent increases, permanently or temporarily. Frustrated activists are now taking their case to the voters with Proposition 10. The ballot measure would wipe Costa-Hawkins off the books and allow cities and counties to enact rent control measures or not. Fifteen cities across the state currently have some form of rent control. Nobody knows how many other cities would follow suit, or how cities might broaden their existing rent control laws. One possibility some cities have looked at is rolling rent control, which would slowly expand the number of regulated units by applying rent control to apartment buildings as soon as they turn 20 years old. Still, any predictions that Proposition 10 would either save or devastate the housing market are overstated. If passed, the measure would allow local communities to debate and decide what renter protections to adopt, if any. Thats important. Although the housing crisis is widespread, each city has its own challenges and needs the flexibility to adopt its own remedies. Opponents argue that rent control has the perverse effect of discouraging the development of new housing, limiting supply and driving up rents. Thats the risk, but not necessarily the result. Research has shown that moderate regulations that allow modest rent increases and let landlords raise a units rent to the current market rate when the tenant moves out do not stymie housing production. Proposition 10 also would codify what the U.S. Supreme Court has already decided: Landlords have a right to a fair rate of return, which means they must be allowed to raise rents enough to make a profit each year. Granted, if Proposition 10 passes, cities would have the freedom to adopt more stringent rent limits, including vacancy control and rent caps on new construction (though property owners would surely sue). But any measure that takes regulatory power from the state and gives it to local governments carries a similar risk that it would be used unwisely. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion The root of Californias housing crisis is the lack of supply. The state needs to build 1.8 million more homes by 2025 just to keep pace with population growth; it would need 1.7 million new homes on top of that to satisfy pent-up demand and stabilize prices. To even get close to that number would require a building boom unlike any California has seen since the 1960s. In the meantime, cities need to be able to respond to upheaval and suffering caused by rapidly rising rents. Just look at Los Angeles County. In the last few years, a record number of homeless people have been placed into housing, yet there hasnt been a meaningful decrease in people living on the street. Why? Because more people are becoming homeless, often for the first time, because of economic stress, such as rising rent, a lost job or an eviction. Local governments are on the front lines of managing homelessness, displacement and gentrification. They need the ability to stop the bleeding. Proposition 10 would give them an additional option for helping those at risk of losing their homes. Proposition 10 isnt the solution to the states affordable housing crisis, but it is a valuable tool to manage the consequences. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook In response to the rise of pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses, some supporters of Israel have argued that harsh criticism of the Jewish state amounts to anti-Semitism and even that it violates federal anti-discrimination law. Now the Trump administration, in reopening a 7-year-old case involving alleged anti-Semitism at Rutgers University, seems to have embraced that popular but dangerous view. Its dangerous because colleges and universities should be open to robust political discussion, even if offends the deepest beliefs of students. Thats true for public and private universities alike and public universities are additionally bound by the 1st Amendment. The regents of the University of California realized that in 2016, and thats why they rebuffed demands that UC declare that anti-Zionism was a form of discrimination. The U.S. Department of Education, however, has now signaled that it is willing to blur the distinction between criticism of Israel and discrimination against Jewish students. In a letter to the Zionist Organization of America, which long has campaigned against what it claims is anti-Jewish bias on college campuses, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kenneth Marcus said that the department would revisit an old allegation that Jewish students at Rutgers, the state university of New Jersey, were charged a $5 fee to attend a pro-Palestinian event in 2011 but that others were allowed to attend without charge. Advertisement Being exposed to opinions one finds offensive isnt the same as being discriminated against. The allegation was one of several complaints about alleged discrimination against Jews at Rutgers that the Obama administration dismissed in 2014. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, federally aided colleges and universities virtually all of them may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin. (The law has been interpreted to protect groups, such as Jews and Muslims, that are also identified by religion.) Less significant than the new investigation of the specific facts in the Rutgers case is the fact that Marcus indicated that the Trump administration has decided to embrace a broad interpretation of anti-Semitism contained in statements by the State Department and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Both statements define as anti-Semitic criticisms of Israel that call into question its legitimacy. The 2010 State Department definition cites as an example of anti-Semitism denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, and denying Israel the right to exist. The IHRA definition, which the State Department has endorsed, is more specific, targeting statements claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor. Both definitions also condemn criticism that subjects Israel to a double standard by requiring of it behavior not demanded of any other democratic nation. That formulation could brand as an anti-Semite someone who, say, criticized Israels treatment of the Palestinians but didnt assail the U.S. or Britain for violating the rights of minorities. The Trump administration isnt alone in seeking to inject the State Department definition into determinations about whether a college is discriminating against Jewish students. That would also be the effect of a bill in Congress called the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act of 2018. But the two definitions are based on false assumptions. While its no doubt true that some critics of Israel and of the political philosophy of Zionism also harbor hatred of Jews, it does not follow from that that all anti-Zionists are anti-Semites. Opposing Israels right to exist or disagreeing with the policies of the Netanyahu government are positions that may be held by many people for many reasons, including people who are not anti-Semitic. Moreover, even statements that are anti-Semitic are protected by the 1st Amendment, so long as they dont take the form of threats or face-to-face harassment. Thats the price we pay to live in a country that zealously protects free speech. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Granted, college campuses are also places in which students shouldnt have to contend with a hostile learning environment. A student cant learn if he or she is subjected to acts of bigotry, subjected to racial or religious epithets or treated differently because of race or religion. The federal government must investigate complaints that colleges allow such misconduct. But students cannot and should not be hermetically sealed off from speech that offends them. Undoubtedly many Jewish students are made uncomfortable by fellow students or visiting speakers who denounce or demonize Israel, just as Catholic students might be dismayed by a speaker who impugned the teachings of Christianity or lampooned the pope. But being exposed to opinions one finds offensive isnt the same as being discriminated against. Its troubling that the Trump administration apparently doesnt understand the distinction. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook The last time I saw Les Moonves was a decade ago at the television upfronts. He was lordly and tiresome. As the president and chief executive of CBS, Moonves boasted monotonously about Everybody Loves Raymond to the journalists there to publicize his stupid sitcoms. The show might be a comedic wasteland, he said, but you couldnt kill it with a stick. (Later, hed say of Donald Trumps moral-wasteland candidacy, It may not be good for America, but its damn good for CBS.) Because I wanted to put Moonves off his game, in hopes of better copy, I asked him about David Ben-Gurion, his great-uncle (by marriage) and the founder of the state of Israel. He didnt say much, just flashed a look of rage before essentially telling me to shut up. The French droit du seigneur refers to the right of medieval lords to rape their subordinates. But since, strictly translated, the phrase is more open-ended right of the lord it jumped to mind even on that day. Now Moonves has been accused of actual sexual assault forcing his penis into the mouth of TV executive Phyllis Golden-Gottlieb in 1986, when she was in charge of sitcoms at Lorimar Productions. Advertisement What was Moonves job again? Shepherding Ray Romano vehicles into 22-minute time slots? Golden-Gottlieb also says Moonves threw her against a wall. What happened next? Put it this way: Golden-Gottlieb who was then known for her sharp eye for comedy didnt go on to run Viacom or CBS Corp. She left the television business, and well never know by how much she would have bested Everybody Loves Raymond. He took my whole career, she says now. When this heartbreaking news surfaced last week, no one seemed surprised. Moonves denied almost everything also pro forma. He then resigned, which was refreshing, if not much of a sacrifice. As of Friday, observers were calling his exit package with CBS singularly face-saving, since it included a temporary non-disparagement clause and confidentiality in the matter of CBS internal investigation. Its even possible though highly unlikely that he could receive a portion of his eye-popping $180-million severance package. Of course, this most recent assault allegation comes on the heels of at least six other accusations of harassment and intimidation by Moonves. But even when Moonves wasnt being allegedly lecherous and perhaps violent, he had a reputation for nastiness. He was known for stagy savagery with his enemies (notably NBC), but also with his employees, and even with the courtier-reporters at the upfronts. What was Moonves job again? Shepherding Ray Romano vehicles into 22-minute time slots? Pushing middlebrow comedies and political candidates that even he despised onto mass audiences? Why did grownups such as the CBS board and the journalists at that long-ago news conference believe Moonves was so mighty that he deserved deference, genuflection and truckling? And possibly even, to some degree, womens submission to his harassment and abuse? It should go without saying. No professional position chief line cook, head of the Old Vic theater, regional manager for a log homes company licenses anyone to assault, abuse or harass his or her employees or colleagues. Americans once shared a fantasy of egalitarianism and a resolution to take off our hats to no man much less a mere TV exec. And yet because Moonves has what? money? control over something to do with network television shows? some among us came to believe he had the right to lord it over people. In Hannah Gadsbys immensely provocative one-woman Netflix performance, Nanette, the Australian comedian radically reevaluates a powerful man with maybe a slightly better claim to greatness than Les Moonves: Pablo Picasso. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion First she reviews Picassos history of misogyny and abuse of women. And then she gets into the darkest part of his cruelty. It was in the way the culture especially the art world and academia conspired to enable and empower it. The most brilliant part of Gadsbys routine is by far the way she pronounces the goofy word that was Picassos blank check: Cubism. Arent we grateful that we live in a post-Cubism world? Isnt that the first thing we write in our gratitude journals? Gadsby asks. Like much of Nanette, this isnt a joke. Cubism is something many or most of us who went to college wrote dutifully in our notebooks. We were given to understand it was one of those man-invented concepts (or was it a practice?) that changed everything. Before Gadsbys routine, I had never doubted the absolute holiness of Cubism. But she got me wondering: What if Cubism, CBS hitmaker and other esoteric labels are not world-historical paradigm shifts but magic words that let a band of men, with Picasso- or Moonves-types on lead guitar, abuse people while they inflate the value of paintings and sitcoms? With #MeToo, Americans are collectively deconstructing the fictions that have sustained the hostile systems that devastate some of us and impoverish all of us. Am I grateful to live in a #MeToo world? Yes. And if I had a gratitude journal, that might actually be the first thing Id write in it. Twitter: @page88 Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook On most topics, the mix of reader opinions in letters to the editor stays the same over time. Examples include climate change (most letter writers want more government action against it) and President Trump (is it really necessary for me to state what many of our readers think of him?). For a select few topics, the prevailing reader opinion swings like a pendulum, often in response to other published letters that fall on one side of an issue. One example is gun control: Usually after a high-profile shooting, well get inundated with submissions calling for new laws, after which gun-rights proponents reply to those letters. Add to the second column another topic: the Department of Motor Vehicles. When there was a burst of news coverage recently of DMV customers waiting in line up to six hours, most of our letter writers complained of the lethargic bureaucracy they endured just to renew a drivers license. Now, most of our DMV commentators are sharing tales of hardworking staff and easy, in-and-out appointments. The takeaway? If a morning or afternoon at the DMV can put letter writers in a good mood, maybe theres hope for humanity. Advertisement Temecula resident Steve Ross uses the word beautiful after his DMV experience: The DMV is functioning just fine. All one really has to do is follow directions. My visit there on Sept. 12 was to obtain a Real ID drivers license. I followed the directions on the DMV website, which has three lists of documents; drivers are required to present an example from each list to obtain a Real ID license. Like the website says, its as easy as 1-2-3. Yes, I spent two hours there, but it was great to see parents assisting their children in obtaining their driving privilege for the first time. Our beautiful California has a lot of people we are blessed. Jeanette Barcroft of Camarillo clocks her recent visit at less than an hour: On Monday, I got a Real ID license. When I got my renewal notice, I went to the DMV website and looked up everything I needed. I went in on my appointed day with all the required documentation at the ready and filled out an application at a computer there. Then I stood in the appointments-only line for about five minutes and was served right away by a series of helpful, hardworking people. Paperwork, vision test, knowledge test and photo all followed quickly, and I was done. The whole process took 40 minutes. That was because I had an appointment and came prepared with everything I needed. However, the building was packed with people who did not do their homework. As I left I thanked the staff and praised their efforts, but I know their efficiency was partly due to mine. Mickey Rivers of Lakewood says check-in is the DMVs choke point: I recently made an appointment at the Long Beach DMV to get a Real ID license. I got in the appointments queue and was the 11th person in line. Problem was, there was only one employee checking in both appointments and non-appointments, so it took me 55 minutes just to check in. This is an obvious flaw. Once checked in, I was called within five minutes to have my documents verified. I was then directed to another window, where there was no wait to take a picture. I was then required to take both the motor vehicle and motorcycle written tests, for which I didnt study in advance but passed in short order. Once I checked in, everything took 20 minutes, and I was out the door with my temporary license. It seems the DMV needs to speed up its check-in process, especially for customers with appointments. It would also help if everyone went to the DMV website and verified what documents they needed before showing up. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: Jonah Goldberg lays out a false moral equivalency when he compares the norm-breaking of Presidents Trump and Obama. Trumps behavior is completely different. Trump calling the media the enemy of the people is different from President Obama trying to prevent illegal leaks. All presidents attempt to stop illegal leaking, but they do so without demonizing the fourth estate. Trump attacks the media merely because he does not like how he is being portrayed, no matter how true it is. And while all politicians may lie, Trump is not even tethered to the truth. He even bragged that he just made up facts when discussing trade with Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau. Trump lies with the same ease and frequency as he breathes. Trump has taken the most ugly and base characteristics of a bullying teenager and made it his brand, which because of his position has sullied all Americans. Advertisement Paul Katz, Burbank To the editor: Its always good to have Goldberg flirt with the Democratic position, even when its more or less. As he laments Trumps disregard of tradition and rules, he seeks some kind of equivalency with Obama. Goldberg seems to forget that in the eight years of the Obama presidency, there was not one hint of scandal. When Obama broke with tradition, it was only because the Republicans in Congress thwarted his every move. Yet in not even two years, President Trump has been in so many scandals that we cant keep track of them all. Goldberg cant accept that between these two, there is no equivalency. Maralys Wills, Santa Ana Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook When Gov. Jerry Brown said California should launch its own satellite in the 1970s, the plan was considered so far-fetched that critics dubbed him Gov. Moonbeam. But on Friday, Gov. Moonbeam struck back. Brown concluded his climate change summit promising the state would send its own satellite into orbit to track the formation of pollutants that cause climate change. The announcement was the most audacious of dozens of pledges political and business leaders made at a conference that sent a clear signal: Either get on board with the fast-moving transition or get left behind. Were under attack by a lot of people, including Donald Trump, but the climate threat still keeps growing, Brown said as he capped off the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco. So we want to know what the hells going on, all over the world, all the time. So were going to launch our own satellite, our own damn satellite, to figure out where the pollution is and how are we going to end it. Advertisement A statement from his office said the initiative will make it possible to pinpoint and stop destructive emissions on a scale thats never been done before. If there was one obvious takeaway from this unprecedented gathering of leaders from local, state and foreign governments as well as the private sector, it was that they are not going to let Washington impede their plans. The attendees made clear they intend to carry the world toward meeting the goals of the Paris agreement on climate change which President Trump has disavowed even if it means states must launch their own space programs. The landmark summit also aimed to put on notice leaders in the public and private sector hedging on climate action, giving them warning that they could face consequences more immediate than a warmer planet some decades from now. They also risk short-term stagnation, both economic and environmental. The governors summit and the Trump administrations reluctance to pursue robust climate research opened the door wide for Brown to pull a version of his satellite idea out of the archives and announce what would be Californias first space launch. The state will develop the satellite with the San Francisco-based Earth imaging firm Planet Labs, a company founded by ex-NASA scientists in 2010. California 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, but it will probably be several years away. Officials at the air board discussed the possibility of the satellite at their July meeting, where they expressed concern that the Trump administration had mothballed plans to use innovative technology to monitor the pollutants from space. 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 locating the sources of climate pollutants, which would enable it to refine its regulatory approach and better understand how to confront warming. Data from the satellite would be made available to the public through a partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund, which is launching its own pollution-monitoring satellite in 2021. The nonprofits spacecraft will focus exclusively on monitoring methane emissions coming out of 80% of the worlds oil and gas production facilities. We need to see who is emitting how much greenhouse gas, Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, said in an interview at the summit. Having an eye in the sky allows us to find out who is releasing how much. He said space technology offers new methods to track whether companies are complying with environmental laws and keeping to their commitments to cut emissions. These technologies that make monitoring less expensive are turbo-driving environmental efforts, Krupp said. It gives us hope. The more aggressive engagement of technology in all fronts of climate action was a major theme of the summit. In the case of the satellite project, it is part of a broader international data-sharing effort that officials hope can drive the elimination of greenhouse gases equaling that spewed by 200 million vehicles each year. Californias satellite project will be funded by donors, including Dee and Richard Lawrence and the Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust. The state is recruiting more partners. The space-age commitment was the splashiest of the three-day summit, but it was just one of several dozen climate pledges made by the cities, states and businesses participating. The commitments add up to a formidable acceleration of the global clean economy, which is growing to encompass everything from the cars we drive to the food we eat to the buildings we inhabit. Our world is in the early stages of a sustainability revolution, former Vice President Al Gore said in a speech Friday. It has the magnitude of the Industrial Revolution and the speed of the digital revolution. Plans were put in motion to install 3.5 million more electric-vehicle chargers worldwide within the next seven years. There are currently fewer than half a million. California will impose emissions targets on the ride-share and autonomous vehicle industries, accelerating the production of electric cars. The state of Minnesota, which relies heavily on coal power, was among several big states and cities around the world joining a coalition vowing to go coal-free in the near future. Walmart and Unilever made major forest sustainability pledges. McDonalds is among the nearly 500 companies now working with a nonprofit to slash the carbon footprint of everything it does from beef production to packaging to conform with the Paris goals. The summit highlighted how the American states that are most rapidly embracing these changes are already showing stronger economic growth than those hewing to the Trump administrations approach a stark counterpoint to the White House narrative that boosting fossil fuel dependence is key to prosperity. The states in the U.S. Climate Alliance have had greater economic growth while this group has been in existence than the states that are not in this group, said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a member of the group of 17 governors that banded together after Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris agreement. Alliance members are vowing to meet the emissions reduction targets in the international accord nonetheless. If we were a separate nation, we would represent the third-largest economy in the world, Inslee said. Times staff writers Tony Barboza and John Myers contributed to this report. The latest look at the Trump administration and the rest of Washington More stories from Evan Halper evan.halper@latimes.com | Twitter: @evanhalper Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed bilateral relations and a number of issues of common interest during a phone call Friday evening with Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, said presidential spokesperson Bassem Rady in a statement. The Egyptian president expressed Cairo's desire to upgrade ties with Vienna, especially in the fields of investment and trade. El Sisi also spoke to the Austrian Chancellor about Egypt's efforts in combating terrorism and achieving security and stability, as well as controlling the land and sea borders, which has resulted in preventing illegal immigration to Europe from the Egyptian coasts since September 2016. The two leaders also discussed coordination on regional and international issues, as well as counterterrorism efforts. Kurz reflected his country's desire to develop relations with Egypt across all levels, especially with development and infrastructure projects, in light of the firm steps Egypt has taken in implementing its economic reform program. Kurz hailed Egypt's efforts in combating terrorism and achieving stability and security, particularly countering illegal migration to Europe, while saying that Austria, as the current president of the European Union, appreciates Egypt's role as a pivotal partner to maintain stability and peace in the Middle East. Search Keywords: Short link: The heat was stupefying. It had reached 112 degrees when I visited Wadi Rum, a spectacular mountain range of rose-colored sandstone and a UNESCO World Heritage site north of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea in southern Jordan. But when I discovered that the regional headquarters of the Royal Jordanian Desert Forces Camel Corps lay nearby, I ventured there as well, driving to its compound on the outskirts of Wadi Rum Village, a dusty hamlet of about 350 residents, modest houses, two schools, several small markets and a mechanics garage, which advertised itself by a pickup truck that sat atop the buildings roof. When I arrived unannounced at my destination, I was greeted warmly by Capt. Tarek Zyad, the commanding officer, and his men, all clad in the Jordanian armys dark green uniform and black beret. Members of the local Zalabia Bedouin tribe, they laughed good-naturedly when I unwittingly stepped into a pool of camel droppings, which filled my shoes and rose up to my ankles. The troopers were preparing to saddle up their nine camels, resting in the shade of an adjoining pasture, and venture into the desert, which is inaccessible to four-wheel-drive vehicles, in search of criminals and smugglers of tobacco, electronic equipment, stolen cars and trucks, illicit drugs and illegal weapons. Rescuing lost hikers and infiltrators from neighboring Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Syria and Iraq also are among their responsibilities. Wadi Rum, which translates into valley or dry river in Arabic and Hebrew, was a prime filming site of David Leans 1962 motion picture Lawrence of Arabia, which starred Peter OToole, who told a magazine interviewer that the camel he was assigned during the production was impossible to ride ... I found my bottom bleeding from bouncing up and down on the snorting great dragon. The motion picture, which won seven Oscars, celebrated the exploits of British archaeologist and Royal Army Col. T.E. Lawrence, who bivouacked at Wadi Rum with his Bedouin troops while conducting combat operations against the pro-German Ottoman Turks during World War I. My visit with the Jordanian Camel Corps during a recent three-week trip to the Middle East immediately jogged my recollection of a little-known chapter in Orange County history: The U.S. Army also had camels, which during the Civil War served as pack animals attached to cavalry units that patrolled Southern California and northern areas of present-day O.C. while on the lookout for Confederate sympathizers who advocated turning California into an independent, pro-Confederate republic. (California had been admitted to the Union on Sept. 9, 1850, and Orange County broke off from Los Angeles County on March 11, 1889, to become a separate county.) The Armys experiment with camels began in the mid-1850s, when it was realized that the new Army forts and camps in the vast territories of the West and Southwest, which had become part of the U.S. following the 1846-48 U.S.-Mexican War, were not satisfactorily supplied by the slow-moving oxcarts and horse-drawn wagons traditionally used by the military, according to Michael Deagon, historian at Fort Tejon State Historic Park, which lies off I-5 south of Bakersfield and is the site of the original Fort Tejon (1854-1864). The fort also had been sent several of the camels. So the three-masted, 547-ton Navy supply ship appropriately named the USS Supply was dispatched on two successive voyages to bring back 88 one-hump Dromedary and two-hump Bactrian camels, thought to be swifter and more agile than the Armys horses, oxen and mules. Upon their arrival to the United States, they were sent to military installations in the West and Southwest. One of these posts was Camp Drum, also known as Drum Barracks, which was located in Wilmington near the Port of Los Angeles, where an estimated 3,000 soldiers were stationed during the Civil War to monitor the pro-secessionists, many of whom had been born in the South and now called Southern California their home, Deagon said. Hundreds of them, including several from present-day Orange County, flew Confederate flags from their front porches and joined militia units, such as the Los Angeles Rifles, headed by the Los Angeles County sheriff, who led his armed members on marches and drills across the county. Similar groups were formed in San Bernardino, Riverside and other communities east and north of Los Angeles, he added. Army cavalry units, bolstered by Camp Drums 30-plus pack camels, traveled south to Long Beach harbor and the present-day Orange County port cities of Seal Beach and Huntington Beach in search of secessionists. Defense of the coast was paramount to the soldiers and the crew of the tiny U.S. Navy warship Camanche, the only USN ship in the area during the Civil War. Rumors flew across the state that the heavily armed, 250-foot Confederate Navy ship Shenandoah and an accompanying armada of commerce raiders or pirate ships flying the Confederate flag was headed for San Francisco, where they would attempt to capture the city with the help of local secessionists. Then, according to the rumors, the Shenandoah would sail southward and capture Los Angeles for the Confederacy. Hysteria reigned, and coast watchers patrolled the Southern California beaches as they did during the two World Wars. And there was yet another fear: That Confederates might try to hijack heavily laden Union transport ships traveling along the coast carrying gold and silver from the mines of Northern California and Nevadas Comstock Lode bound for the East to be used to help finance the Northern war effort. Further rumors circulated that California secessionists also were planning to seize Catalina Island, and troops from Camp Drum were rushed there and established Camp Santa Catalina. Today, the forts still-standing barracks serve as the clubhouse of the Isthmus Yacht Club. All of the rumors relating to Confederate seizures across California proved to be just that, rumors. The Confederate fleet never materialized. No California ports and Catalina Island were invaded. No Civil War battles occurred in California. Secessionists evaporated following impressive Union victories in the North, Camp Drum and the dozen or so other forts in California were downsized at the wars end and eventually closed. One of Camp Drums 19 buildings, the officers quarters, still stands and today is a public museum. As for the camels: They had not gotten along with the Armys mules and horses, they fought among themselves and proved to be unsuitable to the Wests rough and rocky roads. The Army, relieved to get rid of the surly and cantankerous animals, sold most of them to civilian transporters. Some ran off into the deserts of California, Arizona and Nevada and others were sold to circuses and zoos, stated historian Deagon. Topsy, believed to be the last of them, died at the Los Angeles Zoo in April of 1934 at the unusually old age of 81, thus ending the Armys camel experiment, which played a unique and little-known role in Southern California Civil War history. David C. Henley, a Newport Beach resident, is a contributor to Times Community News. The Huntington Beach City Council on Monday will consider creating a commission to address residents concerns about airplane noise. Proposed by council members Patrick Brenden and Barbara Delgleize, the seven-member commission would collaborate with neighboring cities and airlines on possible solutions. The council would give the city manager and city attorney 90 days to amend the municipal code to form the commission and craft guidelines. Residents have increasingly complained about the noise since the Federal Aviation Administration implemented regional flight path alterations in 2017, but city officials said the issue dates as far back as 2007. The FAA says more than two dozen air routes have historically passed over Huntington Beach. In January, the city created the Air Traffic Noise Working Group, which has 12 members, some of whom are former airline pilots, to examine the issue and begin talks with aviation officials. City looks to crack down on illegal in-home businesses In effort to maintain quality of life, council members Erik Peterson and Lyn Semeta want the city attorney to devise a proposal for increased investigation of illegal and unlicensed in-home business. The city, Peterson said, receives a lot of complaints, inundating code enforcement officers. This proposal is one way to cast a wider net and target unregulated sober-living homes and illegal short-term vacation rentals, he added. Facilities with more than seven people are regulated by the state and are licensed, but city officials have said little can be done for unlicensed sober-living dwellings which often have six or fewer residents, dont offer treatment and are classified as regular households. Short-term vacation rentals typically residences rented out for 30 days or less arent allowed in Surf City, but many are listed on online rental sites. Peterson suggests the city attorney hire an independent contractor to help with investigations and enforcement. Public hearing on downtown business groups contract In other business, the council will hold a public hearing on the Downtown Business Improvement Districts 2018-19 contract. Businesses pay membership dues that help provide private security, extra cleaning and daily porter services, tree trimming, holiday decor, social media marketing and events in the downtown area. Its a routine process but members who want to be excluded from the group and paying dues can use the hearing to voice further concerns. In August, the City Council denied requests from Pacific City tenants, the Pasea Hotel & Spa and the Hilton and Hyatt waterfront hotels all of which are along Pacific Coast Highway to modify the districts boundaries and opt out. Some council members had said they wanted to give the BIDs new leadership a chance. Councilman Patrick Brenden dissented, saying changing the map would purify the groups vision and make it easier to focus on Main Street. Days after the vote, BID President Matt Peterson had said he plans to aggressively court the reluctant members. The City Council meeting begins at 6 p.m. Monday at the Civic Center, 2000 Main St., Huntington Beach. Priscella.Vega@latimes.com Twitter: @vegapriscella A proposed Newport Beach senior care facility triggered a long list of complaints from unhappy neighbors at a Planning Commission study session Thursday night. Harbor Pointe Senior Living would house 120 senior citizens split between assisted living and more-complex memory care units with up to 30 employees at a time on a 1.5-acre campus at 101 Bayview Place, off Bristol Street near Jamboree Road. Nearby residents said they are anxious about how the facility which would be staffed around the clock and need rezoning to replace a Japanese restaurant currently at the corner would affect traffic, area property values, future land uses and the safety of neighbors and the facilitys residents. We have a right to expect that the city will protect our property values and physical safety, Charlotte Miller told the Planning Commission. Restaurants and offices are not open all night. An institution is, however, open all night with employee shift changes, ambulances, police activity, even coroners and mortuary vehicles disrupting our neighborhoods and our lives. About 20 residents spoke to the commission and about as many submitted letters, mostly in opposition. The commission did not vote on the matter, which is expected to return to the agenda in late October. For the facility to be built, the Planning Commission and City Council would need to rezone the lot from general commercial office to private institution. The immediate area has several traditional low-rise and midrise office buildings, but the office zoning is broad enough to allow restaurants like the single-story, 8,800-square-foot Kitayama, which would be demolished to make way for the senior home. Neighbor Patricia Blakeney said she isnt against the facilitys services so much as the location. It doesnt belong here, she said. The people that live here dont want it. The proposed building would be three stories, reaching about 40 feet tall and covering about 85,000 square feet. The 101 units some would be double occupancy would include 81 for assisted living and 20 in a more secured unit for residents with dementia. The facility would have a theater, a small store, a fitness room and spa, a salon, a library, computer labs, a grill and dining rooms, laundry rooms, 53 subterranean parking spaces and other communal areas. A version of the project that developer Centerpointe Senior Living pitched last year was five stories with 144 beds in 128 units. Developer representative Carol Mentor McDermott said feedback from meetings with a neighborhood homeowners association and a 2017 Planning Commission study session led to the scaled-back proposal. Mentor McDermott said the population is aging but Newport Beach hasnt seen a new comprehensive senior care home since the 61-bed Crown Cove opened in 1999. A draft of the citys environmental impact study for Harbor Pointe Senior Living says the proposed private institution land use would have fewer effects on traffic, air quality and greenhouse gas emissions than office use. Private institution zoning covers senior living and medical facilities, which made neighbors concerned that the parcel could eventually hold a drug rehabilitation facility or psychiatric hospital. But Mentor McDermott said the developer is requesting tailored zoning and permitting privileges that only would allow the senior living home. Nearby resident Peter Dugan said the precedent of rezoning could be the beginning of the end for his tranquil neighborhood. The impact that this one represents is scary enough, and then you start to change all of that area into this type of use, itll spell the end of our neighborhood where we raised our kids, where we potentially want to retire, he said. Neighbors also worried about the facilitys water use, limited outdoor recreation space for residents and proximity to noise and pollution from John Wayne Airport. However, the project also had supporters. Dave OKeefe, who lives four houses from the site, said theres an absolute huge need for this in our community. He said his uncle had lived in Newport Beach throughout his life, but when he recently needed to go into assisted living, he had to leave the city. I think its a great project, OKeefe said. Theyve spent a lot of time listening to the community, reducing the heights. Ann Janes said the area will always have traffic issues and that people need to be open to change. She said shes seen plenty in the 34 years shes lived in Newport. None of us know whats going to happen to any of us, so Id like to have the opportunity of having someplace here for myself, she said. hillary.davis@latimes.com Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD The Glendale Unified School District hosted its 26th annual college and career fair on Wednesday at the Glendale Civic Auditorium. An estimated 700 people attended this years gathering, which tops the approximately 600 who showed up for last years event, according to Felix Melendez, the school districts executive director of secondary education. Also, representatives from more than 100 college, university and career services were on hand. Harvard, Loyola Marymount and University of Nevada, Las Vegas were some of the universities that has representatives in attendance, along with several Cal State and University of California schools and Glendale Community College. There were also representatives from fire and police departments, along with the armed services. Also, Glendale Community College representatives gave two presentations on financial aid and filing a free application for federal student aid. Glendale Unified also highlighted its career-technology education, or CTA, programs at its high schools. The event and parking were free. andrew.campa@latimes.com Twitter @campadresports Canelo Alvarez has to knock out Gennady Golovkin in their rematch Saturday night. So said Oscar De La Hoya. De La Hoyas choice of words was curious, if not downright bizarre, considering they placed an incredibly heavy burden on his promotional companys most valuable fighter. He wasnt speaking only as Alvarezs promoter, however. He also was speaking as a former fighter. Advertisement As much as anyone associated with the event, De La Hoya understands how careers can be defined by the kind of moment that awaits Alvarez when he takes on Golovkin again at T-Mobile Arena. De La Hoya knows how fleeting these opportunities can be, how once they pass, theyre gone forever. You cant turn back time, De La Hoya said. You have to seize the moment. Hes lived the consequences of failing to do that, specifically in what was supposed to be the signature fight of his career, a controversial decision loss to Felix Trinidad of Puerto Rico in 1999. Its haunted me forever, De La Hoya said. LIVE UPDATES: Coverage of Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golokvin from Las Vegas If the strikingly handsome De La Hoya was the Alvarez of his generation, Trinidad played the role of Golovkin, a relentless stalker with devastating power in both hands. Two undefeated welterweights, De La Hoya and Trinidad met in what was called the Fight of the Millennium on Sept. 18, 1999. In the buildup to the confrontation, comparisons were made to Ray Leonards 14th-round stoppage of Tommy Hearns in 1981. Its funny because I fought Trinidad the way Canelo fought Golovkin the first time, De La Hoya said. The description undersells De La Hoyas defensive performance that night. Canelo Alvarez, left, and Gennady Golovkin are separated after their face-off pose during their weigh-in Friday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review Journal via AP) Alvarez was a plodder early in his career who gradually improved his movement through an unusual dedication to his craft. De La Hoya, substantially more naturally gifted than Alvarez, was light on his feet and blessed with blinding hand speed. Alvarez boxed well in his fight last year against Golovkin, but ringside observers were divided over how effective he was in neutralizing his opponents attack in what was ruled a draw. In De La Hoyas case, the view was unanimous. De La Hoya was wiping him out. Trinidad couldnt touch him. Despite an obvious difference in class, De La Hoya never tried to finish Trinidad, as he remained content avoiding his punches and slapping him around. The strategy backfired as De La Hoya tired in the later rounds. Lacking the energy required to strike Trinidad after making him miss, De La Hoya was forced into a full-scale retreat over the last three rounds. The decision was a shocker. Trinidad was gifted an undeserved majority decision. Rather than elevate De La Hoya and Trinidad the way Leonard and Hearns 14-round battle did them, the contest diminished both fighters. De La Hoya went on to a number of memorable fights and earned hundreds of millions of dollars over his career, but none of them erased the memory of what he did against Trinidad. When he retired, the feeling was that he was something of an underachiever, that he never became the fighter he should have become. If theres a fight that I can redo, it would be the last three rounds, De La Hoya said. Even though in many peoples eyes I won that fight, those last three rounds were critical. His disappointment was only magnified by his familiarity with the pride and euphoria he experienced after his most courageous performances. He knocked down Ike Quartey in a furious, 12-round attack when he believed he was down on the scorecards in a split-decision victory in 1999. He dropped a split decision to Shane Mosley the following year, but exchanged power punches with him in the center of the ring down the stretch. He stopped hated rival Fernando Vargas in 2002 and did the same to foul-mouthed verbal tormentor Ricardo Mayorga in 2006. Theres a reason people still talk about me and Vargas or me and Mayorga, me and Mosley, me and Ike Quartey, De La Hoya said. Its because you have to seize the moment. But Trinidad was more dangerous than any of the fighters he beat, administering beatings that ruined the promising careers of Vargas and David Reid. De La Hoya retired wealthy and without any noticeable signs of brain damage. What if he had tried to knock out Trinidad and ended up in a violent fight that did permanent harm to him? De La Hoya doesnt consider the possibility, thinking more of the regret he harbors. Not wanting Alvarez to endure the same fate, he has made it a point to share his experiences with the Mexican middleweight. Now that Canelo knows what he has in front in front of him, I strongly feel Canelo is going to go for the kill, De La Hoya said. I strongly feel Canelo is going to be aggressive, is going to push him back, just the way I would have done if I would have fought Trinidad the second time around. Alvarez will have the chance for redemption that De La Hoya never had. The same applies to Golovkin. Whether its Canelo or whether its Triple-G, they have to go out there and try to be great, De La Hoya said. Not just good. You have to be great. And Saturday night is their opportunity. What they do with that opportunity will determine how they are remembered. dylan.hernandez@latimes.com Twitter@dylanohernandez Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we ready for the middle weekend at Los Al before its time to go back to Santa Anita. So, what is it about Los Alamitos that has it cancelling show betting whenever there is even a whiff of a minus pool? It was especially stark last Saturday when the six-horse Beverly J. Lewis Stakes had no show betting. Actually, if you go back to the Summer meeting, they did it with another six-horse field. Saturdays card has three five-horse races and only one of them has show wagering. On Friday, there were two five-horse fields and they had show bets on only one of them. In its Summer meeting, Los Al cancelled show bets in six races. Three were understandable because there were only four horses. Two of them had five and then there was the aforementioned six-horse race. Youre going to be surprised at who makes that decision. Weve had a huge problem with minus pools, Allred says. They can really nail us. If there is a five or six horse field and suddenly there is a scratch or even two it can lead to very large minus pools. Theres a guy at Del Mar [which would count as an on-track bet] that is very shrewd. He doesnt strike very often but when he does he hits us. Los Alamitos is doing what it thinks it needs to do to remain the strongest it can financially. Never forget, it rescued year-around racing when Hollywood Park closed. Now the rules on what a track can and cant do as far as mutuel pools is spelled out in CHRB Rule 1954, which says you have to offer win, place and show wagering in any race with five or more starters unless you get permission from the California Horse Racing Board. The tracks ask the CHRB executives [ Rick Baedeker and/or Jackie Wagner ] for permission, Marten said In rare instances when the execs are not available, the stewards have the authority to grant the request. [In last Saturdays stakes race] they did reach one of the execs and permission was granted. These are business decisions by the tracks, so the execs typically honor the request. Eddie Burgart does that for us, Allred said referring to our newsletter contributor and the best quarter-horse announcer ever. Hes Mr. Los Alamitos. I can replace him as an announcer but cant replace him for all the other things he does for us. Allred explained that Burgart looks over all the races at Los Al and those coming in from other tracks and determines which ones could present trouble if there is suddenly a huge bet that the track would lose money on. Now, you need to understand that a minus pool is not shouldered entirely by the track. For starters, the track still takes its cut from the bet, but has to pay taxes, the city and other funds. But it is only responsible for the bets made on-track and through the connecting regional off-track sites. We have one regular reader who liked to make bridge jumper show bets through TVG. The ADW suspended his account until he agreed not to make any of those bets anymore. So, its not like all the burden falls on the track. Not everyone plays it like Los Alamitos, which has a very small margin. Santa Anita had a series of minus pools whenever Songbird ran a couple years ago. Joe Morris , who was running the track at the time, said they are in the betting business so he wasnt going to take that away from fans. But, when Songbird went East, Saratoga cancelled show wagering. (What say you who think The Spa is the greatest thing in racing?) In the 2016 Woodbine Mile, which coincidentally, the 2018 version is being held Saturday, cancelled show betting because Tepin was such a heavy favorite in a field of eight. But, you can never get mad at our Canadian neighbors. So, something that seems so simplewhy no show betting?has a back story steeped in accounting that is rather complicated. Still, especially in six-horse fields (with no scratches), I want my $2 across bet to cost me six bucks, not four. In a move that rivaled the Breeders Cup choice of sites as the biggest non-secret of the year, WinStar Farm announced that Justify will stand at Coolmore Farm. After much deliberation with all the partners, weve decided to accept Coolmores offer to stand Justify, Elliott Walden , president, CEO and racing manager of WinStar Farm, said on its website. As you can imagine, this is a bittersweet moment for all of us connected to this special horse who gave us the ultimate thrill of a lifetime. We believe strongly in Justify as a stallion and the ownership group has retained breeding rights. We look forward to supporting him at Ashford Stud. Just a Smidge showed some real heart down the stretch and another gear in the final strides to win Fridays feature, a $45,000 allowance/optional claimer for fillies and mares going one mile. She had the lead most of the race but started to look vulnerable down the stretch from an advancing Whirling, but then she found more and won by 2 lengths. The fields are pretty thin for Saturdays nine-race card starting at 2 p.m. There is one race with seven horses, three with five and all the rest with six. One of the five-horse races is the $100,000 Barretts Debutante for 2-year-old fillies who came out of the Barretts sale. The distance is 6 furlongs. The favorite is Square Peggy at 7-5. She runs for Brian Koriner and will be ridden by Tiago Pereira . She has only run two races, winning her maiden special last time out by 1 lengths at Del Mar. The second favorite, at a close 8-5, is Naughty Tiger for Edward Freeman and Ruben Fuentes . She has won two of her three races, a maiden special at Santa Anita and the California Thoroughbred Breeders Assn. Stakes at Del Mar. She won that race by 1 . She broke fast, dueled with the betting favorite and put her away while opening up impressively down the stretch to win easily. That was a nice improvement for her first start for this barn and she now enters in a protected race where she cant be claimed. She will be tough to beat if she improves again. 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 well-regarded 2-year-old from the Justin Joiner barn hopped up and came away very slow when fifth in last Rainbow Futurity trial nine weeks ago. He finished out with good energy and was flattered when the winner MM Fourinthemorning returned to captured the futurity finals. He is now back with maidens and need only break clean to get the money. Always looking to add more subscribers to this newsletter. Cant beat the price. If you like it, tell someone. If you dont like it, then youre probably not reading this. Either way, send to a friend and just have them click here and sign up . Remember, its free, and all we need is your email, nothing more. 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 Friday, September 14. Copyright 2018 by Equibase Company. Reproduction prohibited. Los Alamitos Race Course, Los Alamitos, California. 5th day of a 12-day meet. Clear & Fast FIRST RACE. 5 Furlongs. Purse: $12,000. Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $6,250. Time 21.78 45.04 57.26 Pgm Horse Wt PP St 3/16 3/8 Str Fin Jockey $1 5 Jay Makes Us Laugh 119 5 5 5 41 22 11 Figueroa 0.30 3 Four Gaels 119 3 2 2 11 11 23 Payeras 5.70 4 Joejoe's Kingdom 120 4 4 4hd 5 5 3hd Pena 8.20 2 Tiz Point 124 2 3 32 3 4hd 43 Sanchez 42.80 1 Stoneys Mr Cruiser 124 1 1 1hd 21 3 5 Bednar 4.70 5 JAY MAKES US LAUGH 2.60 2.20 2.10 3 FOUR GAELS 4.20 2.40 4 JOEJOE'S KINGDOM 2.40 $1 EXACTA (5-3) $3.20 $1 TRIFECTA (5-3-4) $9.60 WinnerJay Makes Us Laugh B.g.4 by Southern Image out of So Nice, by Fusaichi Pegasus. Bred by Howard & Janet Siegel Racing LLC (CA). Trainer: William E. Morey. Owner: Gulliver Racing LLC and Morey, William E.. Mutuel Pool $87,047 Exacta Pool $33,954 Trifecta Pool $30,835. ClaimedJay Makes Us Laugh by Pender Racing LLC. Trainer: Michael Pender. Scratchednone. JAY MAKES US LAUGH settled outside, chased three wide on the turn, came out further then rallied strongly from the outside and collared leader inside sixteenth marker to prove best. FOUR GAELS forced the early issue while three deep, gained lead midway on the turn, continued on same path into the lane, edged away but could not hold the winner late. JOEJOE'S KINGDOM tracked leaders early while inside winner, angled out some in upper stretch and gamely gained the show. TIZ POINT between rivals early while pressing the pace, came out some leaving the turn and was out finished for third while between foes. STONEYS MR CRUISER had good early foot from along the rail, remained inside but weakened in the final eighth. SECOND RACE. 6 Furlongs. Purse: $15,000. Maiden Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $20,000. Time 22.57 45.87 57.92 1:10.43 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 3 Don't Pass 120 3 1 1hd 1hd 12 14 Roman 3.30 4 Veiled Heat 119 4 6 6 4 42 2 Payeras 2.40 2 Eurasia 120 2 3 22 21 21 33 T Baze 6.50 5 Queen Shelly Ann 115 5 5 3hd 31 3hd 41 Figueroa 1.30 1 Baby Ice 124 1 4 41 51 5 51 Pena 7.30 6 I Adore You 114 6 2 51 6 6 6 Rodriguez 58.20 3 DON'T PASS 8.60 4.20 2.80 4 VEILED HEAT 3.40 2.40 2 EURASIA 3.20 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (5-3) $15.60 $1 EXACTA (3-4) $14.20 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (3-4-2-5) $14.67 $1 TRIFECTA (3-4-2) $46.10 WinnerDon't Pass B.f.3 by Line of David out of Dia Xenia, by Harlan's Holiday. Bred by Bo Hirsch, L.L.C. (CA). Trainer: Martin F. Jones. Owner: Bo Hirsch, LLC. Mutuel Pool $71,469 Daily Double Pool $18,621 Exacta Pool $33,849 Superfecta Pool $15,425 Trifecta Pool $23,200. Scratchednone. DON'T PASS dueled outside a rival down the backstretch and on the turn, inched away from that rival nearing the furlong marker, and drew clear through the final furlong while off the rail. VEILED HEAT was bumped hard at the start, chased off the rail and between horses on the turn, kept to her task through the lane and was up for second in the final yards. EURASIA dueled inside the winner on the backstretch and around the turn, could not match that foe in the final furlong and was edged for second in the final yards. QUEEN SHELLY ANN bobbled at the start then came in and bumped a rival, was rank between horses on the backstretch, came into the stretch three wide and weakened in the final furlong. BABY ICE stalked a bit off the rail on the backstretch, saved ground around the turn, remained inside through the lane and did not offer a bid. I ADORE YOU chased on the outside on the backstretch and three deep on the turn, came into the stretch three wide and weakened. THIRD RACE. 5 Furlongs. Purse: $14,000. Waiver Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $8,000. Time 21.95 45.60 57.73 Pgm Horse Wt PP St 3/16 3/8 Str Fin Jockey $1 2 Bragging Rights 115 2 5 5hd 51 11 12 Espinoza 0.60 3 Fashion Fair 124 3 4 7 61 32 23 Pena 33.90 5 Garrulous Gal 115 5 1 1 11 2hd 34 Payeras 17.80 6 Complete Discreet 120 6 7 61 41 41 4nk Fuentes 3.30 4 Sapodilla 124 4 2 21 2 52 52 Gonzalez 7.90 1 Get Yourself Home 119 1 6 4 7 7 6 McDaid 5.10 7 Gamezapper 120 7 3 31 3hd 61 7 Sanchez 43.90 2 BRAGGING RIGHTS 3.20 2.60 2.10 3 FASHION FAIR 15.00 8.40 5 GARRULOUS GAL 5.40 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (3-2) $16.00 $1 EXACTA (2-3) $20.70 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (2-3-5-6) $50.48 $1 TRIFECTA (2-3-5) $154.70 WinnerBragging Rights B.f.3 by Street Boss out of Brag (IRE), by Mujadil. Bred by Don Gibb & Regan Wright (CA). Trainer: John W. Sadler. Owner: Hronis Racing LLC. Mutuel Pool $80,388 Daily Double Pool $8,574 Exacta Pool $45,133 Superfecta Pool $32,078 Trifecta Pool $36,063. ClaimedBragging Rights by Tom Mansor. Trainer: Gary Sherlock. Scratchednone. $1 Pick Three (5-3-2) paid $14.80. Pick Three Pool $27,428. BRAGGING RIGHTS stalked from the inside then between rivals, came three wide into the stretch, split rivals nearing three-sixteenths marker, gained lead then drew clear under urging. FASHION FAIR tracked pace from the inside then two wide, was between foes in upper stretch then responded to right handed urging and powered away from others. GARRULOUS GAL bumped at the start, moved up three wide and gained advantage into the turn, continued off the rail and could not match top pair in the drive. COMPLETE DISCREET bobbled in bit of slow start, pulled her way up three wide, chased four wide on the turn then five wide into the stretch and did not threaten. SAPODILLA bumped with outside foe leaving the gate, forced the early pace inside, remained along the rail and weakened. GET YOURSELF HOME had good early foot along the fence, continued on the rail to the stretch and also weakened. GAMEZAPPER chased either three or four wide to the stretch and faded from the outside. FOURTH RACE. 5 Furlongs. Purse: $14,000. Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $8,000. Time 21.59 44.98 57.62 Pgm Horse Wt PP St 3/16 3/8 Str Fin Jockey $1 7 Hayne's Pal 120 7 4 1hd 11 11 12 Sanchez 1.80 1 Captain Walker 124 1 3 2hd 22 24 24 Hernandez 1.60 4 Rockin My Mojo 124 4 2 51 41 31 3 Vergara, Jr. 4.00 5 Valley Boy 124 5 5 6 61 41 43 Allen 20.20 3 Fandarel Dancer 119 3 7 41 5hd 6 5 McDaid 8.10 6 Ur All Playn Catch 124 6 6 7 7 7 64 De La Torre 72.70 2 Rebel On the Run 122 2 1 31 32 5hd 7 Harvey 8.50 7 HAYNE'S PAL 5.60 3.20 2.40 1 CAPTAIN WALKER 2.80 2.20 4 ROCKIN MY MOJO 2.80 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (2-7) $12.00 $1 EXACTA (7-1) $7.30 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (7-1-4-5) $21.49 $1 TRIFECTA (7-1-4) $24.50 WinnerHayne's Pal B.g.3 by Haynesfield out of Mountain Buddies, by Friends Lake. Bred by Brereton C. Jones (KY). Trainer: Jose Antonio Flores. Owner: Jose Antonio Flores. Mutuel Pool $101,015 Daily Double Pool $8,221 Exacta Pool $52,533 Superfecta Pool $40,925 Trifecta Pool $46,662. ClaimedCaptain Walker by Robert Lucas. Trainer: Robert Lucas. Scratchednone. $1 Pick Three (3-2-7) paid $31.50. Pick Three Pool $10,199. HAYNE'S PAL contested the early pace while three abreast, gained lead early on the turn, continued on same path to the stretch and edged away from inside rival under right hand urging. CAPTAIN WALKER dueled then forced the pace from along the rail, remained inside through the stretch and went willingly to the wire. ROCKIN MY MOJO was antsy in the gate then bumped hard with inside rival at the start, chased three wide around the turn, angled over to mid stretch then drifted back out nearing the wire and held third. VALLEY BOY was fractious prior to the start, raced slightly off the rail into and around the turn, came out some in the stretch and missed third. FANDAREL DANCER bumped hard with outside rival leaving the gate, tucked in behind dueling leaders, remained inside and weakened. UR ALL PLAYN CATCH was also fractious in the gate, reserved outside early, raced four wide into and on the bend, remained wide and was no threat. REBEL ON THE RUN dueled then pressed the pace from between rivals and inside the winner, drifted out leaving the turn and weakened. FIFTH RACE. 1 Mile. Purse: $45,000. Allowance Optional Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $40,000. Time 23.62 46.84 1:11.01 1:23.92 1:36.85 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 5 Just a Smidge 113 5 1 1hd 1hd 11 11 12 Espinoza 1.90 4 Whirling 120 4 3 42 3hd 22 28 212 Mn Garcia 1.60 1 Pacific Strike 120 1 4 3hd 44 44 46 3 Conner 4.90 3 Chickatini 120 3 2 21 21 32 31 411 Roman 3.00 2 Online Request 121 2 5 5 5 5 5 5 T Baze 12.00 5 JUST A SMIDGE 5.80 2.80 2.40 4 WHIRLING 2.80 2.10 1 PACIFIC STRIKE 2.40 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (7-5) $21.80 $1 EXACTA (5-4) $9.10 $1 TRIFECTA (5-4-1) $23.40 WinnerJust a Smidge Grr.f.3 by Into Mischief out of Pooh Corner, by Tapit. Bred by Carolyn R. Vogel (KY). Trainer: Bob Baffert. Owner: Debbie Lanni. Mutuel Pool $111,163 Daily Double Pool $10,339 Exacta Pool $47,996 Trifecta Pool $41,774. Scratchednone. $1 Pick Three (2-7-5) paid $15.90. Pick Three Pool $23,382. $1 Pick Four (3-2-7-5) 4 correct paid $103.10. Pick Four Pool $47,354. 50-Cent Pick Five (5-3-2-7-5) 5 correct paid $92.05. Pick Five Pool $247,015. JUST A SMIDGE dueled outside a rival down the backstretch, inched away from that foe on the second turn, turned back a bid in upper stretch and remained clear to the wire under urging. WHIRLING stalked outside a rival down the backstretch, moved up under urging on the second turn, bid outside the winner at the top of the stretch, was turned back by that foe but was clearly second best. PACIFIC STRIKE stalked inside a foe on the backstretch, fell back on the second turn, came out in the stretch, was no threat for major awards but gained third. CHICKATINI broke in and bumped a rival at the start, dueled inside the winner down the backstretch and on the second turn and weakened through the lane. ONLINE REQUEST was bumped at the start, chased on the outside and did not threaten. SIXTH RACE. 5 Furlongs. Purse: $15,000. Waiver Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Prices $10,000-$9,000. Time 22.18 44.81 56.90 1:03.14 Pgm Horse Wt PP St 3/8 Str Fin Jockey $1 3 Jimmy the Juice 124 3 3 21 1hd 1 13 Pereira 4.80 7 Burn Me Twice 124 7 2 4 31 22 23 Delgadillo 0.90 6 Towards the Light 124 6 5 53 54 3hd 3nk Harvey 5.80 1 He's Very Rare 122 1 1 1 2 41 4 Mt Garcia 14.70 4 Air Pocket 117 4 6 7 7 6hd 5ns Espinoza 24.30 2 Country Road 124 2 4 3hd 4hd 52 6 Franco 3.10 5 Banze No Oeste 124 5 7 61 61 7 7 Sanchez 25.10 3 JIMMY THE JUICE 11.60 4.00 3.00 7 BURN ME TWICE 2.80 2.10 6 TOWARDS THE LIGHT 3.00 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (5-3) $39.20 $1 EXACTA (3-7) $14.10 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (3-7-6-1) $17.12 $1 TRIFECTA (3-7-6) $40.70 WinnerJimmy the Juice Grr.g.5 by Speightstown out of Candy Jo, by Maria's Mon. Bred by Affirmed Investment Corp. (KY). Trainer: Victor M. Trujillo. Owner: Hunsucker, Lester and Smolich, Rob. Mutuel Pool $133,083 Daily Double Pool $13,282 Exacta Pool $57,922 Superfecta Pool $37,988 Trifecta Pool $44,809. ClaimedJimmy the Juice by Johnny Taboada. Trainer: Isidro Tamayo. ClaimedBanze No Oeste (BRZ) by Halasz, Thomas, Stephens, Robert and Stephens, Shay. Trainer: Steve Knapp. Scratchednone. $1 Pick Three (7-5-3) paid $68.20. Pick Three Pool $17,729. JIMMY THE JUICE pressured the early pacesetter, moved alongside that rival on the turn, gained lead three wide nearing the stretch, turned back outside rival in the drive and edged away late under steady hand pressure. BURN ME TWICE advanced from the outside on the turn, loomed four wide entering the stretch, bid outside winner in upper stretch, was turned back but comfortably held the place. TOWARDS THE LIGHT between rivals and inside winner leaving the backstretch, remained bit off the rail to the stretch, came out further in mid stretch and gained minor award. HE'S VERY RARE quickly sped to short lead from the inside, resisted briefly inside winner on the turn, came two wide into the lane, weakened some late and lost the show. AIR POCKET chased from off the rail, was three wide on the turn, swung out five wide into the stretch and did not threaten. COUNTRY ROAD stalked from the inside, remained along the rail into and through the stretch and weakened. BANZE NO OESTE (BRZ) was slow into stride, angled over early, raced slightly off the fence thereafter and did not menace. SEVENTH RACE. 1 Mile. Purse: $25,000. Starter Allowance. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $25,000. Time 23.92 47.09 1:11.70 1:23.93 1:36.70 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 2 Ransomed 121 2 2 11 2hd 33 12 13 Pereira 4.40 6 Award It 119 6 3 54 41 1hd 2 21 Figueroa 8.10 3 Plastered 119 3 1 21 55 42 44 32 Espinoza 2.90 5 Girl Downstairs 124 5 5 4hd 3hd 21 31 42 T Baze 0.80 1 Night Time Inc 124 1 6 6 6 6 51 58 Gonzalez 25.40 4 Believe Indeed 124 4 4 3hd 1hd 5hd 6 6 Roman 12.90 2 RANSOMED 10.80 4.60 3.80 6 AWARD IT 7.40 5.40 3 PLASTERED 3.40 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (3-2) $57.80 $1 EXACTA (2-6) $31.60 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (2-6-3-5) $15.44 $1 TRIFECTA (2-6-3) $85.00 WinnerRansomed Ch.m.5 by Regal Ransom out of Cool Chicken, by Tabasco Cat. Bred by T/C Stable, LLC (IL). Trainer: Vann Belvoir. Owner: A and J Racing. Mutuel Pool $123,829 Daily Double Pool $11,455 Exacta Pool $53,873 Superfecta Pool $34,232 Trifecta Pool $44,834. Scratchednone. $1 Pick Three (5-3-2) paid $127.30. Pick Three Pool $17,116. RANSOMED set pace from the inside into the backstretch, dropped back some on the second turn, shifted out, came four wide into the lane, re-rallied and surged past inside rivals approaching three-sixteenths marker and powered away. AWARD IT caught on five path and widest of all into first turn, moved up outside on the backstretch, dueled four wide on the second turn, gained advantage three wide into the stretch, had no response for the winner in the drive and held the place. PLASTERED moved up between to engage leaders briefly on the backstretch, lost contact with lead pack into second turn, came out bit on the last turn then five wide into the stretch and was along late for third. GIRL DOWNSTAIRS was four wide into initial turn, bid four abreast midway on the backstretch, battled inside runner-up on the second turn and into the stretch then weakened in the final eighth from the inside. NIGHT TIME INC (ARG) reserved from the inside, angled out on the second turn, came five wide into the stretch but did not threaten. BELIEVE INDEED caught between foes and three wide early, joined leader three deep in middle stages, forced issue inside leaders on the second turn, was along the rail into the stretch then weakened. EIGHTH RACE. 1 Mile. Purse: $18,000. Starter Allowance. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $12,500. Time 23.95 48.09 1:13.26 1:25.98 1:38.64 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 2 Ipray 124 2 5 4hd 5hd 41 33 11 Elliott 2.90 4 Princess Kendra 124 4 6 63 3 21 22 21 Fuentes 1.60 5 Blondy's Reward 124 5 1 11 11 11 1hd 34 Sanchez 7.60 3 Todos Santos 124 3 7 7 7 7 4hd 4 Pena 7.20 7 Ryder's Starlight 119 7 4 5 61 6 6 52 Figueroa 3.90 1 Lob City 119 1 2 21 2hd 5 5 66 Payeras 16.60 6 Honor Maker 117 6 3 33 41 31 7 7 Rodriguez 13.70 2 IPRAY 7.80 3.80 2.80 4 PRINCESS KENDRA 3.00 2.40 5 BLONDY'S REWARD 4.00 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (2-2) $53.00 $1 EXACTA (2-4) $11.80 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (2-4-5-3) $17.25 $1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (2-4-5-3-7) $225.20 $1 TRIFECTA (2-4-5) $57.10 WinnerIpray Ch.m.6 by Hold Me Back out of Church Time, by Pulpit. Bred by Venneri Racing (KY). Trainer: Javier Jose Sierra. Owner: Hugo E. Catalan. Mutuel Pool $137,480 Daily Double Pool $40,961 Exacta Pool $71,108 Superfecta Pool $46,459 Super High Five Pool $7,373 Trifecta Pool $60,017. Scratchednone. $1 Pick Three (3-2-2) paid $148.80. Pick Three Pool $51,716. $1 Pick Four (5-3-2-2) 4 correct paid $450.30. Pick Four Pool $165,221. 50-Cent Pick Five (7-5-3-2-2) 5 correct paid $1,190.70. Pick Five Pool $112,752. $2 Pick Six (2-7-5-3-2-2) 6 correct paid $7,119.60. Pick Six Pool $72,113. $2 Pick Six (2-7-5-3-2-2) 5 out of 6 paid $88.80. IPRAY chased between foes or two wide to second turn, angled four then five wide into the stretch, steadily closed under left handed urging while coming in bit through the lane and collared leading dup in the final yards. PRINCESS KENDRA was taken to the rail early, tracked pace from the inside into the lane, bid then gained slim advantage past eighth marker but could not stave off the winner. BLONDY'S REWARD quickly sped to the front, set uncontested pace while slightly off the fence, retained cushion while two wide into the stretch, overtaken inside eighth marker, battled outside rival but gave ground in final yards. TODOS SANTOS hopped in an awkward start, trailed from well off the rail, angled six wide leaving the last turn and came in some through the lane. RYDER'S STARLIGHT chased three wide early, was four wide around the last turn, came out further entering the stretch and failed to menace. LOB CITY stalked while bit off the rail, continued on two wide path and lacked needed late response. HONOR MAKER tracked pace from off the rail, remained three wide into and around the last turn and gave way readily in the stretch. The text message came at 5 p.m. on a Monday: Hey! Im sorry I havent been in touch for awhile. I just needed some time to let my feelings settle and figure out what I want. I dont think we should see each other again. Im sorry things didnt work out. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. No matter how blase I was about this romantic Bumble interlude, the sting of rejection still hurt. It was yet another online dating failure for me. Looking through two-dimensional images of men on my phone felt more like a game to pass time than a thoughtful process of choosing a potential romantic partner. After the rejection text, I decided I was done with all apps and websites advertising shortcuts for meeting your one and only. Advertisement After a few days of indulging in chocolate chip ice cream in my pajamas, a la Bridget Jones, I heard a story on NPR about a professional matchmaking company based in Los Angeles. Having just turned 40, I knew that living 34 miles east of L.A. proper was a death sentence for love and dating: Not only was I out of the desirable age range for dating but I also lived far away enough in the burbs that Id get dismissed even before I had a chance to impress and charm someone on a first coffee date. Are you a veteran of L.A.'s current dating scene? We want to publish your story I decided to go for it. I hired the professional matchmaking service to help me find a potential life partner. After I committed to the process, I felt enormous relief. I had outsourced the physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting search for a husband. I no longer had to fret about optimizing my chances of meeting eligible bachelors. A friend of mine likened it to hiring a real estate agent. Before finding the man of my dreams, however, I had to establish a healthy and functioning relationship with the matchmaker Christie that I was paired up with at Three Day Rule. Here was a woman whose job it was to know intimate details about my romantic life. Our first and only in-person meeting was at a Middle Eastern restaurant the Diplomat, in Monrovia where over bites of pita bread, hummus and baba ghanouj, she inquired not only about my relationship history but also about family dynamics, including my parents marriage. The first two matches were nice, but nothing clicked. Then, she matched me with John. She found him by engaging in some deep social-media digging. Hearing the story from Johns perspective was interesting, to say the least. There he was, going about his day, and then he gets this personal message from a matchmaker suggesting that he meet a client of hers because she thought wed make a great match (in part because were both foodies). She DMd him on Instagram to ask whether he was single and looking for a long-term relationship. It took him a day to respond, to get over the shock of it. When he did, he told her he was ready. But my matchmaker didnt make it that easy for him first, she had to go on a date of sorts with him herself, to make sure he was the kind of guy I was looking for. As he later told me, she asked him many of the same questions she asked me relationship history, family dynamics and more. He passed her test, and she gave him my number after filling me in on their meeting. More L.A. Affairs columns He called a few days later, and we chatted for about 45 minutes. Conversation flowed easily between us. After, still weary of the dating near-misses and jaded, I worried that our instant connection could be attributed to the fact that hes a native Angeleno, well trained in small talk in the land of shallow conversations. (He later told me that he attributed our ease of chatter to the fact that Im a professor of communication and that I teach effective communication strategies for a living.) A few days before our first date, I went for a pedicure after months of neglecting my toenails. It was then that I realized how invested I was in making a good first impression. We met for coffee at Grand Central Market. It was a strategic choice on his end. Later on, he shared how he chose a central location so we could extend our date if there was chemistry between us. And chemistry there was. We ended up spending the day together. He brought me to the Last Bookstore on Spring Street, with a stop at a favorite mural: Pope of Broadway, featuring actor Anthony Quinn. We walked through Pershing Square while discussing 90s alternative rock music that defined our youth. The ease of interaction we experienced on the phone was alive and well during this face-to-face encounter. It was easy to sense his thoughts from the get-go. His expressive blue eyes never failed to cue me in on how he really felt about certain issues. When I see my own reflection in them nowadays, as talk has turned to marriage, I see the love and tenderness he feels toward me. This thing we have is real. It feels like we were always meant to be together. Hiring a matchmaker was a gamble, but I needed a guide to the complicated twists and turns that make up dating in the 21st century in a massively sprawling city like L.A. We sometimes muse about whether we would have met without her help. It was a gamble, but Im glad I went all in. The author is an assistant professor at Cal Poly Pomona. L.A. Affairs chronicles the search for love in and around Los Angeles. If you have comments or a true story to tell, email us at LAAffairs@latimes.com. MORE L.A. LOVE STORIES Im black. Hes white. Heres what happened I went on a bunch of blind dates with total losers I was sleeping alone in a strangers bed and falling for him home@latimes.com 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. Egyptian Prosecutor-General Nabil Sadek has ordered an investigation into the death of three patients on Saturday during a dialysis session in Nile Delta's governorate of Sharqeya. Following the incident, a prosecution team headed to the dialysis unit in Darb Negm center village to inspect and question other infected patients. The team seized all of the equipment and tools used in kidney washing operations in the unit and ordered the bodies of the dead patients to be examined though an autopsy. The administrative prosecution has also opened an investigation into the incident and refered the incident to the technical office for further investigation. Other patients went into a coma following the dialysis session on Saturday, according to an administrative prosecution statement. Search Keywords: Short link: Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Caspian Sea: Long-awaited Agreement Reached by R.G. Gidadhubli On August 12, 2018 a meeting was held in the Central Asias port city of Aqtau in Kazakhstan when all the five states of the Caspian signed a new convention on its (Cospians) legal status. There are multiple factors which makes this event of global significance. Firstly, this is an important geopolitical development considering the fact that the Caspian is surrounded by Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan. The Caspian has also geographical significance being located in the Eurasian region and not linked to any ocean. Secondly, equally important is the fact that there have been ongoing disputes among these states on the water-sharing of the Caspian, which is very rich in energy resources. While during the Soviet era the Caspian was shared by two countries, namely the USSR and Iran, and there was no major dispute between them, now it is being shared by five sovereign and independent states. Hence the issue of sharing of the Caspian has become complex and often leading to conflicts that have remained unresolved during the last 20 years. Being landlocked, there have been disagreements among the member-states as to whether the Caspian is a sea or a lake. As per international law, if the Caspian is deemed a sea, the five countries would draw lines extending from their shores to the midway point with littoral neighbours. But if it is classified as a lake, then it would mean that the resources would be divided equally among these five countries. Hence Kazakhstan and Russia, which have long shores, will be the major beneficiaries since the Caspian is classified as a sea as agreed to by the leaders. Therefore, it is understandable that as per reports, the Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, stated in June 2018 that the countries would agree in Aqtau that the Caspian is a sea, which gives great benefit for Russia. This was implicitly reiterated also by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, who stated at the summit that the settlement of the Caspian Seas legal status creates conditions for bringing cooperation between the countries to a qualitatively new level of partnership for the development of close cooperation on different trajectories. Thirdly, while it was known that the Caspian has energy resources, explorations, including by global oil giants, made during the last two decades, have enhanced and proved the availability of immense hydrocarbon resources in it. This has increased the status and role of the Caspian Sea in the international energy sector and at the same time intensified differences among the countries for acquiring and controlling the energy resources. As per latest reports, the Caspian has resources worth trillions of dollars of hydrocarbons in the seabed, which holds about 50 billion barrels of oil and nearly nine trillion cubic meters of natural gas in proven or probable reserves. Fourthly, during the last two decades the Caspian has become a scene of Great Game between Russia and the West. Being its southern underbelly, Russia wanted to retain and sustain its geo-economic and geo-political interests in the Caspian. But for the West the breakup of the former Soviet Union gave it an opportunity to enter the Caspian region. Azerbaijan being sovereign and independent, has taken advantage of promoting its own national interest with close relations with the West and exporting oil from the Caspian to the West and particularly European countries. Hence this agreement might give additional advantage for Azerbaijan. Turkmenistan has succeeded in increasing exports of oil and gas to many countries including China and earn much-needed petro-dollars. Fifthly, the consensus about the Caspian Sea might enhance economic activities of the littoral states. Apart from exploitation and export of oil, trade and shipping will increase. This was specifically mentioned by the Kazakh President, Nursultan Nazarbaev, and Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, since both stressed the trade links that would surely expand with greater shipping across the Caspian. More importantly, both Nazarbaev and Aliev spoke of a new trade bridge between Asia and Europe. This is understandable since both these countries have close political and economic ties with the West. But the Iranian President, Rohani, stressed the potential of railway connections from the eastern and western side of the Caspian to Iran and on to the Persian Gulf and trade among the neighboring countries. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has been supportive of trade with the Eastern countries. Thus there are differences in perspective since both Iran and Russia have strained relations with some Western countries. Russia has been a victim of economic sanctions by the USA and some West European countries for its alleged annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the US President, Donald Trump, has been vehement on economic sanctions on Iran on issues relating to nuclear testing. For India the Caspian issue has relevance as well. India has been importing oil from Iran and Russia on a large scale. The Caspian issue assumes great significance for India since the project proposal of North-South Corridor of linking Indian Ocean with the Caspian Sea will immensely boost Indias trade and economic ties with Russia and the Central Asian countries by reducing the time and cost of shipping to a great extent. As opined by Bruce Panner, a specialist on Russian affairs, even as the five Presidents signed documents at the end of the summit, it would be difficult to qualify the event as a clear success since there are still unresolved matters, particularly from Irans perspective. Moreover, the leaders have stated that there will be another summit in the future which implied that while the convention on the legal status of the Caspian was signed, a few key issues still need to be discussed. This contention has some relevance and as reported by the media, the leaders did not spell out details of the agreement in their speeches before the signing of the document. But at the same time it needs to be stated that the summit meeting of the heads of the five states has succeeded in bringing about the much-awaited solution to the long-pending task. Thus the leaders are aware of the issue. This is reinforced by the fact that there was a consensus to set up a special mechanism of regular five-party consultations under the auspices of the Foreign Ministries to implement the provisions of the convention. Hence the agreement has opened a new chapter in the role of the Caspian Sea in the years to come not only for the littoral states but also for the concerned countries of the world. Dr R.G. Gidadhubli is a Professor and former Director, Centre for Eurasian Studies, University of Mumbai. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Flood Fury in Kerala and UP, Recalling the Kashmir Floods of (...) MUSINGS There is something or everything so very bizarre and frightfully horrific about last weeks arrest and detention of the countrys well-known activists and academics who have been raising their voice and concerns for the tribals and minorities, and also for the atrocities taking place in the conflict zones of the country, and this includes the Kashmir Valley. Instead of paying heed to their concerns, we see the establishment of the day lock them up. If not in prisons, in their homes. Policing tactics used to terrorise sane voices... to relay to the rest of us to keep shut, otherwise we could face similar torture; with fascist fangs spreading out as never before. Instead of focusing on the disasters taking place in the country, this government chooses to hound activists and academics. As though by hounding and shutting them, the countrys problems will be resolved or rectified. Where the hell are we heading to! Towards a very, very dismal future.Where the basic survival issues are not getting rectified, nor addressed. Lies and more lies are mouthed by the sarkar and its men, even as we are drowning... getting washed away, ruined in every sense of the term. Today only few amongst us are being left alive enough, to be able to swim or float against the tide, to stay intact whilst swimming in turbulent waters. If this government was actually and genuinely bothered about development and in keeping the citizens safe and sound, then it should be looking at the flood issue somewhat seriously. More than six States of the country are witnessing flood fury of the worst kind, yet all that we get to hear is of doles from the Centre. What about long-term strategies to control flooding and the disastrous offshoots they drag along? What about making public the disaster-control format the government plans to introduce to contain the flood fury? What about the relief packagesdo they actually and genuinely reach the drowning and the near-submerged! Im writing this in the backdrop of the Kashmir floods of 2014, where the much publicised government packages did not reach a large number of the flood affected in the Kashmir Valley. Even after two years of that flood havoc, the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) had stated about the State and Centres failure to rehabilitate those ruined in those floods. In fact, those few individuals who did receive some little compensation amount from the government had told me that theyd almost simultaneously received electricity bills running into thousands. This when their homes were washed away in the flood fury! And whats all this talk about Government of India not taking aid from the UAE or for that matter from any other country for the flood affected in Kerala? Why not! Not to be overlooked the three basics facts: Thousands from Kerala work and reside in the Gulf countries. There is a strong historical connect between Kerala and the Gulf, from bygone centuries when traders from those lands came to the coastal belts of Kerala for trading in spices. Above all, the rulers of the UAE are themselves offering to assist us and its not that we went asking for help. After all, its one of those crisis times for Kerala and as I had written in one of my previous columns, mere food packets and clothing wouldnt do. Entire lives and livelihoods have to be re-built and if the Government of India doesnt have enough financial resources to reach out, then let others do! Why halt foreign aid and rescue operations in this hour of emergency? Yes, its one of those ongoing emergencies. Ask those who have lost everything to the flood fury. Doesnt the Government of India assist other countries in their hour of distress? So why not accept help from other lands in our hour of distress. In fact, I must offload details to the anger and hurt I had witnessed amongst the locals in the Kashmir Valley when the Government of India had declined to accept foreign offers of assistance during the 2014 floods in Kashmir. After the floods, the alienation of the Kashmiris had aggravated, because the State and the Government of India did not permit any of the internationally trained relief and rescue workers and volunteers to reach there. Nobody was allowed to be flown in there, from any of the foreign countries, to help in the relief and rescue operations. In fact, Kashmiris did not hide their disgust, voiced loud and clear: did the Government of India decline international assistance, and even offers of aid by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, because it did not want the United Nations experts and workers to land in the Valley and see for themselves the ground realities... what trauma Kashmiris are going through, day after day! Living in this state of siege! Under the might of the military! And on this Wednesday morning (September 5) as I am keying in, reports are coming in from the State of Uttar Pradesh where flood fury is taking its toll. Sparing no one. Needless to add that the disadvantaged are severely affected. Not sure whether the Government of India will allow foreign experts and workers to land there to help in rescue and relief operations; after all, the ground realities in Uttar Pradesh are frightfully dangerous. Lawlessness to such an extent that anyone can be lynched or raped or beaten to death in broad daylight. Not to overlook blatant killings by the State in encounters! Maybe the GOI or even the Yogi Government of Uttar Pradesh would not want any of the foreign workers, flood experts to see the realities prevailing in that State. In fact, I am not too certain whether relief- rescue workers and volunteers from foreign lands would even want to land in Uttar Pradesh! Only to be killed, in one way or the other! Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Insanity Enthroned From N.C.s Writings After forty years of the foundation of our independent republic, the Frankenstein has appeared againthe monster that is out to destroy democracy and plunge this nation into civil war that shall rend asunder thousands of towns and villages of this great country. The term, communalism, does not convey the gravity of the crisis that confronts us todaylet it be bluntly stated that what we face today is the demon of Hindu-Muslim hatred. Over a large part of this land, particularly in the northern States, straddles today this monstrous hatred in the majority Hindu against the Muslim who must be subjugated and, if unbending, then liquidated. In response to that, the minority Muslim, in deadly despair, tries to hit back as a means of survival. The map of India today is dotted with bloodmarksbloodmarks of brothers fighting brothers. Bhagalpur, Bijnore, Hyderabad, Aligarh and Kanpur have today turned into not only the disgrace-points but danger-signals for Indias nationhood. The rule of the knife and the bomb has taken over from the so-called guardians of law and order. At every one of these placesand many others yet to come under the spotlight of the mediafrenzied hatred has been spread with cynical design to douse the flames of insensate violence in which neighbours of yesterday have butchered each other, and the administration itself got affected in the orgy. It does not require any academic research to point the finger at the agitation over the temple-mosque controversy at Ayodhya for having polluted the political environment in which communal antipathy has become the order of the day. And once the wind of hatred spread, the flames of violence have caught on unimpeded. The BJP leaders plead innocence, that their plea was for the building of the Ram temple only, but they cannot exonerate themselves from the responsibility of having unleashed forces that have taken to killing and loot. Inevitably, the minority community, faced with such a grim situation, has at places, hit back. Hence, mutual hatred spread far and wide. The time is over for the ideologues of the BJP to come out with the thesis that Islam does not fit into the national mould. They have to realise that the ponderous labours spent in building up such a thesis is being turned into good use by those indulging in killing and looting in the frenzy of communal violence. All the prattle about pseudo-secularism have only added grist to the mill of those who are wielding the long knife in the dark night that has descended over a large stretch of this beautiful land of ours. For leaders of major political parties too, this is the hour of truth. The hands of a number of them can hardly be regarded as clean as they too in the past have sometime or other indulged in pampering communal urges to secure votes, and quite a few in their respective camps are ready to do so again, once the elections are on the agenda. That is a matter for them to settle with their conscience. What matters today above everything else is that the beast of communal hatred has been let loose and is playing havoc. If this ghastly apparition is allowed to roam about unchecked, there shall be no question of democratic functioning, no elections to legislatures and Parliament, no civil liberties, but the drum-beat of communal fury with goose-step marching of the hatchet-gangs out to destroy civilised conduct of public life. At this cross-road of Indias destiny, we put this question to our leaders of all parties, those in office and those outside: Can you not bury your hatchets and join hands to stir the vast multitude of this great nation so that the fiendish forces of communal hatred are put down and chased out of our public life for good? This is the moment when your patriotism needs to be tested. Let all other differences and squabbles, allergies and misunderstandings be set aside, and all, really all, together come forward at the call of the nation. For heavens sake, join hands and march shoulder to shoulder to fight the enemy that has entered the gates. Mother India beckons us all. (Editors Notebook, Mainstream, December 15, 1990) Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Has Narendra Modi Lost His Way? There are now unmistakable signals from the top echelons of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) that a section of the organisation is not happy with the way Narendra Modi is going about his administrative and political duties. There are reasons behind it. Even die- hard supporters of the Prime Minister will admit that Modi has failed to show results in three most important areas of administration law and order, economy and foreign policy. But the most important allegation against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Govern-ment is that it is trying to bypass the second and most important word in its nomenclature. Recent arrests of several human rights activists and respected citizens of the country by the Maharashtra Government prove it. Although it was an act by a State Government, yet it is the BJP which is in power in both Mumbai and Delhi and the shadow of the top BJP leadership certainly looms large over the development. The Congress sympathised with the rights activists/ intellectuals. But the grand old party cannot shake off its own responsibilities behind the growth of a shortsightedness among the middle class which tries to brand anything Leftist, ultra Left, moderately Left or even Left-of-Centre-as condemnable and therefore anti-national. This is a direct fall-out of the introduction of a neo-liberal economic order which was championed first by Narasimha Rao and then by Manmohan Singh, the two Prime Ministers from the Congress. Narendra Modi is only carrying forward the cultural stereotypes which the Congress pushed forward at a previous date. However Indias experience with ultra-Left politics has not been good. It was a tale of near- lunacy in West Bengal in 1970-1971 when the Naxalites under the leadership of Charu Majumder and his CPI-ML let loose a reign of senseless and aimless murders all over the State. Ultimately the Naxalites got what they deserveda total rejection from the people of the State. In subsequent times some of the Naxalite factions tried to gain acceptance by participating in electoral politics. Successive election results, however, prove that the people of India still cannot repose faith in them. But the government should not lose sight of one thing. Even in the late 1960s the Naxalite movement had gained momentum cashing in on the terrible plight of peasants, Dalits and Adivasis. The primary base of todays CPI (Maoist), which is an amalgamation of the Maoist Coordination Committee (MCC) and the Peoples War Group, is also the same. So the Indian Government must introspect what is going wrong and where. Why have the Naxalites been able to find their feet again even after their crushing defeat in 1970-1971? If the NDA Government turns a bit introspective then it will realise that the actual people it should interact with are the poor and tortured Dalits and Adivasis whose cultural moorings and livelihood are now under threat in the face of the unfathomable greed of several multi-nationals and business houses. This is the most serious socio-political issue of the country which successive governments in New Delhi have either failed to understand or have chosen to bypass. If the NDA Government can establish a direct contact with these poor and hapless people then it will be Narendra Modis single biggest achievement and no government, either at the Centre or in the States, will need to detain human rights activists some of whom, and certainly not all of them, are rootless and often exhibit indiscretion in their approach. What has the BJP gained from the drama of these arrests? Practically nothing. It was significant that the press conference in the Delhi Press Club addressed by several intellectuals, including Arundhati Roy, had witnessed a large number of journalists openly fraternising with what Roy and other dignitaries had said castigating the arrests. Even the Supreme Courts observation had gone against the BJP-led government of Maharashtra. Even after that the Maharashtra Government committed another faux pas as the ADG (Police) made certain comments about the justifiability of the arrests when the issue was sub judice. India is basically a land of tolerance. That the Naxalite movement had fallen flat in West Bengal was because of the fact that the Naxalite leaders failed to grasp this basic tenet due to their immature and incomplete understanding of the history and philosophy of the country. But every government must keep in mind that objective conditions for a violent social swirl always remain. Dalits and Adivasis, who now form the backbone of the CPI (Maoist) operations, constitute one-fourth of the Indian population. One-third of the global poor live in India and seventyfive per cent of them are in rural areas. So a volatile situation already exists and the government should try to ameliorate the pitiable plight of the marginalised communities rather than chasing human rights activists. But no corrective action is possible till the country follows the neo-liberal economic order. The reason behind Narendra Modis poor performance on all fronts lies here. There is no dearth of brains in our country. But the Central Government must turn away from the mediocre brains trained in business schools and instead rely on real economists. The author is a senior journalist and commentator. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted on Thursday, without a vote, a resolution presented by Egypt on the commitment of a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse throughout the UNs system. In an official statement, Egypts foreign ministry said on Saturday that the UNGA adopted the draft resolution by Egypt, where the UN reaffirmed its commitment to the zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse throughout the United Nations system, including the agencies, funds and programmes. According to the statement, the Cairo drafted resolution aims to avoid and block sexual exploitation in missions by UN Peacekeeping Troops, which see Egypt as one of the main and biggest contributors to the UNs forces. It also decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-third session the item entitled Sexual exploitation and abuse: implementing a zero-tolerance policy, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to report on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, including on progress made in implementing a zero -tolerance policy within the United Nations system, for consideration by the General Assembly, in line with existing mandates and procedures. In a speech to the UNGA, Egypts Permanent Representative to the UN Mohamed Edrees said Egypt is committed with supporting the efforts of the UNs Secretary General in carrying out the zero-tolerance policy towards cases of sexual exploitation and abuse. He pointed at an Egyptian interest in combating such crimes through Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis participation in a top meeting by the UN in 2017 over stopping sexual exploitation in the UNs peacekeeping missions. In 2016, 103 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse were reported in UN field missions, according to a UN peacekeeping report released in March 2017. Nearly 118,000 UN troops and police are currently serving in 16 peacekeeping missions around the world, according to the UN's January 2017 statistics. Egypt is the seventh largest contributor to the United Nations peacekeeping forces, the State Information Service (SIS) said in a report in September 2017. Search Keywords: Short link: Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Present State of Health of Our Democracy The recent arrests of some noted civil/human rights activists have raised fundamental questions about the present state of our democracy. In the wake of the arrests, the eminent professor of political theory, Neera Chandhoke, reminded us: In a democracy, the individual transits from subject to citizen. Yet there is no one more vulnerable and more helpless than our rights-bearing citizen if the, otherwise, democratic state decides to terrorise, kill and drill fear and trepidation in the mind of the body politic. (The Hindu, August 30, 2018). We would like to add in this context the observation made by Hannah Arendt many years ago: ...under conditions of terror most people will comply but some people will not. At a press conference in New Delhi, several intellectuals and rights activists including Aruna Roy, Arundhati Roy, Prashant Bhushan and Bezwada Wilson made a Joint Statement AgainstContinuing Arrests of Rights Activists: We, the undersigned, strongly oppose and condemn the illegal raids carried out in different cities, and arrests of Gautam Navlakha, Sudha Bharadwaj, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves and Varavara Rao by the Maharashtra Police on August 28, 2018. These are only the most recent arrests in a continuing wave of repression spearheaded by the police at the behest of their political leaders and their communal and casteist agendas against peoples movements and human rights defenders... Let us have a look at what is happening in Kashmir right now. We have come to know from media reports that the armed forces launched a massive search operation on September 3, 2018, in over a dozen villages of Pulwama district in southern Kashmir, triggering protests. It is reported that one civilian was killed in the operation. The names of over 270 locals, who the police suspect to be over ground workers of militants, have reportedly been circulated to all the district SPs in the Valley to get the latest information on them. (The Economic Times, September 4, 2018) It should be mentioned in this connection that, according to official records, the Jammu and Kashmir (J and K) Police recruited 9381 policemen from 22 districts in the State since 2015, of which 1647 were from the four districts of South KashmirAnantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam. In addition, close to 2000 Special Police Officers (SPOs) have been recruited from these districts in the last two years. The J and K Police is the second largest government recruiter in the State, next only to the Education Department. In addition to over 90,000 men in regular forces, 31,000 SPOs are employed in the J and K Police. (See The IndianExpress, September 4, 2018) The recent arrests of rights activists and the emergence of Kashmir as a Police State should be considered together to get an idea of the present state of health of Indian democracy. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > The Approaching Elections Every year around June 26, on the anniversary of the Emergency imposed in 1975, the present government attempts to highlight the supposed wrongdoings committed at that time. However, the governments blitz this year was much beyond the normal. Press conferences, govern-ment advertising and Prime Minister Modis blasting speech raise the question of just what was so special about this 43rd anniversary. The answer is that we are now less than a year away from the general elections and the onslaught was intended to remind the Opposition parties who are presently attempting to put up a unified fight against the NDA, of the alleged atrocities perpetrated during that period. Smt Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency in 1975 and it lasted for 21 months. The Emergency was introduced to prevent the moves of the Opposition at that time to destabilise the government and the country. Inder Malhotra, the biographer of Smt Indira Gandhi, wrote: The return of life after relentless disruption by strikes, protest marches, clashes with the police was applauded by most people. In its initial months at least, the Emergency returned to India a kind of calm it had not known for years. During the Emergency there was public order and discipline, two things that were absent in the previous years. Much of the criticism of the Emergency emerged from the Family Planning programme which was implemented in North India sometimes in a rather drastic manner. In Goa itself and in South India, generally, the Emergency proved to be beneficial. The adminis-tration became more efficient, black marketing and hoarding ceased and food and other articles of general consumption were easily available which was not the case earlier. The support of the Goan people to the Union Government during the Emergency benefited the Congress party which in the general elections held in 1977 went on to win the Lok Sabha seat of South Goa. This was the first ever election victory of the Congress in Goa. Until then, the Congress had not won a single seat either to Parliament, to the Legislative Assembly or even at the municipality level. The Janata Party rule collapsed under its own contradictions and lasted for less than three years. Thereafter, the Congress party was elected for five full terms aggregating 25 years. Nobody levelled any serious charge against the governments led by Smt Indira Gandhi who returned as the Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, Narasimha Rao or Dr Manmohan Singh of any manner whatsoever of subverting the Consti-tution. In 1980 the Bharatiya Janata Party was formed as a new political entity outside the Janata Party. Smt Indira Gandhi is often acknowledged as the most popular Prime Minister ever especially among the poor and weaker sections of society. Under her leadership the word Socialism was added to Secularism and Democracy in the Preamble of the Constitution and in 1975, her government formulated the 20-Point Pro-gramme. The basic objective of the 20-Point Programme was the removal of rural poverty, health, education and housing for all as well as justice for SCs and STs and empowerment of women. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, presided over the worst communal riots that this country has ever witnessed. He was repeatedly faulted by the Supreme Court for his failure to prosecute the guilty. The then Prime Minister, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, described as barbaric and inhuman the Godhra and post-Godhra events. At the meeting of the BJP Executive Committee held in Panaji in April 2002, Shri Vajpayee called upon Modi to adhere to his raj dharma. A ruler, he said, should not discriminate among his subjects on the basis of religion, creed or caste. He wanted Modi to resign as the Chief Minister. I visited Gujarat in the aftermath of the Godhra and post-Godhra riots in early March 2002 as a member of the Congress party delegation. We were told by the State administration that we could go to Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar but not beyond for security reasons. We went to different areas of those two cities which were described as peaceful but it was the peace of the grave that prevailed there. A large number of people met us, including Shri Rajdeep Sardesai, then a correspondent of Star TV. He told us that he was attacked by a mob carrying trishuls, they broke the glasses of his vehicle and asked him and his colleagues to identify themselves and their religion. There were noble exceptions in those days where Hindus protected Muslims. Many Hindus were also attacked by the mobs and the Muslims protected them. On return from Gujarat, I wrote to the then Home Minister, Shri L.K. Advani, detailing the facts that I had witnessed and said: Some of our neighbouring countries, where religious funda-mentalism flourished for more than a decade often with State patronage, are now striving to abandon this noxious path. It would be ironical and most unfortunate if quite the opposite happens in India. I urge you to deal resolutely with all forms of religious extremism in an even-handed rather than in a selective manner so that peace, harmony and the rule of law prevail throughout the length and breath of the nation. The Chairman of the Press Council of India and former judge of the Supreme Court, Markandey Katju, had termed Modi unfit for the PMs post and had said that India will not survive if Modi becomes the Prime Minister of the country. India will not be able to survive because it has so much diversity, so many religions, castes, languages, ethnic groups. The killings of thousands of Muslims and other atrocities committed against them in Gujarat in 2002 can never be forgotten or forgiven. Secular democracy is the only possible constitutional framework for this country. The concept of secularism is linked inextricably with Indian democracy and one cannot exist without the other. Whilst speaking to the media last June about the Emergency of 1975, BJP patriarch L.K. Advani stated that at the present point of time the forces that can crush democracy, notwith-standing the constitutional and legal safeguards, are stronger. It could be that fundamental liberties are curtailed again. This remark was obviously aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Union Government is currently besieged with several issues such as agrarian distress, growing unemployment, inability to manage its coalition partners, demonetisation, hasty and poor implementation of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) and prevailing sectarian strikes. In the last State elections held in Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya the BJP failed to emerge as the single largest party, it could not form the government in Karnataka and was defeated in the recent bypolls held in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The losses reflect a growing disillusionment among the people of India over Narendra Modis rule. The author is a former Union Minister. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Those in Authority Want to Arrest the Growing Consciousness about Human (...) PROTESTS IN NEW DELHI AGAINST THE ARRESTS OF ACTIVISTS BY PUNE POLICE The arrest of five human rights activists on August 28 and the strong condemnation this has invited from a wide spectrum of people all over India may become a landmark in the history of Indian democracy, especially given the judicial proceedings which have been triggered. Some implications of this development have already become clear and more will crystallise as the case unfolds. The most conspicuous message that has emerged is the centrality of human rights to a democracy. This is seen by the current dispen-sation as posing the greatest challenge to their political power. Wave after wave has repressed human rights workers in the country. After G.N. Saibabas arrest and prosecution, the Bhima Koregaon case has become the launching pad for the next wave. The Elgaar Parishad meeting on December 31, 2017, organised by the retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice P.B. Sawant, to ensure goodwill among Dalits and Marathas during the rally commemorating the Bhima Koregaon victory on January 1, has been built up as a major conspiracy case. The first FIR was revised to declare a link between the Dalit groups and Maoists and five civil liberty activists were arrested, which included the lawyer representing Saibaba: Surendra Gadling. Rona Wilson, one of the main activists in the campaign for the release of political prisoners, including Saibaba, was also arrested. Now the police claim that from their interrogation, the activists arrested on August 28 were identified. Together, they seem to pose such a threat to the regime that charges of a conspiracy against Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been framedsomething that is totally denied by the arrested. Who are these activists? Newspaper headlines mentioned that the arrests and raids were conducted on rights activists. Indeed Gautam Navlakha, the accomplished journalist and writer who was with the Economic and Political Weekly for many years, is a founder-member of the Peoples Union for Democratic Rights, Delhi (PUDR). He has been part of fact-finding committees and prepared reports on issues such as denial of minimum wages in Bihar, atrocities against Adivasis, false encounters, communal violence, violation of rule of law and human rights in different parts of the country including the North-East and Kashmir. Navlakha also contributed to Who are the Guilty?, the report jointly produced by the PUDR and PUCL on the anti-Sikh carnage of 1984. It reassured the aggrieved Sikh community that there were enough democratic voices in India fighting for truth and justice. The democratic solidarity among the people in different parts of India perhaps far surpasses many other bonds. Sudha Bharadwaj, the national Vice-President of the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), has for three decades been living among the workers in the mining areas of Chhattisgarh. After obtaining an IIT degree, she decided to work with Shankar Guha Niyogi in the Shahid Hospital attached to the CMMS (Chhatishgarh Mines Mazdoor Sangh) in 1986. After Niyogi was murdered by killers hired by industrialists in 1991 and increased repression by para-military and police, Bharadwaj and many other PUCL members began taking up cases of the harassed Adivasis. Operation Green Hunt systematically became more violent as the armed forces were deployed to liquidate the Maoist cadres and their sympathisers. The Salwa Judum, later declared illegal by the Supreme Court, was used by the government agencies to destroy villages in the Maoist areas and relocate them. Binayak Sens arrest in 2007 on charges similar to the ones levelled against the current group, was also declared illegal by the Supreme Court. The story of Adivasis in Chhattisgarh, struggling to protect their land and forest rights from being taken over by corporations with strong-arm support by the government, is well known. Bharadwaj decided to acquire a law degree from Ravi Shankar University to fight the cases of Adivasis. She is now a Visiting Professor at the National Law University, Delhi, offering students her expertise. However, she still spends most of her time personally supervising legal cases in the Chhattisgarh courts and police stations. As a rights activist, she has inherited the aura of Shankar Guha Niyogi, who presented creative methods of organising the unorganised and seeking political power for the people of Chhattisgarh through self-rule to pursue a path of equitable develop-ment. The women of Chhattisgarh, especially poor Adivasis and Dalit women, women workers of Dalli Rajhara mines and industries around Bhilai today believe that with Sudha didi around, they cannot be exploited. No wonder that one of the strongest protests against her arrest has come from Women against Sexual Exploitation and Repression. Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves and Anand Teltumbdewho was not present at his house when the police raided itare also human rights activists of long standing. So is Father Stan Swamy, the priest in Ranchi who is a strong defender of tribal peoples rights over natural resources and who has been in the forefront of the movements against displace-ment. Anand Teltumbde, fabled management guru currently with the Goa Institute of Management, has also been involved in the human rights movement for over thirty years. Currently the Secretary of the CPDR (Committee for the Protection of Democratic Rights), he is a well-known author of books on the caste question. He is among the top intellectuals of India, much sought after for public events. Varavara Rao, the famous poet, has experienced repression many a time before. Founder of Virasam (Revolutionary Writers Association), his poetry has given meaning to the aspirations of the oppressed people, their creative labour that has built human civilisation. His lyrics have celebrated the richness and beauty of nature sustained by the Adivasis. Every bout of repression attempted against this 78-year-old poet has made him even more radiant. These activists and their human rights work have fostered Indian democracy, making people believe that through courts and public cam-paigns, rights promised in the Indian Consti-tution can be realised. During the Emergency, human rights included civil liberties like the freedom of expression, right to dissent, right to life, right to vote and democratic rights com-prising civil liberties as well as socio-economic rights such as right to minimum wage, education, healthcare, housing, culture, language, dignity irrespective of caste, gender, religion and so on. The human rights movement has evolved together with the growth of the peoples movements such as the womens movement, Dalit movement and environmental activism, besides workers and peasants movements. Public opinion in India is divided between appreciating their work and finding ways to take it forward as a means of strengthening Indian democracy, and condemning them as stumbling blocks for Indias economic growth or national security. Mounting state repression acknowledges the growing solidarity among movements of oppressed sections for basic rights. This formi-dable opposition forged by the people is yet to be fully appreciated by political parties, even though all Opposition parties have condemned the arrests. If they fully grasp the meaning of the August assault and the political possibilities provided by these arrests and raidsthese are likely to multiply in the months before the 2019 electionsthen the agenda of all parties will be to work for the realisation of human rights. (Courtesy: thewire.in) Professor Manoranjan Mohanty is a former Professor of Political Science (now retired), Delhi University and a member of the Peoples Union for Democratic Rights. He is also the Honorary Fellow and former Chairperson, Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi and a distinguished Professor at the Council for Social Development (CSD), New Delhi while also being the Editor, Social Change at the CSD. The views expressed here are personal. He can be contacted at e-mail: mmohantydu[at]gmail.com Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Chaos in the White House by Monaem Sarker President Donald Trumps 20 months in office have aged many Americans at least by a multiple of that length of time. This week two events provided glimpses of White House staffers in panic mode. First, there were news reports about Washington Post journalist Bob Woodwards new behind-the-scenes book, Fear, which described a nervous breakdown in the Trump Administration as top aides manoeuvred to prevent the President from taking disastrous and impulsive missteps. We also learned that Gary Cohn, one of President Trumps advisors, lifted a letter off Trumps desk so that the President wouldnt act on his worrisome threat to scuttle a trade deal with South Korea. Then came the jaw-dropping confirmation of Woodwards point when an anonymous senior administration official wrote an opinion piece in The New York Times describing himself or herself as a member of the internal resistance resorting to crafty efforts to keep the country from running off the rails. There are adults in the room ... trying to do whats right even when Donald Trump wont, the opinion piece asserts. Woodwards book uses unnamed sources to describe life in the White House. Readers will be able to draw their own conclusions based on the reporting of a respected journalist. The opinion piece is a different matter. The unidentified official gave the piece to the Times and then sneaked back to work, hoping not to be uncovered later by a livid President. The criticism of Trump is on-point and damning, as it should be, as it has no other way to be for a President who surrounded himself with associates many of whom are now felons. The root of the problem is the Presidents amorality, the anonymous opinion piece writes. Anyone who works with him knows he is not moored to any discernible first principles that guide his decision-making. Although he was elected as a Republican, the President shows little affinity for ideals long espoused by conservatives: free minds, free markets and free people. At best, he has invoked these ideals in scripted settings. At worst, he has attacked them outright. The anonymous writer goes on to denounce Trumps mass-marketing of the notion that the press is the enemy of the people, and says his impulses are generally anti-trade and anti-democratic. Thats great to finally hear from an insider, but anonymous isnt revealing something we dont already know about Trump. The piece says the President is morally rudderless, holds no coherent worldview and careens from objective to objective. We know that; we read his tweets. The piece says the President, while being alarming, has also notched achievements such as tax reform and deregulation. We know that as well. Sooner or later its likely the anonymous writer will be ousted, with unpredictable results. Whats certain is that as long as Trump is the President, chaos will be part of the picture. The US President has a base of supporters who embrace or ignore the chaos. For others, who try to judge Trumps policy work separately from his erratic personality, these are trying times. With him in charge, the circus never shuts down. The author, a politician and columnist, is presently the Director General, Bangladesh Foundation for Development Research. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Talking Equality To a Conservative Majoritarian Society by Harsh Kapoor In four separate and combined judgments on September 6, 2018, in the Navtej Singh Johar case a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India ruled that Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (a colonial era provision from 1860) was discriminatory to the extent that it penalised consensual sex between adults. Chief Justice Dipak Misra introduced the verdict saying: vanish, prejudice and embrace inclusion and ensure equal rights . . . Any discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation violates fundamental rights. This ruling also overturned the retrogressive judicial error of the 2013 Suresh Kumar Koushal case, that had struck down a fine 2009 judgment of the Delhi High Court reading down Section 377. The ruling also said the Supreme Court had earlier recognised the right to choose a partner and the partner can also be a same sex partner. This Court verdict recognises homosexuality as the right to freely conduct ones sexual life, stands up for equality of all citizens as enshrined in the Constitution and gives hope for new jurisprudence challenging the thousand and one discriminations and exclusions that shape the realities of everyday life in India. This victory in the courts has been possible through long sustained work over the past two- -and-a-half decades by a rare tribe of socially committed cosmopolitan lawyers and a movement challenging compulsory heterosexuality and homophobia and organising people facing discrimination due to their sexual orientation, resisting violence, arrests and by creating and sustaining LGBT groups and organisations in a very conservative social environment. Thousands of gay, lesbian citizens remain in the closet for fear of the society and their own families. But, hang on, there is a considerable social distance between the Court decision and real world societal norms. While the LGBT groups celebrate, they also need to now open up (they too like much in India have been marked by a flourishing identitarian logic) and work with other movements on common issues of secular citizenship. Burly men of the Muslim, Christian, Hindu Right-wing have already sounded the alarm, and they do call the shots among large numbers in India. The Hindu Mahasabha says the Court verdict was a threat to society and national interest and calls for Parliament to intervene (https://communalism.blogspot.com/2018/09/india-verdict-was-threat-to-society-and.html). Big guns of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and some ulema types from Deoband say: Homosexuality is dirty, filthy and against nature. And the Apostolic Churches Alliance says: Homosexuality is an abomination as per the Bible. So here is another kind of Indian style Sarva Dharma Sambhava (all religions possible) masala secular alliance against our sinful, personal freedoms as citizens. These chaps are no aliens, there is widespread prejudicial societal behaviour towards people with a different sexual orientation or all manner of social deviation. We run the risk all the time of being mowed down by our own people and from the Left, Right and Centre (and now the new fashionable shoot-at-sight naming-shaming anonymous internet list-makers) for having chosen to go against the grain, to not be forced in marriage, to have the right to love and to show affection, to be able to dress, eat, write without offending someone, to have sex and to talk freely about it, to mock at society, to show irreverence, have the right to drop out of religion, caste, ethnicity and all manner of identity; without fear of binaries of majority, minority, national, foreign. Independent India has long had a deafening taboo on sex and sexualityon all things that went against dominant sexual mores. The Censor Board used to decide whether you could show a kiss on the screen. There are schools that can expel someone from school if a student hugs a person of another sex. We remain a rigid and conservative place. Even the progressive circles of the Left reflected that dominant sensibility, even though there have been exceptions in their midst. The progressive writers, Saadat Hasan Manto and Ismat Chughtai, who had been both charged with obscenity in the pre-independence days for their sensitive writings on the taboos of speaking of sexuality, also had much trouble with their comrades of the Left. The political elites and all mainstream political parties have failed us to bring safeguards and equal protections on matters of sexuality and private lives of citizens and education in schools and outside towards an open-minded society with a healthy sexuality and a non-authoritarian culture. There was a large social silence all around on sex, sexuality, sexual orientation. In 1977 Indias famous math wizard, Shakuntla Devi, in her book, The World of Homosexuals, said that rather than pretending that homosexuals dont exist it was time we face the facts squarely in the eye and find room for [homosexual people]. Its important to recall the AIDS Bhedbhav Virodhi Andolan from the early 1990sthe first AIDS activist movement in India that published Less Than Gay, a pioneering citizens report on the status of homosexuality (http://www.sacw.net/article10497.html) The reaction from official circles then was that homosexuality doesnt exist in India. They went on with this for many years. In 1994 Vimla Farooqi, the Vice-President of the progressive National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), had written to the then Prime Minister, Narasimha Rao, to stop a gay mens conference in Bombay. Even in 2000 the same organisation found it difficult to include the issue of lesbian rights on the agenda of the International Womens Rights Day. The Left had been very timid, puritanical and conventional on the question of sexual orientation and private life for a long time and rejected LGBT struggles as petty bourgeois/bourgeois reactionary fashionable behaviour coming from the West. In the past 15 years the old Left has changed track, being caught up with the times and supported the struggles for rights of lesbian, gay, trans-sexual citizens at least in their public statements, though they still continue to shy away from taking personal is political to their constituency of the working classes where too misogyny, homophobia and conservative tradition, prejudice of all shapes rule. It is thus a pleasure to see that the All India Democratic Womens Association associated with the CPI-M has welcomed the September 6 ruling (https://www.aidwaonline.org/aidwa-welcomes-sc-judgement-decriminalisation-ipc-377). And the NFIW too has taken a similar position. In the 21st century its time the people of the Left embraced personal rights/personal or private sphere in the wider agenda for social emancipation. As sexual violence is only going to grow in this country with a declining sex ratio, its time to challenge it not through more repressive laws and punishment. We are a violent and under-developed society; there is no privacy for most, they hide in parks, book hotel rooms under false names, no sexual education, try to access porn secretively. The progressive organisations dont talk about sexual pleasure. How do you challenge moral policing of the Right-wing and by the state? It has to be challenged in very real terms by creating places for it within social movements and in society. It is time to promote open and healthy sexual culture and work for a sexual enlightenment. A sexually repressed society will inevitably be a violent place. Of course the state should not have a place in our beds, but the lumpen mobs armed with social sanction that roam freely to check sin should be shown their place too. Break the silence, break the taboo. The author is the founder and editor of sacw.net, the South Asia Citizens Web. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Amit Shahs Antics Compound BJPs Woes EDITORIAL Regardless of whatever the countrys major newspapers are seeking to project, the Bharat Bandh call of all the major Opposition parties led by the Congress on September 10 evoked considerable response across the national landscape thus giving ample testimony to the anti-government mood of the public due mainly to the fuel price hike as well as the agrarian distress with the Congress propaganda campaign on the issue of graft connected with the Rafale deal also being a contributory factor to the anti-BJP sentiment among the people at large. This growing sentiment must be a cause of worry for the ruling party at the Centre, never mind the braggadocio of the chief of the BJP at its National Executive meet that the party over which he presides would stay in power for the next 50 years. Such a fantastic claim not only reveals the gentlemans anti-democratic outlook (also manifest in his affront to the memory of one of the prime victims of mob-violence originating from the Sangh Parivar, Mohmmad Akhlaq, and insult to the noted personalities who returned their awards they had won over the years as a token of protest against the assault on the secular-democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution). However, such outbursts are also a laboured attempt to conceal the sense of fear that has gripped persons in the higher echelons of the BJP-RSS for the prospect of its losing power in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections is not in the least a figment of ones fertile imagination but quite real in the prevailing circumstances. What is noteworthy is that the BJP Presidents language at the party rally in Jaipur on September 11 has provoked at least some sections of the media to come out with a positive response. As The Indian Express unambiguously pointed out without mincing words, ...if Shahs sharpened focus in Jaipur on a set of issues Akhlaq lynching, Bangladeshi immigrants, National Register of Citizens, surgical strikes on Pakistan, and a national pride that feeds on the rhetoric of urban Naxals is indication, the 2019 die has been cast in favour of a BJP that is a harder, narrower version of itself. While sabka saath, sabka vikas may always have been more slogan less policy, it will sit ever more uneasily with the kind of party that was glimpsed in its Presidents speeches in Jaipur. Meanwhile, the subsequent developments have placed the ruling party on the defensive. These relate to what transpired between Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and fugitive Vijay Mallya in Parliament a day before the latter fled to London in March 2016. The fact is that with every passing day the BJP is getting cornered. The unprecedented fuel price hike only added to the woes of the ruling party at the Centre in the wake of the persisting distress of the farmers, mounting insecurity among the Muslims, rising assertion of the Dalits against the backdrop of incessant attacks on them. Amit Shahs antics have compounded the partys problems. September 13S.C. 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 Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has made it clear that people who donated to the Flood Relief Fund will get their receipts through Whatsapp. In a Face book post, CM Vijayan pointed that people who donated through Online, NEFT, IMPS, Net Banking, VBI, Mobile banking will receive the receipt via the messaging app. To receive the receipt, you need to save the number 88600600 in your contact list and send a 'Hi' to the number. You also need to cooperate with the necessarily steps and details. The receipts will be also available from the site: receipts.cmdrf.Kerala.gov.in Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called on the army and police on Saturday to maintain utmost cautiousness, vigilance, and combat readiness during a meeting with the Supreme Council of Armed Forces. In an official statement, Egyptian Presidency spokesman Bassam Rady said El-Sisi, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, chaired the meeting in the attendance of Minister of Defense Mohamed Zaki and the armys Chief of Staff Mohamed Farid, as well as other members of the council. According to Rady, the meeting discussed the security conditions nationwide, with a revision on security measures and plans executed by the armed forces to track and arrest terrorists, who target the security of citizens and aim to shake the stability of the country, especially in North Sinai. Since February, the Egyptian armed forces have been conducting an extensive anti-terrorism campaign titled Operation Sinai 2018 to implement the plan of comprehensive confrontation of terrorist and criminal elements and organisations in north and middle Sinai and other areas in the Nile Delta and the desert areas west of the Nile valley. El-Sisi praised the armed forces role in combating terrorist and criminal operations in the country in cooperation with the police, hailing their sacrifices for the countrys safety and security. The Egyptian president called on both police and army to continue undertaking necessary measures to secure vital facilities and state institutions nationwide; ensuring the safety of the country and foiling terrorist groups attempts to threaten the safety of citizens. Search Keywords: Short link: Growing Number of Small Businesses Opening and Closing In the UK Last year, the Financial Times reported a record number of new start ups in the UK. It is a beacon of light in what have otherwise been difficult economic times over recent years, ones that will only get tougher as Brexit looms closer. However, there are two sides to every coin, and while the number of new businesses is nothing less than laudable, there is also the worrying statistic that around 20 percent of them survive less than a year. What is causing this premature demise of so many entrepreneurial dreams? The tragedy is that it is seldom down to an inherently bad business model, and is more often down to factors that could easily have been avoided with a little forethought. Running out of money Cash flow is the single largest cause of new business failure. What could be more frustrating than having a full order book and clients who love your product or service but having to pull the plug on the business because youve run out of money and cant afford to pay the workforce or suppliers? It happens time and again, and it all comes down to cashflow management and strict invoicing practices. For many new businesses, the focus is heavily on generating new business and satisfying customers when the product or service has been delivered and the invoice sent, there is a tendency to move on to the next customer. Not being focussed The above is understandable, but it demonstrates the need to have someone who knows what they are doing in charge of finance and keeping their eye on the ball. Many entrepreneurs think they can and should do everything and that is a dangerous road to go down. It doesnt just apply to accounting and book keeping. IT support is another example of an essential function that can either be overlooked, or end up forming far too much of a distraction for the business owner. In the startup hubs around the West Midlands in particular, companies like the one here have identified this phenomenon as a business opportunity, and provide outsourced IT support to companies of all sizes. It means the vital IT function is in professional hands and works smoothly and efficiently, and also takes a major non-core responsibility off the shoulders of management. Failing to react The business plan is core to the startup, but many entrepreneurs see it as a rigid set of rules that must be followed to the letter. The truth is, its not till the business is up and running that you really know what works and what doesnt. The ability to react flexibly to market demand is vital. The business strategy needs to be in a constant state of evolution. Most important of all is to see the business from the eyes of your customers, and give them what they want, not what you want to give them. It sounds like a small distinction, but it is a change in mindset that can spell the difference between success and failure. By Anwar Hossain 2018 Anwar Hossain - 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. Trading The Global Future - Bad Consequences The Trump administrations America First policies come at a critical time in the global economy. These bad policies will have adverse consequences in international trade. In the absence of countervailing forces, they could unsettle the post-2008 global recovery and undermine postwar globalization. This summer, the Trump administrations tariff war penalized $50 billion worth of goods traded between the US and China. The next stage of White House escalation will impact up to $200 billion of Chinese imports, and result in proportionate Chinese retaliation. If the White House opts to expand its tariff wars even further, collateral damage is likely to spread from goods to services and advanced technologies. Damage Spreading from Goods to Services Not so long ago, there was still serious talk about the US-China Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). Chinese foreign direct investment in the US soared to a record $46 billion in 2016, creating American jobs and injecting capital into the US economy. Yet, last year Trump threats caused Chinese investment in the US to plunge to $29 billion, due to deleveraging in China and stringent US regulatory reviews of inbound acquisitions. After months of trade wars and asset divestitures, Chinas net US direct investment was negative in the first half of the year. Historically, advanced economies have tended to enjoy service surpluses and goods deficits in trade. US-Chinese trade is no exception. Since 2001, US services surplus with China has increased nine-fold. Last year, US goods exports to China totaled $130 billion, whereas imports from China equaled $506 billion. However, US services exports to China amount to $58 billion, while services imports from China are $17 billion. Consequently, while the US runs a goods deficit of $375 billion with China, it runs a service surplus of $38 billion. As China exports far more goods to US than vice versa, Chinese retaliations already cover more US goods (85%) than US tariffs cover Chinese imports (50%). Consequently, the ongoing trade war is shifting from goods tariffs to non-tariff actions in services. While China has tried to avoid escalation, US battle over services trade has already begun, but with Brussels. As German Chancellor Angela Merkel has noted, it is misleading to focus on goods trade, in which the US has deficit with the EU, when the US excels in services trade, in which it has a surplus with the EU. Together with other EU leaders, Merkel is backing a digital tax against US multinationals including Amazon, Facebook and Google companies that have come under fire for shifting earnings around Europe to pay lower taxes. Trumps tariffs have potential to undermine Americas most important competitive advantage in the postwar era: high-value, high-margin services, which range from advanced technology to pharmaceuticals. As collateral damage spreads, so will the costs. As US metropolitan centers take severe hits, the stakes will be much higher for US states, particularly California. And if trade wars continue to spread, neither Silicon Valley nor Hollywood will remain immune. Global economy does not thrive in insulated fortresses. Chinese responses For now, the full impact on Chinese banks and corporations is still likely to be limited. The US accounts for only 15% of China's goods exports, and China's domestic activity now fuels its economic growth, not its net exports as in the past. However, since there are no winners in trade wars, China, too, is beginning to feel the pain. How is Beijing responding to the Trump tariff wars? The simple answer is that the White House has left Beijing few alternatives but to target those US export sectors that will suffer the most. In 2017, US exports to China soared to $130 billion. Only ten export groups accounted for more than half of the total, starting with civilian aircraft and engines ($16bn), soybeans ($12bn), passenger cars ($11bn), and semiconductors ($6 bn) (Figure 1). Figure 1 US Exports to China, 2017 ($ Billions) Source: US Census Bureau To protect its interests, China has resorted to the WTO dispute settlement mechanism but has also taken measures of equal scale and strength against US products. Current tit-for-tat responses include targeting soybeans in farm states. US agricultural exporters supported Trumps social policies, but their livelihood relies on free trade. Meanwhile, decades of trust have diminished in a matter of months. To China, the US is just one agricultural exporter among others; to US farmers, China is the key importer. In negative scenarios, they face a permanent loss of market share in China. Moreover, China can raise the stakes by banning the import of genetically modified products from the US, which are already opposed by many countries. China can and has deferred trade and investment deals that were signed during Trumps previous visit to China. As the Trump administration is obstructing Chinese investments in the US, China could resort to tougher measures as well, including by enacting restrictions on imports of US services. Further measures would include Chinese currency valuation, although that could undermine the ongoing internationalization of the Chinese renminbi and revive the dated currency manipulation debates. Far more consequential would be a Chinese move to sell part of its US Treasury bond stockpile. Things could get even worse if the relatively rapid increases of gold reserves in Russia, China, and other economies herald new challenges against the US dollar hegemony at the time that concerns over US stability are mounting worldwide. As stakes are upped, China is running out of US imports for penalties in response to Trump's tariff hikes. Consequently, Beijing is now putting off accepting license applications from US companies in financial services and other industries until Washington makes progress toward a settlement. Thats how the trade pain is now spreading from farmers in Iowa to US Chamber of Commerce and US business groups in China. If tariff wars prevail, the nightmares have only begun. Despite retaliations, China continues to push for diplomatic negotiations, along with efforts to import more American cars, aircraft, and natural gas, while promoting reforms in its financial sector. Moreover, a bilateral compromise could also pave the way to new talks if Republicans lose their dominant Congressional position in this falls midterm elections. Toward New Globalization? Today, as US-led globalization by advanced economies is winding down, China-fueled globalization, which is driven by emerging and developing economies, has emerged as a complement. This is illustrated by Chinese longer-term efforts to achieve free trade in Asia Pacific, the creation of new multilateral development banks targeting the needs of emerging economies, and China-supported globalization. While Trump favors bilateral trade talks to maximize US leverage, most nations today believe in multilateralism and regional trade negotiations. Ironically, the Trump trade war has intensified efforts at more inclusive trade in Asia Pacific. This has inspired even advanced economies in the region to take another look at trade agreements, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which were initially designed for emerging and developing economies. In the long run, China is pushing for the Free Trade Agreement of Asia Pacific (FTAAP), which - ironically - was initially developed in Washington, until President Obama replaced it with a geopolitical pivot to Asia and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) that excluded China. And as America First policies surge in Washington, the attractiveness of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) has significantly increased in emerging and developing economies. Yet, instead of participating in and benefiting from these initiatives, both the Obama and Trump administrations, in contrast to their trade partners and even NATO allies, have opted to remain uninvolved. Similarly, the China-led One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative has been open for US participation, yet America has kept its distance. The new initiatives of the Trump administration suggest that its goal may be to contain Chinas economic rise, divide Asia, or both. On July 30, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gave a highly-anticipated speech on Americas Indo-Pacific Economic Vision. Pompeo announced $113 million in new US initiatives to support foundational areas of the future" in the regional economy, energy, and infrastructure. This vision is a rehash of ideas that former Secretary of State John Kerry introduced in 2013 when the idea of the Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor was conceptualized few years ago. The scale of the US Indo-Pacific Economic Vision and the Marshall Plan, which Pompeo alluded to, pale in comparison with the OBOR. While there is no consensus on exact historical amounts, the Marshall Plans cumulative aid may have totaled $12 billion (over $100 billion in today's dollar value.) Consequently, Trumps much-touted Indo-Pacific Strategy represents less than 10% of the value of the Marshall Plan 70 years ago. The OBOR involves far greater cumulative investments estimated at $4 trillion to $8 trillion, depending on timelines and scenarios (Figure 2). Figure 2 Indo-Pacific Vision, Marshall Plan, and Chinas OBOR * Estimates expressed in trillions of contemporary US dollars. Chinas One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative features both maximum (OBOR, max) and minimum (OBOR, min) estimates, based on relevant literature. Three Scenarios It is the hope for a better future in the emerging world associated with the OBOR that remains most underestimated in Washington. What Asia really needs is a sustainable, long-term plan for accelerated economic development - not new geopolitical divisions. Where will the current tensions lead,? At the broadest level, the outcome of the Trump tariff war can be compressed into three generic scenarios, which are defined by their strategic objectives, de facto execution, and associated economic costs. Scenario 1: Muddling Through The first scenario is neither a win-lose nor a win-win strategy. It does not represent postwar multilateralism, but post-Cold War unilateralism, as reflected by the FTAs that were dictated by unipolar geopolitical primacies rather than multipolar economic opportunities. It is what the Obama, Bush, and Clinton administrations relied on. In the Trump era, this scenario was initially supported by those business constituencies and voters the White House is now alienating. As for economic consequences, with $50 billion impacted, the tariffs impact would probably have been limited to 0.1% of Chinese and American GDP. It is a scenario that most Americans would have supported - but it wasnt enough for the Trump administration. Scenario 2: America First Protectionism This win-lose strategy it is not Trumps invention. After US recovery from the 1929 market crash failed and the economy drifted into the Great Depression, Congress passed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. Yet, the high tariffs only worsened the Great Depression, further contributing to the international turmoil. Currently, the stakes of the Trump tariff war against China are about to rise to $200 billion. With such elevated stakes, the collateral damage would quadruple relative to the first scenario. In China, it would shave off 0.4% of the GDP; in the US, it would likely amount to 0.8% of GDP. If the stakes increase to $500 billion, the net impact would increase 10 times from the first scenario. While China would take a hit of 1.0%, the US would suffer a net impact of 2.0% of GDP. That could unsettle key stock indexes on Wall Street and unleash substantial volatility, while disrupting the Federal Reserves tightening and a strong US dollar. In the long run, the worst impact of this scenario is that it is mitigating much of the bilateral trust between Beijing and Washington, and between ordinary Chinese and Americans. It took half a century to build that trust; quantitative GDP percentage points cannot capture it. Scenario 3: Multipolar World Trade This is the win-win strategy. There is no reason why the United States, along with U.S. multinationals, states, and municipalities, could not cooperate with large emerging economies, including China. When Great Britain lost its leading position in the world economy, it did not respond by rejecting US-led Bretton Woods, staying out of the World Bank and the IMF, taking distance from the UN and withdrawing from international agreements, or by seeking to undermine the US dollar and to contain the rise of the US economy while seeking to divide US alliances. London understood that its future was aligned with the US and the world economy. It is by participating in the new initiatives put forward by China and other emerging economies that US economic interests can gain an appropriate voice in their realization. Instead of projecting economic penalties, the third scenario would entail positive outcomes and spillovers. US participation in the NDB and AIIB would open new markets in Asia and the emerging world at large, just as US participation in the OBOR initiative would ensure access to other markets that Washington has long hoped to access, but peacefully, without sanctions, destabilization, and regime changes. In Asia, the renewed talks over free trade in Asia Pacific (FTAAP) could create the greatest trading sphere the world has ever seen. Today, the third scenario feels utopian because it contradicts much of what the Trump administration stands for. But it is the only viable way to the future. Last year, Californias trade with China totaled $170 billion, covering electric cars, engines, auto parts and aluminum. Among the US states, California, which is already facing a $1.6 billion budget deficit, stands to suffer the greatest pain if Trumps tariff wars worsen. In August, the new export order sub-index in Chinas official purchasing manager index, which is used to gauge Chinas export sectors health, fell by 0.4 points to 49.4; the lowest since the escalation of bilateral tensions with the US However, its mirror indicator; the import sub-index also moderated by 0.5 percentage point to 49.1; the lowest since mid-2016. Thanks to a new thaw in Chinese-Japanese relations, the trade negotiators from 16 likely signatories of the China-supported RCEP agreed on key elements of a deal, which could result in a broad agreement by November. Over a decade ago, C. Fred Bergsten, then chief of an influential US think-tank, made a forceful statement in favor of the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP). Pompeo, M.R. 2018. America's Indo-Pacific Economic Vision" Indo-Pacific Business Forum. US Chamber of Commerce. Washington, DC, July 30. 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. Dan Steinbock Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. The Angel Capital Association released today the Angel Funders Report, a new study of angel group investments. The ACA report provides an initial picture on angel groups investments, the startups they support and the factors that lead to business and investor success. The goal is to build the most comprehensive and actionable database on angel investing. These insights are important because angels provide 90% of equity capital to startups $25B in 70,000 companies every year, yet few detailed data reports are available. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/angel-capital-association-study-provides-new-insights-on-angel-group-investments-and-their-portfolio-companies-300711614.html *** Welcome To The Finals Of The Early Stage Montana Business Pitch Showcase 9/22 Bozeman http://www.matr.net/events.phtml?showdetail=6947 *** Welcome to Frontier Angels, a unique Montana-based investment network of 100+ highly accomplished people from across the state built upon 3 key principles: Discover top-tier emerging technology investment opportunities which provide attractive ROIC to members. Concentrate the collective experience, capabilities and resources of the group to achieve critical mass on a few key initiatives to accelerate the growth of the tech ecosystem in Montana. Actively promote gender diversity to advance the next generation of female leaders in Montana. After a first edition which reunited 600 participants, the 2nd Choiseul Africa Business Forum will take place in Nice (Meridien hotel) in a hybrid format, face-to-face and by videoconference to give the floor to the best experts of the African economic world. An Essential Meeting For The African Business World A platform dedicated to the development of business opportunities in Africa and with Africa, the Choiseul Africa Business Forum will bring together more than 500 participants to share experiences and decipher the trends in the African business world. These two days of exchanges and meetings will gather senior leaders from the public, private and institutional spheres: ministers, business leaders and start-up creators, international donors and representatives of the main African and European institutions will meet to explore promising sectors and new forms of bilateral cooperation between Africa and Europe. Sessions On Value- Creating Sectors For Africa An interactive meeting place, the Choiseul Africa Business Forum will be structured around operational and multisectoral working sessions led by experts in their respective fields. Among the themes addressed: the European contribution to the emergence of a resilient private sector in Africa, the financing of SMEs on the continent, the challenge of employability, issues of sovereignty in health or the structuring of a value-creating sport sector. According to Pascal Lorot, President of the Institut Choiseul: This edition will have a particular taste after several months of health crisis. Beyond the pleasure of meeting face-to-face, and given the context, we wanted to highlight key topics for the revival of African economies with the main players in this recovery.. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians gathered on Saturday to welcome returning leaders of the once-banned Oromo Liberation Front amid sweeping reforms to bring opposition groups back to politics. The OLF and two other organizations were removed from a list of terror groups earlier this year after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office. He invited them to come home as he vowed to widen the political space in a country where the ruling coalition, in power since 1991, and affiliated parties hold every seat in parliament. Earlier Saturday, some 1,500 OLF fighters returned to Ethiopia from neighboring Eritrea. The group since the 1970s has advocated the "right to national self-determination" for the Oromo people, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group. A large concert was held in Meskel Square in the capital, Addis Ababa, to welcome OLF leader Dawud Ibsa and others arriving from Eritrea's capital. Events also were held in Oromia, the largest region among Ethiopia's federal states. "I'm happy to be here after 26 years of struggle from outside of Ethiopia," the OLF leader told reporters upon his arrival. "We have been struggling to bring the changes that we are seeing now in Ethiopia. We are now seeing positive signs that include the respect for rule of law. That's why we came here." The prime minister's chief of staff, Fitsum Arega, warmly welcomed the OLF leaders. "A peaceful contest of ideas will move us from a culture of conflict into a culture of peace," he said in a Twitter post. Abiy, the first Oromo politician to become prime minister since the ruling party came to power in 1991, took office after more than two years of deadly anti-government protests in the Oromia and Amhara regions spread throughout the country and led to a state of emergency. Tensions in restive areas have dramatically declined as the new government released several thousand prisoners, unblocked websites and welcomed opposition voices. "This is a day that we have been longing for," Milkessa Hunde, a university lecturer, told The Associated Press. "This is why thousands of Qeeros (youths in Oromia) sacrificed their lives. We are eternally indebted to them." After clashes in recent days between youth from Oromia and the capital over displays of the OLF flag in Addis Ababa, the prime minister condemned any incitement of violence. He added, however, that "the right of freedom of expression includes the use of a flag of choice." Police used tear gas to separate the two sides as some businesses closed. Search Keywords: Short link: Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Latest UN attempts to resolve the Yemeni crisis all but failed when Houthi representatives failed to show up in Geneva. But the real problem is outside powers prolonging the war, write and After the breakdown of the Geneva rounds of peace talks that sought to resolve the Yemeni crisis, hopes turned to Kuwait where a hundred days failed to produce a breakthrough in international diplomatic efforts to end the war that erupted in 2014. This summer, after a long hiatus, attention turned to the renewed drive steered by UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths who had tried to produce something new in the most complicated crisis in the Middle East. Rather than starting from where his predecessors had left off, he began from scratch and, as he said, met with all sides and listened to all conflicting views. He held innumerable meetings with Houthi leaders in Sanaa, with leaders from the internationally recognised government based in Aden, with experts on the Yemeni crisis and with numerous influential figures in London, Riyadh, Muscat and elsewhere. Analysts felt that some of the meetings were important while others only revived individuals who no longer have the clout to influence events. This all took a considerable amount of time all the more when reckoned in terms of the lives of the Yemeni people who continue to suffer the ravages of war, blockade, economic hardship, hunger and disease. That something was to come to fruition in Geneva, where Griffiths set 6 September as the date for talks between the disputants after more than two years of diplomatic stagnation. The UN envoy tried to make all the necessary arrangements to ensure that this important step worked. He was also assured that the Houthis were looking forward to the consultations in Geneva and were optimistic. But when the time came, the Yemeni government delegation appeared on time, but the Houthi delegation did not. Griffiths asked people to give the Houthi delegation more time to deal with pending issues, but it still did not show up. In a press conference on 8 September, he confessed to the inability of discussions and negotiations and arrangements and options and alternatives to get the delegation from Sanaa to Geneva. So as not to have to declare total failure and in the hope of keeping avenues open, he said, its too early for me to say when the next round of consultations will take place or will be held, and expressed his resolve to travel to Muscat and Sanaa in the coming days. Griffiths remarks angered the Yemeni government delegation. According to the head of the government delegation Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Yamani, what the UN envoy told the press was different to what he had told the members of his delegation. He charged that Griffiths had pitched his statement to the press to appease the Houthis and justify their behaviour whereas in his meeting with the Yemeni government delegation he had criticised the Houthis behaviour. Ansar Allah leader Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi claimed that his movements delegation was obstructed from leaving the capital, Sanaa, in order to attend the talks. In a televised address broadcast on Houthi media, he explained that a number of wounded individuals who were to accompany the delegation were refused permission to travel. He also complained that he had been unable to obtain sufficient guarantees from the UN that the Houthi negotiating delegation would be able to return to Sanaa. He insisted that the delegation should have the right of access to safe travel with the airlines of a neutral country such as China or Russia, or even Kuwait. Evidently, the Houthis were suspicious of the offer of a UN plane. In June 2015, the Houthi delegations plane was delayed a full day in its trip to Switzerland because, the Houthis claim, Sudanese and Egyptian civil aviation authorities refused to allow the delegations plane to pass through their countrys airspace. The civil aviation authorities in both Cairo and Khartoum deny this. The talks had to be postponed from 14 to 16 June. The Houthis then missed the first day of the Biel negotiations without offering an explanation. T he Houthi delegation was about a week late in arriving for the talks in Kuwait. At the end of that long session, they refused to sign the understandings that had been signed by the government delegation. Such facts are indicative of how low the mutual confidence has sunk between the parties to the Yemeni conflict for whom Geneva 3 was to offer an opportunity to speak about the future of their war-torn country in which divisions have been aggravated by exploitative foreign intervention. As peace prospects receded and mutual recriminations continue to echo in the wake of the UN envoys failure to make progress in bridging views and building trust, it appears that a lack of frankness and clarity in diagnosing the problem and remedying its effects has undermined the ability to reach and sustain understandings. To aggravate the situation, international resolutions are finding less and less scope for application which has enabled putschists to turn UN weakness to their advantage and to exploit international rivalries over the region. What Now? The lack of clarity on the roots and nature of the Yemeni crisis as a whole only compounds the fog that clouds the avenues to peace. The coup should be called what it is and condemned as a political act. A mechanism must be devised to reinstate the legitimate government and rebuild the state in accordance with the three established frames-of-reference, and all parties should understand that negotiations need to deal with viable solutions in accordance with international resolutions and an accurate portrayal of the problem. To turn the consultation and negotiating process back to square one is not just a waste of time. It is also waste of the lives and the hopes of the Yemeni people whose dreams have been mangled in the machinery of war. All means possible must be brought to bear to end this war as quickly as possible, not only because of its consequences for Yemen but also because of the dangers it presents to the Gulf and the world as a whole. This is a war in which Yemeni territory and the Yemeni people are being exploited to promote other projects. Its perpetuation is serving only the agendas of powers involved in conflicts elsewhere in the region, such as Iran which sees Yemen as a low-cost environment in which to lure Gulf countries into a war of attrition without clear rules of engagement. To Western powers, the Yemeni conflict is a means to keep the Arab region embroiled in conflict and further weaken its governments so that those powers can more easily sap the resources of these countries and control their fates. Such intents have been made clear through the unending tests of lethal smart weapons in this conflict-plagued region and through the countless arms deals for astronomical prices. At a broader humanitarian level, Yemen has not only experienced a coup against its government and a usurpation of power, it has also undergone a more painful coup. This one is against the value of life in Yemen by means of the deliberate impoverishment, degradation and starvation of the country for the benefit of a handful of elites. The alarming numbers cited in international and local reports inform us that the vast majority of Yemeni people are in urgent need of humanitarian relief. Poverty has no religion and obeys no rules and threatens to make the situation far worse for Yemen and for the region as a whole. * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Yemen: Peace moves out of reach Search Keywords: Short link: We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. Tripoli is back to relative peace, but the capital remains a microcosm of the wider political agreement the UN is pushing for, which may not align with the interests of all parties Ghassan Salame, UN special representative to Libya and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), has succeeded in containing the security situation in Tripoli after several weeks of militia clashes in the southern suburbs of the capital. Although he had managed to broker a ceasefire agreement between the militia groups earlier this month, the truce quickly broke down within a day. Now, the ceasefire appears to hold. However, as parties in the capital shift to diplomatic avenues instead of arms to resolve their disputes, the Commander-General of the Libyan National Army Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar warned that he would nullify any unfair or rigged electoral process. The international community hopes to broker a political settlement and arrange for general elections in Libya as soon as possible. In a meeting with community leaders in his headquarters in the Rajma district in east Benghazi on 7 September, Haftar said that he is keener than anyone on national elections, but if the elections lacked integrity, the army will act to abort them. He stressed his support for the political process and his intent to recognise the results of elections, as long as they are fair and honest, and reaffirmed his commitment to the Paris declaration sponsored by French President Emmanuel Macron on 25 May. In Paris, there was a political agreement between the competing parties in Libya. Not all political agreements are beneficial, but we are committed to the Paris agreement, Haftar said. Although France failed to persuade all Libyan parties present in the Champs Elysee on 25 May to sign the text as an agreement, it was transformed into a communique that was signed by Haftar, Speaker of the House of Representatives in Tobruk Aquila Saleh, Chairman of the Supreme Council of State Khaled Al-Mishri and Chairman of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord Fayez Al-Sarraj. Haftar, in his meeting with social dignitaries in Benghazi, offered reassurances on his stance with respect to the role of the army in political arrangements. His engagement, he said, was a calculated risk, not a coup against authority. Briefly addressing the eruption of militia violence in the capital, Haftar said: The crisis in Tripoli must end as soon as possible. We cannot remain silent in the face of the current situation, adding that The liberation of Tripoli in accordance with a drawn up military plan is an inevitable option. He stressed that the militias must leave the capital and that, with help from foreign embassies, they could live remote from the Libyan people. He added: There are those who stay afloat thanks to Italy which sees itself as an enemy to us. Describing terrorists as the most evil of Gods creations, Haftar said: We have confronted terrorist elements in Libya of all nationalities. We took it upon ourselves to ensure that not a single IS group element remains alive as long as we are alive. In response to complaints on the part of notables present at the meeting concerning the behaviour of some members of the army towards certain families in Benghazi, he stressed, it is wrong to maltreat the families of terrorists or to confiscate their properties. The wise men must help put an end to such practices. Meanwhile, to the west, Salame and his deputy chief of mission Stephanie Williams brought the situation in the capital under control after securing a truce and ceasefire between the Tripoli-based militias and those fighting beneath the banner of city of Tarhuna. On Sunday, UNSMIL announced the results of the ceasefire-related security dialogue for Tripoli which was attended by representatives of the Government of National Accord and military commanders, security apparatuses and armed groups present in and around the capital. According to the UNSMIL statement of 9 September, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the consolidation of the 4 September 2018 ceasefire, agree on a monitoring and verification mechanism and begin talks on the security arrangements in the Greater Tripoli area. In the end, the parties committed to uphold the ceasefire agreement. They also committed to a signed document that includes establishing a monitoring and verification mechanism to consolidate the ceasefire; the repositioning of armed groups to agreed-upon locations; the development of a plan for withdrawing armed groups from the locations of sovereign institutions and critical infrastructure in Tripoli and assigning the functions of securing the capital to regular police and military forces only. The UNSMIL chief launched a second phase of the agreement on security arrangements for the capital. This phase aims to establish a more permanent arrangement through the introduction of a package of political, security-related and economic measures to be put into place over the next few weeks. In its 9 September statement, the UNSMIL pledged to continue to engage with attending parties to follow up on the details agreed upon today and confirm their implementation, adding: Special Representative to the Secretary-General in Libya, Ghassan Salame, will continue his good offices to announce economic reforms that are key to resolving the crisis, and will work with all parties to reach a lasting and mutually acceptable political agreement aimed at unifying the institutions and stabilising the country. By the time the ceasefire took hold, the clashes between the militia brigades based in Tripoli and the 7th Infantry Brigade that marched on the capital from Tarhuna claimed 78 dead, 210 wounded, 16 missing and the displacement of 95 families from the areas affected by the clashes, according to the field hospital operated by the Ministry of Health in Tripoli. The fighting also took a massive toll on public and private property. The confrontations also reordered the security situation in the capital. By the end of the clashes, the power of the so-called Tripoli Cartel (made up of four militias groups: the Salafi-oriented Special Deterrence Force, the Abu Slim unit of the Central Security Apparatus, the Nawasi Battalion and the Tripoli Revolutionaries Battalion) had been considerably curtailed and restricted to the areas in which contingents are based, while the Tarhuna-based 7th Infantry Brigade, also known as the Kaniyat Brigade, was allowed to take up base in the southern suburbs of the capital. The new situation also made it possible for forces from Misrata to return to Tripoli after a two-year absence. A concerted public and media outcry against the Misrata militias two years ago compelled officials from the most economically and militarily powerful city in the west to call their militia forces back to their barracks. According to sources in Tripoli cited by Bawaba Al-Wasat news site, some 3,000 armoured vehicles from Misrata arrived in the eastern suburbs of the capital after the Presidency Council ordered the counter-terrorist force under the command of General Mohamed Al-Zein to intervene in order to separate the fighting militias in the south of the capital. In like manner, the new situation made it possible for a portion of the militias from Zintan, located in the mountains southwest of Tripoli, to return to the southwestern suburbs of the capital. All groups are positioning themselves for the security arrangements that will be the subject of UN-sponsored negotiations during the forthcoming weeks. The new security arrangements for Tripoli will serve as the prelude to a much broader negotiating process. Salame hopes to broker a permanent political settlement acceptable to all parties in order to unify government institutions and restore stability preparatory to holding parliamentary and presidential elections. On the other hand, the permanent arrangements for the capital that Salame has in mind may not be what Haftar had in mind. The eastern Libyan military strongman probably envisioned a march on the capital led by himself. * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Salame contains Tripoli crisis Search Keywords: Short link: September 15, 2018 The Dike Breaks - Netherland Ends Support For "White Helmets" Terrorist Propaganda Updated below --- The Netherland just announced that it is ending its support for al-Qaeda's propaganda gang, the "White Helmets". It also ends its support for the so called Free Syrian Police. Last week the Netherlands shut down its "non lethal" support for the Free Syrian Army after Dutch news organizations found that members of these groups were accused of terrorism by their General Prosecutor. According to the Volkskrant daily (in Dutch), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ended the support for the White Helmets after its Directorate for International Research and Policy Evaluation issued a critical report about them. For the White Helmets, which had received 12.5 million from the Dutch government, it lists the following issues: According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the supervision of the behavior of the rescue workers is 'inadequate' . The organization that supervises, Mayday, based in the Netherlands, is closely intertwined with the White Helmets itself. In practice, donors do not understand the difference between the two organizations. . The organization that supervises, Mayday, based in the Netherlands, is closely intertwined with the White Helmets itself. In practice, donors do not understand the difference between the two organizations. Mayday wants to spend a maximum of 0.9% of its budget on supervision of the work of the White Helmets. 'That is why there is a lack of independent supervision of the activities and results of the project .' .' The money for the White Helmets is transferred to the Syrian border in cash or enters the country via the hawala system. It is 'problematic' that Mayday does not know how much money is paid via which route . That is why there is a danger that money has fallen into the hands of armed groups . The cash flow can also indirectly be used for illegal trade. Systematic control of the money flow is missing. . That is why there is a . The cash flow can also indirectly be used for illegal trade. The White Helmets are active in areas where armed groups are in power that are considered 'unacceptable' for the Netherlands. Contact between the White Helmets and local administrators who work together with extremist organizations is inevitable. The seemingly intentional lack of transparency practically guarantees that much of the more than $150 million the White Helmets received from various governments will have flown into the private pockets of the people who organize the scam. This blog published several pieces about the White Helmets, mostly pointing out their obviously faked media productions: For background information on the White Helmets the earlier pieces by Vanessa Beeley's at 21stCenturyWireare still the best: Syrias White Helmets: War by Way of Deception Part I and Part II Syrias White Helmets: Moderate Executioners. Vanessa Beeley, Eva Barlett (vid) and others have tried for years to point out the nefarious scheme behind the propaganda scam "White Helmets". Roger Waters rightly calls them (vid) a "fake propaganda construct for terrorists". But 'western' media loved the dramatic fake photos and videos the White Helmets produced, partly because they could put them into print and on screen free of any charge. Whoever criticized them and questioned their narratives was publicly smeared and derided. The Volkkrant notes: It is the first time that a Western government states that there are problems with the project. It will not be the last time. More people will take note, look into the issue and pressure their governments to end their support. As the Dutch know well, once the dikes break it is impossible to stop the flood. The relentless work of a few engaged writers put pressure onto the dike and finally broke it. The White Helmet scam will soon come under a flood of public scrutiny and will be swept away into some dark corner of history. Just a month ago Germany's Foreign Minister Maas, also known as a "well styled NATO call boy", met the White Helmets front man Raed al-Saleh, who was denied entry into the U.S., and promised him more money. Maas also lauded the recent 'evacuation of White Helmets' from the Quneitra and Daraa area to Israel which was just another scam. Israel used the White Helmet cover to evacuated a number of terrorists commanders it had paid and equipped for years in its war on Syria. Maas and his NATO colleagues in other countries will soon be asked about the Dutch example. Can they refute the analysis the Foreign Ministry of their NATO ally Netherland made? Can Maas explain what happened with the 17 million Germany gave to them? In who's pocket did they end up? Update (Sep 16, 5:30 utc): The Netherlands also ends its participation in the U.S. bombing campaign against ISIS: Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 fighter jets will be pulled out of the mission against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria at the end of the year, the Dutch government said Friday, September 14. Cabinet has decided not to prolong the use of F-16s in the fight against IS past December 31, the Dutch cabinet said in a statement on Friday. Some 80 Dutch troops will continue to provide training for the Iraqi army. Update (Sep 16, 9:10 utc): The publishing note from the Foreign Ministry on the report discussed above is available in Dutch language. There is a cover letter (pdf) from the Directorate for International Research and Policy Evaluation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also in Dutch. It describes the programs the Netherland contributed to (machine translation): Since the start of the conflict, the Netherlands has spent more than EUR 70 million in stabilization support in Syria, in consultation with many like-minded international partners and donors. The programs aimed to contribute to some degree of liveability in the opposition area and the prevention of further refugee flows, new power facets and the influence of extremists. This support took place within the complex and fluid context of the Syrian war, during which the situation on the ground has changed drastically in seven years. The Cabinet has informed the House about contributions to the projects. Including the significant contributions to the non-lethal assistance program (NLA), White Helmets, and Access to Justice and Community Security (AJACS) program from 2015. The evaluation report itself is in English: Review of the monitoring systems of three projects in Syria AJACS, White Helmets and NLA (pdf). --- End Update Posted by b on September 15, 2018 at 19:30 UTC | Permalink Comments The summit between Russia, Iran and Turkey on Syria failed to find a solution to conflicting interests, with hundreds of thousands of civilians likely to pay the price, writes Bassel Oudat in Damascus A meeting between the presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey on 7 September revealed a wide gulf between the three who had opted at the 2017 Astana Conference to monitor and enforce de-escalation zones in Syria. There was obvious bickering at last weeks summit, especially regarding the future of Idlib in northwest Syria, even though the summits final communique was positive and did not hint at any disputes. In a joint statement, the three presidents confirmed their strong and continued commitment to Syrias sovereignty, independence, unity and territory, rejecting any attempts to create new realities on the ground on the pretext of fighting terrorism. They also declared their refusal of any separatist agendas in Syria that could undermine the security of neighbouring countries. The three agreed to address conditions in the de-escalation zone in Idlib in accordance with this spirit of cooperation. They committed themselves to eliminate the Islamic State (IS), Al-Nusra Front and other groups, and said that a distinction would be made between these groups and the armed opposition groups that had agreed to the ceasefire. The communique said it was impossible to resolve the Syrian conflict through a military solution, and that this could only be done through a political process. The three presidents said they intended to continue to push the political process forward based on decisions taken at the Russian-sponsored Sochi Conference and in UN Security Council Resolution 2254. The summit focused on the fate of Idlib, the last stronghold of the armed Syrian opposition, but ended without agreement despite what the communique implied. Turkey tried to enforce a permanent ceasefire in Idlib, but Russia and Iran insisted that the region must return to the control of the Syrian regime. Ankara said it wanted to avoid a massacre in Idlib. If we can declare a ceasefire today, that would be a key achievement of this summit, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Any attack on Idlib would result in a tremendous humanitarian tragedy. We cannot leave Idlib at the mercy of the Syrian regime whose massacres against its own people are still fresh in our memories, he said. However, Moscow insisted that it would not end military operations without a victory against terrorism in favour of the regime led by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. Russian President Vladimir Putin refused a ceasefire in Idlib, saying that it was unacceptable to let terrorists withdraw to avoid being attacked and harm Syrian government forces. The legitimate government in Syria has every right to take control of all its territory, Putin said. Iran said it would not negotiate with anyone other than Al-Assad and that the groups defined as terrorist were not part of ceasefire efforts. The Russian tone sounded like a declaration of war, with Iran paving the way for an imminent attack on Idlib. Meanwhile, the regime and its allies are mobilising troops near Idlib in preparation for a final attack. However, Moscow cannot overlook Turkeys interests, especially since the latter views the area as a national security zone and the first line of defence to protect Turkish territories from Kurdish separatists who want to create a Kurdish state in northern Syria. Turkey said it could isolate terrorist factions from others through precise military operations. Over the past three years, the Syrian regime, Russia and Iran have forced thousands of members of the opposition and their families from across Syria to gather in Idlib. The city is now home to three million Syrians, one third of whom are internally displaced due to reconciliation agreements, truces or settlements. This has transformed Idlib into a refugee area that could suffer a humanitarian tragedy if it is attacked. Russia and the regime are taking advantage of the fact that Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (the Levant Liberation Organistion or HTS), which is affiliated with Al-Qaeda, controls most of Idlib and is rejected by most other armed opposition factions who will not enter into an alliance with HTS. The other opposition groups will not fight HTS because their greater goal is to defend the area from a possible military operation by the regime. Turkey has increased its military presence in and around Idlib, with 12 observation centres reinforced with heavy artillery. Meanwhile, the regime has carried out attacks with the support of Russian air strikes on several villages in the Idlib region. Idlib and its suburbs have seen ferocious air strikes by Russian fighters and regime helicopters dumping more than 50 barrel-bombs on residential areas. Turkey is not only concerned about protecting its first line of defence that shields its borders from separatist Kurds and Syrian regime forces, but it is also worried that a military attack on Idlib will result in tens of thousands of refugees fleeing to Turkey. This would cause an influx of refugees that Turkey could not handle since it already hosts three million Syrian refugees. The UN has warned of a humanitarian disaster if the regime, Russia and Iran attack Idlib, resulting in an estimated 800,000 more refugees. Moscow claims it has intelligence that jihadist fighters are planning chemical-weapons attacks in Idlib to justify a Western military intervention, accusing HTS and others of preparing for such a scenario and fabricating events that would accuse government forces of using poison gas against civilians. This would raise the ire of the West because there is intelligence confirming that the regime still possesses chemical weapons. The UN Security Council met one day after the three-way summit, but this came to very little. UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura focused on the need to open protected voluntary evacuation corridors for civilians from Idlib, which would mean facilitating displacement and demographic change under the pretext of war. He did not stress the need not to wage the attacks to begin with, or focus on the need to separate radical groups from other armed opposition groups. Days later, de Mistura invited representatives from Russia, Turkey and Iran to meet in Geneva to discuss the crisis, but these meetings also ended without agreement. HTS has taken control of large areas of Idlib, expelled other factions, and established what it calls a national-salvation government. Turkey is trying to contain the status quo by converting the group into a political movement, but this is a race against time as thousands of foreign elements in HTS are calling for combat. Idlib is a crossroads in the relationship between Turkey, Russia, Turkey and the US. Ankara agreed to be a guarantor of the de-escalation zones agreed at the Astana Conference, and it has also wanted to draw closer to Moscow after relations were left in tatters after Turkey shot down a Russian military jet. It might now break away from Russia and shift towards the US again, its decades-old strategic ally that seems more capable of defending its national security. All the sides are now mobilising around Idlib, including the regime, Iran, Russia, Turkey, the opposition fighters and Al-Qaeda affiliates. The US is monitoring the situation from bases a stones throw away in northern Syria and southern Turkey. Behind the scenes, the regime and Russia are bargaining with the armed factions and others in the city to put down their arms and withdraw in return for lucrative rewards. Idlib is no longer the concern of only the Syrians, as there are many influential international forces present, notably the US and Europe. What is certain is that there will be a humanitarian catastrophe if there is a war, with an unprecedented number of refugees and civilian victims. * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Three-way summit fails Search Keywords: Short link: Iraq's parliament elected Sunni lawmaker Mohammed al-Halbousi as speaker on Saturday, marking an important step towards establishing a new government four months after an inconclusive national election. Parliament had been due to elect a speaker and two deputies during its first meeting on Sept 3, but failed to do so as lawmakers were unable to determine which competing bloc had the most seats. Halbousi's election marks the start of a 90-day process outlined in the constitution, designed to eventually lead to a new government. Lawmakers must next elect a new president and task the leader of the largest bloc to form a government as prime minister. But a dominant bloc has yet to emerge, against a backdrop of shifting political alliances. Halbousi defeated former Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi, winning the position with 169 votes, according to Shia lawmaker Husham al-Suhail. Iraq's parliament contains 329 seats. Announcing the vote, the temporary leader of the assembly said Halbousi, 37, had become the youngest speaker of parliament in Iraq's history. Before running in May's national election as a candidate on the Anbar Our Identity electoral list, Halbousi was the governor of Anbar province. He had previously served in Iraq's parliament, from 2014 to 2017. Since Saddam Hussein was toppled in a 2003 U.S.-led invasion, power has been shared among Iraq's three largest ethnic-sectarian components. The prime minister has traditionally been a Shis Arab, the speaker of parliament a Sunni Arab and the president a Kurd. Iraqis voted in May in their first parliamentary election since the defeat of Islamic States self-declared caliphate, but a contentious recount process delayed the announcement of final results until last month. Search Keywords: Short link: Stonebwoy and I are not as ... SOUTHINGTON A family with members in town and in Italy plan to open a pizza restaurant on Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike this fall. Luigi Camputaro of Southington and his daughter Marina Geraci will be joined by Camputaros three nephews from southern Italy in running the venture. They plan to open Mamma Mia Restaurant at 1765 Meriden-Waterbury Tpke. in the fall and are working on the former diner now. Were hoping for a very welcoming environment, like when youre going to your Italian grandmothers and she wants you to eat all day, Geraci said. Mamma Mia will specialize in personal size pizzas common in southern Italy. Camputaros three nephews, all chefs, run a banquet facility in Italy and will be back and forth while helping with the restaurant. Theyll be coming and cooking, Geraci said. They will be in the kitchen, checking the dishes. Ralph Secondo, a local chef, said hes impressed with the family and said their banquet facility in Italy is magnificent. They really have some great ideas. They want to bring three chefs from Italy, a wood-fired pizza oven from Italy, Secondo said. The oven has been ordered and Geraci expects delivery in October. Itll be a major feature of the restaurant and they wont open without it, she said. The restaurant will have tables and offer take-out. Many of the pizza, pasta, meat and fish dishes will be made from scratch. Geraci said theyre hoping to get approval for beer and wine sales as well. While working on renovating the restaurant location, Geraci said her father has been approached by customers of the former diner curious about whats going in next. People have been stopping in thinking the diner is still there, she said. Theyre definitely noticing, jbuchanan@record-journal.com 203-317-2230 Twitter: @JBuchananRJ Its been 20 years since the Libertarian Party, the nations third largest political party, has fielded a candidate in Connecticuts race for governor. Rod Hanscomb ended that streak earlier this month when he cleared the 7,500 signatures needed to get on the ballot. He is pushing his party to focus on the budget and economy, avoiding some of the fringe issues, like hemp and digital currency, in hopes of making the party more appealing to the general electorate. The Libertarian Party in Connecticut sees that potential and thats why our messaging is different, he said during a visit Wednesday to the Record-Journal for an episode of the Morning Record. We dont get caught up on fringe issues, were concentrating on that hardcore (message). Hanscomb is part of a five-way race for governor, going up against Democrat Ned Lamont, Republican Bob Stefanowski, and petitioning candidates Mark Stewart Greenstein, who formed the Amigo Constitution Party, and unaffiliated Oz Griebel. The Libertarian Party traditionally hasnt had a big presence in Connecticut, but Hanscomb is hopeful a message of true fiscal responsibility, but also socially liberal policies will resonate. Hanscomb wants to eliminate the income tax, but unlike Stefanowski and Greenstein hes not putting a timeline on his goal. He said that partially depends on having a legislature that agrees, as well as having the economic growth to allow it. When asked how he would address a $4.5 billion deficit over his first two years, Hanscomb said he would copy Maines welfare reform to drive down costs in Connecticut. Maine in 2014 required able-bodied recipients to work, train, or volunteer at least part-time to continue to receive food stamps. Hanscomb, who lived in Washington for years, also wants to implement what he calls the Amazon.com mentality of constantly looking for efficiency. If Connecticut was a retailer, I think it would be kind of like KMart, he said. Meaning its 1970 and the blue light special was going and things were good for us, and were looking in the rearview mirror hoping that the good ol days are going to be coming again. Hanscomb said Libertarians also want to boost the economy by reducing regulation, particularly when it comes to requirements for occupational licenses. He would sign legislation legalizing recreational marijuana and expanding gaming, but said neither is a priority for him. He also opposes tolls, and is confident Connecticut can get more from its transportation funds by spending more efficiently on infrastructure projects. To hear more from Hanscomb, listen to the Morning Record, the Record-Journals daily podcast, at https://bit.ly/2OnUwNI msavino@record-journal.com 203-317-2266 Twitter: @reporter_savino A Kuwaiti man and woman convicted of assaulting customs officers at Sri Lanka's main international airport were handed a six month jail sentence suspended for five years, an official said Saturday. A magistrate sentenced on Friday the 32-year-old woman and her 29-year-old male partner, who were also fined 138,000 rupees ($860). They were arrested trying to smuggle in a Burmese Mastiff into the country in July without following quarantine procedures. The woman was caught on CCTV cameras assaulting customs officers who tried to stop them. Bringing pets into the island without quarantine clearance can lead to the forfeiture of the animal as well as a fine of up to 100,000 rupees ($625). Customs spokesman Vipula Minuwanpitiya said the pet dog was confiscated and later given back to the couple to be taken out of the country. Search Keywords: Short link: State Organizations condemn murder of police inspector DIMAPUR, SEP 15 (NPN) | Publish Date: 9/15/2018 1:02:50 PM IST Several organizations including elected representatives have condemned the cold blooded murder of a police inspector (5th NAP ABI), Neiphretuo Metseio of Chiechama village. CPO: Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) has vehemently condemned the barbaric murder of Neiphretuo Metseio of Chiechama village. In a press note, CPO president, Kekhwengulo Lea and general secretary Mutsivoyi Kotso said late Nephretuo was a very sincere officer posted as Inspector of 5th NAP (SN) at Pfutsero. CPO asserted that the Chakhesang community will not tolerate such act of barbarism committed in Chakhesang jurisdiction in broad day light. CPO also stated that the deceased was not way laid as presumed by some, but was murdered in cold blood by the occupants in his car for reason best known to the perpetrators. Further, CPO urged the state investigating agencies and the administration to expedite the investigation and leave no stone unturned to bring the culprits to book at the earliest and deliver justice without delay. It also opined that such act of extreme cowardice deserved the highest degree of punishment. Meanwhile, CPO has warned social media users to refrain from spreading false rumours which could cause communal tension Further, CPO expressed heartfelt condolence the grief stricken families of late Neiphretuo Metsieo and prayed that God grant divine solace and comfort to the families, and to welcome the dearly departed soul into His bosom. DY CM: Dy. Chief Minister, Y Patton has expressed anguish on learning about the tragic dead of Niephretou Metsie-o, ABI of 5th NAP Bn, whose dead body was recovered on September 15 2018, under Phek district. Patton has asked the law enforcing agencies to thoroughly probe into the nature of the death and to book the culprits at the earliest so as to award befitting punishment to the perpetrators as per the law of the land. Meanwhile, Patton also conveyed deepest condolence to the bereaved families and prayed that the departed soul rest in peace. PTP: Pfutsero Town Public (PTP) led by convenor ward chairman Pfutsero Town, Mesulo Khalo and president Pfutsero Town Youth Organisation, Obed Yhobu said the public vehemently condemned the barbaric killing of NeiphretuoMetsie-o between Lasumi and Zapami village under Zuketsa circle, Pfutsero sub-division allegedly by Thangmeingam (24) of Kharasom Lozo Village and Miss. Ringthingchon of Lunghar village under Ukhrul district, Manipur. At meeting was also held on September 15 afternoon at Pfutsero Town in connection with the brutal murder. They said the Public of Pfutsero area strongly condemned the heinous crime committed by the two persons within the Pfutsero jurisdiction and for tarnishing the image and peaceful co-existence of Pfutsero area. The Pfutsero town public has therefore requested the authorities and Tangkhul community to nab the culprits within 7 days, failing which it said the Pfutsero area public will take its own course of action and will not be responsible for any untoward situations. Meanwhile, Pfutsero area public expressed grief and prayed that God grant peace and solace to the bereaved family. THN: Tangkhul Hoho Nagaland (THN) has strongly condemned the murder of Neiphretuo Metsie-o of Chiechama Village. THN president Lungmi Kasar said the hoho was shocked and outraged by the murder of a police inspector and more so, deeply pained at the loss of a young, promising officer whose life was tragically taken away. As a community, THN said we bow our heads in shame to hear that the murder was allegedly committed by a couple belonging to our community. Such a vicious act has no place in our culture, and the alleged murderers do not represent us in any way, it added. THN has conveyed sincere condolences to the bereaved family, especially to the wife and the four young children and prayed that the Almighty grant solace at this difficult time. The hoho also assured to extend all possible help to the law enforcing agencies in having the culprits arrested and punished befittingly at the earliest possible time. Our community stands together in full support to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice, THN stated. Neikha: Advisor, Youth Resources & Sports, Er. Zale Neikha expressed shock at the murder of has condemned the murder of inspector Neiphretuo Metsieo, son of Neisalie Metsieo of Chiechama village, whose dead body has been found between Zapami and Lasumi village under Pfutsero district. Neikha said it was unfortunate and sad that inhumane cases of kidnap and murder once unknown in Naga society have become more prominent in the recent past. While condemning the heinous crime, Neikha appealed to the citizens of Nagaland to have that brotherly attitude of respect, love and compassion and let peace prevail in our land. He also appealed to the concerned authority to arrest and award befitting punishment to the culprits as per the law. Further, Neikha expressed deepest condolences to the bereaved family members in this hour of grief. NDPP: Ruling NDPP party has expressed deep shock at the gruesome murder of inspector Neiphretuo Metsie-o by some blood-thirsty miscreants. In a condemnation note, NDPP said such barbarism has no place in a civilized society and appealed to the state government and law enforcing agencies to leave no stone unturned so that the murderers are brought to justice at the earliest. NDP has also requested all to extend their cooperation in the investigation process. Meanwhile, NDPP expressed deepest sympathies to the bereaved family members and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace. AYO: Angami Youth Organization (AYO) expressed deep pain over the murder of Neiphretuo Metsieo. In a press note, AYO expressed serious concerned by the continuous murdering spree and vehicle thefts. Stating that such act was totally unacceptable and cannot be tolerated, AYO demanded the government to immediately arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime. KPU: Kandi Public Union (KPU) has vehemently condemned the murder of their son-in-law, Neiphretuo Metsie-o by unknown miscreants for no reason. KPU general secretary Hethinon Mesen said the union pays tribute to the departed soul and conveyed deepest condolences to the bereaved family. KPU also prayed that God grant strength to the family and for the departed soul to rest in peace. CYF: Chakhesang Youth Front (CYF) CYF president Lhuvesayi Lohe and general secretary Medovelo Sono strongly condemned the barbaric murder of Neiphretuo Metsie-o, by some perpetrators hailing from Ukhrul district, Manipur. CYF said they were shocked at the way in which the criminal act was carried out and questioned the security of ordinary citizens if the law enforcers themselves become victim of such crime. CYF also strongly objected to the criminal act committed under its jurisdiction and warned the perpetrators of severest consequences once they were caught. The youth front further assured to give its fullest co-operation to assist the investigating authorities to nab the culprits and at the same time urged the law enforcing authorities to arrest the perpetrators and award befitting punishment as per the law of the land. Further, CYF conveyed deepest condolences to the loved ones and village community at this hour of grief. TYOD: Tenyimi Youth Organization Dimapur (TYOD) has expressed shock and condemned the cold blooded murder of Neiphretuo Metseio, a young and dynamic police officer. Expressing anguish over the horrendous crime, TYOD president Thejangulie Angami and general secretary Khrozote Kapfo said such vicious act has no place in the society. TYOD reminded the law enforcing agency that since the heinous crime was committed in Nagaland, the culprit/s (he or she) even if caught outside Nagaland must be brought to Nagaland and face legal action with proper investigation and trial. No one should try to shelter the criminals and nurture them for their own welfare, TYOD warned. TYOD also conveyed deepest condolences to the bereaved family and prayed that Almighty grant solace at this difficult time. ZAPO: Zuketsa Area Public Organization (ZAPO) has strongly condemned the gruesome murder of Neiphretuo Metsieo in their jurisdiction. ZAPO vice president Sabou Krome and general secretary Rite Khutso said the organization was shocked and pained by the cold blooded murder and inhuman killing of Neiphretuo Metsieo. ZAPO demanded that the investigating authority leave no stone unturned and give befitting punishment to all the culprits. Asserting that the organization will not tolerate such acts within its jurisdiction, ZAPO said Zuketsa Area was not a playfield for criminals to do their nefarious activities. ZAPO said it will not shy away until justice was delivered. Meanwhile, ZAPO also conveyed deepest condolences to the bereaved family. KTPO: Khuzha Tephe Public Organization (KTPO) has condemned the gruesome and barbaric cold blooded murder of a promising police officer, Neiphretuo Metsieo. KTPO president Z. Kepfhelhou Koza and general secretary Pfuche Koza said that murder was committed by some perpetrators hailing from Ukhrul district, Manipur. The organization said such crime was intolerable and deserved highest degree of punishment. KTPO said it will not tolerate such heinous act carried out within their vicinity, bringing shame and fear psychosis to the society. They also urged the authorities and law enforcing agencies to leave no stone unturned and book the perpetrators and award befitting punishment. KTPO further conveyed deepest condolence to the bereaved family and relatives. TCS: Tangkhul Civil Society (TCS) comprising of Tangkhul Naga Long, Tangkhul Shanao Long (womens league), Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (Students Union), Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long (Youth Council) and Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long (chief association) strongly condemned the barbaric killing of Neiphretuo Metsie-o. TCS said also condemned the culprits, subsequently running away with his car. In a joint statement, the presidents of TNL Weapon Zimik, TSL Grace A Shatsang, TKS Rangam, TMNL Thanmi LM Shimray and TNWL AS Vaomi said that during its meeting September 15 at TNL presidents chamber, the organization resolved to appeal the concerned authority to book the perpetrators at the earliest for end of justice. TCS also appealed to every Tangkhul citizen to extend all possible in arresting the perpetrators. Meanwhile, TCS conveyed deepest condolence and prayed for the bereaved family members. TSUD: Tenyimi Students Union Dimapur (TSUD) has vehemently condemned the brutal murder of inspector, Niephretou Metsie-o. A condemnation note issued by TSUD advisor, Neitho Khusoh and general secretary, A. Shyerhunlo Lorin stated that such acts of lawless killings should be condemned by all. The union appealed to the administration, law enforcing agencies and special investigation team to award the murderer befitting punishment as per law. TSUD further conveyed condolences to the bereaved family. PNU: Poumai Naga Union (PNU) has vehemently condemned the brutal murder of Neiphretuo Metsie-o by some unidentified criminals and thereafter dumping off of his body by the roadside and then fleeing off with his car. In a condemnation note, PUN said such inhumane act has no place in our peace loving society. It also expressed sadness that a young and dynamic officer had to fall victim to the evil designs of some few outlaws. PUN said the entire Poumai community was deeply disturbed to learn about the existence of such criminal elements in the Naga society. The union said it stood by the family members and community of Neiphretuo. PUN also assured fullest support and co-operation to the family members and investigating agency to ensure that those responsible for the inhumane murder are brought to book and justice served as per the law of the land. Reminding all that wilful shielding and protecting of the culprits amount to a criminal act PUN therefore appealed to all authorities concerned and individuals alike to play their part positively and ensure that the culprits were handed over to the law enforcement agencies at the earliest. NPO: Naga peoples organization (NPO), apex body of Senapati district, has vehemently condemned the inhuman and barbaric cold blooded killing of inspector Neiphretuo Metsie-o. NPO through its president Solomon Arow, while extending sincere solidarity and condolences to the bereaved family members, strongly demanded immediate arrest of the perpetrators. NPO said such brutal killing of the young police officer holds no place in the society where law and justice was supreme. NPO said it unconditionally extended all support and co-operation to any investigation to nab the culprit(s) at the earliest possible. A new report says Ethiopia's air force has killed about 70 al-Shabab extremists in an airstrike in neighboring Somalia. The state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate says the airstrike was meant to thwart an al-Shabab attack on an Ethiopian contingent of the multinational African Union force. The report says "two vehicles packed with weapons" were destroyed. It does not say where or when the airstrike occurred. It cites Brig. Gen. Yilma Merdassa with the air force as saying "we achieved 100 percent of our plans." There is no immediate comment from Somali authorities. Kenya, another member of the AU mission, also has carried out airstrikes against the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab, while the U.S. military has carried out at least 22 airstrikes against the extremist group this year. Search Keywords: Short link: By PTI MUMBAI: 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 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. By Associated Press PHILADELPHIA: A Chinese scientist has pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal biopharmaceutical trade secrets from GlaxoSmithKline in what prosecutors said was a scheme to set up companies in China to market them. Tao Li pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to a single conspiracy count. The change of plea comes two weeks after Yu Xue, a high-ranking researcher who worked at GlaxoSmithKline's suburban Philadelphia research facility, also pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge. Prosecutors say Xue emailed various documents that were confidential and contained trade secrets to Li and others, who had set up a company called Renopharma in China to sell and market the research. An attorney for Li did not immediately return a message from The Associated Press on Friday. Three others have been charged in the alleged scheme. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Adding another twist to an already messy web of allegations and counter-allegations flung at each other by the Singh brothers, the erstwhile promoter-duo of Fortis and Ranbaxy, another company in which they are still nominally listed as promoters, has approached the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) seeking the recovery of funds illegally diverted from it. Even as the NCLT accepted Shivinder Singhs plea to withdraw his suit against his brother Malvinder Singh on Friday, it allowed Religare Enterprises Ltd to move the court to recover funds siphoned from it for the Singh brothers holding firm RHC Holdings Pvt Ltd. The NCLT allowed the plea based on Shivinders original petition accusing his brother Malvinder and former Religare CEO and MD Sunil Godhwani of oppression and mismanagement of their companies. Shivinder had also accused Malvinder of forging his wife Aditi Singhs signature and of diverting funds from Fortis Healthcare and Religare Enterprises. While the NCLT allowed Shivinder to withdraw his suit against his brother, it allowed Religare to move it for any recovery proceedings based on the allegations in his earlier petition. According to Shivinders earlier petition against Malvinder and Godhwani, he alleged that the two had colluded to divert Rs 750 crore from Religare Finvest Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Religare, and another Rs 473 crore from Fortis Healthcare to RHC Holding Pvt Ltd. Shivinder had also sought an order from NCLT to direct Malvinder to return the funds unlawfully taken from Fortis Healthcare and Religare Enterprises. The two brothers have seen an impressive erosion of capital from their heydays in 2008 when they had received $4.6 billion from the sale of pharmaceutical major Ranbaxy to Japans Daiichi Sankyo. Earlier this year, the Delhi High Court had ordered the former Ranbaxy promoters to pay Daiichi Sankyo Rs 3,500 crore as part of the arbitration award earlier this year as restitution for concealing information related to wrongdoing at Ranbaxy. The brothers also lost control of Fortis Healthcare after shareholders approved a proposed $1 billion deal with Malaysian healthcare group IHH Bhd to take over the firm. By PTI NEW DELHI: HDFC Bank has sent nearly 250 summons through e-mail and WhatsApp to customers who evade compliance and hopes to settle cases faster by adopting the newer methods of communication. "HDFC 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 WhatsApp which will help in faster disposal of the cases," a bank official said. The official said over 60 lakh cheque bounce cases are pending in the country and HDFC 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 WhatsApp. 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 Supreme Court appointed amicus curiae recommended closure of proceedings in all cheque bounce cases through digital means. The offence falls under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act 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. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Indias second largest IT exporter Infosys on Friday said it will acquire Finland-based salesforce consulting company Fluido for 65 million euros. The acquisition is part of the Bengaluru-based companys strategy to help clients 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, Infosys said in a regulatory filing. The acquisition is expected to close during third quarter of the financial year 2018-19, subject to customary closing conditions. Founded in 2010, Fluido has a strong presence in the Nordic region and Europe with offices in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Slovakia. The move will help Infosys elevate its presence across the region with developed assets and deep client relationships. The buyout is also likely to help the company in its localisation efforts. Fluido will be an important addition to the Infosys family, bringing a unique combination of market presence, deep salesforce expertise, agile delivery and training which, combined with our existing capabilities, will help companies reimagine and transform their businesses. This acquisition also aligns with our efforts to invest in local capabilities in the regions in which we operate, said Ravi Kumar, president and deputy COO, Infosys. Fluido customers are represented across industries such as manufacturing, energy, retail and telecommunications, to whom the company delivers services that span from strategy consulting to implementation and training. With Infosys, we will now be able to provide truly global scalable services, while maintaining the close relationship with our customers. Both the scale and breadth of Infosys portfolio of offerings, broad industry expertise and enterprise cloud adoption is an exciting opportunity for Fluido customers and our people, stated Fluido founder and CEO Kai Makela. Meanwhile, in a separate filing, Infosys said it will announce its financial results for the quarter and half year ending September 30, 2018, on October 16, 2018. The Board meeting is likely to consider and recommend payment of interim dividend. By PTI New DELHI: The UIDAI's system contains multiple layers of security checks, and any attempt of manipulation at the operator level will be detected and thwarted at the back-end, Aadhaar-issuing body's CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey has said. The comments of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) chief come against the backdrop of a recent report alleging Aadhaar software hack. "The whole Aadhaar system is designed in a manner that it has multiple layers of security. Because of multiple layers of security, if manipulation is done at the systems' front end, at the back-end the security checks will thwart that attempt," Pandey said. Once the application for enrolment is received, validation or security checks are performed at the system's back-end too, Pandey said, adding that these safeguards allow rogue attempts to be detected. "All such attempts will get detected at the back-end and the enrolment packets then get rejected, and Aadhaar is not generated. We are also able to identify which operator has done this and, in such cases, the operator will be blacklisted in appropriate cases we file prosecution under the Aadhaar Act," Pandey told PTI. A report recently claimed that Aadhaar software and database have been compromised by a software patch that purportedly disables crucial safety features of the enrolment software. The report had also said that the patch allegedly enabled unauthorised people to generate Aadhaar, a claim that has been refuted by the UIDAI. In a statement earlier this week, UIDAI claimed that no operator can make or update Aadhaar unless an individual gives biometrics details. "Therefore it is not possible to introduce ghost entries into Aadhaar database," the UIDAI statement had said. When contacted, Jaideep Srivastava, Professor of Computer Science at University of Minnesota said that the generation of an Aadhaar number is the result of a full 'two-way handshake' between the client software and the server software. "The former collects and sends a packet, and the latter then decides to accept or not accept the enrolment packet. Since the server-end decides the second, it has more power than the client software. Just because a rogue operator or compromised enrolment software tries to register an unauthorised person does not mean that the server will accept the packet and generate Aadhaar," Srivastava said in response to an e-mail query. It is common for companies to organize various informal events where workers can come with their partners. One of those... The United States will not present its long-awaited plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace any time soon and is instead trying to unilaterally change the terms of reference for any future proposal, a senior Palestinian official said on Saturday. Echoing deep scepticism among the Palestinians, Arab countries and analysts, Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian chief negotiator, said that the Trump administration was siding with Israel on the core issues of the decades-old conflict, burying all chances for Middle East peace. "I don't think they will ever introduce a plan," Erekat said in an interview with Reuters in Jericho. "The whole world is rejecting their ideas. They are already implementing their plan by changing the terms of reference," he said. Doubts have mounted over whether Trump's administration can secure what he has called the "ultimate deal" since December, when the U.S. President recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital and then moved the U.S. Embassy there. The United States has also cut off aid to the Palestinians and to UNRWA - the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees -- and has ordered the PLOs office in Washington shut, further angering Palestinian leaders. Erekat said it appeared that the United States has accepted Israel's positions on other main issues of the conflict, and not just Jerusalem, including the fate of millions of Palestinian refugees from wars dating to 1948 and Israeli settlements on land Palestinians envisage as part of their future independent state. But Trump's Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt told Reuters in that Washington was prepared for Israeli criticism of the plan and that both sides can expect parts they will like and dislike. He provided no further details. Greenblatt, a chief architect of the initiative, said U.S. negotiators had entered the "pre-launch phase" of the plan, despite the boycott by Palestinian leaders, but declined to specify a time frame. The Palestinians want to establish a state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. Israel captured those territories in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognized internationally. It regards all of the city as its eternal and indivisible capital. U.S. officials have so far been non-committal about whether their plan would endorse the creation of a Palestinian state beside the state of Israel - the goal of previous rounds of negotiations, the last of which collapsed in 2014. "They are telling us 'peace based on the truth'," Erekat said. "The Kushner truth and the Netanyahu truth is that Jerusalem is Israel's capital, no right of return to refugees, settlements are legal, no Palestinian state on 1967 (borders) and Gaza must be separated from the West Bank and this is absolutely unacceptable," Erekat said. Palestinians have limited self-rule in the West Bank, but Israel controls most of that territory and has expanded its settlements there. Most countries deem the settlements illegal, though Israel disputes this. It withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza, which is ruled by the Islamist Hamas movement. "The only thing this administration did since it came to office is just to take Israelis and Palestinians off the path to peace, off the path of the two-state solution," Erekat said. *This story was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: By Express News Service CHENNAI: Residents of Kasipuram and Power Kuppam at Kasimedu took to the streets on Friday to protest against the poor quality of drinking water supplied to them. They said the water supplied was mixed with sewage for the last four months. Because of the demonstration, traffic came to a halt for over two hours. A sample of the water shown by residents when Express visited the spot, emitted a foul odour and was blackish-brown in colour. The insides of the vessels in which we store this water are lined with sediments and have turned black. People who use this water to bathe have developed rashes. Children who drank this water have severe stomach ache and have been admitted to the hospital several times, said Malathi of Kasipuram A Block. Residents alleged that since the underground sewage pipes were re-laid in June, drinking water they get had turned black due to sewage contamination. All residents living in the 11 streets at Kasipuram had to give `500 each to Metrowater officials to relay the sewage pipe without any leakage or blocks. Due to shoddy work, the pipe is broken and sewage mixes with drinking water, alleged 72-year-old Nayagam of R K Nagar. After local officials from Metrowater assured them that clean water will be provided, the crowd dispersed. But, Metrowater officials dismissed their claims and said there was only a shortage of water for the past one month. There is no chance that the sewage pipes have any leaks. We checked the drinking water line and it was almost empty. Because of this there is slight sedimentation and discoloration in the water. We have already sent one water tanker to Kasimedu, said a Metrowater official. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Amid the row surrounding the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) election, the Election Commission said it is not responsible for any local body polls and asserted complaints of alleged tampering of EVMs have generated wrong perception about the voting machines. We would like to clarify once again that the EC is not responsible for the conduct of local body elections (municipalities, panchayats etc.) that are conducted by the State Election Commissions and elections held by various organizations in the country and consequently about various protocols and procedures adopted by them, it said in a statement. On Thursday, the DUSU poll counting was stopped for an hour after allegations of faulty EVMs. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer had said the EVMs used in the DUSU election have not been issued by the Commission and it seems to have been procured privately. Until last year, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) were allowed by the Commission to supply EVMs to state election commissions and other organizations. After May 2017, BEL and ECIL were directed to seek the Commissions prior approval and supply only EVMs that are different from ECI-EVMs to SECs or to other foreign countries that too only after the current ordered quantities are fully supplied. The poll panel added that old EVMs are destroyed as per its strict protocol. Officials said that the Commission uses only single-post EVMs (i.e. vote can be cast only for one post). In the DUSU elections, multi-post EVMs (i.e. vote can be cast for more than one post) were used. An ECIL official said the EVMs used in Delhi University might be purchased many years ago when approval was not required. Kejriwal questions EC on EVMs NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal questioned the Commission over the privately sourced EVMs used in the students body polls. From where can you procure EVMs privately? Doesnt ECI claim that no one can manufacture or buy or sell EVMs privately? Isnt anyone found in possession of EVMs without ECs permission guilty of the criminal offence? he tweeted on Friday. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala has asked the state government to clear the air on the appointment of KPMG as the consultant for rebuilding the state. Challenging the governments claim KPMG was doing free consultancy, Chennithala said the agency was handed a hefty contract on August 17. On August 17, when the state was fighting the floods, KPMG was awarded a Rs 66-lakh contract to redesign the NORKA website. The contract was given to KPMG after sidelining government agencies like Keltron and C-Dit, he said. Chennithala asked the government to state the real interest behind giving the work to KPMG. The LDF, which portrays itself as the champion of the public sector, is now promoting a private company at the cost of government agencies. The government should reveal how many such contracts are behind the KPMGs free consultancy. he said. Tiki Rajwi By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The infamous spy scandal, which marks the blackest moment in the history of the Indian space programme and a period of intrigue in Kerala politics, began rolling with the arrest of Mariam Rasheeda, a Maldivian woman, on October 20, 1994, for overstaying her visa period. Nambi Narayanan was arrested on November 30 the same year. The arrest, in fact, marked the premature end to an illustrious career which had begun at the time of stalwarts such as Vikram Sarabhai and Satish Dhawan. At the time of the arrest, Nambi Narayanan was holding several crucial posts in ISRO: He was, among other things, project director for the cryogenic project and for the second and fourth stages of PSLV, associate project director for GSLV and for PSLV and deputy director of LPSC. For his family, what followed was a period of unparalleled misery. They suffered. We were all silently suffering. They couldnt go out or attend any social functions. People dont understand the magnitude of that suffering. Thats the whole problem, he remembers. Added to all this was his financial problems. But he also remembers the kindness showered upon by his neighbours during that tragic period. They were very kind. In fact, they were actually guarding my house, coming and staying with my wife Meena, he recalls. Narayanans misfortunes did not end even after his acquittal and reinstatement at ISRO. Before his arrest, he had been holding what he describes as commanding positions, responsible positions. His return to ISRO was in a much weaker state. Rather than suffering all that, he chose a desk job at ISRO headquarters in Bangalore. That was in 1996. He retired from ISRO five years later in 2001. But that was also the beginning of a real battle which has now climaxed with Fridays Supreme Court verdict. By ANI NEW DELHI: John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, one of Hollywood's favourite couples, are celebrating a milestone. Legend and Teigen have posted adorable messages for each other to commemorate five years of marital bliss. The two, known for regularly engaging in online banter, also poked fun on each other in the posts in honour of their anniversary. "12 years ago today, I met the man of my dreams. And 5 years ago today, we got married," Chrissy captioned the picture of the couple kissing at their Lake Como, Italy wedding. "We have two babies and some pups and a life I am grateful to have. My everything, I love you and am so proud of the story we've created." She then jokingly called out Legend for stealing her thunder. "But you are an a-hole for releasing your @nbcthevoice news on my target launch day for real." The 'All of Me' hitmaker had his own response. "What can I say on a day like today?" he began. "I could talk about the 12 beautiful years I've known you. I could talk about the 5 years of wedded bliss, the 2 wonderful children we've brought into this world. But I feel the urge to say something far more important. I LOVE your new kitchenware line at @Target. I can't wait for it to come out on September 30th. I'm so proud of everything you've done in your career and how much joy you bring to people's lives. Did I mention that your Cravings Cookbook is coming out Tuesday? Because it's coming out Tuesday. I love you, baby." The couple got married in 2013. They are parents to two children - Luna and Miles. By PTI LONDON: Actor Jesse Eisenberg sats admitted he does not ''know what to think'' of the sexual abuse allegations surrounding filmmaker Woody Allen. The 34-year-old actor, who has worked with the acclaimed director on "To Rome with Love" and "Cafe Society", says the allegations made against Allen by his ex-partner Mia Farrow's adoptive daughter Dylan Farrow exist ''in a greyer area than a lot of the other allegations'' made against figures in the movie business in the past year in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. ''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.'' 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," Eisenberg told the Guardian. Allen, 82, has always denied the allegation that he assaulted Dylan when she was seven years old in the attic of their home. Eisenberg said he does nt want to go deep in the situation because he is not does not have all the information surrounding the situation. "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.'' Gopinath Rajendran By Express News Service The Predator Director: Shane Black Cast: Boyd Holbrook, Olivia Munn, Jake Busey, Jacob Tremblay Rating: 2.5/ 5 stars Predator (1987), which starred two future governors of the United States, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura, is one of the best action films in the history of Hollywood. The sequels that followed, Predator 2 (1990) and Predators (2010), did not live up to the expectations though. Eight years since, the fourth (sixth, if you include the two Alien vs. Predator films) instalment of the franchise proves again that some films should just be left alone. Much like the second and third films, not much thought seems to have been put into revolutionising the idea. Look at its simplistic title for example. While the first and third films were set in the jungles and the second one in the bustling streets of Los Angeles, this one takes the story into the suburbs. The alien species is back, and this time, along with futuristic technology, theyve got a gene pool that consists of all the universes other lives. When one of the predators crash lands in, you guessed it, America, US Army Ranger sniper Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook) is the only survivor to witness whats nothing short of a massacre. And as expected, that brings the party (read: spacecraft) to the city, and what we see for the rest of the film is a cat-and-mouse game with enough gore to satisfy a horror film fan. If it bleeds, we can kill it, Arnold quips in the first part, and there is no shortage of bloodshed in The Predator as well. The very first shot of the predator has the creature losing its invisibility thanks to blood dripping from a bisected man. Having said that, the best moments are when we see the creatures in action. This is because were otherwise stuck with Holbrooks rather forgettable character. These scenes are made somewhat tolerable thanks to supporting characters like Nebraska Williams (Trevante Rhodes), Coyle (Keegan-Michael Key) and a few other ex-soldiers who provide some much-needed comic relief. There are also some nifty touches like having Jake Busey play Sean Keyes, the son of Peter Keyes, a character played by his real-life father Gary Busey in Predator 2. Another interesting character is Quinns son Rory (Jacob Tremblay), who has Aspergers syndrome as well as preternatural ability. In the beginning though, he comes off as one of those too-wise-for-their-age kids. Later, he transforms into a really likeable character. Much like Anna Gonsalves in the first Predator film, theres a woman here too. And much like in many other monster films, shes a woman of science, a biologist (Olivia Munn), and similar to Dr Ellie Sattler from Jurassic Park or Dr Helen Benson from The Day the Earth Stood Still, shes brought in as a researcher who does everything but that. Director Shane Black (who interestingly played a supporting character in the original film) tries to strike a chord with the audience by milking the nostalgia around the 1987 classic and updating it. But the film fails on both counts. We neither get clever scenes that serve as a throwback to the first film nor do we get any genuinely scary moments. The climax too, placed in a forest, fails to give you a sense of satisfaction. What is meant to be a homage to the original film, ends predictably with sub-standard visuals thanks to the blotchy CGI. The Predator, it seems, is really only meant for completist fans of the franchise. Express News Service HYDERABAD: If the Congress party is enemy No.1 for the BJP, TRS which rules Telangana is no less an enemy, said BJP president Amit Shah as he brushed aside speculations of BJP-TRS bromance in the State. The BJP chief said that he was surprised at caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for thrusting early elections on the people of the state though KCR had previously supported the concept of one-nation one elections. BJP president Amit Shah launches his election campaign in Mahbubnagar on Saturday. Nonetheless, the saffron party is ready to take on both the TRS and the Cong-led alliance with all their might even as he asserted that there was no question of alliance with any party and rubbished speculations of TRS being hand-in-glove with the saffron party, Shah told reporters here on Saturday before leaving for Mahbubnagar to launch the campaign. Nine months before the elections were scheduled to take place, why has KCR thrusted elections and expenditure of crores of rupees on the people of Telangana despite supporting one nation-one poll earlier ? It is only due to petty political gains that he has gone for early elections, the BJP chief said. He took potshots at KCR on a host of issues ranging from his superstitious beliefs, family rule, forgotten promises to the TRS friendship with MIM. With the pride of Telugus forming the basis of his attacks on KCR and MIM, Amit Shah said that both the friendly parties are resorting to vote bank politics.KCR sends a proposal to Centre for 12 pc reservation to minorities knowing fully well that the BJP-led NDA will never give its nod to reservations on religious lines. The people of Telangana know that if they vote for TRS, vote bank politics will flourish.from page 1Targeting the TRS on various fronts, Amit Shah said that despite the fact that the Centre had given grants to Telangana to the tune of `2.30 lakh crore in the last four and a half years, a number of projects and works that were listed in the TRS party manifesto, continue to remain unfulfilled. Be it construction of 100-bed hospitals in district headquarters and 30-bed hospitals in mandals or the assurance of providing employment or construction of double-bed room houses, nothing has been fulfilled. Even though we welcome the districts re-organisation, offices for collectors, SPs and other infrastructure has not yet been completed. The Chief Minister has much to answer. Shah said that while the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi has moved ahead in all spheres, he took a dig at KCR saying despite all help in the form of grants and clearances for all proposals, the caretaker Chief Minister did nothing just because the assistance came from the BJP led NDA. To another query that confusing signals were emerging from the BJP camp wherein the Prime Minister and Union ministers have been praising the TRS all this while, especially for taking the path to development, which has had the state BJP cadre in a fix, Shah clarified that his partys satand was clear -- both Congress and TRS are political rivals and that the saffron party will fight them with all their might. Blaming the TRS for failing in all fronts despite taking populist steps, the BJP chief said that sand mafia were committing atrocities on Dalits in Sircilla while farmers, nearly 4,200 of them have committed suicides in the four and a half year rule of TRS. Why has the TRS party banned Hyderabad Liberation Day celebration on September 17? Does it not hurt the pride of Telugus ? It was banned only due to the pressure of MIM. KCR cannot turn down any demand from MIM. Do the people of Telangana want to hand over governance to the modern day Razakaars? he said in an apparent dig at MIM. Targeting the proposed mahagathbandhan; or grand alliance between the Congress and other parties in Telangana, Amit Shah raked up insults meted out to late Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and late AP Chief Minister T Anjaiah by the Congress party. The people of Telangana will never forgive the Congress for this, he said. Govt will come out with solution on fuel prices: Shah Hyderabad: Admitting that rising fuel prices and depreciating Rupee is a cause of concern for the Union government, BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday attributed the same to certain global phenomenon. The prices of petrol and diesel have been sky-rocketing. These are concerns for the government. Certain global developments have led to these situations. We are in the process of finding out solutions and we will come out soon, said Amit Shah. By PTI The Indian currency made a spirited come back this week from its historic lows and ended up with minor losses against the US dollar after the finance ministry assured of steps to avert its fall to "unreasonable levels". Cutting steeper losses, the gusty rupee ended at 71.84, down by 11 paise. It lost a whopping 193 paise in its third straight weekly decline. The Indian unit collapsed to a historic intra-day low of 72.92 which dealers attributed to overreaction and absence of government measures to support the falling currency. However, RBI intervention in the foreign exchange market ensured the rupee didn't slide further after the rupee took another plunge to threatened to breach the 73-mark. The rupee got a shot in the arm after the government said all steps will be taken to ensure the domestic currency does not depreciate to "unreasonable levels", amid reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take stock of the economic situation over the weekend. A combination of positive macro-related developments after the country's industrial production grew at 6.6 per cent in July and retail inflation cooled to a 10-month low of 3.69 per cent in August even WPI-based inflation eased to a four-month low of 4.53 per cent in August, collaborating to rupee's strength. The Indian currency has been caught in a free fall for last few sessions and tagged among the worst performing currencies in Asia having weakened by a steep 13.81 per cent since the beginning of the year. Asia's third-largest economy is battling with a deluge of headlines covering from a range of fundamental concerns to deteriorating macro environment against the grim backdrop of surging global crude prices and sustained capital outflows. Besides, multiple factors including - inflation fears and a widening current account deficit along with the escalation in global trade war tensions. This year has also seen a sustained outflow of foreign funds from equity and debt markets. The benchmark bond yield also rallied substantially by 10 bps to end at 8.13 per cent. On the energy front, crude prices pulled back on amid concerns additional US. tariffs would be placed on China, trading mixed after a rally triggered by worries of more sanctions on Iran. The global benchmark Brent ended at 78.09 a barrel, posting a 1.7 per cent weekly rise after surging to its highest since May 22 at USD 80.13. Meanwhile, country's forex reserves drifted below the USD 400-billion mark for the first time in over a year - declining by USD 819.5 million to USD 399.282 billion for the week to September 7, RBI data showed. This is the second consecutive week of major fall in the reserves which indicates that the central bank has been selling the greenback to stem the currency's collapse. By Express News Service BHOPAL: The 70-year-old shelter home head and two others were arrested on Saturday in connection with the sexual abuse of speech and hearing impaired inmates at two orphanages. Orphanage head MP Awasthi, his brother Vijay and another aide Rakesh were taken into custody after three cases were lodged against them. "Two cases have been lodged under zero at the TT Nagar police station. The cases will now be transferred for further investigations to the Hoshangabad district police and the Khajuri police station of Bhopal district," DIG Bhopal Dharmendra Choudhary said. Another case was lodged at the Khajuri police station. While the two cases were lodged on the complaint of two girls, who were allegedly raped at the orphanages in Hoshangabad and Bairagarh and three other sexually abused boys, a case of molestation was registered at the Khajuri police station on the complaint of the social welfare department. READ HERE: 70-year-old ex-Army man held for sexually abusing shelter home inmates "The cases were lodged after the statements of the alleged victims were recorded with the help of a qualified interpreter," said Choudhary. On Saturday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan asserted that the culprits would be brought under the ambit of the recently amended criminal law stipulating death penalty as maximum punishment to those convicted for raping children aged up to 12 years. All the five complainants were minors when Awasthi allegedly started sexually abusing them. Awasthi had admitted that he had been running the orphanages in Malkhedi (Hoshangabad) and Bairagarh (Bhopal) since 1991 with the approval and support of the social justice department. Incidentally, the Hooshangabad orphanage inmates had complained about their ordeal in the past, but the district administration closed the shelter home last year instead of taking police action. In Bhopal, Congress' women workers protested outside the house of social justice minister Gopal Bhargava to protest the shocking saga of sexual abuse of the hapless orphanage children Stability in the Horn of Africa region rests upon many factors, prime among them the domestic situation in Ethiopia The world is seeing the ushering in of an era of peace in the Horn of Africa region, for decades wracked by complicated conflicts. Over the past few months, several Horn of Africa countries have made up with their former enemies, spreading a mode of calm across the continent. The conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea had for two decades cast a dark shadow over a region known for its ethnic and religious diversity, intricate politics and military convolutedness. Djibouti, for example, is a strong ally of Ethiopia, and consequently has been in conflict with Eritrea over Red Sea islands. Somalia has been without a central government since the fall of former dictator Siad Barre. It has accused Eritrea of supporting extremist Islamist groups. Moreover, Somalia and Ethiopia have not always been on good terms. In the 1980s the two countries were at war, after which Somalia accused Ethiopia of hindering negotiations to restore stability to the region. Sudan has also had its share of trouble both on the domestic and international fronts since the beginning of the rule of the National Islamic Front in 1989. However, against this background of complicated conflicts, young Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed took a leap towards peace with Eritrea recently, with which his country fought a bloody war that killed tens of thousands in 1998. Ahmed, himself from a military background, has been endeavouring to make peace partly because he is very familiar with the horrors of war. Ethiopias domestic situation had deteriorated, said Khaled Mahmoud, an Egyptian expert on African affairs. This led the ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front to choose a new face and a new path and in came Ahmed. The Ethiopian governments reaction to domestic protests had been violent, which increased the heat of discontent. The ruling elite sensed a danger to the regime, and it moved to pick a new prime minister in Abiy Ahmed. The discontent in Ethiopia escalated following the May 2015 parliamentary elections in which the ruling party won all 546 seats. A few months later the government devised a master plan to develop the capital Addis Ababa by extending it into the surrounding farmland of Oromia state. The Oromo people make up the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, comprising 34 per cent of the population, and Addis Ababa is located in the heart of Oromia. Protests erupted between the Oromo people and the security forces in January 2016 against the expansion plan in which 140 people were killed. Before calm was restored, the Amhara people in the north of Ethiopia also started to demonstrate against the government, with human rights groups claiming that 500 people had died in confrontations with the security forces. Shortly after this, the government announced a period of emergency rule. At the same time, much of Ethiopia was suffering from famine as a wave of droughts hit the country. Growth rates went down to eight per cent after they had recorded the highest in Africa at 10 per cent. The ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front then accepted the resignation of prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn, appointing Ahmed in his place. It is not peace in the Horn of Africa that is the regional or international problem; rather the problem is what Ahmed is facing domestically, Mahmoud said. This comes from the Ethiopian deep state and the dominance of Tigray nationalism. Since their ascent to power in Ethiopia in 1991 under the umbrella of the Revolutionary Front led by former prime minister Meles Zenawi, the Tigrayans have been in control of the state and army. They would not allow other groups to share power, he added. As the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia after the Oromo and the Amhara, the Tigrayans are army leaders, and many of them are in control of the countrys institutions. On the other hand, the present prime ministers privatisation decrees are bothering the Ethiopian deep state as they tighten the noose on the bureaucracy and its political and social control, he said. Ahmed has announced that Ethiopia will step up the participation of the private sector in government projects, banks and communication institutions. Peace in the Horn of Africa started the moment Ethiopia took the first step towards Eritrea. It meant everybody had to make peace with everybody else. Without the domestic difficulties being solved in Addis Ababa, there will be no stability, Mahmoud said. Other Horn of Africa leaders are moving quickly towards peace. Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed visited Asmara in late July to normalise relations with Eritrea. Mogadishu had earlier accused Asmara of supporting Islamist extremists, especially the Al-Shabab group, branded a terrorist orgnaisation in Somalia and Ethiopia. Many observers believe that the Eritrean support aimed at confronting Addis Ababa that sent its army to face off against the Somali Islamic Courts Union, which later disintegrated to the benefit of Al-Shabab. In order to solve the two-decade dispute between Djibouti and Asmara, the leaders of Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea also met at a summit hosted by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. In 1996, Djibouti and Eritrea were on the brink of war following the formers accusations that Eritrea had bombed Ras Doumeira on the border between the two countries. Three years later, Eritrea accused its southern neighbour Djibouti of siding with Ethiopia just as the war between Asmara and Addis Ababa was over, whereas Djibouti claimed Asmara was supporting anti-regime rebels. In 2010, Qatar mediated between the two counties and sent peacekeeping forces to the region. However, Qatar later recalled its peacekeeping forces from Ras Doumeira, though this did not lead to further fighting. This proves that Horn of Africa conflicts are much more complicated and cannot be taken advantage of by the Gulf countries, stated Mahmoud. The Africans have a large collective experience, ranging from slavery, European missionaries, colonialism, independence wars, coups, famines and droughts all the way to genocides. It is the international powers and the internal structure of the states concerned that govern the conflicts in the Horn of Africa and the Nile Basin regions, especially in overpopulated countries such as Ethiopia and Sudan, he continued. Rapproachments and reshaping alliances in the Horn of Africa have helped to keep the region away from the repercussions of the present crisis in the Gulf. While settling the border conflict between Eritrea and Djibouti is very possible, Ethiopias domestic affairs remain the most important factor in calming the Horn of Africa region. * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Peace starts in Ethiopia Search Keywords: Short link: By PTI NEW DELHI: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Saturday. Parrikar, who has been undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment, is being examined by a team of doctors at the premier hospital, a source at AIIMS said. "He is being examined by a team of doctors and will undergo a few tests," the source said. Before leaving for Delhi, the CM also held meetings with Speaker Pramod Sawant and Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo amid talks of distribution of some portfolios currently being looked after by him. "Portfolios would be distributed today to existing ministers so that the administration of Goa can run smoothly and ministers can take decisions on any files. He will distribute 48 portfolios but will keep two or three like Home, Finance, GAD for himself," Lobo told reporters after meeting Parrikar at a private hospital in the beach village of Candolim, located 15 km from Panaji. Apart from holding key portfolios, Parrikar is holding charge of ministries allocated to Francis D'Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar, both of whom have been hospitalised due to severe ailments. A central team of Bharatiya Janata Party observers is also expected to arrive in Goa and meet legislators and representatives of allied parties, while also finalising an alternative leader of the BJP-led coalition government in Parrikar's absence. Lobo also said, that the decision of change of leadership has not been taken yet and that Parrikar would continue as the Chief Minister. "This can be only discussed at a time when he cannot continue anymore. Till then it is not right to discuss. The national leaders will discuss with core committee. If that need arises, only then a decision on change will be taken," he added. Parrikar has been in and out of hospitals in the US, Mumbai and Goa since February. The Chief Minister's continued absence from office has been a subject of criticism among the Opposition as well as civil society. (With Inputs from IANS) By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Admitting that rising fuel prices and the depreciating Rupee is a concern for the union government, BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday attributed the same to 'certain global phenomenon'. ALSO READ | Petrol reaches Rs 89.01 per litre in Mumbai, Diesel at Rs 78.07 per litre The prices of petrol and diesel have been sky-rocketing in the past weeks, touching new heights with each passing day. Shah, who is in Hyderabad today to kick-start the party's election campaign from Mahabubnagar was speaking to the media. "These are concerns for the government. Certain global developments have led to these situations. We are in the process of finding out solutions and we will come out soon to the public," said the BJP President. ALSO READ | Economic Advisory Council to PM member calls for extreme vigilance on rupee He also drew parallels to different currencies claiming that the fall of rupee is much lesser if compared to currencies of many other countries. The price of petrol in Hyderabad on Saturday stands at Rs 86.55, an increase of Rs 0.37 compared to Friday. Similarly, diesel is priced at Rs 79.99 as against Rs 79.73 on Friday. Similarly, the rate of the US dollar against the Indian rupee, on Saturday, stood at Rs 72.76. Just a few months ago in March 2018, the US Dollar stood at Rs 65 against the Indian rupee. Manish Anand By Express News Service NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modis meeting with the Dawoodi Bohra community and the RSS three-day outreach with intellectuals in close succession are being construed as their efforts to reach out to a larger constituency ahead of the 2019 general elections. With BJP chief Amit Shah making it clear that the party would seek fresh mandate next years on the plank of the Modi governments achievements, the Sangh is seemingly making moves for acceptance outside the traditional catchment constituencies. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will connect with a select group of audience, largely consisting of intellectuals from all communities and ambassadors, on Monday and Tuesday by putting forth the Sangh vision on the topic of Bhavishya Ka Bharat (India of future). The Sarsanghchalak will answer a few of the questions from the audience, which will be selected from written submissions, said a RSS functionary. The event is only the beginning of a long drawn out exercise with the first dialogue being held with those who have willingness to listen to us. Afterwards, we will connect with those who hold adverse views against the RSS. With Modi stressing that his governments welfare outreach has been inclusive, the BJP is being seen eager in search for additional electoral constituencies to stay ahead of the rivals. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday sought a response from the Uttar Pradesh government on a plea by a woman who was attacked with acid in Bulandshahr city a day earlier for refusing to accept a triple talaq. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra 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. Under nikah halala, if a Muslim woman, after divorce by her husband, 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. 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. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed a Delhi High Court order granting bail to Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in a terror funding case involving Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra considered the submissions of the NIA that the release of Watali would cause grave harm to the ongoing investigation in the terror funding case and slated the hearing for September 26, asking the accused businessman to file his response in the meantime. The 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 the case. He was arrested on August 17 last year by the NIA. The NIA had alleged that Zahoor Watali moved money from Pakistan to Kashmir to fuel stone-pelting and unrest in the Valley. Watali, Hafiz Saeed and ten others have been accused of conspiring to wage war against the government and fomenting trouble in Kashmir. By IANS PATNA: Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday questioned Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on his silence over the scams in the state. ALSO READ | Has Nitish Kumar joined hands with BJP to terrorise people of Bihar, asks Tejashwi Yadav "U-turn Specialist Nitish Kumar is silent on Srijan Scam, Toilet Scam, Paddy Scam, Scholarship Scam, Dam Scam, MGNREGA Scam, Uterus Scam, Medicine Scam, Recruitment Scam, BPSC Scam and 36 other Scams," Yadav tweeted. U-turn Specialist Nitish Kumar is Silent on Srijan Scam Silent on Toilet Scam Silent on Paddy Scam Silent on Scholarship Scam Silent on Dam Scam Silent on MGNREGA Scam Silent on Uterus Scam Silent on Medicine Scam Silent on Recruitment Scam Silent on BPSC Scam Silent on 36 Scams Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) 15 September 2018 It was his father and RJD chief Lalu Prasad who had called Nitish Kumar the "Paltu Ram of politics" for breaking the Grand Alliance and forming a new government with the BJP last year. "Nitish Kumar is the Paltu Ram of politics. He has again proved that he can do anything for power. He has neither principles nor ideology but only greed for power," Lalu Prasad had said. By ANI NEW DELHI: The Assam Police on Friday arrested a close aide of suspected Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist from Assam's Hojoi. The accused has been identified as, Shahnawaz Alam. This came after the arrest of Qamar-uz-Zaman, who was suspected to be a cadre of banned terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, by Uttar Pradesh police, National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Anti-Terrorism Squad on September 13. Zaman was reportedly planning an attack during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. As per Uttar Pradesh police, he was in the city to identify targets for a terrorist incident. Police have also recovered a video from his mobile featuring images of a Kanpur temple. Tiki Rajwi By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Now that the anxiously-awaited Supreme Court verdict has finally come, S Nambi Narayanan says it is high time he did something that he has been putting off for 24 years. Ive not spent time with my family. Now I want to do that. What little is left of my life, I want to spend with them. I dont want to pursue this any further, he said on Friday. For the former scientist branded a spy in the infamous ISRO spy scandal of 1994 but fully exonerated by the Supreme Court four years later the past 24 years have been an excruciating trial by fire. Although the CBI and Supreme Court had cleared him of all charges by 1998, a necessity had made him continue to his lone fight for justice, particularly against the police officers responsible for his incarceration, Narayanan said, seated at Sangeetha, his home at Eanchakkal. At one point back then, he recalls, he had even contemplated suicide. But his children, suspecting that their father might take that step, dissuaded him from it. They said youre the only person who can prove your innocence. If you die, well die as the children of a spy. Thats how I got the determination to fight. I was determined to prove my innocence. More than that, it had become a necessity, he said. Nambi was a victim of malicious prosecution New Delhi: The apex court said Nambi Narayanan was arrested unnecessarily and was a victim of malicious prosecution. The bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra ordered the Kerala government to cough up the compensation in eight weeks. Timeline of the case By Express News Service HYDERABAD: BJP national president Amit Shah came down heavily on Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N Chandrababu Naidu, saying that Naidu has now allied with those who were playing the politics of vendetta against him. He was responding to a query on the Non-Bailable Warrant issued by a Maharashtra court against Naidu and 15 others on Friday regarding the Babli project agitation Naidu and his partymen had taken up in 2010. Shah reached Hyderabad on Friday morning to kick-start his party's election campaign from Mahabubnagar Assembly constituency which was held by BJP prior to 2014. When asked if the BJP-led government was not indulging in vendetta politics, Shah told media that Naidu is doing politics with those who indulged in political vendetta against him. "The case was registered in 2010, the chargesheet was filed in 2013. During this period, it was Congress government in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and at the Centre. Who was filing cases against Naidu then?" he asked. According to Shah, as many as 25 summons were sent to Naidu before a NBW was issued. "Our leaders have also been summoned in a variety of cases and we have honored the courts. If he does not honour the courts, law will take its own course," said Shah. Reacting to the NBW issued against Naidu, the Telangana TDP leaders had accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misusing government agencies for political gains. Senior TDP leader E Peddi Reddy had told media 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 that attempts are being made to thwart the same. Telangana TDP president L Ramana on Friday 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. By Express News Service ANANTAPUR: Violence and arson broke out at Chinnapodamala village in Tadipatri mandal on Saturday night with the followers of Swamy Prabhodhananda ashram and locals clashing during the Ganesh idol procession. Four tractors, couple of three-wheelers and two-wheelers were set on fire while the two groups pelted stones against each other leaving nearly 20 persons injured, including two of them seriously. A granite polishing unit was also set on fire by the rampaging mob, police said adding additional forces were rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control. The villagers of Peddapodamala and Chinnapodamala installed a Lord Ganesha on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi and on Saturday night took out a procession to immerse the idol in the river Penna. The procession has to pass through the Swamy Prabodhananda Ashram, and the villagers and the ashram managers were at loggerheads over the past few years on various issues ranging from laying of drainage pipelines, water contamination and others. Tractors and autos of a stone polish industry were set on fire at Chinnapolada village of Tadupari mandal in Anantapur district on Saturday. (Photo | EPS) As the procession reached the ashram, it was learnt that some processionists threw colours and raised slogans. The inmates of the ashram too raised counter slogans and soon both the groups indulged in high-pitch sloganeering. It is learnt that the inmates of the ashram rushed out and attacked the processionists with stones and sticks. The ashram inmates set afire to four tractors, two three-wheelers and an equal number of motorcycles. They also attacked a granite polishing unit and set the machinery there on fire and also damaged a huge quantity of granite slabs in the unit. Though police were present as part of bandobust, the mob outnumber the forces and went on a rampage before additional forces could reach the village. Police interacting with public after the tractors and autos of a stone polish industry were set on fire at Chinnapolada village of Tadupari mandal in Anantapur district on Saturday. (Photo | EPS) Confirming that there were some issues between the villagers and the ashram managers and there was a minor disturbance during the last year's Ganesh immersion procession too, district Superintendent of Police GVG Ashok Kumar said nearly 1,500-2,000 devotees visited the ashram for the recent Krishnastami celebrations and they stayed back in the ashram. ``As the procession reached the ashram and altercation started, the devotees rushed out of the ashram at once and attacked the procession,'' the SP said adding additional forces have been rushed to the village and dispersed the two groups. When asked about any lapses in security arrangements, the SP said they are focussing on bringing back the situation under control and would look into any lapses at a later stage. A tense situation is prevailing in the villages even as police pickets have been posted in the village. Pope Francis appealed to Sicily's Mafia on Saturday to abandon a life of crime and violence, saying the island needed "men and women of love, not men and women 'of honour,'" using the term mobsters apply to themselves. Francis, in the Sicilian capital, said organised crime members - many of whom go to church and worship openly - "cannot believe in God and be Mafiosi" at the same time. In his appeal, he referred to them as "dear brothers and sisters". He visited Palermo to commemorate Father Giuseppe "Pino" Puglisi, a priest shot dead by Mafia hit men in 1993 because he challenged the organisation's control over one of the city's toughest neighbourhoods. Puglisi was killed on his 56th birthday during a bloody Mafia offensive against the state and anyone else who threatened the group's existence. Magistrates Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino were killed by bombs in Palermo in 1992. "A person who is a Mafioso does not live as a Christian because with his life he blasphemes against the name of God," Francis said in the sermon of a Mass from some 80,000 people in the port area of the Sicilian capital. The Catholic Church in southern Italy has had a chequered history of relations with the mob. Cardinal Ernesto Ruffini, who was archbishop of Palermo from 1945-1967, denied the Mafia's existence, considering communism the Church's biggest threat. "I say to Mafiosi: Change, brothers and sisters! Stop thinking about yourselves and your money ... Convert yourselves to the real God, Jesus Christ, dear brothers and sisters," he said in his dockside sermon. "I say to you, Mafiosi, if you don't do this, your very life will be lost and that will be your greatest defeat," he said. "Today, we need men and women of love, not men and women of honour; men and women of service, not of oppression." Many members of organised crime groups in Italy, such as Sicily's Cosa Nostra and Calabria's Ndrangheta, see themselves as part of a religious, cult-like group, invoking the help of saints for their activities. Particularly in smaller towns and cities in the south, they take part in Catholic sacraments and in some cases have also found complicity by some churchmen. Puglisi refused to play along. With little support by the Church hierarchy in Sicily, he preached against the Mafia from the pulpit of his church in the rough Brancaccio neighbourhood, then controlled by the Graviano family. He helped young people in an area with high unemployment avoid the snare of the Mafia, asked parishioners to help police investigations, refused donations from mobsters and banned them from joining traditional religious street processions. Puglisi's murder was ordered by local bosses Filippo and Giuseppe Graviano. The bothers and four men who planned or carried out the killing were convicted in 1998. All but one received life sentences. One of the killers, who later turned state's evidence, said that as Puglisi was dying he said: "I've been expecting you". In 2012, former Pope Benedict decreed that Puglisi died as a martyr in "hatred of the faith," and ordered that he be beatified, the last step before sainthood in the Church. Search Keywords: Short link: By Express News Service BENGALURU: After days of defending its legislators and putting up a united front, the Congress on Friday decided to approach the Income Tax department with a complaint against BJP. While the party has urged the I-T department to investigate the source of money being offered to its legislators, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamys allegation that advances are being paid to legislators raised many eyebrows. Congress, which has all along been accusing the I-T department of colluding with BJP to target its leaders, surprisingly approached the same agency accusing the latter of attempting to lure its MLAs to jump ship. The decision to knock on the I-T departments doors was taken at a meeting between Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, Water Resources minister D K Shivakumar and KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday. The party has sought action against BJP state chief B S Yeddyurappa, MP Shobha Karandlaje, MLAs Dr Ashwathnarayana and Satish Reddy apart from former minister C P Yogeshwar, accusing them of attempting to lure C S Shivalli, Basanagouda Patil and B C Patil. While the BJP called the Chief Ministers allegations childish and reckless, state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa took to Twitter to call the Congress insane for approaching the IT department.Advance payments are being made, said Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, suggesting that he was in the know of MLAs who had been approached by BJP. I know it all. I am not sitting idle. I know where they (BJP) are generating the money from. I will explore legal action against those kingpins who set the BBMP office on fire in 2009-10, a coffee planter from Sakleshpur who killed his wife and child, those who are running lottery rackets and are trying to get funds to disrupt this government, Kumaraswamy added (see box on Page 5) stopping short of naming the people who he alleged are helping BJP raise funds to dislodge the JD(S)-Congress coalition government. Plaint exposes bankruptcy of logic among Cong leaders A calm Kumaraswamy added that he was not making his move yet since neither he nor and his government was under any pressure as yet. Later in the day, a delegation of Congress leaders led by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Working President Eshwar Khandre and MLA Rizwan Arshad submitted a memorandum to the Commissioner of Income Tax, Karnataka and Goa, seeking a probe against BJP leaders, including B S Yeddyurappa. Karnataka BJP leaders, at the behest of Yeddyurappa, are approaching some of our MLAs by offering cash and other allurements. We have asked the Income Tax department to probe the source of such money, Khandre said after meeting the I-T Commissioner. Yeddyurappa, who has called for a meeting of state leaders on September 19, took to Twitter to mock the Congress. Congress complaint to IT department on alleged horse trading in state politics: Complaint exposes the bankruptcy of logic among Congress leaders. Insanity seems to have completely gripped the Congress (sic), he tweeted. Earlier in the day, BJP MLC N Ravi Kumar termed Kumaraswamys allegations as childish.Kumaraswamys statement deserves to be condemned and rejected with the contempt it deserves; nothing can be more childish, reckless and ridiculous as this statement of the chief minister, a statement from BJP said. Heat rises on political turf BJP state chief B S Yeddyurappa takes to Twitter; says complaint exposes bankruptcy of logic among Congress leaders. Deve Gowda admits minor confusion in the coalition government; says attempts to destabilise it will not work. H D Revanna says alleged differences among Congress leaders will be sorted out once Siddaramaiah returns from Europe trip What CM was referring to The coffee planters case A 49-year-old realtor had shot his wife dead with a revolver on June 21 and escaped with their three children in Jayanagar 4th Block. Police acted swiftly and nabbed him with his two children grievously injured by bullets near Bidadi. BBMPs bogus bills scam The B1,539-crore bogus bill scam, which rocked BBMP in 2011 involved officials and contractors in releasing Palikes funds for works that did not take place. The irregularities happened at Gandhinagar, Rajarajeshwarinagar and Malleshwaram divisions. By Express News Service KOCHI: The High Court on Friday directed five accused in a rioting and house trespassing case to deposit `3,000 each in the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) while quashing the case against them. Justice Sunil Thomas issued the order while allowing the petition filed by Shamseer, Najeeb, Faisal, Muhammed Rafique and Shahul Hameed natives of Malappuram seeking to quash the case against them. According to the prosecution, petitioners along with other accused persons, in furtherance of their common object, armed with deadly weapons trespassed into a house and committed mischief by setting fire to the shop there. Express News Service MUNNAR: Seventy-year-old K M George, a farmer at Kallarkutty, is desolate. The fruits of his 40-year-long labour were wiped off by a massive earth flow on the night of August 17. My seven acres of farmland was swept away by the landslide, George said.There were 550 nutmeg trees, 1,200 cocoa plants, 100 coconut trees and 400 arecanut trees along with rambutan, mangosteen and many rare species in my farmland. There was a dairy farm too, with 10 cows, that lies buried under the debris. We couldnt save even a single cow. Also wiped out was a 1,000 sq ft fish farm, a biogas plant and a compost pit. I managed to save the four workers on the dairy farm. They were shifted to my house two hours before the landslide, he said. A huge tree with a 450-inch girth got uprooted in the landslide and was dumped around 200 m away at the foot of a hill. The loss runs to crores of rupees. I wont be able to rebuild the farm in my lifetime. I have submitted an application for compensation to the village authorities, he said. Ravikumar of Pulickal House in Vellathooval, a tailor, and his wife Latha searching for valuables among the debris of their house destroyed in a landslide on August 14 | A Sanesh Dashed hopes Farmers in Vellathooval, a quaint village in the suburbs of Munnar, were hoping for good yield after two consecutive years of deficit rain. However, the fortnight-long extremely heavy rainfall that started on August 7 has drowned their hopes. A series of landslides devastated the village and left hundreds homeless. A month after the floods, the authorities are unable to close the relief camp at the Kathippara Lower Primary School as 38 people belonging to 13 families are sheltered there. They have nowhere to go as the landslides have swept away their houses, farmlands and livelihoods. Yet to receive Rs 10,000 Ravikumar of Pulickal House in Vellathooval shifted his family to a relatives house on August 7 as the front portion of his house was damaged following heavy rain. On the night of August 14, the house was destroyed by a landslide. We stayed in the relief camp at Salyampara PMLP School till August 21. After the camp was closed, we shifted to a relatives house. I am a tailor and dont have the means to build a new home. The village authorities inspected the house a few days ago. But I havent received the I10,000 compensation, he said. Alice Joseph, 62, of Thannikott, whose eight-room house was destroyed in a landslide on August 16, said she too hasnt received the I10,000 immediate relief from the government. Harpeet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Jalandhar Diocese on Saturday appointed father Mathew Kokkandum as administrator of the diocese in his absence, as he is facing a probe over allegations of rape by a nun in Kerala. ALSO READ | Kerala nun rape: Vatican forms probe panel, accused bishop writes to clergy The 54-year-old bishop has not resigned yet, but in an official circular, stated that he has appointed Mathew Kokkandum as administrator of the Diocese in his absence. He has also appointed Father Joseph Thekkumkattil as Dean of Tanda Deanery and Father Subin Thekkadathu as Parochial Vicar, St Mary's Church in Tanda, said sources. Bishop Mulakkal wrote: "I am likely to be called for further clarifications by investigating officer in Kerala, appoint Rv, Fr Joseph Thekkumkattil and Rev Fr Subin Thekkedathu.'' It is learnt that the bishop took this step a night after the Jalandhar Police received a summons for the bishop in connection with an investigation in Kerala on September 19. ALSO READ | Kerala nun rape case: Missionaries of Jesus violates law, discloses victim's identity The bishop is accused of raping a nun thirteen times between 2014 and 2016. The bishop will be questioned by the Kerala police investigative team on Wednesday, said sources. The circular came when there were also reports that he could have been asked to step down by the Vatican. The Jalandhar church had claimed that it had conducted an internal investigation into the alleged rape case and declared that the bishop was innocent. It went on to discredit the nun, in support of the bishop, stating that the nun had conspired against him. "The nun who has complained against the bishop has conspired in connivance with nine others, including five nuns, against the bishop," the church said in a statement and added that the nuns had been influenced by some others. The bishop had denied all allegations, terming it a conspiracy. The Kerala police has booked the bishop, and a team had come to carry out the investigation in Jalandhar and record the statements of the nuns. The Punjab Christian Movement, led by its president Hamid Masih, had been demanding that the bishop step down on moral grounds. Nuns in Kochi who have been demanding the bishop's arrest have welcomed the move but made it clear that their protests will continue. By PTI KOTTAYAM: Bishop Franco Mulakkal, facing probe over allegations of rape by a nun, has handed over his administrative responsibility of Jalandhar diocese to a senior priest. "In my absence, Msgr Mathew Kokkandam will administer the Diocese as in the normal practice when I am away from the Diocese," Bishop Mulakkal said in a circular. ALSO READ: Kerala police asks Bishop Franco Mullakal accused of raping nun to appear on September 19 The circular was issued on September 13, a day after the Kerala Police had asked him to appear before the investigating team on September 19. Kerala nun rape case accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal in a letter states, 'I am likely to be called for further clarifications by investigating officer in Kerala, appoint Rv, Fr Joseph Thekkumkattil & Rev Fr Subin Thekkedathu.' ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 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 Mullakal. In the circular, the bishop said there were "several contradictions" in the evidences collected against him by the police probing the case. "I leave everything into the hand of God as I await the result of the findings of the team probing the allegation," he said in it. A copy of the circular was made available to the media here. 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 had accused the clergyman of sexually assaulting her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016. The bishop had, however, dismissed the allegations as "baseless and concocted", insisting she levelled those as the catholic order had rejected her demand for favours. By Express News Service KENDRAPARA: Police on Friday recovered six Astadhatu idols, that were stolen form the famous 350-year-old Radhakanta Jew temple in Giria village under Rajkanika police limits of Kendrapara district, from a cashew plantation in Kantapada village. Some miscreants had decamped with the idols of Radha, Krishna, Laxmi and Anthua Gopal on the night of August 8. The idols were found by some villagers from the cashew plantation at Kantapada village, 6 km from the temple, said SDPO of Pattamundai Umashankar Moharana. The miscreants must have abandoned the idols fearing police action, he added. As the news of the recovery of the idols spread, hundreds of villagers thronged the spot and started offering prayers. We will soon hand over the idols to the priests of the temple, added the police officer. It may be recalled that six months back, police had arrested three persons for their alleged involvement in the theft of valuables from the famous Maa Gojabaiani temple at Baghadia village under Marshaghai police limits. Last year, Nischintkoili police had busted an inter-State gang of idol lifters with the arrest of two of its members and recovered a rare stone Buddha idol stolen from the Buddha temple at Buhalo village. Similarly, a priceless stone statue of meditating Buddha was stolen three years back from the excavation site at the famous Buddhist monastery in Udayagiri of Jajpur district. Temples and Buddhist sites are fertile ground for antiques. Some local antique dealers buy these from local gangs for pittance. When the idols reach metropolitan cities, the prices go up significantly. When the statues reach the international market, they become priceless, said Basudev Das, a renowned historian of Kendrapara. By PTI CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit denied Saturday reports in a section of media that he had forwarded to the Centre the state government's recommendation to release all the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The Governor said a decision on the issue would be taken in a "just and fair manner" in accordance with the Constitution. "A section of media has been reporting that in the matter of the release of the convicted prisoners undergoing life imprisonment for involvement in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, a reference has been made to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India," a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan said. Also, some television channels have been holding debates on this "assumption", it said. "It is clarified that no reference has been made to the Ministry of Home Affairs in the matter. The case is a complex one and involves the examination of legal, administrative and constitutional issues," the statement by Joint Director-Public Relations of the Raj Bhavan said. Noting that voluminous records on the matter were being received from the state government, the Raj Bhavan said court judgments on connected matters were handed over to it only on September 14. "All efforts will be taken to process the papers scrupulously. Necessary consultation may be carried out, when required, in due course. The decision will be taken in a just and fair manner and in accordance with the Constitution," the Raj Bhavan said. On September 9, the Tamil Nadu Cabinet had recommended the release of all the seven Rajiv case convicts, including Nalini and her husband Sriharan alias Murugan. All the seven prisoners are in jail 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. Tamil outfits Friday claimed that Purohit had sent the recommendation to the Centre for its advice and Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi announced a protest demonstration on September 26 in this regard. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Pointing out that the coal stock in the State has reached a critically low level, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to instruct authorities concerned, both in the ministries of coal and railways, to ensure a supply of 72,000 tonnes of coal per day to Tamil Nadu at the earliest. In a letter to the PM, Palaniswami said, The coal stock in the State has reached critically low level due to less receipt from coal companies. At present, the thermal power stations of the Tamil Nadu government power utility (TANG-EDCO), have a stock sufficient only for three days. He also said that on an average, 72,000 tonnes (at least 20 rakes) of coal were required per day to maintain continuous generation in power plants of TANGEDCO daily. However, on an average we are receiving only seven to eight rakes per day. This coupled with the fact that the wind energy season also gets over by the middle of September has made the situation quite precarious. Unless the coal supply position is improved immediately, some of the thermal power stations will have to be shut down leading to power outages, he pointed out. A few days ago, DMK president MK Stalin alleged that there were unannounced power cuts across the State in the guise of maintenance shutdowns. Responding, Electricity Minister P Thangamani said there were no power cuts or outages. However, the minister said the unexpected outages on September 9 and 10 were due to annual overhauling works at two units of Kudankulam atomic power station and two units of Vallur thermal power station. By AFP WASHINGTON: Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington who was blamed for not doing enough to deal with paedophile priests in Pennsylvania, prostrated himself Friday in a sign of repentance at a mass dedicated to victims of abuse. "Our prayers are for those who were assaulted by serious abuse of the clergy and the further indignity of an inadequate response," said Wuerl, who has said he plans to travel to Rome in the near future to meet with Pope Francis to discuss his resignation. "We must be prepared to do whatever is needed, including stepping aside. This action on my part is an essential aspect of the healing so that this archdiocesan Church we all love can move forward," he wrote in a letter to the priests of Washington. A sweeping grand jury report released in August revealed credible allegations against more than 300 predator priests and identified over 1,000 victims of child sex abuse covered up for decades by the Catholic Church in the state of Pennsylvania. The report is thought to be the most comprehensive to date into abuse in the US church, but while prosecutors have filed charges against two priests, the vast majority of crimes happened too long ago to prosecute under current laws. In the report, Wuerl, who was bishop of Pittsburgh from 1988 to 2006, is repeatedly cited as one of the church leaders who helped to cover up the scandal, and he has faced numerous calls for his resignation, including from his own clergy. At the mass on Friday in the US capital, Michael Nugent, who was a victim of abuse by a priest when he was 13 years old, lit a candle with Wuerl. Nugent said that he was not released from his "hidden secret" until age 55 when someone told him: "It was not your fault." "You have seen the face of a survivor; everyone who suffered abuse has a face," Wuerl said. By AFP Super Typhoon Mangkhut -- the biggest storm of the year -- smashed through the Philippines on Saturday, claiming its first victims as two women were killed when a rain-drench hillside collapsed on them and another drowned in Taiwan. The massive storm cut a swathe of destruction when it struck the northern tip of Luzon island, threatening the lives and homes of roughly four million people. ALSO READ: Philippines checking typhoon's damage, casualties amid rains "As we go forward, this number will go higher," Ricardo Jalad, head of the national civil defence office, told reporters, referring to the death toll. As the powerful storm left the Southeast Asian archipelago and barrelled towards densely populated Hong Kong and southern China, search teams in the Philippines began surveying the provinces that suffered a direct hit. "We believe there has been a lot of damage," said Social Welfare Secretary Virginia Orogo as thousands of evacuees took refuge in emergency shelters. A resident cleans up pieces from a tree that was toppled by strong winds from Typhoon Mangkhut in northeastern Philippines. (Photo | AP) Mangkhut was packing sustained winds of 170 kilometres (105 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 260 km per hour as it left the Philippines. 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. ALSO READ: Typhoon Mangkhut barrels toward north Philippines, China In Taiwan, a woman was swept away by high waves caused by the typhoon, the government said. The two lifeless bodies of the two women in the Philippines were pulled from the soil of a hillside that collapsed after the storm's torrential rains, police said. 'We are terrified' Residents had started lashing down their roofs and gathering supplies days before the arrival of the storm. "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)." After blasting the Philippines, Mangkhut is predicted to hurtle towards China's heavily populated southern coast this weekend. A resident looks at market stalls destroyed by strong winds as Typhoon Mangkhut barreled across Tuguegrao city in northeastern Philippines. (Photo | AP) "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. ALSO READ: Philippines starts massive evacuations as huge typhoon nears 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. As the storm heads for China's southern coast, Cathay Pacific airline said it expects more than 400 flight cancellations over the next three days. Residents stand beside a damaged portion of a mall due to strong winds from Typhoon Mangkhut in northeastern Philippines. (Photo | AP) The Hong Kong government said Mangkhut will pose "a severe threat to the region" as many residents in the city and neighbouring Macau stocked up on food and supplies. The president of neighbouring Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, told citizens to be ready. "The typhoon is powerful and even it's not expected to make a landfall in Taiwan, we should be well prepared and not... take it lightly," she wrote on Facebook. According to a recent report by Biznews, Egypt is Africa's strongest and most investible economy. The magazines study was run by Celeste Fauconnier, the editor of the Where to Invest in Africa annual ranking, where Egypt topped all 53 African countries. Last years publication was the first year that Egypt actually overtook South Africa and now, in this years edition, we can see that Egypt has held that position, said Fauconnier. In terms of the methodology that we use, we look specifically at economic activities like anticipated growth over the next few years, the current market size, and also look at potential risk factors, she continued. Its also about how easy it is to do business in these environments. If you take the economic activity out, that is where South Africa has been lacking, especially when looking at growth-rates that are expected to be below 2% in the next 5 years. Compare that to an economy like Egypt, which is going to grow above 4% to 5% in the next 5 years and its purchasing power as the largest market in Africa, said Fauconnier. So, from an economic activity perspective, Egypt is the clear winner. If we look at the operating environment, South Africa is still far beyond where Egypt is. It's still one of the most liquid markets still the springboard into Africa but unfortunately South Africa's strength in that area not did not help them reclaim the number one spot this year, she added. A few years back, Nigeria made headlines as the largest market in Africa. That was after they rebased their GDP. But consequently, Egypt has now overtaken Nigeria, so, in fact, South Africa is now the third-largest market behind Nigeria, she concluded. Biznews is a remote company with home offices in South Africa and the United Kingdom, according to their website. Search Keywords: Short link: Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Egypt's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Molla signed on Saturday two deals with firms from Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, Malaysia and Kuwait to explore for petroleum and gas in two deep-water areas in the Mediterranean and the Western Desert. The deals include drilling 12 wells at investments of at least $1 billion, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said in a statement. The ministry revealed that a grant of $2 million will be paid to Cairo upon signing one of the two deals. The minister affirmed that the petroleum sector will proceed with offering international bids, as well as signing new agreements with the aim of boosting Egypts production of petroleum and gas to reduce imports. Egypt has set October 1 and October 8 deadlines for two major international tenders for oil and gas exploration spanning 27 onshore and offshore blocks, the oil ministry said last May. Bids for 11 blocs offered by the Egyptian General Petroleum Corp (EPGC) must be submitted by October 1, the ministry said in an advertisement published in Al-Ahram Arabic newspaper. Companies interested in 16 concession areas offered under state-buyer EGAS must submit their bids by October 8, it said. The EPGC tenders include five blocks in the Western Desert, two in the Nile Valley, three in the Gulf of Suez and one in the Eastern Desert. The EGAS tender, described by the ministry as the largest in the companys history, includes 13 offshore Mediterranean blocks and 3 in the Nile Delta. Search Keywords: Short link: Reporter Noelle McGee is a Danville-based reporter at The News-Gazette. Her email is nmcgee@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@n_mcgee). One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 Mafume, the spokesperson, said: It is true that we are having our congress in the next five months. Basically, we have a specific timeline to follow which would take us eight months, but the party constitution allows us to forego some of those issues and bring the congress a little bit forward. So that is what we are exploring. However, I am not aware of any squabbles taking place in the party. As far as I am concerned, plans are progressing on well. The Minister of Antiquities Khaled el-Enany and an entourage of foreign ambassadors embarked on an inspection tour Saturday to the San Al-Hagar archeological site to assess the progress being made to develop the Sharqiya Governorate site into an open-air museum for ancient Egyptian art. The minister was accompanied by Mostafa Waziri, General Secretary of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mamdouh Gurab, Governor of Sharqiya, and a group of a dozen foreign ambassadors to Egypt from Brazil, Lithuania, Congo, Greece, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and other attaches. El-Enany explained that the project aims to lift the monumental blocks, reliefs, columns, statues, and stelae laying on the sand at the site and to restore and re-erect them onto concrete slabs to protect them for future generations. The artifacts have been laying on sands since their discovery in the 19th century. Waziri also said that the Egyptian mission restored and lifted-up ancient Egyptian blocks, statues, columns and obelisks onto stone mounts to isolate them from the ground and protect them from subsoil water, salts and moisture, as well as putting the objects on a better display to visitors. The most important objects that the mission restored and re-erected are the northern and southern colossi of King Ramses II, which had been left on the ground in pieces since its discovery in the 19th century, along with two obelisks and two columns of the King Ramses II era. San Al-Hagar boasts many monumental relics and is one of the countrys largest and most impressive sites, causing Egyptologists to dub it the Luxor of the North. During the 21st and 22nd dynasties, Tanis was a royal necropolis housing the tombs of the Pharaohs as well as nobles and military leaders. Pierre Montets excavations between the 1920s and 1950s were the most important carried out at Tanis. Montet put an end to the enigma of the identification of the site, as some Egyptologists saw Tanis as Pi-Ramses, while others suggested that it was the ancient Avaris. Montet showed that Tanis was neither Pi-Ramses nor Avaris, but rather a third capital in the Delta during the 21st Dynasty. He also unearthed the royal necropolis of the 21st and 22nd dynasties in 1939, with their unique treasures now on display in the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square. This discovery was not recognised in the way that the discovery of Tutankhamuns tomb in 1922 was recognised because of the outbreak of World War II, Waziri said. Among the tombs that were uncovered were those of the Pharaohs Psusennes I, Amenemonpe, Osorkon II and Sheshonq III. The site houses large number of tombs and temples among the largest is the one dedicated to god Amun. It also houses the Temples of deities Mut and Khonsu and Horus along with a collection of obelisks, columns and colossi of King Ramses II. In December 2017, the ministry launched a comprehensive rescue project to restore Tanis and to develop the site into an open-air museum of Ancient Egyptian art. Search Keywords: Short link: Hopes were high that President Emmerson Mnangagwa would in bilateral engagements with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (Focac) in Beijing last week be able to secure the rescue package but he returned home empty handed. The money, it was hoped, would ease the countrys crippling liquidity crisis. In an interview with the Zimbabwe Independent this week, Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Sibusiso Moyo said there was never a request by Harare for the much-needed financial assistance to the giant Asian nation in the first place. (Newser) Terry Crews long ago got his apology from the Hollywood agent he says groped him at a 2016 party. Now he's sharing Adam Venit's atonement letter, which Crews says he received in March, with the world. On Twitter Friday, Crews posted the full letter, in which Venit notes he has done "so much thinking and learning," and that his "intent is to have both of us heal from this situation and move forward." Venit says he's "sorry for all of it," that he "[takes] responsibility for us being here now, together in this situation," and that he realizes he might not be deserving of Crews' forgiveness but is asking for it anyway. He adds he even wishes that perhaps the two can "come together and go forward with compassion and understanding and be an amazing force for positivity and change in our culture," before signing off with "respect and gratitude." story continues below So why did Crews wait nearly six months to publicly reveal the contents of Venit's letter? "It meant nothing without a resignation," he tells Deadline, which notes that's finally what Crews got last week, when it was announced that Venit is stepping away from the William Morris Endeavor talent agency. "ACCOUNTABILITY," is what Crews tweeted when that news broke, which is also what he tweeted when he posted Venit's letter. Crews notes in his now-pinned tweet that, due to Venit leaving his WME post, he has finally accepted Venit's apology. BuzzFeed notes that Los Angeles prosecutors never pressed charges against Venit, as the statute of limitations had run out, and that earlier this month Crews settled a lawsuit against Venit and WME. (Read more Terry Crews stories.) (Newser) President Trump spent much of Friday evening digging into a claim he'd made the previous day that spurred instant backlash. On Thursday, Trump accused Democrats of inflating the death toll in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria, which a recent George Washington University report updated from 64 to 2,975. Then, as everyone headed into a weekend set to be dominated by Hurricane Florence news, Trump took to Twitter to first send a series of tweets and retweets praising FEMA, and himself, for the cleanup and rebuilding efforts after the hurricane. Next, Trump continued to push back on the widely accepted study that nearly 3,000 people had died as a result of Hurricane Maria. First, per Deadline, Trump quoted Geraldo Rivera, who's been in Trump's corner on the hurricane hubbub. story continues below That tweet: "They say all these people died in the storm in Puerto Rico, yet 70% of the power was out before the storm. So when did people start dying?" (The Los Angeles Times notes 96% of Puerto Rico's residents had power before the storm.) Then Trump cited a Washington Post article noting he'd been told by officials in October that 16 people had died. "Over many months it went to 64 PEOPLE," he tweeted. "Then, like magic, '3000 PEOPLE KILLED.'" He went on to rip the GWU study, ending with: "FIFTY TIMES LAST ORIGINAL NUMBER - NO WAY!" The Hill reports on Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello's response. "Mr. President I'd very much be willing to walk you through the scientific process of the study," Rossello tweeted, adding: "In the meantime, I hope you consider sending a message of support to show you stand with all of the US Citizens in Puerto Rico that lost loved ones. It would certainly be an act of respect and empathy. (Read more President Trump stories.) (Newser) Smugglers, watch out: Washington is forming an international coalition to better spot ships sneaking fuel into North Korea against UN sanctions, the Wall Street Journal reports. More than 50 people from the allied nationsincluding Japan, South Korea, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and a member from Francewill be hosted on the USS Blue Ridge as their countries provide warships and surveillance aircraft. Officials say there will be more "bridge-to-bridge" warnings from allied ships to smugglers and a zero-tolerance policy against those who plead ignorance, but more aggressive tactics like ship-boardings aren't necessarily in the cards. story continues below Meanwhile, Washington is calling for a UN Security Council meeting Monday to crack down on countries trying "to undermine and obstruct" North Korea sanctions, the AP reports. No violator-nations were named, but US Ambassador Nikki Haley said Thursday that Russia had pressured UN experts to revise a report that implicates "Russian actors." According to Haley, the original report mentions "a massive increase in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products" to North Korea despite UN sanctions. A summary of the report, obtained by the AP in August, says Pyongyang is still conducting its nuclear and missile programs while defying financial sanctions and an arms embargo. (Read more North Korea stories.) (Newser) Truly horrific: A Florida prison inmate murdered his cellmate Thursday by strangling him, pulling out his eyes, and strolling into the prison chow hall wearing the guy's ear around his necka killing that highlights bigger problems at Columbia Correctional Institution, the Miami Herald reports. Officials have identified the victim as Larry Mark, a 58-year-old serving life for murder, but the killer's name hasn't been released while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates. Two prison sources tell the Herald that Mark angered his cellmate by pestering him; after the killing, the cellmate dropped Mark's eyes in a cup and told fellow prisoners he was planning to drink or eat them later on. story continues below The dorm where Mark died was manned by just one control-room officer and a sergeant who was busy elsewhere in the compoundjust one example of staff shortages that have left the facility rattled. The problem worsened hours later when a gang knife-fight erupted over smuggled contraband elsewhere in the prison and left four hospitalized, per the Gainesville Sun. According to an officer at the Lake City facility, staff shortages contribute to contraband deliveries (sometimes by drone) and the proliferation of K2, a powerful synthetic marijuana often used by prisoners. And Columbia Correctional isn't alone: Gangs control many of Florida's 50 prisons, says a former prison inspector, while records show that inmate deaths in the state's system are more frequent than ever. (Read more Florida stories.) (Newser) Once an accomplished organ player in Salt Lake City, Wanda Barzee became a disturbing figure for members of her own family after she helped in the 2002 kidnapping of then-teenager Elizabeth Smart. Days before the 72-year-old woman is released from prison, looming fears about whether she remains a threat and calls to keep her off the streets bring up deep-rooted questions about mental-health treatment in the nation's prisons, an expert tells the AP. And details of the crime still horrify Barzee's niece, Tina Mace. "It just makes you ill. How could anyone do that?" she says. Like Smart, Mace is alarmed by the surprise announcement this week by Utah authorities, who say they miscalculated her aunt's sentence and will release her from prison on Wednesday. "From what I know, no family can take her in or would take her in," Mace says. story continues below Federal agents have secured a place for Barzee to live when she starts her five-year supervised release, says Eric Anderson, Deputy Chief US Probation Officer for Utah. He declined to say whether she'll be in a private home or a facility, but she "will not be homeless." Barzee has served the 15-year sentence she got in a plea deal the year she testified against street preacher Brian David Mitchell, her then-husband who kidnapped the girl from her bedroom at knife-point. During her months in captivity, Smart says the older woman sat nearby and encouraged her husband as he raped the teenager. Smart is now a 30-year-old speaker and activist who said Thursday she's deeply concerned that Barzee remains a threat, citing her refusal to cooperate with mental-health treatment in prison and reports that she may still harbor Mitchell's beliefs. (Read more kidnapping stories.) 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Chennai: A new conveyor system to transport lignite from Mine-1A to the thermal power station by NLC India Ltd was formally launched Saturday by its chairman and managing director Rakesh Kumar. The company said in a press release here that the conveyor system was set up with innovative ideas of engineers and employees of NLC India without involving any new purchase, thereby saving Rs 18 crore. Also Read | Rupee crisis: PM Modi holds economy review meeting with RBI governor, FM Arun Jaitley The Mine-1A, with a production capacity of 30 lakh tonne per year, was built to serve as an independent power producer to cement factories present in Tamil Nadu, the release said. The conveyor measuring 832 metre was erected near Mine-1A which was linked with the existing conveyor system, it said. Read More | Jammu and Kashmir: Five LeT, HM militants gunned down in Kulgam encounter; search operation on The conveyor equipped with a 1,500-mm belt can carry 1,000 tonne of lignite per hour, the release said. Since, the new system directly provides lignite to the thermal power station, the accumulation of old stock for a longer period can be avoided, it added. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Doctor and engineer aspirants in Bihar will no more have to give written test or interview as Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi Saturday said that the appointment of doctors and engineers in the state will be done on marks basis alone. Around 7,000 posts of engineers are lying vacant in different departments of road construction, rural works, water resources, minor irrigation in the state, Modi said. Also Read | Rahul Gandhi reveals name of PM Modis 'blue-eyed-boy who planned Vijay Mallyas escape The appointment of doctors and engineers will be done on marks basis through Bihar Technical Service Commission in the state. No written test or interview will be conducted for carrying out appointment of doctors and engineers in the state, the DCM said. Modi was addressing Engineers Day function on 157th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna M Vishveshwaraiya organised by the Bihar Engineering Service Association (BESA) in Patna. Those appointed on contracts do not have to get their renewal done every year, till the regular appointments are completed, the deputy CM said. Out of the 7,000 posts of engineers, around 2000 posts have been filled through contractual appointments as regular recruitments are taking time, he said. Contractual employees will also get facilities on par with regular employees like - earned leave, casual leave and maternity leave and other facilities. They will get the benefit of work experience and age relaxation in regular appointment, Modi said. Also, students passing from engineering and medical colleges of Bihar will get 50 per cent reservation in the appointments. The recruitment process is getting delayed by Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) due to heavy requisition to it, the Dy CM said. The state government has set up the Bihar Technical Service Commission to expedite the appointment process like it did in case of appointment of university teachers and police by setting up separate commissions, he added. New Delhi: Sonam Kapoor Ahuja is not a person to mince words. Known for a frank, often unfiltered, comments, the actor took a jibe at Kangana Ranaut while speaking to Anaita Shroff Adajania, fashion stylist and fashion director at Vogue India, on her chat show. Sonam had already exchanged blows with Kangana Ranaut with her infamous statement that "stars who are not good-looking are often considered 'good actors' on Karan Johar's popular chat show Koffee With Karan. The same year, Kangana, too became a part of the melee spilling the beans to BollywoodLife. Kangana took a dig at her by saying, "Sonam has said that people who act well are ugly, I have heard. So do I get the crown of the ugliest person? Because after watching Queen, people have been telling me that I act really well. So according to Sonam, I am the ugliest actor in Bollywood today. And well, I accept that with all the gratitude and humbleness," It seems like the spar continues on Anaitas Show as well. Anaita, a renowned name in the fashion industry, asked Sonam who in her opinion, is a troublemaker, Sonam answered, "Kangana Ranaut, in the best way possible. She wants to break the glass ceiling and you need to be a troublemaker to do that. Not a trouble maker, but someone who stirs the pot. She does it in the most incredible way, so kudos to her." It may be recalled that Kangana has, in the past, almost locked horns with some of biggest and most powerful people in Bollywood. She has called Karan Johar the "flagbearer of nepotism" on his own chat show which led to a massive debate in Bollywood. Later, in a chat show with journalist Rajat Sharma, she unleashed her wrath at Hrithik Roshan, Adhyamaan Suman and frankly spoke about her abuse at the hands of Aditya Pancholi. This resulted in a public spat with Hrithik, with each party dashing of legal notices to each other. Just a while back, Kangana had hit headlines as her co-star Sonu Sood had walked out of Manikarnika:The Queen of Jhansi. Kangana accused him of sexism saying that he doesnt want to work under a woman director. She has pitched battles with Simran writer, Apurva Asrani in the past. Recently, she was again in news when the director of her upcoming film, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, left the project midway and Kangana took over as its director. Right from the time the first look of the film released, there has been a lot of buzz and anticipation around the film. As per the reports, the historical will release next year on January 25. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Los Angeles: Hollywood star Chris Pratt and writer Katherine Schwarzenegger are ''very serious'' about each other. The pair, who were first spotted together during a picnic on Father's Day earlier this summer, might get engaged soon, reported People magazine. "They're such a great fit together. It's only been a few months but Chris and Katherine are both very serious about the relationship and their friends wouldn't be surprised if they got engaged sooner rather than later. "Katherine has spent time with Chris' family and they all love her too. She fits in really well with them and vice versa," a source said. Also Read | Justin Bieber, Hailey Baldwin married? Baldwin denies reports Pratt, 39, and Schwarzenegger, 28, first met through her mom Maria Shriver and have often been spotted out spending time with each other's families. She is Shriver and ex Arnold Schwarzenegger's eldest daughter. Also Read | Eminem apologises for using homophobic slur on 'Kamikaze' album This marks Pratt's first relationship since his split from Anna Faris, 41, in August 2017 after eight years of marriage. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Hollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said that India was going through a dramatic change as the aspirations of the youth were changing fast and educational institutions should conform and grow in tune with the quest for innovation and excellence. With the fourth industrial revolution upon us, how we live and work is changing so are the aspirations of our young people, Kovind said while addressing the platinum jubilee celebration of Karnataka Law Society and Raja Lakahamgouda Law College in Belagavi, Karnataka. The president also said that the Indian economy today is brimming with opportunities and the educational institutions must grow in tune with the quest for innovation and excellence. Also Read | Army soldier among three accused in Rewari gangrape case We have a young, talented population and an exciting economy brimming with opportunities. In the previous quarter, our GDP grew at 8.2 per cent, which indicates our pace as well as our potential, Kovind said. Stressing upon the law of nature that teaches everyone discipline and orderliness, Kovind said that the law that humans write is the basis of civilisation. Law is not a career, it is a calling. Much more than a means to earn a livelihood, it is a mechanism to assist the cause of justice to help the poorest and most unfortunate among us, and to build a society and nation defined by adherence to rules, norms and fairness, he said. Read More | Sonam Kapoor called Kangana Ranaut a troublemaker; Here is why Pointing out that many lawyers were part of the national movement, Kovind said Mahatma Gandhi and B R Ambedkar were lawyers with a spirit for public service. Kovind also said that the government is in the process of overhauling the regulatory framework for higher education and upgrading it to meet contemporary needs. He said that graded autonomy had been granted to 60 top universities, and a decision had also been taken to promote 20 institutions of higher education as institutes of eminence to grant them recruitment and curricula flexibility in order to reach best-in-class global standards. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Another encounter ensued between security forces and militants in Chowgam area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam late Friday night. The gunfight was underway when the last reports came in. As per the latest reports, five militants have been neutralised during the exchange of fire in Chowgam area. All of the militants belong to banned terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. The slain terrorists have been identified as Gulzar Ahmad Padder, Faisal Ahmad Rather, Zahid Ahmad Mir, Masroor Molvi and Zahoor Ahmad Lone. Soon after the gunfight started the train and internet services have been suspended between Baramulla to Qazigund in the militancy-hit state. This is fourth such encounter in this week. Here are the updates on Kulgam encounter: # 12:40 pm: The terrorists have been identified as Gulzar Ahmad Padder, Faisal Ahmad Rather, Zahid Ahmad Mir, Masroor Molvi and Zahoor Ahmad Lone: Jammu and Kashmir Police. # 10:50 am: Total five terrorists have been killed so far, search operation underway: IGP Kashmir SP Pani on Kulgam encounter. #UPDATE: Total five terrorists have been killed so far, search operation underway: IGP Kashmir SP Pani on Kulgam encounter https://t.co/CbDRwuU3cL ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 # 07:30 am: According to police, the encounter is going on in Chowgam area of Kulgam. Five terrorists are trapped. 3 reported to have been neutralised. Train services between Baramulla -Qazigund suspended. Encounter between terrorists & security forces is underway in Kulgam's Chowgam. 3 terrorists have been killed so far. Train services between Baramulla-Qazigund have been suspended: #JammuAndKashmir Police (visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/FKpU426GVd ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 # 07:15 am: Five militants are believed to be trapped inside a house in Chowgam. Four of the terrorists have been eliminated so far by the security forces: Sources. # 05:44 am: Kulgam: An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Chowgam area of Qazigund late last night. More details awaited. #JammuAndKashmir. Kulgam: An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Chowgam area of Qazigund late last night. More details awaited. #JammuAndKashmir ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 Read | Will BJP release terrorists who killed ex-PM Rajiv Gandhi, asks Congress Earlier on Thursday, three terrorists of pro-Pakistan Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) were killed and 12 security personnel, including three officers, injured in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. The gunfight ensued a day after terrorists fired on a police party and escaped the spot. 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. On the same day, two other militants were eliminated in a separate encounter with security forces in Sopore area of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district. The gunfight came on the heels of a cordon and search operation in Chinkipora near Arampora area of Sopore township in the north Kashmir district following inputs about the presence of militants in the area. Read | Delhi Police arrests two suspected ISIS terrorists near Red Fort On September 11, two militants were also killed at Galoora area of Handwara, in the north Kashmir district as a search operation turned into an encounter after militants fired upon the security forces in the area. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Ahead of his appearance before the police on September 19, Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who is accused of raping a Kerala nun, has asked his deputy Monsignor Mathew Kokkandum to administer the Diocese in his absence even as a group of Catholic priests extended support to the protest by various Catholic reformation organisations seeking justice for the nun. As you have probably come to know from the media the investigation into the allegations raised against me as there are several contradictions in the evidence collected against me as per the report of the police and it is reported that I am likely to be called for further clarifications by the investigating officer in Kerala. In my absence Msgr. Mathew Kokkandam will administer the diocese as in the normal practice when I am away from the diocese, a circular from the accused Bishop read. Also Read | Kerala church flays NCW proposal to ban confession Sources, however, asserted that he has neither stepped down from his post nor he appointed anyone the officiating Bishop. Mulakkal is currently the head of St Francis Church in Amritsar district. On Friday, Jalandhar Police Commissionerate had delivered a summon to the accused Bishop on behalf of the Kerala police. He was asked to appear before the Kerala police on September 19. What is the Kerala Nun Rape Case? A Kerala nun had accused the clergyman of repeated sexual assault between 2014 and 2016. She had recently urged the Vatican to intervene in the matter and demanded Mulakkal's removal as the head of the Jalandhar dioces. She also questioned the "silence" of the church, accusing it of "closing its eyes to the truth". Mulakkal, however, rebutted the alleagtions, saying the charges levelled by the nun were motivated. He also said that there were several contradictions in the evidence collected against him. Also Read | Amit Shah sounds poll bugle in Telangana; criticises KCR for ensuing early Assembly polls Meanwhile, a group of Catholic priests, defying the stand taken by a powerful Bishop body, vowed their support for agitation seeking justice in the case. The Kerala Catholic Bishop Council (KCBC) had slammed the nuns' protest, saying that it has "crossed all limits". The KCBC had also alleged attempts by vested interests and a section of the media to tarnish the image of the church and the bishop community as a whole under the cover of the protesting nuns and said it was "not acceptable." Defying the KCBC, the group of priests belonging to the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church visited the protest venue and assured their moral support to the nuns seeking justice in the case. Catholic nuns in Keralas Kochi city have been protesting against the Bishop for the last eight days. They are demanding immediate arrest of the accused Bishop. The protesting nuns also accused church officials of using a combination of promises and intimidation to scuttle their agitation. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. A colorful and unique event was held at the Pakistan School on Friday to honour the high achievers in the HSSC 1 FBISE Exams 2018. While 11 students clinched A+ grades with above 80 percent marks, 26 students scored A grades with above 70pc marks. The hall of the school was jam-packed with jubilant students, parents, leading members of the community and the guests. Afzal Mahmood, the Ambassador of Pakistan was the chief guest at the event and community welfare attache Saad bin Raffique was the guest of honour. The Chairman Sami ur Rehman extended a warm welcome to the chief guest and other guests. In his address, the Chairman elaborated on the plans and the relentless efforts made by the school administration to provide a perfect academic atmosphere to students. Eighty-two high achievers and position holders were awarded certificates of merit by Mr Mahmood. The chief guest in his address praised the school and appreciated and congratulated the students for their remarkable success. He asked the school authorities to work to further keep up the momentum achieved in the results. The Principal, Attiq ur Rehman proposed the vote of thanks. He thanked the Chairman and members of BOM for their guidance and relentless support which has been the real source of inspiration for the school. Seoul : South Korea launched its first ever missile-capable attack submarine yesterday, despite a recent diplomatic thaw with the nuclear-armed North. The $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 countrys 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. Some 60 pct of Japanese people are positive about a government plan to expand the intake of foreign workers by introducing new five-year resident status for them next April, the results of a recent Jiji Press survey suggested. In the survey earlier this month, the government plan was backed by 60.8 pct of the respondents and opposed by 25.4 pct. The idea of exempting highly skilled foreign workers from caps on the period of stay and allowing them to invite their families to Japan was supported by 79.6 pct and rejected by 13.8 pct. In the survey, 2,000 people of 18 or over were interviewed across the country for four days through Monday. Of them, 62.0 pct gave valid responses. Asked about whether they support the possible announcement of the name of the next Japanese era in advance of its start with Crown Prince Naruhito's planned accession to the throne on May 1 next year, 66.9 pct of the respondents said they did, while 14.4 pct said they did not. The nation's centenarian population hit a record-high of 69,785 as of September, with women accounting for 88.1 percent of the total, amid medical advances and greater health consciousness, the health ministry said Friday. The figure rose 2,014 from the previous year, marking the 48th consecutive yearly increase, and represented a nearly sevenfold jump from two decades ago. "We will continue to make efforts so that (the elderly) can stay healthy for a longer period of time," said an official at the health ministry. The tally is an estimate, based on resident registry data, ahead of this year's Respect for the Aged Day holiday on Monday. The number of male centenarians stood at 8,331, up 139 from a year earlier - former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, who turned 100 in May, is one of them - while female centenarians numbered 61,454, up 1,875. In the year through March next year, up to 32,241 people could reach 100, up 144 from the previous year. Looking ahead, the centenarian population is projected to rise further, exceeding 100,000 in five years and 170,000 in a decade, according to estimates by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research. Life expectancy in Japan was projected at 87.26 years for women and 81.09 years for men in 2017. Kane Tanaka, 115, from the city of Fukuoka, is the country's oldest living woman. The oldest man is Masazo Nonaka, a 113-year-old resident of Ashoro in Hokkaido. He was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living man in April. - Japan Times The Peoples Trust, PT, a new mega party nationally led by legal icon and human rights advocate, Dr Olisa Agbakoba SAN and the son of former Prime minister, Dr Abduljalil Tafawa Balewa, along with 30 other political parties in Lagos State, has offered its 2019 Governorship ticket in Lagos to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.Ambode, according to various reports, is currently embattled by factional politics of the Lagos All Progressives Party, APCPeoples Trust, is a new mega party recently adopted by Nigeria Intervention Movement, NIM, a platform popularly acclaimed as the biggest political movement of fresh breed leaders of the third force movement in the country.In a statement Friday after the election of its state executives, its Protem State Publicity Secretary, Dr Segun Awe Obe said Ambode should be encouraged to consolidate the great development he has started in LagosAmbode has proved to be a wizard of development in Lagos, therefore should not be sacrificed on the altar of political intrigues and interests within Lagos APC. So, we as the platform of the fresh breed credible third force stakeholders in Nigeria have mobilised 30 other political parties in our grand coalition to engage him for the purpose of fielding him in the 2019 if APC in Lagos rejects himThe Peoples Trust, a product of the political longsuffering of the Nigerian Youths and masses with over 500 thousands permanent voters carders, PVCs of its members in Lagos is set to adopt Ambode as its governorship candidate in Lagos if the Tinubu led camp of APC rejects himFor us in the Lagos Peoples Trust, Ambode is a fresh breed industrious and resourceful Governor, who has since changed the face of Lagos within the shortest possible time and should be encouraged to complete his second term in the interest of the welfare of the people of Lagos, which he has started to doThe new Lagos Exco of PT is made up of Lady Omowunmi Bajulaiye as Chairperson, Mr Ireti Duduyemi, Secretary, Dr Segun Awe Obe, Publicity Secretary among others elected at the meeting, where the party vowed to take over Lagos in 2019 Yusuf Bichi, the new director-general of Department of State Services(DSS), took control of the secret service on Friday. Yusuf Bichi, the new director-general of Department of State Services(DSS), took control of the secret service on Friday. Peter Afunanya, spokesman of the agency, said Bichi addressed the management of the organisation at the DSS headquarters in Abuja. He solicited support of members of the agency. While calling for stronger ties among the staff, he pledged to work with them as a team, Afunanya said in a statement. He stated that his vision is to build a well disciplined, professional and highly motivated DSS with particular reference to staff welfare. Bichi also affirmed that the service would support government agenda on rebuilding the economy, stamping out insecurity and fighting corruption. He implored the management to ensure that the service respects rule of law and human rights. President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Bichi on Thursday. The agency had been under the headship of Matthew Seiyefa since 7 August when Lawal Daura, former director-general of the agency, was sacked by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for sending DSS operatives to mount a blockade of the national assembly. Bichis career in the service spanned a period of 35 years during which he served in different commands and formations. He is an astute and versatile administrator; a highly detribalised Nigerian and an intelligence officer of immense repute, Afunanya said. Presidential candidate of Young Progressives Party, YPP, Mr. Kingsley Moghalu has again challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to a debate.He further revealed his plans for the country if elected as president.Here are excerpts of his chat with newsmen.On education of followers, mission and plansWe have been telling our followers what this vision is and the difference between us and the traditional politicians. For example, we are not playing money politics, and we are not going to buy votes.We need money for this election, but, it is money for logistics. If one wants to advertise his political ideas, he needs money. We are not talking about the money for bribery, but money to fund a campaign. When I become President, I would not want to be seen as someone, who only has good intentions. I believe that there should be no excuses. A true leader doesnt give excuses. A true leader takes responsibility and executes. We already have a plan and how the plan will be executed. I have a vision and it is in my book entitled: Build, Innovate and Grow.When I become President, there will be four offices in the presidency that will be critical to the success of my government. Number one will be the office of National Strategy, ONS. Number two will be the Office of Risk Management, ORM, number three will be the Office of Performance Management, OPM, and number four will be the Office of Human Capital Development, OHC. These are the four offices that will be the underpinning of my presidency. There will be no politician within a 10-mile radius of these four offices. It will be headed by professionals, experts in strategy, and experts in risk management, experts in performance management, and experts in building human capital development. What will these four offices do?The office of National Strategy will set up the broad template, the over-arching goal, the timelines and the milestones that have to be achieved by the different parts of government architecture. Remember there are strategy and risk management consultants, so, when we are talking about preparedness for transformational leadership, it is one example. I am bringing this idea because of what I already know, and have already done.The strategy office will now develop big goals. People will doubt if it is possible in this country? That is what built Dubai from a poor desert country to where we all visit today to enjoy ourselves, that is what built Malaysia, and that is what built Singapore. The office of National Strategy will help to establish the big goal. The Office of Risk Management will help to manage the risks that prevent leaders from failing.Those risks are many. They could be political. In a political environment, a leader keeps compromising as a result of political pressures. At the end of the day the things he said he will do, he would end up not doing them. It could be a strategic risk like too much reliance on one commodity, oil. It could be an operational risk. There are all kinds of risks. I understand Risk Management, l am a practitioner. Nobody manages or averts all risks, but if the person has that consciousness he will manage, avert or mitigate many risks and achieve at the very least, 70 percent of the purpose of being in government.80 percent of my targetsAs President, I will achieve more than 80 percent of my targets. The office of Performance Management will measure and assess all the various departments and their performances against the strategic benchmarks and milestones. And that assessment will occur every quarter. Every department that did not perform will not be tolerated.There will be accountability. Within the first six months I expect to have fired at least one minister for non-performance. By the time I fire one or two ministers, people will know that this is not business as usual, and they will sit up. It will promote accountability because I have the political will.I will be a performance-driven President. The office of Human Capital Development will help us to retrain the public service. It will not be done by sending them to Harvard for training. We cant afford it, but that is what they want. And that is what they do. What happens is that they come to Mr. President and remind him that people should be sent to Harvard in line with his campaign promises.They do that because they want to visit America for the purpose of shopping. What are we going to do? We are bringing those facilities. The Lagos Business School and other institutions are there for us to retrain our public servants. We will combine the local and the international ideas and retrain our public service here in Nigeria. We will do that in batches.You were at the CBN when governance structure of banks was radically changed through the dislodging of vested interests. Dont you think it will be payback time for them?We are prepared for such a scenario by going directly to the people. Nobody can defeat the will of the people if the will of the people is aggressively and properly expressed. No corporate behemoth can tell the masses not to vote for me. They can try in some ways but I want to also say that my presidency will actually promote wealth creation.But I dont believe in Crony Capitalism, the way we practice it in Nigeria, where one or two people become wealthier than the whole country while the country is getting poorer. We will democratize wealth so that it cannot be used against Nigerians. We can create the win-win scenario where people in business are doing well and other people are entering the business world and also doing well. My government will set up a one trillion naira venture capital fund. What will this fund do? It will invest in new businesses which would be started by unemployed youths. It is equity investment, not a loan. It is not a loan that people will have to repay. People can own 40 percent or 30 percent. This is how we can trigger and stimulate the economy.When this venture fund begins to operate, it will create a skills and innovation-based economy to be driven by innovation. If somebody invests in something that is useful in the society, the fund will produce good results for the market. Intellectual property will be protected. Everyone involved will be protected.The guy, who invented will do well, the middleman will do well, the wholesaler will do well, and the retailer will do well. In fact, everybody will be happy. We will actually turn this capitalist economy around in a way that the behemoths can continue to be wealthy but not at the expense of the poor and they will not be getting special favours. There will be a competitive framework that opens the economy and make the open field a fair and level playing field.I am not against people getting wealthy but I am interested in everyone getting wealthy. That is a slight distinction I think we need to make. I am not anti-business. I will be pro-business in a responsible way that is inclusive. We keep talking about GPD growth but we never talked about GDP per capita. Nigeria GDP per capita is just about $2000, average. Since 1960 our GDP per capita is $1,646. It is a scandal of untold proportions, that in 60years our GDP per capita has remained such a misery sum, whereas the GDP per capita of Brazil is about ten thousand dollars, Malaysia is $9000 , South Africa is $7000, and Thailand is about $5000 to $6000 . Some of these countries were not as advanced as Nigeria in the 1960s. It is the failure of leadership that we are experiencing because we never had a leadership with a world view. I have a world view. I have a national ambition for Nigeria.National vision The three secrets to successful capitalist economyAs a President, I will try to unite Nigeria around this national ambition so that we are focused on something higher than our differences. Even those, who think Nigeria is their grandfathers estate, would see that there is a mutual interest. It will make them work with all of us because we will create what is enough for everybody to enjoy, and nobody would have to oppress anyone anymore. This is the way I look at the question of Crony capitalism and the way it has been operating in Nigeria. Let me actually go beyond this to say that there are three secrets to a successful capitalist economy.Number one is property rights, number two, is innovation, and number three, capital. If an economy is not structured in such a way that these requirements exist to create the operating environment for business and economic activities, the economy will not be able to move from poverty to wealth. It is important to have political leaders, who have intellectual depth because anyone, who cannot conceive intellectually, cannot execute an idea.I started by talking about the mind and the power of the mind. In Nigeria, they will say that I am speaking too much grammar and I laugh each time they say that. Societies that are making progress in this world are societies where people speak a lot of grammar and work. What is different about Nigeria? Why must we be children of lesser gods? I have no apologies to anyone so long as I am speaking the grammar that can be understood. So long as I am communicating at the level of peoples understanding, I am not bothered to be called a grammarian.When I addressed a town hall in rural areas, this is not how I speak, I break it down. That is why I am going to move for a constitutional amendment for the abolition of the Land Use Act. I will do it so that Nigerians can actually own landed property anywhere. It will create more economic opportunities than a regimented bureaucratic state where people are bribing and waiting for the government to provide Certificate of Occupancy all the time. We need to set this economy free and just create an enabling environment.Innovation-driven economyI have said that I will have an innovation-driven economy. It is among the things I will be pushing for. We are going to move away from dependence on oil. I am going to bring back technology and scientific inventions and other kinds of innovation as the centrepiece of the economy. And we will turn Nigeria into a manufacturing country. Now, there is something called Economic Complexity. How do you produce and export value-added products? That is what creates wealth for nations, not natural resources.And that is one reason Nigeria is poor like many African countries that have natural resources. Africa has 70 percent of the worlds strategic minerals but only one percent of global manufacturing, two percent of world trade, and about three percent of global foreign investment; Its because we are led by leaders that dont have a world view. I know how we should get from A-B and I have a plan to get there, a strategy to get there, risk management to prevent failure, performance management to ensure success, and Human Capital Development to make sure that what makes every society prosper, exists in Nigeria. Human capital is the secret of any successful country. That is why in Switzerland where they have nothing under their soil people are prospering. Japan is a barren country, but wealthy. China is also in the same category. We have to understand the type of capitalism we want. There are people, who can establish Crony Capitalism scientifically and strategically. I can say for example that I want to create 36 Dangotes in Nigeria in different areas of the economy.It is possible. It is an economic system. We can empower people like South Korea did. South Korea is built on Crony capitalist basis but it works there. In South Korea, families own the Chaebols and the economy is structured in a way that every part of the economy is contributing. It has its advantages and its disadvantages. There is Welfare Capitalism which is practiced in Europe but they are moving away from it. There is the Entrepreneurial Capitalism which is the one I believe in. it is a kind of small business- oriented setting. That is why I am talking about the venture capital funding, which happens in America. There is state capitalism which is practiced in China.These are the four types of capitalism. You cant have state capitalism without a very competent bureaucracy. The Entrepreneurial Capitalism is what suits us. It is what suits our culture. We are hustlers. We struggle but there is a need to create a level playing field, create a venture fund where people can get capital to actually thrive. Anyone, whose business is well managed for four or five years, he can buy out the venture capital fund and the business becomes his own.Political educationMy message to Nigerians is a message of hope. That it is possible for a different Nigeria to be born. Nigeria is a nation waiting to be born. I see myself as someone pregnant with a vision and also waiting to be born in February 2019. It is possible to politically educate people, who are even functionally illiterate because political education is about how they exercise their political rights. That is what we are doing as we talk to people across the country using mass media, using town hall. It is all political about sensitization across the nooks and crannies of this country.Plans for security four things to doThe first duty of every government is to secure and protect the lives and property of the citizens of that country. It is very clear that the current government of President Muhammadu Buhari has failed in that category. What it goes to show is that the hood does not make a monk, because, he was a General and many of us felt that security in Nigeria would be something he could do while asleep. It has turned out not to be so. We are far more insecure since this government came into office in 2015. No leader can solve a problem if he does not understand the problem.The two fundamental problems of security in Nigeria are that the political leaders of today do not intellectually understand what national security means, because national security is multi-dimensional. It is complex. It is not just about focusing on Boko Haram and making a lot of noise about Boko Haram which they have not even defeated. They just raided another Local Government Area recently and I learned they hoisted a flag or something like that. Now, our leader must have the intellectual capacity to understand national security from its various dimensions. The major challenges now are Boko Haram, herdsmen, kidnapping, armed robbery; cyber insecurity, and porousness of our borders.All kinds of things make up national security. The rising poverty and rising unemployment and rising population combined, are national security threats to this country because one day we will no longer be able to keep the barbarians from our gates. We cannot keep them from the guided gates that weve built and locked up. So this is the first problem. If a leader cannot conceptualize something, he can never execute it.The number two problem which is perhaps even more important than number one is that there is no political will to attack certain security threats to this country. We have seen a total absence of political will to deal with the herdsmen. Why does Miyetti Allah issue threats in this country and nobody holds them accountable? Why do others including those who are not even violent in a physical way just because they are exercising their vocal rights are immediately branded terrorists and all kinds of things?.There is a double standard that is being applied in this country. That double standard that is operating is because the leadership is not acting in the national interest. Therefore Nigeria can never be secured because loyalty is to that sectional interest, not to the national interest. That is why security has broken down.The composition of the security architecture of Nigeria in a particular manner that tilts overwhelmingly in favor of a particular part of the country, is worrisome. If, as a President, you are saying that you can only trust people who are your blood relatives or your ethnic kith and kin, you have no business being the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Such a person should go and become the President of his village association and leave us alone as Nigerians to get on with our lives and find people who can secure our property and our lives.This is the truth. The security architecture is so ethnically loaded that it is now unable to actually understand the whole of the country and secure it. To secure a country like Nigeria, intelligence is needed from various parts of the country. And to get reliable intelligence from various parts of the country, there must be people from those parts of the country inside the security architecture.I may not be able to access a certain type of intelligence about what is happening in Zamfara but somebody from that part of the country will probably and naturally be able to access that intelligence better than myself. As President, I must have somebody from Zamfara in my security team because of the bandits that I want to crush. If I now bring a bunch of Igbo Generals or Igbo military people and tell them that they have to come and secure Zamfara, is that a serious scenario? It cannot work. Therefore, what would I do about security are four things. I will develop a robust national security plan that looks at the various dimensions of national security. I will professionalise the leadership of the national security team. People should lead national security on the basis of professional ability. If the only people the President of Nigeria can trust are people from his ethnic group, he has no business being the President of Nigeria. That person is not a Nigerian in the real sense.We must reform the security of our borders. Nigerias borders are so porous to the extent that people just walk in from Benin Republic, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger. And many of them are coming in and taking Nigerian citizenship or acting as citizens. They may not necessarily be given passports but they may now be participating in the electoral process as voters. These are national security threats which some people are willingly turning a blind eye to because it favours their vested interest. Nigeria does not have a police force and this is one of the reasons Nigeria is a failing state. A state that cannot secure its territory or its communities effectively is a failing state. Maybe, saying that it is a failing state is even being generous because some people will argue that it is already a failed state. What would I do about the police? My government will recruit, equip and train 1.5million policemen and women within four years and set up a modern police force in this country. When Nigeria is restructured most of them can go back to various levels, some will remain at the federal level. But we will begin that job of reforming the police so that our communities can be secured. They need to be trained in line with the standards of 21st century policing. They need to be trained in community relations. They need to be equipped with forensic capabilities in technology. They need to be trained in management. There has to be some sort of specialization in the police force. You cannot have general duty policemen.On Presidential debateI am using this forum to challenge President Buhari to a debate. And when I say President Buhari, I mean President Buhari. I do not mean Vice President Osinbajo. Osinbajo should debate with vice presidential candidates. President Buhari cannot continue to hide from the Nigerian public. It has become the track record of his governance that he is not able to face Nigerians and explain to them his government and its policies. We only hear President Buhari talking to Nigerians from London or China, or from Germany.This is leadership failure. This is one clear demonstration of leadership failure when a leader cannot communicate with his citizens. I have read and seen that the APC has appointed Osinbajo to represent President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential debate. This is fraudulent. I want it to be on record that it is a political fraud and Nigerian citizens should not accept it. We must hold President Buhari accountable. We elected him as President. We did not elect Osinbajo as President. Osinbajo cannot represent Buhari in a debate about the performance of Buharis government. Buhari is not incapacitated, if he is incapacitated, he should tell us. Where in the civilized world does a President send his Vice President to represent him in debates? Where in the civilized world does it happen? Only in Nigeria and Nigerians are accepting this type of thing? People should rise up and demand Buhari to come out and face me and other presidential candidates in a debate.On PACTI have just emerged as the Presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party ,YPP. So obviously, now that I am the candidate I am going to give serious thought to the question of who should be my running mate. My running mate will come from the northern part of the country. My running mate will be a Muslim. That is all I can say for now while I do more research and think about it. I will announce the decision at the appropriate time.for the youths of this country, who had expressed their desire for young people to come together and present a consensus candidate against the status quo. Unfortunately, after I was invited by the members of this group, PACT, to participate in its affairs, it turned out not to be what we had originally envisaged that it would be. It was supposed to be a place where we would gather and select the strongest candidate from the group and everybody else would back that person.That was what it was supposed to be. Some people hijacked the process, began to manipulate it towards a predetermined agenda that was outside its vision. That was why I walked out of PACT. We are focused now on the election. PACT has essentially collapsed because the outcome lacked credibility. But I am a candidate. I am no longer an aspirant. I am talking as a candidate focused on defeating President Muhammadu Buhari at the February 2019 elections. I cannot spend my time discussing the affairs of PACT.On restructuringI will within two years of becoming President, work with the National Assembly and Nigerians to deliver a constitutionally restructured federation. My take on restructuring is that it must be fundamental if it must be effective. That means that restructuring on the basis of existing will not solve the problem. For restructuring to be effective, it has to be on the basis of the six geo-political zones as federating units in this country.Restructuring must include resource control. The states and regions should be fiscally in control of the revenue they generate whether from taxation or from solid minerals. A percentage of that revenue should be paid to the federal government. That is a real federation. Even though we want something that approximates the 1963 Constitution, I have one major caveat; I do not want a weak central government. I want a centre that is strong enough for sovereignty to reside there and be protected.I also want the federating units to be strong enough to prosper. My fundamental argument for restructuring is economic because the reason Nigeria is now the poverty capital of the whole world is because of our over-centralized economic management. That would change in a restructured federation where regions are able to make decisions about their economies and every region in this country has economies of scale but many states on their own as federating units are not viable. That is the main reason I said we should practice federalism along geopolitical lines.Diversification of the economyRestructuring will help us diversify the economy because every region that has this economy of scale has things that are peculiar to them and very rewarding economic activities. The only reason they cannot be scaled up is that there is no restructuring so far. So every state goes cap in hand every month to Abuja to get the federation account allocation from oil.That is why I said the reason Nigeria is poor, is because our political leaders have for over 40 years, worshipped the small gods of small things. And the number one small god of small things is oil and the oil price. We must diversify away from it. How? Let us start with agriculture. I will bring a value chain approach into agriculture. We will invest in innovations in agriculture. There are high-yielding seedlings that we must now begin to use across the whole country.They will yield a better harvest. This should be our approach to agriculture. We will invest in the second stage of the value chain, transportation. We have to invest economically in the kinds of transportation infrastructure that can transport agricultural products with their value intact.We should invest in storage. We should invest in processing. We must invest in export. This is the approach that we have to bring to agriculture.Another area is innovation, not oil because that creates a new economy of its own and the venture capital fund that we are going to set up will create new economies so that people are not relying on the oil price. We will invest in economic complexities. We will invest in education. This is a primary vision of mine because what sustains an economy is not oil, not infrastructure but human capital. It is when you develop that human capital through educational reforms that every other part of the economy becomes sustainable and continues to improve.We are moving education from the current three or four percent that it is now to not less than 20 percent budgetary allocation. That will not just be throwing money at the problem, it will be investing in teacher training.We must subject our whole teachers to a recertification process, training, which when they are now suitable, they can continue to teach. We must invest in curriculum reform. The current curriculum is extremely geared towards theory. We must change it towards practical skills. The third thing is that we must invest in how our students learn, that is, pedagogy. In Nigeria, our students cram for exams.They receive lectures, cram and sit for exams. There is no systemic encouragement of original and creative thinking.As a professor in the United States, my 100 percent is divided as follows; 60 percent for exams, 60 percent is for original research, 20 percent is for the ability to hold and participate in a class discussion and the remaining 20 percent is for physical attendance in class.That is how my 100 percent is divided in my own class and that class is called Emerging Africa in the World Economy and I was appointed a Professor at the university largely because of that book on top of the fact that I was Deputy Governor of the Central Bank and I had been in the US for many years. But nobody in Nigeria invited me to be a Professor after I left the CBN. This is the difference between America and Nigeria. They respect knowledge. In Nigeria, we scorn at it and say the man speaks too much grammar. That is why we are poor.BIGI keep referring to this book, Build, Innovate and Grow -My Vision for our Country. This is a comprehensive blueprint of my vision for our country when I become President and how Nigeria can be governed. I am the only presidential candidate in the 2019 presidential race that has done this. If anybody had done this, we want to see it. So, it is not just to talk, here is the plan. That is why I said I am not just making promises. Lauretta Onochie, President Muhammadu Buharis Social Media aide has said that the president will continue to exercise his constitutional rights to hire and fire.Recall that the President on Thursday approved the appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi, as new Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS) and on Friday Mrs Kemi Adeosun, the Finance Minister tendered her resignation letter.Onochie in an article on her Facebook page titled President Buhari will continue to exercise his constitutional rights to hire and fire said that small minded people who think only in geography and religion will always find fault in everything President Buhari does. And everything he does, he does within the boundaries of the lawShe further said that the Niger Delta was underdeveloped under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and that only the people whose lives improved were his friends from every tribe in this nation.In defending the appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi, as new Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS) she said that the practice is that when a top public officer is dismissed, sacked or resigns, he or she is instructed to hand over to the highest ranking civil servant who assumes the office in an acting capacity until a substantive appointment is made.The top man when Mr Lawal Daura lost his appointment at the DSS, was Mr. Matthew Seiyeifa. I am not aware that he was sacked. He wasnt. Hes still In employment. In fact, hes due for retirement in a few weeks.When the former SGF, Engr. Babachir Lawal was relieved of his Duty, Lovely Dr. Habiba Lawal, the most senior Permanent Secretary, took charge in an acting capacity.She returned to her original duty post, when Mr. Boss Mustapha, the current SGF was appointed. And shes still there. And there are other examples.There was no single protest that Dr. Mrs. Lawal was not confirmed as the SGF. Maybe these people having a fit over this DSS appointment should ask themselves why they did not protest then.Read here statement belowThe truth is that small minded people who think only in Geography and Religion will always find fault in everything Pres. Buhari does. And everything he does, he does within the boundaries of the law.The practice is that when a top public officer is dismissed, sacked or resigns, he or she is instructed to hand over to the highest ranking CIVIL SERVANT who assumes the office in an acting capacity UNTIL a substantive appointment is made.The top man when Mr Lawal Daura lost his appointment at the DSS, was Mr. Matthew Seiyeifa. I am not aware that he was sacked. He wasnt. Hes still In employment. In fact, hes due for retirement in a few weeks.When the former SGF, Engr. Babachir Lawal was relieved of his Duty, Lovely Dr. Habiba Lawal, the most senior Permanent Secretary, took charge in an acting capacity.She returned to her original duty post, when Mr. Boss Mustapha, the current SGF was appointed. And shes still there. And there are other examples.There was no single protest that Dr. Mrs. Lawal was not confirmed as the SGF. Maybe these people having a fit over this DSS appointment should ask themselves why they did not protest then.This pettiness of turning a selective blind eye to procedures and capacity and at the same time, embracing tribal/religious sentiments and ineffectual buffoonery, is what destroyed our nation.All of us are witnesses of how the Niger Delta was underdeveloped under Pres. Jonathan, a son of the Niger Delta while President of this country. The only people whose lives improved were his friends from every tribe in this nation.When do we learn that its a battle between the haves and have-nots in our nation? That its not between North and South. The greedy thieves in the north are in alliance with the greedy thieves in the south. And they are all livid with rage that the recovered Abacha loot, is going to struggling traders and not them!But why do we love the man, Buhari? Pres. Muhammadu Okechukwu Buhari has the political will to override the ingrained primordial needs of the willfully deaf, the willfully blind and the willfully dumb.President Buhari will continue to exercise his constitutional rights to hire and fire. The best part of why we love him is that he never gives in to intimidation and blackmail.Let the uninformed be informed that we have rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Lets all grow above this antediluvian state of being. It expired 200 years ago. The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has called on President Muhammadu Buharis Special Assistant on Prosecutions, O... The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has called on President Muhammadu Buharis Special Assistant on Prosecutions, Obonlo-Obla, to resign with immediate effect. This call came following the resignation of Minister of Finance, Kami Adeosun over her NYSC certificate forgery scandal. CACOL had earlier called on the Minister to resign her appointment. The Centre said that Oblas position was even less acceptable given the fact that it pertained to the forgery of a school certificate result. The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Comrade Debo Adeniran made the call in a statement yesterday. The statement added, We could as well say that Adeosun has completed her course, only that she didnt do the mandatory one year service. But for Obno-Obola, that is even worse, that means that he doesnt have the technical capability to carry out the duties he is carrying on. An accountant and a woman with Ogun state connection is Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, acting minister of finance, the new Kemi Adeosun (minus t... An accountant and a woman with Ogun state connection is Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, acting minister of finance, the new Kemi Adeosun (minus the NYSC bit)? Like Adeosun, she studied accounting. She holds a degree in accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a masters in business administration from Ogun State University Adeosuns home state. Ahmed was on Friday appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to oversee the ministry of finance following the resignation of Adeosun over the NYSC certificate issue. Ahmed will hold the position only on a temporary basis until the national assembly reconvenes and Buhari is able to send a replacement for senate screening. Here are eight facts you need to know about Zainab Ahmed: 1. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed was born 55 years ago in Kaduna State. Ahmed is the daughter of Yahaya Hamza, the foster father of Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state. Hamza, who died in August 2015, was once permanent secretary in the federal ministry of education and secretary to the government of Kaduna state. 2. She obtained a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1981 and an MBA from the Ogun state University, Ago Iwoye. 3. She started work in 1982 as an Accountant in Kaduna State Ministry of Finance in Kaduna state and moved to Nigerian Telecommunication Ltd (NITEL) 4. In 1995, where she worked in various departments and rose to the rank of the Deputy General Manager (DGM). 5. Ahmed, who fondly calls el-Rufai my uncle apparently because of the family ties, was until her appointment as minister of state for budget and planning the executive secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the extractive sector watchdog. In 2010, she was appointed to serve as the executive secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. 6. Before her appointment to oversee finance ministry, she was Minister of State Budget and National Planning. 7. She is a fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), a member of the Nigerian Institute of Taxation and the Nigerian Institute of Management. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has promised to investigate the raid on the head office of Standard Chartered Bank in ... The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has promised to investigate the raid on the head office of Standard Chartered Bank in Lagos, saying the officers involved would be subjected to internal disciplinary measures. Wilson Uwujaren, spokesman of the agency, disclosed this in a statement issued hours after the raid. Some officials of the anti-graft agency stormed the bank on Friday but Uwujaren said those behind the operation acted without permission. Following repeated media inquiries 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, he said in a statement. The raid by operatives purportedly wearing the jackets of the Commission might have been the handiwork of errant officers who acted without authorization. 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. Uwujaren had earlier said that reports that Bola Adesola, managing director of the bank, was arrested were untrue. The incident comes less than two weeks after 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 it defended its action, insisting that no offence was committed. Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has reacted to the resignation of Kemi Adeosun as the Minister of Finance Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has reacted to the resignation of Kemi Adeosun as the Minister of Finance Adeosun had resigned her appointment on Friday. Adeosun said she decided to take the exit door because of the allegations of forgery of her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate hanging around her neck. Reacting to the development, Fani-Kayode commended Adeosun for treading the path of honor by resigning. He tweeted, I commend Kemi Adeosun, the Former Minister of Finance, for courageously treading the path of honor by resigning. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called for the investigation and persecution of former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, following... The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called for the investigation and persecution of former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, following her resignation. Buhari on Friday accepted Adeosuns resignation letter as Minister of Finance, replacing her with Zainab Ahmed. Adeosun had in her letter said she resigned following allegation of forged NYSC certificate against her Reacting, the national chairman of the PDP, Secondus, while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Friday, asked Nigerians not to be deceived by the resignation. According to him, Adeosuns resignation was even belated; asking why the President refused to fire the minister until she willingly resigned on her own volition after the media exposed her fake NYSC certificate. He said the resignation of the minister was due to pressure from Nigerians Secondus said, The resignation is belated. Why did the President keep her all this while when the scandal broke out? Why didnt he, I mean the President, asked that the woman be investigated and even suspended if he was serious about the fight against corruption? We are aware of some lawyers that mounted pressure on the Presidency before the woman was forced to resign. The forced resignation was because of the 2019 presidential election, which we all know the President will lose. But if the President is serious, he should have asked the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to order the prosecution of the minister and all those that helped her to procure the fake NYSC discharge certificate. The new Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, has called for stronger ties among members of staff.The News Agency of Nigeria reports that President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, appointed Bichi as the substantive head of the service.NAN also reports that following the sack of former head of the service, Lawal Daura, Mr Matthew Seiyefa was appointed the acting head of the service.A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the service, Mr Peter Afunanya, said that Bichi made the call on the assumption of office at a meeting with the management of the service on Friday in Abuja.He also called for the support of the personnel while promising to work with them as a team.Bichi also promised to build a well disciplined, professional and highly motivated service with particular reference to staff welfare.The head of the service said that the Service would support government agenda to rebuild the economy, stamp out insecurity and fight corruption.He enjoined members of Staff to refocus their intelligence collection efforts in this direction while imploring the management to ensure that the Service respect rule of law and human rights. Lawmakers under the aegis of Parliamentary Democrats Group, PDG, has raised the alarm over plans to impeach Speaker of House of Representa... Lawmakers under the aegis of Parliamentary Democrats Group, PDG, has raised the alarm over plans to impeach Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, after receiving the Peoples Democratic Party nomination form. Spokesperson of the PDG, Mr. Timothy Golu, in a statement on Friday, warned that any move to impeach Dogara would be met with utmost resistance. He said lawmakers have already started keeping vigil in and around the National Assembly Complex to protect the speaker of House of Representatives against impeachment. Golu also disclosed that many lawmakers from other political parties would be defecting to the PDP upon the resumption of plenary. The statement reads: Our attention has been drawn to media reports suggesting that the leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, is plotting to remove the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, after he accepted PDP nomination forms from his constituents. Much as we believe that this is an exercise in futility, we, however, want to state categorically clear that any attempt to instigate crisis or undermine the authority, right or position of the Speaker on account of this political action, which is legal and constitutional would meet a brick wall. Golu further noted that, As it is now, it is not only Speaker Yakubu Dogara, we have many other members, including a principal officer who has signified interest to join the band wagon. So, we can effectively say that on resumption, Dogara will be presiding over a House with PDP in majority. Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum, Senator Kabiru Marafa yesterday said that the Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari was supposed to resign as a governor if he has conscience for saying that he had resigned as the Chief Security Officer of the State.Marafa who had before now indicated interest to contest for the governor of Zamfara state accused governor Yari of lacking the moral latitude to remain as governor after abducting his primary responsibility of protecting the lives and property of the citizenry in the state.He spoke to State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.When asked to react to the statement credited the governor Yari who is the Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, he said it was shameful that the governor always remember he was the governor when it had to do with overseeing the state resources but claim to have resigned when it had to do with the protection of lives and property.He said, I heap a lot of blame on you the media the way and manner you handled it and number one culprit is the state house of Assembly. If I was a member of the State House of Assembly, I would have initiated impeachment of the governor because he lacks conscience, then the media ought to have done much more than what they did.This is part of the problem we have as a people, when problems happen in other states they tend to be overblown but when they happen in another state nobody cares and Nigeria is supposed to be seen as one country.For a Chief Executive to come out publicly to say that he has resigned as the chief security officer of a state he or she is supposed to accompany that statement with resignation.You cannot be spending state funds on security and lives and property are not safe, number one responsibility of any government is protection of lives and property any person that cannot protect the lives of people he superintends he or she is supposed to resign.On whether he was calling for the governor to resign now, he said, I dont have to call on him to resign, this is something that every Nigerian is supposed to say and he himself if he has conscience and he knows what leadership is all about and he is quite knowledgeable in Islamic teaching and if he took the teachings of Islam very seriously he would have resigned in the real essence of the word rather than making mere pronouncements that he has resigned as chief security officer.You only take the sunny side of opposition but the ugly side you say you are not responsible when it comes to the money of Zamfara state he is the governor of Zamfara state, when it comes to the protection of lives of the people of the state then it is President Muhammadu Buhari that is responsibleThe worst thing that I always say is that this is the first person that has unfettered access to the President. Now, have you been telling the president the truth, this is where the challenge lies, when he comes here he tells you that the president is doing very well, when he goes back to the state he says security is not his responsibility but that of the President. Roseburg, OR (97470) Today Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 46F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 46F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. U.S. media reports said Friday that President Donald Trump has instructed aides to proceed with tariffs on $200 billion more in Chinese products. Citing sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg and Reuters said the president wanted to move forward with the additional duties even though Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is trying to restart trade talks with Beijing. The reports sent stocks falling Friday and led to a drop in the Chinese yuan. The White House did not immediately comment on the reports. Bloomberg reported that Trump met Thursday with his top trade advisers to discuss the tariffs, including Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. The meeting was not on Trump's public schedule. Before Thursday's meeting, Trump said on Twitter that he felt "no pressure" to make a deal with Beijing, saying "they are under pressure to make a deal with us." He also raised questions about whether new talks between the United States and China would happen, saying the U.S. "will soon be taking in Billions in Tariffs & making products at home. If we meet, we meet?" A public comment period for the proposed new tariffs ended last week. The U.S. trade representative's office received nearly 6,000 comments on the proposal. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. #Moon Jae-in Moon to attend virtual APEC summit President Moon Jae-in will attend a virtual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit later this week during which he will focus on the pandemic recovery and vaccine donation... #tax probe Probes launched into suspected tax evasion South Korea's tax agency said Tuesday it has launched probes into suspected tax evasion by 30 people who pocketed corporate profits for personal gains or handed down wealth to thei... China is lashing out at Apple after the tech giant failed to use Beijing's preferred name for Taiwan during the company's annual iPhone event on Wednesday. While introducing where its new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max devices would be available later this month, Apple listed China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan separately alongside the three nations' flags. Multiple news outlets run by the Chinese state have since published posts demanding explanations from Apple, with China Central Television suggesting that Apple's actions could "hurt" its market demand in China and "cause unnecessary legal and political troubles." "People with a little bit of common sense will list 'Hong Kong, China,' and 'Taiwan, China,' on official occasions," China Central Television wrote on Thursday. "How can such a serious and professional occasion like the Apple keynote not do this?" It added: "A company known for its rigor and service excellence must be very sophisticated in every detail. Details about a country's territorial sovereignty must go through rigorous verification before they can be released to the public. "If this kind of sloppiness is allowed to continue, it will not only hurt the company's reputation and market demand but also cause unnecessary political and legal troubles." Still, the state-run Beijing Daily wrote on the popular microblogging site Weibo: "How difficult is it to add a 'China' in front of 'Taiwan'?" The state-run tabloid Global Times added: "Apple, what do you mean by this?" For more on this see the full report here. Our cover graphic of China's President Xi Jinping was from the sourced report. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. From the Wall Street Journal: China and Vatican to Sign Landmark Deal Over Bishops. This wasnt paywalled when I read it earlier today; it is now, but the first paragraph is the new news part of it, and the rest mostly context: China and the Vatican are set to sign a landmark agreement later this month ending a long struggle between Beijings Communist rulers and the pope over who chooses the leaders of Catholicism in the worlds most populous country, according to two people familiar with the matter. A report from Radio Free Asia collects further reaction and provides additional context, and articles in the National Catholic Register, including this one from April, provide more background. Fundamentally, the Vatican appears poised to recognize past state-appointed bishops and grant the state the power to appoint bishops in the future, with a supposed veto power only, in exchange for some promise of recognition of the underground Catholic Church. What that really means isnt readily apparent Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong has been outspoken in his opposition, and skeptically says that it really means nothing more than requiring underground worshippers to join the state-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association, which they have long resisted. And this comes at a time when, in general, the Communist Party has become increasingly aggressive about using churches to promote party values rather than allowing them freedom to teach doctrine. After all, it was not long ago that we were seeing reports that China was banning the online sale of Bibles (April), burning Bibles (this past week), and shutting down or destroying churches (also last week). A year ago there were reports that in various regions children were being prohibited from attending church. China is becoming more aggressively anti-Christian, not more tolerant. And thats just with respect to Christianity. Uighur Muslims are being held in internment camps under the claim of terrorism-prevention. Conditions in re-education facilities and other internment camps have been described as inhumane. One former detainee said he was forced to wear iron clothes, an outfit of metal claws and rods that left him immobile, for 12 hours as punishment for disobeying a guard. An ex-detainee of a womens detention centre told the Guardian she witnessed a woman having her feet and hands chained together for four days. According to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on Monday, former detainees described being denied food, being shackled or forced to stand for 24 hours, and being subjected to solitary confinement and sleep deprivation. And heres another bit of news about China, from The Intercept: Google China Prototype Links Searches to Phone Numbers. Not only would the prototype Google China search engine, Dragonfly, link google searches to specific phone numbers, so as to identify who might be using suspect search terms, and directly censor unacceptable searches, but in addition, Sources familiar with Dragonfly said the search platform also appeared to have been tailored to replace weather and air pollution data with information provided directly by an unnamed source in Beijing. The Chinese government has a record of manipulating details about pollution in the countrys cities. One Google source said the company had built a system, integrated as part of Dragonfly, that was essentially hardcoded to force their [Chinese-provided] data. The source raised concerns that the Dragonfly search system would be providing false pollution data that downplayed the amount of toxins in the air. and Meanwhile, Jack Poulson, a former Google senior research scientist, told The Intercept that he was one of about five employees to have resigned from the company due to Dragonfly. 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, Poulson told Google bosses in his resignation letter. Now, its not surprising that a corporation, no matter how much it trumpets its virtues and corporate values, would be lured in by the promise of riches. But its dismaying when the Pope does so. And its very hard to comprehend. It was in February that the Vatican made news when Bishop Marcelo Sanchez, the chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences said they [the Chinese] seek the common good, subordinate things to the general good. I found an extraordinary China; what people do not know is that the central Chinese principle is work, work, work. As Paul said: He who does not work does not eat. You do not have shantytowns; you do not have drugs; young people do not have drugs. There is a positive national consciousness they want to show that they have changed; they already accept private property. Does the Vatican, does the Pope simply fail to understand the Chinese governments rejection of human rights? Are they simply blind to whats going on there? Or do they imagine that whatever is happening to Muslims, to house churches, they will be safe from if only they make nice with the government, and whatever inconveniences Chinese Catholics experience in terms of state interference are worth it? Or is it about power and the objective to become more influential with the Chinese government, and with respect to issues such as the environment, regardless of how it impacts those Christians in China who attempt to live out their faith? Image: from Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/113018453@N05/14037472464 Before I get to the most recent of the Catholic Cover-up Crisis news (because, again, this is whats the greater concern), heres a bit of a step back. Longtime readers will know that I became Catholic in grad school, after having grown up in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, a branch of Lutheranism which, in contrast to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is, or was, in the incarnation I experienced it, pretty fundamentalist creationist, ultra-traditionalist in terms of womens roles, and weirdly anti-Catholic, so that we learned about the Catholic sacraments, for instance, in a religion class lesson designed to teach us why only the Lutherans (vs. Catholics and Baptists) had the right number of sacraments and believed the right things about them. At the same time, we attended the local Catholic church with a certain frequency, since Dad was Catholic, and when I was in college, I alternated between the two. So when I went off to grad school, to study Medieval history at Notre Dame, I engaged in a fair amount of church shopping, landing most weeks at the nearest off-campus parish (the congregation of which actually sang, in contrast to the church we attended as a child), but also visiting the Lutheran churches reasonably often, as well as an Episcopalian and a Presbyterian and a nondenominational Calvary Chapel (ooh, boy, was that an experience) and, for the sake of cultural awareness, a Mormon service along with my roommate. And in the meantime, I studied the history of the church in the Early Christian and the Medieval period, as well as theology, and, believe me, I was under no illusion that the Catholic church has been pure throughout its history. So why choose Catholicism? Im not going to claim that it was the result of a deep spiritual awakening. Instead, it was initially a process of elimination: I want a church that has a good liturgy, but the Episcopalians and the Lutherans (ELCA) arent possible options because theyre prochoice and that really creeps me out. But my RCIA sponsor convinced me that I could not make a profession of faith unless I was willing to, if not believe, than at least assent to, the doctrines of the church, so I did engage in a process of learning more, so as to conclude that maybe purgatory isnt so weird, and that faith without works is dead, Humanae Vitae has some good points, and, well, the whole Mary & the Saints thing isnt my cup of tea but Ill assent to it. And heres a bit of irony for you: that friend, whom Im no longer in touch with but followed via her blogging for quite some time, ultimately left the church for Episcopalianism and later an Old Catholic church. (Another friend who was often a part of these conversations did end up getting ordained, though, so theres that, anyway.) But the quote above, in the post title? Thats not just a scripture passage, but also from the ELCA liturgys gospel acclamation: Alleluia, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia. And to revisit the Ross Douthat book I wrote about just before all this news broke, he wrote something that really speaks to at least part of my feelings as well. In his introduction he wrote: Unlike many Catholics I knew who were loyal to the church as a community but doubtful of its doctrines, I did not want this tension to be smoothed away by understanding priests and broad-minded theologians,; indeed, the conflict between what I professed and how badly I fell short was part of what made the profession seem plausible, because a religion that just confirmed me in my early-twenty-first-century way of life couldnt possibly be divinely revealed. (p. XIV) In the end, the approach to religion taken by many Protestants (and Catholics, too) is that I will believe only what makes intuitive sense to me and I will accept as sinful only those things which really feel wrong to me just feels too human. Who am I to imagine that I am so smart, and my conscience so perfectly formed that I myself have got everything all figured out? After all, in my world as a mom, and as an actuary, and especially as someone who blogs about a whole ton of topics based on reading what information the real experts have shared, I am only all too aware of what I dont know about all manner of topics, so why shouldnt it be the same with theology. And with respect to morality, I know there are things about which I am equally likely to say, eh, that doesnt bother me (e.g., the death penalty, particularly in circumstances when its not necessary to protect the community) even if I can intellectually understand why theyd be wrong. So thats a lot of rambling, just to get to the point when I reflect on the question of how do you stay put in so obviously-flawed a church? because I think that the context, and repeating some of my personal background, might be helpful. Because there is a real question here, with all the dreadful reporting coming out about cover-ups. And its not just the United States, but also Germany, where I had figured that the greater secularism of the country would have meant that the victims families would have insisted on police involvement. Yes, my faith is in God, not men, blah blah blah. And yes, child sexual abuse exists everywhere, and children are most likely to be abused by a family member or someone in their immediate household. Heck, I just spent the better part of two hours on Youth Protection Training for the Boy Scouts, learning about the subject and the BSAs rules to prevent and stop abuse (including the two-deep leadership and no one-on-one rules, along with the no shared tenting with boys greater than two years age difference rule). And the Chicago Public Schools has had their own scandal, not to mention the issues in Hollywood. But, again, were not really talking about abuse by priests any longer. Were taking about bishops covering up, and were taking about bishops and others taking advantage of their authority with respect to seminarians and others in positions subordinate to them, and were talking about yet other bishops indifferent to the whole issue and hoping to avoid these issues by claiming that once they have procedures in place regarding new accusations of child sexual abuse, their job is done. Read this article by Elizabeth Bruenig in the Washington Post, He wanted to be a priest. He says Archbishop McCarrick used that to abuse him, which describes the power McCarrick had over seminarians, in which they accepted McCarricks behavior (in this case, watching a seminarian change into swim trunks, and later putting his hand in those trunks) because it was made clear to them that he had the power to prevent their ordination, and tell me that thisll be solved by new rules with respect to mistreatment of minors. The challenge is that, at least in part, it is the fundamental hierarchical structure of the Catholic Church that produces this. Oh, sure, theres the fact that not just bishops but people who held themselves out as experts believed that a priest could, via therapy, be treated and safely returned to ministry. And theres the all-too-human tendency to want to protect those you are closest to, your family either literally or figuratively. But a lot of the reason for the cover-ups is surely also about people in power protecting themselves, and taking advantage of their power to engage in their worst impulses, and people not in power not wanting to rock the boat because they either feel powerless or because they hope someday to gain some share of that power for themselves. And even though becoming a bishop, or moving up the episcopal ranks, is not something where one seeks out the promotion, or applies for and interviews for the position, it would certainly seem to me that the personality traits required to get noticed by and appointed to these positions mesh together pretty well with those of cover-uppers and of perpetrators. Thats not to say that every bishop is keen to move up the ranks, to take advantage of his power, to appear pious and humble, of course, but we are indeed hearing plenty of reports that McCarricks misdeeds (so long as confined to seminarians) were shrugged off so long as he was bringing hefty donations into the church. And the Vatican, too, is infamous for people jockeying for power. Oh, and lets not forget about the further issue of the desire to cover up in a misguided attempt to protect the church sacrificing children, sacrificing justice, to achieve whats considered the greater good of keeping church membership numbers up. Whether all bishops doing so (and whether Francis has the same motive now, as well), do so because they dont want to diminish their personal power or not, I cant say. But heres an obvious statement: if we had no bishops, if we had no pope, if like plenty of evangelical churches, our parishes were just a bunch of parishes in association with one another, there would be no one to do the covering-up. Or, rather, maybe a family might report the abuse to church elders, and they might tell the pastor to start looking for another job, but it wouldnt be taken as an indictment of the entire denomination. And yet, of course, without the bishops, without centralization, well, the Catholic church simply wouldnt be catholic, wouldnt be universal. Sure, I suppose we could have some sort of governing body thats wholly unrelated to pastoral ministry, and to be sure, one doesnt read of cover-up scandals among the Methodists or the Episcopalians, though they may exist, but they have their own problems, as their churchs relative independence has brought the Methodists to the brink of schism. So where do we go from here? I dont know, really. How do we preserve the system of bishops, and the pope, while ensuring that the next generation of bishops is more uniformly committed to ministry and honest dealings and to passing on the faith than their own political ladder-climbing or pursuit of their personal causes? Image: https://pixabay.com/en/baptism-christianity-jordan-river-1959655/ From the recent article by Dr. Gregg Gardner on biblical gleaning laws and the subsequent interpretation of them in rabbinic tradition: Although the agricultural allocations to the poor share some characteristics with charity, they function differently. Charity is a positive duty whose underlying premise is that it comes from ones own personal property and the benefactor exercises some discretion over what is given and how. Thus, in their discussion of charity, the rabbis do not specify the time or place for when it should be given. The biblical laws of harvest allocations, in contrast, have traits that are typically characterized as acts of justice. While charity is defined by personal discretion, justice is devoid of it. Whereas the laws of charity do not allow for the recipients to claim that they are owed anything in particular, systems of justice provide the recipients with correlative rights. Since the agricultural allocation laws do have specific requirements about what the householder must do (the six items listed above) and to whom (the poor that show up to take these items), they are better characterized as acts of justice and not charity. Ive blogged here before about the fact that what we see in the relevant biblical texts is wealth redistribution through something that is in essence a form of tax. It is profoundly ironic that some claim to be concerned with biblical morality and yet rail against taxation, redistribution of wealth, social justice, systemic solutions to address poverty, and other things that are woven into the fabric of the Bible. Yet on the other hand, as Gardner points out in his article, the gleaning law focuses on procedure and not on whether the needs of the poor are actually met, with the result that more truly redistributive laws and policies that are post-biblical do a better job of addressing these social issues. From his conclusion: Both in the biblical text and their later interpretations by the rabbis, the laws of harvest-time allocations center on the principle that humans neither own the land nor its produce outright. Rather, a portion of the harvest belongs to God, which in turn God allocates to the poor, who are under Gods special care. Only upon ensuring that God and the poor receive their share can the landowner claim the rest of the harvest for himself. As such, these laws focus primarily on the procedures that the landowner must follow so that these allocations are carried out properly. The rabbis would up the ante by ascribing a set of correlative rights to the poor, ensuring that there are human agents to whom these elements of the harvest are owed. That is, the focus of these laws is primarily on proper procedure more so than the outcome of that procedure. That said, the biblical text establishes the primacy and importance of care for the poor, and it is perhaps from this general ethos (though not derived from any particular text) that we see the development of a parallel form of support for the poor in post-biblical Jewish texts namely, charity. It is in the post-biblical concept of charity, especially as it is fleshed out by the rabbis, that becomes increasingly focused on outcomes i.e., on satisfying the specific needs of the poor. On the same topic, Christy Thomas offered this challenge: STEEL AND iron manufacturing giant, B5 Plus Limited, has commenced the construction of what is to be the biggest ever metal manufacturing factory in Ghana. The over $80 million project for which sod was cut on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, forms part of the governments One District One Factory (1D1F) flagship programme. The factory, located within Ningo-Prampram District of the Greater Accra Region, is expected to produce different qualities of metal and steel products. When completed, the mega factory will have the capacity to serve the Ghana & West African sub-region. The factory is expected to be well positioned to produce various steel products some of which are currently being imported into the country. It is envisaged that the factory will save Ghana some $100 million in foreign exchange in its first year, with the figure increasing in the subsequent years. The company, to be built on a 377 acres of land is to create about 3,000 direct & indirect jobs and give business opportunities for several retailers. By December 2018, B5 Plus Limited shall begin the first roll of the project and latest by 2nd quarter 2019, the entire factory will be fully operational. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of B5 Plus Limited who doubles as Director of Delhi Public School International (DPSI) Ghana, Mukesh Thakwani, in a statement, explained that, B5 Plus from its humble beginning two decades ago when it was importing steel and metal products from Ghana's neighbouring countries like Togo and Cote d' Ivoire, has grown to become a net exporter of steel products to the entire West African sub-region. He noted that the company was proud to be associated with many major projects that have been undertaken in Ghana over the years. The new factory when completed, is expected to supply metal products to the country's mining and construction sectors. Mr. Thakwani said the factory is in line with President Akufo-Addo's 1D1F policy, appreciate government initiative to create more industrial environment Litigation Challenge Mr Thakwani, however, appealed to the government to address the issue of land litigation in Ghana which he said was a major challenge for foreign investors. Jobs The CEO of the multinational firm said about 400 to 500 people will be engaged in the construction work. We always believe that we will create more and more jobs to enjoy peace and harmony in our society, he said, in response to a request by a residence of Ningo-Prampram, led by their District Chief Executive (DCE), for the company to prioritise them for employment opportunities when the factory is completed. Ghana's Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Carlos Kingsley Ahenkora, in a keynote address at the colorful sod-cutting ceremony, thanked management of B5 Plus Limited for undertaking such a noble project. He was emphatic that the factory is going to bring along major economic development and job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth, especially those around the Ningo-Prampram township. As part of efforts to contribute to the success of the factory, he said, the Ministry of Trade was in talks with the management of B5 Plus Limited and other relevant institutions and ministries for the provision of water and 100 megawatts of electricity to the company pointing out that communities around the factory will also benefit from the supply. He outlined government's objectives for introducing the 1D1F policy as job creation, import asubstitution, control of rural-urban drift, poverty reduction, and noted that the mega factory being put up by B5 Plus fits perfectly into the President's agenda. He expressed the belief that if B5 Plus was even able to produce 150,000 metric tons of steel annually from the factory, it will contribute significantly to the reduction of Ghanas import costs. Commenting on the progress being made by government with regard to the 1D1F, he assured Ghanaians that by the end of the four-year tenure of the NPP administration, the policy is going to see a major facelift. So far, according to him, financial institutions in the country have pledged $2.5 billion for the 1D1F. He disclosed that a couple of foreign financial institutions like the Indian Export and Import (EXIM) Bank and the US EXIM Bank have expressed interests in financing key projects under the programme, saying about 100 candidates have been recommended to those financial institutions for investment consideration. Mr. Kingsley Ahenkora assured B5 Plus Limited and other foreign investors that government shall do all it takes to ensure that they are not affected by land litigation. On her part, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Barbara Oteng Gyasi, urged B5 Plus Limited to adhere to Ghana's local content regulations. Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Birender Singh Yadav, has expressed his delight that an Indian company has chosen to support President Akufo-Addos vision. With India's unique position as the third largest steel manufacturer in the world, he believed that an Indian Company like B5 Plus Limited would become a leading force on the African steel and metal markets. Attendance Present at the ceremony were captains of industry, staff of B5 Plus Limited and DPSI Ghana including the President of DPS Care Foundation, Vishal Thakwani the son of Mr Mukesh Thakawani. About B5 Plus B5 Plus Ghana Limited was established about 20 years ago with its corporate headquarters at Kpone near Tema. It was initially importing steel and iron from Cote d' Ivoire and South Africa but has grown to the stage where it now exports to other countries. B5 Plus Limited operates in all the 15 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) nations. The company's principal product is steel products which come in seven major categories: Mild Steel, High Tensile & Iron Rods, Galvanized Products, Stainless Steel, Marine & Mining, Roofing & Nails and Concrete & Fencing. Its vision is to become the worlds steel industry benchmark through the excellence of its people, its innovative approach and overall conduct. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Vice President of Republic, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has challenged Ghanaian youth to cultivate the spirit of entrepreneurship in order to create jobs and reduce the incidence of graduate unemployment. Government, on its part, will create the necessary environment and incentive for Ghanas young men and women to challenge the status quo and think outside the box in order to contribute their quota to national development. Vice President Bawumia assured of governments commitment to youth entrepreneurship when he launched the Student Entrepreneurship Initiative (SEI) at Ghana Secondary School, Tamale, on Friday 14th September, 2018. The SEI is a deliberate effort by Government to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem that promotes job creation and improvement in livelihoods. Under the Initiative, the Ministry of Business Development will train and stimulate at least 10,000 students annually to think entrepreneurship and engage two million students over the next 5 years. We are convinced that if teenagers are introduced to thinking about business concepts and the right management structure to businesses, they can expand and hone their ideas and begin to execute those ideas even before they complete their tertiary education, Vice President Bawumia emphasised. Citing the results of a recent survey, the Vice President expressed disappointment that an overwhelming percentage of secondary school students preferred already established white collar jobs instead of striking out on their own to set up new ones. The current situation at the Senior High School (SHS) level betrays a clear lack of the entrepreneurial conversation in their set-up he worried. The survey revealed that at least 68% of the respondents both male and female preferred to be in civil service, medicine, nursing, engineering, law and architecture as well as other already established jobs. Less than 2% of the respondents preferred to be in business, the Vice President indicated, hence the decision to set up the Schools Entrepreneurial Initiative. Vice President Bawumia was optimistic that the Initiative would produce the next crop of Ghanaian entrepreneurs. The tendency that these STUPRENEURS (Student entrepreneurs) will leave Senior High Schools (SHS), University, and other tertiary institutions with high sense of business awareness and confidence, would go a long way to increase the rate of business formation in the country. I encourage you students to take advantage of the School Entrepreneurship Initiative to come up with Business ideas and be assured that the government would support you to realize your dreams of becoming successful entrepreneurs. Speaking at the launch, the Minister for Business Development, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, urged the students to take advantage of the various programmes being rolled out by the Ministry to development their entrepreneurial skills and take control of their destinies. When students are exposed to business concepts and plans at an early age, there is a tendency for them to think entrepreneurial and begin to develop projects and services while in school. We aim to help you on this journey, and hope that in a few years Ghana can also boast of world renowned entrepreneurs, he indicated. SEI Schools will be encouraged and assisted to form entrepreneurial clubs with the active collaboration of the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service. The Entrepreneurial clubs will be trained by selected hubs that are already working with the Ministry of Business Development and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP). To generate excitement among Senior High Schools, the School Entrepreneurship Initiative will roll out a business plan competition that will set out what businesses the entrepreneurial clubs want to pursue. The grand finale of the Business Plan Competition will be held in Accra early next year where students of the various schools will present their ideas to a special jury. Winners of the business plan competition will then be moved around the world to experience the audacity of entrepreneurship and to understand the real world of business. This will constitute a world series of visiting places like Silicon Valley in the USA and Tech City of London. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Audio Attachment: Listen to George Opare Addo Former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Akuapem North, George Opare Addo says there will be a 'mass funeral' in Ghana should Menzgold collapse. According to him, there seems to be some mischief or a calculated attempt by some mischievous persons within the State regulators to cripple Menzgold instead of supporting it. Menzgold Ghana, a company trading in gold collectibles, has been directed to shut down by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for not having a permit to operate. The SEC wrote to the company, demanding that all trading in gold without licence be ceased. It asked the company not to take new contracts (investments) and also halt broadcast and publishing of all its adverts. This comes after the Bank of Ghana warned customers and the general public from transacting business with Menzgold stating emphatically that it's unlicensed and any individual who deals with it do so at his or her own risk. Addressing the issue on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', George Opare Addo, who is vying to be National Youth Organizer of the NDC explained that Menzgold is a local business established by a Ghanaian and needs support not an attack targeted at disintegrating the gold firm. Even if they have flouted the laws, we could deal with this without causing the necessary panic or that panic button we have pressed which is disorganizing everybody . . . The most important thing is whatever we do, we should remember it is a Ghanaian business entity . . . You dont create crisis in solving a problem . . . We cannot afford to kill Menzgold, he said. He noted that the SEC and Bank of Ghana (BoG) should rather hold fruitful negotiations with Menzgold, assisting it to operate successfully. He also wondered why the SEC and the Central Bank are now acting on Menzgold if they believe the company doesn't have the requisite documentation to transact business. All these years Menzgold started their activities, where was the Securities and Exchange Commission? Have they just woken up one morning and realized Menzgold is not operating within the frontiers of the law? he questioned. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has stated that Government is in the process of finding a strategic investor to revive the debt-ridden and idle Komenda Sugar Factory. According to President Akufo-Addo, the search for a strategic investor has become necessary because his administration, upon assuming office on 7th January, 2017, inherited a non-operational Komenda Sugar Factory. The President noted that, after its commissioning in 2016, the Komenda Sugar Factory has not undertaken any commercial processing of sugarcane into sugar, due to serious deficiencies in the planning of the project. These deficiencies, he said, include the unavailability of sugarcane in sufficient quantities in the catchment area, as well as inadequate working capital required to make the factory functional. President Akufo-Addo made this known on Friday, 14th September, 2018, when he addressed a durbar of chiefs and people of Komenda, in the Central Region at the commencement of his 4-day tour of the Region. Additionally, it has also been determined that the general soil condition of the available land is not wholly suitable for sugarcane cultivation, and will require substantial amounts of fertilizer input to improve the yields. It is against this background, and in reaction to appeals made by the Omanhen of the Komenda Traditional Area, Nana Kojo Kru II, for the revival of the factory, that President Akufo-Addo indicated that a new strategic investor is being sought for the operationalization of the factory. The President was hopeful that a strategic investor would be found soon for the factory. With residents of Komenda being predominantly fisherfolk, the President assured the Chiefs and people that the processes for the establishment of landing beaches and sites in coastal communities such as Komenda, Elmina, Jamestown, Keta and Axim, amongst others, are at an advanced stage, and soon the construction of these landing sites will commence. We came to improve the standards of living of the Ghanaian people, and that is what my government is doing. My predecessor only left me with only debt, even though he was the single largest recipient of revenues of all Presidents put together since the time of Kwame Nkrumah. However, I remain unshaken, and I am working to fulfill my promises to the Ghanaian people, he added. President Akufo-Addo, as part of his visit to Komenda, also took time to see for himself, at firsthand, the state of the Komenda Sugar Factory. He also inspected the Petersfield and Rey Ltd., a citrus-processing factory, which is operating under the 1-District-1-Factory initiative, and urged the company to position itself to take advantage of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), with a market of some 1.2 billion people. Komenda Roads Also speaking at the durbar was the Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwasi Amoako-Atta, who stated that road constructions are currently ongoing in every part of the Central Region, and, indeed, in every part of the country. In particular, he noted that the 5-kilometre stretch of road leading into the Komenda township is undergoing construction, and will be completed in 12 months. Again, the 6-kilometre internal feeder roads in the Komenda College of Education, he said, are being constructed, and pledged that in a years time, all these projects will be constructed. Touching on the construction of the bridge over the Brenya Lagoon, which begun in 2014, Hon. Kwasi Amoako-Atta noted that substantial completion of the bridge commenced in 2017, and within this week, the bridge will be handed over to the people of KEEA. Procurement processes, he added, are also underway for the construction of 5-kilometres of Komenda town roads. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video KAMPALA President Yoweri Museveni signed into law a bill criminalising Female Genital Mutilation in 2010, the cruel practice where young girls are subjected to the knife in Sebei and Karamoja sub-regions in Eastern Uganda. But while the new law is now operational, its completely a different story in the eastern remote parts of the country where preparations for 2018 female circumcision are well underway. Reports indicate that FGM is still thriving behind closed curtains in Kapchorwa, Kween, Bukwo [Sebei districts] and Amudat, Tepeth and Kadama [Karamoja] According to the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (2011), the FGM prevalence in the country stands at 1.4 per cent [for girls and women (aged 15-49 years], but the figure rises in communities where the practice continues. This is despite the tough penalties imposed on those convicted. The Reproductive Education and Community Health [REACH], an NGO that is involved in the fight against FGM says because of fear of the law, some communities that continue to perform the rite do so secretly. Ms Beatrice Chelangat, the director General of REACH says although the numbers of FGM are dropping due to education and sensitisation, there are still traditionalists who view it as a culture that distinguishes them from other tribes and these continue to practice the culture in caves, in the bushes across the borders in Kenya despite the spirited efforts to eliminate it. Chelangat adds; Many girls are cut in hidden or remote places, while others are crossed the border via porous entry points into the bushes and caves to be cut in Kenya, making it difficult to track them. She explained that from a human rights perspective, the practice reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination on minors and it also violates the rights of the child, breaching rights to health, security, physical integrity, freedom from degrading treatment and sometimes resulting into death. FGM beyond the borders Ms Chelangat explained that the cross-border activity of perpetrators of FGM is alarming, as most Sabiny parents cross the borders to Kenya to cut their children and bring them back to Uganda. She adds that this is because the communities that patronise the practice are now aware that FGM is a crime in Uganda. While FGM is also outlawed in Kenya, the perpetrators prefer the cross-border cutting because nobody will identify them and report them to the police. And at times parents claim that they are going for a visit in Kenya when actually they are taking the young girls for FGM, added Ms Chelangat. Girls preparing for FGM If you visited the remote villages in Kween and Bukwo, you will notice girls as young as 13 years singing in Kupsabiny, a local dialect and dancing in the bushes. Tombo chemuto owo! tombo chemuto owo! Mariwey, tombo chemuto! tumbo chemuto owo. Chebo namukweza owo! nte Kachoo, chepo namukweza, tombo chemuto owo! Abarojii kiketya, abaroji kiketya na aboraji kiketya, sande simburi, tomo chemuto owo. Loosely meaning; I am not circumcised; here I come from Mariwey, daughter of Namukweza. I have agreed to take circumcision, pave way for me, my surgeon is Sande Simbura, the teenage girls sing in preparation for the circumcision which is carried out by elders with no medical training. This tells you that the preparations for this years female circumcision are well underway in the remote villages of Bukwo and Kween districts. The spike in cases of FGM in Sebei sub-region that occur around December is the reason that period is referred to as the cutting season. It is our culture that makes us distinct Mr Nelson Chelimo, the former LCV chairman for Kapchorwa and now in Kween says among the traditional Sabiny communities FGM is still held in high esteem. He explained that in Sebei some communities have turned to caves, bushes and across Kenya to continue with FGM, instead of completely doing away with it and that they give it some credence, claiming that FGM is their culture and they cant abandon it. Mr Chelimo adds that FGM connects with other social issues such as girls not completing education and growing into women who have poor literacy; pressure to accept early or child marriage. Ms Joyce Munanda, a victim of FGM in 1978 and now an advocate against FGM say since the 2010 anti-FGM Act, the practice has gone underground and that it now takes places at night in the bushes, caves and across the border. She explained that there are reports of increases in cases of FGM following the coming into force of the law, with communities reportedly continuing to cut in defiance of the law. And gathering reliable data on FGM in these places is challenging due to the fact that the practice is often now carried out in secret or across the border in Kenya for fear of prosecution, and regions where FGM is practiced are remote, said Ms Munanda. The 2016 REACH FGM report says FGM is a social convention (norm); the social pressure to conform to what others do and have been doing, as well as the need to be accepted socially and the fear of being rejected by the community, as the strong motivations that perpetuate the practice. And add that in some communities, FGM is almost universally performed and unquestioned, reads the REACH report in part. Although the practice is considered a necessary part of raising a girl, and a way to prepare her for adulthood and marriage, Jalia Chemayek, 16 of Binyiny Secondary School and Sylivia Chebet 15, of Kapchesombe Secondary School are determined to inspire other Sabiny young girls to change the lifestyle of the Sabiny community. We refused to take FGM, we have stood our word and no threats will make us change our mind, we are prepared to drag our parents to court should they dare force us, we must remain at school. Our target is to inspire others to say no to FGM and yes to education, said Ms Chemayek. Who is at risk? The procedure is mostly carried out on young girls between six years and adolescence, and occasionally on adult women. More than 200 girls in Sebei sub-region alone are estimated to be at risk of FGM this year alone unless the government monitors the porous borders to Kenya, caves and bushes, said Ms Chelangat. In the villages of Kapsarur, Kireteyi, Riwo, Kaptererwo, Chesmat, Kameti, Tulem, Nyalit, Benet and Binyiny where people are still stuck in the tradition, preparations are in full gear sending fears that the illiterate might never drop FGM. Mr Stephen Matek, a local leader in Chesower says the illiterate who regard FGM in high esteem and as the only passage for young girls into adulthood, in the villages where ignorance regarding the law is still high there is a likelihood that FGM will take place this year. Although literate parents now fear the new law against FGM, many traditionalists and illiterate parents are already in gear preparing for a new season. And I believe many of the parents will do it stealthily at night or even cross to Kenya in the caves and bushes to practice FGM, said Mr Matek The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says there are about 200 million girls and women around the world who have gone through the cut and that they are going through consequences that are both physical and psychological but could last a lifetime. The procedure can cause severe bleeding, infections as well as complications urinating and during childbirth. This is a big threat to the reproductive health of women and girls, says Mr Alain Sibenaler the UNFPA country representative for Uganda. What to be done Ms Chelangat says due to the particular ethnic and cultural traditions and beliefs that underpin FGM, organisations involved in the fight against FGM need to tailor anti-FGM initiatives and strategies accordingly. She added that although there are still many challenges to overcome before FGM is eradicated in Uganda, with increased awareness of the FGM law and active anti-FGM programmes progress will be made in a positive direction. Ms Esther Anyakun, the Woman Member of Parliament for Nakapiriprit says each of the people from FGM circumcising districts must be vigilant. I know that girls who might be taken abroad for cutting will be young, possibly not fully aware of why they are going, and if they are they may not feel able to speak out so it is important to watch for warning signs if you know anyone who you believe is at risk, said Ms Anyakun, who comes from a region that circumcises girls. She adds that potential warning signs could be, a planned trip to Kenya this FGM season, a girl may talk about visiting relatives for a special ceremony or event and a holiday that includes additional time away before, or at the end of, the FGM season. Ms Pamela Nasiyo, the publicity secretary for Uganda Women Parliamentary Association [UWOPA] said it takes a village to raise a child but conversations with a community in Uganda suggest it will take family, community and government support to end FGM for eternity. She proposed incorporating other ethnic groups and internal migrants in the anti-FGM strategies, sustainable funding, considering FGM within the Millennium Development Goals and post-MDG framework, facilitating education on health and FGM and advocating for girls education and improvements in managing health complications of FGM, and more resources for sexual and reproductive health education, increased advocacy and lobbying, increased law enforcement, maintain effective media campaigns and encouraging faith-based organisations to act as agents of change and be proactive in ending FGM. FGM The procedure comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons. The Female circumcision often involves partial or total removal of the clitoris and labia minora. FGM is practiced by the Sabiny community in Kapchorwa, Kween and Bukwo districts, as well as the Tepeth and Pokot in Amudat, Nakapiripirit, and Moroto districts. 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You are free to discuss this article here: forum for traders and investors This article originally appeared in RECOIL ISSUE 23 Photos by Straight 8 Shooters Can Shave Ounces and Inches With LMTs Innovative New Stock System Once you get talking with the gun geeks at LMT, you start to understand the meaning of the acronym. We toss around the term OCD as shorthand for someone who has a bit more interest in arcane details than we do, but in this case, its probably not far from its clinical definition. If the first step is acknowledging you have a problem, then were OK with saying that, yes, we can get excited about the 1907 Roth-Steyrs firing mechanism bearing an uncanny resemblance to that found in a Glock. But these guys take it to a whole nother level. Approached by a NATO member country that wanted a compact carbine for undercover security forces who worked in confined spaces, they examined the problem, then presented a solution that used several of their existing products, as well as coming up with a brand-new one. We got an exclusive opportunity to go hands-on with one of the first pre-production units, which coincidentally is one of the guns appearing on this issues cover. In developing the Compressor, LMT took their proven L7SA1 upper receiver and stuffed a 10.5-inch, .300 BLK barrel into it. The receiver itself is a monolithic design, with no joint between the upper and handguard, making for a very strong unit with almost no chance of force being transmitted to the barrel nut from the rail system. Its what the AR would have been if Eugene Stoner had access to five-axis CNC machines. The .300 Blackout was chosen due to its versatility and ability to be effectively suppressed, an essential requirement of the end user. Due to their environment, if theyd lit off, say, an unsuppressed short barreled 5.56, communication between team members would have been compromised. Most of them would have been deaf after the first few rounds. In addition to several advantages, the .300 BLK brings with it a few problems. Weve messed around with enough examples over the past half-decade to be able to look past the hype and sycophantic fanboy-ism and realize that while its a decent compromise that enables the AR-15 to launch heavy, subsonic bullets, its not a magic death ray. When setting up an upper, its usually necessary to decide whether its primary ammo is going to be super or subsonic, as either longevity or reliability is going to be compromised if the wrong choice is made. Subsonic ammo is usually more reliable when teamed with a pistol length gas system, but firing supersonic ammo in the same setup can result in an upper which is over gassed problems such as the bolt outrunning the magazine springs can rear their head. Conversely, an upper using a carbine length gas system (which depending on barrel length is optimum for supersonic ammo) can be very picky about supersonic fodder and may produce stovepipes when fed ammo it doesnt like. Add to this mixture variations in back pressure when a suppressor is mounted or removed, and you have an engineering nightmare. The Blackout is typically fueled by a slow pistol powder, which by rifle standards burns much faster than usual. Because pressure spikes closer to the breech than with the original 5.56 round, by the time a bullet passes the usual gas port location, its running out of steam. The acid test for any .300 BLK gun is its ability to work with subsonic loads when unsuppressed, and supersonic loads when fitted with a can. These combinations produce the widest range of gas pressures and volumes, presenting a tough hurdle for any manufacturer to overcome. The Internet would have you believe that a 9-inch barrel is optimum for this caliber, but in our experience, this is not the case. You can gain a bit more performance with a longer tube without producing an ungainly weapon. LMT seems to have reached the same conclusion, as the Compressor uses a 10.5-inch barrel, allowing the gas system to remain pressurized for a longer period of time than the industry-standard option. Offsetting the slightly longer barrel is LMTs new stock and buffer system, which chops 3 inches off the overall length of the gun. Despite its flaws, the AR-15 endures as the preeminent American rifle of the 20th and, so far, 21st centuries. RECOIL readers are no doubt familiar with the limitations of the multi-lug bolt, the craps-where-it-eats gas system, goofy charging handle, and tits-on-a-fish forward assist. Perhaps not as well known, but more important from a functionality standpoint, is the actions short dwell time. Go ahead and fully retract the BCG on your AR. Youll no doubt notice that compared to say an AK, there isnt that much distance between the back of the magazine and front of the bolt. When it comes to reciprocating components, distance equals time, and that inch or so just doesnt give the magazine much of it in order to push another cartridge into position before the bolt runs forward after reaching the end of its stroke. We can slightly change how quickly the BCG returns by adding or subtracting mass. One of the ways manufacturers have sought to reduce the incidence of bolt over base stoppages has been through increasing the number of sliding weights in the buffer, thereby reducing its tendency to bounce off of the end of the receiver extension. Any change to the ARs design that fails to account for the actions short dwell time will negatively impact reliability. Which brings us to the LMT Compressors buffer system. Their engineers managed to shorten up the buffer tube without shortening the BCGs stroke, by means of chopping down the buffers length and they did this without losing any reciprocating mass or the deadblow effect of the originals sliding weights. Which we think is pretty trick. When you break the system down, you quickly reach a forehead-slapping moment and question why you didnt think of it first. Immediately apparent is the abbreviated SOPMOD buttstock, which slides onto a shrunken, six-position buffer tube. Despite losing inches, theres no loss of functionality. Whats hidden from the outside is the patented bit of the system, consisting of a tiny aluminum buffer, a flat-wound recoil spring, and a bolt carrier insert. Its this insert that slides into the open rear end of a regular bolt carrier and houses a sliding tungsten weight. The beauty of the system is that it requires no permanent changes whatsoever to a stock AR-15 upper, and can be retrofitted to any existing carbine. Like we said, forehead-slapping. Rounds Downrange Lewis Machine and Tool will be introducing their own suppressor design in 2016, but it wasnt ready for our range session. So we enlisted the help of SureFire, who sent along one of their SOCOM300 SPS cans. After slipping it over the matching muzzle brake, we slapped in a magazine of 220-grain subs and started hammering steel. So far, so good. Removing the suppressor and remembering to insert earplugs, we then shot it unsuppressed and noticed that brass was ejecting into the same pile that the first mag produced, indicative of both a low back pressure suppressor and a well-tuned gas system. The third magazine was loaded with 120-grain supersonic rounds, and we got through about half of it before the RECOIL curse manifested itself. Were well known for breaking shit (or maybe its just that when stuff breaks, we actually tell you about it), and true to form, the prototype carrier insert decided to spontaneously disassemble itself, locking up the bolt. LMTs representative was quick to jump on a call with their engineering department, and we discovered that several changes had been made to the production version. In ours, the tungsten weight was retained by a simple threaded cap that had backed out, whereas the cap on newer ones are also secured by high-temperature thread locker and a couple of spot welds. Despite lacking the new improvements, our proto had still managed to last through several range sessions prior to its arrival in Arizona before letting go, leading us to believe the new version should hold up. But as always, wed like to test a production unit before pronouncing it ready for service. We still had ammo to burn, so rather than call it a day we installed the upper on a different lower and shot it with both supersonic and subsonic rounds. Because no one wants to leave a range with anything other than brass in their range bag. Apart from a slight problem caused by our reverse Midas touch, the session went as planned and no further problems were encountered. Were always conscious that being the first to try out new gear brings with a certain amount of risk, for both writer and manufacturer alike. We think the trade-off is worth it, as you get to see cool kit before anyone else and see potential pitfalls and whats been done to correct them. In this case, LMTs stock system is a novel and innovative approach to solve an end users problem. The Compressor stock will be available as an aftermarket package that can be fitted to any AR-15, and should bring down the collapsed length of a 14-inch, pinned and welded carbine to 26.5 inches just above the legal minimum, and equal to many SBRs. What would you rather have: 3 inches of additional barrel or 3 inches of buttstock? Thought so. NCLT allows Shivinder to withdraw petition against his brother Malvinder. Final decision to be taken by family members in their presence. The National Company Law Tribunal's principal bench in New Delhi on Friday allowed Fortis Healthcare co-founder Shivinder Singh to dismiss the case against his brother Malvinder Singh and former Religare Enterprises chief Sunil Godhwani. Following this, Shivinder announced that a split was unavoidable and the truce was only a temporary one. Stressing that this is only a withdrawal of the application, and not the allegations, Ranjana Roy Gawai, counsel for Shivinder said, The two brothers cannot conduct business together, so a split is inevitable now. In RHC Holdings the brothers have equal shareholding through their investment arms Shivi Holdings and Malav Holdings. RHC has subsidiaries. Now, an equalisation of businesses has to happen. Either the subsidiaries would be separated from RHC or there would be a decision on who would pay up the money to creditors of each of these companies. These matters would be taken up at the mediation meetings the brother duo would hold in the presence of family members. It is learnt that an internal deadline has been set for them to arrive at a mutually agreeable decision. If the talks fail, Shivinder would take "fresh action". Sources claimed that both were keen on arriving at a resolution or a common minimum point over the next few weeks. Gawai said lawyers would not be present at the mediation meetings. "It is now strictly a family matter. However, once a broad understanding is reached between the two parties, the lawyers would get involved to work out the finer details," she said. Meanwhile, Shivinder said "repeated urging" by his mother and other family members prompted him to take the decision of withdrawing the plea. "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," Shivinder said in a statement. He added that he intended to use the mediation to reach a critical decision, whether he or his brother takes "full responsibility for resolving the group's issues with Daiichi Sankyo and other lenders". One of their major liabilities includes the $500-million arbitration award Japanese drug maker Daiichi won in a Singapore court against the Singh brothers on matters related to the sale of Ranbaxy. According to reports, the Singh brothers are saddled with total a debt of around Rs 130 billion. Speaking to Business Standard, Shivinder said one of them had to take the responsibility to handle the issues plaguing the group and resolve it in a manner that saved the group's entities from further damages. It is obvious that the monetary liability in the Daiichi case and other lenders would not be taken up by a single brother, he added. He also clarified that that his decision to dissociate from his brother stood. "To allay justifiable scepticism, let me be clear. The decision to disassociate from my brother and tread an independent path stands." Religare Enterprises counsel, which is also a respondent in the case, however, said since there were allegations against the Singh brothers of siphoning off company funds, they would try to recover the amount from them. The NCLT has asked Religare to move a separate application if they wished to initiate any action. In his September 4 petition before the NCLT, Shivinder along with his wife Aditi Singh, and his holding company Shivi Holdings had alleged that his elder brother Malvinder Singh and Godhwani were responsible for "systemic lapses", which had undermined the interests of their companies (RHC Holdings etc). Already their public shareholdings (in Fortis Healthcare) have been seized by lenders. The stock market regulator and the Serious Fraud Investigation Office are investing irregularities in the firm after these allegations came up. Photograph: PTI Photo. Capital municipality removes more than 41 tones of was from capital Sanaa [15/September/2018] SANAA, Sep. 15 (Saba) The project of cleaning the capital Sanaa belonging to the capital Sanaa municipality removed at least 41373 tons of waste from capital streets during the last July. Cleaning project Manager in capital sanaa, Jamal Jouhish, told Saba that the waste was transported to Azrakin. He stressed on the importance of unifying all efforts to raise up the keeping cleaning awareness's sense among the citizens in Yemen's provinces. Ahmed Al-Mutawakel Saba Lets face it. A hundred and thirty years is a very, very long time, one during which testing challenges could have easily undone the strongest of desires and the will to persevere with a certain goal. Which means that for anything to survive this long and remain amicably strong for such a period of time must have surely been founded on a rock solid foundation. Such is the foundation upon which the Marist Brothers Education system in Samoa established. It was founded on love and the dream to nurture young Samoans to grow up to become leaders in their families, villages, churches, government and the world. Founded in 1888, they are celebrating their 130th anniversary in Apia this weekend. They have come a long way. Indeed from humble beginnings where they started with seven students, Marist has grown to become an institution in Samoa, a centre for excellence in education and raising standards for countless leaders of this nation in all spheres of life. Since 1888, the Marist Education system has expanded from the Marist Brothers Primary School, Mulivai to Saint Josephs College at Alafua. Thousands and thousands of Samoans have benefitted from it. Its undeniable that the education and values the Marist Brothers instilled in the pupils have contributed to the development of Samoa as a nation. You see many of them are leaders of Samoa. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi is only one of them. The success of the alumni is multifold, there are way too many to mention in these pages. Today, the celebration of the 130th Anniversary is being spearheaded by another proud Marist, Tuatagaloa Aumua Ming Leung Wai who is the President of M.B.O.P.A. Speaking prior to the celebration, Tuatagaloa said the significance of the anniversary is a milestone worth celebrating because of the Brothers dedication to educating the boys of Samoa since 1888. He said it is also to remember the old pupils who served Samoa throughout the years. Which is fitting of the celebrations theme: Together We Remember. This is to remember and honour those who have served the Marist Schools, served our M.B.O.P.A. and also those of the Marist Fraternity who have had long and distinguished service to our government and not forgetting our country. On Thursday, the celebrations began with a mass at Mulivai Cathedral conducted by Archbishop Alapati Lui Mataeliga. Students from Marist Brothers Primary School and Saint Josephs College made up the choir in the presence of many former students. A number of activities are being planned. Among them is a Tree Planting activity. There is also a career day at Saint Josephs College Centennial Hall, Alafua where different career opportunities are offered. Another major part of the celebration is the Marist Forum, which aims to get the members of M.B.O.P.A. around the world to discuss and formulate its strategic direction for the next three years. The highlight of the anniversary though, will be the Marist Excellence Service Awards Ball scheduled for tonight. According to the organisers, this will be the main fundraising event for the celebrations, where proceeds will go back to the development of Marist schools. But there is another special reason to be excited about tonight. Fifteen awards will be handed out to outstanding members of the Marist fraternity to recognize and appreciate their services not only to M.B.O.P.A. but also to the Government and people of Samoa. Whoever the recipients are, we are sure they are worthy of the honour, just as the Marist Education System in Samoa is worthy of the admiration, praise and respect for surviving 130 years. Congratulations to the President Tuatagaloa Ming Leung Wai and all members of the Marist family in Samoa. Have a wonderful weekend Samoa, God bless! A Samoan based in the United States has raised concerns over how local traffic officers are allegedly pulling over drivers without following proper protocols. Virginia Toalepai, on a recent business trip to Samoa, claims she was pulled over by a traffic officer last month because she was using her phone. The traffic officer told me that I was using my phone, but I was not. The Bluetooth was connected to the car. When he pulled me over, he saw that the music was playing from my phone. I was not even on a call or using my phone. The officer pulled me over, asked for my license, I told him that I was leaving for the U.S. again the next day and I was only here for work purpose. He told me he was going to issue a ticket, I said fine, but then when I asked him for the ticket, he requested for a ride in my car to get the ticket from the Land Transport Authority (L.T.A.) office, which I agreed to. On top of that, when we got to their office, after explaining to the person in charge what the issue was and that I did not have any cash on hand, I was told to withdraw money from the bank to pay my fine because I was leaving the next day and I wasnt even offered the stated timeframe for someone to pay up their fine, she said. Ms. Toalepai said this was not the first time because she was also pulled over by a traffic officer in one of her earlier trips for no reason. When the traffic officer asked for my license, I told him I was from the U.S. and I dont have a local license, he then advised me to get a local license and drive on Samoas road, which I understand. But this officer then asked me to give him food money, that is not right and it paints a bad picture of the system in Samoa. L.T.A. Manager Procurement and Programming Division, Matthew Wendt, in response to questions from the Weekend Observer, said the matter has been investigated by the C.E.O. Galumalemana Taatialeoitiiti A. Tutuvanu-Schwalger, who is away overseas on duty travel. Yes the complainant did visit L.T.A. and file a verbal complaint. The matter was thoroughly investigated by the traffic manager. The officer involved submitted a written report, and has proven every action performed with regards to this incident being done within his jurisdiction as an authorized traffic officer. This incident had been witnessed by other senior personnel of the Traffic division, which they testify that the complainant did agree to pay the fine without being forced or demanded to do so, the Traffic Division said. The response from the L.T.A. said a period of 21 days is given to any offender to pay their fine and this applied to overseas travelers as well and that motorists in possession of a foreign drivers license should apply for a temporary license. Yes officers have their tickets booklets with them and with this particular case the officer hopped on the complainants vehicle because she wanted to pay the fine straight away. Also the complainant did not have a valid temporary drivers license to drive on our roads, she only has her overseas license. Our road legislations obligates her to go through the temporary drivers license applicant process, which the officer involved assisted her with when they arrived at the L.T.A. compound. In relation to the allegations by Ms. Toalepai that the officer asked for food money, the Traffic Division said she should present evidence of the allegation to ensure an investigation is conducted. With her other allegations accusing officers of asking her for food money, we encourage her to come forward with sufficient evidence and to identify the officer whom she claims to have committed such actions. This is so that we can conduct a fair investigation, as it is in LTAs best interest to deliver our services without bias and corrupt practices. They said if there is evidence of a breach of their core values and ethics, then the officer will go through the disciplinary process. The L.T.A. also encouraged members of the public to report incidences of alleged malpractice and to back it up with evidence. Governments failure to provide adequate services, support and prevention to tackle family violence shows that it implicitly endorses its continuation. These are the findings of the Family Violence Report prepared by the Office of the Ombudsman which was recently launched. The Government must take extensive steps to address systemic and discriminatory violence such as family violence, stated the report, and these include the provision of shelter and the acknowledgement that there is a need for such shelters. Governments failing to provide shelters violates the human rights of those who endure family violence. Given the resources available, the Government of Samoa will not be able to establish shelters for victims of violence. Alternatively, it is using existing mechanisms like care provided by extended families, church and community leaders. According to the report to the suggestion there are suggestions that the Government is not entirely serious about preventing family violence in Samoa. Professional counseling is essential in rehabilitating victims of family violence, some of whom have endured horrific and sustained treatment at the hands of their loved ones, and often compounded by a false belief that they are in some way to blame. Providing counseling and social services to victims and perpetrators of violence can help to break the cycle of violence, and help them better cope with and recover from the health and mental health consequences of these experiences including trauma symptoms. The report also highlighted the need for qualified counselors to take on the job. It can be really deadly if you are doing counseling and doing it in the wrong way. If the way you unpick a situation is wrong it can have deadly consequences. The report said the claim that the Government cannot afford to provide shelters is not untrue and sends a message that family violence is not perceived to be a significant problem. It also reveals the savings from addressing family violence would be in the millions and shelter services would be a self-funding part of that process. As part of its research into the issue, consultations were done with 1500 people who were representative of the population. The feedback showed that 85 per cent view family violence as a priority issue. It is time the Government started to treat it as such and in addition to the lack of any services in relation to family violence such as shelters, family violence crisis centres or rehabilitation programmes, the Government is conspicuous in its lack of efforts to provide qualified counselors for victims and perpetrators of family violence. The police believe a seven-year-old girl was a victim of sexual violation and are treating her death as a homicide case. The girl was admitted at the T.T.M. Motootua hospital and on September 9 the police were advised of her death by the hospital. A post-mortem has been ordered for the deceased, the police said in response to questions from the Samoa Observer. A statement issued recently by the police media unit indicated that the criminal investigation division in Apia is investigating the crime which occurred in Safai on Savaii. It is believed she is a victim of sexual violation and police have applied for coronial enquiries to be undertaken to confirm any criminal acts. Police investigations are continuing, the police said. The police are also investigating the case of a three-year-old who suffered a bullet wound injury last week. The bullet wound was from a single shot rifle. On Wednesday, September 5 at 3.45 pm, the Tuasivi police was notified by medical staff at the Malietoa Tanumafili II hospital of a three-year-old who was injured as a result of a bullet wound from a 22 single shot rifle. According to the police statement, preliminary investigation indicates that a 48-year-old man was shooting chicken when one of the bullets hit concrete and ricocheted hitting the child. The three-year-old has been transferred to Mototua Hospital and is awaiting medical experts from overseas. Government and businesses in Samoa are taking huge strides to comply with international food safety requirements and standards to retain export markets for their products. The effort is paying off with exporters acknowledging that the challenges faced during the certification process has been worth it. At an event held in June this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and several companies received Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (H.A.C.C.P.) accreditation after successfully completing the requirements, and going through a series of inspections and audits. The introduction of the H.A.C.C.P. programme into Samoa has been a success thanks to the collaboration between the Samoan Government, Samoa Association of Manufacturers and Exporters (S.A.M.E.), and the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (P.H.A.M.A.) Programme*, an aid-for-trade initiative funded by the Australian and New Zealand governments. P.H.A.M.A. has supported H.A.C.C.P. accreditation by providing technical support tomeet requirements and the auditing of food processing facilities. P.H.A.M.As support is aligned with its priorities to increase Samoan exports by helping exporters to comply with international food safety standards. ShioriVaa of R & L Keil Holdings Ltd, an exporter of noni juice, said it took them approximately six months to meet inspection and audit requirements. About 10 years ago we were H.A.C.C.P. accredited but it was not renewed due to high costs. Our expectation this time was to get a valid certificate and to maintain (compliance).Although I had a manual from 10 years ago to base on, re-creating the manual was the hardest part, she said. Another challenge was the upgrading of our facility which was not easy to do mainly because of the lack of resources and funds. We had to be creative and think of alternate ways to refurbish, she said. Vaa said although H.A.C.C.P. was a relatively new concept in Samoa, it had been a standard practice in the international market for some time. We are proud that we can now provide a product that is made in Samoa and H.A.C.C.P. accredited which assures consumers that our product is safe for consumption and of good quality. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Packhouse and Mobile Abattoir were also among the recently-accredited food-processing facilities. Senior Crop Physiologist for M.A.F. Tanu Toomata said it took a year for the pack house to meet the requirements and be accredited. The key challenge was trying to master the H.A.C.C.P. Manual which I believe is the core of having food safety standards. Having the H.A.C.C.P. system in place has enabled us to effectively control various components of the export pathway. It has also taught us the importance of recording and record-keeping, he said. P.H.A.M.As Deputy Team Leader Tanuvasa Semy Siakimotu said the H.A.C.C.P. programme had been a worthwhile investment by all parties involved in the activity. There is a lot of interest from the public and private sectors because of the strong economic potential through this accreditation. "The accreditation doesnt just mean the companies are preparing their food products under conditions where food safety hazards are prevented, eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level, but companies will be able to market and promote their products to potential overseas markets. The P.H.A.M.A. programme has received positive feedback from the stakeholders about this support, he said. The World Trade Organisation (W.T.O.) will be reviewing Samoas trade policy this year since becoming a member in 2012. Faustin MukelaLuanga, Counsellor and Head of the Asia and Pacific Desk of the W.T.O. Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation, said the organisation will look at how successful Samoa has been since joining the organisation. Since they (Samoa) have graduated from Least Developed Country (L.D.C.) status, it means that trade has been positive to them because before they joined, it was not a developing country, Mr. Luanga said. We have seen how successful W.T.O. has been, example when China joined in 2009, it was number nine, now China is almost number two. So openness to trade and joining the big organisation provides security, stability to the market and credibility to the policies, which is very good for the small countries where they can make their voice heard. Mr. Luanga said Samoas review includes looking at the consistency of trade policy, how and if the objectives stated by Samoa are realistic. In the review we will also consider if the policies Samoa is using allows them to achieve their objective. We will look at the trade regime from the production side, export side and import side as well. We will see if the different laws dealing on Samoa made in such a way that will push production, such laws include the competition law, the property law, investment law, several types of law. We will also go on sector by sector to see if the sector and the objectives stated and the policy instrument the Government are using will help Samoa achieve the stated objective they are working towards. Mr. Luanga said Samoa will be presenting its report next year in Geneva. To mark the 40th Anniversary of the Samoa Observer, a series of selected articles printed over the last 40 years will be re-published in the next two weeks, to show our readers the issues covered by this newspaper over the years and the personalities that made the headlines. First Published: 12 May 2007 Head of State, His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II, has passed away, his private secretary Papalii Audrey Malietoa confirmed. He was 95. I can confirm that Malietoa passed away this evening at 6.45pm, she told the Saturday Observer last night. That is all the information I can give at this stage. We will issue more details tomorrow. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi joined Malietoas son Papalii Moli Malietoa and other relatives at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital last night, where a church service was conducted by Reverend Paulo Koria. Also there was Police Commissioner, Papalii Lorenese Neru and a few Government officials. No official comment could be obtained from the hospital at press time. Sources, however, said His Highness Malietoa has been ill for a while. They said he had visited the hospital several times and had died from chest complications His Highness Malietoa celebrated his 95th birthday earlier this year. During a luncheon hosted by the Government, His Highness Malietoa was declared the oldest surviving Head of State in the world. At the time, Prime Minister Tuilaepa acknowledged Malietoas huge contribution to Samoas march for independence. Tuilaepa described the Head of State as an excellent role model and an outstanding leader for his people. His Highness, the Head of State, has held the Malietoa matai title for 67 years. He has reigned as Head of State for 45 years, the same number of years since Samoa gained Independence. Malietoa was born on 4 January 1912. On the passing away of his father, Malietoa Tanumafili I, Anitelea Tanumafili Tanu he was bestowed the title Malietoa in 1939. In 1940, he was appointed Advisor on Samoan matters by the New Zealand Government. This marked the beginning of His Highness career and service to the people of Samoa. In 1949, Malietoa was made Chairman of the Committee preparing for Samoas Independence. Samoa achieved independence in 1962. His Highness was then made joint Head of State with the late Tupua Tamasese Meaole. Malietoa later became the sole Head of State when Tupua Tamasese died. His Highness Malietoa is a follower of the Bahai Faith. He is the second royal (after Queen Marie of Romania) to be a member of that religion. The Bahai House of Worship in Tiapapata was dedicated by him in 1984. Malietoa is regarded as the traditional father of both Samoas. To mark the 40th Anniversary of the Samoa Observer, a series of selected articles printed over the last 40 years will be re-published in the next two weeks, to show our readers the issues covered by this newspaper over the years and the personalities that made the headlines. Tragedy for the Mormons First Published: 10 July 2003 A huge fire destroyed the Mormon Temple at Pesega last night. The alarm was raised soon after 7pm. Flames soon lit the Apia sky. Parts of the roof collapsed as the fire ate into the building. Firefighters from Faleolo International Airport were called in to help firemen from Apia fire station and police officers try to control the inferno. The 20-year-old multi-million dollar temple had been under reconstruction since March. It was scheduled to reopen in the first week of October. Hundreds gathered outside the temple compound, some shedding tears as the fire spread throughout the temple. Please God help us, shouted one woman. This is not happening, she added as she forced her way through the crowd and into the main ground. Others just stood there motionless in disbelief with hands on their faces. How the fire started could not be ascertained late last night. One of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints missionaries, Elder Haws said it could take a few days before a clearer conclusion could be made. Light rain did not stop the fire. It burned its way from the rear of the temple all the way to the front. The golden figure atop the temple turned from gold to black. It is understood the temple was empty when the fire broke out. There were no reports of casualties. Elder Haws said it would cost the church millions of dollars to rebuild. Shocked President Daniel Betham was speechless The local president of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Elder Daniel Betham, was in no mood to comment. Sorry, but I dont think this is the best time to make any comments, he said. His wife, Sister Betham, said: Its really shocking. At first I heard popping noises from the temple. I thought workers were still in the temple. I looked out and I saw only smoke. I then called the Police and the fire station for help. Help arrived within 15 to 20 minutes, she said. Late last night fire fighters were still battling the blaze. Much anticipated grand reopening. Elder Haws said just yesterday afternoon, a big meeting was held inside the temple to discuss events for the reopening. We were all excited about it, he said. We even talked about having centre spreads in the papers. Elder Haws said he noticed heavy smoke coming from the temple at about 7pm. I was doing some work next door when I noticed smoke, he said. But it happened so fast. The fire just broke out so fast. This is very sad for us. The World Trade Organisation (W.T.O.) regional trade policy training in progress at the Taumeasina Island Resort will enable the six Pacific member countries to improve their trading policy for their benefit. Speaking to the Business team, Faustin Mukela Luanga, Counsellor and Head of the Asia and Pacific Desk of the W.T.O. Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation, said there are issues that needs to be addressed and the workshop will allow discussions and present propositions to address these issues. W.T.O. is an institution that deals with multilateral trading system, how countries trade among themselves to avoid any kind of discrimination when it comes to trade, how to make trade benefit all the members because we all know from an economic standard view that trade is good for economic development and economic growth, so how to benefit from that, Mr. Luanga said. Take for example small isolated island countries like in the Pacific where they are far away from the major markets, so distance becomes a cost, to counter that how to facilitate trade in the Pacific, our Pacific countries can benefit with the partnership with the rest of the world, so this workshop will help address those areas. The workshop is funded by the W.T.O. Secretariat and there are five representatives from six W.T.O. member countries Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea, with Samoa having 10 representatives. The objective is to train the participants and to allow them to gain capacity to being negotiators because when it comes to trade, it is to with negotiation, how do you trade, how do you formulate policy that is compatible for your development goal, how do you frame the trade policy of your country that reflect your multilateral commitment with the rest of the world, Mr. Luanga said. So for that, we need to train them and provide them with necessary skills that will allow them to understand the interest of their country, but to discuss and come together as a group of Pacific countries sharing common interest of the Pacific and frame a policy that will at least sell them and at the end attract investment and transform the economy, whether its fisheries, tourism, which are some sectors the Pacific has comparative advantage. This is the first training to be held in Samoa and in the future some of the participants will travel to Geneva for more training. The International Press Institute (I.P.I.), a global network of editors, publishers and leading journalists for press freedom, has called on the government of Samoa to repeal a criminal libel law it reintroduced late last year. I.P.I. Deputy Director Scott Griffen made the call during a banquet on Friday, August 25, in Apia, Samoa, honouring the Samoa Observer newspaper, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The Samoa Observer is the leading source of independent news in the South Pacific state. Repealing criminal libel isnt a cure-all for press freedom but it is an important step, Mr. Griffen told an audience that included Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi. Journalists should never face jail for doing their jobs. The Samoan government had repealed criminal libel in 2013 following years of campaigning by journalists in the country, only to reintroduce it following what the government has said is growing online defamation. While officials have not indicated plans to use the measure against journalists, Griffen noted that the previous law had been used to target the Samoa Observer and its founder and editor-in-chief, Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa, whom I.P.I. named as one of its World Press Freedom Heroes in 2000. The Samoa Observer has been subject to harassment and intimidation throughout its history for its coverage of corruption and other forms of wrongdoing, with a low point occurring in the late 1990's when the Malifa family received death threats and the papers printing press was burned down under suspicious circumstances. Fridays event lauded Gatoaitele Savea Malifas commitment to independent journalism through the Samoa Observer, which he founded in 1978 shortly after returning to Samoa from the United States, where, as a young poet, he worked in a bookshop not far from the White House. Malifa described his time in Washington, D.C., during the Watergate scandal as formative for his future work in journalism. We are so proud to count Savea Sano Malifa as one of our esteemed members, Mr. Griffen said in his remarks. Together with his wife, Jean, Savea has worked for our over four decades with unshakeable conviction and at great personal risk to bring the news to the Samoan public and act as a fearless watchdog of those in power. A whos who of politicians, journalists, business leaders and foreign diplomats gathered at the event in downtown Apia, a sign of the respect the Samoa Observer, despite its fiercely guarded independence and critical coverage of power in a country of just under 200,000 people, has cultivated over decades. Samoas Head of State, Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, and the Chief Justice of the countrys supreme court were among the guests. Both the Head of State and the Prime Minister also praised the Observer in columns for the papers Friday edition. Here at the Samoa Observer, we will always acknowledge Samoas support of our work, Malifa told the audience. But then as journalists, we know that words can either harm of heal; indeed, its a tough line to follow, especially in a comparatively small society such as ours. But then, as we also all know, the truth is sacrosanct; in other words, it is holy, which follows that it must be told no matter what, and never mind the consequences. Malifa attributed the papers success to the trust it enjoyed with readers. The truth is that, it is because of your loyal and relentless support of the Samoa Observer over the years that we are still here today, he said. Griffen also praised the papers dedication to press freedom near and abroad, highlighting that the Observer regularly dedicated valuable space to press freedom developments around the globe. On behalf of I.P.I., I would like to congratulate the Samoa Observer on its 40th anniversary and thank Savea Malifa and his team for their unwavering support for press freedom and quality journalism in Samoa, in the South Pacific and around the globe, he said. He added: We look forward to many more years of this newspapers strong, independent voice. Many can only dream of living life fully to reach a hundred years but Nusa Pili Aisoli Alaiasa is living that dream. She celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday with her relatives, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Nusa was born on 15 September 1918 on Nusa Island in Papua New Guineas New Ireland Province to Methodist missionaries, late Petelo Aisoli Alaiasa and Sileitofia Alaiasa from Falefa. Due to her parents missionary commitments back then in New Guinea (now P.N.G.), she was raised in Samoa by her fathers cousin Milovale Wong. She is the mother of nine children, who were all present yesterday to witness the historic occasion, when she joined the centenarian club. Her youngest child is 59 years old and she was married to the late Pili Tanuvasa. According to one of Nusas granddaughter, Marlena Vaifale, Nusa was raised by her paternal aunt, Milovale in Nofoalii, because her aunt did not have any children at the time and also it was difficult for Nusas parents to take her on missionary assignments because she was still a toddler. My grandmother met her husband Pili Tanuvasa in Nofoalii, they have nine children, says Ms. Vaifale. My grandfather Pili Tanuvasa passed away when my mother was five years old (sometime around 1955), if I recall correctly my grandmother remarried and several years later had a child but the baby died. The marriage or union dissolved and my grandmother became a single mother in her mid-30s. Ms. Vaifale added her grandmother was strict when she was living with them in the United States. As a young child I thought she was so strict, but as I got older I appreciated her upbringing, she said. Being raised in the States, she forbade us from speaking English, when we walked through the front door we had to speak only Samoan. My Samoan was very good at that time, now Im embarrassed that I cannot speak it well. Speaking to the Sunday Samoan yesterday, Nusa said she is thankful to God for letting her live 100 years. I am blessed to have lived until now, she said. When I was young I used to weave, take out the trash and all those things, but now I just eat and sleep. I can no longer do those things because I cannot see properly, but I am thankful to God for my children and family. Nusas youngest daughter, Masina Pili, spoke highly of their mother. She is such a beautiful lady on the inside and the outside, she told the Sunday Samoan. When our father passed away she took care of us all by herself. She was able to put us through school all on her own and while we were growing up, there are only two things that matters to our mother the most - church and school. She made sure that all nine of us attended school every day and ensure we were all attending church every Sundays. Life was so hard for our mother and I have seen it when I was young, but she never gave up on us, she made sure that all of us succeeded in life. Masina said the celebration is for them to give back to their mother. This celebration is for us to not only show her how thankful we are to have her in our lives, but most especially to give God all the glory for giving our mother these many years, she said. She is a wonderful and hardworking mother. The ceremony to mark Nusas 100th birthday was led by Reverend Tupou Tanielu of the Congregational Christian Church of Nofoalii. PALERMO, Sicily (AP) Pope Francis appealed to Mafiosi to renounce their quests for power and money as he visited Sicily on Saturday to honor a priest slain by mob henchmen for trying to protect youths from the evil clutches of organized crime. The daylong trip by Francis to the Mediterranean island where the Cosa Nostra is rooted marked the 25th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Giuseppe "Pino" Puglisi's assassination. Puglisi was declared a martyr by the Vatican and beatified in 2013, the last formal step before possible sainthood. Francis paid tribute to the priest, who worked to keep unemployed youths in a poor neighborhood of Palermo from turning to local Mafia bosses for jobs like pushing drugs. The papal pilgrimage came in counterpoint to the latest revelations about priests and bishops who sexually abused children or connived to protect the abusers in various nations, disclosures battering the highest levels of the church and testing the faith of rank-and-file Catholics. Tens of thousands of people cheered Francis at an open air Mass held in the late morning at an esplanade along the port city's waterfront. "Let's renew the church," read a large banner carried by young people in the crowd as Francis was driven by in his white popemobile. Pressure is building on Francis to say what he knew about the sexual misconduct of U.S. prelate Theodore McCarrick, who recently was stripped of his cardinal's rank by the pope. In a city where local bosses can exert influence by walking through a neighborhood and many business owners pay Cosa Nostra "protection" money to stay open, Francis drew applause when he told the crowd: "If the Mafioso litany is, 'you don't know who I am,' the Christian one is 'I need you.' If the Mafia threat is 'you will pay me,' the Christian prayer is 'Lord, help me to love.'" "Thus I say to the Mafiosi: change, brothers and sisters. Quit thinking about yourselves and your money," Francis continued in his homily. "You know, a funeral shroud doesn't have pockets. You can't take it with you," Francis said of organized crime's ill-gained wealth from drug and arms trafficking, extortion and betting and prostitution rackets. In a 2014 pilgrimage to another southern region of Italy, Calabria, where the powerful 'ndrangheta crime syndicate conditions much of daily life, Francis declared that mobsters excommunicate themselves with their conduct. Puglisi was fatally shot in the neck, on his 56th birthday, on the doorstep of his home in Palermo. Courts ruled the gunman was carrying out the orders of Mafia bosses irritated by the priest's encouragement of young people to turn their backs on the mob. The pope later visited the apartment building where Puglisi lived and laid a bouquet of roses on the sidewalk where a memorial marks the location of the priest's slaying. Francis also prayed silently in front of Puglisi's tomb in Palermo's cathedral. Puglisi was gunned down a few months after Pope John Paul II made a pilgrimage to Sicily and angrily demanded that mobsters convert their hearts or face the wrath of God at the end of their lives. At that time, the island was still shocked by the 1992 bombing assassinations, by Cosa Nostra, of Italy's top anti-Mafia magistrates. The gunman later turned state's evidence, testifying that Puglisi turned to him with a smile and said he was expecting to be killed. During his time at the cathedral, Francis warned clergy to be on guard for local crime clan bosses exploiting popular religious processions in Sicilian towns. "You've seen it in the newspapers, no?" the pope said. "When the Madonna (statue) halts and bows before the home of the Mafia boss. That can't be that way, absolutely not." Francis' denunciation of the Mafia prompted praise from Italy's interior minister, Matteo Salvini, who in a tweet called the pope's words "holy" and vowed to use more police and funds in the state's war against Cosa Nostra. Coming from the populist minister, the compliment was unusual. Salvini's anti-migrant policies clash with the pope's frequent appeals for more, not less, solidarity with people in need. The federal Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) adopted regulations in September 2016 which for the first time prohibited sexual harassment within housing accommodations. Housing accommodations in this context includes homeowner associations. These regulations thus far have not received widespread attention, but in California this will change soon. In August 2018 the California Fair Employment and Housing Council approved Fair Housing regulations, providing the first written enforcement guidelines to help associations comply and avoid exposure to state or private discrimination claims. The new state regulations will take effect on Jan. 1 or April 1, 2019, after some further rule-making process, and will be found at California Code of Regulations 12000-12271. The inaugural regulations do not address all Fair Housing issues but are informative regarding accommodation of disabilities and assistance animals, and also bring a new requirement by echoing the HUD regulations (as California must) by requiring housing providers to reasonably respond to sexual harassment against residents. Sexual harassment was previously considered only as an employment issue, and its two varieties - unwanted sexual advances and hostile environment- have both long been illegal in the workplace. Advertisement Under the new regulations, associations must protect residents from unwanted advances not only from vendors or management, but also from other residents. If a resident complains against a neighbor, what should associations do, since they cant relocate or evict residents? Kevin Kish, director of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, said a HOA cant be liable for failure to take an action it doesnt have the power to take. Under section 12010(c) a violation exists where the person knew or should have known of the discriminatory conduct and had the power to correct it. Hostile environment claims normally evoke the notion of sexually charged banter, conduct or displays. However, homeowners associations may be unable to act if their rules do not ban such conduct or statements, and Civil Code 4710 protects display of non-commercial signs (even objectionable ones). Will HOAs be prosecuted for conduct they cannot stop? Director Kish stated, thats a separate question from whether we as the state could hold an individual liable for his or her own acts, regardless of what the HOA can or cannot do. How do HOAs deal with he said - she said situations? Can associations ignore the complaint if the accused resident flatly denies it? Director Kish said whether a HOA can throw up its hands depends to some degree on the power it has to take action in a given scenario. In the case of a harassment allegation involving two homeowners, the actions available may be more limited, but there still may be available actions. Such actions might include asking the residents to avoid each other, or recommending Internal Dispute Resolution. Should the HOA after investigating still reasonably be unable to determine what happened, only then can the matter be considered unresolvable. Some respected HOA attorneys have recommended HOAs adopt rules barring sexual harassment conduct. However, associations may want to avoid accepting this responsibility, as volunteers have insufficient resources to handle interpersonal behavior issues. Rather than regulating personal misconduct, perhaps the HOAs effort is better spent educating residents on their rights under the Fair Housing regulations, and their protections from Director Kishs DFEH. Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers and Senior Partner of Richardson Ober PC, a California law firm known for community association advice. Submit potential column questions to Kelly@Richardsonober.com. Past columns at www.HOAHomefront.com. At Teradata Corp.s Rancho Bernardo campus, construction crews are busy remodeling a building to make room for an additional 275 employees expected when the company relocates its headquarters from Dayton, Ohio to San Diego later this year. For Martyn Etherington, the companys chief marketing officer, the under construction signs serve as a metaphor for bigger changes underway at Teradata. For the past two years, the 40-year-old company has been remaking itself. It is moving away from the hardware-based data analytics platform and striving to become a pure software outfit that can probe data no matter where it is located be it on the Internet or on computers on site. Moreover, the company has revamped its business model. Its now selling data analytics software as a recurring subscription, known as software as a service. In the past, Teradata, which currently employs more than 950 workers in San Diego, sold its platform as a software license typically a large capital expense that ran on a pre-configured hardware appliance installed in a data warehouse. Advertisement We are in the midst of this huge transformation to take this company from what was perceived as a hardware data warehouse company to a data analytics company as a service, said Etherington. That transformation is well under way. The business model change is gaining traction. In the second quarter, 66 percent of Teradatas new business came from customers buying a subscription rather than a perpetual license. The company also reported better than expected financial results, with $544 million in revenue in the quarter beating Wall Street analysts forecast of $524 million in sales. While business model transitions of this size are never easy and often take years to play out, we believe Teradatas new approach is clearly resonating in the marketplace, said Stifel Analyst Brad Reback in a research note. For the first six months of this year, Teradatas revenue hit $1.05 billion, up 4.6 percent over the prior year. It posted a loss of $3 million under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, compared with a loss of $6 million for the same period last year. Founded in 1979, Teradata was acquired by NCR National Cash Register in the 1990s. It spun out as an independent company again in 2007 to provide data warehousing and analytics to large corporations ranging from Wells Fargo and Boeing to Verizon, Apple and eBay, all still current customers. Companies use Teradata to predict when their customers are considering switching to rivals, when parts are about to fail, when transactions look suspicious for fraud and so on. TV screens show results of data analysis at Teradatas Pulse Room at its Rancho Bernardo campus. (Teradata) We have a focused set of 500 customers that are probably the most complex data analytics customers in the world, said Etherington. Our customers who have been with us through our transition know that when they need complexity, and at scale, we are the people to go to. We dont take that lightly. As big data moved to the cloud, with more companies storing information on Amazon Web Services and other cloud storage platforms, Teradatas hardware-centric model came under pressure. In addition, cheaper big data software competitors popped up causing companies to delay taking Teradata licenses or shifting some workloads to less expensive competitors. So the company began its journey to return to growth. While competitive pressure will persist, Teradata is a long-time visionary in the space with market-leading, mission-critical technology that is highly entrenched with the largest enterprises in the world giving it a formidable foundation to power its new initiatives, said J. Derrick Wood, an analyst with Cowen & Co. Teradatas corporate headquarters move is part of this ongoing shift in strategy. It aims to tap the regions universities and existing labor pool for engineering and business talent. The company employs about 300 workers in Dayton, some of whom received relocation offers, according to the company. Teradata already owns a four-building, 460,000-square-foot campus in Rancho Bernardo. It subleases about 126,000 square feet to Northrop Grumman. Construction crews are renovating about 65,000 square feet in one of the buildings, adding workstations, offices and conference rooms. It also is building a full fitness center, juice bar and wellness center as part of the upgrades. It expects to complete the work in October. For San Diego, because we are moving our headquarters here, we are upgrading our campus to be world class, said Etherington. We want to get to know and be known more in the community, so that term Teradata under construction is really a symbol of where we are today. Teradatas shares ended trading Friday down 5 cents at $39.86 on the New York Stock Exchange. Business mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com; Twitter:@TechDiego 760-529-4973 What do you do with 3,400 animals, birds and reptiles in a wildfire? At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park north of Escondido, you leave them right where they are. Officials with the world-famous animal reserve that covers 1,800 acres in the San Pasqual Valley say they have developed detailed plans to protect the parks denizens. And those plans do not include evacuating the animals to another site. Instead, animals are sheltered in place or put in cages and moved to safer environs on the property. Advertisement The emergency response has been rehearsed many times over the years, often in conjunction with area fire agencies, zoo officials say. Most recently, on July 27, when a brush fire raced up a steep hill in the San Pasqual Valley, park workers were ready. Although the fire was several miles to the east and unlikely to threaten the park, the fire plans were set in motion in case things changed. We have developed extensive plans based on available information as well as our own direct experiences, said Michael Mace, the San Diego Zoo Globals director of animal collection and strategy. Every fire has been unique with its own characteristics. We continue to build on those plans based on those experiences. Three times over the 45 years of the parks existence, fires have burned onto the parks property: in 1993, 2003 and 2007. The most serious was the 2007 Witch Creek fire, which burned about 800 acres of the parks property, most of it outside of the fence and animal enclosures, but including part of the Condor Ridge exhibit. Above all else, Mace said, human life comes first. Saving the roughly 3,400 animals, birds and reptiles in the parks collection is secondary to that, but hardly ignored. The park works closely with first responders and fire officials and takes its cues from them. If they are warned of a fire threat, the park is evacuated of all guests with law enforcement directing which way they should leave and how quickly visitors should exit. As for the critters, various things are done to protect them. The large African Plain enclosure where trams filled with guests get up-close views of giraffes, zebras and antelopes is left undisturbed. Those facilities have never been affected, Mace said. A lot of our animals reside in those and they have been unharmed in every incident. Fire could even come down to that fenceline, but there is no fuel, said San Diego Zoo Global public relations manager Christina Simmons. They are big enough enclosures that what weve seen is the animals just go to the other side. We have various plans on which animals were going to move and which were not going to move based on a number of factors: how far the fire is from the property, the wind direction, the facilities vulnerability., said Mace. Other animals, however, are protected differently. For the gorillas, for instance, a harbor in place strategy is employed. They are brought into areas where they are comfortable, in this case their bedrooms, and then we have systems that seal the exterior of the building, Mace said. Then an air purification system kicks in to keep smoke out. They are safe in very familiar surroundings, he said. The zoo also has various strategies that could include placing some animals like cheetahs and sloths into travel cages and then taking them to a safe building within the park. Park officials dont want to say exactly where the animals would be kept out of fear that someone, during a fire emergency, might want to steal or harm them. Simmons said just last year a poacher killed a white rhinoceros for its horn at a zoo outside Paris. In 2007, part of the Condor Ridge exhibit burned in the northern part of the park during the Witch Creek fire, which had started the day before near Santa Ysabel. We had evacuated the condors about 12 hours before it burned that night, Mace said. It was a great example of being able to anticipate a situation and work proactively before an incident occurred. The condors were safe but one bird and a donkey died, not directly from exposure to smoke or fire. We ended up with more animals after the fire then when it began because animals were still giving birth or hatching, Mace said. Just this past spring, Safari Park hosted a large fire preparedness summit that brought together zoo and aquarium officials from all over the state to share experiences and strategies. Fire officials from Cal Fire, San Diego fire, Escondido fire and police and the California Highway Patrol attended and gave presentations. Were so grateful for the first responders because they are running toward crisis while were managing crisis elsewhere, Mace said. The big takeaways from the summit included the need for each zoo to establish good relations with fire authorities and the need to take officials on tours of the properties so they are familiar with what they could be dealing with in the future. They determined that an evacuation plan is crucial: knowing how to get on and off the grounds and what the routes will be. Its also important to have equipment that will allow for continual communication with staff and first responder agencies. Preserve human life, stabilize the situation, protect the animals, property and environment are some of those key messages, Mace said. Officials said there has never been a time when the park considered releasing animals into the wild. Im not saying it hasnt been discussed, Mace said, but weve been fortunate to manage situations where we have been able to care for everything during these situations. jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones A local group of Daughters of the American Revolution finished a nearly two year project to update burial records at the Valley Center Cemetery and get them online. The group of half a dozen women who come from families that fought in the American Revolution walked the cemetery innumerable times and photographed hundreds of headstones to verify the historical accuracy of the cemetery records. The women are part of the Center of the Valley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), a nonprofit national womens patriotic service organization that promotes historic preservation, education and patriotism. The original list of veterans buried in the cemetery included 42 names when the DAR group first began placing flags on the graves for Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Through their research, the Cemetery Project Team identified more than 300 veterans, and the discoveries continue. Advertisement Volunteers spent hundreds of hours working from Rolodex cards and transferring information to computer spreadsheets and then uploading the complete and accurate information to Find-A-Grave.com, a resource for locating someones grave used by researchers, genealogists and families. The computer spreadsheets they produced from their detective work contain more than 2,000 entries, but because paperwork wasnt always done in the early days of the cemetery, the actual number of people buried there is unknown. Records go back to the 1800s and veterans graves date back to the Civil War. The history buffs have uploaded more than 18,000 burial records to findagrave.com. The Cemetery Project Team includes DAR members Sharon Bartholomew, Center of the Valley Regent, Susan Harris, Linda Perez, Margaret Simonsen and Wendy Zeugschmidt. The group is gearing up for the second Wreaths Across America ceremony at the Valley Center Cemetery slated for mid-December. The goal is to have a wreath placed on each veterans grave. Community members can donate a wreath for $15; the donation can be made in honor of a loved one at another cemetery. Checks can be made out to Wreaths Across America and mailed to Center of the Valley Chapter NSDAR, P.O. Box 1932, Valley Center, CA 92082. For more information, email valleycenterdar@gmail.com, or visit valleycenter.californiadar.org and wreathsacrossamerica.org. Chula Vistas bayfront development, Tijuana sewage pollution and affordable housing on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border took center stage Friday at a conference in downtown San Diego, where elected officials from across southern San Diego County and Baja California convened. There is so much opportunity in South County right now, said county Supervisor Greg Cox, whose district includes the four cities in the southern region: Coronado, National City, Chula Vista and Imperial Beach. Cox joined nine other elected officials on a panel at the South County Economic Development Councils 27th annual Economic Summit. They acknowledged challenges such as the Tijuana sewage spills and a shortage of affordable housing, while remaining optimistic about development the region expects to see. Advertisement Cox said the major redevelopment that much of South County, from National City to San Ysidro, is on the cusp of seeing will transform the area. He and others hailed the $1.1 billion hotel and convention center that will soon break ground on Chula Vistas bayfront as an important project that is expected to create revenue and jobs, with economic implications that will stretch across South County. It is the biggest private-public partnership in the history of the county, and its happening in South Bay, said San Diego Port Commissioner Rafael Castellanos. Imperial Beach Councilman Mark West said he anticipates the future workforce of Chula Vista bayfront will look for homes in his coastal city. He said officials need to contemplate transit options, such as shuttles, for people to travel from Chula Vista to Imperial Beach. While also characterizing the bayfront project as an asset for the region, Chula Vista Councilwoman Patricia Aguilar shifted focus to the development known as Millenia. Plans for the 210-acre, mixed-use development in eastern Chula Vista include homes and office space. In my view, the real future of Chula Vista comes from our Millenia office space, Aguilar said. She said she considers it the kind of spot that can attract major companies such as Microsoft and produce high-paying jobs. She said she also envisions the Millenia space as a potential home for the CaliBaja BiNational MegaRegion, an economic development partnership that includes groups from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. We see Chula Vista as the epicenter of binational relationships, she said. As for efforts to attract a four-year university to an undeveloped 10-acre site the city owns, Aguilar said progress is being made. Were going to get there, she said. Weve had a lot of interest. I cant say more than that. She added: I believe were going to create the kind of synergy in South Bay that we now see in the University Town Center (UTC) area of San Diego. On National Citys waterfront, the Port is getting ready to modernize and expand the major revenue generator that is the vehicle shipping facility known as the Marine Terminal, Port Commissioner Castellanos said. Meanwhile, the city is eyeing opportunities to develop hotels and shops near Pepper Park on the waterfront, National City Councilman Albert Mendivil said. On the topic of rent control, which is the subject of a measure that will appear on the November ballot for National City residents, Mendivil took a stance against it. He said he considers rent control a short-term solution. He highlighted National Citys efforts to build affordable-housing units, saying the second phase of a project known as Paradise Creek apartments will open next week. Cox, too, highlighted affordable-housing projects approved by county supervisors. In regards to Tijuana sewage spills, West, of Imperial Beach, said state elected officials have been instrumental in lobbying for solutions. He applauded a lawsuit filed by the state against the federal government to force action to prevent more sewage pollution. Its been going on for way too long, West said of the problem. Tijuana Councilwoman Ivette Casillas Rivera said she sees opportunities in her city for transit improvements and affordable housing, noting that a portion of San Diego Countys workforce lives in Tijuana, which has an updated master plan for its downtown area. The Baja region is an area that not only has problems, she said. It has more opportunities than problems. Other officials on the panel included Sen. Ben Hueso, Mexico Sen. Ernesto Ruffo Appel and Baja California Congresswoman Monia Hernandez Alvarez. Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez For five years, Alephonsion Alepho Deng ran during the night with many other young Sudanese boys to evade capture. Close to starvation, he covered a thousand miles on foot without wearing shoes or parental guidance. To survive, he had to dodge bombs and circumvent dangerous terrain filled with wild lions and crocodiles. His journey began in 1987, when his South Sudan village of Juol was attacked. One of the now well-known lost boys of Sudan, he was forced to flee for his life. He was just 7 years old. Deng, now 36, lived at the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya for nine years. At 19, he resettled to San Diegos City Heights neighborhood with his older brother, Benson Deng, and a cousin, who both lived at the same camp with Deng. Their younger brother, Peter, was left behind in Kenya. Throughout Dengs turbulent life, writing has been a safety net. His new book, Disturbed in Their Nests: A Journey from Sudans Dinkaland to San Diegos City Heights, is to be published in November. It portrays his harrowing experiences and his arrival to a new life in the United States. He met his co-author and mentor, Judy A. Bernstein, through San Diegos International Rescue Committee in 2001 shortly after he arrived. Advertisement 1 / 6 Growing up in the isolated, then-Communist country of Bulgaria, Valentin Martchev didnt know enough to even dream of playing in a top-notch U.S. symphony. But through a series of fortuitous events, hard work and constant practice, he became the San Diego Symphonys principal bassoonist in 2001. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 2 / 6 For five years, Alephonsion Alepho Deng ran during the night with many other young Sudanese boys to evade capture. Close to starvation, he covered a thousand miles on foot-without wearing shoes or parental guidance. To survive, he had to dodge bombs and circumvent dangerous terrain filled with wild lions and crocodiles. His journey began in 1987, when his South Sudan village of Juol was attacked. One of the now well-known lost boys of Sudan, he was forced to flee for his life. He was just 7 years old. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 3 / 6 Brazilian Ballerina Ana da Costa said it best: It is easy to honor this country since I truly love being here, and I feel like I finally found my place on Earth. My life has always been hard, but I finally have the room to grow, to accomplish things, to have opportunity to fill my potential. I have hope. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 4 / 6 First it was work and then it was love that drew Beliz Iristay to San Diego. The Turkish native now calls San Diego as well as Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico, home feels free to question traditional religious and cultural assumptions as well as politics. Being able to make art in the U.S. has given me a lot of freedom to work with political commentary, she said. The artist part of me really flourished in the United States. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 5 / 6 Milad Jahadis devotion to music as a teenager is the reason he was a year late in graduating from high school in his native Iran. His chosen instrument, then and now, is the tombak, a goblet-shaped Persian drum that is played using all the fingers of both hands. its a single-headed drum that requires exacting precision and skill to master. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 6 / 6 Before she ever set foot in the United States, Naomi Iizuka lived in three different countries scattered around the globe. When her family settled in Washington, D.C., during her childhood, it was the presence of other people from likewise far-flung homes who helped Iizuka embrace her new one. It was a really good place to be, because almost everybody was from somewhere else, says Iizuka, a Tokyo-born writer, nationally renowned theater artist and longtime head of playwriting at UC San Diego. She is on sabbatical from the university this fall as she shuttles to Los Angeles as a writer on the AMC-TV horror series The Terror, about a doomed polar expedition. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) When I was in the refugee camp, I did keep a journal of the years that I spent there. But, by the time I was ready to come to the United States, it mysteriously disappeared, Deng said recently over a late lunch at Awash Ethiopian Market on El Cajon Boulevard. Instead of saying My Journal, it was My Companions, it was my own perspective. I would write down the details, and I would take my time and really open my heart. I had never done that, and it was very therapeutic at the time. In San Diego during Dengs first trip to WalMart with Bernstein, she bought him a small notepad to continue his writing. This allowed Deng to go on chronicling his new experiences and his observations. I thought everything was free because I saw people picking up stuff and putting it in their cart and moving around, he recalled. We just got here, we didnt even have a dime, you know, not even a nickel. Deng recognizes that writing is an important facet of his life and even his survival. While living in the refugee camp, he came to believe that learning English was magic, and could bring one out of suffering. I fell between two worlds, wrote Deng, after living in San Diego a short while. Reflecting on his past and thinking about his journaling, Like, wow, man, never thought I would make it this far. Thats the best remedy I can have, by writing, by sharing and putting it out there. Between his smiles and laughter, one can see how his spirit and grit have helped him navigate lifes hardships and his destiny. When I arrived here (in 2001), I didnt know how to switch on our apartment lights, he said. They had to send a case worker to our apartment to show us. Heres the kitchen. You serve food in the kitchen and keep food in the refrigerator. Heres the stove and this is how it works. I never operated a stove before. I was thrown into another world. My accent was thick and my articulation wasnt clear. I didnt speak nearly as well as I do today. I was soft-spoken; I am still soft-spoken. It was hard for an American to understand me. It was a bit frustrating for me and also for them. Another cultural bridge for Deng to cross was eye contact. Growing up, he was taught that looking people in the eye was disrespectful. He realized misunderstandings occurred in conversation with Americans, who assumed he was being evasive. The title of the book, Disturbed in Their Nests, originated from his first memoir. Published in 2015, They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky was written by Deng, Bernstein, brother Benson Deng and Benjamin Ajak. We were looking for a title, and we couldnt find any, Deng said with a chuckle. Judy liked several titles, but they werent catchy. One day she was looking over something I had written and there it was, that line. She saw it and said, Hey, what do you think of this title? And I said Yeah, where did you get that? And she showed me and said You dont remember this one? There are a few reasons why I wanted to tell this story, but the main one is that everyone has a voice and you just have to find your voice. This is where my voice is right now. Some of Dengs writing influences come from his favorite authors, including Chinua Achebe, Elechi Amadi, John Steinbeck and Maya Angelou. After recently presenting a motivational speech at Southwestern College, Deng said he would like to continue giving similar talks. He has a new job at Bread and Cie Cafe and Bakery that he enjoys. He plans to write one more book with Bernstein and then embark on writing solo. I would love to go back and pursue my education. I always have a yearning to grow and to gain knowledge. Davidson is a freelance writer. Milad Jahadis tireless devotion to music as a teenager is the precise reason he was a year late in graduating from high school in his native Iran. I was staying home and practicing 10 hours a day, and I failed all my courses! I had to take continuing education classes the next year to get my diploma, recalled the 34-year-old percussion virtuoso, who immigrated to San Diego on July 4, 2011, and became a U.S. citizen last fall. My mom was a teacher and my father was an accountant. They left the house in the morning and Id stay home and practice. My father was OK with it, but my mom was very supportive. She has supported me a lot for everything in my whole life. Jahadis chosen instrument, then and now, is the tombak, a goblet-shaped Persian drum that is played using all the fingers of both hands. Also known as a tonbak, donbak, dombak or zarb, it is a single-headed drum that requires exacting precision and skill to master. He also plays the daf, a large frame drum that like the tombak is a mainstay in Persian classical music. Advertisement Jahadi demonstrated both when he was featured in Januarys Percussion Lovefest 2 concert, part of the San Diego Symphonys monthlong Its About Time series. Appearing with an eclectic array of other artists, his performance was both dazzling and sublime as he executed even the most intricate passages with deft ease and pinpoint dynamic control. Playing the tombak is like playing the Indian tabla drums you need to play many years to become an expert, Jahadi noted. For about the first five years of playing tombak, youre just learning maybe 20 percent of what there is to learn. To get to 100 percent, you need 20 to 25 years. Nationally acclaimed percussionist and UC San Diego music professor Steven Schick curated Its About Time. Also the head of the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, Schick was suitably impressed by Jahadi, who had been recommended to him by UCSD faculty composer and sound designer Shahrokh Yadegari. So impressed, in fact, that Schick will feature Jahadi as a guest soloist at a Nov. 14 concert by red fish blue fish, the six-piece percussion ensemble Schick leads at UCSD. Yadegari is composing a new piece for Jahadi and red fish blues fish especially for the concert, which takes place at Conrad Prebys Concert Hall and is open to the public. 1 / 6 Growing up in the isolated, then-Communist country of Bulgaria, Valentin Martchev didnt know enough to even dream of playing in a top-notch U.S. symphony. But through a series of fortuitous events, hard work and constant practice, he became the San Diego Symphonys principal bassoonist in 2001. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 2 / 6 For five years, Alephonsion Alepho Deng ran during the night with many other young Sudanese boys to evade capture. Close to starvation, he covered a thousand miles on foot-without wearing shoes or parental guidance. To survive, he had to dodge bombs and circumvent dangerous terrain filled with wild lions and crocodiles. His journey began in 1987, when his South Sudan village of Juol was attacked. One of the now well-known lost boys of Sudan, he was forced to flee for his life. He was just 7 years old. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 3 / 6 Brazilian Ballerina Ana da Costa said it best: It is easy to honor this country since I truly love being here, and I feel like I finally found my place on Earth. My life has always been hard, but I finally have the room to grow, to accomplish things, to have opportunity to fill my potential. I have hope. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 4 / 6 First it was work and then it was love that drew Beliz Iristay to San Diego. The Turkish native now calls San Diego as well as Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico, home feels free to question traditional religious and cultural assumptions as well as politics. Being able to make art in the U.S. has given me a lot of freedom to work with political commentary, she said. The artist part of me really flourished in the United States. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 5 / 6 Milad Jahadis devotion to music as a teenager is the reason he was a year late in graduating from high school in his native Iran. His chosen instrument, then and now, is the tombak, a goblet-shaped Persian drum that is played using all the fingers of both hands. its a single-headed drum that requires exacting precision and skill to master. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 6 / 6 Before she ever set foot in the United States, Naomi Iizuka lived in three different countries scattered around the globe. When her family settled in Washington, D.C., during her childhood, it was the presence of other people from likewise far-flung homes who helped Iizuka embrace her new one. It was a really good place to be, because almost everybody was from somewhere else, says Iizuka, a Tokyo-born writer, nationally renowned theater artist and longtime head of playwriting at UC San Diego. She is on sabbatical from the university this fall as she shuttles to Los Angeles as a writer on the AMC-TV horror series The Terror, about a doomed polar expedition. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) For any audience American or Persian, or from anywhere else I believe music and art is a universal language and I know we can connect with music-lovers and all art-lovers here, said Jahadi, who met his wife, Tehran native Sara Alaghehband, at the Iranian School of San Diego, which is part of the Persian Cultural Center. A soft-spoken man, Jahadi gives tombak lessons each weekend at the Iranian School, where he has taught as a volunteer for four years and his wife works in multimedia. They live in San Marcos with their two cats. During the week, Jahadi works at a Clairemont Mesa printing shop. Now a business student at Miramar College, he plans to transfer next year to either San Diego State University or Cal State San Marcos to earn a degree in business administration information systems. Jahadi is now well-integrated into American life and speaks proudly of having attained his citizenship. But he experienced intense culture shock after moving here from Qazvin, his hometown in Iran. I was very confused and shocked, and I didnt talk to anybody, said Jahadi, whose parents had moved here more than a decade before he received permission from the Iranian government to immigrate himself. I waited a long time in Iran. I waited 10 years. Coming here was a real milestone in my life. Being in America and becoming American has provided me with a vast amount of opportunity and brought a sense of belonging to me. My goal is to continue my education and get a masters degree and a doctorate. The most important thing for me is the opportunity to continue my education, because I didnt have that opportunity in Iran. Now I do and know I can continue. And there is a sense of safety and tranquility here. But the most important thing is the freedom of speech in the United States. Jahadi chuckled when asked if about encountering any misconceptions here. After I came to San Diego, he replied, someone asked me if we ride camels like a horse in Iran. I said: No, you never ride a camel in Iran. Some people I met here thought of Iran and Syria as one country. And in Iran? They think we have lots of free time here and have a very comfortable life in America, and that money is very easy to come by. They dont know that, in this country, you have to work very hard and you have to have higher education if you want to be comfortable. They dont understand that in Iran because they have a different lifestyle. But I think when people in Iran see American tourists, they are very happy. red fish blue fish: CIRCLES, with special guest Milad Jahadi When: 7 p.m. Nov. 14 Where: Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, UC San Diego, 3500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla Tickets: $5.50 (students), $15.50 (non-students) Phone: (858) 534-3448 Online: tickets.vendini.com george.varga@sduniontribune.com Twitter @georgevarga While many immigrants journey here in search of a better life, Brazilian ballerina Ana da Costa came to San Diego convinced that her dancing days were over. I wanted to quit, said da Costa softly in her lilting Portuguese accent. It was my most dark moment between me and dance to this day. I was done with it. Five years ago, da Costa had already achieved what many dancers aspire to be. She was a first soloist at the state-subsidized Ballet of the Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro, an opulent opera house with more than 2,000 seats. Advertisement But Brazil was on the verge of an economic crisis and the arts were suffering a slow death. As paychecks and performances began to dwindle, the passion that drove da Costa toward excellence diminished. So when her husband, an engineer, was offered a position in San Diego that would give the couple permanent residency status, da Costa resolved to start a new career. I thought I would wash dishes somewhere or walk dogs, she said. If someone sent me a video of ballet, I would not watch. Even as a child, da Costa was enthralled by the ballet productions she saw on television. I kept asking my mom, Can I be a ballerina? Can I take ballet classes?And my mother would say, Oh, we dont have money; we dont have time. My parents worked a lot. A lot. 1 / 6 Growing up in the isolated, then-Communist country of Bulgaria, Valentin Martchev didnt know enough to even dream of playing in a top-notch U.S. symphony. But through a series of fortuitous events, hard work and constant practice, he became the San Diego Symphonys principal bassoonist in 2001. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 2 / 6 For five years, Alephonsion Alepho Deng ran during the night with many other young Sudanese boys to evade capture. Close to starvation, he covered a thousand miles on foot-without wearing shoes or parental guidance. To survive, he had to dodge bombs and circumvent dangerous terrain filled with wild lions and crocodiles. His journey began in 1987, when his South Sudan village of Juol was attacked. One of the now well-known lost boys of Sudan, he was forced to flee for his life. He was just 7 years old. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 3 / 6 Brazilian Ballerina Ana da Costa said it best: It is easy to honor this country since I truly love being here, and I feel like I finally found my place on Earth. My life has always been hard, but I finally have the room to grow, to accomplish things, to have opportunity to fill my potential. I have hope. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 4 / 6 First it was work and then it was love that drew Beliz Iristay to San Diego. The Turkish native now calls San Diego as well as Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico, home feels free to question traditional religious and cultural assumptions as well as politics. Being able to make art in the U.S. has given me a lot of freedom to work with political commentary, she said. The artist part of me really flourished in the United States. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 5 / 6 Milad Jahadis devotion to music as a teenager is the reason he was a year late in graduating from high school in his native Iran. His chosen instrument, then and now, is the tombak, a goblet-shaped Persian drum that is played using all the fingers of both hands. its a single-headed drum that requires exacting precision and skill to master. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 6 / 6 Before she ever set foot in the United States, Naomi Iizuka lived in three different countries scattered around the globe. When her family settled in Washington, D.C., during her childhood, it was the presence of other people from likewise far-flung homes who helped Iizuka embrace her new one. It was a really good place to be, because almost everybody was from somewhere else, says Iizuka, a Tokyo-born writer, nationally renowned theater artist and longtime head of playwriting at UC San Diego. She is on sabbatical from the university this fall as she shuttles to Los Angeles as a writer on the AMC-TV horror series The Terror, about a doomed polar expedition. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) Public schools in the neighborhood where da Costa grew up were plagued with violence and overcrowding, so da Costas parents enrolled her in private school. That expense made ballet lessons impossible until the day that da Costas mother took her to an orthopedist and he diagnosed flat feet. There were two choices, special shoes or ballet class. My mom was, OK, lets put her in ballet class, da Costa said. The regular ballet technique put me back on the center of my foot, and every day, I was always pointing, pointing. Ballet technique changes your body. Its very invasive. At age 16, da Costa was awarded a contract with the Young Ballet of France in Paris. When she returned to Brazil and auditioned for the Ballet of the Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro, she was invited to join the corps de ballet. The ballet director at that time was the late, internationally renowned Richard Cragun, an American and a star dancer with the Stuttgart Ballet. Cragun plucked da Costa from the corps de ballet, where the goal is to blend in with a group, and chose her instead for the role of Myrta, a principal part in the ballet Giselle. Playing the dramatic Myrta gave da Costa the freedom to uniquely interpret the character, and over time, she graduated to first soloist. In 2014, Brazil entered a recession and da Costa correctly anticipated that job security for anyone in the arts was in jeopardy. There was less money from the government, and we were dancing the same things, da Costa said. By that time, I was in such disbelief with ballet world that I was willing to leave my job behind. But in reality, ballet was what I had trained to do all my life. In San Diego, there was another reality, too. I needed to make some money. Everybody was telling me try again, if you dont like, then you quit. It turned out that I found the love for dance again, and I didnt believe that could happen, da Costa said. In 2014, after a year of performing, attending ballet class and learning English, da Costa auditioned and became a principal for the California Ballet Company, performing lead roles in lavish productions that include The Great Gatsby, Giselle, and Romeo and Juliet. In November, she will dance the part of Carmen in California Ballets Noche Latina, a role she relishes because of its emotional intensity. Her signature, she said, is to bring characters to life and not just perform steps. Besides her dance career, da Costa, 36, works as an actress, a natural continuation, she said, of her artistic career. It is easy to honor this country since I truly love being here, and I feel like I finally found my place on Earth, da Costa said. My life has always been hard, but I finally have the room to grow, to accomplish things, to have opportunity to fill my potential. I have hope. Noche Latina When: 7:30 pm. Nov. 9; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10 Where: Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter Tickets: $30 to $65. Children must be age 4 and up to attend. Phone: (858) 560-6741 Online: californiaballet.org Manna is a freelance writer. Before she ever set foot in the United States, Naomi Iizuka lived in three different countries scattered around the globe. But when her family finally settled in Washington, D.C., during her childhood, it was the presence of other people from likewise far-flung homes who helped Iizuka embrace her new one. It was a really good place to be, because almost everybody was from somewhere else, says Iizuka, a Tokyo-born writer, nationally renowned theater artist and longtime head of playwriting at UC San Diego. I remember there was a pool at the apartment building where we first lived, and the people there talked all different languages. There were people from different parts of India, people from Africa, people from South America many of them foreign diplomats or scholars and their families. Advertisement And it was the 70s. It was a period where, in the water, there was a kind of curiosity about other cultures. So I think I had from a pretty early age an awareness that the world was big. And to some degree mysterious. And I was really curious about knowing more. 1 / 6 Growing up in the isolated, then-Communist country of Bulgaria, Valentin Martchev didnt know enough to even dream of playing in a top-notch U.S. symphony. But through a series of fortuitous events, hard work and constant practice, he became the San Diego Symphonys principal bassoonist in 2001. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 2 / 6 For five years, Alephonsion Alepho Deng ran during the night with many other young Sudanese boys to evade capture. Close to starvation, he covered a thousand miles on foot-without wearing shoes or parental guidance. To survive, he had to dodge bombs and circumvent dangerous terrain filled with wild lions and crocodiles. His journey began in 1987, when his South Sudan village of Juol was attacked. One of the now well-known lost boys of Sudan, he was forced to flee for his life. He was just 7 years old. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 3 / 6 Brazilian Ballerina Ana da Costa said it best: It is easy to honor this country since I truly love being here, and I feel like I finally found my place on Earth. My life has always been hard, but I finally have the room to grow, to accomplish things, to have opportunity to fill my potential. I have hope. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 4 / 6 First it was work and then it was love that drew Beliz Iristay to San Diego. The Turkish native now calls San Diego as well as Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico, home feels free to question traditional religious and cultural assumptions as well as politics. Being able to make art in the U.S. has given me a lot of freedom to work with political commentary, she said. The artist part of me really flourished in the United States. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 5 / 6 Milad Jahadis devotion to music as a teenager is the reason he was a year late in graduating from high school in his native Iran. His chosen instrument, then and now, is the tombak, a goblet-shaped Persian drum that is played using all the fingers of both hands. its a single-headed drum that requires exacting precision and skill to master. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 6 / 6 Before she ever set foot in the United States, Naomi Iizuka lived in three different countries scattered around the globe. When her family settled in Washington, D.C., during her childhood, it was the presence of other people from likewise far-flung homes who helped Iizuka embrace her new one. It was a really good place to be, because almost everybody was from somewhere else, says Iizuka, a Tokyo-born writer, nationally renowned theater artist and longtime head of playwriting at UC San Diego. She is on sabbatical from the university this fall as she shuttles to Los Angeles as a writer on the AMC-TV horror series The Terror, about a doomed polar expedition. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) That curiosity has translated into a playwriting career that often has evinced a passion for exploring themes of complex identity and cross-cultural encounters. Iizukas works include such disparate pieces as 2001s 36 Views, a time-hopping piece set in both Japan and the United States that takes its title from a famous series of artworks depicting Mount Fuji; and this years site-specific What Happens Next, which had its world premiere in La Jolla Playhouses Without Walls program and centers on a group of struggling war veterans who gather for a therapeutic acting class. Her latest project has Iizuka crossing new artistic boundaries: She is on sabbatical from UCSD this fall as she shuttles back and forth from her Encinitas home to Los Angeles as a writer on the AMC-TV horror series The Terror, about a doomed polar expedition. I think I do tend to gravitate to stories about people who are outsiders, or who are trying to figure something out about their identity and the world around them, says Iizuka, who was born to a Japanese father and a mother of Cuban and Spanish heritage. I think that is a common thread through what I write. I think that was true of 36 Views. I think in a different way its true of the Plays for Young Audiences play I wrote, The Last Firefly, that was produced last year. But its even true of What Happens Next. It about people who are trying to figure out where they fit into a community, when thats not so easy to figure out. Iizukas family had to figure out how to fit into a rapid succession of communities early on. Her dad, an economist, and her mom, trained as a lawyer, met at a dance in the 1950s when both were attending school in the United States. Not long after the couple moved back to Japan for his work, Iizuka was born; the family lived in a house next to a fishing-supplies store in Tokyos Oi-machi district. Two years later, they headed to Jakarta, Indonesia, during a period of political turmoil. My father and mother and other families were kind of restricted in their movements, Iizuka says. It was, I think, a little bit of a dangerous time. Neither of them talk about it very much. I dont think either of them was the victim of any kind of violence, but it was scary. After two years there, the family relocated to the relative calm of Amsterdam, the place of Iizukas earliest memories. And in the early 1970s, her father landed a job at the World Bank, spurring the move to Washington. It wasnt until she was quite a bit older that Iizuka who eventually was to attend Yale University and then graduate school at UCSD really began to appreciate just how unusual her multicultural upbringing had been. I think what I became aware of as I began to make friends with classmates is that there were people whose families had been here a really long time, she recalls. And that to me seemed sort of exotic! I had one friend in school whose family she could trace back to the Mayflower. That kind of blew my mind, because it was not only different from my experience but different from the experience of all my familys friends. So it was a little bit topsy-turvy for me; it was a little bit unusual not to be from somewhere else. And my revelation was: Whoa, America is much bigger than this little pool I grew up in. jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @jimhebert First it was work and then it was love that drew Beliz Iristay to San Diego. The Turkish native now calls Paradise Hills as well as Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico, home and has found the support to become an artist who feels free to question traditional religious and cultural assumptions as well as politics. Being able to make art in the U.S. has given me a lot of freedom to work with political commentary, she said. The artist part of me really flourished in the United States. Iristay, 39, came to San Diego 15 years ago to work on a project for Glass Furnace, a glass-blowing school in Istanbul, where she was a mold maker. Mexican-American glass artist Jamex de la Torre was also on the project. He is now her husband, and they have established a cross-border lifestyle that appeals to Iristays sensibilities. I like to live on both sides of the border, Iristay said. The diversity is amazing so many colorful and different people, which is important to me. Advertisement 1 / 6 Growing up in the isolated, then-Communist country of Bulgaria, Valentin Martchev didnt know enough to even dream of playing in a top-notch U.S. symphony. But through a series of fortuitous events, hard work and constant practice, he became the San Diego Symphonys principal bassoonist in 2001. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 2 / 6 For five years, Alephonsion Alepho Deng ran during the night with many other young Sudanese boys to evade capture. Close to starvation, he covered a thousand miles on foot-without wearing shoes or parental guidance. To survive, he had to dodge bombs and circumvent dangerous terrain filled with wild lions and crocodiles. His journey began in 1987, when his South Sudan village of Juol was attacked. One of the now well-known lost boys of Sudan, he was forced to flee for his life. He was just 7 years old. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 3 / 6 Brazilian Ballerina Ana da Costa said it best: It is easy to honor this country since I truly love being here, and I feel like I finally found my place on Earth. My life has always been hard, but I finally have the room to grow, to accomplish things, to have opportunity to fill my potential. I have hope. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 4 / 6 First it was work and then it was love that drew Beliz Iristay to San Diego. The Turkish native now calls San Diego as well as Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico, home feels free to question traditional religious and cultural assumptions as well as politics. Being able to make art in the U.S. has given me a lot of freedom to work with political commentary, she said. The artist part of me really flourished in the United States. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 5 / 6 Milad Jahadis devotion to music as a teenager is the reason he was a year late in graduating from high school in his native Iran. His chosen instrument, then and now, is the tombak, a goblet-shaped Persian drum that is played using all the fingers of both hands. its a single-headed drum that requires exacting precision and skill to master. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 6 / 6 Before she ever set foot in the United States, Naomi Iizuka lived in three different countries scattered around the globe. When her family settled in Washington, D.C., during her childhood, it was the presence of other people from likewise far-flung homes who helped Iizuka embrace her new one. It was a really good place to be, because almost everybody was from somewhere else, says Iizuka, a Tokyo-born writer, nationally renowned theater artist and longtime head of playwriting at UC San Diego. She is on sabbatical from the university this fall as she shuttles to Los Angeles as a writer on the AMC-TV horror series The Terror, about a doomed polar expedition. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) Iristay was born in the cosmopolitan city of Izmir, Turkey, on the Aegean Sea, where religious diversity was the norm. I had a great childhood. It was a secular, modern country, and I enjoyed daily life without much stress, she said. Muslims, Jews and Christians lived together. That is how she likes to remember her homeland, where her mother and sister still live. Things began to change right around the time she left with the rise of Islamic conservatism. Iristay always knew she wanted to be an artist. Her now-deceased father owned a cardboard paper production company but was always an artist at heart. He had to quit the university. He had to become a businessman. Thats what his family expected, she said. Being an artist was always a dream for him a dream that couldnt come true. She had the full support of her family to attend the Dokuz Eylul Fine Art University in Izmir, where she studied ceramics, learning ancient techniques and designs and modernizing them. One of her latest projects is making adobe bricks and decorating them with traditional Turkish designs in cobalt blue, a color used for centuries on Turkish tiles. The bricks, she said, are a manifestation of her home countries because they are created using Mexican soil and adobe techniques, adorned with Turkish motifs and displayed in the United States. They will be part of Being Here With You /Estando aqui contigo, an exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. Her social and political commentary covers all her countries. After the failed military coup of 2016 in Turkey, Iristay designed 55 rehals (the x-shaped bookrests for the Quran) and filled them with small minarets. Titled Oku | Read, the rehals are covered with military cards used by soldiers to keep track of their service days. The translucent cast-resin minarets are in jumbled disarray. The piece, part of the San Diego Art Institutes exhibition Beyond the Age of Reason, warns of ignorance. While a lot of her recent work is mixed media incorporating recycled items, ceramics is still Iristays main medium of expression. Its a link to her native country and, at times, hands-on therapy. Clay has given me the opportunity to cope with emotions and experiences, Iristay said. The medium works with you, not against you. Iristay turned to tactile comfort of clay when she was homesick. Sometimes being an immigrant is not easy in emotional ways, she said. Often little things added up to bigger frustrations. Little things such as learning how to fill a gas tank and getting used to people entering homes with their shoes on and eating with their fingers. We even use knives and forks with pizza, she said. Her studio home in Valle de Guadalupe, where she teaches ceramic workshops, has been the anchor she needed to feel comfortable. When I go from the United States to Mexico, I feel like Im entering my own country (Turkey). There are so many similarities. It gives me the emotional connection, she said. Iristay said her cultural heart now has three sectors. I think all immigrants wrestle with identity. It is largely what my work is about. We learn to live as neither, or we learn to embrace our circumstances. Beyond the Age of Reason When: Through Oct. 31 Where: San Diego Art Institute, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park. Tickets: $3-$5 general admission Phone: (619) 236- 0011 Online: sandiego-art.org Being Here With You /Estando aqui contigo When: Sept. 20 to Feb. 3 Where: Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 1100 Kettner Blvd., downtown. Tickets: $5-$10 Phone: (858) 454-3541 Online: mcasd.org Schimitschek is a freelance writer. When both of her sons were diagnosed with autism in the early 1990s, Shirley Fett and her husband had very few resources for support and information. Like most parents, they wanted their boys to be able to have the same experiences playing and having fun as any other child. The frustration came in finding programs that had staff members trained on the best ways to work with autistic individuals. She decided to join the board of the Autism Society San Diego. The organization started in San Diego in 1966 with a national focus to provide community and information for parents of autistic children. It has since become a local affiliate of the national organization, with a mission to improve the lives of everyone affected by autism with participation in various activities and support programs. Fett, 60, lives in the Clairemont/Bay Park area with her husband, Bruce, and they have two adult sons, Derek and Brock. Shes nurse practitioner whos also twice served as president of the San Diego group and is currently an executive board member and chair of the organizations Lights! Camera! Autism! event this evening, which highlights the talent and creativity of autistic adults in San Diego. She took some time to talk about her personal experience with autism, her work with Autism Society of San Diego, and tonights film and visual art event. Q: Tell us about the Autism Society San Diego. Advertisement A: The mission of the Autism Society San Diego is to improve the lives of all affected by autism. We have an all-volunteer board comprised of parents, family members, professionals, autistic individuals and community members. Today, we provide a wide range of services and supports for our community, some of which includes six support group meetings each month; two monthly, family fun events; a monthly electronic newsletter; summer camps specifically for autistic children, teens and adults; adult social support group; and family camps. Q: Why did you want to work with the organization? A: I joined the board when my sons were about 6 and 8 years old. I started looking for summer recreation programs for them. After all, they were little boys who deserved to play and have fun like any other child. Autism should not prevent them from having these same experiences, right? Well, after many failed attempts to find and enroll them in camp programs, I became frustrated and thought, I cant be the only parent who wants this for their child and cant find it. So, I decided to join the board as a possible vehicle for getting some programs going for our kids. We needed to find activities where the staff were trained in best practices working with autistic individuals. This continues to be a focus of our organization. Q: Why did you want to serve as president during your two past terms? A: Being the president of the organization was an honor and privilege. In this role, I was able to meet and speak to many different community members and groups, not only about the organization, but also about autism. Educating the public about autism has been very important. I also have been able to meet many families and help create a supportive network of programs and services for our families. What I love about Clairemont/Bay Park ... I love living in Clairemont/Bay Park because we are so close to everything we want to do. We can be downtown, at the beach, at the airport or in Balboa Park in about 15 minutes. Plus, on my drive home from work every day, I get to see the bay and ocean on the horizon. Beautiful! Q: Youre also the chairperson of the Lights! Camera! Autism! event? Tell us about this event. A: This is the second year for our Lights! Camera! Autism! event. This is a film and art event that showcases the many talents of local autistic adults in the film and art arena and its being held from 5 to 9 p.m. tonight at Qualcomm Hall, 5775 Morehouse Drive, San Diego, and its open to anyone in the community. There will be 11 local visual artists showing their work. During the art exhibition, there will be live jazz music and guests will be served wine, beer and light appetizers. After the art and music show, attendees will enter the theater to view films. There are three short films written, produced and starring adults in the Film and Media Studio Program here in San Diego. Then, there will be a feature, documentary film, Deej, which is about a young, non-verbal autistic man and his journey to become independent, go to college and move into his adult life. The film was a 2018 Peabody Award winner. Q: What can you tell us about the jazz performance by Alexander Pruetting? A: Alexander is an autistic young man who is from Poway, and hes whats known as an autistic savant, with perfect pitch, a near-photographic memory for music, and a surprising facility with the saxophone and piano. Until he was 4 years old, he communicated only with rhythmic grunts, but whenever he sang, he was able to articulate long passages. When he learned to play keyboard, he could recognize notes and chords by ear, and immediately play and memorize music after hearing it once. Now, he is able to play the alto saxophone in jazz and concert bands and sing in choirs and with the band. This is an example of what autistic individuals can do if given the right support. Q: Why is working for autism support and awareness important to you? A: It is immensely important that people understand what autism is, know that autistic individuals are an important part of our community and can have a full and productive life. So much of the time, we hear what our kids cant do, and the message really needs to be about what they can do. Our kids will be adults far longer than they are children, so educating the public and creating opportunities for autistic adults is important today more than ever. I think the other thing that is important is for parents and family members to know that your life is not over, but it will be different than what you might have anticipated and can still be great. I hope my family is an example of that for others in the community. Q: Whats been rewarding about your work? A: Seeing some of the early ideas I brought to the organization become a reality and continue today. I am especially proud of being one of the founders of our summer camps for children and teens, Camp I CAN. I have also been involved with the creation of our Pool PALS aquatic program, which includes teaching autistic individuals how to swim, surf camp, and family pool parties. These all started by in 2002 when I joined the board and today they are some of our most popular programs. Q: What has this work taught you about yourself? A: Ha! Well, I dont need as much sleep as I thought I did. Seriously, though, it has taught me that I can be an effective advocate, leader and public speaker. Q: What is the best advice youve ever received? A: Pace yourself. Autism is forever. Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you? A: I love to sew. Project Runway is one of my guilty pleasures to watch (on television)! Q: Describe your ideal San Diego weekend. A: My Saturday always starts with going to Kobeys Swap Meet with my oldest son. We literally go every week since that is one of his favorite things to do. Most of the vendors there know us. After that, an ideal weekend would be barbecuing at home, swimming in our pool, soaking in the Jacuzzi, and enjoying going out for a movie. Email: lisa.deaderick@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @lisadeaderick Many people give little thought to end-of-life care also termed hospice care until a loved one is nearing death. But its a very important subject, partly because medical science has extended the average human lifespan significantly. Thus, when the end does finally approach, humane treatment often calls for palliative care and other efforts to make the end-of-life transition peaceful and more comfortable for both the patient and close relations. Sharp HospiceCare part of Sharp HealthCares comprehensive care delivery system is a fully-accredited nonprofit Medicare-certified organization providing comfort and compassion with end-of-life support for patients and their families, regardless of ability to pay. Its three home-like residences (in La Mesa, Del Cerro, and Bonita) have dedicated 24-hour nursing staffs, private or semi-private bedrooms, and expansive living spaces for sharing precious time with loved ones. Sharp HospiceCare is a primary beneficiary of Sharp Grossmont Hospital Foundation. Additional funding comes from private and corporate donations, and from a Benefit Regatta held each August. It begins with a reception, dinner, and auction at the famed Hotel Del Coronado chaired this year by Kathy Bongiovanni and Sherri Summers, with longtime Foundation supporters Marita and Dr. David Bodkin as honorary chairs. Nearly 550 guests in resort attire attended the Friday evening event, enjoying a flavorful three-course dinner featuring a creative salad, dual short rib and salmon entree, and decadent desserts. Clint Bells nine-item live auction raised well over $30,000 and subsequent paddle-raise pledges easily topped $100,000. Sensation Showband entertained, and dancers filled the floor till the evenings end. Advertisement Cortez Racing ran the Saturday regatta, with 53 sailboats competing in nine classes. The Coronado Yacht Club hosted 750 guests for lunch, after which forty-plus proud owners of luxurious motor yachts welcomed more than 640 enthusiastic spectators aboard for two-hour cruises around the bay, including sightseeing, race viewing, and unlimited snacks and liquid refreshments. Back at the Yacht Club for a post-race party, racers and guests were entertained by a rocking band, many dancing barefoot on the grass dance floor, and a buffet dinner was provided. The overall regatta winner was sailboat A4, skippered by Scot Tempesta (great name for a wind-powered race competitor!). The A4 crew will have the opportunity to compete in the 2019 National Hospice Regatta Alliance. Andrew Picel and sailboat Arsenal took second place, and 16-year-old River Pacquin won the Greg Walker Memorial Cup in the Elusive. By every measure, this 16th annual Benefit Regatta was the most successful ever, netting $400,000 for Sharp HospiceCare. One of the greatest existential threats faced by the U.S. during the latter half of the 20th century was the possibility that a nuclear war would result in global annihilation. When that did not happen, and the Soviet threat receded, so did popular opposition to nuclear weapons. So says former Massachusetts Rep. John Tierney, who, after 18 years in the House, now leads an anti-nuclear proliferation non-profit, the Council for a Livable World. Tierney was in San Diego this week in part to raise money for candidates endorsed by his organization, but also to raise awareness about the issue of nuclear weapons, which he says has fallen from the front pages in the decades since the end of the Cold War. Advertisement We think national security in this environment is an issue in every race, Tierney said. We need to expand. We need more people to work on this to get this thing national again. Some of Tierneys concerns come from the words of President Donald Trump on Twitter. In August 2017, Trump tweeted that North Korea would be met with fire and fury, in response to threats from Dictator Kim Jong Un. A few months later, again on Twitter, Trump compared the size of the two countries nuclear buttons, saying his was much bigger and more powerful. And in his new book, veteran reporter Bob Woodward reported that Trump drafted another tweet announcing the families of the 28,000 service members stationed in South Korea would be withdrawn a tweet that was never sent, as backchannel communications from North Korea said it would have been viewed as a signal an attack was imminent. Tierney said the current administration had strayed from the nuclear posture of the past several presidents, necessitating more pressure from anti-nuclear weapon activists. Every president, Democrat or Republican Since Reagan...understood this issue, he said. People (need) to realize whats happening in this White House. Trump has called for new, so-called low-yield nuclear weapons. How is it that every other Republican as well as every Democrat in the White House has understood that this issue needs to be addressed as an issue of disarmament, Tierney said, (and)not the other way around? Locally, the council has endorsed Democrat Mike Levin for the 49th District seat, which long-time Republican Daryl Issa is leaving after 17 years. James McKeon, the councils political director, said that despite its current crop of endorsements, which are exclusively Democrats, that the organization was not partisan. We are a non-partisan organization, he said. We endorsed, in the past, Democrats and Republicans. Tierney, a Democrat, agreed. The last guy I worked with that was good on this issue was (former Indiana Sen.) Dick Luger, Tierney said. Theyve made this a partisan issue, its difficult to get people to listen. He said that didnt mean there werent Republicans who agreed with him, however. There are Republicans who work well with us, but dont want us to endorse them, he said. There are some incredibly thoughtful, sensible Republicans out there, but theyre in a difficult political situation. So we endorse mostly Democrats now. At a San Diego fundraiser Tuesday night, Tierney and McKeon addressed a room of about 40 supporters about the need to make nuclear disarmament a national security priority. Barry Ladendorf was one of those supporters. He said he had not thought about nuclear non-proliferation in years. I remember hearing about it long ago, he said. I think it was around the end of the Cold War. The council was started in 1962 in reaction to the Cuban missile crisis. Its founder, Leo Szilard, was a nuclear physicist whose work contributed to the launching of the Manhattan Project which resulted in the first atomic bomb. Were still the only ones out there leading in this area, Tierney said. The organization lobbied for several arms-control agreements and was also supported the Iran nuclear deal under President Barack Obama. Tierney said he understood why the weapons were built, but that the authority to use them needed to be revisited. He said the president should not have the authority to authorize a first-strike nuclear attack. I dont think anybody disputes the fact that if somebody attacks us the executive has the authority to fight back, he said. (But) I dont want the president to have first-strike authority. Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter. September 15, 1911 The San Diego Union The San Diego Union-Tribune will mark its 150th anniversary in 2018 by presenting a significant front page from the archives each day throughout the year. Friday, September 15, 1911 In 1911, Samuel Gompers, the founding president of the American Federation of Labor, visited San Diego to address a crowd of workers. In 1955 San Diego opened a junior high school now Gompers Preparatory Academy named for the labor leader. Here are the first few paragraphs of the story: GOMPERS GIVEN BIG OVATION 3000 LABORERS IN PROCESSION Immense Throng Greets Noted Organizer Who Makes Powerful Address on Cause He Espouses Honored by a visit from Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, organized labor of San Diego yesterday afternoon and last night returned the compliment with the greatest and most enthusiastic demonstration in the history of the city. Quietly and unostentatiously 3000 workingmen, members of various labor organizations, last night paraded he streets in honor of the great leader and organizer, marching in a stately column that required an hour to pass a given point, finally to disband at the monster open-air pavilion erected at Seventh and B streets, where, for two hours they enthusiastically cheered their leader as he expounded the doctrines of organized labor, the principles for which it stands and the constant aim to better the conditions of the working classes and to bring about a higher civilization among working classes. Fully 6000 persons heard the masterly and instructive address, and at its conclusion Mr. Gompers was deeply moved by the demonstration. Entertained at Luncheon Mr. Gompers arrived at 12:55 oclock from the north on a tour which has taken him to all the principal cities of the middle west and coast states. He was met at the railway station by Mayor James E. Wadham and a reception committee from the Federated Trades of San Diego, a delegation composed of all the union of the city. He was escorted immediately to the U.S. Grant hotel, where he was the honored guest at luncheon. Among those present were Mayor James E. Wadham, Louis J. Wilde, Rev. L.T. Guild, C. H. Brown, president of the Federated Trades Council of San Diego; I.H. Markwith, secretary of the Federated Trades Council; Joseph Smith, Jr. secretary of the Musicians union; Walter Barnes, Carpenters union; Daniel Curley, Barbers union; Paul Scharrenberg, secretary of the California Federation of Labor; Joseph Jost, Bartenders union; Lucius R. Barrow, Typographical union; H.R. Lee, president of the Painters union; President Kious of the Carpenters union. Views Pacific From Point Loma Following the luncheon Mr. Gompers was taken for an automobile tour of the city, following which he returned to the hotel to rest until evening. View anniversary front pages online at sandiegouniontribune.com/150-years. For more from the Union-Tribune digital archives, go to newslibrary.com/sites/sdub. Searching is free, with registration. A fee is required to view full stories. Long Beach police are investigating a fatal shooting Friday evening that may have been gang-related, authorities said. A man was gunned down around 11:40 p.m. Friday in the 1200 block of Chestnut Avenue. The victim was shot in the upper torso and officers found him on the sidewalk. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. His name has not been released pending notifications to his family. Det. Jennifer Arzola said the shooting is being investigated as a possible gang-related incident, however a motive has not been determined. Advertisement Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Long Beach police homicide detectives Sean Irving or Ben Vargas at (562) 570-7244. ben.poston@latimes.com ben.poston@latimes.com Follow @bposton on Twitter. A murder charge was dismissed this week against a Vista man accused of fatally shooting his younger brother in their shared apartment, but prosecutors still have the option to refile the case. On Wednesday, the District Attorneys Office told a judge it wanted to drop the case brought against 27-year-old Fredy Sixto. Vista Superior Court Judge K. Michael Kirkman granted the dismissal, but agreed over the objection of the defense to leave open the possibility for prosecutors to refile the case. District Attorneys Office spokesman Steve Walker said prosecutors are reviewing the matter. Advertisement Sixtos defense attorney, Sherry Stone, said in an email to the Union-Tribune on Thursday that in dismissing the case, the prosecution stated there was insufficient evidence for them to proceed at this time. My strong belief is that further investigation will only show that Fredy Sixto did not shoot and kill his brother, Stone said. On the night of Feb. 18, family members brought 19-year-old Juan Sixto to Tri-City Medical Center. He had been shot in the back of his head. Deputies learned he had been shot at his apartment, where he lived with Fredy Sixto, as well as another brother, his wife and their toddler child, according to a document filed by the prosecution last month. At the apartment on Pomelo Drive, off Hacienda Drive, deputies found Fredy Sixto with cuts and bruises, blood on his arms and face, and a 9mm cartridge in his pants pocket. They also found blood inside and outside the apartment, according to the document. It also states that only Fredy and Juan Sixto had been home at the time of the shooting, and detectives came to learn that they had argued right before the shooting. Juan Sixto died the following day. A court document from the dismissal hearing states that prosecutors would conduct further investigation. The dismissal of the case came on the same day that Fredy Sixto was to have his preliminary hearing, at which a judge decides if there is enough evidence to send a defendant to trial. After the case was dismissed, Sixto was released from county jail, but taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com (760) 529-4945 Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT A woman was charged this week in U.S. District Court in San Diego with trafficking more than 150 pounds of methamphetamine, which federal officials said was one of the largest (seizures) in recent history in the area of San Diego and Imperial counties. Marisol Chavez-Morales, 34, was arrested outside a San Diego restaurant on Sept. 7 while allegedly trying to traffick 156 pounds of methamphetamine and two different types of heroin, according to federal court documents. Unbeknownst to her, the person who set up the purchase was an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration. Chavez-Morales was arraigned Monday in U.S. District Court on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The charge carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Advertisement According to court documents, the DEA informant first told federal agents about Chavez-Morales in mid-August, when shed allegedly offered to sell the informant large amounts of methamphetamine and heroin. Over the next few weeks, the DEA informant allegedly negotiated to pay $775,000 to Chavez-Morales in exchange for roughly 286 pounds of methamphetamine, about 24 pounds of China white heroin and about 13 pounds of black tar heroin. On Sept. 7, Chavez-Morales agreed to meet the informant outside an unidentified San Diego restaurant, a DEA agent wrote in a sworn complaint. During the meeting, DEA agents moved in, arresting Chavez-Morales and searching her car for drugs. Inside the suspects Chevrolet Cruze, agents found about 156 pounds of methamphetamine roughly 130 pounds less than the agreed-upon amount as well vacuum-sealed bricks of what was believed to be heroin, according to court documents. The methamphetamine, separated into dozens of packages, was found in a suitcase and bag loaded in the trunk and hidden inside a tire loaded in the back seat of the car, court documents said. The office of the U.S. Attorney for San Diego and Imperial counties called the methamphetamine seizure one of the largest in recent history in the Southern District of California. Chavez-Morales, a resident of Highland, in San Bernardino County, waived her right to bail on Thursday and will remain in custody until the conclusion of her case. Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com When Californians approved Proposition 47 four years ago, reducing many drug crimes to misdemeanors instead of felonies, judges and lawyers associated with the local drug courts were concerned the change would have unintended consequences. Suddenly, people with drug addictions convicted of drug-related crimes would have one less reason to get clean, they said. No longer facing years in state prison, some found it was easier to spend a few months in county jail than to tackle an 18-month drug treatment program offered by the Superior Court. Some of those concerns have borne out since Proposition 47 became law in November 2014. Business at San Diego Countys four adult drug courts has slipped. The numbers appear to be significant, if not alarming. The Probation Department tracked a dip from 408 cases in November 2014, the month Proposition 47 was passed, to 390 a year later, a decrease of a little more than 4 percent. Advertisement The number of drug court participants crept up again to 410 participants 2016, but then decreased again last year to 359 about a 12 percent drop. Its possible the decline in drug court participants wasnt more severe because local authorities decided to switch gears. Rather than lose traction in what had been an acclaimed path to rehabilitation, the team of judges, prosecutors, public defenders, probation and county health officials who collaborate on drug court cases started offering the program to offenders who previously would have been considered ineligible. That would include defendants with an arrest for drug sales or a conviction involving violent crime or weapons. We have adapted, said San Diego Judge Peter Gallagher, who runs drug court each Tuesday morning in downtown Superior Court. Proposition 47 really hurt our numbers, Gallagher reflected. The hammer to threaten (drug users) with incarceration isnt there anymore. The statute says, if youre not amenable to treatment, you can get 30 days (in jail), he continued. A few cases may get 90 days. They can do that standing on their heads. People find treatment harder than jail. Drug court sessions are held at each of the Superior Court divisions in the county: downtown San Diego, Vista, El Cajon and Chula Vista. Proposition 47 allowed us to look at a broader range of offenses, said Lorraine Fernandez, deputy chief probation officer in Juvenile Field Services. Its remained a priority for the county and for this department. We looked to see who else would be eligible. Proposition 47, one of several changes to criminal justice in California in recent years, aimed in to help deflate Californias ballooning prison population by re-classifying certain non-serious, non-violent crimes. Fraud, theft, forgery and shoplifting in amounts under $950 now are counted as misdemeanors that carry a sentence of up to a year in county jail. Before the measure was passed, convictions on those crimes, and personal use of illegal drugs, were felonies that carried sentences of a year or more behind bars. Most people who were sitting in prison with a felony conviction for a re-classified Proposition 47 crime were eligible to be re-sentenced for a misdemeanor. The court, as well as the county District Attorneys Office and Public Defenders Office, launched a major effort to complete those re-sentencings as soon as possible, taking on thousands of petitions from people both in and out of custody. Exceptions were made for offenders with a prior conviction for murder, rape and certain sex or weapons crimes. I think its working well, said Bill Lansdowne, former San Diego police chief and a leading advocate of Proposition 47s goal of prison population reduction. Prop. 47 has taken the felony stigma off tens of thousands of people. It allows them to get jobs. It puts heart in the justice system, Lansdowne said. He said the savings on housing prison inmates has directed $100 million into treatment programs statewide. Julie Gibson, collaborative courts supervisor in the Public Defenders Office, agreed that Proposition 47 has had a positive effect. The Public Defenders Office is happy to get these clients out of prison now. Housing people in prison when theyre drug addicts is not helpful, Gibson said. I think Prop. 47 has now forced us to address the issues, to address addiction and mental health issues. The 2014 measure came after an earlier drug sentencing reform, Proposition 36, which in 2000 dictated that adults who used or possessed illegal drugs would receive treatment and probation supervision in the community rather than being locked up, where they may not receive treatment for drug abuse. In San Diego County, first-time drug use offenders typically are sent to diversion and short-term treatment programs. After several repeat offenses, defendants might be ready to try drug court, which was created locally in 1997. Its a stringent program where, at first, participants are drug-tested frequently, required to attend counseling sessions every day, get a job and report to court once a week. If they succeed, the number of counseling sessions and court appearances is reduced. Rewards at the end, besides being clean from drugs and employed, may include going off probation or having the drug charge dismissed. Participants who appear before Judge Gallagher each week receive applause from their peers and families who encourage them to stick with it. People call it happy-clappy court and kum ba ya court, Gallagher said. People think its a get-out-of-jail card. But people find it harder than jail. In 2017, 271 people entered drug court and 126 graduated from the program. Each of the previous three years had higher numbers of participants entering the program 299 in 2014; 285 in 2015; and 368 in 2016, with graduation numbers at 121 or slightly lower in each of those years. By the numbers Individuals entering/graduating drug court by year 2014: 299 entered, 121 graduated 2015: 285 entered, 118 graduated 2016: 368 entered, 111 graduated 2017: 123 entered, 112 graduated Judge Desiree Bruce-Lyle, who has presided over drug court and other collaborative court programs including reentry court and mandatory supervision court, has said Proposition 47 sent the wrong message to people in the community. She said a large population of people whose criminal behavior is driven by substance abuse suddenly got a free ride. Drug treatment is not a magic wand, she said. It works for those who want it. There are people who sincerely want to change their lives. Prosecutors have said theyve seen high recidivism rates for drug offenses under the new law. They opt out of drug court at first its too much work, said Rachel Solov, collaborative courts supervisor in the District Attorneys Office. Before, they would complete the program and have their felony conviction reduced. They would have been on felony probation, with higher supervision, connection to resources and more penalty if they violated (probation). Now, theyre picking up more offenses and getting out of jail faster, back on the streets without services to connect to, Solov said. They dont mind having a misdemeanor conviction. Theyre not going to drug court until they have five or six offenses. Mike Ruiz, in the Public Defenders Office misdemeanor unit, said the county needs more beds for drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs. He said one City Attorneys Office program sends minor offenders with substance abuse and mental health issues directly to a residential treatment facility without going to court. The program received a $2.5 million grant from Proposition 47 prison savings. At the county Probation Department, collaborative courts chief Gonzalo Mendez said case agents look for ways to motivate people into changing their behavior rather than threatening them with jail. We ask, How would you like to change your life? We tell them, We have a program for you, Mendez said. Drug court works when someone is willing and wanting treatment. The scare of prison we dont have that now. pauline.repard@sduniontribune Twitter: @pdrepard A 23-year-old man was convicted on Friday of first-degree murder and other charges in the 2016 shooting death of a Santee woman in her home, a killing the prosecutor said was a planned ambush. In total, an El Cajon Superior Court jury found Jose Luis Nunez Torres guilty of all 16 counts he faced, including robbery, burglary and auto theft for a string of crimes. In finding Torres guilty of murder in the death of 34-year-old Leticia Arroyo, the jury also found to be true the special-circumstances allegations that Torres had committed the killing during a burglary, a robbery and while lying in wait for the victim. The murder conviction coupled with the special circumstances carries a sentence of life in prison without parole. On top of that, Torres faces an extra term of 25 years to life in prison because he used a gun in the killing. His sentencing is set for Nov. 9. Advertisement The panel of seven men and five women deliberated for more than a day before reaching the verdict. Judge Evan Kirvan presided over Torres week-long trial. A memorial was set up for Leticia Arroyo after she was fatally shot in 2016 (David Hernandez/ San Diego Union-Tribune) About 10:40 p.m. Oct. 4, 2016, Arroyos roommate came home to find her gravely wounded in their two-story home on Mission Greens Road, south of Mission Gorge Road near Cuyamaca Street. She died before medics arrived. At trial, Deputy District Attorney James Koerber said Torres had persuaded an acquaintance, Jaen Avila, to drive him to Arroyos home to buy drugs, then shot Arroyo in the head and stole at least one bag of her meth. Torres attorney Michael Hawkins had argued that it happened the other way around: his client stayed in the car as the getaway driver while Avila went inside and killed Arroyo. 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 also scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 9, facing up to three years in prison. Avilas attorney, Gloria Collins, said there was no way her client 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. 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 fully knowing 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. Aside from the killing, Torres was also found guilty of breaking into a La Jolla house on Oct. 12, 2016 a little more than a week after Arroyos death 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. The prosecutor 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 was also charged with a third residential break-in, in which nothing was taken. Koerber said the robberies and homicide occurred while Torres was out of jail on bail following an arrest on 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 A San Diego federal judge who is overseeing the effort to reunite the nearly 2,600 children with their parents after being separated at the border gave tentative approval Friday to a plan that would give the families another shot at seeking asylum in the U.S. While the settlement agreement reached this week between the Trump administration and several civil rights attorneys still faces some procedural hurdles, U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw on Friday gave the parties the green light to get moving on asylum reviews right away. It seems to me this is an excellent proposal and that we ought to move forward as quickly as possible, Sabraw said during a now-weekly court hearing in the family separation litigation. U.S. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Scott Stewart agreed: The government is looking to make sure things move quickly. Advertisement The agreement is the product of weeks of negotiation between the government and attorneys across the country representing separated migrant families in a handful of lawsuits. For it to become official, the judge must certify the class, give proper notice to class members and allow for objection. Attorneys said they expect that process to move speedily without challenge. However, the asylum review process laid out in the settlement is likely to take much longer from a few weeks for some migrants to several months for others. The settlement affects parents and children still in the U.S. While the actual number was not discussed Friday, an estimate of well over 1,000 parents was given Thursday by Muslim Advocates and Legal Aid Justice Center, two of the civil rights groups involved in the litigation. Under the terms, children who were separated will be able to present their own asylum claims, a process that begins with an interview in which the child must establish a credible fear of persecution in his or her homeland. Most children did not get this opportunity upon being separated from their parents and placed into government shelters. Their parents, however, did get to apply for asylum. But the traumatization of being torn from their children made many unable to properly advocate for themselves during the credible fear interviews, and they were rejected, attorneys argued. The settlement will give those parents a second chance, if desired. Immigration authorities will review their cases, which will include a new interview and a chance to bring forth new evidence, to see if the claim should be reopened. Parents will also be able to aid in their childrens asylum claims. If the parents negative finding is upheld, the government has agreed to not remove him or her until the childs asylum process has been completed. The procedures set out in the agreement reflect how the process generally worked for family units prior to the Trump administrations practice of separation. The settlement does not cover the roughly 400 parents who were previously deported without their children; they will not be allowed to return to the U.S. to reassert claims. But the parents will be allowed to assist with their childrens cases from afar. At least 114 children have decided to try to remain in the U.S. rather than reunify with their families abroad. Many families say their homes in Central America are just too dangerous, said American Civil Liberties Union attorney Lee Gelernt. Another 58 so far have chosen to reunify, and plans are underway to fly them south. Other reunifications have already occurred. About 60 parents remain a complete mystery. Attorneys have been unable to locate them abroad. About 30 other children remain separated because the government found what they deemed substantial criminal backgrounds or other red flags for safety. The ACLU has begun to examine those circumstances and is expected to argue that some families were wrongly denied reunification. Sabraw is reviewing the first two challenges involving children ages 2 and 4. One has a mother with a warrant for being a gang member in her home country, and the other has a father with a prior conviction for threatening his wife with a machete. kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @kristinadavis 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. Advertisement 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. At least 12 people were confirmed dead and an estimated 900,000 were without power as Florence, now a tropical storm, lingered over the Carolinas and continued to dump torrential rain across the southeast coast. Several areas have already been smacked with more than two feet of rain since Florence made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane Friday morning. It inundated river and coastal cities with severe flooding even as its wind speeds weakened later in the afternoon. By Saturday evening, Florences rainfall had shown no signs of slowing down. Parts of North and South Carolina were forecast to receive an additional 10 to 15 inches in rain, with storm totals peaking around 30 to 40 inches. The National Hurricane Center warned Florence will continue to slam the coast with catastrophic flooding and prolonged significant river flooding. Advertisement If you are safe, stay put. We know people are anxious to get back home. But dont go back until this storm passes and you get the official clear, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said. Remember, most of the storm deaths occur from drowning in fresh water, often in cars. Dont drive across standing or moving water. By 5 p.m., Florence was located about 60 miles outside of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and was moving west at just 2 mph. Though the center is continuing to crawl inland over South Carolina, its main rain bands remain over the already drenched North Carolina. Homes are flooded after a storm surge from Hurricane Florence flooded the Neuse River September 14, 2018 in New Bern, North Carolina. (Chip Somodevilla /) First responders and volunteer rescuers plucked hundreds of residents trapped in the city of New Bern, where water levels climbed to 10 feet overnight. Another 150 people were still awaiting rescue in the river city Saturday morning. Twelve people have so far been reported dead in the storm, including a mother and a baby killed when a tree crashed into their home in Wilmington, N.C. Firefighters worked to free the trapped residents, but eventually fell to their knees in prayer when they realized there was little to be done. The husband was transported to a nearby hospital with critical injuries. A 77-year-old man in Lenoir County was reportedly knocked down by the wind and died after going outside to check on his hunting dogs. His body was discovered by family members outside his home. Another man in Lenoir County was electrocuted while trying to connect extension cords in the rain, according to Coopers office. Carteret County Director of Emergency Services Stephen Rea confirmed another two people died in Hakers Island N.C., ABC News reported. The victims did not drown, he said, declining to provide additional details. Florence continued to produce tropical-storm-force wind of up to 50 mph Saturday, though gradual weakening is forecast as it moves farther inland over the next several days. As many as 1.7 million people were urged to evacuate from coastal areas in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, though scores have stayed behind despite repeated warnings. As of early Saturday, nearly 800,000 people in North Carolina and more than 100,000 in South Carolina were without power. With News Wire Services First responders and volunteers battled through Florences brutal winds and torrential rain as they continued their rescue operations in North and South Carolina Saturday. Rescue crews used boats to carry more than 385 people from rising water in the river town of New Bern, North Carolina, while many of their neighbors still awaited help, according to city spokeswoman Colleen Roberts. The unrelenting rain brought on by the devastating storm, left scores of residents trapped, their homes slowly starting to fill with water. WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU, the City of New Bern tweeted to its scared citizens around 2 a.m. Friday. You may need to move up to the second story or to your attic but WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU. Sadie Marie Holt, among those rescued from the hard-hit town, said she stuck behind for a doctors appointment that was later cancelled. She tried to row out of her neighbor before the storm barreled into the North Carolina Coast Friday, but conditions had already deteriorated too much Thursday night. Advertisement The wind was so hard, the waters were so hard that, trying to get out, we got thrown into trailer, the 67-year-old recalled. We got thrown into mailboxes. Houses. Trees. Volunteers from all over North Carolina help rescue residents and their pets from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in New Bern, North Carolina. (Chip Somodevilla /) Around 310 from people from across nine different states were on the ground in New Bern Saturday to provide assistance and manpower to first responders, Todd Terrell, founder of the Cajun Navy, told ABC News. He runs the informal volunteer group, made up of mostly private boat owners, who have long provided assistance in search and rescue efforts. Terrell said theyve been forced to use air mattresses in place of boats, which the winds were toppling and it was making it unsafe for us. Instead, they floated people out with the mattresses. New Bern, home to about 300,000 people, has seen more than 10 feet of storm surge and nearly 10 inches of rain since Friday evening. In North Carolinas Onslow County, first responders have made 20 home rescues, though another 200 to 300 people still need to be saved. Were not going to stop until we reach all of these folks and get them to a safe shelter, County Manager David Cotton told Good Morning America on Saturday. Right now we are actively in the process of rescuing those that we can reach and we have a plan to reach the rest. More North Carolina residents and several animals were also rescued Friday night and into Saturday morning in Carteret, the states third largest county. Another 70 people were rescued from a hotel in Jacksonville Friday night after Hurricane Florence threatened its structural integrity with its fierce winds. As many as 1.7 million were urged to evacuate from coastal areas in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, though scores have stayed behind despite officials repeated warning to flee for safety. As of early Saturday, more than 900,000 people were without power across the Carolinas. The National Guard has so far deployed members and another 2,900 active duty are also on standby. The Coast Guard meanwhile has deployed around 7,500, according to FEMA. Catastrophic flooding has already devastated parts of North Carolina, which sustained 2 feet of rain in some areas, with especially hard hit spots seeing as much as 40 inches. Flooding near the Appalchians has become so severe that rescue operations were suspended early Saturday morning, according to ABC News. Forecasters have predicted landslides, courtesy of the record-breaking flooding. Florence, which was downgraded to a tropical storm Friday afternoon, has so far claimed seven fatalities including a mother and baby killed by a falling tree in Wilmington. With News Wire Services A Florida prisoner brutally murdered his cellmate, allegedly strangling and mutilating him before strolling into the dining hall with the victims ear hanging around his neck. Guards at Columbia Correctional Institutions annex remained mostly unaware of the horrific acts until the suspect, who has not been identified, turned up for breakfast sporting the gruesome necklace, several prison sources told the Miami Herald. A spokesperson for the Department of Corrections identified the murdered inmate as 58-year-old Larry Mark, who had been serving a life sentence for murdering a cab driver in Broward County. Mark and another suspect in 1981 hailed a taxi and repeatedly bludgeoned before making off with his $35 engagement ring. The suspect, per the Herlads sources, grew frustrated with Mark and then seemingly went ballistic. After he strangled his cellmate, he gouged his victims eyes out and dropped them in a cup. Advertisement The unnamed killer, a recent transfer from death row at a state prison, reportedly told others at the facility he intended to eat or drink them later on. He also sawed off his victims ear and showed it off to fellow inmates before tying it around his neck and wrapping Mark up in a sheet. It happened just hours before an unrelated gang brawl erupted in another building on the compound, located about 30 miles west of Jacksonville. The dorms in the prison which has recently been hit by staffing shortages are often times staffed by a single officer, responsible for supervising hundreds of inmates. Its not immediately clear why guards were not aware an inmate was missing from breakfast. Julie Jones, a rep for the Florida Department of Corrections told the paper that Any loss of life at the hands of an inmate is intolerable, and we are working with our partners at FDLE to investigate this death and ensure anyone responsible is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Columbia, which boasts a total capacity of about 3,000 people, houses some of the most dangerous criminals in the state. The Texas Board of Education voted to remove historical figures including Hillary Clinton and Helen Keller from their required social studies curriculum in a bid to streamline content taught in history classes across the state. The preliminary vote held Friday was not final and amendments can still be submitted, The Dallas Morning News reported. And teachers will still be allowed to teach about such figures should officials approve the new curriculum during the final vote in November. Barbara Cargill, a Republican member of the board told the newspaper that the recommendation to eliminate Helen Keller and Hillary Clinton was made by [Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills] work groups. While the board did agree with the work groups recommendations, they remained unaware of these specific deletions even after speaking with teachers. Advertisement The 15-member volunteer work group developed a rubric for grading historical figures, ranking them based on on who is essential and who isnt. It included questions like Did the person trigger a watershed change and Will their impact stand the test of time? Out of a possible 20 points, Keller nabbed seven and Clinton scored a measly five, according to the Dallas Morning News. High Schoolers have previously been required to learn about Clinton former secretary of state, first lady and the first female to win a major partys political nomination in history class. And third-grade social studies teachers have long taught students about Kellers life of activism. She graduated from college and became an author despite being deaf and blind. The volunteer group also agreed to do away with Barry Goldwater and Baptist Pastor Billy Graham, who the board later voted to keep. Officials also voted to keep references of Judeo-Christian values and reinsert Biblical figures like Moses as an influence on American politics but decided against keeping philosopher Thomas Hobbes as an influential figure. Stormy Daniels is free to talk, so President Trump should be free to walk, his lawyer said in a court filing Friday. The lawyer, Charles Harder, claimed in the new paperwork that Daniels was wrong to argue earlier this week she still deserves her day in court against both the President and his former fixer Michael Cohen even though they agreed to drop a multimillion-dollar arbitration action against her. In her Monday filing, Daniels argued through her lawyer Michael Avenatti that she has a right to prove her $130,000 hush-money deal struck shortly before the 2016 election was actually illegal, as opposed to never formed. Avenatti said such a finding is necessary to protect Daniels from any attempt by Cohen to recoup the money and allow her to seek attorneys fees. Advertisement In his Friday filing, Harder said Daniels claim, if one exists, is with Cohen and his shell company Essential Consultants, not the President. Mr. Trump takes no position regarding the $130,000, which Essential Consultants, LLC paid to Plaintiff. Any dispute between Plaintiff and EC regarding the $130,000 does not create an actual controversy between Plaintiff and Mr. Trump, Harder wrote. He further argued Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is not entitled to any attorneys fees from Trump. Both (Daniels) and Mr. Trump are in agreement that Mr. Trump did not sign the Settlement Agreement, has never taken the position that he is a party to the Settlement Agreement, and has never affirmatively sought to invoke any rights under the Settlement Agreement in any action, Harder wrote. Even so, a dispute over attorneys fees is not sufficient to create subject matter jurisdiction where it does not otherwise exist, he argued. It was last weekend that Trump reversed course in the case and said in a filing he no longer sought enforcement of the 2016 privacy pact. Trump previously tweeted his support for the arbitration action against Daniels. The about-face came after Cohen was convicted of campaign-finance violations he claims were directed by Trump and amid a stepped-up push by Avenatti to depose the President. Harder filed paperwork last Saturday saying the President was backing down and would not bring any action, proceeding or claim against Daniels to keep her quiet about her claims she had a sexual liaison with Trump in 2006. Mr. Trump hereby stipulates that he does not, and will not, contest Ms. Cliffords assertion that the Settlement Agreement was never formed, or in the alternative, should be rescinded, Harder wrote. On Monday, Avenatti blasted the move as an attempt to skirt scrutiny. We insist there be a finding of illegality as it relates to the contract, Avenatti told The News in a Monday phone interview. This offer by Cohen and Trump falls far short of being satisfactory. They are trying to get out from underneath the case without the true facts and evidence disclosed to the American public. Their stunt will not work, he said. Michael Avenatti is seen outside the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Federal Courthouse on May 30, 2018 in New York. Avenatti, the attorney of Stormy Daniels, is opposing attempts by President Trump and Michael Cohen to have Daniels lawsuit in federal court in California dismissed. (Alec Tabak / for New York Daily News) Avenatti wrote in his filing that a dismissal of Daniels case on mootness grounds would not only have financial implications, it would also allow the President to continue to refute her claim he authorized the payment to conceal information from voters in the 2016 election. Defendants have already received the benefit of the settlement agreement by preventing plaintiff from speaking prior to the 2016 election and thereby ensuring victory, Avenatti argued in the new paperwork. Mr. Cohen is a criminal. And Mr. Trump is a co-conspirator. They entered into the settlement agreement and paid the $130,000 to benefit Mr. Trumps campaign and conceal information from voters in the 2016 election, Avenatti wrote. The court cannot simply allow defendants to exit the case without facing any true consequences or a meaningful inquiry into the truth, Avenatti argues. Terminating the case now after all of the lies, deceit and chicanery set forth above would be premature and would erode public confidence in the courts, he argued. A federal judge in Los Angeles has not yet ruled on the Trump dismissal request, which followed shortly after a similar filing from Cohen last week. In his covenant not to sue signed Sept. 7, Cohen said Essential Consultants reserved the right to seek reimbursement for the $130,000. A hearing in the case is set for Sept. 24. An ambulance with its lights and sirens on attempted to make a U-turn and collided with a sedan Friday evening, the fourth crash in two days involving emergency responders. No serious injuries were reported in any of the four crashes Thursday and Friday, including the crash involving the ambulance, which happened about 5:45 p.m. Friday at Euclid Avenue and Lyon Street in the Oak Park neighborhood, San Diego police Officer Robert Heims said. Two paramedics and the occupants of the Honda Accord complained of pain and were taken to a hospital for evaluation, Heims said. There were no patients in the back of the ambulance when it crashed. The ambulance driver had turned on the vehicles lights and sirens to respond to a medical call just before the collision, according to Heims. As traffic around the emergency vehicle stopped, it attempted to make a U-turn and collided with the Accord, which apparently did not stop. Advertisement A California Highway Patrol SUV stopped on a freeway on-ramp in Chula Vista was struck Friday afternoon. (Courtesy of OnScene TV) It was the second crash involving an emergency responder on Friday and the fourth within two days. A little before 5 p.m. Friday, a woman driving four children in a Nissan SUV struck a California Highway Patrol SUV stopped on an Interstate 805 on-ramp in Chula Vista. No injuries were reported in that crash. On Thursday, two San Diego Police Department cruisers were involved in crashes, police said. One happened around 4 p.m. in Grant Hill, where at least two people sustained minor injuries. The other happened less than two hours later in Skyline where an officer responding to a 911 call attempted to make a U-turn from east to west on Skyline Drive near 69th Street. As the officer put on his lights and sirens and began to turn, his cruiser was struck by a Kia Soul. The officer complained of pain to his right shoulder, while the five people inside the Soul three adults, an 8-year-old and a 2-year-old were all taken to a hospital for evaluation, SDPD Lt. Mike Ramsay said. All injuries were considered minor. Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com A brush fire scorched about 100 open acres Friday afternoon on the grounds of Camp Pendleton, officials from the military base said. The flames erupted for unknown reasons some time before 3 p.m. deep inside of the Zulu impact area, a firing range near the center of the Marine Corps base, officials said in a tweet. The fire is burning deep inside of the Zulu impact area. It poses no threat at this time to anything. Smoke will be visible the rest of the day. https://t.co/FObsUOqc98 Camp Pendleton (@MCIWPendletonCA) September 14, 2018 It poses no threat at this time to anything, Marine Corps officials tweeted a little after 3:15 p.m. Smoke will be visible the rest of the day. Advertisement The blaze grew to between 75 and 100 acres by about 6:45 p.m., but was still not a threat to structures or anything else, base officials said. Firefighters were expected to monitor the flames through the night. Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com A man used a threatening note to rob an El Cajon credit union Friday morning, according to the FBI, which asked for public help to identify the suspect. Dressed in a polo shirt and shorts, the man approached a teller and handed over the demand not just before 10:50 a.m. at the Mission Federal Credit Union branch at 760 North Johnson Ave., FBI San Diego spokeswoman Davene Butler said. The bandit did not display a weapon, but threatened to use one in the note, according to the FBI. The teller handed over an undisclosed amount of cash. According to witnesses, the suspect was a 6-foot tall white man with a slim build. He had short hair, a goatee and appeared to be in his 50s. Advertisement His clothing was described as a blue striped polo shirt and khaki shorts. One surveillance photo showed him with sunglasses on his head, and it appeared he wore low-cut Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars or a similar shoe. The robbery was at least the second this week that the FBI was investigating. On Tuesday, a man who appeared to be in his 60s also used a demand note to rob a Wells Fargo branch at a Clairemont Mesa East shopping center. Anyone with information about eithrobbery was asked to call the FBI San Diego field office at (858) 320-1800 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. Tipsters can contact the agencies online at www.fbi.gov/tips or www.sdcrimestoppers.org. Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com Firefighters battled at least two small blazes that broke out Friday evening behind the Ikea in Mission Valley, authorities said. The initial fire, about the size of a car when crews first arrived on scene, was reported a little after 5:25 p.m. near Fenton Parkway and Northside Drive, San Diego city spokesman Jose Ysea said. It was burning between the back of Ikea and the trolley tracks running just east of the Fenton Parkway trolley stop. According to the CHP, several drivers on Interstate 8 reported seeing the flames and smoke. It wasnt clear if trolley service was effected. As firefighters battled the initial flames, a second fire popped up about 50 yards to the west, Ysea said. Advertisement It wasnt immediately clear what sparked either blaze, but one witness reported seeing someone igniting the first fire, Ysea said. No structures were threatened by the flames, and no injuries were immediately reported. Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com Two people were killed Saturday morning when the vehicle they were in crashed into a tree in the Torrey Highlands area of San Diego. Officers responded at 1:40 a.m. to the intersection of Carmel Valley Road and Torrey Del Mar Drive and located a crashed Honda Accord and two victims, according to San Diego police Officer Robert Heims. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene, Heims said. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Stay up to date on the latest news and the local entertainment scene by subscribing to The New Mexican's email lists. Abel, who thanked sponsors, including Tourism Western Australia and Cruise Broome, said the people here in Broome have just gone out of their way to showcase their beautiful destination. Cruise calls at 45 Australian destinations She said in the last financial year 45 Australian ports and anchorages welcomed cruise ships and that Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Burnie and Hobart all had record seasons. Our association has been very active since we met in Mooloolaba last year and our partnerships with CLIA and the New Zealand Cruise Association have gone from strength to strength, she said. Economic impact report to come Next month we will be joining CLIA Australasia in releasing the 2017-18 economic impact report. We continue to hold our destination workshops around the country and it is exciting to share the commitment of the cruise lines in getting passengers immersed in their ports of call. ACA 2019 bound for Geelong At the conclusion of the conference, Abel announced that ACA 2019 will be held in Geelong, Victorias second largest city just over an hours drive from Melbourne, on September 4-6. We are seeing the regional ports playing an increasingly important role in the growth of the cruise tourism sector in Australia, so it was important to us to continue to reflect that in our choice of a conference venue for 2019, she said. . " " . - . " " 23 9.00 12.00 " 1". " " 23 ... Indias leading cinematographer Santosh Sivan shared a meme on Twitter saying that producers are not having the big heart to pay their technicians but they happily offer good remuneration to heroines. Santosh faced the heat from Tamil film industry for this meme, especially from J Satish Kumar, producer ofand Which movie was hit because of you alone? Shame on your tweet. Don't make cheap comments on producers, lots of youngsters are more talented than you. I strongly condemn. You don't know the pain of a producer who invests without knowing what will be the result #ban#santoshsivan, tweeted Satish Kumar who also spoke to Santosh Sivan over the phone and sorted out the issue. Parrikar, 62, was flown to Delhi on Saturday for a follow-up treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. According to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sources, he is scheduled to undergo a series of tests in the afternoon at the AIIMS. The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, an alliance partner in the Manohar Parrikar-led government in Goa, today said it was "high time" the chief minister handed over the charge to the seniormost minister during his absence in the state. Parrikar has been undergoing treatment for his pancreatic ailment. Earlier this year, he had undergone a three-month-long treatment in the US. He had formed a Cabinet Advisory Committee to guide the state during his absence. The MGP, with its three legislators, has given support to the BJP to form the government in the state along with the Goa Forward Party and other independent legislators. Talking to reporters Saturday morning, MGP president Deepak Dhavalikar said, "It is high time Parrikar hands over the charge to the seniormost minister for smooth functioning of the government." He said in the last eight months, the government has not been able to function smoothly. Dhavalikar said Parrikar can remain the chief minister and hand over the charge to someone else in his absence. When asked whether he wanted his elder brother and MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar to be given the charge, he said, "I don't know...let them tell who is the seniormost. I am just saying that whoever is given charge should be the seniormost. Let them tell who is the seniormost." Sudin Dhavalikar, who is the the Public Works Department Minister, is the seniormost member in the Parrikar-led cabinet. The MGP chief also ruled out any possibility of the MGP's merger with the BJP. "There is no question of merger. We are not interested in the merger. It will never happen. We have built the party over several years and it is the hope for future of Goa's politics. We have 12-13 per cent vote share in the state, so where is the question of merging the party," Dhavalikar added. 'Nowhere to worship': Crackdown bedevils China's Catholics PUYANG, China, Sept 15 (AFP) Sep 15, 2018 A government sign outside a Catholic church in central China warns that children are not allowed to attend mass. "Illegal" churches are being bulldozed. Priests are handing over personal information about their flocks to authorities. Roman Catholics in Henan province are running out of space to worship as the atheist Communist government steps up a campaign to "Sinicize" religions and demolishes old neighbourhoods to make way for development projects. The campaign has intensified even as the Vatican and Beijing, which severed ties in 1951, are reportedly close to resolving a longstanding dispute over who gets to appoint bishops. The standoff has split China's roughly 12 million Catholics between those who follow government-approved prelates and those in "underground" pro-Rome churches. A tattered poster of Jesus and a few wooden pews beneath bricks and broken planks are the only evidence that a church once stood in Puyang city before it was deemed an "illegal construction". Liu Xueshang, a weathered old farmer who spent his life savings to help build it, searched fruitlessly through the fallen branches of the church's crushed pomegranate trees for its cross. "The church here is now facing a terrible future. We have nowhere to worship and don't know what we'll do," said Liu. Elsewhere in the province, nearly two dozen worshippers and clergymen interviewed by AFP detailed unprecedented measures imposed this year under new religious regulations. Crosses have been removed from church tops, printed religious materials and holy items confiscated, and church-run kindergartens closed. Churches have been required to display the national flag and constitution but take down religious imagery from public-facing spaces. In recent months, minors, college students and even infants have been barred from entering all church premises. On a recent Sunday at the officially-sanctioned Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Anyang, an official from the State Administration for Religious Affairs said she came to "inspect" as 800 people attended mass. "Catholicism is not native to China," she said. And in Zhifang village south of Puyang, authorities welded shut the entrance of a kindergarten in a church's courtyard. The school was shuttered because "they want to prevent any cases of the church being involved in education", said a village leader who declined to give his name. Churches have also been told to hand over detailed information about each of their members, including their finances and ties to "foreign influences", according to paperwork seen by AFP. One senior priest who requested anonymity said the data would be used to set up an online religious management system and monitoring app. - Weeping in ruins - Divulging the personal details of churchgoers has been "a huge emotional burden on our clergy, who see it as a sin," he said, stating that guilt-ridden priests have come to him in tears. Most of the new measures were developed to rein in Protestantism, which authorities believe has been growing "too quickly" in Henan, he cited officials as saying, although Catholics are finding themselves targets too. Many Catholics in Henan, in eastern China, are paying close attention to the negotiations between Beijing and the Vatican. "We hope the religion problems can be solved, we have the same faith, we want stability, we want to unite," an underground church member said. Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said in a brief statement to AFP that "the dialogue between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China continues". The Henan and national religious affairs bureaus did not answer requests for comment. The crackdown in the province is amplified by the razing of old districts where most churches are located to make way for development projects. The rubble of the Puyang church lies in a construction site for high-rise apartments. The decades-old church was built with official permission and had a license to operate, but authorities abruptly declared it illegal a few months ago, said Liu, the farmer and local village leader. Without warning, bulldozers tore it down one night. "The next day, all the old church members came and sat here, weeping," he said. A meagre compensation was not enough to secure a new place. Anthony Lam, a Chinese Catholic church expert at Hong Kong's Holy Spirit Study Centre, said urban development is being "used as an excuse to demolish churches". - 'Just the beginning' - Desperate underground priests have approached state-sanctioned colleagues for help to secure a place of worship in exchange for nominal oversight. A state-approved priest said the urbanisation and demolitions mean "the space in which the underground can exist is getting smaller and smaller". "We're speaking with the underground now -- so as to protect them, not control them. This allows the government to know we're monitoring them. This is our innovation in Henan." Many priests fear the restrictions will spread elsewhere in China. "For many years, our feeling has been that Henan is an area of experimentation for the central government," said a senior clergyman with close ties to the government. "We think this is just the beginning." System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd9622848)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fda0024c8)', '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(0x7f3fd9622848)') 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(0x7f3fda0024c8)') 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(0x7f3fd961f110)') 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(0x7f3fda0024c8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fda0024c8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fc8a9e948)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd9f85788)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd9f85788)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd9b55d18)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fda3d60c0)', '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(0x7f3fd9b55d18)') 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(0x7f3fda3d60c0)') 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(0x7f3fda3cfd78)') 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(0x7f3fda3d60c0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fda3d60c0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd8cba040)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd9b54be0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd9b54be0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd9859000)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd8cb81f0)', '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(0x7f3fd9859000)') 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(0x7f3fd8cb81f0)') 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(0x7f3fd90afd78)') 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(0x7f3fd8cb81f0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd8cb81f0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd8cb88d8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd9636f68)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd9636f68)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd918b938)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd90a9808)', '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(0x7f3fd918b938)') 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(0x7f3fd90a9808)') 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(0x7f3fd919aaf8)') 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(0x7f3fd90a9808)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd90a9808)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd8cb91d8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd8cb8830)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd8cb8830)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd918bb38)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd9691020)', '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(0x7f3fd918bb38)') 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(0x7f3fd9691020)') 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(0x7f3fd919acf8)') 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(0x7f3fd9691020)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd9691020)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd8cb8c20)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd9627778)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd9627778)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd95edb60)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fc4bdc2a8)', '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(0x7f3fd95edb60)') 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(0x7f3fc4bdc2a8)') 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(0x7f3fd9b352a0)') 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(0x7f3fc4bdc2a8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fc4bdc2a8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fc14eb1e8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd9606630)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd9606630)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2018 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement US says denuclearization talks ongoing with NKorea Washington, Sept 14 (AFP) Sep 14, 2018 Talks with North Korea are ongoing over the country's potential denuclearization, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday, despite the appearance that discussions had stalled. "We are still continuing to have many conversations with the DPRK about how to effectuate achieving all the commitments that were made during the Singapore summit," Pompeo told journalists. At a landmark meeting June 12 with US President Donald Trump, North Korea's Kim Jong Un pledged 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. Last month, Trump abruptly canceled a planned visit by Pompeo to Pyongyang. But new ground appears to have been broken, as the White House talks of a possible second summit with the US president. Top US diplomat Pompeo on Friday said the United States is "as committed as ever to continuing to enforce those UN Security Council resolutions." "We believe they are central to President Trump's efforts to convince Chairman Kim that full, final denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is necessary." OAS chief says should not rule out Venezuela 'military intervention' Cucuta, Colombia, Sept 15 (AFP) Sep 15, 2018 The head of the Organization of American States on Friday said "military intervention" to "overthrow" Nicolas Maduro's Venezuelan government must not be ruled out for the country mired in economic and humanitarian crisis. "With regards to a military intervention aimed at overthrowing the regime of Nicolas Maduro, I think we should not exclude any option," OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro told journalists in the Colombian city of Cucuta, near the border with Venezuela. His comments follow a report in The New York Times last Saturday that officials from US President Donald Trump's administration met secretly with Venezuelan military officers to discuss plans to oust Maduro, but eventually decided not to help. Almagro -- dubbed an "interventionist" by Maduro -- said Caracas was committing "crimes against humanity" against its citizens. "Suffering of the people, in the induced exodus that it is driving, puts diplomatic actions in first place, but we should not rule out any action," he said. The OAS leader on Friday ended a three-day visit to Colombia concerning the wave of migrants fleeing there from oil-rich but impoverished Venezuela. Venezuela is mired in a deep economic crisis that has triggered the departure of 1.6 million Venezuelans since 2015, according to the United Nations. Colombia has received more than one million of the migrants. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has said her government complained to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that "individual officials" have been portraying "a normal migratory flow as a humanitarian crisis to justify an intervention." Almagro urged the international community to "not permit a dictatorship in Venezuela" because it provokes regional instability in humanitarian and security terms, alongside the effects on Venezuelans. The Venezuelan people "have paid a more than high price to recover their freedom, to recover their democracy, and have not yet recovered it. The international community has to definitely respond to this," Almagro said. In August 2017, media reports said Trump asked top advisors about the potential for a US invasion of Venezuela. Around the same time, he said publicly that he would not rule out a "military option" to end the chaos there. The collapse of Venezuela's oil-based economy under the increasingly authoritarian Maduro has led to dire shortages of food and medicine. Maduro has angrily blamed the US for many of his problems. raa/yow/mdo/it/rma THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY Indian forces kill five suspected rebels in Kashmir Srinagar, India, Sept 15 (AFP) Sep 15, 2018 Indian forces in Kashmir killed five suspected rebels Saturday, during the disputed territory's third major gun battle in as many days. Hundreds of people thronged a site where security forces had besieged a group of militants, throwing rocks at soldiers in a bid to help the rebels escape, witnesses said. One protester was also killed in the resulting clashes with troops in Qazigund village, north of Kashmir's capital Srinagar. Kashmir, where rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces for decades, has seen a spike in violence in recent months. Three rebels were killed and 12 security forces wounded on Thursday during a clash in southern Reasi district. Two others were shot dead the same day in the northern town of Sopore. Kashmir Police said the rebels killed on Saturday belonged to the Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba militant groups, and had been involved in the killing of two bank employees and police. The operation was "a huge success" for security forces, police said. Government forces were conducting a search operation after an intelligence tip when the rebels opened fire, sparking the siege, police said. Anti-militant operations have been stepped up since rebels shot dead four police. There have also been rising tensions over a Supreme Court hearing on privileges for Kashmiris that was delayed due to the risk of violence. Kashmir has been divided since the end of British colonial rule in 1947 but both India and Pakistan claim the former Himalayan kingdom in full. India has about 500,000 soldiers in the zone it controls, where separatist groups demand independence or a merger with Pakistan. The UN human rights chief last month called for an investigation into alleged abuses by Indian security forces in Kashmir -- claims that were later dismissed as "fallacious" by New Delhi. Iraq parliament elects pro-Iran list candidate as speaker Baghdad, Sept 15 (AFP) Sep 15, 2018 The Iraqi parliament elected the candidate of a pro-Iran list as speaker on Saturday, paving the way for the formation of a government more than four months after legislative polls. The country has been in political paralysis since the May 12 ballot, but the election of a speaker is expected to solidify new parliamentary alliances. Iraq has a proportional system aimed at preventing a slide back into dictatorship following the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein. The lists elected during legislative polls must first form coalitions. The bloc with the most members appoints the prime minister and presides over the formation of the next government. The pro-Iran bloc led by Hadi al-Ameri's Conquest Alliance -- a coalition of anti-jihadist veterans close to Tehran -- looked positioned to take the lead Saturday after the election of its candidate, Mohammed al-Halbusi. The new speaker was governor of the Sunni-majority province of Anbar, a key battleground in the war against the Islamic State group, before his election to parliament on a local list in May. Born in 1981, he will be the youngest speaker of parliament in Iraq's history. His two deputies were expected to be chosen later on Saturday. During the vote, Halbusi pleaded for "real reforms", particularly after demonstrations last week in the southern oil-rich city of Basra turned deadly as protesters demanded improved public services and railed against corruption. In Iraq, the speaker of parliament is always Sunni Arab while the prime minister is picked from the country's Shiite majority and the president is a Kurd. Parliamentary coalitions -- which bring together lists of Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds to form the largest group -- must agree on the selection of the three positions. Halbusi ran against three other candidates, including Vice President Osama al-Nujaifi and former Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi. Obeidi was backed by the list of outgoing Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who said Thursday he would not seek a second term as his political support crumbled over the violence in Basra. 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. Anger in Basra flared earlier this month over a growing health crisis, after more than 30,000 people were hospitalised by pollution in the city's water supply. Protesters flooded the streets for five days, clashing with security forces and torching the provincial headquarters, the Iranian consulate and the offices of armed groups. Twelve demonstrators were killed in the clashes, with rights groups accusing security forces of using excessive force. The two New Zealand companies Ravensdown and Ballance Agri-Nutrients, now the only two clients of phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara in the world, are defending their purchases on social media. Here is what is wrong with what they claim. Published: 13.09 - 2018 21:29 The last couple of days, the two companies Ravensdown and Ballance Agri-Nutrients in New Zealand, both importing phosphate rock from a Moroccan state-owned company in occupied Western Sahara, have been busy trying to explain their trade. The responses have been published through their websites, social media and comments to journalists. The replies are either not addressing the question, or erroneous. Now, the Green Party of New Zealand has asked for a select committee enquiry to investigate the New Zealand imports. The topic has come to the surface as a series of large stories have this week appeared in the important online news website Stuff. It is useful to go through the background to the issue, and what the companies are actually stating. Is New Zealand the only country left to import? From 2019, two New Zealand farmer owned co-operatives will be the only in the world to finance Moroccos occupation of Western Sahara through phosphate rock imports. Since 2012, companies from the following countries have stopped importing phosphates from Western Sahara: USA, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Uruguay, Lithuania, Spain, Australia, South Korea, Brazil, Ukraine. The US/Canadian import stop was announced in August 2018, and will take effect from end of this year. The remaining importers are: 1) New Zealand 2) India. The importer in India is a subsidiary of the Moroccan state owned phosphate company. So practically, the only external clients in the world of the mine are two farmer-owned co-operatives in New Zealand. From 15 global importers in 2012, the number is now down to three, two of which are from New Zealand. Many of the companies that pulled out stated it was due to concerns of human rights or international law. The ones registered on stock-exhanges pulled out after pressure from international banks and public/private pension funds. The New Zealand companies are different - they are not owned by large banks owned by farmers. Seemingly harder to convince of the legal and reputational risk. What volumes are we talking about? Western Sahara Resource Watch has carried out a daily monitoring of vessels since 2012. Based on assessing each vessels cargo capacity, WSRW can establish the estimated cargo for each of the two NZ companies annually since then. Based on the phosphate rock market price, it is also possible to estimate the value. The two New Zealand co-operatives have during the years 2012-2018 imported 2 million tonnes of phosphate rock, at a value of over a quarter billion USD. The trade is detailed on WSRWs annual reports. Our latest report about the global trade with the problematic commodity - including to New Zealand, published in April 2018. What is done by the Government of New Zealand? The New Zealand government played a highly constructive role while in the UN Security Council, advocating for the right to self-determination for the people of Western Sahara. When it comes to trade from Western Sahara, the government states that it has made clear to those companies importing phosphate rock from Western Sahara that they must comply with international law". This formulation has reappeared from the NZ government through the years. No reference, however, is made to whether the Government is actually advising the two co-operatives regarding what international law actually says. NZ has a responsibility under the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights to advice companies on such matters. So while the NZ government perfectly defends the right to self-determination in the UN, it is not clear from the statements from the NZ government as to whether it has informed the companies what this right means for the companies. The consequence is that the companies repeatedly claim in the public domain that they have received advice from the NZ government, while that is not really the case. As long as the government of NZ does not clarify how it interprets international law to be applicable in Western Sahara, the companies can then invent their own version of what international law states. How do Ballance Agri-Nutrients and Ravensdown argue? Ballance states in its most recent annual report that it has conducted due diligence. Ravensdown states it conduct(s) our due diligence with OCP. However, none of the two companies have ever made a public statement as to why it believes the Moroccan state-owned phosphate mining company OCP has a legal right to sell them the resource from the neighbouring and occupied territory in the first place. None of them have ever answered as to whether it has asked the people of Western Sahara for permission to buy the resource. Ravensdown's clarification that it has made the due diligence in partnership with the supplier illustrates the meager approach. Would one get reliable data if one asks a thief for data on how the owner of a robbed house is beneficial or legal? There are several weak elements in the narrative that the two companies present: Problematic argumentation 1: Do not understand the status of the territory The companies in question do not seem to recognize that Morocco has no right to be in the territory. In a letter to Western Sahara Campaign New Zealand on 23 February 2016, the Communications Manager of Ravensdown noted that "We will continue to [...] assessing campaigners' perspectives on both sides of the separatist/unification debate". The terms Separatism and unification are terms from the Moroccan narrative. Western Sahara has never been part of Morocco. This was latest clarified in judgments by the Court of Justice of the EU, and this aspect is a corner stone in the recent South Africa judgment on the NZ-bound shipment. There is no debate on this internationally. Morocco argues for Western Sahara to be united with Morocco, and labels all others separatists. One cannot have separatism for a territory that no country in the world recognize as part of Morocco. Ravensdown applies the term area of Western Sahara. It would be as imprecise as saying the area of New Zealand. Western Sahara is a territory with international borders, recognized by the UN as a territory under decolonization. Ravensdown compares the situation of Western Sahara to other non-self-governing territories under dispute, such as Gibraltar (administrated by UK, but disputed by Spain), and the Falkland Islands (administered by UK, but disputed by Argentina). However, issue of Western Sahara can under no way be compared to the ones mentioned. Gibraltar and the Falklands are both controlled by UK, a state that is recognized by the UN as the administering power of the two colonized territories. The UK has on both cases made sure that their presence respects the right to self-determination. A referendum on independence in Gibraltar in 2002, and a referendum on independence in Falklands in 2013 confirmed that the peoples of those two territories wanted to remain non-self-governing under colonial rule. Western Sahara, on the other hand, is illegally occupied by a third party state which is not recognized as the administering/colonial power by the UN. Morocco has no intention to allow the people of the territory to self-determine. It would be more correct to compare Western Sahara to East Timor under Indonesian illegal occupation or Namibia under South African illegal occupation. Problematic argumentation 2: Do not represent correctly the conflict In a twitter and Facebook message on 12 September 2018, Ravensdown wrote: The territorial dispute between Algeria, Morocco and the local population has been going on for over 30 years. This is not a conflict between Algeria and Morocco. It is a conflict between Morocco and the people of Western Sahara. The Moroccan invasion is labelled an occupation by the UN General Assembly. Labelling this a conflict between Morocco and Algeria, is applying the very same and highly political narrative as the Moroccan government is doing. Ravensdown refers to the conflict as a post-colonial dispute. That is incorrect. The dispute is not post-colonial, as the territory is still treated as a colonized territory according to the UN. This goes into the core of the matter: the conflict is one of decolonization that is prevented by Morocco. Problematic argumentation 3: Failure of applying the law applicable to resource activities in Western Sahara Ravensdown writes the following: The UNs framework of managing resources in territories like these is that: 1. The operations should promote economic advancement and provide direct and indirect benefits to the inhabitants of the territory and to the territory itself 2. Working conditions should be non-discriminatory 3. The operations should be conducted rationally and sustainably to ensure long-term access to resources. It is not clear how Ravensdown has come to this conclusion. The main aspect of dealing with the resources of a non-self-governing territory is that the peoples right to self-determination is respected. This was the essence of the Court of Justice of the EU judgment in 2016, which in turn the court case in South Africa was based on. The entire aspect of self-determination the right to choose is totally omitted from the companies reasoning. The two companies have never answered to the question on whether they have achieved the consent of the people upon dealing with Morocco. Ravensdown notes that it is satisfied that OCP does comply with the UN framework at this time. However, again, there is no reference to what UN framework it refers to. OCP does nothing to ascertain that the exploitation is in line with the wishes of the people, which is the principle requirement when it comes to matters of a non-self-governing territory. Ravensdown notes that We are confident that domestic and international law currently permits importing phosphate rock from Western Sahara. It is correct that New Zealand has no embargo in place. But stating that international law allows the trade of Western Saharas resources suggests that Ravensdown has not read the judgments from the Court of Justice of the EU nor the judgment in South Africa which intercepted their cargo in 2017. Problematic argumentation 4: Applies the wrong argument In order to defend the operations, Ballance Agri-Nutrients and Ravensdown consistently refer to the benefit of the local population. Most of the companies responses is regarding the aspect of benefits. It should be noted that a) This is not a relevant argument when looking at the applicable law. The irrelevance of benefits is mentioned by the Court of Justice of the EU, judgment 2016, paragraph 106. b) The data/narrative presented is methodologically very weak, depending on figures presented by the exporter OCP which operates illegally in the territory. It is very little credible that 76% of workers are Saharawi, as Ballance claims in a video; c) even if accepting to enter into a discussion on benefits, one quickly finds that it is not beneficial (see for instance this statement from the Norwegian Governments public pension fund regarding its several hundred million dollar sales of dirty shares in a phosphate importer, stating that "OCPs employment of some Saharawi does not compensate for the fact that the territory is being depleted of its resources and that the great majority of the Saharawi population is not benefiting from this"). In order to give arguments for continued trade with Western Sahara, Ravensdown has posted a video that displays Moroccan propaganda (portraits of the king and Moroccan flags) on events on occupied land.The aspect of New Zealand companies claiming what is beneficial to the people of Western Sahara is rather insulting to the people of Western Sahara. Notice that neither Ballance nor Ravensdown address what it has done to ascertain the consent of the people to operate there which is the key legal requirement. Ravensdowns opinion of local benefits is actually irrelevant. If the owner of a stolen goods do not allow property to be sold, then it is illegal and unethical to buy it. The insulting approach vis-a-vis the people of Western Sahara is clear also when the companies use a OCP propaganda video to legitimise its claims of local support. The video (see screenshots to the right) repeatedly shows images of the king and the Moroccan flag, even though the operation is on occupied land. What did the companies state to WSRW? Ballance Agri-Nutrients and Nutrien have never responded to questions asked by Western Sahara Resource Watch. Our association has received one letter from each, but they fail to address our questions. WSRW sent letters to Ballance on 4 May 2014, 5. June 2014, 9 February 2015, 27 January 2016, 21 March 2017, but only received one reply back, on 6 May 2014. The latter reply did not contain an answer to the questions asked. A letter sent from the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara on 1 July 2008 was never responded to. WSRW sent letters to Ravensdown on 4 May 2014, 8 March 2017 and 22 February 2018. A response was sent from Ballance to WSRW on 3 June 2014, while one letter was sent from Ravensdown to Western Sahara Campaign New Zealand on 23 February 2016. What should the Government of New Zealand do? The grave legal misunderstandings by the companies involved, illustrate an urgent need for the Government of New Zealand to advise the co-operatives on the interpretation of international law and human rights applicable. It is not sufficient to state that laws have to be respected. The Government needs to specify how the companies should interpret international law, as this seems misunderstood by the NZ co-operatives. The Government could also assist. One importer in Perth, Australia, managed to stop the controversial imports through investing on the plant to be able to take in other global sources. It is not known whether the NZ government has entered into a dialogue with the companies to assess how to invest in the plants so that they can receive phosphates from other reserves internationally. Ballance and Ravensdown already import from uncontroversial mines in Morocco proper, and it should be realistic to get the supplies through those mines. Both state in the public that they seek to diversify. (SPS) 062/SPS/WSRW https://www.wsrw.org/a105x4268 Bir-Lehlou, September 15, 2018 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, has sent a congratulatory message to his Honduran counterpart, H.E. Juan Orlando Hernandez, on the occasion of his country's 197th Independence Day. The President of the Republic, on behalf of the people and the Government of the Saharawi Republic, expressed his sincere congratulations on the occasion of the 197th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of Honduras and wished the President and the people of Honduras a better future. He expressed his desire to work alongside his Honduran counterpart to strengthen bilateral relations to serve the interests of both brotherly peoples and countries. (SPS) 062/SPS/TRA English14/09/2018 POLTAVCHENKO SUPPORTS EXCHANGE OF GRADUATES, STUDENTS BANJALUKA, September 14 /SRNA/ - Governor of Saint Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko supported the exchange of young experts, graduates and students in Banjaluka on Friday for their further advancement and acquisition of practical know-how. Answering questions of the participants of the forum Strategic Dialogue on Cooperation between St Petersburg and Republika Srpska together with Srpska President Milorad Dodik, Poltavchenko said he supported the exchange of experts and bachelors so that they could be trained to work in institutions. "That would also contribute to the cooperation between Republika Srpska and Russia. The exchange specifically refers to the application of information technologies and online documents. Those are the tools that governmental bodies cannot operate without today, stressed Poltavchenko. He also backed the cooperation and exchange of students from Banjaluka and Saint Petersburg, especially regarding practical training, saying that the issue would be put on the agenda of the future meetings between the authorities of Republika Srpska and Saint Petersburg. Answering a question by a youth representative, Dodik pointed out that free Russian language courses would be available once the Russian-Serbian Cultural Centre opened in Banjaluka. Poltavchenko backed the decision and invited youth organisation representatives from Srpska to take part in the Youth Forum taking place in the Russian city towards the end of the year. Poltavchenkos participation in the Banjaluka forum has attracted the interests of businessmen too, who spoke with him about the possibilities and assistance in seeking business partners. "We are trying to find investors for tourist projects in Saint Petersburg and will try to awaken the interest of investors who are already present in our city to develop business in Republika Srpska, said Poltavchenko. /end/ds English15/09/2018 IVANIC DESTROYING BRIDGES WITH RUSSIA AND SERBIA ON ORDERS OF HIS BRITISH MENTORS BANJALUKA, September 15 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik has told SRNA that after he inflicted a serious blow to good relations between Republika Srpska and the Russian Federation by agreeing to the creation of a black list of Russian citizens, the Serbian member of the BiH Presidency, Mladen Ivanic, has now attacked the Serbian state leadership by saying that they are allegedly meddling in the election process in Srpska. It is clear that Ivanic, on orders of his British mentors, is destroying all bridges that Republika Srpska has carefully built for years. If he is really interested in having the election process in Republika Srpska conducted without interference from outside, why he did not name those who have already meddled in the election process in Srpska by pumping huge amounts of money into media outlets and a civil sector and why he did not say that the mission of 40 British intelligence officers, who came to meddle in the election process, is not needed, Dodik has told SRNA commenting on Ivanics statement that Serbia should not meddle in the elections in Republika Srpska. The Republika Srpska president has said that by attacking the Serbian state leadership, Mladen Ivanic attempted to turn attention from those who are really meddling in the elections in Srpska and attacked Serbia at the moment when it is fighting one of the most difficult battles, trying to resolve one of the most important state issues, the issue of Kossovo and Metohija. Ivanic must tell Republika Srpska citizens why he is bothered by kindergartens, schools, bridges and other facilities which Serbia is building in Srpska, not asking who is in power, and is not bothered by money the Westerners are placing in media outlets and NGOs, Dodik has said. He sent a message to both Ivanic and the Alliance for Change that Republika Srpska will never renounce its friends such as Serbia and Russia, no matter what the Alliance might do on orders of western centers of power. The Serbian president has always been the most important guest in Srpska, and it will be so as long as the SNSD is in power in Srpska. And if they dont have a better election program than to attack Serbia and Russia, they should withdraw from the election race, said Dodik, who is also the leader of the SNSD. /end/sg 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. 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. The U.S. Navy finally got an upgrade to the F-35 version of the JHMCS (Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System) that fixed a serious problem that was only noticed once less experienced F-35 carrier pilots began using JHMCS during night carrier landings (night traps). Carrier pilots did not begin using the F-35s on carriers until 2014 and the pilots involved were veteran carrier pilots who found the F-35 JHMCS worked fine and these veteran carrier pilots adapted to it quickly. But once new carrier pilots (with less than a few dozen night traps) began flying the F-35C (the carrier version) there were reports that at night some green light leaked from the JHMCS in such a way that it was difficult to see the landing lights on the carrier deck that pilots had to constantly check to make a successful night trap. For F-35C pilots with more than a few dozen night traps this was not considered a major problem but for novice F-35C pilots it was seen as a potentially fatal distraction, especially during night traps carried out in bad weather. So until the problem was fixed only carrier pilots with fifty or more night traps could perform night traps with the F-35C. That problem has been fixed by using OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) displays in the JHMCS helmets in place of the older LED tech. The first of these OLED versions went to the F-35C pilots with fewer than 50 night traps and eventually, all F-35C pilots will have them. OLED was a planned upgrade for JHMCS and aircraft flight instruments in general, but there was not a lot of urgency for the more powerful F-35 version of the JHMCS. This version had a lot more data available on the helmet visor and was used differently than other versions of JHMCS. The LED light leak problem was one of the things noted (as a minor problem to be fixed eventually) after a major advance in the design of these helmets appeared in 2012. This new version entered service as JHMCS II and, like JHMCS I allowed the user to fire weapons at wherever their eyes are pointed, no matter what direction the helmet is pointed. This new version did everything the older version did but faster and with less effort by the pilot. Version II used better hardware and software to track the movement of the pilot's eyes. The new JHMCS was better balanced and much more comfortable to wear and use. The new version was more reliable and cheaper as well. Still, a JHMCS II costs about a million dollars. It's an expensive way to cover your head. The cost of JHMCS includes additional equipment to be installed in the cockpit, training and technical support. The JHMCS also allows a pilot to see critical flight and navigation information displayed on their visor. Sort of like a see-through computer monitor or Head Up Display. This enables the pilot to look around more often without having to look down at cockpit displays or straight ahead at a HUD (Head Up Display). This kind of freedom gives an experienced pilot an extra edge in finding enemy aircraft or targets and maneuvering to get into a better position for attacks. JHMCS is also useful for air to ground attacks. Systems like JHMCS have been very effective but JHMCS II was lighter and easier to wear (weight was a major problem in the past), easier to use, and more reliable (if you don't bump into the canopy). The Israelis firm Elbit took the lead in developing this technology and made many technical breakthroughs with their earlier DASH (Display and Sight Helmet) system. Elbit teamed up with American firms to develop and market JHMCS, which is largely an improved DASH system. This also led to the F-35s JGMCS. The first helmet mounted sights were developed in South Africa in the 1970s. The Russians noted this development when they lost several jet fighters in Angola to South African pilots using these helmets. The Russians went to work and five years later had one of their own. It proved very effective and scared NATO air forces when the Russian helmet was demonstrated by German fighter pilots from the former East German (the Germanys united in 1991) against experienced American F-16 pilots. Israel was the first Western air force to develop one of these helmets and is still a leader in the field. Since the 1980s these helmets have come to handle more data and chores while also being easier to wear. But these helmets are still heavy. That's why the better balance of JHMCS II was important. Even so shortly after September 11, 2001, the U.S. Air Force introduced a new neck muscle exercise machine in air force gyms frequented by fighter pilots. This was because the new helmets weighed 2 kg (4.3 pounds), which was about fifty percent more than a plain old helmet. That extra weight may not seem like much but when making a tight turn, the gravitational pull (or "Gs") makes the helmet feel like it weighs 17.3 kg (38 pounds). You need strong neck muscles to deal with that. For decades now fighter pilots have had to spend a lot of time building upper body strength in the gym, in order to be able to handle the G-forces. Otherwise, pilots can get groggy or even pass out in flight, as well as land with strained muscles. Before the helmet mounted displays and aiming systems were available, pilots had to keep checking instruments in the cockpit and use fixed targeting systems. Not having to keep looking at the cockpit displays saved valuable seconds in jet fighter combat that was often over in less than ten seconds. Repeated combat exercises (and actual combat) between pilots with the helmets and those without has made this unequivocal. Its been a revolutionary development in air combat. In the air combat community, the innovation is recognized as real and, for those not using it, a deadly disadvantage. To make the most of tech like this you must allow your pilots to spend hundreds of hours in the air practicing with the helmets. This is one reason why China and Russia adopted the more expensive Western style of training pilots over the last few decades. In 2015 U.S. again upgraded the JHMCS II "look and shoot" helmet displays used by F-35, F-15, F-16 and F-18 pilots. The F-35s also got the latest version (the U.S.Israeli HMDS, Helmet-Mounted Display System) included a new VR (Virtual Reality) feature. These new helmets can display graphics in real time and the VR feature enables the helmet display to show what is beneath the aircraft (via six infrared cameras on the fuselage beneath the cockpit) when the pilot looks down with this VR feature turned on. This can be very useful in combat, ground attack or simply landing. This feature proved particularly effective when operating at night. HMDS is also closely integrated with the very capable F-35 avionics and thus will enable to the F-35 to be the first modern jet without a standard HUD (mounted above the cockpit instruments in front of the pilot). Basic features of these "look and shoot" helmet displays include information displayed on the visor, and sensors in the helmet, which enables the pilot to look at the target (either another aircraft, or something on the ground) and fire a weapon (missile) that will go after the target being looked at. Recent upgrades allow the pilot to also put "head up display" (HUD) information on the helmet visor visual system. This is a big advantage in air combat, where it's always been a problem having to look down at some display or instrument reading, and take your eyes off the surrounding airspace. This makes it safer for pilots (especially when flying on the deck, at high speed) and in combat. Another recent enhancement allows each pilot to customize what information is shown on their helmet visor. These helmets are one of the major, and little mentioned, revolutions in air combat. Enabling a pilot to look and shoot as well as keep their heads up more of the time and more quickly make decisions in air-to-air combat is a big deal. This dramatic change has not gotten much publicity because there has been such little air-to-air combat in the last few decades. But in realistic training exercises, the difference has been noted. This has been documented in detail (and classified) in the United States because since the 1970s, American combat pilots have done regular training in instrumented airspace, where every move by aircraft and decision by pilots is recorded. This provides all sorts of data on how the aircraft and pilot performance has evolved over the decades. The new helmets have turned out to be a major innovation in air combat. BT-Second Curve poll on strikes View(s): The Business Times and its polling partner, research agency Second Curve is conducting an interesting poll/survey on the plethora of strikes and its impact on public life. While Second Curve is handling polling from the streets of Colombo and outside, the Business Times will be engaged in assessing opinion and views via email. Results of the two surveys will be published in the Business Times on Sunday, September 23. Colombo International Book Fair returns to the city for milestone 20th year View(s): If last years figures are anything to go by, some 1.5 million book lovers from all over Sri Lanka can be expected to visit the BMICH over just 10 days later this month, when the annual Colombo International Book Fair (CIBF) returns for its 20th edition. More than 450 exhibitors, 40 of them from overseas, have confirmed participation in the Book Fair, by footfall the largest annual exhibition in the country across all sectors, the organisers said in a media release. Open to the public for 12 hours from 9 am to 9 pm each day at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Exhibition Centre within the BMICH precincts, this years Book Fair will feature an ancillary Education and Career Guidance Exhibition at the BMICHs Delegates Lounge. Organisers said 30 exhibitors including affiliates of foreign universities are expected to participate. The Book Fair will see publishers, importers and retailers of books in English, Sinhala and Tamil as well as stationery, offering their products at 20 per cent off their regular selling price, while stalls in the bargain section in Hall N will offer discounts of up to 80 per cent. Entrance is free for school children, university students, members of the clergy and armed forces personnel in uniform. Other visitors contribute an entrance fee of Rs 20 which is credited in its entirety to the Daru Diriya scholarship fund which provides scholarships to impoverished students around the country. Selected students are sponsored from Grade I until they conclude their university education. The Daru Diriya Scholarship scheme has sponsored many deserving children for the past 11 years. A highlight of the book fair will be the Ketapath Pawura or Mirror Wall near the open air hall. It offers visitors a wall on which to pen their creative pieces of poetry. After the conclusion of the Fair, the best works of visitor poetry will be compiled into a book and published, the organisers said. The Fair will also feature a Kids Corner with art and craft activities. Over the 10 days of the exhibition, a series of book launches and literary discussions will provide interesting diversions for the literati, while cultural events including dramas and musical performances organised by Event Partner, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, will add colour to the evenings. As in other years, the organisers have arranged free shuttle bus services from Borella, Kollupitiya, Rajagiriya and Town Hall to the BMICH. Visitors who arrive by car will have the services of a shuttle bus from the car parks to the exhibition halls. Ample covered outdoor seating, refreshment outlets, free drinking water and printed stall plans have also been organised for the benefit of visitors. Earlier in August, 14 leading book publishers and booksellers formally signed contracts to sponsor the CIBF 2018, with Sarasavi Book Publishers taking on the mantle of Principal Sponsor. The Platinum Sponsors of the Fair are Akura Book Publishers; Godage Book Emporium; M. D. Gunasena & Co; Master Guide Publications; Rathna Book Publishers; Sadeepa Book Publishers; Samayawardhana Publishers and Wasana Book Publishers; while the Gold Sponsors are Dayawansa Jayakody & Company; Samudra Book Publishers; Sathara Prakashakayo and Susara Publications. Island Escapes promo targets millennials in low season By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s): Tourism authorities will be launching bite-sized curated holidays to attract visitors during the low occupancy months investing Rs.65 million in a campaign titled Island Escapes scheduled to kick off on Saturday (September 15). Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga said that their aim is to ensure Sri Lanka is a 365 day destination thereby increasing the numbers and insisted on a target of three million to the country by the end of this year. If we cant reach three million by the end of this year we cant compare with other countries in the region, he told reporters earlier in the week. He noted that the current attraction of about 2.5 million travellers to the island was not sufficient in comparison to the number of visitors that frequent destinations in the region. Sri Lanka Conventions Bureau Chairman Kumar De Silva said that the regionally competitive package will attract holidaymakers to visit Sri Lanka during the months of September November and April to June. In fact, he pointed out that this would remove the perception that Colombo is an expensive destination to visit. The package would include transfers, breakfast and city tours to travellers willing to take on any of the nine selected packages made available namely: Zen-Sational Escapes, Vintage Escapes, Wanderlust Escapes, Adrenaline Escapes and Mouthwatering Escapes. Offers available are 4 days/3 nights; 5 days/4 nights; 6 days/5 nights; and 7 days/6 nights starting from US$99. Other participating airlines like SriLankan Airlines, Emirates and Qatar have also opted to provide discounted rates during this season. JWT CEO Alyna Omar said that the offering would be for bite-sized curated holidays from the ancient temples to the cold climes with the campaign expected to reach out to at least 10 million people in the three markets of India, China and West Asia. This advertising company prepared the campaign. This is said to become a tactical strategy to improve room occupancy during the low season and in this respect, it was pointed out that while India and China would bring in the volume the West Asian traveller would be a key component in this mix. In targeting the millennial travellers from long haul destinations the industry hopes to cash in on these visitors who are expected to account for over 50 per cent of the revenue in travel by 2020. The campaign would be make available in English, Hindi, Mandarin and Arabic to make it easy to access the discerning the traveller. Memorandum of misunderstanding View(s): Universities in Sri Lanka have the practice of entering into Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with foreign universities to carry out various collaborative educational and research programmes for both students and staff members. A few weeks ago, I came to know that they are no longer able to sign such MOUs with foreign universities without the approval of the government; here the government means, as I learnt, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Ministry of Higher Education and the University Grants Commission. Anyway, it is not my intention to examine and evaluate the above. Rather it directs me to examine a much bigger national issue which affects our economy and prosperity. My intention is to remain within my subject area and to talk about the Ease of doing business or, looking at it from the opposite angle, the Difficulty of doing business. In some countries, doing things are easier so that they grow fast and become rich. In some other countries, doing things are difficult so that they grow slow and continue to remain poor. The countries which have understood the difference between the two sides are executing reforms that are leading to a system that makes things easier in order to support their growth. It is the bureaucratic system of a country that determines how easy it is or how difficult it is to do businesses there. Therefore, bureaucracy is an important determinant of the speed of growth. Bureaucracy Bureaucracy is the governments administrative system. It is run by all types of public sector institutions operating from national to local levels. Citizens of the country and their organisations and companies, they all have to deal with the bureaucracy in conducting their personal and professional affairs. In some countries, the bureaucratic procedures are short and simple so that people can get things done quickly. The governments which have understood the importance of this undertake public sector reforms in order to make their bureaucratic procedures short and simple. In contrast, some other countries have got lengthy and complicated bureaucratic procedures. They even move in the reverse direction, by multiplying bureaucratic procedures. There is a saying that bureaucracy multiplies bureaucracy. This means that the lengthy and complicated bureaucratic system has the capacity to extend its length even more and complicate its complexity even more. Number of signatures How do we assess the bureaucratic procedures we are dealing with? It is not difficult; if you are going to get something done with the government you can identify the length and complexity of the procedures that you have to follow. What you need to get done from the government requires a document on a paper, if not a bundle of papers. The number of signatures that your document requires is an indicator of the lengthy bureaucratic procedures. This means that at each point of getting signatures, somebody has to read the document and make an assessment of the content. It means that your document has already created many employment opportunities too. For this reason, the government should hire too many people to the public sector. Your document not only creates jobs, but also demand for wages, salaries, overtime payments, allowances and other perks as well. Losing the competitiveness Your document will demand for fixed assets too. There should be office buildings to accommodate bureaucratic procedures and employees who carry out such procedures. The office complexes should come with office furniture, equipment, apparatuses, vehicles and other items. Thats why bureaucracy can multiply the size of the government and the government employment wage bill. In fact the governments like it too; through that, many people who follow the politicians can be given government jobs and other contracts, asking the people to pay more taxes to accommodate lengthy and complicated bureaucratic procedures. When you capture the cost of all of the above, economists call it the transaction cost. It is a cost that is ultimately added to the price of any good or a service that the country produces. The excessive transaction costs eat into the countrys international competitiveness. One subject, many signatories If your document has to travel, not among many office rooms, but also among many different offices, places and locations, then getting the required number of signatures becomes even more complicated. The number of signatures are to be placed at different offices located far from each other, somebody has to take the documents there thats another job opportunity. When you have got too many ministries and the government agencies coming under different ministries, then imagine the outlook of the complications that you need to deal with. Your document can also return back to you halfway through its journey along the bureaucratic procedures for some clarifications and questions! There will be too many minutes placed on your document, and the number of minutes is an indicator of the lengthy and complicated bureaucratic procedures. Then you need to start the process again. Sometimes it is not unusual that the subject content of your document or its meaning and gravity is totally unknown to some signatories of the bureaucratic procedures. This is simply a good enough reason for your document to return to you for clarifications and answers for the questions. Therefore, you also need to find ways and means of convincing the gravity of your document. Diluted accountability Once I asked a friend of mine who recently started serving in a bureaucratic set up: Why does it require so many approvals and signatures? He answered: There should be a responsibility; if something goes wrong who is going to be responsible? The underlying meaning of his answer was that, if you have got it approved by many signatories, actually no one has to be accountable at the end. If no one has the direct responsibility, they dont have to be accountable either because the accountability gets diluted. In a lengthy and complicated bureaucratic arrangement, it is easy to find reasons and arguments for why it cannot be done. According to Harry Teasleys first rule out of the Seven Rules of Bureaucracy is about this: Maintain the problem at all costs because it is the foundation of power, perks, privileges, and security. Ease of doing business The World Bank calculates a composite index every year to show how easy it is to do businesses in different countries and, rank them accordingly. The index captures mostly the bureaucratic procedures and underlying regulations in 10 different areas affecting the business environment: 1. Starting a business, 2. Dealing with licences, 3. Employing workers, 4. Registering property, 5. Getting credit, 6. Protecting investors, 7. Paying taxes, 8. Trading across borders, 9. Enforcing contracts and 10. Closing a business. Out of 190 countries in the world, being in the 111th position in 2018, Sri Lanka is not even among the first half of the countries. It is interesting and shocking to observe that Sri Lankas position was better in the past than it is today; in 2012, it was in the 81st position out of 185 countries. Good question Who wants to improve the Ease of doing things in Sri Lanka? If anyone considers it, then it requires a comprehensive reform in the overall public sector. The years 1977 and 1989 were marked by major policy reforms in Sri Lanka; yet even on these occasions the public sector reforms did not receive much attention. By the way, during the past 10 years, I have come across a few attempts to improve Sri Lankas position of the Ease of Doing Business index. It was in the midst of those attempts that we saw a further deterioration of Sri Lankas position of the Ease of doing things. (The writer is a Professor of Economics at the Colombo University. He can be reached at sirimal@econ.cmb.ac.lk) Perpetual Treasuries cant subscribe for NDB Rights Issue By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera View(s): View(s): National Development Bank (NDB) is offering shares of under fire Perpetual Treasuries Ltd (PTL), holding some 7 million shares of its Rights Issue to prospective buyers as PTL will not be subscribing for them, informed sources say. The Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank late last year ordered banks to freeze the accounts of firms related to Arjun Aloysius PTL to prevent the siphoning off of money gained from the infamous bond scam. As a result assets frozen included all cash on credit to the Perpetual Treasuries, CB and other banks, shares of NDB and Rs. 640 million paid to shareholders. As at 2016, Perpetual Treasuries has over 6.2 million shares which is 3.77 per cent of the total number of shares at NDB. Another subsidiary Perpetual Equity has 2.44 per cent of NDB bringing the total at 6.21 per cent. NDBs Rs.6.2 billion, 1 for 3 Rights Issue at Rs. 105 per share was approved at their EGM on Tuesday. Shortly after this NDB Chairman Ananda Atukorala told the Business Times that NDB will be writing to all their shareholders offering them these rights. The unsubscribed shares will be offered to either existing or new buyers who may be local or foreign, he said. He added NDB is keen to find a strategic partnership with foreign investors and already certain venture capital and foreign funds are discussing with them to subscribe for the Rights Issue. NDB share price was Rs. 132.70 when the Rights issue was announced on June 6. NDB traded at over Rs. 260 three years ago. NDB has two foreign funds among its top 20 shareholders as at 30 June 2018. At number 10 is SBI VEN Holdings with 5,371,628 shares (3.03 per cent) and at number 11 is Ruffer Pacific Fund with 5,210,479 shares (2.94 per cent). The Rights Issue proceeds would be utilised to further strengthen NDBs equity base and thereby its capital adequacy along with part financing the growth in the loan portfolio. As at March 31, 2018 NDBs tier I capital ratio stood at 8.73 per cent above the regulatory minimum of 7.875 per cent which will increase to 8.5 per cent by January. Its tier II ratio stood at 13.35 per cent against the regulatory minimum of 11.875 per cent slated to rise to 12.5 per cent in three months when BASEL III comes into effect. Meanwhile a media release from the bank said: Shareholders of the NDB approved raising capital of over Rs. 6.2 billion via a Rights Issue at its recent EGM held at the NDB-EDB Tower in Colombo. The funds to be raised are primarily to supplement growth and to improve the banks Tier I capital adequacy levels. NDB shareholders and the banks Board of Directors were present at the EGM. Accordingly, up to 59,154,354 new ordinary voting shares were issued by NDB by way of a Rights Issue to the shareholders as at the end of trading on September 11 in the proportion of 1:3 ratio at an issue price of Rs. 105. The Rights Issue was unanimously passed by the shareholders by way of an ordinary resolution. Professionals clamour for peoples power View(s): United Professionals Movement (UPM), a group representing Sri Lankan professionals and which is opposed to bilateral agreements, is set to secure its future as a mainstream political party. Aimed at drafting policy through the establishment of clusters of the different professionals, the new political movement also hopes to become a think tank. UPM will establish a political party and put forward candidates representing the views of the professionals that would guide the state to take the right decision to overcome corruption, its officials announced at a meeting of the Colombo District members held to discuss their way forward at the Royal College hall in Colombo on Thursday. The UPM is part of the umbrella Organisation of Professionals Association (OPA) but its new route is purely an independent initiative. UPM Secretary Senaka Sinhalage said that a majority of the local professionals have had to maintain silence on the way forward for the country ever since it has been handed over to the politicians for over 70 years. Spokesman for UPM, Gamini Nanda Gunawardena said that professionals were behind the various issues that came up over the years and raised a voice against bilateral agreements. He explained that while they were not against such agreements it was the content and context in which they would be implemented that would have an impact on the country that they were against. We were concerned in the way in which they were trying to enter into these agreements and not the agreement itself, he said. UPM already has district level members in Colombo, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Jaffna, Kurunegala, Badulla, Ratnapura and Galle. He pointed out that it was important to establish themselves as a think tank for drafting policy with a wider participation from the youth. (SD) Sirisena calls emergency Cabinet meeting to express concern over plan to arrest former Navy Chief and CDS JHU also opposed to arrest and long detention of security forces personnel Cabinet approves new Counter-Terrorism Bill, but Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe wants a change Aninety-minute emergency Cabinet meeting Thursday appears to have muddied the waters for the coalition, just days ahead of President Maithripala Sirisenas New York visit to address the United Nations General Assembly. As is well known, for the UN, a major focus on Sri Lanka has been through one of its key agencies, the Geneva based Human Rights Council (UNHRC). A United States backed resolution in September 2015 over alleged violations of international humanitarian law and war crimes, both by troops and Tiger guerrillas, still remains a threat. That Sri Lanka co-sponsored this resolution, adopted unanimously, acknowledged the need to probe issues and initiate action. It became a sovereign pledge no matter whether the course of action was wise or not. It was further concretised by assurances from ministers and officials during their interactions with UN officials and western governments. Despite periodic complaints from them, the government has, in the past three and half years, assured that many measures have been adopted and more are on the way. A milestone in this regard is the setting up of the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) to look for those who have disappeared and to issue missing certificates that are legally binding. Among other measures, particularly in respect of the commitments made, are the following issues: Sri Lanka to investigate all alleged attacks by individuals and groups on journalists, human rights defenders, members of religious minority groups and other members of civil society, as well as places of worship, and to hold perpetrators of such attacks to account and to take steps to prevent such attacks in the future; To sign and ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances without delay, to criminalise enforced disappearances and to begin issuing Certificates of Absence to the families of the missing as a temporary measure of relief; To review the Public Security Ordinance Act and review and repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act and replace it with anti-terrorism legislation in line with contemporary international best practices. State investigative agencies have been probing many cases which come within the ambit of the US backed resolution after Sri Lanka gave the UNHRC many assurances. Matters related to some specific cases became the subject of close scrutiny by UN Rapporteurs, western nations and even the London-based Global Tamil Forum (GTF), a group that has been taking an active interest in Tamil-related issues. Hence, there is lengthy documentation on the progress or otherwise of such probes with foreign governments and UN bodies. Thus, they are able to hold the government answerable. Just last Tuesday, the Cabinet approved a 77-page draft Counter Terrorism Law presented by Foreign Affairs and Development Assignments Minister Tilak Marapana. This was in the absence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who was in Viet Nam attending the ASEANs World Economic Forum. Higher Education and Cultural Affairs Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe raised strong objections to a clause which said statements made to the Police were inadmissible before courts. He argued that even in Britain, it was not so. When reminded that the European Union has made such a request (part of the prelude to the restoration of the GSP plus tariff concessions), he asked why they should single out Sri Lanka. He also said that the provision was inconsistent with other prevailing Sri Lankan laws. Sirisena noted that there cannot be two different positions in statutes and said that the draft could be approved with a proviso to state that an amendment would follow. Such a change is to be made when the Counter Terrorism Bill reaches the Committee Stage of the debate in Parliament. It is in this broad backdrop, ministers received telephone calls late Wednesday afternoon about an emergency cabinet meeting at noon on Thursday. Sirisena was reminded that Premier Wickremesinghe was away from Sri Lanka and to await his return. However, he felt the matters were of such particular national importance not to wait for the Prime Ministers return. No reasons were given to ministers and their telephones became busy. One was trying to find out from another why an emergency meeting just 48 hours after the regular Cabinet meeting had taken place. It soon transpired that it was over matters related to the impending arrest of Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne. Sirisena has also been concerned that senior military officials were being taken into custody, held in remand for many months and released later with no charges being filed against them. In fact, on Tuesday evening, at a meeting he sounded a note of caution over the arrests of senior officers like Admiral Wijegunaratne. Among those in attendance were Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorale, Higher Education and Cultural Affairs Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Foreign Minister Tilak Marapane, Police Chief Pujith Jayasundera. DIG (CID) Ravi Seneviratne, CID Director Shani Abeysekera, and officials from the Attorney Generals Department. He said courts should be made aware of such matters by the Justice Minister. The ministers backed Sirisena. He was strongly critical of the Police and the Attorney Generals Department and did not mince his words. The President also made reference to the same matter when he spoke to heads of media institutions on Friday. His media unit said in a better crafted English statement that pointing out some shortfalls in the investigations conducted since 2015 on attacks of journalists and other civilians, abductions and killings, he said, although several persons were detained in this connection, not a single person has been charge-sheeted or prosecuted. Although military officers have been detained and placed under remand custody, there were no cases filed and such actions merely bring bad reputation to the government, he pointed out. The President said that he had given instructions in a stern manner to the officials of the Criminal Investigation Department and the IGP in this regard. He had met heads of state media institutions on Thursday. Though set to begin at noon, the Cabinet meeting did not get off the ground until 12.30 p.m. It started with a 45-minute speech by President Sirisena. The preamble was an emphatic request from ministers present that they should not leak to the media about what was being discussed. He kept repeating this caution many times during his speech. He referred to some specific cases under investigation and on matters related to what he perceived were threats to national security. Other than these two aspects, some details of what transpired at the meeting were reported in Fridays media, both print and electronic. The importance here is that such matters, which are of significance to the public after the coalitions election pledges, cannot be kept in the dark. Instead, that would have been a good task to be articulated by a spokesperson both for the local and international community if misapprehensions were to be avoided. The crux of his speech was to illustrate his concern on the longer periods military officers were being held in remand custody. He cited the cases of two of them. One was a former Sri Lanka Navy spokesperson, Commodore D.K.P. Dassanayake. He is one of those arrested over the disappearance of eleven Tamil and Muslim civilians in 2008. This arrest in particular was made just ahead of UN Special Rapporteur Ben Emmersons visit to Colombo in July. Emmerson, in his preliminary report referred to Dassanayakes arrest in connection with the alleged disappearance of the eleven persons. Moreover, one of the many conditions by the EU for the restoration of GSP plus tariff preferences was to probe into the disappearances of the eleven civilians. That a probe was under way helped. Yet, Dassanayake was not the one who has had the longest sojourn in remand. That dubious honour went to retired senior DIG Anura Senanayake, the confidant of former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He was in remand for more than a year. Sirisena said that Dassanayake was in remand for more than eleven months before being granted bail. Another, he said, was retired Major General Amal Karunasekera, who was once the Director General of Military Intelligence (DGMI). This was when the then Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka was the Commander of the Army. Maj. Gen. Karunasekera was taken into custody by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detectives during their probe into the abduction and assault of the now defunct The Nation newspapers Associate Editor Keith Noyahr. He fled to Australia and now lives there. Detectives say that he was held in an MI safe house in Pugoda and was tortured. Sirisena also referred to the case of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Admiral Wijegunaratne, the senior most serving military official who heads the apex of the unified operational command of the Army, Navy, the Air Force and Police. He was earlier the Commander of the Navy. He had been asked to report to the CID headquarters on September 11. CID sources said a statement was to be recorded and he was to be later produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne. The Magistrate had issued an order on August 29 for the arrest of Admiral Wijegunaratne if indeed the CID possessed evidence. On Friday night, the Government Information Department said in an official statement that the CID had no plans to arrest Admiral Wijegunaratne but had only wanted a statement to be recorded. It did not refer to the order made by Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne to the CID. Admiral Wijegunaratne left Colombo past midnight signalling the dawn of Tuesday September 11 on a visit to Mexico. That is on the very day he had been summoned to appear before the CID. He had informed the CID only on late Tuesday afternoon that he would make a statement upon his return on September 19. The CDS was representing Sri Lanka at Mexicos Independence Day. According to the Mexican governments website, the event was on September 16 (today) where there are parades and civic ceremonies. Sirisena also told ministers that the CDS would be making a statement to the CID upon his return and added that the arrests of senior officers and remanding them for long periods were unfair. He said he was the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defence. Yet, he had not been told about his impending arrest by the Police. He was strongly critical of the Ministry of Law and Order. He added that if indeed there was evidence against Admiral Wijegunaratne, a case should have been filed. He said as a result of this, the security forces were getting a bad name and so did the Government from the troops. In a remark that suggested that he had spoken on the telephone with Wickremesinghe in Viet Nam, he said even the Premier concurred with him. However, other UNP sources said it was Highways and Road Development Minister Kabir Hashim who had telephoned Premier Wickremesinghe, not the President. The same sources said the UNP ministers were of the view that they should avoid taking any decision on matters relating to the Admiral Wijegunaratne affaire since they did not wish to make themselves liable for any contempt of court issues. President Sirisenas concerns over prolonged detention of military officers cannot be dismissed outright. There have been known instances where Army officers have been arrested by the CID and later remanded for longer periods. Some of them, it was established, were cases where persons were arrested and detectives had gone looking out for evidence only thereafter. In one such case, a DIG and a Director of the CID were once found guilty by the Supreme Court which imposed fines on them. They held that the arrest of an Army Major as a suspect in the Bindunuwewa prison massacre on October 4, 2000 was illegal. Twenty-six Tamil prisoners were killed in a low security prison. Though the previous government first claimed it was a riot by prisoners, some Police officers were later charged for alleged murder. However, they were acquitted by the Supreme Court. Efforts to reach Senior DIG (CID) Ravi Seneviratne to seek his response to such accusations even now failed. He did not respond to messages and telephone calls. Occasionally an aide said he was at a conference. Also adding to Sirisenas concerns were highly repugnant and damaging remarks Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka made publicly over the much respected Army Commander Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake. He called him a bald Idi Ameen an accusation that was received with revulsion in high military circles. The Ministry of Defence, already in the doldrums, did not think it fit to rebut the claim or initiate any action. The only exception was a statement by state Minister for Defence Ruwan Wijewardene. He condemned retired military officers directing criticism against those in service. Lt. Gen. Senanayake, since assuming office, has had a praiseworthy impact on his officers and men. He regularly visited camps countrywide to ascertain living conditions of soldiers. That a former Army Commander was making such disparaging remarks on a successor has not gone down well with officer cadres in particular in the security forces. Nor did the United National Party (UNP) of which Fonseka is now a member react. There are many examples of how slow and even tardy the UNP is when it comes to such issues. Once Minister Deva Manoharan Swaminathan proposed that compensation be paid to Tiger guerrillas and their next of kin who were engaged in the separatist war. He, in fact, submitted a cabinet memorandum. State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran wished the return of the LTTE to ensure law and order in the Jaffna peninsula. Sirisena did not refer to Fonseka by name and the Field Marshal was absent at the emergency meeting. There was heavy pressure on Sirisena to strip Fonseka of the rank of Field Marshal a title conferred on him by the President after he was voted to office. Fonseka pledged his support to him. There are also numerous instances where security forces personnel have remained remanded with investigations remaining incomplete. In other words, such instances were not only under the present coalition. One such case is the arrest of Colonel Ranjith Perera of the Gemunu Watch in 2009. Still in custody, Col. Perera had been allegedly involved in a conspiracy to assassinate the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He had provided an Army uniform and had also been re-imbursed by the LTTE for purchasing a van for five million rupees. The assassination was to be carried out when Rajapaksa visited the cantonment town of Diyatalawa. He had allegedly transported a Tiger guerrilla suicide cadre in his official vehicle on dry runs. Detectives claim they uncovered evidence that slain guerrilla leader Velupillai Prabhakaran had gifted a pistol to this officer. At the time of his arrest, a large bagful of local currency notes had been found at his residence. On that occasion, a senior CID official said, the Army Headquarters was informed after the arrest had been made. The need for CID detectives to question Admiral Wijegunaratne came about after the arrest of a former Navy intelligence officer, Hettiaratchchi Mudiyanselage Chandana Prasad Hettiaratchchi. Described as the main suspect in the alleged disappearance case, he had fled to Malaysia. He had later returned under another name. CID reported to Fort Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne that Rs 500,000 had been paid by the Navy to Hettiaratchchi who had been transported to outside Sri Lankan territorial waters in a navy patrol craft. He had then boarded another vessel. When he was Navy Commander, CID detectives told Magistrate Jayaratne, there was evidence that Admiral Wijegunaratne helped the main suspect to evade arrest. They also alleged that he had destroyed evidence, aided and abetted in a murder suspect escape. On a previous occasion Magistrate Jayaratne noted publicly that there was no impediment for the CID to arrest the former Navy Commander if there was evidence since no one was above the law. Interesting enough, the complaint against another Navy officer was made to the CID in 2009 by the then Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda. He said this officer was responsible for the disappearance of the eleven persons. The probe had remained in limbo and was reactivated after the coalition was voted to power. Then it took a new turn. CID detectives insist that Admiral Wijegunaratane is in no way implicated in the abductions or murders. Of the missing eleven persons, five were allegedly taken into custody on September 17, 2008 by navy personnel along with a black Tata Indica car. Police have identified them as Rajiv Naganathan (21 years Colombo 13), Pradeep Vishvanathan (18 years -Wasala Rd, Colombo 13), Mohammed Sajith (21 years Dematagoda), Thilakeswaram Ramalingam (17 years Bloemendhal housing complex Colombo 13) and Jamaldeen Dilan (Maradana). The remaining five persons are Kasthuriarachchilage John Reid (21 years Kotahena) Amalan Leon (50 years, Arippu, Northern Province)) and his son Roshan Leon (21 years), Anthony Kasthuriarachchi (48 years Kotahena) and Kanagaraja Jegan (32 years- Trincomalee). After Sirisenas speech, the remaining 45 minutes were taken by different ministers expressing their points of view. One voice said the eleven were either Tiger guerrillas or those who helped them. Mangala Samaraweera, a former Foreign Affairs Minister, argued that investigations of security forces and even Police personnel were salutary. He said such action inspired the public and was also appreciated by the international community on the grounds that the government was acting against complaints. In fact, Samaraweera told the UNHRC in September 2015 that item 93 of President Sirisenas manifesto in the lead up to the January 2015 election said that if elected, he would address issues of accountability through national independent judicial mechanisms. Samaraweeras remarks drew an angry response from Megapolis and Western Province Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka. He said the ground realities were quite different. He said that whilst senior officers were being remanded, persons like former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa were successful in preventing his arrest and receiving bail from courts. Ranawakas Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) is set to launch a campaign to prevent senior military officers being taken into custody. One of the JHU members said they would ensure that Admiral Wijegunaratne is not taken into custody since there is a conspiracy behind the move. The JHU is a member of the United National Front (UNF) (albeit the UNP) government. On the other hand, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which, though in the Opposition, provides support to the Government, is insisting that the case involving the disappearance of eleven persons is pushed ahead. The dilemma of the TNA is its dwindling number of achievements to show its vote base in the north and east where rival groups are gaining ground. Minister Lakshman Kiriella, Leader of the House, appealed to Sirisena to await the return of Premier Wickremesinghe before any decisions could be taken. Social Empowerment Minister P. Harrison, who appeared concerned about leaks to the media, wanted the matter investigated. He said that if the names of those leaking information were revealed at the Cabinet meeting, they would refrain from doing so. Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera interjected to say no investigation was necessary. He said that when one reads an account of the cabinet meeting in a media outlet, we can know who has leaked it. In a lengthy statement, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne claimed that it was because of his efforts, that instances of large scale corruption were being probed. Most ministers supported Sirisenas view and it was decided that he should, together with Premier Wickremesinghe, formulate the courses of action. Among those who spoke were John Ameratunga, Daya Gamage, and Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe. The CID, as is clear, has been moving with great caution over investigations into the disappearance of the eleven persons. This explains why it has been reporting to court all important developments and seeking instructions to proceed. This is what prompted even the Magistrate to question why Admiral Wijegunaratne was not being arrested if there was evidence. On the other hand, there has also been heavy criticism on the coalition over not carrying out pledges made to investigate a plethora of cases. That is not only high profile bribery and corruption. That includes several pledges made to the international community. The coalition cannot afford to muddy the waters any further. There is an altogether different aspect, too. As President Sirisena has been saying, there are weaknesses in the investigative and prosecuting mechanisms. If indeed that was one of the contributory causes, they should have been identified and remedied. The Police Department, after all, is responsible for almost all of the investigations, though important cases are handled by specialised arms, Police Chief Pujith Jayasundera said a drop in efficiency levels came as a result of the Police being burdened with the task of fighting terrorism. The challenges now, he points out, are to upgrade professional training. Of course, it is no easy task for his department. As for the Attorney Generals Department, the common complaint has been the lack of sufficient material to prosecute though Police claim investigations were complete. Quite clearly there seems no nexus between the Justice Ministry and the Law and Order Ministry over executing government policy. Making matters worse are credible reports that some investigators have become tainted. President Sirisena made clear this week that he would place before the United Nations his own proposals to protect Sri Lankan troops. How he hopes to carry this out in the complex world of UN diplomacy is not quite clear. If it is through a speech at the UN General Assembly, the matter will end in New York. If on the other hand, he has been advised by local foreign policy experts to take it up at the higher levels, how it would reach the UNHRC is inconceivable. After all, the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka has been adopted by a group of sovereign nations. The UN has no mandate to give directions to the UNHRC to reject or even reconsider a decision made by the latter. Nor does it have a mandate to consider an alternative to the resolution. Whether such a move would lead to more pressure by United States and other backers of the resolution to press hard also remains a question. For the Police, there are newer realities, too. Hundreds of Army deserters, trained by the state to handle automatic weapons, have joined the underworld. The war led to such weapons falling into the hands of criminals outside the former theatres of war. Crime has become sophisticated and is on the rise. Until such professional standards are raised, the Government has an unenviable task. More so when the Ministry of Law and Order, which has to play a vibrant role on all these matters, has no sense of direction. Rajapaksa restores ties with Modi View(s): Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who returned to Colombo on Friday after a visit to India, told Opposition confidants that Premier Narendra Modi appeared to be well briefed on developments in Sri Lanka. I did not have to tell him anything about what is going on, he told senior members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). Rajapaksa is the de facto leader of the SLPP and was in India for a lecture. A relaxed and cool Premier Modi, Rajapaksa said, had told him that whatever political differences that existed, we are still friends. He had then turned to Namal Rajapaksa, Hambantota District MP and declared India is your second home. You are welcome here anytime. Rajapaksa also said that Premier Modi spoke with great warmth. In media interviews he gave, the former President declared that he was willing to forget the past and work with India to further enhance better relations. He was referring to previous remarks he had made that the Indian spy agency RAW undermined his re-election in 2015 by helping his opponent to win. Chinese PMs visit delayed A planned visit to Sri Lanka by Chinas Prime Minister Li Keqiang this month has been delayed. One of the highlights of his visit, official sources said, was to declare open a Land Bank in Battaramulla. This is for prospective investors to obtain land for projects and was to be located in close proximity to the Parliament complex. Beijing blues for budding businessman The talk in business circles is about the all-too-frequent demands made by a budding local businessman, the side kick of a minister, from his principals in Beijing. Insiders say the bosses are now on the lookout for a new agent. However, the local man is not giving up. He is moving heaven and earth. In business circles, they say the businessman may even take his minister buddy to Beijing to sort out matters. MR calls Karu in Delhi Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, who led a delegation of political parties represented in Parliament with the exception of one, was at his suite at the Ashok Hotel in New Delhis Diplomatic Enclave when he received a phone call. It was from former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was in a suite at the Marriot Aero City hotel also in New Delhi. There was light hearted banter as the duo spoke. The Speaker and his entourage were guests of the Government of India. Mr. Rajapaksa was invited by the ruling Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) MP Dr Subramaniam Swamy. He also delivered a lecture whilst in New Delhi. Last days; last chance at Northern PC With nearly one month left for the expiration of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC), a group of ten councillors left for Hyderabad, India yesterday to take part in a week long workshop supported by the Asia Foundation. However, the Indian High Commission in Colombo had rejected visa application of one of the selected participants, M.K. Shivajilingam, the outspoken pro-LTTE councillor. The provinces Agriculture Minister, K. Sivanesan cancelled his trip at the last minute due to an ongoing legal battle involving Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran and another Minister. With the exception of Shivajilingam, all other councillors hold official Sri Lankan passports. Therefore, they can secure a visa on arrival in India. Councilor Shivajilingam who holds a normal passport lamented to his friends that the IHC in Colombo rejected his entry visa application but granted a visa for Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) leader Douglas Devananda to accompany an official delegation led by the Speaker even though he is implicated in a 28-year-old murder case in the Chennai courts. Militant turned politician Devananda was among the ten accused and non-bailable warrants were issued to arrest them decades ago. He testified through video conferencing at the IHC in Colombo over a shootout incident at Choolaimedu in Chennai some years back. He himself has survived several attempts on his life by the LTTE and is now a mainstream politician in the North. October 23 special day for Wigneswaran Come October 23, it would be a special day for Northern Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran for two different reasons. One, he would turn 78 and the other, the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) would be meeting for the very last time since its term expires on October 25. With much criticism of inefficient administration coupled with parochial party politics leading to the poor performance of the council, the councils term comes to an end without addressing the immediate needs of the war-affected people. In its 134 Council sittings, at least 450 resolutions that were related to various subjects were passed in the council. One of the last of such resolutions passed last Tuesday was to call on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for failing to implement UN resolutions and seeking a UN monitored referendum in North and East provinces to know the political preferences of Tamil speaking people. The resolution also calls upon all member countries of the UN to impose military sanctions on Sri Lanka and deny entry visa to Sri Lankan military personnel implicated in war crimes, and explore other avenues, including the application of universal jurisdiction as proposed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in his annual report of March 2018. Interestingly enough, locals are of the view that if there is anything that the NPC executed effectively in the past, it would be the record number of resolutions passed within its five-year term, unlike any other Provincial Councils in the country. Divisions in JO over presidential candidate Former President Mahinda Rajapaksas the Hindu newspaper interview where he spoke on the candidature of members of the Rajapaksa family at the upcoming presidential election has caused ripples in the Joint Opposition (JO), exposing the deep divisions that continue to pervade within the JO regarding a future presidential candidate. In the interview, Mr Rajapaksa noted that his son, Namal Rajapaksa, could not be a candidate since the minimum age of an eligible candidate had been raised to 35. My brother is certainly a contender, but the party and the coalition will have to decide who the people want, he said. Mr Rajapaksa did not indicate which of his brothers he was referring to. No sooner had the interview been made public than Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila said the former president had given a niyatha vivarana that Gotabaya Rajapaksa would be the next presidential candidate from the JO. Kalutara District JO MP Kumara Welgama, however, protested publicly at Mr Rajapaksas comments on a presidential candidate. He told a local radio channel that this family bandyism was what caused the defeat of Mr Rajapaksa at the last presidential election. He treated members of the family differently from the others. He gave priority to members of the family. Ministers fell out with him over this. Even those who openly supported him covertly worked for the other side. Mr Welgama said the former president should remember that President Maithripala Sirisena left him and contested the presidency because Mr Rajapaksa did not give him the place due to him. As such, Im wondering whether this is an attempt to make another Sirisena, he remarked. Meanwhile, Parliamentarian Vasudewa Nanayakkara said he too had his own views regarding who should be the next presidential candidate. He pointed out that Mr Rajapaksa had said that it would be the party and the coalition which would decide in the end. Mr Nanayakkara said he would go with tne majority decision of the JO. SLFPs CC to take important decisions The Sri Lanka Freedom Partys Central Committee has been summoned for a meeting on September 19. Party officials said a series of important decisions would be made. This would include a date for the partys annual sessions, now overdue. Rajithas loose cigarettes go up in smoke The subtle hint President Maithripala Sirisena delivered at last Tuesdays weekly Cabinet meeting amused those present. He declared that the United National Front (UNF) or the United National Party (UNP) should have one position and speak in one voice. The occasion was a memorandum by Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne to ban the sale of loose cigarettes. Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera intervened to say that the Treasury would lose revenue if that proposal was carried out. Hence, he wanted it stalled. Sirisena declared they should come back with their decision at an upcoming meeting of the cabinet. It appears that not only the National Unity coalition speaks with two voices, but even one of its partners does. UNHRC: Sri Lanka Yes; Yemen No View(s): The sword of Damocles continues to hang over Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. Despite the main co-sponsor of Resolution 30/1 pulling out of the Council on grounds of political bias against Israel, other Western countries, notably Britain and Germany have weighed in to continue with the big stick to get Sri Lanka to be on its best behaviour as a respecter of human rights and transitional justice, reconciliation, rehabilitation etc. Sri Lanka has been given time till March next year to show how well it has progressed in terms of responding to the charges levelled against it at the UNHRC. This week, at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva, Sri Lankas ambassador had to pledge his countrys constructive engagement and dialogue with the Council and to provide unfettered access and necessary cooperation to visits by Working Groups of the Council to see how it is progressing according to the will of the Council. Sri Lanka has conceded that the technical advice provided by these Working Groups has been considered seriously and some of which have been already implemented. The OMP (Office of Missing Persons) is cited as an example. A draft 77-page Counter Terrorism Act (CTA) to replace the existing PTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) was rushed through Cabinet this week so that Sri Lankas envoy to the UNHRC can include the fact in his speech in Geneva and tick another of the boxes that contain the demands of the Council. The draft CTA is consistent with human rights safeguards and international standards, and the draft law was discussed with several stakeholders including the UN Counter terrorism Executive Directorate, the OHCHR and the International Red Cross, says our ambassador. A de-facto moratorium preventing new arrests under the PTA remains in effect. So these are the stakeholders of terrorism in Sri Lanka. Several other laws seem to be entering Sri Lankas statute books based on the dictates of the UNHRC, though many of them are for the good of the country. It is just that it would have been better if the countrys legislators drafted these laws on their own volition without having some Western powers dogged with their own problems of combating terrorism, breathing down this countrys neck. Why is it that Germany and Britain are maintaining a deafening silence over the crisis in Yemen unfolding right now. That country is being ripped apart in a pro-US/Saudi anti-Iran proxy war with more than 6,600 civilians killed and thousands of peoples lives hanging on a thread right here and now. Of course, the UNHRC is expected to have an interactive dialogue on the issue on September 26 while the poor Yemenis are getting bombed to smithereens by pro-West forces in the process. Animal Welfare Bill stuck in a black hole Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D.M. Swaminathan deserves plaudits for bringing a long overdue proposal to the Cabinet to ban animal sacrifices in Hindu temples. This, however creditable it may be, is only the beginning and it is now the duty of the Government to speedily draft the enabling legislation and for Parliament to pass it into law. This ritualistic practice in the name of one of the oldest religions is decried even by Hindu religious groups. Credit is due to animal rights activists who took the matter to the highest Court in the land. The gruesome sacrifices at the Bhadrakali Amman Kovil in Chilaw every year were a disgrace to humanity and successive Governments turned a blind eye to what some traditionalist termed an ancient custom to appease the gods and invoke the wrath of Goddess Kaliamma on their enemies. The temple was the site of a bloodbath of animals and birds to invoke harm on other human beings. At the time, the activists could only cite the Cruelty to Animals Ordinance and the Butchers Ordinance and the violation of its provisions. The local Police, however, looked the other way. They were beneficiaries of the meat that was distributed by the temple. The Law Commission had in 2006 drafted the Animal Welfare Bill which after many twists and turns, was passed by Cabinet in 2016. Pressure from certain groups (primarily the meat industry) had been a stumbling block. Even after Cabinet approval, the meat industry, including the poultry industry, and some professional veterinary associations continued to make representations relating to slaughter of animals for food consumption, transport of poultry, use of animals for experiments, de-population of poultry or destruction of animals for disease control) Then in 2017, the Rural Economy Ministry revised the Bill by adding a new clause which excludes the vast majority of animals from the scope of the Bill thus depriving them of the protection afforded to animals by the Bill. Now, the Bill is in the hands of the Livestock Ministry, a clear conflict of interest. Over the years, lack of political will, bureaucratic indifference, vested interests and personal agendas have hampered the progress of the Bill. It is not only in Hindu temples that the slaughter of animals takes place outside the law. In the name of religious festivals, all local council and national laws are broken. Slaughter of animals takes place even in private homes for these festivals. The WHO (World Health Organisation) has an alternate policy of CNVR (Catch- Neuter-Vaccinate-Release) and the sending of stray animals to the gas chamber is a thing of the past. Recently, the Kandy Municipal Council did the correct thing during the annual perahera season by rounding up stray cats and dogs when the city was filled with visitors who had come to watch the pageant. The animals were vaccinated and released to where they were picked up from after the pageant ended and the crowds had dispersed. Some countries that do not have a socio-cultural heritage of showing loving kindness to animals as Sri Lanka claims to have, give Constitutional rights to animals as sentient beings with a Right to Life. Meanwhile, the Government is purchasing 2,500 rifles to sort out the elephant-human conflict. To shoot whom remains the question, but that is another story. What the faluda it is about! Ifaz Bin Jameel who joined Freddy and Co. two years ago to try his hand at stand-up comedy talks to Purnima Pilapitiya View(s): View(s): Two years ago, when Ifaz Bin Jameel first introduced himself to Colombos audiences at Freddy Strikes Back, he made sure to mention that he had no connection to a certain infamous Muslim who also had Bin in his name. Back then Ifaz little thought he would go on to become not only one of Freddys regular stars, but also create an identity for himself as a Sri Lankan Muslim comedian. In October, Ifaz and the rest of the Freddy crew will be back with Freddy 3 A New Hope! bringing to the Lionel Wendt stage a routine that has scored guaranteed laughs. Since his very first show, Ifaz has become a much looked forward to fixture at Freddy, bringing not just a fresh new take but rather, a completely novel, yet familiar flavour to Sri Lankan humour- through the eyes and observations of a contemporary Sri Lankan Muslim. An old boy of Science College (previously known as Hena Vidyalaya) and D.S. Senanayake College, Ifaz and Freddys creator Feroze Kamardeen were only a year apart in school; both being involved heavily in the college drama scene. When he left school, Ifaz immediately became a regular with StageLight&Magic; both onstage and off from the theatre companys inception until 2002. Shakespeare took up a lot of the tall, lean actors time with roles such as Banquo in StageLight&Magics production of Macbeth and other heavier pieces such as Death of an Anarchist. But the unassuming Ifaz is a man of many talents- having pranced around on stage as the maniacal befurred Macavity the Mystery Cat in the Workshop Players production of Cats and Les Miserables in 1996 and 1997. Ifaz has even found himself in the directors chair for school and StageLight&Magic productions and in a twist of fate, even directed Feroze in Oleanna; the last play Feroze would act in before becoming the man behind the scripts. When Freddy was first introduced, Ifaz was also present, behind the scenes working on the set design. I had never seen stand-up comedy before, he admits. Like most of Sri Lanka, the most access Ifaz had to stand-up was through YouTube. So when Gehan Blok, Dominic Keller and Dino Coreras routines initially acted as a filler between skits, he was impressed. I thought they had an amazing reception, he says and didnt hesitate to share his enthusiasm with Feroze when they bumped into each other at a coffee shop one day. When Feroze shared his plans for expanding Freddy into a full blown stand-up show, they began discussing possible ideas for the show, and adding a Muslim take on comedy sprang up during the conversation. Fast forward to October 2017 and we see Ifaz on the stage at the Lionel Wendt after a break of ten years, as the shows opening performer, doing a routine about Muslims in Sri Lanka. Butterflies in his stomach was an understatement for Ifaz that night. But the reception was amazing, he remembers. Was it the often tiptoed around subject matter, the novel narrative or Ifazs own style of showman meets your childhood friend that captured the audience? For Ifaz, it doesnt matter as much as the need for a voice from his community. Growing up in a liberal home, Ifaz and his siblings owe their creativity to their progressive upbringing, but had to find a balance with both the liberal and more conservative sides of their family. In a time where cultural and religious identities are changing, I felt like it was a good time to talk about all this, he says. Like other Muslim comedians such as Aziz Ansari, Kumail Nanjiani, Ahmed Ahmed and Hasan Minhaj`, Ifaz has branched out, marking his own identity in comedy- not only as a Muslim, but as a Sri Lankan Muslim. Keeping with Ferozes vision for Freddy, Ifaz and the other performers dont shy away from serious topics and timely issues that concern politics, religion, culture and the Sri Lankan condition. But what keeps audiences coming back; even to the extent of filling up 2000 plus seats at Temple Trees in July is the relatability and humour only an unmarried Sri Lankan-Muslim or otherwise who has faced an Aunty network will know what the faluda (yes, Ifaz has his own signature words of choice) it is about. It doesnt have to be political his own segment finds humour in the everyday, making it possible to have a good laugh and be compelling. Freddys success has turned Ifaz into a minor celebrity, with people congratulating him, and a few criticizing him. Around 600 friend requests flooded in after the first show (who even has 100 real friends? he asks disbelievingly). But what has touched the soft-spoken actor most is a mere two words and no further explanation Thank you. StageLight&Magic.Inc present Freddy 3 A New Hope directed by FerozeKamardeen from October 18-23. Box plan and tickets will be available at the Lionel Wendt from October 1. AG to indict Vijayakala in Court of Appeal By Ranjith Padmasiri View(s): View(s): Jaffna District Parliamentarian Vijayakala Maheswaran will be indicted in the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General, the first time Article 157(a) of the Constitution will be tested 35 years after this article became law, a senior official of the Attorney Generals Department said. Since this is the first case brought before the CA under the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution and with no procedural precedent, legal experts say new procedures will have to be adopted in this case. For example, as there is no witness box in the CA, such arrangements will have to be made to hear the case. Investigations have shown three prima facie grounds on which Ms. Maheswaran can be charged but the AG has decided to charge her with two offences under Section 120 of the Penal code and Article 157(a) of the Constitution. The third allegation is an offence under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act but as there is inadequate evidence to proceed under this, the charges have been dropped. The AGs Department said that the indictments would be served next week. Police are expected to file a plaint in the Magistrate Court under Section 120 of the Penal Code. China company out, Indians coming to rebuild northern roads View(s): The Government is proposing to drop a Chinese bidder selected on a competitive tender to rehabilitate Road Development Authority (RDA) roads in the North and to obtain fresh proposals from two Indian companies for the same project because of geopolitical concerns. Proposals were invited through international competitive bidding with 100 percent confirmed financing for six packages to rehabilitate roads in the Northern and Eastern provinces. Forty-four applications were received. The Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee (CANC) and a Project Committee evaluated the proposals on technical, financing (price) and financial criteria. Two packages were awarded to Sinohydro Corporation Ltd (one in the North and one in the East). The others went to CEC-NEM Joint Venture, KDA Weerasinghe & Co Pvt Ltd, Consulting Engineers & Contractors Pvt Ltd and Nawaloka Construction Company Pvt Ltd. But the Indian authorities, through the Indian High Commission, requested to award some road development work in the Northern Province to the Indian companies for which funding could be arranged through the Exim Bank of India, states a Cabinet memorandum to be presented on Tuesday by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghes Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs. The High Commission of India in Colombo has facilitated two contractors of which one is a Government of India owned company IRCON and a partially Government of India owned company IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd (Public Private Partnership company), the memorandum says. Therefore, it may be prudent and appropriate to assign the Contract package on Rehabilitation of RDA Roads in the Northern Province (NIR/NP/RDA/o1) that has been recommended by the CANC to Sinohydro Corporation Limited to the Indian Company IRCON or IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd (Public Private Partnership company) as Sinohydro Corporation Limited has already been selected for 01 Contract package on Rehabilitation of LGD Roads in the Eastern Province (NIR/NP/LGD/01) which is also the largest Contract package, it holds. The memorandum states that in the recent past there has been serious concerns expressed by the Government of India, especially in the involvement of Chinese contractors in the Northern Province. As this is a geopolitical concern, a suitable decision has to be taken considering the good relationship Sri Lanka has to maintain with the neighbouring country and considering the past support and cooperation extended by the Government of India on socio-economic development of Sri Lanka, it asserts. If approved, Sinohydro will no longer carry out road rehabilitation in the North. The Cabinet assent is being sought now to invite proposals from the two Indian bidders, as requested by the Indian authorities, for the major RDA roads that link the North and East from Thalaimannar to Trincomalee via Vavuniya (208.6km); and the Jaffna-Trincomalee road which has two options (196km via the Kokkulai Bridge through the Paranthan-Mullaitivu Road or 220.36km via Kokkulai Bridge through the Point Pedro-Maruthankerni Road). Also to be examined are other possible priority roads which the Exim Bank of India has agreed to fund. Gazette issued to set up second Special High Court View(s): The second of the three proposed Permanent High Courts Trial-at-Bar will be set up in Colombo shortly to fast track cases related to serious frauds, corruption and other high profile crimes, the Government has announced. The gazette notification in this regard was issued by the Justice Ministry this week. The first permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar began sittings on August 21. Meanwhile, the Attorney General has decided to indict five persons in the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar for illegally keeping elephants in their custody without a licence and for trafficking in animals. They are to be charged under the Public Property Act and the Penal Code. Among those to be indicted are S. Niraj Roshan a.k.a. Ali Roshan, an assistant director of the Wildlife Conservation Department, and a clerk. The officials are suspected of tampering with the Elephant Registry maintained by the Wildlife Conservation Department. Former Magistrate Thilina Gamage who is currently on bail will also be indicted for rearing an elephant without a licence. The permanent High Courts Trial-at-Bar are being set up under an amendment to the Judicature Act, enabling trials before them following indictments by the Attorney General or the Director General for the Prevention of Bribery or Corruption. Hearings will be held and concluded expeditiously with evidence being recorded from day to day, to ensure expeditious disposal. Heavens death traps By Malaka Rodrigo Runaway kites prove fatal for unwary birds View(s): View(s): The sight of kites flying high in the skies being joy to the beholder but runaway kites are an increasing threat to local birds that become entangled in the strings. Art master Shantha K. Herath was conducting a class last week when he heard a loud, stressful cry from the top of a tall jak tree. He rushed out and found a large bird trying to escape from a string that had wound around its legs. The struggles of the large purple heron (karawel koka) made the problem worse. Villagers who gathered to see the plight of the bird called the Wildlife Department, which dispatched a local wildlife team to rescue the bird. A week earlier, Sumith Bandara had a similar experience but by the time he spotted the entangled victim it was too late for the bird. It was sad to witness the white egret hanging from the string like a white flag at a funeral, he said. The bird would have struggled many hours and had a painful death. About a month ago, Udeni Seneviratne shared on Facebook an incident in which an oriental darter had one of its wings entangled in a kite string. Unable to bear watching the birds distressed attempts to escape, animal lovers decided to attempt a rescue but it was dangerous as the bird was high in a massive flamboyant tree where its panicked struggles could unsettle a rescuer, with a slip of the foot being fatal. Eventually, the brave effort gave the oriental darter another chance in life. We were happy to see the bird swimming off but its wing was injured, Ms. Seneviratne stated. The Wildlife Department sees at least one such victim a week in the kite-flying season but the real number of dead and injured birds would be greater, the veterinary surgeon at the departments Wildlife Rescue Centre at Attidiya, Dr. Suhada Jayawardane, said. It is often very difficult to rescue the birds as they often become entangled high in trees, Dr. Jayawardane said, recalling when the fire brigade had to be called in to rescue a brown-headed barbet that had become entangled near Ananda College, Colombo. In India and Pakistan, where kite flying is a popular pastime and participants compete fiercely for dominance of the sky, a kind of glass-coated kite string (locally called manjha) is used and this is particularly dangerous for birds. According to a Times of India report, 4,026 birds had to be rescued during a kite festival at Gujarat, and according to a conservator of forests the previous years toll was worse, with 8,300 becoming entangled in kite strings and having to be rescued. Glass-coated string is not used in Sri Lanka and should not be allowed as it slices through the throats and membranes of birds. Dr. Jayawardene said it was difficult to treat a bird with broken wings and pleaded with kiters not to leave runaway kites and their threads unattended. The veterinary surgeon also asked anyone who spotted abandoned kites to remove them. The problem is not only in the sky: different lines trap marine life deep in the oceans. Abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear is a serious problem, more so as, unlike in the case of kite strings, the equipment is especially designed to trap the fish. The nets, even in their unattended state, continue their job of killing marine life. Experts have coined a special name for the occurrence: ghost fishing. At least 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear is thought to be lost or abandoned in the oceans every year, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The FAO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that one-tenth of all waste in the oceans is made up of ghost gear. Ghost fishing not only results in the needless deaths of fish, whales, dolphins, seals and turtles, some of which are endangered, but has other devastating results. Ghost gear can create problems for navigation when ship propellers become caught up in it, in the worst cases leading to capsizing and fatalities. The fishing material also is washed up on the beach as litter, becoming a danger to birds and other coastal species and a health and safety hazard for beachgoers. : , , 1 2007 , . : - , , 1 2007 . . . , ? : , 1 2007 . , . , , , . , , 5 10 , 40 50 . : ? : ? : ? : , , , . , , , . , , .. : , 1 2007 ? : 1 , , . . , . , , , . , , , , . -. , , , , . , . , , . : , . , , , ? : . - . - . - . , . , 1990 , . , - , . . . , - . , 15 . - , . . , , . , , , . ? , , 30 - 31 % , . , , , , . : , . , ? : . - , . , , . , . , , . , . , , - . , . : . , . ? : , . , . , . , , , , , , , .. . . , , - , - , . : , , , , - ? : , , , . ? - . , , , , . . , , , . - . , . , , 25 % , . 6, 7, 8 , , . . - . , , , . Key witness petitions HRCSL, claims Navy is victimising him View(s): The key state witness in an abduction case has written to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, complaining that his employer, the Sri Lanka Navy, is victimising him and blocking his promotion. Lt. Cmdr. Krishan Welagedara is a leading witness in a Habeas Corpus application filed in respect of five young Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim men who have gone missing since 2008 (the total number who disappeared is 11). The case is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Preliminary findings point towards an extortion racket; huge payments had been solicited from their next of kin in exchange for their safe return. In statements to the CID and court, Lt. Cmdr. Welagedara claimed that he had seen the five men at the Trincomalee Navy Base in 2009 while he was stationed there as an intelligence officer. Among other things, he claimed that they had been beaten up and the victims had begged him to rescue them. He also traced their vehicles to various Navy locations. Lt Cmdr Welagedara subsequently faced a Court Martial on the charge of going overseas without informing the Navy command and for bringing disrepute to the Navy. He was demoted but the punishment was annulled by President Maithripala Sirisena in July 2016 on an appeal. The only penalty that was imposed on him was the deduction of his salary for the period of absence. But the Navy officer has told the HRCSL that the Presidents directives are being ignored by the Navy which is allegedly blocking his promotion to the rank of Commander. The reason given to him by the Navy is that its legal officer, H M A W Weerasinghe, had committed an offence. On this basis, the Navy has deducted 10 points from him under the promotion scheme for elevation to Commander, he complains. Since the President has annulled his punishment, this cannot be done, the officer argues. I would like to point out to you that as I am the main witness for the State in the abduction of 11 youths, the Navy is using any means necessary to intimidate me, he says. Lt Cmmdr Welagedara has appealed to the HRCSL to take note of the injustice he has faced and to help him gain his promotion to the rank of Commander on the basis of seniority. Ragging comes to the fore as CID takes over student suicide case By Asiri Fernando View(s): View(s): The Criminal Investigation Department this week recorded a statement from the mother of a Sabaragamuwa University student who is said to have committed suicide in 2015 after being ragged, an activist who accompanied her to the police said. Wasantha Padmini Elvitigala alleges that her daughter, Amali Chathurika, took her life after becoming depressed due to repeated ragging. For three-and-a-half years, however, there was no police action. Anti-ragging activists and students told the Sunday Times that the law enforcement authorities have long viewed universities as being beyond their jurisdiction. But change may be taking place. There are now five ongoing cases filed under the Prohibition of Ragging and Other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act of 1998. It allows for bail to be refused and carries a maximum penalty of ten years rigorous imprisonment. Amalis story has re-ignited the debate about ragging. Activist Danushka Weerasekara told the Sunday Times that his movement plans to use the Right to Information (RTI) Act to get a 2015 internal report regarding the students case from university authorities. Those who carry out ragging are known to focus on students from popular schools. Students who speak fluent English or follow a concurrent course of studies such as CIMA are targeted and pressured not to speak in English or to discontinue parallel studies, Danushka said. Marshals and student councillors at some universities do not get adequate support or resources from administrators to effectively protect students from ragging. Without unified support from administrators and academics, marshals and student councillors cannot carry out their duties. University officials are often reluctant to lodge ragging complaints with the police as they fear the negative publicity it attracts, he claimed. But the ongoing debate in the media coupled with President Maithripala Sirisenas statement that the the Higher Education Minister and University Grants Commission (UGC) should take stern action against raggers has led more students and academics to collectively voice opposition to the fringe groups engaged in this inhuman practice. A zero tolerance policy on ragging is essential, said Prof Lakshman Dissanayake, Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Colombo. He said the university followed a procedure when a ragging incident is reported, sometimes leading to students being suspended based on the findings. Once an incident is reported, it is presented to the University Council to investigate. His administration does not hesitate to lodge complaints with the police and his staff back him on this, Prof Dissanayake said, responding to claims that the authorities are reluctant to go to the police. The university environment should be one free of violence and abuse, he stressed, insisting that perpetrators of ragging should be punished. Discipline and open-mindedness are crucial to student development in universities. Some of the miscreants could be suffering from mental illness. There must be mutual respect within the student community, he asserted, noting that the degradation of values in broader society may be a contributing factor that amplifies negative subcultures like ragging. The Colombo University has initiated grievance committees to help resolve student concerns and disputes between factions. The Institute of Indigenous Medicine (IIM) in Rajagiriya, where ragging was reported to be rampant, was separate from the main Colombo University site, the VC said, and has developed its own subculture. But the IIM warden and sub-warden have been instructed to produce a report, he said. My door is always open to any student or student body to discuss concerns as long as procedure is followed, Prof Dissanayake said. Ragging does not start at universities, says Dr Chandrika Jayasinghe, a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya. A consultant physician and author of the book Ragging in Higher Education Institutions, she said the practice begins in schools. At times, it was at the hands of prefects who are overly empowered by school administrators for their convenience. Students carry out ragging due to a range of reasons, Dr Jayasinghe analysed. Some believe it is a part of university tradition or do not want to feel excluded. Others do it out of a desire to dominate others and feel superior within the student community. Jealousy and a desire to please seniors are also significant causes. Eroding values and dignity within the broader Sri Lankan society is related to the culture of ragging, Dr Jayasinghe noted, echoing the Colombo University VCs sentiments. Those who force brutal physical acts, sexual intimidation and sexual abuse on students may have inferiority complexes, low self-esteem and anti-social traits, Dr Jayasinghe said. Some may be deriving sadistic sexual pleasures by observing the pain and humiliation the freshers undergo at their hands. To mitigate the cycle of abuse and prevent future generations from having to undergo such trauma, Dr Jayasinghe urged all authorities to genuinely follow an official zero tolerance policy. Talking about a good side of ragging or promoting nostalgic views from their own experiences in the past will not help bring an end to this horrendous practice, she said. There was inadequate support from the university administrations to educate students on their rights ans obligations and on how to report forms of ragging. More needs to be done to build the confidence of new students to report ragging acts and to encourage them to say no, Dr Jayasinghe said. No to Ragging should be a message delivered in a unified voice, she said. Sweeping changes in new Counter-Terrorism Act By Namini Wijedasa View(s): View(s): The Cabinet has approved a draft Counter Terrorism Act (CTA) that requires suspects to be produced before a magistrate within 48 hours and limits detention orders to a maximum of eight weeks. It also grants a magistrate the discretion to refuse an extension after two weeks and entitles suspects to bail six months after arrest if criminal proceedings are not instituted during that time frame. The CTA places an obligation upon the magistrate to personally see the suspect, and look into his wellbeing and welfare through a private interview; and record any comment the suspect may provide. Any magistrate shall also be entitled, without advance notice, to enter an approved place of detention as well as inspect such place, registers, detention orders and other books and documents and interview persons being held therein. The bill, once enacted, will replace the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) which gives police a 72-hour window to produce a suspect before a magistrate; allows detention orders to be extended every three months up to 18 months; and confines suspects to remand till the end of their trials, many of which take years to conclude. The draft Policy and Legal Framework relating to the proposed Counter Terrorism Act of Sri Lanka was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday. It was drawn up over the past one-and-a-half years with select provisions in earlier versions drawing critical comments from rights activists. The latest draft, a copy of which was obtained by the Sunday Times, has addressed many of these concerns. For instance, some previous drafts made confessions to police admissible in court. The latest version does not. Only confessions made to a magistrate are admissible; that, too, provided the magistrate who took the confession immediately prior to and after recording it causes the person who made the statement to be examined by a Government forensic medical specialist. Such report must be produced by the prosecuting authority during the voir-dire inquiry (a preliminary examination of a witness or a juror by a judge or counsel) that may be conducted for verifying the admissibility of the confessional statement. It is reported, however, that the Cabinet sanctioned the draft CTA only on the understanding that it will be amended during the committee stage debate in Parliament to bring back admissibility of confessions made to police officers. Legal analysts pointed to other issues with the proposed law. For instance, the provisions on abetting terrorism make it illegal to gather any confidential information with the intention or purpose of supplying it to a person who commits an offence or is conspiring, preparing, abetting or attempting to commit and offence under the Act. Confidential information, as defined by the CTA, would also include any information relating to the police or the armed forces, on the conduct of any official activity, including law enforcement or military measure which is intended to be carried out or is being carried out, or has been carried out. This application, one analyst said, is very broad and could impact on defence columns. But the draft law does have a proviso excluding as an offence anything published in good faith with due diligence for the benefit of the public or in national interest in registered print and electronic media, or in any academic publication. Another point of concern is a clause authorising Deputy Inspectors General of Police to issue detention orders which activists say confers great discretion on the police. This is problematic given the patterns of abuse of detention orders to coerce money from people, the analyst pointed out. Technically, there is provision for a board of review but these things dont work in practice. On the whole, the new draft contains several aspects deemed welcome by the rights community. While it does contain a long list of offences, the Act strictly provides for identification, detection, apprehension, arrest, taking into custody of, detention, investigation or prosecution only of persons committing offences within the meaning of the Act. It also states: Any action taken by any person in good faith in the lawful exercise of a fundamental right, or in pursuance of, or to give effect to a lawful order given to him, or in accordance with or to give effect to a judicial order, shall not amount to an offence under this Act. At the time of an arrest, the arresting officer shall inform the suspect the identity of the arresting officers; the offence alleged to have been committed by the suspect; and the right of access of the suspect to an attorney-at-law as provided for in written law. Every arrest shall be carried out with due regard to the privacy of the suspect. The next of kin or an adult member of the suspects family shall be issued an acknowledgment of arrest and custody within 24 hours. It must include the date, time and place of arrest; reasons for arrest; location of custody or detention; name identification and rank of arresting officer; and so on. The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the police station wherein the suspect is detained shall within 24 hours notify the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) with all of the above as well as other information. The HRCSL is also entitled to prompt access to the suspect. The draft CTA mandates the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to establish and maintain a central database and register containing information with regard to each arrest, detention, remanding, grant of bail, discharge, prosecution, conviction or acquittal, and punishment of persons arrested under the Act. It shall include such other information as required to determine the lawfulness of the arrest, custody and detention; lawfulness of the deprivation of liberty of the suspect; and the need for continued detention or remand. The IGP shall provide information included in the database and register to the HRCSL upon request. No person shall be held in remand for a period exceeding six months from the date of arrest without instituting criminal proceedings. If such proceedings are not instituted within six months, the magistrate shall release the suspects on conditions to be stipulated by the magistrate. A board of review will be set up to grant administrative relief for appeals against detention orders. Rulings must be made within two weeks. Whenever a suspect is released from remand or detention, the HRCSL shall be informed. The police must obtain a judicial order to gain access to information relating to any financial service provided by banks, non-banking financial institutions or designated non-finance business to a suspect; details of any financial transaction carried out by any person; details relating to bank accounts, deposits, remittances and withdrawals and financial services provided by such bank institution or business; details relating to securing of financial services by any person; and a certified statement of any account or other information pertaining to any account or transaction. Judicial orders are also required for the police to, among other things, intercept, listen or record any postal message or electronic mail or any telephone, voice, internet or video conversation or conference or any communication through any other medium. The draft CTA gives discretion to the Attorney General (AG) to suspend and defer the institution of criminal proceedings on a suspect for a period of not less than five years and not exceeding ten years. In such instance, the AG shall apply to the High Court for the imposition of one or more conditions on the suspect: to publicly express remorse and apology before the High Court using a text issued by the AG; to provide reparation to victims of the offence, as specified by the AG; to participate in a specified programme of rehabilitation; to publicly undertake that such person refrains from committing an offence under this Act; to engage in a specified community or social service; or to refrain from committing any indictable offence or breach of peace. The law also proposes day-to-day trials, other than during weekends, public holidays and court vacations. Memory makes us what we are as individuals as well as societies By Madhubashini Disanayaka-Ratnayake View(s): View(s): Professor Sasanka Perera who received both his PhD and Masters in Social Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, is an anthropologist associated with the Colombo University at first and now, with the South Asian University in New Delhi, of which he is Vice President. He is also that rare Sri Lankan academic who publishes constantly and consistently, researching on Sri Lanka and engaging with issues currently needing much focus and attention in this country. His absence from Sri Lanka in recent times makes it easy for his work to be easily missed here and in July 2018, a discussion organized by the Social Scientists Association was held in Colombo about his book Violence and the Burden of Memory: Remembrance and Erasure in Sinhala Consciousness which was published by Orient Black Swan in 2016. This is an interview related to that work. This book is the result of fourteen years of work. What made you undertake this study? I am old-fashioned when it comes to research. I cant be rushed by publishers, by funders or by employers beyond a point. Besides, this work has to do with peoples emotions, frames of mind and anxieties. By definition, this kind of work takes time. In our kind of social, political and intellectual circumstances, academics play multiple roles simultaneously. We simply cannot take leave for a few years, undertake fieldwork, and then sit in some nice place and write. That kind of luxury of the Ivory Tower is not a privilege some of us in this part of the world enjoy. In my own life, all these things have impacted on the time it has taken for the book to come out since the initial work began. Why did I undertake this study? One can also ask, why not? My response however is somewhat complicated. This is about how memory works among the Sinhalas. I thought as a member of society, I needed to know how people remembered and forgot. This was also about formalizing as knowledge things I had seen going on all around me for a very long time. This had no developmental agenda. It only had an intellectual one. Your book deals with memory and erasure. Why is memory important to a society? Well, one can always say memory is not important. In fact, many people have told me time and again over the years, that it is best if one forgets unpleasant things. My thinking is different from this kind of escapist sentiment. For me, a person without memory or a society with a ruptured or consciously altered sense of memory, are living in an illusion. Their lives would be incomplete or even false. Memory and a sense of the past makes us what we are as individuals as well as societies. But memory should also not be a burden beyond a point. It should simply anchor us to the present and the past, but also should allow us to traverse into the future. But as a realist and as a Buddhist who is familiar with the notion of anitya, I also understand well that everything changes and nothing is permanent, including memory. In this context, what I have tried to understand is how memory works in the context of the trauma that war has brought to us, and when erasure sets in, and how we as a people deal with our collective past. This is a comprehensive study of monuments in Sri Lanka either state sanctioned, group initiated, privately built or visually represented by artists. Given, as you yourself say, the Sri Lankan, especially Buddhist, cultural practice of remembering through rituals like the giving of alms rather than visiting monuments to grieve over someone, most of these monuments are falling into disuse or not being utilized the way they were designed for, according to your work. Why was it important to you to document this phenomenon? Fundamentally, this is a study about remembering and forgetting. For me, things like monuments and artworks dealing with violence are simply instruments of memory as are the kind of religious rituals you refer to. True, many of the private monuments including many bus stands and tombstones erected in memory of people killed in the war have gone into disuse. LTTE monuments have completely vanished from the landscape. Military monuments still function as they are linked to calendar rituals performed by their creators. In other words, they work because here remembrance is institutionalized. But memory everywhere is very fragile. It is this sense of impermanence and fragility of memory that the status of these monuments and the practices associated with them tells us. I think even when it comes to religious rituals of memory, the emotional distance between the living and departed also tend to diminish somewhat over time even if these rituals might continue year after year. They become routine. For me, it was important to document these because this is part of our collective history. And this kind of understanding history or our past does not find much acceptance in mainstream writing of history or even mainstream sociology. After all, I have looked at the memory of ordinary people, not political leaders or the powerful. Your work in this and other documents, research into the visual art of a particular time in this country. You have laid out clearly why this creative practice might itself face erasure and not be remembered by future generations. Do you think there is any way in which this can be avoided, and what the artists narrated could be made to impact the generations that come after us? The work of visual artists engaged in what might be broadly called political art is one way in which memory is transacted. Why I have said this expression of memory is threatened with erasure is because we have no systems of seriously collecting and preserving our artwork for the future. Some of these works might remain in private collections. Others might be documented in books like mine. But most will lapse into erasure. I dont think there is any way to avoid this at the moment simply because our country does not have a systematic system of art preservation. As a result, we do not have the same benefit as some developed countries with sophisticated systems of galleries and museums have, where art in many instances become a reflective source of history. What role do you think anthropologists and sociologists can play in Sri Lankas post war society? People with this kind of disciplinary training at a global level can ideally play multiple roles. One problem we have in Sri Lanka is that the kind of sociology or anthropology training offered by our universities, in my assessment, is nowhere near where it should be. At one level, this training does not offer trainees the background to be good university teachers in the global scheme of things. At another level, I am not sure if this training offers anything useful for the larger labour market either. In this kind of grim situation, I am not sure what people with this kind of local training can do barring a few exceptions. Many articles and research work about the problems here are done in English. How effective do you think such work is, to bring about a change in this country? Should there not be an attempt to bring these ideas to the Sinhala and Tamil- speaking public? You can look at this in two ways. Scholarship does not necessarily have to lead to social transformation. It is primarily about knowledge. But if it has to lead to social change, then, it has to reach a wider readership. It is in this latter sense what you have asked needs to be answered. The world of scholarship is not only a national one. It is also global, and that world cannot be reached via Sinhala or Tamil. A knowledge base that is too national in terms of focus, approach or language can be too parochial. It is also about time our academics and thinking people in the country acquire the ability to access knowledge produced in global languages. Not everything will ever be produced in our own languages. On the other hand, I strongly believe crucial works produced by local and foreign scholars that are relevant to us need to be available to our people in their own languages. But there has to be a formal institutionalized translation system to make this happen as can be seen to some extent in Japan and China. Though my own output in Sinhala has diminished in recent times due to my present location and circumstances, I still try to do this whenever possible. You are now working as a Dean in South Asia University, Delhi. Can you give a brief description of how you have come to be there? I am actually the Vice President of the University in addition to teaching sociology. I resigned as Dean of Social Sciences on August 31 after nearly seven years. I honestly believe scholars should engage in scholarship and teaching rather than dabbling in administration. But when I came to South Asian University in 2011, there were no senior academics in place. Even today, the situation has not improved much. So I had to take up some of these administrative responsibilities quite reluctantly, which I had successfully avoided at the University of Colombo, for most of my career. I was interested in the idea of the South Asian University for a long time and had close associations with some of the scholars in the region who had initially mooted the idea. So when the university actually got off ground in 2010, I was quite keen to be part this experiment. It was expected to be a regional university funded by the member states of SAARC where knowledge was to be offered without the hurdle of militarized borders. My initial idea was to come to Delhi for five years, help set up the sociology programme, and then go back. But despite this being a state-funded international university to which Sri Lanka also contributes, my request for leave fell on deaf ears. At the same time, many of my colleagues got easy opportunities to take up political appointments, which had no academic merit. So, I resigned. Sometimes in ones life, one must take risks if it offers worthwhile challenges and possibilities broadening ones intellectual horizons. In retrospect, I think resigning from Colombo is perhaps one of the most sensible things I have ever done in my entire life. This is because it has positively impacted my teaching, my reading and my writing and vastly expanded my publishing. The last King in a tiny cell? Never By Dr. Sarath Edirisinghe View(s): View(s): The picture of the prison cell in which our last King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha was purported to have been imprisoned or incarcerated is familiar to Sri Lankan readers. The mystery surrounding this monument was highlighted in the Sunday Times of August 26. Personal records of Henry Marshall as well as other well researched historical documentation clearly show that the king was treated with dignity by the British and was never restricted to a tiny cramped guardpost in the Fort area of Colombo Recent publications on the last King of Ceylon quite convincingly show that the British were careful to conceal their atrocious behaviour towards the last King of Kandy leading to the acquisition of the Kandyan kingdom. In his The Doomed King, Gananath Obeysekera says that the British had to label and show Sri Vikrama as the embodiment of depravity and evil. He beautifully summarizes the destiny of Sri Vikrama as given a bad press. The way the British treated the king in Colombo after his captivity and subsequently in Vellore show that they were still suffering the nagging feeling of guilt; of having deposed an independent ruler of a foreign nation by portraying themselves as the saviour of the long suffering Kandyans. The interpreter accompanying the Sabaragamuwa men of Eknaligoda had given an account of the events leading to the actual capture of the King. According to Don William Adrian Dias Bandaranayaka, the Interpreter Mudali scribbled a note to DOyly informing him that the fallen king was being brutalized by Eknaligodas mob and requested three palanquins and suitable clothes for the captive king and the two queens. After treating the royal captives with Madeira and claret they were provided with palanquins. Two mounted officers of the British army were on either side of the palanquins and the rest of the soldiers marched behind trailed by Eknaligodas men. Such a dignified exit from his domain would not fit in with a subsequent incarceration in a tiny isolated cell. The document referred to by Nihal Karunaratna in his Kandy Past and Present entitled, Narrative of events which have recently occurred in the Island of Ceylon written by a gentleman on the spot, indicates that the king was accommodated in a spacious house in the Colombo Fort. The British were careful to legitimize the deposition of the king and took stringent measures to treat him well with the dignity that calls for the maintenance of royal prisoners. Thus he was allowed visitors. Paul E. Pieris in his Tri Sinhala copies a request made by the King in which he states that he had several golden and other State hats in Kandy and he liked to have the ones made with pure gold and the other made with super fine cloth mounted with gold and feather along the edge. Among the other items he requested were two jackets, one made with super fine white cloth and the other with super fine embroidery, one flat gold neck ornament and a knife like a dagger mounted of gold, some rings and lockets of stones. Could these demands or requests be made by a person who was incarcerated in that tiny cell? Like the above request he made demands about the daily rations for him and his family in addition to silver salvers, silver rice eating dishes, silver cups, silver shembus and a golden betel box. After being transported to Vellore Fort, the captive king continued to petition the authorities for innumerable requests such as gold ornaments for the queens and the daughters, extra servants and even a horse drawn carriage. Professor P.E.E.Fernandos published research on the British documents of the Vellore fort show how the guilty British tried to fulfil the demands of the king. When one of the queens bore a son the British even considered buying an estate in order to finance the education of the kings son. There is so much evidence for the humane treatment of the captive king by the British. It is the prime duty of the Archaeological Department under whom the present monument in Colombo is maintained to remove the posted sign at the site so that tourists who flock there are not hoodwinked into believing something not true historically. The many roles of a visionary General View(s): The Association of Retired Flag Rank Officers will release a biography of Deshamanya General Denis Perera, former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army with the title GENERAL DENIS -the Epitome of Leadership. The Association of Retired Flag Rank Officers will release a biography of Deshamanya General Denis Perera, former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army with the title GENERAL DENIS -the Epitome of Leadership. General Denis Perera, a pioneering and seminal contributor to the expansion and the inculcation and enforcement of high standards in all matters connected with the development of the Army possessed a commanding personality allied with a sense of personal modesty. It was suggested when he was about to retire that he write his memoirs, but he had replied politely, that I will leave to others. Those others in the form of The Association of Retired Flag Rank Officers have now acted on the Generals comment which at the time it was made, he no doubt felt would not bear fruit. Sadly, he is not with us to appreciate the commendable effort that has gone into bringing out this publication. The Association of Senior Officers is composed broadly of Generals, Admirals and Air Marshals and sub categories among these high ranks, now officially in retirement from the services. It is engaged in a broad range of activities pertaining to the areas of international relations, defence policy, institutional development and comparative studies and historical research relating to the three services. The General was among the first batch of officer cadets sent to the Sandhurst military training establishment in Britain at the dawn of Ceylons Independence. From that point onwards, Denis Pereras career and the evolution and growth of the national army were coterminous. In this unfolding scenario, the young officer gradually acquiring more seniority and entrusted with more responsibility showed his qualities of hard work, consistency, bold initiative and implementation capacity. The book contains well researched facts, figures and dates. It has in a commendable manner garnered important details that would have been scattered in files, documents, regimental records, the Training Centre at Diyathalawa and many other places. These have been woven into the narrative in an easy and readable style enriched further with interesting personal recollections of many persons. As one reads, one feels the difficulty of separating the person from the institution, the institution that he was doing so much to build. The book relates the central role he played in upgrading the Training Centre at Diyatalawa to the status of a well-constituted and well-resourced academy. The Major Army Cantonment at Panagoda; the Combat Training School at Ampara; the setting up strategically of cantonments in various planned locations; the raising of new Regiments, many of them of great note and importance later, such as the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, the Rajarata Rifles, later to become the Gajaba Regiment; the Commando Unit, the Womens Corps and others, were all the products of his vision, energy and initiative. The book also relates the negotiations conducted with Sir John Kotelawala and success that was had in persuading Sir John to gift his Kandawala Estate in Ratmalana to set up the Defence Academy for the higher education and training of officers of all three services. Fittingly when the Academy was elevated to the status of university, General Denis Perera became its Chancellor. There were many other achievements to his credit as a military personality. They are all contained in the book. But one that needs special mention is the Generals role in coordinating the compilation of the important publication entitled the History of the Army Fifty years on. (M.D.D. Pieris was formerly of the Ceylon Civil Service and the Sri Lanka Administrative Service and former Secretary to the Prime Minister and Secretary to several Ministries of government) Book facts GENERAL DENIS- The Epitome of Leadership- Reviewed by M.D. D. Pieris Demo-crazy in Lanka By Gamini Weerakoon View(s): View(s): Vacillations of the moon are generally blamed for the inhabitants of this paradise isle periodically taking leave of their senses and playing merry hell on the streets of Colombo. The sun blazing directly overhead on the Indian Sub-Continent in August, too, seems to have had drastic effectsperhaps sun strokeson the quarter of humanity inhabiting the regionnot only Sri Lanka. On September 5, decriminalising gay-sex, Indias highest court overturned a 157-year-old law. Five judges, including the Chief Justice, were unanimous in the ruling: Respect for individual choice is the essence of liberty. Five years ago the same court upheld the same law that it rescinded. To India watchers as recent as in the Sixties and Seventies, the recent judicial decision appears to be like Rip Van Winkle awakening from his dream. Indians even after their Independence were occupying the Himalayan peaks of moralityindividual and internationalwith their Gandhian and Nehruvian piety high above from most of the world. But now not only are Indian youths dancing in step to hard rock of the Western culture but even their staid conservative judiciary is nodding in agreement with the post-World War II pioneers of human rights with whom they were not comfortable with even as late as in the 1990s. How the immensely diverse Indian culture would adopt to this quantum jump in law governing sexual conduct and inclinations is to be seen. Yet it has been pointed out that India is the land of the Kama Sutra as evidenced in the sculptures and other works of art, ancient and great historical monuments that are still revered. Whether the current prissy morality was brought in by Muslim invaders or Christian missionaries is a moot point. Whats relevant now is how 21st Century India, knocking on the doors of the Nuclear Club, will be able to adapt itself to the sexual mores that will follow the historic judicial decision. For Sri Lanka this enlightened or decadent moveas it is bound to be interpreted by opportunist political organisationsholds the potential of a political bomb. For a country that was divided politically almost at the centre in the past between the government and opposition forces on all issues, major or minor, this sex issue could lead to extreme political destabilisation with provincial and even the presidential election round the corner. Decrminalisation of laws against homosexual acts will be a highly volatile political issue. This concerns sex and we Sri Lankans pretend to abhor sex politically although any woman who steps out of home after sunset takes a huge risk. Decriminalisation of homosexual laws will be grist to the mills of the Rajapaksa propaganda mill. Will the removal of anti-homosexual laws which have never been implemented make any sense? But removal holds the potential of bloody riots. Sex be it uni-sex, bi-sex, no sex or in any varied form is a private matter. Laws do not promote or prevent sexual desires. Already the NGO, liberals and the like as well as hardcore homos are urging that Sri Lanka follow the Indian way. A Sherman de Rose, who has taken up the baton for the homos, has expressed sheer delight and has said that he is calling up branch organisations to Colombo for a confab. No doubt those suggesting that we go the Indian way will have staunch opponents in government ranks but there are one or two who have openly declared themselves to be homosexuals. If they put their foot in the mouth and declare their support for decriminalisation they will be bringing the sky down on their yahapalanaya government. These are times, when even those who have intimate relations with the divine have no control over the skies, sun or moon and are sending our inhabitants plain nuts. Last month, the usually moonstruck section of the Sri Lankan populace assembled in their tens of thousands in the environs of Colombo Fort declaring their firm intention to topple the Government. As the sun heated up the city young and old men and women came in dancing screaming obscenities at the Yahapalanaya government and their leaders. They marched, dancedbaila, kavadi, up-country, low country and cross-country, rock n roll (of sorts), kalagedi and Wangedi, rolled bare-chested on the streets, somersaulted and double-somersaulted. For once the Yahapalanaya stood firm. No baton charges, firing of water cannon or tear gas. After seven hours in the blazing August sun they wilted away. As a bus headed down south was speeding away the refrains of an old MS Fernando baila was heard: Baibee, Baibee, Baibeeee. Epa, Baibee danga koronda (Dont be naughty baby) Baibee, baibee bayawenta eppa Baibee Uncle nevai Thataha ge baibeee A British man was expected to be discharged from hospital on Thursday (yesterday) after treatment for serious firearm and stab wounds. The victim had apparently been tortured, possibly as part of a gang reprisal. Among other injuries, he had two long cuts, one each side of his mouth, a disfigurement known as a clown's smile or a Joker's smile, after the character from Batman. In the UK the horrific face carving is usually known as a 'Glasgow smile' and used in reprisal attacks between members of rival gangs. The man was admitted to the Costa del Sol hospital last Saturday night and, according to sources, was expected to be discharged yesterday (Thursday) after an operation at the weekend. The victim, of British origin, had only arrived in Marbella two hours previously Multiple injuries In addition to the Glasgow smile, he is reported to have multiple injuries caused by a bladed weapon and a firearm, as well as fractured bones. Police have been involved since the man was admitted to the hospital and are investigating what happened. Sources close to the investigation say that the victim has not so far cooperated but they have been able to discover that he had only arrived in Marbella two hours before the attack, which suggested that he had been lured into a trap on visiting the town. The shots he received are to his legs, which police believe were a warning and not an attempt to kill him. The brutality of the torture is leading police to believe that it is linked to revenge. Police are so far not suggesting any link between the death in a shootout with police of another British man, Sean Hercules, on Monday afternoon. 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 ... Super Typhoon Mangkhut smashes into Philippines Tuguegarao, Philippines, Sept 15 (AFP) Sep 15, 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 down trees, tore off roofs and knocked out power when it made landfall on the island of Luzon in the pre-dawn darkness. As it barrelled west toward China across the disaster-prone archipelago, the storm's gusts strengthened up to 330 kilometres (205 miles) per hour but its sustained winds had weakened to 185 km per hour. "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. - 'We are terrified' - Residents had started lashing down their roofs and gathering supplies days before the arrival of the storm. "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)." 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, but forecasters say the city will be lashed by Mangkhut's wind and rain. 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/qan Super Typhoon Mangkhut claims first victims in the Philippines Tuguegarao, Philippines, Sept 15 (AFP) Sep 15, 2018 Super Typhoon Mangkhut smashed through the Philippines on Saturday, as the biggest storm to hit the region this year claimed the lives of its first victims and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes. Roughly four million people -- a quarter of whom live on a few dollars a day -- were in the path of destruction that the storm slashed through the northern tip of Luzon island, leaving at least eight dead. "As we go forward, this number will go higher," Ricardo Jalad, head of the national civil defence office, told reporters, referring to the death toll. As the powerful storm left the Southeast Asian archipelago and barrelled towards densely populated Hong Kong and southern China, Philippine authorities began sending search teams to remote areas hit by communication and power outages. The extent of the storm's destruction only beginning to be known later on Saturday, with reports of dozens of rain-soaked hillsides collapsing, torrents of out-of-control floodwaters and people being rescued from inundated homes. Just over 105,000 people fled their homes in the largely rural, agricultural region, which is one of the nation's top producers of corn and rice. Mangkhut was packing sustained winds of 160 kilometres (105 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 195 km per hour as it hurtled across the sea toward China's heavily populated southern coast. An average of 20 typhoons and storms lash the Philippines each year, killing hundreds of people and leaving millions in near-perpetual poverty. The dead were six people killed in landslides, a girl who drowned and a security guard crushed by a falling wall. In addition to the eight killed in the Philippines, a women was swept out to sea in Taiwan. - 'End of the world' - "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)." Survivors were traumatised by the confrontation with the monster typhoon. "It felt like the end of the world... that was stronger than Lawin", said Bebeth Saquing, 64, using the local name for Super Typhoon Haima, which was one of the most powerful storms of 2016. "I did not sleep," she told AFP by phone from her home, which stood up to Mangkhut's pounding. 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. As the storm is on pace to hit China's southern coast on Sunday, Cathay Pacific warned travellers that it expects more than 400 flight cancellations over the next three days. At the same time, the Hong Kong government said Mangkhut will pose "a severe threat to the region", with many residents in the city and neighbouring Macau stocking up on food and supplies. Volunteers also helped residents of low-lying Hong Kong fishing village Tai O hoist their furniture and appliances to higher ground. The president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, told citizens to be ready as powerful waves struck pounded it shore. "The typhoon is powerful and even it's not expected to make a landfall in Taiwan, we should be well prepared and not... take it lightly," she wrote on Facebook. burs-mm/jm/fa Facebook Super Typhoon Mangkhut claims first victims in the Philippines Tuguegarao, Philippines, Sept 15 (AFP) Sep 15, 2018 Super Typhoon Mangkhut smashed through the Philippines on Saturday, as the biggest storm to hit the region this year claimed the lives of its first victims and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes. Roughly four million people -- a quarter of whom live on a few dollars a day -- were in the path of destruction that the storm slashed through the northern tip of Luzon island, leaving at least eight dead. "As we go forward, this number will go higher," Ricardo Jalad, head of the national civil defence office, told reporters, referring to the death toll. As the powerful storm left the Southeast Asian archipelago and barrelled towards densely populated Hong Kong and southern China, Philippine authorities began sending search teams to remote areas hit by communication and power outages. The extent of the storm's destruction was only beginning to be known, with reports of dozens of rain-soaked hillsides collapsing, torrents of out-of-control floodwaters and people being rescued from inundated homes. More than 105,000 people fled their homes in the largely rural agricultural region, which is one of the nation's top producers of corn and rice. Mangkhut was packing sustained winds of 160 kilometres (105 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 195 km per hour as it hurtled across the sea towards China's heavily populated southern coast. An average of 20 typhoons and storms lash the Philippines each year, killing hundreds of people and leaving millions in near-perpetual poverty. The dead were six people killed in landslides, a girl who drowned and a security guard crushed by a falling wall. In addition to the eight killed in the Philippines, a woman was swept out to sea in Taiwan. - 'End of the world' - "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)." Survivors were traumatised by the confrontation with the monster storm. "It felt like the end of the world... that was stronger than Lawin", said Bebeth Saquing, 64, using the local name for Super Typhoon Haima, which was one of the most powerful storms of 2016. "I did not sleep," she told AFP by phone from her home, which stood up to Mangkhut's pounding. The country's deadliest storm on record is Super Typhoon Haiyan, which left more than 7,350 people dead or missing across the central Philippines in November 2013. As the storm is on pace to hit China's southern coast on Sunday, Cathay Pacific warned travellers that it expected more than 400 flight cancellations over the next three days. Philippine government forecaster Ariel Rojas said even though the storm had passed the Philippines, it would continue to bring heavy rain in the country possibly causing more floods and landslides until Monday. But the storm was unlikely to get any stronger, Rojas said. "We don't see it intensifying anymore. It could likely maintain its current intensity or even weaken," he told AFP. The Hong Kong government said Mangkhut will pose "a severe threat to the region", with many residents in the city and neighbouring Macau stocking up on food and supplies. Volunteers also helped residents of low-lying Hong Kong fishing village Tai O hoist their furniture and appliances to higher ground. The president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, told citizens to be ready as powerful waves pounded the shore. "The typhoon is powerful and even (if) it's not expected to make a landfall in Taiwan, we should be well prepared and not... take it lightly," she wrote on Facebook. burs/gle Facebook Killer storm Florence dumping 'epic amounts of rainfall' on Carolinas Wilmington, United States, Sept 15 (AFP) Sep 15, 2018 Authorities on Saturday warned residents displaced by a killer hurricane against returning home, as storm Florence dumped "epic amounts of rainfall" across the eastern United States, resulting in life-threatening flooding. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told reporters that five deaths have been officially confirmed in his state, with several more under investigation. The figure included a woman and her baby killed when a tree fell on their house. Florence made landfall Friday as a Category 1 hurricane but has since been downgraded to a tropical storm, even as it continued to wreak havoc along the East Coast, downing trees and power lines and forcing 20,000 people to flee to shelters. Cooper had a stark warning to any residents considering returning to their flooded home towns. "Don't go back until this storm passes and you get the official all clear," he said. "Second, know that water is rising fast everywhere, even in places that don't typically flood. This system is unloading epic amounts of rainfall: in some places, measured in feet, not inches." He said residents should "expect flooding and potential landslides tonight and into Monday," and warned against driving in the water "no matter how confident you feel or how much you want to get out of the house." In a separate briefing, Steve Goldstein of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said some areas have already received two feet of rain and could expect up to 20 inches more as the system moved "slowly, nearly stationary" over eastern North Carolina. In New Bern, a riverfront city near the North Carolina coast that saw storm surges up to 10 feet (3 meters), authorities were rescuing stranded residents and taking stock of damages. "Right now we've rescued over 400 people. We still have about 100 that want to be rescued and we have about 1,200 in the shelters," Mayor Dana Outlaw told CNN. "We have 4,200 damaged homes," he added, urging residents to not wade out into the streets because of the dangers posed by downed power lines. The mother and her baby were killed in New Hanover County when a tree fell on their house, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told media late Friday. Firefighters said the area had not been in the zone under evacuation orders. Local authorities reported a death in Pender County when downed trees prevented emergency units from reaching a woman with a medical condition. Local media said she suffered a heart attack. US media later said a man in Lenoir County died after heavy winds knocked him down as he tried to check on his dogs. - Cajun Navy - More than 800,000 customers in North Carolina were without power and 21,000 people were being housed in 157 shelters across the state. The White House said President Donald Trump would visit hurricane-hit areas next week "once it is determined his travel will not disrupt any rescue or recovery efforts." "Great job FEMA, First Responders and Law Enforcement - not easy, very dangerous, tremendous talent. America is proud of you," Trump tweeted on Friday, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which responds to disasters in the United States. As of 11:00 am (1500 GMT), maximum sustained winds had weakened to near 45 miles (75 kilometers) per hour, but the NHC warned residents of dangerous storm surges and "catastrophic flash flooding." The military announced Saturday it was deploying nearly 200 soldiers to assist in storm-related response and recovery efforts, along with 100 trucks and equipment. Besides federal and state emergency crews, rescuers were being helped by volunteers from the "Cajun Navy" - civiliand equipped with light boats, canoes and air mattresses - who also turned up in Houston during Hurricane Harvey to carry out water rescues. - Tornado warnings - Hurricane Florence made landfall Friday in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, after stalking the coastline for days. Tornadoes remain a threat, with the NHC saying that "a few tornadoes are possible in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina." In Wilmington, near where the eye of the storm touched down, trees and power lines were felled and many windows broken. The streets were mostly deserted, some blocked by fallen trees. 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. At least six dead in GBissau storm Bissau, Sept 15 (AFP) Sep 15, 2018 At least six youths were killed when a giant tree they had sheltered under toppled over during a storm on an island off Guinea Bissau, a local official said Saturday. More than 800 youths had gathered on Caravela island for a festival when a storm surprised them on Friday, senior local official Aliu Balde told AFP. Many sought shelter under a silk cotton tree, which was then blown over by fierce winds, he said. "We have recovered six bodies," Balde said, while noting that it was a provisional toll because several other people remained trapped under the huge trunk. "We do not have a chainsaw to rescue them. We are working with what we have, machetes for the most part," he said. Caravela island is a four-hour trip by boat from the capital Bissau, and the country has no civil protection service. Most travel between the scores of islands in the archipelago is done by canoe. Killer storm Florence dumping 'epic amounts of rainfall' in US Jacksonville, United States, Sept 15 (AFP) Sep 15, 2018 Authorities on Saturday warned residents displaced by a killer hurricane that its devastation was far from over, as Florence dumped "epic amounts of rainfall" across the eastern United States, bringing catastrophic flooding. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told reporters that five deaths have been officially confirmed in his state, with several more under investigation. The figure included a woman and her baby killed when a tree fell on their house. Florence made landfall Friday as a Category 1 hurricane but has since been downgraded to a tropical storm, even as it continued to wreak havoc along the East Coast, downing trees and power lines and forcing 20,000 people to flee to shelters. On Saturday some residents tried to return to home, driving through flooded highways armed with chainsaws to clear fallen pine needle trees that covered the road. Cooper said others should not follow suit. "Many people who think the storm has missed them have yet to see its threat," he said, adding: "Don't go back until this storm passes and you get the official all clear. "Know that water is rising fast everywhere, even in places that don't typically flood. This system is unloading epic amounts of rainfall: in some places, measured in feet, not inches." In a separate briefing, Steve Goldstein of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said some areas have already received two feet of rain and could expect up to 20 inches more as the system moved "slowly, nearly stationary" over eastern North Carolina. In New Bern, a riverfront city near the North Carolina coast that saw storm surges up to 10 feet (3 meters), authorities were rescuing stranded residents and taking stock of damages. "Right now we've rescued over 400 people. We still have about 100 that want to be rescued and we have about 1,200 in the shelters," Mayor Dana Outlaw told CNN. "We have 4,200 damaged homes," he said, urging residents to not wade out into the streets because of the dangers posed by downed power lines. The doors of many homes suffered so much wind damage they appeared to have been kicked in, while the city's beloved fiber-glass bear statues, which are sponsored by local businesses, were floating down streets. In one piece of good news authorities said that 16 wild ponies of hurricane-struck Ocracoke Island, located off the North Carolina coast, were safe. - Deadly path - The mother and her baby were killed in New Hanover County when a tree fell on their house, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told media late Friday. Firefighters said the area had not been in the zone under evacuation orders. Local authorities reported a death in Pender County when downed trees prevented emergency units from reaching a woman with a medical condition. Local media said she suffered a heart attack. US media later said a man in Lenoir County died after heavy winds knocked him down as he tried to check on his dogs. More than 800,000 customers in North Carolina were without power and 21,000 people were being housed in 157 shelters across the state. The White House said President Donald Trump would visit hurricane-hit areas next week "once it is determined his travel will not disrupt any rescue or recovery efforts." As of 2:00 pm (1800 GMT), maximum sustained winds had weakened to near 45 miles (75 kilometers) per hour, but the NHC warned residents of dangerous storm surges and "catastrophic flooding." The military announced Saturday it was deploying nearly 200 soldiers to assist in storm-related response and recovery efforts, along with 100 trucks and equipment. Besides federal and state emergency crews, rescuers were being helped by volunteers from the "Cajun Navy" - civilians equipped with light boats, canoes and air mattresses - who also turned up in Houston during Hurricane Harvey to carry out water rescues. - Tornado warnings - Hurricane Florence made landfall Friday in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, after stalking the coastline for days. Tornadoes remain a threat, with the NHC saying that "a few tornadoes are possible in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina." 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. Killer storm far from over, US officials warn as 'epic" rain falls Jacksonville, United States, Sept 15 (AFP) Sep 15, 2018 Authorities on Saturday warned residents displaced by a killer hurricane that its devastation was far from over, as Florence dumped "epic amounts of rainfall" across the southeastern United States, bringing catastrophic flooding. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told reporters that five deaths have been officially confirmed in his state, with several more under investigation. The figure included a woman and her baby killed when a tree fell on their house, while a sixth fatality occurred in South Carolina. Florence made landfall Friday as a Category 1 hurricane but has since been downgraded to a tropical storm, even as it continued to wreak havoc along the East Coast, downing trees and power lines and forcing 20,000 people to flee to shelters. On Saturday some residents tried to return home, driving through flooded highways armed with chainsaws to clear fallen pine trees that covered the road. Cooper warned against such behavior as roads become increasingly dangerous. "All roads in the state right now are at risk of floods," he said. "As rivers keep rising and rain keeps falling, the flooding will spread. More and more inland counties are issuing mandatory evacuations to get people to safety quickly." He earlier said the storm system "is unloading epic amounts of rainfall: in some places, measured in feet, not inches." In a separate briefing, Steve Goldstein of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said some areas have already received two feet of rain and could expect up to 20 inches more as the system moved "slowly, nearly stationary" over eastern North Carolina. In New Bern, a riverfront city near the North Carolina coast that saw storm surges up to 10 feet (three meters), authorities were rescuing stranded residents and taking stock of damages. "Right now we've rescued over 400 people. We still have about 100 that want to be rescued and we have about 1,200 in the shelters," Mayor Dana Outlaw told CNN. "We have 4,200 damaged homes," he said, urging residents to not wade out into the streets because of the dangers posed by downed power lines. "The main thing right now is to get this water pumped down" from the city, he said. "We can pump 42,000 gallons (159,000 liters) a minute once we have water receded enough." The doors of many homes suffered so much wind damage they appeared to have been kicked in, while the city's beloved fiber-glass bear statues, which are sponsored by local businesses, were floating down streets. In one piece of good news, authorities said 16 wild ponies of hurricane-struck Ocracoke Island, located off the North Carolina coast, were safe. - Deadly path - South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster on Saturday announced the death of a 61-year-old woman who died when her car hit a downed tree on a highway. In North Carolina, the mother and her baby were killed in New Hanover County when a tree fell on their house, Cooper said late Friday. Firefighters said the area had not been in the zone under evacuation orders. Local authorities reported a death in Pender County when downed trees prevented emergency units from reaching a woman with a medical condition. Local media said she suffered a heart attack. US media later said a man in Lenoir County died after heavy winds knocked him down as he tried to check on his dogs. More than 800,000 customers in North Carolina were without power and 21,000 people were being housed in 157 shelters across the state. The White House said President Donald Trump would visit hurricane-hit areas next week "once it is determined his travel will not disrupt any rescue or recovery efforts." As of 2:00 pm (1800 GMT), maximum sustained winds had weakened to near 45 miles (75 kilometers) per hour, but the NHC warned residents of dangerous storm surges and "catastrophic flooding." The military announced Saturday it was deploying nearly 200 soldiers to assist in storm-related response and recovery efforts, along with 100 trucks and equipment. Besides federal and state emergency crews, rescuers were being helped by volunteers from the "Cajun Navy" -- civilians equipped with light boats, canoes and air mattresses -- who also turned up in Houston during Hurricane Harvey to carry out water rescues. - Tornado warnings - Hurricane Florence made landfall Friday in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, after stalking the coastline for days. Tornadoes remain a threat, with the NHC saying that "a few tornadoes are possible in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina." 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. Monday 05 September, 2016 Reliable information reaching Biafra writers desk has it that the life of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indi... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 15, 2018 10:26 1151 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772fcd6d 2 Editorial Palestine,Middle-East,Middle-East-conflict,Israel Free The odds are stacked against the Palestinians these days. Regional and major players are preoccupied with major conflicts in the Middle East, the Syrian war and conflict in Yemen. Escalating tensions between Sunni countries and Iran have also relegated the plight of the Palestinians to the backburner, with majority Sunni nations, like Saudi Arabia, taking a friendlier stance toward Israel, which is similarly hostile toward Iran. The Palestinians are now left to their own devices. Earlier this week, we are again reminded of the vulnerability of the Palestinians position and that the prospect of peace between Israel and Palestine remains an elusive goal. On Monday, the United States, through President Donald Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, delivered a one-two punch that dealt a severe blow to the prospect of peace for the Palestinians. After moving to shut down the Washington office of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Bolton threatened to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it moved to investigate war crimes committed by the Israeli government. The move was just the latest in a series of what many consider to be bullying tactics by the US to bring the Palestinians to the negotiating table and accept the terms of its surrender. At the outset, Trump pledged he would bring the best deal ever for the Palestinians. What, however, transpired throughout the first two years of his administration is a US administration implementing plans that further defend the interests of the Israeli government, from moving its embassy to Jerusalem to cutting over US$200 million in aid to the Palestinians. It does not help that the key person tasked to lead the peace talks is Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, an observant Jew and a family friend of Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu who was never enthusiastic about reaching a peace deal (a sentiment shared by hawkish Cabinet members like Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who said last week that negotiations with the Palestinians were useless). Realistically, there is little Indonesia can do about this. But the government is obligated to continue raising awareness about the bleak prospects that the Palestinians face. President Joko Jokowi Widodo is currently seeking reelection, and as indicated by his decision to name Maruf Amin his running mate, he is desperately looking for Muslim votes. He should talk more about helping the Palestinians on the campaign trail. The private apartments of 18th-century Emperor Qianlong, one of the most renowned rulers in Chinese history, go on display in Athens Friday in a rare exhibition, organizers said. The exhibition at the Acropolis Museum will showcase over 150 works of art, ceremonial robes and furniture from the Qing emperor's private apartments in the Palace of Many Splendors at Beijing's Forbidden City, where he spent his youth as a prince and wrote poetry. These include Qianlong's heated bed, his study, ritual dress, poetic texts, thrones, and theatrical costumes from private performances at the palace. Read also: An order from the Chinese emperor: find immortality "It is the largest Chinese exhibition ever hosted in Greece," Acropolis museum director Dimitris Pantermalis said this week, adding that Qianlong's rooms have never been displayed outside China. Qianlong's reign from 1735 to 1796 is by many considered the peak of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, marked by territorial expansion and artistic and cultural development. The exhibition runs until February. Greece and China have cultivated close relations for over a decade, with Chinese shipping giant Cosco acquiring a majority stake in Greece's main port Piraeus, a key gateway into the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Owners of classic Mini Cooper cars are slated to gather in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) cultural park, East Jakarta, on Sunday, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Jakarta Morris Club (JMC), according to kompas.com. Around 40 Mini Cooper owners have confirmed that they will attend the event, with some coming from as far away as Bandung, West Java, said JMC head Uut Ananta. The gathering will include a fundraising event for Lombok earthquake victims in West Nusa Tenggara, as well as a ceremony to award pins to senior members of the JMC. The pins are a way to say thank you to those who established the JMC 25 years ago, Uut said. Read also: BMW to start producing electric Minis in China Since its establishment, the JMC has changed leadership eight times. The community intentionally chose to name themselves the Jakarta Morris Club without specifying the Mini Cooper model, so it can include owners of other Morris cars, such as the Morris Minor or Morris 1100/1300. (mut) 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. Read also: Video of unknown divers riding whale shark goes viral 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." Read also: Riding whale sharks dangerous for both humans, fish: WWF Indonesia - 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Andi Hajramurni (The Jakarta Post) Makassar Sat, September 15, 2018 12:06 1151 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772fe5dd 1 National rape,South-Sulawesi,police,child-abuse Free In another case of sexual abuse involving a minor, a 16-year-old girl in Enrekang, South Sulawesi, was reportedly held captive for 14 days and raped by nine men. Enrekang Police chief Ibrahim Aji said on Friday that the girl had been reported missing on Aug. 22 after going out with her 27-year-old boyfriend, identified as RB, who had since been named a suspect in the case. The police conducted a search and found the girl, who claimed she had been raped by RB and his friends. The victim stated that she had gone out with RB, who had asked her to hang out, but she was taken to a forest and held captive for four days in a shed, where she said RB and three of his friends raped her, Ibrahim said. The girl was then reportedly taken by another suspect identified as RR, 22, to a pine forest located 2 kilometers away from the first location where she was allegedly held captive for another two days and raped by two other people. She was then taken to a farm where she was reportedly raped again by multiple men. The girl was found by police in the company of RR and his friend, who were apprehended and questioned. The two men identified the other alleged rapists during questioning. As of Friday, police are still looking for four other suspects while five of them, including RB, have been detained. The suspects are facing a minimum sentence of five years in prison for raping a minor. South Sulawesi Child Protection Agency Fadiah Mahmud said she decried the crime and had asked law enforcers to hand down the heaviest punishment on the suspects. This isnt just a sexual offense, but a crime against humanity, she said. The victim has been hurt physically and mentally by these men. They also robbed her of a future, so they should receive the most severe punishment. She said the child protection agency was coordinating with Makassar State University s psychology team to help the victim recover from her trauma, while the agency was also providing aid. (ris/ahw) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 15 2018 The Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) is set to hold the annual Bekraf Habibie Festival in support of the countrys fledgling creative technology industry. Named after former president BJ Habibie, who is known for his contributions to the development of science and technology in Indonesia, the festival aims to bring together industry players and enthusiasts from the two sectors. The technological festival, Indonesias largest, is set to showcase innovations from sectors such as financial technology (fintech) and transportation and will be held from Sept. 20 to 23 in Jakarta International Expo in Central Jakarta. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Charlotte Plantive (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States Sat, September 15, 2018 12:21 1151 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772ffdc7 2 World #DonaldTrump,#Russia,DonaldTrump,Russia,probe Free President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort agreed Friday to cooperate in the Russia collusion investigation in a plea deal that left the White House looking increasingly under siege by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Manafort, who led Trump's election operation at the height of the campaign in the middle of 2016, admitted reduced charges of conspiracy just days before he was to go on trial for money laundering, illegal lobbying and witness tampering. The surprise deal brought to seven the number of people who have pleaded guilty in cases tied to Mueller's 16 month old investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia. It suggested that Mueller is getting ever closer to Trump, his family and top staff in an operation that many speculate could generate an impeachment motion against the president. The White House though insisted Manafort's admission of guilt, in charges that mainly related to his work in Ukraine for the decade before the 2016 election, was wholly unconnected to the president. "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 said. - Mueller probe speeding up - The Manafort deal came three weeks after Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen implicated the president directly as he pleaded guilty in New York to charges of campaign finance violations, related to buying the silence of women who allegedly had affairs with Trump. "I plead guilty," the 69 year old veteran Republican political consultant told the court after being read the charges against him. He faces a prison term of up to 10 years, and will see millions of dollars worth of real estate and financial accounts seized by US authorities. Manafort attorney Kevin Downing said his client had agreed to cooperate to "protect his family". "He has accepted responsibility for conduct that dates back many years," Downing added. Manafort's plea deal avoids a potentially explosive trial that could embarrass the president and his Republican Party during the seven weeks before hotly contested national elections on November 6. But it also demonstrated the rapid progress Mueller is making in the sprawling investigation. Last week George Papadopoulos, a foreign policy advisor to the 2016 campaign whose contacts with Russians set off the original collusion investigation, was sentenced to 14 days in jail for lying to the FBI. His sentencing had been held up for nearly a year while he cooperated with investigators. Former Trump national security advisor Michael Flynn, who also pleaded guilty for lying, is still cooperating in the probe as he awaits sentencing. - Charges tied to Ukraine work - Manafort was already convicted in a separate jury trial on eight counts related to financial fraud in August. Those charges, as well as the two counts covered in Friday's plea deal, derived from his work for former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych and his pro-Moscow political party between about 2005 and 2014. Prosecutors said Manafort acted illegally as a lobbyist for Yanukovych, laundered more than $30 million into the United States, and bilked the government of $15 million in taxes. Yet Manafort could have inside information on the Trump campaign's suspect interactions with Russians from his nearly six months with the campaign in the middle of 2016. US intelligence chiefs say Moscow interfered in the election extensively in order to help Trump defeat his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Documents submitted in his first trial showed Manafort maintained his own Ukraine and Russia contacts during the campaign, including with a longtime Ukraine aide who US intelligence says has close ties to Moscow's powerful GRU spy agency. In addition, Manafort was present at a meeting held by campaign executives, including Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. and son-in-law Jared Kushner, with a Russian lawyer who had offered them "dirt" on Clinton. That meeting is now a key focus of the Mueller investigation. Trump has repeatedly spoken out in Manafort's defense -- while also seeking to distance himself from his onetime associate. "I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family," he tweeted in August, one day after Manafort's first conviction. "Unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to 'break' - make up stories in order to get a 'deal.'" After that verdict, Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani confirmed to The New York Times that he and the president had discussed the possibility of a pardon for Manafort, and the political fallout that could follow. "He really thinks Manafort has been horribly treated," Giuliani told the Times. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 15 2018 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 15 2018 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 15 2018 Close quarters: Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi (second left) speaks during a bilateral meeting with her German counterpart Heiko Maas in Berlin on Friday. (Courtesy of the Foreign Ministry) Indonesia has called on countries participating in the Bali Democracy Forums (BDF) Berlin Chapter to think of solutions for possible democratic setbacks because of bad governance, migration and inequality. No democracy is immune to the risk of backsliding even mature democracies face the danger of setbacks to their practices, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said in her opening remarks for the BDF-Berlin Chapter in Germany on Friday, in a video broadcast by the Foreign Ministry. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 15, 2018 15:45 1150 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877306978 1 National North-Sumatra,graft,civil-servants,KPK,BKN Free North Sumatra is the province with the largest number of civil servants convicted of corruption, according to the National Civil Service Agency (BKN). The BKN reached the conclusion after examining data from the Law and Human Rights Ministrys Corrections Directorate General. Data from the BKN shows that 298 North Sumatra civil servants were convicted of corruption. Eleven percent work for the provincial administration, while the rest work at the regency or city level. West Java came second, with 193 civil servants implicated in corruption cases, followed by Riau, East Nusa Tenggara and Papua, with 190, 183 and 146 officials convicted of graft respectively. Meanwhile, Yogyakarta and West Sulawesi are recorded as the regions with the least number of civil servants implicated in graft cases, with only three people in both provinces. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is calling on regional leaders to get tough on civil servants involved in graft. According to the Interior Ministrys newest regulation, civil servants that have been sentenced for corruption have to be dishonorably dismissed from their position, KPK spokesperson Febri Diansyah said, as quoted by kompas.com. The Interior Ministry issued a circular letter on Monday saying regional leaders should dishonorably dismiss civil servants that are proven to be corrupt and have been convicted by a court. On Thursday, Interior Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Syafruddin and BKN chief Bima Haria Wibisana signed a joint decree on dismissing 2,357 corrupt civil servants who had yet to be dismissed by their respective regional leaders. BKN spokesperson Mohammad Ridwan told The Jakarta Post recently that the government spent an estimated Rp 23.57 billion (US$1.6 million) per month on convicted civil servants salaries. (ris/ahw) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 15, 2018 12:59 1151 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877300cde 1 Politics Asia-Sentinel,Susilo-Bambang-Yudhoyono,Bank-Century,lawsuit,Democratic-party Free The Democratic Party will sue news website Asia Sentinel over its report accusing the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono administration of engaging in a vast criminal conspiracy to swindle US$12 billion from Indonesian taxpayers. The partys secretary-general, Hinca Panjaitan, said in a statement on Friday that the party would also sue the websites editor and author of the disputed piece, John Berthelsen. In his article, Indonesias SBY Government: Vast Criminal Conspiracy, Berthelsen quotes a 488-page investigation report filed with the Mauritian Supreme Court accusing the Yudhoyono administration and the Dems of being involved in the high-profile Bank Century case that allegedly resulted in millions of dollars in state losses. Bank Century, Berthelsen quotes the report, is alleged to have been the repository of hundreds of millions of dollars controlled by Yudhoyono, known universally as SBY, and the Democratic Party, which he headed. On Saturday morning, the said article had been taken down. Hinca denied the claims made in Berthelsens piece, saying that based on investigation reports by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), the House of Representatives special committee investigating the Bank Century case and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), there had been no indication of money transfers to Yudhoyono and his party or that the former president had laundered $US12 billion. He also pointed out that in a 2017 report about Bank Century written by the same author, Berthelsen did not mention SBY and the Dems. Because the report is filled with lies and slander, we will file a lawsuit against Asia Sentinel and its editor, John Berthelsen, as well as against Indonesian parties that participated in disseminating the false story, Hinca said. Asia Sentinel, which was established in California, the United States, after the assets of the Hong Kong entity were transferred there in 2016, said the Dems had not made any direct demands regarding the story and that it would stand by its reporting. We are confident that we can defend what we have written. We temporarily took down the article because we are preparing a follow up on the events of the past two days. It will be up within 24 hours. We stand by our reporting, Berthelsen told The Jakarta Post via email. (ris/ahw) Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect the current domicile of Asia Sentinel. Verdict: while nothing new, its a decent horror movie and worth seeing if youre a fan of the franchise. The Conjuring, released in 2013, is one of the best horror movies of modern times. So, as with any successful horror movie, it birthed many sequels, each slightly worse than the last. That being said, it still remains a decent franchise. The Nun is the fifth film in The Conjuring universe, but its set in 1952, making it the first in the story chronologically. It follows the origin of the demon nun seen in The Conjuring 2; when the creators noticed the popularity of the antagonist, they soon decided to dedicate a film to her (much like they did with the evil doll Annabelle, who already has two films). The Nun is set and filmed entirely in Romania, a place with strong horror connotations mainly thanks to the vampiric myths surrounding Transylvania. However, demons are the supernatural entity in this film, where a priest (Demian Bichir) and a young nun (Taissa Farmiga) travel to an abbey to investigate the suicide of one of the Sisters. You may recognise Taissa Farmiga from her work in American Horror Story. She is also the younger sister of Vera Farmiga, who plays Lorraine Warren in the first two films. They are not related in the movie, which seems like a wasted opportunity, especially since their stories are connected. While Taissa is not the best actress, her wide-eyed look suits the innocent, saintly character of a novice nun. The film relies on the usual jump scares and horror movie tropes, but still, the use of whispers and crows squawking in surround sound creates a brilliantly creepy atmosphere. Theres also a refreshing lack of boring filler scenes; once youre in the abbey, the spookiness doesnt falter. There is a strange, out-of-place attempt at comic relief with the character of Frenchie, a French Canadian farmer who first discovers the dead nun and shows the investigators to the abbey. The comedy doesnt work in this context, instead seeming rather cringey. It is ultimately revealed that he is connected to the rest of the franchise, but this could instead have been done more logically with the other characters. Some may complain that the titular nun has relatively few appearances, but Im under the impression that less is more when it comes to monster screen time in horrors. Much of the fear comes from the suspense evoked from waiting for her to appear. If she were around every corner, it would quickly become tedious. The Nun is in cinemas now. Let me say at the outset, this story is fictional. However, if you find similar names, persons, places, and events, it should be treated as purely coincidental and must be considered as such. Spellings of the following names are not errors: Peoples Revolutionary Commission (PRC), Republic of Liberty, Monravia, Monsardo, Greenville, University of Liberty, and Liberterian. Prior to the Peoples Revolutionary Commission (PRC), Joseph Jenkins, Edward James, Stephen Allen, and James Springs were all honorable men in the Republic of Liberty. They were wheeler-dealers! Joseph Jenkins taught History and International Studies as an adjunct professor at the University of Liberty (UL). Actually, he was Liberias Ambassador to the United Kingdom; and he had gone home for reassignment when the PRC took overthrew the TWP government. Edward James was the Minister of Defense; Stephen Allen was Senior Senator for Monsardo Countys District 1, and James Springs was Speaker of the House of Representatives from Lexington, Greenville County. He had been Speaker of the House for what Libertarians referred to as 19 Woo, Woo; that is, they couldnt remember the number of years he had served as Speaker. These honorable gentlemen never expected to be in the position of not being in charge and not running the country. They were caught with their pants down, so to speak! They were NOT prepared, and never thought these NCOs (Non Commissioned Officers) would ever do such evil thing like this to them. As a result, many of them found their way to the United States of America hoping their stay in the US would be brief because Uncle Sam would intervene on their behalf as he had in the land palava that took place between the indigenous population and the Settlers in the Battle of Fort Hill (the Gatoomba) War of 1822 and the 1915 War. Due to the belief, these honorable gentlemen held that the change which took place at home was temporary, they werent frugal in their spending habits and living standard in the US. They lived as if they were back in Liberia. But after two years in exile, things became tough for them and they had to seek employment. The problem was the only work experience they had was their employment with the government the Republic of Liberty. They had no other profession or skill, and they possessed several expensive automobiles but did not know how to drive. They depended on their personal chauffeurs to take them everywhere including visiting their girlfriends overnight. Thats how dependent these honorable men were on others! Since Joseph Jenkins had taught History and International Studies as adjunct professor part-time at the University of Liberty and served for many years as Libertys Ambassador to the United Kingdom, he felt that qualified him to teach as a college professor in the US; Edward James felt the same way, too. He earned his Masters degree in Public Safety and Defense some twenty years ago from John Jay University in the City of New York, and was serving as the Minister of Defense at the time the government was overthrown by the PRC. On the other hand, Stephen Allen and James Springs were prepared to do any job because their daughters husbands Country boys were treating them as if they were houseboys. These Country boys failed to recognize that Allen and Springs were Senator and Representative residing in America, only temporarily. As God would have it both Stephen Allen and James Springs took jobs working as elevator operators in a not-so-busy office complex building in Bedford section of Brooklyn, New York. The first day on the job, the young Negro supervisor met with them to instruct them regarding the job requirements. Everything went well at first, until the young supervisor said, When we are less busy, one of you should go in the yard to pick up trash (papers) on the ground and put them in the trashcans. Right then, Speaker James Springs asked Senior Senator Stephen Allen, Who this little Negro boy is talking to? Doesnt he know we are Representative and Senator from Liberty? Due to their Libertarian accent, all the young man heard was, We are Representative and Senator! To which he responded, Not on this job! Both of you are employed here as mere Lift Operators, and if you do not follow my instructions, you will be fired. Upon hearing what the young man said, Senator Allen responded, Do we look like some crazy people to be picking up papers from off the ground? Representative James Springs followed Senator Allens remark with, We quit, you can have your damn job, uniforms, and caps; Baah (my friend), lets leave from this damned place before people see us here; we are too big for this job, and the two of them left to go home in a rush. These were the same honorable gentlemen in Monrovia that used to bluff for nothing (showing off) yet, they had no skills nor profession; and they were not willing to take the time to keep up with new developments in their surroundings or in the world. They were forever stuck in the past and what they knew is what they learned some twenty-five years ago. These honorable gentlemen were like some of our good-for-nothing educated Masters and Ph.D. holders, many of whom died and those that are living have not written a single pamphlet or book as their contribution to the society that educated them. Professional Experience Based on contacts made on behalf of both Ambassador Stephen Allen and Minister Edward by family members, friends, and associates, they were able to obtain teaching assignments as adjunct instructors at community colleges in the states of South Carolina and Mississippi to teach History, International Studies, Public Safety and Defense courses based on the positions they held in Liberty and other parts of Africa. Old Notebook Lecturers In preparation for their respective assignments, both honorable gentlemen resorted to digging out their old notes from their trunks, notebooks, journals, speeches, seminar presentations, training materials, and old newspapers articles they had compiled over the years to develop course outlines (syllabi) to use as their lecture material. South Carolina Greenville State Community College Ambassador Joseph Jenkins took an adjunct instructor position at South Carolina Greenville State Community College (SCGSCC) to teach History and International Studies based on African perspectives. Ambassador Jenkins had no updated resources from which he planned to lecture. He relied solely on outdated materials he had compiled since he graduated from college in 1959. Ambassador Jenkins taught briefly from the assigned textbook but began to use examples from his old notebooks. Students could not relate to the examples he provided because they were not born during the periods he was making reference to. For example, President Charlie King and his Vice President Yancy had to resign due to the League of Nations investigation in which the administration was involved in corruption and domestic slavery. Some of the students asked questions like, What is the League of Nations; where does it exist? Most of the time, the class was in tumult because he was not connecting with the students. Prior to the students taking his complaint to the Dean of the College, some of the students stole pages from the OLD NOTEBOOKS; which made it difficult for him to teach. Finally, he was let go for not meeting the schools teaching requirements and expectations. Mississippi State Community College Former Defense Minister Edward James, too, took an adjunct instructor position at Mississippi State Community College (MSCC) where he would teach Public Safety and Defense from an African perspective. Minister James did similar things like his buddy Ambassador Jenkins. The former Defense Minister did not read nor conduct any research to bring him up-to-date on events and issues that took place in the disciplines of Public Safety and Defense throughout the years. He, too, relied on the outdated information he had compiled from the time he was in college in the 1960s. In preparation for class, former Defense Minister and Major dressed up in the uniform he wore when he was Defense Minister in Liberty. When asked why he dressed the way he did, his response was, I like to provide my students with the practical experience; wearing my uniform to class shows my dedication to my profession. His class was like a circus; and he the clown. The class was always full to capacity with students from other classes coming to see the performance he called lecture. One of his lecture topics was: My Experience in the Republic of Congo, during the Congo Crisis of 1960. During these lectures he would demonstrate by dropping down on the floor, pretending to be carrying a rifle (ruler in his hand) and crawling on the floor to show how he escaped from the enemies whose commander was Joseph Mobuto, later known as Mobutu Sese Seko. The students asked him such questions as, What do you think about Idi Amin; was he a good soldier and leader? His answer to the question was, There are some good and bad habits found in most leaders everywhere. Take, for example, some people would say Richard Nixon was a bad leader for which he had to resign; the same holds true for Idi Amin. The students did not buy his argument. However, compared to Adjunct Professor Ambassador Jenkins, Defense Minister Major Edward James did his level best base on the limited experience he had. In Life, One Must Always Be Prepared No matter how many degrees you obtain or how high you climb the corporate or social ladder, life may throw a curve ball when you least expect it. In the old days, Boy Scouts of America taught young men the following motto Be Prepared! The Scout motto means that you are always ready to do what is necessary to help others. It also means you are ready, willing, and able to do what is necessary for any situation that comes along. You are also being prepared to live a full and worthwhile life, being a physically fit, honorable citizen of strong character. We live in fast-moving times. Sometimes it feels as if what we knew yesterday is relevant even the next day. Part of that comes from living in a so-called post-truth society where you cannot rely on the facts that used to anchor you even one day ago. We should be prepared to flexibly face lifes challenges to roll with the punches. Todays environment requires that you stay on top of your game. It requires you to keep up with news, new information, and technology. No longer is age or previous status an excuse for not being engaged with the world or the people in your family, community or social orbit. No longer is age or prior status rationale for rude or displaying self-centered behavior. Knowing history is necessary and has its place; and not knowing history can inhibit your contributions to your community, country, and the world. Keep reading! Share with others; and learn from others. That requires listening not posturing. Above all, treat others with godly love and sincere appreciation. Senior students in Ghanas Achimota School are taught that while lower class students may serve them they must be careful not to mistreat them. The junior class boy or girl today can turn out to be the nations president tomorrow. A word to the wise is sufficient. The moral of the story is, whatever you do to others will one day come to haunt you. Therefore, when you are a leader ask God for guidance and let Him direct your path. Treat the people you lead as impartially as possible, and the good Lord will see to it you NEVER fail. The late revered African leader, Madiba Rolihlahla Mandela (Nelson) put it correctly: Leaders first task is to create a vision. His second is to create a following to help him implement the vision and to manage the process through effective teams. The people being led know where they are going because the leader has communicated the vision and the followers have brought into the goal he had set as well as the process of getting there. (Conversation With Myself, pp. 144-145) However, in Liberia, for that matter Africa, good leaders are in short supply because those that are in power take the people for granted. The same is true with most Diaspora organizations. Organizations founded on the principles to advocate on behalf of the people have become the personal property of the leaders and their associates (supporters). Finally, good leaders should always care and show concern for the people they lead; they should not wait until they need their support. Leaders solve problems and are careful not to create more new problems. Leaders respect and uphold laws; and should not be in the practice of changing laws and certain articles in the Constitution they dislike. When these violations keep happening, it is ONLY a matter of time when the people they least suspect will do them in as they did the GRAND OLD TOTALLY WELL- POSITIONED Government of which the four good old friends, Joseph Jenkins, Edward James, Stephen Allen, and James Springs were Partisans. Their lives were never the same again - due to the fateful day of April 12, 1980. About The Author : Elder Siahyonkron Jglay Kpa-kay Nyanseor, Sr. is a life-long activist (*troublemaker) in researching the true history of Africa, the people of African origin in the Diaspora. He had dedicated his teaching of African culture; spent over 48 years advocating for human, civil and constitutional rights of all people, especially, the Liberian masses. He is a Griot, poet, journalist and an ordained Minister of the Gospel. In 2012, he Co-authored Djogbachiachuwa: The Liberian Literature Anthology; his current book of poems: TIPOSAH: Message from the Palava Hut is on the market. His new book titled: Together, We Struggle For A Better Liberia: True Story & Critique of ULAA soon to be published. He can be reached at siah1947@gmail.com To Liberia, the country I love! I pledge alliance to the Flag of Liberia And to the Republic for which it stands One Nation, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all! Liberia, my country of birth was founded in the 1800s by freed American slaves who were repatriated to Africa by the American Colonization Society and other philanthropic organizations and individuals. The freed slaves abandoned their slave plantations in Louisiana and other southern states in the United States of America to become prominent citizens and people of renowned reputations in their newly found homeland on the west coast of Africa. The founders of Liberia or "founding fathers" as some historians refer to them established a government modeled after the United States of America. They declared Liberia an independent state, the first on the continent of Africa, and established a constitutional republic as their former slave masters did. The government was 'democratic' in nature with three "separate, but equal branches of government" comprising the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary. Like its 'stepfather' America, Liberian's foundational and other national documents endowed humans with certain inalienable rights amongst which are "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Like America, Liberian's "Pledge of Allegiance" to the flag guarantees "Liberty and justice for all" Liberians. So, let's put this public declaration to the test and ascertain as to whether these are mere words/platitudes or whether in practical terms, all Liberians, under the banner of our flag, are guaranteed liberty and justice. Justice is the bedrock of any stable society. Wherever the system of justice is weak or inadequate, liberty is curtailed, tyrannical tendencies are displayed by autocrats calling themselves leaders, and instability creeps in. Though our founding fathers stressed freedom and justice in our founding documents, in most instances (in practical terms) it has been lip service. We have craved strong leaders especially at the level of the executive branch of government than building a strong justice system. The lack of justice in our society plunged us deep into a bloodbath from 1989-2003. If the international community had not come to our rescue, our country may still be splintered and controlled by various warring factions. During the crisis, at least two dozen mass killings were carried out by various parties to the conflict, including the national army that took an oath to protect and defend the nation. Liberians' blood was spilled at the hands of fellow Liberians from the Voinjama Mountains to the coastal plains of Cestos, from Vahun to Gbapolu, from St. Peter Lutheran Church to Cow Field on Du Port Road, from Carter Camp in Harbel to Gbatala in Bong County. It didn't stop there. Liberians were also terrorized and killed from Lake Piso to Lake Shepherd; from Cape Mesurado in Montserrado County to Cape Palmas in Maryland County, and everywhere in between. Not only are warlords, those who bear the greatest responsibilities for the worst atrocities against the Liberian people walking freely in the very society they committed or commanded some of the worst crimes against humanity; individual like Prince Johnson, former leader of the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) and current Senator from Nimba County is defending his role in the war and even threatening the peace the country is currently enjoying, because there are calls from Liberians to have him and other warlords prosecuted. If you think warlords roaming our streets freely are outrageous enough, their criminal palsthose who committed the worst economic crimes in our society are also free in the society. As victims and survivors alike of these war and economic crimes try to find closure from their deep and unfortunate pain, agony, and terror by asking their government to give them justice, which is guaranteed them by their founding fathers, their government is utterly silent. From the way the present government is handling the discourse, it appears the government does not care, and that the victims are on their own. Based on what is happening to the victims of the evil and senseless Civil Wars, I do not believe Liberia is: "One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Like many others who lost their loved ones, my paternal aunty lost her husband and two sons in the war. One son (my cousin) was systematically slaughtered by the Liberia Peace Council; beheaded by George Boley. How can the slogan "One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" truly assure the families and friends of the more than 250,000 Liberians and foreigners who lost their lives? What becomes of the tens of thousands of Liberians who are living with the physical and emotional scars, when the current government has no program or plan to find a solution to this grave problem? If these words, "One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" truly mean anything to Liberians today, then the government should establish the process to bring to justice those warring factions leaders to the international criminal court for prosecution. That's what "liberty and justice for all" looks like to me; not having those same people being paid by taxpayers; living comfortably and unremorseful, while their victims continue to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and wallowing in abject poverty. About the Author: Samuel Barbay Gaye, Jr. holds AA, BBA and a Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, MN. He lives in New Jersey with his family; and can be contacted at sbarb1822@yahoo.com Southern Pines, NC (28387) Today Sunny skies. High near 75F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear during the evening followed by mostly cloudy skies overnight. Low 44F. Winds light and variable. By Catherine Stone stonecat@grinnell.edu The election for the Student Government Association (SGA) senators occurred this week. Initially, senator applications were due at noon on Sept. 9, but SGA decided to extend the deadline to 11:59 p.m. that night in order to allow for more applicants to apply. According to the SGA Facebook page, additional candidates were needed for East Campus, Loosehead, Canada and Smounker. We didnt have as many candidates as we wanted originally, thats something thats pretty common in my time here, said Charlotte Love 19, Election Board Chair. We pushed back the deadline because we think that its really important to have people who want to take the time to apply and really take the initiative to think about why they want to be senator. All full-time students of the College, except for first semester, first-year students, are eligible to run. Senators are important to the governing of Grinnell as they act as liaisons between SGA and their constituents. Dylan Welch 19, the SGA Administrative Coordinator, wrote in an email to The S&B, Senators are an instrumental link between the larger student body and the ability to establish student organizations, bring speakers to campus, initiate service projects, host inclusive all-campus parties and voice student concerns with Grinnell Colleges administration. The basic duties of the elected senators include attendance at every campus council meetings, reporting decisions or ongoing discussions of SGA to their clusters, express ing the views of their constituents, participating in at least one committee, voting on budgets, debating topics of interest and hosting events for their clusters. Some senators who ran have served in this capacity in the past, including Elizabeth Collinger 21, Allie Pearce 20, Amanda Weber 21 and Carrie Stallings 19. On her decision to run again, Pearce, a candidate for Clangrala, said, This year I feel that I could be a lot better about advancing some of my own ideas now that I know the lay of the land one of my biggest goals is to work on community outreach. Weber, on the ballot this year for Off-Campus and College-Owned housing, said, I came to really enjoy having the opportunity to serve people and to do what I could to make the quality of life better for the people in my cluster. Another motivation to run includes representing a certain population of students on campus. Ryuta Kure 21, who ran for East Campus Senator, said, I was approached by a current member of SGA who encouraged me to run for Senator as we are lacking international diversity in SGA. Kure also said that it was important to negotiate with your cluster, and to know your cluster. Senators are required to have a project that they focus on during the semester to better student life. Love put the senator project into the context of the role. The senator project is a place where senators can really go above and beyond, she said. A really good senator will have a good idea that theyve found matters to the people in their clusters, if they really are proactive and get the ball rolling on something. Love gave the examples of undergraduate research opportunities and bike repair station as examples of successful senator projects. Senator projects can be really cool, especially if senators work together, and if they work on it consistently, Love said. Water quality on and off campus was a topic discussed by many candidates in either their short bios posted to the ballot or during interviews. Weber, a resident of Russian House, said I would like to get water filters for faucets in the off campus-housing because we dont have water fountains. Anne Moen 20 also showed an interest in prioritizing water quality. My senate project would be to focus on getting water bottle fillers in residence halls, she said. When asked what qualities potential senators should have, Love replied that they need to keep their constituents in mind. Even if its not something super fancy, having regular meetings where [constituents] can tell you how theyre feeling about campus issues is really important, Love said. Having served as a senator before, Weber echoed these sentiments. A senator should be a consistent resource for the residents in their cluster, she said. Being someone thats communicable and available is important because thats basically what the job is. In total, there were 25 people on the ballot. Canada had only one person running: Steven McDowell 21. Those running for Clangrala included Papa Kojo Ampim-Darko 19, Collinger and Pearce. In Smounker the two candidates were Ishaan Tibrewal 21 and Puravi Nath 21. East Campus candidates included Rande Nieto 21, Amelia Zoernig 21 and Kure. Loosehead had the highest number of candidates with Phinn Lloyd 21, Hunter Antonisse 19, Manan Pradhan 20, Luo Yang 20, James Msekela 20, Syamala Gumidyala 21, Declan Jones 21. Jamaland had Arish Vale 21 and Moen. Those running for Off-Campus College-Owned housing included Thomas Hexter 21, Felipe Monteforte Ferreira 21 and Amanda Weber 21. Off-Campus Non-College-Owned participants included Jordan Hamilton 19, June Christian 19, Lily Bohlke 19 and Stallings. Voting began on Sept. 11 at noon and concluded on Sept. 13 at noon. There was a 24-hour grievance period, and results were released on Friday at noon. Please see the photospread for winners. Not pictured is Steven McDowell 21, senator-elect for CaNaDA. Editors note: Amanda Weber is the Web Manager for The S&B. Ryuta Kure is the Graphics Editor for The S&B. Photos by Mahira Faran, Andrew Tucker, Zoe Kohler You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against CV Sciences, Inc. (CV Sciences or the Company) (OTCMKTS: CVSI) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, District of Nevada, and index under 18-cv-01709, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise acquired CV Sciences securities between June 19, 2017 and August 20, 2018, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against CV Sciences and certain of its top officials. If you are a shareholder who purchased CV Sciences securities between July 19, 2017, and August 20, 2018, both dates inclusive, you have until October 23, 2018, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here to join this class action] CV Sciences purports to operate as a life sciences company. It represents that it has two business divisions: Specialty Pharmaceuticals and Consumer Products. Its Specialty Pharmaceuticals division develops synthetically-formulated cannabidiol-based medicine, while the Consumer Products division delivers botanical-based cannabidiol products that enhance quality of life. CV Sciences was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. Its common stock trades over-the-counter (OTC) under the ticker symbol CVSI. The Companys chief pharmaceutical product is identified as CVSI-007, a chewing gum product that combines cannabidiol and nicotine in treatment of smokeless tobacco use and addiction. The Company described CVSI-007 to the public as its lead drug candidate with a market that has been estimated at greater than $2 billion, providing an important growth channel for CV Sciences. On May 16, 2016, CV Sciences filed a patent application with the US Patent Trademark Office (USPTO) for CVSI-007, titled Pharmaceutical Formulations Containing Cannabidiol and Nicotine For Treating Smokeless Tobacco Addiction. On February 7, 2017, CV Sciences filed a continuing patent application under the same title, Patent #15/426,617 (the Patent). On April 27, 2017, the USPTO made a non-final rejection decision on the Companys Patent and mailed CV Sciences a letter indicating the non-final rejection status of its Patent on June 6, 2017. Then, On December 14, 2017, the USPTO made a final rejection decision on the Companys Patent and mailed CV Sciences a letter indicating the final rejection status of its Patent on December 20, 2017. During the Class Period, CV Sciences never disclosed the foregoing material information concerning the Patent to the public, either through its several U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission disclosures or in any other forum. On August 20, 2018, Citron Research (Citron) reported, via Twitter, the Defendants failure to disclose either the April 27, 2017, non-final rejection or the December 14, 2017, final rejection of the Patent application for CVSI-007. Following publication of the Citron report, CV Sciences stock price fell $2.40 per share, or 36.31%, to close at $4.21 per share on August 20, 2018. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP rswilloughby@pomlaw.com 888-476-6529 ext. 9980 remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Ampio or the Company) (NYSE: AMPE) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, District of Colorado, and index under 18-cv-02252, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise acquired the publicly traded securities of Ampio between December 14, 2017 and August 7, 2018, both dates inclusive (the Class Period). Plaintiff seeks to recover compensable damages caused by Defendants violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. If you are a shareholder who purchased Ampio securities between December 14, 2017, and August 7, 2018, both dates inclusive, you have until October 24, 2018, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here to join this class action] Ampio is a biopharmaceutical company which focuses on the development of therapies for the treatment of prevalent inflammatory conditions in the United States. Ampion, a biologic intra-articular injection being studied for the treatment of pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee, is one of the Companys lead product candidates. The Company conducted a Phase III trial for Ampion, titled: AP-003. The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose that: (1) the FDA would find Ampios AP-003-C Phase 3 clinical trial inadequate and not well-controlled; (2) as a result, Ampio had not successfully completed two pivotal clinal trials for Ampion; (3) consequently, Defendants public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On August 7, 2018, after the market closed, Ampio announced updated business disclosures relating to its AP-003-A and AP-003-C trials, disclosing that the FDA found that a single trial the AP-003-A study alone does not appear to provide sufficient evidence of effectiveness to support a BLA and that the FDA does not consider the AP-003-C trial to be an adequate and well-controlled clinical trial. On this news, shares of Ampio fell $2.25 per share or over 78% to close at $0.61 per share on August 8, 2018. Shares continued to fall another 21.3% the next day. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP rswilloughby@pomlaw.com 888-476-6529 ext. 9980 MBIKWAKHE Water is life, but a community of over 1 000 residents has been drinking water contaminated with human waste. This has been going on for almost a year, until the populace decided to take the law into their hands. Last Sunday, a group of about 30 youth confronted the man alleged to be behind the dumping of the filth into a stream known as Ncakamatje. The youth of Mbikwakhe accused Kukhanyekudzeni Motsa, who owns a block of flats, of having diverted his sewer system into the stream that is used by the community. During the confrontation, the community members vandalised the sewer system, damaging sewer pipes. altercation The altercation was confirmed by Motsa and one of the youth members, Astro Mdwara, yesterday. Motsa apologised for causing problems in the community, promising to work on the matter. Initially, Mdwara found this reporter interviewing Motsa about the allegations levelled against him by the community. Mdwara explained that this had been ongoing for almost five years until they decided to confront Motsa. After realising that people were falling sick, with some losing their lives as a result of drinking the contaminated water, we resolved to do something that will force him to respond promptly, he said. vandalise He said it was not their intention to vandalise the property, but to create awareness that the community was not happy, especially because they suspect some cases of diarrhoea that ended up in deaths. However these allegations could not be confirmed. After damaging the pipes, Mdwara said they advised Motsa to re-plumb his block of flats. The matter of the spillage was reported to the police. However, the intention is not to have Motsa convicted, but to make him understand the danger faced by the community. damaged Motsa, who was earlier found replacing the damaged pipes, admitted that at some point the human waste was disposed into the stream. He then showed this reporter the new pipes while explaining that the waste was now disposed into a septic tank, situated behind the flats. Before installing the new pipes, I used a pipe drainage system. This means that I used one pipe that linked waste drainage and sink water. The new system installed uses two different drainage systems. MBABANE Some Muslims need a facility where they can format Christian religion values instilled in their children in schools. This was the view of Dr Basheer Shabangu, who said to date they have not been granted land to put up structures that would support their intention to bring up their children under the Islamic principles. Dr Shabangu, who subscribes to the Islam faith, said they now needed a facility where they would put up structures they would use to educate their children under the dictates of the Islamic faith. Training He said this comes after a failed initiative where they had intended building an Islamic Mission, a Mosque, hostel and training facility to train Dawah workers. Right now we do need a place where we will teach our children and delete the Christian values that have been instilled in schools, he said. He said with a population of over 20 000 Muslims living in the country, it was clear that there were about 12 000 Muslim children, most of whom are attending public schools. He said about 6 000 of these Muslims are emaSwati. Since these public schools are now teaching nothing else but Christianity, we definitely need some space where we will be able to engage our children and delete the religion they have been taught at school and instil our own religion, he said. He observed that it was not fair to be denied such because their children need to grow up under their religion, making an example that Christian babies are christened from as young as three months when they do not know anything about religion. MBABANE An international trip ended badly for Eswatini TV station CEO Bongani Gcokosiyancinca Dlamini when his car was stolen at a South African hotel on Tuesday. Dlamini had left the car, a Toyota Dakar registered KSD 953 BH valued at around E600 000, parked at Mercure Hotel in Randburg, Johannesburg, and flown to Namibia to attend a meeting of SADC broadcasters. The CEO had attended the Namibia meeting alongside another one in South Africa in the company of the national television stations Corporate Affairs Manager Mncedzisi Mayisela and Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Maziya. Impeccable sources told Swazi News that all three senior executives were informed of the vehicle theft upon their return to the hotel on Wednesday. The company is the property of the television station and was allocated to the CEO as part of his contract package. Mayisela confirmed the loss of the vehicle and said they were still shocked by what had happened. noticed He said when they arrived at the hotel on Wednesday from Namibia, he noticed that the car was no longer at the parking space they had left it. I immediately saw this because I am the one who parked the vehicle there. But we never thought it had been stolen, instead, we assumed the hotel management had towed and parked it somewhere else, Mayisela said. He said soon after their arrival, they were called to a meeting by the hotel management who then informed them that the car had been stolen. They showed us CCTV footage of how the car was stolen. In the footage, the thieves are seen driving into the hotel premises in a car that appeared to be a dubai Honda Fit. Two men alight from the dubai and head for the CEOs vehicle which they fiddle with for approximately 15 minutes until they were able to open its doors and got the engine going, the senior executive said. NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Lannett Company, Inc. (Lannett or the Company) (NYSE: LCI) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and docketed under 18-cv-3635, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise acquired Lannett securities between February 7, 2018 through August 17, 2018, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials. If you are a shareholder who purchased Lannett securities between February 7, 2018, and August 17, 2018, both dates inclusive, you have until October 26, 2018, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here to join this class action] Lannett develops, manufactures, packages, markets, and distributes solid oral (tablets and capsules), extended release, topical, and oral solution finished dosage forms of drugs that address a wide range of therapeutic areas. Lannett also produces, through its subsidiary Cody Laboratories, Inc., active pharmaceutical ingredients. Lannett derives the majority of its revenue from the sale of drugs that are bioequivalent to certain patented drugs once their patent expires. At all relevant times, Lannett has had an exclusivity agreement with its primary supplier, Jerome Stevens Pharmaceuticals (JSP), owned and operated by the Steinlauf family, set to expire on March 23, 2019. JSPs products have historically accounted for at least one-third of Lannetts sales. The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose that: (i) Lannett faced a substantial risk of the loss of its exclusivity agreement with JSP; (ii) accordingly, Lannetts reported revenues were unsustainable, and (iii) as a result, Lannetts public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On August 20, 2018, prior to market open, Lannett announced that its distribution agreement with JSP will not be renewed upon its expiration in March 2019. Lannett stated that it intend[ed] to redouble our continuing efforts to explore options for addressing our capital structure. On this news, Lannett's share price fell $8.15, or 60.3%, to close at $5.35 on August 20, 2018. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP rswilloughby@pomlaw.com 888-476-6529 ext. 9980 TORONTO, Sept. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Constituents in more than 20 Ontario ridings called on their local Conservative MPPs today to oppose calls from Big Business to scrap the $15 minimum wage. Almost two million workers are counting on the $15 minimum wage which is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2019. Public opinion surveys show that 66% of Ontarians support a $15 minimum wage and many believe it should be even higher. A similar percentage of small business owners 62% also believe the minimum wage should be at least $15 an hour. Despite this fact, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce has called on Premier Doug Ford to fully repeal the legislation that made Ontario the first jurisdiction in Canada to provide two paid sick days to all workers, unpaid emergency leave, in addition to fairer scheduling laws and a $15 minimum wage taking effect January 1, 2019. Christine Ilott, who lives in York Region, wants her MPP to do the right thing: Working for minimum wage is a struggle. Im a college graduate. I'm in my mid-40s. I live alone. I have the same bills most families do, and I struggle to pay them. That's with four jobs across the GTA. All my jobs are minimum wage. Last year I earned in the vicinity of $22,000. You cant live in Toronto on that. You cant live anywhere in Ontario on that. You just can't. I'd like to say that's after taxes, but the truth is I don't earn enough to pay taxes. Two-thirds of minimum wage earners don't. Jared Hunt, an education worker in North Bay, says he was shocked to hear the Ontario Chamber of Commerce wants the government to take away paid sick days and eliminate the minimum wage increase. I thought the Chamber represented community interests, but now it seems they are simply parroting the big corporations that make millions of profit while paying sub-poverty wages, he said. Taking away the new workplace rights will harm our communities. It will affect parents and children the kids who sit in our classroom they will suffer the consequences of rolling back labour laws. Navneet Aujla, lives in Brampton, and was part of the delegation that visited MPPs Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria and Amarjot Sandhu. She says repealing Bill 148 would mean reversing new regulations for temp agencies. That would be a disaster for workers in our community. We already have an incredibly high concentration of temp agencies in Brampton and for many workers these agencies are the main source of employment. The equal pay provisions of the new legislation where temp agency workers have to be paid the same as their directly-hired co-workers have made a huge difference in workers lives. Not only are these workers now making more money, many have been offered permanent jobs because the financial incentives for employers to keep people temporarily have been eliminated. Pam Frache is the Ontario Coordinator of the Fight for $15 and Fairness. She says the response today has been tremendous. People are really excited about the $15 minimum wage and fair scheduling rules that are coming January 1, she said. Thats why so many of the actions today were celebrating the 15-week count-down. But since the Ontario Chamber of Commerce publicly demanded the new government repeal our new legislation in full, theres been a real sense of urgency. More people than ever have joined the campaign. Ontario Federation of Labour President Chris Buckley says union members have been part of the Fight for $15 and Fairness from the beginning, and many labour councils helped organize todays actions. Raising the floor of wages and working conditions is as good for the economy as it is for workers, said Buckley. Thats why the majority of Ontarians including people who voted for Ford expect the government to stand with workers; they dont want the new government to cave in to pressure from corporate elites who clearly dont have community interests at heart. When workers have money in their pockets, they spend it, explains Frache. They dont collude to cheat workers in price-fixing schemes or put it into off-shore accounts to avoid taxes like Loblaws did. Most of us just want to earn a living that brings our head above water and offers a modest amount of security. Thats not too much to ask for. Frache doesnt think its a contradiction that supporters of the Fight for $15 and Fairness may have voted for Ford. A good number of people voted for Doug Ford because they really believe he is going to stand up for us against corporate elites, she said. This is his chance to make good on that promise. Christine Ilott has big plans for how shes going to use the $15 minimum wage when it comes in on January 1. She wants to go see a movie and maybe even splurge on popcorn. She wants to visit the dentist and buy a warmer coat. We simply must get to $15 in January. Its not much. But it will go a long way to lifting millions of us out of poverty. It's the right thing to do and it's time. Rallies took place today in the following communities: Ajax Aurora Barrie Belleville Brampton (South) Brampton (West) Cambridge Cobourg EtobicokeLakeshore Etobicoke North Guelph Hamilton Lindsay London St. Thomas Mississauga North Bay Oakville Oshawa Ottawa Scarborough Centre ScarboroughRouge Park Toronto (Eglinton-Lawrence) York Simcoe (Holland Landing) For more information or to arrange interviews, 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 Trend: An official welcome ceremony has been held for President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is on an official visit in the Republic of Azerbaijan. A guard of honor was arranged for the President of Turkey in the square decorated with the national flags of the two countries. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev greeted President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The chief of the guard of honor reported to the President of Turkey. The national anthems of the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan were played. President Ilham Aliyev and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reviewed the guard of honor. The President of Turkey saluted Azerbaijani soldiers. State and government officials of Azerbaijan were introduced to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and members of the Turkish delegation were introduced to President Ilham Aliyev. The guard of honor marched in front of the heads of state to the accompaniment of a military march. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan posed for official photos. The online edition of British Guardian lauds Athens as a top tourist destination, pointing out the ancient European capital is on the rise with young Athenian entrepreneurs reviving previously abandoned and dilapidated areas in the centre, such as Pangrati, Kypseli, Keramikos and Koukaki as food and arts hubs. In the piece, the author goes on his adventure through the old city starting from the Acropolis Museum and visiting the Stavros Niarchos Foundation for Culture, before he lauds the region of Koukaki in Athens. The article notes that the neighborhood in the center of Athens has drawn the interest of both Athenians and foreign tourists with its distinct identity in recent years. This is evidenced by the explosion in Airbnb rentals in the area. Read more at theguardian.com RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: JFKennedy License: CC-BY-SA An event dedicated to one of the world's favorite foods returns to the Amaxostasio venue, situated in the old Athens trolley bus depot at the bottom of Ermou Street, from September 14 to 16. Burger fans will be treated to elevated, upscale and creative variations of the fast-food staple created by local chefs. Doors open at 5 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and close at midnight. Admission costs 5 euros per day or 10 euros for all three days (both include a complimentary beer). Amaxostasio, Pireos & Ermou, Gazi 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 Photo Source: pixabay.com Besix, the largest Belgian group operating in the construction of buildings, infrastructure, has won a contract to design and build a dam and hydroelectric power station in Cameroon. With this new project, the multiservice group Besix, in partnership with the French company NGE and Moroccan company SGTM will participate in the electrification of the country with renewable energy produced for NHPC, a project company whose shareholders are EDF International, the State of Cameroon and the International Finance Corporation. Besix has won a contract to design and build the Nachtigal dam. Located on the River Sanaga, some 65 kilometres north of Yaounde, this hydroelectric dam will increase the country's supply of renewable energy. The Nachtigal amont hydropower project is one of the very few public-private partnership hydro-electric projects in sub-Saharan Africa, and will accelerate the achievement of Cameroon's development goals, including access to electricity. The dam will increase the country's electricity generating capacity by 30 per cent. The contract involves designing and building a 2-km-long and up to 14-m-high dam in roller compacted concrete, a 3-km supply canal and the civil engineering works of the hydroelectric power plant (with seven 60 MW turbines) and water intake facilities. Work will begin before the end of the year and is expected to last 57 months. The project is financed by a pool of international and local lenders. Mathieu Dechamps, the general manager of international business unit said Besix Group was excited at strengthening its business in Africa in general and in Cameroon in particular. "We have already carried out a number of reference projects in the country. These include the Yaounde hospital buildings, various ministries, the Pont de l'Enfance bridge, a spillway on the Sanaga River, as well as various docks in the port of Douala," he noted. "With our participation in the Nachtigal hydropower project, we are proud to contribute to the development of sustainable solutions," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The Dubai Land Department (DLD) in co-ordination with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera), has issued nearly 500,000 real estate permits to several companies through the 'Trakheesi' system, said a report. Trakheesi also allows brokerage offices and brokers working in the emirate to complete their transactions through the DLDs official website, serving all parts of the Real Estate Licensing Department, reported state news agency Wam. One of the key benefits of Trakheesi is the speed in completing documents related to broker cards, where the time required for completion is now five minutes instead of two business days. These services include cards for brokers and residents, as well as cards for real estate management companies to achieve excellence and quality in the delivery of services, ensuring customer satisfaction and happiness. Ali Abdulla Al Ali, the director of the Real Estate Licensing Department at Rera, said: "Achieving this number reflects the overwhelming approval of 'Trakheesi' and the services it provides to customers in an easy, efficient, and professional manner." "It allows customers to obtain a wide range of permits to assist with their transactions with the highest degree of transparency, and in harmony with the regulations and legislations in this sector," stated Al Ali. The electronic service systems in 'Trakheesi' are easy to use, allowing for the immediate issuance of all types of permits at any time and without the need to go through Rera. Customers may obtain 15 types of approved real estate permits, including those for organising real estate exhibitions, and for outdoor and newspaper advertisements, as well as for open days. "Trakheesi" also helps customers carry out promotional campaigns and SMS, vehicle, and print advertisements, among others activities, for their real estate projects. One of the services offered by the system is also the issuance of permits for classified advertisements and billboards, said the Wam report. Developers are required to obtain permits from Rera to organise project launches, promotional campaigns and platforms, or to advertise and organise real estate seminars within the emirate. The new version of Trakheesi was launched last year with an updated and improved service to further facilitate and accelerate the procedures needed by customers, it added. Boursa Kuwait has announced the launch of a new, free of charge digital education portal, Boursa Academy Online, aimed to promote capital market literacy among new and professional retail investors. The fully-digital education portal aims at promoting financial literacy among the general public and particularly stimulate retail investors interest in becoming involved in the countrys capital market, said a statement from Boursa Kuwait. The academy will educate investors on a wide range of relevant topics, ranging from how to trade, common investment mistakes as well as risks of investing to enable them to make informed investment decisions. From the day of its launch, the online portal will provide educational and training facilities such as Market Watch, Virtual Trading, Statement of Account and Portfolio targeted to investors of various experience levels. CEO Khaled AbdulRazzaq AlKhaled said: "The launch of the Boursa Academy Online reflects our long-standing commitment to developing a reliable and sound capital market. Our goal is to ensure that individual investors are equipped with the right tools and information so that they are confident at getting involved in trading and are aware of the choices available to help them make investment decisions." "The academy aims to promote financial literacy among the Kuwaiti public more generally, which will in turn help increase investment in the local capital market," stated AlKhaled. With its new educational offering, Boursa Kuwait addresses the need to bridge the knowledge gap in trading and financial know-how, which is one of the main factors driving individual investors to participate in the capital market. The academy will act as a trusted source of information where members can access state-of-the-art tools and resources, said the top official. "Todays financial markets are constantly evolving. Therefore, it is important for institutions like Boursa Kuwait to ensure individual investors are kept informed of the new trends and risks associated with investing," remarked AlKhaled. "We see it as our mission to help build a sustainable financial environment through continuously improving Capital market literacy, thus enabling investors to maintain an in-depth understanding of the different structures and procedures within the capital market so they can better asses their goals,," he added. Boursa Kuwait said the portal will deliver training solutions to help beginners such as university students understand the basics of investing and the instruments available in the market. The content will be delivered in an Information rich platform. Pursuing best practices and increasing transparency for the benefit of its stakeholders is part of Boursa Kuwaits mission to evolve as a leading regional exchange, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Global Power Generation (GPG), a joint venture between Spain's Naturgy Energy Group and the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), the country's sovereign fund, was awarded 180 MW wind farm project in Australia. In a strategic move, KIA had bought a 25 per cent stake in the Spanish group through its direct infrastructure investment platform Wren House Infrastructure Management in 2014. GPG currently manages a total installed capacity of 4.000 MW and employs around 800 people worldwide. Located approximately 150 km from Melbourne, the wind farm project, named Berrybank, will entail a total investment of A$259 million ($186 million) and is expected to start operations in the second half of 2020, said the company in a statement. This is Naturgys first inorganic investment following the presentation of its new Strategic Plan 2018-2022 and the second investment of the company in the Asia-Pacific region, through its joint venture, it stated. On the contract win, Francisco Reynes, the executive chairman of Naturgy, said: "This is an important step to further strengthen our international presence. Australia is a very attractive country to invest in renewable energy projects as it combines attractive returns for investors while it takes into consideration the social and environmental requirements." "We are very proud to have earned the trust of the State of Victoria to develop this large wind farm," stated Reynes. "The Berrybank windfarm is an attractive opportunity for GPG to continue its international growth strategy, and to build on GPGs investment in renewable power in Australia, a core growth market for GPG," he added. The awarded contract fully complies with the investment and profitability criteria established by Naturgy in its new Strategic Plan 2018-2022 as it: *Consists of a 15 year power purchase agreement (PPA) at a regulated tariff, supporting the targeted growth in renewable capacity of 3x during the Strategic Plan 2018-2022, *Exceeds the minimum profitability targets in line with the companys strict capital discipline to ensure value creation, and *Reduces the risk profile of the energy group, further increasing its internationalization by investing in Australia, an OCDE country which presents highly attractive conditions for investment in renewables. Karl Lim, the vice chairman of GPG and executive vice president of Wren House Infrastructure Management Limited, said: "We look forward to working with the State of Victoria and the local communities on this important project." The wind farm is expected to contribute an ebitda of approximately 22 million euros per year once fully operational, he noted. Naturgy increases its presence in Australia threefold after the awarding of this 180 MW wind farm project, he added.-TradeArabia News Service I am offering the solution to a problem most Republicans don't know they have -- that they can be outmaneuvered and thrown on the defensive endlessly, on nearly any issue, because they accept as true Democrat lies about the Republican Party. To correct that misperception and to help the Republican Party get 'back to basics' is why I'm a man on a mission. A few years ago, after one of my speeches, a man told me "Do you know what your problem is? You're too far ahead of your time!" My efforts to show Republicans how they would benefit from celebrating the heritage of our Grand Old Party have been arduous, but if this were easy someone else would have already done it. Among my speech topics are Reconciling the Tea Party and the GOP; Barack Obama, the Worst President Ever; Socialism, the new Slavery; Appreciating the Heritage of our Grand Old Party; Returning to the Founding Principles of the United States; The Womens Rights Achievements of our Grand Old Party; Abraham Lincoln, Republican; Frederick Douglass, Republican; Martin Luther King and the Republican Civil Rights Legacy. Phu Quoc Island in Kien Giang Province.-VNA/VNS Photo Duy Khuong Pham Vu Hong, chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee, said the projects would run until 2020. Of these projects, 15 will be in industrial production; 13 in hi-tech agricultural and aquatic cultivation and processes; 11 in commerce; 10 in technical infrastructure in industrial parks; nine in transport; seven in tourism; six in the environment; six in water supply in urban and rural areas; and four in housing and urban development. The province has invested to complete infrastructure for transport, electricity grids, water supply and a drainage systems, and is continuing administrative reforms. It is also setting preferential policies and providing assistance for investment based on the governments common policy framework and local policies. According to the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, 48 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with total registered investment capital of more than US$2.7 billion have been carried out. Of these, eight FDI projects from Japan, Russia, Australia, Korea and Malaysia have total registered investment capital of more than $1.34 billion, mostly in transport, tourism, services, petroleum transport and sport shoe production. Many of them are now operating and providing jobs for local residents. The province has six Official Development Assistance projects with total capital of more than VND243 billion ($10.5 million). They include one on upgrading Rach Gia City, the Mekong Delta Integrated Climate Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Project, and another on waste treatment for the Tuberculosis Hospital. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), relevant agencies and localities to take prompt measures to prevent African swine fever reaching Vietnam.-VNA/VNS Photo African swine fever is a devastating infectious disease of pigs which is usually fatal. No vaccine exists to combat the virus. It does not affect humans nor does it affect other animal species other than pigs and wild boars. It can be transmitted either via direct animal contact or via dissemination of contaminated food. Under his urgent message No 1194/C-TTg to the agencies, Phuc said that according to the World Organisation for Animal Health, there are 17 countries and territories reporting the presence of African swine fever, with a total of over 500,000 pigs culled between late 2017 and September 10. Data from the organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation also showed China had confirmed 14 outbreaks of the African swine fever in its six provinces of Anhui, Heilongjiang, Henan, Liaoning, Jiangsu and Zhejiang since early August. The total number of pigs culled reached over 38,000. Therefore, Phuc said people were banned from transporting, trading and slaughtering pigs and pig products without clear origin. People were also prohibited from receiving pigs and pig products donated by organisations and individuals in the border areas. Leaders of peoples committees at provincial and city levels were told to quickly task authorised agencies to tighten control at border areas to prevent African swine fever from entering the country, he said. Agriculture and rural development departments of all localities were required to sterilise markets and slaughter houses between September 15 and October 15. The departments had to immediately inform the agriculture ministry in case they find an outbreak of the virus, he said. Localities responses In response to the situation, the north-eastern province of Quang Ninh, which has a long border with China, has required all districts to actively prepare for African swine fever. The districts were ordered to inform all local residents so that they would not participate in transporting, trading and consuming pigs or pig products from China. For districts of Hai Ha and Binh Lieu and Mong Cai City that share a border with China, the provincial Agriculture and Rural Development Department asked authorised agencies to urgently tighten control and seize pigs smuggled from China via the border in an attempt to control the situation. Tran Xuan Dong, head of the provincial Livestock and Animal Health Department said many tourists pass through the Mong Cai Border Gate, meaning there is a high risk they will bring pork products into Vietnam. Additionally, authorised agencies discovered several people transporting and trading live pigs from China in Mong Cai City, even though authorised agencies had banned them from doing so, he said. Thus, there are difficulties for authorised agencies in controlling the situation, he said. In the meantime, the northern mountainous province of Lao Cais administration has conducted more inspections and strictly checked the origin of pigs and pig products in the localities, especially in areas sharing a border with China. Nguyen The Anh, vice chairman of the Hoa My Co-operative in Hanois Ung Hoa District, said all farms of the co-operative had sprayed chemicals to sterilise areas and stopped transporting pig breeds from other provinces as well as carefully checked the origin of pig feed. Sense Market in HCM City Even though the market was only opened in March last year, the one-hectare site could face problems. The decision was issued by the HCM City People's Committee. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment was asked to stop extending contracts and all traders must move out by April 30, 2019. The market has nearly 100 restaurants which offer cuisines from many countries including Vietnam, Laos, Japan, India and Cambodia. There are also more than 400 clothes and footwear stores. The market receives about 5,000 visitors per day. Many traders have spent hundreds of millions of VND into their stores and haven't been able to recoup the money yet. Traders, whose contracts expired, already moved out while others are worried about their fate. Pham Tuyet Nga, a clothes shop owner, said she had poured in VND1bn (USD42,000) and would be in debts if the market was shut down. She hopes the authorities will extend the deadline until the traders recover their money. Nguyen Binh Phuong, director of Cuu Long Company, the market's investor, said, "This area was dirty and abandoned. When we were approved by the authorities, we spent VND200bn (USD8.5m) to upgrade and turn this area into a unique destination for both locals and tourists. It also provides jobs for 500 traders who used to work on pavements." Nguyen Thi Tranh, director of Saigon Co.op Investment Development JSC, the market's operator, said the decision was regrettable since this was Vietnam's first underground market. They suggested developing underground businesses and services to ensure the green space above. Vietnamese entrepreneurs and government officials took the stage at the Vietnam Business Summit to share their ideas on coping with the Fourth Industrial Revolution President and CEO of Vietjet Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, representing Vietnamese entrepreneurs, took the stage at Vietnam Business Summit (VBS), which was held on September 13 in Hanoi as part of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2018 (WEF on ASEAN), to address the discussion and share her experience of growing a successful business. Vietjet president and CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao inspired startups Startups should have big dreams Themed Vietnam Reliable Business Partner: Connectivity and Creativity, VBS focused discussions on the role of Vietnam in regional and global value chains, as well as introducing policies and business and investment opportunities, particularly in the fields of finance and infrastructure. At the second session of VBS, which focused on introducing new business opportunities in Vietnam, as a representative of Vietnamese entrepreneurs, Thao took the stage with Citibank Vietnam CCO Natasha Ansell and shared her successful business experiences with the delegates. By our endeavours and dreams, Vietjet is one of the companies that is creating active and positive changes in the aviation industry, Thao said. She also told Vietnamese startups that it is not the technology that changes the world, but dreams. Technology is only a tool, she said; creativity originates solely from our dreams. She advised startups, Dare to dream big and do everything every day to make your dreams come true. Let us bring the spirit of digitalisation and automation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution into our daily lives as well as all operation processes of entrepreneurs. To achieve its amazing results, Thao said that Vietjet has promoted the application of technology, while ceaselessly innovating, especially by investing in new and modern aircraft. Entrepreneurs and businessmen are not alone in their dreams because your dreams are nurtured in a startup nation, a facilitating government, and the most dynamic ASEAN community, Thao stressed. As in his speech at the summit, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasised that the Vietnamese business environment has improved dramatically to create many more opportunities for local entrepreneurs and companies to grow competitiveness on par with international counterparts. Make dream a reality The billionaire shared the story of Vietjet and why the carrier was ranked 22nd among the top 50 airlines worldwide by Airfinance Journal, an aviation finance magazine. This is the first time the airline has made the coveted list. According to Thao, Vietjet is the first airline in Vietnam to operate as a new-age carrier that focuses on diversifying aviation services, investing in the latest e-commerce and operation technologies as well as developing a modern aviation service ecology in Vietnam. Seven years after the first Vietjet flight connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi took off with 120 passengers, in the first six months of 2018, Vietjet continued to lead the domestic passenger traffic and be the best operating flight growth airline with 59,944 flights, up nearly 22 per cent. The technical reliability was 99.66 per cent with the safety performance of flight and ground operations amongst the top in the region. The on-time performance stood at 83 per cent, becoming the leading airline in Vietnam, surpassing the big man Vietnam Airlines. In the first half of 2018, Vietjets accumulated air transport revenue reached VND16.5 trillion ($730 million), an increase of 52.6 per cent. Air transport profit stood at VND1.7 trillion ($75.2 million), an increase of 53.4 per cent over the same period of 2017, completing 56.2 per cent of the 2018 plan. As a result, the company had net sales of VND21.2 trillion ($938 million) and after-tax profit of VND2 trillion ($88.5 million), up 29 and 11 per cent, respectively, against the same period last year. Thanks to its positive performance in the first months of the year, Vietjet shareholders will be advanced 2018 cash dividend payment at the rate of 20 per cent, in addition to 20 per cent share dividend received recently. Everyone can fly As a dynamic, innovative airline Vietjet has quickly won passengers hearts to become the favorite airline in Vietnam and the region since its launch in 2007. It is the first airline in Vietnam to operate a carrier model to provide a wide range of services that change the habits of consumption and business sense. The airline is also changing perceptions about doing business in aviation. It brings the chance to fly to almost every Vietnamese and regional citizen and each flight promises to bring unexpected joy to passengers. As a result, the new-age carrier brings flying opportunities to a greater number of people and makes it easier for citizens to connect through high-end technologies. Currently, Vietjet operates 60 A320 and A321 aircraft with more than 385 flights a day, carrying more than 60 million passengers so far, with 94 routes covering destinations in Vietnam as well as international destinations such as Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Cambodia. Vietjet also plans to expand its network across the Asia-Pacific region and is continuing to expand its regional network. Recently, the airline signed a contract agreement to purchase new, modern aircraft from the worlds leading aircraft manufacturers. Vietnamese workers living abroad sent home USD13.8 billion in 2017 The report indicated that last year, Vietnamese workers living abroad sent home USD13.8 billion, up 16% on-year, accounting for around 2.5% of the worlds total overseas remittances. UNDP said that overseas remittances are estimated to make up 6-8% of Vietnams annual GDP during the 2006-2017 period. Of the total figure, 55% came from the US, followed by Australia, Canada, France, Germany and South Korea. UNDP suggested that overseas remittances should be poured into production and business, instead of real estate, stocks or savings under the form of gold or foreign currencies as previously. By late 2016, HCM Citys overseas remittances accounted for up to half of the countrys figure. Around 70% of overseas remittances in HCM City were used on business activities, with just 20% spent on property. Remittances have been channelled through commercial banks, economic institutions, customs or post. About 72% of the remittances go through commercial banks. Pork imports from Hungary and Poland will be suspended until the animals are free of disease.-VNA/VNS Photo Vu Sinh Vietnam will still import pork shipped before the September 20 cutoff, but they will be inspected by the Department of Animal Health. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan said the measure was taken to mitigate the risk of an AFS outbreak. The decision came after the World Organisaion of Animal Health (OIE) reported 17 cases of the ASF virus in dead wild boars in Heves and Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg this year. The virus has also been found in 315 wild boars and 162 domestic pigs across five Polish provinces. African Swine Flu (ASF) is a type of infectious fever that has a mortality rate over 90 per cent in pigs. There is no known cure. Although the disease is not dangerous to humans, it has the potential to spell massive economic losses across the pork industry. Viet Nam will restart imports from the two countries as soon as they meet OIE requirements to declare the ASF outbreak has ended More than 560,000 pigs have been culled across Europe and Asia since the end of 2017 to prevent the spread of the disease, with notable outbreaks reported by OIE in China and Estonia. The disease is moving southward through China, into provinces near Vietnam. There are various ways ASF can spread, including through contaminated feed and direct contact between pigs. On September 11, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed a document urging action to prevent the disease from entering Vietnam. To that end, the government banned the transport, trade, slaughter and consumption of all pork products of unknown origins. Border control checks were increased, and cities and provinces were asked to crack down on illegal imports. 2 strangers come together to find the good in suffering American Vandal Shit Talk Season 2 Episode 4 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * * Previous Next Photo: Scott Patrick Green / Netflix I dont want to keep saying things like, Hey, remember last season of this show, which was transcendentally good in a way that I cant imagine having to live up to, but this season has yet to find its Who did the dicks? moment a recurring question/rallying cry/shibboleth that viewers found themselves asking along with every character who asked it with a straight face. Did Kevin or DeMarcus make everyone shit themselves? just doesnt have the same ring to it. Were going through the box of anonymous tips today, so Im calling it Just the Tip Day doesnt either. Worse, its a dick joke of noticeably lesser quality than we would have heard last season. But! I had hoped for some more Peter and Sam, particularly for more Peter and Sam in a way that felt connected to the rest of the action, and I certainly got my wish this episode. I do love the way they play off of one another they spend the first few minutes composing messages to the Turd Burglar, whos started DMing them on Instagram after refusing to respond to students, administrators, and the authorities for months. Their sheer earnestness/misguided faith in pure logic/eagerness to support one another before realizing theyve stumbled onto an incredibly dumb idea is so much fun to watch. Draft it in the Notes app, Sam says to Peter while hes trying to think of a reply. Dont let them see the dot dot dot. Be more aggressive. Youve got something to say, so say it. Youve got something to say, so say it, bitch Thats too much. Pete and Sam are lured off-campus to meet with the Turd Burglar (Im just going to start writing TB, because it feels damaging to my immortal soul to have to keep writing out the words Turd Burglar), who never shows, but does lead them to another calling card left in a pile of shit. After staring at it for a moment, Peter says, Im gonna text him that were here, in an utterly beautiful and totally misplaced moment of trust and sincerity. Of course, further goading messages from TB lead Peter to forage chopsticks out of a nearby dumpster and dissect the pile for clues. What was the point of this? he asks mournfully after the search reveals nothing but, you know. I think he just wanted you to dig through shit with chopsticks, Sam says. The boys next move is to go back to the TBs posts looking for linguistic clues. TB must be familiar with the student body because they tagged 40 students in individual videos, which is the sort of thing you say when you feel like youre making progress but have not actually figured out anything significant. TB writes things like its time to pull back the veil and within the confines of these walls, which Sam thinks sounds more like Kevin than DeMarcus. This kicks off a linguistic side quest into code-switching, and both Sam and Peter seem a little uncertain how to talk about the ways race plays into that conversation: When [DeMarcus] talks to his Rainier Beach friends, his, you know city friends, Sam says he sounds different. One of DeMarcuss friends is able to say what Sam cant: Im not saying that when DeMarcus is at school he talks whiter but he talks whiter. DeMarcus talks about the time that he slipped up and used the N-word on campus, and seeing how eager his white classmates were to use that as permission to say it next, hes been hypervigilant ever since. Crucially, DeMarcus doesnt use an iPhone and never experienced the glitch, which shows up in a number of TBs posts, leading Sam to ask: Why are we investigating him anyways? Because Chloe said she saw the card? It turns out that Chloe was a member of Horsehead Collective from fifth to eighth grade, and kept trying to hang out with Kevin long after she started experiencing pushback from the rest of her friends. (At one point during this sequence, Kevin appears in a talking-head sequence wearing five layers of shirts and a flat cap; the transmasculine community appreciated the shout-out.) The question then becomes why Chloe waited two weeks to accuse DeMarcus, only after Kevin had been expelled, if her goal was to prevent future attacks, and she doesnt have much of an answer for that. But Kevin doesnt have an iPhone either the Android is a superior machine and also didnt experience the glitch, so Pete and Sam start checking other students whove been suggested as possible suspects who may have had the glitch at the time. Three names surface: Diapey Drew Pankratz, Jenna Hawthorne, and Paul Schnorrenberg, and the subsequent profiles are a thing of beauty and a joy forever. Drew is in all the school plays, and all of his friends are theater girls, the kind of Milhousian guy who gets invited to all-girl sleepovers because hes so nonthreatening. His possible motive? Pictures of him wearing a diaper and holding an oversize baby bottle were anonymously leaked to a school message board. I was pushing myself as an actor, he insists. It was just a diaper, for a character. Its not some kink like everyones saying. Hes been spending all of his time hiding out in the library ever since, which actually serves as his alibi, since the librarian can vouch for his whereabouts during two of the attacks. Said library is named after Jenna Hawthornes family. Shes the schools power lesbian with a perfect Instagram where she often posts pictures of herself and her girlfriend kissing at sunset on a yacht in Mykonos. Perfect, that is, until she claimed to be best friends with Kendall Jenner, only for someone else to reveal that the picture of the two of them together came from a meet-and-greet session where Jenna waited in line for five hours. DeMarcus gets the best line of the episode when he says I feel like she low-key disrespected everyone Kendall actually has a relationship with, then goes on to name every single member of the Jenner-Kardashian family in solemn, respectful tones. Her familys chemical company also produces maltitol, the active agent in the lemonade, but she was interning there during two of the TBs attacks, so shes out too. Then theres Paul, whos more Catholic than God (a quick shot of his latest vlog, entitled Pauls Musings on the Lord Pt. 6, shows that it has exactly 68 views, because of course it would be just one shy of the obvious). One of the nuns says he goes overboard. DeMarcus says, The Bible is so boring, before quickly adding no disrespect and pointing up to heaven (DeMarcus easily leads the show in perfect one-liners). Paul claimed that God protected some of us from the plague and uses periods at the end of sentences in all of his social-media posts, which Sam declares, rightly, to be serial-killer weird. But he was fighting with Ms. Montgomery about the pope (Ms. Montgomery: I think hes kind of like Bernie Sanders) during the pep rally and couldnt possibly have set up the cannons. While Id happily sit through another four episodes just profiling additional students in the same vein, the great engine of plot keeps on lumbering, and the boys ask whether its possible the last post the TB made a picture of an advent calendar in the faculty lounge was not a promise of a crime that failed to come off, but an aftermath shot of a successful delivery device that the school has covered up. (Sam is incredibly proud of having come up with the phrase delivery device, and drops it as often as possible.) If anyone can pull off investigating Catholic cover-ups with a shit-joke angle right, its American Vandal, but Im not sure how. Photo: @jennacooper ABCs annual summer freak-fest Bachelor in Paradise didnt end with whimper or a bang this season, but rather, an epic scam tailor-made for reality television history. After accepting a proposal from Jordan Kimball in the shows finale, a tidal wave of allegations against Jenna Cooper soon piled up, which accused her, among other things, of faking her relationship with Kimball to get exposure for her business. (There are a bunch of receipts to back it up.) The claims eventually reached Kimball, who confirmed he was brutally heartbroken, felt sick, and broke up with Cooper as a result. Cooper has denied everything and is currently seeking legal counsel on how to proceed, but not before offering another message on Instagram to reiterate how she intends to fight to get her man back. Please stand by as I prepare to provide the true facts that will demonstrate the fraud perpetrated by terrible individuals, she wrote on Friday evening. Please be patient as this takes time to Jordan, I am sorry that horrible people have used fabricated, hateful efforts to come between us. I promise you that the truth will be set free in the coming weeks, and it will unquestionably be to your satisfaction. To the persons that did this to Jordan, myself, our relationship, the show, our families, and our fans, justice is coming to you. To anyone who has had people callously, maliciously and falsely attempt to destroy all that you love, this is for you too. I look forward to returning to a place of happiness, joy, moving forward with Jordan, and life, knowing that everyone knows the truth. Earlier this week, the website Reality Steve was sent incriminating text-message screenshots from a man claiming to be Coopers ex-boyfriend, who said they were dating as recently as earlier this month. (Steve Carbone, who runs the website, said he independently verified the messages.) Throughout their correspondence, Cooper repeatedly disparaged Kimball and the Bachelor franchise, saying she only went on Paradise so people would be interested in her business. One particularly bad musing from her reads: I told you yesterday and I keep telling you that this is all for my business. You know how much I need the money. Me and Jordan arent together for real. I dont even like him let alone love him. Im better than him and once Im able to break it off for good Ill make up some story to make him look bad if itll make you feel better. He means nothing to me and never has. Kimball believes the veracity of these messages, telling People hes had the worst week of his life. I know my Jenna, and I read those texts and in my heart, I know its her. She was saying she didnt do it, but hinting towards the fact that theres a possibility that it happened, he explained. In all reality, I dont expect her to own it. I would never have expected this. I feel sick about it. I just dont understand why someone would say that theyre better than me and have ill intentions. Before the allegations became public, the duo were planning a June wedding in Mexico. Photo: Annapurna Releasing, LLC. With his third feature, an adaptation of James Baldwins novel If Beale Street Could Talk, Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) has cemented his style: lush and romantic on the surface, hyperrealistic and grim a short flight down. The tone oscillates: seductive, abrasive, seductive but always beautiful, because Jenkins and his cinematographer, James Laxton, dont do ugly. Theres always a jukebox, a spinning vinyl record, a full moon, to suggest a better world elsewhere. Its overripe, but heady. The title is heavily symbolic. Memphiss Beale Street is where the blues were said to have been born, and for Baldwin the story that it would tell is one that would sum up black life in 20th-century America. There is the pure-hearted girl, 19-year-old Tish (KiKi Layne), who longs to escape her corrosive New York City milieu; the boy she loves, 22-year-old Fonny (Stephan James), whos unjustly accused of rape; and an extended family of disparate men and women some prim, some crude, some law-abiding, some crooked who scramble to save Fonny from the fate of so many young black American men. Jenkins opens If Beale Street Could Talk with an overhead traveling shot of the two radiantly beautiful young people on the night theyve decided to become lovers. (Are you ready for this? Ive never been more ready for anything in my whole life.) Its a magic-in-the-moonlight moment, but it turns out to be a flashback. Fonny (short for Alonzo) now sits in jail, charged with a rape for which hes so obviously not guilty that the prosecutor would be a laughingstock if Fonny werent black and the white cop who put him in a lineup wasnt bent on settling a score. The film drifts back and forth between the couples wondrous expectations before the arrest, and the lonely quest to get the charges dropped once Fonny is inside and Tish is carrying their baby. Youll notice at once how old-fashioned the movie looks, its palette warm, its colors deepened by Nicholas Britells score, which ranges from a distant, forlorn trumpet to a string quartet in which the players dig in as if theyre having their own dialogue between hope and despair. The close-ups are immense, the emotions archetypal. And then, like a slap, come stark, black-and-white photographs of men, woman, and children surrounded by filth and handled brutally by white cops a sudden chiaroscuro montage in a film so rich in reds and golds and browns. Baldwins words intoned by Tish, who narrates are also a slap: Though the death took many forms, though people died early in many different ways, the death itself was very simple and the cause was simple, too: as simple as a plague: the kids had been told that they werent worth shit and everything they saw around them proved it. They struggled, they struggled, but they fell, like flies, and they congregated on the garbage heaps of their lives, like flies. Jenkins uses that passage in the film, though he omits the novels subseqent, pragmatic admission from Tish that perhaps she clung to Fonny because he was the only boy [she] knew who wasnt fooling around. That bit of dissonance wouldnt fit with Jenkinss tone poem, in which Tish and Fonny are together because its destiny and only a society this cruel would tear them asunder. The approach might have seemed soppy if Layne and James werent so gorgeous and the actors around them so magnetic. The broad-shouldered Colman Domingo with his lusciously deep voice plays Tishs dad, wholl do anything to make his family happy. Regina King, her features exquisitely empathetic, is Tishs mom, who treks to Puerto Rico on a seemingly hopeless mission to convince her future son-in-laws damaged, terrified accuser to recant her identification of Fonny. Brian Tyree Henry is Fonnys big, once happy-go-lucky friend, shattered now after a stint in prison. Its Henrys character who warns Fonny, a gifted sculptor of wood and metal whod otherwise have no reason to fear white people, The white man has got to be the devil. If Beale Street Could Talk would be even richer if Jenkins didnt photograph the white cop who has in it for Fonny as if he really is the devil (and the devil had bad skin). Jenkins pre-chews the material, which he never did in Moonlight or his first feature, Medicine for Melancholy. On the other hand, when Tish gets a job at a perfume counter, a montage of her customers after is overpoweringly eerie. Jenkins makes visceral Tishs feeling that, more than a century after the freeing of slaves, she feels owned. Her pregnancy, with its violent, incapacitating kicks, is a near-monstrous reminder of whats in store when the child is born with a father in jail. The movie ends with Billy Prestons mournful, ironic rendition of My Country Tis of Thee, which suggests that there is actually no medicine for this kind of melancholy. Beale Street has spoken. If Beale Street Could Talk was nominated for three Oscars in 2019, including Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score. 2012 was a simpler time, when we could call our President an asshole in an endearing, funny way and capture the moment for the masses to enjoy. Right? Thats a thing, right? Thats what Anna Kendrick did anyway, when she had the opportunity to meet President Obama at a Los Angeles campaign event, where the president wove in praise for Up in the Air during his opening remarks. I hope I didnt embarrass you earlier? Obama asked Kendrick when they shook hands, to which she had the audacity to respond: Yeah, youre such an asshole. A bonafide A-bomb! I called him an asshole and scolded him for not knowing enough about the 50 states, Kendrick recalled, so that was what made him double over with laughter. Theres photographic evidence of the laughter, so congrats to Kendrick. Congressman Mo Brooks will tour Calhoun Community College's Decatur campus on September 18, 2018. His visit will begin at 9:00 a.m., and he will be accompanied by members of his local congressional office. The tour will include the college's Aerospace Technology and Design Drafting/Additive Manufacturing programs and will be followed by a roundtable discussion with interim president, Joe Burke, and faculty and staff. Governor Ivey awarded $1.89 million in grants to organizations and programs that help survivors of domestic violence and elder abuse. No one should ever have to experience the horrors of domestic violence or elder abuse, but there is hope for those who unfortunately do become victims, Governor Ivey said. The Alabama Department of Human Resources received $1.56 million, the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence received $250,781 and the Alabama Office of Prosecution Services received $80,000. The funding is administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs through multiple sources including the U.S. Department of Justice, the state's General Fund and the Domestic Violence Trust Fund. Governor Ivey said she hopes the grants will help to provide professional assistance and justice to victims. A suspect wrecked on McKee Road after a high speed chase with Limestone County Sherriff's Office. Counterfeit cash was found matching that from other recent cases. Investigators also found subutex and about two ounces of "ice" meth in the suspect's vehicle. This is not Adam Chambers, the third suspect that police are currently seeking on warrants related to counterfeit money. This case is still under investigation, and Limestone County Sherriff's Office said it expects to have a final update on charges tomorrow morning. New information about an internal investigation on how a triple murder suspect slipped through the cracks in Alabama's parole system. The WAAY 31 I-team learned the state pardon and parole board finished an internal review of a case involving a triple murder suspect, but won't say what, if any changes are coming. They send us this statement saying, " The file review has been completed and recommendations regarding this matter are being discussed and implemented. As this process has not been completed, at this time we are unable to release information regarding policy updates, victim notification changes, progressive discipline application or other measures associated with this review. We do not want to release information that may require amendment in the future. Once fully implemented, the Agency will be as transparent as possible for the public interest. We do not have a timeline for completion, but the matter is a top priority for the Board." Jimmy Spencer started his life of crime in Franklin County and was serving a life sentence when he was let out on parole earlier this year. One Shoals law maker said it's unacceptable that the parole board will not release their findings of the review anytime soon. "The public has a right to know and they have a right to be concerned," said Shoals Representative, Johnny Mack Morrow. "If you allow government officials bureaucrats to hide information then your inviting corruption and your inviting bureaucrats making decisions that's not in the best interest of the public." Spencer is a life long criminal who was serving a life sentence but changes in the law and overcrowding led to the parole board releasing him. Bobby Longshore said he saw the system moving in a flawed direction so he left the parole board after serving 11 years. "The two systems try to accommodate each other but it's not the parole boards job to relieve overcrowding the Alabama Department of Corrections. The input into the system is what's causing the overcrowding. The release strategy is not the answer," said Longshore. Spencer was let out of prison in January 2018. He then walked away from a residential facility he was supposed to be at for six months in February. He was then written misdemeanor citations in May at Guntersville State Park. In June he had a run in with Guntersville police but fully cooperated so they had to let him go. No warrants popped up in his background. Later on the same day in June Spencer was arrested for drug charges in Sardis. Again no warrants popped up in his background check so Sardis police had to let him go. In July Spencer was arrested and charged with killing three people in Guntersville. Six days after his Guntersville arrest the pardon and paroled board requested an arrest warrant be issued for him, while he was already behind bars. The parole board just revoked Spencer's parole 21 days after his arrest for the Guntersville murders. The WAAY 31 I-Team discovered it took three weeks for Spencers parole officer to respond to police in SardiS. Even then he wouldnt have gone directly back to prison on those charges. "How many more Jimmy Spencer's are out there that will be paroled?", said Morrow. Morrow said it's time to re-look at the laws that are blamed for making Spencer eligible for parole, and for mistakes in the notification system. "We need to revisit that. How did this person get improperly categorized? Who made that mistake? I'd like to know that. If that's why he was paroled then whoever mislabeled him they need to know there are consequences for letting these violent people back in society. We cannot let this happen," said Morrow. Currently the parole board is paroling inmates at a 54% rate, which worries many families who have upcoming parole hearings for their loved ones killers. Huntsville - Four people, including two children, escaped a house fire in Huntsville Friday evening. Fire screws responded to the call around 6:30 pm at a house at 2125 Davidson Street, not far from Lee High School. Smoke and flames were visible coming from a window on the home's north side when firefighters arrived. It took them a half hour to put out the flames. Two people were taken to the hospital with what WAAY 31 is told were very minor injuries, possibly smoke inhalation. Investigators said the fire likely started in a bedroom, but at this point a cause has not been determined. The house was deemed unlivable because of the damage. The Red Cross is assisting the people who lived there with finding temporary housing. 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 By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 15, 2018 | 11:20 AM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY Deputies found both Prater and Bettencourt allegedly in possession of methamphetamine smoking pipes and paraphernalia containing quantities of suspected methamphetamine. Both Prater and Bettencourt were arrested and charged with 1st degree possession of a controlled substance, (methamphetamine), 1st offense, and possession of drug paraphernalia. They were both taken to the McCracken County Regional Jail. Two Paducah residents were arrested on drug charges at the Country Aire Mobile Home Park.McCracken County Sheriff's deputies were called about a disturbance at the mobile home park on Clarks River Road, where they found 48-year old Eddie J. Prater, Jr., and 34-year-old Pamela L. Bettencourt walking on the street. Shooting victim says he was pointing his gun at Rittenhouse Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 15, 2018 | 02:37 PM | FULTON The twin cities of Fulton, Kentucky and South Fulton, Tennessee wrap up another weeklong tradition tonight with the final events of their annual Banana Festival.After the one-ton banana pudding is served today at 6:30, the country-rock band Kentucky Headhunters will take the stage at 8pm for the big finish to festivities that have included food, carnival rides, talent contests, parades, a 5K run, and even a greased pig contest.Bananas came to be a western Kentucky and west Tennessee product when the refrigerated rail car was invented in the 1880s. Fulton was already a large rail distribution center, centrally located to most of the U.S. and a direct route from New Orleans to Canada. Fulton also had the only ice house along the line before Chicago. So the area became the "banana capitol of America," and even after the distribution methods changed, locals have celebrated their tasty heritage ever since.The remaining schedule of today's festival fun:8:00am 12:00 p.m. --- Rotary Club Car Show8:00am Banana 5K run/walk9:00amVendors, Downtown Open10:00am Banana Brawl, Pontotoc Park1:00pm Greased Pig Contest, across the street from the Keg/Behind the Post Office2:30pm Doggy Pageant Pontotoc Stage5:00pm --- Lions Club GRANDE Parade, starts at Broadway SFulton to Lake Street Fulton6:30pm 2018 Fultons Got Talent Winner to Perform, Unity Park AmphitheaterONE TON BANANA PUDDING served in front of senior center8:00pm --- Kentucky Headhunters in Concert, Unity Park Amphitheater On the Net: Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 14, 2018 | ELIZABETHTOWN By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 14, 2018 | 02:40 PM | ELIZABETHTOWN The Kentucky Community and Technical College (KCTCS) Board of Regents reviewed a two-year action plan, Creating a Better Life, during its quarterly board meeting on Friday. The plan lays out the strategies and tactics needed to implement the KCTCS strategic plan and is aligned with other statewide education and workforce plans developed by partners including the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) and the Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (KWIB). The Creating a Better Life plan's goals are to: Increase educational attainment of working adults, Reduce student barriers in the college enrollment process, Shorten students time-to-degree, Provide students more opportunities for experiential learning, Increase retention and graduation rates, and Increase the number of students who earn credentials that qualify them for employment in Kentucky's top five job sectors. "I applaud the leadership at KCTCS for developing a plan that will play a critical role in solving Kentucky's workforce shortage," said KCTCS Board of Regents Chair Marcia Roth. The board meeting was held at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC) and included a tour of the college's Academy at EC3, which is a partnership with local school districts that provides students with the opportunity to earn up to 60 college credit hours during high school. ECTC professors teach the majority of classes, giving students a more authentic college experience. Currently, 77 juniors and 101 seniors are participating in the program. Additionally, the board toured a new daycare partnership between Hardin County schools and ECTC. Two childcare centers, opened this summer for employees of Hardin County Schools and for a limited number of full-time ECTC students. The centers operate Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. "These childcare centers are an excellent example of the services our 16 colleges are providing to assist adult students with the support they need to attend college," said Roth. "They often lead very busy, complicated lives, and KCTCS is committed to providing a nurturing and supportive environment to help them succeed." The board also received a report from KCTCS President Jay Box, which highlighted the awarding of $38,744,600 in federal grants and contracts to KCTCS colleges since July 1. Grants were awarded to several colleges including Ashland Community and Technical College, Hazard Community and Technical College, Owensboro Community and Technical College, Somerset Community College and Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. KCTCS received $1,456,678 from the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet's Pre-Employment Transition Services Grants Program to help students with disabilities enhance their skills and readiness for postsecondary employment and training. Each of the 16 KCTCS colleges received dollars from this grant to provide activities including job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, and workplace readiness training to develop social and independent living skills. In other actions, the board: Approved an Associate in Applied Science in apprenticeship studies for Bluegrass Community and Technical College. They also ratified 33 certificate programs, approved 14,093 academic credential requests (associate degrees, diplomas and certificates). These credentials include: 6,414 candidates for certificates, 1,155 candidates for diplomas, and 6,524 candidates for associate degrees. The next meeting of the KCTCS Board of Regents is scheduled for December 6th-7th at the KCTCS System Office in Versailles. By Julie Jenkins Sacred art forms and spirituality inspire my paintings which depict places of peace and power. My work can be viewed in my home, 2 The Old Police Station, North Street, Wincanton, BA9 9AZ. Opening times: 11am - 6pm, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from 15th to 30th September. My solo exhibition, Sacred Space, is the seventh I have held under the umbrella of Somerset Art Weeks, Somerset Open Studios, in my tiny home where I have lived and worked happily in the community of Wincanton for 15 years. I am a professional artist and have held exhibitions in different locations both home and abroad over many years. My paintings are inspired by my widespread travel throughout the world, influenced by the people, their culture, and the energy of varying landscapes. The brilliant light of Mediterranean countries produces a clarity of colour and contrasting shadows, which I have depicted in my Greek paintings. My travels took me further afield to North Africa, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia where I recorded daily life in my work using an intense rich palette. Later, I ventured further to South East Asia, Central Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and China. I lived for a while in India and travelled extensively around this diverse county, when the Himalayas became my spiritual home. I spent time painting and sketching in Kashmir, Nepal and Bhutan, and was fortunate to experience both cultural and spiritual events in these breathtakingly beautiful and majestic mountains of the Himalayas. I am fortunate indeed to be able to produce my work, to focus on my creativity, because in the early hours of 21st December 2017 I sustained multiple fractures having fallen down my stairs on to the stone floor in the kitchen. I spent 6 weeks in Yeovil District Hospital, and after being discharged began to make an extremely slow and painful recovery in my home. My dearest friends in Wincanton named me the Wincanton Warrior Woman, as I wore a substantial body brace for some time, right arm in a sling and walked with the aid of a walking stick. Not particularly an attractive image of this nomadic woman of a certain age, though I am lucky enough to have a good sense of humour and a determined soul. I hope my article might give a sense of hope and inspiration to those who have suffered an accident, or disability. I truly believe that nothing is impossible, and that to have faith that all will be well, even if it is a blind faith, enables one to face lifes challenges to the best of ones ability. Julie Jenkins A US Border Patrol agent arrested in connection with the slayings of four people and the kidnapping of a woman who escaped was described by authorities as a serial killer who hunted for his victims. Juan David Ortiz, 35, confessed to killing four people between September 3 and September 15, according to a criminal complaint filed in Webb County, Texas. Ortiz was charged with four murder charges and one unlawful restraint with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to Webb County District Attorney Isidro R. "Chilo" Alaniz. The bodies of four victims were found over the past two weeks, sheriff's spokesman Eduardo Chapa told CNN. Chapa said investigators are not ruling out the possibility of more victims. An affidavit originally described the victims as three women and one man but the sheriff's office later said that the victim identified as male was a transgender woman. The victims were shot in the head, according to the affidavit. All of the victims were prostitutes, the district attorney told CNN affiliate KGNS-TV. "He was profiling certain kinds of victims," Alaniz said, adding "the suspect was hunting for his victims." The prosecutor says he feels comfortable describing Ortiz as a serial killer. It was not immediately known whether Ortiz has an attorney. Andrew Meehan, a US Customs and Border Protection spokesperson, said in a statement to CNN that the agency is fully cooperating with investigators. "While it is CBP policy to not comment on the details of an ongoing investigation, criminal action by our employees is not, and will not be tolerated," his statement read. "Out of respect for the victims' family and friends, we ask that deference and due process be given to the investigation so that all the facts are brought to light and they can receive the closure they deserve." Woman able to escape, call police Alaniz said the case broke Friday when a woman was reportedly kidnapped and escaped. The victim called the police and Texas state troopers got to her first. The victim was able to provide a detailed description of Ortiz, including his tattoos, Alaniz said. Authorities found Ortiz at a gas station in Laredo, about 160 miles southwest of San Antonio. He fled the scene on foot and ran to the Ramada Inn hotel, where he was found hiding in the bed of a pickup truck, Alaniz said. "We have very strong evidence that he is the person who has been killing," Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar said at a news conference posted on KGNS's Facebook page. Ortiz, Cuellar said, spent 10 years as an agent with the US Border Patrol. He also is a US Navy veteran, Alaniz said. Cuellar passed his condolences to the families of the four victims. He said his department, along with other state and federal agencies, had been "working diligently on this case." OLD FORGE -- Fire-fighters from all over the state, And some from out of state, headed to Old Forge this weekend for the 52nd annual Firefighters Drill School. The annual drill school is a three-day school where firefighters learn skills that will help them in the field. John Montrose, New York mills Volunteer fire fighter, has been attending the annual drill school in Old Forge for nearly 50 years and says it has helped him become a better firefighter. It's a worthwhile education, Montrose said. Dan Rivet is a paramedic who started the school in 1966. He says he wanted the program to be educational, since not all fires are the same. "Things change in firefighting toxic things that we handle like furniture now is all plastics, and they give out cyanide gases and it's just changed since I started," Rivet said. Not only did local firefighters attend the program, but firefighters from other states came to join in on the action as well. "We have them from New Jersey, we have them from Massachusetts State They come from all over, but it's just a place where we can all meet as firefighters and EMS people and just share stories. Share experiences and hopefully learn" Rivet said. The drill school has been around for 52 years. Organizers and firefighters hope it will be around for many years to come. (CNN) -- At least four 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 Friday morning 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. 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, North Carolina, 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. By Friday, Florence already had: Sapped power to more than 620,000 customers 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. Firefighters battle through hurricane winds Just west of downtown Wilmington, firefighters spent hours trying to rescue people. Wilmington Fire Chief Buddy Martinette praised his firefighters, who by policy are supposed to stop operating when winds pick up above 50 mph. "We haven't been ... able to get in that policy. ... ," Martinette said. "The firefighters have basically been out here all during the hurricane," answering rescue and fire calls. 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. Florence is one of four named storms in the Atlantic. Sign up for Florence alerts The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties is asking the public to vote for nonprofits vying for $50,000. This is the Community Choice Awards. The Animals category Humane Society of Rome Installation of an air purification system in rooms occupied daily by staff and animals Spring Farm CARES Funding to support the ongoing spay and neuter program that assists low-income residents from Oneida County Stevens-Swan Humane Society Building of an outdoor pavilion for community engagement The Arts and Culture category Arc Herkimer Organizing a 2019 summer concert series at Arc Park in Herkimer Players of Utica Coordination of "Shakespeare in the Parks" to bring a reimagined version of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night to different neighborhoods around the Utica area Rome Capitol Arts Complex Enhancement of spaces used for cultural and educational purposes and development of classrooms to support two arts education programs The Health and Wellness category Catholic Charities of Herkimer County Funding to support the growth of the Retired Individuals Driving the Elderly (RIDE) program that provides transportation for older adults to medical appointments Mid-York Library System Launching a health and fitness project that will provide fitness equipment, informational books and videos to 35 libraries across the two counties Rome Hospital Foundation Implementation of a baby safety program to provide a baby safety starter kit to parents of newborns when they are discharged The Human Services category Abraham House (Rome) Expansion of the Rome facility to include a six-bed community care shelter for the terminally ill Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees Establishment of One World Utica Welcome & Opportunity Center that will cultivate a sense of community and inclusiveness for all newcomers and residents Mother Marianne's West Side Kitchen Funding to open a service window, improving access to meals and creating a welcoming, safe and healthy environment The Youth category Oneida County Youth Bureau Funding for 90 young adults to participate in the "Experience Glimmerglass" interactive theatre program The Kelberman Center Support for the 2019 iCan Bike program to teach 40 children/young adults with autism or an intellectual disability how to ride bicycles Utica Zoo Installation of a glass viewing window for the outside gibbon exhibit and implementation of a primate play program for children For more information on the finalist's projects and to cast votes, visit www.ccawards.org. ROME Rome Memorial Hospital enacted its emergency preparedness plan Friday afternoon due to a security threat, according to Scott Gwilt, public relations specialist for the hospital. Gwilt says the hospital enacted its emergency preparedness plan and implemented security protocols to screen all visitors entering the building out of an abundance of caution, because of a credible security threat from an individual. As of 3:55 p.m., Gwilt says law enforcement determined the individual involved is no longer a threat and normal operations have resumed. The Rome Police Department and the Oneida County Sheriffs Office both assisted the hospital with the situation. A state trooper from Rome is facing charges after she allegedly harassed someone online, according to New York State Police. Jennifer Daignault, 31, is charged with felony first-degree coercion and misdemeanor second-degree coercion. Police say Daignault, who works as a New York State Trooper, used a false identity online to harass a Long Island resident. Police say the charges are related to conduct that happened when Daignault was off-duty, and its not related to her employment with state police. The Associated Press reports that Daignault graduated from the state police academy in 2016, and the alleged harassment occurred in June. Daignault was arraigned in Nassau County Court and released on her own recognizance, pending a future court date. Police say the investigation is ongoing. TIPPECANOE Co., Ind. (WLFI) -- A Missouri-based business opened its doors at their new Lafayette location to the public on Friday. Crossroads Galvanizing officially celebrated the start of production with an open house ceremony. Crossroads Galvanizing treats black steel with Zinc to make parts for Wabash National. The process extends the life of the steel in Wabash National's trailers making their trailers more marketable. "Wabash National is the reason that we are here. They've been very supportive of us throughout this process and we're happy to work with them," said vice president of production Jeremiah Johnson. Johnson said the company is glad to be working closely with businesses in the Hoosier state. "It reminds us of being at home. It's a good Midwestern work ethic and the community, city, state are very pleasing and very beneficial to work with. They're very friendly towards businesses so we're happy to be here," said Johnson. The facility has been operating for three months with 30 employees, 30 more employees are expected to be hired by the end of the year. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Coleg Cambria among top organisations in Wales for staff development and care This article is old - Published: Saturday, Sep 15th, 2018 Coleg Cambria is among the top organisations in the country for staff development and corporate care. The award-winning north east Wales college is one of just 15 institutions to receive a Platinum Award from Healthy Working Wales. Cambria will now be held up as a beacon of best practice for its continuing work in supporting and installing policies that promote the wellbeing of its employees. A community approach toward the environment, healthy eating and exercise as part of the lauded Active Cambria programme and rapid progress in building a sustainable and welcoming Deeside Sixth centre were highlighted as notable successes. Vicki Durr, HR manager at Coleg Cambria, says the college will continue to strive for improvement for its staff and students, despite reaching the best possible standard. We are absolutely thrilled to receive the award and particularly pleased there has been a recognition of the hard work thats taken place at Deeside Sixth in the two years since it opened, said Ms Durr. This has all happened in a relatively short space of time and as is the way at Cambria, rather than aiming for bronze or silver accreditation we wanted to achieve the gold standard, which we did with our first attempt. To have now been upgraded to the Platinum Award is testament to the dedication of our workforce and management team, who have the best interests of both students and employees and our community at the top of their agenda. Having just celebrated five years since the merger of the Deeside and Yale institutions to form the award-winning college, Chief Executive David Jones says the challenge as always is to push the bar even higher. This is great news and a brilliant benchmark on which we can continue to build, said Mr Jones. To receive an award like this is special, but not surprising as everyone works so hard to be the very best they can be to keep the college at the forefront of education, our community and at the cutting edge of advances in corporate care, including the health and wellbeing of our employees. Active Cambria the colleges Strategy for Sport and Physical Activity 2015-20 has made great strides since its launch three years ago. The programme has united staff, students and businesses in the region to promote and support mental and physical well-being, encouraging a positive and healthy working environment at their sites in Wrexham, Northop, Llysfasi and Deeside while serving as best practice for some of the countrys top organisations under three categories Get Active, Elite Sport and Future Sport. In partnership with Colegau Cymru, the WRU, Sport Wales, Wrexham AFC and others, Cambria has worked collaboratively to give people opportunities they might not otherwise have had. We cover a wide range of areas, from occupational health, exercise and fitness classes and healthy eating, to environment and conservation, added Ms Durr. The Corporate Health Standard is a tool by which we can monitor our success, pinpoint best practice and strive for improvement, which we will continue to do. North Wales Fire Service, Welsh Water and Swansea council are listed alongside the college at the platinum level. For more on Active Cambria, visit the website: www.cambria.ac.uk/cambria-life/active-cambria Speculation has been rife for weeks of an imminent leadership challenge to Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May. The Tory hard-Brexit faction had indicated that the resumption of Parliament this month and the forthcoming Conservative conference would signal a contest, centred on a rebellion by MPs against Mays plan for a soft Brexit agreed by her Cabinet at her Chequers country residence. According to reporters, up to 100 Tory MPs were prepared to vote against May and precipitate a contest in which former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was the leading challenger. Johnson resigned in protest at the Chequers plan, along with Brexit Secretary David Davis. But his poll position was guaranteed by the open endorsement of US President Donald Trump during his July visit to the UK, after which Johnson began his leadership campaign in earnest with an anti-Muslim diatribe against women wearing the burqa. Johnson continued the same theme last Sunday in the Daily Mail, declaring of Mays proposals for a deal with the EU to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, We have wrapped a suicide vest around the British constitutionand handed the detonator to [European Union (EU) Brexit negotiator] Michel Barnier. Tuesday saw a private meeting of a reported 50 MPsmore than the 48 needed to trigger a no confidence motionto discuss likely challengers. However, the calculated show of strength was soon to come into questionespecially as Johnson and leading backbench Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg stayed away and Davis at least publicly reiterated his loyalty to May. The hard-Brexiteers are widely assumed to have the numbers to force a contest, but not to win it. Their plans are facing a backlash due to concerns in business circles at the economic consequences of not reaching a deal with the EU and the UK crashing out of the Single Market. Despite broad-based scepticism in the Chequers plan, dominant sections of the City of London and major corporations are backing May as the lesser evilfaced with a Tory opposition that includes forces happy to contemplate the loss of access to critical EU markets. Johnson and Davis calculate that the support of Trump and the US will enable them to force the EU into a deal including opening up its markets, but others such as John Redwood and Peter Bone reportedly will not countenance any continued relationship with Europe. These concerns found dramatic expression in the reversal of the editorial line of the Daily Mail from backing a hard Brexit to backing May. Following the replacement of former editor Paul Dacre with Geordie Greig, Thursday saw the Mail s editorial attack those seeking Mays removal for the lack of an alternative plan and for strengthening the EU in the ongoing negotiations. An op-ed piece in the same edition by Andrew Pierce described the meeting held Tuesday as an occasion whereby One by one, traitors put the knife into Theresa. The hard Brexit wing in the European Research Group (ERG) have produced a 140-page document focusing on the eventuality of a no deal Brexit, which reportedly focuses on a trade deal comparable to that cut between the EU and Canada and threatens no payments to the EU of outstanding debts in the event of no deal. It is described as having a Thatcherite agenda of cutting income, capital gains and business taxes to remodel the British economy after leaving the EU, according to the Financial Times. However, Mogg announced that the document had been pulled, seemingly due to fears of the reaction to plans for an escalation of militarism that includes proposals for a British space-based nuclear missile shield and a new rapid response force capable of protecting the Falklands Islandsover which Britain fought a war with Argentina nearly 40 years ago. Exclusive focus on such disagreements within the British media conceals more than it reveals. Their concerns over the fate of Mays soft-Brexit position is generally presented as the voice of pragmatism and reason, when measured by the yardstick of defending the interests of British imperialism under conditions of a threatened trade war and a second economic crash worse than 2008. But from the standpoint of the interests of the working class, despite the warnings of the impact by pro-Remain forces of a hard-Brexit on living standards, May and her opponents are both advocates of endless austerity and savage cuts to ensure that the UK remains competitive against its rivals. The hard Brexit wing of the Tory Party is developing into a nakedly far-right movement, along the same fascistic lines as Trumps administration in the US. The first UK politician Trump met after his coming to office was the UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage, who was accompanied by his partys major financial backer Arron Banks. Banks has spent the period since the 2016 referendum working out scenarios for a new far-right formation and recently founded the Blue Wave movement, which Rupert Murdochs Sky News described as dedicated to recruiting former UKIP membersand others who wish to secure the hardest of hard Brexitsinto the Conservatives. Banks has formally applied to join the Tory party to ensure the removal of May and was rejected by Conservative central office. But according to a Guido Fawkes blog posting, Banks has been appointed Treasurer of the influential Conservative Way Forward group which has the support of 100 Tory MPsaround a third of the partyincluding eight sitting Cabinet Ministers. The group was founded in 1991 to defend and build upon the achievements of our founding President Lady Margaret Thatcher, and to adapt her values to British life today. As is the case in bourgeois politics globally, the role of such far-right outliers is to set the pace that the main parties of the ruling elite quickly adopt. It was to try to prevent a haemorrhaging of a large section of the Tories base to UKIP that Mays predecessor as prime minister, David Cameron, agreed a referendum on EU membership. Whatever becomes of May, her faction of the party will again march in lockstep with the far-right agenda of Johnson, Rees-Mogg, Banks, et al, on all fundamental issues concerning the living standards and democratic rights of the working class. This week Tory Members of the European Parliament voted en bloc to back the rightist government of Viktor Orban in Hungary and to oppose measures paving the way for EU sanctions. During his eight years in office, Orban has rigged the Hungarian constitution to suit the government, abolished press freedoms, silenced oppositional media, waged a blatantly anti-Semitic campaign, and advocated the expulsion of refugees that he described as Muslim invaders. These far-right forces, whatever position they take on Brexit, can only execute their agenda from a governmental position due to the deliberate political suppression of the working class by the Labour and trade union bureaucracy. The Blairite wing of the Labour Party does so in barely concealed alliance with the Tories. But their scheming is only made possible by the refusal of party leader Jeremy Corbyn and his allies to fight the right wing and their insistence that Labours broad church must remain open to those presently witch-hunting his supporters as anti-Semites and, in the words of arch-Blairite Chuka Umunna, dogs that Corbyn must bring to heel. Directed by Chris Weitz; written by Matthew Orton The Israeli operation to abduct fugitive Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann from Argentina and transport him to Jerusalem for trial was a significant moment in post-World War II history. The Eichmann Trial in 1961, discussed in Hannah Arendts well-known Eichmann in Jerusalem and elsewhere, served to bring home the reality of the Nazi genocide and the Final Solution to a worldwide audience. Operation Finale The May 1960 capture of Eichmann, carried out by a team of Mossad agents, was the subject of two television films decades ago. Operation Finale, based largely on the memoir of Peter Malkin, one of those agents, now brings it to the movie screen. The screenplay is by Matthew Orton and the film is directed by Chris Weitz (A Better Life, About a Boy). The plan to snatch Eichmann (Ben Kingsley) from his home in Argentina, where he lived under the name of Richard Klement, had its genesis, shown on screen, in the discovery by a blind half-Jewish refugee from the Nazis, Lothar Hermann (Peter Strauss), that a friend of his daughter Sylvia (Haley Lu Richardson) was named Klaus Eichmann (Joe Alwyn), and was possibly the son of the Nazi leader. Hermann notified German authorities in Frankfurt. German officials alert the Israelis, who are at first skeptical and hesitant to proceed. Finally a team of agents is assembled, including Peter Malkin (Oscar Isaac). Although Malkin is not in charge, the story is seen through his eyes and he is portrayed as a kind of moral center of the story. We see the mechanics of the operation, including the preparation of false passports and the careful discussion of tactics for a kidnapping in violation of Argentine law. The decision is made to bring Eichmann to trial, rather than assassinate him, for the purpose of putting the entire Nazi Holocaust in the dock, and not just one of its individual architects. There are some interesting moments. Haley Lu Richardson, in a fairly small role as Sylvia, is effective at showing the terror of this Jewish refugee when she finds herself at a meeting of Nazis to which she has been invited by her friend Klaus, a vicious anti-Semite. She runs out of the gathering, and later tells him that she herself is Jewish. Also of interest is the brief depiction of the network of Nazis who had earlier found refuge in Peronist Argentina (dictator Juan Peron had been overthrown in 1955), and of their protectors remaining inside the Argentine military and government apparatus. The overriding weakness of Operation Finale is to a great extent bound up with the specific subject of the film itself, the choice to focus on the capture of the Nazi war criminal, without much historical context. The entire episode is presented very much as a thriller. Although everyone knows the outcome of the story, we are meant to see the events as the agents experienced them. Will they succeed in their plan to snatch Eichmann as he disembarks at a quiet bus stop near his home? Will they succeed in getting him to a safe-house where he will be held for nine days while all the arrangements are finalized for spiriting him out of Argentina on an Israeli plane? Above all, will they be able to get his signature on a signed confession, which is crucial for the entire operation? There are inevitable tensions within the Israeli team of agents, principally a matter of dealing with the understandable rage of those who lost their loved ones at the hands of the Nazis and are now inclined toward revenge. Malkin has his own reasons for anger and bitter frustration, as depicted in flashbacks showing the killing of his sister and her three children in one of the mass shootings carried out by the Einsatzgruppen, the SS paramilitary death squads who annihilated up to 2 million Jews. To the extent that Operation Finale deals with broader themes, it is in these scenes in which the more hotheaded agents are reminded to look at the larger significance of their assignment. Malkin is himself the reflection of what might be termed the successful struggle to sublimate his anger for a greater purpose. Occasionally ignoring his superiors instructions, he strikes up conversations with Eichmann, gradually wearing down his resistance and finally securing the Nazis signature with a promise that he will be able to see his family one more timea promise that is of course not kept and could not be kept under the circumstances. Kingsley is excellent in a performance that calls for flashes of defiance as well as wit. As Kingsley shows, Eichmann was more than the man who pretended at his trial in 1961 to be simply an obedient bureaucrat, and whose performance at that time led Arendt to draw the exaggerated conclusion that he represented simply the banality of evil. Ben Kingsley in Operation Finale The climax of Operation Finale comes with the successful departure of the agents and Eichmann, bound for Israel. The trial is briefly shown and the verdict and execution of Eichmann in 1962 are duly noted on screen, but this is a film primarily about the operation, and not what came before or after. The film is consequently long on suspense and quite short on history and insight. Argentina is, perhaps understandably, only a backdrop here as the Israeli agents go about their work, but a way could surely have been found to draw out more fully the connections between the Nazi fugitives and their Argentine fascist defenders. Nor is the context of the Cold War seriously examined in Operation Finale. There is a fleeting reference to the shooting down of the CIAs U-2 spy plane over Soviet airspace, which took place just days before the capture of Eichmann. What about the fact that the US government had long before lost any interest in pursuing Nazis, and had, in fact, been rehabilitating some leading military and intelligence figures for the purpose of waging the Cold War against the Soviet Union? This is not examined. There is one historical reference in the film that is a bit surprising, however. When we first meet Sylvia Hermann, she is watching a film in Buenos Aires. The movie is Douglas Sirks Imitation of Life (1959). We see the scene on screen in which Frankie (Troy Donahue) lashes out at Sarah Jane (Susan Kohner), a young African-American woman passing as white. Meanwhile, Klaus Eichmann and a few friends are making noise a few rows behind Sylvia. She turns around in annoyance, and later meets Klaus, which is how the friendship of the young Nazi supporter and the Jewish girl begins. Perhaps director Weitz is drawing a parallel between Sylvia and Sarah Jane, between the racism depicted in Sirks film and the anti-Semitism of the Nazis. This is clearly a fictional device and a very strained one. The director appears to have included it as a tribute to his mother, who is the same Susan Kohner who played Sarah Jane almost 60 years ago. In any case, this adds little to the film. Operation Finale is a conventional account. The capture and trial of Eichmann were of course historic, but here they are primarily depicted as the victory of the Jewish state, and proof of the necessity of the state of Israel as the exclusive haven for the Jewish people, to ensure the defeat of anti-Semitism and avenge the Nazi mass murder. This is not spelled out, but the theme is clear. It is underscored by a brief appearance in the film of none other than David Ben-Gurion (Simon Russell Beale), the founding prime minister of Israel. Ben-Gurion gives a brief pep talk to the agents just before they depart on their mission. The complacent pro-Zionist outlook is refuted by history itself. What has happened since the days of Ben-Gurion? The development of Israel in the 58 years since the capture of Adolf Eichmann shows that much more than the trial and execution of this high-ranking Nazi is required to put an end to anti-Semitism and all forms of racism and national chauvinism. In the Middle East this whole period has been one of continuous war, punctuated by periods of relative quiet. After 70 years, a resolution of the crisis provoked by the imperialist postwar settlement that led to the establishment of Israel is no closer. The more than 50-year occupation of Palestinian territory seized in the 1967 war, and the oppression of the Palestinian people over generations, has turned Israel into a pariah state, quite different from its position in the early years of its existence. The dead end of Zionism itself is understood by vast portions of humanity, including increasingly by the younger generation of Jews in Europe and America. In Israel itself the Arab population remains second class citizens, now further marginalized by the recently enacted Nation-State Law. The continuous rightward trajectory of Zionism finds its expression in the Netanyahu governments close ties with such fascistic figures as Viktor Orban in Hungary and Donald Trump in the US. At the same time, the policies and crimes of the Zionist regime serve to strengthen anti-Semitic forces around the world. These issues are not within the scope of a film on Eichmanns capture, but a profound examination of the Eichmann story should provoke serious thought about them. Operation Finale, rarely rising above the level of a suspenseful thriller that bases itself on the great crimes of the Nazis but goes no further, does not do justice to the complexity of its subject matter. The author also recommends: Indias main Stalinist parliamentary partiesthe Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM and the Communist Party of India (CPI) are seeking to channel the mounting discontent of the working class and rural toilers behind their opportunist alliances with the bourgeois Congress and various regional capitalist parties. These political maneuvers were clearly seen in their calls for a bandh (general shut down) on September 10. The CPM and CPI, and their allies in the Left Front they lead, called the bandh last Monday against fuel price hikes and other economic attacks by Prime Minister Narendra Modis government. Congress, the main official opposition party, had called a bandh on the same day. An unprecedented fall of the Indian rupee and rising fuel prices, compounded by a steady decline in living standards, have created growing social opposition to Modis Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government. However, there was only a partial response across the country to the bandh callsan indication of the lack of working class trust in the Stalinists, Congress and the regional parties that joined the Congress call. All these parties are committed to the pro-investor neo-liberal economic reforms from which the Modi governments austerity measures flow. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) implemented similar policies while in office from 2004 to 2014. And it was a Congress government that initiated the neo-liberal economic policies in 1991. The Stalinist CPM-led Left Front has supported all the non-BJP governments, which have carried out similar economic policies, and implemented the reforms itself when in office in the states of West Bengal, Tripura and Kerala. The bandh's biggest impact was in Guwahati, state capital of BJP-ruled Assam in northeastern India. Most shops, markets, petrol pumps and educational institutions were shut. Public transport was virtually paralysed. Police arrested hundreds of Congress party members who staged protests. In BJP-ruled Tripura, shops, markets, and business establishments were shut. The attendance at government offices and banks was reportedly low. In southern India, Kerala state, ruled by the CPM-led Left Democratic Front, public transport vehicles were off the road, and schools, colleges and shops downed their shutters. Similarly, several parts of Karnataka in the south, and some parts of Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Union Territory Chandigarh in the north, were hit by the bandh. Although partial, the participation of workers and rural toilers indicates a readiness to fight. But the Stalinist parties called the action to try to defuse the unrest and head off the development of a political movement of the working class against the BJP government and the capitalist social order. Their aim has been to divert the mass opposition into safe political channels. The Stalinists attempted to demonstrate some independence by making a separate bandh call. By making a call for the same day as Congress, however, they underscored their links to it. The CPM, at its party congress in April, proposed an electoral alliance with Congress. Having suffered one electoral defeat after another following its humiliating debacle in the 2014 national elections, Congress is trying to associate itself with the mounting hostility to the BJP-led government in an attempt to return to power in 2019. A September 5 red flag rally in Delhi organised by CPM-linked unions was part of a manoeuvre to prepare an electoral platform for the 2019 national parliamentary elections in alliance with right-wing regional and casteist parties, as well Congress. Having been voted out in two of the three states it held officeWest Bengal and Tripuraand confronted with a severe decline in its parliamentary numbers and support base, the CPM tried to exploit the discontent among workers and farmers to organise the rally. K. Hemalata, president of the CPM-affiliated Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), told the rally that intensified joint struggles could ensure that the BJP did not retain power in 2019 to implement its neoliberal and communal divisive agenda much more aggressively. CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said: We will have to intensify our protest in the days to come This government has to go. The Stalinists are silent about what should replace the BJP government. However, it is obvious that their alternative is another bourgeois government led by Congress. Such alternatives have carried out the program of big business, with Stalinist supportthe Congress-led UPA government of 200414 and the United Front government led by Janatha Dal of 199698. The UPA government did much of the heavy lifting in terms of implementing neoliberal policies and cemented a close strategic partnership with US imperialism. Immense class antagonisms exist due to the poverty and widening social inequality caused by the pro-investor measures implemented by successive governments since 1991. Only a tiny minority of the big bourgeoisie and privileged sections of the upper middle class have benefited from more than a quarter century of economic reforms. The top one percent of the countrys population enjoys nearly a quarter of all income and owns 60 percent of the countrys total wealth, while about 70 percent of the population lives on less than $US2 a day. As the WSWS has warned: Under conditions where the BJP governments austerity measures, big bang pro-investor reforms, and incitement of communalism are provoking ever-widening social opposition, Indias ruling elite is depending on the Stalinists to channel it into the dead-end of electoral politics and futile appeals for the bourgeois establishment to adopt pro-people policies. This includes, should the BJP prove unable to contain the mounting opposition, the CPM reprising its leading role in forming and propping up a secular alternative big business government, and one preferably helmed by its grand old party, the Congress. To break out of this dangerous impasse, Indias workers and toilers need an entirely new strategya strategy based on the independent political mobilization of the working class against all factions of the bourgeoisie and one that combines the fight against communal reaction and defence of democratic rights with the fight for a workers government and the socialist reorganization of society. The author also recommends: Indian Stalinist congress opts for alliance with big business Congress Party [30 April 2018] Paul Manafort has worn many hats: an international political operative, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, Trump confidant Roger Stone's business partner and now government witness. In a deal with the special counsel's office, Manafort pleaded guilty Friday to conspiring against the US for his undisclosed foreign lobbying work and agreed to cooperate with authorities. Continents and regions Eastern Europe Europe Government and public administration Investigations Paul Manafort Political Figures - US Politics Russia Russia meddling investigation 2016 Presidential election Business figures Crime, law enforcement and corrections Criminal law Donald Trump Elections (by type) Elections and campaigns George Papadopoulos Konstantin Kilimnik Law and legal system Lobbying Misc people Oleg Deripaska Political candidates Robert Mueller Roger Stone Ukraine US Federal elections US Presidential elections Government bodies and offices US federal government White House Hillary Clinton Non-profit and NGO organizations North America The Americas United States WikiLeaks Donald Trump, Jr. As part of the deal he will have to admit to any crimes he has knowledge of or has committed beyond the tax, financial and undisclosed foreign lobbying matters covered in his deal and he will be required to cooperate with any investigation or grand jury inquiry. The plea deal specifically says Manafort is required to "cooperate fully, truthfully, completely, and forthrightly with the Government." Special counsel Robert Mueller, who brought the charges against Manafort, is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 US election, and related matters. He was also authorized by the Justice Department to investigate "allegations that Paul Manafort committed a crime or crimes by colluding with Russian government officials" as part of the Kremlin's effort to influence the presidential race. Manafort's many roles could aid investigators examining several areas: Russian election interference Manafort joined the Trump campaign in March 2016 and was its chairman from May until he resigned that August after reports about his lobbying work with the pro-Russia Ukrainian political party became public. As a member of the campaign when Trump clinched the Republican nomination, Manafort could shed light on the campaign's foreign policy strategy and contacts with Russians. Manafort attended the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting that Donald Trump Jr. agreed to after being promised "information that would incriminate" rival candidate Hillary Clinton. Several participants told lawmakers under oath that the meeting veered into Russian adoptions and the Magnitsky Act, a US sanctions law targeting human rights violators. Manafort offered to provide a briefing on the campaign the following month to Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oligarch close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to The Washington Post. Manafort emailed an intermediary asking that a message be sent to Deripaska, the Post reported. "If he needs private briefings we can accommodate," Manafort wrote, according to the Post, which cited portions of a July 7, 2016, email read to the newspaper. Deripaska has known Manafort for a long time. He invested millions with Manafort a decade ago in a failed cable deal. The deal went south and Deripaska has since sued Manafort. The 2010 tax return for a Manafort-controlled company indicated that Deripaska lent him $10 million, according to an FBI affidavit filed in court. Konstantin Kilimnik, Manafort's business partner in his Ukrainian lobbying effort, was the intermediary between Manafort and Deripaska, according to The Washington Post. The special counsel's office described Kilimnik in court filings as having active ties to Russian intelligence services. Kilimnik himself has denied any association with Russian intelligence. He was indicted along with Manafort for allegedly contacting witnesses in an attempt to interfere with the investigation. While Manafort was a member of the campaign, others also made contact with Russians, although it isn't clear what Manafort knew about any other contacts. Manafort met with Kilimnik twice while working on Trump's campaign in 2016, according to The Washington Post and Politico. Jason Maloni, Manafort's spokesman, told the Post, "It would be neither surprising nor suspicious that two political consultants would chat about the political news of the day, including the DNC hack, which was in the news." Roger Stone Manafort is a longtime business partner of Roger Stone, who served as an informal adviser to Trump and was briefly involved with the campaign. Mueller's investigators have questioned some of Stone's associates over the past several months about the 2016 hack of Democratic National Committee servers -- in which Russian hackers stole thousands of documents, according to US intelligence, and WikiLeaks then posted more than 20,000 internal DNC emails -- and any communications with WikiLeaks. Stone claimed in 2016 to have a "back channel" to WikiLeaks and seemed to predict some of the email dumps that roiled the final stretch of the presidential campaign and damaged Clinton. He was also referenced, although not by name, in the indictment of 12 Russian intelligence agents as having communicated with Guccifer 2.0, the online persona used by Russian intelligence officers. Stone himself was not accused of any wrongdoing. He has denied any collusion with Russians. Following Manafort's plea, he issued a statement: "I am uncertain of the details of Paul's plea deal but certain it has no bearing on me since neither Paul Manafort or anyone else can testify truthfully that I am involved in Russian collusion, WikiLeaks collaboration or any other illegal act pertaining to the 2016 election." What does he know about the Trump dossier? There are still many unanswered questions regarding the infamous dossier written in 2016 by former British spy Christopher Steele, which alleges widespread collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. CNN has reported that investigators corroborated some aspects of the dossier, but it's still unclear whether any of the explosive claims in the memos have any merit. The memos mention Manafort several times and accuse him of leading a collusion conspiracy. His lawyers have denied there was any collusion. But if Manafort can shed any light on the dossier memos, investigators would want to know. The FBI considered Steele a reliable source, but investigators can bolster any collusion case if Manafort can corroborate any of the claims. Lobbyists Mueller's prosecutors referred to the US Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York inquiries on other individuals involved in the Ukraine lobby efforts, including Democrat Tony Podesta of the Podesta Group, former Republican Rep. Vin Weber of Mercury LLC, and the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Manafort's guilty plea includes the most direct allegation by the special counsel's office that the lobbying firms Manafort hired knew they were working for Ukrainian politicians and not an independent nonprofit group. Mercury and Podesta filed as lobbyists but did not file as foreign agents until after Manafort's Ukrainian lobbying efforts were uncovered by reporters in 2016. Representatives for Podesta and Mercury have said they cooperated with the special counsel's investigation. Podesta Group said it had relied on certifications from a nonprofit that it was independent from the Ukrainian politicians and filed as lobbyists. A spokesman for Mercury said they waived attorney-client privilege to allow prosecutors to see their full exchange with their attorneys, who advised them to file as lobbyists but not foreign agents. Skadden did not return calls for comment. It's possible prosecutors would seek Manafort's cooperation in ongoing investigations into the lobbyists, the law firm and Kilimnik. Why was the GOP platform changed? Mueller's team wants to know more about the decision at the 2016 Republican National Convention to change the party platform regarding Ukraine, according to a list of Mueller's questions for Trump that was published by The New York Times. While the platform was being drafted, Trump campaign officials stepped in to block a provision about arming Ukraine to fight Russian-backed militias. Speculation immediately fell to Manafort, because of his vast experience working for pro-Russia interests in Ukraine. But in television interviews at the time, Manafort denied that the campaign played any role in changing the language. Now that Manafort is required to cooperate with investigators, they'll likely pose these questions to him, and see if he has more to offer than what he said on TV. What about Papadopoulos? Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos was told by a Kremlin-linked professor that the Russians had dirt on Clinton in the form of "thousands of emails," months before their existence was publicly known. Papadopoulos, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his Russian contacts, has denied that he told anyone on the campaign about the emails. But the young foreign-policy adviser was wishy-washy in a recent interview with CNN, saying he "can't guarantee" it didn't happen and that it "might have" happened, but he doesn't remember. It's already known that Papadopoulos told others on the campaign about his efforts to broker a meeting between Trump and Putin. Manafort was even copied on some of the emails about it, and was open to sending "someone low level" to Russia, but not Trump. If Papadopoulos did in fact tell the campaign about the emails -- which Manafort might know -- it would undercut all the denials. Two sisters have died in Somalia from complications that arose after undergoing female genital mutilation, according to Hawa Aden Mohamed, who campaigns against the procedure. Ten-year-old Aasiyo Abdi Warsame and her sister, Khadijo, 11, died a day after they were subjected to the procedure in the remote village of Arawda in Puntland State on September 11, said Aden Mohamed, director of the Somalia's women's rights group Galkayo Education Center for Peace and Development. Activism Africa Continents and regions Deaths and fatalities Eastern Africa Female genital mutilation Human rights Human rights violations International relations and national security Society Somalia Aden Middle East Middle East and North Africa Yemen Demographic groups Females (demographic group) Population and demographics According to Aden Mohammed, the sisters were cut the same day by a local circumciser. They continued bleeding 24 hours after the procedure, and died while their mother was taking them to a health center, Aden Mohamed said. "Unfortunately, they never made it to the hospital as they all died on the way," said Aden Mohamed, who has been calling for legislation banning the practice commonly done on young girls in Somalia. The sisters' death comes two months after Somalia's government vowed to pursue a landmark prosecution in the case of a 10-year-old girl who died after female genital mutilation, a practice that is legal in the country. Deeqa Dahir Nuur died two days after she was subjected to one of the most extreme forms of female genital mutilation, according to doctors who tried to save her after she suffered complications from the procedure performed by a local cutter in another village in Somalia on July 17. Aden Mohamed, a survivor of the procedure, said young girls continue to bear the consequences of the practice because of the government's reluctance to pass anti-female genital mutilation laws. "It is another sad story coming even before the dust settles and action is taken in the Deeqa case. Yet there seems to be reluctance in discussing and passing the anti-FGM law," she said. "We hope that this will serve as a wake-up call for those responsible to see the need to have the law in place to protect girls from this heinous practice," Aden Mohamed added. In Somalia, 98% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 have been cut, the highest rate in the world, according to United Nations statistics. The report said around 200 million girls and women in the world are affected by the practice. Female genital mutilation involves the altering or removing of the female genitals, such as the clitoris or labia. The procedure can cause severe bleeding and health issues including infections and infertility, as well as complications in childbirth. The practice is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women, but remains widespread in Somalia, where more than half the female population believe it should not be abolished. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Florida A&M University will soon be boasting a new 700 bed residence hall with a dining facility. The State University System Board of Governors approved a resolution that outlines how FAMU will finance the project and participate in the U.S. Department of Education's Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program. FAMU staff say this will greatly improve student life in the future. "That way we can have better living facilities for our students, we are going to be able to have more living learning communities," said Sameer Kapileshwari. "Right now we have one, and with this we are able to grow that even further." He says the project is expected to break ground next spring. (RNN) A Florida man, who gleefully identifies as such, is in South Carolina facing down a hurricane with head banging, heavy metal and an American flag. Lane Pittman drew attention during Hurricane Matthew two years ago for grabbing the stars and stripes, standing outside his Jacksonville home in boxer shorts, and letting the winds whip by him to a soundtrack of Slayers Raining Blood. On Friday he was in Myrtle Beach, SC, at it again. YOU ARE WEAK AND SMALL FLORENCE!!!!! Pittman wrote on his Twitter account, @TheBigGuy904. FLORIDAM MAN IS HERE!!!!! Slayer. He added the hashtags #rainingblood, @getatme and #turnup. In the new video, as in the original, he defies hurricane-force winds in nothing but his skivvies, banging his head and waving the American flag as Raining Blood plays over it all. It had been viewed 115,000 times by Friday evening, and gotten 1,400 retweets and 2,700 likes. His original Matthew video was watched more than three-and-a-half million times on YouTube. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Talquin Electric is sending crews to North Carolina to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. Talquin is assembling 14 crew members to send to Brunswick EMS in Shallotte, NC to help with the aftermath from Hurricane Florence. Talquin says the crew members will assist local co-ops with their restoration operations following the landfall of Hurricane Florence as part of the nationwide electric cooperative mutual assistance program. Crews will leave Saturday morning at 8:00 am and expect to arrive Sunday in North Carolina. Once crews arrive, they will stay as long as they are needed to assist with the restoration process. Talquin stated they will release more details as they become available. JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - A man faces multiple charges after three children in his car, including a 1-and 8-year-old, were injured in a single-car accident in Jackson County where they were not wearing seatbelts. Robert Harris, 32, of Grand Ridge, Fla. was arrested by Florida Highway Patrol on Friday. FHP responded to an accident at about 3:27 p.m. on State Road 69 on Friday. According to FHP, Harris was driving northbound on State Road 69, when he drove onto the east shoulder of the road. FHP states Harris drove back onto the road, traveling across the center yellow line and onto the west shoulder. Harris then overcorrected causing his car to spin back into the road and overturn. FHP said while the car was overturning, a 1-year-old and 8-year-old were thrown around inside the car. Both sustained serious injuries in the accident and a 10-year-old passenger suffered minor injuries. All the children were taken to Southeast Alabama Medical Center. Harris sustained minor injuries, but was not taken to a hospital. FHP stated Harris and the three children were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. Based on the evidence provided, Harris is being charged with child neglect and careless driving. FHP was helped on scene by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Jackson County EMS Fire Rescue. Member Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Mladen Ivanic (1st L) and Chinese Ambassador to BiH Chen Bo (1st R) attend a symposium entitled "Five Years of BRI: Cooperation and Chances" in Sarajevo, BiH, on Sept. 12, 2018.(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. File Photo: Travelers are stuck in a traffic jam as people hit the road before the busy Thanksgiving Day weekend in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., Nov. 21, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS) 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| 2018-09-15 01:29:27|Editor: yan Video Player Close KIGALI, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda on Friday renewed commitment to continuing phasing out ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment. Rwandan minister of environment, Vincent Biruta, made the pledge while addressing an event in the Rwandan capital Kigali marking World Ozone Day, which falls on Sunday. "As we celebrate the 2018 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, Rwanda is committed to do away with all ozone-depleting substances and uphold the Montreal Protocol's success in protecting the ozone layer," Biruta said. He called on Rwandans to support the Kigali Amendment and start to reduce the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). "We can be proud of how we have protected the ozone layer and the climate, but we must also focus on what more we can do to reduce global warming under the Kigali Amendment by keeping cool our environment," the minister said. Rwanda has been recognized for its leading role in implementing the Montreal Protocol, exceeding targets and beating deadlines set under the treaty. This includes achieving zero use of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbon substances by 2010, one year before the set deadline, according to the ministry of environment. The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol was adopted in Kigali on Oct. 15, 2016, during the 28th Meeting of Parties to the Montreal Protocol on substances depleting ozone layer (MOP28). The Montreal Protocol is a global agreement that protects the ozone layer by phasing out the production of substances responsible for ozone depletion and climate change. It was first signed on Sept. 16, 1987, and is considered one of the most effective multilateral environment treaties ever negotiated. It's the only treaty in the United Nations system to which every country is a signatory. The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, which falls on Sept. 16 every year, commemorates the Montreal Protocol's signing. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 01:34:28|Editor: yan Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Senior officials of Turkey, Russia, Germany and France agreed on Friday on the necessity of a political solution in the Syrian province of Idlib, the last stronghold for rebels, a Turkish presidential adviser said. "It is everyone's common belief that the solution in Idlib must be political rather than military," Ibrahim Kalin told reporters after hosting a meeting in Istanbul with officials from the three states. He said there was a general consensus that the consequences of an attack on Idlib would be severe, including triggering a new wave of migration. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, German chancellor's foreign policy adviser Jan Hecker and French president's diplomatic adviser Philippe Etienne joined the meeting to set the program and other details of a summit meeting of leaders of the four countries in the upcoming days. "During our meeting, we had a chance to discuss what steps we could take to prevent a disaster from occurring in Idlib," Kalin said, highlighting Turkey's expectations of the international community and world leaders to voice more open and direct support on the subject. Maintaining Idlib's current status, protecting civilians and preventing a humanitarian crisis are among Ankara's top priorities, the presidential aide noted. He said the date and venue for the upcoming quartet summit will be finalized later after the officials evaluate the results of the meeting with their leaders. 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 Black Sea resort city of Sochi, where the two leaders had a summit with their Iranian counterpart last week in Tehran but failed to agree on a cease-fire in Idlib. Turkey and its Western allies are trying to thwart an assault on Idlib by the Syrian army and its allies, namely Russian and Iranian forces. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 01:39:32|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close by Hummam Sheikh Ali DAMASCUS, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- As the military confrontations have declined in most areas of Syria except for one last rebel bastion in the northwest, foreign businesses are considering now as a right time to enter the Syrian market. The Damascus International Fair, the country's largest trade fair, has begun last Thursday on the country's largest fairground just outside the capital Damascus. Around 48 countries, as well as 1,700 foreign and local companies, are taking part in the week-long trade fair. The Syrian government has been promoting the reconstruction process as the next phase for the post-war period, now that the army is preparing for the last major battle against the last major rebel stronghold in the northwestern province of Idlib. The Syrian government has repeatedly said that the "friendly countries," such as Iran, Russia and China, will have the priority to take part in the reconstruction process in Syria, where large areas are in ruins. While taking a walk at the fair, one can see various pavilions of foreign and local companies showcasing their products and potentials. Most of the participants were from countries that have maintained good relations with the Syrian government throughout the crisis, as Western companies cannot do business or take part in projects in Syria due to the Western sanctions. Although there were a variety of business pavilions such as clothes, electronics or vehicles companies, the main products showcasing at the fair were construction-related. Iranian and Russian companies were showing products mostly used in the reconstruction process such as bulldozers, electricity cables, drillers and so on. At the Iranian pavilion, a total of 54 companies took part in the fair, 30 of which specialized in construction, while the rest are in other fields such as cars, carpets as well as home appliances and agriculture machinery. Muhammad Javad, an Iranian representative of a company specialized in infrastructure rehabilitation such as dams, roads, tunnels, airports, and bridges, told Xinhua that this is the appropriate time to do construction business in Syria. "It's the best time to enter the Syrian market because the war has finished and the area is completely safe and any company or country can enter this market," he said. Alexander, a Russian representative specialized in cables, said there is a big demand for the infrastructure materials in Syria. "There is a huge demand for this product because it is necessary for the rehabilitation of the country, so we think that we are maybe useful," he said. Another representative, Alick, whose company is specialized in tower cranes work, said that there are potential customers in Syria. He, however, said that his company and others have questions possibly about the trade system here. "It's a very big and potential market. We have a lot of questions but hopefully these questions will be solved soon. We believe in Syria," he said. Chinese products have also been displayed on the fair, such as locally-assembled Chinese cars and construction vehicles like bulldozers and cranes. Zhao Chen, a Chinese representative of a company specialized in construction machinery, said he can find a lot of opportunities in Syria. "I think this exhibition is a success and we can find a lot of potential customers who want to buy machines from us. I have the confidence in the Syrian market in the future," he said. Not only foreign countries, but also local companies are eager to participate in the rebuilding process, especially those who have the ability to carry out reconstruction work such as the Baalbaki Group, a leading enterprise in Syria and overseas. Ihsan Baalbaki, manager of the Baalbaki Group, told Xinhua that many Syrian businessmen have started returning to Syria to research on the possibility of rebuilding their destroyed businesses and start over. "Today we started building what is destroyed. Not only us but also many of our friends who left the country are coming back and trying to study the possibilities of rebuilding their factories to start again," Baalbaki said. He noted, however, that the process of reconstruction takes time "and the Syrians are known as patient people." "The reconstruction will definitely start soon," he added. Syria is expected to be a magnet for foreign trades and businesses in the coming stage particularly in the field of construction, but the main issue facing such optimism is the Western sanctions, which deter many foreign companies from doing business in Syria. Mamoun Hamdan, the Syrian minister of finance, told Xinhua recently that the sanctions were unilaterally imposed and Syria has good relations with many countries around the world. Syria has worked to overcome the unilateral Western sanctions through self-reliance and cooperation as well as trade exchange with friendly countries. Last month, the United Nations announced that the seven-year war in Syria implied destruction worth nearly 400 billion U.S. dollars, which means that companies from around the world will show up to do business in Syria. According to estimates published by the World Bank in late 2017, the long-standing war in Syria has ravaged its infrastructure and caused a 226-billion-dollar loss to its economy. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 01:59:34|Editor: yan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Rebels in Syria's central province of Hama on Friday destroyed a bridge connecting with a government-controlled town, state news agency SANA reported. The rebels destroyed the Tweineh bridge which links the rebel-controlled town Tweineh with the government-controlled town Hurrah in the northern countryside of Hama. SANA said the rebels had attempted to blow up the bridge earlier this month but failed to fully destroy it. On Friday, the rebels destroyed the remaining part of the bridge. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rebels had destroyed several bridges in the same area as part of the rebels' preparation to confront the anticipated military offensive in Hama and Idlib. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 02:39:44|Editor: yan Video Player Close NAIROBI, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan police said Friday they are interrogating 71 people who were arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International airport (JKIA) in Nairobi while trying to travel to Oman using illegal documents. Director of immigration Alexander Muteshi said among those arrested were 59 Ugandan nationals, seven Burundians and five Tanzanians. Muteshi said detectives discovered the immigrants who crossed into Kenya from Uganda had fake entry stamps on their passports and are now set for deportation to their countries of origin. "The illegal immigrants were arrested while on transit to Oman. They are being detained at Nyayo house awaiting deportation," he said. The suspects, most of whom are women, were intercepted at JKIA while trying to board a plane to Oman. Mateshi said investigating agencies are also following crucial leads to establish travel agencies involved in the syndicate, considering all of those apprehended were headed for the same country. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 02:49:48|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIRUT, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Caretaker Tourism Minister Avedis Guidanian on Friday called upon the government to allocate an open budget for investment in the tourism sector in Lebanon, local media reported. "Egypt, Jordan and Turkey are not more attractive than Lebanon but they know how to promote their touristic attractions. What we need in Lebanon is enough budget to promote our tourism sector and attract more tourists to our country," he said according to the National News Agency. His remarks came during a workshop held at the Economic and Social Council to discuss challenges facing the tourism sector. Guidanian said that the number of tourists who arrived in Lebanon in 2010 is only ten percent higher compared to the year 2018 but spending by tourists has changed remarkably. Pierre Ashkar, president of the Syndicate of Hotel Owners in Lebanon, previously told Xinhua that Gulf tourists are the ones who spend mostly in Lebanon and they are absent nowadays. "They also stay for long periods unlike tourists with other nationalities who come for only two or three days," he added. Ashkar said that tourism activity will improve only when tourists from the Gulf return to Lebanon. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 03:19:54|Editor: yan Video Player Close VIENNA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Austrian interior minister Herbert Kickl on Friday called for checks to be conducted on ships carrying would-be asylum seekers in the Mediterranean Sea. Speaking during a conference for European and African leaders in Vienna, Kickl said that while talks with African nations have not yet led to any concrete agreements, one must "not capitulate to international people smuggling", and urged for preventative measures to be pushed forward. The Austria Press Agency reported that Kickl later clarified his comments, saying that his proposal for checks on asylum seekers at sea would not entail the full asylum procedure. Instead, it would be a quick check to see if a person is even eligible for asylum, as was suggested during a European Council summit in June, according to Kickl. He said the measure would "have the added benefit of removing ships involved in trafficking" from the region. In addition, the same checks can be conducted on the European Union's outer borders, Kickl said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 03:40:01|Editor: yan Video Player Close VIENNA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Austrian Vice Chancellor and leader of the right-wing Freedom Party Heinz-Christian Strache and Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini threw support behind Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in their talks here on Friday. Salvini, from the fellow right-wing Lega Nord party, said a current European Union judicial procedure against Hungary in light of Orban's politics amounts to "sanctions against the Hungarian people," local media reported. He said the next European Parliament elections in 2019 would, however, mark a turning point for those on the right of the political spectrum in Europe. Both Salvini and Strache said they plan to promote the cooperation between their parties for the May election. Strache said Orban deserves thanks and respect with regard to his stance on the 2015 migrant crisis. While other European nations had lost control of the escalating situation, the Hungarian government had sought to secure its borders. He said Italy and other states who are on the outer borders of the European Union will not be left stranded, and believed that adequate border protection will soon come into effect. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 03:45:02|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close LONDON, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May's government on Friday insisted that it remains confident of Britain securing a future trading deal with the European Union, as London's national newspapers zoomed in on the possible impact of a no-deal Brexit. A spokesperson at Downing Street Number 10 said although ministers remained confident of a deal, the government was to ramp up planning for a no-deal outcome. "As a responsible government we need to plan for every eventuality. The Cabinet agreed that no-deal remains an unlikely but possible scenario in six months' time," added the spokesperson. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab was holding an extended negotiating session by telephone Friday with the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier. Ahead of the talks, Raab said in a Daily Telegraph article: "No one should pretend that no deal would be straightforward. There would be risks and some short-term disruption." He added: "We can mitigate by taking a 'continuity' approach, recognizing certain EU-approved goods for import into the UK. But, in a no-deal scenario, we can't control the EU's response to UK goods going the other way." The latest batch of no-deal position papers from the government say British motorists may have to apply for International Driving Permits if they head to Europe after March 29 when Britain leaves the EU. No-deal frenzy in the media was also fuel by a "worse case scenario" warning from Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England. He warned Theresa May's senior ministers that a chaotic no-deal Brexit could crash house prices and send another financial shock through the economy. During a private briefing Carney warned that house prices in Britain could fall as much as 35 percent over three years. Carney was later accused of spread doom, with former Brexit minister David Jones, telling the Daily Telegraph: "The fact is that the economy has defied the predictions of many Remainers and is doing well, with record levels of employment. Mark Carney should stop going around spreading gloom and despondency and concentrate on the benefits of Brexit." The new set of "no-deal" papers from the government also warning that roaming charges that allow British people to make low-cost cell phone calls in EU countries could also come to an end. But the British government said the largest mobile operators, covering 85 per cent of customers, had agreed not to reintroduce the charges in the event of no deal. British people traveling to Europe may also have to ensure their passport is valid for at least six months when they visit the EU in the event of no deal, to comply with EU regulations for third countries. The Independent newspaper Friday reported that France has said it could halt flights and Eurostar trains from Britain if there is no agreement when Britain leaves the EU in March 2019. Meanwhile, focus switched to the as yet unresolved situation of the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. The border between the two will be the only EU land border within the Britain isles. A new study Friday suggested that Brexit will threaten peace in Northern Ireland as well as disrupt cross-border cooperation and create potentially lethal divides between British and Irish people in Northern Ireland. In what the Guardian described as the most comprehensive study of the impact leaving the EU will have on the region, researchers found that Brexit was seen as "manna from heaven" for pro-Republic party Sinn Fein who aspire to see a unification of Northern Ireland with Ireland. Queen's University in Belfast and Ulster University, in conjunction with the Committee on the Administration of Justice, conducted in-depth interviews over an 18-month period. The Guardian quoted Colin Harvey, professor of human rights law at Queen's University, saying: "Brexit will threaten the peace process and weaken protections for human rights and equality." Harvey added: "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." Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 04:00:06|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Mohammed al-Halbousi (1st R) attends a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq, on Sept. 14, 2018. The Sunni parliamentary bloc National Axis Coalition on Friday nominated former Anbar governor Mohammed al-Halbousi as speaker in Iraq's next parliament. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) BAGHDAD, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Sunni parliamentary bloc National Axis Coalition on Friday nominated former Anbar governor Mohammed al-Halbousi as speaker in Iraq's next parliament. "We declare to the Iraqi people and our partners of the political blocs our nomination to engineer Mohammed Reikan al-Halbousi as our candidate to be a speaker as we are the bloc that have the biggest number of members in parliament," Ahmed al-Jubouri, from the Sunni coalition said in a statement at a press conference in Baghdad. Jubouri confirmed that he is confident that Halbousi will gain the support of the political partners. "The 50 members in parliament (from the Sunni coalition) have signed and pledged to vote for Halbousi in the parliament session scheduled for tomorrow," said Laith al-Dulaimi, spokesman of the National Axis Coalition. Several members of parliament who won for the other Sunni blocs are competing for the speaker post, including the former defense minister Khalid al-Obeidi and the former speaker Osama al-Nujaifi. Mohammed Zayni, the eldest member of parliament who temporarily chairs the newly elected parliament, decided to resume the parliament session on Sept. 15 to elect a new speaker and two of his deputies. According to the Iraqi constitution, after electing speaker and two deputies, the parliament should elect a president of the country who will ask the largest alliance to form a government within 30 days. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 04:40:14|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close NAIROBI, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Mercy Mungai credits her resilience and fortitude to the climatic shocks that often strike her village sandwiched between rolling hills that dot Kajiado County, located southwest of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. The middle-aged mother of four, who ekes out a living through subsistence farming, has been a victim of recurrent droughts that have worsened water scarcity and food insecurity in her hamlet. Mungai can now afford to put a smile on her face, thanks to the launch of a community water project in her locality by Kajiado county government and China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), which is implementing the Nairobi-Naivasha part of Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project. The lively small-scale farmer and her two young children attended the ground-breaking ceremony for Kimuka Community Water Aid Project on Thursday at the exit of the 4.5 km SGR Ngong tunnel, where water will be tapped for supply to nearby households. "Having lived in this county for nearly two decades, I have endured the pain of trekking long distances to fetch water for domestic use. This precious commodity has always eluded us due to frequent droughts," Mungai told Xinhua. She is one of many who would benefit from the project, an initiative of the CCCC and Kajiado county government to help ease water supply challenges in a region inhabited by nomads and small-holder farmers. Guo Qing, deputy general manager of the CCCC Kenya SGR Project, said that water tanks with total storage capacity of 1,600 cubic meters will be constructed to help quench thirst among thousands of households in Kajiado County. Clean water, found when the CCCC was building the tunnel, would be channeled to the tanks for community use. "We are proud to be part of the development of this particular water project that will enable more than 40,000 people in Kimuka area and the larger Kajiado County to access clean water," Guo said. Mungai said the project will transform the locals' lives. "I look forward to witnessing clean water gushing from the ever dry tap in my homestead," she said. "My children will share in this joy because they have also experienced the pain of acute water scarcity." Community leaders in the expansive Kajiado County, which is part of Nairobi-Naivasha SGR corridor, praised the CCCC for initiating the project as part of its corporate social responsibility. "As a community, we are proud to witness the launch of a project that will address critical water needs of people living in villages and fast growing urban centers," said Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku. He lauded the CCCC for financing livelihood projects in his county that include feeder roads, health centers and boreholes. Janet Teiya, Kajiado representative in the National Assembly, said the CCCC-funded water projects will have a profound impact on health, food security and productivity of local population. "We are happy to have a water project that will greatly benefit vulnerable population groups like women, children and nomads. This water can also be harnessed to promote irrigated farming in this region," Teiya said. Kajiado youth who mainly eke a living from herding cattle or motorcycle transport business are optimistic the CCCC-funded water project would have a lasting impact on the community. Felix Kelembo, a 22-year-old motorcyclist, said that adequate supply of clean drinking water would stimulate agri-business in high potential sections of Kajiado County. "The development of this region has been undermined by water scarcity and we are hopeful the scenario will change once this new project is completed. Our farmers will be able to grow fresh produce that fetch better prices in urban centers," said Kelembo. Richard Seteki, a 22-year-old herder, said he plans to take up farming to expand his revenue base once there is adequate water supply in his family homestead. "I am a witness to how access to clean drinking water can have a transformative effect on households living in semi-arid regions and therefore look forward to harnessing this commodity and embark on profitable farming ventures," Seteki said. Only 35 percent of households in Kajiado County now have access to clean water. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 04:55:20|Editor: yan Video Player Close ROME, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Political leaders in Italy and elsewhere should avoid aggressive rhetoric on migrants to not encourage racism in society, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said here on Friday. The senior UN official made his remarks in a press conference after two days of talks with Italian authorities, in his first visit to the country since Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's right-wing government was appointed in early June. The meetings with several Italian officials were described as "serene, constructive, and pragmatic." "I have appealed to everyone, however, asking to check on the political language in order to not provide space for racism abuses and violence," Grandi told reporters. "I am not pointing the finger to anyone, but I say that -- in Italy as in many other countries -- the political speech has become so aggressive that it may make room for discriminatory and racist leanings." Such warning came just few days after the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said she would send a team to Italy to check over a string of attacks targeting migrants, people of African origins, and Roma people in recent months. Conte's cabinet -- forged on an alliance between anti-immigration League party and populist Five Star Movement -- has taken a tough stance on migrants and refugees since its inception. However, meeting Italian president Sergio Mattarella on Wednesday, the UNHCR chief said he felt reassured by the sensitive approach to the refugee issue showed by the head of state. "The President maintained the importance Italy has always given to its own adherence to international conventions and treaties in terms of refugee protection," Grandi stressed. Talks with Matteo Salvini -- Italy's hard-line Interior Minister and League leader -- were also described as "constructive" and mainly focused on hospitality and integration. "I pointed out (to minister Salvini) it would be extremely important that Italy maintains the necessary resources to help and support asylum seekers," Grandi explained. The official expressed solidarity to Italy for bearing much of the burden provided by hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees arriving across the Mediterranean in recent years. Provided that rescuing people at sea was a humanitarian and legal must, and migrants should be allowed to reach "the nearest safe harbor", Grandi urged the European Union (EU) to set up a specific mechanism to redistribute people across the bloc. "I agree with the Italian government on the fact that Europe should distribute such arrivals, and provide a predictable sharing mechanism after people have landed," he said. "In my talks with (Italy's Foreign Minister) Enzo Moavero Milanesi, we have also considered whether further pushing for the next EU's budget to contain considerable resources aimed at stemming unnecessary (migrant) flows," he added. Finally, Grandi did not want to comment on a forthcoming provision on migration and asylum announced by the Italian government, which was expected to restrict the country's current policies. "I have just clearly said to all my interlocutors -- and I have received very positive answers -- that the UNHCR will offer its advices in the on-going consultation process on the legislation," Grandi specified. "Our suggestions will be mainly focused on ensuring the consistency of such decree with the conventions of which Italy is part, and with the international laws in terms of refugee protection." Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 07:10:49|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close A gas station near the coastline was damaged by the storm in North Carolina, the United States, on Sept. 14, 2018. At least five people have been killed so far in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence which was downgraded Friday afternoon to a tropical storm with winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) along the U.S. East Coast. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least five people have been killed so far in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence which was downgraded Friday afternoon to a tropical storm with winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) along the U.S. East Coast. Hurricane Florence blew ashore in the U.S. state of North Carolina with howling 90 mph (144 km/h) winds and terrifying storm surge early Friday, felling trees, splintering buildings, trapping hundreds of people and swamping entire communities along the coast. A mother and infant were killed by a fallen tree on their house in Wilmington, North Carolina, according to local police. The father was injured in the accident. In Hampstead, North Carolina, a woman died of a heart attack on Friday since emergency crews could not reach her due to fallen trees in road, local media reported. A fourth person was killed while plugging in a generator in Lenoir County, north of Wilmington, WITN-TV reported. The fifth, a 78-year-old man, was found dead on a street outside of Kinston. He apparently was blown down after he went outside to check on his hunting dogs, local media said. More than 16 inches of rain have fallen in southeast North Carolina and another 20 to 25 inches is on the way, the hurricane center said. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said the hurricane was "wreaking havoc" on the coast and will make its "violent grind across our state for days," calling the storm 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." In the city of New Bern, one of the hardest hit areas in North Carolina, more than 300 people were trapped in cars, on roofs and in their attics overnight after over 10 feet of storm surge flooded the river-front city. Police said 150 to 200 residents have been rescued earlier on Friday and 150 or more were still awaiting rescue. "In a matter of seconds, my house was flooded up to the waist, and now it is to the chest," New Bern resident Peggy Perry told CNN. "We are stuck in the attic." "New Bern is just not used to this level of a hurricane," with damaging gales, rains, storm surge and flash flooding, said New Bern Mayor Dana Outlaw. In Jacksonville, North Carolina, more than 60 people were evacuated from a hotel after part of the roof collapsed, city officials said. About 600,000 homes and businesses were without power in North Carolina. Nearly 2,100 flights have been canceled through Saturday. The eye of the storm reached Wrightsville Beach, several miles east of Wilmington, around 7:15 eastern time, with estimated maximum winds of 90 mph. It was expected to slowly move southwest into South Carolina before turning north, forecasters said. Storm surge of up to 13 feet will be "life threatening" and rainfall of up to 40 inches will mean "catastrophic" flooding, according to the National Hurricane Center. Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Brock Long warned on Thursday that inland flooding could be deadly and the cleanup will take time and patience. The storm surge of up to 13 feet (3.9 meters) will be "life threatening" and rainfall of up to 40 inches (101.6 cm) will mean "catastrophic" flooding, according to the National Hurricane Center. The states of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland, as well as Washington D.C., declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 07:20:51|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore on Friday cited the frequent occurrence of many of natural disasters in the world this year as a justifying reason for the U.S. return to the Paris Agreement on climate change. Addressing the two-day Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) in San Francisco, Gore said it is the first time in history that two major storms are making landfall on the Atlantic and the Pacific simultaneously, in reference to Hurricane Florence and Super Typhoon Mangkhut that hit east U.S. coastal cities and northern Philippines early Friday. Tropical Storm Florence has killed at least four people in North Carolina Friday after it came ashore as a Category 1 hurricane. Gore mentioned previous hurricane disasters, saying Florence "is similar to Hurricane Harvey in the sense that they disrupt the Northern Hemisphere jet stream," which kept "these storms in the same place so that they drop so much water." He said Super Typhoon Haiyan has created 44 million climate refugees, and these disasters affecting countries in the world have been further worsened by climate change. "Even without the cyclonic storms, we are putting so much heat into the oceans," which calls for worldwide efforts to fight climate change. The Paris agreement has pointed the way to a world that is united and take action that all 195 nations of the world are committed, he said. The former U.S. vice president criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's decision last year to pull out of the landmark Paris Agreement that committed all states across the globe to take joint actions to address climate. He said that maybe a future new government can get the U.S. back into the international climate accord if simply given 30 days notice. Gore said he is optimistic that cities, states, countries and corporations will continue to expand the use of renewable energy, electric vehicles and other steps to limit climate change. "We have the tools we need. We can solve this crisis. So that only leaves the final question: Will we change?" he said in an impassioned speech. More than 4,500 representatives from across the world met at the 2018 GCAS to discuss measures, plans, and ambitions to bring down greenhouse emissions. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 07:40:55|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close MEXICO CITY, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Mexican and Central American scientists will evaluate fishery resources, fish distribution and biodiversity of the Caribbean and Pacific oceans, said the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Friday. A team of 22 scientists will work on an investigation vessel, the Dr. Jorge Carranza Fraser, to set sail on Monday from the city of Puerto Progreso, Yucatan state in southeastern Mexico. The investigation will evaluate 7,500 nautical miles (some 13,890 kilometers) of the Caribbean and Pacific oceans surrounding Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. The team aims to gauge the health of fisheries against current fishery productivity, measure ocean temperatures, oxygen levels and salinity to check their results against satellite images. The FAO stressed this is a South-South Cooperation initiative guided by Mexico as part of the the FAO's Blue Growth Initiative (BGI). The BGI will help the nations involved to "improve public policies ahead of challenges like climate change and illegal fishing," said the FAO. "The results will offer precise information on the waters under national jurisdiction and their potential fishery resources," added the institute. FAO representative in Mexico, Crispim Moreira, pointed out that Central America has an ocean territory 10 times larger than its land mass, adding that "it is key to update knowledge of the health and productivity of their seas upon which thousands of small fishers depend." The team will also collaborate with the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) to probe into the causes of the huge amount of Sargassum seaweed in the Caribbean. Sargassum has become a problem for the Mexican tourism, with beaches around famed tourist destination Cancun being inundated by the brown weed. According to the FAO, this initiative helps towards achieving Goal 14: "Life Below Water" of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, conserving and using the resources of the oceans for sustainable development. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 09:31:07|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Guests cut the ribbon on the completion ceremony of the 230 KV Thavieng S/S-Laksao S/S and 115 KV Nam Phay HPP-Thongkoun2 S/S Transmission Lines Project undertaken by the Chinese company NORINCO International Cooperation Ltd in Vientiane, capital of Laos, on Sept. 14, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Ailun) VIENTIANE, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The completion ceremony of the 230 KV Thavieng S/S-Laksao S/S and 115 KV Nam Phay HPP-Thongkoun2 S/S Transmission Lines Project undertaken by a Chinese company was held on Friday in Lao capital Vientiane. Over 200 Lao and Chinese participants, including Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Chinese Ambassador to Laos Wang Wentian, attended the completion ceremony. Khammany Inthirath, Lao minister of energy and mines, said in his speech that the success of the construction of the transmission lines is a major achievement of the country's National Grid Plan in 2016-2020, which will bring convenience to provide electricity to the northern and central provinces of Laos. Yuan Jun, general manager of the Chinese EPC contractor namely NORINCO International Cooperation Ltd (NORINCO International), said that the project is another successful example of the cooperation between NORINCO International and the Lao state corporation, Electricite du Laos (EDL), and also a milestone project of both sides actively promoting China-Laos economic cooperation in response to the Belt and Road Initiative. Boun Oum Syvanpheng, EDL managing director, said the success contributes greatly to the development of Lao electricity sector, as well as the country's industrialization and modernization, and will also help improve Lao people's living standard. It was introduced at the ceremony that the transmission lines project received preferential loans from the Chinese government during construction. Source: chinadaily.com.cn| 2018-09-15 09:50:43|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Jim O'Neill, the British economist who put forward the concept of BRIC nations, addresses the Q&A session after his talk at China Daily's Vision China event in London on Thursday. [Photo by Zou Hong/chinadaily.com.cn] The fifth Vision China Event explains the nation's continuing reform and opening-up success to UK audiences 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. Guest speakers included Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to the UK, Jim O'Neill, the British economist who put forward the concept of BRIC nations, Fu Xiaolan, director of Oxford University's Centre for Technology and Management Development, Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of London Stock Exchange Plc, and Martin Jacques, author of the international best-seller When China Rules the World. The distinguished 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 Lord Neil Davison, the former advocate general for Scotland, and 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 were also able to participate in the brainstorming elements of the discussion. In his welcoming speech, China Daily Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Zhou Shuchun noted President Xi Jinping has reiterated on several occasions that China will carry its reform, which will be further and comprehensively deepened, into the future. He said China's door will not close. Instead, it will only open wider. "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. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming said: "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. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, Vision China talks cannot have been more timely. This gives us a good opportunity to talk about the visions of China and the world 40 years on." 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, as well as the Belt and Road Initiative opportunities. Jim O'Neill 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, Jim said China needs to continue to increase the share of consumption in its GDP; it must be successful in controlling pollution of the environment, continue, slowly, the opening of its financial sector; become bolder in reforming the Hukou system; and BRI is the most important thing for the future world trade. Fu Xiaolan, from the University of Oxford, said that, as the United States has withdrawn from the global governance system, China has moved toward the frontier of global leadership. She said Chinese companies have grown their innovation and technological capability, and China can also play a greater role in helping other developing countries achieve innovation-driven and environmentally friendly growth. The whole world has started to look to the East, to look at China, and people have started talking about China's role in global economic recovery, she said, noting that China's success comes in part from Chinese companies' willingness to collaborate with suppliers, local universities, and customers, and learn from overseas markets, and transfer innovation and knowledge back to their headquarters. "Innovation will be the most important driver of China's structural transformation," she said. "It will drive the transformation of the Chinese development model, enhance the quality of growth, and also help other countries upgrade through knowledge transfer and the spill-over effects of trade and Foreign Direct Investment." 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, "so we've been very proud to build our franchise in China". "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. Martin Jacques, the British writer, also shared his observations on the role China's reform and opening-up plays in global development. He said 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 toward. "In 1978, virtually no-one ever imagined that China would be where it is," he said. "1978 did not just lead to the transformation of China, but the transformation of the world. China is going to be a very different kind of great power. 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." Rupert Li, the global chief operating officer and a senior partner at King & Wood Mallesons, China Daily's partner in staging the London event, 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 our open-door policy. China commands the best record in investment protection by foreign investors, compared to other developing countries in general and BRICS countries in particular." Without respect for the spirit of contracting, China couldn't have been a major trading partner to a host of countries, he added. As a Chinese media organization that has effectively entered the international mainstream market, China Daily officially unveiled Vision China in early 2018, seeking to make full use of its international, all-media, multilingual, and multi-platform advantages and allow China's voice to be better heard by 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. So far, Vision China has successfully held sessions in Beijing (twice), Hangzhou, and Johannesburg, themed around Chinese topics with global value, namely, 'New Era in My Eyes'; 'Shared Future, Better World'; 'BRICs and Globalization'; and 'China & Africa: Growing Together'. World-class political, business, and academic leaders and outstanding youth representatives have attended the events to engage in in-depth discussions and share their values. The events were broadcast live on the internet and through multimedia platforms, reaching international audiences and especially capturing the attention and participation of young people. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 10:21:13|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's top securities regulator has approved new IPO applications from two companies, which will raise up to 2.5 billion yuan (about 365.5 million U.S. dollars) in the A-share market. Great Wall Securities, a Shenzhen-based brokerage firm, will be listed on the Shenzhen small and medium enterprises board, and the other, Wuxi Lihu Corporation Ltd., will be listed on the ChiNext board in Shenzhen, according to the China Securities Regulatory Commission. The companies and their underwriters will confirm IPO dates and publish prospectuses following discussions with the exchanges. Under the current IPO system, new shares are subject to approval from the CSRC. China is gradually switching from an approval-based IPO system to one based on registration. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 11:01:17|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close GUANGZHOU, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ferry services in south China's Qiongzhou Strait have been halted on Saturday morning as super typhoon Mangkhut is approaching the southern provinces of Hainan and Guangdong, local authorities said. Mangkhut is expected to land in an area between western Guangdong and eastern Hainan on Sunday night, packing strong gales and bringing tremendous downpours, according to local weather bureau. According to China's National Meteorological Center, Mangkhut was moving northwestward at a speed of 26 km per hour at 8 a.m., about 1,000 km away from the city of Yangjiang, Guangdong Province. The provincial maritime administration has dispatched helicopters and tugboats to transfer 3,238 offshore platform workers and ordered 6,266 ships to take precautions against the typhoon. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 11:31:21|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- China will launch a campaign to address problems of Internet bars in rural areas in a bid to create a healthy cyberspace community, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The ministry requires local law enforcement authorities to intensify the crackdown on Internet bars who admit minors, fail to check customers' ID cards, and operate bars without a license. Data showed that more than 490,000 law enforcement personnel across the country have inspected more than 190,000 bars, settled 3,573 cases, suspended 244 Internet bars for rectification and revoked the licenses of 18 bars. The ministry has blacklisted 52 Internet bars whose licenses were revoked for admitting minors. The legal representatives or owners of these Internet bars are forbidden from opening another Internet bar for five years. The ministry said it will continue to strengthen the management of Internet bars, step up routine inspections and improve the blacklist system. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 11:51:23|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close by Chomba Musika LUSAKA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Thanks to the new milling plants around, people in Lusaka, Zambia's capital, now have cheaper mealie-meal and more job opportunities. What's more, the milling plants are solar-powered. The Zambians welcome the mills, a result of President Edgar Lungu's fruitful visit to China in March 2015. They were built with loans from the China Development Bank and in total, about 2,000 solar milling plants are planned to be built in the small towns in Zambia. The project is expected to help with the landlocked African country's industrialization and job creation agenda. The milling plants are expected to create about 3,000 jobs and help stabilize the price of mealie-meal, from which the Zambians prepare their staple food, nshima. The Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF) is spearheading the construction of the solar-powered milling plants in the small towns under Lusaka, among them the densely-populated, low-income Bauleni and Mandevu. The local residents are particularly happy with the milling plants because they no longer have to walk long distances to have their maize milled. "I don't have to look for money for transport anymore to take my maize for milling because the plant is near my house," said Jane Jere, a Bauleni resident. Martha Chisanga, another Bauleni resident, said the solar milling plants are more reliable than the hammer mill affected by an intermittent electricity supply. "When we used to have seven hours of load shedding, we had problems to take our maize for milling. Sometimes you would go to the hammer mill and find that there is electricity," she said. The milling plants are a job creation strategy which also supports the government plan to lower the mealie-meal price and ensure food security, said Mwamba Chileshe, a Mandevu resident. According to Dominic Phiri, who is in charge of the milling plant at the Olympic Youth Development Center (OYDC), a 50 kg bag of the breakfast and roller meal are being sold at about 65 and 45 kwachas (6.5 and 4.5 U.S. dollars), respectively. "The people in Mandevu who mill their maize from the OYDC plant are happy with this project because our 50 kilogram bags of mealie-meal are cheaper because, elsewhere, a 50 kilogram bag of mealie-meal is fetching between K75 and K80 (7.5 and 8.5 dollars)," Phiri said. Apart from selling ready mealie-meal and milling maize to people, the milling plants also sell the byproduct bran to farmers as livestock feed. So far, some 1300 solar milling plants have been built nationwide in Zambia, and the whole project is expected to be completed by December, according to the ZCF. The milling plants are run by the local cooperatives. ZCF development officer Pumulo Kabalo said, "On average, each plant has at least three people working there." Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 12:21:27|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close LUSAKA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish airline on Friday announced that it will launch weekly flights to Zambia's capital at the end of this year, local media reported. When meeting with Joseph Chilengi, Zambia's ambassador to Turkey, the airline's chief executive officer Bilal Eksi said the company will commence two weekly flights between Istanbul and Lusaka on Dec. 13, according to the Lusaka Times. The Turkish flag carrier will service the Lusaka route via Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with flight arrivals on Mondays and Thursdays while departures from Lusaka will be on Tuesdays and Fridays. Eksi said his company will sign agreements with other airlines operating on the Lusaka-Dar es Salaam route to push forward air transport cooperation. For his part, the Zambian envoy said it would boost investment and trade relations between the two countries. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 12:51:30|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close SANTIAGO CITY, the Philippines, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Super Typhoon Mangkhut battered the northern Philippines on Saturday, with torrential rains and gusty winds, cutting off electricity and communication signals in some areas. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the super typhoon made landfall at 1:40 a.m. local time on Saturday, packing maximum sustained winds of 205 km per hour and gusts reaching 305 km per hour. According to PAGASA, Mangkhut has been slightly weakened and is now heading towards Ilocos Norte province in the northern Philippines. "Stormy weather is expected over many areas (in the Philippine main Luzon Island, including Metro Manila)," PAGASA said. Ricardo Jalad, undersecretary of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said 56,000 people have been evacuated to safer grounds when typhoon smashed into northern Luzon Island. Jalad said nearly 5 million people have been affected by the typhoon, mostly farmers and fishermen from the provinces. So far, no casualties have been reported, except for some houses and town halls damaged by the super typhoon. In Tuguegarao City, the capital of the Cagayan province, local media reported that the ceiling of the city hall was damaged. Some reporters in the city said they could not venture out of their hotels because of strong winds. "Our hotel is being shaken," a reporter told Xinhua. Strong winds are shaking trees and shattering windows a few hours before the Mangkhut slammed the province. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines told media that the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan in the northern Philippines have begun to have power outages since Friday night. In the Batanes province, communication signal has started to become static because telecom operator has already shut down its facility in the province, said the governor Marilou Cayco. Days before the typhoon hit land, authorities urged residents in the direct path of the typhoon to evacuate, especially those living in coastal communities, warning the storm could bring intense rains that could trigger flash floods, landslides and waves as tall as three-storey buildings. Forecasters said the southwest monsoon enhanced by the typhoon will continue to bring gusty winds and heavy rains. Forecasters also warned of storm surge or waves that could climb up to six meters. "Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of areas with (storm signals) and the seaboards of Visayas and of Mindanao," PAGASA said. Many domestic and international flights were suspended hours before the landfall. Classes and work in government offices in most parts of the northern Philippines were also suspended. The super typhoon is predicted to exit the Philippines on Saturday night toward the South China Sea. The Philippines is a tropical country and experiences around 20 typhoons every year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 13:16:35|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close JAKARTA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers have recovered 10 bodies and rescued 126 people after a passenger ferry caught fire and sank in waters off Indonesia's Central Sulawesi province on Friday, a government official said on Saturday. KM Fungka Permata, which departed from Baubau town of Southeast Sulawesi province and was heading to Bangai port in Central Sulawesi province, sank in the waters off Sagu Island in central Indonesia, spokesman of the Transport Ministry Bambang Ervan said. "The ship caught fire and finally went down in waters off Sagu Island," he told Xinhua. All the survivors of the ship were ferried to Bangai port Saturday morning, said the spokesman. The search and rescue operation for possible missing people was underway, said R. Agus H. Purnomo, director general for sea transport of the Transport Ministry. "Combing of areas where the incident took place is being carried out," he told Xinhua. Ship ferrying is a favorite transport means in Indonesia, a vast archipelago country home to over 17,500 islands. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 14:01:43|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close MANILA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Seven militants have been killed and 24 others wounded, including 17 soldiers, in a heavy fighting in the southern Philippines, a military report said on Saturday. The military said troops clashed with some 100 Abu Sayyaf militants around 1:30 p.m. on Friday in a remote village in Patikul town in Sulu province in the southern Philippines. Among the "seriously wounded" was Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan who was allegedly wounded in the stomach and legs, the military said. Seventeen soldiers also sustained shrapnel injuries, the military said, adding no soldier was killed in the encounter. The military said the troops recovered an M16 assault rifle, one bandolier, several rounds of ammunition and a mobile phone. Troops were sent to the area to pursue the fleeing terrorists, the military said. Patikul is a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines. The group is notorious for carrying out kidnappings, bombings and beheadings in western Mindanao, particularly in their lair in the island provinces of Basilan and Sulu. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 14:16:45|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close CANBERRA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Australia's new Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has laid the blame for widespread misconduct in the banking industry at the feet of the nation's corporate regulator. In his first newspaper interviews since being sworn-in as Treasurer and elected deputy leader of the governing Liberal Party in August, Frydenberg described revelations from the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry. Since public hearings began in February, the commission has uncovered evidence of widespread misconduct, including banks charging dead customers fees, customers being charged fees for no service and companies lying to ASIC. "How did this occur on (ASIC's) watch? They were obviously aware of examples of this misconduct but there weren't penalties issued and the conduct stamped out," Frydenberg told News Limited on Saturday. "It's completely unacceptable." Legislation to give ASIC greater power is currently before the Senate but Frydenberg said that he and Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who served as Treasurer between September 2015 and August 2018, would introduce a new "remediation" power to speed up compensation for victims of misconduct. The royal commission on Monday and Tuesday heard evidence of insurance companies offering thousands of policies unsolicited, which is an illegal act in Australia. In one case, the father of a man with Down syndrome was described by staff of one company as a "whinger" after trying to cancel the life insurance policy that was sold to his son illegally. Addressing the state of Australia's economy, which grew by 3.4 percent in the June quarter, Frydenberg said that it was in "good shape." "I feel I've inherited an economy in good shape," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 15:41:58|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Indian army troopers walk back towards their base camp after a fierce gunfight at village Chowgam-Qazigund in Kulgam district, about 72 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, Sept. 15, 2018. Five militants were killed Saturday in a fierce gunfight with joint contingents of army and police in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. The gunfight broke out in village Chowgam-Qazigund in Kulgam district, about 72 km south of Srinagar city. (Xinhua/Javed Dar) SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Five militants were killed Saturday in a fierce gunfight with joint contingents of army and police in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. The gunfight broke out in village Chowgam-Qazigund in Kulgam district, about 72 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. Reports said two troopers were also wounded while fighting the militants. "In a fierce gunfight today, five militants were killed at Chowgam," a senior police officer posted in Kulgam told Xinhua. "The militants were holed up inside a residential house and from there they were firing using automatic weapons on the positions of police and army, who jointly has cordoned the house to track the militants." According to officials, the area was cordoned off Friday night on specific intelligence information suggesting presence of militants and gunfight started early Saturday. A guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989. Apart from Saturday's gunfight, during this week seven militants were killed in three different gunfights across the region. Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 15:56:59|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close CHARIKAR, Afghanistan, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Two security personnel lost their lives and two others sustained injuries as a blast rocked Khalazai area in the outskirt of Charikar, the capital of eastern Parwan province, on Saturday, provincial police chief Mohammad Mahfoz Walizada said. According to Walizada, the security personnel were busy defusing an explosive device on a road in Khalazai area this morning when the device exploded, killing two on the spot and injuring two others. However, Taliban militants in contact with media described the blast as a roadside bombing, claiming the roadside bomb planted by the militant group struck a vehicle of security personnel, killing several persons. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 16:17:02|Editor: mmm Video Player Close Sinan Samir, makes a traditional lute in his workshop in Rasheed Street in downtown Baghdad, Iraq on Aug. 26, 2018. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) BAGHDAD, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Combination of soft music with hammer sounds can be heard at the entrance of Awadeen Souq, or Lute Players Market, at an old alley on heritage Rasheed Street in downtown Baghdad. The traditional market specialized with manufacturing Iraqi hand-made instrument of lute, or Oud in Arabic. The old market has been struggling after years of security and economic troubles since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. In one of the old shops, customers would enjoy a fascinated view of photos of well-known Iraqi artists and intellectuals who visited the market in the past. The shop owner crowns his warm welcome with nice playing on the strings of a lute. Ali al-Abdali, in his 60s, is the owner of a lute manufacturing workshop who has been in the field for 40 years. He inherited the profession from his father Mohammed al-Abdali, one of the well-known lute maker in Iraq. He said the golden period of lute industry in modern Iraq was 1970s and 1980s. During that time, cultural and artistic activities as well as music clubs flourished throughout the whole year. Academic studies of fine arts also expanded in many institutes and colleges across the country. "Hundreds of Arab and non-Arab foreign artists as well as tourists, who are fond of our traditional musical instrument, used to visit our market to buy our distinctive hand-made lutes, which were made by many reputable lute makers," Abdali said. Amir Ali al-Awad, 50, started his lute maunufaturing career under guidance of a veteran lute maker in 1984. "I've loved this career which I gave it all my time and efforts to learn utmost skills needed to be creative as possible as I can, because I adore music and especially lute instrument which charms me with its tunes," Awad told Xinhua at the entrance of an old shop where he started his career 34 years ago. Awad said that lute industry in Iraq is "as ancient as the history of civilizations in Iraq." "The ancient lute instrument was very simple, they hollow a piece of wood and then fix strings on it, but as time passes, it developed to what we know now," Awad said. Sinan Samir, 45, a lute workshop owner, told Xinhua "lute manufacturing needs experience, high accuracy and knowledge of wood types." Manufacturing lute needs several stages starting from choosing the type of wood, slicing and curving them to make the main concave shape, Samir said. "A single Oud (lute) takes a week with eight hours work a day, the weight of the Oud should not normally exceed one kilogram, that's for skillful manufacturer," Samir added. Samir said that during 1970s and 1980s, his father sold lutes to many tourists and artists. "But things changed after 2003 due to deterioration in security and economic situations," Samir complained while continued in working on a new lute in his workshop. "The deterioration after 2003 hit all life aspects in Iraq, including lute industry, as violence, political conflicts and extremism distorted life of Iraqis." Hassan Ibrahim, 65, a lute player, told Xinhua. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 16:22:03|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NEW YORK, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. aerospace manufacturer SpaceX is planning to fly a private passenger around the moon on one of its spacecraft, the company said in a tweet. In a messager on twitter on Thursday, SpaceX announced that it "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." "Find out who's flying and why on Monday, September 17," it added. The BFR, or the Big Falcon Rocket, is SpaceX's upcoming two-stage reusable spaceship system that will be capable of taking a 330,000 pound payload to Mars and lower-Earth orbit LEO. It will eventually replace SpaceX's other launch vehicles, the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, as well as its Dragon spacecraft. Given that the BFR has yet to be built, the around-the-moon trip presumably is at least a few years off, according to the CNBC. When asked about the identity of the passenger, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk responded on Twitter with an emoji of the Japanese flag, leading some to believe it might be SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son. SpaceX's mysterious passenger won't be the world's first space tourist. American engineer and multimillionaire Dennis Tito, who was the first non-astronaut to travel to the space, paid 20 million U.S. dollars to spend eight days on the International Space Station in April 2001. The seventh and last space tourist was Canadian businessman Guy Laliberte, who flew to the ISS aboard the Soyuz TMA-16 in 2009. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 16:27:04|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Suspected al-Shabab militants on Saturday launched an ambush at a checkpoint manned by government forces in Afgoye town about 30 km northwest of Mogadishu, police and witnesses said Saturday. A police officer who declined to be named told Xinhua that the attack happened in the early hours and lasted for about half an hour. "The enemies attempted to attack Somali forces in Afgoye but after a short time battle they were overpowered and pushed back. Now the city is calm and there is no gunfire," the officer said. The local officer did not say if there was any military or civilian casualties. "Both sides exchanged huge gunfire and we felt panic during the fight but it has stopped now," Mohamed Deeq, a resident of the agricultural town told Xinhua. The militant group al-shabab did not comment on the incident but have been known to frequently launch attacks and deploy suicide car bombs in the capital as well as in other parts of Somalia. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 16:47:06|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BANGKOK, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Five Nigerian males were arrested in Thailand on fraud charges allegedly involving online romance scams, a police general said on Saturday. The five Nigerian nationals were arrested at varied spots in Bangkok and the provinces along with 12 Thai people who had allegedly conspired to defraud a combined sum of 5.96 million baht (about 180,000 U.S. dollars) in cash from a total of 48 victims of the online romance scams, said Deputy Tourist Police Commissioner Pol. Maj. Gen. Surachate Hakparn. The Nigerians had allegedly faked identities as white males, pretentiously wooed the woman victims online and finally deceived each of them into transferring a sum of money which they had falsely claimed to pay for an import tariff and fee for the purported delivery of gift items from overseas. Two of the five suspected Nigerian scammers were identified as James Onwuchukwu and Chinedu Nwaobi, according to the deputy tourist police commissioner. The scammer suspects had allegedly prowled for preys who resided in Ram Indra Road area of Bangkok and in the provinces including Trat, Chonburi, Phitsanulok and Surat Thani. Pol. Maj. Gen. Surachate said some 140 cases of online romance scams had already occurred in Thailand so far this year, defrauding a combined sum of 81 million baht (about 2.45 million U.S. dollars) out of the victims' pocket. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 17:02:09|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close Sadat Magezi, a 26-year-old businessman, receives an interview with Xinhua News Agency in Kampala, Uganda, Sept. 11, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping) by Xinhua writer Guo Jun ABUJA/ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Khalid Bahiru, a 25-year-old Ethiopian, is working at a local bank in Addis Ababa, where he enjoys working with his Chinese colleagues. "They always come up with solutions for almost all challenges we face, and they also understand the rules easily," Bahiru said. In Africa, there are many young people like Bahiru that can have close contact with China or can feel the changes brought by China to the continent. And they are especially excited about eight major initiatives outlined at the just-concluded 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. The eight initiatives, revealed during the summit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, will be implemented with African countries in next three years and beyond, covering various fields such as industrial promotion, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, green development, capacity building, healthcare, people-to-people exchanges, and peace and security. As for opportunities that may come along, young Africans hold high expectations that these initiatives can further promote win-win cooperation and common development between China and Africa. MORE JOBS Ashenafi Yenew, a 24-year-old civil engineering graduate from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, said that with the initiative of industrial promotion, more Chinese enterprises will come to Africa, bring good investments and more jobs to local people. In Yenew's hometown of Bahir Dar, some 575 km north of Addis Ababa, Chinese companies are building an industry zone there. "Some of my friends are now working with Chinese companies in different types of projects," said Yenew. As an engineering graduate, he is seeking a chance to join one of the Chinese construction companies in Ethiopia. "Almost all local community members, including me, hope that it will create employment opportunities and help us to mitigate the ever increasing employment-related challenges in our area," he said. Jeanne Ongiyo is a communications officer with China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) in Kenya. The company is working on Phase 2A of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project linking the capital Nairobi to the resort town of Naivasha. Ongiyo believes this major infrastructure project is going to facilitate Kenya's development. "This development is going to have a spillover on the social and economic development of our country," she said. She expects there will be more job opportunities for youths with the launch of the initiative of infrastructure connectivity. FACILITATING BUSINESS Businessmen in Ugandan expressed their hopes that the initiative of trade facilitation can create more business activities in the future. "I think it (the initiative) is also going to make it easy for me to get products from China," said Sadat Magezi, a 26-year-old businessman, who deals with perfume production and vegetable supplies. Magezi needs machinery from China so that some products could be manufactured locally to facilitate business transactions. "For instance there may be a lot of orders from my clients and yet the materials are still in transit. This may lead to some of the clients to cancel the orders and thus affect my business," he complained. He expects there would be a mechanism to help small businesses get machinery or raw materials from China on loan. Edward Lwanga, a Ugandan textile importer, hopes that the trade facilitation initiative can help African businessmen establish a direct link with the Chinese factories or producers. "Their products are really cheap but finding the market is the biggest problem. You have to pass through an agent to take you there," said Lwanga. GREENER DEVELOPMENT Vanessa Okobour, a 25-year-old student from University of Ghana, is excited about the green development initiative, because she reckons that green development will put an end to so many bad things like diseases. "I am really excited about this and would love to be a part of it in any way that I can, so I feel this is a win-win for Chinese and Africans," Okobour said. For Nathan Ankrah, another student at University of Ghana, the most serious problem facing Ghana right now is waste management and public sanitation. "Standard of living is going to be improved since jobs are being created for people. It will also in a long run go far in reducing the diseases people have in the country," said Ankrah. Ankrah's remarks were echoed by Valery Chikomba, a medical student at the University of Zimbabwe, who believes that public health sector is the weakest part of the health care system in Zimbabwe. "It lacks a lot of equipment and modern infrastructure," he said. He anticipates that China can donate equipment to health care facilities to help Zimbabwe build its own capacity. IMPROVING SECURITY No country challenged by security threats can accommodate any reasonable venture or investment, said Ogbo Collins, a student from the University of Abuja, Nigeria. "Over time, most of Nigeria's development aids and partners hardly want to venture into issues that concern advancing and advocating for peace," Collins said. Therefore, the initiative of peace and security is highly appreciated, according to Collins. Eguko Efetive, a student from the same university, expressed his hope that the initiative of capacity building can assist Nigeria in pacifying the restive northeast region, which has long been plagued by Boko Haram militants. If the initiative helps with long-term capacity building in the country, the risks posed by terrorist or militant groups will be reduced, said Efetive. BRINGING PEOPLE CLOSER About one month ago, 22-year-old Tyana Naidoo took up an offer to teach English at a school in Yongkang City in China's Zhejiang province. Naidoo decided to leave her home in Cape Town, South Africa, to go to China and experience its culture at first hand. "I am fascinated about how the Chinese have managed to become such an indomitable global presence. And as a young person learning about life with my own goals and aspirations, I decided to move to China," said Naidoo in a telephone interview with Xinhua. She expects that the people-to-people exchange initiative will lead to deeper understanding between Africa and China. "The ability to communicate in English is becoming essential for Chinese children and if I can give them that skill, it is also rewarding for me," said Naidoo. "I want to do my bit for the Chinese people as well. After all, that's what exchanges are about. They must be mutually beneficial," she added. (Xinhua reporters Wang Shoubao in Addis Ababa, Wang Xiaopeng in Nairobi, Zhang Gaiping in Kampala, Shi Song in Accra, Zhang Yuliang in Harare, Gao Yuan in Cape Town also contributed to the story.) (Video editors: Geng Linlin, Zhao Yuchao) Maha Abu Shousheh is checking on her collection on display at Palestine Museum in West Bank city Birzeit on Sept. 13, 2018. (Xinhua) by Fatima Aruri RAMALLAH, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Maha Abu Shousheh, a Palestinian business woman, is on a journey to seek the traditionally embroidered dress of her disappeared hometown. Abu Shousheh, 56-year-old, now living in the central West Bank city Ramallah, was born to a family that witnessed the forced displacement of nearly two thirds of the Palestinian people in 1948, including her family. The memory of her parents triggered her journey to seek the traditionally embroidered dress of her hometown Abu Shousheh near today's Ramleh city at the age of 17 though the village does not exists any more. Her nearly 40-year journey has led her to learn many stories of Palestinian women behind traditionally handmade dresses from different areas and through different times. The traditional Palestinian dress is a national costume that is embroidered by hand using different garments and colored silk threads. Traditional embroidery in Palestine needs handmade weaving of thin silk braids that takes a great deal of patience and accuracy. It was a mission mainly tasked to women who weaved their own dresses and men clothing for different occasions. Abu Shousheh revealed that it took her a few years and several failed attempts before her first encounter with what she believed was the closest resemblance to her hometown's traditional women dress. "The first dress I bought thinking it would be the one turned out to be a Bedouin dress. For someone not experienced, a dress fully embroidered with aesthetics, nice colors and many flowers would catch the attention," she said. "It was a beautiful Bedouin dress that I behold so dearly that I believed it was worthy of being showcased at the museum. But when I got home, they told me this was a dress worn by Bedouin women and not our hometown women," Abu Shousheh said. So the Palestinian woman turned to more experienced people to learn how her hometown's dress looked and then laid her eyes on dress that is close to Abu Shousheh women. Her journey was hard, she noted, because following the 1948 Catastrophe (Nakba) for Palestinians, much of the people's property was lost, the norms changed and the traditional way of embroidery also changed. According to researchers at Birzeit University's ethnographic museum, the pre-1948 traditional dresses were filled with details that represent different geographic regions, social class and social occasions in Palestine identified by different types of embroidery, fabric, patterns and colors used. The Catastrophe or "Nakba" for the Palestinian people is marked on May 15 each year in memory of the forcible transfer of two thirds of the Palestinian people and ethnic cleansing of at least 418 villages as a result of the 1948 war. "Previously, the dresses were distinguishable. It was possible to know which area each dress belonged to," said Abu Shousheh. "However, after the Nakba, for all the reasons we know and mainly, the loss of security, home and the land, women had to turn their attention to other more important things than spending their time, effort and money on buying silk threads and embroidery," she said. In the post Nakba era, Abu Shousheh explained that women weaved less dresses and focused more on other day-to-day issues. This has made the traditional costumes from different geographical areas become less distinctive, which was seen by sociologists as one of the war's impacts on collective memory. In order to preserve this collective memory and the tales of women, Abu Shousheh widened her search to find and refine old dresses from various eras and places, not just the celebratory or prominent, but also the daily dresses and the ones that tell stories of women who witnessed the political transformations that hit the region. Some 20 years ago, Abu Shouhseh bought a dress from a Palestinian refugee. How the refugee got the dress and made it suitable to her size reveals the sufferings of thousands of refugees at that time. Abu Shousheh said "the refugee got the dress from a woman in Ramallah city, but she was taller than the original dress owner, and in this case the only solution for her was to cut it. The extension of the dress is usually made by using similar fabric, but unfortunately, the refugee had no possibility to buy new cloth and had nothing, so she used the bag of flour offered to refugees in aid to make the extension, and now the dress reveals the last letter in the word flour (in Arabic) to tell us about the situation the refugees were in." Many countries and region in the world have their own type of embroidery and Palestine is no exception. The traditional embroidery unfolds an important history period of Palestine and is a testament to individual tales that compose the bigger picture of Palestinian collective narrative. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 17:37:16|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close VIENTIANE, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The north and central regions of Laos have been put on alert for heavy downpours after weather forecasters warned that Typhoon Mangkhut and Tropical Storm Barijat are expected to pass over Laos on coming Monday and Tuesday. Areas at high risk of damage from storm activity include the capital and the provinces in central and northern Laos. The weather alert was issued by the Lao Meteorology and Hydrology Department on Friday. Typhoon Mangkhut is now causing widespread damage in the Philippines and is on course to hit China, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Saturday. The storm is heading westward at a speed of 20 km per hour and could cross Vietnam and north and central regions of Laos. If it reaches Laos, the impact of the storm could be greater than tropical storms Son-tinh and Bebinca, which caused flooding and extensive damage to property and infrastructure in many provinces in Laos. The department has also warned northern and central regions to be on the alert for Tropical Storm Barijat which is heading westwards at a speed of 15 km per hour. The storm is making its way towards Laos via the South China Sea and Vietnam from Wednesday to coming Tuesday, and is expected to arrive in Laos on coming Monday and Tuesday. The storm could bring heavy downpours and flash floods are possible in at-risk areas, so people should be aware of the impact of the severe conditions, which could cause overflowing rivers and landslides, leading to property damage and livestock losses, said the report. Over the past eight months, Laos has suffered exceptionally heavy rainfall with tropical storms Son-tinh and Bebinca the most recent to lash many areas of the country. Heavy downpours caused floodwater to inundate dwellings, farmland and other property, while key roads and bridges were damaged in many provinces. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 18:12:19|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close BEIRUT, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to invest in the energy, land and maritime transport, as well as railway projects in Lebanon, said Chen Xiaojia, chairman of China's state-owned CITIC Construction Corporation, when meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun in capital Beirut. "We are also looking forward to cooperate with Lebanese government in implementing infrastructure and water projects based on the priorities set by the Lebanese president," said Chen, discussing ways of strengthening the Chinese-Lebanese relations with Aoun on Friday. China's interest in investing in Lebanon's projects goes in line with the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013, according to Chen. The initiative aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes. It comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. Meanwhile, Aoun renewed his support for the Belt and Road Initiative while praising the Lebanese-Chinese relations for its remarkable growth at different levels. He also thanked China for supporting Lebanon in regional and international forums in addition to its great help for the country at the United Nations. The president added that China's interest in investing in Lebanon's productive sectors and projects reflects its great willingness to lift the relation between the two countries to a new level. After Lebanon formed its cabinet, the country is expected to go ahead with a nationwide development project at the value of 11 billion U.S. dollars pledged by international donors in soft loans. The program includes around 250 projects in the electricity, water, and waste management sectors, in addition to industrial, tourism and agricultural projects. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 18:27:25|Editor: mmm Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Proposals put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the fourth Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) will inject fresh impetus in the bilateral cooperation between China and Russia and the cooperation in the wider region, international observers have said. Xi attended the Eastern Economic Forum in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. They outlined directions for further bilateral practical cooperation and agreed that the two sides should continue to work together on the cooperation with potential synergy under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union. They also agreed to explore potential new areas to grow the cooperation and leverage the strong political relationship to drive the concrete practical cooperation. Xi's attendance of the Eastern Economic Forum is "a new milestone in the development of the bilateral relations," said Anton Kobyakov, executive secretary of the organizing committee of the forum. Andrey Ostrovsky, deputy director of Institute of Far Eastern Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences, said he expects the latest meeting between the two leaders to help drive the bilateral relations in various respects, especially the economic and trade cooperation. "The close cooperation with China is very important for Russia. It is important for us to explore the Chinese market and proactively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative. By riding on the initiative, Russia will be able to better improve its infrastructure, especially in the Far East, which will in turn create better conditions for the bilateral economic and trade cooperation over the long term," he said. "The Eastern Economic Forum will help promote the cooperation between Russia and countries in Northeast Asia," said Alexei Mukhin, director general of the Moscow-based Center for Political Information. He said that Russian federal authorities in charge of its Far East development have been following the progresses in the related regional cooperation projects and are encouraging Russian businesses to participate. The speeches by the presidents of the two countries show increasing concrete results in the economic cooperation between China and Russia. The close bilateral cooperation will also help boost the the wider regional cooperation, said Ling Xingguang, a professor emeritus at the Fukui Prefectural University in Japan. The experts believe that Xi's proposals conform with the interests of regional countries, providing a workable roadmap for the regional cooperation. Nikolay Tsekhomskiy, first deputy chairman of Russia's Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs, regards China as an advocate for and a key player in further regional integration and globalization, which will be helpful in countering the headwind of protectionism. "I think the direction China is leading in development is very important to the international community, since the trade and economic growth in the long run can only come from robust trade and fair competition," he said. Tsekhomskiy said he agrees with the appeal by the Chinese leader for aligning the development strategies and integrate the regional economic development. Japanese economist Hidetoshi Tashiro said increasing country-to-country cooperation benefits regional prosperity and stability, noting that Japan and China joining hands within the regional framework will help bring about win-win cooperations. He hoped that the EEF this year will be an important step in opening a new chapter in Japan-China cooperation. An Yuhua, a professor of finance with South Korea's Sungkyunkwan University, said Xi's attendance of the forum "sends a clear, strong message that China will remain committed to its reform and opening up, and strengthen cooperation with other countries in the region." In Northeast Asia, regional cooperation can not only reinforce stability, she said, but also show the significance of openness, cooperation and win-win relationship in today's world. Dashdorj Bayakhuu, a professor at the Mongolian Diplomatic Academy, said Xi's speech assures China's support for comprehensive cooperation and common development in Northeast Asia, and this offers an extraordinary opportunity for regional countries including Mongolia. The Mongolian government knows that deepening economic cooperation with neighboring China and Russia and other regional countries will help it in achieving steady economic growth, he added. (Xinhua reporters Li Ao, Luan Hai, Wang Kejia, Lu Rui and Askhan also contributed to the report.) Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 18:42:28|Editor: mmm Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese firefighters rescued 14,857 people stranded by various disasters and evacuated 43,899 others in August, according to the fire-fighting department of the Ministry of Emergency Management. The department said firefighters across the country also managed to save assets worth nearly 2.5 billion yuan (about 361 million U.S. dollars) in the same month. Authorities said 14,200 fire incidents were reported in August, in which 90 people were killed and 57 others injured. The death toll was up by 57.9 percent compared with the same period in 2017. August also witnessed the country's most deadly fire incident in the past three years, with 20 people killed and 23 injured after a blaze broke out on Aug. 25 at a hotel in Harbin, the capital city of northeastern Heilongjiang Province. Fires in August also caused 125 million yuan worth of damage. As China is set to celebrate the upcoming traditional Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holidays, the fire department pledged to intensify inspections to prevent fire-related incidents. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 19:07:32|Editor: mmm Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force released a new promo Saturday to mark China's 18th National Defense Education Day. Titled "Homeland High Above," the promo showcases some of the country's most advanced warplanes like J-20 stealth fighters and H-6K bombers, as well as improvements in the combat capacity of the air force. Shen Jinke, a spokesperson for the PLA Air Force, said the video demonstrated the air force's will and its ability in safeguarding China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also summarized the air force's efforts in promoting openness and garnering public support, such as participating in air shows. The PLA Air Force released several multi-language promo videos earlier this year, including one about its H-6K bomber and another of its aerobatics team. Inaugurated in 2001, the National Defense Education Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of each September. Also on Saturday, several provincial regions across the country sounded air raid sirens to improve people's awareness of national defense. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 19:07:33|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DUBLIN, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- China is Ireland's second largest non-EU (European Union) trade partner in the world, according to a latest official statistics released here. Data from Ireland's national statistics bureau CSO showed that in the first seven months of this year, the bilateral goods trade value between China and Ireland totalled 5.7 billion euros (6.6 billion U.S. dollars), ranking China as Ireland's second largest non-EU trade partner only after the United States. In Asia, China is Ireland's largest trade partner whose trade value with Ireland in the first seven months of this year was almost double than that between Ireland and Japan, revealed the CSO figures The CSO trade figures include China's Hong Kong and Macao. In the January-July period of 2018, China exported a total of 2.84 billion euros of goods to Ireland, up 15.7 percent over the same period last year while its imports from the latter were valued at 2.89 billion euros, down 14.7 percent year-on-year, according to the CSO. Ireland enjoyed a trade surplus of 50 million euros over China in the first seven months of this year, showed the CSO figures. China accounted for 4.4 percent of Ireland's total external trade of goods in the first seven months of this year, said the CSO, adding that the total value of Ireland's goods imports and exports in the period stood at 129.6 billion euros. (1 euro= 1.162 US dollars) Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 19:17:34|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LONDON, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Badger culling has been given the go-ahead in 10 new areas in Britain as part of new plans by the British government to curb the spread of tuberculosis (TB). More than 40,000 badgers are to be culled as part of the plans, campaigners say. The new sites which have been given the green light are said to be areas that are of high risk of tuberculosis in cattle, the British government announced. Culling has also been given the go-ahead in Cumbria to tackle "a pocket of infection" although the area has previously had a low risk of the disease. Culling is now taking place in 32 areas across 10 counties -- Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Cheshire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Staffordshire and Cumbria. It comes as data published by the British government shows the rate of TB in cattle has halved in the first two cull areas since the program began. Campaigners have argued the new licenses could see more than 40,000 badgers killed. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 19:22:35|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MOSCOW, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Internationally wanted Russian citizen Ali Gekhaev suspected of financially supporting the Islamic State (IS) was extradited from Belgium to Russia Friday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said Saturday. The man, born in 1988, had lived in the territory of the European Union since 2015, where he financially supported IS militants in Syria, the FSB said in a press release. In May 2017, Gekhaev was detained in Brussels and placed under pre-extradition arrest. Further search and investigation are underway, said the FSB. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 19:37:37|Editor: mmm Video Player Close LUSAKA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Edgar Lungu said on Friday that the country's relations with China are mutually beneficial and no malicious propaganda will break the friendship. Lungu made the remarks while opening the third session of the 12th National Assembly. "Our friendship with China is mutual and no amount of malicious propaganda will deter us from the opportunities that lie ahead," Lungu said in response to verbal attacks made by both local and foreign media on the Zambia-China relationship. Zambia, he said, has a choice on which countries to associate with and on what terms to agree to in bilateral relations, adding that the relations between China and Zambia are of mutual benefit. "It (China) will never colonize Zambia, because unlike others, it has no record of colonialism," he said, adding that the relations hold common good for the people of both nations. In his remarks, Lungu also mentioned a China-supported project dubbed "access to satellite television by 10,000 African villages," saying it is a further practical benefit of the country's digital migration program. Cooperative projects with China have created more jobs in Zambia, the president said. "Our vision as a country is to become a prosperous middle-income nation by 2030," the president said at the session whose theme is Working Together to Achieve Vision 2030. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 20:07:49|Editor: mmm Video Player Close by Ahmed Shfiq CAIRO, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian audiences were on the edge of their seats for two hours, watching Chinese artists performing the famous drama Prince of Lanling in Cairo's Balloon Theater on Friday evening. The Prince of Lanling was staged as part of the 25th Cairo International Festival for Contemporary and Experimental Theatre which runs for 11 days between Sept. 10 and 21. "Today's play was really good, not only because of its theme and the great actors and actresses, but also because it is the first time that I watched a Chinese artistic work live," Mariam Ahmed, a student at English Language College, told Xinhua after the show. To help audiences better enjoy the play, a large screen was placed alongside the stage to display English translations of the actors' lines. "This was smart and helpful as most of the audiences do not speak Chinese," the young lady, who came to the show with her sisters and friends, said. Ahmed said she is addicted to Chinese drama and movies, and that she watches them online with English subtitles. "I am very much addicted to the Chinese culture. I even have Chinese friends who are studying and living in Cairo," she said. Ahmed pointed out that art is the best way to learn more about other cultures, "that is why I like to watch Chinese drama and movies. They are my gateway to China." She spoke highly of the play which depicted a historical story, saying the performance was quite melodramatic with strong emotion in it. The Prince of Lanling is adapted from the legendary story of the famous Prince of Lanling of the Northern Qi Dynasty, but with a revised, if not brand-new storyline. In this new version, the Prince of Lanling used the disguise as a weak and even feminine prince to hide his true nature because he witnessed the murder of his father. In order to wake the lion inside him, his mother, the queen, gave him what was left by his father, a mask of the sacred beast. Lanling, upon wearing the mask, would magically bring out the masculinity, and become invincible on the battlefield. But at the same time, it also brought out the cold, ruthless, tyrannical human nature in him. In the end, his mother sacrificed herself to help Lanling bid farewell to the lost and find his true self. After upgrading the relations between China and Egypt to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014, cultural exchange has been at its peak as artists, cultural and musical delegations have paid frequent visits. Through such cultural moves, both countries intend to boost friendly ties under the Belt and Road Initiative, which certainly promotes understanding of each other and wakes up the ancient civilizations in the new era. "Art is now in the process of integration across the world, we want to bring Chinese art, culture and Chinese people's attitudes towards art to the outside world as much as possible," Zhang Haoyue, actor of the National Theatre of China and a leading actor of the play, told Xinhua. Zhang, who performed before in Egypt, said that art communication is very important, adding that his team have participated in the London Olympic Games. The actor said performers of the China's National Theatre have been to lots of countries, including the United States, Hungary and France, adding that this is the first time the performers brought this play, created in 2017, to a foreign country. "The story of the Prince of Lanling is well known in China," he said, adding that "we want to let foreign audience have a taste of Chinese culture through this play." Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 20:07:50|Editor: mmm Video Player Close The Tian En cargo ship of China's COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers Co., is seen at the Swedish port of Harnosand, on Sept. 15, 2018. Chinese cargo ship Tian En arrived Saturday at the Swedish port of Harnosand, ending its maiden voyage across the Arctic region to deliver wind power equipment to Europe. (Xinhua/Liu Hongxia) ABOARD TIAN EN, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese cargo ship Tian En arrived Saturday at the Swedish port of Harnosand, ending its maiden voyage across the Arctic region to deliver wind power equipment to Europe. "After all the ice-zones and storms, we made it," said Chen Xiangwu, captain of the multifunctional ship built in 2017. Prior to Harnosand, Tian En docked at the French port of Rouen on Sept. 5 to a warm welcome from local authorities, and swarmed by a media frenzy. She also docked at the Dutch port of Eemshaven on Sept. 9. "European reporters were keen to know what we'd been through in the Arctic, and, of course, why we chose that route," Chen said. "I told them some stories along the 'Polar Silk Road,' and that the route via the Arctic is much shorter and safer than the traditional one passing the Suez Canal," he said. Lu Yi, second officer of the ship, told Xinhua that the route across the Arctic has saved about one third of sailing days and around 300 tons of fuel. "It's really economical, both for us and our European clients." In a white paper on its Arctic policy early this year, China said it would intensify cooperation with other countries to jointly build the Polar Silk Road, part of the Belt and Road Initiative. Tian En, which is owned by COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers Co., is expected to berth in Finland on Sept. 23 before heading back to China. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 20:12:52|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ATHENS, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- After being hospitalized with methanol poisoning, 27-year-old Rafael Kourmoulakis, a young Chemical Engineer researcher, decided to help people from fake spirits that can be dangerous for health. Counterfeit spirits often contain dangerous levels of methanol, a chemical used in antifreeze, which can cause sore throats, dizziness, sickness and even blindness. "When I was young, and first-year student at the Chemical Engineering Department in Patras I was hospitalized with methanol poisoning. So, I have seen that prevention does not exist and prevention has to come finally," Rafael Kourmoulakis told Xinhua in a recent interview in Athens. His test that is currently in an experimental stage can distinguish the counterfeited drink from the authentic one. "Clear drink", as he has thought to name the test, will be portable into a small box with valves and a capsule and can be sold to drugstores like pregnancy tests. "Possible every drink can be adulterated and the consumer can be poisoned. But with this test for the first time in human history, we will have portable and instant prevention. We will have the first alarm which will say to the consumers: stop, don't drink," he explained. The operation of the device will be very simple as the consumer with just a drop from the cocktail can see within a few seconds if it is fake or not. "You can get two possible results; one for positive adulteration and one for negative adulteration with color. The test consists of two vials. When we inject the sample into the reactor all the stuff is kept liquid except methanol which is converted into hot carbon dioxide gas so the hot CO2 can be traced in the next vial with decolorization," Kourmoulakis said. To safeguard his patent and his rights, the young researcher also addressed to the European patent office and the Industrial Property Organization. "We have a report from the European patent office that states that no such test exists and besides that we have the international pre-search report from the Greek patent office which states that only tests for wine have been patented. So, this test is suitable for any drink," he explained. According to the researcher, the test will be available not only to tourists and customers to bars, but to governmental authorities as well to tackle the tax evasion. Alcohol counterfeiting comes with potential health, economic and social consequences. Tax increases in the spirits industry offer a fertile ground for the black market to flourish reinforcing incentives for tax evasion, smuggling, and fraud. In the last 20 years, Greece has seen eight tax hikes in spirits, with four within the space of 18 months, from 2009 to 2010, sending the special consumption tax soaring 125 percent. The increase in excise duties covering alcohol and alcoholic drinks is the highest among the EU neighboring and competitive touristic countries resulting to cross-border illegal trade and smuggling. According to the latest study conducted by the Athens- based Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE), the state's lost revenues from the illegal trade in alcoholic drinks is estimated at between 90 and 147 million euros per year. The lost revenues reach up to 430 million euros per year if one adds the consequences of illegal alcohol trading on the entire supply chain and not just production. Kourmoulakis is in search of investors to produce the test at a large industrial scale, since "Clear drink" is in experimental stage. "My intention is to find someone to invest," he said as his dream is the device to be in the pocket of every consumer starting from Greece and gradually spreading all over the world. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 20:17:55|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Afghan security force members stand at a security checkpoint in Kandahar city, capital of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 16, 2018. Unknown armed militants gunned down a district chief and his son in the southern Kandahar province on Saturday, an official said.(Xinhua/Sanaullah Seiam) KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Unknown armed militants gunned down a district chief and his son in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province on Saturday, an official said. "Unidentified armed militants opened fire on Governor of Shamanzo district Haj Mehmand and his son in Ainu Mina town, killing both on the spot and made their good escape," Aziz Ahmad Azizi, the provincial governor spokesman, told Xinhua. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the deadly attack. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 20:17:55|Editor: mmm Video Player Close ALGIERS, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Algeria will cooperate with China in building a phosphate plant worth 6 billion U.S. dollars in the northeast region of Algeria, said Youcef Yousfi, Algerian minister for industry and mines, late on Friday. This project aims at exploiting the rich high-quality phosphate resources in Algeria, which will be produced to fertilizers, ammonia, silicon and other materials used in various economic activities, Yousfi was quoted as saying by state-run radio Channel 1. The project will be completed in partnership between two Algerian companies, namely the energy giant Sonatrach and state-run fertilizer manufacturer Semidal-Manal, and two Chinese companies including CITIC and Wengfu Group, the minister added. He revealed that the project will spread on four areas, including the eastern province of Tebessa with an investment budget of 1.2 billion dollars, the eastern province of Souk Ahras with 2.2 billion dollars, the northeastern province of Skikda with 2.5 billion dollars, and the port of the northeastern province of Annaba with 200 million dollars. He noted that, through the project, Algeria will be able to export 2 billion dollars of fertilizers annually to become one of the largest fertilizer exporters around the world. China's share in this mega project is estimated at 49 percent, while the Algerian side will hold a majority 51 percent, based on investment law in Algeria. The minister revealed that the shareholders will establish their consortium group during the last quarter of 2018, while the production is scheduled to start in 2022. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 20:17:56|Editor: mmm Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- China has demolished a large number of energy-consuming and high-emission power plants with the installed capacity of 170 million kilowatts, more than double that of Britain's total, a Chinese senior official at an international climate summit said here Friday. Xie Zhenhua, China's Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs, who was attending the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) that ended in San Francisco earlier in the day, said China has made major significant contributions to global efforts in reducing carbon emissions under the Paris Agreement on climate change. Speaking at a press conference at the end of the three-day event on climate challenge, Xie refuted criticisms of some Western people who accused China of building more coal-burned power plants at a time when countries are fighting for reduction of carbon emissions. Britain has a total installed capacity of about 70 million kilowatts in its power plants nationwide, but the gross installed capacity of the power plants demolished in China was over two times more than in Britain, to reach 170 million kilowatts, Xie said. He said China is committed to a path of green, low-carbon and renewable development that fits into its own national condition. China has been playing an active role in addressing climate change and delivering on the goal of the Paris Agreement, said Xie. The emission of carbon dioxide per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017 dropped 46 percent from the level of 2005 in China, which means the country has achieved the goal of 2020 for the reduction of carbon intensity, Xie said. He said his foreign counterparts have all acknowledged China's efforts to fight climate change and cut carbon emissions, hailing China as a country that is really taking action to fight for a low carbon world. Xie said California Governor Jerry Brown told him that the California state, the host of the 2018 GCAS, is willing to learn from China in developing green transportation such as electric vehicles. China is the world's largest market of e-sedans with about 1.6 million units, accounting for an estimated 50 percent of the total number of e-sedans globally, Xie said. He quoted statistics of the World Bank as saying that China accounts for more than 52 percent of the energy saved by the whole world over the past 20 years. China will continue to develop new and innovative technology to attain both the national and the world goals of low carbon emissions, Xie said. Xie is a co-chair of the Global Climate Action Summit that aims to champion climate policies and measures to bring down carbon emissions worldwide. An exhibitor fills a glass with beer at the second editon of the Beirut International Beer Event(BIBE) held in Beirut, capital of Lebanon, on Sept. 14, 2018. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) ZAHLE, Lebanon, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Arak, a Lebanese local alcoholic beverage, has witnessed a remarkable slowdown in production in the past few years because of stiff competition from imported alcoholic beverages. "The taste of people has changed tremendously," Joseph Haddad, owner of a small Arak factory in Zahle, told Xinhua that young people today prefer to drink imported alcoholic products such as beer, wine, vodka and whiskey. An exhibitor fills a glass with beer at the second editon of the Beirut International Beer Event(BIBE) held in Beirut, capital of Lebanon, on Sept. 14, 2018. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) Haddad's arguments were echoed by Fadi Hamra, who owns a tourist resort in Bekaa Valley, the capital city of which is Zahle. "We see a lot of ads promoting wine nowadays, which attract a lot of clients to this product," said Hamra. Abo George Saghbini, known to be "the King of Arak" in Lebanon, also warned that the import of alcoholic drinks will lead to the collapse of the Arak industry with time. "The drop in the manufacturing of Arak weighed negatively on the economic situation in Zahle, as lots of citizens in the city rely on this production for their living," he lamented, holding in his hand a glass of Arak of his own production. Considered an indigenous Lebanese alcoholic drink, Arak, made of grapes and aniseed, is as transparent as water. The production of Arak dates back to 1890, while its export started in 1920. "Drinking Arak is one of the Lebanese traditions for celebration, served usually ahead of the main dish with Lebanese appetizers and grilled meat or fish," said Saghbini, already in his 70s. Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2018 shows bottles of beer on display at the second editon of the Beirut International Beer Event(BIBE) held in Beirut, capital of Lebanon. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) According to the old Lebanese man, Arak is different from other alcoholic drinks, as its color turns into milky white when water and ice are added before drinking to cover the strong smell of the aniseed. The production of Arak typically goes through three stages, he explained. In the first stage, grapes, harvested between September and October, are seeded and stored in barrels for 15 days to be fermented. In the next two stages, alcohol is extracted from fermented grapes to get purified, and then turns into Arak with added aniseed. Saghbini said the annual production of Arak has plummeted from 24 million bottles at the end of the 1980s to only 2 million nowadays. In addition to competition from foreign alcoholic drinks, decline in grape production is another reason behind the slowdown of Arak manufacturing in Zahle. Jalal Rahhal, a farmer who plants 48 hectares of grapes, said farmers in the past decade have gradually shifted to table grapes from grapes grown for Arak production to maximize their profits. "It is more profitable for farmers to grow table grapes which sell at 1.5-2 U.S. dollars per kilo, while grapes used in producing Arak sell at fewer than 1 dollar per kilo," he explained. According to the association of Bekaa traders, Lebanon exports about 20 percent to 25 percent of its Arak production, earning a revenue ranging between 3 million to 4 million dollars. The top importers of Lebanese Arak are the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq. Meanwhile, the fading of the Arak industry dealt a blow to the employment market in Zahle, considered one of the most beautiful cities in Lebanon, since the industry provides hundreds of jobs in the city. "We are proud of our traditional Arak and we hold on to it," said Haddad. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 20:43:00|Editor: mmm Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- A total of 113 pieces (sets) of ancient paintings are on display at the Palace Museum, honoring four renowned painters from the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The painters, best known for their Chinese landscape paintings, were Wang Shimin, Wang Jian, Wang Hui and Wang Yuanqi. Called the Four Wangs, the painters stressed the imitation of ancient and classical styles and techniques, said Shan Jixiang, curator of the museum. "Their artistic styles became orthodox in landscape painting back then, and left a far-reaching influence on the landscape painting in Qing Dynasty," Shan said. The Palace Museum is home to about 800 pieces (sets) of works by the Four Wangs. The exhibition, hosted at the Hall of Literary Brilliance, will last until Oct. 30. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 20:53:01|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KABUL, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Afghan president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani met with visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday. The two sides exchanged views on matters related to mutual interests including the Afghan peace process, stability and joint cooperation in the war on terror, said a statement from the Presidential Palace. "In the meeting both sides discussed the progress of the action plan of Afghanistan and Pakistan for peace, security, solidarity as well as the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process and Pakistan's support to the process," the statement added. President Ghani in the meeting stressed for enhancing bilateral cooperation under the bilateral framework of cooperation including the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) and the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Coordination, the statement further said. This is Qureshi's the first visit to Afghanistan since assuming office a couple of weeks ago, during which he also held talks with his Afghan counterpart Salahudin Rabbani and discussed relations between the two neighboring nations. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 21:03:05|Editor: mmm Video Player Close MACAO, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- All the departments of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government have been fully mobilized since Saturday to take precautionary measures for incoming super typhoon Mangkhut, the government spokesman said Saturday. The marine administrative department will issue a red storm surge warning at 9 p.m. local time (1300 GMT), a warning in its fourth-level in situations where floodwater levels are likely to be 1.5 meters to 2.5 meters above road level, government spokesman Chan Chi Ping said. After the red storm surge warning, the government's evacuation plan for low-lying areas would be activated as approximately 21,000 people living in areas prone to serious flooding will be evacuated to safe places. The meteorological authorities are likely to issue typhoon signal No. 8 Sunday morning and it is likely that typhoon signal No. 10, the highest category in the city's typhoon warning system, would be hoisted on Sunday afternoon. Chan added that the government has already prepared for the most challenging possible scenarios regarding the impact on the community. And it had the capability to adapt to and handle any situation. Moreover, the network of 16 emergency shelters across Macao will also open at 9 p.m. local time to host an aggregate of 24,000 people. Senior citizens and people with limited mobility will be able to use a transport service to a nearby shelter. To avoid flooding in underground car parking areas, 15 public car parks will be closed within an hour of the issuance of Signal No. 8. The government has already arrange more than 1,800 free spaces for private vehicles and motorcycles. Hotel resorts in Macao have provided another 2,770 spaces for free. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 21:18:09|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NAIROBI, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- African environment ministers are set to meet in Nairobi from Monday to deliberate on strategies, plans and investments required to implement innovative environmental solutions, organizers said on Saturday. The UN Environment said the seventh special session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment that starts on Sept. 17 will be attended by 54 African ministers of the environment, experts and representatives of African civil society groups. "The ministers will be looking at possibility of turning environmental policies into action through innovative solutions," said the UN Environment in a statement. It said that the outcomes of the conference will shape African countries' position and their inputs into the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) that will take place in 2019. The UN Environment noted that the meeting will also provide an opportunity for the region to prepare for the fourteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity scheduled for Nov. 17-29 in Egypt. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 21:18:10|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close File photo taken on July, 9, 2012 shows Gamal Mubarak(L) and Alaa Mubarak(R front) are seen behind bars during a trial in Cairo. An Egyptian court ordered on Saturday the arrest of Gamal Mubarak and Alaa Mubarak, the sons of former president Hosni Mubarak, and two other defendants over charges of stock market manipulation, official Ahram news website reported. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) CAIRO, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian court ordered on Saturday the arrest of Gamal Mubarak and Alaa Mubarak, the sons of former President Hosni Mubarak, and two other defendants over charges of stock market manipulation, official Ahram news website reported. According to the report, the Cairo Criminal Court has also set the date of the trial at Oct. 20. The prosecution charged the defendants with profiteering from selling the National Bank and obtaining illegal financial gains of over 493 million Egyptian pounds (27.6 million U.S. dollars) by allowing a Cyprus-based company to get the bank's shares. The two sons of Mubarak, who ruled Egypt for almost 30 years, had been released pending trial in June 2013. Alaa and Gamal Mubarak were put on trial over a number of corruption charges in the wake of the January 2011 uprising that led to the fall of their father's regime. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 21:18:11|Editor: mmm Video Player Close LUSAKA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Young Zambians are happy and excited over China's decision to introduce a capacity building initiative for Africa. The young Zambians are excited and hopeful that young Africans will have an opportunity to access education as well as be afforded an opportunity to be trained in entrepreneurship. This, they feel, will go a long way in ensuring that young Africans contribute effectively to the socio-economic development of their respective countries. During the recently held Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Chinese capital Beijing, China announced eight initiatives to run for the next three years and beyond aimed at building a closer China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era. Among the initiatives is the capacity building initiative in which China will share more of its development practices with Africa and support cooperation with the continent on economic and social development planning. On the capacity building initiative, China will establish 10 Luban Workshops in Africa to provide vocational training for young Africans as well as support opening of a China-Africa innovation cooperation center to promote youth innovation and entrepreneurship. Under the initiative, a tailor-made program will also be carried out to train 1,000 high-caliber Africans. China will also provide Africa with 50,000 government scholarships and 50,000 training opportunities through seminars and workshops. China will also invite 2,000 young Africans to visit China for exchanges. "Of the eight initiatives which they plan to implement to enhance and deepen the ties between Africa and China, I feel of personal interest to me is the fifth initiative that is talking about capacity building," Jacob Longwe, a third year student pursuing Cultural Studies with Chinese Language at the University of Zambia said. He said that capacity building is the prerequisite for other pursuits such as industrial production, infrastructure connectivity and health care service. According to him, the capacity building initiative will result in the building of African expertise which will be able to push Africa's development agenda forward. He said it was gratifying that China wanted to share its development practices with Africa, adding that getting best practices on how China has developed will result in Africa jump-starting its development as well. Lazaruous Lombe, another third year student pursuing Education Psychology with Chinese Language at the same university is also elated by China's decision to build the capacity of African countries. According to him, equipping Africans with innovation and entrepreneurship skills will help the continent take its development agenda to another level. "With regard to the fifth point that has been raised which has to do with capacity building, that is targeting the young people. Personally I believe that it is a very good move in that I believe that every country's success in terms of development or improvement in any sector of development starts with skills," he said. He added that Africa was currently grappling with the problem of high youth unemployment as well as lack of education opportunities for many young people, many of whom were engaged in vices such as drug abuse. Kerris Habwacha, another third year student also welcomed the initiative, saying it will bring a lot of benefits to the African continent. "The idea of promoting this capacity building is actually welcome and it is very important to the African continent in the sense that it is going to create employment to the young Africans and also innovation in the young people," he said. The initiative, he said, will also bring development in the education sector because of the vocational trainings program, adding that China will be able to impart into Africans its technological and innovation advancement. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 21:23:13|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NAIROBI, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Enactment of policies and legislation that encourage safe termination of pregnancies is key to containing rising toll of maternal deaths in Kenya's resource constrained settings, campaigners said on Saturday. The advocates affiliated with Marie Stopes Kenya which is a leading provider of family planning and reproductive health services, said that regulated and medically sound abortion could reduce the number of maternal deaths in the country. "Kenya loses an estimated seven women daily due to unsafe abortion and this number could be reduced if affordable and safe methods of terminating pregnancies were available to all income groups," said Chris Wainaina, the Director in charge of marketing at Maries Stopes Kenya. He noted that the Kenyan constitution supports a surgical procedure to remove a fetus to victims of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is at stake. "We need to start a conversation on the best way to end controversies around abortion in a country where 40 to 50 percent of maternal deaths are linked to unsafe termination of pregnancies that were not planned in the first place," Wainaina said. A survey conducted recently by Marie Stopes Kenya indicated that girls aged 10 to 19 years reported the highest prevalence of complications arising from unsafe abortion followed by divorced women. The survey revealed that an estimated 21,000 women are admitted to Kenya's public health facilities annually to seek treatment for complications arising from unsafe or induced abortion. Edita Adhiambo, a reproductive health rights campaigner based in Nairobi's Kibera Slums, said that access to safe abortion should be embedded in maternal and infant health policies. "Women in poor neighborhoods are dying at a high rate from complications linked to unsafe abortion yet they could have survived if the procedure was carried out by a professional," said Adhiambo. Stephanie Wanjiru, a gender rights campaigner, said that access to modern contraceptives and safe abortion services is key to boost health of economically deprived women and girls. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 21:28:15|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close JUBA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with South Sudan's health ministry has strengthened HIV treatment cascade to improve interventions and achieve the national 90-90-90 targets, an ambitious goal to end the pandemic. Moses Mutebi Nganda, Medical Officer at WHO South Sudan, said over the last decades, Juba has continued to face humanitarian crises of varying nature and intensity weakening the health systems and thus hindering progressive coverage of health services including HIV. "The HIV treatment cascade is a convenient tool for assessing integrated health service delivery for people living with HIV," Nganda said in a statement issued in Juba on Saturday. The HIV treatment cascade, also referred to as the HIV care continuum, is a system to monitor the number of individuals living with HIV who are actually receiving medical care and the treatment they need. The tool tracks the progress individuals make from the initial diagnosis to achieving a very low level of HIV in the body. According to WHO currently, a large gap exists between the number of people who have HIV, those who are aware of their infection, those receiving effective treatment and those virally suppressed. "To improve quality of care, address gaps and increase efficiencies along the continuum for better outcomes of treatment, WHO held a five-day training workshop on HIV treatment cascade," said the UN health agency. It said health workers including medical doctors and clinical officers, nurses, counselors, pharmacist and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) officers reviewed and identified the HIV care cascades, programmatic gaps and support facilities with practical approaches to strengthening M&E systems. Victora Achut, National HIV/AIDS Program Manager at the ministry of health said the current coverage of services is inadequate, and the rate of expansion is too slow to achieve the 2020 national 90-90-90 targets. Achut said the ultimate aim of the National HIV treatment program is for people living with HIV to be virally suppressed. "For this to happen, people living with HIV need to be diagnosed promptly, linked to care, initiated on antiretroviral treatment (ART) and continuously adhere to medication," Achut stressed. Motorists wade through a flooded road after a heavy downpour in Lagos, Nigeria. (Xinhua/NAN) LAGOS, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's emergency agency has placed all disaster response units across the country on red alert due to rising water levels, an official said Friday. Water levels across the country have been rising consistently due to heavy rainfall, Mustapha Maihaja, director-general of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said. He said NEMA has identified 12 frontline states that might be prone to floods this year, noting that floods could occur any time in those states. Meanwhile, police in northeast Adamawa has advised riverine communities in the state to relocate before Saturday to avoid impending flood. Habibu Musa, a police spokesperson, said the call became necessary as neighboring Cameroon would release excess water from Lagdo Dam. He urged the affected communities to cooperate with security personnel and other emergency workers while relocating to safer areas. Floods had killed more than 10 persons and displaced scores of others in the state, following the recent heavy rainfall. Many domestic animals, including cattle, were also lost to the floods. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 22:13:23|Editor: mmm Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's national observatory on Saturday issued a red alert for super typhoon Mangkhut, the highest level of warning. Mangkhut is expected to land in coastal areas between Zhuhai and Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province, on Sunday afternoon or evening, bringing gales at the speed of 45 m to 52 m per second, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said. It will continue to move northwest after the landing, but its force will dwindle, the NMC said. Mangkhut, the 22nd typhoon of the year, could become the strongest one to make landfall, the NMC said, suggesting local governments prepare for possible disasters. The typhoon will bring strong wind and heavy rain to areas along its route, with some areas expected to experience downpours of up to 80 mm per hour, the NMC said. China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system for typhoons with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 22:33:26|Editor: yan Video Player Close BELGRADE, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Serbia and India are dedicated to expanding bilateral cooperation and promoting mutual business connections - Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India and Aleksandar Vucic, President of Serbia agreed at their meeting in Belgrade on Saturday. At the press conference after the meeting Naidu reminded that this is his first visit to a European country since assuming duty as vice president, and reminded that it is also the first visit of a high Indian official to Serbia since 1989 (visit of the former Prime Minister Rajiv Ghandi). "My visit has a special importance to it, because the two countries mark 70 years since establishment of diplomatic relations", he said, explaining that the meeting with Vucic was "about all important aspects as well as global and regional issues". According to Naidu, India and Serbia have been developing plans to advance partnership in many areas, and at this meeting the two officials expressed "dedication to working on the expansion of bilateral cooperation in the area of economy, agriculture, food processing, defense, science and technology, infrastructure, tourism and the pharmaceutical industry". India wishes to have closer cooperation with Serbia and will continue to support the territorial integrity of Serbia," Naidu stressed. Vucic expressed admiration for recent India's "extraordinary economic results", and said he expected the two countries to upgrade their political and economic relations in the future. Stressing the importance of developing relations between Serbia and "one of the top-ranked countries when it comes to economic growth", Vucic noted that the trade exchange has been increasing over the past years, and last year it summed up to 198.1 million USD. Vucic pointed out that Serbia has high expectations from Indian investors, especially in the area of digitalization and software and estimated that "slow-paced negotiations will start to give results in following years". Moreover, he highlighted the possibilities of realizing ongoing ideas for military-technical cooperation that could give an incentive to overall exchange in trade and technology. "We liberated visa regime for the citizens of India, and we hope to establish a direct airline connection ... so that connections and contacts can be established between our peoples and businessmen," Vucic said. After the meeting, delegations signed two agreements -- the agreement on cooperation between Serbia and India in the field of health, plants and plant quarantine and the agreement on air transport. A business forum Serbia-India is scheduled for the afternoon, while Naidu is announced to address Serbian parliament at a special session. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 22:43:29|Editor: yan Video Player Close A resident on his motorcycle braves the rain in Isabela Province, Philippines, Sept. 14, 2018. The Philippines has started evacuating over 800,000 residents in several provinces in the northern Philippines who are living in the path of the strong typhoon that is expected to make a landfall this Saturday. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) MANILA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 people died and five others went missing as super typhoon Mangkhut hit the northern Philippines early Saturday, disaster officials said. The Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said two emergency responders died in a landslide in the Cordillera Administrative Region of Luzon Island and another girl apparently drowned in Marikina river in Metro Manila. Secretary Francis Tolentino, presidential adviser for political affairs, told a local radio interview that four other people died in Cayapa, Nueva Vizcaya, including a two-year-old and an eight-month-old baby. "Their house was pinned by a tree," Tolentino said. The NDRRMC also said that four people were reported injured. However, Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan said in an interview with a local television that his office received reports that five died and five others went missing in a landslide in Baguio City. The local media also reported that a 13-year-old also died in another landslide in Itogon, Benguet. The NDRRMC has yet to release an official casualty report on the typhoon. Ricardo Jalad, the executive director of NDRRMC, admitted that the initial number of casualties will increase in the coming days. More than 40 landslides have been reported in the Cordillera region and efforts are underway to clear the roads there, the NDRRMC added. The typhoon also destroyed houses, toppled trees and displaced more than 60,000 in several villages in the northern Philippines. The government is also restoring power supplies in areas that experienced power outages. Nearly 5 million Filipinos have been affected by the typhoon, mostly farmers and fishermen from the provinces. The super typhoon Mangkhut, which made landfall at 1:40 a.m. local time on Saturday in the northern Philippines, exited this Southeast Asian country on Saturday night. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 22:48:31|Editor: ZX Video Player Close ANKARA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's undisputed culinary center Gaziantep will host from Sept. 20 to 22 an international gastronomy festival with famous chefs and activities, an event that local authorities think will boost tourism in the country. Gaziantep, a Turkish city with a thriving food scene, is located in southeastern Turkey on the ancient Silk Road trading route, near the Syrian border. The city, home to several civilizations of the past, is geographically situated on a crossroads of cultures between the East and the West, connecting Anatolia and Mesopotamia to the Middle East. It has rich historical and cultural traditions which made its cuisine famous with its dozens of culinary delights, herbs and spices. Gaziantep cuisine was added to the UNESCO's "The Creative Cities Network" cities list in 2015 and therefore constitutes according to gastronomy experts the "excellent location" to host the "Gastroantep" event. The festival will, according to the organization committee, welcome 41 chefs from 40 countries, including world-famous Michelin-starred chefs, who will prepare their own dishes and also taste the unique cuisine of the city, with some traditional dishes reinterpreted in a modern way. Gastronomy remains the main driving force of the local economy in the city of nearly 2 million inhabitants, 60 percent employed by the sector and nearly half of the enterprises are mainly dedicated to food, entitling Gaziantep "the City of Food" in Turkey. Organizers of the three-day event told Xinhua that the city was preparing for the festival for nearly a year and the entire population was ready to host invitees. They also underlined that the festival would attract tourists to the city which suffered from the seven-year-long war in neighboring Syria. Thousands of refugees have flocked to the city because of the raging conflict in their country. The Gaziantep municipality has demonstrated a strong commitment to promote the city's cultural, historic and gastronomical heritage. Mayor Fatma Sahin, a former cabinet member, was active in the organization of several culinary events among others in her city. "In the next three years, we aim to host 3 million foreign tourists. Gastroantep will be the culmination of our efforts to promote our city's delights," she told reporters. Gaziantep municipality plans to open a unique museum dedicated to pistachio, which would the first of its kind in the world, showing how it is grown, processed and used abundantly in the food industry. The food festival will also be a good opportunity to promote another part of Gaziantep, the Zeugma Museum, the world's largest mosaic museum, where visitors can find stunningly well-preserved mosaics uncovered and saved from the Roman archeological site of Belkis-Zeugma, unfortunately now completely flooded by a dam. Lovers of food to attend the festival will also have the chance to treat their palate with the kebab dishes of Gaziantep and also the lahmacun, a flat bread with spicy meat mince. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 23:03:34|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIRUT, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The vessel CMA CGM Maupassant from China arrived at the Lebanese port of Tripoli on Saturday unloading 1,300 containers, local media reported. "CMA CGM Maupassant, a 300-meter-long vessel with 40 meters of width, carries 6,000 containers on board," the National News Agency reported. CMA CGM, a leading worldwide shipping group, is expected to open a second maritime line between Lebanon and China in October with vessels that have the capacity to carry 10,000 containers. "The opening of this new line reflects the confidence of the international community in the capacity of Tripoli's port among all other ports in the Mediterranean sea," according to the statement. It added that Tripoli's port is a hub for the distribution and export of containers to other countries in the region. This is the fourth vessel that arrived from China at Tripoli's port. On Sept. 6, another vessel from China arrived at Lebanon's Tripoli port to unload products for the local market and transport containers to other ports in the region. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 23:08:35|Editor: yan Video Player Close CAIRO, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Molla signed on Saturday two deals with international firms to explore petroleum and gas in two deep-water areas in the Mediterranean and the Western Desert. In a statement, the ministry said the deals were signed with companies from Canada, Britain, the Netherlands, Malaysia and Kuwait, adding that the deals include drilling 12 wells at an investment of at least 1 billion U.S. dollars. The minister affirmed that the petroleum sector will proceed with offering international bids, as well as signing new agreements with the aim of boosting Egypt's production of petroleum and gas to reduce imports. Once an energy exporter, Egypt has turned into a net importer of energy in recent years, as a result of declining production and increasing consumption. However, Egypt aims to return to an energy exporter after resources were discovered across the country, which attracted international firms over the past few years. Egypt is currently engaged in deals with international energy corporations for oil and gas exploration, including Italy's Eni and Britain's BP. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 23:23:39|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close TEHRAN, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Iran would increase uranium enrichment if the European Union (EU) fails to implement its obligations following the U.S. withdrawal from the Iranian landmark nuclear deal, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Saturday. "The Europeans and the other signatories must act in order to compensate for the effects of the U.S. sanctions," Zarif was quoted as saying by Press TV. He downplayed the possibility of Iran's withdrawal from the nuclear deal, but cautioned the EU partners that Iran might act if they fail to secure Iran's interests in the deal. "Oil and banks" are the "litmus test," he said, alluding to the EU pledges to help Tehran in the face of U.S. re-imposition of sanctions on Iran's oil exports and banking transactions. European parties need to decide whether being ready to follow their words, Zarif said, adding that "they should also decide if they want to submit to U.S. pressure." Iran and six world powers, namely Russia, Britain, China, France, the United States and Germany, struck a landmark agreement over Iran's nuclear program in 2015, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). However, U.S. President Donald Trump decided to withdraw Washington from the deal on May 8 and re-impose sanctions, including oil embargo, on Iran. Iran has held several rounds of talks with France, Britain and Germany to revive the blocking statute, a 1996 regulation that prohibits EU companies and courts from complying with foreign sanctions laws. Iran has incessantly urged Europe to take "practical and tangible measures" to protect Iranian interests since the U.S. pullout. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 23:28:41|Editor: yan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) militants are using three methods to confront the attacks carried out by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, a war monitor reported on Saturday. The IS militants in its last pocket in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour are using tunnels to move underground between positions and frontline to avert being targeted, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The militants are also relying on counter-attacks against the SDF, which has recently started a broad offensive backed by the U.S.-led coalition against the IS pockets on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. The third method, the observatory continued, is depending on an extensive network of mines planted around the IS-held areas to prevent the SDF from storming in. The Britain-based watchdog group said that 38 SDF fighters and 57 IS militants were killed since the battle against the IS-held pocket started on Sept. 10. It said the SDF militias are advancing in the fight against IS in the al-Baghous area near the Syrian-Iraqi border in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour. The SDF forces are also advancing in the town of Hajin, another area in the IS-held pocket near the desert region of Deir al-Zour. The battles are coupled with intensive airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition on the IS-held areas, according to the observatory. Recent reports said the IS control over Syrian territory has shrunk to one percent after it captured almost half of the country a couple of years ago. The Syrian army stripped IS of large swathes of areas in Deir al-Zour, including the provincial capital, while the SDF is attempting to consolidate positions in the northern and northeastern countryside of Deir al-Zour. Delegates attend the opening ceremony of the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) held in San Francisco, U.S., Sept. 13, 2018. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The international community is on the right track to tackle climate change, but challenges remain in the years ahead, said delegates at an international climate summit. The Global Climate Action Summit, which concluded on Friday in the western U.S. city of San Francisco, saw more than 500 commitments made over three days by more than 4,500 delegates from governments, businesses, organizations and academia. The summit focused on finding solutions in five major challenge areas, namely healthy energy system, inclusive economic growth, sustainable communities, land and ocean stewardship, and transformative climate investments, through integrated efforts. BOTTOM-UP EFFORTS STRENGTHENED At the closing of the events, many delegates expressed optimism in delivering on the ambitions of the Paris Agreement as bottom-up efforts were strengthened through the summit. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, leader of World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) global climate and energy practice, said the summit sent out a strong message that everyone matters in the cause of fighting climate change and protecting the planet, and when businesses, civil society and academia could effect major change if they join forces. This is the power of bottom-up climate actions. According to the report "Fulfilling America's Pledge" presented by summit co-chairs California Governor Jerry Brown and United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Climate Action Michael Bloomberg on Thursday, bottom-up efforts have been the driving force for the United States to continue carbon emission reduction efforts after the federal government withdrew policy support. With these efforts, the country is almost halfway to meeting its original 2025 Paris Agreement goal, said the report. "Until we get leadership in Washington, the report we're releasing this morning can serve as a blueprint for national climate action, driven by the bottom up," said Bloomberg. He said the report could also serve as a blueprint for other countries to step up their own bottom-up progress, which is starting to happen. MORE NATIONAL EFFORTS URGED In the summit's Call to Global Climate Action, delegates appealed to national governments to join forces to step up climate action ahead of 2020 -- the year when global greenhouse gases need to peak and fall sharply thereafter to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. "We call on the national governments of the world to: Step-Up Ambition Now including in the form of enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2020, consistent with what science tells us is needed to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement Now; Chart a Clear path to your Zero-carbon future and Empower Bottom-Up Climate Action," it says. Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of United Nations climate change and Summit co-chair, said the summit and its Call to Action make an important contribution towards achieving their collective goal: to keep global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius in line with the Paris Agreement. "It will encourage governments worldwide to step up their actions, demonstrating the vital role that states and regions, companies, investors, and civil society are playing to tackle climate change," said Espinosa. CHINA ACHIEVEMENTS HIGHLIGHTED Meanwhile, China's efforts to combat climate change were fully recognized at the summit. Government officials and industry leaders who attended China Pavilion, the summits three-day affiliate event, said these efforts have yielded fruitful results, and China's leadership will be vital in the future as countries join hands to tackle the urgent problem. "China's leadership has been truly outstanding. I want to repeat the gratitude people around the world feel for China," said Al Gore, former vice president of the United States. He said it is high time that countries stepped up financing clean energy and phased out subsidies of fossil fuels as consequences of climate crisis such as increasing occurrence of major storms are beginning to awaken people all over the world. "It is significant that China is also the global leader in financing renewable energy," he said. Nicholas Stern, chair of Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at London School of Economics and Political Science, said through the "extremely important and positive" Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China will be able to show roughly half of the world's population that achieving growth does not necessarily result in damage to the climate. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-16 01:04:00|Editor: yan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Syria's Defense Minister Ali Abdullah Ayyoub on Saturday visited military positions in the countryside of Idlib province, where the Syrian army is bracing for an offensive to retake the last major rebel stronghold. Upon the directives of President Bashar al-Assad, Ayyoub visited the military positions in the countrysides of Idlib, the central province of Hama and Latakia province in northwestern Syria, according to the state news agency SANA. The rebels hold the areas in a triangle that stretches through the southern countryside of Idlib, the northeastern countryside of Latakia and the northern countryside of Hama. The Syrian forces on frontline areas near the rebel-held ones are bracing to launch a wide-scale offensive to dislodge the rebels from those areas as a prelude to the decisive battle in Idlib, which is the last major rebel stronghold in Syria. According to SANA, the defense minister met with Syrian forces on the frontline, discussing the measures and readiness of the Syrian forces to maintain high readiness to "secure engaging in combat battles later to end any presence of terrorist groups on Syrian soil." The Syrian army has been targeting rebel positions in the northern countryside of Hama and southern Idlib countryside recently, as a prelude to the anticipated battle. As Turkey has a sway on the rebel groups in Idlib, the battle has been postponed amid efforts to separate the terror-designated groups from the less radical ones that could opt to achieve reconciliation with the government. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-16 01:24:04|Editor: yan Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least four Yemeni people were killed when mortar shells targeted their house in the Red Sea coast city of Hodeidah on Saturday, a security official told Xinhua. "Mortar shells fired by the Houthi rebels landed randomly on a residential area in Hodeidah, killing four civilians including children inside their house," the local security source said on condition of anonymity. He said that areas recently captured by government forces are the prime target for Houthis in Hodeidah and witnessed similar incidents. The shelling using mortar rounds and artillery weapons occur in a daily basis in Hodeidah province, according to the source. Some of the international organizations operating in Hodeidah provide treatment for injured Yemenis who are unable to afford high costs of medical care. 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 Houthis of using the port to smuggle Iranian weapons. Both Houthis and Iran denied the accusation. Humanitarian agencies have warned of any attack on the port, saying it would lead to the world's biggest humanitarian catastrophe in modern history. 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. Thousands of families have fled the war-torn city of Hodeidah and other parts of the province since June, seeking shelter in neighboring provinces controlled by the government. The coalition intervened in Yemen's conflict in March 2015 to roll back Iran-allied Shiite Houthi rebels and reinstate Hadi. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-16 01:44:08|Editor: yan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Tens of Thousands of Ethiopians gathered on Saturday in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa to welcome Dawud Ibsa, leader of the previously banned rebel group Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). Ibsa arrived in Addis Ababa after more than two decades in exile, amid sweeping political reforms that are being undertaken by the administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed which assumed office in April. OLF and two other rebel groups were delisted from a terror list in June by Ethiopian parliament, as the ruling coalition Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democracy (EPRDF) pledge to reform the political space in the country. Addressing an enthusiastic crowd of tens of thousands of supporters, Ibsa said his group is ready to help the ongoing political reform process of the Ahmed administration and vowed to play a constructive role in Ethiopia's economic and political development. "OLF is prepared to work without precondition with any political parties and movements to ensure Ethiopians' human and democratic rights are respected," he said to a cheering crowd. Speaking to Xinhua, Daniel Dendena, 50, a supporter of OLF, said the day was special as he has went through many tribulations including 15 years in year in prison for supporting the rebel movement. "I hope this day symbolizes our freedom to express our political opinions, but also that Oromos can from now on be able to work with other Ethiopians regardless of political differences to build a greater Ethiopia," he said. Earlier on Saturday, some 1,300 OLF fighters returned to Ethiopia from Eritrea where they had been based for close to two decades. OLF has since the 1970s been fighting for self-determination for ethnic Oromos who make up about a third of Ethiopia's estimated 100 million population. The peaceful arrival of Ibsa to Addis Ababa allayed fears his homecoming could have set a stage for bloody confrontations in the multiethnic city. Days of clashes between supporters of OLF and some residents of Addis Ababa earlier this week left several dozen people injured and unspecified amount of property damage. Addis Ababa is a multiethnic city, but it is completely surrounded by Oromia regional state, the principal homeland of ethnic Oromos. Some Oromos believe the capital, currently a chartered city, 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. A photo posted on the website of the National Anti-Terrorist Committee shows a counter-terrorism operation in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan on Sept. 15, 2018. MOSCOW, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) killed three militants Saturday during a counter-terrorism operation in the country's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, the National Anti-Terrorist Committee (NAC) said. During searches in a mountainous area, law enforcement officers found a group of bandits consisting of three men, who refused to surrender and opened fire before being killed by FSB forces, the NAC said in a press release. At the scene of the fighting, weapons and ammunition were found, while investigation is underway, it said. A photo posted on the website of the National Anti-Terrorist Committee shows a counter-terrorism operation in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan on Sept. 15, 2018. There were no civilian casualties or law enforcement officer losses. Dagestan is a hotbed of insurgency as it is close to the conflict-ridden Middle East. Repeated violent attacks have plagued the region for years. In this file photo taken on April 30, 2017 a member of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces removes an Islamic State group flag in the town of Tabqa, about 55 kilometres (35 miles) west of Raqa city. (AFP PHOTO) MOSCOW, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Internationally wanted Russian citizen Ali Gekhaev suspected of financially supporting the Islamic State (IS) was extradited from Belgium to Russia Friday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said Saturday. The man, born in 1988, had lived in the territory of the European Union since 2015, where he financially supported IS militants in Syria, the FSB said in a press release. In May 2017, Gekhaev was detained in Brussels and placed under pre-extradition arrest. Further search and investigation are underway, said the FSB. Twelve political forces (8 parties/4 blocs) are vying for spots on the new Yerevan Municipal Council. Yerevan residents will go to the polls on September 23. Hetq takes a look at the assets declared by the candidates topping their respective party/alliance ballot. Elections to the 65-seat city council are on a party-list proportional representation system, with the first candidate from the winning party becoming mayor. The data, covering the past year, has been culled from disclosures filed with the Central Electoral Commission (CEC). Only candidates from the Yerkir Tsirani Party, led by former MP Zaruhi Postanjyan, havent filed disclosures. Prosperous Party of Armenia MP Naira Zohrabyan Income: AMD 12.280 million (MP wages) Cash: $71,186 Yerevan Society Alliance Anahit Tarkhanyan Tarkhanyan is the director of Radio Hye Ltd. She owns 100% of FM 105.5 Ltd. and A-3 Architects Ltd. Income: AMD 2 million (Radio Hye salary); AMD 15 million (profit from FM 105.5 Ltd.) Cash: AMD 1.8 million Property: 2 Yerevan apartments; 1 BMW 320I (2008) Yerevantsiner Alliance MP Ararat Zurabyan Zurabyan is a member of the Pan-Armenian National Movement (HHZh) and a former Yerevan Kentron District leader. Income: AMD 7 million (MP wages ) Cash: AMD 2 million, $15,000 Property: 1 Yerevan apartment; 1 plot of land and 1 private house; 1 Mercedes S-500 and 1 Porsche Cayenne Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian Hovannisyan is a former MP and the third republic's first foreign minister. Income: None Cash: AMD 205,000; $15,000 Property: 2 Yerevan houses Peoples Path Party Manuel Gasparyan Income: None (Gasparyan doesnt work) Cash: AMD 15 million Property: 1 Yerevan house and a plot of land; 2 cars (Audi A8, Mitsubishi Pajero) My Step Alliance Hayk Marutyan Marutyan is well-known comedic actor, TV star and producer who publicly supported Nikol Pashinyan during the Velvet Revolution. Cash: AMD 4.700 million; $190,000; 10,000; 500,000 Czech korunas Property: 1 apartment and 1 garage in Yerevan; 5 apartments, 1 private house and 1 parcel of land he co-owns in Prague Income: 1.338 Czech korunas (from Prague land rental); AMD 17 million (various honoraria, misc.) Luys Alliance Minister of Justice Artak Zeynalyan Before being appointed minister by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Zeynalyan served as an MP. Income: AMD 11 million (wages as minister/MP and for legal services) Cash: AMD 4.720 million; $20,689; 2.359 million Property: 3 Yerevan apartments Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Mikayel Manukyan Manukyan, a former MP, is President of the Ministry of Nature Protections Forest Committee. Income: AMD 8 million (wages) Cash: AMD 21 million; $50,000; 25,000 Property: 1 jointly-owned Yerevan apartment; 1 Yerevan car garage; 1 Mercedes Benz S-350L Hayk (Haykazunner) Party Gevorg Hovsepyan Hovsepyan is not employed and has declared zero income or cash assets. He does own an apartment in Yerevan. Reformists Party Artak Avetyan Avetyan works as a director at Shoghakat TV. Avetyan has declared zero income and cash. He has declared owning a Toyota Camry and a Lexus 470 GX. Rule of Law Party Mher Shahgeldyan Hes a former MP now serving as rector of the CSTO Academy. Income: AMD 2.520 million (wages and lecture fees) Cash: Zero Property: 1 Yerevan apartment; a 2004 model car Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-16 02:14:13|Editor: yan Video Player Close KIGALI, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Jailed Rwandan politician Victoire Ingabire was released early from prison on Saturday together with the other over 2,100 inmates who were pardoned by Rwandan President Paul Kagame the day before. Ingabire was sentenced to 15 years in 2013 by the Supreme Court after being found guilty of conspiring to harm the country through terror and minimizing the 1994's Rwandan genocide against Tutsi. Her release from prison is a clear indication of the beginning of opening up political space in Rwanda, Ingabire told reporters shortly after being set free from Mageragere Prison in the Rwandan capital Kigali. Her early release and allowing other political parties to freely operate gives her hope that this is "the beginning of opening up of political space in Rwanda," she said. "Many things have been achieved in the country and there is a lot to be achieved when we work together," she added. She also requested Kagame to release other jailed members of her political party. The inmates released on Saturday include popular musician Kizito Mihigo, who was sentenced to 10 years in 2015 by the High Court in Kigali after being found guilty of conspiracy to overthrow the Rwandan government and conspiracy to form alliance with negative forces bent on destabilizing the government. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-16 02:49:18|Editor: yan Video Player Close JUBA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Saturday condemned an attack on its peacekeepers in the Southern town of Yei, where a Nepalese peacekeeper was shot and wounded in the leg by a government soldier. UNMISS said in a statement that gun shots were fired at a convoy of four UN vehicles that were travelling from its Yei base to collect water on Saturday morning. David Shearer, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, said an SPLA soldier shot directly at one of the vehicles, hitting the Nepalese peacekeeper in the leg then ran off into a crowd. "This direct attack on UN peacekeepers here to help the people of South Sudan is unacceptable. The perpetrator must be found and held accountable by Government authorities," Shearer said. He said the troops were unable to return fire as they did not want to risk injuring civilians, adding that the injured peacekeeper was evacuated to the UN and later airlifted to Juba for further medical treatment, the statement adds. "This situation is evidence of a lack of command and control of armed forces which has resulted in unruly elements who continue to commit human rights abuses in the area. It is beholden on the Government to bring their forces under control," said Shearer. South Sudan descended into civil war in late 2013, and the conflict has created one of the fastest growing refugee crises in the world. The UN estimates that about 4 million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally, and the world's youngest nation has for the third year running been ranked as the deadliest for aid workers to operate. The latest attack on the blue helmets comes less than a week after the parties to South Sudan's five-year old conflict signed a peace deal in neighboring Ethiopia on Wednesday. The UNMISS said prior to the wounding of the peacekeeper, government soldiers had earlier fired an estimated 50 shots about 500 meters from the UN base in Yei. "Signing of the revitalized peace agreement by all parties to the conflict three days ago heralded a time of optimism for the future. It is disheartening that, despite the new agreement, fighting is continuing in the Central Equatorian region," said Shearer. The UNMISS senior official said all forces must disengage as required by the peace agreement and end the violence. "The parties must also work together to build trust between themselves and with the people of South Sudan who are suffering immensely from the ongoing conflict," said Shearer. Teacup collector June Gao displays part of her teacup collections inside her house in Vancouver, Canada, Sept. 13, 2018. (Xinhua/Liang Sen) by Evan Duggan VANCOUVER, Sept. 15 (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. Teacup collector June Gao displays her collections inside her house in Vancouver, Canada, Sept. 13, 2018. (Xinhua/Liang Sen) 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. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-16 03:59:34|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close A Syrian air defense missile is seen in the sky while responding to an Israeli missile attack on the international airport of Damascus, in Damascus, Syria, on Sept.15, 2018. Syria's air defenses responded to an Israeli attack near the international airport of the capital Damascus on Saturday evening, state TV reported. The air defenses intercepted several missiles targeting the Damascus airport, said the report, citing a military statement. DAMASCUS, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Syria's air defenses responded to an Israeli attack near the international airport of the capital Damascus on Saturday evening, state TV reported. The air defenses intercepted several missiles targeting the Damascus airport, said the report, citing a military statement. The exact target of the attack is still unknown. The attack is the latest in a string of Israeli missile strikes that targeted Syrian military bases during the protracted war in the country. On Sept. 4, Israeli warplanes infiltrated the Syrian airspace on a low altitude, targeting Syrian military sites in the central province of Hama and the northwestern province of Tartus, according to the army. In July, Israel targeted again the scientific research center in the northwestern city of Masyaf. The Saturday attack comes as the Syrian government is holding the Damascus international trade fair not far from the airport. Saturday is the last day of the week-long fair, where a large turnout thronged the fairground to enjoy the evening concerts. The Israeli attack did not stop the concerts at the fairground. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-16 06:14:53|Editor: ZX Video Player Close by Keren Setton JERUSALEM, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The European Investment Fund (EIF) announced earlier this week that it will invest 20 million U.S. dollars in Israeli clean-tech fund Israel Cleantech Ventures (ICV). It is the first EU investment of its kind, as part of the bloc's Horizon 2020 program, a research and innovation framework aimed at ensuring its global competitiveness through extensive research and innovation. "Israel is a top world innovator," said Ramona Samson, deputy head of Unit and the European Commission, while announcing the investment. "Today's innovations in clean technology coming from Internet and Communication Technology (ICT) will shape tomorrow's global economy," Samson said, adding that the next industrial revolution will shape our economy through ICT. The money is coming from InnovFin, the financial arm of the 2020 initiative. The investment is a further testament to the flourishing trade and high-tech relations between the EU and Israel since a bilateral free trade agreement was signed in 1975. The EU is Israel's largest trading partner and has remained so over the last decades, according to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics. According to EU officials at the press conference, the investment is mutually beneficial for both sides. "The relationship contributes to the well-being of Israelis and Europeans," said EU Ambassador to Israel Emanuele Giaufret. The money invested in ICV is aimed at promoting early-stage projects focused on sustainability, which is also a focus of the EIF, said EIF Chief Executive Pier Luigi Gilibert. "Israel offers a strong early stage market opportunity and ICV is an attractive first investment," he said. The marriage between ICV and EIF can be seen as a natural extension of the relations between the EU and Israel. With the EIF tasked to supporting European small and medium sized enterprises, ICV is exactly the type of firm which can serve as a complement in areas where Europe is lagging behind. "Israel's successful and dynamic innovation ecosystem, particularly in converting start-ups into novelty scale-ups, is an inspiration for Europe," said Samson. Israel is considered one of the leading global hubs for high-tech and innovation. In its short history as such a center in the past two decades, over 10,000 start-up companies have been founded, several of them sold to global giants such as Google, Intel and Facebook. There are currently more than 5,800 active start-up companies in Israel, with approximately 1,000 new ones being founded each year. According to the Israeli Innovation Authority, Israel's contribution to industrial development in Horizon 2020 will total 1.1 billion euros (1.28 billlion U.S. dollars). In 2016, the EIF signed an agreement with Israel's Leumi Bank to provide loan guarantees for seed stage startups. It allowed the bank to provide budding innovators with access to an additional 100 million dollars. "Banks are sometimes very unhappy to take risks," said Gilibert. One of the challenges for start-ups is raising money for what is often perceived as an investment that may not bear fruit. At the conclusion of the press conference, Gilibert revealed that the EIF is in the process of signing a similar agreement with an additional Israeli bank. "We are also hoping to approve investments in at least two more funds," he said. "Fostering technology will be on the top of our agenda for a long time." Students Articulate Vision for a Peaceful Future YEREVAN, ARMENIA & BAKU, AZERBAIJAN, Summer 2018 -- The youth of Armenia and Azerbaijan believe in the possibility of a peaceful future despite protracted conflict between their governments. At the intersection of creative writing and conflict resolution, the first Letters for Peace (LFP) workshops were held in Yerevan and Baku with the aim of sparking dialogue driven by a spirit of mutual respect and a belief in peaceful coexistence despite ongoing physical, narrative, and ideological conflict. In July 2018, a two-week workshop took place in Yerevan with eight students from regions throughout Armenia and one diasporan student. The workshop culminated in each student preparing a letter articulating hope for a peaceful future between Armenia and Azerbaijan. These letters were translated into Azerbaijani Turkish and sent to Baku where a two-day response workshop was held in early August. The students in Azerbaijan received the letters and used group exercises to unpack topics of conflict resolution before penning response to their counterparts in Armenia. The letters have all been translated and are available in English, Armenian, and Azerbaijani Turkish at www.lettersforpeace.org. I am of course not so naive to think that a few letters and a few people who think like us will change anything today or tomorrow or next week, wrote Anais, a participant in the Yerevan workshop. But I do believe that what we represent certainly has the power to do so. Turan, an economics student who participated in the Baku workshop, reflected on the financial manipulations of war, and the higher quality of life inherent to peace. This conflict has been too expensive for both countries, he wrote. If the resources allocated for the army were spent on education, medicine, and for the increase of welfare, our citizens would have a higher standard of living. Experts from academia and the nonprofit sector delivered guest lectures that provided relevant details on conflict transformation, regional engagement, and history of the South Caucasus. Workshop discussions and activities encouraged students to explore notions of nationhood, the foundations of their belief systems, and the ideological tensions and functions of war and peace. "We want to question the world around us, to stand up and say no to conflict and animosity," said Anais. "Through these letters, we are already making a change." "I want peace as much as the Armenians," said Turan. "I want this game between our two countries, which has caused much loss and expense, to end." The Letters for Peace pilot project was made possible with support by Davis Projects for Peace and Eurasia Partnership Foundation. Additional institutional support was provided by Imagine Center for Conflict Transformation, Impact Hub Yerevan, International House New York, and AGBU Armenia. Collaborators are being sought for future iterations of the workshop. Denver Zoo welcomed a rare baby Aye-aye and is now home to three of these unusual creatures. With only 24 residing in seven zoos in the United States and an unknown number in the wild, Aye-ayes are among the rarest animals in the world. The new baby, a female, is named Tonks and was born on August 8. Tonks, who was born to mom Bellatrix and dad Smeagol, is healthy and thriving; however, her first days were worrying for Denver Zoos animal care staff and veterinarians. Photo Credit: Denver Zoo We noticed that Bellatrix wasnt showing typical mothering behaviors, so we decided to step in to give Tonks some supportive care, said Lead Primate Keeper Becky Sturges. We provided 24-hour care for the first week and had to teach Bellatrix how to nurse, but now she is nursing well and Tonks has gained a lot of weight. Now were just monitoring them to make sure things continue to go well. Aye-ayes are born weighing just a few ounces, grow to a weight of five pounds as adults, and live up to 20 years. Tonks is still in the nest box with Bellatrix and is not expected to emerge for a few more months, so she is not yet visible to zoo guests. Aye-ayes have a distinctive appearance, thanks to a number of unique adaptations including coarse dark hair, a long bushy tail, rodent-like teeth, large eyes, and bony hands that feature extra-long middle fingers. The middle fingers are used to tap on tree branches and locate hollow spaces that may contain grubs. After chewing a hole in the branch, the grubs are extracted using the clawed fingertips. Aye-ayes are classified as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Natures Red List of Threatened Species and are found only in remote parts of Madagascar. They were thought to be extinct in 1933, but were rediscovered in 1957. Their odd appearance caused Aye-ayes to be labeled as harbingers of death in Madagascan traditional cultures, and the animals were often killed on sight. The dramatic loss of Madagascars original forest cover has also contributed to Aye-ayes Endangered status. Detail from William Russell Birch's hand-colored engraving, "Bank of Pennsylvania, South Second Street Philadelphia, Designed & Published by W. Birch Enamel Painter 1804" at the Library Company of Philadelphia. Read more Before photography offered a new way to record venerable buildings in historic cities think of Eugene Atget's photos of ancient Paris or Berenice Abbott's 20th-century shots of vanishing old New York painters and engravers had this occupation all to themselves. William Russell Birch (17551843) had already made a name for himself as an enamel painter and engraver in England when he emigrated to Philadelphia, then the nation's capital, in 1794. Here, he quickly established himself as the preeminent portraitist of the city's notable architecture with his book of 27 engravings, The City of Philadelphia as it Appeared in the Year 1800 also known as Birch's Views of Philadelphia. In 1808, he followed that with another popular book, The Country Seats of the United States. Not all of Birch's architectural subjects were especially longstanding when he drew them. At least one, Robert Morris' mansion on Chestnut Street, arrived on the scene the same time Birch did. But only a small number of those buildings have survived, making Birch's scenes of Philadelphia the best visual record of the city from the time. Now, with an exhibit at the Library Company of Philadelphia, Birch is getting the same purposeful attention paid to him that he applied to his own artistic projects. Comprehensive and charming, "William Birch, Ingenious Artist" looks not only at Birch's familiar renderings of Philadelphia, but also at his first major series of engravings, Delices de la Grande Bretagne. That series depicts ancient houses in Norwich, England, and was published as a book in 1791. Also here are his meticulously painted miniature enamel portraits, his watercolors and preparatory sketches for engravings, a porcelain platter and vases ornamented with views from Country Seats, a copy of his circa-1825 autobiography (one of several iterations), and his paintbox and brushes. There is also a painting of Birch in 1824 by the American artist John Neagle, a silhouette Birch had made of himself at the long-gone Peale's Philadelphia Museum, and much more. Taking it all in, I learned among other things that Birch apparently made numerous enamel-on-copper portraits of George Washington based on Gilbert Stuart's portrait that was key to the first president's initial recognition by the American public. I also learned that he was a shrewd businessman and socializer. Birch would not have been out of place in the hypercharged contemporary art world of the 1980s. At the same time, Birch was capable of surprising tenderness, evidenced by his watercolors of Springland, his country place in Bucks County, and of nearby Andalusia. The past has never looked better. Through Oct. 19 at the Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St., 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, 215-546-3181, librarycompany.org. A Free Library treat If you've yet to visit the Rare Book Department at the Free Library of Philadelphia, now's the time especially if you'll have nature-minded kids in tow. "In Our Nature: Flora and Fauna of the Americas" is one of those jaw-dropping exhibitions that Philadelphia's great collecting institutions are able to cull mainly from their own holdings. When artworks usually protected in vaults and flat files are displayed for an exhibition such as this, visitors are in for a treat. Among the standouts are Robert Lawson's 1936 preparatory drawings for Munro Leaf's treasured children's book The Story of Ferdinand. Photographer Imogen Cunningham's gelatin silver print "Magnolia Blossom" also caught my eye. Another great work that's not to be missed is John James Audubon's terrifying print "Mocking Bird" from his series Birds of America. In it, a snake attacks a mockingbird nest, and the parents put up a heroic fight. Through Sept. 15 at the Parkway Central Library's Rare Book Department, 1901 Vine St., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 215-814-3509, freelibrary.org/rarebooks. A fifth-grade teacher from Sicklerville was arrested Friday after repeatedly sending sexually explicit online messages to an undercover detective he believed to be a teenage girl, authorities said. Jonathan Liano, 38, a teacher at Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School in Berlin Township, was charged with attempted sexual assault of a minor, sending obscene material to a minor, and other offenses as part of an undercover investigation that began more than a week ago, according to a release posted on the Camden County prosecutor's website. Liano believed he was chatting with a 14-year-old girl when he initiated a conversation with the detective on Sept. 4 and later agreed to meet in Pennsauken, authorities said. Liano was arrested when he arrived at the location just before 4:30 p.m. Friday. He is being held at the Camden County Correctional Facility pending a pretrial detention hearing. The investigation, led by the High-Tech Crimes Unit of the Camden County Prosecutor's Office and the Department of Homeland Security's Cherry Hill division, is ongoing. Graying and gaunt in his safety-orange jumpsuit, Victor Scott looks twice the age of other inmates in the visiting room at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, Philadelphia's largest jail. He stands out for another reason, too. Scott, 53, has the unwelcome distinction of being the first juvenile lifer in Pennsylvania charged with a new crime, possession of a gun. He is one of 111 so far resentenced and released from prison on parole in Pennsylvania, thanks to a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2016 that the court's 2012 ban on mandatory life-without-parole sentences applies retroactively. At a preliminary hearing Friday, the gun charge against Scott was dismissed for lack of evidence, but prosecutors said they intended to refile it immediately. If convicted, Scott fully expects he'll never get another chance at freedom. Releasing Pennsylvania's 521 juvenile lifers, said Leo Dunn, chief of the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, has been a "social experiment" in this life-means-life state. So far, the board has approved about 80 percent of lifers who've sought parole. There has only been one parole violation so far; that person was placed in drug treatment. "Not bad, considering 111 are on the street," Dunn said. "We're having very positive reentry so far." By comparison, the one-year recidivism rate for all people leaving state prison in Pennsylvania is about 35 percent. Philadelphia is home to more than 300 juvenile lifers, the largest such population anywhere; all of them are facing lifelong parole upon release. Many have said they feel a monumental responsibility to demonstrate that it's safe to release lifers there are more than 5,400 of them in Pennsylvania, second only to Florida. They have even created support groups to help one another along, to ensure that no one gives critics reason to doubt they can succeed. Scott shares that mindset, he said in an interview at CFCF. He had spent 35 years in prison for the 1981 murder of Michael Rhoads, 29, in West Philadelphia as part of a gang war. He'd been free just over five months such a short time that he was still counting it in days, about 150 of them. "Every day, I'd wake up early, sometimes 4 a.m., 4:30. I didn't want to miss anything. It felt like a dream. I'd try to remind myself, this is real. I'm really home." Now, he said, being locked up again feels like a nightmare. The case began on April 6, when Scott's parole agent received a confidential tip. That morning, a group of parole agents arrived at his house and called him on the phone. Scott took five to 10 minutes to answer the door. Prosecutors believe he used that time to hide the .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun the agents would later find, tucked behind paint cans and a toolbox, on a staircase leading up to the attic. At the preliminary hearing, Assistant District Attorney Chesley Lightsey also moved to enter into evidence Scott's murder conviction. "I've heard no testimony that the house was cleared" by parole agents before Scott arrived, Judge Marissa Brumbach said before dismissing the case. She said that testimony was necessary to conclude that the gun had not been there before he arrived. In an interview, Scott said he had not been aware that the gun was stashed in the Southwest Philly home, a family property where he is renting a room. He said that other family members have access to the house, and that before he moved in it was a hangout for his nephew and his nephew's friends. "Everything was perfect," he said. "Why would I have a gun? That'd be like throwing rocks at the penitentiary." He had different plans, he said. He was in a relationship with a woman he'd dated since he was 16. He suffered disabling back pain but was hoping to enroll in an experimental treatment. He was close to landing a $14-an-hour job at Horizon House, as a peer counselor, he said. His major preoccupation the morning he was arrested was how to attach his resume to an email, a technology he still found perplexing. To his relief, it finally went through. Scott said he does not want to be the one to give authorities pause. "We know how important this is, not just for us but for all the guys that are still in there," he said. "Everyone is watching for us to mess up." Dunn said that these cases are not all that different from handling parole in cases of third-degree murder, which carries a 20- to 40-year sentence in Pennsylvania. Like other parolees, lifers' home plans are carefully reviewed before their release, along with their prison records. However, the nine-member parole board developed new practices for the juvenile lifers: running parole prep sessions for them in prison, and requiring approval from at least five board members before allowing release. Dunn said he was waiting for Scott's case to be decided to draw any conclusions, and would continue to review each case on its individual merits. "It shouldn't be political. The focus should always remain on public safety." ohsee said: If you are interested, I have an African history blog that takes a hard and unsparing look at the causes of the African predicament. If you have a weak stomach and are looking for anodyne or feel-good accounts of the African past, my blog is not for you. But if you want a different, and truthful take on the whys, please come. hauda.org Click to expand... Hello ohsee. I take it from the blog that you're Igbo, from Nigeria, or perhaps your parents are from Nigeria, since your profile says you're from Canada. In which case, daalu! (I assume that's a proper greeting, but you can correct me on that - I don't know much more than a few Igbo words).Now I have to ask, is that really an "African history blog"? I mean, you do uncritically cite Archibald Dalzel as a source - something which someone with a bit more familiarity with the subject (Dahomey) would not do without any caveat - and you often diverge into the history of other parts of the world.I think that if you really have an interest in Dahomey, and in the history of the region that it was located in, an important study that you should read is Robin Law's book. Despite the title, the book is not simply an analysis of the slave trade and its impact. It discusses much more than that. The author takes a very meticulous approach to his use of sources and is able to construct a detailed and basically objective picture of the societies in that region (a region corresponding to the modern Republic of Benin) over the course of two centuries as a result. Simply reading (or quote-mining from) Dalzel is not good enough to gain an understanding of what Dahomean society was like, for a number of reasons which multiple researchers on that state have noted.To give an idea of what I mean, in I. A. Akinjogbin's book(1967), the author mentions (on p. 137) how a certain David Mills, a former governor of Cape Coast Castle who visited an important Dahomean town in 1777 "admired what he saw so much that he said he would have settled in Dahomey had it not been for the consideration he had for his friends and family." Mills stated of the Dahomeans there that "The natives both males and females are most civil, good kind people I ever saw" and that "the country appears amazingly populous, and they appear happy, contented and cheerful". There is really no way to reconcile this with the sort of picture that Dalzel paints of Dahomean society and life of course, but Mills' firsthand experience - which is from around the same time that Dalzel's book was published - cannot just be denied or dismissed. It was a complex place with its negatives and positives, and although my own personal view of Dahomey is considerably more negative than positive, it is also clear to me that one needs to seek some sort of balance and not simply go with everything found in "extreme" accounts without any scrutiny of those sources.Akinjogbin's book is a bit too pro-Dahomean, although still highly informative and with several parts of the book still being basically objective. Dalzel's book from centuries earlier is too anti-Dahomean to give a realistic picture, although some of his negative views do have some basis in reality despite his agenda. I think that it's best to read Law's book to get a more objective and balanced picture however, since he tackles the subject without an agenda in favor of or against the places he writes about.I will not comment on your attempt to portray your people (the Igbo) as basically having been cannibals, except to say that Basden never actually saw anyone eating human flesh. He just made inquiries and interpretations, but the actual act was somehow unseen by him despite all the years he spent among the Igbo people. Maybe it existed, but then it must have been on such a small scale for him to never see it happen and only find out about its supposed existence second or third hand.Regarding the Aztecs (that you mention in your blog) and the issue of cannibalism, I think you should read this:It gives some insight into the biases at work in some of those accounts. It's doubtful that "industrial scale cannibalism" really existed in Mexico.As for Walter Rodney's book on Africa's underdevelopment, there are multiple things in it that I disagree with, but one certainly does not have to look at Rodney's book to make an argument about certain issues caused by colonialism. I've never referenced it even once on this forum for example (because it is not especially relevant to any argument I might make, in addition to being simply wrong in certain facts) and I have mentioned colonialism multiple times on this forum.I think that making a blog to attack the argument of Rodney's book amounts to fighting a shadow. Although one of his other books (which is also a bit outdated and which does contain some errors as well),, remains something of a classic, I think that the book of his that you have devoted a blog to grappling with, is not really that important. The field of African history has already moved on well beyond what he wrote in that book and nobody even has to reference that book to highlight any issues caused by colonialism. Obviously Africa, like much of the rest of world, was not some paradise, but debunking (or trying to debunk) Rodney, will not somehow prove that colonialism caused no major problems.Another book you might want to look at (because it takes a diametrically opposite position to what you seem to be arguing for) is(2011) by Olufemi TaiwoThe author's perspective is quite unique and I didn't find myself agreeing with everything in the book. But his approach and perspective is quite distinct and different from Walter Rodney's arguments and you might find it interesting. A research scientist from California pleaded guilty Friday in Philadelphia federal court to receiving trade secrets on anticancer research smuggled from pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline to bolster a fledgling but potential rival startup in China. Tao Li, 45, of San Diego, admitted to receiving documents from Yu Xue, 48, of Wayne, who pleaded guilty last month to illegally taking proprietary information from GSK while she worked at the British drugmaker's suburban Philadelphia facility. Li, a naturalized U.S. citizen who previously worked as a researcher for the Salk Institute in California and earned a Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of North Carolina, had set up a cancer-research company in China called Renopharma with Xue and Yan Mei, a third scientist charged in the case. Li used some of the information provided by Xue to promote Renopharma, which in this country was incorporated in Delaware, with the hopes of eventually making their own drugs in China. Prosecutors said Xue "was regarded as one of the top protein biochemists in the world" and was involved in the research contained in the documents. A pharmaceutical company can spend hundreds of millions of dollars to develop a drug that, if successful, can reap billions in return. The value of the information contained in Xue's documents will be the subject of an evidentiary hearing before she and Li are sentenced. They each face a maximum 10 years in prison. U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain said in a statement on Li's guilty plea: "The lifeblood of companies like GSK is its intellectual property, and when that property is stolen and transferred to a foreign country, it threatens thousands of jobs here in America. Not only is this a serious crime, but it is literally a form of economic warfare against American interests. Such criminal behavior must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." When the case broke in early 2016, a GSK spokesperson said: "While we're limited on what we can say about the ongoing investigation beyond the details of the indictment, we do not believe the breach has had any material impact on the company's business or R&D activity." John N. Joseph, Li's lawyer, said in an emailed statement Friday night that Li, a married father of two, "deeply regrets his actions and is taking full responsibility for his mistakes." Li received "certain proprietary information from his longtime friend Dr. Yu Xue. Initially he believed that the information was publicly available and related to patented discoveries by Dr. Xue. In marketing presentations and business plans, he touted the fact that he had access to Dr. Xue and the information from GSK to bolster the credentials of his startup business to attract potential investors," said Joseph, an attorney with Post & Schell in Philadelphia. "Dr. Li did not intend to use the information for scientific purposes as evidenced by the fact that, even though he had access to this information for a number of years, he never used GSK's information for scientific research. He never sold it or disseminated it outside of Renopharma. Dr. Li's company pursued research on cancer fighting drugs unrelated to the information received from GSK," Joseph wrote. McSwain said Renopharma was "financed by the Chinese government," but Joseph said the funding was from local government entities in China. In a marketing email contained in court documents, Li said Renopharma's "major funding" was from two private investors. "We got some supports from the government, including some national awards and extra funding, tax waive, and a free 4,000 [square feet of] lab space," he added. Michael T. Harpster, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Division, said in a statement: "GSK spends top dollar on research and development to bring new medications to market. The theft of valuable trade secrets threatens products in the pipeline, to the detriment of both the company and the patients those drugs might help. It adds insult to injury when that know-how is diverted for the benefit of a foreign economic rival. The FBI is determined to stand up for the innovators creating products that improve people's lives, by investigating and holding accountable those who would steal trade secrets." A spokesperson for GSK could not be reached for comment Friday night. Li's sentencing before U.S. District Judge Joel H. Slomsky is set for Jan. 4. 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... BENGALURU: Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa on Friday said that being online for long hours on social media is causing sleep deprivation in pilots. Speaking at the 57th annual conference by Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine, the Air Force chief said that being active on social media till late hours causes sleep deprivations in pilots and it is very important to have a check mechanism for the same. "In old days, if a pilot had one drink too many, barman would know. Even if the barman didn't know, other people knew about it and the pilot would be laid off flying for the day. Today we even have breath analysers for that," Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said. "The problem that is coming now because of social media is sleep deprivation. There has to be a check mechanism by which we should be able to make out that this person is not fit enough to get in the cockpit," he added. Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa cited the example of 2013 air crash in Rajasthan`s Barmer and said that the aircraft crashed as the pilot was sleep deprived. "Social media usage is a new challenge caused due to change in the society," he said. New Delhi: Legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Shaikh starrer 'Thugs of Hindostan' is high on the buzzword. The film will see Aamir and Amitabh share screen space for the first time and the gorgeous Katrina and Fatima are always a delight to watch on screen! The makers have remained tight-lipped about the film and as per the latest reports, all key characters of the film will be introduced through motion posters, adding to the excitement level for the release. A Filmfare report reveals that the first look will be out on Tuesday, that is, September 18. A source close to YRF told Filmfare that the first character poster will be unveiled on Tuesday, and six motion posters have been finalised that feature the six key characters of the film. Nobody knows which character will be introduced first as the makers are keeping the plan under the wraps. 'Thugs Of Hindostan' is being helmed by Vijay Krishna Acharya and produced by Yash Raj Films. Aamir and Vijay have previously worked together in 'Dhoom 3'. This will Fatima's second venture with Aamir after the super successful 'Dangal'. Reportedly set in the backdrop of India under the British rule in the 19th century, Thugs of Hindostan is inspired by Philip Meadows Taylor's 1839 novel Confessions of a Thug. It revolves around the life of a thug and his gang who challenge the British empire in the country. The period action-adventure film is slated to hit theatres on Diwali this year. NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court was told by the police on Friday that it has installed around 4,388 CCTV cameras in vulnerable areas of the national capital to ensure safety and security of women. The Delhi Police made the submission in an affidavit filed in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) moved in March this year by some lawyers for the safety of women after a few women complained about "urine and semen-filled" balloons allegedly being hurled at them in and around North Campus of Delhi University. The petitioner lawyers have sought formulation of guidelines to ensure the safety of women during occasions such as Holi and New Year. The affidavit of the Delhi Police was placed before a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao which did not hear the matter on Friday as one of the judges was not available. The court had on May 16 directed the police to indicate the status regarding the installation of close circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the city. The police in its affidavit has also said that in the alleged incident regarding throwing of a "urine-filled balloon" at a woman in the campus area, the "complainant did not cooperate" and therefore, the case was marked as "untraced". With regard to the alleged throwing of a "semen-filled balloon", the police has said that the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) did not find any trace of semen on the complainant women's clothes. It said that it had arrested one person in March this year in connection with the second incident, but he was released on bail, adding that a charge sheet will be filed in the matter. Police said it was imparting self-defence training to women and also conducting programme to empower them. The petitioners, in their plea, have also sought setting up of women police control rooms (PCRs), increase in the number of women police booths and an anonymous drop box for written complaints, claiming that complainants are often bullied and harassed. NEW DELHI: A day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the BJP will not be able to cross the 200-mark in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has echoed similar sentiments about the poll prospects of the saffron party. Former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday said that the BJP would not get a majority to return to power in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Tejashwi - the younger son of veteran Bihar politician Lalu Yadav - predicted that the party ruling at the Centre would lose around 100 out of the 134 parliamentary seats in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. "Today the BJP has over 115 seats in Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. But in 2019, the BJP would lose around 100 seats in these states due to the kind of alliances that are coming up," he said. The young RJD leader made these remarks at the India Today "Mind Rocks Youth Summit 2018" in Delhi. "There is no doubt that the BJP won't get a majority in 2019 polls and they are going to lose badly," Tejashwi said. Driving his point home, he cited the example of recent Lk Sabha by-polls in Uttar Pradesh where the BJP was defeated due to the alliance between the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party. The Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) lost his seat of Gorakhpur in the by-polls early this year,'' he said. "The kind of situation that is there in Bihar and the kind of alliance that is coming up in Jharkhand, the BJP would face losses in these states," he said. When asked if in such a case there would be three Prime Ministerial candidates from the opposition, Tejashwi questioned, "Did any of the leaders in the Opposition claim to be the Prime Ministerial candidate?" ''Whichever party would be the single largest party would obviously stake claim to the Prime Ministerial post and the other parties would support it,'' he said. The former Deputy Chief Minister also called Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as "cheat" minister. "In 2019 Nitish Kumar won't win anything. Today also he is a Chief Minister through the back door as he broke the grand alliance that was forged in the state ahead of the 2015 assembly polls. And look today, who is in power in Bihar, it is BJP," he said. Remarks from Tejashwi came a day after West Bengal CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said that the ruling BJP will not be able to go beyond 200-mark in the next general elections. Trinamool Congress supremo also 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.'' 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. There are 80 Lok Sabha seats from UP, 40 from Bihar and 14 from Jharkhand. The BJP had won 73 seats from UP in the 2014 general elections along with its alliance partner Apna Dal. The trajectory of Chinese actions suggests 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 on 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. VP 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. NEW DELHI: A Delhi Court has taken cognizance of charge sheet against Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA OP Sharma for allegedly beating Communist Party of India (CPI) activist outside Patiala High Court in February 2016. The court will hear the scrutiny of documents on September 26. The BJP MLA was alleged to have thrashed a CPI activist who was accused by Sharma of shouting 'Pakistan Zindabad'. The incident took place after the arrest of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union leader Kanhaiya Kumar. Sharma had defended himself by saying he was attacked first. Sharma was later arrested by the police and granted bail at the Tilak Marg police station. He defended himself by saying that he was a "victim of media trial". "It is shameful if people who stop others from screaming `Pakistan zindabad` have to go through all this. I am being tried by the media. Judgements were passed while they (media) sat in studios," Sharma had told reporters after the grant of bail. "I was questioned for eight hours by the Delhi Police regarding the case," the BJP leader added. This is not the first time that Sharma has been in news for his unruly behaviour. Apart from the JNU incident, Sharma had time and again taken a jibe at Aam Admi Party MLAs and used derogatory remarks to address them. Sharma had used objectionable language against AAP MLA Alka Lamba in December 2015. Sharma has accused Lamba of being a drug addict. Sharma had also said that AAP was a party of lumpen elements and questioned as to who had given Lamba the right to go on an anti-narcotics drive. More recently in August 2018, Sharma had a verbal spat with AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan where he accused the latter of speaking like a terrorist. Sharma referred the AAP member as terrorist and Fanney Khan". In the middle of his address to the Assembly, the BJP MLA lost his cool due to disruption by AAP members, and told Khan, Kyun aatankwadiyon ki tarah baat kar raha hai, aadmiyon ki tarah baat kar (why are you talking like a terrorist? Talk like a human being). He further dared the AAP MLA to get into a confrontation with him saying, Zada Lakdi mat le faltu, zada Fanney Khan mat ban (dont mess with me, dont try to be a Fanney Khan). (With Agency Inputs) SRINAGAR: A major fire broke out at a popular Hotel Pamposh located on the Residency Road in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar on Saturday. Though it is still not known as to what caused the fire, it is believed that the blaze started at the top floor of the multi-storeyed Pamposh Hotel on the Residency Road. #JammuAndKashmir: Fire breaks out in Hotel Pamposh in Srinagar. Five fire tenders are present at the spot. Fire fighting operation is underway. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/Xobfi2iVo0 ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 At least 25 fire tenders are currently at the spot to douse the flames. The entire first floor of the eight-storey building has been completely gutted in the massive blaze, according to reports. The building houses offices of some news channels and business establishments. Sharing more detail about the fire-fighting operation, DC Srinagar said, ''There are offices of several media houses here. At least 20-22 fire tenders, teams of fire and emergency services, disaster management official and the SDRF are at the spot.'' "There's no loss of life as of now. People have been evacuated safely. A member of the fire services was injured and sent to the hospital for treatment.'' It will take some time for the fire tenders to completely extinguish the blaze, he added. Google on Saturday dedicated its doodle to Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, an Indian engineer, dam builder, and scholar, on his 157th birthday. Born on September 15, 1861, Visvesvaraya's birthday is celebrated across the country as Engineers Day. A recipient of the prestigious Bharat Ratna, his contributions are immense in nation-building. Visvesvaraya served as the 19th Diwan of Mysore and was bestowed with the title of Knight Commander of the British Indian Empire (KCIE) by King George V for his good works in the public domain. He had another title to his fame -- Father of Modern Mysore State (presently Karnataka). His two most notable works as a chief engineer were -- the construction of the Krishna Raja Sagara dam in Mandya district of Karnataka and flood protection system for Hyderabad in Telangana (today). The dam marked the biggest reservoir in Asia when it was constructed. Visvesvaraya was a great cog in the wheel while a system was being developed to protect Visakhapatnam port from sea erosion. He also adviced on deciding the location for the construction of Mokama Bridge over Ganga in Bihar. The duration of his service under the British government, witnessed the growth of several establishments-- State Bank of Mysore, Bangalore Press, Sri Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic, Bangalore, Mysore Soap Factory, Mysore Iron & Steel Works (now known as Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Limited) in Bhadravathi, Bangalore Agricultural University, Century Club, Mysore Chamber of Commerce (presently known as the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FKCCI)), University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering Bangalore amongst several others. He was a key member in chalking out the design for the road construction from Tirumala to Tirupati. Visvesvaraya loved Kannada and he established the Kannada Parishat for the betterment of Kannada. He is also known to have designed the Jayanagar area in south Bangalore. The great engineer breathed his last on April 12, 1962, at the age of 101. Chandigarh: A bounty of Rs one lakh has been announced to whoever helps the police in cracking the Haryana gangrape case, said Mewat Superintendent of Police (SP) Naazneen Bhasin who is probing the matter. She added that the medical report of the victim has confirmed rape. "Medical report confirms rape. We have made multiple teams to nab the accused. I appeal to the people to give us any information they have regarding the case and have announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for those who help us in cracking the case," said SP Naazneen Bhasin. A SIT headed by SP Naazneen Bhasin was constituted on Friday to investigate the gangrape case of a 19-year-old woman in Haryana's Mahendargarh district. All the accused in the case are still on the run. Earlier in the day, SP Naazneen Bhasin has said that the main accused has been identified. According to Haryana DGP BS Sandhu, the prime accused is a serving defence personnel stationed in Rajasthan. "The main accused is a serving defence personnel stationed in Rajasthan We are getting a warrant against him. The other two accused will be nabbed soon," BS Sandhu said. On Saturday, Naazneen Bhasin visited the woman at a district hospital in Rewari. Following this, she said, "I have spoken to the victim today, her condition is stable. The main accused have been identified. We are investigating every aspect of the case." On Friday, the police said that raids were also being conducted in Rewari and Mahendergarh districts and neighbouring areas to nab the three accused who have been identified by the victim. The father of the young woman said she could have been raped by eight to 10 men. The 19-year-old woman was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped at Kanina in Haryana's Mahendergarh district on Wednesday. The victim was on her way to coaching classes when she was allegedly kidnapped by the accused group, who then took her to a secluded spot in a car. A drink laced with sedatives was offered to her. After being gang-raped, she was dumped near a bus stop in Kanina. The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday remembered the role of the Canberra Squadrons that took part during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War. This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the war that took place between India and Pakistan in September 1965. Speaking on the Canberra aircraft in a Facebook post, the IAF explained that it was a heavy bomber aircraft. It was deployed to destroy long-range static enemy targets like airfield installations, oil depots, harbours, major radar installations etc. to weaken the enemys infrastructure, according to the post. In the war, more than 200 missions were flown by aircraft, mostly during the night, and major Pakistani air bases like Sargodha, Chaklala, Akwal, Peshawar, Kohat, Chakjhumra and Risalwala were attacked, said the IAF post. During the operations enemy aircraft on the ground, runways, ATCs, and terminal areas were attacked and destroyed, according to the post. In one of the day mission, Wing Commander Peter Wilson destroyed Pakistans Radar installation at Badin. No.5 and 35 Squadron of Canberra along with No.7 Squadron of Hunter aircraft carried out these air strikes, added the post The highest decorated squadron of the war was No.5 Squadron, with one Maha Vir Chakra, four Vir Chakras, three VSM and 14 mentions in dispatches. The 1965 war that took place for 17 days resulted in the deaths of thousands on both sides. Kottayam/Kochi: Kerala police on Friday registered a complaint against the Missionaries of Jesus hours after the congregation released a photograph of the nun, who has accused a bishop of the religious order of rape, seated with her alleged tormentor in violation of the anti-rape law. 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. The case was registered by the Kuravilangadu police station in Kottayam district on the complaint filed by the alleged victim's brother, officials said. The convent is located within the Kuravilangadu police station limits. The nun's brother approached Deputy Superintendent of Police K Subhash, who heads the special investigation team, with the complaint, they said. Sources said police will now record the statement of the nun. The congregation claimed that the May 23, 2015 group 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 the 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 the 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. Panaji: Manohar Parrikar, who has been admitted to hospital, spoke to BJP chief Amit Shah on Friday and it was decided that he would continue as the chief minister of Goa, a party leader said. "Parrikar spoke to Shah and briefed him about the political situation in the state, and also informed him about his health condition. It was decided that Parrikar will continue as the chief minister but he might give some of his portfolios to his cabinet colleagues," he told PTI. "By next week, the government will work out the exact arrangement through which the work burden on Parrikar could be reduced. A thought would also be given to replacing the two ailing ministers in the cabinet, Pandurang Madkaikar and Francis D'Souza," the leader said. Both Madkaikar and D'Souza are currently hospitalised. Earlier in the day, Goa BJP held a meeting of its state-level core committee. The core committee later met Parrikar. Parrikar, who returned from the US after medical check-up on September 7, was admitted to a private hospital at Candolim in North Goa district Thursday evening. Earlier this year he underwent three-month-long treatment in the US for a pancreatic ailment. Congress party has deployed a team of young professionals to organize crowdfunding for Rajasthan assembly elections which are due to be held in November 2018. The obvious reason is that the coffers of the Congress party arent that deep anymore because of its reduced strength in Lok Sabha and few governments across the states in the country. The second reason is that Congress wants to use crowdfunding not only as a tool to gather money but also a mode to reach out to ordinary citizens. Former United States President Barak Obama had used crowdfunding as a tool to connect to ordinary citizens and changed the way US elections were fought. Today billions of dollars are being raised through crowdfunding throughout the world. The World Bank predicts that global crowdfunding is expected to cross 93 billion by 2025. Former United States President Barak Obama raised 750 million dollars in 2008 elections out of which 600 million came from 3 million people which came down to 86 dollar per person. Even in 2011, he raised 614 million dollars in individual donations out of which 214 million dollars came from small donors. Congress also wants to use crowdfunding as it pitches for clean money in politics. It is for this reason that Sachin Pilot, the Pradesh Congress Committee Chief, released a video appeal and requested people to contribute to the Congress through contribute.inc.in. Sachin Pilot says that crowdfunding would create public stake and involvement in the election. The Rajasthan crowdfunding campaign is one among a series of campaigns the party is planning in the run-up to the 2019 general elections. The party leadership is seeking to inject transparency into campaign finance by bringing up clean funds, said Divya Spandana, head of social media and digital communications for the Congress party. We understand that majority of Indians contribute through traditional methods but as our digital footprint grows across the country, more and more people are finding crowdfunding as a platform to directly connect with the Congress party, she said. Earlier this year, the Congress party announced its pilot crowdfunding campaign during Karnataka elections where a first-time candidate took on B Sreeramulu in the assembly elections. The second crowdfunding campaign was to offer support to 30-year-old Muktikant Biswal, a man from Odisha who walked 1400 km to Delhi urging the government to deliver on his promise made to the people of Rourkela. The current crowdfunding campaign is being organized by Congress President Rahul Gandhis close aide Kanishka Singh and Divya Spandana. (This article was first published on wionews.com) Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday continued to attack the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue of liquor baron Vijay Mallya fleeing India. Taking to microblogging site Twitter, the Gandhi scion accused CBI joint director AK Sharma of allegedly weakening the lookout notice issued for Vijay Mallya. Pointing that Sharma is a Gujarat cadre officer, the Congress president alleged that he is the blue-eyed-boy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the CBI. He further claimed that the CBI joint director was also responsible for the escape of absconding billionaire jewellers Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. CBI Jt. Director, A K Sharma, weakened Mallyas Look Out notice, allowing Mallya to escape. Mr Sharma, a Gujarat cadre officer, is the PMs blue-eyed-boy in the CBI. The same officer was in charge of Nirav Modi & Mehul Choksis escape plans. Ooops... investigation! Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 15, 2018 CBI Jt. Director, A K Sharma, weakened Mallyas Look Out notice, allowing Mallya to escape. Mr Sharma, a Gujarat cadre officer, is the PMs blue-eyed-boy in the CBI. The same officer was in charge of Nirav Modi & Mehul Choksis escape plans. Ooops...investigation! tweeted the Congress president. This comes a day after Rahul Gandhi alleged that Mallyas escape was aided by the CBI. He had accused the agency of changing the detain notice of him to inform. The Congress chief had also alleged that the lookout notice could not be changed without the approval of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Gandhi scion had 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. 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 Notably, the CBI has 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. Mallya, who is currently facing an extradition trial in Londons Westminster court, had recently said that he had met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley before leaving India. Speaking to mediapersons during the previous hearing, the liquor baron had said that he had met the Finance Minister in Parliament. The Finance Minister, however, rubbished his claims calling them factually incorrect. Jaitley had accused Mallya of misusing his position as a Rajya Sabha member. A worker of the Samajwadi Party was on Friday allegedly shot dead by some unidentified assailants in Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh. Sambhal: A Samajwadi Party worker was allegedly shot dead by an unidentified person, yesterday. Yamuna Prasad, SP Sambhal says, 'he was shot by an unknown person at his residence. We are registering the case. Investigation is underway.' pic.twitter.com/HnAMogTJ0S ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 15, 2018 Speaking to news agency ANI, Sambhal Superintendent of Police Yamuna Prasad said that the Samajwadi Party worker was killed at his residence. He was shot by an unknown person at his residence. We are registering the case. Investigation is underway, said the senior police official. More details are awaited. KOTTAYAM: A day after Missionaries of Jesus published a letter and a photo of Kerala rape victim nun, brother of the victim on Saturday condemned the act. He accused the congregation of harassing his sister in the process. The brother also alleged that the involvement of the Vatican was fake news. News agency ANI quoted him as saying, "It's being discussed the Vatican is getting involved but I feel it's fake. It was said they may take two-three days to take action but if they want to take it before Pope, they could take it even today and if they do, they will write and send it to people concerned." "So far we have not received a letter like that. So I feel it is a fake news. It may be the handiwork of the culprit and his team in order to weaken the spirit of the protesters in Kerala and other parts of the world," he added. This came even as the police said that a notice had been served to the Bishop, adding that he has been summoned to appear before the cops. Kottayam Superintendent of Police Harshankar said, "Jalandhar Bishop Franco has been served notice to appear for interrogation on September 19." Kerala police on Friday had registered a complaint against the Missionaries of Jesus hours after the congregation released a photograph of the nun, who has accused a Bishop of the religious order of rape, seated with her alleged tormentor in violation of the anti-rape law. The congregation put out the photograph in a release issued to the media to publish the findings of its inquiry commission, which looked into the nun's allegations. Indian laws prohibit revealing the identity of rape and sexual assault victims. 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 inquiry 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. The nun's brother approached Deputy Superintendent of Police K Subhash, who heads the special investigation team, with the complaint, they said. Sources said police will now record the statement of the nun. 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 leveled charges against the Catholic order as it had rejected her demand for favors. (With Agency inputs) Kolkata: West Bengal CID arrested TMC leader Shristhidhar Mahato's son Sandip Mahato on Saturday in connection with the murder of BJP worker Trilochan Mahato. Mahato's body was found hanging from a tree on the morning of May 30 in Balarampur village located in West Bengal's Purulia district. A note was found on him which read that he was killed for being a part of BJP. On Saturday, the West Bengal CID also arrested another TMC worker - Jagabandhu Mahato, besides arresting Sandip. With this arrest, a total of four TMC workers have been put behind bars. "We have arrested Sandip and Jagabandhu in connection with Trilochan Mahato's case. They were produced before the Purulia district court and were remanded to nine days of CID custody," said a senior CID official. The matter took a controversial turn previously when the police had announced that it was a case of suicide even before the post mortem reports were out. After the top leadership - including the BJP national president Amit Shah took to Twitter condemning the killing of the BJP worker, the West Bengal government handed over the case to CID. Two days later, another BJP worker - Dulal Kumar - was found hanging in a similar manner from a high tension tower. Immediately, the SP of Purulia district, Joy Biswas, was transferred. SRINAGAR: A top-ranking Army officer has warned of a surge in the recruitment of local Kashmiri youths by terrorist outfits active in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking to ANI, Brigadier Sachin Malik said, ''Recruitment and number of local terrorists have been rising. In south Kashmir, approximately the number of terrorists is 200, out of which may be 15% are foreign terrorists.'' Brigadier Malik, however, said that the security forces will step up anti-terror operations to cut down the number of these terrorists and prevent recruitment of Kashmiri youths by various terror outfits. ''We're doing operations to cut down the number of active terrorists and reduce recruitment of new terrorists,'' Brigadier Malik said. Recruitment&no.of local terrorists has been rising. In South Kashmir, approx no.of terrorists is 200, out of which maybe 15% are foreign terrorists.We're doing ops to cut down no.of active terrorists&reduce recruitment of new terrorists: Brigadier Sachin Malik on Kulgam encounter pic.twitter.com/l7Vk7K8OwJ ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 The warning from Brigadier Sachin Malik came after the security forces shot dead five hardcore terrorists belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) in an encounter in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. Five terrorists have been killed in the operation at Chowgam in Kulgam district of south Kashmir, an Army official said. He said weapons and war-like stores have been recovered from the encounter site. The encounter began this morning after the forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists there. While the forces were conducting the searches, the terrorists fired upon the forces, ensuing a gunfight. A police official said the terrorists belonged to two outfits of LeT and HM and their killing was a huge success for the forces. "It is a huge success for police and security forces. They belonged to both HM and LeT," he said. He said most of the slain terrorists were "involved in a series of terror acts including killing of two bank employees and many policemen". "They were also involved in bank robberies and weapon looting," the police official said. Meanwhile, clashes broke out near the site of the encounter as groups of youths started pelting stones on the forces. He said a few youths have been injured in the forces' action on the protesters. Train services between Baramulla and Qazigund were suspended due to apprehensions of law and order problems. (With Agency inputs) JAMMU: Municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in four phases starting from October 8 and the results will be declared on October 20, the chief electoral officer announced on Saturday. Municipal elections shall be held in four phases. Date of polling would be October 08, October 10, October 13 and October 16,'' Chief Electoral Officer Shaleen Kabra said in a press conference on Saturday. Kabra continued by saying that polling will be held from 7 AM to 2 PM and the ''counting shall take place on October 20 after all the phases are over.'' Municipal Elections shall be held in 4 phases. Date of polling would be Oct 08, Oct 10, Oct 13 & Oct 16. Counting shall take place on Oct 20 after all the phases are over. Poll hours will be from 7am to 2pm: Chief Electoral Officer Shaleen Kabra #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/wqUYbIOo1K ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 Ahead of the announcement of polling dates, state's Governor Satya Pal Malik appealed to all parties to participate in the electoral process. ''The issue of Article 35 A is sub-judice since a long time. We had said that we can't take a stand until a new government is formed here. I would like to request them (all parties) to participate in the election. Elections are neither for Delhi nor me but for the people of J&K,'' Governor Malik said. Matter of Article 35 A is sub-judice since a long time. We had said that we can't take a stand until a new govt is formed here. I would like to request them to participate in the election. Elections are neither for Delhi nor me but for the people of J&K: J&K Guv, Satya Pal Malik pic.twitter.com/9rWidgiJOR ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam had earlier denied reports that the upcoming local body and municipal elections in the state will be deferred in view of boycott calls from the National Conference and the PDP. Clearing the air on the issue on Wednesday, the state's Chief Secretary said, "Municipal and Panchayat polls will be held as per schedule." He also refuted media reports that Governor Satya Pal Malik's administration was considering deferment of the municipal polls in view of the boycott calls by NC and the PDP. Subrahmanyam said this while interacting with the media on the sidelines of an official function in Srinagar on Wednesday. The regional National Conference (NC) and the Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had already announced the boycott of these polls. Announcing their decision the two parties said that they were not against the electoral process but claimed that there were chaos and confusion regarding the Centre's stand on Article 35A which gives special privileges to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Asking the Centre to clear its stand on the issue, the two parties said that they would not participate in any electoral exercise till the confusion on Article 35A is cleared. Meanwhile, the Congress too recently said that the current ground situation in the Kashmir Valley is not conducive for holding these polls. KOCHI: The Jalandhar Police has served a notice to Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who is accused of raping a Kerala-based nun, to appear for questioning before the Kerala Police on September I 19 in connection with the case. According to ANI, Bishop Mulakkal, who stepped down and handed over administrative responsibility of Jalandhar diocese to a senior priest, has been asked to appear before the Kerala Police which is probing the case. Confirming the development, Harishankar, SP Kottayam, said, ''Jalandhar Bishop Franco has been served notice to appear for interrogation on September 19th.'' The SP Kottayam also informed that a criminal case has been registered against Missionaries of Jesus for publishing a letter as well as a photo of the victim nun. Jalandhar Bishop Franco has been served notice to appear for interrogation on 19th Sept. A criminal case has been registered against Missionaries of Jesus for publishing a letter as well as a photo of the victim nun: Harishankar, SP Kottayam on Kerala nun rape case #Kerala pic.twitter.com/BGNvqeqxJh ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 Earlier, Mulakkal, facing probe over allegations of rape, handed over his administrative responsibility of Jalandhar diocese to a senior priest. "In my absence Msgr Mathew Kokkandam will administer the Diocese as in the normal practice when I am away from the Diocese," Bishop Mulakkal said in a circular. The circular was issued on September 13, a day after the Kerala Police had asked him to appear before the investigating team on September 19. The decision to summon the clergyman was taken after a meeting chaired by Vijay 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 Mullakal. In the circular, the bishop said there were "several contradictions" in the evidences collected against him by the police probing the case. "I leave everything into the hand of God as I await the result of the findings of the team probing the allegation," he said in it. A copy of the circular was also made available to the media here. 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 had accused the clergyman of sexually assaulting her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016. The bishop had, however, dismissed the allegations as "baseless and concocted", insisting she levelled those as the catholic order had rejected her demand for favours. Meanwhile, protests over the incident continued in Kerala. A group of protesting nuns from Kerala said on Saturday that they "will rest" only after a bishop accused of sexually abusing a senior nun is questioned and arrested. Speaking to the media, one of the five nuns who along with hundreds of people are protesting here said: "We will not rest and we will not be happy till he is questioned and arrested." The statement from the protesting nuns came after it was reported that the accused bishop was handing over his charge. Another nun said that Bishop Franco was very powerful and cannot be underestimated. "We will continue the protest and will not stop till Bishop Franco is arrested." The accused bishop had got a breather from the Kerala High Court which said that "arrest is not the issue" and expressed satisfaction in the ongoing probe. Jodhpur: The state government on Saturday said it will appeal before the Rajasthan High Court against the acquittal of actors Sonali Bendre, Neelam Kothari, Tabu, Saif Ali Khan and others in the Blackbuck poaching case. This comes over five months after the four actors were acquitted in the said case, while Salman Khan was convicted and sentenced to five years' imprisonment after being found guilty of killing two Blackbucks in Jodhpur during the shooting of his 1998 blockbuster 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'. The court, however, acquitted Salman's co-stars- Saif, Neelam, Tabu and Sonali, and Jodhpur resident Dushyant Singh - due to lack of evidence. In August, a Jodhpur sessions court ruled that the 'Sultan' star will need to seek its permission every time he has to travel abroad. The ruling came in response to an application filed by the 52-year-old's lawyers, asking for an exemption from seeking permission for foreign travel. New Delhi: Bollywood actor Uday Chopra had grabbed eyeballs owing to his comment that Marijuana should be legalised in India. While there have been a lot of replies on the thread, the one that is making headlines is that of Mumbai Police! Replying to Uday's comment, here's what Mumbai Police had to say Sir,as citizen of India,you are privileged to express your view on a public platform. Be mindful,as of now, consumption, possession and transportation of marijuana, invites harsh punishment as per provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act,1985. Spread the Word Sir,as citizen of India,you are privileged to express your view on a public platform. Be mindful,as of now, consumption, possession and transportation of marijuana, invites harsh punishment as per provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act,1985. Spread the Word https://t.co/YlT3kuCdA2 Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) September 15, 2018 On September 13, Uday took to Twitter and wrote, I feel India should legalize marijuana. Firstly, Its 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! Well, now that the actor has received a reply from Mumbai Police which is more or less like a warning, we wonder if he has anything else to say. The 45-year-old actor made his Bollywood debut in the year 2000 with 'Mohabbatein'. He was also seen in films like 'Mujhse Dosti Karoge!', 'Neal 'n' Nikki' and 'Pyaar Impossible'. The actor was last seen in 'Dhoom 3' along with Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif and Abhishek Bachchan. The situation in the operation zone remains under control of the Joint Forces Open source During the following day, from 7 a.m. through 6 p.m., the Russian occupation forces violated ceasefire regime 13 times, no casualties among Ukrainian servicemen. The press office of the Joint Forces Operation reported this on Facebook. In the afternoon, the enemy was opening aimed fire from armored IFV, grenade launchers of different systems, heavy machine guns and small arms at the positions in the areas of the settlements: Stanytsia Luhanska, Zhovte, Krymske, Novotoshkovske, Krasnohorivka, Chermalyk, Pavlopil, Lebedynske, and Vodiane. There are no casualties among the servicemen over the last day, the JFO HQ stressed. The situation in the operation zone remains under control of the Joint Forces. Earlier, the Ministry of Defense confirmed the information on the injure of one serviceman of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the area of hostilities in Donbas over the previous day, on September 13. Open source The European Court of Human Rights appointed the first procedural meeting for a claim of Ukraine in ECHR on violation of human rights in Crimea and the occupation of the peninsula in Strasbourg on February 27, 2019. Deputy Minister of Justice Sergiy claimed this Petukhov, Ukrinform reported. 'The Ministry of Justice filed a case in the European Court of Human Rights before the so-called referendum took place. That is, we did it as soon as we got the news before what is happening there and about those armed people who were seizing the power. We have just received a formal letter from the European Court of Human Rights, the first review of this case is appointed in Strasbourg on February 27, 2019, and this is only involvement, that is, the first procedural session,' he said. Reportedly, Ukraine has filed a lawsuit in ECHR against Russia due to its violation of Ukrainian political prisoner rights. In particular, the Ukrainian Government states on the systemic violations of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by the Russian side. Concerning Klykh, Balukh, Kuku, and Litvinov, additional application have been filed under the Rule 39 of the provision of adequate health care and health information. 112 Agency German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called on Russia to influence Syrian President Bashar Assad to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and prevent the use of chemical weapons in Syrian Idlib, which is home to about 3.5 million people. He stated this on Friday, September 14, at a press conference after talks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deutsche Welle reports. "We want to do everything so that there will not be a large-scale offensive, so that there will not be thousands of civilian casualties," the Maas said. He hopes that Russia will influence the Syrian leader to prevent the use of chemical weapons. According to the Maas, Germany is ready to assist in rebuilding Syria if Damascus creates conditions for the return of refugees and ensure that they will not be persecuted. Germany also insists that the country should begin a political process that will guarantee the Syrians the right to decide the future of their country. "I can not imagine that at the end of this process, if this is a real democratic process, there will be a long-term prospect for Assad," the head of the German Foreign Ministry said. During the meeting between Maas and Lavrov, they also talk on the situation in the East of Ukraine. The Foreign Minister of Germany noted that there is no substitute for the Minsk process, therefore, we should continue the negotiations in the "Normandy format". As previously reported, the French army is ready for new air strikes against Syria in the event that Damascus again uses chemical weapons. Earlier, the US stated its readiness to again hit Syria, if the Syrian authorities will use chemical weapons. In addition, Canada expressed serious concern that the regime of Bashar Assad could use chemical weapons in the province of Idlib. Syrian President Bashar Assad approved the use of chlorine gas in Idlib. Related: U.S. considers Russian presence in the Sea of Azov as provocative and aggressive step Open source The USA considers the presence of Russian military in the Sea of Azov as an aggressive and provocative step. In particular, Kurt Volker, Special Representative of the United States Department of State for Ukraine claimed this at the briefing Yalta European Strategy, which was broadcasted by 112 Ukraine. Related: Ukraine states on provocations from Russian side in the Sea of Azov 'We are very concerned because of this. We assume that it can infringe upon those water territories. We understand that it can be very provocative and aggressive step,' he said. Earlier, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko assumed that Russia wants to occupy the Sea of Azov just as occupied Crimea. According to the Head of Ukrainian State, Kyiv won't allow it - Ukraine is ready to resolve the conflict over the Sea of Azov in the International Permanent Court of Arbitration. Related: Ukraine increases military presence in Azov region 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. 112 Agency Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy and Special Representative of the US State Department Kurt Volker at a meeting on Friday, September 14 discussed information and cyber threats from the Russian Federation regarding the forthcoming elections, the press service of the Verkhovna Rada reports. "Ukraine often experiences information attacks and cyberattacks from Russia, so now, on the eve of the elections, it is important to support and cooperate with the United States of America, who know very well what Russian cyberattacks and, in particular, interference in elections are," Parubiy said. In turn, Volker noted that "the security of elections is our common interest, therefore we actively cooperate with the Ukrainian authorities and non-governmental organizations to ensure the security." Parubiy also noted the importance of the aspect of information security, "because in Ukraine there is a network of so-called media, controlled from the aggressor country, which in fact play the role of an instrument of Russian propaganda." "As the Russian aggressor occupied part of the Ukrainian lands, in the same way part of the information space of Ukraine is occupied," the speaker summed up. Related: Road accident with Ukrainian minibus in Russia - four dead The assailant was a security guard in the parking situated nearby the victim's place www.ukrinform.ua Kyiv Police detained the man who has recently attacked Serhii Diachuk, judge of the Svyatoshin District Court of Kyiv. The press office of the police reports. According to the message, the assailant was a security guard in the parking situated nearby the victim's place. Related: One of suspects in attack at Handziuk get out under house arrest According to the judge, he noted that a fire was set up near the parking. When he went outdoor, he saw that the security guard was burning the garbage, the judge reprimanded the man. In reply, the man inadequately reacted at it: he took the stick and started hitting the judge's hands and head. According to the police, the witnesses of the conflict call the victim an ambulance, meanwhile, the assailant escaped from the scene. The law enforcement officers promptly identified the suspected and detained him. Related: Attack on Handziuk: criminal cases held by police, Security Sevice of Ukraine 'He is a Kievan, born in 1964. Currently, the perpetrator provides explanations to the investigators of Svyatoshin Police Department,' the police added. The information on the incident was inserted to the Unified register of pre-trial investigations. Criminal proceedings have been initiated under Part 4 of Art. 296 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The sanction of the article provides for punishment of up to 7 years of imprisonment. Earlier, the press office of the Council of Judges of Ukraine claimed that the judge of the Svyatoshin District Court of Kyiv was attacked nearby his place. Related: Attack on Handziuk: SBU seals information on instigator It was assumed that the attack may be connected with the professional activity of the judge. Reportedly, attacked Serhii Diachuk, judge of the Svyatoshin District Court of Kyiv holds hearings on the murder of people on the Maidan on February 18-20, 2014. The case, which already includes 157 victims and more than 500 witnesses. Five ex-employees of the Kyiv regiment "Berkut" are accused of the massacre of protesters, as well as of committing a terrorist act. 112 Agency On the night of September 15 in the Leningrad region of the Russian Federation, the road accident with Ukrainian minibus took place, resulting in the death of four people. Another injured person is in the hospital. This was reported in Twitter by the press secretary of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Mariana Betza. "As a result of the accident in the Leningrad region of Russia, 4 citizens of Ukraine died, 1 was hospitalized. Condolences to the relatives. The consuls provide all-round assistance," she wrote. According to the press service of the traffic police in St. Petersburg and Leningrad region, a head-on collision between DAF and Mercedes Sprinter vehicles occurred on the 76th km of the Narva highway. "About 01:00 in the Volosovsky district of the Leningrad region, on the 76th km of the Narva road, there was a collision of two vehicles: the DAF car and the Mercedes Sprinter car. As a result, the Mercedes Sprinter driver and his passengers died, one passenger is in serious condition," said the press- service. Related: Merkel talked with Putin about Sentsov, - Russian Foreign Minister Ukrainian political prisoner Volodymyr Balukh was beaten up and threatened to get killed in the Simferopol remand center. Akhtem Chiygoz, Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars claimed this to Krym.Realii on September 14. According to the Deputy Chairman, Balukh was taken out from his cell, severely beaten up and is threatened to get killed.' Related: Ukraines ombudswoman: Russian colleague to pass medical reports on Sentsov, Balukh health today As it was reported earlier the February 26 case is the infamous case of several Crimean Tatar activists detained by the Russian authorities of Crimea in 2014; the protesters are suspected of organization and participation in the mass disturbances in Crimea on February 26, 2014, when the Crimean Tatars tried to prevent the occupation of the peninsula by Russian troops and the overthrowing of the Ukrainian authority there. Ali Asanov and Mustafa Degermenji were arrested in April and May 2014, respectively. Earlier the court of Simferopol extended the detention period for Ali Asanov and Mustafa Degermenji. Thus, the detained Crimean Tatars will stay behind the bars until January 7, 2017. >> AnnArborObserver.com >> City Guide >> Government >> Washtenaw County Government City Guide Washtenaw County Government Washtenaw County, one of the first counties in Michigan, was established in 1822 and fully organized by 1827. An agent of the state government, it carries out the responsibilities of the state, but it also has independent executive and, in a few cases, legislative powers. The county's general information line is (734) 222-4357. Email via form on website: washtenaw.org Related Topics: Administrator 220 N. Main [(734) 222-3401 Appointed by the board of commissioners, county administrator Gregory Dill is responsible for the overall management of county departments, agencies, and offices. washtenaw.org /150 /administrator Board of Commissioners 220 N. Main [(734) 222-6850 The chief policy-making body of county government, the board has 9 members, elected to 2-year terms. As of June 2021, commissioners are Jason Maciejewski (District 1; maciejewskij@washtenaw.org), Sue Shink (District 2; shinks@washtenaw.org), Shannon Beeman (District 3; beemans@washtenaw.org), Caroline Sanders (District 4; sandersc@washtenaw.org), Justin Hodge (District 5; hodgej@washtenaw.org), Ricky Jefferson (District 6; jeffersonr@washtenaw.org), Andy LaBarre (District 7; labarrea@washtenaw.org), Jason Morgan (District 8; morganj@washtenaw.org), and Katie Scott (District 9; scottk@washtenaw.org). For a map of commission districts, visit washtenaw.org /217 /commissioners . Commissioners' duties include adopting countywide ordinances, overseeing county operations and facilities, adopting the annual budget, (including all county departments), and making appointments to boards, committees, and commissions. The board of commissioners meets 1st & 3rd Wed. 6:45 p.m., preceded by a Ways and Means committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. Working sessions 1st & 3rd Thurs. 6:30 p.m. All meetings at 220 N. Main; call (734) 222-6850 to confirm times. Meetings are broadcast live online at washtenaw.org /215 /webcast . washtenaw.org /217 /commissioners Building Inspection 705 N. Zeeb [(734) 222-3900 Building Inspection provides enforcement of the State Construction Code to ensure the minimum safety standards of building, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems in the city of Dexter and townships of Augusta, Lodi, Saline, Scio, Sharon, and Webster. Automated scheduling: (734) 222-3720. washtenaw.org /156 /building-inspection Clerk/Register of Deeds 200 N. Main [(734) 222-6700 This combined office is headed by Lawrence Kestenbaum (D), whose four-year term expires in 2024. He and his staff maintain official county records (births, deaths, marriages, divorces, military discharges, business names, concealed weapons permits, and board of commissioners records), monitor the conduct of elections, and keep all land ownership records for property in the county. washtenaw.org /262 /clerk-register-of-deeds Environmental Health Division (Washtenaw County Health Department) 705 N. Zeeb [(734) 222-3800 This division of the county health department protects and improves the quality of the environment and the health of residents. If you believe you have gotten sick from food you ate at a restaurant or bought at a grocery store in Washtenaw County, call the number above. The Environmental Health Division inspects restaurants and other food service facilities, public pools and beaches, campgrounds, child care centers, facilities storing hazardous materials, well and septic systems, and body art facilities. It also investigates foodborne illness complaints, offers information on water testing, and provides environmental education on a variety of topics. Consultation on sanitation, groundwater contamination, mold, radon, pests and more, is available. During Covid-19: Staff cannot inspect private homes or residences. washtenaw.org /envhealth Human Resources 220 N. Main [(734) 222-6800 County job openings are posted each week. Apply online or download the application. Fax: (734-222-6775), mail: P.O. Box 8645, Ann Arbor, MI 48107. See website for updates on office hours. washtenaw.org /1173 /human-resources Office of Community & Economic Development (OCED) 415 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti, 2nd floor [(734) 544-6748 Works to enhance quality of life for all Washtenaw County residents by delivering programs and initiatives in the areas of affordable housing, human services, economic development and community infrastructure. OCED serves local individuals, families, and communities through a mix of direct services, public policy development, and investment of monetary and technical support. Programs include: Foster Grandparent Program (734-544-3040), offering opportunities for seniors age 55 and older to volunteer with children in a community/educational setting. Fill out an interest form on website. Washtenaw County Winter Warming Centers (734-961-1999), providing emergency shelter for homeless individuals during the winter months. Meals on Wheels and Senior Cafes (lachapellm@washtenaw.org), providing meals to seniors in settings such as community and senior centers throughout Washtenaw County. During Covid-19: Senior Cafes are closed. Contact a Meals on Wheels provider for meal delivery options. Washtenaw Housing Education Partners(WHEP) & Homebuyer Education Program (734-222-9595), providing potential homebuyers down payment assistance and affordable housing opportunities, as well as housing seminars and individual pre-purchase housing counseling. Housing Rehabilitation & Weatherization (734-544-3008), assisting eligible county property owners with rehabilitations, emergency repairs, and accessibility ramps, and providing income-eligible county homeowners and renters with free energy efficiency improvements. washtenaw.org /569 /Community-Economic-Development Related Topics: Prosecutor 200 N. Main [(734) 222-6620 Prosecutor Eli Savit (D), an elected official whose 4-year term expires Jan. 2025, is the chief law enforcement officer for the county. The prosecuting attorney and assistants are responsible for criminal cases in the county that fall under state law. The prosecutor must authorize, in writing, any criminal prosecution. The prosecutor also enforces child support and handles juvenile court matters. For questions about child support, call (734) 222-6630. Advocates in the Victim/Witness Assistance Program (734) 222-6650 inform victims of their rights and the status of their cases. prosecutor@washtenaw.org, washtenaw.org /1070 /prosecuting-attorney Public Defender 220 E. Huron, 5th floor [(734) 222-6970 County public defender Delphia Simpson and her staff provide court-appointed legal counsel for adults, determined to be unable to pay for a lawyer, who are charged with felonies or misdemeanors and for juveniles charged with delinquencies or who are victims of neglect or abuse. The office also helps answer legal questions and works for crime prevention, justice, rehabilitation, reduced recidivism, and training and employment opportunities for persons subject to discrimination. washtenaw.org /1068 /public-defender Public Health 555 Towner St, Ypsilanti [(734) 544-6700 See Health Care section, p. ??? Road Commission 555 N. Zeeb [(734) 761-1500 The road commission and its staff, headed by chair Barbara Ryan Fuller, are responsible for providing a road system that is reasonably safe and convenient. Most paved and gravel roads outside city limits are under the road commission's jurisdiction. Maintenance services include pothole patching, dust control, gravel road grading, snow removal, pavement resurfacing, roadside drainage, roadside vegetation management and tree removal. Other services include road and bridge construction, sign and signal maintenance, pavement marking, and guardrail repairs. The commission does not maintain privately owned streets or streets within the City of Ann Arbor. Download the WCRC Fix It app to easily report non-emergency county road issues directly to the road commission. wcroads.org Sheriff 2201 Hogback [call 911. Nonemergency: (734) 971-8400 Sheriff Jerry Clayton (D), an elected official whose 4-year term expires Jan. 2025, enforces all county criminal, civil, and traffic laws and conducts investigations of unusual, violent, or accidental deaths in areas under the department's jurisdiction. The sheriff executes the orders of the courts, arrests and detains accused offenders, manages the county jail facilities, and coordinates law enforcement activities of the county and state. For townships and villages in outlying areas that have contracted with the sheriff's office, it responds to calls for assistance and provides uniformed road patrols. washtenawsheriff.org Treasurer 200 N. Main, #200 [(734) 222-6600 County treasurer Catherine McClary (D), an elected official whose 4-year term expires Jan. 2025, is the custodian of all county funds and portfolio manager for the county's investments. She is responsible for issuing dog, kennel, and dog park licenses; certifying deeds to verify taxes are paid; and receiving, depositing, and accounting for all county revenue and state education tax. Her office collects delinquent property taxes and assists people with financial hardships in paying their property taxes. Pay delinquent taxes and make partial payments securely online without a fee at washtenaw.org /pay . washtenaw.org /treasurer Veterans Affairs 2155 Hogback [(734) 973-4540 Provides assistance to veterans, their survivors, and dependents to complete and file claims for federal, state, and local benefits, including in monthly VA entitlements, financial assistance, and burial reimbursements. Emergency financial grants for food, utilities, and shelter; veteran health care information; substance abuse referrals; and employment referrals. During Covid-19: Call (734) 973-4540 to schedule appointment. washtenaw.org /959 /veterans-affairs Water Resources Commission 705 N. Zeeb [(734) 222-6860 Commissioner Evan Pratt (drains@washtenaw.org), an elected official whose term expires Jan. 2025, coordinates stormwater management, develops strategies for flood and erosion control, and participates in the development of related storm-water and land-use policies, plans, and programs. The commissioner also conducts activities to protect the quality of storm drains and waterways; prepares special assessments for drains; maintains court-set lake levels and constructs and maintains associated facilities; establishes standards and reviews plans for storm drainage projects; manages and finances drain construction projects and watershed management plans; and educates the public on drain issues. washtenaw.org /154 /water-resources Related Topics: STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. State Minister of Artsakh Grigory Martirosyan held a meeting on September 14 with the delegation of Hayastan All Armenian Fund. During the meeting the State Minister noted that the government of Artsakh has always valued the Funds activities and the level of cooperation. He mentioned that the Vardenis-Martakert highway, which was commissioned two years ago and was built with pan-Armenian resources, is providing serious results in terms of economy, namely by encouraging tourism and commercial turnover growth. He expressed certainty that the many years of trust and experience will gain new quality in further cooperation with the Fund. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces have opened cross-border gunfire at the village of Chinari in Armenias Tavush Province. Chinari town official Samvel Saghoyan told ARMENPRESS that the situation was tense since the morning of September 14, and that Azerbaijani troops opened an hour-long gunfire at the village from 20:30. They were firing large caliber heavy machine guns. Two houses were slightly damaged, nothing significant, he said. No one was injured in the shooting. No other details were available at the moment. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has presented details from his meeting with the chairman of the board of Lydian International in Paris. Speaking to reporters after the inauguration of a new medical facility in Yerevan, the PM said that during the meeting he has said that the final decision of the Armenian government should be based on facts. Currently the Amulsar mine, which is operated by Lydian Armenia, has stopped functioning due to ongoing protests of environmentalists. The government has said that it will make a decision whether or not to allow the company to continue operations after having conclusions from experts in terms of safety. Unfortunately, when I was in Jermuk later June or early July, I suggested the company to cooperate in order for us to be able to reach a conclusion over the facts, but they refused, and now we are forced to take another path, the PM said. He added that the matter requires the conclusion from an international organization having indisputable reputation. I believe that we must have the answers of two questions. To what extent is the project safe for Sevan [lake], and to what extent if the project safe for the waters of Jermuk and generally for the drainage basin, the PM said. He said the government will allow the company to continue operations if in fact the conclusions will prove that the project is safe for the abovementioned issues. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says that the actions of the police and the national security service are aimed at securing equality before the law for all citizens of Armenia. Asked by a reporter today at a public event whether he is pleased with the actions of the law enforcement agencies after he tasked them to disarm the security details of oligarchs, the PM said: All citizens of Armenia are equal before the law, and the mission of police and the national security service is to safeguard this. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani Armed Forces have committed nearly 250 individual ceasefire violations from September 9 to 15, according to the defense ministry of Artsakh. The defense ministry of Artsakh said that the Azerbaijani military fired more than 2500 rounds from various caliber firearms at their positions during the week. It said that the Artsakh military maintains full control at the frontline and confidently continue carrying out their mission. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the grand opening of a new facility of the Shengavit Medical Center in Yerevan. The PM toured the center and viewed the conditions, the governments press service said. The universal center is equipped with modern management systems, state-of-the-art medical equipment and convenient patient rooms. The centers executives said they will render high quality services to patients. They said that doctors of the facility regularly undergo trainings in Armenia, as well as in European and Israeli clinics. The executives said they also plan to carry out exchange of experience. The PM welcomed the implementation of such major projects in the healthcare field and rendering of top quality services to citizens. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has held a meeting today with foreign ambassadors stationed in Georgia, who are currently on a visit to Armenia. Ambassadors of Austria, China, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Iran, Poland, Kazakhstan, Sweden, Ukraine, France and Netherlands to Georgia were present at the meeting, as well as the Holy Sees Apostolic Nuncio to Georgia and the representative of the Swiss embassy to Georgia, and the representatives of the United Nations to Georgia. During the meeting the Armenian PM welcomed the foreign envoys and noted that the Armenian government attaches importance to the continuous development of cooperation, enhancement of ties with the abovementioned countries, the Holy See and the UN. PM Pashinyan expressed hope that during the visit to Armenia the envoys will have the chance to get to know the ongoing developments which are taking place after the non-violent velvet revolution. The PM stressed that the Armenian governments actions are aimed at the development and strengthening of democracy, securing the protection of human rights and equality before the law, development of the civil society and improvement of the administration system. Pashinyan mentioned that the government has already achieved serious results in combating corruption and monopolies and improvement of the business climate. He also added that reforms are underway in the Tax Code, which will encourage the implementation of new investment projects and will contribute to the implementation of successful and effective businesses. The PM later answered to the questions of the envoys, regarding the holding of parliamentary elections, the Armenia-Georgia relations, Armenia-EU relations and the Armenia-EU CEPA. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was interviewed by the French Le Monde newspaper during his recent visit to France. In the interview, the PM emphasized that since he took office there are no longer any privileged persons or privileges in Armenia, and that they are fighting an unprecedented fight against corruption and the underground economy [black market]. Below is a part from the interview: What have you been able to change in Armenia after four month since taking office? The press is freer than ever now. For the first time in the history of the third republic there are no longer the privileged or privileges. We are fighting an unprecedented fight against corruption and underground economy. Economic monopolies no longer exist. Election of a mayor will take place September 23rd in the Armenian capital, which will become the freest in history. Unlike other revolutions, at least the ones I am aware of, in our case the revolution was not followed by economic decline. On the contrary, the indicators are positive, the capital is returning to the country, real estate prices are growing, bank deposits are growing. We succeeded in creating a direct democratic popular governance system. You were elected by parliament under public pressure, but MPs who were elected during the tenure of Serzh Sargsyan continue comprising majority there. Is this acceptable? When the parliament was electing me Prime Minister, I could only rely on four votes, one of which was mine. This parliament is a black stain in our political reality, but we must see the situation in its balance. 20 days after I was elected, the parliament voted in favor of the government program which included the need to hold early elections. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan Paul Manafort's decision to plead guilty and flip in the Russia investigation is the single biggest victory for the special counsel Robert Mueller so far. Before agreeing to a plea deal with Manafort, prosecutors likely sat down with him or his attorney for a proffer session, during which a defendant has to answer several key questions from investigators about their own case or any criminal activity they may have witnessed. "This means Mueller's team feels that what Manafort has to offer is not just credible, but important," said one Justice Department veteran. Manafort's decision to flip against President Trump likely blindsided his legal team. Paul Manafort was the chairman of President Donald Trump's campaign when he offered a Russian oligarch "private briefings" on Trump's bid. He was spearheading the campaign when WikiLeaks began dumping thousands of emails from the Democratic National Committee that had been stolen by Russian operatives. Perhaps most importantly, he was one of three top Trump campaign officials to attend a meeting with two Russian lobbyists offering kompromat on Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton at the height of the campaign. On Friday, Manafort pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy and obstruction, and Andrew Weismann, a prosecutor working for the special counsel Robert Mueller, told a federal judge that Manafort had flipped and would be cooperating "in any and all matter as to which the government deems the cooperation relevant," including "testifying fully, completely" before a grand jury. Patrick Cotter, a former federal prosecutor who worked with Weismann in the past, didn't mince words when he reacted to the development. "Manafort's cooperation is the single most important advancement for the Mueller probe," he said. "He is the single most important witness thus far, because his position was such that he can shed light on the most critical question of what the president knew, and when he knew it." Story continues 'This is a huge get for Mueller's team' Robert Mueller Mueller is investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 election, whether members of the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow to tilt the race in his favour, and whether Trump sought to obstruct justice after the existence of the investigation became public knowledge last year. News of Manafort's deal with Mueller came after intense speculation over whether the former Trump campaign chairman would plead guilty or go to trial. Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, told Politico earlier this week that Manafort was in a joint defence agreement with the president, and that Trump's team was not worried about Manafort flipping. He told BuzzFeed early Friday, less than two hours before Manafort's plea hearing, that Manafort had not withdrawn from the agreement, in what appeared to be an indication that even if Manafort entered a guilty plea, he would not be cooperating against Trump. For that reason, Weissmann's announcement that Manafort had flipped likely "blindsided" the president's legal team, Cotter said. But Elie Honig, a former Justice Department lawyer who prosecuted hundreds of organised crime cases, said it's common in high-profile cases for a cooperator to stay silent about their agreement with the prosecution until the last minute. "Joint defence agreements are very common in mob cases," he said. "And when you're working to flip someone in a joint defence agreement, they'd have to keep it a secret. The last people you'd tell are the other people in the agreement because they could threaten you, try to dissuade you, or do other things to derail you." Giuliani told Business Insider on Friday evening that Manafort had still not withdrawn from his joint defence agreement with Trump. But Jeffrey Cramer, a longtime former federal prosecutor who spent 12 years at the Justice Department, pointed out that a joint defence agreement in this case is not the same as those in most other federal cases. "Normal defence agreements involve people on the same indictment," he said, adding that he believed it was likely the most Manafort was getting out of his agreement with Trump was money to cover his legal expenses. "Regardless, he is talking to Mueller now, so I doubt there will be many meetings between the two sides going forward." What Manafort knows is important for several threads of the Russia investigation, like the hack of the DNC and any communication between Trump campaign members and Russian interests. But the biggest value he brings to Mueller is the ability to shed light on the controversial June 2016 meeting between campaign officials and Russian lobbyists. Manafort attended the meeting along with Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner, and it eventually emerged that, contrary to Trump Jr.'s initial statements, the meeting was pitched as "part of Russia and its government's support" for Trump's candidacy. It is a federal crime to accept something of value from a foreign government in connection to an American election, and legal experts have suggested that if Trump campaign officials took the meeting to get kompromat on Clinton, it could place them in serious legal jeopardy. "Manafort has knowledge of that meeting because he was there, there's no speculation on that," Cramer said. "He knows what it was for, what happened at the meeting, and he may even know about the cover-up afterward. This is a huge get for Mueller's team." 'It's getting very lonely on Trump Island' Donald Trump After Manafort's plea deal was announced, both Giuliani and the White House released statements downplaying its significance. "Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign," Giuliani said in a statement to Business Insider. "The reason: the President did nothing wrong." White House press secretary Sarah Sanders struck a similar chord. "This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign," she said in a statement. "It is totally unrelated." While the charges to which Manafort pleaded are unrelated to Trump, legal experts say Manafort will tell Mueller a lot more than just information about what was in the indictments against him. "Sanders' statement is just false," Cramer said. "Some things are grey. This is really black and white. The Russia meeting was obviously during the campaign, the DNC hack was obviously during the campaign, as were many other events Manafort may know about." "The court of public opinion is one thing; the legal system doesn't care about the spin the White House is putting on this," he added. Honig agreed. Manafort's cooperation, he said, is a massive victory for the special counsel, because "the way it works with federal cooperation is it's all or nothing." "The cooperator doesn't just talk about select people or categories," he said. "They have to talk about everything they have ever done, all the criminal activity they knew about, every crime they have committed." Before striking a plea deal with a defendant, prosecutors sit down with them or their attorney for what's known as a proffer session, which involves the defendant answering any questions from investigators, including those about their own case and other possible criminal activity they may have witnessed. Even if Mueller's team didn't have the chance to sit down for a full proffer session with Manafort, experts said he almost certainly knew the broad strokes of what the former Trump campaign chairman had to offer. Ultimately, prosecutors only agree to a cooperation deal with a defendant if the defendant gives them information that can be confirmed by other witnesses and documents. Cotter, who was part of the team that convicted the Gambino crime family boss John Gotti after flipping his right-hand man, Salvatore "Sammy the bull" Gravano, said that was the most significant takeaway for him. "This means Mueller's team feels that what Manafort has to offer is not just credible, but important," he said. "That suggests that what Manafort knows is really critical evidence about that Trump Tower meeting, who knew about it and when, and what other contacts were there between the campaign and people around Trump." The bottom line? Every day, Cotter said, there are one or two fewer people the president can rely on. "It's getting very lonely on Trump Island." A man murdered his wife before sinking her body in his catamaran to end his troubled marriage and gain financially from her estate, according to prosecutors in the US. Lewis Bennett, 41, a former Gold Coast business owner, was sailing with his partner, Isabella Hellmann, to their Florida home in May last year when he contacted authorities with an SOS call to say his wife was unaccounted for after their vessel began to sink, Sky News reported. Bennett, a British-Australian of Poole, England, was discovered to be smuggling stolen rare coins when he was rescued off the coast of Cuba by a helicopter. Ms Hellmans body has never been found and the FBI has since charged Bennett with second degree murder. Lewis Bennett pictured with his wife, Isabella Hellman. Source: Facebook Prosecutor Benjamin Greenberg claims one of Bennetts regular arguments with his wife may have led to her death. Mr Greenberg asked a judge in Florida to admit into evidence conversations Ms Hellmann, 41, had with others. She is believed to have discussed her ailing marriage with close ones, revealing the couple repeatedly argued over their finances, raising their young daughter, and a possible move to Australia. The couples vessel which sank off the coast of Cuba on its way to Florida. Source: US Coast Guard Bennett has requested authorities to register his wife as presumed dead, meaning he would be in line to inherit her savings and property. Hellmanns murder would remove the marital strife from the defendants life, allow the defendant to live his life as he pleased, and would enable him to inherit money from Hellmanns estate, all of which provide strong circumstantial proof that the defendant had a strong motive to murder Hellmann, Mr Greenberg said. Prosecutors believe his wifes potential discovery of the English and Canadian coins he was smuggling, valued at $53,000, may have led to her death. Bennett will go on trial for the second degree murder charge in December. He is already serving seven months in prison after being sentenced over the smuggled coins. A man has allegedly been caught driving with a blood alcohol level more than five times the legal limit after watching the AFL semi-final at the MCG. Police noticed the mans Ford Ranger on Dandenong-Frankston Rd at Dandenong South at about 12.20am on Sunday. The man is believed to have been at the MCG watching last nights AFL semi-final. Source: AAP Officers believe the 41-year-old driver, who allegedly returned a blood alcohol content reading of 0.252, had earlier watched the semi-final between Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney at the MCG. The mans vehicle was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $983 and his drivers license was suspended. Police expect to charge the Carrum Downs man with drink driving. The EU on Friday urged member countries to work together to avoid turning Europe into a confusing patchwork of different timezones, 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 neighbouring countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands could end up an hour apart. To avoid a mishmash of timezones in neighbouring 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 harmonised 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. - Wartime energy - 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. 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 harmonised 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". Time on its mind? The EU says it wants to abolish the twice-yearly clock change following huge demand from citizens Tens of thousands of people gathered in Addis Ababa on Saturday to welcome the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), the latest once-banned rebel group to return following a string of Ethiopian political reforms. Popular among the largest ethnic group, the Oromo, the OLF fell out with the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) in 1992 and soon began launching armed attacks. Last month, the OLF reached a deal on returning home following an accord with representatives of the government. In July, the OLF and two other groups were formally removed from the list of "terrorist" organisations as part of a string of radical reforms pushed through by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed since taking office in April. "We returned home as the incumbent force of change has opened the door for the peaceful conduct of reform," OLF chairman Dawud Ibsa told state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate upon his arrival in the Ethiopian capital. He said the OLF now planned to engage in "peaceful struggle". Fana also said that more than 1,300 OLF fighters had crossed into Ethiopia from Eritrea, where the government had offered them safe haven. In power since 1991, the EPRDF coalition has hunted down OLF fighters and jailed its supporters, deepening resentment among Oromos whose anti-government protests fuelled the rise of Abiy's rise. On Saturday, thousands of OLF flags flew in celebration above Meskel Square in the city centre as a huge, jubilant crowd awaited Dawud and his entourage. "My father died for this flag," said 28-year-old Getachew Adunga, holding a yellow, green and red OLF banner. Several in the crowd bore scars incurred during years of Oromo-led anti-government protests. "I never thought this day would come," said 27-year-old Arfase Elias, showing the scar from a bullet that hit her left leg 12 years ago during a demonstration in the restive town of Ambo. "For this flag, I've seen my brothers tortured, dying on the streets. I've seen the sacrifices they'd made for freedom," she said. There was a heavy security presence at the rally after two days of sporadic clashes between Oromos and other residents of this ethnically-diverse city. The OLF's return comes just days after militants from Ginbot 7, another armed opposition group that renounced violence after Abiy's rise, also came home. An Oromo himself, Abiy has undertaken aggressive reforms in the five months he has been in power, releasing jailed dissidents and signing a peace deal to end 20 years of conflict with neighbouring Eritrea. Thousands of flag-waving supporters were out on the streets to welcome the returning OLF rebels, who fell out with the government in 1992 Hollywood's A-listers gather Monday to honor the best in television at the Emmy Awards, with record-breaking fantasy epic "Game of Thrones" back in the competition and once again looking to slay its rivals. But winter could come early for HBO's blood-spattered smash hit if it fails to snare the coveted best drama series prize, with last year's winner "The Handmaid's Tale" hotly tipped to defend its crown. Both shows have already picked up some Emmys hardware: "Game of Thrones" won seven statuettes in technical categories at last weekend's Creative Arts Emmys, while "The Handmaid's Tale" scooped up three. And both are likely to add to that haul at Monday's glittering gala in downtown Los Angeles, but the race for the top prize still seems to be a crapshoot, with dark horse pick "The Americans" also in the hunt. Can "Handmaid" -- Hulu's bleak take on a totalitarian America where women are oppressed, based on Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel -- again win over voters, especially in the #MeToo era? Will "The Americans" -- the gripping FX thriller about Soviet sleeper agents in the United States during the Cold War -- finally earn some Emmys love after a critically acclaimed six-season run? Or will "GoT," the cinematic tale of noble families vying for the Iron Throne, reign supreme once again, on the back of its whopping 22 nominations? Others in the best drama category include HBO's futuristic western "Westworld," Netflix favorites "The Crown" and retro sci-fi mystery "Stranger Things," and NBC family saga "This is Us." The Television Academy's 22,000-plus members have already cast their ballots for the 70th Primetime Emmys, the small-screen answer to the Oscars -- so it's time for red carpet glamour and heartfelt speeches. For Robert Thompson, professor of pop culture and television history at Syracuse University in New York, there are no "obvious winners" on the drama side -- but a plethora of innovative, quality comedies. "As peak TV settles into middle age, half-hour comedies are television's red Corvette," Thompson said -- a shiny new toy for viewers. With perennial heavy hitter "Veep" out of contention this year, FX's "Atlanta" -- a quirky look at the rap scene in the Georgia capital -- is squaring off with Amazon's "The Marvelous Mrs Maisel" for top honors. "Atlanta" star and creator Donald Glover, a winner last year for best lead comedy actor, is tipped to repeat. Overall, the show earned 16 nominations. - TV history in making - In 2016, "Game of Thrones" made history, picking up 12 awards and becoming the most decorated fictional show since the Television Academy first handed out prizes in 1949. With the seven statuettes it won last weekend, "GoT" -- which will return in 2019 for an eighth and final season -- now has 45 Emmys overall. On Monday, beyond the best drama trophy, cast members Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Peter Dinklage are nominated, along with the show's directors and writers. Other major contenders include FX's "The Assassination of Gianni Versace," which racked up 18 nominations. Darren Criss is the favorite to win the star-studded race for best actor in a limited series or movie for his searing portrayal of Versace's killer Andrew Cunanan. But he faces stiff competition from a clutch of boldface names including Antonio Banderas, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jeff Daniels and John Legend, the pop crooner who has already made some history of his own. The "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert" headliner joined the musical's co-producers Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice as the latest showbiz personalities to earn EGOT status. Each now has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. Only 12 others have achieved the distinction. Another bit of Emmys history: streaming giant Netflix ended HBO's 17-year streak of leading the nominations, with 112 to the premium cable network's 108. After last week's Creative Arts Emmys, HBO has won 17 statuettes to Netflix's 16. - Politics and ratings - Another major contender is veteran comedy sketch show "Saturday Night Live," just behind "GoT" with 21 nominations. Show regulars Michael Che and Colin Jost will host the Emmys at the Microsoft Theater, to be broadcast on NBC, and series creator Lorne Michaels will produce the event for the first time in 30 years. With awards show audiences dwindling in the age of Twitter, can the "SNL" team breathe new life into the format? "If anyone can do live TV and try to keep the format relevant, I suppose it's Lorne Michaels," Thompson said. Jost has said he wants the Emmys to be "less political than normal" -- but that seems unlikely only a week after CBS chairman and CEO Les Moonves left in a cloud of sexual misconduct allegations. For Thompson, television's best and brightest "tend to be politically conscious folks" and given that the #MeToo movement erupted after last year's Emmys gala, a few well-placed comments appear inevitable. The 70th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles will honor the best in television There are seven nominees this year for the coveted best drama series Emmy, including past winners "Game of Thrones" and "The Handmaid's Tale" Actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau -- shown here at the premiere of HBO's "Game Of Thrones" Season 6 in April 2016 in Hollywood -- is a first-time Emmy nominee this year Andrew Lloyd Webber, John Legend and Tim Rice earned EGOT status with their Emmy win for "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert" -- each now has an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony A look at this year's Emmy nominees With an ex-army captain leading polls, a reserve general picked as his running mate, and a military chief sticking his nose into the election chaos, Brazil's army has become an increasingly conspicuous participant on the political scene. On top of that, the number of military candidates across both the presidential and gubernatorial elections on October 7 has almost doubled since the last vote, up from 13 to 25, according to the influential Estado de S. Paulo newspaper. In a country that suffered almost 20 years of military dictatorship from 1965-84, there is understandable apprehension in the air. "After the dictatorship, the military was on the defensive for a long time, but now they are more visible," said Nelson During, director at Defesanet, a website specializing in defense affairs. Most worryingly, perhaps, is the fact that poll front-runner Jair Bolsonaro has spoken admiringly about Brazil's military dictatorship and even its use of torture. It is no coincidence that he picked reserve general Hamilton Mourao as his running mate, and thus potential vice-president, and has promised to name six generals to his government if elected. Mourao is not just any general, either. He caused an uproar with his veiled threat last year, amongst a raft of corruption scandals, that should the political situation continue to degrade, the army would be forced to "impose a solution." Since the right-wing Bolsonaro was stabbed by a left-wing activist while campaigning last week and subsequently confined to hospital, his running mate has taken up the lobbying reins. Bolsonaro, 63, remains in a serious condition and may not be able to return to the campaign trail before the October 7 first round, perhaps not even before the second-round two-candidate run-off three weeks later that he is expected to reach. That means Mourao's profile, visibility and influence will grow. - 'General intolerance' - The attack on Bolsonaro didn't go unnoticed by his former military colleagues, with army chief General Eduardo Villas Boas giving an interview to Estado de S. Paulo warning that the climate of "general intolerance" surrounding the elections could "throw into question the legitimacy of the next government." He also aimed a barb at jailed former election front-runner Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose exhaustive attempts to secure a spot on the ballot paper despite serving a 12-year sentence for corruption extended even to petitioning the United Nations. Villas Boas hit out at the UN Human Rights Committee, which said that left-wing icon Lula could not be barred from standing in the election, for attempting "to violate national security." In reaction to Villas Boas's scolding of the UN for meddling in Brazil's election, Folha de S. Paulo ran an editorial entitled: "Imprudence in uniform." It ticked off Villas Boas for "these confused statements that contribute in no way to calming" the election chaos. That was soft and diplomatic in comparison to center-left candidate Ciro Gomes's reaction, telling O Globo newspaper that had he been president already, the military chief would have been "sacked and put in prison." - 'Loss of credibility' - A political science professor at Brasilia University, David Fleischer, lays part of the blame at the feet of incumbent President Michel Temer as his "loss of credibility," as well as implication in serious corruption scandals, "could have contributed" to Villas Boas feeling the need to intervene. "Military visibility has increased greatly these last few years because Temer's government has deployed troops several times" to maintain law and order, he said. Most dramatically, he put Rio de Janeiro law enforcement under the command of the army in February in an attempt to bring under control spiraling deadly violence in favelas. But while it would be understandable for a population still scarred by 20 years of military dictatorship to fear a political return of the armed forces, some are willing to listen to "a discourse in which the military is less corrupt" than scandal-tainted politicians "and could establish order, peace and security," according to Sergio Praca, professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a higher education institute specializing in management and economics. Part of the population would approve of "military intervention" but Praca says that still leaves Brazil far from a resurgence of the dictatorship. "We're a long way from the situation in 1964. These days, the military applies itself politically by democratic means," he insisted. Brazilian election front-runner Jair Bolsonaro is an ex-army captain who maintains close ties to the military Army General Eduardo Villas Boas is causing controversy in Brazil with his outspoken comments on the election process The European Parliament's threat to unleash sanctions against Hungary over democracy concerns was a stunning political blow against Prime Minister Viktor Orban, but his dominance at home means defeat can still be spun as a win. A resolution passed in Strasbourg Wednesday ruled that the Hungarian government posed a "systemic threat" to the EU's founding values of democracy and the rule of law. The vote, backed by Manuel Weber, the head of the European People's Party -- the grouping Orban's Fidesz party also belongs to -- could in theory lead to Budapest being stripped of its EU voting rights. But Orban has pronounced himself unconcerned, telling domestic radio Friday there was "no danger" for Hungary in the vote and that in any case he would help remove what he called the "pro-immigration majority" at European Parliament elections next May. After the vote, headlines in pro-Orban media outlets accused a coalition of liberals and allies of US billionaire George Soros of wreaking revenge against Hungarians for daring to oppose migration. "The pro-immigration side took revenge by cheating," said Magyar Idok, a daily newspaper considered a government mouthpiece. According to a TV channel owned by Orban ally and Hollywood film producer Andy Vajna, the premier was "cheered across Europe" after the ruling. In a debate prior to the vote, Orban portrayed the charges as an insult to the honour of Hungarians, but a poll in the left-leaning Nepszava newspaper Friday indicated some 57 percent of respondents pinned the blame on government policies. On the street, Hungarians revealed mixed feelings. "It's a national shame that it has got to this stage, that Hungary is on trial before Europe," said Dezso Hatvani, a shopper at a Budapest market, adding he hoped any sanctions are levelled at the government and not at ordinary people. "It was a stitch-up against Viktor, he shouldn't ever go back there to listen to such insults," said another shopper, 52-year-old Orsi Vinczeler. - 'Under attack' - "This is a big defeat for Fidesz, particularly as the party is not used to defeats," said Csaba Toth of the Republikon think-tank. "No matter how they try to spin it -- and they will use it for domestic political gain, strengthening their narrative that Hungary is under attack from Brussels -- they hoped this resolution would not pass," said Toth. The setback for Orban is unlikely to change Budapest's approach to its tangles with the Soros-founded Central European University (CEU) and human rights NGOs, or its clampdown on judicial independence. "If Orban before the vote did not promise any agreement or compromise, why expect that he will do it afterwards?" said Peter Kreko, head of the Political Capital think-tank in Budapest. With fresh European Parliament elections on the horizon, Orban's rhetoric "could become even more hysterical," according to the analyst. The government had already been framing the pending European vote as an apocalyptic "battle" for the future of the continent between pro- and anti-immigration "forces". - Fresh onslaught - Orban's Fidesz party won almost 50 percent of the vote in Hungarian parliamentary elections in April, although OSCE observers said the ballot took place in an "adverse climate" with Fidesz enjoying a strong media advantage. A series of street demonstrations challenging the legitimacy of the result drew tens of thousands of protestors but soon petered out. "During the election campaign we discussed all of the issues -? including the CEU, the NGOs... and the people decided on these issues," Orban said Tuesday after the debate in Strasbourg. Emboldened by his third consecutive landslide win and two-thirds parliamentary majority, Orban has pushed on with his onslaught against NGOs he accuses of encouraging migration. Meanwhile, pro-Orban newspapers have launched attacks against artists and directors of cultural institutions deemed critical of the government. Several of the demoralised opposition parties, derided by some for opting to take up their seats in the new parliament, have organised a pro-EU demonstration Sunday to celebrate the vote and urge citizens to stand up to Orban. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says he is ready to confront a "pro-immigration majority" in the European Parliament The Iraqi parliament elected pro-Iran candidates as speaker and first deputy speaker on Saturday, boosting the country's chances of forming a new administration more than four months after national elections. National politics has been in paralysis since the May 12 ballot, but Saturday's selections are expected to solidify new parliamentary alliances. The pro-Iran bloc led by Hadi al-Ameri's Conquest Alliance -- a coalition of anti-jihadist veterans close to Tehran -- consolidated its position as its candidate, Mohammed al-Halbusi, was elected speaker. And Hassan Karim, put forward by populist Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, took the post of first deputy speaker. Sadr's list won the largest share of seats in the election, and is also part of the pro-Iran parliamentary alliance. Iranian envoy "Qassem Soleimani has successfully re-unified Shiite forces and secured posts for Sunnis that have followed them", said Iraqi political commentator Hisham al-Hashemi. - '2-0 to Iran' - For the first time since the fall of dictator Saddam Hussein, the Shiites appeared divided in the May polls. Iraq has a proportional system designed to prevent a slide back into dictatorship following the 2003 ouster of Saddam. The bloc with the most members appoints the prime minister and presides over the formation of the next government. US envoy Brett McGurk has "failed to divide the Shiites, failed to keep promises of posts for Sunnis who rallied to the US and was unable to scare Sunnis who chose the Iranian camp", Hashemi said. "Iran has (therefore) already won two points, while the US has lost three". The new speaker was governor of Sunni-majority Anbar province, a key battleground in the war against the Islamic State jihadist group, before his election to parliament on a local list in May. Born in 1981, he will be the youngest speaker in Iraq's history. During the vote, Halbusi pleaded for "real reforms", after demonstrations last week in the southern oil-rich city of Basra turned deadly as protesters demanded improved public services and a crackdown against corruption. In Iraq, the speaker of parliament is always Sunni Arab while the prime minister is picked from the country's Shiite majority and the president is a Kurd. Parliamentary coalitions -- which bring together lists of Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds to form the largest group -- must agree on the selection of the three positions. Halbusi ran against three other candidates, including Vice President Osama al-Nujaifi and former Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi. Obeidi was backed by the list of outgoing Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Halbusi won 169 out of 298 votes, while Obeidi took 89, in Saturday's vote. - Abadi throws in the towel - Abadi said Thursday he would not seek a second term as his political support crumbled over the violence in Basra. In a crucial setback, Sadr dropped his support for the prime minister last Saturday, as anger over the sitation in the southern city grew. Basra has been at the epicentre of protests that broke out in in July, before spreading to other parts of the country. The protests in Basra intensified over a growing health crisis, after more than 30,000 people were hospitalised by a polluted water supply. Protesters hit the streets for five days, clashing with security forces and torching the provincial headquarters, the Iranian consulate and the offices of armed groups. Twelve demonstrators were killed in the clashes, with rights groups accusing security forces of using excessive force. A handout video grab taken from live footage released by the Iraqi Parliament on September 15, 2018 of newly-elected parliamentary speaker Mohammed Al-Halbusi The Iraqi parliament elected the candidate of a pro-Iran list as speaker on Saturday, paving the way for the formation of a government more than four months after legislative polls. The country has been in political paralysis since the May 12 ballot, but the election of a speaker is expected to solidify new parliamentary alliances. Iraq has a proportional system aimed at preventing a slide back into dictatorship following the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein. The lists elected during legislative polls must first form coalitions. The bloc with the most members appoints the prime minister and presides over the formation of the next government. The pro-Iran bloc led by Hadi al-Ameri's Conquest Alliance -- a coalition of anti-jihadist veterans close to Tehran -- looked positioned to take the lead Saturday after the election of its candidate, Mohammed al-Halbusi. The new speaker was governor of the Sunni-majority province of Anbar, a key battleground in the war against the Islamic State group, before his election to parliament on a local list in May. Born in 1981, he will be the youngest speaker of parliament in Iraq's history. His two deputies were expected to be chosen later on Saturday. During the vote, Halbusi pleaded for "real reforms", particularly after demonstrations last week in the southern oil-rich city of Basra turned deadly as protesters demanded improved public services and railed against corruption. In Iraq, the speaker of parliament is always Sunni Arab while the prime minister is picked from the country's Shiite majority and the president is a Kurd. Parliamentary coalitions -- which bring together lists of Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds to form the largest group -- must agree on the selection of the three positions. Halbusi ran against three other candidates, including Vice President Osama al-Nujaifi and former Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi. Obeidi was backed by the list of outgoing Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who said Thursday he would not seek a second term as his political support crumbled over the violence in Basra. 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. Anger in Basra flared earlier this month over a growing health crisis, after more than 30,000 people were hospitalised by pollution in the city's water supply. Protesters flooded the streets for five days, clashing with security forces and torching the provincial headquarters, the Iranian consulate and the offices of armed groups. Twelve demonstrators were killed in the clashes, with rights groups accusing security forces of using excessive force. A general view of the Iraqi parliament during a meeting in the capital Baghdad on September 3, 2018 An Israeli missile attack targeted the Syrian capital's airport late Saturday, activating air defences which shot down a number of the projectiles, state news agency SANA reported. "Our air defences responded to an Israeli missile attack on Damascus international airport and shot down a number of hostile missiles," a military source said, quoted by SANA. The agency, without giving any information on casualties or damage, posted footage and images of the air defences being activated. In a shaky video, a small, bright explosion is seen in the night sky, with city lights in the distance. AFP's correspondent in Damascus heard a loud blast late Saturday, followed by several smaller explosions. The Israeli military declined to comment on the incident. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said Saturday's strikes hit a weapons depot outside the airport. "The missiles, suspected to be Israeli, destroyed an arms warehouse near the Damascus international airport," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. He had no immediate information on casualties. Israel has vowed to prevent its arch-foe Iran, which is a main backer of Syria's government, from gaining a foothold in neighbouring war-torn Syria. Earlier this month, Israel acknowledged having carried out more than 200 strikes in Syria over the past 18 months, mainly against Iranian targets. It has also admitted to striking Syria to prevent what it says are deliveries of advanced weaponry to Lebanon's Hezbollah, an armed movement backed by Iran and which fights alongside Syrian troops. The last reported Israeli strikes on Syria took place on September 4, when Syrian state media said the military's air defences downed several missiles in the coastal province of Tartus and in central Hama. The Observatory also reported those raids and said they killed three Syrian soldiers. Syria's conflict erupted in 2011 and has since killed more than 360,000 people, with millions more displaced internally and to neighbouring countries. After losing swathes of territory to rebel groups, President Bashar al-Assad's troops have regained the upper hand and are now in control of around two-thirds of the ravaged country. They were bolstered by nearly three years of air strikes by their key ally Russia and Iranian, Iraqi, Lebanese, and other foreign fighters on the ground. Soldiers and other loyalist fighters had been amassing around Idlib, the largest rebel-held zone left in Syria, for several weeks. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied that Syrian troops were planning a major offensive for the area. Syrian air defences "responded to an Israeli missile attack on Damascus international airport," reported state news agency SANA A government sign outside a Catholic church in central China warns that children are not allowed to attend mass. "Illegal" churches are being bulldozed. Priests are handing over personal information about their flocks to authorities. Roman Catholics in Henan province are running out of space to worship as the atheist Communist government steps up a campaign to "Sinicize" religions and demolishes old neighbourhoods to make way for development projects. The campaign has intensified even as the Vatican and Beijing, which severed ties in 1951, are reportedly close to resolving a longstanding dispute over who gets to appoint bishops. The standoff has split China's roughly 12 million Catholics between those who follow government-approved prelates and those in "underground" pro-Rome churches. A tattered poster of Jesus and a few wooden pews beneath bricks and broken planks are the only evidence that a church once stood in Puyang city before it was deemed an "illegal construction". Liu Xueshang, a weathered old farmer who spent his life savings to help build it, searched fruitlessly through the fallen branches of the church's crushed pomegranate trees for its cross. "The church here is now facing a terrible future. We have nowhere to worship and don't know what we'll do," said Liu. Elsewhere in the province, nearly two dozen worshippers and clergymen interviewed by AFP detailed unprecedented measures imposed this year under new religious regulations. Crosses have been removed from church tops, printed religious materials and holy items confiscated, and church-run kindergartens closed. Churches have been required to display the national flag and constitution but take down religious imagery from public-facing spaces. In recent months, minors, college students and even infants have been barred from entering all church premises. On a recent Sunday at the officially-sanctioned Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Anyang, an official from the State Administration for Religious Affairs said she came to "inspect" as 800 people attended mass. "Catholicism is not native to China," she said. And in Zhifang village south of Puyang, authorities welded shut the entrance of a kindergarten in a church's courtyard. The school was shuttered because "they want to prevent any cases of the church being involved in education", said a village leader who declined to give his name. Churches have also been told to hand over detailed information about each of their members, including their finances and ties to "foreign influences", according to paperwork seen by AFP. One senior priest who requested anonymity said the data would be used to set up an online religious management system and monitoring app. - Weeping in ruins - Divulging the personal details of churchgoers has been "a huge emotional burden on our clergy, who see it as a sin," he said, stating that guilt-ridden priests have come to him in tears. Most of the new measures were developed to rein in Protestantism, which authorities believe has been growing "too quickly" in Henan, he cited officials as saying, although Catholics are finding themselves targets too. Many Catholics in Henan, in eastern China, are paying close attention to the negotiations between Beijing and the Vatican. "We hope the religion problems can be solved, we have the same faith, we want stability, we want to unite," an underground church member said. Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said in a brief statement to AFP that "the dialogue between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China continues". The Henan and national religious affairs bureaus did not answer requests for comment. The crackdown in the province is amplified by the razing of old districts where most churches are located to make way for development projects. The rubble of the Puyang church lies in a construction site for high-rise apartments. The decades-old church was built with official permission and had a license to operate, but authorities abruptly declared it illegal a few months ago, said Liu, the farmer and local village leader. Without warning, bulldozers tore it down one night. "The next day, all the old church members came and sat here, weeping," he said. A meagre compensation was not enough to secure a new place. Anthony Lam, a Chinese Catholic church expert at Hong Kong's Holy Spirit Study Centre, said urban development is being "used as an excuse to demolish churches". - 'Just the beginning' - Desperate underground priests have approached state-sanctioned colleagues for help to secure a place of worship in exchange for nominal oversight. A state-approved priest said the urbanisation and demolitions mean "the space in which the underground can exist is getting smaller and smaller". "We're speaking with the underground now -- so as to protect them, not control them. This allows the government to know we're monitoring them. This is our innovation in Henan." Many priests fear the restrictions will spread elsewhere in China. "For many years, our feeling has been that Henan is an area of experimentation for the central government," said a senior clergyman with close ties to the government. "We think this is just the beginning." The Chinese government has stepped up a campaign to 'Sinicize' religions The standoff between Beijing and the Vatican has split China's roughly 12 million Catholics The crackdown in Henan province is amplified by the razing of old districts where most churches are located Many priests fear the restrictions imposed in Henan will spread elsewhere in China Many Catholics are paying close attention to the negotiations between Beijing and the Vatican The head of the Organization of American States on Friday said "military intervention" to "overthrow" Nicolas Maduro's government must not be ruled out, as Venezuela suffers an economic and humanitarian crisis. "With regards to a military intervention aimed at overthrowing the regime of Nicolas Maduro, I think we should not exclude any option," OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro told journalists in the Colombian city of Cucuta, near the border with Venezuela. Almagro -- dubbed an "interventionist" by Maduro -- said Caracas was committing "crimes against humanity" against its people. "Suffering of the people, in the induced exodus that it is driving, puts diplomatic actions in first place, but we should not rule out any action," he said. The OAS leader on Friday ends a three-day visit to Colombia concerning the wave of migrants from oil-rich Venezuela fleeing there. Venezuela is mired in a deep economic crisis that has triggered the departure of 2.3 million people since 2014, according to the United Nations. Colombia has received more than one million. OAS head Luis Almagro has said a military intervention in Venezuela should not be ruled out The head of the Organization of American States on Friday said "military intervention" to "overthrow" Nicolas Maduro's Venezuelan government must not be ruled out for the country mired in economic and humanitarian crisis. "With regards to a military intervention aimed at overthrowing the regime of Nicolas Maduro, I think we should not exclude any option," OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro told journalists in the Colombian city of Cucuta, near the border with Venezuela. His comments follow a report in The New York Times last Saturday that officials from US President Donald Trump's administration met secretly with Venezuelan military officers to discuss plans to oust Maduro, but eventually decided not to help. Almagro -- dubbed an "interventionist" by Maduro -- said Caracas was committing "crimes against humanity" against its citizens. "Suffering of the people, in the induced exodus that it is driving, puts diplomatic actions in first place, but we should not rule out any action," he said. The OAS leader on Friday ended a three-day visit to Colombia concerning the wave of migrants fleeing there from oil-rich but impoverished Venezuela. Venezuela is mired in a deep economic crisis that has triggered the departure of 1.6 million Venezuelans since 2015, according to the United Nations. Colombia has received more than one million of the migrants. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has said her government complained to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that "individual officials" have been portraying "a normal migratory flow as a humanitarian crisis to justify an intervention." Almagro urged the international community to "not permit a dictatorship in Venezuela" because it provokes regional instability in humanitarian and security terms, alongside the effects on Venezuelans. The Venezuelan people "have paid a more than high price to recover their freedom, to recover their democracy, and have not yet recovered it. The international community has to definitely respond to this," Almagro said. In August 2017, media reports said Trump asked top advisors about the potential for a US invasion of Venezuela. Around the same time, he said publicly that he would not rule out a "military option" to end the chaos there. The collapse of Venezuela's oil-based economy under the increasingly authoritarian Maduro has led to dire shortages of food and medicine. Maduro has angrily blamed the US for many of his problems. Organization of American States head Luis Almagro accuses Venezuela's government of 'crimes against humanity' against its people Pope Francis visits the Italian island of Sicily on Saturday to pay homage to a priest murdered by the mafia 25 years ago after trying to save youngsters in poor neighbourhoods from falling into their hands. The Argentinian pontiff's visit will be brief but is part of a wider campaign he has been waging against organised crime. He is expected to arrive in Palermo at 10:45 am (0845 GMT) and will say mass, then head to the Palermo parish where Father Giuseppe "Pino" Puglisi lived. He returns to Rome in the early evening. Puglisi, known as ?the first martyr of the Mafia", was shot dead on September 15, 1993, his 56th birthday. He is said to have uttered his last words to his killer, "I've been waiting for you", before dying on the doorstep of his modest home. His assassination came at a time when Italy was already traumatised by the killings of anti-Mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino. For the previous two years Puglisi had been parish priest in the rough Palermo neighbourhood of Brancaccio, where he attempted to engage the local youth and keep them away from drugs and the mafia groups who supplied them. In 2012 Francis' predecessor Benedict XVI officially recognised Puglisi as a "martyr" who was "killed by hatred of the faith". The following year he was beatified in the presence of 40 bishops and 750 priests as well as the Italian interior and justice ministers. Beatification is the first step on the path to Roman Catholic sainthood. - 'Corruption stinks' - Since becoming pope in 2013, Francis has openly confronted the mafia -- often benefactors and practising members of Catholic parishes -- and called on the faithful to stop all collaboration with them. The pontiff has already visited Naples and Calabria, other Cosa Nostra hotspots in Italy's south. In 2015 in Naples, the notorious fiefdom of the country's oldest organised crime syndicate the Camorra, he condemned those "who exploit and corrupt young people, the poor and the disadvantaged". "Corruption stinks! And a corrupt society stinks. A Christian who allows corruption to enter is not a Christian. They stink," he proclaimed in an angry speech. In Calabria, he called on Catholics to combat the Calabrian mob, known as the 'Ndrangheta. "Those who in their lives follow this path of evil, as the mafiosi do, are not in communion with God," the pope said during his Calabria visit. "They are excommunicated" he declared to thunderous applause from the 100,000 people who came to hear him. Excommunication is the severest penalty for Catholics, banishing them from the spiritual life and sacraments of the church. Local bishops have already excommunicated mafia members but the Vatican is considering creating a new doctrine excommunicating organised crime group members worldwide. - 'God's banker' - The pope has often denounced the "money stained with blood, which leads to an evil power" and called on mafiosi to "change your lives. Convert. Stop doing evil". His comments hark back to an angry address by Pope John Paul II in the Sicilian town of Agrigente in 1993 when he called on mobsters to "convert yourselves!" and urged ordinary Sicilians to revolt against the mafia. The Sicilian Godfathers responded two months later with attacks against two Catholic churches. Despite the papal rhetoric, relations between the church and organised crime groups have often been ambiguous. The Vatican's bank, the Institute of Religious Works (IOR), became notorious after the 1982 death of Roberto Calvi, known as "God's banker" because of his links to the Vatican, whose corpse was discovered hanging from Blackfriars Bridge in London. Prosecutors believe it was a mafia killing linked to money laundering via the bank. There have also been attempts to bribe or otherwise influence priests and the misappropriation of resources from institutions and charities, and questions over the purchase of Vatican real estate in the past. In southern Italy religious processions sometimes stop outside the home of a local mafia boss. But some local bishops are taking a stand. Last year the bishop of Monreale, near Palermo, made headlines by criticising a priest who had allowed the son of one of Sicily's most notorious mobsters, Toto Riina, to act as godfather at a baptism. In late 2016, a priest in southern Italy who had wanted to hold a mass in memory of a 'Ndrangheta mafia boss murdered in Quebec was taken to task by the mayor, the archbishop and his parishioners. A photo of Pino Puglisi in his former home in the Brancaccio district of Palermo Pope Francis greets an enthusiastic crowd in Naples in 2015 John Paul II was the first Pope to speak out forthrightly against the Mafia Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire was unexpectedly freed from jail on Saturday after President Paul Kagame permitted her early release, alongside two thousand other prisoners. "I thank the president who gave me this liberation," Ingabire said as she left Mageragere Prison in the capital Kigali. "This is the beginning of the opening of political space in Rwanda, I hope so," she added calling on Kagame "to release other political prisoners." The surprise release of 2,140 prisoners, including Ingabire and musician Kizito Mihigo, followed a cabinet meeting on Friday at which a presidential order of "mercy" was approved. Ingabire returned from exile in the Netherlands intending to run for president in 2010 as leader of the FDU-Inkingi party. However, she was arrested, charged with terrorism and treason and sentenced in 2012 to 10 years in jail after a widely criticised trial. Ingabire, an ethnic Hutu, was accused of "genocide ideology" and "divisionism" after publicly questioning the government narrative of the 1994 genocide of mostly Tutsi people that killed around 800,000 people. Rwandan musician Mihigo was arrested in 2015 and jailed for 10 years for conspiring to assassinate the president. Kagame has been the country's de facto ruler since his rebel army stopped the genocide in 1994 and recently changed the constitution clearing the way for him to rule until 2034. Ingabire returned from exile in the Netherlands intending to run for president in 2010 as leader of the FDU-Inkingi party A Turkish court has sentenced a former British soldier to seven-and-a-half years in jail for alleged links to a Kurdish militia that Ankara considers a "terrorist" group. Joe Robinson was arrested in July 2017 while holidaying in Turkey after he posted photos of himself in camouflage and posing next to fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria. A court in the western city of Aydin sentenced him for "membership of a terrorist organisation," the private DHA news agency said. The YPG is an ally of the United States in the fight against the Islamic State in Syria. But Ankara is hostile to the YPG because of its links with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which is fighting for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey. Robinson did not attend the trial for health reasons, DHA said. He is currently on bail and planning an appeal. His Bulgarian fiancee, arrested along with him, was also sentenced to nearly two years in jail for "terrorist propaganda," but she is currently in Britain, DHA said. According to British press reports, the 25-year-old Robinson is a former soldier who served in Afghanistan in 2012 and went to Syria in 2015 to work in the YPG's health unit. British soldier Joe Robinson was arrested in July 2017 after posting pictures of himself posing next to fighers from the Syrian People's Protection Units (flag pictured July 2015) Notorious Lord's Resistance Army commander Dominic Ongwen's lawyers open their defence Tuesday at the International Criminal Court, where their client is charged with conducting a reign of terror in northern Uganda in the early 2000s. Known as the "White Ant", Ongwen faces 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role from 2002 to 2005 in the sinister LRA rebel group, led by its fugitive chief Joseph Kony. Ongwen is also the first accused before The Hague-based ICC to face the very same charges of which he is also a victim. Born in 1975, Ongwen was abducted as a young boy while walking to school and was soon trained as a child soldier within the LRA. Prosecutors said he grew up to become a "ferocious" senior LRA commander in charge of Kony's infamous Sinai brigade -- which among many crimes committed also abducted young girls and women to serve as domestic workers and sex slaves. Ongwen was "enthusiastic in adopting the LRA's violent methods and eager to show he could be more active and more brutal" than others, prosecutors said as his trial opened in January 2016. ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda at the time played a gruesome video depicting the aftermath of an LRA attack on a refugee camp, shocking the courtroom with images of disemboweled children and charred bodies of babies in shallow graves. In another attack against the Odek refugee camp in 2004, Ongwen instructed his troops that "nothing should be left alive," prosecutors said. - A victim too? - Ongwen, now around 43, has denied the charges, insisting it was the LRA, not him, who murdered defenceless refugees. "Mr Ongwen has been clear from the beginning... that the charges before the court are not against him, but rather against the LRA, and that the LRA is not his army," his lawyer Krispus Ayena Odongo said. "He was just a victim, like many others (who were) abducted like him," Odongo told AFP ahead of the opening of the defence's case. Physically "Dominic Ongwen was doing fine" Odongo said. His client however has been diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder. Ongwen's case before the ICC is unique, said international law expert Mark Kersten of the University of Toronto. "The trial throws up so many important questions as to how to deal with victim-perpetrators," he told AFP, including the appropriate type of punishment should Ongwen be found guilty. - Bloodthirsty rebels - A self-styled mystic and prophet, Kony launched a bloody rebellion more than three decades ago seeking to impose his own version of the Ten Commandments in northern Uganda. The UN says the LRA has slaughtered more than 100,000 people and abducted 60,000 children since it was set up in the mid-1980s. More than 4,000 victims are also taking part in Ongwen's trial which began more than a decade after a warrant for his arrest was issued in 2005. Ongwen was transferred to the ICC in 2015 shortly after surrendering to US special forces operating in the Central African Republic. At the time, former US president Barack Obama had deployed a small number of US troops to the region to aid the hunt for Kony, who is still at large. Experts believe Ongwen fled after falling out with Kony and almost being killed. The LRA first emerged in northern Uganda around 1986, where it claimed to fight in the name of the Acholi ethnic group against long-time President Yoweri Museveni's government. Over the years, the LRA has moved across porous regional borders: it has shifted from Uganda to sow terror in southern Sudan before moving into northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and finally crossing into the Central African Republic in 2008. Combining religious mysticism with an astute guerilla mind and bloodthirsty ruthlessness, Kony remains a fugitive and nothing is known of his current whereabouts. Ongwen was abducted as a young boy while walking to school and was soon trained as a child soldier within the LRA Lily Atong, wife of Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) chief Joseph Kony is Ongwen's sister Brice, a man who was tortured by the the LRA while hunting in the bush, shows burn scars on his arm Beats pumped and strobe lights beamed across the desert in ex-Soviet Uzbekistan into the early hours of Saturday as festival-goers danced beside rusting boats beached miles from the shrinking Aral Sea. The event, called Stihia or Element in Russian, was the first electronic music festival ever held in the Central Asian state, which has recently moved to open up to international tourism. It was staged in an area of desert caused by one of the world's largest man-made environmental catastrophes, the shrinking of the Aral Sea that borders Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, caused by Soviet irrigation projects that diverted its tributary rivers. "Lets fill the Aral Sea with an ocean of sounds. If we cannot fill it with water right now, let's start with the sounds," implored Otabek Suleimanov, one of the organisers of the festival that ran overnight from Friday. The venue for the festival, Muynak, was once a fishing town on the shores of the sea, formerly the world's fourth largest freshwater lake, known for its "graveyard" of beached boats. The rare music event drew DJs from across the former Soviet Union and Europe as well as 60 foreign tourists and around 7,000 locals, according to organisers. Perhaps more notably, it did so with the blessing of Uzbekistan's authoritarian government and the conservative mainly Muslim population in this dust-swept patch of the Central Asian country. "I wanted to witness the concert and the light show," said Guldona Turakulova, a 25-year-old nurse who works at Muynak's state hospital. "This is the first time I have seen anything like this. I really want my Muynak to become a place that attracts (people) again," she said. Her generation has lived with the after-effects of the Aral Sea disaster including lost livelihoods from fishing and tourism. "My father tells me stories about the sea, about how they used to fish and swim here," Turakulova told AFP. At the heavily-policed festival, a mock-up lighthouse loomed over revellers as a reminder of the receding sea, close to where a real lighthouse once stood. Now, each year, tens of thousands of tons of salt-laced dust blow from the dried-up seabed, much of it contaminated by pesticides, affecting health. This May one such storm blew across the region and into neighbouring Turkmenistan, seriously damaging crops according to international media reports that were not confirmed by the secretive government in Ashgabat. - Tourism boost - Uzbekistan's government endorsed the music festival in the country's nominally autonomous republic of Karakalpakstan, hoping it will help attract tourism to the economically depressed region. Under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who took over after the death of Soviet-era leader Islam Karimov in 2016, Uzbekistan has lifted or relaxed visa restrictions for citizens of dozens of countries as it looks to diversify away from exports of water-intensive crops such as cotton that played a key role in the Aral Sea's downfall. Organiser Suleimanov told AFP he was hopeful of holding Stihia again next year, despite logistical challenges. "This was just a pilot. We hope more and more people will come next time," he said. The lineup included Ukraine-born Germany-based artist Dasha Redkina who staged an ambient dance set and describes her music as "experimenting with cosmic signals." Speaking to AFP before her set, Redkina said the performance would be "a sacrifice to the Gods of water and rain, to bring the region the energy it needs to summon the Aral Sea back here." For the moment, the rebirth of the Aral looks unlikely. By 1997, the inland sea was a tenth of its size prior to major irrigation works beginning in the 1960s and in 2014 NASA satellite images showed its eastern lobe had dried up completely. Most progress on regenerating the Aral has been in its northern section in Kazakhstan, where World Bank funding helped build a dam. Arina Osinovskaya, a travel writer who was visiting from Kazakhstan, said the Stihia festival's main draw was the "captivating" backdrop of the former fishing town and its stark environmental message. "It is a good reminder to think about what is important. The Aral Sea concerns not only Uzbekistan but the neighbouring countries and the broader region," she told AFP. Revellers attend the Stihia electronic music festival in the town of Muynak Cayuga County Habitat for Humanity celebrated our most recent home renovation accomplishment at 15 Grant Street, our 20th home build since 1992, on July 29 during The Dedication & Blessing Ceremony & BBQ Pot Luck. Attended by over 80 guests including The Mayor and other dignitaries, the event featured the passing of the key to the partner family; presentation of five quilts; tours of the home; and a picnic. Special Thanks go to these many local businesses, churches, foundations and individuals who donate time, expertise, materials and funds which made the rehabilitation of the house possible: Lowes of Auburn; HABA of Skaneateles; CCC Marketing Class; St. James Episcopal Church; Westminster Presbyterian Church; CC Chapter of GSAR & Sandie Commesso; Wal-Mart; Beardsley Design; Auburn Masonic Lodge #124; Auburn Party Rental; WAUB; Jacobs Press; The Citizen; ACE Hardware; Bradford Heights Delights; Wegmans; Mesa Grande; Mathieson Portable Toilets; HEP Supply; Bianco Plumbing; Jeff Davis, Esq.; Ted OHara; David Farrelly; Cindy Bouley & Aversa Agency; Elks Club #424; Limestone Threads; Robins Nest; Lucky Frog Fabrics; Patchwork Plus; Calico Gals; Ivy Thimble Quilt Shop; Quilts by Commission & Stephanie McCall; Marks Pizzeria; BAY Properties; Employees of Cayuga County; The Cayuga Community Fund; The Episcopal Church of SS Peter and John; The Lee Foundation; Auburn School District StanleyBlack&Decker Fund; The Cayuga Fund; The Allyn Family Foundation; The Emerson Foundation; The D.E. French Foundation; Northside Food & Beverage; The Stanley Metcalf Foundation and over 180 volunteers. The affiliate recently started rehabbing 6 Perrine Street and welcomes donations of funds and construction materials and interested volunteers and is also searching for a new partner homeowner family. For more information, visit our website, Facebook or email cayagahabitat@cayugahabitat.org. All thank you letters are reprinted as submitted. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SKANEATELES The past week has been a flurry of meetings and introductions for the new superintendent of the Skaneateles Central School District. While things have been busy, Lynda Quick said she feels good about her time in the community so far, as she spent a few days in the area over the course of the summer and attended the opening day for staff. Though she will be following an entry plan, Quick said she plans on spending her first few weeks listening and learning from people in the community. She said she will ask people the same questions, such as their hopes and dreams for Skaneateles and what they believe are the biggest obstacles and opportunities for the future. After gathering up more information based on responses, she will create a more detailed plan. She said she has been impressed by the passion of people in the community. "They love the school, they're very proud of the school, which is great, and they're very interested and invested in the outcomes here, which makes it an easy conversation to have," she said. "I'm only four days in, so I've got a lot of listening and a lot of conversations left to have." Quick plans on integrating a major focus on physical, mental, social and emotional wellness for staff and students alike this year, with a staff development day in February centered on staff wellness to help them understand health from various dimensions. Improvements to systems such human resources and records management are also in the works. "We need to create a culture and climate where we're empathetic and caring, where everybody feels like they belong," she said. "And when we do that, everybody wants to come to work and they want to come to school and they feel this a place where they are comfortable, safe and happy." Quick had previously been the district superintendent and chief operating officer of the Cattaraugus-Allegany-Erie-Wyoming BOCES. Before that, she had been the BOCES' assistant superintendent. Her past experience includes serving as the BOCES attorney and labor relations specialist from 1994 to 2003 and becoming an Ohio associate attorney in 1990. She has a bachelors degree from Kent State University, a Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University and permanent certification as a New York State School District administrator and school business administrator from St. Bonaventure University and SUNY Buffalo. The Skaneateles school board previously said they were thoroughly impressed by Quick's time as a BOCES leader, balancing a $75 million dollar budget, 600 full-time employees and supervising 22 component districts. Though much of her background is in law, Quick said she taught college courses over a 10 year span at St. Bonaventure, but hasn't taught in a classroom. She said she had internships and other experiences involving instruction and compared being a superintendent to being a CEO juggling various concerns. "It's more about running all of the operations of a school district, (the main office) to the cafeteria to instruction (and) technology," she said. Quick said that once she joined BOCES, she was fascinated and "blown away" by the work of those around her and work she and her colleagues were doing to go back to school to shift her focus to administration. "You see the difference you make and you're impacting lives and really, our whole world, because they're our next generation of people who are going to be our world leaders, they're going to be our teachers, our engineers, our doctors, our lawyers, every career you can possibly think of," Quick said. Quick's employment agreement with the degree said she will not be required to live in the district, but "it is expected that she will be visible in the community and in the District and she will participate in and attend both community and school events." Quick said she lives in Pittsford and commutes to Skaneateles most days, noting she does have an apartment just outside of the village she can stay at when she needs to. She said she and her husband have family obligations and she can't currently move, but she will assess that as the school year continues. "I think it's more important that I am active in the community and participating in events and be present at local businesses and joining things like the YMCA, being a part of rotary, etc." Quick said she is looking forward to the days ahead. "I'm excited to be here and I'm excited to get started and the next few months are going to be fun and exciting a great earning opportunity for me," she said. Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. An old wine press unearthed in Iraq is likely the second oldest in the world, divers carved pumpkins underwater to celebrate Halloween, and mo An obscure 2014 Adam Sandler movie was at the center of a federal court case that could become at least a minor landmark decision affecting internet copyright law, after the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on August 27 that a man accused of illegally downloading the film The Cobbler cannot be held liable for copyright infringement because he merely owned the internet IP address to which the movie file was downloaded, according to Bloomberg News. In the case, Cobbler Nevada v. Gonzales, the owner of an adult foster care home was accused of downloading the Cobbler movie by the company that owns the copyright, Cobbler Nevada LLC. But the man, Thomas Gonzales, merely owned the IP address which was used to access the internet by all residents of the home. When it became clear that there was no way to determine who, specifically, has downloaded a digital file of The Cobbler using the homes lone IP address, the company sued Gonzales for failing to reasonably secure, police, and protect the internet connection in his foster care home. In addition, the films owners said that they had sent Gonzales 400 copyright infringement notices, and he had failed and refused to take any action whatsoever and continued to allow infringing activity after such notices. But a federal district court tossed the lawsuit, according to the site IP Watchdog, because the company offered no evidence that Gonzales himself was connected to the illegal downloading activityand Gonzales mere failure to take action against illegal downloaders who were using his IP address was not enough to say that he encouraged the copyright-violating actions. In fact, the district court judge ordered Cobbler Nevada to reimburse Gonzales $17,000 for his attorneys fees, Bloomberg reported. The movie company appealed, and in August the Ninth Circuit affirmed the lower courts decision, ruling that even though the companys allegations fit the classic definition of copyright infringement, the fact that the company was not able to link Gonzales directly to the illegal downloadonly to the IP address the companys accusations against him were merely speculative. The appeals court also agreed with the lower court that the mere fact that Gonzales took no action to secure his IP address was not enough to find him liable for copyright infringement. He was no required to secure the address, and the company would need evidence that he actively encouraged illegal downloading to make its case against him stick, the appeals court ruled. The precedent established by the Ninth Circuit ruling is likely to have significant implications for the adult industry, with porn reportedly the most frequently pirated type of content online. Photo by Franz Richter / Wikimedia Commons MONTREALA frustrated Kenna James calls on friends Jane Wilde and Anastasia Knight to help out when she can't reach the finish line during a masturbation session in new scene Exposure Therapy from Girlsay and ingenue subsite WebYoung. Based on a Member Fantasy submitted by Girlsway.com member E L Garner, Exposure Therapy was produced by Bree Mills and directed by Stills by Alan. In the scene, Jane and Knight produce a formidable wand vibrator to help James in her mission. "We have so many great Member Fantasy scenes to choose from, thanks to our amazing fans, who give us endless ideas and inspiration," Still by Alan said. "From casting to storylines, our forum members are so specific about the scenes' details that I'm considering having them come on set and help me direct! Maybe next time." The trailer and full Exposure Therapy scene are available to view here. Learn more about its three stars at their respective Girlsway model pages as follows: Kenna James, Jane Wilde, Anastasia Knight. For affiliate inquiries, contact affiliate manager Derrick Gilbert at [email protected]. In North Carolina, state law empowers county commissions to oversee school facilities and the collection and appropriation of local tax dollars to school districts. Unlike other states, cities and towns in North Carolina have few direct responsibilities for the public schools in their jurisdiction. Traditionally, municipalities have undertaken infrastructure, zoning, and other planning functions that have a bearing on school buildings and student transportation. They also have assisted schools with policing, traffic management, and other school safety matters. Three recent developments, however, may lead some cities and towns to play a much greater role in school governance and funding - for better or worse.The 2018 state budget included a provision that allows cities toThis means that city councils will be allowed to allocate property tax and other unrestricted revenues to district, laboratory, charter, regional, and Innovative School District schools both within and outside their city limits.While I applaud lawmakers for giving cities additional latitude in how they may allocate their existing pool of taxpayer money, I fear that some opportunistic city and town governments will use their new authority as a justification to raise taxes. Unless legislative leaders decide to repeal the law next year, taxpayers should be alert to the possibility that their elected officials will propose a for-the-children tax increase in their annual budget next year. After all, one of the most effective ways to sell a tax increase to voters is to claim that it will improve public schools.Municipalities are also getting into the business of making and breaking charter schools.In August, the Durham City Council used its existing authority to thwart the expansion of a popular public charter school in the county. The board of Excelsior Classical Academy asked the Durham City Council to sign off on their application for a revenue bond, which would have been used to purchase and upgrade its existing facility. While voting "yes" on education revenue bonds would have cost the city no money, the Durham City Council voted 5-2 against the measure anyway.Mayor Pro Tem Jillian Johnson explained,Actually, the vote was a desperate and cynical ploy to defend the underperforming Durham Public Schools by publicly sticking it to an exemplary charter school. I worry that other fanatical city councils and town boards will follow Durham's disgraceful lead.Fortunately, not all municipalities are brazenly hostile to charter schools. Session Law 2018-3 allows four Mecklenburg County municipalities - Cornelius, Huntersville, Matthews, and Mint Hill - to undertake the charter school application process and, if successful, operate charter schools with their jurisdictions. It's encouraging that some forward-thinking local government officials are trying to increase the options available for families. Nevertheless, there's no guarantee that one or more of these municipalities will receive state approval to open a charter school.Their most significant challenge is a statutory provision that allows municipal charter schools to give enrollment priority to residents of the city or town. Municipal applicants will need to convince both the Charter School Advisory Board and the N.C. State Board of Education that the schools will make a sincere effort to reach out to underrepresented families. If they are unable to do so, the application will be denied, and the applicants will be forced to reapply.City and town leaders who are eager to get their municipality in the education business should exercise caution. Although it's too early to say whether municipal involvement will be harmful or helpful, I suspect that even the most well-intentioned city and town leaders will eventually conclude that they should have stayed out of the mess in the first place. Building Nation-Level Defences to Fight Cyber Crime The worldwide WannaCry and NotPeyta ransomware attacks of 2017, and the growing levels of malware-related data breaches in 2018, are stark reminders of the increasingly dangerous and fast-developing world of cybercrime. Every business, financial institution, telecoms provider, energy company and government should now consider itself to be under threat from cybercriminals intent on causing devastation for gain. This ever-growing network of cybercriminals wants to develop the most advanced attack methods to penetrate your systems. And, increasingly, nation states are employing these hacker services to damage other governments and influence political outcomes. Read on to learn about a defensive strategy to protect your organizations assets, today. Czech PM Babis: Czech Republic will not accept a single refugee. Not even Syrian orphans 15. 9. 2018 cas cteni 2 minuty "Why should we be accepting any Syrian orphans? There are orphans even in the Czech Republic and we must take care of those. Why should we be taking care of Syrian orphans, of all people?" "I have managed to force the European Union to give up the demand that we should accept refugee quotas," boasts Andrej Babis, the Czech Prime Minister, former communist secret police agent who is currently being investigated for financial fraud. "It was me and the Hungarian Prime Minister Orban. It was us who fought in Brussels against the quotas at four in the morning and forced them to give up that absurd system." This is a summary of an incredible Babis interview, published on Saturday by the novinky.cz website. "I want to dissociate myself from the way our party's euro MPs voted recently in the European Parliament." [They voted for the resolution criticising Viktor Orban's authoritative government.] "I do not share there views and I would not have voted against Orban. These are just attacks against the V4 bloc of countries, which works fanastically well, which has managed to eliminate the refugee quotas, which fights illegal migration and criticises the EU budget proposal which after the departure of the UK proposes, scandalously, to increase the funding of the EU structures." "Democratic elections take place everywhere. Everything is perfectly legal. I think that if democracy was really threatened, Polish and Hungarian voters can judge this much better than the euro MPs or the bureaucrats in Brussels. The Czech Republic will not abandon its allies. I certainly do not like the idea that the European Commission might investigate Poland or Hungary. Who knows, then, perhaps, on the basis of lies, even the Czech Republic would then be investigated. You know very well that various people are systematically disseminating information that allegedly democracy is being threatened in the Czech Republic. " "I have said clearly that the Czech Republic will not accept a single refugee. This is my reaction to the inability of the EU to solve the refugee problem and to start deporting immigrants." "The recent events in Chemnitz are an internal affair of Germany. There are different views regarding the events. However, it is a fact that Germany has messed up the migration problem." "This is why it is important that Europe must send a clear signal that the door is shut and that Europe will not accept any more migrants or boats and that those boats that set sail must return. It is unacceptable to say that if a boat sets sail, we must distribute the people in it amongst ourselves, as French President Macron says." "Why should we be accepting any Syrian orphans? There are orphans even in the Czech Republic and we must take care of those. Why should we be taking care of Syrian orphans, of all people?" Source in Czech HERE 0 The leader of the Czech Social Democrats boasts that his government gives money to the "coast guards" in Libya 15. 9. 2018 / Jan Culik cas cteni 2 minuty Jan Hamacek, the leader of the Czech Social Democrats, who currently acts both as the Czech Interior Minister and the Foreign Minister, has boasted on Twitter that the Czech government has just given more than 200 million Czech crowns (8 million euro) to the "Libyan coast guards" to enable them to "buy new patrol boats". "This is good," says Hamacek, continuing, "We are against compulsory refugee quotas - and that is also good." ("Nevertheless, as a country of 10 million, we should be able to accept 50 Syrian refugees," adds Hamacek in the tweet, thus mildly dissociating himself from the Tento tyden jsme darovali pres 200 mil.Kc na nakup hlidkovych lodi pro libyjskou pobrezni straz (a to je dobre). Jsme proti povinnym kvotam (take dobre). Zcela jiste bychom ale jako 10 milionova zeme zvladli nabidnout novy domov 50 detem, ktere ve valce v Syrii ztratily rodice... Jan Hamacek (@jhamacek) September 15, 2018 By providing funding to agents of the failed state that is Libya with a view of stopping the attempts of desperate people to reach Europe, the Czech government is greatly contributing to human suffering. Here is a quote from a recent report about Libya, published by the Human Rights Watch. Mr Hamacek is not aware of these conditions? Jan Hamacek, the leader of the Czech Social Democrats, who currently acts both as the Czech Interior Minister and the Foreign Minister, has boasted on Twitter that the Czech government has just given more than 200 million Czech crowns (8 million euro) to the "Libyan coast guards" to enable them to "buy new patrol boats". "This is good," says Hamacek, continuing, "We are against compulsory refugee quotas - and that is also good." ("Nevertheless, as a country of 10 million, we should be able to accept 50 Syrian refugees," adds Hamacek in the tweet, thus mildly dissociating himself from the statement made today by the Czech PM Babis , who says that the Czech Republic "will not accept a single refugee, not even a group of Syrian orphans".)By providing funding to agents of the failed state that is Libya with a view of stopping the attempts of desperate people to reach Europe, the Czech government is greatly contributing to human suffering. Here is a quote from a recent report about Libya, published by the Human Rights Watch. Mr Hamacek is not aware of these conditions? "Political divisions and armed strife continued to plague Libya as two governments vied for legitimacy and control of the country, and United Nations efforts to unify the feuding parties flagged. "Clashes between militias and forces loyal to these governments decimated the economy and public services, including the public health system, law enforcement, and the judiciary, and caused the internal displacement of over 200,000 people. "Armed groups throughout the country, some of them affiliated with one or the other of the competing governments, executed persons extrajudicially, attacked civilians and civilian properties, abducted and disappeared people, and imposed sieges on civilians in the eastern cities of Derna and Benghazi. "Most of the more than 200,000 migrants and asylum seekers who reached Europe by sea in 2017 departed in boats from Libya. Migrants and asylum seekers who ended up in detention in Libya faced beatings, extortion, sexual violence, and forced labor in unofficial and quasi state-run detention centers, at the hands of guards, militias, and smugglers. Coast guard forces also beat migrants they intercepted at sea and forced them back to detention centers with inhumane conditions. Between January and November, 2,772 migrants died during perilous boat journeys in the central Mediterranean Sea, most having departed from the Libyan shore." Source HERE 0 Internal emails show that the Berkeley, California Police Department (BPD) talked of building a "counter-narrative" on social media against anti-fascist protesters as BPD tweeted out their names and mugshots, then boasted of retweets and "engagement" metrics when mugshots went viral. This amounts to cops doxxing protesters and high-fiving each other over it. That's creepy, and seems like an obvious abuse of power, if not also an abuse of the law. A #FOIA by @lucyparsonslabs revealed Berkeley Police created a policy of doxxing protesters to create a "counter narrative" friendly to the police. #FOIAFriday https://t.co/5nlPkCtM2y pic.twitter.com/v54qNIapYE Lucy Parsons Labs (@lucyparsonslabs) September 14, 2018 Berkeley Reconsiders Controversial Twitter Tactic of Doxxing Protesters by @EastBayExpresshttps://t.co/994gPJo4MZ Lucy Parsons Labs (@lucyparsonslabs) September 14, 2018 The BPD records were obtained by the police accountability group Lucy Parsons Labs and first reported by the East Bay Express. From the Guardian's Sept. 14 report: The Berkeley police department (BPD) faced widespread backlash last month after posting the personal information of arrested activists online, leading to Fox News coverage and harassment and abuse against the leftwing demonstrators at a far-right rally. New emails have shown that the city has an explicit policy of targeting protesters with mugshot tweets, with the goal of using "social media to help create a counter-narrative". Officials have further praised the "unusually deep and broad publication and attention" to activists' mugshots, saying it helped create a "narrative about the city's ability to enforce the rule of law". () The records, obtained by police accountability group Lucy Parsons Labs and reported by the East Bay Express, shed light on how officials internally have defined and justified the social media policy for protests. Officials said the "social media-driven protests" have created the need for a "Twitter protocol for mug shots" and acknowledged that the tweets would get "broad national exposure". One police email had the subject line, "Info flow from Jail to Twitter." The policy also made clear that police would post mugshots on Twitter only when the arrests were "protest related", drawing criticisms that the practice was aimed at discouraging free speech activities. The City of Berkeley moves to the City Manager to create a City Ordinance recommending language against the Berkeley Police Department doxxing protesters. All votes in action calendar. Secondary language on motion in action calendar. Lucy Parsons Labs (@lucyparsonslabs) September 14, 2018 .@lucyparsonslabs obtained emails showing Berkeley officials celebrating the "retweets" and social media "engagements" from mugshot tweets, saying they "help create a counter-narrative" https://t.co/oSCX3L7uJo Sam Levin (@SamTLevin) September 14, 2018 Berkeley officials did not provide me any evidence of alleged acts of violence by anyone named on Twitter. A spokesperson pointed me to one activist arrested for "vandalism" as an example of "violence." But the prosecutor's office told me today he is not facing charges. Sam Levin (@SamTLevin) September 14, 2018 [IMAGE: UC Berkeley students protesting the pro-fascist Milo Yiannopoulos, 2017, REUTERS] White Supremacist grifter Steve Bannon, formerly of Donald Trump's Presidential administration, has made quite the new career for himself as a lucrative speaker on the journalism and big thinker circuit. The New Yorker was rightly pilloried for inviting Bannon to speak at a recent conference. After criticism, they reconsidered, and rescinded the invitation. The Economist invited Bannon to speak at its conference in London, and received thoughtful and passionate essays, letters, and pleas against their decision, too. They are going ahead with it. Former Economist employee Justin Hendrix explains why it's such a terrible idea. Here's his Twitter thread. 1/ As a former employee of @TheEconomist I worked there on the publishing side for ~12 years- I bought a ticket to its #OpenFuture event, but am leaving my seat empty to join the @riseandresistny protest outside against Steve Bannon's role in the event. pic.twitter.com/58qf7Erneg Justin Hendrix (@justinhendrix) September 15, 2018 2/ You can read @zannymb's statement on why the newspaper chose to host Bannon at this event. I know this statement was the product of a great deal of discussion and debate in the editorial department, and included perspectives from outside it. https://t.co/Ln57tbxiKq Justin Hendrix (@justinhendrix) September 15, 2018 3/ But here is the reality- while The Economist is an important voice in world affairs- and for liberalism- it is tragically confused on this issue. Part of the reason is that almost no one there has anything personally at stake. Look at the masthead: https://t.co/eB4Ewz1GPX Justin Hendrix (@justinhendrix) September 15, 2018 4/ In 1939, when the physical threat against Europe was real, The Economist knew where its stood. https://t.co/hIpse7nkaG Justin Hendrix (@justinhendrix) September 15, 2018 5/ Today, mostly white liberal elites cocooned in 7 World Trade have nothing to lose from cozying up with Steve Bannon and a nice cup of coffee. They will tell each other they are for free speech, that they are critical thinkers. Bullshit. pic.twitter.com/kJ6WogHcgH Justin Hendrix (@justinhendrix) September 15, 2018 6/ They would do well to read @zephoria, and contemplate what giving Bannon this platform means. https://t.co/MdZSatvP29 Justin Hendrix (@justinhendrix) September 15, 2018 7/ Bannon is a voice of hatred. His work on this earth has harmed millions. His putrid perspective is not worthy of the "severe contest" between ideas The Economist was founded to pursue. Indeed- this is his work. https://t.co/KLytlgd9r4 Justin Hendrix (@justinhendrix) September 15, 2018 - An Eastern Cape teenager has been charged for the murder of a fellow student at a school in Peddie - The students allegedly had a fight over a cellphone that went missing when the stabbing happened - The SAPS confirmed that a murder case has been opened after the victim passed away on Thursday PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see Briefly news on your News Feed! A 16-year-old Eastern Cape student has been charged with the murder of a fellow student. The teenager allegedly stabbed the 18-year-old to death during a confrontation over a missing cellphone. The incident happened during the week at a high school in Peddie, Eastern Cape. Khaya Tonjeni of the SAPS stated that the name of the school would not be disclosed yet, according to a report by EWN. The 18-year-old passed away in hospital on Thursday and the attacker was subsequently charged with murder. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app The police stated they are not at liberty to arrest a minor but the correct processes will be adhered to. This tragic news comes after two other violent incidences in schools in the last week. Briefly.co.za reported on how a 17-year-old student from North West was arrested after allegedly stabbing a teacher to death on Thursday. On Wednesday, 12 September, a 15-year-old boy from Eldorado Park Secondary School allegedly pointed his gun at a teacher. READ ALSO: Heartbreaking video footage shows pupils mourning the death of stabbed teacher The grade 8 pupil was arrested on Thursday and will be charged with possession of a dangerous weapon and pointing a gun, according to another report by Briefly.co.za. Violence in schools is becoming increasingly common and parents are unsure of their safety. Do you have a good (or bad) story that needs to be told? Inbox us on Facebook and we could be sharing your story with our readers. To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today. Take a look at the African Proverbs and Their Meanings video and check out what else is going on at Briefly South Africa's YouTube channel. Source: Briefly.co.za News / National by Simbarashe Sithole A 42-year-old jealous woman was dragged to Guruve magistrate court for allegedly assaulting a neighbour (lady) who had greeted by her husband.The state alleges that on 15 August 2018 Fungai Kapfumo (42) of Edmondstone, Mvurwi saw her husband who was not mentioned in court talking to Chuma Gundwa (40) at night and she was not happy with how they were standing.Kapfumo reportedly picked a stick and struck Gundwa with it in the head forcing her to fall down; she bled profusely and lost consciousness.In her defence Kapfumo told the court that the two fought after Kapfumo confronted Gundwa on her adulterous affair with her husband."Your worship this woman is having an affair with my husband l confronted her on the matter and she responded in a rough way so we fought not that l assaulted her as she is alleging, "she denied.The complainant is reported to have stormed Kapfumo's homestead and refused to move away for four days demanding medication fee which the complainant said she came for her husband."This woman came to my house in rage after the alleged assault in a bid to snatch my husband but we just ignored her for four days until she left, l have blood stained clothes and scares on my body due to the fight we had," said Kapfumo.Gundwa disputed that she went to snatch the accused's husband but instead she wanted medical fees."Your worship this woman is fabricating an adulterous affair on me my intention in going to their house for four days was to get medical fee."The matter was remanded to 20 September. Spiwe Makarichi represented the state. News / National by Staff Reporter ZESA has invited whistleblowers to volunteer information that could lead to the arrest of culprits behind the vandalism and theft of electricity infrastructure.In a statement, Zesa said the initiative was a strategy to curb damage and vandalism of electricity infrastructure.The initiative is aimed at curbing the theft of copper cables among other installations.The power utility offered whistleblowers a reward for exposing the criminals and having their cases proven."ZETDC is pursuing various strategies that include patrols, special operations in liaison with other security agents and awareness campaigns to contain the menace from further damaging and interfering with electricity networks."The power utility is appealing for community participation in the protection of electricity infrastructure in the interest of efficient service delivery," said the power utility.Zesa said theft and vandalism of electrical infrastructure has resulted in increased faults leading to frequent and long power outages. Residents in a number of suburbs in Bulawayo and other areas have been subjected to power outages because of thefts targeting Zesa infrastructure.The power utility said due to the theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure leading to black outs, some members of the community have assumed that Zesa has introduced load shedding."Load shedding was eradicated in December 2015 and the country has enough electricity infrastructure in the interest of efficient service delivery," Zesa said.The police have also warned those behind the theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure that the long arm of the law will catch up with them. News / National by Staff reporter Four MDC Alliance councillors, who last week conspired to defy the party's directive on the mayoral elections, have found themselves in serious trouble after they were made to appear before party president Nelson Chamisa and his deputy, Elias Mudzuri among other national executive heavyweights.Party national chairperson Morgan Komichi, deputy treasurer-general Charlton Hwende and secretary for elections Murisi Zwizwai were also part of the panel that demanded the heads of the councillors but Chamisa is said to have showed mercy but ordered Collen Maboke, who allegedly organised the palace coup, to step down.The Masvingo councillors, led by Maboke defied party position that councillor Godfrey Kurauone was to be the mayor and went a step further by rewarding Zanu PF with a deputy mayoral post. Zanu PF helped Maboke 'steal' the mayoral position from Kurauone after they were promised the deputy mayoral post.It is said that while at the Harare meeting, Chamisa fumed at the councillors for 'selling-out' but gave them room to explain why they did it.Maboke is said to have begged profusely for mercy, but Chamisa and the entire hearing panel would have none of it.When contacted for comment, Maboke confirmed that he indeed begged for mercy during the Harare meeting. He, however, tried to be diplomatic when asked by TellZim News when he was going to step down from the position of mayor as they agreed in Harare."Yes, that is what happened in Harare. I am waiting for a written communication so that I can step down because that is what we agreed," said Maboke.When pressed to comment on his telephone conference with Murisi Zwizwai and James Gumbi when he was told no written communication will be send to him, Maboke became cagey before finally saying he no longer wanted to talk to the press about it."Combine all the comments you are getting and write your story; I don't want to comment to the press," said Maboke.Gumbi was said to be influencing Maboke not to step down from the position of mayor. The provincial chair is said to be building his support base so that he can retain the position at the party's congress next year, therefore, having Maboke as mayor would add another strategic person to his faction.When contacted for comment, Gumbi denied the allegations, saying he would not want to legitimise such hearsay."People are free to say whatever they want but that does not give credence to those false allegations," said Gumbi.Political analysts, however, slammed Maboke for alleged lack of principles and power hunger, saying no amount of politicking should have involved going to bed with Zanu PF."Being a lawyer doesn't mean one knows everything; no individual is bigger than the party, let alone the 'mafikizolos'. I haven't seen such desperation for power that one would prefer to go to bed with Zanu PF in order to get top post. It's clear MDC Alliance has been infiltrated," said one analyst.A source at the meeting said Mudzuri, Hwende and Zwizwai wanted the councillors to be recalled and expelled from the party but Chamisa wanted a more lenient punishment."Maboke begged for his political life and Chamisa became lenient with him although the others wanted him gone for defying the party position."Chamisa told Maboke that the late Morgan Tsvangirai never liked him and was actually ashamed of him because he once appeared at a meeting that Tsvangirai was chairing at the party's Masvingo provincial headquarters in Rhodene dead drunk, and then caused an embarrassing incident," said the source.While the meeting was progressing inside Morgan Tsvangirai House, party supporters wanted to storm the meeting and beat up all the 'deviant' councillors from Masvingo.It was also revealed in the meeting that Zanu PF corrupted the whole process by dangling residential stands on Maboke, Babylon Beta, Selina Maridza and Tarusenga Vhembo in exchange for their vote in the deputy mayoral contest.A subdued Beta is said to have shamelessly confessed that he was offered two stands by Zanu PF and he called national executive member to ask if he could accept the deal and he was given the go ahead to take it."Beta confessed that the plan was to isolate Richard Musekiwa, Kurauone and Daniel Mberikunashe and that he was offered two stands for his vote. He said before making any hasty decisions, he phoned one of the executive members for advice and he was told to go for it," the source said.Maboke was then ordered to stand down and pave way for Mberikunashe while the committees were dissolved for a fresh start and the four councillors were ordered to pay a fine of US$300 each."Chamisa later told Maboke that as long as the MDC was under his leadership, he will not hold any post and should be grateful that he had not been recalled and expelled," said the source.MDC Alliance provincial administrator, Peter Chigaba was, however, expelled from the party after it emerged that he was a kingpin in the conspiracy. The party's Isuzu single cab pick-up truck that he used to drive around has since been taken away from him and he has been evicted from an apartment at the party's provincial headquarters.At the meeting, Mberikunashe was given the reigns of mayor instead of Kurauone after Vhembo told Chamisa that he had voted for Maboke because to him, there was no longer any difference between Maboke and Kurauone whom he said had seen hobnobbing with Zanu PF councillors."You should have seen poor Vhembo; he was kneeling on the flow and literally shaking with fear right from the knees. In his desperate attempt to save himself, he sunk Kurauone's chances of bouncing back. After being asked to speak, Vhembo said he erred in his judgement but only because Maboke and Kurauone had become all the same to him because he had seen first-hand Kurauone lobbying Zanu PF councillors. Kurauone admitted the offence and this buried his chances of salvaging the mayorship for himself," the source said.Chamisa is said to then have chosen Mberikunashe because of his level headedness and that he was a more neutral compromise."Mai Maridza was also given a big dressing down. She was very frightened and almost comical in her quivering responses. It was a sight to see. She is now very angry with Maboke whom she accuses of selling her a poisoned chalice," said another source.Komichi could not answer his phone nor respond to questions sent to him on the matter but in a screenshot of a message he posted on a party WhatsApp group, he said the MDC constitution gave Chamisa the powers to appoint mayors."Our constitution gives power to president Chamisa to solely appoint mayors but he chose to be consultative. Let us all be guided accordingly," the post reads.The party's Chegutu councillors were also summoned to answer for their own defiance of party directives although their case was not as serious as the Masvingo one.The Chegutu councillors had been given a list of the party's preferred mayoral candidate, right down to committee chairpersons but they defied the directive and came up with their own team. News / National by Simbarashe Sithole Three family members died in a road traffic accident at the 49km peg along Mazowe-Centenary highway this afternoon when a Toyota Wish driver lost control of the vehicle.One of the victims who spoke to Bulawayo24.com said they were coming from Dzivarasekwa in Harare and were going for a marriage ceremony in Guruve."We are a family coming from Dzivarasekwa and we were going for a marriage ceremony in Guruve."Our father in-law was driving but somehow he lost control and the car overturned three times killing the bride and the groom on the spot," he said.Sources close to investigations allege 10 people were on board two died on the spot and one died upon admission at Mvurwi hospital.When this reporter arrived at hospital nurses and doctors were busy attending to the seven injured people. News / National by Staff reporter President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged to institute provincial councils sooner rather than later in line with the provisions of the country's Constitution as well as his government's thrust on devolution of power.He said this as he delivered his keynote address while commissioning the Hopeville Housing Project and a tomato processing plant in Bulawayo last week.While Mnangagwa did not say what shape or form the provincial governments would take, he is hoping to see the development of provincial economies to drive growth of the national economy."My government will be implementing the devolution of government powers and responsibilities," he said.He added: "I thus call upon all stakeholders, private and public institutions to be alive to this new philosophy of provincial economic development, where provinces are expected to plan and grow their provincial GDPs in the same vein."GDP is the abbreviation for Gross Domestic Product, which refers to the total value of goods produced and services provided in a particular locality during one year.Since the promulgation of the new Constitution in 2013, which provides for devolution of power to provinces and district in a bid to fight against marginalisation of communities, the Zanu-PF government under former president Robert Mugabe had avoided implementing it.In fact, then Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa had even urged Parliament when he presented the 2018 National Budget to scrap devolution saying it would come as a burden to the fiscus.Mnangagwa, who has pledged to do things differently, made devolution one of his talking points during the election campaign trail.Soon after the July 30 elections, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission proceeded to announce 10-member provincial councils for eight of the country`s provinces, which were elected through proportional representation.According to the Constitution, provincial and metropolitan councils are meant to give powers of local governance to the people and enhance their participation in the exercise of the powers of the State and in making decisions affecting them; as well as to promote democratic, effective, transparent, accountable and coherent government in the country.Last week, Mnangagwa described the Hopeville Housing Project and the tomato plant as critical building blocks towards the revival of Bulawayo.He said the two projects were in line with government's call to modernise the economy, adding that the plant will enhance economic growth in the second city and create employment."We can see it's very possible to make Matabeleland green if we work together in harmony. Am told the plant will produce 30 tonnes of tomato juice every day, yet they are unable to satisfy demandthat means there are opportunities for those who are talented."No one should be saying asilamsebenzi (we are unemployed)opportunities are thereif you don't have land, come forward and ask for ityou can form groups and provide produce for the plant," said Mnangagwa. A 50-year-old man who police say was linked to organized crime was shot and killed in Ancaster Thursday night in what's being called a "targeted attack." Just before 10 p.m., police responded after reports of gunshots at 32 Sunflower Crescent. Police and paramedics found a 50-year-old Hamilton man on the premises with a gunshot injury. Attempts to save his life were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. At a Friday afternoon news conference, Det. Sgt. Peter Thom told reporters the man's name was Al Iavarone, and he died from a "gunshot wound to the upper body." Thom said Iavarone has no criminal record, but was known to police as he is associated with people who are involved in organized crime. Thom would not name those people, or those organizations. He said Iavarone was a real estate agent, and police are currently exploring his other "entrepreneurial adventures." Police say the general public is not in danger. Dan Taekema/CBC An underworld power struggle There have been several violent incidents linked to the mob in southern Ontario in recent years, including the shooting death of notorious Hamilton mobster Angelo Musitano, who was gunned down outside his home in nearby Waterdown last year. Someone also fired a hail of bullets into the home of Musitano's brother, Pat, several weeks later. No arrests have been made in either incident. Thom said police are investigating if this incident is connected in any way, and also pointed to a number of "murders, bombings and arsons" in the GTA. "It's our belief there is something going in the underworld, maybe a power struggle," he said. Dan Taekema/CBC Police say Iavarone's wife and two adult children were at home at the time of the incident. The shooter drove a silver vehicle onto the street, parked his vehicle, got out, and then "concealed himself in nearby shrubbery for an extended period of time," Thom said. Story continues When Iavarone got home, the shooter approached him and fired, Thom said. It happened when he was in the walkway leading to the front door. "Obviously this individual set out to complete a task," Thom said. Police do not yet have a motive. 'Nothing like this has ever happened before' Neighbour Christine Sauer lives four doors down from 32 Sunflower Crescent. She slept through the commotion on Thursday night, but said she woke up to sirens. When she looked out the window, she saw police with flashlights searching under cars and cameras going off. "It's quiet and lovely here. Nothing like this has ever happened before," said Sauer, who has lived in the area for years. "It scares me a little...What if my son had been walking in the road when it happened?" Maureen Gordon says it's a "very quiet neighborhood," with several seniors and few young kids. Up to this point it's felt "very safe and comfortable," said Gordon, who has lived in the area for 16 years. "It's pretty unnerving," she said. "It rattled me for sure.' But Gordon says she felt better hearing it was a targeted incident. "To me it's still a quiet neighborhood," she said. "Knowing that it was sort of an isolated incident that was targeted, I don't feel unsafe." Dan Taekema/CBC Police looking for witnesses There will be a "heavy police presence" around 32 Sunflower Crescent for most of the morning as officers look for evidence and canvas the neighbourhood in the daylight, said Const. Jerome Stewart. Forensic identification officers will process the scene. Police are also conducting a canvass of the neighbourhood, they said, to identify witnesses and surveillance video that might help with the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jason Cattle at 905-546-4167, or anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Detectives from the major crime unit are leading the investigation. People with connections to Canada's nascent legal cannabis industry say they're increasingly concerned about the prospect of a lifetime travel ban from the United States. On Thursday, a senior U.S. border official told the American online publication Politico that Canadians who invest in cannabis companies or work in the industry could be turned away at the border, even after recreational marijuana becomes legal in Canada next month. "We don't recognize that as a legal business," said Todd Owen of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Cannabis is considered a banned substance at the federal level even though numerous states have legalized it. While the interview generated headlines on both sides of the border, people in the industry say the threat of a travel ban has existed for years. "It is a calculated risk," said Annamaria Enenajor, a criminal defence lawyer and the campaign director for Cannabis Amnesty. Enenajor said pot users and people connected to the industry are considered "inadmissible aliens" under U.S. law. She agreed they can be lawfully turned away at the border and banned for life. "They have to not be surprised if that becomes the result of their actions," Enenajor said on CBC's Metro Morning. She has not attempted to enter the United States since launching her cannabis advocacy organization. Submitted 'I can only tell the truth' Grant McLeod, a senior vice-president of regulatory affairs at Beleave Kannibis, has been in the U.S. several times since entering the cannabis industry. His company is one of dozens of federally licensed producers. "Do I feel less confident travelling to the United States than I did yesterday? I certainly do," he said, just hours before boarding a flight to the U.S. for a personal trip on Friday afternoon. Last year, McLeod took a business trip to Michigan to examine harvesting equipment. He said he has disclosed his employment each time crossing the border, and has never been turned away. Story continues "Of course there's always going to be a concern, but the reality is, I can only tell the truth," he said. McLeod is calling on Ottawa to strike an arrangement with the U.S. government to ensure that Canadians participating in the soon-to-be-legal industry can travel freely between the two nations. Will you be asked? In his interview with Politico, Owen added that Canadians should not expect cannabis-related questions as a matter of routine while crossing the border. "Our officers are not going to be asking everyone whether they have used marijuana, but if other questions lead there or if there is a smell coming from the car, they might ask," he said. Despite the prospect of a lifetime ban, Enenajor and McLeod are advising people to be truthful about their pot involvement if the issue comes up while crossing the border. "I think it's incredibly dangerous for someone to [lie], especially if they are somebody who works in the industry and their affiliation with the industry is readily available online," said Enenajor. She said a person found to have lied to a border agent will face a tougher penalty than a person who uses cannabis or works in the industry and is truthful about it. "The United States may change their opinion on cannabis in the future, but they will never change their position on lying to border officials." When George Qulaut saw a photo of his late grandmother at Calgary's Glenbow museum last year, it was a powerful moment. "It was quite emotional for me and my family," he says. Glenbow Archives Qulaut's grandmother died more than 60 years ago, but her image lives on in an exhibit travelling across Nunavut this fall. The project, called Qatiktalik (Fullerton Harbour) Photo Narrative Project, includes more than 1,000 photos taken by a police officer and his wife who lived in the North from 1903 to 1909. Qulaut says he was keen to convince the Glenbow to bring the exhibit North and show the photos to people who might recognize family members, so their stories could be recorded. "What's really special is there are many, many portraits taken of the people in the area," says Joanne Schmidt, acting curator of Indigenous studies at the Glenbow. "There's some really, really amazing clear photographs of people." The photos, taken by Geraldine and Douglas Moodie, show Inuit hunting, at summer outpost camps, and on whaling boats. More than a century ago, Douglas Moodie was stationed with the Northwest Mounted Police in Fullerton Harbour, Nunavut, near Chesterfield Inlet, and in Churchill, Man. Schmidt said he was there to "establish police presence in Hudson Bay." The photos also show the couple's travels to Quebec and Labrador. There's some really, really amazing clear photographs of people. - Joanne Schmidt, Glenbow The Moodie's great-grandchildren donated the photos to the museum in 2015. According to Schmidt, Geraldine kept detailed diaries and notes, so the Glenbow also has some names and information about the people but they'd like to know more. "Maybe some stories about those people or more information about their families or where they came from, that would be really special," said Schmidt. Later this month and into October, she will travel to Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet and Churchill, Man., to show the photos to community members. Story continues Glenbow Archives Glenbow Archives Gathering a written history Schmidt hopes to record interviews with locals who knew, or are related to, the subjects in the photos. For Qulaut, that's the most important part of the project. Qulaut, a former Nunavut politician from Igloolik, has known photos of his grandmother existed since the early 1990s, when he saw one in a northern magazine. "I immediately recognized my grandmother. I had known her when I was a child. I recognized her eyes." He says his grandmother was mute, and though he was only a baby when she died, the 64-year-old remembers communicating with her. "She loved children very, very much. She was a very interesting person." Qulaut says the touring exhibit is a chance for people to recognize their own relatives, before they pass on. "I'm glad they're now doing it," he says. Glenbow Archives "We don't have a written history, all we have is oral history and it would have a huge impact on the younger generation, who they are, where they're from." Glenbow Archives He's encouraging other organizations that may have photos from the North long ago, like missionaries and the RCMP, to also reach out and work to identify Northerners. "It's important for the younger generation to see their own great grandparents. I feel these are very valuable." Schmidt says she'll bring hundreds of images on her travels North. With funding from Library and Archives Canada and the Glenbow, she also has copies for the communities to keep. "We thought that the best thing to do would be to give those back to the communities where these people are from," she said. "I'm so happy that people will be able to have these pictures." Schmidt will show her first slideshow at the Iqaluit visitors' centre on Sept. 26. Her tour will end in Churchill, Man., in October. With files from Eva Michael It seems like it's getting harder these days to hide the fact that you're surreptitiously monitoring left-wing political activists. And accidentally tweeting proof of that fact sure doesn't make it any easier. Massachusetts state police are dealing with that reality this week after a Twitter slip-up revealed that they were keeping tabs on a number of political groups in the area. And, surprise, it was anti-Trump and anti police-brutality groups that are under the cops' watchful eyes. SEE ALSO: Twitter bug could make it appear you liked Donald Trump's tweets Helpfully, The Guardian recaps what went down. While tweeting a warning to residents potentially affected by the tragic gas explosions rocking the Boston suburbs this past week, the state police included a photo of a map of other areas that might require evacuation. Reminder: all residents of Lawrence/Andover/N[orth] Andover who have Columbia Gas must evacuate, as should anyone else who smells gas, read the now-deleted tweet. But it's the photo, helpfully saved before the police realized their mistake, that tells the larger story. It appears that whoever originally tweeted the pic perhaps unaware that a Twitter image preview doesn't show the full image and that you can click to expand forgot to crop it. The photo was of a computer monitor, and several browser bookmarks are clearly visible. 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 Fisher (@CollinFisher) September 14, 2018 Among those include bookmarks to the pages of the Coalition to Organize and Mobilize Boston Against Trump (COMBAT), Mass Action Against Police Brutality, Facebook MA Activism, and a progressive-curated calendar of anti-Trump rallies. Story continues The police are literally keeping tabs on peaceful left-wing activist groups. Yeah, oops. But to hear David Procopio, the state police director of media communications, tell it, this is not at all what it looks like. "We do not collect information about nor, frankly, do we care about any groups beliefs or opinions, he told the Guardian. Which is totally believable. After all, who are you going to believe? Paid police spokesperson Procopio, or your lying eyes? Maybe the Massachusetts state police should spend a little less time monitoring left-wing groups and a little more time learning the ins and outs of Twitter. In an apartment in Istanbul this spring, Mahone Bay, N.S., resident MJ Sakurai pored over immigration papers with a family she'd never met. It was all part of her mission to reunite a Syrian family that was torn apart by civil war. For months, Sakurai had been helping the Hamo family. Some of the Hamo family have already come to the small South Shore town as privately sponsored refugees, but many remain trapped in Turkey. In May, Sakurai decided to take a detour from her vacation in Greece to visit the Hamos in person in an attempt to speed up the tedious refugee sponsorship process. Sakurai, who was also joined by two translators a friend in Nova Scotia connected her with, said they spent about 12 hours filling out the application forms. "I could see that they'd be a real asset to Canada," she said. "They have skills, they're hardworking, they're willing to learn. And it's a family unit. They deserve to be reunited." 'They can't stay' Sakurai was part of a group that sponsored Shahnaz Hamo, Rezan Iso and their young son, Ali, to come to Mahone Bay in the fall of 2016. Sakurai promised to do what she could to help the rest of Hamo's family get to Nova Scotia. Hamo's parents, siblings, in-laws and nephews have been living in Istanbul since 2012 when they fled Damascus. They are among a Kurdish minority in Turkey. Submitted by MJ Sakurai "They can't stay," Hamo said. "It's hard to stay there for Kurdish people because we don't trust the government." The family's sponsorship application was approved by the Canadian government last month, but that's just one step in a long process. Sakurai is part of the South Shore Refugee Family Reunification group, which has about 10 members. Submitted by South Shore Refugee Family Reunification In addition to helping the family navigate the immigration process, the group is relentless in its fundraising and has already raised 75 per cent of its $54,000 goal to support the Hamos in their first year in Canada. Story continues The group is working with the Universalist Unitarian Church of Halifax, which is acting as the sponsorship agreement holder. Their latest fundraiser is a Syrian feast on Saturday evening at the Mahone Bay Centre. Sakurai said being able to sit with the family in their living room has given new meaning to the reunification group's work. Plans to grow family business Hamo's brothers are tailors, like her husband Iso, who's known as the Syrian Tailor of Mahone Bay. He opened a storefront last fall, and hopes to grow the business once his wife's family is there to help. For now, Hamo talks to her family on the phone, Skype and sends them photos of Mahone Bay. Emma Smith/CBC While she doesn't know when they'll be able to leave Turkey, she reassures them that people in the small town are kind, and it's nothing like busy Istanbul. "I said, it's a very quiet country, but it's beautiful," she said with a laugh. Read more articles from CBC Nova Scotia Internet service providers can recover some of the costs of helping movie companies and other copyright holders find illegal downloaders, the Supreme Court of Canada says. In a 9-0 decision Friday, the high court sided with Rogers Communications in ruling that the companies pursuing copyright violators should reimburse service providers a reasonable amount for the effort of looking up subscribers suspected of breaking the law. The decision could end up saving Rogers and other internet providers many thousands of dollars, but the Supreme Court said the appropriate fees should be decided at a future Federal Court hearing. The case began when Voltage Pictures and several other movie production firms asked Rogers for information about an alleged violator under provisions of the Copyright Act. Rogers retrieved the information but agreed to disclose it only upon payment of a fee $100 per hour of work plus HST. Voltage Pictures and its movie company allies hope to eventually obtain the information of tens of thousands of suspected copyright infringers, and they argued the federal legislative regime precluded Rogers from charging a fee. In 2016 the Federal Court said Rogers was entitled to levy the fee but the decision was overturned the following year on appeal, prompting the telecom company to take its case to the Supreme Court. Rogers said the appeal was about who must bear the costs of enforcing copyright on the internet: the copyright owner who launches the proceeding, and who can collect back costs from an infringer, or a third-party Internet service provider, whose only option is to raise prices for its customers. The Supreme Court ruling is "an important win for our customers and millions of internet subscribers facing open season on their personal information," said David Watt, Rogers senior vice-president of regulatory affairs. Rogers uses an automated system to send a notice to the more than 200,000 alleged copyright infringers brought to its attention each month something it is required to do under the Copyright Act without charging a fee. Story continues But Rogers said it should be compensated for the steps it must take when confronted with a court order from a movie company or other copyright holder for the name and address of a subscriber. In writing on behalf of eight of the members of the Supreme Court, Justice Russell Brown noted Rogers undertakes an eight-step manual process to comply with such an order. But he indicated it was unclear how many of those steps Rogers must already carry out at no cost under the law as part of its routine functions. Brown said Rogers and other service providers are entitled to "reasonable costs of steps that are necessary to discern a person's identity" using the records it is required to keep. He added that while these costs "may well be small," it is impossible to determine them based on current evidence, meaning a fresh Federal Court hearing must be held to assess fees a provider can charge. While agreeing with the majority, Justice Suzanne Cote went further, saying Rogers should be able to levy a fee for all eight steps it takes to respond to a court order. (In this Sept. 13 story corrects 8th paragraph to say new taxi law reestablished, not introduced, requirements on taxis) 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 [UBER.UL] 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 which reestablished that requirements on taxis, such as mandatory fare meters and seat sensors, would have to be respected. Uber has said the new law prompted its withdrawal from Denmark last year. 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) Retirement community where Jason Kenney claimed he lived doesn't allow sublets, says former staff member The United Conservative Party is holding a caucus retreat and sold-out fundraiser this weekend in Lethbridge, a city represented by two NDP MLAs including Environment Minister Shannon Phillips, an outspoken critic of the official opposition. UCP MLAs and newly nominated candidates will join party leader Jason Kenney at several events. The party is planning a door-knocking blitz throughout Lethbridge on Saturday. Candidates will receive training in preparation for next year's election. MLAs are also meeting with community groups and preparing for the fall legislature session, which starts Oct. 29. Three hundred people are expected to attend a $150-a-plate fundraiser Friday evening with Kenney and the UCP caucus. Proceeds will go to the UCP constituency associations in Lethbridge East and Lethbridge West. "We are just months away from the next provincial election," Kenney said in a news release Thursday. "The United Conservatives will work hard to earn the support of Lethbridge residents for our plan to reignite Alberta's economy, scrap the carbon tax, and stand up for our resources. That hard work begins this weekend." Minister unfazed Both Lethbridge seats were held by Progressive Conservatives going into the 2015 election. Former Liberal turned PC MLA Bridget Pastoor didn't run in 2015. Lethbridge East voters chose NDP candidate Maria Fitzpatrick to be their MLA. NDP candidate Phillips unseated incumbent PC MLA Greg Weadick in Lethbridge West. The Progressive Conservatives merged with the Wildrose in 2017 to form the UCP. In her role as environment minister, Phillips has frequently criticized the UCP for not viewing human activity as the cause of climate change, and for lacking a plan to mitigate its effects. Her views have made her a target on social media, particularly for people who identify themselves as Kenney supporters. Phillips is unfazed by the conservative influx into her home turf. She challenged Kenney to join her at a school opening in her constituency Friday and talk to parents about how badly the school was needed. Story continues She also challenged the UCP leader to meet with climate scientists at the University of Lethbridge, also in her riding. She says she could even introduce Kenney to some downtown business owners who pay their employees a living wage. The NDP contends Kenney will decrease funding of public services if he wins power next year. Phillips says her constituents don't want that. She notes there are many young families in Lethbridge West and many people work in public services like health care and post-secondary education. "I'm really looking forward to Jason Kenney talking to people in Lethbridge to hear about how his proposed cuts to health care and education, that in his own team's words, will hurt people," she said. Phillips says both she and Fitzpatrick will be doing their own canvassing this weekend and attending community events. "Unlike conservatives, I don't believe anyone is entitled to govern Alberta," she said. "We all have to work very hard and talk to voters and put in the time on the ground to do that." A senior Ontario health official will testify Friday at the Long-term Care Homes Public Inquiry. Dr. Michael Hillmer is the Executive Director of Information Management, Data and Analytics with the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care. The ongoing inquiry is looking into how nurse Elizabeth Wettlaufer kept up a near decade-long run of murdering patients in her care undetected. Wettlaufer confessed in 2016 to killing eight elderly patients and trying to kill six more all with injections of lethal amounts of insulin. The patients were in long-term care in Woodstock and London facilities. It's the final day of three days of hearings being held in Toronto. Preventing and detecting intentional harm The inquiry heard Thursday about how diversion of medications has increased recently in response to the national opioid crisis. Julie Greenall, director of projects and education at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada, was the expert witness. Greenall testified that there needs to be consideration for diversion of medications beyond opioids. Wadham College/Twitter "That really has been our focus, because they are the medications most commonly diverted," Greenall told the inquiry being led by Justice Eileen Gillese. "But I think the recognition that there may be diversion of other medications for various reasons is something that people really do need to start to think about." Greenall agreed with the inquiry that the Wettlaufer murders were cases of diversion of insulin for the purpose for which it was not prescribed. Pharmacy technicians can also play a role in helping with medication management in long-term care. Pharmacy technicians are independently regulated health care providers who are college trained and specialize in medication management systems. "I think pharmacy technicians could provide a very important supportive role for nurses in long-term care," said Greenall. "There are multiple ways that they could help, but I think specifically, related to all of the kind of inventory management activities, they could just take that over." Story continues Greenall says pharmacy technicians have a very strong knowledge of medications and medication systems. "I think they also would really provide that oversight role; so they would really be aware of 'what is in the fridge? When were medications ordered? Why do we suddenly have to reorder this medication when we just got it?'" Implementing a positive safety culture Greenall discussed the idea of developing a positive safety culture at long-term care facilities with the aim of reducing the likelihood of untoward incidents. "It's really a whole philosophy for how an organization operates," she said. "It has to be more than, 'our policy is that we're providing safe care,' it's 'what are the steps that we're taking to insure that?'" In a positive safety culture, Greenall says frontline staff would be involved in reviewing incidents, such as falls or medication incidents, and then discuss solutions to reduce the likelihood of them reoccurring. Testimony for the inquiry is expected to wrap up in St. Thomas, Ont. later this month. Justice Gillese has two years to come up with her recommendations. Room 101 Cigars has become the latest company to team up with the Cigar Dojo to produce an exclusive cigar. Today both parties announced the Room 101 [untitled], a cigar that will be sold exclusively through JR Cigar beginning September 21, 2018. Room 101 [untitled] features a Mexican San Andres wrapper that has a lighter-than-average Colorado Rosado shade. The blend also features a Sumatra binder and 100% Cuba-seed fillers including Criollo 98, Corojo 99, and HVA leaves. Production is handled out of Tabacalera William Ventura in the Dominican Republic, Room 101s manufacturing partner since owner Matt Booth split his brand from Davidoff. The Room 101 [untitled] is in one size a 5 1/2 x 52 belicoso format that has been aging six months since being rolled. The cigar is sold in ten-count bundles with a total of 500 bundles sold. Pricing is set at $99.99 per bundle. In a press release announcing the project, Eric Guttormson, owner of Cigar Dojo, commented, Everyone knows that Matt Booth marches to the beat of his own drummer, but were also aware that Matt knows how to put together an amazing cigar, which has been proven many times over. The limp noodle will most certainly remind you of some of the best Room 101 blends from the past, with its dark and juicy flavor profile. Meanwhile, Room 101s Matt Booth added, I am overwhelmed with delight to finally participate in a collaborative effort with the Cigar Dojonites. This is a phenomenal cigar to smoke while Jay Walking or waiting on your car during an oil change or any other minor procedure. I am eager to have this product pollinate the Dojo community and to see people enjoying something that was such a pleasure to make. The following is a list of the Cigar Dojo collaborations done by cigar manufacturers and brands: There have also been three releases by MoyaRuiz Cigars done in tribute to the Cigar Dojo community ( La Jugada Nunchuck, The Chinese Finger Trap, and Dim Mak) At a glance, here is a look at the Room 101 [untitled] Blend and Origin Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Binder: Sumatra Filler: Criollo 98, Corojo 99, HVA Country of Origin: Dominican Republic Factory: Tabacalera William Ventura Vitolas Offered Belicoso: 5 1/2 x 52 Photo Credits: Cigar Dojo Lawmakers in New Hampshire on Thursday failed to override Republican Gov. Chris Sununu's veto of a bill that would have abolished the death penalty but managed to do so with one offering support to the beleaguered biomass industry. The state Senate Thursday voted 14-10 to overturn the governor's veto on the death penalty, 2 votes shy of the 16 needed to override a gubernatorial veto. In the case of bills supporting the biomass industry and net metering, the Senate overrode the vetoes. Environmentalists claimed victory in the override of a veto of a bill that provides help to the state's biomass industry but fell short on net metering in the House. New Hampshire's death penalty applies in only 7 scenarios: the killing of an on-duty law enforcement officer or judge, murder for hire, murder during a rape, certain drug offenses or home invasion and murder by someone already serving a life sentence without parole. The state hasn't executed anyone since 1939, and the repeal bill would not have applied retroactively to Michael Addison, who killed Manchester Officer Michael Briggs and is the state's only death row inmate. Death penalty opponents argued that courts might have interpreted it differently, however. Others argued that imposing the death penalty doesn't give victims the closure that repeal advocates assume it would. RELATED : Former law enforcement call for N.H. death penalty repeal in new documentary But Sununu, with widespread support from police, vetoed the bill and argued that he had an obligation to support law enforcement and deliver justice for victims. 2 Democrats from Manchester, Sens. Kevin Cavanaugh and Lou D'Allesandro, voted with 8 Republicans to uphold the governor's veto. The other 8 Democrats in the chamber joined 6 Republicans in supporting a veto override. "It's a very narrow death penalty. It has been used in this state 1 time, in 1939. One time," argued D'Allesandro, in support of upholding Sununu's veto. But Republican State Sen. Bob Guida, in urging an override of the veto, claimed that "the death penalty is not a deterrent." "An eye for an eye is not what this country is about," he said. Amnesty International USA Will Continue Its Fight for New Hampshire to Abolish the Death Penalty Reacting to news that the New Hampshire state legislature has failed to override the Governor's veto, which would have ended the death penalty in New Hampshire once and for all, Kristina Roth, Senior Program Officer at Amnesty International USA stated: "The death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights. It is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. By vetoing this bill, which had broad bipartisan support, the Governor defends a practice that serves no legitimate public interest, neither deterring crime nor improving public safety. "Amnesty International and New Hampshire citizens who believe in the illegitimacy of the death penalty will continue their fight to abolish it in their home state." | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde : Associated Press, September 14, 2018Amnesty International, September 14, 2018 Last weekend my travels took me to a very interesting part of the world Georgia for an International Conference on the Future of Work in the Digital Era. Georgia is a small country nestled on the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe. Together with Azerbaijan and Armenia it lies in a region called the Caucasus located between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. All these three countries were erstwhile republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. After the break-up of the Soviet Union they became independent nations. Collectively they and the other breakaway regions of the Soviet Union are called Post Soviet Republics. In this broader region lie most of the frozen territorial conflicts of the end of the Soviet era. Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia, Transnistria in Moldavia, Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea in Ukraine and Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh in the border areas of Azerbaijan and Armenia to name but a few. While Georgia, Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine have predominantly Christian populations, Azerbaijan is largely Shia Muslim. However, all these nations have a strong secular ethos imaginably due to their Soviet past. Most of these countries have a strong pro-European and pro-American inclination. They aspire to be a part of the European Union and other multilateral European institutions. All of them have a special relationship with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato). Herein lie all these countries and many more in the Baltic, Central Asia and even Eastern Europe that are within what Russia terms as its near-abroad. It characterises these geographies as its sphere of influence in which it has legitimate interests. Russia is not an exception in this regard. The United States have long regarded the Americas as a sphere of exclusive interest. As far back as 1823 President James Monroe laid it out in explicit terms that the United States would not tolerate any European interference into the affairs of the newly independent states in the Americas. His formulation is now referred to it as the Monroe Doctrine and has been the lodestar of American foreign policy for almost the last two centuries. Despite the collapse of colonialism the former colonial powers Great Britain, France, Spain and to a lesser extent even Germany still consider some of their erstwhile colonies in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Latin and South America as manifestations of their spheres of influence. Even India considers South Asia to be its near-abroad and is sensitive if any foreign power tries to fish in its backyard. Going back to the Caucasus nations, most of them were a part of the imperial Russian Empire. However, they enjoyed a brief period of independence in 1918-1921 at the end of the First World War when Tsarist Russia collapsed before they were amalgamated into the Soviet Union. For example, Georgia was expropriated by the Russian Empire in 1801. After a brief bid for independence as the Democratic Republic of Georgia in 1918-1921, it became part of the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic from 1922 to 1936, and then became the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic until it declared independence from the Soviet Union on April 9, 1991. From December 26, 1991 that marked the formal dissolution of the Soviet Union till Russias rather bold move in Crimea formalised on March 18, 2014 the Post Soviet Republics enjoyed a relatively autonomous run for over two decades as Russia reordered and reconsolidated itself regaining both its political heft and economic muscle. However, as early as 2008 it all began to change. With the onset of the Obama presidency inaugurated amidst the greatest economic meltdown that the world faced since the Great Depression of the late 1920s, American appetite for international geo-political interventions was on the wane. Fatigued, exhausted and bled by two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the US started looking inwards. With the onset of the Trump presidency this trend has exacerbated to an extent that President Donald Trump seems bent upon dismantling the world order created post-Second World War. As the US made that ideological transition from pro-active engagement to splendid exceptionalism over the past decade it created a vacuum in global affairs. Mr Trumps hectoring of the Nato countries to augment their defence spending to two per cent of their respective GDPs, and his repeated public spats with the United States most trusted allies in the G-7 coupled with the servility during the Helsinki summit has had the collateral impact of increasing nervousness in the Post Soviet Republics that have endeavoured to map their future differently from their past. A flux is an unnatural state in international relations and soon a rising China and a rejuvenated Russia filled the vacuum. The new paradigm is best illustrated by the aggressive position that China has taken with regard to the South China Sea and Russias support to the Assad regime in the continuing fratricide in Syria. The European nations who were vociferously supportive of the revolutions that swept the greater Maghreb region in the first five years of the current decade have now all withdrawn after being overwhelmed by the flood of refugees that various ill-conceived attempts to reorder that part of the world have unleashed. All this is throwing up interesting new alignments. For example, in the latest summit in Tehran between Iran, Turkey and Russia. Though focused on the Syrian situation and the ongoing offensive in Idlib this axis has the potential to blossom into an alliance in the future. Similarly there are many other different global permutations and combinations in play. A new Cold War looms on the horizon. This time it will not be between two superpowers, but a multi-polar contest for spheres of influence between rejuvenated and rising players. The first in the crosshairs of this conquest would be those nations of new Europe that have endeavoured to chart an independent path since the end of the Cold War but are perceived as a sphere of influence. Do they have reasons to be worried? 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. I am a retired newspaperman. I live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 44 years, Lou Ann. I grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather. Report all errors to DonSurber@GMail.com A senior education official in Hoa Binh Province was arrested Friday in the national high school exam fraud case. Nguyen Quang Vinh, 52, head of the Testing and Quality Assurance unit under Hoa Binh's education department, has been placed under criminal investigation for "abuse of power or position in performance of official duties." Police from the Ministry of Public Security have also searched his house and workplace. Vinh's arrest is part of an ongoing criminal investigation into a national high school exam fraud in the province, in which the answer sheets of some candidates were altered to raise their marks. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Hoa Binh's chief testing official, is seen in a police photo. Last month, police also arrested Vinh's subordinate Nguyen Khac Tuan and Do Manh Tuan, vice principal of a boarding school for ethnic minorities in Lac Thuy District, on similar charges. The exam fraud was first discovered after the Ministry of Education and Training released the official test results of all candidates nationwide on July 11. Hoa Binh was among a number of provinces with unusually better results, triggering public suspicion. Out of the province's over 8,900 candidates, 24 scored at least 9 on a scale of 10 in Maths, making up 4.7 percent of all candidates with such high scores in the country. Hoa Binh's education department then launched an inspection into its exam grading process but reported no violation, prompting the education ministry to request a police investigation on July 24. An initial investigation soon discovered signs that a number of candidates' multiple-choice answer sheets had been altered to improve their results. Hoa Binh is the third province caught in the criminal probe into the high school exam fraud this year, after the northern provinces of Ha Giang and Son La. The investigation in Ha Giang has so far led to the arrests of two senior education officials, who were found to have heavily altered the results of over 330 test sheets belonging to 114 candidates to increase their scores. In Son La, six officials, including the provincial education department's deputy director, have been placed under criminal investigation for raising the marks for some candidates. The national high school exam requires candidates to undertake mandatory exams in Math, Literature and Foreign Language, while making a choice between natural sciences (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) and social sciences (History, Geography and Ethics). This year, the examination lasted for three days, from June 25-27. Super Typhoon Mangkhut smashes into Philippines, forecast to move on to Vietnam Residents secure the roof of their house as Typhoon Mangkhut approaches the city of Tuguegarao, Philippines. Photo by AFP/Ted Aljibe Super Typhoon Mangkhut slammed into the northern Philippines on Saturday with violent winds and torrential rains. The authorities have 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 a.m. (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' An elderly resident carries a religious icon as she evacuates to a safer place as Typhoon Mangkhut approaches the city of Tuguegarao. "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. The typhoon has been forecast to enter waters off Vietnam's eastern coast later on Saturday and hit the country's northern region on Monday morning. A vast area including the capital Hanoi, the port city Hai Phong and its neighbor Quang Ninh Province, home to the popular Ha Long Bay, is bracing for major impacts. Cruises and fishing boats have been called back to shore. Vietnam's military has put nearly 400,000 soldiers and thousands of vehicles, ships and aircraft ready for possible rescue and evacuation missions. Schools have also announced temporary shutdown plans. Many officials and Mobifone executives have been held responsible for its illegal TV acquisition. Photo by VnExpress Three ministries and the Government Office are under scrutiny for violations in an illegal acquisition by telco giant Mobifone. The Central Inspection Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam has named the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Security and the Government Office as units involved in state-owned MobiFone's wrongful investment in private pay TV firm Audio Visual Global JSC (AVG), which caused million-dollar losses to the state budget. According to the inspection committee, the investment ministry did not follow the Law on Investment when it approved the investment made by state-owned mobile operator MobiFone in private pay TV firm Audio Visual Global JSC (AVG), according to the Central Inspection Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam. And when the deal had already been completed, the ministry issued a statement pointing out possible problems in the acquisition, given the fact that MobiFone was on the way to being privatized. The commission said the ministry had not been consistent and had acted irresponsibly. The Ministry of Finance, meanwhile, was in charge of managing the deals execution, but failed to carry out a timely, comprehensive analysis or evaluation when MobiFone spent a huge sum to acquire AVG, the commission said. The Ministry of Public Security is also culpable of wrongdoing related to the deal because it accepted a suggestion from the Ministry of Information and Communications to treat documents related to the MobiFone-AVG deal as classified, which was not appropriate. The Party commission said the Office of the Government submitted an evaluation report to the Prime Minister without going through the required procedures. All the four agencies should carry out a review and deal with staff found committing violations in this deal, the commission said. MobiFone, the country's third largest telecom firm, made headlines early in 2016 when it announced it was breaking into the pay TV market with the acquisition of a 95 percent stake in AVG. But the Government Inspectorate concluded that the deal, which had not been approved by the Prime Minister, had violated investment laws and caused an estimated loss of around VND7 trillion ($307 million) to the government. In a report on the deal last March, inspectors said MobiFone had committed multiple violations in proposing the deal and in evaluating AVG. Besides, the company had provided false and incomplete information and falsified AVG's financial status in its report to the information ministry on the deal, which resulted in MobiFone paying VND8.89 trillion instead of VND1.9 trillion. Cao Duy Hai, 57, MobiFone CEO, was fired for his role in the illegal acquisition last month. Le Nam Tra, 57, Mobifones former chairman and general director, and Pham Dinh Trong, 48, head of the information ministrys department of enterprise management, were arrested in July and face charges for violations in managing public capital. The biggest casualty in the case was Truong Minh Tuan, who lost his position as Minister of Information and Communication in July. Tuan had signed a decision to approve the AVG acquisition while serving as deputy information minister. Nguyen Manh Hung, former CEO of military-owned telecom giant Viettel, is now the acting information minister, and his position is scheduled to be made official in October. Deputy Minister for the temporarily occupied territories, Yuriy Hrymchak, sat down with UNIAN to speak about what happened in northern Crimea's Armyansk at "Crimean Titan" plant, as well as about other more potentially dangerous enterprises located in the occupied peninsula and parts of Donbas. What happened at Crimean Titan in the occupied Crimea's Armyansk, where a hazardous release of toxic sulfurous anhydride was spotted? Taking into account the latest data, we have serious suspicions that the situation with "Crimean Titan" is a manmade environmental disaster, meaning that some emergency situation occurred at the plant on the night of August 23-24. This was the night when the first release of chemicals happened. The second release occurred on the night of September 4-5. Experts named two major versions. The first one is that the source of the chemical release could become the acid settling tanks at the plant, while an emergency was a result of excessive heat and lack of water from the North Crimean Canal. The second one is that during Russia's military exercises, a shell hit the premises of the enterprise. Which version are you inclined to trust more? Most likely, many things coincided. I consider the version of a projectile hit at the plant most probable, which is evidenced by the chemical composition of the emissions we're observing today. And the projectile hit precisely the plant. A shot was spotted from space, but we can't say for sure, where it hit. A lot of various information is coming. The only thing we know for sure is that the wind caused the spread of the emissions. Have the territories of mainland Ukraine adjacent to the occupied Crimea been seriously affected? No, they are not affected at all. The latest data our ministry has, which I posted on Facebook, say that the maximum permissible levels have not been exceeded. The side of the settling tanks that reaches out to our territory has been inspected, and everything is within norm there. The Foreign Ministry said they were collecting evidence of a chemical release in Crimea to appeal to the international Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). What's in it for Ukraine? There were reports that special containers for transporting chemical weapons were spotted at the plant itself, as well as in Armyansk. Is it possible that this was chemical weapons? Theoretically, it is. Therefore, an appeal to the OPCW is a must. This organization has the right to inspect any country for chemical weapons. And then the OPCW concludes whether chemical weapons were present and what happened. But, as you know, Russia does not allow representatives of international organizations to Crimea. So what can we expect from the appeal? In the light of the recent events the chemical attacks in Syria, and that novichok poisoning on British soil it is quite possible that Russia will have to "open the doors" in Crimea to the OPCW. I talked with ecologists about the developments at Crimean Titan, and they said that they applied to the authorities demanding to collect and analyze information on hazardous facilities and the consequences of their operations in the territories occupied by Russia - in Crimea and Donbas. But the relevant actions were never taken... Well, that's a strange statement. The Donetsk Regional State Administration purchased 10 mobile stations to control the areas mentioned by the ecologists. One of them operates at the de-facto border with the occupied Crimea, measuring emissions. There are also ecology posts, also carrying out all necessary measurements for their part. Border guards are also involved. That is, today we're in control of the situation. Over the whole observation period, no breaches of permissible levels were recorded. Only once, in the first days of September, when the wind was blowing from Crimean Titan, we saw a decrease in air quality indicators. In order not to jeopardize health of children and pregnant women, they were evacuated, just in case. We might have overreacted, but we still did the right thing, I believe, although, the decision was controversial. This could provoke panic, but in this case, this was a right move anyway. Russian media wrote that on September 9, operations at Crimean Titan were suspended and that it should be later shut down completely. Will this resolve the crisis? We do satellite monitoring, and we saw that on September 9, the enterprise was still working there was smoke. We also spoke with experts who say it is impossible to just shut down the whole plant overnight - this is a continuous production. An abrupt halt can only exacerbate the situation and lead to worse consequences. What we're seeing from space is that it is being stopped gradually. On September 10, the smoke from the plant was no longer coming. There's always been that sulfur odor coming from Crimean Titan. In 2014, a Ukraine traitor, the so-called "head of the Crimean parliament" Vladimir Konstantinov, said that additional treatment facilities worth $500 million would be set up at the plant at the expense of Russian banks. Four years on, nothing happened. If the plant is shut down, but it turns out that the evaporation comes from the settling tank due to lack of water, what should be done in this case? The tank must be then filled with sea water. But experts suggest this can result in a chemical reaction with negative consequences... There's no 100% probability. Many scientists, many minds. Seawater is an alkaline solution. As it reacts with acid, the temperature rises in other words, heat is released. And that's it. You can also fill the tank with fresh water. But Ukraine has officially stated that it will not supply water on its own initiative. And this is right. Russian leadership did not apply to Ukraine with such a request, because then they would have to recognize the occupation of Crimea. So why should we unilaterally help the occupier? Besides, water costs money. It is raised from the Dnipro River by pumping stations and driven along canals. I've already seen reports that some kind of an "agreement" is being drafted between Armyansk and some mainland Ukrainian city on water suppies from the territory of Ukraine. So I'll say this: all water canals, according to the current legislation, are owned by the state. So this won't work out for Russia. The water is on our territory and the dam is in Ukraine's Kherson region, too. By the way, it was its construction that initially led to the dawn of agriculture in the region. And now the Crimea is turning into a desert. Another version of what happened in Crimea is that allegedly, the situation with Crimean Titan is pure provocation and manipulation, to force Ukraine to restart water supplies to the occupied Crimea, which is in dire need of it. What do you think about this version? It might be true. Only Russians could come up with something like this to mess up an entire city for the sake of such a plot. However, they are truly capable of many things in general. Indeed, Crimea badly needs water. This summer was very hot, which led to the actual drying of all reservoirs across the peninsula. But this doesn't change anything. There's an aggressor state, so why should we give them water? This won't work out for Russia. Let's imagine that everything is done with the plant and it has been shut down. Will the problem be resolved in this case? No, it won't. What they're now doing in Armyansk neutralizing acid emission by sodium solution cannot stop the process if the source of emissions is the enterprise itself. So what's your forecast? We made the forecast two years ago: the lack of water and wrong moves on the part of occupation authorities to taking up artesian water leads to soil salinization and man-made disasters, and that's what happened. The steppe part of Crimea has practically become waterless. As for the affected Crimean territories, we don't have access to them yet, so we can't assess the damage. Is the restoration of such territories such a long process? In 1954, when the peninsula became part of Ukraine, it was a semi-desert, salt marshes everywhere, with nothing growing there. After the construction of the North Crimean Canal, the water started flowing to the peninsula, which allowed engaging in agriculture there. However, it took 10 years. This is how long those salt marshes were cleansed with fresh water. The salt went down, and the land became suitable for use. Due to shortage of water after it was switched off by Ukraine, they began drilling additional artesian wells across the peninsula, and as a result, the salt rose to the surface. When the Crimea returns to Ukraine, it will be necessary to wash away salt for years again and revive everything that is now dying, like after the disaster in Armyansk. There's just one thing: we will send the bill to Russia But Russia has never paid off its debts... One day, everything happens for the first time. Russia crossed the red line when it occupied Crimea. Besides, if Georgia failed to raise the international community in 2008 regarding the occupation of its territory by Russia, Ukraine managed to do it. There is an international coalition in our support, our allies, who help us financially and technically. The Russian Federation has no allies it is an outcast state. I am sure that this time Russia will have to pay its debts for Armyansk, for what it did with Crimea, with Donbas After all, it might as well be forced to pay with gas for the next hundred years. In Crimea, in addition to Crimean Titan, there are other potentially dangerous enterprises: BROM in Krasnoperekopsk, where more than 300 tonnes of chlorine is stored, and the Crimean Sodium Plant, also in Krasnoperekopsk, with tonnes of chemicals. How are things going there and what can we expect? Two years ago, Ukrainian prosecutors opened criminal cases into the unsatisfactory situation at these facilities. Later, more criminal cases were opened over the misuse of dangerous substances. But due to the lack of access, we're unable to see the actual situation there. The Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia every year compiles lists of risky facilities, including in the occupied Crimea. The mentioned enterprises are always on those lists. That is, nothing is being done for their safety, right? There are only loud statements being made, nothing else. Let's turn to the problems of eastern Ukraine. Russia also occupied part of Donbas And there are risky production facilities on both sides of the contact line. What is happening there? Let's start with the Yunkom mine in Yunokommunarivsk near Yenakiyeve, where in 1979, Soviet scientists conducted a secret experiment called Cleavage an underground nuclear explosion. What's the situation with the mine these days? Yes, there was a 903-meter deep nuclear explosion, and the unit remained there. Nobody knows how everything looks like as no one has ever gone down there. One thing we know for sure is that there is a very high radiation level there. The mine was permanently shut down in 2002 by a government decision, and water was to be pumped out nonstop. In the spring of this year, occupation "authorities" stopped pumping out that water and the mine began to be flooded. According to our experts, radionuclides may reach the surface and get into the water. If this happens, although it won't be tomorrow, these radionuclides will go to the Siversky Donets River, from there to the Don, and then to the Sea of Azov. And this will be a disaster. Another threatening company is Horlivka-based chemical plant. In the autumn of 2013, thousands of tonnes of mononitrochlorobenzene was taken from its territory. But in 2011, thousands of tonnes of "unaccounted" poisonous substance was discovered there. Is there a chemical threat today? Back in the day, when I was a vice-governor in the region, we never found a solution. This is a very serious problem. In 2005, we brought to the plant officials from the National Security and Defense Council. By the way, then the plant was guarded by only two people! The solution was never found. The situation unfolded as a result of the enterprise being shut down abruptly. All hazardous materials are in pipes. And all of this is just lying out there under the open sky, in a high-risk hostility zone. We are constantly facing the blackmail by the occupation authorities, including regarding this enterprise which they threaten to blow up. If they do so, the explosion will be unprecedented. What might happen afterwards, nobody knows for sure as no one has ever set up such "experiments" anywhere else in the world. And now what about that radioactive material burial site at the testing ground of the Donetsk chemical plant, where radioactive waste was being buried since 1963 and later the military was disposing of obsolete ammunition. As it turned out later, not everything has been disposed of Theoretically, the enterprise is a threat, but much less so than the above-mentioned facilities. We shouldn't worry about it too much. By the way, in 2005, Barack Obama visited the site when he was a U.S. Senator. He inspected the disposal of ammunition, which was carried out for U.S. money. He was pleased with what he saw, it seemed. The next facility is the Avdiyivka-based coking plant. How are things going there? The Avdiyivka coking plant is itself a very dangerous enterprise. Last year, when I was there, all the furnaces worked, the plant was repaired after the shelling, which had damaged the facility and killed several workers. The plant is within the range of artillery fire. Therefore, the situation is risky. Avdiyivka is a suburb of Donetsk, so if you go along its streets you can directly get to Donetsk. However, the situation is calmer near the factory, but previously, the fighting was raging just 2-3 kilometers away. The risks remain. What about the dams of thermal power plants, the destruction of which can lead to the flooding of large areas, and what about the filter stations working with chlorine? Then Donetsk filtering station as of today, thanks to the humanitarian agency of the Swiss government, works on sodium hydrochloride. It is not as dangerous as chlorine. A very big problem though was with Bakhmansky agricultural enterprise, where there were mines in the sedimentation tanks. We managed to demine the area but had we failed, the waste would have spread for many kilometers. Regarding the dams, the Russians are impeding their full inspection. What needs to be done to facilitate the solution of these problems? We tried to ensure that our ecologists entered the observer mission in order to have access to the occupied territories. But we have not received the green light. And, besides the mentioned risky facilities, there is one more problem. On the territory of Luhansk and Donetsk regions the Central Donbas about 30 mines are being flooded, or have already been flooded. This led to the fact that in these territories the amount of water in the soil increased dramatically. No one pumps water from the mines. There is a threat that in these regions it will rise to the surface. This is bad water that kills all life. It turns out that when Crimea and Donbas once again become Ukrainian, their revival will cost billions, and the process will take decades... Any problem should be considered an opportunity. We will tackle all challenges. All projects for the revival and rescue of Crimea and Donbas are being worked out. We are preparing for the return of our territories. Nana Chornaya If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter National joint-stock company Naftogaz Ukrainy plans to issue $500 milllion-$1 billion eurobonds in October 2018, Naftogaz Board Chairman Andriy Kobolev has said. "Yes, we will issue. I think that it will be in October," he told reporters on the sidelines of the 15th YES Conference organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in Kyiv on Saturday, asked if the company retains plans to issue eurobonds in the current situation. Kobolev said that the funds will be raised to develop the company. As reported, at the end of 2017, Naftogaz Chief Commercial Officer Yuriy Vitrenko said that Naftogaz plans in 2018 to enter the external debt market with an offer of eurobonds worth $1 billion. Late July 2018, Naftogaz hired Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer law firm (the U.K.) to assist in placing eurobonds by the Ukrainian company. The services are to be provided before July 1, 2020. Three organizations at YES Forum create Ukraine Elections Task Force to counter outside interference The Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, the Victor Pinchuk Foundation and the Transatlantic Commission on Election Integrity have launched the 'Ukraine Elections Task Force' at the 15th YES Conference in Kyiv. "As Ukraine prepares for the second Presidential and Parliamentary elections since the Maidan revolution, three organizations have joined forces to help thwart outside efforts to subvert the democratic process," the press service of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation reported. "Moscow has actively intervened in elections in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere in recent years. The Kremlin is gearing up to do the same in Ukraine's March, 2019 Presidential election," Director of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council John Herbst said. He said that recognizing three organizations have put together an initiative to monitor, expose and counteract Kremlin interference in this election. Herbst said that defeating Kremlin aggression in Ukraine and preventing Moscow from destabilizing Ukraine by interfering in its election - promotes stability in Europe and Eurasia. "Second, uncovering Kremlin tactics in Ukraine will help us defend against likely Kremlin interference in American and other European elections," he said. Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that there is no doubt that Russia has a stake in next year's elections. "I have no doubt Moscow will deploy the full playbook of measures to spread confusion and fear: cyber-attacks, assassinations, disinformation, conventional attacks in Eastern Ukraine. We cannot allow this to happen," he said. He said that Ukraine Elections Task Force will be politically neutral, but "we intend to act as a referee to ensure that the playing field is fair." Founder of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation Victor Pinchuk said election meddling represents the crossroads of both the possibilities and the threats. He said that the next generation of meddling and disinformation technologies could dramatically harm the next generation of democracy and even Ukrainian statehood. "Moreover, if we do not prevent it, what might happen in Ukraine in 2019, may also be repeated across the West in 2020," he said. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko counts on sanctions against Russia for stopping Ukrainian vessels in the Azov Sea if Moscow does not stop making illegal steps. "Russia has no right to attack or stop our vessels, which carry goods and passengers from two important Ukrainian ports, Mariupol and Berdyansk. If Russia does not stop, we have only one instrument, which is sanctions," he said in an interview with The Washington Post, the press service of the head of state reported on its website on Saturday. Poroshenko said that Ukraine has absolutely clear legal status in the Azov Sea. He said that Ukraine needs more sanctions on Russia to halt the potential danger of the Russian occupation of Azov. "If they block a vessel with Ukrainian iron and steel products from Mariupol for one day, the cost is thousands of dollars," the president said. He said that the Russians are attacking Ukrainian fishermen in Ukrainian waters all the time the Russians arrest them, stop them and endanger them. This is part of the hybrid war against Ukraine, the head of state said. "Russia's purpose is to occupy the Azov Sea, the same way it did Crimea. This is a brutal violation of international law, and we cannot accept it. We are strengthening our military there and launching a case against Russia in the international Permanent Court of Arbitration," he said in the interview. U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker has said that it is impossible to implement all the conditions of Russia in the context of settling the conflict in Donbas, in particular, to hold direct talks with militants. Russia insists that the peacekeeping mission must be limited only in order to protect the OSCE observers, and not to ensure security in the region, while insisting that negotiations must be conducted directly with the so-called "people's republics" and not with Russia itself. It is impossible to do everything, he said during a briefing on the sidelines of the 15th YES Conference organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in Kyiv on Saturday. Volker also said that Russia continues to insist on the implementation of Ukraine's political conditions of the Minsk process. He added that there are still gaps in Ukrainian defense capability. "Now we are prepared to help Ukraine in its efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities," he said, adding that the capabilities have already improved, but there are gaps. The United States is ready to sit down with Ukraine and discuss what needs the country has, he said. Claiming that Iran has the upper hand in the region, the deputy commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has dismissed the possibility of a U.S. attack against Iran. The United States will be the loser of any war that it might initiate against Iran due to preparedness of the countrys armed forces and lack of international support for such military action, IRGC affiliated news agency, Fars, cited Brigadier General Hossein Salami as saying on Friday, September 14. Meanwhile, Salami reiterated in a speech, The option of war against the Islamic Republic of Iran is canceled because the US has neither the [requisite] political conditions for a war nor an ally that would side with it, Salami said in a speech in the northern province of Semnan. He echoed earlier remarks by the Islamic Republics Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that chances of a U.S. attack against Iran is zero, yet, Iranian Armed Forces should be fully prepared for it and enhance their military might. "Political calculations show that there is no chance for a military war, yet the armed forces are needed to boost their equipment and human capabilities vigilantly and through an efficient and agile management," Ayatollah Khamenei said at a meeting with senior commanders and officials of the Air Defense Base in Tehran on Sunday, September 10. Immediately after Khameneis remarks, a news agency affiliated with state-run Radio and TV broadcasting, YJC, noted, Since U.S. is worried about Iranians attack on Israel and US military bases in the region, Washington is not contemplating on a military strike against the Islamic Republic. Two former IRGC commanders also lined up to expand on Khameneis arguments. Secretary of the influential Expediency Council and former Chief-Commander of IRGC, Major General Mohsen Rezaei implicitly referred to U.S. military bases in the region and said, Fifty thousand U.S. forces are at the mercy of Iranian armed forces. Later, the secretary of another influential body, Irans Supreme National Security Council and former IRGC navy commander, Ali Shamkhani also joined the chorus by stressing, The era of hit and run is over and Iran will give a response 10 times stronger than any hostile measure against it. Salami has gone further by insisting, "The U.S. military is incapable of engaging us in a battle and the American economy wouldn't be able to support the war either." He also added that if the U.S. starts a war it will boost Iran's influence in the region. He reiterated that the US war against Iran is no longer a possibility because Washington lacks the political means and international support to launch a new military campaign. Furthermore, IRGC commanders have repeatedly warned that if U.S. succeeds in stopping Iranian oil exports, the Islamic Republic will shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz where about 20% of the world's petroleum (about 35% of the petroleum traded by sea) passes through it. The Americans say they want to reduce Iranian oil exports to zero... It shows they have not thought about its consequences, President Hassan Rouhani said on July 4, while on an official visit to Vienna. Two days later, the chief commander of IRGCs extraterritorial operations, Quds Force, Major General Qassem Soleimani said Iran will block oil shipments through the Hormuz Strait if U.S. President Donald Trump stops Iranian oil sales. Responding to the threat of blocking Strait of Hormuz, U.S. military commanders have repeatedly pointed out that they are capable of guaranteeing the safety of ships passing through the Persian Gulf channel. For decades, our forces have been postured in the Gulf to ensure freedom of navigation and will continue to do that, said U.S. Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, during a press conference on August 28. (AFP) - The Iraqi parliament elected pro-Iran candidates as speaker and first deputy speaker on Saturday, boosting the country's chances of forming a new administration more than four months after national elections. National politics has been in paralysis since the May 12 ballot, but Saturday's selections are expected to solidify new parliamentary alliances. The pro-Iran bloc led by Hadi al-Ameri's Conquest Alliance -- a coalition of anti-jihadist veterans close to Tehran -- consolidated its position as its candidate, Mohammed al-Halbusi, was elected speaker. And Hassan Karim, put forward by populist Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, took the post of first deputy speaker. Sadr's list won the largest share of seats in the election, and is also part of the pro-Iran parliamentary alliance. Iranian envoy "Qassem Soleimani has successfully re-unified Shiite forces and secured posts for Sunnis that have followed them", said Iraqi political commentator Hisham al-Hashemi, - '2-0 to Iran' - For the first time since the fall of dictator Saddam Hussein, the Shiites appeared divided in the May polls. Iraq has a proportional system designed to prevent a slide back into dictatorship following the 2003 ouster of Saddam. The bloc with the most members appoints the prime minister and presides over the formation of the next government. US envoy Brett McGurk has "failed to divide the Shiites, failed to keep promises of posts for Sunnis who rallied to the US and was unable to scare Sunnis who chose the Iranian camp", Hashemi said. "Iran has (therefore) already won two points, while the US has lost three". The new speaker was governor of Sunni-majority Anbar province, a key battleground in the war against the Islamic State jihadist group, before his election to parliament on a local list in May. Born in 1981, he will be the youngest speaker in Iraq's history. During the vote, Halbusi pleaded for "real reforms", after demonstrations last week in the southern oil-rich city of Basra turned deadly as protesters demanded improved public services and a crackdown against corruption. In Iraq, the speaker of parliament is always Sunni Arab while the prime minister is picked from the country's Shiite majority and the president is a Kurd.Parliamentary coalitions -- which bring together lists of Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds to form the largest group -- must agree on the selection of the three positions. Halbusi ran against three other candidates, including Vice President Osama al-Nujaifi and former Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi. Obeidi was backed by the list of outgoing Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.Halbusi won 169 out of 298 votes, while Obeidi took 89, in Saturday's vote. Abadi said Thursday he would not seek a second term as his political support crumbled over the violence in Basra. In a crucial setback, Sadr dropped his support for the prime minister last Saturday, as anger over the situation in the southern city grew. Basra has been at the epicenter of protests that broke out in in July, before spreading to other parts of the country. The protests in Basra intensified over a growing health crisis, after more than 30,000 people were hospitalized by a polluted water supply. Protesters hit the streets for five days, clashing with security forces and torching the provincial headquarters, the Iranian consulate and the offices of armed groups. Twelve demonstrators were killed in the clashes, with rights groups accusing security forces of using excessive force. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 15 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 88 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Sept. 15. 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. 15 Trend: Starting from last night and until this morning, the units of the Armed Forces of Armenia committed a provocation using weapons of different calibers, including an artillery cannon in the directions of Tovuz, Terter and Aghdam districts, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan said in a statement Sept. 15. "In particular, the enemy has fired on the positions of Azerbaijani army, located in the direction of the Munjuglu, Kokhanabi, Asrik Jyrdakhan and Garalar villages of Tovuz, and the civilians residing in these villages." There are no casualties among the military and civilian population of Azerbaijan. Damage has been caused to some houses, property of people and civilian infrastructure. "Such provocative actions by the Armenian side on the eve of significant events and holidays celebrated in Azerbaijan is purposeful," the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan said. The ministry reported that as a result of urgent response actions taken by units of the Azerbaijani army, the enemy's activity has been suppressed. "The entire responsibility for the destruction and losses suffered by the enemy falls on the military and political leadership of Armenia," the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan said. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 15 Trend: An official welcome ceremony has been held for President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is on an official visit in the Republic of Azerbaijan. A guard of honor was arranged for the President of Turkey in the square decorated with the national flags of the two countries. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev greeted President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The chief of the guard of honor reported to the President of Turkey. The national anthems of the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan were played. President Ilham Aliyev and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reviewed the guard of honor. The President of Turkey saluted Azerbaijani soldiers. State and government officials of Azerbaijan were introduced to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and members of the Turkish delegation were introduced to President Ilham Aliyev. The guard of honor marched in front of the heads of state to the accompaniment of a military march. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan posed for official photos. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.15 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan have visited the Alley of Martyrs in Baku. A guard of honor was lined up for the heads of state here. President Ilham Aliyev and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan laid wreaths at the Eternal Flame monument, which commemorates Azerbaijani heroes who gave their lives for the country`s independence and territorial integrity. The Azerbaijani and Turkish presidents then put wreaths at a monument to Turkish soldiers in the Alley of Martyrs. The heads of state signed the guest book here. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 15 Trend: Armenia fails to learn lessons from the events of 1918-1920s and has resumed its revisionist, destructive and aggressive policy since the end of the last century, Hikmat Hajiyev said. "Nowadays, this policy of Armenia still goes on. As in 1918-1920s, Armenia resulting from its destructive policy, territorial claims and unleashed war against the neighboring states remains in self-isolation." 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. "In connection with the centenary of this remarkable historic event, in Baku with the participation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev and the President of the Republic of Turkey H.E.Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan ceremonial events and parade of Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and Turkey will take place," Hajiyev said. "Despite the difficulties of World War I, the brotherly Turkish people supported the newly established Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in the liberation of the capital Baku and other cities and districts. Under the occupation of the armenian dashnak- bolshevik forces, merciless massacres against the civilian population in Baku and surrounding areas were committed, including the March Massacres in March 1918. With the liberation of Baku, the transfer of the capital of the newly established Azerbaijan Democratic Republic from Ganja to Baku, the restoration of the territorial integrity of ADR and the security of the civilian population living in Baku and surrounding areas were provided," Hajiyev added. "Guided by the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev's "One Nation, Two States" maxim, the exemplary partnership between Azerbaijan and Turkey on the basis of bonds of brotherhood continues to grow day by day and serves for the sustainable development, prosperity, peace and stability in the region and beyond," the spokesman added. The liberation of Baku from the Bolshevik-Dashnak occupation is one of the most glorious pages in the history of Azerbaijan in the 20th century. Despite the fact that many years have passed, fraternal help from the Turks is never forgotten, always remembered and will be remembered by the Azerbaijani people with a sense of gratitude. Details added (first version posted at 16:27) Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 15 Trend: The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is also a problem of Turkey, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a parade dedicated to the centenary of Baku's liberation Sept. 15. Therefore, the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border is out of the question, Erdogan added. "Turkey supports and will continue to support Azerbaijan in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," the Turkish president said. Erdogan said that presently, Azerbaijan is the most important ally of Turkey not only in political and economic, but also in all other spheres. Erdogan stressed that presently relations between the two states continue in all spheres and the roles of the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev here is irreplaceable. "We will continue to expand our ties and implement various projects. The joy of Azerbaijan is our joy, the problem of Azerbaijan is our problem," the Turkish president added. Erdogan noted that Azerbaijan is a fraternal country, which has the largest number of graves of the fallen Turkish soldiers. "Turkey and Azerbaijan are two sons of the same mother and are brother states. Azerbaijan and Turkey have a common past, religion and language. Our participation in the parade today is a symbol of our brotherhood and the fact that 100 years ago the Turkish soldiers fell here fighting," Erdogan added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 15 Trend: President Ilham Aliyev has said projects Azerbaijan is implementing together with Turkey redraw the energy and transport map of Eurasia. Addressing a solemn parade celebrating the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku from the Dashnak-Bolshevik occupation, President Ilham Aliyev hailed the Turkish-Azerbaijani energy and transport projects. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum oil and gas pipelines, the inauguration of TANAP this year are historic projects. By implementing joint projects, Azerbaijan and Turkey redraw energy and transport map of Eurasia, the President said. The head of state referred to the launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway in Baku last October, which was attended by the Turkish leader. This railway is a new transport artery. The volume of goods transported through this railway is increasing and will increase. The importance of our countries is growing, the President added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 15 Trend: Following a solemn parade to mark the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in front of the Maiden Tower. The heads of state signed the single-valued memorial block and first day cover themed The 100th Anniversary of Caucasian Islamic Army`s Entry to Baku, which commemorated the saint martyrs who fell to the ground for the liberation of Azerbaijan. Then, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani first lady Mehriban Aliyeva posed for photographs together with parade participants in front of the Maiden Tower. Residents and guests of Baku welcomed President Ilham Aliyev and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with great enthusiasm. Photos were taken. The heads of state then walked along Baku Boulevard. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 15 Trend: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is "sine qua non" for mending relations with Armenia. Speaking at an event to mark the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku by the Caucasian Islamic Army, Erdogan recalled the 1992 Khojaly massacre that killed hundreds of Azerbaijani citizens. "Those who cannot explain what happened in Khojaly 26 years ago, the massacre in the Nagorno-Karabakh, and declare the killers heroes, should not give Turkey any kind of history lesson," Erdogan said, referring to Armenia. Erdogan also added that "those who occupy 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands and prevent over 1 million Azerbaijanis to return to their land should not expect Turkey to open its borders". Erdogan said Caucasian Islamic Army protected the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in 1918 and laid the foundation to Azerbaijan's independence in 1991. "Since the early periods of Azerbaijan's independence, Turkey supported the brother country in every way and we will continue to do so," he said. The Turkish president also highlighted that there are lots of projects to be realized in near future, including Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) projects. "Turkey is one of the biggest investor countries in Azerbaijan, hopefully Azerbaijan will become too in Turkey soon," Erdogan said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.15 Trend: Baku Media Center has organized a music night on the 120th anniversary of the Azerbaijani cinema. Sponsored by Bakcell, the event was attended by president of Baku Media Center Arzu Aliyeva, cinematographs, musicians, and state officials. The event highlighted the history of development of the Azerbaijani cinema as well as Baku Media Centers contribution to the creation of a chronicle of documentary films of modern Azerbaijan. The music night featured the performance of arrangements of musical compositions of the outstanding Azerbaijani composers, and the screening of footages from the films with video content specially prepared through the projection. Baku Media Center is an innovative company in the media sector of Azerbaijan with experience in several international events. It is a multifunctional company that provides a wide range of services in the field of audiovisual production. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 15 Trend: The parade to mark the 100th anniversary of Bakus liberation shows the unity of Azerbaijani and Turkish people, Baku resident Afet Huseynova, who watched the event, told Trend. I enjoyed the grandiose parade that was held in Baku. We watched a stunning event. This joint parade shows the fraternity and eternal unity of Azerbaijani and Turkish people, she said. 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. 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. 15 Trend: The liberation of Baku from the Bolshevik-Dashnak occupation is akin to the Malazgirt victory, Baku resident Tural Garayev, who watched the parade to mark the 100th anniversary of Bakus liberation, told Trend. "Today we celebrate the day of great victory. This is the most important day for us, representatives of the two branches of the Oghuz Turks. We hope that we will also celebrate the victory on our lands, which are now under occupation, he said. 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. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 15 Trend: It is a great pleasure to watch the parade in Baku to mark the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku from the Bolshevik-Dashnak occupation, said Hava Manteshi who arrived from Istanbul to the capital of Azerbaijan. I liked the parade very much. Watching the Azerbaijani and Turkish army here is a great pleasure, she said. The guest also stressed the beauty of the capital of Azerbaijan. Baku can stand in line with the most ambitious cities in the world, she noted. 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. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 15 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: International exhibition and conference titled "Tourism and Travel" will be held in Turkmenistan's national tourism zone of Avaza on the Caspian shores on Oct. 9-10, the State Committee for Tourism and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the event's organizers, said in a statement. The event aims to become a communication and discussion platform for establishing business contacts. Presentations of the tourism potential of foreign and domestic companies that will demonstrate their promising projects, products and services will be held at the forum. The participants will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the unique tourism opportunities of Turkmenistan and its regions, to obtain information about new tendencies and trends in the travel and hospitality industry, the message says. Last year, a similar forum brought together delegates from more than 20 countries: Russia, China, the US, United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Finland, Denmark, Serbia, Italy, Iran, India, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and others. Tourism industry occupies a special place in the strategic plans of Turkmenistan. An example is the Avaza resort, which is under construction on the Caspian shores. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 15 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmenistan is taking consistent steps to consolidate common efforts in addressing the issues of the Caspian Sea, seeking to promote the development of interstate trade and economic relations, the optimal realization of the impressive diverse potential of the strategic Caspian region, Altyn Asyr TV channel quoted President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as saying at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers. "This finds clear confirmation in the constructive proposals of Turkmenistan related to various aspects of partnership on the Caspian Sea and aimed at bringing the five-party cooperation to a qualitatively new level that meets modern realities," Berdimuhamedov said. A report of the Foreign Ministry on the measures taken to implement the initiatives of Ashgabat, announced at the 5th Summit of the Heads of the Caspian States, held Aug. 12 in Kazakhstan's Aktau, was heard at the meeting. The five-party summit resulted in the signing of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea and a number of other important documents, as well as the adoption of a joint communique. During the summit, Turkmenistan put forward proposals aimed at further strengthening and expanding effective cooperation in the Caspian region. Among them, there are the initiatives to develop new five-party agreements related to cooperation in scientific research, search and rescue activities in the Caspian Sea, holding the next Caspian summit and the Caspian economic forum in Turkmenistan. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 15 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmen delegation, to take part in the meeting of the CIS Council of the Heads of State, will be led by deputy prime minister Purli Agamyradov, the Turkmen government said in a message. The meeting will be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on September 28. Agamyradov is in charge of science, education, health, sports, youth policy and public affairs. In Dushanbe, Turkmenistan is preparing to take over the chairmanship of the CIS for 2019. In 2005, Turkmenistan, referring to its status of permanent neutrality, which is recognized and supported by the UN, decided to participate in the CIS as an associated member. In 1999, Turkmenistan withdrew from the agreement on visa free regime with the CIS countries. In 2012, Turkmenistan presided at the CIS and held about 30 events in connection with this. Turkmenistan is second it terms of natural gas reserves in the CIS after Russia. Tehran, Iran, Sept. 15 Trend: Iran could hold talks with Washington only if US President Donald Trump returned to the international agreement, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in the interview published on September 15. The Iranian minister, however, rejected direct talks with the US president. Elsewhere in the interview, Zarif said if the European Union continues to act passively with respect to the deal, his country could increase uranium enrichment. "The Europeans and the other signatories must act in order to compensate for the impacts of the US sanctions," he said. On May 8, the US president pulled his country out of the JCPOA, which was achieved in Vienna in 2015 after years of negotiations among Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany). Later on August 6, Trump signed an executive order re-imposing many sanctions on Iran, three months after pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal. He said the US policy is to levy maximum economic pressure on the country. Trump also restated his opinion that the 2015 Iran nuclear deal was a horrible, one-sided deal. Following the US exit, Iran and the remaining parties launched talks to save the accord. The European Union has vowed to counter US President Donald Trumps renewed sanctions on Iran, including by means of a new law to shield European companies from punitive measures. Tehran, Iran, Sept. 15 Trend: The Iranian embassy building in Paris was attacked by members of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, a report said. According to the report carried by IRIB news agency on September 15, the Iranian diplomatic mission was stormed by the assailants on Friday evening with no casualties reported. During the attack, around 15 members of the Komala party threw stones and debris, spray-painted the diplomatic facilitys facade and broke several windows, the report added. Iranian media claim that French police refused to protect the compound and was not present at the time of the attack despite the fact that it was aware of the assault. The attack on the embassy came after some media outlets reported on Sept. 7 that at least 11 were killed and dozens more were wounded in a missile attack by IRGC on headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) and the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) in Koya, 60 kilometers east of the Erbil city. In a statement on Sunday, the IRGC confirmed that it had launched a missile attack a day earlier against a center in northern Iraq, which was used for training of anti-Iran terrorists and hosted a meeting of terrorist leaders. The IRGC said it had destroyed "the center of conspiracy" against Irans national security in the operation. Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan is an armed communist ethnic party of Kurds in Iran, exiled in northern Iraq. A group of Chinese wine importers are on tour in Georgia investigating unique types of Georgian wine, Agenda reports. The tour consists of eight Chinese wine importers and Meiburg Wine Media director and wine magister Debra Meiburg. Our past experience has shown that such activities are very successful. For example, over the last four years, Georgian wine moved from the 18th to the ninth position on the Chinese market. We are all very excited about the success of Georgian wine on the Asian market, Meiburg says. Chinese wine importers have visited Georgia previously to discover Georgian wine. Meiburg said that the aim of this particular visit was not only to attract the attention of wine importers, but to popularise Georgian wine amongst consumers as well. The group of Chinese wine importers visited leading wineries and wine making companies in the regions of Kartli and Kakheti. The visitors were also introduced to the process of making the unique traditional Georgian vessel for keeping and aging wine, the qvevri. They also tasted about one hundred sorts of wines from 27 different wine companies in Tbilisi. Meiburg Wine Media is National Wine Agencys contractor company in China, the third country on the list of Georgias largest wine export destinations. More than four million bottles of Georgian wine have been exported from Georgia to China in 2018 so far. Egypt's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Molla signed on Saturday two deals with international firms to explore petroleum and gas in two deep-water areas in the Mediterranean and the Western Desert, Xinhua reported. In a statement, the ministry said the deals were signed with companies from Canada, Britain, the Netherlands, Malaysia and Kuwait, adding that the deals include drilling 12 wells at an investment of at least 1 billion US dollars. The minister affirmed that the petroleum sector will proceed with offering international bids, as well as signing new agreements with the aim of boosting Egypt's production of petroleum and gas to reduce imports. Once an energy exporter, Egypt has turned into a net importer of energy in recent years, as a result of declining production and increasing consumption. However, Egypt aims to return to an energy exporter after resources were discovered across the country, which attracted international firms over the past few years. Egypt is currently engaged in deals with international energy corporations for oil and gas exploration, including Italy's Eni and Britain's BP. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday vowed to further strengthen bilateral ties with Turkey, local media reported Sept. 14. "Pakistan and Turkey have always stood beside each other and would continue to do so," Khan said in a meeting with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in capital Islamabad. The prime minister said Pakistan and Turkey have the required potential to forge an even stronger partnership in future. Cavusoglu arrived in Islamabad on Thursday on an official visit upon the invitation of the Pakistani foreign minister. The Turkish foreign minister reiterated Turkeys full support to Pakistani governments future plans to take the country on a rapid course of economic progress, developments and creating greater opportunities for the people of Pakistan, especially its vibrant youth, according to the press release. During the meeting, they also discussed the ideas covering promotion of bilateral trade and Turkish investment in various sectors including energy sector in Pakistan. Both sides reiterated their commitment to continue working closely in various multilateral and international forums including the UN and the OIC. President Arif Alvi also met the Turkish minister, who congratulated him on election victory. The head of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, warned Friday that military solution of Venezuela's economic and political crisis must not be ruled out, AFP reported. "With regards to a military intervention aimed at overthrowing the regime of Nicolas Maduro, I think we should not exclude any option," Luis Almagro was quoted as saying by AFP in the Colombian city of Cucuta, near the border with Venezuela. In early July, US media reported that US President Donald Trump has deliberated with his foreign policy advisers about a possibility of invading Venezuela in response to an ongoing crisis in the Latin American country. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in turn, has called on the country's servicemen to be prepared to repulse the US aggression after the reports about Trump's seriously considering the possibility of invasion of the Bolivarian Republic. Last week, The New York Times reported, citing the US and Venezuelan sources, that the Trump administration had discussed with rebellious Venezuelan military officers plans to topple countrys President Nicolas Maduro. On August 4, Nicolas Maduro was attending a military parade in the country's capital Caracas when his box was hit by an explosion caused by two bomb-laden drones, leaving Maduro unharmed but several soldiers wounded. Maduro accused Colombia of orchestrating the attack and added that some of the suspects resided in the United States. Both Washington and Bogota have denied any involvement in the incident. Venezuela has been struggling with political and economic crisis amid a global slump in oil prices and US sanctions after Washington blocked its investors from buying Venezuelan debt and prohibited dealing in Venezuelan digital currencies. US National Security Council spokesman Garrett Marquis has said in light of the emerged media reports alleging the US invasion plans that the United States was committed to the policy providing for Venezuela's peaceful return to democracy. In July, Russian Envoy in Caracas Vladimir Zaemsky did not rule out in his comments to Sputnik that the United States might go beyond just threats and carry out a full-scale military intervention in Venezuela. A strong typhoon tore through the northern tip of the Philippines on Saturday packing winds of more than 200 kph (124 mph) along with torrential rain, killing three people and causing floods, landslides and power outages. Mangkhut entered the Philippines as a super typhoon in the early hours, and sent winds and rains across the entire main island of Luzon, home to about half the countrys 105 million people. Known locally as Ompong, Typhoon Mangkhut at one point had maximum gusts of 305 kph (190 mph) before it exited the land area before noon and moved towards southern China and Vietnam with reduced wind speeds of 170 kph (106 mph). Two rescue workers were killed while trying to free people trapped in a landslide in the mountainous Cordillera region, said Ricardo Jalad, head of the nations disaster agency. No further details were provided. Police also said a body had been found in a river in Manila. Philippine state weather agency PAGASA downgraded the domestic threat level, but warned the danger was far from over, with continued storm surges and heavy rains that could trigger floods and more landslides. We are asking the people to remain alert and continue taking precautions, said PAGASA meteorologist Rene Paciente. Rapid response teams were on stand by with the air force for search and rescue missions as authorities undertook damage assessments in areas in the path of the storm, which felled trees, electricity poles and tore off shop signs and sheet metal roofs hundreds of kilometers away. There was flooding in several provinces and parts of the capital Manila. Authorities were preparing to release water from several dams, fearing constant rains could push reservoirs to dangerously high levels. Mangkhut had been a category 5 storm for days since wreaking havoc in U.S. Pacific territories of Micronesia before edging towards the Philippines, where it is the 15th and strongest storm this year. The typhoons peak winds were stronger than those of Hurricane Florence, which killed five people in the United States after it piled into the Carolinas knocking down trees, and gorging rivers and causing major power outages before it was downgraded to a tropical storm. Turkey on Saturday celebrated the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, local media reports Sep. 15. We celebrate the anniversary of the liberation of Baku and commemorate with respect, gratitude and mercy our 1,132 martyrs who sacrificed their lives for this cause together with our Azerbaijani brothers who fell martyrs for the sake of their motherland, Turkeys Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The Islamic Army of the Caucasus and this meaningful anniversary are among the milestones of the common fate of Turkey and Azerbaijan, which finds its meaning through the maxim Two States, One Nation, the statement added. According to the statement, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is scheduled to visit Azerbaijan on Saturday, will participate in a celebration ceremony along with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev. Some troops of the Turkish Armed Forces and Azerbaijani Armed Forces will together join the celebrations, the statement added. This Saturday marks the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku under the leadership of the Islamic Army of the Caucasus led by Nuri Pasha (Killigil), which was founded right after Azerbaijans plea from the Ottoman Empire, following brotherly Azerbaijans first declaration of independence in 1918, the statement said. The liberation of Baku at that time paved the way for the transfer of the capital from Ganja to Baku and to ensure the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and set the basis for its contemporary boundaries, the statement added. The anniversary of this great victory, won by the Islamic Army of the Caucasus, which was composed of elite soldiers and sent to Azerbaijan in the final months of the First World War, has a privileged place as a symbol of fraternity and solidarity between Turkey and Azerbaijan, it added. KYODO NEWS - Sep 15, 2018 - 09:28 | All, Japan, Feature Japan on Saturday again delayed the launch of a rocket to deliver daily necessities to the International Space Station due to a problem in equipment. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency had been scheduled to launch the H-2B rocket carrying the Kounotori7 cargo ship from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan early in the morning, after postponing its launch on Tuesday due to inclement weather. "We faced a rather serious issue," Koki Nimura, senior chief engineer of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., which developed the rocket, told a press conference. The latest decision followed a problem found in the valve to adjust pressure inside a fuel tank and it may take more than a week to fix the flaw, JAXA said. The cargo ship will bring food and other necessaries to the ISS. The delayed delivery will not immediately affect the operation of the space station, according to the agency. KYODO NEWS - Sep 15, 2018 - 12:59 | All, World The International Whaling Commission voted down Friday a Japanese proposal to resume commercial whaling, prompting Japan to hint that it may withdraw from the organization. Tokyo had hoped to resume commercial whaling of relatively abundant species such as minke whales, but antiwhaling countries including Australia and New Zealand opposed the motion. Twenty-seven countries supported Japan's proposal on the final day of the five-day annual meeting in Florianopolis, Brazil, while 41 voted against it. Masaaki Taniai, vice minister for Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and head of the Japanese delegation, told the meeting after the vote that Tokyo had no choice but to "examine all possible options." "Now I'm painfully aware that the IWC is not functioning to fulfill its duty," Taniai said at a press conference after the meeting. (The Japanese delegation at the IWC meeting on Sept. 13) The Brazilian government, which hosted the meeting, welcomed the international body's decision, saying it will help to save thousands of whales. A pullout by Japan would spark criticism that it is taking international rules lightly, but the Japanese government is facing pressure from local fishermen to restart commercial whaling. "It is regrettable that we always have similar outcomes (at the IWC)," said Teruto Seko, head of the local fisheries cooperative in the town of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, known for the hunting of dolphins and small whales. Seko attended the meeting. Taiji Mayor Kazutaka Sangen said, "It's become meaningless to belong to the IWC. Japan should review its financial contribution to the body as well." As a Japanese proposal in 2014 to resume commercial whaling was also rejected, Tokyo called this time for the easing of IWC decision-making rules. It did so in part to make the overall package appealing to antiwhaling members by making it easier to establish whale sanctuaries where whaling is banned. Currently a three-quarter majority of IWC members is needed to set a catch quota or establish a sanctuary. The Japanese proposal would have lowered the hurdle to a simple majority. While Japan halted commercial whaling in line with a moratorium adopted by the IWC in 1982, it has hunted whales since 1987 for what it calls scientific research purposes. Japan also suggested in 2007 that it might withdraw from the IWC, in protest at the ban on commercial whaling, but it was later persuaded by the United States and other countries to remain in the organization. Masayuki Komatsu, a senior fellow at the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, criticized Japan's approach in pursuing the proposal. "Japan does not have a clear strategy for resuming commercial whaling. The government should take a hard look at itself," Komatsu said. A 17-year-old girl studying for Plus 1, her friend Jibin Rahul, his friends Sudheesh Sugathan and Krishnakumar Ramakrishnanwere arrested by the police in connection with the violent incidents that took place around 8.30 pm on Sunday. 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." ### 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 Sat., Nov. 13, 7-8:30 p.m. and Sun., Nov. 14, 2-3:30 p.m. UIS Performing Arts Center One University Plaza, Springfield Lake Springfield Area Film & Television Presented by the University of Illinois Springfield. The generation that fought hardest to come out, is going back in. "Gen Silent" follows the lives of six LGBT seniors living in the Boston area who must choose if they will hide their sexuality in order to survive in the long-term health care system. AgeLinc and the Phoenix Center are co-Hosting along with Illinois HIV Care Connect, Illinois Assistive Technology Program and KW Capital, Keller Williams Realty as sponsors. Seating is limited. Registration is required. AgeLinc, Your Link to Aging Well. 217-787-9234 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. 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 BEIJING (Reuters) - The current world trade system is not perfect and China supports reforms to it, including to the World Trade Organization, to make it fairer and more effective, Beijing's top diplomat said. China is locked in a bitter trade war with the United States and has vowed repeatedly to uphold the multilateral trading system and free trade, with the WTO at its center. But speaking late on Thursday to reporters after meeting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi said some reforms could be good. While certain doubts have been raised about the current international trading system, China has always supported the protection of free trade and believes that multilateralism with the WTO at its core should be strengthened, Wang added. "At the same time, we do not believe that the current system is perfect and without flaws," he said. "China supports necessary reforms and perfection of the current system, including to the WTO, to make it fairer, more effective and more rational," Wang added. The basic tenets of the WTO, in opposing protectionism and supporting free trade should not change, but the rights of developing nations should also not be overlooked, he said. "The aim of reform should be to allow countries to enjoy the development fruits of globalization more fairly, not to further widen the differences between south and north," Wang said. WTO reforms need to include listening to voices from all parties and broad consultation, and should especially listen to a respect the opinions of developing countries, rather than just allowing "one person to have a say", he added. Story continues "The issue of WTO reform is extremely complex, and involves many areas. (China) hopes all parties remain patient, and advance step by step." His remarks come as China and the United States may return to the negotiating table with the threat of new U.S. tariffs looming. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has extended an invitation to talks to his counterparts in Beijing. "TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SHOULD NOT BE MISTAKEN" But 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. 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. 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 10-25 percent in coming days, which would ramp up the trade war between the world's two largest economies. Trump said last week that he also had tariffs on an additional $267 billion worth of goods ready "on short notice if I want." 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. (Reporting by Adam Jourdan, additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Richard Pullin and Kim Coghill) Former Trump campaign boss Paul Manafort agrees to plead guilty in a deal to resolve charges filed by special counsel Robert Mueller, according to court documents. It's not clear if he will cooperate with prosecutors against President Donald Trump. Jury selection for Manafort's second federal criminal trial was scheduled for Monday in Washington. Revised charges allege Manafort engaged in a conspiracy involving money laundering, tax fraud, failing to report foreign bank accounts, violating rules requiring registration of foreign agents, lying and witness tampering. Former Trump campaign boss Paul Manafort has agreed to plead guilty in a deal to resolve charges filed by special counsel Robert Mueller , but it is wasn't clear whether the longtime Republican operative would cooperate with prosecutors against President Donald Trump . Read more: Paul Manafort pleads guilty, agrees to cooperate with Justice Department 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. Jury selection for Manafort's second federal criminal trial was scheduled for Monday in Washington. Revised charges filed against him on Friday accuse him of a myriad of criminal acts related to his consulting work in Ukraine. The charging document, while accusing him of just two criminal counts, appears to be designed to resolve not only the entire case in Washington, but the prosecution in Alexandria, Virginia, where Manafort was convicted of eight counts last month. The new document alleges Manafort engaged in a conspiracy involving money laundering, tax fraud, failing to report foreign bank accounts, violating rules requiring registration of foreign agents, lying and witness tampering. Criminal informations are routinely filed in federal cases when a defendant has agreed to plead guilty. The charging document will replace an indictment that had been pending against Manafort in Washington court, where the 69-year-old defendant is scheduled to appear later Friday morning. Story continues A court document notes that the pretrial conference originally scheduled for Friday morning now will be an "arraignment and plea agreement hearing." In a statement Mueller's office said: "Additional information will be provided in the near future." Manafort's lawyer, Kevin Downing, entered the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington later Friday morning and did not respond when asked "why are they changing the plea." According to the charging document, Manafort will forfeit his home in the ritzy 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. With the newly revised charges, it is not clear what kind of prison sentence Manafort could be facing. Before the deal, he faced the possibility of decades in prison, which given his age would have effectively been a life term. Manafort was convicted last month on bank and tax fraud charges. Jurors deadlocked on 10 other counts, for which Mueller could have sought a retrial. He has been held in jail since June after Mueller accused him in the Washington case of trying to tamper with witnesses against him. Both criminal cases relate to consulting work he and his associate Rick Gates did on behalf of pro-Russia politicians in Ukraine in the years before both men worked on Trump's campaign. Gates pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy and to lying to investigators. He testified against Manafort at his trial in Virginia. Trump has repeatedly called Mueller's investigation a "witch hunt," and denied any collusion with Russians by his campaign and any obstruction of justice of the federal inquiry into the election. Trump also has had warm words for Manafort. "I must tell you that Paul Manafort is a good man," Trump said last month. "He was with Ronald Reagan. He was with a lot of different people over the years. And I feel very sad about that." He also praised Manafort for refusing to make any plea deal, unlike former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty last month to charges and admitted making hush-money payments to two women who claimed they had had extramarital affairs with Trump. Trump tweet The first section of the information filed Friday outlines Mueller's case against Manafort: The Special Counsel informs the Court: 1. PAUL J. MANAFORT, JR. (MANAFORT) served for years as a political consultant and lobbyist. 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. Specifically, MANAFORT conspired to act and acted as an agent of the Government of Ukraine, the Party of Regions (a Ukrainian political party whose leader Victor Yanukovych was President from 2010 to 2014), President Yanukovych, and the Opposition Bloc (a successor to the Party of Regions that formed in 2014 when Yanukovych fled to Russia). 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. 2. In furtherance of the scheme, MANAFORT funneled millions of dollars in payments into foreign nominee companies and bank accounts, opened by him and his underlings in nominee names and in various foreign countries, including Cyprus, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines (Grenadines), and the United Kingdom. MANAFORT hid the existence of the foreign companies and bank accounts, falsely and repeatedly reporting to his tax preparers and to the United States that he had no foreign bank accounts. 3. In furtherance of the scheme, MANAFORT concealed from the United States his work as an agent of, and millions of dollars in payments from, Ukraine and its political parties and leaders. Because MANAFORT directed a campaign to lobby United States officials and the United States media on behalf of the Government of Ukraine, the President of Ukraine, and Ukrainian political parties, he was required by law to report to the United States his work and fees. MANAFORT did not do so, either for himself or any of his companies. Instead, when the Department of Justice sent inquiries to MANAFORT in 2016 about his activities, MANAFORT responded with a series of false and misleading statements. 4. In furtherance of the scheme, MANAFORT used his hidden overseas wealth to enjoy a lavish lifestyle in the United States, without paying taxes on that income. MANAFORT, without reporting the income to his bookkeeper or tax preparers or to the United States, spent millions of dollars on luxury goods and services for himself and his extended family through payments wired from offshore nominee accounts to United States vendors. MANAFORT also used these offshore accounts to purchase multi-million dollar properties in the United States. Manafort then borrowed millions of dollars in loans using these properties as collateral, thereby obtaining cash in the United States without reporting and paying taxes on the income. In order to increase the amount of money he could access in the United States, Manafort defrauded the institutions that loaned money on these properties so that they would lend him more money at more favorable rates than he would otherwise be able to obtain. 5. Manafort laundered more than $30 million to buy property, goods, and services in the United States, income that he concealed from the United States Treasury, the Department of Justice, and others. MANAFORT cheated the United States out of over $15 million in taxes. More From CNBC Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh faces a troubling accusation. Donald Trumps US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has been accused of past sexual assault and has denied the accusationnot an entirely surprising turn of events in the age of #MeToo. But in a strange twist, 65 women on either side of the political divide (and Kavanaugh is a politically divisive figure) are coming to his defense. The group penned a letter (pdf) on Sept. 14 to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is in charge of Kavanaughs confirmation process, saying hes always been a perfect gentleman in their experience. 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, they write. This letter, however, is not evidence that he didnt do what one woman says he did. In fact, its a frankly strange defense to put forward now. The false logic of their argument is best expressed by writer Emily Nunn on Twitter, who joked, Ted Bundy was innocent. I know this because he never killed me. Ted Bundy was innocent. I know this because he never killed me. emily nunn (@EmilyRNunn) September 14, 2018 The accuser wants to remain anonymous and has decided not to come forward after efforts to reach congresspeople yielded little response in recent months, the New Yorker reports. After Kavanaughs nomination to the high court, the accuser contacted her congresswoman Anne Eshoo detailing the incident: Allegedly, when Kavanaugh was in high school in the early 1980s, he held her down at a party, covered her mouth to mute her protests, and attempted to force himself on her. A friend of his was in the room with them and turned up the music to cover up any noise. She says shes still haunted by the incident and has sought psychological treatment. Story continues She also sent a letter to senator Dianne Feinstein on the Senate Judiciary Committee in July. Feinstein, in turn, forwarded the letter to the FBI just this week. The senator did not share the accusations with her Democratic colleagues on the committee, reportedly because the incident took place 30 years ago and she didnt want to focus on personal matters while there are legal issues to debate ahead of Kavanaughs confirmation. On Sept. 13, Feinstein issued this cryptic statement: 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. The FBI put the information in the nominees background file on Sept. 12 as per the standard process, according to an agency spokesperson. In an email to press, White House spokesperson Kerri Kupec called the accusation an 11th hour attempt to delay [Kavanaughs] confirmation. The nominee rejects the accusation, saying, I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time. Notably, the letter in Kavanaughs defense sidesteps the accusation altogether while attempting to bolster his reputation. It basically argues that he was a popular guy in high school, which does not actually bar the possibility of wrongdoing. The women write: 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 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. 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. Feinstein has taken some heat for failing to share the accusers letter with colleagues. Unnamed sources who worked for other members of the Judiciary Committee told the New Yorker that they respect the need to protect the womans privacy, but that it doesnt explain Feinsteins resistance to questions about the allegation. This is all very weird, one of the congressional sources said. If the woman is telling the truth and Kavanaugh did attempt to muffle her protests, both the letter and the lack of responsiveness by public servants must seem like an ugly echo of what happened in the past. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. 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. Story continues 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) Potential fallout from the trade war is keeping Domino's new CEO up at night Domino's Pizza CEO Richard Allison worries about the "unintended consequences" of the trade war. The U.S. pizza chain has been able bypass some the effects of tariffs due to its 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. Domino's Pizza DPZ 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 Kate Rogers , 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 United States 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. Story continues 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 PZZA , 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. More From CNBC (Adds Breakingviews link) WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump had a sharp rejoinder for Jamie Dimon on Thursday, saying the JPMorgan chief executive lacked the "smarts" to be president but was otherwise wonderful. The Republican president, known for his acerbic insults on Twitter, was hitting back at Dimon for saying on Wednesday that he was smarter than Trump and could beat him in a White House race. Dimon quickly walked back those comments in a statement. "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 wrote on Twitter. Dimon, at an event promoting a $500 million JPMorgan investment in cities, had earlier said: "I think I could beat Trump ... because I'm as tough as he is, I'm smarter than he is," according to CNBC. "I can't beat the liberal side of the Democratic Party." "And by the way this wealthy New Yorker actually earned his money," Dimon added. "It wasn't a gift from Daddy." Trump has often referred to a $1 million loan he received from his father, a real estate magnate, to start his own business. Dimon, 62, has said in the past he would not run for president and does not have the temperament for the job. He said in January he expects to be chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co for about five years. JPMorgan is the biggest bank in the United States by assets. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Bernadette Baum) The spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, took a leave of absence after 14 women accused him of sexual assault, harassment, or aggression dating back over several years. The Times of Israel published accounts of 12 women on Wednesday against David Keyes, a prominent aide to Netanyahu since 2016, including two who discussed their experiences on their own Twitter accounts. Two more came forward to Channel 10 in Israel. Twelve of the 14 women remain anonymous. On Wednesday, Keyes told the Times of Israel, All of the accusations are deeply misleading and many of them are categorically false. On Thursday, he issued statements repeating his denial and noting that he asked for time off to clear my name. The spate of allegations ranges from uncomfortable encounters, some of them starting consensually, to sexual assault. Keyes allegedly sent emails to several women apologizing for being less than gentlemanly, and the Times of Israel obtained two of them. The Daily Beast reports that observers of Israeli politics believe its unlikely Keyes will return to his position. The accusations against Keyes began Tuesday, when New York State Senate Democratic socialist candidate Julia Salazar revealed via Twitter she had first anonymously accused Keyes of sexual assault in 2016. Salazar spoke preemptively, aware that the conservative news site The Daily Caller had contacted her about a story identifying her as the previous accuser. A Wall Street Journal reporter, Shayndi Raice, posted her own account on Twitter. I also had a terrible encounter with David Keyes once and 100% believe her. I knew this would come out about him at some point. https://t.co/u9uo4pAlHh Shayndi Raice (@Shayndi) September 11, 2018 Salazars revelation was complicated by a flurry of stories that picked apart aspects of her past, including claims that she was an immigrant and Jewish. She later stated she was born in America, and converted to Judaism several years ago. Other reporting revealed that Salazar had been charged with attempted identity theft by a former neighbor. The charges were dropped, and Salazar sued for defamation. The suit was ultimately settled, with Salazars attorney claiming to the Daily Mail that she received a monetary settlement. Officials in the northern Afghan province of Faryab say they are trying to arrest a spiritual healer who coerced women into having sex with him. He reportedly later used secret video recordings to blackmail their families. Naqibullah Faiq, the governor of Faryab, told Radio Free Afghanistan that authorities are looking for Mullah Rasul Landai after several videos allegedly showing him inappropriately touching women or having sex with them emerged on Facebook. I went to the village Jamshidi [in Faryabs Pashtun Kot district] on Wednesday [September 12] to arrest him, but we couldnt find him, Faiq said. We will soon arrest the accused and will announce it in a press conference. Landai is among hundreds, perhaps thousands, of amulet sellers and spiritual healers across Afghanistan whose fortunes have thrived amid poverty and illiteracy. These healers typically promise to treat diseases and psychiatric conditions and help end infertility and spiritual ailments. Many claim to rid victims, mostly women, of evil spirits. Many Afghans still believe in supernatural beings that are capable of possessing humans. In recent years, Afghan authorities have attempted to crack down on such practices with limited success. Lawmaker Sibgatullah Sailab, deputy head of Faryabs provincial council, says the videos allegedly showing the abuse are four years old. He told Afghanistans Pajhwak news wire that Landai had recently returned to Faryab after fleeing to Turkey for a few months earlier this year after the videos first emerged. Mawlawi Ghulam Nabi Ghafoori, deputy head of Faryabs clerical association, claimed that Landai regularly blackmailed the families of his victims. An official told me that Landai had deposited [the equivalent of] 1.5 million Afghanis ($20,000) in a Turkish bank, he told Pajhwak. This is the money he has pocketed from the families of his victims. In Faryabs Pashtun Kot district, police commander Mohammad Azeem says he is searching for the healer. He acknowledged that Landai had fought against the Taliban because his father was also a commander in the regional police. I tried to arrest him yesterday, but he ran away after leaving his weapons at a police post, he told Pajhwak. We are chasing him and will arrest him soon. Editor's note: The title of this story previously said the men plead guilty to poaching elk and pronghorn. This has been changed to reflect th A 22-year-old Fort Carson soldier has been arrested on suspicion of distributing child pornography as part of an investigation out of Texas. Sgt. Andrew Couvion is accused of uploading child pornography "using social media applications," says a Facebook post from police in Abilene, Texas. Detectives executed a search warrant in Tuscola, Texas, related to a child pornography investigation, which led them to Couvion. The detectives worked with Army investigators to arrest Couvion, the post says. Couvion is from Tuscola, Texas, and has served in the Army for more than four years, Fort Carson officials said. Susan Greene, a Denver journalist, speaks recently about her ordeal with Denver police officers. It is not the polices right, or the city administrations right or the mayors right, to decide what stories were covering or what questions were asking, or where were pointing our cameras, Greene said during the news conference. EnterMatrix wrote: A car travels from Mayville to Rome at an average speed of 30 miles per hour and returns immediately along the same route at an average speed of 40 miles per hour. Of the following, which is closest to the average speed, in miles per hour, for the round trip? 32.0 33.0 34.3 35.5 36.5 more time less time It is pretty involuntary to come up with 35 miles per hour as the average speed in this case. But, that is wrong. Since, the car has takento travel at 30 mph andto travel at 40 mph, the avg speed of the car would be somewhere between 30 and 35(mean) and closer to 35. If I had no time on my hands and had to make a calculated guess, I would have chosen C.The correct way to find the avg speed is to calculate the total distance and the total time and divide the total distance by total time.Let the one way distance in this case be D. So the total distance is 2D(travelled over the same route twice)Total Time = Time taken to travel distance D at 30 mph + time taken to travel distance D at 40 mph= \((D/30) + (D/40)\)= \(7D/120\)Thus avg speed = Total distance/total time= \((2D)/(7D/120)\)= 34.285Hope it helps,meshtrap Child molesters in police custody Police arrested two persons on charge of child molestation in Darchula. Devendra Koli, 21, and Bharat Koli, 18 of Dilashaini Rural Municipality-3 have been arrested for child molestation, police said. Daydreaming? Need a professional advice [ #permalink I will be really glad if you can evulate my profile and give me guidance. Nationality/Gender: Turkish Male Age: 33 (1985) WE: 8,5 years + 1,7 years Teaching Assistant (5 Semesters) GMAT: 660 (Q49, V30, IR4, AWA5) - Prepared just 20 days, did not know anything about the exam before then, I believe I can hit 700+ if I study hard for a month. (Low IR is due to the loss of motivation during exam as I felt verbal was not going well) GRE: 165 Quant, skipped other parts because my company only demands quant score TOEFL: 104 Overall (R:29,L:26,S:24,W:25) Undergrad: Turkey/Above Average University (But not one of the top 5) - Industrial Engineering GPA:2,69 (Different system, but too low I know) / 2004-2008 2nd Underground: Turkey/Distant-Open Education in above average university - Economics GPA:3,06 (All courses are A+ or A in last two years) / 2009-2015 (2 years delay due to military service) Master: Turkey/ Above average university/ Teaching Assistant and full scholarship despite low Undergrad GPA/ Gave all the lectures and thesis seminar but could not write the thesis, so could not graduate - GPA:3.38 (I could not write thesis because I started a new job in a different city, my subject was something very complicated and my prof left the university. Such thin excuses) Work Ex: - 1,5 years in a big commercial Bank in Turkey - Specialist in Risk Management (Market Risk and Operational Risk) - 3 years in a Governmental Institution (Regional Development Agency) - Investment Support Consultant, attract Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) to the region on the purpose of reducing regional development disparities - 4 years in the Central Bank of Republic of Turkey - Human Resources Specialist (Performance and Talent Management) Target Schools: Fuqua and USNews 15th-20th (Cornell, UCLA, Tepper, McCombs, Kenan Flagler, Emory) Especially Kenan Flagler Pros: - Every year my current company (Central Bank of Turkey) selects and sends limited number of employees for overseas education (a tough procedure for candidates to get a place). This year I will be one of them, so all my tuition and living expenses will be covered by the company. May be important/impressing for AdCom? - In previous jobs I did some good stuff, which, I believe, can impress AdCom such as raising awareness in a city in a certain topic, attracting big FDI from Gulf countries, implementing totally new systems throughout the company etc. - Not many candidates apply from my country Cons: -Age, Low GPA, Not finishing master, relatively low GMAT (but I believe I can do better in retake, so please think as if I had 700) -My company only allows to attend schools that rank in top 20 So what do you suggest me? To give up MBA and try some Human Resource / Management Information Master Programs? Or to focus on GMAT and get 730+? Thanks in advance. As you scan this problem for actionable Decision Points, recognize that each answer choice includes a modifier describing "Burj Khalifa" (you can tell this by the comma right after "Khalifa," the subject of the sentence). Choice (A) is correct, although that fact may come as a surprise. "Opened" and "reigning" are each participial (verb-based) modifiers that properly describe the Burj Khalifa, and then after the modifier you're provided with the active verb "stands" so that you have a complete sentence: Dubai's Burj Khalifa stands more than a half mile tall. It may not seem that the two modifiers are parallel, but recognize that the verb tenses must stand the way that they are: "opened" (past tense) describes an action that already happened (in 2010), while "reigning" is ongoing ("ever since") so it cannot be in the past tense. So the modifiers are each used appropriately. With the other choices: By including "which" as essentially a "subject" for "is reigning" (B) violates the timeline. It could say "which has been reigning ever since" but that word "since" begs for any active verbs to be in the present perfect tense. Note that in (A) "reigning" is used only as a modifier; in (B) by following a noun "which" the verb is subject to stricter verb tense logic. (C) adds "it has been" to break up the parallel modifier structure between the commas. "Opened and reigning" are parallel modifiers, but "Opened and it has been reigning" mixes a modifier and a clause within the same set of commas, creating an error. (D) fails to complete a full sentence. If you take "which opened..., has been reigning..., and stands" as three parallel items, they're all part of the "which" modifier and therefore there is no actual verb for the subject "Burj Khalifa." Or if you take only "which opened..." as the modifier, then there should not be a comma between the parallel verbs "has been reigning" and "stands." (Note also that this interpretation would create an illogical meaning, as "has been reigning as the tallest building" and "stands a half mile tall" are related - one should really modify the other - but using them as parallel, separate verbs illogically treats them as separate events). And choice (E) not only breaks parallel structure in the combination modifier ("opened" is a participial modifier and "which reigns" is a relative modifier) but also fails to have an active verb, as "standing" after the modifier does not work. ("The Burj Khalifa standing a half mile tall" is not a complete sentence.) Three Weeks in Washington: A Titus Ray Thriller Were sorry but you missed this offer. It is no longer free or a deal. Luana EhrlichPotters Word Publishing$4.99 Winner of the 2017 Fiction Book of the Year from the Oklahoma Center for the Book. Titus uncovers a plot to attack the nations capital with chemical weapons. Can he convince a Syrian asset help him stop the deadly attack? Encountering a shooter . . . CIA officer Titus Ray arrives in Washington, D.C. on the day a terrorist enters the Washington Navy Yard and murders five people. Convinced the incident is connected to a Hezbollah plot to use chemical weapons on an American city, Titus jeopardizes his own career to interrogate the killer and learn the truth. Exposing a General. . . After the shooter reveals the identity of an Iranian deep-cover operative living in Washington, D.C., Titus embarks on an intelligence operation spanning two continents and exposing an Iranian general obsessed with destroying America. Engaging an enemy . . . As time runs out, Titus engages the enemy in a treacherous game of cat and mouse to save the lives of thousands and defeat the terrorists. Will his faith sustain him as he faces his greatest challenge yet?? Is he willing to lose Nikki to save his country? Heres what reviewers are saying about Titus Ray Christian Thrillers: I recommend these books for all who enjoy good clean fiction, especially those involving current events in the world. I like the development of the characters and their relationship. I gave it five stars for the great storyline and the characters that seem so real. -Amazon review The characters are very well-developed and believable. I enjoyed the way the author described Titus Rays internal struggles and character flaws creating a very authentic main character. The story was action-packed and one is left wondering how the author could be so knowledgeable of the CIA and the work of their covert operatives. -Amazon review Purchase this heart-stopping Christian thriller TODAY! Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Thank you for your support! 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. IceViking strongly condemns physical attacks and harassment directed towards them. They are also often victims of the Islamic idea. This is true when it comes to the cruel and tragic treatment of Muslim women and children when it is in accord with the Koran, the example of Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia, which may be applied regardless of where a Muslim male may find himself in the world, whether in a Muslim or non-Muslim country. However, in no way, shape or form should one judge all Muslim men because of what is in Islamic scripture and what constitutes the Islamic law, Sharia. "Race", ethnicity or basically anything that you are "merely" born with should never be a basis for bigotry and discrimination. Apostates from Islam have been executed for 1400 years in accord with the Koran and the words and actions of the Islamic prophet Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia. They should be lovingly helped. Furthermore, approximately as many as 11,000,000 Muslims may have been killed by other Muslims since 1948. To quote the website The Religion of Peace (TROP), edited by Glen Roberts: While it may be safe to say that a true Muslim would not intentionally kill another true Muslim ( 4:92-93 ), the Quran places no such value on the life of a Muslim who is not true. Consider verse 9:73 : Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be harsh against them, their abode is Hell. The Arabic for strive hard uses the same root as Jihad - and the context in this sura is holy war (see v. 86 and 91). Thus, there are two distinct classes of people that a true Muslim is to target with harshness: disbelievers and hypocrites. A disbeliever obviously refers to a non-Muslim, so a "hypocrite" must be a Muslim of some sort. In fact, hypocrites are those who say they believe, but do not act as they should. In other words, they are "Muslims", but not true Muslims. They will go to hell just as unbelievers do, and so, according to the verse, their lives matter for naught. The same sura says that a hypocrite can be recognized not just by lack of piety (reluctance to follow Sharia), but by fear of death ( 9:56 ), reluctance to fight ( 9:44-45 ) and even friendliness toward non-believers ( 9:67 ). A true Muslim would thus be a pious person who relishes martyrdom, is eager to fight, and shuns non-believers. Even the Quranic passage that warns against killing "believers" ( 4:88-94 ) is more complicated than it first appears. It never says that a true Muslim is incapable of killing another Muslim, just that it should not be done. In fact, it makes exceptions for the unintentional killing of "believers" in war and mandates the killing of "hypocrites." Verse 17:33 says, "Do not kill anyone which Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause" . The greatest cause of all is that Islam be superior ( 9:33 ), which is exactly what Islamic terrorists say is their goal. Thus believing Muslims are allowed to be collateral damage in the war on unbelievers. There is sadly a phenomena that I`ve noticed in Sweden and elsewhere of people using true facts about Islamic doctrine and history as a cover for all sorts of irrational targeting of Muslims, ranging from xenophobia and racism to verbal abuse and physical attacks. This is strongly condemned by this website and does not in any way serve serious criticism of orthodox Islam and other important work. It`s also important that one tries to express oneself in a civilized way. Words matter. In this bloggers humble opinion the root cause of the problem is the ancient doctrine of orthodox Islam. In simple terms a non-Muslim is a Kafir. " The Koran defines the kafir and kafir is not a neutral word. A kafir is not merely someone who does not agree with Islam, but a kafir is evil, disgusting, the lowest form of life." An exact quote, as stated in the writings of Dr. Bill Warner in the article "Kafir" at http://www.politicalislam.com/kafir . In the perfect Koran (Allah`s direct and literal word as revealed to Mohammed through the angel Jibril), Muslims are told 89 times to emulate Mohammed in all ways (see Koran 33:21 for instance). Mohammed`s example, the Sunna, is found in the Hadith (stories of what Mohammed said and did) and the Sira (biographies of Mohammed). Islamic law, Sharia , is directly derived from these unchanging scriptures. It is based on the Koran`s numerous commands to obey Allah and obey the Messenger, that is Mohammed (see Koran 4:59 for instance). Islam is Sharia. Sharia is Islam. It is a capital crime for Muslims to deny Sharia in any way. A Muslim is someone who submits to Islam and submitting to Islam means obeying the Sharia of Allah. Sharia law includes pronouncements for both Muslims and non-Muslims (Kafirs). Islam is a "complete way of life", a "complete code of life", a "complete system of life". Islam is not just a religion but also a comprehensive ideology. Islam is a supremacist ideology. Islam is a totalitarian and imperialistic ideology akin to Communism and Nazism. Islam is a civilization. Islamic law, Sharia, is a manual for a civilization. Islamic law, Sharia, governs every aspect of life. It has a say about every conceivable human act . Non-Muslims are morally and legally inferior in Islam. Women are morally and legally inferior in Islam. The History of Jihad: From Muhammad to ISIS by Robert Spencer is the first one-volume history of jihad in the English language and a great book on the topic. Allah guarantees Paradise to those who "kill and are killed" for him (Koran 9:111). A hadith depicts a Muslim asking Muhammad: "Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward)." Muhammad replied, "I do not find such a deed." (Bukhari 4.52.44) Muhammad himself said: I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah, and he who professed it was guaranteed the protection of his property and life on my behalf except for the right affairs rest with Allah. (Sahih Muslim 30) Freedom of speech, human rights, democracy, science and human lives are all at stake in the fight against the Islamic Jihad. Court Frees SSP Lohani in Gold Case Biratnagar High Court ordered the release of suspended SSP Dibesh Lohani, one of the suspects in the 33kg-gold smuggling case and the Sanam Shakya murder case, on Friday. A division bench of Judge Narendra Nath Karna and Judge Taranga Subedi ordered Lohanis release. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ Electric scooters grab eyeballs at auto expo Yubin Sapkota, one of the numerous visitors attending the NADA Auto Show 2018, was particularly impressed with electric scooters being showcased at the exhibition. He is not alone. This article, parts of which were titled What is the Iran Action Group, and Who is Brian Hook and White House using the methods of the MEK, writes: On August 28, 2019, a meeting was held in the United States National Union for the Defence of Democracy, regarding Iran. The US Foreign Ministrys special representative for Iran, named Brian Hook, along with Nikki Haley, whos the US Ambassador in the United Nations, attempted to describe Trumps policies relating Irans current state. Hook previously served as an Assistant Secretary of State for US International Organisation Affairs, during the Administration of George W. Bush; currently, hes serving as the Director of Policy Planning and Senior Policy Advisor of Trump Administration; and as already mentioned above, also as Washingtons special representative for Irans affairs, which are classed under whats known as the Iran Action Group. In this meeting, Hook included the following points in his speech: Guidance Patrol (which is part of Irans Law Enforcement Force, and commonly referred to as Gasht-e-Ershad) forcing Hijab on Iranians The oppressive nature of Irans regime, and discrimination against racial or religious minorities 1/3rd of Iranians living in poverty due to the regimes mismanagement of economy 1/3rd of Iranian youth currently unemployed Hypocrisy of the authorities in the Iranian Regime Hook explains: Iran can now be likened to what the Soviet was back in 1970 and 1980, all because of the hypocrisy and sham of its government officials. They lie not just to their own people, but to those of Europe too. Hook reminded everyone that on one hand, the diplomats of Irans regime plot a terror attack on PMOIs of Iran in the great gathering of Paris, and on the other, they expect all participants of the nuclear deal to keep their promises. According to Hook, Iran has thus far spent 16 billion dollars a year for the support of paramilitary groups of Yemen, Syria, and Iraq, and around 700 million dollars a year for Hezbollah. The tone in which the white house and the MEK members speak is identical If one ignores Hooks background, it becomes apparent just how identical his tone and that of a MEK members is. Looking back at the past before the PMOIs penetrated the White House, American politicians had never been seen speaking in such a tone, especially in matters regarding Iran. In other words, the footsteps of MEK, especially on the mindset of people like John Bolton and Rudy Giuliani is very clear now. Hooks interest in subjects such as Hijab and Guidance Patrols clearly stem from the influence of the regimes opposing alternative, i.e., the MEK. Even Nikki Haleys mention of ballistic missile debris in some of her talks about Iran, sounded much like how a MEK member would analyse a similar topic. In summary, it can be concluded that the regimes alternative, i.e., the MEK and their close friendships with some of the White House representatives, has certainly had a great influence on Brian Hook, Nikki Haley, and others alike, on a global scale. Votel, who heads US forces in the Middle East, added, Two of our enduring security threats are present in this region the destabilizing actions of Iran and violent extremist organizations. We are looking for a maritime agreement through the initiative in this regard. Feuding Gulf Arab states must put aside their differences and unite against Iranian threats and extremist groups. Our priority as a US central command is to confront the threats in the region, Votel said, in reference to remarks made by US Secretary of State James Mattis, in which he said the dangers in the region have originated from Iran and extremist terrorist organizations. Votel also spoke to the importance of collective military action, calling for overcoming any differences so that we can face terrorism. UAE Chief of Staff Lt Gen Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi was also at the meeting. He listened to General Votel say that a clear military focus was imperative to enhance and integrate our capabilities for our mutual national security interests and rise above all the other aspects. Kuwaits Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Khuder called on the GCC nations, Egypt, and Jordan to increase cooperation and boost relations to face the security challenges in the region. Khuder explained, Our political leadership hopes that our meeting will contribute to enhancing mutual cooperation and developing mutually beneficial relations to ensure the achievement of common objectives. He stressed, We hope the first steps of this joint coordination will lead to a desired partnership and defense integration among all parties to develop our military capabilities in the face of current and future challenges. In a statement, the Kuwaiti army said that Wednesdays examined many issues, including the fight against terrorism and extremism. Besides General Votel, the GCC chiefs of staff met with their Egyptian and Jordanian counterparts. The Egyptian delegation was led by Lt. General Mohammed Hijazi. The meeting followed three days of talks in Kuwait among the six GCC members chiefs of staff where the military commanders discussed increasing co-operation and eliminating terrorism in the region. The agents gathered information that could well have led to a neutralization plan that included apprehension, cyber exploitation, or capture/kill operations. One of those targeted was Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the American branch of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), who had previously revealed information about Irans clandestine nuclear weapons programme to the West. Federal agents who surveilled the pair heard them discuss Jafarzadeh and other members of the NCRI, including Ali Safavi, and making references to shooting them. The fact that Iran targeted the MEK, and that the agents operation only grew in size following the January uprising in Iran, shows how scared the Regime is of the organised Iranian opposition. The NCRI has recently called on the US Government to prosecute and/or expel all Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS) and IRGC agents, as well as their proxies. This should not be a big ask, given that both the MOIS and the IRGC are designated for terrorism in the US. The arrests of these agents follow similar folied attempts to attack the MEK in France in June and Albania in March. The attempted June attack targeted the Free Iran gathering, which was attended by 100,00 people, including 600 politicians and dignitaries, from around the world. The US delegation included Mayor Rudy Giuliani; Speaker Newt Gingrich; Governor Bill Richardson; Attorney General Michael Mukasey; Director Louis Freeh; Under Secretary Robert Joseph; Senator Bob Torricelli; Frances Townsend; Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield, and Professor Raymond Tanter. European authorities arrested three agents and an Iranian diplomat based in Vienna for their roles in the attack and charged them with terrorism. These three terror plots show that the Iranian Regime is extremely vulnerable, especially given the ongoing protests led by the MEK, but could also mean that we may see more attacks by Iran in coming months. Prof. Raymond Tanter, a senior member on the Middle East Desk of the National Security Council staff in the Reagan-Bush administration, wrote: The United States may not want to wait and play defence to counter Iranian terrorist threats. The best defence is always a good offence. It is time for President Trump to build up even more pressure on the regime with additional sanctions and prosecution of its agents. Even more important is to stand with the Iranian people and the organized opposition as they seek the bright sunshine of a new day en route to a free Iran! Environmentalists decry Nijgadh airport project at cost of wildlife, forest Amid the hue and cry over the government plan to massively chop down trees for the proposed Nijgadh International Airport, environmentalists and development practitioners have expressed serious concerns about the environmental degradation the project is likely to invite. In support of the Organizations mandate and mission, the Director of Communications develops an effective communications strategy, and creates innovative new channels to increase visibility and get WHO's message across to key stakeholders as well as the general public. More specifically, the Director of Communications will: Innovate: Identify external challenges and emerging issues and design strategies to manage them, while anticipating and incorporating appropriate communications tools and channels into WHO's work. Identify external challenges and emerging issues and design strategies to manage them, while anticipating and incorporating appropriate communications tools and channels into WHO's work. Partner: Provide strategic communication advice to the Director-General and senior WHO staff, drive internal communications, liaise with external partners and establish external networks to ensure support in driving WHO messaging and advocacy. Provide strategic communication advice to the Director-General and senior WHO staff, drive internal communications, liaise with external partners and establish external networks to ensure support in driving WHO messaging and advocacy. Lead: Direct the development, implementation and monitoring of a new WHO global communications strategy and promote WHO communications policies. Direct the development, implementation and monitoring of a new WHO global communications strategy and promote WHO communications policies. Manage: Direct the organization, management, operation and performance of the Department of Communications. Salary: This position is classified at the "D2" level in the United Nations common system. WHO offers an attractive expatriate package including health insurance, financial support for schooling of children and a relocation package. For more information and to apply online please go to : https://goo.gl/S4tLV1 . Deadline for applications is 14 October 2018. http://www.who.int/careers/en/ Expert to submit Singha Durbar report next week The consultant brought in to assess the situation of Singha Durbars main building will submit its report to the National Reconstruction Authority next week, based on which a call will be taken on whether the building can be retrofitted or needs to be completely reconstructed. The building was badly hit by the 2015 earthquakes. Home minister assures action against culprits The government has reiterated its commitment to book the culprits who raped and murdered Nirmala Pant as per the recommendations of the probe committee. Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Shuts the Door on Discriminatory Political Climate Determined to make an aggressive difference in the midst of a very challenging political climate, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), gears up for their 48thAnnual Legislative Conference (ALC), with the deliberate theme The Dream Still Demands: Courage, Resilience, Leadership and Legislation. Succeeding the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his iconic 1963 speech, I Have A Dream, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (DTX 18th District), chairman of the CBCF, shared her vision for this years conference and the hope that though the war on discrimination has not yet been won, those in attendance will realizethe Dream still carries on. A lot of where we are now as a country is a direct reflection of this years theme, Congresswoman Lee said. When you look at the political landscape of Americapeople being denied passports, Hispanic children being torn away from their mothers and citizens being twisted off of the voter path, it is important that we let people know that Dr. Kings dream is still alive. ADVERTISEMENT If you look at the backdrop of this years ALC design, it emphasizes patriotism, African Americans, people of color, members of the Black Caucus, Lee continued. What was the Dream about? In the 21stcentury, are we all seen as equal? And the Emancipation Proclamation? There is no power without struggle and the CBC serves as no better place to consult, converse and be challenged to define that power. Serving as the leading policy conference, the varied sessions, set to run from Sep. 12-16,at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, located in northwest D.C., will focus on issues impacting Black Americans and the global Black community. Hot button topics at the center of the convention include immigration, civil and social justice, economic equity, education, technology and criminal justice reforman issue Congresswoman Lee hopes to take complete overhaul of. As people of color continue to be disproportionately incarcerated, policed, and sentenced to death, at higher rates than their white counterparts, including Black youth, who also face higher rates of juvenile incarceration and are more likely to be sentenced to adult prison, Congresswoman Lee insists, that prison reform is a mandatory now. How can you deny someone basic human rights such as housing, jobs or the right to vote, after being released from prison? Lee said. Children should not be locked up. Prisoners should have an opportunity to successfully integrate back into society and non-violent misdemeanors should be granted shorter sentences. In an alarming study done by americanprogress.org, it was reported that while Black Americans only account for 30 percent of the U.S. population, every year they engulf over 60 percent of the entire prison populace. ADVERTISEMENT The study also revealed that 1 in every 15 Black American men will be incarcerated every year, compared to 1 in every 106 white men, a statistic that Congresswoman Lee asserts, can be combated with active voting. I am deeply troubled when I hear people sayparticularly millennials, that their votes do not matter, Lee said. Look around you. You are the future change makers. People like Barack Obama, Barbra Jordan, Nelson Mandela, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Shirley Chisholm, laid down the foundations for you. Now it is your turn to stomp on that dirt and build up your nation and VOTING is one of the main instruments to do just that. For the first time in the foundations history, two senators Senator Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) and Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-California) will serve as honorary co-chairs for the 48th ALC, which had historically, been chaired by members of the U.S. House of Representatives. With more than 10,000 people expected to be attendance, engaged in networking and special events including the Exhibit Showcase with an on-site employment fair and free health screenings; the Prayer Breakfast; National Town Hall; Gospel Extravaganza; the Annual Celebration of Leadership in the Fine Arts (which honors the contributions of individuals in the performing and visual arts who have influenced our history and inspired generations) and the auspicious Phoenix Awards Dinner (which supports the CBCFs mission-critical programs including education, economic development, health and research), Lee hopes that individuals will leave believing that they can be the Dream that they want to see, especially among millennials. The CBCF works so hard and is so valuable to many, Lee said. We are not just a policy organization, but one that also focuses on leadership Leadership for millennials, so that as they come through this world, they might also have access to power. From the tone of the presidential campaign, to where the Klu Klux Klan makes their appearances regularly, to the deportation of hundreds of immigrants, to the ban on Muslims, to the children being separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico borderthat is where the CBC steps in. We come to the CBC to hear legislative next steps, advocacy and the benefit of thinking. We understand Kings dream and we appreciate the shoulders of the slaves, on which we stand. We are grounded in our history and appreciate the past, so that our children and our childrens children, might have a brighter future. This is an event you cannot afford to miss, as we leave you with a tool box to face the struggles of everyday society. HBCU Millennials Energized to Vote! Believing in hope and the possibility of change, many historically Black institutions across the nation are taking the reins when it comes to increasing voter awareness and registration among their student body. During the contentious 2016 presidential race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, voter turnout still proved to be at an all-time low among students who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). In a report released by Tufts University, 2016 voter turnout plummeted by more than 10 points at HBCUs from 50.5 percent to 39.9 percent. ADVERTISEMENT Only two-years after the election of the very controversial and confrontational President Trump, Kamau Marshall, Director of African American Media and Deputy National Press Secretary,Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC),says that HBCU students are more active and energized to get their vote out and let their voices be heardthan ever.Energizing this voting block will make a difference to the outcome of severalvery important contests this November. With the Fall semester kicking off, there is a lot of momentum surrounding this very political climate, Marshall said. With November elections right around the corner, HBCU students are playing an active and important role when it comes to voting and voter registration. Believing in hope and the possibility of change, many historically Black institutions across the nation are taking the reins when it comes to increasing voter awareness and registration among their student body. For example, Howard University, located in the heart of the nations capital, registered over 1,200 new voters during the month of August. The more you get involved, the more your voice matters, Amos Jackson III, president of the Howard Student Government Association (SGA) said. Thats why its was so important for us to heavily promote voter registration. During our August Freshmen move-in day, we were able to register hundreds of new voters. There are a lot of issues up for debate, including higher education costs, gun reform and scholarship budgets, that directly affect millennials, Jackson continued. So, when people say that their vote doesnt count, thats definitely not true. Your vote matters. Howard provides both new and returning students valuable information, including handouts on absentee ballots and voter choices. Howard students are also encouraged to sign up for a service known as TurboVote, an app that sends notifications about upcoming elections, an initiative whose success comes as no surprise to Marshall. ADVERTISEMENT HBCU students are ready to support whoever has their best interest at heart, Marshall said. As an HBCU alumhistory shows that HBCU students have always been engaged when it comes to the political process. The difference is always with likable candidates. In states like Florida and Georgia, HBCU participation is at an all-time high, as students and other citizens eagerly await the hopeful election of productive new governors. In the state of Florida, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a Democratic, hopes to become the states first Black governor in his campaign against Republican Rep. Rob DeSantis. The race will be one of the most closely watched contests this November, since DeSantis has tied himself to President Donald Trump and defeated other more establishment Republicans. However, Gillum, a firm believer in Medicare for all, has the backing of progressives like Bernie Sanders and the Black community, who were largely responsible for his upset win during the states Democratic primary. In the state of Georgia, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Channel 2 Action News pollshowed that Democrat Stacey Abrams, who is African American, and Republican Brian Kemp are deadlocked in their race at 45 percent each. Contests like those in Florida and Georgia are ammunition to Michelle Obamas When We All Vote, campaign, which recently announced a series of upcoming When We All Vote rallies, targeting students at three HBCUs: Clark Atlanta, Morehouse and Spelman. There is no time more important than now to be civically engaged and to exercise our right to vote, Mary Schmidt Campbell, president of Spelman said in a statement. Spelman students have been registering their classmates to vote since Augustsigning up more than one third of our first-year class as soon as they stepped on campus. We are excited about the energy and advocacy When We All Vote will bring to the Atlanta University Center. Though off-year elections are often seen as less important than those held during Presidential election cycles, Marshall insists that voting during this time November is just as important, particularly for Black millennials. Voting impacts peoples everyday lives, including the cost of healthcare, investments in job-creation and community issues like gun violence prevention, Marshall said. Its critical to vote nowin particularbecause its clear that Republican-controlled Washington is not on the side of regular people, and we need a check and balance. Its not just the president that can impact issues you care about, its also Congress, Marshall continued. No one can take anything for granted and we need everyone to turn out on November 6th. China is expected to use its economic power against any American actions aimed at helping Taiwan regain diplomatic allies around the world. Mainland China considers the island of Taiwan a rebel territory. The two sides have had separate governments since the end of Chinas civil war in 1949. Officials in Taiwan note that China has pushed countries that still have diplomatic ties with the island to change sides. On Friday, the United States said it had recalled diplomats from three countries that have cut ties with the government in Taiwan. The State Department identified the three as the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Panama. The department said the recall was to discuss ways in which the United States can support strong, independent, democratic institutions and economies throughout Central America and the Caribbean. Proposed law to support Taiwan Also last week, four members of the U.S. Senate proposed legislation that would downgrade relations with countries that cut ties with Taiwan. Their bill is called the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act. The senators say the act is designed to strengthen Taiwans position in the world. It would give the State Department rights to downgrade relations with countries that cut ties with Taiwan. That could include reducing U.S. aid or military financing. Some observers, however, note that China is likely to take measures to counter punishments for such countries. Yun Sun is with the Stimson Center research group in Washington, D.C. She told VOA, I think the Chinese will make sure that these countries will be compensated for their punishment. She added that, If it appears that the U.S. punishes these countries and China does nothing, then no other countries in the future would have the same level of incentive to cut ties with Taiwan. Five countries have cut ties with Taiwan since President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016. Tsai has angered Chinese officials by rejecting a condition that the mainland requires for talks to take place. The Chinese government wants Taiwan to accept that both sides belong to the same country. Observers expect China to make few comments about countries with diplomatic ties to Taiwan. But they say China is likely to offer money as needed to gain support from Taiwans 17 remaining allies. More than 170 nations recognize mainland China diplomatically and, in so doing, do not recognize Taiwan. China hopes to influence the remaining countries into deciding that it is worth the risk of hurting relations with the U.S. Lin Chong-pin is a retired professor in Taiwan. He said he thinks China will continue or even strengthen efforts to establish economic and diplomatic ties with Taiwans allies. China already offers diplomatic aid to many countries, especially in Asia and Africa. Its Belt-and-Road development program is to include 65-nations and could cost about $1 trillion. The Chinese government launched the program with the hope of connecting Asia to Europe and even Africa. Last week, China promised $60 billion in financial support to African nations. The most recent country to cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan and establish relations with China is Sao Tome and Principe. China promised $146 million to modernize the countrys airport and to build a deep-sea container port to help increase trade with China. Im Mario Ritter. Ralph Jennings reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story institutions n. a custom, tradition, or law that is accepted and used by many people downgrade v. to lower in quality or value counter v. to do something in defense or in answer to something compensate v. to provide something good as a balance against something bad or undesirable incentive n. something that persuades a person to do something or work harder We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Life is elsewhere Most recent theatre scripts read like adolescent diaries. The play consequently unfolds like CCTV footage of a persons life. There is no artistic distillation of life, Rajan Khatiwada, a veteran theatre actor and artistic director of Mandala Theatre, lamented in November last year, during an interview with the Post, If I want a raw slice of life, I will go to Asan Bajar. Paranoid parasites It seems that our ruling clowns see conspiracies everywhere. Our greatest communist government on Earth is acting more like an insecure coalition government instead of one commanding a two-third majority in the House. Province 2 ministers to address protest rallies Rastriya Janta Party-Nepal (RJP-N), a key coalition partner of Province 2 government, has decided to send its ministers and state ministers to address the protest rallies that are being held in various places on the Constitution Day this Wednesday. (HealthDay) 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 crisisthe 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 painkillerssuch as Aleve or Tylenolmay 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: David Katz, M.D., director, Yale University Prevention Research Center, New Haven, Conn.; Mark Bicket, M.D., assistant professor, anesthesiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore; Sept. 14, 2018, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report David Katz, M.D., director, Yale University Prevention Research Center, New Haven, Conn.; Mark Bicket, M.D., assistant professor, anesthesiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore; Sept. 14, 2018, Visit the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke for more on chronic pain. Journal information: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Copyright 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Next Match: at Notre Dame 9/16/2018 | 1:00 PM ACC Network Plus The 3-0 U-M victory came in front of a crowd of 5,210 at Crisler Center, which marks a season-high for attendance. Freshman Paige Jones led the Wolverines with 13 kills behind a .308 attack percentage. Michigan had Four players log double-figure digs for the first time since 2016. The win is Michigan's 10th straight; all have come via sweeps. Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Center) Score: #19 Michigan 3, Notre Dame 0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-18) Records: U-M (10-0), ND (6-3) Next U-M Event: Sunday, Sept. 16 -- at Notre Dame (South Bend, Ind.), 1 p.m. ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team shook off a slow start and rolled to its 10th consecutive victory, sweeping Notre Dame by a 3-0 score (25-22, 25-17, 25-18) in front of a boisterous crowd of 5,210 inside Crisler Center on Friday evening (Sept. 14). The Wolverines have yet to drop a set this season. The Wolverines led, 2-1, early in the first set but fell behind by as many as seven (11-4) as the Irish took advantage of Michigan's poor passing and logged three early blocks. Michigan still trailed by six, 17-11, before a kill from freshman Paige Jones ignited a 9-2 U-M run, culminated by a block by sophomore Kiara Shannon and junior MacKenzi Welsh that put the Wolverines up, 20-19. The match was tied at 20 and 21, but two Notre Dame attack errors and two kills from Jones gave the Wolverines the comeback victory. Jones had five kills, senior Carly Skjodt added four and Welsh contributed three blocks in the set. The second set was tight at the start as Michigan led by as many as three and there were eight ties, the last one at 16. But Skjodt sandwiched two back-row kills around senior Jenna Lerg 's service ace to give the Wolverines some breathing room. Junior Sydney Wetterstrom added back-to-back kills and Jones had another to put Michigan up, 24-17, and an Irish hitting error ended the set. Wetterstrom led the Wolverines with five kills in the set, while Lerg and sophomore Natalie Smith added six digs apiece. The third set was Michigan's strongest, as the Maize and Blue hit for a .441 average behind six kills from Jones and five from Skjodt. The teams traded points early, but an unassisted kill from Skjodt on an overpass gave the Wolverines a defining lead, 13-12, and helped put Michigan on top, 15-13, going into the media timeout. From there, Michigan went on a 7-3 run to force a 22-16 lead and a Notre Dame timeout before two kills from Wetterstrom and one from Jones allowed the Wolverines to clinch the set, 25-18, and take the match in a 3-0 sweep. Michigan had four players record double-figure digs for the first time since 2016. Lerg paced the Wolverines with 18, while Jones, Skjodt, and Welsh each registered 10. Jones' match-high 13 kills and 10 digs marked her first career double-double. Along with Jones, Skjodt (12 kills) and Wetterstom (10 kills) led the Michigan offense to a .223 attack percentage. Welsh also finished with a double-double behind her 32 assists and 10 digs while leading Michigan in blocks with four. Tweet of the Match Michigan (10-0) will wrap up the home-and-home series with Notre Dame on Sunday (Sept. 16) with a contest in South Bend, Indiana. The match is set for 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra. Sirsiya Dry Port sees surge in theft cases Theft cases in the warehouse at the Dry Port in Sirsiya, Brigunj, have reportedly been increasing. According to Himalayan Terminal, the company operating the Dry Port, 24 bottles of Black Label alcohol and a computer set have been stolen. Netflix has revealed its ISP Speed Index for August 2018, with Cool Ideas retaining the top spot. South Africas ISPs achieved an average speed of 2.48Mbps, the same as last month, and the countrys overall rank remained at 50 out of 59 countries. The index is a measure of prime-time Netflix performance on particular ISPs, and not a measure of overall performance of the networks. Netflix said it calculates the average bitrate of Netflix content, in Mbps, streamed by its members per ISP. We measure the speed via all available end-user devices. For a small number of devices, we cannot calculate the exact bit rates, and streaming via cellular networks is exempted from our measurements, said Netflix. Netflix recommends a 5Mbps connection for full HD streaming, which may explain why the average speeds are all below the 5Mbps mark. Fastest ISPs for Netflix The fastest 10 ISPs for prime-time Netflix streaming in South Africa are listed below. August 2018 Rank ISP Speed Previous Speed Change 1 Cool Ideas 3.76 Mbps 3.75 Mbps 2 Vox 3.30 Mbps 3.25 Mbps 3 Cell C 3.29 Mbps 3.24 Mbps 4 Vodacom 3.18 Mbps 3.10 Mbps 5 MTN 3.15 Mbps 3.07 Mbps 6 Afrihost 2.67 Mbps 2.59 Mbps 7 Cybersmart 2.51 Mbps 2.41 Mbps 8 Telkom 2.17 Mbps 2.25 Mbps 9 MWEB 2.03 Mbps 2.09 Mbps 10 Neotel 1.80 Mbps 1.76 Mbps Now read: The difference between R99 and R169 Netflix When Jessica Smeding arrived at Milas Preschool and Child Care Center in St. Helena to pick up her son, she was told he was out on a walk and would be back soon. At most daycare centers, that would mean all the kids were walking together. But at Milas, it meant staff members had noticed that little Barrett had needed to stretch his 14-month-old legs, so theyd taken him on his own walk while the rest of the kids stayed behind to play. Thats the sort of individualized attention that has parents raving about Mila Zavaletas daycare and preschool. After almost 20 years of operating in private homes, the center is moving to the former Young School site on Brown Street and expanding from 12 kids to 32. The new facility, set to launch within a month, will have programs for infants (0-18 months), toddlers (18 months-3 years), preschool I (3-4 years) and preschool II (4-5 years). Smeding and other parents praise the centers loving and welcoming environment, bilingual approach, and record of producing young students who are socially adept and eager to learn. Kim Phinney said the center was a Godsend when she was working full time and needed someone to take care of her kids. They were socialized while being taught the early stages of learning in a loving and caring (fun) environment, Phinney wrote, praising the centers low child/caregiver ratio. When Phinneys kids left their second home to go to school, they were social, independent, respectful, worked well with others and were ready to learn, she said. Over the years the center has operated in houses on Valley View Street and in Angwin and Deer Park before moving to its current location on Chiles Avenue. Zavaleta started the business in 2001 after one of her kids teachers, St. Helena Primary School kindergarten teacher Nicole Landis, asked Zavaleta to babysit her own child. Zavaleta was raised in Peru, where the child is the center of the family, she said. Her daycare is guided by that philosophy, and she strives to nurture inquisitive learners who can look after themselves and look out for others. My goal along has been to treat the kids like theyre mine, she said. I want them to be caring, motivated, and encouraged to be learners for life. The entire staff is bilingual, and each child picks up English and Spanish skills. Zavaleta likes to expand each childs vocabulary, and parents have told her amusing stories about their child asking if they can drink more liquid or saying something got stuck in my esophagus. Milas Daycare was the first place Stephanie Honig ever left her infant daughters. Mila gave them so much warmth and she really gave me that peace of mind as a first-time parent that they were going to be OK, Honig said. I completely trusted her. Zavaleta first obtained a state license for an in-home daycare with up to six kids. With the help of supportive parents like Jeff and Laurie Conwell, she got the license expanded to allow the current enrollment of 12 kids, now ranging in age from 7 months to 4 years. Shes cared for babies as young as two or three weeks old. There are other daycares, but they mostly want kids from 2 (years old) on up, she said. But we enjoy the babies, and even the older kids like to interact with the smaller babies and learn to be responsible. Were like a little family here. Twelve is the maximum number of kids for an in-home daycare center, and there are eight kids on a waiting list. Zavaleta has been thinking about expanding the center, and she found the perfect space at the St. Helena Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church on Brown Street. The space has been vacant since the Montessori-inspired Young School closed in 2016. Zavaleta is now obtaining a state license for a non-residential child care center, which involves fire inspections, a mountain of paperwork, and binders full of safety protocols and emergency plans. Its a lot of trouble, but it will be worth it, she said. I feel like Im making a difference in each childs life, she said. Thats my main goal. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Two days before Christmas in 1890, within hours of federal judge Henry B. Brown's somewhat surprising nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, reporters at the Capitol were scribbling down the details of an electrifying story, told with relish and pride by Brown's neighbor and fellow Republican, Sen. James McMillan of Michigan. The judge had "killed his man," the senator said. Not in a duel or at war, but in the middle the night in Detroit, when a masked burglar entered the judge's bedroom, asking to be shown "all the hiding places" for money and jewelry. When the burglar momentarily dropped his guard, McMillan told the rapt reporters, the judge seized the moment. Reaching under his pillow for his revolver, prudently placed there after a recent spate of robberies in their wealthy neighborhood, Brown "shot the man through the head," the New York Sun's correspondent wrote. The burglar lived long enough to be captured and convicted, the Sun said, later dying in prison. Or, as the Washington Evening Star reported after hearing McMillan's account, the judge and the intruder had stood "face to face" on the stairs, firing at each other "until their revolvers were empty." The thief, bleeding but still on his feet, fled into the darkness, leaving drops of blood on the floorboards. "Later the man was captured," the Star's version said, "but was so badly wounded that he lived only a short time." Too short to make it to a trial, presumably, let alone to a conviction and prison term. What was McMillan's strategy in telling this riveting tale? Was this a preemptive strike, orchestrated by President Benjamin Harrison's administration to prevent opposition Democrats from discovering a corpse in Brown's Detroit closet? Would the Senate Judiciary Committee, with its five Republicans and four Democrats, be tied up for weeks, seeking police records and testimony? Or would the committee members leave it to Judge Brown, 54 years old and described by his colleagues as the least flamboyant of men, to testify about the night he had "killed his man"? There was no strategy. There was no building opposition. There was no list of witnesses, because there were no hearings. There was no compilation of documents about the shooting, or about Brown's 15 years on the federal bench, or about his seven years as a federal prosecutor. The Justice Department, replying to the committee chairman's polite request for any files on Brown, said in a two-line note that it had none. Was this special treatment for a favored nominee by members of his own party? Hardly. In that era, and every era before 1890, no Supreme Court nominee had ever appeared in public to testify. The Senate Judiciary Committee, created in 1816, "considered these nominations behind closed doors," the Congressional Research Service said recently in a report. Before 1870, about one-third of the nominations weren't even sent to the Judiciary Committee for review, the CRS study shows. The first public hearing, held in 1916 for Boston lawyer Louis D. Brandeis, set no precedent. A streak of anti-Semitism surfaced during the extraordinarily long inquiry into Brandeis' suitability, including 19 days of testimony. Brandeis, labeled a "radical" by his opponents, did not appear. He was confirmed after four months of acrimony. The next public hearing didn't take place for another 15 years. It was a one-day affair that led to a rejection. The 1930s and 1940s saw a trend toward open hearings, but they didn't become a regular fixture until the Eisenhower administration, with the appointments of John M. Harlan II in 1955 and William J. Brennan in 1957. By 1981, public hearings weren't just the norm; they were televised. The nation, along with the committee, had a front-row seat as the first woman named to the court, Sandra Day O'Connor, took questions under the bright lights. The committee's expansion changed the dynamic, too. Today's Senate Judiciary Committee has 21 members to ask about Judge Brett Kavanaugh, several dozen lawyers to collect and sift information, and a website. The committee of 1890, with its nine members (from a Senate of 84), had a clerk, an assistant clerk and a messenger. On Christmas Eve in 1890, the messenger delivered the committee's form letters on Brown to McMillan and Michigan's senior senator, Francis B. Stockbridge. They replied promptly. "Judge Brown is a gentleman of great legal ability, and high character, and in my opinion, no better selection could have been made," Stockbridge scrawled in the tight space at the bottom of the form letter. That was the extent of Stockbridge's answer. He offered no "information" on Brown's career, and no specifics on his "great legal ability." Perhaps he felt it was unnecessary. Brown had a reputation as one of the country's foremost experts on admiralty law - cases involving maritime matters - and the newspapers were describing him as an able jurist with a well-regarded record, although largely unknown outside the legal world. McMillan's reply was no more illuminating. He wrote: "I have known Judge Brown intimately for twenty years. He is an upright, pure man in every way and well qualified." McMillan chose not to regale the committee with his burglary story. Nor did he mention that he had preferred another Michigan man for the nomination. The day after Christmas, a Friday, the Chicago Tribune's Washington correspondent corralled a Judiciary Committee member for a chat about Brown's chances. The senator, who wasn't identified in the Tribune's account, said he knew of no reason Brown should be worried. But, the senator cautioned, "it is rather early yet . . . We sometimes think that nothing can be said against a nominee, and all of a sudden, charges from the right of him and charges from the left of him are sprung upon the committee." The reporter, realizing that the senator seemed unaware of the burglary story, said it had "already been asserted that Judge Brown had killed his man." The senator reacted with surprise. "Is that a fact?" he said. "Then I suppose that we may say that the thing has commenced." A few newspapers bandied about the word "manslaughter," but many publications chose flattering characterizations. Brown was a "hero." An "agent of justice." A "man of iron nerve." The New York Tribune said his bravery proved that he would have no trouble sticking by his convictions on the court. In Detroit, Brown was mystified at how the story had become so embroidered. Yes, he told the few reporters who had sought him out, an armed masked man had shown up in his bedroom in May 1885, and yes, he had fired at the burglar. Had he "killed his man"? Unknown, but unlikely. There was no "trail of blood," Brown clarified. No suspect captured a short time later. No proof that his bullets had found their mark, although several had been found in the house's walls and ceiling. "All the papers contain graphic accounts of Judge Brown's affray with a burglar," the Detroit Free Press wrote with disdain. "This story, as told, is rather more picturesque than it was ever told at home." Had anyone thought to look, the Free Press stories from 1885 offered a more reliable - and more logical - account of the burglaries and the police manhunt, which eventually led to the conviction of several men. One had an old gunshot wound in his left leg. None owned up to breaking into Brown's house. Would the Judiciary Committee ask its own questions about the dramatic encounter? It would not. On Monday, Dec. 29, 1890, in its first meeting since the nomination six days earlier, the committee acted with all due speed. Brown's name went directly to the floor. That same afternoon, by acclamation, the Senate approved him as the nation's 52nd justice. Luxenberg, a Post associate editor, researched the nomination of Justice Henry B. Brown for his forthcoming book, "Separate: The Story of Plessy v. Ferguson, and America's Journey from Slavery to Segregation." In 1896, Brown wrote the majority decision in the Plessy case, upholding a Louisiana law mandating "equal but separate accommodations" for white and black railroad passengers in the state. Thomas Huck spent a recent morning at a reborn Hope Center watching television in a large, clean room, a relaxing activity that a homeless person cant take for granted. If I wasnt here, Id be walking around the streets, the former iron worker said. The center looks peaceful enough. Its a place for a homeless person to spend a day, do laundry, take a shower and perhaps receive help finding an apartment and working through various life issues. Yet the center has recently seen a whirlwind of changes, the least of which is a name switch to the South Napa Daytime Resource Center. Until mid-July, the center for about 20 years had been located in downtown Napa at the Napa Methodist Church near century-old homes. But the dynamic of homeless people hanging around outside the center in a residential area caused friction. The reborn center is at the South Napa Shelter about a mile away, at 100 Hartle Court in a commercial area. Neighbors now are the soon-to-be-completed OLE Health center, the county animal shelter and, across the street, the South Napa Century Center. The old, downtown Hope Center served 44 to 55 people daily. The reborn center at the new location serves 25 to 30 people daily, said Emma Moyer, senior housing programs manager at Abode Services, which runs county shelter operations. With the location pulling people away from downtown and where the meals are and kind of the heart of the city, we dont know if well ever have the same numbers, Moyer said. But were hopeful, though. Meanwhile, Abode has outreach teams going to the downtown to help the homeless there and encourage them to visit the day center. All of this is part of a reorganization of homeless services by Napa County and the city of Napa. The bold goal was stated in a 2016 study done for the two agencies end chronic homelessness. Refuge spot The relocation of the day center to the South Napa Shelter doesnt bother Huck. Its a big change, but not for me, said the short-haired Huck, who wore a red T-shirt emblazoned with the word Colorado and has a tattoo on his arm. He is staying at the South Napa Shelter after losing the van he slept in because it failed to pass a smog test and he couldnt afford repairs to keep the registration. The shelter dorms close during the day, but thats when the day center opens in another part of the building. For Huck, reaching the day center merely means remaining at the shelter. The former U.S. Army reservist said an injury ended his days as an iron worker. He receives about $900 a month in Supplemental Security Income and when hes not at the day center, he might cross the street to go to the gym. That compares to the days when he had his van and would park and watch YouTube videos. Theres really not a whole lot to do in Napa when youre homeless, Huck said. Also using the relocated day center on a recent day was a man who called himself the Right Reverend Ronald Anthony Read, Esquire. Read spoke fast, sometimes smiling, sometimes looking pained, his emotions written on his face. Read said he went to the old Hope Center, though there could be drugs and drinking outside at the nearby Triangle park. He grew tearful when talking about the plight of the homeless. The people here have experienced so much, said Read, whose white-bearded head was topped by a black bandanna. A major goal of day center and local homeless services is to help the homeless get housing. Read said hes seen so many people get housing, its amazing. Hes working on securing housing himself. I surround myself with better people, I become a better person myself, Read said. A day for the homeless might include breakfast at the shelter and dinner at The Table, a food service for the needy in downtown Napa near the old Hope Center, he said. Words tumbled out of him, though he took time to pet Beta, the golden retriever comfort dog that wanders the center. Read wants to see more programs at the center, perhaps meditation and art. He suggested having relaxing background music. Give them something to do other than sitting in front of the TV, he said. The news isnt good for you. The center is intended to be more than a place to kill time and have a cup of coffee. A health clinic, a bike repair class or a chance to talk with a housing specialist are all possibilities on any given day. The center offers substance abuse counseling and helps clients connect with mental health services. Meaningful activities, Moyer said. Theres another aspect to the day center that serves not only those in the shelter, but those who spend their nights in tents at homeless encampments. Its kind of a refuge spot so they can get themselves together in the daytime, said Nathaniel Turner, site coordinator for the center. Transportation a challenge Read also mentioned challenges the homeless face in finding transportation. Some of those using the day center might need to travel to the county Health and Human Services Agency campus two-and-a-half miles away. There they can receive such services as mental health counseling. People at the day center depend on a county shuttle to reach Health and Human Services, Read said. But the free shuttle is to be discontinued at the end of the month. If you have no shuttle, people will be missing their groups, they will be stressed, Read said. County Health and Human Services Deputy Director Mitch Wippern said that the $180,000-a-year service was meant to be temporary. It began when the Health and Human Services campus moved from near downtown to Napa Valley Commons in the summer of 2016. Regular Vine bus service frequency to the Health and Human Services campus ranges from 30 minutes during peak hours to 70 minutes during non-peak hours, a June county report said. The report called the shuttle service essential. The decrease in frequency Im sure is going to be less convenient for people, Wippern said. But I dont think theres going to be an impact on their ability to access services. Case managers can give bus passes to those who need them, he said. That addresses the issue of bus fare for the homeless. Moyer said part of being self-sufficient is being able to find transportation. Its not necessarily a bad thing for the homeless to take the bus. Still, some homeless people will have trouble using the bus and a solution is needed for them, she added. The push to end homelessness Moving the day center to South Napa Shelter is only one step in a plan by Napa County and the city of Napa to improve homeless services. Helping to fuel the effort is a five-year, $11.3 million state grant received in 2016. County supervisors in July heard an update on the homeless situation. A count of the homeless done on a single day in January found 315 in 2017 and 322 in 2018. Homeless Services Coordinator Nui Bezaire said there might be more homeless or development might be forcing some to move, increasing their visibility. A survey of 33 homeless people living in encampments shows that most21are from Napa. Nearly 75 percent of our encampment residents have been camping in the same location for over three years, Bezaire told supervisors. In fact, some of them have been camping at the exact same location for over 10 years. She called these people some of the most vulnerable with the highest, most complicated needs. The new strategy includes a team of five people bringing services directly to the encampments. Another idea is to add 10 beds to the 62-bed South Napa Shelter. Bezaire said the relocation of the Hope Center to the shelter will help provide people there with services. Ending homelessness hinges on finding homes for people. Wippern said Abode has housed more than 100 households in the past 12 or so months. Thats the view from the Board of Supervisors chamber. In places such as the South Napa Daytime Resource Center, all of the ideas and plans must become a reality for lives to be changed. When Read sat in the day center on this recent day petting Beta the golden retriever and describing his experiences, he praised the staff that is working with the homeless. Not just doing their job but really caring, he said. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Sept. 12 marked two years since the funeral of my 15-month-old son, Liam. He had been in a stroller, being pushed through a pedestrian crosswalk in suburban Los Angeles by my sister-in-law, who was 15 years old at the time. She had done everything right: pressed the button, waited for the lights to change and then started walking. Other cars stopped, but one didnt. Police later estimated that the car was going 35 to 40 mph as it smashed into Liam and my sister-in-law. The car was driven by a 72-year-old woman. She was drunk and behind the wheel at 3:30 in the afternoon. Liam and my sister-in-law were both rushed, unconscious, to the hospital. She survived, and began a slow physical recovery from her injuries and even slower emotional recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder and survivors guilt. Liams injuries were devastating. Doctors soon told my wife, Mishel, and me that our son was brain-dead. We had to make the devastating decision to take him off life support. Since that day, I have learned a lot. I have learned about the horrible pain of losing a child, especially when that loss was preventable. Liams life was not taken by disease or natural disaster. His life was stolen by someone who chose to get behind the wheel of a car when drunk. The driver later pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in prison. She had failed a field sobriety test, authorities said, which meant her blood-alcohol concentration level was in excess of the 0.08 legal limit. But because there was no trial, her blood-alcohol concentration level was not revealed by prosecutors. I have learned that Liam was one of the 10,497 people whose lives were taken by drunk drivers in the United States in 2016. I have also learned that every U.S. state sets the blood-alcohol concentration limit at 0.08and that if the limit were lowered to 0.05, countless lives would be saved. Study after study has shown the effect of lowering the limit, including research led by Steven Teutsch at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, and by James C. Fell, a principal research scientist at the social-science institute NORC at the University of Chicago. States once set the limit at 0.10 but, over the past few decades, have lowered it to 0.08, resulting in an approximately 10 percent decline in alcohol-related traffic fatalities, Fells research found, translating into 24,868 lives saved between 1983 and 2014. Support for lowering blood-alcohol limits has come from institutions including the World Health Organization, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Transportation Safety Board and the American Medical Association. Two years ago, Mishel and I launched the Liams Life Foundation and joined the fight. Lowering the blood-alcohol limit doesnt affect how much people drink, as Fells research indicates, but it does affect their decisions about driving. Several European countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, with populations that consume significantly more alcohol than Americans per capita, have blood-alcohol limits of 0.05 or lower, yet the number of drunken-driving fatalities per capita is significantly below that in the United States. One reason for the difference is that elsewhere, even in countries with strong drinking cultures, drunken driving often has a much worse social stigma than in the United Statesyou just dont do it. My home country of Sweden sets the blood-alcohol limit at 0.02. People enjoy drinking; fines for driving under the influence are hefty and the punishments harsh, but more important, drunken driving is just not socially acceptable. The movement to lower the blood-alcohol limit in the United States has been difficult. I believe there are two reasons that politicians across the country are reluctant to lend their support. One is the influence of lobbying by the alcohol and hospitality industries. A proposal to lower Utahs blood-alcohol limit to 0.05 in 2013, for instance, was derided by the American Beverage Association as ridiculous and criminalizing perfectly responsible behavior. But perhaps an even bigger and more disheartening reason for this resistance is that in America, we as a culture are too tolerant of drunken drivingnot just among friends but even in the legal system, as drivers can be charged with multiple DUIs without suffering significant penalties or public shame. Well never be able to eliminate drunken driving completelypeople will always break the lawbut reducing it significantly, and saving countless lives, is entirely within our reach. It requires political courage and a cultural shift toward responsibility and caring for others. Marcus Kowal, a former mixed-martial arts fighter, is co-founder of the Liams Life Foundation. He wrote this for The Washington Post. Twenty-seven years ago, I was in Afghanistan to watch the Russians cut and run from a military quagmire and failed occupation that helped bring down the Soviet Union. In 2018, America is ready to walk away from a similarly failed military adventure. As Lt. Col. John W. Nicholson Jr., the exiting American and NATO forces' commander in Afghanistan put it: "It is time for this war in Afghanistan to end." He's right. Our longest war drags on, and President Trump's instincts and inclinations tell him to learn from the Soviet Union's mistake a generation earlier: Get out of Afghanistan. ASAP. With Chief of Staff John Kelly's policy role diminished and a refreshed national security team, the White House has quieted support for a continued large U.S. military presence in Afghanistan. Echoing instead in the president's ears are the distant voices of Steve Bannon and Erik Prince, who would replace American armed forces with other countries' NATO troops and, potentially, private armies. The United Kingdom is already expected to double its troop size and, despite Pakistan's certain objections, Trump would also appreciate an Indian military presence. America could use the break and needs the help. Recently, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo went to visit Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan to tell him -- diplomatically, of course -- that he needs to bring his domestic Taliban-friendly ISI intelligence service to heel and to cut off all aid and escape routes for Afghan insurgents and Taliban fighters. Pompeo assuredly made the case to Khan that America is the prime minister's best bet for political survival and success. Or that America could potentially be his worst nightmare. NATO and the U.S. Defense Department continually affirm their commitment to the Afghan mission, known as "Resolute Support". In reality, however, America's military is going to be sticking it out just long enough to call it a win, hand it over and get out. Western pressure on Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to conclude a peace accord with the Taliban is increasing, and a recent short-lived Taliban ceasefire was enough to give the White House an argument for the Afghan leadership to close a deal. An Afghan-signed peace means the United States gets to wash its hands of the quagmire so that, as Pompeo recently reminded the world, what comes next is "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned." America is fast approaching year 17 of this seemingly endless war, and it's only getting dirtier and more expensive. This is the fifth presidential term that a commander-in-chief has not only failed to end the war, but instead has added more troops, dropped more bombs and made sure to keep the carnage and nastiness out of public sight. The only people who seemingly are aware of the NATO-inherited and managed war are soldiers, their families and Afghans. In its early days, the Trump administration was either as unwilling or unable, as were previous administrations, to end the Afghan war. But things have changed. A successful withdrawal from Afghanistan now would be positive news for the president, of course, but also be welcomed both by America's military and citizens. Peace usually is. The affected country, however, will continue to suffer long after our troops are gone -- especially as a mutating ISIS has found a new Afghan home. I was a reporter in Afghanistan when there was no ISIS or Taliban -- just an American-aligned and supported anti-Soviet Mujahedeen that eventually turned its strategy and guns against Kabul and the West. Back then, some Afghan warlords, particularly the rabid Jalalaluddin Haqqani, who died recently at age 71, did not want to share power with others. Instead he allied with an up-and-coming Taliban terror group to take over the country. In 1991, my reporting team met with the grizzled, opium-running Haqqani whose American-supported, valium-sucking and gun-crazed anti-Soviet Mujahedeen fighters made clear that when Moscow was tamed and expelled, they were next coming after the United States. Haqqani's fighters recklessly shot around the compound, and Haqqani himself spit out his dark contempt with physical threats against my colleagues. Unsurprisingly, it was Haqqani and the Taliban government in Afghanistan that eventually provided Osama bin Laden's al Qaida a haven and a base for launching the attacks on America on Sept. 11, 2001. In the 20th century, America helped oust the Soviets from Afghanistan. It helped win that war and end the occupation, but then lost both its interest and the peace in Afghanistan. U.S. arms and training were partly responsible for creating the conditions that brought the Taliban's rise and, now, for ISIS to find fertile ground. As the United States further pushes Afghanistan to sue for peace and for others to take its place, we must remember that the American sacrifices made in that war cannot be completely ignored or forgotten as we move on to the next tweetstorm or international crisis. Out of sight must never be entirely out of mind. Gold Star families and military personnel must know that soldiers, like nonstop-deployed U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major Timothy A. Bolyard, the latest American casualty in Afghanistan, are both honored and not forgotten. For this to be true, America's resolute support must be for our troops and not a lost cause. It's time for Americans to turn out the lights in Afghanistan. Markos Kounalakis, Ph.D., is a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution and author of "Spin Wars & Spy Games: Global Media and Intelligence Gathering." He wrote this for the McClatchy News Service. Polling began for the primary round of the third general election in Bhutan at 9 am on Saturday, according to reports. The general election will be held on October 18. Prior to that, the primary round is being held on Saturday between four aspiring political parties. After that, only two parties will be selected to compete for the general round, according to the Election Commission of Bhutan. The polling for the primary round bagan at 9 am and will end at 5 pm on Saturday, according to media reports. According to the Election Commission of Bhutan, there are a total of 438,663 voters on the electoral roll, of which at least 60 per cent are expected to cast their votes during the primary round on Saturday. Earlier, to facilitate the voters, the Election Commission had set up postal ballot facilitation and mobile booths across 20 districts of Bhutan from September 7 to 9. Meanwhile, allaying rumours that the voting machinery could be tampered, the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) has reiterated that with stringent measures in place, such manipulations are impossible. According to a Kuensel report, rumours were doing the rounds that some people are reportedly collecting citizenship identify card (CID) details of the voters telling them that by entering the CID details in computers, it would be known who they voted for. According to the report, it was spread among the voters that those who had not voted for the party that would form the next government would be deprived of benefits from the plans and policies of the government. The commission has set up 865 polling stations across the country for the national assembly elections. Each polling station is equipped with two EVMs. The commission has already distributed 1,000 new EVMs it procured to the election officials. The existing EVMs are used as back up at the polling stations. Six firms in metro rail project shortlist The government has shortlisted six companies to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for Nagdhunga (Kathmandu)-Dhulikhel (Sindhupalchowk) metro rail project.The shortlisted companies have to present a technical proposal to the government within 30 days. As the first round of Tshogdu (National Assembly) elections began in Bhutan on Saturday to select the top-two political parties, the spirit of democracy still has not created enough forbearance for the freedom of press in the Dragon Kingdom. While the tiny cocooned Himalayan Kingdom gained massive popularity across the globe because of its unique index, the Gross National Happiness, a section of plain-speak journalists are definitely not happy with the standard of freedom of press in democratized Bhutan. Dawa, a 40-year-old journalist, who worked as a senior broadcaster with the popular Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS), had to give up his job because of unending pressure from the corridors of power. His television programmes and talk shows were very popular across Bhutan, and people liked him for his journalistic acumen and boldness to raise some of the crucial issues of the people. As a result, Dawa had been getting regular life threatening calls. Also read: Bhutan: Polling begins for primary round of general elections A graduate in English literature from the Sherubtse College, Dawa had to succumb to the pressure and give up his lucrative job with the state-run radio and television service in Bhutan. In fact, BBS is the only television service in the country. As Bhutan is now caught in the election mode, Dawa has now reappeared in the public domain as the new avatar of a politician. He is a candidate of the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) from Bumthang Chhoekhor Tang. The DNT is one of the four registered political parties in Bhutan. It was registered on January 20, 2013. While campaigning for DNT, Dawa has openly told how he was forced to leave the BBS for playing the honest role of a journalist in Bhutan. Now, if DNT succeeds in emerging as one of the two top political parties in September 15 elections, there is a possibility that Dawa may be one of the law-makers in the Tshogdu (National Assembly). Though there has been no electoral prediction so far, but people are of the opinion that the DNT, within months of its birth in 2013, managed to get 35,962 votes and had come third. The Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa may improve its position this time as anti-incumbency had played a role in the second Tshogdu election in 2013. In 2008, the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa secured 45 seats to the National Assembly. In the 2013 general election, anti-incumbency factor reduced DPTs seats to 15 as the Peoples Democratic Party won 32 seats and became the ruling party. There are 47 members in the Tshogdu, and 24 is the magic figure. After the first round of election, the top-two political parties field candidates in the main round of voting, and members are elected using the first-past-the-post voting. The main round of the National Assembly election is scheduled on October 18. Another active Bhutanese journalist, Namgay Zam had to leave the country almost 20 months ago as the situation was no more conducive for her to work. Since then, she is based in Nepal, working with the Onward Nepal. Like Dawa, Namgay Zam also worked with the Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS), and was slapped with a defamation suit for sharing a story about a property dispute involving a prominent businessman on the Facebook. Zam had stirred a hornets nest because she had initiated an online petition for an inquiry into the chief justice of Bhutan, who is also a son-in-law of the businessman, who had filed the defamation suit of 2.59 million Bhutanese Ngultrum (equivalent to Rs 2.59 million) against her. Though the Freedom of the press is guaranteed in Bhutans constitution, is it being practiced in reality? Otherwise, why are the journalists running away from the profession? The incessant downpour and massive landslides in parts of West Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh in recent times has considerably taken its toll on the normal lives of the people in Udalguri district of Assam, causing loss to property and commerce. A recent letter by the West Kameng district administration to Udalguri district administration has literally sent shockwaves across the district. The letter has prompted the administration to apprise the emergency service and disaster management authorities to take immediate and swift action in hour of crisis. Reportedly, as per the letter due to the incessant downpour in Yolongripam area in West Kameng district, the flow of Nargum river is choked as a result of accumulation of earth materials causing stagnancy of the river. The conditions may give rise to a flood like situation which has the potential of causing substantial loss and damage to human life and livestock in downstream area which includes parts of Udalguri. The letter further asked the administration to appeal the public not to indulge in fishing, sand mining in the river across the parts of Bhairabkunda in Udalguri along the tri-junctional landscape of Assam-Arunachal Pradesh-Bhutan. Due to election in Bhutan held on Saturday, all the shops and other business establishments at No 2 Garage Line in Sashipur, remained closed since Friday evening. Due to election, the main entrance gate of Samdrup Jongkhar was closed on Friday Evening. No one from Bhutan has been allowed to come out to India from Bhutan and no Indian or no other foreign nationals have been allowed to enter inside Bhutan. As all the shops along the Indo-Bhutan border area remained closed since Friday evening, the people in the Indian side have faced huge losses. Moreover, the tourists have also been compelled to return from the Bhutan gate as the gate has remained closed. According to a sources, the main entry gate of Samdhrup Jhankhar town of Bhutan will remain closed till Sunday evening. As per media reports, in a major upset verdict in the first round of polls in Bhutan, incumbent Prime Minister Tshering Tobgays Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been ousted from the race, and will not run in the second and final round next month. Instead, the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) headed by Dr Lotay Tshering, and the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) will face off on October 18. The DNT won the highest number of votes. The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court here on Saturday awarded death sentence to two National Democratic Front of Boroland-Songbijit (NDFB-S) rebels and life imprisonment to two other cadres of the proscribed outfit in connection with the mass killings in 2014. The special NIA pronounced death sentence for NDFB (S) rebels Ahoy Basumutary and Bishnu Narzary while co-accused Nitul Daimary and Sanju Bordoloi were given life sentence. The NIA court on August 30 convicted four persons accused in connection with the mass killings in 2014. On 23 December 2014, cadres of NDFB (S) had indiscriminately fired upon the inhabitants of Santipur village under Rakhakmari Police outpost in Sonitpur district. As a result, six persons had died on the spot while two sustained injuries. In this regard, NIA registered a case under sections 120B/121/147/148/302 of the Indian Penal Code, Section 25[1-A], 27 of the Arms Act and Section 10/13/16/18/20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA [P]A). Following the investigation of the case by the NIA, four accusedSanju, Bishnu, Ahoy and Nitul were arrested. A chargesheet in the case was filed by NIA in July 2015 against four arrested accused persons. In another major breakthrough, 48 BSF Batallion along with Khowai Police detained two vehicles along with cannabis worth Rs 5 lakh from Singichara area in Tripura on Friday late night. It is to be mentioned here that based on secret information the police along with the BSF 48 battalion force were waiting at Singichara to detain the vehicles. However, talking to media, the Khowai Police OC said that they have detained a Scorpio car bearing number TR01Y-0629 and AS12E-0783 Tata Sumo and seized a total of 140kg of Cannabis. Although, the police and BSF have successfully detained the two vehicles with cannabis they have failed to arrest anyone as the drivers of the vehicles managed to escape from the spot. Police is further investigating the case. Investigative Committee: Azerbaijan soldier entered Artsakh, fired at waterline repairmen (PHOTOS) Newspaper: 114 soldiers and civilians are returned so far from Azerbaijan to Armenia US State Department issues statement on 1-year anniversary of Karabakh ceasefire declaration Armenia ruling power MPs visit Yerevan military pantheon Newspaper: Ex-police chief continues knocking on opposition Armenia Blocs door Newspaper: Russia army Southern Military District deputy commander coming to Armenia on special mission Armenia ruling power MPs visit Yerevan military pantheon Reporters are allowed into Yerevan military pantheon only after PM motorcades departure Armenia PM is at Yerevan military pantheon 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 If the mediators of the OSCE Minsk Group want for the parties to really engage in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict, first of all, they should be able to call Azerbaijan to order. Armenias Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was on a two-day working visit to Paris, stated about the aforesaid during his meeting with the Armenian community of France, on Friday evening. If Azerbaijan thinks that it can push Armenia toward resolving the matter with threats, it is mistaken, the PM said. Also, Azerbaijan didnt record well that the Republic of Armenia is different now; [now] its an Armenia around which all Armenians are united. Reflecting on the possibility of new talks between the heads of states with respect to the Artsakh issue, Pashinyan noted that such a meeting had already taken place between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers, whereas there is no arrangement yet on such a talk between the two heads of states. PM Pashinyan noted that, during their talk earlier in the day, French President Emmanuel Macron also had asked about the Armenian sides views on the avenues for resolving the Karabakh conflict. I said [to him] that, in my view, the Azerbaijani leadership is not so sincere when speaking about the settlement of Artsakh issue, the Armenian PM said, in particular. A settlement to the conflict is possible in a climate of settlement in the region. But we hear boastings [from Azerbaijan], and, under such conditions, the matter about settlement is not realistic. Nikol Pashinyan informed that bilateral relations also were discussed with the French president. We can consider the most important result of todays meeting to be [the fact] that, in the near future, Armenia shall have a more major and bigger role, he said. And we need to make use of the situation that Armenias standing has grown from the [recent] velvet revolution [in the country], and we [Armenia] can have a more active role in international life. Alisha Sijapati is an arts and culture reporter at The Kathmandu Post, primarily covering human interest stories. She is intrigued by history, culture and films. Before joining the Post in 2015, she worked as a journalist for The Himalayan Times and ECS Media. To be honest, I dont like discussing our domestic political developments with our foreign partners, from those developments which we need to be satisfied or dissatisfied. Armenias Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was on a two-day working visit to Paris, stated the aforesaid at his talk with numerous representatives of the Armenian community of France, on Friday evening. As for his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the day, the PM informed that aside from bilateral relations, they had conferred on various international matters too. Pashinyan added that they will continue discussing the unfinished matters during Macrons forthcoming state visit to Armenia. Im confident that our interactions and relations with President Macron will become increasingly intensive, the PM said. Speaking on Armenias ongoing preparations for the 17th summit of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF)and which capital city Yerevan will host in October, Nikol Pashinyan expressed a conviction that the country will be able to organize this event in such a way that as a result of this summit, the OIF will become stronger, and Armenias part will be further stressed within the Francophone expanse. Its very important that we shouldnt lose the pace, the positive image change that has begun in Armenia ever since the days of the [recent] revolution [in the country], the PM added. Positive processes lead to [the fact] that our partners themselves expect the more active role of Armenia. YEREVAN. At midnight, several dozens of truck drivers from Armenia blocked the Bagratashen-Sadakhlo customs checkpointbetween the Armenia-Georgia borderfor two to three hours. Thus, they protested against the Georgian governments decision to ban grain transportation via motorways on the territory of Georgia. Lusine Mkrtchyan, spokesperson for the State Revenue Committee (SRC) of Armenia, told the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am. The [Armenian] customs checkpoint also permitted to carry out the [protest] action without obstruction because the objective [of this protest] wasnt to obstruct the operations of the customs house, the SRC spokesperson added. She noted that the customs checkpoint is open at this time. By a decision of the Georgian government, the import of grain and some similar crops into Armenia via Georgian motorways were to be prohibited as of Saturday, September 15. As a result, grain and bread prices may increase in Armenia. This decision applies to all countries which carry out such type of cargo transportation via Georgia. But the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies of Armenia has informed Saturday that this ban on grain cargos import via Georgian motorways has been put off to October 1. Investigative Committee: Azerbaijan soldier entered Artsakh, fired at waterline repairmen (PHOTOS) Newspaper: 114 soldiers and civilians are returned so far from Azerbaijan to Armenia US State Department issues statement on 1-year anniversary of Karabakh ceasefire declaration Armenia ruling power MPs visit Yerevan military pantheon Newspaper: Ex-police chief continues knocking on opposition Armenia Blocs door Newspaper: Russia army Southern Military District deputy commander coming to Armenia on special mission Armenia ruling power MPs visit Yerevan military pantheon Reporters are allowed into Yerevan military pantheon only after PM motorcades departure Armenia PM is at Yerevan military pantheon 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 The thin blue line Wednesday was special. It was late in the evening when I read the news reports of a couple from the far-western district of Kanchanpur, wandering in Kathmandu in search of justice for their 13-year-old daughter who had been raped and murdered nearly two months ago. Armenias Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday received the several visiting ambassadors and the Holy Sees nuncio accredited to Georgia, as well as the Swiss embassy and UN representatives in Georgia. The PM noted that Armenia underscores the continued development of cooperation and the deepening and expanding of ties. Also, Pashinyan expressed the hope that during their visit to Armenia, these diplomats will have the opportunity to get more familiarized with the ongoing developments in the country ever since the recent nonviolent velvet revolution in Armenia. The Premier said the new government has already achieved major results in combating corruption and monopolies and improvement of the business climate in Armenia. He added that reforms are implemented in Armenias tax law, and said these reforms will promote new investments and contribute to conducting successful and effective business in the country. Subsequently, Nikol Pashinyan responded to several questions posed by the visiting diplomats. The steep depreciation of Argentinas peso (above 50 percent this year and higher than Turkish Liras 43 percent), makes exports from the United States more expensive, and imports from Argentina cheaper. The magnitude and timing of its impact is uncertain: In the short-term, low-cost Argentinean beef and other commodities could benefit consumers. In addition, the deep-dive in investors confidence will favorably affect our financial and real estate markets as wealthy Argentineans look for more stable financial markets and a safe place to be, far from uncertainty and risk. Some may even start new businesses here. Yet, fewer Argentineans will come, impacting negatively our tourism and retail sectors. U.S. corporations with regional or global headquarters in our area may find it more difficult to do business in Argentina. In the medium-term, as economic adjustments affect more Argentineans, fewer may be able to come and invest in our area, and more U.S. businesses may decide to reduce or even cancel their operations in Argentina, negatively affecting most sectors of our economy. In the long-term, if Argentinas uncertainty and risk were to spread to other Latin American nations experiencing high debt-levels and the inability to balance their budgets, as the world moves to an era of more expensive cost-of-funds, a disastrous economic contagion would take place, as it happened during the lost-decade of the 1980s. In such case, the above negative impact for Miami would magnify. To avoid this contagion from happening, governments must cut waste, reduce (rather than increase) debt, and focus on their top priorities while eliminating everything else. They must use their limited funds to offer to their people affordable access to jobs and services (foremost education, health, security and transportation). This is the only way for them to regain their people and investors trust. One would think that the easiest way to regain trust would be by eliminating corruption. Yet, this has proven to be very hard. Fortunately, Latin America is experiencing an anti-corruption wave. The people are tired of seeing their limited resources being taken by unethical leaders. Some are in jail already. Many others will follow. If leaders regain their peoples trust, private investors will have a greater role to play. They will leverage their creativity and innovation, as well as their funds and risk-taking behavior, in transforming the regions challenges into profitable new ventures. The University of Miami Business School has always seen Argentina as a major player in the Latin American arena.Academic exchanges have been a part of this professional collaboration. Dean John A. Quelch has been an advisor to Argentina's Austral University, and Universidad Austral's former president, Dr. Fernando Fragueiro, is a member of the Business Schools "Latin American and Caribbean Initiative" Advisory Board. As the country moves it improve its economy, UM will always be a faithful partner. Joseph Ganitsky is a professor of professional practice in the Miami Business School Department of Management and director of the UM Center for International Business Education and Research. Transmission line project modalities yet to be fixed The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) of India have not yet finalised the funding and implementation modalities for the New Butwal Gorakhpur Cross-Border Transmission Line Project. 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. Vote View Results 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. Stocks losing gains to end the week as Trump tells aides to ready more tariffs on China. Plus, we go live to the North Carolina coast for the latest on Hurricane Florence as it makes landfall. And, Nvidia shares are back in charge its our Call of the Day. Plus, Elons latest plan will send one lucky traveller to the moon and back. Who could it be? Catch The Final Round at 3:30 ET p.m. with Jen Rogers, reporter Jared Blikre, and anchor Seana Smith. Prince William will fight poaching on his trip to Africa. The 36-year-old royal will head to Namibia, Tanzania, and Kenya later this month and his focus of the trip will be "doing what he can to help end this terrible, global crime". Speaking in London for the Royal African Society, he said: "I first fell in love with Africa when I spent time in Kenya, Botswana and Tanzania as a teenager. I was captivated and have been hankering to get back as often as possible ever since. That is why, when you kindly asked me to become the patron of the Royal African Society last year, it was a pretty easy offer to accept. "Like so many others, I am deeply saddened by the numbers of elephant, rhino and pangolin who have been illegally slaughtered for their tusks, horns and scales.But the illegal wildlife trade also has a devastating human impact. "Too many brave rangers are tragically killed each year by poachers. Communities see their tourist livelihoods threatened. And the proceeds of the illegal wildlife trade fund broader criminal networks and threaten security. This is why I am committed to doing what I can to help end this terrible, global crime. This will be a particular focus of my upcoming visit to Africa, and of course the Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade taking place here in London in October." The Duke of Cambridge had previously insisted that Africa is facing "unprecedented challenges" from poaching and illegal wildlife trading. He added: "Africa continues to face unprecedented challenges in terms of poaching, driven by the burgeoning illegal trade in wildlife. "Sadly, all too often rangers are out-resourced and out-gunned. Most of them never imagined that they would need to lay down their lives to protect their country's heritage. But that is the harsh reality." Earlier this year we reported on a startling anomaly in the global energy market that even the experts couldnt have predicted. Just one nation, alone against the greening tides, was turning back to coal--Japan. Now, half a year later, a newly released report shows that Japanese financial institutions have funneled US$92 billion into coal and nuclear developmenta sum bigger than the gross domestic product of Sri Lanka - in the months between January 2013 and July 2018 alone. Energy Finance in Japan 2018: Funding Climate Change and Nuclear Risk was commissioned by a climate change-focused non-government organization (NGO) called 350.org based in the United States. The study found that the Japanese finance industry gave US$80 billion in loans and underwriting services, the majority (50 percent) of which went straight to coal development, with the other half split between nuclear and other fossil fuel resource companies. The other US$12 billion went to bonds and shares in the same industries. Among the 151 Japanese financial institutions analyzed in the Energy Finance in Japan 2018 study, only 38 of them were not involved with coal or nuclear energy projects. A similar 350.org study from last year shows that Japanese insurance companies represent a large proportion of investors in domestic and international coal industries. Japans single biggest investor in coal for the five-year period studied was Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), followed by Nippon Life Insurance (NLI) and Nomura Holdings. Related: Electric Planes Could Soon Be A Reality These numbers mark a stunning turnaround for Japan, which at one point was almost entirely dependent on nuclear, a far cleaner, more efficient energy source than coal. So why the about turn? There is actually a very clear source of Japans changing energy attitudes: the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. On March 11, 2011 the largest earthquake ever recorded in Japan at 9.09.1 (Mw), caused a devastating tsunami to hit land. At the Fukushima nuclear plant, this resulted in three nuclear meltdowns, hydrogen-air explosions, the release of radioactive material, and ultimately, a sudden and widespread mistrust of nuclear energy among the Japanese populace (and around the world). In the wake of the Fukushima disaster, the government responded swiftly and strongly to public outcry and shut down all 54 of Japans nuclear reactors as they awaited new, significantly more rigorous safety standards. Now, more than 7 years later, just a fraction of these nuclear power plants have reopened for business. It was at this point that Japanese officials started looking for new avenues to power the country, and they found what they were looking for in coal. Related: Gas Could Overtake Oil As The Largest U.S. Energy Source This Year Its difficult to say, however, how long-lived the Japanese coal renaissance will be. There is a large amount of opposition to the extremely dirty fossil fuel, with critics urging Japan to reverse its course and return to greener pastures. Encapsulating the nations ambivalence, at the same time that Japanese financial institutions were still funneling money into coal power development and bonds earlier this year, Japanese banks were also creating stricter financing guidelines to include advanced air-pollution technologies. In fact even MUFG, mentioned above as Japans single biggest investor in coal, has significantly tightened their coal-financing policies this year, along with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. and Mizuho Financial Group Inc. At the same time NLI, Japans biggest insurer in terms of revenue, announced in July that it would no longer grant loans to new coal projects or invest in coal-fired plants, citing environmental reasons, and Dai-Ichi Life Insurance Company announced that it would stop financing overseas coal plants in May. Some critics, including 350.org, say that these changes, while meaningful, are not nearly significant enough to stem the massive flow of Japanese money into coal, and thereby Japanese pollutants into our atmosphere. Its still unclear whether these first steps away from coal will have any impact on the many coal projects already underway, and while investment may be now limited to some extent, its a far cry from divestment. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A British energy entrepreneur and former Formula 1 racing team owner, Stephen Fitzpatrick, thinks hes got exactly what it takes to build a new inter-city flying taxi services and launch it through a UK startup by 2022. Welcome to the real beginning of the race to build electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraftthe taxis of our (apparently) near-future. We are investing in all the technology evolution taking place in aerospace but we are trying to apply that to something thats real world and is possible to execute four years out, Fitzpatrick, the founder and CEO of the bold new startup, Vertical Aerospace, told Reuters. The startup is planning to offer short-haul inter-city flights to multiple, simultaneous passengers using a piloted aircraft. The startup has been working on the idea for two years, and is banking on a team of some 30 veteran aerospace and technical experts with dynamite CVs, including experience with Airbus, Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Martin Jetpack and GE. Weve already seen drone-helicopter hybrids tested globally, so the idea of a flying taxi isnt as sci-fi as it might have been just a short while ago. But this time its different, says Vertical Aerospace. This time, its about going beyond concept and putting the idea into practical application. Nor is it even far-fetched. According to Fitzpatrick, many eVTOL components are comparablefrom a technological standpointto those he is familiar with from his Formula One days. Related: Rising Costs Weigh On Permian Gas Production Weve learned a lot from Formula 1, both in terms of technology and pace of development, said Fitzpatrick, as reported by The Verge. The lightweight materials, aerodynamics and electrical systems developed through F1 are highly applicable to aircraft, much more so than to road transport. By putting those technologies in the hands of experienced aerospace engineers, we can build cutting edge aircraft for the 21st Century. Is 2022 realistic? Well, others in this air taxi race say theyll get there before Vertical Aerospace. Uber, for one, thinks its going to get to the sky quickly. In fact, its teamed up with NASA on an air-ride-hailing concept using autonomous passenger drones. And its saying it will be in the air in two years. The concept focuses on helicopter-style rotors for vertical take-off and landing, and fixed wings for traveling up to 200mph over longer distances. There is also Volocopter, which is testing drone taxis that resemble a small helicopter powered by 18 rotors, and AeroMobil, with a stretch-limousine concept that can turn into a fixed-wing aircraft. Flying car startup Kitty Hawk unveiled its new vehicle this year, the Flyer, which its CEO says is as easy to fly as playing Minecraft. Amid all of this competition, Vertical Aerospace insists its in the front of the pack in this crowded race--and its targeting some of the most congested air corridors in the world using aircraft that dont need runways and that can also travel for up to 500 miles. There is room for more than one winner, though. After all, annual air passenger journeys are projected to reach $7.2 billion by 2035. By David Craggen for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: As crucial mid-term congressional elections in November draw near, the Trump administration is feeling the heat over higher oil prices. London-traded global oil benchmark Brent breached the $80 per barrel price point on Wednesday, its highest level since May 2. NYMEX-traded U.S. oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate Crude (WTI) reached over $70 per barrel on Wednesday. While both benchmarks pared gains on Thursday, moving back from four month highs, as investors focused on risk from the ongoing emerging market crises and trade disputes that could trim demand as supply tightens, high oil prices along with corresponding higher gasoline prices in the U.S. have the opportunity to play havoc with Republican hopes to hold onto key seats in November and retain control in Congress. Such a loss would ensure that Trumps second half in office would face severe uphill battles with possible heightened calls from Democrats for impeachment. Amid higher oil prices that could easily settle above $80, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry is reaching out to Russia. 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 said after meeting Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak in Moscow on Wednesday. The U.S., Russia and Saudi Arabia are also working together to make sure the world has access to affordable energy, Perry added. Reaching out to Russia In what can arguably be called an act of concession prompted by worries over spiking global oil prices, Perry said he proposed creating a joint investment fund to develop new projects with Russia, adding the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) could be part of such a fund. The RDIF said that it supported such a fund. Related: Gas Could Overtake Oil As The Largest U.S. Energy Source This Year The RDIF is Russias sovereign wealth fund established in 2011 by Moscow to make equity investments in high-growth sectors of the Russian economy. According to the funds website, it has some $10bn of reserved capital management. The complications in Perrys overture are obvious. Washington, which has levied numerous crippling sanctions against Russia over a number of issues, ranging from its annexation of Crimea to Moscows meddling in U.S. elections, now needs Moscows help to reign in spiraling global oil prices. Its a pivot from merely trying to pressure long-time ally Saudi Arabia over its oil production plans, particularly since the new OPEC, non-OPEC partnership, with Russia, has for all intent and purposes replaced what OPEC could do on its own in the past but has lost, the ability to sway and control global oil prices. Dubious message To those in Russia it could also appear to be a dubious message. Sanctions are still in place on Russian oil and gas exploration projects necessary to grow the countrys oil and gas production - the very assistance that Perry is asking for. Russias natural resources ministry has already admitted that sanctions have hampered the countrys oil and gas exploration ambitions. "Sanctions against Russian oil and gas companies, which limit the inflow of foreign investment, new technologies and equipment in the industry complicate the development of new projects in Russia, especially offshore and those directed at hard-to-extract reserves development," the ministry said in the report on the state and use of Russian mineral resources in 2016-2017. However, Moscow is fighting fought back by seeking funding for these projects in Chinese RNB or domestic funds, effectively bypassing the use of dollars and the U.S. financial system. Mixed message In spite of Perrys acquiescence toward Russias ability to help the Trump administrations push to bring down global oil prices, he also came with a mixed message. Perry also met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov. Perry 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. Related: California Just Signed The Worlds Most Aggressive Climate Bill Nord Stream 2 is a 759 mile (1,222 km) natural gas pipeline running on the bed of the Baltic Sea from Russian gas fields to Germany, bypassing existing land routes over Ukraine, Poland and Belarus. It would double the existing Nord Stream pipelines current annual capacity of 55 bcm and is expected to become operational by the end of next year. The U.S. has long maintained that the pipeline presents security risks to much of Europe and even could even open ways for Russia to install undersea surveillance equipment in the Baltic Sea. Ulterior motive allegations May EU members, particularly Germany as well as Moscow itself, see U.S. resistance to the Nord Stream 2 project as a way for Trump to push American LNG exports into Europe. However, at the end of the day Russian gas is far cheaper than imported U.S. LNG volumes going into Europe and will likely stay that way for decades. 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. Asked during a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart whether the U.S. might impose punitive measures against Nord Stream 2 and other projects, Perry said, "Yes." Russia has long countered that the proposed gas pipeline is purely a commercial project and will proceed with without U.S. approval. By Tim Daiss for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slammed Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for staying silent on reports of China violating the human rights of Muslim minorities, accusing Iran of turning a blind eye because China is Irans number-one oil customer. @khamenei_ir fancies himself the leader of the Islamic world, but his regime has been totally silent as Chinathe top buyer of #Irans oilhas persecuted and detained hundreds of thousands of its Muslim citizens, Pompeo tweeted on Thursday. While the United States tries to choke off as much Iranian oil exports as possible when sanctions return on November 5, China has said that it will not stop buying Iranian oil. But Beijing is also said to have agreed not to increase its oil purchases from Iran. Over the past few weeks, reports have intensified that China has been detaining and persecuting the Uighur Muslim minority in its Xinjiang autonomous region in northwest China. At the end of August, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said in a report on China that it was alarmed by Numerous reports of detention of large numbers of ethnic Uighurs and other Muslim minorities held incommunicado and often for long periods, without being charged or tried, under the pretext of countering terrorism and religious extremism. The Committee regrets that there is no official data on how many people are in long-term detention or who have been forced to spend varying periods in political re-education camps for even nonthreatening expressions of Muslim ethno-religious culture like daily greetings. Estimates about them range from tens of thousands to upwards of a million, the UN committee said. A Human Rights Watch (HRW) report from earlier this month said that Chinese authorities have dramatically scaled up repressive policies against the Turkic Muslim people in the Xinjiang region since 2016. China claims that the detention camps are education centers. Its not only Iran that has failed to speak out against the alleged mass repression of Muslims in China. Predominantly Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have also been silent on the issue, Bloomberg notes. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Two Russian spies arrested in the Netherlands on suspicion of targeting a Swiss laboratory are also being probed over an attempted cyber-attack on the World Anti-Doping Agency, an official said Saturday. The agents, arrested by Dutch intelligence services earlier this year, were implicated in a planned attack on the Spiez laboratory in Bern, which was investigating the poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Britain, according to Swiss officials and media reports. The Swiss attorney general's (OAG) office told AFP on Saturday that the same two individuals have separately been under criminal investigation since March 2017 "due to a cyber-attack against the World Anti-Doping Agency." "The proceedings are being conducted on suspicion on political espionage," an OAG spokeswoman, Linda von Burg, told AFP in an email. She confirmed that the individuals linked to the alleged hack at WADA's Swiss office "are those affected by the operation mentioned by the Federal Intelligence Service," in connection with the Spiez laboratory attack. The attorney general has asked Switzerland's justice ministry for permission to prosecute the individuals over the WADA incident, von Burg said. WADA declined to comment. Tensions between Russian and WADA have been elevated for several years. The Montreal-based watchdog suspended Russia's Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) in 2015 after declaring it to be non-compliant following evidence of a vast plan backed by Moscow to cheat at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. On Friday, WADA announced that its independent Compliance Review Committee had cleared RUSADA to be reinstated. Russia has admitted shortcomings in its anti-doping programme but has rejected the existence of a state-supported cheating programme. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also condemned Friday's reports that Russian agents targeted the Spiez laboratory, saying he could not believe the arrests would have not been picked up at the time by the media. The agents, believed to be working for Russia's GRU military intelligence, allegedly targeted the laboratory 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 in southern England. 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. Former US vice president Al Gore is calling for an end to treating the atmosphere "like an open sewer" Mayors, governors, entrepreneurs, CEOs, investors and celebrities delivered a double-edged message Friday at the close of a climate summit in San Francisco: global warming is making the planet unliveablebut we know how to fix it. "We are using the sky as an open sewer, it's insane," former US vice president Al Gore told the conference, noting that humanity belches 110 million tons of heat-trapping pollution into the atmosphere every day. "Will we change? That's what the Global Climate Action Summit is all about." Over three days, thousands of delegates from the private and public sectors showcased policies and innovations aimed at reducing that flow of greenhouse gases. Cities are converting to all-electric vehicle fleets and setting deadlines for banishing gas-guzzling cars from their roads; companies have vowed to operate only with renewable energy, including a few smokestack multinationals in the developing world. "Clean and green is profitable," Mahendra Singhi, CEO of Dalmia Cement Ltd in India told AFP. Investors managing fortunes said they were purging coal, oil and gas from their portfolios; young entrepreneurs showed off energy-efficiency apps and inventions. Provincial and state governors in tropical countries vowed to empower indigenous peoples who have been managing forests sustainably since before "sustainable" was even a word. Zero-carbon future But all these efforts may be in vain, the delegates warned, if national governments fail to do their part. Earth has seen a crescendo of deadly heatwaves, droughts, floods and superstorms "Now is the time for all leaders to step up and take bold action," they said in an appeal framed as a Call to Action. "We call on the national governments of the world to step up ambition now... and chart a clear path to your zero-carbon future." "We have enough critical mass in the private sector now to help spur that political process," said Paul Polman, CEO or Unilever, one of the world's largest consumer goods companies. The 196-nation Paris Agreement, inked in 2015, enjoins nations to cap global warming this century at "well below" two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and to strive for a ceiling of 1.5 C if possible. With only one degree Celsius of warming so far, Earth has seen a crescendo of deadly heatwaves, droughts, floods and superstorms engorged by rising seas. But UN talks to implement the treaty, which goes into effect in 2020, have stalled over disagreements on money to help poor countries green their economies and brace for unavoidable climate impacts. More urgent still is the so-called "ambition gap" between voluntary national commitments to curb carbon pollution, and what is needed to keep global temperature rises under 2 C. Even if all nations honor current pledgesmany of which depend on climate finance that does not yet existthe world will heat up by an unbearable 3.5 C, scientists have calculated. 'Kick this monster's ass' A climate summit convened by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres next fall "is what is going to determine whether we can save the Paris Agreement or not," said David Paul, Environment Minister for the Marshall Islands. Hollywood star Harrison Ford, pictured with former New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, delivered a rousing address at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco The transition to a greener global economy has been hampered by US President Donald Trump, who opted out of the Paris pact months after taking office, saying it would pose a "burden" on the US economy. Trump has also taken a sledge hammer to the climate policies of his predecessor, Barack Obama, relaxing pollution rules for coal-fired power plants and rolling back car-mileage standards. "Withdrawing American leadership from an issue that is life or death is one of the single greatest acts of irresponsibility of a president anywhere, anytime," former US Secretary of State and presidential candidate John Kerry told the plenary, to thunderous applause. But the American people are "way smarter," he added, pointing to the conference and climate change policies in dozens of states across the country. "The zero-carbon economy is the growth story of the 21st century," economist Nicholas Stern, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics, told AFP. "There is no long-run high carbon growth story." The final verdict was delivered by Hollywood veteran Harrison Ford. "Nature doesn't need people, people need Nature," he told the plenary. "So let's turn off our phones, let's roll up our sleeves, and let's kick this monster's ass." Explore further World faces uphill climate fight as US efforts fall short 2018 AFP In the research, images of handwritten digits will be encoded into what are called 'spike train stimuli,' similar to a two-dimensional bar code. The encoding of the spike train will then be optically applied to a group of networked in vitro neurons with optogenetic labels. Credit: Xiaochen Guo/Lehigh University Will the computers of tomorrow be manufactured, or will they be cultivated? This question lies at the heart of new research from Lehigh University that aims to engineer a neural networka computer system modeled on the human brain and nervous systemfrom actual living cells, and program it to compute a basic learning task. The National Science Foundation (NSF) has recently announced its support for the project, to the tune of more than $500,000, as part of a wider NSF effort, announced September 11, in support of Understanding the Brain and the BRAIN Initiative, a coordinated research effort that seeks to accelerate the development of new neurotechnologies. "Recent developments in optogenetics, patterned optical stimulation, and high-speed optical detection enable simultaneous stimulation and recording of thousands of living neurons," says Xiaochen Gao, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Lehigh University and principal investigator on the project. "And scientists already know that connected biological living neurons naturally exhibit the ability to perform computations and to learn. With support from NSF, we will be building an experimental testbed that will enable optical stimulation and detection of the activity in a living network of neurons, and we'll develop algorithms to train it." The team, which includes Lehigh associate professors and co-principal investigators Yevgeny Berdichevsky of bioengineering and Zhiyuan Yan of electrical and computer engineering, brings together complementary expertise in computer architecture, bioengineering, and signal processing. The team believes their effort could have "transformative impact" in the fields of neuron science and computer engineering. In the research, images of handwritten digits will be encoded into what are called "spike train stimuli," similar to a two-dimensional bar code. The encoding of the spike train will then be optically applied to a group of networked in vitro neurons with optogenetic labels. In their winning proposal to the NSF, the team explains that the intended impact of this work is to help computer engineers develop new ways to think about the design of solid state machines, and may influence other brain-related research. "We hope that neuron scientists will be able to use this technology as a testbed for studying the human brain," says Berdichevsky, who's previous research has delved into the causes and solutions of epilepsy and other diseases. "This research will study how to stabilize the living neural network such that a Spike Time Dependent Plasticity (STDP)-based programming protocol can imprint the desired synaptic strengths onto a living neural network," says Yan. "Our team will also investigate how to strategically design and apply an STDP-based protocol to maximize programming throughput and optimize the convergence rate of the network states. And on the algorithm side, the proposed research will study data representation and training algorithms that take into account various constraints of the wetware system we are designing." The team's project is one of 18 cross-disciplinary projects to conduct innovative research on neural and cognitive systems, supported by NSF to advance the frontiers of foundational research in four focus areas: Neuroengineering and brain-inspired concepts and designs, individuality and variation, cognitive and neural processes in realistic, complex environments, and data-intensive neuroscience and cognitive science. The projects will leverage advanced research within and across these focus areas to investigate how neural and cognitive systems interact with education, engineering and computer science, as part of the NSF Integrative Strategies for Understanding Neural and Cognitive Systems (NCS) program. The NCS program supports innovative, boundary-crossing efforts to push the frontiers of brain science. About the team Xiaochen Guo, a 2018 NSF CAREER Award recipient, conducts research that leverages emerging technologies to build energy-efficient processors, memory systems, and accelerators. She is a recipient of the IBM Ph.D. Fellowship, P. C. Rossin Assistant Professorship, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Computing Sciences Research Pathways Fellowship. She has published her work in Proceedings of the International Symposium on Computer Architecture, Proceedings of the International Symposium on Microarchitecture, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Transactions on Very Large Scale Integration Systems, and IEEE Transactions on Computers. Guo earned her doctorate and master's degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Rochester in 2011 and 2015, respectively, and her bachelor's in computer science and engineering from Beihang University. Yevgeny Berdichevsky focuses on applying bioMEMS/microfluidic technology to neuroscience. Current projects focus on 3 areas: development of culture and recording technology for high throughput drug screens; study of signaling pathways in post-traumatic epilepsy, using high-throughput recording chips and molecular/proteomic approaches; and, use of microstructures/microfluidics to study the relationship between neural circuit architecture and function. Before joining Lehigh in 2012, he served as a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. He has published articles in journals such as Journal of Neuroscience, Advanced Materials, and Lab on a Chip. He has presented his work at conferences across the country and holds a U.S. patent. He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Society for Neuroscience, and the American Epilepsy Society. Zhiyuan Yan focuses on research in error control coding, communication theory, signal processing, VLSI design and implementation of communication and signal processing systems, and has published over 100 technical papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings. He is currently an associate editor of the Journal of Signal Processing Systems, and was a senior area editor of the IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing from 2011 to 2015 and an associate editor of the IEEE Communications Letters from 2008 to 2012 and IEEE Access from 2013 to 2018. He was a Guest Co-Editor for a special issue of the Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering on Implementations of Signal Processing Algorithms for OFDM Systems and several special issues of Journal of Signal Processing Systems. He is a member of the Circuits and Systems for Communications (CASCOM) and VLSI Systems and Application (VSA) Technical Committees of the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society. He was the chair of the Design and Implementation of Signal Processing Systems (DISPS) Technical Committee of the IEEE Signal Processing Society. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies and a Senior Member of IEEE. He was a recipient of the US National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2011. Provided by Lehigh University 11 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 Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Dutch intelligence services arrested two alleged Russian spies that were planning to hack a Swiss laboratory where is ongoing an investigation on the poisoning of the spy Sergei Skripal. According to Dutch-based NRC newspaper and Swiss daily Tages-Anzeiger, Dutch intelligence services arrested two alleged Russian spies working for Russias GRU military intelligence service on suspicion of planning to hack the Spiez laboratory near Bern. The laboratory conducts investigations for a global chemical arms watchdog, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), its researchers were investigating the poisoning of agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury. The two agents carried equipment to hack into the network of the laboratory to spy on the activity of its researchers. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed his disappointment for the arrest of the two men earlier this year. 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. states the AFP press. The decision to expel the two spies was taken by the cabinet of the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on March 26. 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. The researchers at the Spiez Lab were analyzing data related to poison gas attacks in Syria, as well as the attack on the double agent Sergei Skripal that involved the nerve agent Novichok on Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. 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 SRC] actively participated in this operation in collaboration with its Dutch and British partners in prevention of illegal actions against critical Swiss infrastructure. Spiez laboratory representatives confirmed to have observed hacking attempts in the last months and to have taken precautions to repeal them. Andreas Bucher, a spokesman for the Spiez lab, told AFP that in June attackers took documents from the labs website and distributed a very malicious malware virus to affiliated agencies. It is interesting to note that the same piece of malware was used in the attacks on the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea. According to The Washington Post, the incidents were caused by cyber attacks powered by hackers working at Russias GRU military intelligence agency that managed to take control in early February of 300 computers linked to the Olympic organization. The cyber attacks were a retaliation against the International Olympic Committee for banning the Russian team from the Winter Games due to doping cases of Russian athletes. In April Russias SVR foreign intelligence service information chief Sergei Ivanov accused the OPCW of manipulating the results of the Skripal case. According to information obtained by Ivanov, the OPCW was omitting findings from the Spiez laboratory, he explained that the samples sent by the OPCW contained a nerve agent called BZ which was manufactured by the West. Pierluigi Paganini (Security Affairs Skripal case, GRU) Share this... Linkedin Share this: Twitter Print LinkedIn Facebook More Tumblr Pocket Share On Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya, Malaysia. (Photo: AP/Yam G-Jun) By Sophie Kamaruddin and Daniel Ten Kate Anwar Ibrahim, whos in line to become Malaysias next prime minister, sought to reassure foreign investors concerned about recent decisions to scrap several high-profile infrastructure projects in a bid to reduce debt. Anwar said the governments review is limited to specific dubious projects approved under the previous administration and shouldnt be interpreted as a snub to China. Hes expected to replace 93-year-old Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister in a year or two. Its confined to these companies, Anwar said in an interview with Bloomberg Televisions Sophie Kamaruddin in Hong Kong, where hes attending an investment forum. Mahathir took the initiative, visiting China, assuring them that the bilateral relations, trade, investments with China must and will continue. Since his surprise election victory in May, Mahathir has canceled or suspended several major projects backed by Chinese interests, including the East Coast Rail Link and three pipeline projects. He also delayed work on a proposed bullet train linking Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, which had also attracted interest from Chinese contractors, and questioned whether foreigners should be able to buy property in a $100 billion project backed by a Chinese company. Mahathir represents the sentiments in the country that firstly we cannot continue with these mammoth projects at a time when the economy is struggling, Anwar said. He added that the government is focusing on transparency and debt reduction, and overall the economic fundamentals are strong. Yes it is weak compared to the position that we had in the last two years, but its in no way close to being a weak, fragile economy, he said. Anwar, 71, is the official leader of the four-party Pakatan Harapan ruling coalition that backs Mahathir. Jailed for a sodomy conviction widely seen as political, Anwar was granted a full pardon following an election that ended the six-decade rule of Najib Razaks United Malays National Organisation. Story continues Mahathir has launched investigations to recover potentially $4.5 billion lost due to the mismanagement of state fund 1MDB by Najib, who denies wrongdoing. Anwar said Malaysia cant recoup all the losses, but believed they could get most of the money back. Mahathir, once a bitter rival of Anwar, had pledged during the election campaign to stand aside for him once he was pardoned. The timeframe for the transition remains unclear, with reports suggesting rivals within the party were positioning to outmaneuver Anwar. Anwar will soon contest a special election for a seat in parliament where he intends to work on reforms in the legislative body to give Mahathir space to run the government. Lawmaker Danyal Balagopal Abdullah announced on Wednesday that he was resigning to make way for Anwar. This sort of teamwork will be very essential for him to continue getting the latitude and space without any encumbrances, and for me to assume the position much later, Anwar said. Weve accepted the fact that the country must be saved, that the country takes precedence, Anwar said of Mahathir. Credit given to him: Hes doing what he promised prior to the elections, and hes doing it remarkably well. 2018 Bloomberg L.P By Ssebuliba Samuel. The ministry of health has expressed concern over the reducing number of specialized doctors in Uganda. This comes at the time when Uganda is experecing an exodus of senior consultant doctors to others countries seeking for greener pasture. Speaking during the launch of UCU School of medicine, the minister for health doctor Jane Ruth Achang said that regardless of increase in medical doctors and medical schools, those specializing in certain disease are still minimum. She said that new medical school should establish special courses to produce specialized doctors who will improve Ugandas ailing health sector. Malaysias Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng. (File photo: AFP/Roslan Rahman) By Enda Curran Malaysia is paring expectations for how much funds it can recoup from 1MDB, with Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng saying the country would be very lucky to get back just half. We want to get as much as we can but the reality is you cant get the actual amount, Lim said to reporters in Hong Kong, adding that the government can realistically recover 30 percent. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has set himself a target of recouping $4.5 billion that he said was squandered through the troubled state fund. Lim didnt clarify if his 30 percent expectation refers to Mahathirs target as the estimate of the full amount of lost assets. Investigators in at least 10 countries are trying to map the numerous complex transactions spanning the globe that Swiss Attorney-General Michael Lauber called a Ponzi scheme. That underscores the difficulty in crossing national borders to locate and claim assets funneled from the state investment fund, whose full name is 1Malaysia Development Bhd. Malaysia is seeking to expedite the sale of a $250 million yacht seized as part of a U.S. Justice Department probe into 1MDB, while looking to bring back a $35 million jet parked in Singapore. The neighboring city-state has seized S$240 million ($175 million) from bank accounts and properties linked to the Malaysian fund. The burden of shouldering the 1MDBs debt has inflated the governments debt and liabilities to exceed 1 trillion ringgit ($241 billion), Lim said. He has had to reduce spending including by canceling multibillion-dollar transportation projects and delaying election pledges until after Malaysia has reined in its debt. It is still a mammoth task to fix up our fiscal situation but I think we are getting there, Lim said. I am willing to be the most unpopular finance minister in Malaysian history. 2018 Bloomberg L.P The United States cut Croatia's lead to 2-1 in their Davis Cup semi-final as Mike Bryan and Ryan Harrison won a dramatic doubles rubber in Zadar on Saturday. Croatia, who saw Marin Cilic and Borna Coric both win their singles matches on Friday, will try again on Sunday to book a final date with defending champions France in November. Bryan and Harrison won a deciding-set tie-break to end a thrilling comeback from Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic with a 7-5, 7-6 (8/6), 1-6, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5) victory after four hours and 43 minutes on court. But Croatia captain Zeljko Krajan is still confident that his team will secure victory in Sunday's first match which sees world number six Cilic face Steve Johnson. "Cilic is a big favourite... it will definitely not be easy to defeat him in front of a home crowd," Krajan told television channel HRT. If Johnson causes an upset against Cilic, Coric will play against Davis cup debutant Frances Tifaoe in a deciding rubber. On Friday, Coric justified his favourite's tag and defeated Johnson 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, before Cilic defeated Tiafoe 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) to leave his country on the brink of the final. Croatia have made the final twice, in 2005, when they were crowned champions, and 2016. Croatia have beaten the USA on each of their four previous Davis Cup meetings. Jim Courier's team is missing two top players -- John Isner, the world number 10 who has stayed home due to family reasons, and injured Jack Sock. France took an unassailable 3-0 semi-final lead over Spain earlier on Saturday to secure a 19th final appearance. 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. 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 German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday that the European Union would maintain sanctions against Russia until Moscow makes progress on fulfilling its commitments under a peace plan for east Ukraine. "Before the Minsk agreement has been implemented or progress has been made in that regard, we will not consider lifting sanctions on Russia," Merkel told reporters in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. Berlin and Moscow, along with Paris, signed peace agreements in the Belarussian capital Minsk in 2015 intended to put an end to a conflict that has left more than 10,000 dead since it began in April 2014. But Merkel said that the talks between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany, known as the Normandy format, "may not have progressed as much as we would have wished them to". "Peace and reinstating the territorial integrity of Ukraine continue to be important topics for all of us here," she added. Merkel spoke a day after an EU court rejected a bid by eight Russian companies to cancel sanctions, ruling that the measures were reasonable and proportionate. Separately, the European Council, which groups the bloc's 28 member states, on Thursday extended sanctions against 155 people and 44 entities, which include businesses, organisations and political parties. The EU introduced the sanctions as part of measures to punish the Kremlin for the annexation of Crimea and for its support for pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine. Merkel said there was consensus on a wide range of EU issues, notably boosting an EU border force to tackle migration, following Friday's talks with leaders from Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. She again defended controversial plans for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline through the Baltic Sea to bring Russian natural gas to Germany. But the chancellor also vowed to work to safeguard Ukraine's role as a transit route for gas, saying that "we are engaging in talks about that". However, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite called the pipeline "a geopolitical project" that may boost unwanted Russian influence. Similar fears have previously been voiced by Poland and other eastern member states. The Baltic route allows Germany and other European countries to avoid gas piped through Ukraine. Russia has shut off gas supplies to Ukraine in the past, creating knock-on effects in the EU. Merkel and Grybauskaite were to meet German troops who lead a NATO battalion in Lithuania later Friday. Health regulator not publishing results making it impossible for experts to establish if drugs could be harmful - PA The failure of England's public healthy body to publish results of three major studies into vaccines for children makes it impossible for experts to establish whether the drugs could be harmful, scientists have claimed. Hundreds of children took part in three potentially risky Government drug trials, but Public Health England (PHE) breached the law by failing to add the findings to the official register set up to allow the scientific community to scrutinise the outcomes. Experts have accused PHE of an incomprehensible violation of the trust of parents who gave their consent for their children to take part in the tests. The largest trial involved 640 participants under the age of 16 whose parents gave consent for them to be selected at random to try a new meningococcal and whooping cough booster vaccine. While dangerous side-effects in a trial at this stage are rare, a risk does exist. Participants also take a gamble by offering themselves up for selection for a new drug which might not protect them as well as the standard therapy. The trial concluded in 2016, but the results have not yet appeared on the EU Clinical Trials Register (EUCTR), in breach of EU law which requires registration within 12 months, nor published anywhere else. The failure to register means there is currently no way for the public to know how those children fared. Last night Dr Ben Goldacre, the Oxford academic whose analysis revealed the PHE omission, told The Sunday Telegraph: It is incomprehensible to me that Public Health England of all the trials it could leave unreported to have failed to comply with the legal requirements to report trials of vaccines. When patients participate and they take a risk with their own health. We have to respect their contribution by publishing the results properly. If we dont, that is a betrayal of trust. The EUCRT was set up partly to counter the tendency of many scientific journals, which is the traditional mode of publication, to polish the results, downplaying the therapies that failed. Story continues The transparency it affords is supposed to promote confidence in science at a time where the anti-vax movement, those who argue vaccines are useless and actually cause disease, is buoyant. Andrew Wakefield, the discredited British doctor whose fraudulent research prompted a scare that the MMR vaccine causes autism, is enjoying widespread support in the US and a boost sympathetic comments by President Trump. Withholding the results of a clinical trial makes a mockery of all our efforts to promote trust in medicine, and Im particularly sad to see vaccine trials going unreported, said Dr Goldacre. A second PHE trial, which concluded in 2010, investigated effectiveness of a meningitis C vaccine in a group of 130 one-year-olds, while a third, which concluded in 2011, involved 75 adults trialing a meningitis B vaccine. PHE said the results of these studies had been published in academic journals, while results of the larger 640-patient trial are still being analysed. The omissions by PHE forms part of a bigger picture of widespread disregard for the registration law. Dr Goldacres research via his EU.trialstracker.net website shows that over the 7,274 trials where results have been due, only 49.5 per cent reported the results. However, no organisation has ever been sanctioned for breaching the law. The research showed that pharmaceutical companies tend to comply more than academic institutions, with 68 per cent of company-sponsored trials reporting their results, compared to 11 per cent from universities. Fergus Sweeney, Head of Inspections at the European Medicines Agency, said: We need to reflect on how we can improve our communication with academic sponsors and smaller sponsor organisations. This study helps to spread the word on how important it is to post trial results once a clinical trial is over. We at EMA are firm believers that transparency and public availability and scrutiny of clinical trial information and results are fundamental for the protection and promotion of public health. The head of the Organization of American States on Friday said "military intervention" to "overthrow" Nicolas Maduro's government must not be ruled out, as Venezuela suffers an economic and humanitarian crisis. "With regards to a military intervention aimed at overthrowing the regime of Nicolas Maduro, I think we should not exclude any option," OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro told journalists in the Colombian city of Cucuta, near the border with Venezuela. Almagro -- dubbed an "interventionist" by Maduro -- said Caracas was committing "crimes against humanity" against its people. "Suffering of the people, in the induced exodus that it is driving, puts diplomatic actions in first place, but we should not rule out any action," he said. The OAS leader on Friday ends a three-day visit to Colombia concerning the wave of migrants from oil-rich Venezuela fleeing there. Venezuela is mired in a deep economic crisis that has triggered the departure of 2.3 million people since 2014, according to the United Nations. Colombia has received more than one million. CLEVELAND (AP) Former President Barack Obama delivered a simple message Thursday headed into the fall midterm elections: Vote. Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd of several thousand in Cleveland, Obama said the consequences of sitting on the sidelines during November's midterm elections "are far more dangerous" than in the past. Without mentioning Republican President Donald Trump by name, Obama said, "This is not normal what we're seeing. It is radical." He said a continuation of Republican control in Washington would threaten Medicaid, affordable health care, even democracy. "On November 6th, we have a chance to restore some sanity to our politics," Obama said. "We can flip the balance of power back to the American people. Because you are the only check on bad policy, you are the only real check on abuses of power. It's you and your vote." Obama was in closely divided Ohio to campaign for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Richard Cordray, running mate Betty Sutton, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and the party's statewide slate. Cordray, who was Obama's appointee to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, is locked in a tight contest for governor against Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine. Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich is term-limited. Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, was in the state Thursday to raise money for DeWine and Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, who is seeking to unseat Brown in the Senate. In Cleveland, Cordray pledged to the crowd that he and his party would fight for decency, tolerance, inclusion and respectfulness if elected, declaring, "Change is coming." Obama drew a contrast between Cordray's polite some say boring style and the president's. He said many Ohio farmers "have money in their pockets" because of Cordray's work at the consumer bureau. "He didn't try to take credit for it. He didn't tweet about it. He just did it," Obama said. "And if you elect him your governor, he will keep working like that on your behalf." Story continues Obama said this fall's elections are more important than any he can remember. "Each time we move in the direction of greater freedoms and greater prosperity for all people, the status quo pushes back. The powerful and the privileged oftentimes want to keep us divided, work to keep us angry and cynical, because that helps them hold onto their power and privilege." Republicans rejected Democrats' arguments. "2016 is over, but President Obama continues to dismiss the millions of voters across Ohio who rejected a continuation of his policies in favor of President Trump's plan for historic tax cuts, new jobs and soaring economic growth," said Mandi Merritt, Ohio spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee. "Richard Cordray, Obama's former regulator-in-chief, would just be more of the same of the outdated Obama-era policies that hurt Ohio families." Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire was unexpectedly freed from jail on Saturday after President Paul Kagame granted her early release, alongside more than 2,000 other prisoners. "I thank the president who gave me this liberation," Ingabire said as she left Mageragere Prison in the capital Kigali. "This is the beginning of the opening of political space in Rwanda, I hope so," she said calling on Kagame "to release other political prisoners". The surprise release of 2,140 prisoners, including Ingabire and musician Kizito Mihigo, followed a cabinet meeting on Friday at which a presidential order of "mercy" was approved. "The Cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame today approved the early release of 2,140 convicts found eligible under relevant provisions of law," a justice minister statement read. "Among them are Mr Kizito Mihigo and Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, the remainder of whose sentences were commuted by Presidential prerogative following their most recent applications for clemency in June this year." Ingabire returned from exile in The Netherlands intending to run for president in 2010 as leader of the FDU-Inkingi party. However, she was arrested, charged with terrorism and treason and sentenced to 10 years in jail during a widely criticised trial. Ingabire, an ethnic Hutu, was accused of "genocide ideology" and "divisionism" after publicly questioning the government narrative of the 1994 genocide of mostly Tutsi people that killed around 800,000 people. On appeal, Rwanda's Supreme Court extended her sentence to 15 years. - Stability and repression - In November last year, the Arusha-based African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights ruled that Rwanda had violated Ingabire's rights to freedom of speech and adequate defence, prompting calls for a retrial. However, Rwanda ignored the ruling. Members of Ingabire's party -- which has not been permitted to register -- have frequently been arrested during her detention, and human rights groups have accused the military of torturing them. Rwandan musician Kizito Mihigo was arrested in 2015 and jailed for 10 years for conspiring to assassinate Kagame. Kagame, the country's de facto ruler since his rebel army stopped the genocide in 1994, recently changed the constitution clearing the way for him to rule until 2034. Another opposition politician, Diane Rwigara, who sought to challenge for the presidency in 2017, was blocked by the electoral commission and subsequently arrested and charged with treason. Her trial is underway. Others presidential challengers have been prevented from entering the country, while exiled dissidents have been threatened and sometimes murdered. Kagame has been praised for bringing stability and economic growth to his tiny nation but often comes under fire for restricting political freedom. He commonly wins re-election with over 90 percent of the vote. Although Rwanda is constitutionally a multi-party system there is practically no opposition within the country with most of the recognised parties supporting the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). However, in parliamentary elections earlier this month the opposition Green Party won two seats, for the first time. 2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #37 Posted on 15 September 2018 by John Hartz A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week. Editor's Pick Paris Conundrum: How to Know How Much Carbon Is Being Emitted? An industrial complex in Oberhausen, Germany in January 2017. LUKAS SCHULZE/GETTY As climate negotiators consider rules for verifying commitments under the Paris Agreement, they will have to confront a difficult truth: There currently is no reliably accurate way to measure total global emissions or how much CO2 is coming from individual nations. Will we be able to verify the Paris climate accord? Right now science is not up to the task, say the people in charge of assessing our annual emissions of CO2. There is, they say, no sure way of independently verifying whether national governments are telling the truth about their own emissions or of knowing by how much global anthropogenic emissions are actually increasing. And that is distinctly alarming, given the contradiction between reports that anthropogenic emissions have stopped rising and atmospheric measurements showing that annual increases in CO2 levels have reached record levels. Climate negotiators are committed to concluding a rule book for implementing the Paris Agreement at their next annual conference, in Katowice, Poland, in December. Central to that will be an agreed plan to monitor, report, and verify the pledges made by almost 200 countries. Paris Conundrum: How to Know How Much Carbon Is Being Emitted? by Fred Pearce, Yale Environment 360, Sep 10, 2018 Links posted on Facebook Sun Sep 9, 2018 Mon Sep 10, 2018 Tue Sep 11, 2018 Wed Sep 12, 2018 Thu Sep 13, 2018 Fri Sep 14, 2018 Sat Sep 15, 2018 This article is published through a partnership with New York Medias Strategist. The partnership is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected by New York Media. If you buy something through our links, Slate and New York Media may earn an affiliate commission. Cleaning your ears is often a private, gross moment between you and a Q-tip, but according to ENTs, if you know whats good for you, youd stop fussing with your ears completely. Maura Cosettian otolaryngologist at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinaiexplains that wax already self-regulates, and even carries health benefits. Having wax is a sign of a healthy ear. It combines lubricating, antibacterial, and even antifungal properties. Its not like brushing your teeth, or something you have to think about cleaning all the time. Its quite the opposite. Advertisement The real cause for concern is when ear wax becomes impacted, partly blocking the ear canal and causing symptoms like ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, or pain. For what its worth, its often caused by people digging around in there in the first place. Here, we talk to Cosetti and otolaryngologist Eric Smouha of ENT and Allergy Associates about how you can gently clean your ears at home if you sense you have a blockage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ear wax normally forms in the ear canal and finds its way to the surface. If it gets to the surface, its okay to swab around there with a soft washcloth or something along those lines, says Smouha. A soft muslin baby washcloth will be small and soft enough to do the trick. Cosetti says that even using a Q-tip is helpful here so long as youre guiding it along the outer part of the ear or the opening of the ear canal, but making sure not to prod it inside. BUY: Baby Muslin Washcloths $12, Amazon Advertisement Advertisement There are also a dozen different metal tools, swabs, and syringes that can be purchased for clearing your ears, but for issues like swimmers ear (when water gets trapped behind the wax) or blockages, Cosetti says ear drops should be your first call to action before buying anything that involves inserting something into your ear canal. Drops are both more effective and safer. She says you can either work with something over the counter or a homemade solution. The environment of your ear is naturally acidic, so its usually a good idea to use some sort of acidic solution or a mixture. I have a lot of my patients use a half-and-half alcohol solution with alcohol and water, or hydrogen peroxide and water. Apple-cider vinegar is a really good idea to use, too. Advertisement Advertisement BUY: Swan Hydrogen Peroxide (Pack of 2) $9, Amazon Smouha also suggests using over-the-counter ear drops to help dislodge wax, but sparingly. Using things like Debrox once or twice is fine, but most of those drops have peroxide, which can irritate the skin. Its fine to use it if the wax comes out, but if the solution sits around in the ear canal, skin can become macerated like if youve been in the bathtub too long. Advertisement Advertisement BUY: Debrox Removal Aid Drops $6, Amazon If youre concerned about ear irritation, Cosetti says you can also try using a moisturizing oil to soften up the earwax. Any kind of oilmineral oil or olive oil or lavender oil or any essential oilsis fine because itchy ears can also be a sign of dry skin, and thats often made worse by using something thats a really drying agent like peroxide. Advertisement BUY: Garden of Life Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil $7, Amazon Advertisement Advertisement A more ambitious person might try solutions like syringes and systems that flush out the ear, which Smouha says are fine if people are exercising caution, but if it doesnt work the first time, its probably better to see a doctor and not persist. Advertisement Advertisement To administer an at-home solution, you can use a bulb syringe to pump a little bit into your ear canal, but remember to avoid jamming the tip directly into your ear. You can work around this by tipping your head to one side and squeezing your solution directly above the ear-canal entrance. BUY: Hand Bulb Ear Syringe $5, Amazon Advertisement Heres another popular ear-irrigation system, developed by a doctor, that might be helpful. It uses a hose attached to a spray bottle to flush your ear with water or a solution of your choice to soften up the wax. BUY: Elephant Ear Washer Bottle System $30, Amazon Some people who are using syringes and ear drops also find that its helpful to have one of these ear basins handy, which fits under the ear to collect any wax buildup or excess liquid that might come tumbling out. BUY: Grafco Goldnamer Ear Basin $6, Amazon This, then, was the fatal flaw of #MeToo: We thought that patriarchal systems, based in entrenched power, and supported by others in power, could be brought down by individual, brave women. Why dont women come forward? The story now unfolding on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and an unidentified woman who alleges that he sexually assaulted her when they were in high school underscores why. This is what we do know: The woman went to her congresswoman with a complaint about President Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, that dated back to high school. The complaint is that he and another boy violently assaulted (but did not rape) her at a party. She put that complaint in a letter, which the congresswoman will not discuss, citing confidentiality. That letter was also sent to Sen. Dianne Feinsteins office, who promised confidentiality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In adhering to this promise of confidentiality, Feinsteins office did not share the letter with other Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee and did not question Kavanaugh about the event during his hearings. It was only this week that other Democrats got wind of the letter and began to demand that its contents be shared with them. On Wednesday, the Intercept was the first to report on the controversy, and on Friday morning, Ronan Farrow and Jane Mayer at the New Yorker reported the specifics of the allegations contained in the letter: 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. Advertisement Feinsteins team explained its decision to not make the letter public in the following statement: Senator Feinstein was given information about Judge Kavanaugh through a third party. The Senator took these allegations seriously and believed they should be public. However, 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. Advertisement What we can gather from this chain of events is that at some point this summer, the woman changed her mindas the New Yorker put it, after the interactions with Eshoos and Feinsteins offices, the woman decided not to speak about the matter publicly. We can litigate until the end of time whether Senate Democrats should have been given the letter sooner and who was in the best position to evaluate the weight of her claims. The better question is why a woman making claims about a sexual attack would change her mind about levying them. The controversy that has ensued since the Intercept publicized the existence of this letter and its accusation serves as a perfectly coherent argument for why. Advertisement Advertisement The real tragedy is that we do not need this womans story to understand who the current Supreme Court nominee is. Almost anyone who has played any part in the #MeToo movement might say with confidence that the cost of coming forward is crippling. And indeed, as soon as the New Yorker published its story, Kavanaugh defenders were quick to say that the woman, still unnamed, was a drunk and a liar. Had I been asked to advise this woman, who, according to the New Yorker, is already in trauma, and according to CNN has sought medical help for it, I would have told her to stand down. I would have told her that neither politics nor journalism are institutions that can evaluate and adjudicate facts about systems in which powerful men use their power to harm women. I would have told her that she would be risking considerable peril to her personal reputation, even as she would be lauded as a hero. I would have also told her that powerful men have about a three-month rehabilitation period through which they must live, after which they can be swept up once again in the slipstream of their own fame and success. The women of #MeToo, though, are never quite welcome in the slipstream again. And if you closely observe how one of the most intimate and frightening moments of this anonymous womans life is currently being tossed around for political gain, I suspect you might come to agree with me. Advertisement Advertisement The real tragedy is that we do not need this womans story to understand who the current Supreme Court nominee is. Because here is what we do know about Judge Kavanaugh: We know that he clerked for and had a yearslong close relationship with a serial abuser of women and claims he knew nothing about it. He claims he doesnt recall being on a hypersexualized and misogynistic email list and claims he didnt bother to search to determine whether he was. He claims that when the serial abuser of women for whom he clerked was revealed to be a serial abuser of women, he believed the victims and yet called the abuser, because he was worried about the abusers mental health. Worrying more about the accused judge than the accusers one claims to believe is the system protecting the system. This is why women dont come forward. Advertisement Advertisement Here is what we do know about Judge Kavanaugh. We know that he was part of a group of young men who saw fit to write a creepy racist and misogynistic email chainand to pledge to keep it secret. We also know that the neutral George W. Bush lawyer who vetted Kavanaughs papers (and also represents the disgraced judge for whom Kavanaugh once clerked) deemed one of those emails classified, even though it contained no national security or political secrets. Withholding that email was the system protecting the system. That is why women dont come forward. The system made certain that whatever this woman had to say, or didnt have to say, would be evaluated by people with partial information and an agenda Here is what we do know about Judge Kavanaugh. He had an opportunity to use all these questions around all these periods in his life to say anything at all about men and power and the female victims of that power, and about the systems that protect and reify and rehabilitate men in power, and he said nothing. Worse, he said he believed the victims of that system while still doing nothing to support or credit them. This is why women dont come forward. Advertisement And so, a woman considered coming forward to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Weve seen this movie before, and it doesnt end well for her. We do not know who she is, or what her precise claims were, or how credible they might be, or whether she had reported the episode contemporaneously, or whether there were other witnesses. We know nothing. What we do know is that she was promised confidentiality and that reporters are now camped out on her doorstep offering to help her become a hero to the #MeToo movement. The problem is that demanding that any one woman bear the full professional and social and emotional cost of dismantling the machinery of men in power propping up other men in power is expecting entirely too much. We already know that one victim speaking up isnt enough. The entire vast apparatus of the institution will be brought to bear against her, and that is the same apparatus that she must report to and hope to be believed by, all while knowing she must continue to work within it. Asking that any one woman do such a thing isnt just a call for moral heroism. Its also irrational. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its particularly irrational when the man in question is in the process of being confirmed to a Supreme Court seat with political stakes that are beyond high. The system that has gotten Brett Kavanaugh to this point has done so by scrambling powerful former clerks to defend him, and positioning powerful Republican lawyers to classify his emails, and standing together to simultaneously claim that it believes the Kozinski accusers and also believes they are political operatives sent to embarrass him. Why would we think that this is a system into which we could input a complicated allegation of sexual misconduct and get out anything rational or fact-based in return? In a statement released late Friday, Anita Hill noted that she has seen firsthand what happens when an ostensibly neutral process to adjudicate facts is weaponized against an accuser, and she reminds us that nothing about this process treated the woman as anything other than instrumental, and that nothing about this process was fair or neutral. When she received a Mirror Award this summer for her reporting on Charlie Rose, my colleague Irin Carmon said this in her speech: The stories that we have been doing are about a system. The system has lawyers and a good reputation. It has publicists. It has a perfectly reasonable explanation about what happened. It has powerful friends that will ask if its really worth ruining the career of a good man based on what one women says, what four women say, what 35 women say. Indeed, the system is sitting in this room. Some more than others. The system is still powerful men getting stories killed that I believe will one day see the light of day. Advertisement Advertisement The system made certain that whatever this woman had to say, or didnt have to say, would be evaluated by people with partial information and an agenda, even if she didnt want to share it in the first place. The system is still sitting in this room. The system kind of is this room. The system keeps asking why women in trauma didnt come forward earlier or later or publicly or privately or anonymously or with evidence or without evidence. The system is why women dont talk, and even when they do, why things dont change. Hours after the first reported deaths from now tropical storm Florence were reported, the countrys commander in chief seemed to have other things on his mind. Friday night, President Donald Trump once again took to Twitter to question the death toll in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria. Over the course of two tweets, the president doubled down on his doubts about the estimated death toll, although this time he didnt directly blame Democrats. In a pair of Friday night tweets, Trump questioned how the estimated death toll in Puerto Rico soared without a satisfactory explanation. He cited a Washington Post article that noted officials in Puerto Rico had told Trump at least 16 people had died in Hurricane Maria. This was long AFTER the hurricane took place. Over many months it went to 64 PEOPLE, Trump wrote. Then, like magic, 3000 PEOPLE KILLED. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Trump visited the island territory last October, OFFICIALS told him in a briefing 16 PEOPLE had died from Maria. The Washington Post. This was long AFTER the hurricane took place. Over many months it went to 64 PEOPLE. Then, like magic, 3000 PEOPLE KILLED. They hired.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2018 The president then slammed a report by George Washington University estimating that 2,975 people died as a result of the storm. FIFTY TIMES LAST ORIGINAL NUMBER - NO WAY! wrote Trump. Advertisement ....GWU Research to tell them how many people had died in Puerto Rico (how would they not know this?). This method was never done with previous hurricanes because other jurisdictions know how many people were killed. FIFTY TIMES LAST ORIGINAL NUMBER - NO WAY! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2018 The president quickly got a response from Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello, who wrote on Twitter that he would be happy to walk him through the scientific process of the study. But at the same time, Rossello noted there is no reason to underscore the tragedy we have suffered in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. The governor added that he hoped the president would consider sending a message of support to show you stand with all of the US Citizens in Puerto Rico that lost loved ones. Advertisement Advertisement Mr. President Id very much be willing to walk you through the scientific process of the study and how @Gwtweets arrived at the excess mortality number estimate. There is no reason to underscore the tragedy we have suffered in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. 1/2 https://t.co/HGENQOu6fQ Ricardo Rossello (@ricardorossello) September 15, 2018 In the meantime, I hope you consider sending a message of support to show you stand with all of the US Citizens in Puerto Rico that lost loved ones. It would certainly be an act of respect and empathy. 2/2 Ricardo Rossello (@ricardorossello) September 15, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the week, George Washington Universitys Milken Institute School of Public Health defended its estimate. We stand by the science underlying our study which found there were an estimated 2,975 excess deaths in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, reads the statement. We are confident that the number 2,975 is the most accurate and unbiased estimate of excess mortality to date. Statement from George Washington University: "We stand by the science underlying our study which found there were an estimated 2,975 excess deaths in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria." pic.twitter.com/P6Tbp5mTcl NBC News (@NBCNews) September 13, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement That defense came after Trump blamed Democrats for the estimate, characterizing it as part of an effort to make him look as bad as possible even though he had been raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. .....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 Advertisement Following that tweet, Sen. Chuck Schumer wrote on Twitter that Trump owed an apology to 3,000 families in Puerto Rico and called on the president to stop the shameful attack on deceased fellow Americans and focus on the response to Hurricane Florence. Downgraded to a tropical storm but bearing unprecedented amounts of rain, Florence continued its 5 mph crawl over the Carolinas on Saturday morning. The storm is going to continue its violent grind across our state for days, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said on Friday. We are deeply concerned for farms, for businesses, for schools, and even whole communities which could be wiped away. By early Saturday, the eye of the storm had passed into South Carolina, but rainfall is expected to continue for days across the region and into Virginia and the Appalachians. Building codes and flood insurance are arranged around FEMAs 100-year flood plain, but North Carolina officials were calling Florence a 1-in-500 or 1-in-1,000 year flooding eventin large part because of rain that is predicted to accumulate for days. In Emerald Isle, a barrier island near Wilmington, a USGS gauge measured 27.7 inches of rain in 24 hoursa state record. The National Weather Service is predicting between 30 and 40 inches of rain south of Cape Hatteras, with higher totals possible in places. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of late Friday night, at least five people had died, none from drowning. A mother and baby were killed by a falling tree in Wilmington. Hundreds had been rescued, and more than 800,000 people had lost power. That number could rise as high as 3 million. More than 9 feet of storm surge in parts of Pamlico Sound overwhelmed communities like New Bern, North Carolina, where more than 100 people were rescued on Thursday night. While the state assesses the damage to the coast, the bigger threat now moves inland. Like last years Hurricane Harvey, Florence is one of the unusually slow-moving storms that scientists predict will become more common with climate change. Swirling bands of rain continued to pound Eastern North Carolina on Friday night as the storm moved slowly west. Rain-swollen rivers are expected to reach all-time record highs early next week. On the bright side, the wild horses of the Outer Banks have survived the storm without any trouble, herd manager Meg Puckett told the Charlotte News & Observer. Well before the world associated the phrase me too with sexual assault, Jian Ghomeshi was a popular Canadian radio host and musician. In 2014 and 2015, however, he became the subject of numerous allegations of sexual assault, which included biting, choking, and punching women in the head. In 2016, he was acquitted on a number of criminal counts when the judge said that the three women who testified in court against him had changed aspects of their story or had failed to reveal information to law enforcement. But these were only a few of the accusations against Ghomeshi, which eventually were made by more than 20 women. He also avoided criminal charges in a separate trial by signing a peace bond and apologizing to his victim. Advertisement Now, Ghomeshi has published a long essay in the New York Review of Books, titled Reflections From a Hashtag. In it, Ghomeshi aims to inject nuance into his story and says he has faced enough humiliation for a lifetime as a victim of mass shaming. He also claims to have learned some lessons that have made him a better man: I have spent these years trying to listen, read, and reflect, he writes, adding that he now understands that he could be too demanding on dates. Still, he denies the vast majority of the accusations. The piece is promoted on the cover as part of a package on The Fall of Men and lands on the same week that Harpers published a long first-person essay by John Hockenberry, who last year was accused of harassing several female colleagues at WNYC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I recently spoke by phone with Ian Buruma, the editor of the New York Review of Books, about the decision to publish the Ghomeshi piece, which has already proven controversial. (Full disclosure: I have met Buruma several times, and he offered me a job last year after he took over the NYRB.) During the course of our conversation, which has been edited and condensed for clarity, we discussed the genesis of the piece, the ethics of publishing people who do bad deeds, and why the specific nature of Ghomeshis behavior is not really Burumas concern. Isaac Chotiner: How did this piece come about? Ian Buruma: I met, through another editor, many months ago, Jian Ghomeshi, whom I hadnt met before and who told me his story and said that he was interested in writing about it. I was interested in the subject, which as we discussed then, the first time I saw him, was what it was like to be, as it were, at the top of the world, doing more or less what you like, being a jerk in many ways, and then finding your life ruined and being a public villain and pilloried. This seemed like a story that was worth hearingnot necessarily as a defense of what he may have done. But it is an angle on an issue that is clearly very important and that I felt had not been exposed very much. Advertisement Advertisement Was it at a social occasion that you met? No, no, it was a coffee to discuss the prospect of writing. The editor had I dont know how he knew Ghomeshi. I have no idea. But the three of us had coffee and his story was discussed and he expressed an interest in writing about it. And I said I find it an interesting story, so I will read whatever you come up with. [Note: When I called Buruma back to ask whether the other editor worked at a different publicationas I had perhaps wrongly assumed from his first answerhe did not answer, telling me, Its irrelevant. Its neither here nor there.] Advertisement Were there in-house objections to the piece? Advertisement No. We had a proper office discussion and everybody expressed their views and not everybody agreed. But all views were aired and in the end, when the decision was made, the office stuck together. Was there a gender breakdown during the discussion? I would say not necessarily just in this particular case. I would say that on issues to do with #MeToo and relations between men and women and so on, there isnt so much a gender breakdown as there is a generational one. I think that is generally true. I dont think our office is in any way unusual. I think people over 40 and under 40 often have disagreements about this. Advertisement How old are you? Im 66. Advertisement Are you then on the predictable side of that divide, given what you said? I wouldnt want to categorize myself quite so starkly. Like everybody who thinks about these issues, I have ambivalent feelings about it. I have absolutely no doubt that the #MeToo movement is a necessary corrective on male behavior that stands in the way of being able to work on equal terms with women. In that sense, I think its an entirely good thing. But like all well-intentioned and good things, there can be undesirable consequences. I think, in a general climate of denunciation, sometimes things happen and people express views that can be disturbing. I wouldnt say that I have an unequivocal view of it. Advertisement Do you think what happened to Ghomeshi is an undesirable consequence? I think it has undesirable, or at least unresolved, aspects to it. I think nobody has quite figured out what should happen in cases like his, where you have been legally acquitted but you are still judged as undesirable in public opinion, and how far that should go, how long that should last, and whether people should make a comeback or can make a comeback at allthere are no hard and fast rules. Thats an issue we should be thinking about. Advertisement Advertisement But Hang on. Hang on. The reason I was interested in publishing it is precisely to help people think this sort of thing through. I am not talking about people who broke the law. I am not talking about rapists. I am talking about people who behaved badly sexually, abusing their power in one way or another, and then the question is how should that be sanctioned. Something like rape is a crime, and we know what happens in the case of crimes. There are trials and if you are held to be guilty or convicted and so on, there are rules about that. What is much murkier is when people are not found to have broken the law but have misbehaved in other ways nonetheless. How do you deal with such cases? Should that last forever? Advertisement There are numerous allegations of sexual assault against Ghomeshi, including punching women in the head. That seems pretty far on the spectrum of bad behavior. Im no judge of the rights and wrongs of every allegation. How can I be? All I know is that in a court of law he was acquitted, and there is no proof he committed a crime. The exact nature of his behaviorhow much consent was involvedI have no idea, nor is it really my concern. My concern is what happens to somebody who has not been found guilty in any criminal sense but who perhaps deserves social opprobrium, but how long should that last, what form it should take, etc. Advertisement Advertisement O. J. Simpson was not found guilty in a criminal trial. I assume, even if he didnt have other issues, we might have paused before asking him to write an essay. Advertisement That is true, but he was found guilty in a civil trial. Advertisement I think even if he hadnt been is perhaps the point to be made. But lets also note that Ghomeshi signed a peace bond and avoided another trial by apologizing to a victim. And these allegations were from more than 20 women. We dont know what happened, I agree. But that is an astonishing number, no? I am not going to defend his behavior, and I dont know if what all these women are saying is true. Perhaps it is. Perhaps it isnt. My interest in running this piece, as I said, is the point of view of somebody who has been pilloried in public opinion and what somebody like that feels about it. It was not run as a piece to exonerate him or to somehow mitigate the nature of his behavior. Advertisement You say its not your concern, but it is your concern. If you knew the allegations were true, I assume you would not have run the piece. Advertisement Well, it depends what the allegations are. What you were saying just now was rather vague. Punching women against their will. Those are the allegations, but as we both know, sexual behavior is a many-faceted business. Take something like biting. Biting can be an aggressive or even criminal act. It can also be construed differently in different circumstances. I am not a judge of exactly what he did. All I know is that he was acquitted and he is now subject to public opprobrium and is a sort of persona non grata in consequence. The interest in the article for me is what it feels like in that position and what we should think about. Advertisement In his piece, he writes, In October 2014, I was fired from my job at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation after allegations circulated online that Id been abusive with an ex-girlfriend during sex. But it was not about online rumors. The Toronto Star, a famed and respected newspaper, was about to publish a big piece, and that is why he resigned, correct? Advertisement Its a respected newspaper, yes. But you dont think thats misleading in any way? Not really, but again, I am not judging him for the exact rights and wrongs of what he did in the past. Advertisement I am asking you about what he wrote in your magazine. No, I dont think so. He also writes, In the aftermath of my firing, and amid a media storm, several more people accused me of sexual misconduct. Is several sufficient for more than 20 women? Advertisement Well, in a literal sense, it is. It might have been better to mention the exact number, possibly so. One passage states, One of the charges was separated and later withdrawn with a peace bonda pledge to be on good behavior for a year. There was no criminal trial. He doesnt mention that he was also forced to apologize, which feels crucial in trying to ascertain his innocence or guilt. I dont have the piece right in front of me. What exactly did he write? One of the charges was separated and later withdrawn with a peace bonda pledge to be on good behavior for a year. There was no criminal trial. There was no mention of the apology. Advertisement I think the fact that he doesnt mention an apology does not really add or take away anything from the story at hand, which is what happened afterward and what happened to him. It is a personal account, which by the way, and I think should be said, is part of a package in the magazine. It doesnt stand on its own. Its with two other articles that give different accounts and different angles on male behavior. Advertisement Do you not feel that there is a statement being made putting him on the cover, which says The Fall of Men, next to these other pieces? The headline of the piece is Reflections From a Hashtag, which feels dismissive of #MeToo to me. Advertisement Advertisement No, not at all. In none of these pieces is anybody making an argument against #MeToo. All we have done is take three pieces, which I would hope help the readers to think through a very fraught issue in our time. It is certainly not a statement against #MeToo. It is trying to understand bad male behavior. When a guy who has avoided real punishment says he has had enough humiliation for a lifetime and is a victim of mass shaming, that does seem to be a comment on what follows accusations. That is his comment. It is a personal account. So he is expressing what it felt like to him. It is not me saying that. It is not me saying thats good. Its not me saying thats bad. You need to find as many fresh ways to analyze, express, and describe whats going on as you can, and this is one angle I hadnt read yet. Until I read [John] Hockenberry in Harpers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York Review of Books published Mary McCarthy and Elizabeth Hardwick. Its prestige. I assume you only print pieces that reach a certain quality as written work. Yes, thats true. The point being that everyone whose name is above an article at the Review has to be absolutely beyond reproach in their private and public life? I dont think so. No, you have published Naipaul and Mailer, who did not behave well with women. This seems different. Last question: Last year, near the end of which you took over, VIDA, an organization that measures gender parity in publishing, reported that your publication had the most pronounced gender disparity of 2017s VIDA Count, with only 23.3% of published writers who are women. Are you making an active effort to change that? Advertisement Advertisement Yes. We are very conscious of having as many women writing in each issue as we can. I dont believe in quotas. I believe in having things that are of the greatest interest. But we make an effort with every issue to have as many female voices as we can get. Have you heard any complaints from contributors about this piece? No. Last question: If Many last questions. If Harvey Weinstein wanted to write an essay for you on his post-#MeToo experiences, assuming he isnt convicted, or the statute of limitations had passed, would you consider publishing it? I dont think I can answer that question because it is not only a hypothetical but an extremely unlikely event, since he has been accused of rape, which Ghomeshi was never accused of. I think its a very different case. If somebody was accused of rapelet alone convicted for itno, I wouldnt have the same attitude. I think that is partly the problem. People very quickly conflate cases of criminal behavior with cases that are sometimes murkier and can involve making people feel uncomfortable, verbally or physically, and that really has very little to do with rape or criminal violence. I think it is a mistake to too quickly dissolve those distinctions. Read more from Slate: Among All the Other Problems With Ghomeshis NYRB Piece, Its a Terrible Personal Essay I Received Some of Kozinskis Infamous Gag List Emails. Im Baffled by Kavanaughs Responses to Questions About Them. Why We Almost Believed Les Moonves Would Get Away With It Former Secretary of State John Kerry was on Real Time With Bill Maher on Friday and didnt waste the opportunity to mock President Donald Trumps frequent use of social media and his thin skin. The former senator from Massachusetts, who is promoting his new memoir, said Trump is the first president who spends more time reading his Twitter likes than his briefing books or the Constitution of the United States. Kerry made the comments as he pushed back from an attack earlier in the week from Trump, who questioned on Twitter why the former secretary of state had met with Iranian officials. Advertisement Kerry went on to say that he has never seen anything quite like the parade of critical accounts of the presidency, including the New York Times op-ed and Bob Woodwards book. Unfortunately, we have a president, literally, for whom the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth is three different things, and you dont even know what they are, said Kerry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont want to get into a real riff on this but Ive got to tell you, the 2004 Democratic nominee for president said. An audience member at that point egged him on: Do it! Kerry smiled and continued: He really is the rare combination of an 8-year-old boyhes got the maturity of an 8-year-old boy with the insecurity of a teenage girl. On Thursday night, Trump blasted Kerry on Twitter, saying the former senator had illegal meetings with the very hostile Iranian Regime. Kerry responded the next day, writing on Twitter the president should be more worried about Paul Manafort meeting with Robert Mueller than me meeting with Irans FM. And then he plugged his new book. On Mahers show, Kerry insisted there was absolutely nothing unusual about his meetings. Advertisement 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! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 14, 2018 Advertisement Its impossible to know precisely how significant Paul Manaforts decision on Friday to accept a guilty plea in special counsel Robert Muellers probe and agree to cooperate with investigators will ultimately prove to be. Every indication, though, is that it is tremendously bad news for President Donald Trump. Trumps former campaign chairman confessed to a series of criminal actions taken as part of a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government by working for a pro-Russian Ukrainian political party before he joined the Trump team, as well as to obstruction of justice. His plea agreement didnt say anything about possible collusion between Trumps campaign and the Russian military intelligence officials who are alleged in another Mueller indictment to have attacked the 2016 election for the benefit of Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, its true that the pair of charges to which Manafort pleaded guilty do not involve actions he took as a member of Trumps campaign. This was the official White House line on Friday. The implications of the agreement, however, point to many, many ways that Manaforts decision could damage Trump legally and politically, both concrete and hypothetical. First, without knowing all of what has been uncovered by Muellers investigators, here are some areas where Manaforts testimony could further a case against Trump: Manafort pleaded guilty to orchestrating his conspiracy on behalf of the Party of Regions, with support from former deputy Rick Gates and Kiev-based consultant Konstantin Kilimnik. The latter is alleged in other Mueller filings to have had ongoing ties to Russian intelligence in 2016, when Manafort was on the Trump campaign. In another filing, Gateswho is also cooperating with Muellerwas said to have described Kilimnik as a former Russian Intelligence Officer with the GRU. The GRU was the organization at the center of the attacks on the 2016 election. As part of his cooperation deal, Manafort will have to divulge the full extent of his relationship with Kilimnik. If Kilimnik knew anything about the hacking efforts and spoke with Manafort about it, Manafort would now be expected to tell Mueller and the grand jury. Advertisement Advertisement The fact that Kilimnik was allegedly involved inand thus knew ofManaforts crimes would mean that Russia would have had obvious leverage over Trumps campaign chairman. Manafort will have to explain this. Theres another point of leverage Manafort will have to plausibly and fully explain: Emails made public last year that indicate he offered Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska private briefings on the Trump 2016 campaign, with Kilimnik as his intermediary. Manafort is also alleged in court filings to owe Deripaska many millions of dollars. In communications with Kilimnik, Manafort pointed to his work in the Trump campaign and asked, How do we use to get whole? Advertisement During the 2016 national convention, Trump campaign officials reportedly worked to undercut the Republican Party platforms position supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Manafort will have to explain what exact role he had in that episode and what Trump and other campaign officials knew of actions he may have taken regarding the platform. Advertisement Manafort was in the room during Donald Trump Jr.s Trump Tower meeting with Russian intermediaries who promised dirt on Hillary Clinton as part of their efforts to support Trumps campaign. Manafort can describe the details of the meeting from the inside. And, so far, Trump has maintained publicly that he didnt know anything about the meeting beforehand. Manafort is in a position to potentially elucidate whether thats true. Advertisement Trump political consultant and confidant Roger Stone is reportedly an ongoing subject of the Mueller probe. Manafort and Stone worked together for many years and founded a political consulting firm together. Manafort could be a critical witness against his old friend, who has already shown to have been in communications with WikiLeaks during the period that they were releasing Democratic emails hacked by Russians. Advertisement The above deal largely with hypotheticals. While it is difficult from our current vantage to see which of these avenues might actually further the case against the president, there are other more concrete ways Trump is damaged by the news: Trumps position that the Mueller probe is a witch hunt that has only sought to bring down innocent men keeps weakening when innocent man, after innocent man, after innocent man, after innocent man confesses to federal felonies. As the Washington Post noted, another prong of Trumps attack against Mueller has been knocked down with the Manafort plea: his claim that it is a money pit. Trump has repeatedly criticized the cost of the investigation, calling it the Worlds most expensive Witch Hunt. As part of his agreement, Manafort is surrendering bank accounts and properties potentially worth tens of millions of dollars. Journalist Marcy Wheeler argued that the investigation has already likely paid for itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Wheeler and other commentators have also noted, the plea agreement knocks down virtually any avenue Trump might have to obstruct the investigation by pardoning Manafort. The president had previously appeared very open to that possibility, saying that Manafort had been treated very unfair, saying he felt very badly and very sad for Manafort, and saying he respect[ed] Manafort for not flipping. Now that Manafort has entered the black box of federal cooperation with no apparent way for Trump to learn what hes told prosecutors and the grand jury, there is no upsideand still plenty of downsidefor Trump to attempt to pardon Manafort. Finally, all this news fundamentally changes the Trump teams messaging on the topic. After months of building up Manafort as a good guy who has been treated unfairly, Trumps communications shop will have to again reverse its posture toward a potential witness against the president. Rudy Giuliani himself seemed confused about this fact on Friday, initially releasing a statement saying the president did nothing wrong and Paul Manafort will tell the truth. The presidents attorney quickly retracted the part of the statement saying, Manafort will tell the truth. Theres plenty reason for Trump to worry that he will. Facebooks efforts to reduce misinformation in its news feed since the 2016 election have opened the company to all manner of criticism, including allegations of political bias from both left and right. But a new study from researchers at Stanford University, New York University, and Microsoft Research suggests they might actually be workingat least, to some extent. The study, released as a working paper Friday afternoon, examines how Facebook and Twitter users interacted with articles from 570 sites that have been identified by at least one credible source as a purveyor of fake newsthat is, patently false, intentionally misleading, or hyperpartisan content. It finds that engagement on stories from those sites rose steadily on both Facebook and Twitter until shortly after the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Beginning in early 2017, however, those sites engagement began to drop off on Facebookeven as it kept rising on Twitter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the authors caution that the study is far from definitive, its noteworthy as perhaps the first large-scale empirical study that directly examines the efficacy of Facebooks ongoing campaign against misinformation. Its findings could serve as a guidepost as the company continues to reckon with its influence on civil society. The conclusion that Facebooks efforts are working requires a number of caveats, co-author and Stanford economist Matthew Gentzkow told me in a phone interview Friday. Those include the fact that misinformation on Facebook remains widespreadfar more so than on Twitterand that the studys list of fake news sites is neither exhaustive nor authoritative. Still, the new analysis points to a strikingly clear trend line, one that should encourage those tempted to view the battle against online misinformation as unwinnable. Advertisement In all, Facebook engagementthe sum of likes, shares, and commentson articles by the fake news sites in the study has declined more than 50 percent between the 2016 election and July 2018, the authors conclude, using data tracked by the content marketing firm BuzzSumo. That result stands out when compared to the trends on Twitter, where retweets of the same sites rose significantly over the same time period. Advertisement That makes sense when you consider that Facebook has made a concerted effort to limit misinformation on its platform since early 2017, whereas Twitter has not. (Twitters enforcement efforts have focused on bots, spam, harassment, and hate speech, not false news stories.) This indicates that Facebooks apparent gains are not simply a result of fake news sites giving up, winding down their operations, or changing their domain names. Advertisement While this evidence is far from definitive, the authors write, we see it as consistent with the view that the overall magnitude of the misinformation problem may have declined, at least temporarily, and that efforts by Facebook following the 2016 election to limit the diffusion of misinformation may have had a meaningful impact. Advertisement The study, which has not been peer-reviewed, was conducted by economists Gentzkow and Chuan Yu of Stanford and Hunt Alcott of New York University and Microsoft Research. Facebook did not fund or participate in the study. Advertisement Advertisement Its an amazingand somewhat surprisingresult, said Dipayan Ghosh, a fellow at Harvard Universitys Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy, when I contacted him to discuss the study. The researchers have done the diligent work of drawing on data from multiple reputed sources and conducting well-reasoned analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Its an amazingand somewhat surprisingresult. Dipayan Ghosh Ghosh, who worked on privacy and public policy at Facebook before leaving in the wake of the 2016 election, has since emerged as a critical voice on the problem of social media misinformation. In January 2018, he wrote in Time that disinformation was becoming unstoppable, a claim that the studys authors cited as part of the motivation for their inquiry. Ghosh told me on Friday that his takeaway from the new paper is that Facebooks detection and suppression operations appear to be having at least some positive impact, after all. If true, he added, that bodes well for the long-term impact of disinformation operations, at least on Facebook. Advertisement It would be a mistake, however, to conclude that Facebook has solved its misinformation problem, or that Twitters is worse. According to the studys methodology, the scale of the problem on Facebook was much greater to begin with, and remains much greater today. The ratio of Facebook engagements to Twitter retweets on the 570 sites has fallen from about 40-to-1 to about 15-to-1, which implies that Facebook is still by far the larger fake news source. And the sites included in the study are still racking up some 70 million Facebook engagements per month. Thats far less than the 200 million per month they were receiving at the height of the 2016 election, but its still an awful lot. Advertisement For context, the authors compare engagement on stories from the fake news sites with that on stories from a list of 38 large, established news sites. In 2016, the 570 misinformation sites in the study were receiving about as much Facebook engagement as the 38 mainstream news sources. Theyre now receiving less than half as much Facebook engagement, as the large news sites engagement has held relatively steady. Advertisement A second major caveat is that the definition of fake news is fuzzy, and the one used by this study is decidedly unscientific, Gentzkow acknowledged. The authors assembled their list of 570 sites by combining all the sites identified as purveyors of fake or misleading news sources in a set of five previous, mostly informal analyses by various sources. Some of the lists in those previous studies have been controversial, including one compiled in 2016 by a Merrimack College professor that lumped in in established partisan politics sites such as Breitbart and Red State with outright hoax sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Somewhat reassuringly, Gentzkow said that the authors analysis suggested that the worst actorssites identified as misinformation sources on multiple previous lists, rather than just onehave seen the greatest drop-off in Facebook engagement. The authors tested various ways of slicing the data set in an online appendix to their paper, which is well worth diving into for those interested. One limitation that the study could not address: the likelihood that important new sources of misinformation have cropped up since 2016, including some designed to evade Facebooks crackdown. The sites in the study were mostly known to Facebook at the time it began its anti-misinformation projects, so it shouldnt have required rocket science for Facebook to limit their news feed reach. The real test is whether Facebook can keep up with the evolving techniques of determined propagandists and trolls. Gentzkow said his study cant tell us that. Advertisement A major caveat is that the definition of fake news is fuzzy. A Facebook representative on Friday welcomed the study as encouraging, while acknowledging that further study is needed. Communications manager Lauren Svensson pointed out that the study looked at engagement on all articles from a given website, whereas Facebook has focused much of its effort on limiting specific stories that its users or third-party fact-checkers have flagged as false. In other words, Facebook isnt trying to throttle all the content from the sites examined in the study, so we shouldnt expect their content to disappear from the news feed. Advertisement Advertisement Overall, Svensson said, the progress shown in the study is commensurate with what weve been seeing. But we know we have more work to do, as always. Advertisement Asked for comment on the study, a Twitter representative noted that the company has deliberately avoided setting itself up as an arbiter of truth. Twitters stance has been that the site itself can function as an antidote to the spread of misinformation, because its public nature allows false claims to be debunked. Its a stance that Vijaya Gadde, the companys lead for legal, public policy, trust and safety, articulated on a recent episode of Slates If Then podcast. (This approach was called into question by a March study that found lies travel faster on Twitter than the truth.) It would be premature to conclude from this study that Facebook is winning the war against fake news. Even if there were a widely agreed-upon definition of misinformationwhich there certainly isntmore research would be needed to establish that Facebook is stemming its flow. But the studys findings suggest that, at the very least, Facebooks efforts are having a significant impact on their intended targets. Where Europeans want to be buried What does the place we choose to be buried in say about our identity? A Polish priest, a Russian visionary, a pro-European Briton, a Ukrainian living in Hungary, and a French-German politician meet and discuss where they would like to be buried. This is no joke but rather a brief description of the discussion on European identity I captured during the economic forum in the Polish town of Krynica. By the time the question of who the true European is got into the centre of political arguments and the tension will only escalate with the upcoming EU election this discussion introduced something new. Death in Europe. It is not the result of complaints and lamentations over demography let us put ageing itself aside, and abandon the conservative, apocalyptic narrative on conflict of civilisations altogether. Compere wanted to know where the discussions participants would like to be buried. The site of rest When talking about European identity, people talk about where they were born, where they grew up or studied, or where their parents come from. Which languages they speak and to what society they belong to. Whether they feel at one with the place they live in, or whether their memories go to another place where they belong. They explain how many languages they communicate in and in which one they read or curse. Let me put it like this: My acquaintances, a couple who moved to Bratislava from southern Slovakia, speak Hungarian at home. They talk to their daughter in this mother tongue, too, but to ensure she does not lose her Slovak, they told her that their dog only understands Slovak. Thus, they communicate with their dog no insult intended! only in Slovak. For the most part, the issue of European identity is a chance to boost how well-travelled you are, how open-minded. When asked what would be the site of the last rest, people got embarrassed. This is said to be the way to find out where you really belong the place where you want to lie forever. In international waters Briton Keith Best skilfully avoided the image of lying. I would like to be cremated and dispersed in international waters, he said. The idea of death in fact results in him talking about Brexit. Today, it seems truly every talk with a Briton ultimately leads to Brexit. Best claims that since the referendum on the UK leaving the European Union, the demography has changed. Some of those who voted for Brexit have already made it beyond the Great Divide. Thus, he wishes for another vote which would turn the result around for the young who voted, in a strong majority, for staying in the EU. For the older generation, there was a sense that the EU was keeping peace, he explained, adding that the young already enjoy the Union in a different way they want a common market, cheap calls, and travelling. They need to find their own reason for why it would be worthwhile. 15. Sep 2018 at 8:21 | Zuzana Kepplova With just over one week to Night of Champions at Hawthorne, the final legs of each series were taking place this weekend. On Friday night, eight of the 13 races on the card had Night of Champions implications. The card kicked off with a field of eight pacers in the first of two divisions of the Robert S. Molaro. With the top five to qualify for next weeks final, the race for Illinois-bred aged pacers was evenly matched as Stonedust was sent away favoured with Casey Leonard in the bike. Leaving quickly were Dakota Jack and He Gone Jack, as they were joined by Sporty Redhot through the quarter in :28.1. On the backside, Sporty Redhot held his lead, passing the half in :57.4. In the turn, the field bunched up, with Uptown Sleaze up to challenge Sporty Redhot through three quarters in 1:25.4. In the Lane, He Gone Jack found room between horses while Stonedust rallied down the center of the track. At the wire, the favourite drew clear, winning in 1:52.1. He Gone Jack finished second while Dakota Jack was third. Stonedust is owned by Thomas Pollack and Jeffrey Cullipher and trained by Tim Clevenger. Race three on the Friday card was the first of two divisions of leg four of the Robert F. Carey, Jr. Memorial for Illinois-bred three-year-old pacers. Last years Illinois-bred Champion, Fox Valley Gemini was the heavy favourite with Casey Leonard driving. Leaving for the lead and opening up was Frontier Frank as he passed the quarter in :27 and the half in :55.3. In the turn, Fox Valley Gemini tipped out as he ranged up to challenge through three quarters in 1:24.2. In the blink of an eye, Fox Valley Geminis lead expanded to five lengths in the stretch as he won going away in 1:51.1. Fox Valley Jalan got up for second while Song Cycle Senese was third. Fox Valley Gemini is owned by Jim Ballinger and trained by Terry Leonard. Race four was the first of two divisions of leg four of the Incredible Tillie for Illinois-bred two-year-old filly pacers as a field of seven headed to the gate. Getting away quickly was Valar Morghulis with Jim Pantaleano driving as he opened a three length lead through the quarter in :28. Stalked through a half in :57.3 by Fox Valley Halsey, Valar Morghulis held his lead into the turn. With Fox Valley Halsey tipping out to challenge in the turn, the pair passed three quarters in 1:26.1. In the lane, Valar Morghulis was roused, and responded, as Fox Valley Halsey dropped back but Fox Valley Torrid picked up the chase. All out at the wire, Valar Morghulis held on to win by a head over Fox Valley Torrid. Fox Valley Lil Kim closed to finish third. The final time for the mile was 1:53.4. Valar Morghulis is owned by Megan Rogers Racing Stables Inc. and trained by Nelson Willis. Race five was the first of two divisions of the Fox Valley Flan for Illinois-bred two-year-old filly trotters. Puddin Cheeks was favoured for driver J D Finn. The favourite made the early lead while pushed by Loussolataire through the quarter in :29. Puddin Cheeks held the lead down the backstretch as Loussolataire dropped in, passing the half in :59.2. On the turn, Lous Paramour moved from the back to push the pacesetter, as Puddin Cheeks passed three quarters in 1:29. In the lane, Lous Paramour came up empty and backed out as Loussolataire came through a wide open rail to get up at the wire. Puddin Cheeks held second while Notnangel finished third. The final time was 1:59.4. Loussolataire won for the 16th time this year, making her the winningest juvenile in North America. Loussolataire is owned by Steven Renard and trained by Steve Searle. She was driven tonight by Casey Leonard. Race six was the second division of the Incredible Tillie with a field of seven. Perch was favoured with Kyle Wilfong driving. At the start, there was shuffling for position before Perch moved to grab the lead through the quarter in :29.3. On the backside, Fox Valley Lolo moved to take over, passing the half in :58.1. With Perch on her heels through the turn, Fox Valley Lolo held the lead into the lane through three quarter in 1:27.2. At the top of the stretch, Perch moved to take over as both Foolishlittlegirl and Lilly Von Shtupp ranged up to challenge. At the wire it was Perch prevailing by a half-length in 1:55. Foolishlittlegirl finished second while Lilly Von Shtupp was third. Perch is trained by Jay Garrels. Race seven was the second division of the Fox Valley Flan with a field of seven as Louzotic and Encantado took the wagering action. Getting away for the lead was Heidi High as she was sent through the quarter in :29.2. Prior to the half, Louzotic moved to assume command, passing the half in :59.1. Rolling through three quarters in 1:30.2, Louzotic led the field into the stretch. In command late under the handling of Kyle Husted, Louzotic was clear at the wire, winning in 1:58.3. E L Game On closed to finish second while Encantado was third. Louzotic is owned by Flacco Family Farms LLC and trained by Steve Searle. Race eight was the second elimination of the Robert S. Molaro with a competitive group of seven heading to the gate. Clearing the lead was Fox Valley Rebel as he was chased through the opening quarter by favoured Unlocked in :28. After a half in :56.4 and three quarters in 1:25, the top pair stayed in order turning into the stretch. At the top of the lane, Unlocked tipped out and moved alongside Fox Valley Rebel as the duo battled through the stretch drive. Nearing the wire, Unlocked emerged clear, winning for driver Jim Pantaleano in 1:51.4. Fox Valley Rebel was second while Slzburgerslzburger finished third. Unlocked in owned by Megan Rogers Racing Stables Inc and trained by Norm Parker. Race ten was the second division of the Robert F. Carey, Jr. Memorial as the nine-horse field was led by Youremyhearthrob with Kyle Wilfong driving. At the start, the favourite left quickly, clearing the lead easily through the quarter in :28. Cruising along on the backside, Youremyhearthrob passed the half in :56.4 as Mykonos chased. After three quarters in 1:25.2, Youremyhearthrob took the field into the stretch with a two-length lead. Kept to task, Youremyhearthrob held sway, winning by nearly two lengths in 1:52.3. Backstreet Lawyer rallied to finish second while Mykonos was third. Youremyhearthrob is trained by Brett Wilfong. (Hawthorne) T hough the term veteran is often uttered in the same breath as war, many of Americas veterans served during times of peace. This includes over 10,000 veterans in the Veterans History Project archive who served during the period known as the Cold War era. While the Cold War may not have involved a formal declaration of war or clearly delineated front lines, it was anything but peaceful. Stretching from the immediate post-World War II years until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Cold War was marked by escalating struggles between the United States and its allies and the Soviet bloc. During this time period, the United States drew on the talents of a willing cadre of men and women who chose to join the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. Motivated not only by love of country and family tradition by also by the opportunities for education and travel offered by the military, these individuals served in a wide variety of non-combat roles. Here, we present stories of the Cold War, told by veterans in their own words. Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 2 Vote(s) - 3 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Massachusetts governor declaring state of emergency due to gas explosions The Ghost Of LOP Registered User User ID: 314607 09-15-2018 01:16 AM Posts: 42,305 Post: #1 Massachusetts governor declaring state of emergency due to gas explosions Advertisement 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. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/09/14/bos...gency.html I am so confused !!! 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.I am so confused !!! (This post was last modified: 09-16-2018 11:47 PM by The Ghost Of LOP .) LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 450243 09-15-2018 01:18 AM Post: #2 RE: BREAKING UPDATE: Massachusetts governor declaring state of emergency there's probably something they are not telling us The Ghost Of LOP Registered User User ID: 314607 09-15-2018 01:24 AM Posts: 42,305 Post: #3 RE: BREAKING: Massachusetts governor declaring state of emergency due to gas explosions I am so confused !!! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 434473 09-15-2018 01:26 AM Post: #4 RE: BREAKING: Massachusetts governor declaring state of emergency due to gas explosions Quote: 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. My guess? Some state gas workers retired and millenials took over the reigns. They brought the pressure up to code just like their college textbooks told them to because that's how we do things in the 21st century. Either had no idea or completely dismissed any warnings from the old-timers who handled the decrepit 100+ year old infrastructure with kids gloves. My guess?Some state gas workers retired and millenials took over the reigns.They brought the pressure up to code just like their college textbooks told them to because that's how we do things in the 21st century.Either had no idea or completely dismissed any warnings from the old-timers who handled the decrepit 100+ year old infrastructure with kids gloves. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462230 09-15-2018 01:46 AM Post: #5 RE: BREAKING: Massachusetts governor declaring state of emergency due to gas explosions LoP Guest Wrote: (09-15-2018 01:26 AM) Quote: 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. My guess? Some state gas workers retired and millenials took over the reigns. They brought the pressure up to code just like their college textbooks told them to because that's how we do things in the 21st century. Either had no idea or completely dismissed any warnings from the old-timers who handled the decrepit 100+ year old infrastructure with kids gloves. Bs. This is being memory holed quickly. Only been 24hrs. Smug responses like this all over forums. Any talk is being shutdown with the old infastructure excuse. Bs. This is being memory holed quickly. Only been 24hrs. Smug responses like this all over forums. Any talk is being shutdown with the old infastructure excuse. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462161 09-15-2018 02:51 AM Post: #6 RE: BREAKING: Massachusetts governor declaring state of emergency due to gas explosions What if china is reclaiming its territory with this kind of Chaos? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462521 09-16-2018 11:46 PM Post: #7 RE: BREAKING: Massachusetts governor declaring state of emergency due to gas explosions LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462528 09-16-2018 11:55 PM Post: #8 RE: Massachusetts governor declaring state of emergency due to gas explosions Way to shake loose some tax dollars for a place in decline. Pity the money won't go to create a stable, non-real estate type industry (contractors get some work, and then move on). This city is just one symbol of a hollowed-out country. Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 6 Vote(s) - 1.67 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Page: 1 2 NEW YORK TIMES Forced To Recant Fake News About Trump Administration LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462325 09-15-2018 05:32 PM Post: #1 NEW YORK TIMES Forced To Recant Fake News About Trump Administration Advertisement https://twitter.com/EricLiptonNYT/status...8552189954 The problem is that they were purchased by the Obama administration. This is a case of a purposeful effort to deceive and not one of just negligence. https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/statu...2232470528 They finally recanted the fake news: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/13/us/po...tains.html New York Times backtracks on a tale about some expensive curtains https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle...story.html The New York Times was repeatedly called out on social media for their fake news that drapes were purchased by the Trump administration for Nicki Haley at a cost of $52K.The problem is that they were purchased by the Obama administration. This is a case of a purposeful effort to deceive and not one of just negligence.They finally recanted the fake news:New York Times backtracks on a tale about some expensive curtains LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462325 09-15-2018 05:35 PM Post: #2 RE: NEW YORK TIMES Forced To Recant Fake News About Trump Administration @EricLiptonNYT [ ]Investigative reporter[/size] NYT. Helping cover President Trump and the Trump administration-without fear or favor. I write about people and power. Washington, DC Another one he had to delete I deleted an earlier tweet that was intensively written. https://twitter.com/ericliptonnyt/status...32?lang=en Eric LiptonVerified account@EricLiptonNYT[ ]Investigative reporter[/size] NYT. Helping cover President Trump and the Trump administration-without fear or favor. I write about people and power.Washington, DCAnother one he had to deleteI deleted an earlier tweet that was intensively written. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462325 09-15-2018 05:39 PM Post: #3 RE: NEW YORK TIMES Forced To Recant Fake News About Trump Administration Verified account @AriFleischer 24h24 hours ago Ari Fleischer Retweeted Trump era? I guess Eric didnt read the story, otherwise he would have seen it was Obama-era. I get the press doesnt like Trump, but false stories like this are doing great damage to journalism. https://twitter.com/AriFleischer/status/...2824144896 Ari FleischerVerified account @AriFleischer24h24 hours agoAri Fleischer RetweetedTrump era? I guess Eric didnt read the story, otherwise he would have seen it was Obama-era. I get the press doesnt like Trump, but false stories like this are doing great damage to journalism. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462325 09-15-2018 05:40 PM Post: #4 RE: NEW YORK TIMES Forced To Recant Fake News About Trump Administration Retweeted Brit Hume Verified account @brithume 20h20 hours ago Brit Hume Retweeted Any chance youd take this down in light of your papers own admission that it unfairly left the impression that Haley was responsible? https://twitter.com/brithume/status/1040690760943919104 ColinFlaherty RetweetedBrit HumeVerified account @brithume20h20 hours agoBrit Hume RetweetedAny chance youd take this down in light of your papers own admission that it unfairly left the impression that Haley was responsible? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462325 09-15-2018 05:43 PM Post: #5 RE: NEW YORK TIMES Forced To Recant Fake News About Trump Administration https://www.msn.com/en-gb/kids/other/rub...li=BBnb7Kz He set the trend for FAKENEWS https://www.trendsmap.com/twitter/tweet/...8552189954 Rubio slams New York Times for misleading headline about Nikki Haleys curtainsHe set the trend for FAKENEWS LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462325 09-15-2018 05:44 PM Post: #6 RE: NEW YORK TIMES Forced To Recant Fake News About Trump Administration https://shrinktheweb.snapito.io/v2/websh...is%2F9Rkzs See the original here. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462325 09-15-2018 05:47 PM Post: #7 RE: NEW YORK TIMES Forced To Recant Fake News About Trump Administration Michelle O'Brien ? @Wolf_six 18 Jun 2017 @EricLiptonNYT ?? 1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes Eric Lipton Verified account @EricLiptonNYT 18 Jun 2017 [ ]I think my phone in my pocket might have accidentally sent out Tweets[/size]. 1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes Michelle O'Brien ? @Wolf_six 18 Jun 2017 I was hoping! What was that graphic from? 1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes Eric Lipton Verified account @EricLiptonNYT Replying to @Wolf_six I have no idea. Deleted it even before I read it https://twitter.com/ericliptonnyt/status...0256062464 LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!Michelle O'Brien @Wolf_six18 Jun 2017@EricLiptonNYT ??1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes1 reply 0 retweets 0 likesMichelle O'Brien @Wolf_six18 Jun 2017I was hoping! What was that graphic from?1 reply 0 retweets 0 likesEric LiptonVerified account @EricLiptonNYTReplying to @Wolf_sixI have no idea. Deleted it even before I read it LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462325 09-15-2018 05:49 PM Post: #8 RE: NEW YORK TIMES Forced To Recant Fake News About Trump Administration Replying to @EricLiptonNYT Pretty shameful 24hrs. The story ORIGINALLY noted, buried in para 6, that it was approved under the Obama administration. Yet the NYT chose the photo of Haley and mentioned her name in the headline, tweet AND intro paragraph. [ ]Why do these "mistakes" always tilt in one direction?[/size] 2 replies 12 retweets 82 likes stevemur @stevemur 16h16 hours ago In other words, it's not like "new news" was found which caused the correction. It's that you could no longer stand by the attempt at a clearly disingenous narrative. I once thought better of the @nytimes, but you're not helping with things like this and @sarahjeong... 2 replies 11 retweets 67 likes 1 more reply New conversation Rosie Memos @almostjingo 18h18 hours ago Replying to @EricLiptonNYT Oh how noble, do you also plan on calling every other news outlet that ran with your false headline? Of course not, that was the point all of you knew it wasnt @nikkihaley it was buried in the original story. Stop being objectionable https://twitter.com/EricLiptonNYT/status...2709061632 stevemur @stevemur 16h16 hours agoReplying to @EricLiptonNYT2 replies 12 retweets 82 likesstevemur @stevemur 16h16 hours ago2 replies 11 retweets 67 likes1 more replyNew conversationRosie Memos @almostjingo 18h18 hours agoReplying to @EricLiptonNYTOh how noble, do you also plan on calling every other news outlet that ran with your false headline? Of course not, that was the point all of you knew it wasnt @nikkihaley it was buried in the original story. Stop being objectionable [email protected] LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462071 09-15-2018 05:50 PM Post: #9 RE: NEW YORK TIMES Forced To Recant Fake News About Trump Administration We call this a "Retraction", News Story OP! AND they Create FAKE little news stories like this to RETRACT so It Makes all their other LIES and FAKE Reality Seem More Real! Its a TRICK Op But ONLY THE IDIOT Liberals Will Fall for it! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462323 09-15-2018 05:51 PM Post: #10 RE: NEW YORK TIMES Forced To Recant Fake News About Trump Administration Fake news. Over and over. Again and again. Over and over. Again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462325 09-15-2018 05:56 PM Post: #11 RE: NEW YORK TIMES Forced To Recant Fake News About Trump Administration LoP Guest Wrote: (09-15-2018 05:50 PM) We call this a "Retraction", News Story OP! AND they Create FAKE little news stories like this to RETRACT so It Makes all their other LIES and FAKE Reality Seem More Real! Its a TRICK Op But ONLY THE IDIOT Liberals Will Fall for it! Like the RUSSIAN COLLUSION that the media is using to try and start a war with Russia, just so they can rake Trump over the coals? http://lunaticoutpost.com/thread-60388.html Their propaganda is getting extremely bad. Why would they do this to themselves? Fisrt, now the liberal media is deliberately sabotaging themselves so the Right rises with its own media and all. They left better start calling out FAKE NEWS.... While I voted for Trump, because of what they did to Bernie, I am NOT for one-sided politics. Too much of any one thing is not good. A few terms, yes, but not decades of rule. Like the RUSSIAN COLLUSION that the media is using to try and start a war with Russia, just so they can rake Trump over the coals?Their propaganda is getting extremely bad. Why would they do this to themselves?Fisrt, Hillary puts Trump in office , andThey left better start calling out FAKE NEWS....While I voted for Trump, because of what they did to Bernie, I am NOT for one-sided politics. Too much of any one thing is not good.A few terms, yes, but not decades of rule. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 412093 09-15-2018 05:58 PM Post: #12 RE: NEW YORK TIMES Forced To Recant Fake News About Trump Administration LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462325 09-15-2018 05:59 PM Post: #13 RE: NEW YORK TIMES Forced To Recant Fake News About Trump Administration [ ] Where are all the schizophrenic liberals in this thread ?[/size] LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462325 09-15-2018 06:15 PM Post: #14 RE: NEW YORK TIMES Forced To Recant Fake News About Trump Administration to page one to page one LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 456248 09-15-2018 06:32 PM Post: #15 RE: NEW YORK TIMES Forced To Recant Fake News About Trump Administration LoP Guest Wrote: (09-15-2018 05:50 PM) We call this a "Retraction", News Story OP! AND they Create FAKE little news stories like this to RETRACT so It Makes all their other LIES and FAKE Reality Seem More Real! Its a TRICK Op But ONLY THE IDIOT Liberals Will Fall for it! ^^^^^das rite^^^^^ ^^^^^das rite^^^^^ Advertisement Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Texas to force american children to learn Jewish history in class LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 227196 09-15-2018 07:19 PM Post: #1 Texas to force american children to learn Jewish history in class Advertisement https://www.dallasnews.com/news/educatio...len-keller AUSTIN History curriculum in Texas remembers the Alamo but could soon forget Hillary Clinton and Helen Keller. As part of an effort to "streamline" the social studies curriculum in public schools, the State Board of Education voted Friday to adjust what students in every grade are required to learn in the classroom. Among the changes, board members approved the removal of several historical figures, including Clinton and Keller, from the curriculum. The board also voted to keep in the curriculum a reference to the "heroism" of the defenders of the Alamo, which had been recommended for elimination, as well as Moses' influence on the writing of the nation's nation's founding documents, multiple references to "Judeo-Christian" values and a requirement that students explain how the "Arab rejection of the State of Israel has led to ongoing conflict" in the Middle East. Third-grade social studies teachers have been required to educate kids about the life of Keller, who despite being deaf and blind graduated from college and lived a life of activism and authorship. But Keller did not make the work group's list this time, and students in other grades aren't required to learn about her life. AUSTIN History curriculum in Texas remembers the Alamo but could soon forget Hillary Clinton and Helen Keller.As part of an effort to "streamline" the social studies curriculum in public schools, the State Board of Education voted Friday to adjust what students in every grade are required to learn in the classroom. Among the changes, board members approved the removal of several historical figures, including Clinton and Keller, from the curriculum.The board also voted to keep in the curriculum a reference to the "heroism" of the defenders of the Alamo, which had been recommended for elimination, as well as Moses' influence on the writing of the nation's nation's founding documents, multiple references to "Judeo-Christian" values and a requirement that students explain how the "Arab rejection of the State of Israel has led to ongoing conflict" in the Middle East.Third-grade social studies teachers have been required to educate kids about the life of Keller, who despite being deaf and blind graduated from college and lived a life of activism and authorship. But Keller did not make the work group's list this time, and students in other grades aren't required to learn about her life. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 426905 09-15-2018 07:21 PM Post: #2 RE: Texas to force american children to learn Jewish history in class Remember the Alamo. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 456124 09-15-2018 07:23 PM Post: #3 RE: Texas to force american children to learn Jewish history in class All history you learn in the US schools is the Jewish version. They print / publish the texts, write the curriculum, and a disproportionate number of teachers happen to be Jewish. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 456124 09-15-2018 07:25 PM Post: #4 RE: Texas to force american children to learn Jewish history in class LoP Guest Wrote: (09-15-2018 07:23 PM) All history you learn in the US schools is the Jewish version. They print / publish the texts, write the curriculum, and a disproportionate number of teachers happen to be Jewish. Also, most Jewish are liberal Democrats. You know, the same Democrats that protected slavery and formed the KKK and are now clamoring to dismantle Confederate statues in order to erase that part of their history. Also, most Jewish are liberal Democrats.You know, the same Democrats that protected slavery and formed the KKK and are now clamoring to dismantle Confederate statues in order to erase that part of their history. Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average 1 2 3 4 5 WEALTHIEST DONOR IN OHIO, QUITS 'NONSENSE' PARTY OF TRUMP, PRAISES OBAMA LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 458403 09-15-2018 10:01 PM Post: #1 WEALTHIEST DONOR IN OHIO, QUITS 'NONSENSE' PARTY OF TRUMP, PRAISES OBAMA Advertisement Billionaire retail boss and Republican party donor Les Wexner said he has renounced his membership of the party. I just decided Im no longer a Republican, announced L Brands CEO Wexner at a panel discussion during a leadership summit, reported the Columbus Dispatch Friday. He told the summit that he had been a Republican since college, long before taking the helm of the Columbus, Ohio, based company, but was now an independent, announcing that he wont support this nonsense in the Republican Party anymore. https://www.newsweek.com/victorias-secre...ip-1122630 Now an independent, after quiting the party of stupid!Billionaire retail boss and Republican party donor Les Wexner said he has renounced his membership of the party.I just decided Im no longer a Republican, announced L Brands CEO Wexner at a panel discussion during a leadership summit, reported the Columbus Dispatch Friday.He told the summit that he had been a Republican since college, long before taking the helm of the Columbus, Ohio, based company, but was now an independent, announcing that he wont support this nonsense in the Republican Party anymore. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462155 09-15-2018 10:26 PM Post: #2 RE: WEALTHIEST DONOR IN OHIO, QUITS 'NONSENSE' PARTY OF TRUMP, PRAISES OBAMA What an idiot. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462325 09-15-2018 10:28 PM Post: #3 RE: WEALTHIEST DONOR IN OHIO, QUITS 'NONSENSE' PARTY OF TRUMP, PRAISES OBAMA Major Dem Donor Reconsiders Support for Democrats Who Urged Al Franken to Quit https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/07/us/su...anken.html The Democrats' biggest donor says the party is blowing it and should get behind Bernies platform https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/07.../23032495/ (This is why I voted for Trump after what the DNC did to Bernie) Big donors threaten to bolt from Democrats and thats a good thing https://www.salon.com/2017/11/18/big-don...ood-thing/ Lets not focus only on one side.Major Dem Donor Reconsiders Support for Democrats Who Urged Al Franken to QuitThe Democrats' biggest donor says the party is blowing it and should get behind Bernies platform(This is why I voted for Trump after what the DNC did to Bernie)Big donors threaten to bolt from Democrats and thats a good thing LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 442087 09-15-2018 10:29 PM Post: #4 RE: WEALTHIEST DONOR IN OHIO, QUITS 'NONSENSE' PARTY OF TRUMP, PRAISES OBAMA LoP Guest Wrote: (09-15-2018 10:01 PM) Now an independent, after quiting the party of stupid! Billionaire retail boss and Republican party donor Les Wexner said he has renounced his membership of the party. I just decided Im no longer a Republican, announced L Brands CEO Wexner at a panel discussion during a leadership summit, reported the Columbus Dispatch Friday. He told the summit that he had been a Republican since college, long before taking the helm of the Columbus, Ohio, based company, but was now an independent, announcing that he wont support this nonsense in the Republican Party anymore. https://www.newsweek.com/victorias-secre...ip-1122630 You seem easily influenced by the opinions of people you like to hear in your echo chamber. Please tell me more. You seem easily influenced by the opinions of people you like to hear in your echo chamber. Please tell me more. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 462209 09-15-2018 10:30 PM Post: #5 RE: WEALTHIEST DONOR IN OHIO, QUITS 'NONSENSE' PARTY OF TRUMP, PRAISES OBAMA When will the idiots quit mixing their business with politics. This is never good for business. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 423870 09-15-2018 10:36 PM Post: #6 RE: WEALTHIEST DONOR IN OHIO, QUITS 'NONSENSE' PARTY OF TRUMP, PRAISES OBAMA The richer you are; the dumber you get. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 388129 09-15-2018 10:36 PM Post: #7 RE: WEALTHIEST DONOR IN OHIO, QUITS 'NONSENSE' PARTY OF TRUMP, PRAISES OBAMA Was he ever even a Trump supporter? Newsweak strikes again. Quote: Wexner hosted a fundraiser for Mitt Romney in 2012.[30] Wexner donated $250,000 to Restore Our Future, Romney's Super PAC.[31] In 2015, Wexner donated $500,000 to the Right to Rise USA Super-Pac which supported the 2016 presidential campaign of Jeb Bush.[32] The Columbus Dispatch reported on September 14, 2018 that Wexner had renounced his affiliation with the Republican Party. Wexner made his comment shortly after former President Barack Obama gave a speech on the same Columbus Partnership panel Wexner was speaking at.[33] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Wexner He supported guac bowl merchant Jeb and Mitt Romney.Was he ever even a Trump supporter?Newsweak strikes again. Mountain Shadows in Wayanad is just the place for a dreamy vacation Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 6 Vote(s) - 1.67 Average 1 2 3 4 5 California GOP Congressional candidate's notorious white nationalist buddies spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 350320 09-15-2018 10:37 PM Posts: 67,593 Post: #1 California GOP Congressional candidate's notorious white nationalist buddies Advertisement A leaked video just exposed that a Republican Congressional candidate in Los Angeles openly surrounds himself with a crew of Nazi saluting racists, even posting a group photo with three infamous white nationalists to his Twitter profile. (embedded in full below) Republican Omar Navarro is a 29-year-old second-time candidate for Congress, having lost the 2016 election by 53 points in Californias 43rd District to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA). Rep. Waters won more than 72% of the jungle primary vote and is expected to easily defeat Navarro. The complete two and a half minute video some of which was live-streamed on to the internet features three of Republican Congressional candidate Omar Navarros close associates making Nazi salutes in selfie videos during a night in Hollywood, Ca. A screenshot of the GOP candidate Omar Navarros verified Twitter account profile page contains a group photo including the three white nationalists from the above video. Navarros bodyguard Anthony Foreman aka Anthony Freeman is a well known alt-right figure according to the LA Times and can be seen in the video on camera firing off Nazi salutes with a giggle. Omar Navarro calls Foreman his friend, in addition to being his bodyguard. Mike Tokes who is an alt-right journalist who appears clean-shaven with bleached blonde hair in the video, but is really a struggling small business owner facing criminal charges for failing to repay casino markers in Las Vegas. His Instagram account contains numerous photos of Navarro with their racist clique. White nationalist podcaster Bryden Proctor whose handle on Gab, the racist alternative to Twitter is @ActualRacist, can be seen in the video teaching Tokes the proper way to make a Nazi salute. He can be heard at the end saying in the video, Sig heil, you Hollywood Nazis, and Ill jump in discord here and drink more beers, before hopping out of the car. A fourth notorious white nationalist, Tim Gionet aka Baked Alaska also appears in the video. He was pedophile-excusing racist Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos manager, who was infamously banned from Twitter for inciting violence against actress Leslie Jones. Gionet is himself is banned from Twitter for publicly supporting Adolf Hitler and other hate speech, is featured in the videos. more: https://thesternfacts.com/california-gop...44ab1804eb A leaked video just exposed that a Republican Congressional candidate in Los Angeles openly surrounds himself with a crew of Nazi saluting racists, even posting a group photo with three infamous white nationalists to his Twitter profile. (embedded in full below)Republican Omar Navarro is a 29-year-old second-time candidate for Congress, having lost the 2016 election by 53 points in Californias 43rd District to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA).Rep. Waters won more than 72% of the jungle primary vote and is expected to easily defeat Navarro.The complete two and a half minute video some of which was live-streamed on to the internet features three of Republican Congressional candidate Omar Navarros close associates making Nazi salutes in selfie videos during a night in Hollywood, Ca.A screenshot of the GOP candidate Omar Navarros verified Twitter account profile page contains a group photo including the three white nationalists from the above video.Navarros bodyguard Anthony Foreman aka Anthony Freeman is a well known alt-right figure according to the LA Times and can be seen in the video on camera firing off Nazi salutes with a giggle.Omar Navarro calls Foreman his friend, in addition to being his bodyguard.Mike Tokes who is an alt-right journalist who appears clean-shaven with bleached blonde hair in the video, but is really a struggling small business owner facing criminal charges for failing to repay casino markers in Las Vegas. His Instagram account contains numerous photos of Navarro with their racist clique.White nationalist podcaster Bryden Proctor whose handle on Gab, the racist alternative to Twitter is @ActualRacist, can be seen in the video teaching Tokes the proper way to make a Nazi salute. He can be heard at the end saying in the video, Sig heil, you Hollywood Nazis, and Ill jump in discord here and drink more beers, before hopping out of the car.A fourth notorious white nationalist, Tim Gionet aka Baked Alaska also appears in the video. He was pedophile-excusing racist Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos manager, who was infamously banned from Twitter for inciting violence against actress Leslie Jones. Gionet is himself is banned from Twitter for publicly supporting Adolf Hitler and other hate speech, is featured in the videos.more: (This post was last modified: 09-15-2018 10:59 PM by spo snouou .) spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 350320 09-15-2018 10:59 PM Posts: 67,593 Post: #2 RE: California GOP Congressional candidate's notorious white nationalist buddies spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 350320 09-15-2018 11:19 PM Posts: 67,593 Post: #3 RE: California GOP Congressional candidate's notorious white nationalist buddies Paint it black Registered User User ID: 444731 09-16-2018 12:04 AM Posts: 1,233 Post: #4 RE: California GOP Congressional candidate's notorious white nationalist buddies The one with the earrings looks gay. Gay nazis? Do they meet at the wiener schnitzel? spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 350320 09-16-2018 06:19 AM Posts: 67,593 Post: #5 RE: California GOP Congressional candidate's notorious white nationalist buddies Paint it black Wrote: (09-16-2018 12:04 AM) The one with the earrings looks gay. Gay nazis? Do they meet at the wiener schnitzel? \_(?)_/ \_(?)_/ LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 445976 09-16-2018 06:34 AM Post: #6 RE: California GOP Congressional candidate's notorious white nationalist buddies As you can see the left's hands all over this so called candidate. Never wonder why Maxine Waters wins her seat all the time. They set her up with a chump opponent and smother any viable candidates with this farce. The gay republican nazi guy will lose again.....Surprise! spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 350320 09-16-2018 08:18 AM Posts: 67,593 Post: #7 RE: California GOP Congressional candidate's notorious white nationalist buddies LoP Guest Wrote: (09-16-2018 06:34 AM) As you can see the left's hands all over this so called candidate. Never wonder why Maxine Waters wins her seat all the time. They set her up with a chump opponent and smother any viable candidates with this farce. The gay republican nazi guy will lose again.....Surprise! Isabella Registered User User ID: 421592 09-16-2018 08:40 AM Posts: 26,923 Post: #8 RE: California GOP Congressional candidate's notorious white nationalist buddies Paint it black Wrote: (09-16-2018 12:04 AM) The one with the earrings looks gay. Gay nazis? Do they meet at the wiener schnitzel? My gay detector went off looking at Omar Navarro. Isn't the guy with the earring Milo? My gay detector went off looking at Omar Navarro.Isn't the guy with the earring Milo? Isabella Registered User User ID: 421592 09-16-2018 08:42 AM Posts: 26,923 Post: #9 RE: California GOP Congressional candidate's notorious white nationalist buddies Conservative Headliners Back Republican Trying to Unseat Maxine Waters in Los Angeles Posted 8:49 AM, November 27, 2017, by Los Angeles Times "Republican Omar Navarro is trying again to unseat Rep. Maxine Waters, but this time, he has a new set of high-profile friends. Trump confidant Roger Stone is a campaign advisor, former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio calls weekly, and far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones hosted him on his popular show. Now a group of major GOP donors that spent millions on ads to elect President Trump also plans to take on the Los Angeles congresswoman in next years midterm election. Either Trump supporters see a path to victory in a southern Los Angeles district where 60% of voters are registered Democrats, or they just want to punish one of the presidents most vocal detractors, a longtime legislator who is a darling of anti-Trump liberals. Far-right rising star Navarro says its a bit of both." Read the full story on LATimes.com. https://ktla.com/2017/11/27/conservative...s-angeles/ Posted 8:49 AM, November 27, 2017, by Los Angeles Times"Republican Omar Navarro is trying again to unseat Rep. Maxine Waters, but this time, he has a new set of high-profile friends.Now a group of major GOP donors that spent millions on ads to elect President Trump also plans to take on the Los Angeles congresswoman in next years midterm election.Either Trump supporters see a path to victory in a southern Los Angeles district where 60% of voters are registered Democrats, or they just want to punish one of the presidents most vocal detractors, a longtime legislator who is a darling of anti-Trump liberals.Far-right rising star Navarro says its a bit of both."Read the full story on LATimes.com. Isabella Registered User User ID: 421592 09-16-2018 08:45 AM Posts: 26,923 Post: #10 RE: California GOP Congressional candidate's notorious white nationalist buddies Two charged with attempted murder in stabbing of bodyguard of well-known alt-right figure By James Queally and Matt Pearce Jun 20, 2017 | 4:30 PM "Two men were charged with attempted murder Tuesday in the stabbing of a man who works as a bodyguard for a nationally known figure popular among the alt-right, prosecutors said. Edgar Khodzhasaryan, 30, of Glendale, and Arsen Bekverdyan, 31, of Burbank, were charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in the stabbing following a dispute in a Santa Monica parking structure on Saturday, according to Sarah Ardalani, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. Tim Gionet, a popular alt-right Internet personality better known by his Twitter handle, @BakedAlaska, identified the victim as Antonio Foreman. Gionet did not witness the attack but said he spoke with the victim when he visited him in the hospital on Monday. Gionet, who said Foreman sometimes works for him as a bodyguard, told his more than 175,000 Twitter followers that the assault was politically or racially motivated. Foreman is an ardent supporter of President Trump, and had been leaving an event in support of the president when he was attacked, Gionet said. Law enforcement officials flatly dismissed the claim. Prosecutors did not file a hate crime enhancement with the charges, Ardalani said. Lt. Saul Rodriguez, a Santa Monica Police Department spokesman, said the attack was spurred by an argument. "There's nothing here that would lead us to believe it was targeted or a hate crime or anything like that," Rodriguez said. Khodzhasaryan and Bekverdyan were exiting the parking structure and attempting to call for a parking attendant to help them operate the gate around 11 p.m. on Saturday when the victim "made a comment to the suspects which led to an argument," Rodriguez said. All three men exited their vehicles and a fistfight erupted, Rodriguez said. The suspects fled a short time later, and the victim realized he had been stabbed, according to Rodriguez. The victim, whom Rodriguez would not identify, was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. Khodzhasaryan and Bekverdyan were arrested a short time later while being treated for minor injuries at an area hospital, Rodriguez said. Khodzhasaryan is also suspected of a probation violation." read http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me...story.html By James Queally and Matt PearceJun 20, 2017 | 4:30 PM"Two men were charged with attempted murder Tuesday in the stabbing of a man who works as a bodyguard for a nationally known figure popular among the alt-right, prosecutors said.Edgar Khodzhasaryan, 30, of Glendale, and Arsen Bekverdyan, 31, of Burbank, were charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in the stabbing following a dispute in a Santa Monica parking structure on Saturday, according to Sarah Ardalani, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.Gionet did not witness the attack but said he spoke with the victim when he visited him in the hospital on Monday.Gionet, who said Foreman sometimes works for him as a bodyguard, told his more than 175,000 Twitter followers that the assault was politically or racially motivated. Foreman is an ardent supporter of President Trump, and had been leaving an event in support of the president when he was attacked, Gionet said.Law enforcement officials flatly dismissed the claim.Prosecutors did not file a hate crime enhancement with the charges, Ardalani said. Lt. Saul Rodriguez, a Santa Monica Police Department spokesman, said the attack was spurred by an argument."There's nothing here that would lead us to believe it was targeted or a hate crime or anything like that," Rodriguez said.Khodzhasaryan and Bekverdyan were exiting the parking structure and attempting to call for a parking attendant to help them operate the gate around 11 p.m. on Saturday when the victim "made a comment to the suspects which led to an argument," Rodriguez said.All three men exited their vehicles and a fistfight erupted, Rodriguez said. The suspects fled a short time later, and the victim realized he had been stabbed, according to Rodriguez. The victim, whom Rodriguez would not identify, was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.Khodzhasaryan and Bekverdyan were arrested a short time later while being treated for minor injuries at an area hospital, Rodriguez said. Khodzhasaryan is also suspected of a probation violation."read spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 350320 09-16-2018 11:33 AM Posts: 67,593 Post: #11 RE: California GOP Congressional candidate's notorious white nationalist buddies Rod Stewart is launching his new album Blood Red Roses at an exclusive London event at HMVs leading store in Oxford Street next month. The veteran rocker also plans to open a new radio station from 10th September for a limited period of time called Rod Stewart Radio, which will feature his greatest hits. The double-headed promotion of Rods undoubted musical talents and charismatic persona should ensure that his commercial popularity continues for the foreseeable future. While other ageing rock stars such as Elton John seem to be contemplating winding down their musical careers with farewell tours, the British crooner seems to be exploring extra avenues and seeking to reach out to an ever wider potential audience. Stewart to visit HMVs flagship store in London Stewart will visit the flagship HMV store on October 3rd as he celebrates his 30th studio albums release on 28th September, with Blood Red Roses coming three years after Another Country hit the shops. Speaking to US radio earlier this year as Cyndi Lauper and himself discussed their joint tour of America, Stewart spoke of his great satisfaction at how the new album on Republic Records had turned out. He described the fresh work as absolutely fantastic. Even (if) I say it myself!" The album is being offered as a 13-track standard package or a 16-track deluxe edition, promising a blend of poignant observation, self-reflective introspection and playful swagger. The album features original recordings and three covers, with its first single Didnt I pulling no punches as it describes the damage that drugs can do from a parents perspective. Variety of musical genres featured Taking the listener through a variety of genres and emotions, Blood Red Roses was co-produced with Kevin Savigar and encapsulates such diverse tastes as folk Music, Motown-influenced pop/R&B, good old-fashioned rock and roll, right through to heart-warming ballads. Launch of new radio station The 73-year-old London-born superstar who was knighted in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to music and charity is also excited about Rod Stewart Radio coming into existence for a short time. Besides the opportunity to showcase songs recorded during his varied and lengthy musical career spanning five decades, the Rod Stewart-dedicated radio station provides a medium for performing live songs and divulging interesting showbiz stories. Sirius XM will launch the new station on channel 30, following on from previous similar ventures covering material by other leading acts such as U2, The Beach Boys and Billy Joel. By Stanley Carvalho ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi Financial Group (ADFG) has submitted a revised bid to acquire the management rights for the Middle East funds of stricken Dubai-based Abraaj, according to a document seen by Reuters. The Abu Dhabi-based alternative investment firm is among more than a dozen bidders seeking to buy the bulk of Abraaj's private equity funds. But in a letter to investors in Abraaj Funds, ADFG said that the bid is unlikely to materialise given the convolution of the situation. To address this, ADFG is seeking a dedicated budget to conduct a full forensic audit and a litigation budget. Its new offer includes up to $6 million for the audit and litigation financing as well as a $10 million credit facility to fund the operations of the Middle East funds. The $10 million is in addition to $10 million earmarked separately for the fund manager's liabilities. Such a dedicated budget is crucial not only to seek damages from previous management but also to ensure recoverability of funds for investors in the Middle East funds, ADFG said in the letter seen by Reuters. This means there is a zero capital call requirement from all the 200 unique investors in the Middle East funds which will clear one of the major hurdles going forward for the protection of the assets. Abraaj has 10 Middle East funds involving some 200 investors from across the globe. Abraaj filed for provisional liquidation in the Cayman Islands in June after months of turmoil related to a row with investors over the use of their money in a $1 billion healthcare fund. Last month Reuters reported that Actis had bid to buy the bulk of Abraajs private equity funds, joining more than a dozen other bidders. (Reporting Stanley Carvalho; editing by Maher Chmaytelli) lehman 1 Photography: Mark Douet Exactly 10 years ago, Lehman Brothers collapsed into administration. It was the biggest bankruptcy in the history of the United States and the defining event of the financial crisis, which ravaged the global economy between 2007 and 2009. As the anniversary of the collapse arrives, a new production of The Lehman Trilogy a play about the bank's 150-year history is being staged in London. Wallpaper* spoke to set director Es Devlin about her "revolving masterpiece." The interview has been reproduced in full below. Few theatre sets deliver the modernist doctrine form follows function quite as effectively as Es Devlins revolving masterpiece for the National Theatres current hit The Lehman Trilogy, directed by Sam Mendes. This three-hour parable about the inexorable rise and devastating crash of American capitalism, told through three generations of a family of Bavarian Jewish immigrants, has received widespread critical acclaim and will transfer to New Yorks Park Avenue Armory for a limited season in March (22 March - 20 April) 2019. Stefano Massinis play debuted in Paris in 2013 and has been staged in Italy and Germany since then, but its Mendes 2018 London production that will prove the most memorable with Devlins glowing monochrome office imprinted in your mind long after you leave the Lyttelton. lehman 2 Photography: Mark Douet Ben Powers adaptation of Stefano Massinis play is concise and lyrical, brought vigorously to life by Nick Powells score and a triumvirate of leading British actors. Simon Russell Beale, Ben Miles and Adam Godley deliver this three-hander in the third person, segueing deftly between a variety of characters from screaming infants to blushing brides as they narrate this dynastic saga of boom and bust which spans a 164-year period. Critics have singled out Devlins cinematic set for praise, and rightfully so. Essentially a rotating glass box masquerading as the archetypal modern office, with video designer Luke Halls digital panorama projected zoetrope-like behind its so much more than mere scene-setting backdrop, especially given the fact that the narrative traverses centuries and continents. This skeletal glass-and-steel structure plays a starring role: its the dynamic force that drives the characters, action and plot from the expansive cotton fields of rural Alabama to the final day of reckoning in the fast-paced urban jungle of Wall Street in 2008. Story continues lehman 3 Source: Wallpaper* Devlin has worked with what she calls kinetic sculpture before, but the main inspiration for the rotating set came from Massinis text and in particular Henry Lehmans description of Manhattan when he first arrives off the transatlantic liner as a magical musical box. This concept was developed during the pre-production process in collaboration with Powell, Halls and Mendes. Sam rehearsed with the revolving box from the start and wove it into the text, music and movement, Devlin says, treating this as an evolving devised dance piece in which the revolving room becomes the fourth dancer. In an early meeting, Mendes wrote a list of precepts on a board in Devlins studio (pictured above). The other words of wisdom that determined the pared-back design concept were a hand-me-down from legendary American film director Sydney Pollack, who once told Mendes: The audience will go to hell and back with you a bus as long as it says Hell on the bus. lehman 4 Photography: Mark Douet The clarity and power of this production derive from the newsprint palette (hyper-saturated colour is used only for the characters dream sequences) and masculine sparseness of the office set, which comprises three interconnecting spaces. Modelled largely on a midcentury modern office, it only contains the physical vocabulary of a boardroom: a large table, Eames 117 aluminium swivel chairs, an Arco lamp, marker pens, a vase of white tulips and stacks of the distinctive grey cardboard Bankers Boxes that Lehman Brothers employees departed with when the bank collapsed in 2008. This austere set liberates the actors and script through improvisation. As the play opens in naturalistic colour with a janitor in the Lehman Brothers boardroom on the eve of the banks collapse, the palette shifts to monochrome as the audience is then swept back to 1844 as the founding brother arrives and uses the smallest corner of the office, stacking boxes, to set up his shop in Alabama. Later the set becomes the Lehmans New York office of 1860. At various points the brothers scrawl their evolving company name on the glass walls, signposting the plot and growth of the company like Pollacks Hell on the bus. lehman 5 Photography: Mark Douet Its minimal, but incredibly versatile, as Devlin explains. The Bankers Boxes become important building blocks, the boardroom table becomes a stage within a stage, the marker pens stand for paintbrushes, the ashtray for a ritual candle, the office flowers used and reused to relate generations of Lehman suitors. In fact this restrained vocabulary of objects serves to highlight the narrative. It throws the emphasis back into the poetry of the text. Once the audience understands that an object stands for whatever the actors tells us it stands for, we accept the objects and tune more deeply into the language. Throughout the play, the actors who document the marriages and deaths of the Lehmans remain in 19th-century frock coats, a haunting detail that as Devlin points out, suggests the room itself had a memory and were recounting all it had seen. While the office never changes, Halls projected photographic vistas (part of the concept from the start) do, reflecting the location and key points in the plot, with the horizon as a constant. The glass walls of the revolving box behave as a lens through which to view the ever-shifting context of the story, says Devlin. This panorama memorably flatlines at one point to signify the start of the Great Crash of 1929, channelling the plays metaphor of the tightrope walker (depicted on the poster), who, like the stock market, dramatically falls on Black Thursday. lehman 6 Photography: Mark Douet In the third act, these visuals blur, as the office spins at a dizzying pace. The bank is no longer run by family, based on longstanding relationships or respectful tradition, but by risk-taking traders operating in a deregulated market with disastrous consequences. The finale is as abrupt as Lehman Brothers 2008 fate; the stage returns to naturalistic colour with the office full of staff, cardboard boxes in arms, awaiting the inevitable news. The phone rings, the play ends. NOW WATCH: This London-based food truck only sells cheese sandwiches heres how theyre made See Also: JUBA (Reuters) - South Sudan's main rebel force SPLM-IO has accused the government's forces of attacking their defensive positions just a day after both sides signed a peace deal. President Salva Kiir signed a peace agreement with rebel factions in the Ethiopian capital on Wednesday to end a civil war that has killed at least 50,000 people, displaced some three million and held up the country's progress since it gained independence seven years ago. "The regime's forces heavily stormed our position at Mundu in Lainya county," said Lam Paul Gabriel, the rebels' deputy military spokesman, in a statement seen by Reuters on Saturday. He said the attack happened in the early hours of Friday and that eight government troops were killed in the ensuing battle. Another attack took place in Mangalatore, near the site of the first attack, where four government soldiers were killed, the statement said. Both Mundu and Mangalatore are in Yei River State, close to the border with Uganda. There was no immediate comment from the government or international mediators. The stability of South Sudan is important for Sudan and other neighboring countries, who fear a new flare up of the conflict could flood them with refugees. The civil war started in 2013, fueled by personal and ethnic rivalries. The conflict has killed at least 50,000 people, many of them civilians, according to the United Nations. An estimated quarter of South Sudan's population of 12 million has been displaced and its economy, which heavily relies on crude oil production, ruined. (Reporting by Denis Dumo, Writing by Duncan Miriri, Editing by Ros Russell) See Also: 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. 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. Story continues 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. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. 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. Story continues 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. ___ Follow Blake Nicholson on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/NicholsonBlake ___ Sign up for the AP's weekly newsletter showcasing our best reporting from the Midwest and Texas: http://apne.ws/2u1RMfv In a historic gesture, Emmanuel Macron admitted Thursday that France was responsible for the death of dissident Maurice Audin in 1957 and that his nation established a system of torture during Algerias war of independence. He wasnt as quick as Jacques Chirac, who, in 1995, just two months into his presidency, publicly recognised Frances guilt in deporting thousands of Jews to death camps during World War II, but Macron this week took an equally bold step in admitting that his nation engaged in systematic torture in the 1950s and 1960s, during the war with its former colony Algeria. Macron made his landmark admission during a visit this week to Audins 87-year-old widow, Josette Audin, at her home. Audin, a mathematician, had been a communist anti-colonialist activist who disappeared after being arrested at his home, accused of harbouring independence fighters. After his disappearance, Audin became a symbol of French abuses in Algeria, and a square in Algiers bears his name. Historians had long widely believed Audin had been tortured, despite official insistence that he had disappeared. In 2014 Macrons predecessor, Francois Hollande, contradicted the record by saying that Audin had died while in French custody, but Macron went further in acknowledging the truth, admitting that Audin had been tortured and executed, or tortured to death by soldiers who arrested him at his home. Macrons gesture was historic and marked the first time that a French president has acknowledged that France used torture during the war. The statement puts an end to an official lie that lasted almost 31 years, French historian Gilles Manceron said on France 24. Macron pointed out the responsibility of the French army, and therefore of France, in what happened during this episode of the Battle of Algiers in 1957. Until 1999, France wouldnt even officially use the word war to describe the conflict in Algeria. Until the passage of a bill in the National Assembly that year, official documents described what had happened there between 1954 and 1962, when Algeria gained independence, as law enforcement operations. Story continues The official statement issued by Macrons office on the subject are a break with the attitude of denial, silence and lies, Manceron said. Macron went so far as to specify the means by which the French legally eliminated those who clandestinely worked to gain Algerias liberation from France. In 1956 Parliament had accorded the French Army special powers to restore order that allowed them to arrest, detain and interrogate all suspects. Those special powers laid the ground for some terrible acts, including torture, according to the presidential statement. Torture was therefore a weapon considered legitimate, the statement said. "The battle of Algiers was the most repressive period of the Algerian War, Manceron said. There were many abuses. It was then that there were the most cases of torture. France's Vietnam War The brutality with which France moved to quash the Algerian revolt in 1954 has cast a shadow over the country that is akin to that of the Vietnam War for the United States. French conduct during the war and its subsequent treatment of Algerians who sided with the French remains a divisive open wound. Valery Giscard d'Estaing was the first French president to make an official visit to independent Algeria, and that didnt take place until 1975. But he didnt condemn French colonisation of Algeria, and neither did his successor, Francois Mitterrand, who had served as the minister of the interior and justice ministries during the war. Jacques Chirac said in his memoirs that in not acceding to Algiers request to recognise French culpability in the atrocities in Algeria, he committed at least one fault in my life. French presidents in this century have gone further. Nicolas Sarkozy said during a 2007 visit to Algeria that the colonial system has been deeply unfair and referred to terrible crimes committed during the war there. On a 2012 trip to Algeria, Francois Hollande said that for 132 years, Algeria was subjected to a deeply unjust and brutal system. Two years later he made the admission that Audin had not escaped as previously held, and in 2016 Hollande became the first president to commemorate the end of the Algerian war. Macron, perhaps not coincidentally the first president born after the conflict ended, has been more outspoken about Frances ugly past than any other. He came under fire for calling French colonialism a crime against humanity during his 2017 presidential campaign. Now that he is in office, he has proven his willingness to throw back the rug on past French misdeeds. This week he also announced that his government would open its archives on the thousands of French and Algerian soldiers and citizens who disappeared during the conflict. Historian Nathalie Funes cautioned that not everything was noted in official accounts and that the truth is mostly in peoples memories, there are soldiers that are still alive. Still, Manceron said, opening the archives is an important step. "It is extremely promising. [...] Contrary to the time when soldiers were not to speak about what they had seen or done, they are being encouraged to talk about what they witnessed." The reaction in Algeria to Macrons admission was measured. Veterans Affairs Minister Tayeb Zitouni called it a positive step but called on France to go further. We await other gestures and other acknowledgements from the French president, he added. The conflict, which ended 130 years of French rule, killed 1.5 million Algerians. FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2014, file photo, a Thai soldier casts his vote during the general election at a polling station in Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand has taken another step toward holding elections next year in 2019 by easing some restrictions on political activities to allow parties to conduct basic functions, but they are still barred from campaigning. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong, File) BANGKOK (AP) Thailand has taken another step toward holding elections next year by easing some restrictions on political activities to allow parties to conduct basic functions, but they are still barred from campaigning. A special order issued by the prime minister, which became law Friday following its publication in the Royal Gazette, allows political parties to gather funds to operate and, with the ruling junta's permission, recruit party members and choose new leaders. The order comes two days after enactment of laws covering the selection of members of Parliament and senators that mandate that a general election be held between February and May next year. The ruling junta has previously postponed several promised election deadlines. Deputy Prime Prawit Wongsuwan said Thursday that elections are tentatively scheduled for Feb. 24, repeating previous assertions by other senior officials. The military banned virtually all formal political party activities after it took over from an elected government in a May 2014 coup. Friday's order, issued under an emergency law the military enacted after seizing power, said restrictions are still necessary to make sure the country, which it says is now "relatively stable," is on track to achieve the government's reform goals. Critics have said that a new constitution and other laws enacted under military rule weaken democratic structures with the intention of limiting the power of elected politicians and keeping it in the hands of traditional Thai powerholders, including the judiciary and the military. For example, all senators in the next government will be appointed by the ruling junta, apart from six senatorial positions which automatically go to army and police chiefs. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is expected to run in the polls, or at least make himself available for the next parliament to reappoint him prime minister. Friday's six-page order allows parties to establish budgets and gather funds from their members. It also allows parties to make rule changes, recruit new members, and choose leaders on the condition that the junta is informed at least five days in advance. Thawatchai Terdpaothai, a member of the Election Commission, said Friday that it will hold a meeting with all political parties on Sept. 28 to explain the regulations and to hear any concerns the parties may have. Abhisit Vejjajiva, the leader of the Democrat Party, the country's oldest, announced Friday on the online messaging platform LINE that his party will hold a meeting of senior members on Monday to plan for a broader Sept. 24 meeting at which it will adjust its rules to meet the new election regulations and organize the registration of new members. By Nqobile Dludla JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - From the mother of dragons in "Game of Thrones" to Captain America from the "The Avengers", thousands of comic book and science fiction fans went head-to-head for the best costume at the first Comic Con Africa on Friday. Comic Con's arrival in Africa coincides with a big push by streaming services such as Netflix and Naspers' Showmax to expand to capitalise on the continent's love of comics and Hollywood movies. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday - the most popular days of the three-day event in South Africa - sold out weeks before the launch, Carol Weaving, managing director of organiser Reed Exhibitions, told Reuters. She said the event had attracted comic, superhero and anime fans from Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Nigeria and that it would expand beyond South Africa into other African countries. As well as international comic book heroes, Comic Con Africa will also showcase local characters like Kwezi and Captain South Africa. International guests included Kevin Sussman from "The Big Bang Theory" and Travis Fimmel from "Vikings". Zimbabwean-born comic artist Bill Masuku said the event was a chance for people to learn more about locally produced comics and occupy spaces typically dominated by Hollywood. "Growing up as a black child we are bombarded with mainstream media, whether that be movies or comic books, that have white people. To not see yourself, is diminishing," said Masuku, who has a black female superhero as the protagonist in one of his comics. He added: "I would like to push the narrative that black people can be superheroes without being sidekicks." On Friday, the first day of the event, costumed fans played video games and shopped for merchandise in a convention centre north of Johannesburg. "We are here to just have fun," said Chris Smithard, a market researcher dressed as Aquaman. "For 'cosplay' this is a big social gathering. It gives the entire community a much bigger platform and exposure," he said, using a term for role-playing by comic book fans. Comic Con started in 1970, when a group of science fiction fans in San Diego got together to swap comic books. It has since grown into a globally recognised set of fantasy celebrations, drawing over 130,000 fans to events in London, Moscow, Delhi, Sydney and Dubai. (Editing by Alexander Winning and Alison Williams) Nicolas Cage fans got a glimpse of a special preview screening of his film Mandy which premiered on September 13 at select Alamo Drafthouse and Regal Cinemas. The film opened in select theaters on September 14. Devoted fans gather to support Nicolas Cage film 'Mandy' To celebrate, RLJE Films, LegionM, and their partners organized several meet-ups across the country for fans to gather and discuss Nicolas Cages career. Fans received a Mandy poster and a limited-edition Mandy pin. Following the film was a recorded Q&A from the Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles featuring Nicolas Cage, director Panos Cosmatos, Linus Roache, and moderator Kevin Smith. Unfortunately, there were no questions taken from the audience. Mandy is an intense, dramatic rock opera set in 1983 that follows Red Miller (a lumberjack) and his wife, Mandy Bloom. They live in peaceful tranquility in the Pacific Northwest wilderness. When Mandy is abducted and killed by a religious cult, Red hunts down the culprits and all hell breaks loose. Local filmmaker Jeff Frumess hosted the event One of the meet-ups was held at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Yonkers, New York. Jeff Frumess is a local Westchester film producer and passionate Nic Cage fan who served as the host. He directed the highly-acclaimed indie film Romeos Distress -- which is now available on Amazon Prime Video. The film was shot in different locations around Westchester. Jeff was looking to host a meet-up in Westchester because there was only one in New York City at the time and it wasnt convenient for him. A meet-up was scheduled at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Yonkers and the rest is history. He was in charge of distributing the posters and pins to all the attendees. Discuss this news on Eunomia Theres not enough local communal Westchester events, so I thought we would need more events like this, Jeff explained. "22 people signed up for this event. I was afraid I would have trouble getting eight and that was not the case. The minimum is eight. Frumess said his ultimate quest is to see every Nic Cage film ever made. My quest is to see every Nic Cage film ever made, but I am in no rush. As soon as I saw they were giving out free pins, I knew I had to start a meet-up for Westchester people. It is a wonderful opportunity to try and create community around something as special as Nicolas Cage going bat**** insane! Frumess continued: I truly believe there is no such thing as a bad Nic Cage film -- he is such a talented, genius actor that is unafraid to explore any area, any region of the human psyche. He is also like tofu and is going to taste like whatever you season him with, so in reality, everything you get from Cage is authentic to whatever director he is working with. Jeff is currently launching a crowdsourcing campaign for his next film, Wash Away. The film will star Ghastly Grinning managing editor and close friend Jacob Trussell. The film is about Stanley, a therapist who is given the opportunity to engage in nefarious activities and exact vengeance on a former nemesis who ruined his life years prior. To create awareness for the project, Frumess will soon be launching a Seed and Spark crowdsourcing campaign and horror-themed talk show called Little Talk of Horrors." Freemove Dance is a modern dance company that is dedicated to producing original performance works. In the Fall of 2018, the organization is partnering with The theater at the 14th Street Y to present their latest piece titled its time This is the companys debut full-length show that examines the complexity of human relationships and our relationship to the concept of time. Choreographed by Jenn Freeman, the performance includes an original score by renowned percussionist and drummer Dani Markham who is best known as a band member of Childish Gambino. Playing from October 11 to October 14, 2018, tickets for its time retail for between $20 and $25. On September 13, 2018, Jennifer and Dani granted an exclusive interview where they discussed this visually arresting and emotional new work, finding a venue, securing dancers, dealing with costumes, and more. Dance, creativity, and themes Meagan Meehan (MM): How did you originally get into the dance and what styles most intrigue you? Jennifer Freeman (JF): My grandmother found an advertisement for a dance studio in the local newspaper when I was two. With my mother in tow, she took me to a baby ballet class and dance has fully defined my life from that point forward. Growing up, I was trained mainly in jazz, ballet, and modern, which has culminated in my landing in contemporary dance. As a mover and a creator, I am intrigued the most by contemporary dance I find that is where I feel the most freedom. All types of movement can exist in that world, but at the same time, I am able to pull from my technical roots. MM: You have worked with Cirque du Soleil, so how much did that impact your creativity? JF: I was an assistant to Sonya Tayeh (my dear friend and mentor) who was choreographing a fundraiser for Cirque. Discuss this news on Eunomia That project opened my eyes to what is possible on a large scale. It was a nice reminder to practice dreaming big as far as production value goes, what can exist outside of the movement itself. MM: What led you to establish Freemove Dance and was it difficult to get the company off the ground? JF: I have always known that, at some point, I wanted to have my own company. Now I feel ready to start producing my own work fully and, in the process of submitting applications and raising funds, it feels necessary that I officially name my collective of dancers. Branding and producing online content has been the biggest challenge, letting people know that this thing that didn't exist before is here now. MM: ...its time... is about human beings and their relationship with each other and time. So how did these themes come to you? JF: I have always had an affinity towards time as a theme in the dances that I create. I feel a constant struggle between following my intuition (natural timing) vs. expectation. If I take my time and wait until I feel ready, society labels me late, or at least it feels that way. I always feel I am late. Performance, venue, and the future MM: How long did it take to complete the performance such as finishing the scenes and music? JF: For the movement, we started creation in my hometown Boise, Idaho in December 2017. We then had two week-long residencies in New York City in February and May. We are now in our final seven-week rehearsal process in NYC. Two of the dancers live in Los Angeles, and three live in NYC so getting everyone together in the same space is a challenge, a worthy one. I will let Dani speak on the music! Dani Markham (DM): Ive been gathering musical ideas since the beginning of this year, and am still constantly collecting new ones. My most recent inspiration came to me while I was waiting to go on stage to perform. I was sitting in anticipation and looked down to notice my foot tapping in a particularly anxious rhythmic pattern. I recorded it and reconstructed it to the drum kit. It felt very genuine. MM: How did you secure the dancers, costumes, and venue? JF: The dancers are all dear friends of mine. We have all worked and danced together in many different capacities over the years. It was important to me that for my first full presentation in New York that I have a cast of people I know I can trust. Mondo Morales is the costume designer, we met when I was setting work on dance students at Marymount Manhattan College, and he has now designed costumes for four pieces of mine. I love dreaming big with Mondo; he is up for anything. Securing the theater felt like one of the biggest challenges. Fortunately, I submitted the piece to be a part of the Theater at the 14th Street Ys curated season and was accepted through an application and interview process. MM: What do you hope people get out of viewing this performance? DM: I think this piece will give our audience a reason to think about the installation of time and how intensely it impacts our lives. I am hopeful that people will see the parallels and the bond that time and rhythmic tempo share. I think Jenns sonic vision to have a drum framework for her piece is extremely profound. Drums are an ancient form of story-telling and are still used as such, in many civilizations throughout the world today. It feels so appropriate that the drums are narrating the story. JF: Also, I hope people can find a window through which they can see themselves in the work. I think that the audience will find the piece highly relatable. MM: What are your biggest hopes for the future of Freemove Dance and your careers in general? JF: Fundraising was by far the biggest challenge for this piece, I hope that I can find a manageable way to keep producing work with Freemove Dance. I would also love to create work for other dance companies. I hope I have opportunities to keep performing as well, even if it means building up the courage to create those moments for myself. DM: I am always excited to tackle new projects that take me to the foreign creative territory. Theres something about working with dancers that has opened a deeper consciousness to my creative being. They are connected and aware of their bodies, and it seems to allow them to dig deep into their spirits. Ive always dreamt of being a positive impact on kids and young women at large. Music has been my greatest healer, my guide, my therapy, and I hope to inspire other youth to find themselves, heal themselves and love themselves, through the power of music and rhythm. My true love is being on stage. Im a performer thick and through and that is always where I feel most at home. Apple had their big showcase on September 12 The brand is one of the top around, as over the summer they surpassed a value of one trillion dollars. Steve Jobs had developed the brand into a powerhouse before succumbing to cancer, but the company has been in good hands since then. At their reveal event, Apple announced their latest lineup of three different iPhones and a new Apple Watch. Below are the differences between the iPhones and the additions to the new Watch. Three new phones This is not the only time that the popular brand has announced three different iPhones for its lineup, as that happened last year as well. It can be confusing to figure out what exact model to buy, as there are so many different devices and the market is oversaturated with technology. The three new iPhones are called the XS, XS Max, and XR respectively, but according to an article by The Verge, all of them share some of the same features. The main differences are the camera, battery, and color scheme. According to the article: "Apple is putting the same core hardware into every one of its 2018 iPhones." The XS Max is for people who want a bigger screen with an improved battery life over the iPhone X, while the iPhone XS has a dual camera and is water resistant at a smaller size. Lastly, the XR is the lowest price with most of the same features with different color combinations. The three iPhones will all contain an A12 chip, which is promised to be faster than any phone before. The camera is said to take higher quality pictures, but the iPhone XS and XR include something called "Apple's True Tone Tech, which adjusts the display's temperature to match the ambient lighting around you." One big feature of the new lineup is that the home button is no more and has been replaced with Face ID. Discuss this news on Eunomia The sound on the phones is said to be much improved and allow for a better presentation. They also will be able to record stereo audio according to the article. Both the iPhone XS and XS Max will ship on September 21 and are priced at $999 and $1,099. These two are said to have the better battery life, with the iPhone XS having a completely different look. These devices can be pretty expensive, but what is crazier, is that Sony is planning to release a robotic dog that will cost $2,899 dollars. The iPhone XR is the more affordable iPhone, with more color combinations and it starts at $749. Preorders kick off on October 19 with an October 26 release. This model will be available later than the other two. No more iPhone X The iPhone X was highly criticized when it arrived due to its high price, along with not being of high quality for its estimate. The X will no longer be sold when the new lineup comes out. It managed to sink, as sales were not good for it and customers chose to get the iPhone 7 or 8 instead. The new phones will also have wireless charging and this time it is faster than the iPhone X. Due to the arrival of the three new iPhones, the iPhone 7 will be lowered to $449 dollars, according to the article by Cnet and the 8 is priced at $599. In other exciting news, according to the article, Apple's new operating system, iOS 12 will be available on September 17, with MacOS Mojave on September 24. Apple Watch Series 4 Apple wanted to make a new Apple Watch that focuses on the health of an individual, with a lot of upgrades in that aspect. According to an article by Cnet, the face size on the watch will be bigger with a new design and they replaced the button with touch regions. It will have emergency calls, "FDA-cleared built-in electrocardiogram." Preorders for the device will kick off on September 14 and ship on September 21. The cost will start at $400 dollars. The Series 1 Watch will be eliminated, while the Series 3 will become cheaper, as a result. You will comment here as foolish, unreasonable and ridiculous if I ask you to imagine Scarlett Johansson vanished a day after she was walked on a red carpet in New York City. But it has happened in China in reality. Fan Bingbing, who has played a role in Hollywood superhero blockbusters X-Men: Days of Future Past and Iron Man, has vanished without a trace. It is believed that has been sent to jail for tax evasion. Fan is one of the countrys most famous actresses. She is more famous than noodles in China. Time Magazine entitled her Chinas most famous actress in 2015. She frequently goes to walk on the red carpet, fashion shows and movie premieres. The fifth highest paid actress in the world has millions of her fans on social media who have serious concern about their favorite celebrity. Since early June, Fan Bingbing has not been seen publicly, according to the reports. She is also absent from social media from 23 July. Chinese media is avoiding to comment on disappearance of Fan but there are some online sources who claim that it can be due to her tax-avoidance issues. On September 6, state media Securities Daily posted an article. It was quoted in the publication that Fan had been brought under control and about to receive legal judgment. The article was later deleted. Another Chinese newspaper reported on July 28 that Chinas highest-paid and most bankable star had been banned from leaving the country. The report was also drawn back later. Her name was suddenly and unexpectedly was removed from the Chinese production posters. Known in English as Unbreakable Spirit, the wartime drama , starring Bruce Willis, is about the Bombing of Chongqing from 1938 to 1943. Her last post on Weibo was about her visit to a childrens hospital in Tibet. Weibo account of Fan has been inactive since July 23. There is no any confirmation of her rep or government official that she is under investigation or has been charged with any crime. Pawnshop owners are expected to grow and improve their business as well as prepare themselves for industry challenges through the help of innovative solutions from Globe myBusiness, the micro, small, and medium-enterprise arm of Globe Telecom. Pawnshop owners had the opportunity to connect with other entrepreneurs during the annual midyear conference of the Chamber of Pawnbrokers of the Philippines supported by Globe myBusiness. They also learned about new technologies that could help them address the challenges confronting the pawnshop industry such as the need to manage multiple branches, automate processes and take advantage of the internet. Globe myBusiness can help businesses like pawnshops become more efficient by providing them with the most up-to-date and relevant products and solutions for better management and communications and worry-free operations. This way, they will be able to enhance their daily operations, promote better customer experience and increase their competitiveness, said Derrick Heng, senior advisor for Globe myBusiness. Due to the low bank penetration in the country, the pawnshop industry continues to thrive - primarily serving the unbanked members of the population for remittance and easy credit, with personal items as collateral. Pawnshops are also being tapped to pay bills and exchange foreign currency. Danny Co, Pro Pawnshop owner, said: Business owners should be open to [the use of] technology. Especially at this time, we should be abreast with technological tools and gadgets and do our research well. Co used to work in the banking and aquaculture industry before starting his own pawnshop which began operations in Cebu in 1994. He shared that being hands-on, knowing when to delegate work, and using technology are essential to how he operates his business. The same applies to Geraldine Sangao of Milova Pawnshop. With multiple branches under her care, Geraldine noted the importance of having a strong and reliable Internet connection which Globe myBusiness, provides.The internet is vital to our operations. You need a great internet provider to be able to operate and partner with big companies. Since the beginning, Im happy with Globes level of customer care and service, Geraldine said. With Globe as Milova Pawnshops connectivity provider, the company was able to improve inter-branch operations and communication. AdSpark, a digital and mobile marketing solutions company fully owned by Globe Telecom, informed pawnshop owners how they could use digital marketing to their advantage in todays Internet-savvy world, to which Maryann Padrilannan, owner of SMSP Pawnshop, agreed to. According to Maryann, her teams research efforts led to the creation of SMSPs website and social media page, and the use of cloud technology for better operations. Still, she admits they need help in maximizing their digital assets. We have more than 4,000 customers per month, but 4,000 more could be looking for our services in other locations. Thats why we are looking for ways to use technology in reaching out to more people. We want to smoothen out our processes and pour our best efforts in digital marketing after, she said. Among the solutions being offered by Globe myBusiness for pawnshops are the Software-Defined Wide Area Network which will enable them to get secure real-time information across all branches and Globelines which provides quality voice services from basic direct lines to multi-channel line services. Globe myBusiness also keeps its clients on top by informing them of trends, providing tips and bringing together communities through regular workshops and seminars for business owners where the company has established itself as an expert and guide in the industry. Hurricane Florence is expected to move across the Carolinas this weekend, bringing dangerous rain, wind and flooding to the region. For those in affected areas, the following resources can help: State resources North Carolina: Visit https://www.ncdps.gov/florence for updated storm and evacuation information. Visit DriveNC.gov for road conditions and travel information. South Carolina: Visit https://www.scdot.org/travel/stormResources.aspx for updated information, including road conditions and evacuation routes. To report road damage, dial 855-GO-SCDOT (855-467-2368). Options for finding shelter FEMA: Text SHELTER and your zip code (e.g., SHELTER 12345) to 4FEMA (43362) to locate an open emergency shelter near you. You can also look up shelters on the FEMA app. Text SHELTER and your zip code (e.g., SHELTER 12345) to 4FEMA (43362) to locate an open emergency shelter near you. You can also look up shelters on the FEMA app. American Red Cross: Visit the Red Cross website to find a shelter in your area. Helpful hotlines Seeking shelter, food or water, or have nonemergency needs? Contact United Ways 2-1-1 hotline by dialing 211 from a cellphone or landline. The 24/7 hotline is free and available in 180 languages. Contact United Ways 2-1-1 hotline by dialing 211 from a cellphone or landline. The 24/7 hotline is free and available in 180 languages. Coping with emotional distress? The Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, year-round crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress as a result of a natural disaster. Call 800-985-5990 (TTY for deaf/hearing impaired: 800-846-8517) or text TalkWithUs or Hablanos to 66746 for assistance in English or Spanish. The Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, year-round crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress as a result of a natural disaster. Call 800-985-5990 (TTY for deaf/hearing impaired: 800-846-8517) or text TalkWithUs or Hablanos to 66746 for assistance in English or Spanish. Evacuating with pets? Due to state health and safety regulations, pets are not allowed in many shelters and evacuation centers (including Red Cross evacuation centers). To find a pet-friendly hotel, visit pet-friendly-hotels.net (or dial 866-966-3046) or visit bringfido.com (or dial 877-411-FIDO). Due to state health and safety regulations, pets are not allowed in many shelters and evacuation centers (including Red Cross evacuation centers). To find a pet-friendly hotel, visit pet-friendly-hotels.net (or dial 866-966-3046) or visit bringfido.com (or dial 877-411-FIDO). Suspect fraud? Report disaster-related fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud by calling 866-720-5721. Traveling by air Use FlightAware to check delays and cancellations by origin airport, destination airport or airline. You can also track your flight number using FlightAware's MiseryMap. As of Friday afternoon, the following airports were experiencing closures (all times Eastern): Rocky Mount-Wilson Rgnl (KRWI) Closed until midnight Saturday night Coastal Carolina Regional (KEWN) Closed until Sunday at 6 a.m. Florence Rgnl (KFLO) Closed until Sunday at 6 a.m. Wilmington Intl (KILM) Closed until Sunday at noon Berkeley County (KMKS) Closed until Monday at 8 a.m. Pitt-Greenville (KPGV) Closed until Monday at 8 a.m. Seymour Johnson Afb (KGSB) Closed until Monday at 10 a.m. Charleston Intl/AFB (KCHS) Closed until Monday at 7:59 p.m. Need to reschedule your flight? Airlines began offering fee waivers for those affected passengers this week many have since been updated. Be sure to check the individual policy regarding rebooking travel originally scheduled for the following dates: Traveling by car Roadside assistance: AAA is advising that roadside assistance may be limited and/or delayed across the Carolinas. Check the AAA website for additional information, including store closures. AAA is advising that roadside assistance may be limited and/or delayed across the Carolinas. Check the AAA website for additional information, including store closures. Gas: GasBuddy is staying on top of fuel shortages in the hurricane-affected areas and tracking the percentage of stations without fuel in parts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. You can use its crowdsourced fuel-availability tracker by downloading the free GasBuddy app on a smartphone or tablet. Traveling by train or bus Amtrak: Amtrak cancellations began Wednesday for service on trains south of Washington, D.C., to Florida and continue through Sunday, Sept. 16. The Auto Train that runs between Lorton, Va., and Sanford, Fla., has been canceled. Train service has been canceled on the Silver Meteor between New York and Miami; on the Crescent from New York to New Orleans, on the Carolinian from New York to Charlotte; and on the Piedmont from Raleigh to Charlotte, N.C., according to an Amtrak spokesperson. Service is running on the Palmetto from New York to Washington, D.C., but will not continue on to Savannah, Ga., she said. For service updates, check the Amtrak website or call 800-USA-RAIL. Amtrak cancellations began Wednesday for service on trains south of Washington, D.C., to Florida and continue through Sunday, Sept. 16. The Auto Train that runs between Lorton, Va., and Sanford, Fla., has been canceled. Train service has been canceled on the Silver Meteor between New York and Miami; on the Crescent from New York to New Orleans, on the Carolinian from New York to Charlotte; and on the Piedmont from Raleigh to Charlotte, N.C., according to an Amtrak spokesperson. Service is running on the Palmetto from New York to Washington, D.C., but will not continue on to Savannah, Ga., she said. For service updates, check the Amtrak website or call 800-USA-RAIL. Greyhound: Greyhound service has also been affected. Check its website for specific cancellations and interruptions. Call 833-233-8507 to reschedule your trip. Say youre safe and stay updated Safe and Well: In the wake of a disaster, the American Red Cross encourages all those affected to register on the Safe and Well website. This secure, easy-to-use tool allows concerned loved ones all across the country to search for registrants posted messages, to see that they are out of harms way. In the wake of a disaster, the American Red Cross encourages all those affected to register on the Safe and Well website. This secure, easy-to-use tool allows concerned loved ones all across the country to search for registrants posted messages, to see that they are out of harms way. Emergency! app: Another option is to download the Red Cross Emergency! app by texting GETEMERGENCY to 90999 or installing free from the App Store or Google Play. Use the app to post a message to social media accounts to let friends and family know that youre safe. Another option is to download the Red Cross Emergency! app by texting GETEMERGENCY to 90999 or installing free from the App Store or Google Play. Use the app to post a message to social media accounts to let friends and family know that youre safe. Monitor Twitter for updates: Useful accounts include @FEMA, @FEMAespanol, @GeorgiaEMA, @NCEmergency, and @NHC_Atlantic or @NWSNHC for National Hurricane Center updates. Medicare and Medicaid resources Medical equipment: If you are a Medicare beneficiary and the medical equipment you need has been lost or damaged because of the storm, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is waiving some of the procedures you would normally have to follow to get replacement equipment, including prosthetics, orthotics and other supplies. Contact 800-633-4227 for help. Plan changes: CMS has also created some special enrollment opportunities for Medicare patients affected by the hurricane who need to change their health and/or prescription drug plans if they have been displaced from their homes. Contact 800-633-4227 to get details. Dialysis treatment: In addition, CMS is working with the End Stage Renal Disease Network of the South Atlantic to assess the status of dialysis facilities in the areas affected by the storm and help them get generators, water and other supplies they need to remain open. They are also helping patients who have evacuated receive dialysis services where they have relocated. You can get more information by calling the networks hotline at 800-524-7139 or the Kidney Community Emergency Response program hotline at 866-901-3773. Chemotherapy and cancer treatment: If you have original Medicare, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) can help you find other cancer care providers. Call NCI at 800-422-6237. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare health plan, contact your plan to see what temporary changes it will make to its rules in an emergency or disaster. For veterans The following VA national hotline numbers are operational: Veteran Hurricane Hotline: 800-507-4571 For veterans who need assistance or family members trying to locate their veteran relatives Employee Disaster Hotline: 866-233-0152 To connect VA employees with their facilities, whether to understand the facilitys status or to provide their own status and whether they need help Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Hotline: 800-827-1000 For non-health-related emergency assistance Pharmacy customer care: 866-400-1243 For emergency assistance with prescriptions Go to va.gov for updates on the status of VA medical centers, clinics and facilities. Additional information can be found in the Disaster Assistance to Veterans brochure. Disaster assistance FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are accessible facilities and offices you can visit to learn more about FEMA and other disaster assistance programs. Use FEMA's DRC Locator to find the center nearest you. For questions about FEMA services or how to apply, call the FEMA Helpline from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, 7 days a week: 800-621-FEMA (800-621-3362); TTY 800-462-7585; 711 or VRS 800-621-3362. Volunteer Ellsworth: Shortness of breath, fatigue are signs your heart can't keep up columns Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. PhilJets Group CEO Willyn Villarica PhilJets Group appointed Willyn Villarica as its new chief executive. Thierry Tea, the founder of the company, steps down as CEO to assume the role of chairman of the board. Established in 2013, PhilJets has experienced rapid growth over the last five years under the management of Tea, growing its fleet from 0 to 12 aircraft including 9 helicopters and 3 business jets. Villarica steps in as CEO for PhilJets Aero Services Inc. and PhilJets Aero Charter Corp.I have been following the growth of PhilJets and there are great challenges facing us. I aim to continue to professionalize and strengthen the company, to bring in new ideas, develop practical solutions and develop our team. Villarica said. Villarica, an MBA graduate from the Asian Institute of Management, who has a successful multi-sector background, from real estate, law, gemology, food and beverage, micro lending, private equity and venture capital, is taking a more active role in PhilJets operations. She has been the president of PhilJets Aero Services for the past five years. Its a new era for PhilJets. Whilst Im proud of the accomplishments PhilJets achieved in the past 5 years, I feel that we can take the company to newer heights by bringing in someone who sees the Philippine aviation industry from a different point of view and at the same time, has the ability to lead our management team as we go through our transition from being a young player in aviation to an emerging leader in the field of business aviation, said Tea.We look forward to the succeeding years with great enthusiasm, he said. PhilJets hopes to enjoy continued growth by offering new services, innovative products, increase its existing fleet and expand its operations by opening new branches in other parts of the Philippines. Tea, as chairman of PhilJets, will oversee the regional development and PhilJets expansion in Southeast Asia. PhilJets is an aviation company which offers general aviation services such as chartered flights, aerial tours, fleet management and aircraft sales. As part of its expansion plans in 2018, the company is venturing in partnerships to enter the MRO sector, have larger coverage of destinations and set up new bases. DENVER The U.S. Interior Department said Friday it will go ahead with plans to open a wildlife refuge at the site of a former nuclear weapons plant in Colorado, after briefly putting the opening on hold amid concerns about public safety. Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, on the perimeter of a government factory that made plutonium triggers for nuclear bombs, is scheduled to open Saturday. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke initially said Friday he would delay the opening to gather more information about safety. The announcement came after Colorado Democratic congressman Jared Polis, who is running for governor, wrote Zinke expressing concerns that plutonium testing on the site was outdated and asking him to postpone the opening until new tests could be done. Just one hour later, Zinke spokeswoman Faith Vander Voort said a review was complete and the refuge would open. Vander Voort said the review was done by Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt, the No. 2 leader at the department. Vander Voort did not provide any details of the review and did not immediately respond to an email seeking more information. The Rocky Flats plutonium plant stopped work in 1989 after a 34-year history marred by fires, leaks and spills. It was shut down during a criminal investigation into environmental violations. Rockwell International, the contractor then operating the plant, pleaded guilty in 1992 to charges that included allowing leaks of chemical and radioactive material and illegally disposing hazardous waste. The company was fined $18.5 million. The plutonium plant was cleaned up at a cost of $7 billion, but it remains off-limits to the public. The 8-square-mile (21-kilometer) buffer zone surrounding the manufacturing site was turned over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a refuge. Some groups worry that plutonium particles eluded the cleanup and could be sprinkled over the refuge, where hikers and cyclists could inadvertently stir them up or track them home. Five environmental and community activist groups sued the government in May, arguing the refuge should remain closed until more testing is done. Last month, a judge rejected their request to delay the opening while the lawsuit is heard. The lawsuit is pending in Denver federal court. My head is spinning, said Randall Weiner, an attorney for the plaintiffs, after the Interior Departments rapid reversal Friday. It seems like the (deputy) secretary did an awfully quick study to address the questions raised by Rep. Polis, he said. Until this weekend, the only way to visit the refuge was to sign up for a short hike, guided by a Fish and Wildlife Service officer, offered once a month. The agency plans to open about 10 miles (16 kilometers) of trails this weekend that will be open seven days a week. Visitors will be told to stay on the trails or roads. ___ Follow Dan Elliott at http://twitter.com/DanElliottAP. SANTA FE A young Santa Fe man is charged with his second knife attack in less than a year after he sent a woman to the hospital with nine stab wounds early Friday morning. Matthew Culley, 19, is charged with one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, one count of tampering with evidence and two counts of larceny after stabbing the woman near Galisteo Street and West DeVargas Street downtown. The victim is in stable condition, Santa Fe Police Department spokesman Greg Gurule said Friday afternoon. According to a criminal complaint, the woman walked into Hotel St. Francis around 3 a.m., covered in blood, and said she needed medical attention. Police later found Culley under a bridge at Galisteo and West DeVargas and arrested him after finding that he matched the womans description of the attacker and had blood on his pants. Culley is already facing charges for stabbing a man in Santa Fe in October. He was out of jail on an unsecured bond and electronic monitoring, according to court records. Culley also faced felony charges for the 2017 beating and kidnapping of Michael Willms, who was found dead in his apartment earlier this year. The 2017 case involving Willms was dropped after Willms death by stabbing at his midtown apartment in late June. Santa Fe County jail records indicate that Culley was locked up when Willms was killed. Context is everything. The New York Times realized this after the fact. Late Thursday, the Times published a bit of accountability journalism, detailing extravagant expenditures at taxpayer expense on a Manhattan apartment leased by the government and now occupied by Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Specifically, the article noted, federal interior decorators spent $52,701 on new drapes, including a motorized system to open and close them. The original headline read: Nikki Haleys View of New York is Priceless. Her Curtains? $52,701. Well, yes. But not exactly. Its true, as the story said, that the ambassadors 6,000-square-foot apartment on First Avenue often used for entertaining diplomats has a priceless view of Manhattan. Its also true, as the storys lead paragraph states, that the curtains on the picture windows in the apartment were installed just as the department was undergoing deep budget cuts and had frozen hiring. But all of that distorts the actual timing and context of Drape-gate, which the Times or at least its headline seemed initially to pin on Haley and the Trump administration. In fact, readers who merely scanned the headline and photo thinking it was another Trump administration expense-account scandal might have missed several important pieces of information in the body of the story, starting with the sixth paragraph: The drape expenditures were authorized and approved by the Obama administration in 2016. Ms. Haley had no say in the purchase, a spokesman for Haley said in the article. The misleading context provided ammunition to those who perceive the news media in general, and the Times in particular, as hostile to Trump and his administration. Cries of fake news began popping up on Twitter not long after the story was published. Critics contended that the headline, along with a photo of Haley, made it seem that Haley, or Trumps State Department, was responsible for the expenditure. The conservative Daily Caller collected tweets blasting the Times for its alleged anti-Trump worldview, topping them off with a headline saying the Times got fact-checked by its own accompanying article. Breitbart.com was even blunter: New York Times Spreads Fake News About Nikki Haleys $52,701 Curtains. By midafternoon on Friday, the Times reconsidered. It removed the photo of Haley and changed the headline to the less colorful, but more accurate, State Department Spent $52,701 on Curtains for Residence of U.N. Envoy. 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. Reached by phone on Friday, the reporter of the Times story, Gardiner Harris, hung up without comment. He did not respond to follow-up messages. Times editor Dean Baquet said in a brief interview that he preferred to let the editors note correcting the story do the talking. He added, The main lesson here is, if we get it wrong, we correct it. We own up to it. Haley herself retweeted the Times tweet about its editors note. The unanswered question in all the hubbub: Why did the State Department, under any administration, deem it necessary to drop more than $50,000 on curtains? Albuquerque police said two officers trained to deal with people during a mental crisis spent about an hour and half negotiating with an armed man before he was shot and injured at an Albuquerque apartment complex last month. Lambert Joe, 38, was shot once in the pelvic area and was treated at a local hospital before being booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center. He is being held on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer. Albuquerque police held a news briefing Friday to provide more information about the Aug. 19 shooting. Officers were called to Joes apartment at 219 Dallas NE after a neighbor reported seeing Joe threaten at least three other people at complex with a rifle, said APD Lt. Jason Sanchez. Police began to arrive around 1:53 p.m., setting up a perimeter around Joes apartment. Officers with advanced training in dealing with people having a mental crisis started calling Joe, reaching him by phone around 2:30 p.m. Originally, a female officer was communicating with Joe but after he started complaining about a recent breakup with a girlfriend, a male officer with similar training took over and kept calling Joe. Sanchez said Joe was difficult to reach and often hung up on police, who described him as being hyped up. Just before 4 p.m., Joe walked out of the house with a long gun, which turned out to be a black powder muzzleloader. He first pointed it at officer Ian Ross, who fired three times, striking Joes weapon once. Officer Richard Whitten then shot Joe once. Police footage from several on-body cameras captures parts of the shooting but not the event in its entirety. Video of the aftermath of the shooting shows officers rush Joe and start removing his clothing to give him medical aid. Dont worry about any apologies right now, an officer tells Joe, who is trying to say hes sorry. Ross has been with the department for three years, and Whitten has been a police officer for nearly 11 years. It was both mens first officer-involved shooting. How quickly their days change. They went from protecting themselves, to quickly providing first aid to this individual, Deputy Chief Harold Medina said. Thats what we ask of our officers. That they evaluate the situation and that they change their response to the situation as the situation changes. A small observatory in southwest New Mexico made national headlines and set conspiracy theorists atwitter last week after being mysteriously evacuated without explanation from officials, and now those same officials are saying the facility will remain closed for the time being. Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy spokeswoman Shari Lifson said Friday the Sunspot Solar Observatory, near Alamogordo, will not be reopening until further notice due to an ongoing security concern. AURA will provide additional information as it becomes available, she said. Lifson said there were nine New Mexico State University and AURA staff working at the facility when it was evacuated last Thursday. A nearby post office was also evacuated. Since the evacuation, the story has spread to news outlets around the globe as conspiracy theorists and UFO enthusiasts speculate on message boards over the web with theories ranging from an alien coverup to antennae hacking. Both AURA and authorities refused to provide any details on why the facility was evacuated. Local Otero County Sheriff Benny House said earlier last week that deputies were not alerted to the situation until observatory employees called and told deputies the FBI had come in and told them to evacuate. FBI spokesman Frank Fisher in Albuquerque would not detail the cause of the evacuation and referred all questions to AURA, which manages the National Solar Observatory facility. But Fisher did say Friday that there were no extraterrestrials involved in the incident. The facility, located on Sacramento Peak in the Lincoln National forest, is overseen by AURA and owned by the National Solar Observatory. The rest of the National Solar Observatory facilities remain open and are operating normally, Lifson said Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal In the month before Victoria Martens was killed, Fabian Gonzales considered himself the man of the house and the girls protector helping the 10-year-old with homework, taking her to the zoo and walking her to the bus stop. Those details and more are outlined in an 18-page document released Friday by prosecutors describing the basis of a few of the charges Gonzales faces in connection with Victoria Martens death. The pages describe Gonzales relationship with the Martens family and the days leading up to the murder, which included a pregnant woman giving Gonzales a black eye at a barbecue, an alleged mystery man who killed Victoria Martens possibly as retaliation against Gonzales, and how Gonzales helped his cousin Jessica Kelley clean up the mess after Michelle Martens, Victorias mother, had gone to bed. According to the documents filed in state District Court, Gonzales and Michelle Martens met on the dating app Plenty of Fish in July 2016, and he moved in with her the following month. Soon after, prosecutors say, Gonzales got comfortable there. He began bringing drug users over to the apartment, bought Victoria a kitten and let Kelley move in for $50 rent after her release from prison all without Michelle Martens permission. According to court documents, things escalated when two women, one of them pregnant, beat up Gonzales and gave him a black eye during an Aug. 21 barbecue welcoming Kelley home from prison. Afterward, prosecutors say, Gonzales threatened to retaliate against the two women. He began searching for guns on a classified ads website and calling known gang members. According to the court documents, a friend warned Gonzales and Michelle Martens the day before Victorias death that Kelley was acting strangely and to kick her out of the apartment. Instead, prosecutors say, the pair left Victoria with Kelley, who told her sister in a phone call earlier that she was tweaking and hallucinating from methamphetamine. Kelley told prosecutors she saw a car drive past the apartment repeatedly before a man showed up looking for Favo, which is Gonzales street name. The man went into Victorias room and killed her, the document reads. Afterward, prosecutors say the man told Kelley that Gonzales had messed up and knew he had done so. He instructed Kelley that she and Gonzales needed to clean up the mess or she and her kids would be next, the document reads. Prosecutors say Kelley told Gonzales that Victoria was dead and the two decided to clean up the crime scene and bury her body after Michelle Martens went to bed. According to the documents, the body was set on fire in the bathroom. Prosecutors say Kelley told officers at the scene another man had been at the apartment and they needed to find the real killer. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal The day started with some sharp jabs and ended with polite disagreement. Republican Steve Pearce took aim at Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham in a new television ad released Friday, and she responded almost immediately with her own signaling the more confrontational approach the candidates may take in the final 50 days of New Mexico's gubernatorial campaign. But they opted for a respectful back-and-forth later in the day, as they answered questions before an audience of hundreds during a 75-minute forum in Albuquerque. At an event sponsored by the NAACP, the two candidates both members of Congress offered a few compliments to each other while still drawing contrasts on immigration and other topics. In response to a question, Lujan Grisham said she would pursue state oversight and licensing requirements for any federal detention centers established in New Mexico for children and parents separated at the border when trying to enter the country. It is the most callous, heinous policy I have ever witnessed in my lifetime, Lujan Grisham, an Albuquerque Democrat, said as she described visiting a tent shelter established for young immigrants after the Trump administration launch a zero-tolerance policy. This state has a unique opportunity like all the other border states and the Southwestern states to stand up against these injustices. Pearce, in turn, said he was one of the first Republicans to speak to the Trump administration to say I don't think this is the right way forward. But he said President Obama also struggled with how to handle the flow of immigrants, establishing detention centers for families at one point. It's a very complex problem, said Pearce, a Republican from Hobbs. I'm not one who wants an open border. Pearce and Lujan Grisham also disagreed on whether to increase distributions out of the Land Grant Permanent Fund, with Lujan Grisham saying she supported taking the issue to voters and Pearce arguing against it. Both candidates found some common ground, too, as they addressed questions from a panel. Pearce and Lujan Grisham each said they'd appoint the first African-American to New Mexico's Court of Appeals or Supreme Court. And in response to a final question centering on what they liked about the other candidate's platform the two congressional colleagues said they respected each other and worked together in Washington, D.C. Attack ads But the day got off to a spicy start. Pearce launched a television ad blasting Lujan Grisham as dishonest and dirty, and she responded almost immediately with an ad of her own. Pearce's attack ad marked a shift in the race, which had until Friday featured primarily positive, issue-focused TV spots from the two candidates. His ad focused on Lujan Grisham's ties to a company that has a state contract to help run New Mexico's high-risk insurance pool. The ad's narrator accuses Lujan Grisham of shady self-dealing, citing news reports that Delta Consulting was paid more than $2 million to run the state's high-risk pool from 2014 to 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 featuring Diego Zamora, a Santa Fe resident and pancreatic cancer survivor who says he got health care coverage through the high-risk pool. Diversity pledges But the advertising war didn't come up as Pearce and Lujan Grisham shared a stage late Friday inside a packed conference room at the Sheraton Uptown. The forum was part of the annual NAACP Albuquerque Civil Rights and Diversity Conference. Both candidates said they would work to build diverse teams of Cabinet secretaries, promote pay equity for men and women, and tackle poverty. Lujan Grisham told the audience that she, as chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, had recently rejected an invitation to the White House because of President Trump's rhetoric, including his comments about the loss of life in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. I have fought against racism, discrimination and prejudice my whole career, Lujan Grisham said. Pearce spoke about racism toward African-Americans he had seen as a youngster. I believe in dignity for everyone, he said. I believe in opportunity for everyone. As a tenth-generation descendant of Spanish settlers who were the first Europeans to settle in New Mexico in those times, (I appreciate what) New Mexico historian Marc Simmons wrote, At that time Europeans, like Indians, tended to go where they pleased. In truth, all history is filled with storm and violence, both in the Old World and the New. The Iroquois exterminated the Erie. The Comanche exterminated the Lipan Apache. Pecos Pueblo destroyed neighboring villages. New Mexico, at the time of its founding, was a very dangerous place, and conditions for survival were horrifying. A 16th-century soldier could not be expected to have performed as a 20th-century man with modern sensibilities, and Indians, likewise, cannot now be held accountable because some tribes culturally approved of torture and mutilation of captives. These were the true factors facing all European settlement in the Americas. In New Mexico, to their credit, the Spanish did arrive with many priests ready to help and teach the Natives in many new and different ways. Also to their credit, the Spanish did not practice Indian Removals from their homelands (like) the Navajo and Apache removals by the U.S. Army to Bosque Redondo reservation, where thousands died en route or in the reservation from malnutrition and starvation. As Pueblo historian Joe Sando wrote: despite their tribulations, the Pueblos were fortunate that it was the Spanish who colonized this area, because the Pueblos were granted citizenship and rights to their lands and were included in the Guadalupe Treaty. The Pueblos are still living where the Spanish invaders found them. Thus, it would serve Santa Feans who have recently arrived in our great state such as new Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber and new Santa Fe Archbishop the Most Reverend John Wester to be aware of these not-too-often-told good aspects of New Mexicos Spanish history. It would, as well, serve the Native (American)s to acknowledge this and to also stand up, show some courage and retire their open celebrations of the 1680 Pueblo Indian Revolt or the massacre of more than 400 Spanish citizens, mostly women and children, and 21 priests. Thus, they will avoid being labeled as hypocrites by their Spanish neighbors. Henry & Sons Trading and Manufacturing Co. Inc. CEO Michael Harris Conlin unveils The Giving Cart, the latest giving platform under the Foundation for Sustainable Excellences social enterprise called TGC. Henry & Sons Trading and Manufacturing Co. Inc. has deployed The Giving Cart, a brand-new platform that serves premium coffee and quick meals to help spread its cause among commuters and expand its social enterprises reach. A pop-up concept formed under the Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellences social enterprise TGC, The Giving Cart is expected to be the average commuters go-to spot for feel-good indulgences prepared for a cause. Like other TGC platforms, The Giving Cart will not only reward people with the simple delight of coffee but will also support programs that benefit the coffee farming communities of Benguet. It will offer caffeinated drinks to help uplift the mood of urban travellers across Metro Manila.We all know how stressful commuting is, said FSCE director and Henry & Sons chief executive Michael Harris Conlin. We thought of how wonderful an opportunity it would be to welcome all our dedicated road warriors into our cause in the best and most delicious way possible, he said. Amidst the bustle of the urban commute, The Giving Cart hopes to make ordinary trips more meaningful and reward people with a chance to indulge in giving as they unwind and savor the simple delight of a satisfying meal or an invigorating beverage priced at P80.The Giving Cart is set to feature local selections that capture the flavors of the citys diverse locale, starting with Taytays signature Budbod, a delectable medley of fried rice topped with minced tapa, tomato, onion spring and scrambled eggs. Meanwhile, beverage options offered at The Giving Cart include Espresso, Americano, Latte, Timplado, Coffee Quake, Choco Quake and Hot Choco. One of TGCs three platforms businesses can adoptthe other two being The Giving Cafe, a safe haven of comfort and indulgence, and The Giving Caravan, a roving mobile cafe that brings communities a taste of genuine compassionThe Giving Cart will direct its proceeds to fund programs by FSCE as part of its mission to make the lives of our coffee farmers in Benguet easier. This includes The Giving Well (atmospheric water generators, water gallons, and filtration tablets), Cup to Seed (livelihood programs and post-harvest facilities), Coffee for Great Minds (educational assistance and trainings), Beans for the Little Ones (mosquito nets, booster vaccines, dental treatment, and basic hygiene kits), and Beans within Reach (programs that promote traceability and connect local farmers to global buyers). FSCE is a foundation built around the concept of bringing the Philippines back into the global coffee spotlight starting with the empowerment of coffee farming communities of Benguet. Commuters are set to be rewarded with the break they deserve as the first Giving Cart was deployed at the MRT Cubao Station on Sept. 15. The mantra, Its the economy, stupid, propelled Bill Clintons candidacy during the presidential campaign in 1992. His decision to highlight the nations then-struggling economy and promise to fix it helped Clinton win the White House. One theme in this years mid-term election is the renewed call for more gun-control laws, especially from students worried about school shootings. Im left wondering when someone will come up with the rallying cry, Its the bullets, stupid. After all, guns dont work without bullets. After watching trends across the country heres my prediction: the next big gun safety push will take aim at regulating the bullets that make guns so deadly. Currently, there are few controls on ammunition sales in this country. There is a federal law that says those who are not legally allowed to buy or have a gun a convicted felon, for example are also not allowed to buy bullets, but there is no real system in place to enforce that. In Pennsylvania, bullets are offered like snack food from vending machines. At pharmacies in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and Texas customers have been able to buy guns and ammunition along with their prescription medications. And, of course, residents in almost every state can buy ammo via the internet, although sometimes government-issued identification and/or a valid gun license is required. It is incredibly hassle-free to buy high capacity magazines and bulk bullets online. A 100-round magazine for an AR-15, a favorite of several recent mass shooters, can be had for as low as 125 bucks. Case in point: James Holmes, the young man who walked into a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., and fatally shot 12 people and wounded 70 others, had stockpiled 6,000 bullets from various online sites. There was no way for authorities to track all his purchases. That was in 2012 and now, years later, little has changed to regulate online sales of ammunition. Some states have moved to restrict sales of large-capacity magazines and feeding devices that allow quick release of multiple bullets. But California has gone much further. It has become the model for the anti-bullet movement. The Golden State requires that all ammunition bought online be shipped to a licensed vendor or law enforcement agency that will dole it out and keep track of who bought what and when. This also allows time for a background check on the buyer. In addition, gun control advocates in California have campaigned to raise taxes on ammo sales, and theyd like to have each and every bullet stamped with traceable markings to help law enforcement solve crimes. Los Angeles and Sacramento passed laws years ago requiring all ammunition sellers to keep detailed logs of each transaction. Those logs have been incredibly helpful for detectives who frequently scour the list looking for unauthorized purchases. Authorities in those two cities say that by reviewing the logs theyve been able to arrest hundreds of felons, including gang members, drug dealers, registered sex offenders and other criminals and confiscate their guns. Beginning next year, all California ammo sellers will have to keep such logs. So, will the rest of the nation follow Californias lead on bullet control? Not if gun rights groups have a say. Those who enjoy competitive and range shooting, hunting or teaching their children about gun safety see it as just another restriction on law-abiding gun owners. The National Rifle Association has filed a lawsuit on behalf of several gun owners, vendors, veterans and Kim Rhode, a six-time Olympic gold medal winning shooter. The suit claims, among other things, that by forcing bullet buyers to pay a middle-man vendor for their ammo California is violating commerce laws and putting excessive restraints on individuals right to bear arms. You know what? There are excessive regulations everywhere you look in America and the cost of everything goes up nearly every year. I dont entertain myself with shooting guns, but the cost of my tickets to movies, concerts and museums increase on a regular basis. Look, if the goal is to try to stop the nations never-ending gun violence, steps must be taken. Special-interest gun groups have to accept the conclusion that overall public safety is more important than their target practice. No one wants to deprive honest citizens of their guns or bullets, they just want to keep track of who is buying ammunition. As the California example proves simply keeping a log of bullet purchases can help police identify known criminals who should not have a firearm. History shows passing more restrictive gun laws does nothing to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals. The bad guys dont give a damn about laws, and guns are readily available on the street. But if we take steps to, literally, take the firepower away from those guns, if we make everyone who buys a bullet responsible for how it is utilized, the United States becomes a safer place. www.DianeDimond.com; e-mail to Diane@DianeDimond.com. Two Mexican nationals and a local man, arrested last month by Bernalillo County Sheriffs deputies on charges of possessing stolen firearms, are now facing federal charges including possession of a machine gun. Last August deputies arrived at domestic disturbance call at Foothill and Amalia Road SW when a black GMC pickup truck pulled away from the scene. Deputies followed and attempted to pull the truck over when it violated several traffic laws. The truck drove on for several blocks until the driver finally pulled over. When Deputy Mitchell Skroch approached the drivers side door of the pickup he saw the driver was wearing body armor with a 30 round AR-15 magazine attached to his chest plate of the armor. The driver didnt speak English, so deputies called for a bilingual deputy to help out. Everyone in the truck was cooperative, according to criminal complaints filed in state and federal court. The driver, Jesus Samaniego-Villa, 25, had no drivers license and according to court records told deputies there was some cocaine in the truck. The deputies could see what looked like eight firearms in the back seat. They later counted 14 rifles and handguns, $33,289 in cash, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, night vision goggles and assorted magazines and gun parts. Two of the firearms came back as stolen when deputies ran a computer check. One of the stolen weapons, a Rogg10 Arsenal RA-15, was fully automatic, according to criminal complaints filed in the case. Samaniego-Villa, Jesus Christian Meza-Samaniego, 20, and Daniel Landeros Garcia, 27, of Albuquerque, were initially charged with drug possession and possession of stolen firearms in state court. The state charges were dropped after federal charges were filed. Samaniego-Villa and Landeros Garcia are charged in a federal indictment with possession of a machine gun which carries a potential sentence of five to 10 years in federal prison. Samaniego-Villa and Meza-Samaniego, who told Metropolitan Detention Center intake officers that they were homeless, are also charged with being unlawfully in the United States and possessing firearms and ammunition which can carry a 10-year federal prison term. Meza-Samaniego also is charged with being in the country after being deported in July 2017. They are being held without bond on the federal charges. EL PASO A man wanted for murder in Las Cruces 24 years ago is in the U.S. after he was captured in Mexico. Gregorio Zavala faced charges for killing 21-year-old Ricardo Soria during a house party in Las Cruces on Jan. 7,1994. Zavala is now 43 years old but was 19 at the time of the murder. Its very important that justice is served, said Frank Fisher, a spokesman with the Albuquerque FBI Division. This man is accused of killing someone. The FBI filed an arrest warrant for Zavala for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution in 1995. Theres no place in the world that you can hide where we wont bring you back or serve justice, Fisher said. Mexican law enforcement took Zavala into custody in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, on Wednesday, and he was returned to the border city of El Paso. Zavala was scheduled to appear before a judge in U.S. District Court in El Paso on Friday. A detention hearing is set for Wednesday. Zavala is expected to be turned over to New Mexico law enforcement to face first-degree murder charges in Las Cruces. In 2016, the 3rd Judicial District Attorneys Office in Las Cruces had reached out to the public asking for help and released an age-progression sketch of Zavala. The DAs Office office did not respond to requests for comment on Zavalas arrest. According to the FBI, Mexican law enforcement has captured 63 fugitives wanted in the U.S. so far this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. Last year, the number was 42. WASHINGTON Cuban scientific investigators visiting Washington to meet with State Department officials, scientists and members of Congress have challenged whether 26 diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Havana suffered brain injury and were deliberately attacked. We dont doubt that the diplomats were sick. As a doctor I would never deny that these people were feeling ill, said Dr. Mitchell Joseph Valdes Sosa, head of the Neuroscience Center of Cuba. But he said there could be many reasons for their symptoms, including pre-existing conditions, psychological factors and other underlying causes that need more study before they can be eliminated. Cuban scientists, he said, have seen no credible evidence from the scarce information shared with them that some mysterious weapon was used against the diplomats. The idea that a whole collection of symptoms was caused by a weapon, we find difficult to believe, Valdes Sosa said. In late November 2016, some diplomats assigned to the embassy began to complain of dizziness, headaches, ringing in the ears, loss of balance, fatigue, cognitive problems and, in the most acute cases, hearing loss. The symptoms were often associated with a shrill sound that seemed to be directional. University of Pennsylvania doctors and scientists who saw the diplomats and affected family members reached a preliminary conclusion that the diplomatic personnel suffered a new neurological syndrome that could cause brain damage without a blow to the head. But the Cuban scientists said many of the diplomats symptoms could also be caused by functional disorders such as hypertension and stress. The neuropsychological tests, considered to be more objective, were assessed with unusual criteria, which applied to a group of healthy individuals, would qualify all of them as ill, the delegation said in a statement. If internationally established criteria were applied, the statement said, Only two subjects could be considered afflicted. Three diplomats seen by the University of Pennsylvania researchers showed hearing loss, but they could have had pre-existing conditions, the Cuban doctors said. There were no baseline studies of the patients to make comparisons. A State Department spokesperson defended the U.S. studies Thursday: These patients have undergone months of highly specialized medical testing. World-class brain injury specialists and other scientists at the University of Pennsylvania, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to examine the medical data to gain a better understanding of these patients symptoms. The meetings came at a time when some in the U.S. government believe that Cuba is not sharing all it knows about what the State Department has deemed deliberate health attacks on its diplomatic personnel at their homes and at two Havana hotels where they were staying. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has insisted that in a tightly controlled country like Cuba, not only must the Cuban government know what caused the mysterious incidents, but also who is responsible. Officially, the State Department says it is still investigating and hasnt assigned blame, but it does hold Cuba responsible for not protecting the diplomats while they were on the island. Cuba has vigorously denied it has had any role in harming the diplomats. Johana Tablada, deputy director of the U.S. Department at the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Cuban delegation will ask the State Department to stop using the word attack. She said she hopes that U.S. and Cuban doctors will be able to work doctor-to-doctor, without political influence, to try to come up with a better understanding of what happened to the U.S. diplomats. The nine-member Cuban scientific delegation also met with members of Congress and the National Academy of Sciences to press their point that there needs to be more scientific cooperation to unravel the mystery. Cuban investigators have complained that the United States is not sharing enough medical information on the victims to carry out an adequate investigation. After the meeting at the National Academy of Sciences, Jose Ramon Cabanas, the Cuban ambassador to the United States, said on Twitter that when Cuba and U.S. scientists meet there is only one language: Science. Tablada said the meeting came at the invitation of the State Department after Cuba had asked for the exchange for more than a year. The Cuban delegation, she said, was gratified to be able to talk with their U.S. counterparts but disappointed that more medical and clinical data wasnt shared with them. The U.S. delegation, which was headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kenneth Merten, also included State Department medical personnel. University of Pennsylvania doctors and scientists who saw 21 of the confirmed cases, on an average of 203 days after the alleged attacks occurred, said some suffered from concussion-like symptoms, but without experiencing any blow to their heads. The Cuban delegation said they had hoped that the Penn scientists would be present at the State Department meeting so they could have had an exchange about their findings. Researchers and doctors at the University of Miami and University of Pittsburgh also disputed whether the diplomats had mild traumatic brain injuries. The 25 patients who were seen in Miami had a low incidence of headaches. A high incidence of headaches usually accompanies a concussion, they said. They theorized that some type of directed energy weapon could have caused the symptoms they were seeing. Before we start looking for a James Bond-type weapon, its necessary to prove there was actually brain damage, Valdes Sosa said. Friction over the health incidents has hurt relations between the United States and Cuba. The United States has withdrawn two-thirds of its diplomats from Havana, leaving only essential personnel, has limited tours of duty in Havana to one year, and has made Havana a post where family members cant join diplomats. The United States also expelled 17 Cuban diplomats from the embassy in Washington. WASHINGTON First came George Papadopoulos, the former Trump campaign adviser who was arrested by the FBI when he stepped off a plane at Dulles International Airport and soon agreed to help the special counsels office as part of a plea agreement. Then there was Michael Flynn, the presidents former national security adviser who admitted he lied to the bureau and would now be cooperating with Robert Muellers team to make things right. Next to fall was Rick Gates, Trumps former deputy campaign chairman who conceded he conspired to defraud the United States and tried to deceive investigators looking into his overseas work. One by one, the special counsels office methodically turned allies of President Donald Trump into witnesses for its investigation irking the commander in chief so much that he has suggested the commonplace law-enforcement tactic almost ought to be illegal. But former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort had long eluded Muellers team, with his resistance to a plea deal so intense that some in law enforcement figured he must know he would soon receive a pardon. On Friday, though, the special counsel finally nabbed his white whale. Manafort, whose role in the Trump campaign and ties to a Russian-aligned strongman and a suspected Russian intelligence agent make him an enticing cooperator, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of justice. As part of his agreement with prosecutors, he said he would tell the special counsels office all that he knows. Manaforts plea could be a key cog in pushing Muellers case toward its ultimate end. Legal analysts say Manafort must have something valuable to share with Muellers team, which agreed to drop five of the seven charges he faced and potentially urge leniency at his sentencing, if his cooperation is helpful. Generally, those who plead guilty sit down with prosecutors to detail what they know in a proffer session, so the government knows what it will get in the bargain. Manaforts plea makes reference to a written proffer agreement on Tuesday showing he has been in talks with the special counsels office at least for several days. Whether Manafort ultimately implicates the president remains to be seen. Manaforts defenders and Trumps lawyers have long insisted that the political consultant, who left the campaign in August 2016, had no information that would incriminate Trump. I think Robert Muellers real quest here is for the truth, and Paul Manafort can get him closer to knowing the truth, former U.S. attorney Barbara McQuade said. Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said Friday that it would impossible for Manaforts cooperation with Muellers office to imperil the president. That is because Trump and Manafort continued to have a joint defense agreement an informal arrangement among lawyers to share information which Manafort would have to cancel if he believed his cooperation could expose Trump to legal jeopardy, Giuliani said. Inside the White House on Friday after the plea, the mood was oddly calm, said one Republican in frequent touch with officials there. A number of people had expected some sort of agreement, and Trumps legal team recognized it couldnt control Manaforts desire to avoid a second trial after being convicted on eight of 18 counts in a related case in Virginia last month. Trump himself has not yet addressed the plea directly. The charges to which Manafort pleaded guilty had nothing to do with the president. Rather, they focused on Manaforts personal money laundering, failure to register as a foreign agent for work he did on behalf of Viktor Yanukovych, the pro-Russian former president of Ukraine, and obstructing justice with Konstantin Kilimnik, whom prosecutors have linked to Russian intelligence. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders noted that point in a statement responding to the development. This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign, she said. But while the White House projected confidence about its position, some officials privately acknowledged that they could not be sure what Manafort might expose about the campaign or about interactions with Russians. Manafort was a participant in the now-infamous June 2016 Trump Tower meeting, where the presidents son Donald Trump Jr. and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, sat down with a Russian lawyer thinking they would get damaging information on Hillary Clinton. He also was a part of the Trump campaign when the Republican Party platform was changed in a way viewed as more favorable to Russia because it did not include support for arming Ukraine. I think he potentially knows a lot of information, just in light of his role as the campaign chairman during that crucial time during the summer of 2016, said McQuade, who watched much of Manaforts first trial. Manaforts plea agreement short-circuited a trial in Washington that was scheduled to begin in the coming days with jury selection. He instead agreed to admit wrongdoing and cooperate fully with Mueller, turning over any documents that may be relevant to the special counsels investigation and testifying in any proceedings where that might be necessary. He also agreed to give up five properties and a handful of financial accounts. Having already been convicted in Virginia, Manaforts cooperation might be the best way for him to reduce his time in prison. He faces roughly 10 years in the Washington case and perhaps another 10 in Virginia though he would probably be able to serve those together, particularly if prosecutors urge judges to go easy on him. So far, the special counsels office has charged 32 people, and six have pleaded guilty. Though Mueller has shrouded his probe in secrecy, he is pushing to wrap up a substantial portion of his investigative work soon and is referring cases to U.S. attorneys offices that can handle prosecutions once the special counsel probe is disbanded, according to those familiar with Muellers work who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive legal deliberations. A grand jury still seems to be actively investigating Trump associate Roger Stone, and the special counsels office is still negotiating with the presidents legal team over the possibility of interviewing Trump himself. Stone said in a statement after the plea: I am uncertain of the details of Pauls plea deal but certain it has no bearing on me since neither Paul Manafort or anyone else can testify truthfully that I am involved in Russian collusion, WikiLeaks collaboration or any other illegal act pertaining to the 2016 election. Trump and the special counsels office could come to a resolution at any moment on Trump answering questions, those involved in the discussions say, but remain at the same basic standstill. Trumps lawyers dont want their client to sit down for a face-to-face interview out of fear he would be accused of perjury. In early August, Mueller offered to reduce the scope of questions he would pose, but Trumps team ultimately rejected the offer, saying it considered questioning the president about possible obstruction of justice to be legally inappropriate. Just before Labor Day, Mueller notified Trumps lawyers that he would accept written answers to some questions about the campaign and would delay making a decision for now about seeking answers from the president about his time in the White House. Mueller is interested in that later period as part of his probe of whether Trump tried to obstruct the Russia investigation. While Manafort had previously seemed to be posturing for a pardon the president praised him on Twitter as a brave man after he fought prosecutors at the Virginia trial it was not immediately clear whether Manafort would be able to maintain that effort after his plea. Earlier this summer, Trump had sought his lawyers advice on pardoning his former aides, including Manafort. But Giuliani said he counseled Trump that he shouldnt consider such a pardon until after Muellers investigation was completed, and the president understood. He agreed with us, Giuliani told The Washington Post last month. Giuliani declined Friday to say whether Trump is leaning toward pardoning Manafort. Its not something to be considered during a pending investigation. The president shares that view, he said. Thats our advice to him, and there is no reason to believe hes changed his mind on it. The Washington Posts Manuel Roig-Franzia contributed to this report. SANTA FE The Republican candidate for governor of New Mexico said he plans to make good on a promise to release his tax returns. Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Steve Pearce told The Associated Press on Friday that he plans to make his 2017 tax returns available in mid-October. Absentee voting begins Oct. 9 in the general election. Pearce said his tax returns are delayed because of incomplete information from independent businesses that sought extensions. The Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, has publicly posted five years of tax returns, which date back to her first year in Congress. Those returns show past income from a business that runs the states high-risk health insurance pool. State Democratic Party Chairwoman Marg Elliston described Pearces plan to release one year of tax returns as too little, too late. Pearce noted that he has provided details of his personal finances on congressional disclosure forms. Political candidates in New Mexico are not required to release tax returns, and the practice has not been customary in past gubernatorial races. As the Kumbh administration readies to welcome the tens of millions of pilgrims that will flock to Allahabad Kumbh in January 2019, Impact Communications a leading rural marketing agency has geared up for the Marketing Mahabharata that will play out on the holy grounds early next year. The festival will take place over the 55 days and will see millions of visitors descend onto the platform and a predominant number from rural India. The agency has forged strategic associations with the Kumbh Administration and various departments and would be creating key pilgrim conveniences and related infrastructure in the Mela. Impact would be building facilities like Traffic & information booths, water kiosks, hygiene centers, Wi-Fi Zones, changing rooms etc. that will enable the agency to create visibility and experience opportunities for their clients. They will also leverage mobile technology to enable brands to disburse relevant content to the pilgrims. Commenting on the development, Mr. Sanjay Kaul, Founder & CEO, Impact Communications, said, "We are very excited and proud to be part of Kumbh Mela Allahabad once again. Pilgrim conveniences and facilitates remains a top priority for Mela authority, keeping this in mind we have forged strategic alliances with the Kumbh administration and its various departments. We have a twin goal of assisting administration and simultaneously create smart visibility, marketing and engagement opportunities for brands across the length and breadth of the Mela." Impact Communications has been associated with 8 Kumbh Melas over past two decades, including having marketing rights of four Kumbh Melas. They have partnered and executed plans of over 30 brands including of GSK, Britannia, Eveready, Dabur, Colgate, Reckit Benkiser, Perfetti, Everest Industries, Wrigley etc. Quint Hindi (hindi.thequint.com), a leading Hindi digital news platform, along with Google India, is hosting an event to celebrate the explosion of Indian languages on the internet. Bol: Love Your Bhasha is a day long event to be held on 18th September 2018 in New Delhi. The event will consist of panel discussions, with the objective of highlighting the potential of language diversity on the internet in India. The event will be graced by Mr. Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways and distinguished guests like Rajan Anandan, Vice President, Google, India; Arvind Pani, Co-Founder and CEO of Reverie Language Technologies; Anant Goenka, Executive Director, The Indian Express Group; Virendra Gupta, Founder and CEO of Daily Hunt and Raghav Bahl, Founder, Quintillion Media. These discussions will also be interspersed with performances by Sonam Kalra of the Sufi Gospel Project. Indian language internet users in India are at 234 million and have already overtaken the number of English users (175 million). Encouraged by a decline in smartphone and data prices, Indian language users are expected to account for nearly 75% of Indias internet user base by 2021. These are stunning figures, especially for a country with the second-largest number of internet users in the world. The conversation is now not on why businesses must enter the non-English user market, but how. Bol aims to answer this question by bringing together the brightest minds in tech, business, media and policy. Commenting on the need for such an event, Raghav Bahl, Founder, Quintillion Media, said The explosion of Indian languages in the years to come is estimated to be so significant that it will be impossible for all stakeholders involved to ignore it. This is why an event like Bol is essential to roadmap the future. The Tau Omega Mu Fraternity and Ladies Circle is holding medical missions in key cities and towns in Eastern Visayas as part of activities to mark the organizations foundation 46 years ago at the University of the Philippines. The medical missions will include free surgeries, such as thyroidectomy, hysterectomy, myomectomy, herniorrhaphy, cholecystectomy, along with cyst, lipoma and uncomplicated breast mass incisions, as well as cataract removal, circumcision and other general surgeries. In coordination with the Department of Health and concerned local governments units, the initial phase of the medical missions kicked off last Aug. 6 through the simultaneous conduct of pre-surgery evaluations of potential surgical patients in designated DoH regional health units in the cities of Catbalogan and Calbayog in Samar. The medical missions culminate between Oct. 8-12, 2018, when pre-evaluated indigent patients undergo the free surgical procedures at the RHUs in Catbalogan (for various surgical issues) and Calbayog (for cataract problem only). The surgeons in Catbalogan will be led by volunteers from Memphis Outreach, a US-based non-government organization; while Filipino doctors will perform the free cataract surgeries in Calbayog. As part of culmination activities, other medical volunteers will hold free consultations and distribution of free medicines and reading glasses in RHUs in Calbayog (Oct. 9); Pinabacdao, Samar (Oct. 8 and 10); Alang-Alang, Leyte (Oct. 11); and Baybay also in Leyte (Oct. 12). The last day of the medical mission coincides with the organizations foundation day on Oct. 12. Tau Omega Mu was established on that day in UP in 1972. It has since established chapters in various schools all over the Philippines, as well as overseas alumni organizations, known collectively as Tau Omega Mu International.Tau Omega Mu is holding the activity with support not only from Tau Omega International but also from resident and alumni members in the Philippines, especially UP College Tacloban, whose members are also celebrating their 36th anniversary this December. On Oct. 13, Tau Omega Mu members will also join counterparts from the Visayas State University in Baybay in celebrating their own fifth founding anniversary. Aside from concerned government agencies and Memphis Outreach, other NGOs, as well as individuals from the US and Europe, extended their support to the medical missions, through Tau Omega Mu International. Other members and friends who want to help the activity are encouraged to get in touch with Dr. Rutche Egos at 0917-790-1587; and Lovella Libertad at 0906-379-3440. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. Tension is rising in the conflict between embattled Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), as the United States and Iran vie for influence in the new government that lawmakers are struggling to form in Baghdad. Legislators are still arguing over which coalition of political parties holds the majority of parliament seats; the top group will select the new Cabinet. The United States would like to see Abadi appointed for a second term as prime minister, but he is strongly opposed by members of the Fatah Alliance, which includes pro-Iranian factions of the PMU. Anti-Abadi sentiment is escalating, compounded by rioting in Basra even as Abadi announced Sept. 13 he would immediately begin implementing development projects to help remedy the dire situation there. Basra, Iraq's main port, is suffering from a lack of basic services. Tens of thousands of citizens have filled hospitals, sickened by drinking water that is heavily polluted and high in salinity. Abadi promised a new water-pumping system as well as filtration projects. Basra protesters attacked many government buildings there last week, and a number of demonstrators were killed. These events have shed light on and deepened the gap between Abadi and the PMU. This is especially true considering that the Iranian Consulate was set ablaze Sept. 7, which raised the ire of parties and armed factions close to Iran. On Sept. 9, PMU deputy head Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis accused the United States of creating chaos in Basra to somehow support the prime minister in his bid for a second term. On Sept. 12, Republican US senators announced they would seek to impose sanctions on Iran-backed factions of the PMU. As PMU leaders blamed Abadi for the violence in Basra, Abadi responded by saying, A political party with an armed wing is responsible for the fires that targeted several political party headquarters in Basra, and this party exploited the protests in the framework of a political conflict. The mutual recriminations indicate the size of the dispute that has been deferred for the past four years between the two sides. These accusations also indicate that Abadi failed to serve as a true leader of the PMU. The PMU was formed in 2014 as a parallel institution to the Iraqi army to help battle the Islamic State (IS). In 2016, Iraq formally recognized the PMU, and they reported directly to Abadi. But Muhandis, the actual commander of the PMU, recently said Abadi had no role in fighting the Islamic State organization. Abadis dismissal of PMU head Faleh al-Fayad on Aug. 31 deepened his row with the PMU. Muhandis isn't the only one casting blame on Abadi. Qais al-Khazali, secretary-general of PMU faction Asaib Ahl al-Haq, accused Abadi in a tweet of burning Basra down and said, The plan will eventually backfire. Asked about his interpretation of the tweet, Mahmoud al-Robaie, spokesman for Asaib Ahl al-Haq's political bureau, told Al-Monitor that Khazali was referring to Abadis greed and desire for a second term. "This prompted [Abadi] to get involved in a project aimed at causing internal fighting in Basra while igniting a war among the people of one province, he said. Rahman al-Jubouri, a senior researcher at the Washington-based National Endowment for Democracy, told Al-Monitor, There is a conflict between two camps. The first is led by Abadi and is seeking to build a state, while the second is led by the PMU leaders and is seeking to build a state of resistance that is run and led based on the whims of their leaders. He added, This conflict is starting to reveal its true colors. It has now become crystal clear, and no one can try to hide it anymore. Parliament member Mehdi Taqi Amerli, who belongs to the Fatah Alliance, also joined the fray, saying Abadi is fighting the PMU under US pressure to dissolve that group. Muhandis even claimed that Washington told PMU leaders, We will burn Basra down if the current prime ministers mandate is not renewed. Muhandis said the US Embassy played a sabotaging role in the Basra events. There's no confidence anymore between Abadi and the PMU, as the two parties have reached a stage where they can't even meet anymore. The Fatah Alliance has called for Abadis resignation. The theories raised during the fight against IS that Abadi and the PMU were feuding and that Abadi was coordinating with Washington to weaken the PMU seem to be materializing. A new mural designed to showcase unity in the city of Birmingham is coming to downtown. The "One City" mural is a project of the Birmingham Association of Realtors Leadership Academy. The mural was designed by artist Marcus Fetch, who is known for the Wings of Avondale, World Games 2021 and several other murals in and around downtown Birmingham. The mural is being painted on the Watts Realty Co. building at 1521 3rd Ave. S. The work is expected to be complete next week. Birmingham Association of Realtors Chief Executive Officer Dawn Kennedy said Watts Realty President Chip Watts, who is a former BAR president, donated the space for the mural. Anna-Marie Ellison of ERA King Realty, who was a member of the BAR leadership class, said her class liked the Watts building because it's single-story and near Regions Field. She said they wanted to create a mural where people could take their picture with it. Ellison said she likes the concept of the mural because it will depict people of all shapes and sizes and walks of life. Fetch said he took a month to design the 20 feet tall and 40 feet wide mural. He said "One City" will be painted in abstract, geometric shapes and surrounded by silhouettes of people who look like they are building the "One City." "The idea is that we all come together as one to build this city," he said, of the mural's "One City" concept. "I did silhouettes because it isn't about race. It is about unity. "We are all part of a greater whole," Fetch added. "We are all part of one city here so we should all be proud of Birmingham and work together and get over our differences." Fetch said he loves being a part of making downtown Birmingham more colorful. "I think the downtown urban area should be filled with tons of murals because it makes the city really unique," he said. The Birmingham Association of Realtors launched its leadership academy in 2012 with the intent of developing community leaders, Kennedy said. The academy is managed by a group of member trustees, who consist of past leadership academy representatives. She said the leadership academy meets once a month to explore and analyze different aspects of leadership. At the end of the program, they are required to complete a final project that reflects their leadership experience and their vision for the future of the metro area. The group also strives to create a final project that has lasting significance in the community and in the association, Kennedy said. The Supreme Court of Alabama has reversed and remanded the death penalty sentence for a man convicted of robbing and fatally shooting a man in 2009. Anthony Lane was convicted in 2011 of capital murder during the commission of a robbery in the death of 57-year-old Frank Wright, who was killed off Messer Airport Highway while en route to pick up his wife at Birmingham's airport. Based on the jury's recommendation, Circuit Judge Clyde Jones sentenced Lane to death. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Lane's conviction and sentence and the Alabama Supreme Court denied Lane's request to review his conviction on Jan. 30, 2015. Now, the Alabama Supreme Court has reversed the judgement of the Court of Criminal Appeals, which upheld his sentence, and remanded the matter to the trial court to sentence him to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the court said in a ruling issued Friday. "Based on Atkins, Hall, and the apparent reasons behind the United States Supreme Court's vacation of the Court of Criminal Appeals' judgment, we must reverse the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals and remand the cause to that court with directions to remand the matter to the trial court," the state supreme court said. On Oct. 5, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated Lane's sentence and remanded it back to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama for further consideration. The high court asked the Alabama appeals court to look at the case in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2014 ruling that declared unconstitutional Florida's method of determining whether a capital murder defendant is intellectually disabled. Florida law says an intellectual disability is defined as an IQ test score of 70 or less. But the supreme court justices held that that Florida's "rigid rule ... creates an unacceptable risk that persons with intellectual disability will be executed, and thus is unconstitutional." Lane had a full-scale IQ of 70. The Florida case focused on the medical community's interpretation of the significance of an IQ test score. Because Lane was afforded a hearing on his intellectual disability, the trial court was not barred from considering other evidence in determining whether Lane was intellectually disabled, the appeals court stated. Therefore, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals ruled, Lane is due no relief under the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Florida case. Associate Justice Greg Shaw dissenting on the Supreme Court of Alabama's ruling, saying the court is acting prematurely in vacating Lane's death sentence. Shaw said the court should more closely examine whether Atkins v. Virginia, a Supreme Court case which determined intellectually disabled people are not eligible for the death penalty, applies to lane. Specifically, the court should look at whether Lane exhibits subaverage intellectual functioning and whether he exhibits deficits in adaptive behavior, which problems manifested themselves before the age of 18, Shaw said in his dissent. "The trial court ruled that he failed to prove that he exhibited significant or substantial deficits in adaptive behavior--the second part of the Atkins analysis described above," he said. Shaw said he agreed no strict IQ score cutoff was used in this case and said Lane was afforded the full opportunity to present exactly the type of adaptive-skills evidence. After the state supreme court granted certiorari review, the state and Lane filed a "joint motion" indicating that they had "reached an agreement" and asking this Court to remand the case to the trial court with instructions to resentence Lane to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Both parties later also told the court they both agreed "that death is not the proper sentence" in this case and that "[t]his agreement was reached after a thorough review of the existing record and an examination of additional evidence that is outside the record." Shaw called the joint motion improper. "But there is a better, more procedurally proper way to do this; I thus respectfully dissent," he said. Associate Justice Kelli Wise concurred. The Philippines Pasig River, the cradle of early Manila civilization, has been selected as a finalist in the first-ever Asia Riverprize by the prestigious International River Foundation which recognizes and rewards organizations which are making a difference through effective river basin restoration and management programs. It is a back-to-back nomination for the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission which is coming off a successful campaign in the 2017 Thiess International Riverprize competition where the Pasig River was hailed as runner-up to the winner, San Antonio River of Texas, USA. PRRC executive director Jose Antonio Ka Pepeton E. Goitia said that the consecutive entries of the Pasig River as a finalist in the 2017 and 2018 Thiess International and Asia Riverprize, respectively, is proof that the world recognizes the efforts of the Philippine government to restore the Pasig River and its environs since PRRC was established in 1999. Initially, the competition was called the Asia-Pacific Riverprize Awards which was opened to entrants from New Zealand, Australia, and 45 other countries. However, according to the IRF, due to the high number and quality of entries received, they decided to split the promoted Asia-Pacific Riverprize into two: Asia Riverprize and another category for the Australasia Riverprize. After a series of tedious deliberations, the IRF has announced and congratulated the organizations chosen as Asia Riverprize finalists with the highest honors in river restoration and protection namely the Pasig River and the Yangtze River in China. Last year, the Philippines is the only third world and developing country that made it into the international finals and bravely competed with the US and the United Kingdom. In this years Asia Riverprize, we will be facing another super powerthe red dragon, China. However, with an indomitable spirit, we remain steadfast and optimistic that we will stand triumphant in the end, said Goitia.In behalf of the IRFs board of river basin experts, IRF director professor Bill Dennison said that these different river stories are united by a common theme: excellence in river management. The River Prize is not a competition about which river is more beautiful or cleaner. This is the reason why the IRF, comprised of river management experts and professionals from around the world, has given importance and consideration to the rehabilitation efforts of the PRRC to bring back the Pasig River system to life. It has acknowledged PRRCs commitment in delivering quality projects, programs, and activities in easement recovery, housing and resettlement, riverbanks development, waste and water quality management, and public awareness. Compared to the 1990s when it was declared biologically dead, the Pasig Rivers condition now has significantly improved. Although the Pasig River development is a work in progress, many areas along the historic river have already shown signs of aquatic life and it has already become conducive for transport, recreation, and tourism. Goitia, together with members of PRRCs Management Committee, will be presenting and defending the Philippines Pasig River entry to a panel of esteemed judges in the upcoming 21st International River Symposium on October 14 to 18, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. The winner of the 2018 Asia Riverprize will receive widespread global recognition which can build new partnerships, provide opportunities for exchange of knowledge and best practices, and open doors for international support. Furthermore, the winner will automatically qualify for Stage Two of the Thiess International Riverprize in 2019. The PRRC seeks everyones support to its Pasig River entry in the 2018 Asia Riverprize. The Pasig Rivers victory is the victory of the Philippines and of every Filipino who works hard and shares the same vision of saving our waterways and the environment. A man has been charged in a July road rage shooting that left a Colbert County 911 dispatcher seriously injured, Florence Police said. Desmond Andre Edwards, 21, was arrested just before 6 p.m. Friday, police said. He was charged with first-degree assault and shooting into an occupied vehicle. Around 1:20 a.m. July 4, police responded to a call of a woman shot as she was riding in a car with her boyfriend on Chisholm Road, police said. The victim, Cassie Sartain, was taken to ECM Hospital in a private vehicle and later transferred to Huntsville Hospital. Sartain's boyfriend told police he was driving down Chisholm Road when someone in a dark-colored Chevrolet Cruze confronted them at the traffic light at Cox Creek Parkway. He continued driving on Chisholm Road and the Cruze followed them to Malone Circle, where someone got out of the Cruze and fired several shots at the car Sartain was riding in, police said. One of the shots struck Sartain in the neck. Edwards was being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center Friday night. Taco Bell has parted ways with an employee captured in a video telling a woman at a Florida drive-through that she couldn't take her order because no one working at the store spoke English. The video was posted on Wednesday by Alexandria Montgomery. It depicted her and at least one other person in a car at the drive-through window at a Taco Bell in Hialeah, a city north of Miami's airport that is predominantly Latino. It is not clear what happened before the camera started filming, but the video starts out with Montgomery asking the Taco Bell employee why nobody there speaks English. "Nobody in the back speaks English?" she asked. "So you can't take my order?" The Taco Bell employee at the window tells her she can't. "There is no one here that speaks English," the woman says. "Mi vida, I have a car behind you." The dispute between the two steadily increases in intensity over the next couple of minutes. Despite the fact that the woman in the car is speaking English and the Taco Bell employee is speaking Spanish, they both appear to be able to carry on a rudimentary conversation. "No habla ingles!" Hialeah Taco Bell employee fired for refusing to take order from customer who doesn't speak Spanish. Watch full video here: https://t.co/rp2Pjo6oc7 pic.twitter.com/XWXtU2hZHa WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) September 14, 2018 "I want to order food!" Montgomery yells. "Well the line gonna be held up because I want to order. They won't get their food because I want to order." The employee closes the drive-through window. She opens it again a moment later and asks the car to move. "I have an order behind you," she says. "There is nobody that speaks English." The incident continued to get uglier, with the employee threatening to call the police. "This is America. Y'all didn't take over the whole population," Montgomery shouts. Hialeah is a city of about 240,000 according to government estimates; 227,000 of its residents are Latino, more than 94 percent. The Taco Bell employee said her name was Luisa at the end of the video. Taco Bell declined to answer questions about the incident, but released a statement that said that it did "not meet our customer experience expectations." "We have worked quickly to resolve with the customer to ensure this doesn't happen again," the statement said, noting that the employee no longer works for the company. The video gained attention after being covered by local news outlets, including the Miami Herald. And it was brought to a wider audience by conservative media outlets like the Drudge Report, the Daily Wire and Fox News, with many figures on social media also homing in. "Is Florida not part of the United States?" one asked. "Was the service denial because the workers behind the window are Illegals who don't know English? Unbelievable." But there are some indications the dispute was not, in fact, related to language. At one point another employee walks up to the window to talk to her co-worker, asking her to give the car a menu. But the employee says she doesn't understand what the people in the car were saying, and then later, "I don't want to." Montgomery, who is black, said on Facebook that she thought the episode was motivated more by racism than the inability of the worker to understand her. "Taco Bell in Hialeah racist," she wrote. "This lady understood what I was saying but didn't want to take my order." Hundreds of thousands of people watched Hurricane Florence roll into North Carolina thanks to a camera mounted on what's known as the Frying Pan Tower. The tower, an old Coast Guard light structure turned bed and breakfast, is located 32 miles off the coast of southeastern North Carolina and is equipped with a live cam operated by Explore.org. It's also home to an American flag and it was that banner that took a beating - and captured tons of attention - during Florence. Richard Neal, a software engineer who purchased the tower from the government, told the Charlotte Observer he received several angry calls from online viewers who were upset that the flag was left out during the storm. "They told me, 'this is disrespectful,' and that I need to get out there and replace the flag right then," Neal said. "In the hurricane." 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... Posted by Frying Pan Tower on Thursday, September 13, 2018 A couple weeks back Tom Land, Noel Land and Simon Silvagno replaced the towers flag fully expecting it to fly proud for... Posted by Frying Pan Tower on Friday, September 14, 2018 Neal initially moved the live cam so the ripped flag wasn't displayed. People didn't like that either and watchers wanted to know how the flag was holding up. "A group of kids watching took to calling the flag 'Kevin,'" Neal said. "They wanted to know how Kevin is doing, if Kevin is going to make it." Neal moved the feed back to show the flag and said even though it's against protocol, he thought it was a symbol for all Americans. "We get beat up, battered during hard times, but we stay up, stay at it through the storm," he said. A company, Flag and Banner, reached out to Neal and is donating a new flag to the Frying Pan Tower. Neal said the new banner will be put up as soon as it's safe to do so. As for Kevin, it will be donated for auction with funds going towards Hurricane Florence recovery efforts. If you have been following the chatter it seems someone decided to name our flag Kevin. Well, if so then Old Glory is... Posted by Frying Pan Tower on Friday, September 14, 2018 The story of Helen Keller, one of Alabama's most famous natives, could soon be scrubbed from lesson plans in Texas schools. The Texas State Board of Education voted Friday to remove Helen Keller and several other historical figures, including Hillary Clinton, from the required list of education curriculum, according to The Dallas Morning News. Keller, a deaf and blind girl from Tuscumbia, Alabama, learned to communicate with teacher Annie Sullivan and spelled 'w-a-t-e-r' on her hand while holding it under a water pump at her home, Ivy Green. Keller went on to graduate college, author books and work as an activist. Keller's story is told in history books and on stages. 'The Miracle Worker' play draws thousands of people to the grounds of Keller's home in northwest Alabama each year. In Texas, third grade social studies students have been required to learn about Keller. But a work group -- formed to "streamline" social studies lesson plans in public schools -- left Keller off this year's list, according to the Dallas newspaper. The newspaper reported that Keller was included in a lesson about "the characteristics of a good citizen," but the work group wrote, "Helen Keller does not best represent the concept of citizenship. Military and first responders are best represented." The state board can still make changes before taking a final vote on the required curriculum in November, article on DallasNews.com. And, even if the board officially votes to remove Keller from the required curriculum, it won't prohibit teachers from covering her story in their classes or remove it from textbooks, according to the newspaper. Among the curriculum the board voted to keep is a reference to the "heroism" of the defenders of the Alamo, Moses' influence on the writing of the nation's founding documents, multiple references to "Judeo-Christian" values and a requirement that students explain how the "Arab rejection of the State of Israel has led to ongoing conflict" in the Middle East, according to The Dallas Morning News. Parker Griffith, a Huntsville congressman voted out after switching parties, easily won the nomination for Alabama governor among a devastated Democratic party four years ago. Republicans largely ignored him. Griffith brought out an 18-foot inflatable duck to illustrate a point four years ago: Then-Gov. Robert Bentley was ducking the debates. The prop didn't work and Bentley easily won the 2014 Alabama governor's election with nearly 64 percent of the vote. Griffith was not a factor. But times have changed, even in Alabama, where Democrats saw a spirited primary for governor this year and nominated a well-known mayor who built a statewide reputation after the tornadoes of 2011. Yet Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is taking a similar tact ahead of the Nov. 6 showdown with her Democratic opponent: Avoid a debate, and bank on her Republican bona fides to bring home an election victory in one of the deepest red states in the country. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, who is vying to become the first Democratic governor in Alabama since 2003, isn't planning to use inflatable props. But Maddox has been tossing out Bentley's name in recent days and is comparing Ivey to her scandal-plagued predecessor. "The last time a governor refused to debate, within weeks of him taking office, he proposed nearly a billion-dollar tax increase and went on to embroil the state in one of its worst political scandals," Maddox spokesman Chip Hill recently said. "The people didn't know what Robert Bentley was hiding then, and we don't know what Kay Ivey is hiding now." Ivey, who has never won election as governor, took the job after Bentley resigned. She declined to debate her GOP opponents in the primary this year and declined to stand on stage alongside Maddox in recent months. Alabama remains a Republican stronghold. And most political insiders, who claim Ivey is the odds-on favorite to win in November, said that Alabamians know who she is and what to expect from her leadership. "People of Alabama know that Kay Ivey has an open and honest and transparent administration," Ivey said about herself while in Mobile on Wednesday when asked about the Maddox's camp comparing her to Bentley. "I will always continue that. The people of Alabama know Kay Ivey." Bentley legal defense It's not just the issue of ducking debates where the Maddox campaign is attempting to lump together the current and former governor. Recent news that the Ivey administration has been signing off on Bentley's legal defense fees is also sparking a reaction from the Maddox camp. Bentley resigned in April 2017, as he faced ethics violations and impeachment proceedings amid a swirling political scandal involving allegations of an affair with a top aide. Ivey, then lieutenant governor, was immediately sworn into office. "Since she won't debate, she should at least sit with the media and provide a detailed explanation about what her folks are doing for Governor Bentley," said Chip Hill, spokesman with the Maddox campaign. Ivey, on Wednesday, defended the legal defense payments to Bentley, which amount to $238,463. "If it's the law, it's appropriate," she said. According to Ivey's spokesman, Daniel Sparkman, the payouts represent a legal necessity. The payouts come from money taken out of the state's self-insurance General Liability Trust Fund (GLFT), which is administered by the Alabama Department of Finance's Risk Management division. The fund was established in 1984, through the Legislature's approval, and was signed into law during George Wallace's final term as governor. According to the law, all state employees and public officials are entitled to legal representation paid for by the GLFT whenever they are sued in their individual capacity for damages arising out of their government job-related performances. As with any GLTF cases, the former employee's agency is required to contract for legal counsel to represent the former employee, Sparkman said. Ivey, as the agency head of the Governor's Office, is required to sign off on the appointed counsel's invoices, he said. 'Political tricks' The Maddox campaign, however, is also attempting to tie-in Ivey's longevity in state government - she has been involved in state public office since 1979 - with recent corruption involving state Republicans including Bentley and former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard, who was convicted on 12 felony ethics charges in 2016. "Governor Ivey has refused to speak out against former Speaker Mike Hubbard's years of absolute corruption and now we are learning more about Ivey's decision to use taxpayers' funds to provide the defense of former Governor Robert Bentley," Hill said. He added, "Alabamians are tired of the dishonesty and political tricks and they deserve to hear Kay Ivey explain why she is protecting Robert Bentley. Alabamians deserve to know whether this was a quid pro quo for him stepping down." A spokeswoman with Ivey's political campaign blasted the Maddox camp for not being aware of the state law, saying that the Tuscaloosa mayor's careless disregard for the truth is "alarming." "The state Legislature enacted this mandate more than three decades before Kay Ivey became governor, but Walt Maddox isn't one to let the truth get in the way of a good soundbite," said spokeswoman Debbee Hancock. "He should be ashamed of himself and his repeated attempts to blatantly mislead the people of Alabama." Said Hill: "Governor Ivey can't have it both ways. She can't hide herself from view, refuse to discuss issues, and then get upset when someone calls her out." Strategic longshot Maddox's recent strategy of lumping Ivey with Bentley comes as the ex-governor has made a return to the public eye. Bentley, through a request to his attorney, did not respond to a request for a comment to this piece. Bentley has given some interviews in recent weeks, and resurrected his Twitter account in July. Since he left office, the former governor has returned to practicing dermatology in Tuscaloosa. Angi Stalnaker, a Republican strategist who ran Bentley's first gubernatorial run in 2010 and had a subsequent fallout with him after confronting the ex-governor about the alleged affair, said that ex-governors like Bentley and former Democratic Gov. Don Siegelman manage to keep themselves in the public eye long after they were ousted from office. Siegelman was convicted in 2006 of felony corruption charges and was released from prison in 2017. He has been visible during this year's campaign, speaking at churches and stumping for his son, Joseph Siegelman, who is running as a Democrat for attorney general. Stalnaker said the visibility of the two former governors keeps their past scandals fresh in the minds of voters. "Normally, when you see a scandal-driven politician, you don't see them jumping on social media or making themselves a part of the public eye again," she said. "They sort of avoid the limelight." Stalnaker said he's not surprised by Maddox, as the Democrat running for the state's top elected office, attempting to link Ivey to Bentley's scandalous tenure. "We are in an environment in Alabama on who is most closely connected to corrupt governors," she said. "I don't think it's unheard of or an original or surprising strategy for either side." Jonathan Gray, a Mobile-based Republican campaign strategist, said he believes the entire strategy boils down to Maddox's desire to have a debate in hopes of getting Ivey to make a gaffe. Gray, though, said Ivey is already "battle-tested" after having defeated three other Republicans during the June 5 primary. She also refused to debate her GOP opponents ahead of the primary election, and wound up winning without having the race go to a runoff. Gray said that Republicans went ahead and held multiple debates without Ivey, and suggests that Maddox consider doing the same. "You don't need Kay Ivey there," he said. "You can put up a podium and no one will show up and maybe the TV stations will claim that is not very interesting, but it will be interesting to the people of Alabama to see that." Sam Fisher, a political science professor at the University of South Alabama, said Maddox's strategy right now is to find any way to draw the general public's attention to his campaign. "If there is no debate, that is a lot of good free advertising that goes out the window for Maddox," said Fisher. "The challenger, you have to find a way to get your name before the public and get attention paid to your issues." He doesn't necessarily think that linking Bentley and Ivey is a tactic that has long-term appeal. "I'm not so sure the voters will draw a connection between Bentley and Ivey and insinuate that Ivey will turn out the same way as Bentley just because she doesn't debate," Fisher said. "For the voters, that is a longshot." Ivey has also not responded to a League of Women Voters invitation to attend a candidates' forum. Ivey has said she hasn't seen the invitation, which was sent out on Aug. 22. Maddox has confirmed he will attend. Gray said that most Alabamians probably realize that Ivey likely would not be a good debater against Maddox. But, he said, if Maddox somehow finds a way to generate interest among voters by producing "good enough" TV spots in the weeks before the campaign, anything can happen. "If he has something to say that is worth blowing open the barn doors, and if he runs TV ads that are good enough, it will move the needle somewhat," said Gray. "Kay Ivey will come begging for a debate." 'Safe' bet? Ivey has been performing well in most internal campaign polling ahead of the November contest, and she remains one of the most popular governors in the U.S., according to Morning Consult. Ivey is listed as one of only nine Republican governors as a "Safe" bet to win in November, according to Sabato's Crystal Ball, which is a product of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. Stalnaker, though, said she's been a bit surprised by recent fundraising figures that show Maddox's campaign "far exceeding" the governor in the number of individual donors contributing to the races. "That is probably a slight bit concerning for the Ivey camp," she said. "It would be for me." Stalnaker said if Maddox gets his debate with Ivey it will be as a result of public pressure, not because any particular candidate "wants a debate." She noted in 2014, when Bentley declined debating, his opponent wasn't considered a "serious candidate" by either party. "This election is a bit different," she said. "You have a Democratic challenger who is a mayor, and who is an established well-known figure versus someone like Parker Griffith who had never launched a campaign of any seriousness before, and who had switch parties. It's very different." Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox will crank up a statewide bus tour next week as the campaign for governor enters its final seven weeks. The Maddox campaign announced today it would begin the tour Monday morning in Tuscaloosa. The campaign has not yet released a schedule or details. Drumroll please..... on Monday morning we will be launching our statewide bus tour! Stay tuned. #believe #alpolitics Walt Maddox (@WaltMaddox) September 14, 2018 Maddox, the Democratic nominee, is challenging Gov. Kay Ivey in the Nov. 6 election. In recent days, Maddox has renewed his longstanding request for a debate with Ivey. But the governor has said she has no plans to debate. Ivey did not debate her challengers during the Republican primary and defeated them without a runoff. The Downtown Mobile Alliance honored people shaping the redevelopment of downtown Mobile on Friday, and also heard from an urban planning advocate who offered a few points of criticism. The Downtown Mobile Alliance and Downtown Mobile District Management Corporation's 2018 annual luncheon was a chance to celebrate progress, and on that front organizers had much to be proud of. Nicki Coker, who presented the Main Street Mobile Awards, said the awards committee had "an embarrassment of riches" to choose from given the volume of development work going on in downtown Mobile. Several of those projects earned innovation awards: The new federal court house, the new Meridian at the Port apartment complex taking shape on Water Street, Precision Engineering's redevelopment of the former Threaded Fasteners facility on St. Louis Street and the redevelopment of the Waterman Building. Elizabeth Stevens, president and CEO of the alliance, said that the city was overcoming decades of "boneheaded thinking" that had almost killed off downtown by emphasizing commuter-oriented development and suburban sprawl. The volume of construction going on downtown was "wonderful, and frustrating, I know," she said. "But it is positive." The keynote speaker of the occasion was city planner and urban designer Jeff Speck, a high-profile advocate of efforts to make cities more walkable. Speck said that success on that front boiled down to four aspects of design: Cities had to be developed so that walking could be a practical way of getting things done, with features that kept pedestrians safe from traffic, in environments that felt comfortable and interesting. Safety was a particularly big point, with Speck emphasizing the advantages of slowing traffic down and tailoring roadways to the proper capacity rather than simply trying to solve congestion by adding lanes. He found many things to like in a survey of downtown Mobile, he said. As examples, he praised a recent change to a section of St. Joseph Street that restored two-way flow, and a trend toward more bike lanes and more parallel parking. But he also offered a few critiques. Looking at plans for an upcoming revamp of Broad Street, he fretted that he saw crossing streets with too many lanes and not enough parking. Speck cautioned that he was glancing over renderings that might not tell the full story, so his conclusions weren't definitive. Mobile being Mobile, he drew enthusiastic applause when he quibbled about the smallish trees shown in a median in one Broad Street rendering. "Don't allow it to be built without big trees," he said. Other Main Street Award winners: Leadership Achievement Award: Bob Isaakson, Lafayette Land Company; U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a supporter of the historic tax credit. Outstanding Individual Award: Mike Rogers. The Bienville Award: Ala. Rep. James Buskey. Chairman's Certificates for major renovation: The Steeple Annex, Hit House Cigar Lounge, 553 Church St., parking lot at 254 St. Anthony St., Commerce Building, 208 State St., facade reconstruction at 8 S. Conception St., Lagniappe offices at 704 Government St. Chairman's Certificates for new or expanded businesses: CuppaGo Coffee Co., Constantine Engineering, ELM, Engulf Audio, Canfor U.S. Headquarters, El Papi, Ruby Slipper Cafe, Royal Pharmacy, The Cheese Cottage, Sway Downtown, Iron Hand Brewing, Sylvia's Biscuits + Poboys, Bienville Souvenir & Gifts, dakinstreet architects, Carzignment. Chairman's Certificates for tours and events: Bienville Bites Food Tour, Secret History Tour. By Jackson Barnett, who lives in Birmingham. I didn't know many students from Alabama at my liberal arts college in Connecticut -- Wesleyan University -- and, according to Wesleyan's online alumni directory, very few people migrated to Alabama upon graduating. I am from here, though, and it was one of the things I talked about most in college. Although it isn't so interesting to say "I'm from Alabama," now that I've come back. That's right. I did come back, and I don't have a crystal-clear explanation as to why. In my four years away from Dixie, a lot happened. I came out as gay. Donald Trump was elected president, much to my dismay. I got a taste for living in bigger cities after spending two summers in San Francisco and one in Chicago. Even the Connecticut town where my college is located has a population 10 times larger than my hometown of Childersburg, which has about 5,000 people. It would follow, it seemed, that I would end up in one of those places or somewhere similar, one of those "coastal elite" cities, after graduating. My bachelor's degree sits on a bookshelf in my Birmingham apartment. I now live 30 miles from my parents but several hours from my nearest college friends. I surprised many of the people I'm closest to -- parents, family, friends, even myself -- when I decided my senior year that I was going back to the South. My family was taken aback but relieved nevertheless. My friends at school asked if I had really thought it through ("Are you going to meet any gay people in Birmingham?"). For whatever reason, though, it felt -- still feels -- right to come back. Many of the people I respect the most, many who are much more marginalized than me, a gay white man with an elite education, have repeated variations of the same sentiment since the presidential election: "Tend to your people." I've learned that it isn't productive for me to sit on the sidelines while the people I grew up around, the people I love most, do things that make me cringe, from nearly electing Roy Moore to discontinuing the issuance of marriage certificates in certain counties in an effort to avoid the whole gay marriage thing. Now, I'm an active participant in the mechanics of this state, from the economy to the job market to the voting booth. My people have done things I don't love, and I'm not scoffing from my liberal arts ivy tower a thousand miles away. I'm here, tending to them. Or at least I'm trying to. As far as the whole "are you going to meet any gay people" thing goes: It's not so bad. Recently, I went knocking on doors for a progressive Democrat running for Alabama House District 46, Felicia Stewart. After getting some pretty positive feedback from the residents on my canvassing route, I headed back to Vecchia Pizzeria & Mercato, the restaurant in Hoover where our canvassing began. I sat down with Felicia, her twin daughters, and her wife Christy -- yes, you read that right, her wife -- and accepted a slice of pizza that they'd kindly offered to me. I asked Felicia and Christy about the most gay-friendly city they had lived in. Both from Alabama, they'd moved around a bit before returning to the Birmingham area a few years ago. "Dallas," they both said quickly, "but Birmingham has been really nice, surprisingly, since we've come back," Felicia told me. They rattled off the names of some gay bars in Southside, one I've been to before and one I still need to try out. "If Birmingham had been like this 20 years ago, I don't know if we ever would've left," Christy said to me. We chatted a bit more, and on the drive home, I thought about a few things. First, how reassuring it was to hear two women, with a family that looks (at least legally speaking) like mine might someday, affirm that Birmingham is a good place for a person like me. Second, how good it was to hear a woman with a Southern accent, an accent like mine, refer to someone as "my wife." And ultimately I thought about this: Tending to my people in my beloved home state does not necessarily mean sacrificing access to people (here, I mean like-minded people, whether progressives or LGBTQ folks or friends who will debate the merits of democratic socialism with me over a beer) that I need to be around to feel at home and at peace. Like everywhere, really, Birmingham has some of those people. Unlike everywhere, though, Alabama has my people. And it really is the right thing, at least for now, for me to be here. Smuggled chocolates, creams, coffee creamers, juices, chocolate spreads and air fresheners worth P4 million were destroyed by the Bureau of Customs in Laguna after the items were found expired and not fit for human consumption. The expired assorted foodstuffs were destroyed at the facility of Tritek Reverse Logistics Corp. located in San Pedro, Laguna. Port of Manila District collector Erastus Austria said the four shipments of smuggled goodies was consigned to I.T. Malingco Trading, which arrived on May 15, 2017 at the Port of Manila from the United States. The seized items were not covered by any certificate of product registration from the Food and Drug Administration.Shipments without the required FDA permit are automatically seized by the Bureau pursuant to Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) in relation to RA 9711, otherwise known as FDA Act of 2009. Austria said that the forfeited items were unfit for human consumption, have no commercial value, or the release thereof was contrary to law, thus he ordered the condemnation of the articles by way of composting, rendering and pouring. The condemnation was witnessed by the personnel of the Auction and Cargo Disposal Division, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Division, Enforcement and Security Division, a representative from the Commission on Audit and the local government unit of San Pedro, Laguna. Residents determined to fight after Israeli court rules in favour of demolishing the occupied West Bank village theyve called home for decades. Khan al-Ahmar, occupied West Bank Tucked away behind a motorway, Khan al-Ahmar is almost invisible. The village, which has been home to Palestinian Bedouins for more than 60 years, doesnt appear on official maps. Its easy to drive by without noticing it. But now Khan al-Ahmar has become very visible both locally and internationally a symbol of whats happening in the occupied West Bank. Khan al-Ahmar is in Area C of the occupied West Bank, which is under full Israeli control. In order to build anything, Palestinians living in the area need a permit rarely issued by Israeli authorities. In 2009, the Palestinians built a school in Khan al-Ahmar with Italian help. Its the villages only permanent structure. But this is an overstatement the school is a ramshackle structure, just like the rest of the village. As soon as it was erected, right-wing Israelis filed a court case asking for it to be demolished. After years of legal fights, Israels High Court ruled last week in favour of demolishing not just the school, but the entire village. Now, this decades-old village, which was never recognised, will be demolished by Israel. Currently, Khan al-Ahmars residents are in limbo, not knowing when the bulldozers will come. Sara Abu Dahuk, 40, is one of them. She sits in her house, made of corrugated iron sheets and rope. It doesnt look like it could survive a breeze, let alone desert conditions, but it has until now. She is uncertain of her future and it sticks in her mind all day long. We are just really tired. Life has changed for us, she says. We used to go with our sheep and tend to them, but now we dont even leave the village unless theres an emergency. I am concerned about my children. What is their future? My son does not sleep at night, for fear of the Israelis. Whenever I think about the day the Israelis will come, I dont know how I will cope, or what I should pack. Abu Dahuk has a small bag already packed with the familys documents and other paperwork. Like many others, she doesnt know what else to pack. Its difficult to do so when you dont want to leave your home. The waiting is the most difficult thing Not knowing when the bulldozers will come, while knowing that the legal battle has been lost, has had an effect on the mindset of this community. Nisreen, Abu Dahuks 15-year-old daughter, wanted to be a teacher but those plans are now on hold. {articleGUID} We go to sleep in fear of the Israelis coming. I dont even know if there will be school in the morning. The waiting is the most difficult thing. Despite the uncertainty, the village tries to keep to its routine. Life here begins with the first morning light, when a man sings the Islamic call to prayer. There is no microphone to carry his voice, just the wind. A rooster crows and horses and donkeys get up onto their legs, shaking away the sleep from their bodies. But for how long the routine will continue is unknown. The Israelis have planned for a Jewish settlement, according to a plan known as E1, which has been around since 1994. E1 seeks to expand the (illegal under international law) Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim. Israeli settlers are encouraged by the government to move to the occupied West Bank. The settlements have all the services they need water, gas, internet, and in some cases private roads running through Palestinian land. In contrast, residents of villages such as Khan al-Ahmar dont have access to even basic services, are refused building permits, are subject to harassment by settlers and are governed not by civilian rule but by Israeli military rule. As they wait for the bulldozers, Khan al-Ahmars residents know the machines will destroy their homes quickly. They say they will fight them when they come, and the determined looks on their faces suggest that they will. But theres also a resignation that time has run out; that its not a matter of if, but when. The only fight Khan al-Ahmars residents have left is not saving the ramshackle structures housing them, but a refusal to leave this village, the only home they have known for more than six decades. Follow Imran Khan on Twitter @ajimran A Palestinian in occupied East Jerusalem is breaking boundaries, suing Israel in hopes of running for the seat of mayor. East Jerusalem A Palestinian in occupied East Jerusalem is breaking boundaries by suing the Israeli government in hopes of becoming the first Palestinian to run for mayor in Israels municipal elections in Jerusalem next month. Aziz Abu Sarah, 38, announced his intention to run for mayor last week, as part of the Palestinian-run Al-Quds Lana (Jerusalem is ours) list, which is contending for seats at Jerusalems city hall in October. Israeli law forbids Palestinians in East Jerusalem from running for the post of mayor because they are not considered Israeli citizens. Therefore, Abu Sarah has decided to sue the Israeli government in Israels High Court over the law. Im putting Israel to the test, Abu Sarah told Al Jazeera. Israel claims to be a democracy. Yet we (Palestinians) are 40 percent of the residents in Jerusalem, and we are not allowed to run for the most important seat in the city. Calling bluff on Israels democracy When Israel occupied and subsequently annexed East Jerusalem in 1967, Palestinians there were not given Israeli citizenship, but were instead issued Jerusalem residency IDs, which can be revoked by Israel for a host of reasons. Nearly 15,000 Palestinians have had their Jerusalem IDs revoked in the last 50 years, according to Human Rights Watch. If I lose, then we're calling bluff on Israel's claims of being a democracy. Aziz Abu Sarah While Palestinians in East Jerusalem can vote and run in the municipal elections, they are prohibited from voting in Israels national elections. Abu Sarah, a resident of the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Wadi Joz, tells Al Jazeera that there was a very low chance that he would win the case in the High Court. If I lose, then were calling bluff on Israels claims of being a democracy. This is clear taxation without representation, said Abu Sarah, who specialises in conflict resolution and also runs a tour company. If he succeeds in the High Court, then I hope to win the seat of mayor, he said. Al-Quds Lana was the second Palestinian list to announce its intention to run in elections, following Jerusalem for Jerusalemites, headed by Ramadan Dabash, a Palestinian citizen of Israel who is running a strictly non-political campaign. Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem pay more than 300 million shekels (nearly $84m) to the municipality each year, Abu Sarah says, but only some 10 to 12 percent of the budget is invested back into the eastern side of the city. Where does our money go? Our money goes to funding [Israeli] settlements, he said, pointing out that following the establishment of a new illegal Israeli settlement in Sheikh Jarrah, the connecting road to the East Jerusalem neighbourhood was repaved and new electricity and water lines were installed by the Jerusalem municipality. Where Aziz settlements.] The road leading to the settlement was fixed, he said. And where the settlement ends, thats where the road construction ends, too. This road wasnt built for us (Palestinians) and yet, were paying for all of this. The approximately 350,000 Palestinians in East Jerusalem have faced years of neglect and discrimination in the city, which has made life unbearable for many residents. According to Abu Sarah, one of the main issues for Palestinian residents in Jerusalem is Israels demolition of Palestinian homes in the city. Palestinians have faced a housing crisis in East Jerusalem since the start of Israels annexation of the territory, when the land zoned for Palestinian construction was reduced to about 13 percent, most of which was already built up. Israels Jerusalem municipality has subsequently carried out routine home demolitions in Palestinian neighbourhoods, owing to Palestinians building without Israeli-issued construction permits. Palestinians in East Jerusalem, 76 percent of whom live below the poverty line, are forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars for Israeli building permits, while most of the applications are nevertheless rejected. According to the United Nations, Israel has demolished at least 124 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem since the start of the year. Israels Jerusalem municipality has carried out routine home demolitions in Palestinian neighbourhood [File: Mahmoud Illean/AP] Shake up the Israeli system Palestinians in East Jerusalem have boycotted the Jerusalem elections since 1967, with less than two percent of Palestinians voting in the last election. But, if 70 percent of Palestinians voted, we could win city hall even without the Jewish Israeli vote, Abu Sarah told Al Jazeera. This would shake up the Israeli system, he said. It would bring so much attention to Jerusalem and the stories of people in Jerusalem. At the same time, it would create a crisis for Israel. The Palestine Liberation Organisation has encouraged Palestinians to continue with the decades-long boycott, claiming that Palestinian participation in Israeli elections normalises and legitimises Israels occupation and its annexation of East Jerusalem. Elections in Jerusalem often make for a tense environment, with most Palestinians who have announced their intent to run in elections in the past withdrawing after being threatened or intimidated by Palestinian nationalists. Abu Sarah recently had eggs thrown at him by a group of young Palestinians, who accused him of being a traitor, while he was giving a speech outside city hall. When all you do is boycott the elections, you're doing Israel a favour. Aziz Abu Sarah Nevertheless, a recent poll suggests that at least 30 percent of the Palestinian population in Jerusalem is considering voting. Meanwhile, Abu Sarah believes his election run is the opposite of normalisation. Normalisation is accepting reality as it is and doing nothing to change it, he said. When all you do is boycott the elections, youre doing Israel a favour. Youre giving Israel a blank check to do whatever it wants in our city. Palestinians in Jerusalem engage in various forms of forced normalisation, Abu Sarah added. When I pay my bills, Im paying taxes to an Israeli municipality whether I like it or not. When I pay taxes on my house, thats money going to Israel. When I get healthcare, I get it from an Israeli hospital. He added: We normalise the Israeli occupation in many ways, and its not a choice. Its just the realities of life. Theres no one in East Jerusalem who can say they dont deal with Israel. If youre going to do all of this, then why not also work on trying to get rights for the Palestinians here? Abu Sarah highlights that, according to international law, participating in municipal elections does not mean that the occupied have accepted the occupier. He noted that under British occupation in the 20th century, the mayor of Jerusalem for almost 14 years was a Palestinian Arab Raghib al-Nashashibi. No one thought of this as legitimising the occupation, Abu Sarah told Al Jazeera. So, historically speaking, the normalisation argument doesnt hold much weight. We must do everything we can to remain here For Abu Sarah, the most important aspect of his campaign is demanding the conditions that would allow Palestinians to remain in Jerusalem. My whole focus is simple: how can we make it easier for Palestinians to remain here. Rights groups and Palestinians have long discussed Israels goal of creating a large Jewish majority in Jerusalem through the systematic expulsion of Palestinians from the city. This is done in various ways, according to rights groups, including revoking Palestinians Jerusalem residencies and making life too difficult for many to stay in the city. Owing to poverty, discrimination and the soaring cost of living in Jerusalem, many Palestinians risk losing their Jerusalem IDs and move to the occupied West Bank to avoid the harsh realities of the occupied city. Many also move into congested Jerusalem neighbourhoods on the other side of Israels wall, where prices are lower and the municipality does not enforce building regulations. Areas such as Kufr Aqab and Shuafat refugee camp have seen a massive influx of Jerusalemites moving into these neighbourhoods over the years. For years, the Israeli government has been considering removing these areas home to more than 140,000 Palestinians from Jerusalems municipal boundaries. We need to do everything we can to remain here, Abu Sarah said. Its not enough for us to just hold an ideology even if its the right ideology while in the meantime we (Palestinians) are losing our existence here in Jerusalem. Whether I win or fail, the goal is to stir the water and to start a conversation, Abu Sarah told Al Jazeera. We need to start thinking of different [political] strategies. We need to start engaging in reality. And if this election run isnt the way to go, then we need to think about what is the right way to make sure that our Palestinian presence continues in the city. US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim has denied accusations that the US Central Intelligence is involved in the alleged destabilization plot against President Rodrigo Duterte. I can assure you with great confidence and conviction that there is actually no effort in the US government, including the CIA, to come up with some effort to undermine President Dutertes administration, Kim said in a rountable discussion with journalists.On the contrary, Kim said the two countries military cooperation has never been stronger, pointing out the US initiative to work closely with government forces in combatting human trafficking, piracy, and terrorism. We have a very strong cooperation with all the security agencies and it will continue, the US envoy added.The Presidents recent statement hinting at US interference with the countrys internal affairs, Kim said, will not affect the military cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries. Duterte earlier claimed the CIA wanted him dead. The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have both denied receiving information on the alleged CIA plot against the President. The most important innovations are created from the things we often take for granted; such as waste. Daniel Connell, a self-taught engineer, travels to Moria, Europes most chaotic refugee camp, to help a strained community prepare for winter. Gathering rubbish from junkyards and local kitchens, Daniel teaches a group of refugees to build his rocket mass heater design using only waste materials and a can opener. With a little ingenuity, this junk could be the difference between life and death for the camp inhabitants. Moria camp is situated on the Greek Island of Lesbos and currently stands at over 300 percent capacity. Riots, police brutality and shamefully inadequate infrastructure make life extremely challenging for the refugees, a recent report warning the situation is near breaking point. Previously Daniel has travelled the world helping communities in places from Indian slums to Guatemalan villages build vital infrastructure to ease the strains on those in need. In Moria, he will confront his biggest challenge yet; racing to build as many heaters as possible to help keep the 8,000 men, women and children in the camp warm throughout the winter. Filmmaker: Tristan Copley Smith Executive Producer: Andrew Phillips Editor: Mohannad Rachid Forty-three years after his death, the late dictator is still causing controversy in Spain. In August, the Spanish government issued a decree paving the way to exhume the remains of fascist dictator Francisco Franco from their current place of honour in the Valley of the Fallen, a massively creepy monument north of Madrid. The dictators family members have been given until September 15 to select a new resting place for him; otherwise, the state will decide. The transfer will, theoretically, take place later this year. The English-language edition of Spains El Pais newspaper quotes Francos grandchildren as complaining that the decree constitutes an act of retrospective revenge without precedent in the civilised world. Indeed, it would be most uncivilised to disturb the embalmed body of the man responsible for terrorising Spain for much of the last century. Perks of civilisation After all, only half a million people are estimated to have perished in the civil war of 1936-39 that brought Franco to power, where he remained until his death in 1975. On top of that, a mere 114,000 or so were disappeared during the war and ensuing dictatorship, many of them executed by Francoist death squads and deposited in mass graves that have yet to be excavated. The Valley of the Fallen, incidentally, was itself built by the forced labour of political prisoners held by the fascist regime. It also houses the bones of more than 33,000 unidentified victims of the civil war. Other perks of Francos enlightened rule included the practice of trafficking in newborns, which continued after the dictators death and according to some observers resulted in hundreds of thousands of stolen Spanish babies. But just how much progress does the forcible migration of Francos remains signify? Giles Tremlett, author of Ghosts of Spain, argues over at the Guardian that, while Franco should certainly be dug up, the Valley of the Fallen in its present incarnation is still an obnoxious reminder of his 36-year rule, the 150-metre cross looming like a giant finger raised to the families of those assassinated by [Francos] regime, among other victims. Highlighting the complicity in Franco-era crimes of a whole tranche of Spanish society, Tremlett goes on to recall Francos bonds with the Spanish monarchy as well as other potentially inconvenient alliances: The Roman Catholic church backed and blessed [Francos] crusade against an elected left-wing government. US support during the cold war then enabled Franco to survive for decades. Forgive-and-forget In other words, Francos not the only one with blood on his hands which perhaps more than partially explains Spains long-time commitment to a policy of forgetting. A post-Franco amnesty law and pact of silence assisted in promoting official amnesia, but in Spain, as elsewhere forgetting is easier said than done when the past is ever-present. A common Spanish argument against the recuperation of historical memory is that digging up the past only reopens old wounds. But what if those wounds never healed in the first place? In a country saturated with mass graves, what choice is there but to dig up the past in order to move on? As it turns out, the disingenuous forgive-and-forget mantra is also on heavy display in other locales that have suffered brutal wars and a surplus of disappeared persons. In Sri Lanka, for example, the population has been discouraged from reflecting too intensely on the governments recent war with the Tamil Tigers which, in fact, often amounted to an all-out war on Tamil civilians because reflection will somehow thwart public reconciliation. Nevermind that the governments actions themselves have thwarted just that. In Lebanon, where there are still some 17,000 disappeared from the bloody civil war of 1975-90, amnesia is particularly politically expedient given that many of the same civil warlords responsible for countless wartime atrocities happen to remain in power to this day. A postwar Lebanese amnesty law has assisted in the institutionalisation of impunity. The civil war is not taught in Lebanese schools, and the states refusal to excavate mass graves means that distraught mothers and other relatives of the missing have not even been able to ascertain the fates of their loved ones and thereby commence the grieving process. One central component of the Lebanese civil war was, of course, the right-wing Christian Phalangist party thanks to which the prominent Beirut neighbourhood of Ashrafieh continues to play host to a statue performing a fascist salute. Passive Francoism Meanwhile, back in Spain, the charming business of fascist saluting is taken care of by real live humans, among them the ones who have taken it upon themselves to protest the prospect of removal of Francos remains. An August Bloomberg article cites a survey conducted the previous month indicating that, while about 41 percent of Spaniards approved the idea of removal and 38.5 percent opposed, 54 percent considered the timing inopportune. Beyond the transparent affinity for Franco exhibited by a sector of the Spanish population, there are lingering ties to the dictatorship among members of the political class and other elites. The spirit of Franco has, it seems, infused much of the contemporary domestic panorama from laws criminalising various forms of protest to the awarding of the countrys top policing medal to the Virgin Mary. In an opinion piece for Spains El Periodico newspaper, Catalan writer Jordi Punti contends that Francoism and Neo-Francoism have become a veritable mental state for many, despite the common perception that the ultra-right commands nothing more than a marginalised presence in Spain. Proposing a concept of passive Francoism pertaining to Francoists who arent cognisant of their identity as such Punti calls out representatives of various Spanish political parties, including the now-ruling PSOE (the one spearheading the transfer of Francos remains) for rejecting a proposed reform to the amnesty law that would have enabled the trials of torturers and other dictatorship-era criminals. El Pais notes that one of the chants heard at the protests against uprooting Franco from the Valley of the Fallen has been Spaniards: yes, refugees: no in case anyone needed a reminder of how fascist ideologies and rhetoric might apply in the current context of Fortress Europe. The same El Pais article quotes one of the protest organisers as declaring: Franco isnt dead. Anyone who dies in Christ is not dead. And, nearly 43 years after his death, Francos continued presence is precisely the problem. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Jair Bolsonaro was backed by 26 percent of those surveyed, up two points, while his leftist rival also made gains. Brazilian far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro, who is in intensive care after being stabbed at a rally last week, is leading the race in the countrys most polarised and unpredictable election in recent history. According to an opinion poll published on Friday by Datafolha, a subsidiary of Brazils largest media conglomerate, the 63-year-old leader had the support of 26 percent of those surveyed, up two percentage points since the same poll conducted last week. Bolsonaro was stabbed in the abdomen on September 6 while he was campaigning in the city of Juiz da Fora in southeast Brazil. He has remained confined to Sao Paulos Albert Einstein Hospital since the incident, with his son Flavio saying he is unlikely to return to the campaign trail before the first round of voting on October 7. A medical bulletin released on Saturday by the hospital said he was recovering without any pain, displayed no signs of infection and may undergo physiotherapy soon. What the survey says The latest Datafolha poll was also the first since former Sao Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad became the Workers Party (PT) presidential candidate following an electoral court ban on former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva over a corruption conviction. PT is now hoping to transfer Lulas massive appeal to Haddad, who is a relatively unknown candidate. According to the poll, he has the backing of 13 percent of voters, a strong gain of four percentage points since last week. A runoff vote will be held on October 28 if no candidate secures a majority in the first round. The poll also showed that Bolsonaro, who has spent nearly three decades in Congress, and Haddad would be technically tied in a simulated second-round vote. Bolsonaro would lose to all other major candidates in a runoff, the survey found, adding that his polarising politics means he has the highest rejection rate 44 percent of all contenders. A former army captain, Bolsonaro has enraged many Brazilians with comments denigrating women and homosexuals as well as black and indigenous people. Haddads rejection rate is 26 percent, up four percentage points. Support for centre-left candidate Ciro Gomes, a former governor of Ceara state in Brazils poor northeast, stayed even at 13 percent. Pro-reform candidate Geraldo Alckmin saw his campaign continue to stagnate, with the opinion poll indicating support of nine percent. Environmentalist Marina Silva fell three percentage points to eight percent. A religious leader was killed along with seven other people during overnight attacks on two eastern villages. At least eight civilians have been killed in twin attacks in eastern Burkina Faso, where armed groups have been gaining ground in recent months, according to local authorities. Two terror attacks were carried out in the villages of Diabiga and Kompienbiga overnight in eastern Kompienga province, the regional governor said in a statement on Saturday. In one of the attacks, the gunmen targeted the home of a religious leader who was killed along with four other people, an unnamed security source told the AFP news agency. Three people belonging to the same family were killed and another two injured by suspected jihadists on mopeds, according to another security source. In March, at least 16 people, including eight fighters, were killed in coordinated attacks on the French embassy and army headquarters in the capital, Ouagadougou. Last year, an al-Qaeda affiliated group attacked a restaurant in Ouagadougou, killing 19 people. Since 2015, armed groups in the Sahel an area traversing Central and West Africa have staged a number of attacks in Burkina Faso. Two sons of the former Egyptian president are among several men held in a corruption investigation. An Egyptian court has ordered the arrest of two sons of former President Hosni Mubarak over stock market manipulation, according to state media. Alaa and Gamal Mubarak are accused alongside several other people of making unlawful profits by failing to inform the stock market of agreements to acquire majorities in several banks through front companies. The two brothers, both wealthy businessmen, deny any wrongdoing. The pair on Saturday attended a hearing at a criminal court in the capital, where Judge Ahmed Abdoul-Fetouh ordered their arrest, according to officials, who spoke to The Associated Press news agency on condition of anonymity. The accused were then taken to a prison south of Cairo, the officials said. Hearings are set to continue on October 20. {articleGUID} Gamal, the younger of the two, was once considered his fathers heir apparent. Alaa was not involved in politics, but has faced allegations of having amassed a fortune through his fathers contacts. He confirmed his detention in a post on Twitter, voicing hope that the truth will be revealed one day. Hosni Mubarak ruled Egypt from 1981 until he was overthrown in a 2011 uprising, which went on to become part of the Arab Spring. Since then, Mubarak and his sons have spent several spells in detention. The trio was previously sentenced to three years in prison following corruption convictions in 2015 for diverting more than $11.5m in public money to maintain presidential palaces. The sons were freed five months later, while Mubarak was released in March 2017after he was cleared of inciting the killing protesters. He remains under investigation for alleged corruption. Three other men were also arrested on Saturday, including Yasser el-Mallawany and Hassan Heikal, current and former board members at the Egyptian investment bank EFG-Hermes, a judicial source told the Reuters news agency. All those accused in the case, which began in 2012, had previously been released on bail and barred from travel. Greece arrests migrant rescuers on charges of people trafficking Members of the group charged, the ERCI, deny wrongdoing, saying that they followed every rule and regulation and kept the Greek coastguard informed of their activities. Irans OPEC chief Hossein Kazempour Ardebili says Saudi and Russian actions are a result of US attempts to cut Iran off. Irans OPEC governor, Hossein Kazempour Ardebili, has accused fellow OPEC country Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC country Russia of taking the global oil market hostage. Their actions are a direct result of attempts by the United States to cut Irans access to the global market off, he said. Russia and Saudi Arabia claim they seek to balance the global oil market, but they are trying to take over a part of Irans share, Ardebili told Irans oil news agency SHANA. Trumps efforts to cut Irans access to the global crude market has prompted Russia and Saudi Arabia to take the market hostage, he added. The American bullish behaviour will certainly not end with Iran becoming another Venezuela, as it was not the case with Iraq and Kuwait. Ardebili went on and accused Saudi Arabia and the UAE of welcoming US sanctions on Iran for their own gain and claimed the organisation is losing its power. Saudi Arabia and UAE are turning the OPEC into a US tool, he said. It is a fact that OPEC is losing its organisational character and is becoming a forum, he added. Simply said, nobody is afraid of a toothless lion that growls from time to time, and it does not harm anyone. {articleGUID} Iran is currently OPECs third-largest producer, but the US wants to cut its production down to zero by November as part of sanctions imposed on the country. US officials are pressing allies in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, to adhere to the sanctions, which are aimed at pressuring Iran to negotiate a new agreement to halt its nuclear programme. In June, India, the largest buyer of Iranian oil after China, said it expects to import less oil from Iran in the coming months because it wants to protect its exposure to the US financial system. If Irans oil production does go down to zero, other countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia are expected to produce more to keep oil prices stable. The US, led by President Donald Trump, has also pressured OPEC to raise output in an attempt to reduce oil prices in recent months, Iran demanded the organisation reject calls from Trump for an increase in oil supply, arguing that the US has contributed to a recent rise in prices by imposing sanctions on Iran and fellow member Venezuela. OAS chief says military action not ruled out in Venezuela Luis Almagro says the only way to end the flow of refugees and migrants that is overwhelming resources in Colombia is to restore democracy to Venezuela and that the use of military force is an option. Powerful storm moves across South China Sea, leaves trail of battered homes and landslides in northern Philippines. At least 12 people have been killed as Typhoon Mangkhut tore across northern Philippines with destructive winds and heavy rain, before heading towards Hong Kong and southern China. The victims died mostly in landslides and houses that got pummeled by the storms fierce winds and rain on Saturday, according to presidential adviser Francis Tolentino, who is the governments main coordinator for disaster response. Among the dead were an infant and a two-year-old child who died with their parents after the couple refused to immediately evacuate from their high-risk community in Nueva Vizcaya province, Tolentino said. At least two other people were missing, he said, adding that the death toll could climb to at least 16 once other casualty reports were verified. My appeal is that we need to heed the advice of the authorities. Stay indoors, said Tolentino. Rescue workers said they expect substantial damage in the Philippines. [Ted Aljibe/AFP] Known locally as Ompong, Mangkhut is the most ferocious storm to hit the Philippines this year. It slammed ashore before dawn on Saturday in Cagayan province on the northeastern tip of Luzon island. At one point, it hit gusts of 305km/h before it left the Philippines and moved across South China Sea with reduced winds. It felt like the end of the world, said Bebeth Saquing from her home on Luzon. I did not sleep, she told AFP news agency. Life and death situation About 87,000 people were evacuated from high-risk areas of the Philippines. Officials advised them not to return home until the lingering danger had passed. Its still a life and death situation, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told The Associated Press news agency by phone, citing past drownings in swollen rivers in mountain provinces after storms had passed. Typhoon Mangkhut left a trail of battered homes, landslides and fallen trees in its wake. [Ted Aljibe/AFP] Al Jazeeras Jamela Alindogan, reporting from Cagayan province, said the storm cut off power and communications in the city of Tuguegarao and devastated rural communities in the region. We saw homes and farmland destroyed throughout rural communities. Access into these areas is difficult, which means aid may be slow to arrive, too, she said. They barely had much before the typhoon, and now they have even less. Julie Rosales, owner of a cafe in the town of Baggao, said the storm really hurt her family. Everything happened so fast and now my business is gone, she told Al Jazeera. We ventured out and drove past rural communities. One of the many areas that we saw the devastation in the town of Bagao. No reported casualties so far, but quite a number of civilians lost their homes. @AJEnglish @tedregencia @AJENews #Mangkhut pic.twitter.com/vyjuJNPIJK Jamela Alindogan (@jamelaaisha) September 15, 2018 Mangkhut is the 15th storm to batter the Philippines this year. More than five million people were at risk from the storm, and 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. In Hong Kong, authorities are expected to raise the second strongest typhoon signal between 11pm and 2am local time (15:00 18:00 GMT). Hong Kongs flag carrier Cathay Pacific said all flights from the city would be cancelled on Sunday. In nearby Fujian province in China, 51,000 people were evacuated from fishing boats and around 11,000 vessels returned to port on Saturday morning. Chinas National Meteorological Center issued an alert saying Mangkhut would make landfall somewhere on the coast in Guangdong province on Sunday afternoon or evening. Ferry services in the Qiongzhou Strait in southern China were halted on Saturday and helicopters and tugboats were dispatched to Guangdong to transfer offshore workers to safety and warn ships about the typhoon, Chinas official Xinhua News Agency reported. The Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire was released from prison on Saturday following a surprise presidential pardon. Ingabire, who leads the FDU-Inkingi opposition party, was serving a 15-year sentence for genocide denial and conspiring against the government, charges which she had always denied. A total of 2,140 prisoners were released on Saturday without explanation, including the musician Kizito Mihigo, after the cabinet approved a presidential order on Friday. I thank the president who gave me this liberation, Ingabire said as she left Mageragere Prison in the capital Kigali, according to AFP news agency. This is the beginning of the opening of political space in Rwanda, I hope so, she added, calling on Rwandan President Paul Kagame to release other political prisoners. Rwandan Justice Minister Johnston Businge sought to downplay the significance of the opposition leaders release. There is nothing political about her release, there is nothing political about her imprisonment, Businge told the Reuters news agency. The president has granted mercy, and under the constitution, he is allowed to do that, he said, adding that she had asked for mercy twice in the past, including last June. Opposition leader Victoire Ingabire, is cleared before leaving prison [Jean Bizimana/Reuters] Ingabire returned to Rwanda from exile in the Netherlands in 2010, planning to run for president, but was barred from standing after being accused of genocide denial and was arrested before the vote took place. In 2012, she was sentenced to 15 years for conspiring to form an armed group to undermine the government and seeking to minimise the 1994 genocide. Human Rights Watchhas called the charge of genocide denial politically motivated and the trial was widely criticised. {articleGUID} Andrew Wallis, author and Rwandan political expert, said Ingabires letter in June, in which she asked for mercy and confessed to making mistakes, gave the government leeway to release her now. Ingabire is very much a forgotten figure, he told Al Jazeera. We never hear her name come up now. For ordinary Rwandans, the issues are very much health and education and moving forward with their lives. This is the sign of a confident government. This is the sign of a government that is moving forward on other issues, and Ingabire is not seen as important. Kagames government has won international praise for economic progress in Rwanda, but has faced fierce criticism from rights groups, including allegations of suppressing the media and opposition parties. Kagame has been president of Rwanda for 18 years and has been the de-facto ruler of the country since 1994. Last year, the Rwandan constitution was amended to end two-term limits for presidents, theoretically allowing Kagame to rule until 2034. 100 workers get cash aid from DFA posted September 16, 2018 at 12:30 am by Romeo Dizon September 16, 2018 at 12:30 am CLARK FreeportAn estimated 100 overseas Filipino Workers whose flights were canceled by typhoon Ompong here were given P5,000 each by the government Saturday. The governments financial assistance will cover their meals, accommodation and other expenses while awaiting the resumption of flights at Clark International Airport. The cash assistance is being processed by the consular offices in the cities of Angeles and San Fernando upon the instruction of Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, DFA assistant secretary Elmer Cato said. Cato and personnel of the Clark International Airport Corp. are now assisting since Saturday morning the processing of the financial assistance to the workers.Glicelito Nelmida, an OFW from La Union, thanked the government for the assistance. The assistance reached P500,000 based on the daily 100 OFWs using CRK as their gateway for their destinations. Aside from Business Process Outsourcing, the OFWs working abroad are also major contributors to economy with annual remittance of estimated $25 billion, according to officials. COMMENT DISCLAIMER: Reader comments posted on this Web site are not in any way endorsed by Manila Standard. Comments are views by manilastandard.net readers who exercise their right to free expression and they do not necessarily represent or reflect the position or viewpoint of manilastandard.net. While reserving this publications right to delete comments that are deemed offensive, indecent or inconsistent with Manila Standard editorial standards, Manila Standard may not be held liable for any false information posted by readers in this comments section. Woman accuses Kavanaugh of attempting to force himself on her at a party while they were in high school. US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has denied an allegation of sexual misconduct made against him. The allegation was made by Christine Blasey Ford, who said in a letter Kavanaugh had tried to force himself on her when both of them were high school students in the early 1980s. 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 response according to the Reuters news agency. According to Ford, who wrote down her ordeal in a letter to Senator Diane Feinstein, Kavanaugh tried to sexually abuse her at a party. The Supreme Court nominee closed the door, turned up the music and forcibly held the woman down in an attempt to abuse her. {articleGUID} Eventually, she was able to escape Kavanaughs grasp, but the memory had been a source of stress ever since, she wrote in the letter. A classmate of Kavanaugh was allegedly present during the incident, but he said he had no recollection of that. The letter was written to Senator Diane Feinstein, ranking minority member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, last July, shortly after US President Donald Trump announced he would nominate Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court. Feinstein has since referred the letter to the FBI. Ford initially wanted to remain anonymous, but later came forward, detailing the ordeal in an interview with the Washington Post. A statement put out by the committee chairman Senator Chuck Grassleys office said the allegations will not hinder the committee vote on Kavanaugh, which will take place on Thursday. {articleGUID} Judge Kavanaugh has undergone six FBI full-field investigations from 1993 to 2018, Grassley said in a statement. No such allegation resembling the anonymous claims ever surfaced in any of those six FBI reports, Grassley said, before the identity of Ford was known. Kavanaugh is expected to be confirmed by the one-vote Republican Senate majority, despite Democrats attempts to stop his confirmation. {articleGUID} He would replace retired swing-vote Justice Anthony Kennedy who retired earlier this year. Kavanaughs appointment could solidify a hard-right majority on the nine-member court and help shape key aspects of American society for a generation or more. Conservative Catholic Kavanaugh, who hails from a wealthy suburb of Washington, DC, has the backing of powerful right-wing judicial groups and deeply religious evangelical Christians. Both groups are pro-gun and anti-abortion rights and form a key part of the Republican voter base. Other issues to come into play during the hearings are his support for corporations against regulation, and the judges belief that a sitting president should not be distracted by legal proceedings against him. Kavanaughs thoughts on the last issue are especially important as Trump was alleged to have taken part in late 2016 in making payments to an adult film star and a Playboy model in possible violations of election laws. In recent weeks, Democrats have been fiercely critical of the Trump administration for not providing sufficient documentation about Kavanaughs time in Bushs White House, where he may have played key roles in decisions such as permitting the torture of detainees. Supporters celebrate in Addis Ababa as the leadership of the Oromo Liberation Front returns from exile. Hundreds of thousands of people have gathered in the capital of Ethiopia to welcome leaders of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), the latest members of a formerly-banned rebel group to return home following a string of political reforms in the country. The jubilant crowd waving OLF flags gathered at Addis Ababas Meskel Square on Saturday, where a large concert was held to welcome the groups leader Dawud Ibsa and others, while similar events were held in Ethiopias Oromia region. I am happy to be here after 26 years of struggle from outside of Ethiopia, Ibsa said. We will be a part of the peaceful struggle, he added. We have been struggling to bring the changes that we are seeing now in Ethiopia. We are now seeing positive signs that include the respect for rule of law. Thats why we came here, said Ibsa. Earlier on Saturday, nearly 1,500 OLF fighters returned from neighbouring Eritrea. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed who, in April, became the first Oromo to hold the post has introduced a number of reforms since assuming office, as well as overseen the release of jailed dissidents, the unblocking of websites and moves to liberalise the economy. Long exile The OLF was founded as a political organization in 1973 to advocate the right to national self-determination for the Oromo people, Ethiopias largest ethnic group, against what they perceived as Abyssinian colonial rule. {articleGUID} The group had a falling out with the ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) in 1992 and soon began launching armed attacks. In response, the government banned it and later declared it a terrorist organisation. The crackdown on OLF deepened resentment among Oromos, whose months of anti-government protests, which also spread to the Amhara region, led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Hailemarian Desalegn earlier this year and his replacement by Abiy. Freedom In July, the ban on OLF and two other groups was lifted as part of the prime ministers efforts to bring various opposition groups back into Ethiopian politics. Speaking to Al Jazeera from Addis Ababa, Jawar Mohammed, executive director at Oromia Media Network, called the return of the OLF leadership a historic day in their nearly 50-year-old struggle. We are in a positive transition now. This day is a significant milestone in Ethiopias transition to democracy, he said, adding that the Oromos have a vested interest in keeping the country together. It paves the way for a peaceful election within the next two years, he said. Several people in the crowd at Meskel Square bore scars incurred during years of Oromo-led anti-government protests. I never thought this day would come, said 27-year-old Arfase Elias, showing the scar from a bullet that hit her left leg 12 years ago during a demonstration in the restive town of Ambo. For this flag, I have seen my brothers tortured, dying on the streets. I have seen the sacrifices they had made for freedom, she said. Analysts say that with the return of Ibsa, the last bastion of armed struggle in Ethiopia has come to an end. Obama-era official has admitted he met Irans foreign minister three or four times since Trump took office. US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have accused Obama-era official John Kerry of actively undermining US policy on Iran after he admitted meeting Irans foreign minister three or four times since leaving 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 in Twitter post on Friday. He told them to wait out the Trump Administration! he said, ending his Tweet with the word BAD! 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! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 14, 2018 Meanwhile, Pompeo told a news conference that Kerrys meetings with Mohammad Javad Zarif were inconsistent with US foreign policy and beyond inappropriate. You cant find precedent for this in US history, and Secretary Kerry ought not to engage in that kind of behaviour, an agitated Pompeo told reporters at the State Department. Its inconsistent with what foreign policy of the United States is as directed by this president, and it is beyond inappropriate for him to be engaged. 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 Zarif three or four times since Trump had entered the White House. A spokesperson for Kerry said in a statement to The Hill on Friday: Kerry stays in touch with his former counterparts around the world just like every previous secretary of state. Theres nothing unusual, let alone unseemly or inappropriate, about former diplomats meeting with foreign counterparts What is unseemly and unprecedented is for the podium of the State Department to be hijacked for political theatrics, the spokesperson added. Meanwhile, Kerry took to Twitter to respond to Trump, saying: Mr. President, you should be more worried about Paul Manafort meeting with Robert Mueller than me meeting with Irans FM. But if you want to learn something about the nuclear agreement that made the world safer, buy my new book. 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: https://t.co/DKjc33Kvvu https://t.co/cesltkt0zW John Kerry (@JohnKerry) September 14, 2018 Trump supporters immediately leapt on Kerrys actions as evidence of treason, with some calling for him to go to prison. A spokesperson for Kerry said there was nothing improper about his conduct. Nuclear deal Tensions between Iran and the US have risen after Washington pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. {articleGUID} Under the 2015 deal, the Iranian government agreed to cut down its uranium stockpile and scale back its enrichment programme far below the level required to build a nuclear weapon. Tehran also agreed in perpetuity to notify United Nations inspectors if and when it builds a new nuclear facility. In exchange, UN-approved sanctions were lifted in January 2016, and Tehran was allowed to resume trading oil and gas on the international market. A total of $100bn in frozen Iranian assets was also released. Following the US pullout from the nuclear agreement in May, Iran said it was interested in keeping the deal alive, but only if the remaining powers could guarantee it would not face economic isolation under Washingtons sanctions. Europe and other signatories of the deal oppose the US decision to leave the agreement and have vowed to find ways of maintaining trade ties with Iran. Turkish presidency says migration from Idlib would not only burden Ankara, but would also cause new crises in Europe. Turkeys presidential spokesperson has said a major offensive targeting Syrias northwestern province of Idlib could cause a new refugee crisis from Turkey to Europe. Everyones common point is that the solution must be political rather than military, Ibrahim Kalin said in the capital Ankara, after a preparatory meeting with representatives of France, Germany and Russia in advance of an upcoming four-party summit on Syria. Kalin said that there is a general consensus that the consequences of a full-scale military attack on Idlib will cause humanitarian crises and a new wave of refugees. He said on Friday that his government seeks to maintain Idlibs current status, protect civilians, and prevent a humanitarian crisis in Idlib. Of course, a new wave of migration would not only put a burden on Turkey. It could cause a new chain of crises from here to Europe. Therefore, nobody wants this, he stressed. The bombing of Idlib will be unacceptable, the presidential spokesperson said. {articleGUID} Our expectation here from the international community and the leaders is that they give more open and clear support to Turkey, he added. Erdogans visit He also added that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans upcoming visit to the Russian city of Sochi on Monday and efforts afterwards were of high importance. Since the beginning of September, at least 30 civilians have been killed in Idlib and Hama, and dozens injured, by air raids and attacks by the Syrian government and Russian warplanes, according to activists on the ground. Damascus has recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive to the area, long controlled by various armed opposition groups. The UN warns that such an offensive would lead to the worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century. Thousands of people have taken to the streets across Idlib on Friday 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 the province that is home to more than three million people. 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. Dr Marc Lamont Hill is an award-winning journalist and author and is the Steve Charles Professor of Media, Cities, and Solutions at Temple University. Hill is known for his work addressing the intersections of race, justice, politics and culture. His latest best-selling book is We Still Here: Pandemics, Policing, Protest and Possibility which follows on the success of Nobody: Casualties of Americas War on the Vulnerable from Flint to Ferguson. Hill has received numerous prestigious awards from the US National Association of Black Journalists, GLAAD, and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Gabriel described how, since she founded ACT in 2002, "today the national security threat is no longer confined to radical Islamic terrorism." ACT is not a one-trick pony; rather, the group must contend with numerous others like Antifa , Black Lives Matter , and MS-13 gangs . Against these criminal and totalitarian organizations, "ACT for America is today the largest grassroots national security organization in the country with one million members." "America is under attack. Our country is being transformed before our very eyes," ACT for America founder Brigitte Gabriel stated on September 4 in a ballroom in Crystal City at Virginia's Hyatt Regency hotel . ACT's tenth-anniversary national security conference brought together over 200 ACT activists nationwide for a clarion call of political warfare to preserve American freedoms against myriad subversive Islamist and leftist threats. Gabriel emphasized the stark polarization between the worldviews of freedom-loving conservative groups like ACT and their opponents. "Our enemy is dedicated to destroying us," she said. "No matter what you do, they are going to call you a hater." Accordingly, she dismissed appeals that "we need to convert the unconverted" with "don't waste your time" and focused on the mobilization of committed allies. Later in the afternoon, Zionist Organization of America national president Morton Klein echoed Gabriel's observations about leftist slanders. "Doesn't the left love to use that word, 'racist'?" he said while noting conference protesters outside. "Without that word, they would have nothing to say." By contrast, as he demonstrated with his presentation's reiteration of past arguments, ACT is among few groups that "tell the whole courageous, rational truth about the Arab-Islamic war against the West and Israel." Following Gabriel in the speaker schedule, former Republican congressman and United States Army lieutenant colonel Allen West reflected her militant mood. He expressed anger at the necessity of the instructions given to conference attendees to avoid speaking to the media and displaying conference badges outside conference events: That should not happen in these great United States of America, that people who believe in our fundamental principles and values are forced underground by people that who believe in a fundamental transformation of the greatest nation the world has ever known. West noted that some of the greatest modern threats to America's exceptional experiment in liberty come from ideological struggles in the wider culture. Thus: [The] most important elected position in the United States of America, it is not president, it is not senator, it is not congressman, it is not governor it is school board. So I want to see more ACT for America people out there running for school board. West's remarks received elaboration from later speakers like the conservative political mobilization wunderkind Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA. Western civilization's future depends upon an "ideological, cultural battle on college and high school campuses, and we are losing horribly, terribly," he stated. He noted that 85 percent of $100 billion in the last decade's college donations came from registered Republicans, who "have funded the Marxist indoctrination camps of tomorrow." Accordingly, conservatives must implement be a "complete and total divestment from giving philanthropically to our schools." Kirk noted radical academia's central role in the transformation of a Democratic Party that in generations past shared a pro-American outlook. Democratic leaders today are "committed anti-American Marxists that want to destroy this country." This situation demands explicit condemnation of leftists' "sick and twisted morals," therefore "don't give them the gift of saying these are good people." Unrestricted immigration's dangers formed a key conference theme, including an entire panel with experts like the former immigration law enforcement officer Michael Cutler from the Center for Immigration Studies. He noted that America's immigration policies are a bipartisan "failure by design; [they are] doing exactly what the elite wants, and [they go] against everything that every Americans wants." Rather than being "broken," as often described, the "immigration system is the most efficient system in the entire federal government" as a system that "delivers an unlimited supply of cheap, exploitable foreign labor." Cutler's remarks on immigration reform reflected that improved border security stanching the influx of illegal aliens into America would reduce American social welfare spending and drug crime. Therefore, "within a year or two, the wall pays for itself." Meanwhile, his fellow panelist, Numbers USA deputy director Chris Chmielenski, discussed ending "birthright citizenship," which allows illegal aliens and visitors to acquire American citizenship for children born on American soil in a "birth tourism industry." Gabriel during her morning address worried that Muslim immigrants from the Middle East and North Africa "basically have no loyalty to our country," a theme Ryan Fournier elaborated upon during his lunch address. The Students for Trump national chairman denounced leftists as "see[ing] the world through a fantasy lens. Their fanatical pursuit of diversity and cultural enrichment is a threat to Western civilization." Particularly in Europe, "multiculturalism" and "open border policies have led to a wave of terror attacks," such that "left-wing politicians have blood on their hands." America should learn from Europe's negative experience that "there is a clear difference between Eastern and Western cultures, and blending the two simply does not work." The Palestinian-American convert from Islam to Christianity Hazem Farraj confirmed in his afternoon address that "some cultures are just better than others." Living in Jerusalem's Muslim Arab community, where his conversion prompted death threats, he has "been on the other side" of Western civilization, while he has "friends who are running from the culture of Islamism." In his remarks, he contrasted the United Nations' 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an "almost sacred" document, with sharia oppression in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's 1990 Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam. His slides stated that globally, "Islam is the 'fastest growing religion' BECAUSE it's the most ENFORCED," while "20% of 1.6 billion Muslims are secret unbelievers." Various anti-Western Islamic doctrines also concerned the sharia expert Stephen Coughlin, who addressed how, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, "Turkey is taking operational control of the Muslim Brotherhood" worldwide. Coughlin highlighted Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs or Diyanet, a ministry expressly instituted in Turkey's 1924 constitution that financially supports mosques all around the world. Noting the Diyanet Center of America in Lanham, Maryland, outside Washington, D.C., he stressed the political nature of such a Diyanet institution and warned to "never think about it as a mosque." Coughlin noted the expressed hopes of Diyanet leaders to create a "counter-state" capability among Muslim communities in places like Europe. Diyanet president Ali Erbas had indicated that the Diyanet will demand from European law enforcement authorities cooperation with Diyanet-led Muslim communities, a "direct claim of jurisdiction." "If the Europeans want to push back, there will be blood in the streets," Coughlin warned. Center for Security Policy senior fellow Deborah Weiss in turn presented her past research on Hollywood's "multiple Islamist influence operations" that seek to "dominate the information battlespace" in a "stealth or civilizational jihad." The "extremely well connected" nature of a leftist-Islamist "red-green axis" in the movie industry and beyond had raised fears that conservatives like her were fighting a losing battle. Yet she rightly rallied in an "ideological war" that "Islam might seem like Goliath, but we're David. ... Pick up the sword of truth and soldier on." PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte, who normally spends weekends in his home city of Davao, is in Manila during the weekend monitoring developments in areas affected by Typhoon ''Ompong,'' Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Saturday. Hes in Manila. He did not leave and is monitoring, Roque said in a command conference at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council office in Quezon City. Knowing him, he will be the first to go to the affected areas as soon as the weather will allow his choppers to take off, the Palace official added. Duterte tasked six of his Cabinet officials to be his alter egos in the provinces in Northern Luzon to facilitate government response to Ompong. Roque, meanwhile, was ordered to monitor information dissemination about the typhoon. According to Roque, the President did not give any last-minute directive about the calamity, stressing that Dutertes only mandate was to give information to the public. According to Roque, the President did not give any last-minute directive about the calamity, stressing that Dutertes only mandate was to give information to the public. Well, the directive is to conduct this command conference, we were tasked to handle information dissemination, Roque said. [Thats why] many of the department secretaries are here, coordinating delivery of services. Some Cabinet secretaries who were present during the interagency briefing were Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who acts as the chairman of NDRRMC, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Virginia Orogo, and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. On Thursday, the President led a briefing, attended by several government officials, to ensure the preparation of the government as Ompong was pummeling the country. Duterte designated presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino as his conduit for preparations and disaster response during the typhoon. He also ordered Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad, and Tolentino to closely monitor the particular provinces in Northern Luzon in the typhoons path. May I ask Atty. [Francis] Tolentino just to be my conduit. I may be around somewhere, I may decide to go out, I really do not know. Just get the information that is available and the things that we wanted to know along the way, said Duterte. Be my conduit so that its only one [person]. Then I can have the whole gamut of information from there. So, he would represent the Office of the President because Im away, I will be cut off, added the President. Duterte explained that every department already designated field officers in the areas. He deemed it proper to pinpoint the six secretaries to closely monitor the calamity-prone areas.Its only proper. What they told me was right. I would need a face there. But I cannot be everywhere and anywhere. So, since they were locals of those provinces, I told them to go there, said Duterte, assuring the public that the government was ready for Ompong. He explained he had dispatched government officials and already prepositioned food, medicine, and assistance. Asked whether the country plans to seek aid from foreign countries, Duterte said its too early to ask for help from the international community. According to Tolentino, there was no report of casualties as of posting time but an increased number of evacuees was reported in affected areas. Tugade said the Tuguegarao Airport was closed to the public after some facilities were damaged due to the typhoon. Lorenzana, who joined Roque in the press conference, clarified that although some facilities were damaged, it was still open for humanitarian services. The facilities are damaged but the runway itself is okay. The runway can be used for humanitarian services, Lorenzana said. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello, meanwhile, said roads from Metro Manila to Cagayan Valley remained passable and communication signal remained strong. However, there was reported damage on agricultural products in Cagayan, he said. He also assured that relief goods and donations were arriving in affected areas. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said although power outages in some affected areas were reported, the government is working to partially restore them. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said his department had set up command centers to ensure the flow of basic commodities, while Social Welfare Acting Secretary Virginia Orogo said 31,631 families in the llocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Cordillera regions have been affected by the typhoon, and many of them were already in evacuation centers. Capitalism vs. Socialism: A Story of Two Family Relics There are two stories that I am going to tell you. They happened a long time ago. They occur over three centuries and span multiple continents. These stories have nothing in common except for one thing: the continuity of documents. The history of the first document dates back to the beginning of the 18th century. The scene is a North American colony called the Province of New York. For his services to Great Britain, a German nobleman received land from King George II in the royal colony of New York. The area was large, but subsequent generations quietly sold it piece by piece. This family of new settlers supported the colonists, not King George III, in the Revolutionary War. This allowed the ownership of the land to be preserved after the war. Now my good friend owns this land (or rather, the small piece that remains). He, like his ancestors spanning eight generations, is an American patriot. Recently, there was a problem with the issue of land ownership in the state of New York. Without going into details of the territorial dispute court case, I will dwell on its essence. My friend did not have any official documents issued by the state of New York that would confirm his right to own said land. So he brought to court the only thing he had: an old family relic a fragile parchment scroll signed by the British monarch. The American judge, having examined the parchment, ruled that the heir to the German nobleman be the only legitimate owner of the land, granted to his ancestors by King George II long before the establishment of the United States of America. The court ordered the Executive Branch to issue him a modern deed confirming his right to own the land, as well as to record the information about the owner in the state register. This story of land ownership has a happy ending. The continuity of property rights is one of the main foundations of capitalism. The second story, which also has a happy ending, is an entirely different pattern of continuity. My supervisor at the scientific laboratory was a brilliant scientist and a true Russian intellectual. His ancestors were Cossacks who lived in the south of Russia for many centuries. Throughout their history, they eventually replaced their classic Nordic features with typical southern features relatively dark skin, curly hair, and a slightly hunched nose. In 1942, the south of Russia was occupied by the troops of the Third Reich. First, the Nazis began to round up the Jews. On one of the winter days of 1943, Gestapo agents broke down the door of my supervisor's ancestors' peasant hut and ordered them to gather for an hour and report at the railroad station together with all the other Jews. The father of my scientific supervisor started a verbal skirmish with the Gestapo, which turned into a melee. The whole time, he did not stop shouting that he was not a Jew, but a Russian. The Gestapo was taken aback. The agents immediately arrested him and threw him in jail. They also informed the authorities about the incident. After some delay, a commission of Nazi doctors arrived from Berlin. They, using the canons of eugenics, made a thorough examination of the prisoner. They measured his forehead, ears, and nose and came to an unambiguous conclusion he was essentially a purebred representative of the Aryan race. The Russian peasant was given a certificate with an official seal, on letterhead with a swastika, signed by some Standartenfuhrer, that he was not a Jew, but an Aryan. The newborn "Aryan" jubilantly arrived back home and hid this document until better times. Fast-forward a short ten years, and "better times" have come. In 1953, Stalin planned to remove the entire Jewish population of the USSR to Siberia. In other words, the Holocaust-2 was being prepared. One March morning in 1953, agents of the NKVD (later renamed the KGB) burst into the hut of the Russian peasant and relayed the well known phrase: "Jews, get out!" As it played out ten years ago, a verbal skirmish began, which again developed into a fistfight. By the time the family relic obtained from the Nazis was finally found, the "Aryan" had lost two teeth. However, when the NKVD agents saw this document stamped with a swastika, they turned pale. After a long dumb scene, during which they reverently looked at the paper, they apologized to the Russian "Aryan" family and evaporated. A few days later, the mustached communist tyrant died, and the Holocaust-2 did not take place. This eugenics-related story has a happy ending, too. The continuity and acceptance of the Gestapo document should not surprise anyone. Supporters of National Socialism from the Third Reich and supporters of International Socialism from the Soviet Union, although they fought among themselves, understood each other perfectly. At first glance, these stories about family relics have no political background. However, these two family histories reflect the well known practical consequences of one or another ideological foundation of a society. Under socialism and capitalism, there is a significant continuity of ideas, traditions, and laws. At the same time, any form of socialism whether in fascist Germany, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea or the Soviet Union always leads to totalitarianism and anti-Semitism. Finally, in spite of utopian Marxism, socialism does not lead to an equal distribution of wealth; rather, as Winston Churchill rightly pointed out, it leads to an "equal sharing of misery." The cacophony of the pre-election race in 2018, when the number of sweetly singing socialist sirens in America is simply off the charts, should not confuse anyone. The outcome of this year's elections is more important than ever: either Trump's capitalist reforms will be continued or they will be torpedoed, and Obama's socialist reforms will again start to strangle America. What family relics would you like to leave to your descendants? Gary Gindler, Ph.D. is a conservative blogger at Gary Gindler Chronicles. Follow him on Twitter. Faking Your Way to Racial Equality Since the mid-1960s, billions have been spent to close race-related gaps in educational achievement. While these gaps have been somewhat narrowed, they have remained substantial and seem impervious to nearly all nostrums everything from early intervention programs such as Head Start to hard-headed businesslike remedies such as firing incompetent teachers. Now, given decades of disappointment, what's next? Let me suggest that "a solution" is emerging, but it is not what gap-obsessed egalitarians have in mind. This "solution" is deception if genuine equally of outcome is unreachable, instead, provide the illusion of success. Remarkably, this deceit is often welcomed as if it were the real thing, with little outrage when fraudsters are exposed. The National Center for Fair and Open Testing argues that teachers illicitly boosting student test scores is endemic. Such deception is particularly alluring at schools with large populations of underperforming minority students, where the dismal numbers can bring school closings or mass firings. Such cheating has been documented in Atlanta; Baltimore; and Washington, D.C. as well as in schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and elsewhere. They are, according to the center, just "the tip of the iceberg. Cheating may simply entail erasing the wrong answers and replacing them with the correct ones. Less blatant tactics include strongly hinting at the correct answer during the test under the guise of "helping" the puzzled test-taker, using similar test questions in classroom lessons, or just teaching the test and little else. One teacher has even written a guide for potential cheaters that includes tips to minimize getting caught for instance, allowing unauthorized extra time by putting a "do not enter" sign on the classroom door. The Washington Post likewise offers multiple ingenious cheating tactics such as smartphones to forward pictures of exam questions. Especially effective is to exclude the low performers (notably, students with disabilities and those with limited English) from taking the test. Another ploy is to prevent expelled or suspended students from taking the test or encouraging the weakest students to drop out or enroll in GED programs prior to the test. Levels of academic achievement can also be faked by substituting graduation rates for actual learning, a strategy particularly productive when targeting dropout-prone Hispanics and black males. This tactic is easier than outright cheating and usually perfectly legal. Everything can be accomplished openly, and those awarding diplomas to the undeserving will be hailed as heroes. It is no wonder, then, that recent U.S. Department of Education statistics show that high school graduation rates in 2016 have hit an all-time high of 84%. This fraud is often exposed when administrators just overdo it. For example, the low-income, largely minority Ballou High School in Washington, D.C. recently reported that 100% of its senior class was accepted to college! Thought this statistic was celebrated, it ignored the awkward reality that half of these graduates had missed more than three months of school during the previous year. Moreover, a mere 3% of its seniors met the city standard on D.C.'s reading exam, and hardly any scored proficient on the math exam. Achieving this "miracle" was not especially difficult. Chronic truants were permitted no-effort ways to make up their lost school time to expunge their absences and were even awarded full credit for retaking watered down versions of missed classes. The source of this "miracle" was the school's principal, who manipulated teacher evaluations to punish those who refused to cooperate with the sham. It was only by luck that a reporter uncovered the deception. Unfortunately, this example from Washington is just part of the larger pattern of inflated graduation statistics, and, unlike what occurred at Ballou HS, this counterfeiting is totally above board. One analysis of what it takes to be a high school graduate found that both California and New York recently lowered high school diploma requirements. Meanwhile, in Tennessee, a third of the state's high school graduates had failed to satisfy the state's graduation requirement but still graduated. Twenty-one states offer a less academically rigorous degree, but recipients are nevertheless counted as "high school graduates." In 2015, Los Angeles dropped its once mandatory high school exam, and presto, some 14,000 Los Angeles students who had failed that exam now "earned" a high school diploma. Particularly devious is a widespread practice called "credit recovery," where a student who missed months of classroom time can in a day or two complete an easy, brief assignment and get full credit. Of the utmost importance, outsiders cannot be aware of dumbed down textbooks, fluff classroom lecture content, or overly generous grading standards. Even a responsible teacher may award undeserved grades to avoid trouble or permit illiterates to graduate just to get rid of them. In short, opportunities to deceive are everywhere, often rational, and difficult to detect. The Consequences of Successful Fraud The obvious winners here are politicians and their education appointees, who promised to "turn around failing schools." Dishonest teachers and school administrators especially benefit where schools embrace a "business model" of financially rewarding high performers. Provided nobody smells a rat and perpetrators don't overdo it, deception is just what the doctor ordered after a half-century of expensive failure. The losers are the students who now possess a piece of paper falsely certifying academic accomplishment. Yes, a few may recognize the scam, but keep in mind that "getting a diploma" has taken on a magical quality in modern American society. After all, graduates have attended an imposing ceremony, been decked out in academic gowns, been adored by their picture-taking family, and listened to high-sounding speeches assuring them of future economic success. The damage goes far deeper than just hoodwinking gullible youngsters and their proud parents. Particularly revealing is that over time, data show that while high school graduation rates of blacks and whites have substantially narrowed, income differences remain virtually unchanged. Employers also will quickly learn that these "graduates" cannot perform basic math or write an understandable report and that many "graduates" will likely continue their bad habits (e.g., chronic absenteeism) that had zero costs when they "attended" high school. Do these freshly employed youngsters expect the dishonest principal to rescue them? These "graduates" may well figure it out when they realize that nobody will hire them despite their credential or, if hired, that they will be assigned menial jobs more appropriate to a dropout. Repeating high school work at a community college may be their only option. Things can get worse. Egalitarian-minded researchers will "demonstrate" that black youngsters with a high school diploma earn less than their white counterparts, alleged smoking-gun proof of racism and discrimination. Now, racism demonstrated, the call will be for draconian laws to force employers to hire these "graduates," since, after all, the diploma is prima facie evidence of worthiness. Faced with court orders (and fines) to hire fake graduates, businesses might relocate, ship the work overseas, or hire skilled immigrants. In any case, pools of minority youngsters who are unemployable despite their high school or even college diplomas will be left behind. Alas, few will admit the obvious: their joblessness is a result of youngsters escaping the effort necessary to earn a real diploma. Will this charade end? Might the recipients of fake certificates wake up and sue schools for deception? Probably not, given that diploma recipients are apparently satisfied with this fakery. Thousands of public officials and professional educators are also motivated to sustain this gravy train, regardless of the damage inflicted on these youngsters. And what white official will demand an end to policies that help disadvantaged blacks earn a degree? Perhaps most troubling, for countless public officials and professional educators, this fakery qualifies as progress in the quest for racial equality. And their plans to make sure nothing like that ever happens again. Forget the lamentations for John McCain. Ditto the wailing for Aretha Franklin. This week, we just learned about the biggest and most significant funeral dirge in the history of the world: the private and confidential gathering of tens of thousands of Google employees to mourn the election of Donald Trump. All led by the people who run Google i.e., the world. Thanks to Breitbart.com, who brought this 45-minute dirge of constant sorrow to our attention, we now know there was not a dry eye in the house. You have to see it to believe it. It is easy to find at Breitbart. The main theme of this TGIF gathering just a few days after the election of Trump was how Google was going to stop the end of the world (as we know it) because of the worst possible thing that just happened in the history of the world: the election of Donald Trump. The explanations for this catastrophe came as fast and furious as the lamentations that they would not be able to smoke enough pot to make it more bearable. That comment came several times from the head of Google if, by chance, you are one of those squares who still thinks Google is run by one or two people, and not morally superior angels in an endless round of hugs and self-congratulatory meetings. For almost an hour, we heard about low-information voters, who are angry because they are bored, which in turn makes them fascists, which in turn made them vote for Trump (and, of course, for Brexit). We learned how Google failed these poor ignorant fools by not funneling better information to them. To us. Ditto for Brexit: how did we let that happen? Don't people know that one of Google's most cherished values an oft heard term involves unlimited immigration around the world, and darn those people who just cannot understand that? The whole session was reminiscent of some early promos for Rachel Maddow that were eerily similar to early stories about the Obama White House: lots of geeks sprawled on the floor eating lots of pizza, lots of magic markers, lots of college sociology textbooks, and lots of people absolutely convinced of their mission in life: educate the rest of us who are just not that bright. And thus save the world. Even more important than this geek funeral rite were the questions it raised once the tears dried up and the scorn began. Why did it take almost two years to learn about this video conference? Are there no info-babes patrolling the hallways of Google, offering a variety of enticements to get at least one of the tens of thousands of Googlers to turn over the tape? We recently learned that this is how they roll at the New York Times: whenever some editor gets a hankering for some national security secrets, he just assigns some comely young reporter from the pool, and in the finest traditions of Mata Hari, national secrets flow when the pillow talk begins. Even without the tradeoffs, there was not one reporter in the world who knows one of the tens of thousands of Googlers well enough to get a copy of this now infamous video? Not one? Even by accident? Not one. In the aftermath of the great Google sorrow-fest, we do know a few things: Google and YouTube simply cannot pretend they are not doing everything they can to stifle conservative speech even altering their algorithms to control the flow of information to promote their worldview. They did not just confess it; they bragged about it, several times. And when one of the Googler hotshots reminded the tens of thousands of viewers that we cannot forget the conservative point of view, that was the only applause line met with silence in between the sobbing, that is, and the rolling eyes. From the Google executives in the sweat-stained shirts to the grunts in beanie caps, everyone in the auditorium for the live presentation was a proud and unapologetic social justice warrior. But there was one curious omission: there were no black people there. None to ask or answer any questions. Curious, since Google spends tens of millions of dollars every year to produce videos, support movements, and algorithm changes, all with the same goal in mind: to show how much every white person in America sucks, except for them. And how all black people are victims of white racism. All this is tip-of-the-iceberg stuff. This video will change your life by exposing the single greatest gaslighting operation in world history: the hoax that Google and its cronies are honest brokers. You have to watch it. Oh, yeah: Google and Facebook and Twitter and other members of the Silicon Valley hive mind don't have much use for the fellas at least not enough to hire them. Take your pick: one, two, three percent of the people at Google, etc. are black. And now this week we learn that the Google hive mind is helping the communist Chinese do a much better job of keeping their boots on the throats of one of their biggest clients. Hell, even John McCain never did that. Colin Flaherty is not just the author of that scintillating bestseller, Don't Make the Black Kids Angry. He is also Google-certified in a variety of Google skills, including Search, Adwords, and a few others he cannot remember right now. He also cannot remember how many times he has been kicked off YouTube for documenting black-on-white racial violence, but it is a lot. He has unleashed America's entrepreneurs, cut all our taxes, chopped off the strangling regulatory tentacles of big government, liberated American energy, rebuilt the military, ended "free" trade transfers of wealth to those who are not all our friends, fundamentally transformed the judiciary, and dared to step on the new third rail of American politics: illegal immigration and sanctuary cities. I once supported Ted Cruz over Donald Trump in the primaries, largely due to the fact that Trump seemed a bull who carried around his own china shop and campaigned like Sherman marching through Atlanta with matches. But he won me over, and I repented my political sins and saw the method in his madness as he overturned the tables at which the elitist moneychangers sat along with the status quo they cherished. Sadly, some persist in their unbelief, most notably the #NeverTrumps over at the increasingly irrelevant National Review, who have published a piece taking the absurd position that the concept of birthright citizenship is not only constitutional, but an integral part of any originalist interpretation of the U.S. Constitution: The conservative beltway publication National Review published a piece in which their legal columnist argues that "constitutional originalism requires" that United States citizenship be given to the children of illegal aliens. Dan McLaughlin of National Review which infamously launched a campaign against President Trump during the 2016 presidential election published the piece, titled "Constitutional Originalism Requires Birthright Citizenship," which claims that the U.S. Constitution does provide birthright citizenship for the children of illegal aliens[.] ... Dan McLaughlin writes for National Review: Among the ideas that percolate now and then on the Right is the idea of reforming or eliminating birthright citizenship, the policy by which anyone born on American soil automatically becomes a natural-born citizen. From a policy perspective, there is fair grounds [sic] for debate: there are reasonable objections to the abuse of birthright citizenship, but also serious problems of principle and practice with changing it. But from a legal perspective, the answer should be clear: a proper originalist interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, as presently written, guarantees American citizenship to those born within our borders, with only a few limited exceptions. [Emphasis added by Breitbart] ... The Supreme Court, however, has never explicitly ruled that the children of illegal aliens must be granted automatic citizenship and many legal scholars dispute the idea. The Supreme Court has indeed not said birthright citizenship is constitutional, and legal scholars have noted that supporters of birthright citizenship, a gross misinterpretation of the 14th Amendment, ignore the intentions of those who wrote that amendment. So much for an originalist interpretation. Peter H. Schuck, Yale University's Simeon E. Baldwin professor of law emeritus and self-described "militant moderate," reiterated his opinion Monday that birthright citizenship is not required by the U.S. Constitution. Though opposed to many of the president's positions, he was surprised the administration has not made opposition to citizenship for the children of illegal aliens more central to its immigration policy. On at least one key immigration stance, however, Schuck appears to be in agreement with President Trump. In the 1990s, along with Yale Political Scientist Rogers Smith, he determined, in a book called Citizenship Without Consent, that the policy of granting citizenship to everyone born on American soil, including so-called "anchor-babies" those born to illegal alliens [sic] was not mandated by the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as is popularly trumpeted by open-borders supporters. Trump came to the same conclusion on the campaign trail, once stating, "We're the only ones dumb enough, stupid enough to have it." This misinterpretation of the 14th Amendment, written to guarantee the citizenship rights of freed slaves after the Civil War, has morphed the amendment into a guarantee of birthright citizenship. Merely being born on American soil is said to make you a U.S. citizen. Sneak past the U.S. Border Patrol; have your baby; and you not only have a U.S. citizen, but what is called an "anchor baby," allowing you to stay and bring others in under the banner of family reunification. During the campaign, Trump correctly called the flawed concept of birthright citizenship the "biggest magnet" for illegal immigration. He would end it, and as for family reunification, Trump is all for it, just saying it should happen on the other side of the U.S.-Mexico border. As the New York Post reported: Trump described his expanded vision of how to secure American borders during a wide-ranging interview Sunday on NBC's "Meet The Press," and in a position paper he later released, saying that he would push to end the constitutionally protected citizenship rights of children of any family living illegally inside the US. "They have to go," Trump said. "What they're doing, they're having a baby. And then all of a sudden, nobody knows... the baby's here." Birthright citizenship is the exception and not the rule worldwide. Even our European brethren, as fond as they are of refugees and open borders, do not embrace it. As Liz Peek writes on FoxNews.com, birthright citizenship is indeed a big magnet for illegal immigration: The United States is one of only two developed countries in the world that still bestows citizenship on every person born on our nation's soil. Having a child become a U.S. citizen is the greatest reward possible for someone who enters the country illegally. Such status is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in free education and benefits, not to mention the incalculable value of our country's security and freedoms. Historically, there was bipartisan enthusiasm for dumping this program; even Democrat Harry Reid had proposed its termination. The costs of birthright citizenship are staggering, especially when you consider the costs of what is called "chain migration." Once of age, the baby born here can sponsor others. It has even given rise to what is called "birth tourism," where pregnant women are brought to the United States, ostensibly as tourists, to give birth here and have their children deemed American citizens by birth. Trump said he would end birthright citizenship. Critics have said the task, even if justified, is well nigh impossible, requiring amending the U.S. Constitution. In reality, it may not require altering the 14th Amendment only correctly interpreting it, perhaps through clarifying legislation. The Fourteenth Amendment, passed on July 3, 1866, reads, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." This was done, again, to guarantee the citizenship rights of freed slaves, not illegal aliens. The 1857 Dred Scott decision held that no black, not even a freed black, could be considered a citizen. In testimony before the House Judiciary Committee in October 2008, John C. Eastman, a law professor at Chapman University and a fellow at the Claremont Institute, argued that illegal aliens are still foreign nationals and are not subject to U.S. jurisdiction, except for purposes of deportation, therefore their children born on American soil should not be automatically considered U.S. citizens. During debate on the Fourteenth Amendment, Sen. Jacob Merritt Howard of Michigan added jurisdiction language specifically to avoid accident of birth being the sole criterion for citizenship. And if citizenship is determined just by place of birth, why did it take an act of Congress in 1922 to give American Indians birthright citizenship, if they already had citizenship by birthright under the 14th Amendment? Rep. John Bingham of Ohio, regarded as the father of the 14th Amendment, said it meant that "every human being born within the jurisdiction of the United States of parents not owing allegiance to any foreign sovereignty is, in the language of your constitution itself, a natural born citizen[.]" Rep. Nathan Deal of Georgia sought to clarify the situation through H.R. 698, the Citizenship Reform Act of 2005, which would have amended the Immigration and Nationality Act to deny automatic citizenship to children born of the United States of parents who are not U.S. citizens or are not permanent resident aliens. H.R. 698 declared: "It is the purpose of this Act to deny automatic citizenship at birth to children born in the United States to parents who are not citizens or permanent resident aliens." The bill undertook to clarify "subject to the jurisdiction of the United States" to the meaning originally intended by Congress in the 14th Amendment. The current interpretation of birthright citizenship may in fact have been a huge mistake given the burden illegal aliens have imposed on our welfare, educational, and health care systems, as well as, through increased crime, on our legal system a very costly one. There may be hope of correctly interpreting the 14th Amendment through a court case as President Trump reshapes the courts, particularly the Supreme Court, with justices of a more "originalist" bent. As noted, the misinterpretation could be corrected through clarifying legislation. We can correct it judicially or legislatively, and we should. Donald Trump was right: becoming a U.S. citizen should require more than your mother successfully sneaking past the U.S. Border Patrol. But for Chelsea Clinton, who's always a little out there with her logic, it has its uses. Speaking for Sirius radio, she effectively declared abortion rights 'Christian,' by claiming that efforts to end them are 'un-Christian.' Christianity is quite anathema to the left, given the energy with which it seeks to erase it from the public square. According to the Daily Wire, which has the video: "How do you keep going in the hopes that your daughter doesn't have to have this fight?" asked intersectional feminist and Signal Boost co-host Jess McIntosh, referencing the "fight" to keep abortion legal. "Every day I make the moral choice to be optimistic that my efforts and my energies, particularly when Im fortunate enough to be in partnership with fellow travelers, hopefully will make a difference," responded Chelsea. "And when I think about all of the statistics that are painful of what women are confronting today in our country, and what even more women confronted pre-Roe [v. Wade] and how many women died and how many more women were maimed because of unsafe abortion practices, we just cant go back to that," she continued. Chelsea concluded that it's "unchristian" to outlaw the fatal procedure of abortion: "Thats unconscionable to me, and also, Im sure that this will unleash another wave of hate in my direction, but as a deeply religious person, its also unchristian to me." It's grotesque, given that abortion ends a human life and has since led to an abhorrent commercial trade in body parts profiteering by Planned Parenthood. If this is what being moral and "deeply religious" and 'Christian' means nowadays, as Clinton advises, count me and a lot of us with the atheists. Nice to see how she points the finger who's 'unchristian.' Mother Teresa, who sought to save every life no matter how unloved (and who hated abortion vehemently) must be by Chelsea's logic the ultimate 'unchristian.' I suppose we could try to unpack Chelsea's logic, from her point of view to be fair, as Snopes, sitting there at the top of the Google search of Chelsea would want you to do: Chelsea would have you think that women will inevitably die if abortion is outlawed, but doesn't seem to notice that someone else dies if it's not - some 60 million in fact. She apparently thinks women are these automatons who can't be dissuaded from abortion, and therefore must be accommodated, as if those in troubled pregnancies are always accompanied by iron wills to kill. The pope recently changed the stance of the Catholic Church to end any support for the death penalty and got a lot of praise from the left for it. But Pope Chelsea hasn't gotten that memo about the broader value of human lives, favoring instead the disposal fully formed babies as part and parcel of being a "deeply religious person" and Christian. As if Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem and all the other bigtime pushers of abortion, by her logic, represented the height of Christianity rather than what was said at the time: women's 'liberation.' Apparently, there's no baby involved, just a 'choice.' It's nonsensical slop. But it's also notable because it comes hot on the heels of Chelsea's earlier misfire on abortion, made just weeks ago, that abortion was an economic stimulus package, creating $3.5 trillion in economic growth. More abortions, bigger economic boom? That fell flat. Now she's turned to her Christian values. Obviously, she is trying to say something to ingratiate herself to the Planned Parenthood crowd, coming up with ever newer and more creative reasons for justifying abortion's charnel houses and body parts trade. Since the latter forks out big campaign cash, maybe she's singing for her supper, looking for campaign cash. But she's come off as an idiot this second time, given that abortion has never been part of the Christian values system, but actually been very much a part of the opposite. The Bolsheviks, after all, were the first to legalize abortion. What it really shows is what an amazing tin ear she has for issues, unable to make arguments that don't repel. Maybe she should just stop talking about abortion and go back to writing ... children's books. Image credit: Wellcome Images, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0 Heres a quick question for our former president, and a possible tagline for the GOP midterm elections. Hey Obama, where did my ten trillion dollars go? In other words, what exactly did Obama accomplish with his extraordinary orgy of federal spending that doubled the national debt, raising it from $10 trillion to $20 trillion? So former President Obama is back out on the campaign trail. Maybe this time the press will hold him to account with some tough questions (spoiler: dont count on it). Yes, I know, the Wall Street downturn, the never-ending recession, and the limp recovery practically mandated that the government open the spending taps (or at least provided a decent excuse for it). But where did it all go? What tangible result do we have in return for this unprecedented deluge of red ink? There was no Louisiana Purchase, or defeat of Hitler in World War II. It just seemed like business as usual and then we woke up drowning in debt. Most Obama defenders, after a little harrumphing, would point out that every POTUS increases the debt, and besides Obama inherited an economy in tatters, and a Wall Street crisis that required a nearly trillion-dollar TARP bank bailout. But in actual fact, the TARP loan was fully repaid, with interest. The Feds actually made a profit on that deal, so the net cost of TARP was $0. The 2009 Stimulus Package, on the other hand, was real spending, some $700 billion that went out into the ether and never came back. As Obama acknowledged, there were precious few shovel ready jobs, and most of the money went to various pet government projects. Can you point to any? I cant either. I regularly travel to mainland China where the evidence of government spending is everywhere; gleaming new airports, high-speed trains, huge mass transit systems, a vast network of new superhighways. We didnt get any of that stuff, and Americans still struggle through public transportation facilities that look more at home in third-world countries. What a missed opportunity! What else did we get? Student loans are one of the few investments the Federal government makes where we actually receive an asset in return. The current student debt held by the Feds is approaching $1.5 trillion. Forbes recently referred to the poor quality of this portfolio, with a delinquency rate over 10%, as a crisis. So what does all this federal debt mean to the average American? Allocated per capita, Obamas $10 trillion equates to an additional $30,700 in debt for every man, woman and child living in the USA. (Should we count non-citizen undocumented aliens? Or are they off the hook for this kind of thing?) For the average family size of 2.58 people, that averages just over $79,000 per household. Considering that the median U.S. housing cost is $200,000 (which sounds cheap to these California ears), thats the equivalent of a 40% mortgage for each household. But remember, were only including Obamas most recent share of the debt; adding in the full $20 trillion in obligations brings us to a staggering $160,000 in federal debt per household. Think of it: that $160,000 in debt represents 80% of the value of the average U.S. home, a loan to value ratio already in excess of the traditional 70% LTV maximum. And thats just for the national debt. And many households dont even own a home, and those that do already have a mortgage. And most have student and credit card debts as well. And keep in mind the $20 trillion in Federal debt is just the tip of the iceberg; were not including other contingent liabilities like Federal pension obligations or loan guarantees that might double or triple the overall debt levels. Nor does this include state and local debt; and many cities and states have debt levels that make the Feds look like penny pinchers. So if you add it all up -- its just too depressing to even think about! Jay Latimer is an international businessman, writer and investor who has worked in investment banking in New York, Hong Kong, and Beijing. The Robert Mueller team has been seeking any and every possible legal violation by people associated with the Trump campaign in order to squeeze them to sing provide evidence of some legal violation by Donald Trump. In the case of Manafort, this quest led to a violation of a rarely-enforced law, the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). As Tucker Carlson, a longtime denizen of DC, has frequently noted, A huge chunk of the lobbing and legal industry in DC could potentially be prosecuted under this act, because foreign governments habitually take advantage of the abundant opportunities influence-peddlers offer their clientele. When a foreign country seeks influence-peddlers in Washington, DC, the smart ones buy-up connections-for-hire merchants on both sides of the aisle. Those of us following the prosecution of Paul Manafort have realized that in 2012 he worked in tandem with Tony Podesta, the former superlobbyist and brother of John Podesta, on behalf of then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine, a nonprofit apparently set up to provide a cover for lobbying. Now that Mueller has turned over the Manafort rock and seen the Ukrainian creepy-crawlies, he cant ignore the roles of Tony Podesta and Greg Craig, two of the most-connected Democrats in the lobbying biz, who failed to make the same registration that Manafort did. Chuck Ross of The Daily Caller explains the details of the Ukrainian Connection and how Podesta is caught in the same net with Manafort: Two lobbying firms, including one owned by Democratic superlobbyist Tony Podesta, knowingly worked with Paul Manafort at the direction of the Ukrainian government, according to an indictment released Friday by the special counsels office. The indictment, which was released ahead of an expected plea deal for Manafort, the former chairman of President Donald Trumps presidential campaign, says that as a part of his lobbying scheme, Manafort solicited two lobbying firms in February 2012 to lobby on behalf of then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Various employees of Companies A and B understood that they were receiving direction from MANAFORT and President Yanukovych, not the Centre, which was not even operational when Companies A and B began lobbying for Ukraine, reads the indictment. The Centre is a reference to the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine, a Brussels-based non-profit that the government says was used to support Yanukovych. Company A has been identified as Mercury Public Affairs, a lobbying shop operated by former Minnesota Republican Rep. Vin Weber. Company B has been identified as Podesta Group, the firm that Tony Podesta founded with his brother, John, the chairman of Hillary Clintons campaign. Unlike Manafort, who pleaded guilty on Friday in an apparent pleas deal, Nobody from Podesta Group or Mercury Public Affairs has faced charges in the case, though the latest indictment suggests that the lobbying firms skirted federal law by failing to register as foreign agents with the Department of Justice (DOJ). But the evidence that they were paired with Manafort in the same crime is obvious: Working at Manaforts direction, Mercury and Podesta Group lobbied dozens of members of Congress, their staffers, and White House and Department of State officials regarding a host of issues related to Ukraine, including the validity of its elections. Manafort frequently briefed Yanukovych on Mercury and Podestas lobbying activities. He also tasked the companies to prepare reports that he could provide to Yanukovych. The same net also has caught Obama administration White House counsel (and impeachment defense lawyer for Bill Clinton) Greg Craig, as Erica Orden and Evan Perez report for CNN: Federal prosecutors in New York are weighing criminal charges against former Obama White House counsel Greg Craig as part of an investigation into whether he failed to register as a foreign agent in a probe that is linked to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, according to sources familiar with the matter. In addition, these sources said, prosecutors in the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York are considering taking action against powerhouse law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where Craig was a partner during the activity under examination. Prosecutors are considering a civil settlement with the firm or a deferred prosecution agreement with Skadden, these sources said. An attorney for Craig, who left the Skadden firm in April and who was White House counsel under President Barack Obama during the first year of that administration, said his client "was not required to register under the Foreign Agent Registration Act." A spokeswoman for Skadden didn't respond to a request for comment. (snip) Any action against Craig or Skadden would be an extraordinary step, given Craig's prominence and Skadden's position as one of the largest and most prestigious law firms in the country. But lawyers do not enjoy perfect immunity from FARA: Though FARA has an exception for lawyers who are performing legitimate legal work on behalf of a foreign client, it does require lawyers who attempt to influence US government policy matters to register. "Lawyers engaged in legal representation of foreign principals in the courts or similar type proceedings, so long as the attorney does not try to influence policy at the behest of his client, are exempt," according to Justice Department guidelines. And Craig and Skadden appear to have crossed that line: In advance of the report's official release, "Manafort arranged to have the law firm disseminate hard copies of the report to numerous government officials, including senior United States executive and legislative branch officials," the filing says. The partner who worked on the report -- according to court proceedings in another related case, that of former Skadden lawyer Alex van der Zwaan -- was Craig, CNN has reported. Van der Zwaan, pleaded guilty in February to lying to the special counsel's office, admitting that he misled investigators about his discussions related to Skadden's work for Yanukovych in preparing the report. According to the New York Times, Craig himself was also involved in promoting the report to members of Congress and the media, a step that may have triggered FARA requirements. Team Mueller now faces a dilemma. If they do not prosecute the Democrats, Republicans, with President Trumps Twitter account in the lead, can harp on the theme of double standards. And even if prosecutions result, a failure to squeeze the defendants or threaten them with long prison terms will be a telling contrast. But with their many connections to leading Democrats, these two may have a lot of people to trade away for leniency. Media-dubbed Weather God Emperor Donald Trump controls hurricanes According to the editorial board of the Washington Post, President Trump is responsible for inflicting catastrophic weather events, having just unleashed Hurricane Florence upon the mid-Atlantic seaboard, specifically the states of North and South Carolina. No other U.S. president in the history of the country has garnered such a unique distinction. Having been anointed Weather God Emperor by the editorial board, President Trump is able to conjure cataclysmic weather at will. It would appear he's also able to control the ferocity of epic storms, in addition to meting out a path of destruction, while disputing the number of weather-related fatalities. The Washington Post editors came to their conclusion, quoting an unnamed climate researcher who believes that hurricanes produce a lot of wind and rain, because Donald Trump doesn't believe in "human-induced climate change." Utterly disregarding scientific fact, the editors conveniently chose to ignore the history of hurricanes making landfall the first recorded ferocious weather events, which occurred in the early 1300s. Never mind that sediment samples from the United States Gulf Coast region, as well as the Atlantic coast, also indicate that hurricanes most likely also occurred during the Medieval Warming Period, circa 800-1400 B.C. Sticking to the politically correct script is all that matters in 2018. Weather God Emperor Trump can't be credited for the booming American economy, but he is, without a doubt, complicit when it comes to spinning up hurricanes. Coupled with his penchant for storm complicity, apparently, Weather God Emperor Trump is also personally responsible for the lack of building code enforcement and the outdated electrical grid in Puerto Rico. Recall the ferocity of Hurricane Maria in September of 2017, a monstrous Category 5 storm that wreaked havoc and destruction all over the Caribbean. Unfortunately, Hurricane Irma proceeded Hurricane Maria's onslaught, just two weeks prior. Still reeling from Irma, an estimated 80,000 people in Puerto Rico were without electrical power. What's absent from the discussion is the island's overwhelming utility debt, resulting in a 30% reduction of employed utility workers (at the time both storms arrived) and an aging electrical grid infrastructure. Local media repeatedly warned of poor utility maintenance and failing control systems. If the outdated electrical grid wasn't enough, Puerto Rico's water system was deemed substandard and didn't meet the strictures of the 1974 Safe Water Drinking Act. Finally, structures on Puerto Rico are not built for substantial or sustained hurricane-force winds. Most buildings simply crumpled during the storm or were ripped apart altogether. Initially, 64 people in Puerto Rico died as a direct result of the hurricane. Local authorities admitted that counting dead people due to the hurricane was difficult because they lacked communication. By October 2017, the number was adjusted upward to 1,052 deaths. That number just changed again. In a study, conducted by the Milken Institute of Public Health at George Washington University, using computer math models, researchers concluded that as many as 3,300 people died (give or take several hundred) in a six-month period during and after the storm. Hoovered up in the total count were deaths attributed to sepsis, pneumonia, emphysema, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's. In other words, everyone who died between the arrival of Hurricane Maria on September 16, 2017 and March of 2018 is considered a hurricane death. According to the CDC, approximately 7,450 people die every day in the U.S. Hurricane Florence has already claimed four lives. Using the same computer math models, between today and six months from now, it's estimated that the deaths from Hurricane Florence will be well over 1 million. Weather God Emperor Trump will have some explaining to do. Is lefty crazytalk going out of style? Is backing down the new Democrat talking point? So many of the Democrats' top power players have backed away from previously stated crazy positions in such a short period of time it's logical to think something is going on. The ultra-ambitious lefty pol spent most of her career acting the role of the fireproof blonde with the suburbs in her blood. She was reasonable, she was liberal, she was Clinton-y. After all, she did take the seat from outgoing Hillary Clinton herself. Then when the border apprehensions and family separations issue moved to the front of the news queue, with wall-to-wall coverage, she jumped out, moving well past her safety zone. She full-on embraced the argot and agenda of the loony left, calling to abolish ICE. Well, until she clarified the other day, with a rather embarassing 'nevermind.' Daily Caller reports: Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York stated Wednesday that her calls to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were misconstrued, claiming that despite saying we need to abolish ICE, she believes America still needs an agency that will fulfill the goals that ICE was created to achieve. Claiming that the agency has strayed from its intended duties, Gillibrand argued that ICE in its current form should be eliminated, but that a new agency should replace it that will execute the same mission of enforcing U.S. immigration laws and investigating criminal activity of foreign nationals residing within the country. Give [ICE] a new name and a new directive, Gillibrand told The Post-Stars editorial board. Yes, indeed, fire them all and hire them all back again, kind of like Russia did with the KGB, which has had more than a few name changes since Feliks Dzherzinsky made the agency famous for its excessive killings. Sounds like a plan. And 'misconstrued'? Nope, she was pretty specific. We are all just misconstruers, see, thinking that when she says loony stuff, she means loony stuff. Silly us. What's interesting here is that she has retreated. Apparently, the nutty stance wasn't paying the dividends she thought it would. The people of Poughkeepsie and Syracuse, Ithaca and Albany (she's the soul of Albany) apparently weren't all that impressed. Politico and Morning Consult report that only 25% of voters are all in for that, because, well, maybe there should be some kind of controls at the border. For Gillibrand, internal polls must have been awful, meaning, she had a problem. Because that stance is exceptionally extreme. And she came out with it, time and again last June, because she was following a herd. The only reason she got attention for it was that she was not considered part of the nut fringe until that point. So now she's backtracking. What it suggests is an ego on the downflate. Around the same time Gillibrand was denouncing ICE, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became the 'it girl' of Democratic politics, based on her youthful good looks, great graphic design presence, Bernie Bro hipsterliness, and surprise victory in New York City for a congressional seat, toppling an old dinosaur. Gillibrand saw how Ocasio-Cortez was talking - and winning, and it's possible Gillibrand wanted a piece of that, which is why she started talking extreme. It was little different from Hillary Clinton adopting a black accent for a black audience. And everyone could tell it was fake. After the immigration issue died down and there was no more political hay to be made, and then moderates took quite a few wins in subsequent national primaries, Gillibrand now changes her tune. Oh how tough it is to be a Democratic fireproof blonde, tossed about by so many different political winds. Let's just say that in this retreat, she's telling us a lot about herself. She's not leadership material. In short: A vocal portion of the OnePlus customer base took to social media and the companys own product forums to criticize its decision to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack from the upcoming OnePlus 6T. OP6 [sic] will be my last OnePlus device, wrote one user on Twitter. Its a mistake, said another in response to the firms announcement of the Type-C Bullets Wireless earphones. I dont understand how losing the headphone jack can be a sign of progress, reads another forum comment, questioning the companys suggestion that the OnePlus 6T will be its best device to date in every aspect. Background: Earlier this week, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei said the firm believes the timing for the removal of the headphone jack is right, citing internal data indicating 59-percent of OnePlus users already own a pair of wireless headphones. Those who dont will be offered an inexpensive USB-C solution in the form of the new Bullets Wireless, whereas the OnePlus 6T will also be bundled with a dongle allowing owners of traditional 3.5mm earphones to connect them to the new device. Mr. Pei ran a Twitter poll about the level of support the 3.5mm jack enjoys within the OnePlus community just half a year ago, with its results being overwhelmingly in favor of keeping the port. The company also advertised the existence of the jack as one of the selling points of the OnePlus 6, which may be part of the reason why its decision to remove the connector from its next device was received so badly by a portion of its fanbase. As of Saturday morning EST, OnePlus forums, Twitter, and Reddit are filled with hundreds of negative comments about the development. Impact: Despite the backlash, the lack of the headphone jack on the OnePlus 6T is unlikely to significantly impact its sales, especially given how this will be the first device sold via a United States carrier T-Mobile. As a result, the OnePlus 6T is likely to be by far the best-selling handset ever launched by the Chinese firm, whereas the current backlash related to its lack of a headphone jack is still not comparable to the one caused by the inclusion of a display notch on the OnePlus 6 which ultimately didnt prevent that model from breaking the firms internal sales records. RACE FOR LIFE. A slippered father runs double time while cuddling protectively his sick child, with a companion holding high the dextrose bottle, as they transfer to another car when their ambulance is checked along the national highway by toppled electric posts caused by unforgiving winds from Super Typhoon 'Ompong' after it slammed hours earlier into Cagayan Valley at dawn Saturday. AFP SUPER Typhoon ''Ompong,'' the 15th and strongest storm to hit the country this year, ferociously whirled away towards the West Philippine Sea before sundown Saturday, leaving in its swathe an undetermined value in destroyed agricultural crops and infrastructure and an initial ten people dead and six others missing. The typhoon struck the northern tip of Luzon and threatened the lives and homes of nearly four million people of the countrys 106 million population. The violent and unforgiving winds, accompanied by torrential rains, triggered massive landslides and knocked down power lines, leaving posthaste communities in its beaten path without power.As we go forward, this number will go higher, Ricardo Jalad, head of the national civil defense office, told reporters, referring to the death toll. The two lifeless bodies of the two responders in Baguio Cityidentified as Shaina Mae Laroco Pascua, 19, and Grace Ganabe, 45were pulled from the soil of a hillside that collapsed after the storms torrential rains, police said. The third was an unidentified girl in Marikina City in the metropolis. In Nueva Vizcaya, four members of a family, including a two-year-old toddler and an 8-month old infant, were killed after their house caved in, presidential adviser on political affairs Francis Tolentino said. Three others were killed in Benguet, Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said in a radio interview. In related developments: Nine airports in the country were ordered closed on Saturday. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines already sent notice to airmen (Notam) that the airports in Basco, Cauayan, Tuguegarao, Lingayen, Laoag, Itbayat, Vigan and Palanan were closed for commercial operations until late afternoon today. "So far, these are the airports covered by our Notam," said CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio in a text message to Manila Standard. In Manila, the Manila International Airport Authority media affairs division said 53 flights were suspended Saturday. Today, PAL, Cebu Pacific, Cathay Pacific, Air Swift, Air Asia and CebGo also suspended some international and domestic flights. Most of those cancelled were flights to and from Hong Kong. Tomorrow, Cebu Pacific Air and Cathay Pacific suspended their Manila and Hong Kong flights. The Department of Health in Tuguegarao, Cagayuan is looking for additional physicians to attend to the 87,000 residents who have fled to evacuation centers. Dr. Rio Magpantay, Director IV, Regional Office 2 of the DOH said doctors from the regional office would not be enough. He said he had asked Health Secretary Francisco Duque III for augmentation from the Health Emergency Management Bureau and from the Epidemiologist Bureau. FACES OF DESTRUCTION. Several power posts are knocked down Saturday (top photo) like this frame in Barangay Del Monte in Quezon City after Typhoon 'Ompong' caused violent winds and strong rains in the metropolis, with a relief center warehouse (above) being prepared by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. In Manila (below) motorists traverse flooded Roxas Blvd. along Manila Bay Saturday morning while families take shelter at an evacuation center (bottom) in Delpan in Manilas Tondo district. Manny Palmero, Norman Cruz In Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, disaster volunteers reported that heavy rains in Nueva Vizcaya had rendered stretches of the Maharlika Highway in Cagayan Valley not passable to traffic since Saturday noon. Enciong Guballa, a Red Cross volunteer has shown a video footage of road section in Santa Fe where existing flood control dikes failed to contain water from the river to overflow in the road. As planned by the PDRRMC, Gov. Carlos Padilla sent heavy equipment and personnel to start clearing operations. In Pampanga, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council in Central Luzon distributed a total 79,889 emergency food packages to the residents affected by Ompong in the region Saturday. Initial reports from disaster council showed a total 19,850 affected families composed of 79,889 persons were served by the Department of Social Service Development and the local government units in the region. Bobby Manalo, operation officer of the RDRRMC, said the emergency operations center inside the headquarters of Philippines Air Force in Clark was reactivated Saturday. Manalo said the operation center was equipped with land, sea and air transport system like helicopters and vessels to speed up the relief and rescue and boost the capability of the disaster agencies in helping the victims. In the southern part of Metro Manila, more than 6,400 people were evacuated, according to Supt. Jenny Tecson, spokesperson of the Southern Police District. He said the evacuues were brought to 140 evacuation centers set up in the cities of Taguig, Las Pinas, Paranaque, Muntinlupa, Makati, Pasay and in the municipality of Pateros. In Muntinlupa, the police community precinct 3 conducted police assistance for the distribution of relief goods to the evacuees at Alabang Elementary school. As of this time, there are 495 families and 2,400 individuals in the evacuation center, said Tecson.The Metro Manila Development Authority also reported that four vehicles were damaged after a Meralco post was knocked down at the westbound lane of Connecticut near Epifanio de los Santos Avenue. MMDA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago said no one was reported injured in the incident. The UNICEF pledged assistance to the government in any and all capacities the government would require. UNICEF Representative Lotta Sylwander said Children are the most vulnerable in any emergency situation. UNICEF stands ready to provide support and assistance to the Philippine Government; and to local government units in the affected areas to respond to this brewing storm. We also call on parents and local communities to heed the governments call to evacuate to safe spaces, to ensure populations, especially children, pregnant mothers, and vulnerable families are safe from possible damage brought about by Ompong. UNICEF has prepositioned emergency supplies for about 12,500 families to respond to affected peoples needs for safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition, education, and child protection. Sylwander said The agency is also ready to distribute supplies on very short notice and activate partners for more emergency supplies for immediate distribution. Additionally, UNICEF said it has a cross-sectoral contingency already developed for areas on typhoons track. As Ompong left the Southeast Asian archipelago and barrelled towards densely populated Hong Kong and southern China, search teams in the Philippines began surveying the provinces that suffered a direct hit. We believe there has been a lot of damage, said Social Welfare Secretary Virginia Orogo as thousands of evacuees took refuge in emergency shelters. Ompong was packing sustained winds of 170 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 260 km per hour as it left the Philippines. An average of 21 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 storms arrival because of major flooding and landslide risks. Ompong has also left a trail of destruction to agriculture, particularly in the corn capital of Isabela and Nueva Viscaya and the rice granary in Nueva Ecija, inundating low-lying areas as the whirlwind smashed the rest of Luzon. Capt. Jefferson Somera, spokesman of the Armys 5th Infantry Division, said Ompong had incurred widespread devastation in Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Viscaya, Apayao, Kalinga and Abra. He said several roads connecting Ifugao and Mountain Province were not passable. A total 1, 882 families from Region 2 had been evacuated to shelters. CAR Office of Civil Defense director Ruben Carandang said 28 roads were closed due to landslides, rockslides, obstructed to fallen trees and eroding soil. Japan Meteorological Agency forecaster Hiroshi Ishihara told AFP on Friday, "Among all the typhoons this year, this one (international name Mangkhut; Philippine name Ompong) is the strongest. This is a violent typhoon. It has the strongest sustained wind (among the typhoons of this year). They (authorities) said this typhoon is twice as strong as the last typhoon, thats 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 countrys 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 defense authorities, told AFP. As the storm headed for Chinas southern coast, Cathay Pacific airline said it expects more than 400 flight cancellations over the next three days. The Hong Kong government said Mangkhut would pose a severe threat to the region as many residents in the city and neighboring Macau stocked up on food and supplies. The president of neighboring Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, told citizens to be ready. The typhoon is powerful and even its not expected to make a landfall in Taiwan, we should be well prepared and not... take it lightly, she wrote on Facebook. In short: Dozens of Verizon customers took to social media and the companys official forums to voice their frustration about the lack of information on the availability of the Samsung Galaxy Watch. The wearable that Samsung officially released last month is set to become available from AT&T and Verizon later this year but no firm availability details have yet been shared by either carrier. T-Mobile remains the only network operator in the United States thats currently selling Samsungs latest wearable and is even offering a 50-percent discount on a second unit for customers who buy two. Background: Verizons customers have been voicing their displeasure about the lack of concrete availability info on the Galaxy Watch for several months now and a number of them even contacted the companys customers support service to inquire about the matter, only to be told that the firm is presently working on a special promotional offer but specific details will follow in the near future. Samsungs Gear S3 series was also late to arrive in Verizons stores, with customers being forced to wait approximately eight months for the devices which officially launched in 2016 but only started being retailed by the telecom giant in mid-2017. Sprint isnt expected to carry the Galaxy Watch at any point in the future. Impact: The fact that Verizon is once again late with releasing a Samsung-made wearable line is likely a direct result of the carriers retail strategy and not a decision that the South Korean electronics maker can influence. Despite the aforementioned complaints, it appears that a relatively small percentage of Verizons customer base is presently interested in Samsungs wearable portfolio, despite its glowing reviews and positive user feedback. Verizon subscribers interested in buying the Galaxy Watch as quickly as possible presently have two straightforward options Amazon or Samsung itself. Evacuees Are Using Hurricane Florence To Pick Up On Tinder Trending News: People Are Using Hurricane Florence As An Excuse To Score On Tinder Hurricane Florence has thrashed the Eastern coastline and left at least four people dead but it seems that some evacuees are making the best of a devastating situation. This tweet popped up on Thursday morning. There's a surprising # of people on DC Tinder from North and South Carolina that are just here for Hurricane Florence. Literally have "hurricane evacuee" or "just escaping the hurricane" as their bio. Claire Tran (@clairevtran) September 13, 2018 Claire Tran told Insider she's seen bios ranging from "Hurricane evacuee" to "Visiting from NC, hurricane season" to "Got evacuated from SC so let's hurricane and chill?" Related: How To Use Pick-Up Lines Effectively And Actually Score A Date While you might expect evacuees of the storm to be devastated, Tran said the guys seemed pretty chill about it. "I asked this guy about the process of evacuating, and he was like, 'It was scary lol. Yeah, my school finna be wreckeedddddd,' He just seemed bored and didn't know what to do with his time in DC." she said. "Then I asked this other guy how long he was here and he was like, 'Not a damn clue, my home is getting destroyed.'" Another woman, Mackenzie Leone, told Insider she was invited to a "hurricane party." "People here are literally celebrating a huge storm about to happen and it's hilarious to me!" My tinder profile says Ill blow you away more than this hurricane will and now I think Im the funniest person to have ever lived ha ha ha mackenzie (@mackleighl) September 12, 2018 Some people have even made Tinder accounts for the hurricane. Hurricane Florence matched with me on Tinder lol pic.twitter.com/bFPy4rUbUF Hunter House ? (@house__of_mouse) September 10, 2018 Ainat no way yaall made this hurricane a Tinder. pic.twitter.com/GHBm8opzjl A$AP JO$HY ?? (@OreoJoshh) September 13, 2018 I swear that if the world was about to end, Tinder would be lit. You Might Also Dig The Hague, Netherlands -- Notorious Lords Resistance Army commander Dominic Ongwens lawyers open their defense Tuesday at the International Criminal Court, where their client is charged with conducting a reign of terror in northern Uganda in the early 2000s. Known as the White Ant, Ongwen faces 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role from 2002 to 2005 in the sinister LRA rebel group, led by its fugitive chief Joseph Kony. Ongwen is also the first accused before The Hague-based ICC to face the very same charges of which he is also a victim. Born in 1975, Ongwen was abducted as a young boy while walking to school and was soon trained as a child soldier within the LRA. Prosecutors said he grew up to become a ferocious senior LRA commander in charge of Konys infamous Sinai brigadewhich among many crimes committed also abducted young girls and women to serve as domestic workers and sex slaves. Ongwen was enthusiastic in adopting the LRAs violent methods and eager to show he could be more active and more brutal than others, prosecutors said as his trial opened in January 2016. ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda at the time played a gruesome video depicting the aftermath of an LRA attack on a refugee camp, shocking the courtroom with images of disemboweled children and charred bodies of babies in shallow graves. In another attack against the Odek refugee camp in 2004, Ongwen instructed his troops that nothing should be left alive, prosecutors said. Ongwen, now around 43, has denied the charges, insisting it was the LRA, not him, who murdered defenseless refugees. Mr. Ongwen has been clear from the beginning... that the charges before the court are not against him, but rather against the LRA, and that the LRA is not his army, his lawyer Krispus Ayena Odongo said. He was just a victim, like many others (who were) abducted like him, Odongo told AFP ahead of the opening of the defenses case. Physically Dominic Ongwen was doing fine Odongo said. His client however has been diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.Ongwens case before the ICC is unique, said international law expert Mark Kersten of the University of Toronto. The trial throws up so many important questions as to how to deal with victim-perpetrators, he told AFP, including the appropriate type of punishment should Ongwen be found guilty. A self-styled mystic and prophet, Kony launched a bloody rebellion more than three decades ago seeking to impose his own version of the Ten Commandments in northern Uganda. The UN says the LRA has slaughtered more than 100,000 people and abducted 60,000 children since it was set up in the mid-1980s. More than 4,000 victims are also taking part in Ongwens trial which began more than a decade after a warrant for his arrest was issued in 2005. Ongwen was transferred to the ICC in 2015 shortly after surrendering to US special forces operating in the Central African Republic. At the time, former US president Barack Obama had deployed a small number of US troops to the region to aid the hunt for Kony, who is still at large. Experts believe Ongwen fled after falling out with Kony and almost being killed. The LRA first emerged in northern Uganda around 1986, where it claimed to fight in the name of the Acholi ethnic group against long-time President Yoweri Musevenis government. Over the years, the LRA has moved across porous regional borders: it has shifted from Uganda to sow terror in southern Sudan before moving into northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and finally crossing into the Central African Republic in 2008. Combining religious mysticism with an astute guerilla mind and bloodthirsty ruthlessness, Kony remains a fugitive and nothing is known of his current whereabouts. Earthen berms and fire breaks have been constructed in and around the Basalt shooting range with the goal of making it safer following the Lake Christine Fire, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Image: Lancair This week, AVwebs news roundup found reports on an event held by the Lancair Owners and Builders Organization, an upcoming aerospace exhibition, a new contract between CEFA Aviation and Chinas aviation authority and the addition of more hubs for Airstream Jets Jet Card Program. The Lancair Owners and Builders Organization (LOBO) will be holding its annual Landing get-together in early October at Texas San Marcos Regional Airport (HYI). The event will feature Lancair-focused ground training, vendor displays and seminars, local tours and a Texas-style BBQ. Also in aviation event news, a new aerospace and aviation exhibition will be held at Thumamah Airport (OETH) in Riyadh in March 2019. The Saudi Airshow is being billed as the first event of its kind in Saudi Arabia. It will include an outdoor static display, exhibition areas and an international aviation conference. France-based CEFA Aviation has signed a three-year contract with the authority analyzing aviation incidents and accidents in China (CASTC). With the new contract, CEFA will continue to provide support for its Flight Animation System, which CASTC has been using for the last five years. Closer to home, Airstream Jets, an on-demand air charter and jet card company, has announced two new Distance Card Hub airports in Texas at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Houston William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). The company has also added the HondaJet to its jet card program. Over the past seven decades, 3,677 children were sexually abused by around 1,670 Catholic church workers in Germany, the New York Times reports. Why it matters: It's safe to assume that there are scandals like this around the world that have yet to be discovered, after taking into account the recent bombshell report in Pennsylvania that detailed horrifying abuse of more than 1,000 child victims. And the report in Germany, the Times says, is "likely to underestimate the true extent of the problem." Details: Researchers from three universities undertook the study, which shined a light on abuse in Germany from 1946 to 2014. Per the Times, "[e]very sixth case of abuse involved rape ... and most of the victims were boys." Most of the victims were also 13 years old or younger. Criminologist Christian Pfeiffer told the Times that he declined being a part of the research because it's "not fully independent." He said the church wanted to retain control over the results "and under certain circumstances even ban their publication." told the Times that he declined being a part of the research because it's "not fully independent." He said the church wanted to retain control over the results "and under certain circumstances even ban their publication." German Bishop Stephan Ackermann told the Times, "We are aware of the extent of the sexual abuse that is supported by the results of the study. It is depressing and shameful. Flashback: Australia had their moment last year, when a royal commission found that thousands of children had been abused since 1950 by 7% of the country's Catholic priests. Go deeper: The Grand Jury report in Pennsylvania detailed the practices of confidentiality that helped church members keep their abuse under wraps. Waffle Houses throughout the South are being used to determine the damage and stability of communities in North and South Carolina as the state rides out Hurricane Florence. How it works: The Federal Emergency Management Agency uses the "Waffle House Index" to determine if an establishment is offering a full menu. According to FEMA, "If a Waffle House can serve a full menu, theyve likely got power (or are running on a generator). A limited menu means an area may not have running water or electricity, but theres gas for the stove to make bacon, eggs, and coffee: exactly what hungry, weary people need." Why it matters: Businesses like Waffle House give people a place to go for normalcy in the midst of chaos, writes FEMA. "For small towns, places like coffee shops and local restaurants are often the local hubs of activity." They also can give people a place to stay if they've lost power. In the midst of Hurricane Florence in North Carolina, a Waffle House in Wilmington is taking people in who have nowhere to go even without ID cards, reports the LA Times. A Waffle House employee told the Times "we're not closing unless it gets unsafe." And the establishment is open 24 hours every day of the year. 1 big thing: Temper expectations for U.S.-China trade talks Bloomberg reported at noon today that President Donald Trump has now directed his staff to proceed with the next round of tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports. What's happening: On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal broke the news that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had extended an invitation to senior economic official Liu He to return to D.C. for another round of talks. The other side: The Chinese side acknowledged the invitation but has not yet agreed, and between Trump's decision to move forward on the next round of tariffs and a Thursday tweet, I doubt they will accept. Trump may have already decreased the likelihood Liu will return to D.C. by tweeting on Thursday: 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? My thought bubble: It's going to take a lot of backchannel reassurances and promises to get Liu back to D.C. The Chinese understand that there's disagreement among Trump's top advisers and Liu has been humiliated on two recent trips to D.C. Liu did not get even a handshake with Trump when he came to D.C. in early March. And, in May he thought he had reached a deal to suspend the trade war, only to have Trump reject it in a tweet. The bottom line: That "reversal-by-tweet" methodology also shredded any remaining credibility Mnuchin had in Beijing, so unless the Chinese are hearing directly from Trump or other top members of his inner circle, they are going to be very wary. Go deeper: Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency two days after fires and explosions caused by over-pressurized natural gas lines ravaged dozens of homes throughout Lawrence, Andover and North Andover and forced evacuations of thousands of residents. The latest: A new leak was detected Saturday morning in Lawrence as emergency crews swept the area. CBS reports that a teenager was killed and about 25 were injured from Thursday's explosions. Columbia Gas, the company managing the pipe system and serves nearly 300,000 customers, encouraged people not to enter their homes without a representative from the company. The problem: The pipe system in the surrounding area is one of the "oldest and leakiest" in the nation, USA Today reports. Columbia Gas has 471 miles of cast-iron and wrought-iron distribution lines connecting throughout the area. Government officials have encouraged utility companies to replace old pipe lines made of those materials for decades some were installed "more than 50 years ago." The company has said it planned on replacing 500 miles of the pipeline, but estimated it would take until 2033. Each mile of pipeline could cost $1 million to replace. The Texas State Board of Education has preliminarily approved to remove figures like Hilary Clinton and Helen Keller from mandatory school curriculums, the Dallas Morning News reports. The big picture: The work groups that made the recommendation believe students are being required to learn too many historical dates and names "instead of real learning," per DMN. The current Texas curriculum requires third-graders to learn around 36 historical figures, fourth-graders learn around 69, and eighth-graders have to learn about 50. How it happened: The work group graded historical figures by a rubric, ranking who was "essential" to learn. The items deleted from the curriculum can still be talked about and taught in the classroom, but they are no longer required. The questions the group had to answer, per DMN, included: "Did the person trigger a watershed change"; "Will their impact stand the test of time"; "Was the person from an underrepresented group?" The group also voted on other phrases, events and figures to either have deleted or reinserted into the required state curriculum. What's next: The matter can still be overturned as a final vote takes place in November. Super typhoon Mangkhut is making its way out of the Philippines and is now moving west toward China, reports BBC, after killing at least 14 people. Why it matters: Mangkhut was one of the strongest storms on in the past two decades to strike northern Luzon, explains Axios Science Editor Andrew Freedman. Its now a weaker system, but threatens to bring heavy rain, flooding, and damaging winds to China, including Hong Kong, during the next few days. The damage: The storm left severe damage in surrounding communities, tearing roofs off of homes and bringing massive floods with its downpours. It also triggered 42 landslides. Despite the damage, there was relief that the storm didn't cause more loss. The initial casualty toll is "far lower" than what officials expected before the storm made landfall. More than 105,000 people were shifted to temporary shelters before the typhoon hit, per the New York Times, avoiding a repeat of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 where more than 7,000 people were killed. The storm was billed as the strongest cyclone the world has seen this year by the World Meteorological Organization. Yes, but: A full damage assessment has yet to be completed, and damage tolls are likely to rise. Mothers of about four dozen servicemen who were killed in action during the years of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in particular, during the April 2016 clashes, declared on Saturday about their joining the peace appeal of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians wife Anna Hakobian addressed to all warring sides in the world. During a reception by Hakobian at the prime ministers office in Yerevan, the mothers of killed Armenian soldiers urged women in Azerbaijan to join them in stopping the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Let all mothers of the world rise up. We especially address our appeal to mothers in Azerbaijan. Recently on the internet they also addressed an appeal to stop the war. We dont want war, we dont want to lose our sons, said Hamest Nersisian, mother of Captain Armenak Urfanian who was killed during the four-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh in April 2016. [We want] peace to be finally established at the borders so that after sending their sons to the army mothers dont have to go through excruciating wait for them to return safe and sound. We want no more mothers like ourselves in the new Armenia, said another woman who lost her son in the conflict. Yet another such woman added: I am fighting for the rights of all these women, the rights of the families who have lost their sons, fathers, brothers. I am fighting for them not to lose their children anymore. Hakobian said in her speech that she will carry on her Women for Peace campaign with more confidence particularly enjoying the support of the mothers who lost their sons during the 2016 clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh. She stressed that in Armenia peace appeals addressed to Azerbaijanis usually elicit mixed reactions and after launching this campaign she also came under criticism. What makes your message addressed to Azerbaijani mothers also very important is that it is not accepted unambiguously by our society. After my speech I also heard accusations that I shouldnt compare [Armenian and Azerbaijani mothers] and so on. But I want to ask you whether being a mother has ethnicity, nationality or religion, said Hakobian. The Armenian prime ministers wife urged Azerbaijani women to join this peace campaign. I hope that your voice and our voice will also reach Azerbaijani mothers, and they will, too, speak up against war and for peace. And if this happens, if our ranks grow, one day we will also get our message across to the men who issue orders to fire and start a war, said Hakobian. The Armenian prime ministers wife Anna Hakobian called on the wives of former and current senior officials and wealthy businessmen to contribute to the activities of a foundation set up by Hamest Nersisian and bearing the name of her son, Captain Armenak Urfanian. I think there will be women who will give it a thought and arrive at the conclusion that the valuables they purchased while their husbands were in office were not always earned so fairly. And they will think that by donating at least some of them to Hamest Nersisians foundation they can find peace of mind, said Hakobian. To a journalists remark that while they were campaigning for peace, Azerbaijani armed forces reportedly fired at an Armenian border village last night, Hakobian said that they were campaigning for peace as women and mothers and not on behalf of the state. She stressed that parallel to their peace appeal Armenia was also holding military exercises. Life will show who will prove victorious. Either we will win and will make them lay down their arms and sit down at a negotiating table to try to understand each other and solve this problem, or we will lose and they will continue to shoot at each other at the borders. I want to exclude the option of our defeat and want to express confidence that one day we will prevail, the Armenian prime ministers wife concluded. Ottawa, CanadaCanada is working on a project for reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and aims to organize international talks on the subject next month, Canadian sources said Friday as American pressure on the body mounts. United States President Donald Trump threatened late last month to pull his country out of the WTO, which arbitrates trade disputes, if it does not shape up. He has previously criticized the WTOs dispute settlement system as being unfavorable to the US, although the body most often rules in favor of the United States when Washington brings cases before it. We recognize the challenges at the heart of the WTO and believe it is necessary to find the means to do the necessary work to advance reforms, a spokesman for Jim Carr, Canadas Minister of International Trade Diversification, told AFP. This work has started, he said, adding that the WTO can overcome some of its historic challenges and make progress. A small group of like-minded trade ministers will gather in Ottawa October 24 to 25 to discuss WTO reform, a Canadian government source told AFP, requesting anonymity given the sensitivity of the discussions. The group will identify concrete means of improving the WTO over the short, mid and long term, the source said, adding preparatory work has already begun. Australia, Brazil, Chile, the European Union, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea and Switzerland will be part of the working group, the official said.A European diplomatic source said the Ottawa gathering is not totally confirmed because a meeting of trade ministers from the G20 group of major economies was taking place, and Canada is still verifying if it has enough support for steering WTO reform. At their meeting Friday in Argentina, the G20 trade and investment ministers recognized the urgent need to discuss current events in international trade and ways to improve the WTO to face current and future challenges, a communique said. In July, Trump won a commitment from visiting European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker to work together for WTO readjustment to address some of the US leaders complaints about China over the theft of US technology, the behavior of state-owned enterprises, and overcapacity in steel. Trump complained in April on Twitter that the WTO considers China a developing nation, despite its economic might. They therefore get tremendous perks and advantages, especially over the US, he said. The WTO is unfair to US. WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo has agreed with a call from French President Emmanuel Macron on the need to strengthen the WTO and to make it more effective in addressing the trade challenges of today, as the protectionist US administration imposes tariffs on allies and trade disputes have multiplied. Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 88 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Sept. 15. 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. 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. Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world. Malala Yousafzai By Kamila Aliyeva Pleasant excitement of kids, parents smiles and happy teachers with tons of flowers in their hands all this creates a festive atmosphere in the streets on the Knowledge Day. Unlike many countries - the former republics of the Soviet Union Azerbaijan celebrates the Day of Knowledge on September 15. This is the day when the new academic year begins in the country and over 1 million of Azerbaijani children head back to school after a three-month summer break. Every year, the first day of the school year is widely celebrated across the country with numerous solemn and festive events dedicated to the Day of Knowledge - an important day for students, teachers and parents. But, this day is especially significant for the first-grade students, whose school life will begin with the sound of the first bell. In the new school year, the total number of schoolchildren in Azerbaijan will be 1.5 million, of which about 165,780 students will go to the first grade. Since September 15 falls on Saturday this year, for schools with 5-day working schedule, meetings of schoolchildren, especially first-graders, with teachers, familiarization with classes and schedules, information on duty, etc. are planned for this day. The classes will start on Monday, September 17. For schools with 6-day working schedule the first school day is set as usual on Saturday, September 15. Education in Azerbaijan is free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 15. It is comprised of three levels -- primary, general secondary, and full secondary education. Recently, a number of new and renovated schools equipped based on the most modern standards has been opened in the country. Azerbaijani school students have to wear a school uniform according to the Education Ministry's decision. For many children, discovering every new thing in the world is a step forward in a long way. But the most touching milestone for each first-grader is when they encounter their first schoolteacher. September 15 is the beginning of new challenges and victories, difficulties and achievements, sorrows and joys. We wish all the schoolchildren and students good luck in the coming academic year! --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Trend: Relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey are so strong that they cannot be compared with any interstate relations in the world, Azerbaijani MP Aflatun Amashov told Trend. He noted that September 15, 1918 is the date of the greatest test of this strength in the 20th century. "The main thing is that on September 15, the Turkic brotherhood came out of the trials with its head held high. Liberation of Baku from the Armenian-Dashnak occupation by the Islamic Army of the Caucasus was an extremely important event from the political point of view in the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which was declared on May 28, 1918," Amashov said. The Azerbaijani MP added that in connection with the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku, large-scale events are held in the country and in brotherly Turkey. "All these are very important from the point of view of communicating this event to future generations as a glorious page of our common history," the Azerbaijani MP said. Amashov said that when the Islamic Army of the Caucasus, under the command of Nuri Pasha, entered Baku, he established a headquarters in the village of Gobu of Absheron District. "Therefore, I propose to create a museum there, which will bear the name of the outstanding commander of the Turkic world. It will be a tribute to his memory and at the same time will make an important contribution to the preservation of history," Amashov said. September 15 marks the 100th anniversary of Baku's liberation from the Bolshevik-Dashnak occupation. On September 15, 1918, the Islamic Army of the Caucasus, which included Azerbaijani Corps, entered Baku and liberated the city from the Bolshevik-Dashnak occupation. The liberation of Baku is an event of exceptional importance for the Azerbaijani-Turkish friendship and brotherhood. The liberation of Baku from the Bolshevik-Dashnak occupation is one of the most glorious pages in the history of Azerbaijan in the 20th century. Despite the fact that many years have passed, fraternal help from the Turks is never forgotten, always remembered and will be remembered by the Azerbaijani people with a sense of gratitude. Trend: A parade to mark the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku was held in the Azerbaijani capital. 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. 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. The Californian's Robert Price answers your questions and takes your complaints about our news coverage in this weekly feedback forum. Questions may be edited for space and clarity. To offer your input by phone, call 395-7649 and leave your comments in a voicemail message or email us at soundoff@bakersfield.com. Include your name and phone number; they wont be published. With the deadly remnants of Hurricane Florence still pounding the Carolinas, President Donald Trump took to Twitter again late Friday night to question the number of deaths in Puerto Rico attributed to last years Hurricane Maria. Having already drawn widespread criticism from members of his own party earlier this week for a claim made without evidence that the death toll was ginned up by Democrats in order to slime him, Trump once again tried to cast doubt on the estimated 2,975 killed by Hurricane Maria in the U.S. territory. He suggested speciously that George Washington University whose researchers analyzed mortality data in Puerto Rico in order to determine how many people died during the hurricane and its aftermath created the numbers like magic through an unprecedented and unproven method. When Trump visited the island territory last October, OFFICIALS told him in a briefing 16 PEOPLE had died from Maria, Trump tweeted, appearing to attribute the quote to the Washington Post. This was long AFTER the hurricane took place. Over many months it went to 64 PEOPLE. Then, like magic, 3000 PEOPLE KILLED. He went on (read the rest here). Morro Bay Oyster Company is a family farm that raises Pacific Gold oysters on the Central Coast of California. In this introduction, owner Nea Guided kayak cruises in Morro Bay Where: Kayak Shack at Morro Bay State Park Marina, 10 State Park Road, Morro Bay Cost: Short paddle, 2.5 hours, leaves at 9:30 a.m., $60 for adults; the half-day classic, 3.5 hours, leaves at 9 a.m., $70; and sunset paddle, 3.5 hours, leaves between 2:30 and 5 p.m., depending on sunset; $85. Information: Call 805-528-1080 or go to centralcoastoutdoors.com 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 Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Changes in Oregon Coast Tourism Promotions Include New Brand, Book Published 09/13/2018 at 5:17 AM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Oregon Coast) One visitor center on the Oregon coast is making a major change and another tourism entity has just published its second book. (Above: Lincoln City at night). Visit Tillamook Coast, the tourism organization representing Tillamook County, recently announced the publication of a second guidebook of activities and experiences to enjoy from Manzanita to Neskowin. 25 Family Adventures on Oregons Tillamook Coast, written by local author Brian Cameron, is for families who want to explore the outdoors together more often, as well as try activities and go places they might not have known were available in Tillamook County. The pocket-sized, spiral-bound book can be purchased at Cloud & Leaf bookstore in Manzanita, and at the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce office on Main Street in Tillamook. It is also available online at www.tillamookcoast.com/books for $9.99 plus shipping; or stop by the tourism office at 4506 Third Street during the week, 9am to 5pm. For resellers, wholesale prices are available. The first guidebook, 25 Hikes on Oregons Tillamook Coast, was published in fall of 2017. Written by hiking expert Adam Sawyer, its about to go to a second printing. Locals have been our most frequent customers, purchasing multiple copies as gifts, said Nan Devlin, tourism director. I hope this family adventure guidebook encourages more exploration of the county, and gets people outdoors, unplugged from devices, and enjoying nature. Two other guidebooks are planned for 2019, including 25 Cultural Experiences, and Best Places to View Wildlife. The Lincoln City Visitor & Convention Bureau is excited to announce its new name, Explore Lincoln City. The DBA (Doing Business As) comes as part of Lincoln Citys new branding campaign, which launched in August. This past year, the City of Lincoln City identified the need for a brand refresh. To help in this process, city staff enlisted the expertise of advertising agency Borders, Perrin, Norrander (BPN). Over the course of several months of research, planning and feedback sessions, BPN, along with city staff, helped to craft a new brand for the city. With it comes a new brand identity, strategy and guidelines that direct and unify the look, feel and voice of Lincoln City as a destination. The end result is a brand that inspires guests to choose Lincoln City as the preferred Oregon coast destination. The logo, which was developed after several weeks of feedback sessions, is the cornerstone of the new branding. A playful octopus swimming in the ocean, the logo enforces Lincoln Citys brand positioning as The Unexpected, a destination full of surprises both big and small. The name Explore Lincoln City aligns with the new brand tone as being confident, independent and proudly Oregonian. The new name comes as a welcome change from the previous name, the Visitor & Convention Bureau, which was viewed as too authoritative and unwelcoming. Additionally, the name brings Lincoln City up to industry standards with other Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) such as Travel Oregon, Visit Bend and Travel Salem. Changing our organizations name takes us from sounding governmental and somewhat cold (Lincoln City Visitor and Convention Bureau) to delivering an invitation to get to know all the facets of our wonderful beach town (Explore Lincoln City), says Ed Dreistadt, Director of Explore Lincoln City. Im happy to put a more welcoming and accurate face on a city department whose job it is to invite guests to enjoy everything Lincoln City has to offer. Oregon Coast Lodgings in these areas - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Lewis and Clark Return to N. Oregon Coast in Living History Reenactment Published 09/15/2018 at 4:17 AM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Seaside, Oregon) The Salt Makers are indeed returning to the Oregon coast. Once again, the famed living history program that showed the Corps of Discovery in action is back in Seaside, this time happening on October 6 and 7. The October event answers the question: What do you do when you run out of salt and the nearest store is more than 2,000 miles away? When Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discover arrived on what would be the Oregon and Washington coast in 1805, they would need plenty of salt to preserve meat, as well as to add flavor to the rather bland food they subsisted on during the expedition. However, the last bit of salt they had brought with them from St. Louis was about gone. That long and arduous voyage across the vast American West was ever tenuous. After building their Fort Clatsop in the Warrenton area, members of the Corps of North Western Discovery as Captain Meriwether Lewis called the party in his journal did the only thing they could: set about making their own salt. They dispatched a small group to head to what would later become Seaside. It was on December 28, 1805, when Lewis and Capt. William Clark sent forth this special detachment from their just-completed winter quarters on the north Oregon coast. Five men traveled overland from the Fort to the beach, searching for the best location for making salt. On January 1, 1806, the fifth day of their search, these men found the perfect spot: the beach of present day Seaside, Oregon. Here is where they set up camp. Along with several other men who rotated in and out of the salt camp, they proceeded to make salt by boiling sea water for nearly two months, all while enduring the wet winter weather of of the future Oregon coast, before they returned to Fort Clatsop. On October 6 and 7, the program again features the Pacific Northwest Living Historians (PNLH) bringing to life the salt camp those hardy explorers created 212 years ago. The program is entitled Lewis and Clark Salt Makers - which has been called the Return of the Salt Makers in the past and has been missing from the Oregon coast event roster for a few years. The event site will be at the west end of Avenue U in Seaside, near The Tides By The Sea Motel. After a brief orientation, visitors to the program will enter the camp to meet members of the Lewis and Clark expedition, who will be busy making salt by boiling sea water over a fire. They returned in late February with over three bushels of salt for the trip home. 100 years later, as Oregon began celebrating the centennial of the Corps of Discovery, a Clatsop tribe woman named Jennie Michel showed the Oregon Historical Society exactly where the men were seen boiling sea water. Her real name was Tsin-is-tum (English names were forced upon local tribes about this time), and even though she was born in 1818, her parents and other tribal members had witnessed the group and had the spot memorized. For more information: contact the PNLH at privatejwhitehouse@gmail.com. Although this living history program will be part of the 50th Annual Meeting of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation (LCTHF), it is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Oregon Chapter of the LCTHF. The PNLH will also stage the program in collaboration with the Seaside Museum & Historical Society, Seaside Public Works Department, Clatsop County Work Crew, The Tides By The Sea Motel and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Bev and Mike Carrick of Turner, Oregon were also integral to the program. Even more on Lewis and Clark can be found in the first two books in the series Ultimate Oregon Coast Travel on Seaside and on Cannon Beach. - Lodging in Seaside - Where to eat - Maps and Virtual Tours More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Two Lumberton residents were shot during what authorities believe was a fight over a handgun, the Hardin County Sheriff's Office announced Friday evening. A 46-year-old male and 31-year-old female were both found with gunshot wounds before dawn on Friday, the sheriff's office said. Washington Back when their relationship was fresh and new, and President Donald Trump still called his defense secretary "Mad Dog" a nickname Jim Mattis detests the retired Marine general often took a dinner break to eat burgers with his boss in the White House residence. Mattis brought briefing folders with him, aides said, to help explain the military's shared "ready to fight tonight" strategy with South Korea, and why the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has long been viewed as central to protecting the United States. Using his folksy manner, Mattis talked the president out of ordering torture against terrorism detainees and persuaded him to send thousands more American troops to Afghanistan all without igniting the Twitter castigations that have plagued other officials. But the burger dinners have stopped. Interviews with more than a dozen White House, congressional and current and former Defense Department officials over the past six weeks paint a portrait of a president who has soured on his defense secretary, weary of unfavorable comparisons to Mattis as the adult in the room, and increasingly concerned he is a Democrat at heart. Nearly all the officials, as well as confidants of Mattis, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the internal tensions. In the second year of his presidency, Trump has largely tuned out his national security aides as he feels more confident as commander-in-chief, the officials said. Facing what is likely to be a heated re-election fight once the 2018 midterms are over, aides said Trump was pondering whether he wanted someone running the Pentagon who would be more vocally supportive than Mattis, who is vehemently protective of the U.S. military against perceptions it could be used for political purposes. White House officials said Mattis had balked at a number of Trump's requests. That included initially slow-walking the president's order to ban transgender troops from the military and refusing a White House demand to stop family members from accompanying troops deploying to South Korea. The Pentagon worried that doing so could have been seen by North Korea as a precursor to war. Over the last four months, the president and the defense chief have found themselves at odds over NATO policy, whether to resume large-scale military exercises with South Korea and, whether Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Iran nuclear deal has proved effective. The arrival at the White House earlier this year of Mira Ricardel, a deputy national security adviser with a history of bad blood with Mattis, has coincided with new assertions from the West Wing that the defense secretary may be asked to leave after the midterms. Mattis himself is becoming weary, some aides said, of the amount of time spent pushing back against what Defense Department officials think are capricious whims of an erratic president. Pentagon officials said Mattis had bent over backward to appear loyal, only to be contradicted by positions the president later staked out. How much longer Mattis can continue to play the loyal Marine has become an open question in the Pentagon's E Ring, home to the Defense Department's top officials. The fate of Mattis is important because he is viewed as the Cabinet official standing between a mercurial president and global tumult. "Secretary Mattis is probably one of the most qualified individuals to hold that job," Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in an interview. His departure from the Pentagon, Reed said, "would, first of all, create a disruption in an area where there has been competence and continuity." That sentiment is part of a narrative the president has come to resent. Trump, two aides said, wants Mattis to be more like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a political supporter of the president. Getting Mattis to abandon the apolitical stand he has clung to his entire life will be next to impossible, his friends and aides said. For Trump, getting rid of his popular defense secretary would carry a political cost. Mattis is revered by the men and women of the U.S. military. Moderate Republicans appear to trust Mattis as well, and firing him could hurt the president with that key group. One of Northern Ireland's top chefs has stepped down from her role as a business partner at an acclaimed Co Antrim restaurant. Danni Barry had worked at Clenaghan's in Aghalee since the restaurant's reopening in October 2017 alongside Lisburn duo Stevie and Cristina Higginson. Read More However, the renowned chef has decided to venture into new challenges, saying that the partnership wasn't what she was looking for at this stage in her career. The 33-year-old previously displayed her world-class talents at Michael Deane's Eipic, helping the Belfast city centre institution to earn Michelin stars for three consecutive years. Danni was named Ireland's Chef of the Year 2017 at last year's Restaurant Association of Ireland Restaurant Awards for her culinary masterpieces. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, a buoyant Danni said she was looking forward to taking part in a food festival in Cork today while also enjoying some downtime. "I'm really looking to take a break at the minute and try something different," she said. "Obviously, that was my first partnership in running a restaurant and for one thing or another it just wasn't for me. "It was just a massive learning experience for me with running a business and being a boss while running a kitchen and actually getting to cook a bit. "I'm still at the stage of my career where I just enjoy cooking and being creative. When you're constantly counting pound signs it doesn't really feel like that." The chef had travelled to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Europe before returning home to the UK, coming back to Northern Ireland under the eye of Michael Deane. In Clenaghan's she was part of a team of eight chefs in the restaurant. Danni added: "It (being in a partnership) affected my work in some ways I suppose, but it wasn't like daily I was going in there thinking this is really affecting me. "But there's many other things I was wanting to achieve and working for myself was certainly one of them. "I suppose until I was in it, I didn't really know that. "I wish them all the best. "It's a lovely place and it'll do really well, but for what I wanted, it's not really what I'm looking for at the minute. The guys have loads of experience in terms of what they've done in The Square in Lisburn and they obviously just want to replicate that, and that is very easy to them. "Obviously, being in a partnership was as new to them as it was to me. Sometimes these things just don't work the way you think they're going to. "But no bad feelings at all. "The team there are brilliant and I've no doubt it will go from strength to strength." Looking ahead, Danni said that she'll now be taking time out to assess what her next steps will be. "I'm just going to see what opportunities come my way," she went on. "Since I moved back home in 2014, I've just worked pretty much since then, so I'm going to just enjoy taking stock of everything. "I've achieved so much in such a short space of time and I'm going to reflect on that and decide what to do next." Clenaghan's owner Stevie Higginson thanked Danni for her service. And he paid tribute to the culinary star. "We parted company on Saturday morning and we wished her the best," he said. "Clenaghan's will continue as it is. "We couldn't have asked anything more from her," he said. "She's a great girl." 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 [] Name game: after partition, Northern Ireland could have been known as Carsonia after Unionisms supreme leader, Edward Carson As Northern Ireland agonises over what sacrifices might come with a hard exit from the EU, Macedonians are haggling with themselves over the admission price they'll have to pay for entry to the club. Macedonia broke away from the shattered Yugoslavia in 1991. Ever since, the young country has been begging admission to the superpower and all the economic benefits it can bestow. But for those 27 years, Greece has blocked its neighbour's path to prosperity, insisting the Greeks have an equal claim on the title 'Macedonia' as the name of that country's northern-most province, birthplace of the most-famed ancient Greek, Alexander the Great. Later this month, the Macedonians vote in a referendum which could lay aside the Greek veto and open the sluice gates on the EU gravy lake. At issue is a simple name change, from Macedonia to Northern Macedonia. Of course, names come with so much baggage and symbolism that changing them is never that simple. Those opposing the change say national pride is at stake. The smart money says the majority will swallow that pride and vote to join Europe's big spenders. But the 'No' side will campaign with passion until the last ballot box is sealed. As pollster and analyst Sasho Klekovski pointed out: "It's not just about one word. Think about Northern Ireland and Ireland. Words have meaning." And what about Northern Ireland itself as it arrives at a crossroads with the signposts all vandalised? If Northern Ireland was to find itself in a clear and clean break with the Irish Republic, might a new sense of empowerment charge unionists to seek a rebrand in order to seal the deal? It's not beyond the realms of possibility. The past near-century since partition has been littered with failed attempts by unionists to finalise the bitter divorce with a name change. The last 32-county general election took place in 1921, a year before the Irish Free State declared its independence, but a year after partition had been formalised in the 1920 Government of Ireland Act. Under that Act, the Six Counties became Northern Ireland, but while partition remained in limbo, that was just a legalism and the popular placeholder name for the UK remainder was Carsonia, after unionism's supreme leader, Edward Carson. On the eve of the election, with a Sinn Fein walkover assured in the 26 Counties and republican heavyweights like Michael Collins standing in the North, one newspaper declared, "All Eyes On Carsonia". But the 1920 Act said 'Northern Ireland', and Northern Ireland it became, irking many unionists. In 1937, the Irish Free State renamed itself Eire/Ireland, with the intended implied claim on the entire island. This sparked a fresh campaign to change 'Northern Ireland' to 'Ulster'. The Attorney General argued that Northern Ireland was a "cumbersome name", but the real objection was that the 'Northern' prefix was a diminutive, a minus sign, the mark of an entity that was less than whole. As fans of The Office will appreciate, those eight letters represented the difference between 'assistant regional manager' and 'assistant to the regional manager'. It was - and remains in some hearts - deeply felt. As ever, putting greater Britain's interests above those of its Irish domains, Westminster axed the name change for fear of upsetting other Commonwealth members. In 1982, with tensions sky-high in the wake of the IRA hunger strikes, the Taoiseach's department rejected a scheme by the Republic's post office to print 'Ireland' alongside 'Eire' on stamps, decreeing it "problematic as unionists regard it as referring to the 32 Counties". So, in a post-hard-Brexit world, will Northern Ireland unionists feel emboldened to try - and most likely fail - again, or if it all goes horribly wrong for the departed, might they decide that embracing a little Irishness presents a friendlier face to a strange new world? Answers on a postcard, please. It's over 20 years now since Kelly Macdonald appeared in Trainspotting and became a star overnight. The Scottish actress had famously been working in a bar when she heard about the open auditions for a role in Danny Boyle's film. It changed her life. Now, with a CV that includes roles in Gosford Park, Finding Neverland and No Country for Old Men, as well as classic TV series such as State of Play and Boardwalk Empire, Macdonald has built a fine career. It didn't come easy, though. She had never been to drama school, so she had to learn her craft on the job. On the early days, she says: "I would have been fretting for days on end about really emotional scenes and now I don't feel the need to do that. I know I can do it. I've got the confidence to trust in that." We're in the glamorous surroundings of a ballroom in the Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh. It's the day of the premiere for her latest film, Puzzle, at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Macdonald is friendly but guarded. She tends to keep herself out of the gossip columns and maintain a low profile, but last year the Scottish Press covered her separation from husband Douglas Payne (bassist of Travis) with morbid relish. Yet for all her self-deprecating manner, Macdonald can be outspoken and provocative. She caused a minor media furore recently when she was quoted as saying that fellow actor Tilda Swinton was "too posh to be Scottish". We chat about her 2016 return to the scene of her Edinburgh-set debut Trainspotting. Macdonald was intrigued to be reunited with Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner and Robert Carlyle in T2 Trainspotting, but startled to see how they had changed in middle age. The reckless hedonists of the mid-1990s were now worried about health and fitness and spent their spare time going for runs up and down Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. In Puzzle, Macdonald plays Agnes, a New Jersey housewife whose monotonous existence is transformed when she discovers her own brilliance at assembling puzzles. She has played her share of near invisible women - self-effacing wives and servants. Agnes in Puzzle follows on from her role as the nanny in Christopher Robin. She was a maid in Gosford Park and in Nanny McPhee, and is shortly to be seen as Mrs Hudson in comedy Holmes and Watson, opposite Will Ferrell's Sherlock Holmes and John C Reilly's Dr Watson. "My gran was a cleaner and so I'm following in the family tradition," Macdonald jokes of her gallery of servants and housewives. She will always bring defiance to such roles. She is not the type to be put down for too long. "I very rarely get to play glamorous parts," she laments, tongue-in-cheek, but adds that she did enjoy herself recently as Princess Margaret, befriending Mick Jagger in Sky Arts comedy Urban Myths. She got to play Margaret right from "her 1960s glam years" to when she was in a wheelchair at the end of her life. When it came to her role as Agnes, she points out she did have some childhood memories to draw on. As a kid, she had a Paddington jigsaw puzzle that she used to play with. "It was Paddington on a rowboat and I really remember the reeds coming out of the water," she says. "I've always quite liked them (puzzles) and I did them in my 20s." Macdonald is a long way removed from the typical Hollywood diva. She lives in Glasgow and will turn down roles if they get in the way of her family life (her two children came out to the US for part of the Puzzle shoot). On the set of the film, shooting in a house in Yonkers, she didn't hide away in her trailer but spent her spare time with the crew. "Me and a core little group of the crew got very into puzzles. By the end of filming, we were getting good and fast. "I love the quiet bravery of this character," she reflects on what drew her to play Agnes. "She starts off as a character that I am well aware of and have played before, someone who is naive, quiet, and feels very young. In the time frame of the film, her inner life starts to bubble and percolate. She has got a huge inner world that nobody has ever seen." Filmmakers queue up to praise the subtlety and depth of her performances. She has the quality of looking mournful and very mysterious in her close-ups. You immediately sympathise with her, but you also realise that she is keeping some of her true feelings hidden away. "I fell in love with her as an actor in Girl in a Cafe and then saw her in No Country for Old Men and then I saw her in Boardwalk Empire and I began to connect the dots," Marc Turtletaub, the director of Puzzle, who calls Macdonald a "genius" actor, enthuses. "There is a nuance in her performances, a vulnerability in who she is and a bit of reserve." She was superb opposite Steve Buscemi in prohibition gangster drama series Boardwalk Empire, a role that won her both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations (she won an Emmy for TV drama The Girl in a Cafe). Each season of Boardwalk Empire lasted nine months. Like the other actors, she was given little advance warning of what would happen to her character. "Everybody was waiting to be killed off. It was that world of gangsters, after all. If you got a phone call from (director) Terry Winter, that meant you were" she makes a throat-cutting gesture. Winter did call her once, but she survived - and lasted long enough in the series to become close to a household name in the US. The pilot was directed by Martin Scorsese. "He wants to know what you think," Macdonald says. She adds she was surprised about being consulted by the great American filmmaker behind Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and more. To her amazement, he sounded her out and then included her ideas in one pivotal scene. "He'll go with what you suggested. There was a scene in the pilot where my character is pretty certain her husband is going to attack her. She is making dinner for the kids. "He is angry and it is leading up to some sort of spousal abuse situation. "We were trying to work out what I would be doing in the scene and so we decided slicing a loaf. I said, 'what if I got the knife and then I know I am ready - on the verge of being able to defend myself'." Scorsese thought the idea was tremendous. He was even more enthused when Macdonald suggested her hand should be trembling and immediately decided to throw in a close-up of precisely that. Later, when she read a review, she noticed a journalist had written about the scene, describing the shaking hand as a quintessential Scorsese touch. She didn't know whether to be flattered or annoyed. Some of the best directors Macdonald has worked with have been the most collaborative. The late Robert Altman rang her up and said "come play with us" as his way of offering her a role in Gosford Park. Like Scorsese, the famously free-wheeling Kansas-born auteur was always open to suggestion. "He wanted to get people he really liked in a room and switch the camera on and catch unusual moments" is how she sums up his approach to directing. In the US, after Boardwalk Empire, her fame did begin to bite. Truck drivers would recognise her and shout "Margaret!" (the name of her character). "Boardwalk Empire was an ongoing series and you're in people's living rooms." Back home in Scotland, though, the impact of the series was much more limited. Many of those she met would tell her they hadn't watched Boardwalk Empire because "they didn't have Sky". In fact, not all Scots who've made big reputations abroad are welcomed when they come back home. Macdonald has very vivid memories of Scottish pop star Sheena Easton being given a very hostile reception and being pelted by the crowd when she returned to Glasgow from the US for a concert in 1990 and greeted the audience in a mid-Atlantic voice. "I thought that was really brutal. It's that thing when you are brought up and your grandparents are always saying don't get too big for your boots," Macdonald remembers. She doesn't encounter any such problems herself. "People are nice to me," she says. "I don't see any difference in the way I'm treated in Scotland to down south." Macdonald is now in demand both in the UK and in the US. She is working again with Julian Farino on the BBC and Netflix produced cop thriller Giri/Haji, in which she plays a London-based police officer working alongside a Japanese detective on a Yakuza-related investigation (Farino previously directed her in Ian McEwan adaptation The Child in Time). She is also planning to shoot an independent film in Australia. And no, Macdonald hasn't been surprised by the rise of the #MeToo movement and the exposure of sexual harassment in the film industry. "It's a conversation that has been had privately in my industry for years. The thing I love about it is that it (the conversation) needs to be public. It's nothing but a good thing that women have the confidence now to say that is not acceptable behaviour," she says. "You just had to put up and shut up before." That, she makes clear, is not an option she would ever accept. Puzzle is in cinemas now The Trainspotting star on playing a housewife in new film Puzzle and why she doesn't have any plans to get too big for her boots. By Geoffrey Macnab With her latest movie, The Nun, just released, actress Taissa Farmiga talks to Donal Lynch about moving out of her sisters shadow and how she researched for the role. It feels fitting that a week after the Pope left Ireland a movie would open that could broadly be themed Catholic horror. The Nun is the spin-off from the Conjuring films, which formed one of the most successful horror franchises of the past few years. It deals with a priest with a haunted past and a novice on the threshold of her final vows. They are sent by the Vatican to investigate the death of a young nun in Romania and confront a malevolent force in the form of a demonic sister of the habit. That nun is played by Taissa Farmiga, the much younger sister of Vera Farmiga, who appeared in the Conjuring films. Taissa almost didnt get the part however, because the family connection was deemed to work against her. I had heard that after I got the job, because if I had known that beforehand I would have been quaking in my boots, she says. When I initially heard about this film I thought the family relationship would run against me, but I went and auditioned, and I got the role. When we were shooting it was explained to me what a big decision it was for them. Taissa was very much the baby in the family Vera is 21 years her senior and grew up in a suburb of New Jersey to Ukrainian-born parents Michael and Lubomyra, (who were in their 50s and 40s respectively when Taissa was born). Unlike her older sister, she had virtually no interest in acting and was a bookish, quiet child. Acting was never a huge passion of mine when I was younger, she explains. My older sister was into it but I loved maths and numbers. When I got into it, it seemed like such a wild world and now its seven years later, and I am beyond blessed and I dont think I could live without acting because playing all these different characters helps me to understand who I am. It was Vera who first persuaded her to get into acting, as she cast Taissa to play a younger version of Veras own character in Higher Ground, a 2011 movie, which she Vera also directed. Taissa was just 15 years old and, apart from school plays, had no previous acting experience. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and Taissas performance received critical acclaim which led to more offers. At 16, she landed a leading role as Violet Harmon in the hit horror series American Horror Story. That noted facility for creepiness is something that stood her in good stead during the making of The Nun, but she felt the pressure to continue the success of the franchise which starred her sister: The Conjuring universe has done so well and so for me as one of the main actors in this film I felt pressure that the audience would get the s*** scared out of them! Perhaps eager to stake out her own identity she declined Veras offer of the demonology books that she had used while researching her part in The Conjuring. I said no to the books but I really wanted to provide authenticity to the role, she said. I watched The Nuns Story, with Audrey Hepburn, and read about how nuns live. It blew my mind how dedicated a nun has to be on a minute-by-minute basis they are trying to be their best self. They are checking themselves, their posture, even their thoughts, so I wanted to make sure that I was bringing all of that to my performance as Sister Irene. During the filming there were reports in Romania and elsewhere that ghosts had been seen on the set. But how much of that was creative marketing for the film and how much was based on reality? I did not have to meet the ghosts personally but Corin (Hardy, the director) shared with me the story about sitting in a tiny room and there were two men sitting off to the side of the set in a room, and he presumed they were guards at the castle and just said hi. We continued trying to get the shot and finally we got it and he turned around to tell the guards that we got the shot and there was nobody there. I was not there and had no visits from ghosts. I believe in the possibility of the supernatural. She says that she doesnt think that the film is a comment on Catholicism but adds that some people may read that into it. I dont think the film takes a stance on religion per se, even though some people will interpret it like that. You have these people, priests and nuns, who are so holy and they feel they have protection from their God. Someone who is so pure is taken over by that sinister evil and thats why the poster for the film (which features a nun split into a spiritual and demonic version) does such a great job; because the line is not as clear as it could be. Its been more than a quarter of a century since anything approaching a horror movie won big at the Oscars (Silence of the Lambs swept the board in 1992), but does the current preponderance of scary movies mean that films like The Nun are now in with a shout? I think there is going to be a love for horror that will be unending. Im not a fan of horror myself but I do understand why people like it, Taissa says. Youre in it for the scares and you stay because you emotionally connect with the characters and then that connection makes what the characters go through even more frightening, because youre invested then. Taissa has just finished filming a movie called The Mule, in which Clint Eastwood stars and directs, and What They Had with Hilary Swank and Blythe Danner. They are both incredible films, with some amazing people involved, she says. I feel so lucky to be able to do this for a living, to bring these worlds alive to people. Its been quite a journey already and Im looking forward to the next chapters. The Nun is on nationwide release 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." 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 Foreign Office declined to comment on Mr Peskov's comments. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police, which is leading the inquiry, said: "The investigation remains ongoing and it would therefore be inappropriate to discuss specific lines of inquiry." 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". The pair claimed they have been left fearing for their lives after Britain pointed to their involvement and said they were officers in Russian military intelligence service the GRU. In a translation, the broadcaster quoted Petrov as saying: "Well, we came there on March 2, then went to a railway station to see the timetable. "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)." UK authorities believe the pair smeared the highly toxic chemical Novichok on a door handle at the Wiltshire home of former GRU officer Sergei Skripal, leaving Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia critically ill. A Northern Ireland recipient of the Victoria Cross is to be commemorated with a special blue plaque. Submariner James Joseph Magennis, a trained diver, won the UK's highest military honour for his bravery onboard a midget sub that attacked the Japanese cruiser Takao in Singapore Harbour on July 31, 1945. Born into a working class Catholic family from Majorca Street, he joined the Royal Navy aged 15. He was tasked with attaching six mines to the enemy vessel in the risky covert operation. But he ran into difficulties when he was unable to exit his vessel, the XE-3, as the hatch wouldn't open properly, such was its proximity to the target. A citation published in the London Gazette on November 9, 1945, describes how Magennis, who was forced to squeeze through the narrow space available, experienced further problems due to "the foul state" and "pronounced slope" of the Japanese vessel, which prevented the mines from sticking. "Before a limpet could be placed therefore Magennis had thoroughly to scrape the area clear of barnacles, and in order to secure the limpets he had to tie them in pairs by a line passing under the cruiser keel," it added. "This was very tiring work for a diver, and he was moreover handicapped by a steady leakage of oxygen which was ascending in bubbles to the surface. "A lesser man would have been content to place a few limpets and then to return to the craft." Magennis, however, persisted with his mission before returning to the sub in an exhausted condition. He had spent 30 minutes scraping the hull of the Takao with his knife and risked being spotted the entire time. Shortly after he withdrew, his colleague Lieutenant Ian Fraser, who was also awarded the VC for his role, endeavoured to jettison his limpet carriers but one of them failed to release and fall clear of the craft. Magennis at once volunteered to leave the craft again and free the carrier by hand rather than allow a less experienced diver to undertake the job - it took seven minutes to complete the nerve-racking task using a heavy spanner. His "great courage, devotion to duty and a complete disregard for his own safety" was recognised by King George VI on November 13, 1945 when the highest award for gallantry was bestowed on him. Magennis continued his service until 1949 when he returned home to Belfast with his wife Edna Skidmore and their four sons. Many blamed sectarianism for the fact he did not receive the Freedom of Belfast for his exceptional courage. In 1952 he lost his job and was forced to sell his VC medal, which was later returned by an anonymous benefactor on the condition that he did not sell it again. Magennis spent the rest of his life in Yorkshire working as an electrician before dying of lung cancer on February 11, 1986 aged 66. He died just hours before his heroism was to be honoured by the Royal Navy Philatelic Office. The Submariners Association decided to erect blue plaques at the former homes of 14 VC recipients from the Royal Navy's Submarine Service in 2012. The plaque will be erected alongside an already existing Ulster History Circle Blue Plaque on the Royal Navy Association Headquarters building on Great Victoria Street next Saturday at 2pm. Secretary of the NI branch Chris Batten said the gesture serves as a "fitting reminder" that the relatively small Royal Navy unit "has more than its fair share of heroes". An internal police investigation has found no evidence of a PSNI data or security breach despite reports that details of hundreds of individuals were mistakenly given to suspected loyalist paramilitaries. In July it was claimed that the information, reportedly relating to a number of locally-based businesses, was contained on a pen drive that appeared to have been accidentally left in the back of a device returned to loyalists under investigation by police. It was reported that the device had previously been removed from a person or persons who were under investigation by the Paramilitary Crime Task Force (PCTF). The report said: The pen drive, containing numerous files some encrypted, but others easily accessible included details of internet traffic of members of the public along with emails, server addresses and passwords. It was also reported that some of those said to be affected by the alleged data breach were preparing to take court action against the PSNI. Human rights lawyer Niall Murphy of KRW Law said he would be preparing pre-action for a number of clients. However, the PSNI has said an internal investigation has found no evidence of a breach. The PSNI said a probe was established under the direction of Assistant Chief Constable Barbara Gray to explore the facts. It added: Following an internal investigation by a team independent of the Paramilitary Crime Task Force, no evidence of a PSNI data or security breach has been found. PSNI can confirm that it has received a portion of the material alleged to have been on the memory stick from the legal representative of a party said to have been affected by the alleged data breach. PSNI has seen no evidence to date that this material was ever in the possession of the PCTF or any other PSNI team. The limited material provided to PSNI was not PSNI data and to date does not appear to constitute personal data of any individual. It added it is, however, continuing to liaise with and assist the Office of the Information Commissioner, which is also investigating this matter. It also said the Police Ombudsman had been kept informed throughout. The Police Ombudsman said it had so far found no information to suggest that there has been a breach by police. It added: We have conducted preliminary enquiries and at this stage have found no information to suggest that there has been a breach by police. We are, however, continuing to progress our enquiries with the complainant. The Information Commissioners Office said: We have nothing new to report at this stage, it is still an extremely early stage in the process and our enquiries into this alleged incident remain ongoing. The Belfast Telegraph tried to contact Mr Murphy at KRW Law, but received no response. The emergency services were praised for their teamwork. Pic Mourne Mountain Rescue. A mountain biker suffered serious injuries in a fall while taking part in an event on the Mournes. It happened just before 3.30pm on Saturday. Emergency services including the Mourne Mountain Rescue and the Air Ambulance were sent to the scene. St John's Ambulance personnel were on duty during the event and administered first aid. The casualty was treated, packaged and carried by stretcher to the Air Ambulance helicopter before being rushed to hospital. The incident was stood down at 6.30pm. "Great teamwork from the ambulance service, NI Air Ambulance, St John's Ambulance and PSNI," said a spokesperson for the Mourne Mountain Rescue team which had 14 members on the scene. The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team is run by volunteers and relies on charitable contributions to operate. To donate click here. Elizabeth Hamilton of Churches Trust with the Queens Award for Voluntary Service An inter-faith group set up over 30 years ago has been given a royal seal of approval. The Churches Trust has presented with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. It was established by the leaders of the Methodist, Presbyterian, Church of Ireland and Catholic Churches in Derry in response to high levels of deprivation. The award was presented by the Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry Dr Angela Garvey, who commended the trust for its outstanding contribution to volunteering. Chief executive Fiona Fagan said it was an honour to be recognised. The Churches Trust was one of four organisations from the city recognised. The others were Britannia Concert Band, Foyle Child Contact Centre and Caw and Nelson Drive Action Group. A registered sex offender with an addiction to pornography who was caught with indecent images of children on his phone was handed a 20-month sentence yesterday A registered sex offender with an addiction to pornography who was caught with indecent images of children on his phone was handed a 20-month sentence yesterday. Jailing Christopher Moreland at Belfast Crown Court, Judge Geoffrey Miller QC said those who viewed images of children being sexually abused for their "perverted pleasure" contributed to the "pain, discomfort and fear" experienced by them. Moreland (46), who earlier this week was upgraded by Probation to a Category Two Sex Offender, was told he will serve 10 months in prison, followed by 10 months on licence, for three offences arising from a search at his north Belfast home last year. Crown prosecutor Peter Magill said that on April 17, 2017 police called to Moreland's Brookhill Avenue home, at a time when Moreland was the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) which banned him from owning any devices that could access the internet without being authorised by police. Mr Magill said that when asked to produce any electronic devices, Moreland "appeared nervous" before handing over an Xbox and iPhone. An indecent image of a child was "immediately" seen on the phone and Moreland later confessed to breaching a SOPO, possessing indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography. When asked by police about one particular image, Moreland said he received it from a male who followed him on Twitter. The prosecutor told the judge that in total, seven indecent images of children were found on Moreland's devices, along with 18 extreme pornographic images and a video of an adult male having intercourse with a child. Moreland was described as a man "with an addiction to pornography and a sexual interest in children". Defence barrister Kelly Doherty spoke of her client's social isolation which led to his use of pornography "as an outlet". Ms Doherty said her client has apologised to both the police and the court, adding "he does have some victim insight and awareness, but this is limited". Judge Miller said that despite participating in programmes in the past to both address and try and reduce Moreland's offending, these seem to have had "limited impact". The judge added that while he noted the amount of images was relatively small, accessing the internet via these devices was a "deliberate and calculated breach" from a sex offender with "relevant convictions". The Irish Government is willing to soften the language of its "bulletproof" guarantee of avoiding a hard border in order to prevent Britain crashing out of the EU next March with no deal. Senior Brexit sources have told the Irish Independent EU and UK negotiators are searching for ways to "soften" the so-called Irish backstop in order for it to pass in the UK parliament. It is understood EU and UK teams, with the input of the Irish government, are now working on developing a new version of the backstop that "gives everyone cover until the future relationship is agreed". Britain would like a "UK-wide backstop" which would allow it to remain in the customs union and single market for goods until a new trade agreement has been agreed. But Brussels will likely oppose this as it amounts to the UK cherry-picking the single market. "The ingredients are there to get to an agreement on the backstop by November," said the source. It will still have to be "legally and technically operational, but politically palatable", they added. Brexit sources say they recognise London wont be able to sign off on the Border guarantee as it currently stands, and Ireland will face economic catastrophe if the UK leaves the EU with no deal. If we carry on the way were going, well have no transition, no deal, just economic catastrophe, said one source. The source said a change in language was aimed to put an end to the "histrionics" that emerged when it was initially published this year. The EU's lead negotiator Michel Barnier said the EU wants to "de-dramatise" the Border issue. The backstop is the legal commitment from Britain that there can be no hard Border on the island of Ireland regardless of the future relationship between the EU and the UK after Brexit. It was negotiated last December and vaunted by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as bulletproof. However, the Brexit source said the language around the backstop will have to be softened. "We'll need to amend it in order to achieve the greater good, rather than fight to the death on the existing backstop and push them over the edge with no deal," said the source. In spite of signing off on it last December, the British government rejected the text when the EU issued it in legal form in February of this year. British Prime Minister Theresa May dismissed the EU's version - which would keep Northern Ireland within the EU's customs union in the event of a no deal - as "inconceivable". She also said it threatened the constitutional order of the UK. Mrs May subsequently conceded that a backstop was necessary, but has failed to bring forward a workable, alternative version. Progress on Brexit has since faltered on finding a compromise on the language in time for the deadline of the Withdrawal Agreement which is due to be signed off by November at the latest. The Withdrawal Agreement is the overall treaty containing the terms and conditions in which the UK leaves the EU. It also includes the Irish backstop and details of a two-year transition period where the UK will remain within the single market and customs union while a future relationship is negotiated with Brussels. The Irish government is also to leave open the idea that the backstop could be altered in the future, once the future relationship between the UK and the EU is clear. A source said "we are going to run out of time" and the Government needs to ensure the transition period is in place. "Let's face it, nobody is prepared for the UK crashing out," they added. The Government published some of its contingency plans in the case of this 'doomsday scenario'. It involves the deployment of around 1,000 customs officials to manage regulatory and customs controls. However, they won't be in place by next March when Brexit happens. "We're doing our contingency planning but there's no way we'll have 1,000 customs officials trained by March next year," said the Irish source. Dublin is willing to start a conversation about amending the backstop now in order to prevent a major climbdown at the last minute at a crucial summit in Brussels. "We don't want to be caught making this concession at one minute to midnight," they said, adding it's better to alter things now "rather than fight to the death and lose". "At the end of the day it will be for the greater good," said the source. Undated file photo of a fishing boat leaving Kilkeel harbour in Ulster. The Northern Ireland fishing fleet could be decimated this week when European Ministers meet in Brussels on Monday December 16 2002, to discuss fishing quotas for next year. Fishermen in the province fear fishing for cod, haddock and other white fish could be a thing of the past unless the EU relaxes its plans. Local people going to the fish and chip shop would end up buying a fish supper in which the fish came from as far afield as Russia, they warn. Pearson, the Northern Ireland minister responsible for Agriculture and Fisheries, is attending the cruch meetings to fight the corner of local fishermen. See PA story ULSTER Fish. PA Photo The Government must enter talks with the Republic of Ireland over access to fishing waters ahead of Brexit, a Westminster committee has warned. The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee examined the potential impact of the UK leaving the European Union on the fishing industry in the region earlier this year. The resulting report has highlighted an ongoing disagreement over access to fishing waters. Committee chairman Dr Andrew Murrison has urged Government to take action on Irelands unilateral suspension of the Voisinage Arrangement. The Voisinage Arrangement between the two countries allow for mutual access to Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland vessels up to six nautical miles off the coast of each country. The agreement has been suspended in Ireland since the Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that it had not been incorporated properly into Irish law. Expand Close Trawler men getting nets ready to comb the bay at Union Hall in West Cork (Julien Behal/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Trawler men getting nets ready to comb the bay at Union Hall in West Cork (Julien Behal/PA) The UK has not suspended the operation of the agreement on its side and said it was committed to the principle of the deal and to working with Ireland to reinstate the arrangement. In May this year, Fisheries minister George Eustice spoke of a crucial period over the next few months as the (EU) withdrawal agreement is finalised. The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee report said this needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency. We recommend the Government structures talks with the Irish Government to establish the future of reciprocal access for Northern Irish vessels under the Voisinage Arrangement, the report says. If the Irish Government does not give a clear commitment to pass, within six months of publication of this report, legislation which restores reciprocal access, the Government must discontinue access to UK waters for Irish vessels from 30 March 2019. The committee also called for Government to invest in the Northern Ireland fishing sector, and act to tackle what it has termed the crushing manpower shortages. And it warns that the Government must be prepared to take decisions on fisheries policy for Northern Ireland following the UKs withdrawal from the EU if there is no Executive in place to do so. The Stormont Assembly has been collapsed since January 2017. Repeated talks to resurrect the power-sharing government have not been successful. Dr Murrison said the fishing industry in Northern Ireland has huge potential, but warned it is fragile. Expand Close Dr Andrew Murrison. Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dr Andrew Murrison. Fishermen believe Brexit will be a shot in the arm for their industry. We heard pleas for increased quota and action to alleviate crewing shortages in the Northern Ireland fleet, he said. We found an industry in Northern Ireland with great people and huge potential, but it is fragile. Changes to quotas and access to waters arent enough. We must develop infrastructure to support the Northern Ireland fishing fleet, find crews for boats and enable fishing businesses to sell into Europe post Brexit. Arlene Foster's former Spad (special adviser) has said there was "no malice" in his decision to remove a reference from a key Stormont paper blaming the poultry industry for the RHI spike. Dr Andrew Crawford, who has family links to the industry, admitted under questioning at the RHI Inquiry yesterday that he should not have deleted the term. Read More He insisted it had nothing to do with his family connections and "no malice" was intended in what he did. The actions of Mrs Foster's long-standing special adviser, who still works for the DUP, were placed under intense scrutiny at the hearing. Dr Crawford had three close relatives who produced chickens for poultry giant Moy Park, and had a total of 11 RHI boilers between them. The inquiry has heard how he sent a confidential Stormont document recommending RHI cost controls to his cousin Richard. The inquiry was told yesterday that the Department of Trade and Industry (Deti) prepared a draft letter to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) seeking urgent approval for cost-cutting measures to the RHI scheme. The paper was shared with the Department of Finance and Personnel where Dr Crawford was Mrs Foster's Spad. The document referred to the "wholesale uptake" of RHI boilers by the poultry industry and how it had contributed financial pressure. Dr Crawford hadn't believed that one sector should be singled out as it was "not solely the poultry industry" responsible for the spike. "The issues for the scheme were wider," 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 Twitter Email Whatsapp RHI inquiry But inquiry chair Sir Patrick Coghlin asked the former DUP spad: "Why remove a true fact?" Dr Crawford replied: "My concern was the narrative it was creating". He said he had wanted to protect the poultry industry because it was important to Northern Ireland's economy. He was asked if he considered that he was withholding information from OFMDFM. "I don't believe it did cross my mind," he said. At yesterday's hearing, Dr Crawford was accused of making a "sales pitch" for poultry giant Moy Park. He had suggested a change to tiered cost controls due to be introduced in autumn 2015 to RHI which would have advantaged heavier users. Deti officials wanted a 1,314-hour threshold for running biomass boilers before payments would be reduced. Dr Crawford suggested 3,000 hours. Sir Patrick suggested the former DUP Spad had been involved in "a sales pitch for Moy Park", which Dr Crawford denied. The inquiry chair said: "You are the man who originally recommended the meeting with Moy Park. You are the man with the relations all of whom worked for Moy Park. In this email of yours, Moy Park are the only people who are identified as requiring 3,000 hours." Dr Crawford said he was just trying to put a suggestion on the table that would result in the submission going through and ending the spike in applications to the scheme. His proposal was rejected by DETI officials. The inquiry heard that the managing director of the Hastings hotel group, Howard Hastings, emailed Dr Crawford telling him about abuse in the RHI scheme due to the lack of cost controls. Mr Hastings had been warned about this by boiler installer Brian Hood. But the former DUP special adviser said he didn't inform anyone in Deti about this email because he had already expressed concern to officials about abuse of the scheme. Asked if he could have done anything more to alert Deti officials about allegations of fraud in the summer of 2015, he said: "With hindsight we can look at things differently. Yes, it probably would have been better if it was passed on and I apologise that I didn't do that." Dr Crawford denied there had been a row between him and David Sterling, the current head of the civil service, over his family RHI connections. Former DUP minister Jonathan Bell claimed a loud verbal altercation took place between the pair with Mr Sterling accusing the former DUP Spad of having kept the scheme open to benefit his relatives. Another witness suggested to the inquiry that the argument had been between Dr Crawford and another senior civil servant Mike Brennan. The former DUP adviser said no row had taken place. "I do recall one conversation with David Sterling... where (he) alerted me to the fact that Andrew McCormick was blaming me for the delays to the scheme. I remember I was quite taken aback at that time," he stated. The inquiry heard that former Deti Permanent Secretary Dr Andrew McCormick believed Dr Crawford was pushing for a delay in RHI tariff reductions. The ex-DUP Spad said he has been "very clear that I had no part to play in that delay". He said he worked alongside Dr McCormick for several years and that the senior civil servant could have spoken to him about any role he believed that he had played in delaying the introduction of cost controls at the time. Dr Crawford added: "The one thing that stands out to me and disappoints me and causes me the greatest concern is the catalogue of mistakes at various different levels and by various different people. "I accept there were things that I done and shouldn't have done, but it is very clear I was not responsible for the delay in the tariffs. I acted as well as I could to give the best advice to the minister I was working with at that period of time." Sir Patrick asked Dr Crawford if there was a hierarchy of Spads at Stormont. The former adviser acknowledged it might have been the case - particularly regarding former OFMDFM Spad Timothy Johnston - but only because of his proximity to the First Minister. The inquiry has previously heard that Mr Johnston, who is now the DUP's chief executive, exercised enormous control of the party, including over elected politicians. "Issues that are controversial, that you would need First Minister involvement, you would discuss that with advisers working for the First Minister," Dr Crawford said. He added that he had never received a "diktat" from Mr Johnston or fellow Spad Richard Bullick."Diktat is a new one I have to say," said Sir Patrick. The RHI Inquiry hearings continue next week. Mrs Foster and Mr Johnston are expected to give evidence later this month. The Foreign Office has been accused of providing very little help to a former British soldier handed a jail sentence in Turkey after fighting Islamic State. Joe Robinson, 25, was arrested on holiday and accused of fighting the terror group alongside the Peoples Protection Units of Syrian Kurdistan (YPG), which the Turkish state is hostile towards. Robinson, formerly of Accrington, Lancashire, was left broken by the sentence of seven years and six months in prison, but he reportedly remains on bail there while planning an appeal. His Bulgarian fiancee Mira Rojkan was also arrested last year, and she has criticised the UK Government for not providing as much support as her ministers have done for her. Unfortunately for Joe there was very little help from the Foreign Office, Rojkan, who had been studying law in Leeds, told the BBC. Hes very desperate to come home, hes broken.Mira Rojkan, Joe Robinson's fiancee They are interested in the case and are following it, but didnt send any representatives and didnt help nearly as much as the Bulgarian foreign ministry. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said officials are ready to provide Robinson with further assistance, adding: We have been following this case very closely and have raised it with the Turkish authorities. Robinson has previously admitted fighting IS but went on to deny he acted alongside the Kurdish militia, considered by Turkey as a terror organisation because of its links to the Kurdistan Workers Party which is fighting for autonomy for the region. The YPG is not a banned group in the UK and Robinson instead insisted he travelled to Syria to provide medical aid. Rojkan, who is said by Robinsons mother to have been given a suspended sentence for allegedly engaging in terrorist propaganda, said his sentence is not justifiable and is based solely on a political agenda after he criticised the Turkish government on Facebook. He was very shocked by the news, she told the BBC. Hes very desperate to come home, hes broken. Hes tired and he just wishes to come home as soon as possible. The Kurdistan Solidarity Campaign praised Robinson for selflessly battling IS, but a statement also struck out at the utterly shameful British Government who washed their hands of Joe. It said: This is part of a wider policy of UK Government acquiescence to the Turkish regime, one of the worlds worst human rights abusers, in favour of arms sales. Joe is a hero to all who value peace and freedom against the dark forces of oppression, enslavement, rape and terrorism which IS represent. Ministers who campaigned to remain in the EU have been urged to break cover and publicly back a second referendum on Britains membership. Lib Dem former minister Tom Brake used his party conference speech to blast Brexiteers Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg while calling on remainer Tories to take action. Mr Brake, who is the partys Brexit spokesman, also told activists how cash earmarked for exit preparations could be used to regenerate towns and cities. "Boris Johnson is a man of many words but no Brexit plan. A man of all mouth and no trousers." @thomasbrake Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) September 15, 2018 "For Boris there has only been one agenda. The one that puts the blonde bombshell into Number 10" @thomasbrake Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) September 15, 2018 "Jacob Rees-Mogg's Brexit vision of borders and security checks chimes with his social vision taking Britain back to the 1920s." @thomasbrake #LDConf Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) September 15, 2018 He said: My vision of a better Britain is one that will be delivered by using the real Brexit dividend, the financial dividend liberated by cancelling Brexit, freeing up cash to boost skills, training, education, infrastructure, housing, productivity. If we secure a final say on the deal, and if the country backs remaining in the EU, we must pledge to use every penny of taxpayers hard earned money, such as the 3 billion earmarked for Brexit, to regenerate the towns, cities and communities in the greatest need. The money the Government are going to squander on more customs and border officers, building unnecessary infrastructure, duplicating badly the work of European agencies, will instead be used productively investing from Blackpool to Belfast East, Birkenhead to Boston, Banff and Buchan to Bridgend. Mr Brake, who was mistakenly introduced on stage as the spokesperson for exiting the MP, added: Time is running out for Tory ministers who discretely share their concerns with fellow remainers in other parties, whilst publicly endorsing the Government line. You have to break cover too, abandon the ministerial limo, hand back your red box. Put the countrys interests first, as you did two years ago in the EU referendum campaign. Tony Blair said the creation of a new political party could be impossible (Kirsty OConnor/PA) The creation of a new centrist political party may be impossible, former prime minister Tony Blair has said. Mr Blair, Labour leader between 1994 and 2007, wrote in The Times that the forthcoming party conference season will expose in sharp relief the changing state of his former party and the Conservatives. Rumours of such a plot by Labour MPs unhappy with the party under Jeremy Corbyn have circulated during the summer Parliamentary recess, as the opposition faces divisions over Europe and the ongoing row over allegations of anti-Semitism. In the British system such an endeavour may be impossibleTony Blair But Mr Blair wrote: I am not advocating a new party, organising one, or wanting to vote for one. In the British system such an endeavour may be impossible. He continued his criticism of the current leader of the Labour party Mr Corbyn, saying outcasts have poured in with their sectarian, shouty finger jabbing since his election in 2016. Expand Close Jeremy Corbyn has said he wants to tackle the social cancer of anti-Semitism (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jeremy Corbyn has said he wants to tackle the social cancer of anti-Semitism (Jane Barlow/PA) He wrote: Their foreign policy is motivated by visceral anti-western sentiment and their domestic policy is a rehash of old style leftism which shows little understanding of the modern world. With reference to allegations of anti-Semitism within the party, the 65-year-old wrote: As so often in history, attitudes to the Jewish community are predictive of something larger. A world view has been laid bare and the nature of a large and growing part of todays Labour Party unmasked. Neither correspond to the true Labour tradition. Earlier in the month, Mr Blair said that under Mr Corbyns stewardship the Labour party had become a different party and that he hoped it was not lost. Tony Blair was never in the right party and there will never be a return to his politics in @UKLabour Jon Lansman (@jonlansman) September 7, 2018 It prompted Jon Lansman, founder of the Corbynite Momentum movement, to say on Twitter that Labour would never return to the former PMs policies and he was never in the right party. Mr Corbyn said Labour would tackle the social cancer of anti-Semitism. His Rosh Hashanah message said: I would like to reiterate that the Labour Party stands in solidarity with the Jewish community in the fight against anti-Semitism. We will work to eradicate the social cancer of anti-Semitism wherever is surfaces, including in our own party. We need change and I hope this year we can make this happen. Actor Brian Cox has said the new V&A Dundee will put the city on the map for the first time as the 80.1 million museum officially opened to the public. The Dundee native flew back from work in Spain to be one of the first through the doors and said it was a very emotional experience. The first V&A museum anywhere in the world outside London, the building designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma on the banks of the River Tay is the centrepiece of an ongoing 1 billion regeneration of Dundees waterfront. We've been waiting for this moment for a long time: our first visitors are in. This is a very special day pic.twitter.com/VX20ysVkPN V&A Dundee (@VADundee) September 15, 2018 Mr Cox said: I think we all agree, those of us who are close to the city and who are close to what is going on here, its a very emotional experience. Especially for me, Ive known the city for many years, I was born here, went to school here and had my first theatre roles here, so to return and see whats happening now its transformed the city. It will attract industry and it will attract tourists, its the beginning of hopefully a paradigm shift in Dundee and it will put Dundee on the map for the first time. Its an amazing experience. Where its situated on the Tay and what Kengo Kuma has done in terms of design I believe he has said it is his best work. Mr Cox said he believed Dundee will come to be defined by the museum and having been involved with the project from an early stage, he promised to attend the opening. Expand Close Lorraine Kelly was among the first museum visitors (Andrew Milligan/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lorraine Kelly was among the first museum visitors (Andrew Milligan/PA) High-school students were among the first of 3,000 members of the public welcomed into the building on Saturday, which is expect to attract 500,000 visitors a year. Scott Regan, 17, of the citys St Pauls Academy, said: Its a real privilege being one of the first people in. Theres so many people from other schools who couldve got the chance to be the first one to step in the V&A. Its really impressive. I cant believe its in Dundee. He was joined by Shannon Balfour, 17, from Morgan Academy, Dundee, who said it was an amazing experience. She spoke to Mr Kuma, whose design was chosen from more than 100 entries, and said he is a really great man. The architecture is amazing and the building inside is just fantastic, she added. The Scottish Design Galleries feature 300 exhibits drawn from the V&As collections of Scottish design, as well as from museums and private collections across the world. V&A Dundee director Philip Long said there is a real sense of optimism at the opening. He said: Its wonderful to see people coming into the museum and really bringing it alive. A two-day festival to celebrate the opening, headlined by Primal Scream on Friday, is expected to attract up to 20,000 people. 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) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email 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. US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has denied an allegation of sexual misconduct from when he was in high school. In a statement released by the White House, Mr 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 Mr Kavanaughs confirmation remains on track. But the allegation has inflamed an already intense political battle over President Donald Trumps nominee. We can't let up. Brett Kavanaugh would gut the Affordable Care Act and threaten women's rights. Keep making those calls: https://t.co/m1Er26iDZ1 The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) September 14, 2018 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 Mr 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 on 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. The AP has not confirmed the details of the incident alleged in The New Yorkers account. Hatch statement on Brett Kavanaugh, and the reports of accusations made against him -->https://t.co/yFryrlzJ2M #utpol pic.twitter.com/p3zGLRP4U9 Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) September 14, 2018 Rallying to Mr Kavanaughs defence, 65 women who knew him in high school issued a letter saying Mr 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 honourably and treated women with respect. The show of support for Mr Kavanaugh was organised 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 Committees top Democrat, Dianne Feinstein of California, notified federal investigators about information she received about the nominee. .@SenFeinstein moved to subpoena Judge Kavanaughs records from the Bush White House records Republicans have refused to review. Republicans voted no. What are they hiding? pic.twitter.com/1eOA2s64FC Senate Democrats (@SenateDems) September 13, 2018 Ms Feinstein will not disclose the information publicly, but the FBI confirmed it has included it in Mr Kavanaughs background file at the committee, now available confidentially to all senators. Mr Kavanaughs 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 abortion ruling. One activist group favouring abortion choice, NARAL, called on Mr Kavanaugh to withdraw from consideration. The Judiciary Committee, which has finished confirmation hearings for Mr 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 Ms Feinsteins move an 11th hour attempt to delay his confirmation. Ms Collins held an hour-long phone call with Mr Kavanaugh on Friday, her spokeswoman confirmed. It had been a previously scheduled follow-up to an initial visit that Mr Kavanaugh made to her office in August. It was not immediately clear if they discussed the new information. If Ms Collins or Ms Murkowski should vote for Mr 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. It reads like a political satire written by someone with a very vivid imagination, but in fact it is a documentary of the real-life workings of the devolved administration at Stormont - or at least that part of it involving the DUP and its handling of the ill-fated RHI green energy scheme. Who would have thought that a minister on an important trade mission to America got so drunk he was ordered to leave a pub, as the inquiry heard this week? Or that the same minister was prone to intimidating fellow party members (Something he denies)? Or that it was not elected MLAs, or DUP ministers, who wielded real power at Stormont, but a coterie of special advisers, one of whom was second only in power to party leader Arlene Foster during the height - or should that be the depth - of this debacle? Little wonder that inquiry chairman Sir Patrick Coghlin, who finds it difficult at times to conceal his astonishment at the evidence being presented to him, was moved to ask one witness if he accepted that the DUP was run in "an unpleasant way". The witness in reply admitted that politics was a "grubby world". Quite so, it seems, no matter whose evidence at this inquiry you believe. The star of the show last week - at least as far as the media was concerned - was former Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Deti) Minister Jonathan Bell, who, among other claims, said he was forced by DUP leader Arlene Foster to keep the RHI scheme open, even though it was clear it was going to grossly overrun its budget. The man who was later to face claims of bullying said he felt bullied at a stormy meeting with his party leader, and acceded to the demand even though it was against his "rational judgement". He told the inquiry he had sacrificed his career to stop the RHI overspend and that his only motivation was that the hundreds of millions of pounds that could be saved would be returned to the health service and education budgets. But a different picture of Mr Bell was painted by his special adviser, Timothy Cairns, in both his witness statement to the inquiry and during his appearance before it. 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 Twitter Email Whatsapp RHI inquiry In his own way, his evidence was as explosive as Mr Bell's had been previously. The headline story for the media was that infamous trade mission to New York in January 2016. Mr Cairns said his minister had ordered a bottle of wine for his table and then several glasses in an attempt to disguise the fact that he was the only person drinking. The delegation then moved on to a bar, where Mr Bell fell asleep. The party was warned they would have to leave if he fell asleep again, which he did, and they were ordered out. On the way back to the hotel, it was claimed, Mr Bell sang the hit song Breakfast At Tiffany's at the top of his voice. In his statement, Mr Cairns said Mr Bell had an "explosive personality" and sometimes, if his views were challenged, he would behave in an intimidating manner. He claimed Mr Bell threatened him twice and bullied two DUP female politicians - Emma Little-Pengelly and Michelle McIlveen. He further claimed that, during a stormy exchange with Mr Bell, the minister threatened to break his finger - an allegation denied by Mr Bell - and on another occasion went into a rage when the pair were in a room and approached Mr Cairns with his fists clenched. "I felt physically under threat," said Mr Cairns. Mr Cairns claimed that, although these allegations of bullying were forwarded to the-then party leader, Peter Robinson, he did nothing about them and proceeded to promote Mr Bell again and again. Turning to Mr Bell's behaviour as a minister, Mr Cairns said: "The minister rarely read his ministerial papers, or briefing notes, to the point where he often boasted to me that he only ever read the summary sheet. This made the administration of the department exceptionally difficult for senior civil servants and myself." Mr Cairns also claimed that, after becoming First Minister, Arlene Foster became concerned at the number of foreign trips taken by Mr Bell and, around February 2016, ordered that he would not take any further foreign trips for the duration of the Assembly mandate. Mr Cairns said he told Mr Bell about this order, but the minister ignored it and arranged trips as he saw fit. Turning to other special advisers, Mr Cairns said two of them - Timothy Johnston, now DUP chief executive, and Dr Andrew Crawford - were involved in delaying the closure of the RHI scheme. He described Mr Johnston as a "powerful figure" who "ran all matters relating to the party". He said that while running party matters while still a special adviser, Mr Johnston was "operating outside of what he was permitted to do". He also claimed that, in November 2015, Mrs Foster, who was then Finance Minister, called him personally to have RHI cost controls delayed for two weeks for a constituent who wished to install six boilers under the scheme. The Permanent Secretary at Deti, Dr Andrew McCormick, had resisted the request and Mrs Foster accepted that the introduction of cost controls could not be delayed. In his direct evidence to the inquiry, Mr Cairns denied he was trying to smear Mr Bell, or to protect Mr Robinson. But Sir Patrick Coghlin was not prepared to let the issue fade away. He referred to a text message sent by Mr Cairns to another special adviser, in which he said he was "prepared to fit my story in with the party narrative and what is best for the party". Sir Patrick said there were two ways to look at what 'the party narrative' meant. "It means that the party may have a version that may be closer or further away from the truth, but that is what the party says. You were prepared to contribute to what the party said." Mr Cairns agreed, to which Sir Patrick replied: "That seems a rather unpleasant way to run a party." Mr Cairns said that was a question for the party to answer and he was not in the leadership. Sir Patrick added: "Please understand what I am saying. If a particular party decides to have a particular narrative, which you know not to be the whole truth, do you say that is a good thing?" Mr Cairns said: "I don't think I (do). I am saying that is a question for the party and party officers." After a further exchange, the special adviser added: "That's politics, I'm afraid. It is a grubby world." Sir Patrick minced no words: "That is an understatement - if you don't mind me saying". Mr Cairns replied: "I think you are correct, Mr Chairman." Mr Cairns claimed that Mrs Foster knew that Mr Johnston had played a role in delaying the closure of the scheme, although she denied it in an interview with the BBC's Stephen Nolan in the wake of Mr Bell's astonishing broadcast interview. Mr Cairns said he had informed Mrs Foster of Mr Johnston's role in a conference call to which both had been party, along with another special adviser. The inquiry was told that, within the special adviser team of the DUP, Mr Johnston was by far the most important figure. Mr Cairns said: "There is not one elected representative, not one employee, or special adviser, who did not recognise that Mr Johnston was very much at the top of the tree within the DUP." He said Mr Johnston's influence was seen from the top to the bottom of the party, and that he was second only to Mrs Foster in power. In evidence, Mr Johnston had said there was no hierarchy within the special advisers. Sir Patrick asked Mr Cairns: "That is something that operates within the Democratic Unionist Party, certainly not consistent with the code, but it's practice which they enforce and endorse, isn't it." The special adviser replied: "That is correct, Mr Chairman." Returning to Mr Bell, Mr Cairns said that none of the special advisers wanted to work with him. Asked why, he said that it was difficult to work as a special adviser if the minister is not absolutely across his brief. He said every adviser in OFMDFM (the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister) had experienced that issue with Mr Bell. "Primarily, that would have been in everyone's mind. It makes things especially difficult when you are meeting outside groups, businesses, international relations. It makes it very difficult when you are constantly going into meetings and your minister is not briefed." He also claimed that Mr Bell resented how popular Mrs Foster was, and this coloured his response to suggestions that he should take advice from her. Mr Cairns admitted changing a RHI document to win "brownie points" from Mrs Foster, and also admitted that the party attempted to defend her as much as possible. He said his action was of his own volition and not part of a party narrative to lay all the blame for the Cash for Ash scandal at Mr Bell's door. But the inquiry heard that there were two very different accounts of why the introduction of cost controls was delayed. Mr Cairns said another special adviser, Dr Andrew Crawford, had asked him to seek the latest possible date for the introduction of the controls, but Dr Crawford in evidence said that Mr Cairns acted alone in that respect. Sir Patrick noted the "irreconcilable differences" in their evidence and said: "One of you is accurate, or telling the truth, about that ... not both." Mr Cairns suggested that both their memories were different. The special adviser admitted that the scheme was fatally flawed from the outset as it was believed that the Treasury would pick up any overspend - "It is better to be spent in Belfast than in Bristol." Mr Cairns said he had no motives for wanting the controls introduced later and did not have any connections within the farming community, or the industry. Mr Cairns left his job with the DUP in May 2016 and has worked in the voluntary sector since then. Although no one told him face-to-face that he didn't have a role with the party anymore, he understood that was the case. He would have preferred to stay on, he said, adding: "But that is the nature of politics, people come and people go." In his evidence, Dr Crawford said he believed the DUP allowed him to be falsely named as the instigator of delays in cost controls in order to protect its now chief executive, Mr Johnston. He said that he had been named by the Permanent Secretary to the Public Accounts Committee in January 2017 and the party had done nothing to clear his name, ie by revealing that he had denied the accusation on several occasions and had produced contemporaneous emails to support his position. Dr Crawford said he could not recall if he directly warned Mrs Foster in 2015 when she was Finance Minister that a "tsunami" of applications were about to hit the RHI scheme. He had told others that there would be a huge spike in applications in the weeks before cost controls were introduced, but he could not be sure that he had updated Mrs Foster on that. The inquiry heard that three of his relatives - a brother and two cousins - had 11 boilers under the RHI scheme, but he said that, although he had fields adjoining his brother's poultry business, there was no financial link between them. All lived within a 10-mile radius. The inquiry heard that a boiler installer had told Dr Crawford's brother that he could make 250,000 in income over 20 years and fuel savings of 300,000, but Dr Crawford said he had never discussed those figures with his brother. He apologised for sending a confidential RHI document on cost controls to his cousin Richard, accepting it was "something I shouldn't have done". However, he said it was being widely discussed in the industry that RHI was going to be made less lucrative and his cousin was worried about the implications of that given his substantial investment in six boilers. Dr Crawford said he sent him the information to reassure him that his business would not be affected, rather than to give him advance notice of the new cost controls. He said he had never discussed the financials of the scheme with his relatives. Dr Crawford also admitted sending an email to poultry processing firm Moy Park on the proposed changes, but said he was sending them "factual information that was provided and available in the department". He denied trying to delay cost control changes and said the party wrongly tried to pin the blame on him. Although he was sore about the way the matter was handled, he was still a member of the party, "so it is not that I blame everyone in the DUP for what happened". There are many in the wider public who may not be so charitable in their views on the party. Who's who at the 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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Updated at 5:11 p.m. ET on 2018-09-17 Four months after being ousted from power, Malaysias oldest political party says it wants to forge better relations with its former nemesis Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) to regain government control Speaking at a press conference after attending the PAS general assembly in Kuala Terengganu, United Malays National Organization (UMNO) President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said despite the good relations, the two parties have not formalized ties. UMNO leads the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and PAS is one of four parties in the Gagasan Sejahtera coalition. At the moment, the only formal cooperation that exists between PAS and UMNO is at the parliamentary level where lawmakers from both parties work together on issues and as clusters relating to existing governmental portfolios, Zahid said. To engage in a long-term relationship for GE15, I think the working level discussion has to be established first. His remarks came after PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang hinted about the prospect of dissolving BN in the future in favor of a new opposition coalition. I think there will be a political change followed by a coalition change in either the government or the opposition, Abdul Hadi said. Pakatan Harapan (PH) itself is breaking apart and if that continues, perhaps not long after, they will return to being the opposition, he said, alleging there is infighting by members of the Peoples Justice Party (PKR) as it prepares for party elections in October. PKR, led by Anwar Ibrahim, joined with other parties to form PH and knock off the ruling BN coalition in the May 9 general election, bringing Mahathir Mohamad to power as prime minister. Anwar, who after the election received a royal pardon for sodomy convictions and is running in a by-election for a seat in parliament, is expected to succeed Mahathir in about two years. Zahid, the first UMNO president to attend the PAS assembly, expressed his admiration for the Islamic partys stance on not being antagonistic to the federal government. Its a new concept and I believe that this is what the public wanted, a united front of opposition parties that tackles the publics issues and concerns, Zahid said. Awang Azman Awang Pawi, a sociologist with the Academy of Malay Studies at Universiti Malaya, told BenarNews that Zahid is seeking inroads with PAS even as he seeks a close relationship with Anwar. Despite the warm embrace between PAS and UMNO, Zahid is looking into the opportunity of working together with the PH government, especially PKR, he said. Zahid on Friday confirmed a UMNO officials statement that party leaders empowered him with seeking new alliances outside of BN, including the ruling coalition and PAS. In his opening remarks at the PAS 64th general assembly, Abdul Hadi said he is confident the party has a good chance of winning the next election and all members need to work hard to prepare. Blaming the partys showing in Mays election where it captured 18 seats on an uneven playing field, Abdul Hadi said PHs success was attributed by the coalitions command of social media that was done without any care of moral boundaries and no concern for sins. He also said PH won because some voters failed to see the beauty of Islam. Because of their immaturity, they instead voted for secular and pragmatic parties despite its liberal agenda, unorthodox Islam and tolerance for the LGBT community, which is still highly taboo in Malaysia, he said. And we will only cooperate with those who works to please God and not with sinners. Hurricane Florence has caused severe damage in some areas. Local officials are prepared to residents during and after the storm. PR Newswire VANCOUVER, Wash., Sept. 15, 2018 VANCOUVER, Wash., Sept. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sutton Hart Press has acquired worldwide rights to POT INC. authored by California cannabis business trial lawyer David Kani and cannabis entrepreneur Tony Alfiere. Sutton Hart's publishing team negotiated the deal with Elite Lawyer Management representing Mr. Kani and Platform Strategy agents on behalf of Mr. Alfiere. The book will be published in Q1 2019 in the U.S. and Canada. Tony Alfiere and David Kani's POT INC. is an entrepreneur's guide to the marijuana industry; a how-to, why-to, and where-to playbook for business people entering North America's most fascinating and hotly debated new landscape at Prohibition's end. Industry veterans Alfiere and Kani look past the rose colored glass of easy profits and share their well-earned knowledge to address both the pitfalls and the massive opportunities arising alongside the steady legalization of marijuana in the United States. "POT INC. is a timely and necessary book as inexperienced investors team with not-so-traditional entrepreneurs amidst a conflicting sea of regulations," said Veronica Pamoukaghlian, Sutton Hart director of acquisitions. "We see POT INC. as the ultimate cannabis entrepreneur's how-to and the Kani-Alfiere team is a great source for the information." Media Contact: [email protected] About David Kani David Kani is a California-based trial lawyer with a practice focus area representing cannabis companies, management, and investors in disputes ranging from real estate and intellectual property, to human resource conflicts and investor claims. David is a frequent expert legal resource for journalists and a highly rated speaker for business and legal audiences. Information: www.DavidKani.com About Tony Alfiere Tony Alfiere is an Arizona-based cannabis serial entrepreneur, having launched nearly a dozen cannabis companies and consulting to marijuana firms across the United States on topics from grow operations to retailing, logistics, intellectual property, startup finance, and forecasting. Information: www.TonyAlfiere.com About Sutton Hart Press Sutton Hart Press is a national non-fiction publisher focused on business, legal, and social issue titles authored by high authority thought leaders personally and professionally experienced in the subject matter of their books. Recent bestsellers include Joseph Tully's California: State of Collusion, Jimmy Vallee's Giant Shifts Energy Trends Reshaping America's Future and Brian Mahany's Saints, Sinners & Heroes Covert Ops in the Wars against the C-Suite Mafia. More: www.suttonhart.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sutton-hart-press-acquires-cannabis-business-book-by-david-kani--tony-alfiere-300713324.html SOURCE Sutton Hart Press Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/9/2018 (1151 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us NEEPAWA HyLife pork producers will receive $9.5 million in government funding over 22 years through the provincial governments tax increment financing. Premier Brian Pallister made the announcement in Neepawa Friday delivering a message of support for the provinces largest pork producer. In addtion, HyLife has received $2 million from Growing Forward 2, a joint-funding program between the provincial and federal government. The provincial funds are in support of an expansion in Neepawa and a new food mill in the R.M. of Killarney. Olivia Kelleher Ireland has to house the equivalent of a town like Clifden every month for the next fifty years yet we continue to try to solve homelessness with a complete absence of imagination, broadcaster and economist David McWilliams has told a Focus Ireland Conference in Cork. Speaking at Millenium Hall he emphasised that group thinking at the top, and the reliance on conventional minds, causes us to make all the same mistakes with housing and the economy. Mr McWilliams said "very clever people" who are brought up with the status of always being right suffer from a failure of imagination which causes economic crashes and homelessness. "This crisis can be fixed by imagination and common sense. Seeing all the links and realising that cleverness and intelligence is not only the preserve of policymakers who tend largely to be from the best boy and girl in class school of education. "We need to listen to developers as well and builders. Fella's and girls that don't have degrees but who have practical sense. We need to broaden the church and listen to all these ideas." He said the brains that are rewarded, celebrated and eulogised at school are conventional linear brains. But those aren't necessarily the only brains required to solve issues such as the housing crisis. Mr McWillliams said places like Copenhagen use land intensively whereas we allow it to become fallow. He stated Ireland should reward good behaviour and penalise bad behaviour in relation to housing. He spoke of his frustration at the abundance of vacant or derelict sites in a time of chronic homelessness. "There is wholesale dereliction. Why is that? Because there is no penalty to not using land. Land is an economic resource. You either use it or ignore it. There is nothing else. Land is the most useless economic resource when it is not being farmed. And yet we do not encourage people to use it and the system encourages people to hoard." He said the only logical thing to do is to penalise hoarding land. He also maintains that developers are part of the solution. "Yes, some are sitting on land hoarding but there are plenty of developers who want something beautiful to be made from the dereliction. Who want to refurbish, who want to renovate because that is what they do. "So it strikes me as odd they we don't incentivise the development of urban areas particularly old areas where it is expensive to renovate. "Give them tax credits maybe to do that.So you reward developers and penalise hoarding." He added that we also need to look at why it is so much affordable to rent or buy in a city such as Belfast. "One key reason is that they have built up and delivered many apartments like in most European cities for people to live." Meanwhile, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Mick Finn, said when Millennium Hall was opened several years ago they could never envisaged the subsequent accumulation of tents in an area of the city called Tentsville. He said every day in Cork there is evidence of the "stress and trauma" felt by families arising out of housing issues "Families have to leave homes out of the blue because landlords are giving them notices to quit. In the two years since July 2016 Focus Ireland has witnessed an increase of 60% in the numbers of men and women entering homelessness, up from 206 to 328 within the combined Cork city and county." Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said while one or two families secure a home each day at least four more lose their home and become homeless so the crisis continues to deepen. He stated the Government ought to "accept and respond to constructive criticism and proposed solutions." Focus Ireland has already supported 12,260 people who are homeless or at risk between Jan to end of August this year. That is a 5% rise compared to the 11,661 people helped by the charity in the same period last year. Three men who were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking off the Kerry coast were released without charge by gardai last night. The three men, two Irish nationals from Co Louth and a Czech national, all aged in their 30s, had been arrested on suspicion of drugs trafficking on Thursday morning after the Naval Service detained their yacht. Chris Wood will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the KLM Open after an excellent late burst of scoring on day three in Holland. The Englishman came home in 31 to sign for a 65 and edge ahead of countryman Jonathan Thomson, Japan's Hideto Tanihara and China's Wu Ashun. The 2016 Ryder Cup star has three wins on the European Tour but a fourth looked a long way off as he bogeyed the second to sit six shots behind early leader Thomson in Spijk. A lay up and an excellent pitch into the par-five sixth started the comeback and he played the 13th, 15th and last in similar fashion, adding further birdies on the seventh, 10th and 12th to get his nose in front. "I'm pleasantly surprised," he told europeantour.com. "My target was 15 under for the tournament so I'm going to look a little bit differently at that now. I'll take another 65 tomorrow if you offer it me now." Thomson made a blistering start with four birdies in his first six holes but bogeys on the tenth and 13th stalled his momentum before he hit back with a gain on the 15th. Tanihara was bogey-free as he equalled the lowest round of the week with a 63, while overnight leader Wu needed two birdies in his last five holes to fire a level-par 71. England's Richard McEvoy was at 11-under after a 64, a shot clear of Irish three-time major winner Padraig Harrington and Scot David Drysdale. - PA A Western Australian mining lithium project that has an agreement to supply Elon Musk's Tesla faces a legal hurdle that may delay plans to start production, potentially spurring shortages of the mineral used in batteries for electric cars. A court in Perth recommended WA's mining ministry shouldn't approve an exemption from past minimum exploration-expenditure obligations at the Mt. Holland hard-rock project, lithium giant SQM said in a statement on Wednesday. Development of Mt. Holland, owned by SQM and Kidman Resources, could be slowed if the ministry doesn't award the exemption, SQM said. Analysts expect a small lithium surplus the next few years, and any snags at major suppliers risk throwing the market into deficit, according to Bloomberg NEF. In May, Tesla signed a three-year supply contract with Kidman. The deal with a junior miner that isn't expected to start producing until 2021 shows how electric-car and battery makers are rushing to get supply of the mineral. The dispute over the WA lithium mine could spell trouble for electric car maker Tesla. Credit:AP "This is going to be a concern to Tesla -- they had hopes to lock in supply by signing this off-take with Kidman," said James Frith, a BNEF analyst in London. How is that we can predict the weather so accurately? Numerical weather prediction the computer-based generation of countless charts and tables that give forecasters a detailed picture of the air above is one of the worlds modern miracles. Australians have come to rely on the Bureau of Meteorologys forecasting ability, which has a huge impact on everything from planning crop planting to next Sundays picnic. It was in 1904 that Norwegian atmospheric scientist, Vilhelm Bjerknes, suggested that meteorologists might be able to quantitatively predict the weather by applying the hydrodynamic and thermodynamic equations driving the atmosphere. Australians have come to rely on the Bureau of Meteorologys forecasting, whether for work or play. Credit:Nick Moir Bjerknes understood that the behaviour of a fluid, like the atmosphere, is governed by four basic laws Newtons Second Law of Motion, the First Law of Thermodynamics, the Ideal Gas Law and the Law of Conservation of Mass and he reasoned that by applying the relevant equations at a series of points throughout the atmosphere and for progressively later times, the characteristics of the atmosphere could be predicted, and the consequent weather forecast. It's a funny thing to speak to Victoria Beckham, much in the same way perhaps as when you run into an old friend who has recently posted 487 family holiday photos on Facebook: what do you ask when you've seen it all? Beckham has - as anyone who follows her on Instagram, picks up a paper or absentmindedly scrolls through the internet knows - had "a really lovely summer". She really has. First came a trip to Indonesia, followed by decamping to Sir Elton's yacht in the South of France. There was David floating on an inflatable peacock, Brooklyn and Romeo diving into the sea, while Harper had a hair cut - an image her mother shared with the world with the hashtag "how chic". But now the 44-year-old mother-of-four is back to work in typically expert choreographed style. First came the recent reveal of her - en famille - British Vogue cover, and an accompanying video (you must watch, it's very funny). In the film, she (with the help of editor Edward Enninful - excellent poker face) sends up the star designer stereotype; she poses in a Spice-Girls-era Latex catsuit, the gown she wore to straddle a London taxi at the Olympics closing ceremony, and even her Vera Wang wedding dress - that "crumb catcher" (so described in its extensive coverage 19 years ago in OK! magazine) full-skirted, creamy bodice number. "It's such a beautiful dress," she tells me. "I have to say, it was really nice putting it back on." With more than a thousand kilometres of shared border, and with centuries of overlapping history, Cambodia and Vietnam are not unlike two children from the same family. There are undeniable similarities, and travellers can apply the same basic rules to each place when crossing roads, finding food, negotiating markets and visiting religious sites. Yet, once you know them both more intimately, you'll never mistake one for the other. VIETNAM In the country's capital, Hanoi, museum lovers can easily fill their days. The Ho Chi Minh Museum, dedicated to the communist revolutionary who was the major figure in the country's politics between 1945 and 1969, is an even more surreal experience than viewing Uncle Ho's preserved body in the mausoleum next door. For something more grounded, the Vietnamese Women's Museum is a standout and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is also worth a visit. Thu Bon River in Hoi An, Vietnam. Credit:Getty Images/EyeEm When you get hungry, find a busy street vendor serving Hanoi's classic bun cha: smoky pork belly, vermicelli noodles and fresh herbs in steaming broth. Otherwise, KOTO restaurant (it stands for "know one, teach one") is a not-for-profit that employs at-risk youth and also offers cooking classes. Another week, another shocking bikie attack revealed in Canberras southern suburbs. It is now abundantly clear that more needs to be done to prevent these insidious gangs from ruining the safe, peaceful neighbourhoods of this city. Canberrans deserve protection from these kinds of people. Harrowing footage was released this week by ACT Policing shows three men two armed with a handgun and shotgun scaling the fence of the Calwell home of a rival gang member. The men open a roller door, allowing a fourth man to enter, before pouring petrol on three vehicles. A firefight breaks out with the resident, before the cars are set ablaze and the intruders flee. Police have charged two men, but are seeking the communitys help to identify the other two people involved. Disturbingly, police said an innocent neighbour was close to being shot when a stray bullet passed through the wall of a neighbouring house where the person was sleeping. A "watershed moment" for cancer research in the territory was reached on Friday as the ACT government and the Australian National University announced a new partnership. They entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Victoria's world-renowned Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre agreeing to a series of initiatives that will bring cancer research in Canberra to a world-leading standard. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre board chair Maxine Morand, ACT health minister Meegan Fitzharris and ANU acting vice-chancellor Mike Calford celebrate signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the three bodies to bring world-leading cancer research to Canberra. Credit:Lannon Harley/ANU Health minister Meegan Fitzharris, acting ANU vice-chancellor Mike Calford and Peter MacCallum board chair Maxine Morand gathered at the university on Friday to sign the document. ACT Health executive director of research Ross Hannan, who also holds positions with the cancer centre and the ANU's John Curtin School of Medical Research, was integral to the new partnership and described it as a watershed moment for the treatment of patients and cancer research in Canberra. Some Brisbane residents could be voting somewhere else next council election, if the electoral commission is forced to consider rejigging electoral boundaries for two wards. As of August 31, there were 738,076 people registered to vote in the Brisbane City Council area, with those voters spread across 26 wards. Some Brisbane residents could have to vote in a different ward at the next council election. Credit:Paul Harris The City of Brisbane Act 2010 states there should be between 26,587 and 32,395 voters in each ward, with 29,541 the Brisbane average. A recent review of the wards revealed Chandler fell narrowly short of the quota, while The Gabba slightly exceeded it. Detective Senior Sergeant Vic Kostiuk, who died during a ride to honour officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Credit:Police Media A 21-year-old man is in custody after a Victorian police officer was hit by a car and killed while taking part in a group ride to commemorate police who died in the line of duty. Victoria Police say the car was travelling along the Princes Highway near Orbost in the state's east on Friday afternoon when it veered onto the opposite side of the road and struck the policeman's bike. Detective Senior Sergeant Vic Kostiuk died at the scene. The officer was among 300 riders in the Wall to Wall Ride who set out from the Victoria Police Memorial in St Kilda Road, Melbourne, headed for Merimbula and then on to Canberra on Saturday. Police are hunting for a teenager they believe committed a series of armed robberies in Melbourne's south-east. Five women, in four separate incidents, have been accosted and threatened with a knife by a young man in Hallam between the 5th and the 29th of August. Police have appealed for any information that could help them catch this teen. Credit:Victoria Police Police have set up an information caravan Sunday morning at Gunns Road reserve where many of the incidents took place, as they search for information that may help them identify the teen. The boy is estimated to be around 15 years old and is African in appearance. He has a skinny build and short dark hair. Detective Senior Sergeant Vic Kostiuk. Credit:Police Media Victorian police are mourning the loss of a veteran of nearly 40 years who has died during a ride to honour officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Detective Senior Sergeant Vic Kostiuk died after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a car travelling in the opposite direction along the Princes Highway near Orbost on Friday. Among those mourning the 59-year-old are his son, Detective Felix Kostiuk who was riding next to his father when he was hit and his wife, retired Superintendent Pauline Kostiuk. Detective Senior Sergeant Kostiuk's immediate family asked for privacy. Tony Abbott has narrowly avoided being kicked out of the blue ribbon seat he has held for 25 years following a backlash fuelled by his role in the demise of Malcolm Turnbull and conservative views on climate change and same-sex marriage. In an unprecendented challenge that has thrown the spotlight on the former prime minister's political future, Mr Abbott may have secured just 55 per cent of votes cast during a fiery preselection meeting in his safe Sydney electorate of Warringah. Fairfax Media has been told Mr Abbott - who ran unopposed - was backed by 46 members, while 38 others rejected his renomination to contest next year's federal election. The size of the protest vote has shocked the Liberal Party, and some moderate members now believe Mr Abbott's grip on the northern beaches seat is not guaranteed and may attempt to oust him during the next term of Parliament with a strong female candidate. When the 46-38 number was put to Mr Abbott on Saturday night, the former prime minister said: "Not correct. I won roughly 70 per cent of the vote." There are, of course, ways in which, with hindsight, we might think that the situation could have been handled better," she said. "But we believe that for the sake of long-term stability and security, we have to be fair to all sides, that rule of law must apply to everybody. Visiting Hanoi for the World Economic Forum as state counsellor and foreign minister, Suu Kyi conceded only that the "security situation in Rakhine state, which observers and the United Nations say is genocide, might have been better handled. When Aung San Suu Kyi broke her silence with even-handed indifference about the Rohingya genocide and the jailing of two reporters in Myanmar on Thursday, there were few surprises. Yet it was still shocking to watch the former human rights icon speak so coldly, and deflect so callously, about issues which have earned international condemnation. Suu Kyi also referred to the October 2016 terrorist attacks as having launched the problems, which is at best disingenuous. The initial reports were that nine soldiers and police were killed; in the crackdown that followed 700,000 refugees poured across the Myanmar border over several months, an untold number were raped and killed and entire villages were erased from the map. Even by suggesting equivalence, Suu Kyi left herself open to accusations she was taking the side of the military responsible for the atrocities. Suu Kyi also responded to criticism over the trial of the two Reuters reporters, who were sentenced in Yangon on September 3 to seven years in prison for breaches of the Official Secrets Act during their reporting of the Rohingya massacre. US Vice-President Mike Pence was among those who have called for their release, while the news agency maintains its reporters were set up for doing their jobs. The case has been held in open court, Suu Kyi said. If anybody feels there has been a miscarriage of justice, I would like them to point it out. I wonder whether very many people have actually read the summary of the judgment, which had nothing to do with freedom of expression at all, it had to do with the Official Secrets Act. But I dont think anybody has actually bothered to read it. They were not jailed because they were journalists. The condemnation was swift. US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, led the charge, tweeting: First, in denial about the abuse the Burmese military placed on the Rohingya, now justifying the imprisonment of the two Reuters reporters who reported on the ethnic cleansing. Unbelievable. Beijing: Pink lotus on green leaves the size of a watermelon is my favourite sign of a Beijing summer. Looking out my kitchen window in the morning, I gaze down on a green arc of river. In spring, the willow trees bud and soon brush the water's edge. When the lotus flowers bloom, the heat has arrived. Pink lotus riverside in Beijing in summer. Credit:Kirsty Needham No matter how early I rise to make a cup of tea, I am always beaten by the fishermen below. Dotted along the river bank, these old Beijingers sit in solitude on a folding stool, gripping a rod long enough to extend over clumpy reeds to deep water. These river sights from my window had been my seasonal markers in China, until one morning something else caught my eye. Brussels: Two Russian spies have been expelled from the Netherlands accused of plotting cyber sabotage of a Swiss defence laboratory that was analysing the nerve agent used to poison ex-Russian agent Sergei Skripal in Britain, Swiss officials said. The story first reported by the Dutch newspaper NRC and the Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, and confirmed by Swiss officials adds a new dimension to the charges by Western governments that the Kremlin is waging a sophisticated and unconventional campaign to work its will abroad, and undermine adversaries and their alliances. A virologist works inside the Spiez Laboratory that conducts chemical weapons tests in Switzerland. Credit:Keystone/AP Britain contends that Russia sent two other spies to a quaint English cathedral city in March, carrying a military-grade poison to assassinate a turncoat former colleague, Sergei Skripal, which the Kremlin denies. The two men, publicly identified and charged by the British authorities, have appeared on Russian television to deny involvement in the poisoning that sickened Skripal and three others, and killed one person, insisting that they were sports nutritionists, not spies. Digest for international stories for week Sept 8 - Sept 14, 2018 Saturday Chicago: As many as 15 people, including seven Indians, and five India-based call centres have been indicted in a multimillion-dollar scam which defrauded over 2,000 US citizens, resulting in over $5.5 million in losses, the Department of Justice said on Friday. Chicago: Hindus have no aspiration of dominance and the community will prosper only when it works as a society, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said and urged the community leaders to unite and work for the betterment of the mankind. Chicago: President on Friday said he wants to stop the subsidies that growing economies like India and China have been receiving as he wants the US, which he considers as a "developing nation", to grow faster than anybody. Sunday Moscow: on Sunday accused the United States of carrying out bombing using white phosphorous in eastern Syria against military targets in civilian areas, which is banned under international law. Chicago: Some people are trying to make the word Hindu "untouchable" and "intolerable", Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said Sunday as he stressed on the need of preserving the true values of Hinduism to alter "ill-informed" opinions and attitudes. Bangkok: Developing countries rounded on the United States and its allies at emergency talks Sunday, accusing the world's richest nations of stalling on a deal aimed at preventing runaway Monday Beijing: Jack Ma, the pioneer of China's internet industry, announced on his 54th birthday Monday that he would step down as Alibaba's executive chairman in one year to make way for the next generation of leaders at the $420 billion e-commerce giant. Mazar-I-Sharif: Taliban fighters killed nearly 60 members of Afghanistan's beleaguered security forces in a spate of attacks across the country's north, officials said Monday, as diplomatic efforts to end the 17-year war intensify. Islamabad: A Pakistan court Monday issued bailable arrest warrants against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in a case seeking action against him for disclosing the minutes of a high-profile security meeting to his party leader Nawaz Sharif. Tuesday London/Islamabad: Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, died Tuesday in London after a protracted battle with throat cancer. London: will return to a London court on Wednesday for a hearing in his high-profile extradition case, when the judge is expected to review a video of the Mumbai jail cell prepared by the Indian authorities for the embattled liquor tycoon. Lahore: Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar would be released on parole for a day to attend the funeral of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, sources said Tuesday. Wednesday London: is set to appear before a London court on Wednesday for a hearing in his extradition case, during which the judge is expected to review a video of the Mumbai jail cell prepared by the Indian authorities for the embattled liquor tycoon. Islamabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the death of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, saying he would always cherish the memories of his interaction with the wife of Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, according to a media report. Beijing: China said on Wednesday that it would resolutely oppose any US move to impose sanctions against its officials and companies to punish Beijing for the alleged human rights violations against Uygur Muslims in the volatile Xinjiang province. Thursday London/Lahore: Hundreds of people attended the funeral prayers of Begum - the wife of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif - at a London mosque Thursday, as legal formalities were completed to take her body to Pakistan for burial. Beijing: A driver of a SUV vehicle deliberately crashed into crowds at a busy public square in central China's Hunan province, killing 11 people and injuring 44 others, state-media reported Thursday. Moscow: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived here Thursday on a two-day visit to co-chair a key bilateral meeting and talks with the Russian leadership to boost the "special privileged strategic partnership." Friday 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. Washington: A US-based IT staffing company has been asked to pay over $300,000 to its 12 H-1B employees for paying them far below their salary and imposed a penalty of over $45,000 for violating the labour provisions, amidst the administration's crackdown against the abuse of the visa category popular among Indian professionals. Washington: President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort agreed Friday to cooperate in the special counsel investigation of possible campaign collusion with National Security Advisor on Friday held "broad-based" talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defence Secretary and his American counterpart during which they discussed the "future direction" of the strategic Doval's meeting with the top three officials of the came a week after the successful India-US 2+2 Dialogue between the defence and foreign ministers of the two countries. This was Doval's first meeting with Bolton, the new National Security Advisor to President Doval had met Pompeo and Mattis last week in too. "During the three back-to-back meetings, Doval had good chance to review the entire bilateral relationship after the 2+2 talks. They build upon the discussion in last week," informed sources told India's to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna, accompanied Doval in these meetings. Describing it "as a very broad-based discussion", the sources said that Doval and the three top officials talked about the "future direction" of the strategic relationship and identified areas of co-operation. Regional issues and global developments too figured in the talks, they said, without going into specifics. The US to India, in a tweet said that the last week's 2+2 dialogue "set the course for even closer ties" between the two countries. He said India-US partnership are on an upward trajectory. We've seen positive momentum regarding the US- relationship these past few weeks with 2+2 dialogue and the progress continues with Doval's visit to the US," said the US Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF). and the US signed the landmark Communications, Compatibility, Security Agreement (COMCASA) after the 2+2 talks External Affairs Minister and had with Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mattis on September 6. The COMCASA will allow India to receive high-end military communications equipment from the US and will also help get real-time encrypted information from the US. During the the 2+2 talks, India and the US also expressed commitment to work together and in concert with other partners toward advancing a free, open, and inclusive region. Early this week, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells told a audience that the 2+2 significance was that it reaffirmed the strength of the India-US relationship. "It reaffirmed the alignment of our interests and our values in promoting an open and free It also underscored our interest in amplifying what it means to have a major defence partner in India, and really provided the building blocks, not for the next six months or year, but for decades, of how we move forward carefully in building what is a very special relationship, she said. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence David F Helvey said the biggest thing that has come out of the 2+2 talks is that it puts the US-India relationship and the defence relationship in particular on a higher trajectory. "We look forward to deepening the cooperation as two strategic partners as we work together to have a, realise a safe, secure and free region, or as Prime Minister has said, a place where nations, small and large, can prosper free and fearless in our choices," he said. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. 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Digital Editor September 15, 2008 was the day when the US banking behemoth, Lehman Brothers, collapsed and sent economic shock waves across the globe. A few smaller banks had filed for bankruptcy prior to the Lehman collapse and others followed soon after. However, despite being affected by the crisis, many hard working Americans and people all over the world were without a clue about how the US banking industry lost track of the market and let the entire system crash. Many still don't know about it. Find out how Banks got greedy and the world economy collapsed. But who were the people or ... In 2012, Paul Manafort had a problem. He was seeking a way to bolster the interests of his pro-Russian Ukrainian clients in Washington, but he did not want to set off federal lobbying rules that would force the disclosure of detailed information about the funding for, and targets of, that work to the Justice Department. His solution, federal prosecutors say, was to help those clients create a nonprofit group in Brussels. He then recruited a pair of top lobbying firms to represent the group, an arrangement he hoped would allow the evasion of the disclosure rules. But even some people at the ... Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force's (STF) Noida unit has arrested two persons, Deepak and Pradeep, who are wanted in 11 cases of dacoity and murder in Lucknow, Barabanki and Farrukhabad. They carried a bounty of Rs.50,000 each, according to the STF. The duo belong to a gang which was allegedly involved dacoity cases in Lucknow, Farrukhabad and Barabanki between December 2017 and January 2018. At least three people lost their lives and many were injured in these cases. One motorcycle and two pistols have been recovered from the arrested persons. A native of Farrukhabad, Deepak was earlier jailed on similar charges, while Pradeep belongs to Bharatpur in Rajasthan. Furthermore, leaders of the gang, Vinod Bawariya and Rakesh 'Kaalia' Bawariya, were arrested by the UP STF in February and July, respectively. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma on Saturday termed reports of Jalandhar Bishop Mulakkal stepping down as the first win in the Kerala nun rape case. Commenting on the latest development in the case, NCW chief told ANI, "I have heard some reports that the accused Bishop has stepped down and this shows we are moving in the right direction. We have won for the first time in this long battle against that Bishop. He was till now not even stepping down in spite of everybody's effort. The High Court has given some more days to the police in this case and let us see what they come up with. After that, if things are not proper, we will again intervene." Earlier in the day, the Jalandhar-based bishop, Franco Mulakkal, who is accused of raping a nun multiple times in Kerala, stepped down from his post and handed over his charge to a senior priest. In a written communication addressed to the members of the Diocese, Bishop Mulakkal announced that Father Joseph Thekkumkattil, Dean of Tanda Deanery and Father Subin Thekkedathu, Parochial Vicar of St. Mary's Church of Tanda, will step in for the Bishop in addition to their present roles. Further speaking on another incident related to a viral video in which a Delhi woman was seen getting brutally thrashed by a man, the NCW chief said, "We had spoken to the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). They informed us that the accused has been arrested. This quick action is what is needed. There are culprits and criminals everywhere but after a crime happens then the best action is that police should give quick relief to the victim. In this case, the government had taken a great step by intervening; we also intervened and the police acted fast." The accused, who is the son of a Delhi police officer was arrested on Friday after the victim filed a rape complaint against him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The number of Pakistani journalists being killed due to matters related to their profession is not an apt reflection of the violence against journalists and the state of their security in the country. Data from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says that as many as 15 scribes were killed in 2010 and 2011 and despite only four dying since 2015, violence against them is still rampant in Pakistan, the Dawn reported. The CPJ's latest report cites how journalists are being silenced with intimidation instead of being killed. The report indicates the oppression that prevails in a journalist's life, also highlighting the immunity that is enjoyed by those who enforce the oppression to subdue them. The report cites examples of scribes being abducted, beaten, arrested and even charged with terrorism. Some are branded as anti-nationals, which either discredits them or incites violence against them. The in-depth report elucidates how media are told to stay off some issues, or have a particular angle in their coverage, with any opposition to the mandate being met with strong measures to curb their revenue streams. No individual or organisation is held accountable for the same, as no one dares point fingers at the culprits. The situation is so grave that the CPJ suggested that Journalist Protection Law must be passed by the government to protect the vital pillar of democracy. Repealing censorship from state-run media is a step that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government must take towards that direction. However, it has a long way to go to fully certify their pledge to defend constitutional rights, and ensuring the safety of the media is an integral part of the process. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who has been an active part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Swachh Bharat Mission', lent his support to the 'Swachhata Hi Seva' movement which was flagged off by the Prime Minister on Saturday. At the launch, the legendary actor praised Prime Minister Modi for his efforts to make India clean and also reminisced his contribution to the movement. "Four years ago, you (Prime Minister Modi) introduced the nation to Swachh Bharat Mission and I also became a part of it as an Indian citizen. I have been associated with various cleanliness campaigns including a campaign to clean a beach, here in Mumbai," said the 75-year-old. Talking about his participation in cleaning Mumbai's Versova beach, Big B said, "I was shocked to see the condition there. We could just not see the beach as the only thing visible was garbage." He also opined that if a person becomes aware and responsible for his own immediate surroundings, the whole area will be cleaned. Prime Minister Modi, in turn, commended the efforts of the veteran actor in promoting awareness regarding cleanliness. "I have been seeing your work related to this mission since I was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. I still remember, two years ago, you had associated your late father and celebrated writer Harivansh Rai Bachchan's birth anniversary with the cleanliness mission. You had written a line from his poem that read, 'Swachh tan, 'Swachh mann, 'Swachh Bharat, mera parichay'. I am grateful to you for inspiring the nation with this line of the great poet," he noted. A day ahead of the launch of the movement, Prime Minister Modi had 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is loyal to the 'conman' and not the common man, alleged the Congress party while launching an attack against the incumbent government on the issue of fugitive bank defaulters. Addressing a media briefing here, Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said, "The manner in which economy is sinking at fast pace, banking scams increasing and the outbound traffic of fraudsters has increased, is a living testimony of the fact that BJP is loyal to the 'conman' and not common man." Levying serious allegations against Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the BJP , he said, "The manner where certain facts have come out in open yesterday that a joint director of CBI orchestrated and assisted the government in ensuring the smooth escape of Vijay Mallya, it is clear that neither the BJP government nor the CBI can be trusted for an investigation in this entire matter. Seeing the complicit roles of BJP and law enforcement agency -- CBI, INC demands that an independent investigation should be ordered into the smooth escape of Vijay Mallya who ran away with the public money of 9000 crores plus." "The manner in which Mallya has escaped in broad daylight proves that neither Prime Minister Modi nor the Finance Minister is the guardian of public money but they are travel agents of scammers and fraudsters. Entire BJP government is loyal to the defaulters of this country and not loyal to the people who have deposited their money with faith and trust," added the Congress spokesperson. Putting forward their demand on the issue, the Congress party also made claims regarding its extent and loss to the exchequer. It said, "We demand that Accountability and responsibility should be fixed on PM Modi and FM for the loot of Rs 90000 Cr of public money and escape of 23 fugitives under their watch. Total amount looted from these bank frauds is 90000 crore. 23 fugitives have escaped while Modi government was snoozing. Total numbers of 23,000 cases of bank frauds are registered in the last four years." The Congress spokesperson also alleged that the BJP government has not launched even a single investigation against the escape of these 23 fugitives so far. The BJP and the Congress war of words have intensified in last few days after liquor baron Mallya claimed to have met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley before absconding from the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The state government on Saturday said it will appeal before the Rajasthan High Court against the acquittal of actors Sonali Bendre, Neelam Kothari, Tabu, Saif Ali Khan and others in the Blackbuck poaching case. This comes over five months after the four actors were acquitted in the said case, while Salman Khan was convicted and sentenced to five years' imprisonment after being found guilty of killing two Blackbucks in Jodhpur during the shooting of his 1998 blockbuster 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'. The court, however, acquitted Salman's co-stars- Saif, Neelam, Tabu and Sonali, and Jodhpur resident Dushyant Singh - due to lack of evidence. In August, a Jodhpur sessions court ruled that the 'Sultan' star will need to seek its permission every time he has to travel abroad. The ruling came in response to an application filed by the 52-year-old's lawyers, asking for an exemption from seeking permission for foreign travel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hollywood actor Bradley Cooper broke his silence about the sexual harassment allegations levelled against producer Jon Peters who produced the 1976 version of 'A Star Is Born'. Cooper, the director, producer, writer, and lead actor in the latest version of the film said that if he had known about the recently resurfaced sexual harassment claims against the producer, he would have done things differently. About five sexual assault allegations have been made against Peters. His past credits include 'Caddyshack', 'The Color Purple', 'Batman' and ' Superman Returns'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The police have arrested two more people on Saturday in connection with a case in Delhi's Tilak Nagar, in which a man was seen beating a woman in a video. The accused, Rohit Tomar - son of a Delhi Police officer, was arrested on Friday and a First Information Report (FIR) was registered under sections 376 (rape) and 323 (causing voluntarily hurt) of Indian Penal Code (IPC). 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 the 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Technological innovation has long been the key to any countries growth and prosperity, and engineers have been an important driver of this innovation. With a motto to turn dreams into reality, engineers across the globe are working constantly to make human life simpler. All this makes the role of engineer really exciting but the journey towards achieving this is not easy. So, here are some platforms which are helping engineers of today in winning an edge: Udacity Silicon valley based lifelong learning platform, Udacity, co-creates courses with industry giants for future technologies. From mentoring, project reviewers to structured guidance, Udacity provides assistance to variety of engineers for courses in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, etc for both tech and non-tech background. Be it a beginner or an experienced working professional, Udacity aims to encourage lifelong learning and provides online courses to any learner who wants to make or uplift a career in the tech domain. Toppr.com Toppr.com, an after school learning app provides personalized learning for students from class 5th -12th. It boosts the learning curve for aspiring engineers with study material to learn, adaptive tests to practice, 24x7 doubt clearing facility and tests to compete with lakhs of students. The technology strong platform adapts to the needs of a student and grows along to help in achieving career goals in the field of engineering. Imarticus It has educated 30,000+ individuals globally through its certification, pro-degree, and postgraduate programs offered in association with leading and renowned organizations in the financial services and analytics domain. With the help of its pro degrees, aspiring engineers can get an edge while finding jobs as it helps obtain skills and talents that are in demand in the industry. Shine Learning It constantly analyses recruiter data from its platform to predict emerging, in-demand skill-sets and to provide highly-personalised recommendations for relevant professional courses to prospective job applicants. Today's Digital World ispowered by computing devices and runs on Softwares, fuelled Information Technology (IT). Byju's It is considered to be one among the only few Indian consumer startups that have gone global. Their learning app serves educational content mainly to school students from classes 4 to 12 (primary to higher secondary level education). The company also trains students for competitive examinations in India such as IIT-JEE, NEET, CAT, IAS as well as for international examinations such as GRE and GMAT. To solve the problems of aspiring engineers their platform offers quality content on several topics. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Maldivian president, Mohamed Nasheed visited Brussels and Strasbourg and called on the European Union to issue a populated sanctions list and support a 'free and fair Presidential Election' in the island nation, which is scheduled for September 23. "We need the sanctions list to be released with names, because Yameen and his people do not believe the EU intends to act. They believe the Sanctions Framework is an empty threat," the EP Today quoted the former president, who now lives in exile in London, as saying. Nasheed's meeting with the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) comes in the backdrop of an unofficial visit of a fact-finding committee to the Maldives in August. The five-member delegation, comprising of officials of European institutions, made concerning revelations about the state of democracy in the country. The delegation held meetings with opposition supporters and members of the civil society, highlighting concerns regarding the Maldivian Electoral Commission, which lacks transparency in its functioning and is also accused of tampering with voter registrations and the ballot process. The Commission is also accused of conflict of interest as their officials have publicly rallied for President Abdulla Yameen. These activities have accounted for growing fears in the Maldives that thousands of votes will be manipulated. Polls in the Maldives currently indicate more than 58 per cent voter support for the opposition candidate, although, with incumbent President Yameen's efforts to rig the elections, there is no certainty about the outcome of the elections. Overwhelming evidence, including eye-witnesses, video recordings , written testimonies, support the allegations against the incumbent President's efforts to rig the elections. Also, at a rally conducted recently, an accomplice of the First Lady declared that if Nasheed was to ever return to the country, he would be decapitated. "The First Lady is in charge of voter registration, she is reviewing all of the registration papers before they are authenticated," Nasheed said, adding, "To assume this election can be free and fair is ridiculous, the regime has shown they have no intention of letting these elections take place in a democratic manner. We need the EU's help to retain the integrity of our institutions." The current government has prevented opposition candidates from contesting, either through arrests and imprisonments, or via exile, and has also restricted the campaigning activities of the remaining opposition candidates, who are contesting. At the European Parliament in Strasbourg, exiled Nasheed met with as many as 15 MEPs for one-on-one discussions. Several MEPs agreed to co-sign a statement from the European Parliament calling for the European Union to support free and fair elections in the Maldives. The possibility of a second parliamentary resolution was also raised and, with the elections slated to take place end of next week, it was accepted that there was not enough time to complete the process. EP Today said Nasheed also expressed concerns over China's interference in the region, saying, "China has recently lost the elections in Sri Lanka, they do not want to lose again. Keeping Yameen in power helps them because he listens to them. If he wins, they will accept the elections results immediately." "It is important for us that the EU acts before the elections because afterwards, it will be too late. Have you ever heard of a regime that gains power through fraudulent elections giving up this power after, when the international community condemns them? This does not happen," the former president added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The British government has rejected the online petition seeking the deportation of the former Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. According to Geo News, the petition seeking Dar's deportation was filed by an activist from the UK was signed by more than 80,000 internet users and made a number of allegations against him. The petition alleged that Dar is an absconder "in a corruption reference filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of Pakistan," and further referred to him as a corrupt politician. They urged the British government to deport him to Pakistan where he can be held accountable. The British government, however, denied all the allegations against Dar and rejected the petition. The petitioners were informed that the British government does not have a formal extradition treaty with Pakistan. "Section 194 of the Extradition Act 2003 does allow special extradition arrangements in exceptional circumstances. However, under current law, an extradition process is initiated at the request of the government of the country in which the individual has been convicted of a crime. It would therefore be the Pakistani government's responsibility to initiate such proceedings," the petition committee informed. The committee asserted that the petition was reviewed after getting 10,000 signatures, but was later rejected on legal and technical grounds. This comes following the cancellation of the passports of Dar and his wife. The Pakistan government stripped Dar and his wife off of their diplomatic passports without providing the blue passport rendering them 'stateless'. Ishaq Dar was supposed to surrender the diplomatic passports within 30 days of ceasing office as the Federal Finance Minister and that his passport was cancelled over non-compliance, according to the Foreign Office. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Serbia on Saturday signed agreements on cooperation in plant protection and plant quarantine and on-air services, following the talks between Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. The two sides also agreed to expand their bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas of economic and cultural relations and join hands to fight terrorism. "I had extensive discussion with President Vucic this morning on all important aspects of our bilateral relationship as well as global and regional issues of common interest. We expressed our commitment to further build on long-standing friendly ties between our two countries," Vice President Naidu said in a media statement following the bilateral talks between the two sides here. He added that in the area of economic cooperation, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of priority such as agriculture, food processing, defence manufacturing, science and technology, information technology, infrastructure, tourism and pharmaceuticals. He mentioned that the two sides have expressed satisfaction at the investments made by Indian companies in Serbia especially in sectors of farm equipment like tractors, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. "India and Serbia are on the path of economic reforms to realise the goal of socio-economic development of our peoples. India as one of the fastest growing major economies in the world, presents opportunities for win-win partnership between Serbian and Indian entrepreneurs in multiple sectors to realize the vast potential of our bilateral relationship," Vice President Naidu said. He added that the agreement on cooperation in plant protection and plant quarantine would contribute to increasing bilateral trade in agricultural products while the Air Services Agreement would boost trade and tourism by the launch of direct air connectivity between India to Serbia in future. "We conveyed our mutual satisfaction at the growing cultural cooperation and people-to-people relations between the two countries. I thanked President Vucic for Serbia's unilateral decision to waive visa for short visits by Indians travelling to Serbia. India has also extended e-Visa facility to Serbian nationals. Our initiatives would further promote tourism and greater people-to-people contact," Vice President Naidu said. He added that in their discussions on Saturday, they also exchanged views on multilateral issues and agreed to intensify cooperation in the areas of mutual interest. "India and Serbia have had close cooperation at the United Nations and other multilateral fora. We agreed that United Nations need to be reformed to reflect the realities of today and to address current global challenges. We resolved to fight the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism at various international fora. It is a global challenge and requires a global response," Vice President said. Vice President Naidu is scheduled to meet Speaker of Serbian Assembly, Maja Gojkovic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic. He will also address the special session of the Assembly of Serbia. Vice President Naidu along with President Aleksandar Vucic will together attend the India- Serbia Business Forum and will interact with the business representatives of both countries. India and Serbia are, this year, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between them. "India and Serbia have historic and special relations as co-founders of the Non-Aligned Movement. Our relationship is based on mutual trust, mutual understanding and support to each other on issues of core interest...I am happy that today, Serbia Post and India Post have jointly released commemorative stamps on the renowned Serbian scientist and inventor, Nikola Tesla and the great spiritual leader of India, Swami Vivekananda, to celebrate this occasion," Vice President Naidu said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 250 Ortho Surgeons from all over the globe attended the International Symposium on Robotic Joint Replacement organised by Lokmanya Hospitals, a pioneer of Robotic Surgery in India, at JW Marriott, SB Road recently. The two-day deliberations included expert national and international speakers and case studies, paper presentations, live surgeries and the way forward for Joint Replacement technologies. This symposium, in tune with the need of the times, was aptly based on the theme "Interactive Technology" and was adorned by experts who have witnessed the transition from conventional to Robotic Technologies. During this conference, experts opined that with more accuracy, decreased operating time, less invasive, robotic assisted Knee Surgeries have resulted in improved patient outcomes.1500 ortho surgeons watched live surgery through webcasting across the globe. It was a great platform for sharing knowledge and experience, new technology adoption for the benefit of arthritis patients. Dr. Narendra Vaidya, Managing Director, in his inaugural address said that the fact that about 159 surgical robotic systems are being developed, especially North America and Europe shows the need of these technologies for the patients and the interest that experts are taking in developing these technologies. With more accuracy, less operating time, minimally invasive technologies patient recovery is faster and therefore Robotic Knee Replacement technologies are here to stay. The cost of these treatments is high and patients have been going to Europe and the US for treatments. But we have made quality and high-end treatments available at affordable costs here in India. Organising the first International Symposium is a concrete step in that direction by exchanging ideas and training the doctors, he added. The topics discussed include Conventional Knee Replacement - What is lacking? Evolution of technology in arthroplasty, Robotic Surgery with surgeon's and engineer's perspective, brainstorming on various topics, case studies, a debate on conventional v/s robotics. The problem of knee pain is a challenge world over. Every third person In US about 91 million people suffer from joint pain, while in India about 28.7 per cent people in the age group above 60 years suffer from joint pain. Sedentary Lifestyles, lack of exercise, bad eating habits are causing joint problems in ageing population. Robotic Surgeries are precise and minimally invasive and result in faster recovery. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lauding the central government's cleanliness drive, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday highlighted the achievements of the scheme, launched on October 2, 2014. In a blog post, Jaitley wrote about how the government scheme transformed into a "people's movement". "When the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, announced the Swachhata campaign in his Independence day speech of 2014, some believed that the scheme would be a photo-opportunity with very little progress. In the history of independent India, this is one scheme which the people of India snatched away from the Government and converted into a 'people's movement'," the post read. "When the scheme was announced, the rural sanitation coverage of India was 39 percent. The Prime Minister announced a target that India be made 'open-defecation free' when we celebrate 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2019. The symbolism was appropriate since Gandhiji had given a lot of emphasis on Swachhata. We have completed nearly four years of the scheme, 39 percent rural sanitation coverage has increased to a phenomenal 92 percent," he said, adding, "it was not an easy goal to achieve." Jaitley also highlighted how the scheme helped women live a dignified life. "We all knew that the dignity of women demanded the privacy of a toilet. However, women of India are now stepping beyond their roles as mere beneficiaries of this programme to leaders of it today. For example, construction of toilets has always been a male bastion. In many states, however, thousands of rural women have been trained as masons and, with the assistance of Self-Help Groups, are now becoming the primary force in driving a State to be declared free from open defecation. Women becoming a bread earner through the construction of toilets added to the family income." He also informed that the government has decided to enhance compensation for the Anganwadi and ASHA workers. "The Anganwadi workers are the mainstay of the Nutrition Mission. There are approximately 12.9 lakh Anganwadi workers and 11.6 lakh Anganwadi helpers in position. These benefits would be available to these 24.9 lakh Anganwadi workers and their families," he said. The Finance Minister praised the decision and said that this had been a long-standing demand of the Anganwadi workers which no government in the past had catered to. "This has been a long-term demand of the Anganwadi workers and their helpers to give them a reasonable remuneration. Governments in the past have always refrained from giving benefits to these 2.5 million workers ostensibly on revenue consideration. Notwithstanding the pressure on the Budget, the Government has given almost a 50 percent hike in the first go to these workers. This will go a long way in addressing the grievance of these workers," Jaitley said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The results for the Jawaharlal Nehru University Student's Union (JNUSU) elections are likely to be released on Sunday after the counting of votes resumed on Saturday evening. The counting of the votes was indefinitely suspended at 4:00 AM on Saturday after members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) allegedly attacked the School of International Studies building where the ballot boxes were stored, breaking the glasses of the building. The ABVP alleged that the process of counting the votes started without informing them. "EC members have started counting with the Left workers without calling the ABVP counting agent at the time of introduction of first round counting (Science School and other special centres). Both the EC members and the left are plotting a rigging of the elections. We do not consider this an election," an ABVP member said. The Jawaharlal Nehru (JNU) Election Commission (EC) demanded an unconditional apology from the ABVP as several EC members got injured in the attack. The Commission has decided to not to allow any counting agent during the counting of the votes. Also, a JNU professor has been appointed as an observer who will be present during the counting process. As of now, the Left Unity (125) leading in the presidential election. ABVP (112) are in the second place, with RJD (54) in third. The Left Unity is also leading in the election for the Vice President (144) and General Secretary (147), with, with ABVP hot-on-their-heels, with 107 (VC) and 133 (GC) votes each. The ABVP is leading in the race for the Joint Secretary with 134 votes. Left Unity is closely trailing with 123 votes and Students' Union of India in third having gathered 51 votes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, one of Hollywood's favourite couples, are celebrating a milestone. Legend and Teigen have posted adorable messages for each other to commemorate five years of marital bliss. The two, known for regularly engaging in online banter, also poked fun on each other in the posts in honour of their anniversary. "12 years ago today, I met the man of my dreams. And 5 years ago today, we got married," Chrissy captioned the picture of the couple kissing at their Lake Como, Italy wedding. "We have two babies and some pups and a life I am grateful to have. My everything, I love you and am so proud of the story we've created." She then jokingly called out Legend for stealing her thunder. "But you are an a-hole for releasing your @nbcthevoice news on my target launch day for real." The 'All of Me' hitmaker had his own response. "What can I say on a day like today?" he began. "I could talk about the 12 beautiful years I've known you. I could talk about the 5 years of wedded bliss, the 2 wonderful children we've brought into this world. But I feel the urge to say something far more important. I LOVE your new kitchenware line at @Target. I can't wait for it to come out on September 30th. I'm so proud of everything you've done in your career and how much joy you bring to people's lives. Did I mention that your Cravings Cookbook is coming out Tuesday? Because it's coming out Tuesday. I love you, baby." The couple got married in 2013. They are parents to two children - Luna and Miles. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Special Economic Offences Court on Saturday granted bail to Karnataka Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar and three others in connection with the alleged money laundering case. The court granted conditional bail to Shivakumar against Rs. 1 lakh bond and deposit surety of Rs 25,000 in cash. Three others Sunil Sharma, Anjaneya and Rajendra were also granted bail on furnishing a surety of Rs 25,000 in cash each. In June, the Income Tax department filed a complaint before the court against Shivakumar and three others for allegedly holding unaccounted cash worth Rs.8, 54, 66,100. "DK Shivakumar has active business concerns in the sectors of education, trust and real estate from a significant amount of time. In the course of him conducting the said business activities, there has been a modus operandi employed by him to engage different people for the purposes of concealing and projecting the unaccounted and illegal money as untainted property for the purpose of evading Income Tax," an official statement read. Shivakumar and others were booked under sections 276 C and 277 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and section 193 and under section 199 of the Indian Penal Code on charges of criminal conspiracy to evade income tax payment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It was a really special night for all the members of EO Gurgaon, who were a part of an open-end discussion as they got to know about Jammu and Kashmir from its former chief minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah. Being the key speaker, he talked about the many facets of the state and how his family, including his father and son, have always lived with the idea of an India with Kashmir being its integral part. He also stressed on the need of investments in the Valley, which will not only create employment opportunities for the youth of Kashmir but also inspire them to become self-employed by coming up with start-ups. EO Gurgaon organised an open-end discussion with Abdullah, where he presented his views and welcomed a discussion on the topic, exclusively for EO members. The Constitution of India grants special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which is paradoxical. If a state is an integral part of a nation, why does its Constitution grant it special privileges? What role does the voice of Kashmir's people play in this whole situation? How India, Pakistan and China are pushing each other to war for decades over the Valley? Many such topics were addressed in the talk while encouraging the members to put forth their views. EO Gurgaon, President, Ayush Bansal, Director, Liberty Shoes Group, said "EO Gurgaon hosted an evening with Dr. Farooq Abdullah- An enthralled audience was treated to an evening spent well with Dr Sahab as he spoke about Kashmir, relations of the state with the country and its deep-rooted culture and ethos. His learned insights into family relations, respect for elders and following equality for all the people of India, made a great impact on us. EO Gurgaon supports all this and more as we promote unity in diversity. His principles will definitely help us to be more insightful as we run our workplaces on the same guidelines as exalted by Dr. Farooq Abdullah. Truly an evening well spent." Furthermore, Raunaq Singh, CEO, Targus Technologies, added : "We at EO Gurgaon believe in uniting for mutual growth by learning various things in life. understanding, management techniques, expansion ideas are the core of what we learn at EO. However, what we learnt at the event with Abdullah ji is equivalent to life's lessons. Being a good human; loving your country; investing in Kashmir and the culture of deep respect for parents and women made an impact on me. Politics is not bad, but politicians may be, which is very true. EO Gurgaon supports national integration, cultural diversity and gender equality and we all run our own businesses and companies by these principles. God bless Dr. Farooq Abdullah ji." EO Gurgaon, Learning Chair, Karan Singh Sawhney, said: "When we got the opportunity to get Dr. Abdullah as the key-note speaker for our learning event, I was cautiously optimistic. My only concern was that it might turn into a politically charged debacle and the essence of learning about the history of Kashmir would be left lost in this process, which wouldn't have been in the true spirit of an EO learning event. However, 20 minutes into the event gave me a sense of satisfaction and tickled my curiosity time and again, putting all my concerns to rest." Sawhney continued "Dr. Abdullah delivered a mesmerising and brilliant synopsis about the history of the state, starting from the pre-independence era to date. Although the topic cannot be truly justified in a couple of hours, Mr. Abdullah was extremely articulate and to the point while covering the most interesting facts about Kashmir. I couldn't help but appreciate the moderator, Mr. Habibullah's patience and knowledge about the subject matter. He ensured that the talk keeps its pace on the relevant topics while interpreting Dr. Abdullah's sometimes cryptic and innermost feelings and his genuine love for the state and its people." The event ended on an emotional note, where Dr. Abdullah re-emphasised that there is no doubt about the Kashmiri people's wish to remain and be an integral part of India. All they want is to be recognised and given equal opportunities in the country. He concluded the session by saying, "If India takes one step towards getting closer with the people of Kashmir; they take two in reciprocation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Travel is food for the soul. It is through our travelling experiences that we learn something new about the world, and our place in it. Everyone wants to take a break from their monotonous, stressful lives and catch a few moments of peace, adventure and novelty. Travelling offers that and much more. One of the topmost priorities for those planning a vacation is comfortable accommodation. In the day and age of the internet, browsing for hotels which match your needs and budget is rather child's play. However it is only recently that travelers have negotiated with themselves to choose experience and uniqueness over the structure and commercial setup of a hotel. Travelers looking to experience the local flavor and culture are cozying up to the idea of choosing Holidays homes or Home stays. Home stays are ideal for travelers who enjoy exploring remote, less travelled locales, away from the bustle and chaos of the city, yet staying close enough to places of interest. Hotels definitely cater to your demands and treat you like royalty, but do you really learn anything worthwhile? Delhi based travel startup MyTravelPie, strives to offer extraordinary managed stays with verified amenities to travelers looking for exclusive experiences across India. Extensive travelling across the country made Co-founder and Director of MyTravelPie, Ishank Ahuja realize that people everywhere are no longer looking for another place to spend the night but for exclusive experiences which are not easily available. After meeting hundreds of Indian hosts and thousands of travelers, he found out that the problem consisted of 4 primary factors - trust, safety, quality standards and online presence. MyTravelPie caters to people looking for comfort, uniqueness, experience and exclusivity. MyTravelPie moves beyond just providing Homestays but experiential stays. You can choose from a wide range of experiential stay types from offbeat Homestays and cozy Boutique Cottages to Farm Stays, Heritage Stays, Jungle Lodges, Campsites, Houseboats, Pool Villas and Treehouses. Each MyTravelPie Exclusive Stay embodies the local flavour and has a strong unique personality of its own. They are located in some of the most picturesque and unchartered locations across India. All the basic amenities and matters of comfort are taken care of by trained and employed locals, from preparing lip smacking local delicacies to guiding your way around town. From humble beginnings of 1 MyTravelPie Exclusive Stay in 2016 they have reached 15 this year. A barbecue evening, a hillside picnic lunch, a guided walk through a nearby village or tea with locals; MyTravelPie Exclusive Stays offer unique add-on experiences that make your stay worthwhile. "At present, we have about 15 MyTravelPie Exclusive Stays that we manage and over 300 unique experiential stays listed on the website. Our main aim currently is to upgrade the quality standard and experiences at our MyTravelPie Exclusive Stays. This number will increase from 15 to at least 120 MyTravelPie Exclusives Stays (in/around Himachal, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Goa) over the next 01 year and to 1200 over the next 3 - 4 years and later we will be targeting other neighboring countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand etc," said Ishank Ahuja. In life, wealth can be calculated by the number of experiences, memories and friends you have earned. Hotels provide equal treatment to all their guests, from the food to the room service, they follow a strict rule book, one for all. Homestays provide you the luxury of personalisation, customisation and opportunities to learn and discover on your own, while making bonds that last for a lifetime. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nepal's National Planning Commission (NPC) is facing questions over its relevance after it was found that the progress of the major national projects were very slow. During the 43rd meeting of the national development problems solution committee, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and his cabinet ministers questioned the NPC's role and relevance after hearing the miserable progress of the development projects in the country. "What's the meaning of NPC which has failed to suggest plan, make amendments, point out weakness, and show methods of solution?" Prime Minister Oli said in the meeting. He added that it was not good to have NPC's suggestion as if these are the mantras chanted by traditional shaman. He further said that the NPC needed huge reforms. The NPC has been contributing to the country's policy making and budgeting for six decades. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population, Upendra Yadav, commented that according to NPC there was 50 per cent progress in the last 30 years in the projects of national importance and in more than a decade the construction of Postal Highway made only 25 per cent success. "At such situation, what's the relevance of NPC?" he said. Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Matrika Prasad Yadav said the slogan, 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali' cannot not be feasible from the present 'wrong' working style regarding project selection. The NPC team, led by its vice-chairman Dr Pushpa Raj Kandel, is preparing to formulate the 15th National Plan and reviewing the 14th Five-Year Plan. Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Bhanubhakta Dhakal said that he was surprised by the report that claimed there was no problem in the government ministries that are directly concerned with the public in the context of complaint from people over lack of good governance, corruption and bureaucratic red tape. Education and Technology Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel stressed on the need of clear work plan to mobilise resources and human resources. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradip Gyawali said there is the need of constructive intervention and a project bank to remove the problems resulting from lack of inter-ministry coordination in taking forward the infrastructure development projects. Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management, Raghuveer Mahaseth warned that his ministry would start carrying out works in its own way if it did not get the response from NPC on time regarding its requests on problems on project implementation. The meeting highlighted selection of development projects on the basis of their appropriateness and not due to influence of some leaders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Prime Minister, Modi, on Saturday launched the ' Movement', which aims at fulfilling Mahatma Gandhi's dream of a Clean The Prime Minister appealed to the citizens to dedicate themselves towards achieving the aim of a clean country starting today. "From today till Gandhi Jayanti, let us re-dedicate ourselves towards fulfilling Bapu's dream of Clean 'Swacch Bharat Mission' that began four years ago has reached an important stage today, where we can proudly say that people from all sections have joined us in the mission," the Prime Minister added. Commending the youth and the women for making the mission successful, the Prime Minister said, "The contribution of India's Nari Shakti in the is immense. Youngsters are ambassadors of social change. The way they have furthered the message of cleanliness is commendable. The youth are at the forefront of a positive change in " From celebrities, to Bollywood stars, to industrialists and the youth, everyone across the country has joined the Prime Minister in his mission to achieve a clean India. had written personalised letters to around 2000 citizens from different walks of life inviting them to join the ' Movement' and strengthen the In the letter, Prime Minister urged former judges, retired government servants, gallantry award winners, medal winners in the Common Wealth and Asian Games, spiritual leaders, film personalities, journalists of leading media outlets, sportspersons, writers, among others to become part of the mass movement. To endorse the movement in all the states and union territories of the country, the Prime Minister also wrote letters to Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of all states. Prime Minister has also highlighted the salient features of and acknowledged it as a revolution across India. He also described the cleanliness flagship program as a mass movement that has ushered in a Swachhata revolution across India. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took a fresh jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held him responsible for diluting the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)'s look-out notice for fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya. Taking to his official Twitter account, the Gandhi scion attacked the Prime Minister and said that CBI Joint Director AK Sharma - "the blue eyed boy of the Prime Minister" helped in diluting the look-out notice. He tweeted, "CBI Jt. Director, A K Sharma, weakened Mallya's "Look Out" notice, allowing Mallya to escape. Mr Sharma, a Gujarat cadre officer, is the Prime Minister's blue-eyed-boy in the CBI. The same officer was in charge of Nirav Modi & Mehul Choksi's escape plans. Ooops... investigation!" Attacking the investigating agency, Gandhi, in another tweet, added, "Mallya's Great Escape was aided by the CBI quietly changing the "Detain" notice for him, to "Inform". 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." Congress senior spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also questioned as to why no action was taken despite two banks issuing notices stating that Mallya was a willful defaulter. "On August 19, 2014, the State Bank of India (SBI) issued a notice stating that Vijay Mallya is a willful defaulter. In September the same year, the United Bank of India also stated the same. By 2015, both the Serious Fraud Investigation Office and the CBI had registered complaints against him. So how can the CBI now say that they had no proof of his fraud?" he asked. 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 that he never gave Mallya an appointment at his office or residence for a meeting. The 62-year-old, 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Saturday revealed that no recommendation from the state government has been forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the release of all seven convicts in the former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. "A section of the media has been reporting that in the matter of the release of the convicted prisoners undergoing life imprisonment for involvement in the assassination of the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, a reference has been made to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India," read a press release from Raj Bhavan. "It is clarified that no reference has been made to the Ministry of Home Affairs in the matter. The case is a complex one and involves the examination of legal, administrative and Constitutional issues," the statement further said. The statement also said that a decision on the release of all the seven convicts in the case would be taken in a "just and fair manner and in accordance with the Constitution." Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu minister D Jayakumar urged the Governor to accept the recommendations made by the state cabinet. "Tamil Nadu Governor has to accept the recommendations made by state cabinet on the release of all seven convicts of Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. We hope the Governor will take a good decision in this regard as it is the aspirations of Tamil people," Jayakumar told media. On September 9, Tamil Nadu Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, recommended the release of all the seven convicts in the case to the Governor. All the seven convicts - Nalini, Perarivalan, Murugan, Santhan, Robert Pious, Jayakumar and Ravichandran are serving life terms and had been in jail for the last 27 years. In May 1991, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber, during an election rally in Sriperumbudur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hours after it was revealed that a serving defence personnel was the main accused in the Rewari gangrape, Lieutenant General Cherish Mathson, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief South Western Command assured an action in the matter and said that "army doesn't shelter criminals". "If an army personnel is involved in the crime we will facilitate that the person is caught and booked for rape. We do not shelter criminals," he told reporters here. A 19-year-old woman was abducted and gang-raped by three men after being drugged on Wednesday in Haryana's Narnaul in the Mahendragarh district. Earlier on Saturday, a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was formed to probe the matter, stated that one of the main accused in the case is a defence personnel stationed in Rajasthan. "We are getting a warrant against him. The other two accused will be nabbed soon," Director General of Police (DGP) of Haryana, BS Sandhu told ANI. In the FIR registered at Kanina, police have identified three accused as Pankaj, Manish and Nishu, whose pictures they released late on Saturday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary Ram Madhav on Saturday told ANI that the BJP has started preparation for Manipur elections, alongside preparations for general elections in 2019. "We have started preparations for the 2019 elections in the entire country. In Manipur also we are preparing to contest on both the seats," he said. He also said that the Prime Minister would ensure that the interest of the people of Manipur is not compromised. "Prime Minister Modi has repeatedly said that the interest of the people of Manipur should not be compromised. We are sure that no injustice will be done to the territory and the people of Manipur in any manner in any of the agreements of Government of India," he added. Inking of Framework Agreement with the Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) is a big issue in the state. Last month many organisations held a sit in protest against any attempt to tweak the territorial integrity of the state. Praising the Prime Minister he added, "Prime Minister Modi's developmental programmes have endeared all the sections of the people in the country irrespective of caste, race and religion. We are sure that people of the nation will give their mandate to Prime Minister Modi in 2019 elections." Addressing the issue of the steep rise in the fuel prices, Madhav said, "Petrol prices is a challenge that the government is fighting, it has international ramifications. The highest price of fuel was under the United Progressive Alliance." On the issue of allegations on the Vice Chancellor of Manipur University, Madhav said, "HRD ministry is seeing the matter. They have instituted an enquiry committee, which has started their work and after completion, a committee will submit their report to HRD ministry. After that an appropriate action will be taken by the ministry, I cannot predict what action will be taken. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As part of the Swachhata Hi Seva movement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday swept and cleaned the premises of Baba Sahib Ambedkar Higher Secondary School in Delhi's Paharganj where he was welcomed with loud cheers by the students. The Prime Minister later interacted with the students who were enthusiastic to meet him. The campus of the school was bought by Ambedkar himself to advance the educational, social and economic well-being of the Scheduled Castes. The Prime Minister's cavalcade en-route to Swachhata Shramdan also got stuck in a traffic jam as no security route or barriers were in place to allow smooth traffic flow. Launching the movement, the Prime Minister appealed to the citizens of the country to dedicate themselves towards achieving the dream of a clean country starting today. Ahead of the launch of the movement, the Prime Minister had 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 urged former judges, retired government servants, gallantry award winners, medal winners in the Common Wealth and Asian Games, spiritual leaders, film personalities, journalists of leading media outlets, sportspersons, writers among others to become part of the mass movement. To endorse the movement in all the states and union territories of the country, the Prime Minister also wrote letters to Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of all states. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At the launch of ' Movement', which aims at fulfilling Mahatma Gandhi's dream of clean India, Ratan Tata, the Chairman of Trusts, said that his company has spent over Rs 1 bn in support of the Swachh Bharat Mission, which Prime Minister Narendra launched in 2014. Prime Minister launched the ' Movement' on Saturday and appealed to the citizens to dedicate themselves towards achieving the aim of a clean country. Lending his support to the programme, said that the strength of a country's foundations is determined by the health of its citizens. "That foundation is the health of our people, which cannot be there without cleanliness and raising the level of and safe drinking water for the people," stated Tata, who was joined by megastar for the event. "Unfortunately, I don't have the face or the voice of to offer. I can only say that Trusts, which have been in existence for 100 years, have spent over the last four years over Rs 100 crore in supporting the Swachh movement and will continue in the coming years, to support technology to be brought that will be necessary to make this a great success," he added. Ratan Tata, who is also the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, lauded Prime Minister Modi's flagship cleanliness programme, From celebrities to Bollywood stars, to industrialists and the youth, people from different walks of life from across the country joined the Prime Minister in his mission to achieve a clean India. The Prime Minister had written personalised letters to nearly 2000 citizens from different walks of life inviting them to join the ' Movement' and strengthen the In the letter, Prime Minister urged former judges, retired government servants, gallantry award winners, medal winners in the Common Wealth and Asian Games, spiritual leaders, film personalities, journalists of leading media outlets, sportspersons, writers, among others to become part of the mass movement. To endorse the movement in all the states and union territories of the country, the Prime Minister also wrote letters to Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of all states. American actor Terry Crews said that he has accepted his sexual assaulter Adam Venit's apology since the agent has resigned from William Morris Endeavor (WME). The 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' star had accused Venit of groping him at a Hollywood party in 2016, and he filed a police report against him in November, last year, reported Variety. The 'Expendables 3' actor took to his Twitter handle and shared the apology letter which he received earlier this year from the former WME agent. "@WME 's ADAM VENIT FULL APOLOGY LETTER: Received: March 22nd, 2018 Accepted WITH HIS RESIGNATION: September 10th, 2018 #Accountability," Crews tweeted. Venit in the apology letter said that he takes responsibility and wrote, "I know that you didn't ask for any of this. Again, I take responsibility for us being here now, together in this situation. I am sorry for all of it." Venit is leaving WME, 10 months after Terry crews accused him of sexual assault. Terry Crews, Adam Venit and WME have recently settled the lawsuit which was filed against Venit by Crews last year, dismissing the charges against Venit. Venit had been a part of WME since the company's founding. He worked at Endeavour from 1996 to 2009, after which the company merged with the William Morris agency. He had started his career in the mailroom of Creative Artists Agency, where he worked for almost 11 years before becoming a leader in the talent department. He has repped some of Hollywood's biggest celebrities including Adam Sandler and Sylvester Stallone. However, his career took a downfall when his former client Terry Crews accused Venit of groping him at a party, last year. Crews first revealed it on Twitter before filing a police report about the incident. Venit was suspended for 30 days while the agency was investigating the allegations against him. Though Venit was eventually cleared of the accusations, he stepped down as the head of the motion picture department. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ACT is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to help people achieve and workplace success. Trusted as a worldwide leader in US College and Career readiness, ACT has been providing high-quality assessments grounded in research for nearly 60 years. Most people know the ACT test, but that's just one aspect of its work. More than two million students in last year's high school graduating class in the United States took the ACT test. From elementary school through career, ACT offers individuals a uniquely integrated set of solutions designed to provide personalized insights throughout their life. As a non-profit organization, ACT re-invests in research, programs and services to support its mission. Simmy Ziv-el, ACT's Vice President - Global Development said more people take the ACT than any other test in the USA when it comes to US college admission for undergraduate programs. He also highlighted that ACT is more suited for Indian students to get into undergraduate programs in US, considering that it measures academic skills and knowledge rather than abstract information. Ziv-el went on to add that ACT has taken its test to computer-based mode globally, and the first batch of candidates took the ACT test on computer-based mode this week in India. "We consider India as a 'Broadway' and to achieve the online delivery of the high-stakes test, we had to team up with an Indian company that has global recognition, trust and quality. For us, we found that partner in MeritTrac." Ziv-el added, "Our partnership with MeritTrac, a subsidiary of Manipal Global, cements our commitment to Indian families by helping to expand our test centre network and greatly increasing the availability of high-quality ACT test preparation materials and opportunities in India. This will highly benefit the Indian test takers and allow them to access resources currently available to test takers in the US and other countries outside India." Gopal Devanahalli, CEO, MeritTrac, said, "ACT brings the premier college screening test from the US for students in India. MeritTrac shall bring the test centres closer to the test takers and to tier 2 and tier 3 cities in India. We are glad to be a part of the team that is taking ACT's premier test on computer-based mode." Each year, ACT reaches millions of individuals in all 50 US states and in more than 130 countries. ACT's programs are designed to boost lifelong learning and potential for success in schools and workplaces around the world. ACT is involved in Guiding students along their learning paths, Enabling companies to develop their workforce, Fostering parent, teacher, and counselor understanding of student learning and progress toward College and career readiness, Helping job seekers navigate toward career success, Developing new and better ways to help individuals learn, and Informing policymakers about important issues impacting and workforce. In the history of ACT our passion for making things better is foundational to everything we do at ACT. In fact, that's how ACT started. In 1959, University of Iowa professor E.F. Lindquist, along with U of I Registrar Ted McCarrel, launched the ACT test. The test broke new ground, focusing not on aptitude, but instead, on academic achievement - mastery of the skills and knowledge taught in schools. Lindquist's and McCarrel's trailblazing assessment sparked a long history of ACT innovation. ACT was the first to define college and career readiness standards. The ACT was also the first and is still the only college entrance exam to include a science assessment. And while ACT initially focused on assessing college readiness, they understand that learning is a lifelong journey. ACT now offers more than 20 programs and services, providing support for all of life's transitions from elementary school through career. ACT rose to prominence in the educational and credential testing world with its sterling reputation in research, test development, and psychometric services, all of which were implemented by the premier innovator in testing, E.F. Lindquist-one of the founders of ACT who is also called out as the fountainhead of testing programs at Pearson, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, among others. As it looks to the future, ACT's mission remains clear: help people of every country, creed, and socioeconomic level achieve education and workplace success. To this end, ACT looks to expand its offerings in personalization: in both existing and future assessments, as well as breaking new ground in adaptive learning. Technology is an important driver of ACT's innovation. In 2018, ACT has launched three important technology initiatives to advance its mission: Computer-based testing at international test centres. To further support students seeking to take the ACT test for admission to all 2 and 4-year institutions in the US (as well as approximately 300 universities outside of the US), ACT test administration outside of the US will now occur via computer, enabling faster score reports and increased number of testing opportunities. Free, individualized, online test prep with ACT Academy. ACT Academy affords all students a portable, accessible mode of test preparation personalized to their education needs. Local, relevant, online communities via ACT Club. In spring of 2018, ACT launched ACT Club with its strategic regional partners. This online community is localized to better serve regions that may need different content or support, based on the education climate and goals of the stakeholders. ACT is one of the only two tests that students take for demonstrating their college readiness - the other being SAT from College Board. We are witnessing a rising interest in ACT tests from the Indian test takers, resulting in an exponential growth in the ACT registrations in the country. Both tests are often the key to study abroad, with more than half of Indian outbound students choosing to attend university in the US. International test takers have historically scored better on the ACT, not only due to its having a science section but also due to the lower weightage of English in the overall test. ACT's mission spurs it to help these students reach their goals, and part of that is growing our network in India to provide them more, better, higher fidelity practice opportunities and secure, professional testing centres. ACT's move to computer-based testing this year will provide test takers with multiple opportunities to take the test (from the previous 5 sessions per year in the paper-based format to 24 sessions in the CBT world). The results will also be available to the students in just 2 days as compared to the current 6 weeks time frame. Moreover, the writing section is typed by the test taker using a keyboard instead of handwritten. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump's former campaign-chief, Paul Manafort, on Friday agreed to cooperate with the ongoing investigation into Russian intervention in the country's 2016 presidential election. Manafort pleaded guilty to criminal charges that he cheated Internal Revenue Service, violated foreign lobbying laws and tried justice, The Washington Post reported. According to reports, Manafort's cooperation in this investigation has shaved off a potential 10-year prison sentence. "He wanted to make sure his family remained safe and live a good life. He has accepted responsibility," The Washington Post quoted Manafort's attorney Kevin Downing, as he gave a brief statement outside the courthouse after the hearing. In response, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that the plea had nothing to do with the 2016 Presidential campaign. "This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated," she said. Trump's personal attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani stated that the plea showed that Trump did not do anything to influence the election. "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," he said. As part of the plea deal made by the 69-year-old political consultant, 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 Washington Post has observed. Manafort, a longtime lobbyist to President Donald Trump resigned from his position as his campaign chairman amid another investigation pertaining to his work in Ukraine, where he allegedly helped the country's then President Viktor Yanukovych by tarnishing the reputation of the latter's political rival Yulia Tymoshenko, CNN noted from the legal document as filed by prosecutors to detail Manafort's laundry list criminal conduct both inside and outside the United States. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenburg on Friday said that Turkey's decision to purchase missile defence system from Russia is a national decision. "It is a challenge and is well known that there is a disagreement between Turkey and especially the United States on this issue," Anadolu Agency quoted Stoltenburg as saying at the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington D.C The NATO chief underscored that for NATO, which is an alliance of 29 North American and European countries, the most important thing is to see "that different systems can work together". In December, Turkey signed an agreement with Russia that will see Moscow delivering the missile defence system to Ankara by early 2020. In June, the U.S. Senate passed a bill prohibiting sales of F-35 jets to Turkey, citing the S-400 purchase. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Terrorism is the most deplorable violation of human rights and yet surprisingly, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR), in its recent report on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, failed to even mention the menace once, said Yoana Barakova, a research analyst with the Amsterdam-based European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS). Speaking at the ongoing 39th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, Barakova expressed concerns that the report did not mention the cross-border terrorism perpetrated by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. She asserted that the UN designated terrorist organisations and terrorists have been classified as "armed groups" and "leaders", as many as 38 times. She added, "The adoption of such inappropriate terminology directly contradicts the one used in common UN parlance. The report further states that 'restrictions on the freedom of expression, opinion, peaceful assembly and association in Pakistan- occupied Kashmir (PoK) have limited the ability of the High Commissioner to assess the human rights situation there'." Barakova was aghast that the first-hand valuable information provided by human rights activists from PoK, on the threats to their lives and their families was completely disregarded. She demanded that the office of the High Commissioner carry out due diligence on a report on an issue "as weighty as the one in question, rather than superficially attempt a report with serious methodological, factual and analytical shortcomings, which is based on an artificially imposed timeline which renders its correctness and neutrality highly dubious." In June, a 49-page report prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was released, calling for a probe into the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir by both India and Pakistan. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) lashed out at the report, terming it as "biased and motivated" and "misleading and mischievous. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and member of Haryana's legislative assembly (MLA) Uchana Kalan claimed that unemployed and frustrated youngsters commit heinous crimes like rape. Speaking to media here at an event, BJP MLA Premlata said, "Youth who are frustrated, unemployed.. They commit such crime (rape) which is a very bad trend in the society." Premlata was commenting on the alleged gangrape of a 19-year-old young woman that took place on Wednesday in Haryana's Narnaul in the Mahendragarh district. The Medical Superintendent of a Rewari hospital, where the victim is undergoing treatment, said that the patient's condition is stable and she is recovering from the trauma. "The victim's condition is stable and she is recovering from the trauma. Her x-ray and ultrasound reports are normal. We will continue to review her condition regularly," Medical Superintendent Sudarshan Panwar told ANI. The victim is a school topper, who was awarded by the government. A serving defence personnel has been identified as the main accused in the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Assam Police on Friday arrested a close aide of suspected Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist from Assam's Hojoi. The accused has been identified as, Shahnawaz Alam. This came after the arrest of Qamar-uz-Zaman, who was suspected to be a cadre of banned terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, by Uttar Pradesh police, Investigation Agency (NIA) and Anti-Terrorism Squad on September 13. Zaman was reportedly planning an attack during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. As per Uttar Pradesh police, he was in the city to identify targets for a terrorist incident. Police have also recovered a video from his mobile featuring images of a Kanpur temple. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Headline indices of the Australia market closed higher on Friday, 24 September 2018, as investors chased for bottom fishing following heavy losses since the beginning of this month. Meanwhile buying pressure amplified by news of a new round of talks between the United States and China in coming days and solid Chinese economic data. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed 36.6 points, or 0.6%, higher at 6,165.3 points on Friday, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 36.4 points, or 0.58%, at 6,276.3 points. For the week, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index lifted 0.35%. Shares of materials and resources were higher, thanks to a surge in Dalian iron ore futures. BHP Billiton was 1.6% higher at A$31.82, while Rio Tinto was up 1.2% to A$73.15. Shares of banks and financials were also higher, with top lender Commonwealth Bank of Australia gaining 0.5 percent. Westpac added 0.7% to A$27.76, while NAB was up 0.2% to A$27.35. CURRENCY: Australian Dollar firmed up against greenback and other major currencies on Friday, on the back of positive results on the share market combined with the strong August jobs report on Thursday and the easing in US-China trade tension. The Aussie was buying 72.06 US cents at 1700 AEST, from 71.87 on Thursday. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of 18 children who were rescued by the Bihar Police from a Buddhist School and Meditation Centre in Bodh Gaya have reached here, an official said on Saturday. The police said the children, all boys and aged between 12 to 14 years, were sent to the school by their parents six months ago. "The Bihar police last month rescued a large number of children including these 18 boys from the school after their parents complained of mistreatment by a monk," the official told the media. The Bihar police earlier this week handed over the children to a team of Tripura Police. These boys reached here on Friday night, Tripura Child Rights Commission Chairperson Nilima Ghosh told IANS. Tripura Health and Family Welfare Minister Sudip Roy Barman, who along with Ghosh received the children at the Agartala railway station, said the children were sent without any information or permission of the state government. Barman said the Tripura government would take up the matter with Bihar and the state and Bihar police would jointly probe the matter. Among the 18 children, 15 are from Tripura, two from Arunachal Pradesh and one from neighbouring Assam. Ghosh said that the rescued children, now under the care of an NGO, Child Line, would be sent back to their homes soon. --IANS sc/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), the External Affairs Ministry-organised conclave of the Indian diaspora, to be held in Varanasi from January 21 to 23, 2019, will be a bigger affair than all the past editions with a couple more programmes being added, it was announced on Saturday. Speaking at the launch of the official website for the event here, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that in addition to attending the three-day PBD in Varanasi, the participants will also be taken to Allahabad where the Kumbh Mela will be going on then and then brought to New Delhi for the Republic Day celebrations. Giving details of the programme, Sushma Swaraj said that on January 21, a Youth PBD will be held where Himanshu Gulati, an Indian-origin member of parliament of Norway will be the chief guest and Kanwaleet Singh Bakshi, also an Indian-origin member of parliament of New Zealand will be the guest of honour. On January 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the main event with Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth, who is also of Indian-origin, attending as the chief guest. The event will conclude on January 23 with a valedictory session that will be addressed by President Ram Nath Kovind. During the session, the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman will be conferred on 30 Indian-origin individuals for their exceptional and meritorious contributions in their chosen fields or professions. "On January 24, we will take the participants to Prayagraj (as Allahabad is also known) for the Kumbh Mela, which has been inscribed on the Unesco's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity," Sushma Swaraj said. Following this, the participants will be brought to New Delhi by special trains to take part in the Republic Day celebrations on January 26. After being an annual event for 13 consecutive years starting in 2003 at the initiative of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, PBD was turned into a biannual affair after the 2015 edition in Gandhinagar. After the 2017 edition held in Bengaluru, the External Affairs Ministry has now roped in Uttar Pradesh as the partner state with Varanasi as the host city. Giving the rationale behind turning PBD into a biannual affair, Sushma Swaraj said that after the 2015 edition, she realised that PBD was not yielding much in terms of results as an annual affair. "So, I suggested to the Prime Minister that it should be held every two years with the intervening year being used to hold meetings with groups of members on various issues and he agreed," she said. Though the earlier editions were three-day affairs ending on January 9, the day Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa, on January 9, 2019, PBD will be observed in Indian missions across the world. With the launch of the website, registration for PBD 2019 has started effective from September 15 and will continue till November 15 when the process will close. Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh said that more participation is expected in the Varanasi event than the last one in Bengaluru. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was also present, recalled his participation in the mini PBD held in Mauritius in 2012 and said that with the 2019 PBD being held in Varanasi, many participants will be able to trace their roots back in India. Many of the people of Indian origin in Mauritius are descendants of people taken from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during the time of the British Raj to work as indentured labour on the sugarcane plantations on the Indian Ocean island nation. --IANS ab/pgh/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Pakistani commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and two Kashmiri militants were killed and seven security men injured in an 18-hour-long gun battle that ended on Sunday here in the outskirts of the Jammu and Kashmir capital, police sources said. The exact identity of the slain militants was being ascertained. An Indian soldier, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper and three policemen were injured after the encounter broke out on Saturday evening in the Mujgund area following a tip off. Four residential houses were also damaged during the operation as militants kept on changing locations during the gunfight within the cordoned off area. Civilian protesters clashed with security forces the moment the gun battle ended earlier. Authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in Srinagar district. --IANS sq/in (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three police officers and two Army men were arrested from West Bengal's Aliporeduar district for allegedly not taking legal action against gold smugglers in exchange for illegal gratification, a state CID officer said on Saturday. As many as 15 gold bars weighing one kilo each were seized. Five accused persons are Pawan Brahma, Lt. Colonel, Army Intelligence, Hasimara, Dashrath Singh, Constable of Army Intelligence, Hasimara, Anuruddha Thakur, SDPO Jaigaon, Alipurduar, Satyendra Nath Roy, Sub Inspector of Police, Kamalendra Narayan, former Officer in-charge of Hasimara Out Post. They were produced before the court on Saturday. "The accused persons had allegedly misappropriated and received illegal gratification for avoiding to take legal action against the gold smugglers whom they had detained with a consignment of gold on September 10," the officer said in a statement. --IANS bdc/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least seven people were killed as hurricane Florence made landfall in the US state of North Carolina, battering the state with a powerful combination of wind and rain. Warnings were issued about the risk of life-threatening flash flooding in parts of North and South Carolina as well as in Virginia. It was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm on Friday, but continued to soak the East Coast area with rain, downing trees and damaging homes. Some areas grappled with intense flooding, while hundreds in the city of New Bern and North Carolina required rescue in the early hours of Saturday. Parts of New Bern and North Carolina were 10 feet underwater after local rivers overflowed their banks. Thousands of people were staying in emergency shelters. Evacuation warnings were issued for 1.7 million people in the region, the US media reported. Florence was slowly grinding over the eastern states, with winds of 65mph (105km/h). It was expected to keep lashing parts of North and South Carolina into the weekend, according to the Washington Post. Up to 40 inches of rain and storm surges pushing water inland will produce catastrophic flash flooding, the National Hurricane Centre said. Two people in Carteret County died due to the storm, officials said. A mother and her infant were killed in Wilmington when a tree fell on their home. According to officials, the child's father was also transported to hospital with injuries. Two men in their 70s were killed in Lenoir County. One was killed while connecting an electrical generator and another man was killed in a wind-related incident when checking on dogs outside his property. A county official said that a woman died from cardiac arrest in the town of Hampstead after emergency responders had their route to reach her blocked by downed trees. The White House announced on Saturday that President Donald Trump approved a disaster declaration for North Carolina a day earlier, an order that opens up federal funding, including housing and home repair grants. The storm originally made landfall at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, on Friday as a category one hurricane. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said the hurricane was likely to "continue its violent grind for days" and described the severity of the downfalls as a "1,000 year event". Almost 800,000 people are reported to be without power in North Carolina and officials have warned that restoring electricity could take days or even weeks. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Marking a new dimension in Maharashtra politics, the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) will jointly fight the upcoming Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections, an official said here on Saturday. The BBM is led by Prakash Ambedkar while the Hyderabad-based AIMIM is headed by Asaduddin Owaisi, which has made inroads in the Maharashtra Assembly and several civic bodies in the state. The BBM-AIMIM alliance will be sealed and announced in a public rally to be addressed by the two leaders in Aurangabad on October 2, an AIMIM spokesperson said. Imtiaz Jaleel, the AIMIM legislator from the city, said here that the new alliance will fight for the rights of the Dalits, Muslims and Other Backward Classes who remain ignored since the past 70 years. "They have no proper representation in politics, are merely treated as vote-banks during elections. It's a matter of shame for all the secular parties in the state that there is not a single Muslim person elected to the Lok Sabha from Maharashtra," Jaleel pointed out. He said now there is a huge awareness among Dalits, Muslims and OBCs who don't want to be treated as vote-banks anymore, but want a share in power. "Owaisi has already requested Ambedkar to take over the leadership of this section of the population, since he's raising all the issues concerning these communities, fight the forces which are threatening to 'burn' the Constitution. This will become a major political force in the state," Jaleel added. Earlier, Jaleel had held a preparatory discussion with Ambedkar in Pune and now the final shape of the alliance, the elections they will unitedly contest, the seat-sharing formula, etc, shall be declared next month. Since the Koregaon-Bhima caste riots on January 1 and its political fallout, Ambedkar and the BBM have assumed a leading role in forging unity among the Dalits, and now extending to OBCs and Muslims, making it a potentially formidable force to reckon with in the next elections. --IANS qn/anp/bg (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 on Saturday kicked off party's campaign for ensuing Assembly elections by daring the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to name a Dalit as its chief ministerial candidate. Sounding the poll bugle at a public meeting at Mahabubnagar, he recalled that TRS chief K. Chandrashekhar Rao had promised before 2014 elections that a Dalit will be made the Chief Minister but when TRS won the elections, he himself became the Chief Minister. "I want to ask KCR, will you fulfil this promise at least this time or will make your son as the Chief Minister?" said Shah. The BJP chief slammed TRS government for what he called excesses on Dalits, tribals and farmers. He claimed that more than 4,500 farmers committed suicide in Telangana during last four years of TRS rule. Shah said KCR imposed early elections on people though the simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state Assembly were scheduled for May 2019. He alleged that TRS stopped celebrating Telangana Liberation Day on September 17 as it is afraid of its friendly party Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM). He recalled that it was on this day that Hyderabad state had become part of India but TRS government is not celebrating the day to remember the martyrs because it is afraid of MIM and Owaisi. Referring to Congress President Rahul Gandhi's statement that the Congress will form the next government in Telangana, Shah said Rahul is daydreaming. He listed the states where Congress lost the elections since 2014. The BJP leader said people of Telangana have not forgotten the treatment meted out to former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and former Chief Minister T. Anjaiah by the Congress. --IANS ms/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Army will mark the centenary celebrations of the Battle of Haifa (Israel), which took place during the First World War, on September 23, said Lt Gen Cherish Mathson, Army Commander of the South Western Command, on Saturday. "Few Indians know the significance of Haifa Day. But people in Israel celebrate it on September 23 every year. The Indian Army commemorates the Haifa Day to respect those Indian soldiers who participated in the battle to free the city as a part of the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade," said Gen Mathson. Gen Mathson emphasised the need for the youth to be aware of the scarifices of their forefathers and the necessity of preserving that heritage. "The whole of Israel knows about the heroes from India, but they are little known in their own motherland," he said. Sons of the soil from Rajasthan led by Major Dalpat Singh in a mounted Cavalry defeated a numerically superior force armed with more lethal weapons and liberated Haifa in the present-day Israel from the occupation of the Turks of the Ottoman Empire, the Gen said. --IANS arc/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday rued that Arunachal Pradesh did not receive proper hand-holding from the Central government ever since the time it was granted statehood. "Arunachal should develop at their own pace safeguards to ensure their well-being," he said at the first-ever joint conference of Anganwadi and ASHA workers held in Tawang, bordering China. In a statement, Khandu lamented that Arunachal did not have proper hand-holding from the Indian government since its journey from North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) to statehood, resulting in deteriorated work culture and development disparity in the state. The Chief Minister noted that time has come for Arunachal Pradesh to remodel, rethink and reshape its development discourse with proper planning and policy reforms to an audience of more than 500 Anganwadi and ASHA workers that had gathered from various districts. On labour reforms, Khandu said even without any demands placed, the state government has enhanced the honorarium of 12,050 Anganwadi workers and helpers to Rs 1,500. The Chief Minister announced an additional honorarium of Rs 500 on the occasion, which will be implemented from next month. "If additional enhancement is required it will be examined and matter brought to the cabinet. Benefits have already been announced in the budget," he said The Chief Minister said at present, the Central government is working on minimum wages for workers and when announced will be implemented in the state as well. Talking about important initiatives of state government, Khandu said "Sarkar Aapke Dwar" programme by district administrations is being carried our successfully across the states. He said more than 1 lakh beneficiaries have benefited from the programme. On air connectivity, the Chief Minister said Tezu airport will be made operational soon as the tender process is completed and finalised. He said the state government will also start its own aircraft services to connect the six Advanced Landing Grounds in the state. --IANS rrk/pgh/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Goa Congress on Saturday squarely blamed the ruling BJP for the political and administrative chaos in the state, after Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was airlifted for treatment to New Delhi, even as the party is in the process of scouting for a replacement. "We would also like to remind the people of Goa that their well-being is the last thing on the mind of the ruling political parties who are unleashing the ugly game of power and clamouring for their benefit. "The greed for power of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies has exposed the fact that they can't give charge even to a trusted lieutenant in the absence of CM," state Congress president Girish Chodankar said in a statement issued here on Saturday. "The current confusion of epic proportions is only going to hurt the prospects of the state further, especially when the BJP does not even have a second-in-command to succeed Parrikar in his absence. "The very fact that a second-in-command was never allowed to be groomed by the BJP, shows how selfish interests have sacrificed the interests of the party and the state of Goa," Chodankar said, adding that the Congress sympathises with the health-related issues which confront Parrikar. BJP's central overseers are expected to visit the state soon to monitor the ongoing developments and decide a political course for the party in view of Parrikar's ailing condition, even as coalition partners have been demanding a bigger role in a dispensation without Parrikar at the helm. The alliance partners, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and the Goa Forward, with three MLAs each, have demanded chief ministership for their senior leaders Sudin Dhavalikar and Vijai Sardesai, respectively. Parrikar, who is suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer, was airlifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital for treatment. Since February this year, Parrikar has been in and out of hospitals in Mumbai, the US, Goa and now in Delhi owing to his ailment. His absence and his inability to officiate hands-on has been criticised by the opposition, civil society and also by the ruling alliance partners. Chodankar in his statement said that nobody is happy with the piquant political situation Goa is in at the moment. "No one in Goa is happy, BJP is not happy, allies are not happy, people of Goa are unhappy, bureaucrats and government officers are unhappy, even CM and ministers are unhappy. This happens when you don't respect people's mandate. BJP and its allies should take up responsibility of this mess created in Goa over the last 16 months," Chodankar said. The Congress had won more seats than the BJP in the 2017 state Assembly polls, but sluggish leadership and decision-making by the party's leaders and quick thinking by the BJP helped the latter cobble up a coalition with regional parties and Independent legislators to form the government. --IANS maya/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress on Saturday sought to fix accountability of Prime Minister Modi and Finance Minister Jaitley in the Rs 90,000 crore "loot of public money" and the escape of 23 fugitives, including Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. It also demanded an "impartial investigation" into it. "BJP is more loyal to 'con-man' than to a common man. PM Modi only promoted 'ease of looting and fleeing India" rather than promoting ease of doing business in India," said Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill. The party also released a list of 23 fugitives who fled under this government and are settled abroad. "The law-breaking and government organised escape episodes of Mallya, Nirav Modi and Chowksi prove beyond doubt that Modi Sarkar is not a guardian or protector of public money but a travel agency facilitating fraud and happy safe flying of willful bank loan defaulters," said Shergill. "BJP provides the "chor darwaza" (escape door) to all wilful defaulters looking to run away with public money," he added. The party stated total banking fraud cases from year 2014-2018 are 23,000. "Total amount involved in banking scams: Rs. 90,000 crore. In 2014-15 (Rs. 19,455 crore), 2015-16 (Rs. 18,698 crore), 2016-17 (Rs. 23,933 crore), 2017-18 (Rs. 25,459 crore)," the party stated. The leader said: "It is high time political and legal accountability is fixed on the Modi government as to how and under whose instructions the law enforcement agencies decided to conveniently look away while the 23 fugitives left India," he added. --IANS sid/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has said that the conservative employees at the social media service "dont feel safe to express their opinions" at work. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey - like his counterparts at Facebook and YouTube - has consistently said that his service isn't biased. "But the people who build Twitter are biased, Dorsey admitted in an interview last month, saying out loud what everyone already knew: Twitter, like most tech companies in Silicon Valley, has a lot more left-leaning employees than right-leaners," Recode reported on Friday. Twitter is so liberal, in fact, that conservative employees "don't feel safe to express their opinions" within the company, the report added. "We have a lot of conservative-leaning folks in the company as well, and to be honest, they don't feel safe to express their opinions at the company," Dorsey was quoted as saying. "They do feel silenced by just the swirl of what they perceive to be the broader percentage of leanings within the company, and I don't think that's fair or right," Dorsey added. The Twitter CEO also explained why he brought up Twitter's left-leaning employee bias to begin with. "I think it's more and more important to at least clarify what our own bias leans towards, and just express it," he said. "I'd rather know what someone biases to rather than try to interpret through their actions," he added. --IANS vc/anp (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday said the party would take a decision at an appropriate time about finding an alternative leader to ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. "For now, we only wish Parrikar a speedy recovery. The party will take a decision at an appropriate time," Shah said at a news conference here when asked if the Bharatiya Janata Party has taken a decision to find an alternative leader. Parrikar, who is suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer, headed to New Delhi on Saturday for further treatment and examination at the All India Institute for Medical Sciences (AIIMS). A central team of BJP observers is expected to arrive in Goa and meet legislators and representatives of allied parties, while also finalising an alternative leader of the BJP-led coalition government in Parrikar's absence. --IANS ms/anp/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The decision on release of seven convicts in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination case will be taken in a just and fair manner, Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit's office said in a statement here on Saturday. The statement also denied media reports about making a reference to the Union Home Ministry by Governor Purohit. "It is clarified that no reference has been made to the Ministry of Home Affairs in the matter. The case is a complex one and involves the examination of legal, administrative and constitutional issues," the Raj Bhavan statement said. "The records which are voluminous are being received from the state government, with the connected judgments having been handed over to Raj Bhavan on 14/09/2018 only. All efforts will be taken to process the papers scrupulously. Necessary consultation may be carried out, when required, in due course. The decision will be taken in a just and fair manner and in accordance with the Constitution," the statement added. On September 9, the Tamil Nadu government decided to recommend to Governor Purohit the release of seven convicts serving life term for the assassination of Gandhi. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister K. Palaniswami. Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar told reporters on that day the decision was taken after the Supreme Court asked Purohit to consider the mercy petition of A.G. Perarivalan, serving life term for the 1991 assassination of Gandhi, for release under Article 161 of the Constitution. Jayakumar said though the apex court had given its order in the petition filed by Perarivalan, the state government had decided to recommend to the Governor the issue of his release as well as six other convicts as they had also sent their mercy petitions. The other six are V. Sriharan alais Murugan, T. Suthendraraja alais Santhan, Jayakumar, Robert Payas, Ravichandran and Nalini Sriharan, wife of Sriharan. They include both Indians and Sri Lankans. All seven have been in prison since 1991, the year a woman Tamil Tiger suicide bomber blew up Rajiv Gandhi at an election rally near Chennai. Jayakumar said the Supreme Court is the highest court and the cabinet decision was taken based on its decision. He said the Governor has to agree with the Cabinet decision. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was blamed for the assassination of Gandhi. The Sri Lankan military crushed the Tamil Tigers in 2009. --IANS vj/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A District Judge on Saturday dismissed a transfer petition of former Uttar Pradesh minister and senior Samajwadi Party leader Gayatri Prasad Prajapati in over three-year-old false rape case. Prajapati's transfer petition was in response to a government's revision petition which came after a few sections in the police chargesheet filed against Prajapati in 2017 were removed. Activist Nutan Thakur had filed a case against Prajapati accusing him of framing her, her husband and senior IPS officer Amitabh Thakur in a false rape case. After the Lucknow police's chargesheet against the former minister, the chief judicial magistrate of Lucknow had taken cognizance of it, but some sections of it were removed. Prajapati presented a transfer petition making allegations against Additional District Judge (ADJ) Mukesh Kumar Singh-II, which was opposed by the petitioner. The Lucknow district judge on Saturday dismissed the transfer petition calling the allegations baseless and directed the ADJ to decide the revision petition at the earliest. Gayatri Prajapati was a powerful minister in the Akhilesh Yadav government and was close both to the then chief minister and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav. --IANS md/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Top UN officials welcomed the outcomes of the Global Climate Action Summit that concluded here on Friday, showcasing a surge of climate action and commitments from regions, cities, businesses, investors and civil society; and calling on governments everywhere to step up their efforts to tackle climate change. Leaders from all sectors of society gathered at the event to demonstrate how they are taking ambition to the next level with a wave of fresh and brave climate action announcements that, if implemented, will generate over 65 million new, low-carbon jobs by 2030. "We are experiencing huge economic losses due to climate change," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "But the Global Climate Action Summit has brought together actors demonstrating the vast opportunity afforded by climate action. They are betting on green because they understand this is the path to prosperity and peace on a healthy planet." This momentum culminated in a landmark Call to Action, which was presented to UN's Envoy on Youth Jayathma Wickramanayake in a symbolic gesture to illustrate that it is future generations who will be most affected by the decisions of the current generation to build a better, more resilient world. Accepting the Summit's Call to Action on behalf of the United Nations, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa said: "This Summit and its Call to Action make an important contribution towards achieving our collective goal: to keep global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius in line with the Paris Agreement." "It will encourage governments worldwide to step up their actions, demonstrating the vital role that states and regions, cities, companies, investors, and civil society are playing to tackle climate change." The event took place against a background of accelerating impacts of climate change, including Super Typhoon Mangkhut expected to make landfall on Saturday and Hurricane Florence, which continues to devastate communities on the east coast of the US. The UN highlighted the vital role of non-party stakeholders in propelling the global fight against climate change forward, in an excerpt of their Emissions Gap Report launched at the Summit. "Climate change is undoubtedly the defining issue of our time, and working together across nations, organizations and communities is the only way that we can tackle this enormous task and seize the huge opportunities," said head of UN Erik Solheim. "We have seen here over the past few days the inspiring amount of work that is already being undertaken by communities around the world to address these issues. If we manage to put our first, we can come out on the other end of this formidable challenge and achieve our common goal, a sustainable world for all." Espinosa's speech at the closing ceremony underscored the need for all actors to embrace 'inclusive multilateralism', strongly mirroring the UN Secretary-General's remarks on Monday in New York, where he called on leaders to adopt a sense of urgency to deliver a decisive response to climate change. This spirit of collaboration is in keeping with the history of San Francisco, which witnessed the signing of the UN Charter in 1945, first establishing a rules-based international order that championed multilateralism over self-interest, and endorsed progress not through conflict, but through all people working together. Over the last three days, Californian Governor Jerry Brown has played host to an official programme of events that generated more than 500 commitments. Participants used these events to unveil new commitments under five challenge areas -- healthy energy systems, inclusive economic growth, sustainable communities, land and ocean stewardship, and transformative climate investments -- captured in the Summit's final communique and registered on UN's revamped Climate Action Portal -- aimed to send a strong signal to governments to step up action by 2020, when global emissions need to peak and then swiftly decline. (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 vg/pgh/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The North Korean Foreign Affairs Ministry has claimed that a hacker allegedly responsible for debilitating cyber attacks against Sony and the global WannaCry ransomware outbreak does not exist, media reported. The statement came after the US Department of Justice (DoJ) last week indicted Park Jin Hyok, the North Korean hacker, for being reportedly responsible for the series of attacks. US officials said that Park is believed to be a member of North Korea's military intelligence outfit the Reconnaissance Bureau, as well as a suspected member of Lazarus, a hacking group which has been linked to a string of attacks against everything from banks to government agencies, ZDNet reported on Friday. However, if North Korea is to be believed, the hacker is nothing more than a figment of the US law enforcement's imagination, the report added. In a statement on Friday, Han Yong Song, an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Park is a "non-entity" and "the act of cyber crimes mentioned by the Justice Department has nothing to do with us." The ministry added that any allegations of cyber espionage or hacking are nothing more than "vicious slander" and a "smear campaign" which has the potential to disrupt talks between US President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. "The US should seriously ponder over the negative consequences of circulating falsehoods and inciting antagonism against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) that may affect the implementation of the joint statement adopted at the DPRK-US summit," the official was quoted as saying by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The WannaCry ransomware outbreak is a more recent cyber attack which caused extensive damage and disruption to businesses and organizations worldwide. The ransomware, which leveraged vulnerabilities in the Windows file-sharing protocol Server Message Block (SMB), compromised an estimated 3,00,000 PCs worldwide and struck organizations including the UK's National Health Service (NHS), US hospitals and banks. The total financial losses have been pegged at $4 billion. --IANS vc/anp/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday demanded Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar resign following reports of the state police had refused to file an FIR and launch an investigation in a gangrape case. Kejriwal said the police showed lack of sensitivity in registering an FIR and delayed its investigation, resulting in rapists making good their escape. "Khattar (saheb) should resign. People want a government which is honest," Kejriwal tweeted. According to the report, the girl despite her condition had to travel all the way to Kanina on Friday to make a police statement. "Even after that, only three men were named in the FIR whereas her family has alleged the involvement of 12. Police also refused to make arrests, citing lack of staff who, they claimed, had been deployed at the CM's programme in Mahendragarh," it said. --IANS sd/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian Army soldier was killed on Saturday in Pakistani firing on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Ministry sources said. The Pakistan Army violated ceasefire in Laam area of Nowshera sector earlier in the day. "A soldier of Gorkha Rifles was fatally hit by a sniper fire from Pakistan side on the LoC. The soldier died before he could be hospitalised," the sources added. --IANS sq/ksk (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has refused to reveal the exact full price of each Rafale aircraft fitted with weaponry, saying that "information leaked about the weapon systems can ultimately help Pakistan and China." Sitharaman said in 'Aap Ki Adalat' programme on India TV that 36 Rafale fighter jets being purchased by government from France were nine per cent cheaper than the price negotiated by the previous UPA government. According to an India TV release, she described as "white lie" the allegation made by the Congress that the approval of Cabinet Committee on Security was not taken for the Rafale deal. "Saraasar jhoot hai (It's a plain lie). The PM visited Paris in 2015, where a memorandum of interest was signed. There was no need for CCS approval for this. Only after the prices were finalized, the Inter-Governmental Agreement was signed in September 2016, and for this the final approval of CCS was taken in August that year," she said. Asked what happened to assertions by BJP leaders that if the party came to power, it "will get 10 heads in reply to two beheadings (by Pakistan Army)", Sitharaman said. "kaat to rahe hain, display nahin kar rahen" (heads are being cut off, but are not being displayed). To a query about why she was not revealing the full price for each Rafale aircraft as demanded by Congress President Rahul Gandhi, she said: "For whom is he worried? By leaking information (about weapon systems fitted on Rafale aircraft), whom is he trying to help? By demanding replies from us, who will ultimately benefit? This is what I am seriously asking. Is it Pakistan, or China? Those countries which keep an evil eye on us will benefit. Do we have to do this? I am sorry that the president of the oldest political party sitting in the opposition is demanding this." She said the government had disclosed the basic price of Rafale aircraft in Parliament, but Gandhi was comparing the basic price of Rafale aircraft with the final price, which he believes is Rs 1,600 crore. "I do not know from where he got this figure. Even a child can understand this. He should compare basic prices." Answering a query, she said: "We are very close to reaching "10i", meaning capability for 10 days intensive war. Sitharaman said the talks for purchasing Rafale fighter aircraft began in 2007 during UPA regime and then they were put in cold storage for five years. "In December, 2011 or January, 2012, it was announced that the basic price of each Rafale aircraft would be Rs 520 crore. Had the UPA government then purchased these aircraft at that rate in 2012, then the first of the 18 flyaway aircraft would have come by 2015 or 2016. By then, three per cent cost escalation per year would have come into force, and by 2015-16 it would have gone up to Rs 738 crore per aircraft." On Rahul Gandhi's charge that Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd was overlooked in offsets, the Defence Minister said that HAL was already overburdened and its production capacity was less. She said the government has given Rs 22,000 crore worth orders every year to HAL compared to Rs 10,000 crore during UPA government and had also placed orders of 83 more Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). Sitharaman clarified that any offset deal with a private company was out of the purview of the Inter-Governmental Agreement and it was a commercial decision. "No company has been named in the IGA." She pointed out that Indian Air Force's squadrons had come down from 42 to 33, and therefore, the deal was done at a fast pace. "For 10 years they did nothing and sat on the files. Now when we have bought 36 Rafale aircraft to raise the operational efficiency of IAF, they are saying we have played with the nation's security. Who really played with the nation's security?" --IANS ps/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of diverse but like-minded individuals, the members of ARC have come together in their common desire to fight hatred, bigotry, intolerance and violence because of the harm these antisocial behaviors cause to our society. In that effort, we will not use or sanction the use of illegal actions (such as violence or intimidation) in pursuit of our desired aims and if we learn of anyone who does use these unethical methods we will report those individuals to the authorities. Instead, we will use the guarantees found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that ensure freedom of legal speech and expression. Iran would increase uranium enrichment if the European Union (EU) fails to implement its obligations following the US withdrawal from the Iranian landmark nuclear deal, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Saturday. "The Europeans and the other signatories must act in order to compensate for the effects of the US sanctions," Zarif was quoted as saying by Press TV. He downplayed the possibility of Iran's withdrawal from the nuclear deal, but cautioned the EU partners that Iran might act if they fail to secure Iran's interests in the deal. "Oil and banks" are the "litmus test," he said, alluding to the EU pledges to help Tehran in the face of US re-imposition of sanctions on Iran's oil exports and banking transactions. European parties need to decide whether being ready to follow their words, Zarif said, adding that "they should also decide if they want to submit to US pressure." Iran and six world powers, namely Russia, Britain, China, France, the United States and Germany, struck a landmark agreement over Iran's nuclear programme in 2015, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). However, US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw Washington from the deal on May 8 and re-impose sanctions, including oil embargo, on Iran. Iran has held several rounds of talks with France, Britain and Germany to revive the blocking statute, a 1996 regulation that prohibits EU companies and courts from complying with foreign sanctions laws. Iran has incessantly urged Europe to take "practical and tangible measures" to protect Iranian interests since the US pullout. --IANS ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The elections to urban local bodies will be held in Jammu and Kashmir in four phases beginning on October 8, said a senior State Election Commission officer. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state Shaleen Kabra told a media conference in Srinagar on Saturday that the municipal polls will be conducted in four phases in the state on October 8, 10, 13 and 16. "These polls will start on October 8. Notification for phase 1 will be issued on September 18. The notifications for phase 2, 3 and 4 will be issued on September 20, 22 and 24, respectively. "17 lakh voters are registered for the polls," Kabra said. With this announcement, all speculations about the deferment of these polls have been laid to rest. Two major regional mainstream parties, the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have announced that they will stay away from these polls. On the other hand, the Congress Party has said the situation is not conducive for holding these polls around this time. Separatists have asked people to boycott both municipal and Panchayat polls in the state. --IANS sq/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After nearly three decades of Manohar Parrikar's complete dominance over the affairs of state BJP, the party is now looking at life in Goa without him, who is battling advanced pancreatic cancer and was airlifted to New Delhi's prestigious AIIMS on Saturday. With apparently chances of Parrikar's return to active bleak, life doesn't appear all that smooth for the Goa BJP leadership, at least for now, as it is already battling crises of lack of credible successors, skeptical alliance partners who have sniffed the weakness, and the possibility of an ugly succession battle for power in Parrikar's absence. For now, several core Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Goa seem to be in favour of dissolution of the state assembly, instead of allowing leaders from other alliance parties to head the coalition. Barely hours after Parrikar took off in a specially chartered flight to the national capital on the instructions of the BJP high command, alliance partners Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and the Goa Forward have already started scrapping publicly over sharing of power. "The BJP should appoint the senior-most leader in-charge. Goa has already suffered because of lack of leadership. We need to fill that void," state MGP chief Dipak Dhavalikar told reporters, throwing his party MLA, brother and Public Works Department Minister Sudin Dhavalikar's hat in the ring for the post of officiating Chief Minister. However, Goa Forward president and Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai has already rejected the option to make Dhavalikar the Deputy Chief Minister, with an ailing Parrikar continuing in the top post. Both parties had contested the 2017 Assembly poll on an anti-BJP plank but had later joined the BJP-led coalition government on the condition that only Parrikar should head the coalition. Another proposition, which was discussed by Dhavalikar with the BJP leadership about merging his regional party MGP with the BJP, has seen stiff resistance from the cadres of both parties. Last week, state Congress president Girish Chodankar in a letter to Goa Governor Mridula Sinha had asked her not to consider the possibility of dissolution of the state Assembly and invite the Congress, which has more MLAs than the BJP in the 40-member House, to form the government instead of dissolving the House. Party leaders say, under the current scenario, the best option would be Union Minister of State for AYUSH and North Goa MP Shripad Naik, who is a popular leader of the OBC, a significant vote bank which is peeved at the "pro-Brahmin politics" orchestrated with Parrikar at the helm of state and party affairs. "Shripad is widely acceptable, both as a person and a politician. His nature is to take everyone along," a BJP leader said. There are also talks within the party about a possible anti-incumbency factor working for Naik in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. Getting Naik, a three-time MP from North Goa, back into the state would serve well for the party instead. Elder to Parrikar by three years, Naik, 65, is complete counterfoil to Parrikar's personality. While Parrikar is a sharp, incisive and intimidating, Naik is warm, gentle and known for his warm camaraderie. Naik, in a way, has also been at the receiving end of Parrikar's style of functioning, which did not allow any second power centre in Goa to develop. The other options being touted within the party are Speaker Pramod Sawant and state BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar. While Sawant's candidature has been opposed by alliance partners, Tendulkar could emerge as the dark horse in the BJP's quest for a homegrown CM. (Mayabhushan Nagvenkar can be contacted at mayabhushan.n@ians.in) --IANS maya/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CBI on Saturday defended its Joint Director A.K. Sharma saying the 'look out circular notice' against fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya was not changed "individually" but the decision was taken at the "appropriate level". The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also clarified that the change in the LOC against Mallya was done as there was no sufficient ground to arrest or detain him. "Some baseless allegations have been made by certain individuals against a senior CBI officer. THe CBI has stated many times that the decision to change the LOC against Mallya was taken because at the time there was not sufficient ground for the agency to detain or arrest him," CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said. "The decision was taken at the appropriate level as a part of process and not individually by the officer as alleged," he said. The CBI's response came soon after Congress President Rahul Gandhi accused Sharma, who is a Gujarat IPS officer, of helping Mallya to escape from the country. Gandhi said that Sharma, who was posted in the CBI in 2015, was also "in charge of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi's escape plans". "CBI Joint Director A.K. Sharma, weakened Mallya's 'look-out' notice, allowing Mallya to escape. Sharma, a Gujarat cadre officer, is the PM's blue-eyed boy in the CBI. The same officer was in charge of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi's escape plans. Ooops...investigation!" Gandhi tweeted. Earlier this week, the Congress leader had accused Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of "colluding" with Mallya to help him flee the country and demanded his resignation. The agency official said that CBI received complaint against Nirav Modi and the owner of the Gitanjali Group from Punjab National Bank (PNB) almost a month after they had left the country. "Therefore the question of any CBI officer having any hand in their fleeing the country does not arise. Prompt action was taken by CBI in the case immediately after the complaint was received from the bank," Dayal added. Mallya, who left India on March 2, 2016, faces charges of defrauding banks to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore. Mallya is currently in London where a court finished hearing on India's extradition case against him on Wednesday and is due to pronounce its verdict on December 10. Choksi and Nirav Modi are under probe by both the CBI and ED. The ED had on May 24 and 26 filed chargesheets against both. The court took cognisance and issued non-bailable warrants against them. Nirav Modi left India along with his family in the first week of January, weeks before the scam was reported to the CBI. His wife Ami, a US citizen, left on January 6 and Choksi on January 4. A Red Corner Notice has been issued by the Interpol against Nirav Modi his brother Neeshal Modi and sister Purvi Modi, who are Belgian citizens. The RCN request against Choksi is still pending with the Interpol. Choksi had acquired Antiguan citizenship in January this year. --IANS aks/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed the Indo-Tibetian Border Police (ITBP) personnel for always being there for the people in the hour of need and also for participating in the cleanliness campaign. "I would like to extend my regards to ITBP personnel. You are always there in the hour of need whether it be on borders or during a calamity. You have made the country clean by being a part of this mission," Modi said during the launch of 14-day 'Swachhata Hi Seva Movement' through his NaMo application, which will go on till October 2. Interacting with the Prime Minister, Sadhguru of Isha Foundation said: "Today level of enthusiasm towards Swachhata campaign is visible and I see this during my travels. "The necessary impetus in this direction was needed. Tremendous things have happened, thanks to our Prime Minister. It is great that the Prime Minister is talking about such things. "Swachh Bharat is not a movement of any government or any Prime Minister. This is a nation's movement." Sadhguru also highlighted on how the drainage system of the world's oldest civilisation of Mohenjo-daro had left the British in awe. "We are a nation with over 10,000 years of culture. The drainage systems of Mohenjo-daro had left even the British in awe. India has a long history of both personal and public hygiene," Sadhguru added. Earlier, Modi also appealed to the cooperative sector to continue their efforts in furthering cleanilness while interacting with the citizens from Gujarat for sharing their experiences. "Uncleanliness damages the health of the poor. It pushes them into illness. Diseases like diarrhoea spread due to uncleanliness. It costs lakhs of lives every year. And we should feel happy that due to the cleanliness movement there have been drastic fall in the number of deaths due to diarrhoea," the Prime Minister added. "Thus, I appeal to the cooperative sector to continue their efforts in furthering cleanliness." Modi while interacting with the citizens from Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh, hailed them for using the Gobar-dhan (dung) scheme. "People of Rajgarh have used the gobar-dhan scheme seriously. Working towards making people aware about cleanliness is a different thing but to tackle with the waste that we produce is the biggest hurdle. Thus, we have to make waste management more effective," Modi stressed. He said that the government is taking serious efforts towards converting waste to wealth. --IANS aks/anp/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea has resumed flights between Pyongyang and the Chinese city of Dalian amid signs of improving ties between the allies, the media reported on Saturday. According to local tourism agencies, a passenger plane of Air Koryo, the North's flag carrier, landed in the airport in Dalian on Thursday and returned to Pyongyang with nearly 70 people on board, Yonhap News Agency reported. This marked the first North Korean airplane that had flown between the two cities since November 2006. There will be such flights every Thursday and Sunday. The resumption of the Pyongyang-Dalian flights may reflect improving bilateral ties between North Korea and China after chilled relations over the North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently sent Li Zhanshu, Beijing's third-ranked official, as his special envoy to Pyongyang on the occasion of the North's 70th founding anniversary. Li was seated next to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a military parade staged last week, and the North also hosted an art performance and banquet exclusively for Li and his delegation in an apparent bid to emphasize friendly ties between the two countries. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A total of 1,05,299 duplicate/fake voters appeared in Jaipurs electoral rolls and all these have been deleted, said district collector Siddharth Mahajan on Saturday. had recently complained to the Commission demanding a probe into duplicate voters. The state department identified the duplicate names with the help of a software, sources said. The software once installed starts recognising faces and names which are similar. It identifies 20 such people in a group which was highlighted in the list. After reviewing its status, these were removed from electoral list, souces said. The process of identifying duplicate voters will continue till September 20 and the right figure will be known after the process is over, said official sources. Meanwhile, the duplicate/fake voter figure is 24,197 in Ajmer, 24,053 in Alwar, 32,886 in Banswara, 13,211 in Bara and 128 in Barmer. These names have also been deleted, said sources. Mahajan informed that names of 1,05,299 names have been removed from voters list in 19 assembly constituencies in Jaipur while the process is on to resolve the objections received in the matter. Meanwhile, Chief Commissioner and Election Commissioners, and Ashok Lawasa, are making a two-day tour to on September 17-18 to monitor the preparations in the state for the forthcoming Assembly elections, said chief electoral officer Assembly polls in the state are due later this year. Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday headed to the national capital via a special chartered flight for further treatment and examination at the All India Institute for Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Parrikar, who is suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer, also held meetings with Speaker Pramod Sawant and Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo amid talks of distribution of some portfolios currently being looked after by him. "Portfolios would be distributed today to existing ministers so that the administration of Goa can run smoothly and ministers can take decisions on any files. He will distribute 48 portfolios, but will keep two or three like Home, Finance, GAD for himself," Lobo told reporters after meeting Parrikar at a private hospital in the beach village of Candolim, located 15 km from Panaji. Apart from holding key portfolios, Parrikar is holding charge of ministries allocated to Francis D'Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar, both of whom have been hospitalised due to severe ailments. A central team of Bharatiya Janata Party observers is also expected to arrive in Goa and meet legislators and representatives of allied parties, while also finalising an alternative leader of the BJP-led coalition government in Parrikar's absence. Lobo also said, that the decision of change of leadership has not been taken yet and that Parrikar would continue as the Chief Minister. "This can be only discussed at a time when he cannot continue anymore. Till then it is not right to discuss. The national leaders will discuss with core committee. If that need arises, only then a decision on change will be taken," he added. Parrikar has been in and out of hospitals in the US, Mumbai and Goa since February. The Chief Minister's continued absence from office has been a subject of criticism among the Opposition as well as civil society. --IANS maya/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pope Francis was in Sicily on Saturday to mark the 25th anniversary of the killing of a priest at the hands of a local criminal organization. Giuseppe "Pino" Puglisi was shot and killed on the orders of the local mafia "Cosa Nostra", ("Our Thing") on his 56th birthday in the city of Palermo in 1993. The perpetrators were sentenced to life in prison, the BBC reported. The priest was renowned for working with young people to keep them away from drugs and the mafia. The Pope addressed the faithful at Palermo's Piazza Europa and was scheduled to visit Puglisi's parish in the working-class neighbourhood of Brancaccio. "Be afraid of the deafness of not listening to people. Listening to people is what Father Pino (Puglisi's nickname) did, poor among the poor of his land," he said. Italian President Sergio Mattarella said: "The Republic recognizes in Puglisi the civil martyr, who died for those values of solidarity, justice, equality and respect for the inviolable rights of the person." The priest's murder came at a time when mafia violence against opponents of their influence was of particularly grave concern. Puglisi was declared a "martyr" who was "killed by hatred of the faith" by Pope Francis' predecessor Benedict XVI in 2012. He was beatified five years ago. Pope Francis has previously denounced the mafia, calling for the excommunication of mobsters. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday held a one-on-one meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in the Afghan capital where the region's security situation and bilateral relations were discussed. This was Qureshi's first foreign trip after assuming office. Upon arrival at the Presidential Palace, the Pakistani Foreign Minister was received by his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani, Geo News reported. He was in Afghanistan for a day. The Office of the Afghan President, ARG Palace, said in a statement that the two sides discussed security, regional peace and stability, joint fight against terrorism, border management and other issues related to the Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity, Khaama Press reported. Qureshi also held delegation-level talks with the Afghan side during which bilateral trade matters and closure of the Pakistan Consulate General in Jalalabad due to a security crisis came under discussion. He was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and the Director-General for Afghan relations along with other officials. Qureshi separately met his Afghan counterpart Rabbani. The latter said that establishing peace was as important for Pakistan as for Afghanistan, while the Pakistani minister said that the sides should cooperate in dealing with various challenges. "Our challenges are similar and we have to deal with them through mutual cooperation," Qureshi said. He further said that there was a persistent need to focus on the working group in Afghanistan to move forward and proposed that a meeting between scholars from both sides could be arranged to resolve issues. Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry earlier said that "the main purpose of the Foreign Minister's visit was to improve coordination on security-related issues between the two countries". Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said that Qureshi's maiden foreign visit after assuming office underlined the importance that the government attaches to work closely with Afghanistan for regional peace and stability. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi arrived here on Saturday to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other senior officials during his first foreign trip after assuming office. "The main purpose of the Foreign Minister's visit is to improve coordination on security-related issues between the two countries," Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said. Qureshi will be in Afghanistan for a day. "Successful outcome of the visit will lead future efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation under bilateral frameworks of cooperation including Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity, Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Coordination Authority and Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Economic Commission etc," said Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal. He said that Qureshi's maiden foreign visit after assuming office underlined the importance that the government attaches to work closely with Afghanistan for regional peace and stability. Qureshi will be accompanied by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and the Director-General for Afghan relations along with other officials. The Pakistani delegation will also meet Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani. Apart from meeting Ghani, Qureshi will also meet Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. Bilateral trade matters, closure of the Pakistan Consulate General in Jalalabad due to a security crisis, terrorism and border management will be discussed among other matters, Geo News reported. The Pakistani Foreign Minister had expressed the wish to visit Afghanistan after taking office. Following that, his Afghan counterpart Rabbani extended an invitation to him to visit Kabul. Qureshi will also extend an invitation to the Afghan President on behalf of Prime Minister Imran Khan to visit Pakistan. --IANS soni/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday questioned Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on his silence over the scams in the state. "U-turn Specialist Nitish Kumar is silent on Srijan Scam, Toilet Scam, Paddy Scam, Scholarship Scam, Dam Scam, MGNREGA Scam, Uterus Scam, Medicine Scam, Recruitment Scam, BPSC Scam and 36 other Scams," Yadav tweeted. It was his father and RJD chief Lalu Prasad who had called Nitish Kumar the "Paltu Ram of politics" for breaking the Grand Alliance and forming a new government with the BJP last year. "Nitish Kumar is the Paltu Ram of He has again proved that he can do anything for power. He has neither principles nor ideology but only greed for power," Lalu Prasad had said. --IANS ik/anp/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Terry Crews said he has accepted WME agent Adam Venits apology. Crews tweeted a letter he received from the former WME agent earlier this year, reports variety.com. The "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" actor accused Venit of groping him at a Hollywood party in 2016, and filed a police report last November. Crews wrote on Twitter that he got Venit's letter in March, and accepted the apology on September 10, now that Venit has left the agency. Venit did not directly admit to Crews' allegations in the note, but wrote, "I know that you didn't ask for any of this. Again, I take responsibility for us being here now, together in this situation. I am sorry for all of it." "I want to use this moment to be a positive influence with you and not just another Hollywood story that becomes the narrative of who we both are. We both are so much more and have so much more to offer," Venit continued. "I even hope that someday we can come together and go forward with compassion and understanding, and be an amazing force for positivity and change in our culture." Venit is leaving WME less than a year after stepping down as the head of the company's motion picture department due to the sexual assault accusation waged by Crews, his former client. Venit was suspended for 30 days while the agency investigated the claims and was eventually cleared of charges. Crews filed a lawsuit, which is now in the process of being settled. Charges against Venit were also dismissed. --IANS nv/sug/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five-time former Meghalaya Chief Minister Donwa Dethwelson Lapang, who quit the Congress, on Saturday said he will not reconsider his decision despite request from party president Rahul Gandhi. The BJP, which is keenly observing the political developments in Meghalaya, said the Congress would need to explain why Lapang had left party with which he was associated for over four decades. Lapang, who is camping at Delhi, refused to received calls from Rahul Gandhi's office, a senior Congress leader said. "He is not receiving any phone calls and his mobile phone remained switched off," said the Congress leader. "I have resigned. There is no way that I am going to reconsider my decision," Lapang told IANS over phone in Delhi. Asked about the reason that made him to quit the Congress party, the former Chief Minister said, "I have stated it in my resignation letter." Sources close to Lapang said he felt humiliated by Congress embarking on a policy of "phasing out senior and elderly people." "In my opinion, it means that services and contributions of senior and elderly people are not 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 in the party," Lapang noted in his resignation letter to Gandhi. Responding to a query if Lapang would be accommodated as Governor, BJP national spokesperson Nalin Kohli said: "He is a senior leader. I am aware of Lapang's contributions, and he enjoys that respect. But I cannot really speak anything on this because when I am not in touch with him or he is in touch with me." --IANS rrk/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday travelled in normal Delhi traffic, without the customary protocol, and participated in a cleanliness drive at a school, volunteering for service. "The Prime Minister travelled to, and from the school, in normal traffic, and without customary protocol. No special traffic arrangements were made for his visit," an official statement said. The no-frills-security drive was a big surprise. "We were not briefed about the Prime Minister's visit. The traffic plied normal and there was no special arrangement," said a traffic police officer. Shortly after launching "Swachhata Hi Seva" movement, the Prime Minister interacted with common people and promenent personalities from diverse fields through video conferencing at 17 locations. The Prime Minister then travelled to the Babasaheb Ambedkar Higher Secondary School at the busy Rani Jhansi Road in central Delhi. He offered floral tributes to a statue of Ambedkar and participated in the cleanliness drive. He also interacted with the students and exhorted them to adopt cleanliness. This school campus was bought by Ambedkar in 1946 with an aim to advance the educational, social and economic well-being of the Scheduled Caste community. Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana said:"Modi is a humble prime minister and cares for "people. We have seen in the past also that he broke protocol to mingle with people," he said. --IANS sp-aks/ps (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A youth was killed in clashes between protesters and the security forces at the gunfight site in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district where five militants were killed by security forces on Saturday. Police said the protesters resorted to heavy stone pelting at the security forces in Chowgam village in Qazigund area. "Two protesters sustained gunshot injuries during these protests. Rouf Ahmad Ganai, 24, was shifted to hospital immediately after he sustained a firearm injury. He, however, succumbed en route to the hospital," a police officer said. Twenty other protesters have reportedly sustained injuries during the clashes. Two of them apparently received gunshot injuries. Five militants, three belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and two to the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), were killed in the gunfight that started late Friday evening and continued till the early hours of Saturday. --IANS sq/pgh/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac has said that the Centre has not given Kerala the money sought to rebuild the state. Moreover, the state is also not allowed to raise tax and money from other countries. Kerala did not know what to do, he said. The state requires at least Rs 60 billion for revenue expenditure towards relief, compensation, repair and maintenance. "Centre will hardly foot the bill. Do not have independent taxation power. Cannot accept support from countries. Cannot borrow for revenue exp. Any advice whats to be done?", tweeted ... Twelve activists of Congress students wing National Student Union of India (NSUI) were taken into custody on the charge of attacking vehicle of Pro Vice-Chancellor Pawan Kumar Poddar of Nilambar-Pitambar University in Palamu distrct on Friday, police said Saturday. The incident occurred when Poddar was returning on his car following inspection of the Ganesh Lal Agrwal college, they said. A group of NSUI activists waiting at the entrance of the college started pelting bricks on Poddars car damaging the window panes of the vehicle, the police said. Superintendent of Police, Indrajeet Mahatha said Poddar has sustained minor injury in the incident. A police team rushed to the spot applied minor force to disperse the activists, he said adding 12 persons have been taken into custody. NSUI staged the protest in support of their various demands related to academic issues. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 16-year-old girl was stabbed multiple times allegedly by a man here, police said Saturday. "On Friday evening, Ranju had gone to a cattle shed. As soon as she came out of the cattle shed, Santosh Kumar stabbed her multiple times," Superintendent of Police Pradeep Gupta told reporters. When she cried for help, Kumar immediately fled from the spot, he said. The girl was rushed to the community health centre (CHC) from where she was referred to the district hospital, the police said, adding that she succumbed to injuries on way to the district hospital. "A case has been registered against the accused, and efforts are on to nab him. The body of the girl has been sent for postmortem," the SP said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 23-year-old woman was allegedly raped by a man on the pretext of providing her a job in south Delhi's Sangam Vihar area, police said Saturday. In her complaint to the police, the victim alleged that she used to talk to a person named Atul Gupta who assured her that he would arrange a job for her, said Vijay Kumar, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (south). She claimed that the accused presented himself as a reputed personality. On September 2, Gupta called her at a cinema hall and offered a cold drink, Kumar said. When the victim consumed the drink, she felt dizzy following which the accused took her to a room in Shahpur Jatt in south Delhi, the woman said in her complaint. A medical examination of the victim was conducted at AIIMS and a case was registered in connection with the incident, the DCP said. During investigation, CCTV footages were examined which raised doubts on the veracity of the allegations levelled by the victim, the police said, adding that a probe into the matter was underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Haryana Police claimed to have seized demonetised currency worth Rs 1.43 crore from three persons. The seizure was made after police conducted a raid at a house in Navdeep Colony in the town on Friday night. Police spokesperson Harish Bhardwaj said on Saturday that the accused were identified as Guriqbal Singh, resident of Vikas Puri in New Delhi, Sunil of Girawar village in Rohtak district and Praveen Kumar of Samar Gopalpur village, Rohtak. During investigation, the accused admitted that they had procured demonetised notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 from a property dealer in Delhi by making a payment of Rs 7.50 lakh in the new currency. The police were yet to ascertain the purpose behind the purchase of the scrapped currency while the interrogation of the accused was underway, police spokesman said. A case has been registered in this regard, the spokesperson said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court was told by the police Friday that it has installed around 4,388 CCTV cameras in vulnerable areas of the national capital to ensure safety and security of women. The Delhi Police made the submission in an affidavit filed in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) moved in March this year by some lawyers for safety of women after a few women complained about "urine and semen-filled" balloons allegedly being hurled at them in and around North Campus of Delhi University. The petitioner lawyers have sought formulation of guidelines to ensure safety of women during occasions such as Holi and New Year. The affidavit of the Delhi Police was placed before a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao which did not hear the matter on Friday as one of the judges was not available. The court had on May 16 directed the police to indicate the status regarding installation of close circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the city. The police in its affidavit has also said that in the alleged incident regarding throwing of a "urine-filled balloon" at a woman in the campus area, the "complainant did not cooperate" and therefore, the case was marked as "untraced". With regard to the alleged throwing of a "semen-filled balloon", the police has said that the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) did not find any trace of semen on the complainant women's clothes. It said that it had arrested one person in March this year in connection with the second incident, but he was released on bail, adding that a charge sheet will be filed in the matter. Police said it was imparting self-defence training to women and also conducting programme to empower them. The petitioners, in their plea, have also sought setting up of women police control rooms (PCRs), increase in the number of women police booths and an anonymous drop box for written complaints, claiming that complainants are often bullied and harassed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four children sustained burn injuries when an explosion took place at a firecracker factory where they were working here Saturday, officials said. Jhansi District Magistrate Shiv Sahay Awasthi said the explosion took place in a firecracker factory. "At a licenced firecracker factory in Palra village, sudden explosion took place at around noon. Four children sustained burn injuries and have been admitted to Jhansi Medical College, where the condition of one of them is said to be critical," he said. "The labour department has been directed to initiate stringent actions against the erring factory owner for employing minors in the firecrack factory," the DM said. Search is underway to trace the factory owner Angad Gupta, he said. The district magistrate also said that action has been initiated to cancel the licence of the factory. He added that a case has been registered against the factory owner. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants, including the one involved in last year's deadly attack on a cash van in which five policemen and two bank guards lost their lives, were killed in an encounter Saturday in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. A civilian was killed and 10 others injured in clashes near the encounter site when protesting youths started pelting stones at the security forces, an official said. Security forces had launched a search operation late on Friday night in Chowgam area of Qazigund in south Kashmir's Kulgam district based on inputs about the presence of militants in the area, a police spokesman said. He said during the search operation, militants fired on the search party. "First, the civilians were moved away from the site of encounter to safer locations. Security forces then engaged the terrorists," the spokesman said. He said in the ensuing gunfight, five militants were killed. "This was a group of terrorists belonging to proscribed outfits HM and LeT," the spokesman said. He said the killed militants were identified as Gulzar Ahmad Paddar alias Saif, a resident of Adijan, Kulgam, Faisal Ahmad Rather alias Dawood (Yamrach, Kulgam), Zahid Ahmad Mir alias Hashim (Okey, Kulgam), Masroor Molvi alias Abu Darda (Fatehpora, Anantnag); and Zahoor Ahmad Lone alias Rehman Bhai (Kulgam). The spokesman said Paddar was a close associate of Altaf Kachroo, a top HM commander who was killed in an encounter in Anantnag last month. "Paddar was involved in a series of terror attacks including the killings of five police personnel at Pambay last year (on May 1) along with two bank employees," the spokesman said, referring to the attack on a cash van. Militants had then pulled five police personnel and two bank employees out of the van and shot them at point blank range, the spokesman said. He said Paddar was also involved in the killing of a special police officer at Krewan Chidder in Kulgam. "Besides, he was involved in looting police guards at Damhaal and weapon snatching cases reported across Kulgam and many other bank robbery cases attempted in the area," the spokesman said. Mir was wanted for his involvement in the killing of policeman Fayaz Ahmad of Zainapora on Eid last month, he said, adding Rather was involved in the killing of policeman Gowhar Ahmad in Shopian last year. "Lone and Molvi were involved in a series of terror offences besides recruitment bid in the locality," the spokesman said. Arms and ammunition were also seized from the site of encounter, the spokesman said. Clashes broke out near the site of the encounter as groups of youths started pelting stones at the forces, leading to the death of one civilian and injuries to 10 others, a police official said. Security forces used tear smoke shells, pellets and opened fire to quell the protests, he said. Train services between Baramulla and Qazigund and mobile internet services in Anantnag and Kulgam were suspended by authorities who feared law and order problems after the encounter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Punjab and Haryana High Court Saturday night maintained its order of granting permission to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to hold rally at Faridkot tomorrow. In the morning, the single bench of Justice R K Jain granted permission to the SAD for holding 'Pol Khol' rally at Faridkot. Later, in the day, Punjab Advocate General Atul Nanda, representing the state government, challenged the single bench's order in the double bench, claiming that they were not "heard". However, the double bench of the court directed the state to approach the bench of Justice R K Jain to challenge the order. The court of Justice Jain maintained its earlier order of granting permission to the SAD with minor modifications. The proceedings in the court of the single bench commenced at 8 pm and the directions came at around 9 pm. In its order, the court has changed the route plan whereby Akali supporters will have to reach Kotkapura from Bajakhana via Jaitu instead of going via Bargari, for the rally, said Damanbir Singh Sodhi, counsel for Akali Dal in the evening. "We have also been asked to reach Faridkot from Kotkapura via new highway instead of old city," said Sodhi. "Democratic principles of the country have been upheld by the court," he said. Earlier, in the day, the Single bench granted the permission to the Shiromani Akali Dal to hold rally at Faridkot tomorrow. Besides, Justice R K Jain also directed the Punjab government to provide adequate security to avoid any untoward incident in the wake of rally. The directions came after opposition party on Friday moved the high court, seeking directions to the concerned authorities to grant permission for holding a rally. The petitioner Akali Dal spokesman and former minister Daljit Singh Cheema said, "The court also put a stay on the order of the Faridkot SDM who denied the permission to hold rally." The court also issued a notice of motion for September 17 to seek reply of the state government. Meanwhile, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said the Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld the highest values of democracy by "snuffing out" the Congress attempts to use "repressive means to muzzle the voice of democracy by arbitrarily denying permission" for the party's 'Pol Khol' rally. On Friday, the district administration of Faridkot had denied Akali Dal to hold a 'Pol Khol' rally, citing apprehension of violence. The police had apprehended that there could be violence between Akali workers and radical Sikhs protesting at Bargari about 40 km from the venue. Earlier also on September 5, a clash took place between Akali workers and radical Sikhs in Faridkot. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An American law professor was detained by Israeli police for allegedly trying to block Israeli troops in a West Bank village slated for demolition, his Israeli lawyer said Saturday. Frank Romano, 66, is being held at a lockup in Jerusalem and is to appear before an Israeli military court Monday, said attorney Gaby Lasky. She said she is trying to get a hearing sooner, before a civil court. Romano, who reportedly also has French citizenship, was detained Friday in the embattled village of Khan al-Ahmar, along with two Palestinian activists. Romano stood in front of heavy equipment being used to clear barriers that had been set up to slow demolition, witnesses said. Israeli police said three people were detained for causing disturbances. Romano was initially taken to a West Bank police station where he briefly met with activists from an Israeli-Palestinian group, Combatants for Peace. Nahoum Oltchik, a member of the group, said Romano told him he had started a hunger strike and would refrain from eating until Israel had halted plans to raze Khan al-Ahmar, a hamlet of 180 Palestinians. Romano's LinkedIn page says that he teaches law, literature, history and philosophy at the Universit Paris Ouest Nanterre La Dfense in France, and that he practices law in the U.S. and France. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five-time former world champion Viswanathan Anand will be the major star attraction in the upcoming Tata Steel Chess India rapid and blitz tournament here from November 9-14. It was an emotional moment for Anand when the Indian ace Saturday said he would return to Kolkata to play in a GM competition after a gap of 32 years. "I remember playing my first GM tournament in Kolkata in 1986 -- that was also a Tata Steel event here. I was an International Master then," Anand said during the announcement. The USD 40,000 prize money tournament will feature three top players in the 2800-plus Elo rating, it was announced here. The top players include Azerbaijan GM and world number three Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Armenian GM and world number six Levon Aronian, USA's GM Wesley So who is world number 9, Japanese-American GM and four-time United States champion Hikaru Nakamura who is world number 14 and Russian GM Sergey Karjakin (world number 15). "There's a lot of excitement to play here. Hope it revitalises the chess in the region," the 48-year-old who is currently ranked 10 in the world said. Anand regained some form at the Sinquefield Cup that ended in August in St Louis, US, after a run of uninspiring performances since May. The first Indian to become a chess GM, Anand went undefeated in the tournament, though he did not manage any wins either, and finished sixth out of 10 participants. Anand is part of the Indian contingent for the Chess Olympiad later this month. It will be his first appearance in the tournament since 2006. Apart from the Indian chess wizard, the Indian GMs include P Harikrishna, Surya Sekhar Ganguly, Vidit Gujarati, Nihal Sarin, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa as a total of 11 top-ranked players will comepte in the meet at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The participants will play a single round robin (all play all) rapid tournament from November 9-11 followed by a double round robin blitz on the last two days. With an aim to make this a long-term event, Tata Steel vice president Sunil Bhaskaran said: "We hope it's not a one-off event, there's definitely a plan and it's just the beginning." "The idea is to get it into classical format. We are just starting out with the fifty and Twenty overs (rapid and blitz) versions," he said. Tata Steel has a long-standing association with chess having been the main sponsor of the Wijk aan Zee meet in the Netherlands. "Tata Steel intends to make this a world class and most sought-after event in professional chess in the years to come," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the wake of the Haryana gangrape incident, NCP MP Supriya Sule Friday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi if laws that are meant to prevent atrocities against women were really being implemented. She said the PM should break his silence over the issue. A 19-year-old student was allegedly raped by three men in Haryana's Mahendergarh district after being abducted Wednesday afternoon. "As a woman, I demand justice from the prime minister who speaks about 'Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao'," Sule said in a statement. "There is nothing to show what is said is being implemented. There are laws to prevent atrocities against women, but are these laws being implemented? Modi should break his silence and respond," the Lok Sabha MP from Baramati said. Citing a state government data, Sule said the number of missing girls in Maharashtra is around 3,000. "While a ruling party legislator openly talks about kidnapping women and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the state Home Minister, keeps mum," Sule said referring to BJP MLA Ram Kadam's "will kidnap the girl" remarks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of the three accused in the alleged gang rape of a 19-year-old woman is an Army man posted in Rajasthan and a police team has been sent to arrest him, Haryana DGP B S Sandhu said on Saturday. The trio allegedly abducted the woman from a bus stop and raped her in Haryana's Mahendargarh district on Wednesday. "Out of the three accused, one is an Army man and a police team has gone to Rajasthan to arrest him. I am sure that he will be arrested today," he said. The hunt for the other two accused is also on, he added, expressing confidence that they will land in police net soon. Sandhu said all the three accused were known to the victim. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been set up to probe the case. According to the complaint, the woman was allegedly kidnapped by the accused who arrived in a car and was taken to a secluded place where she was raped after being offered a drink laced with sedatives. The accused left her near a bus stop in Kanina later in the day. However, the father of the young woman, a school topper who was felicitated by the government, told reporters on Friday that she could have been raped by 8-10 persons. Her mother has accused the police of failing to take action in the case. She said on Friday that her daughter was in a state of shock after the incident, while the accused were "roaming freely" after the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Army intelligence officer and an SDPO were among five uniformed personnel arrested Saturday in this district of West Bengal in connection with alleged gold smuggling from Bhutan, police said. The arrested included intelligence officer of Hasimara Army Camp Lt Col Pawan Brahma and Jaigaon Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Aniruddh Thakur, they said. It is alleged that the five were involved in taking away 15 kg of gold being smuggled in a vehicle carrying a large quantity of the precious metal from Bhutan. They had intercepted the vehicle at the Hasimara area on September 10. The three other persons arrested in the case were sub-inspectors of Hasimara and Barovisa police outposts Satyendranath Roy and Kamalendu Narayan and Army intelligence constable Dasarath Singh. The five were charged under various IPC sections, including 202 (intentional omission to give information of offence by person bound to inform) and 213 (taking gift to screen an offender), police said. The arrests were made after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed unhappiness over smuggling in border areas Friday, sources said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 71st Raising Day of the Western Command, the frontline operational command of the Indian Army which played an active role in the wars against Pakistan, was celebrated at its headquarters at Chandimandir in Haryana's Panchkula district Saturday. A solemn ceremony was held to remember and respect the Western Command martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation, a defence spokesman said here. Lt General Surinder Singh, general officer commanding-in-chief (GOC-in-C) of the Western Command, laid a wreath at the 'Veer Smriti' to pay homage to the martyrs, he said. Greeting all ranks and their families on the occasion, Gen Singh highlighted the sacrifices made by the gallant soldiers and exhorted the ranks to always remain prepared for the call of the nation. The Western Command since its inception in 1947 originally as Delhi and Pakistan Command has been a saga of bravery, sacrifice and glory in the highest military tradition in the service of the nation, the spokesman said. To mark the occasion, a motorcycle display by the Tornado, Army Team and a military band playing various martial tunes was also held for all ranks and their families, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Noted Assamese actor Zerifa Wahid pledged to donate her eyes at the Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya here Saturday. Zerifa is the brand ambassador for the hospital's eye donation campaign. Pledging to donate her eyes, Zerida called upon people to come forward and follow suit as it not only helps two people to see this world "but it also gives a feeling that a part of you is still alive after death". "Public awareness about eye donation is almost negligible," she said. The actor said she has plans to produce a short educational documentary about eye donation with the help of other personalities and Nethralaya as part of her commitment to educate people in this field. Zerifa said she is in touch with many people who have pledged to donate their eyes and also help popularise the cause, which has not been properly done so far. The hospital managing director Harsha Bhattacharya said there is great demand for cornea in the country but the number of people donating their eyes after death is very little which is leading to a yawning gap between demand and actual donations. Khalsa Centre, North East chairman Capt P P Singh who has been spreading awareness about eye donation, called upon the Centre to pass the Human Organ Donation Act so that more organs like kidney, liver besides eyes are available from unclaimed bodies in case of accidents. Singh also called upon the Assam government to make facilities available for organ donation in Guwahati at the earliest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two days after the students of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV) gheraoed Vice Chancellor Dharani Dhar Patra for over 24 hours, the university authorities have declared indefinite suspension of classes and ordered the students to vacate the hostels with immediate effect. Stating the academic activities in the institute were being hampered, the BCKV authorities said in a notice posted on BCKV website on Friday night: "... all the academic activities including all classes shall remain suspended until further notice." In another notice, the BCKV said: "the Students' Hostels (Boys' and Girls') of the Mohanpur campus of this university shall be closed with effect from 15.09.2018 and all the students residing in the said hostels shall have to vacate their respective hostels simultaneously." The VC had fallen ill during gherao on September 13 evening and was allowed to leave the chamber by the agitating students. They had demanded that VC should be back in the office on September 14 and meet them to discuss the issue of taking action against the Dean (Agriculture) Srikanth Das and Dean Students Welfare (DSW) Goutam Chakraborty for some alleged irregularities, a representative of the organisation said. The students also demanded the VC's resignation blaming him for the alleged attack on them by some outsiders on September 14. Patra, who did not return to office since September 13, was admitted to a hospital on Saturday as he complained of uneasiness, a family member told reporters. State minister Partha Chatterjee went to the BCKV Hall of the institute Saturday evening and interacted with the faculty and registrar and later with the students. Chatterjee asked the registrar to take steps for normalising the situation, a university official said. The students earlier gheraoed the VC for 24 hours in his office on September 7 and blocked a road Wednesday alleging that they were attacked by outsiders inside the campus the previous night. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The impasse at the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV) in Nadia district was resolved Saturday after West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee held talks with all stakeholders. Chatterjee asked the authorities to allow the students stay at the hostels and ensure that classes begin from early next week. Earlier in the day, the university authorities have declared indefinite suspension of classes and ordered the students to vacate the hostels with immediate effect. A top university official said they were hopeful about resuming classes from Tuesday next. Chatterjee, who met senior university officials and students, told reporters at Kalyani that the decision of the authorities to snap electricity and water supply to hostels from Friday night was unfortunate and those would have to be restored on an urgent basis. Following this, Registrar Jayanta Saha said the hostels would be opened for students with immediate effect and the facilities restored. On allegations that outsiders entered the campus on the night of September 12 and assaulted the students including girls, Chatterjee said, "No visitor will be allowed to enter the campus without permission." He said the entire campus needed to be brought under CCTV coverage and the number of security personnel will be increased. The developments took place two days after Vice Chancellor Dharani Dhar Patra was gheraoed by students for over 24 hours on September 13, demanding his resignation. The VC had fallen ill during gherao on September 13 evening and was allowed to leave the chamber by the students. The agitating students were demonstrating inside the campus since September 7 demanding the removal of Dean (Agriculture) Srikanth Das and Dean (Students Welfare) Goutam Chakraborty for some alleged irregularities. They had demanded that VC should be back in the office on September 14 and meet them to discuss the issue of taking action against the Dean (Agriculture) Srikanth Das and Dean Students Welfare (DSW) Goutam Chakraborty for some alleged irregularities, a representative of the organisation said. The students also demanded the VC's resignation blaming him for the alleged attack on them by outsiders. Patra, who did not return to office since September 13, was admitted to a hospital on Saturday as he complained of uneasiness, a family member told reporters. The VC, who was earlier gheraoed for 24 hours in his office on September 7, was not present at the meeting with the minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A pro-Khalistan militant group has claimed responsibility behind a low-intensity blast at a police station in Jalandhar city of Punjab on Friday night. A purported letter mentioning 'Bhindranwale Tigers Force of Khalistan' on its letterhead, which went viral on social media on Saturday, said it took the responsibility of the four low-intensity blasts that took place at the Maqsudan police station. Though the authenticity of the letter could not be ascertained, the letter warned police officials not to harass people. Meanwhile, Jalandhar Police Commissioner P K Sinha said he was aware of the letter and the claims of the letter would be verified. "We have taken the cognizance of this letter and this will be part of our investigation," Sinha told PTI. The blasts at the police station left the station house officer and head constable with minor injuries. State Director General of Police (DGP) Suresh Arora had visited the spot on Friday night to take stock of the situation. Besides, a forensic team from the Punjab police, an investigation team of the National Security Guard visited the police station on Saturday to examine the kind of material used in the blast, Sinha added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Virtually sounding the poll bugle, BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday said his party will contest the upcoming Telangana Assembly election on its own. In the city to formally launch the party's poll campaign at a public meeting in Mahabubnagar, about 110 km from here, Shah said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would not go for a tie-up with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the ruling party in the southern state. The BJP would not have any alliance with any party and it hoped to emerge as a "deciding factor" in the upcoming polls, he said. "We are not going to have any political tie-up with the TRS. The BJP will fight on its own strength. We will fight against appeasement also," Shah told reporters here, before leaving for Mahabubnagar. The saffron party would also fight against the "stalled progress" of the state, he said, when asked about allegations of a tacit understanding between the BJP and the TRS. On the proposed Grand Alliance of the Congress and other parties in the state, Shah said the Telugu people had not forgotten how the Congress had treated their leaders like former (undivided) Andhra Pradesh chief minister Anjaiah and former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao. Hitting out at the TRS, he claimed that the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led party was earlier in favour of simultaneous elections to the state Assembly and Lok Sabha, but subsequently changed its stand. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed 'one nation, one election'. (Caretaker CM) Chandrasekhar Rao had also supported it initially.... I want to ask a straight question to the ruling party (TRS) and the chief minister. Why are you burdening the people with so much of expenditure (due to polls)? What is the reason for advancing the election by nine months?," Shah asked. He wanted to know why the state Assembly was prematurely dissolved, just a few days after the chief minister had expressed his willingness for simultaneous polls. Quoting from reports, the BJP chief said 4,200 farmers committed suicide in the state in the last four years and claimed that some of the schemes of the central government were not implemented in Telangana properly. He said many poll promises such as the "double-bedroom housing scheme" were not fulfilled. Shah said the Centre had allotted funds to the extent of Rs 2.30 lakh crore to Telangana under the 14th Finance Commission as against "a mere Rs 15,000 crore during the 13th Finance Commission". He claimed that the state government was not celebrating September 17 (the day the erstwhile Nizam state had merged with the Indian Union in 1948) officially due to "pressure from the AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) and as part of vote-bank politics". "Are we going to handover Telangana to the new-age Razakars (private militia that had resisted the integration of the Hyderabad state into the Dominion of India)? The Telangana people should decide," the BJP chief said. He added that despite being aware that there would be no quota based on religion, the TRS government had passed a bill in this regard and sent it to the Centre for consent. Shah said the new districts that were carved out by the TRS government lacked infrastructure. He slammed the Congress, alleging that it did not allow the OBC Commission Bill to be passed. Meanwhile, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the BJP was suffering from "selective amnesia". "You (BJP) will not succeed either in Hyderabad or in Telangana. I would like to say that if you have any strategy, Mr Shah, then come to Hyderabad and contest the parliamentary polls from here...," he said, replying to a query. Owaisi claimed that the BJP would not be able to save their five Assembly seats in Hyderabad as also the Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat. He took a dig at the saffron party, saying it was suffering from "selective amnesia", and claimed that it had forgotten that Modi had also advanced the polls when he was the Gujarat chief minister. Lauding Rao for advancing the polls by nine months, Owaisi said, "It is a bold decision. You (BJP) are scared. You fight it out if you are concerned." He said there was no incident of communal violence in Telangana in the last four-and-a-half years. "There is an atmosphere of peace and growth...we have been saying that the next chief minister will be K Chandrasekhar Rao. Is there any (CM) face in the BJP?," the AIMIM chief asked. The party-wise strength in the 120-member Telangana Legislative Assembly before its dissolution was -- TRS 82, Congress 17, AIMIM 7, BJP 5, TDP 3, Vacant 2, the CPI, CPI(M), Independent and nominated member (one each). Rao had released a list of 105 candidates for the state's 119 seats immediately after the dissolution of the Assembly. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Boko Haram gunmen killed eight people when they attacked two villages in restive northeast Nigeria in an attempt to steal livestock Friday, local militia said. The jihadists moved into Modu Ajiri and Bulama Kayiri villages in Borno state to take cattle and sheep but the villagers put up a fight to save their livestock. "Fighting erupted when the villagers tried to stop the attackers," local militia spokesman Bunu Bukar Mustapha told AFP. "Eight people were killed in the fight and four others were injured," he said from the state capital Maiduguri, 90 kilometres away. The militants opened fire on the villagers who were armed with machetes, bows and arrows, cudgels and swords, he said. "The villagers were no match for the Boko Haram terrorists who came with guns," said militia leader Babakura Kolo, who gave a similar toll. After the attack, the jihadists herded all the stolen livestock into the bush, he said. He said residents of the two villages had fled for fear of renewed attack by the insurgents. Mustapha said the bodies of the victims were recovered by soldiers and militia who took them to the nearby town of Nganzai, some 10 kilometres away. Boko Haram has intensified attacks especially against military targets in recent months. On Wednesday, scores of Islamists attacked a military base in Damasak in the far north of Borno state. They were repelled with aerial support after an hours-long battle. Boko Haram's nine-year insurgency has spilled over into neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon, killing thousands of people and displacing over two million. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Bradley Cooper, who is making his directorial debut with the musical drama, "A Star Is Born", has addressed the resurfaced allegations of sexual harassment against one-time producer Jon Peters. A report by Jezebel had claimed that Peters, who produced the 1976 version of 'A Star Is Born' starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, has been sued for sexual harassment at least five times, with some of the suits settled out of court. In an interview with NPR, Cooper, 43, said he would have taken a different approach to adapting the film had he known in advance about the accusations against Peters. "If I had known all those things, I would have done it differently. And I guess it's ... I wanted to make the movie, I knew I had to get consent from him, otherwise there's no film. But I should have checked. I guess that's the thing," the actor said. Cooper said he needed Peters' permission to remake the film but he was not aware of the allegations. "With this property, there are many writers that come before if you see the end credits, it's like, there's 10 writers. And (Jon Peters) was part of the, I guess, the grandfather clause of the movie, and we had to get his consent in order to make the movie," he said. Cooper said he worked towards creating "an environment where everybody feels safe" as he recognises the "huge responsibility" of directing a film. "There's no room for disrespect, nothing. And that's something that you'd have to ask everybody who was involved, but I feel like that's the environment I created. Luckily, Jon wasn't there," the actor said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Blaming international developments for the rising petrol and diesel prices and dipping rupee value, BJP president Amit Shah Saturday said the Centre will come out with a solution soon. Petrol and diesel prices have scaled new highs since mid-August due to a combination of a dip in rupee value against the US dollar and the rise in crude oil prices. "The increasing petrol and diesel prices and sliding rupee against dollar are a cause of concern for both the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the government," Shah told reporters here. "It was due to some developments that took place globally. (The) Trade war between US and China and issues between the US and oil producing countries. Because of these global reasons these developments are taking place," he added. "We are also concerned about this. Solution is also being found out. Within short time, the government will take a stand on these issues and come out," he said further. But Shah made it clear that the impact on rupee was "far less" than compared to other currencies. The Opposition parties led by Congress had on September 10 called for a nationwide shutdown to protest against the escalating prices of fuel and other essential items. Replying to a query on the arrest warrant issued by the Dharmabad court in Maharashtra against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and some of his party functionaries, Shah said the BJP had got nothing to do with it. The warrant was issued in a case related to an agitation that Naidu, then in the Opposition in united Andhra Pradesh, undertook over Babli project on Godavari river in 2010. He said there were Congress governments in both Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra during 2010 when the case was taken up by the court. "Now Chandrababu is trying to have tie up with those pursuing vendetta against him. He was trying to gain sympathy out of the issue," Shah said. The BJP chief said the case was filed in 2010 and police filed a charge sheet in 2013. Naidu did not respond even after several summons were issued by the court against him, Shah alleged. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China suspended ferry services in the Qiongzhou Strait on Saturday as super typhoon Mangkhut approached the southern provinces of Hainan and Guangdong, according to local authorities. Mangkhut is expected to land in an area between western Guangdong and eastern Hainan on Sunday night, packing strong gales and bringing tremendous downpours, said the local weather bureau. Mangkhut was moving north-westward at a speed of 26 km per hour at 8 am, about 1,000 km away from the city of Yangjiang, Guangdong Province, said China's National Meteorological Centre. The Qiongzhou Strait separates the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong from Hainan Island. The provincial maritime administration has dispatched helicopters and tugboats to transfer 3,238 offshore platform workers and ordered 6,266 ships to take precautions against the typhoon, state-run Xinhua agency reported. Construction of roads and bridges across the province has been suspended to make preparations for the upcoming typhoon, said the report. The strong typhoon packing winds of more than 200 kph (124 mph) hit across the northern tip of the Philippines on Saturday, bringing heavy rain and causing widespread power and communications outage. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Shiv Sena Saturday hit out at the Congress saying its allegations against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over fugitive tycoon Vijay Mallya's claims on meeting him were "ridiculous". The saffron party asked if the Congress knew about their meeting, why did it remain silent all these years. Wondering who was pulling the strings of the Congress and Mallya, the Sena said the controversy was a part of the preparation for the 2019 general elections. "Mallya is a liar. The statement he made in a London court has landed Arun Jaitley in trouble. He claimed that before leaving India, he had met Jaitley and offered settlement." "But what is the need of making Jaitley an accused in the case just on the basis of Mallya's statement? But Congress has done that," the Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'. "Mallya left the country without repaying loans worth thousands of crores. Currently, he is facing extradition trial in London. There are 16 banks in the country that are hit by NPAs and those who took loans from these banks were tycoons, including Mallya," it added. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party added that although Mallya tried to go for one-time settlement, the banks were not ready for it. "The banks were not ready for Mallya's offer and hence he met Jaitley in the Parliament. Being an MP himself, it was Mallya's right to roam on the Parliament premises. Therefore, the Congress leader (P L) Punia's charge that Jaitley is also an accused in the case is outrightly ridiculous," it said. In fact, the kind of people Congress and BJP have as their MPs, the ministers face a dilemma whom to meet and whom to avoid. Moreover, Mallya is not the only one who defaulted on loan repayment. There are many such loan defaulters roaming openly as MPs, the party said. "It has now come to light that Congress president Rahul Gandhi was present at a family function of (fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi. So, should Congress chief Rahul Gandhi be blamed for his escape?" the Sena asked. "Mallya made the revelations in the court after so many years. If the Congress knew about the meeting beforehand, why did it hide it for so long?" "Or is it that there is somebody else behind Mallya's revelations and the subsequent attacks by the Congress. It is all a part of 2019 poll preparations. Those unwanted are being removed now. It is happening with Jaitley," the Sena said. Mallya had last Wednesday claimed in London that he had met the finance minister before leaving for the UK, drawing a rebuttal from Jaitley who said he never gave him any appointment but the businessman used his privilege as an MP to accost him in Parliament. Latching on to his comments, the Congress president had accused Jaitley of providing Mallya a "free passage" to "run away" from India. The Sena said Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, an accused in the Bofors scandal, could not have left India without the help from the Indian government and the CBI. Quattrocchi had fled India in 1993 never to return and did not face trial in the cases filed against him. He died in July 2013. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CBI on Saturday told a local court that Sharad Kalaskar, one of the accused in the killing of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, disposed of four firearms in a creek near Mumbai in July this year. The agency has claimed that Kalaskar was one of the two persons who shot Dabholkar on August 20, 2013, on the Omkareshwar Bridge in Pune. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also told the court that Vaibhav Raut, arrested by Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in the arms haul case in August, was with Kalaskar when he dumped the weapons. The duo was arrested on August 10 by the ATS following a raid in Nallasopara area of Palghar district in which explosives and firearms were seized. The court of Judicial Magistrate S M A Sayyad extended Kalaskar's custody till September 17. CBI lawyer Vijaykumar Dhakane told the court that on July 23 this year, Kalaskar and Raut, dismantled four firearms and dumped them in a creek from a bridge while going from Pune to Nallasopara in Palghar, near Mumbai. Dhakane said the agency was yet to ascertain the location of the bridge from where the weapons were disposed of. "As they were travelling at night, the suspect cannot recollect whether it was Kalva, Ghodbunder or any other bridge from where he had thrown the firearms," Dhakane told the court. Meanwhile, a CBI officer said the agency suspects that one of the four weapons dumped in the creek was used in Dabholkar's killing. He said Kalaskar and Raut may have decided to dispose of the weapons after developing cold feet following the arrest of Amol Kale in connection with the killing of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh. Kale was arrested in May this year by Karnataka police's special investigation team, which is probing Lankesh's murder. The CBI took custody of Kale earlier this month in connection with Dabholkar's killing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Marines, the Coast Guard, civilian crews and volunteers used helicopters, boats and heavy-duty vehicles Saturday to rescue scores of people trapped by Florence's shoreline onslaught, even as North Carolina braced for what could be the next stage of the disaster: widespread, catastrophic flooding inland. The death toll from the hurricane-turned-tropical storm climbed to eight. A day after blowing ashore with 145 kph winds, Florence practically parked itself over land all day long and poured on the rain. With rivers rising toward record levels, thousands of people were ordered evacuated for fear the next few days could bring the most destructive round of flooding in North Carolina history. More than 2 feet of rain had fallen in places, and the drenching went on and on, with forecasters saying there could be an additional 1 feet by the end of the weekend. "I cannot overstate it: Floodwaters are rising, and if you aren't watching for them you are risking your life," Gov Roy Cooper said. As of 5 pm, Florence was centered about 95 kilometers west of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, inching west at 4 kmph not even as fast as a person walking. Its winds were down to 75 kmph. With half of the storm still out over the Atlantic, Florence continued to collect warm ocean water and dump it on land. In its initial onslaught along the coast, Florence buckled buildings, deluged entire communities and knocked out power to more than 900,000 homes and businesses. But the storm was shaping up as a two-part disaster, with the second, delayed stage triggered by rainwater working its way into rivers and streams. The flash flooding could devastate communities and endanger dams, roads and bridge. Authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of up to 7,500 people living within a mile of a stretch of the Cape Fear River and the Little River, about 100 miles in from the coast. The evacuation zone included part of the city of Fayetteville, population 200,000. Officials in nearby Harnett County urged residents of about 1,100 homes to clear out because the Lower Little River was rising toward record levels. One potential road out was blocked as flooding forced the shutdown of a 26-kilometer stretch of Interstate 95, the main highway along the Eastern Seaboard. In New Bern , along the coast, homes were completely surrounded by water, and rescuers used inflatable boats to reach people. More than 360 people had been carried to safety since Thursday night. Kevin Knox and his family were rescued from their flooded brick home with the help of Army Sgt. Johan Mackie, part of a team that was using a phone app to locate people in distress. Mackie rode in a boat through a flooded neighborhood, navigating through trees and past a fencepost to get to the Knox house. "Amazing. They did awesome," said Knox, who was stranded with seven others, including a boy who was carried out in a life vest. "If not we'd be stuck upstairs for the next ... how long? I have no idea." Across the Trent River from New Bern, Jerry and Jan Andrews returned home after evacuating to find carp flopping in their backyard near the porch stairs. Coast Guard helicopters were taking off across the street to rescue stranded people from rooftops and swamped cars. Coast Guard members said that choppers had made about 50 rescues in and around New Bern and Jacksonville as of noon. Also, Marines rescued about 20 civilians from floodwaters near Camp Lejeune, using Humvees and amphibious assault vehicles, the base reported. In Lumberton, about 80 miles inland, Jackie and Quinton Washington watched water filling both their front and back yards near the Lumber River . Hurricane Matthew sent more than 5 feet of water into their home in 2016, and the couple feared Florence would run them out again. "If it goes up to my front step, I have to get out," Quintin Washington said. The dead included a mother and baby killed when a tree fell on a house in Wilmington, North Carolina. South Carolina recorded its first death from the storm, with officials saying a 61-year-old woman was killed when her car hit a tree that had fallen across a highway. Three died in one inland county, Duplin, because of water on roads and flash floods, the sheriff's office said. The National Hurricane Center said Florence broke a North Carolina rainfall record that had stood for almost 20 years: Preliminary reports showed Swansboro got over 30 inches and counting, obliterating the mark set in 1999, when Hurricane Floyd dropped just over 24 inches on the state. As of noon, Emerald Isle had over 23 inches of rain, and Wilmington and Goldsboro had about a foot. North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, had around 7 inches. Stream gauges across the region showed water levels steadily rising, with forecasts calling for rivers to crest Sunday and Monday at or near record levels. Forecasters said the storm will eventually break up over the southern Appalachians and make a sharp rightward swing to the northeast, its rainy remnants moving into the mid-Atlantic states and New England by the middle of the week. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For creating world-class educational institutions in India, it is important to delink from political influence and keep ideology away, Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy said here Saturday. Ruing that very few educational institutions from the country figure in world rankings, Murthy also called for increased interaction with countries which boast of a large number of world-class institutions, and also with world-class universities where Indian academics work. India needs at least 10 educational institutions that can figure in top world rankings, and to achieve this, "first delink from political influence," he said. "Unless our politicians realise that the future of the country depends on good quality of education, unless they help become a pure task of educationists, it is not going to happen," he said. "Second, we should not bring ideology into education," he added. Stating that in ancient times India was one of the leading countries where knowledge was pursued, Murthy said the reality today is different. He was interacting with the audience at the Rajnibhai V Patel Pharminnova Award ceremony where he was the chief guest. "If we want to be a part of this world, and get respect from other people, then we have to agree to go by a certain norm that everybody in the world accepts. By that norm, India is nowhere (in global rankings)," he said. It is important to interact with countries "which have formed better higher educational institutions than us," to understand "what they are doing so we can perhaps catch up with them, and some day overtake them", Murthy said. Among other suggestions made by Murthy was to give opportunity to students to attend more and more world-class conferences, and invite students from world-class institutions to spend time in universities and colleges in India. Asked what he thinks are "essential traits of innovators," Murthy said, "Innovation is all about making things cheaper, faster and better. "Invention is about bringing to existence some new gadgets, some new facilities, in some cases even new ideas. Whereas innovation is by and large about improving what already exists so as to make it cheaper, faster and better," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh police chief O P Singh handed over Saturday 88 motorcycles to Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar districts to upgrade the state's Dial 100 response service. Out of the 88 motorcycles, 46 have been allotted to Ghaziabad police and 42 to Gautam Budh Nagar police. In his address, the director general of police said this is the second phase to upgrade the Dial 100 service. These two bordering districts adjoining the national capital have been on top priority with a view to provide better policing, he said. These police response vehicles (PRVs) would enable policemen to access narrow lanes in a shorter span of time. In 2016, the average response time taken by four-wheeler PRVs was 23 minutes. Now, a time limit of 10 minutes has been fixed as the response time for these vehicles. Daily 50 to 60 thousand calls are attended by police control room based at Lucknow out of which, only 14 to 15 thousand cases are registered at various police stations in the state.The Dial 100 helpline will be converted into integrated system providing instant help in cases of fire, ambulance service for medical emergencies, natural disasters, road accidents and along with crime control. Now the PRV service has become more active and popular among masses as police has now started registering cases through Dial FIR system which is the initiative of Ghaziabad Police. In cases of snatching and loot, victims are no more required to go to police station to lodge the FIR. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An elderly man was killed and two women were injured when they came in contact with a live wire on the outskirts the city Saturday, officials said. The incident at N S Pura village in the Khour area sparked protests by the locals against the power development department, they said. The officials said a high-tension electricity wire got snapped from a pole and fell down, resulting in the death of Parmanand, 70, and severe burn injuries to Rajni Devi, 24, and Nisha, 18. A cow was also killed and a structure damaged in the fire caused by the live wire, they added. The protesting locals were demanding adequate compensation to the family of the deceased and free treatment to the injured, the officials said. Police rushed to the spot and persuaded the protesters to disperse peacefully, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Six failed asylum-seekers set fire to their detention centre cell in Vienna overnight and had to be hospitalised, Austrian police said Saturday. Asylum claims filed by the five Afghans and one Iranian man had been rejected and they were awaiting deportation. Police initially spoke of a collective suicide attempt but later downplayed that premise. "We think the men wanted to highlight their unhappiness," police spokesman Harald Soros told AFP. The men had composed a letter which said they had no prospects for the future and mentioned dates two had been given for deportation. One of the men had previously staged a hunger strike, and Soros said the fire might have been an attempt to prevent the deportation process. Police said the migrants huddled in the cell's bathroom after starting the fire and put a rag against the door to keep smoke from entering. That did not seal the bathroom off however, and one of the men then dashed to the cell door to raise the alarm. All six were treated in hospital for smoke inhalation and one also suffered burns, but police said their lives were not in danger. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tropical storm Florence caused "catastrophic" flooding in the Carolinas Saturday even as it began to weaken, leaving multiple deaths, including a woman and her baby killed when a tree fell on their house. Officials confirmed four deaths as American media reported a fifth with the storm wreaking havoc, lashing the US states with torrential rain and causing rivers to burst their banks. "Gradual weakening is forecast while Florence moves farther inland during the next couple of days, and it is expected to weaken to a tropical depression by tonight," the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Saturday morning. In New Bern, a riverfront city near the North Carolina coast that saw storm surges up to 3 meters, authorities were rescuing stranded residents and taking stock of damages. "Right now we've rescued over 400 people. We still have about 100 that want to be rescued and we have about 1,200 in the shelters," Mayor Dana Outlaw told CNN. "We have 4,200 damaged homes," he added, urging residents to not wade out into the streets because of the dangers posed by downed power lines. The mother and her baby were killed in New Hanover County when a tree fell on their house, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told media Friday night. According to firefighters, the area had not been in the zone under orders to evacuate as Florence began assaulting the US east coast with torrential rains and heavy winds. Local authorities reported a death in Pender County when downed trees prevented emergency units from reaching a woman with a medical condition. Local media said she had suffered a heart attack. US media later said a man in Lenoir County died after heavy winds knocked him down as he tried to check on his dogs. More than 760,000 customers in North Carolina were without power and 21,000 people were being housed in 157 shelters across the state. The White House said President Donald Trump would visit hurricane-hit areas next week "once it is determined his travel will not disrupt any rescue or recovery efforts." "Great job FEMA, First Responders and Law Enforcement - not easy, very dangerous, tremendous talent. America is proud of you," Trump tweeted on Friday, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which responds to disasters in the United States. As of 8:00 am (1200 GMT), maximum sustained winds had weakened to near 80 kilometres per hour, but the NHC warned residents of dangerous storm surges and "catastrophic flash flooding." The military announced Saturday morning it was deploying nearly 200 soldiers to assist in Hurricane Florence response and recovery efforts, along with 100 trucks and equipment. Besides federal and state emergency crews, rescuers were being helped by volunteers from the "Cajun Navy" who also turned up in Houston during Hurricane Harvey to carry out water rescues. Hurricane Florence made landfall as a Category 1 storm in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, after stalking the Carolina coast for days. The NHC said Florence had the potential to dump historic amounts of rain on North and South Carolina, as much as 40 inches (one meter) in some places. Tornadoes are also a threat, with the NHC saying that "a few tornadoes are possible in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina." In Wilmington, near where the eye of the storm touched down, trees and power lines were felled and many windows broken. The streets were mostly deserted, some blocked by fallen trees. 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two British journalists and an Argentine were detained by the Venezuelan military Friday at the northwestern border with Colombia, the national press union (SNTP) said. Argentine Laura Saravia along with Brits Barney Green and Dan Rivers were held "as they left the country," the SNTP said on Twitter. It said their whereabouts are unknown but claimed they had been "in Venezuela for three days reporting on tourism." Three people hired as security by the journalists were arrested Wednesday, the SNTP said. All three state on their social media accounts they work for British television production company ITN. Rivers was previously a CNN correspondent in London and Bangkok, according to his Linkedin account, while Saravia has worked for the BBC and NBC. Cameraman and editor Green worked for Sky in London and Washington, according to his Linkedin profile. Several foreign journalists have been deported by Venezuelan authorities in recent years as they didn't have permits authorizing them to work in the country. Venezuela has attracted a great number of foreign journalists looking to report on its economic and political crises during four years of recession under President Nicolas Maduro. Citizens face shortages of basic necessities such as food and medicines and failing public services such as water, electricity and transport. It has resulted in 1.6 million Venezuelans fleeing the country since 2015, according to the United Nations. Organizations such as SNTP have accused Maduro's government of violating press freedom through the closure of media outlets, censorship and the restriction of paper deliveries, which are monopolized by authorities. For his part, Maduro has accused international media organizations of being mouthpieces for a United States-backed campaign involving the opposition to overthrow him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four Child Friendly Courts were inaugurated in West Bengal Saturday to create a congenial atmosphere for juveniles. The children constitute 40 per cent of the country's population and courts specifically catering to sensitivities and needs of children must be established, Supreme Court judge Justice Madan B Lokur said while inaugurating the state's first Child Friendly Court at Bankshall court here. "The number of juvenile offenders in the country is in the region of 30,000, but that of juveniles against whom crime has been committed is 90,000," Justice Lokur said. Stating that the number of children against whom crime has been committed is three times more than those who have been involved in offences, Justice Lokur said all out efforts must be made to give the children a good life. Referring to the alleged rape of 34 children at a shelter home in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, he said "some of these girls didn't even know that they were raped and there may be many more victims than those who have been identified." He said that similar incidents have occurred at a children's home at Deoria in Uttar Pradesh. "A three-year old victim doesn't even know what is rape. Trial of such cases in a traditional case is not possible as the children cannot express themselves owing to the legal language, procedures and the surrounding atmosphere," Justice Lokur said. Stating that CFCs will be effective to fill this void, he said that assistance of professionals like counsellors, psychologists, psychiatricts and other such specialists were needed to interact with children so that they could speak about what they had gone through. Justice Lokur, who conceptualised CFCs in the country, said that setting up of Child Friendly Courts was a recognition of child rights. Three other CFCs - one each in east Burdwan district headquarters, Bankura district headquarters and Khatra were also inaugurated. Supreme Court judge Justice Indira Banerjee said that the concept was to create a non-threatening environment - a court which is humane and considerate. "The object is to rehabilitate. The CFCs are required to be empathetic to juvenile victims and deviants," she said. In a CFC, a juvenile victim is not made to face the accused directly unlike a conventional court and is seated in a separate enclosure from where the child interacts with the judge through video-conference, while the accused is produced in another enclosure. A separate waiting room for children has been arranged, adjacent to the court rooms, where a television, toys and story books have been kept for them and would be assisted by a counsellor. Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya said "even after 71 years of independence, we cannot protect our children." Stating that children are so traumatised in case of incidents of sexual assaults that they cannot narrate the incidents even to their parents, he said that CFCs would remove these difficulties of juvenile victims. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A business delegation from France Saturday met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the state secretariat and expressed interest to invest in the state, official sources said. The businessmen evinced interest to invest in hotels, steel, electrical equipment, power and other sectors, they said. "Honoured to meet CM of #Odisha, @Naveen_Odisha with a French business delegation. Thank you for an insightful conversation on how to increase our footprint in this fast growing state! #franceinindia, Ambassador of France to India Alexandre Ziegler, who led the delegation, tweeted after meeting Patnaik. While welcoming the investors from France, Chief Minister Patnaik invited the visiting business community to take part in the Make In Odisha Conclave in Bhubaneswar to be held in November this year. Stating that Odisha has emerged as an attractive destination for investors from across the globe, Patnaik said it is a mineral rich state having abundant iron ore, bauxite, chromite and many other minerals. Patnaik also informed the investors from France that Odisha has been the aluminium capital of South Asia with the state producing 54 per cent of aluminium of the country. This apart, Odisha has also emerged as a steel hub. The chief minister said that the state will soon bring out new policies in defence and aerospace sectors. He urged the French business community to invest in aircraft, electronics, medical equipment manufacturing and food processing sectors. Ziegler and his delegation have expressed satisfaction over the investment climate in the state and said to carry forward the trade relations between Odisha and France, an official statement issued by the chief minister's office said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Continuous downpour on Friday triggered fresh landslides in North Sikkim, already battered by rains and widespread landslips since Sunday. There was no information on loss of human lives due to the landslides, a district official said. The fresh landslides were reported at Passingdong village in Dzongu. The residents of the houses that are in danger have been shifted to safer locations, the official said, adding that incessant rain in North Sikkim since Sunday is triggering landslides in different areas at regular intervals. Fifty houses, school buildings and roads were damaged in the landslides reported from Dzongu, Mangan, Lachen and Mangshilla in North district of the land-locked state since Sunday, the official said. The district remains isolated from the rest of the country due to snapping of road connectivity, the official said. The road between Mangan and Chungthang has been affected by many landslides and it is likely to take about a month to open the road for vehicular traffic, the official said. The district administration has set up a control room and disaster help lines to help the people in distress. State Forest minister and local MLA T W Lepcha and Deputy Speaker of Sikkim Assaembly Sonam Gyatso Lepcha on Saturday visited the affected areas in and around Mangan with the district collector, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and other officials. The team visited the Rafong Khola slide where a temporary log bridge has been built by the Forest Department. The landslides at Rafong Khola are still active due to which there is a major problem in the movement of people. The team visited the Lanthey Khola slide, where the road has been completely damaged by landslide. The streams are flowing in full spate, bringing down boulders and causing landsldes, which has cut off the road network. A meeting was held to review the situation in the district during which District Collector Karma R Bonpo briefed the team about the extent of damages reported from across North District. He said teams headed by sub-divisional magistrates will be providing relief to the people. The restoration of the road network is being carried out by the Border Roads Organisation, Road & Bridges Department and the PMGSY Department. Electricity connection to Dzongu is being restored by the Energy and Power Department and the water supply to Mangan town is being restored by the PHE Department. The Revenue Department is carrying out the assessment of the damages to various public properties in the district. A team of armed police has been placed on a standby for search and rescue. The landslides across the district have damaged about 50 houses, some of which have been damaged severely. Many schools have been damaged due to which the administration has ordered the closure of these schools. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government should focus primarily on boosting to check the widening as imposing curbs on may not have a significant impact, exporters' body said Saturday. Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President Ganesh Gupta said the government should not restrict to address rising (CAD) and fall in "I do not think that we should restrict unless we want to join the bandwagon of protectionism and hope that it will spur Make in India," he told PTI. He also said that CAD at 2.5 per cent of GDP should not be a cause of concern as anything below 3 per cent is not alarming. "We have sizeable forex reserves to cover 10 months of imports," he added. The government Friday announced an array of steps, including removal of withholding tax on Masala bonds, relaxation for foreign portfolio investments, and curbs on non-essential imports, to contain the widening CAD and check the depreciation. Director General Ajay Sahai said the government should immediately ease liquidity for exporters. He said that if the government wants to impose curbs on non-essential items, they can consider products such as high-end electronics goods, refrigerators, watches, gold, and high-end footwear and garments. However, trade experts raised concerns over imposing import restrictions on goods like gold as it will not help in checking trade deficit. "It's very unlikely to help. The government has to consider the pros and cons carefully about such steps," Professor Biswajit Dhar of Jawaharlal Nehru University said. He said that knee-jerk solutions will not help and the government should take a medium-term view, for instance, steps for revival of the manufacturing sector. The (CAD), which is the difference between inflow and outflow of foreign exchange, widened to 2.4 per cent of the GDP in the first quarter of 2018-19. Large trade deficit and decline against the US dollar are putting pressure on the CAD. The rupee touched an all-time low of 72.91 against the US dollar on September 12 and it closed at 71.84. The domestic currency has declined around 6 per cent since August and touched an all-time low of 72 level this week. Petrol and diesel prices have also touched record highs. Trade deficit soared to a nearly five-year high of $18 billion in July but dipped slightly at $17.4 billion in August. The Gujarat Congress Saturday said it would move a no-confidence motion against the Vijay Rupani government which it claimed had failed on all fronts and had lost the faith of the people. The two-day monsoon session of the Gujarat Assembly begins on September 18. Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar Saturday said that he had submitted a no-confidence motion notice against the BJP government in the state. "This government has failed on all fronts, whether it is the issue of farmers, rising cost of education and living, corruption...which is why we have moved the no-confidence motion," Parmar said. Parmar said that among the issues on which the government has failed are those related to farmers. He claimed that the state government did not come up with a loan waiver scheme for farmers nor did it ensure proper supply of water for irrigation or offer them a good support price for crops. The government had also not been able to control private school fees despite coming out with a fee regulation act which has been a failure, Parmar said. The government failed to initiate a proper probe into the alleged groundnut procurement scam, which involves some top-ranking government officials and ministers, he alleged. The Congress had demanded a probe by a committee headed by a sitting High Court judge, but the government, instead, set up a committee under a retired judge to look into incidents of fire in groundnut godowns, the MLA said. The state government had also failed on the law and order front, he said. "The government should discuss the motion if it believes in taking all stakeholders together in running the state. We will ensure that we are not suspended from the House," he said. Earlier, the opposition party had, during the budget session this year, moved a no-confidence motion against Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi after accusing him of being partisan. The opposition party withdrew the motion after the BJP agreed to reduce the duration of suspension of three Congress MLAs till the end of the Budget session. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a letter signed in blood, the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of playing vote bank politics by bringing the recent amendment to the SC/ST Act, an office bearer said. Hindu Mahasabha secretary Puja Shakun Pandey has also threatened to kill herself, seeking the prime minister's permission to commit euthanasia if the amendments are not withdrawn. The letter was signed in blood by her and 14 other Mahasabha members, she claimed. Parliament recently passed amendments to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, nullifying a Supreme Court order earlier this year that had spelled out safeguards against immediate arrests under the Act. The amendment Bill was introduced in Parliament after Dalit organisations protested against the SC court order, saying it had diluted the law to protect the community.. The Hindu Mahasabha had recently appointed Pandey as the judge' of a Hindu court set up on the pattern of Shariat courts. Pandey's letter accused the Modi government of playing vote bank politics while infringing on the rights of the upper castes and Other Backward Classes, she told reporters Friday. She claimed the recent amendments will intensify friction between castes, leading to further confrontation within society. The letter said upper castes are apprehensive that the amendments would lead to misuse and exploitation of the Act. This could lead to an explosive situation, she said. Upper caste organisations had given a call for a 'Bharat bandh' on Sept 10 to protest against the amendments. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The IIT Kharagpur has signed MoUs with the University of Houston and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for joint academic and research collaborations. The MoU with University of Houston was signed on Friday at Houston in the presence of Chancellor Renu Khator and Director P P Chakrabarti, an IIT KGP statement said Saturday. The initial areas identified for collaborations include petroleum engineering, covering niche aspects of chemical engineering, advanced materials, deep sea technology, analytics and industrial engineering, the statement said. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth signed the MoU with IIT KGP early this week for collaborative research, training and the exchange of faculty, post-doctoral fellows, students and academic and research information. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth initiated discussions to formulate a joint international programme on Marine Science and Technology, Director of IIT KGP, Prof. P P Chakrabarti said. A team of delegates from IIT KGP was currently visiting USA led by the Director. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Serbia on Saturday resolved to fight the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and decided to enhance cooperation in areas like defence manufacturing, IT and infrastructure, as Vice President Venkaiah Naidu met Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Naidu, who arrived here on Friday, was welcomed by Vucic at the Serbia Palace. During the visit, the two sides signed agreement on cooperation in the field of plant health and plant quarantine and a revised Air Services Agreement. "The agreement on cooperation in plant protection and plant quarantine would contribute to increasing bilateral trade in agricultural products. The Air Services Agreement would boost trade and tourism by launch of direct air connectivity between India to Serbia in future," Naidu said in a statement. In their discussions, the two leaders we also exchanged views on multilateral issues and agreed to intensify cooperation in the areas of mutual interest. "India and Serbia have had close cooperation at the United Nations and other multilateral fora. We agreed that United Nations need to be reformed to reflect the realities of today and address current global challenges, it is long overdue," Naidu said. "We resolved to fight the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and agreed to strengthen cooperation in fight against terrorism at various international fora. It is a global challenge and requires a global response. Terror has no religion. Terroism is enemy of humanity. We must all come together. I am happy that both of us agreed to move in the direction of creating the needed public opinion," he said. Naidu had extensive discussion with Vucic on all important aspects of bilateral relationship as well as global and regional issues of common interest to both of our countries. "We expressed our commitment to further build on long-standing friendly ties between our two countries," he said. During their talks, Naidu and Vucic agreed to expand the bilateral cooperation especially in the areas of economic and cultural relations. "In the area of economic cooperation, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of priority such as agriculture, food processing, defence manufacturing, science and technology, information technology, infrastructure, tourism and pharmaceuticals," Naidu said. He said India looked forward to further closer cooperation with Serbia. "I have already assured the President that India stands for the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Serbia. There is no question of any dilution and deviation of our stand. I am also equally happy that the Hon'ble President has unequivocally publically declared their support to India's cause in the United Nations and also in the other international forums," he said. Naidu thanked Vucic for Serbia's unilateral decision to waive visa for short visits by Indians travelling to Serbia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the arrest of two persons including the owner of an industrial unit, Thane police on Saturday claimed to have solved the murder of a 40-year-old man. The body of Shekar Pillai, resident of Bhandup in Mumbai, was found in Wagle Industrial Estate here in May this year. Grijesh Singh (50), who owns a manufacturing unit in Savarkar Nagar, and his employee Pramod Gupta (38) were arrested in the case two days ago, said Assistant Commissioner of Police Bajirao Bhosle. Pillai had sold a lathe machine to Grijesh Singh and the latter owed him Rs 3.5 lakh for the machine, the ACP said. Pillai was asking Singh to settle the payment for some time. Fed up with it, Singh allegedly decided to kill him, and strangulated Pillai at his workshop with the help of Gupta on the night of May 30, the police officer said. The body was stuffed into a gunny sack and dumped onto Road No 21 in Wagle Estate next morning. Police ascertained identity of the deceased after going through a missing persons list in Mumbai area and conducting DNA tests, ACP Bhosle said. Both Singh and Gupta were arrested two days ago and remanded in police custody till September 21, he said, adding that further probe is on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iranian media are reporting that the country's General Prosecutor has ordered the closure of a reformist newspaper on charges of insulting the Shiite religion. The Friday reports say that the "Sedayeh Eslahat" newspaper was ordered shut down for publishing an article on female-to-male gender reassignment surgery. The prosecutor, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, ordered the editor be punished, too, the reports said. On Thursday, a headline on the newspaper's front page read: "Ruqayyah became Mahdi after 22 years." Ruqayyah was the daughter of Hussein, a Shiite Imam, and the article was published during Muharram, a holiday in which Shiite Muslims mourn the death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad. According to Shiite beliefs, Mahdi is the name of the 12th Shiite Imam who has lived since the 9th century. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Patients and family members of those affected by Johnson and Johnson's faulty hip implants gathered in Delhi Saturday demanding they be directly involved in the process of ascertaining the compensation. They asserted the amount should not only be based on the physical, medical criteria but also take into account the mental, social and economic harm faced by them. They expressed apprehension that the government could "toe the line" of the pharma giant as it was conducting an one-sided inquiry. The affected patients said the government was jointly liable as it was neither responsive to the safety concerns associated with the device in other countries nor did it take immediate steps to order a mandatory recall and cancel the license of the firm. Their demands came in the wake of reports that the central committee being set up for compensation is likely to meet for the first time on September 18. The AIDAN, a network of patients working with the patients, called for criminal action against all involved, including people in government who failed to act against the use of such harmful implants. They also responded to claims of Johnson and Johnson that it has been unable to trace the majority of ASR -- anywhere between 2,400 to 3,700 -- because it did not have access to patient details which were only available to surgeons because of confidentiality. George Thomas, chief orthopaedic surgeon, St Isabel's Hospital in Chennai said, "All joints for human implantation have stickers which are used to trace the individual joint. As per normal protocols, one of these stickers has to be pasted in the surgical record of the patient. Therefore, it is difficult to believe that the patients cannot be found." He said the company itself, as well as the surgeons should be in a position to track the patients. Joint replacements are routinely followed till the patient expires, so the address is always obtained, he said. The victims and their relatives sought participation in any further meeting to decide on the compensation and action to be taken on a report submitted by a high powered expert committee set up by the Health Ministry. "What are the checks or balances on the working of the committees? What is the guarantee that the committee will be fair, just, equitable and reasonable in determining compensation?" said Vijay Vojhala, who had his initial surgery in 2008 and the revision in 2012. "The government is doing a one-sided inquiry and could easily toe the line of the company. We understand that the government has been closely consulting with J&J and yet, those who have suffered grievous injuries seem to have no seat at the table," he said, adding he was the only patient to have deposed before the Central Expert Committee. The report of the committee was only made public after determined efforts of patients demanding that the report be put in the public domain. The committee in its report stated that "the ASR (articular surface replacement) hip implants manufactured by DePuy International Ltd were found to be faulty which resulted in higher instances of revision surgeries globally including India". The report recommended that suggested that DePuy International Ltd, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson be made liable to pay at least Rs 20 lakh to each affected patient, and the reimbursement for revision surgeries should continue until August 2025. They said despite assurances that the costs of their treatment would be covered when their implant failed, the company left most patients to fend for themselves. "Compensation should be based on physical, mental, social and economic harm faced by patients. Not only the basis of physical medical criteria. It is important that patients, their representatives and a psychologist be part of the committee and their voices should be heard," said another victim Kabbir Chandhok. Former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Maharashtra, Mahesh Zagade, who had initiated probe into the faulty hip implants in 2011, accused the drug regulator of "inaction and sleeping over the issue despite enough proof". "The regulator could have taken action, including criminal prosecution, immediately under the existing law and provided relief to the patients," he said. He also questioned on the basis on which the company was given the import licence for the implants even though the company had officially recalled the product in 2010. "The J&J issue once again reminds us of the grim reality that in the current scenario it is the responsibility of all the stakeholders to be vigilant and ensure that the commercial interests of the pharma and medical device corporations do not take precedence over everything else and in the process endanger human life," he said. He also said as per the rules the importer has to maintain a registry of all the devices and products that are brought into the country and records are maintained. He said an FIR can be filed by the DCGI, which is the licence granting authority, under section Section 320 of the IPC against the firm for causing grevious hurt. The DCGI is completely accountable, he said demanding a CBI probe into the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bishop Franco Mulakkal, facing probe after a nun accused him of rape, has handed over administrative responsibility of Jalandhar diocese to a senior priest even as a group of Catholic priests on Saturday extended support to the protest by various Catholic reformation organisations seeking justice for the nun. In a circular addressed to priests, nuns and brothers of the diocese, the Bishop said, "In my absence Msgr Mathew Kokkandam will administer the Diocese as in the normal practice when I am away from the Diocese". He also requested them to continue to pray for him and for the alleged victim and her supporters who have come out against him "so that divine intervention may bring about change of heart and the truth of the matter may be revealed." The bishop claimed there were "several contradictions" in the evidence collected against him by the police probing the case. "I leave everything into the hand of God as I await the result of the findings of the team probing the allegation," he said in the circular, a copy of which was made available to the media here. The circular was issued on September 13, a day after the Kerala Police had asked him to appear before the investigating team on September 19. The decision to summon the clergyman was taken after a meeting chaired by Vijay 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 Mullakal. People who are staging protest in Kochi seeking justice for the nun welcomed the development. "We are happy about his decision. But he still wields wide authority and power (over the diocese). We will continue our agitation till our fellow sister gets justice," said one of the five nuns staging protest in Kochi. As the protest by various Catholic reformation organisations seeking arrest of Bishop Mulakkal entered eighth day Saturday, a group of Catholic priests visited them, defying the stand taken by a powerful Bishop body, and vowed their support for agitation seeking justice in the case. The Kerala Catholic Bishop Council (KCBC) had slammed the nuns' protest, saying that it has "crossed all limits". KCBC had also alleged attempts by vested interests and a section of the media to tarnish the image of the church and the bishop community as a whole under the cover of the protesting nuns and said it was "not acceptable." Defying the KCBC, the group of priests belonging to the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church visited the protest venue and assured their moral support to the nuns seeking justice in the case. "We are not here to judge anyone. We wish to see the Church delivering justice to the nuns," a priest told reporters. 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 had accused the clergyman of sexually assaulting her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016. The bishop had, however, dismissed the allegations as "baseless and concocted", insisting she levelled those as the catholic order had rejected her demand for favours. Meanwhile, the Kerala police has decided to issue notice to authorities of Jalandhar-based congregation, Missionaries of Jesus, for allegedly flouting the anti-rape law by putting out the photograph of the victim in a press release issued by it Friday. The congregation had put out the photograph in the release issued to the media to publish the findings of its enquiry commission, which looked into the nun's allegations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bishop Franco Mulakkal, facing probe over allegations of rape by a nun, has handed over his administrative responsibility of Jalandhar diocese to a senior priest. "In my absence Msgr Mathew Kokkandam will administer the Diocese as in the normal practice when I am away from the Diocese," Bishop Mulakkal said in a circular. The circular was issued on September 13, a day after the Kerala Police had asked him to appear before the investigating team on September 19. 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 Mullakal. In the circular, the bishop said there were "several contradictions" in the evidences collected against him by the police probing the case. "I leave everything into the hand of God as I await the result of the findings of the team probing the allegation," he said in it. A copy of the circular was made available to the media here. 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 had accused the clergyman of sexually assaulting her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016. The bishop had, however, dismissed the allegations as "baseless and concocted", insisting she levelled those as the catholic order had rejected her demand for favours. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Counting of votes for the JNU students union (JNUSU) polls was suspended Saturday by election authorities citing "forcible entry" and "attempts to snatch away ballot boxes" at a counting venue, after the ABVP staged protests claiming it was not informed about the start of the process. The deadlock at the Jawaharlal Nehru University persisted even after 12 hours, with the the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) which is the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), accusing the election authorities of bias towards the Left outfits and threatening to move court. The Left outfits alleged that ABVP activists were involved in the violence but the saffron outfit denied it. The counting was suspended early morning after ABVP members protested alleging they were not informed about the process. The Election Committee issued a statement saying it had made announcement for counting agents to come and was following the rules. "The counting process, which began on September 14 at 10 pm has been suspended due to forcible entry into the counting venue and attempts to snatch away the sealed ballot boxes as well as ballot papers from our counting centres," according to the JNU Election Committee. It said, "A malicious lie is being spread on social media and among students that the Election Committee had not made three announcements and went forth with the entry of the counting agents for post of Central Panel for combined schools and Special Centres." The Election Committee would like to clearly state three announcement calls were made (with the third call announced as the last and final call) and communicated to the students gathered outside the counting venue) via loudspeaker, the committee said. "After that the election committee members informed the security guards about it and asked them to gather any counting agents. "Fourteen counting agents for 10 different candidates had reported at the counting venue. After which counting process had started and sealed boxes were opened in the presence of the counting agents," it said. As per the established norms, no new counting agents can enter the counting venue, once the seal of the boxes is opened. "Election Committee (EC) had to reject the request of new counting agents being allowed inside that respective counting venue. Few students had forcibly entered the building and reached the counting venue, thus we had to suspend the counting process," it said. It also said efforts are being made to start a dialogue with the parties concerned to end the deadlock so that the counting process could be resumed. The panel also claimed that their members, including women, faced intimidation. President of ABVP-JNU unit Vijay Kumar said they will not hesitate to approach the Delhi High Court if they do not get justice. "Counting of votes is being done without adhering to the rules. The EC is not following even the bare minimum requirements of election procedure. "The biased way of handling elections has put a question mark on EC's neutrality. We have approached the Grievance Redressal Cell to seek justice. We will not hesitate to proceed to Delhi High Court if we don't get justice," he added. The ABVP said their counting agent was not informed about the beginning of counting of votes polled in science schools. The Left bloc claimed that "around 4:00am, ABVP broke the glasses of the School of International Studies building. EC stopped the counting indefinitely." They also claimed the ABVP counting agent was called but he did not turn up on time. Kumar said their counting agent was not called and the counting process was initiated in front of the members of the Left outfit. "We protested peacefully as the EC is biased towards the Left. We did not create any ruckus," he said. The voter turnout in the keenly contested 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 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 the Left bloc, there are candidates of ABVP, NSUI (National Students' Union of India) and BAPSA (Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association). Technical glitches in EVMs had marred the counting process for Delhi University Students' Union polls on Thursday, leading to its suspension for close to three hours. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kabbir Chandhok went for a hip implant surgery surgery hoping for a better life but the thirty-four-year-old says what he got was more medical complications, including blood poisoning and shooting pains. He is among the many suffering after "faulty" hip implants by the pharmaceutical multinational Johnson and Johnson were used in the country's hospitals. "My mother has lost her mobility, her life and her dignity," recalls Lucky Pal, a businessman from Nagpur, whose mother became bedridden since she underwent implant surgeries for both hips in 2010 at a private hospital in Saket here. At the heart of the national capital, at a press meet, they along with many others narrated the ordeals faced by them and their loved ones due to the implants. Chandhok, who suffers from an auto-immune disorder, had undergone his first implant surgery in his left hip in 2007. "In 2013, when I went for my right hip implant surgery I got to know from the doctor that I will have to undergo a revision replacement surgery on the left hip as the company had recalled the implant in 2010. "And a normal implant surgery which usually takes four to five hours, went on for more than nine hours in my case as the surgeons had to rip the femur bone apart to remove the faulty implant and put in a longer implant," he said. Chandhok's blood tests showed high levels of cobalt and chromium, released by the implant, because of which his bones, tissues and muscles were getting deteriorated and blood clots were forming in body. The Mumbai resident said his movement is restricted and at times he gets shooting pains. He claimed to have approached the company several times but said he was paid for only two months of physiotherapy sessions and sought stern action against the company. Sitting next to Chandhok was Vijay Vojhala, a native of Dombivali in Maharashtra. He was the only one, out of around 101 victims, who was called to depose before a high-powered expert committee. The panel in its report to the Health Ministry in August-end said, "The ASR (articular surface replacement) hip implants manufactured by DePuy International Ltd were found to be faulty which resulted in higher instances of revision surgeries globally, including India." The report recommended that Johnson and Johnson should be made liable to pay at least Rs 20 lakh to each affected patient, and the reimbursement for revision surgeries should continue until August 2025. DePuy International Ltd is a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson. Vijay underwent a hip implant surgery in 2008 and he had to undergo a revision surgery in 2012 after complications arose and he was unable to carry on with day-to-day work. He only got to know about the company recalling the product at a medical press conference in 2012. He now walks with a limp and cannot cover long distances or sit for long periods. Lucky Pal narrated how his mother, a businesswoman, became bedridden since she underwent implant surgeries for both hips in 2010. "When she underwent her revision surgery in 2014, doctors had to reconstruct her hips as the implant had dissolved completely, damaging them," he said. "My mother has lost her mobility, her life and her dignity. Our demands as patients and families are not just for justice and participation in the compensation mechanism being set up by the government, but for clear accountability and action against J&J," he said. The son of another victim also narrated the difficulties faced by his father, who had suffered a paralytic attack and a heart attack, since he underwent a hip implant surgery in 2010. "It was during treatment for his cardio issues following an heart attack in 2015 that we got know that he had developed blood clotting due to the implant which had led to the release of cobalt and chromium in his blood," he said. The government last week started tracing all those who received the faulty ARS system hip implants, which were imported and marketed in India between 2006 and 2010 by the Johnson and Johnson. The government also issued a public notice stating that patients suffering from disability due to faulty articular surface replacement (ASR) hip implants can approach either the central expert committee or the state-level panel. The Centre, earlier this month, constituted the central expert committee to determine the quantum of compensation to be given to patients who have the faulty hip implants. Apart from the five-member expert panel, the Health Ministry has asked principle/health secretaries of all the states and the Union Territories to constitute separate committees so that they can receive such complaints from the affected patients. The move came after a panel, constituted earlier by the Health Ministry to investigate complaints about ASR hip implant devices, said in its report the pharma giant "suppressed" facts on the harm of surgeries afterwards, which were conducted on patients in India using "faulty" hip replacement systems. It had also suggested the company pay compensation of around Rs 20 lakh to the affected patients. Some of the patients who had suffered due to the faulty implants had questioned the panel's recommendation of the paltry amount, saying it was like "rubbing salt on their wounds". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP, Congress, and the AAP Saturday asked the youth to shun the notion that is a "dirty job" and appealed to them to join the public life to take the country forward. The parties' spokespersons -- Sambit Patra (BJP), Priyanka Chaturvedi (Congress) and Raghav Chadha (AAP) -- said this during the inaugural session of India Today Mind Rocks Youth Summit here. Urging youngsters to join the public life, Patra said, "There is a famous saying -- if good people are not ready to be part of politics, then they should be ready to be ruled by the bad ones." He said the energy Prime Minister Narendra Modi exudes has been able to attract youngsters. Chaturvedi said youths should "connect with if they want politicians to speak their language". She said every politician should be a role model for the youth and should be able to fulfil their aspirations and that's what the Congress would be focusing on in times to come. Chadha said, "Traditionally, families want a lucrative, standard, conventional career for their children such as medicine, engineering, and chartered accountancy. They usually think that is dirty work." He said, "Sixty-five per cent of India's population is aged below 35. In 2020, the average age in India will be 29. Therefore, it is important for the youth of India to step up and participate in politics."On dynastic politics, Patra of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said, "It did not allow people like you and me to enter the mainstream politics for years. One of the biggest deterrents to development politics is dynastic politics."He said Congress leaders started treating Rahul Gandhi as the future president of the party the day he was born and "this defines dynastic politics". "BJP chief Amit Shah had a humble beginning. He used to put up posters before he joined the BJP. This is how he became the party president," Patra said. Citing the example of Narendra Modi, he told the audience that any one of them could become India's prime minister. "When a 'chaiwala' can become prime minister, any one of you in this hall can become the prime minister of the country. This is the core of the BJP's policy," Patra said. Chaturvedi said, "Narendra Modi is not the only prime minister who rose through the ranks. There were Congress leaders like Lal Bahadur Shastri and Manmohan Singh who had humble beginnings and went onto becoming prime minister," she said. Chadha said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has always opposed dynastic politics and its constitution says "only one member from a family can contest elections on its ticket ever". He said his party gives an opportunity to younger people. To drive his point home, he said he was made the AAP's national spokesperson when he was just 25 years old. "There are some elite families that rule the roost. These families have captured and dominated Indian politics for a very long time. There are entry barriers. If youths want to join the BJP or the Congress, they cannot because they will need a political godfather, money, muscle and media power," he alleged. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thousands of people staged anti-government protests in Nepal on Saturday, demanding justice to a 13-year-girl who was raped and killed. People from different walks of life took out a massive protest rally in Maitighar Mandala under the banner of 'Justice For Nirmala', demanding the government take strict action against the man who committed the crime in Kanchanpur district, about 700 kms from here. According to the police, the girl was raped and killed on July 27. The protesters, carrying banners that read 'Justice for Nirmalam', 'punish the guilty', 'insure women's safety' and 'government don't hide the perpetrator', raised anti-government slogans as they moved to Parliament. The main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) on Thursday obstructed a meeting of the House of Representatives to press the government in the case. Speaking in Parliament, NC lawmaker Dilendra Prasad Badu accused the authorities including the police of trying to cover the investigation. "The state mechanism seems to be focused on hiding the reality than identifying the real culprit," he alleged. Meanwhile, a general strike was called in Kanchanpur demanding the arrest of the accused. NC-affiliated Nepal Student Union shut down the market and disrupted traffic as it took out a protest rally in Mahendranagar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya Saturday mocked Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav over efforts to unite the opposition, saying he could not even keep his family together. "A person who could not keep his family as a unit, how will he cooperate with his 'bua' (aunt)," he said in an apparent reference to Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati. Akhilesh Yadav has in the past referred to the BSP leader as 'bua'. Maurya was addressing a meeting of the 'Yadav samaj' organised by the party's OBC Morcha here. "Akhilesh Yadav ran government for five years. But, what example did he present?" Maurya said. "He snatched the chair and post of party president, which was held by his father Mulayam Singh Yadav, and also misbehaved with uncle Shivpal Yadav," he added. Maurya said be it the 2014 Lok Sabha elections or UP Assembly elections in 2017, without the support of 'Yaduvanshis' (Yadavs), the BJP could not have won. "And without the Yaduvanshis, we would not be able to register victory in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Hence, it is my appeal that 'Lotus' should bloom at the booths dominated by Yaduvanshis," he said. The deputy chief minister also said that the BJP is aiming to win 74 of the 80 seats of the state in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Maurya said, "The upcoming election will be an election to make India the number one country in the world, and for this everyone has to unite and give the reins of power to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I am sure that 'Yaduvansh' will support Modiji in 2019," he said. In a tweet, Maurya also said Yadavs are not with "opportunists" and are with "nationalism and developmentalism". "The victory of the BJP in Yadav-dominated polling booths in 2014-2017 is an indicator that members of the community in UP are not with avsarwaadiya (opportunists), but are with rashtrawaad (nationalism) and vikaswaad (developmentalism)," he said. Later speaking to reporters, Maurya said, "I can say with confidence that the performance of the BJP in the state can be easily seen and experienced, and hence the BJP is getting support from all sections of the society." He added, "I have no hesitation in saying that in UP the wave of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP is much stronger as compared to the country. "In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, we will improve our tally of victory, which we had achieved in 2014 (Lok Sabha polls) and 2017 (UP Assembly elections)," Maurya said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday showered encomiums on Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for coming up with innovative solutions for problems, including that of waste. He was interacting with the spiritual guru via video-conferencing after the launch of the "Swachhata Hi Seva" campaign. "You not only solve problems, but do it in a very innovative way with the help of new technologies and viewpoint," Modi said. "Your concern for cleanliness is commendable and your efforts to make your volunteers work in this direction gives strength to (the country to) carry this big movement forward," he added. Modi said Ravi Shankar and his AOL volunteers have always been at the forefront in doing good to the society and the country. The AOL founder told Modi that nine waste management machines, which turn temple waste into manure, had been installed at shrines across the country. "Because of your (Modi) words and inspiration, one of our volunteers has created a machine which manages waste and converts it into manure. That machine has been installed at nine places of worship including Vishwanath temple in Varanasi and Ajmer Sharif Dargah," Ravi Shankar said. Noting that cities were dirtier than tribal villages, he said his volunteers had so far conducted 90,560 camps to spread awareness about cleanliness and they had yielded good results. "With the growth of facilities in cities, waste has also increased because of the use of plastic. Comparatively, tribal villages are cleaner. It is a really striking difference," he said. The spiritual leader also stressed on the need to go back to old ways of drinking in clay cups and eating food on plantain leaves, which can be recycled and reused. "We can also use plastic made of corn starch. It is in use in Gujarat. It dissolves in 90 days," Ravi Shankar suggested. He said people's aggressive and depressive tendencies are responsible for the lack of cleanliness. "Spiritual gurus always make efforts to make people rise above insensitivity towards uncleanliness, but if a prime minister makes such efforts, it has a deep impact on people's psyche," he said. "To keep public places clean, people should have a sense of belonging, then alone cleanliness can be achieved," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vice President Venkaiah Naidu invoked India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru as he addressed the Serbian Parliament on the International Day of Democracy on Saturday. Naidu, who arrived here on Friday, said that relations between India and Serbia are deeply rooted in history. Addressing the special session of the National Assembly of Serbia, where the first Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit took place in 1961, the vice president said that India and Serbia share a common perspective on many issues and have a deeper affinity that brings the two countries closer. "It was here that the first NAM Summit took place in 1961. Prime Minister of India Pandit Nehru and other world leaders of Non-Aligned Movement addressed the NAM Summit in this hallowed hall," Naidu said. He said it would be good to recall Nehru's words at the conference of NAM nations in Belgrade on September 2, 1961. "His call which rings so true and relevant even today was to build in our own countries societies where freedom is real. Freedom is essential, because freedom will give us strength and enable us to build prosperous societies. "We must strive to strengthen our democratic polities and internalise the concepts of freedom, dialogue, inclusion and rule of law in our governance structures," Naidu said. From the early days of Independent India, both countries laid great emphasis on the NAM and contributed much to creation of a new and democratic world order, particularly for the post-colonial third world that challenged the concept of bipolar world, the vice president said. "Marshal Tito was a familiar name in many Indian households. I understand that he addressed Indian Parliament during his visit to India in 1954. Thus, the Parliaments of our two countries had the privilege of and benefit of learning from each other," Naidu said. Today is the International Day of Democracy. This year marks the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries, he said. This place is the historic meeting ground of nations that decided to launch the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1961. It is good to recall that India and the then Yugoslavia were the pioneers of that movement, Naidu said. "Serbia and India share a common commitment to democratic values and the need to continuously nurture the democratic spirit for improving the quality of the lives of our people," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : A new conveyor system to transport lignite from Mine-1A to the thermal power station by NLC India Ltd was formally launched Saturday by its chairman and managing director Rakesh Kumar. The company said in a press release here that the conveyor system was set up with innovative ideas of engineers and employees of NLC India without involving any new purchase, thereby saving Rs 18 crore. The Mine-1A, with a production capacity of 30 lakh tonne per year, was built to serve as an independent power producer to cement factories present in Tamil Nadu, the release said. The conveyor measuring 832 metre was erected near Mine-1A which was linked with the existing conveyor system, it said. The conveyor equipped with a 1,500-mm belt can carry 1,000 tonne of lignite per hour, the release said. Since, the new system directly provides lignite to the thermal power station, the accumulation of old stock for a longer period can be avoided, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A government sign outside a Catholic church in central China warns that children are not allowed to attend mass. "Illegal" churches are being bulldozed. Priests are handing over personal information about their flocks to authorities. Roman Catholics in Henan province are running out of space to worship as the atheist Communist government steps up a campaign to "Sinicize" religions and demolishes old neighbourhoods to make way for development projects. The campaign has intensified even as the Vatican and Beijing, which severed ties in 1951, are reportedly close to resolving a longstanding dispute over who gets to appoint bishops. The standoff has split China's roughly 12 million Catholics between those who follow government-approved prelates and those in "underground" pro-Rome churches. A tattered poster of Jesus and a few wooden pews beneath bricks and broken planks are the only evidence that a church once stood in Puyang city before it was deemed an "illegal construction". Liu Xueshang, a weathered old farmer who spent his life savings to help build it, searched fruitlessly through the fallen branches of the church's crushed pomegranate trees for its cross. "The church here is now facing a terrible future. We have nowhere to worship and don't know what we'll do," said Liu. Elsewhere in the province, nearly two dozen worshippers and clergymen interviewed by AFP detailed unprecedented measures imposed this year under new religious regulations. Crosses have been removed from church tops, printed religious materials and holy items confiscated, and church-run kindergartens closed. Churches have been required to display the national flag and constitution but take down religious imagery from public-facing spaces. In recent months, minors, college students and even infants have been barred from entering all church premises. On a recent Sunday at the officially-sanctioned Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Anyang, an official from the State Administration for Religious Affairs said she came to "inspect" as 800 people attended mass. "Catholicism is not native to China," she said. And in Zhifang village south of Puyang, authorities welded shut the entrance of a kindergarten in a church's courtyard. The school was shuttered because "they want to prevent any cases of the church being involved in education", said a village leader who declined to give his name. Churches have also been told to hand over detailed information about each of their members, including their finances and ties to "foreign influences", according to paperwork seen by AFP. One senior priest who requested anonymity said the data would be used to set up an online religious management system and monitoring app. Divulging the personal details of churchgoers has been "a huge emotional burden on our clergy, who see it as a sin," he said, stating that guilt-ridden priests have come to him in tears. Most of the new measures were developed to rein in Protestantism, which authorities believe has been growing "too quickly" in Henan, he cited officials as saying, although Catholics are finding themselves targets too. Many Catholics in Henan, in eastern China, are paying close attention to the negotiations between Beijing and the Vatican. "We hope the religion problems can be solved, we have the same faith, we want stability, we want to unite," an underground church member said. Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said in a brief statement to AFP that "the dialogue between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China continues". The Henan and national religious affairs bureaus did not answer requests for comment. The crackdown in the province is amplified by the razing of old districts where most churches are located to make way for development projects. The rubble of the Puyang church lies in a construction site for high-rise apartments. The decades-old church was built with official permission and had a license to operate, but authorities abruptly declared it illegal a few months ago, said Liu, the farmer and local village leader. Without warning, bulldozers tore it down one night. "The next day, all the old church members came and sat here, weeping," he said. A meagre compensation was not enough to secure a new place. Anthony Lam, a Chinese Catholic church expert at Hong Kong's Holy Spirit Study Centre, said urban development is being "used as an excuse to demolish churches". Desperate underground priests have approached state-sanctioned colleagues for help to secure a place of worship in exchange for nominal oversight. A state-approved priest said the urbanisation and demolitions mean "the space in which the underground can exist is getting smaller and smaller". "We're speaking with the underground now -- so as to protect them, not control them. This allows the government to know we're monitoring them. This is our innovation in Henan." Many priests fear the restrictions will spread elsewhere in China. "For many years, our feeling has been that Henan is an area of experimentation for the central government," said a senior clergyman with close ties to the government. "We think this is just the beginning. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday embarked on his maiden visit to Afghanistan where he will hold talks with President Ashraf Ghani and other top Afghan leadership on security and other bilateral issues between the two countries. It is the first foreign visit of Qureshi since assuming the office of the foreign minister. "FM Qureshi left for Kabul on his first foreign visit abroad underlining the importance government attaches to work closely with Afghanistan for regional peace and stability, Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said. Qureshi will meet his Afghan counterpart as well as Afghan President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah during the one-day visit. The two sides will also discuss the re-opening of Consulate General in Jalalabad which was closed due to security reasons last month. Faisal said successful outcome of the visit will lead future efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation under bilateral frameworks of cooperation including Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS). Qureshi's visit comes amidst the US' pressure on Pakistan to play more active role in arranging peace talks with Taliban rebels. on Friday, the country's civil and military leadership held a meeting at PM Office to discuss foreign policy challenges. Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Inter-Services Intelligence director general Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, Qureshi, foreign secretary and other senior officials were present at the high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan. Bilateral relations with "certain friendly countries" and issues relating to security were discussed during the meeting, according to an official statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Supreme Court on Saturday ordered the chief executive officers of major mineral water companies to appear before it on Sunday in a case regarding the alleged exploitation of water resources in the country. Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, who was heading the two-member bench, had taken suo motu notice of the issue on Friday and sought data regarding water usage by the companies from departments concerned, the Dawn reported. While hearing the case at the Supreme Court's Lahore Registry on Saturday, CJP Nisar said the court will see "whether the mineral water (provided by the companies) even has minerals in it or not". Justice Nisar said companies selling water should sit with the government and decide a rate for extracting water. A lawyer for the federal government informed the court that the mineral water companies pay the government 25 paisa per litre of water, while selling it for Rs 50 per litre, the daily said. At this, the CJP remarked that he himself boiled and drank tap water at home because "that is what (the people of) my nation are drinking". He observed that a poor person was compelled to drink pond water even today. Justice Nisar emphasised the value of water by saying that it was now even more expensive than gold. He said people have gotten into the habit of drinking mineral water and money was being made off of a natural resource. "We will not allow the theft of water under any condition," the top judge warned. The CJP observed that the companies making money from water get ahead while common people get left behind, adding that steps need to be taken to improve the lives of the common man. The court subsequently ordered the CEOs of all major companies selling mineral water including Nestle, Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Gourmet to appear before the bench on Sunday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NCP chief Sharad Pawar is likely to launch the party's campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls with a public meeting in Beed on October 1, a senior leader said Saturday. Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Dhananjay Munde, claimed that the October 1 rally would be the party's pledge for victory. The NCP will pledge to win not just the Beed Lok Sabha seat but also all six Assembly constituencies there in the state polls later next year. He said the party's campaign was being launched in Beed as the district was a bastion of progressive ideals propagated by Pawar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi had followed the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi by honouring those who worked towards keeping the country clean, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday. Speaking at a "Swachhata Hi Seva" a programme at the Old Delhi Railway Station, he said Modi reached out to over 10 crore people when he launched the movement, a fortnight-long event, earlier on Thursday. "By walking on the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi, the PM has honoured all those involved in sanitation work and who are working towards keeping the country clean," Goyal said. Modi, in a tweet, praised the contribution of the railway employees in keeping the railway network clean and called upon the passengers to maintain cleanliness. "The role of all my employees in the railways is crucial in keeping such a large railway network clean, to make things convenient for the travellers. They have also contributed to the improvement of cleanliness in the railways," the prime minister tweeted. He further said there was a close relationship between cleanliness and community feeling. "In train compartments, it is written that the Indian Railways is the property of the public. It is written to make you feel that it belongs to you and that you must reserve and protect it," Modi tweeted. Goyal also highlighted the need for citizen partnership in keeping India clean. "If each citizen of this country takes an oath that he will take the responsibility for change, then not just his home, his whole country will be clean. Then this country will have a place of pride globally," Goyal, who took part in cleaning the Old Delhi Railway Station premises on Saturday, said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday lauded Isha Foundation founder Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev for carrying forward the Swachh Bharat Movement in Tamil Nadu and asked its volunteers to further strengthen it. Interacting with Sadhguru via video conferencing after the launch of the "Swachhata Hi Seva" campaign, the Prime Minister said he himself had seen Sadhgurus dedicated efforts to strengthen the campaign by keeping rivers clean. Modi said he believed that Sadhgurus blessings would strengthen and further purify this sense of service. "Swatch Bharat is not a movement by a certain government. This is not even the Prime Minister's Movement. This is the movement of Bharat, this is the movement of every citizen. Tremendous things have happened (on cleanliness), thanks to the Prime Minister," Sadhguru said. He said the Isha Foundation would form citizens' committees in 37 municipalities and 12 city corporations to support the administration in achieving cleanliness and hygiene for everyone. A total of 10,000 volunteers in Chennai would be roped in to make their areas clean, he said. To mark the launch of the campaign on behalf of the Foundation, its volunteeers in Puducherry have started with a cleaning drive at the Vedhapureshwarar Shiva Temple in the Union Territory, he said. The 'Swachhata Hi Seva' movement aims at generating greater public participation towards Swachhta (cleanliness) and 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 the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 15th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas will be held in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency Varanasi in January next year and the Indian diaspora attending the event will also get an opportunity to participate in the 'Kumbh Snan' and attend the Republic Day parade. The announcement was made on Saturday with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath jointly launching a dedicated website for the event from January 21-23. The government is touting the event as the first of its kind as the participants will witness the cultural heritage of Varanasi and of Allahabad during the Kumbh Mela. The theme of PBD 2019 is the "Role of Indian Diaspora in building a New India". Arrangements for the Kumbh Snan (holy bath) will be made at the sangam for the participants. Those interested in participating in the event can register on the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas website till November 15. Talking to reporters here, Swaraj said Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) is held on January 9 every year, but the next edition of the event has been postponed by a few days after Indian diaspora expressed interest in attending the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad and Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. So this event will be held around the dates of the Kumb Mela and the Republic Day parade. Swaraj said she will interact with four Indian missions to mark PBD on January 9. The main event will be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22. "After the PBD convention, participants will be taken to Kumbh Mela by bus on January 24. Then, participants will travel from Prayagraj (Allahabad) to Delhi by train on the same day. The railways will run special Pravasi Bharti train for them," she said. The external affairs minister also said Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth will be chief guest for the January 22 main event while Norway leader Himanshu Gulati and New Zealand MP Charanjit Singh Bakshi will be special guests at the PBD event to be held on January 21. The event is jointly being held by the Uttar Pradesh government and the Ministry of External Affairs. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said his government is making arrangements to showcase the "Athithi Devo Bhava" culture of the holy city of Varanasi. He said it was a good opportunity for the state to showcase its culture before the world. "We will also make arrangements for Indian diaspora to witness culture of various fields of the country at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas," he said. The chief minister also remembered former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away earlier this year, saying there were also several things associated with Vajpayee in Varanasi On the last day of event on January 23, President Ram Nath Kovind will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Consumer Affairs minister Sadhan Pande Saturday said the price of petrol blended with ethanol should be reduced and consumers must be informed that they are buying blended fuel. Retail petro dealers should arrange for the adequate display of this information, he said on the sidelines of MCCI India Economic Forum 2018. Refiners are blending 10 per cent ethanol with petrol, Pande said adding "Keeping consumers in the dark about ethanol being mixed with petrol at the pumps is an act of cheating. Consumers should be made aware of this." If ethanol is mixed then the price of petrol should be reduced. "I have been informed that the Centre has earned Rs 12,000 crore in the last fiscal through this practice," Pande, a senior Trinamool Congress leader said. The price of fuel has skyrocketed in the domestic market and is at an all time high prompting the opposition parties to demand reduction in its prices. Ethanol being a hydroscopic product absorbs water and affects the mileage of the vehicle, the consumer affairs minister said. Pande said he has written to the petroleum ministry and urged it to create awareness among consumers about the ethanol blended petrol being sold to them. "Banners and hoardings should be put up at the petrol pumps." The minister said held a meeting with three leading petroleum companies and senior officials of West Bengal Petroleum Dealers' Association (WBPDA) recently. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Rajasthan government will file an appeal next week in the high court against the acquittal of five co-accused in the Kankani blackbuck poaching case involving Bollywood star Salman Khan, Additional Advocate General S K Vyas said Saturday. The Forest Department had written to the state government for sanction to appeal against the acquittal of actors Saif Ali Khan, Neelam, Sonali Bendre and Tabu and a local resident Dushyant Singh. "I received the sanction to file an appeal against the acquittal of the five co-accused in the Kankani poaching case. We would proceed with the appeal in the court next week," Vyas said. Khan, the main accused in the case, was convicted and sentenced to five years' imprisonment by a trial court for killing the the endangered animals in October 1998, when Bollywood movie 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' was being shot in the area. But the co-accused in the case had been acquitted by the trial court itself. He then filed an appeal in the sessions court, challenging the trial court's verdict against him. Arguments in the appeal have been progressing in the sessions court. Prosecution counsel Mahipal Singh Bishnoi said the state government had referred the matter to its Law Department, which gave a go-ahead for filing the appeal. "Now as the required sanction has been obtained by the government counsel, the process will be initiated to file the appeal against these acquittals," Bishnoi said. Simultaneously, another appeal by the state government challenging Khan's acquittal in a case under Arms Act will be heard by the same sessions court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The opposition Congress in Kerala Saturday alleged that flood relief operations in the state has come to a stanstill in the absence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is in the U.S. for treatment. KPCC President M M Hassan told reporters here that the cabinet had not met after the Chief Minister left for the U.S. on September 2. The administration has also come to a halt, he said and alleged that the immediate flood relief of Rs 10,000 was not given to all those affected, though government had promised that the amount would be disbursed within 48 hours. The KPCC Chief also flayed the reported move to transfer employees who refuse to accept the 'salary challenge' of paying one month' salary to the Chief Ministers Disaster Relief Fund. The government had said yesterday that Rs 1,236 crore had been spent so far on flood relief works to overcome the devastation caused by the deluge last month The immediate assistance of Rs 10,000 had been given to 5.70 lakh families so far, the government said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mexico has selected Alfonso Cuaron's Spanish-language memoir film "Roma" as its foreign-language Oscar entry. The black and white autobiographical drama recently won the Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival. Netflix will begin streaming "Roma" on December 14 and it's considering giving the film a limited theatrical run in the US. In Mexico, "Roma" had an exclusive one-week release in August in order to qualify as a foreign-language Oscar entry. Cuaron produced, wrote and directed "Roma", which he calls his most personal film yet. He also shot the film himself because his regular cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, was unavailable. The film draws on Cuaron's memories of growing up in Mexico City's "Roma" neighborhood. Cuaron created Oscars history in 2014 when he became the first Mexican-born filmmaker to win a directing Academy Award for "Gravity". Later, his fellow countrymen and friends Alejandro G Inarritu ("The Revenant") and Guillermo del Toro ("The Shape of Water") triumphed at the Academy Awards with best picture and directing Oscars. Despite their individual achievements, Mexico has never brought home an Oscar for best foreign-language film. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jewelleries worth Rs 5 lakh, Rs 50,000 cash and other valuables were stolen from the house of former Bihar chief minister B P Mandal in Bihar's Madhepura town on Friday night, police said Saturday. Former CM's son Manindra Kumar Mandal, who is also a former JD(U) MLA, said that besides jewelleries and cash thieves took away valuable items such as laptop, mobile, clothes, utensils etc Friday night when the family members had gone to their native village Murho in the same Madhepura district. The incident occurred at former CM B P Mandal's house located on a road named after him under Sadar police station of the Madhepura town. Mandal served as chief minister of Bihar for a brief period of 30 days in 1968. He headed the Mandal commission that receommended reservation in jobs for the OBC. He died in 1982. Manindra Mandal said that he has lodged an FIR against unknown persons. Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar, who inspected the spot Saturday morning, said that a high level inquiry has been ordered into the case. Besides, dog squad has also been engaged. Three thieves have been arrested from Tapra Tola area of ward 26 of the town, the SP said adding that 80 per cent of the stolen jewelleries have been recovered from the possession of those arrested in this connection. Police are conducting raids to nab other persons named by the three arrested thieves, the SP added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah Saturday kicked off the party's campaign for the coming Telangana assembly polls by launching a blistering attack on the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi for forcing early elections and allegedly not fulfilling electoral promises. Questioning why the TRS brought the elections ahead of schedule, he asked if they did not have the confidence to face the polls in May next year as per the original schedule. The assembly elections were originally scheduled to be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls next year. However, the assembly was dissolved earlier this month following a recommendation made by the TRS government. Attacking the TRS, Shah claimed that the state government was not celebrating September 17 (the day the erstwhile Nizam state had merged with the Indian Union in 1948) officially due to 'fear' of AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen). He recalled the struggles by the people of Telangana against the Nizam's rule and the 'Razakars" (private militia that had resisted the integration of Hyderabad state into the Dominion of India) who committed atrocities on them. "The party which cannot officially celebrate the day cannot safeguard the pride of Telangana," he said. BJP is committed to officially celebrating the day,he said. Slamming TRS for not making a Dalit a Chief Minister after the formation of Telangana as promised, Shah sought to know if the party was ready to do so after the coming polls. He lambasted the TRS for promising to provide 12 per cent reservation for minorities and said it would cut the percentage of quotas for STs, SCs and Backward Classes "as the percentage cannot exceed 50 per cent." Shah said while BJP came to power in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and several other states after the Modi government came to power at the centre, the congress had lost ground. On the proposed Grand Alliance of the Congress and other parties in the state, Shah said the Telugu people had not forgotten how the Congress had treated their leaders like former (undivided) Andhra Pradesh chief minister Anjaiah and former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao. He highlighted the help extended by the NDA government to Telangana in the form of funds and various other means. Shah also cited major steps, including "surgical strikes", taken by the NDA government for national security. On the National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue, he reiterated that BJP would work towards removing infiltrators from the electoral rolls. Earlier Shah said in Hyderabad that BJP would contest the Assembly election on its own and not go for a tie up with the TRS. The BJP would also fight against the "stalled progress" of the state, he said, when asked about allegations of a tacit understanding between the BJP and the TRS. Shah claimed that the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led party was earlier in favour of simultaneous elections to the state Assembly and Lok Sabha, but subsequently changed its stand. He wanted to know why the state Assembly was prematurely dissolved, just a few days after the chief minister had expressed his willingness for simultaneous polls. Quoting from reports, the BJP chief said 4,200 farmers committed suicide in the state in the last four years and claimed that some of the schemes of the central government were not implemented in Telangana properly. Shah said the Centre had allotted Rs 2.30 lakh crore to Telangana under the 14th Finance Commission as against "a mere Rs 15,000 crore" during the 13th Finance Commission. Meanwhile, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the BJP was suffering from "selective amnesia" and they would not succeed either in Hyderabad or Telangana. Owaisi claimed that BJP would not be able to save their five Assembly seats in Hyderabad and Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat. He took a dig at the saffron party, saying it was suffering from "selective amnesia", and claimed that it had forgotten that Modi had also advanced the polls when he was the Gujarat chief minister. The party-wise strength in the 120-member Telangana Legislative Assembly before its dissolution was -- TRS 82, Congress 17, AIMIM 7, BJP 5, TDP 3, Vacant 2, the CPI, CPI(M), Independent and nominated member (one each). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Activists of Shiv Sena (Hindustan) on Saturday burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protest against the rising prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas, police said. Led by Sena's state vice president Manish Sood, the agitators held a protest march here and shouted anti-Modi slogans. They also organised a demonstration near a bus stand along the National Highway 1 and burnt the effigy of the prime minister, the police said. Addressing the protesters, Sood accused Modi of going back on his poll promises. He said the Modi government had come to power with Hindu votes on the promise of building Ram Mandir at Ayodhaya, scrapping Article 370, which gives a special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and bringing in a common civil code. "But the Modi government, after coming to power, has put all these issues in the cold storage, reneged on promises made to the majority Hindu community for which it will be taught a befitting lesson in next year's Lok Sabha polls," Sood added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Normal life in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district was disrupted Saturday in a 12-hour shutdown by the state unit of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). The shutdown was called to press for the setting up of a permanent bench of Orissa High Court here, refund of deposit to the customers of the now defunct Baripada Urban Cooperative Bank and development of railways in Mayurbhanj district. It passed off peacefully and government offices, courts, educational institutions, banks and post offices did not function. Business and commercial establishments and shops downed their shutters and vehicular traffic kept off the road in the district. District Bar Association extended its support to the agitation. Supporters of the shutdown picketted at the collectorate premises but the district collector Vineet Bharadwaj attended office with police security. They later burnt the district collector's effigy and shouted slogans against him. State JMM president Mahesh Hembram, secretary Kalinga Keshari Jena, the party's Mayurbhanj district president Fagu Hansda, district Bar Association president Prabir Basa and general secretary Biplab Barik led the protests here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior SAD leader Prem Singh Chandumajra Saturday said Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has no right to speak on Sikhism as he does not follow the tenets of the religion. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader's reaction comes a day after Sidhu urged the Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of Sikhs, to excommunicate former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal from the faith. Sidhu had alleged that the Parkash and his son-- former deputy chief minister of Punjab and SAD president-- had given orders to the police to open fire at protesters at Behbal Kalan in 2015 that led to the death of two people. "A patit (apostate) like Navjot Singh Sidhu regularly disrespects his religion by trimming and dying his beard and performing religious rituals forbidden in Sikhism," Chandumajra said in a statement here. "He has the audacity to approach the sacred Shri Akal Takht Sahib to vent his hatred against practising Sikhs (Badals)," the senior Akali leader said. "First follow the tenets of Sikhism yourself and maintain a proper Sikh saroop (character) before you even begin to talk about the religion. Stop trimming and dying your beard," Chandumajra said further. The member of parliament said it was Sidhu's personal affair on how he chooses to appear as long as he does not "pretend" to be concerned about Sikh values. "He has no right to speak on Sikh issues when he proudly defies the dictate of the tenth Guru Gobind Singh on the sanctity of hair and indulges in rituals and sacrifices strictly forbidden in Sikhism," said Chandumajra. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Saturday alleged some people are trying to derail the AAP government's scheme for doorstep delivery of services launched earlier this week. The chief minister's allegation come after some reports about mischievous elements trying to disrupt the scheme by giving fake addresses. Kejriwal, however, did not take name of anyone. "I am very sad. Due to dirty politics, some people are trying to derail such a good scheme. They should not work against people. This is wrong. "All should support for public-welfare works regardless of any political party running the government," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi. On Monday, the chief minister had launched the scheme under which Delhiites can avail 40 services, including driving licence, ration card, caste and marriage registration certificates, at their doorstep. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Samajwadi Party (SP) leader has been shot dead by his wife's lover here, the police said on Saturday. On Friday evening, SP leader Jagdish Mali (35) got into a fight with Dilip, with whom his wife was involved, in Nai Basti locality under the Chandausi police station limits, Superintendent of Police Yamuna Prasad said. During the fight, Dilip opened fire at Mali, who died at the spot, he said. An FIR has been filed against Mali's wife and Dilip on a complaint lodged by the deceased's brother, Prasad said. While Mali's wife has been arrested, efforts are on to nab Dilip, who fled the scene after the incident, he added. SP district unit president Firoz Khan, who met the deceased's family, described Mali as hard-working. He said Mali had sought the ticket for the chairman's position in Chandausi local body election. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Super Typhoon Mangkhut -- the biggest storm of the year -- smashed through the Philippines on Saturday, and claimed its first death as a woman was swept out to sea off Taiwan. Mangkhut tore through the northern part of Luzon island, where it made landfall in the pre-dawn darkness, ripping off roofs, felling trees and knocking out power. The area is home to around 10 million people, many of whom live in flimsy wooden shelters. As the powerful storm left the Southeast Asian archipelago and barrelled towards densely populated Hong Kong and southern China, search teams in the Philippines began surveying the provinces that suffered a direct hit. "We believe there has been a lot of damage," said Social Welfare Secretary Virginia Orogo as thousands of evacuees took refuge in emergency shelters. Mangkhut was packing sustained winds of 170 kilometres (105 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 260 km per hour as it left the Philippines. 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. In Taiwan, a woman was swept away by high waves caused by the typhoon, the government said. Residents had started lashing down their roofs and gathering supplies days before the arrival of the storm. "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)." 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. As the storm heads for China's southern coast, Cathay Pacific airline said it expects more than 400 flight cancellations over the next three days. The Hong Kong government said Mangkhut will pose "a severe threat to the region" as many residents in the city and neighbouring Macau stocked up on food and supplies. The president of neighbouring Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, pushed citizens to be ready. "The typhoon is powerful and even it's not expected to make a landfall in Taiwan, we should be well prepared and not... take it lightly," she wrote on Facebook. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Saturday said the whole "world has acknowledged" the Swachhta Mission which has become a "mass movement", an official statement said. Rijiju was speaking at a "Swachhta Hi Seva" programme at Connaught Place in the heart of the national capital. According to the statement, Rijiju, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, said "India is a great (country) but its greatness depends upon the cleanliness, which brings progress and improvement in all spheres of life of the citizens". The minister also administered the Swachhta pledge to the participants at the event. "Now, the Swachhta Mission has become a mass movement, which was not witnessed in post and pre-Independent India... The whole world has acknowledged the initiative of Swachhta Mission," the statement quoted Rijiju as having said. Rijiju exhorted students to come forward to disseminate the message of Swachhta Mission to the people and also inculcate a habit to clean their houses, surroundings and even class rooms. He also inaugurated an organic waste converter and a smart public toilet utility (PTU) in Janpath by remote control and flagged off a cycle rally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the "Swachhata Hi Seva" campaign on Saturday. The "cleanliness is service" campaign will continue till Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Protesting against the proposed Walmart Flipkart deal and (FDI) in retail, the Confederation of All India (CAIT) Saturday launched a 90-day march from New Delhi's Red Fort. The Sampoorna Kranti will culminate in a rally on December 16 at the Ramlila Ground in New Delhi, a CAIT release informed Saturday. CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said that the yatra would be a door to door campaign which would cover 22,000 kilometres in 28 states, including 120 cities and 500 towns. He informed that the CAIT had also called for a "Bharat Trade Bandh" on September 28 to protest against the Walmart-Flipkart deal and FDI in retail. Nearly seven crore establishments are expected to down shutters during the September 28 bandh, he claimed. Beside FDI in retail, the launched today will highlight core issues like the need for simplification of GST, robust and transparent e-commerce policy, adoption and acceptance of digital payments, easy access to finance to small businesses through MUDRA Yojana, he said. The march will also stress on the need for a policy for retail trade and early introduction of Consumer Protection Act among others, he added. Local issues like sealing in Delhi and ban on plastics in Maharashtra and other states will also be raised en route, the CAIT secretary general said. Khandelwal said that after Walmart, firms like Amazon and Alibaba were also trying to enter similar deals. The Tripura government said Saturday it would take action against its staff who did not attend office on September 10, the day Congress observed Bharat Bandh protesting against hike in petroleum prices. The BJP-led government in Tripura had earlier asked all staff to be present on the said date or face punitive action. The state government issued an office memorandum on Friday saying action would be taken against government employees who remained absent on September 10. The memorandum was issued from the office of General Administration (Administrative Reforms) by Under-Secretary M Rema asking concerned departments to take suitable action against the employees who remained absent on the day of Bharat Bandh. The Department of General Administration issued a separate memo ahead of the Congress sponsored strike and instructed officials to maintain normal functioning on September 10. The memo also summoned attendance report of all employees by 12 noon on the day. The government has decided to take suitable action against those employees who did not attend office on 10th September, 2018 during Bharat Bandh, the memo said. According to official reports, over 80 per cent attendance was recorded in the state government offices on September 10. The Congress' nationwide strike had evoked a mixed response in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A truck driver from the valley died under suspicious circumstances on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district, police said. Abdul Hamid Sheikh, a resident of Ranvirpora village of Anantnag, was brought to the district hospital in Udhampur by his conductor Bilal Ahmad in an unconscious state, a police spokesman said. He said the truck was on its way to Kashmir from Assam via Dhar road. Sheikh went for sleep in the truck at around 3 am after handing over the vehicle to his conductor, the spokesman said. After stopping the truck near Jakheni for tea in the morning, the conductor tried to wake up the driver but Sheikh remained in an unconscious condition, he said. Subsequently, Ahmad took him to the hospital where he was declared brought dead, the spokesman added. Police have started inquest proceedings to ascertain the cause of Sheikh's death, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two people died and one was injured when their car fell into a deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla district on Saturday, the police said. Guddu Ram (32) and Sookha Nand (42) and Chand Karan of village Maghara were travelling in their Bolero SUV when the accident occurred on Rampur Gaura road in Rampur subdivision of the hill-state, they said. While Ram and Nand died on the spot, Karan was injured and admitted to Khaneri hospital, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a fit of rage, a man threw acid on a 23-year-old woman here, leaving her with severe burn injuries, after she rejected his marriage proposal, police said, adding that he and his accomplice were arrested Saturday. The incident occurred on Friday when the woman, a student of BEd, was returning from college when two motorcycle-borne men chased her after she got down from the bus at Thoba village, nearly twenty 25 km from here, they said. The main accused, Inderjit Singh, was known to the woman and was keen to marry her, but her parents were reluctant to do so, they added. Following which, the police said, she conveyed her unwillingness to marry Singh. Police said the estranged lover on listening the denial hatched a conspiracy with his cousin Jobanjit Singh to damage the woman's face and threw acid on her. Some passersby rushed her to a village hospital from where she was referred to Amritsar Government Guru Nanak Hospital, they said. According to police, the arrested accused confessed to the crime. The shopkeeper who sold acid to the accused was also arrested, they said, adding additional stock of acid stored in plastic drums was seized. A case has been registered against the accused under Section 326 A of the Indian Penal Code for wilfully causing grievous injuries by acid. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mumbai police reminded Bollywood actor Uday Chopra Saturday that marijuana is a banned commodity in India when the "Dhoom" actor batted for its legalisation. Chopra tweeted Friday that marijuana, also known as cannabis, should be legalised as it is "part of Indian culture" and also has "medical benefits". "I feel India should legalises 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," the actor said through his twitter handle @udaychopra. The tweet not only invited usual trolling that celebrities sometimes face on social media, but also a response from the city police. "Sir, as citizen of India, you are privileged to express your view on a public platform. Be mindful, as of now consumption, possession and transportation of marijuana invites harsh punishment as per provisions of Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985. Spread the word," said @MumbaiPolice. By Saturday afternoon, Chopra's post had over 300 retweets, a thousand 'likes' and many comments, many of them countering his view or using 'memes' to ridicule it. "People here can't use WhatsApp correctly and you are talking about marijuana...," said one tweet. But the actor stuck to his guns. "The benefits are too many to list. A brief google search will educate you I am sure. Anyway its better than being schooled by people like me who have no work," he said. "I do not use it, I just really think its a wise move, given our history with the (cannabis) plant," he said in another tweet. Twitter user @IshataYadav said, "Easy to you to say when you don't have to work for living. Imagine a stoned workforce." To which Chopra replied, "So your argument is that dont make it legal cause everyone will be stoned. Wonder why the same reasoning didnt stop people from legalising alcohol #Flawed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Housing and Urban Affairs secretary Durga Shankar Mishra Saturday called on Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik here and discussed various programmes underway in the state under the 'Swachh Bharat Mission'. The governor and Mishra discussed various programmes underway under the 'Swachh Bharat Mission' and status of many centrally-sponsored schemes launched for strengthening basic facilities in the urban areas of the state, an official spokesman said. He said the duo also discussed about the challenges in the field of solid and liquid waste management. Earlier, Mishra attended a meeting here to review the progress made on works related to the development of J-K's twin capitals Jammu and Srinagar as 'Smart Cities'. The meeting was also attended by the state's chief secretary B V R Subrahmanyam. Mishra assured the meeting that there was no dearth of funds with the Centre for speedy implementation of the 'Smart City Mission' in the twin capitals of the state. "The challenge before you are utilisation and implementation but this also opens a window of opportunity to make Srinagar a great city like Geneva," he said. Deputy commissioners of Jammu and Srinagar, who are also the in-charge CEOs of Smart City projects, informed the meeting about the progress made in the implementation of 'Smart City Mission' in their respective cities, the spokesman said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Urdu version of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's book 'Exam Warriors' was released in the presence of several Union ministers on Saturday. The book, which focusses on 25 mantras for parents and students to cope with the stress of exams, has earlier been published in 14 languages. "This book could not have been written by anyone else other than the prime minister and its aim would have remained incomplete if it had not been published in Urdu. This is also because while the natural language of India in many ways is Hindustani, it is in Urdu language that Hindustani finds the influence of Ganga Yamuna 'tehzeeb'. It cannot be found in any other language," said Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office in chaste Urdu. Organised by the India Islamic Cultural Centre, the launch was held at Dr Ambedkar International Centre here. HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, actors Rishi Kapoor and Annu Kapoor and producer-director-writer Muzaffar Ali were among those present. Naqvi said that the book is a message that children should be brought along in the path of development of the nation. "There are people in this audience who love Urdu both as a language and as a courtesy. This book that Modiji has written in Hindi and in Urdu and now that it will be printed in Arabic, I welcome the move," he said. Actor Annu Kapoor said that Urdu should not be associated with any community, instead it should be seen as an Indian language. He told students to study for themselves, not for a degree or for a job. Javadekar said that PM Modi is the only leader of the world who has written a book for school children at a time when most politicians would be only concerned with vote and constituencies. "There is a hidden teacher in him...he has ensured that the of poor children do not suffer. Today the subsidy for them is Rs 2,200 crore. This book is not a deal for votes. It is his way of telling students to not take stress during exams, his way of telling parents not to pressure their children. He is a hands on PM," said the HRD Minister. In the book, the prime minister has also talked about some yoga exercises and the importance of the quality of sleep required for students to beat the examination stress. All the ministers also asked the publishers to keep the price of the book nominal so that everyone can afford to buy it. The book at present costs anywhere between Rs 63-Rs 100 depending on where one buys it from. Actor Rishi Kapoor, who was the only one among those present who conceded his unfamiliarity with the language, said that while growing up, learning Urdu was not a priority. "We speak in English at home and I was convent educated. In fact, when I saw 'Mughal-e-Azam' as a little boy I could hardly understand most of the dialogues spoken in it," said the actor hailing the class of the language which he says he learnt in bits and pieces through his films. "In our family, we were all exam worriers, worrying about the results of our exams. You all are lucky that you have a PM who has written a book like this for all of you and you have a guide to follow. There is a reason why this book was needed," he said addressing the students present. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US-backed Syrian forces entered Saturday an eastern village held by the Islamic State group where intense clashes are ongoing a day after the extremists reportedly killed 20 fighters, the forces and a war monitor said. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said its fighters stormed Bagouz and are close to the center of the village. The forces added that they plan to open another front in the Sousseh area along the Euphrates river to increase pressure on the extremists. SDF launched with the help of the US-led coalition a wide offensive this week to capture the last pocket held by IS in Syria. The Kurdish-led forces have been among the most effective in the fight against IS in Syria, forcing them out of much of the country's east. Despite losing most of the territory it held between Iraq and Syria since its peak in 2014, the jihadist IS remains a disruptive force in both countries. Its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, urged his followers to "persevere" in an audio tape attributed to him last month. The IS-linked Aamaq agency said the group's gunmen targeted advancing SDF fighters in the Bagouz area with mortar rounds, roadside bombs and sniper fire inflicting many casualties among them. The SDF commander of the operation in Bagouz, who identified himself as Shergo, said in a video statement that the fighting is intense from both sides and that his fighters now control almost half of the village. "We will take all this place from ISIS," Shergo said in English, using a different acronym to refer to IS. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said IS fighters are relying on a network of tunnels in the area and land mines to slow down SDF's offensive. It said that some 100 women and 30 men, including IS fighters, along with their children, surrendered to SDF fighters. The IS gunmen were taken to a tightly secured positions in the area, it added. The storming of Bagouz came a day after the Observatory and a Kurdish official said IS gunmen killed 20 SDF fighters in the country's east. The Observatory said the extremists took advantage of a sand storm to launch a counterattack, which killed 20 fighters and wounded others. Kurdish official Ebrahim Ebrahim said the 20 fighters were killed in an ambush by IS fighters. SDF said in a statement that only two of its fighters were killed and six others wounded in Friday's clashes. The Observatory said Saturday that since SDF launched its offensive on the IS-held pocket, including the town of Hajin, 53 extremists have been killed as well as 38 US-backed fighters. The Observatory said SDF brought in Friday some 1,000 fighters to fortify its positions and boost the forces carrying out the offensive. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) by Joseph Chuong Roll out in the territories of Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Cao Bang and ien Bien. It is feared that the use of the "red currency" could be extended to other provinces and cities of Vietnam. The expert Nguyen Xuan Nghia: "Vietnam will become 'landfill' and 'landing strip' for Beijing companies". Hanoi (AsiaNews) - Starting from October 12th, in seven northern border provinces, it will be possible to use the Yuan, the currency of the People's Republic of China according to a circular issued by the State Bank of Vietnam on August 29. The provision will concern residents, businessmen, banks and organizations (local or Chinese) operating in the provinces of Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Cao Bang and ien Bien. In the beginning, in these territories it was customary to use the Chinese currency in frontier trade. The provision of the regime now feeds the widespread fears that the use of the "red currency" may be extended to other provinces and cities of Vietnam, leading to an economic colonization. Sharing the fears of many citizens, economist Nguyen Tri Hieu states: "Since the beginning of 2018, the Viet Nam ong (VND) has appreciated by 1.8% against the yuan. Importing goods from China is therefore cheaper for Hanoi. Using Chinese currency in trade is disadvantageous to the Vietnamese economy. Since China is the biggest market for the country, the depreciation of the yuan will further promote the trade deficit with China. Exports to Beijing will suffer limitations, this is damaging for Vietnam ". Le ang Doanh reiterates that, should Chinese products dominate the Vietnamese market, "local businesses would have a hard time selling their goods in China". "This will affect Vietnam's sales, employment and revenues. These are consequences we can foresee, "says the expert. Commenting on the government provision, the well-known Vietnamese American analyst Nguyen Xuan Nghia declares: "This is Hanoi's industrialization strategy. It will be harmful to Vietnam but will bring many benefits to China". "This plan will not only make the country a 'Chinese landfill' - he concludes - but it will also make it a 'landing strip' for Beijing companies in vast areas of the Vietnamese provinces. We are talking about strategic territories, all this is very dangerous for national security ". 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. New South Wales Police have confirmed the first case of strawberries contaminated with needles bought from a Sydney supermarket. Empty shelves, normally stocked with strawberry punnets, are seen at a Coles in Brisbane on Friday. It is now believed the contamination may affect six brands of strawberries: "Berry Obsession", "Berry Licious", "Love Berry", "Donnybrook Berries", "Delightful Strawberries", and "Oasis". "Please be careful and crush them up before eating or just chuck them out". Other cases of strawberry contamination have so far been identified in NSW in Tweed Heads, Taree and Wingham, as well as in Queensland in the suburbs of Everton Park and the Redbank plains. Young advised residents that all strawberries, regardless of brand, should be cut before they're eaten. "Coles takes the safety of the food we sell seriously and we are working with our suppliers, police and state health regulators to investigate", a spokesperson said in a statement. "If you have Donnybrook strawberries at home, or are unsure of the brand, you should return them to the store or throw them away", Young said. The Warmuran farm that supplied the berries was inspected by Queensland Police and Australian Border Force officers yesterday. 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". "Regretfully, preventing random acts of extremism, sabotage and simple maliciousness from people with a grudge appears to be an increasing challenge across our society". On Thursday, the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association said it had "reason to suspect" a former employee was responsible but police are still investigating. 'We've got to look at this as a whole, it's a very, very broad picture and we can't speculate in any way, shape or form, ' Queensland Acting Chief Superintendent Terry Lawrence told reporters on Friday. The customer handed the punnet in to Sutherland Area Police Command, where it will undergo forensic testing. Health officials have urged people purchasing the fruit to be cautious. The United States has called an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council for Monday in response to what it says are efforts by some countries "to undermine and obstruct" sanctions against North Korea. The US Mission announced Friday evening that the meeting will "discuss the implementation and enforcement of UN sanctions on North Korea." The mission didn't name any countries, but US Ambassador Nikki Haley accused Russia on Thursday of pressuring an independent panel of UN experts to alter a report on North Korea sanctions that included alleged violations "implicating Russian actors." Haley said the panel should release the original report, which cited "a massive increase in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products" for North Korea in violation of UN sanctions. It said some products allegedly were off-loaded from Russian ships, which were identified in the report. A summary of the experts report obtained in early August by The Associated Press also said North Korea has not stopped its nuclear and missile programs. And it said North Korea is violating sanctions by transferring coal at sea and flouting an arms embargo and financial sanctions. The Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006 and has made them tougher and tougher in response to further nuclear tests and an increasingly sophisticated ballistic missile program. Haley said earlier this year that successively tough Security Council sanctions resolutions adopted unanimously had cut off all North Korean exports, 90 percent of its trade, and disbanded its pool of workers send abroad to earn hard currency. Many diplomats and analysts credit the sanctions with helping promote the thaw in relations between North Korea and South Korea as well as the June meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at which they agreed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. But in July, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused North Korea of "illegally smuggling" in refined petroleum products beyond the annual quota of 500,000 barrels allowed under U.N. sanctions. US documents sent to the Security Council committee monitoring sanctions against North Korea and obtained by AP cited 89 instances between Jan 1 and May 30 in which North Korean tankers likely delivered refined products "illicitly procured" via transfers from other ships at sea. The US said Russia and China both informed the sanctions committee that they were supplying refined products to North Korea. China, which is North Korea's closest ally, is responsible for more than 90 percent of the isolated country's trade. Pompeo said North Korea is also evading sanctions by smuggling coal by sea and across borders, by using cyber thefts and other criminal activities, and by keeping workers in some countries that he didn't name. All these activities are "generating significant revenues for the regime and they must be stopped," he said. At the time, Haley criticized "some friends who want to go around the rules," and especially Russia and China for blocking the sanctions committee from demanding that all countries halt shipments of petroleum products to North Korea immediately. After the experts' report was released in August, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said he put a hold on its official release to all UN member nations "because we disagree with certain elements" that he refused to disclose. Russia and China then blocked the UN from imposing sanctions on Russia-based entities and vessels sanctioned a week earlier by the US Treasury Department. The Russian agency TASS quoted Russia's UN Mission as saying the proposed sanctions were "unjustified." The Security Council has remained united in imposing tougher and tougher sanctions on North Korea, though the differences over the experts' report mark a serious dent in that unity. UN diplomats familiar with discussions said Russia was angered that the panel used a lot of US intelligence in the initial report that Moscow claimed was incorrect. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because talks were private. Haley expressed disappointment in the panel "for caving to Russian pressure and making changes to what should have been an independent report." She called it "a stain" on the experts' important work. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Talks with North Korea are ongoing over the country's potential denuclearisation, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday, despite the appearance that discussions had stalled. "We are still continuing to have many conversations with the DPRK about how to effectuate achieving all the commitments that were made during the Singapore summit," Pompeo told journalists. At a landmark meeting June 12 with US President Donald Trump, North Korea's Kim Jong Un pledged 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. Last month, Trump abruptly cancelled a planned visit by Pompeo to Pyongyang. But new ground appears to have been broken, as the White House talks of a possible second summit with the US president. Top US diplomat Pompeo Friday said the United States is "as committed as ever to continuing to enforce those UN Security Council resolutions." "We believe they are central to President Trump's efforts to convince Chairman Kim that full, final denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is necessary. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, in the eye of a political storm over the gutka scam and opposition demands for his resignation, has been named one of the Organising Secretaries of the party, a key post in the ruling AIADMK. The residences of the minister, DGP T K Rajendran and former Chennai police commissioner S George were among 40 places raided by CBI on September 5 in connection with the alleged sale of gutka, banned by the state government in 2013. The raids prompted the opposition DMK, PMK and the CPI(M) to seek their resignations or the state governor's intervention to sack them. Chief Minister K Palaniswami had defended his Cabinet colleague recently, saying only charges had been levelled against the minister, which could not make him guilty. Former Assembly Speaker P H Pandian, who was among the leaders to defend Paneerselvam and take on then interim general secretary V K Sasikala (when Panneerselvam broke ranks with the party after the death of Jayalalithaa in 2016) was named the party's legal advisor. A party release issued Friday said besides Vijaya Baskar, former Union Minister of State, Senji N Ramachandran who joined the party in 2014 and former Minister and Karur based leader A Papa Sundaram and Madurai strongman M Muthuramalingam (former MLA) were also appointed as organising secretaries. Ramachandran was previously with the DMK and later joined MDMK when Vaiko founded it over two decades ago. He was a Minister in the NDA government led by late Prime Minsiter Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Adidravidar and Bacward classes Welfare Minister V M Rajalakshmi was appointed party women's wing deputy secretary and former Minister S Abdul Raheem named as party's minorities welfare wing joint secretary. The new appointees, including Vijayabaskar Saturday called on Chief Minsiter Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minsiter O Panneerselvam and took their blessings. The appointments followed two days of high-level deliberations (Sept 13, 14) at the party headquarters, led by party coordinator and Deputy Chief Minsiter O Panneerselvam and co-coordinator and Chief Minister K Palaniswami. Senior party leader K P Munusamy said the district secretaries meet would be held on September 19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CBI Saturday said its officers had no hand in the escape of diamond traders Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi in connection with the over Rs 12,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam. Under attack from Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who has accused the agency of deliberately weakening the lookout circular against fugitive tycoon Vijay Mallya, allowing him to flee the country, the agency also reiterated that the decision was taken as there were not sufficient grounds to detain or arrest him. "CBI Jt Director, A K Sharma, weakened Mallya's 'Look Out' notice, allowing Mallya to escape. Mr Sharma, a Gujarat cadre officer, is the PM's blue-eyed-boy in the CBI. The same officer was in charge of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi's escape plans. Ooops...investigation!" the Gandhi scion tweeted. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it had received a complaint against beleaguered diamantaire Modi and his uncle Choksi from the bank almost a month after they had fled the country. "Therefore the question of any CBI officer having any hand in their fleeing the country does not arise. Prompt action was taken by CBI in the case immediately after the complaint was received from the bank," the agency's spokesperson said in a statement released on Saturday. Some media reports also named Sharma, now Additional Director, as the man who handled Mallya's case. Defending Sharma, its number three in command, the CBI said the decision to alter the circular was taken at the appropriate level as a part of process and not individually by the officer as alleged. The CBI had in October 2015 issued a look out circular against Mallya asking immigration authorities to detain him upon his return from abroad. Weeks later in November, the circular was changed from seeking his detention to merely informing the agency. Mallya whose extradition case is being battled out in a London court by India had taken refuge in the UK after fleeing on March 2, 2016 taking advantage of the diluted circular against him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia's new federal treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, criticised the conduct of the corporate regulator and promised it powers to speed up compensation for mistreated customers.In a round of interviews with newspapers published on Saturday, Frydenberg said he would demand answers from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), over mounting troubles in the financial services sector. "I'm appalled by the behaviour that has been exposed through the banking royal commission," Frydenberg told Guardian Australian.A Royal Commission inquiry has exposed systemic ... PARIS (Reuters) - France will abolish a tax imposed on the capital gains of top earners and entrepreneurs who leave France and sell their assets with a more-targeted levy designed to deter tax optimisation, a finance ministry spokesman said on Saturday.France imposed the so-called "Exit Tax" in 2011 during the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy. It required individuals who held assets in stocks and bonds of more than 800,000 euros or at least 50 percent of the capital of a company to pay capital gains on assets sold up to 15 years after they left France. Its aim was to stop individuals temporarily ... By David HenryNEW YORK (Reuters) - As a single mother with a British accent who loves numbers, Marianne Lake bears little resemblance to Jamie Dimon, the longtime chief executive of JPMorgan Chase & Co, known for his bravado, quips and occasional profanity-laced outbursts.Yet Lake has emerged as a front-runner to replace Dimon when he eventually retires, Reuters interviews with more than a dozen current and former executives show. Over her nearly six years as JPMorgan's chief financial officer Lake, 49, has taken on more and more responsibilities effectively becoming Dimon's understudy. ... 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. The United States has warned of having a "fundamentally different set of rules" to deal with the countries continuing to have economic activities with Iran after its sanction against Tehran becomes fully operational on November 4. Make no mistake about it, come November 4 (and) there will be a fundamentally different set of rules with respect to anyone who deems it necessary to engage in economic activities with the Islamic Republic of Iran, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters at a news conference here Friday. In the absence of any waiver or concession from the Trump Administration, it could have major implications for India, which is one of the biggest importers of Iranian oil and is currently developing the strategic Chabahar port. Officials of the two countries are having an ongoing discussion on both the issues. This includes the meeting between the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department. The meeting took place immediately after Pompeo's press conference. "There are still a number of decisions pending before the November 4 deadline that we've got to make about waivers or potential waivers, and we're working our way through each of them," Pompeo said. India is one of the countries which is likely to get some waiver, given the strategic nature of Indo-US ties, the strategic importance of the Chabahar port and its burgeoning energy needs. India, on its part has already started reducing its oil intake from Iran, but is unlikely to bring it down to zero. You can see many countries already taking actions to move out of Iran, to discontinue doing business with them in advance of the November 4 deadline, Pompeo said in response to a question, adding these countries understand the seriousness of the US sanctions. Pompeo said they also appreciate that trading with Iran is "supporting the exact kinds of malign activity that President Donald Trump has been talking about since the first day he took office." The various "malign activities" that the US Secretary of State listed included alleged supply of missiles by Iran to Houthis to launch into Gulf countries airports. These activities further included "the activities we have seen taken by Shia militias against American interests or the assassination efforts underway in the heart of Europe," said Pompeo. The world is beginning to see that the challenge is much bigger than anything that the JCPOA even pretended to have addressed, he said. Pompeo said he has also seen the statements "the Iranians have said this week." "They've said, boy, if we end up withdrawing, we'll start from a much higher level. I may have the quote off just a little bit but I'm very close. Wow, what does that say about the existence of the agreement, right?" "They're going to start from a much higher level. It tells you that the agreement itself didn't stop all the paths to nuclear weapons in the way that it was sold to the American people," he said. During the news conference, Pompeo slammed the former Secretary of State John Kerry for having talks with the Iranian leadership. "What Secretary Kerry has done is unseemly and unprecedented. This is a former secretary of state engaged with the world's largest state sponsor of terror. He was talking to them. He was telling them to wait out this administration," Pompeo said. You can't find precedent for this in US history, and Secretary Kerry ought not to engage in that kind of behavior. It's inconsistent with what foreign policy of the United States is, as directed by this President, and it is beyond inappropriate for him to be engaged in this, he said. I wasn't in the meeting, but I am reasonably confident that he was not there in support of the US policy with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran, who this week fired Katyusha rockets toward the United States embassy in Baghdad and took action against our consulate in Basra, Pompeo said. Dozens of officials in central Chinas Hunan province have been punished for illegal debt accumultion for their local government, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) has revealed. The punishments come amid rising concern over the deteriorating finances of some areas in the province that have caused breakdowns in local government operations, including, in one case, the failure to pay civil servants salaries. A total of 33 officials in Shaoyang city and two counties were given verbal reprimands, or were formally warned, punished with demerit points, or sacked from their posts for taking on debt in violation of the law and regulations, the ministry said in a statement (link in Chinese). Civil servants who received official warnings will be denied promotion for six months, while those with demerits will have their career advancement halted for up to 18 months, according to a rule (link in Chinese) adopted by the State Council, Chinas cabinet, in 2007. Verbal reprimands could also result in similar consequences. The penalties for the officials, many of them administrative leaders of their areas or heads of local government financing vehicles (LGFVs) companies set up specifically to fund local government spending outside of the governments budget were meted out by the Hunan provincial government after their wrongdoing was uncovered by the ministrys supervisory officials stationed in the region, the statement said. The MOF has supervisory offices in some key cities and all provincial-level regions except Tibet. The ministry statement did not specify details of the officials misconduct or the projects for which the borrowed money was intended. Cash crunches at some local governments in Hunan have made national news headlines in recent months, fueling concerns over their ability to pay off their debt, especially the borrowing of LGFVs, as the domestic economic growth has slowed. Xiao Xiang, the head of the MOFs supervisory office in Hunan, wrote in a commentary published last month in the China Financial and Economic News, which is run by the ministry, that the provinces government liabilities including LGFV debt doubled from the end of 2014 to early 2017. Xiao did not provide a figure on the total value of that debt. The Leiyang city government in southern Hunan admitted in June that it was unable to pay May salaries to its employees as scheduled due to a serious shortage of funds in its coffers. The city has been struggling with economic recession, declining fiscal revenues and rising debt. Its fiscal revenues fell nearly 20% year on year in 2017 to 2.2 billion yuan ($320.4 million), while its outstanding government debt surged 162.5% from a year earlier to 13 billion yuan at the end of 2017, according to official figures. Also in June, officials in the northern Hunan city of Changde reportedly threatened to report information about alleged misconduct at local banks to Beijings anti-corruption watchdog if the lenders refused to offer discounted loans, refinance the debt of the citys LGFVs or extend the repayment periods for the vehicles borrowinngs. The report triggered fears of rising default risks among the citys LGFVs. The financial strain on LGFVs has grown since the national government began a campaign against illegal local government borrowing that cut off many financing channels for these companies, raising the risk of defaults. Local governments in 12 key cities and provincial-level regions have been named and shamed by the MOF for illegal borrowing activities since Qianjiang district in the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing became the first target of a broadside in early 2017. The MOF and other central government agencies have also stepped up scrutiny over accounting firms, financial institutions and law firms that help local governments with their illicit borrowing practices. Minister of Finance Liu Kun vowed in a report (link in Chinese) to the countrys parliament late last month that the ministry would maintain the strike-hard approach to hold officials of local governments, state-owned enterprises, financial institutions and intermediary agencies accountable for life for any illegal actions involving local government borrowing. Contact reporter Fran Wang (fangwang@caixin.com) In the Philippines, evacuations were under way with Super Typhoon Mangkhut expected to hit on Saturday in an area impacting an estimated 5.2 million people. The father was injured in the incident and was transported to a hospital, officials said. A woman in Pender County, North Carolina, died from a heart attack after calling emergency services, as paramedics could not reach her because of fallen trees. "The storm is wreaking havoc on our state". Florence was seen as a major test for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which was heavily criticized as slow and unprepared past year for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, where the storm was blamed for almost 3,000 deaths in the desperate aftermath. As the storm moves into hilly terrain, it's also expected to unleash catastrophic and potentially deadly flash flooding and possibly mud slides, the hurricane center warned. "In an effort to proactively aid our customers, we are launching a community donation program, together with the Southeastern Grocers Gives Foundation, in support of the American Red Cross Disaster Relief to assist those impacted by Hurricane Florence", Anthony Hucker, president and CEO of Jacksonville, Fla. -based Southeastern Grocers, said in a statement on Friday. Shaken after seeing waves crashing on the Neuse River just outside his house in New Bern, restaurant owner and hurricane veteran Tom Ballance wished he had evacuated. In New Bern, population 29,000, flooding on the Neuse River left 500 people in peril. The victims were a mother and infant, police said on Twitter. "We're helping out a lot of people today", says Craven County Emergency Services spokesperson Amber Parker. That's down from a high of 140mph, but still expected to cause "life-threatening storm surge and rainfall". Nearly 20,000 people had taken refuge in 157 emergency shelters, Mr Cooper said. Hurricane Florence made landfall near Wilmington on Friday morning, battering the coastal city with strong winds and torrential rain. The National Hurricane Center said a gauge in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, reported 6.3 feet (1.92 meters) of inundation. According to the BBC, floodwaters may ride up to 13ft (4 metres) and Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator, Brock Long, explained: "So this is a very risky storm". He said "24 to 36 hours remain for significant threats" from heavy rain, storm surge and flooding. Officials in New Bern, which dates to the early 18th century, said over 100 people were rescued from floods and the downtown was under water by Friday afternoon. Downed trees, branches on the hurricane-lashed streets of Wilmington, North Carolina. Ken Graham, the NHC's director, warned the slow pace of the storm exacerbated its danger even to areas outside its immediate path. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles from its center. North Carolina alone is forecast to get 36 trillion litres, enough to cover the Tar Heel state to a depth of about 25 centimetres. Earlier Friday, the Wilmington Police said they were responding to this incident. Volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team help rescue three children from their flooded home September 14, 2018 in James City, United States. We have steps on the sides of the house so it's a few feet off the ground anyway. "But there are a lot of big trees around so we preferred to spend the night at a friends to be sure". "WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU", the tweet said. Through noon Friday, 96 stores in the Carolinas and one in Virginia were closed because of the storm. Prosecutors say that Manafort directed a large scale lobbying operation in the United States for Ukrainian interests without registering with the Justice Department as required by the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA. In recent days, as the Manafort plea talks were ongoing, the President's legal team expressed confidence that if Manafort signed a cooperation agreement it wouldn't have anything to do with the President, according to a source briefed on their thinking. In addition to the financial and lobbying charges against Manafort, the special counsel's team has said it's investigating allegations he colluded with Russian Federation while working for Trump. The special counsel's office issued the following statement regarding the plea: "Court has scheduled an arraignment and plea agreement hearing today for USA v. Paul J. Manafort, Jr., 69, of Alexandria, Va., at 11 a.m". Earlier this year, Rick Gates, who served as deputy chairman for the Trump campaign, pleaded guilty to charges of plotting. Prosecutors filed new charging documents against Manafort which contained a criminal information, a document that can only be filed with a defendant's consent and typically signals a deal has been reached. Also on August 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. Manafort's conviction in Alexandria, Virginia, last month was at a trial arising from Mueller's investigation. Jurors deadlocked on 10 other counts. But Manafort's 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. And the judge may decide to run those sentences consecutively or concurrently. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The charges were filed in a superseding criminal information - a formal criminal charge - which lays out the facts of the offense and is often the precursor to the announcement of a deal. Moscow denies US intelligence agency allegations that it interfered in the political process. On another conspiracy-related front, as Natasha Bertrand points out today, Manafort might be in a good position to shed light on what exactly former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos - who has testified as part of his own plea deal that he learned that Russian Federation had stolen dirt on Clinton in the form of "thousands of emails" - might have told campaign higher ups about this at the time, another big unknown. Which leads to questions about a possible pardon for Manafort. Jackson read Manafort's plea agreement. She told him, "You are agreeing to cooperate fully and truthfully" with the special counsel's office. Manafort said "I am". Addressing reporters outside the courthouse, Manafort attorney Kevin Downing said that his client's decision was made in the interest of keeping his family "safe" and noted that it related to Ukrainian lobbying work that "dates back many years". news, latest-news 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. 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. "[This would be] less expensive, less intrusive and less likely to have the negative impact on the curriculum," Mr Bruce said, echoing concerns raised by the association about a narrowing of learning around NAPLAN. "Put the money into more proactive [and real-time] formative assessments," he said. Anna Chrysostomou, a retired teacher and NAPLAN marker, said too much classroom time devoted to preparing students for the test had skewed its original purpose. "I'm aware of one school [where] preparation began in term four of year 2 for [second term] in year 3," she said. Ms Chrysostomou also slammed the publication of NAPLAN results on the My School website and its past presentation in The Canberra Times as immoral, saying league tables comparing schools had created a fanfare around testing not previously known in the ACT. Ten years on, that pressure was now being felt by students sitting down to the annual test. Latham Primary School principal Elizabeth Bobos said this year she had found a normally energetic and happy student waiting to be picked up by his mother after just a few minutes into the first day of NAPLAN testing. "He said 'I couldn't write anything and everyone else was writing' ... He didn't turn up for school the next day," Ms Bobos said. "He was comparing himself to the other kids because he felt frozen, that broke my heart...This is a point in time, a measure we use...[it's about] putting [NAPLAN] in its place rather than making it bigger than Ben Hur." On Friday, new analysis from lobby group Save our Schools questioned the validity of standardised testing such as NAPLAN and PISA, which records lower levels of motivation from students than Year 12 exams. National convenor Trevor Cobbold said that, while Australia was seeing solid improvement in Year 12 results, its scores in PISA had fallen at one of the fastest rates in the world, and NAPLAN results had also stagnated. By contrast, the percentage of year 12 students completing school rose from 68 per cent in 2001 to 76 per cent in 2016, with 42 per cent achieving an ATAR score of 50 or above compared to 25 per cent in 2006. Caution was needed in interpreting NAPLAN and PISA results, Mr Cobbold said. "[They] could be as much a measure of student effort as a measure of student learning." The ACT has one of the highest retention rates for year 10, 11 and 12 students in the country. In June, ACT education minister Yvette Berry, who has also raised concerns about NAPLAN, pushed through a national review into the "high stakes" comparison of school results on the My School website. The review, which was backed by state education ministers under a watered-down remit, will report back to the Education Council on its progress by December. The ACT inquiry continues. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/580689f4-0fea-40bf-9162-91e17588bb90/r0_294_5312_3295_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news A balcony fire that broke out at a Kingston unit on Saturday afternoon was caused by a cigarette butt, according to ACT Fire and Rescue. Firefighters were called to an apartment building on East Lake Parade at about 12.20pm, where they extinguished a blaze that had broken out in an unoccupied third-storey apartment. No injuries were reported. The fire began when a cigarette that had been left in a pot plant was not properly extinguished. ACT Fire and Rescue urged people to take care when discarding cigarettes. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/7f3ec8a5-7b1b-4013-bf32-91f95bbce09b/r0_217_298_385_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news A 60-year-old man is in hospital in a serious but stable condition after police shot him in the hip at a service station just outside of Canberra in the early hours of Saturday morning. Six police officers responded to multiple reports of a man firing shots at passing vehicles on Queanbeyan's main thoroughfare, Monaro Street, about 4am. Officers established a perimeter and confronted a man at the BP station on Lowe Street. Speaking outside Queanbeyan police station, Assistant Commissioner Peter Barrie praised the officers' actions to control the situation. "About 3.50am this morning, we received multiple reports from members of the community of a man brandishing a shotgun in the main street of Queanbeyan," Assistant Commissioner Barrie said. "Responding police first sighted the man in Crawford Street, further shots were fired, he then moved into [Monaro] Street and then into Lowe Street, where he confronted an officer responding from the police station. "The man refused to surrender at that point, he was shot once in the hip although at that point he remained conscious and quite vocal. "He was disarmed, police and paramedics were able to provide first aid to the man and he was conveyed to Canberra Hospital, where he later underwent surgery and he is currently reported to be in a stable but serious condition." The assistant commissioner said he did not believe that police previously knew the man, a middle-aged resident of the town. He said the man also fired upon police, who had to take cover. A police vehicle remained in the middle of Crawford Street outside the Royal Hotel on Saturday morning, with a punctured front tyre and damage to its side. Shotgun shells were strewn near the vehicle. About 10am on Saturday morning, a shotgun was still laying on the footpath of Lowe Street, outside St Gregory's Parish church. A pool of blood was visible nearby. More shells were visible outside the barber shop on Crawford Street. Assistant Commissioner Barrie said while no police or members of the community were injured, witnesses took shelter in surrounding businesses and were distraught by the events. "It was a reasonably quick incident but suffice to say very traumatic to those that witnessed it," he said. "Were pleased that albeit there was an injury to the offender that otherwise the community and our police are safe. We dont like to see any injury to anyone in these sorts of incidents, but we will respond and take action to these sorts of matters. "We cannot let people discharge firearms in public places and continue to do so and put the lives of not only the police but the community at risk." Walsh's Hotel manager Trent Miller said police had gone into the pub on Saturday morning to review CCTV footage. However, he said the offender had walked down the opposite side of Monaro Street. "It's been the hot topic this morning," Mr Miller said. "Everyone's woken up and seen the news and wanting to know what's happened. "It's not something that happens every day." A NSW Police spokesman said a critical incident team would now investigate the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm. That investigation will be subject to independent review. Assistant Commissioner Barrie said there was nothing to suggest the incident was terrorism-related. "It is a test for our officers and I think theyve established just how effective they can be on the street," he said. "We hope weve maintained public confidence in the ability of our officers and I think we demonstrated that in the course of the night." By Saturday afternoon the affected roads had been reopened and the man remained under police guard at Canberra Hospital. Police are urging any witnesses to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 - with Esther Han /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/9f197c10-b703-4fbb-ae42-cb9709841729/r0_266_5000_3091_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news If Scott Morrison has a moment between homilies, and Bill Shorten from his looking at himself in the mirror, they might do well to look at some of the campaign themes of the 1996 election, when John Howard decisively beat Paul Keating. Alas for Morrison (who was not yet on the party payroll in 1996), the themes and slogans that helped Howard then could this time be working for the Labor Party. John Howard campaigned under two slogans. One was Enough is enough reflecting a popular view that the Hawke-Keating government, after 13 years, had run out of energy, puff and inspiration, and that it was time to send them out for a spell. It did not particularly hint that a catalogue of scandal, disunity, dysfunction and internal bitterness, as well as having eyes off the ball, had finally exasperated the electorates patience. In Labors hands it could this time, not least after the Muppet shows of recent weeks, the Barnaby Joyce circus, and debacles over ever-diminishing policy, not least over energy. The other slogan was For all of us. It reflected an argument, long polished by Howard in his statements, that the Keating government had lost touch with the electorate, and was providing government for insiders, by insiders. Keating had become increasingly arrogant and remote, even from his ministers and the public administration. He was giving fabulous and inspiring speeches, perhaps cementing his place in history. But he was not listening to objective advice, getting about in circles where he could test his judgments, or determine whether his transmissions were being received. He seemed impatient with the tedium of advocacy, argument and debate on routine matters of government. And when Keating consulted, he dealt with established lobbies, mostly full of Labor luvvies, who had, Howard believed, captured most of societys institutions on the economy, on industrial relations, in foreign affairs, in multicultural and Aboriginal affairs, and, importantly in cultural and broadcasting institutions. This Howard perception of hostile institutions made him the culture warrior he became. Labor, Howard was saying, was no longer thinking of the population at large, or of its fundamental constituencies. It was rather rewarding its pals and cronies - often giving a veneer of non-partisanship by acting at a distance. Keating was dealing with big business and big unions, selected groups of people in the arts, the environmental movement, Aboriginal affairs, the ABC and elsewhere all with titles and pedigrees tending to suggest that they were entirely representative, rather than people singing for their supper. The For all of us slogan was promising that Howard would govern for everyone, rather than for mates, cronies and people of the Labor worldview. And that he would do so directly, rather than through agencies long compromised by Labor appointments and influence, or voluntary bodies intrinsically hostile to Howards world view, subsidised and kept in line by lots of federal government cash. The information, true or false, that is presently doing most damage to Peter Dutton is helping to kill off any remaining prospects that the Morrison government has of being able to survive the publics disgust at its long-time obsession with party quarrels, personality disputes, and contests between reactionaries and fairly conservative moderates. 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. 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. 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. More and more of the public are uneasily aware of how they are being ripped off by such deals. By comparison, the capacity to get Dutton on your case is very small beer. Yet the blatancy of it, and the appearance of it is probably more damaging because anyone (at least anyone other than Dutton) can understand that one does not play favourites when one is exercising public power. Jack Waterford a a former editor of The Canberra Times. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/bb1a98b6-c86b-4162-a99c-c11f63b963c2/r0_152_1938_1247_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg The European Parliament's approval of the Sargentini report criticising the state of the rule of law in Hungary is nothing more than a "massive power grab", Nigel Farage, the head of the EP's Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group, told public news channel M1 on Wednesday. 12, 2018European lawmakers voted by a huge margin on Wednesday to launch a punishment plan against Hungary for potentially breaching democratic norms, a measure never previously initiated by the European Parliament.The vote became handiest step one against doable sanctions. However, a unanimous vote is required to suspend Hungary's voting rights and launch sanctions. "As of now there is no timeline" for the European Council to act, she said. "Actions aimed against member states serve only deepening divides in the EU, increasing citizens' current lack of confidence to European institutions". Judith Sargentini, the Dutch Greens lawmaker who steered the proposal through, said after the historic vote: "Viktor Orban's government has been leading the charge against European values by silencing independent media, replacing critical judges, and putting academia on a leash". "The report in front of you insults Hungary and insults the honor of the Hungarian nation", Orban said during the debate to MEPs, meeting for a plenary session in Strasbourg. They strongly deny it was to secure Hungary's support in the Brexit process or out of admiration for the country's leader. "Each EU Member State has a sovereign right to carry out the internal reforms that it considers appropriate", the message said. The report accuses the Hungarian government of eroding democracy and failing to uphold fundamental European Union values. The same procedure is already underway against Poland, this time triggered by the European Commission, EUobserver reports. His typically feisty performance before EU lawmakers has boosted Orban's standing among nationalists at home and also among anti-immigrant parties that are expected to increae their presence in the next European Parliament (EP). Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto wasted little time in slamming the vote as "nothing less than the petty revenge of pro-immigration politicians". In a brief speech to parliament on Tuesday, Orban vowed that Hungary would resist any attempt to "blackmail" it into softening its anti-migrant stance, which he charged was the motive behind the vote. "I have always been in favor of building bridges and I want to continue to do so, but yesterday (Tuesday) I didn't see any readiness from the Hungarian PM to make a move towards his European Union partners and address our concerns", Manfred tweeted. "This is not the right way", Plenkovic said. "The European Parliament rightly stood up for the Hungarian people and for the EU". "We're fighting to make our position the majority", he said, adding that Fidesz wanted to steer the EPP back onto the Christian democratic path he said would preserve Europe's identity. Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, said that he would have voted for the measure if he was an MEP. 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. UPSC Indian Engineering Services (IES) India's premier central recruitment agency's, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), conducts the Indian Engineering Services (IES) for recruitment to Group A services/posts in the country. The recruitment is based on the top four categories namely, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and electronics & telecommunication engineering. Candidates can take up this option to serve the nation with the highest of position being offered. Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) GATE, which is jointly hosted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, and the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), is conducted for admission to ME/MTech and PhD programmes at IITs, IISc, NITs, GFTIs and other universities in India. Candidates can pursue masters which helps a lot in career advancement. All You Need To Know About GATE Diploma Courses Pursuing diploma courses is another best option for engineering graduates who are not interested in a full-time M.Tech. They can add some diploma course specialisation to their resume which will help a lot in finding employment. Some of the diploma specialisations are embedded technology, ethical hacking, VLSI, robotics, to name a few. Diploma Courses MBA After Engineering Opting for an MBA after engineering is one of the most sought after options which has also become a trend in the recent times because many technological companies seek for engineers to take up management positions. Engineering students have to opt for entrance examinations such as Common Admission Test (CAT) to pursue management programs. One can also think about MBA at educational institutes abroad. Is Pursuing An MBA After Engineering A Good Option? Study Abroad There is no looking back for the career after pursuing masters in engineering at the world's top universities. In order to pursue masters in engineering at foreign countries, the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) score is mandatory. Along with GRE, one has to appear for English proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL. PSU Jobs For Engineers After graduating in engineering, one will find a plethora of opportunities in the government and public sectors companies. One can crack the highest positions in the PSUs through Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) score. Some of the PSUs which hire a large number of engineers are NTPC, BHEL, ONGC, HAL, GAIL, SAIL, IOCL, to name a few. Which Is Better For Engineers: A Bank PO Job Or A PSU Job? Defence Service After engineering, one can think about serving the country by joining the defence wings that include India Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. There are many positions in this field for technical staff which provide a lucrative pay scale as well. Bank Jobs For Engineers Be it public or private sector banks, there are many vacancies for engineers. The banks usually release a recruitment notification for technical staff. One can even think about probationary officers in SBI or IBPS, which annually release a recruitment notification for thousands of vacancies. How Engineering Students Should Take Advantage In The SBI PO Preparation Entrepreneurship This is one of the best option for those who have unique business plans or ideas along with sufficient investment. Though this is a lucrative option, the risk factor is high. One who does not have enough financial support can take up a job for some years and think about startup plans gradually. Engineering Entrance Exams 2019: Save The Dates Before You Start The Preparation Avair Vereen, her fiance and one of her seven children at a shelter in Conway, South Carolina yesterday as several states along the USA eastern coast were bracing for the arrival of Hurricane Florence. FEMA's Long 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. "It can go back up", she said. "It can still bring a massive storm surge ashore". "The worst of the storm is not yet here but these are early warnings of the days to come", he said. Dozens of North Carolina school districts were closed, as well as almost all schools in the University of North Carolina system. 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. The storm was a unsafe Category 4 hurricane Wednesday but has been downgraded to a Category 2 storm Thursday. That created some confusion and, officials feared, complacency. "I find it amusing that the storm of hysteria is bigger than the storm itself". Life-threatening storm surge and rainfall are expected. With South Carolina's beach towns more in the bull's-eye because of the shifting forecast, OH vacationers Chris and Nicole Roland put off their departure from North Myrtle Beach to get the maximum amount of time on the sand. "Don't relax", Cooper said on Thursday. "Don't get complacent. Stay on guard". 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. Associated Press story by Johanthan Drew. Steve Goldstein with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said Florence's forward motion had slowed overnight, and it was not expected to make landfall in the Carolinas for "another 36 hours". The center said that a gauge in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, recently reported 6.3 feet (1.92 meters) of inundation. 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. Gov. Henry McMaster told reporters Thursday that up to 7 inches of rain in the state's northwestern mountains could mean landslides and unsafe conditions. "This is not one that's going to hit the coast and pass through quickly". More than 1.5 million people have been ordered to evacuate along 300 miles of coastline. It's an evacuation 'encouragement, ' " said Hannah Moldenhauer, a spokeswoman for Berkeley County, South Carolina, which is under mandatory evacuation. "It doesn't matter how much money you have or how many generators you have if you can't get gas", she said. He warned residents to be prepared to be without electricity "for a long time" in the storm's aftermath. Ken Graham, the director of the NHC, said: "It truly is really about the whole size of this storm". "In 12 or 18 hours, they may be saying different things all over again", he said. "But we're going to be okay", he said. Rescue helicopters and trucks that can navigate floodwaters are also standing by. Ships including the USS Kearsarge are at sea trailing the storm and will move toward shore to further support emergency response. "The larger and the slower the storm is, the greater the threat and the impact - and we have that". Thursday afternoon, President Donald Trump tweeted that he had just been briefed on the storm and "FEMA, First Responders and Law Enforcement are supplied and ready. We are with you!" Computer models of exactly what the storm might do varied, adding to the uncertainty. The next day, he rescinded the order when it appeared the storm was shifting north. "One minute we're at a high state of alert, the next we're at a low state, but we can adapt to the situation", said Capt. Eric Abdullah, of the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, who said officials were trying to stay flexible. "It makes me feel anxious". Emergency declarations were in force in Georgia, South and North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Reuters news agency reports. "We've wasted three days of discomfort and displacement", he said. "The shelters are not taking dogs", Ramirez said. Poor people are less likely to evacuate since they can't afford to travel and stay in other regions. Florence makes landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina as the Category 1 hurricane strikes coast. Its storm surge and the prospect of 1 to 3 feet of rain were considered a bigger threat than its winds, which dropped way down from a terrifying 140 miles per hour - Category 4 - earlier in the week. 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. It is moving to the west-northwest at 6 miles per hour. It's about the water, not the wind, with Hurricane Florence making an extended stay along the North Carolina coast. Hurricane Florence will slow down as it approaches the coast and moves inland. The area is expected to get about as much rain in three days as Hurricanes Dennis and Floyd dropped in two weeks in 1999. Forecasters warned that drenching rains of anywhere from 1 to 3 feet as the storm crawls westward across North and SC could trigger epic flooding well inland over the next few days. When the system makes landfall, it is expected to bring catastrophic rains, ferocious winds, and life-threatening storm surge. Other areas can expect the surge to be taller than the average person - almost 6 feet (2 meters) or higher. More than 80,000 people in North Carolina already were without power as the storm began buffeting the coast, and more than 12,000 were in shelters. In the Philippines, evacuations were under way with Super Typhoon Mangkhut expected to hit on Saturday in an area impacting an estimated 5.2 million people. "Either no (hotel) rooms are available, or we are denied because the breed or size of dogs", she said. Officials said about 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were warned to evacuate, but it was unclear how many did. 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. More trees will come down, more power lines will fall, and the number of power outages will go up, said Ken Graham, director of the National Hurricane Center. Some scattered showers and storms will be possible on Sunday, but rainfall totals should not go over one inch. The city warns that people "may need to move up to the second story" but tells them to stay put as "we are coming to get you". "Hurricane Florence is powerful, slow and relentless", he said. Emerald Isle is about 84 miles (135 kilometres) north of Wilmington. Florence made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane at 7:15 a.m.at Wrightsville Beach, a few miles east of Wilmington, not far from the SC line, coming ashore along a mostly boarded-up, emptied-out stretch of coastline. With the brunt of the storm yet to come, a gauge on the Neuse River in New Bern, a city near the coast, was already recording 10 feet (3 meters) of inundation, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Forecasters have issued what they call a a flash flood emergency, saying areas of surrounding Carteret County are flooding that have never flooded before. President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump stands by tweets questioning Puerto Rico death toll: "NO WAY" Trump pushes back on ex-lawyer putting out book, cites "attorney-client privilege" Wealthiest Republican supporter in OH quits party MORE, who has been in constant communication with state leaders, declared a state of emergency in North and SC and Virginia ahead of the hurricane. The storm weakened to a Category 1 storm Thursday night, but it has left hundreds of thousands without power nonetheless. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told a news conference that the "historic" hurricane would unleash rains and floods that would inundate nearly the entire state in several feet of water. As of 2 a.m., Florence was centered about 35 miles (55 kilometers) east of Wilmington, North Carolina. How to get digital access to the Chieftain Zimbabwean law broadly defines a public gathering as "a public meeting or a public demonstration". "The number of deaths is now 25", Health Minister Obadiah Moyo told journalists. The current outbreak was initially reported in Gweru last month and has since spread to other parts of the country including Harare where more than 15 people have been confirmed dead. One school was closed in Glen View. Since then, water and sanitation infrastructure has been collapsing. In another statement to the State media, ZRP Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said in the same vein the government has with immediate effect banned illegal food vending in Glenview, Budiriro and in the CBD, where food is sold in street corners, vehicle boots or back offices. We're working very no longer easy to assist the authorities", UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe Mohamed Ayoya talked about.Calvin Fambirai, head of Zimbabwe Clinical doctors for Human Rights, known as on the authorities to present better raze disposal systems, namely in densely-populated areas of the metropolis to forestall future outbreaks of water-borne ailments."The instances that necessitate the unfold of cholera and typhoid in Zimbabwe hang no longer modified since the 2008 outbreak. The ban could affect a rally by the main opposition on Saturday where the party planned a mock inauguration for its leader Nelson Chamisa whom supporters say was robbed of victory in elections on July 30. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the president of the republic of Zimbabwe, said: "My thoughts and prayers are with those suffering from the cholera outbreak, and the loved ones of those we have lost". A total of 4,000 people died and at least 100,000 people fell ill. Cholera, a water borne disease, can be prevented by taking precautions such as washing hands thoroughly with clean water, only drinking water from safe sources and storing clean water in covered containers. "The current cholera epidemic is a bad outcome of Zimbabwe's failure to invest in and manage both its basic water and sanitation infrastructure and its health care system", said Jessica Pwiti, Executive Director of Amnesty International Zimbabwe, in a statement released Wednesday. Inclusivity is Not an Exclusive Right (or Left) Christian Examiner Contributor | 15 September, 2018 by Mark Klages Earlier this year, the Daily Wire's Jacob Airey posted a social media dialogue between Mike Rowe, host of Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) "Somebody's Gotta Do It," and a critical follower. According to the article, the follower accused Mr. Rowe of excluding and offending her, of doing so for a "huge payout," and being a moron. Of course, in the usual classy and blue collar manner of most of Mr. Rowe's responses, he set the record straight regarding the list of networks he has appeared on, including CNN, FOX, ABC and NBC. How did we get here? How did we go from the free love movement of the 1960's where bras were burned and busses were transformed into homes for anyone from anywhere, to not being able to support Christian broadcasting without being offensive? Before we answer that question, let us examine the state of the nationOne Nation Under God. Around the same time as the dialogue above, CNN's Sandra Gonzalez addressed Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson's decision to step away from playing a transgender man. As the story goes, Johansson was originally cast to portray Dante "Tex" Gill, a transgender man and owner of a string sex businesses in Pittsburgh, PA during the 1970s and 1980s. Although the role is a major departure from Johansson's portrayal of Agent Romanov in the Marvel series "Avengers," and as much as I disagree with bringing attention to depravity, as a strong actress I believe Johansson would have done Gill justice in her portrayal. However, the inclusive and lenient (note my sarcasm) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community publicly denounced Johansson and called for an actual transgender actor (actress?) to portray Gill. Johansson, in a public statement, said, "I have great admiration and love for the trans community and am grateful that the conversation regarding inclusivity in Hollywood continues." Wait. What? That's right. Johansson and Hollywood are so confused that the actress called the restriction of any non-transgender actor/actress from the role, a step toward inclusiveness. Ok, one more step down the rabbit hole. On January 16, 2018, Christian Post reporter Samuel Smith wrote an article about the "inclusive left" denying Christian actor Kevin Sorbo his appearance at a New Jersey Comicon event simply because of his faith and friendship with other believers. According to Smith and PJ Media, the organizer of the event, Cliff Galbraith, turned away Sorbo because, "He pal's [sic] with Sean Hannity." To add fuel to the fire, Galbraith's social media supporters highlighted Sorbo's listing on the Internet Media Database (IMDB) of "racist or right-wing stars to avoid," as justification for Galbraith's actions. Once again, tolerance and inclusivity appear to be the exclusive right of loud factions within the US. In 1962, the US Supreme Court ruled prayer in schools as unconstitutional (Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421). In 1992, the US Supreme Court ruled an opening invocation and a closing benediction at graduation violated the First Amendment (Lee v. Weisman, 505 U.S. 577). In 2015, Justice Kennedy wrote "No union is more profound than marriage," and "Marriage is a 'keystone of our social order [granting] equal dignity in the eyes of the law.'" Chief Justice John Roberts dissented, citing the lack of any language regarding same-sex marriage, as did Justice Scalia, scolding fellow jurist Kennedy in his "egotistic" and "incoherent" language. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. So while outspoken factions in America call for inclusivity and tolerance, those same factions have excluded the one and only giver of freedom from their circlesand demanded we disinvite him to ours. God was removed from the schools in 1962, and from our marriages in 2015. In 2002, our Pledge of Allegiance was removed from schools becauseGod. Although these United States of America remain one Nation, under God, He is no longer welcome. We are Godless, but are we also divisible? Fear not, rebel Christian prayer warrior and reciter of the Pledge. Be the light on the hill that Jesus talked about in his Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:14-16). Go ahead and love your neighbor (Mark 12:31) despite his or her insistence on conformity to some Hollywood code of inclusivity. Bring God with you when you go to school and keep Him in your heart. Pray fervently, if not with your lips then in your heart and mind in public places, and invite God into those circles where "tolerant" and "inclusive" movements have restricted his presence. Give and forgive freely, because true bondage comes from restricting your own soul. God knows your heart, and while we are all called to pay to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's (Matt 22:21), we can do so with a loving heart despite the world's fiery arrows. Mark Klages is an influential contributor, a former US Marine and a lifelong teacher who focuses on applying a Christian worldview to everyday events. Mark blogs at https://maklagesl3.wixsite.com/website under the title "God Provides where Hate Divides," with a heart to heal social, political, relational, and intellectual wounds through God's divine love and grace. Mark can also be found on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-klages-04b42511/. Over 50 Percent of Female to Male Trans-Identified Teens Attempt Suicide: Study Christian Post Reporter | 15 September, 2018 by Brandon Showalter More than half of all teenagers who identify as female to male transgender have attempted suicide, a new study shows. According to an analysis of relevant data spanning three years from the Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors survey conducted by Russell B. Toomey, Ph.D., of the University of Arizona-Tucson, 51 percent of female to male trans-identified teens reported at least one suicide attempt. The study was published in the journal Pediatrics and the survey was produced by Search Institute, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit group focused on youth issues. The data was collected from June 2012 to May 2015 and included 120,617 adolescents ranging in age from 11 to 19 years. Survey questions included: "Have you ever tried to kill yourself?" Fourteen percent of all the respondents said they had. Participants were 15 years old on average. The study also found that parents' education levels and family socioeconomic status did not appear to influence whether teens would attempt suicide. But the numbers were much higher for those who identified as something other than their biological sex. In the survey sample, 60,973 of the adolescents were females and 57,871 were males who identified themselves based on their biology. The remainder self-identified as something else. Among them, 202 identified as male to female transgender, 175 identified as female to male transgender, 344 identified as nonbinary transgender, and 1,052 identified as "questioning." Twenty-eight percent of "questioning" adolescents reported suicide attempts as did 30 percent of male to female trans-identified and 42 percent of nonbinary trans-identified. Such numbers are considerably higher than the adolescents and teens who identified with their biological sex; only 10 percent of such males and 18 percent of females reported attempting suicide. In a CNN interview Wednesday, Heather Hutzi, chief psychologist at Children's Hospital of Orange County in California, said suicide rates are higher in every population that has "increased stigma attached to them or a lack of understanding." While she was not a part of Toomey's research, she noted that feeling marginalized, stigmatized, and isolated leads many young people to feel so hopeless that they start using drugs, which, when coupled with depression, increases the risk of suicide. Hutzi added that suicide is "the second leading cause of death" among teenagers and that the rates are rising. They're very impulsive," she said. "For adolescents, in particular, a large percentage I think it's like 50 percent to 60 percent make an attempt within 30 minutes of having the idea. Their brain isn't developed enough." John Ayers, a researcher at the University of California-San Diego, though not involved in the study, told Reuters this week that it remains unknown as to why trans-identified teens commit suicide at such high rates. "It is critically important that we begin investing and asking why, instead of simply counting how many, especially for designing effective prevention campaigns," he said. Read more about transgender teens on The Christian Post. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment No amount of makeup will cover the fact that more and more men are walking away from vitally important aspects of masculinity. A recent BBC article introduced readers to South Korea's latest high-profile export. Not a Hyundai, a Kia, or even the musical phenomenon known as "K-Pop." I'm referring to men's makeup. As the BBC put it, "in South Korea, ideas about how to look good as a man are changing attitudes and influencing the world." The BBC takes readers inside a "high-end salon" in Seoul's trend-setting and prestigious Gangnam district. There, a make-up artist "expertly applies foundation, eyeliner and lipstick on a man," choosing "from an array of products and brands that will be familiar to most women." The goal is to look like their favorite K-Pop stars and television celebrities. Let me be very clear. This story is not talking about gay men. Rather, it's referring to an aesthetic associated with what are called "flower boys" in Korea: "delicate, slightly feminine-looking boys." They are a staple in Korean drama, where they play a role that's analogous to the gay best friend that we see in romantic comedies in America. While unlike the gay best friend they may have feelings for the female lead, they almost never get the girl, in large part because they aren't taken seriously as men. And that prompts an obvious question: Why would a non-gay male want to emulate these "flower boys" in real life? The question isn't limited to just South Korea. As Joanna Elfving-Hwang from the University of Western Australia told the BBC, "I think Korea is a trailblazer in men's beauty culture, definitely in Asia at the moment, if not the world." This toying with masculinity, she says, "opens up possibilities for men on the street and eventually makes it more acceptable." Now, whether this aesthetic remains confined to Korea or ends up bringing back a trend we haven't seen since the demise of the last 18th century French king, the struggle to define what it means to be a man in the 21st century developed world remains unsettled. We see evidence of this crisis everywhere. One example is what Nicholas Eberstadt of the American Enterprise Institute called "the flight from work." As he writes, "America is now home to an ever-growing army of jobless men no longer even looking for workover 7 million between ages 25 and 55, the traditional prime of working life." To put that in historical perspective, "In 2015, the work rate for American males aged 25-54 was slightly lower than it had been in 1940, at the tail end of the Great Depression. During the Great Depression, jobless men jumped on trains and lived in tents trying to find work. Today, most won't even get off their couch." The "flight from work" shows how our cultural idea of masculinity has been severed from the role of men as provider. In a related trend, American men are also postponing fatherhood. "The average age of a newborns' father went from 27.4 years in 1972 to 30.9 in 2015." This reveals that young men aren't giving much thought to the idea of being a provider but instead often living for themselves. Then there's the role of protector, as Eric Metaxas recently mentioned on BreakPoint. The decline of this ideal is reflected in the history of the expression "flower boys." The phrase originally referred to a group of men who came together to "learn the military arts and cultivate virtue" in seventh-century Korea. One of those "virtues" was "bravery in battle." While they dressed well and even used cosmetics, protection of their society was their primary purpose. Regaining a proper understanding of what it means to be male in our culture is one of the most urgent cultural tasks we face. No matter how much we insist otherwise, biology, physiology, psychology, even the Bible itself, tell us that men and women are different, both created in their complimentary uniqueness to bring life to the world. Originally posted at Breakpoint. In Cagayan's capital city of Tuguegarao, heavy rain and strong winds lashed buildings, pulling off signage and throwing debris into the air. "We are bracing for the worst here", said Lanelyn Carrillo, a spokeswoman for World Vision, a humanitarian organization. To be more alert when the storm surge does come in, especially for the low-lying or coastal areas of the Philippines, because at the time [of typhoon Haiyan] some people were not that educated about the storm surge. The Philippines Red Cross said it had activated 30,000 volunteers across Luzon to prepare for the impact of the storm and dispatched a "humanitarian caravan" consisting of rescue and relief vehicles to the parts of the island expected to be among the worst affected. AirAsia Group Bhd had cancelled at least 22 flights as of Saturday morning, upsetting travellers from Manila to Shenzhen and Macau, according to a Facebook post. "The concerns here are landslides and infrastructure being washed away", said Junie Cua, governor of Quirino province on the main island of Luzon. But disaster officials said the country was now better prepared in terms of evacuating high-risk communities, which had experienced a super typhoon in 2016 and knew what was coming. Mangkhut's peak winds have been stronger than those of Hurricane Florence, which killed five people and halted power supply to more than 900,000 USA homes and businesses in the Carolinas, before it was downgraded to a tropical storm. The evacuation centre in the town is said to have been destroyed and phone networks are down. Posadas said an estimated 5.2 million people are in the path of Mangkhut, with 983,100 considered to be below poverty line or most vulnerable to the effects of the typhoon. People take shelter in Cagayan, where the storm was projected to make its initial landfall. "Our staff and volunteers are on high alert for possible deployment". "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. According to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol, the damage may reduce the country's rice supply and result in losses of up to 7.9 billion Philippine pesos ($146.2 million). In addition to the four killed in the Philippines a women was swept out to sea in Taiwan. The worst of the storm will be borne by Hong Kong and Macau, however, which are now in Mangkhut's path. To prepare, the Hong Kong government convened an interdepartmental meeting on Wednesday. Hong Kong was braced for Mangkhut, with authorities expected to raise the second strongest typhoon signal between 11 pm and 2 am (1500 and 1800 GMT). Known locally as Ompong, Typhoon Mangkhut at one point hit gusts of 305 kph before it left the Philippines and moved across the South China Sea with reduced wind speeds. Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific said all Sunday flights would be grounded. Queenie Lam, a senior scientific officer at the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), told CNN that Mangkhut was "expected to pose a considerable threat to the coast of Guangdong" in southern China and would bring gale-force winds to Hong Kong. As Typhoon Mangkhut makes its way through northern Philippines, dozens of Taiwan-Hong Kong/Macau flights were canceled for September 15-17. "Representatives from relevant bureaus and departments also reported their preparatory work and contingency plans, particularly on measures in the prevention and handling of flooding, backflow of seawater and emergency plans for high-risk locations", a government statement read. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Twenty-six years ago, when Lenna Fox Smith volunteered to make curtains for Piedmont Women's Center in Greenville, South Carolina, she had no idea that God was calling her to something much bigger. The center was only about a year old, and what started out as volunteer work one day a week, quickly turned into a job as the center's CEO. Now, as Smith gets set to retire at the end of December, the center will say goodbye to their 1,200 square foot house next to an abortion clinic and move into a nearly 8,000 square foot brand-new building across the street that is literally covered in scripture. The first client that ever came into Piedmont Women's Center back in 1991 was heading to the abortion clinic next door and ended up on the front porch of the pro-life center by mistake. But that first client decided to stay and wait for the counselors to arrive for the day, and that baby was saved from abortion. Smith says that they are always experiencing "divine appointments" like that first one. In fact, according to Brenda Bagwell, RN and Director of Medical Services, 177 women came to Piedmont Women's Center from the neighboring abortion facility in 2017 alone. While there is the occasional woman who decides to continue to the abortion facility, Bagwell says that many women choose to stay once they learn of the free services that Piedmont Women's Center offers. The center was originally opened by a small group of Christians who came together to purchase a house located next to an abortion facility. They took a mortgage out on the 85-year-old home and then asked the community for help. And help they did. Businesses and individuals couldn't necessarily make monetary donations, but they could donate their time and talents. Piedmont Women's Center is seeing the same generosity with the new building. Even an original founder of Piedmont Women's Center has come back to help with the new building as the stone mason. "They can't write a check but they can help us with our needs," said Smith. "Air conditioning, plumbing, concrete companies. Six or seven concrete companies came. We've got these big lights shining on our property at 6 a.m. with trucks full of laborers. They dumped concrete and all got out and spread it together. Other companies and people in churches who couldn't take on a whole project but come together to do heating and air. We put out the call with work days and men showed up like an old barn raising." After purchasing the plot of land across the street with money from a generous donor, Piedmont Women's Center cleared the land and began building with the help of local companies. Smith wanted the people who were involved to be able to express their feelings and thoughts about the new building and the pro-life work being done there. "We wanted to give everybody a way to express how grateful they are for what God's doing to protect the lives of the unborn," she explained. "We put the word out to come write scriptures on the frames. Nobody comes and just writes a scripture. They stay and pray. My first words on the wall were, 'This ministry and this building are for God's glory.'" People of all ages have come a to write scripture on the framing of the new building. Smith says that they come into the center knowing exactly what they are going to write. There was a two-year-old with a sharpie marker in his hand scribbling on the wall wanting to write that Jesus loves them. There was a woman with an oxygen tank who wanted to write a scripture passage that God had given specifically to her for the center. Then there was a woman with a long piece of scripture who walked the building with Smith reading it aloud as Smith prayed. "It was very meaningful," said Smith. "If you just go back to Deuteronomy where we are told to write on the door frame of our house, we are living that out. They tell us to be strong and courageous. God is intentionally giving them the words to write on the door frames. It's a beautiful thing to walk in and see on the beams. It moves your heart to know that this is God's plan and He's doing it in His way and He's doing it quickly." With an appointment book and space that are both filled to capacity, the new facility can't be finished soon enough for Smith and her team. They will be able to serve more women and babies than before with three times the counseling space, two ultrasound machines, space for their 150 volunteers to do their work, a larger training room for volunteers and staff, and plenty of room for their medical team to work. Piedmont Women's Center became a medical clinic under the supervision of a doctor back in 2000. That medical staff is well trained with over 15 nurses prepared to perform ultrasounds and four doctors to read those ultrasounds. Bagwell says that she first joined Piedmont Women's Center as a volunteer in 1999, but as with Smith, it became her full-time work. Today, she works hard to ensure that the center's medical license and the licenses of the doctors and nurses who volunteer are protected and that the center staff and volunteers are held to high standards. "I volunteered for four hours per week doing the free ultrasounds once I was trained for eight years," she said. "Then I came on staff as full-time director of medical services nine and a half years ago in 2009 and I've always loved pregnancy center work and wanted to be a part of it." Piedmont Women's Center offers free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, and clients are referred for medical care, Medicaid, parenting classes, and birthing classes. The center also helps women who are dealing with post-abortion grief. Each pregnant client receives vouchers to another local ministry that provides maternity clothes and baby clothes. They also receive a baby bundle worth about $150 in baby gear that has been donated from baby showers run by churches. The bundles include everything from diapers to onesies to bottles. "It's a baby shower in a bag," said Smith. "We have a couple of women who take home every stuffed animal that we get and wash them and coordinate a baby blanket that matches and they put them on top of the bundle. It just makes you smile that somebody really cares enough to do this." When they are ready to open the doors to their new center in the first days of 2019, Smith plans on it being a "beacon of hope" for women and couples facing unplanned pregnancies. According to Bagwell, the new facility will allow them to provide free STI testing and eventually gynecological services in addition to all of the other services they already provide. "The warfare is intense and you're going to see and hear things you wish you never did," said Smith. "But God is winning this battle for us. He has the victory." Since 1991, Piedmont Women's Center has saved 7,500 babies from abortion. With their new building, the support of the community, and God's grace they are ready to save thousands more. The writing is on the wall. Nancy is a contributor at Pregnancy Help News and a writer and assistant editor for Live Action News. She is a wife and homeschooling mother of four. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment On April 6-7, 2018, I attended and reported on Red Letter Christians' "Lynchburg Revival," which was sparked months earlier by Shane Claiborne's public criticism of Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr.'s support of the Trump Administration. You can read my full report titled, "Jesus, Justice, and Political Partisanship" here. To give a little background, the opening prayer, for example, included more identity politics than genuine petitions to the Almighty: Dear God, we have been seduced by the myth of redemptive violence. We have failed to resist the unholy and preemptive wars of choice and have even fought for the death penalty. As the youth of America are raising their voices against gun violence, many Christians remain silent, many even working to sustain and further a culture of guns and violence. From an unrestrained militarism, Lord save us. And: Dear God, our nation was founded on the death of native lands including Monacan land upon which Lynchburg was founded and the systemic enslavement and stolen labor of African peoples. Having not fully acknowledged this history, we are unable to see how race and whiteness function as an exclusionary and protective privilege. Thus, we continue to marginalize and deny full access and rights to many, including immigrants, LGBTQ peoples, native peoples, African Americans, Latinx people, and too many to justify acknowledgment in this prayer. From our persistent racism, Lord, save us. Most upsetting, was a mainstage speaker who told service men and women that he was "not grateful for your service" and stated, "fallen soldiers are victims, not heroes." Instead of offering tangible national security measures, the speakers suggested we "fight evil with poetry." This speaker received a standing ovation. As the wife of a Navy veteran and sitting in attendance beside a friend and former Marine, I remained seated. Tony Campolo took notice of my report and concerns. (Campolo provides leadership for Red Letter Christians and the broader progressive Christian movement and was also a keynote speaker at the "Lynchburg Revival" gathering.) Over a respectful e-mail exchange, Campolo acknowledged my concerns and shared his own reservations and honest reflections about some of the political sentiments expressed at Red Letter Christians' event. Campolo's note is posted here with his permission. Dear Chelsen, I couldn't agree with you more about the negative spin that was given to people in the military at the Red Letter Christians revival. I myself am a non-violent resister, but I always say, before I declare myself as such, that I am ambivalent and troubled. That is because I know that the freedom to speak as I do and to believe as I do has been made possible by brave men and women who have laid down their lives in struggling to protect my right of speech. I wouldn't be able to say the things that I do, or be the person that I am here, in America, if it has not been for men and women in the military. You can see why I am ambivalent, because with people like yourself, who have family members in the military, we have to be very sensitive, and I do not think that several of the speakers at the Red Letter Christians revival were very respectful. The one place where I become critical of militarism is in government spending, and on a matter like that you and I could enter into a disagreement with great respect for each other. I contend that there hasto be government cuts in spending. In this respect, I agree with those in the tea-party. We can't go on year after year, going deeper and deeper in debt. Donald Trump is going to put the country into another couple of trillion dollars down in the red column. It's bad enough that we have had a string of heavy spenders among the democrats. It's interesting, however, that the last president to end up with a budget surplus was a democrat, Bill Clinton. Thus, I am concerned, as most fiscal conservatives are, with the out of control spending that is marking our government. The differences between me and Donald Trump (as though my differences really matter) is that I would like to see cuts in the military spending rather than the social services to the poor and the needy. What I do not want to see happen is that the people in the armed forces are in any way denigrated or talked about in ugly terms. There was some of that at this revival. I was dismayed as you were that there was not much room for spiritual edification. We needed more prayer, and we needed more opportunity for people to make commitments to Christ. I had an opportunity for between 5 minutes at the end of Saturday night, and I did ask people to commit themselves to Christ. But that is a far cry from what should really take place at a revival, so I am in much agreement with you in much of your criticism. The place where we would disagree, is that I think there is a need for a movement that articulates to Christianity that does not espouse the political ideology of the right wing of the Republican party. On the other hand, I think you would agree that we do not need a Christianity that articulates the ideology of the left wing of the Democratic Party. We need a biblical theology that puts Christ above both parties, and from the perspective of the red letters of the Bible, make value judgments about what is good and bad in each of them. I hope we can be friends in spite of differences, and I want you to know that in so many things that I am in harmony with you. Yours in Christ, Tony Campolo Originally posted at Juicy Ecumenism. Chelsen Vicari serves as the Evangelical Program Director for the Institute on Religion and Democracy. She earned her Masters of Arts in Government from Regent University and frequently contributes to conservative outlets. Follow her on twitter @ChelsenVicari. Chelsea Clinton says an abortion ban would be 'unchristian' Chelsea Clinton has said that, as a "deeply religious person," the idea of America going back to a pre-Roe v. Wade society where abortions were banned is "unchristian." In an interview with SiriusXM's "Signal Boost," on Thursday, Clinton said every day she makes the "moral choice" to be optimistic for her children when it comes to what she says is the battle for women's rights. "That my efforts and my energies, particularly when I'm fortunate enough to be in partnership with fellow travelers, hopefully will make a difference," the activist and former first daughter said. "And when I think about all of the statistics that are painful of what women are confronting today in our country, and what even more women confronted pre-Roe and how many women died and how many more women were maimed because of unsafe abortion practices, we just can't go back to that," Clinton said, referring to the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the country. "Like that's unconscionable to me, and also, I'm sure that this will unleash another wave of hate in my direction, but as a deeply religious person, it's also unChristian to me," she added, referring to her Methodist faith. Clinton added that she has been receiving "a lot of hate" over the issue, and has been compared to slave-owners and Nazis. Several conservative figures, including evangelist Franklin Graham, have recently taken objection to Clinton's continued comments on abortion. Back in August, she spoke at a pro-abortion event "Rise Up for Roe" in New York City against Judge Bret Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court. At the event, she seemed to suggest that the ability to have legal abortions has led to economic growth in the U.S. Graham wrote on Facebook that such notions are a "lie," however. "Hitler probably also claimed that killing the Jews would be good for their economy. Legalizing abortion hasn't added anything to our country, it has only taken away. It has cost this nation more than 60 million lives lives precious to God," Graham said. "Just think of the contribution these people would have made. There will be another high cost. I believe God will judge America for allowing the heinous murder of our own children in the womb," he added. Clinton added in a subsequent statement that what she is saying is not that having an abortion is good for the economy, but that women were more likely to enter the workforce due to the legalization of abortion. "From 19731985, American women's deaths from abortion declined 5-fold. Reproductive rights are also about women's economic rights and agency," Clinton tweeted. Susan B. Anthony List, a nonprofit that seeks to advance pro-life women in politics, responded to Clinton's original comments on the economy and abortion by asking her to consider "the 60 million aborted babies who won't enter the labor force or pay into Social Security." "Their parents won't purchase diapers, clothing, toys, cars or houses to accommodate them. ... Yes, abortion's had a huge impact on America's economy and it hasn't been good. Not only are we hurting economically, we're missing 60 million blessings from God and the good they would have contributed," Brad Mattes of the institute said. This article was originally published in The Christian Post and is re-published here with permission Pastor Andrew Stoecklein's widow doesn't believe the 'myth' that people who commit suicide don't go to Heaven 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 1. The Fall of Gondolin by J.R.R. Tolkien. Thousands of years before the events of The Lord of the Rings, a hero named Tuor visits a secret city. Edited by Christopher Tolkien. 2. Texas Ranger by James Patterson and Andrew Bourelle. Rory Yatess job and reputation are at risk when he is accused of killing his ex-wife. 3. The President is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson. President Jonathan Duncan takes on adversaries at home and abroad. 4. The Outsider by Stephen King. A detective investigates a seemingly wholesome member of the community when an 11-year-old boys body is found. 5. Tailspin by Sandra Brown. A pilot navigates treacherous situations when he attempts to deliver a mysterious black box to a doctor in Georgia. 6. Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter. When a violent incident reveals her mothers secret past, Andrea Oliver searches for clues to save her. 7. Circe by Madeline Miller. Zeus banishes Helios daughter to an island, where she must choose between living with gods or mortals. 8. Stygian by Sherrilyn Kenyon. The 29th book in the Dark-Hunter series. A trained slayer forms alliances with enemies. 9. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. A South Carolina lawyer learns about the questionable practices of a Tennessee orphanage. 10. There There by Tommy Orange. A multigenerational story exploring the plight of the urban Native American. Nonfiction 1. The Restless Wave by John McCain and Mark Salter. A memoir by the recently deceased Republican senator from Arizona. 2. The Russia Hoax by Gregg Jarrett. The Fox News analyst makes his case against the FBI investigation into collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. 3. Educated by Tara Westover. The daughter of survivalists leaves home for university. 4. Aware by Daniel J. Siegel. A look at the science that supports the effectiveness of meditation. 5. Unhinged by Omarosa Manigault Newman. The reality-TV star and former White House staffer describes her time and relationship with Donald Trump. 6. Liars, Leakers and Liberals by Jeanine Pirro. The legal analyst and Fox News host argues in favor of President Donald Trump. 7. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson. A straightforward, easy-to-understand introduction to the universe. 8. Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas. The former New York Times columnist examines the new gilded age and the failures of modern philanthropy. 9. House of Trump, House of Putin by Craig Unger. An investigation into the relationship between the current heads of Russia and the United States, and their potential ties to the Russian Mafia. 10. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. A meditation on race in America. New York Times Albany Had the decision rested with Capital Region voters alone, Andrew Cuomo would be licking his wounds. Cynthia Nixon beat him here in Thursday's primary. But if voters in these parts were making the call, Cuomo would not even be governor. Four years ago, the ill-tempered Democrat lost the region to Zephyr Teachout in the primary and Republican Rob Astorino in the general election. The numbers from 2014 are remarkable, actually. I'd forgotten how big the margins were. Teachout, then an obscure lawyer, garnered 62 percent of the cumulative vote in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties. Cuomo mustered a measly 35 percent. Fast forward to that year's general election, when Rob Astorino, another little-known and underfunded challenger, won 49 percent to Cuomo's 40 percent in the four counties as the governor won re-election statewide in a cakewalk. Even in deep-blue Albany County, which Hillary Clinton would later win by 25 points, Cuomo barely eked out a victory against Astorino, in part because Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins received 13 percent of the total. It doesn't take a rocket scientist, or even a political scientist, to figure out why the governor is unpopular around here. We're the voters who know him best. State politics is our game. In and around New York City, many voters couldn't find Albany on a map, and they care not a whit what happens here. When those voters think about politics, they obsess over who will be mayor and what's happening in Washington. More Information Contact columnist Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse Out in Buffalo, the state capital feels like a far-away destination; Detroit is closer. Plus, most voters have had their brains addled by the Bills and Sabres. But here, we pay attention. We have reason to take personally the endless corruption scandals, the rot that makes Albany a statewide epithet and a national punch line. We know that Cuomo has made the problem worse, despite promising to do otherwise. Many of us work for state government or know somebody who does. That means we've heard stories of awful Cuomo behavior, how he bullies subordinates and foes alike. We've seen the depth of his cynicism, the ease with which he distorts the truth. And though the economy here is generally strong, we are close enough to the widespread and distressing decay to know Cuomo's upstate economic policies are not working. Most of us have neighbors or family members who have fled to states where taxes are lower and jobs are more plentiful. Of course, the Capital Region has just a small say in statewide decisions, and so once again voters here watched as Cuomo stormed to an Election Day victory. Give him credit. He knows how to wield and maintain power. And this year, in this blue state, he knows it is wise to focus as much as possible on President Trump. Expect much more of that in the general election. Let's be honest. In the end, Cynthia Nixon was not a strong candidate, especially from an upstate perspective. The actor and activist was famous enough to make the tabloids pay attention, but she never gave the impression that she was up to the complexities of the job. Her inexperience showed. And as is typical among denizens of that self-important downstate island, her ignorance of our geography was obvious. "Once you get to Ithaca, by around there, you're starting to get upstate," she infamously said, as voters from Wappingers to Fredonia groaned. Still, New York should thank Nixon. She stepped up to oppose Cuomo when it seemed no other Democrat would have the courage. It isn't easy to run a race you are destined to lose. The governor had daunting financial advantages, and he had the benefit of state voting laws, the most restrictive in the nation, that are designed by the political parties to stymie outsiders. There's a reason establishment figures at the top of the ballot Cuomo, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General candidate Letitia James all won Thursday. But Nixon made the governor sweat a bit. She got in his face. Heck, she even got him to sit on a stage and debate. In the Capital Region, Nixon didn't come close to replicating Teachout's margins from four years ago, and there are other signs Democrats here had reservations about her. In Albany County, for example, 1,112 voters, about 4 percent of the total, chose to write in names rather than vote for Cuomo or Nixon. That's unusually high. Yet Nixon did edge out a win in Albany County. And though she lost nearly everywhere else and got blown out statewide she won in each of the Capital Region's four counties and in all the bordering ones, too. That shouldn't have been a surprise. In these parts, Andrew Cuomo would lose to a ham sandwich. cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill A Border Patrol agent was arrested Saturday in connection with the slaying of four prostitutes in Webb County. Law enforcement said the suspect, 35-year-old Juan David Ortiz, an intel supervisor, has been with Border Patrol for 10 years. Charges against him were still pending as of Saturday afternoon. "We have probable cause to believe that he is responsible for this series of murders, which I would qualify as a serial murderer," said Isidro Alaniz, Webb County district attorney. The Webb County Sheriff's Office said Ortiz confessed to killing all four victims and kidnapping another woman. The woman he allegedly kidnapped escaped and helped authorities find him, said Eduardo Chapa, Sheriff's Office spokesman. Alaniz said Ortiz may face four counts of murder and one count of aggravated kidnapping. The motive behind the killings is unclear, but Alaniz said that, according to statements that Ortiz gave law enforcement, all four victims were prostitutes. DPS troopers apprehended Ortiz at about 2 a.m. Saturday after law enforcement received information that he had allegedly tried to kidnap a woman. Troopers confronted him at a gas station on Jefferson Street, but he took off running to the nearby Hotel Ava, located in central Laredo, just off Interstate 35, Alaniz said. Ortiz was found in the parking area of the hotel hiding in a truck. He was arrested without incident, Alaniz said. "The county, the city can rest assured we have the serial killer in custody," said Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar. Cuellar added that he believes Ortiz acted alone. RELATED: Woman found slain in northwest Webb County ID'd The Texas Rangers, which is spearheading the investigation, declined to comment. DPS Sgt. Erick Estrada said Saturday morning that they are not disclosing any new information about the case. All four victims were found during the past two weeks in a rural, unpopulated area of Webb County. The Rangers began investigating on Sept. 4 after the Sheriff's Office received a report of the discovery of a body in the 300 block of Jefferies Road, near the intersection with Texas Highway 255, otherwise known as Camino Colombia Road. She was identified as Melissa Ramirez, 29, of Laredo. DPS did not disclose how she died but said it was a homicide. According to her obituary, Ramirez was a mother of two. The second victim, 42-year-old Claudine Anne Luera, died Thursday. At about 7:30 a.m. that day, a concerned citizen reported to the Sheriff's Office the discovery of a woman who appeared to have been assaulted. She was found fatally wounded off the roadway near mile marker 436 of Texas 255, about mile east of North U.S. 83. This is close to where Ramirez's body was discovered. Paramedics rushed Luera to a local hospital in critical condition. She was later declared dead. DPS has only said that Luera had head trauma. The third body was found Friday night near North U.S. 83 and I-35. The fourth was discovered Saturday afternoon, following Ortiz's apprehension, near mile marker 14 of I-35, several miles south of North U.S. 83. Their identities have not been released and it was not immediately clear what led law enforcement to discover their bodies. Alaniz, the district attorney, said the cause of death was similar in each homicide. RELATED: Woman found in rural Webb Co. with fatal wounds identified In a statement, Andrew Meehan, assistant commissioner for public affairs for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said his agency's Office of Professional Responsibility, the U.S. Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General are fully cooperating with all investigators. "Our sincerest condolences go out to the victims' family and friends. While it is CBP policy to not comment on the details of an ongoing investigation, criminal action by our employees is not, and will not be tolerated," Meehan said. In a statement issued Saturday night, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said "establishing and maintaining high standards for Border Patrol agents is a top priority" for his office. "We have advocated for and implemented new standards during the hiring process as well as new standards of professionalism after joining Border Patrol," the statement reads. "Just this afternoon I spoke with CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to talk about the situation in Laredo. We have agreed to work together on the hiring and professionalism of border patrol agents. "We spoke about how more steps need to be taken to make certain that people who want to become Border Patrol agents receive the appropriate psychological screening to ensure that no person who is capable of these type of actions is allowed to join or remain in the ranks. We also spoke about hiring more Professional Responsibility officers so that they can police their own." Cuellar noted in his statement that this is the second case this year that a Border Patrol agent in Laredo has been accused of homicide. In April, supervisory Border Patrol agent Ronald Anthony Burgos-Aviles, 29, was accused of killing his alleged 27-year-old lover and the couple's 1-year-old child. He has since been indicted on two counts of capital murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. The Associated Press and New York Times contributed to this report. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. The true focus of Woodcreek Middle Schools pep rally on Friday, Sept. 14, became clear as more and more student performances featured prominently the theme of patriotism. From the step teams routine performed to Party in the USA; to the band and orchestras rendition of My Country, Tis of Thee, Woodcreek principal, Bryan Applegate, was given a surprise send-off befitting a member of the United States Army Reserves. Applegate has been called to active duty and will be deployed in September to Qatar, where he is scheduled to serve until July 2019. HEARTBREAKING POST: Texas veteran gets 70,000 texts after viral Facebook message The Woodcreek community came together to show Applegate their appreciation during the last pep rally before his deployment. As students and staff were entering the gymnasium, event coordinators in camouflage shirts stood in a line in front of Applegates family, acting as a visual barrier to prevent Applegate from seeing them and suspecting anything out of the ordinary. Applegate has been in the Reserves for 22 years, and his wife Michele Applegate was excited that his service was being honored in such a big way by the community. Its a celebration of what he does and has been doing for so long and its never been recognized before and its just awesome, she said. Eighth grader Kinzlye Petters was among the students in the cheer squad at the pep rally. Last school year, Applegate helped her deal with a difficult situation. She said the trust hes built with students makes it hard to see him go one of the many reasons why dedicating the pep rally to him was so important. Hes leaving our school that he helps 24-7 for us to get a good education, and now hes leaving to go serve our country. So it was really important for us all together to come and to be very respectful and show we really appreciate him being our principal, Petters said. His leadership abilities will be missed by students, but also teachers, according to Karen Kennedy who is head of the social studies department at Woodcreek Middle School. He has really tried to build that establishment of an open-door policy keeping everybody involved and keeping everyone engaged in what were doing, Kennedy said. What I see here is that the kids are engaged in whats going on in the campus. This pep rally shows the comradery and the climate and culture of the campus. The key thing about Mr. Applegate is he is passionate about his job and he puts 110 percent into everything he does. Hes a very personable person and is passionate about the kids and their education. Applegate said this pep rally was exactly what he needed. This means everything, Applegate said. First of all, I had no idea they were going to do this, so its a total surprise Im shocked. My last day is actually next week. Its a bitter-sweet moment. The pep rally was designed and put on for the kids to show their talents and hard work and to do this for me, to bring me into that, it was a really nice tie-in. They kept me connected to the school, which is what I need. Humble resident Arliss Bentley expressed some concerns about proposed salaries, repairs and additions in the City of Humbles Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget at Thursday nights City of Humble meeting. The 2019 fiscal budget is a 7.4 percent decrease from the 2018 budget. Starting the 2019 fiscal year the city also has a surplus budget of $33 million, after decreasing its operating expenses by nearly 13 percent. The fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Before the council approved the $78 million budget, Bentley first questioned the council as to why the fire department needs six new firefighters in the amount of $632,979. This is over half a million dollars for a budget at one time. I was just wondering is there that drastic need? Is there a possibility that maybe we can start with two and add more each year?, Bentey said. Humble Assistant Fire Chief Mike Legoudes answered Bentleys question by saying they have been trying to add more personnel to the fire department for several years. At times weve been able to add one or two at a time but we have a need at this point, we really need more than six, Legoudes said. Bentley responded to Legoudess statement by saying the citys population has been steady for a while now and still questioned the need for six new firefighters. City of Humble Mayor Merle Aaron followed shortly after Bentleys second question and said to her the growth of commercial businesses in the area requires a need for additional fire fighters. It is true our (population) growth is steady but our growth in our commercial areas demand fire protection also, and we have Humble Fire Station 2 that were barely staffing and this will give us some staffing in fire station two that we havent had in the past, Aaron said. Aaron said the six new fire fighters that will be added just meets the minimum requirement the City of Humble needs. This six is just a minimum amount that we need. This is something that were going to have to face in the future and weve put it off and weve kicked that can for down the road for years and this is something were going to have to address, Aaron said. Pleased with the responses regarding the fire department, Bentley then asked about the Cezeaux Center and if there will be any serious renovation. Humble Civic Center Director Jennifer Wooden said there are no plans for serious renovations at this time. So that building is just a recreational (building) to facilitate parties, baby showers, community use; not for people to come out to big events which happens at the Humble Civic Center, Wooden said. Wooden did reassure to Bentley that they are doing landscaping at the Cezeaux Building including some minor exterior improvements. After Bentleys questions and comments the council closed public hearing and approved the Fiscal Year 2019 budget. The council also approved the start of the Rankin Road widening project not to exceed $390,600. The City of Humble will hold a tax rate adoption meeting on Sept. 20 at 6:30 p.m. kaila.contreras@chron.com There were no takers Friday at Katy City Hall for a scheduled second public hearing to discus a proposed tax increase and announce the next meeting to adopt the citys tax rate. It might have been because the tax rate 48 cents per $100 valuation will remain the same even if its called a tax increase, city officials said. Were maintaining the same tax rate. Nothing is going to change with this new budget, said Katy Mayor Chuck Brawner. Even with the financial difficulties some Katy residents have felt because of the flooding from Hurricane Harvey, the city has experienced a rise in income from new construction both commercial and residential that came on the tax roll in the past year, Brawner said. It does bring in some new revenue. Also, theres been a rise in some property values, he said. Katy financial director Becky Wilkins explained why the term tax increase is used in the ordinance is used even though the tax rate will stay the same. If the effective rate which is calculated by the taxing entity is lower that the (tax) rate that we are going to choose, then they call it an increase, Wilkins said, even though our tax rate will stay the same from this year to next year. She also said the $100,000 exemption for senior citizens and the disabled when remain in the next city budget. New council member On Friday, the city council also voted unanimously to appoint Houston attorney Frank O. Carroll to the Ward A seat vacated by J. Gary Jones, who resigned earlier this month. Carroll has been a Katy resident for nearly a decade and is familiar face at city hall. He currently sits on Katys Board of Adjustment. Im deeply honored and privileged to have the opportunity to represent the residents of Ward A, Carroll said after being sworn into office. Im looking forward to hopping right in and participating in the budget discussions that are going to take place. Carroll said the upcoming budget is crucial to provided much needed resources to the Katy Fire Department and the Katy Police Department as well as fund important drainage projects. Im committed to working with this council and the mayor to make sure both of these areas are fully funded, he said. Carroll will fill out the remaining time of Jones term, which runs through May 2019. The next city council meeting to adopt the tax rate will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 24, city officials said. mike.glenn@chron.com Secretary of State Mike Pompeo excoriated his predecessor John Kerry at a State Department briefing on Friday for his "unseemly and unprecedented" behavior. "This is 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". Former Secretary of State John Kerry found himself in hot water this week after he publicly admitted to having high-level meetings with Iranian officials after leaving office; prompting the Trump administration to slam his "shameful" shadow diplomacy. In a tweet on Thursday, Trump called the meetings "illegal", characterizing Iran as a "very hostile" regime. A spokesperson for Kerry rejected the criticism, saying in a statement that "no secrets were kept from this administration". "You can't find precedent for this in USA history and Secretary Kerry ought not to engage in that kind of behavior", he said. "Former secretaries of state all of them, from either political party ought not to be engaged in" this kind of activity, he said. "I'm confident that they met with their troika counterparts", Pompeo continued. Last week, Iranian-backed militias carried out "life-threatening attacks" against the USA consulate in Basra and the US embassy in Baghdad, according to the White House. He denied discussing the nuclear issue, but said, "Every former secretary of state has meetings". "He told them to wait out the Trump Administration!" he said, ending his Tweet with the word "BAD!" "Mr. President, you should be more anxious about Paul Manafort meeting with Robert Mueller than me meeting with Iran's FM", Kerry said on Twitter shortly after Pompeo's remarks, referring to Trump's former campaign chairman who on Friday agreed to cooperate with federal investigators into Russian meddling in the 2016 US election. "The devil's always in the details", Rosenstein said. "Stay away from negotiations John, you are hurting your country!" he said on May 8. "Simply offering advice to a foreign government doesn't make you a foreign agent". I met Zarif in Munich but not with Kerry and Moniz. "John Kerry can't get over the fact that he had his chance and blew it!" A third is reported to have occurred at the United Nations headquarters, which is not technically on USA soil. "I think I've seen him three or four times", Kerry told Hewitt. He has also accused the Trump administration of pursuing a policy of regime change in Iran. In a September 9 interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Kerry said the withdrawal was "a very unsafe and ill-advised move that is not based on any broad strategy that is drawing other countries to the table to be supportive of it". First responders received a standing ovation Tuesday at the 9/11 ceremony hosted by Katy Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9182. We need to remember our neighbors keep us safe and they deserve our support, said District 132 state Rep. Mike Schofield, R-Katy, one of three speakers at the memorial program. After the national tragedies of Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 terrorism all attacks on America, American government and the American way of life all brought us together, he said. The nation spoke with one voice and acted together. He urged people to keep in their hearts that same spirit and to keep moving forward. Referring to 9/11 and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Katy Mayor Chuck Brawner said the tragedies bind people together. He spoke of both strength and dedication as results of that unity. He also spoke of respecting everyones rights. Seventeen years later I still think of all the loss of life, said Brawner and the courage shown by first responders and by the military in subsequent engagements in foreign countries to fight terrorism. With fellow Americans, we move forward together regardless of our differences. Brawner was working in law enforcement at a major accident when 9/11 occurred. I knew things would never be the same. When 9/11 occurred, Don Byrne now commander of Katy Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9182 was working in Richmond, Virginia and cussing the Internet for not working. His boss came in the office to tell him of the first plane hitting the World Trade Center tower. I was full of anger, sorrow and dread, remembers Byrne. Not everyone in the room at the Katy VFW post, however, could identify. Playing taps at the ceremony was Rene Cano, a U.S. Sea Cadet petty officer, third class. The Seven Lakes High School student is only 16. I can only hope that my generation never has to experience a tragedy to the extent of 9/11, he said. Robyn Anzulis doesnt remember 9/11, either. Shes the national 2018 first-place winner of the VFW Voice of Democracy contest and a $30,000 scholarship winner, who was 18 months old when 9/11 occurred. Byrne shared a YouTube video of her speech based on the theme of American History: My Hope for the Future. Visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsZ_ZkRSsYw to hear her speech. She talks of learning about 9/11 from her elders and history books. But this is what the history books will not tell you about Sept. 11, she said. From the ashes of the World Trade Center arose a sense of unity that America has not seen since. Sept. 11, 2001 is this centurys version of Pearl Harbor, a rare moment in our history in which unity prevailed over the tragedy of what had occurred and the divisions that typically exist in our country. She said her generation lacks that national unity. We must heal our divisions and see each other as part of the same American family because history reminds us that when we act as one people as one nation we can overcome any obstacle. Hence learning from our history is our hope for the future. karen.zurawski@chron.com While seating is sold out for Transforming Lives, the 14th annual gala to benefit Katy Christian Ministries, the nonprofit still has sponsorships available. The event with more than 300 guests will be 6 p.m. Sept. 25 at Beckendorff Farms. A man in a bandana was killed a late night shootout at a Whataburger in Southwest Houston after walking in to the fast food restaurant and starting shooting, witnesses said. The man, whose identity has not been released, walked into the restaurant at 7629 W Bellfort about 1:o0 a.m. Saturday, possibly to rob the store and started shooting. 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. A 23-year-old Missouri City man who used Snapchat to film himself firing a pistol in a Houston neighborhood will spend five years on probation after pleading guilty to deadly conduct on Friday, court records show. Edwin Alexander Ospino has been in the Harris County jail since May when his bond was revoked for curfew violations and testing positive for drugs, records show. He was also on probation for a charge of resisting arrest in 2016. A Snapchat clip of Ospino firing a semi-automatic weapon into the air in the Heights-area Cottage Grove Park neighborhood around 10:15 p.m. on Nov. 20 went viral with Houston news stations airing the short clip. After authorities saw it, the Houston Police Department filed charges of deadly conduct, alleging that he acted with disregard for the people in the nearby houses. Ospino was arrested days later when CrimeStoppers of Houston offered a $5,000 reward. When he arrived at the Harris County Courthouse for his arraignment in late November, Ospino refused to answer questions from reporters choosing instead to try to build a following for his aspiring music career and sell t-shirts with his Snapchat handle on it. He arrived with his 20-year-old brother, who was wearing a t-shirt with Ospinos Snapchat handle written across the front. On the social media platform, he encouraged followers to use the hashtag #ShapchatShooter and offered to sell the T-shirts. After appearing before state District Judge George Powell, Ospino walked away from several television cameras and opened the Snapchat app on his phone to record a message to his followers. He told them not to believe what they had heard about his case. If he violates his probation, he faces the possibility of 10 years in prison for the third-degree felony. In court records for his other cases, Ospino is also listed as Edwin Alexander Ospino-Soto and Edwin Soto Ospino. A man was found shot to death this morning at a park in southeast Houston, police said. A passerby called authorities after seeing the dead man about 7:10 a.m at Beverly Hills Park, 10201 Kingspoint Road near Fuqua, southwest of Almeda Mall, police said. 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 It adds that the government will invest 92 million from its "Brexit readiness fund" on an 18-month programme to design a UK Global Navigation Satellite System. The paper says the Government is trying to clarify with the European Commission whether the United Kingdom will lose access, and whether United Kingdom organisations will still be able to bid for Copernicus contracts tendered through the EU. "I think there has to be a shift across the board in the EU's approach and they're going to have to meet us halfway". The government is advising British drivers that they may need to get an International Driving Permit, which they would have to carry alongside their United Kingdom licence, to keep driving in the EU. "One outcome would be that "we wouldn't pay out the money that has been agreed", he told BBC radio. The guidance from the British government is a stark reminder that there is precious little time left for the negotiators to come up with a deal that does not leave the United Kingdom fiddling with toy rockets while the European Union carries on regardless. The British government will later Thursday publish 28 "technical notices" covering issues as varied as mobile phone roaming charges and upholding environmental standards. "We discussed the latest progress our teams have made on the withdrawal agreement and the framework for the future relationship", Raab said, according to his office. Business leaders have repeatedly warned about the consequences of leaving the European Union without a deal, with the CBI saying the United Kingdom would face tariffs on 90% of its European Union exports and a number of new regulatory hurdles. But a technical paper released by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) went further, warning the United Kingdom would "no longer play any part in the development of Galileo" or the related European Geostationary Navigation Overlay (EGNO) system. From the 1st February 2019, IDPs will be available only through the Post Office at a cost of 5.50 per document. An IDP may also be required for United Kingdom drivers hiring vehicles when in the EU. British businesses, for example, would have to rush to ensure they could still receive personal data about European customers, while many manufacturers would need to have their exported products retested by EU safety regulators. More no-deal publications are expected in the coming weeks. "That is why we must have a people's vote on the final Brexit deal". The other three people injured were treated and released. The chaos following the rockfall at Navagio Beach on the Greek island of Zakynthos on Thursday was described by some tourists as being "like Dunkirk". Shipwreck Beach is a popular tourist spot on Zante and was reportedly full of holidaymakers when the cliff face collapsed. The rest only had minor injuries. The incident occurred at the iconic Navagio (shipwreck) beach where the rusty wreck of a freighter vessel which ran aground in autumn 1980 still rests on site. Josh O'Connell, 21, of Kilkenny, Ireland, who works for a tour company on Zante, said there were more than a dozen tourist boats in the bay and 400-500 people in the area. At least two small boats were capsized in the surrounding waters due to high waves created by the falling rocks. Meanwhile, some boats were capsizing in the strong waves. "So far, we haven't found any trapped people but we will continue searching", said one official with the local fire brigade, Reuters reported. The coastguard later called off their search, saying everyone who had travelled to the beach on the tourist boats had been accounted for. "We started to hear this almighty cracking sound and the first lot came down quickly followed by the second lot", she said. Hundreds of immigrant parents separated from their children at the southern border under one of President Donald Trumps most controversial policies will have a second chance at asylum, according to a proposed federal settlement a San Diego judge considered Friday. The tentative agreement would give as many as 1,000 parents, most of them fleeing gang violence or poverty from Central America, another opportunity to stay here legally. U.S. District Judge Dana M. Sabraw indicated he would likely approve it, barring any objections, calling it a very detailed, well thought-out proposal. Coming two months into an expensive, complicated and time-consuming emergency effort to reunify families under the court order, the settlement is the latest indication of the widespread failure of the short-lived policythat briefly imprisoned parents for the misdemeanor of illegally entering the country and placed their children in federal shelters. Polls showed a majority of Democrats and independent voters opposed the practice, which was also met by furious bipartisan and international condemnation. Its an implicit recognition by the government that they did it wrong, said Simon Y. Sandoval-Moshenberg, legal director at the Legal Aid Justice Center, an advocacy group in Virginia representing separated parents. Under the governments so-called zero-tolerance policy, more than 2,600 children, including at least 103 under the age of 5, were removed from their parents. Months later, 165 children still remain in federal custody after their parents were deported. Hundreds of parents were removed without knowing where the government had sent their children. Dozens of deported parents have yet to be located. SEE: Immigrant families separated at border struggle to find each other Lawyers for the families argued in part that separated parents were unable to properly express their fear of returning to their country, which is the first step in obtaining asylum, because they were so concerned about the well-being and whereabouts of their children. Parents were sick, anxious, light-headed, dizzy. They couldnt remember what had happened in their credible fear interview. All they could think about was their children, said Sirine Shebaya, senior staff attorney for Muslim Advocates, a civil rights advocacy group in Washington, D.C., that represented parents. They were out of their minds with worry and this is not a psychological state in which they could participate meaningfully. To qualify for asylum, applicants must prove they faced persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinions, and the Trump administration has made it significantly harder to obtain refugee protection. The settlement would allow those separated parents who remain in the United States, whether they are in federal detention centers or have been released with their children to await their civil deportation cases, to undergo another asylum interview. Parents who fail that second credible fear assessment would be able to remain here while they help their children argue for asylum, and could be included in their childrens cases if the minors claim is deemed credible. They are essentially getting two more shots, Sandoval-Moshenberg said. We couldnt guarantee that through this agreement every single one of them will get asylum and get to stay, but at least this gives each one of them a fair shot. He said he was not aware of another class-action settlement that has allowed such a large group a second chance at asylum. The Trump administration will never be able to erase the full damage of its family separation policy, said Lee Gelernt, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the original lawsuit against the administrations practice. But this agreement is an important step toward restoring and protecting the asylum rights of impacted children and parents going forward. EXPLAINER: Must immigrant parents, children be separated at the border? The automatic second bid at protection does not extend to the hundreds of parents who have already been deported, but the settlement grants those immigrants an opportunity to individually request such a chance, although it is unclear how many would qualify. The government does not intend to, nor does it agree to, return any removed parent to the United States, the settlement said. If attorneys for deported parents believe their cases warrant such a return, they could raise those arguments with the government, though such successful cases are likely to be rare and unusual, according to the settlement. Michelle Brane, director of the migrant rights program at the Women's Refugee Commission, a national advocacy group assisting the government in finding deported parents, said it remains unclear how that definition will be interpreted by the court. Removing parents without due process and under coercion is not the norm, and should not be the norm, she said. The hope is some will be allowed back. I do not think all of the parents want to come back. Some are so traumatized by the experience that if they do want to seek asylum or need protection, the U.S. may no longer be their first choice. As of this week, 114 deported parents have told Branes group and other nonprofits working to reunite families that they want to leave their children in the United States to give them the chance to pursue asylum without them. If they dont want their child to go back, if they even prefer separation, those might also be people who are in fear and need some form or another of protection, Brane said. Those are the parents in many cases who may want to pursue another shot. READ: Immigrant parents struggle to find separated children amid chaos on the border Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Houston Chronicle As the effort to find deported parents continues, weekly government status reports to the court have shown just how complicated it is, especially when adults were forcibly returned to places they fled out of fear. In court filings this week, the ACLU asked for more help to find separated parents, including placing bill boards and radio advertisements in Guatemala and Honduras, and obtaining local phone numbers to contact parents, who often are afraid to answer unknown numbers because it is common for gangs to run extortion schemes that way. We have reached the easy ones, the ones who are looking for us, the ones have telephones, Brane said. Those who are remaining are not answering their phones or not calling back or just unreachable. Some have no numbers, many may be wrong numbers, many dont speak Spanish. In a few dozen cases the government itself has prevented family reunification because of purported red flags such as if the parent is accused of crimes that would make him or her a danger to the child. The ACLU pushed back on some of those claims this week, arguing parents have wrongly been deemed unfit to rejoin their children. In one case, a Salvadoran mother was accused of being part of the violent MS-13 gang when she maintains she was their victim. She rented a room in a house raided by Salvadoran police, who charged her with being part of the group, even though she said the gang beat her and forced her to flee. The womans 4-year-old son has been in a federal shelter for seven months and is suffering irreparably, according to the court filing. Once toilet-trained, the boy has reverted to wearing diapers and struggles to pronounce words. LEGAL LIMBO: Her husband murdered, her son taken away, a mother seeking asylum tells a judge, 'I have lost everything' Advocates for several children whose parents have opted to allow them to remain here with relatives and seek asylum asked the government Friday to speed up the process, or explain the delay in their release. The administration is housing a record 12,800 immigrant children, most who came here alone and were not removed from their parents. Usually such unaccompanied minors are released to relatives or other adult sponsors after about a month in federal custody. But data obtained by the New York Times this week shows that the number of such children released from federal shelters each month have plummeted by about two-thirds since last year. Advocates have blamed in part a controversial new information-sharing agreement between Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security that they say could frighten sponsors from claiming children because they worry their information will be used to deport them. To accommodate all the immigrant minors in their care, the government said this week it would more than triple an El Paso tent camp opened at the height of the family separations and house as many as 3,800 children at a formidable expense. lomi.kriel@chron.com @lomikriel Three men are behind bars after a shootout in the parking lot of a Harris County club on the Eastex Freeway. One man was waiting in a getaway car as two others were allegedly burglarizing a vehicle at the Stampede Houston when a witness, who knew the owner of the car, tried to stop them. The Long Night of the Watchman: Essays by Vaclav Benda, 1977-1989, edited by F. Flagg Taylor IV, translated by Barbara Day (St. Augustines Press, 344 pp., $35.00) We owe a debt to Flagg Taylor and Barbara Day for making Vaclav Bendas remarkable anti-totalitarian writings available to English-language readers in a handsome and accessible volume. In his thoughtful introduction, Taylor convincingly argues that the Czech belongs in that small coterie of writers, thinkers, and actorsSolzhenitsyn and Havel includedwho fought totalitarianism with courage and lucidity. In their distinctive ways, these great figures illuminated the nature of their totalitarian enemy and how their battle could be fought and won. Benda is barely known in the Western world outside his native context. But these writings ought to make his witness and achievement much more widely recognized among all those who continue to strive to understand the tragedy of twentieth-century totalitarianism. Benda, who died before age 60, was a patriot, Christian, and lover of liberty who profoundly illuminated the nature of evil in our time. He never confused his Christian faith with a call to passivity. His writings and activities played a major role in setting the stage for the annus mirabilis of 1989, the revolutionary year when Communism behind the Iron Curtain imploded. Benda was a thinker of great philosophical, political, and theological acumen, but he was driven out of the humanities, and then the sciences, and then the university as a whole, in the years after Soviet and Warsaw Pact tanks crushed the Prague Spring in August 1968. Like many Czech dissidents, he was reduced to becoming a stoker, a menial position at the bottom of the social hierarchy. He was something of a latecomer to Charter 77, the independent initiative of Czechoslovakian citizens (in the beginning, just 243 people signed on), who demanded that the Communist regime live up to its human rights commitments under the 1975 Helsinki Agreements. Once he joined, he committed himself with vigor and moral seriousness. He would become one of the most impressive theorists in the Czech underground, pointing realistically to a future freed from totalitarian domination. For his activities with Charter 77 (for which he was twice a spokesman) and his work with VONS (the Czech acronym for The Committee to Defend the Unjustly Persecuted), he received a prison sentence of four years, which he served from 1979 to 1983. His wife Kamila, undeterred, made the Benda flat in Prague a refuge for those harassed by the Communist party-state. As Taylor points out, Bendas name will be forever associated with a 1978 samizdat essay, The Parallel Polis, and an even more penetrating 1985 sequel, The Meaning, Context, and Legacy of the Parallel Polis (chapters 11 and 19 in this volume). Havel famously called on his fellow citizens to live in truth and to reject the ideological lies at the heart of really existing socialism. That was the paradoxical source of The Power of the Powerless, to cite Havels most influential samizdat essay. Benda appreciated the existential vulnerability of a state founded on limitless ideological mendacity. But he argued for taking things a step further. Havel was right about the natural resistance of life to totalitarianismthat was a great ground of hope. But resistance could be containedif not crushedby the ideological state. What was also needed was a self-conscious effort to build an incipient civil societyparallel structures in areas such as the economy, education, and culture. Samizdat showed the way, and underground writing about literature, theater, music, and film revealed the beginnings of a truly independent thought that owed nothing to the repulsive orthodoxies of the Communist party-state. Benda placed particular hopes in new endeavors such as underground educational seminars. In the 1985 essay, he highlighted how the totalitarian state would self-consciously have to destroy these new civic initiatives. If an incipient civil society could constantly conquer new territory, a morally dangerous situation would arise for an increasingly ossified totalitarian state that was losing its self-confidence. And when the moment of crisis came, society would listen to the sufficiently clear and sufficiently authoritative articulations of the civic and political culture arising out ofand growing strength fromthe parallel polis. The ideological Emperor would truly have no clothes, its impotence revealed for all to see. As it turns out, Bendas prognostications proved prophetic. With Havel, he saw the hidden vulnerabilities of a seemingly all-powerful ideological state. The two men were the most far-seeing theorists of Czech dissidence. Benda was a serious Catholic and a leader of the religious wing of Czechoslovakian dissidence. He believed that no real cooperation or modus vivendi could exist between the totalitarian state and a Christianity worthy of the name. Lucid essays such as Catholicism and Politics (1979) trace the systematic persecution and suffering of the Catholic Church in Czechoslovakia since the late 1940s. Benda admired the courage and forbearance of many Czechoslovakian Catholics, but also criticized the passivity of those who isolated themselves from the anti-totalitarian struggle. In essay after essay, Benda lamented the failure of his co-religionists to bear full witness to their civic obligations. The great evangelical commandment to love ones neighbor as one loves oneself was incompatible with pure spirituality and a comprehensive withdrawal from civic life. Prayer and humilityauthentic goodswere not sufficient responses to the evils of applied ideology. In Catholicism and Politics, Benda calls for Christians to help build a new polis that respects fellowship, the dignity of the person, and the liberties that belong to free men and women. In a thoughtful companion essay called Responsibility in Politics and for Politics (1986), Benda affirms the Aristotelian idea of a human being as a zoon politikon, a political animal, even as he acknowledges that the great imperative to love ones neighbor as one loves oneself necessarily goes beyond the territorial and material limits of the polis. Human beings are both political and social animals. Benda wants to remind his fellow Christians (and apathetic participants in the technological societies of East and West more generally) that the political or social dimension of human life is at least as rich and complicated as the private sphere. Totalitarianism politicizes everything, yes, but in the deepest sense it mutilates the polis and the civic common good. It is ultimately anti-political. Benda reminds us that the fight against totalitarianism is necessarily a struggle for the integrity of politics, rightly understood. I should note that while Benda is above all a serious and measured political thinker, he is not insensitive to the eschatological dimensions of the struggle between totalitarian mendacity and the defenders of the liberty and dignity of human beings. In Responsibility in Politics and for Politics, he affirms that there is a black and white dimension to the struggle against totalitarian evil. Like Solzhenitsyn, he believes that totalitarianism must be fought with fire and sword if it is not to triumph globally. He quotes the suggestive remarks of the underground Polish writer Maciej Poleski, who wrote that It is possible to fight for the freedom of the Christian religion through humility and mercy. But, Poleski added, Christian civilization must be defended with fire and sword. Benda called himself a conservative radical. Like many Eastern dissidents, he thought modernity itself was complicit in the murderous conquest of human nature that characterized totalitarianism during its most destructive periods. He was convinced that the West was increasingly blind to the struggle between good and evil in the human soul and to the moral foundations of authentic liberty. But he abhorred the notion of moral equivalence between the Communist East and the liberal but decadent West. He had no sympathy for socialism or for peace movements that were blind to the real nature of totalitarian despotism. Yet, in a fascinating 1985 letter to Roger Scrutonthe English conservative political philosopher who had done so much to aid the Czech undergroundBenda quarreled (respectfully) with Scrutons advice for the Czech dissidents to avoid sustained contact or cooperation with Western peace movements, many of which were naive about the real nature of life behind the Iron Curtain. Benda and Scruton were close philosophically and shared a common aversion to socialism and pacifism. Yet Benda thought contact with Western peace groups was worth the effort of expanding the dialogue about peace and war beyond narrow leftist circles. He thought the fascination of bad slogans has its limits, and some Western peace groups might benefit from dialogue with anti-totalitarian voices in Eastern Europe. Interested readers might also see Havels suggestive 1985 essay, The Anatomy of a Reticence (in his book Open Letters), which straddles the fence between Scruton and Benda on whether dialogue ought to be pursued with such groups who. Bendas response to Scruton is rather surprising and reveals an ecumenism in the practical judgments of this essentially conservative man. Perhaps Bendas furthest-reaching insight was to recognize just how profound the social atomization promoted by really existing socialism was. The ideological regimes of East-Central Europe, he suggested, drove an Iron Curtain between East and West, between countries in the Eastern bloc, between regions, towns, and familiesand even within the consciousness of individual souls. Totalitarian power must not only be resisted, he maintained; every effort must also be made to recover human fellowship and the sense of a polis compatible with Christian conscience. The Benda of these essays, written between 1977 and 1989, is a consistent foe of the mixture of totalitarianism, passivity, and moral nihilism that has done so much damage to political life and individual souls in the East and West. Benda went on to become the head of the Czech Christian Democratic party. He also actively investigated the crimes of the Communist period for seven years after the fall of Communism. That coming to terms with the past was a morally and politically necessary activity. He made some mistakes: meeting with General Pinochet when the latter visited Prague in 1994 undoubtedly hurt Bendas credibility (he thought, not without some reason, that Pinochet had saved Chile from full-scale totalitarianism). But Benda will remain a guide for those opposed to the totalitarian temptation, who want to think deeply and seriously about a polis worthy of human beings and the civic witness appropriate to Christians seeking to sustain the civic common good. Photo: Jorge Royan AKRON, Ohio - Akron-based Signet Real Estate Group has been hired to lead the design phase for Kent State University's College of Business Administration, which is the centerpiece of the school's $1.2 billion Gateway Plan. The $3.2 million design phase of the business building, planned to anchor Kent's front campus, will include the main gateway to Kent State, green space and a new parking deck. The work will begin immediately and be completed by next summer, the university reported in a news release. The Gateway Plan, unveiled earlier this year as "the Gateway to a Distinctive Kent State," is a master facilities plan to transform the campus over the next 10 years. Signet was chosen from four finalists to design the facility based on the company's "vision with the best overall value and most cost-effective approach for completing the distinctive project," the university said. "We are excited for the opportunity to create a new, iconic College of Business Administration building that will create a collaborative learning environment for business students from all over the world," said Signet Vice President of Development Kevin Belt in the release. The business building design will provide a learning environment that supports students who will become future business leaders and entrepreneurs. The business administration building will house a variety of classroom and learning labs, faculty and administrative offices, study and meeting spaces, and common areas to encourage collaboration between students, faculty and business leaders. It is planned to provide a learning environment that supports students who will become future business leaders and entrepreneurs. "The innovative design presented by the Signet team appropriately reflects the success and pride of the college and its alumni, by creating an environment that emphasizes forward-thinking, educational best practices to prepare students for business careers of the future," said College of Business Administration Dean Deborah F. Spake, in the release. The facility will be built through a public-private partnership that includes philanthropy. Signet is developing a financing package that includes naming opportunities for donors. Signet Real Estate Group operates as part of Signet LLC, a global private investment firm. Signet LLC invests in and grows companies ranging from manufacturing and IT, to healthcare and emerging technologies. Currently, the company has about $4.5 billion in real estate development and construction underway in the U.S. Signet Real Estate Group specializes in higher education and healthcare, and has completed several high-profile projects in and around Akron. In the 1990s, Signet worked with Akron Aeros (now Rubber Ducks) ownership to keep the team from moving to Boston, and worked with the city of Akron to develop and finance Canal Park Stadium. Signet also worked with the University of Akron, building and financing several residence facilities, including the South Residence Hall in 2012, Exchange Street Residence Hall in 2007 and Honors Residence Hall in 2004. In 2008, Signet built the Jean and Milton Cooper Cancer Center on the Summa Health System campus in East Akron. In 2013, the company also built the Village at NEOMED, which houses students and faculty at the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown. Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.com's Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Disturbance, Edgehill Road: At 12:45 p.m. Sept. 7, officers were called to a disturbance at a home and were told that one of the people involved, a man, had driven from the scene in an SUV stolen from a Cleveland address. An officer spotted the SUV and attempted to make a traffic stop. The driver stopped but, despite commands to do so, would not turn off the vehicle's engine. The driver then sped away, leading a chase that reached in excess of 60 mph on a residential street. During the pursuit, the driver ran through a stop sign, struck a curb and ran into a wall made up of boulders. The SUV, however, continued on through shrubbery before colliding with a tree. Leaving the SUV in the "drive" position, the suspect ran. The suspect was eventually arrested at the back of a home on Edgehill Road.The suspect did not have a valid driver's license and had on his license several suspensions. He told the officer that he had a Taser in his pocket. The suspect was charged with felony fleeing and receiving stolen property/motor vehicle. Police had been called to the house by a woman, who reported that she and the suspect had been involved in a minor physical altercation. The man fled when he saw the first police officer arrive. The woman did not wish to pursue charges regarding the physical altercation. Disorderly conduct, Ormond Road: At 11:25 p.m. Sept. 6, police were called to a home for a disturbance taking place between a man and a woman. The man told police that he woke up at 7:30 p.m. to find the woman drinking alcohol -- a Long Island iced tea. The man said drinking alcohol was not permitted, as the woman is on probation. As police spoke with the woman, 48, she became belligerent. She was arrested for disorderly conduct/intoxication. On the way to jail, the woman started banging her head on the police cruiser door. The officer stopped the car and called for paramedics, who took the woman to the hospital for medical evaluation. Disorderly conduct, Cedar Road: At 4:05 p.m. Sept. 6, police were called to Wendy's, 13274 Cedar Road, where people were fighting in the parking lot. Upon arrival, officers found two male suspects with their shirts off. One had blood on his pants and was bleeding from his mouth. The other combatant had blood on his elbows and hands. Both said that they had been involved in a fight with numerous other people in the lot. Police then spoke with a third party in the lot, who claimed that the men were actively involved in the fight with him. The third man was also bloodied. Police arrested and charged all three men with disorderly conduct. One of the men required stitches to close a wound near his mouth. Menacing, Monticello Boulevard: At 4:50 p.m. Sept. 7, the manager at CVS/Pharmacy, 3825 Monticello Blvd., reported that a shoplifter, known from a prior incident, was in the store. The suspect, a woman, left the store before police arrived. The manager told officers that he recognized the woman and immediately called police when an employee called him to the register in front of the store. The suspect wanted to know the price of a hair dryer. When the manager attempted to scan it for a price, the woman yelled that he was a cop and that she didn't want him to scan it. The woman then blurted out, "I'm not shoplifting." She went on to threaten the manager and said she knew which car was his in the parking lot and that she would damage the vehicle. As other customers stood by, the suspect several times used profanity. There was a warrant issued for the woman's arrest stemming from an Aug. 31 shoplifting incident. The woman is now being sought on warrants for disorderly conduct and menacing. Aggravated menacing, Mayfield Road: At 11:10 a.m. Sept. 10, a woman, 25, reported that her former boyfriend was sitting in a van in her apartment's parking lot and had threatened to shoot and kill her. The man, 32, was believed to be armed. As officers approached the van, they could see the suspect lunge across the front seat, as if hiding something. He was told to show officers his hands, then ordered out of the vehicle. The man told officers that the woman had called him to take her to work, and that she was upset, believing he was sleeping with another woman. The woman told police that she was no longer in a relationship with the man, but tried to keep peace with him, believing he would do her and her two children harm if they were not on good terms. The suspect is not the father of the woman's children. The woman told police that the two had argued that day on the phone and that he became enraged when she mentioned her new boyfriend. He then threatened her life. The police report does not indicate if a gun was found. The woman asked police for a protection order against the man. She also signed a complaint against him for aggravated menacing. The man was booked into jail without incident. If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page. AKRON, Ohio -- An Akron man was arraigned Saturday on charges connected to the death and bodily disposal of his girlfriend, whose remains were found Thursday in a shallow grave behind their home, police say. Investigators were called Thursday evening to a home on the 600 block of Crouse Street in Akron for human remains found in the backyard, according to police. The home was owned by Martha Robin Freitag, 53, who was reported missing by her daughter Sept. 5. Freitag's daughter told police she'd been unable to reach her mother since July 31, that her mother had an abusive boyfriend and she was afraid "he did something to her," according to a police report. The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office identified the remains as Freitag, police say. Freitag's boyfriend, David A. Callaghan, has been charged with murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, according to Akron police. Callaghan, 52, also of Crouse Street, was already in custody at the Summit County Jail on unrelated charges, police said. He was arraigned Saturday morning. To comment on this story, visit Saturday's crime and courts comment section. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two armed robbers attacked a woman in Lakewood and robbed a man at gunpoint in Cleveland in the span of about five minutes on Wednesday, police say. The two police departments believe the same two men committed both robberies, police reports say. No arrests have been made. The robberies happened about 10:15 p.m. and 10:20 p.m. near the Lakewood-Cleveland border. The first robbery happened on West 116th Street between Madison Avenue and Franklin Boulevard on the Cleveland side of the border. The two robbers rushed the man, pointed guns at him and ordered him to the ground, police reports say. They grabbed his backpack, wallet, $20, cellphone and keys and ran away. Five minutes later, two armed robbers spotted a 55-year-old woman walking about five blocks away on Winchester Avenue between Franklin and Madison on the Lakewood side of the border, the police reports say. The woman told police she saw two men in the shadows in front of her and crossed the street to avoid walking directly by them. The duo surrounded her -- one stood in front of her and the other behind her, according to police reports. The one in front jabbed her in the shoulder with an object, though the woman was unsure if it was a gun, police reports say. The man demanded her phone. The woman hesitated and the robber standing behind the woman grabbed her purse, shoved her to the ground and repeatedly stomped on and kicked her abdomen, police reports say. The men ran away, but one stopped and walked back toward the woman as she remained on the ground, police reports say. The woman screamed and several residents came outside and helped the woman as the robbers ran toward Franklin, according to police reports. To comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comments page. AKRON, Ohio -- Possible human remains were found at an Akron home Thursday night, Akron police said. Investigators were called just before 6 p.m. to a home in the 600 block of Crouse Street for possible human remains that were found in the backyard, according to police. Officers and the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office were investigating the remains. Property records list the owner as 53-year-old Martha Robin Freitag. Authorities have not identified the remains as Freitag, but the woman's daughter, Kim Freitag, filed a missing person's report with Akron police Sept. 5. Kim Freitag told police she hasn't been able to get in contact with her mother in over a month, according to an online Akron police report. "There has been no response at her house and none of the neighbors have seen her," the report said. The woman told police that her mother has an abusive boyfriend and is afraid "that he did something to her." Officers entered Martha Robin Freitag's home on Sept. 5 but no one was inside. Police have been unable to contact Martha Freitag's boyfriend. Kim Freitag has been actively searching for her mother with several pleas on social media. A poster with Martha Robin Freitag name and description has been shared hundreds of times. The poster says she was last seen July 26 and typically travels on the bus because she doesn't drive. Martha Freitag is also with her bank card and cellphone, the poster says. Where are you mom? PLEASE SHARE! Update: We are no longer searching Thank you to EVERYONE that shared this post for my dear mama. Posted by Kim Freitag-Maxwell on Thursday, September 13, 2018 Akron police have not returned calls seeking comment in the ongoing investigation. To comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cleveland lawyer nominated by President Donald Trump to a post in the U.S. Small Business Administration told Cuyahoga County Council Wednesday that its pending anti-discrimination legislation would burden small businesses. David Tryon, a lawyer at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, was nominated by Trump in October to be Chief Counsel of Advocacy for the U.S. Small Business Administration. The Office of Advocacy represents the views of small entities in federal rule-making. Tryon and 32 other speakers appeared before council to publicly comment on the legislation that would prohibit discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation based on sexual orientation and gender identification, and form a Commission on Human Rights that could levy fines if it finds discrimination has occurred. Watch Tryon's comments in the video player above. Tryon told council that regulations barring discriminatory practices would be a burden on local small businesses. "If they are accused of violating this ordinance, then they will have to lawyer up and spend time, money and effort figuring out the law, fighting or addressing the complaint filed against them -- all to the detriment of the core activity of their business," Tryon said. "Large employers already have mechanisms and lawyers to help them navigate the myriad of rules and regulations out there...(and) small businesses have none of these. One complaint, whether legitimate or not, can kill a small business." Tryon objected to other aspects of the legislation as well. He drew attention to the fact that the Commission on Human Rights would not include jury trials to hear complaints. He also took issue with language in the legislation that he thought might exclude government entities from adhering to anti-discriminatory hiring practices. Michael King, general counsel to the County Council, told cleveland.com after the meeting the government entities are not excluded. Trump nominated Tryon, a Broadview Heights resident and former member of the Brecksville-Broadview Heights school board, in October 2017. The Senate has not yet confirmed him. STOW, Ohio -- A warrant has been issued for a Twinsburg High School teacher accused of sexual battery for sending graphic photos to a student, court records say. Laura Bucy, 33, of Ravenna is charged with sexual battery and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles after she engaged in a sex act and sent "obscene images" to a student through Snapchat, according to Stow Municipal Court records. The charges were filed Thursday. Bucy has been with the school district since 2017 as a family and consumer sciences teacher, according to her LinkedIn page. Twinsburg City School District Superintendent Kathryn Powers sent a news release to parents after Twinsburg police notified school officials of an investigation involving and employee. Police began investigating the sexual misconduct Tuesday that "involves allegations of a serious nature related to misconduct that allegedly took place on school property," the news release said. Powers did not name the employee involved or provide the person's job title. Investigators did not provide the employee's name or list of charges when asked by a cleveland.com reporter. Bucy has not been arrested, said Twinsburg police Assistant Chief Robert J. Gonsiewski. He added that authorities plan to make an arrest sometime next week. To comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comments page. The Government of Bulgaria has hailed the serious efforts made by Morocco with a view to reaching a lasting and just solution to the Sahara issue through negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations and in line with Security Council Resolutions. We encourage the parties to the conflict to cooperate more in order to make progress in the political process, said the Bulgarian ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release issued Thursday after top diplomat Ekaterina Zaharieva received in Sofia Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita. During his visit to Bulgaria, Bourita also met Vice-President Mrs. Iliana Yotova. Talks focused on bilateral relations, Moroccos ties with the European Union, the fight against illegal immigration and terrorism as well as the Syrian crisis and climate change. The Vice-President of Bulgaria hailed on this occasion Moroccos political stability and the progress made by the North African country in the social and economic fields under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. Bouritas visit to Bulgaria is part of a tour to the Balkan region aimed at expanding and diversifying the Kingdoms partners in Europe. Sofia is the last leg of this tour that had already led the Moroccan foreign minister to Bucharest and Belgrade. Rumania and Serbia had also hailed Moroccos earnest efforts seeking to reach a lasting and fair solution to the Sahara issue that is jeopardizing Maghreb integration. Board meetings at the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, a research center backed by Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg, his wife Priscilla Chan and LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman, always kick off in the same way. Each quarter, a promising young scientist funded by the Biohub is invited to a conference room at the Palo Alto offices of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the family's philanthropic investment group. That's where Zuckerberg takes a hiatus from email to spend a little time learning about science. Last April, that scientist was Markita Landry, a chemical engineer who runs a lab at UC Berkeley. Landry was among the first researchers to get funding from the Biohub for a multi-year effort to develop tools to measure the chemistry of the brain. Landry shared some of her progress so far. Then Zuckerberg chimed in with a series of questions about the time it would take for her technology to be implemented, and the kind of influence it would have on human lives. Landry told the board that her eventual goal was to test the effectiveness of drugs prescribed for mental health conditions, like depression, which is much-needed in the medical community. "As scientists, we tend to think about moving in increments of weeks or months, but Mark prompted me to talk about the potential impact in years or even decades," Landry explained. Few scientists get such dedicated time with the world's most famous entrepreneur. But the meetings also give Zuckerberg a brief break from the daily battles of running a public company to nerd out for a while. It also means some face-time with Chan, who stopped practicing medicine last year to head up CZI full-time, as well as Hoffman, a longtime Facebook investor and friend, and CZI science chief Cori Bargmann. Academic representatives from Stanford, Berkeley and UC San Francisco also attend, including the Biohub's co-leaders Joe DeRisi and Steve Quake. Cori Bargmann, head of science for CZI (left) talks to program manager Rebecca Egger CZI Zuckerberg could use the breathing room. Facebook has taken hit after hit to its reputation in the past 18 months, most notably with the claims that Russian operatives and a shadowy political consultancy called Cambridge Analytica used Facebook to manipulate voter behavior, and that Facebook didn't do enough to stop it. That prompted many of the company's critics to wonder whether Zuckerberg failed to appreciate the impact of the tools he created, and whether he lacks the moral leadership to right the ship. In the meantime, Zuckerberg has begun to use the fortune he earned from creating one of the world's most valuable companies to invest in CZI. In October, he revealed that he plans to sell up to 75 million shares, worth more than $12 billion at the time, by March 2019 to fund the project. He's able to do that because of Facebook's dual-class share structure, which allows him to retain voting control over the company's big decisions even as he sells a huge portion of his stake. He's holding true to his word: This year alone, Zuckerberg has already sold nearly 29 million shares, garnering more than $5.3 billion for CZI. What is CZI doing so far? CZI has been around now for about two and a half years, and has ballooned to 250 employees, with about half of them hailing from the technology sector. It's still early days for any non-profit venture, but the organization is far enough along now to have a few core theses that it's starting to test in the real world. One of CZI's stated missions is "supporting scientific research to cure, prevent and manage all diseases in our children's lifetime." Zuckerberg shared a few more details onstage in a 2016 conference call, where he declared "we have a real shot at preventing, curing or managing" most diseases in the next 100 years, particularly heart disease, cancer, stroke, neurodegenerative and infectious diseases. This followed the couple's pledge to their newborn daughter Max, in December 2015, that they would give away 99 percent of the value of their Facebook shares to "advance human potential and promote equality." Some have criticized the mission statement as hype, which makes the task seem easier than it is. But it also earned some muted praise from another notable philanthropist, Bill Gates, who told the New Yorker in a recent interview that Zuckerberg's plans are "very safe," because he won't be around long enough for the article that says he overcommitted. And many in the scientific community view it as aspirational. For their part, CZI employees say they view the mission statement as their north star. And they view it as a reflection of their willingness to collaborate with other scientists, not an ego-driven mantra to do it all themselves. "I agree that it would be a tough sell if we were a research institution thinking that we alone are going to cure, prevent and manage all disease," said Marc Malandro, the CZI science team's vice president of operations. A group of scientists gathers to look at data at the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub. Chan Zuckerberg Initiative "But what we're talking about doing is developing data, enabling scientists, funding scientists, and helping drive culture change around open science." In an emailed statement, Chan herself acknowledged that the mission is "ambitious," but added "if we focus on empowering scientists with tools to unlock their work and the field -- that goal could be within our reach." "From my career, I've found that breaking down silos that exist across the health and education systems often lead to big breakthroughs -- so that is one focus of our work," said Chan. For instance, CZI is one of the biggest backers of an initiative called the Human Cell Atlas, which aims to map out every single cell in the human body. That would represent an example of a new kind of data-set that cannot be achieved by a single scientist or group. "It's very much predicated on sharing of data on taking a very difficult problem and recognizing it won't be done by one or two big academic centers," said Jonah Cool, a program manager and scientist at CZI. Another project is a $12.5 million effort to bring more engineering tools to the field of imaging. Once the application process closes, 10 to 15 imaging scientists will be given funding for three to five years of research at imaging centers across the country. "We're thinking about many levels of challenges that scientists face," explained Jeremy Freeman, manager of the five-person strong computational biology group at CZI, who's helping run the imaging project. "There's a lot of different cultures in science and I think we're trying in a few different ways to move the culture to one that is more aligned with openness and collaboration." Here's a sampling of other projects that are meant to encourage collaboration among scientific researchers: CZI acquired a research search engine called Meta which is working to help scientists find relevant papers more easily It partnered with New York's Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to help develop its bioRxiv service for biologists to share and search for scientific papers. It's working with protocols.io, a start-up building a repository for life-sciences researchers to share information about methods; it refers to itself as a "Github for life sciences methods." On Friday, it announced that it will join an advisory group and provide a $150,000 grant for ASAPbio, which stands for "accelerating science and publication in biology," to bring more transparency to life sciences communication. Freeman said CZI is particularly interested in figuring out how to support scientific efforts that are already underway, rather than thinking that it can solve these problems alone. "There are areas where that's happening in a grassroots way and we want to encourage it." Jeremy Freeman, CZI's director of computational biology (center) in conversation with principal engineer Andrey Kislyuk (left) and director of engineering Bruce Martin (right) CZI That's similar to the Initiative's work on education, another focus area, where it's engineers are helping develop personalized learning software for students at the Summit Public Schools system. That was born out of a realization that it would be more effective for the organization to figure out what's working in education, health, or another area, and support that. "We believe that greater collaboration across science and technology is key to giving more people an equal shot at living healthy and prosperous lives," said Chan. "We're proud to play a role in making that happen." Chan and Zuckerberg are actively involved In conversations with a dozen of the group's employees and its close associates, two things became very clear about the organization. First, it views itself as an entirely separate and distinct entity from Facebook, although a few engineers have migrated over from there. And second, the couple is highly involved. It's not a token philanthropic effort for them. Zuckerberg himself attends many of the important meetings, including the Biohub board meetings, two deep dives a year on the Human Cell Atlas and reviews for some of the newer initiatives like criminal justice and affordable housing. Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images Facebook analysts say they're not all that concerned by the level of attention Zuckerberg pays to CZI, or that he's selling stock to fund it. "I don't think this is a huge risk because he is funding this foundation with his Facebook stock," said Brian Yacktman, chief investment officer of YCG Investments, which owns over $5 million worth of Facebook shares. "He's hugely incentivized to keep Facebook strong, not to mention the fact that Facebook is his creation and legacy." Yacktman also praises Zuckerberg for delegating at Facebook so that he can spend time on outside initiatives, including his philanthropy. "This is no Elon Musk situation, who's seemingly very hard to work with based on the incredibly high employee turnover at Tesla at Facebook, the talent hardly ever leaves," he said. Zuckerberg does attend meetings to remain up to speed on CZI's investments, but it's Chan who really runs the show day to day. Employees say that when she's not on the road, she's working out of the CZI offices and is readily available to answer questions or work through a problem. She typically spends two days in Palo Alto and three days in Redwood City, where the science group is based, and sits out in the open rather than in an office so she can chat with employees. Priscilla Chan and CZI Biohub co-president Joe DeRisi "Sometimes we go off on scientific tangents," says Malandro from the science team. "But Priscilla is there to ground us in the human impact of what we're doing." Malandro shared an example. "The other day, Priscilla asked if I'd seen the NPR report about the Human Cell Atlas using single cell data to identify a new lung cell type in humans," he recalled. "It so happens that a lot of people this could help us develop a better understanding of cystic fibrosis," he continued. Cystic fibrosis is a serious genetic disorder that mostly affects the lungs, and impacts about 30,000 people in the U.S. alone. Symptoms include difficulty breathing and coughing up mucus, as a result of having a lot of lung infections. "For us, it's easy to get enamored with the technology, but Priscilla spent a few minutes telling everyone in the room about kids who have this disease, where their parents have to break up the mucus in their child's lungs, and how hard it can be to treat them." Collaboration takes time While it sounds simple enough to get scientists to collaborate, it requires years of planning to get it working. That was certainly the case with Biohub, which represents an experiment of sorts to find out whether the Bay Area's three biggest academic powerhouses -- UC Berkeley, Stanford and UC San Francisco -- could make discoveries together. "Mark and Priscilla had this vision where they wanted the three big Bay Area universities to come together," said UC San Francisco's DeRisi, who co-leads the organization with Stanford's Quake. "That meant years of lawyers thinking through every detail, down to who waters and pays for the office cactus." DeRisi says the collaboration is working well, primarily because the funders realized that these questions ranging from the big ones, like intellectual property rights, to the mundane, like watering the cactus needed to be ironed out first. The organization also borrowed some of its core mandates about how to find and fund talent from its backers. It chooses scientists to fund by honing in on "the person, not the project," says DeRisi. That's very similar to how Silicon Valley venture capitalists choose companies to back. The application process was designed to be super simple, with questions like: "tell me the most impactful thing you've done for science" and "share your vision for the future." DeRisi said he looked for "brilliant people," and not a step-by-step execution plan, which might not allow for the "magic of basic science." The Biohub is also staffing up with computational scientists and data scientists, which are notoriously challenging to hire in Silicon Valley. It can't compete with companies like Apple and Facebook, but many of the technologists it hires are interested in "doing something awesome for science." Some of them already made their money in tech, and like many others in Silicon Valley, are looking to invest in their brilliant minds into serving humanity rather than creating yet another app designed to get people to click on ads. And that's fundamentally what CZI, and the efforts it funds, is all about: Giving academics the funds and resources to work on projects that will have an impact, and giving technologists a way to create a lasting legacy. "What we're doing here is trying to make multiple big shots on goal, rather than making a single bet on a person or a disease," said Malandro from the CZI science team. Priscilla Chan, co-founder of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative LLC Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images With money at the root of a lot of relationship stress, it's no surprise that a partner with credit issues can cause a significant strain and even a split. More than one-third of borrowers said college loans and other money woes contributed to their divorce, according to a recent report from Student Loan Hero, a website for managing education debt. However, these days, significant debt is harder to avoid, particularly among those just starting out. A typical millennial living in the city carries a hefty burden about $23,064, according to LendingTree's latest study mostly due to record-breaking student loan balances, sky-high rents and car loans. If you are looking for love, that kind of financial strain does not bode well. More than three out of four Americans in a committed relationship, or 78 percent, prefer a partner who is good with money over one who is physically attractive, according to a survey by Wakefield Research for Citigroup. Even among the rich and famous, debt takes a toll. "It's all relative," said Stacy Phillips, a partner and certified family-law specialist at the firm Blank Rome in Los Angeles. Phillips has represented a variety of high-net-worth clients, including celebrities like Britney Spears. "There's a tendency, especially in America, to live beyond your means," Phillips said. But one partner's bad credit could impact other aspects of your life as a couple when you apply for credit jointly. That includes what mortgage rate you qualify for together and whether you qualify at all. Pundits largely see Democrats as favorites to win back control of the House but as underdogs in winning back the Senate. To take a Senate majority, the party has to net two seats in November. While flipping the Senate appears daunting for Democrats, the party does have a path to do so. It would require winning eight of the 10 battleground races considered most competitive. For example, if only one incumbent Democrat loses, the party would have to defend all its other seats and flip three GOP-held seats to take a majority. If Republicans knock out two Democratic senators, it all but assures them they will keep their majority, unless Democrats can pull off a nearly clean sweep of accessible Republican seats. Earlier this week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell described the 10 races listed above excluding Texas "too close to call and every one of them like a knife fight in an alley, just a brawl." He separately called the Texas race between Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democrat Beto O'Rourke "competitive." To put a figure on it, models made by widely followed data guru Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight give Democrats about a 1-in-3 chance of taking the Senate. The average projected outcome leaves the Senate right about where it started, with the GOP holding a 51-49 majority. In assessing the potential outcomes, Silver writes that "just as Republicans are far from doomed in the House, they are far from safe in the Senate." Still, the site's models see a Democratic House and a Republican Senate as the most likely scenario after November's elections. A number of factors, including Trump's approval rating, the congressional generic ballot and the money that flows into each of the contests, could change the likelihood of the Senate flipping between now and November. In addition, a handful of races for seats not outlined here could become more competitive. Ryan Serhant knows how to stay positive in a crisis. The star of Bravo series "Million Dollar Listing New York," began his real estate career exactly 10 years ago, on one of the darkest days of the financial crisis: September 15, 2008. It was the day storied investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy amid the housing market collapse that led the country into a nearly two-year recession. With September marking the 10-year anniversary of the start of the financial crisis, many people have taken the opportunity to look back and reflect on what they learned during that devastating economic period. For his part, Serhant believes the timing of his first day of work actually ended up as a positive thing for him. "In hindsight, it was the absolute best time for me to start," Serhant tells CNBC Make It about his first-ever real estate gig at New York firm Nest Seekers International, where he still works brokering multimillion-dollar deals. "Brokers were abandoning the business left and right, and I was probably the only agent in my office maybe the city with a smile on my face. I was just excited to get started!" he remembers. Serhant had moved to New York City two years earlier as an aspiring actor before deciding to get his real estate license. "My last paying gig before starting as a real estate agent that fateful day was as a hand model, holding phones for AT&T," he says. "I took whatever gigs I could when I moved to [New York] to pay rent." As it turned out, being a struggling actor was not so different from working in the real estate business during the financial crisis. Serhant tells CNBC Make It he made only $9,000 his first year as a real estate agent less than he'd made the previous year from hand modeling and the odd acting gig. "I kind of started from ground zero, in a really, really tough market, obviously, where a lot of people were losing their jobs, people couldn't get financing [to close real estate deals]," Serhant said of the period in an interview with Nasdaq in March. "So, all of my initial deals were really, really difficult." Even though Serhant says he "mentally quit the business once per week" during the roughest stretches, the fact that he had struggled to make ends meet before actually helped him stay positive. "I was just excited to have an office with a computer and a business card," Serhant jokes. Serhant hustled to pick up any clients he could, even posting ads for his services on Craigslist. He also took the market collapse as an opportunity to learn new skills that tend to be overlooked in healthier financial markets. "I learned everything that agents working in a boom market never have to involve themselves in," Serhant says. "I learned how to do loans; I learned the contract process in and out; I learned how to negotiate in dire circumstances; and I learned how to sell when nothing was selling." Abu Dhabi Financial Group (ADFG) has submitted a revised bid to acquire the management rights for the Middle East funds of stricken Dubai-based Abraaj, according to a document seen by Reuters. The Abu Dhabi-based alternative investment firm is among more than a dozen bidders seeking to buy the bulk of Abraaj's private equity funds. But in a letter to investors in Abraaj Funds, ADFG said that the bid is unlikely to materialize given the "convolution" of the situation. To address this, ADFG is seeking a dedicated budget to conduct a full forensic audit and a litigation budget. Its new offer includes up to $6 million for the audit and litigation financing as well as a $10 million credit facility to fund the operations of the Middle East funds. The $10 million is in addition to $10 million earmarked separately for the fund manager's liabilities. "Such a dedicated budget is crucial not only to seek damages from previous management but also to ensure recoverability of funds for investors in the Middle East funds," ADFG said in the letter seen by Reuters. "This means there is a zero capital call requirement from all the 200 unique investors in the Middle East funds which will clear one of the major hurdles going forward for the protection of the assets." Abraaj has 10 Middle East funds involving some 200 investors from across the globe. Abraaj filed for provisional liquidation in the Cayman Islands in June after months of turmoil related to a row with investors over the use of their money in a $1 billion healthcare fund. Last month Reuters reported that Actis had bid to buy the bulk of Abraaj's private equity funds, joining more than a dozen other bidders. Revolut CEO Nikolay Storonsky, N26 CEO Valentin Stalf and Monzo CEO Tom Blomfield talk at TechCrunch Disrupt Berlin 2017. Noam Galai | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images The collapse of Lehman Brothers 10 years ago wasn't just a reckoning for the financial system it was an epiphany for coders and entrepreneurs who thought they could do better. Lehman's shuttering not only stunned nervous bankers, investors and savers. It sent shockwaves throughout the global economy; a symbolic fall from grace for one of the many institutions seen as too big to fail. The day was Monday, September 15, 2008. Lehman Brothers Holding Inc. filed for bankruptcy, and the future of a financial behemoth holding more than $600 billion in assets and that employed 25,000 people was sent into disarray. It was the biggest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history. "It was a big and powerful investment bank, so the announcement came as a shock," Nikolay Storonsky, a former equity derivatives trader at Lehman, told CNBC by email. "We were told without much warning and it seemed to happen quite quickly." Storonsky, 34, worked at the investment banking giant formerly the fourth biggest lender in the United States for two years. The British entrepreneur feared he would struggle with further employment, being a recent graduate, but soon extended his trading career at Credit Suisse. Fast-forward 10 years and Storonsky is the chief executive of digital banking upstart Revolut, which he founded alongside developer Vlad Yatsenko. The toppling of Lehman was one event in a two-year crisis. But its impact on capital markets was severe, leading to almost $10 trillion wiped off the market value of global equities in the month that followed. Lehman's problems were largely attributed to its management of flawed mortgage-backed securities. These were securities that had been given favorable credit ratings from agencies, but which proved problematic as subprime mortgage borrowers defaulted in droves and the housing bubble burst. The fallout from the bank's collapse resulted in reduced market liquidity, fiscal and monetary stimulus and widespread distrust of the banks. Bailouts, sweeping regulation and consolidation in the banking sector ensued. New rules meant lenders had to deleverage and increase their capital buffers, a move many believe has mostly guarded the financial system from another meltdown of similar proportions. But although financial conditions have mostly improved, Revolut's Storonsky believes one ramification remains: that consumers' trust in banks has dwindled significantly, and it hasn't recovered. "I'd say that the trust in banks is not that strong," he said. "Recent scandals have undermined the biggest names, and I think we're beginning to see start-ups earn the trust of consumers." Indeed, in the last few weeks two European banks have made headlines over such scandals. Denmark's Danske Bank has been investigating what is rumored to be Europe's largest money laundering scandal in history, while Dutch lender ING lost its financial chief a week after it was fined $900 million. A new kind of bank In Britain alone, the number of new banking players in the market has risen 63 percent since 2005, according to Accenture, and entrants have so far captured 14 percent of total revenues in the sector. "Since the financial crisis, regulation and digital disruption has changed the banking landscape," Julian Skan, senior managing director in banking at Accenture Strategy, told CNBC in an email. "We are now looking at a very different ecosystem from 10 years ago. More competition, more business models and more disruption to revenues." Skan added: "Although traditional banks still dominate the market, new players... are beginning to generate significant revenues and are challenging the competitiveness of traditional banks." Revolut counts itself among a number of fledgling digital "challenger banks" up-and-coming British financial technology firms whose aim is to eat away at the customer base of traditional banks. Such start-up players include Monzo, Starling and Atom. Most have obtained a banking license from regulators and operate without a single physical branch. But the phenomenon isn't exclusive to the U.K. Germany has N26 and Fidor, the U.S. is home to Chime, and Brazil's Nubank has been around since 2013. What's changed over the years is that some of these players have transitioned from payment upstarts to regulated banks worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In fact, Revolut is now valued at $1.7 billion after it raised $250 million earlier this year. And Monzo is gearing up for a fundraising of its own later this year that would land it a valuation of up to $1.5 billion, according to the Financial Times. The bank declined to comment when contacted by CNBC. These companies are dipping their toes into nearly every kind of financial service, from current and savings accounts to insurance, credit and wealth management. For Storonsky, Revolut and various other fintech start-ups might not have come about had it not been for Lehman's fall. "Many of Lehman Brothers' top employees who left in the aftermath of its collapse decided to start their own businesses," he said. "A number of successful entrepreneurs rose from the ashes who were pretty disillusioned with the financial system." Customers have come to expect a different kind of experience from their banks in the age of the smartphone. The rapid growth of platforms like Amazon, Netflix, Uber and Deliveroo brought with it a model of cramming several products and services into one basket, whether that's physical goods, entertainment, transport, food or financial services. Above all, people are now more accustomed to assume convenience from these products and services. Established players conscious of their fintech rivals have been rushing into the mobile arena, testing slick apps in a bid to lure millennial customers. HSBC this year launched its "Connected Money" app, for instance, which lets customers manage all of their bank accounts including those from competitors on one screen. And Goldman Sachs is expected to officially roll out its new digital retail bank Marcus in the U.K. this month. A recent regulatory overhaul by the European Union known as the Second Payment Services Directive, or PSD2, means that banks now have to allow tech firms access to customer data, to allow other players to further develop banking products. And banks are increasingly partnering with and investing in fintechs. HSBC teamed up with fintech firm Bud last year, while Investec and Barclays have struck deals of their own with small business lender MarketInvoice. Consolidation Many in both the banking and fintech industries see it as unlikely that nascent firms like Revolut and Monzo will topple the banks, a scenario that has been described as "David vs. Goliath." Such a claim was slapped down last year by HSBC's Raman Bhatia, who heads the bank's digital strategy in Europe. In an interview with CNBC, Bhatia said the challenge from fintech firms was "overblown," that many financial players can "co-exist" and that banks were "sufficiently primed." Banks have the advantage of being trusted household names. People are more likely to have heard of Barclays and J.P. Morgan than Revolut or Monzo. "It's overwhelmingly important for fintechs to invest in building trust, through transparency, honesty, collaboration and providing the best customer experience," Revolut's Storonsky said. "Credibility is important when you want to win the trust of a new customer, but the most important thing is maintaining that credibility through a transparent brand that delivers an incredible service." But a decade on from Lehman, and the pressure on the established banking players hasn't gone away. The closure of physical branches and ATMs as customers switch to cards and mobile options shows no sign of slowing down. In the U.K., bank branches have been shutting at a rate of 60 per month, according to Which? Since 2015, a total of 2,868 branches have either closed or were scheduled to be closed this year, the British consumer group said. While Hurricane Florence didn't pack as big a punch as expected when it made landfall, the way it struck the Carolinas could still bring significant economic damage. On Friday, JPMorgan said Florence may hammer the region economically, but is unlikely to affect the vast U.S. economy as a whole. "We believe that the effects of the storm could be significant for the impacted regions, but likely will be very small in the quarterly GDP data for the $20 trillion US economy," the bank said, adding that September's jobs report could see some modest "distortions" based on Florence. "It remains to be seen just how widespread Florence's damage will be, but North and South Carolina's combined output is larger than that of the Houston metro area, which was impacted by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, but less than half of that of the New York metro area, which was hit by Hurricane Sandy in 2012," the bank wrote. However, Dan Leonard, The Weather Company's senior meteorologist, told CNBC that Florence's unique trajectory difficult to predict the resulting damage. "It came in from the east. Typically storms move from south to north," Leonard told CNBC's "On the Money" in an interview. While churning in the Atlantic towards shore this week, Hurricane Florence was a Category 4 storm, but when it made landfall Friday in North Carolina, it was downgraded to a Category 1. "This particular storm came in straight from the east which makes it more damaging as far as storm surge goes, because it came in perpendicular to the coast, so all the wind and all the water was forced in from the due east," he added. "That's why you had more intense damage than you'd normally get from a typical Category 1 land falling hurricane." According to the National Hurricane Center, while a Category 4 has wind speeds of 130 to 156 miles per hour, Category 1 has winds between 74 and 95 mph. Early Friday evening, Florence became a tropical stormbut still left thousands without power and 7 dead. RWG has won a three-year contract to ship gas-fired generators to Metragaz S.A.s facilities in Morocco. Metragaz, a division of Spains Naturgy Energy Group, provides gas compression services for the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline. Under the contract, RWG will build, configure and ship exchange gas generators to Metragaz in advance of scheduled overhauls and recommissioning in the fleet of Siemens SGT-A35 aero-derivative gas generators. RWG also will provide field service support to install and recommission each unit, returning time-expired equipment to RWGs OEM-authorized SGT-A35 service center in Scotland for major overhaul. The reliable operation of these Siemens SGT-A35 units is extremely important for our business, Kamal Daoudi, Director of Maintenance for Metragaz, said in a statement. We operate continuously, therefore need to have confidence that our equipment is available at all times. It has also been challenging to build major maintenance events into our schedule due to the downtime we experience on site, therefore the solution provided by RWG is very beneficial, he added. For his part, Russell Grant, RWGs Siemens SGT-A35 Business Manager said: We are delighted to continue our support for Metragaz and their critical gas compression operation in Morocco. Beyond repair and overhaul services, RWG delivers a comprehensive maintenance solution, including logistics management, customer support and field service, he stressed. RWG is a Siemens and Wood company formed in 1990 for maintenance, repair and overhaul of Siemens industrial aero-derivative gas generators and power turbines. It has service centers in Europe, North America and Asia. Debris lies on the ground at a Royal Dutch Shell Plc gas station damaged during Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S., on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Tropical storm Florence lumbered inland on Saturday, knocking down trees, flooding rivers, and dumping sheets of rain in the Carolinas where the death toll climbed to at least eight. It diminished from hurricane force as it came ashore, but forecasters said the 350-mile-wide storm's slow progress across North and South Carolina could leave much of the region under water in the coming days. By Saturday afternoon, Florence was inching west at 3 mph (6 kph), with its center located about 50 miles (85 kilometers) west of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Forecasters say prolonged rainfall from Florence could produce catastrophic flash flooding and significant river flooding. Tropical storm-force winds stretched up to 150 miles (240 kph) from the storm's center. "This storm is relentless and excruciating," North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told CNN late on Friday. "There is probably not a county or a person that will not be affected in some way by this very massive and violent storm." A mother and baby were killed when a tree fell on their home in Wilmington, North Carolina. The child's injured father was taken to hospital. In Pender County, a woman died of a heart attack; paramedics trying to reach her were blocked by debris. Two people died in Lenoir County. A 78-year-old man was electrocuted attempting to connect extension cords while another man died when he was blown down by high winds while checking on his hunting dogs, a county spokesman said. President Donald Trump welcomes James Mattis as they pose for a photo before their meeting at Trump International Golf Club, in Bedminster Township, New Jersey. The relationship between President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense James Mattis may have "soured" to the point of no return, The New York Times reported on Saturday but the White House denied the former general is on the outs with his boss. In its report, The Times cited more then a dozen administration and congressional officials saying that national security aides such as Mattis have effectively been iced out by Trump ahead of the 2018 congressional midterm elections. Trump is reportedly souring on Mattis based on policy differences on a number of fronts, and appears resentful of unflattering comparisons between the two men, the publication reported. In addition, the president is reportedly looking to replace the four star general with someone "who would be more vocally supportive than Mr. Mattis, who is vehemently protective of the American military against perceptions it could be used for political purposes," the Times reported. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House's top spokeswoman, told CNBC in an email that the report was "completely untrue." The reported fray in the relationship comes after the president and Mattis seemed to have an unbreakable bond, and shared burger dinners at the White House early in the general's tenure. The president, who publicly referred to his top security adviser as "Mad Dog," could be influenced by the latest political book to rock Washington. "Fear," the latest book by author and famed political journalist Bob Woodward, attributed several quotes to Mattis that were highly critical of Trump. In one instance, Woodward reports that Mattis told a group of confidants "Secretaries of defense don't always get to choose the president they work for," and that Trump acted like he had an understanding of 'a fifth or sixth grader." Mattis, however, has rebuked Woodward's book calling it "fiction" and a "product of someone's rich imagination." The Times' full story can be found on its website. President Donald Trump's closest confidants outside the White House pulled in $2 million for the midterm elections in one day while visiting cities across California, CNBC has learned. Trump's 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale, son Eric Trump and daughter in law Lara met with donors on Friday, in an effort to raise money for the Trump Victory committee, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter. The GOP joint fundraising committee supports both Trump's re-election efforts and the Republican National Committee. tweet The large haul came after a full day blitz of meetings in Beverly Hills, San Diego and Palo Alto as the November elections loom, the source added. A spokesman for the Trump campaign declined to comment. Two of those cities are part of Democratic strongholds, with Beverly Hills located in Congressman Ted Lieu's 33rd district, while Palo Alto is a part of Congresswoman Anna Eshoo's 18th district. San Diego County is split between a number of representatives from both sides of the aisle, including the recently indicted Republican Duncan Hunter and outgoing GOP member Darrell Issa, along with Democrats Scott Peters and Susan Davis. Hunter, along with his wife, were indicted for misusing campaign funds to pay for personal bills. It's unclear how much each ticket cost for entry to the events but a local FOX affiliate reports that the San Diego lunch cost $5,000 per couple and $2,500 per person. Trump's Victory Committee has been a considerable fundraising tool for Republicans running in the midterms. Throughout the 2018 election cycle it's raised just over $27 million ,and spent $14 million in an effort to stop a potential blue wave in Congress. Their top beneficiary has been the RNC, which has received $5.1 million at this point, according to the Center for Responsive politics. Federal Election Commission filings show the committees top donors include Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman along with Elizabeth Uihlein, the founder of shipping supply company Uline Inc and wife of GOP mega-donor Richard Uihlein. The Uihlein's have combined to give $32 million to Republican efforts throughout the 2018 cycle. President Donald Trump is readying a fresh round of tariffs on Chinese goods ahead of scheduled trade talks with Beijing, a senior administration official familiar with the matter told CNBC on Sunday, targeting 10 percent duties on $200 billion of goods. The official effectively confirmed a Saturday report by The Wall Street Journal, which followed similar reporting on Friday from Bloomberg saying the president directed his aides to proceed with plans to hit China's imports again. While both sides are preparing to meet in order to dial back on trade tensions, Trump's latest actions may imperil those discussions, and may bring fresh retaliation from Beijing, The WSJ reported on Sunday. The new 10 percent tariffs are below an original figure of 25 percent floated by the administration earlier, the WSJ reported. The president is also expected to threaten to hike tariffs again to squeeze Beijing at the negotiating table, but the Chinese have shown no public signs of bending. The lower figure has a dual purpose: Diminishing the impact on U.S. consumers ahead of the holiday shopping season, while helping Republicans on the campaign trail ahead of the midterm elections. While voters give Trump high praise on the economy, numerous polls show the Democrats with a wide advantage, and show a public restive about the president's trade wars. When I was gorging on beignets in New Orleans, I casually saw the poster of an exhibition of Bulgarian Gold, supposed to be the oldest in the world. As a proud owner of my great grandmas gold earrings, I was curious about oldest in the world claim. But it was the last day of my holiday and we had to go back. But Varnas, Bulgaria, gold stayed at the corner of my brain until I watched Bram Stokers Dracula and the city was mentioned. And a day later, a friend asked me if I could accompany her to a movie location recce (they would pay half the fare) to Varna! The heavens had plotted to get me there, would I say no? I pumped up my credentials by telling her that I can read the Cyrillic alphabet. Any other time, I would have asked her to plot a stay at Sofia, the capital. But a gift horse is a lovely four-legged creature. So we landed in Varna on a beautiful September afternoon at the bus station, after three flights and dodgy airline food, visas having checked again and again. Next time someone tells you, the hotel is just around the corner, especially if they are local, remember that you are travelling with luggage (which magically becomes heavier after many flights and a bus ride and not trust directions completely. So you haul your roll on luggage to the hotel and check in, your head aching from the noise your luggage has made. It was made worse because my friend decided she wanted Indian food. I was too tired to protest and went to heaven when we ate Bhajiyas (she had Cobra lager!), naan and achaar. Whod have thunk Varna is stunning to behold. The sea garden is like that of what you have seen in old Hindi movies, beds of flowers colour coordinated with sarees that the heroine would wear, singing love songs. We clicked thousands of pictures there, with the guide telling us we should have come during the tulip season. But I was dying to get to the Necropolis where the gold was. I persuaded my friend to imagine a lovers tiff in the museum grounds and happily sneaked in. The graves accidentally found during a construction of apartments did not always have skeletons but had gold bangles and coins and jewellery of all kinds. The gold is dated at least 5,000 years BC, the Chalcolithic period. They also had the oddest clay masks that represented the person in the afterlife. One grinning clay mask (more like a pot with a face, really) was alarming enough to give anyone nightmares. The grin was caused by a crack in the clay and reminded me of Heath Ledger, but my friend wasnt impressed. We were there to recce locations for a romance, not a scary film. But then we discovered that the graves contained gold penis sheaths. No. Not making this up. We looked at the said jewellery, looked at each other, then burst out laughing. To make things worse, there were school-kids on a museum trip (who had been shushed about this) began to giggle, and the exasperated teachers had us thrown out of the museum. Teachers! They are the same all over the world! Varna has the most beautiful beaches and a reputation of being the centre of some shady mafia universe, made worse by movies like the Mechanic: Resurrection where the big bad villain is supposed to be from Varna. No such luck. We did not find anyone remotely resembling baddies. Things have cleaned up, we are told. Now the place is perfect for shooting Bollywood romance movies. We visited beach after beach and ate so many fruits, custard and ice cream based dessert along with local wines that I do not recall anything else of the day, except that the buildings in the city remind you of the citys Communist and Royal past. A trip to the ancient monastery at Aladzha (carved on limestone mountains) was a little creepy but little did we know it was giving us hints to what was going to be the most amazing sight. The next day we set out to see what Pobiti Kamani was all about. A forest of stones! Not sculptures of elves and fairies made by artists in Finland. These are natural formations, created by wind and water down the ages. Hollow limestone towers that stand tall. We walked around slack-jawed. At first, I thought they looked like pillars of some forgotten palace, but the guide offered a geological theory of the stones being stalagmites. But theyre in caves, arent they? Disbelieving, we walked about until we came across a weird formation called Center-South. There were not too many tourists there that day. After a few minutes of enthusiastically posing by the rocks at the heritage site, we allowed the atmosphere to permeate our being. These stones had to be ancient. You are overwhelmed by a sense of time that hollowed out these rocks. Nature is stunning. I wished I could have experienced this stone forest in all seasons. Alas, the sky was blue as blue can be and the stray clouds were avoiding being in our photos. We came away with the silence in my head permeating everywhere. My trip to Varna was short, but I have come away with memories that still give me goosebumps about time being something living and breathing. I know I will go back and experience Bulgaria properly, taking time to see Sofia, Plovdiv and Burgas But for now, Varnas gold and its stone forest are a wonderful way to remember this ancient town. Morocco and the EU managed to safeguard their partnership against attempts at undermining it, said Moroccos Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, alluding to the difficulties that were encountered during the negotiations of the fisheries and farm agreements between the two parties. The partnership with the EU was attacked by different partiesbut Morocco and the EU, notably the Commission and Member States, were mobilized to maintain and reinforce that partnership, said Bourita at a press briefing Friday with European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, who is on a visit to Rabat. Bourita said the visit is conducive to pushing forward joint action to strengthen relations between the two sides. Hahn for his part said Morocco is a key strategic partner for the EU, lauding the Kingdoms contributions for ensuring peace and stability in the region. He commended Moroccos migration policy and the reforms undertaken by Morocco under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. Earlier in the day, the EU official and minister for economy and finance signed an agreement worth 2.34 billion dirhams aiming at supporting Moroccos private sector and boosting social protection. As part of the EU neighborhood policy, Hahn said the EU will spend 22 billion euros in aid to the southern neighborhood. Morocco enjoys an advanced status in its relations with the EU opening up to high levels of political cooperation. 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. Follow this search Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Lord Green is Chairman of MigrationWatch UK and a cross-bench peer. Diane Abbott was in ranting mode for her speech on Labours immigration policy last week. Her absurd comparison between Conservative immigration policy and the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin distracted attention from the substance of her proposals and their potential importance for the future of our country. Behind this nonsense lay the outline of what Baldrick might have described as a cunning plan namely to combine an appeal to the immigrant vote with an appeal to the self interest of the widest possible range of employers, many of whom are keen to secure easy, continued access to cheap labour from abroad. First, we should put aside the Windrush scandal, on which she dwelt, which has less to do with immigration control than with mistakes by Home Office officials and lack of ministerial oversight. They resulted from a failure to document Commonwealth citizens who arrived here before 1973 which has led to mistakes ever since. Indeed, half of 164 identified cases which saw people wrongly detained or removed reportedly occurred under previous Labour governments The errors are now being energetically and rightly rectified by Sajid Javid, the new Home Secretary. Despite that background, Abbott claimed that the foundations of the scandal were laid in the Immigration Act of 2014. This led into another rant promising the repeal of the Act, the closure of two key detention centres, and the end of indefinite detention. The public have a much more sensible view. Between 74 and 82 per cent of the public (and 90 per cent of Conservatives) support these policies and think it is only fair that everyone should have to show documents proving their right to be here when renting a place to live, opening a bank account, registering with a GP, or accepting a job (YouGov, April 2018). Next was Abbotts bizarre claim that the purpose of the Conservative immigration target was to allow a permanent campaign against migrants and immigration in general so that they could be blamed for the economic crisis (yes, really). The hostile environment measures, she alleged, were the policies of Enoch Powell. In reality, the term hostile environment was widely used under the last Labour Government. Far from being aimed at migrants in general, the policies were and are aimed at tackling illegal immigration, a serious problem which over 80 per cent of the public would like to see dealt with more firmly than at present. It is difficult to take Abbotts words seriously, but the underlying purpose of her speech was clear. The aim is to discredit the Government with the immigrant community in a bid for their votes. This was followed up by an undertaking to abolish the minimum income restrictions on families presumably she means spouses and fiance(e)s. Such a move would open the floodgates for migrants the world over to come to Britain and be subsidised by the taxpayer. It would certainly go down well with those from the Commonwealth who, incidentally, get to vote in general elections within months of their arrival. Her other main proposal was to widen work permits to virtually all jobs, skills and professions, not just the highly-skilled. If a vacancy could not be filled by a resident worker, a permit would automatically be issued to a worker and his family. Indeed it seems that there would be no limit to the numbers involved. The increasingly vocal employers lobby could hardly ask for more. The Shadow Home Secretary clearly recognised that her proposals would not be unanimously welcomed. She added that there would be some who will say that she is simply opening the floodgates to unlimited immigration. There is, she said, no evidence for this assertion. Actually there is: the last time that Labour came to power in 1997 net migration trebled in two years from 50,000 a year to 150,000. Net migration reached a peak under Labour of 268,000 in 2004 (about the current level) but, of course, rose to another all-time record of 332,000 under the Conservatives in 2015. The wholesale weakening of the immigration system, of the type Abbott proposes, would surely take this figure to another record high. Indeed, her proposals all but guarantee it. It is already incredibly high as it stands. Since 2001 immigration has been adding about one million people roughly the population of Birmingham to our population every three years. This is placing huge strains on our schools, on the NHS, and on housing. Indeed, according to government household projections, we will have to build nearly 300 homes a day just to provide for new migrants. Meanwhile, nearly two thirds of the public wish to see a substantial reduction in immigration. Indeed, around half (49 per cent) of 2017 Labour voters say immigration levels have been too high over the past decade. Many people are increasingly concerned that the whole scale and nature of our society is being changed against their will. That might not concern the Labour leadership and its supporters in the media and the academic establishment, but the wider public have had enough and we now run the risk of serious social tensions. The stakes at the next election will be very high indeed. At considerable expense and tremendous toil, over the last 40 years, U.S. production assets were equipped for automated process control and information management. Its worked out well. Yet whats limiting additional productivity gain through further systems integration is this very same installed base of proprietary technologies supplied by automation and information technology suppliers. As these suppliers and their industrial clients seek further advances, they must bear in mind this installed base. "We live in a brownfield world," said Arlen Nipper, president and CEO of Cirrus Link Solutions, in a recent interview. As technology advance continues, what constitutes a competitive advantage for these suppliers tends to shift. Distributed control systems (DCS) no longer entail custom chip sets, for example. As Peter Martin, a Schneider Electric vice president, recently pointed out, the distributed control system (DCS) is increasingly modularized and software-centric. Yet for suppliers to agree on standards and specifications to ease systems interoperability and integration is difficult. Exhibit one is the Fieldbus standard. Suppliers and users labored for years, beginning in 1988, to forge an industrial network protocol to connect instrumentation and equipment at the process to local controllers, without total success. Open systems redux The open systems movement, beginning in the 1990s, promised interoperability on a grand scale. However, at first there were too many questions about open systems for them to find acceptance in industry, especially as it pertains to rigorous real-time control. In the 21st century, however, more and more suppliers are making available the source code for their products. Independent governing bodies help insure integrity of open source efforts and defined development processes. Java EE, originally from Sun Microsystems and taken over by Oracle Corp. is now the Eclipse Foundations Jakarta EE, for example. The Eclipse Foundation as a global community of individuals and organizations hosts a large community of active open source projects. Its gotten to the point where "open source software has become a dominant provider of critical infrastructure technology for the general software industry. The open model of development and royalty-free distribution has proven to be an effective way to build production quality software," according to a 2017 Eclipse Foundation white paper. IIoT unwrapped In production industries, open systems have a special role in the on-going evolution by which proprietary operations technologies are being replaced by commercial information technologies. Already, by means of IIoT, process data is being shared by going around control systems. "The DCS is the most expensive data route. Why push data through a proprietary technology?" said Don Bartusiek of Exxon Mobil. In emerging practice, for brownfield implementations, an IoT gateway is often introduced to aggregate the data from PLCs and deliver it to information technology systems. Bartusiek also works with The Open Group, a consortium that promotes "the achievement of business objectives through technology standards." Industrial operations have special needs for real-time control, apart from transactional computing systems. Rather than processing in the cloud, local data processing at the edge is required, including at the IoT gateway. A plethora of edge devices and computers are being introduced. In the last 40 years, machine control, communication, and management has changed even as much as our individual desktops have. If industrial processes need distributed systems that are configurable and interoperable, open standards are required for the technical and semantic interchange of information. Kevin Parker, senior contributing editor, CFE Media, kparker@cfemedia.com. This article appears in the IIoT for Engineers supplement for Control Engineering and Plant Engineering. See other articles from the supplement below. Iraqs Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari invited Morocco to re-open its embassy in Baghdad to promote bilateral ties and facilitate visas for Iraqi nationals. Al Jafaaris office said the call was made at a meeting with State Secretary to foreign affairs Mounia Bouceta at an Arab League meeting in Egypt. He expressed Iraqs willingness to cooperate with Morocco in the fields of security and intelligence to counter the terrorist threat. The Moroccan official, for her part, stressed the need for holding the joint higher commission to step up coordination with a view to opening the embassy. She said Morocco is interested in bolstering commercial ties as well as political dialogue with Baghdad. We are analyzing the site. Please wait a few seconds.. Woodward arriving in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York on January 3, 2017. Photo: Albin Lohr-Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images By the time I arrived at Bob Woodwards townhouse in Georgetown on Friday morning, his latest book, Fear, was already in its ninth printing, with more copies sold on just the first day of its release than there are people living in the city of Washington. Through the perspective of his sources, Woodward paints a choppy portrait of the first year of Donald Trumps presidency. You may have heard that its not going well, and Fear is here to add to that perception with some behind-the-scenes specifics. For instance, that Trump doesnt understand how U.S. trade policy might relate to U.S. foreign policy. Or that when papers are stolen off his desk, he doesnt notice and doesnt even remember that they existed for weeks. Or that he orders his tweets printed out, so that he can study in analog the metrics of their reach. Or that he called his own attorney general mentally retarded. The book unfolds as a series of stories about the officials and staffers in the administration who, to prevent catastrophes both domestic and international, must expertly navigate their relationship with the president, or hatch plots to distract him or coax him away from his most destructive whims. Trump has responded to all of this in the most predictable of ways, amplifying the book through his tantrums against Woodward. Since the first details about its contents were published last week, its felt as though Fear is everywhere. In Georgetown, however, it was literally true: Entering the authors home required walking past a stack of the books on the floor. Its a warm and colorful place, full of eye-catching paintings and, at this particular moment, lots of people and one medium-size dog. Woodward introduced me to his wife, the journalist Elsa Walsh, and then ushered me into a dining room. Over the course of 50 minutes, we discussed his philosophy and methods. But first, my tape recorder malfunctioned in front of Americas most famous journalist. I wanted to begin with the end of the book. You decided to close with a quote, attributed to John Dowd as what he wanted to say to the president. That hes a Youre a fucking liar. Why that quote? Because in many ways the book and the Trump presidency are about the war on truth. That is evident throughout and that his lawyer who worked with him for eight months, was a supporter of his, felt that he could not insult him and tell him that he was a fucking liar but that was his conclusion. That is documented in the book and the relationship that Dowd had with Trump: You cant testify. Testify means an orange jumpsuit. I wanted to talk to you about how you decide who is credible. It is difficult for me, sometimes, to determine who is credible, even at the most senior levels of the administration at this White House. Mostly at the most senior levels in some ways. Particularly if it is on the record and public. It is kind of a press release. I agree to a large extent. But I am curious how you decide who is credible. Because somebody like Rob Porter, he is obviously very present in this book. I wont guess about your sourcing. There is a lot to suggest that his character is there is a fundamental flaw there. In what way? Well, by some personal accounts he is a very flawed human being. He is allegedly abusive. There is a lot to call into question his honesty. Say that again. There is a lot to suggest that he may not be an honest individual, right? So why do you decide to trust somebody like that? Well, I am not going into the sourcing but there are you test it with other people and documents and notes and it makes a big difference when somebody tells you something and you get your hand on the document itself. So because I had the luxury of time, of essentially two years to work on this, not quite, even. Ever since Trump was elected you can cross-check and see. Is it more difficult to do that with this administration than past administrations? Thats a good question. They are all hard to get beneath the surface of the sort of press-release version of what goes on. At the same time, lots of people, as you know, feel distress and concern and some of the people were willing to talk out of conscience. In a review, Isaac Chotiner at Slate asked if you were perhaps the last optimist. Really? I have not seen this. He had a lot of criticisms of the book and one of them is there is this sort of view, a bias towards the people who cooperated, and they are presented in an almost heroic way. But see, he does not know that. No one knows that except for myself and my assistant Evelyn. Do you think that is true? I know it is true. As a reader, there were a lot of moments in the book that it felt rather obvious when you attributed feelings or thoughts to the person in question. Whether that was Dowd or Gary Cohn or Rob Porter or Reince Priebus or Dave Bossie, where it just seems rather obvious who they are and that they spoke to you. As you know, people take notes, and as I said in the beginning it either comes from the person himself or herself or it comes from somebody who recorded it right afterwards. But when it comes to thoughts and feelings, I wonder how you think about how to protect your sources when it comes to that. Suppose somebodys [in a] situation and they come out and tell their deputy, You know what I was thinking or what I thought when that occurred? It is a common form of expression and if you have got the immediacy and a good source so much of this is time against the problem. You just have to chip away at it and go back and try to get documents, and it is possible if you have time. Do you like any of these people? Did you find any of them to be enjoyable human beings? You mean the sources or the people in the White House? Anyone in the administration or influencing it from the outside. It is a good question, but I just go way back I filter my own emotions out. They intrude so it becomes very it is like the doctor operating on a patient. Do you like the patient, do you not like the patient? It is irrelevant. It is perhaps a bit cold, but I find that is the best path to find out what happens. If you start saying I like so-and-so or I dont like so-and-so well I think, I hope, it is possible to have an impression of somebody, good or bad. Right. And then you filter it out. You filter that out. You try to just kill it so it doesnt influence anything. Yeah. I wanted to ask you about your relationship with Donald Trump. When did you meet him? Oh. There was a time in the 80s when his book came out, The Art of the Deal. My former colleague, Carl Bernstein, called me up and said, You know, this guy is amazing. We have got to go see him. And I thought, really? And he said yeah. So, Carl was the driver and we went and interviewed him and there is a tape of it, but we were never able to find it, unfortunately. Really? Yeah. It would be an old cassette tape in one of those tape recorders. Thats when I met him and he keeps referring to it in the phone call where he called me last month. He referred to it. When [Robert] Costa and I interviewed him in 2016 when he was on the verge of getting the Republican nomination, he referred to it. I did not take notes. I was a little, kind of I went along with Carl. Carl has good instincts. Do you remember much about the conversation or what your impression of him was? You know, it was Trump being Trump. All confidence and but you know, I am being candid with you: if somebody told me this man is going to be president of the United States some day, I would have paid more attention. And over the years, did you interact with him again. Did you maintain a relationship? I think I went down to Mar-a-Lago once to give a speech. But that was 10, 15 years ago. What do you think, if anything, people do not understand about this book? In other words, what is my review Review of the reviews. Its very interesting. Im sorry to get all meta on you. Oh. Well, you know Hugh Hewitt, you know who he is? A conservative, I did an interview with him and he read the book and he asked questions about page 248 and he said that he thinks it is a shame that Trump and people in the White House dont read it, because he said that he saw some positive things in it. He actually said that he would air-drop copies to all the embassies in Washington so if they want to see if this is who Trump is. And he said that, oh, it shows no collusion with Russia. Which is true. And I said that I did not find any, but in the end of the book when Dowd is reflecting on the situation, he says, or he concludes, that he and Trump got suckered by Mueller. Turning over all these witness interviews, corroborating documents and so forth, he concludes that Mueller may have something. I dont know that, but I believe very strongly that the answer to the Russian collusion story is in Russia. Moscow. If somebody who is really going to get to the bottom of the root Russian collusion issue, the answer is in Moscow. If I were to go there, I dont think I would ever come back. You think you would be killed? Yeah. It would be preposterous, given the nature of their regime and how they look at the press and so forth. It would be preposterous to go there? Yeah. I think so. Certainly at my age with a family. Maybe if I was 30 and somebody in the CIA was undercover and said, Come and I can help you. But that is unlikely, and I am certainly not 30. Should a younger reporter take the bullet on that one then? Yeah. What is the Willie Sutton joke about why do you rob banks? Because that is where the money is. Why do you go to the scene, why do you talk to people that were first hand witnesses, why do you try to get documents? Because that where the best version or the best obtainable version of the truth is. In the case of this, I am not going to Moscow. This book, I noticed, is remarkably bare bones the way you have reported it. Some of your earlier books there is more scene-setting or character-building. Well this is a series of scenes. Yeah, there is kind of a staccato effect to it all. I was wondering if that was intentional or that is just how it turned out. Well, if you look at the books I have done they tend to be scenes. This happened, then this happened, and so forth. This is very much in that tradition I think. During an interview maybe it was with Colbert you recounted how you showed up at a sources house and they said, Are you still doing this shit? Yes. Why are you still doing this shit? Well, as you know, I have always thought that if somebody came from Mars and spent a year in the United States and then went back and said, who are the people that have the best jobs. [Its] the reporters. We get to do interesting things, we get to make momentary entries into peoples lives when they are interesting and then get the hell out when they cease to be interesting. Hope Hicks is still interesting but not as interesting as when she was working in the White House. Okay, if thats what you think. Well, I think because I am interested in what happens, how decisions are made. That doesnt mean that she would not be a useful path to information now. It is interesting you phrase it that way. When you look at these people who work there or who have worked there, do you view them as paths to information or do you try to understand them as human beings? Well, what drives them and so forth obviously is important, but my aim is to find out what happened. Thats what we need. Suppose we knew everything that happened in the Trump White House. Suppose there was a tape recorder and a video of Trump every minute. He would love that. Well, it would be illuminating right? The term Carl Bernstein and I developed a long time ago is the best obtainable version of the truth. There has been a lot of reporting on the lies, the things that are untrue. But the question is, what are the consequences of those things that are untrue. How does Trump make decisions? As you go through the book it is all immense new amounts of detail about North Korea, about Afghanistan, about the Middle East, taxes, immigration, trade issues that is what affects people. Do you think there is more emphasis on the why than the how? No. I think there has been superb reporting, but there is a lot of new material I have about, say, Afghanistan. The meetings and Mattis finally saying to the president, We need to know if the commander-in-chief is with us. We can cant fight a half-assed war anymore. Very illuminating about Trump and Mattis and the process and what was eventually decided to do in Afghanistan. I am curious if you believe that objectivity is achievable. Never pure objectivity, of course. But you can improve on it. Is it desirable to you? I have said this before as I have done all these interviews people in our business have become emotionally overwrought by Trump. And I can understand that, but that is not our job. Our job is to figure out what happened, and I think it is very important to be cool about it. That does not mean that you dont care or you are not engaged. It certainly is not politicized. I have been accused of being on the left or on the right, and somebody actually called me an ultracentrist. Since the election, there seems to be an expectation from the opposition to the president that journalists should do something about the way things turned out. Theres expectation for journalists to be activists. Im wondering if you feel that as well. I think thats not our job. I think theres been too much or the appearance of partisanship. Ken Burns, the documentarian, we talked some time ago, and he said, You will have written books or done reporting on 20 percent of the presidents that weve had. And thats a lot of time in history from Nixon to Trump, and there is always a climate of opinion about politics and the press. Im pretty convinced its important to learn to contain yourself emotionally. You asked the question, Do I like some of the people in the I have to say thats the first time Ive been asked that question and Ive never thought of it. Because I dont think its relevant. And Im sure if I had a psychiatrist who could Do you like so and so or, we could dig into that. But its not You know obviously I repeat myself on this, I just think thats I never thought about it. What I meant by that was not, like, do you want to hang out with them on the weekend. But more do you think they are decent people? Decent people. Truth-tellers. I think if you feel that somebody is a decent person coming from a good place, or at least not coming from a bad place I mean that has something to do with whether or not you can take them seriously as a source, a credible source. Right? A series of interesting questions. I feel as though sometimes Im checking the account of a White House official who is a known liar against another White House officials account, and they are also a known liar. And its like, well, what do you do? This is the zoo without walls. An iconic quote. Right? Yeah. And thats a zoo without walls and what does he say if you have a rat and a mole and a this and a that and so forth. And a seal Thats pretty vividly descriptive and important, and if youve got people you cant trust, then you go elsewhere. But Im not going to spend a dozen hours or a couple of dozen hours as I did with some people involved without having a trust. And its not as you say one White House official who doesnt tell the truth and another White House official I think you can penetrate under that for something like a book. Weve got internet culture driving impatience give it to me now. Tell me. You get something and somebody will say, Well can we get it on the website at noon? And the answer is no. [Laughs.] And so, in writing a book, you have to kind of withdraw from the process of the daily news coverage which I love and have immense respect, reverence for in order to keep working the case and the specific scenes and information and finding people and going to see them and staying in their home. It helps to get in their home. People feel more confident in their home. Do you have any documents? No. Any notes? No. Well, nobodys ever worked in the White House that didnt take something home. And then on the third visit, you say, any documents really, you know, would help. Well, let me go upstairs and see. And then coming down, literally, [with] two boxes. And from zero documentation to two boxes. Now those are the moments you feel good about the process which is a process of delay, patience, and trust, and people know I still work for the Post and they see it doesnt appear in the paper. I have a kind of minor logistical question for you. So in your conversation with the president out there, youre talking about your process by which you request an interview with him. You say you went to Kellyanne [Conway], you went to Raj Shah. You went through Lindsey Graham. And three other people which we never got to. I was just curious: did you try to go through the regular channel of requesting it through Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Not that its so easy. Yeah, Ive tried even Lindsey Graham, which is the one he acknowledged, though Kellyanne kind of acknowledged. Kellyanne said she didnt bring the request directly to him, correct? Yeah, yeah. But shes And he said, You should have told me! And then he said, People are afraid. Thats the title of the book. [Laughs.] It could have been called People Are Afraid. Well, it could have been called lots of things. But thats out of his mouth about That interview. One more question Sure. I was curious what you thought of Fire and Fury. You referenced it in the book, but Yeah. I think, just a different style and it got some of the sociology right about the relationships but there the scenes that are with Roger Ailes or with Rupert Murdoch. Its basically devoid of the decision-making and process matters. And sometimes theres a process, sometimes theres not a process, which I try to describe. And I thought that, you know, that was not the focus of his book. Did you find it to be a credible book? I mean, as they say, I think it got the sociology largely right. The relationships and so forth. But 50 years from now whats going to be important about the Trump presidency is what he does or doesnt do. And if Im right, as I believe I am, its a nervous breakdown. What does that mean? Do you use that phrase Exactly whats on display there, nervous breakdown. Things are not connected. There is not there is impulse, decisions. I think that the most ardent Trump supporter could read the book and not feel comfortable about the management and the staying the course. Theres not a team. You know, its a team of predators, or people who just disagree with the president. How did you decide to describe it as a nervous breakdown? I was speaking yesterday to someone who is very close to the president and a strong supporter of his, and they were taking issue with that phrase. And I was curious because it is a divisive way of explaining the book. I think its accurate. And I think its demonstrated. Is that your assessment or did it come from somebody else in your reporting? No, no, this is kind of what I got. Whats the summary here? Nervous breakdown. Does that not imply that there was a time when it was not broken down? When the Trump presidency was not in disarray the way it is according to your book? Im describing what happened. At first I think it covers the first 15 months of his presidency. And I think its an accurate summary. Time and time again, you know, John Kelly puts out these memos: Were going to have a process, no more seat-of-the-pants decisions, everything has to be [Laughs.] Youre smiling, because youve covered the White House. And that we will have a formal decision memo, signed on everything, and then time and time again, the president goes off calling the steel executives and deciding were imposing tariffs. Steel tariffs! Which [to] everyone but Peter Navarro and Wilbur Ross makes no sense. There were times that I was reading it where I thought that I dont know if I would necessarily trust the principal who appeared to be telling you something. That was mostly with the campaign stuff but Im not going to explain reporting to you. A number of people have said theyve heard some of these things off the record. Of course thats the technique people use: Oh thats off the record, were going to seal it away, and not let the public know. And people would say, I want to say this off the record. I said no. No off the record. I think reporters have been so liberal in granting anonymity that officials are shocked when you say no. Did you find that? Yeah. But not shocked but would then tell anyway. Yes! And be background so I could use it. They dont put up a fight. But see then, this isnt anonymity. This is really the source is confidential but the information and the players are not. So its Anonymity, even if theyre not removing themselves from the scene Well, its the wrong word. Because it suggests to people, oh maybe the reporter doesnt even know. Well, people are stupid, though, right? No, no, I think people are actually smart. Wow, really? Yeah! Interesting. I think so. And its part of the optimism. I need to go, Im sorry youre nice to come by. Cunard has just announced its expanded voyage program for the remainder of 2020, including new voyages to the Norwegian Fjords, Japan and Australia. In addition to its classic voyages, such as its signature Transatlantic Crossing between New York and London, Cunard will now add new itineraries in Western Europe and Southeast Asia. Now the Cunard fleet will travel over 169,000 nautical miles with calls at 110 destinations in 34 different countries, the company said. Josh Leibowitz, SVP Cunard North America, said: 2020 represents the most extensive deployment of Cunard ships ever. In addition to visiting incredible destinations such as Norway, Japan, and Asia, we are excited to offer guests longer time in port to enjoy these iconic destinations. Nearly 90% of all port calls on voyages in Summer 2020 are in port 10 hours or longer. The Queen Mary 2 will continue to offer regularly-scheduled service between New York and London. Voyage itineraries range from seven to 21 nights and include port calls in Canada, Iceland, Scotland, and France The. Queen Mary 2 will also sail two Norwegian Fjords voyages ranging from seven to 25 nights and five Western European voyages for three to five nights. Meanwhile, the Queen Elizabeth will continue with the new voyage types first introduced in 2019 and roam among exotic destinations in fall 2020. Starting in September, Queen Elizabeth will embark on three roundtrip voyages from Tokyo as well as Grand Voyages that cover the North Pacific, East Asia and Australia. Finally, Cunards Queen Victoria will return to Southampton in early spring after circumnavigating South America. She will continue to sail Northern Europe itineraries in addition to seven shorter Western Europe voyages ranging from two to seven nights. Can you hear me now? With well over 200,000 cell towers up and running in the United States (and counting), the question posed by Verizon in a wildly successful 2011 ad campaign, has been answered in the affirmative for the overwhelming majority of the country. But in the wake of a new, super connected wireless world, some other questions have emerged: How secure is all that wireless coverage? What types of attack loopholes, if any, exist? Are the wireless carriers favoring supreme accessibility too greatly over commonsense security, which is essentially the same oversight made by the Internets founding fathers many years ago? That oversight unknowingly paved the way for the current state of todays networking world, which is wrought with data breaches, device corruption, and system downtime Lets not make that same mistake again. A recent finding by security experts at Ruhr-Universitat Bochum and New York University Abu Dhabi have determined that the wireless networks we use without hesitation, are potentially quite vulnerable to attack from hackers all over the globe. aLTEr Attacks 4G LTE Networks Perhaps the most alarming cause for concern discovered by these researchers is a DNS spoofing attack known as the aLTEr attack. In this case, the bad actor pretends to be one of those 200,000-plus cell towers to the user, while simultaneously posing as the user to the wireless network. Its a classic man-in-the-middle (MitM) hack. From this double-agent sort of role played by the bad actor, a users wireless activities can be intercepted and misdirected to malicious websites anywhere in cyberspace. Adding insult to injury for most users, is the false sense of security they experience when using 4G LTE networks. That naivety is completely understandable, however, because just about any wireless carrierbig and smallwill boast about the alleged top-notch security theyve implemented to safeguard their networks. Heres the problem: the aLTEr attack was successfully executed on a supposedly secure wireless network. The reason is that carriers only encrypt LTE user data in counter mode. The data is not integrity protected, which allows the bad actor to break the cryptography. Even worse, the aLTEr hack was only one of three forms of vulnerability exposed by research experts. Maybe youre thinking, Well, who cares about 4G LTE? 5G is coming soon anyway First of all, the first 5G networks arent expected to be widely deployed until around 2021. Secondly, although its true that 5G supports fully authenticated encryption, its not mandatory, which means most carriers wont bother with the extra effort required to add it. Fortunately, a better solution to relying on the insufficient wireless security provided by carriers is already available; one that renders the aLTEr attack totally powerless. The solution: Host-Identity Protocol (HIP) Enabled Networks After many years of testing and development, the Host Identity Protocol (HIP) was officially ratified by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in 2015, and serves as ironclad security against all attacks on wireless networks, including aLTEr. HIP enables a fully-encrypted and mobile private overlay that renders your network invisible to all potentially malicious external sources. Traditional networks have always been subject to one inherent flaw, which is the ultimately connectable, but vastly insecure IP address. This is the exact mistake made by the Internets founding fathers that I referenced earlier. By replacing the vulnerable IP address with a cryptographic entity that cannot be manipulated by bad actors, HIP can effectively connect, segment, and cloak wireless and wired networks of any type. This is a networking solution based on identity, rather than the wide-open, address-based model that was built many years ago. HIP-enabled networks remove the blind faith involved with trusting wireless carriers to secure your mobile communication and Internet usage. As long as users are operating from the identity-based private overlay, their activity remains invisible to bad actors, regardless of what type of security or non-security the carrier chooses to provide you with. Because a unique cryptographic identity is assigned to every device or endpoint, users are also free to move from the on-premises corporate network to public wi-fi, the cloud, or anywhere else while remaining totally secure. This makes a HIP-based solution infinitely mobile, as well as ultimately secure. Implement HIP networking for a secure wireless world The wireless world is still expanding, but so is the malicious intent of hackers everywhere. In 2011, the world wanted to know, Can you hear me now? With all those cell towers enabling communication all over the world, the answer is most likely, Yes. In 2018, the world wants to know, Can you hack me now? By implementing full encryption via HIP-based technology, the answer is Not in my network. Hurricane Florence made landfall on the North Carolina coast Friday morning, bringing powerful winds along with forecasts warning of "life-threatening" storm surge and rainfall. More than 60 years ago, North Carolina was preparing for an even more dangerous storm: Hurricane Hazel. The devastating 1954 hurricane is the only recorded Category 4 storm to hit the state. The storm was the fourth major hurricane of the 1954 hurricane season. It formed Oct. 5 near the island of Granada in the southern Caribbean, left more than a thousand dead (mostly in Haiti) and caused over $3 billion (in 2012 dollars) in damage from the Caribbean to Canada. LATEST FORECAST: Hurricane Florence hovers over Cape Fear Hazel was originally expected to take on a more northeasterly track and stay offshore, but instead it raced northward at speeds up to 60 mph. It spanned the distance from the Carolina coastline to Ontario in just 12 hours. At the time, the Raleigh, North Carolina, weather office stated that as a result of Hazel, "all traces of civilization on the immediate waterfront between the state line and Cape Fear were practically annihilated." Hazel's official 98 mph wind gust, at 5:05 p.m. on Oct. 15, 1954, at National Airport, is still the highest ever recorded for Washington, D.C. Sustained winds were recorded at 78 mph (Category 1). Upon reaching the vicinity of New York, a weakening Hazel interacted with a potent cold front approaching from the west and was suddenly transformed into a ferocious, extratropical, mid-latitude storm. This, on the same day (Oct. 15) that it had wreaked havoc in the Carolinas, Virginia, the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania as a major hurricane. Borrowing a term from the crippling 1991 New England Halloween tempest, Hurricane Hazel seemed to be the "perfect storm" of 1954, as it became "extratropical"under somewhat similar circumstances, although not at sea. STUNNING IMAGES: Hurricane Florence's fury floods social media Taking note of Hazel's "rebirth," Environment Canada chose to make an official distinction between the storm's two phases, calling it Hazel I until the early evening of Oct. 15 and Hazel II from late evening on. Hazel II would result in tremendous flooding and devastation in the Toronto area, where 81 died. Despite all of the historic blizzards, floods, ice storms and tornado outbreaks, Hurricane Hazel is still remembered in Canada as its "storm of the century." By way of comparison, 16 years earlier there was another devastating East Coast hurricane that was also badly forecast and resulted in a great loss of life and extensive property damage. Known as the "Long Island Express" of 1938, that storm, as was the case with Hazel, was expected to pass out to sea because "hurricanes didn't hit New England." (A young meteorological clerk in the Boston Weather Bureau, who believed and told his superiors that a strong ridge to the north would force the storm inland, was overridden.) The rest is history. That storm caused over 300 fatalities and almost $5 billion in damage in New England and is considered by many meteorologists to be one of the top 10 weather events of the 20th century. The babysitter fallacy. Photo: Neil Mockford/Getty Images One of the most blandly unsettling passages in Bob Woodwards Fear recounts the near resignation of Gary Cohn, one of the books likely sources and (therefore) heroes. In August 2017, Cohn, nauseated at President Trumps equivocation over neo-Nazis demonstrating in Charlottesville, Virginia, attempted to quit. Trump berated Cohn for his weakness and, characteristically equating political loyalty to himself with loyalty to the country, accused Cohn of treason. It was chilling, Woodward reports. Then Trump tried another approach. If you leave now, taxes are over, he warned. By this he meant the massive corporate tax cuts Cohn had helped to craft and from which he also stood to personally benefit. Cohns moral outrage began to drain, and he instead decided to stay on, prioritizing the taxes, or, as Woodward has him selflessly declaring, helping the country. There is no better symbol for the Republican Party elite in the Trump era than Gary Cohn weighing the morality of opposing Nazism against corporate-tax-rate cuts and choosing the latter. But it is also a reminder that Nazism, which several generations of Americans have grown accustomed to thinking of as an exotic symbol of pure, abstract evil, in reality represents a political faction. Trump is not a Nazi. Nor, even, is Steve Bannon. They are, however, Nazi-adjacent, and actual neo-Nazis are excited about Trump, who has emboldened and empowered white nationalists in a way nobody could have fathomed until recently. They are just another part of the party coalition now. That lesson comes through in another recent book, The Death of Democracy, by Hunter College historian Benjamin Hett. A retelling of Hitlers rise to power in Weimar Germany, The Death of Democracy does not mention any contemporary figures, but Trump and his party are all over its pages. The Weimar era that culminated in Hitlers triumph was bitterly polarized. Nazis drew their heaviest support from rural areas, and they viewed Berlin culturally libertine, swarming with immigrants as alien to the real Germany. Hett presents Nazism as a backlash directed in large part against globalization, which many Germans saw as harmful to their economy, and immigration. The German people have no interest, wrote Hitler, in a German financial group or a German shipyard establishing a so-called subsidiary shipyard in Shanghai to build ships for China with Chinese workers and foreign steel. Germanys porous eastern border had allowed an influx of Jewish immigrants, who had changed the tenor of Germanys culture. Joseph Goebbels at one point proclaimed, We want to build a wall, a protective wall. They nurtured in their supporters what Hett calls a cult of irrationality. Amusingly, Hitler weathered a collusion scandal, in which he was charged with accepting covert campaign funding from his ally Benito Mussolini. The important parallels here are not between Hitler and Trump. While Trump, like Hitler, is racist and authoritarian, his racism is not genocidal, his contempt for democracy is instinctive rather than ideological, and he crucially lacks any plan for massive territorial conquest. What makes the history pertinent, rather, are the eerie similarities in the behavior of the right-wing politicians who facilitated both mens rise to power. If they had known from the outset that Hitlers tenure would end in war-crimes trials and Soviet tanks rolling through rubble-strewn Berlin, Germanys traditional rightists obviously never would have supported him. They did, however, consider him an ignorant demagogue, unqualified for high office and dangerously divisive. The countrys president, Paul von Hindenburg, who excluded the Nazis from the government for years because of his contempt for their leader, might be described as a #NeverHitler conservative. Eventually, however, the fear and contempt with which the Establishment right viewed Hitler gave way to an appreciation for his populist appeal. Eventually, they decided to bring the Nazis into the government National Socialists never came close to winning a majority on the assumption that they could outmaneuver Hitler and curtail his worst instincts. From the perspective of what followed, this decision seems insane. But from the standpoint of 1933, in the midst of a long political stalemate among a deeply polarized electorate, empowering Hitler offered conservatives the only alternative to sharing power with the hated Social Democrats. The German right didnt want a lawless and barbaric dictatorship ruled over by somebody like Hitler, concludes Hett. They simply wanted the fastest and easiest solution to their own particular problems, and were deeply unwilling to compromise with their opponents. Obviously, the fact that one erratic racist authoritarian demagogue proved impossible to contain does not prove that every erratic racist authoritarian demagogue is uncontainable. There are good reasons to believe Trumps presidency will pass without catastrophic damage chief among them, he may simply be too incompetent to make good on his anti-democratic impulses. It is notable, however, that a year and a half into Hitlers tenure, his right-wing allies, including Hindenburg, still viewed their alliance with him mostly as a success. That same breezy confidence infuses the Republican adults surrounding Trump. Just as Franklin Roosevelt brought in a wave of young New Dealers to Washington, and Lyndon Johnson became known for his cadre of the best and brightest foreign-policy experts, who masterminded the Vietnam debacle, Trumps administration has become associated with a novel archetype: the adults in the room, the semi-anonymous cordon of Republican professionals putatively saving the country from his amateurism, mood swings, and irrepressible affinity for Russia. Americans should know that there are adults in the room, boasts the now famous anonymous New York Times op-ed. Fear likewise presents Cohn and other adults in the room undertaking heroic feats of babysitting. They endure tantrums, deftly exploit the presidents failure to develop object permanence by swiping from his desk key orders he has demanded to sign, and plot to undermine him. Some of the adults in the room are surely saving America from untold horrors. Others are merely attempting to conceal the extent of the horror from the country (by, say, trying to persuade him not to obstruct justice in public via social media). And this creates risks of its own. The sense that Trump has been controlled by the adults in the room is itself a moral hazard. Trump does grasp that he possesses the means to punish his enemies within the party. He reportedly intends to part with Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Attorney General Jeff Sessions and will probably replace them with more pliable figures. In the meantime, the confidence that the adults in the room will prevail as long as Trump remains has allowed Republicans to shield the administration from meaningful oversight and investigation. George W. Bush is emblematic: Despite having refused to endorse Trump in 2016, Bush never endorsed his opponent, either, and is now raising money to keep Congress in Republican control. (Think of the tax cuts!) A Trump who emerges from the midterms having held control of Congress would be even more empowered the myth of his political immortality would grow to awesome dimensions. The belief that Trumps power has been curtailed has become a rationale to hand him more of it. *This article appears in the September 17, 2018, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now! Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracyon Friday in a District of Columbia federal court. The real bombshell was not the guilty plea itself, but the fact that the deal includes an agreement that Manafort will cooperate with federal prosecutors. This is a huge leap forward for the investigation of special counsel Robert Mueller III - and an ominous sign for President Donald Trump. From Manafort's perspective, a plea arrangement makes perfect sense. Manafort was convicted of eight felonies in Alexandria, Virginia, last month, and faces close to a decade in prison on those counts. He was charged with seven more felonies in the District case and the evidence against him appeared overwhelming. By pleading guilty to just two counts, he avoids the expense of a trial. More significantly, sentencing guidelines in the District case would have called for about 20 years in prison if he had been convicted, but his guilty plea on Friday caps his possible sentence at 10 years. 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. As the White House was quick to point out, the charges to which Manafort pleaded guilty do not directly relate to Trump or his campaign. But cooperation agreements are not limited to cooperation in the same case. Prosecutors would have no reason to seek Manafort's cooperation in connection with the charges listed in his District indictment; Manafort was the primary defendant and his plea largely resolves that case. The existence of the agreement - and the favorable terms offered by prosecutors - suggest Manafort can provide useful information about other aspects of Mueller's investigation. What's more, prosecutors don't enter into such agreements blindly. The agreements typically are preceded by extensive debriefings that allow prosecutors to see what the witness has to offer and to assess the credibility of the information. Mueller's team apparently found Manafort's information important and credible enough to be worthy of a deal - and a pretty sweet deal at that. Contrary to some initial reports, there is no carve-out in the cooperation agreement for matters involving the campaign. Those who cooperate with federal prosecutors don't get to pick and choose the subject matter. Either you agree to tell prosecutors everything you know about whatever topics the prosecutors are interested in, or there's no deal. Manafort's agreement requires him to cooperate "in any and all matters as to which the Government deems the cooperation relevant." And if Manafort lies or tries to protect the president (or anyone else), the deal is off, and prosecutors are free to bring back all charges against him. Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani has professed nonchalance about whether Manafort cooperates, claiming the president's team isn't concerned because the president did nothing wrong, and that Manafort is an "honorable man." But despite that bravado, this is grave news for the president. Manafort was at the center of Trump's campaign during key events in Mueller's investigation of whether the campaign conspired with Russians to influence the election. Manafort came to the campaign with extensive ties to Russians and Russian-connected individuals. He attended the June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower with Russian representatives offering "dirt" on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. He was campaign chairman during the Republican National Convention when the party platform was changed to adopt a more pro-Russia stance on Ukraine - one source of suspicions about a possible quid pro quo between the campaign and Russia. In short, Manafort is in a position to know a great deal about matters at the heart of Mueller's investigation. Mueller has pursued a classic, painstaking white-collar investigation, building cases against lower-level players and persuading them to "flip" against bigger fish. The pursuit of Manafort took more than a year, but Mueller has now landed his biggest fish so far. Prosecutors typically offer cooperation deals to those who can deliver the goods on someone higher up the food chain - and the list of those above Manafort is not very long. - - - Eliason teaches white-collar criminal law at George Washington University Law School. Inspirational Insight: What do you like best about fall? A Border Patrol truck near the Mexican border in California. Photo: stellalevi/Getty Images/iStockphoto A U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officer was arrested on Saturday and charged in the deaths of four women in Texas and the abduction of a fifth. All five women worked as prostitutes; one was transgender. Juan David Ortiz, a 35-year-old intel supervisor for the Border Patrol, was apprehended overnight on Saturday in a parking lot in Laredo, Texas, on the Mexican border. He had fled police after the fifth woman he abducted escaped and informed authorities about her plight. According to a criminal complaint, Ortiz confessed to killing four women over the span of two weeks, beginning on September 3. All the crimes took place while Ortiz was off-duty as a Border Patrol officer. In all four cases, Ortiz drove the women outside of Laredo city limits and shot them in the head after they had exited his truck. A sheriffs spokesman told CNN that authorities had found the bodies of the women, but that there may be more victims. Ortiz picked up a fifth woman, Erika Pena, who noticed that Ortiz began to act strangely after she mentioned the disappearance of a friend who turned out to be one of his prior victims, according to the Texas Tribune. After a struggle, she managed to escape Ortizs vehicle at a gas station and identify him to state troopers. They found him at a gas station, where he fled on foot to a truck outside a nearby Ramada Inn, where he was arrested. At a press conference, Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar said that Ortiz had served in the Border Patrol for ten years, and that he was also a U.S. Navy veteran. Cuellar called Ortiz aserial killer. This story has been updated throughout. Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott was due to make a 9.30am speech on Labours immigration policy. Blimey, thats ambitiously early in the day for Diane. But it was not to be. The great oration finally got going more than an hour late. Logistical reasons, cough. Alas, I am unable to bring you an eye-witness account of this important national event, which was held in a committee room on the parliamentary estate. Every cloud has a vaporous lining and being barred from Dianes (pictured) shaky-fingered ramblings allowed me to attend Equalities Questions in the Commons, writes Quentin Letts An hour before it was scheduled to start, Labour spin doctors despatched notification that I and my counterpart on the Guardian newspaper would not be admitted. There was no room, we were told, such was the crush of citizenry keen to hear Comrade Abbotts words. We sketchwriters were therefore excluded. Nyet vkhoda, as they say in Mr Putins Russia, a country the Corbynites so admire. No room? A news scribe from another newspaper later sent word that there had been acres of empty seats at the speech. Every cloud has a vaporous lining and being barred from Dianes shaky-fingered ramblings allowed me to attend Equalities Questions in the Commons. The Gettysburg Address itself would come second to a gathering of such dazzling rhetoric and philosophical moment. There are six equalities ministers in the Commons more than they have in piffling Departments such as the Foreign Office or Treasury. These equalities ministers are devoted to such matters as transgender lavatories, paternity pay and upskirting. A reader, Thomas Proudfoot, wrote to me this week after seeing a photograph from the latest North Korean military parade, which included a regiment of female soldiers goose-stepping in jolly skimpy outfits. No anti-upskirting laws in Pyongyang, plainly. Yesterdays shattering disappointment was that Equalities Secretary Penny Mordaunt, a woman sometimes spoken of as a replacement for useless Mrs May, failed to turn up for the session. Her absence caused a commotion on the Government bench. Speaker Bercow, who takes equalities terribly seriously, scowled. Junior ministers and Whips clucked and flapped their wings and consulted their mobile telephones. Eventually, Miss Mordaunts deputy, Victoria Atkins, flutingly informed the House that Miss Mordaunt takes her responsibilities as Equalities Minister very seriously but she was busy in an important Cabinet meeting. Perhaps Miss Mordaunt simply couldnt be fagged with equalities questions, writes Quentin Letts Yet only seconds earlier we had seen and heard from another Cabinet minister, Liam Fox. He had managed to get away from Cabinet. Perhaps Miss Mordaunt simply couldnt be fagged with equalities questions. Who could blame her? During a drawn-out discussion of shared parental leave, Miss Atkins started speaking about evidence based tools for employees. Its all about cultural change, she jawed. We moved to other gender issues reporting processes on the gender pay gap, state handouts to help women travel to abortion clinics, and the 75-point LGBT action plan on which the May Government is spending almost 5million. Seventy five points? How unadventurous of Moses to settle for just ten commandments. Miss Atkins has a manner of treating questions with such elaborate importance that she seems almost to be taking the mickey. Self-admiration bubbles not far below the surface. Another minister, Sarah Newton, was a figure of cringing wetness, hunching her shoulders, flinging her arms here and there in nannyish concern, the voice more suitable for Jackanory than the Legislature of a soon-to-be-independent kingdom. We got on to gay conversion therapy, gay rights in Venezuela, the treatment of pregnant persons (you are not allowed to talk of pregnant women because some of them might identify as chaps), and ze upskirting, as German-born Wera Hobhouse (Lib Dem, Bath) put it. Also the menopause. One of the advances of this parliament is that we are talking more about the menopause, averred Miss Atkins with an enthusiastic sweep of her elbow. To her side sat Mrs Newton, wringing hands and nodding bravely. And some curs accuse our political and media elite of being out of touch with national concerns! Of all the places in the world where Michael Palin could have celebrated his 75th birthday, this must be the most unlikely. The intrepid explorer now as famous for his round-the-world jaunts as his Monty Python exploits has been to far-flung places, granted. But putting up the birthday bunting in North Korea a country thought so elusive its the so-called Hermit Kingdom of the world? Impossible, surely? North Korea is a closed nation there are no phone lines connecting it to the wider world, theres no internet, no travel outside its borders for citizens. The press and broadcasters are under state control, radio and TV sets are pre-tuned to government stations life is strictly regulated by the dictatorial regime. Michael Palin visited North Korea (pictured) for a Channel 5 program. Michael and a documentary crew secured what is believed to be the most extensive access yet by a Western TV team It is famously a place that is most firmly off-limits to visitors (particularly those who come with cameras and questions). Yet in what may well turn out to be the biggest travel coup of his career, Michael and a documentary crew secured what is believed to be the most extensive access yet by a Western TV team. The trip, two years in the planning, was the only one of his career, he says, that his wife Helen asked him not to take, such was her fear of its dangers. Shes normally quite keen for me to go off for several months, but she baulked at this. But at the time it was being planned, things were looking very bad indeed between the West and North Korea. 'President Trump and Kim Jong-Un were squaring up to one another. No one had any idea what would happen. The trip came about after Michael was approached by a team from Channel 5 who had an ambitious plan to film inside the self-described socialist state. It was very tentative, he explains. He admitted that both he and his wife were unsure about the documentary. However, he said he was surprised by how well he was received by the people - he even describes dancing all day at a festival (pictured) I said, Yes, well, that sounds interesting, then I didnt hear anything for an awfully long time. Relations between the West and North Korea did not exactly fill him with confidence that the documentary would be possible. It looked awful, he says, recalling the mud-slinging between President Trump and Kim Jong-Un that saw Trump call the North Korean leader a maniac and a madman, while the North Korean administration branded the US President an old lunatic. But by the time Michael and the crew received the blessing of the North Korean authorities to enter the country, relations had much improved. The atmosphere just changed, he says. Suddenly Trump was going to meet Kim Jong-Un. Michael agreed to the documentary but relations between the West and North Korea did not exactly fill him with confidence that the documentary would be possible at the time. Pictured is Michael next to a propaganda poster The 14 days of filming actually took place days after North Korean premier Kim Jong-Un met South Korean President Moon Jae-in on 27 April. While we were there the American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in our hotel lobby with his entourage, negotiating the return of the hostages. Three US citizens held in North Korea were released on 9 May. The trip also coincided with Michael turning 75. He laughs at the memories of the actual day. My birthday was most surreal, he admits. It was the hardest day I ever spent. 'We were filming and I had to be up to leave the hotel at 6.30am, so I was getting ready when the hotel reception rang and said, Oh Mr Palin, we have to tell you that as a result of the meeting between Kim Jong-Un and President Moon, the time difference between North and South Korea has been abolished. However, relations rapidly improves and the 14 days of filming actually took place days after North Korean premier Kim Jong-Un met South Korean President Moon Jae-in on 27 April. Michael is pictured at the arch of the reunification 'So you are now actually late. The trip was tightly controlled and the ITN Productions team had a posse of minders (five or six, says Michael) restricting where they could go. They werent at all heavy-handed. They were from the tourism ministry, but had orders about what we could and couldnt see. His passport was also taken from him. We were kept the slightest bit unsettled, and probably deliberately. So what did he expect to see? Most of us have a preconceived idea of life in North Korea and Michael did too. We were filming and I had to be up to leave the hotel at 6.30am, so I was getting ready when the hotel reception rang and said, Oh Mr Palin, we have to tell you that as a result of the meeting between Kim Jong-Un and President Moon, the time difference between North and South Korea has been abolished I went with a feeling that it would be an atmosphere of threat, absolute conformity, a grim, conformist society. And was it? Well no, not at all. Even allowing for the fact that we were taken to see things that they wanted us to see, I was shocked by how unlike that it was. There is footage of Michael at their annual May Day celebrations. Theres music, dancing and drinking. It shows Michael (who ironically comes across as the uptight one) being offered rice wine and encouraged to loosen up. He ends up wearing a garland of leaves on his head. We were there all day to watch them celebrating. It was an atmosphere of joyous celebration and fun, and thats not something that can be programmed by any regime. The capital, Pyongyang, was uncannily different. There is no point of reference, he says. The skyscrapers might be like those in any city, but the streets are largely empty. There are very few cars. The trip was tightly controlled and the ITN Productions team had a posse of minders (five or six, says Michael) restricting where they could go - although Michael said that they weren't at all heavy-handed 'Its a slightly dream-like world, odd but not threatening. It is most definitely odd. On his first morning, Michael woke to the sound of music being played. Was it being piped through the hotel, he wondered? Then he realised it was coming from outside. I thought, Am I being brainwashed? 'But it turns out this music is played each morning and it just sweeps across the city. Its supposed to say, Get up, get to work, get out and be productive. 'But it was actually eerie. Walking around the city hes bombarded with propaganda posters. Theres no internet, no free voice, and after a few days you do start to feel the propaganda seep into your soul. He described his sometimes surreal experience. This includes in a hair salon at a state-run health spa, where he finds a poster showing the haircuts recommended for North Korean men no mullets or anything disorderly like that And in a hair salon at a state-run health spa, he finds a poster showing the haircuts recommended for North Korean men no mullets or anything disorderly like that. Michael was allowed to visit a school, and there is a lovely moment when the children are asked if they have any questions for this Englishman. Most people would fall over themselves to ask Michael about his travels or his Python days, but of course the people in this closed kingdom dont know anything about that. One boy puts up a hand and asks, How many children do you have? At least it was a question I could answer, laughs Michael. So what did the North Koreans make of him? They were fascinated by someone from the outside world. 'Their world is restricted so everything is focused on their country. Yet they want to know about the rest of the world. He said he was shocked at how welcoming the people of North Korea were and raises the tantalising prospect of others following in his footsteps - describing the country as one that isn't content with being closed Conversations about education, family and hobbies were fine, but there were limits. I couldnt talk about the political regime. Not that they didnt want to talk about it, but there was nowhere to go with it. 'They live for their leaders, and through them. All their leaders have done, they want to do. 'But they werent brainwashed. They were interested in what living in the West is like. 'And I wanted to ask them all sorts of questions, too. The more I learned from them, Michael says, the more I thought, They do some things better than we do. Theres a general sense of purpose. 'They get things done, and the schools are well run. Im sure I was shown the best, but these kids were expressive. I didnt stand there thinking, These kids are terribly repressed, because they werent. But I get the idea critical thinking is not on the agenda. He also admitted: 'I couldnt talk about the political regime. Not that they didnt want to talk about it, but there was nowhere to go with it. They live for their leaders, and through them. All their leaders have done, they want to do' He was shocked at how welcoming the people of North Korea were and raises the tantalising prospect of others following in his footsteps. This is not a country content with being closed. Theyve built resorts and airports that stand silent and empty at the moment, but theyre ready for what they hope will be a thaw in relations with the rest of the world, that will bring in money to kick-start their economy again. While its a fascinating programme to watch, there are those who may not be thrilled to see it. His old bosses at the BBC will surely feel sick that this is very much a Channel 5 production. Two years ago, he suggested BBC meddling in film projects had irritated him so much he wouldnt work for them again. He slightly backtracks on that today (It would be wrong to say I wont work for the BBC, he tells me), but the fact hes now working for Channel 5 tells its own story. What was the issue? He says the way they handled shows like his changed, meaning more monitoring, more questions being asked. You have to refer back more to the people who commission the shows in a way that didnt happen when we made, say, Around The World In 80 Days in 1989. He said that North Koreans were fascinated by him: 'Their world is restricted so everything is focused on their country. Yet they want to know about the rest of the world.' Back then, we were trusted to just go out and bring back a good show. The travel programme market is more crowded, too, than it was. Now you have Simon Reeve and Joanna Lumley. There are more people around. But the old-timer has scooped them all. No plans for retirement, then? Not with David Attenborough still out there at 92, he jokes. I still have things to do and the energy to do them. 'I feel almost fitter than I did at 35. I certainly drink less. Im lucky my body is still going without too much deterioration. His mind, too, still fizzes with curiosity. I dont ever want to sound world-weary, he admits. Im the opposite of world-weary whatever that is! World-lively? Michael Palin In North Korea, Thursday, 9pm, Channel 5. A couple who quit the rat race to travel the world in a yacht have revealed how their trip has been funded entirely by their fans. Dan Deckert, 30, and partner Kika Mevs, 28, ditched their well-paid careers as architects to live out their dreams on the ocean, amassing an army of followers on YouTube along the way. Their enviable lifestyle aboard 'Uma' - which they bought for $3,000 (2,307) after selling all their possessions - is largely funded by their 'social media patrons' who donate around $1,000 (770) a month. The self-taught sailors, who met in 2013 at architecture school in Atlanta, keep their outgoings relatively low by sourcing their own food and using solar power for electricity. Since setting sail the pair have notched-up some 11,000 nautical miles, criss-crossing the Caribbean to the Bahamas, and exploring the coastlines of Central and South America like Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala. Dan Deckert, 30, originally from a small town nestled in the Rocky Mountains of western Canada, met Kika Mevs, 28, from Haiti, at architecture school in Atlanta, Georgia, decided to quit the rat race and buy a yacht to travel the world Since setting sail the pair have notched-up some 11,000 nautical miles, criss-crossing the Caribbean to the Bahamas, and exploring the coastlines of Central and South America like Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala. Pictured, Kika taking a dip in Mexico The couple enjoy some light exercise with two local dogs on the picturesque sandy beaches of Bimini in the Bahamas on one of their stop offs Now Dan and Kika are encouraging others to follow in their sun-drenched footsteps - saying their way of life is achievable to anyone willing to take the plunge. Speaking ahead of the upcoming TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show, where they'll be chatting to UK supporters about their adventures, Kika explained how their journey began. 'We didn't know we could live on a boat': How it all began Currently travelling through Florida, Kika said: 'We also thought, like everyone else, you needed $300,000-$400,000 (154,000-231,000) to afford a boat. We didn't even know you could live on a boat. Kika strikes a pose on the colourful streets of Colombia, where a row of bright houses make the perfect backdrop for a picture and a memory of their travels During time on shore and away from the ocean the sailing duo take in a beautiful sunset in Guatemala. They plan to sail across the Atlantic to Europe next year They sold all their possessions to buy their boat Uma for $3,000 (2,300) and took to the seas with no previous sailing knowledge. With just an initial $20 in their back pocket they keep their costs low by sourcing their own food and using solar power for electricity 'But we bought ours for $3,000 (2,300). That's all we could afford at the time. A 50-year-old sailboat with a non-working engine is heading to the scrap pile. But it was pure gold to us.' Dan, originally from a small town nestled in the Rocky Mountains of western Canada, met Kika at architecture school in Atlanta, Georgia, readily admit their experiences couldn't happen without the help of their dedicated fan base, from YouTube, Patreon, and Instagram. 'We feel blessed': How the couple make a living They've quickly gained 600 'patrons', many of whom go on to meet Dan and Kika at stop-off points around the world, adding their signature to a legendary chalkboard wall. Dan said: 'The vast majority of our day-to-day income comes from Patreon, whether the Angels are giving $10 or $200 a month. 'When we first started out, we set a goal to raise $1,000 a month - to earn $100 passively from ten different methods. 'We didn't realise how quickly our online community would grow, and we feel blessed to share this journey with so many amazing people.' The couple have their trip largely funded by their fans, who donate around $1,000 a month via Patreon. 'Angels' can send them anything from $10 (7.69) to $200 (153) a month each On their first sailing trip to Northern Carolina, the couple were in still waters and unable to use their motor. They were lucky enough to encounter dolphins swimming close by and joined them in the ocean Dan revealed that they were both complete novices, saying: 'Neither of us had set foot on a boat or gone sailing until nine months after we bought our sailboat. 'We did no courses, had no formal training. But we were confident enough that we knew we could learn as we moved forward. 'Boats sail themselves if you just know the basics. When we chose to first sail around the Caribbean, we left the docks with an anchor, sails and $20. That's it, we were gone.' From first dates to travelling the world The couple got together in October 2013, but just two years later wanting a new challenge away from their careers as architects, they got itchy feet. Kika, born in Port au Prince, Haiti, revealed: 'We'd rather have experiences and a passport full of stamps than a garage full of stuff. And knowing that made it easier for us to leave our old lives behind.' They sold all their possessions and purchased 'Uma' - a 1972 'Pearson 36' yacht, which didn't have a working motor. Dan and Kika readily admit their experiences couldn't happen without the help of their dedicated fan base, who they regularly meet with at different points in their journey The couple's YouTube channel 'Sailing Uma' now has more than 80,000 subscribers with their videos viewed more than ten million times It's not always smooth sailing for the duo, who had to adapt to the rough seas while crossing oceans and prepare for bad weather like storms and choppy water During their journey across the ocean the couple have taken in some stunning sights, like this waterfall in Colombia They eventually fitted an environmentally friendly electric engine, in-keeping with their ecological, 'off-grid' ethos. It cost just $100 from eBay and was plumbed in using wiring from other discarded boats. Neither Dan nor Kika had any sailing experience whatsoever, instead learning 'on the job' with forays into the Florida Keys with help from a knowledgeable friend. Kika advised: 'When we started our YouTube channel we wanted to show everything from the very beginning. We wanted to show that while it's going to take hard work, time and dedication it's not impossible. We want to inspire people to take their first steps.' How vlogging led to online fame The couple's YouTube channel 'Sailing Uma' now has more than 80,000 subscribers with their videos viewed more than ten million times. When Dan and Kika made their first major journey on Uma - an 800 mile, five day trip from Florida to North Carolina in 2016 - there was trepidation - and not just about the sail itself, but about the potential strain on their relationship. Kika explains: 'You live in such a tiny space and you're with each other 24/7, so you deal with every side of the other person - the good, the bad, the stressful. There have been some terrifying sailing experiences for the pair, including an encounter with pirates and a bump to the head for Dan Neither Dan nor Kika had any sailing experience whatsoever, instead learning 'on the job' with forays into the Florida Keys with help from a knowledgeable friend When Dan and Kika made their first major journey on Uma - an 800 mile, five day trip from Florida to North Carolina in 2016 - there was trepidation - and not just about the sail itself, but about the potential strain on their relationship 'But we've always lived in tight quarters together - we rented a 150 square feet room at a friend's apartment - so we were already used to working well together in a small space. And we're usually calm people.' The pair are due to make their first big crossing, from Florida to Europe across the Atlantic, in spring 2019. And they're contemplating doing so via the 'high route', past Nova Scotia, Greenland and Iceland, and then on to the UK. Setbacks and dicing with danger But their sailing adventures have not been without incident and mishap; in April this year Dan suffered a deep laceration to his head after being knocked off his feet in a storm. Kika even filmed her gruesome 'repair' of Dan's head, and adds: 'That was the scariest moment in three years sailing. I heard a big bang, looked down on the floor into the cabin and saw Dan on the floor, bleeding. Is he even alive? 'It made us realise we should not be pushing ourselves so hard.' The pair are due to make their first big crossing, from Florida to Europe across the Atlantic, in spring 2019 and they're contemplating doing so via the 'high route', past Nova Scotia, Greenland and Iceland, and then on to the UK Kika explains that living in close quarters has to be dealt with sensitively: 'You live in such a tiny space and you're with each other 24/7, so you deal with every side of the other person - the good, the bad, the stressful' There was also an incident involving 'pirates' off the coast of Honduras, when they were crossing from Colombia to Guatemala in mid January 2018. Speaking about her personal highlight, Kika said: 'I think the best moment for me was on our first sail up to North Carolina. 'We were becalmed, and at the time, we couldn't use our electric motor for more than a mile, so when the wind died, there was nothing to do but wait. 'During that time, everything was glossy and flat. You couldn't distinguish the sky from the ocean. 'And then some dolphins showed up. We grabbed a camera and went swimming with them. 'They were a metre from our faces, just following us. It was breathtaking.' Dan and Kika will be chatting to fans next Sunday (16 Sept) at TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show, which runs from Friday 14 Sept to Sunday 23 September Today show meteorologist Dylan Dreyer's toddler son was a bit confused as he watches his mom's broadcast this morning Dylan is on the scene in Wilmington, North Carolina, where she is braving heavy rains to report on Hurricane Florence. But as her 20-month-old son Calvin watched from home, he couldn't tell if it was rain or tears running down his mom's face, and asked his dad if is mother was crying Weather report: Today show meteorologist Dylan Dreyer has been reporting on the scene on Hurricane Florence There's mom! Her 20-month-old son was watching her from home She's sad? He asked his dad if mommy was crying as the rain poured on her All good! Calvin's dad, Brian Fichera, reassured him that his mom was OK Calvin's dad, Brian Fichera, was at home with him on Friday morning and captured the little boy on video. Calvin is sitting in a blush baby chair with his name on it, watching his mom report on the storm, when he turned to Brian. 'Mommy crying?' he asked, holding a cartoon sippy cup in his hands. 'No, mommy's not crying,' his dad answered. When Calvin continued to look up at him, he went on, 'Mommy's OK, right? Mommy's OK.' The little boy giggled and happily went back to his sippy cup. As he posted the video on Instagram, Brian lauded his wife for her hard work, writing, 'Mommys not crying bud mommys a pro. Thoughts and prayers with everyone in the path of #hurricaneflorence #mommysok #godylgo.' Happy family! Dylan is pictured with her husband Brian and son Calvin Reporter: Dylan flew down to North Carolina earlier this week to cover the storm Staying safe: She shared a photo of a boarded-up storefront Dylan left for Wilmington on Monday, taking a Gulfstream IV from Florida to cover the weather. 'As a meteorologist, this is the opportunity of a lifetime!' she wrote on Instagram. On Tuesday, share began sharing photos from the ground, including one of a boarded-up storefront. On the wood, the owners listed locations of shelters and wrote: 'Pray for Wilmington! May you, your family, and your home be safe.' 'Our job as meteorologists is to get the word out during severe weather,' Dylan wrote. 'Its a good sight to see the folks in Wilmington NC are boarding up and taking this hurricane seriously... even providing information for others in the area. ' Raging: Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, at 7.15am this morning Damage: Three inches of rain have been falling every hour, and 18 trillion gallons of rain are expected to fall across the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Maryland Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, at 7.15am this morning. At least 26,000 people sought refuge in shelters in the state, and 625,000 homes and businesses were reported to be without power. The storm will continue to edge its way across the Carolinas for days, according to officials, who warned there was far more destruction and human suffering to come. 'It's getting worse,' North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said late on Friday morning, branding the rains a 'thousand-year event'. Three inches of rain have been falling every hour. Over seven days, 18 trillion gallons of rain are expected to fall across the Carolinas and Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Maryland. The wind speed has dropped slightly from 90mph when it made landfall to 75mph as of 2pm ET. 'I see a biblical proportion flood event that's 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.' Fashion and politics often go hand in hand, but 'democratic socialist' Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been dubbed a hypocrite by conservative critics after wearing a designer suit for a photo shoot with construction workers. The 28-year-old congressional candidate is modeling a $1,990 Gabriela Hearst double-breasted blazer and $890 matching wool pants in the pictures accompanying her Interview magazine interview with actress Kerry Washington. The sleek designer outfit, which was likely chosen by a stylist, was paired with $625 Manolo Blahnik pumps, bringing the grand total of the ensemble to $3,505. Slammed: Congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is facing conservative backlash for wearing a Gabriela Hearst and Manolo Blahnik pumps that totaled $3,505 While promoting the interview, Ocasio-Cortez shared photos from the shoot on her social media pages. The images, which were taken in the Bronx, show the young politician posed with her arm around one construction worker and taking a selfie with another. In another picture, she is sitting on a graffiti-covered stoop with her arms resting on her legs. Her dark hair is down, and she is wearing bright red lipstick. Gillian Laub, the photographer behind the shoot, shared a snapshot on Wednesday of Ocasio-Cortez wearing the suit while posing with a little girl. A breakdown of the cost of the outfit worn by Ocasio-Cortez in the photos was posted by Reddit user dragonslayergold on Thursday along with the headline 'Expensive tastes for a socialist.' Like the person who posted it, many commenters left the word 'democratic' out of democratic socialist when describing Ocasio-Cortez. Self-promotion: Earlier this month, the 28-year-old candidate shared a link to her Interview magazine interview with actress Kerry Washington Strike a pose: During the magazine shoot, Ocasio-Cortez was photographed posing with construction workers in the Bronx. The outfit was likely chosen for her by a stylist The Reddit post made the rounds on conservative and alt-right outlets, including the conspiracy theory website Infowars. Facebook, Apple, YouTube, and Spotify banned podcasts and pages from Infowars last month. Twitter followed suit this week when it permanently banned accounts from the site and its founder, Alex Jones. Despite the ban, a few critics tweeted the Infowars article slamming Ocasio-Cortez for wearing a designer suit during a photo shoot. 'Maybe you should have redistributed more???' one person tweeted. '$3,500 pant suit for a photo op? All animlas [sic] are equal, some are more equal than others...is it?' 'I have no been this upset since Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wore that green suit,' Bridget O'Brien tweeted, although it's not clear if she is being serious or sarcastic. Of course, some appreciated the stylish look. 'I wanna know where Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez got dope green suit,' someone tweeted, while another shared a link to the Interview magazine article, writing: 'Look read this article for the content but also the FIRE suit @Ocasio2018 is wearing.' Internet outrage: After the Reddit post made the rounds on conservative and alt-right outlets, including the conspiracy theory website Infowars, people started tweeting about her outfit Claims: Critics called Ocasio-Cortez a 'hypocrite' for wearing such an expensive suit while running on a platform that is fighting against income inequality For real? It's not clear if this Twitter user was being serious or sarcastic when she claimed to be upset about the politician's designer suit Fan club: Some people were fans of the suit, and this Twitter user urged others to check out the article just to see it Fashion star: One person wanted to know where she got the stylish green suit Ocasio-Cortez isn't the first, and she certainty won't be the last politician who has worn designer duds while running for office. Hillary Clinton was known for wearing Ralph Lauren suits on the campaign trail, while first daughter Ivanka Trump went from wearing affordable floral dresses from her now-defunct fashion line to modeling expensive designer suits and gowns as a White House senior adviser. Like anyone in the public eye, Ocasio-Cortez's appearance is under constant scrutiny, but the response hasn't always been negative. Some supporters are also fans of her fierce lip colors, so much so, that she tweeted about her $22 lipstick in June. 'I have been getting many inquiries about my debate lip color in the last two days,' she wrote in a Twitter post. 'I GOT YOU. Its Stila "Stay All Day" Liquid in Beso.' Ocasio-Cortez's grassroots campaign has been making headlines after she beat House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley in New York's 14th congressional district in a stunning upset in June. The young politician is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and was endorsed by the group. New Yorker: Ocasio-Cortez has described herself as coming from a working-class background, and her platform includes universal guaranteed employment and a $15 minimum wage Out and about: Ocasio-Cortez greeted voters on Thursday with gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon, who was defeated by two-term Governor Andrew Cuomo Outfit of the day: Ocasio-Cortez donned a red peplum sweater with ruffles, black skinny pants, and ankle boots While on the campaign trail, she often speaks about income inequality, and her platform includes universal guaranteed employment and a $15 minimum wage. In July, the upstart democrat congressional candidate clapped back at critics who questioned her working class roots as 'a girl from the Bronx,' following the revelation she moved to wealthy Westchester County at age five. Ocasio-Cortez explained in a statement to DailyMail.com that her family scraped together money for a small home in Yorktown Heights, New York so she could go to public school there, but that her father and other family remained in the Bronx. 'A major part of my story, and what I've shared with my neighbors throughout this campaign, is that I grew up between two worlds,' she said. 'At a young age, my entire extended family (aunts, grandparents, etc) chipped in on a down payment for a small home in Yorktown so I could go to public school there. My mom was as a house cleaner for other people in the town so we could get by,' she added. Little-known before her shock defeat of Crowley, Ocasio-Cortez has featured her own hard-luck biography as a key selling point in her insurgent campaign. With New York's 14th district, encompassing parts of the Bronx and Queens, leaning heavily Democrat, she is believed to be a shoo-in for the House in the November general election. WHAT SHE ATE by Laura Shapiro (4th Estate 9.99) WHAT SHE ATE by Laura Shapiro (4th Estate 9.99) Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are, said the gastronome Brillat-Savarin. The food writer Laura Shapiro has applied this maxim to six remarkable women, none of whom had an entirely untroubled relationship with eating. Eleanor Roosevelt used food as revenge: when she discovered her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was having an affair, she served up appalling concoctions at the White House dinner table, including something called Shrimp Wiggle. For Helen Gurley Brown, author of Sex And The Single Girl, real food would always be enemy territory; she would never feel safe near it. After that, it is a relief to read of the novelist Barbara Pyms hearty appetite for walnut cake but even she wasnt above a little culinary bitchiness: when her editor rejected her novel, she devised a particularly nasty milk jelly and named it after him. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next DEBUTS PICTURE THIS Share this article Share COLLECTING THE WORLD by James Delbourgo (Penguin 12.99) COLLECTING THE WORLD by James Delbourgo (Penguin 12.99) Hans Sloane gave his name to some of Londons best addresses, including Sloane Square and Hans Crescent. But who was he? Born in Ulster in 1660, he trained as a physician in London at a time when scientific inquiry was driven by global exploration and institutions such as the Royal Society. Sloanes interest in curiosities was fuelled by a trip to Jamaica as the personal physician to the Duke of Albemarle, from which he returned laden with specimens. After Sloanes death at 92, the collection that had been his lifes work opened to the public as the British Museum. Delbourgos biography is a captivating portrait of a collector whose passion opened a window on the wonders of the world. LADDERS TO HEAVEN by Mike Shanahan (Unbound 8.99) LADDERS TO HEAVEN by Mike Shanahan (Unbound 8.99) Fig trees have been on earth for about 80 million years longer than humans. They have seen off asteroid impacts and climate change. Their story . . . tells us much about where we have come from and where we might go from here. Mike Shanahans obsession with figs began in childhood, when he was given the job of dusting the leaves of the family houseplant, a Ficus benjamina. Next door grew a very different fig tree, bearing delicious fruit. The plants were only a couple of examples of more than 750 species of fig, which appear in mythology and sacred texts across the world; a fig tree precipitated the publication of Darwins On The Origin Of Species. The lesson of Shanahans eclectic survey of these mysterious trees is one our ancestors knew well: Look after fig trees, and they will look after you. by Charles Frazier (Sceptre 20, 368pp) VARINA by Charles Frazier (Sceptre 20, 368pp) Frazier, author of Cold Mountain (which became an Oscar-winning film), is steeped in the minutiae of the American Civil War the slaughter, despair and the enduring retribution. Varina was the wife of Jefferson Davis, the only president of the U.S. Confederacy, and her long life encompassed the death of six children; drug addiction; exile after the South was defeated; and estrangement from her husband. Unusually, she was educated, anti-slavery and, as a widow, earned a living from writing. Being on the wrong side of history carries consequences, she says and, in a narrative that switches around in time, a fictional portrait of a complex woman emerges. Gone With The Wind it is not but it is a visceral, powerfully written evocation both of the beaten South at the nadir and of one of its more unusual survivors. DARK WATER by Elizabeth Lowry (Riverrun 14.99) DARK WATER by Elizabeth Lowry (Riverrun 14.99) I began to suspect that what we call madness . . . was a veryproper terror at the soiled and intractable nature of the world. So concludes Hiram Carver, a psychiatrist at the pioneering Asylum for the Insane in Boston, Massachusetts. Twenty years earlier, in 1833, he was a ships doctor when he met William Borden, a hero who piloted a boat to safety after a mutiny. Now Borden, to whom Hiram is powerfully drawn, is a patient in the asylum. Can Hiram call up reason from the dark water of his mind? This beautifully written, ambitious exploration of human motivation, lies, violence and the will to survive is terrific. Exciting, spiked with high gothic and clever characterisation, it chips away at our notions of insanity. THE GHOST TREE by Barbara Erskine (HarperCollins 14.99) THE GHOST TREE by Barbara Erskine (HarperCollins 14.99) Barbara Erskines bestselling first novel Lady Of Hay made her the acknowledged queen of the historical time-slip novel. The Ghost Tree proves that more than three decades on she is not yielding her crown. Sorting out her estranged, dead fathers house in Edinburgh, Ruth is confronted by a stranger who says he is her fathers son with a claim on the estate. Then she discovers 18th-century papers belonging to her ancestor, Thomas Erskine. The youngest son of an impoverished noble family, incredibly, he became Lord Chancellor. But Ruth also learns that Thomass enemy, who vowed revenge on him and his descendants is, to her horror, edging into her life. The inspiration for the story is Barbara Erskines own great-grandfather BLACK REPUBLICAN BLOG - The Republican Party is the party of civil rights and the four Fs: faith, family, freedom and fairness. The Democratic Party is the party of the four Ss: slavery, secession, segregation and socialism (Quote By Author Michael Scheuer). Paul Manfort. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images The mystery of why Donald Trump decided, midflight, to personally author his administrations misleading response to the public disclosure that his son Donald Jr., Paul Manafort, and Jared Kushner attended a meeting with a cast of shady Russia-linked figures in Trump Tower remains a mother lode of the Russia investigation. His misdirection aside, the president has denied he knew about the meeting, its purpose, or that its participants were on a mission, and hes declined to make himself available to Robert Mueller, the special counsel, to answer questions about it or anything else related to Russias involvement in his electoral victory. The reason Muellers inquiry exists in the first place is precisely that: to learn whether the Trump campaign actively conspired with the Kremlin to win an election. And now that the special counsel has, after much effort, extracted a guilty plea and a cooperation agreement with Manafort, a significant new avenue into Trumps knowledge and state of mind just opened up in the investigation. Trump has long believed that Manafort, who ran his campaign and had more than a few connections to Russia, would never flip or implicate him in any wrongdoing an apparent acknowledgment that there was wrongdoing in the first place. But Fridays development in federal court in Washington should put that belief to rest. Manafort has flipped in every respect, pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to obstruct justice that incorporate, by reference, the bulk of a laundry list of charges and offenses that he faced in Washington and Virginia. Those criminal counts for bank fraud that jurors couldnt agree on in his earlier federal trial? Mueller included them under other acts in a lengthy statement of the offense that lists all the ways Manafort ran afoul of federal law. Prosecutors spared no detail in the document, running through his decadelong lobbying campaign for Ukraine, which he kept hidden from the Department of Justice and netted him millions in unreported taxable income and the ways he and associates tried to cover their tracks and not get caught in this grand scheme. Plus, it details exactly how Manafort, even as he was on Muellers watch for all these offenses, attempted to obstruct justice by trying to get witnesses to his misdeeds to massage their stories about his undisclosed lobbying work. Under the plea agreement, and worst of all for Manafort, whatever assets he purchased with the wealth he made during his years as a lobbyist is bound to become property of the federal government the special counsels office is seeking criminal and civil forfeiture of a number of his New York properties, bank accounts, and a life-insurance policy all worth several million dollars and traceable to the conduct over which Manafort is now a convicted felon. Mueller followed the money, and now its gone. As for what exactly Manafort has on Trump, and how useful hell be to Muellers unfinished work, that remains to be seen. But consider the case of Rick Gates for a moment: As Manaforts onetime right-hand man, he cracked under the weight of the Russia probe and, seeing the writing on the wall, agreed to cooperate with the special counsel in February. Seven months later and one federal trial as a witness under his belt, Gatess work is now bearing fruit against his former boss. And the more he continues to cooperate now, presumably, in concert with Manafort the more leniency he can expect from Mueller once his sentencing draws near. Which is why it would be foolish to try to guess how much time in federal prison Manafort is expected to spend under his new plea agreement. The document itself calls for a sentencing range on both conspiracy counts of up to 262 months or 20-plus years in the worst-case scenario. The burden is now on him to drive down that number by appeasing Muellers team and giving prosecutors what theyre looking for not on Trump or a target in particular, but any leads or crimes that investigators may already be chasing. The more he gives them, the more the government may be inclined to show mercy. Much like Gates looked out for himself and his own family, now its Manaforts turn to watch out for himself and what little he has left. In light of everything hes lost already, not even a pardon for Trump will give him his life back or all the fame and fortune that the special counsel investigation sapped from him. One section of his plea even bars him from accepting compensation of any sort for anything related to his crimes he cant write a book about his ordeal, give speeches, or do anything that may make him a few bucks related to his run-in with Mueller. He cant even lobby for himself anymore, after a lifetime of doing it for others. BREATHE by Dominick Donald (Hodder 17.99, 528pp) BREATHE by Dominick Donald (Hodder 17.99, 528pp) It is December 1952 and London is in the grip of a suffocating smog thats obliterating everything the red double-decker buses, the street signs, even the policemen directing traffic. But in Notting Hill, a killer is lurking in the murky gloom, ready to strike. Probationary PC Richard Bourton, at 28 a veteran of the Korean War and therefore older than many of his police contemporaries, is just beginning his training when he discovers a man almost beaten to death. Eager to prove himself, Bourton begins to see connections between deaths in the area over the past 12 years since the Blitz. This subtly woven mixture of fiction and fact, which partly draws on the notorious case of 10 Rillington Place and the serial killer Reg Christie, casts a magical spell, and even includes a moving love story. It is a stunning debut from a former academic, security expert and journalist. You can smell the fog and feel the breath being sucked out of your body as you struggle to understand what is happening in the darkness. THE TATTOO THIEF by Alison Belsham (Trapeze 13.99, 384pp) THE TATTOO THIEF by Alison Belsham (Trapeze 13.99, 384pp) A serial killer who slices the tattoos from his victims skin while they are still alive, as part of his ritual, is stalking the streets of Brighton, and his first victim is discovered in a rubbish bin by a female tattoo artist called Marni Mullins. She knows the world of tattoos only too well, not least because she was married to another tattoo artist for 15 years. Freshly promoted DI Francis Sullivan, still in his 20s, is given the case, knowing that some of his colleagues, and particularly his own DS Rory Mackay, are willing him to fail to prove that he is too inexperienced. Gradually a portrait of the killer begins to emerge as he attempts to explain his actions in his own words, saying that he is constantly struggling to become the finest collector and preserver of tattooed skin. But why? Therein lies the mystery. Creepy and compulsive, this is Belshams first excursion into crime and it announces the arrival of a fine new voice. THE MAN WHO CAME UPTOWN by George Pelecanos (Orion 20, 272pp) THE MAN WHO CAME UPTOWN by George Pelecanos (Orion 20, 272pp) No one charts the thin grey line that separates the legal from the illegal better than Pelecanos, one of the writers on the television series The Wire. He is, quite simply, among Americas finest crime writers. This latest story does not disappoint. Phil Ornazian is a private investigator who, as times are tough in Washington DC, moonlights as a petty criminal. Meanwhile Anna Byrne works as a prison librarian, doing all she can to help the inmates who come to her for books. One of those is Michael Hudson, a young offender on remand who develops an insatiable appetite for reading. Ornazian intervenes to persuade the principal witness against Hudson to refuse to testify, and the young man is suddenly released. So the three principal characters are bound together. Hudson remains in contact with his librarian mentor and attempts to rebuild his life, while at the same time becoming getaway driver for Ornazian in one of his criminal enterprises. Lyrical, beautifully observed and constantly surprising, it is a delight. Nobody knows the pressure of being Home Secretary better than Alan Johnson, whose wife had an affair with their close protection officer while he was in the job. So the Labour heavyweight turned award-winning writer has been watching the BBCs Sunday-night drama Bodyguard, starring Keeley Hawes, more suspiciously than most. They got the pressure of the job right. Shes always in the back of her car doing paperwork, shes always got a box there, its unrelenting. When youre a minister, youve got that red box every night. The whole civil service works towards giving you five hours of work to take home with you at whatever bloody time you leave Parliament, which is often ten oclock at night. I think they got hold of someone who has some idea of how the Home Office works but only some idea. There are glaring anomalies. Nobody knows the pressure of being Home Secretary better than Alan Johnson, whose wife had an affair with their close protection officer while he was in the job Such as? Theres only so much you can say when you know all the state secrets! A simple one: hes still following her around in the Houses of Parliament. Thats a safe space, you dont need your bodyguard to stand at the door of your office. But I know if youre going to make a story out of it you cant have him waiting outside all day, hes got to be on the scene. Bodyguard has captured the biggest ratings for a drama series for more than a decade but when we meet, Johnson has not yet seen the scenes that will surely make him squirm the most. The Home Secretary Julia Montague gets very close and personal indeed with her close protection officer David Budd (Richard Madden). That must make him wince, because the parallels with real life are uncanny: Alan Johnson was Home Secretary under Gordon Brown in 2009 when his wife Laura began an affair with his personal bodyguard, Paul Rice. Just like in Bodyguard, Rice, 45, became the new Home Secretarys close protection officer in the wake of his own marital breakdown, while he was living apart from his wife and child. A police inquiry into how an officer acting as close protection to the Home Secretary had an affair with the Home Secretarys wife heard that he and Mrs Johnson, 47, arranged to meet in secret when he was off duty. Bodyguard has captured the biggest ratings for a drama series for more than a decade but when we meet, Johnson has not yet seen the scenes that will surely make him squirm the most Alan Johnson kept silent when it came to light in 2010 (and refuses to discuss it today) but his sister Linda said at the time: I know he will be absolutely devastated. The betrayal was even more shattering because it emerged after Labour lost the election and Johnson lost the big job at the Home Office and he reveals for the first time today that he had a burnout in the midst of it all. As soon as the electorate decided to dispense with our services I had a midlife crisis kind of thing. Id just turned 60. I went out and bought myself a convertible! I needed a new car. Black Astra Sport. And I went to a music shop not far from the Houses of Parliament and bought myself a Yamaha acoustic six-string guitar. I can just pick it up and play. This is a revelation, because the pain of those days has been too great for Johnson to speak about before. But music saved him, as it has done many times over the years. He talks about this in his new book, In My Life: A Music Memoir, which covers the 25 years before politics, when he was still trying to be a rock star and songwriter as well as a postman, union rep and family man with three children. Every chapter takes a song from that year as its theme. So we learn how Grace Kelly and Bing Crosby singing True Love on Family Favourites on the wireless in 1957 gave Johnson and his mother Lily some respite from his fathers drunken post-pub rages. Thats a reference back to the stories he told in his first memoir, This Boy, which won the Royal Society of Literatures Ondaatje Prize and the Orwell Prize for political writing. It told how his heroic 16-year-old sister Linda rescued him from being put into care after their feckless father abandoned the family and their mother died at 42. The new book says he and his sister bought The Bachelors And 16 Great Songs for his mother as she lay dying in hospital in 1964 but the album was unplayed when it came home. She never did. Bob Dylans Like A Rolling Stone was the song of the following year, when he discovered the delights of love while playing records with a girl called Ann (as her mum stayed resolutely in the kitchen). I was never subjected to a lesson at school that could be described, even loosely, as sex education, he writes. It was in Anns snug little bedroom that I learned everything I needed to know about the erotic pleasure of playing records. Hey Jude is the song for 1968, when he married his first wife, Judy. They split up two decades later when he had an affair with the younger woman who would become his next wife: Laura, a union official 13 years his junior. She was by his side as he soared towards the top of the political charts, achieving one of the great offices of state, but the schedule was so demanding that his beloved music got left behind. When I was a minister, I never picked up the guitar once. Eleven years. Pressure of work. Youre doing two jobs. Youve got to have a place in London and youve got to spend time up in the constituency, which for me was Hull. Wheres the guitar? Alan Johnson with ex-wife Laura at the 1997 general election. . The couple divorced after more than 20 years The marriage went the same way as the music, once he was in the Home Office. The couple divorced after more than 20 years, with a son who was then ten years old. So does he think Bodyguard is based on what happened to them? I suppose its modelled on Amber Rudd. His names Budd. Bit close isnt it? The former Conservative Home Secretary didnt have an affair with her protection officer but has said of the series: I love it, and its a pretty accurate depiction of what the relationship is like between a Home Secretary and their bodyguard, in the sense that they are incredibly close to you a lot of the time although obviously not that close! Johnson, a plain-speaking man of the people, was a hugely popular figure across the political spectrum. Many supporters wanted him to stand for leader after Gordon Browns defeat in 2010, but he turned down the chance. He stood down as Shadow Chancellor as well not long afterwards, saying: I have found it difficult to cope with personal issues in my private life while carrying out an important front-bench role. Its tempting to say that Labour would not be in the terrible mess it is now if he had been leader. Well, resist the temptation! I couldnt have changed the course of history for the Labour party. Johnson stayed on as MP for Hull until the last election and it was in the constituency that he met Carolyn Burgess, the owner of a translation company. Ive found love again, he said in 2014. This is the happiest point of my life. They were married the following year but kept it so secret that even their colleagues didnt know. He has recently had an astonishing reunion with his old guitar from the Sixties, bringing back powerfully emotional memories of his mother. We were forming a group, I needed an electric guitar and I saw this Hofner in the window of a music shop in Soho. I loved it, but it was 35. There was no way I was going to be able to pay for that, says Johnson, who was just 17 in 1967. His mother Lily had recently died after a long spell in hospital. My sister told me Mum had squirrelled away 40 quid in a Post Office account to give me on my 18th birthday. She said I could have it early. It was like divine intervention by my mother from beyond the grave. Imagine how much I loved that guitar! He used it in a mod band called The In-Betweens, who played the London circuit and were on the verge of a breakthrough in 1968 when all their gear was stolen from a pub in London, including his beloved Hofner. We had no insurance, so that was that. Alan Johnson talked about this on the radio and was heard by a man up in Edinburgh who had a Hofner to sell so they met up in the lobby of the Holiday Inn at Hull Marina. As the case opened, I thought, Thats my bloody guitar! It was a cherry-red Hofner Verithin electric guitar with a mother-of-pearl inlay, the spitting image of the one stolen half a century before. I didnt clock the serial number when I first had it but everything about it was the same. I just felt like we were being reunited. I paid 800 to get my own guitar back. This was an important emblem from my youth. It is probably my most precious possession. Did he suspect the seller of being the original thief? He had the reasonable alibi of not having been born at the time of the crime! So Johnson has found new love and been reunited with his guitar, recapturing the passion for music that is evident in his book. But there is one love affair that seems over for him right now and thats his long relationship with the Labour Party. I could never vote for Jeremy Corbyn as leader of this country. Its like weve got the Islington correspondent of the Morning Star running the party. Im wondering where my party has gone. You can put that in. Johnson has been a union and Labour man all his life; nobody can doubt his loyalty. But he believes Labour has gone back to the vicious in-fighting of the early Eighties, only the hard left are now in control. It feels like its not my party any more. The trade union movement was always the ballast, holding the party down to earth when its leadership went away on flights of rhetoric, but its not a party rooted in the working classes now, despite a huge, growing membership. Im a dissident in my own party now. Jeremy was a dissident in the party for a long time, now these people are in charge. What about anti-Semitism? Corbyn has been accused of it personally and Labour was torn apart all summer after refusing to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances widely accepted definition, until a furious row saw that decision overturned this month. I found it difficult to believe that he is an anti-Semite. Thats not Jeremy. But its the basic political ineptitude of not adopting that full definition. Its just staggeringly stupid to say: Oh, we know better than the Jewish community. Thats inept, and in the end thats what Corbyn is. Hes not our great saviour, hes our Iain Duncan Smith, except he did better than expected at the last election. Footage of Corbyn criticising Zionists was taken by the former Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sachs and others as a straight attack on British Jews. The clip of him talking about Zionists, that is terrible. He ought to apologise for that, because if hes not a racist and I tend to think he is not then hes said a lot of things he has got to clarify, in that respect. His old boss Tony Blair has said Labour is unlikely to win back the middle ground, so does he agree? After the party conference you might get people saying, This is not recognisable as the Labour Party any more. I think there will be splits, but I dont think there will be an attempt to get an SDP-type party off the ground, because I dont think thats what Labour people want. They want their party back, in a sense. They want their trade unions to do some pretty brave stuff as well, to make that happen. Talking of Tony, was he never tempted to jam with Blair, who kept an electric guitar in his office at 10 Downing Street? My musical highlights and a few bum notes... True Love Grace Kelly, 1957 As the men returned from the pub at closing time the mean air of Kensal Town would be scented with the smell of roasting meat. Steve [my father] rarely returned with a song in his heart and when he did it soon gave way to the beer in his belly. He would become morose and occasionally violent. For my mother, those two hours on a Sunday lunchtime listening to Family Favourites provided a serene interlude. I so wanted to display my allegiance to Bowie by getting Judy to use her considerable artistic skills to paint me into character as Aladdin Sane. But I was married with three children at the time. So my face went unpainted' All My Loving The Beatles, 1963 With The Beatles was the first LP I ever bought and it cost half what Id earned from a weekend on the milk float and two freezing evenings a week delivering paraffin. That year I entered my teens and one night in November The Beatles entered my soul. I would be with The Beatles for the rest of my life. Summer In The City The Lovin Spoonful, 1966 That summer I fell madly in love with a girl, Stephanie Blake, only to be spurned for an older rival. When she packed me in, she at least had the good grace to do it to my face, gazing at me sympathetically as she broke the news that she wanted somebody more mature. Which was fine, except the guy she dumped me for was her cousin. Starman David Bowie, 1973 I so wanted to display my allegiance to Bowie by getting Judy to use her considerable artistic skills to paint me into character as Aladdin Sane. But I was married with three children at the time. So my face went unpainted and remained that way until Events recent photo-shoot (above). With The Beatles was the first LP I ever bought and it cost half what Id earned from a weekend on the milk float and two freezing evenings a week delivering paraffin. That year I entered my teens and one night in November The Beatles entered my soul. I would be with The Beatles for the rest of my life Watching The Detectives Elvis Costello, 1977 Ive followed Elvis Costello through everything hes done If Lonnie Donegan was the musical hero of my childhood, The Beatles of my teens and David Bowie of my 20s, Elvis Costello gets the lifetime achievement award. Advertisement Never, no. Tony wasnt a proper musician. He used to wear loon pants for Gods sake, and jump around at Oxford. We were in a mod band doing west London, completely different. He might get his Fender Telecaster out one night and play it loudly, but its not the same as what we used to do. So I never got the call. Just as well I suppose. And with that he gets up to dress up like a Beatle and Bowie, and leap around the photographic studio with a huge smile all over his face. After all hes been through, Alan Johnson has got his guitar and his mojo back and music is one love that will never die. In My Life: A Music Memoir by Alan Johnson is published by Bantam Press, priced 16.99. Offer price 13.59 (20 per cent discount) until September 30. Order at mailshop.co.uk/books or call 0844 571 0640, p&p is free on orders over 15 Two women are headed to prison for their role in a month-long crime spree across two states, including an attempted bank robbery in Pennsylvania where they dressed as nuns. Melisa Aquino Arias, 24, of Passaic, New Jersey, received a 37-month sentence Wednesday. Her co-conspirator Swahilys Pedraza-Rodriguez, 20, of New Haven, Connecticut, received a 15-month sentence Thursday. The women pleaded guilty in June to robbing a bank in Garfield, New Jersey, while wearing a head covering and conspiring to steal money from an ATM at a bank in Scotrun, Pennsylvania. Swahilys Pedraza-Rodriguez, 20, (left) and Melisa Aquino Arias, 24, (right) were sentenced to two and three years in jail The pair went on a bank robbery spree across New Jersey and Pennsylvania Aria's guilty plea came just weeks after her co-defendant Pedraza-Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the same offenses Both women faced up to 41 years in prison but received about three years. The pair were arrested about two weeks after the Garfield robbery, when they went to a Teaneck bank and asked about opening an account. An employee recognized them and called police. The FBI posted surveillance photos of the Pennsylvania heist on Twitter, showing the women in nun attire, with sunglasses and flashing handguns. The faux nuns were unsuccessful and ran away without money after an alarm was triggered Surveillance footage of the Pennsylvania heist shows two women dressed as nuns who ran away without money after an alarm was triggered A mother and daughter have been left with burn wounds across their bodies after they were given an electric shock by the poolside on holiday in Turkey. Amelia Goode, six, was playing next to the baby pool at the Golden Gate Club Hotel in Kusadasi when she stood on an exposed lamp post wire that ran alongside the water. She screamed, dropped to the ground and began trembling as the electricity coursed through her body. Her mother Danielle, 36, ran over to help but as she grabbed her daughter she was also hit by the electricity and knocked unconscious. Amelia Goode, six, was left with a wound on her neck after she was given an electric shock from an 'exposed' lamp post wire on holiday in Turkey Her mother Danielle, 36, was also left with a nasty burn wound after trying to save her daughter Ms Hartnett told MailOnline: Amelia went to play in the baby pool and we heard her screaming and crying. When we turned around she had dropped to the ground and looked like she was having a fit. I remember screaming that my baby was dead. Nearly a full minute passed and I thought: "I have to do something, I have to save her." I went round by her feet and tried to get her but the electric got hold of me straight away. It was so strong and was going all through my body but I couldnt move. I later learned that our muscles had contracted and temporarily paralysed us. I then fell unconscious. They were on a family holiday in Turkey, staying at the Golden Gate Club Hotel in Kusadasi. Pictured: Danielle's partner Jamie Goode (left), daughters Amelia, six, and Jessica, three, and Danielle Pictured: the Golden Gate Club Hotel in Kusadasi, Turkey, where the family were staying It's thought that Amelia stood on an exposed lamp post wire meant to be buried underground It's thought that Amelia's wet foot touched a wire that was meant to be buried underground. A hotel guest used a plank of wood to move the pair away from the water and performed CPR on Ms Hartnett while they waited on an ambulance. Ms Hartnett said: A guest called Tamer managed to get a hold of Amelias toes and flip her into the air on to a bit of grass where witnesses say they saw the life come back into her. He then started working on moving me away from the electric with the piece of wood. [He] put me in the recovery position, pulled my tongue out - which had gone down my throat - gave me the kiss of life and then chucked icy water over my face to bring me round. Thank god he knew what he was doing because we both would have been dead.' An ambulance arrived and took the family to hospital where they were kept for seven hours. Ms Hartnett (pictured with daughters Jessica, left, and Amelia) said she thought Amelia was going to die because her entire body was shaking on the floor Amelia was left with burn wounds across her body from the incident at the family resort The hotel owner paid for their hospital bills and apologised profusely upon their return. Ms Hartnett, from Lambourn, West Berkshire, said the lamp post was dug up removed from the poolside the following day. The mother of two got in touch with Loveholidays to make a serious complaint and was told a full investigation would be launched. She said: I want an apology for what my daughter and I have went through. Since coming home, Amelia has been waking up having nightmares most nights and Ive been kept off work for three weeks and put on medication. I want people to know the dangers of staying at that hotel. Loveholidays are still advertising it as their "featured hotel" on their website. Loveholidays told MailOnline it was currently investigating the incident and was no longer accepting bookings to the Golden Gate Club Hotel. It said that whilst the hotel might appear on the website, customers were not actually able to book to stay there. The child, from Lambourn, West Berkshire, has had nightmares since returning home Ms Hartnett said she's not been supported by the travel agent and claimed her complaints have fallen on deaf ears. She was even 'blocked' on Twitter by Loveholidays' customer service team. She said: 'On return we told Loveholidays we wished to make a serious complaint by the following Monday I hadnt heard from the complaints department. 'I emailed, got no reply. Tuesday I emailed again and copied in the [complaints] department. I got a call to say they hadnt received my email. 'They promised that a full investigation had been launched and that they'd call me the next day. 'No call. I emailed again, it got ignored. I emailed daily and by Friday I was angry and said if I didnt hear back by Monday Id go to social media. I didnt hear back. Tuesday I posted on Twitter, they blocked me.' Loveholidays said it had blocked any bookings to the Turkish hotel until an investigation was carried out When asked why Ms Hartnett was blocked on Twitter, a Loveholidays spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Loveholidays take matters of data protection and our responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) very seriously. 'We have to be especially careful when dealing with matters that involve a child and details of their injuries or medical treatment. 'As the posts appeared to be referring to a child and making reference to injuries and medical treatment sought in a public forum, a moderator took the decision to stop any further such posts as per our Privacy guidelines. 'We felt that this incident was best handled directly with the customer and not in a public social media environment.' The travel agent said it was working with the hotel to find out exactly what happened and claimed it would support Ms Hartnett throughout the investigation. A spokesperson told MailOnline: 'At Loveholidays, the safety and security of our customers is our number one priority and we work with all our partners to ensure high standards are met and maintained. Ms Hartnett was blocked by the travel agent's customer service team. Loveholidays said the incident 'was best handled directly with the customer and not on social media' 'Loveholidays were made aware of this unfortunate incident at the time it occurred and provided the family our full support including medical checks and a change of hotel after being visited by a representative. 'The family moved to another hotel nearby and thankfully were able to continue fully with the holiday without further issue and were supported throughout that period. 'We have been in close contact with the hotel who took immediate action to rectify the defect and we continue to liaise with the hotel management to establish exactly how the incident occurred and this investigation is ongoing. 'We have been in regular communication with the customer since her return to the UK and are disappointed to hear the customer feels that the incident was not being dealt with as a priority, which is not the case. 'We appreciate the customer's frustration in wanting answers, however we are waiting for technical reports from the hotel as part of the investigation. 'A senior member of the team spoke to the customer on Monday and as agreed, is due to update her today with a view to resolving the matter.' 'As a precaution, Loveholidays have already blocked any further bookings until the investigation is complete. 'The hotel may still appear in listings, but customers will not be able to make a booking there. Until we are satisfied the hotel is operating as we would expect it to, it will remain off-sale.' 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. Lt. Col. Michelle Baldanza, a Pentagon spokeswoman, says William McRaven, former head of U.S. Special Operations Command, left the Defense Innovation Board on August 20. Former head of U.S. Special Operations Command William McRaven, who it emerged resigned from the Defense Innovation Board four days after attacking Donald Trump over his treatment of John Brennan 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.' The letter continued: 'If you think for a moment that your McCarthy-era tactics will suppress the voices of criticism, you are sadly mistaken. The criticism will continue until you become the leader we prayed you would be. 'Few Americans have done more to protect this country than John. He is a man of unparalleled integrity, whose honesty and character have never been in question, except by those who don't know him. 'Therefore, I would consider it an honor if you would revoke my security clearance as well, so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency.' Trump was heavily criticized by the respected Navy veteran after he revoked John Brennan's security clearance Trump was surprisingly measured with his response. 'I dont know McRaven,' Trump said before boarding Air Force One to go to a fundraiser in the Hamptons after the letter was published, the New York Post reports. Trump revoked Brennan's clearance last month, saying he felt he had to do something about the 'rigged' Russian election interference probe. A judge has ruled Indiana prison officials need to provide 1993 World Trade Center bomber Ahmad Ajaj with halal meals that conform to his Muslim beliefs A Muslim man serving a life sentence for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing has been granted access to halal meals after he sued the prison for not accommodating his religious beliefs. US District Judge R Brooke Jackson issued an order Friday requiring prison officials to continue providing Ahmad Ajaj with halal meals. However, the judge denied Ajaj's request for officials to provide him access to an imam in line with his specific religious beliefs, saying officials should not be expected to put in extra efforts to make that happen. Ajaj started getting halal meals on the eve of his trial last month after he was transferred from a prison in Colorado to Terre Haute, Indiana. He objected to attending classes with the Indiana prison's imam because he believes the cleric is an adherent of Sufism, Islam's mystical strain. Jackson said it doesn't violate Ajaj's religious rights to meet with someone with different views and that he still could have phone or email contact with another imam. Ajaj started getting halal meals on the eve of his trial last month after he was transferred from a prison in Colorado to Terre Haute, Indiana (pictured) Ajaj was sentenced in 1999 to more than 114 years in prison for his role in the blast in an underground parking garage on February 26, 1993, that killed six people, one of whom was pregnant. It injured more than 1,000 and forced an estimated 50,000 to flee the trade center's twin towers in a scene of smoke, fear and confusion that would be mirrored and magnified on September 11, 2001. In late August Ajaj filed a lawsuit accusing federal prison officials, particularly staff at the Administrative Maximum, or ADX, facility in Florence, of failing to provide food meeting Ajaj's belief that all animals used for food must be fed, raised and slaughtered according to Islamic law. The lawsuit said Ajaj considered vegetarian and Kosher meals inadequate. The suit also said Ajaj went months without being visited by an imam, a term for an Islamic religious leader, contracted to counsel prisoners at the Colorado facility. Since moving to the Indiana facility, he began participating in a faith-based program that includes regular classes with an imam. But the imam who works with Muslim inmates in the program belongs to another denomination of the faith. Ajaj's attorneys argued that even listening to someone speak about views contrary to his own violate the inmate's religious rights. The lawsuit claims that both issues violate Ajaj's rights under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The law, approved by Congress in 1993, was intended to limit the federal government's ability to infringe on someone's sincere religious beliefs. Attorneys for the government argued that neither issue substantially limited Ajaj's ability to practice his faith and did not violate the law, while an administrator at the prison testified that he had tried but was unable to find a vendor to meet the convict's conditions. A man has been shot in the hip by police officers after allegedly opening fire first at a service station. A bloodstained pavement and a double barrel shotgun can be seen at the site of the alleged shoot out that involved police in ACT at 4am on Saturday. Police were called to Monaro Street, Queanbeyan, following reports of a man with a gun firing shots at passing vehicles. Officers found the man at a BP service station on Lowe Street. A man is in hospital after he was shot by police following a firearms incident in Queanbeyan, NSW in the early hours on Saturday The middle-aged man allegedly fired a number of shots at six officers before police shot him in the hip. He was treated at the scene before being taken to Canberra Hospital where he underwent surgery, a police spokeswoman said. He is in a serious but stable condition. Service station staff were forced to hide in a backroom during the alleged shootout, 9News reported. An unmarked police car at the scene of the shooting has a punctured front tyre, Fairfax reported. There were also a scattering of shotgun shells in the area. A NSW critical incident team will now investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, police said. That investigation will be subject to an independent review. Trump has paid tribute to a New York woman who has been struck and killed by a car at her daughter's memorial. The President had recognized Evelyn Rodriguez at the State of the Union after her daughter was killed by MS-13 gang members. 'My thoughts and prayers are with Evelyn Rodriguez this evening, along with her family and friends. #RIPEvelyn,' Trump tweeted on Friday. Police say Rodriguez of Long Island was hit Friday afternoon in Brentwood after getting in a dispute with the driver of a 2016 Nissan Rouge. Congressman Peter King says it happened about an hour before a planned memorial for her daughter, Kayla Cuevas, 16. The pair had been arguing over the placement of the memorial and when the driver tried leaving the scene, they hit Rodriguez. Suffolk Police said that the woman was transported to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore but she was pronounced dead - two years to the day that her daughter's body was discovered. The driver called police and stayed on the scene. The driver is said to be a relative of someone who lived in the area. Scroll down for video Police say Evelyn Rodriguez of Long Island was hit Friday afternoon in Brentwood 'My thoughts and prayers are with Evelyn Rodriguez this evening, along with her family and friends. #RIPEvelyn,' Trump tweeted on Friday The place where Rodriguez was hit on Stahley Street was where her daughter's body was found. Cuevas and her 15-year-old friend, Nisa Mickens, were killed in the Long Island neighborhood that has become the epicenter in the fight against MS-13 violence. Cuevas' beaten and hacked body was found on Sept. 14, 2016. The gang is blamed for dozens of killings on Long Island since 2016. Suffolk County police say they're investigating Cuevas (left) and her 15-year-old friend, Nisa Mickens (right), were killed in the Long Island neighborhood that has become the epicenter in the fight against MS-13 violence Congressman Peter King says it happened about an hour before a planned memorial for her daughter, Kayla Cuevas Trump has blamed the violence on lax immigration policies, and invited the parents of the girls to his State of the Union Speech in 2018. 'While we cannot imagine the depths of that kind of sorrow,' Trump said, according to Pix 11. 'We can make sure other families never have to endure this kind of pain. Tonight, I am calling on Congress to finally close the deadly loopholes that allow MS-13 and other criminal gangs to break into our country. We have proposed new legislation that will fix our immigration laws.' Rodriguez had shared with the New York Times that she was honored for the invite but emphasized that tackling gang violence was not about immigration. She demanded that political agendas be pushed aside so that the country could tackle the problem head on. Many in the New York sphere have offered their condolences to the woman's family. Trump has blamed the gang violence on lax immigration policies, inviting the parents of the girls to his State of the Union Speech in 2018. Rodriguez emphasized that tackling gang violence was not about immigration 'The death of Evelyn Rodriguez is a true loss for the Suffolk County Police Department,' Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart and Chief of Department Stuart Cameron said in a statment. 'Evelyn turned the tragic loss of her daughter into a driving force to become an outspoken voice against gang violence.' 'I first met Evelyn while I was with the FBI and was immediately impressed by her strength and perseverance,' Commissioner Hart said. 'I was fortunate to have the opportunity to continue to work in partnership with her when I joined the Suffolk County Police Department. My thoughts are prayers are with her family during this heartbreaking time.' Governor Andrew Cuomo added: 'Tonight, the family of New York mourns the tragic loss of Evelyn Rodriguez - the brave mother of Kayla Cuevas who was senselessly slain by violent MS-13 gang members and found in Brentwood two years ago. 'In the wake of the unspeakable tragedy of her daughter's death, Evelyn showed tremendous courage by dedicating herself to the disruption of gang violence throughout her community. As she stood by my side as we fought back against MS-13, I stand with her family tonight. 'I have directed the State Police to provide any assistance and resources to the Suffolk County Police Department as they investigate the circumstances surrounding Evelyn's death at today's memorial vigil.' A spokesman for Richard P. Donoghue, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said: 'The U.S. Attorneys Office and our law enforcement partners are saddened to learn of the death of Evelyn Rodriguez, a tireless advocate for victims of MS-13 violence.' Alabama man Jason Loveday, 34, was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty on Friday to murdering his aunt and her boyfriend The Alabama man who beat his aunt's boyfriend to death for mistreating her then decapitated her for being a witness has been sentenced to life behind bars. Jason Alexander Loveday, 34, narrowly avoided the death penalty after striking a deal with prosecutors who agreed to downgrade his capital murder charges, which are punishable by death, to murder if he pleaded guilty. He pleaded guilty in court on Friday and was given to two concurrent life sentences for murdering his aunt Sharon Morrell, 50, and her boyfriend Christopher Ryer, 31, according to AL.com. At his sentencing he stood calm and collected and responded 'Yes ma'am' when asked if he understood his rights. 'This was a tragic case. We appreciate the state understanding the psychological factors involved in the case and considering the issues Jason was having,' Huntsville attorney Patrick Tuten, who represented Loveday, said. He was sentenced to two concurrent life sentences for murdering his aunt Sharon Morrell, 50, (left) and her boyfriend Christopher Ryer, 31, (right) on June 9, 2016 The slayings took place in the mobile home where the three lived together in Madison County, Alabama. The mobile home where slayings took place pictured above His attorneys did not provide details on Loveday's psychological state. 'It would have been a horrible (trial) to live through. It's a horrible case, and we are happy the case was settled for a fair sentence,' Madison County Chief Trial Attorney Tim Gann said. The horrific killings unfolded in June 9, 2016 in the mobile home where the three lived together in Madison County. Loveday told investigators that he killed Ryer because he was tired of the way he mistreated his aunt. He beat him with a pipe and slit his throat. Then he turned on his aunt because she was a witness to the murder, and beat her and cut off her head. He was arrested shortly after the murder on June 9, 2016 and held in Madison County Jail without bond, pictured in 2016 He narrowly avoided the death penalty after striking a guilty plea deal with prosecutors who agreed to downgrade his capital murder charges, pictured above in 2016 Loveday was arrested the same day as the killings and has been held without bond in Madison County jail ever since. Investigator Melissa Webster said after the murder Loveday approached a man outside of a hair salon. Still covered in blood, Loveday told the man he was involved in a double murder and asked him to call 911. She said Loveday told her he heard voices and they told him what to do with his aunt's remains, according to AL.com. Loveday was also found to have sustained multiple dog bites from his aunt's two pit bulls that tried to halt his attack. The investigator added that a local teenager found Loveday in the woods covered in blood and beating his chest screaming 'I'm a warrior' shortly after the murders. The teen, who was out riding his four-wheeler hurried home and told his parents who called police. The mom of a cheerleader who was burned alive in 2014, has returned to the scene of her brutal murder as the suspect prepares to go to retrial. It has been four years since 19-year-old Jessica Chambers stumbled out of the woods near her hometown of Courtland in Mississippi, after she and her car were set alight. She died a short time later of her horrific injuries in hospital - but not before she named her killer as Eric'. Now the scorched grass has grown back, and the burned out car has been removed, but the memories are like it happened yesterday for Jessica's mother Lisa Chambers. The mom of cheerleader who was burned alive in 2014, has returned to the scene of her brutal murder as the suspect prepares to go to retrial Jessica Chambers was found burned and zombie-like when she walked out of the woods in December of 2014 trying to say her attacker's name. She died hours later Quinton Tellis, 29, was charged with capital murder in the burning death of Jessica Chambers. The jury was deadlocked and a mistrial was declared after two days of deliberation She returned to the scene for Oxygen's new docu-series Unspeakable Crime: The Killing of Jessica Chambers. 'I used to come here a lot. It just felt like you could feel her here I know that sounds crazy,' said Lisa. 'Jessica was last seen at the end of this road.' Now the suspect in her murder is facing a retrial later this month after his first ended in mistrial when the jury could not decide whether he was guilty or not. The biggest falling block was his name. He is not called Eric or even Derek as Jessica told first responders before she died. The man facing trial for her murder is named Quinton Tellis, 29, who had been dating the teen at the time. Tellis has always insisted that he is innocent, telling police in the interrogation room, even after being threatened with the death penalty if it went to trial: 'I told the truth. I didn't kill Jessica. It ain't even in my heart to kill nobody.' Slide me Lisa returned to the scene for Oxygen's new docu-series Unspeakable Crime: The Killing of Jessica Chambers (left, the charred scene after the murder, and right, in 2018) Prosecutors said that Tellis set Chambers and her car (pictured) on fire in a rural back road and left her to die Now the scorched grass has grown back, and the burned out car has been removed, but the memories are like it happened yesterday for Jessica's mother Lisa Chambers 'I used to come here a lot. It just felt like you could feel her here I know that sounds crazy,' said Lisa His family claim that the police are simply looking for someone to blame in the case, which has become a highly charged racial issue after Tellis, who is black, was arrested for the death of the pretty, white cheerleader. The case drove a wedge between people of different races in the small town of Courtland, which has a population of just over 500. One friend of Jessica's even claimed: 'It started being a race war.' 'I know my son didn't do this, they are just looking for someone to put this murder on,' his mother Rebecca Wright told Oxygen. Jessica's sister, AJ Prince, doesn't believe his protestations, saying she 'absolutely believe (Tellis) did it, 100 per cent.' But her mother is less certain. She believes that any person who could do this is a monster. 'This would have to be done my a heartless, soulless person,' she said. 'Demonic in my opinion.' 'If (Tellis) killed my daughter, I hope he burns in hell.' Lisa is hoping for justice for her daughter, and answers. Tellis' mother, Rebecca Wright, said: 'I know my son didn't do this, they are just onlooking for someone to put this murder on' 'I've heard so many different stories. What actually happened, I have no clue. 'I hope in the trial that they can shed some light as to what actually took place here because right now my heart hurts. It's a sick feeling. I need to know what was done.' Lisa shared her heartbreaking final communication with her daughter. The teen told her mom she was going out to get something to eat at around 5.15pm, on December 6, 2014. Lisa said she called Jessica while she was out to see what time she would be home. 'I called her and she said ill be home in a little while Momma, but I love you. 'I told her I loved her too. She said, 'See you in a little bit.' 'That's the last I heard from her.' The last time she saw Jessica was at the hospital. Her daughter had suffered burns to 98 per cent of her body and was barely clinging on to life. Lisa admits she was scared of what she'd see before going into the hospital room. Chambers was seen on surveillance footage at a local store just a few hours before her death Tellis has always insisted that he is innocent, telling police in the interrogation room, even after being threatened with the death penalty if it went to trial: 'I told the truth. I didn't kill Jessica. It ain't even in my heart to kill nobody' Prosecutors claim that Tellis had been pestering Jessica for sex and had rough sex with her in the car on the day of the murder 'I peeked in the room,' she said. 'I don't know what they saw. But I saw my child. Maybe a rosy cheek, but I saw my baby. 'I held her hand as she took her last breath. I told her it was OK, she could go. The guilt I feel for telling her she could goo but I know I could keep her here.' The volunteer firefighters and first responders who found Jessica were shocked at the state of her injuries, with one even describing her as resembling a 'zombie.' The injuries were so severe another former volunteer firefighter, Eddie Eidson, broke down in tears as he recalled the day they found the teen. 'Looking down at her, she had a piece of skin, every time she breathed, was going in and out of her nose. 'Seeing her the way she was and still alive, I don't wish this on my worst enemy.' He said that one of his fellow firefighters had asked her who had done this to her. 'She said 'Eric did this.' We were all kinda stunned.' The horrific circumstances surrounding Chambers' death garnered national attention amid concerns about violent crime in rural communities. Lisa (pictured with her daughter) says the last time she saw Jessica was at the hospital. Her daughter had suffered burns to 98 per cent of her body and was barely clinging on to life She was emotional as she described seeing her 'baby' for the final time During the investigation, police interviewed several people called Eric, but none were charged. After Tellis was arrested, prosecutors told the court last year that Jessica may have been trying to say another name but her throat and mouth were so badly burned that it only appeared to sound like Eric or Derek. A burn doctor testified Chambers had so much damage to her mouth, throat and chest that she would be unable to properly say 'T' and pronounce words while she was speaking to firefighters. Prosecutor John Champion said during the trial that Tellis thought he suffocated Chambers while they were having sex before he drove her car to a back road. Prosecutors also showed a number of text messages, which appeared to show Tellis, who was from the same neighborhood as the victim and attended her high school years earlier, pestering Jessica for sex. After he believed he'd choked her to death, Champion said that Tellis ran to his sister's house nearby, jumped in his sisters' car, stopped to pick up gasoline from a shed at his house and torched Chambers' car and her. Police said Chambers (left) had been associated with Tellis (right) for about two weeks before she was killed but her family had no idea who he was Prosecutors used cellphone location data and video surveillance footage from a store across the street from Tellis' home in an attempt to prove he was with Chambers the night she was burned. During early interviews with law enforcement agents, Tellis said he only saw Chambers on the morning of the day she died. After being confronted with more evidence during another interrogation more than two years later, Tellis acknowledged that Chambers picked him up in her car at about 5.30pm that night, and said they spent about 1 and a half together, according to videotaped interviews. Investigators concluded that Tellis and Chambers were together until around 7.30pm, and showed the jury a video recording of a vehicle appearing to be Tellis' sister's, stopping at Tellis' house at 7.50pm and staying for about two minutes before heading toward the crime scene. Tellis, who had faced life in prison without parole if convicted, told investigators he kept a 5-gallon container of gasoline in a shed at his house. Ashley Chambers, Jessica's sister, muffled her reaction, during the closing argument of the trial last year Ben Chambers, Jessica's father, wiped a tear away during closing arguments of the case Tellis' family members sat in court on Monday when the judge declared a mistrial in the case But jurors weighed up the prosecution's case against several testimonies from firefighters that Jessica said 'Eric' or 'Derek' set her on fire. Tellis faces another murder indictment in Louisiana, where he's accused in the torture death of Meing-Chen Hsiao (above) The trial was emotional, with witnesses breaking down and spectators crying as jurors were shown graphic photos of Chambers' burned stomach and face. Eventually, with the jury unable to reach a verdict, the judge declared a mistrial. Tellis is due back on trial on September 24. Tellis faces another murder indictment in Louisiana, where he's accused in the torture death of Meing-Chen Hsiao, a 34-year-old Taiwanese graduate student at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Tellis will not return to Louisiana to face the charges or an indictment until the conclusion of his case in Mississippi because of the extradition agreement. Meanwhile, Jessica's family are left with only memories of the 19-year-old who was described as having 'blue eyes, always smiling and the biggest dimples.' 'Jessica was full of life, Jessica stubborn as a mule, Jessica was just a joy,' her mother said, adding she hoped to become a teacher or an author one day. 'Unspeakable Crime: The Killing of Jessica Chambers,' premieres Saturday, September 15, at 7pm ET/PT on Oxygen. The moderate dog in action. Photo: Chris Kleponis - Pool/Getty Images The New York Times reports that Secretary of Defense James Mattis, likely the most important moderating force in the Trump administration, has fallen from the presidents good graces, and may be sent packing after the midterm elections. Its the latest in a string of articles detailing the once-untouchable Mattiss reduced stature in the West Wing. The Times notes that at the beginning of Trumps presidency, the president and Mattis regularly ate together at the White House, a ritual that has disappeared as Trump grows (frighteningly) more confident about his foreign-policy instincts and more skeptical of the general. But the burger dinners have stopped. Interviews with more than a dozen White House, congressional and current and former Defense Department officials over the past six weeks paint a portrait of a president who has soured on his defense secretary, weary of unfavorable comparisons to Mr. Mattis as the adult in the room, and increasingly concerned that he is a Democrat at heart. Meanwhile, Mattis faces a new obstacle in super-hawk National Security Adviser John Bolton, who has appointed Mira Ricardel, an old adversary of Mattiss, as his deputy. Ricardel helped block Mattis from hiring a career diplomat who had served in Democratic administrations. Bolton has enjoyed considerably warmer White House relations than Mattis in recent months, as the White House has undercut the defense secretary on issues like the cessation of Korean Peninsula war games. Part of the Trumps displeasure with Mattis stems from the vast gulf between them on matters of actual policy. For instance, Mattis was in favor of keeping the Iran nuclear deal, doesnt favor alienating members of NATO for no good reason, and pushed back against Trumps transgender military ban. As a guardian of the status quo, Mattis also convinced Trump to extend Americas forever war in Afghanistan with more troops. Politico reported that Mattiss establishment thinking recently spurred Trump, hilariously, to transform Mattiss nickname from mad dog to moderate dog. But, as is often the case with Trump, its the personal stuff that may matter more than any philosophical disagreement. Though Mattis has been careful not to offer anything but praise for Trump in public, he was quoted in Bob Woodwards new book as comparing Trumps intelligence to a fifth or sixth grader. Perhaps even more crucially, he doesnt fawn over the president the way Trump likes: Mr. Trump, two aides said, wants Mr. Mattis to be more like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a political supporter of the president. During a televised June 21 cabinet meeting, held as migrant children were being separated from their parents at the southwestern border, Mr. Mattis and Mr. Pompeo were a study of contrasts: On the presidents left, the defense secretary sat stone-faced; on his right, the secretary of state was chuckling at all of Mr. Trumps jokes. The tableau brings to mind a scene in The Sopranos in which Tony cracks a mediocre joke that draws a rapturous reception from his underlings and realizes that one of them isnt being quite transparently sycophantic enough. Maybe Trump and Tony Soprano have even more in common than we thought. Millions of travellers could be hit with a new tax to pay for more Border Force staff at airports. Cuts to the number of officers and a surge in passengers have been blamed for delays of up to two-and-a-half hours at some passport controls this summer. The Government is considering how to beef up security at the borders and reduce queues without relying on public funds. The Government is considering how to beef up security at passport control and reduce queues without relying on public funds One option is a new tax raid on those flying in and out of the country, on top of the unpopular air passenger duty, according to senior aviation industry insiders. Last night Grant Shapps, Tory MP and chairman of the cross-party Big Infrastructure Group, said: It would beggar belief if passengers already hit with one of the highest rates of tax in the world have a new tax slapped on them just for using airports. The Government needs to think twice before creating new taxes which make it more expensive for families to go on holiday. A fleeting reference to the plans was made in a Department for Transport report published in April outlining the goals of its new Aviation Strategy. It cited a report from consumer group Which? indicating low levels of passenger satisfaction with queues at passport control at seven of the 13 airport terminals surveyed. The DfT report said that to ensure excellent service at the border whilst continuing both to deal with the growth in passenger numbers and increasing passenger expectations, as well as maintaining security, the Government will consider whether there are additional or alternative funding mechanisms. It pointed out that a number of other countries have already introduced such schemes, but stressed there would be a consultation if significant new charging mechanisms were introduced. This could emulate the controversial border clearance levy introduced in New Zealand in 2016. Passengers flying into the country must pay an arrival levy of 15.79 New Zealand dollars (around 8) and a departure tax of $2.94 (around 1.50). This is added to the cost of tickets. Delays of up to two-and-a-half hours have been felt at some passport controls this summer But a similar fee in Britain would be even more controversial as air passengers already pay one of the highest rates of tax in the world in the form of air passenger duty. This levy 13 a flight for short-haul economy class passengers and 78 for longer trips is expected to raise 3.5billion for the Treasury this financial year. Business and first-class passengers have to pay double. A senior airline industry source said last night: It is deeply concerning that passengers might be made to pay for what is a core Government responsibility keeping our border secure and making sure the service experienced by travellers is acceptable. We already levy one of the highest rates of tax on air travel in the world. We need to avoid the kind of situation we saw this summer at Heathrow [where passengers faced two-and-a-half-hour queues] but it shouldnt be done on the backs of passengers. The Government cut the Border Force budget by more than 8 per cent to 565million between 2012/13 and 2016/17. Over the same period, passenger numbers increased by nearly 25 per cent. The number of full-time Border Force officers also fell by almost 10 per cent in two years from 8,332 in 2014/15 to 7,602 in 2016/17. The Border Forces budget was cut by another 2.3 per cent last year, although the number of permanent staff rose to 7,674. The Home Office said: We are continually considering options to improve the experience at the border and this includes how the border should be funded. The Dallas cop who shot and killed her black upstairs neighbor missed signposts in the parking lot of their apartment complex that would have showed her she was on the wrong floor, DailyMail.com can disclose. Amber Guyger, 30, claimed in a sworn affidavit used as the basis for her arrest warrant that she had accidentally parked on the fourth floor instead of the third and thus mistakenly made her way to Botham Jeans apartment which is located directly above hers. But photos obtained by DailyMail.com show that each space is clearly marked with the floor number one through five with the bright red numbers painted on the wall at eye level. Although access to the visitor level on the ground floor is open, those attempting to get to the residential floors must use an electronic pass. Dallas police Officer Amber Guyger getting booked after turning herself in Sunday, September 9 following the fatal shooting of Botham Jean in his own apartment. Once inside the complex, apartment signs are clearly illuminated and are placed to the left of each door with the number at eye level. Guyger claimed she had not realized she was attempting to enter apartment 1478 instead of her own 1378. She also insisted that the door was slightly ajar and swung open when she forcefully inserted her key into the lock. Once inside, the 30-year-old cop says she saw a dark silhouette which she assumed to belong to a burglar and opened fire after Jean, 26, ignored her commands. Pictures of the garage at the apartment complex where Botham Jean and Amber Guyger lived showing a clearly marked parking space But as DailyMail.com previously revealed, her official statement contains a number of inaccuracies including that the door could have been left ajar. A video created with the help of a neighbor shows that the heavy metal fire doors identical to every apartment in the Southside Flats complex automatically slam shut when let go. Guyger as she is booked in after handing herself in to police after shooting dead her black neighbor Botham Jean, who was shot and killed by his downstairs neighbor, Amber Guyger In a second film, it is clear that the electronic key Guyger claimed to have shoved into Jeans lock would not have unlocked his door and would have flashed red another indication that she was in the wrong place. The neighbor, who lives two doors down and asked not to be named, said: These are 20m fire doors. You cant really leave it open. The key situation too you cant get into any place, you cant its impossible. You can put it in but you cant open it. You can put it into somebody elses key hole but you cant open anything. This key isnt programmed for my door if I put it in, nothing happens apart from this red light. Unlike Jean, who had a bright red mat directly outside his door, Guyger did not have a mat or any sort of personal touch outside her own front door. Residents' parking at the apartment complex in Dallas, Texas, where Botham Jean and Amber Guyger both lived In a further twist, a newly released Dallas Police Department search warrant for Jeans apartment appears to contradict the account of the incident included in the arrest affidavit. Police officer Angela Arredondo writes that Guyger, dressed in full uniform, had been attempting to enter the apartment using her keys and was confronted at the door by Jean. Guyger had told the Texas Rangers that she let herself in before spotting Jean inside. It adds: The neighbor said 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. The subject, who is identified as Botham Shem Jean, was transported to Baylor Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The account would appear to back up that of Jean family attorney Lee Merritt, who says he has statements from two neighbors who say they heard Guyger screaming Let me in, let me in before opening fire. The search warrant also listed a number of items recovered from Jeans apartment, among them two spent cartridge casings and two used medical kits. Tweet showing the scene from outside Botham Jean's apartment Controversially, it also revealed the presence of a quantity of marijuana and a marijuana grinder the listing of which was described as an attempt to smear Jeans memory by his familys lawyers during a press conference in Dallas on Friday. Speaking during the same press conference, Jeans mother Allison described the contents of the search warrant as unacceptable, adding: It is time that we recognize that lives matter. My son's life matters. Toxicology tests were done at the scene on Guyger but the results are yet to be released and the tests may not have been completed. Jean, who was a banking executive with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Dallas, was memorialized yesterday at a touching service in Richardson, Texas. During the service, his uncle Ignatius Jean used his eulogy to slam Guyger, telling the congregation that it was a tragedy his nephew died at the hands of one dedicated to protect and serve. Guyger remains in hiding and is thought to be staying with her parents in Arlington. She is yet to comment and has repeatedly declined to answer calls placed by DailyMail.com. Students at Australia's oldest university college were forced to eat sheep hearts and skoll casks of goon mixed with raw eggs as part of an Anzac Day ritual, a report into its boozy and sexist culture has found. Former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick handed down her recommendations from an independent investigation into the culture at University of Sydney's St Paul's College on Friday. Recently appointed college head of Don Markwell says the college has entered a new era and is revamping its culture after the report detailed shocking behaviour by students at the elite residential college. University of Sydney's St Paul's College (pictured) has entered a new era and aims change the boozy and sexist culture it was once renowned for The college is recruiting more international, rural and public school students in a desperate bid to overhaul the culture. Students told independent investigators that St Paul's College students 'demonstrated sexist and demeaning behaviours towards women'. They also revealed details of its alcohol-driven atmosphere. 'There is a tarp on the floor and buckets (because) there is vomiting non-stop,' one student told researchers. St Paul's College residents told investigators they treated sex as a 'game' The Broderick report detailed shocking behaviour by students at the elite residential college Another 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 report found that almost 60 per cent of students at St Paul's graduated from a small number of prestigious boys schools in Sydney, while 15 per cent were from rural and regional Australia. In 2018, the college has sent invitations to over 100 secondary schools including all major regional state schools in NSW to attend two school dinners. The number of overseas students at the college also increased 'significantly'. Recently appointed St Paul's head of college Dr Don Markwell (pictured) plans to implement recommendations from the Broderick Report handed down on Friday 'The college is engaged in a broad recruitment campaign in print and social media designed to attract undergraduate students from a more diverse range of schools throughout all of suburban Sydney, regional NSW, interstate, and overseas,' its action plan states. 'College staff have attended tertiary expos for schoolchildren in the ACT, Wagga Wagga, Coffs Harbour, and Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, and advertisements have been placed in regional media, in order to attract regional students.' The college will also open a coeducational Graduate House next year, which will welcome women students into residence at St Pauls College for the first time. 'We are placing renewed and increased emphasis on the values of respect and dignity for all, including equality of respect regardless of gender, and are acting to uphold those values,' a statement on the college's website says. St Paul's College (pictured) aims to attract more international, rural and public school students and will welcome female students for the first time in 2019 Former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick (pictured) has handed down her recommendations from an independent investigation into the college's culture The college also aims continue to expand the scholarship program to recruit a more diverse student body, with 'strong emphasis on enabling high potential students in financial need'. 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 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 report 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 self-importance of these people is indescribable, yet in 2018 they believe they can get away with it?' Mr Kelly posted on Facebook on Friday. '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. '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,' Dr Markwell said Dr Markwell has vowed to implement the Broderick's 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.' The college will publish a progress report on its implementation of the Broderick Reports recommendations in the first half of 2019. Poorly skilled migrants will struggle to receive immigration visas amid the government's plan to crackdown on dole bludgers. Only the 'best and brightest' immigrants will be welcomed into Australia, according to the Saturday Telegraph. Scraping through the 99 different types of visas, those that attract welfare-dependent migrants could face the firing line. Poorly skilled migrants will struggle to receive immigration visas amid the government's plan to crackdown on dole bludgers The government has already made steps to weed out poorly skilled migrants by axing the 457 visa in April 2017. The decision almost halved the number of foreign workers and raised the average salary. Foreign workers were paid an average of $110,000 in the past financial year - an increase of $15,000 - while almost half the amount of skills visas were approved. Almost 70,000 skills visas were approved at the height of the 457 visa program. Less than 35,000 were approved in the past financial year. Immigration Minister David Coleman is also expected to encourage migrants to move to regional areas as part of the governments plans to reduce population pressures in major cities. Immigration Minister David Coleman (pictured) is also expected to encourage migrants to move to regional areas as part of the governments plans to reduce population pressures in major cities 'We need to look closely at ways of attracting the very best and brightest and filling employment gaps in regional areas,' Mr Coleman told The Saturday Telegraph. 'We know that Australia's immigration needs aren't the same in all areas, and policy should take that into account.' 'Where the system can be improved to better match immigration patterns to needs in specific jobs or locations, we should do that.' Only 7,000 foreigners who moved to Australia last year settled outside of capital cities, compared to 112,000 skilled migrants who moved to Sydney or Melbourne. Boris Johnson has set out his vision to emulate both Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill by giving people more control over their lives and copying the 'can-do' spirit of the Second World War. In what will be seen as yet another thinly veiled leadership pitch, the former foreign secretary warned that the Government was failing to help poor people get on. As a result, he claimed, 'they felt they were not getting a fair suck of the sauce bottle'. Mr Johnson renewed his demand for a clean Brexit, arguing that Britain should not be 'sucked back by the tractor beam of Brussels'. Boris Johnson said tackling social mobility in the style of Mrs Thatcher would be his top priority for Britain at a black-tie dinner in Washington Speaking at a black-tie dinner in Washington, Mr Johnson said tackling social mobility in the style of Mrs Thatcher would be his top priority for Britain. 'If you think back to the great achievements of the Thatcher era, it was about helping people to seize control of their own destiny,' he told the American Enterprise Institute. 'It was about buying shares or buying their own homes. We need to recover that momentum. One of the reasons people voted to Leave was because they felt they were not getting a fair suck of the sauce bottle, as they say. People are stuck in entry-level jobs and they're not progressing. 'And we're not focusing on those issues, we're not helping people enough. And it's a serious problem.' In Brexit negotiations, Mr Johnson said the country needed to learn lessons from Churchill, who showed 'a willingness to be brave' during the Second World War. Mr Johnson posed for selfies as he was handed the award for 'exceptional intellectual and practical contributions to improve government policy, social welfare, or political understanding' 'We need to follow that today,' he said. 'When you look at our country, we have a great choice right now. We are in the throes of deciding exactly how to carry out Brexit. 'This is a critical moment for anybody who cares about free markets, about competition, about global free trade. 'The UK could be about to come loose of the European system of regulation and government, able to campaign for pro-competitive policies. That's the opportunity. 'There's a conversation going on about how we achieve it, and it is difficult. But the last thing we want now is for us to be sucked back by the tractor beam of Brussels. The EU is no longer right for the UK. 'And there is no point in us coming out of the EU only to remain effectively run by the EU. If you're going to take back control, then take back control and use it for a purpose.' In comments that will refuel speculation he wants to oust Theresa May from No 10, the ex-Foreign Secretary said his top priority as PM would be social mobility Mr Johnson's intervention came as Theresa May's former policy chief yesterday called on party colleagues to allow her to deliver Brexit, but said she should then step down. MP George Freeman warned there was 'a danger in Parliament of a real crisis' this winter, as MPs try to impose their vision of Britain's relations with the EU. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'The Prime Minister's instincts are right on this. We have to implement the people's demand to leave the EU but where that leaves the country in the world and the longer-term relationship is an issue that should be shaped by, for and in the spirit of a new generation.' A 10-year-old girl has been found dead Friday, authorities said, more than a week after she was reported missing in a remote Inupiat Eskimo town on Alaska's northwestern coast. Alaska State Troopers said Ashley Johnson-Barr's remains were found east of Kotzebue. Authorities have arrested 41-year-old Peter Wilson of Kotzebue in connection with her disappearance. Alaska State Troopers said Ashley Johnson-Barr's remains were found east of Kotzebue FBI spokeswoman Staci Pellessier said Wilsonis facing charges of making false statements to a federal agent. Ashley was last seen playing with friends at a local park September 6. Her cellphone was later found a half mile from Rainbow Park, in the opposite direction of her home in the community of 3,100 people. The search included assistance from 17 FBI agents earlier this week. Her father Walter Scotty Barr had made increasingly desperate pleas for her return on social media, writing: 'I'm broken without u here.' Ashley was last seen playing with friends at a local park September 6 (pictured) Troopers spokesman Jonathon Taylor says five of the agents left Kotzebue Thursday for other assignments. The Alaska State Troopers are the lead agency in the case. No other information about the discovery of her body was immediately released. Kotzebue, 26 miles north of the Arctic Circle and 550 miles northwest of Anchorage, is a regional hub for northwest Alaska villages. The town is built on a 3-mile-long spit, and many there live a subsistence lifestyle far off the state's limited road system, with 26 miles of local gravel roads used by vehicles in warmer months and snowmobiles in winter. Her father Scotty Barr had made increasingly desperate pleas for her return on social media, writing: 'I'm broken without u here' Family and friends have been searching for the missing girl for the past few days Ashley's remains have since been found, spelling heartbreak for her loved ones The community has a chronically high unemployment rate, with the school district, state and local hospital among its major employers. On Wednesday evening, dozens of locals gathered at Rainbow Park to pray and share hugs and tears over the missing girl, an honor student, Anchorage television station KTUU reported. The girl's father told KTUU TV in Kotzebue on Wednesday that he didn't know about the prayer gathering beforehand. 'It goes to show the love of the community and everyone who has helped,' he said. On Wednesday evening, dozens of locals gathered at Rainbow Park to pray and share hugs and tears over the missing girl, an honor student A man who infamously stared down Hurricanes Matthew and Irma with nothing but his underwear and an American flag, has done so again for the third time. Video shows Lane Pittman and his flowing ginger mane posing valiantly in Mrtyle Beach, South Carolina, on Friday as Florence's winds blow up to 85mph around him. On Facebook he said: 'YOU ARE WEAK AND SMALL FLORENCE!!!!! FLORIDA MAN IS HERE!!!!!' Video shows Lane Pittman and his ginger mane posing valiantly in Mrtyle Beach, South Carolina, on Friday as Florence's winds blow up to 85mph around him Rock music plays in the background of the video, that has more than 119,000 views, as Pittman waves the flag back and forth. Awnings rip off their hinges and blow in the disastrous winds. The Jacksonville, Florida, resident actually launched a GoFundMe so that he could travel to South Carolina for his stunt. 'Pay for my gas/coffee and Ill go fight Hurricane Florence. MERICA BABY!!! We stick together,' he said in the description for the fundraiser. Rock music plays in the background of the video, that has more than 119,000 views, as Pittman waves the flag back and forth The Jacksonville, Florida, resident actually launched a GoFundMe so that he could travel to South Carolina for his stunt Pittman secured his funding in less than an hour, and the GoFundMe has raised $607. The initial amount sought was $150. The daredevil first made headlines in 2015 when he was charged with breaching the peace after playing a raucous rendition of the 'National Anthem' before transitioning into a version of Ted Nugent's 'Stranglehold' on July 4 on a Florida street. He would hit viral fame twice after with his goofy stunts for the previous two years Florence clocked 90 mph winds on Thursday after it was downgraded to a Category 1 and made landfall. Boris Johnson jokingly threatened to have his former spin doctor prosecuted for blackmail when he faced being mocked as 'sexually incontinent' in a row over a cancelled TV interview. He also told the television reporter to take part in a 'hostage video' singing his praises as a would-be Prime Minister as the price for taking part in his show. The clash came with Guto Harri, who was Mr Johnson's head of communications as London Mayor, over an appearance on the former BBC correspondent's new show on Wales' S4C channel. Boris Johnson jokingly threatened to have his former spin doctor prosecuted for blackmail when he faced being mocked as 'sexually incontinent' in a row over a cancelled TV interview The ex-foreign secretary cancelled plans to be interviewed amid reports of his relationship with Tory aide Carrie Symonds, who has now been pictured for the first time since the row broke last weekend. Mr Harri texted his old boss: 'If I don't have you on my show I have to secure some publicity for it myself and start saying yes to the endless stream of offers I'm getting to talk about suicide vests and sexual incontinence. You sure you can't spare 30 minutes towards the end of next week? Hope you're OK. G.' Mr Johnson replied: 'I'm forwarding this to [Met Police Commissioner] Cressida Dick. It is a clear attempt at blackmail. That has been against the law since the Middle Ages.' Mr Harri said: 'As always with Boris, you are never sure how much is a jolly jape and how much is serious. Earlier Mr Johnson allegedly asked Mr Harri to record what he called a 'hostage video' in return for being interviewed. Mr Harri says he was told he should pay a 'glowing tribute to my [Mr Johnson's] statesmanlike skills' to be broadcast on the BBC. Mr Harri said he rejected the demand. Friends of Mr Johnson said the 'blackmail' text was 'clearly meant tongue in cheek'. But Mr Harri said: 'As always with Boris, you are never sure how much is a jolly jape and how much is serious. 'I have no intention of being gagged by him. Somebody has got to take the spade out of Boris's hands because he is digging his political grave.' Former Tory spin doctor Miss Symonds, 30, who has not commented on claims she and Mr Johnson had become close, was spotted chatting with a friend in the countryside this week as she sits out what friends have said is a difficult time. Marina Wheeler, Mr Johnson's wife of 25 years, is reported to have cited his 'adultery' in divorce papers. The brother of accused bikie killer Abuzar Sultani has been charged with fraud after fresh raids as part of a secret police investigation into one of Sydney's largest crime syndicates. Yasser Sultani, 31, was arrested by officers from NSW Police's elite outlaw motorcycle gang squad Strike Force Raptor at Auburn police station on Wednesday morning. He was charged with participating in a criminal group, hindering the investigation into a serious indictable offence and concealing a serious offence. The brother of accused bikie killer Abuzar Sultani (pictured) has been charged with fraud along with his girlfriend after fresh raids as part of a secret police investigation to unravel one of Sydney's largest crime syndicates. Yasser's girlfriend, Sadaf Kasemi, was arrested on Thursday and charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception. Police allege Yasser fabricated pay slips in order to obtain a mortgage for a $897,600 property in Sydney's west - according to The Daily Telegraph. Yasser has been granted bail to reappear at Burwood Local Court on October 4, while Kasemi is expected to appear at the same court on October 22. Yasser Sultani, whose brother 'Abs' is currently being held in Gouldburn's supermax security prison following an investigation (pictured) into eight gangland killings in 2016, allegedly fabricated pay slips in order to obtain a mortgage for a $897,600 property in Sydney's west Yasser's brother 'Abs' Sultani is being held in Goulburn's supermax security prison after being charged with murdering three underworld figures - including Pasquale Barbaro who was brazenly gunned down in Sydney's inner-west in 2016. He is also charged with conspiracy for murder of fellow Rebels bikie Ricky Ciano. The arrests are a part of Taskforce Ayle, which has been known only to a handful of senior officers for the past three years. NSW Police confirmed last week more than 1,300 firearms and over 12,600 rounds of ammunition have been collected as part of Strike Force Ayle (stock photo) NSW State Crime Commander Stuart Smith confirmed last week that more than 1,300 firearms and over 12,600 rounds of ammunition have been collected as part of Strike Force Ayle. Last month, it was announced that a record number of arrests and charges have been made over the past three years during the joint operation. The strike force has been conducted by the NSW State Crime Command, the Australian Federal Police as well as other agencies. A Lloyds customer used her husband's cheque book for 12 months without being stopped by the bank's fraud team. Eileen Jones, 79, unwittingly picked up her husband Kelvyn's cheque book in August last year and used it for a year, spending about 260. Her case has illustrated the fact that banks no longer routinely check signatures on cheques for small amounts. Eileen Jones, 79, unwittingly picked up her husband Kelvyn's cheque book in August last year and used it for a year, spending about 260 The couple have separate accounts with Lloyds. Mr Jones 74, a retired sales worker, was waiting for a new debit card to arrive when he discovered what had happened. When it was overdue, he called the bank and was told he should check his account for suspicious activity. He was concerned to find a payment of 42.99 to a fashion retailer and was sent a scan of the cheque. Mr Jones, from Bournemouth, was amazed to find it had been signed off by his wife, a retired travel agent. He discovered that she had accidentally used eight of his cheques before the error was identified. 'I felt angry,' said Mr Jones. 'Imagine what would have happened if someone else had got hold of my cheque book? 'They probably would have missed it and I could have lost a lot of money.' Money Mail has learned that Lloyds, along with several other banks, process cheques below an unidentified amount through an automated service. If a customer identifies a suspicious payment, the bank can then send a scan of the cheque, so they can see the signature. The bank will refund any disputed cheques where signatures differ clearly from those on their records from when customers open an account. But it means the onus is on the customer to identify the suspicious activity. It is understood this policy is in place because cheque fraud now accounts for less than 1 per cent of fraud. The couple have separate accounts with Lloyds. Mr Jones 74, a retired sales worker, was waiting for a new debit card to arrive when he discovered what had happened Cheque fraud losses stood at 9.8million in 2017, a 28 per cent drop on 2016. Forged cheque fraud, where someone signs a stolen cheque with a fake signature, accounted for nearly a quarter of cases in 2017, amounting to 4.3million. Martyn James, an expert at complaints website Resolver, said: 'Despite numerous attempts by the banks to kill off the humble cheque, over 400 million were issued in 2017. 'While banks save copies of the cheques you issue in case there's a dispute, they don't have an automated system for matching signatures to every single cheque. So if your cheque book goes missing or is pinched, you could be leaving an open door to your account.' He urged bank customers to treat their cheque book like their plastic cards. 'Keep it safe, check the transactions and be aware that cheque books can be abused by fraudsters relatively easily,' he said. Lloyds have refunded Mr Jones the full value of the cheques debited in error but he said his experience highlights a lack of diligence when it comes to clearing cheques. When it was overdue, he called the bank and was told he should check his account for suspicious activity. He was concerned to find a payment of 42.99 to a fashion retailer and was sent a scan of the cheque 'You pay your bank fees so you expect the service,' he said. 'It's not a DIY service. 'I feel they are focusing too much on the technical stuff involved in preventing online fraud. They need to get back to the grassroots of banking.' A Lloyds Bank spokesman said: 'We have robust processes in place to protect our customers from fraud. We encourage customers to check their statements regularly and contact us if there are any transactions they don't recognise.' Former pensions minister Baroness Ros Altmann accused banks of neglecting their older customers. 'The banks have an obligation to make clear to customers that they are not checking all signatures,' she said. 'A lot of older people don't have online banking and are more likely to be using cheques. 'These 'small amounts' could be small to the banks but for some customers they could be significant sums of money.' Michael Cohen. Photo: Mark Kauzlarich/Bloomberg via Getty Images Just after Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to committing campaign-finance violations at the direction of Donald Trump, a lawyer for Trumps former fixer went on a 24-hour TV blitz, boasting of the juicy information his client could share with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. But it wasnt clear that Cohen had actually sat down with prosecutors and begun sharing anything, until today. Vanity Fair reports: In recent weeks, it has also become common knowledge among close friends of Michael Cohen, Trumps former personal attorney, that Cohen is talking to the Mueller team, according to people familiar with the situation. The extent and purpose of those talks is not entirely clear. On CNN last month, Cohens lawyer Lanny Davis offered few details about what his client could offer Mueller. I do believe that he has information about Mr. Trump that would be of interest both in Washington as well as New York state, he said. News of Cohens conversations with Mueller comes on the same day that Paul Manafort cut a deal with prosecutors. Announced in court Friday, Manaforts plea deal is wide-ranging and could include everything from testifying in other court cases to interviews with Muellers office. With her love of neutral tones, and pared-back designs plus the figure-hugging cuts that show off her tiny waist and enviable legs, Meghan Markle has a trademark style that is instantly recognisable. But four months on from her marriage to Prince Harry, whats striking is what the Duchess of Sussex doesnt wear of the 22 outfits she has appeared in since she joined the Royal Family, only two have been by British labels. Since July, shes mostly to be seen clad in North American designs usually blue-chip brands including Ralph Lauren, Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta. Meghan (left) attending the Nelson Mandela Centenary Launch in London, in a pink sleeveless trench coat, while right she appears with Prince Harry wearing a black tailored dress She has also favoured legendary European fashion houses such as Prada, Dior and Givenchy. Some may think its a curious decision for a new member of our Royal Family, one who surely wants to win over public opinion in her adopted homeland. And after all, the so-called Kate Effect where anything the Duchess of Cambridge wears instantly sells out is calculated to boost the UK economy by around 152 million a year. On the left Meghan wears a khaki coloured dress, while right she attends the wedding of Daisy Jenks and Charlie van Straubenzee Thanks to Markles high U.S. profile, she could do the same. So why favour far-flung designers rather than home-grown names? A former actress who curated a lifestyle blog (The Tig), its likely Meghan joined the Firm with pre-established favourite designers, as well as friends and contacts in the fashion industry. And as an American who spent a lot of time working in Toronto filming the TV series Suits, its not surprising she often favours Canadian fashion brands that are virtually unknown in the UK. Left: Meghan attends the Your Common Wealth Youth Challenge Reception, while right she attends the 100 Days to Peace Music Gala These include House of Nonie the pink trench dress she wore to the Southbank Centre in July and Judith & Charles, the black wool tuxedo mini dress she chose for a charity performance of Hamilton last month. While Meghan has long been a supporter of Calgary label House of Nonie, theres another reason why the Duchess may favour these brands her close friendship with Canadian stylist Jessica Mulroney, whose three young children were among Meghans wedding attendants. Jessica is also a big fan of House of Nonie and while Meghan doesnt have an official stylist Jessica may be performing that duty for her. She certainly helped her pick the House of Nonie dress: the labels founder Nina Kharey wrote on Instagram thank you Jessica Mulroney #wearcanada proud, and told Hello! Canada [Jessica has] been a client of a few of my pieces and shes also a strong advocate for Canadian designers, so Im sure she showed [Meghan] my look book. Left Meghan attends her first solo event with the Queen, while right she attends Wimbledon Its impossible to believe Meghans not aware of the strong message clothes send out as Harrys fiancee she wore a tartan coat to Scotland and Welsh jeans on her first official visit to Wales. So while her chum Jessica Mulroney might want to boost Canadian labels, it might be more appropriate to her new role if Meghan championed UK designers especially our up-and- coming talent instead. A Hispanic Taco Bell employee has been fired after she was caught on tape refusing service to a customer, claiming that she didn't speak English and couldn't take down the patron's order. Customer Alexandria Montgomery, who is black, filmed the moment she was denied service at the Taco Bell drive-thru in Hialeah, Florida, a predominately Hispanic area in the city, on Wednesday. In the clip Montgomery interacts with the employee named Luisa, who was the general shift manager at the fast-food chain, at the drive-thru window. The video begins with Montgomery asking: 'Do you have a manager here?' A Florida Taco Bell employee who went by Luisa (above) was fired after she was caught on tape refusing to serve a customer, saying she didn't understand English on Wednesday Luisa told drive-thru customer Alexandria Montgomery: 'Can you move please? I have an order behind you. There is no one who speaks English' Luisa replies in Spanish 'She is in her house sleeping' and says no one in the building speaks English and asks her to move on as there are cars lined up behind her. Outraged Montgomery repeats: 'Nobody here speak English? So you can't take my order? But I want to order food!' When Montgomery refuses to move Luisa closes shut the drive thru window and locks it. 'She's telling me I can't order because she doesn't speak English - who's wrong?' Montgomery fumes. Luisa threatens to call the police and two other employees approach the patron from the window to say no one speaks English at the restaurant. After some back and forth Luisa became frustrated and shut the drive-thru window and threatened to call the police The incident took place at this Taco Bell joint in Hialeah, Florida, a predominately Hispanic area 'Can you move please? I have an order behind you. There is no one who speaks English,' Luisa says in the clip. 'This is America. Y'all don't take over the whole population!' Montgomery replies. 'She doesn't want to help me because she don't speak English but you know the menu so you know what I'm talking about if I say I want number 6 on the menu. You don't just completely shut me out because you don't speak English, that's not fair,' she added. Video of the altercation has gone viral online, racking up over 147,000 views. '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 said to El Nuevo Herald. Montgomery's post, pictured above, went viral. She later updated it saying Luisa was fired Montgomery's video of the altercation went viral racking up 147,000 views. Montgomery pictured above In the video Montgomery said: 'You know the menu so you know what I'm talking about if I say I want number 6 on the menu. You don't just completely shut me out because you don't speak English, that's not fair' Taco Bell Corp. released a statement to DailyMail.com following the incident. 'This does not meet our customer experience expectations. We have worked quickly to resolve with the customer to ensure this doesnt happen again,' a spokesperson said. 'The individual no longer works for the brand,' the company added. Montgomery updated her viral video posted to Facebook hours later writing that Luisa was not the worker's real name and she was fired following the incident. 'Luisa was fired today. Luisa isnt even her real name lol. She was the general manager on that shift,' Montgomery wrote. A $100,000 reward has been offered for information on the strawberry saboteur amid fears six brands across four states have been targeted with needle insertion. The contamination is believed to have affected the brands Berry Obsession, Berry Licious and Donnybrook. NSW police warn fruit sold under the Love Berry, Delightful Strawberries and Oasis brands were inserted with needles by a possible copycat. Scroll down for video Six brands of strawberries have been pulled from supermarket shelves after sewing needles and pins were found inside the fruit These brands are sold in Coles and Woolworths supermarkets across Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has issued the reward over concerns for growers as well as consumers. NSW Police said in a statement late Friday that it is unknown if the contamination is related to the original Queensland incident or a copycat as the products have yet to be forensically examined. Products sold under those labels have been pulled from shelves but it is unclear just how big the health issue has become with punnets being sold across Australia. A health warning to throw out or cut up strawberries remains in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia as authorities hunt those responsible. 'We've got to look at this as a whole, it's a very, very broad picture and we can't speculate in any way, shape or form,' Queensland Acting Chief Superintendent Terry Lawrence told reporters on Friday. On Thursday, Queensland police announced they were also investigating a suspected copycat incident after a metal rod was discovered on top of strawberries inside a plastic punnet at Coles in Gatton. NSW police warn fruit sold under the Love Berry, Delightful Strawberries and Oasis brands were inserted with needles by a possible copycat 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 images 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. Boris Johnson has urged MPs to focus on 'chucking Chequers' rather than Theresa May, days after Brexiteers met to war-game ways to oust the Prime Minister. Fevered speculation continues to mount over the former foreign secretary's leadership ambitions and Tory peer Lord Heseltine has predicted Mr Johnson will take the top job. But Guto Harri, a key former adviser to Mr Johnson, said his former boss was 'digging his political grave' and would be a 'hugely divisive figure' if he succeeded Mrs May. Stay focused: Boris Johnson, pictured earlier this week, urged MPs to focus on 'chucking Chequers' rather than ousting the Prime Minister He said the ex-London mayor was 'dragging us into a place where we think that we can joke about suicide vests and that we can be sexually incontinent'. Around 50 Tory MPs spent nearly an hour plotting ways to replace Mrs May on Tuesday evening amid continued anger over the Chequers plan for Brexit. Asked if he had a message for them, Mr Johnson told The Daily Telegraph: 'It's not about the leadership. It's about the policy. 'It's not about changing prime minister. It's about chucking Chequers.' Mr Johnson faced a Tory backlash over his claim that Mrs May's Brexit strategy had put the UK in a 'suicide vest' and handed the detonator to Brussels. Lord Heseltine said the slew of recent negative headlines that have dogged Mr Johnson have not done him irreparable harm. The former deputy prime minister, who has been an outspoken critic of Mr Johnson, told BBC Radio 4's The Week In Westminster: 'Has he done himself any irreparable harm? Well I don't think he has. 'What you have to say to yourself is who the Tory Party membership of the House of Commons is going to choose to send to the activists of the Conservative Party in any leadership campaign. 'Whilst there is strong opposition to Boris, I find it difficult to think of two names that they will send that don't include him. Fevered speculation continues to mount over ex-foreign secretary's leadership ambitions 'And, if he gets before the activists, my guess is that he will get the nomination. 'All that is one thing. But if you then ask a second question. Does that unify the party? Does that solve Brexit? Does it get Britain back into the centre ground. 'Those are the key questions about achieving power and my doubts and reservations are very substantial.' Mr Harri, who was Mr Johnson's communications director when he was London mayor, said his former boss was doing 'enormous damage' to himself with his increasingly controversial use of language, which has always been 'very calculated'. He told the programme: 'I fear that Boris is digging. Somebody needs to take the spade out of his hand or it looks to me like he's digging his political grave. 'It's one thing to deploy humour and charm and intellect and all these things he has in spades which he has done brilliantly in the past, not least his exquisite gift of language. 'But at the moment it is being deployed in a really destructive and self-destructive way that I think is doing enormous damage to him as well as to the country. 'People always said he shot from the hip and used language loosely or gaffed. It was always very calculated. 'It was just calculated in a very, very clever way in the past. Over a period of time, Boris did move from celebrity to statesman and did widen his appeal enormously. 'He was a huge unifying figure by the end of my time with him when the Olympics happened in London. 'There were people on left and right. He would not have been re-elected in a left leaning city like London if he hadn't appealed to the left. 'Now he's gone the other way. He's become more tribal, and tribal within the tribe, so that he would now be - if he were to become leader - a hugely divisive figure. 'And that for somebody who is equipped to be a unifying figure, who's equipped to create a feel-good factor, who's equipped to take us all on whatever journey because he makes it fun, he makes it exciting and he is a true visionary. 'Unfortunately he is now dragging us into a place where we think that we can joke about suicide vests and that we can be sexually incontinent.' Mr Johnson has also faced intense newspaper coverage over reports linking him with ex-Tory communications director Carrie Symonds after it was announced he and his wife are to divorce. Britain's toughest head teacher is selling 'brick phones' to parents in a bid to curb their children's addiction to smartphones. Katharine Birbalsingh, the head of Michaela Community School in north London, said the use of a smartphone at an early age is damaging to children and that they should be kept away from the devices until they are at least 16. Instead, she wants parents to provide their child with a 'brick phone', which performs only basic functions such as making calls and texts. The school is offering the phone, a Doro 5030, to parents at the wholesale price of 29. It works on any network. Katharine Birbalsingh (pictured) said the use of smartphones is damaging to children Miss Birbalsingh, whose school has hit the headlines in the past over its tough disciplinary measures, said 60 per cent of her Year 7 students aged 11 and 12 have a smartphone. 'Parents need to be hyper-aware of the damages that phones can do and unsupervised access to the internet, what that can do to your child,' she said. 'The best thing you can do for your child is give them a brick phone and keep the smartphone away from them until they're at least 16. I'm not saying no to technology, we use technology, I'm saying that we need to get better and cleverer at how we use it.' The head said children have praised the school's new policy for helping to curb their smartphone usage. 'Kids love it, honestly,' she said. 'They really get it. They talk to me about how 'we are addicted' and they can't get off their phones, and they need help. 'If the child is older and has had a smartphone for years, it's very difficult to take it away from them. If the child has never had one, then you're more likely to have success, which is why I would be keen for primary schools to be doing this. The headteacher has placed a strict ban on phones at the school in Wembley Park, north London 'What we have found is that about 40 per cent of parents joining in Year 7 have not yet bought their children a smartphone. For that 40 per cent, I really hope for their children to remain without a smartphone.' Michaela School, in Wembley Park, already has a strict phones policy in place. If a pupil's mobile is seen or heard anywhere on school grounds it will be confiscated immediately. It is only returned at the end of term or half-term. Those caught using a phone during the last two weeks of term will not see their devices again until the end of the following half-term which could mean a period of around 16 weeks if it is confiscated in the summer term. The school is not alone in introducing tough measures to stop smartphones disrupting pupils' education. The City of London Academy is threatening to subject its students to searches if persistent offences occur. The Sydney Harbour Bridge almost looked very different to the iconic landmark we all know and love today. The Australian government ran four separate community competitions between 1900 to 1924 to find the perfect design for a connecting bridge between the city's north and south. Prior to the bridge's construction, the ferry system held a monopoly on the waters, offering the only means to travel between the two sides of the ever-expanding New South Wales capital. The Sydney Harbour Bridge almost looked very different to the iconic landmark we all know and love today (pictured) The Australian government ran four separate community competitions between 1900 to 1924 to find the perfect design for a connecting bridge between the city's north and south (pictured is a proposed design) Dozens of designs were submitted for the bridge across the years (pictured is a proposed design) With more than 5 million people using the ferry service annually by the 1890's, the government began seriously considering the prospect of alternative travel. Suggestions varied widely from a three pronged bridge to filling in the harbour entirely, and even a very early and forward-thinking sketch of a harbour tunnel. Ultimately, it was John Bradford's cavernous arc bridge that won over politicians. State Library of NSW curator Anni Turnbull told the Sydney Morning Herald is it 'remarkable that it actually got built'. Prior to the bridge's construction, the ferry system held a monopoly on the waters, offering the only means to travel between the two sides of the ever-expanding city (people catching a ferry in 1900) Other designs included cantilevered bridges and flat iron bridges, which would have halted shipping in and out of the harbour The bridge enthusiast has spent her career pouring over the designs that were shortlisted or submitted over the years, and acknowledges that while some were conservative and well thought out, others bordered on fantastical. 'Then there was an idea for a pontoon bridge that would swing around, and then the other one that we've got is the 1840 design for a floating bridge, and I don't know how that would have worked frankly,' she said. Other designs included cantilevered bridges, a stiffened suspension bridge and flat iron bridges, which would have halted shipping in and out of the harbour, and an underwater tunnel; the latter of which was posed in a pill to parliament in the 1890's. 'I don't know how they would have dug the tunnels then,' she said. Norman Selfe tendered multiple drafts to be considered throughout the years, one of which was the winner of the competition run to find the perfect design. Despite this, he couldn't win over parliament with his plans (pictured is one of his early submissions) Suggestions varied widely from a three pronged bridge (pictured) to a very early and forward-thinking sketch of a harbour tunnel The three span bridge was proposed by Ernest Stowe, an architect of the era. He suggested a central tower linking Sydney to the North Shore and Balmain The three span bridge was proposed by Ernest Stowe, an architect of the era. He suggested a central tower linking Sydney's inner city to the North Shore and suburb of Balmain. Norman Selfe tendered multiple drafts to be considered throughout the years, one of which won the competition for perfect design. Despite this, he couldn't win over parliament with his plans. The monument itself did not begin construction until 1923 and was not complete until March 1932 - nine years later. The bridge, which is the world's tallest single span bridge, cost 16 men their lives during the construction period. Allegations of Mr Foots links to Soviet intelligence, made by double-agent Oleg Gordievsky MI6 believed claims made by a Soviet defector that former Labour leader Michael Foot was a paid KGB contact, according to a new book. Intelligence chiefs were reportedly briefed on the politicians KGB history in 1982 and were prepared to pass on the information to the Queen had he become prime minister after the following years general election. Allegations of Mr Foots links to Soviet intelligence, made by double-agent Oleg Gordievsky, were first published in the Sunday Times 23 years ago. At the time he dismissed the claims as a big lie and successfully sued the paper for libel. But documents, published in The Spy and the Traitor, show that MI6 thought the evidence presented by Mr Gordievsky was strong enough to pass on to the Queen. In a 1982 debriefing, the former agent allegedly said the KGB had paid Mr Foot the equivalent of 37,000 in todays money, according to the new book. Even though he was supposedly paid by the Soviets, Mr Gordievsky said that the politician was not a spy or conscious agent. Instead he was allegedly a contact who was paid for disinformation purposes, meaning he might have been fed false information. Mr Foot lost the 1983 election to Margaret Thatchers Conservative Party, helped in large part by Britains victory in the Falklands War. Author Ben Macintyre wrote: Within MI6 there were discussions about the constitutional implications if Michael Foot won the election. It was agreed that should a politician with a KGB history become prime minister of Britain, then the Queen would have to be informed. The double agent (pictured) said that the Labour leader was an informant for the KGB MI6 chiefs were so concerned about Michael Foot's (pictured, right) alleged links to the KGB that they were prepared to pass information onto the Queen (pictured, left, in 1982) The journalist also revealed that the information was too politically incendiary to show to Margaret Thatcher. The allegations made against Mr Foot were detailed in a 400-page file labelled Agent Boot. The word agent is believed to have been later crossed out when Mr Foot was demoted to a confidential contact. The file claims Mr Foot was first contacted by Soviet intelligence while working at the left-wing magazine Tribune in the 1940s. Mr Gordievsky also made claims about how the Soviet secret services had infiltrated other factions of the Labour Party, which had become increasingly left-wing in the early 1980s. The partys 1983 election manifesto, which outlined several socialist policies, was later dubbed the longest suicide note in history by Labour MP Gerald Kaufman. Mr Foot resigned following the election defeat and three years as Labour leader. He died in 2010 aged 96. Trade union leader Jack Jones was also listed as an agent by Mr Gordievsky. The spy claimed he met Mr Jones for lunch, but found him absolutely useless as a contact. Mr Gordievsky became a double-agent for MI6 in the 1970s, later rising to be head of the KGBs London station in the early 1980s. For parents with sons and daughters preparing for the new university year, September is the cruellest month. Forget the hilarity following Waitroses claim that essential student kitchen ingredients include tamari soy sauce, harissa paste and organic cider vinegar. A new university term can leave parents worrying their child may not be able to cope with the pressures of student life. A new university term can leave parents worrying their child may not be able to cope with the pressures of student life Will they make the right kind of friends? Will they get the proper balance between studying and partying? Will they deal with the anxiety that social media triggers, making them think theyre missing out on the exciting, interesting experiences others claim to be enjoying? For new students, it will probably be the first time they have spent a long period away from home. As they embark on this adventure, despite having the security of a smartphone and WhatsApp, Mum or Dad are not there to turn to. Parental fears are not eased by media stories about youngsters who have gone off the rails, suffered mental health problems and, in extremis, committed suicide. Indeed, this week a study published by Harvard researchers stated that 20 per cent of students had thought about killing themselves. Parental fears are not eased by media stories about youngsters who have gone off the rails, suffered mental health problems whilst at university And official statistics show that between 10 and 30 per cent of the adult population have thought about suicide in the past year. But as someone who has worked for many years in mental health, I believe these scare stories hide a more reassuring truth. Without doubt, thinking about suicide can, at times, be a normal human trait. Lots of people do it. But the vast majority are not suffering a mental illness and they certainly have no intention of ever acting on those thoughts. Exporting the NHS is a great idea The NHS is to be franchised worldwide. According to government plans, Britain should advise other countries particularly those with rapidly expanding economies on how to develop their healthcare systems. The plan has led to criticism: some say it betrays a colonialist attitude, while others suggest NHS chiefs should concentrate on improving services here. I think it is an imaginative idea. The NHS has world-leading centres of excellence and many of its clinicians are global experts. Its right to capitalise on this. Moorfields (home to top eye specialists) has already launched a hospital in Dubai, while the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (a mental health specialist) has helped set up units in Abu Dhabi. Other trusts are working in China. If the NHS doesnt do this, U.S. companies will. By selling British expertise, we are helping other countries, forging strong links and bringing extra cash to the NHS. Its a win-win arrangement. Advertisement They are simply reacting badly to commonplace events: a break-up or the death of someone close, for instance. Such feelings are usually transient. People move on often benefiting from the sympathy of family or loved ones. They are not suffering from a mental illness and dont need treatment. This isnt to ignore the fact some suicidal thoughts can lead to actual suicide. But I am convinced the welter of research in this area causes more alarm than help. It has become part of modern societys irresponsible medicalisation of everyday distress with even the most mundane problem being considered a mental illness necessitating professional help. With regard to students, they are at an age late-teens to early-20s when problems seem to mount up and the propensity for mental illnesses is at its highest. Understandably, universities have strengthened their student support departments over recent years to help those suffering emotional distress. To me, though, this is another area of concern. Students feel its easier to turn to these facilities rather than use NHS mental health services. However, these campus counsellors are rarely trained psychologists or psychiatrists with the ability to identify those with a real, serious mental illness as opposed to those who just need a chat and reassurance. The pills that are as hard to kick as heroin One in four older people who are prescribed benzodiazepines a sedative group including Valium (diazepam) become addicted, according to new research. This is most worrying and chimes with what I witnessed when I worked in drug clinics and saw people from all walks of life get hooked on these pills. Many organisations such as the National Treatment Agency For Substance Misuse, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Department of Health rightly warn of the dangers. Without doubt, these drugs cause untold misery. I have long been an outspoken critic of them and those who prescribe them. True, they can be useful, but only in the very short term and that means no more than a week. Too often, though, both doctors and patients want a quick fix. Thus they are dispensed on repeat prescription. These drugs are known euphemistically as mothers little helpers. But my experience tells me they can be so addictive that they can be far harder to wean off than heroin. It breaks my heart to think of desperate people, suffering anxiety or insomnia, going in good faith to their doctor and being prescribed a medicine that, in the long term, can make their symptoms worse. The safer, more reliable, way of dealing with anxiety and sleep problems is psychotherapy. Yes, it is costly and time-consuming. But a little extra money and the use of more expertise can save a lot of pain and heartache later on. Advertisement This means, as I have seen countless times, students with grave conditions including eating disorders, suicidal depression, severe PTSD, anxiety and emerging psychotic illnesses are being dealt with by someone who isnt properly experienced or qualified. There is, too, a dangerous knock-on effect with NHS mental health service staff thinking they can abrogate responsibility to university services when it is their own duty to help instead. Students are at an age late-teens to early-20s when problems seem to mount up and the propensity for mental illnesses is at its highest While it is vital that everyone who needs support from the mental health services is able to get it, its equally important to realise time at university is, on the whole, a wonderfully positive experience for most young people. Yes, we all make mistakes. But that doesnt mean we are suffering mental health problems. Above all, experiencing and then overcoming lifes difficulties is the making of us as human beings. Calorie counting Ministers want cafes, restaurants and takeaways to display the calorie content of their food. It is meant to help fight the obesity crisis. A fat lot of good that will do! People arent obese because they dont know how many calories are in their chips. Theyre obese because they dont care. This is the real issue. Panic for patients I have seen patients panic when allocated a hospital bed numbered 13. One Scottish hospital I worked in had no Ward 13. Psychologists explain such superstitions as the way that people handle dangerous, unpredictable situations. However, new research suggests theres no increased risk of dying if you are in bed No. 13. While chuckling about this study, I realise that many people think being superstitious puts them in control. For my part, I know that what happens in life is random. It can be joyful or unfair. But I can see why Durham Council omitted 13 from new-builds, numbering the houses 12a instead. Twenty-two years ago, on a balmy summer night, Shaun Russell received the worst news of his life. Frantic with worry that his wife Lin and daughters had not come home from the Brownies, he was letting two police officers into his home. One of them said: Im sorry to have to tell you we have found your family, not far from here. Im afraid none of them has survived. His wife and Megan, six, had been bludgeoned to death with a hammer, along with their dog. Josie, then nine, miraculously survived despite horrific head injuries. Later Shaun recalled seeing her in hospital: Her eyes were black and blue and tight shut, but the freckles across her nose above the oxygen mask, I knew: Its Josie. Here was my reason for living. This week, a poised and lovely Josie, now 31 and engaged, appeared on ITVs Lorraine show, giving us a remarkable lesson in the optimism and courage of the human spirit. This week, a poised and lovely Josie, now 31 and engaged, appeared on ITVs Lorraine show, giving us a remarkable lesson in the optimism and courage of the human spirit She and her fiance are living in the original family home in the Welsh hills she used to share with her parents and sister before they moved to Kent, where the attack happened. A home that, she says, holds so many happy memories. Josie today is a successful textile artist and shes turned her old bedroom into a studio. She refuses to dwell on the horrific events that would seem utterly insurmountable to most of us: I dont remember very much, she said. We just carried on with life. We went out and did normal teenage stuff. Im not a victim, Im not a survivor. Im just me. Asked how she overcame the tragedy she added: I think being really, really busy. I just get on with life and just carry on. I love my job, its all fine. Happy. Josies story came in the week one report said that a quarter of teenage girls are suffering from depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. Another shockingly revealed that one in four 14-year-old girls self-harm. I am not for a moment denigrating these girls who are clearly suffering, subjected as they are to many pressures not least the constant hateful judgment of their peers on social media. My point is that Josie gives them hope. She proves you can overcome adversity, no matter how terrible. Far from indulging in victimhood and self-pity, she is determined to make the best of her life. Her greatest joy today, apart from planning life with her fiance, is her Mums pony, Rosie, which she used to ride as a child. Now Rosies quite old, I take her for walks, she said. What a tribute she is to her father Shaun. And what a role model for troubled young girls everywhere. Asked what her favourite shops in London are, Victoria Beckham says her own, of course. And Daunt Books. Posh reading anything but fashion glossies? Give me a break. Or is this her famous sense of humour? Just Dance, Kate When Strictly began it was about the dancing, not the sob story. Now we have lovely Kate Silverton (left) pleading special privileges because, at 48, shes a late-in-life mum and recently menopausal. Sorry, Kate, but thats about as exciting as an all-night hot flush. Kate Silverton (pictured) is pleading special privileges because she's a late-in-life mother Shortly before his death, art dealer Oliver Hoare revealed that he regretted the hurt caused by his affair with Princess Diana 25 years ago, especially to Diane, his wife who stood by him to the end. Of the Princess, he said: I told her before anything had happened it would end in a lot of pain for us both, but it would be a lot of fun along the way. Fun for the women-magnet Hoare perhaps, but not for the two women he left heartbroken. Joanna still Ab Fab Before she took to the Silk Road on ITV this week, some wondered how Joanna Lumley (below), now 72, would manage the gruelling 7,000-mile journey from Venice to China. She was, as always, sublime. From Purdey in The New Avengers back in the Seventies to Ab Fabs Patsy in the Nineties, weve remained entranced by her. Forget TV ageism. If youre fabulous, we cant get enough of you even in your 70s. Swinson's a proper Lib Dummy Lib Dem Jo Swinson (below) made history in a Commons debate about maternity rights for MPs. She clutched her 11-week-old baby to her bosom in the chamber. She didnt make a speech, as it happened although her virtue-signalling on behalf of the sisterhood spoke louder than words. Is it any wonder these pampered politicians are now considered so out of touch with real folk? Imagine what would happen if a young mum arrived at Tescos for her eight-hour shift on the tills with a baby strapped to her chest. In a self-selecting survey, todays pious 18-year-olds say they are less likely to drink than the previous generation, yet are much more lonely. To quote the infamous tippler Kingsley Amis, it will be down to the basic fact that conversation, hilarity and drink are connected in a profoundly human, peculiarly intimate way. Ill drink to that. As the new face of M&S, Holly Willoughby proudly wears clothes from the High Street giant, despite being worth 21million. Id pay good money to see what designer clothes she dons when shes not being little Mrs Normal on ITVs This Morning. But even Givenchy couldnt conceal those adorably chubby knees, although she does wear ankle boots to cover up her cankles. Westminster wars Diane Abbott says the Tory immigration policies are akin to the ethnic cleansing of the murderous Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, fuelling more comments about her stupidity on Twitter. As well as this joke: On her recent visit to Northern Ireland, Diane Abbott was asked what she thought of County Down. She replied: I preferred it when Carol Vorderman was on it. Jeremy Corbyns private secretary is a pro-Palestinian activist alleged to have donated money to a charity that supports the families of accused terrorists. Iram Awan has also managed to bypass the strict Commons security vetting for nine months and isnt cleared for a pass, so Corbyn squirrels her in each day. Truly, theyre a match made in Hamas heaven. Plaudits all round! The stars of the three new major TV dramas Bodyguard, Wanderlust and Black Earth Rising are all clever, middle-aged, ball-breaking women. The only difference with Black Earth Risings emancipated lead, Harriet Walter, is that she got through the first week without jumping into bed with her co-star. The fat cats are closer than you think, Justin So heartening for us church-goers to see the Archbishop of Canterbury getting a standing ovation at the TUC conference. He derided Universal Credit (which has seen a sharp decline in the number of workless households) and described the gig economys zero-hour contracts (which the Church routinely uses) as the reincarnation of an ancient evil. Was the irony lost on Justin Welby that, while blasting fat cats, he was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the TUCs chief Frances OGrady, who has awarded herself 18,000 in pay rises since she got the job in 2013. Her comradely pay package comes to an eye-watering 175,000. Up the workers! Battling department store Myer has unveiled plans to save themselves - but it doesn't mean customers will be happy with the impending changes. Myer's new boss John King has been quick to criticise the failings of the 118-year-old retail giant which suffered a record $486million annual loss in 2017-18. Mr King has announced a back-to-basics strategy to help save the department store from dwindling sales, the Saturday Telegraph reported. Battling department store Myer has unveiled plans to save themselves after the retail giant retail giant suffered a record $486million annual loss in 2017-18 The former House of Fraser boss admitted the company lost sight of its core customer and needs to focus on premium products at affordable prices in the mid-market. 'We are not going high-end, we are not going down to the lower end, we are just there in the middle. We're a company for all Australians,' Mr King said. But the strategy of devoting an entire level to discounts is first to be axed as Mr King believes they are an embarrassment and resemble 'the Salvation Army'. He has promised a revamped and more-user friendly website, launching this month, to continue to boost online sales. Despite the terrible decline in store sales, the retailer had a much better performance online - no doubt the impetus for the revamped website. Over the last year, online sales were up 34.1 per cent to $192.5m, with total online sales now representing 7.7 per cent of the total retailer sales, The Australian reported. Myer's new boss John King (pictured, left, with Myer chairman Garry Hounsell pictured, right) has announced a back-to-basics strategy to help save the department store from dwindling sales The company also plans to introduce more Myer private label stock to dominate their clothing racks. Other strategies include reducing Myer's stores from three floors to two and cutting costs in the management ranks. The face of Myer, Jennifer Hawkins, was one of the first to face the chopping board, slicing away at her expensive annual $1.3million. Ms Hawkins, who has worked with the company for twelve years, announced her retirement from Myer in August. The face of Myer, Jennifer Hawkins (pictured), was one of the first to face the chopping board, slicing away at her expensive annual $1.3million Hawkins has been replaced by 25-year-old Elyse Knowles (pictured) who is understood to have signed up for $150,000 She has been replaced by 25-year-old Elyse Knowles who is understood to have signed up for $150,000. The company has also withdrawn the well-established traditional Melbourne Cup Myer Marquee at the spring racing carnival. Mr King did not attend attend the Myer-sponsored Katy Perry concerts, likely indicating his disapproval of the hefty spend. Mr King was brought on board by Myer in June to help rectify the financial damages, slashing costs wherever he can. The Greek coast guard on Friday closed a world-famous beach on the holiday island of Zakynthos after seven people were injured in a rockfall. Authorities evacuated and shut down access to the beach, which can only by reached by boat, as a precaution. Coast guard and fire brigade officials confirmed that the injuries sustained were not life-threatening. Video footage of the moment showed the rock split and drop onto the shore, sending up a cloud of dust and speeding waves inland over the assorted tourists. A Czech woman suffered back injuries and was transferred to hospital, a coast official said. The woman's husband and two children were hospitalized with minor injuries. As reported by the Evening Standard, Josh O'Connell, 21, of Kilkenny, Ireland works for a local tour company and described the terrifying scene. Zimbabwe declares cholera emergency Authorities say there are more than 3,000 suspected cases of cholera with some 45 confirmed. Since then, water and sanitation infrastructure has been collapsing. "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. He said: "I thought more was coming and I just started running". Rescue services with sniffer dogs are searching the beach for possible victims. (Supplied) Small boats at the beach were capsized as a result of the fall sparking big waves. Greek news outlet Nooz said early reports that said three people were injured and others were missing were inaccurate. The beach is also known as Shipwreck Beach. A handwritten note left of the door of slain grandmother's apartment has friends questioning whether or not it was a ploy to delay a search for the 55-year-old. Julie Anne Cooper had been missing for almost a month before her body was uncovered by police at Ashendon, Perth's south-east, on Thursday. A handwritten note was left on the door of her Doubleview home around the same time she disappeared, Perth Now revealed on Saturday. 'Gone away with my wonderful new partner,' the note read, according to friends. Those close to Ms Cooper are now questioning the legitimacy of the note and wonder whether it may have been a ploy to delay her family from searching for her. 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 Investigators have not uncovered the note and said they are still searching for Ms Cooper's silver 2006 Toyota Camry. Mathew Mark Hemsley, 31, has been charged with murder over Ms Cooper's death and appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday. He was not required to enter a plea and has been remanded in custody to appear in court on September 26. Detectives and forensic officers spent Thursday morning searching for Ms Cooper before discovering her remains. The Doubleview resident had not been seen since August 17. Police want those who witnessed the man's illegal maneouvre to come forward Police want those who witnessed the man's illegal maneouvre to come forward Officers tried to run after him but he had already righted his bike and sped away Officers tried to run after him but he had already righted his bike and sped away Moments later he fell from his motorbike while riding off down the highway The bikie performed a huge burnout outside a police station in Queensland The bikie performed a huge burnout outside a police station in Queensland A brazen motorcyclist performed an illegal burnout outside a police station before falling off his bike and then fleeing from police as they ran outside to catch him. Footage released by Queensland Police showed the male rider as he approached Springwood Police Station on Pacific Highway near Brisbane on Thursday. He stopped in front of the station building, before sending out a huge cloud of exhaust as he revved his engine. A brazen motorcyclist performed an illegal burnout outside Springwood police station in Queensland on September 13 Moments later the bikie fell from his motorcycle as he rode away from the police station As he rode away from the station, the bikie fell off his motorcycle. A woman with a pram appeared to watch on. Having righted his bike, the motorcyclists then sped off down the highway - just as two police officers came out of the station to try and catch him. The man was last seen travelling south on the Pacific Highway Service Road. They believe he was wearing the colours of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang at the time. Police are appealing for anyone who saw the bikie's illegal maneouvre or who has dashcam footage to come forward. Advertisement President Trump issued a disaster declaration early Saturday that will help residents in North Carolina begin the process of rebuilding their homes and communities in the wake of the storm. That came as the region is dealing with a deluge of ran on top of the storm surge, resulting in flood waters that have left some homes completely underwater. This rain also has officials concerned about flash flooding, which in the past have caused just as much damage as the actual hurricane in the wake of these devastating storms. President Trump also revealed he will be heading to North Carolina next week to asses the damage. Hundreds of residents were left trapped ad close to a million had no power in the wake of the storm, while eight were killed as Hurricane Florence battered the south-east coast of America on its path of destruction. Blowing ashore with howling 90 mph winds, Hurricane Florence splintered buildings, trapped hundreds of people and swamped entire communities along the Carolina coast. Roads became flooded, trees blown over and homes destroyed as some parts of North Carolina have already seen surges of flood water as high as 10ft. As Florence first broke on land yesterday 90mph winds struck the coastal areas, but as the storm system moved across land it was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm. But it continues to soak the East Coast area with rain, downing trees, damaging homes and leaving hundreds of people stranded as it slowly grinds over the eastern states, with winds of 65mph. Firefighters use a boat to rescue three people from their flooded home during the Hurricane Florence in New Bern on Friday Robert Simmons Jr. and his kitten 'Survivor' are rescued from floodwaters in New Bern on Friday in the aftermath of Florence Volunteers from all over North Carolina help rescue residents and their pets from their flooded homes in New Bern Rescue team members Sgt. Matt Locke (left) and Sgt. Nick Muhar (right) evacuates a family from floodwaters in New Bern A car was left stuck in a flooded parking lot outside the New Bern Mall after a 10ft surge of water crashed through the city A gas station has its roof blown off in Wilmington. The storm has already killed five people, including a mother and her eight-month-old baby Forecasters have warned parts of North and South Carolina, and Virginia are at risk of being hit by deadly flash floods form the rising water cause by the storm. Eight deaths have been linked to the storm and around 2,000 people have been forced to stay in emergency shelters. Swift-water rescue teams had saved more than 360 people in New Bern, North Carolina, by mid-afternoon on Friday, and another 140 were still waiting for help, a city spokeswoman said. More than 1.7 million people in North and South Carolina were under evacuation orders before Florence hit, but it's unclear how many of them decided to remain in their homes. Nearly a million are without power in the Carolinas early on Saturday, with 773,559 outages in North Carolina and 166,589 without electricity in South Carolina. The storm has already killed five people, including a mother and her eight-month-old baby. Lesha Murphy-Johnson and her baby, Zac, were trapped inside their home in Wilmington after a tree fell onto the roof at around 9.30am on Friday. Homes are flooded after a storm surge from Hurricane Florence flooded the Neuse River on Friday in New Bern Boats pushed away from the dock are seen on a street during the passing of Hurricane Florence in the town of New Bern Volunteer rescuers are seen navigating the flooded streets of New Bern, where hundreds remained despite evacuation orders Flooding from the heavy rain is forcing hundreds of people to call for emergency rescues in the area around New Bern, North Carolina, which sits at the confluence of the Nuese and Trent rivers Firefighters who frantically tried to lift the tree so they could escape began kneeling in a circle to pray after it became apparent there was nothing further they could do. The baby's father, Lawrence, was rescued and taken into an ambulance but police declared the mother and baby dead at 2.30pm. National Guard were then called in to remove the shattered tree. Murphy-Johnson's death was confirmed to DailyMail.com by her ex-husband who was shown her ID by authorities and asked to identify her. Separately, a woman died of a heart attack in Hampstead after medics were unable to reach her, officials announced on Friday afternoon. In Kinston, two additional fatalities were reported including a 78-year-old man who was electrocuted while trying to connect a generator extension cord in the rain, and a 77-year-old man was found dead outside of his home, possibly after having been blown over by the wind while checking on his dogs, officials said. In Fayetteville, North Carolina, two people died in a house fire, after firefighters were prevented for entering the building quickly due to the storm. The cause of the blaze is still unknown. Water from the Neuse river floods the streets during the passing of Hurricane Florence in the besieged city of New Bern Rescue workers attempt to remove a giant tree that toppled onto a house and killed a mother and her baby and injured a third person in Wilmington Tahrike Shaw sings, prays and dances as he walks along the sidewalk as Hurricane Florence comes ashore in Wilmington, North Carolina Florence is expected to dump 18 trillion gallons of rainwater on US soil, meteorologist Ryan Maue. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said the hurricane was likely to 'continue its violent grind for days' and described the severity of the downfalls as a '1,000 year event'. The White House said yesterday that President Donald Trump would travel to the region next week unless his trip would disrupt clean-up and rescue efforts. Although not directly on the coast, the besieged city of New Bern, North Carolina, was inundated by a massive 10ft storm surge when the adjacent Neuse River burst its banks on Thursday night as Florence simultaneously dumped huge amounts of rain on the area - as much as 23 inches in nearby Morehead City. 'I feel like the dumbest human being who ever walked the face of the earth,' said Tom Ballance, who owns a restaurant in New Bern, on his decision not to evacuate. Though not directly on the coast, New Bern was inundated by a massive 10ft storm surge when the adjacent Neuse River burst its banks on Thursday night as Florence simultaneously dumped huge amounts of rain on the area - as much as 23 inches in nearby Morehead City. A Wilmington resident wades through the water as he walks through the high water caused by tropical storm Florence One of New Bern's signature bears sits in the middle of a flooded Front Street downtown after being displaced by floods New Bern resident Teddie Davis checks on another one of the bears that was toppled and damaged by Hurricane Florence A rescue team from the North Carolina National Guard 1/120th battalion evacuates a family as the rising floodwaters from Hurricane Florence threatens their home in New Bern on Friday A fallen tree crashed through the roof of a fast food restaurant in Wilmington. Thousands have been left without power after the tropical storm Ballance said his wife went to Atlanta and he stayed behind in their New Bern home with their three dogs and a cat. Around 3.30pm Thursday, the electricity went out. By midnight, his rain gauge showed that he'd gotten nine inches of rain since mid-afternoon. He drifted off to sleep. About 40 minutes later, he woke and went to a sun room, where he'd boarded up all the windows except for a small hole. He shone a flashlight through the glass. 'I about jumped out of my skin,' he said in a phone interview Friday morning. 'These were waves crashing down.' Those waves were coming from the Neuse River, which is about 25 feet away, and downhill, from his house. He made a plan B:iIf the water reached the house, he'd take the pets upstairs to the second floor. 'The water kept rising and kept rising,' he said. But the water never quite made it to his home. Ballance called the rainfall 'biblical,' saying he's gotten reports from friends that his downtown seafood restaurant was flooded, just like the rest of the downtown. A family is stalled in water as they wait to be rescued during the passing of Hurricane Florence in the town of New Bern A rescue team from the North Carolina National Guard 1/120th battalion evacuates an elderly woman from her apartment as the rising floodwaters from Hurricane Florence threatens her home in New Bern on Friday By Friday night, the center of the now tropical storm had drifted south of the border into South Carolina, raising fears that Myrtle Beach could be cut off from the mainland by flooding as authorities suspended emergency service. On Friday, though, much of the rescue activity centered on New Bern, where officials kicked the famed Louisiana Cajun Navy out of town despite the huge backlog of rescue requests, saying they would be handled through official channels and by local volunteers. The city of about 29,000, which was founded in the early 1700s and was briefly the state capital, is near the North Carolina coast and is bordered on the east and south, respectively, by two rivers, the Neuse and Trent. Sixty-seven-year-old Sadie Marie Holt was among those rescued Friday in New Bern. Holt, who has diabetes and clogged arteries, said she stayed for doctor's appointments that were canceled at the last minute. She tried to row out of her neighborhood Thursday night with a boat that was in her yard after her home began to flood, but had to retreat because of the poor conditions. 'The wind was so hard, the waters were so hard that, trying to get out, we got thrown into trailers. We got thrown into mailboxes. Houses. Trees,' Holt said. Volunteer Amber Hersel from the Civilian Crisis Response Team helps rescue 7-year-old Keiyana Cromartie and her family from their flooded home on Friday in James City, just across the Trent River from New Bern Volunteers help rescue residents and their pets from their flooded homes in New Bern during Hurricane Florence on Friday Dawn Baldwin Gibson, 47, a minister and private school founder who lives on a farm closer to the coast in nearby Pamlico County and runs a Facebook page about weather in eastern North Carolina, had evacuated to New Bern to stay with family, thinking it would be a safer spot. Gibson said Friday that while she and her family were safe, she and her husband had gotten around 75 calls and texts from others asking for help. 'And from that point, we started hearing where people were saying on phone calls, 'I love you,' to their family members because they were not sure they were going to get out of it alive,' she said Friday. 'It's like a bomb has gone off,' New Bern resident George Zaytoun told 'Good Morning America' on Friday. 'Everything around us is underwater.' Zaytoun now regrets his decision to stay. 'I think we kind of let our guards down,' he said of his community's response to the storm's being downgraded before landfall. The National Weather Service said flash flooding was expected to continue through the rest of Friday in New Bern and surrounding areas. A 24-hour curfew was in effect. Roberts, the city spokeswoman, said preliminary estimates show about 4,300 residences and 300 commercial buildings had been damaged. She said that count is expected to increase significantly. Firefighters use a boat to rescue three people from their flooded home during Hurricane Florence in New Bern New Bern firefighters use a boat to rescue people from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence Rescuers bring residents to safety after they remained in the mandatory evacuation zone during Hurricane Florence In other parts of the evacuation zones, residents were also left ruing their decision to stay, and wondering how they would escape. Across the Neuse River from New Bern in Bayboro, resident Kim Dunn, the mother of a 10-month-old, a three-year-old and an eight-year-old, said she made a decision to stay behind while others fled. 'We were trying to figure out if we had enough finances to get out and if we were to get out, were we going to be able to get back home. So we made a decision to stay,' she told ABC News. 'I don't know how long it's going to be before the water actually starts to come into the apartment.' Trying to escape on Friday, she was trapped in her truck surrounded by rising water as her boyfriend and his cousin were stranded on a paddle boat less than a mile away. The water was as high as street signs, and 'we have no way to get to them,' Dunn said. 'They've been out there for about six hours now just screaming for help,' she said. 'Only communication we have with them is just me flashing my lights to them and I think they have a flashlight they're flickering back to us.' About 75 miles southwest, in Sneads Ferry, resident Jeanette Rivera said staying put had seemed like a good idea until the devastation became clear on Friday. 'I'm really upset at myself for staying,' Jeanette Rivera, 47, told NBC News. 'I just want to get out of here.' 'Half my dock is floating,' she said. 'Our house is completely surrounded by the ocean on all sides. I feel like our house could go at any minute. ... We already have a foot of water in our garage and the neighbor's house is completely flooded out.' 'It's difficult for me to watch,' she said. 'Every angle that I look, I'm surrounded by ocean.' In a Facebook post, Rivera explained that she and her husband had stayed behind because they expected the impact to be more like Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and because they feared looters raiding their home. 'Is it scary? Yes, have I cried you bet, have I said what the hell were we thinking, yup! But we're here!' she wrote. President Donald Trump received a briefing on the federal disaster response in the White House Situation room on Friday. White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said Trump called North Carolinia officials to assure them that the federal government 'stood ready and prepared to assist with anything their state and respective communities would need during this natural disaster.' President Trump received a briefing on the federal disaster response in the White House Situation room on Friday After being ejected from New Bern, the Cajun Navy headed down toward the coast, responding to an SOS on Facebook from the Carteret County Humane Society in Newport. The Humane Society pleaded for help, saying that at least two people along with 43 dogs and about 80 cats were trapped on the top floor of the building, USA Today reported. Roughly 15 chickens and roosters were also stuck in an area at the back of the facility, but flooding kept staff from reaching them. The Cajun Navy helped escort the shelter workers to safety later that evening, and emergency personnel put the animals in large vehicles soon after. Australia will enjoy each of the four seasons this weekend as temperatures soar before a polar blast brings wild winds, thunderstorms and even snow. Sydneysiders will get a taste of Melbourne's erratic weather as the east coast's scorching temperatures significantly drop within 24-hours. Crowds were seen flocking to Bondi Beach on Saturday morning to soak up the sunny weather as parts of the city hit 34 degrees before a bitter cold change sends temperatures plummeting to just 17C on Sunday. Weatherzone Meteorologist Joel Pippard told Daily Mail Australia a north westerly change was drawing heat from the Kimberly region, bringing in the very high temperatures to the east coast. Australia will enjoy each of the four seasons this weekend as temperatures soar before a polar blast brings wild winds, thunderstorms and even snow Temperatures in Sydney will hit a glorious and sunny 31C on Saturday before slumping to just 17C on Sunday Weatherzone Meteorologist Joel Pippard said a north westerly change was drawing heat from the Kimberly region, bringing in the very high temperatures to the east coast Sydneysiders packed Bondi Beach on Saturday afternoon to enjoy the warm weather The Saturday temperature is somewhat irregular as a 30 degree September day happens every three to four years in Sydney The coastal city recorded a 33.8C day in September last year Sydneysiders will get a taste of Melbourne's erratic weather as the east coast's scorching temperatures will significantly drop within 24-hours Woman poses at Bondi Beach on Saturday with 'go to hell' bikini bottoms (pictured) Beachgoers were seen making use of the sun and playing games on the golden sand (pictured) The Saturday temperature is somewhat irregular as a 30 degree September day happens every three to four years in Sydney, Mr Pippard said. The coastal city recorded a 33.8C day in September last year. 'What is out of the norm is the fire danger,' said Mr Pippard. There is a severe fire warning across New South Wales due to the mixture of gusty and unrelenting dry conditions. There is a severe fire warning across New South Wales due to the mixture of gusty and unrelenting dry conditions. A fire ban is affecting eight areas for the North Western, Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Northern Slopes, Central Ranges, Southern Ranges & Far South Coast regions A fire ban is affecting eight areas for the North Western, Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Northern Slopes, Central Ranges, Southern Ranges & Far South Coast regions. While Sydneysiders can head to the beach and enjoy the summer-like weather on Saturday, the temperature will significantly drop on Sunday. 'We're expecting a south-westerly change at seven or eight tonight,' Mr Pippard said. Sydneysiders enjoyed catching up with friends at the beach during Saturdays scorching weather Many people were excited to share pictures related to the glorious weather on social media Some Sydneysiders were excited to bring their pets out for the glorious day of sunshine Weatherzone Meteorologist Joel Pippard told Daily Mail Australia a north westerly change was drawing heat from the Kimberly region, bringing in the very high temperatures to the east coast While Sydneysiders can head to the beach and enjoy the summer-like weather on Saturday, the temperature will significantly drop on Sunday 'We're expecting a south-westerly change at seven or eight tonight,' Mr Pippard said Crowds gather at Bondi Beach (pictured) to enjoy the sunny 31C on Saturday The Bureau of Meteorology said 'a strong cold front is set to hit NSW and ACT tomorrow, bringing damaging wings and a dramatic change from warm to cold.' 'Strong and gusty winds are expected to lead to elevated fire danger for parts of the state.' BOM forecaster Jordan Notara told Daily Mail Australia 'the cold front that is driving the weather over the weekend is going to see a quick shift from extremely warm temperatures to cool temperatures on Sunday.' The Bureau of Meteorology said 'a strong cold front is set to hit NSW and ACT tomorrow, bringing damaging wings and a dramatic change from warm to cold.' 'Strong and gusty winds are expected to lead to elevated fire danger for parts of the state' BOM warns that the strongest winds are expected about parts of southeastern New South Wales BOM forecaster Jordan Notara told Daily Mail Australia 'the cold front that is driving the weather over the weekend is going to see a quick shift from extremely warm temperatures to cool temperatures on Sunday.' BOM warns that the strongest winds are expected about parts of southeastern New South Wales. There is the possibility of severe thunderstorms and lightning in northern parts of NSW, following the potentially damaging wind, the ABC reported. The southern ranges are expected to see hail and snow above 700 metres on Sunday. Beachgoers sun tan at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Saturday afternoon (pictured) Visitors at Bondi Beach enjoy some yoga in the sunshine on Saturday (pictured) Sydney's warm weather on Saturday didn't stop people from being active In Melbourne, residents are experiencing an irregularly chilly day after a warm night Mr Pippard said temperatures were recorded at 16C in Melbourne before eight-in-the-morning on Saturday, quickly dropping to 10C afterwards Brisbane is expected to reach a high of 29C this weekend, before dropping to 24C on Monday Darwin will remain humid in the mid 30s, while Adelaide will reach a high of 20C on Monday In the west, Perth will be much cooler with temperatures remaining below 20C all weekend In Melbourne, residents are experiencing an irregularly chilly day after a warm night. Mr Pippard said temperatures were recorded at 16C before eight-in-the-morning, quickly dropping to 10C afterwards. 'Some places dropped four degrees in ten minutes,' he said. For the rest of Australia, Brisbane is expected to reach a high of 29C this weekend, before dropping to 24C on Monday. Hobart's warmest day this weekend will be on Saturday with 13C, although temperatures could plummet to 4C on Sunday. Darwin will remain humid in the mid 30s, while Adelaide will reach a high of 20C on Monday. In the west, Perth will be much cooler with temperatures remaining below 20C all weekend. While Sydneysiders can head to the beach and enjoy the summer-like weather on Saturday, the temperature will significantly drop on Sunday A man has been captured on video attacking a car while screaming at its driver in a fit of rage. The terrifying footage, published on ViralHog, shows a formidable man exit his small, silver Toyota on a quiet street in Wellington, New Zealand, at a set of lights before approaching the vehicle behind him. The man soon launched into a tirade of expletives as he tried to open the driver's side door. A man was captured on footage attacking a car and screaming at its driver in a fit of rage In retaliation, the man can be seen readying his fists and slamming his hand against the bonnet of the car The driver, who said he recorded the altercation because he knew he 'was going to get some entertaining footage of that bean bag,' promptly told the man to 'f*** off' on approach. In retaliation, the man slammed his hand against the bonnet of the car, returned to his vehicle and sped away. The driver said the altercation began when the angry man honked his horn at him. 'As I was driving down the Wellington side, I heard a honk and looked in my mirror to see the idiot in video flipping out. Then he passed me and tried to run me off the road, so I gave him the finger,' the driver said. The man soon launched into a tirade of expletives as he tried to open the driver's side door 'Sure enough he pulls in front of me, so I have to stop. At this point, I hit reverse and he eventually gives up and drives off.' 'I carry on knowing there are a lot of lights coming up and there was going to be a good chance of getting at least one red, so I locked my door in advance and get my camera ready.' 'The end result was that he tried to get in my car and then punched my bonnet,' he said. An Instagram model has been remembered by her community as a globetrotting 'gypsy' with an adventurous spirit, following her death on a Greek superyacht last month. Sinead McNamara, 20, died after she was found 'tangled in a rope' at the back of a billionaire-owned vessel, docked at the holiday island of Kefalonia. And as the sunshine streamed into a woodland chapel in Port Macquarie on New South Wales' lush north coast on Saturday, crowds of mourners spilled outside and they heard stories of the young adventurer's short life. Scroll down for video Sinead McNamara's father Shaun wore a brown island print shirt and colourful 'grubba' socks at his daughter's funeral on Saturday - which paid tribute to his daughter's family nickname Instagram model Sinead McNamara has been remembered by her community as a globetrotting 'gypsy' with an adventurous spirit at the funeral service at Innes Garden Memorial Park, Port Macquarie 'Always loved, never forgotten,' is seen scrawled on the 20-year-old's memorial program Known affectionately as 'grubba' to those closest to her, Ms McNamara told her sister just weeks before her death that she was 'living the life of dreams' on her European adventure The model's father Shaun said 'Sinead was always a proud Australian,' remembering trips taken across the rugged landscape of the country's east coast Mourners took support from one another during the emotional service, during which Shaun McNamara led the crowd in a teary-eyed version of Waltzing Matilda Her older sister Lauren Carr told the crowd (pictured) 'her life on this rock was far too short, but boy did she live' 'She had a gypsy heart and a warrior spirit,' Ms Carr told the crowd at Ms McNamara's (pictured) funeral on Saturday Ms McNamara died after she was found 'tangled in a rope' at the back of a billionaire-owned vessel, docked at the holiday island of Kefalonia The 20-year-old (pictured) was farewelled by friends and family in Port Macquarie on New South Wales' lush north coast on Saturday From growing up as her sister's 'shadow' in a tight-knit Australian family, to braving unknown landscapes in far flung destinations across the globe, Sinead became best known for her indomitable ability to be herself. 'She had a gypsy heart and a warrior spirit,' older sister Lauren Carr told the crowd. 'Her life on this rock was far too short, but boy did she live.' Known affectionately as 'grubba' to those closest to her, the sombre service marked a final homecoming for the girl so eager to seek meaning in the travel which dominated the final years of her life. Known affectionately as 'grubba' to those closest to her, the sombre service marked a final homecoming for the girl so eager to seek meaning in the travel which dominated the final years of her life From growing up as her sister's 'shadow' in a tight-knit Australian family, to braving unknown landscapes in far flung destinations across the globe, Sinead became best known for her indomitable ability to be herself 'Her life on this rock was far too short, but boy did she live,' her sister said Sinead's father Shaun McNamara fondly recalled her for her love of the outdoors and the landscape where she grew up - as he donned colourful socks which spelled out her nickname 'Grubba'. 'Sinead was always a proud Australian,' Mr McNamara said, remembering trips taken across the rugged landscape of the country's east coast. 'She was always most comfortable in a swag underneath the Southern Cross.' And before leading the crowd in a teary-eyed version of Waltzing Matilda, Mr McNamara embraced his daughter's final return, announcing to the packed chapel 'welcome home Grubba - back to this Southern Land'. Ahead of her funeral on Saturday, the young woman's family has requested mourners pay a fashionable tribute, by wearing 'what Sinead would want (them to)' Just weeks before her death in a suspected suicide, Sinead's older sister Lauren Carr recalled her zest for adventure while she 'sipped cocktails' by the Mediterranean coast. 'I'm living the life of dreams Lozza,' she told Ms Carr of her four-month European adventure. Ahead of her funeral on Saturday, the young woman's family has requested mourners pay a fashionable tribute, by wearing 'what Sinead would want (them to)'. In a moving Facebook post, her brother Jake shared details of the service, to be held at Port Macquarie on the NSW mid north coast, and how it is tailored to the vibrant life his sister led. 'For those coming on Saturday the dress code is wear what Sinead would want you to wear,' he wrote. 'We all knew and loved her in different aspects of life... so whatever it is that brought you and her together that is what we would like you to wear.' Ms McNamara's mother Kylie and sister, Lauren Carr, were on route to Kefalonia from their home in Australia when she died According to the notice, appropriate clothing includes 'road trip attire, formal, surfy, boat attire' - all components which helped build Ms McNamara's colourful life. Guests were requested to 'share memories' beach-side at the nearby Bonnie Hills Surf Lifesaving Club. Those who unable to attend the gathering are encouraged to 'take a moment at the ocean nearest (them)'. The post writes: 'Join us while we do the same, uniting as one across the world to remember and cherish special moments we shared with Sinead'. The service followed Ms McNamara's tragic death after becoming tangled on the back of the ship, which was docked in Argostoli on the Greek island of Kefalonia. It is believed Ms McNamara had called her family in tears just hours before she died. A doctor on board the yacht is understood to have tried to resuscitate her before she was taken to a hospital in Argostoli After being there for several hours, Mr Triantafyllopoulos told Greek media, medics waited until a helicopter could transfer her to a private clinic in Athens She also spoke to her brother Jake during her last anguished phone call in the early hours of the Friday, shortly before her body was discovered, her family's lawyer Charalampos Triantafyllopoulos revealed. Prior to that, the family claim Sinead had been happy and enjoying her work as a stewardess on the six-storey yacht, which is owned by Mexican billionaire Alberto Bailleres. Her mother Kylie and sister, Lauren Carr, were on route to Kefalonia from their home in Australia when she died. They had been due to meet the following day and are believed to have been informed of the news of her death while in transit. The family are now demanding answers as to why there was an apparent delay in airlifting her to a hospital in Athens. A doctor on board the yacht is understood to have tried to resuscitate her before she was taken to a hospital in Argostoli. After being there for several hours, Mr Triantafyllopoulos told Greek media, medics waited until a helicopter could transfer her to a private clinic in Athens. In a statement, he said: 'The family expects the Greek authorities to respond to the causes and circumstances of her death and incidents that occurred just prior. 'The deceased had telephoned her mother and brother shortly before the unfortunate incident under investigation.' A coroner later confirmed her cause of death was hanging, but said results of additional toxicology tests could take months to come back. Argostoli's Harbour Master, Mrs Panagota Kolovou, said: 'An investigation is under way but I'm afraid we cannot release any details.' A coroner later confirmed her cause of death was hanging, but said results of additional toxicology tests could take months to come back However, a source at the Coastguard told MailOnline: 'She was found at the back of the yacht attached to one of the mooring ropes. 'The yacht had been docked immediately outside the Coastguard offices, which are manned 24 hours a day, so we were able to react to the situation quickly.' The coroner revealed he had advised Ms McNamara's mother and sister against going to the morgue, saying they should not 'see her (body) in such a bad state'. Her body was been flown home to Australia in preparation for this weekend's service. Five Hells Angels bikies have been arrested after police found drugs and weapons in a series of raids cracking down on gang activity. Officers seized a handgun, various prohibited weapons, drugs and items used in the cultivation of cannabis, as part of the four-day operation that ended on Thursday in New South Wales. Hells Angels Outlaw Motor Cycle Gang colours and paraphernalia were also seized. Hells Angels Outlaw Motor Cycle Gang colours and paraphernalia were also seized Police seized a handgun, various prohibited weapons, drugs and items used in the cultivation of cannabis, as part of the four-day operation The five members were charged with a total of nine offences, including assault, drug and firearms charges and breach of bail. The anti-gang police enforcement squad, called Strike Force Raptor, was established in 2009. The strike force is an elite, militarised police unit understood to be made up of 55 top cops with the primary goal of dismantling violent bikie gangs. Detective Acting Superintendent Nick Read said the coordinated multi-agency operations targeting criminal groups are an important part of combatting unexplained wealth. The gang crackdown involved officers from Police Area Commands, Police Districts, and Region Enforcement Squads from across the state, and the Public Order and Riot Squad. 'By executing coordinated cross-border and cross-jurisdictional operations, we enhance our capabilities to disrupt illicit businesses,' he said. 'Law enforcement in Australia have a collaborative approach to targeting OMCG, who operate across borders and across a variety of criminal activities.' Operation Morpheus is a National Anti-Gangs Squad initiative aimed at detecting, deterring, and disrupting illicit activity of OMCGs, their members, and associates. Three men have been arrested for allegedly shooting dead a wedding guest who mistook their car for his Uber. Christian Broder, a married father of a nine-month-old baby girl, was leaving the event at a private Atlanta club late on July 7 when he was shot in the stomach. He died several days later in hospital. Jayden Myrick, 18, and Torrus Fleetwood, 19, and Montavious Lovejoy, 15, are being held over the death of Broder. Kevan Reeves, also 15, has been indicted and is expected to turn himself next week due to 'procedural reasons,' AJC reports. Christian Broder, a married father of a nine-month-old baby girl, was leaving the event at a private Atlanta club late on July 7 when he was shot in the stomach Broder, who managed Millie's a California Baja-style restaurant in Washington DC, was waiting outside Atlanta's Capital City Club with a group of friends after the wedding. They were waiting for their Uber when two men pulled up in a white Dodge Charger. Confusing the Charger for their ride, they approached the car, which is when one of the men got out from the passenger side, pulled out a handgun and ordered them to hand over their belongings, police say. Broder and his friends gave up their cell phones, wallets and other valuables, and the suspect returned to his car, according to police. That was when the 34-year-old father followed the suspect and tried to reason with him to give him his license. Suspected gunman Jayden Myrick, 18, (left) alleged getaway driver Torrus Fleetwood, 19, (right) were arrested over Broder's killing Police say that was when the suspect opened fire, shooting Broder in the stomach. The gunman then got into the car and fled the scene. Broder was rushed to a Washington-area hospital and died almost two weeks later 'surrounded by loved ones.' Myrick, 17, was arrested almost a week after the fatal shooting and charged with three counts of aggravated assault, one count of aggravated battery and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The charges were later upgraded to murder. He remains in the Fulton County Jail with no bond. Police say Myrick was the gunman and Fleetwood was the getaway driver. Broder was rushed to a Washington-area hospital and died almost two weeks later 'surrounded by loved ones' Broder is survived by his 9-month-old daughter Francis and his wife Molly, a pre-kindergarten teacher (pictured with him) No details have been released about the alleged roles of Lovejoy and Reeves. All four suspects are believed to have gang ties. Both Myrick and Fleetwood also had recent criminal records, but had been released from jail after being granted leniency. Broder is survived by his 9-month-old daughter Francis and his wife Molly, a pre-kindergarten teacher. Friends and family paid tribute to Broder as 'friendly', 'very kind' and very funny. 'Christian evoked joy in others and made them feel loved in a way that was so comfortable, that you couldn't help but want to be near him,' friend Tim Willard said, according to WTOP. Fellow restaurant worker Jeni Hansen described Broder as 'such a light' and someone people looked up to as a mentor and a friend. 'When you have that light, it's just hard to replace.' Florida inmate 58-year-old Larry Mark (above) was killed by his cellmate on Thursday A Florida prisoner killed his cellmate and gouged out his eyeballs, but no one at the jail noticed until the killer wore the victim's ear on a necklace. The killer, who remains unnamed, quietly conducted his attack where he brutally strangled his cellmate 58-year-old Larry Mark, mutilated his face, gouged out his eyeballs and plopped them into a cup, and chopped off his ear on Thursday. He left Mark's body wrapped in a bloodied sheet in the cell. Prison guards at Columbia Correctional Institution in Lakeside had no idea he brutally murdered Mark until he marched into breakfast proudly wearing his victim's ear as a necklace, according to the Miami Herald. The killer allegedly became angry at Mark for pestering him and murdered him hours before a gang-related knife fight broke out in another wing of understaffed prison. The killer had also reportedly told other inmates that he planned to eat Mark's eyeballs. Mark was serving a life sentence for murder ordered in 1981. He was just 20 when he and an accomplice hailed a cab and crushed the driver's skull to steal the $35 he was carrying and a wedding ring. The killer, who has remained unnamed, strangled Mark to death, gouged out his eyes and put them in a cup, then cut off his ear and wore it as a necklace to breakfast, where prison guards realized what he had done. Columbia Correctional Institution in Lakeside pictured above The killer had recently been transferred to Columbia from Florida State Prison, where he was on Death Row. Prison officials say Columbia houses some of the state's most violent inmates. The cellmate murder has rattled the compound that has a shortage of corrections officers and limited resources leaving a single guard in charge of up to 250 inmates at a time, according to the New York Post. A representative for the Florida Department of Corrections said to the Herald that the incident was 'intolerable'. 'Any loss of life at the hands of an inmate is intolerable, and we are working with our partners at FDLE to investigate this death and ensure anyone responsible is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,' representative Julie Jones said. 'Florida corrections officers have an extremely difficult job, and we ask and expect a lot of them, despite the staffing challenges that exist at our institutions. The nature of this work is inherently dangerous, but I know that our more than 17,000 dedicated officers are committed to our public safety mission and do an outstanding job, day and night, to supervise the 96,000 inmates in our custody,' she added. The family of an officer who was killed during a charity motorbike ride has been left 'shattered' after he was struck by a car as his son rode next to him. Detective Senior Sergeant Victor Kostiuk, 59, died after a car veered onto the wrong side of the road on Friday. Mr Kostiuk was riding with his son in the Wall to Wall charity ride from Melbourne to Canberra. The event is to honour fallen police members as part of a motorcade of 300. Around 2.20pm a car was travelling west along the Princes Highway at Mount Raymond Regional Park when Mr Kostiuk was struck. Detective Senior Sergeant Victor Kostiuk, 59, died after a car veered onto the wrong side of the road Detective Senior Sergeant Victor Kostiuk and his son were riding just ahead of the Wall to Wall ride to the National Police Memorial in Canberra to honour fallen police members as part of a motorcade of 300 The car struck Mr Kostiuk's bike that was travelling east near Tower Road. He died at the scene. His son, detective Felix Kostiuk, was riding next to his father when the collision happened. A 21-year-old man was taken into custody following the incident. The memorial ride was temporarily stopped before the participants - including Felix - decided to resume with a 'determined mood'. Mr Kostiuk was a 'well respected' expert in the field of preventing family violence and had also worked in CIU and homicide. During the ride at Cabbage Tree Creek, Victor was struck by a car that veered across the road, with the police member of nearly 40 years dying at the scene Victoria Police Acting Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said Mr Kostiuk, who had been an officer for about 40 years, was a fantastic member of the organisation, ABC reported. Mr Kostiuk had recently been made head of the Somerville Family Violence Unit. 'He was really chuffed just the other day to have been recently appointed back to the rank of detective senior sergeant, something he was particularly proud of.' He said the family were 'clearly shattered'. Police have implored road users to take care after a 'tragic, tragic' 24 hours in country Victoria, with four people dead in separate of road incidents. The causes of the crashes are being investigated, with police looking into factors like inattention, fatigue, alcohol and speed. The government has decided to withdraw withholding tax on Masala bonds, allow some breathing space to foreign portfolio investments, and check non-essential imports and promote exports in order to arrest the decline in rupee and check the widening current account deficit. The steps were announced after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assess the prevailing issues in Indian economy. Talking to media personnel after the meeting, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that external factors like policies adopted by the United States, trade tensions and skyrocketing crude oil prices are impacting economies like India, despite "strong fundamentals". He said that the government has decided on five steps to contain current account deficit, which has widened to 2.4 per cent of the GDP in the first quarter of the current fiscal. Several issues were discussed during the meeting and a call will be taken on them in coming days, the minister further added. More issues will be discussed in the meeting with the Prime Minister, Jaitley said. However, "there are some issues on which immediate action is needed," the minister said while announcing steps to increase inflow of foreign funds and check current account deficit. One of the important decisions taken during today's meeting is that mandatory hedging condition for infrastructure loans will be reviewed. This relates to external commercial borrowing (ECB). It has also been decided to permit manufacturing entities to avail ECB facility with minimum maturity of one year, instead of the earlier limit of three years, Jaitley said. Further, restrictions will be removed with respect to FPI exposure limit of 20 per cent in corporate bond portfolio to a single corporate group or company or entity and 50 per cent of any issue of corporate bond. The Reserve Bank of India had imposed these restrictions on FPIs earlier this year in April. With regards to Masala bonds, Jaitley said it has been decided to do away with the withholding tax on bonds issued till March 2019. Bonds issued outside India, but denominated in Indian rupee are popularly called Masala bonds. The current withholding tax on such bonds is 5 per cent. Notably, no Masala bond has been issued so far in the current fiscal. Jaitley also informed that restrictions on Indian banks on marketing and underwriting of Masala bonds would be removed. The Finance Minister further said that the government would restrict import of non-essential items and encourage exports. He, however, did not disclose the list of non-essential items which would be subject to import restrictions. These restrictions would reportedly also extend to private imports of such items. "To address the issue of expanding CAD, the government will take necessary steps to cut down non-essential imports and increase exports. The commodities of which imports will be cut down will be decided after consultations with concerned ministries and will be WTO-compliant," he said. Large trade deficit and rupee decline against the US dollar are putting pressure on the CAD, and these steps are likely to have a positive impact on the external sector. Jaitley said the government gives importance to fiscal deficit and expressed hope it would be contained. Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg said the five measures announced today would definitely have a meaningful impact. "It is difficult to give a specific number. I think it should have an impact of $8-10 billion," he was quoted as saying by PTI. The emergency meeting was called in the backdrop of dire condition of the Indian rupee after it sunk to an all-time low of 72.91 against the US dollar on September 12 before closing at 71.84. The domestic currency recovered marginally earlier this week. Petrol and diesel prices have also touched record highs. Edited by Vivek Punj with PTI inputs Friends of a university student who drowned at a popular tourist spot 18 months ago have described the horrifying moment they were swept away by rapids whilst on a road trip in New Zealand. Rachael De Jong, 21, was swimming with friends at Waikato River on their way back to Auckland in February last year when she was swept to her death after dam gates of the Aratiatia Power Station further upstream opened. The physiotherapy student at Auckland University of Technology was seen taking photos with four of her friends reportedly holding selfie sticks just minutes before the water began to rise. The group of five girls were left battling for their lives after an unexpected drastic rise in water left them stranded on some rocks 21-year-old Rachael De Jong (pictured) was studying physiotherapy at Auckland University of Technology Rachael (pictured) had attended a Flochella concert on the evening before her death. The girls decided to stop at Waikato River before making their way back up to Auckland The group clambered on to a rock in the middle of the rapids in a bid to stay safe from the rising water, but they quickly became stuck. Her friends who she was travelling with have since opened up about the devastating incident. Rachael had been travelling with a group of girls including fellow physiotherapy student Maddie, her friend Gemma and sisters Alice and Michaela. They had attended a Flochella concert on Lake Tikitapu in Rotorua and were driving back to their home in Auckland before deciding to stop for a dip at the beautiful Waikato River. They were joined by two police officers who were friends of Maddie's sister, Sam and Rhys. In a video that has not been released to the public at the wish of Rachael's father, the girls can be seen fighting for their lives after an unexpected rise in water cut them off from the riverbank and left them stranded. 'We thought we were going to be OK on the rock,' Gemma told police. 'But that's when the water started coming up hard and fast.' Sam and Rhys had climbed up higher rock to safety but the girls were left stranded on a lower rock. Waikato Regional Council who is responsible for the dam told Daily Mail Australia that Rachael's death was a 'tragedy' The council have put up extra safety precautions since Rachael drowned, including a steel fence They were forced to wade across the rapids. Rhys attempted to reach Michaela but she slipped out of his grasp and both were swept down the river. 'It felt like a washing machine, I had no control and I was running out of breath and I thought that was it, to be honest,' Rhys told police. Alice and Rachael were also swept away by the water. Rachael was later pronounced dead by drowning. Waikato Regional Council who is responsible for the dam told Daily Mail Australia that Rachael's death was a 'tragedy'. They also said that they had met 'several times' with Mercury and the Department of Conservation (DOC) in the immediate aftermath of the incident to identify what could be done better to prevent such deaths in the future. They told Daily Mail Australia that new safety precautions have been put in place in the area, including fencing and signage. 'The steel fence, in particular, has made it all but impossible to access the pool. The new graphic signage has been designed to stop people from entering the water,' a spokeswoman for the council said. 'Our staff have supported and attended school assemblies where presentations have been given to high school students talking to the dangers of swimming in the river, and why Aratiatia should be avoided.' The grieving father of the university student has seen harrowing footage of his daughter's final moments alive captured on video. These were not 'silly girls taking selfies,' he told the NZ Herald. The Aratiatia Rapids are flooded by water from the Aratiatia Dam four times a day in summer and three times a day in winter for 15 minutes. Thousands of litres of rushing water create a spectacle popular with tourists visiting Taupo. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Mercury Energy who is responsible for the operation of the dam for comment. President Donald Trump has doubled down on his criticism of death statistics from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year, even as Florence creates an ongoing disaster in North and South Carolina. In a tweet from the White House on Friday night, Trump said the number of dead attributed to Hurricane Maria seemed to rise from double digits to 3,000 'like magic.' 'They hired GWU Research to tell them how many people had died in Puerto Rico (how would they not know this?),' Trump wrote, referring to a study commissioned by the Puerto Rican government. 'This method was never done with previous hurricanes because other jurisdictions know how many people were killed. FIFTY TIMES LAST ORIGINAL NUMBER - NO WAY!' Trump is seen receiving a hurricane briefing in the White House Situation Room on Friday. He took to Twitter later in the day to again criticize the reported death toll from Hurricane Maria Trump, whose efforts to help the island territory recover have been persistently criticized, has repeatedly questioned that number of fatalities over the last couple of days. On Thursday Trump accused Democrats of inflating the Puerto Rican toll to make him 'look as bad as possible.' He said just six to 18 people had been reported dead when he visited two weeks after the October 2017 storm and suggested that many had been added later 'if a person died for any reason, like old age.' When Trump visited Puerto Rico, the death toll at the time was indeed 16 people. The number was later raised to 64, but the government then commissioned an independent study to determine how many died because of post-storm conditions. That study - conducted by the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University - estimated 2,975 deaths. The deaths fell in two categories: direct and indirect. Direct deaths include such fatalities as drownings in a storm surge or being crushed in a wind-toppled building. Indirect deaths are harder to count because they can include such things as heart attacks, electrocutions from downed power lines and failure to receive dialysis because the power is out - and those kinds of fatalities can happen after a storm has ended but while an area is struggling to restore electricity, clean water and other health and safety services. Dr. Carlos Santos-Burgoa - the lead researcher on the study and a well-known expert in global health, particularly Latin America - told The Associated Press that the initial figure of 64 deaths reflected only people whose death certificates cited the storm. He said the latest figure was more accurate and stressed that every death in the six months following the storm was not attributed to the hurricane. 'We are scientists. We are public health people. We are committed to the health of the population. We try to reach the truth, and we try to understand what is damaging the people in order to prevent disease,' he said. Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello told CBS New York on Thursday that the government had sought the study and 'tried to make this process a completely independent process.' Trump is seen tossing paper towels into a crowd last October, when he visited Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria Trump's anger over the death toll drew swift rebukes from elected officials and residents of the island, where blackouts remain common, 60,000 homes still have makeshift roofs and 13 percent of municipalities lack stable phone or internet service. Even some Republicans suggested the president had gone too far Thursday. 'Casualties don't make a person look bad,' House Speaker Paul Ryan said. 'So I have no reason to dispute those numbers.' Throughout his presidency, Trump has struggled to publicly express empathy at times of national crises, sparking outrage during his post-Maria visit when he feuded with San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz and tossed out paper towels to victims like he was shooting baskets. In recent days, Trump publicly lauded his own administration's response to Maria and privately groused over storm-related news coverage that he saw as overly focused on Puerto Rico, according to two Republican advisers close to the White House who weren't authorized to speak publicly and talked to The Associated Press on Thursday on condition of anonymity. Trump is seen at a Florence briefing on on Tuesday. His criticism over the Maria death figures comes as Florence continues to pound the Carolinas Firefighters use a boat to rescue three people from their flooded home during the Hurricane Florence in New Bern, North Carolina on Friday The White House defended the president on Thursday. '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. '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.' Gidley cited studies that attributed fewer than 3,000 deaths on the island to Maria. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to the GOP majority Thursday calling for the panel to request documents from the White House relating to the Puerto Rico response. Homes are flooded after a storm surge from Hurricane Florence flooded the Neuse River on Friday in New Bern, North Carolina Water from the Neuse river floods the streets of New Bern during Hurricane Florence Trump maintained as recently as Tuesday that his response to the storm was an 'incredible unsung success.' Trump's latest grumbling on the Maria death toll comes as Tropical Storm Florence inundates the Carolinas, killing at least five people. Trump received a briefing on the storm disaster and response in the White House situation room on Friday. He also called North Carolinia officials to assure them that the federal government 'stood ready and prepared to assist with anything their state and respective communities would need during this natural disaster,' Gidley said. The White House also release an extensive list of federal preparations and resources devoted to Florence on Friday. Federal resources pre-positioned in the region for disaster response included 100 helicopters, 6 million meals, 4 million liters of water, 6,000 cots, and 730,000 blankets, the statement said. Human bones discovered at a popular recreation spot have been identified as belonging to a missing woman. The remains were found by a member of the public at Kangaroo Point cliffs, Brisbane, at 10am on Monday and a crime scene was established. Police confirmed on Saturday that the remains are those of missing woman Constance Watcho, 37. Scroll down for video Human bones discovered at a popular recreation spot have been identified as belonging to a missing woman Constance Watcho (pictured) The remains were found by a member of the public at Kangaroo Point cliffs, Brisbane, around 10am on Monday and a crime scene was established Ms Watcho was last seen at a bank in Greenslopes on November 27. At the time, police executed a search warrant at an address in River Terrace where Ms Watcho was known to have stayed for a number of days. Detective Senior Sergeant Warren Gibbs said police identified the remains using medical and dental records, ABC reported. 'There's an ongoing investigation surrounding that as to the circumstances of that person's death,' he said. Detective Senior Sergeant Gibbs said police would take numerous days to search through the unit complex. Police executed a search warrant at an address in River Terrace where Ms Watcho was known to have stayed for a number of days Ms Watcho was last seen at a bank in Greenslopes on November 27 last year 'Obviously they're going to be painstakingly going through every item that's within the unit,' he said. 'We know that was the last location that [Ms Watcho] was residing at so it's important to make sure that we find any evidence at all, even though the time has passed which is quite substantial we don't know what might be there.' Ms Watcho said police had been trying to contact Ms Watcho's family, who live throughout Queensland. The area is popular for drone flying and police are calling on members of the public with footage captured in the last year to assist in their investigations. The Kangaroo Point cliffs are located near the Brisbane River, just across from the Brisbane CBD. Australia's mightiest mare has done it again! Winx remains the world's top-rated racehorse after she extended her historic unbeaten streak after jockey Hugh Bowman rode to her to victory for her 27th consecutive win on Saturday afternoon. The legendary mare was chasing a third consecutive 1600 George Main Stakes win at Royal Randwick, which was far from easy. Seven lengths behind the leader at the halfway point, Winx had her work cut out for her during the race before storming home in a late surge to win by five lengths. Jockey Hugh Bowman (pictured) salutes the crowd after Winx won her 27th consecutive race 'She's just colossal,' Seven's racing commentator Bruce McAvaney said. She becomes the first Australian horse to record 20 group one wins, which puts just two wins short of the record of Irish hurdler Hurricane Fly. 'She's just a star,' trainer Chris Waller told reporters. 'In that last 200 metres, that last 10 percent that you call on, is always there. I don't mean to sound cocky, but she's just an amazing animal.' Winx won by five lengths in race six at Royal Randwick on Saturday Jockey Hugh Bowman celebrated with his wife and daughter after the race The legendary mare was chasing a third consecutive 1600 George Main Stakes win at Royal Randwick Winx broke the Australian record in her last race last month when she surpassed Black Caviar's 25 wins. Earlier, punters of all ages gathered around her stall on Saturday, wearing Winx caps and shirts and holding blue flags, waiting for her to arrive. Part owner Debbie Kipitis couldn't walk through the stalls without getting stopped every stride by punters asking for selfies and wanting a chat about her super horse. 'I get stopped because they can't stop and talk to her,' Kipitis said. 'She has done amazing things on the track but what she's doing off the track is phenomenal. 'She's bringing racing to kids and the general public that don't really pay attention to it. The win comes after Winx (pictured) celebrated her seventh birthday on Friday 'You couldn't get a better advertisement for racing.' 'It's so touching and I love the feeling she gives so many people.' 'It gives people something to aim for, it opens people up to something different. She took some time away from the track on Friday to celebrate her seventh birthday with a carrot and apple cake. A happy snap shared on Winx's social media accounts captured the adorable moment the legendary mare received her birthday treat. In the photo, Winx can be seen nibbling on the cake as she pokes her head over one of her human's shoulders, who is wearing a birthday cap. Hugh Bowman and Winx salute their fans after another historic win Winx remains unbeaten after yet another stunning performance on Saturday Winx stormed home in the final stages for a 27th consecutive win The clever cake appeared to be made out of sliced carrots with a layer of thinly-sliced apples, completed with a golden Happy Birthday topper. Delighted fans of the birthday girl took to social media to share their warm wishes. 'Happy Birthday, sweet girl! We love you!' one person wrote on Twitter. 'If only we all could age so well! Happy B Day!' another person said. A third person added: 'Happy happy Bday beautiful lady. I will be cheering you on tomorrow.' Winx, who was previously known as the Warwick Stakes, was the third horse to ever be inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2017. The Longines top-ranked horse was given the stamp of approval when a stamp collection was released to celebrate her 26th consecutive win last month. Winx was given the stamp of approval when a stamp collection (pictured) was released to celebrate her 26th consecutive win The emotional memorial for two Indigenous teenage boys who drowned while trying to evade police has attracted hundreds of mourners. Chris Drage, 16, died on Monday afternoon along with Trisjack Simpson, 17, after they jumped into the Swan River on the Maylands foreshore after they were allegedly seen jumping fences near a burgled house. About 500 people gathered at the memorial site around the river on Saturday where the two perished in the 11C water with police unable to rescue them in time. The mother of a teenager who drowned while trying to run away from police has said her son spiralled out of control when he was picked on in high school and was damaged by the lack of a father figure. A smoking ceremony took place during the memorial with the air thick with the smell of burning eucalyptus and rosemary. Mourners brought flowers and many wore Aboriginal flags. Hundreds gathered to commemorate the lives of Chris and Trisjack, who drowned the Swan River (pictured are family and friends of Chris Drage) Chris' grieving mother Winnie Hayward told The Weekend Australian on Friday her son was a cheeky child who wanted to emulate his indigenous heroes by having a career in the AFL. Chris was a gifted athlete at primary school and represented Western Australia as a junior sprinter. But his mother said his life spiralled out of control when he got to high school, and she believed other students picked on him. She told The Australian: 'Everything fell apart for Chris in high school - he was trying to find himself, but he was lost.' A smoking ceremony took place during the memorial with the air thick with the smell of burning eucalyptus and rosemary Many from around the state wept and commemorated the two, including the Yamatji people from the Mid West region By the time Chris was in his second year of high school, Ms Hayward said he was barely showing up and preferred to spend his time smoking marijuana and causing trouble. Chris' mother also blamed the lack of a father figure on her son's behaviour, saying 'he was never around'. She said his father was in prison even when she brought Chris home for the first time as a newborn. Many from around the state wept and commemorated the two, including the Yamatji people from the Mid West region, where most of Trisjack's family lives. Both boys drowned in the Swan River in Western Australia and died in 11C water, with police unable to rescue them in time Mourners threw flowers into the Swan River in Western Australia to pay their respects for Chris and Trisjack Many who attended were draped in Aboriginal flags in honour of the teenage boys at the memorial Trisjack's grandfather James Spratt, who attended, acknowledged that people were angry due to a lack of answers and assured clarification would come after the inquest. The inquest will be treated as if the boys were in custody as there was police presence during the incident. 'There will come a time that we can come together and vent our pain and anger, and get the answers of the questions we asked,' said Mr Spratt. In a foreboding sign of things to come eleven months ago, Chris spent three days in an induced coma after he and Trisjack crashed their car while trying to evade police. Chris was put in juvenile detention after that, and Ms Hayward said when he was released they grew distant. She told the Australian: 'I said just last week, "I need to make friends with Chris" - now it's too late.' The interview with Ms Hayward came after Chris' father Christopher Drage hit out at hundreds of social media trolls who said the boys deserved their fate as they fled police after jumping fences and running through backyards earlier. He said: 'I ask people not to be judgmental. I think we all made silly mistakes as kids and it's just tragic that they lost their lives,' Mr Spratt 'couldn't imagine how frightened these boys were' and said their impulsive decision to jump into the river was an act of desperation. Family friend and Aboriginal advocate Mervyn Eades spoke on behalf of the sympathetic community who suffered from 'the pain' and 'the heartache'. 'When something like this happens to one of us, it happens to us all,' he said. Mr Eades assured everyone at the memorial the spirits of the boys had been set free from the Derbarl Yerringan, the Noongar name for the Swan River. Family friend and Aboriginal advocate Mervyn Eades spoke on behalf of the sympathetic community who suffered from 'the pain' and 'the heartache' Mourners have gathered to grieve and remember two Aboriginal teenagers who drowned in the river after trying to evade police Family friend and Aboriginal advocate Mervyn Eades spoke on behalf of the sympathetic community who suffered from 'the pain' and 'the heartache' Brown parcels of cocaine continue to wash up on Fiji beaches with Australian authorities joining the hunt to find the source of the drugs. Fiji police commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho said more than 100 packages labelled with a picture of a buffalo had washed up on various islands. Fiji Navy found the packages - containing cocaine and drug equipment - on the islands which include Taveuni, Yasawa and the Lau group, FBC Fiji News reported. Fiji police commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho said more than 100 packages labelled with a picture of a buffalo had washed up on various Fijian islands, FBC Fiji News reported on Saturday Ten cocaine parcels have been found since August 30 and six were found in Yasawa (pictured) at the beginning of the week Ten more similar cocaine parcels were found on August 30 and six were found in Yasawa at the beginning of the week. General Qiliho confirmed a joint investigation between Australian and Fiji authorities was underway to determine the source of the narcotics. 'We've been working with the Fiji navy and we have been able to pick up a few equipment that we think the drugs were stored in before it drifted to the islands that we are picking it up from,' he said. General Qiliho added the equipment has been obtained as part of their ongoing investigation and they are 'working with our Australian counterparts in identifying this'. General Qiliho confirmed a joint investigation between Australian and Fiji authorities was underway to determine the source of the narcotics He said police were concerned packages would still be washing up on deserted islands and that is 'very worrying for us because it extends the search area to a bigger area'. General Qiliho said those concerns are 'why we're working with the Australian authorities and the Fiji navy in identifying tight patterns so we can zero in on areas that we need to target'. Fiji Ministry of Defence director Timoci Natuva asked for public assistance to notify authorities about yachts arriving at islands without clearance. A secluded Scottish mansion once eyed as a potential home for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is set to become a private student residence. Eden Mansion, near St Andrews, has reportedly been bought by an Indian billionaire as as a home for his daughter, who is due to begin classes at the University of St Andrews next week. The 2million house, which features a private cinema, roof terrace, and more than five acres of land, is far out of budget for even the most affluent undergraduates. Scroll down for video Eden Mansion, near St Andrews, is set to become a private student residence after it was reportedly bought by an Indian billionaire The Scottish mansion was once viewed by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in their final year at the University of St Andrews The eight-bedroom mansion even requires an army of staff for its upkeep. Advertisements seeking a team of 12 staff, including a butler, maid, and three footmen were recently posted by the Silver Swan recruitment agency, the Times reported. They described the family as of 'ultra-high net worth' - and said successful applicants would be required to wake the student in the morning and hold doors open for her. The advertisement said: 'The house will be a full-time residence for the daughter who will be attending university there.' Earlier this summer an ad for the maid asked for 'an outgoing, cheerful and energetic personality', the Sun reported. Ornate chandeliers hang gracefully from the high ceiling of the property's dining hall, decked with smart wooden furniture The house, which until recently operated as a bed and breakfast, boasts eight regally decorated rooms They'll be responsible for 'waking principal up, liaising with other staff regarding routine and schedule, assisting with grooming, wardrobe management and personal shopping'. The house, which went up for sale in January this year, appears to have been operating as a bed and breakfast from 2015 until earlier this month - but is no longer taking reservations on TripAdvisor. It is understood the billionaire is still finalising plans to purchase the spectacular home - which was initially built for the Haig family, Scotland's oldest whisky distillers. Advertisements seeking a team of 12 staff, including a butler, maid, and three footmen were recently posted by the Silver Swan recruitment agency There are also a stunning set of bathrooms - with unconventional seating areas and large bay windows overlooking the tub It provided a retreat for their most notable member, Earl Field Marshall Douglas Haig, who commanded the British army in the First World War. Savills, the estate agency marketing the property, were only able to confirm the house is not on the market. The mansion was reportedly identified as a potential home for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their final year at university before they settled on a cottage in the Strathtyrum Estate. Another decadent bathroom is decorated with beautiful peach, gold and white accents and a stunning marble floor The house was originally built for the Haig family, and provided a retreat for their most notable member, Earl Field Marshall Douglas Haig You rang, m' lady? Butler, footmen and maids among 12 staff hired to serve tycoon's student daughter The unnamed student will attend the University of St Andrews accompanied by a 12-strong entourage of servants. She will live in her impressive student home with a maid, butler, housekeeper, gardener, three footmen, private chef and chauffeur. An advert for the positions was posted to recruitment agency Silver Swan, reported the Sun. It read: 'The family are very formal so want experienced staff.' The butler's job will be to oversee the team while the footmen serve meals and lay the table for the fresher. An advert for the maid said the family were looking for 'an outgoing, cheerful and energetic personality'. The job includes 'waking principal up, liaising with other staff regarding routine and schedule, assisting with grooming, wardrobe management and personal shopping'. The staff, who are expected to open doors 'wherever possible' for the student, will reportedly be paid about 30,000 a year. Silver Swan did not comment. Advertisement But it seems no one on the university campus has yet spotted the billionaire's daughter. Andrew Sinclair, editor of The Saint student newspaper, told the Times: 'Everyone knows everyone at St Andrews. 'If you are tucked away in a house with 12 staff you won't have the full student experience that makes St Andrews so special.' Anti-Semitic trolls who posted racist and Holocaust-denying comments on pro-Corbyn Facebook pages may face charges for hate crimes. The Metropolitan police believe the vile outpourings meet the threshold for the Crown Prosecution Service to start hate crime proceedings, reports theTelegraph. The exact content of the six posts is unknown but they were uncovered during a six-month investigation into social media posts. It comes after a cross-party group of peers, led by Lord Polak, complained to Britain's top police officer Cressida Dick about posts promoting 'hate speech' online and claimed that several pro-Corbyn groups were featuring 'anti-Semitic rhetoric stirring up racial hatred'. The police are considering charges for those involved in six pro-Corbyn Facebook pages that posted vile anti-Semitic messages calling for violence against Jews Examples they gave in the complaint included a Facebook group called Supporting Jeremy Corbyn & John McDonnell, which wrote: 'Adolph [sic] you should have finished the job.' Another group, called Jeremy Corbyn Leads Us To Victory, made posts denying the holocaust had happened, with one saying: 'Six million is a fallacy. Best people stop having the wool pulled over their eyes.' The Special Inquiry Team at the Met police have passed six of the worst posts they uncovered to the CPS for advice on possible prosecuting the authors. It is not known how many people posted the messages. Lord Carlile QC, a lawyer who signed the letter of complaint sent to the Commissioner of the Met police, told the Telegraph: 'The fact that they found, six amount to possible criminal offences is very significant. 'It sends out a warning to people who post these kinds of messages that they are under close scrutiny and may be committing a crime.' He also accused the Labour leader of 'failing to get a grip' on anti-Semitism within the party. Between 2007-08 and 2016-17, the percentage hate crimes took up of the total caseload for the CPS almost doubled from 1.3 per cent to 2.5 per cent. In 2016-17, 14,480 were prosecuted for hate crimes - down from 15,442 the year before. The writer of the Oscar-winning movie 'The Queen' has accused Tony Blair of lifting some of his lines for the former prime minister's autobiography. The book, 'My Journey', was published five years after the release of the movie and the screenwriter, Peter Morgan, has said Blair's memory of conversations with the Queen has 'sort of become blurred'. Morgan, 55, was nominated for 13 Emmys on his work for the 2006 movie and he has also accused Blair of 'pretending' not to have seen the film. Helen Mirren starring as Queen Elizabeth II in 'The Queen' written by Peter Morgan The Bafta-winning screenwriter was a guest on a US radio show and told the host: 'There came a moment after the film that I wrote, The Queen, had come out where Tony Blair was asked about his audience with the Queen. 'And in his book, his autobiography, which, of course, came out many years after we made The Queen, Tony Blair, when referring back to that critical period in the aftermath of Diana's death, used a number of expressions and quotations that seemed to be very familiar because they sounded like my dialogue.' The 2006 movie focuses on that period in the aftermath of Princess Diana's death and the resulting media maelstrom and its knock-on effect on Blair's relationship with the Queen. Helen Mirren and Michael Sheen as Queen Elizabeth II in 'The Queen' written by Peter Morgan Morgan continued: 'I remember thinking, 'Well, hang on a minute. That can't be right', That it can't be right that I got it right. I can't of got that right. 'I think we were all pretty confident we knew what Tony Blair represented. We knew what the Queen thought. 'But surely he didn't say the very things that I've written that he said?' Queen Elizabeth II receiving Prime Minister Tony Blair at Buckingham Palace in May 2007 Morgan then allegedly contacted colleagues he worked on the movie with to ask if they had read the former Prime Minister's autobiography. He said: 'It's both funny but also sobering because you suddenly realise that, once you watch something on film, it becomes that thing. It becomes the way it was. 'So much of what I write can't be exactly the way it was because I don't know. I'm just guessing. 'For Blair to have taken those imaginations or guesses and to reconstruct them as the truth was confusing in his own account.' Peter Morgan, Bafta-winning screenwriter, made the claims about Blair on a US radio show Morgan added: 'He said, 'I then said that'. I was like, 'Well, you didn't. At least, I don't think you did. If you did, what a stroke of luck on my behalf. But I'm pretty sure you're actually just quoting what I wrote, which you have watched and which you've subsequently denied that you've watched but which you've clearly watched.' Blair's autobiography, A Journey: My Political Life was released in 2011, five years after Morgan's work took centre stage in The Queen. Despite Morgan's comments, a spokesman for Blair said: 'He has never watched The Queen.' Michael Sheen played Blair in the movie while the Queen was played by Helen Mirren. Top British universities have been been breached by Iranian hackers after millions of sensitive papers have been sold online. Hackers have stolen the documents from top British universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. Websites who operate in Farsi have hacked for essay papers and sold them on to customers in Iran for cash through WhatsApp. They have also offered to steal other papers on demand- including information on cyber security, encryption of computer files and nuclear power, The Telegraph revealed. Millions of essay papers have been stolen by Iranian hackers from top universities including Oxford (pictured) and sold online. File photo This comes as Donald Trump seeks to isolate the regime in Tehran. A State Department official warned companies in Europe to adhere to the new sanction or face backlash from the U.S. But the breach of security into universities in Britain means they are being used to bypass the sanctions which prohibits the sale of academic papers to Iran. The breach comes after Donald Trump (pictured) seeks to isolate the regime in Tehran Experts have also warned that the hack could provide an pathway into Western research. Dave Palmer, a former MI5 and GCHQ officer, told The Telegraph: 'Universities should be worrying about it.' The security breach comes six months after the US Department of Justice revealed that Iranian hackers had been targeting universities around the globe. The stolen papers would be on offer, sometimes as little as 2, and could be purchased in Iran by an encrypted message through WhatsApp or Telegram. The stolen papers would be on offer, sometimes as little as 2, and could be purchased in Iran by an encrypted message through WhatsApp. File photo The title of the paper is given, and the paper is sent to an email after a bank transfer is completed. On one website, which are written in Farsi, one person wrote that they wanted an academic paper on power plants 'as soon as possible'. The Iranian hack comes as Britain's government-funded technology consultancy for higher education says that universities are not worried enough about the dangers of hacking. Only one out of 114 universities and college of Jisc (Joint Information systems Committee) said it was worried about 'nation state attacks'. Imran Khan assured to end political interference in civil bureaucracy ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday assured to end political interference in the affairs of the civil bureaucracy and asked the civil servants to support the new government in meeting grave economic challenges confronting the country. I am not concerned about your political affiliation, but your performance. If you deliver, I assure to stand by you, the Prime Minister told civil servants belonging to different occupational groups, here at the PM Office. The Prime Minister said political interference in the past had put a negative impact on the quality of bureaucracy where appointments were made by ignoring the principles of merit. He said Pakistan could become a destination of investment and tourist attraction within two years, provided its governance system was reformed. Coming out of the financial debt trap and bringing change in the colonial mindset of ruling elite is important to address challenges, he said, adding that it was important for bureaucracy to implement the policies of new government in true letter and spirit. PM Khan pointed out that the country was facing a huge debt trap of Rs30 trillion that had swelled from six trillion rupees in a decade. He said the previous government borrowed loans to start projects such as Orange Line project that regularly require huge financial input. He said immediate steps were needed to be taken to come out of the debt trap, and quoted a verse of the Holy Quran which points that the Allah Almighty does not change the condition of a nation, which does not do anything to change itself. We are at a crossroad. The government has not even been left with any money to run its day to day affairs, the Prime Minister said, and pointed that now it was time to change the mindset of the ruling elite to address the new challenges. He said the civil servants need to understand that they were here to serve the masses and not to impress them with their power and authority, as was done by the British rulers in the Indian subcontinent. He said the civil service can only change when it starts to think several times before spending even a penny from the public funds. Think of the 43 percent of the children with stunted growth and the 25 million children without access to schools, he said. He said the task force on civil service reform needs to bring about world class reforms in Pakistan so that the country could compete in a knowledge-based economy. Prime Minister Imran Khan said third world economies could not improve because of their rampant corruption. On the contrary, he said, western democracies were progressing, because their institutions were strong. He said he was cognisant of the concerns of the civil service and had asked the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman to ensure that no bureaucrats were intimidated or harassed. He said even if the NAB was conducting any inquiry, it should proceed discreetly without humiliating any one. He asked the civil service officers not to be wary of taking chances. Everyone makes mistakes, I also do, but you should be clear that there should be no corruption of any sort. Imran Khan mentioned the reforms in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, which he said, had led to the Police Department emerging as a professional force with no political pressure. He said the department was allowed to function as a professional entity, with a focus on merit, and merit alone. He vowed to replicate the reforms in the Police Departments of other provinces too. Referring to the emoluments of the bureaucrats, Imran Khan said the officers once used to have enough money to meet their needs without problems, however, the situation had changed overtime. A British scientist's son who was trampled by a giraffe in a wildlife reserve is breathing on his own and is beginning to wake up after 13 days in a coma. Three-year-old Finn Williams needed life-saving brain surgery after he and his wildlife biologist mother Katy, 35, were attacked in South Africa. They were rescued by husband Dr Sam Williams who chased the animal away but both needed emergency medical help following the giraffe's rampage earlier this month. The mother and son were just 150 yards from their home on the Blyde Wildlife Estate when they were attacked. Finn had an emergency operation immediately to release pressure on his brain while his mother had surgery the next day and regained consciousness five days ago. Three-year-old Finn Williams needed life-saving brain surgery after he and his wildlife biologist mother Katy, 35, were attacked in South Africa (pictured together before the attack) Family lawyer Marina Botha confirmed: 'Finn is still sedated but he is beginning to wake up. 'As his sedatives are reduced and he starts to regain consciousness his medical team expect to get further indications of the severity of his injuries. 'We can confirm that he is breathing independently and we hope to have more information in the near future' she said. The pair are recovering in intensive care at the Busamed Modderfontein Hospital near Johannesburg, South Africa. Father Dr Williams, 36, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, has been keeping bedside vigils since the attack on September 3. Dr Katy Williams, from Baltimore, Maryland, who initially could only communicate with her husband by sign language, is now swapping hand written notes with him. The lawyer added: 'Katy's recovery is going well and her condition is improving daily. 'She understands that it will take time to recover fully but she has a positive attitude and she is surprising doctors with her rapid progress. Dr Sam Williams (centre) is keeping up bedside vigils at the South African hospital where his son is in a paediatric intensive care unit 'She is communicating with Sam by writing words and sentences on paper. And she has written to ask him to thank everyone for their overwhelming support on her behalf'. The giraffe attack happened just 150 yards from their home on the Blyde Wildlife Estate in Hoedspruit after they stumbled across the giraffe and her young calf by accident. It is thought the giraffe had been spooked and was protecting her calf but it attacked the young mum and her son and the 15-foot-tall giraffe trampled them both underfoot. The lawyer confirmed the giraffe that carried out that attack is being moved to another reserve and will not be destroyed. Both victims were airlifted to hospital near Johannesburg and placed in medically induced comas while two teams of surgeons operated on them to repair life threatening injuries. The attack happened near their home on the Blyde Wildlife Estate near Hoedspruit (pictured) Dr Sam Williams first revealed on Tuesday that he and Katy were communicating by sign language although he said it was 'difficult' due to the nature of her injuries. He said:'I was amazed to see Katy wake up and to be able to talk to her and to reassure her that we were there for her. 'Finn is stable and doctors are satisfied with his condition under the circumstances. I hope that in time he will also wake up so that we can all be reunited as a family. Katy's father Jack Standish and son David have flown from the U.S. to be at the bedside of their daughter, also a respected scientist and wildlife biologist. Mr Standish said: 'There can be nothing worse than being thousands of miles away when something of this nature happens to your daughter and grandson. 'It was so difficult not to be able to do anything for her and Finn and it is the worst nightmare that any parent can face. Katy Williams and son Finn, three, (pictured) were taken to hospital after the giraffe attack 'I can always tell how Katy is doing by the look in her eyes. I can see that she was very happy to see us but that she is very concerned about Finn. 'I know it will take a long time for them to recover but I will be here as long as they need me. 'I can inform everyone who speculated about how this tragic incident happened that Katy is very well trained in all aspects of wild life through university and years in the field. 'Katy and I have talked about the danger of giraffes on the reserve where they live previously. They know they had to be cautious around them. 'This was an unfortunate incident but I can inform you that Katy would not deliberately put herself and Finn in danger. 'We hold no judgement against the giraffe. This is just the way nature is and we accept that.' Charles McCadden (pictured) has been locked in a legal battle after his 600,00 flat was seized by a freeholder A leaseholder has been left with nothing after his 600,00 flat was seized in a 'redecorating' dispute. Charles McCadden bought the flat the upper floor of a Victorian terrace on Burrows Road in Kensal Green, Brent, northwest London with inheritance money. He redecorated the flat soon after moving in- including having a brand new kitchen and bathroom fitted. But due to a forfeiture law, that allows freeholder to take ownership of a property if there is a breach in the lease, Mr McCadden was removed from his home. Mr McCadden, who suffers from chronic illness, has been left feeling suicidal and has called for a change in the law. He told The Times: 'The whole episode has made me feel very anxious, stressed out and at times suicidal. I am living a nightmare.' Afshan Malik, a medical researcher at King's college London, lives downstairs to his flat and owns the freehold to the property. Mr McCadden's flat on Burrows Road, London (pictured) was transferred into the freeholder's name Mr McCadden, who suffers from chronic illness, had redecorated his home (pictured) shortly after moving in and had a new kitchen and bathroom installed Mr McCadden had not consulted Dr Malik when he redecorated his home, a requirement of the lease. Dr Malik took Mr McCadden to the first tier-tribunal for breach of covenant and refusal to pay maintenance costs. The tribunal visited his home and could not gain access but were satisfied that a new bathroom, kitchen and central heating had been installed. Judge Robert Latham had noticed holes in the external walls and that the freeholder's radiators, floorboards and a toilet had been removed. Afshan Malik, a medical researcher from Kings College London, is the freeholder of Mr McCadden's flat and won the right in court to transfer his property into her name The court ruled the breaches to be serious and ordered Mr McCadden to pay Dr Malik 216.62 in outstanding charges and to reimburse her for the 300 tribunal fee. Mr McCadden refused to pay the costs, so Dr Malik took him to Willesden county court, which last month issued a forfeiture and possession order to transfer the lease into her name. How you could lose your home A lease is a contract and therefore if a leaseholder breaches the terms, the landlord could take legal action against them. In order to gain possession of the property by forfeiting the lease it is necessary to obtain a court order. A freeholder must give the leaseholder valid notice of the breach under section 146 of the law. The leaseholder must agree that breach has occurred or it will be taken to the first-tier property tribunal or a court which will determine the amounts due. A section 146 cannot be served for debts under 350 or less than three years. A leaseholder can apply to court to seek relief from forfeiture. This means having the forfeiture set aside and the lease restored. The court can grant or refuse relief, which is more likely to be in favour of the leaseholder if they react swiftly, pay any arrears, remedy any breaches of covenant and pay the landlords costs. Source: Lease Advice Advertisement But Mr McCadden says he was not told about the tribunal because he was living in Scotland looking after his seriously ill father. He also insists the changes he made to the property were small and he disputed the service charge. The law states that a leaseholder can apply to seek relief in order to have the forfeiture set aside and the lease restored. The court can grant or refuse relief, which is more likely to happen if the leaseholder reacts swiftly and pays any costs. But Mr McCadden said he has been unable to defend the forfeiture and possession orders after being let down by lawyers. And now he has been left without his flat after the property was transferred into Dr Malik's name. Sebastian O'Kelly, from the charity Leasehold Knowledge Partnership (LKP), told The Times: 'Mr McCadden has been found to be an inconsiderate neighbour. 'But the loss of 600,00 asset is out of proportion to the dispute...They key question is: what if it had been the other way round and the freeholder had been inconsiderate?' In 2006 the Law Commission recommended the removal of forfeiture but the government did not follow through. Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay has long been rumoured to have the whitest sand in the country, but a new location has stolen its crown. For years the stretch of sand on the south coast of New South Wales claimed to have the purest sand, until now. The famous location has lost out to remote Western Australian beach Lucky Bay, in Cape Le Grand National Park. A new Australian beach has been crowned king of the country's white sandy beaches (stock image) Now the silky shores of a remote Western Australian beach Lucky Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park (pictured) has been confirmed as the winner Since 2006 samples have been taken from various white sandy beaches across the nation (pictured) An in-depth analysis by the National Committee of Soil and Terrain confirmed the sand was multiple shades whiter, the Conversation reported. The samples have been taken from various beaches across the nation since 2006. The handfuls of sand were compared to one another, after being collected under strict research requirements. Each sample was untreated and taken from a particular part of the shore, there was also no bleaching or removal of impurities. Despite claiming international status for the whitest sand, Hyams Beach came in fourth in the tests. A Victorian beach came in third and a sample from Queensland came in second. For years the stretch of sand on the south coast of New South Wales, Hyams Beach (pictured), claimed to have the purest sand The search for the country's whitest stretch is no where near complete after 12 years of research. 'There are many white beaches out there yet to be sampled, and if you'd like to alert me to your potentially award-winning beach please email me,' Noel Schoknecht wrote. Senior research associate from Murdoch university said there are beaches on the east coast of Tasmania and in Queensland which are yet to be tested. 'Shelburne Bay in northern Queensland, for example, is a contender yet to be sampled, and there are some magnificent beaches on the east coast of Tasmania,' he said. Advertisement Moscow showed off its military might today as Russian warships, tanks, planes and helicopters staged a mock invasion on a beach in the Kremlin's largest military drills since the fall of the Soviet Union. Tanks and marines were seen emerging from a landing craft on the shore at Klerka training ground on the Sea of Japan coast, outside the town of Slavyanka, more than 60 miles south of Vladivostok. Tokyo has raised concerns about the Russian military build-up in the area, particularly near the disputed Kuril Islands which are claimed by Japan in a dispute dating back to World War II. NATO has said it will monitor the exercises closely amid tensions with Moscow, as will the United States which has a strong military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Some 300,000 troops, more than 1,000 military aircraft and two naval fleets are taking part in this week's Vostok-2018 drills in Siberia and waters off Russia's east coast. Some 3,500 Chinese troops were expected take part in the exercises, which run until Monday. The Russian landing ship Oslyabya is accompanied by two planes during an exercise at Russia's military drills on Saturday A tank rolls out of a Russian landing ship while two helicopters circle above the beach in a mock landing in eastern Russia Three Russian tanks emerge from a landing ship on the beach at Klerka training ground on the Sea of Japan (also known as the East Sea) coast A Russian sniper wearing camouflage shoots during the military exercises around 60 miles south of Vladivostok today The drills come amid heightened tension between Russia and the West following the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal in Britain and accusations of Kremlin-sponsored efforts to interfere in elections. Russian President Vladimir Putin inspected the war games on Thursday, vowing in a speech to soldiers to strengthen the Russian army and supply it with new-generation weapons and equipment. Putin said Russia was a peaceful country ready for cooperation with any state interested in partnership, but that it was a soldier's duty to be ready to defend his country and its allies. During the earlier drills the Northern Fleet's Vice-Admiral Kulakov destroyer and the Alexander Obrakovsky landing ship took part in a mock-up rescue operation in the Bering Sea. Scores of paratroopers were seen leaping from a plane and descending from helicopters by ropes in the eastern Siberian territory of Zabaikalsk. Missiles were also launched from Russia's S-300 long-range surface-to-air missile system and its Buk medium-range missile system. Three Russian troops emerge from a military helicopter on the beach on the Sea of Japan during the military exercises today A Russian officer with face paint stands with his helmet on during the exercises outside the town of Slavyanka on Saturday The Russian army has compared the show of force to the USSR's 1981 war games that saw between 100,000 and 150,000 Warsaw Pact soldiers take part in 'Zapad-81' (West-81) - the largest military exercises of the Soviet era. At sea, the Russian fleet is deploying several frigates equipped with Kalibr missiles that have been used in Syria. Putin praised Russia's increasingly close ties with China as he met Xi at the economic forum in Vladivostok on Tuesday, saying: 'We have trustworthy ties in political, security and defence spheres.' The drills, which also include Mongolian soldiers, have been condemned by NATO as a rehearsal for 'large-scale conflict'. 'It fits into a pattern we have seen over some time - a more assertive Russia, significantly increasing its defence budget and its military presence,' the alliance's spokesman Dylan White said late August. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis downplayed the significance of China's participation. 'I think that nations act out of their interests. I see little in the long term that aligns Russia and China,' he said. A Russian navy landing vessel unloads an armoured vehicle during the Kremlin's military manoeuvres on the Sea of Japan The Russian landing craft Oslyabya is seen in the water during Saturday's military drills on the east coast of the country A Russian APC driver looks on during the Vostok-2018 exercises at the Klerka training ground on the country's east coast Two Russian helicopters fly towards the beach at the training ground on Saturday during the huge military drills A Russian officer with face paint prepares to take part in the military exercises outside the town of Slavyanka on Saturday Two Russian soldiers take a pause during the Vostok-2018 military drills at Klerka training ground on the Sea of Japan coast A Russian officer watches through a rear sight during Moscow's military manoeuvres on Saturday in the Sea of Japan Explosions are seen during the military exercises today which have sparked fears in Tokyo over the Russian military build-up A line of Russian soldiers standing by a vehicle look at the landing during the Vostok-2018 military drills on Saturday Russian officers control a landing exercise with a warship in the background during Saturday's drills on the Sea of Japan coast Two helicopters fly over the landing command ship during the military exercise on the coast of the Sea of Japan on Saturday A military helicopter flies over a Russian battleship during the Vostok-2018 exercises on the country's east coast today A Russian officer looks at a military vehicle with a warship in the background as the Kremlin showed off its military might A serviceman blows the trumpet during the military exercise on Russia's east coast on the Sea of Japan Two Russian soldiers sitting on a tank chat to each other during Saturday's exercises which have sparked fears in Tokyo Spiked strawberries have surfaced in Sydney, with a horrified shopper finding needles stuck inside three pieces of the fruit. A Coles customer found pins sticking from the sabotaged fruit after purchasing the punnet from a supermarket in Engadine in Sydney's south on Friday. The concerned consumer handed in the infected product to their local police station after they found the three sharp objects inside the berry. Coles and Aldi have now pulled all brands of strawberries from their shelves in NSW since the latest contaminated punnet. 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) The product is now set to under-go forensic testing at the local police station and authorities work with the supermarket. It is believed the consumer had purchased the brand 'Delightful' but returned it after a pin was found sticking out of the fruit, the Daily Telegraph reported. On Friday, six brands of strawberries were flagged as potentially affected by the sabotage. The contamination is believed to have affected the brands 'Berry Obsession', 'Berry Licious', 'Love Berry', 'Donnybrook Berries', 'Delightful Strawberries', and 'Oasis'. Spiked strawberries have surfaced in Sydney, with a horrified shopper finding needles stuck inside three pieces of the fruit Supermarkets are working with their suppliers to investigate the incident involving six brands of strawberries Where have the contaminated berries been found? September 9 - Brisbane man rushed to hospital after eating punnet of strawberries containing needle. September 10 - Woman from Gladstone, Queensland finds needle in strawberry. September 12 - 'disgruntled ex-employee' suspected contaminating September 13 - Thin metal object found in Gatton, Queensland. Three more punnets found contaminated in Tweed Heads, Taree, Guyra. Reports of contamination in Victoria September 14 - Chantal Faugeras find needle in punnet in Wingham. September 15 - Coles shopper finds contaminated punnet in Engadine, Sydney Advertisement These brands are sold in Coles, Woolworths and ALDI across Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Police asked anyone who finds a needle in their strawberries to take the punnet their local station. Despite the nation-wide fear, strawberry farmers have asked consumers to still purchase strawberries but chop them up the first. 'This is food terrorism that is bringing an industry to its knees,' Strawberries Australia Inc Queensland spokesman Ray Daniels said. 'But I would say to people, we produce 800,000 punnets a day and seven needles were found. You've got more chance of winning lotto than being affected.' A $100,000 reward has since been offered for information on the strawberry saboteur. Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has issued the reward over concerns for growers as well as consumers. NSW Police said in a statement late Friday that it is unknown if the contamination is related to the original Queensland incident or a copycat as the products have yet to be forensically examined. On Friday, Police asked anyone who finds a needle in their strawberries to take the punnet their local station Victoria and police reported a suspected copy-cat incident on Thursday where a small steel rod was found in a punnet in Queensland A health warning to throw out or cut up strawberries remains in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia as authorities hunt those responsible. Coles told the Daily Mail Australia, 'Coles has complied with Queensland Health's request to remove Donnybrook strawberries from sale following reports of product contamination. 'As a precaution, Coles is also withdrawing all brands and sizes of Queensland grown strawberry punnets from sale in Coles Supermarkets in all states (except Western Australia), in Coles Express stores and via Coles online. 'The safety of our customers is our top priority and anyone concerned about their health should seek medical advice. 'Coles will be working with growers and suppliers to offer support and will ensure that when supply recommences all strawberry punnets are fully inspected before they are sent to supermarkets.' A health warning to throw out or cut up strawberries remains in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia as authorities hunt those responsible Owen Van Duren (pictured) is accused of fleeing Thailand, where he had spent six months in custody A 37-year-old Australian man accused of stealing a $750,000 luxury boat in Thailand and sailing it to Australia has been arrested in the Northern Territory. Owen Van Duren is accused of fleeing Thailand, where he had spent six months in custody. He fled after receiving bail and appealing a jail sentence for the brutal assault of two airline hostesses during a Thai Airways flight between Bangkok and Sydney last year. Van Duren allegedly hired the 40-foot 'Pina Colada' catamaran with his brother Shane, 43, of Canberra, on July 8 in Thailand. The brothers allegedly hired the catamaran from Yacht Haven Marina, north-east of Phuket, and were due to return it on the 21st of that month. The pair are alleged to have removed the tracker for the yacht before travelling more than 4,000km to Australia and arriving in Darwin on August 19. Van Duren hired the 40-foot 'Pina Colada' catamaran with his brother Shane (pictured), 43, of Canberra, on July 8 in Thailand The hire company reported the vessel stolen. Australian Federal Police and NT Police searched the yacht and seized documents when it arrived. Van Duren was then extradited to Sydney where he was to also face police charges over the mid-flight assault. However, Commonwealth prosecutors withdrew their charges with Thai authorities having already jailed him. He was arrested at 12.30 am on Friday when he landed in Darwin by NT Police at the airport. Van Duren is alleged to have taken the 40-ft yacht from a marina near Phuket, before making the dangerous voyage to Darwin He was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a vessel and unlawful possession of property and was due to face a Darwin court on Friday, where he was refused bail. NT News reported that Judge Michael Carey said Van Duren was 'clearly on the run from Thailand'. He said: 'I have little doubt that if I grant him bail he'll disappear again.' Van Duren is due back in court on October 12 and his lawyer said he 'will at this stage contest the charges'. A 450metre taxi ride to McDonald's has turned into a financial nightmare, costing a woman $1,500. Rikki Jean Ripeka Rowland, 37, was drunk with a friend on July 5 when she caught a taxi to drive her to a McDonald's which was only a six minute walk away. Rowland, a nurse, and her friend caught the taxi from the Octagon to the McDonald's on George Street in Dunedin, on New Zealand's South Island. A drunken woman and her friend called a taxi to drive her to a McDonald's 450 metres down the road. Within a few short minutes in the ride, Rowland vomited inside the vehicle. The furious cab driver demanded the two get out of the taxi as he used the flashlight on his phone to bring them to the attention of the vomit. Rowland reacted by grabbing the driver's phone out of his hand, walking out of the taxi and throwing it on the ground, damaging the device. The case was taken to the Dunedin District Court. The damage to the phone cost nearly $1,300 while the cleaning of the taxi cost $250, the court heard. 'That's a cheap job ... I wouldn't have [cleaned] it for that amount,' said Judge Kevin Phillips. Defence Counsel Val Farrow contended Rowland was going through personal stressful struggles at the time when the incident occurred. While the judge condemned the nurse's actions, he said Rowland's drunken behaviour was a way to relieve her stress, which could have been the only rational reason. Rowland was held in high regard with letters favouring the nurse from a lawyer, counsellor and doctor. Rowland was convicted for her drunken acts and was ordered to pay the reparation by the judge. A new Big Brother contestant is being investigated by producers after racist tweets resurfaced from her Twitter account. Ellis Hillon, 19, from Cambuslang in Scotland, posted tweets about the 9/11 tragedy and used the n-word on an account that has since been deleted. And now the ex-McDonald's worker's position in the Big Brother house is being reconsidered, reports the Mirror. One tweet, which was posted on the anniversary of 9/11 in 2014, when Miss Hillon was 15, read: 'Oh f*** aye its 9/11!! RIP to everyone who died n f*** they smelly p**i terrorist bastards!!!' Big Brother contestant Ellis Hillon, 19, from Cambuslang in Scotland, is being investigated by producers after racist tweets resurfaced from her Twitter account One tweet, which was posted on the anniversary of 9/11 in 2014, when Miss Hillon was 15, read: 'Oh f**k aye its 9/11!! RIP to everyone who died n f**k they smelly p**i terrorist bastards!!!' Another tweet on January 24, 2015 read: 'Real n****s #sbo.' The account was deleted just hours after Miss Hillon entered the house. Miss Hillon's sister, who is currently running her new Twitter account, has denied the claims. She tweeted: 'There were no bad tweets!!! People just talk absolute rubbish and make fake things up. 'There will be no negativity here and my sister will shine. Good night!!!!' Shortly after tweeting she liked a comment from a fan who said: 'Wasn't she 15 when she tweeted that?' Another tweet on January 24, 2015 read: 'Real n****s #sbo.' The account was deleted just hours after Miss Hillon entered the house Miss Hillon's sister, who is currently running her new Twitter account, has said the tweets are fake. She tweeted: 'There were no bad tweets!!! People just talk absolute rubbish and make fake things up' A Channel 5 spokesman told the Mirror: 'We are currently investigating the authenticity of a number of historic social media posts.' Ellis nearly suffered a nasty wardrobe malfunction while sporting a tiny checked dress as she arrived in the house. The show's producers have previously removed contestants over racist and homophobic comments. In 2015, Tila Tequila was kicked out of CBB after pictures emerged of her dressed as a Nazi concentration camp guard. Human Ken doll Rodrigo Alves also left the CBB house after using the n-word twice on his first night. Miss Hillon said as she arrived in the house: 'People always say Ellie you're unintentionally funny, I would literally walk through ASDA and do a s**t drop. 'I'll probably annoy some people to be fair, but it's gonna be good telly isn't it. Could you get Irn Bru in the BB house?' Critics of the High Speed 2 line have called the plans for two viaducts in the Chilterns area 'grotesque' and compared them to 'hideous concrete Stalinist designs.' Local residents in the area are concerned that the stunning view will be ruined by the two imposing bridges which are said to have a total length of 800m. In an artists impression of the plans they are also shown to have tall parapets to deflect the noise of the speeding 250mph trains planned for the high speed line. Critics of the High Speed 2 line have blasted the plans for two viaducts that will carry trains through the Chilterns, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty The design for the section of line in Wendover Dean, near Aylesbury, were published this month and residents are concerned the picturesque view will be ruined The plans for the section of line in Wendover Dean, near Aylesbury, were published this month, reports The Times. They were revealed to the community by Eiffage Kier, the contractors appointed to build a 50-mile stretch of the line. Murray Cooke, from the Wendover HS2 Action Group, said 95 per cent of the local population was opposed to the design and called it 'grotesque.' One critic described the design as 'thick, heavy, blocky, low and forbidding. 'This village is a jewel in the Chilterns and your desecration of it is total vandalism.' Local residents are concerned the view will be ruined by the two imposing bridges which are said to have a total length of 800m Another wrote on Twitter: 'These are the hideous concrete Stalinist designs for HS2 in Wendover Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 'Despite all the promises, ugly concrete ripping through Green Belt. Yorkshire be warned this is HS2 reality.' Five years ago Justine Greening, who was then the Conservative transport secretary, said that HS2 structures would be likened to Victorian architecture as 'things of beauty.' However the proposed plans have caused outrage for their lack of similarity to classic viaduct designs. One person said: 'It was promised that within the Chilterns AONB HS2 would be a thing of beauty. 'Looks like this will be far from the truth. Currently HS2 viaduct looks like a shocking disregard for the AONB. Very sad.' The project contractors said that it would be impossible to replicate the brick-arched railway viaducts as the faster HS2 trains require flatter, straighter track. Five years ago it was said that HS2 structures would be likened to Victorian architecture as 'things of beauty.' However the contractors of the project have said a brick design was not possible as HS2 trains require flatter, straighter track HS2 will link London, West Midlands, Leeds and Manchester. The line is to be built in a 'Y' configuration Ian Richie told The Times: 'There's a way of making it all feel a lot more elegant and that's not what we have here.' The award winning architect also critised the design saying the parapets wouldn't help reduce noise. A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd said: 'We recognise the importance of good design and each of these structures has been developed with consideration for the technical and structural requirements, as well as the impact on their surroundings. 'We will continue to engage with local people and organisations on these designs.' HS2 will link London, West Midlands, Leeds and Manchester. The line is to be built in a 'Y' configuration. London will be on the bottom of the 'Y', Birmingham at the centre, Leeds at the top right and Manchester at the top left. Convicted murderer Arnold Nash, 65, escaped a Maine prison on Thursday night An inmate at a minimum-security prison in Maine who was serving a 45-year sentence for the beating death of his disabled neighbor has escaped, officials said. Arnold Nash, 65, escaped from Mountain View Correctional Facility in Charleston around 8.20pm on Thursday. Authorities believe he is still in the local area. Nash was serving a lengthy prison sentence for the 1991 robbery and murder of his neighbor Wilfred Gibeault, a 58-year-old disabled Korean War veteran. Department of Corrections Commissioner Joseph Fitzpatrick said Nash was last seen wearing blue jeans, a white t-shirt and a light blue shirt, according to the Bangor Daily News. The escaped prisoner is 5-feet-six inches tall and weighs approximately 160 pounds. He has tattoos on both arms; a fish symbol on the right arm and the word 'Mom' on the left. Nash has also used several aliases in the past, officials said. Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland told the Portland Press Herald that Nash is dangerous. 'He's a career criminal and residents in the Greater Charleston area need to be aware, be vigilant and take extra precautions,' he said. Fitzpatrick warned residents not to approach Nash. Officials said there were no confirmed sightings of the convicted murderer as of Friday evening. There were no details on how Nash escaped or why he was being housed in a minimum security prison. According to a press release on Friday morning, Nash was scheduled to be released in December, 18 years before the end of his original sentence. It did not say why he was going to be released so early. Authorities have not said how Nash fled the minimum-security Mountain View Correctional Facility in Charleston This is not the first time Nash has escaped from a Maine prison. In 1981, he fled the Maine State Prison, where he was serving time for burglary. Local media outlets reported that Nash and another prison walked away from farm work detail in mid-July 1981. The escape sparked one of Maine's longest manhunts. The two inmates were captured weeks after they fled. Nash also escaped prison in 1973 when he was 19 while serving time for larceny in the Maine Correctional Center in Windham. It wasn't clear how he fled or how long it took for him to be captured. In May 1992, he was convicted for the beating death of Gibeault. The longtime criminal had planned on robbing the veteran, who lived next door to him, of $1,400 in cash that he received each month from the Veterans Administration. McCausland told the Press Herald that game wardens, state troopers and corrections officials searched for Nash in the area around Charleston for most of Friday. A helicopter was dispatched for the search as well. 'We're hoping the public will be our eyes and ears and call if they see anything that seems suspicious,' he said. Anyone with information about Nash's whereabouts is urged to contact Maine State Police at 973-3700. Shah Mehmood Qureshi arrived in Kabul SATURDAY: Foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi arrived in Kabul today (Saturday). Pakistan ambassador to Kabul Nasrullah and other high ranking officials received the FM on the Kabul airport. He will be meeting with its Afghan counterpart in Kabul on his one day visit. Matters related trade and Afghan-Pak Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) will be discussed in the meeting. A UK doctor's 'game-changing' invention could save millions of babies' lives across Africa. The BabySaver, developed by Professor Andrew Weeks of Liverpool Women's Hospital, costs just 40 to produce but could transform the way newborn resuscitation is carried out. The aim is to equip every hospital in Uganda with at least one of the simple plastic units. Professor Andrew Weeks of Liverpool Women's Hospital is shown with the BabySaver The BabySaver (pictured) costs just 40 to produce but could transform the way newborn resuscitation is carried ou The more traditional units retail for thousands of dollars and are dependent on electricity - something that cannot always be relied upon in many Ugandan health centres. The BabySaver is a moulded plastic tray which can be placed between a mother's legs, enabling the umbilical cord to remain intact whilst doctors treat her baby. This has important health benefits for the woman and her newborn child. Inside, the unit contains equipment like a suction device, oxygen bag and mask, and a stethoscope, meaning vital equipment is always kept together in one place. Professor Weeks, who works at Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Liverpool, said: 'Each year approximately six million babies across the world require basic neonatal resuscitation and around 900,000 of these will die. 'The vast majority of deaths occur in low-income settings where there are few facilities for newborn resuscitation at birth. 'Where resuscitation does occur, it often happens away from the mother, or even in another room, which can be very distressing for the mother and baby. 'The BabySaver enables resuscitation to take place at the bedside, with the umbilical cord still attached. Allowing the cord to stay intact has huge health benefits for newborn babies but it also allows the midwife to stay with the mother at a high-risk time for her.' It is hoped that if the BabySaver is successful in Uganda it could be used across the world in areas that do not have ready access to electricity or expensive equipment. It could even be used in the UK for home births. Professor Weeks added: 'Studies of bedside newborn resuscitation carried out in Liverpool have shown that it is preferred by mothers and staff. Trials have been carried out with staff and patients at the Mbale Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in Uganda. A mother is pictured with her baby at the hospital 'We truly believe it will be a game-changer for families across Uganda, and hopefully even further afield.' The product has been developed in conjunction with Peter Watt, a design engineer at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, and James Ditai, founder and Executive Director of the Sanyu Africa Research Institute (SAfRI) in Mbale. Dr Kathy Burgoine, head of the Neonatal Unit at MRRH, said: 'We are delighted to be supporting Professor Weeks and his team with this project' The prototypes have been manufactured by a team at the Bryn Y Neuadd Hospital in Gwynedd, Wales, and trials have been carried out with staff and patients at the Mbale Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in Uganda. Dr Kathy Burgoine, head of the Neonatal Unit at MRRH, said: 'We are delighted to be supporting Professor Weeks and his team with this project. 'The unit is literally a life-saver and will transform the way newborn resuscitation is carried out in our hospitals and the wider community.' The project has been funded by Grand Challenges Canada, which funds innovative projects in low-income countries across the world, and the Sir Halley Stewart Trust, a grant-giving charity that supports innovative and pioneering social, medical and religious projects. The BabySaver prototype was officially launched in Uganda last month when it was handed over to the World Health Organisation's Uganda representative Dr Olive Sentumbwe. It has the full backing of the country's Ministry of Health. T he Intellectual Property rights have been gifted to the Sanyu Africa Research Institute to prevent commercialisation of the product and ensure the cost is kept down. Further testing of the product will now take place to refine it. The final version will be manufactured in Uganda and distributed throughout the country. A 12-year-old girl has had her arm severed after it became entangled in a rope that was being used to tow her behind a boat. The girl was on the Nepean River in Sydney's west on Friday when the horrific incident happened. Police believe she was being towed behind a boat, possibly on an inflatable tube, or something similar, when she is alleged to have become tangled in the rope at about 2.30pm. A 12-year-old girl has had her arm severed after it became entangled in a rope that was being used to tow her behind a boat (pictured is the scene of the incident) She fell from the inflatable tube but luckily a jet ski rider was nearby and able to pull her from the water. 'The rapid response rescue helicopter flew to the Nepean River to help a girl seriously injured in a boating accident this afternoon,' a CareFlight statement read. 'CareFlight doctors and critical care paramedic helped Ambulance teams at the scene to treat the girl. 'The CareFlight team continued treatment in a road ambulance as the girl was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.' 'CareFlight doctors and critical care paramedic helped Ambulance teams at the scene to treat the girl,' a CareFlight statement read (pictured is a CareFlight helicopter) The young girl was rushed to The Childrens Hospital at Westmead. Meanwhile police divers will continue to comb the river in an attempt to find the girls severed arm. Bystander Benny Lampasi, 47, of Glenmore Park spoke to The Daily Telegraph and said he witnessed the fallout from the accident. 'It was a half-cabin boat that was involved in towing the girl before the accident, it wasnt a ski boat or a speedboat. They locked it up on the boat ramp,' he said. The driver of the boat had to be treated for shock at the scene as SES divers joined police divers in searching for the severed arm. Children were stuck in mid-air for more than two hours after a 'wheel fell off a rollercoaster' at Gulliver's World. A group of around 21 people were trapped on a Crazy Train ride at the Warrington theme park, with witnesses reporting many of them were in tears. Footage from the park showed the ride suspended at an angle around 20ft in the air after a wheel reportedly fell off the train. The last of a group of 21 people were stuck in mid-air for almost three hours after a 'wheel fell off a rollercoaster' at Gulliver's World The incident happened at around 12.50pm - and a rescue mission by Cheshire Fire service was completed almost three hours later. An air ambulance was also called to the theme park, but it is not believed any injuries were suffered, the Mirror reported. Terrified parents took to social media to describe the moment the ride halted with their children on board. One user tweeted: 'I have never been more frightened as a parent than I am now. The mother of a asthmatic child stuck on the ride took to Twitter to describe the moment the ride halted 'Sat here on my own whilst my child is up in the air and there's not a thing I can do. 'Should be able to take ya kids on a day out without this happening.' She said her daughter, who has asthma, was still on the ride at 3pm as a rescue mission began. The concerned mother said: 'There's about six left up including my daughter. Just taking so long.' Firefighters reportedly began using ladders to release people from the ride at around 1pm. The last of those aboard the ride were rescued from the train at 3.35pm - almost three hours after it halted. Cheshire Fire service said: 'Firefighters were called to Gulllivers World in Shackleton Close, Warrington following reports of approximately 21 people trapped on a roller coaster ride. 'They used ladders to help get to the people trapped on the ride which was approximately 50ft high up. Footage from the park shows the ride suspended at an angle 20ft in the air after a wheel reportedly fell off the train An air ambulance and the fire service were called to the theme park - and is it not believed anyone suffered injuries 'They secured the carriages to ensure they were stable. A scaffolding tower was then built and those trapped continued to be freed and brought to safety. 'The line rescue team set up a twin line lowering system to rescue three people. It is not believed there are any injuries.' The park, aimed at children aged between two and 13, consists of multiple themed areas including Lilliput Land, Gully Town and Safari Kingdom. The park is thought to have been especially busy today because NHS staff were allowed in for free. Cincinnati police and fire recruits are being asked intimate details about their sexual experiences in a questionnaire. 'Have you ever participated in a sexual act in a public place?' the questionnaire asks the police and firefighter hopefuls. 'Location(s) and number of times Explain each circumstance.' 'Not counting self-masturbation or legal sexual activity with a willing partner, what was your most unusual sex act?' another question asks as part of a 35-page questionnaire known as a personal health questionnaire (PHQ). According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, these risque questions can later become accessible to the public - perhaps concerning those with sexual histories considered taboo. A questionnaire for Cincinnati police and fire recruits asks questions about sexual history (pictured are Cincinnati police recruits) Cincinnati Police Union President Sgt Dan Hils says certain questions are an 'indication of law-breaking exposure' but admits that others may go too far. 'What we should be asking about are things that are criminal in nature,' Hils told the Cincinnati Enquirer. 'Stuff geared more to people's private, behind-closed-doors lives, I do not see as having a bearing on the work we do.' City officials said in a statement the personal questions are a 'small component of a comprehensive questionnaire'. The questions are then used along with a polygraph exam. 'The polygraph is used to help gauge a respondent's reactions and responses to difficult questions,' the statement read. Mary Tuocy, director of public affairs for the Ohio Civil Rights Commission said the questions 'certainly raise eyebrows' but no discrimination lawsuits have been filed. 'However, if someone made an allegation related to any question, especially a question that is somewhat unusual like those, we'd be looking at whether it is relevant to the duties of the job,' she told the Enquirer. 'Have you ever participated in a sexual act in a public place?' one question asks, meant to be an 'indication of law-breaking exposure' (pictured are Cincinnati police recruits) Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said Thursday: 'I don't think they are appropriate. I am asking they be dropped,' according to Fox 19. But Cincinnati isn't the only city in Ohio to ask deeply personal questions to their future officers and firefighters. In West Chester, recruits are asked if they have ever been 'sexually aroused by fire' while those in Norwood are asked if they have ever watched other people having sex. In Delhi Township, the future cops and firefighters are asked if they have posted naked photos of themselves either online or on dating apps. 'Being in the business of public trust, I think this is the least we can do to vet prospective employees who will be afforded the public's trust simply by being a Delhi representative,' Delhi Township Administrator Jack Cameron told the Enquirer. The Treasury's official cat Gladstone has gone missing in Westminster. Philip Hammond's three-year-old moggy is believed to be on the loose and officials are desperately trying to track him down, reports the Sun. The cute cat has become a favourite among MPs who use him - and Number 10's Larry and Palmerston from the Foreign Office - to connect with voters. A source said: 'Some people are really worried about him, they love him around the department. Hopefully we'll find him soon.' Gladstone, the official Treasury cat, has gone missing in Westminster. Staff are desperately searching for him The cute cat has become a social media star, and his official Instagram account features photos of him wearing Union flag jumpers Workers were told to keep an eye out for the black shorthair yesterday. Gladstone arrived in the Treasury office two years ago and since then he has been plastered all over Instagram and Twitter. Pictures on social media show him wearing his iconic red spotty bow tie and a Union flag jumper. More than 15,000 people follow the Treasury cat Instagram account - making it one of the most popular Conservative pages. Gladstone was adopted by the department from the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in south London, and civil service staff pay for his food and accessories from their own pockets. Officially he holds the title of Chief Mouser to the Treasury and he has caught at least 22 mice since he began his new 'job'. He has been far more successful the Number 10's Larry, who is said to lack the killer instinct. Pest control were called to the PM's home 29 times in one year. More than 15,000 people follow the Treasury cat Instagram account - making it one of the most popular Conservative pages. Pictured: Gladstone reading the budget Gladstone, pictured here with Philip Hammond, was adopted by the department from the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in south London A former British Army soldier who fought against the Islamic State terror group in Syria has been sentenced to nearly eight years in jail in Turkey. Joe Robinson, 25, was arrested while he was on holiday and accused of fighting the Islamists alongside the People's Protection Units of Syrian Kurdistan. The Turkish state is hostile towards the YPG, who they consider a terror organisation because of its links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party which is fighting for autonomy for the region. Mr Robinson, from Accrington, Lancashire, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison, but he will reportedly remain on bail while planning an appeal. Former British soldier Joe Robinson, 25, was arrested while on holiday in the Turkish seaside resort town of Didim with his partner Mira Rojkan He has previously admitted fighting IS but went on to deny he acted alongside the Kurdish militia. Robinson, who served as a soldier in the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment and spent time in Afghanistan, insisted he travelled to Syria to provide medical aid. He was arrested last year alongside partner Mira Rojkan, a Bulgarian citizen who had been living in Leeds, while they were on holiday in the Turkish seaside resort town of Didim. Ms Rojkan, a law student at the University of Leeds, was accused of engaging in terrorist propaganda. She was given a suspended sentence, the BBC reported. Ms Rojkan told the BBC: 'The court sentenced me for sharing Facebook posts with the Kurdish flag and links to Kurdish songs on YouTube. 'The situation is just so sad and ridiculous. It's beyond me how this can be happening.' Mr Robinson, from Accrington, Lancashire, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison, but he will reportedly remain on bail while planning an appeal Robinson had previously fought with YPG Kurdish militia against ISIS in Syria On Saturday, the Kurdistan Solidarity Campaign praised Robinson for 'selflessly' battling IS, and called on the Government to stand up for the former soldier. 'Joe is a hero to all who value peace and freedom against the dark forces of oppression, enslavement, rape and terrorism which IS represent,' a statement said. The YPG is not a proscribed organisation in the UK. Mr Robinson's mother Sharon Chimejczuk said she received a phone call on Friday night from an official at the British Foreign Office confirming her son's sentence. She said: 'There was a trial, but Joe wasn't at it.' The Foreign Office said: 'We have been following this case very closely and have raised it with the Turkish authorities. We stand ready to provide further consular assistance.' Throughout all the driving wind and rain that has pounded the North Carolina coast over the last few days, there is one image that will live long in the memory. The stars and stripes of Old Glory flying in the wind and being ripped to shreds by hurricane force winds. The flag is flying at an unusual location at a bed-and-breakfast some 34 miles off the coast in old Coast Guard tower called Frying Pan Tower. The American flag took a beating and began to rip during Florence and it began to tear apart The tower, an old Coast Guard light structure turned bed and breakfast, is located 34 miles off the coast of southeastern North Carolina The tower is a Coast Guard Light Station that has been turned into a unique bed & breakfast. But the owner, Richard Neal, ended up dealing with some angry calls from veterans as the storm approached. Although Neal decided not to stay on the Frying Pan and instead head for dry land, people were still able to view footage from a webcam showing the flag being whipped about in the wind. At one point, the live footage showed the tower's flag being shredded by the storm's devastating rain and wind. 'They told me, 'this is disrespectful,' and that I need to get out there and replace the flag right then,' Neal told McClatchy. 'In the hurricane.' The owner received several angry calls from online viewers who were upset that the flag was left out during the storm A little later in the storm, he was able to remotely reposition the live cam so the flag was no longer in shot. But then even more people contacted him to ask how the flag was doing and what happened to it. 'It was then that I realized that you can't make everyone happy, so I moved the feed back 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.' Neal said. Neal says 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.' A powerful new candidate has thrown her hat into the race for Malcolm Turnbull's old seat of Wentworth and she will be doing it as an independent. Former Australian Medical Association president and Sydney councillor Professor Kerryn Phelps AM has expressed her desire to enter the political landscape of Canberra, already having success with changing laws from outside parliament. Prof Phelps sat down with The Daily Telegraph to talk about her run in the October 20 by-election. Former Australian Medical Association president and Sydney councillor Professor Kerryn Phelps AM (centre) has expressed her desire to run for the seat of Wentworth at the by-election 'As in independent person, over a period of weeks I was able to achieve a full Senate inquiry into the My Health record,' she said. 'If a single voice can achieve a complete review of a piece of legislation, then an independent voice within Parliament can achieve a great deal more, in some respects, than people who are tied into a party position.' Prof Phelps was a champion for change and worked hard to lobby for changes to gay marriage laws, medical indemnity and adoption. After she helped modernise the adoption laws her and her wife Jackie Stricker-Phelps were able to adopt their daughter Gabrielle. Choosing to run as an independent means Prof Phelps will forgo any future opportunities at being a minister or holding any leadership position. 'I can't be told how to think. The reason that there is a surge in support for independents is because people want authenticity, integrity and honesty,' she said. After she helped modernise the adoption laws, Prof Phelps and her wife Jackie Stricker-Phelps (pictured together) were able to adopt their daughter Gabrielle Her biggest hurdle will be overcoming political opponent and Liberal candidate Dave Sharma who was chosen ahead of Katherine O'Regan. Prime Minister Scott Morrison was forced to do an about face after initially saying he had backed Ms O'Regan for the Liberal candidacy after calls for more women in the 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. After hearing of Mr Sharma's candidacy, Prof Phelps said she couldn't believe the Liberals were not able to find someone from within the community to represent it. The electorate 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. Prof Phelps' biggest hurdle will be overcoming Liberal candidate and former ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma (pictured) THE CANDIDATES FOR WENTWORTH SO FAR Liberal: Dave Sharma Labor: Tim Murray Greens: Dominic Wy Kanak Independent: Angela Vithoulkas Science: Andrea Leong Independent: Licia Heath Independent: David Barrow Independent: Kerryn Phelps Voluntary Euthanasia: Shayne Higson Justice: Ben Forsyth Liberal Democrats: Sam Gunning Advertisement 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. Prof Phelps was the first LGBT person to be elected to the presidency of the Australian Medical Association. She said she was running for the seat of Wentworth to bring some 'stability and common sense to a very volatile situation' and aims to be a voice of reason in parliament. Prof Phelps believes it's time for Australians to stand up and be heard and to show Canberra they want change in the way politics are done. The voters of Wentworth knew that Mr Turnbull was an advocate for same sex marriage, climate change and the republican cause but Prof Phelps said he had been hobbled by the policies of Canberra. Tony Blair, John Major and Nick Clegg have been travelling around Europe to persuade the continent's leaders to put a stop to Brexit, it has emerged. The former party leaders - one from each of the UK's three largest parties - have met heads of government and senior ministers from Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands in recent weeks. They have reportedly sought to persuade EU leaders that 'the atmosphere has changed' since the 2016 referendum and that Britain needed to postpone its departure to allow more time for negotiations and a possible second vote. Mr Clegg, who has joined the two former PMs in their 'shuttle diplomacy', said current British politics had made it 'viable' for the UK's exit to be stopped, the Guardian reported. Former Labour PM Tony Blair (left) and ex-Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg (right) have been meeting European leaders in recent weeks in a bid to put a stop to Brexit The former deputy PM has met Dutch leader Mark Rutte, ex-German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble, and aides of French President Emmanuel Macron in recent weeks. He has also met senior German politicians Peter Altmeier and Sigmar Gabriel, and the People's Vote campaign he works wit has appointed former EU commission official Tom Cole as a liaison with Brussels's diplomatic missions in London. Mr Blair - who today repeated a call for a second referendum - spoke with Italy's hardline interior minister Matteo Salvini and has also met senior figures in Germany and Austria. Their discussions have reportedly been fed back to a group of pro-Remain MPs who meet on Wednesdays in gatherings chaired by Labour's Chuka Umunna. One source said the group was not trying to 'subvert' negotiations but was trying to provide EU leaders with information about British politics which did not come from Whitehall. As a former European Commission employee Mr Clegg worked closely with some of Michel Barnier's negotiating team. Speaking from Italy he said: 'For a year after the referendum I was received with a mixture of curiosity and pity on the basis it was not remotely likely anything was going to stop Brexit. The atmosphere has changed. 'We cannot just turn the clock back to just before the 2016 referendum. 'There would have to be some changes of freedom of movement; we cannot just put Humpty Dumpty back together again.' The ex-Lib Dem leader is said to be suggesting plans for the UK to vote in the May 2019 European elections and have British MEPs resign their seats later on. He also held talks with Mr Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, saying Britain had to 'deal with the questions of immigration and the anxieties that gave rise to [Brexit]'. Speaking at the Open Future Festival today Mr Blair said the EU should make Britain an offer to stay in the 28-member bloc. Former Conservative PM John Major, who has spoken out against Brexit in the past, is also said to be involved in diplomatic efforts with Mr Blair and Mr Clegg He also warned Labour members and MPs not to leave for a new party as it would be 'impossible' to create a viable centrist movement, The Times reported. The former PM said: 'I think there is paralysis in the British Parliament, my view is they should make us an offer. 'I personally think there is a paralysis in Parliament, the best response would be to go back to the people and say look, we have had two-and-a-half years of this negotiation, we now know all the options, do you want to proceed or do you want to stay. 'I think the problem is when we look for people to blame, whether it's business on the left or immigrants on the right, rather than understanding that this is a world of change and we need to master it. 'None of the problems that Britain has and the challenges it faces are going to be easier to resolve out of Europe. They are actually going to be easier to resolve in Europe. 'And the thing that pains me is when you have a young working class person in north of England thinks they are more likely to get a job if we stop some Polish guy coming and working in a bar in London. It isn't true.' Mr Blair said there was a 'fundamental dilemma' which the past months of negotiations had never resolved, which was either stay close to Europe or break completely with the single market and customs union. In February former Tory PM Mr Major, who faced a series of party divisions over Europe during the 1990s, warned of a 'terrible backlash' from the public if EU withdrawal leaves the UK poorer and weaker. He called on Mrs May to stand up to the 'ultra-Brexit' minority in her party and drop her 'red lines' of taking Britain out of the single market and customs union. Footage has captured the agony of a young mother trying to decide how best to protect her children just before Hurricane Florence made landfall on Friday. Iris lives in Wilmington, North Carolina with her three children, and was in tears on Thursday when asked by NBC News what she was planning to do when the storm hit. She and her family had been told to evacuate by officials, but she was unsure where to go given that she is an undocumented immigrant and her children were terrified that they would be separated by ICE if they checked into a shelter. 'The little one asked me, "Mom, I am very afraid that our home is going to be destroyed, and I don't want to go to a shelter because I don't want to be separated from you,"' said Iris. The girl later told her mother: 'I'd rather die first than be separated from you.' Gut-wrenching: Iris (above) is a mother-of-three and undocumented immigrant living in a mandatory evacuation zone near Wilmington, North Carolina Cover: She was afraid to go to a public shelter (one above in South Carolina on Friday) believing that ICE would be there and arrest her, separate her children and then deport the family ICE had stated that it would not arrest people seeking shelter during Florence earlier in the week, but a number of immigrants do not trust that statement. That fear dates back to Hurricane Harvey, with reports emerging weeks after the storm that ICE officials who had been helping to rebuild after the storm in Texas later returned to arrest undocumented persons they had come across during their efforts. 'My worry was when someone said, "If you go to shelters, you have to be careful," someone told me they weren't accepting people who were undocumented,' said Iris, who pain was clear on her face. 'But if they went, they would run the risk of being taken [from] there, and I didn't want to run the risk with my kids.' Her interview, during which a translator was present to interpret her remarks, took place at the same time that a volunteer had come by to try and convince Iris to go to the shelter. That volunteer eventually managed to convince Iris to seek shelter. 'It makes me feel better to know that that's not going to happen,' said the mother. 'I'm sure you are parents as well, and you can just imagine how that would feel if that was to happen.' Damage: Her daughter had told her she feared their home would be destroyed, but would rather face death at home than possible separation (a tree on a nearby home in Wilmington) ICE said in a statement that they will not enforce arrests in hurricane areas at this time, though it is unclear if interactions with individuals and ICE officials could lead to arrests down the road as reportedly happened during Hurricane Harvey. 'Our highest priority remains the preservation of life and safety,' the department said in a statement. 'In consideration of these circumstances, there will be no immigration enforcement initiatives associated with evacuations or sheltering related to Florence, except in the event of a serious public safety threat.' Turkey assured Pakistan of all-out support for solution to Kashmir issue ISLAMABAD: Turkey on Friday assured Pakistan of all-out support in finding a peaceful solution to Kashmir issue, It is a Turkeys wish that the Kashmir issue involving India and Pakistan gets resolved in a peaceful manner, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a joint press conference after formal talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi. In the group that has been formed on Kashmir at the UN, we will stand by Pakistan and try to make its endeavours successful, he said, and added that his country would back Pakistans stance at every forum. During the talks that lasted for two hours, both sides expressed a strong determination to make collective efforts in confronting Islamophobia and other attempts to malign or distort the great message of peace and respect for humanity imbibed in the Holy Quran and repeatedly demonstrated in the life of Holy Prophet (PBUH). There is propaganda against Islam in Europe. We ran an effective campaign against the Netherlands caricatures contest, and thank God they shut it down, Cavusoglu maintained. Pakistans membership for the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) a group that seeks to prevent nuclear proliferation also came under discussion. The Turkish foreign minister assured that Pakistans bid for the membership would be fully supported. Besides, current situation in the Muslim world in general, and Afghanistan, Iran and Kashmir in particular, was also discussed during the talks. Commenting on the formation of new government in Pakistan, the foreign minister said: Governments and people come and go, but real friendship cannot end. Both countries agreed to convene the next meeting of strategic council in Pakistan for which dates are being finalised. On trade and commercial cooperation between the two countries, Cavusoglu said that Turkish companies would invest in Pakistan. He also underlined the importance of economic and military cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey. The minister said that Pakistan and Turkey had suffered the most in the war against terrorism, and added that both countries would continue to cooperate with each other in fighting the menace jointly. Recalling the failed military coup in 2016, he said that Turkey would never forget Pakistan and its peoples support. Cavusoglu said that Pakistan would always have a special significance in Turkish foreign policy. He lauded Pakistans successful and strong action to subdue and defeat the menace of extremism and terrorism. A North Carolina mother trapped in her flooded home as Tropical Storm Florence battered the state late Thursday night described the heartache of hearing her neighbors yell for help but not being able to do anything. Annazette Riley-Cromartie, who lives in James City, told CNN's Anderson Cooper that her family decided not to evacuate because Florence had lost some of its strength and was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm. Riley-Cromartie told Cooper around 11pm on Thursday she and her husband noticed water starting to come into their house. She said it started slowly, but the water kept rising. Riley-Cromartie, her husband and the three kids at home were forced to seek shelter in the attic. Eventually, Riley-Cromartie said she brought the kids to an upstairs bedroom and put them on a bunk bed so they could get some sleep. That's when she and her husband heard some of their neighbors screaming for help. A woman with the Civilian Crisis Response Team is seen carrying Annazette Riley-Cromartie's seven-year-old daughter to safety The family was rescued earlier Friday morning after being trapped in their flooded James City, North Carolina home for hours The other two children are seen being rescued by a volunteer rescue team in James City on Friday Annazette Riley-Cromartie (pictured left and right with her husband) said they heard neighbors screaming for help but could not do anything because of the rising waters 'My husband kept hearing people yelling for help and he tried to go outside,' she told Cooper. The rising waters, however, proved too dangerous and Riley-Cromartie said her husband, who is six-feet-two-inches tall, had to come back inside because the water was above his chest. 'It's the worst feeling in the world to hear people yelling for help and you can't do anything,' she said, getting emotional. Riley-Cromartie said she called 911, but rescuers weren't able to get to them until early Friday morning when a volunteer rescue team from Indiana was dispatched to James City. A photo of Amber Hersel, a member of the Civilian Crisis Response Team, went viral after she was seen carrying Riley-Cromartie's seven-year-old Keiyana Cromartie to safety. Hersel told Cooper that the family was fine, but a little 'shaken up'. Annazette Riley-Cromartie posted photos on her Facebook page of her flooded home as they waited for help One photo showed her cars almost submerged in water as Florence battered the state with rain and heavy winds After rescuing the children, the rescue team went back and helped Riley-Cromartie and her husband get out of the flooded home. Hersel said she has volunteered as a rescuer in the past, but never for a hurricane. 'It's a little intimidating. I've really enjoyed getting to help where I can,' she said. 'At first, when you see the weather you're just like "What in the world did I get myself into?" But then as you see the families that you're helping, you know it's all worth it.' Riley-Cromartie said she is beyond thankful for the rescue team. 'It takes a special person to leave their own home and their own family to come all this way to help us,' she said. According to the New York Times, more than 360 people were rescued in nearby New Bern since Thursday night. By Friday evening, an additional 140 people were in need of help. Officials said the latest death toll, as of Saturday morning, was seven people in North Carolina. Pictured is a destroyed gas station near the coast line in North Carolina Florence was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm but has wreaked havoc on the state. Pictured is a damaged home in Wilmington Officials have said that seven people were killed from the massive storm. The first death attributed to Florence was in Pender County, North Carolina. A mother and an infant were also killed in Wilmington when a tree fell on their home, ABC News reports. Another person, a 78-year-old man in Kinston, was killed when he tried to connect extension cords outside in the rain, according to Lenoir County Emergency Services Director Roger Dail. A 77-year-old man in Kinston was also killed. Dail said the man's body was found at his residence by relatives and it's believed that he was blown down when he went outside to check on his hunting dogs. On Friday night a 62-year-old woman was killed when she struck a tree that had fallen across Highway 18 near Union, South Carolina, Fox News reports. Duplin County Sheriffs Office confirmed three more deaths due to 'flash flooding and swift water on roadways'. Two more people were confirmed dead Saturday in Harkers Island. Officials have not released details about those deaths. A top Indian hunter had been called in to shoot a man-eating tigress blamed for killing 13 people around Maharashtra, India. Nawab Shafath Ali Khan began the hunt to capture the four-year-old cat and her two cubs after India's highest court dismissed objections from conservation groups. He has started combing the jungles of Maharashtra after the tigress, known as T1, terrorised villages over the last two years, with the spree accelerating to claim three lives in August alone. Victims have been found part-eaten, with limbs torn off and teeth marks left on what remained. Nawab Shafath Ali Khan has been called in to shoot a man-eating tigress blamed for killing 13 people around Maharashtra, India Wildlife activists had attempted to block any court order allowing the killing of the cat by arguing that there was no proof the tigress was responsible for the deaths. They also tried to block Mr Khan from being involved as he is the go-to marksman for Indian officials troubled by man-eating tigers, rogue elephants or destructive wild boar. Mr Khan is currently stalking the tiger with elephants because vehicles are too loud and hopes to only use a tranquiliser gun on the animal with only shooting to kill as a last resort. The hunt authorisation calls for Mr Khan to attempt to capture the tigress alive, but to kill it if necessary. But activists fear Mr Khan, who is renowned for killing hundreds of animals, will only make a token effort to take the cat alive. He has said he is convinced the tigress is guilty and is killing for survival because of a lack of other prey. 'The tigress has two cubs aged 10 months which are also eating human flesh,' he told the Times of India. Mr Khan (left) is currently stalking the tiger with elephants because vehicles are too loud and hopes to only use a tranquiliser gun on the animal with only shooting to kill as a last resort 'The killing of humans is easy prey, as there is no natural prey such as spotted deer and sambar and wild boar here. So the tigress is killing humans for survival.' Indian officials say DNA tests, camera traps and footprints all point to the killings having been carried out by a single tigress. Their tigers are strictly protected by conservation laws, but India's growing population and the loss of habitat means the cats are increasingly in competition with people. The success of protection laws has also seen the number of cats begin to grow again in recent years after plummeting for decades. India is home to around 70 per cent of the world's 4,000 tigers. Mr Khan is the private hunter usually called on when people and India's large wildlife clash. He first held a gun when he was four and soon became an able tracker and accomplished shot. At the age of only 19 he was recommended by a family friend when officials needed someone to shoot a rogue elephant who had trampled 12 to death. After that his fame quickly grew and officials from around India began calling for his help. Florida law enforcement are on the hunt for a woman they think stole bricks of marijuana that washed up on Flagler Beach on Thursday. The unidentified blonde was pictured wearing a yellow bikini top and black bottoms in the image that shows her reaching into the large bundle of weed after rough surf brought it ashore. While only one side of her face is visible in the photograph released Friday, she does have a number of tattoos on her back which could help authorities in Flagler County pinpoint who the woman is. Florida law enforcement are on the hunt for a woman they think stole bricks of marijuana that washed up on Flagler Beach The unidentified blonde woman was pictured wearing a yellow bikini top and black bottoms in the image that shows her reaching into the large bundle of weed on Thursday Robert Kelley, 61, was arrested for swiping 11lbs of narcotics at Jungle Hut Road Park, which is about 10 miles down the coast from Flagler Beach Separate batches, that make up approximately 100lbs of the drug, were discovered on Flagler beaches from Wednesday. More was discovered in the nearby Volusia and St John's counties too. However on those occasions, witnesses were more honest about reporting the stash according to Flagler County Sheriff, Rick Staly. On Thursday Robert Kelley, 61, was arrested for allegedly swiping 11lbs of narcotics at Jungle Hut Road Park, which is about 10 miles down the coast from Flagler Beach. He was taken into custody despite claiming he only took a portion of it to hold in his vehicle because he was unsure whether police were coming to take care of the matter. 'When FCSO arrived on the scene, the caller identified Robert Kelley to deputies. While on scene, Kelley did not attempt to approach FCSO and alert them that he had found suspected narcotics,' a statement on the FCSO Facebook page says. 'After speaking with the caller, deputies made contact with Kelley and asked if he took some of the suspected marijuana. Robert pointed at his vehicle and stated that he was holding it for law enforcement's arrival. 'When Kelley was asked why he had not alerted law enforcement immediately, he stated he did not alert FCSO because he did not know if the Sheriff's Office was going to come or not.' Kelley says he was taken into custody despite claiming he only took a portion of it to hold in his vehicle because he was unsure whether police were coming to take care of the matter Law enforcement has found approximately 100lbs of marijuana on beaches in the area Now facing a felony charge for possession of over 20g after the bundle was found wrapped in a brown beach towel, he was held at Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention on $2,500 bail. 'Witnesses called us and gave us a description of the person (who) put it in his backpack and was fleeing the area. Now, they're going to stay in our hotel,' ClickOrlando.com reports Staly said about the man who is now behind bars. While law enforcement investigates where the marijuana came from, it seems their hunt for the bikini-clad woman could end soon if witnesses come forward in the same willing fashion they did with Kelley. 'This is another great example of "See something, say something",' Staly said according to News4Jax. 'This guy tried to take advantage of a situation and it completely backfired on him. Now, thanks to the joint effort of our citizens' watchful eyes and good police work, these narcotics are off the streets. 'To anyone thinking they can take advantage of marijuana washing up on shore, I have a warning for you. Is it worth a trip to the Green Roof Inn charged with a felony just for some "free" weed?' Call 386-313-4911 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 888-277-TIPS (8477) to help law enforcement with the investigation. A New Jersey man has been struck and killed by an SUV after being involved in a car accident. Police have identified 50-year-old Heward Velez as the victim who was hit by a livery vehicle while crossing Manhattan's FDR Drive early Saturday morning in New York City. Before being struck, Velez had rear-ended another car on the highway around 5am on the highway in East Harlem. The two cars pulled over to the shoulder and waited for police to arrive. Courtesy: WLNY 50-year-old Heward Velez was struck and killed after being involved in a car accident Saturday He was involved in a fender-bender around 5am Satuday morning in Manhattan While both drivers waited for police, the victim got out of his car and crossed the highway. Velez crossed the northbound lane when he got struck by a third car - a livery SUV - in the southbound lane. Upon arrival, officers saw Velez unconscious and unresponsive, lying on the southbound roadway. He was taken to Metropolitan Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Both drivers remained at the scene are not facing charges at this time, according to NYPD. Former US Secretary of State John Kerry has responded to President Donald Trump's accusations he had 'illegal meetings with the very hostile Iranian Regime'. Trump posted a tweet late Thursday saying that the meetings were 'to the detriment of the American people'. During an appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher Friday, Kerry compared the leader's behavior to that of children. 'He really is the rare combination hes got the maturity of an eight-year-old boy with the insecurity of a teenage girl. Thats just who he is,' the former Massachusetts senator told the show's host and audience. John Kerry called Donald Trump a 'rare combination' saying 'Hes got the maturity of an eight-year-old boy with the insecurity of a teenage girl' on Friday's Real Time with Bill Maher show Kerry also said: 'He's the first President who spends more time reading his Twitter likes than his briefing books or the constitution of the United States' Kerry added that the president needs to spend more time addressing issues that matter. He mentioned he should be worrying about the plea deal Paul Manafort has struck with Robert Mueller to cooperate with the Russia investigation, saying: 'Soon he'll be saying that's the worst deal that's been made'. 'He's the first President who spends more time reading his Twitter likes than his briefing books or the constitution of the United States,' he said during the interview. 'It's gone from the art of the deal to the art of the squeal,' he said, mentioning the anonymous op-ed that recently appeared in the New York Times where a member of Trump's administration revealed they and other members of the team have vowed to take him down from the inside. The Vietnam war veteran was on the show to promote his new memoir Every Day Is Extra and urged the audience to see 2017's Netflix film The Vietnam War: A Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, which documents just how early the lying about the reason for the war began. He compared the lack of truth surrounding that war to current times. President Donald Trump accused former Secretary of State John Kerry of holding illegal meetings with Iran The Vietnam war veteran was on the show to promote his new memoir Every Day Is Extra Kerry said: 'We have a president where the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth are three different things.' Maher told Kerry that 2004 was really the beginning of the Fake News that Trump speaks of so much, with a campaign against Kerry who went on to take up a role with former President Barack Obama. Kerry and Maher spoke about the 'Mean Girls' mentality coming from Trump's office with Kerry ultimately defending his decision to have discussions with Iran since leaving his role. Under President Barack Obama, Kerry was the lead US 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 'We've always relied on our democracy getting stronger when people tell the truth,' Kerry continued, as he discussed with Maher that Trump wasn't a fan of the real truth emerging. Kerry continued by explaining how he and the late John McCain had brought America too far forward for them to regress under Trump's administration. 'John McCain and I together decided we were going to end the war at home and abroad,' he said, adding that he believes all veterans who came back from Vietnam had a very difficult time. The chat also detailed how they spent 10 years providing families of the deceased with closure by bringing remains back. Continuing to defend his meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif for nuclear talks that could change the West's relationship with the Middle East, he said: 'I did absolutely [meet with Iran]. Everybody does. There's absolutely nothing unusual about it.' A British tourist has been seriously injured after he plunged from the fourth floor of an apartment in Ibiza. The 31-year-old man, who has not yet been named, was impaled through the leg by a sun umbrella. The incident happened at around 10am this morning in the party resort of Sant Antoni. The parasol had been impaled through his leg after he fell from the fourth floor balcony Emergency services attended the scene and stayed for at least an hour while the man was stabilised It has been reported by local media that the Brit fell from the balcony of the Fragata building and crashed onto a table on a first-floor terrace below. The pole of the sun umbrella skewered his leg and graphic pictures show it sticking out just above his knee. The Civil Guard has opened an investigation to establish the nature of the incident and whether or not the man in question had been under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The Brit fell from the fourth floor of the Fragta building (pictured) in Sant Antoni in Ibiza The Civil Guard, police and medics all attended the scene, along with a fire crew, once the severity of his injury had been made apparent. Emergency services stayed on the scene for at least an hour while the man was stabilised. It is understood that in order to get him to hospital, the umbrella was sawn off so the pole could be removed by surgeons. He has been admitted to Can Misses hospital in Ibiza and is in a serious condition. He was rushed to Can Misses hospital to have the umbrella pole surgically removed In a separate incident this morning in Sant Antoni, a 19-year-old British man, was seriously injured after falling from the second floor of an apartment block. Following the incident one local said that more needed to be done to change the tourist model in the region, while others said that holiday makers visited Sant Antoni for a 'certain kind of tourism'. Pope Francis has told Sicily's Mafia to abandon a life of crime and violence and stop being so selfish. He said they needed to stop thinking only of themselves and their money, saying the island needed 'men and women of love, not men and women of honour'. The pontiff appealed to the criminals during his visit to the home of a Palermo priest shot dead by Mafia hit men. Pope Francis used his speech in Palermo to appeal to Sicilian Mafia to abandon a life of crime He visited the Sicilian capital to commemorate Father Giuseppe 'Pino' Puglisi, a priest shot dead by Mafia hit men in 1993 Francis, in the Sicilian capital, said organised crime members - many of whom go to church and worship openly - 'cannot believe in God and be Mafiosi' at the same time. In his appeal, he referred to them as 'dear brothers and sisters'. He visited Palermo to commemorate Father Giuseppe 'Pino' Puglisi, a priest shot dead by Mafia hit men in 1993 because he challenged the organisation's control over one of the city's toughest neighbourhoods. Francis visited Father Pino Puglisi's home (pictured) during his trip to the Mediterranean island Puglisi was killed on his 56th birthday during a bloody Mafia offensive against the state Puglisi was killed on his 56th birthday during a bloody Mafia offensive against the state and anyone else who threatened the group's existence. Magistrates Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino were killed in twin bomb attacks in Palermo in 1992. 'A person who is a Mafioso does not live as a Christian because with his life he blasphemes against the name of God,' Francis said in the sermon of a Mass from some 80,000 people in the port area of the Sicilian capital. The crowd interrupted his sermon with applause each time he denounced the Mafia. Pope Francis kisses a handicapped woman handing him a wreath of flowers The pontiff kisses a toddler as he meets with residents in the poor neighbourhood of Brancaccio Francis gently touches the head of a disabled boy in a wheelchair as a sign of compassion The Catholic Church in southern Italy has had a chequered history of relations with the mob. Cardinal Ernesto Ruffini, who was archbishop of Palermo from 1945-1967, denied the Mafia's existence, considering communism the Church's biggest threat. 'I say to Mafiosi: Change, brothers and sisters! Stop thinking about yourselves and your money ... Convert yourselves to the real God, Jesus Christ, dear brothers and sisters,' he said in his dockside sermon. 'I say to you, Mafiosi, if you don't do this, your very life will be lost and that will be your greatest defeat,' he said. The pope lays a bunch of flowers to show his respect to the slain priest Puglisi 'Today, we need men and women of love, not men and women of honour; men and women of service, not of oppression.' Later, on his way to the airport, Francis made an unscheduled stop to pray and lay flowers at the spot on the highway where Falcone, his wife and three police agents were blown up as their motorcade passed on May 23, 1992. Many members of organised crime groups in Italy, such as Sicily's Cosa Nostra and Calabria's Ndrangheta, see themselves as part of a religious, cult-like group, invoking the help of saints for their activities. Tens of thousands lined the streets to get a glimpse of Francis as he arrived in the Popemobile Here he waves to the faithful at the Foro Italico seafront lawn in Palermo Francis is greeted with huge fanfare as he meets with the clergy in the Palermo Cathedral Particularly in smaller towns and cities in the south, they take part in Catholic sacraments and in some cases have also found complicity by some churchmen. Puglisi refused to play along. With little support by the Church hierarchy in Sicily, he preached against the Mafia from the pulpit of his church in the rough Brancaccio neighbourhood, then controlled by the Graviano family. He helped young people in an area with high unemployment avoid the snare of the Mafia, asked parishioners to help police investigations, refused donations from mobsters and banned them from joining traditional religious street processions. Families huddled by their windows to try catch a glimpse and take pictures of Pope Francis The pontiff listens to members of the Hope and Charity Mission (Missione di Speranza e Carita) playing music Puglisi's murder was ordered by local bosses Filippo and Giuseppe Graviano. The bothers and four men who planned or carried out the killing were convicted in 1998. All but one received life sentences. One of the killers, who later turned state's evidence, said that as Puglisi was dying he said: 'I've been expecting you'. In 2012, former Pope Benedict decreed that Puglisi died as a martyr in 'hatred of the faith,' and ordered that he be beatified, the last step before sainthood in the Church. The belongings of a leading Dutch cyber-security expert who went missing in August have been discovered floating in the sea around 30 miles from Bod, Norway. This has led to speculation over the fate of Arjen Kamphuis who was last seen in the Arctic Circle after checking out of a hotel in Bod, with plans to travel to Trondheim by train, which is ten hours away. Mr Kamphuis, an associate of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, never boarded the train or the connecting flight to Amsterdam. A thorough search led by Norwegian police has failed to locate Mr Kamphuis, however a kayak believed to belong to him has been recovered from the sea. Arjen Kamphuis (pictured) was last seen in the Arctic Circle after checking out of a hotel in Bod, with plans to travel to Trondheim by train, which is ten hours away (pictured in March 2017) The following day a fisherman discovered more of Mr Kamphuis' belongings, including an ID card. However phone records suggest that ten days after he was spotted exiting the hotel, his work and personal mobile phones were momentarily switched on. During this time German SIM cards were inserted into the phones more than 1,000 miles away from the northern town, in Vikesa near Stavanger. Three distinct lines of enquiry are currently being pursued, including a possible suicide, an accident or foul play, according to police. Mr Kamphuis, an associate of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, never boarded the train or the connecting flight to Amsterdam (pictured in May giving infosecurity training to journalists operating in war zones) Mr Kampuis' belongings were found in the sea off Norway... before his phones were switched on 1,000 miles away (pictured) Amid the rising speculation Wikileaks tweeted: '@JulianAssange associate and author of 'Information Security for Journalists' @ArjenKamphuis has disappeared.' Followers of the whistle-blowing site have suggested that Mr Kamphuis, a campaigner for online privacy rights, may have been kidnapped or murdered by the US, British or Russian secret services. A thorough search led by Norwegian police has failed to locate Mr Kamphuis, however a kayak (pictured) believed to belong to him has been recovered from the sea Others suggested that he may have gone undercover working for Assange on a secret mission. Police have denied a link between his disappearance and a nearby military base which accommodates a major part of the country's secret cyber defence. Unconfirmed sightings of Mr Kamphuis have also been reported in Sweden, Denmark, Germany and several parts of Norway, following an internet campaign with the hashtag #FindArjen. Wikileaks have been accused by those close to the cyber expert of using his disappearance for it's own benefit. Ancilla van der Leest said: ''I hate how overblown Arjen's Wikileaks connection is becoming. 'He advised many parties and journalistic organisations on infosecurity. In this light he was also a 'Reuters associate'. It has been reported by Dutch media that Mr Kamphuis gave Wikileaks members advice on how to dodge government surveillance. The reception of the hotel where Julian Assange's missing associate Mr Kamphuis was last seen The exterior of the hotel where Mr Kamphuis was last seen before disappearing in the Bod area of Norway He is also thought to have visited Assange in Ecuador's London embassy, where he has been living since 2012, because he fears extradition to the US if he leaves the building. Director of Big Brother Silkie Carlo, tweeted: 'WikiLeaks might want to make this sound like it's about them, but it is not ... It makes me, and others, feel sick to my stomach to see Arjen being missing/out of contact reported like a WikiLeaks murder mystery.' Carlo said Mr Kamphuis had 'gone off grid before. It can be good for the soul. I was worried before, and it is worrying now. But I have strong faith he will come back into the welcoming arms of his friends when he is ready, in his own time'. Mr Kamphuis bought the foldable kayak before leaving the Netherlands, citing that he was off kayaking in the fjords. Friends of his suggested that he wouldn't have ventured into dangerous territory without company as he was no daredevil, his motto being 'better safe than sorry'. After checking out of a hotel in Bod, Mr Kamphuis plans to travel to Trondheim by train, however he never boarded it Teachers at Texas schools will no longer be required to include lessons on former presidential nominee Hillary Clinton or political activist Helen Keller. The Texas Board of Education on Friday voted to remove Clinton and Keller from the state's social studies curriculum after both received low scores on a questionnaire about historical figures' background and legacy. The Dallas Morning News reports that the board is trying to 'streamline' the social studies curriculum in the state by determining which historical figures are 'essential to learn about and who wasn't'. The vote to remove Clinton and Keller came after a 15-member, board-nominated volunteer work group created a scale to grade historical figures, according to the outlet. The group made their choices after they were asked a series of questions about various famous people in history. An education board in Texas voted to remove Hillary Clinton (left) and Helen Keller (right) from its social studies curriculum The board voted to add famed evangelist Billy Graham back to the curriculum following his death in February Clinton, who is a former first lady and Democratic presidential nominee, scored a five on the 20-point scale, the Dallas Morning News reports. Keller, who was a political activist and the first deaf and blind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree, scored a seven. The group estimated that removing Clinton from the curriculum would save teachers 30 minutes of instructional time and eliminating Keller would save 40 minutes. According to the Dallas Morning News, figures who received a perfect score and will remain as past of the curriculum include lawyer Barbara Jordan, a leader of the Civil Rights Movement, and former Texas governor Sam Houston. Misty Matthews, a teacher in Round Rock, told the Morning News that the goal was to 'simplify' the curriculum. 'We tried to make it as objective as possible,' she said. Matthews told the outlet that students in the state are required to learn about important figures in social studies class. Clinton was taught to high school students, and Keller to third graders. Barbara Jordan (left), a leader of the Civil Rights Movement, and former Texas governor Sam Houston (right) received perfect scores on the questionnaire and will remain on the curriculum 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 'Stop political correctness in our schools,' Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, said last week In addition, the board voted to add famed evangelist Billy Graham back to the curriculum following his death in February. On Friday, the Texas education committee reversed its recommendation to omit the word'heroic' when teaching about the men who guarded the Alamo in history class. The committee has called 'heroic', in reference to the Battle of Alamo, a 'value-charged' term. However, governor Gregg Abbott said in a tweet that schoolchildren need to be taught that the Alamo defenders were 'heroic'. 'Stop political correctness in our schools,' he posted. 'Of course, Texas schoolchildren should be taught that Alamo defenders were "Heroic!" I fully expect the State Board of Education to agree.' Although Clinton and Keller, along with other historical figures, were removed from the curriculum, that does not mean teachers are prohibited from including them in lessons. The change simply means they aren't required to teach students about them. The board will vote again on the changes in November to finalize them. Insiders say President Trump considering replacing Defense Secretary James Mattis (pictured) with a more vocal supporter following the midterm elections President Donald Trump is thinking about firing Defense Secretary James Mattis following the midterm elections, insiders have revealed. Citing information from several anonymous Department of Defense officials, the New York Times on Saturday described the deteriorating relationship between Trump and the former Marine general. The officials claimed that the president is frustrated by the fact that Mattis has frequently been described as the Trump administration's 'adult in the room'. They also said Trump has expressed fears that Mattis is a Democrat 'at heart' and noted how he recently changed the defense secretary's nickname from 'Mad Dog' - which Mattis despises - to 'Moderate Dog'. According to the report, Mattis' days in the White House are numbered as Trump looks to replace him with a more vocal supporter. Possible replacements include Republican senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina - both of whom have signaled they have no interest in the job. Department of Defense officials claim the president is frustrated by the fact that Mattis has frequently been described as the Trump administration's 'adult in the room' The Times paints a picture of the cordial relationship Trump and Mattis shared toward the beginning of the president's term, writing about the hamburger dinners they used to share when taking a break from White House business. Officials say the discontinuation of those dinners is just one sign of a growing rift. Trump and Mattis have allegedly had heated disagreements over multiple policy issues as well, including the Iran nuclear deal, NATO strategy, military exercises in South Korea and banning transgender people from serving in the military. Tensions between the pair escalated following the release of Bob Woodward's bombshell book 'Fear' last week, which quotes Mattis comparing Trump to a child. Woodward writes that the defense secretary had told colleagues Trump was acting like a 'fifth or sixth grader' during during a nuclear standoff with North Korea last January. Mattis denied ever having made the remark. The senior official has also repeatedly denied allegations that he is the author of last week's explosive New York Times op-ed detailing discord within the White House. Turkish FM calls on PM-COAS Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu called on Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday. During the meeting, the prime minister said Pakistan and Turkey had the required potential to forge an even stronger partnership in future. Both the countries have always stood beside each other and will continue to do so, the prime minister said. Cavusoglu reiterated Turkeys full support to Pakistan governments future plans to take the country on a rapid course of economic progress. Ideas covering promotion of bilateral trade and Turkish investment in various sectors including energy sector of Pakistan were also discussed. Both sides reiterated their commitment to continue working closely in various multilateral and international forums, including the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Cavusoglu also called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters (GHQ). International initiative World Cleanup Day has made its way to Sweden, where even the royals have been getting their hands dirty to stop the spread of litter. Crown Princess Victoria sported a stylish blue pantsuit at the opening of the Keep Sweden Clean event in Kungstradgarden, Stockholm. The heir to the Swedish throne cut an elegant look earlier today, where she opened talks at the launch event. The Crown Princess cut a cool figure at the event to mark Keep Sweden Clean Day Sporting an elegant blue suit, the Crown Princess said that 'together, we can help keep Sweden clean' The Crown Princess immersed herself in all of the activities during the day Crown Princess Victoria is one of sixteen international ambassadors for the UN Global Agenda, Agenda 2030. One of the proposals of the agenda is aimed at reducing the landslide. Plastic litter is one of the most serious environmental problems in the world today and most of the litter comes from land. The Crown Princess opened the day with an inspiring message for Swedes looking to improve the cleanliness of their surroundings. Classy and confident: the Crown Princess began the day with an inspirational message to Swedes The Crown Princess met many groups at the event, including one organisation which makes sunglasses out of recycled plastic The Crown Princess was seen trying on these sunglasses which are made out of recycled plastic She said: 'Did you know that 80 per cent of all the waste in the sea comes from land? And most of it's litter - it's plastic. Plastic that does not disappear. I think we together can help keep Sweden clean. Today and every other day! ' During the visit to the Hall Sverige Rents base camp, the Crown Princess received information about Hall Sverige Rent's activities, a scrapbook, and met the founders of one group called Esferica, which makes sunglasses out of recycled plastic. The Clean Day invites all people to think about their habits, how they use plastic and how they dispose of it. Activities during the day included educating people on how to combat littering. The Crown Princess engaged in various activities during the event During the visit to the Hall Sverige Rents base camp, the Crown Princess received information about Hall Sverige Rent's activities During the event, chief executive officer of Keep Sweden Clean, Johanna Ragnartz expressed her delight at the Crown Princesses attendance. 'We are very pleased that Crown Princess Victoria opened talks on Keep Sweden Clean Day. It means a lot to us and to all the thousands of junk guys who pick up junk around Sweden. Together we can create a change.' Jacob Rees-Moggs formidable nanny today breaks her silence on facing down class-war warriors and reveals her secret to keeping the Tory MP in line as a boy. In an exclusive interview with The Mail on Sunday, Veronica Crook also lifts the lid on what she thinks of Brexit, the prospect of Boris Johnson becoming Prime Minister and why Jeremy Corbyn is unfit for Downing Street. The sight of Miss Crook, 76, rushing to confront a group of class-war protesters as they ambushed the Rees-Mogg family outside their Central London home was one of the images of the week. Close bond: Veronica Crook (pictured with Jacob aged four) has worked for the Rees-Mogg family for 53 years as their nanny She was seen advancing in full sail to throw a protective arm around the Tory MPs children as she saw off anarchist leader Ian Bone. The protester was filmed spitefully telling the youngsters that their father was a horrible person and he also alleged that the Rees-Moggs were exploiting Miss Crook. The claim brings a smile to the face of Miss Crook, who this week celebrates her 53rd year working for the family. She was first employed by the late newspaper editor William Rees-Mogg Jacobs father to look after his children. Miss Crook, 76, was first employed by the late newspaper editor William Rees-Mogg Jacobs father to look after his children To mark what Jacob calls her nanny-versary and to show their gratitude for her years of service, the Rees-Moggs are treating her to dinner at The Ritz. Miss Crook jokes that the venue alone gives lie to ridiculous suggestions that her employers exploit her. That is such nonsense, she says. In terms of pay and conditions, I am very satisfied. The anarchists decision to confront the Rees-Mogg family outside their home brought condemnation from across the political divide last week. Miss Crook laments a coarsening of political debate, saying: Its much more intrusive than when I first worked for the family. But given that MP Jacob often takes his children canvassing, didnt he to some extent bring it on himself? No, replies Nanny firmly. Jacob does take his children to political things but this wasnt a political event. It was outside the familys front door and that is completely different. If this had been some formal political function, they could have said it was a matter of free speech and so on, but it wasnt. Investment manager Mr Rees-Mogg and his heiress wife Helena have denied reports that they are sitting on a fortune of around 150 million. But doesnt his undoubted wealth preclude the Old Etonian from understanding and relating to ordinary families? That is just so unfair, she says. Jacob likes talking to people from all walks of life and hes interested in their lives. And to prove that, she points out that during the Brexit debate, Mr Rees-Mogg has repeatedly stressed the advantages for working families of cheaper clothes, shoes and food once the UK is finally free of Brussels grasp. Stalwart who has cared for family for more than 50 years Veronica Crook has worked for Jacob Rees-Moggs family since before he was born. The nanny, described by the Tory MP as a remarkable woman who made him the man he is today, was originally hired in 1965 by journalist William Rees-Mogg and his wife Gillian to look after their children. Since then, Miss Crook, who is descended from Samuel Crook, the rector who baptised English philosopher John Locke, has been ever-present for the Rees-Moggs. Nanny does not have her own children prompting Jacob to say we are her family. He has also likened her to Mary Poppins, saying she has a bag filled with almost everything that can be needed. Miss Crook has worked for Mr Rees-Mogg and his wife Helena for the past 11 years, with the MP declaring how absolutely wonderful it is that she is still caring for his offspring. I hear her telling them things she used to tell me, he said. She reminds them of the post-war rationing. So if they have great dollops of butter on their toast, she says that would have been a weeks ration. I love that, the historic continuity you get. He added: My children never tire of hearing about the bully who stole Nannys sandwiches at school. The next day, her mother sent her in with mustard ones and he never bothered her again. But even Nanny once behaved in a childlike way, he said. When Veronica did not win the prize at Sunday school, despite the best attendance record, she joined the sober Methodists. Naturally, this did not last as nannies do like the occasional tincture of sherry. Advertisement In fact her views on this issue are so clear and trenchant that its possible that Nanny is the source of Mr Rees-Moggs ardent Euroscepticism. What do I think about Brexit? Out! Out! Out! is what I think, she declares. Miss Crook has told this newspaper that the man whose nappies she used to change as a child would make an excellent Prime Minister. Such is her belief in Mr Rees-Mogg she even accompanied him on the campaign trial on his doomed attempt in 1997 to win the rock-solid Labour seat of Central Fife 13 years before he finally entered the Commons via the more Tory-friendly climes of North-East Somerset. But its clear that she also holds in high esteem that other shining star of the Brexit wing of the party, despite a recent wave of revelations about his private life. Asked what she thinks of the prospect of Boris Johnson becoming Prime Minister, Miss Crook replies: I like him. I found him very charming when Jacob invited him here. Not surprisingly, her political fan club does not extend to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Im not keen on him, she says. I dont like all that anti-Semitism stuff. Just as she nurtured Mr Rees-Mogg and his siblings, Miss Crook now looks after the MPs own ever-expanding brood of five sons and one daughter, with all the attendant challenges of parenting and modern life such as computers and iPads. With the arrival of the latest Rees-Mogg, one-year-old Sixtus, demonstrating his lung power in the background, she muses: The children dont have their own iPads but they are allowed to use other peoples. Nanny Crook diplomatically fights shy of comparing the father to his offspring. But she reveals that Mr Rees-Mogg will be on shaky ground if he ever lectures his children on healthy eating. Asked if Mr Rees-Mogg ate his greens as a child, she replies: No! Not that it did him any harm, in her view, in moulding him into the man he has become. Asked what moral values she instilled in Mr Rees-Mogg, she pauses before saying: Honesty, kindness and thoughtfulness for other people. She also reveals that the young Jacob who was famously pictured reading the Financial Times when he was just 12 could be pretty stubborn as a child. So how did she keep him in check? I never really had to punish him, she recalls. The unused threat of the wooden spoon was quite enough. If only the Tory Party whips office were as civilised. The daughter of anarchist Ian Bone has condemned his hate-filled tirade against Jacob Rees-Moggs family and revealed he was an absent father to his own children. Josephine Bone spoke out after the ranting Left-winger caused outrage by confronting the Tory MP and his wife on their doorstep and telling four of their six children that their father was horrible and that people hate him. She said Bone had not been part of her life since she was six and had not supported her mother and her siblings financially after her parents marriage ended. Absent father: Class war Activist Ian Bone, left, and his 47-year-old daughter Josephine Speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday Ms Bone, 47, said: I was brought up by my mum. My dad moved out by the time I was six and he didnt support his family. Not at all. My mum moved us all up to Newcastle and he stayed in South Wales. I dont think the relationship between her and my dad was very good but in truth I just dont know. Theyve been apart for more than 40 years. Ms Bone, a senior executive in a global corporation, said she was shocked by her fathers attack on the Rees-Moggs and believes he has no real political agenda apart from rabble-rousing and shouting at people he sees as toffs. Although Bone has publicly insisted he has no regrets about his hate-filled outburst, she said he apologised to her over the phone after she told him off. Ms Bone said: He should just stay at home and put his slippers on. He doesnt listen to me. But I needed to make it absolutely clear that this kind of activity is something I could never support. He certainly knows what I think and he did apologise. If he wants to shout at MPs on street corners, OK. But when their children get brought into it, thats completely different. He should have looked at that situation, with Mr Rees-Mogg, his wife, the children and the nanny, and then walked away. But he carried on and did something stupid. Its fair enough if people now say to him, How would you like it if it was your children? Im his child and Ive got two girls. So its right that I address this question. Hes been a total idiot. It was a silly thing to do but hopefully it will be forgotten and he will make different choices in the future. Ms Bone, who is married to a senior litigation lawyer, said her parents split up after what she called a university relationship. Activist Ian Bone (right, in the flat cap) abused Jacob Rees-Mogg and targeted his children in an abusive rant outside their London home She declined to give further details but said she remained in touch with her father because despite everything he does, hes my dad. Speaking from her home, a period detached property in Portishead, near Bristol bought for 500,000 seven years ago she said Bones political views cut little ice with his own children. My brothers, my sisters and me weve all gone down the corporate path, she said. Weve taken a different path. We have never been rebels like him. Hes been to my house once but we dont hang out. I only ever know what hes been doing when he hits the headlines. He doesnt take into account what were going to think. His thing is standing on street corners and shouting at people. I dont even know what his political views are apart from rabble-rousing and shouting at people he sees as toffs. Its like a hobby to him. He relishes the confrontation. He absolutely thrives on it. He particularly loves the publicity. Perhaps sometimes theres a genuine case and for all his shouting, up to this point, it hasnt really been harmful. But this time it certainly was harmful. Bone, pictured outside the High Court in February, has refused to discuss his own children despite thinking the MP's offspring are a justified target She said she had not been able to look at videos and news articles published last week showing the 71-year-old hurling abuse at Old Etonian Mr Rees-Mogg, his family and their nanny outside their home in Westminster. Leading a small group of activists, he told the youngsters: Your daddys a totally horrible person. Lots of people dont like your daddy, you know that? Hes probably not told you that. Lots of people hate him. Ms Bone said: Fortunately Mr Rees-Mogg appeared quite sanguine about all this, and fair play to him. Apart from the obvious fact that my fathers actions were completely unacceptable, what on earth was the point? All he has done is increase support and sympathy for Mr Rees-Mogg among the public. Its just a big own goal. But he is not stupid. Hes very intelligent, very worldly-wise, bright, articulate and he can be very funny. Hes never done anything like this before and I hope he never does it again. Bone admitted to The Mail on Sunday that he had been an absent father after splitting up from Ms Bones mother aged 25. They moved from Swansea to Newcastle and I saw them rarely in that time, he said. Outside the 400,000 detached home in South London he shares with his long-term partner Jane, he also confirmed his daughter had given him a stern talking to. She wasnt a happy bird, he said. She gave me a right telling off. Juan David Ortiz fled from state troopers and was found hiding in a hotel parking lot in Laredo, Texas at around 2am Saturday A US Border Patrol agent in Texas described by authorities as a 'serial killer' has been arrested for the murders four prostitutes and the abduction of a fifth, who managed to escape him and notify authorities. Juan David Ortiz fled from state troopers and was found hiding in a hotel parking lot in Laredo at around 2am Saturday, Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar said in a press conference hours later. Cuellar said investigators have 'very strong evidence' that Ortiz is responsible for the murders, and Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz described the Border Patrol intel supervisor as a serial killer. Alaniz said investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the killings. He said all of the women worked as prostitutes. He said his office plans to charge Ortiz with four counts of murder and one count of aggravated kidnapping. Authorities didn't disclose the victims' names or nationalities and they declined to discuss the evidence or say how the women were killed - but local media outlets have linked them to at least three bodies found in the area over the last two weeks. Three bodies have been found in the northwest area of the county this month, and Cuellar said authorities are investigating whether there may be a fourth body. The first victim was identified as 29-year-old Laredo resident Melissa Ramirez, whose body was found on September 4. Investigators have not disclosed her cause of death. US Border Patrol agent Juan David Ortiz was arrested in Webb County, Texas, on Saturday morning as authorities say he suspected of murdering of four women and the abducting a fifth. The first victim, 29-year-old Laredo resident Melissa Ramirez, is pictured On Thursday, 42-year-old Claudine Anne Luera was found fatally wounded off a roadway not far from where the previous body was found. Luera was taken to a hospital in critical condition, where she was later pronounced dead from fatal head trauma. The ongoing investigation is being spearheaded by the Texas Rangers. Department of Public Safety Sgt Erick Estrada said no additional information could be disclosed on Saturday morning. At around 1.30pm local time Saturday the Laredo Police Department released a statement about the case, which says: 'We want to reassure the citizens of Laredo that the community and your families are safe.' Law enforcement officers gather near the scene where the body of a woman was found near Interstate 35 north of Laredo At around 1.30pm local time Saturday the Laredo Police Department released a statement about the case, which says: 'We want to reassure the citizens of Laredo that the community and your families are safe' It continues: 'There has been a recent breakthrough in the investigations and there has been someone detained. That information belongs to the corresponding agencies who are handling the information and will make a more in depth release at the appropriate time. 'We value the release of timely information and we are making this notice public in order to remove any unnecessary fear in the community. 'There will be information made available very soon by those agencies who are in charge of the case. (In the) meantime we maintain our city's safety and security and our responsibility to make you feel safe as well.' Claims that a wealthy British couple created a designer grandson using sperm taken from their dead son are to be investigated by the fertility regulator. The Mail on Sunday revealed last week that the grieving parents are said to have retrieved the sperm after their 26-year-old son their only child died in a motorcycle accident in 2014. It was frozen and flown to the US, where the couple, described as a notable family, used it to create a male heir. A fertility regulator is now investigating claims that a British couple created a designer grandson using sperm taken from their dead son Dr Smotrich says he helped the couple at his pioneering La Jolla IVF clinic in California (pictured) But the claims, made by fertility specialist Dr David Smotrich, who helped the couple at his world-renowned clinic in La Jolla, California, are now to be investigated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in the UK. Officials are concerned that the sperm was retrieved, stored and used without the dead mans consent a breach of UK law both by the doctor who retrieved the sample and by the clinic which agreed to store it and send it overseas. In a letter to The Mail on Sunday, Nick Jones, the HFEAs director of compliance and information, said there would be a robust investigation of the claims, and warned those involved faced prosecution. Officials are concerned that the sperm was retrieved, stored and used without the dead mans consent, which is a breach of UK law He described the case as containing very serious allegations, potentially carrying criminal liability. The remarkable case is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK. The boy, now three, was born in the US using donor eggs and a surrogate in a 100,000 procedure. Dr Smotrich said last week he was unaware how the couple were able to bypass UK law. Dudley Sutton, known for playing Tinker Dill in the TV series Lovejoy, has died aged 85. A statement from Sutton's agent said he died peacefully on Saturday at the Royal Trinity Hospice in London surrounded by his family, after being diagnosed with cancer. A message from the film and TV star's family said: 'Today we're devastated by the loss of our beautiful Dudley, who leaves a gaping hole in all our lives. Actor Dudley Sutton, known for playing Tinker Dill in the TV series Lovejoy, has died aged 85 'We're grateful for the love expressed by friends and fans everywhere and for the extraordinary care he received at the Royal Trinity Hospice in Clapham, south London, where he went out fighting for our NHS.' Sutton starred opposite Ian McShane in the BBC comedy-drama mystery throughout its 70-episode run from 1986 to 1994. Chris Jury, who starred along Dudley on Lovejoy, lead tributes on social media. He said: 'My dear, dear pal. Dudley Sutton died today. I loved him dearly. 'Condolences to Fanny, Peter, Barnaby, Wally and Jacqueline and all the rest of his family... and of course his extended family amongst the friendsu of Bill W. Love you Duds.' Dudley's agent confirmed the actor died this afternoon. Speaking last year about the fame he received from Lovejoy, Dudley said: 'It's what they're going to say on my obituary when I die, regardless of all the different and diverse stuff I've done throughout my life. 'It's good fun because Lovejoy is so popular throughout the world, wherever you go. But people recognise Tinker, they don't recognise Dudley Sutton.' Sutton was born in Surrey on April 6 1933. He served in the Royal Air Force as a mechanic before enrolling in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, from which he was later expelled. He joined theatre director Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop group and appeared in numerous plays that portrayed working class life during the 1950s and 1960s. Dudley first became known after playing a gay biker in The Leather Boys before playing Tinker from 1986 to 1994 Sutton's breakout screen role came in the 1964 film The Leather Boys, in which he played a gay biker. He later appeared in films such as The Devils (1971), The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) and The Football Factory (2004). Fans will also remember him from his stint as William Makepeace in Emmerdale in 2014. Speaking in 2016 about why he loved being an actor, he said: 'Being smiled at on the Tube or shouted at by white van man or truck drivers, that's the real reward. And the ultimate thing is when they say, 'You have given us a lot of pleasure'. 'It's not a bad thing to look back over your life and know that you have done that.' Sutton, who has a child to American actress Marjorie Steele, had been in a London hospice since July. His last professional job was a lead role in a video for Tom Chaplin's single Midnight Mass in November 2017. Dudley (pictured in 1969) had a short stint in Emmerdale playing William Makepeace in 2014 Chaplain wrote on Twitter: 'Sad to hear about Dudley Sutton dying. He played a wonderful lead role in the video for my song Midnight Mass. 'Off-camera he was full of steadfast beliefs, warmth and fun! And, of course, he played Tinker in my favourite TV show of all time.' Inbetweeners actress Emily Atack appeared in 2011 comedy film Outside Bet alongside Sutton. She shared a photo on Instagram of herself and Sutton on the film's set with the late actor Bob Hoskins. She wrote: 'So sad to hear Dudley Sutton has passed. Such a hilarious, warm, talented man who I'm so honoured to have worked with. Sending love to his family who he spoke of always.' Quadrophenia star Phil Davis, who also featured in Outside Bet, tweeted: 'RIP Dudley Sutton a great actor, wonderful bloke, a true original. I loved him. He will be greatly missed.' Spandau Ballet musician and actor Gary Kemp added: 'Farewell Dudley Sutton. One of our greats and a charming man. Another one of Joan Littlewood's brood of amazing actors leaves us.' Drivers using pay-by-phone apps and hotlines for parking are being charged more than 18million a year in rip-off fees over and above the cash payment cost. A service fee for app users of up to 30p a time and 10p charges for text alerts can add more than 13 per cent to the cost of parking. The charges by private firms are often buried in the small print when users sign up to the app and go unnoticed by drivers. The AA believes 200,000 people a day pay for parking using their mobile. If an average 25p is added to the normal cost which the AA says is a conservative estimate that equates to an additional 50,000 a day, or more than 18million a year. The service charges are often set by councils and private operators in co-operation with pay-by-phone firms and vary in cost in different areas Last night, Edmund King, president of AA, said: Motorists assume when they pay that it is for the parking and usually have no idea they are being hit by an extra charge. It is nothing short of a rip-off. The service charges are often set by councils and private operators in co-operation with pay-by-phone firms and vary in cost in different areas. In most cases councils receive nothing of the additional fees. RingGo, which serves more than 400 towns and cities nationwide, charges up to 30p as a convenience fee for using its app for parking payment. It can charge 10p more as a reminder charge when a session is nearing its end, and as a summary charge to confirm a booking. RingGos Dutch-based parent company also owns Parkmobile, which operates in more than 70 locations and often charges a 20p convenience fee on top, plus confirmation and reminder text messages at up to 30p each. Another parking firm, PayByPhone, which controls parking in dozens of towns and cities and in up to 40 hospitals, imposes a service charge of up to 20p for customers who pay via its app or on the phone. It can also charge 10p for additional text messages. PayByPhone also owns Dash, which operates in the London boroughs of Enfield and Greenwich, as well as NCP car parks. In Greenwich, drivers paying by cash are charged 2.50 an hour but those who decide to pay by phone or on the app are charged an additional fee of 10p, plus a 10p SMS charge. In Greenwich, drivers paying by cash are charged 2.50 an hour but those who decide to pay by phone or on the app are charged an additional fee of 10p, plus a 10p SMS charge RingGo said service fees are agreed with councils or private parking operators and that many areas have scrapped them, meaning there is no convenience fee in a quarter of the firms transactions. Customers can opt out of receiving texts and three London councils have made phone parking cheaper than cash, the firm added. PayByPhone said that the firm clearly displayed its charges, adding: Text reminders reduce fines issued. The Local Government Association said that councils reinvest parking profits back into transport infrastructure. The journalists-two British and one Argentinian-who were detained at the Venezuela-Colombia border yesterday have been released. Barnaby Green, Dan Rivers and Laura Saravia were detained by national intelligence services when leaving Venezuela at the land border. The journalists had arrived to Venezuela on Wednesday September 12 via Colombia, according to the National Venezuelan Press Union. Barnaby Green (left), Dan Rivers(centre) and Laura Saravia (right), who were detained by national intelligence services when leaving Venezuela at the land border, have been released The journalists had arrived to Venezuela on Wednesday September 12 via Colombia, according to the National Venezuelan Press Union They are believed to have been returning to Colombia after three days reporting on tourism in Paraguachon, in the state of Zulia, when they were detained On her Twitter Laura Saravia (pictured) wrote: 'Thanks everyone for the retweets and messages of support. We are now back in Colombia after a long and exhausting day' They are believed to have been returning to Colombia after three days reporting on tourism in Paraguachon, in the state of Zulia, when they were detained by international security services. The press unions Twitter account reported that the press workers were detained at 10.20am yesterday morning and later moved to Maracaibo at 2.20pm. On his Twitter Dan Rivers wrote: 'Thanks for all the messages of support - we have now been released from Venezuelan custody - exhausted but otherwise fine.' Barnaby Green wrote: 'Safely back in Colombia. Many thanks to everyone that has helped today, especially colleagues at ITN - very much appreciated. 'Treated fairly and professionally at every stage.' On her Twitter Laura Saravia wrote: 'Thanks everyone for the retweets and messages of support. We are now back in Colombia after a long and exhausting day. I would like to clarify that our equipment was not seized. 'Couldn't have asked for better company while held incomunicado @danriversitv @Barnaby_Green.' Dan Rivers and Barnaby Green also tweeted messages thanking everyone for their support Dan Rivers is an experienced international correspondent for CNN in London and Bangkok, whilst Saravia, has worked with BBC and NBC, amongst others. Green is believed to have worked in video reporting with SkyNews in London and Washington. All three are believed to have worked the British TV network, Independent Television News (ITN). ITN produces daily news programmes for ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 in the UK. Venezuela currently mired in economic and political crisis -has been widely and consistently criticised internationally by press organisations for its negation of human rights and its efforts to censure free speech. The detaining of these journalists follows the arrest of three individuals on Wednesday contracted as security and drivers which was also denounced by the National Venezuelan Press Union. MailOnline approached ITN for comment. There is an increasing chance that MPs will reject a Brexit deal brokered by Theresa May over the next six months, according to Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg. The chances of Parliament voting against the Government's Brexit proposals is 25-30% and growing, with a catastrophic no-deal by far the least likely outcome, Mr Clegg has said. Mr Clegg highlighted that the most likely scenario between now and March 29 would be that the Prime Minister manages to 'wangle' a 'pig in a poke'-style Brexit agreement through Parliament. Nick Clegg said there is an increasing chance that MPs will reject a Brexit deal brokered by Theresa May He said: 'However, the chances are growing - I don't know, I'm not a betting man, 25-30% and growing - that there will be a coalition of MPs for a whole range of different reasons who will basically say 'no thanks'. 'That will then provoke turmoil and a stand-off in British politics, which in my view, would then allow us the opportunity to push the pause button, to think again. 'But I think the most likely outcome, if you ask me right now, is that this sort of potpourri of verbiage and platitudes about the future and specific agreements about money, EU citizens and the Irish border will probably on balance win the day.' Mr Clegg was responding to questions from attendees of the Open Future Festival, organised by the Economist, on Saturday. This comes as shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said Labour was unlikely to back any deal, as she could not see the PM coming back from Brussels having met the six tests set by the party. Meanwhile Mrs May is also facing strong opposition from hardline Tory Brexiteers, and without support from at least some opposition MPs, the Government may struggle to get any agreement through Parliament. Theresa May is also facing strong opposition from hardline Tory Brexiteers Mr Clegg said it was a tragic irony that efforts were being focused on warning of the catastrophic consequences of failing to reach an agreement. He said: 'A catastrophic no-deal... is by far the least likely outcome. 'Does anyone seriously think we are going to have three months of outright emergency, three months where nothing's going to happen, we're just going to topple over a cliff? Of course not.' 'Time is infinitely lasting in these negotiations,' he added. Downing Street is hoping that the prospect of a no-deal Brexit will force critics to fall in line behind the Chequers plan. Jeremy Corbyn's most influential Commons adviser has been barred from entering Ukraine on the grounds that he is a national security threat because of his alleged links to Vladimir Putin's 'global propaganda network'. Former communist Andrew Murray, Mr Corbyn's chief political adviser, was slapped with the three-year ban in June on the advice of the country's security service, the SBU. But last night Mr Murray, who has played a key role in a campaign to support pro-Moscow separatists in Ukraine, angrily denied being part of any 'so-called propaganda network'. Andrew Murray (left), Jeremy Corbyn's chief political adviser, was slapped with the three-year ban in June on the advice of the country's security service The extraordinary development comes after it was revealed that Mr Murray has been working in the Labour leader's office for the past year without security clearance as the Commons authorities have failed to grant his request for a pass. The Mail on Sunday has been told by a senior Parliamentary source that Mr Murray's authorisation has been held up by 'vetting problems'. Commons security advisers take their decision based on advice from Government agencies, including the police and intelligence sources, and passes are usually issued within a few weeks. Mr Murray, who was a member of the Communist party for 40 years, helped to launch a campaign in 2014 called Solidarity With The Antifascist Resistance In Ukraine (SARU) to protest at the West's backing of the Kiev regime. Russia made its first incursions into Ukrainian territory that year. After President Putin annexed Crimea and backed pro-Moscow separatist forces in the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, Mr Murray used SARU events to describe the conflict as 'a war waged by the Kiev government' against 'peoples exercising their right to self-rule'. The letter banning Mr Murray from Ukraine. He has played a key role in a campaign to support pro-Moscow separatists in Ukraine Instead of blaming Putin's regime for the bloodshed, Mr Murray has pointed the finger at the pro-Western Kiev government for obeying the 'dictates' of the EU and Nato. He also questioned whether Moscow was responsible for the shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew, over Eastern Ukraine in that year. This newspaper spoke to a serving SBU officer in Kiev this weekend who claimed that Mr Murray had been put on the banned list because he was 'regarded as being part of Putin's global propaganda network, peddling Russian lies, particularly about Crimea and the war in Eastern Ukraine'. He added: 'It is extremely unusual for us to ban anyone from entering the country, especially a Briton. 'It is not a step we take lightly and it means he is considered a potential threat to our national security.' In a formal statement, the SBU said: 'We made a decision to ban the entrance of the citizen of Great Britain [Mr Murray] starting from June 2018 for 3 years based on the law of Ukraine about the legal state of foreign citizens ... in order to insure the national security of Ukraine'. Mr Murray, the chief of staff to Len McCluskey at the Unite union, is on secondment to Mr Corbyn's office, where sources said he wields 'significant influence'. Mr Murray only left the British Communist party to join Labour when Mr Corbyn took over as leader in 2016. He has defended the Russian tyrant Stalin, suggesting his regime was better than living in the West, and expressed 'solidarity' with North Korea. Mr Corbyn, whose socialist beliefs came under close scrutiny earlier this year when he initially questioned the Government's belief that the Kremlin was responsible for poisoning former Russian double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, relies heavily on Mr Murray for advice and has praised his 'enormous abilities'. Mr Murray (middle) has questioned whether Moscow was responsible for the shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew, over Eastern Ukraine At a SARU event in November 2014, Mr Murray referred to the shooting down of flight MH17 four months earlier. He described the crash as 'a propaganda point that will be established in people's minds and then the propaganda bandwagon moves on to try to obscure what is actually going on'. The Russian government denies responsibility for the crash. But in October 2015, international airline investigators concluded that the airliner had been downed by a Buk surface-to-air missile, launched from pro-Russian separatist-controlled territory, which had been transported from Russia on the day of the crash. The Stop The War campaign group, which Mr Murray founded, has also been accused of peddling Kremlin propaganda. On July 21, 2014, the group published an online article comparing the downing of MH17 to the death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which led to the First World War. Leaked emails from the Kremlin show that Vladislav Surkov, an aide to the Russian president, had instructed Russia's agents of influence to make a 'comparison of the collapse of the Malaysian Boeing with the assassination of Franz Ferdinand' to muddy the waters over whether Russia was responsible. At the time, Stop The War was chaired by Mr Corbyn and Mr Murray was its deputy president. Mr Murray is one of two Corbyn aides working in the Commons without security clearance In an interview last year, Mr Murray also said Russia's intervention in the Middle East was 'miniscule compared with the serial and disastrous interventions of the Western powers'. Mr Murray is one of two Corbyn aides working in the Commons without security clearance. The Labour leader's private secretary, Iram Awan, has not been granted a pass for nine months allegedly because of concerns about her associates. Ms Awan was an activist with the Left Unity pressure group before she was called up to work for Mr Corbyn late last year. She has routinely been escorted through security at Parliament by members of Corbyn's team, while Mr Murray has been seen slipping into the Commons via a back entrance. The authorities are investigating whether any rules have been broken because it is against Parliamentary rules for staff to use visitors' passes in order to work. Commons passes may be refused if there are security concerns including evidence that 'an individual may be susceptible to pressure or improper influence'. A spokesperson for Mr Murray said: 'Andrew completely rejects the suggestion of being part of a so-called propaganda network and is a frequent critic of Putin and his government. He has never been to Ukraine, nor has any plans to visit the country'. Asked about the failure to receive his Commons pass, the spokesperson said: 'We don't comment on staffing matters.' A Labour source said: 'We have not been told that any member of staff has been refused a pass or any reasons why any pass may not yet have been granted.' 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 Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The secretive German family about to buy Pret A Manger profited from forced labour under the Nazis, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The chain, founded by Jewish businessman Jeffrey Hyman in 1983, is the subject of a 1.5 billion takeover by JAB Holding. But an investigation by this newspaper has uncovered how earlier generations of the family which owns JAB Holding the Reimanns built their fortune using Nazi-forced labour. Former boss Albert Reimann Sr was a card-carrying Nazi. The MoS has obtained a copy of his party membership card from archives in Germany. Takeover: Pret A Manger has 500 outlets in nine countries, and was founded by Jewish businessman Jeffrey Hyman in 1983 The company admits it has contributed to a fund paying compensation to those who were used as forced labourers during the war and their families. Such workers faced starvation under the Nazis and were often tortured and murdered. The surprise announcement that four of Reimanns grandchildren were buying Pret through offshore company JAB Holding came in May. The chain has around 500 outlets in nine countries. Pret founder Hyman died last year. Told about the Nazi roots of the new owners, his sister Valerie Tomalin told The Mail on Sunday: It is a sad day. Jeffrey would have been really upset. I am almost crying. I am horrified. 'Pret was a family business and I was the company secretary at the time it was set up. I am mortified and my brother would have been mortified. We are a Jewish family. Shameful: Nazi party member Albert Reimann Sr. A spokeswoman for the Reimann family said that they were aware that he had been a member of the Nazi party but added that the family wealth was generated after the Second World War The company taking over Pret has its origins in chemicals giant Johann A Benckiser. Founded in 1823 by Johann Benckiser, it was eventually inherited by Albert Reimann Sr. Albert Reimann Jr took over in 1952. When he died in 1984, his nine adopted children each inherited 11.1 per cent of the firm but five of the heirs sold out to the remaining quartet. The company became Reckitt Benckiser and the family founded JAB Holding, a separate entity that took a stake in the new firm and pursued other investments. Reckitt Benckiser makes a range of household names including Dettol. The four remaining owners Matthias Reimann-Andersen, Renate Reimann-Haas, Stefan Reimann-Andersen and Wolfgang Reimann are estimated to be worth 3 billion each, according to Forbes. Above: Forced labourers being crammed on to a lorry before they were taken to work during the Second World War Johann A Benckiser is listed as having donated to the official EVZ programme designed to compensate both forced and slave labour victims. Slave labour refers to people from concentration camps, whereas forced labour refers to civilians from occupied countries who were forced to work in Germany for derisory payments. The federal programme makes it clear that there is no admission of guilt by donors, and it includes many companies set up after 1945. However, according to historians, for those donor companies active during the war there is an implicit admission that they used forced or slave labour or both. Professor Ray Stokes, of Glasgow University, said: There is a factual distinction to be drawn between forced labour and slave labour because forced labourers were paid but whether there is a moral distinction is another matter. In some categories forced labour approaches slave labour. When confronted by the EVZ entry, JAB Holding representatives admitted that Johann A Benckiser had used forced labour but denied it had used slave labour from the concentration camps. A spokesman for JAB Holding said: JAB Holding Co is an investment vehicle created in 2011 and based in Luxembourg. It is managed entirely by three professional partners and has no association with the former Johann A Benckiser. Johann A Benckiser, along with more than 6,000 German companies, did participate in the plans to compensate former forced labourers and other victims. Like other authorities, organisations and companies, Johann A Benckiser employed forced labourers as well as prisoners of war. Concentration camp prisoners had never been employed. A spokeswoman for the Reimann family said that they were aware that Albert Reimann Sr had been a member of the Nazi party but added that the family wealth was generated after the Second World War and they regarded JAB Holding and the original chemicals company as separate companies. Pret declined to comment last night. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said in a new interview that the company is so liberal, conservative employees don't feel 'safe' to speak up - and he wants that to change. Dorsey, who has previously denied Twitter censors conservative tweets, made the comments during an interview with NYU journalism professor Jay Rosen for Recode Media. 'We have a lot of conservative-leaning folks in the company as well, and to be honest, they don't feel safe to express their opinion at the company,' he said. 'They do feel silenced by just the general swirl of what they perceive to be broader percentage of leanings within the company, and I don't think that's fair or right.' Dorsey went on to say that he wants to make sure everyone who works at Twitter can express themselves. 'No matter where they come from and what their background is,' he added. Jack Dorsey said conservative Twitter employees don't feel 'safe' to speak up because the company is so liberal 'They do feel silenced,' Dorsey said in a new interview, adding that he wants that to change 'I think it's more and more important to at least clarify what our own bias leans towards, and just express it. I'd rather know what someone biases to rather than try to interpret through their actions.' Last month, California Rep. Kevin McCarthy accused the social networking site of censoring conservative voices. In a letter, McCarthy asked the House Energy and Commerce Committee to invite Dorsey to testify 'so that the American people can learn more about the filtering and censorship practices on this platform', according to MarketWatch. Dorsey responded to the allegations denying the company was 'shadow banning' conservative tweets. The interview was published days after Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke about looking into tech companies like Twitter, Google and Facebook about the censorship allegations Earlier this week, Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke about looking into tech companies like Twitter, Google and Facebook about the censorship allegations. The Justice Department announced on Wednesday that Sessions will meet state attorneys general later this month 'to discuss the growing concern that these companies may be hurting competition and intentionally stifling the free exchange of ideas on their platforms'. Dorsey said in response, according to the New York Post: 'We don't consider political viewpoints, perspectives or party affiliation in any of our policies of enforcement decisions. Period. Impartiality is our guiding principle.' Asia Argento was seen with one of her closest friends and biggest supporters this week in Italy. The actress, 42, was seen last Saturday leaving her home in Rome and being driven to a private residence with director Giovanni Veronesi. Veronesi, 56, who is engaged to Italian star Valeria Solarino, 39, then got out of the car with Argento and went inside, with the pair not emerging again until the next morning when he drove her home. It is unclear what the pair were doing and whether their rime together was professional or personal, as Veronesi has been bust shooting a new film, which Argento is free to appear in given her exit from X Factor. There is absolutely nothing to suggest the two are romantically linked, given Veronesi's engagement and the fact that he is like a big brother to the actress. The outting came just a few days before Rose McGowan gave an interview saying that she and Argento no longer speak. Scroll down for video Pals: Asia Argento was seen leaving her home in Rome and being driven to a private residence with director Giovanni Veronesi (above last weekend) There is absolutely nothing to suggest the two are romantically linked, given Veronesi's engagement and the fact that he is like a big brother to the actress Argento was starring in Veronesi's film Viola Kisses Everybody when she was allegedly assaulted by Harvey Weinstein Argento was starring in Veronesi's film Viola Kisses Everybody when she was allegedly assaulted by Harvey Weinstein. The actress received little support from Italian actors or the public in that country at the time, but that did not stop Veronesi from becoming one of her biggest defenders. At one point he tweeted: 'What the f*** are you doing? It's not even a question @AsiaArgento just defended it. There is no debate. No doubt.' Veronesi's fiancee also quickly jumped to Argentos' defense with a post on Instagram. The post shows a photo of an irate Argento flipping the bird. It was taken in 2013 during the Cannes film festival. Solarino appeared to be sending a message to her fellow countrymen and women over their lack of support for Argento. Solarino's caption, which was written in Italian, read: 'We have reversed the facts so as not to see them. 'Violence, stupidity, ignorance, the superficiality of comments that I read or listen to leave me speechless.' Veronesi's fiancee also quickly jumped to Argentos' defense with a post on Instagram. The post shows a photo of an irate Argento flipping the bird. It was taken in 2013 during the Cannes film festival. The Instagram post was written last October Solarino then relayed a message from Argento which read: 'This middle finger is for those Italians - I repeat: Italians, who accuse me of having sought the violence suffered by a girl because I have not run away and because I have not reported before. 'It's the fault of people like you if women are afraid to tell the truth. 'From the rest of the world I receive only words of solidarity and comfort, in my country I am called a b****. 'Shame on you, everyone. You are monsters.' The brave confession by Argento made her a face for the #MeToo movement, where she grew closer to McGowan. The two have drifted apart however in the wake of Argento's sex scandal. 'Shes done a lot of good for the movement, and worked really hard for it. I dont think it [the allegations] discredits the work shes done, but it probably will going forward,' McGowan told The Telegraph. 'I just dont know how someone picks up their life from where Asia is now.' The actress, who had been absent from social media for the past two months, returned to Twitter last week after model Rain Dove Dubilewski, 27, criticized Argento's attorney for refusing to acknowledge that she had a sexual relationship with actor Jimmy Bennett when the boy was underage. 'I will 100% help support You through this process with whatever resources I have that can assist the healing necessary - but You need to be honest. I cant help a dishonest being,' wrote Dove. Argento posted this photo on her Instagram account early Saturday morning Argento responded by firing back: 'Very funny coming from a sick pathological liar like you, who made money out of me by selling selected text messages in order to portray me for something I am not.' Her return to social media came at the same time X Factor Italia formally announced that Argento would appear only in the first half of the show's new season, and be replaced for the live episodes when they air later this year. The Italian star, 42, also used her return to Twitter to attack Dove for information they relayed regarding the death of Anthony Bourdain. It was Dove's texts with Argento that confirmed the actress had sexual relations with Bennett in a California hotel room back in 2014, more than a decade after the actress first worked with the boy at the age of 6 in her film adaptation of JT Leroy's The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things. Argento, who was one of the first women to publicly accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault, initially lied about her encounter with Bennett following a New York Times report that revealed the young man had received a $380,000 payment from the actress' partner Anthony Bourdain when he threatened to file a $7.5 million lawsuit. Just hours after she denied ever having sex with Bennett, TMZ published a text exchange between Dove and with Argento, confirming most of the Times report. Argento and her lawyer are now claiming that she was the victim, and Bennett sexually assaulted her that day in the hotel. Argento backers: He defended her when she came out with her claims against Weinstein as did his fiancee Valeria Solarino (above in 2016 with Veronesi) Split: Rose McGowan recently revealed that her and Argento do not speak Dove voiced their opinion on this latest version of events from Argento by writing in one tweet: 'NO Jimmy Bennet didnt rape Asia. We must hold all beings to the truth here. Dont need to kno the whole story but what we do know should b truthful.' Argento then took aim at Dove for making claims about the death of Bourdain. She posted a handful of cryptic text exchanges she had with the model that seem to suggest they both believe the celebrity chef did not take his own life. 'Why did you tell me you knew the truth about my partners death and pretended to be some sort of 007? You wrote me hundreds of lies, for over a month. I have all the text messages. Now its time for YOU to tell the truth, if you are capable. Your ex calls you a pathological liar,' wrote Argento. She followed that up by stating: 'Then tell me why did you invent that articulate, humongous, gross lie about you and your NETWORK knowing the truth about Anthonys death?' Dove, who engaged with Argento throughout her attack, replied: 'That wasnt a lie. We did a lot of great work including - which You saw yourself- the toxicology report which French authorities dumbed down to the media. And then later on redacted and said yeah there was alcohol. And Im not 007. Im just part of a common research team.' Argento then posted a text conversation she had with Dove about documents concerning Bourdain's death that she hoped to get to a journalist for an investigative piece about the Emmy winner. In another exchange shared by Argento, Dove writes about a 'network' being involved in Bourdain's death and how 'dangerous' it was to be investigating the matter. They also claim to have see documents and exchanges between unknown parties, prompting Argento to tweet: 'Go tell that to @CNN. What you did (if you did it! I highly doubt it) is criminal.' Dove responded: 'Alright love. But You are just deflecting. Ill own my own path itll clearly be a fun week. But You still must own urs. 100%. You had a sexual dynamic w Jimmy Bennett. Whether u felt used or extorted or that ur friend was rude the engagement still happened. & he didnt rape u.' The brave confession by Argento made her a face for the #MeToo movement, where she grew closer to McGowan Argento did not dispute Dove's claims in that tweet, and instead accused the model of deflecting, before adding: 'Dont call me love. All that is left of your answers is treachery and deceit.' She later closed out her attack by writing: 'You cant help yourself but keep lying, can you? You never sent me or showed me any documents. And remember, there was a witness.' Dove went offline at the exact same time, but not before posting a few final remarks. 'Ok, through the gates of Hell I walk willingly with You if only for the truth to see the light of the fire,' said the model to Argento in one post. Dove then said in a final tweet: 'Fair for U to be angry- U are trapped and want to take everything down with U. I am not afraid of what is coming. But the truth still remains You slept w Jimmy Bennett. You lied when You demand others accused of sexual assault to be honest. This hurts victims voices everywhere.' The model is a new acquaintance of Argento, whom she met through McGowan. Dove started dating the actress earlier this year in the wake of McGowan's rage-filled rant at a transgender woman at a New York City book signing for her memoir Brave that many found to be transphobic. In the wake of that incident, Dove offered to help the actress repair her image. Dove said that she released the texts with McGowan's blessing, and also sent her exchanges with the actress to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Samantha Markle has publicly hit out at Prince Harry again, this time likening him to a hamster on his 34th birthday. The British royal was compared to the furry creature as Meghan Markle's half-sister tweeted an image of a ginger-haired pet tucking into a miniature cake while wearing a celebratory hat. 'Happy Birthday Harry! As you "Mack down" on your birthday cake, think about the birthday wishes you never extended to your FATHER-IN-LAW,' she posted on Twitter. Samantha Markle compared Prince Harry to a hamster in a Twitter post on Saturday which was also his 34th birthday Samantha has been very vocal about her half-sister's relationship with Prince Harry (pictured September 6) Florida resident, Samantha, was referring to her dad, Thomas Markle, who turned 74 on July 18 and did not attend their televised wedding on May 19. The 53-year-old former model has been extremely vocal about how she disapproves of the way Meghan has treated their father since she got together with Prince Harry. This week she said her former Suits star sibling 'wasn't much different to Trump'. Samantha Markle changed her last name from Grant when Meghan got engaged Samantha continues to speak on behalf of her dad Thomas Markle who didn't attend the royal wedding on May 19 This week she also called Meghan a 'ducha**' and said her smiles and waves are fake She posted: 'I am not surprised Trump said he could shoot someone and still get votes. Same mentality here.' Meghan's sister used to go by Samantha Grant but changed her last name when Prince Harry proposed to her relative. In Monday's rant she also called the duchess a 'ducha**'. Samantha wrote: 'I am not candy coating anything anymore! The DUCHA** should be humane to our father who has given her everything and this media crap can stop!' She has even gone so far as to assume Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, smokes marijuana. Samantha has also targeted Meghan's mother Doria Ragland (pictured right in May) saying she smokes marijuana 'Maybe mommy could bake up some comfort brownies,' she quipped. 'That's right all of her marijuana can't fix anythingI think it's part of the problem.' In August, she posted on the micro-blogging site about how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have failed to look after Thomas, who lives in Mexico. 'They have unlimited resources and no interest or compassion to care. The truth sucks,' she wrote. Pastor Paul Song describes how he was left in a state of near constant fear Islamic militants hijacked a prison chaplain's Bible classes and physically assaulted and abused him because of his Christian faith. Pastor Paul Song today describes how he was left in a state of near- constant fear after Muslim gangs, acting with impunity, came to dominate Brixton Prison in South London. He tells The Mail on Sunday of one chilling incident when a small group stormed his gathering in the prison chapel and began loudly praising the jihadis who hacked soldier Lee Rigby to death in the street. 'It was obscene,' he said. Mr Song describes how a hardline element grew increasingly powerful, threatening vulnerable inmates and telling them to convert to Islam for their own protection. The pastor says many of his fellow volunteer chaplains were driven out through intimidation, too. 'My colleagues couldn't take any more,' he said. 'My classes were often disrupted. At times inmates openly spoke in the chapel in support of Islamic State and suicide bombers. And there was nothing I could do about it... They spoke with such hatred of Britain that it was frightening.' On another occasion, Mr Song, who was born in South Korea, says he was racially abused, jeered and hit on the back. It left him afraid of lingering anywhere in the prison that wasn't covered by CCTV. Despite this menacing atmosphere, it was Mr Song who ended up being accused of extremism. An imam took over as Brixton's head chaplain and stopped the pastor running his mainstream evangelical courses because, he said, some of the material was too 'radical'. Mr Song's disturbing account of life inside Brixton Prison comes at a time of growing crisis in the prison service, which faces overcrowding and staff shortages. In one chilling incident, extremists stormed his gathering in the prison chapel and began loudly praising the jihadis (Michael Adebolajo, left and Michael Adebowale, right) and who hacked soldier Lee Rigby to death in the street Gangs in the prison praised the killers of Lee Rigby (pictured) In the past nine months, four jails have been described as 'failing'. And on Friday thousands of prison officers walked out for six hours in protest at 'unprecedented' levels of violence. Justice Secretary David Gauke conceded: 'The level of violence is unacceptably high, and we're determined to bring it down.' Mr Song's time in Brixton came to an abrupt end in August last year when he was suddenly barred from the prison to which he had given 19 years unstinting service. It was claimed he called an inmate a 'terrorist' and behaved threateningly towards the imam, which he vehemently denied. Now, 12 months on and after initially being denied a fair hearing, he has been cleared and reinstated. Mr Song's time in Brixton came to an abrupt end in August last year when he was suddenly barred from the prison to which he had given 19 years unstinting service Andrea Williams of the Christian Legal Centre, which took up Mr Song's case, said calling him an extremist 'defied belief'. She added: 'It is wonderful to see justice done.' Mr Song began to feel the pressure soon after imam Mohammed Yusuf Ahmed was appointed as head chaplain in 2015. He said 'the imam's discriminatory agenda became clear from the outset', when he began scrutinising the material used in the Bible classes, claiming it was 'too radical' and that the Christian views expressed were 'extreme'. Mr Song began to feel the pressure soon after imam Mohammed Yusuf Ahmed (pictured) was appointed as head chaplain in 2015 'They are mainstream courses used by churches throughout the world. [The imam] said he wanted to 'change the Christian domination' within the prison,' Mr Song said. He agreed to stop running his classes, though he continued to work with individual prisoners. 'The imam said I couldn't use the chapel, so I held a prayer meeting in a cell but the imam got to hear about it and was furious. He is very big, physically intimidating and he kept urging me to just leave. I thought about it but I also thought, why should I give in?' The day jihadis hijacked my jail Bible class yelling support for Lee Rigby's killers: A chilling account of how Muslim gangs took over a Brixton prison - by a Christian chaplain who's just won his job back after HE was called an extremist and sacked Part-time prison chaplain Paul Song says Islamic extremists hijacked his classes Three inmates appeared in the chapel to loudly acclaim the killers of Lee Rigby Muslim gangs dominated his jail intimidating prisoners into converting to Islam For part-time chaplain Paul Song, Brixton Prison's oak-beamed 19th Century chapel was an oasis amid the hectic clamour of penal life. But that was before Islamic extremists hijacked his Bible classes. One afternoon three inmates appeared in the chapel, interrupting a discussion on divine grace to loudly acclaim the killers of Lee Rigby, whose murder by jihadis on a South London street shocked the nation. Prison imam's bizarre attack on Barbies: Brixton jail's Muslim preacher said 'pornographic dolls' were sign of Judgement Day The Brixton prison imam who Paul Song believes was instrumental in forcing him out of the jail once launched a bizarre attack on Barbie dolls. Mohammed Yusuf Ahmed said in 2011: 'Barbie dolls belong to the top shelf. What is the point of a four-year-old girl having a doll that is dressed going to a nightclub? What is the point of a doll that has voluptuous assets? It's a sign of the Day of Judgment.' For eight years, he was a part-time chaplain at Woodhill high-security prison in Milton Keynes, while also general secretary of the Islamic Party of Britain. The party allegedly advocated the death penalty for public displays of homosexuality and wanted to transform Britain into an Islamic state. In 2014, it was reported that Ahmed, who also uses the name Shaykh Yusuf Az-Zahaby belonged to the Islamist organisation Al-Hikma Media where some preachers have advocated killing women who engage in premarital sex. Advertisement To the disbelief of Mr Song and his fellow Christians, the interlopers insisted that hacking to death the 25-year-old soldier was justified since, in their eyes, it avenged the killing of Muslims by British troops. When Mr Song calmly tried to argue back, he was shouted down. Nor was it the only time his classes were to be similarly disrupted. 'To do this in a place of worship was obscene,' he says. 'Some openly spoke in the chapel in support of Islamic State.' Today, Mr Song tells The Mail on Sunday in chilling detail how extremist Muslim gangs came to dominate his jail: intimidating prisoners into converting to Islam and physically assaulting him over his Christian faith. And he describes how he was summarily dismissed from the jail over claims which he strenuously denies that he called one inmate a 'terrorist'. He was also falsely accused of espousing 'radical' Christianity. He believes the complaint was orchestrated by imam Mohammed Yusuf Ahmed, who was appointed as the prison head chaplain in 2015 and soon set about upending the multi-faith religious support offered to inmates. Initially, Mr Song was denied a proper hearing but this newspaper can reveal that an external investigation eventually cleared him a year later and he has been reinstated. He claims his dismissal after 19 years' service followed a power shift in the South London prison, where a hardline Muslim contingent, feared by officers and inmates alike, were acting with impunity. Mr Song believes the days were numbered for him and other Christian volunteers after Mr Ahmed was appointed. Mr Song taught mainstream evangelical courses which proved popular with inmates, but the new imam banned them, saying the material was too 'extreme'. Describing a climate of fear inside HMP Brixton, Mr Song, who moved to Britain from South Korea 26 years ago, also claimed: Inmates were forced in some cases through violence to convert to Islam for 'protection' Muslim inmates jeered, pushed and abused him, calling him 'Chinky' and 'Crazy Christian' He feared for his safety and always tried to ensure he was in view of a CCTV camera That the imam vowed to change what he called the 'Christian domination' inside prison He was forced to hold prayer meetings in a cell because the imam stopped him using the prison chapel Mr Song said: 'I was very upset by what these men said about Lee Rigby that day. They were making a commotion, saying the murder was justified. I tried to calmly reason with them but was shouted down. 'My courses were often disrupted in this way. Two or three would often come to my classes and rant about different things like how the actions of suicide bombers were justified. There was nothing I could do.' Yet in a grotesque irony, it was the chaplain, not the extremists, who ended up being punished. Of all the elements of his astonishing story, it is perhaps the apparent willingness of the prison authorities to readily accept the allegations and dismiss Mr Song without first seeking his version of events, that is the most troubling. He believes the most cursory examination of the 'evidence' would have found the claims baseless and says he was denied a face-to-face meeting to defend himself. Although common sense eventually prevailed, it is a wonder he now wants to return. HMP Brixton, where Mr Song described a culture of fear 'Some of the inmates spoke with such hatred about Britain, the Government, the military. It was frightening,' Mr Song said. That he became inured to the outbursts is a measure of just how 'crazy the situation became inside Brixton'. He said: 'Gradually, many of the Christian volunteer chaplains were intimidated into leaving until I was one of only a few remaining.' Before emigrating to Britain, Mr Song, now 49, was a detective in the South Korean capital Seoul. He became a born-again Christian with a 'burning desire' to help those on society's margins, such as the homeless, drug addicts, and prostitutes, and for many years he ran a shelter in a Brixton vicarage. Pastor Paul, as he was known, became a popular, familiar and respected local figure. Outgoing and brimming with enthusiasm, he made friends easily. He is an evangelist but, as he pointed out, so too was Jesus. 'It doesn't make me an extremist,' he laughed. The 43,000 people who signed a petition demanding his reinstatement after his dismissal would agree. After the Church of England sold off the vicarage-turned-hostel he used to run, he decided to devote more time to voluntary work in Brixton Prison. A Prison Service spokesman said: 'There is absolutely no evidence to support claims relating to extremist behaviour at HMP Brixton' (pictured) Relating to inmates, some of them highly dangerous, came naturally. 'I think my time in the police helped,' he said. His popularity spread and his courses were oversubscribed, attended by up to 80 prisoners. They met in the large multi-faith chapel, built in the 1850s when embracing Christianity was deemed essential to rehabilitation. 'I was happy that everyone used the chapel and I always got on with people from all religions,' Mr Song recalled. 'In the early days there was never any trouble.' He turned many inmates' lives around. 'There was one, very dangerous, who sliced open a man from top to bottom and was fond of saying he was going to finish him off when he got out. I helped him find God. He became a new man.' There were three full-time chaplains one Catholic, one Muslim and one Anglican, the Reverend Phil Chadder, who led the chaplaincy. But in 2015, Mr Chadder moved on, creating a power vacuum that would later have significant repercussions for Mr Song. Mr Song says extremist Muslim gangs came to dominate his jail: intimidating prisoners into converting to Islam and physically assaulting him over his Christian faith He described the intimidating situation inside the prison at the time: 'Prisoners told me of other inmates who were punched, roughed up, and threatened by Muslim gangsters who told them to convert to Islam for their own protection. They also said that if they refused they would make sure they didn't receive the good quality food, the halal meat, for instance, that was served every Friday. 'They also tried to convert me. They'd scream in my face, Arabic things such as 'Allahu Akbar' Allah is greatest. They'd also criticise Christianity, comparing it unfavourably to Islam. 'One day I was walking through a section of a wing housing many of the Muslim prisoners when one of them came at me from behind and hit me hard on the back. They were all laughing calling me a 'Chinky' and 'Crazy Christian'. It was very frightening and, from then on, I was very conscious of walking only where I knew there was CCTV.' Following imam Mohammed Yusuf Ahmed's appointment, Mr Song's role became more precarious still. Court documents state Mr Song was running the Alpha courses, popular in churches across the country, until 2013. He subsequently created his own course, approved by Mr Chadder. But then 'the imam's discriminatory agenda became clear from the outset,' Mr Song said. 'He began scrutinising the material for each of our courses, saying it was 'too radical' and that the Christian views expressed were 'extreme'. Before emigrating to Britain, Mr Song, now 49, was a detective in the South Korean capital Seoul 'He paid scant regard to the fact that the courses are mainstream Christian, used by churches throughout the world. He said he wanted to 'change the Christian domination' within the prison.' Reluctantly, Mr Song agreed to stop running his classes though he continued to work with individual prisoners. 'The imam said I couldn't use the chapel and effectively took control of it so I held a prayer meeting in a large holding cell but the imam got to hear about it and was furious. He is very big, physically intimidating and he kept urging me to just leave. I thought about it but I also thought, why should I give in?' Following a visit to the jail in January 2017, prisons inspector Peter Clarke found high levels of violence and reported that 'a third of prisoners felt unsafe'. It was also noted that the jail had been without a full-time Anglican chaplain for 18 months. Mr Clarke said one should be recruited 'without delay'. In August 2017 the imam sent an email to Mr Song warning him not to visit the prison without prior permission or 'you will be walked to the gate'. Mr Song thought there had been a misunderstanding. After all, he had long been so trusted he had his own key. Seeking answers, he went to see the imam. He was told he was no longer welcome and could not appeal the decision. He then received a letter from Graham Horlock, the prison official in charge of reducing offending, saying he had received allegations that he had called a prisoner a 'terrorist', made references to IS and had threatened the imam. All this Mr Song vehemently denies. The letter went on to say that the decision to remove him was 'permanent and with immediate effect' with the ban coming before he had the chance to defend himself. Mr Song said the imam 'did not elaborate on which of my views he considered extreme, though I had only ever spoken the Bible's message on forgiveness and grace. 'His comments were deeply hurtful, and paid no regard to my unblemished record throughout my two decades of service.' He said he was aware of other Christian groups that went into Brixton and had their courses stopped and this led to Christian volunteers largely being shut out. Many inmates made witness statements in support of Mr Song. One, Nigel Williams, praised Mr Song's work, saying: 'Hundreds of ex-prisoners have the highest respect and admiration for Paul and would say that his actions changed their lives for the better. The prisoners are devastated by his removal.' He added that while there was a 'lot of support for Muslims' little was being done for Christians, adding that violent Islamist gangs 'are trying to spread their religion by force' and radicalise inmates. Another former prisoner, Jeremy Conlon, said in a witness statement: 'The Muslim prisoners created by far the largest gang that ruled the prison by threat of violence. The Muslims offered converts protection. With a shortage of guards this protection became invaluable.' Those who didn't convert, said Mr Conlon, lived in fear. He said it was impossible to 'speak out about the oppression without facing a genuine risk of being attacked.' In despair over his situation, Mr Song turned to the Christian Legal Centre, which sought a judicial review of his ban. In May this year, Mr Song agreed to stay the proceedings after an independent investigation was promised. Led by Sara Pennington, governor of Elmley prison, it said Mr Song should be reinstated, after training for dealing with a 'multi-faith community'. She said HMP Brixton's initial investigation was 'limited' and did not follow due process. Meanwhile the imam has been suspended over a matter unrelated to Mr Song's case and the prison is now advertising for a new head chaplain. The imam could not be reached for comment. Andrea William of the Christian Legal Centre, said: 'It is wonderful to see justice done.' A Prison Service spokesman said: 'There is absolutely no evidence to support claims relating to extremist behaviour at HMP Brixton.' Mr Song is now planning to restart his courses. 'This has been a very difficult time,' he said. 'Not for a moment did I think that something like this could happen in England.' Meghan Markles father has received death threats from a violent criminal, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Thomas Markle, 74, has been subjected to multiple threats to his life from Jose Sandoval, the former boyfriend of one of his closest female friends. Sandoval has allegedly conducted a campaign of terror against Lori Davis, 38, and her 11-year-old daughter Jocelyn, who refers to Mr Markle as Uncle. Last week Sandoval who was jailed for 30 months in the US for illegally entering the country before being deported in 2000 allegedly drove past Mr Markles house in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, and shouted at the retired Emmy-winning lighting director: Im going to kill you, you fat f*****. Sandoval denies the claims. Thomas Markle, 74, has been subjected to multiple threats to his life from Jose Sandoval, the former boyfriend of one of his closest female friends (pictured with his friend Lori Davis, 38, and her 11-year-old daughter Jocelyn) The alleged incident was included in a damning eight-page police report filed by Ms Davis last week in which she accused Sandoval of slashing Mr Markles tyres as part of a demented series of attacks. In the report, Ms Davis also states: He [Jose] grabbed me by the neck while twisting it, as if he was choking me and I have pictures of these aggressions He spat on my face he goes to my uncles house [referring to Tom] and tells him that he is going to kill him because he is constantly hiding me and threatens and insults him. Last week Sandoval (pictured) allegedly drove past Mr Markles house in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, and shouted at the retired Emmy-winning lighting director: Im going to kill you, you fat f*****. Ms Davis was introduced to Mr Markle through a mutual friend when they lived in the same gated community. She was wrongly accused of being Mr Markles girlfriend after the pair were photographed at an Italian restaurant. In an exclusive interview with The Mail on Sunday, a tearful Ms Davis said: Tom has been nothing but a supportive friend. Hes been a rock for me and my daughter and Im sorry hes been dragged into this violent and abusive situation. Ms Davis claims that Sandoval sent her a video of him burning her clothes My daughter calls Tom Uncle. Hes the most genuine and kind person I know and the most stable male figure my daughter has ever known. My ex-boyfriend is demented. He has threatened to kill me and my daughter multiple times and has made multiple threats to Toms life. Mr Markle, who has been estranged from his daughter since her wedding to Prince Harry, recently arranged for Ms Davis and Jocelyn to move to a safe house as the threats escalated. Ms Davis finally split from Sandoval, 49, several weeks ago following an eight-year on-off relationship. Ms Davis alleged that during their relationship, Sandoval poured lighter fuel on her and threatened to set her on fire in front of her mother and daughter. He is also said to have burned and slashed her clothes. Ms Davis has given police threatening emails and texts from Sandoval and has also shared them with The Mail on Sunday while waiving her right to anonymity as an alleged victim of domestic violence. Jose has terrorised us, she said. Because Tom is my friend he has threatened him too. In one chilling voicemail heard by the MoS, Sandoval says: F*** you and Tom. Toms got something coming too. Just you wait and see. Ms Davis was introduced to Mr Markle through a mutual friend when they lived in the same gated community Ms Davis filed for an order of protection with police in the Mexican city of Tijuana on Monday. Mr Markle also spent two hours there giving a witness statement. He told The Mail on Sunday: Im not worried about my own life but I do care about Lori and Jocelyn. I swore I would never talk again after my Mail on Sunday interview this year the only reason I am doing so now is that Im hoping the spotlight on me might help save an abused woman. Mr Markle confirmed he had received death threats from Sandoval both in person and via text. He said: The first time he threatened me was after I took Lori and Jocelyn for pizza and we were photographed by the paparazzi. He texted me saying, I will kick you a**, you fat f***. I wrote back saying, You dont even know me, whats wrong with you? Why would you feel threatened by a 74-year-old man? Mr Markle, who has been estranged from his daughter (pictured) since her wedding to Prince Harry, recently arranged for Ms Davis and Jocelyn to move to a safe house as the threats escalated He thought something sexual was going on between Lori and me but its not. Lori isnt my girlfriend. She hasnt hustled me for money. Ive helped her financially so that she could get to a safe place to live with her daughter. Mr Markle added: Id like to thank the police for finally taking these threats seriously and for listening and responding quickly. When approached by The Mail on Sunday last night, construction worker Sandoval denied making death threats against Mr Markle, adding: Hes lying. But he confirmed he once gave Lori two black eyes, saying: I did hit her. She deserved it. Sandoval also admitted he was deported from the US and spent 30 months in jail but said: From the moment I came back to Mexico Ive worked hard. Pastor Paul Song describes how he was left in a state of near constant fear For part-time chaplain Paul Song, Brixton Prison's oak-beamed 19th Century chapel was an oasis amid the hectic clamour of penal life. But that was before Islamic extremists hijacked his Bible classes. One afternoon three inmates appeared in the chapel, interrupting a discussion on divine grace to loudly acclaim the killers of Lee Rigby, whose murder by jihadis on a South London street shocked the nation. To the disbelief of Mr Song and his fellow Christians, the interlopers insisted that hacking to death the 25-year-old soldier was justified since, in their eyes, it avenged the killing of Muslims by British troops. When Mr Song calmly tried to argue back, he was shouted down. Nor was it the only time his classes were to be similarly disrupted. 'To do this in a place of worship was obscene,' he says. 'Some openly spoke in the chapel in support of Islamic State.' Today, Mr Song tells The Mail on Sunday in chilling detail how extremist Muslim gangs came to dominate his jail: intimidating prisoners into converting to Islam and physically assaulting him over his Christian faith. And he describes how he was summarily dismissed from the jail over claims which he strenuously denies that he called one inmate a 'terrorist'. He was also falsely accused of espousing 'radical' Christianity. He believes the complaint was orchestrated by imam Mohammed Yusuf Ahmed, who was appointed as the prison head chaplain in 2015 and soon set about upending the multi-faith religious support offered to inmates. Initially, Mr Song was denied a proper hearing but this newspaper can reveal that an external investigation eventually cleared him a year later and he has been reinstated. He claims his dismissal after 19 years' service followed a power shift in the South London prison, where a hardline Muslim contingent, feared by officers and inmates alike, were acting with impunity. In one chilling incident, extremists stormed his gathering in the prison chapel and began loudly praising the jihadis (Michael Adebolajo, left and Michael Adebowale, right) and who hacked soldier Lee Rigby to death in the street Gangs in the prison praised the killers of Lee Rigby (pictured) Mr Song believes the days were numbered for him and other Christian volunteers after Mr Ahmed was appointed. Mr Song taught mainstream evangelical courses which proved popular with inmates, but the new imam banned them, saying the material was too 'extreme'. Describing a climate of fear inside HMP Brixton, Mr Song, who moved to Britain from South Korea 26 years ago, also claimed: Inmates were forced in some cases through violence to convert to Islam for 'protection' Muslim inmates jeered, pushed and abused him, calling him 'Chinky' and 'Crazy Christian' He feared for his safety and always tried to ensure he was in view of a CCTV camera That the imam vowed to change what he called the 'Christian domination' inside prison He was forced to hold prayer meetings in a cell because the imam stopped him using the prison chapel Mr Song said: 'I was very upset by what these men said about Lee Rigby that day. They were making a commotion, saying the murder was justified. I tried to calmly reason with them but was shouted down. 'My courses were often disrupted in this way. Two or three would often come to my classes and rant about different things like how the actions of suicide bombers were justified. There was nothing I could do.' Yet in a grotesque irony, it was the chaplain, not the extremists, who ended up being punished. Mr Song's time in Brixton came to an abrupt end in August last year when he was suddenly barred from the prison to which he had given 19 years unstinting service Of all the elements of his astonishing story, it is perhaps the apparent willingness of the prison authorities to readily accept the allegations and dismiss Mr Song without first seeking his version of events, that is the most troubling. He believes the most cursory examination of the 'evidence' would have found the claims baseless and says he was denied a face-to-face meeting to defend himself. Although common sense eventually prevailed, it is a wonder he now wants to return. 'Some of the inmates spoke with such hatred about Britain, the Government, the military. It was frightening,' Mr Song said. Mr Song began to feel the pressure soon after imam Mohammed Yusuf Ahmed (pictured) was appointed as head chaplain in 2015 That he became inured to the outbursts is a measure of just how 'crazy the situation became inside Brixton'. He said: 'Gradually, many of the Christian volunteer chaplains were intimidated into leaving until I was one of only a few remaining.' Before emigrating to Britain, Mr Song, now 49, was a detective in the South Korean capital Seoul. He became a born-again Christian with a 'burning desire' to help those on society's margins, such as the homeless, drug addicts, and prostitutes, and for many years he ran a shelter in a Brixton vicarage. Prison imam's bizarre attack on Barbies: Brixton jail's Muslim preacher said 'pornographic dolls' were sign of Judgement Day The Brixton prison imam who Paul Song believes was instrumental in forcing him out of the jail once launched a bizarre attack on Barbie dolls. Mohammed Yusuf Ahmed said in 2011: 'Barbie dolls belong to the top shelf. What is the point of a four-year-old girl having a doll that is dressed going to a nightclub? What is the point of a doll that has voluptuous assets? It's a sign of the Day of Judgment.' For eight years, he was a part-time chaplain at Woodhill high-security prison in Milton Keynes, while also general secretary of the Islamic Party of Britain. The party allegedly advocated the death penalty for public displays of homosexuality and wanted to transform Britain into an Islamic state. In 2014, it was reported that Ahmed, who also uses the name Shaykh Yusuf Az-Zahaby belonged to the Islamist organisation Al-Hikma Media where some preachers have advocated killing women who engage in premarital sex. Advertisement Pastor Paul, as he was known, became a popular, familiar and respected local figure. Outgoing and brimming with enthusiasm, he made friends easily. He is an evangelist but, as he pointed out, so too was Jesus. 'It doesn't make me an extremist,' he laughed. The 43,000 people who signed a petition demanding his reinstatement after his dismissal would agree. After the Church of England sold off the vicarage-turned-hostel he used to run, he decided to devote more time to voluntary work in Brixton Prison. Relating to inmates, some of them highly dangerous, came naturally. 'I think my time in the police helped,' he said. His popularity spread and his courses were oversubscribed, attended by up to 80 prisoners. They met in the large multi-faith chapel, built in the 1850s when embracing Christianity was deemed essential to rehabilitation. 'I was happy that everyone used the chapel and I always got on with people from all religions,' Mr Song recalled. 'In the early days there was never any trouble.' He turned many inmates' lives around. 'There was one, very dangerous, who sliced open a man from top to bottom and was fond of saying he was going to finish him off when he got out. I helped him find God. He became a new man.' There were three full-time chaplains one Catholic, one Muslim and one Anglican, the Reverend Phil Chadder, who led the chaplaincy. But in 2015, Mr Chadder moved on, creating a power vacuum that would later have significant repercussions for Mr Song. He described the intimidating situation inside the prison at the time: 'Prisoners told me of other inmates who were punched, roughed up, and threatened by Muslim gangsters who told them to convert to Islam for their own protection. They also said that if they refused they would make sure they didn't receive the good quality food, the halal meat, for instance, that was served every Friday. HMP Brixton, where Mr Song described a culture of fear 'They also tried to convert me. They'd scream in my face, Arabic things such as 'Allahu Akbar' Allah is greatest. They'd also criticise Christianity, comparing it unfavourably to Islam. 'One day I was walking through a section of a wing housing many of the Muslim prisoners when one of them came at me from behind and hit me hard on the back. They were all laughing calling me a 'Chinky' and 'Crazy Christian'. It was very frightening and, from then on, I was very conscious of walking only where I knew there was CCTV.' Following imam Mohammed Yusuf Ahmed's appointment, Mr Song's role became more precarious still. Court documents state Mr Song was running the Alpha courses, popular in churches across the country, until 2013. He subsequently created his own course, approved by Mr Chadder. But then 'the imam's discriminatory agenda became clear from the outset,' Mr Song said. 'He began scrutinising the material for each of our courses, saying it was 'too radical' and that the Christian views expressed were 'extreme'. A Prison Service spokesman said: 'There is absolutely no evidence to support claims relating to extremist behaviour at HMP Brixton' (pictured) 'He paid scant regard to the fact that the courses are mainstream Christian, used by churches throughout the world. He said he wanted to 'change the Christian domination' within the prison.' Reluctantly, Mr Song agreed to stop running his classes though he continued to work with individual prisoners. 'The imam said I couldn't use the chapel and effectively took control of it so I held a prayer meeting in a large holding cell but the imam got to hear about it and was furious. He is very big, physically intimidating and he kept urging me to just leave. I thought about it but I also thought, why should I give in?' Following a visit to the jail in January 2017, prisons inspector Peter Clarke found high levels of violence and reported that 'a third of prisoners felt unsafe'. It was also noted that the jail had been without a full-time Anglican chaplain for 18 months. Mr Clarke said one should be recruited 'without delay'. In August 2017 the imam sent an email to Mr Song warning him not to visit the prison without prior permission or 'you will be walked to the gate'. Mr Song thought there had been a misunderstanding. After all, he had long been so trusted he had his own key. Mr Song says extremist Muslim gangs came to dominate his jail: intimidating prisoners into converting to Islam and physically assaulting him over his Christian faith Seeking answers, he went to see the imam. He was told he was no longer welcome and could not appeal the decision. He then received a letter from Graham Horlock, the prison official in charge of reducing offending, saying he had received allegations that he had called a prisoner a 'terrorist', made references to IS and had threatened the imam. All this Mr Song vehemently denies. The letter went on to say that the decision to remove him was 'permanent and with immediate effect' with the ban coming before he had the chance to defend himself. Mr Song said the imam 'did not elaborate on which of my views he considered extreme, though I had only ever spoken the Bible's message on forgiveness and grace. 'His comments were deeply hurtful, and paid no regard to my unblemished record throughout my two decades of service.' Before emigrating to Britain, Mr Song, now 49, was a detective in the South Korean capital Seoul He said he was aware of other Christian groups that went into Brixton and had their courses stopped and this led to Christian volunteers largely being shut out. Many inmates made witness statements in support of Mr Song. One, Nigel Williams, praised Mr Song's work, saying: 'Hundreds of ex-prisoners have the highest respect and admiration for Paul and would say that his actions changed their lives for the better. The prisoners are devastated by his removal.' He added that while there was a 'lot of support for Muslims' little was being done for Christians, adding that violent Islamist gangs 'are trying to spread their religion by force' and radicalise inmates. Another former prisoner, Jeremy Conlon, said in a witness statement: 'The Muslim prisoners created by far the largest gang that ruled the prison by threat of violence. The Muslims offered converts protection. With a shortage of guards this protection became invaluable.' Those who didn't convert, said Mr Conlon, lived in fear. He said it was impossible to 'speak out about the oppression without facing a genuine risk of being attacked.' In despair over his situation, Mr Song turned to the Christian Legal Centre, which sought a judicial review of his ban. In May this year, Mr Song agreed to stay the proceedings after an independent investigation was promised. Led by Sara Pennington, governor of Elmley prison, it said Mr Song should be reinstated, after training for dealing with a 'multi-faith community'. She said HMP Brixton's initial investigation was 'limited' and did not follow due process. Meanwhile the imam has been suspended over a matter unrelated to Mr Song's case and the prison is now advertising for a new head chaplain. The imam could not be reached for comment. Andrea William of the Christian Legal Centre, said: 'It is wonderful to see justice done.' A Prison Service spokesman said: 'There is absolutely no evidence to support claims relating to extremist behaviour at HMP Brixton.' Mr Song is now planning to restart his courses. 'This has been a very difficult time,' he said. 'Not for a moment did I think that something like this could happen in England.' Google has reportedly built a prototype of a search engine for China that will censor content and link users' searches to their phone numbers. The Intercept reports that the engine, codenmaed 'Dragonfly', would censor and remove content to meet China's tough communist censorship rules. On Friday, The Intercept revealed undisclosed details it obtained about the plan, which show Google's censorship blacklist including terms such as 'human rights', 'student protest' and 'Nobel Prize'. This comes a month after Google came under fire by 1,400 employees who signed a protest letter over the company's reported work on Dragonfly. Google has reportedly built a prototype of a Chinese search engine codenamed 'Dragonfly' that will link a users' searches to their phone number The Dragonfly search engine is said to be linked with a user's Android and their phone number - making it easy for the government to track. Sources say the search engine has been rigged to replace weather and air pollution data with information provided by a source in Beijing. 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 '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,'Wong added. Google has not confirmed Dragonfly, and has publicly declined to comment on reports about the project. However, the company previously said that it is just doing 'exploratory' work on a search service in China and that it is 'not close to launching a search product.' Google withdrew its search engine from China eight years ago due to censorship and hacking. In August, Google employees demanded more transparency so they can understand the moral implications of their work, The New York Times reported. A letter was signed by 1,400 employees and began circulating on the company's internal communications system, the newspaper said, quoting three people who are familiar with the document. The letter argues that the search engine project and Google's apparent willingness to accept China's censorship requirements 'raise urgent moral and ethical issues.' 'Currently we do not have the information required to make ethically-informed decisions about our work, our projects, and our employment,' they say in the letter, according to the Times. With the secret project, Google employees are reportedly worried that they might unknowingly be working on technology that could help China hide information from its people. 'We urgently need more transparency, a seat at the table, and a commitment to clear and open processes: Google employees need to know what we're building,' the protest letter says, according to the Times. Sadiq Khan was lashed by both Tory and Labour politicians today after he demanded Brexit is delayed to allow time for a new referendum on quitting Europe. The London Mayor was condemned as 'undemocratic' by Tory Brexiteers while a senior figure in his own party said a re-run would let Theresa May 'off the hook. Mr Khan's intervention sets up a bitter clash at next week's Labour conference as Jeremy Corbyn will have to resist a growing clamour to change policy and back a second referendum. More than 100 motions have been tabled by unions and party activists for next week's gathering in Liverpool in defiance of Mr Corbyn's current policy. Mr Khan insisted today that the Leave campaign promises had proven to be 'lies' and said he wanted a 'first ever' referendum on reality of quitting the EU. Brexit should be delayed from March 2019 to allow time for a new referendum on leaving the EU with the option of staying permanently, Sadiq Khan (pictured on the BBC today) said The London Mayor set up a sharp divide in his party just a week before the Labour conference as Jeremy Corbyn (pictured this week at PMQs) is still opposed to a new referendum He told the BBC's Andrew Marr his first preference was for an early general election and installing Mr Corbyn as Prime Minister. But acknowledging the Tory refusal to do so, he said: 'For the first time the British public should have a say on the outcome of the negotiation. 'It is really important it is not a re-run of the first referendum.' Mr Khan said contrary to Leave promises, voters were now being told they had to leave the EU single market while NHS wards go short staffed. Fox insists there must be no Brexit delay Liam Fox insisted today that there must be no delay to Brexit in March next year. The International Trade Secretary hit out at claims Britain will not be ready by March 29, 2019. It has emerged Chancellor Philip Hammond floated the prospect of a postponement at the no deal Cabinet on Thursday. But asked if there was any reason for delay, Dr Fox told Sky News's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: Id say no. 'As Ive said before, extending Article 50 until weve got an agreement is effectively allowing the European Union to dictate when Britain will leave the European Union itself. 'The public have given us an instruction in the referendum, there has to be a time set for our exit, thats the 29th March next year and we should honour that.' Advertisement He insisted the Government could 'easily' ask Brussels to 'suspend' the current Brexit process to allow time for a new referendum once an exit deal was finalised. And he told Marr: 'I would like to see one of the options being the option to stay in the European Union.' Brexiteer Tory Theresa Villiers reacted with fury to Mr Khan, insisting voters just wanted the Government to 'get on with it'. She told the BBC: 'It is so undemocratic to ask people to vote again just because there is an elite establishment that does not like the answer they were given the first time. 'We have to listen to the result of the referendum and implement it.' Tory chairman Brandon Lewis said: 'Labour need to rule out trying to delay Brexit. Across the country, Labour politicians are calling for a referendum rerun that would take us all back to square one. 'Today they have gone further and admitted that they want to keep the UK in the EU beyond March 2019 - almost 3 years after the country voted to leave.' The London Mayor (pictured on Marr today) said the Leave campaign promises had proven to be 'lies' and said he wanted a 'first ever' referendum on reality of quitting the EU Mr Corbyn will come under acute pressure to bring Labour's policy into line with a second referendum at next week's conference where more than 100 anti-Brexit motions have been tabled for debate. Shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said today current policy was right. He told Sky News's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: 'We've said we haven't ruled anything off the table but actually to have a second referendum would be to throw this Government a lifeline.' The TUC has now endorsed the idea of a second referendum and is expected to bring a motion to the conference floor in Liverpool. Other major unions, including the GMB have done the same. Labour policy has so far been based on six tests for the Brext deal, one of which insists the party will only support an outcome with the 'exact same benefits' as current membership. Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said on Friday that the state of the negotiations made it inconceivable Theresa May would secure a deal Labour could ever support. Theresa May (pictured today in Maidenhead) has repeatedly ruled out holding a second referendum following the vote two years ago to leave the EU Writing in the Observer ahead of his Marr interview, Mr Khan blamed the government's handling of the negotiations and said the threat to living standards, the economy and jobs was too great for voters not to have a say. He suggested if a so-called People's Vote were to be held, an option to remain a member of the EU should be included on the ballot paper. 'This means a public vote on any Brexit deal obtained by the government, or a vote on a 'no-deal' Brexit if one is not secured, alongside the option of staying in the EU,' he wrote in the article. 'People didn't vote to leave the EU to make themselves poorer, to watch their businesses suffer, to have NHS wards understaffed, to see the police preparing for civil unrest or for our national security to be put at risk if our cooperation with the EU in the fight against terrorism is weakened.' Theresa May has repeatedly ruled out holding a second referendum following the vote two years ago to leave the EU. She says members of parliament will get to vote on whether to accept any final deal. The Brixton prison imam who Paul Song believes was instrumental in forcing him out of the jail once launched a bizarre attack on Barbie dolls. Mohammed Yusuf Ahmed said in 2011: 'Barbie dolls belong to the top shelf. What is the point of a four-year-old girl having a doll that is dressed going to a nightclub? What is the point of a doll that has voluptuous assets? It's a sign of the Day of Judgment.' Mohammed Yusuf Ahmed, the Brixton prison imam who Paul Song believes was instrumental in forcing him out of the jail For eight years, he was a part-time chaplain at Woodhill high-security prison in Milton Keynes, while also general secretary of the Islamic Party of Britain. The party allegedly advocated the death penalty for public displays of homosexuality and wanted to transform Britain into an Islamic state. In 2014, it was reported that Ahmed, who also uses the name Shaykh Yusuf Az-Zahaby belonged to the Islamist organisation Al-Hikma Media where some preachers have advocated killing women who engage in premarital sex. Jamas nos callaran Fisica y culturalmente Nec plus ultra, nec variatur Precio del Brent To get the BRENT oil price, please enable Javascript. 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Por culpa de Chavez Cerveza Polar Algun dia Colombia volvera a la ideologia de Bolivar Translate LOS REVOLUCIONARIOS NO TOMAN CACA-COLA No se trata solamente de un capricho, sino de una sana actitud en todos los sentidos. Desde la solidaridad con el pueblo colombiano donde la empresa Caca-Cola ha cometido los mas grandes abusos contra sus trabajadores incluyendo el presunto secuestro y asesinato de los dirigentes del sindicato, hasta la proteccion de la salud de nuestros hijos, enviciados por ese jarabe de cola y azucar, que les produce obesidad prematura. Pensemos tambien los revolucionarios, que ese dinero que gastamos en los refrescos es utilizado por esas empresas para financiar el terrorismo en nuestro pais. Es cierto, no se trata solo de la Caca-Cola, sino tambien de la cerveza, de los cigarrillos y todos esos articulos innecesarios y mas que eso, daninos para nuestra salud. Podriamos incluso pensar en un dia de parada para cada uno de ellos. Es cuestion de irnos organizando. Pero para empezar, que tal si dejamos de comprar Caca-Cola y sus similares? Cuando lo extraordinario se vuelve cotidiano... Discurso del Acto de Grado en Barinas en 12 de Febrero del 2005 Queridos Graduandos: Mas que un discurso, quiero dirigirles algunas palabras que escribi anoche, despues de visitar en las clinicas, a los estudiantes heridos, a consecuencia de los enfrentamientos con la policia de hace apenas dos dias. Me ha tocado por razones del destino, ser la persona que les otorgue el titulo que bien merecieron con sus estudios. Y me siento sumamente orgulloso de serlo. Me consta que la Universidad de Los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora, a pesar de lo dicho por los enemigos de esta universidad, es una universidad de primera. No tendremos la mejor planta fisica, en los salones hace calor. En el comedor hace calor. Pero no es en lo material que las cosas deben valorarse. El mayor capital es el ser humano. Y en eso, nuestra UNELLEZ, lo digo con conocimiento de causa, esta sobrada. Los llaneros venezolanos son nobles, valientes, de coraje. En la UNELLEZ hacen vida, en este momento, aproximadamente 67000 personas. El 97% de ellas son estudiantes. Jovenes que, como Ustedes hasta el dia de hoy, buscan ese titulo, que constata los anos de dedicacion y de estudio. Los jovenes son el rio de la vida, ustedes graduados deben ser los capitanes de esos barcos que naveguen por el rio de la vida. Nuestra Patria atraviesa momentos muy dificiles porque decidio dejar de ser esa matrona de edad vetusta y complaciente, para ser joven, rebelde y altanera. Nuestra imagen ya no es la de una acaudalada ricachona mayamera. En nuestro rostro brilla ahora la sonrisa del Che Guevara, con su diente delantero torcido, su pelo largo y su boina con la estrella. Entender esto, a mi me ha tomado practicamente toda la vida. Tengo 53 anos, y ya perdi mi oportunidad de derramar sangre joven a causa de un ideal. Ustedes son jovenes, estan en la flor de la vida. No cometan por favor el error de renunciar a su instinto de rebelion. El Che Guevara fue Ministro de a Economia en Cuba. Los billetes y las monedas se adornaban con su rostro. Nada de eso le importo. Primero fue a Angola donde paso un penoso ano de combate. Despues se fue a Bolivia, donde encontro la muerte. El Che era el ultimo que comia, el que cargaba la mochila mas pesada. Siempre se sacrificaba por los demas en un estoicismo que mas parecia fervor religioso que ideologia marxista. Si quieren un modelo de vida. Ahi lo tienen. Dije hace unos momentos que el 97% de la poblacion de la UNELLEZ es estudiante. Se imaginan Ustedes la Universidad que podriamos tener si todos los estudiantes tuvieran la abnegacion, la combatividad del Che? Los momentos que se avecinan van a requerir de una gran unidad del pueblo venezolano. La alternativa de continuar siendo libres o regresar a la pobreza se nos planteara en los proximos dias de forma enmascarada, o quizas peor, desenmascarada, vestida con uniforme de soldado del Imperio. Por nuestra parte podemos esperar lo mejor. La macroeconomia no podria ir mejor, la justicia social ha mejorado notablemente. Las misiones ocupan un papel muy importante en el pago de dicha justicia social. Aqui en Barinas ya hemos cumplido con dos de las misiones, la mision Robinson y la mision Sucre. No hay analfabetismo y no hay exclusion en la educacion superior, en estas tierras de Zamora. Pero ay malhaya! Son precisamente estos exitos los que nos hacen mas antipaticos al Imperio. Para ellos, somos inclusive un mal ejemplo que se esta contagiando al resto del continente y cuidado sino al resto del mundo. Nunca venceremos al Imperio. Estara siempre ahi, acechando. Por lo menos hasta que el mismo no se autodestruya. Porque, sepanlo senores, el neoliberalismo es canibal. Cuando le ataque el hambre, se devorara a si mismo. Ustedes, queridos graduandos, a partir de hoy pasan a conformar la elite profesional que debe sostener este pais en los proximos cuarenta o cincuenta anos. Anos decisivos para el logro de nuestra libertad y del rescate de nuestra Soberania. No se dejen comprar. No se dejen corromper. No se dejen gritar. No se dejen pisar. Que nadie les diga que comer, o que vestirse, o que leer. Sean siempre autenticos, rebeldes, contestatarios. Pero eso si, profundamente patriotas, dignos de ser hijos de Bolivar. Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga. Alguna duda? Medio siglo de Holocausto Palestino Oscar Zanartu Nacio en Caracas en 1960. Ha realizado exposiciones individuales en las galerias Minotauro, Clave y San Francisco, y en salas de Coro, estado Falcon, y Puerto Ordaz, estado Bolivar. En Paris su obra ha sido exhibida en el Centro Cultural Tanagra, en la Exposicion Cite Internationale des Arts, en las galerias De Mars y Arver Space, al igual que en la Galeria Municipal Levallois, en Levallois Perret (Francia). En muestras colectivas, su obra se ha expuesto en Belgica, Francia, Estados Unidos y Venezuela; en Caracas intervino en la exposicion "Del genesis a la memoria", 1995, organizada por la Fundacion La Previsora. En 1982 obtuvo el Premio Nacional Critven y en 1990 la Mencion de Honor Jose Antonio Paez, en la Embajada de Venezuela en Paris. En 1991 se le concedio el primer premio de Pintura Itinerante, en Levallois Perret, Francia. OZ1 OZ2 OZ3 OZ4 Homenaje a Jason Galarraga La Victoria de Samotracia Odalisca Mas fotos de la nevada del pasado agosto 2008 La Sierra Nevada de Merida Nuestro precioso Churum Meru Homenaje a Picasso Autoretrato Sabes lo que bebes en una Coca-Cola? La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar. Mi profesion? Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos. Sal en la Coca Cola? A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar. De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla: Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gusto Acido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido) azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa) Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantas Mucha Cafeina Conservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o Potasio Dioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebe Sal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracion El uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja. Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos. Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja. En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero). Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma. La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate. Bebidas Light? Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal. Publicado por loretahur En realidad, la formula secreta de la Coca-Cola se puede detallar en 18 segundos en cualquier espectrometro optico, y basicamente la conocen hasta los perros. Lo que ocurre es que no se puede fabricar igual, a no ser que uno disponga de unos cuantos millones de dolares para ganarle la demanda que te metera la Coca-Cola ante la justicia (ellos no perderian).La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gustoAcido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantasMucha CafeinaConservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o PotasioDioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebeSal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracionEl uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el aspartamo , despues de tres semanas mojado, pasa a tener gusto de trapo viejo sucio.Para evitar eso, se agregan una infinidad de otros productos quimicos, uno para alargar la vida del aspartamo, otro para neutralizar el color, otro para mantener el tercer quimico en suspension porque sino el fondo de la gaseosa quedaria oscuro, otro para evitar la cristalizacion del aspartamo, otro para realzar el sabor, dar mas intensidad al acido citrico o fosforito que perderia su sabor por el efecto de los cuatro productos quimicos iniciales... y asi sucesivamente.Un consejo final !!Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.Publicado por loretahur MARGARINA o MANTEQUILLA La margarina fue producida originalmente para engordar a los pavos; cuandolo que hizo en realidad fue matarlos.Las personas que habian puesto el dinero para la investigacion quisieronrecobrarlo asi que empezaron a pensar en una forma de hacerlo.Tenian una sustancia blanca, que no tenia ningun atractivo como comestible,asi que le anadieron el color amarillo, para venderselo a lagente en lugar de la mantequilla.Que tal esa?... Ahora han sacado algunos nuevos sabores para vender mas alos incautos como usted y yo.CONOCE USTED la diferencia entre la margarina y la mantequilla?Siga leyendo hasta el final... porque se pone bastante interesante!Comparacion entre mantequilla y margarina: 1.- Ambas tienen la misma cantidad de calorias. 2.- La mantequilla es ligeramente mas alta en grasas saturadas: 8 gramos,comparada con los 5 gramos que tiene la margarina. 3.- Comer margarina en vez de mantequilla puede aumentar en 53% el riesgo deenfermedades coronarias en las mujeres, de acuerdo con un estudiomedico reciente de la Universidad de Harvard. 4.- Comer mantequilla aumenta la absorcion de gran cantidad de nutrientesque se encuentran en otros alimentos. 5.- La mantequilla provee beneficios nutricionales propios mientras lamargarina tiene solo los que le hayan sido anadidos al fabricarla. 6.- La mantequilla sabe mucho mejor que la margarina y mejora el sabor deotros alimentos.7.- La mantequilla ha existido durante siglos mientras que la margarinatiene menos de 100 anos. Ahora... sobre la margarina: 1.- Es muy alta en acidos grasos trans. (Si, esos que recien ahora loscientificos descubrieron que son malisimos y los gobiernoscomenzaron a prohibirlos) . 2.- Triple riesgo de enfermedades coronarias. 3.- Aumenta el colesterol total y el LDL (el colesterol malo) y disminuye elHDL (el colesterol bueno). 4.- Aumenta en cinco veces el riesgo de cancer. 5.- Disminuye la calidad de la leche materna. 6.- Disminuye la reaccion inmunologica del organismo. 7.- Disminuye la reaccion a la insulina. Y he aqui el factor mas inquietante (AQUI ESTA LA PARTE MAS INTERESANTE! ):A la margarina le falta UNA MOLECULA para ser PLASTICO...!!Solo este hecho es suficiente para evitar el uso de la margarina de porvida, y de cualquier otra cosa que sea hidrogenada (esto significaque se le anade hidrogeno, lo cual cambia la estructura molecular de lassubstancias).Usted puede ensayar lo siguiente:Compre un poco de margarina y dejela en el garaje o en un sitio sombreado.Dentro de unos dias notara dos cosas: * No habra moscas; ni siquiera esos molestos bichos se le acercaran (esto yale debe decir a usted algo). * No se pudre ni huele mal o diferente porque no tiene valor nutritivo; nadacrece en ella. Ni siquiera los diminutos microorganismos puedencrecer en ella.Por que? Porque es casi plastico!! No a la guerra, Si a la Paz Misterios de la ciencia... Los costos de la guerra medicos y capitalismo... Capitalismo... medicos (2) Quien educa a nuestros hijos? Los Medios... Sin Palabras... Chistes feministas - Cual es el problema, Eva? - Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas. - Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas... - Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti. - Que es un hombre? - Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente. - Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente. - Cual es el truco?. - Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion. - Cual? - Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer. Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Un dia, en el Paraiso, Eva llamo a Dios: Tengo un problema.- Cual es el problema, Eva?- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.- Que es un hombre?- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.- Cual es el truco?.- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.- Cual?- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Ellas... Ellas (2)... Tres venganzas femeninas VENGANZA NUMERO 1 Hoy mi hija cumple 21 anos y estoy muy contento porque es el ultimo pago de pension alimenticia que le doy, asi que llame a mi hijita para que viniera a mi casa y cuando llego le dije: -Hijita, quiero que lleves este cheque a casa de tu mama y que le digas que: Este es el ultimo maldito cheque que va recibir de mi en todo lo que le queda de su puta vida!!! Quiero que me digas la expresion que pone en su rostro. Asi que mi hija fue a entregar el cheque. Yo estaba ansioso por saber lo que la bruja tenia que decir y que cara pondria. Cuando mi hijita entro, le pregunte inmediatamente: -Que fue lo que te dijo tu madre? -Me dijo que justamente estaba esperando este dia para decirte que no eres mi papa! VENGANZA NUMERO 2 Un hombre que siempre molestaba a su mujer, paso un dia por la casa de unos amigos para que lo acompanaran al aeropuerto a dejar a su esposa que viajaba a Paris. A la salida de inmigracion, frente a todo el mundo, el le desea buen viaje y en tono burlon le grita: - Amor, no te olvides de traerme una hermosa francesita Ja ja ja!! Ella bajo la cabeza y se embarco muy molesta. La mujer paso quince dias en Francia. El marido otra vez pidio a sus amigos que lo acompanasen al aeropuerto a recibirla. Al verla llegar, lo primero que le grita a toda voz es: - Y amor me trajiste mi francesita?? - Hice todo lo posible, - contesta ella - ahora solo tenemos que rezar para que nazca nina. VENGANZA NUMERO 3 El marido, en su lecho de muerte, llama a su mujer. Con voz ronca y ya debil, le dice: - Muy bien, llego mi hora, pero antes quiero hacerte una confesion. - No, no, tranquilo, tu no debes hacer ningun esfuerzo. - Pero, mujer, es preciso - insiste el marido - Es preciso morir en paz. Te quiero confesar algo. - Esta bien, esta bien. Habla! - He tenido relaciones con tu hermana, tu mama y tu mejor amiga. - Lo se, lo se Por eso te envenene, hijo de puta!!! machismo y cibernetica Chiste machista La NASA ha enviado al espacio una mision experimental tripulada por dos monos y una mujer.Apenas abandona la atmosfera, se establece comunicacion con Houston. -Atencion, simio 1, verifique sistemas hidraulicos, controle adecuada presion de los propulsores de arranque. A 60.000 pies disminuya un 25% la velocidad. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, simio 2, nivele al cruzar la estratosfera y active sistemas anticongelantes. No olvide monitorear sistemas de comunicacion e indicadores de presion. Comprendido?. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, Houston llamando a mujer: no se olvide. -Mujer: Si, si, ya se! -interrumpe enojada- que no me olvide darles de comer a estos monos de mierda y que no se me vaya a ocurrir tocar nada!. .Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti. Un abogado mantiene un romance con su secretaria.Al poco tiempo, esta queda embarazada y el abogado, que no quiere que su esposa se entere, le da a la secretaria una buena suma de dinero y le pide que se vaya a parir a Italia.Esta pregunta: Y como voy a hacerte saber cuando nazca el bebe ? El abogado responde: Para que mi mujer no se entere, tan solo enviame una postal y escribe por detras: Spaghetti. Y no te preocupes mas, que yo me encargare de todos los gastos. Pasan los meses y una manana la esposa del abogado lo llama al bufete, algo exaltada: Querido, acabo de recibir el correo y hay una postal muy extrana viene desde Italia. La verdad, no entiendo que significa.El abogado, tratando de ocultar sus nervios, contesta:Espera a que llegue a casa, a ver si yo entiendoCuando el hombre llega a casa y lee la postal, cae al suelo fulminado por un infarto.Llega una ambulancia y se lo lleva. Ya en el hospital, el jefe de cardiologia se queda consolando a la esposa y le pregunta cual ha sido el evento que precipito tan masivo ataque cardiaco. Entonces la esposa saca la postal y se la muestra diciendole: No me explico, doctor; el solamente leyo esta postal. Vea usted mismo lo que trae escrito.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti."Tres con salchicha y albondigas y dos con almejas Gol !!!! Chistes de Borrachos Entra un borracho a su casa todo manchado con lapiz labial por todos lados hecho un desastre, y la mujer le pregunta:-Hombre que te paso?Y el borracho le responde:-No me vas a creer, me pelee con un payaso! Este es un borracho que entra en un bar y le dice al camarero:-Me da cinco copas de whisky?Al rato:-Me da cuatro?Al rato:-Me da tres copas?Despues:-Me da dos copas?Luego le dice:-Me da una copa?Y le dice al camarero:-Ves? Cuanto menos bebo, mas borracho estoy! Sarah Moulds, 37, from Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, (pictured left) is being investigated by the RSPCA after the shocking video sparked outrage online and was viewed more than 2million times. The video of her allegedly attacking a horse was shared by Hertfordshire Hunt Saboteurs, an anti-hunting campaign group, and has been condemned by the UK's national body for hunting. Moulds, a mother of two, is a teacher at Somerby Primary School and a director of the Knossington & Somerby Pre-School, Leicestershire. Social media listings show that she is a team leader of the Cottesmore branch of the Pony Club in Leicestershire. In the footage, a white horse trots away from the back of a horse trailer before it is stopped by a young rider. A woman dressed in cream breeches and a navy jacket then grabs the reins of the horse before she kicks its torso and slaps it repeatedly in the face as it tries to pull away. The Hertfordshire Hunt Saboteurs, who say they use 'non-violent direct action to save wildlife', shared the video on its Twitter page and tagged the RSPCA. The group said on Sunday that the incident took place on Saturday afternoon after a Cottesmore Hunt, one of the oldest hunts in Britain, and the incident demonstrated 'violence running through their veins'. Cottesmore Hunt said it did not condone the actions shown in the video 'under any circumstances'. The RSPCA, who said the footage was 'really upsetting', has also confirmed it is launching an investigation into the incident after the video sparked outrage online. An African nation whose president has caused outrage by claiming women who use birth control are lazy is being given 45 million in British foreign aid to promote family planning. John Magufuli shocked a public rally in Tanzania last week by telling followers not to listen to advice from foreigners on contraception because it had sinister motives. He made his bizarre comments despite the fact that the Department for International Development (DFID) is pouring millions into two separate initiatives promoting birth control in Tanzania. Penny Mordaunt (third left) visited a family planning clinic in Tanzania last month At the rally in Meatu on Wednesday, Mr Magufuli said: Those going for family planning are lazy. They are afraid they will not be able to feed their children. They do not want to work hard to feed a large family and that is why they opt for birth controls and end up with one or two children only. Father-of-two Magufuli, who was elected in 2015, said it was important to reproduce. He added: I have travelled to Europe and elsewhere and have seen the harmful effects of birth control. Magufuli (pictured), who was elected in 2015, said it was important to reproduce Some countries are now facing declining population growth. They are short on manpower. You have cattle. You are big farmers. You can feed your children. Why then resort to birth control? I see no reason to control births in Tanzania. Mr Magufulis outburst will fuel fresh criticism of Britains bloated foreign aid budget, which receives 0.7 per cent of the UKs Gross National Income currently about 14 billion. Peter Bone, Tory MP for Wellingborough, said: It is hard to believe his comments in this day and age, but if that is his view, what are we doing wasting money on birth control in Tanzania? DFID currently sets aside 153 million a year for projects in Tanzania. It launched a scheme called Scaling Up Family Planning last year, which has a total budget of 23.5 million. And in 2014, a separate initiative, the Family Planning Outreach Programme, was set up with a total budget of 22 million. International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt even visited a family planning unit during a trip to the country last month. A DFID spokesman said: As Tanzania grows, it is essential that young people and women are empowered to take control of their lives, education and health. The UKs approach to family planning is aligned with Tanzanias national policy and we remain in regular contact with the government. Magufuli shocked a public rally in Tanzania last week by telling followers not to listen to advice from foreigners on contraception The Government has been accused of a cover-up over whether foreign aid money is funding Palestinian terrorism. DFID has always denied that taxpayers cash going to the Palestine Authority is being used to support terrorists or their families. But officials have now refused to release details of spending there between 2010 and 2015, saying it could prejudice Britains relations in the region. International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt travelled to Tanzania last month. The DFID said the UKs approach to family planning is aligned with Tanzanias national policy Jonathan Turner, of UK Lawyers For Israel, said: This is the latest in a long line of concealment, evasion and falsity from DFID. The department is set to support the Palestine Authority with 125.5 million of funding between 2017 and 2021. A Mail on Sunday investigation in 2016 revealed that thousands of Palestinian terrorists were getting cash handouts from British aid money. A DFID spokesman said last night: No UK aid is used for payments to Palestinian prisoners or their families. DFID consistently reviews and strengthens its safeguards to ensure that our financial assistance to the PA does not get into the hands of terrorists. Theresa May has broken her silence on the speculation swirling around Boris Johnsons political ambitions by slapping down the former Foreign Secretary for his blistering attack on her Chequers agreement. The Prime Minister uses a BBC interview to condemn Mr Johnson for his remarks in last weeks Mail on Sunday, when he likened her Brexit plan to a suicide vest around the British constitution. Mrs May implies that Mr Johnsons comments, which triggered a political storm, showed he was unfit for the highest office. I have to say that that choice of language is completely inappropriate, she says. Theresa May has broken her silence on the speculation swirling around Boris Johnsons political ambitions during an episode of Panorama (pictured) Mrs May made her comments in a BBC Panorama film with Nick Robinson that is due to broadcast on Monday night I was Home Secretary for six years and as Prime Minister for two years now, I think using language like that was not right and its not language I would have used. She also expresses her frustration at the plotting against her on the Tory backbenches. Asked if she would reassure her party that she is not determined to go on and on as leader, she replies: I get a little bit irritated but this debate is not about my future. This debate is about the future of the people of the UK and the future of the United Kingdom. In the interview, to be broadcast tomorrow night, Mrs May is asked by former BBC political editor Nick Robinson whether she is still the bloody difficult woman referred to by former Tory Chancellor Ken Clarke. Mrs May (pictured behind the scenes in Downing Street during the film) implies that Mr Johnsons comments, which triggered a political storm, showed he was unfit for the highest office. The Prime Minister uses a BBC interview to condemn Mr Johnson for his remarks in last weeks Mail on Sunday, when he likened her Brexit plan to a suicide vest around the British constitution (pictured campaigning for Vote Leave in 2016) She replies that the bloody difficult woman is still there, but theres a difference between those who think you can only be bloody difficult in public, and those who think actually you bide your time, and youre bloody difficult when the time is right and when it really matters. Mrs Mays remarks come after a week in which Tory MP members of the Brexiteer European Research Group openly discussed removing Mrs May in order to kill off her Chequers plan, which would leave the UK tied to many Brussels rules indefinitely. The uncertainty over Mrs Mays future as she nears the crunch point of the Brexit negotiations has led to intensive jostling behind the scenes as the main contenders wargame possible outcomes. In her BBC interview Theresa May admits that she is still a 'bloody difficult woman' but 'when the time is right - and when it matters' Mrs Mays remarks come after a week in which Tory MP members of the Brexiteer European Research Group openly discussed removing Mrs May in order to kill off her Chequers plan The uncertainty over Mrs Mays future as she nears the crunch point of the Brexit negotiations has led to intensive jostling behind the scenes as the main contenders wargame possible outcomes One Tory source compared the potential leadership line-up to the Grand National. Everyone and his grandmother is planning to run, the source said. Allies of Mr Johnson who claimed last night that his critique of Mrs Mays plan was not about changing Prime Minister, its about chucking Chequers are already sizing up potential running mates, with fast-rising star Penny Mordaunt at the top of their wishlist. The International Development Secretary and Equalities Minister, who has been tipped to run for the leadership in her own right, is a pro-Brexit Navy reservist who came to public prominence in the ITV diving show Splash!, in which she painfully belly-flopped in front of millions of viewers. Mrs May implies that Mr Johnsons comments, which triggered a political storm, showed he was unfit for the highest office Shortly afterwards, she attracted further attention by delivering a speech in the Commons on the welfare of poultry, which she admitted had been made with the sole purpose of uttering the word cock in order to win a dare. Mr Johnsons recent marriage split, amid speculation about his relationship with Tory aide Carrie Symonds, has convinced some allies that a joint ticket with a popular female politician is the best way to neutralise the political damage. Another running mate being considered by the Johnson camp is former Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who has already worked closely with Lynton Crosby the Australian election strategist who is professionally and personally close to Mr Johnson over the battle to hang on to her ultra-marginal Hastings constituency. At the same time, friends of Mr Johnsons main rival for the leadership, Home Secretary Sajid Javid, are understood to have made overtures to Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss about standing on a joint ticket with him if Mrs May is forced to resign. Ms Truss, who is also expected to put her name forward in any contest, has recently undergone a wardrobe makeover ahead of her expected tilt at the leadership, ditching dowdy items in favour of more alluring outfits. Mr Johnson is expected to upstage Mrs May at the Tory Party Conference next month when he speaks at a chuck Chequers rally the day before her keynote speech. Mr Johnsons recent marriage split, amid speculation about his relationship with Tory aide Carrie Symonds (pictured), has convinced some allies that a joint ticket with a popular female politician is the best way to neutralise the political damage But some allies say they fear that No 10 will try to use dirty tricks to take the shine off of his appearance such as releasing the Tory Partys investigation into his mocking comments in a newspaper article about burkas on the same day as the rally, in order to neutralise his triumph. Mrs May hopes to make major progress on Brexit at a key summit this week when the leaders of all 28 EU countries meet in the Austrian city of Salzburg to discuss how they could reach a deal. Downing Street hopes that the summit will signal that EU negotiators are preparing to dilute their demands for further concessions on Chequers in order to protect Mrs May from a putsch. However, sources close to the negotiating teams warned that the most Theresa May could expect were positive words and a failure to kill off Chequers altogether. It comes amid continuing tensions behind the scenes over Northern Ireland. The EU is still insisting on a backstop to the agreement if no deal can be reached, which would leave Northern Ireland effectively tied to the Irish Republic in a customs union post-Brexit, with a border with the UK running down the middle of the Irish Sea. The Mail on Sunday understands that the Foreign Office has complained to the European Commission that the British negotiating team in Brussels were recently forced to wear security badges which for the first time referred to Great Britain rather than the United Kingdom. The former term excludes Northern Ireland. A source present said: Theres a clear campaign from some in the Commission to undermine Northern Irelands status within the UK. Careless insults like this are just the start of it. We have to keep our United Kingdom together through Brexit, whatever the EU and one or two of their useful Brexiteer idiots might think. The source added that the Government had sought assurances that the United Kingdom would be restored as the standard. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has cancelled a trip to Brussels for Brexit talks after negotiations stalled over the EUs proposals for a backstop solution to the Irish border question, saying substantive differences remained. l BBC Panorama: Inside No 10: Deal or No Deal? will be screened tomorrow at 8.30pm on BBC1. Liz Hurleys beloved pet labrador nearly died after being run over by an Amazon van delivery driver, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The actress was devastated after two-year-old Hector suffered a collapsed lung and a broken leg in the accident on a private road on her Herefordshire estate, Donnington Hall. Amazon initially refused to take responsibility, but has now agreed to pay the 2,000 vet bill, nine months after the accident. The van belonged to a company which had been contracted to deliver parcels on behalf of Amazon. Liz Hurley's pet labrador nearly died after being run over by an Amazon van delivery driver, The Mail on Sunday can reveal Last night the stars sister Katie Hurley who was on the estate when Hector was run over last December told the MoS: Elizabeth was absolutely devastated. 'She had organised for the walker to take him out with two of our other dogs, and then the next I heard was Hector howling. 'He had staggered back to the house. He collapsed and was bleeding in my arms. We thought we were going to lose him, it was just hideous. 'The vet came and thankfully saved his life, which is miraculous. We nearly lost him because of this mans appalling driving. Two-year-old Hector (above) suffered a collapsed lung and a broken leg in the accident on a private road on her Herefordshire estate, Donnington Hall. Amazon has now agreed to pay the 2,000 vet bill, nine months after the accident The van was driving too fast. Because it happened on the estate a speed limit cant be enforced so we ask people to use their common sense, but he didnt. Ironically, earlier this month Amazon launched a competition to find the Face of Amazon Pets. Amazon clearly thought wed give up and go away, said Katie. All we ever sought were the vets bills. But they kept trying to deny it was their fault and tried to blame it on the driver not being an employee of theirs. 'So last week I was forced to threaten legal action and they then agreed, pretty quickly, to pay the bill. Last night, Miss Hurley said: [Amazon] have finally settled the bill and it has taken them nine months to do so. Thats all I can say about it. Amazon said the van involved was contracted but insisted the matter would be resolved to the satisfaction of the customer. In March, Miss Hurley was left distraught after Katies son Miles, 21, was stabbed in London. Sir Vince Cable opened the Liberal Democrat conference yesterday to accusations that he leads a 'pro-pimp' party. Feminist campaigners picketed the event in Brighton in protest at Lib Dem policies on prostitution and sex trafficking and to oppose the party's aim of 'decriminalising' the sex trade. Protesters held banners saying 'Lib Dems for pornographers' and 'Stigma does not kill prostitutes, men do'. Sir Vince Cable opened the Liberal Democrat conference yesterday to accusations that he leads a 'pro-pimp' party Dr Sasha Rakoff of the campaign group Not Buying It said: 'We are very concerned by the Lib Dem policies which are pro-pimp, pro-trafficking. 'They even think sex trafficking can be consensual. They are pro-prostitution. They see pimps as businessmen.' In response, the party said: 'Liberal Democrats will decriminalise the sale and purchase of sex and the management of sex work.' They said this approach would defend sex workers and allow police to focus time and resources 'on those groomed, forced or trafficked into the sex industry'. The conference opened with Sir Vince also facing tough questions over proposals to allow non-MPs to stand as party leader, revealed by the MoS last month. Party sources have made clear that Sir Vince, 75, intends to stand down before the next General Election with speculation he will quit next year. There are currently just 12 Lib Dem MPs. It is the sensational memoir of a real-life James Bond an SAS soldier revealing how he single-handedly foiled a plot to assassinate President Mikhail Gorbachev in the dying days of the Cold War. But the newly published book Pilgrim Spy by 'Tom Shore' a nom de plume has been dismissed as 'utter rubbish' by an officer who commanded the Special Air Service regiment. Some readers have already noted a resemblance between the 'true story' of the events in East Berlin in 1989 and the plot of an entirely fictional thriller, Quiller KGB, by author Adam Hall. A new book has described an SAS soldiers account of single-handedly foiling a plot to assassinate President Mikhail Gorbachev (pictured with Margaret Thatcher in 1989) 'utter rubbish' In addition, sizeable passages of Pilgrim Spy are lifted from Wikipedia including a description of the terror group behind the assassination plot, the Red Army Faction. The former SAS chief told The Mail on Sunday: 'The referred [Pilgrim Spy] is utter rubbish, but I suspect it will make the publishers much money.' The former SAS chief also attacked Shore's decision to dedicate the book to one of the elite regiment's most respected figures, the late Brigadier Andy Massey who is credited with developing the SAS's anti-terrorist role. Shore refused to reveal his real identity but said he is 66 years old. He said he was handpicked by SAS and MI6 chiefs for secret missions in Eastern Europe from 1985 to 1989. Publisher Hodder and Stoughton backed its author and said it checked he had served in the SAS. The publishers described his use of Wikipedia as 'sloppy but not criminal'. The author and publishers claimed not to have heard of the book Quiller KGB. The Ministry of Defence refused to comment. Philip Hammond is battling with civil servants to hold the Autumn Budget as early as possible because he fears that Brexiteers could use it as an opportunity to bring down the Government in protest at Theresa Mays Chequers plan. Senior Government sources say that the Chancellor wants to hold the Budget in early October, to allow the resulting legislation to clear the Commons before a crunch Brussels summit on Brexit at the end of that month. But officials are trying to force him into a late November slot when debate will be raging in the party over the nature of the deal Mrs May has signed up to. Philip Hammond is battling with civil servants to hold the Autumn Budget as early as possible because he fears that Brexiteers could use it as an opportunity to bring down the Government in protest at Theresa Mays Chequers plan Chief Whip Julian Smith hopes to delay the crucial Commons vote on the deal until close to Brexit Day in March, in the hope that Leave Tory MPs will cave in and support the Government rather than risk a no deal exit. If MPs did decide to vote down the Budget in protest, it could give Ministers time to scramble a new deal together. A source said last night: Philip wants to get it done as soon as possible. November is going to be bloody, and the last thing he wants is to become a proxy for the Chequers rows. Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry confirmed that Labour was likely to team up with Brexiteer Conservative MPs to vote against any deal Mrs May secures, ensuring a knife-edge Commons division. Historically, a defeat on a Finance Bill has been treated as an effective vote of no confidence because it prevents the Government from conducting its business. Senior Government sources say that the Chancellor wants to hold the Budget in early October, to allow the resulting legislation to clear the Commons before a crunch Brussels summit on Brexit at the end of that month It was claimed yesterday that Mr Hammond had angered the Prime Minister by arguing that Britain might have to delay Brexit beyond its March 29, 2019 deadline in order to give the country time to prepare for no deal. May is understood to have told her Chancellor that it was not going to happen, because it would cause uproar among Brexiteers fearing that it is a ploy. The Treasury says that Mr Hammond was only talking about a brief administrative pause'. Ninety-one anxious seniors, some hyperventilating and clinging to their pets, were evacuated from an aging apartment building for low-income people over 62 Saturday afternoon in Hurricane Florence-battered Wilmington, N.C. Two dozen firefighters were dispatched to the old Cape Fear Hotel and Apartments in a blinding rain storm, the aftermath of the hurricane that made landfall near Wilmington Friday morning, when residents called 911 to report water from the roof rained on nearly every floor and started flooding the lobby. With no electricity for the second straight day due to thousands of uprooted trees and fallen power lines, and with fresh memories of 8 elderly residents who died in a nursing home when Hurricane Irma hit Florida a year ago, authorities decided to evacuate the residents to a nearby middle school. Jon Bridges (C) and Ben Husser (C), both members of the Cajun Navy, load nursing home patients into the back of a truck as they assist emergency workers with the evacuation of a nursing home due to rising flood waters in Lumberton Two dozen firefighters were dispatched to the old Cape Fear Hotel and Apartments in a blinding rain storm, the aftermath of the hurricane that made landfall near Wilmington Friday morning Fire Rescue and EMS's were on scene assisting in the evacuation. Here an EMT is seen rescuing some pets left behind in some of the rooms 'We've been in a precarious situation for two days,' said resident Bob Carmichael, 70. 'It's been raining in just about every rooms and we've been sleeping in the old ballroom. But without the elevator and air conditioning, people started feeling ill. So we called 911.' Three school buses took the residents to the shelter, although they will become homeless after the rains. Firefighters fear the roof, heavy with rain that's expected to fall through the weekend, is about to collapse. Nearly half of the evacuees had to be assisted down a treacherous staircase in the nine-floor building. Several men and women made the slow trip in darkness carried in wheelchairs. Some residents were arguing they didn't want to leave their meager possessions behind, and others negotiated the acceptance of cats or dogs or birds at the shelter. In the end, firefighters promised they could keep their companions through their shelter stay and pack some bags to make sure everybody would leave. Inside Jean Baral's home buckets were used to help curb the flow of water coming into the building Damage on the 9th floor was extensive. All of the residents had to be evacuated because of damage from the storm Residents were rescued by truck, bus and even boats as the impact of Florence continued to make itself known. On the ninth floor, where ceiling tiles collapsed in the hallway and inside the one-bedroom apartments, Jean Baral trudged in ankle deep water in her bedroom while making sure she wasn't leaving anything precious. Residents being evacuated by bus as rain continues to pound in Fayetteville, North Carolina Originally from Connecticut, the 69-year-old Baral moved to the South to be with her two children and seven grandchildren, but none of them were there as she wondered where she was going to live after the storm. She said she enjoyed living in the brick building, a Prohibition Era grand hotel that once featured red-clad bellboys and celebrities. Residents said Ronald Reagan once visited, as did his fellow long-ago movie stars Esther Williams and Michael Landon. Residents were loaded into boats to evacuate them as their nursing home was desolated by flood waters Jean Baral, gathering her belongings. She along with all of the other residents had to be evacuated because the complex was no longer structurally fit to live in Mike Houston and Mary Stahl wait patiently on the second floor of what looked like a common area for the residents But like many older hotels in U.S. cities, the Cape Fear became urban blight until it was transformed into modest, one-bedroom rental units for seniors. Rent is set according to one's means and starts at $300 a month. Residents told DailyMail.com how a cell phone company talked the owners into installing an antenna on the roof several years ago. But when the 100mph winds came early Friday morning, the cell phone tower was blown into the street along with large pieces of the roof. As she packed some family mementos and necessities, Baral realized she had lost most of her possessions for ever. The senior citizens were loaded into buses and relocated. Some were loaded into waiting ambulances Three school buses took the residents to the shelter, although they will become homeless after the rains 'You know what, I had renter's insurance,' she said, looking a water pouring through her ceiling fan as if it were a shower. 'But I let it lapse Aug. 30 because I was a little strapped for cash. I don't know how I'm going to get back on my feet.' When the water started leaking from floor to floor through ceilings and walls, the Cape Fear's residents gathered in the grand ballroom and made due. Some laid down cushions from couches and slept on the floor. Others brought the food they had left and put it on a table for anyone to use. A rotting watermelon and stale pop tarts were all that was left as the residents were evacuated. Mike Houston, a former news photographer, rushed to the building from across the city to pick up his mother, 75. 'She's fine and I'm taking her back home with me,' he said as he brought a cage with two cats down the stairs. 'I hope she'll agree to stay for a while this time.' The death toll so far for Hurricane Florence has reached 11 people. A firefighter is seen assisting in the evacuation A drone flying three miles high came within 100ft of a catastrophic collision with an airliner carrying up to 240 passengers, a report has revealed. The incident happened at the highest ever altitude recorded for a near-miss between a drone and an aircraft in UK airspace. The Airbus A321 had just taken off and was climbing at 380mph when the gadget suddenly came into view at 15,500ft nearly 40 times the legal maximum. The Airbus A321 had just taken off and was climbing at 380mph when the gadget suddenly came into view at 15,500ft (stock image) A report by the UK Airprox Board, which investigates near-misses, said the pilot suddenly saw a drone pass very close down the left-hand side of the plane, endangering it and other aircraft. The report concluded that the device, spotted on June 3 near Doncaster Sheffield Airport in South Yorkshire, was so high it would have been impossible for its operator to see. Drone operators are only permitted to fly below 400ft and those who put the safety of an aircraft in jeopardy can be jailed for five years. Near misses involving drones have tripled over the last two years with 92 reported last year and just 29 in 2015. A spokesman for the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: It is totally unacceptable to fly drones close to airports or aircraft. Supermodel Edie Campbell is demanding that fashion shows provide private changing rooms after revealing her humiliation at being forced to strip naked backstage. The 27-year-old, who has graced the cover of Vogue, said that changing in crowded areas was bizarre and uncomfortable and claimed it dehumanised models. Her calls seem to be being heard. She says the majority of designers at the ongoing London Fashion Week have agreed to private areas for models to undress. Supermodel Edie Campbell is demanding that fashion shows provide private changing rooms Her comments come after she railed against abuse in the fashion industry in an open letter last year. The English model, who attended the 24,000-a-year St Pauls Girls School, is estimated to earn 2 million a year and has walked the runway for Chanel, Versace and Stella McCartney. Speaking on BBC Radio 4s Today programme yesterday, she said: Backstage areas are very busy, theres a lot of people there from kind of every part of the production of putting on a fashion show hair and make-up, stylist, PR, the press themselves, caterers, production assistants, everyone, kind of, you could imagine. She said the experience of getting naked in front of so many people was initially jarring but gradually became normalised. Pictured at London Fashion Week, she said the experience of getting naked in front of so many people was initially jarring but gradually became normalised But she was stuck by the thought of how bizarre and uncomfortable the practice was when she saw designers putting up private changing areas in New York last year. She said it then occurred to her how it had been humiliating to have previously been encouraged to change or been forced to change in front of everyone. I think it adds to a much broader question of a dehumanisation of the model and a kind of objectification that is a symptom of a bigger problem. The model started out in the industry aged 15 but thinks youngsters should wait until they are 18. Theres a very high turnover because they start working so young and their bodies change, she said. Their careers are over by the time they are 18 because they start working while they are pre-pubescent. Asked what she would tell teenagers hoping to break into the industry, the star whose mother Sophie Hicks was once fashion editor for British Vogue and whose younger sister Olympia is also a model said: Stay in school. Last year, Edie wrote an open letter in which she spoke out about a culture within the fashion industry that is too accepting of abuse, in all of its manifestations, questioning why models under 18 are allowed to work and why it was acceptable for models to be sent alone to photographers homes for castings. Earlier this year, the fashion world was shaken when photographer to the stars Mario Testino was accused of sexually exploiting male assistants and models. A spokesman for the British Fashion Council (BFC), which runs London Fashion Week, said: We have already implemented compulsory private changing areas for models at the official London Fashion Week venue as well as private cubicles for models who do not wish to change in front of other models. The BFC has instructed designers showing outside of the official London Fashion Week show space to follow its example. 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 Rachel Mae Buffett, 31, was convicted on Wednesday in Orange County, California A former Disneyland princess has been convicted of lying to police about her boyfriend's grisly double murder in a plot to steal money to fund their wedding and honeymoon. Rachel Mae Buffett, 31, was convicted of accessory to murder after the fact on Wednesday by a jury in Orange County, California, in connection to the two murders in May of 2010. Her boyfriend Daniel Patrick Wozniak, 34, was convicted in 2015 of the murders of Samuel Herr and Julie Kibishi and sentenced to death. Prosecutors argued that Buffett had lied, dodged questions and changed her story multiple times when police were investigating Wozniak for the killings, the Los Angeles Times reported. A jury found that Buffett had lied to police while they were investigating her boyfriend in the double murder of two friends. She is seen above at trial earlier this month Boyfriend Daniel Wozniak, 34, (left) was convicted of the murders and sentenced to death The grim plot unfolded when Wozniak, a community theater actor, needed money to pay for his wedding to Buffett and their dream honeymoon, prosecutors said. In the lead up to the murders, Wozniak's honeymoon-related Google searches, such as 'best all-inclusive sandals' began to include more ominous searches such as 'how to fake thumbprints,' 'how loud shotgun' and 'how to hide a body,' the court heard. Prosecutors said Wozniak shot Herr, an Army veteran, with a shotgun at a Los Alamitos theater, and then dismembered the body in a scheme to steal $62,000 in hazard pay he had saved up while serving in Afghanistan. The plan took an even sicker twist when Wozniak lured 23-year-old Kibishi to Herr's home with his phone, and then shot her and staged the scene to make it appear that Herr had raped and murdered the young woman, and then fled. Prosecutors say Wozniak killed Samuel Herr (left) to steal his money and then shot Julie Kibishi (right) to make police think Herr had raped and killed her before fleeing Police tied Wozniak to the murders within days, when they caught him using Herr's ATM card. The killer was arrested at his bachelor party in Huntington Beach. Buffett has maintained that she was merely pawn in Wozniak's sick scheme, telling NBC's Dateline: 'I'm innocent and that's what hurts me most in this whole situation is they're trying to say I'm something I'm not.' At trial, her attorney argued that Buffet had been a 'star witness' in Wozniak's trial who offered 'boatloads' of incriminating evidence. Buffet, a former actress and Disneyland princess, is taken into custody on Wednesday The jury ultimately did not agree, bringing back a guilty verdict as to accessory after the fact. Buffet, a former actress and Disneyland princess, was immediately taken into custody and faces up to three and a half years at sentencing. She is being held in the Orange County Jail and is set to be sentenced on November 8. A former British Army soldier who fought against Islamic State in Syria has been sentenced to nearly eight years in jail in Turkey. Joe Robinson, 25, was arrested while on holiday in Turkey last year and accused by authorities of belonging to a Kurdish terrorist group. Robinson insists he only fought with the Peoples Protection Units of Syrian Kurdistan (YPG) against ISIS and that he was never involved in any Kurdish terrorist groups which have launched attacks in Turkey. Robinson is understood to have fought against ISIS in 2015, having joined the international military effort against the jihadis after an ISIS fighter murdered 39 British tourists at a Tunisian resort earlier that year. Former British soldier Joe Robinson, 25, was arrested while on holiday in the Turkish seaside resort town of Didim with his partner Mira Rojkan The ex-squaddie, originally from Accrington, Lancashire, previously fought the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2012 with his local unit, the Duke of Lancasters Regiment. Last night, his horrified mother Sharon Robinson said she would do whatever it took to get her son home. She wants UK politicians to persuade the Turkish government to let him serve a prison sentence in Britain rather than Turkey. She said: I am under the impression that the British Government can ask for him to be extradited back to the UK. That would be a massive relief, especially as he has committed no crime under UK law. Mr Robinson, from Accrington, Lancashire, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison, but he will reportedly remain on bail while planning an appeal Robinson had previously fought with YPG Kurdish militia against ISIS in Syria While the UK does not consider the YPG to be a terrorist organisation, Turkish authorities are convinced the group is closely linked to more radical Kurdish groups such as the Kurdistan Workers Party. Court papers from Fridays hearing indicate that Robinson was sentenced for being a member of the PKK, a claim he and his family strenuously deny. Robinson was originally arrested alongside his fiancee Mira Rojkan, a Bulgarian citizen who had been living in Leeds. She was accused of engaging in terrorist propaganda but was given a suspended sentence and allowed to leave Turkey. Last night, she criticised the UK Governments role in the case. She told the BBC: Unfortunately for Joe, there was very little help from the Foreign Office. They didnt send any representatives and didnt help nearly as much as the Bulgarian foreign ministry. His sentence is not justifiable and is based on a political agenda. He was shocked by the news. Hes broken, hes tired and he just wishes to come home as soon as possible. A mother is killed in Wilmington, North Carolina after a tree falls on her home soon after the storm makes landfall on Friday. An infant believed to be approximately eight-months old is killed in Wilmington after a tree falls on the family home Friday. A 78-year-old man in Kinston, North Carolina was killed on Friday while trying to connect two extension cords to his generator outside in the rain. He was found dead on the ground by family and it is believed he was electrocuted. A 77-year-old man lost his life in Kinston after he was hit by a gust of wind while out checking his hunting dogs. His body was discovered by family members on Friday morning . A woman in Hampstead, North Carolina died from a heart attack after calling 911 when emergency crews were unable to reach her home due to downed trees blocking off the street. An unidentified person died while at a local high school that had been converted into a shelter in Brunswick County, North Carolina. That death is still under investigation. An unknown person died on Harker's Island some time on Friday morning according to a spokesperson for Carteret County An unknown person died on Harker's Island some time on Friday morning according to a spokesperson for Carteret County To members of the public they are known as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, but to their royal aides and bodyguards they are just plain David Stevens and Davina Scott. It has been revealed that the famous couple are regularly given alternative monikers secret code names that use the initials DS as a nod to their official title, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to prevent their contact details from falling into the wrong hands. And as for Prince William and Kate Middleton, the couple are saved as the more modest Danny Collins and Daphne Clark in their aides contact lists. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex - aka 'David Stevens and Davina Scott The 'DC' in the official title of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is used in the royal couple's secret code name, Danny Collins and Daphne Clark The initials DC in the secret code names allude, of course, to the royal couples title the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, reports the Daily Star. If anyone got hold of a phone belonging to a royal aide or security team member, they wont find Harry Windsor and Meghans names in it, said a royal source, adding, it is far too risky in the wrong hands. They get given code names but they are changed regularly for obvious reasons. The code names were revealed at an event when one of Harrys aides told a worker that someone was trying to contact him. But, failing to recognise the name on the assistants mobile, the confused worker asked why the person on the line wanted to speak with him. The source added: Imagine the surprise he got when he heard Harrys voice on the other end of the line. However, while members of the royal family are known by their secret code names to bodyguards and aides, when in private with their loved ones, they refer to each other by at least one nickname. The Queen has various nicknames, including 'Gary' and 'Gan-Gan' Kate Middleton and Prince William use terms of endearment by referring to each other as darling and 'babe' The Queen is known as Gary courtesy of Prince William who, as a youngster, struggled to pronounce granny and would call her Gary instead. And Prince Williams son, her great-grandson Prince George, has reportedly nicknamed the monarch Gan-Gan. Prince Charles is said to call Meghan Markle Tungsten after the metal, because of her tough and unbending nature. Kate Middleton and Prince William use terms of endearment by referring to each other as darling and 'babe', while Meghan was recently overheard calling Prince Harry my love while watching the hit West End musical Hamilton with him. The upcoming Roseanne spin-off, The Conners, has a new cast member. Maya Lynne Robinson has joined the line-up as DJ's wife Geena Williams-Conner, a role previously played by actress Xosha Roquemore on season one of the Roseanne revival. Maya announced the big news by tweeting a photo of herself with her new co-stars, Michael Fishman and Jayden Rey. 'So excited!' Maya Lynne Robinson has joined the line-up as DJ's wife Geena Williams-Conner, a role previously played by actress Xosha Roquemore on season one of the Roseanne revival 'So excited to join this family! Catch me on #TheConners!' she tweeted. Showrunner Bruce Helford also confirmed the casting in a statement, telling Variety: 'We're thrilled to welcome the incredibly talented Maya Lynne Robinson to the cast this season. 'Her character 2nd Lieutenant Geena Conner, whom a younger DJ was reluctant to kiss in his school play, comes full circle as his wife and Mary's mother, bringing back a little piece of Conner history. 'Yet, while Geena is no stranger to the family, viewers old and new will enjoy seeing how her 'military-style' discipline meshes with the Conners' more laid-back attitude.' Hugs: The on-screen couple shared an embrace as The Conners' Twitter account announced the big news The official Twitter account of The Conners also shared the big news. 'The little girl that DJ was reluctant to kiss is all grown up. Welcome to #TheConners @MissMayaLynne,' read the tweet, along with photos of their newest cast member. Of course, Roseanne Barr will not be appearing in the upcoming spin-off. ABC fired Barr in May after she tweeted that former Obama aide Valerie Jarrett, who was born in Iran and is of African American heritage, looked like 'the Muslim Brotherhood & Planet of the Apes had a baby.' Big laughs: Maya flashed a huge smile as she enjoyed a playful moment with her co-star She has repeatedly apologized for any offence that the tweet caused as well as to the cast and crew of Roseanne, but refuses to accept that it was racist. Breaking a deal with the network, she ultimately agreed to allow the show she created to continue with the other original castmembers and rebranded as The Conners. Meanwhile ABC President Channing Dungey has revealed that the Jarrett tweet was just the last in a long line of problems with Roseanne that got her fired. Speaking about the decision, she told Deadline: 'It was actually made very swiftly. We knew what we wanted to do, and we did it. 'For us, we have had multiple instances with Roseanne, and certainly this tweet crossed the line that cannot be crossed, but it was for us a sense of enough is enough and something had to be done. 'It was nice that it was so clear to everyone that there wasn't a lot of debate and discussion about it.' The Conners is set to premiere Tuesday October 16 at 8pm on ABC. As one of the world's top male supermodels, Jordan Barrett received a paycheck of $100k for Justin Cassin's Mercedes-Benz Australian Fashion Week show in May. But the Australian hunk claims modelling is far from a man's world. Speaking to The Courier-Mail on Friday, the 22-year-old said: 'It is kind of one of the only industries where women are paid more than men.' 'It is basically a women's industry': Australian supermodel Jordan Barrett (pictured middle) spoke out about gender pay disparity in modelling on Friday after he received $100,000 for one runway show The fashion 'bad boy' went on to say he believed the pay disparity was 'a good thing and fair'. Jordan - who hails from Byron Bay on the NSW North Coast - explained his stance: 'Sales in men's and women's products is completely different, it is so obvious and fair that women make more money in modelling.' 'It is basically a women's industry. More women buy make-up, hair products and clothing than men, it is just simply that. Guys aren't generally out there buying tonnes of hair products. Girls buy more clothes than guys.' Gisele Bundchen is the highest paid Victorias Secret model of all time, earning an estimated $44 million in 2015 alone. According to Forbes, Kendall Jenner earned $17 million in 2016, and is the third-highest paid model in the world. 'It's a good thing': Jordan said he completely backed and celebrated the fact that women were being paid more in the modelling industry 'It is so obvious and fair that women make more money in modelling': The male model said the gender pay gap made sense due to women products having higher sales and demand He also told Vogue UK: 'I've done more jobs with women or solo than with other boys actually... I think I book more shows in women's fashion weeks in fact.' Jordan was discovered at age 14 by a model scout working for international agency IMG. The chance meeting took place when he was caught stealing matches from a convenience store. Jordan told New York Magazine about the incident: 'I wanted to have a cigarette, but I couldn't get a lighter because apparently you have to be over 18, so I decided I was gonna take matches from the counter.' 'Ive done more jobs with women or solo than with other boys actually': Jordan's appeal lies beyond the catwalk, having been linked to the likes of 'it' girls Hailey Baldwin, Sofia Richie, Megan Blake Irwin, Lara Stone and Sahara Ray Taking the modelling industry by storm, the genetically-blessed star graced the runway for Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino and Versace at Milan Fashion Week. Jordan's appeal lies beyond the catwalk, having been linked to the likes of 'it' girls Hailey Baldwin, Sofia Richie, Megan Blake Irwin, Lara Stone and Sahara Ray. Most recently, Jordan arrived at the Met Gala in New York with music legend Lionel Richie's model daughter Sofia, 18. Posing alongside the slender blonde, Jordan looked dapper in a crisp white shirt, tailored suit jacket, slim-fitting black trousers and grey suede loafers. She has been among the top 10 highest paid actresses in the world a number of times over the years. And on Friday Charlize Theron checked in on her lavish new mansion in Los Angeles, which is currently being renovated. Despite dressing down for the visit, the 43-year old beauty still turned heads with her statuesque 5foot10 figure. Concerned homeowner: Charlize Theron stopped by to check on renovations at her new LA home on Friday The Oscar-winning actress looked anything but ordinary as she showed off her toned curves in black leggings and a black tank top that left a hint of her black bra underneath. She also added a pair of black leather Birkenstock sandals and wore dark sunglasses to help keep the blazing Southern California sun out of her eyes. Opting for comfort over style, the South African stunner had her shoulder length blonde tresses pulled back into a small ponytail and with a part slightly to the left. It turns out, the South African beauty is a bit of real estate enthusiast. Show stopper: The 43-year old star showed off her toned curves in black leggings and a black tank top that gave a hint of her black bra underneath Eye on real estate market: Charlize has owned a number of homes in the LA-area in recent years According to lifestyle and home decor magazine Lonny, Charlize has owned at least five properties, simultaneously, in the LA-area in recent years. At this point it's not known whether the home she visited on Friday is an investment property or a home where her family will live. She and her mother Gerda Maritz co-parent her two children - Jackson, six, and August, three - whom she adopted in March 2012 and July 2015, respectively. Single mom: The Oscar-winning actress is the parent of two adopted children -- Jackson, six, and August, three - whom she adopted in March 2012 and July 2015 respectively; the Monster star is pictured in Beverly Hills in August 2018 The starlet recently wrapped up filming the upcoming comedy Flarsky alongside Seth Rogan, O'Shea Jackson Jr., and Alexander Skarsgard. Next up: she will next begin work co-producing and starring as Megyn Kelly in Jay Roach's Fox News sexual harassment drama Fair and Balanced, co-starring John Lithgow, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie. Chalize won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her amazing performance and transformation in Monster (2003). Some of her other notable films include The Cider House Rules (1999), The Italian Job (2003), North Country (2005), Hancock (2008), Prometheus (2012), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), and The Fate and the Furious (2017). They're both award-winning actresses with several productions to their names. And Jessica Chastain and Rose McGowan brought Hollywood glamour to London Fashion Week at a star-studded Ralph Lauren event on Friday at the Dragon Room, Isabel's, Mayfair. The two actresses looked effortlessly elegant in stylish and chic blazer-inspired ensembles to celebrate the European launch of WOMAN by Ralph Lauren, a fragrance inspired by female empowerment. Work it: Jessica Chastain and Rose McGowan brought Hollywood glamour to London Fashion Week at a star-studded Ralph Lauren event on Friday Jessica, who is the brands global ambassador, looked every inch the Hollywood star in a midnight blue Ralph Lauren Collection sequined blazer, which she teamed with a matching coloured pair of trousers. The Help actress, 41, accessorised her look with navy blue coloured heeled sandals, a jaw-dropping emerald ring and diamond earrings. Jessica styled her fiery red locks into a sleek curly blow-dried hairdo, which she swept to one side, she added a slick of glamorous make-up. Stunning: The two actresses looked effortlessly elegant in stylish and chic blazer-inspired ensembles to celebrate the European launch of WOMAN by Ralph Lauren, a fragrance inspired by female empowerment Leading lady: Jessica, who is the brands global ambassador, looked every inch the Hollywood star in a midnight blue Ralph Lauren Collection sequined blazer, which she teamed with a matching coloured pair of trousers Hollywood glamour: The Help actress, 41, accessorised her look with navy blue coloured heeled sandals, a jaw-dropping emerald ring and diamond earrings Strike a pose: Jessica styled her fiery red locks into a sleek curly blow-dried hairdo, which she swept to one side, she added a slick of glamorous make-up Meanwhile, Rose looked fierce in an oversized fuchsia pink velvet blazer by Osman, which she teamed with a pair of black trousers. Accessorising her look, she teamed the chic items of clothing with a pair of patent leather brogues. Rose styled her peroxide blonde locks into her signature buzz-cut hairdo as she added a slick of bold pink lipstick. The actress knew how to work her best angles as she posed up a storm at the fashion event. Bold look: Meanwhile, Rose looked fierce in an oversized fuchsia pink velvet blazer by Osman, which she teamed with a pair of black trousers Classic: Accessorising her look, she teamed the chic items of clothing with a pair of patent leather brogues Award-winning actresses: Rose styled her peroxide blonde locks into her signature buzz-cut hairdo as she added a slick of bold pink lipstick Star-studded: Also attending the event, were the likes of Joanne Froggatt, Anna Brewster, Jade Parfitt and Jasmine Guinness Also attending the event, were the likes of Joanne Froggatt, Anna Brewster, Jade Parfitt and Jasmine Guinness. Joanne looked effortlessly chic in a one shoulder black velvet jumpsuit with flared legs and a belt detailing on the waist. The Downton Abbey star, 38, accessorised her look with a metallic clutch bag and gold hoop earrings. Joanne was joined by her husband, James Cannon, who looked dapper in a blue blazer with jeans. Chic: Joanne looked effortlessly chic in a one shoulder black velvet jumpsuit with flared legs and a belt detailing on the waist Stylish: The Downton Abbey star, 38, accessorised her look with a metallic clutch bag and gold hoop earrings Smitten: Joanne was joined by her husband, James Cannon, who looked dapper in a blue blazer with jeans Gorgeous: Anna Brewster looked sensational in a plunging black and white spotted sheer Zimmermann gown, with a dramatic black neck tie Work it: Jasmine (left) looked a vision in red as she wore a stunning off-the-shoulder gown, while Jade (right) looked effortlessly cool in a black and white star patterned dress Anna Brewster looked sensational in a plunging black and white spotted sheer gown, with a dramatic black neck tie. The Versailles actress, 32, accessorised her look with a eye-catching gold ring collection and pendant earrings. She styled her brunette locks into a tied back hairdo, which she left the front strands loose, she added a slick of blood red lipstick. Jade looked effortlessly cool in a black and white star patterned dress, with a cropped denim jacket over the top. Fun times: Lauren Lyle and Ellise Chappell were also in attendance Gorgeous duo: Jessica and Alanna Arrington posed for a photograph together Chic: Kelly Eastwood and Pandora Sykes both looked stylish in bold prints at the star-studded bash on Friday LFW: Sarah Ann Macklin and Niomi Smart were also present at the event The model, 40, accessorised her look with black heeled ankle boots and a matching clutch bag. Jasmine looked a vision in red as she wore a stunning off-the-shoulder gown, with a green sating jacket draped over her arm. The celebrities were at the event for the European launch of WOMAN by Ralph Lauren which was hosted by Hollywood actress Jessica. London Fashion Week officially kicked off on Friday, although there were some shows on Thursday, and will end on Tuesday. Leading lady: The celebrities were at the event for the European launch of WOMAN by Ralph Lauren which was hosted by Hollywood actress Jessica Busy times: London Fashion Week officially kicked off on Friday, although there were some shows on Thursday, and will end on Tuesday Naomi Watts' post-airport ritual involves a green juice, a stroll, and some compelling audio. At least that was the case on Friday, when the veteran actor was spotted out for a stroll in New York City, shortly after flying in from the Venice Film Festival. Naomi, 49, was seen listening to something on headphones connected to her mobile phone as she entered Organic wellness cafe Juice Press. Watts she listening to? Naomi (pictured), 49, showcased her bold fashion sense in an ornate sweater as she sipped a green juice and listens intently to something on her headphones in NYC on Friday The Australian appeared in deep thought as she strolled up the street, at one point appearing to look up to the sky for 'answers.' The actress is an avid podcast fan, so her search for enlightenment could well have been triggered by some spoken-word food for thought. Naomi's bold fashion sense was on display in an ornate vest-sweater hybrid, which featured lace stitching and a squared-shoulder design. Penny for your thoughts: The Australian appeared in deep thought as she strolled up the street, at one point appearing to look up to the sky for 'answers' The Twin Peaks star chose not to overcomplicate the look, adding a pair of loose denim jeans, white loafers and round-rim sunglasses. She wore a small black shoulder bag around her waist. Minutes after entering Juice Press, Naomi was spotted leaving with a healthy green beverage in hand - still listening intently to something on her headphones. Her previous stop was the airport, where she returned from a week at the Venice Film Festival, where she served as a juror. I got juice! Minutes after entering Juice Press, Naomi was spotted leaving with a healthy green beverage in hand - still listening intently to something on her headphones Among the industry professionals, other people on the panel included Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi, actresses Sylvia Chang, Nicole Garcia, and Trine Dyrholm, and filmmakers Paolo Genovese and Malgorzata Szumowska. Ahead of the festival, Naomi said she hopes the experience will be 'life altering', adding: 'To sit in a disciplined way and spend the next 10 days watching two to three films a day is extraordinary and I have just never had that opportunity. 'And to be amongst this group of people on this panel and with Guillermo leading it, I think it's going to be a really unique and really new experience.' She's the Bachelor In Paradise star who was arrested earlier in the week for domestic battery on her boyfriend in Las Vegas. And after Amanda Stanton confessed she was embarrassed by what had happened, new details have emerged on what really went down with her beau Bobby Jacobs on Monday. The athlete claimed he was asleep when the reality TV starlet began to 'hit him while he was laying in bed', according to legal documents obtained by Us Weekly. New details: New court reports have revealed that Bachelorette star Amanda Stanton had 'swung' a hotel phone before 'scratching and pinching' her boyfriend Bobby Jacobs ahead of her arrest in Vegas The court documents reveal that the two were engaged in an argument that lasted for hours before the 28-year-old 'swung' the hotel phone at him. Bobby stated that he was asleep with Amanda returned home from a Magic Mike show at 11pm with her pals as part of her friend's Bachelorette party celebrations. Angry that he hadn't returned her calls and texts, she reportedly began to 'hit him while he was laying in bed'. The documents stated that the couple who have been together for six months continued to engage in an argument that lasted for 'hours'. His word: Angry that Bobby hadn't returned her calls and texts,he claimed that Amanda began to 'hit him while he was laying in bed' The reported stated that Bobby progressed to call her friends into the room, who had believed Amanda was fast asleep. He went on to allege that after her pals left they began fighting again, at which point the mom-of-two 'swung' the hotel phone at her boyfriend which hit him on his body. It then got nasty with the professional volleyball player claiming that his reality star-turned-blogger lady-love then 'continued to scratch and pinch' him on his 'arms and body' while he held her down to stop her from attacking him. Attack: He went on to allege that after her pals left they began fighting again, at which point the mom-of-two 'swung' the hotel phone at her boyfriend which hit him on his body Getting violent: It then got nasty with the professional volleyball player claiming that his reality star-turned-blogger lady-love then 'continued to scratch and pinch' him on his 'arms and body' while he held her down to stop her from attacking him Bobby then called her friends back into the hotel room and they notified staff when they saw the red marks on his arms. However, Amanda reported to officials following the incident that Bobby had 'pinned her down on the bed', at which point she was 'begging him to let her up' and pinching him 'to get free'. The blonde beauty added that when she finally did get free, she was 'pushed on the bed' before she was able to 'lock herself in the bathroom'. Two sides to every story: However, the mom-of-two reported to officials following the incident that Bobby had 'pinned her down on the bed', at which point she was 'begging him to let her up' and pinching him 'to get free' The new information comes after Amanda was arrested in Las Vegas with domestic battery on Monday. TMZ reported at the time that she was at the Wynn Encore when security was called to the room after receiving a noise complain in the early hours of the morning. As 6'6" Bobby was speaking with security, Amanda, who stands a petite 5'3", tried to intervene and in the process shoved her boyfriend so hard that the guards called the police. Before things got nasty: Amanda spent the day in Vegas at friend Chelseiee Paige's (middle) bachelorette party along with pal Lauren Bushnell Not charged: Amanda was taken into custody following the 3:15 a.m. incident and later released She was taken into custody following the 3:15 a.m. incident and later released. Her management later told Us Weekly that she sincerely apologized for the ordeal and was deeply embarrassed. 'Amanda is embarrassed and ashamed this happened and sincerely apologizes to hotel security and the Las Vegas Police Department,' the note began. All a misunderstanding? 'Amanda is a gentle, respectful person who has never gotten physical with anyone under any circumstance' reported her management 'Amanda is a gentle, respectful person who has never gotten physical with anyone under any circumstance.' 'That evening she had a few drinks at a bachelorette party and when hotel security asked her and Bobby to quiet down, she got a bit rambunctious,' the continued. 'Amanda gave Bobby what she thought was a playful shove; hotel security did their job and reported the incident to the police, who in turn did their job. Despite Bobby explaining this was not an ill-intended shove, the police still had to do their job which Amanda completely respects and understands.' The petite beauty has since returned to social media, posting a bikini shot of herself earlier on Friday with the caption: 'googled when life gives you lemons quotes..but decided to spare y'all.' Jimmy Choo co-founder Tamara Mellon announced with great fanfare in Hello! magazine that she was engaged to Hollywood talent agent Michael Ovitz. But almost four years later, there is still no sound of any wedding bells. There is never going to be a wedding, one of Tamaras friends claims. Its all rather awkward. Michael is still married to his wife, Judy, and they do not want a divorce. Tamara Mellon announced she was engaged to Hollywood talent agent Michael Ovitz in 2015 Tamara, 51, told Hello! in March 2015 that Ovitz, who is 20 years her senior and founded the Hollywood talent agency CAA, had surprised me with a beautiful ring the previous December. Ovitz has been described as the most powerful man in Hollywood. She said of their engagement: It wasnt entirely out of the blue because he kept saying, Ive got something really important for you. He first asked me to move in with him over a year ago, then I suppose he wanted to show his commitment. Tamara's friends said it was all rather awkward because there is never going to be a wedding' The couple, pictured, bought a home in New York which, Tamara said, was a long-term project. The news tops off a grim year for Tamara. In April, her ex-husband, the banking heir Matthew Mellon, died at the age of 54 while attending a drugs rehabilitation centre in Mexico. They met at Alcoholics Anonymous and were married for five tempestuous years until 2005. She called him a child in need of a nanny and later admitted to having snorted her way through alpine ranges of cocaine. Tamara, who is the daughter of Tom Yeardye, a stunt double for Rock Hudson, and former Chanel model Ann Davis, went on to enjoy romances with Hollywoods Christian Slater, 49, and rapper Kid Rock, 47. She made 85 million in 2011 when she sold the Jimmy Choo brand after it became an international phenomenon by featuring in TVs Sex And The City. She and Ovitz could not be reached for comment. The smart set's talking about... Grantchester's dishy new Rev McMafia actor James Norton shot to stardom when he stripped down to a tiny pair of shorts and dived into a pond in Fifties drama Grantchester. Now that Norton has confirmed hes hanging up his clerical clobber next year as crime-fighting vicar Sidney Chambers, all eyes are on his successor Tom Brittney, 27. Brittney has set pulses racing while filming the new series in Cambridge after donning the dog collar of Rev Will Davenport. Born in Kent to author Lynn Brittney and her husband Brian, Tom honed his craft at Central School of Speech and Drama before landing a role in the BBCs Call The Midwife. Now that Norton has confirmed hes hanging up his clerical clobber next year as crime-fighting vicar Sidney Chambers, all eyes are on his successor Tom Brittney, 27 (pictured) He is courting illustrator Katie Tweddle, 26, from North Yorkshire, whom he met after breaking up with his American girlfriend in 2014 London-based Tom enjoys a passionate love life off screen. He is courting illustrator Katie Tweddle, 26, from North Yorkshire, whom he met after breaking up with his American girlfriend in 2014. Rev Davenport is described as a man of God, but with the devil inside of him something that Tom can relate to. He admits: I am a nice funny guy who can be dark and bad sometimes. Flaky finish for Kate's Interiors Britain's richest supermodel Kate Moss is unaccustomed to financial woes. But her eponymous home interiors business does not appear to be going as planned. New figures show Kate Moss' home interiors business made a loss of 2,000 in its second year New figures show Kate Moss Interiors made a loss of 2,000 in its second year and has now accumulated a 6,300 deficit. Curiously, her business partner Katie Grove, a former PA, has also just stepped down as director. Moss had said: I wont do anything without her. She knows my taste exactly. Its not clear why Miss Grove has quit, but Moss admitted last year: I dont want to say Im a control freak, but Im a control freak. They've left fans guessing all week as to the fate of their characters. And Bodyguard stars Keeley Hawes and Richard Madden were putting on a casual display on Friday evening, as they were seen leaving Scott's restaurant in London. Both dressed in all-black, the two actors enjoyed catching up as fan speculation mounts around their characters in the BBC drama, with several now adamant they have found a clue to the fate of Keeley's character Julia Montague. Pals: Bodyguard stars Keeley Hawes and Richard Madden were putting on a casual display on Friday evening, as they were seen leaving Scott's restaurant in London Richard was covered up in a simple grey trench coat with black suit trousers and printed shirt, keeping his dark curled tresses on full display. Meanwhile Keeley showed off her trim figure in a flirty printed dress and opaque tights with suede ankle boots, covering up against the autumn chill with a matching black coat. The duo were seen exiting the eatery after a friendly meal together, as fans questions have swirled demanded whether Keeley's character has really been killed in the hit conspiracy thriller. Casual: Game Of Thrones star Richard was sporting a classic grey coat with a printed shirt and black trousers for the outing Acclaimed: He has taken centre stage in Bodyguard as Sergeant David Budd, who is tasked with protecting the Home Secretary Stylish: Meanwhile Keeley showed off her trim figure in a flirty printed dress and opaque tights with suede ankle boots, covering up against the autumn chill with a matching black coat The outing comes after Bodyguard fans noticed what could be a major clue as to the fate of Keeley's character in the hit BBC drama. Movie and TV database website IMDB has Keeley's character Julia Montague as appearing in the sixth and final episode of the drama, which will air on September 23, despite her death being announced in the latest installment. The credit could point to a flashback scene but it has done little to quell fan speculation that the Home Secretary didn't die in the shock explosion at the end of episode three. Back from the dead?The outing comes after Bodygaurd fans noticed what could be a major clue as to the fate of Keeley Hawes' character in the hit BBC drama Keeley is not listed as appearing in episode five of the drama, but will make an appearance in some form in the sixth and final episode. Fans have flooded Twitter with excited comments, with one viewer exclaiming: 'Imdb for #bodyguard has been changed and keeley hawes is now only credited in 5 episodes not 6. The plot thickens!!!' The IMDB credit comes after actor Stuart Bowman refused to confirm that Julia is dead during a TV interview this week. Alive? IMDB has Keeley's character as appearing in the sixth and final episode of the drama despite her death being announced in the latest installment (pictured with Richard Madden) Speculation: Fans have flooded Twitter with excited comments after spotting the credit The actor, who plays MI5's head of security on the BBC One drama, appeared on Wednesday's Good Morning Britain, and was put through a grilling from hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid. Last week's episode of Bodyguard saw Richard Madden's character David Budd told his client and lover Julia had died in the explosion at the end of episode three. With two more episodes to go though, fan theories are rife that the Home Secretary isn't actually dead, especially as viewers weren't shown her demise on screen. Twist: Last week's episode of Bodyguard saw Richard Madden's character David Budd told his client and lover Julia Montague had died in the shock explosion at the end of episode three Instead doctors were shown breaking the news to Julia's mother as Dave looked on, after she apparently succumbed to her injuries in hospital. Piers asked the question on everyone's lips during GMB's interview with Stuart on Wednesday, demanding: 'Is Julia Montague dead or not? After smiling and trying to swerve the question, Susanna eventually got the coy actor to admit: 'You don't really want to know. People offer their theories and then just look at me.' Questions: Stuart Bowman, who plays MI5's head of security on Bodyguard, appeared on Wednesday's GMB, and was put through a grilling from hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid The actor admitted though that he loved working with Keeley, gushing: 'She's funny that's the great thing. We laugh. It was just fun, she's just got funny bones.' Bodyguard creator Jed Mercurio revealed earlier this week that he decided to kill off a main character halfway through the series because the audience would never expect it. Discussing his decision to apparently write her out of the show, Jed admitted that he wanted to 'alter the dynamic' of the runaway six-part hit. Shock: Bodyguard creator Jed Mercurio has revealed that he decided to kill off a main character halfway through the series because the audience would never expect it Speaking to Radio Times, the Line of Duty creator said: 'I think theres a certain expectation with series TV that it will always orbit around an equilibrium, in which nothing much changes for the main stars, and there are no drastic changes to the set-up, especially now things tend to run for several series. 'But, with my work, I like to try to do things that move the story on, and with Bodyguard I wanted to have this event mid-series that would completely alter the dynamic. Adding: 'I remember watching TV as a kid and, whenever there was some sort of jeopardy involving the hero, I could reassure myself that they were what Id call a "cant-die" character, so everything would be OK.' 'Alter the dynamic': Now discussing his decision to write her out of the show, Jed admitted that he wanted to 'alter the dynamic' of the runaway six-part hit, which also stars Richard Madden No stranger to Jed's no holds barred writing, Keeley's Line of Duty character DI Lindsay Denton, was sent to an early grave when he killed her off in the fifth episode of series three. When asked if she commented on an apparent running theme, he insisted that Keeley was onboard with the decision for her appearance on the series to be cut show, although much to the dismay of fans. He said: 'Yes, she did. But she did it, as she usually does, with good humour. I think, for her, its about the work as a whole, and the role. I think shed take the view that its better to do a few episodes of something meaty than lots of episodes of something thin.' Keeley, 42, shared a sweet tribute to her time on the show as the character, using humour to try and reassure fans of theBBC One series, which has become the biggest new drama on British television in more than a decade. Laughter is the best medicine: Bodyguard star Keeley shared a gushing post about the hit BBC One show on Monday after THAT shocking twist Taking to Twitter, the actress wrote: 'It has been amazing to be part of #Bodyguard. Everyones enthusiasm for the show has made it so exciting.' She added: 'Thanks again for watching and for the lovely messages. And Iiiiieeiiiieeeiiiiiiiiii will always love youuuuuuuuuuuuu! @_richardmadden (sic)' Her amusing post was a reference to the Whitney Houston song I Will Always Love You, which was the theme song for 1992 drama The Bodyguard. During the third episode, Keeley's character was giving a speech about her controversial RIPA-18 bill at St Matthews' College when a bomb went off, sending her flying through the air. Drama: The news of her death set Richard's character PS David Budd into a downward spiral, as he was seen placing a gun against his head and pulling the trigger later in the episode It was unclear what her fate was, but then, in the middle of Sunday's episode, her family were told at the hospital that she had died of her injuries. The news of her demise set Richard's character PS David Budd into a downward spiral, as he was seen placing a gun against his head and pulling the trigger later in the episode. Luckily for Madden fans, the gun the Principal Protection Officer used was a blank - seemingly having been tampered with by someone with access to his flat. Throughout the episode fans took to Twitter to express their shock - and disbelief - at the various curveballs featuring throughout the hour-long episode. Shock: Sunday night's episode left fans devastated after Home Secretary Julia Montague was suddenly killed off following the bomb attack during last week's episode The BBC One series has achieved consolidated viewing figures of 10.4 million for its first episode. This is the highest launch figure for any new drama across all UK channels since 2006, the corporation said. The series kicked off on August 26, when it scored the highest overnight audience for a drama launch this year by more than one million viewers. Bodyguard continues on BBC One on Sunday at 9pm. After 64 years of happy marriage, Kirk Douglas and his wife are still inseparable. The pair, who have a combined age of 200, were spotted enjoying a day out in Los Angeles. Douglas, 101, and his wife Anne Buydens, 99, were pushed along in wheelchairs by their carers. Hollywood star Douglas has been married to the former actress and producer since 1954, a year before he starred in the film Lust for Life as the artist Vincent van Gogh. Kirk Douglas, 101, and his wife Anne Buydens, 99, were pushed along in wheelchairs by their carers on a day out in Los Angeles Douglas sported a white shirt with top button undone, a pair of navy blue trousers and slip-on loafers, leaving his ankles exposed. His wife wore a green long-sleeved top and covered up with a grey blanket. The Spartacus actor will turn 102 on in December, but still tries to keep active and son Michael Douglas revealed this year that his father still exercises with a personal trainer. Actor Kirk Douglas and his new bride, French public relations expert Anne Buydens, 31, smile after their May 29th wedding in Las Vegas The 73-year-old actor told TV host Lorraine Kelly: He still has a trainer. He works out with a trainer at 101. I remember when Dad was 90 and he had a guy that he worked out with for more than 30 years, 40 years, Mike Abrams. I went to see Dad one day, he was 90 and wasnt feeling so good. I said, Dad, whats wrong? You dont look good. He said, Ah, Mike died. I said, Ah Dad Im so sorry, Mike died? How old was Mike, Dad? 94. She recently split from her Love Island partner, Luis Morrison, 16 months after the birth of their daughter Vienna. But Cally Jane Beech proved she was well and truly ready to move on when she stepped out in Manchester on Friday night for the launch of her skincare brand Latona London. Opting for a daring coral crop top and trouser combo, the former Miss Great Britain, 26, showcased her toned abs in the glamorous attire. Daring: Cally Jane Beech proved she was well and truly ready to move on when she stepped out in Manchester on Friday night Keeping her hair down in silky curls, the reality TV personality finished her outfit off with a peach clutch bag. Love Island's longest lasting couple, Cally Jane Beech and Luis Morrison, 'split after a series of rows over trust', it was reported. The pair, who found instant fame after appearing on the first series of the dating show when it relaunched on ITV2 in 2015, ended their romance for a second time this month. Although the couple have parted ways before, this time the break-up is said to be different, as Cally walked away from Luis with their young daughter in tow. Friends: Cally was joined at her event by former Love Island contestant Kady McDermott Pals: Offering support after their friend's turbulent month, Kady McDermott and Jess Impiazzi (left) joined Cally at the launch event Offering support after her friend's turbulent month, Kady McDermott joined her pal at the launch event. The former Love Island contestant, 23, opted for a form fitting dress in a sky blue shade which stylishly contrasted her dark locks. The TV star, who recently confirmed her romance with TOWIE's Myles Barnett, paired this with teal accessories including a matching clutch and high heeled shoes. Also in attendance at the launch was Jess Impiazzi, 28, who appeared on Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year. Striking: Jess showcased her incredibly gym-honed figure in a polka dotted crop top along with some high-waisted trousers Chic: Star of this year's Love Island season, Hayley Hughes also made an appearance, sporting a more casual look with a leather jacket and jeans combo She showcased her incredibly gym-honed figure in a polka dotted crop top along with some high-waisted trousers. Keeping to her glamorous ways, she worked her brunette tresses into a natural curl and sported a dramatic beauty look. Star of this year's Love Island season, Hayley Hughes also made an appearance at the event. She sported a more casual look than the hostess, opting for a leather jacket and jeans combo. Which beloved figure is easily identified by a shock-red mane, courageous personality traits, occasional nudity and complicated relationship history? Depending on who you ask, the answer is either the lion, or Married At First Sight star Sarah Jane Roza. The two worlds collided in Singapore on Friday, when the latter stumbled upon the former, before taking to Instagram to share a selfie and pose a question. 'Who wore it better?' Sarah Roza (pictured) posed next to a lion statue she found in Singapore as she accuses the carnivorous cat of stealing her trademark red-mane look on Friday Sarah, 39, posed in a picture alongside one of the lion statues in Merlion Park - the nation's tribute to a mythical creature with 'the head of a lion and the body of a fish'. Despite the park featuring Merlion depictions, this particular statue was all lion. 'Who wore it better? Lol,' Sarah asked fans, while showcasing her similarity to the lion with her own boofed-up red mane. Fans were convinced it was Sarah who wore it better, although the questions were perhaps unfair seeing as lions rarely sign up for Instagram accounts. Good question! 'Who wore it better? Lol,' Sarah asked fans, while showcasing her similarity to the lion with her own boofed-up red mane The most popular lion on Instagram is no doubt Lion(el) Richie, but he is yet to wade into the 'who wore it better' debate. Sarah is in Singapore to shoot promotional material for her own line of 'luscious lip products'. The beautician has promised fans that the 'super sexy colours' can make the wearer's 'teeth look whiter', which may be a world first for a lip gloss. Unfair? Fans were convinced it was Sarah who wore it better, although the questions were perhaps unfair seeing as lions rarely sign up for Instagram accounts 'It's so exciting,' Sarah exclaimed on Instagram. 'Affordable, gorgeous, real wearable colours.' 'No coo-coo crazy colours,' she continued. 'Only classic, iconic, wearable forever loveable colours.' The single socialite also revealed that the line will be vegan and cruelty-free - unlike lions, who are neither. Hurricane Florence is rocking the south. But one of the region's most beloved residents is making the best of it. Southern Charm star Patricia Altschul crashed a weather report for The Weather Channel on Thursday. The 77-year-old Bravo reality star grabbed a mic alongside meteorologist Tevin Wooten for the fun segment amid the rough weather. New career? Southern Charm star Patricia Altschul crashed a weather report for The Weather Channel on Thursday Classy: The 77-year-old Bravo reality star is known as the Grand dame of Charleston as she is pictured on the series Patricia took to Instagram to share a cute video of the short segment as she captioned it: 'When you find yourself unexpectedly doing the @weatherchannel with @tevinwooten.' 'Were talking about Hurricane Florence,' The Weather Channel's Wooten said. 'Hopefully it comes nowhere near Charleston, but are you prepared, just in case?' Dynamic duo: She grabbed a mic alongside meteorologist Tevin Wooten for the fun segment amid the rough weather Bonding: Patricia took to Instagram to share a cute video of the short segment as she captioned it: 'When you find yourself unexpectedly doing the @weatherchannel with @tevinwooten' 'Im prepared, totally prepared,' Pattricia responded. 'Locked and loaded, everything.' Altschul definitely showed that she was prepared as just a day earlier she shared a video of the exterior of her house looking secure in the very windy weather. She captioned it: 'House on lockdown.... shutters wired over plywood, generator inspected, pool water lowered, cars in parking garage, supplies bought, pets accounted for. Bring it on #HurricanefFlorence #southerncharm.' It seems like Patricia's co-stars have been getting through some stormy weather in heir relationship. 'House on lockdown': Altschul definitely showed that she was prepared as just a day earlier she shared a video of the exterior of her house looking secure in the very windy weather Shining star: Whitney Sudler-Smith pictured with Patricia on Southern Charm Former Southern Charm star Thomas Ravenel and his ex-girlfriend Ashley Jacobs reunited for a dinner over the Labor Day weekend in their native South Carolina. While Ravenel, 56, and Jacobs, 33, announced their split last month, the two 'looked like they were having a great time' when they were seen at the Charleston restaurant Halls Chophouse during the holiday weekend, an insider told People. 'If they are still split, you never would have known, but at the same time they weren't showing any PDA or anything,' the insider told the magazine. 'They looked friendly, like friends having a good time out together.' The latest: Former Southern Charm star Thomas Ravenel, 56, and his ex-girlfriend Ashley Jacobs, 33, reunited for a dinner over the Labor Day weekend in their native South Carolina The public rendezvous came just weeks after Ravenel, a one-time treasurer for the state of South Carolina, and Jacobs, a nurse, called it quits in their yearlong relationship, which has remained a hot topic amid a slew of social media revelations. Jacobs said in an Instagram Live August 15 that she was 'trying to handle' the split 'privately,' making clear she remained fond of Ravenel. 'I love Thomas and I'll always love Thomas; I'll always care about him,' Jacobs said. 'I'm still trying to work it out, not work out getting back together, but I'm still trying to figure it out ... I think everyone's been through breakups before but it's hard - it's not easy.' In a series of tweets he posted August 25, Ravenel was cryptic in intimating that he'd been cheated on. Southern Belle: Jacobs posed on a dock at Shem Creek Boat Landing in her native South Carolina over the weekend Unclear: It remains to be seen whether or not the dinner between the two was a platonic one, or if they're looking to rekindle their romance 'Today, my personal life just took a huge upward turn. I finally have more than enough information to move forward without any doubt or hesitation and I'll never look back.' Ravenel cited a lyric from the 1987 Chicago song, If She Would Have Been Faithful, spurring further speculation about the cause of his split with Jacobs. 'After 30 years I finally understand the lyrics from that wonderful Chicago tune: If she would have been faithful, if she could have been true, then I would have been cheated, I would have never known real love.' Days later, Jacobs told People that she 'never cheated on Thomas' but told him she 'wanted to see other people' at the end of their relationship. 'When he saw that I was out with friends, he got angry and made assumptions that I was dating other guys,' she said. 'And when he confronted me about it, I blocked him because it wasn't worth my energy. It's toxic and unhealthy. So he went on a tweet storm.' Ravenel subsequently returns to Twitter to say he had 'no information that Ashley Jacobs ever cheated on' him. 'In fact as far as I know she has always been true and faithful especially during the really dark times,' he said. 'She didn't deserve my insinuations to the contrary.' Ravenel, who has two children with his ex Kathryn Dennis, 27 - daughter Kensington, four, and son St. Julien, two - has also been in the news amid sex assault allegations made by his children's former nanny Dawn Ledwell (who appeared Bravo reality show as Nanny Dawn), while a real estate agent named Ashley Perkins claimed Ravenel sexually assaulted her mother Debbie Holloway Perkins after meeting via Tinder in October 2015. Authorities in South Carolina continue to probe the allegations, which Ravenel has denied through his attorney. Keira Knightley plays a French novelist who has to reclaim her name and voice as a writer in the new film Colette. And on Friday the 33-year old actress hit the red carpet for a special screening of the biographical drama at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The British born beauty was the picture of glamour in a vintage white gown that would have made a starlet from the Roaring Twenties envious. Shining on the red carpet: Keira Knightley was the picture of glamour at the premiere of Colette in Beverly Hills on Friday The white frock lit up under the bright lights of the red carpet with a smattering of sparkles. The flapper-inspired number got some extra pop of vintage elegance with stylish sheer fabric above the breast line and a healthy dose of ostrich feathers that went from just below the waistline to the knees. Knightley matched it perfectly with a pair of strapped heels and just the right amount of bling, which included a pair of dangling silver earrings. And on this night she wore her chestnut brown locks long and with a part in the middle. Owning it: The British born actress shined in a vintage Roaring Twenties gown Wow factor: The flapper-inspired number got some extra pop of vintage elegance with stylish sheer fabric above the breast line and a healthy dose of ostrich feathers Biopic: Knightley plays French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, who lived from 1875 to 1954 Powerful: Colette was pushed by her overbearing husband, played by Dominic West, to write novels under his name; she eventually fought back to reclaim her voice and name Also looking glamorous on the red carpet were co-star John Savage, his partner and actress Blanca Blanco, director/co-writer Wash Westmoreland, producers Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon and Stephen Woolley and actress Maria Conchita Alonso. Colette is based on the life of the author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, who lived from 1875 to 1954. Set in the early 20th century, she was pushed by her overbearing husband, played by Dominic West, to write novels under his name. When the books became bestsellers, she eventually fought back to make her talents known, while challenging the gender norms of the time. Strike a pose: Keira Knightley and Wash Westmoreland were all smiles as they posed together The director and his leading lady: Knightley and Westmoreland worked the red carpet 'The film speaks to that sense that everyone is articulating now of being silenced and womens voices not being heard or appreciated the same level as a man and the playing field not being even,' the starlet revealed at the LA screening as reported by Just Jared. 'The film is talking about feminism, its talking about gender politics, its talking about sexual politics and its talking about a celebrity couple, so these are things that are very relevant to today.' Colette hits theaters September 21. Co-star John Savage and his partner, actress Blanca Blanco, also brought out their A fashion game for the red carpet Working it: Blanca Blanco stunned in an floral gown that hugged her curvy figure Behind the scenes: Producers Christine Vachon and Stephen Woolley also attended the LA premiere Taking a bow: Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon and Stephen Woolley opted for more casual-cool looks Jenna Cooper is out to disprove the 'fraud perpetrated by terrible individuals'. The Bachelor Is Paradise star was dumped by her fiance Jordan Kimball on Wednesday after he claims she cheated on him. But the blonde bombshell denied the infidelity allegations and wanted to reconcile with him as she posted a message on Instagram Friday saying: 'I am sorry that horrible people have used fabricated, hateful efforts to come between us.' Prove herself innocent: Jenna Cooper is out to disprove the 'fraud perpetrated by terrible individuals' after it was reported she 'cheated' on her ex fiance Jordan Kimball 'I promise you that the truth will be set free in the coming weeks, and it will unquestionably be to your satisfaction,' she continued. 'To the persons that did this to Jordan, myself, our relationship, the show, our families, and our fans, Justice is coming to you,' she added. On Wednesday, Jordan decided to 'remove myself from the relationship' amid rumors that Jenna spoke to another man about her 'fake' relationship, according to US Weekly, which she later denied any cheating on social media. 'To think, to feel, to fall. These emotions interact with experiences and people, when you find a person you think about them, you feel when they feel and sometimes you fall,' he wrote online. 'When youre in love with even the experiences youve had with them its something to respect.' Denial: The blonde bombshell denied the infidelity allegations and wanted to reconcile with him as she posted a message on Instagram Friday saying: 'I am sorry that horrible people have used fabricated, hateful efforts to come between us.' Truth tea: 'I promise you that the truth will be set free in the coming weeks, and it will unquestionably be to your satisfaction,' she continued Jordan made his reality television debut as a contestant on season 14 of The Bachelorette with Becca Kufrin. 'I deal with unreasonable circumstances reasonably and have come to terms with a decision to remove myself from the relationship, it breaks my heart to think, feel and fall for this,' Jordan added online. 'Its dropped me. Fumbling emotions and being understanding is not easy. 'Ill be taking time to pursue my inner peace and she will always have me to talk to, if youve reached out to me, allow me time. Thank you to those that have.' Single: Jordan made his reality television debut as a contestant on season 14 of The Bachelorette with Becca Kufrin Not true: Jenna took to Instagram and admitted 'those texts were completely fabricated' before telling her fans that she is pursuing legal action RealitySteve revealed a series of text messages on Tuesday with what appeared to be a conversation where Jenna admitted episodes and the relationship were 'all for my business.' 'You know how much I need the money. Me and Jordan aren't together for real. I don't even like him let alone love him,' the long text said. 'I'm better than him and once I'm able to I'll break it off for good and make up some story to make him look bad if it'll make you feel better.' Jenna took to Instagram and admitted 'those texts were completely fabricated' before telling her fans that she is pursuing legal action. 'I did not cheat on Jordan, and I have nothing to hide,' she wrote. 'I have been extremely open and vulnerable throughout this whole process. I was looking for love, and I found it.' Oh no: Just hours before announcing the split, Jordan was seen dropping to one knee and proposing to the blonde beauty during the finale of the show Not so fast: Jenna, 28, vied for Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s heart on season 22 of The Bachelor before looking for love on Bachelor in Paradise Jenna, 28, vied for Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s heart on season 22 of The Bachelor before looking for love on Bachelor in Paradise. Just hours before announcing the split, Jordan was seen dropping to one knee and proposing to the blonde beauty during the finale of the show. The couple had even started the process of planning their wedding, telling US Weekly last month that a massive ''50s theme, black and white party' was in the works. 'Itll be a production,' Jordan said, with Chris Harrison already slated to officiate during the June 2019 nuptials. 'Then after, its going to be a big party. Im not too crazy, but it might get crazy later.' She stepped down as the ambassador for Myer after 12 years with the department store. And on Saturday, Jennifer Hawkins stepped out in style at the Colgate Optic White Stakes Day at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. The 34-year-old, who is also a Colgate ambassador, stunned in a plunging white pantsuit and red clutch bag. All smiles! Jennifer Hawkins stepped out in style at the Colgate Optic White Stakes Day at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Saturday She wore her luscious blonde locks to one side, and sported bright red lipstick on her plump pout. The beauty appeared to be in good spirits as she swanned around in front of Colgate promotional materials. Jen is a regular at racing events across Australia, but she usually attends as a Myer ambassador. Red hot! The beauty, who is also a Colgate ambassador, stunned in a plunging white pantsuit and red clutch bag Happy days! Jennifer appeared to be in good spirits as she swanned around in front of Colgate promotional materials Racy at the races! Jennifer revealed a hint of cleavage in her plunging pantsuit The stunner recently stepped down as a Myer ambassador after 12 years in the role. And she 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.' Model mayhem! The former Miss Universe was joined by supermodel Robyn Lawley Sayonara! The stunner recently stepped down as a Myer ambassador after 12 years in the role The 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. 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' Posing up a storm! The blonde beauty worked the floor like a runway 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. Side to side: The model showcased her flawless side profile as she posed for photos Final: Jennifer made her final appearance with Myer on Thursday night as she walked in one of their in-store fashion shows on Bourke Street Fresh meat: Jennifer was 'replaced' by swimsuit model and reality TV star Elyse Knowles, who signed with the struggling department store in late July 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. Good timing! Jennifer's exit from Myer comes at a perfect time given that the retail giant suffered a record $486million annual loss in 2017-18 She recently attended the TV Choice Awards alongside her sister-in-law Michelle Keegan. And Jessica Wright continued her glamorous display as she celebrated her 33rd birthday at Jak's in London on Friday night. The former TOWIE star sported a slinky emerald green slip dress, which showcased her sensational frame, for the worthwhile celebrations. Green with envy: Jessica Wright continued her glamorous display as she celebrated her 33rd birthday at Jak's in London on Friday night The brunette beauty's calf-length look skimmed her hourglass curves as she arrived to the venue in her sky-high heels. Jess continued her fashionable display as she draped a black leather jacket over her shoulders and held onto a Chanel handbag for the occasion. The former ITVBe star worked her brown tresses into a tousled style and sported a glamorous smokey with a glossy nude lip. Her beaming display comes days after she disappointed the style brigade when she took to the red carpet at the TV Choice in a wedding gown-inspired dress that placed her atop the list of the night's worst-dressed celebrities. Walk this way: The former TOWIE star sported a slinky emerald green slip dress, which showcased her sensational frame, for the worthwhile celebrations Despite her fashion faux pas, the TV star was there to support sister-in-law Michelle Keegan, who picked up the coveted title of Best Actress for her role in BBC drama Our Girl. Meanwhile, Jess' fans flooded a recent post of hers suggesting she looked just like Katie Price Posting a new snap to her 1.3 million followers, Jess struck a pose for the camera with her long dark locks falling around her shoulders, pouting for Britain and looking off to the side of the camera. Drink up: She sipped on prosecco ahead of her birthday celebrations Comments came in comparing her to the likes of Chloe Sims, Demi Lovato and Cheryl - but most were struck by how much she resembled Loose Women star and former glamour model Katie Price, 40. Remarks flooded in such as 'You look like Katie price in this!' and 'Hell no you look like Katie Price!' Others wrote 'I thought you was Katie Price until I looked at your name you could be twins [sic]' and 'Katie Price so much!''Double of Katie Price!!!' another exclaimed. In the shot, Jess wore a white top with what appeared to be pancake stacks or burgers on it. She captioned it: 'When bae asks if youre hungry.' He's the socialite son of Richard Wilkins that's often found partying in Sydney. But the antics of Christian Wilkins' latest wild night out could cause some serious offense to many Australians. The 23-year-old model stripped down with a male friend and dived into Sydney's Archibald memorial Fountain for a late night swim in a picture posted on Friday. Scroll down for video Diving into history? Christian Wilkins (left) strips down and swims in Sydney's Archibald memorial Fountain, which commemorates the association of Australia and France in World War 1 In the image shared on Instagram, Christian wrote: 'rub a dub dub, two men in a fountain.' The Archibald Fountain, located in Sydney's Hyde Park, is a memorial commemorating the association between Australia and France in World War 1. Artist Francois-Leon Sicard sculpted the monument in Paris in 1926 and it was later unveiled Down Under in 1932 by former Lord Mayor of Sydney, Samuel Walder. It is named after J. F. Archibald, original owner and editor of The Bulletin magazine, who bequeathed funds to have it built after the war ended in 1918. Making a splash: The 23-year-old model and son of Richard Wilkins (right) stripped down with a male pal and dived into Sydney's Archibald memorial Fountain for a late night swim in a picture shared on Friday 'Cold night boys?' Celebrities including Karl Stefanovic (far right) commented on the controversial pic Despite the controversy surrounding Christian's choice of swimming spot, his photo was praised by several celebrity followers. Karl Stefanovic commented: 'Cold night boys?' Married At First Sight contestant Sarah Roza added: 'You crazy cats.' Another follower responded to the picture, writing: 'So naughty!' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Christian for comment. She fell down a staircase in her New York City home just three months ago. But model Robyn Lawley, 29, proved you can't keep a good woman down when she attended the Optic White Stakes Day in Sydney on Saturday. Back to her best, the brunette bombshell channelled old Hollywood glamour with an oversized red hat, along with a quirky white gown. Scroll down to video Hat's off to her! Model Robyn Lawley (pictured), 29, channelled old Hollywood glamour with an eye-catching red headpiece, at the Optic White Stakes Day in Sydney on Saturday Looking every inch the supermodel, Robyn donned a bespoke layered gown which featured a plunging neckline and billowing sleeves. The statuesque star accessorised with a long red scarf and a pair of strappy red heels. Opting for a more natural look, Robyn kept her makeup simple with a nude palette, contrasted with a dark eyeliner. At times, she posed with former Myer ambassador Jennifer Hawkins who opted for a tight-fitting pantsuit, which exposed her cleavage. Taking the plunge: The model opted for a bespoke white gown, which featured a plunging neckline and billowing sleeves at the race day event Playful! The model looked high glam as she played with the eye-catching headpiece The former Miss Universe Australia wore her luscious blonde locks to one side, along with a pair of statement earrings. She held a small red clutch and donned strappy white heels. The sighting comes after Robyn, who was diagnosed with Lupus in 2015, fell seven feet down the staircase, landing on her face, three months ago. Starpower! At times, the model posed with former Miss Universe Australia Jennifer Hawkins (right), 34, who looked radiant in a tight white one-piece suit, which flaunted her cleavage She suffered cuts to her forehead, nose, lip and chin. In August, Robyn shared two images of her face on her Instagram page - one taken from her hospital bed and another showing how her face has healed. The snap showed the scars she was left with. Horrific! It comes after the model took to social media to expose the extent of her facial injuries earlier this year, after she fell down a staircase in her New York City home 'I unfortunately had a seizure on my staircase, I fell from over seven feet and landed on my face. I suppose it's ironic that I'm a model, however I'm grateful I didn't break my neck,' she explained in the post's caption. 'I've managed to come full circle with that gratefulness, and luck. I could of had it holding my daughter for example, or I could be in a wheelchair, or not breathing at all. 'With fashion week coming soon I wanted to acknowledge my new lighting bolt scar on my forehead [aka official wizard now], lip and chin. 'It started in the muscles. I couldn't pick up things very well and I was losing the ability to walk and to talk': The model was diagnosed with Lupus in 2015 Further into the post, she clearly her empathy for fellow Lupus suffers and the symptoms of the condition which include skin rashes, joint and muscle pain, hair loss, fatigue, mouth ulcers, chest pain, poor kidney function and anaemia. Robyn was diagnosed with Lupus in the late stages of her pregnancy in 2015. She previously told news.com.au: 'It started in the muscles. I couldn't pick up things very well and I was losing the ability to walk and to talk.' Robyn, who gave birth to daughter Ripley in March 2015, said the effects of the disease were visible to her family. 'I have a super high pain threshold ... I delivered an 11 pound baby ... so when I couldn't even pick up things, the doctors, at first, didn't take me seriously.' Her budding relationship has already gone through some ups and downs. And Shelby Tribble's romance has become even more unstable as she confides in her close pal Yazmin Oukhellou over her beau Pete Wicks on Sunday's edition of The Only Way Is Essex. In upcoming scenes, the 25-year-old breaks down in tears as she reveals the businessman, 29, was caught cosying up to another girl on video during his recent Spanish getaway. Tension: Shelby Tribble's romance has become even more unstable as she confides in close pal Yazmin Oukhellou over her beau Pete Wicks on Sunday's edition of The Only Way Is Essex Speaking to brunette beauty Yaz, 24, about the couple's tumultuous state, Shelby cries: 'I'm not being funny, you've gone away with a load of girls, you should reassure me that everything is fine, but no, instead you've made me gone on'. The Newcastle alum interjects: 'Have you heard anything?', to which the former Miss Great Britain admits: 'I've heard that he seemed to be around another girl a lot, and I've seen it in videos anyway so he can't deny it.' Overwhelmed with emotion, Shelby elaborates: 'For the past four or five days I've been crying and crying. I've had anxiety through the roof and I've gone past the point where I'm f*****g angry!' Caught: In upcoming scenes, the 25-year-old breaks down in tears as she reveals the businessman, 29, cosied up to another girl during his recent Spanish getaway 'Like I'm angry now, not even upset, I'm just angry, like I don't feel good enough, like I'm not made to feel good enough...I always feel so insecure and s**t, I'm never enough for anymore', she cries. Upset over her pal's shocking comments, Yaz says: 'Are you joking, look at you! Don't say that about yourself, come on now, stop', before comforting Shelby with a hug. The emotion continues as she opens up to Pete about the problems between them, but it remains unclear whether they will be resolved. Confession: Speaking to brunette beauty Yaz, 24, about the couple's tumultuous state, Shelby cries: 'You've gone away with a load of girls, you should reassure me that everything is fine' Breaking down: Overwhelmed with emotion, the former Miss Great Britain elaborates: 'For the past four or five days I've been crying and crying' Viewers of the hit show saw Pete and Shelby have a spat on-screen in April when Liam 'Gatsby' Blackwell danced with the beauty. Things took a turn for the worse as the rapper, 29, slapped a pizza box out of his rival's hands during the explosive argument. Joined by Shelby and Tommy Mallett, Liam lived up to his trouble-making ways as he walked away with Pete's food just moments after the heated row. 'Insecure': 'Like I'm angry now, not even upset, I'm just angry, like I don't feel good enough, like I'm not made to feel good enough', she cries A friend indeed: Upset over her pal's shocking comments, Yaz says: 'Are you joking, look at you! Don't say that about yourself, come on now, stop', before comforting Shelby with a hug.' Pete recently left Shelby behind in Essex for a few weeks while he filmed for his upcoming appearance on Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls, and he made a major decision before jetting off. He told OK! Online: 'I went away I gave her a key to the house, because I wanted her to feel like if she wanted to go there, she could. We dont live together, but we spend a lot of time together. 'Thats the thing, its not like a great big "Were moving in together" type thing, but its certainly... the reason I did it is because I potentially do see it going somewhere.' The drama continues in The Only Way Is Essex on Sunday, September 16, at 9pm on ITVBe. Zendaya was just 14 years old when she made her debut on Disney's hit sitcom Shake It Up back in 2010. And after almost a decade in the spotlight, the actress has transitioned from child star to leading lady, with new role in the forthcoming HBO series, Euphoria. Speaking with The Herald Sun on Saturday, the now 22-year-old revealed how she managed to pull off the remarkable feat, saying: 'A little bit has been planning, obviously, but more so it has to do with what feels right.' 'It's possible to do': Zendaya (pictured), 22, spoke with The Herald Sun on Saturday, about how she has transitioned from child star to leading lady in Hollywood After starring alongside Bella Thorne in Shake It Up from 2010 to 2013, Zendaya appeared in a second Disney series titled K.C. Undercover. And while most child stars find they're unable to secure roles once they reach adulthood, it wasn't a problem for Zendaya, who deftly thought ahead. She began filming mainstream blockbusters while still contracted with Disney, telling The Herald Sun she shot the hit film The Greatest Showman while simultaneously still shooting K.C. Undercover. Remember when? Zendaya starred alongside Bella Thorne (right), 20, in Disney's hit sitcom Shake It Up from 2010 until 2013 Child star! Zendaya starred on two shows on the Disney Channel. Pictured in 2011 She told the newspaper: 'Sometimes with children's programming, it can be, "Oh you're never going to get out of that ". To me, the idea was I can have more than one pot cooking; it was important to be able to show that it's possible to do. I was able to grow up and also maintain something I'd started out in.' Zendaya finished up work on K.C. Undercover earlier this year, and is now set to star in HBO's Euphoria. It seems the series will be far from Disney fare, as 'it follows a group of students they attempt to cope through drugs, sex and violence' according to The Hollywood Reporter. Hollywood hit: Zendaya starred alongside Zac Efron (right) in The Greatest Showman Zendaya is also hard at work on Spider-Man: Far From Home, which also stars Michael Keaton, Jake Gyllenhaal and Samuel L. Jackson. The down-to-earth actress has also managed to avoid the turmoil and scandal that often engulfs child stars. Still incredibly close with her family, Zendaya has recently shared photos of her mother and grandmothers on her popular Instagram page. Advertisement She recently admitted she struggles with being 'under scrutiny' in the spotlight. Yet Alexa Chung, 34, had no qualms stealing the attention on the catwalk of her debut London Fashion Week show at Victoria House, in London on Saturday. The fashion royalty showed off her style prowess with confidence as she worked every inch of her fabulous figure in her loose-fitted blouse and split skirt. Fashionable and fun! Alexa Chung looked elegant in a blouse and split skirt as she joined a leggy Daisy Lowe at her debut London Fashion Week show at Victoria House on Saturday Alexa cut a ladylike figure in her straight-style skirt which hugged every inch of her incredible physique while she twirled on her first London Fashion Week catwalk. The designer snaked down the runway in her steep high heels, fastened to her ankle with a glittering strap to ensure all eyes from the audience were well and truly on her. Earlier in the day, the fashion royalty showed off her individual sense of style when she tied a loose spotty shirt over her Out Of This World T-shirt. Check her out: The A-list guest list turned backstage into the hottest runway, with Daisy leading the way in her sensual thigh-split dress Waltzing into the room! Strictly Come Dancing star Daisy paraded her legs in the cheeky split that sexed up her little black number with a demure neckline Alexa dressed down her effortless look with a pair of navy blue jeans as she posed backstage ahead of her collection hitting the catwalk. The star-studded guest list turned backstage into another hot runway, with Daisy leading the way in her sensual thigh-split dress. Strictly Come Dancing star Daisy paraded her legs in the cheeky split that sexed up her little black number with a demure neckline. She's a stand-out star! Daisy joined forces with Justin O'Shea, Amber Anderson, Gala Gordon, Charli Howard and Valentine Fillol-Cordier How to accessorise: The brunette model glittered in the eyes of onlookers as she waltzed into the glamorous venue in her gem-encrusted heels The brunette model glittered in the eyes of onlookers as she waltzed into the glamorous venue in her gem-encrusted heels. Injecting further sparkle into her look, the daughter of Pearl Lowe accessorised with golden rings and a bracelet. Daisy framed her pretty features with her straight bob, box fringe and ginormous circular sunglasses when she made her breathtaking arrival at the hottest event of the weekend. Pretty in polka dots! Earlier in the day, the fashion royalty showed off her individual sense of style when she tied a loose spotty shirt over her Out Of This World T-shirt Sensational in spots: Alexa dressed down her effortless look with a pair of navy blue jeans as she posed backstage ahead of her collection hitting the catwalk Honesty: Weeks ahead of the launch of her new clothing line, the fashionista freely expressed how she struggles with always being under 'scrutiny' The fashion model slung a shiny black handbag over her shoulder as she made her presence known outside of Alexa's London Fashion Week show. With her jet-setting lifestyle, it is no surprise Alexa's latest fashion line focuses on what people wear while travelling. Talking about her new collection, she said: 'Airports are such emotionally charged places. I travel a lot, and I people-watch. Top choices: With her jet-setting lifestyle, it is no surprise Alexa's latest fashion line focuses on what people wear while travelling Travelling in style! The brunette model showcased her pins in her thigh-split number and her jelly shoes, while the blonde beauty hit the catwalk in a travel-inspired print dress and a third model wore a coat over her swimsuit 'And I love that British thing of wearing your holiday outfit home but with a sensible jacket because if you are British you are never not thinking about the weather.' Weeks ahead of the launch of her new clothing line, the fashionista freely expressed how she struggles with always being under 'scrutiny'. The fashion designer confessed having a sense of humour helps her deal with the pressures of being in the spotlight in an interview with The Guardian. Alexa told the publication: 'Im always under scrutiny. And yes, I always feel it, but I try to ignore it and to focus and do the best job I can. And I try to keep my sense of humour, because that helps.' Top guests: Stephanie Phair, Edward Enninful and Caroline Rush were among a whole host of stars attending the fashionable event at Victoria House Peace out! Pixie Geldof showed off her quirky sense of style in a hoodie and a silk skirt as she joined Jack Guinness at the A-list affair in London She opened up about her sexuality during emotional scenes on last Wednesday's episode of The Bachelor. And now Brooke Blurton's ex Blake Colman, 29, who shot to fame on The Bachelorette in 2017, has wasted no time in sharing his thoughts on her reveal. Despite Brooke, 23, who dates both men and women, stating she doesn't label her sexuality, Blake claimed she 'turned full lesbian' after dumping him for a girl. Scroll down for video 'You have not felt pain until a girl leaves you for a girl': The Bachelor star Brooke Blurton's ex Blake Colman claims she dumped him to 'turn full lesbian' after their short-lived fling In a post to his Instagram Story on Thursday, Blake wrote: 'It's now the right time to let you know that I was dating Brooke during the exact moment she decided to turn full lesbian?' 'I literally have no hope with women. Just for the record she is a dope chick and a really good human.' 'But guys you have not felt pain and confusion until a girl leaves you for a girl.' Although it is unclear when they dated, Brooke previously opened up about their failed romance to Woman's Day in August. Speaking out: And now Brooke Blurton's ex Blake Colman, 29, who shot to fame on The Bachelorette in 2017, has wasted no time in sharing his thoughts on her reveal Opening up: 'It's now the right time to le you know...,' Blake penned a lengthy post about his time with Brooke 'We used to see each other but it didn't really work out,' Brooke told the publication. 'I don't like to judge, but I got an eerie feeling from him.' During Wednesday's episode of The Bachelor, Brooke said in-regards to her sexuality: 'I'm not a bisexual or a lesbian or anything like that, I'm a big lover of people and who they are.' 'I don't like to judge, but I got an eerie feeling from him': Brooke previously slammed her short lived romance with Blake 'I'm not a bisexual or a lesbian or anything like that, I'm a big lover of people and who they are': Brooke claimed she does not label her sexuality during Wednesday's episode of The Bachelor While opening up about what the Network Ten show had dubbed her 'big secret' to Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins, Brooke stated she has previously had two relationships with men and two with women. Daily Mail Australia recently revealed that isn't the only bombshell from her past. The star previously competed in a series of bikini and beauty pageants while aged just 18 in Western Australia. Daily Mail Australia has contacted both Blake and Brooke for comment. Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen have married in an lavish ceremony surrounded by close friends and family. 24-year-old Olivia and model Alex, 27, tied the knot on Saturday at Gosfield Hall, which boasts 10 acres of elegant grounds, in the blonde beauty's native Essex. The reality stars are the first Love Island couple to say 'I do' after meeting on the beloved ITV2 series in 2016. 'I do': Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen have married in an lavish ceremony surrounded by close friends and family The reality duo are reported to have wed at the jaw-dropping Gosfield Hall, which boasts 23 luxurious bedroom suites for up to 67 guests. The decadent venue can seat up to 116 guests under 'crystal chandeliers and double-height mirrors' in their main dining hall, the Marquis of Buckingham's Ballroom. Following a night of celebration, the couple are sure to spend their first night as man and wife in the Rococco Bridal Suite, which was decorated during the residency of King Louis XVIII. Olivia hinted about her upcoming nuptials on Friday on Instagram as she shared a snap of her clad in a camel-coloured jumpsuit, with the caption: 'Last minute errands yesterday, bridal tribe getting spoiled'. Love: The reality stars are the first Love Island couple to say 'I do' after meeting on the beloved ITV2 series in 2016 Over the moon: Alex made a return to Twitter two days after tying the knot to confirm that he and Olivia had become husband and wife Ceremony: 24-year-old Olivia and model Alex, 27, tied the knot on Saturday at Gosfield Hall, which boasts 10 acres of elegant grounds, in the blonde beauty's native Essex 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. 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. Hunky scaffolder and fitness model Alex ignored claims that the couple were only a 'showmance' and popped the question after whisking Olivia away to a romantic trip to the Big Apple. Despite coming in second place to Nathan and Cara, the couple won over the hearts of the nation. Story: 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 The pair got off to a rocky start in the villa when Alex bedded former Miss Great Britain winner Zara Holland on his first night, a move that resulted in her being stripped of her beauty queen crown. Since then 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. Speaking to MailOnline last year, she said: 'I think I might turn into Bridezilla at some point, just waiting for it to happen.' The wedding hasn't been without drama as it was revealed Olivia reportedly had a row with her former best friend and Love Island co-star, Cara De La Hoyde, over bridesmaid duties. In the past: Despite coming in second place to Nathan and Cara, the couple won over the hearts of the nation. The pair got off to a rocky start in the villa when Alex bedded former Miss Great Britain winner Zara Holland on his first night, a move that resulted in her being stripped of her beauty queen crown 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. In July, Olivia talked to OK! Magazine about her impending nuptials, which will see the show's host Caroline Flack attend, and revealed up to 250 guests would be attending. She said: 'I could cry now. Im so emotional about everything. Were having 100 in the day and 250 in the night. The day will be the lovey-dovey stuff and then the evening is a big party. 'We've got a special musical guest and Im so excited! Its someone Ive been a fan of for years. I dont think anyone will guess as its quite random.' Bridezilla: Since then 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 Fans have been every step of the way with them as they placed their lavish ceremony with Olivia picking her dress on Say Yes To the Dress. Continuing the theme, the Love Island alumni recently confirmed the pair will be releasing their own reality show Alex And Olivia Said Yes! in September. The new show, set to be released in September on TLC will show the lead up the couple's big day. Continuing the theme, the Love Island alumni recently confirmed the pair will be releasing their own reality show Alex And Olivia Said Yes! in September Olivia is keeping tight-lipped about details of the wedding, but admitted that it will be in the UK so the pair's friends and family don't miss out, and they will plan a 'fab honeymoon abroad' after. Speaking to MailOnline in May, the blonde admitted she never dreamed of meeting her Mr Right on the reality show. Olivia said: 'Its the last thing I thought would happen. It is crazy to think that two years ago I was in a much different position to what I am in now. I was actually like "I hate men" when I went into the villa.' Before joking of his input in wedding planning: 'I mean, he helps out with the decision making but he usually just sits there like "What is this?" But he does try hard to help out and add his opinion on things.' She appears at the most fashionable dinner parties and envy-inducing catwalks ever since she shot to fame on the VOGUE cover. So it's no surprise Adwoa Aboah, 26, was on everyone's lips when she strutted her stuff on the catwalk for the Molly Goddard show, in London on Saturday. The Vogue cover girl looked radiant as she walked the catwalk in her red flowery dress with a high-risk neckline leaving very little to the imagination. Blooming lovely: Adwoa Aboah looked ravishing in a risque ruffled dress as she strutted her stuff on the Molly Goddard LFW catwalk in London on Saturday Ruffles were stitched in a cascading fashion down the saucy Spanish-inspired number and drawing further attention to her model-honed physique. The models topped up her features with neutral tones of make-up to enhance her God given beauty while she put on her fashionable parade on the catwalk. Already standing at 5 feet and 6 inches tall, the catwalk beauty hung up her heels and walked the runway in flats. Blooming beauty! The Vogue cover girl looked radiant as she walked the catwalk in her red flowery dress with a high-risk neckline leaving very little to the imagination Later Adwoa also slipped her incredible figure into racy emerald green dress which had semi-sheer panels to give onlookers a glimpse at her black pants. The style icon has been hitting catwalks and attending the hottest parties after she made her name in the fashion circles thanks to her impressive VOGUE cover. Despite her picture-perfect confidence, Adwoa confessed she previously struggled with 'trying to be someone else' before she embraced her individuality. Green with envy! Later Adwoa also slipped her incredible figure into racy emerald dress which had semi-sheer panels to give onlookers a glimpse at her black pants She told VOGUE in April: 'I was unsure of myself, and lost, a young girl who had no idea who she was. 'I spent hours flattening and straightening it until one day, when I moved to Lose Angeles after treatment, I just shaved it all off. 'I was just so bored of the continuous struggle of trying to be someone else.' Josie Totah has shared her first photos since revealing she is transgender. Showing the 17-year-old standing on a bridge, hands in pockets, she smiles at the camera. Josie, previously known as JJ Totah, wears a simple outfit of white tank top and black jeans in the snap, which she captioned 'whatd i miss?' New me: Disney star Josie Totah, 17, who played Mindy Kaling's son shares first photo since coming out as transgender; she captioned the snap 'whatd i miss?' The comments section saw Josie's fellow Disney channel stars Kayla Maisonet, 19, and Jenna Ortega, 15, show their support. 'Wow, youre really THAT beautiful' wrote Oretga. Maisonet added: 'yesss biihh!!' In an essay for Time last month, the former Disney Channel and Champions star, explained how growing up in NorthernCalifornia people assumed she was a gay boy and would continually cast her as such when she started her acting career. 'In the past, I've halfway corrected people by telling them I identify as LGBTQ,' the teen wrote. 'But I realized over the past few years that hiding my true self is not healthy. I know now, more than ever, that I'm finally ready to take this step toward becoming myself. I'm ready to be free.' Totah continued: 'My pronouns are she, her and hers. I identify as female, specifically as a transgender female. And my name is Josie Totah.' Josie Totah, formerly known as JJ Totah, has come out as a transgender woman; she is seen in April before her announcement She wrote an essay for Time where she revealed her pronouns are 'she' and 'her' The 17-year-old has appeared on Glee, Disney Channel and NBC's Champions where she continually as been cast as gay boy (pictured playing Mindy Kaling's son) During her early acting career, landing roles as Mindy Kaling's son on Champions and a singing tween in Glee, Totah said she let herself be 'shoved in a box' by playing the stereotypical gay boy. 'I was afraid I wouldn't be accepted, that I would be embarrassed, that the fans who knew me from the time when I acted in a Disney show would be confused,' she wrote. The teen has been on hormone blockers since 14 and says she's now 'ready to be free' Totah subsequently let others assume she was gay and would be asked in interviews 'how it feels to be a young gay man.' 'I was even introduced that way before receiving an award from an LGBTQ+ rights organization,' she added. But Totah said she knew she was a woman since five years old, long before she even understood what the word gender meant. 'I would always tell my mother that I wished I were a girl. Since I could speak in full sentences, I was like, ''Give me a dress!'' I always knew on some level that I was female,' she wrote. But it wasn't until Totah was 14 that she decided to make the transition. She was watching the TLC docu-series I Am Jazz with her mother. The show documents a 14-year-old's medical transition to becoming a woman. 'As I learned more information about hormone replacement therapy, I knew that this was what I had to do,' she recalled. 'I looked over at her in the middle of the show and said, ''This is me. I'm transgender. And I need to go through this.''' Her supportive mother Christine said 'okay, let's do it' and within three days, Totah was meeting with a pediatrician and then a specialist who put her on hormone blockers. 'From that point on, I hit the ground running,' she said. Totah, who had developed anxiety over concealing her true identity and hitting puberty, can now breathe easier. 'I wasn't waking up every day and panicking.''Is there hair on my face? Is my voice getting deeper?'' Those changes are very hard, if not impossible, to reverse,' she said. Mindy Kaling has been joined by other castmates who have shared their overwhelming support for Josie Josie, pictured here as JJ, hopes to continue her acting career Totah tweeted out her Time essay last month, with her account name being changed to Josie and a blank white screen in place of her profile picture. 'For so long I've been trying to hide who I was. And I did it in fear. In fear that I wouldn't be accepted or loved,' she tweeted. 'I know now more than ever I'm ready to take the step to becoming myself. I am Transgender and this is my story,' it reads. Her announcement gained the love and support of her former castmates and thousands online. Her TV mom Mindy Kaling tweeted: 'I love you, Josie. I'm so glad you're able to speak your truth and live as your authentic self. You're also so damn talented - I can't wait to write for you again!' Josie will soon attend Chapman University in California as a freshman Totah said that as a Catholic, she doesn't believe she was 'put in the wrong body,' but 'God made me transgender.' 'I believe that I am transgender to help people understand differences. It allows me to gain perspective, to be more accepting of others, because I know what it feels like to know you're not like everyone else,' she wrote. Now, Totah is looking toward the future and will soon attend Chapman University in California as a freshman. She hopes to continue her acting career, but with roles that suit her new identity. 'I plan to play roles I haven't had the opportunity to play,' she said. 'And I can only imagine how much more fun it's going to be to play someone who shares my identity, rather than having to contort myself to play a boy. 'I'm going to gun for those roles, be it a transgender female or a cisgender female. Because it's a clean slate and a new world.' She's heading off on a book tour to promote her lifestyle manual, Whiskey In A Teacup. And Reese Witherspoon looked to be enjoying a family lunch before hitting the road, on Friday. The 42-year-old actress was spotted stepping out with husband Jim Toth and sons Deacon and Tennessee in Pacific Palisades, California. Stepping out: Reese Witherspoon looked to be enjoying a family lunch on Friday (pictured with son Tennessee) The Legally Blonde star looked effortlessly glamorous, as ever, in a midi black dress and a claret-coloured cardigan. She covered her eyes with giant sunglasses and left her signature blonde tresses loose. The mother-of-three added studded strapped black wedges, to elevate her 5ft 1in height. Yummy mommy: She was also joined by son Deacon, 14, who was dressed head to toe in green and appeared to be taller than his diminutive mother She appeared to be without daughter Ava, 18, whose dad is her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe. They also share 14-year old son Deacon, who was dressed head to toe in green and appeared to be taller than his diminutive mother. Five-year-old Tennessee, whom she shares with husband Jim Toth, 48, kept a hold of the Oscar winner's hand. Family time: The 42-year-old actress was alongside husband Jim Toth The beauty - who just wrapped season two of Big Little Lies - has been married to her CAA agent husband since 2011. Reese is the ultimate multi hyphenate, having established her acting credentials with an Oscar win in 2006 for Walk The Line. She also runs clothing company Draper James and is the executive producer of Big Little Lies. Multi hyphenate: Her book tour starts in NYC on Monday, and she shared her excitement on Instagram in heading to Alabama for Thursday Her latest venture as an author taps into her Southern roots. She promises to show you how 'easy it is for you to bring a little bit of the South to your home, no matter where you live.' Her book tour starts in NYC on Monday, and she shared her excitement on Instagram in heading to Alabama on Thursday. She wrote, on Friday: 'Headed back to Alabama next week and the whole South East to visit yall for my #WhiskeyInATeacup book tour!! Makes me think of #SweetHomeAlabama! Cant wait to go home!.' The Wiggles' Emma Watkins and Lachlan Gillespie were spotted grabbing ice cream together during an intimate outing on Friday. They appeared 'anything but a couple getting a divorce' as they stepped out in Townsville, north Queensland, the Daily Telegraph reported. Despite the cosy display, friends of the couple praised their 'wonderful friendship' to the publication, but claimed their current priority 'is the tour and giving their fans the best show possible' - rather than romance. Scroll down for video What happens on tour? The Wiggles' Emma Watkins and Lachlan Gillespie (both pictured) have been spotted grabbing ice cream together as friends praise their 'wonderful friendship' The recent outing comes after Emma, 28, admitted to 'falling out of love' with Lachlan, 32, long before announcing their marriage split last month. But according to The Goss, she has since hinted at a reconciliation as she described recent time spent working with her estranged husband as 'wonderful'. The pair have been closely collaborating on her TV series, Emma, which returns by popular demand to ABC later this year. Still holding a candle? The optimistic outing comes hot on the heels of Emma, 28, claiming she has no intention of dating anyone else anytime soon 'Lachy has been writing all of the music for the new series and we've been in the recording studio every single day and it's been wonderful,' she told The Goss. The optimistic admission comes hot on the heels of Emma claiming she has no intention of dating anyone else anytime soon. 'No, I am too busy and too tired to date,' the redhead performer told the Daily Telegraph on Friday. The Yellow Wiggle maintained all her focus is currently on work right now. 'We just have our eyes on the tour ahead,' she said. Earlier this month, the children's entertainer said she 'fell out of love a little bit' with her husband of two years before they decided to call it quits. Open book: The admission comes shortly after the children's entertainer said she 'fell out of love a little bit' with her husband of two years before they decided to call it quits She also admitted it was she who initiated the split. 'We are not really cranky at each other, we just realised that our situation had changed... probably more from me, than from him.' Emma and Lachlan, 32, announced their shock split on August 3. However, the couple actually broke up earlier this year - with Purple Wiggle Lachlan moving out of the pair's Sydney marital home in February during a trial separation. Alexa Chung has made a name for herself as a model, fashion designer and television presenter. But the 34-year-old admits she still has moments of self-doubt. Speaking candidly with Stellar on Sunday, the British native stated: 'I have absolute prang-outs where I'm worried about the future.' 'What's going to happen to me?' Alexa Chung (pictured), 34, told Stellar magazine on Sunday that she sometimes 'worries about the future' and wonders whether or not she's still an 'it girl' Alexa told the magazine that she recently texted a friend in a jet-lagged panic, writing: 'Oh my god, what's going to happen to me?' The multi-talented star didn't specify what leads to her more existential moments, given that her career is flourishing. Ever the jetsetter, Alexa is soon set to arrive in Australia to promote her second collaboration with sneaker label Superga. Popular: Alexa is front and centre at the world's hottest fashion events. Pictured at this year's Met Gala in New York City Blessed with beauty, Alexa began modelling as a teenager, and her personal life became tabloid fodder during her twenties. She dated Arctic Monkeys rocker Alex Turner from 2007 until 2011. The witty Brit has also been linked to Alexander Skarsgard, but she did not divulge her current relationship status to Stellar. Way back when! Alexa dated Arctic Monkeys rocker Alex Turner (both pictured) from 2007 until 2011. Pictured together in 2009 The star did admit, however, that she does gravitate towards men in the creative industries. 'I've found it's easier to date people who are in a similar boat,' she explained, adding: 'But the downside is, if I've happened to date someone that has also got attention around them, unfortunately it makes untangling a little more complex because d*ckheads online will tag you in who they're (seeing) now, and it's like, 'Nice one, thanks, that's a ripper end to my day.' With her natural style, Alexa has frequently been dubbed an 'it-girl', however the self-deprecating star says she's not sure it's a label that still pertains to her. 'Now I'm like, "Can you still call me an It girl? Have I still got it?"' she humorously asked the magazine. He's known for being rather stony faced. But if there is someone who can make Kanye West cheer up, it's his three-year-old son, Saint. The rapper shared an adorable private moment between him and Saint on Saturday. The 41-year-old posted a screengrab of his Facetime call with his middle child. Smiles: Kanye West shared an adorable private moment between him and son Saint, three, on Saturday Saint is seen smiling against a white sheet, as his famous father grins back. The Gold Digger star is wearing a grey marl sweater, and there appear to be flowers in the background. He's been visiting his home town of Chicago with wife Kim, so was likely Facetiming from there. Growing up: Son Saint, 3, recently enjoyed time on the beach with mom Kim On Friday, he shared a photo of his childhood home 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 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. Together: Kim and Kanye share daughter North, five, son Saint, three and baby Chicago. Inseparable: Kim recently shared a picture of daughter Chicago and son Saint Kanye performed there in 1994 at the age of 17; the theater, which first opened in 1927, has been unused for the past decade. The rapper also 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. Kanye and Kim named their youngest child after the city he grew up in. Daughter Chicago is their third child and was born January 15. They also have daughter North, five. Donda's house: Kanye West shared a photo of his childhood hood in the Illinois city on Friday They're due to get married in the next few months. And Billie Faiers couldn't resist putting on a loved-up display with her fiance Greg Shepherd as they celebrated their seven year anniversary on Saturday during a romantic getaway to Capri, Italy. The former TOWIE star, 28, looked every inch the glowing bride-to-be as she shared several sweet pictures of her businessman beau, 33. Smitten: Billie Faiers couldn't resist putting on a loved-up display with her fiance Greg Shepherd as they celebrated their seven year anniversary on Saturday in Italy In one picture, Billie shared a picture of her and Greg, which she captioned with: 'Happy Anniversary my sweets @gregory_shep 'Im having the most wonderful time celebrating 7 years together, thank you for everything and being the most wonderful daddy to our babies we love you very much.' While Billie also went on to share a picture of them dressed up for a dinner out, she captioned it with: 'Last night @gregory_shep.' Loved-up: The former TOWIE star, 28, looked every inch the glowing bride-to-be as she shared several sweet pictures of her businessman beau, 33 The mother-of-two looked glamorous in a pair of denim hot pants with a funky patterned off-the-shoulder top. She accessorised the look with red heeled sandals and a matching coloured YSL clutch bag. Meanwhile, Greg looked dapper in a pair of white trousers with a navy blue short-sleeved shirt and matching coloured shoes. Yet Billie couldn't resist teasing her beau with a different photo where she shared a selfie of herself with her husband-to-be standing in his boxers behind her. Dream team: Billie and Greg first met in 2011, with the businessman proposing three years later in 2014 during a romantic holiday to the Maldives Family: The loved-up couple have two children together, Nelly (pictured), four, who was born in 2014 and Arthur, 18-months, who was born in 2017 She captioned it with: 'Patiently waiting sweets ... @gregory_shep .' Billie and Greg first met in 2011, with the businessman proposing three years later in 2014 during a romantic holiday to the Maldives. The loved-up couple have two children together, Nelly, four, who was born in 2014 and Arthur, 18-months, who was born in 2017. Billie and Greg are currently filming season four of The Mummy Diaries with her sister, Sam Faiers, which is set to include their upcoming wedding in The Maldives. Amazing: Among the snaps from her getaway was one showing Billie flaunting her incredible figure in a striped bikini, taking in the stunning views on the sun-soaked boat ride Anna Kendrick called former President Barack Obama an 'a**hole' in an exchange which left him doubled over in laughter. The 33-year-old actress has finally revealed what she said to Obama during a meeting in 2012 - when he was still the US president - which caused confusion after pictures posted to her Instagram account showed the figurehead in a fit of laughter. During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Anna admitted she actually insulted the president in a teasing manner, and managed to get a laugh out of him. What did you say? Anna Kendrick reveals she had just called Barack Obama an 'a**hole' in viral photo of then-President laughing; she posted the snaps to her Instagram account after the meeting back in 2012 She revealed that Obama singled her movie Up In The Air out for praise in front of around 30 people because of the way in which it 'talked about the economy and the recession,' and when the pair met face-to-face later on, he apologized for 'embarrassing' her with the praise. Anna then claimed she responded: 'Yeah, you're such an a**hole.' The Pitch Perfect star then decided to make up a fictional character trait about people from her home state of Maine, and teased Obama for not knowing the made-up fact. Getting a laugh: She told show host Stephen Colbert: 'So I called him an asshole and scolded him for not knowing enough about the 50 states, so that was what made him double over with laughter' Teasing: Anna said she made up a fictional character trait about people from her home state of Maine, and teased Obama for not knowing the made-up fact She told show host Stephen Colbert: 'So I called him an asshole and scolded him for not knowing enough about the 50 states, so that was what made him double over with laughter.' Meanwhile, Anna has recently been joking about the close bond she formed with Blake Lively on the set of their new movie 'A Simple Favour', including claiming Blake would 'do anything' for her. She shared: 'Blake would do anything for me. She would give me a kidney. I'm not kidding.' Lovely lady: Anna Kendrick was spotted heading to an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Wednesday evening Gorgeous: She wore her brunette tresses down and had natural, complimentary make-up on her face In fact, Anna has even joked about competing with Blake's husband Ryan Reynolds for her affections. She added: 'You know what it is? Ryan's an attractive, famous, successful man and you need to keep them on their toes. 'He's got a great lady and I just need to let him know that Blake's got options, you know what I'm saying!' Bundled up: Her co-star Sam Rockwell sported a blue coat over a blue three-piece suit and had a grey scarf wrapped around his neck upon his arrival On the show, Anna was also joined by co-star Sam Rockwell who look prepared for the cold weather with a grey scarf wrapped around his neck. The 47-year-old actor sported a navy blue coat over a shiny blue three-piece suit, grey socks and black leather dress shoes. The appeared on the late night chat show to talk about their upcoming action-comedy Mr. Right. The film is centred around a girl, played by Anna, who falls for the perfect guy (Rockwell) but the conflict comes as he's a hitman who is on the run from the crime cartels he is employed by. It also stars Tim Roth, James Ransone, Anson Mount, Michael Eklund, Kate Nehra, Elena Sanchez, Jaiden Kaine and Wu-Tang Clan member: RZA. It was helmed by Paco Cabezas, best known for his work on Nicholas Cage flick Rage, and written by Max Landis, who wrote 2012 sci-fi drama Chronicle. Mr. Right is set for release on Friday in the US. It was the live semifinals of America's Got Talent on Tuesday and the finals on Wednesday. Little wonder that host Tyra Banks looked a little tired when she left Santa Monica's chi-chi Giorgio Baldi restaurant late on Friday evening. The 44-year-old former supermodel kept up her fashion creds by dressing in a gorgeous rose pink, ankle-length frock with a lace-up bodice. Sleepy star: America's Got Talent host Tyra Banks looked a little tired on Friday after wrapping the live semi-finals and finals of the reality show on Tuesday and Wednesday It featured a rich design of flowers and a dark patterned border at the hemline. The 5ft 11ins stunner teamed it with caged flat sandals and she carried a large white leather handbag as she walked to her car. Tyra didn't appear to be wearing much in the way of make up so late on in the day. Heading to bed: The 44-year-old former supermodel, who didn't appear to be wearing much make up, was seen leaving Santa Monica's chi-chi Giorgio Baldi restaurant And she left her long, dark blonde hair to tumble over her shoulders, adding a little height above her forehead. It's been a long season of AGT for Tyra. She joined judges Simon Cowell, Mel B, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandell when the 13th season of NBC's hit talent debuted on May 29. Fabulous frock: Tyra kept up her fashion creds by dressing in a gorgeous rose pink, ankle-length frock with a lace-up bodice and intricate flower pattern NBC has yet to reveal when Season 14 of the talent show will begin. Meanwhile, Tyra did double duty at the beginning of the year as she is also a host of America's Next Top Model. It wrapped its 24th season on April 10. She's been living it up at New York Fashion Week. But Sofia Richie was back on the West Coast on Friday, as she stepped out to a hair appointment in Hollywood, California. The 20-year-old daughter of crooner Lionel flashed her abs, as she showcased her new hair extensions. Well tressed: Sofia Richie was back on the West Coast on Friday, as she stepped out to a hair appointment in Hollywood, California Her blonde hair looked immaculately coiffed, as she appeared to be make-up free. The beauty - who has been in a relationship with 35-year-old Scott Disick since May 2017 - kept her style classicly 80s, in a white T-shirt and pale blue ripped jeans. She added white sneakers and a splash of colour with her shoulder bag. On Instagram, Sofia posted images of herself glammed up at NYFW. Toned up: The 20-year-old daughter of crooner Lionel flashed her abs, as she showcased her new hair extensions Sofia recently refused to discuss her relationship with reality television star Scott, who has three children with Kourtney Kardashian. However, she spoke with The Goss and waxed poetic on the previously off-limits topic of Lord Disick. On her relationship with the former longtime boyfriend of Kourtney Kardashian, Sofia said, 'we are very happy, very lovey dovey.' Out and about: The beauty - who has been in a relationship with 35-year-old Scott Disick since May 2017 - kept her style classicly 80s, in a white T-shirt and pale blue ripped jeans Insta-blonde: She showcased her new locks on her social media pages Leggy display: On Instagram, Sofia posted images of herself glammed up at NYFW Unclear: The images were grainy The Keeping Up With the Kardashian's star, who is 15 years her senior, started dating the aspiring fashion designer when she was just 19. She added: 'We are best friends and that is mainly the strongest connection we have. We have always had that best friend connection and from there it has really worked out. I am so happy.' Scott was confronted about the relationship by ex Kourtney Kardashian on last Sunday's episode of KUWTK. Couple: Sofia recently refused to discuss her relationship with reality television star Scott, who has three children with Kourtney Kardashian (pictured in May) Perks of fame: The Keeping Up With the Kardashian's star, who is 15 years her senior, started dating the aspiring fashion designer when she was just 19 (pictured in March) Rock royalty: Sofia is the daughter of crooner Lionel Kourtney, 39, told Scott she felt blindsided that Scott had introduced Sofia to their three children - Mason, eight, Penelope, six, and Reign, three. Scott lashed out, however, pointing out that their brood had already met her then-boyfriend, Younes Bendjima. 'The thought of my kids being introduced to another woman and having somebody else in their lives, it is hard for me and hard for them. There is a lot going on for them,' Kourtney told the cameras. She was spotted heading out for lunch with a gal pal in Beverly Hills on Friday. And actress Rebecca Gayheart seemed to be in good spirits as she continues to rebuild her life as a single woman. The 47-year-old and her actor husband of 14 years, Eric Dane, 45, announced their split in February, filing for divorce in Los Angeles. Getting out: Rebecca Gayheart was spotted out for lunch with a pal in Beverly Hills on Friday And she seems to be OK with their new status as 'an amicable ex' for the sake of their daughters, Billie, eight, and Georgia, six. Rebecca looked gorgeous in a fluffy, red, mohair sweater with a V-neck that she teamed with cropped brown pants and white sneakers. The Grey Lady co-star covered her eyes with a large pair of shades and appeared to be wearing little in the way of make-up beyond light pink lipstick. She accessorized with two large gold chain bracelets on one wrist and a large gold watch on the other, as well as gold earrings and a white leather purse. Rebuilding her life: The actress, 47, seems OK being an 'amicable ex' with estranged husband Eric Dane for the sake of their daughters, Billie, eight, and Georgia, six Her friend was equally casually dressed in a puffy sleeved blouse with blue and white pinstripes, cropped grey baggy pants and cream shoes with ankle straps. Rebecca and Eric announced their split in a statement that read: 'After 14 years together we have decided that ending our marriage is the best decision for our family. 'We will continue our friendship and work as a team to co-parent our two beautiful girls as they are the most important thing in the world to us. 'We kindly ask that you respect our privacy during this time as we navigate the next phase of our lives.' Casual chic: Rebecca looked gorgeous in a fluffy, red, mohair sweater with a V-neck that she teamed with cropped brown pants and white sneakers However, the couple and their girls have been seen together frequently during the summer. Rebecca Gayheart looked happy and relaxed as she took to the beach in a bikini with her family during a Labor Day weekend getaway with friends in Malibu. The split came as a surprise to fans as the pair were seen on a romantic getaway to Hawaii in late December. She's a huge fan of fashion, lapping up the shows at New York Fashion Week. But Katie Holmes was just another gym goer on Saturday, as she joined her friends for a workout. Dressed down and ready to sweat, she was pictured in paint spattered jogging bottoms, teamed with a floral print shirt. Workout time: Katie Holmes blends in with the crowd as she heads to the gum in paint-spattered pants on Saturday The 39-year-old spoke to Elle magazine this week about her love of fashion, calling it a 'kind of art'. Katie, who once had her own label, Holmes & Yang, explained that turning her hand to designing taught her about the industry. 'Being on the inside gave me a deeper appreciation for the industry, for the hard work that happens,' she told the magazine. 'People don't realize, because great clothes are effortless, but it takes so much time and much work. Realizing that made me love fashion even more, because it's a kind of art.' Low key Saturday: The 39-year-old was pictured with a male friend Time to reboot? Katie recently revealed that she wouldn't rule out return to Dawson's Creek, the show that made her famous Katie also revealed that she wouldn't rule out return to Dawson's Creek, the show that made her famous. 'Who knows?' she said. 'There have been inquiries. The actress is currently in a long-term relationship with actor Jamie Foxx. The two have gone to great lengths to keep their romance out of the spotlight. Meanwhile her ex-husband Tom Cruise was spotted with a blonde woman in Los Angeles on Monday. The 56-year-old Oscar nominee has not been in a serious relationship since he was with Katie. Katie married the famous Scientologist in 2006 and divorced in 2012. Since then the pair have not been seen together. The former power couple have one child together, 12-year-old Suri, who the Jerry Maguire actor has not been photographed with in public for four years. He also has two grown children, Bella, 25, and Connor, 23, with Nicole Kidman, 50, to whom he was married from 1990 to 2001. Celebs were turning up in force on Saturday night during the various London Fashion Week events. But Coronation Street's Bhavna Limbachia stole the show as she made her debut on the front row of the Zeynep Kartal catwalk. The 34-year-old actress made sure to turn heads as she posed up a storm in a sophisticated black and white two-piece. Turning up in force: Coronation Street's Bhavna Limbachia stole the show as she made her debut on the front row of the Zeynep Kartal catwalk Bhavna, who recently wed actor Darren Kuppan in a secret ceremony in July, looked radiant as she donned the business-like attire. Dressed in a pair of wide leg black trousers and a plunging white cropped blouse, the actress put on her best poses for the cameras. A pair of pointed black patent heels and matching handbag completed the stylish look while her raven tresses were scraped back into a sleek bun. Making a statement, the actress sported glamourous make up with fluttery eyelashes and a bold mauve lip. Plunging: The 34-year-old actress made sure to turn heads as she posed up a storm in a sophisticated black and white two-piece Zara McDermott made an appearance as she took a night out away from her Love Island beau Adam Collard in a stunning snake skin blazer that showed off the 21-year-old's incredible physique. Held in London's Goldsmiths Hall, Kimberley Garner, 28, was also in attendance as she rocked a pink two-piece that flashed her toned abs. The model sported tousled waves which highlighted her striking features while a pink fur jacket and a pair of white boots completed the look. Meanwhile, Gemma Oaten, 34, upped the glam factor in a sensational red gown that showed off the actresses toned arms while her features were accentuated with a bold scarlet lip. Legs for days: Zara McDermott made an appearance as she took a night out away from her Love Island beau Adam Collard in a stunning snake skin blazer that showed off her physique Think pink: Held in London's Goldsmiths Hall, Kimberley Garner, 28, was also in attendance as she rocked a pink two-piece that flashed her toned abs Toned and tanned: The model sported tousled waves which highlighted her striking features while a pink fur jacket and a pair of white boots completed the look Meanwhile, Gemma Oaten, 34, upped the glam factor in a sensational red gown that showed off the actresses toned arms while her features were accentuated with a bold scarlet lip Love Island's Hayley Hughes was all smiles as the blonde bombshell looked radiant in a form-fitting little black dress which clung to her enviably toned legs. Hayley, 21, rocked a tailored check jacket which added a more sophisticated look to her glamorous outfit. Finishing the ensemble, the Liverpool native teamed her attire with a pair of high leather-look boots and a matching clutch bag. She wore her blonde tresses straight down, while sporting a minimalist silver chain and sparkling wrist watch. Also making an appearance was fellow Love Islander Samira Mighty, 22, who rocked a sophisticated black caged jumpsuit and striking metallic heels that accentuated the TV personalities derriere. Fashionista: Love Island's Hayley Hughes was all smiles as the blonde bombshell looked radiant in a form-fitting little black dress which clung to her enviably toned legs Biker chick: Hayley, 21, rocked a tailored check jacket which added a more sophisticated look to her her glamorous outfit while the Liverpool native teamed her attire with a pair of high leather-look boots and a matching clutch bag Side on: Also making an appearance was fellow Love Islander Samira Mighty, 22, who rocked a sophisticated black caged jumpsuit and striking metallic heels that accentuated the TV personalities derriere Meanwhile, Bake Off winner Candice Brown put on a dazzling display in a pair of white flares paired with a matching white blouse that was tied loosely around her neck. Posing confidently for the cameras, Candice, 33, was joined by Love Island's Stephanie Lam who donned a slinky mesh bodysuit that showed off her incredible figure. The two women were also in company with Love Island's suited and booted Montana Brown, 23, inside the venue as the group beamed during the catwalk experience. She means business: Meanwhile, Bake Off winner Candice Brown put on a dazzling display in a pair of white flares paired with a matching white blouse that was tied loosely around her neck Brunette beauties: Posing confidently for the cameras, Candice, 33, was joined by Love Island's Stephanie Lam who donned a slinky mesh bodysuit that showed off her incredible figure They've been almost inseparable since they came out as a couple in June. And Chris Pratt, 39, and Katherine Schwarzenegger, 28, were spotted out on a sunny Saturday day in Los Angeles. Proving that couple that exercises together stays together, they enjoyed a walk. The couple that exercise together: Chris Pratt, 39, and girlfriend Katherine Schwarzenegger, 28, were spotted out for a walk on a sunny Saturday in Los Angeles At one point the beautiful 28-year-old daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and his ex-wife Maria Shriver reached out to lovingly stroke her beau's arm. The enamored Guardians Of The Galaxy star immediately flashed back a warm smile amid rumors that they are close to becoming engaged. The author and blogger flashed a glimpse of her toned tummy in a black cropped vest, leggings and sneakers. She pulled a black cap over her blonde tresses that she styled into a low bun. Sweet PDA: At one point the the beautiful daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and his ex-wife, Maria Shriver, reached out to lovingly stroke her beau's arm Chris looked hunky in a black Murph Challenge T-shirt and matching cap, black pants and blue sneakers. The challenge is a workout fundraiser for the LT. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation, honoring a Navy SEAL who died in Afghanistan in 2005 aged 29. Meanwhile, Chris and Katherine are reportedly serious, a source dished to People, even though they've only been together a few months Getting serious: They came out as a couple in June and are already sparking rumors that they may become engaged soon 'They're both serious about the relationship and hopeful for the future,' the source revealed. 'Chris doesn't just date to date, and neither does Katherine. She's very excited.' They were set up by her mom Maria, according to the source. The actor split from wife Anna Faris in August 2017 after being married for eight years and they share six-year-old son Jack. Old love: Chris with his wife of eight years, actress Anna Faris, and their son Jack, six , at his Hollywood star ceremony in 2017. They filed for divorce last December He filed for divorce on December 1, nearly four months after they announced their legal separation. Three days later Anna filed her nearly identical response. They both cited irreconcilable differences and requested joint legal and physical custody of their son, according to E! News. Anna, 41, has been in a relationship with cinematographer Michael Barrett since October 2017. She recently launched her own clothing line called Studio Mouthy. And Megan McKenna made sure she kept on top of the latest fashion trends as she attended Malan Breton's show as part of London Fashion Week on Saturday. The former TOWIE star, 25, made sure she made a bold statement as she debuted a dramatic hairstyle for the stylish event. Work it: Megan McKenna made sure she kept on top of the latest fashion trends as she attended Malan Breton's show as part of London Fashion Week on Saturday Megan wore a oriental-inspired blue and gold satin trouser suit, with black detailing on the collar. She teamed the colourful combo with a simple plunging white t-shirt, which she tucked into her trousers. Accessorising her look, Megan added a jewel-encrusted handbag with handles and a pair of oversized gold hoop earrings. Bold look: The former TOWIE star, 25, made sure she made a bold statement as she debuted a dramatic hairstyle for the stylish event Stylish: Megan wore a oriental-inspired blue and gold satin trouser suit by Malan Breton, with black detailing on the collar And the reality star went on to make a fashion statement with her hair as she styled her blonde balayage locks into a dramatic high bun, with the front strands left loose. She added a full face of glamorous make-up, which included a bold blue eyeliner to match her suit and a classic nude lip gloss. Megan knew how to work her best angles as she posed up a storm at the fashion event. London Fashion Week officially kicked off on Friday, although there were some shows on Thursday, and will end on Tuesday. Details: She teamed the colourful combo with a simple plunging white t-shirt, which she tucked into her trousers Megan's appearance comes after she launched her own clothing line, Studio Mouthy, at Girls On Film store at Westfield Stratford, London, in August. The High Heeled Shoes hitmaker had taken to her Instagram earlier in the week to gush about her new exciting business venture. She said: 'TOMORROW I will be at Westfield Stratford at 2pm! Chic: Accessorising her look, Megan added a jewel-encrusted handbag with handles and a pair of oversized gold hoop earrings 'Launching my brand new clothing line @studiomouthy - at the @girlsonfilmclothing STORE. Anyone is welcome! See you girls & guys there! So exciting!!!!!!!' followed by confetti emojis.' Since leaving TOWIE in 2017 following the breakdown of her relationship with ex-boyfriend, Pete Wicks, Megan has had several business ventures. Last year, Megan opened up her own restaurant McK GRILL and released her first country music style singles, High Heeled Shoes and Far Cry from Love, which reached number one and two on iTunes. She has also created her own lip kit range called Mouthy By Megan and wrote her own autobiography, Mouthy. During her pregnancy, Yvonne Strahovski has hiked through the Grand Canyon, slept in the back of her SUV and starred in five episodes of The Handmaid's Tale. And despite being due to give birth any day now, the Australian actress, 36, still plans to attend the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles next week. 'I am nervous and excited and all of the above,' she told The Sun Herald of her attendance. Scroll down for video 'I'm planning on being there!' The Handmaid's Tale star Yvonne Strahovski, 36, says she will attend the Emmy Awards despite being due to give birth 'Mainly excited to be able to share the day with my husband and my parents, who will be in the country, but probably more nervous about going to the Emmys nine-and-a-half months pregnant,' she gushed. The actress also admitted that she slept through her Emmy nomination announcement back in July. 'My husband woke me up and showed me his phone where he had pulled up the list of nominees in my category,' she enthused, adding: 'if i wasn't pregnant I would have had a celebratory glass of vino'. Will she take out the gong? Yvonne has been nominated in the category of best supporting actress in a drama (Pictured as Serena Joy in The Handmaid's Tale) Yvonne has been nominated in the category of best supporting actress in a drama, alongside the likes of fellow Handmaid's Tale stars Alexis Blede and Ann Dowd. Lena Headey (Game of Thrones), Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) and Thandie Newton (Westworld) are also set to compete for the gong. If she does grace the red carpet next week, Yvonne will be joined by her actor husband Tim Loden. Superwoman! Yvonne recently hiked through the Grand Canyon despite being heavily pregnant In May this year, Yvonne announced she and Tim were expecting their first child together. However, she admitted she was forced to hide her pregnancy while filming American dystopian drama The Handmaid's Tale. She spoke about her decision to finally reveal her news to the cast and crew during an appearance on Network Ten's The Project. 'It was quite interesting hiding the pregnancy actually, as my first trimester was [from] episode nine through to the end of The Handmaid's Tale,' she said. 'That's why it got tricky. In the end, I was over hiding it so I said, 'You know what, I'm pregnant.' People thought I had the flu. They were scared to come near me.' A Sydney version of famed US technology university the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is bound for the multi-billion dollar city being built alongside the new Western Sydney Airport. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Thursday announced the new institution saying it would have a clear focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics and would prepare students for the jobs of the future. Bound for Sydney's 'Aerotropolis' precinct - which is what the government calls the mini-city being built alongside Sydney's second international airport - stakeholders believe the campus will provide one of the missing pieces of the puzzle to the area's success. "International experience shows that these type of universities such as MIT in the United States have a bigger impact on job creation," Western Sydney Business Chamber director David Borger said in a statement. "Universities have the power to revolutionise entire regions by significantly shifting the needle on jobs and will give students access to the best education for industry research and development." Four Australian universities have committed to the project, The University of Newcastle, University of NSW, University of Wollongong and Western Sydney University will work together to create the one focused campus. The first stage of the new institution is scheduled to open in 2026 - the same year the $5.3 billion and 24-hour Western Sydney Airport is expected to be operational. Olivia Newton-John has sold more than 100 million albums and starred in one of the world's most successful musicals, but in the month she turns 70, her life is all about gratitude and wellness - and supporting fellow cancer sufferers. Having been diagnosed with cancer for the third time in 2017 - this time at the base of her spine, Newton-John says her own, personal wellness rituals are helping her. "I'm going good. I do a lot of natural therapies. I take a lot of herbs and supplements and I do a lot of meditation," the Grease star told AAP. "Wellness is really important. You have to treat the whole being." Newton-John first discovered she had breast cancer in 1992. She overcame the disease before discovering in 2013 that she had cancer in her shoulder. Her journeys with the disease spurred her to help others in need by opening the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in the grounds of Melbourne's Austin Hospital in 2012. In each year since, she has led a Wellness Walk and Research Run to raise money for the centre. This year's event will take place this Sunday September 16 at Bundoora campus at Melbourne's La Trobe University and Newton-John is encouraging as many people as possible to take part. For the first time, its become a global event, with walks also taking place in the UK, US, Canada, Belgium and Spain. On her own, difficult cancer journey, the four-time Grammy award winner has undergone radiation treatments and has relied on medicinal marijuana to ease the pain. Her husband grows plants on their California property and makes her tinctures. "It's helped me a lot. If I have pain or if I can't sleep, it's really, really important." She says it's her dream that Australia, where she spent most of her childhood, can change its laws to make marijuana more readily and easily available for patients who are in pain. "It's possible but it's very difficult right now, there are a lot of hoops to jump through first. We need to catch up," she says. Newton-John, who has just published her memoir Don't Stop Believin', says she has another fundraising idea for the centre up her sleeve: the sale of her tight, shiny back pants and black jacket from the famous, final scene of Grease. She still has both garments at home. As Newton-John turns 70, the movie celebrates its 40th anniversary. "In a way it feels like a long time ago and in a way it feels like yesterday," she reveals. But she says she is grateful for every day. "I live in the moment and don't sweat the small stuff," she says. "I enjoy everything, every sunset and every sunrise." For more information on the Wellness Walk and Research Run, visit www.wellnesswalkresearchrun.com.au A 10-year-old boy is recovering in hospital after suffering a medical incident at a Sydney primary school earlier this week. The boy was involved in a game with other students when he lost consciousness at Wattawa Heights Public School in Bankstown on Tuesday. Initial reports suggested the student could have been assaulted but NSW Police on Wednesday told AAP they were investigating if he'd been injured as a result of "misadventure". A Westmead Children's Hospital spokeswoman told AAP on Thursday the boy had suffered a medical incident. He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but has since improved and was stable on Thursday afternoon, the spokeswoman said. A police spokesman told AAP they were no longer investigating the incident. The NSW education department on Wednesday stated "when accurate information about what occurred is available the school will share that with parents and carers". Social media platform Snapchat may be known for lewd photo swapping but a risque joke by a Victorian politician has proved too much. Reason Party Leader Fiona Patten launched a video ad, in which she talks about knowing a lot about "dicks" but although the audio was bleeped out and the subtitle changed to "D!@#S", it was rejected by Snapchat. Ms Patten said the matter was "laughable" and even the uncensored version had been approved for promotion on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and by the Victorian parliament. A new Australian prime minister who isn't immediately mired in the muck of their own rise is a rare thing. It's not Scott Morrison. He didn't get a honeymoon after taking over from Malcolm Turnbull, instead getting a beating in the polls and facing the legacy problem of Peter Dutton. The Home Affairs minister has problems of his own - and is also a problem for Morrison. Dutton is facing attacks from multiple angles. He's under scrutiny for his decisions to grant two au pairs tourist visas after they were detained on the suspicion they were going to work in Australia. One was given a reprieve after a former Queensland police colleague of Dutton's sent his office an email. The other was let off when AFL boss Gillon McLachlan asked his office to talk to Dutton's office. Even if everything is above board and Dutton wasn't doing favours for mates or powerful people, the explanation for his actions has not been clear. Dutton fought in the courts to stop AAP accessing documents he relied on to give the au pairs visas. He has not been able to clearly explain why these two young women got visas so quickly despite officials believing they were in Australia to work. It stands in contrast to Dutton's hard line on many other visa cases, a number of which had strong compassionate grounds. The au pair case has also exposed a bitter feud with former Australian Border Force boss Roman Quaedvlieg. The two men once worked hand-in-hand keeping Australia safe - now they trade insults via question time, a Senate inquiry and Twitter. When Quaedvlieg went public with his version of events about what he said was an au pair case, Dutton attacked his mental health and used parliamentary privilege to say Quaedvlieg "groomed a girl" 30 years younger than him. Dutton escalated the fight on two occasions, rather than shutting it down, and now Quaedvlieg says he has more to say. Turnbull is also attacking Dutton, this time over his eligibility to sit in parliament. Section 44 of the Constitution disqualifies anyone who has a "direct or indirect pecuniary interest" in any agreement with the Commonwealth. Dutton's family trust financial interest in childcare centres means he could be benefiting from taxpayer money - and only the High Court can decide. He has strong legal advice, but so did many of the MPs caught out by the citizenship saga. And Labor is demanding to know whether Dutton stepped out of cabinet every time the changes to childcare funding were discussed. All of these attacks mean Dutton is in the news, eating up oxygen Morrison desperately needs to distinguish himself as the new prime minister. Labor is polling 56-44 two party preferred. An election wipeout is looming. And Dutton's continuing prominence puts pressure on the prime minister. The conservatives got close once before, Turnbull out-manoeuvred them, but their ambition hasn't gone away. Every day this week in Question Time, Labor asked Morrison why Turnbull was gone and he was the PM, and every day Morrison couldn't quite explain it. Because the real reason is more than half the party had no desire to see Dutton rewarded for wrecking Turnbull's leadership. They didn't want Dutton in power, and were prepared to back a softer conservative over Julie Bishop just to guarantee Dutton lost. Unfortunately for Morrison he can't come out and say that. So he's left straddling two boats, simultaneously trying to show how great the coalition government has been for five years, while also pointing out the need for change. Morrison the tourism marketing guru is now trying out lines, focus-grouping them on the fly in press conferences and parliament. He appears to have the ability to cut through to voters that some Liberal MPs thought Turnbull lacked. But the Dutton situation hampers him at every turn. The Home Affairs minister could be referred to the High Court, his public spat with Quaedvlieg doesn't appear over, and he still has ambitions to lead the party. Morrison is mired in the muck and he doesn't have a circuit breaker in sight. Police have been attacked with rocks, slingshots and spears twice in two days in separate Aboriginal communities east of Darwin. Two police officers were holed up in a building on Millingimbi in east Arnhem Island on Tuesday night while locals threw large rocks at them and badly damaged police cars and a building. On Wednesday police were attacked by Alyangula locals in eight cars at Groote Eylandt airport when officers went there with drug detector dogs after being tipped off that cannabis was incoming on a plane, NT Police commander Tony Fuller said. Those police and airport employees had to run for safety on to the airfield as more cars were damaged. No-one has yet been arrested at Alyangula and while five youths had been arrested at Millingimbi there was a risk that the tension could flare up again, he said. "We are not sure what the cause of that outbreak of violence was at Millingimbi ," he told reporters. "There was a pretty dangerous cat-and-mouse game with police, with community members firing slingshots at police, bombarding the property, with large rocks." However tension had been building for several weeks at Alyangula with local drug users directing "animosity" towards police dogs that had been intercepting cannabis supplies to the island. "There was a group of eight to 10 vehicles that proceeded to skid around in front of the police causing large dust clouds and there was information that spears and rocks were produced," Commander Fuller said. "A number of rocks were thrown at police and the employees there at the airport so they retreated behind the wire on to the airfield and as a result additional resources were dispatched. "Drugs have been an issue on Groote Eylandt and throughout the communities for a long, long time." The Anindilyakwa Land Council and East Arnhem Regional Council were contacted for comment. Five male youths aged 12 to 19 were arrested in Millingimbi after a meeting in which the community had been very supportive, Commander Fuller said. Police were also working with the Anindilyakwa Land Council and other government stakeholders if members were attacked then those responsible would be arrested, he said. Extra police have been sent to both communities and no injuries have been reported. Northern Territory Police Association president Paul McCue called for an increase in sentencing as a deterrence, following multiple attacks including at Alice Springs in the last week. A Perth father accused of murdering his three daughters, wife and mother-in-law showed no warning signs that his family was in danger and their deaths are unfathomable, relatives say. Anthony Robert Harvey, 24, allegedly used a blunt instrument and knives to kill three-year-old Charlotte, two-year-old twins Alice and Beatrix, his wife Mara Lee Harvey, 41, and mother-in-law Beverley Ann Quinn, 73, at a Bedford home in Perth. Brother-in-law Alan Tottman on Thursday said that there was never any indication Ms Harvey was in danger. "It's just a very raw time, it's just unfathomable," he said. "We can't come to terms with what's happened, we don't know why it's happened. "There was no indication of trouble, problems." Harvey, who ran a Jim's Mowing franchise, gave no hint of financial or emotional problems over the past few months, Jim's Group managing director Jim Penman similarly said earlier this week. Mr Tottman and his wife Taryn said the family would never recover from their loss. "This will be forever. Time will heal certain pain but this will just go on forever," he said. Ms Tottman said the last time she saw her older sister was on August 27 at a funeral and she seemed fine. She found out about the five deaths via the television, saying part of her "didn't think it was real". Ms Tottman said her two youngest children did not understand what had happened but her son understood some of it. "There's only a certain amount he understands, so his innocence makes it easier," she said. "He didn't want to go to grandma's anymore, he didn't like it because she's not there." The couple also thanked the community for their support. "Complete strangers have been amazing, overwhelming. My mum would have been humbled," Ms Tottman said. "Everybody has been so supportive and so encouraging ... it's nice to know people care." Police say Harvey stayed in the house for days after the alleged murders before travelling about 1500km north, then turned himself in on Sunday. A GoFundMe page has so far raised more than $18,000 for the family's funerals. It is the third family mass murder in WA in four months, representing 15 of 23 domestic violence-related deaths in the state this year. Far from being to blame for the death of two boys who drowned in Perth's Swan River, the police officers who chased them there probably saved the lives of two other teens who also jumped in the water, a close friend says. Trisjack Simpson, 17, and Chris Drage, 16, were among five boys police pursued on foot following reports of teenagers jumping fences after a house had been ransacked in Maylands on Monday afternoon. Four of them jumped into the water and two were grabbed by officers but Trisjack and Chris were seen struggling in the middle of the river and did not resurface. Christopher Drage, the father of Chris, told reporters on Wednesday he did not blame the officers and we all make silly mistakes as kids. Trisjack's grandfather James Spratt made similar comments, saying the boys made an error that cost them their lives. "I'm quite proud of Chris and the grandfather for saying they don't hold animosity," Aboriginal advocate Mervyn Eades told AAP on Thursday. "This is a great move forward to start building that good relationship with the police department. "From a community aspect, we need to do it so our people might not feel so scared and the police might interact. "It could be a groundswell turning point for relations." Mr Eades, who has been friends with Mr Drage since they were children, said the Deaths In Custody group held an emergency meeting about the tragedy on Wednesday night and some people wanted to arrange a snap rally. But the families disagreed, saying they felt no anger towards the officers. Mr Eades said video footage taken by a man in an apartment overlooking the river showed the two officers in the water had to make a choice and grabbed the boys who were closest to them. "By grabbing hold of them, the probably actually saved their lives," Mr Eades said, adding Mr Drage felt the same way. Mourners continue to pay their respects at the riverside site where the boys ran into the water. A tree that Mr Drage draped in an Aboriginal flag has been surrounded with flowers and sympathy cards. A woman who didn't know the boys but wanted to lay down her own bunch told AAP she "had to come". "I've been feeling sad all the time for these poor little boys," she said. "Too many people say they deserve it. "Jumping a fence should not be a death sentence. "I'd rather these boys go to jail, be rehabilitated and then come out." A memorial will be held for Chris and Trisjack at the site on Saturday and the families want it to be a peaceful event that honours the boys, Mr Eades said. A Gold Coast high school student has died after suffering a "serious medical incident" in class. The Year 10 student collapsed and paramedics were called to Ormeau Woods State High School around 11.35am on Thursday. CPR was performed and the 15-year-old boy was taken to hospital in a critical condition but later died. It's been reported the child was in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived. Acting Principal Dan Finn wrote a statement on the school's Facebook page to parents and carers offering support to the school community. "I know you and your children may be affected by this situation and will have many questions," Mr Finn wrote. "Guidance or counselling services are being made available for anyone who may require support." Students will be able to access counselling services at the school from Friday, Mr Finn said. Billionaire immigrant Sir Frank Lowy wants Australian 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. Making the country's immigration target an immigration cap was a move in the wrong direction, he said when delivering the Lowy Institute's annual Lowy Lecture in Sydney. "We should bend that curve back upwards," he said in a written copy of Thursday night's speech. "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 his family founded in 2003 - suggests 54 per cent of Australians believe the immigration intake is too high. 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. "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 Sydney woman allegedly caused havoc in a car park when she rammed cars, including a police car, then injured a police officer with a pair of secateurs. The 38-year-old sped around the Sutherland car park where she was ultimately stopped by police with an officer smashing her windows in an attempt to open her door and arrest her, NSW Police said. She allegedly waved around a pair of secateurs and gave the officer a minor cut before being arrested and taken to hospital for assessment. More than 300 motorcyclists will take off from the heart of Melbourne early Friday to remember police who have died in the line of duty. The ride will begin at the Victoria Police Memorial on St Kilda Road, after a short service at 7.30am and stops overnight at Merimbula. Riders will then continue to Canberra on Saturday where they will join police from other states for the ninth annual Wall to Wall Ride This year, Acting Chief Commissioner Shane Patton will pass the legacy baton, containing the name of all Victorian police members killed while serving, to 17-year-old Emerson Jason Spriggs. Emerson will carry the baton to Canberra as a pillion passenger on one of the motorcycles, in memory of his father, Detective Sergeant Jason Spriggs, a serving police officer for 30 years who died earlier this year. Acting Superintendent John Felton said the ride is an important event in honouring fallen police and letting their families know they are not forgotten. "It's important for us to be able to get together and remember our colleagues who died serving our community," he said. The ride also raises funds for police legacies across Australia to enable them to support police families. Today's Birthday, September 14: Nas, US rapper and entrepreneur, (1973 - ). After rising up the ranks of hip-hop's elite, Nas used his fortune to expand into entrepreneurial pursuits. He now owns his own record label, sneaker store, and serves as associate publisher of Mass Appeal magazine. Recently it was announced that Nas would be touring Down Under with long-term collaborator Lauryn Hill in 2018. Nas was born Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones in Brooklyn, New York. His family relocated to Queens where he learned about African culture after discovering Five Percent Nation. The teachings of the Five Percenters would eventually underpin much of his hip-hop music. In 1991 he burst onto the scene as Nasty Nas with a guest verse on Main Source's track Live at the Barbeque. For this he worked alongside producer Large Professor, who would go on to collaborate with the young rapper on many of his future tracks. After signing with Columbia records in 1992, he released his debut album Illmatic in 1994. It is widely considered among the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. Nine studio albums followed, including Hip Hop Is Dead (2006) and Life Is Good (2012), both of which were Grammy-nominated for Best Rap Album. Throughout the 90's Nas and Jay-Z had a long-running feud, each fuelling the fire with spicy lyrics over multiple albums. In 2005 the pair officially ended their beef on stage during a Jay-Z concert in New Jersey. Nas then signed a deal with Def Jam Recordings in 2006, where Jay-Z was president. In between the rap game, Nas has a number of other business ventures. He's invested in technology start-up companies, partnered with Hennessy on their Wild Rabbit campaign, and co-owns a digital audio production tool. This year Nas released his first album since 2012, Nasir - which Kanye West served as executive producer on. But it's also been a turbulent time. His ex-wife Kelis publicly accused him of verbal and physical abuse. Nas has denied the allegations, saying it's a smear campaign brought on by the custody battle over their son. The future of federal government subsidies for kindergarten will be at the centre of discussions at a meeting of education ministers today with the Victorian government vowing to push back on federal cuts. Victoria's Early Childhood Education minister on Friday announced she would push newly-appointed federal Education Minister Dan Tehan to recommit to the funding when ministers meet at the Education Council in Adelaide. Victoria's Labor government currently funds 10 hours of kindergarten per week per child, while the federal government under the Liberal-National coalition funds five hours, as part of a national partnership agreement. The federal funding is set to end on 30 June 2020, as per the government's budget strategy announced in May. "Scott Morrison needs to get on board with funding, or else Victorian families will be left with a choice of going back to just 10 hours a week or having to pay more for this vital childhood education," Jenny Mikakos said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has still not been able to confirm whether Peter Dutton stepped out of cabinet when changes to childcare funding were discussed. The Home Affairs Minister has a family financial interest in two childcare centres, which now get direct Commonwealth funding to pass through to parents. Mr Dutton has not confirmed if he recused himself from cabinet when the childcare funding changes were discussed. Mr Morrison told parliament this week he would check if Mr Dutton had stepped out of cabinet, but on Thursday he could not tell parliament if it had happened. He said he would report back when he had the information, but did not say when it would be. Mr Dutton is facing questions about his eligibility to sit in parliament due to the childcare funding arrangements. Section 44 of the constitution disqualifies anyone who has a "direct or indirect pecuniary interest" in any agreement with the Commonwealth. "I have taken advice in relation to my position, which put the question beyond doubt," Mr Dutton told parliament on Thursday. But former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and Labor say the High Court needs to decide. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he won't act on Mr Turnbull's advice. "I think people have had enough of the lawyer's picnics on these sort of issues," he told reporters. Draft laws to cement a massive Pacific trade deal look set to pass parliament with Labor's support. Debate over the Trans-Pacific Partnership legislation will continue in the next sitting week of federal parliament. Opposition trade spokesman Jason Clare says Labor will support the deal, despite gripes over provisions that could threaten local jobs and see foreign companies sue the government. Labor says it will make changes to the deal if successful at the next federal election. But Mr Clare said the agreement would increase exports by $29.9 billion, lift investment by $7.8 billion and boost Australia's national income by $15.6 billion by 2030. "There's agreement it will provide relatively modest benefits in the short term, with potential for more significant economic gains in the long term if more countries in the region sign up," Mr Clare told parliament on Thursday. Greens MP Adam Bandt, and independents Cathy McGowan, Bob Katter and Rebekha Sharkie condemned Labor for backing the deal without seeking to first fix its issues. Ms Sharkie said unless the deal's significant flaws are addressed and independent economic analysis is provided, her Senate Central Alliance colleagues won't support it. A northern Gold Coast high school will offer counselling to students following the death of a 15-year-old boy who suffered a medical episode in class. Paramedics were called to Ormeau Woods State High School about 11.35am on Thursday after the Year 10 student suffered what acting principal Dan Finn described as a "serious medical incident" in class. It is understood the boy was in cardiac arrest and despite the efforts of bystanders he died shortly after being taken to hospital in a critical condition. Mr Finn wrote a post on the school's Facebook page that support would be offered to affected staff and students. "Guidance or counselling services are being made available for anyone who may require support," he wrote. "Students can access counselling services in the Resource Centre tomorrow by asking for an out-of-class pass from their class teacher." The post prompted an outpouring of support in the comments section. "Love, light and condolences to this poor family, truly heartbreaking," Jewel Cole wrote. Police are still searching for the culprit who hid sewing needles inside of 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 he'd 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. 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. An investigation is also under way after a Coles employee found a small metal rod laying across the top of some strawberries inside a plastic punnet on the shelves of a Gatton store. Police have cast doubt on the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association theory a disgruntled farm worker may be responsible. Consumers are being told to cut up strawberries to make sure they are safe to eat and police want anyone who finds a needle to contact them. Four people are to face court as a result of an extensive police probe into business fraud across NSW. Following investigations from the State Crime Command's Cybercrime Squad launched earlier this year, a 36-year-old Kingswood woman was arrested on Sydney's Liverpool St on September 4. She was charged with 11 counts of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime. She was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday, November 1. The following day, police raided a house at Chester Hill where a 20-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were arrested. The man was charged with seven counts of dealing with the proceeds of crime with the woman also charged with knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime. They were granted strict conditional bail and are due to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday, October 2. The same day, a 36-year-old woman was arrested at a property in Granville and later given a field court attendance notice for drug possession. She is also due to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday, October 2. Police searched the Villawood immigration detention centre on Thursday and arrested a 43-year-old Nigerian man. He was charged with knowingly directing activities of a criminal group, two counts of knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime, and possessing identity information to commit an indictable offence. He is due to appear at the Bankstown Local Court later on Friday. Federal government frontbencher Christopher Pyne denies the coalition is "eating itself" amid claims Malcolm Turnbull is actively undermining his successor. Scott Morrison has reportedly called on Mr Turnbull to stop chipping away at his government, with the former prime minister and his ex-deputy Julie Bishop accused of mounting a campaign against beleaguered Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. Mr Morrison's office has contacted key figures in the Turnbull camp after a series of leaks against the government, The Australian reports. It comes after Mr Turnbull, who is holidaying in the US after stepping down as prime minister last month, called for Mr Dutton's constitutional eligibility to remain in parliament to be clarified. Meanwhile, Ms Bishop said all members of parliament had a "personal responsibility" to ensure they were eligible. Asked if the government was "eating itself" following the coup against Mr Turnbull, Mr Pyne replied "no, it isn't". "We're getting on with the job. We are creating the jobs in the workforce. The economy is growing," he told the Nine Network on Friday. "I think it is time to move on. I think people are thoroughly sick of it." Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said the government were like "cats in a bag, all fighting and scratching". "This is a government in its death throes - the whole of the country can see it," he told the Nine Network. "We now have a parliament where Peter Dutton is sitting there. People know there is a question mark over his eligibility. He should refer himself to the High Court. This government should go to an election and give the Australian people a say in who the prime minister is." A man has been charged over the death of Perth woman Julie Anne Cooper, whose body was found in a bushland grave in the city's southeast. Police uncovered the body of the 55-year-old at Ashendon on Thursday and had been searching for her missing 2006 Toyota Camry sedan. A 31-year-old man who was known to her has now been charged with murder and will appear in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday. Ms Cooper, of Doubleview, last spoke to family on August 17 when she advised she would be out of contact for two weeks. Blind or low-vision Victorians will be able to get used to their new guide dogs at a sensory campus to be established in a multi-million dollar project. The Victorian Government announced on Friday it will give $5 million towards the $23.4 million Guide Dogs Victoria's headquarters redevelopment. This will provide the campus with lighting, scent, human-enabled technology, Braille and other tactile features for blind or low-vision people to learn the ropes with their best friend. A veterinary hospital, teaching facility, doggie daycare, low vision clinic and cafe are part of the renovation works starting by the end of the year and wrapping up by 2021. Finding better ways to use the huge amount of data the nation's governments hold on citizens is atop the agenda of the inaugural Australian Digital Council meeting being held in Sydney. Prime Minister Scott Morrison told the meeting of commonwealth, state and territory data ministers on Friday there were many sensitivities when it came to data but cooperation could help consumers. "We've got to establish a new culture about how we approach these technologies and the opportunities," he said "If we don't embrace them, it's a bit like deciding not to use electricity or any other technological advance." Federal Digital Transformation Minister Michael Keenan argues cooperation could lead the commonwealth to merge its records on drugs given to pregnant women with Western Australia's extensive records on birth defects, for example. "We've got to find a way to combine that data and learn something from it to give advice to pregnant women," he said. "Governments keep enormous amounts of information and that can mean nothing or it could mean something very significant if we can utilise that information properly." Ministers from all states and territories except Victoria and Tasmania attended the opening. Scoring eight less tries than in the previous two NRL seasons might appear to be an obvious dip in form but Melbourne winger Suliasi Vunivalu says it's a calculated call by the Storm. Vunivalu has been the competition's leading tryscorer for the past two seasons but this year hasn't even finished in the top 10. The 22-year-old said that the focus for him and fellow flyer Josh Addo-Carr changed this season from purely on scoring tries to helping out with more of the grunt work in the middle of the field. "At the start of the year we decided we're not focused too much on scoring tries," Vunivalu said. "The tries will come if you do all of the little things and everyone is doing their job. "We've been going in and getting carries and trying to help our forwards out as they do the most work and we get the candy on the wings." As well as running the ball up the big Fijian has been an imposing figure in defence, delivering a huge hit on South Sydney skipper Greg Inglis that left him with rib damage during their qualifying final win last week. That match was Vunivalu's return to play after two weeks out with a hamstring injury and he said he had been itching to get back into action. "After two weeks out I was that hungry to get back out on the field and I wanted to play," Vunivalu said. "I thought I'd start off being aggressive and being pumped as it would take the cobwebs away." The preliminary final next Friday will double as a Melbourne farewell for retiring legend Billy Slater, as well as Ryan Hoffman if he's recalled to the Storm squad. Vunivalu said it would add more incentive for a strong performance. "I used to look up to Billy, he was one of my idols back in Fiji and we want to send them all off on a high," Vunivalu said. A win will continue Vunivalu's stunning strike-rate, sending him to his third successive grand final from his three years in first grade. "We do have a good record but we're not looking too far ahead," he said. THE CASES OF BARNABY JOYCE AND PETER DUTTON BARNABY JOYCE * Media reports in August 2017 suggest Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is likely to be disqualified due to his New Zealand dual citizenship - a breach of section 44 of the constitution. * Joyce looks into it and announces he has advice from NZ High Commission he could hold NZ citizenship by descent. * Attorney-General says on the basis of solicitor-general advice "the government is confident of the deputy prime minister's position". * Joyce asks the government to refer him to the High Court and a motion is passed by parliament * Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull tells colleagues he is "absolutely confident" the High Court will find Joyce eligible to sit. * On October 26 the High Court disqualifies Joyce, triggering a by-election. * On December 2 he is comfortably returned in the New England by-election. PETER DUTTON * Media reports suggest Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton could be disqualified for holding a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the Commonwealth through childcare centres operated via a family trust - a breach of section 44 of the constitution. * Dutton rejects the media reports, saying his own legal advice reveals no issues. * Labor takes its own initiative to seek a High Court referral in parliament but the motion is defeated by one vote - that of Dutton himself. * Attorney-general releases solicitor-general advice which talks of 'risks', which could only be properly tested in the High Court, but says on balance Peter Dutton is "not incapable" of sitting in parliament. * Prime Minister Scott Morrison stands by the minister. * Labor and Greens weigh up another attempt at a referral, but need the votes of coalition MPs to get the motion passed. School principals need to be able to ban mobile phones from classes to stop cyber bullying and distractions, the nation's new education minister says. Dan Tehan met with his state ministerial counterparts for the first time in Adelaide on Friday and raised the problem of phones in classrooms. "What I support is giving principals and teachers the right to be able to deal with mobile phones if they're distracting from student performance," Mr Tehan told reporters. "It is incredibly important when it comes to the issue of cyber bullying." Any ban will be up to states and territories, but Mr Tehan said it needs to be addressed. "I think it is a no-brainer that we should look at it, because it is something that I think we have to take seriously," he said. The ministers also talked about rolling out a national identification numbers to track students when they move between schools or interstate. Mr Tehan played down privacy concerns about the move, saying it would make sure students don't slip through the cracks. "What you get when you start school is an identification number, which means if you move states, or you move schools, it means you can be tracked," he said. The corporate regulator has commenced civil penalty proceedings against ANZ over allegations the bank breached its continuous disclosure obligations during a 2015 capital raising. ASIC alleges that ANZ, which has already been charged with criminal cartel offences related to the raising, should have advised the market that the investment banks involved in the deal took up nearly a third of the shares in the placement. ANZ says it "is not aware of a precedent for a listed entity to disclose the take up of shares by underwriters in an equity placement" and will defend the allegations. Prime Minister Scott Morrison faces his second week of parliament without an absolute majority in the lower house, and a potential headache over Peter Dutton's eligibility. The Greens and Labor want to refer the Home Affairs Minister to the High Court to test whether he is breaching the constitution over his family financial interest in two childcare centres. "I have taken advice in relation to my position, which put the question beyond doubt," Mr Dutton told parliament on Thursday. Section 44 of the constitution disqualifies anyone who has a "direct or indirect pecuniary interest" in any agreement with the Commonwealth. The opposition parties have been talking with Liberal MPs about voting with them to refer Mr Dutton to the High Court, meaning Mr Morrison has to decide if he will do it himself or lose a vote. Greens leader Richard Di Natale says some Liberal MPs appear to be ready to vote for a High Court referral, perhaps in revenge against Mr Dutton. "I don't mind how they get there, as long as they land in the right place," Senator Di Natale told reporters. But the prime minister can rest easy knowing he won't lose a vote of no confidence in himself, with crossbench MPs promising to back him at least until Malcolm Turnbull's replacement is chosen. Mr Dutton also faces another headache, with a Senate report into his use of ministerial powers to help two au pairs due on Wednesday. He could face the High Court referral or a potential no-confidence motion after that. The Senate will debate laws cracking down on tax avoidance, and a bill to ensure the ABC covers rural and regional audiences, and is "fair and balanced". An inquiry report into the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Labor has already promised to support through parliament, is due on Tuesday. Debate on the TPP will continue on Monday, with Labor MPs under pressure from unions to vote against it. But Labor's trade spokesman Jason Clare says the party will support the deal, and look to amend it under a future Labor government. Lower house MPs will also continue debating modern slavery laws, changes to the My Health Record system, and reforms in the Family Court. A former Bachelor contestant has faced court charged with trafficking cocaine after she was allegedly found with thousands of dollars in her car and her Melbourne 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. It is alleged Tripos had no answer when asked where the money came from. Defence lawyers argued the money could have been obtained legitimately. The court was also told text messages downloaded from the women's phones showed them talking about a substance called "M". However, lawyers argued any jury shouldn't "guess" or speculate what "M" was. The hearing continues. A man infected with HIV by his ex-lover has sobbed profusely while telling a Sydney judge about the "haunting pattern" he experiences daily dealing with "internal wounds and struggles that will never heal". Martin Peter Jaksic, 31, pleaded guilty in March to recklessly causing grievous bodily harm to his former partner who read his victim impact statement aloud at a sentence hearing in the NSW District Court on Friday. "I'm reminded every single day of the struggles and barriers I have to face, of the devastation and embarrassment I have to live with," the man, who can't be identified, told the court through tears. "Every day I anxiously sit and I wait till 8.30pm (when) I'm reminded to take my HIV medications." A Senate committee has rejected a plan to legalise cannabis, despite an argument it would ease the burden on police and bring in $300 million extra in GST revenue a year. Liberal Democrats senator David Leyonhjelm has proposed federal laws to legalise cannabis for recreational, medicinal, industrial and other purposes. He argues its use is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco and the existing ban props up organised and violent crime. Figures from the National Drug Strategy show one in 10 Australians over the age of 14 used it in 2016 and 35 per cent of Australians had indulged in their lifetime. However the inquiry into the bill heard the drug is linked to mental illness, respiratory illness and brain defects and the existing "harm minimisation" strategy was the most appropriate. "The committee agrees with many of the submitters that argued this bill is flawed and premature, and considers that the known risks of illegal cannabis use greatly outweigh the potential benefits of legalisation as contained in the bill," the report concluded. In his dissenting report, Senator Leyonhjelm said the crime-based approach was futile and it was time for Australia to follow the lead of other countries such as Spain, Portugal, Turkey and India. "The Liberal Democrats believe public policy on drugs should not be based on disapproval, but on harm. A growing number of countries agree and it is time Australia did as well," he said. Canterbury have apologised in a letter to members following the NRL club's Mad Monday gone wrong but say the "invasion of privacy" that followed has taken its toll on the players and families involved. The club was fined a record $250,000 by the NRL for misbehaviour and police also laid charges after the naked antics at the Harbour View Hotel in The Rocks, Sydney. A co-authored letter from chair Lynne Anderson and chief executive Andrew Hill released on Friday, confirming the club responded to the NRL's breach notice, marked the first time the club had responded to the incident. 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. 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. 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. A police officer participating in a ride commemorating police who have died in the line of duty has been killed after a car smashed into his motorbike. Victoria Police say the car was travelling along the Princes Highway near Orbost on Friday afternoon when it veered onto the opposite side of the road, struck the policeman's bike and he died at the scene. The officer was among 300 riders in the Wall to Wall Ride who set out from the Victoria Police Memorial in Melbourne headed for Canberra via Merimbula. Lesotho opposition forms coalition after snap post-coup poll Opposition parties in Lesotho on Wednesday formed a coalition government after beating Prime Minister Thomas Thabane's party in snap elections aimed at bringing stability following a coup bid. Former premier Pakalitha Mosisili's Democratic Congress party picked up the most number of seats but fell short of an outright majority and then teamed up with six smaller opposition groups to form a coalition government in the tiny southern African kingdom. The parties "have joined forces to form a government that will serve Basotho," Mosisili told reporters, referring to Lesotho nationals. Electoral officials start counting ballots for the Lesotho parliamentary elections at a polling station in Maseru on February 28, 2015 Gianluigi Guercia (AFP/File) Premier Thabane's party had held a narrow lead during early counting of Saturday's vote. But in the final tally his party fell to second place with 46 of the 120 national assembly seats. The opposition Democratic Congress wrested 47 seats. The six other opposition parties which have joined Mosisili have given him an 18 extra seats in the national assembly and a majority. Completely landlocked by South Africa, Lesotho is one of the world's poorest countries. It has been in crisis since June 2014, when Thabane suspended parliament to avoid a motion that would have seen him ousted from power after the previous fragile coalition government fell apart. On August 30, soldiers attacked police headquarters, looting weapons and killing one officer. Thabane described the violence as a coup attempt fuelled by the opposition and fled to neighbouring South Africa. Both the military and opposition denied any bid to seize power. - 'No security problem' - "There is no security problem in Lesotho, the problem was Prime Minister Thabane," Mosisili said on Wednesday. He pledged that the new "government's first assignment is to bring normalcy." Saturday's regionally-brokered election, held two years early, was hailed by international observers as peaceful, free and fair. "Since there is no one party with 61 seats plus, they will have to negotiate which party will form the government," poll commission spokesman Tsuoe Hants'i told AFP. Current Deputy Prime Minister Metsing, whose differences with Thabane fractured the last coalition, is among the politicians who have clustered around former prime minister Mosisili. He will become the new deputy premier. Mosisili was prime minister from 1998 to 2012. In the last election, his party won most of the seats but Thabane then won over the smaller parties. Wednesday's results brought warnings by analysts that Lesotho's political instability was far from over. "For Lesotho this means another term of uncertainty, unless Mosisili has learned from the mistakes of the last government," said Tsoeu Petlane, director at the Maseru-based think-tank Transformation Resource Centre. "How he handles the security issues between the army and the police will be crucial to deciding if this new coalition will be stable or not." On Monday, observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said laws and policies governing coalition governments in Lesotho needed to be reviewed. The Sahel region Britain said Wednesday it would open new embassies in Chad and Niger to boost its diplomatic presence in Africa's troubled Sahel region. The announcement came as Prime Minister Theresa May wrapped up a trip to South Africa and headed to Nigeria and Kenya on her first trip to the continent as premier. "In one of Africa's most fragile regions, we are increasing our support for African countries' efforts to tackle the underlying drivers of instability and conflict," the Foreign Office in London said in a statement. "The expansion will see the UK step up diplomatic, defence and development engagement in the region, creating new partnerships and opportunities and reducing potential threats to UK and European security." The Boko Haram jihadist group's Islamist insurgency has devastated the region since 2009, leaving at least 20,000 people dead, displacing more than two million others and triggering a humanitarian crisis. Britain has offices in Chad and Niger but no embassies. Chad is covered by the British High Commission in Yaounde in Cameroon, while Niger is covered by the embassy in Bamako in Mali. London will also increase its presence in Bamako. "We must not allow instability across the Sahel, exacerbated by regional conflicts, to continue to hold back development and to spill over into the rest of Africa or into Europe," said Africa Minister Harriett Baldwin. "Strengthening Britain's presence in Chad, Niger, and Mali will allow us to work more closely with our partners in the region to create new opportunities and tackle together the challenges posed by instability, poverty, and irregular migration." Chad and Niger are currently working alongside Burkina Faso, Mali and Mauritania in a joint military operation aimed at tackling jihadists in the region, known as the G5 Sahel force which has won backing from Europe. Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi defended a court decision to jail two Reuters reporters Myanmar's 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 country's 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 country's 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 authority 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 don't 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. Reuters journalists jailed for 7 years Her comments drew an indignant response from rights groups who have urged the Nobel Laureate to press for a presidential pardon for the reporters. "This is a disgraceful attempt by Aung San Suu Kyi to defend the indefensible," said Amnesty International's Minar Pimple, describing the leader's comments as "a deluded misrepresentation of the facts". "The international condemnation heading Aung San Suu Kyi's way is fully deserved, she should be ashamed." Sean Bain, of the International Commission of Jurists, said: "Open courts are designed to shed light on the justice process." "Sadly in this case we've seen both institutional and individual failings to hold up the principles of rule of law and human rights." Army-led "clearance operations" that started last August drove 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh, carrying with them widespread accounts of atrocities -- rape, murder and arson -- by Myanmar police and troops. The ferocity of that crackdown has thrust Myanmar into a firestorm of criticism as Western goodwill evaporates towards a country ruled by a ruthless junta until 2015. A UN fact-finding panel has called for Myanmar army chief Min Aung Hlaing and several other top generals to be prosecuted for genocide. The International Criminal Court has said it has jurisdiction to open an investigation, even though Myanmar is not a member of the tribunal. Suu Kyi, who has bristled at foreign criticism of her country, on Thursday softened her defence of the crackdown against "terrorists" from the Muslim minority. "There are of course ways (in) which, in hindsight, the situation could have been handled better," she said. - War on journalism - But she also appeared to turn responsibility onto neighbouring Bangladesh for failing to start the repatriation of the nearly one million-strong Rohingya refugee community to Myanmar. The Myanmar military crackdown drove 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh Bangladesh "was not ready" to start repatriation of the Rohingya in January as agreed under a deal between the two countries, she said. Yet Myanmar does not want its Rohingya, denying them citizenship while the Buddhist-majority public falsely label them "Bengali" interlopers. Rohingya refugees refuse to return to Myanmar without guarantees of safety, restitution for lost lands and citizenship. The jailing of the Reuters reporters has sent a chill through Myanmar's nascent media scene. The pair denied the charges, insisting they were set up while exposing the extrajudicial killing of 10 Rohingya Muslims in the village of Inn Din in September last year. This week, the UN rights office accused Myanmar of "waging a campaign against journalists". It decried the use of the courts and the law by the "government and military in what constitutes a political campaign against independent journalism". A UN panel is set to release the second part of its report into the atrocities over the coming days. Myanmar will come under international spotlight again on September 25 when the UN General Assembly convenes in New York. Local media have reported that Suu Kyi will not be attending the New York meeting. burs-rs/fa/gle The trade spat between Washington and Beijing has negatively impacted 60 percent of US firms in China, a survey has found The majority of American companies in China say they are hurting from the escalating US-China trade spat, reporting increased costs, lower profits and stepped-up scrutiny, a survey showed Thursday. The American Chamber of Commerce in China polled more than 430 US companies operating in the country, providing the first detailed look at how Donald Trump's trade fight has harmed business. His first round of tariffs this summer hit $50 billion in Chinese products like high-end technology parts and manufactured goods, while Beijing fired back dollar-for-dollar at US soybeans, autos and other farm goods. But US firms are feeling whiplash from both sides as they sell and make goods in China, with Washington's border tax increase and Beijing's counter-punch hurting more than 60 percent of businesses, according to the poll. It also showed looming tariffs on $200-billion of Chinese goods is expected to expand the pain to three-quarters of firms. Chamber president Alan Beebe said the poll would provide officials in Washington and Beijing with facts on how the tariffs are playing out. Businesses received potentially good news on Wednesday after US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin proposed a fresh round of trade talks between the economic superpowers to avert a full-blown trade war. The talks could stave off the growing costs for American firms, though the two sides have failed to reach an agreement over several rounds of negotiations in spring and summer. The unpredictability around the trade fight is hampering investment decisions as investors need stability to make sound decisions, Beebe said. Roughly a third of firms are shifting supply chains out of China, or the US, and an equal proportion are delaying or cancelling investment decisions, the survey showed. The data, when coupled with the results of a similar survey of European firms, is troubling for the health of China's economy, already slowing under the weight of Beijing's battle to cut its debt mountain. The survey released Thursday by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China polled nearly 200 European firms doing business in China and found 17 percent are delaying investment or expansion plans. The trade fight impact is overwhelmingly negative, said Mats Harborn, president of the EU Chamber. "We share the concerns of the US regarding China's trade and investment practices, but continuing along the path of tariff escalation is extremely dangerous," warned Harborn. - 'Too much uncertainty' - Some 42 percent of American firms report their goods are becoming less attractive to Chinese buyers. Beebe said that could be the consequences of price increases or the psychology around how people make purchasing decisions. "Chinese customers just see too much uncertainty around buying American and as a result they shift to alternatives," Beebe told AFP. About half of American firms are making less money, and a similar amount are reporting higher production costs, according to the survey. Some of their employees are paying the price, with 12 percent of firms cutting staff. Beebe said that may be because survey respondents were mostly smaller firms, adding larger companies "have the ability to withstand the impact of the tariffs but it's going to be the smaller ones that are going to feel the pinch sooner". The White House believes China will wave the white flag after the next round of tariffs on $200 billion in goods, said William Zarit, the chamber's chairman. "But that scenario risks underestimating China's capability to continue meeting fire with fire," he added. US companies are particularly worried about the "qualitative measures" Beijing has threatened to take as it becomes unable to respond to tariffs dollar-for-dollar -- US goods imports last year totalled only $130 billion. More than half of firms say they are already feeling Beijing's wrath, with 27 percent reporting increased inspections, 19 percent feeling heightened regulatory scrutiny and 23 percent witnessing slower customs clearance. "The US administration runs the risk of a downward spiral of attack and counter attack, benefiting no one," Zarit said. Some 10 million people in the Philippines are in the path of Typhoon Mangkhut A super typhoon roared toward the Philippines on Thursday, prompting thousands to evacuate ahead of its heavy rains and fierce winds that are set to strike at the weekend before moving on to China. Typhoon Mangkhut, which has already blasted through the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, is speeding across the Pacific with winds that can gust as high as 255 kilometres (160 miles) per hour. Authorities said some 10 million people in the Philippines are in the storm's path, not including millions more in heavily-populated coastal China. Thousands began evacuating in seaside areas of the northern tip of the main Philippine island of Luzon, where the storm is expected to make landfall early Saturday. "The pre-emptive evacuation is going on in our coastal municipalities, the villages that are prone to storm surge," local government spokesman Rogelio Sending told AFP. "We are going to evacuate more." Flooding, landslides and wind damage from the coming storm were top concerns as authorities prepared equipment for rescue and relief operations. Schools were shuttered and some farmers took to their fields to start early harvest of corn and rice that could be ruined by flooding. - 'Considerable threat' - An average of 20 typhoons and storms lash the Philippines each year, killing hundreds of people and leaving millions in near-perpetual poverty. Super Typhoon Mangkhut 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. The state weather service said Mangkhut will be the strongest typhoon so far this year, with sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour. The typhoon is expected to boost the intensity of seasonal monsoon rains that have already caused widespread flooding in central Luzon, a mainly farming region north of capital Manila. 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 AFP. Hong Kong is also in Mangkhut's sights and preparations there were already underway, though the storm was not expected to hit until Sunday. Residents in the Philippines were trying to prepare for the typhoon by securing their houses to trees 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 storm, saying it posed a "considerable threat". The Philippines state weather service said heavy rains and strong winds are expected from Friday over the north and centre of Luzon, along with rough seas on the coasts. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it expects "substantial damage" on the Philippine path of Mangkhut. Storm surges of up to seven metres (23 feet) are expected to hit coastal areas, it said, while heavy rains could trigger landslides and flash floods. The civil defence office in Manila said towns and cities on Mangkhut's path are preparing government buildings as evacuation centres, stockpiling food and other emergency rations. burs-mm/jm/rox Residents of the Palestinian Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar in the occupied West Bank fear Israeli troops are poised to demolish it after they removed caravans pitched by activists on the outskirts following the expiry of a court stay Israeli border police removed caravans on Thursday from near a Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank, which they have orders to demolish despite international criticism, officials said. The pre-dawn operation on the outskirts of Khan al-Ahmar raised fears among the village's 200 residents that its demolition would occur soon. The border police took away five caravans which had been pitched by activists campaigning against the village's demolition. They blocked off access to the village during the operation and there were no clashes, an AFP photographer said. The Israeli defence ministry body which oversees civilian activities in the Palestinian territories said the five caravans had been pitched illegally over the past few days. "The erection of these structures was advanced by representatives of the Palestinian Authority in protest and defiance of the decision of the (Israeli) High Court of Justice, and in opposition to the enforcement of Israeli law in Area C," COGAT said. It was referring to the 61 percent of the West Bank where Israel exercises full civil as well as military authority. On September 5, Israel's supreme court upheld an order to raze the village on grounds that it was built without the proper permits. It is however extremely rare for Palestinians to obtain Israeli permits to build in Area C of the West Bank, where Khan al-Ahmar is situated. A temporary stay against the village's demolition expired on Wednesday, meaning the army can implement the court order when it sees fit. A village spokesman, Abu Khamis, speculated that Israel may hold off on demolition for now to avoid sparking international criticism ahead of the UN General Assembly later this month. The village is located in a strategic spot near Israeli settlements and along a road leading to the Dead Sea. Khan al-Ahmar There have been warnings that continued settlement building in the area would eventually divide the West Bank in two, dealing a death blow to any remaining hopes of a two-state solution. "Over there, there are a number of settlements allowed to grow naturally -- the number of residents naturally -- but here we are banned from doing a single thing," Abu Khamis said. "That is racism, that is apartheid." On Monday, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain issued a renewed call for Israel not to demolish the village, warning of the consequences for residents as well as "the prospects of the two-state solution". Israeli authorities have offered alternative sites for Khan al-Ahmar residents, but villagers say the first was near a rubbish dump and the latest close to a sewage treatment plant. Americans make up only four percent of the global population but they own 40 percent of the world's firearms, according to a recent study published by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva A man went on a shooting rampage in California on Wednesday, killing five people including his wife, before taking his own life. The shooting at multiple locations in Bakersfield in central California was possibly "a domestic violence incident," said Lieutenant Mark King of the Kern County sheriff's office. Police received their first call at 5:19 pm before responding to the first location, a trucking company, where the rampage began. Three people were killed there and the shooter, armed with a large caliber hand gun, fled. Sheriff Donny Youngblood told reporters that the suspect first shot a man at the trucking company and then killed his own wife. He chased a person who had witnessed the shooting and killed that person, too. He then fled and shot a couple at a house. Police then received a call from a woman who said she had been carjacked, King told AFP. Officers gave chase and the suspect pulled into a business, got out of the car and shot himself, he said. King said police were investigating five scenes and interviewing some 30 witnesses to determine what triggered the rampage. The names of the victims have not been released, but they were all from the Bakersfield area, located some 90 miles north of Los Angeles, King said. "We dont believe anyone else was involved and the only suspect was accounted for," he said. Youngblood said the officer who confronted the suspect after the carjacking wore a body camera, but the footage has not been released. "Obviously, these are not random shootings," said Youngblood, while denouncing the fact that such mass shooting were "the new normal." It was the latest chapter of America's epidemic of gun violence. Americans make up only four percent of the global population but they own 40 percent of the world's firearms, according to a recent study published by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. Of the 857 million guns owned by civilians, 393 million are in the United States -- more than all of the firearms held by ordinary citizens in the other top 25 countries combined, according to the Small Arms Survey. According to Gun Violence Archive, the mass shooting in Bakersfield is the third deadliest in the United States this year after a shooting at a school in Parkland, Florida, in February that left 17 people dead and one at a school in Santa Fe, Texas, in May that left 10 people dead. The shootings have drawn impassioned pleas for stricter gun control. Following the Parkland shooting, teenage activists, many of them friends of the victims, galvanized a movement for gun control by organizing marches and school walkouts that kept the issue in the headlines for weeks. The outrage prompted Florida to pass the first gun control measure in the state in 20 years. A Gazan holds aloft a Palestinian flag as he runs through tear gas fired by Israeli forces during a protest at the Erez crossing on September 4, 2018, that prompted Israel to close it for more than a week 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 Gaza's 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. There have been months of tension along the border and several military-flare ups, but recent weeks have seen relative calm. Activists have held regular protests along Gaza's border with Israel since March 30 which have triggered frequent clashes with the army. At least 176 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli fire since the protests began. One Israeli soldier has been killed over the same period. The protesters have been demanding the right of return to homes their families fled or were expelled from during the 1948 war that accompanied Israel's creation. Gaza's only other link to the outside world is the Rafah crossing with Egypt. It was closed for years but has been largely open to restricted categories of Palestinians since mid-May. Cynthia Nixon is the "Sex and the City" actress campaigning to become New York's first woman governor and unseat Andrew Cuomo Cynthia Nixon, the telegenic, left-leaning "Sex and the City" actress turned activist, faces the electoral battle of her life Thursday in her long-shot bid to unseat New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The 52-year-old mother of three wants to become the first woman and first openly gay governor of America's fourth most populous state, which leans Democrat but has upstate areas that voted for Donald Trump. But first she faces off against Cuomo, 60, in the state's Democratic primary on Thursday. Turnout is usually notoriously low but polling stations open at 6:00 am (1000 GMT) and close at 9:00pm. Nixon has campaigned hard to the left, hoping to ride the crest of other upset victories by political first-timers in Democratic Party primaries in congressional seats in places like New York and Boston. "This is not a moment to sit on the sidelines. This is a moment to stand up and fight back," she told an election eve rally. "It is hard to go up against the Cuomo machine and it takes an enormous amount of bravery, but we are tired of the status Cuomo," she added. "We know we can do better." Yet she heads 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. Cuomo, the son of a governor who married a daughter of Robert F Kennedy and had three children before they divorced, has traded hard on his own progressive record and outspent his competitor. He also won a last-minute endorsement from rap star Nicki Minaj, who told her 20 million Twitter followers that New Yorkers should vote for the governor. "Spread the word. See you at the polls," she wrote. - Bagel meltdown - Nixon has hit Cuomo hard on the crumbling subway, going after his more centrist credentials and for taking donations from Trump in the past, as well as his bevvy of corporate donors. She champions economic equality, slams systemic racism, and backs single-payer healthcare, legalized marijuana and public education. Likely to work in Cuomo's favor is that New York allows only registered Democrats to vote in the primary. Nixon dived into the race last March, but in the final home-stretch, the fight has been dirty. A Democratic Party mailer implied she was anti-Semitic, sparking a furious backlash but Cuomo pleaded innocent. Nixon leapt on what she denounced as a smear campaign, pointing out that she was bringing up two of her children Jewish and attended synagogue. Then she sailed into controversy and free column inches of her own -- for a bagel order that incensed almost everyone -- the incongruous lox, cream cheese, tomatoes and capers on a cinnamon and raisin bun. Should she pull off the impossible it will be a humiliating blow to a governor said to harbor presidential ambitions, and who served as a cabinet secretary under Bill Clinton at the tender age of 39. But winning state-wide is tough, especially for a first-timer up against the well-oiled and seriously well-funded machinery of a two-time governor running for his third term. "Whether people love him or not, they know who he is," said Michael Miller, professor of political science at Barnard College. "To break through, that requires a lot of money and organization," he told AFP. "A lot of people would be surprised if she did pull it off." Starting from November 4, any country that buys oil from Iran will face US sanctions 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 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 $70 and $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 $70-$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. - Iran sanctions loom - 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. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Venezuela 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. On Thursday Thai junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha hosted Japanese girl pop sensation "AKB48" at Government House, waving a pink day-glo stick to one of their smash hits and posing for photos The toppled Thai opposition on Thursday called on the ruling junta to lift the ban on political activities as the countdown begins for the kingdom's first election since a 2014 coup. King Maha Vajiralongkorn endorsed two bills on Wednesday that clear the bureaucratic hurdles to a poll, which has been promised and delayed for years by the junta. An election is required to take place by May. Junta critics want to hold political gatherings, which have been banned since a coup four years ago toppled the Puea Thai government led by Yingluck Shinawatra, Thailand's first female premier. "We demand for the junta to lift the political activities ban as soon as possible," Pichai Naripthaphan, an ex-minister in Yingluck's cabinet, told AFP. "As the country heads to an election, we need to create a good atmosphere so that people can express their opinions." Senior junta figures have floated a February 24 poll date. Pichai said that date is now increasingly likely, and cautioned the National Council for Peace Order (NCPO) -- the formal name for the junta -- against delaying it. "If the NCPO postpones it again, there will be local and international pressure," he said. Puea Thai is affiliated to the Shinawatra clan, a powerful and wealthy political family whose parties and proxies have won every Thai general election since 2001. But coups and court rulings have toppled their governments, pushing Yingluck -- and her older brother Thaksin, the family patron -- into self-exile to avoid jail terms in Thailand. US Ambassador to Thailand Glyn Davies said in a statement Thursday that the endorsement of the two bills to move towards an election next year was a "positive step". The US hopes the people of Thailand "can participate fully in the political life of their country", Davies said. That includes being able to have "open political debate, freedom of speech, assembly and the media". With the ban on politics still in place, junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha has spent months positioning himself for a potential run at the next election. Despite insisting he has no interest in politics -- only in maintaining peace and order -- the gruff former general is expected to front an army-aligned party in the next election. For months he has criss-crossed the country promising economic development, wooing local politicians with promised investment and showing his softer side to the electorate with endless photo opportunities. On Thursday he hosted Japanese girl pop sensation "AKB48" at Government House, waving a pink day-glo stick to one of their smash hits and posing for photos. Flanked by a royalist, conservative Bangkok-centric establishment, Thailand's military loathes the Shinawatras, accusing them of winning the hearts of the electorate with a toxic form of populist politics. But junta critics say the army upended Thailand's fragile democracy to ensure its role is embedded in the kingdom's political future. The attack was the latest in a series of offensives against military targets in northeast Nigeria Soldiers have thwarted another Boko Haram attack on an army base in northeast Nigeria, the latest in a series of offensives against military targets in the remote region. Scores of fighters attacked the base in Damasak, in the far north of Borno state, on Wednesday evening, firing heavy artillery in an apparent bid to overrun it. Hours of fighting ensued but the attack was repelled with the help of aerial support, military sources in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, told AFP on Thursday morning. Nigerian Army spokesman Brigadier General Texas Chukwu confirmed troops from 145 battalion were fighting the jihadists, calling the battle "fierce". "The troops are dealing with the terrorists," he said on Wednesday evening. Chukwu's statement was a departure from the military's repeated denials of Boko Haram attacks in recent weeks, which have seen dozens of troops killed and weapons stolen. Last month, 48 soldiers were killed in a raid in the village of Zari, near Damasak, while last Friday, a base was sacked in the town of Gudumbali. Gudumbali is 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Damasak. Thousands of civilians were forced to flee and Boko Haram temporarily seized the town before withdrawing the next day. On Saturday, a regional fighting force set up to stop cross-border attacks helped to repel another attack on a base near Baga, on the shores of Lake Chad. A senior military officer, who asked to remain anonymous because he is not authorised to speak to the media, said the jihadists in Wednesday's attack were heavily armed. "The terrorists attacked the base around 6:00 pm (1700 GMT) but they met stiff resistance from troops who engaged them in hours-long battle," he added. After about four hours of fighting the militants were "beaten" and forced to withdraw after a fighter jet bombarded their positions, he said. There was no immediate indication of casualties on either side. The latest attacks have been blamed on the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a Boko Haram splinter group headed by Mus'ab al-Barnawi and backed by IS. Security analysts assess that the Barnawi faction currently poses a greater threat than that led by Abubakar Shekau, who has indiscriminately targeted civilians. President Muhammadu Buhari was elected in 2015 on a promise to defeat Boko Haram, whose insurgency has killed more than 27,000 people in northeast Nigeria since 2009. The former army general has repeatedly claimed the jihadists are weakened to the point of defeat, despite the continued attacks. Shafee Abdullah, chief lawyer of Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak, was charged with four charges of money laundering Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak's chief lawyer was arrested and charged with money laundering Thursday, as authorities intensified a crackdown on corruption linked to the previous government. Shafee Abdullah, 66, one of the country's most prominent lawyers, led Najib's legal team when the former prime minister was charged for his role in a multi-billion dollar financial scandal involving state fund 1MDB. Najib denies accusations that he oversaw the theft of billions of dollars -- but the financial scandal was a key factor in his shock election defeat in May to a disparate opposition led by his former mentor Mahathir Mohamad, 93. Shafee was slapped with four money laundering charges at the Sessions Court, where he pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. He was arrested early Thursday at an airport where he was scheduled to board a domestic flight for a court case, an officer of the anti-corruption commission told AFP. He was accused of receiving into his bank accounts two cheques from Najib totalling 9.5 million ringgit ($2.3 million), one deposited in 2013 and the other in 2014. Both checks were "proceeds of unlawful activity," according to the charge sheet. The charges also involved Shafee omitting the money in his income tax returns for those years. If convicted on all charges, he could face fines and up to 40 years in prison. State prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram told reporters the charges arose from the anti-corruption commission's investigation into the 1MDB scandal. Shafee called the charges part of a "political vendetta". But the state prosecutor said: "This is a serious offence. There is no politics in this, the accused is not a politician." Mahathir's government has embarked on an anti-corruption campaign since taking power, running after several individuals linked to the former government. It has gained custody of a luxury yacht believed bought with stolen 1MDB funds by fugitive Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, who is at the centre of the scandal. Mahathir also wants to take back a private jet belonging to Low, who has denied any wrongdoing. Following Najib's election loss, police seized a vast trove of items -- including expensive handbags and jewellery -- from properties linked to him with an estimated value of up to $273 million. OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- A 25-year-old Ocean Springs man is dead, gunned down in the parking lot of a bar along U.S. 90 shortly after midnight Saturday. Ocean Springs Police Capt. Chuck Jackson said officers responded to Kahuna's Bar & Grill around 12:39 a.m. after a report of shots fired. Once they arrived, police found a black male laying in the Kahuna's parking lot at the back of the building "with multiple gunshot wounds and barely breathing." Acadian Ambulance was dispatched to the scene and medical personnel attempted to resuscitate the victim, but ultimately he was pronounced dead at the scene. Jackson said the victim has been identified as Troy Taylor, 25, of Ocean Springs. Investigators began questioning possible witnesses and developed a person of interest in the case. This person goes by the name of "D.J." His location is unknown and Jackson said he is considered armed and dangerous. "D.J." is described as a black male of medium complexion, about 5-5 to 5-9 in height and weighing between 185-195 pounds. In addition, two other persons are wanted for questioning in connection with the case. The first is Malinda M. Tennort, 27, of #36 Westgate Apartments in Ocean Springs, described as a black female, 5-3 in height, weighing 160 pounds. Earlier, police identified Anthoney or Anheuser "Fresh" Mitchell, 37, of 1404 Ash St. in Ocean Springs as being wanted for questioning. Authorities say Mitchell is no longer a person of interest in the case and will not face charges at this time. Anyone with information on the identity of "D.J." or the whereabouts of any of these three individuals is asked to call the Ocean Springs Police Department at 228-9752211 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898. Editor's note: This story was updated at 1:12 p.m. to add that Anheuser Mitchell is no longer a person of interest in the case. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: A Saudi F-15 fighter jet lands at the Khamis Mushayt military airbase, some 880 km from the capital Riyadh on November 16, 2015 Spain will go ahead with the controversial delivery of 400 laser-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia, engaged in a bloody conflict in Yemen, Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said Thursday. "In the end, the decision is to deliver these bombs to honour a contract dating from 2015," Borrell said on Spain's Onda Cero radio. The government had announced a week ago that it would block delivery of the weapons -- for which longtime ally Riyadh has already paid 9.2 million euros ($10.7 million). That announcement came after an air strike in August on a crowded market in part of northern Yemen held by Huthi rebels that killed 40 children. But Defence Minister Margarito Robles mooted a U-turn on the arms deal on Monday. Asked Wednesday about criticism from humanitarian groups over the deadly bombs, Borrell said they had "extraordinary precision of less than a metre (yard)" and did not cause collateral damage. Cancellation of the deal would jeopardise a much larger order for five Corvette warships worth 1.8 billion euros, to be built by Spain's Navantia shipyard in the southern region of Andalusia, with thousands of jobs at stake. Workers in the region, a stronghold of the ruling Socialist Party, have staged demonstrations pressing for the deal to go ahead. Amnesty International says Spain is one of the biggest arms exporters to Saudi Arabia. Nearly 10,000 people have been killed in Yemen since Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other allies intervened in 2015 after Huthi rebels ousted the government from the capital Sanaa and seized swathes of the country. Pastor Jin Mingri had given sermons at Beijing's Zion Church for a decade until authorities shut the congregation down on Sunday A Chinese Protestant pastor is vowing to keep preaching to his flock despite the closure of his prominent underground church in Beijing, defying the government's 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. "It's about gathering together to worship, it's about belief." Housed on the third storey 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 Zion's premises and ordered everyone out, tearing down signs and the church's 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 organisations without authorisation". The church's 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 people's republic, (Christians) have had a lot of harm and ill done to us, so churchgoers wouldn't 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 building's owners were also pressured to prematurely end their partnership, refusing to renew the church's 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. - 'Burnt bibles' - China's top leaders have recently called for the "Sinicisation" of religious practice -- bringing it in line with "traditional" Chinese values and culture -- sparking 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 Xi's 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." - 'Social upheaval' - The state-linked China Christian Council estimates the country has around 20 million Christians -- excluding Catholics -- in official churches supervised by the authorities. But the true number of worshippers could be higher, up to 70 million, according to some estimates. China's 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." Two girls who are among the 38,500 people displaced by increasing hostilities in Syria's Idlib province since the start of the month Violence in northwest Syria has displaced more than 38,500 people in less than two weeks amid increasing hostilities and a looming regime assault on the opposition-held Idlib province, the UN said Thursday. The UN, which has warned a full-fledged assault on Idlib could create the century's "worst humanitarian catastrophe", has created a plan to help up to 900,000 people who could flee the onslaught. 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." Of the UN response plan to help up to 900,000 people who could flee the hostilities in Idlib, Moumtzis said: "We hope it won't happen. We hope it will not be needed." Pope Francis meets with leaders from the US church at the Vatican on Thursday to discuss claims of sexual abuse by clergy Pope Francis met with US bishops and cardinals on Thursday to discuss the Vatican's response to a new wave of devastating claims of sexual abuse by clergy. The pope met Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, who leads the US Conference of Bishops, and Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, who advises the pope on sex abuse issues. DiNardo's deputy Jose Horacio Gomez and general secretary Brian Bransfield also attended the closed-door meeting. The US Catholic Church has been shaken by the publication of a report on sexual abuse by clergy in Pennsylvania and by the resignation in July of US Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. McCarrick was accused of sexually abusing a teenager while working as a priest in New York in the early 1970s. The US Bishops' Conference issued a statement after the talks "regarding the recent moral crisis in the American Catholic Church". The men told the pope how the US Church "is lacerated by the evil of sexual abuse... It was a lengthy, fruitful, and good exchange," the statement said. "We look forward to actively continuing our discernment together identifying the most effective next steps." - Falling popularity - US Cardinal Daniel DiNardo is presenting a new "action plan" to the pope for tackling sex abuse by clergy According to a new poll published by the US news channel CNN on Wednesday, Pope Francis's popularity has nosedived in the United States recently. The poll showed that only 48 percent of Americans in general supported the Argentinian pontiff, and his popularity has also plummeted among US Catholics to 63 percent from 83 percent 18 months ago. A former ambassador to the Holy See, Monsignor Carlo Vigano, has even demanded the pope's resignation, accusing him of covering up for McCarrick. On Thursday, the pope accepted the resignation of US Bishop Michael Bransfield -- a cousin of the Bransfield attending Thursday's Vatican meeting -- and ordered an investigation into allegations he sexually harassed adults, his Baltimore diocese said in a statement. - 'Church's own 9/11' - Pope Francis has called a meeting of the heads of bishops' conferences worldwide next February to discuss the issue of sexual abuse Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, private secretary to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, on Tuesday described sexual abuse against minors by clergy as the Church's "own 9/11". Cardinal DiNardo said he wanted to present an "action plan" to the pope to facilitate reporting of abuse and misconduct by bishops. Referring to the McCarrick case, DiNardo called for a "prompt and thorough examination... into how the grave moral failings of a brother bishop could have been tolerated for so long and proven no impediment to his advancement." Police on Tuesday arrested a priest in DiNardo's Texas diocese following allegations he abused a male high school student between 1998 and 2001. A diocesan statement also referred to allegations the priest, Manuel La Rosa-Lopez, abused a 16-year-old girl in 2001. Her parents "decided not to pursue the matter" and left the country, and the priest was allowed to resume his duties in 2004 after an internal investigation, the statement said. In the United States, a group of 5,000 Catholic chief executives have frozen $820,000 (700,000 euros) in funds paid annually to the Holy See pending clarification of the sex abuse cases. While Pope Francis has refused to respond to Vigano's allegations so far, the Vatican said Monday that he was "formulating the eventual and necessary clarifications". - Cover-up allegations - Archbishop of Washington Donald Wuerl has said he plans to travel to Rome in the near future to discuss his resignation with Pope Francis Among the clergymen targeted by Vigano, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington and formerly a bishop in Pennsylvania, is accused of covering up the sexual abuse in that state. Wuerl has said he plans to travel to Rome in the near future to meet with Pope Francis to discuss his resignation. On Wednesday, the pontiff called for a meeting of all the heads of Catholic bishops' conferences worldwide at the Vatican next February to discuss the issue of the "protection of minors". More cases are coming to light. The conclusions of a study commissioned by the Church in Germany were leaked to the press on Wednesday. They included the finding that priests sexually assaulted more than 3,600 children in Germany over nearly seven decades. Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi has robustly defended the jailing of two Reuters journalists who were reporting on the Rohingya crisis The EU's diplomatic chief on Thursday condemned Myanmar's jailing of two Reuters journalists, hours after the country's tarnished democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi strongly defended the men's treatment. A court in Myanmar jailed Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo for seven years last week for breaching the country's hardline Official Secrets Act while reporting on the Rohingya crisis. The trial was widely seen as a bid to muzzle the press, and the reporters' harsh sentences have attracted a chorus of international criticism. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini repeated a call for the reporters' immediate, unconditional release, saying they had not had a fair trial. "Many observers saw this trial as a test of freedom of the media, democracy and the rule of law in the country. It is pretty clear that the test was failed," Mogherini told the European Parliament. "The sentence will also intimidate other journalists who could fear undue arrest or prosecution for doing their job." Earlier Suu Kyi, Myanmar's de facto leader, hit back at widespread international concern over the trial, challenging critics to show where there had been a miscarriage of justice and insisting they had been fairly tried "in open court". Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi was once lionised as a human rights champion for standing up to the military junta that ruled her country for decades, but her response to the Rohingya crisis has seen her reputation tarnished in the eyes of many observers. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Hanoi on Thursday, Suu Kyi said the army's brutal crackdown on the Muslim minority -- described by the UN as "genocide" -- "could have been handled better". Army-led "clearance operations" that started last August drove 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh, carrying with them widespread accounts of atrocities -- rape, murder and arson -- by Myanmar police and troops. The European Parliament on Thursday also called for the reporters to be freed and urged the bloc's executive arm, the European Commission, to review trade privileges granted to Myanmar when it transitioned to democracy in 2015. The cholera outbreak, first detected in a township outside Harare, has spread to other towns as well as rural areas across the country The death toll from a cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe has risen to 24 with first-line antibiotics struggling to treat the disease which has spread from the capital, a World Health Organisation report said Thursday. "A cumulative of 24 deaths were reported from the onset of outbreak," the report said, with 23 deaths in Harare and one death in the southeast district of Masvingo. "There is resistance to the first-line medicine," it added, with tests suggesting antibiotic drugs ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone could be ineffective and the alternative drug azithromycin was not available. "Relevant medicines should be purchased as a matter of urgency as soon as resistance patterns have been ascertained," the situation report from WHO and the health ministry recommended. The cholera outbreak, first detected in the township of Glen View outside Harare on September 5, has prompted the health ministry to declare an emergency in the capital. With 1,901 suspected cases so far, the disease has spread to other towns as well as rural areas across the country. Authorities have banned public gatherings Harare while health ministry personnel are supervising burials of victims. The ban could affect a rally by the main opposition on Saturday where the party planned a mock inauguration for its leader Nelson Chamisa whom supporters say was robbed of victory in elections on July 30. The WHO report said health personnel faced shortages of medicine and intravenous fluid, sewer blockages, lack of protective clothing and erratic water supplies. Cholera outbreaks have occurred regularly in Zimbabwe's cities where supplies of potable water and sanitation facilities are scarce. Informal housing areas without running water have mushroomed, and basic infrastructure has collapsed due to years of neglect. Tests from some wells and boreholes showed water was contaminated with cholera and typhoid-causing bacteria. 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. President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who succeeded Mugabe, has pledged to tackle the current outbreak. UNICEF advised Zimbabweans to prevent cholera spreading by regular hand-washing, drinking only safe water, washing food, cooking it throughly and avoiding shaking hands. 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 June 1, 2018 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. "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. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned against the use of chemical weapons in Idlib Any chemical weapons attack on Syria's last rebel stronghold would lead to "consequences" for the regime in Damascus, French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned in Beijing Thursday. Russia-backed regime forces have massed around Idlib in recent weeks, sparking fears of an imminent air and ground attack to retake the last major opposition bastion. Speaking at a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, Le Drian said the use of chemical weapons in the assault would prompt a response from Paris. "France warns against the use of chemical weapons," he said, calling it a "red line". The Assad regime has twice been targeted by US air and missile strikes after previous alleged chemical attacks, and US officials have in recent days said additional action would follow if Assad uses the banned weapons in rebel-held Idlib. The US launched a missile strike on a Syrian air base in April 2017 after an alleged chemical attack in Idlib, while a second US-led strike, supported by the British and French militaries, took place in April this year. Le Drian said any regime chemical attack in Idlib would "have the same consequences as we knew in April". UN chief Antonio Guterres on Wednesday warned Syria and its backers against a full-scale offensive in Idlib, saying it "must not be transformed into a bloodbath". Throughout the seven-year war, which has claimed more than 350,000 lives, Syrian regime forces have repeatedly been accused of targeting rebel-held areas with chemical attacks -- mostly with chlorine but also with deadly sarin nerve gas. The regime and Russia have consistently denied the accusations, blaming opposition fighters instead. But international investigators have found that on at least three occasions the regime unleashed chemical weapons on civilians, while the so-called Islamic State group was also blamed for using mustard gas. A Syrian rebel fighter takes part in combat training in northwestern Idlib province on September 11, 2018 More than 360,000 people have been killed across war-ravaged Syria in seven years, a monitoring group said Thursday, in a new toll for the brutal conflict. It came amid rising international concern that a looming Syrian government assault against rebels in the northwest province of Idlib would be a "bloodbath." The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it had recorded the deaths of 364,792 people, nearly a third of them civilians, since protests erupted in March 2011 against President Bashar al-Assad. The toll represents an increase of about 13,000 people in the past six months, according to the Britain-based monitor, which uses a vast network of sources including fighters, officials and medical staff. The war has killed 110,687 civilians, including more than 20,000 children and nearly 13,000 women. More than 124,000 pro-government fighters have died, around half of them regime troops and the rest an assortment of Syrian and foreign militiamen loyal to Assad. Among them are 1,665 from Lebanon's Hezbollah movement. The Observatory recorded the deaths of 64,000 hardline Islamists and jihadists, including from the Islamic State group and former Al-Qaeda affiliate factions. Another 64,800 fighters from other forces, including non-jihadist rebels, soldiers who defected and Kurdish factions, were also killed since 2011. The Observatory said it had confirmed the deaths of another 250 people but could not specify their identities. With help from his Russian and Iranian allies, Assad has recaptured nearly two-thirds of Syrian territory. The lion's share of the rest is the Kurdish-controlled northeast. The largest chunk of rebel-held territory left comprises the province of Idlib and surrounding areas, where an estimated three million people live. Assad's troops have been amassing around the area for weeks ahead of a threatened assault. The United Nations, world powers, and aid groups alike have warned a full-fledged offensive on Idlib could create a humanitarian calamity. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres this week urged the regime to pull back and for all sides to find a peaceful solution, saying Idlib "must not be transformed into a bloodbath." Women are not legally barred from working in Saudi Arabia's aviation sector, but until now they have never served as co-pilots and jobs as flight attendants have largely been held by female foreign workers Riyadh-based carrier Flynas has announced plans to recruit Saudi women to work as co-pilots and flight attendants for the first time, just months after the kingdom lifted a decades-long ban on female motorists. Saudi Arabia in June ended a longstanding ban on women driving cars as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman seeks to improve women's participation in the workforce. Women are not legally barred from working in the aviation sector, but jobs as flight attendants with Saudi carriers have largely been held by female foreign workers from countries such as the Philippines. Nearly 1,000 Saudi women have applied for co-pilot positions with Flynas in the past 24 hours, a spokesman for the airline told AFP on Thursday, as the ultra-conservative Islamic kingdom relaxes gender restrictions amid the far-reaching liberalisation drive. "Flynas is keen to empower Saudi women to play an important role in the kingdom's transformation," the low-cost carrier said Wednesday in its call for applications. "Women... are an essential part of the airline's success." The recruitment drive comes just days after Flyadeal, another low-cost Saudi carrier, began posting jobs for Saudi women to work as flight attendants. Despite being allowed to drive cars, women still require permission from their fathers, husbands or other male relatives to travel and to get married under the kingdom's strict guardianship system. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is donating $2 billion to a new charitable fund focusing on helping the homeless and creating preschools for underserved communities Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the richest person on the planet, said Thursday he was creating a philanthropic fund to help homeless families and launch preschools in low-income communities, committing an initial $2 billion to the cause. 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. 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. The fund will also seek to launch and operate "a network of high-quality, full-scholarship, Montessori-inspired preschools in underserved communities," he wrote. "We will build an organization to directly operate these schools." Bezos 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 - Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie Bezos are creating a new "Day One Fund" to combat homelessness and create preschools 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 newspaper. Despite his fortune, Bezos has not been a major philanthropic donor and Amazon has been criticized in its home of Seattle, Washington, for 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. - Amazon's tentacles - Most of his fortune is from Amazon shares, but Jeff Bezos also owns the Washington Post -- where he spoke at the newspaper's new headquarters inauguration in 2016 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. According to the research firm eMarketer, Amazon's e-commerce revenue will grow more than 28 percent this year to reach $394 billion, and will account for 49 percent of US online retail sales and nearly five percent of all retail spending. Some analysts have suggested Amazon could face antitrust scrutiny over its growing power in the economy, and President Donald Trump has accused the company of taking advantage of the Postal Service, despite studies suggesting the internet giant's deal has been beneficial to the US government postal operator. Amazon has faced criticism for paying little in taxes, which stems in part from its historically low profits. It has also won tax breaks in many areas for its warehouses and distribution centers, and has been running a highly publicized effort for a second North American headquarters, prompting proposals for tax reductions and incentives. Amazon has selected 20 cities as "finalists" for the headquarters and has indicated it would make a decision by year-end. Members of the People's Protection Units (YPG) gather in the Syrian town of Shadadi on September 11, 2018 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. City police officers stand outside the Leighton Criminal Courts Building in Chicago as jury selection begins in the murder trial of Jason Van Dyke, a white officer who shot a black teenager 16 times and killed him in October 2014 The city of Chicago, struggling with a gun violence epidemic and mistrust between police and civilians, reached a far-reaching agreement Thursday to reform its beleaguered police department. The agreement spells out hundreds of reform goals aimed at improving policing in the third most populous US city, where 386 people have been murdered this year. The Chicago Police Department has been marred by decades of documented abuses, and has struggled to gain the trust of communities where gang violence is claiming more lives than anywhere else in the country -- more than 650 in 2017. The agreement was reached as jury selection is underway in the murder trial of a white Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, accused of gunning down a black teenager in 2014. Mayor Rahm Emanuel called the deal a "historic inflection point," coming two years after he fired the previous police chief over the Van Dyke case. The decree "creates an enforceable, durable and sustainable framework for systemic changes," said Emanuel, the one-time chief of staff for president Barack Obama. - 16 shots - Van Dyke shot 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times, even after the teen collapsed to the ground. Police video of the shooting generated months of protests. It seemed to contradict officers' claims that the teen was a physical threat, as he appears to be walking away from officers. The case led to a civil rights investigation conducted by Obama's Department of Justice, which found a pattern of Chicago police abuses and rights violations, and recommended a host of reforms. The consent decree deal struck between mayor Emanuel, police chief Eddie Johnson, and the state's top law enforcement official follows those recommendations and adds additional goals, officials said. "It has taken our city a generation to get here," Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said. "The resulting lack of trust between the public and the police is untenable." Among the hundreds of decree requirements, the police department will improve officer training by teaching de-escalation techniques and strategies for dealing with calls in which mental health is an issue. It also includes enhanced oversight of police officers and their use of force. Normally, the federal government would establish the consent decree, but the administration of Obama's successor, Donald Trump, dropped those efforts. With political pressure mounting, city and state officials stepped in to forge their own agreement. The deal still needs the approval of a federal judge who will monitor the city's progress. Tony Winborne, 37, looks at a computer in a Hurricane Florence evacuation shelter where, he says, it's "better safe than sorry," at Conway High School in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 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 North Myrtle Beach Police officer warns a beachgoer about the dangers of remaining on the beach as Hurricane Florence moves closer and conditions worsen in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 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. 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. Victims relatives arrive at the house on that was the scene of the third shootings that eventually resulted in the deaths of six people in Bakersfield, California A man who killed five people, including his wife, in California before taking his own life had been in the midst of a contentious divorce, authorities said Thursday. "It appears that the suspect targeted each of his victims," Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood told a news conference in Bakersfield, where Wednesday's deadly rampage took place. He said the shooter, identified as Javier Casarez, 54, was in divorce proceedings and his wife had recently filed legal papers related to child support and property. The tragedy unfolded after Casarez arrived at a trucking company in southeast Bakersfield at around 5:18 pm, accompanied by his wife, Petra Casarez, Youngblood said. The couple confronted a man at the business. Javier Casarez shot the man and then turned the gun on his wife and shot her. He then chased another man and gunned him down too, Youngblood said. Casarez then went to a house where he shot a 31-year-old woman and her father. Youngblood said Casarez carjacked a vehicle with a woman and child inside and let them go, telling the woman he was "not a bad guy," before driving off. He killed himself after he pulled into a business and was confronted by police, who released body-cam footage of the suicide from an officer at the scene. Youngblood said Casarez told the officer he didn't want to live before shooting himself in the stomach with a Smith & Wesson handgun. It is as yet unclear how all the victims are connected to Casarez, authorities said. The mass shooting is the third deadliest in the United States this year after a shooting at a school in Parkland, Florida, in February that left 17 people dead and one at a school in Santa Fe, Texas, in May that left 10 people dead, according to data from Gun Violence Archive. Church members stand with the family of Botham Jean, who was shot dead by a white officer who apparently walked into his apartment thinking it was her own 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. 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. 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 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 honor" 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. US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, pictured in April 2018 talking with her Russian counterpart Vassily Nebenzia during a UN Security Council meeting Several paragraphs referring to Russian oil trade in a United Nations report about sanctions on North Korea have been removed at Moscow's urging, sparking US anger on Thursday. Russia at the end of August had blocked publication of the report on the implementation of sanctions against North Korea because it disagreed with findings that Pyongyang had exceeded a 2018 import cap for oil set by the sanctions imposed last year, a diplomatic source said last month. Sources at that time also said Russia blocked a US request that two Russian shipping companies and six of their vessels be sanctioned over oil shipments to the North. "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," Washington's UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement. She accused the UN panel of "caving to Russian pressure" and making changes to its report. "This is a dangerous precedent and a stain on the important work of the Panel," Haley said, calling for the initial version of the report -- dating from early August -- to be published. The US in July had demanded without success an end to all oil exports to North Korea, citing satellite photos and expert reports to claim illegal ship-to-ship transfers had allowed Pyongyang to evade sanctions over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. In its original report the UN panel included the names of Russian ships and entities that had contravened UN sanctions, opening the way for international measures against them. Russia "obtained the removal of the main part of the paragraphs" concerning it, a diplomat said, speaking anonymously. "The Sanctions Committee gave in," a move raising questions about its independence, he said. By blocking since early August release of the original document, Russia explained that the report relied mainly on American information and did not take into account a Russian analysis of the application of sanctions. 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 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. Firefighters inspect a home after a gas explosions in North Andover, Massachusetts "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. The United States has approved the sale of six P-8A Poseidon aircraft to its ally South Korea 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. Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg South Korea's President Moon Jae-in and the North's Kim Jong Un will hold their third summit this year in Pyongyang 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". South Korea's President Moon Jae-in and the North's Kim Jong Un will hold their third summit this year in Pyongyang 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, 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". 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 Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, even as US efforts to secure concrete progress towards Pyongyang's denuclearisation have stalled. Moon will fly to the North's capital on Tuesday to meet with Kim as he seeks to rekindle the process. The leaders' first meeting as well as key events during the three-day visit will be shown live on television, Moon's office said after a working-level meeting with the North on Friday. Moon's trip will mark 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 Kaesong joint industrial complex zone, opened in 2004 as a symbol of economic cooperation, was shut in 2016 in response to the North's nuclear and missile tests 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". 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. - Easing tensions - 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. Inter-Korean summits 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. It will be manned by some 20 officials each from both sides, headed by a vice minister-level appointment. But critics have questioned whether the supplies provided to set it up are a violation of the multiple sanctions imposed on the North over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. Around 50 people from each side attended the ceremony, reports said, including Southern businessmen who used to run companies in the now-shuttered Kaesong industrial zone. The project, where South Korean firms employed Northern staff, opened in 2004, when it was hailed as a symbol of inter-Korean economic cooperation and exchanges. But then conservative President Park Geun-hye's government shuttered it in 2016 in response to the North's nuclear and missile tests. It was the first time the businessmen had set foot in Kaesong for more than two years, but the unification ministry said their presence did not mean Seoul was seeking to reopen the park as sanctions were still in effect. Analysts have presented a grim assessment of the Afghan war, 17 years after it started 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. Afghanistan violence 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. - 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. Most analysts believe official casualty figures in Afghanistan understate the reality on the ground 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. Gen. John Nicholson insisted last month that the Trump strategy for Afghanistan was working 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. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, pictured on September 7, will meet in Sochi on Monday 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. Nigerian MPs climb over the gate of parliament in 2014. Chaotic scenes often abound in the house 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. - Anti-slavery campaigners are set to win parliamentary seats after Saturday's run-off vote in Mauritania, where tens of thousands remain in bondage while authorities say they are working on a solution. The head of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA), Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid, has already won a seat during a first round vote on September 1 despite being in jail for more than a month. A critic of the regime of President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Abeid is among the descendants of black slaves elected to parliament in the largely desert country dominated by "White Moors" who are of Arab and Berber descent. Another IRA leader, Coumba Dada Kane, who describes Mauritania as "one of the last slaving countries on our planet", has also won as has the speaker of the outgoing assembly, Mohamed Ould Boilil, representing the political majority. In an electorate of about 1.4 million, hundreds of thousands of people are descendants of slaves. Experts and anti-slavery associations say some are "still bonded to their former masters" despite slow legal and judicial progress since slavery was officially abolished in 1981. More than three decades later in August 2015, parliament made slavery "a crime against humanity" punishable by prison terms of up to 20 years by law. Yet little has changed in reality, activists say. Nevertheless, specialised courts set up in 2015 to try slavery cases have come down hard on offenders since the start of this year. In March, a court in the Atlantic port of Nouadhibou sentenced a father and his son to 20 years in prison for enslaving a family of four. A woman was jailed for 10 years for doing the same to three sisters. In April, the court in the coastal capital Nouakchott gave three men the maximum sentence of a year behind bars for denigrating others by addressing them like slaves, a first for such a crime. - 'Raised like my own daughter' - The severe sentences "constitute significant progress" for Boubacar Messaoud, president of SOS Esclaves (SOS Slaves), an NGO that helped the plaintiffs. "They are indeed proof that slavery still exists and that government denials are meaningless," Messaoud said. Anti-slavery activist Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid won a seat despite being jailed for more than a month Born in 1975 to a family of slaves, Mata Mbeyrik told AFP how he escaped in 2004 and reached a military barracks 400 kilometres (250 miles) away, only to face being sent back to his former masters. "A human rights organisation in Nouakchott appealed to the authorities and it's thanks to them that I was saved," he said. In 2006, local administrative authorities ordered soldiers to accompany Mbeyrik back to the camp of his ex-captors to free his sisters, brothers and other slaves. Testimony at slavery trials illustrate how Mauritanian society is tangled in bonds that have linked slaves to their masters for generations at both family and tribal levels. "I don't have a child, I have raised this girl as my own daughter, without giving her a wage -- that's true -- but I pay for her every need," one woman in the dock, Ar-Rabiaa Mint Hammadi, told a court before it sentenced her to 10 years in jail. - '43,000 people still enslaved' - For IRA president Abeid, claims by the wealthy to have looked after slaves and met their needs are "an old excuse by slave-owners to diminish the crime and justify it." No official statistics exist for the number of still enslaved. NGOs have estimated that up to 43,000 people remained in bondage in 2016, constituting one percent of the population. "Slavery still continues to exist, but it has become more rare," said the president of SOS Esclaves, Boubacar Messaoud, expressing concern at the potential impact of poverty on young Haratin, or Black Moors. "If it continues to exist, then we have failed in becoming a society genuinely anti-slavery, mobilised against this phenomenon and committed to its eradication." 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 blocked by anti-whaling nations in a tense vote Friday at the International Whaling Commission meeting in Brazil. 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's vice-minister for fisheries Masaaki Taniai said he regretted the vote's outcome, and threatened to leave the 89-member organization 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 had sought consensus 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. Vice minister Taniai said Japan regretted the result of the vote "which we all know can be seen as equivalent to the denial of the possibility for governments with different views to coexist with mutual understanding and respect withing 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". "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 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." Ongwen was abducted as a young boy while walking to school and was soon trained as a child soldier within the LRA Notorious Lord's Resistance Army commander Dominic Ongwen's lawyers open their defence Tuesday at the International Criminal Court, where their client is charged with conducting a reign of terror in northern Uganda in the early 2000s. Known as the "White Ant", Ongwen faces 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role from 2002 to 2005 in the sinister LRA rebel group, led by its fugitive chief Joseph Kony. Ongwen is also the first accused before The Hague-based ICC to face the very same charges of which he is also a victim. Born in 1975, Ongwen was abducted as a young boy while walking to school and was soon trained as a child soldier within the LRA. Prosecutors said he grew up to become a "ferocious" senior LRA commander in charge of Kony's infamous Sinai brigade -- which among many crimes committed also abducted young girls and women to serve as domestic workers and sex slaves. Ongwen was "enthusiastic in adopting the LRA's violent methods and eager to show he could be more active and more brutal" than others, prosecutors said as his trial opened in January 2016. ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda at the time played a gruesome video depicting the aftermath of an LRA attack on a refugee camp, shocking the courtroom with images of disemboweled children and charred bodies of babies in shallow graves. In another attack against the Odek refugee camp in 2004, Ongwen instructed his troops that "nothing should be left alive," prosecutors said. - A victim too? - Ongwen, now around 43, has denied the charges, insisting it was the LRA, not him, who murdered defenceless refugees. "Mr Ongwen has been clear from the beginning... that the charges before the court are not against him, but rather against the LRA, and that the LRA is not his army," his lawyer Krispus Ayena Odongo said. "He was just a victim, like many others (who were) abducted like him," Odongo told AFP ahead of the opening of the defence's case. Lily Atong, wife of Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) chief Joseph Kony is Ongwen's sister Physically "Dominic Ongwen was doing fine" Odongo said. His client however has been diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder. Ongwen's case before the ICC is unique, said international law expert Mark Kersten of the University of Toronto. "The trial throws up so many important questions as to how to deal with victim-perpetrators," he told AFP, including the appropriate type of punishment should Ongwen be found guilty. - Bloodthirsty rebels - A self-styled mystic and prophet, Kony launched a bloody rebellion more than three decades ago seeking to impose his own version of the Ten Commandments in northern Uganda. The UN says the LRA has slaughtered more than 100,000 people and abducted 60,000 children since it was set up in the mid-1980s. More than 4,000 victims are also taking part in Ongwen's trial which began more than a decade after a warrant for his arrest was issued in 2005. Ongwen was transferred to the ICC in 2015 shortly after surrendering to US special forces operating in the Central African Republic. At the time, former US president Barack Obama had deployed a small number of US troops to the region to aid the hunt for Kony, who is still at large. Experts believe Ongwen fled after falling out with Kony and almost being killed. Brice, a man who was tortured by the the LRA while hunting in the bush, shows burn scars on his arm The LRA first emerged in northern Uganda around 1986, where it claimed to fight in the name of the Acholi ethnic group against long-time President Yoweri Museveni's government. Over the years, the LRA has moved across porous regional borders: it has shifted from Uganda to sow terror in southern Sudan before moving into northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and finally crossing into the Central African Republic in 2008. Combining religious mysticism with an astute guerilla mind and bloodthirsty ruthlessness, Kony remains a fugitive and nothing is known of his current whereabouts. Bhutan has held national elections only twice before, after its monarchy ceded absolute power in 2008 Voters in Bhutan, "Land of the Thunder Dragon", went to the polls Saturday in the first round of only the third election in the small Himalayan nation wedged between rivals India and China. The two parties with the most votes will contest a runoff on October 18, with Harvard-educated Tshering Tobgay, 52, hoping for a second consecutive term as prime minister. But the keen mountain-biker's People's Democratic Party (PDP) faces a tough challenge from the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT), winner of Bhutan's first election in 2008, and two other parties. The 800,000 inhabitants of Switzerland-sized Bhutan got television in 1999 and democracy arrived only in 2008 when its "dragon kings" ceded absolute power. But it has tried to shield itself from the downsides of modernisation, striving for Gross National Happiness, being carbon-negative and keeping tourist numbers down with a daily fee of $250 per visitor in high season. Opinion polls are banned and analysts are thin on the ground but an observer told AFP that the PDP had an edge over its handling of the economy, with growth strong and unemployment low. Corruption, rural poverty, youth unemployment and the prevalence of criminal gangs remain challenges, however. "I think the core issues in 2018 are the same as 2013 and 2008 -- the economy, rural development, infrastructure and, to some extent, tourism," Tenzing Lamsang, editor of The Bhutanese daily, told AFP. Bhutan is heavily dependent on its neighbour India for aid, infrastructure investments, imports and as an export market, in particular for electricity it generates using hydroelectric power. During the last election campaign in 2013 India abruptly withdrew subsidies for kerosene and cooking gas imports, in what was seen as an attempt to ensure a change of government. India is unhappy about China's growing influence in Bhutan. Last year India and China became embroiled in a military standoff over the Doklam plateau high in the Himalayas claimed by both China and Bhutan. India itself does not claim the territory but has a military presence in Bhutan. It stepped in to prevent Chinese border guards from building a road there, prompting Beijing to accuse it of trespassing on Chinese soil. Protests, tear gas at Moldova independence day parade CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) Moldovan police on Saturday fired tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters during a parade to mark the former Soviet republic's independence day. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered near the main square of Chisinau, Moldova's capital. Many shouted "thieves!" and "shame on you!" as President Nicolae Timofti and other officials laid floral wreaths at a monument honoring Stephen the Great, a 15th-century Moldovan hero. Few citizens were permitted to enter the square amid heavy police security. No injuries from Saturday's clashes were reported. Underlining tensions, Timofti said in a speech earlier Saturday that Moldova's independence and security were undermined by the presence of "foreign military forces that are on the country's territory against the wishes of the population." He was referring to the presence of 1,000 Russian peacekeepers in the pro-Russian separatist enclave of Trans-Dniester in eastern Moldova. Trans-Dniester broke away from Moldova in 1990 amid fears that it wanted to reunite with Romania, which Moldova was part of until 1940. Some 1,500 died in a war in 1992 between Moldovans and separatists. European Union member Romania has a close relationship with Moldova. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said Saturday the day was an occasion to "support projects which seek to improve the lives of all Moldovan citizens and fulfil their European destiny." Moldova, sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, declared independence on Aug. 27, 1991, as the Soviet Union unraveled. The economically struggling nation depends on Russia for most of its gas. Figures published this week found that more than a quarter of Moldova's citizens have emigrated for work, and more than half of them work in Russia. ____________ TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) - The main opposition candidate called Saturday for Honduras' disputed presidential election to be held again after the country erupted in deadly protests over the delayed vote count and the government imposed a dawn-to-dusk curfew. Both incumbent President Juan Orlando Hernandez and his rival, television personality Salvador Nasralla, have claimed victory in last Sunday's vote, which the opposition says was filled with irregularities. Clashes between protesters and troops have left at least one person - and perhaps as many as a half-dozen - dead. "I have asked them to repeat the elections, but only those for the presidency, with the aim of resolving the crisis that Honduras is suffering," Nasralla told The Associated Press. Family and friends gather around the coffin containing the remains of his sister Kimberly Dayana Fonseca, 19, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. As the electoral count entered its sixth day Saturday, Fonseca was shot to death at a protest supporting opposition presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla by gunmen in two vehicles who witnesses say were police. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) But he said the new election "would be under the supervision of an international electoral tribunal, not the local one, because there aren't sufficient conditions to guarantee" the vote would be fair. Asked what response he got from the government to the proposal, Nasralla said "they haven't responded and I don't think they will." Honduras' national police force said a 19-year-old woman was shot to death overnight at a pro-Nasralla protest by gunmen who witnesses say were police. Police said another man was seriously wounded in the same shooting, but his whereabouts are unclear, and he is also believed to have died. "We still do not know if the assailants were police officers or not, but the case is being thoroughly investigated," according to a police statement. The Coalition Against Impunity, a network of human rights organizations, said security forces had used lethal ammunition and that four other protesters are believed to have been killed during clashes across the country. The report was not immediately confirmed by police; demonstrators often carry off their fallen colleagues. The protests were reminiscent of the 2009 coup that ousted former President Manuel Zelaya, whose Libre party is part of the coalition led by Nasralla that formed in a bid to unseat Hernandez. The country's electoral court had finished counting nearly 95 percent of the vote boxes from the Nov. 26 presidential election by late Friday and said it would conduct a hand count of 1,031 other boxes that presented "inconsistencies." Hernandez held a lead of more than 46,000 votes over Nasralla before the last-stage count. It was not immediately clear how many votes could be at play in the uncounted boxes. The count has been essentially frozen because Nasralla's representatives say far more ballot boxes should be examined. Mistrust mounted amid strange delays in the vote count and the sudden reversal of Nasralla's early lead. Both Nasralla and Hernandez have declared themselves the winner. Rock-wielding protesters have increasingly taken to the streets against riot police armed with tear gas, batons and water cannons. National police spokesman Jair Meza said numerous businesses were damaged and looted in the capital and in San Pedro Sula. By Saturday, Meza said more than 300 people had been detained for looting as they streamed out of shopping centers with electronics and other goods. Groups of demonstrators also continued blocking highways with burning tires and other debris. Zelaya and other opposition leaders have called for a mass march against the purported election fraud on Sunday. In a decree read out on radio and television, the government's Cabinet chief Jorge Hernandez said late Friday that some constitutional guarantees would be suspended for 10 days to allow the army and police to control the situation. The government declared a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. across the country. The military reported that 115 men and 23 women were detained in San Pedro Sula for violating the curfew on the first night it was implemented. They were later released. On Saturday, electoral court president David Matamoros said he was willing to meet with representatives of the political parties about differences over vote counts. No announcements will be made until there is a final result. After speaking with representatives of the opposition alliance and the ruling National Party, Matamoros said Friday that each party would be able to accredit 60 people to participate in the afternoon count alongside international observers. He estimated it could take six hours. But the opposition published a list of demands that included a broader review of votes in three jurisdictions where it alleges voter turnout was unusually high and said the number of ballot boxes that presented issues was far larger. It was unclear if its demands would be met. The count had still not begun Friday night because no representatives for Nasralla had arrived: "The wait continues," said court spokeswoman Lourdes Rosales. There was no comment from the court Saturday morning. In a statement, the court also said any suggestion of wrongdoing in its operations is false. Heide Fulton, charge d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Honduras, called on Hondurans via Twitter Saturday to remain peaceful. "Public gatherings should remain peaceful, in accordance with Honduran law," Fulton said. __ Associated Press writer Christopher Sherman in Mexico City contributed to this report. Soldiers stand guard outside a shopping mall in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. At least one opposition protester has died in shootings in Honduras after the country announced a curfew and suspended some constitutional rights in the face of protests and unrest over a disputed election in which both candidates have declared themselves winner. (AP Photo/Fernando Antonio) Soldiers stand guard outside the institute where election ballots are stored in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. At least one opposition protester has died in shootings in Honduras after the country announced a curfew and suspended some constitutional rights in the face of protests and unrest over a disputed election in which both candidates have declared themselves winner. (AP Photo/Fernando Antonio) Soldiers monitor a check point in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. At least one opposition protester has died in shootings in Honduras after the country announced a curfew and suspended some constitutional rights in the face of protests and unrest over a disputed election in which both candidates have declared themselves winner. (AP Photo/Fernando Antonio) Rudy Fonseca, 29, cries standing next to the coffin containing the remains of his sister Kimberly Dayana Fonseca, 19, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. As the electoral count entered its sixth day Saturday, Fonseca was shot to death at a protest supporting opposition presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla by gunmen in two vehicles who witnesses say were police. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) A woman takes a picture of Kimberly Dayana Fonseca, 19, lying in her casket during a wake in Fonseca's home, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. As the electoral count entered its sixth day Saturday, Fonseca was shot to death at a protest supporting opposition presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla by gunmen in two vehicles who witnesses say were police. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) A women looks through the debris of a barricade erected by protesters, for plastic bottles to recycle, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. At least one opposition protester has died in shootings in Honduras after the country announced a curfew and suspended some constitutional rights in the face of protests and unrest over a disputed election in which both candidates have declared themselves winner. (AP Photo/Fernando Antonio) MOSCOW (AP) - Security officials in Tajikistan said on Monday that two people have been killed and one injured after men stormed the border from Afghanistan. Tajik Border Guards said in a statement that they are looking for a group of 10 to 12 armed men who crossed the Panj River separating the country from Afghanistan on Sunday. The men, armed with a hand-held grenade launcher and automatic rifles opened fire on three forest rangers, killing two of them and injuring one. Tajikistan has a long, porous border with Afghanistan, and the area across the Panj is currently under Taliban control. The incident comes a week before Moscow hosts a Taliban delegation for Afghanistan talks. Russia's Defense Ministry later on Monday denied reports that it carried out airstrikes on nearby Taliban-controlled territory in retaliation. Officials in Russia and Tajikistan have long been worried about a potential spillover of militant activities from Afghanistan. The chief of Tajikistan's Border Guard Forces earlier this year raised the alarm about an estimated 7,000 Afghan militants roaming the border area. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island, who made a case for a second term by highlighting the state's improving economic fortunes, has survived a grassroots challenge from the left to win her party's nomination for re-election. She will now face Republican Allan Fung, mayor of the state's second largest city, who came in 4.5 points behind Raimondo in a three-way race in 2014. Wednesday's primary winners will have to contend with another three-way contest Nov. 6, with former Republican lawmaker Joe Trillo, who chaired President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign in Rhode Island, running as an independent. Incumbent Democratic Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo greets supporters alongside her son, Thompson, at her primary night victory party, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) Rhode Island also selected nominees for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, lieutenant governor and other offices in the rare Wednesday vote. About 145,000 people cast ballots, or nearly 20 percent of voters, according to the state Board of Elections. The turnout in recent midterm primaries has hovered around 20 percent. In the campaign, Raimondo cited a falling unemployment rate in the state, as well as new job training programs and free community college tuition started during her tenure. She defeated Matt Brown, a former Rhode Island secretary of state. Brown, who last held office over a decade ago, pushed himself as the grassroots alternative and hammered Raimondo for her close corporate ties. Raimondo raised $7.7 million, 20 times Brown's total. She took aim at Fung in her victory speech, saying he won't stand up to Trump and he opposes her administration's job creation policies. Her supporters chanted "four more years." Malcolm Griggs headed to the polls in Warwick to vote in the Democratic primary for Raimondo, who he feels has done a good job helping the state's economy, attracting businesses and augmenting businesses already in Rhode Island. "She put people to work and that matters," said Griggs, 58, who works in the banking industry. On the Republican side, Fung, the mayor of Cranston, defeated Patricia Morgan, who leads the tiny House minority caucus in the overwhelmingly Democratic General Assembly. Fung tried to keep a low profile in the primary, putting out few detailed policy proposals, dodging questions about where he stands on various issues and agreeing to just one debate on a small radio station with limited reach. Raimondo also did not participate in debates. Fung said his victory is a sign that Rhode Islanders are ready to take back the state from insiders and "big shots" and reject the status quo. He said he's ready to "lead this revolution." In congressional races, Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Rep. David Cicilline easily won their primaries. Rep. Jim Langevin was unopposed in the Democratic primary. The 62-year-old Whitehouse is a leading voice in the Senate pushing to do more to address climate change. He has also been critical of Trump on a number of issues, including by pushing to protect special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. The most closely watched down-ticket race was for lieutenant governor. Incumbent Democrat Dan McKee narrowly beat self-described progressive state lawmaker Aaron Regunberg. The position has few official duties, but officeholders have used it as a way to advance certain causes on a statewide level. McKee wants to expand the position's powers. McKee campaigned on his experience as the incumbent and a former six-term mayor. The 67-year-old politician painted Regunberg as too inexperienced. Regunberg, 28, had wanted to use the office to advocate for reform at the Statehouse. Former U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha was unopposed for the Democratic nomination for Rhode Island attorney general, virtually guaranteeing him the job. Republicans didn't put forward a candidate and Neronha faces no significant opposition in November. Incumbent Democratic Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo waves to supporters alongside her son, Thompson, at her primary night victory party, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) Cranston, R.I., Mayor Allan Fung, center, celebrates victory over R.I. House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan in the Republican gubernatorial primary, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, in Cranston, R.I. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Cranston, R.I., Mayor Allan Fung, center, celebrates victory over R.I. House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan, in the Republican gubernatorial primary, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, in Cranston, R.I. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Supporters of incumbent Democratic Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo cheer as they watch results on TV at her primary night party, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) Incumbent Democratic Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo speaks to supporters, alongside her husband Andrew Moffit, left, and children, Thompson and Cecilia, at her primary night victory party, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) Cranston, R.I., Mayor Allan Fung celebrates victory over R.I. House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan, in the Republican gubernatorial primary, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, in Cranston, R.I. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - In a story Sept. 12 about an Afghan refugee winning a primary election, The Associated Press reported erroneously the year Safiya Wazir fled Afghanistan. Wazir fled Afghanistan decades ago. She arrived in the United States in 2007. A corrected version of the story is below: Afghan refugee wins New Hampshire statehouse primary A 27-year-old Afghan refugee has ousted a four-term incumbent in the Democratic primary for a seat in the New Hampshire legislature CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - A 27-year-old Afghan refugee has ousted a four-term incumbent in the Democratic primary for a seat in the New Hampshire legislature. The Concord Monitor reports that Safiya Wazir beat District 17 State Rep. Dick Patten, who argued her refugee background would hurt her campaign. But Wazir pulled out Tuesday's primary victory by highlighting her years of community activism and dedication to education and family issues. If Wazir beats Republican Dennis Soucy in November, she'd become the first refugee in the state to hold public office, according to Secretary of State Bill Gardner. Wazir's family fled Afghanistan when she was 6. She arrived in the United States as a refugee in 2007. Wazir says she would focus on Medicaid expansion and enacting paid family leave in New Hampshire. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Latest on primary election day in Rhode Island (all times local): 8:50 p.m. Allan Fung has won the Republican nomination for Rhode Island governor. FILE - This panel of photos shows Cranston, R.I., Mayor Allan Fung, left, in 2014 and Rhode Island House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan in 2018, who are the top candidates in the Republican gubernatorial primary on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. (AP Photos/Joe Giblin, Steven Senne, File) The win gives Fung, the mayor of Cranston, a second chance at the office he failed to win four years ago in a contest against Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo. Fung beat Patricia Morgan, a state lawmaker. Fung has given few interviews, held no press conferences and said little about his views during the race. He agreed to a single debate on a small radio station. Fung says he wants to cut the sales tax from 7 percent to 5 percent, but he hasn't put forward a detailed plan to pay for it. In 2014, he lost to Raimondo in a three-way race, with 36 percent to Raimondo's 41 percent. ___ 8:40 p.m. Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo has won the Democratic nomination for a second term, fending off a challenge from the left by former Secretary of State Matt Brown. Raimondo has been running on her record of job creation and an improving economy, as well as her work to repair crumbling schools and roads and a free college tuition program she started. Brown had tried to paint Raimondo as too close to corporate interests and blasted her for her copious fundraising. She has raised $7.6 million for her re-election bid in a state with just 1 million residents and a single media market. Brown says health care, housing, education and childcare cost too much and he would work to build a different kind of economy that "works for everyone, not just for the few." ___ 8:35 p.m. Republican Patrick Donovan has won his party's nomination to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. David Cicilline in November. Donovan, a stay-at-home father, beat accountant Frederick Wysocki in Wednesday's primary. Cicilline is seeking his fifth term in Congress. He represents the 1st Congressional District, covering the easternmost part of the state. Donovan says he's running because he wants district residents to have a representative more attuned to their needs. He says the way prescription drugs are disposed of needs to change to protect the environment and prevent misuse. He says he'd work to lower the price of prescription drugs and pursue purchasing power from Hydro Quebec. Cicilline has a rising profile in the national Democratic party. He's outspoken in his criticism of the president on topics such as immigration and Russia. ___ 8:30 p.m. U.S. Rep. David Cicilline has cruised to a win in the Democratic primary in Rhode Island. His only opposition in Wednesday's primary was from perennial candidate Chris Young, who has run unsuccessfully for various offices. Cicilline is seeking his fifth term in Congress. He represents the 1st Congressional District, covering the easternmost part of the state. He'll face the winner of Wednesday's Republican primary in November. Cicilline has a rising profile in the national party. He's outspoken in his criticism of Republican President Donald Trump on topics such as immigration and Russia. The 57-year-old is a former Providence mayor. He says if re-elected, he would continue to protect Social Security and Medicare. He says he'd push for legislation to reinvigorate the manufacturing sector, invest in infrastructure and address gun violence. ___ 8:25 p.m. Former Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice Robert Flanders has won the Republican U.S. Senate primary in Rhode Island and will face Democratic incumbent Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse in November. Flanders on Wednesday beat California businessman Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente, who was running for Senate in numerous states. Flanders retired from the high court in 2004. His highest profile position since then was his appointment as receiver in the city of Central Falls in 2011 when it declared bankruptcy. The 62-year-old Whitehouse is one of the leading voices in the Senate to do more to address climate change. He has also been harshly critical of President Donald Trump. The 69-year-old Flanders has said he voted for Trump but that he would not reflexively back him. He has called Whitehouse "silver spoon Sheldon" and criticized his focus on climate change. ___ 8:20 p.m. U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island has beaten back a Democratic primary challenge in his bid for a third term. Whitehouse defeated Patricia Fontes in Wednesday's primary election. The 62-year-old Whitehouse is a leading voice in the Senate pushing to do more to address climate change. He has also been critical of President Donald Trump on a number of issues, including by pushing to protect special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. The 81-year-old Fontes is a retired educator and peace and environmental activist. She has said Whitehouse's votes in the Senate "facilitate continual war," including his vote against a resolution to pull American troops from Yemen. ___ 8 p.m. Polls have closed in Rhode Island, and U.S. Rep. James Langevin and his Republican opponent have sailed through unopposed. Langevin is seeking a 10th term to represent the 2nd Congressional District in western Rhode Island. He did not face a Democratic challenger in Wednesday's primary. He'll face Republican businessman Salvatore Caiozzo in November. Caiozzo, also unopposed, ran for the seat in 2016 as an independent, finishing last. Langevin says his top priority has been fighting to put Rhode Islanders back to work by standing up for small businesses and taxpayers and building a strong new foundation for the American economy. The state's workforce was hit hard by the recession and a decades-long manufacturing decline. Langevin is a former Rhode Island secretary of state who was first elected to Congress in 2000. He's a senior member of the influential House Armed Services Committee. Voters also were selecting nominees for the 1st Congressional District, U.S. Senate, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and some key mayoral races. ___ 11:50 a.m. Voters are going to the polls to select nominees for Rhode Island governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, lieutenant governor and some key mayoral races. The Providence Journal reports some started early Wednesday in Providence at a local elementary school. Asha Misra told the newspaper she voted for Gov. Gina Raimondo because she believes the incumbent puts the state's needs ahead of her own ambitions. Raimondo faces former Secretary of State Matt Brown in the Democratic race. Tara Nummedal and her husband, Seth Rockman, voted for Brown. Nummedal said she believes Brown's policies for women are better than his opponent's. One race to watch is the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, which pits incumbent Dan McKee against self-described progressive state lawmaker Aaron Regunberg (RAY'-gun-berg). Polls close at 8 p.m. ___ 11:55 p.m. Rhode Island's Democratic governor faces a spirited but poorly funded challenge in the primary, while the mayor of the state's second-largest city is seeking the GOP nomination for another shot at the governor's seat in November. First, he has to defeat a state lawmaker making her first gubernatorial run. Voters in Rhode Island on Wednesday are also selecting nominees for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, lieutenant governor and some key mayoral races. Gov. Gina Raimondo faces former Secretary of State Matt Brown in the Democratic race. The winner is expected to go on to face either Cranston Mayor Allan Fung or House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan. One race to watch is the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, which pits incumbent Dan McKee against self-described progressive state lawmaker Aaron Regunberg (RAY'-gun-berg). Polls close at 8 p.m. Wednesday. BEIJING (AP) - Washington has invited Beijing to hold new talks on their escalating tariff dispute, the Chinese foreign ministry said Thursday, ahead of a decision by President Donald Trump on whether to raise duties on $200 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 Beijing's 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." FILE - In this July 20, 2018 photo, people walk past a mural displaying world currency symbols on the outside of a bank in Beijing. Amid a worsening tariff battle, China is putting off accepting license applications from American companies in financial services and other industries until Washington makes progress toward a settlement, an official of a business group said Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) 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 China's 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 other's 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 Thursday. 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 world's 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 China's 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 Trump's next tariff hike goes ahead. The chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China warned the Trump administration might be underestimating China's 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 Thursday, 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 Washington's tariff increase on $200 billion of Chinese goods goes ahead. Some 67.6 percent said the same of China's 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 Trump's tactics but many echo U.S. complaints about Chinese market barriers and industrial strategy. "We share the concerns of the U.S. regarding China's 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. ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Like many Puerto Ricans who fled to the mainland after Hurricane Maria, Jose Santiago has been scrambling to find a place to live. The federal vouchers that pay for his hotel room near the Orlando airport expire at checkout time Friday. He has visited apartment complexes, but his name gets put on waiting lists. He has applied for assistance for apartment housing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but it won't give him any money unless he has a lease. And he can't sign a lease without money for a deposit and first and last months' rent. Santiago, 40, can afford to pay only $500 to $800 a month with his job driving cars for an auction house. At this point, he's ready to just rent a room to put a roof over his head. In this Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, photo, Idalis Fernandez walks to her hotel room provided by FEMA with her son Adrian, 2, at the Baymont Inn in Kissimmee, Fla. Vouchers that paid for hotel rooms for Puerto Rican evacuees end Friday, leaving many to find roofs over their heads. (AP Photo/John Raoux) "At that amount, it's difficult," Santiago, whose tidy hotel room has a cooking range and refrigerator, said in Spanish. "It's not impossible, but it's very difficult." The clock began ticking late last month for hundreds of Puerto Rican evacuees who rely on federal assistance to pay for hotel rooms. A federal judge in Massachusetts set Friday as the deadline for the vouchers to end after denying an effort to force FEMA to continue the program. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Timothy Hillman, who expressed anguish over his decision, ended almost three months of legal challenges and extensions. As of Tuesday, there were more than 600 families using the vouchers on the mainland, with more than half of those families in Florida. Almost 400 families were using the vouchers on the island. The judge's decision is forcing Idalis Fernandez to split up her family. Her husband and 2-year-old son, Adrian, are heading back to Puerto Rico where family members can watch the boy and her husband has a job lined up. She is staying in Florida, where she has work as a line cook at Walt Disney World, and where the couple's oldest son, 11-year-old Alexander, is doing well in school. Finding an apartment has been difficult, she said, since many rental companies require that she earn three times her monthly rent. "I have nothing in Puerto Rico. At least I can stay here and work," Fernandez, 28, said in Spanish as she held Adrian outside a motel in Orlando's tourist district. FEMA hasn't done enough for the evacuees, forcing local governments and organizations to step up, advocates say. "Now the location (the families) chose in a moment of deep urgency and disaster is affecting their ability to find housing. This is exactly what we were trying to avoid," said Natasha Lycia Ora Bannan, a lawyer with LatinoJustice PRLDEF, which brought the lawsuit against FEMA. FEMA, amid preparations for Hurricane Florence to hit the mid-Atlantic, didn't respond to an email this week seeking comment. But the agency has said it has provided a variety of housing options for people left homeless by Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico head-on nearly a year ago. It has also dismissed suggestions that the evacuees were being treated differently from those displaced by hurricanes in Texas and Florida last year. FEMA said in a court filing last month that Puerto Rico has received $3.9 billion in assistance for Hurricane Maria, compared with $2.4 billion for Texas for Hurricane Harvey and $1.1 billion for Florida for Hurricane Irma. In central Florida, the local United Way is offering up to $5,000 toward security deposits for some families. In New York City, more than 540 Puerto Rican evacuees are already in the city shelter system, and 30 other families may end up there after their hotel vouchers end. Massachusetts, the state with the second largest number of evacuee families after Florida, will allow families with children and people with medical conditions to remain in hotels temporarily on the state's dime, said Gina Plata-Nino, an attorney with the Central West Justice Center. The state will also provide some housing assistance for certain families to help them move into more permanent homes, she said. But more than two dozen households in Massachusetts who don't qualify for the state program will become homeless Friday, Plata-Nino said. U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, whose staffers held office hours at three central Florida hotels this week to assist evacuees, put the blame on President Donald Trump and a Republican-dominated Congress that did not pass supplemental disaster relief assistance. "President Trump, to this day, has not acknowledged, not only the lack of resources and slow response time, but the continued issues in Puerto Rico," said Soto, a Democrat whose district covers a part of metro Orlando. "It didn't have to be this way." Trump this week called the response to Hurricane Maria "an incredible, unsung success" and said his administration did an "underappreciated great job." Puerto Rico's governor last month raised the U.S. territory's official death toll from Hurricane Maria from 64 to 2,975. On Thursday, Trump, without citing evidence, said that number was wrong and called it a plot by Democrats to make him look bad. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP . Follow Alanna Durkin Richer on Twitter at http://twitter.com/aedurkinricher and read more of her work at http://bit.ly/2hIhzDb . In this Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, photo, Jose Santiago checks on items in the kitchenette in his room at the WoodSpring Suites in Orlando, Fla. Santiago, like many Puerto Rican evacuees, has until Friday to find a place to live. (AP Photo/John Raoux) In this Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, photo, Jose Santiago talks about difficulty finding a new home in his temporary room at the WoodSpring Suites in Orlando, Fla. Santiago, like many Puerto Rican evacuees, has until Friday to find a place to live. (AP Photo/John Raoux) KHAN AL-AHMAR, West Bank (AP) - Israeli forces on Thursday dismantled five corrugated metal shacks that had been set up by Palestinian activists protesting the anticipated razing of a nearby West Bank hamlet. Protest leader Abdullah Abu Rahmeh said about 200 soldiers converged on the area of the Khan al-Ahmar encampment before dawn, dismantled the shacks and loaded the parts onto trucks. The encampment itself was not touched. Protesters chanted "Out, out, terrorist army," as the trucks and soldiers left after daybreak. Israel's Supreme Court rejected an appeal last week, paving the way for Khan al-Ahmar's potential demolition. Israel says Khan al-Ahmar was illegally built and in an unsafe location near a major highway. It has offered to resettle the residents 12 kilometers (7 miles) away under what it says are improved conditions - with connections to water, electricity and sewage treatment they currently don't have. But critics say it's impossible for Palestinians to get building permits and the demolition plan is against the residents' will and meant to make room for the expansion of an Israeli settlement. Israeli security forces arrive to the West Bank Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Israeli forces have dismantled five corrugated metal shacks that had been set up by Palestinian activists protesting the anticipated razing of a nearby West Bank hamlet. Protest leader Abdullah Abu Rahmeh says about 200 soldiers converged on the area of the Khan al-Ahmar encampment before dawn Thursday, dismantled the shacks and loaded the parts onto trucks. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) The encampment has become a rallying cry for Palestinians and focused attention on what critics say is their displacement by Israel in the context of settlement expansion. European countries urged Israel last week to refrain from demolition and removal of the 180 or so residents. COGAT, the Israeli defense body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs in the West Bank, said its supervisory unit removed the structures, which were placed near the settlement of Kfar Adumim and with the encouragement of Palestinian Authority officials in defiance of the Supreme Court ruling. The ruling appeared to clear the final obstacle in a case that has been in legal limbo for nearly a decade, pitting what Israel says is a matter of law and order against the Palestinian claims of a creeping annexation of territory they seek for a future state. The village is in the 60 percent of the West Bank known as Area C, which remains under exclusive Israeli control and is home to dozens of Israeli settlements. Israel places severe restrictions on Palestinian development there and home demolitions are not unusual. But the removal of an entire community would be extremely unusual. In rare cases, Israel has also evicted Jewish settlers who have squatted illegally. But settlers generally have a much easier time receiving building permits, and the government often retroactively legalizes unauthorized outposts, looks the other way or offers compensation to uprooted settlers. As part of interim peace deals in the 1990s, the West Bank was carved up into autonomous and semi-autonomous Palestinian areas, known as Areas A and B, and Area C, which is home to some 400,000 Israeli settlers. The Palestinians claim all of the West Bank and say that Area C, home to an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 Palestinians, is crucial to the economic development of their future state. Israeli security forces arrive to the West Bank Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Israeli forces have dismantled five corrugated metal shacks that had been set up by Palestinian activists protesting the anticipated razing of a nearby West Bank hamlet. Protest leader Abdullah Abu Rahmeh says about 200 soldiers converged on the area of the Khan al-Ahmar encampment before dawn Thursday, dismantled the shacks and loaded the parts onto trucks. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) Israeli security forces arrive to the West Bank Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Israeli forces have dismantled five corrugated metal shacks that had been set up by Palestinian activists protesting the anticipated razing of a nearby West Bank hamlet. Protest leader Abdullah Abu Rahmeh says about 200 soldiers converged on the area of the Khan al-Ahmar encampment before dawn Thursday, dismantled the shacks and loaded the parts onto trucks. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) Israeli security forces dismantle a shack at the West Bank Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Israeli forces have dismantled five corrugated metal shacks that had been set up by Palestinian activists protesting the anticipated razing of a nearby West Bank hamlet. Protest leader Abdullah Abu Rahmeh says about 200 soldiers converged on the area of the Khan al-Ahmar encampment before dawn Thursday, dismantled the shacks and loaded the parts onto trucks. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) Israeli security forces dismantle a shack at the West Bank Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Israeli forces have dismantled five corrugated metal shacks that had been set up by Palestinian activists protesting the anticipated razing of a nearby West Bank hamlet. Protest leader Abdullah Abu Rahmeh says about 200 soldiers converged on the area of the Khan al-Ahmar encampment before dawn Thursday, dismantled the shacks and loaded the parts onto trucks. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) Israeli security forces arrive to the West Bank Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Israeli forces have dismantled five corrugated metal shacks that had been set up by Palestinian activists protesting the anticipated razing of a nearby West Bank hamlet. Protest leader Abdullah Abu Rahmeh says about 200 soldiers converged on the area of the Khan al-Ahmar encampment before dawn Thursday, dismantled the shacks and loaded the parts onto trucks. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) NEW YORK (AP) - New York 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. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks as he marks his primary election ballot at the Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco, in Mount Kisco, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) "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. 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. ___ Associated Press writers Stephen R. Groves and Sabrina Caserta contributed this report. Gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon delivers her concession speech at the Working Families Party primary night party, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in New York. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo easily beat Nixon in Thursday's contest to win his party's nomination for a third term. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) FILE - In this combination of file photos, New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon, left, speaks during a Democratic primary debate in Hempstead, N.Y., on Aug. 29, 2018, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks at a press conference in New York on July 18, 2018. Democratic primary voters in New York on Thursday, Sept. 13 will settle the primary battle between two-term Cuomo and liberal challenger Nixon. (J. Conrad Williams Jr./Newsday Pool, and Evan Agostini/Invision, File) New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is accompanied by his girlfriend Sandra Lee as he talks to the press after casting his primary election ballot, at the Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco, in Mount Kisco, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon arrives to deliver her concession speech at the Working Families Party primary night party,Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon leaves a polling station after voting in the primary, Thursday Sept. 13, 2018, in New York. Democrats across New York state are picking the winner of a long and sometimes nasty primary contest between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and activist and former "Sex and the City" star Nixon. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon, right, poses for a selfie with a supporter in Union Square before voting in the primary, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in New York. Democrats across New York state are picking the winner of a long and sometimes nasty primary contest between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and activist and former "Sex and the City" star Nixon. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Supporters of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo watch returns at a democratic viewing party in New York, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Gov. Andrew Cuomo overcame 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.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig) New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon, center, speaks to members of the media outside a polling station after voting in the primary, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in New York. Democrats across New York state are picking the winner of a long and sometimes nasty primary contest between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and activist and former "Sex and the City" star Nixon. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - 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, 700,000 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 U.N. 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. Aung San Suu Kyi, the State Counsellor of Myanmar, gestures during a one-on-one discussion at the World Economic Forum's meeting at the National Convention Center Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Suu Kyi says the country's handling of its Rohingya Muslim minority crisis could have been handled better. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) 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 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 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." The reporters were both sentenced to seven years' imprisonment on charges of possessing state secrets. Suu Kyi said the situation in Rakhine 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 those who fled back, 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. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is among those who have condemned the verdicts against the two Reuters journalists and called for their release. "They were not jailed because they were journalists," Suu Kyi said. "They were jailed because ... the court has decided they have broken the Official Secrets Act." She 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." Aung San Suu Kyi, the State Counsellor of Myanmar, gestures during a one-on-one discussion with Berge Brende at the World Economic Forum's meeting at the National Convention Center Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Suu Kyi said the country's handling of its Rohingya Muslim minority crisis could have been handled better. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) NEW YORK (AP) - Letitia James, a longtime New York City politician with ties to both the state's underclass and its elites, beat three other candidates in a Democratic primary for attorney general on Thursday, then turned her sights on the man she saw as her real opponent: President Donald Trump. "This campaign was really never about me, or any of the candidates who ran," James told supporters at her victory party in Brooklyn. "It was about the people, but most importantly it was about that man in the White House who can't go a day without threatening our fundamental rights, can't go a day without threatening the rights of immigrants, can't go a day without dividing us." For the 59-year-old former public defender, history is at stake, too. She would become the first black woman to hold a statewide elected office in New York if she prevails in the general election, where she will be heavily favored. Letitia James delivers a victory speech after winning the primary election for attorney general Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in New York. James would become the first black woman to hold statewide elected office in New York if she prevails in the general election. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen) She would also become the first woman elected attorney general, though not the first to hold the job. The current attorney general, Democrat Barbara Underwood, was appointed after Trump nemesis Eric Schneiderman, a Democrat, abruptly resigned in May amid allegations he physically abused women he dated. Underwood declined to run for election. "This is a historic moment, it shows that there's room for all of us at the table," James supporter Michelle Gilliam said. "As a black woman, Tish elevates and inspires black women everywhere. I've been following her career since the beginning and watching her progress has been a beacon of hope for me and all women of this community." James defeated a deep field of fellow Democrats: U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, Fordham law professor Zephyr Teachout and former Hillary Clinton adviser Leecia Eve. She said she wouldn't let campaign rivalries get in the way of their friendships or impede their ability to work together to keep Trump in check. New York's attorney general has long had an unusual role as a regulator of Wall Street and an occasional prosecutor of the rich and powerful. The office also recently opened an investigation of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church. But in this contest, Trump emerged as the common foe among all the candidates. "We are in the middle of a fight to save our democracy," she said. "Let's party tonight and then we've got some work to do tomorrow." The winner in November will inherit several pending lawsuits filed by the state that challenge Trump's policies and accuse his charitable foundation of breaking the law. James faces little-known New York City lawyer Keith Wofford, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary, in the general election in November. Wofford, in a statement, criticized James as a "career politician" who will "uphold the corrupt status-quo." He pitched himself as an "independent outsider" and said he'd do what's in the state's best interests. James served as New York City's elected public advocate after a decade on the City Council and stints as a public defender and assistant attorney general. She was an early favorite in a race that tightened over the summer, picking up endorsements from Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and several powerful unions. Rapper Nicki Minaj plugged her on Twitter the night before the election. As public advocate, James said she transformed the office from its traditional role as an ombudsman on issues of public concern to a "mini-legal services slash attorney general's office." She lobbied for police officers to wear body cameras and for special prosecutors to be appointed in police misconduct cases. Her office maintains a list of the "worst landlords" in the city and has pushed to expand tenant protections. James entered her victory party to the sounds of a DJ playing "All the Way Up" by Fat Joe and Remy Ma. She dedicated her victory to "every little girl who has been told she cannot change the world" and singled out an 87-year-old supporter who cast her first vote decades ago in the Jim Crow south. Underwood congratulated the candidates in a tweet before the polls closed for showing they "believe in the power of this office" and for giving voters "a choice for the future." "After the events of this year, I hope it is clear to everyone that this office is the sum of all its staff," Underwood tweeted. "I am so proud to be your AG." Trump's lawyers have argued that the attorney general's office was unfairly politicized under Underwood and Schneiderman. The adversarial relationship dates back to 2012, when Schneiderman sued Trump University, claiming the school defrauded students. Trump settled litigation related to the school for $25 million, saying he was doing so only so he could keep his attention focused on national issues. In defending the state's lawsuit against the Trump Foundation, Trump's lawyers said New York built its case on minor, unintentional bookkeeping violations and unnecessarily blocked the charity from shutting down simply so it could continue to assail it in court. The legal sparring is likely to continue. The attorney general's office has lawsuits pending against Trump administration policies on health care, guns, immigration and the environment. ___ Associated Press writer Sabrina Caserta contributed to this report. ___ Follow Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak Letitia James delivers a victory speech after winning the primary election for attorney general Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in New York. James would become the first black woman to hold statewide elected office in New York if she prevails in the general election. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen) State attorney general candidate Zephyr Teachout delivers her concession speech at the Working Families Party primary night party, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in New York. New York City Public Advocate Letitia James defeated a deep field of fellow Democrats: U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, Fordham law professor Teachout and former Hillary Clinton adviser Leecia Eve. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) Supporters celebrate after the Democratic primary for attorney general was called in favor of Letitia James Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in New York. The 59-year-old was an early favorite in the race after getting endorsements from Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other top Democrats. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen) Supporters celebrate after the Democratic primary for attorney general was called in favor of Letitia James Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen) Honolulu warns residents after storm swells dam water levels HONOLULU (AP) - Honolulu officials said a dam holding 21 million gallons (80 million liters) of water was not in danger of collapsing Thursday, 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 Thursday. It's also 18 inches (45 centimeters) below a spillway. Areas downstream would flood if water goes over the spillway, said Ernie Lau, the agency's chief engineer. "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," Lau said. "But we're nowhere close to that." ___ 'Threat becomes reality': Florence begins days of rain, wind WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) - 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. ___ 'It looked like Armageddon:' Gas explosions destroy homes LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP) - 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 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." ___ Cuomo defeats Nixon in NY gubernatorial primary ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Gov. Andrew Cuomo overcame 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. "You cannot be a progressive if you cannot deliver progress. And a New York progressive is not just a dreamer, but we are doers," Cuomo said at a campaign rally the night before the vote. "We make things happen." With registered Democrats outnumbering Republicans more than 2 to 1 in New York, Cuomo becomes the automatic front-runner in November's matchup against 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. ___ Trump turns back to Maria, falsely says Dems inflated toll WASHINGTON (AP) - As Hurricane Florence bore down on the U.S. on Thursday, President Donald Trump angrily churned up the devastating storm of a year earlier, disputing the official death count from Hurricane Maria and falsely accusing Democrats of inflating the Puerto Rican toll to make him "look as bad as possible." Public health experts have estimated that nearly 3,000 perished because of the effects of Maria. But Trump, whose efforts to help the island territory recover have been persistently criticized, was having none of that. He said just six to 18 people had been reported dead when he visited two weeks after the storm and suggested that many had been added later "if a person died for any reason, like old age." Trump's jarring comments, coming as the East Coast braced for a massive storm, offered fresh evidence of his resistance to criticism and his insistence on viewing large and small events through the prism of his own success or failure. Offering up a fresh conspiracy theory, he said of the Puerto Rico count, "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. ___ Smart outraged by planned release of 1 of her kidnappers SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - 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." ___ Could Trump meet Kim in New York this month? AP takes a look SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Get ready for Trump-Kim Part Two. In recent weeks it's become clear that Donald Trump wants to meet with Kim Jong Un again, and the North Korean leader has told the White House he'd like more face-to-face talks with the American president. Could that meeting happen, as some in Seoul have pushed for, on the sidelines of a U.N. gathering of world leaders in New York later this month? Getting Kim, the brutal, authoritarian leader of the most sanctioned country on the planet, to the home of the Yankees might seem a fantastic fever-dream. But it's useful to remember that no analysts predicted that Trump's surprise June summit with Kim in Singapore would be possible - until suddenly it was. Amid worries that Washington and Pyongyang are sinking further into a standoff over the sincerity of North Korea's nuclear disarmament intentions, Trump may believe that another high-profile summit, on his home turf and as political scandal swirls in Washington, is just the thing. ___ Senator gives federal investigators information on Kavanaugh WASHINGTON (AP) - 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 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. 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 two spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the matter. The details of the alleged incident and the identity of the person who provided the information were unclear. ___ Pope OKs probe into US bishop as he meets with US delegation VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a U.S. bishop Thursday and authorized an investigation into allegations he sexually harassed adults, adding awkward drama to an audience with U.S. church leaders over the abuse and cover-up scandal roiling the Catholic Church. The resignation of West Virginia Bishop Michael Bransfield was announced just as the four-member U.S. delegation was sitting down with Francis in his private study in the Apostolic Palace. Among the four was Bransfield's cousin, Monsignor Brian Bransfield, secretary-general of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The bishop had been investigated for an alleged groping incident in 2007 and was implicated in court testimony in 2012 in an infamous Philadelphia priestly sex abuse case. He strongly denied ever abusing anyone and the diocese said it had disproved the claims. 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 Thursday and appointed Baltimore Archbishop William Lori to take over Bransfield's Wheeling-Charleston diocese temporarily. Lori said in a statement that Francis had also instructed him to "conduct an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment of adults against Bishop Bransfield." No details of the allegations were revealed and his diocese said it had "no idea" where Bransfield was after the Vatican ordered him to live outside the diocese. ___ New York Democrats decide governor, attorney general races NEW YORK (AP) - Democrats across New York are choosing their candidates for governor, attorney general and the state Legislature in the nation's last primary election of 2018. The most-watched race is a fiercely fought contest between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and activist actress Cynthia Nixon. She's a high-profile example of an insurgent left-wing trying to oust establishment incumbents. President Donald Trump might want to keep an eye on the attorney general primary. Fordham law professor Zephyr Teachout, New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney and former Hillary Clinton adviser Leecia Eve have all vowed to be a legal thorn in the Republican president's side. WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) - 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. Waves slam the Oceana Pier & Pier House Restaurant in Atlantic Beach, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 as Hurricane Florence approaches the area. (Travis Long/The News & Observer via AP) 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." 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. 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. 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. ___ Associated Press 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 Koenig 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 Michael and Polly Long walk down East Bay St. past a sign asking for Hurricane Florence to spare the Lowcountry in Charleston, S.C., as Hurricane Florence spins out in the Atlantic ocean Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) A bike rider makes her way down East Bay St. past a sign asking for Hurricane Florence to spare the Lowcountry in Charleston, S.C., as Hurricane Florence spins out in the Atlantic ocean Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) With most people off work and it looking like the Charleston, S.C., area will be spared from destructive winds many people biked to Dunleavy's Pub, one of the few open restaurants, on Sullivan's Island, S.C., as Hurricane Florence spins out in the Atlantic ocean Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) Pedestrians pass a sign at the Harbour View Inn asking for Hurricane Florence to spare the Lowcountry in Charleston, S.C., as Hurricane Florence spins out in the Atlantic ocean Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) Waves crash under the Avalon Fishing Pier in Kill Devil Hills, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 as Hurricane Florence approaches the east coast. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Mostly deserted, much of downtown Charleston, S.C. is boarded up and closed on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 in advance of Hurricane Florence. (Matthew Fortner/The Post And Courier via AP) Police patrol past boarded up shops along the boardwalk in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, as Hurricane Florence approaches the east coast. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) An onlooker checks out the heavy surf at the Avalon Fishing Pier in Kill Devil Hills, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 as Hurricane Florence approaches the east coast. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File) New Hanover Sheriff's Corp. N. Brothers wraps a gas pump for protection in Wilmington, N.C., as Hurricane Florence threatens the coast Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) In this Sept. 12, 2018 photo provided by NASA, Hurricane Florence churns over the Atlantic Ocean heading for the U.S. east coast as seen from the International Space Station. Astronaut Alexander Gerst, who shot the photo, tweeted: "Ever stared down the gaping eye of a category 4 hurricane? It's chilling, even from space." (Alexander Gerst/ESA/NASA via AP) Allen Cahoon and Toby Bryant load a generators for a customer Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 at Big Blue Store in Kinston NC.. (Janet S. Carter/Daily Free Press via AP) Plywood covers the doors of the Chef and the Farmer on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018 as the city awaits Hurricane Florence. (Janet S. Carter/Daily Free Press via AP) Sam Kim and Donald Walker tape up the windows Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018 at Sam's Hair and Beauty Supply in Kinston, N.C., ahead of Hurricane Florence. (Janet S. Carter/Daily Free Press via AP) An onlooker checks out the heavy surf at the Avalon Fishing Pier in Kill Devil Hills, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 as Hurricane Florence approaches the east coast. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Heavy surf crashes the dunes at high tide in Nags Head, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 as Hurricane Florence approaches the east coast. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Police patrol past boarded up shops along the boardwalk in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, as Hurricane Florence approaches the east coast. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Body surfer Andrew Vanotteren, of Savannah, Ga., crashes into waves from Hurricane Florence, Wednesday, Sept., 12, 2018, on the south beach of Tybee Island, Ga. Vanotteren and his friend Bailey Gaddis said the waves have gotten bigger and better every evening as the storm approaches. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton) This enhanced satellite image made available by NOAA shows Hurricane Florence off the eastern coast of the United States on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018 at 5:52 p.m. EDT. (NOAA via AP) Filling sandbags with sand provided by the City of Tybee Island, Sib McLellan, left, and his wife, Lisa McLellan, prepare for Hurricane Florence, Wednesday, Sept., 12, 2018 on Tybee Island, Ga. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton) Vickie Grate, left, waits in a shelter with her son Chris, center, and his girlfriend Sarah, who only gave their first names, for Hurricane Florence to pass after evacuating from their nearby homes, in Conway, S.C., Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Members of law enforcement work with the National Guard to direct traffic onto U.S. Highway 501 as Hurricane Florence approaches the East Coast Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, near Conway, S.C. Time is running short to get out of the way of Hurricane Florence, a monster of a storm that has a region of more than 10 million people in its potentially devastating sights. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford) Misty Murphrey and Jean Sugg place sand bags outside of White Allen on McLewean Street in Kinston Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018 as the city awaits Hurricane Florence. (Janet S. Carter/Daily Free Press via AP) Gwen Patterson watches as waves crash ashore at Buckroe Beach in Hampton, Va., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 as Hurricane Florence approaches the coast. (Jonathon Gruenke/The Daily Press via AP) New Hanover Sheriff's deputy J. Brown wraps a gas pump for protection in Wilmington, N.C., as Hurricane Florence threatens the coast Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Fishermen launch a boat as they attempt to recover their haul-seine fishing net, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Virginia Beach, Va., as Hurricane Florence moves towards the eastern shore. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Waves from Hurricane Florence pound the Bogue Inlet Pier in Emerald Isle N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Tom Copeland) A few cars drive along an almost deserted Market St. in Wilmington, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Florence's outer bands of wind and rain began lashing North Carolina on Thursday. (Matt Born/The Star-News via AP) COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - An advertising and media firm to which Ohio gubernatorial candidate Richard Cordray's agency gave government work while he was a federal official is now doing political work for him. Washington-based GMMB has been making Ohio ad buys for Democrat Cordray's gubernatorial campaign against Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine, according to records reviewed by The Associated Press. The two are locked in a high-profile fight for the office Republican Gov. John Kasich vacates in January because of term limits. GMMB's political work for Cordray, former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, follows Republican criticism that the bureau's decision to hire the firm under Cordray's watch was politically questionable. FILE - In this July 17, 2013 file photo, President Barack Obama, left, listens as Richard Cordray, right, the new director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Washington-based GMMB recently has been making Ohio ad buys for Democrat Cordray's gubernatorial campaign against Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine, according to records reviewed by The Associated Press. The two are locked in a high-profile fight for the office Republican Gov. John Kasich vacates in January 2019 because of term limits. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) GMMB was the lead advertising agency for the successful presidential bids of Democrat Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. Obama is campaigning for Cordray in Cleveland on Thursday. "The whole thing is peculiar," said Matthew Henderson, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson, an Ohio Republican who questioned the contract during a hearing in April. "Why was former director Cordray spending so much on a PR firm he would eventually hire to run his campaign for governor? And why was a government agency that was created to protect consumers and prosecute fraud spending a higher percentage on PR than a car brand like Chevy?" Cordray's campaign said there's nothing improper about the firm's work for the government or the campaign. At the time it was hired by the federal consumer bureau, the agency was working to raise a new federal agency's pro-consumer profile among Americans. "Rich Cordray is proud of the work he did at the CFPB to take on predatory lenders and put $12 billion back into the pockets of 30 million Americans who had been cheated or mistreated," said spokesman Mike Gwin. "It's unsurprising that those same powerful interests are now using bogus and debunked smears to try to misrepresent Rich's record of standing up for middle class families." The Office of Inspector General reported in June that costs tied to GMMB's contract with the consumer bureau grew from the original estimated value of $11.5 million to $43.8 million from August 2013 to February 2018. The office found the bureau could have better managed the contract and urged stronger controls. Mick Mulvaney, appointed by Republican President Donald Trump to succeed Cordray as bureau director, said during the April hearing that he planned to cancel the contract. Besides Obama's campaigns, GMMB has served Democrat-aligned clients including Emily's List, the Democratic Governors Association and the League of Conservation Voters, according to its website. It also did government work pitching the benefits of the Affordable Care Act. GMMB has worked for Democratic and Republican administrations, including Trump's. The inspector general said the firm was selected by the consumer bureau through an open competitive process. Catherine Turcer, executive director of Common Cause Ohio, a nonpartisan watchdog group, said the Cordray campaign may have looked at GMMB's successful work for Obama and felt it was a good fit - but such relationships should still be approached with caution. "The problem is, of course, that elections now are so closely tied to governing that it makes voters concerned because everything's so embedded and intertwined," she said. "It at least deserves a conversation." A spokesperson for GMMB said the firm was "honored to have worked with the CFPB to advance its mission to educate and protect consumers in the financial marketplace." A spokeswoman for DeWine's campaign said the relationship "presents a major trust issue with voters." BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on a shooting rampage in Bakersfield, California (all times local): 6:10 p.m. The California gunman who shot and killed his ex-wife and four others before turning the weapon on himself had filed for divorce last year because he believed she had cheated on him. A Kern County sheriff's deputy stands near an area where a shooting victim lies, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, in Bakersfield, Calif. A gunman killed five people, including his wife, before turning the gun on himself, authorities said. (Felix Adamo/The Bakersfield Californian via AP) Officials say there are indications of a domestic violence motive in Wednesday's rampage, but investigators don't know what specifically set Javier Casarez off. In his petition for divorce filed in December, Casarez accused Petra Maribel Bolanos De Casarez of cheating and asked the judge for his wife's text messages to specific phone numbers. The judge denied the request. Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood says Thursday that detectives are looking into whether Bolanos may have had relationships with two of the victims, Manuel Contreras or Antonio Valadez. Bolanos had recently filed for an unspecified change in orders involving child support and property. ___ 5:50 p.m. Authorities say the gun used in a Bakersfield, California shooting rampage was owned by the suspect. Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood says Thursday that Javier Casarez legally purchased the five-shot .50-caliber handgun in 2004. The 54-year-old turned the weapon on himself after killing five people, including his ex-wife, on Wednesday. Youngblood says Casarez had been arrested for vehicle theft in the 1980s. The sheriff says Casarez did not have a history of violent crime. Officials say there are indications of a domestic violence motive, but investigators don't know what specifically set Casarez off. His ex-wife had recently filed for an unspecified change in orders involving child support and property. ___ 12:20 p.m. Authorities have identified the gunman and all five victims of a shooting rampage in Bakersfield, California. Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood says 54-year-old Javier Casarez used a .50-caliber handgun in the shootings Wednesday evening. Youngblood has also clarified that one of the victims was Casarez's former wife, 45-year-old Petra Maribel Bolanos De Casarez. Court documents show their divorce was finalized in April. They had three children. Casarez shot 50-year-old Manuel Contreras and Casarez's ex-wife at a trucking company, then pursued 50-year-old Antonio Valadez from that scene and killed him. Casarez then went to a residence and killed 31-year-old Laura Garcia and her father, 57-year-old Eliseo. Casarez shot himself to death when confronted by a deputy. ___ 11:42 a.m. Authorities say a man who killed five people, including his estranged wife, in Bakersfield, California, targeted victims at two locations during a half-hour rampage. Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood says Thursday that the gunman and wife were in divorce proceedings but the motive in shooting the others Wednesday evening remains under investigation. The sheriff says the gunman likely forced his wife to go to a trucking company where he shot a man, his wife and then pursued another man who fled and finally killed him. The gunman then went to his home, where he shot another man and that man's daughter. Youngblood says the daughter may have tried to intervene. The gunman then carjacked a vehicle and drove to a friend's business where a deputy confronted him. The deputy's body camera video shows the deputy repeatedly ordered the man to drop his weapon before the man shot himself. ___ 11:10 a.m. Authorities say a man who killed five people, including his wife, in Bakersfield, California, was in the midst of divorce proceedings. The gunman used a five-shot .50-caliber handgun that had to be reloaded during about half-hour of violence at several locations Wednesday evening. Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said Thursday that gunman's the estranged wife had recently filed for an unspecified change in orders involving child support and property. Youngblood says it's not known if that was the catalyst for the violence. But he says it carries the implications of domestic violence. The sheriff says authorities are investigating how the other victims were involved. The shooting started at a trucking company where the gunman shot a man and then his wife. The gunman then went to a home where he shot a man and daughter. He then carjacked a vehicle, let a woman and child get out and drove off. The gunman shot himself in the stomach when he was confronted by a deputy. ___ 10:50 a.m. A friend of a man killed in a Southern California shooting rampage says he was a good family man and doesn't know why he was targeted. KERO-TV, citing information from family members, reported Eliseo Garcia and his daughter, 32-year-old Laura Garcia, were two of the five victims of the Wednesday evening shootings in Bakersfield. David Bunting lives two doors from the Garcia home. Bunting said Thursday that Laura Garcia was a mother of four and her father was a self-employed truck driver who always was with his grandkids when not working. He says most of the large family were home when the Garcias were shot and are devastated and in shock. Police say the unidentified gunman killed his wife and two other men at a trucking business, then went to the Garcia home. The gunman killed himself as a deputy approached. Authorities believe the motivation was a domestic dispute. ___ 8:20 a.m. Domestic violence is being investigated as a motive in a rampage by a man who fatally shot five people, including his wife, before killing himself in Bakersfield, California. Kern County sheriff's Lt. Mark King says Thursday there are "strong indications" of a domestic violence motive in the Wednesday evening rampage. But he says that was still being verified and did not release further details. King says positive identifications of the dead will come from the coroner's office. King says he expects more information to be released later in the day. ___ 9:40 p.m. Authorities say a gunman killed five people, including his wife, before turning the gun on himself as a Kern County sheriff's deputy closed in Wednesday. There was no immediate word on what sparked the shootings that took place at a home and a business in Bakersfield, which is some 90 miles (145 kilometers) north of Los Angeles. Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood says the man first showed up at a trucking business with his wife where he confronted another man shortly before 5:30 p.m. Youngblood says the husband shot the person at the trucking company, then turned and shot his wife, then chased and shot another man who had shown up. He said the gunman then went to a home where he shot two people. ___ 9 p.m. Authorities say a gunman in California has killed five people, including his wife, before turning the gun on himself as a sheriff's deputy closed in. Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood says the shootings began shortly before 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and occurred at a business and a home in Bakersfield, about 90 miles north of Los Angeles. There's no immediate word on how the other victims were related. Kern County Sheriff's deputies gather near the scene, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, in southeast Bakersfield, Calif., where authorities say a gunman killed multiple people. (Sam Morgen/The Bakersfield Californian via AP) Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood talks to the media, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, in southeast Bakersfield, Calif., where authorities say a gunman killed multiple people. (Sam Morgen/The Bakersfield Californian via AP) KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - A top lawyer for former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was charged Thursday with receiving 9.5 million ringgit ($2.3 million) in ill-gotten wealth from his client, who is himself accused of money laundering and corruption. Muhammad Shafee Abdullah was arrested and brought to court, where he pleaded not guilty to two counts of money laundering and two counts of evading taxes by making false declarations on his income tax. According to the charge sheets, he received proceeds from illegal activities of 4.3 million ringgit ($1.04 million) from Najib's personal bank account in September 2013 and another 5.2 million ringgit ($1.26 million) in February 2014. Shafee is the main defense lawyer for Najib, who months after his electoral defeat faces charges of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption linked to the multibillion-dollar looting of the 1MDB state investment fund. Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, second left, arrives at the High Court for a hearing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Shafee, a top lawyer for former Prime Minister Najib Razak has been charged in court with receiving 9.5 million ringgit ($2.3 million) from Najib believed to have come from billions laundered from a state investment fund. (AP Photo) Najib slammed the court action as politically motivated to intimidate Shafee and "another step to deny me a fair trial." In a statement on Facebook, he said the investigation was clearly not complete because he hasn't been summoned by anti-graft officials to explain the payment to Shafee. "This is victimization," Shafee told reporters, vowing to continue to defend Najib. Shafee admitted he received the money but denied it was a reward for prosecuting then opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in his sodomy trial. He said it was a back payment for legal services for Najib's Malay party and then-ruling coalition, and that he had no knowledge of the source of the money. Najib also said the payment was for Shafee's legal services and came not from 1MDB, but from a political donation from Saudi Arabia's finance ministry and a Saudi prince who acted for the late King Abdullah. Public anger over the 1MDB scandal led to the stunning ouster of Najib's long-ruling coalition in May 9 national polls and ushered in the first change of power since independence from Britain in 1957. Najib set up 1MDB when he took power in 2009 to promote economic development, but the fund amassed billions in debts and is being investigated in the U.S. and several other countries for alleged cross-border embezzlement and money laundering. The new government reopened investigations stifled under Najib's rule and barred him and his wife from leaving the country. Police also seized jewelry and hundreds of handbags and other valuables estimated at more than 1.1 billion ringgit ($273 million) from properties linked to Najib. Deputy national police chief Noor Rashid Ibrahim later Thursday said investigations so far showed that $972 million had been transferred to Najib's bank account from three companies linked to 1MDB. He said police identified 132 transactions involving the illegal money, mostly conducted abroad, and investigated more than 50 people, including local politicians, who may have received ill-gotten wealth. He declined to say if lawyer Shafee was one of the 50 people. Malaysia has made requests to authorities in countries including Singapore, U.S., Switzerland and Saudi Arabia for help in its investigation, he added. Najib, 65, has accused Malaysia's new government under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of seeking political vengeance and vowed to clear his name at his trial. DALLAS (AP) - Friends and family on Thursday remembered a man gunned down by a Dallas police officer as a deeply religious 26-year-old accountant who loved to sing and had confided to his uncle that he might one day want to be prime minister of his native Caribbean island country of St. Lucia. Those speaking at the service for Botham Jean at a suburban Dallas church mostly focused on the qualities of the caring man who always had time to help others. Some also spoke about the shocking way Jean, who was black, died - fatally shot on Sept. 6 by the white officer who said she mistook his apartment for her own. "Our prince royal was snatched from us by the quick-to-trigger finger of one trained to protect and serve. Perhaps the good that might overcome this violent, heinous act will be that those who are trained to serve and protect will serve love and peace and not violence and bullets," Jean's uncle, Ignatius Jean, said to applause. Mourners console each other during the public viewing before the funeral of Botham Shem Jean at the Greenville Avenue Church of Christ on Thursday, September 13, 2018 in Richardson, Texas. He was shot and killed by a Dallas police officer in his apartment last week in Dallas. (Shaban Athuman/The Dallas Morning News via AP) Dallas mayor Mike Rawlings and Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall were among those who attended the hymn-filled funeral. Jean, who grew up on St. Lucia, attended college at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, so he could remain within a religious community while getting his education. At Harding he majored in accounting and information systems and graduated in 2016. He then went to work at the accounting and consulting firm PwC in Dallas. "Botham aimed high in his pursuit of excellence in everything," said Tommy Bush, who served as a mentor to him while he was in college. He said that what was unexpected was the "tremendous blessing and growth" he experienced from knowing Jean. "I was supposed to be mentoring him," he said. Those gathered at the funeral recalled Jean helping those on St. Lucia, from working with orphans to singing with people who just needed a friend. "He was always in service of others, even when it wasn't convenient for him," said Alexis Stossel, a friend of Jean. Stossel called him "the biggest extroverted accountant you'd ever find," adding that she knows he's now in heaven, "bouncing around, singing at the top of his lungs." Bertrum Jean, Botham Jean's father, thanked "so many who have rallied around us and been there to support us." ''There are so many in the U.S. that have shown tremendous love to this boy," he said. Jean's slaying sparked protest and outrage, and has become a flashpoint in a national debate over shootings of black men by police. Officer Amber Guyger, 30, was arrested Sunday for manslaughter and has since been released on bond. An Dallas police affidavit released Friday says officers recovered two bullet casings, a police backpack and vest and 10.4 grams of marijuana from Jean's apartment after the shooting. Lee Merritt, Jean's family's attorney, said the affidavit showed police began searching for evidence to discredit Jean immediately after the shooting. "It's looking specifically for drug paraphernalia," Merritt said of the search. "They immediately began looking to smear him." After the funeral, area religious leaders expressed their outrage at the killing. Sammie Berry, an elder and pulpit minister at Jean's church, says the family cannot rest until justice is served and Guyger is punished "to the fullest extent of the law." He described Jean's death as a tragedy that could have been avoided and said the group wants to know why Guyger has not been fired. He says they "cannot let Bo become another statistic." ___ Associated Press writer Jamie Stengle contributed to this report. Mourners line up during the public viewing before the funeral of Botham Shem Jean at the Greenville Avenue Church of Christ on Thursday, September 13, 2018 in Richardson, Texas. He was shot and killed by a Dallas police officer in his apartment last week in Dallas. (Shaban Athuman//The Dallas Morning News via AP) (Shaban Athuman/The Dallas Morning News via AP) Allison Jean, mother of Botham Shem Jean,, front, leaves after viewing her son's body before the funeral service for Botham Shem at the Greenville Avenue Church of Christ on Thursday, September 13, 2018 in Richardson, Texas. He was shot and killed by a Dallas police officer in his apartment last week in Dallas. (Shaban Athuman/ The Dallas Morning News)/The Dallas Morning News via AP) FILE - In this Monday, Sept. 10, 2018 file photo, 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 in Dallas, about the shooting of Botham Jean by Dallas police officer Amber Guyger on Thursday. He was joined by his mother, Allison Jean, second from left, and attorney Benjamin Crump, second from right, as attorney Lee Merritt, right, speaks to the media. A funeral is scheduled Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, for Botham Jean killed in his home by a Dallas police officer who says she mistook his residence for her own. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News via AP, File) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A San Francisco board decided Wednesday to remove a 19th century statue that activists say is racist and demeaning to indigenous people. The decision by the San Francisco Board of Appeals involves the "Early Days" statue, which depicts a Native American at the feet of a Spanish cowboy and Catholic missionary. It is part of a cluster near City Hall regarding the founding of California. Tom DeCaigny, the Arts Commission's director of cultural affairs, told the San Francisco Chronicle that the commission would begin working to take the statue down immediately. FILE - This March 2, 2018 file photo shows a statue that depicts a Native American at the feet of a Spanish cowboy and Catholic missionary in San Francisco. A San Francisco board has decided to remove the 19th-century statue that activists say is racist and demeaning to indigenous people. The San Francisco Board of Appeals voted Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, on the "Early Days" statue. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) Native American activists have tried to have the statue removed for decades. They renewed efforts last year after clashes broke out over Confederate monuments. In April, the board unanimously voted to overturn a decision by the city's Arts Commission to remove the sculpture. At the time, appeals board member Rick Swig called the statue "horrible" but said removing it from public view would squash free speech. The quasi-judicial, five-member body agreed in June to reconsider its decision. Earlier this year, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to end the Columbus Day holiday and celebrate indigenous people and Italian Americans on the second Monday in October. Board members said Native people suffered greatly after explorer Christopher Columbus arrived. HONOLULU (AP) - Honolulu officials said a dam holding 21 million gallons (80 million liters) of water was not in danger of collapsing Thursday, 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. Officials pump water from a reservoir where a dam came close to overflowing in Honolulu on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Honolulu officials say they may need to evacuate 10,000 people from a residential neighborhood if water in the reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) The water was 5 feet below the top of the dam at midday Thursday. It's also 18 inches (45 centimeters) below a spillway. Areas downstream would flood if water goes over the spillway, said Ernie Lau, the agency's chief engineer. "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," Lau said. "But we're nowhere close to that." 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 Thursday morning, Lau decided to begin pumping water out of the dam with the help of Honolulu firefighters. Lau said workers made some headway and water levels came down by 2 to 3 inches. He said they'll 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 God's 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 Friday, 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. 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 water in the reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) A fire official watches as water is pumped from a reservoir where a dam came close to overflowing in Honolulu on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Honolulu officials say they may need to evacuate 10,000 people from a residential neighborhood if water in the reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) Water is pumped from a reservoir where a dam came close to overflowing in Honolulu on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Honolulu officials say they may need to evacuate 10,000 people from a residential neighborhood if water in the reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) Water rushes 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 water in the reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) Water rushes 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 water in the reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) Water rushes 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 water in the reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) A home on Kahekili Highway near the Waihee River Bridge, was evacuated after a flash flood breached the property on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 12, 2018, in Maui, Hawaii. Maui County says several homes on Maui are being evacuated because of floodwaters from Tropical Storm Olivia. (Cindy Ellen Russell/Honolulu Star-Advertiser via AP) 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 water in the reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) 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 water in the reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) 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 water in the reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) 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 water in the reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) A bedroom building sits atop downed vegetation after being swept up by floodwaters Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, in Maui's Honokohau Valley in Hawaii. Honolulu officials are preparing for the possible evacuation of 10,000 people from a residential neighborhood after rains from a tropical storm dangerously elevated water levels in a reservoir. Olivia dumped heavy rains on Maui and Oahu as it crossed the state. (Chris Sugidono/The News via AP) "I would like to say 'This book is written to the glory of God', but nowadays this would be the trick of a cheat, i.e., it would not be correctly understood."--Ludwig Wittgenstein "Talk to me about the truth of religion, and I'll listen gladly. Talk to me about the duty of religion and I'll listen submissively. But don't come talking to me about the consolation of religion or I shall suspect that you don't understand."--C.S. Lewis BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - A U.S. judge on Thursday delayed for two more weeks the first grizzly bear hunts in the Lower 48 states in almost three decades, saying he needed more time to consider if federal protections for the animals should be restored. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen left the fate of the bruins in and around Yellowstone National Park in limbo, more than a year after federal officials declared the population had recovered from near extermination. Up to 23 bears could be killed in the hunts planned in Wyoming and Idaho. Christensen already delayed them once, in an order that came two days before grizzly season was set to open Sept. 1. FILE - In this July 6, 2011 file photo, a grizzly bear roams near Beaver Lake in Yellowstone National Park. Opponents of grizzly bear hunts planned in Wyoming and Idaho are asking a judge to further delay hunting while he considers a request to restore federal protections for the animals. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart, File) In extending the delay, the judge said there remained "serious questions" regarding whether the government acted lawfully in lifting protections on an estimated 700 bears in the three-state Yellowstone region. He gave no further indication of his position in the case. Wildlife advocates and Native American tribes requested the additional two-week delay after suing the government to restore the bears' threatened species status. Attorneys for the federal government and the states of Idaho and Wyoming opposed the delay. Christensen said it was justified because killing up to 23 bears would cause "irreparable injury" to those who want grizzlies protected. "That hardship substantially outweighs the hardship to be endured by the defendants ... who must refrain only from hunting grizzly bears for an additional two weeks," Christensen wrote. Wyoming Game and Fish Department chief game warden Brian Nesvik said the agency would abide by Christensen's order but was disappointed. "Wyoming Game and Fish has a strong grizzly bear management program with protections for the bear population as a whole but also allows for a conservative hunting season," Nesvik said in a statement. Wildlife advocates welcomed the delay. Bethany Cotton with the group WildEarth Guardians characterized the judge's order as "a stay of execution." Wyoming's hunt has two parts: Outlying areas with a quota of 12 bears, and prime grizzly habitat near Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, where up to 10 bears could be killed. Hunting in the prime habitat would be stopped if a single female bear were killed. No hunting is allowed in the two parks. Idaho's hunting quota is one bear. The Yellowstone grizzly population has increased from an estimated 136 bears when they were granted protections in 1975. Bears now come into frequent conflicts with humans, through attacks on domestic livestock and people who encounter bears unexpectedly in the forest. The Yellowstone region bears also range across a large portion of Montana, where officials decided against a hunt this year in part to demonstrate their commitment to conserving grizzlies. Montana was the last state in the Lower 48 to allow grizzly hunting, in 1991, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Grizzly bears elsewhere in the Lower 48 remain protected as a threatened species. They are hunted in Alaska. __ Associated Press writers Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming and Matt Volz in Helena contributed to this report. ___ Follow Matthew Brown on Twitter at www.twitter.com/matthewbrownap LAKEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - A Trump administration advisory committee on Thursday recommended a change in the way energy companies calculate how much money they owe taxpayers for pumping natural gas from public lands. But the U.S. Interior Department's Royalty Policy Committee first had to clear up an apparent misunderstanding over how much leeway the companies would have in determining how much they owed. Critics said the proposal would have allowed companies virtually a free hand in calculating the royalties they had to pay, but committee members said that was not their intent. Instead, they said companies should get a choice between two formulas, both set by the government. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke formed the committee to recommend ways to remove barriers to getting coal, oil and gas from public land while ensuring taxpayers get fair prices. The panel held its fourth meeting in the Denver suburb of Lakewood. Royalties from publicly owned energy reserves are distributed among federal, state and tribal governments, and billions of dollars are at stake. In fiscal year 2017, the government passed out $7.1 billion in royalties on oil, gas and coal extracted from federal lands, federal offshore areas and Native American lands, according to the Interior Department, which manages most federally owned energy. Environmentalists and taxpayer advocates said an early version of the Royalty Policy Committee's proposal - posted on the Interior Department's website - had a loophole that would have let companies decide how to calculate royalties instead of using a formula set by the Bureau of Land Management, part of the Interior Department. The proposal "would remove BLM's authority to determine valuation, handing power over to producers to self-regulate," said Ryan Alexander, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. She was among 20 people who spoke to the committee. Committee members said that was never their intent. Instead, they said their recommendation would let companies stick with the current method, which calculates the royalty based on how much money they are paid for the gas, or switch to a new method based on the quality and quantity of the gas. Dan Bucks, a tax revenue consultant and former director of the Montana Department of Revenue, had been critical of the earlier draft of the plan but said the new one was reasonable. "But they have a lot of details to work out," he said. The recommendation will be sent to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who will decide whether to begin the formal process of changing the rules. The committee postponed a decision on whether to recommend a change to speed up the permitting process for some oil and gas wells on public lands. The proposal would give the Bureau of Land Management 45 days to deny drilling permits in some situations, and if they did not act, the company could begin drilling. Proponents said it would first be tested in a pilot project and would be used only for wells with low environmental risk where similar wells have already been allowed. "This is about not wasting a lot of time," said committee member Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, an industry group. Opponents said it could short-circuit the review of environmental risks, limit the public's opportunity to comment and put too much power in the hands of energy companies. The committee asked for clarifications in the wording of the proposal and will take it up at a January meeting in Phoenix. The committee came under renewed criticism Thursday that it is dominated by industry representatives and putting corporate interests ahead of the public good. "You have the obligation to the American people to be good stewards, by protecting our air and conserving our natural resources, not just selling out to the highest - or in many cases - the only bidder," said Christine Berg, mayor of Lafayette, Colorado, and a member of Moms Clean Air Force. Interior Department spokeswoman Faith Vander Voort defended the panel's makeup as balanced and said Zinke has rejected some of its proposals. ___ Follow Dan Elliott at http://twitter.com/DanElliottAP. His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/dan%20elliott. LUCKNOW, India (AP) - Indian health authorities are rushing medical supplies to north Indian towns and villages where at least 50 people have died from fever over the past two weeks, topping the number of fever-related deaths over a three-month period last year. Patients suffering from fever and bouts of shivering crowded hospitals in the Rohilkhand region on Thursday, according to Dr. Vineet Shukla, a senior Uttar Pradesh state health official in Bareilly, 250 kilometers (155 miles) southwest of Lucknow, the state capital. Bareilly's district hospital has received more than 1,500 patients since Aug. 30. "We do not have enough beds to keep them," Shukla said. Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Sidharthnath Singh said patients were testing positive for malaria and viral infection, a usually non-fatal sickness that causes coughing and colds. The state's head medical doctor, Padmakar Singh, said makeshift clinics equipped with malaria kits were being set up in villages where people had been reported sick. Mosquito control vehicles were also deployed to spray insecticide. Mahendra Lal, head of the village of Hasanpur in Bareilly, said more than two out of three people in the village of 300 residents had fallen ill. He said those who could have traveled to nearby cities for treatment in private hospitals. Mohammed Sadiq, a resident of Hasanpur, said his wife died from fever last week. "I lost my wife because I stayed back with a hope that doctors will come and give treatment. She would have been alive today if I too had moved out to some big city," he said. More than 200 million people live in impoverished Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state. Thousands of people suffer from encephalitis, malaria, typhoid and other mosquito-borne diseases each year during the summer monsoon. Viral infections are also common. Health authorities said there were 47 fever-related deaths during a three-month period starting at the end of July last year. Singh, the state's health minister, said heavier than average rains had likely contributed to this year's outbreak. He blamed a lack of coordination among health officials in Bareilly, the center of the outbreak, for "allowing the situation to go out of hand." Mehtab Alam of the Raza Husain Memorial Charitable Society said the actual death toll over the past two weeks may be far higher than government estimates. Alam said the government's count did not include deaths in private hospitals or in villages where sick people had not sought medical help. "You can find patients in every village," Alam said, adding that "they get initial treatment from quacks but once the condition deteriorates they are rushed to government hospitals. By that time it is too late." STRASBOURG, France (AP) - Europe's human rights court handed a partial victory Thursday to civil rights groups that challenged the legality of mass surveillance and intelligence-sharing practices exposed by American whistleblower Edward Snowden. The European Court of Human Rights ruled that some aspects of British surveillance regimes violated provisions in the European Convention on Human Rights that are meant to safeguard Europeans' rights to privacy. 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. FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2015, file photo, Edward Snowden appears on a live video feed broadcast from Moscow at an event sponsored by ACLU Hawaii in Honolulu. Europe's human rights court is about to publish what could be a landmark ruling on the legality of mass surveillance. The case brought by civil liberties, human rights and journalism groups and campaigners challenges British surveillance and intelligence-sharing practices revealed by American whistleblower Edward Snowden. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia, File) The ruling cited a "lack of oversight of the entire selection process" and "the absence of any real safeguards." The court's seven judges also voted 6-1 that Britain's regime for getting data from communications service providers also violated the human rights convention, including its provisions on privacy and on freedom of expression. But the ruling wasn't all bad for British spies. The court said it is "satisfied" that British intelligence services take their human rights convention obligations seriously "and are not abusing their powers." The court also gave a green light to procedures British security services use to get intelligence from foreign spy agencies, saying the intelligence-sharing regime doesn't violate the convention's privacy provisions. The ruling is not final and could be appealed. 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, said the ruling "vindicates Mr. Snowden's courageous whistleblowing." "Under the guise of counterterrorism, the U.K. 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." Dan Carey, a lawyer for the complainants, said: "There needs to be much greater control over the search terms that the government is using to sift our communications." Caroline Wilson Palow, another of the plaintiffs' lawyers, said the ruling "confirms that just because it is technically feasible to intercept all of our personal communications, it does not mean that it is lawful to do so." The British government said it would give "careful consideration" to the court's findings. It noted that the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, which was the subject of the challenge, had been replaced by new legislation in 2016. "This includes the introduction of a 'double lock' which requires warrants for the use of these powers to be authorised by a Secretary of State and approved by a judge," the government said in a statement. "An Investigatory Powers Commissioner has also been created to ensure robust independent oversight of how these powers are used." Rights groups, though, say Britain's surveillance laws are still far too intrusive. ___ John Leicester in Paris and Jill Lawless contributed to this report. MANILA, Philippines (AP) - 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. 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 metropolitan Manila, Philippines on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Philippine officials have begun evacuating thousands of people in the path of the most powerful typhoon this year, closing schools and readying bulldozers for landslides. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) 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 canceled. "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 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 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. ___ Associated Press writer Christopher Bodeen in Beijing contributed to this report. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, second from left, observes the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council operation center in metropolitan Manila, Philippines on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. The Philippine officials have begun evacuating thousands of people in the path of the most powerful typhoon this year, closing schools and readying bulldozers for landslides. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) In this Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, NASA satellite image, Super Typhoon Mangkhut churns west towards the Philippines. Philippine officials have begun evacuating thousands of people in the path of the most powerful typhoon this year, closing schools and readying bulldozers for landslides. (Lauren Dauphin/NASA Earth Observatory via AP) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte listens during a command conference on Typhoon Mangkhut, locally named Typhoon Ompong, at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council operations center in metropolitan Manila, Philippines on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Philippine officials have begun evacuating thousands of people in the path of the most powerful typhoon this year, closing schools and readying bulldozers for landslides. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Thousands of Iranians attended a massive funeral for 135 soldiers on Thursday, 30 years after the end of the 1980s war between Iran and Iraq. Trucks carried the caskets draped in the Iranian flag in the capital Tehran. They were encircled by mourners including women shrouded in black Islamic robes, many of them weeping as a brass band played for the procession. State TV reported that only 17 bodies have been identified. The farewell began Wednesday evening outside a war museum in northern Tehran, where mourners gathered to say goodbye to the soldiers. Iranian men carry flag-draped coffins of soldiers who were killed during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war and whose remains were recently recovered in the battlefields, in a massive funeral for 135 soldiers, mostly unknown, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) "I always visit caskets of unknown soldiers wondering if one of them could be my father who never came back home," said Zahra Bagheri, 42, a mother of two. "I was only 8 years old then. I hope someday I can point to one of the caskets and tell my children 'he is your grandpa!'" Abbas Mozaffari, 23, a student at Tehran Azad University, said he attend the ceremony to "show that Iranians remember their heroes. Like them, we will sacrifice ourselves for our nation if an enemy tries to put his foot on our soil." "This is a chance for me to feel that I am still in the same trench with my comrades," said 63-year-old war veteran Ahad Ebrahimi. The remains belong to soldiers killed in three different operations in southwest Iran between 1984 and 1986. They include the cutting off of Iraq's access to the Persian Gulf and the 1986 collapse of the strategic city of al-Faw in the Basra governorate in southern Iraq. The funeral came a week after protesters in the city of Basra stormed the Iranian consulate and torched government buildings while blaming Iran's influence on Iraq's political affairs for failing services, despite current close relations between the countries. Iran and Iraq occasionally exchange the remains of soldiers from the 1980-1988 war. In July, Iraq returned 76 bodies to Iran a month after Iran returned the bodies of 128 Iraqi soldiers, all killed in the war. Iranian men mourn over flag-draped coffins of soldiers who were killed during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war and whose remains were recently recovered in the battlefields, in a massive funeral for 135 soldiers, mostly unknown, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Iranian mourners attend a massive funeral for 135 soldiers, mostly unknown, who were killed during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war and whose remains were recently recovered in the battlefields, while flag-draped coffins are carried on a truck, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Iranian women mourn in front of flag-draped coffins of soldiers who were killed during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, whose remains were recently recovered in the battlefields, during a massive funeral for 135 soldiers, mostly unknown, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Men carry flag-draped coffins of Iranian soldiers who were killed during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, whose remains were recently recovered in the battlefields, in a massive funeral for 135 soldiers, mostly unknown, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Iranian women carry a flag-draped coffin of an unknown soldier during a massive funeral for 135 soldiers who were killed during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war whose remains recently recovered in the battlefields, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) BERLIN (AP) - Germany's interior minister says Italy has agreed to take back migrants who show up at the German-Austrian border after previously applying for asylum in Italy. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer told parliament Thursday that a deal with Italy has been agreed but that it still needs to be signed. He didn't give further details but he has previously said that in return for Italy taking back previous asylum applicants, Germany would take in a similar number of migrants rescued at sea. German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer arrives for a plenary session of the German parliament Bundestag about the budget 2019, in Berlin, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) Germany has already signed similar agreements with Greece and Spain. In June, Seehofer threatened to turn back migrants previously registered elsewhere unilaterally at the border. Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted Germany must reach agreements with other countries. KERPEN, Germany (AP) - German police forcibly removed protesters from tree houses Thursday as they sought to free the way for parts of an ancient forest to be cleared next month for new coal strip mining. Police were hoisted on platforms by cranes to the up-to 25-meter (80-foot) high tree houses constructed on wooden tripods in the forest's canopy. In one case a protester was guided by police off the treehouse onto a platform that had been hoisted up to the same level by a crane, then lowered to the forest floor. A young activist hides on a tree from police, who is clearing treehouses in the forest 'Hambacher Forst' near Dueren, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Young environmentalists fight against German energy company RWE, who plans clearing and grubbing the old forest for their open-pit lignite mine nearby to continue digging for brown coal. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Hundreds of police and water cannon trucks were on hand for the operation that began in the morning in the 12,000-year-old forest near the town of Kerpen, southwest of Cologne. Using megaphones, police warned the protesters they had to remove their tree homes or face being removed. Activists rejected as "ridiculous" local authorities' contention that the homes constituted a fire hazard. "The destruction of the Hambach forest is intolerable," activist Jan Puetz told the dpa news agency, saying they planned "actions of mass civil disobedience." "Through this form of protest we are taking our future into our own hands," he said. By Thursday evening, two activists had been removed from the trees and four makeshift houses had been cleared and destroyed, dpa reported. Police reported that one officer was slightly injured in skirmishes with activists who threw Molotov cocktails and stones. Several supporters blocked roads leading to the forest and one police car was damaged during the protests, dpa reported. Power company RWE wants to start cutting down half the forest next month to expand a lignite strip mine. The plans have enraged environmentalists, who want Germany to stop extracting and burning coal. Some have been camping in the forest for years in protest. Last week, hundreds of police entered the forest to protect workers from RWE who had been sent in to remove obstacles from the floor of the forest, and to search for dangerous objects or potential barricades. Greenpeace spokeswoman Gesche Juergens appealed to Chancellor Angela Merkel to step in, saying expanding the coal mine was counter to her plans to reduce the country's reliance on fossil fuels, and that the removal of the protesters could jeopardize talks between the government, environmental groups and others. "Merkel must not allow a possible compromise in the coal question to be hindered by further escalation," Juergens said. Authorities said the removal of all the tree houses would likely take several days. ___ This story has been corrected to make Juergens' quote read "not" rather than "now." Police cars stand in front of a coal digger in near the lignite strip pit Hambach near Kerpen, western Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, where protestors occupy a forest to stop from being chopped down for the mine. (Henning Kaiser/dpa via AP) Police officers stand in the Hambach forest near Kerpen, western Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. which is occupied by protestors to stop from being chopped down for a lignite strip mine. (Oliver Berg/dpa via AP) Activists kiss on a stand they put up as obstacle in the Hambach forest near Kerpen, western Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, which is occupied by protestors to stop from being chopped down for a lignite strip mine. (Christophe Gateau/dpa via AP) An activist sits on a stand put up as obstacle in the Hambach forest near Kerpen, western Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, which is occupied by protestors to stop from being chopped down for a lignite strip mine. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP) Police officers pass by an obstacle put up by protestors in the Hambach forest near Kerpen, western Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. which is occupied by protestors to stop from being chopped down for a lignite strip mine. (Marius Becker/dpa via AP) Police officers stand in the Hambach forest near Kerpen, western Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. which is occupied by protestors to stop from being chopped down for a lignite strip mine. (Oliver Berg/dpa via AP) Police officers stand in the Hambach forest near Kerpen, western Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. which is occupied by protestors to stop from being chopped down for a lignite strip mine. (Oliver Berg/dpa via AP) Police removes activists from treehouses in the forest 'Hambacher Forst' near Dueren, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Young environmentalists fight against German energy company RWE, who plans clearing and grubbing the old forest for their open-pit lignite mine nearby to continue digging for brown coal. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Police arrests activists after removing them from treehouses in the forest 'Hambacher Forst' near Dueren, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Young environmentalists fight against German energy company RWE, who plans clearing and grubbing the old forest for their open-pit lignite mine nearby to continue digging for brown coal. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) A young activist hides on a tree from police, who is clearing treehouses in the forest 'Hambacher Forst' near Dueren, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Young environmentalists fight against German energy company RWE, who plans clearing and grubbing the old forest for their open-pit lignite mine nearby to continue digging for brown coal. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) An arrested activists stands barefoot between policemen in the forest 'Hambacher Forst' near Dueren, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Young environmentalists fight against German energy company RWE, who plans clearing and grubbing the old forest for their open-pit lignite mine nearby to continue digging for brown coal. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Police controls the forest 'Hambacher Forst' to clear treehouses near Dueren, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Young environmentalists fight against German energy company RWE, who plans clearing and grubbing the old forest for their open-pit lignite mine nearby to continue digging for brown coal. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) An activist protests in a tree while police wants to clear treehouses in the forest 'Hambacher Forst' near Dueren, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Young environmentalists fight against German energy company RWE, who plans clearing and grubbing the old forest for their open-pit lignite mine nearby to continue digging for brown coal. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Police arrests activists after removing them from treehouses in the forest 'Hambacher Forst' near Dueren, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Young environmentalists fight against German energy company RWE, who plans clearing and grubbing the old forest for their open-pit lignite mine nearby to continue digging for brown coal. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Police arrests activists after removing them from treehouses in the forest 'Hambacher Forst' near Dueren, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Young environmentalists fight against German energy company RWE, who plans clearing and grubbing the old forest for their open-pit lignite mine nearby to continue digging for brown coal. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Police removes activists from treehouses in the forest 'Hambacher Forst' near Dueren, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Young environmentalists fight against German energy company RWE, who plans clearing and grubbing the old forest for their open-pit lignite mine nearby to continue digging for brown coal. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Police removes activists from treehouses in the forest 'Hambacher Forst' near Dueren, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Young environmentalists fight against German energy company RWE, who plans clearing and grubbing the old forest for their open-pit lignite mine nearby to continue digging for brown coal. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Police removes activists from treehouses in the forest 'Hambacher Forst' near Dueren, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Young environmentalists fight against German energy company RWE, who plans clearing and grubbing the old forest for their open-pit lignite mine nearby to continue digging for brown coal. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Union has extended by six months sanctions against senior Russian officials, lawmakers and military officers accused of meddling in Ukraine. EU headquarters said Thursday the asset freezes and travel bans on 155 people and 44 "entities" - usually companies or organizations - are extended until March 15, 2019. It said there was no justification for dropping the sanctions. Those hit are accused of "actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine." The EU imposed sanctions on Russia after it annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, and refuses to recognize Moscow's authority there. Some Crimea officials are also on the list. The bloc has separate sanctions targeting the Russian economy. They remain in place until at least January 31. BERLIN (AP) - Chancellor Angela Merkel's junior coalition partners demanded the removal of Germany's domestic intelligence chief on Thursday following much-criticized comments about recent far-right protests in the eastern city of Chemnitz. Hans-Georg Maassen's future as the head of the BfV intelligence agency has created new strains in Merkel's six-month-old coalition. The center-left Social Democrats, the junior governing party, called for him to go after Interior Minister Horst Seehofer told parliament Maassen still has his confidence. Merkel, Seehofer and Social Democrat leader Andrea Nahles met at the chancellery Thursday afternoon to discuss the spat, which comes only 2 months after a crisis over migration policy that briefly threatened the coalition. News agency dpa, citing unidentified government sources, said they agreed to talk about the issue again on Tuesday. Hans-Georg Maassen, left, head of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, and German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, right, shake hands as they arrive for a hearing at the home affairs committee of the German federal parliament, Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) The killing late last month of a German man, for which an Iraqi and a Syrian have been arrested, prompted days of anti-migrant protests in Chemnitz that at times turned violent. In comments to the mass-circulation Bild daily last week, Maassen questioned the authenticity of a video showing protesters chasing down and attacking a foreigner. He also said his agency had no reliable evidence that foreigners were "hunted" in the streets - a term Merkel had used. Maassen told Seehofer, his immediate boss, about his doubts before going public but didn't inform the chancellery. Although they are conservative allies, Seehofer and Merkel have sparred on and off about migrant policy for three years. A dispute between the pair in June briefly threatened to bring down the government. On Wednesday evening, Maassen was grilled by two parliamentary committees. "He explained comprehensively, and from my point of view convincingly, the way he acted," Seehofer told lawmakers. Maassen debunked "conspiracy theories" and "convincingly took a stance against right-wing radicalism," he added. Merkel doesn't appear keen to make an issue of Maassen's remarks, telling parliament Wednesday that a discussion about semantics isn't helpful. But the Social Democrats, who are struggling in polls, said Seehofer's decision to keep Maassen in place couldn't be the last word. Senior lawmaker Eva Hoegl told lawmakers that the security services must enjoy "our unrestricted confidence, and if there is even the slightest doubt about that, there is a problem - so we should act differently here." She and others said Maassen had failed to restore confidence in his leadership. The party's general secretary, Lars Klingbeil, later increased the pressure, writing on Twitter that "for the Social Democrats' leadership, it is completely clear that Maassen must go. Merkel must act now." The head of the Social Democrats' youth wing, who fought unsuccessfully earlier this year to keep the party out of Merkel's government, suggested that it should quit the coalition if Maassen is kept on. But Hoegl told Deutschlandfunk radio that "the Social Democrats are, of course, not going to leave the coalition over Mr. Maassen." The coalition, which took office in March, so far has been remarkable mostly for squabbling. The three parties in it all performed badly in last year's election, which also saw the far-right Alternative for Germany enter parliament. And Seehofer's Christian Social Union party faces a tough test in a Bavarian state election in mid-October. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, background, listens to the speech of Interior Minister Horst Seehofer during a plenary session of the German parliament Bundestag about the budget 2019, in Berlin, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) Hans-Georg Maassen, left, head of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, and German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, right, arrive for a hearing at the home affairs committee of the German federal parliament, Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) Hans-Georg Maassen, head of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, arrives for a public hearing at the parliamentary control committee of the German federal parliament in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. (Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa via AP) LONDON (AP) - It turns out the consequences of Brexit may not be confined to Earth. The British government said Thursday that the U.K. may get less warning of falling space debris if the country leaves the bloc without a divorce agreement. The news was one of the more eye-catching items in a government assessment of the disruption to Britain's economy and daily life that would be caused by a "no deal" Brexit. Britain's Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union Dominic Raab arrives for a cabinet meeting on Brexit at 10 Downing Street in London, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Britain is due to leave the 28-nation EU on March 29, but divorce negotiations have become bogged down amid divisions within Britain's Conservative government over how close an economic relationship to seek with the bloc. The British government says it is confident the two sides will reach a deal, but has recently stepped up preparations for leaving without an agreement. On Thursday it published the second batch in a trove of more than 70 papers looking at the potential impact on various sectors of the economy. The documents disclosed that, without a deal, Britain will no longer receive data from the EU Space Surveillance and Tracking Program, set up to protect satellites and people on Earth from space debris. The U.K. would no longer be part of the organization or receive its warnings about space objects or debris falling to earth, the government said - though "the U.K. will continue to receive space, surveillance and tracking data from the United States of America." Labour Party lawmaker Jo Stevens, a supporter of the anti-Brexit group Best for Britain, said "it is deeply worrying that the U.K. will be shut out of some of the most cutting-edge research in the world." Prime Minister Theresa May "used to say Brexit wouldn't be the end of the world - but actually it could be!" she said. The papers also said British drivers traveling to the continent might need to get International Driving Permits if the EU did not agree to recognize U.K. licenses. British cell phone users might have to pay roaming charges, abolished in the EU. The assessments also warned of major disruption for tech firms. The government said British firms won't be able to bid for work on the EU's Galileo satellite navigation program if there is no deal, and "may face difficulty carrying out and completing existing contracts." A no-deal Brexit would also disrupt the transfer of personal data between Britain and the EU. The government said Britain would "continue to allow the free flow of personal data from the U.K. to the EU," but there is no guarantee the EU would allow data to be transferred in the other direction. Business groups said the papers showed that no-deal Brexit would mean a mountain of red tape. Carolyn Fairbairn of the Confederation of British Industry said that "extra costs, duplication of certification and interruptions to data flows would damage the economy, with a knock-on impact for living standards." The first batch of papers, released last month, said businesses could face red tape at the border, while customers could see higher credit card fees and patients could endure delays to medical treatment. There was even a warning that there could be a shortage of donor sperm if Britain crashes out of the bloc without a deal. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said the government was being honest with the public. "In the event of a no-deal scenario, which is not what we want, we would face short-term risks and short-term disruption," he said. But he added that the government had plans in place "to manage those risks, avoid them where possible, or mitigate them." Raab also warned the EU that Britain would withhold billions of euros (dollars) of a promised divorce payment if there is no Brexit deal. Raab said in that event the U.K. would pay "significantly, substantially" less than the agreed-upon 39 billion pounds ($51 billion). "It's not a threat and it's not an ultimatum, it's a statement of fact," he said. MADRID (AP) - Spain will go ahead with a shipment of precision bombs to Saudi Arabia, officials said Thursday, reversing on a previous decision and angering activists who claim the weapons could harm civilians in Yemen. Arms Control, a campaign by non-profit organizations lobbying to end arms sales to countries that have caused civilian casualties, called the government's move "disappointing" and urged authorities to reconsider once again. "This makes Spain potentially complicit in committing crimes of war with these weapons," said Alberto Estevez, who coordinates the campaign backed by Amnesty International, Greenpeace, Intermon Oxfam and Spain's FundiPau. FILE - In this April 12, 2018 file photo, Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, left, and Spain's then Defense Minister Maria Dolores Cospedal shake hands after signing bi-lateral agreements in the presence of the then Prime Minister of Spain Mariano Rajoy, right, at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid. Spain will go ahead with a shipment of precision bombs to Saudi Arabia after consultations with his long-time commercial ally Riyadh, officials said Thursday Sept. 13, 2018, reversing a previous decision and angering rights organizations who claim the weapons could harm civilians in Yemen. (AP Photo/Paul White, File) The Spanish center-left government of Pedro Sanchez is reversing an announcement last week to cancel the delivery of 400 laser-guided bombs to the Saudi military over fears they could be used against civilians in Yemen. With more than 22 million people in desperate need, United Nations has called the conflict raging since March 2015 in the Gulf country the world's worst humanitarian crisis. International rights groups have blamed the Saudi-led coalition's airstrikes and attacks in the fight against Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen for the killing of civilians, including children. A panel of U.N. human rights experts said that all sides, including militias backed by the United Arab Emirates, may have committed war crimes in the conflict. Defense officials first said Spain would return the 9.2 million euros ($10.6 million) already paid by Saudi Arabia for the bombs under a 2015 contract signed by a previous, conservative administration in Spain. But Minister Margarita Robles this week said the decision wasn't final. By then, shipbuilders in southern Spain had been staging protests over fears that Saudi Arabia could retaliate by scrapping a separate $2.1 billion purchase of five navy corvettes - the biggest foreign deal in the history of the state-owned shipbuilder Navantia. Saudi authorities had not confirmed the threat. But announcing on Thursday that the bombs shipment will be completed after all, Spain's Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said that arms-related negotiations are regarded by Riyadh "under the frame of overall relations." Borrell told Onda Cero radio that the bombs are capable of "extraordinary precision of less than one meter." "They are not the type of weapons that can cause the bombardments produced by other weapons launched randomly and that we have seen producing the tragedies that we have all condemned," Borrell said. Control Arms campaigners said the Spanish government has no control over how the weapons are used once they are in the hands of the Saudi military and its allies. They called for the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to reconsider its decision. Spain is the fourth largest provider of military equipment and weapons to the Gulf state, according to Amnesty International. The Saudi embassy in Madrid declined to comment. CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) - As gunshots ring out in one of South Africa's most dangerous neighborhoods, a new technology detects the gun's location and immediately alerts police. South Africa is the first country outside the United States to implement the "shotspotter" audio technology, which is also being used to fight wildlife poaching on the other end of the country in Kruger National Park. The technology's use in Cape Town's notoriously violent Cape Flats area has contributed for the first time this year to a conviction in a gang shooting. Police hope more will follow. In this photo taken Friday, Aug. 17 2018, police search a suspect for guns and drugs during a raid on a known drug house in Mannenburg, Cape Town, South Africa. As gunshots ring out in one of South Africa's most dangerous neighborhoods, a new technology detects the gun's location and immediately alerts police. (AP Photo/Nasief Manie) "About 13 percent of gunshots are reported by the public. Now we respond to every single incident, very rapidly," said City of Cape Town Alderman J.P. Smith, who instituted the technology in the Manenberg and Hanover Park neighborhoods in 2016. "It's accurate to between 2 meters and 10 meters (6 feet to 33 feet) of where the shot was fired." The recovery of illegal guns has jumped five-fold in the areas where the shotspotter is used, Smith said. The technology also provides accurate data about gun violence. The technology operates by acoustic sensors which are placed throughout a neighborhood and Cape Town plans to expand its use from the current 7 square kilometers to 18 square kilometers (3 sq. miles to 7 sq. miles). South Africa has one of the highest rates of murder in the world. On Tuesday, police announced that the rate was up about 7 percent, with 20,336 people murdered between April 2017 and March, compared to 19,016 in the previous year. Many were linked to gang violence in Western Cape province, whose capital is Cape Town. The national homicide rate of 34 per 100,000 people spikes in parts of the Cape Flats to up to 250 per 100,000, according to the University of Cape Town. "The Cape Flats violence has its roots in apartheid policy," said Simon Howell of the nonprofit African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum. "When colored people (South African term for people of mixed race) were forcibly evicted from their areas and dumped in the Cape Flats, people lost all their social ties that used to form an identity." Gangs evolved from that treatment of the mixed-race population during white-minority rule, say experts. "Violence begets violence," said University of Cape Town criminologist Guy Lamb. "Since 1994 we've had high levels of unemployment, poverty, inequality . and these dynamics have fed into the high violent crime rate." Lamb lamented the fact that the national police force is not using the new technology. Howell, however, questioned it as an effective response to Cape Flats gun violence. "It has its role to play, but unfortunately in South Africa policing is our primary response and that is never going to solve the issue," he said. One Manenberg resident, Shakier Adams, explained what life is like on the Cape Flats. "Growing up, you are literally caught in crossfire on a daily basis. You have to be careful who you speak to, where you go, whoever you associate yourself with." ___ Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa In this photo taken Friday, Aug. 17 2018, a policeman searches a suspect during a raid on a known drug house in Mannenburg, Cape Town, South Africa. As gunshots ring out in one of South Africa's most dangerous neighborhoods, a new technology detects the gun's location and immediately alerts police. (AP Photo/Nasief Manie) In this photo taken Friday, Aug. 17 2018, police search for guns and drugs during a raid on a known drug house in Mannenburg, Cape Town, South Africa. As gunshots ring out in one of South Africa's most dangerous neighborhoods, a new technology detects the gun's location and immediately alerts police.(AP Photo/Nasief Manie) BEIRUT (AP) - 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. Hulusi Akar, the Turkish defense minister, said a military operation in the densely populated rebel enclave would drag the already problematic region toward disaster. He spoke during a meeting with foreign ambassadors late Wednesday, according to the state-run Turkish Anadolu Agency. "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. 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 truck carrying a tank 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) The United Nations said that in the first 12 days of September, over 30,000 have been internally displaced by an intense aerial bombing campaign. Most of the displaced headed toward the border with Turkey, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said, packing already overcrowded camps there. Nearly half of Idlib's 3 million are already displaced by conflict in other parts of Syria. In the case of an offensive, the U.N. estimates nearly 700,000 will be displaced inside Idlib, and about 100,000 to head to nearby government-held areas. An emergency plan is in place and the U.N. has asked donors for $311 million to cover those expected to be in need, said OCHA regional humanitarian coordinator Panos Moumtzis. "We hope it won't happen ... we hope it will not be needed," Moumtzis, speaking in Geneva, said. The Turkish deployment comes amid a lull in a concerted government and Russian aerial bombing campaign on the southern edge of Idlib. Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Thursday a Turkish convoy entered from Kfar Lusin crossing in northern Idlib, heading to some of the 12 Turkish observations points that ring Idlib. 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. Both said the convoy was heading to two different observation points, one south of Idlib and another in the center. But the Turkish military did not immediately respond to request for comment. Turkey deployed hundreds of its soldiers to 12 observation posts that ring Idlib, following a de-escalation agreement reached with Russia and Iran last year to freeze the lines of the conflict, effectively placing Ankara as a protector of the province. The rebels have held Idlib province since 2015 but a government offensive captured chunks on the eastern flanks of the province last year before Turkey began deploying its observation points and halting the advances. In recent weeks, Syrian government forces have been massing to the south and southwest of the province, and in recent days launched an intense aerial bombing campaign targeting rebel positions, three medical centers and rescue workers last week. But the bombing has let up in the last 24 hours. Turkey has appealed for a cease-fire in Idlib, which straddles its borders and is home to more than 3 million people. It is seeking to gain time to support its efforts, it said, to separate radical militants from moderate opposition groups it backs. Turkey has appealed for international support to its efforts to halt an offensive. The U.S. warned Russia Wednesday that it will bear responsibility for the resulting humanitarian crisis in Syria if the Moscow-backed Syrian military attacks Idlib. Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesman, said the U.S. and its allies are concerned about the deadly consequences of such an offensive. Pahon said the U.S. questions the continued presence of more than a dozen Russian warships off of Syrian Mediterranean coast, adding the ships must operate safely and abide by international law. ---------------- Associated Press Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey and Jamey Keaton in Geneva contributed to this report BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Union's top diplomat says the bloc remains a staunch supporter of the International Criminal Court despite U.S. condemnation of the tribunal. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Thursday that "we will continue to fully and strongly support the ICC and its work." The Hague-based court was created in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in areas where perpetrators might not otherwise face justice. Mogherini said the ICC "has strengthened universal justice beyond power politics and beyond geopolitical interests," and added that "accountability is essential to build the foundations for peace." U.S. National security adviser John Bolton denounced the ICC earlier this week just as a judge weighs whether to investigate allegations of war crimes against U.S. and Afghan personnel in Afghanistan since 2003. BERLIN (AP) - 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 Sept. 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 U.S. Air Force's Ramstein Air Base in southern Germany. In that case, following a tip from the U.S., 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. VILORIA, Spain (AP) - Even though he receives the occasional helping hand from his 22-year old son, Miguel Lander knows that the days of making charcoal the traditional way are counted in these remote valleys of northern Spain. Lander is among the handful of remaining professional "charcoal cookers," the name given by locals to the backbreaking and painstaking process of turning firewood into the lightweight pieces of carbon. "One has to earn a living," says Lander, 56. In this Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018 photo, Miguel Lander, 56, makes fire inside a mountain made with tree trunks, as part of a process to produce traditional charcoal in Viloria, northern Spain. Only a handful of professional "charcoal cookers," which is how locals call the backbreaking and patience-exhausting process of turning firewood into lightweight pieces of carbon, remain active in Spain's northern Basque valleys. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) Amid changing lifestyles and competition from industrially produced charcoal, these days it's only restaurants and private households that buy Lander's few tons of fuel he produces every year according to centuries-old tradition. The future, as he sees it, is far away from the slow-burning, smoking firewood pyres. The carbonization of the wood comes from slowly choking the logs at a constant temperature, keeping most of the oxygen out. In Viloria and other hamlets in the shade of the limestone ranges of Loquiz and Urbasa, that's achieved by covering pyramids of wood with hay, dry leaves and a layer of insulating soil. The fire is lit through a chimney in the center of the pyre. Lander then climbs up on a wooden step to dig air vents in the volcano-like structure in order to keep a steady combustion, which can go on for weeks. Nowadays, Lander "cooks" in each of these steaming hills around 1.5 tons of holm oak wood, the best for charcoal. He watches them day and night: if they burn too fast, all will be reduced to ashes, he says. But the size of these pyres used to be much bigger, according to Emilio Galdeano, 78, who began making charcoal when he was still a teenager. Galdeano abandoned the trade for two decades when he joined scores of other peasants who sought jobs in bigger cities. But when Basque steel mills downsized in the late 1970s, Galdeano returned to Viloria and its surrounding mountains to keep making charcoal. "Everybody in the village knew that charcoal-making was all they could expect in life," says Galdeano, now retired. The trade, he adds, was "tough, very tough." Charcoal pyres were part of the landscape, and mystery shrouded the charcoal makers who, before vehicles could bring the wood all the way down to the valley, spent weeks or even months up in the mountains tending the firewood piles. They were often perceived as sullen and solitary, but also central members of the community, providing a basic necessity. Perhaps that's why the most famous charcoal maker in the Basque-speaking valleys is Olentzero, the Father Christmas-like, wine-loving mythical figure who drops off presents to well-behaved children - and leaves charcoal for the roguish - as he goes down the mountains at the height of winter. In this Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018 photo, Miguel Lander, 56, places straw bales on wood piled up as part of the process to produce traditional charcoal, in the town of Viloria, northern Spain. Only a handful of professional "charcoal cookers," which is how locals call the backbreaking and patience-exhausting process of turning firewood into lightweight pieces of carbon, remain active in Spain's northern Basque valleys. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) In this Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018 photo, Jose Mari Nieva, 60, makes a mountain with tree trunks as part of the process to produce traditional charcoal, in the small town of Viloria, northern Spain. Only a handful of professional "charcoal cookers," which is how locals call the backbreaking and patience-exhausting process of turning firewood into lightweight pieces of carbon, remain active in Spain's northern Basque valleys. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) In this Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018 photo, Miguel Lander, 56, makes fire inside a mountain made with tree trunks, as part of a process to produce traditional charcoal in Viloria, northern Spain. Only a handful of professional "charcoal cookers," which is how locals call the backbreaking and patience-exhausting process of turning firewood into lightweight pieces of carbon, remain active in Spain's northern Basque valleys. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) In this Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018 photo, Miguel Lander, 56, makes fire inside a mountain made with tree trunks, as part of a process to produce traditional charcoal in Viloria, northern Spain. Only a handful of professional "charcoal cookers," which is how locals call the backbreaking and patience-exhausting process of turning firewood into lightweight pieces of carbon, remain active in Spain's northern Basque valleys. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) In this Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018 photo, work utensils are stored inside a room, to be used by workers to produce traditional charcoal in Viloria, northern Spain. Only a handful of professional "charcoal cookers," which is how locals call the backbreaking and patience-exhausting process of turning firewood into lightweight pieces of carbon, remain active in Spain's northern Basque valleys. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) In this Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018 photo, former charcoal worker Emiliano Galdeano, 78, shows some old photographs of himself making traditional charcoal in Viloria, northern Spain. Only a handful of professional "charcoal cookers," which is how locals call the backbreaking and patience-exhausting process of turning firewood into lightweight pieces of carbon, remain active in Spain's northern Basque valleys. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) In this Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018 photo, Jesus Luis Remiro, left, picks up charcoal with his brother, Salvador Remiro, and Jose Mari Nieva, center, as part of a process to produce traditional charcoal in Viloria, northern Spain. Only a handful of professional "charcoal cookers," which is how locals call the backbreaking and patience-exhausting process of turning firewood into lightweight pieces of carbon, remain active in Spain's northern Basque valleys. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) In this Tuesday, Sept.11, 2018 photo, Jesus Luis Remiro, center, picks up charcoal with his brother, Salvador, right, and Jose Mari Nieva, left, as part of a process to produce traditional charcoal in Viloria, northern Spain. Only a handful of professional "charcoal cookers," which is how locals call the backbreaking and patience-exhausting process of turning firewood into lightweight pieces of carbon, remain active in Spain's northern Basque valleys. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) In this Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018 photo, Miguel Lander, 56, shows his hands as he works making traditional charcoal in Viloria, northern Spain. Only a handful of professional "charcoal cookers," which is how locals call the backbreaking and patience-exhausting process of turning firewood into lightweight pieces of carbon, remain active in Spain's northern Basque valleys. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) In this Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018 photo, Arkaitz Lander, 22, picks up charcoal to put into sacks, as part of a process to produce traditional charcoal in Viloria, northern Spain. Only a handful of professional "charcoal cookers," which is how locals call the backbreaking and patience-exhausting process of turning firewood into lightweight pieces of carbon, remain active in Spain's northern Basque valleys. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) In this Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018 photo, Mertxe Garcia, poses for a photograph as she works producing traditional charcoal in Viloria, northern Spain. Only a handful of professional "charcoal cookers," which is how locals call the backbreaking and patience-exhausting process of turning firewood into lightweight pieces of carbon, remain active in Spain's northern Basque valleys. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) CAIRO (AP) - An Egyptian court has sentenced three men to death and another 41 to life imprisonment for their part in a 2013 attack on a police station south of Cairo. Wednesday's verdicts are the latest to come out of mass trials, mostly for Islamists, that have drawn scathing criticism by rights groups for their perceived lack of fairness. Last week, a Cairo court sentenced to death 75 people, including senior members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. The verdicts were condemned by the EU and the U.N. Wednesday's sentences by a criminal court in Minya province targeted militants charged with storming a police station in the town of Samalout to avenge the violent breakup by security forces of sit-in protests in Cairo by supporters of an Islamist president who hailed from the Brotherhood. ACCRA, Ghana (AP) - United in sorrow, world leaders and international dignitaries came to Ghana to pay their last respects to the late United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan who was honored with a state funeral Thursday, as many lauded him as an exceptional man and leader. Annan died on Aug. 18 in Bern, Switzerland at age 80. The grandson of tribal chiefs, he was the first black African to become the U.N. leader and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. "Kofi Annan was courageous, speaking the truth to power while subjecting himself to intense self-scrutiny," said current U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The coffin of late former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, wrapped in the flag of Ghana, is transported to the cemetery in Ghana Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will be buried Thursday after a three-day funeral and ceremony. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) Presidents from across Africa joined Guterres, Annan's family and many others in a ceremony that concluded two days of viewings. The presidents of Namibia, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone attended, along with Niger's prime minister and Angola's vice president. Former leaders from Europe and Africa also joined the ceremony, including Graca Machel, wife of the late South African President Nelson Mandela. Gutteres said the late Annan "was an exceptional global leader - and he was also someone virtually anyone in the world could see themselves in: those on the far reaches of poverty, conflict and despair who found in him an ally; the junior U.N. staffer following in his footsteps; the young person to whom he said until his dying breath 'always remember, you are never too young to lead - and we are never too old to learn.'" Guterres, who was selected by Annan to be the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, spoke of the honor of working with him to weather "many of the same global storms." "The world has lost a standard-bearer of global cooperation. The United Nations has lost an embodiment of its mission," he said. "Now that I occupy the office Kofi once held, I am continually inspired by his integrity, dynamism and dedication. To him, indifference was the world's worst poison." Even after serving as secretary-general he continued to work on the front lines of diplomacy, said Guterres. "He helped to ease post-election tensions in Kenya, gave his all to find a political solution to the brutal war in Syria and set out a path for ensuring justice and rights for the Rohingya people of Myanmar," said Guterres. Ghana's President Nana Dankwa Akufo-Addo said Annan was bold and never gave up on what he believed in. "Despite the unjustified attacks on him, trying to fix him with responsibility for the genocides in Rwanda and Srebrenica when he was head of U.N. peace operations, he never lost his moral compass, as he showed when he stood up to the might of the United States of America when she was embarking on the ill-fated intervention in Iraq." History has vindicated Annan, said Akufo-Addo, saying that his "epic but unavailing effort to establish the supremacy of international law over the actions of even the world's greatest power won him the admiration of all right-thinking persons." He said, Kofi Annan was an ardent believer in the capacity of Ghana and the continent of Africa to chart its own path of progress. Annan's wife, Nane "thanked God for giving her such an extraordinary human being," while his daughter Ama Annan Adedeji said her father "was one of the most loving people l have known." Mourners have thronged to the conference center in Accra, where his coffin has been since his body arrived Monday, and where the funeral was held. A private burial follows at Accra's Military Cemetery, with full military honors and a 17-gun salute. ___ Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa Ghanaian soldiers carry the coffin of former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, wrapped in the flag of Ghana, after a funeral service at the Accra International Conference Center in Ghana Thurssday, Sept. 13, 2018. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will be buried Thursday after a three-day funeral and ceremony. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) Clergymen pray over the coffin of former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, draped with the Ghana flag, during a state funeral at the Accra International Conference Center in Ghana Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. After days of lying in state for mourners to pay their respects the body of Kofi Annan, who died in August in Switzerland at age 80, will be buried Thursday after a final funeral ceremony. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) Current U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lays a wreath during the funeral of former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, at a cemetry in Accra, Ghana, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. After days of lying in state for mourners to pay their respects the body of Kofi Annan, who died in August in Switzerland at age 80, will be buried Thursday after a final funeral ceremony. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) Current U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, center, pays his respects by the coffin of former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, draped with the Ghana flag, during a state funeral at the Accra International Conference Center in Ghana Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. After days of lying in state for mourners to pay their respects the body of Kofi Annan, who died in August in Switzerland at age 80, will be buried Thursday after a final funeral ceremony. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) Current U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, left, pays his respects by the coffin of former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, draped with the Ghana flag, during a state funeral at the Accra International Conference Center in Ghana Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. After days of lying in state for mourners to pay their respects the body of Kofi Annan, who died in August in Switzerland at age 80, will be buried Thursday after a final funeral ceremony. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) The coffin of late former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, wrapped in the flag of Ghana, is transported to the cemetery in Ghana Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will be buried Thursday after a three-day funeral and ceremony. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) The coffin of late former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, wrapped in the flag of Ghana, is transported to the cemetery in Accra, Ghana Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will be buried Thursday after a three-day funeral and ceremony. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) From left to right, Kofi Annan's daughter Nina Cronstedt, son Kojo Annan, widow Nane Annan, and daughter Ama Annan, during the funeral of former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, at a cemetery in Accra, Ghana Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan was buried Thursday after a three-day funeral and ceremony. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) Nane Annan, widow of former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, lays a wreath during the funeral of her husband, at a cemetery in Accra, Ghana Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan was buried Thursday after a three-day funeral and ceremony. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) Nane Annan, widow of former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, smiles during the funeral of her husband at a cemetery in Accra, Ghana Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan was buried Thursday after a three-day funeral and ceremony. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) Ghana's President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo lays a wreath during the funeral of former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, at a cemetery in Accra, Ghana, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan was buried Thursday after a three-day funeral and ceremony. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) The coffin of late former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, wrapped in the flag of Ghana, is transported to the cemetery in , Ghana, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will be buried Thursday after a three-day funeral and ceremony. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) JERUSALEM (AP) - A top aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that he was taking a leave of absence amid an uproar over allegations of sexual assault. David Keyes, Netanyahu's spokesman with the foreign press, issued a statement saying that "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." Julia Salazar, a candidate for New York's state senate, accuses Keyes of sexually assaulting her five years ago. Others have since come forward. Wall Street Journal reporter Shayndi Raice tweeted she too had a "terrible encounter" with Keyes. She described someone who had "absolutely no conception of the word 'no.'" FILE - In this July 23, 2018 file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu listens to his spokesman David Keyes as he opens the weekly cabinet meeting at his Jerusalem office. An opposition Israeli lawmaker is calling on Netanyahu to suspend Keyes following sexual assault allegations. Michal Rozin, a legislator with the dovish Meretz party, says David Keyes, Netanyahu's spokesman to the foreign media, can no longer represent Israel to the world amid the accusations. (Gali Tibbon/Pool via AP, File) Keyes has denied the allegations, saying all "are deeply misleading and many of them are categorically false." At least four female Israeli lawmakers called upon Netanyahu to suspend Keyes after the allegations surfaced earlier this week. The women called on Netanyahu to intervene and condemn the alleged actions by Keyes, saying his spokesman could not be effective as he battles the allegations. Netanyahu's office hasn't commented on the matter. Among the Knesset members calling for a suspension was one member of Netanyahu's governing coalition. Merav Ben Ari, a Kulanu party parliament member, said was "unreasonable" that Keyes remained in his position. Michal Rozin, a legislator with the opposition Meretz party, said Keyes can no longer represent Israel to the world. She said Netanyahu's silence thus far could also be interpreted as tolerance of the alleged acts. Keyes has served as Netanyahu's spokesman to the foreign media since 2016. He is considered a close aide to the prime minister and deeply involved in Netanyahu's social media policy. Netanyahu rarely speaks to the media, preferring instead to deliver his messages in tightly controlled video clips released on Facebook and Twitter. BRUSSELS (AP) - European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini is urging Myanmar's authorities to free two journalists jailed on charges of possessing state secrets in connection with their reporting about massacres against Rohingya Muslims. Mogherini demanded Thursday that "the prison sentences be reviewed and the two journalists be released immediately and unconditionally." Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo from the Reuters news agency were jailed last week for seven years after proceedings widely decried as unfair. They had reported on the army's brutal counter-insurgency campaign that drove 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh. Mogherini said their reporting matched testimony that she had heard from Rohingya in Bangladesh. She said observers saw this trial as a test for Myanmar democracy and that "it is pretty clear that the test has failed." MOSCOW (AP) - The two Russian men spun an unlikely tale of hapless tourists defeated by grim British weather: They traveled more than 1,000 miles to see England's famed Salisbury Cathedral but were turned back by slush and snow, then returned the next day and spent two hours exploring the "beautiful" city. British officials had a more sinister explanation: Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov were highly trained military intelligence agents sent by the Kremlin to Salisbury to smear a deadly nerve agent on the front door of a former Russian spy. Petrov and Boshirov, both charged in absentia by Britain last week for trying to kill Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, with the nerve agent Novichok, went on the Kremlin-funded RT satellite channel Thursday to proclaim their innocence, deny they were agents of the military intelligence service widely known as the GRU, and say they were merely tourists in the city southwest of London. In this video grab provided by the RT channel , Ruslan Boshirov, left, and Alexander Petrov attend their first public appearance in an interview with the Kremlin-funded RT channel in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. The two Russian men charged in Britain with poisoning a former Russian spy with a deadly nerve agent appeared on Russian television on Thursday, saying they visited the suspected crime scene as tourists. (RT channel video via AP) "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 studiously: "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. Britain said the attack was almost certainly approved "at a senior level of the Russian state," an allegation that Moscow has vehemently denied. Skripal, a Russian military intelligence officer turned double agent for Britain, and his visiting daughter fell ill March 4 from what Britain says was a Soviet-developed nerve agent; an investigating police officer also was hospitalized for about three weeks. In June, two area residents who apparently came across a discarded vial that contained the poison fell ill, and one of them died. 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 President Vladimir Putin said Russian authorities know the identities of the two men but insisted that they were civilians and there is "nothing criminal" about them. He urged to contact the media, and Petrov said he heard Putin's statement on the radio and contacted Margarita Simonyan, RT's editor-in-chief who conducted the interview. Petrov said that on their first trip to Salisbury, they were unable to make it from the train station to the cathedral - about 800 meters (half a mile) - because of snow and slush. Much of Britain suffered such weather that day. The weather was better the next day, when the two were caught on camera at the Salisbury rail station at 11:48 a.m. Ten minutes later, another camera found them walking in the direction of Skripal's house - the opposite direction from the cathedral. They again were recorded in the center of town an hour later and were at the station by 1:50 p.m., two hours after arriving. "We walked around, enjoying those beautiful English Gothic buildings," Boshirov said. They got a flight back to Russia later that evening. The men, who appeared to be about 40, claimed they did not know who Skripal was or where he lived. Britain alleges the nerve agent used to poison the Skripals was carried in a perfume vial, which Boshirov dismissed by saying "Don't you think it's kind of stupid for two straight men to carry perfume for ladies?" He bristled when Simonyan asked why the two men spent so much time together. "Let's not breach anyone's privacy. We came to you for protection, but this is turning into some sort of interrogation," he said. They declined to give any other details about their lives, except to say they work in the nutritional supplements business. "The whole situation is an incredible, fatal coincidence, and that's that," Petrov said. "What is our fault?" Both men looked composed during the interview, but Boshirov said, "We fear for our lives." Boshirov did not react to the interviewer's request to show the pictures they took on that trip, only saying that he found Salisbury Cathedral "very beautiful." John Glen, the Parliament member for Salisbury, offered a wry comment about the pair's visit to his town, tweeting: "Delighted to see that Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov 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." ___ Lawless reported from London. Associated Press writer Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow contributed. FILE In this file grab taken from CCTV and issued by the Metropolitan Police in London on Wednesday Sept. 5, 2018, Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov walk on Fisherton Road, Salisbury, England on March 4, 2018. President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018 that Russia has identified the two men that Britain named as suspects in the poisoning of a former Russian spy, and that there is "nothing criminal" about them. (Metropolitan Police via AP, File) In this video grab provided by the RT channel , Ruslan Boshirov, left, and Alexander Petrov attend their first public appearance in an interview with the Kremlin-funded RT channel in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. The two Russian men charged in Britain with poisoning a former Russian spy with a deadly nerve agent appeared on Russian television on Thursday, saying they visited the suspected crime scene as tourists. (RT channel video via AP) ATHENS, Greece (AP) - A section of a cliff fell onto a popular secluded beach on the western Greek island of Zakynthos Thursday, injuring seven people, including a woman who suffered a spinal injury, authorities said. Local media said witnesses reported that a large rock initially fell from a cliff into the sea at Navagio Beach, or Shipwreck Beach, on the northwestern coast of the island, creating a large wave that capsized small boats. The cove, accessible only by sea, features limestone cliffs towering above the beach of white sand and crystalline water made famous by the wreckage of a small cargo ship washed up on the beach since the 1980s. People embark a vessel after a landslide occurred at the popular beach of Navagio, or Shipwreck Beach, on the western island of Zakynthos, Greece, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Greek authorities say a landslide at a popular beach on the western island of Zakynthos has resulted in at least one injury, while coast guard officials were seeking to determine whether there were any people missing. (imerazante.gr via AP) Fire department rescue crews headed to the area accompanied by a sniffer dog, while the coast guard evacuated the beach and banned boats from approaching until further notice. Authorities later said everyone who had arrived at the beach on tourist boats had been accounted for. A total of seven people were treated in hospital for injuries, including a 34-year-old Czech woman with a fractured vertebra, the government said in a statement. The woman's husband and two children were hospitalized with minor injuries. The other three people injured were treated and released. FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 file photo, people enjoy the popular beach of Navagio, or Shipwreck Beach, on the western island of Zakynthos, Greece. Greek authorities on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, say a landslide at a popular beach on the western island of Zakynthos has resulted in at least one injury, while coast guard officials were seeking to determine whether there were any people missing. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias, File) PARIS (AP) - French President Emmanuel Macron, often branded by critics as the president of the rich, has unveiled an 8 billion-euro ($9 billion) plan to tackle poverty. Macron said in a speech Thursday: "I don't want a plan to help poor people to better live poor. I want them to be given the choice, and the possibility, not to be poor anymore." The plan runs over the next four years. It focuses on better education for poor children and providing help to unemployed people to get back to work, rather than financial aid only. French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech on poverty to social aid workers in Paris, France, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled a 8-billion euro plan focusing on education and getting the unemployed back to work in an effort to combat poverty. Placard reads "make more for those who have less". (AP Photo/Michel Euler, Pool) Measures include places in nursery to free up parents for work or training, school breakfasts in poor neighborhoods and compulsory job training for school leavers under 18. Another measure previously announced involves a smaller number of children per class between the ages of 6 and 8 in poor neighborhoods. "Poverty must not be transmitted as a heritage anymore", Macron said. Macron announced plans to change the social benefit system by 2020, so that one single minimum income for the poorest will replace the current complex system of benefits. Those who receive the payment will be asked to look for a job or training, he said. After 16 months in power, the 40-year-old centrist leader has seen his recent popularity ratings reach a low. Political opponents and unions criticized his pro-business policies as favoring the rich. He notably scrapped a tax for the wealthy and sought to attract big French and foreign investors. Statistics agency Insee estimates that about 14 percent of France's population lives below the poverty line. French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he delivers a speech on poverty to social aid workers in Paris, France, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled a 8-billion euro plan focusing on education and getting the unemployed back to work in an effort to combat poverty. Placard reads "make more for those who have less". (AP Photo/Michel Euler, Pool) URBANA, Ill. (AP) - A former University of Illinois student who was suicidal and wanted police to shoot him has been sentenced to two years of probation. Samuel Applebaum pleaded guilty Wednesday to disorderly conduct in the Champaign County Circuit Court. The 24-year-old Applebaum of Flossmoor admits he made a false police report on July 12 that there was a man loading a semi-automatic gun near the Champaign campus. He pointed a pellet gun at responding officers who then shot him. If Applebaum completes the terms of his probation, including paying fines, fees and costs, and 30 hours of public service, the case will be dismissed. If he doesn't seek treatment or if he gets into trouble again, the state can revoke his probation and enter a Class 4 felony conviction on his record. BEIRUT (AP) - The Latest on developments in Syria (all times local): 4:20 p.m. A top U.N. humanitarian aid official for Syria says the United States, Russia and other powers have expressed a "common agreement" on the need for a peaceful way forward for the rebel-held province of Idlib. In this Tuesday Sept. 11, 2018 photo, Turkey-trained Syrian opposition fighters of the 'National Army' group formally known as Free Syrian Army, train in a camp in the Turkish-controlled northwestern city of Azaz, Syria. Syrian government forces, backed by Russia and Iran, have been massing troops for weeks in preparation for an attack on Idlib province, the last major rebel stronghold in the country. The U.N. has warned that a battle will spark a humanitarian catastrophe. (Ugur Can/DHA via AP) OCHA regional humanitarian coordinator Panos Moumtzis echoed concerns among many about possible bloodshed in a widely expected offensive by Syrian government forces and their Russian and Iranian allies upon a region largely controlled by an al-Qaida affiliate. Speaking to reporters after a U.N.-backed humanitarian task force meeting Thursday chaired by the U.S. and Russia, Moumtzis said the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and its partners want to be ready for up to 900,000 people who could flee Idlib. "We hope it won't happen ... we hope it will not be needed." He quoted an unspecified Russian official in the closed-door meeting as saying that "every effort" was being made to find a peaceful way out of the crisis. Officials estimate that nearly 3 million civilians are in Idlib. ___ 2:40 The United Nations says over 30,000 people have been displaced in nearly two weeks of escalation in attacks on Syria's last rebel bastion in the country's northwest. The escalation in aerial bombing and shelling of the rebel areas in Idlib and northern Hama have set off alarm bells. The U.N. has warned against a threatened government offensive, which it said could displace as many as 800,000, of which only 100,000 may flee to government-controlled areas, according to the U.N. Idlib and surrounding areas are home to nearly 3 million people, half of them already displaced by violence in different parts of Syria. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement late Wednesday that 38,300 were displaced by the violence since Sept. 1, most of them heading toward the Turkish-Syrian borders to already overcrowded displaced persons camps. Some 4,500 - or 11 percent - returned home spontaneously in the last two days as the violence decreased. The U.N. said aid groups have put in place an emergency plan for the expected large wave of displacement ___ 12 p.m. Syrian activists are reporting that new military reinforcements have arrived to beef up Turkish observation points inside Syria's last rebel bastion Idlib as a Syrian government offensive looms over the crowded enclave. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Thursday a Turkish convoy entered from Kfar Lusin crossing in northern Idlib, heading to some of the 12 Turkish observations points that ring Idlib. 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. The reinforcements come during a lull in government and Russian bombings of rebel locations on Idlib's southern edge. Turkey has appealed for a cease-fire in Idlib, which straddles its borders and is home to more than 3 million people. MOSCOW (AP) - The Latest on the nerve agent poisoning of a Russian ex-spy in Britain (all times local): 2:45 p.m. The British government has repeated its assertion that Russian authorities were lying about the poisoning of a Russian former spy in the English city of Salisbury. Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures as he speaks during a plenary session at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. Putin says Russia has identified the two men that Britain named as suspects in the poisoning of a former Russian spy and that there is "nothing criminal" about them. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Britain last week charged two Russians in absentia, alleging they were agents of Russia's military intelligence agency who were dispatched to Salisbury to poison former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with the nerve agent Novichok on March 4. "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," officials said in a statement Thursday. "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." The two suspects appeared on Russian television on Thursday for the first time. They denied their involvement in the attack, saying their appearance in Salisbury in March was merely a coincidence and that they were there merely as tourists. ___ 2 p.m. The two Russian men charged in Britain with poisoning a former Russian spy with a deadly nerve agent have denied their involvement in the attack, saying that their appearance in the English city of Salisbury was merely an "incredible, fatal coincidence." Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov made their first public appearance in an interview with the Kremlin-funded RT channel Thursday. They said they visited Salisbury to see its famous cathedral. Both men on Thursday denied that they are GRU agents or that they were in possession of the Soviet-made Novichok nerve agent. Britain last week charged Boshirov and Petrov in absentia, alleging they were agents of Russia's military intelligence agency known as the GRU who were dispatched to Salisbury to poison former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with Novichok. "The whole situation is an incredible, fatal coincidence, and that's that," Petrov said. "What is our fault?" They claimed they did not know who Skripal was and they did not know where he lived. The two men, who appeared to be around 40, said they worked in the nutrient supplements business. They denied that they carried a bottle of women's perfume where British authorities found traces of Novichok. ___ 1:20 p.m. The two Russian men who have been charged in Britain with poisoning a former Russian spy have appeared on Russian television saying they visited the suspected crime scene as tourists. Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov on Thursday made their first public appearance in an interview with the Kremlin-funded RT channel. Boshirov and Petrov said they visited the southern English city of Salisbury in March, calling it a "wonderful town" and saying they wanted to see the famous Salisbury Cathedral. Britain said Boshirov and Petrov are military intelligence agents who were dispatched to Salisbury to poison former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Britain released CCTV footage and photographs showing the two men walking in Skripal's neighborhood. SANAA, Yemen (AP) - Heavy fighting has been raging around Hodeida as Yemeni government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition are trying once again to retake the Red Sea port city from the Shiite rebels known as Houthis, security officials said on Thursday. They said at least 10 civilians have been killed and 19 wounded in the latest bout of fighting, including airstrikes by the Western-backed coalition fighting the rebels on the side of the internationally recognized government since 2015. There was no immediate word from either side of the conflict on their casualties. The officials said the fighting was concentrated in the eastern and southern approaches of the city, which is considered the lifeline of Yemen. They said Hundreds of civilians have fled their homes to elsewhere in the city to escape the fighting and that heavy smoke was rising above parts of the city. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, said areas overrun by the government forces were littered with bodies of Houthi fighters. The government forces first tried to retake Hodeida in June, but their offensive was stalemated by the rebels' resistance. The latest offensive began last week following the failure of what was to be renewed peace talks to resume in Geneva. One main objective of the ongoing offensive is to cut off the road between Hodeida and Sanaa, thus depriving the capital city, which is controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthis, from supplies arriving by sea. Government forces are also trying to cut off the road to Taiz, a fiercely contested and strategic city south of Hodeida. The war against the rebels has devastated impoverished Yemen, turning the Arab nation into the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with more than 20 million people in need of assistance. NEW YORK (AP) - Democratic socialist Julia Salazar overcame intense scrutiny of her personal life Thursday to win the Democratic primary for a state Senate seat in Brooklyn while voters throughout the state punished a group of incumbent Democratic legislators they perceived as too friendly to Republicans. Salazar, a 27-year-old first-time candidate, handily defeated eight-term incumbent Sen. Martin Dilan in New York's 18th District, joining the ranks of leftist insurgents nationwide who have knocked out mainstream Democrats. There is no Republican candidate running in the district in the general election, virtually guaranteeing her the seat. Julia Salazar answers questions during an interview after winning the Democratic primary over Martin Dilan in New York's 18th State Senate district race, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) Her 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 - a sign that liberal voters in New York are unwilling to tolerate collusion with Republicans in the age of President Donald Trump. Those insurgent victories were a consolation prize for candidates at the top of the left-wing's ticket in the state's primary. "Your victories tonight have shown that the blue wave is real and it's not only coming for Republicans, but for the Democrats who act like them," said Cynthia Nixon, who lost her bid to unseat Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Dilan, 67, was not among the renegade Senate Democrats, but he represented a district that has gone through major changes, with longtime residents being pushed out by rising rents and an influx of mostly white, wealthier newcomers. Salazar built a grassroots campaign to unseat him on the grounds that he hadn't done enough to help the poor or stop gentrification. "This is a victory for workers," Salazar said to her supporters at a party on Thursday night, according to The New York Times. "This is a victory for all of you, who every day have knocked on doors and have had meaningful conversations with our neighbors about these issues." On social media, she tweeted, "Tonight's victory is not about me. Tonight's 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." Salazar's campaign began attracting wide attention after fellow democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez scored a surprise win in June's congressional primary over U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley in New York. But in recent weeks, the race became a soap opera as reporters dug into her background. Salazar faced criticism for saying she was an immigrant from Colombia who struggled financially growing up when she was actually born in Florida and had hundreds of thousands of dollars in a trust fund. She was scrutinized, too, over a political and religious conversion during her years at Columbia University, where she transformed from an anti-abortion Christian Republican to a hard-left Jewish Democrat. One group revoked its endorsement after learning Salazar hadn't graduated from Columbia, as she said on its survey. Salazar said she "inadvertently misrepresented" her family's history and chalked up some biographical discrepancies to mistakes by her staff. Then, reporters revealed that in 2011, when she was in college, Salazar was accused of attempted bank fraud by the estranged wife of a famous neighbor in Florida, former New York Mets player Keith Hernandez. Salazar was arrested but not prosecuted. She later filed a lawsuit accusing Hernandez's wife, Kai Hernandez, of trying to frame her because she erroneously believed she was having an affair with her husband. Kai Hernandez settled the lawsuit for $20,000. Two days before the election, a conservative news site, The Daily Caller, told the Salazar campaign it was about to publish a story identifying her as a woman who had anonymously accused a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of sexual assault. Saying she didn't want to be "outed" against her will, Salazar tweeted about it, saying the Netanyahu aide, David Keyes, had bullied her into an unwanted sex act. Keyes called it a false allegation "made by someone who has proven to be repeatedly dishonest about her own life," but after additional women came forward with accusations, including a Wall Street Journal reporter, he took a leave of absence. At least four female Israeli lawmakers called upon Netanyahu to suspend Keyes. Dilan was first elected in 2002 and was a member of the state Senate Democratic Conference's leadership. He spent 10 years in New York's City Council before being elected to the Senate. Thursday's primary was a difficult one for the former IDC members, all eight of whom faced primary challenges, even after Cuomo brokered a deal earlier this year to reunify Senate Democrats. The schism was little noticed outside Albany until Trump's election galvanized liberals. 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. "New York voters rejected weak, corporate Democrats for bold progressives with strong, economic-populist messages who will fight for working families," said Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a group that supports and endorses candidates. The Democratic leader in the state Senate, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who supported the former IDC candidates, said voters had "made it clear that this is a new day and politics as usual are no longer acceptable." 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. In this Aug. 30, 2018, photo, New York State Sen. Martin Dilan, a Democrat for Brooklyn's 18th senate district, pose in his campaign headquarters in New York. Julia Salazar is taking on the 16-year-incumbent Dilan. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's 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 Dimon's claim that he could "beat" Trump and is just as tough and smarter than the president. FILE - In this April 4, 2017 file photo, Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, discusses his Annual Letter to Shareholders at the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America in Washington. President Donald Trump is scoffing at a claim by Dimon that he could beat Trump in an election. Trump tweeted Thursday that Dimon is a "nervous mess." (Paul Morigi/AP Images for JPMorgan Chase) "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," 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 Dimon's 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 I'm as tough as he is, I'm smarter than he is. I would be fine," Dimon said. "He could punch me all he wants, it wouldn't work with me. I'd 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 Trump's corporate tax cuts that passed late last year, but has expressed frustration with the White House's positions on immigration and trade. Dimon, 62, is chairman of the Business Roundtable, a powerful lobbying group that represents the CEOs of the nation's 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. "I'm like a really smart person," he's said, and tweeted in 2013: "Sorry losers and haters, my I.Q. is one of the highest - and you all know it! Please don't feel so stupid or insecure, it's not your fault." Dimon has an MBA from Harvard Business School. ___ Follow Kellman on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com//APLaurieKellman ISLAMABAD (AP) - Mourners have attended the funeral of the wife of former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif in London, where she died at a hospital this week after months in critical condition. Thursday's funeral service of Kulsoom Nawaz, 68, was held at a mosque there. Her family plans to bring Nawaz's body to Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, where she will be buried on Friday. FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2000 file photo, Kulsoom Nawaz, wife of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, talks to reporters in Islamabad, Pakistan. The political party of the jailed former prime minister said his wife died before dawn Tuesday, Sept, 11, 2018, at a hospital in London after months in critical condition. She was 68. Arrangements were being made to bring her body back to Pakistan for burial. (AP Photo/B.K.Bangash, File) In Pakistan, authorities have temporarily freed Sharif, his daughter and her husband from a prison to allow them to attend last rituals of Nawaz. Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law are currently serving 10, 7 and one-year sentences respectively in a corruption case. Pakistan's Supreme Court last year disqualified Sharif from holding office and later an anti-graft tribunal convicted him and his relatives. JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) - Voters in a New Jersey community will decide whether to relocate a statue honoring Polish World War II victims after city council members took a pass on a dispute that has galvanized the local Polish community and reached across the Atlantic to the highest levels of Poland's government. Jersey City's governing body had been due to vote Wednesday night on whether to repeal their June decision to move the Katyn Memorial. But the measure didn't get the five votes it needed to pass because five of the nine City Council members abstained. A special election will be held sometime later this year. FILE - In this May 4, 2018, file photo, buildings in Lower Manhattan provide a backdrop to a statue dedicated to the victims of the Katyn massacre of 1940, in Jersey City, N.J. Jersey City's governing body had been due to vote Wednesday, Sept. 12, on whether to repeal their decision to move The Katyn Memorial. But the measure didn't get the five votes it needed to pass because five of the nine City Council members abstained, so a special election will be held later this year. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File) The Katyn Memorial, depicting a soldier bound and stabbed with a bayonet, honors the estimated 22,000 Poles massacred by Soviet troops in 1940. It has stood at Exchange Place, across the Hudson River in downtown Jersey City, for three decades. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has advocated moving the statue because of a planned redevelopment of the waterfront plaza. "The administration is on the same page as the council to let the voters decide," a spokeswoman for Fulop said Thursday. "The Mayor's personal opinion is that he thinks moving the statue 30 yards in exchange for a free park and a free $2 million donation to the city is a good thing for Jersey City, but he feels even more strongly that the public deciding is a good thing either way." A federal lawsuit seeking to block the statue's relocation is continuing in federal court. William Matsikoudis, an attorney representing the plaintiffs in that action, said in an email Thursday that "the petitioners showed great determination and commitment to the cause of keeping this important monument in the special place it's been for decades, and I am pleased that the law is being followed to finally determine where the statue will be." During a visit to the U.S. in May, Polish President Andrzej Duda placed a wreath at the memorial and had what Fulop later called a "straightforward and spontaneous" exchange with him about the statue's importance. Prior to that, Fulop had tweeted that Polish Senate Speaker Stanislaw Karczewski was a Holocaust denier and "a known anti-Semite" after Karczewski criticized the plan to move the statue. Karczewski responded by calling the comments "offensive" and "entirely untrue." Fulop's maternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors. His grandmother was deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland, where more than 1 million people were murdered, mostly Jews. His grandfather spent time in a labor camp. BOSTON (AP) - Former New England Mafia boss Francis "Cadillac Frank" Salemme was unrepentant Thursday as he was sentenced to life in prison for the 1993 killing of a nightclub owner, declaring that the "real story" will come out one day. Salemme, the 85-year-old onetime head of the New England family of La Cosa Nostra, looked down at the table in front of him and read a document while the children of the man he's convicted of killing described the pain of losing their father and not knowing his whereabouts for more than two decades. "While there is closure in this case, for me the healing is just beginning," Steven DiSarro's daughter, Colby, told the court. "This is not a movie. This is and has been our life: the story of a family who was robbed of the love and affection of their father." FILE - This 1995 file photo taken in West Palm Beach, Fla., and released by the FBI shows Francis P. "Cadillac Frank" Salemme, convicted of killing a nightclub owner in 1993. Salemme faces life in prison when he is sentenced in federal court on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Boston. (Federal Bureau of Investigation via AP, File) Salemme and his co-defendant, Paul Weadick, were found guilty in June in the slaying of DiSarro, whose remains were discovered in 2016. Weadick also received a mandatory life sentence on Thursday. Before being sentenced, Salemme rose from his chair, called the proceeding "ridiculous" and said DiSarro's family hasn't been told the truth. "The real story about what happened here has not been out yet," said Salemme, who wore his gray hair slicked back and a bright orange jumpsuit. "But it will come out. It will come out in time," he said. Longtime federal prosecutor Fred Wyshak at one point choked back tears as he spoke about the crimes of the mobster, after whom Wyshak has been going since the 1990s. "This man is ruthless, barbaric and he is an individual who richly deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison," Wyshak said. Salemme's trial transported jurors back to a time when the Mafia was a feared and powerful force in Boston and its environs. With slicked-back grey hair and a frail frame, Salemme is almost unrecognizable from the bulky mob boss depicted in grainy surveillance photos from his heyday. Another former mobster told authorities that he saw Salemme's son strangle DiSarro while Weadick held the nightclub owner's feet and Salemme stood by. Salemme's son, known as "Frankie boy," died in 1995. Authorities at the time were looking into Salemme's involvement in DiSarro's nightclub, the Channel. Federal authorities had told DiSarro he was about to be indicted and should give them information on Salemme. Salemme and Weadick's lawyers said the other mobster, Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi, was lying to take Salemme down and help himself. Flemmi, who was notorious gangster James "Whitey" Bulger's partner and once good friends with Salemme, is serving a life sentence for killing 10 people. Salemme and Weadick insisted they had nothing to do with DiSarro's killing. Salemme, who has admitted to a slew of other killings, was living in Atlanta under the name Richard Parker in 2016 when the FBI received a tip the remains were buried near a mill building in Providence, Rhode Island. Salemme's lawyer questioned why he would admit to those slayings but never fess up to ordering DiSarro's death. Salemme decided to cooperate with the government after learning that Bulger and Flemmi had been informing the FBI behind his back. In exchange, the government cut his sentence for a 1999 racketeering conviction and he entered the witness protection program. He was kicked out of witness protection in 2004 when he was charged with lying to investigators for suggesting another mobster killed DiSarro, but was later allowed back under government protection. ____ Follow Alanna Durkin Richer on Twitter at http://twitter.com/aedurkinricher and read more of her work at http://bit.ly/2hIhzDb . WASHINGTON (AP) - George Papadopoulos, the former Trump campaign adviser who triggered the Russia investigation, is willing to testify before the Senate intelligence committee, said his lawyer, Thomas Breen. Now that the criminal case is resolved, Breen said, "we'll make him available upon a proper request." Papadopoulos was sentenced to 14 days in prison last Friday for lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian intermediaries. FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, file photo, former Donald Trump presidential campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos leaves federal court after he was sentenced to 14 days in prison, in Washington. Papadopoulos, who triggered the Russia investigation, is willing to testify before the Senate intelligence committee, Thomas Breen, his lawyer, said Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) Breen's comments come after Papadopoulos tweeted on Wednesday to Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., and the top Democrat on the panel, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, that he would testify if his lawyers approved. The panel is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election and whether President Donald Trump's campaign was involved. The tweet was one of several since the sentencing as Papadopoulos has vented anger with the FBI and implied he was set up in the investigation. He said on Twitter that he would like to talk to the committee about his "suspicious encounters" with an Australian diplomat and a missing professor who were links to his case. Papadopoulos also tweeted on Wednesday that he wanted to speak to the committee about two people he says were U.S. intelligence officers in London and "wanted to ingratiate themselves in campaign via myself." Papadopoulos, who served as a foreign policy adviser to Trump's campaign, has been a central figure in the Russia investigation dating back before special counsel Robert Mueller's May 2017 appointment. He was the first to plead guilty in Mueller's probe and the first Trump campaign adviser to be sentenced. His case was also the first to detail a member of the Trump campaign having knowledge of Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election while it was ongoing. According to a sweeping indictment handed up this summer, Russian intelligence had stolen emails from Hillary Clinton's campaign and other Democratic groups by April 2016, the same month Papadopoulos was told by the professor, Joseph Mifsud, that Russian officials had told him they had "dirt" on Clinton in the form of "thousands of emails." Mifsud's whereabouts are now unknown. Also Wednesday, the Senate approved the release of a transcript of a closed-door Senate intelligence committee interview with W. Samuel Patten, a business associate of a co-defendant of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. The resolution, passed by voice vote, would allow Justice Department prosecutors to use it in Manafort's upcoming trial. The trial in the District of Columbia, scheduled to start later this month, will be Manafort's second on charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller's office. Last month, Manafort was convicted by a northern Virginia jury of eight counts of filing false tax returns, failing to report foreign bank accounts and bank fraud. The jury deadlocked on 10 other counts. Patten pleaded guilty Friday to failing to register as a foreign agent for a Ukrainian political party and also admitted his role in a $50,000 donation scheme involving the presidential inauguration. KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - An Afghan official says Taliban attacks have killed at least 10 soldiers and two policemen. Provincial council chief Farid Bakhtawar in Farah province says that Taliban fighters tried to overrun the army base in Pusht Road district early on Thursday morning. He says they were using artillery to attack the troops and at least 10 soldiers were killed and three wounded in the four-hour-long gun battle. Also 22 Taliban were killed, and another Taliban attack on a police security post in Bala Buluk district Farah province killed three policemen. No one claimed responsibility for the attack. Elsewhere A car bomb exploded in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, wounding two civilians, said army spokesman Abdul Qadir Bahadorzai. MAYS LANDING, N.J. (AP) - 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. ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey's state-run news agency says the country's highest court has rejected a request for Istanbul's Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia church-turned-mosque-turned-museum to be reconverted into a mosque. Anadolu Agency said the court rejected the request filed by a religious group on Thursday. Anadolu said it was rejected over a technicality, on grounds that it was filed by an association and not an individual. The former Byzantine cathedral was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1453. Turkey's secular founder turned the structure into a museum in 1935 that attracts millions of tourists each year. FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 17, 2018 file photo, backdropped by the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, one of Istanbul's main tourist attractions, tourists enjoy the plaza in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul. Turkey's state-run news agency says the country's highest court on Thursday Sept. 13, 2018 has rejected a request for Istanbul's Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia church-turned-mosque-turned-museum to be reconverted into a mosque. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File) However, there have been increasing calls for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-leaning government to convert the symbolic structure back into a mosque. Erdogan himself recited prayers inside the Hagia Sophia in March. PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) - Kosovo's government has prepared three draft laws on transforming the country's security forces into a regular army, though it is not clear whether it will get formal parliamentary approval. Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj on Thursday said that any step on army transformation "will be done in line with our strategic partners in NATO, especially the U.S." The U.S. embassy in Kosovo was not pleased with the government's move, however, saying 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 said its recent efforts have been concentrated on normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which it considers the most important step for progress. A year ago, President Hashim Thaci bowed to pressure from NATO and the U.S. and withdrew draft legislation on creating an army that did not require approval from Kosovo's ethnic minorities, as constitutional amendments do. At that time, Kosovo's ethnic Serbs and other minority groups said they wouldn't back the change. NATO and the United States, which have helped train Kosovo's lightly armed security force, warned they would scale back military cooperation with Kosovo if the government passed the law without amending the constitution. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, which Serbia refuses to recognize. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Washington Alcoholic Beverage Control Board has declined to see a case by residents who argue the city's Trump International Hotel should lose its liquor license over its owner's character. The complaint by the residents - three ministers, two retired judges and two rabbis - says President Donald Trump is violating city law that says license applicants must be of "good character." The complaint cites accusations of sexual misconduct and patterns of deception. The Washington Post reports the board ruled Wednesday, saying liquor license owner character is only reviewed when licenses are issued, transferred or renewed. Chair Donovan Anderson says it's important to note Washington hotel liquor license owners are required to apply to review their licenses by March 31. The residents' attorney, Joshua Levy, says they'll ask for reconsideration. ___ Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com WASHINGTON (AP) - As Hurricane Florence bore down on the U.S. on Thursday, President Donald Trump angrily churned up the devastating storm of a year earlier, disputing the official death count from Hurricane Maria and falsely accusing Democrats of inflating the Puerto Rican toll to make him "look as bad as possible." Public health experts have estimated that nearly 3,000 perished because of the effects of Maria. But Trump, whose efforts to help the island territory recover have been persistently criticized, was having none of that. He said just six to 18 people had been reported dead when he visited two weeks after the storm and suggested that many had been added later "if a person died for any reason, like old age." Trump's jarring comments, coming as the East Coast braced for a massive storm, offered fresh evidence of his resistance to criticism and his insistence on viewing large and small events through the prism of his own success or failure. President Donald Trump, left, talks about Hurricane Florence during a briefing in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, as FEMA Administrator Brock Long listens at right. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Offering up a fresh conspiracy theory, he said of the Puerto Rico count, "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. "Casualties don't make a person look bad," House Speaker Paul Ryan said, breaking with the president. "So I have no reason to dispute those numbers." Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who talks to Trump often, said, "I don't think it's bad to say we could have done better in Puerto Rico." He also said he thought Trump "sees every attack on him as sort of undercutting his legitimacy." Especially upset were GOP politicians in Florida, a state with a substantial Puerto Rican population. Gov. Rick Scott, who is running for the U.S. Senate, tweeted: "I've been to Puerto Rico 7 times & saw devastation firsthand. The loss of any life is tragic." A spokesman for former U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, who won the Florida GOP primary for governor with Trump's support, said he did not agree with Trump's tweets. The White House defended the president. "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," said White House spokesman Hogan Gidley. "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." Gidley cited studies that attributed fewer than 3,000 deaths on the island to Maria. Throughout his presidency, Trump has struggled to publicly express empathy at times of national crises, sparking outrage during his post-Maria visit when he feuded with San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz and tossed out paper towels to victims like he was shooting baskets. In recent days, Trump publicly lauded his own administration's response to Maria - and privately groused over storm-related news coverage that he saw as overly focused on Puerto Rico, according to two Republican advisers close to the White House who weren't authorized to speak publicly. Puerto Rico's governor last month raised Maria's official death toll from 64 to 2,975 after an independent study found that the number of people who succumbed in the sweltering aftermath had been severely undercounted. Trump dismissed the findings Thursday, tweeting: "If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list." In fact, there are two categories of disaster deaths. "Direct" deaths include such fatalities as drownings in a storm surge or being crushed in a wind-toppled building. "Indirect" deaths are harder to count because they can include such things as heart attacks, electrocutions from downed power lines and failure to receive dialysis because the power is out - and those kinds of fatalities can happen after a storm has ended but while an area is struggling to restore electricity, clean water and other health and safety services. When Trump visited in October 2017, two weeks after the storm hit, the death toll at the time was indeed 16 people. The number was later raised to 64, but the government then commissioned an independent study to determine how many died because of post-storm conditions. That study - conducted by the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University - estimated 2,975 deaths. Dr. Carlos Santos-Burgoa - the lead researcher on the study and a well-known expert in global health, particularly Latin America - told The Associated Press that the initial figure of 64 deaths reflected only people whose death certificates cited the storm. He said the latest figure was more accurate and stressed that every death in the six months following the storm was not attributed to the hurricane. "We are scientists. We are public health people. We are committed to the health of the population. We try to reach the truth, and we try to understand what is damaging the people in order to prevent disease," he said. Puerto Rico's government is run by the New Progressive party, a pro-statehood, Puerto Rico-only party. Gov. Ricardo Rossello told CBS New York on Thursday that he was a Democrat but stressed that the government sought the study and said it "tried to make this process a completely independent process." State and local officials are responsible for establishing death tolls, not the federal government. After the total was revised Aug. 28, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement in which she did not actively dispute the revised figure. Trump's fresh anger drew swift rebukes from elected officials and residents of the island, where blackouts remain common, 60,000 homes still have makeshift roofs and 13 percent of municipalities lack stable phone or internet service. A U.S. territory since 1898, Puerto Rico's inhabitants are citizens, though they cannot vote in presidential elections and have only one congressional representative with limited voting powers. Cruz, the Democratic San Juan mayor who has sparred with the president, tweeted: "Trump is so vain he thinks this is about him. NO IT IS NOT." Rep. Luis Gutierrez, an Illinois Democrat who spent part of his youth in Puerto Rico, spoke on the House floor in front of a printout of the Puerto Rican flag, saying Trump is "delusional" and incapable of "empathy or basic human decency." Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to the GOP majority Thursday calling for the panel to request documents from the White House relating to the Puerto Rico response. Trump maintained as recently as Tuesday that his response to the storm was an "incredible unsung success." ___ Associated Press reporters Colleen Long, Lauran Neergaard and Alan Fram in Washington, Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Michael Weissenstein in Havana, Cuba, and Jennifer Peltz in New York contributed to this report. President Donald Trump speaks during a Congressional Medal of Honor Society Reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2017 file photo, Nestor Serrano walks on the upstairs floor of his home, where the walls were blown off, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. President Donald Trump's assertion on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, that the federal government's response to Hurricane Maria was "an incredible, unsung success" is falling flat in Puerto Rico, where islanders are still struggling to recover a year later. For many, Trump's boast is hard to square with their daily reality: Blackouts remain common, and nearly 60,000 homes have only a makeshift roof. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) WASHINGTON (AP) - Oddly, the closer Hurricane Florence gets to land, the murkier its future gets. Usually when a storm approaches the coast, forecasters can tell with ever-increasing accuracy who will get walloped. Not with Florence. That's because the weather systems that usually push and pull a storm are disappearing as Florence nears land around the border between North and South Carolina. The center is slowing down and is expected to stall and perhaps wander around just off shore on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. This image provided by NASA shows Hurricane Florence from the International Space Station on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, as it threatens the U.S. East Coast. Hurricane Florence is coming closer and getting stronger on a path to squat over North and South Carolina for days, surging over the coast, dumping feet of water deep inland and causing floods from the sea to the Appalachian Mountains and back again. (NASA via AP) "This is a horrific nightmare storm from a meteorological perspective," University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd said. "We've just never seen anything like this. ... This is just a strange bird." Florence is becoming more of a threat to more people - now including some in Georgia - in more ways. The more it stalls, the more it rains. The National Hurricane Center is calling for 20 to 30 inches (50 to 75 centimeters) of rain in North Carolina, with spots up to 40 inches (100 centimeters). The more it hovers just off shore, the more potentially deadly storm surge it could push on-shore. "For a meandering storm, the biggest concern - as we saw with Harvey - is the huge amount of rainfall," said Chris Landsea, chief of tropical analysis and forecast branch at the National Hurricane Center. The wide storm has weakened to a Category 2 hurricane and forecasters expect top winds to drop more as it nears the shore, but they're sharing a giant dose of uncertainty. "It certainly is a challenge forecasting precise impacts when its exact track won't be known until a day in advance," Landsea said: There's "a huge difference" in the size and type of damage Florence inflicts if it stays 50 miles (80 kilometers) off shore versus heading inland immediately. The storm has pretty much followed the forecast track through now, but the issue will be Thursday or Friday as it nears the coast and the steering currents collapse. "It's going to coming roaring up to the coast Thursday night and say 'I'm not sure I really want to do this and I'll just take a tour of the coast and decide where I want to go inland,'" said Jeff Masters, meteorology director of the private Weather Underground. Steering currents - around clear-weather high-pressure systems and stormy low-pressure systems - redirect hurricanes, with the clear-weather systems acting as walls that storms have to go around. Forecasts show those currents giving Florence no sense of direction in a day or so. Masters said there's a tug-of-war between two clear-skies high-pressure systems - one off the coast and one over Michigan. The more the Great Lakes one wins, the more southerly Florence will be. Computer simulations - especially the often star-performing European model - push the storm further south, even into South Carolina and Georgia. The hurricane center also adjusted its projected track, but kept it north of what most computer models were showing, to provide some continuity with past forecasts. Private meteorologist Ryan Maue of Weathermodels.com in an email called the overnight European computer simulation "another model run for the ages. So many weird/outlandish solutions - but that's what happens when the steering currents collapse." The European computer model has Florence veering before landfall and hovering for a couple days off the coast. If the European model is true or the overall trend persists, University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy said it "is exceptionally bad news, as it smears a landfall out over hundreds of miles of coastline, most notably the storm surge. The rainfall has been and continues to be a very substantial threat over the entire area." And if Florence weren't enough, other storms out there are threatening people. Tropical Storm Olivia has made landfall in the Hawaiian islands, the Philippines are bracing for the powerful typhoon Mangkhut, and Tropical Storm Isaac is nearing the Leeward Islands. Hurricane Helene and Subtropical Storm Joyce were off in the Atlantic, posing no threat. ___ Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter: @borenbears . His work can be found here . ___ The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ For the latest on Hurricane Florence, visit https://www.apnews.com/tag/Hurricanes . WASHINGTON (AP) - Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' move to delay Obama-era protections for students defrauded by for-profit colleges was dealt a setback when a federal judge found her actions to be "arbitrary and capricious." U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss ruled Wednesday in a lawsuit challenging the delay that had been filed by Democratic attorneys general from 19 states and the District of Columbia and former students, finding that DeVos' actions were unlawful. The case centered on the borrower defense rule, which allowed defrauded students to have their student loans forgiven. The rule was to have taken effect on July 1, 2017. DeVos had argued those rules created "a muddled process that's unfair to students and schools." FILE - In this June 5, 2018, file photo, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos testifies during hearing on the FY19 budget on Capitol Hill in Washington. A federal court has ruled that a decision by DeVos to delay an Obama-era rule meant to protect students swindled by for-profit colleges was "arbitrary and capricious," dealing a significant blow to the Trump administration's attempt to ease regulations for the industry. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) But Moss found inconsistencies in DeVos' rationale for freezing the rule. "When an agency decides to delay the effective date of a rule to save the federal government money or to alleviate confusion or a burden on regulated parties while the agency decides whether to amend or to rescind the rule, its action is 'designed to implement ... policy,'" Moss wrote in his decision . He said DeVos acted without conducting a rulemaking process on whether to postpone the rules. Moss scheduled a hearing Friday to consider next steps. Department spokeswoman Liz Hill said the agency was reviewing the ruling. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, who led the lawsuit, said the ruling was "a victory for every family defrauded by a predatory for-profit school." Toby Merrill, a litigator at Harvard University's Project on Predatory Student Lending, which represents defrauded students, hailed the decision as "a huge a rebuke to the department." "It's a really big deal, it's an incredibly important win for student borrowers and really for anyone who cares about having a government that operates under the rule of law as opposed to as a pawn of industry," Merrill said. After two decades to rapid growth, the for-profit college industry was shaken by the implosion of two major chains of schools that misled students with promises they couldn't keep and left them with large amount of debt they couldn't pay. The Obama administration went hard after the sector, issuing regulations meant to increase student protections and police the schools. In trying to delay the borrower defense rule, Devos said the regulations were too broad and allowed for potential abuse on the part of students. She vowed to create a new system that would be more efficient and fair. But critics dismissed the freezing of this and other regulations as an attempt by DeVos to promote industry interests. They point to the fact that DeVos has hired for-profit industry insiders to top position at her agency. Rick Hess, director of education policy at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, would not comment on the legal aspects of Wednesday's ruling, but called it "substantively an unfortunate decision." Hess said the Obama regulation "gives blanket forgiveness to students who may or may not have been mistreated or defrauded in any way, it puts taxpayers on the hook for potentially large payouts for people who were not misled and suffered no harm." "I think what DeVos is doing is trying to be a responsible steward who is trying to strike a healthier balance between protecting students and ensuring that taxpayers don't get ripped off." Merrill said she hopes the judge will rule that the delayed rules must now take effect. If that happens, she said, 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. DeVos also put in place a new system of compensating defrauded students for their losses. In a break with the Obama administration's practice of fully forgiving student loans, DeVos in December rolled out a new tiered relief system, in which students' loans are forgiven based on their earnings. That practice was frozen as part of a separate lawsuit. It was uncertain whether Wednesday's court ruling would have any effect on the tiered relief system. ___ This story has been corrected to correct 'Toby Merill' to 'Toby Merrill.' SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A San Francisco board has voted unanimously to remove a 19th century statue that activists say is racist and demeaning to indigenous people. The unanimous decision Wednesday night by the San Francisco Board of Appeals involves the "Early Days" statue, which depicts a Native American at the feet of a Spanish cowboy and a Catholic missionary. It is part of a group of statues near City Hall that depict the founding of California. San Francisco's Arts Commission spokeswoman Kate Patterson said the statue will be removed as soon as possible but wouldn't give an exact date, citing security concerns. FILE - This March 2, 2018 file photo shows a statue that depicts a Native American at the feet of a Spanish cowboy and Catholic missionary in San Francisco. A San Francisco board has decided to remove the 19th-century statue that activists say is racist and demeaning to indigenous people. The San Francisco Board of Appeals voted Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, on the "Early Days" statue. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) Native American activists have tried to have the statue removed for decades. They renewed efforts last year after clashes broke out over Confederate monuments. "This has been a tough 30-plus years. But this is wonderful," Dee Dee Ybarra, an Ohlone tribal leader who urged the commissioners to remove the statue, told the San Francisco Chronicle. After it is removed from public viewing, the statue will be restored and put in storage until officials decide what to do with it, Patterson said. Several entities, including a museum in California, have expressed interest in housing it, she added. In April, the board unanimously voted to overturn a decision by the city's Arts Commission to remove the sculpture. At the time, appeals board member Rick Swig called the statue "horrible" but said removing it from public view would squash free speech. The quasi-judicial, five-member body agreed in June to reconsider its decision. Earlier this year, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to end the Columbus Day holiday and celebrate indigenous people and Italian Americans on the second Monday of October. Board members said Native people suffered greatly after explorer Christopher Columbus arrived. READING, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania man who admitted he drunkenly fired a shotgun inside his apartment because he feared there were clowns inside could spend the next five years in prison. Reading police didn't find anyone inside of 35-year-old Nathan Matthias' second-floor apartment, and say the shooting put his first-floor neighbor in danger. The Reading Eagle reports he was sentenced Monday to 22 months to five years in state prison after pleading guilty in July to discharging a firearm and to an unrelated drunk driving charge. Police say they found Matthias clutching a shotgun outside his house, claiming he was trying to shoot two small clowns. Matthias' attorney says his client wasn't trying to harm anyone but was reacting to "some type of hallucinatory event." Matthias took full responsibility and apologized. ___ Information from: Reading Eagle, http://www.readingeagle.com/ GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) - An Atlanta man convicted of sabotaging a computer program housed on servers at an Army base in North Carolina has been sentenced to two years federal prison. Citing a U.S. Attorney's Office release, WRAL-TV reports 49-year-old Mittesh Das, a defense contractor, was also ordered to pay the government $1.5 million in restitution. He was convicted on a charge of knowingly transmitting malicious code with the intent to cause damage to a U.S. Army computer used in furtherance of national security. A Fort Bragg-based program handling pay and personnel actions for nearly 200,000 reservists began experiencing problems in 2014. Troubleshooting found suspicious code. Investigators determined Das installed malware after the Army chose a different contractor to oversee the program. The Army spent more than $2.5 million to remedy the damage. ___ Information from: WRAL-TV, http://www.wral.com 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 on Thursday released the first 15 such maps, ranging from the Canada lynx to the kakapo, a flightless parrot native to New Zealand. In this Feb. 22, 2018 photo provided by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, scientists Jen Vashon, left, and Tanya Lama pose with a Canada lynx that was used to source genetic material for the Canada lynx reference genome at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Worcester County, Mass. A consortium of scientists on Thursday, Sept. 13 unveiled the first results of an ambitious effort to map the genetics of tens of thousands of animal species, ranging from the Canada lynx to the kakapo, a flightless parrot native to New Zealand. (Bill Byrne/MassWildlife/Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife via AP) 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 it's 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." 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. "It's 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 what's 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 project's working group. The Vertebrate Genomes Project will contribute to that effort. MOSCOW (AP) - The United States could impose sanctions on a new Russia-Germany gas pipeline, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said Thursday during a visit to Moscow. Asked whether sanctions on the undersea Nord Stream 2 pipeline are possible and if further energy-related sanctions are planned, Perry said: "Yes to your first question and yes to your second." Eastern European countries and the U.S. oppose the pipeline on the grounds that it would increase Europe's energy dependence on Russia. The U.S. is also interested in selling more of its liquefied natural gas in Europe. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, right, welcomes U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry for the talks in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) Speaking at a meeting with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Perry said the U.S. does not want to impose the sanctions and indicated they were not imminent. "Minister Novak and I both agree that getting to that point where sanctions would be engaged is not where we want to go," Perry said. He declined to specify what level of progress on Nord Stream 2 could trigger sanctions, or what form they might take. "This project will continue to be implemented," said Novak, adding that Russia was concerned by Perry's comments. "We are concerned with the statements made and with the general position with regard to future sanctions against a very competitive project which is in the interests of European consumers," he said. Perry said Nord Stream 2, which will run alongside an existing pipeline, would "create a new choke point at a shallow depth vulnerable to disruption." He called on Russia "to stop using its resources for influence and disruption." Perry added the U.S. supports "the desire of Europeans to minimize their dependence on a single energy supplier" and supports increased competition on gas including producers like Azerbaijan. Novak replied that Russia shares the view that "energy cannot be a tool to exercise pressure and that consumers should be able to choose the suppliers." Analyst Chris Weafer of Macro-Advisory, a consultancy, said sanctioning the Russian energy sector over Nord Stream could be difficult because of its vast size and dominant market position in Europe. Instead, Weafer argues, the U.S. may try to cut a deal. Thursday's talks suggest some form of negotiation is taking place, Weafer said. "When (U.S. President Donald) Trump came to Europe in July, practically the first thing he said when he got off the plane was to condemn Nord Stream 2. It raised the idea that there was some sort of barter possibility on Nord Stream and maybe they are willing to ease up on Nord Stream pressure in exchange for something from the Russians." The 1,230-kilometer (764-mile) pipeline is led by Russia's state-owned gas company Gazprom along with other European investors. Work is under way to prepare the seabed, though the pipeline's route through or around Danish waters is uncertain because the project has yet to receive a permit. Even though Russia shows no sign of halting construction on the pipeline, both Perry and Novak said their talks had made unspecified progress on various issues. "No obstacles are insurmountable," Novak said. ___ Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump's claim that 3,000 people did not die because of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year (all times local): 8:10 p.m. The White House says President Donald Trump was responding to the "liberal media" and the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, when he tweeted that "3,000 people did not die" after Hurricane Maria hit the island last year. President Donald Trump speaks during a Congressional Medal of Honor Society Reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Spokesman Hogan Gidley said Thursday that the" liberal media" and Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz are trying to exploit the island's devastation by "pushing out a constant stream of misinformation and false accusations." Gidley says Trump directed the administration to provide unprecedented support to the island before, during and after two hurricanes hit Puerto Rico. Trump cited no evidence for his tweet rejecting the widely accepted death toll of nearly 3,000 in Puerto Rico because of Maria. Gidley cited other studies that blamed Maria for fewer than 3,000 deaths on the island. ___ 2:35 p.m. Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia says that if Democrats win back the House they will investigate the "failures of FEMA and the response of the administration" after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Connolly says Democrats would have subpoena power to compel testimony if necessary. Connolly is a senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He was reacting to President Donald Trump's tweets that dispute the projected death toll from Hurricane Maria last year. Researchers at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University determined about 3,000 people died. Trump claims, without evidence, that the total is wrong. Connolly says that in light of Hurricane Florence reaching the Carolinas, the president should be focused on marshalling all resources to respond to a potential catastrophic storm. ___ 2:05 p.m. Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida says President Donald Trump "dishonors the living and the dead" with his baseless claim that 3,000 people did not die in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Maria and its aftermath. She says Trump's presidency is "the theater of the absurd every day." Ros-Lehtinen, who is retiring from Congress after 13 terms says people in the White House need to tell him that "the emperor has no clothes occasionally." Another Florida Republican, Rep. Carlos Curbelo, also criticized Trump for saying the federal response to Hurricane Maria was one of the best in history. Curbelo said he sees no basis for that claim. Trump on Thursday rejected the official death toll in Puerto Rico from the September 2017 storm, tweeting "3000 people did not die." An independent study accepted by Puerto Rico officials concluded that 2,975 people died from the storm and its aftermath. __ 1:35 p.m. 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. The statement Thursday is in response to President Donald Trump's tweet rejecting the study's conclusion. Trump argued without evidence that the number was wrong and falsely called it a plot by Democrats to make him "look as bad as possible." The statement from the Milken Institute School of Public Health said the study was commissioned by the government of Puerto Rico and was carried out "with complete independence and freedom from any kind of interference." They say their assessment is the most "accurate and unbiased" assessment of mortality following the storm. Trump's comments came as Hurricane Florence, a potentially catastrophic storm, headed for the Carolina coast. __ 11:40 a.m. Democratic Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez says President Donald Trump is "dead wrong" when he claims 3,000 people didn't die from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year and when he claims the federal government's response was a success. Trump on Thursday tweeted "3,000 people did not die" in Puerto Rico and called the death count a move by Democrats to make him look bad. Gutierrez says, "Even though the president dropped the ball he is now doing a victory dance in the end zone. Or should we call it the dead zone?" The mayor of Puerto Rico's capital calls Trump "delusional, paranoid, and unhinged from any sense of reality." Trump's tweets came as the Carolinas braced for Hurricane Florence, which could drench the homes of up to 10 million people. ___ 11:20 a.m. House Speaker Paul Ryan is rejecting President Donald Trump's assertion an official government death toll for last year's hurricane in Puerto Rico is wrong. The Wisconsin Republican says he has "no reason to dispute" a study that found nearly 3,000 people on the island died from Hurricane Maria last year. Trump on Thursday tweeted "3,000 people did not die" in Puerto Rico and called the death count a move by Democrats to make him look bad. Ryan denies the figure reflects poorly on Trump, saying, "casualties don't make a person look bad." Trump's tweets came as the Carolinas braced for Hurricane Florence, which could drench the homes of up to 10 million people. The mayor of Puerto Rico's capital says Trump is "delusional, paranoid, and unhinged from any sense of reality." ___ 11 a.m. Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello says in a Facebook video post in Spanish that there should no more questions about the number of deaths from Hurricane Maria and the process used to arrive at that number. He says, "the victims of Puerto Rico, and the people of Puerto Rico in general, do not deserve to be questioned about their pain." Rossello says, "It's not a time to fight, to have political noise, to use these things for the benefit of one party or another. It is time to remember all those who lost their lives. It is time to acknowledge their pain and the sacrifice that everyone has made in the name of recovery." Rossello says he accepted as the official death toll an independent analysis that nearly 3,000 died in Puerto Rico from the September 2017 storm. He says the process was "carried out properly." Trump on Thursday rejected that figure, arguing without evidence that the number was wrong and calling it a plot by Democrats to make him "look as bad as possible." ___ 10:30 a.m. The mayor of Puerto Rico's capital says President Donald Trump is "delusional" for rejecting the official conclusion 2,975 people died on the island because of Hurricane Maria. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz fired off several tweets targeting Trump after Trump said "3,000 people did not die" and called the death count a move by Democrats to make him look bad. Cruz tweeted Thursday, "Simply put: delusional, paranoid, and unhinged from any sense of reality. Trump is so vain he thinks this is about him. NO IT IS NOT." She also tweeted, "Damn it: this is NOT about politics this was always about SAVING LIVES." The feud between Cruz and Trump goes back to when the Category 4 storm hit last Sept. 20. Cruz maintains the federal government's response was slow and inadequate. Trump says it was a success. ___ 9:05 a.m. President Donald Trump is rejecting the widely accepted death toll in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria, claiming without citing evidence that "3,000 people did not die." Trump called the count a move by Democrats to make him look bad. Trump tweeted Thursday as Hurricane Florence bears down on the Carolinas. He said: "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..." Puerto Rico's governor raised the U.S. territory's official death toll from Hurricane Maria from 64 to 2,975 after an independent study found the number of people who succumbed in the aftermath had been severely undercounted. House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., speaks during a news conference, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Washington. Behind him are House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., right. Ryan is rejecting President Donald Trump's assertion an official government death toll for last year's hurricane in Puerto Rico is wrong. The Wisconsin Republican says he has "no reason to dispute" a study that found nearly 3,000 people on the island died from Hurricane Maria last year. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) 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. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, left, accompanied by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the ranking member, center, speaks with Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., right, during a Senate Judiciary Committee markup meeting on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Washington. The committee will vote next week on whether to recommend President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh for confirmation. Republicans hope to confirm him to the court by Oct. 1.(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) 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. ___ 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. OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- An Ocean Springs woman is in custody, charged with murder in the shooting death of a man at an Ocean Springs bar early Saturday morning. Ocean Springs Police Capt. Chuck Jackson said Malinda Marie Tennort, 36, voluntarily turned herself in at the Ocean Springs Police Department around 1:30 p.m. Saturday after learning she was a person of interest in the case. Despite claiming she knew nothing about the shooting, which claimed the life of Ocean Springs resident Troy Taylor, investigators had gathered enough evidence to support charging Tennort with murder, Jackson said. No bond has been set and Tennort is in the Jackson County Adult Detention Center. A second suspect, identified earlier only as "D.J." has now been identified as Deshaude L. Jones, 47, who remains at large. Jones is described as a 5-7 black male, weighing 200 pounds. He is considered armed and dangerous. Jackson said Jones is no longer a person of interest in the case, but now a suspect wanted for murder. Officers responded to a call of shots fired at Kahuna's Bar & Grill on U.S. 90 at 12:39 a.m. Saturday. Upon arrival, the found the victim -- later identified as the 25-year-old Taylor -- with multiple gunshot wounds. Acadian Ambulance personnel attempted to resuscitate Taylor, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Initially, a third person, Anthoney "Fresh" Mitchell of Ocean Springs, was wanted for questioning. Mitchell, however, turned himself in to police, was interviewed and released. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Deshaude Jones or additional information on this case is asked to call the Ocean Springs Police Department at 228-875-2211 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898. MOSCOW (AP) - The Russian space agency's 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, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov on Wednesday sternly warned against speculations that the crew could be responsible for making the hole. "It's 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 doesn't help Roscosmos experts' work and undermines the friendly atmosphere in the crew." JOHANNESBURG (AP) - A South African lion who was nearly killed by wildlife officials after escaping twice from a national park has become a father. A tourist lodge manager in the Addo Elephant National Park area says the lion dubbed Sylvester had two cubs and that the mother, named Angel, gave birth in mid-June. Gerhard de Lange of Kuzuko Lodge said in a statement Thursday that the cubs are "fit and healthy." Sylvester was moved in 2016 to Addo after breakouts from Karoo National Park. In the first escape, the lion was on the run for over three weeks, killing livestock and raising concerns about threats to people. During the second, three-day escape, wildlife officials dropped plans to kill Sylvester after an outcry from people who said he should be captured and relocated. DETROIT (AP) - The Michigan Supreme Court has cleared the way for a trial or settlement in a lawsuit against a Detroit police officer who accidentally killed a 7-year-old girl during a raid in 2010. Two courts have said a jury can decide whether Joseph Weekley's actions amounted to gross negligence. The Supreme Court this week declined to hear an appeal. Aiyana Stanley-Jones was shot in the head while she slept on a couch. Weekley, a member of an elite police unit, was the first officer through the door of her home during a chaotic search for a murder suspect. He insists he accidentally fired his gun during a struggle with Aiyana's grandmother. Weekley was charged with involuntary manslaughter. The charge was dismissed by a judge during a second trial in 2014. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - An Oklahoma man who was serving a life term for the hate-crime killing of his Lebanese neighbor has died in prison just months after being sentenced, the state Department of Corrections said Thursday. Stanley Vernon Majors, 63, was found dead shortly after midnight Wednesday in his bed at Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, department spokesman Matt Elliott said. Majors was in the prison infirmary. No information about his condition was made available. Jurors convicted Majors in February of first-degree murder and hate crime charges in the August 2016 shooting death of 37-year-old Khalid Jabara. FILE - This Aug. 12, 2016, file photo provided by the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office shows Stanley Majors, of Tulsa, Okla. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections says Majors, serving a life sentence for the hate-crime killing of his Lebanese neighbor has died. Department spokesman Matt Elliott said Thursday, Sept. 13 that Majors was found dead Wednesday, Sept. 12 in his bed at Oklahoma State Penitentiary. (Tulsa County Sheriff's Office via AP, File) The slaying quickly drew national attention, including a Facebook post from then-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who wrote that the country must unite "to ensure that no other family loses a beloved son or daughter because of prejudice and bigotry." Prosecutors alleged Majors spent years feuding with Jabara and his family, often bombarding them with racial and anti-Muslim insults, although the Jabaras are Christian. Jabara was shot to death on his front porch. Defense attorneys argued that Majors showed signs of dementia and had problems with his long-term memory, but a mental competency examination showed Majors was able to stand trial. The conflict between the neighbors escalated to a point in 2013 where the victim's mother, Haifa Jabara, obtained a protective order. It required Majors to stay 300 yards (275 meters) away and prohibited him from possessing guns until 2018. But Majors was accused of intentionally hitting Haifa Jabara with his car in 2015. She suffered a broken shoulder, among other injuries. Majors pleaded guilty and was sentenced to an additional 15 years in prison in March, when he was already serving time for killing her son. The Jabara family said in a statement Thursday that they were informed Majors had died and that they were processing their emotions. "We continue to work to honor Khalid's memory, advocating for bail reform, victims' rights, and combatting hate," the statement said. "This news does nothing to change that focus." The corrections department said another prisoner was found dead Wednesday at the penitentiary, but that the two in-custody deaths were not related. Bobby Bailey, 56, was found dead after his cellmate notified prison staff. A news release from the corrections department said Bailey had been assaulted. Bailey was serving a life sentence on a conviction of shooting with intent to kill. The Department of Corrections continues to investigate both deaths. The state medical examiner will determine the official cause and manner for both deaths. BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Rand Paul's neighbor has appealed a court order to stay away from Paul and his family while a lawsuit is pending. The Daily News in Bowling Green reports that Rene Boucher's attorney filed paperwork Monday with the Kentucky Court of Appeals. Special Judge Tyler Gill issued a temporary injunction last month against Boucher (boo-SHAY'), who served 30 days on a federal charge of assaulting a congressman after Paul was tackled outside his house last fall. Paul sued Boucher in state court for damages related to the assault. Boucher has filed a counterclaim alleging yard waste by Paul constituted a private nuisance. Boucher's attorney argued against the injunction, saying his client has complied with a separate order issued in the federal criminal case that forbids contact with Rand Paul. ___ Information from: Daily News, http://www.bgdailynews.com NEW YORK (AP) - Target plans to hire more than 120,000 people for the busy holiday shopping season, a 20 percent increase from last year. The retailer says the temporary hires will stock store shelves and check people out at the register. In addition, it plans to hire 7,500 people to pack online orders at its warehouses. Target says it will pay workers $12 an hour, a dollar more an hour than last year. With a strong job market, retailers will likely face a harder time attracting workers for the holidays since workers can be pickier about where they work. Target says it will hold hiring events at stores next month. Minneapolis-based Target Corp. has more than 1,800 stores around the country. United Parcel Service Inc. said it plans to hire 100,000 people for the holidays, when the rising volume of online shopping hits its peak. That's up about 5,000 from last year, when the Atlanta company scrambled after underestimating holiday shipments and wound up spending an extra $125 million to fix delays. Rival FedEx Corp. plans to hire 55,000 temporary workers, a slight increase over last year, for what it expects to be a record-breaking Christmas season. The Memphis, Tennessee-based company is expanding U.S. ground-delivery operations to six days a week year-round because of the boom in online shopping. FedEx already runs six or seven days a week during the holiday season. ___ Business writer David Koenig in Dallas contributed to this report. HONOLULU (AP) - The Latest on the tropical depression and its impact on Hawaii (all times local): 1:45 p.m. Honolulu officials say a dam where waters rose rapidly during a tropical storm is not in danger of failing. Water rushes 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 water in the reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) Board of Water Supply Chief Engineer Ernie Lau said Thursday the dam is "nowhere close" to breaching. But he says water in the reservoir rose 4 to 5 feet (nearly 1.5 meters) overnight during heavy rains from Tropical Storm Olivia. City officials are asking people near Nuuanu (Noo-OO-ah-noo) Dam No. 1 to be alert for the possibility they may have to evacuate. A spillway could be used to release water from the dam, but that would cause some flooding downstream. The water level is now is 18 inches (46 centimeters) below the spillway. Agency workers and firefighters are siphoning water from and pumping water out of the dam. ___ 11:45 a.m. Honolulu officials are asking residents near a dam to stay alert for the possibility of evacuating as water levels in the reservoir rise amid heavy rains. City spokesman Andrew Pereira said Thursday it appears the rain is subsiding, but the city is taking a cautious approach and asking residents to remain alert. The city's Board of Water Supply says 10,000 people may need to be evacuated near Nuuanu (Noo-OO-ah-noo) Dam No. 1. The agency says it's siphoning and pumping water to keep it below the spillway. Tropical Storm Olivia dumped heavy rains Wednesday on Maui and Oahu as it crossed the state. Meteorologists say it's now a tropical depression moving away from the islands, but moisture will linger. ___ 10:30 a.m. Honolulu officials say they may need to evacuate 10,000 people from a residential neighborhood if water in a reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. Olivia crossed the state Wednesday, dumping heavy rains on Maui and Oahu. Meteorologists say it's now a tropical depression moving west away from the islands. The city's Board of Water Supply said Thursday the water level in Nuuanu (Noo-OO-ah-noo) Dam No. 1 is about 18 inches (46 centimeters) below the spillway. The agency says it's been siphoning excess water to keep the water below the spillway but Olivia's rains outstripped its siphoning capacity. The water utility and fire department are pumping water out of the dam to bring levels down further. The agency says it will coordinate any evacuation notice with the city. ___ 10:15 a.m. Rain leftover from Tropical Storm Olivia caused a sewer pipe to overflow in Honolulu, sending more than 30,000 gallons (113,000 liters) of raw sewage into a stream and harbor. Olivia crossed the state Wednesday, dumping heavy rains on Maui and Oahu. Meteorologists say it's now a tropical depression moving west away from the islands. The city's Department of Environmental Services said Thursday workers noticed the overflow at 10:40 p.m. the previous night. They stopped the discharged just before dawn. The rains overwhelmed a 36-inch (91-centimeter) pipe on North School Street. This pushed more than 32,000 gallons (121,000 liters) of sewage out of a manhole. Workers were able to recover nearly 800 gallons (3,000 liters) but the rest went into a storm drain that feeds into Kapalama Stream and Honolulu Harbor. The city has disinfected the area. __ 5:30 a.m. Officials say Tropical Storm Olivia has been downgraded to a tropical depression as it moves away from Hawaii. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said in a statement Thursday that the depression would produce 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. The center says that rain could cause life-threatening flash floods because the ground is already saturated with water. The tropical depression was moving west-southwest at about 18 mph (30 kph). ___ 12:20 a.m. Heavy rain and winds from a tropical storm have downed trees, knocked out power and prompted evacuations of several homes on Hawaii's Maui island but spared the state widespread damage before continuing out to sea. Tropical Storm Olivia crossed the state Wednesday, making landfall on Maui and Lanai islands along the way. Weather forecasters warned heavy rains would continue through Thursday but Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa said he was hopeful the effects of the storm would be limited. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said Olivia was more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) southwest of Honolulu late Wednesday. It was moving west with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph), just barely strong enough to qualify as a tropical storm. The hurricane center said Olivia will likely weaken further and become a tropical depression by Thursday. Water rushes 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 water in the reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) Water rushes 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 water in the reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) 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 water in the reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) MADRID (AP) - A judge in Andorra has charged 28 people, including former officials in Venezuela, with money laundering offenses over a kickbacks-for-contracts scheme that plundered $2 billion from the Venezuelan state oil company between 2007 and 2012. Investigating magistrate Canolic Mingorance issued the indictments on Thursday, wrapping up a five-year investigation into opaque deposits in the Banca Privada d'Andorra, or BPA, according to court documents seen by The Associated Press. Among those accused are nine people from Andorra, five from Spain and 14 Venezuelans, including former deputy ministers Nervis Villalobos and Javier Alvarado, as well as Luis Carlos de Leon-Perez, a former official at a state-run electric company in Caracas. The judge places Diego Salazar, the high-powered cousin of Venezuela's longtime oil czar Rafael Ramirez, at the top of the alleged scheme. Ramirez, a close aide of late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, was energy minister and ran Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA, from 2004 to 2013, before becoming Venezuela's envoy to the United Nations until last year, when he fell out with the country's current leadership, resigned and went into hiding. The Andorran judge says the group received illegal payments from companies, many of them from China, that were rewarded with contracts related to the oil industry. The Andorra-based bank's management then hid the profits in shell companies in various countries, but the money was eventually made available in BPA accounts. The group "joined forces to control the public bids of PDVSA and the construction of energy-related infrastructure" contracted by the company and its affiliates, the judge wrote in the indictment. She added that its members were so close to "the circles of power of the state" that some of them were informed when early notices of the investigation were shared with Venezuela by Interpol. In 2015, Andorra intervened in the private bank after the United States Treasury Department accused it of laundering money from groups in China, Russia and Venezuela. Since then, the tiny mountainous country of 75,000 has taken steps to shake off its reputation as a tax haven, scrapping bank secrecy laws and passing legislation to meet international standards. The Diari d'Andorra, a local newspaper, said that none of the Venezuelans indicted in the case showed up on Thursday in the capital, Andorra La Vella, to receive the court's notice. De Leon has pleaded guilty to money laundering and other charges in the U.S., where judicial authorities are also investigating the bribery scheme within and around PDVSA. A court in Houston is scheduled to deliver a sentence later this month. Spain agreed to extradite Villalobos as part of the same case, but Ramirez's former deputy at PDVSA can't be sent to the U.S. until he is tried by Spanish courts in two separate cases. Alvarado's whereabouts is not known, while Salazar has been in pre-trial detention in Venezuela since the country's top prosecutor there ordered his arrest late last year. BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo (AP) - A Republic of Congo court has freed opposition leader Paulin Makaya, who had been under house arrest in Brazzaville since 2015. The criminal court of appeals on Thursday ordered him to be released. Makaya was sentenced to two years for inciting public disorder and insurrection. He was accused of complicity in a prison escape attempt that killed four people, including a policeman. Makaya was initially detained after organizing a peaceful march against a constitutional reform that allowed President Denis Sassou Nguesso - in power for more than 30 years - to run for another term. Amnesty International welcomed the ruling, calling for the release of other dissidents. Makaya, who is also an English citizen, returned to Congo in 2014 after an exile of more than 10 years in London. SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) - 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. FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2018 file photo, Dia Khafra, father of Askia Khafra, holds a photo of his son in his Silver Springs, Md., home. The parents of 21-year-old Askia Khafra sued 27-year-old Daniel Beckwitt and his father on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, the anniversary of the fire that killed Khafra in the basement of the Beckwitts' house in Bethesda, Maryland. (AP Photo/Michael Kunzelman) 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 (6 meters) into tunnels that branched out roughly 200 feet (60 meters) 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. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The U.S. Air Force says two of its fighter jets have intercepted and monitored Russian bombers in international air space west of mainland Alaska. The North American Aerospace Defense Command says in a statement that two F-22 Raptor fighter jets identified and intercepted two Russian TU-95 Bear bombers at 6 p.m. Alaska time on Tuesday. The bombers were accompanied by two Russian Su-35 Flanker fighter jets. The Russian aircraft did not enter U.S. or Canadian air space. NORAD commander Gen. Terrance O'Shaughnessy says radar, satellites and fighter jets are used to identify aircraft and determine appropriate responses. CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - 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. The parents of former St. Paul's School student Owen Labrie, 22, were also in the courtroom as his lawyer, Jaye Rancourt, appeared to focus the bid for a new trial on what she contends was a lack of evidence to support a charge that Labrie used a computer to lure the victim for sex, a felony requiring him to register as a sex offender. His appeal came just hours before the state's attorney general's office announced an agreement with St. Paul's related to sexual misconduct allegations going back decades at the school. In lieu of charges, the school entered into an agreement with the state included oversight for up to five years including beefed up training and more robust reporting requirements. Owen Labrie, second from left, sits with his father before arguments are made before the New Hampshire Supreme Court on Labrie's request for a new trial Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Concord, N.H. Labrie was convicted of sexually assaulting a classmate in 2015. (Geoff Forester /The Concord Monitor via AP, Pool) In court Thursday, Rancourt argued that prosecutors failed to show that Labrie's emails and Facebook messages to Chessy Prout showed he intended to have sex with her. She also argued the statute was never intended to be used in a case like this one. "They were trying to reach sexual predators and pedophiles who were combing the internet searching out juveniles and deceiving them into meeting them," Rancourt said, referring to legislators who drafted the statute. "It was certainly never intended to reach seniors in high school and freshmen in high school communicating over the internet. That is how juveniles communicate. That is how kids in school communicate." The state is arguing Labrie's intentions were clear since he was reaching out to Prout as part of a school tradition known as "Senior Salute," a competition among upperclassmen seeking to have sex with younger students. Chief Justice Robert Lynn appeared to be sympathetic to the argument. "The problem I have is that the state says that all of these communications were in furtherance of this Senior Salute," Lynn said. "In fact, the evidence shows, does it not, that a jury could have found that the victim here understood there was going to be a sexual component to this." Labrie is also arguing in his bid for a new trial that prosecutors misstated in their closing arguments that semen on Proust's underwear was Labrie's. They also are arguing that a new trial should be granted because the trial court did not allow cross-examination of Labrie's roommate over what they contend was his bias in the case and motive to be untruthful. Labrie, of Tunbridge, Vermont, was acquitted of raping Prout when she was 15 at St. Paul's, one of the nation's top prep schools. But he was convicted of misdemeanor sexual assault and child endangerment, along with the computer charge. Although sentenced to a year in jail, he has remained free under curfew while he appeals his convictions. The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, as Prout has done. In a separate case, Labrie is also is appealing his convictions over ineffective counsel. Last year, a judge denied Labrie a new trial, calling some of his claims of ineffective counsel absurd and almost frivolous. Labrie argued that his defense team erred in several ways, including not challenging the felony computer charge during the trial and not attempting to further damage the credibility of the girl and several of his friends who testified. Outside court, Labrie and his family left without talking to reporters. Prout was not there, but her parents argued that Labrie should face up to what he had done to their daughter. "We care about justice being done here," Alex Prout told reporters. "There were a lot of words in the court today, and I'm not quite sure I understand the arguments." Rancourt countered that Labrie has suffered, as well, and that he has maintained his innocence. "His life has really stalled. He can't move on with his life," she said. "Right now, he has to register as a sex offender. That's not much of a life to move on to. He will keep fighting, and I don't blame him." Since the Labrie case, the school has struggled to come to terms with a pattern of sexual misconduct. It released several reports in the past year that substantiated claims against 20 former staffers of sexual misconduct against students including a former Massachusetts congressman. Those reports prompted the attorney general's office to launch its own investigation. And while it said it had evidence to charge the school, Attorney General Gordon MacDonald said he felt an agreement would have more impact. "The school's primary focus was protecting its reputation, protecting itself rather than protecting the children entrusted to its care," MacDonald said. Archibald Cox Jr., the president of the school's board of trustees, welcomed the agreement and acknowledged that in the past, the school didn't do enough. "If you go back in the past, I think you could find instances where the school did put its reputation ahead of the safety of students," Cox said. "I don't think that's true today." ___ This story has been updated to correct one instance of the chief justice's last name to Lynn, instead of Lynne. Owen Labrie, second from left, waits with his father for the opening of arguments for his bid for a new trial at the New Hampshire Supreme Court in Concord, N.H. on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Labrie was convicted of sexually assaulting a classmate in 2015. (Geoff Forester /The Concord Monitor via AP, Pool) Owen Labrie, center, leaves the New Hampshire Supreme Court in Concord, N.H., on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, after the state's highest court heard arguments for a new trial on his 2015 felony conviction. A (Geoff Forester /The Concord Monitor via AP, Pool) Owen Labrie arrives at the New Hampshire Supreme Court with his attorney Jaye Rancourt Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Concord, N.H. Labrie, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a classmate in 2015, challenged a New Hampshire Supreme Court judge's denial of his request for a new trial. (Geoff Forester /The Concord Monitor via AP, Pool) Supreme Court justices hear arguments from the state of New Hampshire for the case of Owen Labrie, far left, in his bid for a new trial on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Concord, N.H. Labrie was convicted in 2015 of sexually assaulting his female classmate as part of a game of sexual conquest (Geoff Forester /The Concord Monitor via AP, Pool) New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Lynn asks questions during arguments on the re-trial of Owen Labrie on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Concord, N.H. Labrie was convicted in 2015 of sexually assaulting his female classmate as part of a game of sexual conquest (Geoff Forester /The Concord Monitor via AP, Pool) Alex and Susan Prout address the media after oral arguments at the New Hampshire Supreme Court on Owen Labrie's 2015 felony conviction and whether he deserves a new trial Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Concord, N.H. Labrie was convicted in 2015 of sexually assaulting the Prout's daughter as part of a game of sexual conquest (Geoff Forester /The Concord Monitor via AP, Pool) VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a U.S. bishop Thursday and authorized an investigation into allegations he sexually harassed adults, adding awkward drama to an audience with U.S. church leaders over the abuse and cover-up scandal roiling the Catholic Church. The resignation of West Virginia Bishop Michael Bransfield was announced just as the four-member U.S. delegation was sitting down with Francis in his private study in the Apostolic Palace. Among the four was Bransfield's cousin, Monsignor Brian Bransfield, secretary-general of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The bishop had been investigated for an alleged groping incident in 2007 and was implicated in court testimony in 2012 in an infamous Philadelphia priestly sex abuse case. He strongly denied ever abusing anyone and the diocese said it had disproved the claims. He continued with his ministry until he offered to retire, as required, when he turned 75 last week. A 2015 photo shows West Virginia Bishop Michael J. Bransfield, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling Charleston. Pope Francis accepted the resignation of West Virginia Bishop Michael J. Bransfield, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, and authorized an investigation into allegations he sexually harassed adults. (Scott McCloskey/The Intelligencer via AP) The Vatican said Francis accepted his resignation Thursday and appointed Baltimore Archbishop William Lori to take over Bransfield's Wheeling-Charleston diocese temporarily. Lori said in a statement that Francis had also instructed him to "conduct an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment of adults against Bishop Bransfield." No details of the allegations were revealed and his diocese said it had "no idea" where Bransfield was after the Vatican ordered him to live outside the diocese. Lori set up a hotline for potential victims to call, said the Vatican had instructed him to make the investigation public, and vowed to conduct a thorough study into what he said were "troubling" claims against Bransfield, who was a major fundraiser for the Vatican via the Pennsylvania-based Papal Foundation. The revelation was the latest twist in an incredible turn of events in the U.S. church that began with the June 20 announcement that one of the most prestigious U.S. cardinals, Theodore McCarrick, had been accused of groping a teenage altar boy in the 1970s. Francis removed McCarrick as a cardinal in July after a U.S. church investigation found the allegation credible. After news broke of the investigation, several former seminarians and priests came forward to report that they, too, had been abused or harassed by McCarrick as adults. The McCarrick affair - coupled with revelations in the Pennsylvania grand jury report detailing decades of abuse and cover-up in six dioceses - has fueled outrage among the rank-and-file faithful who had trusted church leaders to reform themselves after the abuse scandal first erupted in Boston in 2002. Outrage has also been directed at Francis and the Vatican and has fueled conservative criticism of Francis' pontificate. The head of the U.S. bishops conference, Houston Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, had requested the papal audience last month following revelations that McCarrick had risen through church ranks even though the allegations of sexual misconduct were known in U.S. and Vatican circles. DiNardo requested a full-fledged Vatican investigation into the McCarrick affair, and said he also wanted answers to allegations that a string of Vatican officials knew of McCarrick's misdeeds since 2000, but turned a blind eye. A statement issued by DiNardo after the papal audience made no mention of his request for a Vatican investigation. It said that the Americans briefed the pope on the "laceration" that abuse has caused and that "we look forward to actively continuing our discernment together identifying the most effective next steps." The statement also made no mention of the Bransfield investigation. McCarrick was a co-consecrator when Bishop Bransfield was ordained a bishop in 2005 and the two were active in the Papal Foundation, the big U.S. fundraising organization that McCarrick co-founded and which has funneled millions of dollars to the Vatican over the years. Bransfield was president when the foundation was thrown into disarray last year over a revolt by its lay donors. They were incensed that the cardinals who run the foundation had agreed to a $25 million request from the Vatican to bail out a troubled Rome hospital. Under pressure, the cardinals pulled the plug on the funding mid-way through. Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston spokesman Tim Bishop said Thursday he couldn't answer questions about Bransfield's whereabouts or whether he has an attorney. "The Holy See has instructed him to live outside the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston," Bishop said. "I have no idea of his whereabouts." West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said he planned "a close review" of the latest allegations against Bransfield, which he called "disturbing." Joe Akers, a Catholic in West Viriginia, said the allegations are "a little unsettling." "I really don't know what to think," said Akers, an electrician from Elkview. "It says you're innocent until proven guilty, and the other allegations again him were proven false. I'd say wait until you see what they find. "That's the way it is. God's in control, so he will sort it out." The Vatican hasn't responded to allegations by its former ambassador to the U.S., Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, that Francis effectively rehabilitated McCarrick from sanctions imposed by Pope Benedict XVI over allegations McCarrick would routinely invite seminarians to his beach house and into his bed. Francis has, however, responded to the overall scandal with a series of initiatives aimed at trying to convince the faithful that he "gets it" and is prepared to take measures to put an end to what he has called the "culture of cover-up" in the church. On the eve of the U.S. audience, Francis announced he was summoning the presidents of bishops conferences around the world to a February summit to discuss prevention measures and protection of minors and vulnerable adults. The surprise announcement was largely dismissed as a belated damage control effort by victims' advocates. Church historians questioned why such an urgent problem was being scheduled for discussion six months from now with the very bishops who are blamed for much of the scandal. "Where are the laity and others who might provide both new and uncomplicit voices and insights into the process?" asked Margaret Susan Thompson, associate professor of history at Syracuse University. Even DiNardo's own record on protecting children has now come into question. On the eve of his audience with Francis, The Associated Press reported that two victims in Houston had accused him of not doing enough to stop a priest who was arrested this week on sexual abuse charges. The archdiocese issued a statement Wednesday confirming that both alleged victims had come forward to report abuse by the priest, the Rev. Manuel LaRosa-Lopez, one of them in 2001. The delegation of U.S. bishops announced no plans to speak to the media after their audience. ___ Associated Press writers Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia and John Raby in Charleston, West Virginia, contributed to this report. ___ This story has been corrected to say that Lori is archbishop of Baltimore, not bishop. Pope Francis leaves s at the end of his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Pope Francis delivers his speech during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican , Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Pope Francis arrives in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican for his weekly general audience, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) DETROIT (AP) - Federal prosecutors have added three Illinois girls as victims in a criminal case against Detroit-area doctors accused of female genital mutilation. The disclosure was made Wednesday in an updated indictment against Dr. Jumana Nagarwala and others. The government is accusing Nagarwala of performing genital mutilation on nine girls at a Livonia clinic. She denies any crime and says she performed a religious custom on girls from her Muslim sect, the Dawoodi Bohra. The government says the victims were three girls from Illinois, four from Michigan and two from Minnesota . Eight people have been charged in the case. The initial charges were filed in April 2017. A trial is scheduled for January. EAST HAVEN, Conn. (AP) - A Connecticut town has negotiated a $175,000 settlement with a former town employee who said the mayor had sexually harassed her. Francine Carbone said in her complaint that East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. harassed her by exposing his genitals to her and making comments about her breasts. The New Haven Register reports she filed the lawsuit alleging she was fired because she made a complaint to the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. East Haven Town Attorney Joseph Zullo said the compromise brings a "swift and favorable conclusion" to Carbone's complaint against the town. Carbone's attorney says the settlement was practical. Maturo has consistently denied all allegations of sexual harassment. The settlement will contain no admission of liability for the town or mayor. ___ Information from: New Haven Register, http://www.nhregister.com TORONTO (AP) - Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan is cheering India's decision to strike down a ban on consensual gay sex, calling it "a wonderful step in the right direction." India's Supreme Court last week reversed a colonial-era law that made gay sex punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a landmark victory for gay rights that one judge said would "pave the way for a better future." Bachchan, at the Toronto Film Festival, agreed: "It shows the kind of progression that is happening in India, especially from the mindset of the youth," he said Tuesday. This Sept. 11, 2018 photo shows Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan during the Toronto Film Festival in Toronto, Canada. Bachchan is cheering India's decision to strike down a ban on consensual gay sex, calling it "a wonderful step in the right direction." India's Supreme Court last week reversed a colonial-era law that made gay sex punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a landmark victory for gay rights that one judge said would "pave the way for a better future." (AP Photo/John Carucci) While Bachchan said some Indian films have dealt with the issue of homosexuality, Indian cinema is generally not political. "Indian cinema, by and large, is very escapist by nature. You go in to a film, you want a laugh and a cry. You want to fall in love. You want to hate. You want to see some action," he said. "I think the function of Indian cinema is to come in forget your worries for three hours." Bachchan's latest film, "Manmarziyaan," or "Husband Material," is a quirky love triangle also starring Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal. It's directed by Anurag Kashyap. "I think it's a wonderful bridge between quintessential Indian cinema with its usual tropes, and a cinema that is also coming out of India, which is more accessible and understandable," he said. "I liked the fact that it's a marriage of two worlds - Anurag's more contemporary world with a very Indian backbone to the story." Bachchan is happy that Indian cinema continues to grow outside the country and has made Indian characters more accessible. But sometimes the characters become negative stereotypes. One example, is Apu, the convenience store owner on Fox television series, "The Simpsons." The character has come under fire as racist and stereotypical. Bachchan, who attended college in America and who has long watched "The Simpsons," thinks the backlash may be going too far. "I don't make too much of a deal of it. I think somewhere we're getting a bit too highly sensitive about everything," he said. "Let's not do something outwardly to offend a particular community. But look - it's 'The Simpsons,' OK? It's not life changing. You have to learn to laugh at yourself a bit." Bachchan, the son of Indian actors who is married to actress Aishwarya Rai, has been called the Brad Pitt of India, something he finds "embarrassing." "He's a wonderful actor, somebody, you know, we've all grown up admiring," Bachchan said before laughing. "Sorry, Mr. Pitt." "Manmarziyaan" opens Sept. 14 in theaters in the U.S., India, and Australia. ___ Follow John Carucci at http://www.twitter.com/jacarucci SANTA FE, Texas (AP) - The attorney for the parents of a teen accused in a Texas school shooting that left 10 people dead and 13 wounded is disputing allegations that they were negligent, saying they did what they could for their son. Attorney Ron Rodgers filed responses Monday to lawsuits against Rose Marie Kosmetatos and Antonios Pagourtzis, The Galveston County Daily News reported . The lawsuits allege they didn't teach their son, 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis, respect for life and failed to secure their weapons. "In a certain manner of speaking, they lost their son, too," Rodgers said. "They're struggling like everyone else on where they go from here." FILE - This undated photo provided by the Galveston County Jail shows Dimitrios Pagourtzis. The parents of Pagourtzis, accused of killing 10 people at a Southeast Texas high school, say they were not negligent and that they did as much as they could for their son, according to their attorney. The Galveston County Daily News reports the comments involve the May gunfire at Santa Fe High School. Pagourtzis remains in custody. (Galveston County Jail via AP) Dimitrios Pagourtzis has been indicted on capital murder charges in the May 18 shooting at Santa Fe High School. The first lawsuit against the parents was filed May 24. Rodgers said the case was filed too soon after the shooting and the facts were still unclear. He also noted that Antonios Pagourtzis keeps his guns locked in a case. Clint McGuire, an attorney in the first case against the parents, said he's confident in the lawsuit's assertions. McGuire represents several parents in the suit that's seeking more than $1 million in damages, according to court documents. "The murderer pulled the pistol's and sawed-off shotgun's triggers, but also upon them, pressed just as firmly, were the fingers of his parents, who utterly failed to teach their son any respect for life whatsoever," the lawsuit argues. Attorney Lawrence Tylka filed the second lawsuit against the Pagourtzis family on Aug. 15 on behalf of the family of substitute teacher Cynthia Tisdale, who was killed during the shooting. "This is their son and their weapons, used in a manner that is totally inappropriate," Tylka said. "It's their duty to secure them in some manner." That suit also seeks more than $1 million in damages, court records said. WASHINGTON (AP) - Moving to head off a government shutdown that neither party wants, Congress has overwhelmingly approved a compromise spending bill and pledged agreement on a short-term bill to fund the government through early December. The House on Thursday approved a $147 billion package to fund the Energy Department, veterans' programs and the legislative branch. The 377-20 vote came a day after the Senate passed the measure, 92-5. The bill now goes to White House, where President Donald Trump is expected to sign it. The quick action in the House and Senate came as legislative leaders announced agreement on a bill to fund the rest of the government through Dec. 7. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said the short-term plan would be added to a separate spending bill that lawmakers are negotiating to cover the Defense Department and labor, health and education programs. House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., attends a news conference, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Washington. Ryan is rejecting President Donald Trump's assertion an official government death toll for last year's hurricane in Puerto Rico is wrong. The Wisconsin Republican says he has "no reason to dispute" a study that found nearly 3,000 people on the island died from Hurricane Maria last year. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) The stopgap bill would not address Trump's long-promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. GOP leaders have said they prefer to resolve the issue after the Nov. 6 elections. It was not clear whether Trump would back this approach, but a Republican aide said the White House had not indicated any immediate opposition. The bill approved Thursday was the first of three spending measures Congress hopes to approve this month to avoid a government shutdown when the new budget year begins Oct. 1. Passage was so important to Republican leaders that they moved up the Senate vote, citing the threat of Hurricane Florence bearing down on the southeast coast. The House and Senate both adjourned for the week immediately following the budget votes. Approval of the spending bill marked a departure from recent years, when Congress routinely ignored agency-specific spending measures in favor of massive packages that funded the entire government at once. Trump has said he would not sign another bloated bill. The three compromise spending plans, if passed by Congress and signed by Trump, would account for nearly 90 percent of annual federal spending, including the military and most civilian agencies. "This package is not perfect, but that is the nature of compromise," said Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Leahy said he was concerned that the bill did not do enough to cover costs associated with a program that allows veterans to receive government-paid health care at private facilities. Across the Capitol, Rep. Mark Walker said he and other conservatives were disappointed by the absence of policy add-ons that were in a House-passed version before budget negotiations with the Senate. "House Republican priorities were shut out across the board," said Walker, R-N.C. He said conservatives expect the next round of budget talks to reflect their policy priorities. If not, it will be "difficult to support this funding," Walker said. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., disputed Walker's characterization. "I think we got a great amount of victories for our members," Ryan said. Ryan said the bill includes money for veterans' health care, military infrastructure, the electrical grid and nuclear weapons programs, and "represents a return to our most basic responsibility around here: passing appropriation bills." While generally upbeat about the progress on spending legislation, lawmakers from both parties are wary of a government shutdown, which Trump has threatened unless he gets billions of dollars for the wall. "We still are in favor of the wall, we still want to get funding for the wall, but we think the best time to have that discussion is after the election," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News. McConnell, R-Ky., said there's "zero" chance of a government shutdown. Even so, Trump held out the possibility of a shutdown, citing the need to protect the nation's border by following through on his signature campaign promise. "If it happens, it happens," Trump said last week. "If it's about border security, I'm willing to do anything." With Republicans running the White House and both chambers of Congress, GOP leaders worry that voters would blame them for a shutdown, worsening the party's prospects for retaining congressional control amid an anticipated "blue wave" for Democrats. The White House in a statement said Trump looks forward to signing the spending package, adding that it "aligns with many of the administration's priorities." The three-bill bundle includes: - $97.1 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction, including a $1.1 billion increase to pay for a law Trump signed to give veterans more freedom to see doctors outside the troubled VA system. - $44.6 billion for energy and water programs, including programs to ensure nuclear stockpile readiness and spur innovation in energy research. The bill also funds flood-control projects and addresses regional ports and waterways. - $4.8 billion for the legislative branch, including Congress and the Capitol police. The bill would require Senate candidates to file electronic campaign finance reports - nearly two decades after the requirement was put in place in the House. Senate candidates currently file paperwork with the secretary of the Senate. The bill omits several partisan policy riders approved by the House, including one that would have repealed an Obama-era clean water rule and another to limit spillovers at dams in the Pacific Northwest to protect salmon. The bill also eliminates funding for a long-stalled nuclear waste dump at Nevada's Yucca Mountain. House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., center, talks with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., left, while House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., speaks during a news conference, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) WASHINGTON (AP) - 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 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. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, left, accompanied by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the ranking member, right, speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee markup meeting on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Washington. The committee will vote next week on whether to recommend President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh for confirmation. Republicans hope to confirm him to the court by Oct. 1.(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) 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 two spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the matter. The details of the alleged incident and the identity of the person who provided the information were unclear. The White House called Feinstein's move an "11th hour attempt to delay his confirmation." 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. 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. 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. Durbin told the senators they needed to bring the matter to the FBI, the aide said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has not had access to the letter but said he believes the Judiciary Committee is handling it appropriately, his office said. On Thursday, Feinstein declined to answer questions outside the hearing room, and other senators' offices largely deferred to her. A spokeswoman for Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., 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 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 (sic) 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 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, but they are fighting it and decrying the process that Republicans used to compile his government records for review. At the committee Thursday, Republicans brushed aside a flurry of Democratic attempts to delay the consideration of Kavanaugh or subpoena more documents, sticking with a schedule that could see him confirmed by Oct. 1, when the new court session begins. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., 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 President George W. 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?" The Republicans have declined to pursue Kavanaugh's staff secretary documents, saying it would be too cumbersome. They rejected Feinstein's motion and several others, including motions to subpoena documents and witnesses and a motion to adjourn. Grassley set the panel's vote on Kavanaugh for Sept. 20. New documents released ahead of Thursday's meeting included Kavanaugh's 263-page written response to questions from senators, along with 28 files from the judge's work in the Bush White House that had been available to senators only on a "committee confidential basis." Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey made the Bush documents public. Among the details in the new written responses, Kavanaugh says he would have shaken the hand of a school shooting victim's father during a break in last week's Senate hearing had he recognized him before being whisked away by security detail. The documents released by Booker, meanwhile, show Kavanaugh's involvement in Bush's nomination of Charles Pickering to an appellate court in the South as Pickering faced questions about his views on race relations. Kavanaugh had indicated in 2006 testimony that he was not substantially involved in the nomination. In releasing a new batch of committee confidential documents about Kavanaugh, Booker was repeating a tactic that could prompt a review from the Senate Ethics Committee. Booker's GOP colleagues and outside groups are criticizing him for releasing the documents. Last week, he released some documents that were later made public by the committee, but also others that weren't. Wednesday's disclosure brings the total to 75. The conservative group Judicial Watch delivered a letter Wednesday to the Senate Ethics Committee seeking an investigation. It says Booker violated Senate rules against disclosing confidential documents and could face Senate expulsion. Booker has welcomed the fight. He says the documents about Kavanaugh's work "raise more serious and concerning questions" about his honesty during his testimony before the committee. At issue has been the unprecedented process the Senate Judiciary Committee used for gathering documents on Kavanaugh, an appellate court judge who is President Donald Trump's nominee to replace retired Justice Anthony Kennedy on the court. ___ Associated Press writers Eric Tucker, Michael Balsamo, Mary Clare Jalonick, Zeke Miller and Alan Fram contributed to this report. ___ Follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/lisamascaro Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., holds up her hand to speak as she shares a note with a colleague during a Senate Judiciary Committee markup meeting on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Washington. The committee will vote next week on whether to recommend President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh for confirmation. Republicans hope to confirm him to the court by Oct. 1.(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018 file photo, Fred Guttenberg, the father of Jamie Guttenberg who was killed in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla., left, attempts to shake hands with President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, right, as he leaves for a lunch break while appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington to begin his confirmation hearing. Kavanaugh did not shake his hand. Kavanaugh wrote in a response to questions from senators late Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, that he assumed the man had been a protester. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The fate of a Missouri nail manufacturer suffering under President Donald Trump's steel tariffs has put Republican Senate candidate Josh Hawley in a bind between his support for the president's trade strategy and a local plant that says it could be forced to close. Mid Continent Nail Corporation says it could shutter its Poplar Bluff plant, which employs about 335 workers, as early as this month without an exemption to tariffs, the site's operations general manager, Chris Pratt, told reporters in early September. The company previously had said that it might not survive through Labor Day but stayed open. After Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on imported steel, the company in June cut 60 of 500 positions at the plant in rural Butler County, where the unemployment rate is above the national average and the company is the area's second-largest employer. Pratt said many employees also have left because of the uncertainty, and the company is not replacing those workers. In this July 29, 2018 photo, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, left, Chris Pratt, center, and George Skarich, executive vice president of sales at Mid Continent Nail Corporation, walk through a shut down line at the Mid Continent Nail Corporation in Poplar Bluff, Mo. This nail production line was shut down by the company and some people were laid off because of tariffs. (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) "Right now we're counting on Josh Hawley, who says he has a good relationship with President Trump, to save the 500 jobs in Poplar Bluff, Missouri," Pratt said after Labor Day. Trump imposed tariffs in March, saying a reliance on imported metals threatened national security. He initially exempted Canada, Mexico and the European Union to buy time for trade negotiations, but tariffs for those countries took effect in May after talks stalled. Mid Continent is owned by Deacero, a private Mexican company, which supplies steel for the nails made in Missouri. Company spokeswoman Elizabeth Heaton said nails are sold throughout the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean and used for industrial pallets, crating for transportation and residential construction. Hawley, the state attorney general, and Democratic incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill are sparring in one of the most closely-watched Senate races in the nation, with Republicans' 51-49 majority at stake on Nov. 6. Both candidates visited the plant after tariffs began and both say they're fighting for Mid Continent, but the issue is more delicate for Hawley. Missouri is one of several Senate races including North Dakota, Indiana and Montana, where Republican candidates are on the defensive as trading partners retaliate against agricultural and manufacturing products from the U.S. in response to Trump's tariffs. In Missouri, Hawley says he supports Trump's goal of getting tough with trading partners to get better deals for the U.S. and urges patience to see results from the negotiations. The Trump administration recently said it reached a deal with Mexico to update the North American Free Trade Agreement and is now negotiating with Canada to finalize it. In an August letter to Deacero , Hawley says the company makes a strong case for an exemption and urges the Department of Commerce to grant it quickly. But an exemption is unlikely to be granted quickly. The federal government has been deluged with requests for exemptions, the process is slow and some U.S. steel producers have objected to Mid Continent getting favorable treatment, saying the company could switch to U.S. suppliers. Pratt said the plant also buys American steel, but he said there's not enough to meet the company's needs and noted that domestic prices rose steeply with the tariffs. Hawley has also put pressure on the plant's Mexican parent company to keep it open. "As a company with a global presence and many locations, Deacero is clearly not struggling to make ends meet," Hawley wrote in the letter. "The reality is that Deacero can afford to keep the factory open, and in turn, help keep men and women employed who simply want to do right by their families and earn a living." Democrat McCaskill has gone on the attack against the tariffs , highlighting Mid Continent Nail during a June U.S. Senate hearing , pushing for the exemption and holding an August hearing in St. Louis to listen to concerns from Missouri businesses. Instead of tariffs, McCaskill has advocated joining U.S. allies to take a stand against China's unfair trade practices and spending more money to enforce current trade laws through the United States International Trade Commission. In a recent Facebook post, she used the tariffs as an example to paint Hawley as a rubber stamp to Trump. "All across the state, farmers and manufacturers are telling me how they're being hurt by this trade war. That's why I'm calling for it to end," McCaskill wrote. "Hawley is supporting it because he doesn't want an inch of daylight between him and President Trump." ___ Sign up for "Politics in Focus," a weekly newsletter showcasing the AP's best political reporting from around the country leading up to the midterm elections: https://bit.ly/2ICEr3D CHICAGO (AP) - Opening statements are expected to begin Monday in the murder trial of a white Chicago police officer charged in the 2014 shooting death of black teenager Laquan McDonald after prosecutors and defense attorneys settled on the final jurors and alternates on Thursday. Jury selection wrapped up much more quickly than expected, with question of prospects taking just three days. The 12-person jury is made up of seven whites, three Hispanics, one African-American and one Asian-American. Attorneys also picked five alternates on Thursday afternoon. Now the question is whether the selected jurors will ever get a chance to decide the fate of Officer Jason Van Dyke. Defense attorneys have been considering whether to allow the jury to hear the evidence or choose a bench trial in which the judge makes the decision. On Thursday, Judge Vincent Gaughan told the officer's attorneys that they have until Friday to tell him their decision. FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, file photo, Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke, charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald in 2014, listens during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago. Jury selection is expected to resume for the trial of Van Dyke after the effort was called off Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, due to a scheduling conflict for the trial's presiding Judge Vincent Gaughan. Van Dyke has pleaded not guilty. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool, File) Van Dyke's attorneys have also asked that the trial be moved out of Chicago because, they contend, extensive media coverage has made it impossible for Van Dyke to get a fair trial in Cook County. Gaughan has not announced a decision on that request. Though jury selection only took a few days, the process did raise questions that are certain to come up during the trial. Most of the prospective jurors said they had seen the police video of the 2014 encounter in which Van Dyke shot the McDonald 16 times. Some jurors who were excused said they could not be impartial after what they had seen on the video, which was released in November 2015. The dashcam video shows Van Dyke opened fire as McDonald walked away from police with a knife in his hand. The release of the video sparked large protests, the ouster of the police superintendent and demands for police reform. Even those who were picked expressed concern, with the last male juror saying that he thought the officer had "gone too far" when he shot the 17-year-old. ENID, Okla. (AP) - A prosecutor asked the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals to decide whether a sheriff will go to trial over the death of an inmate who spent more than two days in a restraint chair. Special prosecutor Chris Boring made the request Wednesday, a month after a judge dismissed the case against Garfield County Sheriff Jerry Niles, citing a lack of evidence that the sheriff committed a crime, The Oklahoman reported . The judge sent three others to trial over the June 2016 death of Anthony Huff, 58. Niles, 60, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree manslaughter . Former jail administrator Jennifer Shay Niles, who is the sheriff's daughter-in-law, and jailers John Robert Markus and Shawn Galusha are charged with first-degree manslaughter. An autopsy reported listed Huff's probable cause of death as chronic alcoholism. He was arrested for public intoxication. A reviewing judge last week upheld the dismissal of the case against the sheriff, saying there was no evidence that Jerry Niles knew the inmate had been restrained in the chair. Custer County Associate District Judge Jill Weedon noted that the sheriff's office is about 7 miles (11 kilometers) from the jail and that that prosecutors did not prove the sheriff personally or administratively violated jail standards. In his request to the appeals court, Boring wrote, "It was (an) error to determine that there was no criminal liability for the sheriff in regards to violations of the Oklahoma Jail Standards and actions or inactions by his employees." Niles still faces a federal civil rights lawsuit accusing Garfield County officials of negligence in Huff's death and of violating his constitutional rights. The sheriff also faces a misdemeanor nepotism case for appointing the employment of his son and daughter-in-law. Niles is on voluntary paid suspension. ___ Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com WASHINGTON (AP) - The Puerto Rico death toll. Special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe. The 2016 presidential election vote. Hillary Clinton and her emails. President Donald Trump speaks and tweets often about conspiracies against him. That's not to say they exist as he describes them. A look at some of those issues: President Donald Trump speaks during a reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) ___ PUERTO RICO Trump on Thursday rejected the official hurricane death toll in Puerto Rico, tweeting without evidence that "3,000 people did not die." "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 tweeted a year after the island was devastated. Twelve minutes after the first tweet, Trump falsely blamed Democrats: "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!" Puerto Rico's governor last month raised Maria's official death toll from 64 to 2,975 after an independent study found that the number of people who succumbed in the sweltering aftermath had been severely undercounted. Previous reports from the Puerto Rican government said the number was closer to 1,400. Researchers at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University determined about 3,000 have died. Those that were hardest hit by the hurricane were the elderly and impoverished. ___ RUSSIA PROBE Trump has railed that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election meddling is a conspiracy carried out by the former FBI director "and his whole group of Angry Democrat Thugs." Trump denies colluding in the meddling. Trump's shorthand for discrediting Mueller is calling the probe a "Rigged Witch Hunt" by Mueller's "17 Angry Democrats." "You have no Republicans" among Mueller's team, Trump said on "Fox & Friends" in June. Mueller is a Republican and some on his team owe their jobs largely to Republican presidents. Some have indeed given money to Democratic candidates over the years. But Mueller could not have barred them from serving on that basis because regulations prohibit the consideration of political affiliation for personnel actions involving career attorneys. ___ THE 2016 VOTE Trump has tried to blame his loss of the popular vote to Hillary Clinton on "millions" of illegal votes in her favor. The voting commission he convened to study the issue disbanded with no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Trump became president after he won the Electoral College vote by 304 to 227. But Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 2.9 million more votes after racking up lopsided wins in big states such as New York and California, according to election data compiled by The Associated Press. __ HILLARY CLINTON Among Trump's favorite foils is "Crooked Hillary" Clinton, his 2016 Democratic rival. This month, he sent a tweet that brought a number of his perceived enemies together: "Hillary Clinton's Emails, many of which are Classified Information, got hacked by China. Next move better be by the FBI & DOJ or, after all of their other missteps (Comey, McCabe, Strzok, Page, Ohr, FISA, Dirty Dossier etc.), their credibility will be forever gone!" Trump appeared to be citing a story by the right-leaning Daily Caller publication, which reported that a Chinese-owned company in Washington, D.C., area hacked Clinton's email server. But FBI and Justice Department officials have said publicly that there was no evidence Clinton's server was hacked by a foreign power. ___ BIRTHERISM Donald Trump was for years the primary propagator of the falsehood that Democrat Barack Obama, the nation's first black president, was not born in the United States and was thus ineligible to hold the nation's highest office. Obama was born in Hawaii. Then Trump lied about the original lie. In September 2016, he held a news conference at his Washington hotel to declare that he believed Obama had been born in the U.S. He falsely blamed Clinton for starting the rumor and credited himself for ending it. The public record over the past decade undermines Trump's version. People in Clinton's orbit did discuss Obama's background during their bitter primary struggle in 2008. But it appears that when Clinton got wind of smears about Obama's roots or religion, she either shut down that line of argument or ignored it. There is no evidence that Clinton herself has ever said Obama wasn't born in America. ___ 'DEEP STATE' Trump didn't invent the term, but "deep state" has been a favorite theory of conservative media outlets such as Breitbart. The idea is that deeply entrenched bureaucrats are working against him. Trump's been happy to help spread the phrase and the notion. Again referencing Clinton's emails, some of which were stored on a private server in her home while she was secretary of state, Trump tweeted Nov. 28: "Why aren't our deep State authorities looking at this?" The Justice Department has closed the case. "There was not a prosecutable case there," said then-FBI Director James Comey. ___ Follow Kellman on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - The Latest on grizzly hunts to be held in Wyoming and Idaho (all times local): 10:55 a.m. A U.S. judge has delayed for two more weeks the first grizzly bear hunts to be held in the Lower 48 states in almost three decades. FILE - In this July 6, 2011 file photo, a grizzly bear roams near Beaver Lake in Yellowstone National Park. Opponents of grizzly bear hunts planned in Wyoming and Idaho are asking a judge to further delay hunting while he considers a request to restore federal protections for the animals. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart, File) Thursday's ruling by U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen leaves the fate of about 700 bruins in the Northern Rockies in limbo as he considers whether federal protections for the animals should be restored. Christensen already delayed the hunts in Wyoming and Idaho once, with an order that came two days before hunting was set to begin on Sept. 1. Wildlife advocates and Native American tribes say bears living in and around Yellowstone National Park face continued threats to their survival. The U.S. Interior Department in 2017 declared the animals no longer needed federal protections. Up to 23 bears would be allowed to be killed in the hunts. __ 12:45 a.m. A U.S. judge is due to decide Thursday if two Rocky Mountain states can move forward with the first public hunts for grizzly bears in the Lower 48 in almost three decades. U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen in Missoula, Montana, put on hold for two weeks hunts scheduled in Idaho and Wyoming. That order expires Thursday. Hunt opponents asked the judge for a further two-week delay, but he did not immediately rule on the request. The U.S. Interior Department last year lifted protections on the population of about 700 grizzlies in and around Yellowstone National Park. Wildlife advocates and Native American tribes sued to restore their protected status. Up to 22 bears could be killed in the Wyoming hunt. Idaho is allowing one bear to be killed. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A Roman Catholic bishop in Indiana was cleared Thursday of suspicions of misconduct involving a former jail inmate he counseled while serving as a Pennsylvania priest in the 1990s. The prosecutor in Harrisburg said Fort Wayne-South Bend Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades never engaged in a criminal or otherwise improper relationship with the man. District Attorney Fran Chardo said "what turned out to be an unfounded report did unnecessary harm." The Indiana diocese said the findings showed why the credibility of accusations needs to be determined before someone's reputation is impugned. A state grand jury report released last month found about 300 "predator priests" had abused children at six Pennsylvania dioceses since the late 1940s. It did not allege any sexual misconduct by Rhoades. But a cousin of the now-dead former jail inmate contacted authorities with concerns about Rhoades, triggering the investigation. A hotline run by the state attorney general's office has received more than 1,000 calls since the report was released, and church officials have put several Pennsylvania priests on inactive status while new claims are being investigated. "I have offered up the pain of this difficult time for the victim survivors of child sexual abuse," Rhoades said in a statement released by the Indiana diocese on Thursday. Chardo called it "a case of a public airing of mere speculation of impropriety with no foundation. In this case, the leaking of what turned out to be an unfounded report did unnecessary harm. This has done a disservice to actual victims of sexual abuse. It has also caused significant and unnecessary harm to Bishop Rhoades." Rhoades was Harrisburg bishop from 2004-09, and became Fort Wayne-South Bend bishop in January 2010. CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago's mayor and Illinois' attorney general unveiled an updated plan Thursday to reform the city's police, saying it will ensure permanent, far-reaching changes within a 12,000-officer department that has a long history of committing serious civil rights abuses. The more than 200-page document was submitted to U.S. District Judge Robert Dow for his consideration. If he approves it, an independent court monitor would ensure that the city meets the plan's benchmarks, which are laid out over several years. The most notable change since city and state officials hammered out an initial draft in July is a new provision that would require officers to file paperwork whenever they point a gun at someone, even if they don't fire. Attorney General Lisa Madigan, flanked by Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and Mayor Rahm Emanuel hold up a copy of the proposed consent decree during a news conference, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2918 in Chicago. The 226-page document was submitted Thursday to a Chicago federal judge. (Antonio Perez /Chicago Tribune via AP) Mayor Rahm Emanuel told reporters that the city is at "an historic inflection point" on police reforms. He noted there have been seven attempts in the past 100 years to overhaul how the department operates. "I am confident this agreement will stand the test of time," he said. The head of Chicago's police union issued a written statement hours later, saying such a court-supervised reform plan would be unnecessary and counterproductive. It "will have a devastating effect upon policing in Chicago," said Kevin Graham, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge 7. He spoke at a joint news conference with Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson - the three posing for pictures as Madigan held up what would be a court-enforced plan, called a consent decree. The union head has strongly opposed any requirement that officers document all instances in which they point their weapons, saying it could lead officers to hesitate in situations when they are actually in danger. Johnson said Thursday he had had similar reservations. But he said the reform plan as written now allays those concerns. The release of the reworked plan came during jury selection in the murder trial of a white Chicago police officer, Jason Van Dyke, who shot a black teenager, Laquan McDonald, 16 times in 2014. Video of the shooting led to the firing of Johnson's predecessor and to a damning Justice Department report in the last days of Barack Obama's presidency that found racial bias and excessive use of force by police. Madigan, with Emanuel's approval, sued Chicago last year to make sure police reforms included court oversight after President Donald Trump's Justice Department indicated it didn't foresee a court role. Judge Dow will invite additional community feedback before a decision on giving the plan his stamp of approval. It will include two days of hearings starting Oct. 24 for public comment. ___ Follow Michael Tarm on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ mtarm Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel flanked by Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and Attorney General Lisa Madigan, announce that they have filed a proposed consent decree in federal court to reform the Chicago Police Department, during a news conference, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2918 in Chicago. The 226-page document was submitted Thursday to a Chicago federal judge. (Antonio Perez /Chicago Tribune via AP) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Thousands of mayors, climate activists and business leaders from around the world descended Thursday on San Francisco to cheer on efforts to reduce global warming, even after U.S. President Donald J. Trump signaled his disdain for the issue. The Global Climate Action Summit, organized by California Gov. Jerry Brown, 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. From left, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and Mayor of Copenhagen Frank Jensen talk during a news conference at the Global Action Climate Summit Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. The mayor of Paris and other top officials who were instrumental in securing the 2015 U.N. climate accord open the California summit by talking about the importance of continuing the path to clean energy, despite President Donald Trump's withdrawal of the United States from the pact. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) The star-studded conference included a rousing call to action by Harrison Ford, who implored the audience to protect forests, fisheries and other natural wonders. Former President Barack Obama, under whose watch the U.S. agreed to the landmark Paris climate accord, made a brief appearance by video. The goal of the conference is to showcase actions already being taken to prevent climate change and to "inspire deeper commitments" among attendees. It was unclear what specific actions might be taken before the summit ends Friday. "Doing nothing is not an option. Going green is a must. Cities all over the world are on the front lines of climate change," said Frank Jensen, lord mayor of Copenhagen, adding that the bicycle-friendly city wants even more bike lanes. Giuseppe Sala, the mayor of Milan, Italy, talked up plans to reduce waste from food and other sources. "I'm very, very proud of waste management. I know it is not a sexy issue, but we commit to a future without waste," he said. Milan and Copenhagen are among the 27 major cities cited by C40 Cities Climate Leadership, a group whose board is headed by philanthropist and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. In a speech, Bloomberg called the conference a way to broadcast that the U.S. is still committed to the cause. "Climate change is a global challenge and Washington ought to be leading from the front," Bloomberg said. Many people around the world wrongly concluded that America was "walking away from climate action" when Trump pulled the country out of the Paris climate accord, Bloomberg said, stressing that "nothing could be further from the truth." The 2015 Paris agreement commits countries to set their own plans for cutting emissions. Bloomberg and Brown, both Democrats, said they calculate the U.S. is within striking distance of the reduction in greenhouse gases it previously promised. Trump announced last year that he was withdrawing from the l climate accord. His administration is also pursuing policies that would boost methane emissions and roll back California's strict vehicle emissions standards. In response to a question Thursday at a news briefing, Brown said Trump will likely be remembered poorly when it comes to the environment. "I think he'll be remembered, on the path he's now? I don't know. Liar, criminal, fool," the governor said. The CEO of Salesforce, one of the world's largest online business software companies, urged fellow technology leaders at the conference to help fight climate change. CEO Marc Benioff announced that Salesforce and 20 technology companies have signed a pact to "decarbonize" by reducing greenhouse gas emissions worldwide through supply chains, regulations and customer efforts. Salesforce recently opened a 61-story office tower in San Francisco that it says relies on clean energy to operate. Outside the conference, hundreds of protesters said Brown could do more in California, and about a dozen briefly interrupted Bloomberg's speech with chants that natural resources were not for sale. "America's a wonderful country. Here we have environmentalists protesting an environmental conference," Bloomberg said earlier in the day. Police escorted 10 demonstrators from the meeting hall and briefly detained two protesters outside who were cited for misdemeanors and released. Protesters also called on Brown to ban the practice known as fracking, which injects high-pressure liquid into the ground to extract gas. In response, the governor said California has the most integrated and comprehensive oil reduction plan in America. "You don't snap your fingers and say now it's done," Brown said. "We're definitely moving in the same direction as the critics. They just like us to go a little faster and we would like to go a little faster ourselves." The U.S. Climate Alliance, which involves 17 governors, announced Thursday that it would commit to several actions, including making clean energy cheaper for consumers and promoting vehicles and transit that rely on renewable energy. The summit came with 2018 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. ___ Associated Press writer Juliet Williams contributed to this report. Michael Bloomberg, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Climate Action, speaks during the plenary session of the Global Action Climate Summit Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. The mayor of Paris and other top officials who were instrumental in the securing the 2015 U.N. climate accord open a California summit by talking about the importance of continuing the path to clean energy, despite President Donald Trump's withdrawal of the United States from the pact. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Johan Rockstrom, left, the Executive Director of the Stockholm Resilience Center and Christiana Figueres, Founding Partner, Global Optimism and Convenor, Mission 2020, give a presentation during the opening plenary of the Global Action Climate Summit Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Johan Rockstrom, left, the Executive Director of the Stockholm Resilience Center, speaks during the opening plenary of the Global Action Climate Summit Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) A group of world mayors pose with Michael Bloomberg, third from right, at a news conference during the Global Action Climate Summit Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. The mayor of Paris and other top officials who were instrumental in the securing the 2015 U.N. climate accord open a California summit by talking about the importance of continuing the path to clean energy, despite President Donald Trump's withdrawal of the United States from the pact. Second from left is Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and third from left is Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Members of the group 1000 Grandmothers protest outside the Moscone Center in San Francisco where the Global Climate Action Summit is being held, on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. The group, which says it is made up of elder women activists working to address the climate crisis, chanted "Listen to your Grandma, no more fracking!" (AP Photo/Juliet Williams) Johan Rockstrom, left, the Executive Director of the Stockholm Resilience Center and Christiana Figueres, Founding Partner, Global Optimism and Convenor, Mission 2020, give a presentation during the opening plenary of the Global Action Climate Summit Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Members of the group 1000 Grandmothers protest outside the Moscone Center in San Francisco where the Global Climate Action Summit is being held, on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. The group, which says it is made up of elder women activists working to address the climate crisis, chanted "Listen to your Grandma, no more fracking!" (AP Photo/Juliet Williams) Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley speaks during the opening plenary of the Global Action Climate Summit Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Protesters block an entrance to the Moscone Center where the Global Action Climate Summit was taking place Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo waves after speaking during the opening plenary of the Global Action Climate Summit Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. The mayor of Paris and other top officials who were instrumental in securing the 2015 U.N. climate accord opened the California summit by talking about the importance of continuing the path to clean energy, despite President Donald Trump's withdrawal of the United States from the pact. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) California Gov. Jerry Brown, left, and Michael Bloomberg listen to questions during a news conference at the Global Action Climate Summit Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. Gov. Brown started his global climate summit by saying that President Donald Trump will likely be remembered as a liar and fool when it comes to the environment. The Democratic Brown and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg held a press conference Thursday on the first full day of the summit that is partly a rebuke of the Trump administration. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) GENEVA (AP) - Pro-Beijing scholars brought together by the Chinese government have briskly defended the country's human rights record as criticism grows over the mass internment of ethnic minority Muslim Uighurs in China's far west. In a move indicative of a new public relations push, Chinese officials for the first time hosted journalists to meet with the academics on the sidelines of a U.N.-backed Human Rights Council session in Geneva. China has faced mounting criticism over a massive security clampdown targeting Uighurs native to China's Xinjiang region. The new U.N. human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, this week said monitors should be allowed into the region, and calls have been made in the U.S. Congress for sanctions on some Chinese officials. Li Xiaojun, director of publicity at the State Council Information Office, touted Beijing's record, berated alleged failures in the West to counter violence by Islamic extremists and denied any injustices against Uighurs. "It's not mistreatment, and it's the correct thing to do for the Chinese government," he said. "Maybe it's the necessary way to deal with Islamic or religious extremism, because the West has failed in doing so." "Look at Belgium, look at Paris, look at some other European countries," Li added. "These countries did not deal with religious extremism very well ... actually they are doing that very bad." He said his government is placing some people in training centers, insisting they are different from detention centers/ "China wants to seriously to deal with Islamic extremism. It wants to prevent that from spreading to the common people, to the common Muslims in Xinjiang," Li said. A number of news organizations, including The Associated Press, have reported on new indoctrination camps in far western China, where detainees have had to disavow their Islamic beliefs, criticize themselves and their loved ones and give thanks to the ruling Communist Party. On Thursday, the academics chimed in variously to hail the alleged effectiveness of China's centralized, one-party state, or insist China's approach to human rights is grounded in the fight against poverty and that efforts will proceed "step-by-step." Asked whether they had criticisms of the government's human rights policies, none offered any. "Unfortunately, my knowledge is very limited," said Jingwen Zhu, a professor of law at Renmin University of China Law School, when asked about the Uighurs. LOS ANGELES (AP) - 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. Olivia Munn attends a special screening of "The Predator" at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) "Honestly, there was never a question in my mind whether I should be speaking out and speaking up," she explained Wednesday night at a special screening of the film in Hollywood. After she intervened, distributor 20th Century Fox had the sex offender's single scene in the film - which happened to be with Munn - removed, and that appeared to be that. Plans for the film's release forged ahead until just hours before the Toronto premiere last Friday, when The Los Angeles Times broke the news of all that had gone down with Black, Munn and the studio. The offender was an old friend of Black's who had been cast in several of his movies. Then came what Munn considered a frosty reception from her fellow actors. In a round of press at Toronto on Saturday, Munn described feeling lonely and isolated in the wake of the report. She was taken aback by a pre-screening standing ovation for Black by some co-stars she knew were aware of the director's casting decisions. Munn said they were the same colleagues who never bothered to reach out after learning she had spoken up. Also, some of her castmates' statements seemed to dismiss the controversy or didn't always have her back. But online, Munn was praised and she made her case on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." In Toronto, Black reportedly skipped the premiere's arrivals line and left the theater before the film's closing credits. But Wednesday in Hollywood, he was ever-present and incredibly contrite. "I made an error a judgment that is irresponsible," he said on the red carpet. "You know, I'm not just a kid who can say, 'You know, we're making movies in college. Put your buddy in the movie.' This is an adult decision with real responsibilities. And I didn't vet somebody." He added: "I take full responsibility. I'm very deeply sorry. I mean, I think about this a lot. I hope I learned from this, because 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. I'm very sorry to anybody." On the arrivals line at the screening Wednesday, most of the actors from "The Predator" were singing Munn's praises. Munn credited support from outside her "Predator" family for the change. "You know, honestly, the people online and the news outlets and the blogs and the social media: Thank God that they exist, and they are expressing all of the thoughts they've been expressing and support," she said. "Without the support from online, I would have just still been one voice." Keegan-Michael Key, left, and Boyd Holbrook attend a special screening of "The Predator" at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Boyd Holbrook, from left, Sterling K. Brown and Ryan Michelle Bathe attend a special screening of "The Predator" at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A self-proclaimed street preacher who had a role in kidnapping, torturing and enslaving mentally disabled adults chained up in a filthy basement has been sentenced to 27 years in prison. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia announced that Eddie "the Reverend Ed" Wright was sentenced Thursday for the scheme that lasted from 2001 to October 2011. He is the second of the five people charged in the case that shocked Philadelphia and the nation to be sentenced this week, after Nicklaus Woodard was also sentenced to 27 years on Tuesday. "The physical and psychological pain inflicted on the victims can only be described as pure, unadulterated torture," said U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain, adding that the sentencings meant "justice has finally been served." "Now it's their turn to be locked away in a dark prison cell. My Office will do everything in its power to ensure each of them serves every second of the sentences the court imposed." Last month, Jean McIntosh was sentenced to 40 years prison for her role. McIntosh helped prosecutors build a case against her mother, Linda Weston, the ringleader of the group that held victims captive for years in a cramped basement in the plan to steal more than $200,000 in government benefits. Weston previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison plus 80 years to avoid the death penalty. Court records Thursday showed federal charges were still pending against Greg Thomas, Weston's former boyfriend. In all, the five defendants were charged with 196 counts after police rescued four people from the basement in October 2011. Details of the squalid conditions, physical abuse and forced prostitution of the victims began to come to light in charging documents and the case gained national attention. Prosecutors said the five defendants coerced and pressured some of the mentally disabled captives into making Weston their designated payees for their benefits. They shuttled the captives between several states to avoid being caught, and often locked them in basements, closets and other confined spaces, feeding them minimal food often spiked with sedatives. At least one of the captives testified she was forced to have children with another captive. She said Weston and her daughter took her child and told her he had died, but later claimed the baby was theirs to collect more benefits. MORRIS PLAINS, N.J. (AP) - Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has helped christen a new road that's named after him. Christie was a passenger in a vintage car that made the first trip Wednesday on Governor Chris Christie Drive, an access road to Central Park of Morris County. The Republican politician lives in nearby Mendham Township and served in the county government in the mid-1990s. Christie easily won re-election in 2013 and was viewed as a top 2016 presidential contender. But his approval rating fell following a scandal involving lane closures at the George Washington Bridge and his failed presidential bid. The road isn't the first thing in New Jersey to be named after Christie. A new vocational high school in Essex County named its public safety center after him earlier this year. VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis has urged the Irish church to make reparations for its role in the scandal of a Catholic-run orphanage where a mass grave containing the remains of hundreds of children was discovered. Francis made the appeal while meeting with Jesuits during his Aug. 25-26 visit to Ireland. A transcript of his remarks was released Thursday by the Jesuit journal La Civilta Cattolica. Francis recalled he had met with and received a memo from Ireland's minister for youth affairs about the grave at the Tuam mother and baby home. The memo called for the church to "accept its responsibilities and make reparation" for its role. Francis asked the Jesuits "to seek out a cure, reparation, all that is necessary to heal the wounds and give life back to so many people." TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - In just a few moments and two tweets, President Donald Trump roiled Florida's crucial elections Thursday, upending his party's ongoing efforts to make inroads to the battleground state's growing Puerto Rican population. Trump's tweets claiming that "3,000 people did not die" in the hurricanes that hit the island last year and falsely alleging that the official death toll was part of a plot by Democrats to make him look bad were immediately condemned by Puerto Rican leaders, Democratic opponents and, in a rare breach, fellow Republicans in the state. Ron DeSantis, who won last month's GOP primary for governor largely due to Trump's endorsement, "doesn't believe any loss of life has been inflated," a spokesman said. Gov. Rick Scott, who is challenging Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson for his seat in November, tweeted flatly, "I disagree with @POTUS." FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2017, file photo, homes and other buildings destroyed by Hurricane Maria lie in ruins in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. Top Florida Republicans have been quick to say President Donald Trump is wrong about the death toll in Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) The direct and swift rebuke from Trump's Florida allies demonstrated the significance of the Puerto Rican voters in a state where races are often decided by slim margins. Republican candidates for months have been carefully courting the Puerto Rican community, hoping to prove their concern about the island's slow recovery and win over voters who tend to vote Democratic. But the episode shows how Trump, who has an outsized influence on races in Florida and beyond, may not make it easy for Republicans to reach out to swing voters. The president's tweets came just one day after Nelson launched a new Spanish-language ad that features pictures of Trump and Scott together and says in Spanish "tell me who you hang out with, and I will tell you who you are." Florida was already home to more than 1 million Puerto Ricans before Hurricane Maria slammed into the island territory nearly a year ago. Tens of thousands of residents fled Puerto Rico in the aftermath, with many of them relocating to Florida. Puerto Rico's governor last month raised Maria's official death toll from 64 to 2,975 after an independent study found that the number of people who succumbed in the sweltering aftermath had been severely undercounted. The growing Puerto Rican community near Orlando has been key to swinging the area into the Democratic column as many Puerto Rican voters have backed Democrats. In 2016, Democrat Darren Soto became the first congressman of Puerto Rican descent elected from Florida. It's not clear how many Maria survivors who came to the mainland are now registering to vote in Florida. A Miami Herald analysis in late August found that only about 3,150 voters with Puerto Rico phone area codes had registered to vote between the hurricane's landfall and the primary deadline in late July. But despite that there's been a concentrated push by both parties to appeal to Puerto Rican voters and seek out endorsements from top Puerto Rico politicians. "I've 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. I'll continue to help PR," Scott tweeted Thursday. Right after the storm Scott ordered the opening of disaster relief centers to help those who came to Florida. Over the summer, the governor ran an ad that said he is the one politician who was helping Puerto Rico. DeSantis, Nelson and Democratic candidate for governor Andrew Gillum have also visited Puerto Rico this year. For DeSantis, breaking from Trump marked a major, first shift away from the conservative base voters that carried him to a victory in the primary. "Ron DeSantis is committed to standing with the Puerto Rican community, especially after such a tragic loss of life," said Stephen Lawson, a spokesman for DeSantis. State Rep. Amy Mercado, a Puerto Rican Democrat from central Florida, called Trump's comments about the death toll "disgusting, vile, and show just who he is." "The lives lost because of Maria were very real, and the island is still dealing with the devastating effects and poor federal response," she said. Other Democrats in Florida also were sharply critical of Trump. Nelson on Twitter called the comments "shameful" and said that "we deserve and expect more from someone who holds the highest office in our country." Gillum, who is challenging DeSantis in the governor's race, also blasted the president. "No death is partisan and our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico deserved better," Gillum said on Twitter. FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2018, file photo, Republican candidate for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis smiles during an airboat tour of the Florida Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Top Florida Republicans have been quick to say President Donald Trump is wrong about the death toll in Puerto Rico. DeSantis, who won the GOP primary for governor with Trump's endorsement, also said the president is not correct. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A man has been sentenced to 92 years in prison for a series of violent crimes in South Florida. A judge in Fort Lauderdale sentenced 23-year-old De Andre Smith Thursday after a jury found him guilty on eight federal charges in July. According to court records, Smith beat an IT technician with a firearm last December. The victim's eye was amputated shortly afterward. Eight days later, authorities say Smith robbed a vehicle at gunpoint in Fort Lauderdale then drove to nearby Davie, where he robbed two restaurants. Surveillance video obtained by local news outlets shows a masked man jumping over the counter while pointing a firearm at employees and then fleeing with cash. Smith was sentenced to 1,105 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. SAUK CENTRE, Minn. (AP) - Authorities say a man who shot a Minnesota sheriff's deputy with a compound bow also was shot and wounded by law officers firing their guns. Stearns County Sheriff Don Gudmunson says the deputy was shot in the forearm Thursday and was taken to a hospital, where he is in good condition. Deputy Paul Orvis was undergoing surgery to remove the arrow shaft. The sheriff's office says more than one officer from different agencies fired their guns, but it's unclear who shot the suspect. The 31-year-old man was shot in the left shoulder and buttocks, and was flown to a hospital. Law enforcement set up a perimeter around the scene where a Stearns County deputy was shot with an arrow Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Sauk Centre, Minn. Stearns County Sheriff Don Gudmunson says the deputy who was pursuing a suspect Thursday and was shot in the arm. He was taken to a hospital. The suspect was arrested after a standoff. (Dave Schwarz/St. Cloud Times via AP) The incident began when a stolen pickup from Osaskis exited into Sauk Centre, a community about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northwest of Minneapolis. It traveled through backyards and smashed into parked vehicles and through a garage. The sheriff's office says the suspect then ran into a home, where he allegedly shot Orvis with the homeowner's compound bow. Nearby homes were evacuated. The standoff lasted about two hours. As 1.7 million people were urged to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Florence, workers at the North Carolina Zoo were trying to figure out what to do with 1,600 animals. Staff at the 500-acre zoo near Asheboro rushed Wednesday to move elephants, giraffes, chimpanzees and hundreds of other species indoors to protect them from the storm's predicted formidable winds and torrential rain. Spokeswoman Diane Villa said some of the larger animals - including bison and elk - will be put in fenced-in yards because they don't like being in fully enclosed spaces. This photo made available by the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, N.C., shows a zoo employee watching as flamingos are ushered to a concrete shelter in advance of Hurricane Florence, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (Diane Villa/North Carolina Zoo via AP) But many other animals will be kept in barns. A crew of zookeepers, veterinarians and park rangers will ride out the storm with the animals. The zoo, located about 75 miles west of Raleigh, has 500 acres set aside for its animals, making it the world's largest "walk through" natural habitat zoo, Villa said. The animals usually have lots of room to roam, but as the storm approached, they were being moved to more confined habitats. "Most of the animals, they do know how to take care of themselves," Villa said. "The ones we're concerned about are being cared for inside." That includes two chimpanzees named Ruthie and Nori who need to take medication on a regular schedule. Two zookeepers will stay close to the animals to make sure they get their medication on time. The zoo staff also planned to move 33 kennels housing birds inside, including vultures, sun conures, owls, parrots and an Andean condor. The staff members will stay in four separate buildings. "We're bringing out cots and air mattresses," Villa said. "We're just preparing to hunker down with the animals." The zoo planned to be closed through Friday. ___ For the latest on Hurricane Florence, visit https://www.apnews.com/tag/Hurricanes . NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) - The prosecutor in Bill Cosby's sex-assault case is opposing the actor's demand that the trial judge step down before this month's sentencing. Cosby's lawyers say Judge Steven O'Neill has a longstanding grudge with a key pretrial witness and should recuse himself. O'Neill is set to sentence Cosby on Sept. 24 over a 2004 encounter with a woman at his estate near Philadelphia. The witness is a former county prosecutor, Bruce Castor, who declined to charge Cosby when the woman came forward in 2005. FILE - In this June 17, 2017 file photo, Bill Cosby arrives for his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. The prosecutor in Cosby's sex-assault case is opposing the actor's demand that the trial judge step down before the sentencing in September 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele in a court filing Thursday notes that the judge handled some 2,000 criminal cases during Castor's tenure. Cosby faces up to 10 years in prison on each count but could get far less time under state sentencing guidelines. ___ This story has been corrected to say O'Neill handled 2,000 cases during Castor's tenure, not that Castor served for 20 years. RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Supreme Court of Virginia has dismissed an independent congressional candidate's appeal of a court decision removing her from the race. The court ruled Wednesday against Shaun Brown, who was seeking to challenge U.S. Rep. Scott Taylor and Democrat Elaine Luria in coastal Virginia's competitive 2nd District. The court said Brown hadn't filed necessary documents and that the lower court's order "lacks the finality" needed for the appeal to be considered. Brown was challenging the ruling of a judge who removed her and said the petitions to place her on the ballot contained forged signatures. Staff working for Taylor had collected signatures for Brown. The Republican effort has been widely seen as a strategy to split the Democrat vote. Brown said in an email that she can appeal again. ISLAMABAD (AP) - Pakistan's military says security forces acting on intelligence have raided a militant hideout, triggering a shootout that left three soldiers and four militants dead in the northwest near neighboring Afghanistan. In a statement, the military says Thursday's raid was carried out in the North Waziristan region, which once served as the headquarters of Pakistani Taliban. It said the slain "terrorists" were involved in last year's multiple attacks on security forces. The military gave no further details. Pakistan's army says it has cleared North Waziristan and other regions of militants, but violence has continued. The world's supply of oil hit a record last month, yet another sign of oil's dominance over the energy landscape. The International Energy Agency said Thursday that the global oil supply reached 100 million barrels a day for the first time ever, boosted by rising production in the U.S. and several OPEC nations. Demand for oil grew more slowly in the second quarter but will continue to rise this year and in 2019, the group said. Much of the increase in production is coming from OPEC and the United States, according to IEA, which advises oil-consuming nations. U.S. production has returned to 2014 boom levels, but the energy agency said U.S. output will grow more slowly next year due to bottlenecks in getting oil to markets. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries accounts for about one-third of all production. In August, rising output in Libya, Iraq, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia offset declines in Iran, which is about to face new U.S. sanctions that are already hurting Iranian exports, and in Venezuela. The Paris-based energy agency said falling output in Iran and Venezuela could drive up prices if it is not offset by more production elsewhere. The group said OPEC has another 2.7 million barrels a day of spare production that it could tap, 60 percent of it in Saudi Arabia. Demand for oil grew more slowly in the second quarter, particularly in Europe and Asia but also because of higher gasoline prices in the U.S., the energy group said. It did not change its forecast that worldwide demand will rise 1.4 million barrels a day this year and 1.5 million a day in 2019. Thursday's report underscores how oil continues to be the world's dominant source of energy despite the growth of renewable energy and concern over oil's role in climate change. Various forecasters believe oil use will peak in the next two decades. Wood Mackenzie, a consultant to energy companies, recently estimated that oil consumption would peak in 2036 as the transportation sector shifts to electric vehicles. This "energy transition" is a major discussion at oil-industry conferences. Many oil companies say that demand for their products will be more durable. Exxon Mobil projects that oil will continue to grow at least through 2040 as people in developing nations become more affluent and use more energy. SINGAPORE (AP) - When the Ferrari phone call finally came, Formula One driver Charles Leclerc shouted to his friend to turn the engine off. The name of Ferrrari's team principal flashed on Leclerc's screen last Saturday. "I was on a friend's boat, a motor boat which makes a lot of noise," Leclerc said Thursday at the Singapore GP. "The phone was vibrating and then I saw Maurizio Arrivabene's name. FILE - In this April 5, 2018 file photo, Alfa Romeo-Sauber driver Charles Leclerc answers to reporters at the Formula One Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain. Kimi Raikkonen is leaving Ferrari for Sauber and will be replaced by rookie Charles Leclerc, that will team up with Sebastian Vettel. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) "We were right in the middle of the sea, so I told my friend 'cut the engine, turn everything off, because I have to take this call.'" Moments later, Leclerc celebrated the rare thrill of being named a Ferrari driver - at the even rarer age of 20. "I jumped in the water," said the man from Monaco. It has been quite a leap for Leclerc, who has impressed enough in his debut season with Sauber to replace 2007 F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari next year . But for someone who grew up in an apartment overlooking F1's most famed track, and played with toy Ferrari cars as a young boy, it might seem like fate. "Since I was really little, I always dreamed of driving for Ferrari," Leclerc said. "I called my mother straight away to tell her I'd signed. She thought it was incredible." Raikkonen has six podium finishes in the past seven races, and secured a brilliant pole position at the Italian GP two weeks ago. Ferrari thought about giving the 38-year-old Finn another contract. After all, he has won 20 races and secured 100 F1 podiums, despite taking two years out at his peak to try his luck at rally driving. Raikkonen also has a close working relationship with Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari's other driver. The odds, therefore, were not stacked in Leclerc's favor. "It was difficult. I didn't really know what was going on in the background at Ferrari," Leclerc said at Sauber's motorhome. "I really needed to know the decision, and quickly." After joining Ferrari's prestigious academy in 2016, Leclerc won the GP3 title at the first go. Ditto last year, when he clinched the F2 title. "I think the hype is absolutely justified," Vettel said of Leclerc. "(If) you walk through all the categories like that, then you belong here." Leclerc quickly caught the eye in F1 by finishing an impressive sixth, this with one of the slowest cars, at the Azerbaijan GP in April. "If you're fast and talented then the age doesn't matter," Vettel said. "It's great he gets the opportunity to race in a big team." Leclerc is ambitious and - without being brazen - confident of competing against Vettel. He does not necessarily see himself as No. 2 to the German driver, who has four world titles and won 52 races. "For me it's clear: in any team there is not a No. 1 and a No. 2 driver from the outset," Leclerc said. "That becomes clear after a few races." He considers mental strength his strongest asset. "I don't know if I handle pressure better than others, but I don't really feel it much," he said. Leclerc experienced grief three years ago when F1 driver Jules Bianchi died. The two were childhood friends. When Leclerc started go-karting before the age of four, it was on the track owned by Bianchi's father, who was a close friend of Leclerc's father, Herve. Bianchi mentored Leclerc in his karting years, and was himself touted as a future Ferrari driver. Bianchi died in July, 2015 after having battled to recover from head injuries sustained in a head-on collision at the Japanese Grand Prix in October 2014. He was 25. Leclerc's father also died in June last year, a few days before the F2 Azerbaijan GP. He still took pole position and won. So next year, Leclerc won't just be driving for Ferrari. "I'm very happy to be going to Ferrari, where Jules deserved to go," he said. "I will do my maximum to get the best results for him, and for my father." ___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports ___ Jerome Pugmire on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jeromepugmire BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - A publicist says Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Gene Cornish of The Rascals had a pacemaker implanted after collapsing on stage during a Montana concert. Melissa Kucirek said Thursday a heart arrhythmia caused Cornish to collapse in Billings on Sept. 7 while performing with keyboardist Felix Cavaliere and guest drummer Carmine Appice. Cornish, 74, said he was grateful for the two nurses in attendance who came to his aid, along with others. FILE - In this May 24, 2013, file photo, Gene Cornish, of The Rascals, performs at Hard Rock Live! in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. Publicist Melissa Kucirek said Thursday that the 74-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist is recovering after collapsing on stage in Billings, Mont., on Sept. 7 due to a heart arrhythmia. He had a pacemaker implanted and has been cleared to resume performances in October. (Photo by Jeff Daly/Invision/AP, file) Kucirek says Cornish has been cleared to start his rehabilitation and resume performances in October. Cornish and Cavaliere were two of the founding members of The Rascals in 1965. Their No. 1 hits were "Groovin," ''Good Lovin'" and "People Got to Be Free." They were inducted into the hall in 1997. JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's public security minister says he will replace the country's police chief at the end of his term, which is set to expire this year. The change comes in the midst of police investigations into corruption by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Gilad Erdan announced possible replacements for Roni Alsheikh as national police chief on Thursday. He cited "differences of opinion" with Alsheikh as a reason for not extending his term an additional year. It wasn't clear how, if at all, Alsheikh's departure might affect investigations of Netanyahu. Alsheikh has overseen probes into suspected wrongdoing by the prime minister during his three-year term. Israeli police have already recommended indicting Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in two separate cases. Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing, calling the investigations a "witch hunt." HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Democrats questioned Thursday whether U.S. Senate candidate Matt Rosendale illegally coordinated with the National Rifle Association based on an audio recording of the Montana Republican saying the NRA planned to support his campaign. Rosendale spokesman Shane Scanlon called the accusation baseless and said Rosendale only discussed the NRA's endorsement with the gun-rights group, which is legal. An audio recording posted by The Daily Beast appears to capture Rosendale saying that he expected the NRA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to enter the race against Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in August, and that he had spoken with Chris Cox, executive director of NRA's Institute for Legislative Action, the group's lobbying arm. FILE - In this July 25, 2018, file photo, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Matt Rosendale speaks during the America First Policies event at MetraPark's Montana Pavilion in Billings, Mont. Democrats are questioning whether Rosendale illegally coordinated with the National Rifle Association after an audio recording surfaced of the Montana Republican saying the NRA planned to support his campaign. (Bethany Baker/The Billings Gazette via AP, file) Rosendale's comments came in response to an unidentified speaker's question, asking if outside groups started spending on his behalf. "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," Rosendale says on the recording. "I think both of them will be coming in probably right here in August sometime." "The Supreme Court confirmations, that's what sent the NRA over the line. ... Chris Cox told me, he's like, well we're going to be in this one," Rosendale added. The Daily Beast reported the recording was made by an anonymous source in July during an event in Washington D.C. On Sept. 6, the NRA announced it was launching a "six-figure TV ad campaign" supporting Rosendale and blasting Tester's past votes for Supreme Court justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor and against Neil Gorsuch. Officials from the Tester campaign and the Montana Democratic Party say the recording raises questions of whether Rosendale and the NRA coordinated the ad buy with the campaign, which would be illegal under federal law. The Federal Election Commission says illegal coordination happens when a communication is made in cooperation, consultation or at the request or suggestion of a candidate or a candidate's agent, committee or political party. Groups like the NRA can raise and spend unlimited amounts on elections if they operate independently of candidates. Tester campaign spokesman Chris Meagher said the remarks suggest Rosendale was at a minimum "playing fast and loose with campaign finance laws." Scanlon confirmed the voice on the audio recording was Rosendale's, but said the allegation of illegal coordination was a desperate attempt by Tester to keep his seat. "The only thing this audio proves is that Matt sought the endorsement of the NRA - and we're proud to have it," Scanlon said. "Matt and the NRA have never discussed anything beyond the organization's membership and endorsement process. " NRA-ILA spokeswoman Jennifer Baker also denied campaign coordination by her group. "At no time did NRA-ILA discuss any communications or activities beyond our membership with Matt Rosendale or his campaign. Any assertion otherwise is completely false." Brendan Fischer, an attorney with the Washington, D.C.-based Campaign Legal Center, said it appeared to him that Rosendale was speaking about NRA spending money on ads in the race, because that was the question he was answering. "It appeared from the recording that Rosendale was talking about something other than an endorsement," Fischer said. "It creates an inference that the NRA-ILA had suggested what kind of communication it would be running in the Montana Seante race, and Rosendale assented, which would be coordination." The NRA is one of several outside groups that have poured tens of millions of dollars to influence the outcome of the Montana Senate race, which is one of 10 in the nation this year in which a Democratic incumbent is seeking re-election in a state won by President Donald Trump in 2016. The outcome of the race could help determine whether Republicans retain control of the U.S. Senate. Rosendale received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's endorsement on Aug. 17 but the business organization has not bought any television ads supporting Rosendale or opposing Tester, according to FEC and Federal Communications Commission records. ___ Associated Press writer Matthew Brown in Billings contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) - The head of the government's disaster relief agency said Thursday he never intentionally misused federal vehicles, following a report he was under investigation by the Homeland Security Department's internal watchdog. Brock Long discussed the investigation, first reported by Politico, at a briefing on Hurricane Florence, saying he would cooperate and own up to any mistakes. "Doing something unethical is not part of my DNA and it's not part of my track record in my whole entire career," said Long, who leads the Federal Emergency Management Agency. President Donald Trump, left, listens to a reporters question as FEMA Administrator Brock Long, center, and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, right, listen during a briefing on Hurricane Florence in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Long said the inspector general was looking into vehicle usage, but he didn't confirm that the review concerned his use of an official vehicle. Politico reported Long was under investigation for possibly misusing government resources and personnel on weekend trips home to Hickory, North Carolina. Tyler Houlton, a spokesman for Homeland Security, FEMA's parent agency, referred questions to the inspector general's office, which didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Houlton said in a statement that Homeland Security is "fully focused on preparing for, responding to, and recovering from Hurricane Florence and the storms in the Pacific." He said Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen "is confident in the leadership at FEMA and their proven disaster management ability," he said. Other Trump Administration officials have been investigated for ethics issues related to travel. The former head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, resigned in July after allegations of outsized security spending, first-class flights and a sweetheart condo lease. Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin was fired in March amid questionable travel charges and a growing rebellion in his agency about the privatization of medical care. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price was fired last year after it was disclosed he took costly charter flights instead of commercial planes. Long, who took over last year shortly before Hurricane Harvey struck, said he didn't want the investigation to detract from preparations for a major storm was heading for the U.S. He said he was "100 percent focused" on the Florence, which was barreling toward the Carolina coast. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Thousands of Pacific walruses have again gathered on the northwest shore of Alaska as the Chukchi Sea approaches its annual sea ice minimum. Residents of the Inupiaq village of Point Lay on Aug. 22 reported hearing walruses, said Andrea Medeiros, spokeswoman in Alaska for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Spotters taking part in an annual aerial marine mammal survey on Aug. 30 photographed walruses on a barrier island near Point Lay. An estimated 25,000 animals were there, Medeiros said. This Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 photo provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows hundreds of walruses gathered together on Barrier Island, Alaska. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is monitoring Pacific walruses resting on Alaska's northwest coast. Walruses over the last decade have come to shore on the Alaska and Russia side of the Chukchi Sea as sea ice diminishes because of global warming. (Vickie Beaver/NOAA via AP) "The herd is 2 to 3 miles (3 to 5 kilometers) north of the old village site on the island," Medeiros said. "We are monitoring the herd with the help of local people and U.S. Geological Survey staff who are on site doing research." Walruses over the last decade have come to shore on the Alaska and Russia sides of the Chukchi Sea as sea ice diminishes because of global warming. Walruses use sea ice to rest as they dive to the ocean floor to hunt for clams and snails. When ice recedes north of the shallow continental shelf, walruses head to beaches to rest. The animals lie shoulder to shoulder and can be startled by a polar bear, airplane or hunter. Young animals, especially calves born earlier in the year, are vulnerable to being crushed in stampedes if the herd suddenly seeks refuge in the ocean. The USFWS tries to prevent stampedes by notifying pilots and boat operators to stay away from herds. James MacCracken, a USFWS supervisory biologist, said in response to questions that about 20 carcasses from animals this year have been seen on the beach along with 30 carcasses from last year. The agency expects to monitor walruses at the site until the animals leave, MacCracken said. The agency has received no reports of walruses gathered elsewhere on the Alaska coast or on the Russian side. Russian officials are monitoring four sites in Chukotka, he said, but have no internet access. Walruses spend winters along the edge of ice in the Bering Sea. Mature male walruses remain in the Bering Sea all year and forage from shore. In spring, adult females, young calves and many juvenile walruses migrate north all the way through the Bering Strait to feeding areas in the Chukchi Sea, often staying near the ice edge or pack ice as it recedes north. Sea ice usually melts to its summer minimum sometime in September. The date varies widely, said Agnieszka Gautier of the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado. "NSIDC does not have a precise date at this point," Gautier said by email. "The minimum has gone as late as Sept. 21, in previous years." Walruses were spotted by participants in the Aerial Surveys of Arctic Marine Mammals, an interagency program that documents the distribution and abundance of bowhead, gray, right, fin and beluga whales and other marine mammals. FILE - In this Sept. 2013 photo provided by the United States Geological Survey, walruses gather to rest on the shores of the Chukchi Sea near the coastal village of Point Lay, Alaska. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is monitoring Pacific walruses resting on Alaska's northwest coast. Walruses over the last decade have come to shore on the Alaska and Russia side of the Chukchi Sea as sea ice diminishes because of global warming. (Ryan Kingsbery/United States Geological Survey via AP, file) BOSTON (AP) - The Latest on the sentencing for former New England Mafia boss Francis "Cadillac Frank" Salemme (all times local): 3:20 p.m. A former New England Mafia boss has been sentenced to life in prison for the killing of a nightclub owner in 1993. Eighty-five-year-old Francis "Cadillac Frank" Salemme was sentenced Thursday, nearly three months after he was found guilty of killing Steven DiSarro to prevent him from talking to authorities. His co-defendant, Paul Weadick, also got life in prison. Salemme and Weadick have denied involvement in the killing. Before being sentenced, Salemme stood up and said the "real story" will one day come out. DiSarro's body wasn't found until 2016, when authorities received a tip it was buried behind a building in Providence, Rhode Island. U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling told reporters in June that Salemme's conviction ends a "long and dark chapter" in Boston history. ___ 10:50 a.m. A former New England Mafia boss convicted of killing a nightclub owner in 1993 is set to be sentenced. Eighty-five-year-old Francis Salemme, known as "Cadillac Frank," faces life in prison when he is sentenced Thursday in federal court in Boston. Salemme and his co-defendant, Paul Weadick, were found guilty in June of killing Steven DiSarro to keep him from talking to authorities. Salemme and Weadick have denied involvement in the killing. Salemme was head of the New England family of La Costa Nostra in the early 1990s DiSarro's body wasn't found until 2016, when authorities received a tip it was buried behind a building in Providence, Rhode Island. U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling told reporters in June that Salemme's conviction ends a "long and dark chapter" in Boston history. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The Latest on a global climate summit in San Francisco (all times local): 2:05 p.m. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has drawn criticism from environmental activists for likening them to people advocating for a wall along the U.S-Mexican border even as they vacation in Mexico. Members of the group 1000 Grandmothers protest outside the Moscone Center in San Francisco where the Global Climate Action Summit is being held, on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. The group, which says it is made up of elder women activists working to address the climate crisis, chanted "Listen to your Grandma, no more fracking!" (AP Photo/Juliet Williams) Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch, said in a statement Thursday that Bloomberg and California Gov. Jerry Brown are the crazy ones for refusing to completely reject oil and gas. She called them pro-fracking apologists. Brown and Bloomberg are leading a global climate action summit in San Francisco that has attracted thousands of attendees and hundreds of critics who want more aggressive action against global warming. Bloomberg said that something was crazy when environmentalists protests an environmental conference. He said it reminded him 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." ___ 12:45 p.m. The CEO of one of the world's largest online business software companies is urging fellow technology leaders to help fight climate change. Salesforce CEO Mark Benioff addressed the Global Climate Action Summit Thursday in San Francisco. He says climate change can't be solved by any one person, any scientific community or any business. But he announced that Salesforce and 20 technology companies have signed a pact to "decarbonize." Companies that do so agree to take steps to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide through supply chains, regulations and customer efforts. Salesforce recently opened a 61-story office tower in San Francisco that the company says relies on clean energy to operate. ___ 12:15 p.m. An organization says 27 major cities around the world have seen greenhouse gas emissions peak and decline. The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group said Thursday at a conference in San Francisco that the cities saw emissions decrease at least 10 percent from their peak over a five-year period. The cities include Berlin, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris and San Francisco. Together the cities include about 54 million people. Mayors from around the world attending the Global Climate Action Summit say they are working to increase fleets of electric buses and taxis. ___ 9 a.m. California Gov. Jerry Brown started his global climate summit in San Francisco by saying that President Donald Trump will likely be remembered as a liar and fool when it comes to the environment. The Democratic Brown and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg held a press conference Thursday on the first full day of the summit that is partly a rebuke of the Trump administration. Trump announced last year that he was withdrawing from the landmark 2015 Paris climate accord. His administration is also seeking to boost methane emissions and roll back California's strict vehicle emissions standards. Summit organizers say they are unaware of any U.S. federal officials attending. Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo speaks during the opening plenary of the Global Action Climate Summit Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. The mayor of Paris and other top officials who were instrumental in securing the 2015 U.N. climate accord opened the California summit by talking about the importance of continuing the path to clean energy, despite President Donald Trump's withdrawal of the United States from the pact. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) California Gov. Jerry Brown speaks as Michael Bloomberg, left, listens during a news conference at the Global Action Climate Summit Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. Gov. Brown started his global climate summit by saying that President Donald Trump will likely be remembered as a liar and fool when it comes to the environment. The Democratic Brown and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg held a press conference Thursday on the first full day of the summit that is partly a rebuke of the Trump administration. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Members of the group 1000 Grandmothers protest outside the Moscone Center in San Francisco where the Global Climate Action Summit is being held, on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. The group, which says it is made up of elder women activists working to address the climate crisis, chanted "Listen to your Grandma, no more fracking!" (AP Photo/Juliet Williams) Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo waves after speaking during the opening plenary of the Global Action Climate Summit Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. The mayor of Paris and other top officials who were instrumental in securing the 2015 U.N. climate accord opened the California summit by talking about the importance of continuing the path to clean energy, despite President Donald Trump's withdrawal of the United States from the pact. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Protesters block an entrance to the Moscone Center where the Global Action Climate Summit was taking place Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Protesters block an entrance to the Moscone Center where the Global Action Climate Summit was taking place Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley speaks during the opening plenary of the Global Action Climate Summit Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Johan Rockstrom, left, the Executive Director of the Stockholm Resilience Center, speaks during the opening plenary of the Global Action Climate Summit Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Johan Rockstrom, left, the Executive Director of the Stockholm Resilience Center and Christiana Figueres, Founding Partner, Global Optimism and Convenor, Mission 2020, give a presentation during the opening plenary of the Global Action Climate Summit Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) WASHINGTON (AP) - House lawmakers on Thursday debated a Republican proposal to expand the new tax law by making permanent the individual tax cuts now set to expire in 2026. But the move is undercut by election pressures faced by GOP lawmakers from high-tax states where residents are hurt by the law's limits on state and local tax deductions. The tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee took up the legislation, with the Republican majority prevailing to approve it in a 21-15 party-line vote. Prospects for the measure, which Democrats unanimously oppose, are dim in the Senate - and it may not come to a vote by the full House before the November elections. House Republican leaders are portraying the second crack at tax cuts as championing the middle class and small businesses. "We must keep building off the momentum from last year's tax reform to ensure our economy keeps booming," Republican Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, who heads the committee, said at the start of the session. But as the midterm elections loom in two months, polls are showing only lukewarm support among voters for the $1.5 trillion package of individual and corporate tax cuts that President Donald Trump signed into law in December as his signature legislative achievement. And about a dozen Republican House members, facing tough re-election fights in the high-tax, Democratic-leaning states of New York, New Jersey and California, voted against their party's tax legislation last year. They're likely to oppose this new version, which would make the $10,000 cap on state and local deductions permanent. The GOP lawmakers are pushing to hold onto their seats in relatively affluent suburban districts where Trump is unpopular. The vulnerability of a critical bloc of GOP lawmakers presents an opportunity for Democrats, who are looking to recapture a majority in the House. The new Republican proposal also calls for new tax incentives for savings by creating a "universal savings account" for families that could be used for a range of purposes and would allow the tax-free earnings to be more easily withdrawn than is the case with existing retirement accounts. In addition, the Republican plan would allow the popular, tax-free 529 college savings accounts to also be used to pay for apprenticeship fees and home schooling expenses, as well as to pay off student debt. Also, workers would be able to tap their retirement savings accounts without tax penalty to cover expenses from the birth of a child or an adoption. Startup businesses would be permitted to write off more of their initial costs. Democrats, meanwhile, kept up their criticism of the Republican tax law, as well as the proposed expansion, in the committee session. "Republicans are cutting taxes on the rich for the second time in less than a year," said Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the panel's senior Democrat. Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., called the session "strictly a political exercise" with an eye to the coming elections. In recent months, the new tax law "went over like a wet blanket with our constituents back home," said Kind, who suggested voters are aware that the bulk of tax breaks are going to wealthy Americans and big corporations. The session led by Brady was intended to finish shaping the new legislation and point it toward a vote by the House. A series of Democratic amendments were swiftly defeated by the Republican majority on the panel. They included a measure by Rep. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey to repeal the cap on federal deductions for state and local taxes that came in the new tax law. Residents in states like New York, New Jersey and California could see substantial increases in their federal tax bills next spring because of the deduction cap. Four high-tax states - Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey and New York - already have sued the federal government over the cap, asserting it's aimed at hurting a group of Democratic states and tramples on their constitutional budget-making authority. And a dozen high-tax states have taken or are considering measures to get around the cap. Most of the workarounds take advantage of federal deductions for charitable contributions - which aren't capped - in place of the old deductions for paying state and local income taxes. Prospects for the new tax legislation in the Senate are weak, given the slim Republican majority and concern over the potential for further blowing up the deficit with a new tax cut - without corresponding new revenue sources. NEW YORK (AP) - A one-time Maryland high school honors student who admitted aiding Muslim extremists overseas and helped the U.S. pursue terrorists after his 2011 arrest is a U.S. citizen, a federal appeals panel said Thursday as it erased a pending deportation order. The ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan means 24-year-old Mohammad Hassan Khalid can continue his studies at a Maryland college. His Philadelphia lawyer, Wayne Sachs, called the decision a "very satisfying victory for a well-deserving young man with a bright future." He said the three-judge appeals panel, unlike four earlier courts, "properly focused on the law rather than the petitioner's 'notoriety.'" The U.S. government did not immediately say if it planned to appeal. Circuit Judge Dennis Jacobs wrote that he cannot congratulate Khalid, given that he "plotted sneaking violence against Americans." "He cooperated with the authorities only when, having been caught, he found himself needing another kind of refuge," Jacobs said. Circuit Judge Christopher F. Droney, who wrote the main opinion, explained that Khalid was entitled to citizenship because he was under age 18 when his father gained citizenship. In a footnote, the 2nd Circuit noted that the government indicated that it had no information that Khalid presents a continuing threat to the United States. The appeals court also noted that Khalid maintained that he would be tortured if removed to Pakistan because of his cooperation in federal terrorism investigations. The Department of Homeland Security had sought to remove him to the United Arab Emirates or Pakistan. Khalid entered the United States in 2007 with his family. He was born in the United Arab Emirates, but was a Pakistani citizen because his parents were Pakistani. Khalid was 17 when he was arrested in 2011 after winning a full scholarship to prestigious Johns Hopkins University. Authorities said he had been engaging in radical Islamist chat rooms from his family's small apartment near Baltimore since he was 15. In 2012, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, admitting that he had agreed in his secret online life to raise money and recruit terrorists for jihad. In 2014, he was sentenced to five years in prison. Prosecutors said he deserved leniency from a potential 15-year term because he had helped U.S. authorities pursue various al-Qaida offshoots after his arrest. Khalid, who completed his sentence in 2015, is currently attending college in Maryland, studying cybersecurity, among other things. His lawyer said Khalid is devoted to preventing young people from going down the path had had taken as a teenager. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - A former Arkansas state representative has been sentenced to three years' probation for his role in a bribery scheme. Former Rep. Micah Neal was sentenced Thursday to probation, the first year of which he must serve under house arrest. Neal also must complete 300 hours of community service and pay $200,000 in restitution. Prosecutors said Neal and former state Sen. Jon Woods directed state funds to two nonprofits in exchange for kickbacks which were funneled through a consulting company. Neal pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy. Neal's sentence is significantly lighter than his three co-conspirators'. Woods was sentenced last week to 18 years in prison. Arkansas Business reports the judge granted prosecutors' request for leniency, citing Neal's extensive cooperation. DETROIT (AP) - After selling it on and off in the U.S. for nearly seven decades, Volkswagen has decided to squash its iconic Beetle. The company's American unit announced Thursday that it would end global production of the third-generation bulbous bug in July of next year after offering two special editions for sale. The compact Beetle was introduced in Germany in 1938 during the Nazi era and came to the U.S. 11 years later, where it became a symbol of utilitarian transportation often used by hippies. The iconic car sold for about 30 years before U.S. sales stopped in 1979. The last of the original bugs was produced in Puebla, Mexico, in 2003. FILE- In this April 21, 2017, file photo Volkswagen Beetles displayed during the annual gathering of the "Beetle club" in Yakum, central Israel. Volkswagen says it will stop making its iconic Beetle in July of next year. Volkswagen of America on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, announced the end of production of the third-generation Beetle by introducing two final special editions. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File) Volkswagen revived it in the U.S. in 1998 as a more modern "New Beetle," but it attracted mainly female buyers. The company revamped it for the 2012 model year in an effort to make it appeal to men, giving it a flatter roof, less bulbous shape, a bigger trunk and a navigation system. U.S. 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. The special editions, which come in coupe and convertible body styles, get unique beige and blue colors in addition to the normal hues. They also get standard extra chrome, new wheels and three-color ambient lighting inside. Volkswagen has no immediate plans to revive the Beetle again, but the company wouldn't rule it out. "I would say 'never say never,'" VW of America CEO Hinrich Woebcken said in a statement. The company plans to roll out an electric version of the old Bus in 2022 called the I.D. Buzz. ____ This story has been corrected to include the convertible model in Beetle sales figures. FILE- In this April 21, 2017, file photo Volkswagen Beetles are displayed during the annual gathering of the "Beetle club" in Yakum, central Israel. Volkswagen says it will stop making its iconic Beetle in July of next year. Volkswagen of America on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, announced the end of production of the third-generation Beetle by introducing two final special editions. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File) FILE- In this Nov. 18, 2015, file photo the 2017 Volkswagen Beetle Dune is displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles. Volkswagen says it will stop making its iconic Beetle in July of next year. Volkswagen of America on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, announced the end of production of the third-generation Beetle by introducing two final special editions. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File) CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - The Latest on sexual misconduct at St. Paul's School, a prominent prep school in New Hampshire (all times local): 3:50 p.m. The state's attorney general's office says a prominent New Hampshire prep school was more interested in protecting its reputation than its students but won't charge the school for sexual abuse allegations. New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon MacDonald announces the settlement agreement concerning St. Paul's School at a afternoon news conference in Concord, N.H., on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2108. On Thursday, Owen Labrie, a former student at the school who was convicted in 2015 of sexually assaulting a classmate as part of a game of sexual conquest, challenged a New Hampshire Supreme Court judge's denial of his request for a new trial. (Geoff Forester /The Concord Monitor via AP, Pool) Attorney General Gordon MacDonald said Thursday his office was entering into an agreement with St. Paul's School that will include additional staff training, requirements for reporting abuse and the hiring of a compliance officer. MacDonald said instead of charging the staff following an investigation into sex abuse claims against students dating back decades, the new requirements would have more impact. The school said the agreement was in the best interest of all parties. Thursday's announcement comes hours after lawyers for Owen Labrie argued in front of the New Hampshire Supreme Court for a new trial in his sex assault case. ___ 10:50 a.m. The New Hampshire Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the appeal for a new trial from a prep school graduate who was convicted in 2015 of sexually assaulting a classmate. Owen Labrie is challenging a judge's denial of his request for a new trial. The 21-year-old Labrie, of Tunbridge, Vermont, was acquitted of raping a 15-year-old classmate the previous year as part of a game of sexual conquest at St. Paul's School in Concord. He was convicted of misdemeanor sexual assault and child endangerment, as well as using a computer to lure the girl for sex, a felony requiring him to register as a sex offender. Labrie, whose case will be heard Thursday, also is appealing separately his convictions over ineffective council. MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Student journalists at a Vermont high school who were asked by the principal to remove a story they broke about unprofessional conduct charges against a guidance director can now repost the article. Burlington High School Principal Noel Green said Thursday since the story was published elsewhere, students could republish the story, the school administration said. Students received a tip about the investigation and filed a records request with the state Education Agency. They posted a story Monday night on the BHS Register website based on their findings. "The response we got was really incredible. We were up all night checking our social media," said Nataleigh Noble, 17, one of the four students. Green asked them on Tuesday to take the story off the website. The students removed it, reluctantly. "We felt it was well within our rights to get the news out to the community," said Jenna Peterson, 16, based on a state law passed last year that protects student journalists. The law also protects schools from content that is in danger of "disrupting the ability to perform its educational mission," which Green later cited as the reason for asking the students to take the story down. The students consulted with the Washington-based Student Press Law Center and vowed Thursday morning to fight what they called censorship. The center's legal consultant, Mike Hiestand, disagreed with the school's assessment that the story was creating a substantial disruption. "There's no way that publishing a lawful article about proceedings that have public documentation and all that kind of stuff, there's no way that sort of thing would create a substantial disruption," he said. He said the Vermont law was designed to protect students in situation like this. "There's no allegation, no charge that their story was inaccurate or misleading or anything like that. They simply ... the school administrators, public government officials didn't like the fact that the news was coming out. And that's why this law was passed," he said. The New England First Amendment Coalition and the Vermont Press Association on Thursday criticized the article's removal and called for more education for administrators on the new law. The school district announced in a statement Thursday afternoon that Green had reversed his decision, citing other media picking up the story, "which has been published far and wide," the district said. Green said he was meeting with the student journalists on Friday. The students said they planned to speak at a school board meeting Thursday night and did not want to comment before that. The district said it supported Green's decisions and is grateful for the work of the students and the dialogue between the students and administration. "It is our hope that students and staff will use this case as a learning experience both in and out of the journalism classroom, and that we can grow together," it said. SEATTLE (AP) - 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 news 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." FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2018, file photo, Southern Resident killer whale J50 and her mother, J16, swim off the west coast of Vancouver Island near Port Renfrew, B.C. Teams searched Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, for the sick, critically endangered orca in the waters of Washington state and Canada, but a scientist who closely tracks the population in the Pacific Northwest said he believes the whale, known as J50, has died. (Brian Gisborne/Fisheries and Oceans Canada via AP, file) 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 favorable sighting conditions. Balcomb, who tracks the whales for the U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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. WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump is concocting a story that the death toll from last year's Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico was invented by Democrats to make him look bad. Some fellow Republicans dissociated themselves from his false claims and acknowledged the veracity of an independent study that attributed nearly 3,000 deaths to the 2017 storm and its aftermath. A look at his statements: TRUMP: "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!" -tweets Thursday. FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2018, file photo, President Donald Trump speaks during a Congressional Medal of Honor Society Reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Top Florida Republicans have been quick to say Trump is wrong about the death toll in Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) THE FACTS: Trump's denial of nearly 3,000 deaths is baseless, however imprecise estimated death tolls can be from a disaster. Independent researchers at George Washington University estimated 2,975 excess deaths related to Hurricane Maria in the six months following the hurricane, which hit last September. Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello commissioned the study and accepted the death toll as the best available. Rossello rejected the findings of a different study that estimated more than 4,000 died, saying he found the GWU research with its lower number to be scientifically sound. The study found that 22 percent more people died than would have been expected during that period in a year without the storm. Its central finding has been roughly corroborated by other, similar studies. A second phase will examine the circumstances of specific deaths to arrive at a more precise number. "We are scientists," Dr. Carlos Santos-Burgoa, the lead researcher on the study, told The Associated Press. "We are public health people. We are committed to the health of the population. We try to reach the truth, and we try to understand what is damaging the people in order to prevent disease." Santos-Burgoa is a well-known expert in global health, particularly Latin America. Trump's claim that the death toll was no more than 18 when he visited Puerto Rico, nearly two weeks after the storm, ignores the fact that the U.S. territory's official death toll was raised to 34 later that day, Oct. 3. After that, it climbed to 64. With services devastated, most power out, many people desperate for food and water and roads impassable, it was impossible to know how many died directly from Maria or from floodwaters or deprivation in its immediate aftermath. That's why the official death toll remained relatively low until researchers could examine death records and gain a broader understanding of people's circumstances. It took years to assess the death toll from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 despite the relative accessibility of the Gulf Coast, for example. About 1,800 died from Katrina. Trump was a one-man island in attributing the Puerto Rican death estimate to Democrats. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., saw "no reason to dispute" the estimate. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., tweeted his support of the 3,000 finding and lamented that "These days even tragedy becomes political." Several other Republican lawmakers from Florida similarly rejected Trump's words. Democrats were outraged. Puerto Rico's government is run by the New Progressive Party, a pro-statehood, Puerto Rico-only party made up of both Republicans and Democrats. Rossello is a Democrat who has been generally supportive of Trump. Trump's reference to "two hurricanes" reflects that Hurricane Irma brushed past the island as a Category 5 storm two weeks before Maria made a direct hit as a Category 4. COUNTING THE DEAD: Even as Trump visited Puerto Rico in October, deaths were mounting from lack of fresh water and power. People's medical equipment failed. They couldn't get medicine, diseases spread from contaminated water, and with hospitals and clinics damaged or destroyed, they couldn't get care for ongoing ailments that can become life-threatening without proper care. On that trip, Trump jumped to the conclusion that Puerto Rico was bouncing back, congratulating the island for escaping the higher death toll of "a real catastrophe like Katrina" and describing the Puerto Rico recovery as "nothing short of a miracle" even as people struggled to find water and food outside the capital city in wide swaths of an island where only 5 percent of electricity customers had power back. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides doctors with a set of recommendations for counting such deaths as caused by natural disasters, but the guidelines were almost never followed by Puerto Rican doctors in the chaos after the storm. Santos-Burgoa said the stress of the moment and confusion over how deaths were supposed to be noted contributed to an underreporting of how many died from the storm. Disaster deaths are usually categorized as direct or indirect. For a hurricane, direct deaths include people who drown in a storm surge or flooding, are hit by flying debris or crushed in a wind-toppled building. Indirect deaths are from heart attacks, house fires, electrocutions from downed power lines, car accidents and others fatalities that are less clearly tied to the elements. The National Hurricane Center, when it gives hurricane tallies, only reports direct deaths. Death certificates are the primary source of official death statistics in the U.S. but can take time and don't always include the circumstances. Reports from emergency officials can also count. ___ Associated Press writers Michael Weissenstein in Havana, Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Colleen Long in Washington contributed to this report. ___ GWU study: https://tinyurl.com/yd83unyt __ Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2017 file photo, Nestor Serrano walks on the upstairs floor of his home, where the walls were blown off, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. President Donald Trump's assertion on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, that the federal government's response to Hurricane Maria was "an incredible, unsung success" is falling flat in Puerto Rico, where islanders are still struggling to recover a year later. For many, Trump's boast is hard to square with their daily reality: Blackouts remain common, and nearly 60,000 homes have only a makeshift roof. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the vice president's wife, Karen Pence (all times local): 4:15 p.m. Vice President Mike Pence's wife says military spouses are the "backbone" of military families. Karen Pence sits next to a Comfort Crew Kit to be given to a military child during an interview with The Associated Press at the Vice President's residence, the Naval Observatory, in Washington, Monday, Sept. 10, 2018. Being married to the vice president has its privileges. "Now people take my phone calls," Karen Pence told The Associated Press in an interview. These days, Vice President Mike Pence's wife is using her new cachet to call around on behalf of military spouses, looking to help them overcome the challenges that come with being wed to an active-duty service member.(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) She announced Thursday during a speech at the Army's Fort Carson in Colorado that she wants to help make sure military spouses know where to get the support and services they need. Mrs. Pence says a big issue spouses have told her about is getting a new professional license to continue in their careers every time they relocate, which can happen every few years. She pointed out that spouses are now eligible to be reimbursed for relicensing costs under a new policy in a defense bill that President Donald Trump recently signed into law. Mrs. Pence says she moved often because of her husband's job and understands "a little bit" what military spouses go through. ___ 6 a.m. Being married to the vice president has its privileges. Vice President Mike Pence's wife, Karen Pence, says one is that "now people take my phone calls." She is using her new cachet these days to call around on behalf of military spouses. She wants to be their voice and help them overcome the challenges that come with being wed to an active-duty service member. One such issue is getting states to accept out-of-state professional licenses instead of making military spouses get new licenses every time they have to relocate. Mrs. Pence says the issue can affect military readiness. She plans to address it in a speech Thursday at Fort Carson, Colorado, that will mark the beginning of a campaign to elevate, encourage and thank military spouses. Karen Pence speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the Vice President's residence, the Naval Observatory, in Washington, Monday, Sept. 10, 2018. "Now people take my phone calls," Karen Pence told The Associated Press in an interview. These days, Vice President Mike Pence's wife is using her new cachet to call around on behalf of military spouses, looking to help them overcome the challenges that come with being wed to an active-duty service member. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) WASHINGTON (AP) - With all attention on Hurricane Florence, Republicans are dealing with a separate, familiar kind of storm in the halls of Congress - one of the president's own making. As happens often, congressional Republicans were blindsided Thursday morning by a tweet, as President Donald Trump challenged without evidence the official conclusion that nearly 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico from last year's Hurricane Maria. He falsely claimed the number had been inflated by Democrats "in order to make me look as bad as possible." Democrats immediately had cutting words for the president, with various lawmakers calling his tweets "horrifying" and an attempt to "gaslight our nation." House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., attends a news conference, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Washington. Ryan is rejecting President Donald Trump's assertion an official government death toll for last year's hurricane in Puerto Rico is wrong. The Wisconsin Republican says he has "no reason to dispute" a study that found nearly 3,000 people on the island died from Hurricane Maria last year. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) It wasn't as simple for Republicans, who did all sorts of familiar dances - ones they've been doing since the presidential election - when responding to questions in the hallways of the Capitol. The day quickly became a case study in the tactics that Republicans use to avoid crossing Trump, who rarely forgets a slight. One frequent tactic is claiming ignorance: "I haven't read it yet," said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Trump's tweet as he walked away from reporters. Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah took a similar line. "I can't really comment because I don't know anything about it," Hatch said outside of a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting to consider Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination. He declined to comment even after reporters described what Trump wrote. Another frequent tactic for Republicans is stating that they have a policy of not commenting on Trump's tweets. "I don't want to comment on what the president said," said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who went on to ask why estimates of the dead had sharply increased over the last year. Grassley also told reporters that "I don't know the president's motivations on a lot of things unless I talk to him personally." Some blamed the media. Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, defended the federal government's efforts in Puerto Rico and said he didn't have any detail on the numbers of the dead. When pressed on the tweets, Cornyn grew frustrated. "I thought you all wanted to talk about the Kavanaugh nomination," he said. "So if anybody has anything else they want to talk about?" Some appeared to be working to calm the president down. "Casualties don't make a person look bad," said House Speaker Paul Ryan. "So I have no reason to dispute those numbers." Ryan added: "This was a devastating storm that hit an isolated island and that's really no one's fault. That is just what happened." South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a friend of Trump's who talks to him often, said he thinks Trump "sees every attack on him as sort of undercutting his legitimacy. I don't think it's bad to say we could have done better in Puerto Rico." Graham also defended the president, saying he doesn't think he's indifferent to people who live on the island. He said he wants to find out more about what the numbers are, and thinks Congress should look into it. The number of dead in Hurricane Maria was raised from 64 to 2,975 by Puerto Rico's governor last month after an independent study assessed that there had been an undercount of people who had died in the aftermath. Previous reports from the Puerto Rican government said the number was closer to 1,400. "I don't know who picked the number 3,000," Graham said. "I don't know how they arrived at the information." A small number of Republicans seemed to side with the president. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who is in a tough race for re-election this year, appeared to agree with Trump, saying there is "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." Rarest of all was direct criticism. Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who represents South Florida and is retiring from Congress, took the lonely route of rebuking Trump. She called the comments part of Trump's "theater of the absurd." "You can question maybe the methodology, that's fine, but to cast doubt on an entire study because it doesn't suit your political narrative and because you think hundreds of deaths are about you, that dishonors the living and the dead," she said. And as always, there were lawmakers who asked why the parties can't get along. This time it was two Florida Republicans who, like Ros-Lehtinen, know something about hurricane recovery. Sen. Marco Rubio, who ran against Trump for president, said that "even tragedy" is politicized these days. "We all need to stop the blame game & focus on recovery, helping those still hurting & fixing the mistakes," he tweeted. Rep. Carlos Curbelo said both sides had politicized the Puerto Rico response. "As usual, what we need more of is sobriety and seriousness here, and that seems to be lacking," he said. ___ Associated Press writers Alan Fram, Kevin Freking and Matthew Daly contributed to this report. CHICAGO (AP) - The Latest on the release of a new plan to reform Chicago police (all times local): 3:30 p.m. Chicago's police union says an updated plan to reform the department under court supervision is unnecessary and counterproductive. Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel flanked by Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and Attorney General Lisa Madigan, announce that they have filed a proposed consent decree in federal court to reform the Chicago Police Department, during a news conference, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2918 in Chicago. The 226-page document was submitted Thursday to a Chicago federal judge. (Antonio Perez /Chicago Tribune via AP) Kevin Graham, who heads the Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge 7, said in a statement Thursday that the plan "will have a devastating effect upon policing in Chicago" and would undermine the union's collective bargaining agreement with the city. He didn't detail his objections. His comments came hours after Chicago's mayor and Illinois' attorney general unveiled the reworked plan for what they say will be far-reaching, permanent reforms. It still requires court approval. Graham previously criticized a provision that would require officers to file paperwork whenever they point a gun at someone, even if they don't fire. He said it would cause officers to hesitate, putting them in greater danger. ___ 12:10 p.m. Chicago's mayor and Illinois' attorney general have unveiled an updated plan to reform the city's police, vowing permanent changes within the 12,000-officer force. The 226-page document was submitted Thursday to a Chicago federal judge. Changes made since an initial draft in July include a provision requiring officers file paperwork whenever they point a gun at someone. Mayor Rahm Emanuel says there have been seven attempts over 100 years to reform the police. He says this one "will stand that test of time." A damning Justice Department report released in January 2017 found racial bias and excessive use of force by Chicago police. Attorney General Lisa Madigan, with Emanuel's approval, sued Chicago last year to ensure reforms include court oversight. After public comment, the judge could OK it by year's end. CHICAGO (AP) - The Latest on the trial of Chicago Police officer charged with murder in the shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald (all times local): 3:55 p.m. Opening statements are expected to begin Monday in the murder trial of a white Chicago Police officer charged in the 2014 shooting death of black teen Laquan McDonald. FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, file photo, Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke, charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald in 2014, listens during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago. Jury selection is expected to resume for the trial of Van Dyke after the effort was called off Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, due to a scheduling conflict for the trial's presiding Judge Vincent Gaughan. Van Dyke has pleaded not guilty. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool, File) The final two jurors and five alternates - one more than originally planned - were selected Thursday after three days of questioning potential jurors. The 12-person jury is composed of seven whites, three Hispanics, one Asian-American and one African-American. One issue that remains is whether the jury or Judge Vincent Gaughan will decide Van Dyke's fate. On Thursday, the judge gave defense attorneys until Friday to announce whether they want a jury or bench trial. Also, Van Dyke's attorneys have asked that the trial be moved because they say pretrial publicity has made it impossible for the officer to get a fair trial. ___ 11:41 a.m. The last two jurors in the murder trial of a white Chicago police officer charged in the 2014 shooting death of black teen Laquan McDonald have been selected. The judge has now given the officer's lawyers until Friday to decide whether they want the jury or a judge to decide the case. Under Illinois law, Jason Van Dyke's attorneys can demand a bench trial before the 12th juror is sworn in. The 11th and 12th jurors were picked Thursday, but Judge Vincent Gaughan told Van Dyke's attorneys they could announce their decision Friday. Four alternate jurors must still be picked before a jury trial can begin. Van Dyke's attorneys have asked that the trial be moved because they say pretrial publicity has made it impossible for the officer to get a fair trial. Gaughan hasn't ruled on that request. WASHINGTON (AP) - Behold the awesome power of water. Already the ocean is swallowing beaches, roads and anything else in the way of Hurricane Florence's monstrous storm surge. Storm surges aren't walls of water, like a tsunami, as commonly thought. Caused by a hurricane's winds pushing relentlessly on the shore, they are more like domes of high water that form as the ocean spreads inland. The high water has destructive waves on top, and it comes in addition to normal tides. "You are taking the ocean and raising it," said storm surge expert Hal Needham, director of Marine Weather and Climate in Miami. "It's not a wave the surfer rides. It's actually raising the ocean. That's why it's so scary." Ocean water rushes down Cape Hatteras Pier Drive in Frisco, N.C., on Hatteras Island as the effects of Hurricane Florence reach the area on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (Steve Earley /The Virginian-Pilot via AP) Florence's storm surge will probably be 7 to 11 feet above ground in parts of North Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center. Other areas can expect the surge to be taller than the average person - nearly 6 feet or higher. Even if a house is elevated 10 feet, with that kind of storm surge, "there's a good chance there's going to be water inside of it," Needham said. With Florence moving slowly and stalling, the storm surge is going to be a bigger, longer-term factor than normal because the water "just keeps piling up," Needham said. It's not just beach areas that are at risk. Storm surge invades rivers and estuaries, too. And National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham said that's a particular worry with Florence. "These bays, these rivers and these inlets, there's so much storm surge the water is being literally forced to flow the opposite direction," Graham said. "You can get storm surge even several miles inland." While hurricane-force winds can rip the roofs off houses, it is the water - storm surge, inland flooding, surf and drowning at sea - that kills nearly 9 out of 10 people in hurricanes like Florence. And of all those, storm surge is the deadliest. From 1963 to 2012, 49 percent of U.S. hurricane deaths were from storm surge, 27 percent from rain, 8 percent from wind, 6 percent from surf, 6 percent were offshore and 3 percent from tornadoes, according to a National Hurricane Center study . The deadliest hurricanes to hit the U.S. mainland killed most of their victims with storm surge, including 2005's Katrina, said Jeff Masters, meteorology director at Weather Underground. But last year, even with hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, no one in the United States died of storm surge, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced . It was the first year that the hurricane center had started new storm surge warnings. Mostly people are getting better at evacuating, with three-quarters of the Florida Keys fleeing before Irma, Masters said. Storm surge is also the source of vast amounts of damage. Masters estimated that storm surge caused at least $3 billion in damage, compared with maybe $1 billion for wind damage. Damaged or destroyed buildings are often rebuilt in the same surge-prone areas, with government aid, he said. Needham, who drove all night from Miami to North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to watch and record the storm surge from the relative safety of a parking garage, said the storm surge had "already gobbled up the beach" there. "It's just going to be an interesting ride," Needham said. "I could not sit home and watch it on TV. I had to be there." The worst storm surge comes in with a hurricane's eye, and it arrives "with a lot of debris to batter you, and it's not particularly survivable," Masters said. Storm surge is higher in the right-front quadrant of a storm because the system's counterclockwise motion pushes more water inland, Masters said. Sometimes in the opposite quadrant there's a reverse storm surge that makes the ocean retreat. That's particularly dangerous because the ocean comes back quickly with 6 feet or more of water. Storm surge is higher when the water just off the beach is shallower, Needham said. Think of it like a giant aquarium filled to the brim. If a large rock in thrown in, it spills over. But if the aquarium is not full, it's only a ripple. Tides are another factor. The surge is highest when the tides are high. The coast of the Carolinas is about middle of the road with about 4 to 5 feet of difference between high and low tides. The shape of the coastline is another factor. If it is bowl-shaped, like in Georgia and South Carolina, the surge is deeper, but when it is the opposite shape, like the Outer Banks, it's less so, Needham said. Seas have risen from global warming, making all of this even worse. In Wilmington, North Carolina, the sea level is close to 8 inches higher than in 1935, according to NOAA. Those few inches can mean the difference between staying dry and enduring costly damage. ___ Associated Press Writer Jennifer Kay in Miami contributed to this report. ___ Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter: @borenbears . His work can be found here . ___ The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. __ For the latest on Hurricane Florence, visit https://www.apnews.com/tag/Hurricanes . Isle of Palms Fire Chief Ann Graham, at left, and Isle of Palms police officer Thomas Molino III raise a tropical storm warning flag over the Isle of Palms Connector shortly after Charleston County, S.C., went under a tropical storm warning due to Hurricane Florence Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Isle of Palms, S.C. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) Ocean waters rushes down Hwy 12 in Frisco, N.C., on Hatteras Island as the effects of Hurricane Florence breach the dune line on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (Steve Earley /The Virginian-Pilot via AP) Waves slam the Oceana Pier & Pier House Restaurant in Atlantic Beach, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 as Hurricane Florence approaches the area. (Travis Long/The News & Observer via AP) Waves slam the Oceana Pier & Pier House Restaurant in Atlantic Beach, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 as Hurricane Florence approaches the area. (Travis Long /The News & Observer via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) - The expected high winds and slow movement of Hurricane Florence as it comes ashore will make rescue efforts challenging in the flooded areas, top Pentagon leaders said Thursday as the massive storm edged into the Carolinas. Air Force Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, head of U.S. Northern Command, said that while search and rescue is a top priority, the weather may prevent rescuers from getting in during the hours immediately after the storm hits. "This particular storm I think is going to be challenging," O'Shaughnessy told reporters during a Pentagon briefing. "Because of the slow-moving nature of the storm, it could very well stay with high winds, inclement weather for a long period of time, which is going to mean that any rescue effort is going to take time." He said it's not clear how many people refused to evacuate and have hunkered down in their homes or shelters. But getting to any of those in need will be difficult in the early stages of the storm. According to O-Shaughnessy, there are about 7,000 U.S. military forces, including 4,000 National Guard and 3,000 active duty, currently in place and ready to respond to the storm, along with ships, helicopters, high-wheeled vehicles and other equipment. And, thousands of additional troops have been ordered to prepare to deploy if needed. He warned that while local National Guard forces are well-positioned to respond to search and rescue needs, "the magnitude of the storm may exceed their capability." If that happens, he said the active duty troops and Coast Guard will be ready "at a moment's notice." The military, he said, has "quite literally surrounded the expected affected area" with forces at sea ready to chase the storm inward, and others ready to drive into the flooded zones in heavy, high-wheeled trucks from the south and west. About 240 high-water vehicles are available, and O-Shaughnessy said the military has been moving the trucks to keep them as close to the storm as possible, so they may be able to begin search and rescue more quickly, if the ships can't get ashore fast enough. The Navy's amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge and the amphibious transport ship USS Arlington are ready to respond, with about 800 Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard. According to Navy Lt. Jamie Seibel, the ships already have the resources and supplies they need, including a fleet surgical team, engineers and damage assessment personnel, as well as heavy and medium lift helicopters, search and rescue aircraft and smaller ship-to-shore landing craft. A number of military bases in Virginia, Alabama and the Carolinas are being used as staging bases for aid. Dozens of helicopters and trucks have been stationed at those bases and further out in Kentucky, Georgia, Texas, Arizona, New York, and Delaware. Federal and state officials have often struggled with gaps in emergency response during previous storms, because they were waiting for local authorities to make official requests for aid. O'Shaughnessy and Kenneth Rapuano, the assistant defense secretary for homeland defense, said the Pentagon has pre-approved any expected requests for life-saving assistances the states may make. Marines riding out the hurricane at Camp Lejeune will be able to move quickly to support local authorities and help citizens nearby. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Latest on Elizabeth Smart's reaction to the release of one of her kidnappers (all times local): 4:15 p.m. Elizabeth Smart says she has no desire to talk to her kidnapper after her unexpected release from prison next week. Elizabeth Smart arrives for a news conference Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Smart says it appears there is no viable, legal recourse she can take to stop the release of one of her kidnappers. Smart said at a news conference Thursday in Salt Lake City that she only found out about 72-year-old Wanda Barzee's release shortly before the public did. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) When asked during a news conference Thursday if she had any message for Wanda Barzee, Smart says she has nothing to say. Smart says she forgave the 72-year-old several years ago but that forgiveness does not mean "allowing her back into my life." Smart says she made the decision a long time ago that she never wanted to see or talk to Barzee again. Barzee and her husband, a former street preacher, abducted a then 14-year-old Smart from her Salt Lake City bedroom in 2002. Smart was recognized and rescued after nine months. Utah authorities say they miscalculated the time Barzee already served in federal prison. ___ 4 p.m. Elizabeth Smart says it appears there is no viable, legal recourse she can take to stop the release of one of her kidnappers. Smart said at a news conference Thursday in Salt Lake City that she only found out about 72-year-old Wanda Barzee's release shortly before the public did. She says she is trying to learn as much information as she can and explore any options. Her father, Ed Smart, was also present and said his daughter, as a kidnapping survivor, should have been notified long ago. Barzee pleaded guilty to helping a former street preacher kidnap Smart in 2002 and keep her captive for nine months before the girl was found and rescued. Utah authorities say they had miscalculated the time 72-year-old Wanda Barzee previously served in federal prison. ___ 3:45 p.m. Elizabeth Smart said Thursday she is urging authorities to reconsider the planned release of one of her kidnappers, calling Wanda Barzee a danger to her and the community. "I think she is a threat to any vulnerable person in our community," Smart said at a press conference in Salt Lake City. Barzee pleaded guilty to helping a former street preacher kidnap Smart in 2002 and keep her captive for nine months before the girl was found and rescued. 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. 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. Mitchell is serving a life sentence. ___ 3:40 p.m. Elizabeth Smart is asking authorities to reconsider the planned release of one of her kidnappers, saying Wanda Barzee remains a threat to her. Barzee will be freed next week after Utah authorities determined they had miscalculated the time she spent in federal custody. ___ 12:48 p.m. Elizabeth Smart is set to discuss the surprise announcement that one of the people who kidnapped her when she was 14 will be released from prison. Smart is scheduled to hold a news conference Thursday on the release of 72-year-old Wanda Barzee, who will be freed next week. Utah authorities determined they had miscalculated the time Barzee previously served in federal custody. Smart has called it "incomprehensible" that Barzee would be freed despite failing to undergo mental health evaluations or attend a June parole hearing. Smart, now a 30-year-old speaker and activist, said in a statement Tuesday she was exploring her options. Barzee pleaded guilty to helping a former street preacher kidnap Smart in 2002 and keep her captive for nine months before the girl was found and rescued. Elizabeth Smart speaks during a news conference while her father Ed Smart looks on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Smart says it appears there is no viable, legal recourse she can take to stop the release of one of her kidnappers. Smart said at a news conference Thursday in Salt Lake City that she only found out about 72-year-old Wanda Barzee's release shortly before the public did. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) FILE - In this April 24, 2015, file photo, kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart looks on during a news conference in Sandy, Utah. Wanda Barzee, a woman convicted of helping a former street preacher kidnap Smart in 2002 will be freed from prison more than five years earlier than expected, a surprise decision that Smart called "incomprehensible" on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) FILE - This 2017 photo provided by the Utah Department of Corrections shows Wanda Barzee. Barzee, a woman convicted of helping a former street preacher kidnap Elizabeth Smart as a teenager from her Salt Lake City bedroom in 2002 and held her captive will be released from prison next week. The surprise move announced Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, comes after authorities determined they had miscalculated the time 72-year-old Barzee previously served in federal custody. (Utah Department of Corrections via AP) FILE - In this Dec. 10 2010, file photo, Brian David Mitchell is escorted by a U.S. Marshall as he arrives at the federal courthouse in Salt Lake City. Wanda Barzee, a woman convicted of helping the former street preacher kidnap Elizabeth Smart in 2002 will be freed from prison more than five years earlier than expected, a surprise decision that Smart called "incomprehensible" on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. Mitchell is serving a life sentence after being convicted of kidnapping and raping Smart. He and Barzee were married at one point. (AP Photo/Colin E Braley, File ) SAN DIEGO (AP) - The Trump administration has agreed to reconsider asylum claims of many parents and children who were separated at the Mexican border under an agreement to settle lawsuits over its "zero-tolerance" policy on illegal crossings. The settlement could give "well over 1,000 parents" a second chance at asylum, according to two groups involved in the litigation, Muslim Advocates and Legal Aid Justice Center. The agreement, reached late Wednesday and subject to the approval of a federal judge, follows weeks of negotiations over claims by lawyers for separated parents and children that their clients were not treated fairly when seeking asylum. The judge is expected to consider the deal at a hearing on Friday. If approved, it would mark a victory for some of the 2,500 children - as well as their parents - who were separated at the border under the zero tolerance initiative and still remain in the United States. President Donald Trump effectively ended family separations on June 20 amid heavy criticism. The agreement leaves open the possibility that some of the hundreds of parents deported without their children can return to the United States, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which sued the government. Those claims would be considered on a case-by-case. Immigration lawyers have said some parents were misled into dropping asylum bids on the mistaken belief that it would allow them to rejoin their children. 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. A house is destroyed in Lawrence, Mass., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 after a series of gas explosions in the area. First-responders continued to fight at least 50 fires in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover Mass., Thursday. The fires are being attributed to problems with the natural gas system and officials are urging residents to leave their homes if they smell gas. (Carl Russo/The Eagle-Tribune via AP) "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 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. Multiple fire trucks from surrounding communities arrive Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Lawrence, Mass., 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. (AP Photo/Phil Marcelo) 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 communities north of Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) Bruce Razin, 59, talks to his family on his cell phone outside his evacuated neighborhood Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Lawrence, Mass. Evacuations were ordered after a series of gas explosions and fires triggered by a problem with a gas line that feeds homes in several communities north of Boston. (AP Photo/Phil Marcelo) Ra Nam, right, with his sons Evan, left, and Tristan, center, wait in a parking lot outside their Colonial Heights neighborhood which was evacuated Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Lawrence, Mass., due to fires and explosions triggered by a problem with a gas line that feeds homes in several communities north of Boston. (AP Photo/Phil Marcelo) In this image take from video provided by WCVB in Boston, flames burn through 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 across three communities north of Boston. (WCVB via AP) 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 responded to what they believe is a series of gas explosions that have damaged homes across three communities north of Boston. (WCVB via AP) In this image take from video provided by WCVB in Boston, firefighters battle a large structure 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 have damaged homes across three communities north of Boston. (WCVB via AP) In this image take from video provided by WCVB in Boston, firefighters battle a large structure 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 have damaged homes across three communities north of Boston. (WCVB via AP) 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 communities north of Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) 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 damaged homes across three communities north of Boston. (WCVB via AP) 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 across three communities north of Boston. (WCVB via AP) In this image take from video provided by WCVB in Boston, flames rise from a house 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 across three communities north of Boston. (WCVB via AP) 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 have damaged homes across three communities north of Boston. (WCVB via AP) Police officers man a checkpoint as multiple fire trucks from surrounding communities are staged along a road Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Lawrence, Mass. A problem with a gas line that feeds homes in several communities north of Boston triggered a series of gas explosions and fires. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) Crews work to knock down a fire 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 are blaming over-pressurized gas lines and previously told all residents with Columbia Gas service in those areas to evacuate. (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via AP) 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. (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via AP) UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United States accused Russia on Thursday of pressuring an independent panel of U.N. experts to alter a report on sanctions against North Korea that included alleged sanctions violations "implicating Russian actors." U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley expressed disappointment in the panel monitoring sanctions against North Korea "for caving to Russian pressure and making changes to what should have been an independent report." She called it "a stain" on the experts' important work. Haley said the panel should release the original report, which cited "a massive increase in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products" for North Korea in violation of U.N. sanctions. It said some products allegedly were off-loaded from Russian ships. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said in late August that he put a hold on the report's release "because we disagree with certain elements" that he refused to disclose. A summary of the experts report obtained in early August by The Associated Press also said North Korea has not stopped its nuclear and missile programs. And it said North Korea is violating sanctions by transferring coal at sea and flouting an arms embargo and financial sanctions. The dispute between Russia and the U.S as well as Western and other Security Council members has delayed the official release of the six-month report by the expert panel monitoring sanctions against North Korea. After the initial experts' report was released, Russia and China blocked the U.N. from imposing sanctions on Russia-based entities and vessels sanctioned a week earlier by the U.S. Treasury Department. The Russian news agency TASS quoted Russia's U.N. Mission as saying the proposed sanctions were "unjustified." The Security Council has remained united in imposing tougher and tougher sanctions on North Korea, but the differences over the experts' report mark a first dent in that unity. U.N. diplomats familiar with discussions said Russia was angered that the panel used a lot of U.S. intelligence in the initial report that Moscow claimed was incorrect. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because talks were private. Haley said Russian interference "sets an unacceptable precedent that damages the sanctity of the U.N. independent panel reporting process." PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - An Oregon grand jury on Thursday cleared two Portland State University campus safety officers in the fatal shooting of a legally armed black man outside a bar in a case that has focused attention on whether campus officers should be carrying weapons. The grand jury deliberated for two days before finding that PSU officers James Dewey and Shawn McKenzie should not face criminal charges in the June 29 incident, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office said. The death of Jason Washington, a 45-year-old Navy veteran, father of three and grandfather, prompted protests against PSU's 2014 decision to arm its campus security officers despite concerns raised by students. FILE - In this June 29, 2018, file photo, police stand outside across from The Cheerful Tortoise bar at the scene of an earlier shooting in Portland, Ore. An Oregon grand jury on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, cleared two Portland State University campus safety officers in the fatal shooting of a black man outside a bar. (Shane Dixon/The Oregonian via AP, File) Washington's widow, Michelle Washington, said in a statement that her family was disappointed and would consult their private attorney on possible next steps. "We want those responsible for the death of my husband to be held accountable," she said. "We will always remember and love Jason and know he was needlessly killed while attempting to keep the peace." Portland State University's president said he had hired two independent firms, one to examine the school's policy of arming campus police and another to conduct its own investigation into the shooting. "Mr. Washington's death has deeply shaken all those involved as well as the greater campus community, and we are determined to learn from it," said PSU President Rahmat Shoureshi. "My hope is that our actions following this tragedy will help make our campus and community a safer place for years to come." Shoureshi invited students and community members to attend an Oct. 4 trustees meeting, and the PSU Student Union said its members would be there in force. They are also planning a rally later this month. "It is evident to us he was a victim of racial profiling from PSU police. This is why we do not, and have never wanted armed police officers on PSU's campus," the student union posted on their Twitter account. Cellphone video shot by a witness shows Washington repeatedly trying to restrain a friend as a group of other men follow them down a sidewalk. It seems as if Washington is about to succeed in getting his friend inside and away from a fight when the friend breaks away and swings at someone and is knocked to the ground. Washington enters the fray and is also knocked down. As he falls, a black object can be seen in his hip pocket. The camera jerks away from the action shortly after the fall and doesn't show the shooting, but someone can be heard shouting, "Gun!" Witness Keyaira Smith, who shot the video, told several news outlets at the time that the object was a gun. Washington was shot as he was trying to retrieve it from the sidewalk, she has said. Washington had a valid license to carry a concealed weapon in Multnomah County, which includes Portland. He was an employee of the U.S. Postal Service. Prosecutors declined to comment further on the grand jury decision. Under state law, the transcript from the grand jury hearing can be released after 10 days unless Dewey and McKenzie make a successful motion for a protective order to seal all or part of the document. The Portland Police Bureau, which handled the investigation, did not immediately respond Thursday to a public records request for the police report. ____ Follow Gillian Flaccus on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A humbled Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, one of the most endangered state executives in the country, promised Thursday to be less confrontational and more understanding of his political opponents' views if voters give him a second chance in the November election. Fighting an uphill battle for re-election in a Democratic-leaning state, the first-term Republican delivered an unorthodox address that was part apology, part State of the State address, and part stump speech. Gone was the brash talk of the private-equity investor who once suggested a government shutdown might be necessary to reform the state. Rauner acknowledged that he misjudged the difficulty of government change, and that his stubbornness helped enable a painful, two-year budget standoff with majority Democrats in the Legislature. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner speaks Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, at the Chicago Hilton, where he gave a speech outlining his campaign for re-election. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune via AP) "In divided government, you can't fix things all at once. You have to be willing to accept incremental improvements. You can't sacrifice progress for the sake of winning an argument," Rauner said. A multimillionaire who swept into office in 2014 with a "turnaround agenda," Rauner promised to cut taxes and spending, crimp union power, curb business regulation and restore trust in government with term limits. But he walked head-on into a Democratic-controlled General Assembly and Michael Madigan of Chicago, the longest-service state House speaker in the nation's history. Their locked horns prompted a fiscal stalemate that cost billions of dollars in debt and decimated social services and other programs. He managed to anger both Democrats and many of members of his own party, and barely eked out a win in the Republican primary for re-election in March over a conservative state legislator. An NBC News/Marist Poll released Aug. 22 had him trailing Democratic governor nominee J.B. Pritzker by 16 percentage points with 13 percent of the registered voters surveyed undecided. Pritzker, the billionaire heir to the Hyatt hotel chain who has poured tens of millions of his own money into the race, said in a statement that the governor has been a failure. "For four years, Rauner lurched the state from crisis to crisis, failing to accomplish anything of note on his agenda and wreaking havoc on Illinois' families," Pritzker said. Rauner acknowledged that the budget mess was "painful" and kept him up nights "worrying about the disruption that many families experienced. All of us elected officials let you down in that struggle." But he took credit for creating 210,000 new jobs during his term, increasing spending on public schools, and for education funding reform Democrats and the GOP worked out in the Legislature and which Rauner signed. The governor also praised the bipartisan way a second consecutive state budget was agreed last spring after he was at loggerheads with Democrats during the first two years of his term. "The disruption, the arguments, the negotiations of the past four years have laid the groundwork for real and necessary change," Rauner said. "We can continue to move, albeit more slowly than I'd proposed, towards the change that Illinois needs." ___ Associated Press writer Sara Burnett contributed from Chicago. ___ Follow Political Writer John O'Connor at https://twitter.com/apoconnor . His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/john%20o'connor ___ Sign up to have a weekly roundup of our best 2018 election coverage delivered straight to your inbox: http://apne.ws/hzZJF7Z Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner greets a crowd Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, at the Chicago Hilton, where he governor gave a speech outlining his campaign for re-election. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune via AP) LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. (AP) - An Arizona state lawmaker who was seen on video bragging about driving more than 120 mph (193 kph) earlier this year pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge for speeding Thursday. The Today's News-Herald newspaper reported Thursday that the warrant was issued Sept. 6 after State Rep. Paul Mosley failed to appear in court a day earlier on a charge of excessive speed. The Republican legislator from Lake Havasu City appeared in Parker Justice Court and was released without bail pending an Oct. 18 hearing. FILE - This file photo from March 27, 2018, law enforcement body camera video from the La Paz County Sheriff's Office shows Arizona state Rep. Paul Mosley during a traffic stop outside Parker, Ariz. An arrest warrant has been issued for Mosley, who attracted national headlines after a video captured him bragging about driving over 120 mph earlier this year. According to Today's News-Herald, the warrant was issued Sept. 6, 2018, in Parker Justice Court after Mosley failed to appear on Sept. 5. (La Paz County Sheriff's Office/KLPZ/ParkerLiveOnline via AP, File) Mosley didn't immediately respond to a telephone call Thursday or an email sent to his office at the Capitol building in Phoenix seeking comment on his case. In March, Mosley told a La Paz County Sheriff's deputy who pulled him over that he had previously driven at speeds of 120 mph (193 kph) or higher and should not be cited because of legislative immunity. Mosley apologized in July after the video first shown on a local broadcaster's website was widely disseminated by other news media. Arizona's constitution provides for immunity from arrest for state lawmakers "in all cases except treason, felony, and breach of the peace, and they shall not be subject to any civil process during the session of the legislature, nor for fifteen days next before the commencement of each session." But a document from November 2002 shared by the Arizona state House Rules Committee says speeding tickets - as well as violations for driving under the influence - are not covered. After the controversy over the video erupted, the Republican Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order stating "law enforcement officers employed by the State of Arizona have the constitutional and legal authority to hold elected officials accountable when they endanger public safety with criminal violations, including speeding, reckless driving and driving under the influence." The traffic stop was the subject of a complaint filed with the Arizona's House ethics committee. Mosley was elected in 2016 but lost the August Republican primary to Leo Biasiucci. The video cost Mosley the endorsement of the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police, which represents law enforcement officers. The group's president said Mosley's behavior and "utter disregard" for public safety were the opposite of what they look for in elected officials. ___ Information from: Today's News-Herald, http://www.havasunews.com ___ Information from: Today's News-Herald, http://www.havasunews.com ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Researchers have warned that many popular free mobile apps aimed at children are potentially violating a U.S. law designed to protect the privacy of young users. Some brushed off the findings, but a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday by New Mexico's top prosecutor is renewing focus on the public's growing concerns about whether information on online interests, browsing and buying habits are slipping into the hands of data brokers without their consent. And there's not much parents can do, experts say. FILE- This April 26, 2017, file photo shows a Google icon on a mobile phone in Philadelphia. New Mexico is suing Google, Twitter and other companies that develop and market mobile gaming apps for children, saying the apps violate state and federal laws by collecting personal information that could compromise privacy. The lawsuit filed in federal court late Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, comes as data-sharing concerns persist among users. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) There's no easy way even for a fairly savvy user to figure out whether an app is collecting personal data, said Serge Egelman, a member of the research team based at the International Computer Science Institute at the University of California, Berkeley. It took Egelman and his team modifying operating systems and creating special tools to analyze network traffic to examine how thousands of apps access sensitive data. "It's not reasonable to expect the average end user to develop those tools just to figure out whether an app is safe for their kids to use - or for themselves to use," Egelman said. The other problem lies with the current privacy framework that revolves around a notice and consent model. Experts say these policies are often ambiguous and written by lawyers whose goal is to protect the companies rather than users. New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas is taking aim in the lawsuit at Google, Twitter, their online ad businesses and mobile app maker Tiny Lab Productions, saying they're violating state and federal laws aimed at protecting the privacy of children by collecting information through the apps without consent. Balderas is concerned about the potential for exploitation, saying the apps can accurately track where children live, go to school and play. He's urging parents to pay closer attention to the apps their children use. Whether other states follow suit or new legislation is proposed, experts see New Mexico's lawsuit as an important step in the debate. Josh Golin, executive director of the Boston-based advocacy group Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, said the Berkeley researchers exposed "just how flagrantly and widespread" violations of the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act are. He said the research should have prompted the Federal Trade Commission to investigate. "If the states start stepping in where the FTC has failed, that's definitely a good sign," Golin said. Parents looking to avoid data-sapping apps shouldn't have to do anything, Golin said, because the law already calls for parents to be prompted for consent, otherwise nothing should be collected. The research showed that wasn't always happening. The researchers have established a database where parents and others can look up apps to see what information they collect and who they share it with. Another grant recently awarded by the National Science Foundation will ensure the project continues. Tiny Lab Productions said Thursday it's considering what changes could be made as Google this week removed the company's apps from its Google Play Store. One option is not asking users for a birth date and treating everyone as if they were under 13 and covered by the law, said CEO Jonas Abromaitis. He said the company takes privacy seriously and he hopes "this incident is all but a misunderstanding and it will be resolved with a satisfactory outcome for all related parties." Tech companies are under increasing scrutiny over their data practices, following a series of privacy scandals at Facebook and new data-privacy rules recently adopted by the European Union. Last year, the business news site Quartz found that Google was tracking Android users by collecting the addresses of nearby cellphone towers even if all location services were off. Google changed the practice and insisted it never recorded the data anyway. Christine Elgersma, senior editor of parent education at the nonprofit Common Sense Media, said "free apps are free for a reason," and what this usually means is that "in a way, we are the product." Critics have said the tracking of users stems from a drive to boost revenue through targeted advertising and it's through ads that apps can make money. For parents, Elgersma suggests paying for quality apps, so they're not paying with their child's personal data. She also said not all app developers are aware of all the laws and regulations and that some don't have privacy policies as they don't think it's necessary. Corynne McSherry, legal director for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said there's no doubt parents are concerned about privacy for their children but that the web of apps, services and advertisers on the web is challenging. "We live in a world now where you can't really afford not to educate your children about smart technology practices," she said. "It's not just what you can do to intervene to protect them, but we need to be educating them about what's OK and what's dangerous online because that's our new reality." ___ AP technology writers Matt O'Brien in Boston, and Barbara Ortutay in New York contributed to this report. CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - An amended class-action lawsuit has been filed seeking to end Virginia's enforcement of its law suspending driver's licenses for people with unpaid criminal or traffic court debt. News outlets report the Legal Aid Justice Center filed the complaint Tuesday in federal court. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sent the lawsuit to the lower court in a May ruling to allow the plaintiffs to revise it after it had been dismissed on jurisdictional grounds. The center says nearly 1 million Virginians have suspended licenses for unpaid fines. It says Virginia's law violates due process and is therefore unconstitutional. Angela Ciolfi, the nonprofit's litigation and advocacy director, says in a statement that Virginia's practice unfairly punishes poor people. State attorney general's office spokesman Michael Kelly says any response will be made in court. LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP) - The Latest on gas explosions in Massachusetts (all times local): 10:55 p.m. Authorities say an 18-year-old man has died after a house exploded amid gas explosions north of Boston, sending a chimney crashing into his car. In this image take from video provided by WCVB in Boston, flames rise from a house 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 across three communities north of Boston. (WCVB via AP) Officials have identified the victim as Leonel Rondon, of Lawrence. They say he was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where he died around 8:30 p.m. EDT of his injuries. Gov. Charlie Baker says 10 other people were injured Thursday in a series of fires and explosions that authorities blame on over-pressurized natural gas lines. ___ (Corrects first item; authorities in a statement initially gave the wrong last name for the victim.) ___ 9:15 p.m. 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, but did not explain what went wrong. 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. State and local officials said at a news conference minutes earlier that they had still not heard from Columbia Gas following the fires in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. Gov. Charlie Baker later clarified that he thought the company's response was "adequate." Authorities are blaming over-pressurized gas lines and previously told all residents with Columbia Gas service in those areas to evacuate. At least six people were injured in the fires and explosions, including two in critical condition. ___ 8:20 p.m. Officials say at least six people have been injured in a series of fires and explosions north of Boston that authorities blame on over-pressurized natural gas lines. Lawrence General Hospital says it's treating six patients from the gas explosions including two in critical condition. Officials in Andover previously said at least three people, including a firefighter, had been injured in the town. It was not immediately clear if those were separate from the victims treated at Lawrence General. State Police say at least 39 fires erupted Thursday afternoon in the communities of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. Electricity is being cut to residents in all three communities as crews work to prevent further damage. Officials in all three areas said school will be canceled on Friday. ___ 7:30 p.m. Officials in Andover, Massachusetts, say at least three people, including a firefighter, have been injured in the town after a series of fires that authorities blame on a natural gas issue. It was not immediately clear whether those injured were different from the four victims with fire-related injuries taken to Lawrence General Hospital. Andover officials say in a statement that all 35 fires in the town have been extinguished. At the peak of the situation, they say 18 fires were burning at the same time in Andover. State Police say at least 39 fires erupted Thursday afternoon in the communities of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. ___ 7:15 p.m. A man whose neighborhood was among dozens that erupted in fire in communities north of Boston 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. Thursday. Nam says he ran downstairs and saw that his boiler was on fire. He says he quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out. Minutes later, Nam says 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. Massachusetts State Police say officials will be shutting off power to all residents in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. ___ 6:55 p.m. At least four people are being treated for injuries after a series of fires north of Boston that authorities blame on a natural gas issue. Lawrence General Hospital says it has treated four victims with fire-related injuries but did not immediately release their conditions or the severity of the injuries. State Police say at least 39 fires erupted Thursday afternoon in the communities of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. Residents in those areas with homes that are serviced by Columbia gas have been urged to evacuate. State Police say Columbia Gas crews are working to depressurize gas lines in the area. A spokeswoman for the company did not immediately return calls. The three communities house more than 146,000 residents and are located about 26 miles (42 kilometers) north of Boston. ___ 6:45 p.m. Authorities in Massachusetts say a natural gas issue is to blame for at least 39 fires that erupted in homes across communities north of Boston. A spokesman for the Andover Police Department says residents in Lawrence, North Andover and Andover whose homes are serviced by Columbia Gas were urged to evacuate on Thursday afternoon. Massachusetts State Police say Columbia Gas is working to depressurize gas lines in the area. A company spokeswoman did not immediately provide comment. State Police say they have confirmed fires at 39 locations but warn the number will grow. The three communities house more than 146,000 residents and are located about 26 miles (42 kilometers) north of Boston. Police Chief Joseph Solomon in nearby Methuen says there are so many fires "you can't even see the sky." ___ 5:10 p.m. Emergency crews are responding to what they believe is a series of gas explosions that have damaged homes across three communities north of Boston. Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon says there are 20 to 25 homes on fire in Lawrence. Solomon, who's in Lawrence, says there are so many fires "you can't even see the sky." The Eagle-Tribune newspaper in North Andover reports at least one home has been destroyed and several others have caught fire amid a problem with a gas line that feeds homes in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence. Massachusetts State Police say troopers are responding to the area to help secure areas after "multiple suspected gas explosions." Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque told The Eagle-Tribune that he's "never seen anything like this." The newspaper reported that some neighborhoods were being evacuated. It was not immediately clear whether there were any injuries. Ra Nam, right, with his sons Evan, left, and Tristan, center, wait in a parking lot outside their Colonial Heights neighborhood which was evacuated Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Lawrence, Mass., due to fires and explosions triggered by a problem with a gas line that feeds homes in several communities north of Boston. (AP Photo/Phil Marcelo) 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 have damaged homes across three communities north of Boston. (WCVB via AP) 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 across three communities north of Boston. (WCVB via AP) 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 damaged homes across three communities north of Boston. (WCVB via AP) 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 communities north of Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) 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 communities north of Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) In this image take from video provided by WCVB in Boston, firefighters battle a large structure 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 have damaged homes across three communities north of Boston. (WCVB via AP) In this image take from video provided by WCVB in Boston, firefighters battle a large structure 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 have damaged homes across three communities north of Boston. (WCVB via AP) 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 responded to what they believe is a series of gas explosions that have damaged homes across three communities north of Boston. (WCVB via AP) BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A federal jury in North Dakota has begun deliberating the fate of a Rhode Island woman accused in a Jamaican lottery scam that authorities say bilked at least 90 mostly elderly Americans out of more than $5.7 million. Twenty-eight-year-old Melinda Bulgin of Providence, Rhode Island, faces conspiracy, fraud and money laundering charges. The case went to the jury Thursday in the fourth day of her trial. The case is believed to be the first large-scale Jamaican lottery scam tried in U.S. courts. It began in 2011 when an elderly North Dakota woman lost her life savings. Authorities eventually charged 27 people. All except Bulgin pleaded guilty or were convicted earlier. Bulgin is accused of collecting money and funneling it between the U.S. and Jamaica, taking advantage of cheap flights she got through her airline job. WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) - As Hurricane Florence blew into Wilmington, about two dozen locals gathered behind the boarded-up windows of a bar that's survived its share of squalls and tempests. There they raised their glasses Thursday in a toast and a shout: "Here's to Wilmington!" The Barbary Coast, described as the oldest bar in this North Carolina city, has a time-honored custom of staying open in tropical storms. "It's a tradition. People would be mad if we weren't open," said owner Eli Ellsworth. "People are under a lot of stress. It's therapy." Locals have a drink as they relax at the Barbary Coast bar in downtown Wilmington, N.C., as Florence threatens the coast Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Seated at the well-worn bar under a stamped metal ceiling at Thursday's happy hour, Rick Bonney sipped on his fourth Bell's Two Hearted Ale. He and his wife figured it was their last chance to get out before hunkering down for days. The center of the hurricane was predicted to barrel through the city sometime Friday. "We were boarded up, watching TV and I said: 'Let's go see some humans because we're going to be stuck inside for the next 48 hours," he said. "You always know the Barbary is going to be open." The bar has initials carved into the wood and name plates bearing regulars' names, such as the ones that read, "Jim Clark RIP" or "Boney Tony." The jukebox playing the Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews Band and Steve Miller Band, was loud enough to make people forget about the trees swaying outside. Several people brought their dogs. At a booth, downtown resident Steven Harrington and two of his friends chased tequila shots with Tecate beer. On the walls around them were Pabst Blue Ribbon neon signs, old circular life preservers and a surf board. Seated next to him, Michael Ussery said he'd eaten two of the chocolate cupcakes donated by the bakery across the street before it shuttered for the storm. "No one wants to be cooped up in their house for hours," Harrington said. A the same booth, Kathryn Cloniger-Kirk was hopeful that goodwill among strangers hunkering down together up and down the coast - whether in hotels, shelters or the occasional dive bar - would extend past the tense hours of dangerous weather. "It would be nice after the storm for people to remember how we got along and continue to have that compassion," she said. It was about then that the bar erupted into the toast to the resilience of the Port City - and to the local watering hole. Ellsworth, the owner, said the bar is 77 years old. He's owned it for the last 11. He said he stocked up ahead of Florence and expects to sell as many as 480 Pabst Blue Ribbons before the storm departs - the bar's flagship beer. And beer, after all, is what really powers an establishment like his - not electricity: "If we lose power, we have candles," he said. As the wind blew increasingly hard outside, more people filed in for happy hour, and the mood seemed to rise on the trills of Jerry Garcia's guitar in "Visions of Johanna" playing through the bar's speakers. As two journalists walked back out into the rain to leave, a woman in the doorway shouted after them, "Port City Strong!" ___ Follow Drew at www.twitter.com/JonathanLDrew Kathryn Cloniger-Kirk, left, Michael Ussery, right, and Steven Harrington, back, chat as they relax at Barbary Coast bar in downtown Wilmington, N.C., as the Florence threatens the coast Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Locals riding out the storm toast Hurricane Florence as they relax at the Barbary Coast bar in downtown Wilmington, N.C., as the Florence threatens the coast Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Two women that are riding out the storm dance to the music outside the Barbary Coast bar in downtown Wilmington, N.C., as the Florence threatens the coast Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Jeff Egyp carries an American flag as he arrives at the Barbary Coast bar in downtown Wilmington, N.C., as the Florence threatens the coast Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of illegal voters. Crowd size. The GDP. President Donald Trump loves to cite stats and numbers to bolster his political standing. He just doesn't seem to care much about whether they're true. More than any other president in recent memory, Trump openly embraces shaky numbers to shape his reality. No amount of fact checking or finger-pointing has steered him toward the truth. He rarely corrects himself and often leaves aides scratching their heads about where he gets his information. FILE - In this Oct. 3, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump talks about recovery efforts after he and first lady Melania Trump arrived at Luis Muniz Air National Guard Base to survey hurricane damage in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello, left, listens. Trump loves to cite stats, numbers to bolster his political standing. He just doesn't seem to care much about whether they're true. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) On Thursday, Trump's factually challenged tweeting took a new grim turn. He claimed the death toll from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year was inflated - "3,000 people did not die," he tweeted - falsely blaming Democrats for a count intended to make him "look as bad as possible." More than any other public fight over the numbers, the comment rattled aides and stunned much of Washington. One Republican called it a "new low." Many others dodged. Although Trump is far from the only politician to cherry-pick favorable statistics, the president frequently engages in wholesale distortion, manipulating numbers to score a political point and leaving aides to clean up the mess. His questionable claims have addressed the success of the economy, the number of illegal voters in the 2016 election, the size of his inaugural crowd and much more. Those off-base numbers are often repeated by aides, regurgitated by conservative media and embraced by supporters. Earlier this week, Trump tweeted: "The GDP rate (4.2 percent) is higher than the Unemployment Rate (3.9 percent) for the first time in over 100 years!" Not quite: The GDP hit that number 12 years ago. Kevin Hassett, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, acknowledged that Trump was incorrect and said he wasn't sure where the president received his information. "Let me just say that the history of thought of how errors happen is not something that I can engage in," Hassett told reporters. "And at some point, somebody probably conveyed it to him." Other aides have defended the president's factually challenged comments, with senior aide Kellyanne Conway supplying "alternative facts" and lawyer Rudy Giuliani advising that "truth is not truth." Trump this summer told a rally crowd that "what you are seeing and what you are reading is not what's happening." In the case of Puerto Rico, the official government conclusion is that nearly 3,000 Americans died from the storm and there is no evidence that Democrats attempted to manipulate the data. White House aides did little to explain the president's tweets other than to suggest that Trump was marking the lower death total that was known when he visited the island two weeks after the storm hit. Puerto Rico's governor last month raised Maria's official death toll from 64 to 2,975 after an independent study found that the number of people who succumbed in the sweltering aftermath had been severely undercounted. Previous reports from the Puerto Rican government said the number was closer to 1,400. Trump's attack on the number of dead enraged Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., who told reporters that Trump has a "warped mind that would turn this statistic into fake news." "It might be a new low," said Ros-Lehtinen, who is retiring from Congress. "Boy, that's saying something." Even Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he believes the president "sees every attack on him as sort of undercutting his legitimacy. I don't think it's bad to say we could have done better in Puerto Rico." The sources of Trump's bad information can be varied but often derive from cable news or Twitter. Trump, who lost the 2016 popular vote to Hillary Clinton but won the electoral college, pushed the theory soon after his election that 3 million or more votes were illegally cast by noncitizens, an idea first floated in a series of tweets by Gregg Phillips, a little-known conservative activist. Phillips never backed up his claims. The authors of two studies on voting - one in the journal Electoral Studies, the other by the Pew Center on the States - accused then-press secretary Sean Spicer of misrepresenting their findings to support the president's claim. Spicer also infamously claimed that more people attended Trump's inauguration than President Barack Obama's swearing-in, a claim disproven by visual evidence. This week, The Guardian newspaper obtained documents that revealed that a government photographer edited official pictures of the 2017 inauguration to make the crowd appear larger. Trump at times has promoted flat-out lies and conspiracy theories, including suggesting that Obama was not born in the United States, that his predecessor may have wiretapped him or that Republican Sen. Ted Cruz's father was involved in the plot to kill President John F. Kennedy. The habit predates his political career, though in his 1987 book, "The Art of the Deal," he engages in a little spin, suggesting that his falsehoods were playing "to people's fantasies." "That's why a little hyperbole never hurts. People want to believe something is the biggest and the greatest and the most spectacular," he wrote then. "I call it truthful hyperbole. It's an innocent form of exaggeration - and a very effective form of promotion." Case in point: He added 10 floors to Trump Tower, the Manhattan skyscraper where he lived for decades. In promotional materials, the high-rise is listed as having 68 stories. In reality, it has 58. ___ EDITOR'S NOTE - Jonathan Lemire has covered the White House and politics for The Associated Press since 2013. ___ Follow Lemire on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@JonLemire MEXICO CITY (AP) - Thousands of students marched through downtown Mexico City on Thursday to protest violence. They carried placards with slogans like "Being a student in Mexico is more dangerous than being a criminal." That was a reference to an attack by thugs on students at the National Autonomous University earlier this month. It also referred to the September 2014 kidnapping and disappearance of 43 students. Nobody has been convicted for those crimes. Thousands of students march in protest against groups of institutional thugs that operate on campus at Mexico's National Autonomous University, UNAM, in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. The students are demanding an end to violence by groups of thugs known as "porros" who are often registered but don't attend classes. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) "The main problem is the lack of safety, especially for female students," said Diego Gonzalez, a 24-year-old majoring in history. The march came on the 50th anniversary of the 1968 student protest known as the "March of Silence," when demonstrators marched quietly to contradict accusations that they were unruly. Weeks later, on Oct. 2, 1968, troops fired on protesters at Tlatelolco Plaza, killing as many as 300. Many in Thursday's march covered their mouths with tape to commemorate the 1968 march. Unlike 1968, students in Mexico also face increasingly deadly violence from drug gangs. In March, drug cartel assassins killed three film students who they apparently mistook for members of a rival gang and dissolved their bodies in acid. Thousands of students march in protest against groups of institutional thugs that operate on campus at Mexico's National Autonomous University, UNAM, in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. The students are demanding an end to violence by groups of thugs known as "porros" who are often registered but don't attend classes. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) A student with his mouth taped shut participates in the march of silence, along with thousands of other students in protest against groups of institutional thugs that operate on campus at Mexico's National Autonomous University, UNAM, in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. The students are demanding an end to violence by groups of thugs known as "porros" who are often registered but don't attend classes. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) Thousands of students take part in the march for silence, in protest against groups of institutional thugs that operate on campus at Mexico's National Autonomous University, UNAM, in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. The students are demanding an end to violence by groups of thugs known as "porros" who are often registered but don't attend classes. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - 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. Elizabeth Smart speaks during a news conference while her father Ed Smart looks on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Smart says it appears there is no viable, legal recourse she can take to stop the release of one of her kidnappers. Smart said at a news conference Thursday in Salt Lake City that she only found out about 72-year-old Wanda Barzee's release shortly before the public did. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) "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. __ This story has been corrected to say Barzee is 72, not 64. FILE - This April 8, 2016, file photo, provided by Utah State Prison shows Wanda Barzee. Barzee, the woman convicted of helping a former street preacher kidnap Elizabeth Smart as a teenager from her Salt Lake City bedroom in 2002 and held her captive, will be released from prison next week. The surprise move announced Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, comes after authorities determined they had miscalculated the time Barzee previously served in federal custody.(Utah State Prison via AP, File) Elizabeth Smart receives a hug before speaking at a news conference Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Smart says it appears there is no viable, legal recourse she can take to stop the release of one of her kidnappers. Smart said that she only found out about 72-year-old Wanda Barzee's release shortly before the public did. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) FILE - In this April 24, 2015, file photo, kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart looks on during a news conference in Sandy, Utah. Wanda Barzee, a woman convicted of helping a former street preacher kidnap Smart in 2002 will be freed from prison more than five years earlier than expected, a surprise decision that Smart called "incomprehensible" on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) FILE - This 2016 photo provided by the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office shows Wanda Barzee. Elizabeth Smart said Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, the news that one of her kidnappers, Barzee, will be released from prison next week was "a big shock," and she hopes there is a way Barzee can be committed to a treatment facility since there is no legal recourse to keep her behind bars. Barzee is expected to be freed next week after 15 years in custody, including time at a state hospital. (Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office via AP, File) FILE - In this Dec. 10 2010, file photo, Brian David Mitchell is escorted by a U.S. Marshall as he arrives at the federal courthouse in Salt Lake City. Wanda Barzee, a woman convicted of helping the former street preacher kidnap Elizabeth Smart in 2002 will be freed from prison more than five years earlier than expected, a surprise decision that Smart called "incomprehensible" on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. Mitchell is serving a life sentence after being convicted of kidnapping and raping Smart. He and Barzee were married at one point. (AP Photo/Colin E Braley, File ) Elizabeth Smart and her father Ed Smart walk off after a news conference Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Smart says it appears there is no viable, legal recourse she can take to stop the release of one of her kidnappers. Smart said that she only found out about 72-year-old Wanda Barzee's release shortly before the public did. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A Mexican national whose attorney said she used a cousin's identity to live in the U.S. for decades and held a job assessing students in Houston schools is facing deportation after pleading guilty to illegally voting in the 2016 election. Laura Janeth Garza's conviction Thursday comes more than a year after Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office helped prosecute another Mexican national also facing deportation for illegal voting. But the circumstances of the cases differ and Garza's attorney, John Cardenas, said she knew this was always a possibility. The 38-year-old Houston woman entered the country as a young girl. She was about 12 years old, Cardenas said, when Garza's mother and uncle told her assume the identity of a cousin who was a U.S. citizen but had moved to Mexico. Cardenas didn't know how Garza voted, but said she offered to return to Mexico if the charges were dropped. "That wasn't on the table for the state," he said. "She's resigned. She understands that this was something that may have come up along the way." Last year, a jury in Fort Worth sentenced Mexican national Rosa Maria Ortega to eight years in prison for illegal voting in a case that drew widespread attention because of the severity of the punishment, since voting fraud convictions many times result in probation. Ortega, who was accused of improperly casting a ballot five times between 2005 and 2014, was a permanent U.S. resident whose attorney said mistakenly thought she was eligible to vote. Ortega, who has four teenage children, is likely to face deportation upon leaving prison. Cardenas said Garza will also face deportation when she finishes serving a 180-day jail sentence in a few weeks. He said he had no problem with how Paxton's office handled the case and commended prosecutors for not insisting she serve prison time. Although Garza was given 10 years in prison for illegal voting, a second-degree felony, her sentence was probated as part of the plea agreement. Cardenas said Garza worked for the Houston Independent School District, helping assess students with their language skills. A district spokeswoman did not immediately return messages Thursday. Paxton has defended Texas' voter ID law, which is among the toughest in the U.S., and has made voting safeguards a top issue of his nearly four years in office. He said Garza's conviction demonstrates "our commitment to ensuring that Texas elections remain free and fair." MEXICO CITY (AP) - The Mexican government says it "continues evaluating" a U.S. offer to pay for returning foreign migrants in Mexico to their home countries. Mexico's Interior Department says no agreement has been reached on the offer, which apparently would help take mainly Central American migrants back to their homes. Many use Mexico as a base to attempt crossing the U.S. border. The department did not specify how much the U.S. government has offered. It said only that the government is "evaluating the proposal according to applicable laws, and in accordance with the priorities of Mexico's own immigration policies." The department added Thursday: "The Mexican government has not accepted this proposal either verbally or in writing." In the first seven months of 2018, Mexico deported more than 57,000 Central Americans, mainly by bus. TOKYO (AP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is vying for his third re-election as the ruling party leader next week, extending his stay in power to work on his long-cherished ambition - to revise his country's war-renouncing constitution. Abe reportedly has already secured about 70 percent of support from parliamentarians of the Liberal Democratic Party, and clinching the re-election would allow him up to three more years to work on a possible charter change. He has to tackle the economy and other priorities too. He faced his only challenger, Shigeru Ishiba, a former defense minister, during Friday's debate, which could be the only public discussion before the Sept. 20 vote. Candidates for the president of ruling party Liberal Democratic Party, Japanese Prime Minister and head of current party president Shinzo Abe, left, and Shigeru Ishiba shake hands prior to a debate ahead of Liberal Democratic Party president election in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Abe is vying for his third re-election as the ruling party leader next week, extending his stay in power to work on his long-cherished ambition, to revise his country's war-renouncing constitution. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) "I will take on the task of revising the constitution, a postwar challenge that has never been achieved, in order to open a new era," Abe told the nationally televised event. The 63 year-old Abe, prime minister since December 2012, is poised to become Japan's longest-serving leader with a historic third term. He reportedly has the support of least five main factions of the Liberal Democrats, securing some 300 of the 405 votes, as well as many others among local party members. With Abe's victory widely expected, the main focus has shifted to who would get key party posts and a Cabinet lineup, or his possible successor. A revision to the U.S.-drafted 1947 constitution has been the party's decades-old pledge that none of Abe's predecessors could achieve. It includes Abe's grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, who also saw the constitution as humiliation following Japan's World War II defeat. Abe said earlier this week that he hoped his party could submit a draft revision to a parliamentary session later this year. His coalition government holds a two-thirds supermajority in both houses, whose support is needed for a national referendum on constitutional amendments. Abe, the main force behind the revision, wants to rewrite Article 9, which allows the use of force for self-defense only and bans it for settling international disputes. Abe's party has adopted an interpretation of the article to allow Japanese troops to defend Japanese allies under foreign attacks. Many Japanese are more concerned about their salaries, high cost of child care and education. Media polls have also showed a majority of the public oppose the constitutional change under Abe's hawkish government. Abe faces other important issues, including the country's aging and declining population and the royal succession in the spring. He also has to deal with security concerns stemming from North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, as well as intensifying trade friction with the U.S., which could shake his friendly relations with President Donald Trump. Abe has enjoyed strong backing from his party members, who credit him for leading the party to major victories in national elections amid a lack of viable opposition. He has lasted so long in the absence of policy debates because many party members are primarily interested in getting his and other senior lawmakers' backing in next elections, veteran political analyst Soichiro Tahara wrote in his blog. "Many Liberal Democratic lawmakers have become 'yes men' of the leadership," he wrote. Abe has survived a series of scandals, including cronyism allegations against him his wife, Akie. Despite attacks from opposition parties and criticism in the media, his support ratings have recovered to about 40 percent, considered high for a leader after five years and eight months in office. ___ Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi Find her work at https://www.apnews.com/search/mari%20yamaguchi Candidates for the president of ruling party Liberal Democratic Party, Japanese Prime Minister and head of current party president Shinzo Abe, left, and Shigeru Ishiba shake hands prior to a debate ahead of Liberal Democratic Party president election in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Abe is vying for his third re-election as the ruling party leader next week, extending his stay in power to work on his long-cherished ambition, to revise his country's war-renouncing constitution. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Candidates for president of ruling party Japanese Prime Minister and head of current party president Shinzo Abe, left, and Shigeru Ishiba prepare for a debate ahead of Liberal Democratic Party president election in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Abe is vying for his third re-election as the ruling party leader next week, extending his stay in power to work on his long-cherished ambition, to revise his country's war-renouncing constitution. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Candidates for the president of ruling party Liberal Democratic Party, Japanese Prime Minister and head of current party president Shinzo Abe, left, and Shigeru Ishiba walk in the venue of a debate ahead of Liberal Democratic Party president election in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Abe is vying for his third re-election as the ruling party leader next week, extending his stay in power to work on his long-cherished ambition, to revise his country's war-renouncing constitution. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) A candidate for president of ruling party Japanese prime minister and head of current party president Shinzo Abe, speaks during a debate ahead of Liberal Democratic Party president election in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Abe is vying for his third re-election as the ruling party leader next week, extending his stay in power to work on his long-cherished ambition, to revise his country's war-renouncing constitution. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Candidates for president of ruling party Japanese Prime Minister and head of current party president Shinzo Abe, left, and Shigeru Ishiba participate in a debate ahead of Liberal Democratic Party president election in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Abe is vying for his third re-election as the ruling party leader next week, extending his stay in power to work on his long-cherished ambition, to revise his country's war-renouncing constitution. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Candidates for president of ruling party Japanese Prime Minister and head of current party president Shinzo Abe, left, and Shigeru Ishiba participate in a debate ahead of Liberal Democratic Party president election in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Abe is vying for his third re-election as the ruling party leader next week, extending his stay in power to work on his long-cherished ambition, to revise his country's war-renouncing constitution. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Get ready for Trump-Kim Part Two. In recent weeks it's become clear that Donald Trump wants to meet with Kim Jong Un again, and the North Korean leader has told the White House he'd like more face-to-face talks with the American president. Could that meeting happen, as some in Seoul have pushed for, on the sidelines of a U.N. gathering of world leaders in New York later this month? FILE - In this June 12, 2018, file photo, North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands at the conclusion of their meetings at the Capella resort on Sentosa Island in Singapore. In recent weeks it's become clear that Donald Trump wants to meet with Kim Jong Un again, and the North Korean leader has told the White House he'd like more face-to-face talks with the American president. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool, File) Getting Kim, the brutal, authoritarian leader of the most sanctioned country on the planet, to the home of the Yankees might seem a fantastic fever-dream. But it's useful to remember that no analysts predicted that Trump's surprise June summit with Kim in Singapore would be possible - until suddenly it was. Amid worries that Washington and Pyongyang are sinking further into a standoff over the sincerity of North Korea's nuclear disarmament intentions, Trump may believe that another high-profile summit, on his home turf and as political scandal swirls in Washington, is just the thing. It would also play into his response to widespread criticism that the Singapore summit was a waste of time, at best, and a dangerous back-step in efforts to rid North Korea of its nuclear weapons, at worst. The declaration released at the Singapore summit was widely seen as a watered-down version of past agreements, but Trump has suggested that the only result that mattered was whether he got along with the North Korean dictator. Trump claims the answer is a resounding yes. If the mercurial leaders of two nuclear powers - and two men who had been threatening missile strikes and insulting each other's intelligence and appearance only months earlier - can nurture this budding relationship, the argument goes, then they can keep meeting and, eventually, "solve" a nuclear impasse that has flummoxed a long line of previous U.S. and South Korean presidents and occasionally edged Northeast Asia toward fears of war. Odds are it won't happen in New York - the nightmare of the logistics alone would seem to doom such a meeting - and there are currently no signs that the White House is preparing for such a sit-down. But Trump's presidency, so far, has shown that the playbook used by previous U.S. leaders to confront North Korea doesn't seem to apply to him - and, he might argue, has never worked anyway. Here's a look then at whether the always hectic annual U.N. General Assembly meetings in New York at the end of September will host another Trump-Kim summit: ___ NEVER GONNA HAPPEN The mind boggles a bit at the possibilities for trouble, for mishap, for chaos, should anything go wrong if the most important person in North Korea visits New York - everything from an assassination attempt to a car accident to a breach of diplomatic protocol to food poisoning could set off another Korean War. Even Kim's trip to Singapore - a semi-authoritarian state with close ties to North Korea - was seen as something of a gamble for the leader of a country obsessed with giving the ruling Kim dynasty the near-total security control that's possible only in Pyongyang. How can the North Koreans hope to control Kim's certain exposure to democracy, capitalism and famously aggressive New Yorkers? Although a South Korean government adviser had previously speculated about a New York summit, the difficulties involved seem to have dawned here after a South Korean official who met with Kim earlier this month said a trilateral summit among Washington, Seoul and Pyongyang at the U.N. General Assembly was unlikely to happen because conditions for such a meeting haven't been created. Another reason to be skeptical is that U.S. policy on North Korea can often seem to be in disarray. Only a day after the U.S. named a new special envoy on North Korea, for instance, Trump tweet-canceled Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's trip to Pyongyang for nuclear negotiations. In Washington, the State Department said it had nothing to announce about any possible meeting. Daniel Sneider, a specialist in international policy at Stanford University who recently met with senior U.S. administration officials dealing with North Korea, wrote last month that "the spoken, and unspoken, aim of most professionals implementing North Korea policy is to hold off President Trump from meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un again. They worry about a repeat of the June spectacle in Singapore when Trump made significant concessions that undercut their attempts to seriously negotiate with the North." Let that stunning paragraph sink in for a while. If true, it means very smart senior U.S. officials are trying to thwart their own president and keep another summit from happening. There's also worry in Seoul. The Korea JoongAng Daily recently noted "a major risk" of another summit, speculating that Trump could settle for a "makeshift compromise to show off a feat on North Korea ahead of the midterm elections in November" and allow an "incomplete denuclearization package if Pyongyang vows to stop and dismantle its intercontinental ballistic missile program. That could be the worst scenario for South Korea." ___ BUT THEN AGAIN ... All that said - it's hard to stand in the way of two forceful leaders' wishes. And they seem to be wishing for a summit. The White House press secretary recently said that a letter from Kim to Trump indicated a desire to meet again, and that plans for another summit were underway. If that's true, why not in New York, something previously suggested by Seoul? A summit next week in Pyongyang between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who orchestrated the Singapore summit, to the shock of maybe everyone, is seen, in part, as an attempt to set something up between Trump and Kim. For Moon, U.S.-North Korea dialogue is crucial because he likely realizes the futility of pushing forward with his ambitious engagement plans with the North without his chief ally being on board. Another argument for the New York possibility: Kim seems to enjoy the spotlight. In Singapore he looked at ease before the world press, taking a late-night stroll along the city-state's beautiful shoreline, grinning as people snapped photos and called out his name. It also allows him to continue to pursue better ties, and more concessions, from Washington as he pivots from a focus on a nuclear program he claims is complete to his push to make his people prosperous - and to prolong his rule. For Trump, a summit in his back yard might be a welcome distraction from the spiraling domestic troubles around his presidency, and allow a continuation of his argument that since Singapore was a getting-to-know-you situation, subsequent meetings would be where the real nuclear diplomacy would happen. Of course, the problem with making any major progress on the nuclear issue beholden to the good chemistry of the leaders is that even if they meet for a second round, they may then have to keep meeting or risk seeing the process sink into a mire of inaction and bickering - which is just what seems to be happening now. ___ Foster Klug, AP's bureau chief in South Korea, has covered the Koreas since 2005. Follow him at twitter.com/apklug ___ Associated Press writer Eileen Putman in Washington, DC, contributed to this report. FILE - In this June 1, 2018, file photo, President Donald Trump, center, talks with Kim Yong Chol, left, former North Korean military intelligence chief and one of leader Kim Jong Un's closest aides, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as they walk from their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. In recent weeks it's become clear that Donald Trump wants to meet with Kim Jong Un again, and the North Korean leader has told the White House he'd like more face-to-face talks with the American president. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) FILE - In this June 12, 2018, file photo, President Donald Trump walks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sentosa Island in Singapore. In recent weeks it's become clear that Donald Trump wants to meet with Kim Jong Un again, and the North Korean leader has told the White House he'd like more face-to-face talks with the American president. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) FILE - In this July 4, 2017, file photo distributed by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second from right, inspects the preparation of the launch of a Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in North Korea's northwest. In recent weeks it's become clear that Donald Trump wants to meet with Kim Jong Un again, and the North Korean leader has told the White House he'd like more face-to-face talks with the American president. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File) North Korean youths holding torches march during a rally at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on the 70th anniversary of the nation's founding. In other images from the Asia-Pacific region this week, Naomi Osaka, the champion of U.S. Open women's singles, attends a news conference in Yokohama after becoming the first Japanese to win the tournament. In India, the devout celebrate a 10-day festival marking the birth of the Hindu god Ganesha. In this Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, file photo, North Korean youths holding torches march during the torch light march at the Kim Il Sung Square in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding day in Pyongyang, North Korea. Tens of thousands of North Koreans rallied in Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square in the final major event of the country's 70th anniversary, an elaborate celebration that was focused on Korean unity and economic development and that deliberately downplayed the missiles and nuclear weapons that brought the North to the brink of conflict with the United States just one year ago. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File) ___ This gallery was curated by Associated Press photo editor Masayo Yoshida in Tokyo. ___ Visit the AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com Visit AP Images online: http://www.apimages.com In this Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, file photo, North Korean students take part in a torch light march held in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding day celebrations in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File) In this Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, file photo, performers hold up cards to form patterns during the "Glorious Country" mass games held in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding day in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File) In this Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, file photo, female soldiers march in a parade marking the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding day in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea staged a major military parade, huge rallies and will revive its iconic mass games on Sunday to mark its 70th anniversary as a nation. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File) In this Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, file photo, soldiers march past during a parade for the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding day in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea staged a major military parade, huge rallies and will revive its iconic mass games on Sunday to mark its 70th anniversary as a nation. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File) In this Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, file photo, North Koreans attend an evening gala held on the eve of the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding day in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea will be staging a major military parade, huge rallies and reviving its iconic mass games on Sunday to mark its 70th anniversary as a nation. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) In this Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, file photo, Naomi Osaka, the champion of U.S. Open women's singles, smiles during a press conference in Yokohama. Osaka defeated Serena Williams of the U.S. on Saturday, Sept. 8, to become the first Grand Slam singles champion from Japan. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, FIle) In this Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, file photo, bottles of Cherry Coca-Cola with portraits of Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett are stacked behind a fence in Beijing. China on Monday promised retaliation if U.S. President Donald Trump escalates their tariff battle, raising the risk Beijing might target operations of American companies as it runs out of imports for penalties. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File) In this Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, file photo, a worker walks past cars half buried in mud caused by ground liquefaction after a powerful earthquake in Kiyota ward of Sapporo, Hokkaido, northern Japan. Thursday's powerful earthquake hit wide areas on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido. Some parts of the city were severely damaged, with houses atilt and roads crumbled or sunken. A mudslide left several cars half buried, and the ground subsided in some areas, leaving drainpipes and manhole covers protruding by more than a meter (yard) in some places. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File) In this Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, file photo, a woman waits for her fresh henna covered hands to dry, on the eve of the Hindu festival of Teej, in Allahabad, India. Women observe a day-long fast on Teej for the longevity of their husbands. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh, FIle) In this Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, file photo, an artisan puts final touches on an idol of Hindu God Ganesha ahead of Ganesha Chaturthi at a workshop in Gauhati, India. The ten-day long festival celebrating the birth of Ganesha begins Sept. 13. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath, File) In this Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, file photo, a man sleeps on a cart surrounded by smoke from fumigation, being carried out to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in Allahabad, India. More than 200 million people live in impoverished Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state. Thousands of people suffer from encephalitis, malaria, typhoid and other mosquito-borne diseases each year during the summer monsoon. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh, File) ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. (AP) - The husband of a woman who was killed along a little-traveled suburban Chicago road in 1973 has been sentenced to 75 years in prison. Donnie Rudd was sentenced Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court. It was one day shy of the 45th anniversary of the death of 19-year-old Noreen Kumeta Rudd. The sentence is likely to confine the 76-year-old Rudd to prison for the rest of his life. Authorities initially ruled the death accidental. It was classified as a homicide after a 2013 autopsy. Rudd, an attorney and onetime school board member, was charged with murder in 2015 while living in Sugar Land, Texas. Prosecutors say Rudd staged the crash so he could collect more than $100,000 in insurance money. His attorneys say the woman died in a "tragic accident" and the case lacks solid evidence. LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. (AP) - The Latest on the arrest warrant has been issued for an Arizona lawmaker (all times local): 7 p.m. An Arizona lawmaker who attracted national headlines after a video captured him bragging about driving over 120 mph earlier this year has surrendered to authorities after a warrant was issued for his arrest. State Rep. Paul Mosley failed to appear in court earlier this month when he was summoned on a charge of excessive speeding. Mosley appeared Thursday in Parker Justice Court and pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge for speeding. Court records show he was released without bail, but has an Oct. 18 court hearing. Mosley told a La Paz County Sheriff's deputy who pulled him over last March that he had previously driven at speeds of 120 mph (193 kph) or higher and said he shouldn't be cited because of legislative immunity. ____ 6 a.m. An arrest warrant has been issued for an Arizona lawmaker who attracted national headlines after a video captured him bragging about driving over 120 mph earlier this year. According to Today's News-Herald, the warrant was issued Sept. 6 in Parker Justice Court after State Rep. Paul Mosley failed to appear on Sept. 5. The newspaper reports the court summons was issued Aug. 3 and sent via certified mail to Mosley five days later. It wasn't immediately clear Wednesday what the arrest warrant involved. Mosley told a La Paz County Sheriff's deputy who pulled him over last March that he had previously driven at speeds of 120 mph (193 kph) or higher and said he shouldn't be cited because of legislative immunity. He apologized after the video was broadcast in July. ___ Information from: Today's News-Herald, http://www.havasunews.com SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - The rival Koreas on Friday opened their first liaison office near their tense border to facilitate better communication and exchanges ahead of their leaders' summit in Pyongyang next week. The office's opening in 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 Koreas 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 often been suspended when tensions rose over North Korea's nuclear program. South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, seventh from left, and Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification, sixth from right, pose for photograph with other participants during an opening ceremony for two Koreas' first liaison office in Kaesong, North Korea, Friday Sept. 14, 2018. The rival Koreas on Friday launched their first liaison office near their tense border to facilitate better communication and exchanges ahead of their leaders' summit in Pyongyang next week. (Korea Pool/Yonhap via AP) In an opening ceremony at Kaesong, South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said the office will become the "cradle of Korean co-prosperity." "We'll sit face to face, exchange our thoughts fast and accurately and put our heads together to resolve difficult matters," he said in remarks distributed by his office. Ri Son Gwon, chairman of North Koreas's Committee for Peaceful Reunification, said during the ceremony that the office would help the Koreas have "candid conversations" and further build their ties, according to South Korean media pool reports from the site. About 15-20 South Korean officials will work at the office from 9 to 5, sleep at nearby lodgings in Kaesong on weekdays and take turns staffing the office on weekends. 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 programs, according to Seoul's Unification Ministry. The office will be co-headed by Vice South Korean Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung and a deputy head of Ri's 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 park, which combined South Korean initiatives, capital and technology with North Korea's cheap labor, was seen as a test case for unification of the Koreas. But its operation was suspended in 2016 amid an escalating standoff over North Korea's long-range rocket launches. The resumption of the Kaesong park and other dormant inter-Korean cooperation projects aren't likely to happen anytime soon because U.S.-led international sanctions on North Korea remain in place. Seoul officials said workers renovated some of the buildings used in the complex to use as the liaison office and the lodging facility. The liaison office's opening came before South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meet next week for the third time this year to discuss denuclearization of the peninsula and other issues. During the previous meetings with Moon and a separate summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, Kim has expressed a vague commitment to complete denuclearization of the peninsula. He has also dismantled his nuclear and rocket-engine testing sites. But nuclear diplomacy later became stalemated as U.S. officials demanded Kim take more significant steps before receiving concessions such as a joint declaration to end the Korean War. Moon is to fly to Pyongyang next Tuesday for a three-day trip. He said he will focus on facilitating talks between the United States and North Korea and finding ways to ease the military standoff along the Koreas' heavily fortified border. In a working-level meeting on Friday, the Koreas agreed to allow live television broadcasts of parts of the summit, Moon's office said. It said the live coverage will include key moments such as when the leaders greet each other in Pyongyang on Tuesday. It did not specify which other parts of the event would be broadcast live. Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification, speaks during an opening ceremony for two Koreas' first liaison office in Kaesong, North Korea, Friday Sept. 14, 2018. The rival Koreas on Friday launched their first liaison office near their tense border to facilitate better communication and exchanges ahead of their leaders' summit in Pyongyang next week. (Korea Pool/Yonhap via AP) South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, center left, and Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification, center right, attend at an opening ceremony for two Koreas' first liaison office in Kaesong, North Korea, Friday Sept. 14, 2018. The rival Koreas on Friday launched their first liaison office near their tense border to facilitate better communication and exchanges ahead of their leaders' summit in Pyongyang next week. (Korea Pool/Yonhap via AP) South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, right, shakes hands with Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification, during an opening ceremony for two Koreas' first liaison office in Kaesong, North Korea, Friday Sept. 14, 2018. The rival Koreas on Friday launched their first liaison office near their tense border to facilitate better communication and exchanges ahead of their leaders' summit in Pyongyang next week. (Korea Pool/Yonhap via AP) FILE - In this April 24, 2018, file photo, 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, Sept. 14, 2018, have opened their first liaison office near their tense border to facilitate better communication and exchanges. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File) This undated photo released on Sept, 12, 2018, from South Korea Unification Ministry via Newsis, shows a liaison office building between South and North Korea in Kaesong, North Korea. The rival Koreas on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, have opened their first liaison office near their tense border to facilitate better communication and exchanges. (South Korea Unification Ministry/Newsis via AP) South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, left, and Chairman of the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification Ri Son Gwon, right, sign during an opening ceremony for two Koreas' first liaison office in Kaesong, North Korea, Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. The rival Koreas on Friday launched their first liaison office near their tense border to facilitate better communication and exchanges ahead of their leaders' summit in Pyongyang next week. (Korea Pool/Yonhap via AP) South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, second from right, Chairman of the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification Ri Son Gwon, third from left, applaud during an opening ceremony for two Koreas' first liaison office in Kaesong, North Korea, Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. The rival Koreas on Friday launched their first liaison office near their tense border to facilitate better communication and exchanges ahead of their leaders' summit in Pyongyang next week. (Korea Pool/Yonhap via AP) NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH, N.C. (AP) - Richard Barnett spent his week boarding up the windows of million-dollar homes perched precariously at the northern tip of Topsail Island, a narrow spit of North Carolina ringed with sandbags to offer some armor against the pounding surf. A local handyman, he knew some of those houses might not be there next week. "When Fran came, it tore all these houses apart," Barnett said, referring to the 1996 hurricane that ravaged the area. "I think Florence is going to take all of them out." Sand bags surround homes on North Topsail Beach, N.C., Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, as Hurricane Florence threatens the coast. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) But even if they manage to survive the storm, these teetering structures are still doomed. It's only a matter of time. The low-lying barrier islands hugging the Carolinas coast are experiencing some of the fastest rates of sea level rise in the world, nearly an inch a year. That rate is expected to accelerate as the oceans warm, sea water expands, currents weaken and polar ice sheets melt. By the end of this century, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projects the ocean will rise more than 6 feet , enough to wash over wide sections of Topsail and other coastal islands with each high tide. Worried that such dire warnings were bad for business, coastal developers successfully lobbied North Carolina's Republican-controlled legislature to pass a law in 2012 requiring state scientists and regulators to consider the "full range" of other possible hypotheses, including those pushed by climate-change skeptics who claim sea levels might remain flat, or even fall. The law requires officials to look at the "spectrum of data out there, not just the data that suggest the sea level might rise" then-GOP state Sen. David Rouzer, a primary sponsor of the law, declared at the time. He is now a member of Congress. As a result, state projections for future sea level rise are more modest than the mainstream. Billions continue to be invested in homes and condos on low-lying land that will probably be inundated. Bridges and roads are being built too low. Michael Mann, a climate scientist at Pennsylvania State University, said the politicians behind the North Carolina law are placing their constituents in harm's way. "Ignoring the threat posed by climate change, which includes both sea level rise and intensified hurricanes, in coastal development will lead to unnecessary death and destruction," Mann said Wednesday. "Nothing good can possibly come of politicians favoring politics over precaution." Across the state line, South Carolina's coastal development boom also appears little deterred by rising seas. Huge apartment and condo buildings have sprung up in recent years in some of the state's lowest-lying areas. While a few inches of sea level rise per decade might not sound dramatic, higher seas mean higher storm surges. 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. Taxpayers are likely to be left holding much of the bill. Coastal property owners in low-lying areas typically rely on federal flood insurance since many private insurers have pulled out of the market. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees the program, requires most homeowners with mortgages living in flood-prone areas to buy coverage. In North and South Carolina, more than $87 billion in private property is covered by federal flood insurance. Over the last 40 years, the taxpayer-backed program has forked out nearly $1.5 billion to cover flood claims in just two dozen counties lining the coast of the two states. Strained by last year's historic flooding in Texas following Hurricane Harvey, the federal flood insurance program is currently more than $20.5 billion underwater. Congress cancelled another $16 billion in debt owed to the federal treasury. Orrin H. Pilkey, a professor emeritus of geology at Duke University who was among the first to sound the alarm about sea level rise, said the time has come for people to start retreating from the shorelines. "I think this storm will be a lesson that we don't really belong on the Outer Banks, especially the beach front," Pilkey said earlier this week as Florence approached. "Sea-level rise is going to make these hurricanes worse and worse. What I'd like to see us do is not rebuild buildings that have been destroyed." In Wrightsville Beach, located on another North Carolina barrier island, Michelle Stober spent Tuesday stuffing valuables into her car for the drive inland to her primary residence in the Raleigh suburbs. She said she and her husband bought their vacation house late last year and just finished remodeling it in April. The island is on average just 7 feet above sea level. Florence is expected to generate a storm surge as high as 13 feet. She said the property, which stands atop stilts, is fully insured through the federal flood insurance program, though the couple hadn't yet considered whether they will rebuild if Florence, or some future storm, wipes it away. "I'm a beach girl," she said. "I just need to be near the water. Our view is one of the best on the island. Our sunset here is like no other." ____ Associated Press investigative reporter Michael Biesecker reported from Washington. AP writers Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia; Gary D. Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina; Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina; Meghan Hoyer and Bernard Condon in Washington contributed to this story. ____ Follow Biesecker at http://twitter.com/mbieseck and Drew at http://twitter.com/jonathanldrew . ____ For the latest on Hurricane Florence, visit https://www.apnews.com/tag/Hurricanes . 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) Sand bags surround homes on North Topsail Beach, N.C., Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, as Hurricane Florence threatens the coast. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) NICHOLS, S.C. (AP) - 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 (30 centimeters) of rain on the area two years ago, the town 40 miles (65 kilometers) in from the coast lost almost 90 percent of its 261 homes. Forecasters said Florence could bring more than 20 inches (51 centimeters) 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. FILE-In this Monday, Oct. 10, 2016 file photo, a home sits in flood waters in Nichols, S.C. The residents of a tiny town in South Carolina who rebuilt after an inland flood from a hurricane destroyed 90 percent of the homes two years ago are uneasy as forecasters warn inland flooding from Hurricane Florence's rain could be one of the most dangerous and devastating parts of the storm. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt, File) "You've done all this to rebuild and you are better prepared, but here you are again, staring down the barrel," Nichols Mayor Lawson Battle said. 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. Back in 2016, Kathy Finger fell asleep after Matthew's rains ended. She woke up to a strange noise and found water up to her ankles. It was up to her knees before a truck rescued her and others and took them to Town Hall, where they eventually found themselves surrounded by water and had to be rescued by boats the next morning. On Thursday, Finger was headed for Columbia, well inland, instead of taking her chances again in her rebuilt home. "Nothing has changed from the last time," she said. Thomas Lee noticed the water rising that night two years ago and called his brother-in-law, who came by in a dump truck. They rescued several others before the water got too high for them. Lee's shed still has a grimy, wiggly water line some 4 feet (1.2 meters) above the floor. The town had 22 businesses in 2016. It has 11 now. Main Street is full of boarded-up storefronts, from the old pharmacy to the auto parts store. Lee's home is one of about 150 that were repaired or rebuilt. About 80 homes remain uninhabitable or were torn down, the mayor said. Lee is staying but plans to watch carefully out his window. If he sees any water coming toward his house, he is either driving away or calling for help again. "If it floods like this again, you can just tell Nichols goodbye," Lee said. One of the few houses in Nichols that didn't flood during Matthew was the nearly 100-year-old home Jodi Pajaro inherited from her grandmother. Pajaro was out of town when the flooding started, and water crept toward her house from all sides, stopping just feet away. She had to reach her house by boat and grab what she could five days later. She didn't return permanently for a month. "It kind of makes you wonder - can I be this blessed twice?" Pajaro said as a few raindrops spit from gray skies. Nichols' mayor has spent days on the phone with county and state emergency officials. The flood was a surprise in 2016. If it floods in 2018, rescue crews are ready, and help from all areas will come quickly, Battle said. "Everybody keeps asking me what we need," Battle said of the numerous planning calls. "Right now, I'm taking prayers." ___ Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP Read his work at https://apnews.com/search/jeffrey%20collins ___ For the latest on Hurricane Florence, visit https://www.apnews.com/tag/Hurricanes ___ Meg Kinnard contributed to this report from Columbia, South Carolina. Jodi Pajaro stands in the backyard of her home which was surrounded by water from Hurricane Matthew two years ago in Nichols, S.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. One of the few houses in Nichols that didn't flood during Matthew was the nearly 100-year-old home Pajaro inherited from her grandmother. "It kind of makes you wonder - can I be this blessed twice?" Pajaro said as a few raindrops spit from gray skies. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Thomas Lee, left, gets help from Stoney Williamson, right, lifting a generator into his home which flooded two years ago from Hurricane Matthew in Nichols, S.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. 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. "If it floods like this again, you can just tell Nichols goodbye," Lee said. (AP Photo/David Goldman) An American flag lays on a table in the old town hall which sits damaged from Hurricane Matthew's flooding two years ago in Nichols, S.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. The residents of this tiny inland town who rebuilt after Matthew destroyed 90 percent of the homes are uneasy as forecasters warn inland flooding from Hurricane Florence's rain could be one of the most dangerous and devastating parts of the storm. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Water damage is seen in a store along Main Street nearly two years after it was flooded from Hurricane Matthew in Nichols, S.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. 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. 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. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Thomas Lee stands outside his home which flooded two years ago from Hurricane Matthew in Nichols, S.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. "If it floods like this again, you can just tell Nichols goodbye," said Lee as Hurricane Florence approaches the east coast with threats of heavy rains that could flood spots inland. (AP Photo/David Goldman) FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016 photo, Nichols Methodist Church is seen under floodwaters, in Nichols, S.C. 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. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt, File) An American flag flies outside a row of vacant stores damaged from Hurricane Matthew's flooding two years ago in Nichols, S.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Forecasters say Hurricane Florence could bring 15 to 20 inches (38 to 51 centimeters) of rain to Nichols and the surrounding area, touching off severe flash-flooding. (AP Photo/David Goldman) A water line is seen in Thomas Lee's shed which flooded two years ago from Hurricane Matthew in Nichols, S.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Few places in South Carolina are more worried about the possibility of disastrous inland flooding from Hurricane Florence's heavy rain than Nichols. "If it floods like this again, you can just tell Nichols goodbye," Lee said. (AP Photo/David Goldman) A message greets shoppers of supplies no longer available as Hurricane Florence approaches the east coast in Nichols, S.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. The residents of this tiny inland town who rebuilt after Hurricane Matthew destroyed 90 percent of the homes are uneasy as forecasters warn inland flooding from Florence's rain could be one of the most dangerous and devastating parts of the storm. (AP Photo/David Goldman) A pharmacy stands boarded up nearly two years after it was flooded from Hurricane Matthew in Nichols, S.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. The residents of this tiny inland town who rebuilt after Matthew destroyed 90 percent of the homes are uneasy as forecasters warn inland flooding from Hurricane Florence's rain could be one of the most dangerous and devastating parts of the storm. (AP Photo/David Goldman) WASHINGTON (AP) - Behold the awesome power of water. Already the ocean is swallowing beaches, roads and anything else in the way of Hurricane Florence's monstrous storm surge. Storm surges aren't walls of water, like a tsunami, as commonly thought. Caused by a hurricane's winds pushing relentlessly on the shore, they are more like domes of high water that form as the ocean spreads inland. The high water has destructive waves on top, and it comes in addition to normal tides. "You are taking the ocean and raising it," said storm surge expert Hal Needham, director of Marine Weather and Climate in Miami. "It's not a wave the surfer rides. It's actually raising the ocean. That's why it's so scary." Florence's storm surge will probably be 7 to 11 feet (more than 2 to 3 meters) above ground in parts of North Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center. Other areas can expect the surge to be taller than the average person - nearly 6 feet (2 meters) or higher. Ocean water rushes down Cape Hatteras Pier Drive in Frisco, N.C., on Hatteras Island as the effects of Hurricane Florence reach the area on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (Steve Earley /The Virginian-Pilot via AP) Even if a house is elevated 10 feet (3 meters), with that kind of storm surge, "there's a good chance there's going to be water inside of it," Needham said. With Florence moving slowly and stalling, the storm surge is going to be a bigger, longer-term factor than normal because the water "just keeps piling up," Needham said. It's not just beach areas that are at risk. Storm surge invades rivers and estuaries, too. And National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham said that's a particular worry with Florence. "These bays, these rivers and these inlets, there's so much storm surge the water is being literally forced to flow the opposite direction," Graham said. "You can get storm surge even several miles inland." While hurricane-force winds can rip the roofs off houses, it is the water - storm surge, inland flooding, surf and drowning at sea - that kills nearly 9 out of 10 people in hurricanes like Florence. And of all those, storm surge is the deadliest. From 1963 to 2012, 49 percent of U.S. hurricane deaths were from storm surge, 27 percent from rain, 8 percent from wind, 6 percent from surf, 6 percent were offshore and 3 percent from tornadoes, according to a National Hurricane Center study . The deadliest hurricanes to hit the U.S. mainland killed most of their victims with storm surge, including 2005's Katrina, said Jeff Masters, meteorology director at Weather Underground. But last year, even with hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, no one in the United States died of storm surge, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced . It was the first year that the hurricane center had started new storm surge warnings. Mostly people are getting better at evacuating, with three-quarters of the Florida Keys fleeing before Irma, Masters said. Storm surge is also the source of vast amounts of damage. Masters estimated that storm surge caused at least $3 billion in damage, compared with maybe $1 billion for wind damage. Damaged or destroyed buildings are often rebuilt in the same surge-prone areas, with government aid, he said. Needham, who drove all night from Miami to North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to watch and record the storm surge from the relative safety of a parking garage, said the storm surge had "already gobbled up the beach" there. "It's just going to be an interesting ride," Needham said. "I could not sit home and watch it on TV. I had to be there." The worst storm surge comes in with a hurricane's eye, and it arrives "with a lot of debris to batter you, and it's not particularly survivable," Masters said. Storm surge is higher in the right-front quadrant of a storm because the system's counterclockwise motion pushes more water inland, Masters said. Sometimes in the opposite quadrant there's a reverse storm surge that makes the ocean retreat. That's particularly dangerous because the ocean comes back quickly with 6 feet (2 meters) or more of water. Storm surge is higher when the water just off the beach is shallower, Needham said. Think of it like a giant aquarium filled to the brim. If a large rock in thrown in, it spills over. But if the aquarium is not full, it's only a ripple. Tides are another factor. The surge is highest when the tides are high. The coast of the Carolinas is about middle of the road with about 4 to 5 feet of difference (1.2 to 1.5 meters) between high and low tides. The shape of the coastline is another factor. If it is bowl-shaped, like in Georgia and South Carolina, the surge is deeper, but when it is the opposite shape, like the Outer Banks, it's less so, Needham said. Seas have risen from global warming, making all of this even worse. In Wilmington, North Carolina, the sea level is close to 8 inches (20 centimeters) higher than in 1935, according to NOAA. Those few inches can mean the difference between staying dry and enduring costly damage. ___ Associated Press Writer Jennifer Kay in Miami contributed to this report. ___ Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter: @borenbears . His work can be found here . ___ The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. __ For the latest on Hurricane Florence, visit https://www.apnews.com/tag/Hurricanes . Isle of Palms Fire Chief Ann Graham, at left, and Isle of Palms police officer Thomas Molino III raise a tropical storm warning flag over the Isle of Palms Connector shortly after Charleston County, S.C., went under a tropical storm warning due to Hurricane Florence Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Isle of Palms, S.C. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) Ocean waters rushes down Hwy 12 in Frisco, N.C., on Hatteras Island as the effects of Hurricane Florence breach the dune line on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (Steve Earley /The Virginian-Pilot via AP) Waves slam the Oceana Pier & Pier House Restaurant in Atlantic Beach, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 as Hurricane Florence approaches the area. (Travis Long/The News & Observer via AP) Waves slam the Oceana Pier & Pier House Restaurant in Atlantic Beach, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 as Hurricane Florence approaches the area. (Travis Long /The News & Observer via AP) Ocean water breeches to the dunes in Avon, N.C., as the first effects of Hurricane Florence reach Hatteras Island on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (Steve Earley/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) Residents at Trent Court Apartments wait out the weather as rising water gets closer to their doors in New Bern, N.C. Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Hurricane Florence already has inundated coastal streets with ocean water and left tens of thousands without power, and more is to come. (Gray Whitley/Sun Journal via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) - As Tropical Storm Florence inundated the Carolinas on Friday, President Donald Trump circled back to his claim that the official death toll from a devastating storm a year earlier in Puerto Rico was inflated and said the number of dead seemed to rise from double digits to 3,000 "like magic." Public health experts have estimated that nearly 3,000 perished because of the effects of Hurricane Maria. But Trump, whose efforts to help the island territory recover have been persistently criticized, has repeatedly questioned that number over the last couple of days. "FIFTY TIMES LAST ORIGINAL NUMBER - NO WAY!" he tweeted late Friday. President Donald Trump, left, talks about Hurricane Florence during a briefing in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, as FEMA Administrator Brock Long listens at right. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Trump falsely accused Democrats on Thursday of inflating the Puerto Rican toll to make him "look as bad as possible." He said just six to 18 people had been reported dead when he visited two weeks after the October 2017 storm and suggested that many had been added later "if a person died for any reason, like old age." When Trump visited Puerto Rico, the death toll at the time was indeed 16 people. The number was later raised to 64, but the government then commissioned an independent study to determine how many died because of post-storm conditions. That study - conducted by the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University - estimated 2,975 deaths. The deaths fell in two categories: direct and indirect. Direct deaths include such fatalities as drownings in a storm surge or being crushed in a wind-toppled building. Indirect deaths are harder to count because they can include such things as heart attacks, electrocutions from downed power lines and failure to receive dialysis because the power is out - and those kinds of fatalities can happen after a storm has ended but while an area is struggling to restore electricity, clean water and other health and safety services. Dr. Carlos Santos-Burgoa - the lead researcher on the study and a well-known expert in global health, particularly Latin America - told The Associated Press that the initial figure of 64 deaths reflected only people whose death certificates cited the storm. He said the latest figure was more accurate and stressed that every death in the six months following the storm was not attributed to the hurricane. "We are scientists. We are public health people. We are committed to the health of the population. We try to reach the truth, and we try to understand what is damaging the people in order to prevent disease," he said. But Trump suggested Friday that it was questionable that the Puerto Rican government commissioned the study from an outside group. "They hired GWU Research to tell them how many people had died in Puerto Rico (how would they not know this?)," Trump wrote. "This method was never done with previous hurricanes because other jurisdictions know how many people were killed. FIFTY TIMES LAST ORIGINAL NUMBER - NO WAY!" Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello told CBS New York on Thursday that the government had sought the study and "tried to make this process a completely independent process." Trump's anger over the death toll drew swift rebukes from elected officials and residents of the island, where blackouts remain common, 60,000 homes still have makeshift roofs and 13 percent of municipalities lack stable phone or internet service. Even some Republicans suggested the president had gone too far Thursday. "Casualties don't make a person look bad," House Speaker Paul Ryan said. "So I have no reason to dispute those numbers." Throughout his presidency, Trump has struggled to publicly express empathy at times of national crises, sparking outrage during his post-Maria visit when he feuded with San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz and tossed out paper towels to victims like he was shooting baskets. In recent days, Trump publicly lauded his own administration's response to Maria and privately groused over storm-related news coverage that he saw as overly focused on Puerto Rico, according to two Republican advisers close to the White House who weren't authorized to speak publicly and talked to The Associated Press on Thursday on condition of anonymity. The White House defended the president on Thursday. "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. "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." Gidley cited studies that attributed fewer than 3,000 deaths on the island to Maria. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to the GOP majority Thursday calling for the panel to request documents from the White House relating to the Puerto Rico response. Trump maintained as recently as Tuesday that his response to the storm was an "incredible unsung success." Trump's latest grumbling on the Maria death toll comes as Tropical Storm Florence inundates the Carolinas, killing at least four people. ___ Associated Press reporters Colleen Long, Lauran Neergaard, Ashley Thomas and Alan Fram in Washington, Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Michael Weissenstein in Havana, Cuba, and Jennifer Peltz in New York contributed to this report. President Donald Trump speaks during a Congressional Medal of Honor Society Reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2017 file photo, Nestor Serrano walks on the upstairs floor of his home, where the walls were blown off, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. President Donald Trump's assertion on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, that the federal government's response to Hurricane Maria was "an incredible, unsung success" is falling flat in Puerto Rico, where islanders are still struggling to recover a year later. For many, Trump's boast is hard to square with their daily reality: Blackouts remain common, and nearly 60,000 homes have only a makeshift roof. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Friday he endorsed a move by his designated successor, Anwar Ibrahim, to contest a by-election to return as a lawmaker, and reiterated that he would keep his word to hand over power to Anwar. Anwar and Mahathir put aside their 20-year-old political feud to help their alliance win elections in May that led to the first change of power since independence from Britain in 1957. Anwar, who was convicted in 2015 on sodomy charges, couldn't take part in the elections but their four-party alliance agreed that Mahathir would be prime minister and then hand over the reins to Anwar. Anwar, 70, was freed and pardoned by the king shortly after the polls. Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim speaks before a court hearing at Federal Court in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Anwar, who is named as successor to prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, said it's time for him to make a comeback as a lawmaker to focus on parliamentary reforms. (AP Photo/Yam G-Jun) Anwar plans to contest a by-election in a southern coastal town after a lawmaker from his party resigned earlier this week to make way for his comeback. The Election Commission will set a date for the vote, which must be held within two months. "The understanding ... is that immediately after the pardon, I should enter the race," Anwar told The Associated Press earlier Friday. "I waited four months and I think it is also important for me to start connecting" with lawmakers and focus on parliamentary reforms, he said. Mahathir "will continue leading the nation, I will give full support," Anwar said. Mahathir, who is the world's oldest elected leader at 93, separately said it was Anwar's right to contest the election. He said he won't campaign in person for Anwar but "I will endorse his candidacy." "I'm not reneging on my promise (to hand over power) but when ... it's not very settled. I am very conscious that I'm very old. In two years' time, I will be 95," Mahathir said, referring to the two-year timeframe he had said he needed to put the country in order. He said his relationship with Anwar "is good, as good as can be." Some critics said it was wrong for a lawmaker to have to resign to make way for Anwar. Lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan, a member of the Institutional Reform Committee established by the government, acknowledged Anwar's right to rejoin politics but said it would have been more acceptable if either his wife of daughter - both of whom are lawmakers - had given up their seats instead. Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, is currently deputy prime minister. "I have no issue with Anwar coming back. He's entitled to do that but my understanding or the public had the understanding that one of the family members would give up (their seats)," she told local media. Anwar said he will work hard to appeal to the electorate and explain how new government policies will benefit Malaysians. Anwar was once a high-flyer in the former ruling coalition but was convicted of homosexual sodomy and corruption after a power struggle in 1998 with Mahathir, who was prime minister for 22 years until 2003. He was freed in 2004 and convicted again in 2015 of sodomy, which he said was concocted to destroy his political career. Anwar worked from his prison cell to forge a new opposition alliance by making peace with Mahathir, a gamble that paid off. ___ Associated Press video journalist Syawalludin Zain in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, contributed to this report. Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim smiles as he arrives at Federal Court for a court hearing in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Anwar, who is named as successor to prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, said it's time for him to make a comeback as a lawmaker to focus on parliamentary reforms. (AP Photo/Yam G-Jun) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - In just a few moments and two tweets, President Donald Trump roiled Florida's crucial elections, upending his party's ongoing efforts to make inroads to the battleground state's growing Puerto Rican population. Trump's tweets Thursday claiming that "3,000 people did not die" in the hurricanes that hit the island last year and falsely alleging that the official death toll was part of a plot by Democrats to make him look bad were immediately condemned by Puerto Rican leaders, Democratic opponents and, in a rare breach, fellow Republicans in the state. Ron DeSantis, who won last month's GOP primary for governor largely due to Trump's endorsement, "doesn't believe any loss of life has been inflated," a spokesman said. Gov. Rick Scott, who is challenging Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson for his seat in November, tweeted flatly, "I disagree with @POTUS." FILE - In this Sept. 6, 2018, file photo, Florida Gov. Rick Scott speaks to supporters at Republican rally in Orlando, Fla. Top Florida Republicans including Scott have been quick to say President Donald Trump is wrong about the death toll in Puerto Rico. Scott said he disagreed with the president and that he has seen the "devastation firsthand." (AP Photo/John Raoux, File) The direct and swift rebuke from Trump's Florida allies demonstrated the significance of the Puerto Rican voters in a state where races are often decided by slim margins. Republican candidates for months have been carefully courting the Puerto Rican community, hoping to prove their concern about the island's slow recovery and win over voters who tend to vote Democratic. But the episode shows how Trump, who has an outsized influence on races in Florida and beyond, may not make it easy for Republicans to reach out to swing voters. The president's tweets came just one day after Nelson launched a new Spanish-language ad that features pictures of Trump and Scott together and says in Spanish "tell me who you hang out with, and I will tell you who you are." Florida was already home to more than 1 million Puerto Ricans before Hurricane Maria slammed into the island territory nearly a year ago. Tens of thousands of residents fled Puerto Rico in the aftermath, with many of them relocating to Florida. Puerto Rico's governor last month raised Maria's official death toll from 64 to 2,975 after an independent study found that the number of people who succumbed in the sweltering aftermath had been severely undercounted. The growing Puerto Rican community near Orlando has been key to swinging the area into the Democratic column as many Puerto Rican voters have backed Democrats. In 2016, Democrat Darren Soto became the first congressman of Puerto Rican descent elected from Florida. It's not clear how many Maria survivors who came to the mainland are now registering to vote in Florida. A Miami Herald analysis in late August found that only about 3,150 voters with Puerto Rico phone area codes had registered to vote between the hurricane's landfall and the primary deadline in late July. But despite that there's been a concentrated push by both parties to appeal to Puerto Rican voters and seek out endorsements from top Puerto Rico politicians. "I've 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. I'll continue to help PR," Scott tweeted Thursday. Right after the storm Scott ordered the opening of disaster relief centers to help those who came to Florida. Over the summer, the governor ran an ad that said he is the one politician who was helping Puerto Rico. DeSantis, Nelson and Democratic candidate for governor Andrew Gillum have also visited Puerto Rico this year. For DeSantis, breaking from Trump marked a major, first shift away from the conservative base voters that carried him to a victory in the primary. "Ron DeSantis is committed to standing with the Puerto Rican community, especially after such a tragic loss of life," said Stephen Lawson, a spokesman for DeSantis. State Rep. Amy Mercado, a Puerto Rican Democrat from central Florida, called Trump's comments about the death toll "disgusting, vile, and show just who he is." "The lives lost because of Maria were very real, and the island is still dealing with the devastating effects and poor federal response," she said. Other Democrats in Florida also were sharply critical of Trump. Nelson on Twitter called the comments "shameful" and said that "we deserve and expect more from someone who holds the highest office in our country." Gillum, who is challenging DeSantis in the governor's race, also blasted the president. "No death is partisan and our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico deserved better," Gillum said on Twitter. FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2017, file photo, homes and other buildings destroyed by Hurricane Maria lie in ruins in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. Top Florida Republicans have been quick to say President Donald Trump is wrong about the death toll in Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) 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 personally invited to the country for a conference. 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. In this Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 photo, Shahindokht Molaverdi, a top adviser to Iran's president on human rights, gives an interview to The Associated Press at her office in Tehran, Iran. Molaverdi said that the government "failed" to help a U.S. permanent resident imprisoned over spying allegations that she invited to the country for a summit. She cited the case of Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese-born internet freedom advocate who had been living in the U.S. and is now serving 10 years in prison. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) "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. ___ Associated Press television producer Mehdi Fattahi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jongambrellAP . His work can be found at http://apne.ws/2galNpz . In this Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 photo, Shahindokht Molaverdi, a top adviser to Iran's president on human rights, gives an interview to The Associated Press at her office in Tehran, Iran. Molaverdi said that the government "failed" to help a U.S. permanent resident imprisoned over spying allegations that she invited to the country for a summit. She cited the case of Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese-born internet freedom advocate who had been living in the U.S. and is now serving 10 years in prison. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) In this Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 photo, Shahindokht Molaverdi, a top adviser to Iran's president on human rights, gives an interview to The Associated Press at her office in Tehran, Iran. Molaverdi said that the government "failed" to help a U.S. permanent resident imprisoned over spying allegations that she invited to the country for a summit. She cited the case of Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese-born internet freedom advocate who had been living in the U.S. and is now serving 10 years in prison. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) In this Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 photo, Shahindokht Molaverdi, a top adviser to Iran's president on human rights, gives an interview to The Associated Press at her office in Tehran, Iran. Molaverdi said that the government "failed" to help a U.S. permanent resident imprisoned over spying allegations that she invited to the country for a summit. She cited the case of Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese-born internet freedom advocate who had been living in the U.S. and is now serving 10 years in prison. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Elizabeth Smart says a woman who helped kidnap her when she was 14 and stood by as she was sexually assaulted should be committed to a mental-health facility after she's released from prison next week. Smart said Thursday she was shocked to find out about Wanda Barzee's prison release and she's deeply concerned because the inmate hasn't been cooperating with treatment. "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 arrives for a news conference Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Smart says it appears there is no viable, legal recourse she can take to stop the release of one of her kidnappers. Smart said at a news conference Thursday in Salt Lake City that she only found out about 72-year-old Wanda Barzee's release shortly before the public did. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Barzee is expected to be freed Wednesday after 15 years in custody, after Utah authorities said in a surprise announcement they 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 said Barzee "saw me as her slave. She called me her handmaiden. She never hesitated to let her displeasure with me be known." The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole set a January 2024 release date in June, but her attorney questioned whether that took into account time she'd served in a federal prison. On Tuesday, the board decided that she had served her full sentence allowed under the law. 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. "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." 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, she said. "I do believe in forgiveness. I am a Christian," Smart said. She also urged authorities to reconsider the process for release decisions to put greater weight on potential threat along with 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. The girl 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 Elizabeth Smart's attorney Brett Tolman. He was previously the U.S. Attorney for Utah who prosecuted Mitchell. Barzee's family could also request a possible civil commitment to a mental-health facility, if that's warranted, Tolman said. Elizabeth Smart walks to her press conference at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Wanda Barzee will be released from Utah State Prison after serving her 15-year sentence for aggravated kidnapping and holding hostage Smart in 2002. (Jeffrey D. Allred/The Deseret News via AP) Elizabeth Smart speaks during a news conference while her father Ed Smart looks on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Smart says it appears there is no viable, legal recourse she can take to stop the release of one of her kidnappers. Smart said at a news conference Thursday in Salt Lake City that she only found out about 72-year-old Wanda Barzee's release shortly before the public did. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) FILE - This April 8, 2016, file photo, provided by Utah State Prison shows Wanda Barzee. Barzee, the woman convicted of helping a former street preacher kidnap Elizabeth Smart as a teenager from her Salt Lake City bedroom in 2002 and held her captive, will be released from prison next week. The surprise move announced Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, comes after authorities determined they had miscalculated the time Barzee previously served in federal custody.(Utah State Prison via AP, File) Elizabeth Smart receives a hug before speaking at a news conference Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Smart says it appears there is no viable, legal recourse she can take to stop the release of one of her kidnappers. Smart said that she only found out about 72-year-old Wanda Barzee's release shortly before the public did. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) FILE - In this April 24, 2015, file photo, kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart looks on during a news conference in Sandy, Utah. Wanda Barzee, a woman convicted of helping a former street preacher kidnap Smart in 2002 will be freed from prison more than five years earlier than expected, a surprise decision that Smart called "incomprehensible" on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) FILE - This 2017 photo provided by the Utah Department of Corrections shows Wanda Barzee. Barzee, a woman convicted of helping a former street preacher kidnap Elizabeth Smart as a teenager from her Salt Lake City bedroom in 2002 and held her captive will be released from prison next week. The surprise move announced Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, comes after authorities determined they had miscalculated the time 72-year-old Barzee previously served in federal custody. (Utah Department of Corrections via AP) TOKYO (AP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says 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. Abe said Friday during a policy debate in his party that Japan wants to resolve the territorial dispute before signing a peace treaty. Abe returned from Russia after meeting with Putin and attending an economic conference. He says the two leaders are likely to meet again this year. A candidate for president of ruling party Japanese prime minister and head of current party president Shinzo Abe, speaks during a debate ahead of Liberal Democratic Party president election in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Abe is vying for his third re-election as the ruling party leader next week, extending his stay in power to work on his long-cherished ambition, to revise his country's war-renouncing constitution. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Putin said the countries should sign a peace treaty before the end of the year and later discuss the islands. The Soviet Union took the four southernmost Kuril Islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories, in the war's closing days. BEIJING (AP) - Chinese factory output and retail sales held up in August but investment weakened, government data showed Friday, adding to challenges for communist leaders as they fight a tariff battle with Washington. The data showed little impact yet from government efforts to shore up flagging growth by easing lending controls. Even before trade tension with Washington, growth in the world's second-largest economy was forecast to slow after Beijing tightened lending controls last year to cool a debt boom. Exports to the United States have held up so far despite President Donald Trump's tariff hike on $50 billion of Chinese goods. Communist leaders want to steer China to slower, more self-sustaining growth based on domestic consumption. But they appear to be worried retail spending and investment - bigger parts of the economy than trade - might be cooling too much. The August data "suggest that more cracks started appearing in the economy," said Macquarie Bank in a report. Growth in industrial output edged up to 6.1 percent from July's 6 percent. But growth in investment in factories, real estate and other fixed assets decelerated to 5.3 percent in the first eight months of the year from 5.5 percent in January-July. Retail sales rose 9 percent, up from July's 8.8 percent gain. Online commerce spending rose 28.2 percent in the first eight months of the year over the same period of 2017. Beijing responded to weakening activity by ordering banks to lend more freely to exporters that might be hurt by Trump's tariff hike. Communist leaders have avoided a full-scale stimulus for fear of reigniting a surge in what private sector analysts say are dangerously high levels of corporate and household debt. Exporters face a potentially bigger blow if Trump goes ahead with plans for penalties on $200 billion of Chinese goods. Beijing has issued a $60 billion list of American imports for retaliation. Forecasters say it will take time for easier credit to work its way through the economy. "We think growth will continue to slow in the coming months," said Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics in a report. KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - An Afghan official says Taliban insurgents attacked a security outpost in northern Samangan province, killing six members of the local security force including local police and members of a militia loyal to the government. A gun battle lasted several hours before reinforcements arrived and repulsed the attack, which took place late Thursday, Abdul Munir Rahimi, spokesman for the provincial police chief, told The Associated Press on Friday. Elsewhere, a roadside mine exploded in eastern Nangarhar province's Khogyani district, wounding five civilians, said Provincial Police Chief Ghulam Sanayee Stanikzai. He blamed the Taliban saying they were targeting security forces. There was no claim of responsibility for either attack. MOSCOW (AP) - When almost all the protesters at recent anti-government rallies across Russia went home, teenagers and young adults were the only ones left on the streets. "In my circle, more and more people are getting protest-minded," said 20-year-old theater student Andrei Zabara, one of about two dozen youths who ended up staying camped on the streets of Moscow on Sunday. "My parents are supporting the protest. The girl who was streaming it on Instagram last night - her mom was helping, she brought us food. But as far as the rallies go, (the parents) are afraid to come out." Many born during President Vladimir Putin's 18-year-long rule, young Russians like Zabara have long been considered one of his most loyal constituents. But increasingly, the government's anti-Western agenda and reports of widespread corruption are turning young Russians against the leader. FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 file photo, demonstrators shout anti-government slogans and hold posters that read: 'I want to live to Retirement', during a rally protesting retirement age hikes in Moscow, Russia. Street protests in Russia were once led by 50 and 60 year olds, and young Russians were long considered some of President Vladimir Putin's most loyal supporters, but their children have taken up the lead, taking anti-government protests further, ignoring official bans and unafraid of police brutality. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File) In the decade following the collapse of the Soviet Union, street protests were led by 50- and 60-year-olds, disenchanted by the free-wheeling capitalism while their children were busy reinventing themselves in a new market economy. In 2011, when Putin announced his return to the presidency, it was the budding middle-aged middle class that took to the streets to protest what they saw as an unfair and archaic political system. But the violent crackdown on a rally in May 2012 and ensuing criminal persecutions of a dozen protesters have scared off the 40-year-olds. In the meantime, their teenage children have taken the lead. With Russia's rigid political system offering no other outlet for discontent, young people have turned to unsanctioned street protests, ignoring official bans and unafraid of police brutality. "Young people are taking to the streets on behalf of their parents, not against them," said Moscow-based political analyst Ekaterina Schulmann. "Those kids enjoy the support of their parents who may be wary of the risks, may be afraid (of coming out)... but they share the same values." Zabara says his parents are supportive of his activism but are too afraid to join him on the streets, fearing repercussions for their jobs. Some teenagers attended the protest with their parents. Yevgeny Roizman, who served as mayor of Russia's fourth-largest city Yekaterinburg and is considered one of the most popular opposition leaders in the regions, said he found Sunday's protest crowd in Yekaterinburg substantially younger than he expected. "Young people are coming out for us and taking the hit," he said in a video blog earlier this week, adding that older people should "feel ashamed." More than 1,000 people were arrested at protest rallies across Russia last Sunday. The most recent wave of anti-government protests erupted in spring 2017 when opposition leader Alexei Navalny released a YouTube expose of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's alleged wealth. The video got more than 27 million views, and Navalny's foray into social media and YouTube blogging brought to the streets a younger, more determined and angrier generation. Emboldened by support from the youth, Navalny has been gathering supporters in central locations in Moscow and other cities, often resulting in run-ins with the police. Viktor, a 16-year old high school student who asked his last name not to be published for fear of trouble in school, said he started going to rallies last year. He believed the protest crowd is ready to go one step further. "I can feel this transformation of the youth, of the minds. Before that the rallies were like you shout all you want and then everyone leaves," he said. "Now people are staying, organizing round-the-clock rallies, marching on to the Kremlin." At the demonstration on Sunday, several dozen protesters charged at barriers across the road from the Kremlin and clashed with riot police. The rally fizzled out after some of them were beaten up by police and detained. In the end, some 20 protesters decided to camp out at the protest venue and spend the night there. In the morning, police officers showed up at what looked like an improvised picnic, and asked the young people to go to the police station with them. Four days later, a dozen young protesters were still roaming the streets of Moscow. Talking about the protest's turn to violence is fraught with consequences in Russia, as law enforcement agencies have been using new draconian laws to bring criminal charges against opposition-minded youth for something as minor as a blog post or a tweet. Zabara says the protesters are willing to consider "more radical methods" and go further than their parents, adding that many young people have been inspired by demonstrations in neighboring Armenia, where the country's long-serving president and government resigned in the face of massive street protests. He quickly added, however, that he supports a peaceful resistance. Young Russians who grew up under Putin have traditionally been one of his most ardent supporters, enjoying the benefits of a booming consumer economy and relative freedoms that their parents could only dream of under Communism. But urban youth is becoming gradually disenchanted with Putin as the state has been aggressively promoting anti-Western attitudes, patriotism and traditional Christian values - including lectures about Orthodox Christianity at schools and universities and officials assailing specific Western films or music. Lev Gudkov, director of the independent polling agency Levada Center, says the pollsters are beginning to see Putin's popularity among young people wane. "Something began to change with young people last year," he said. "Young people don't like the anti-Western rhetoric and an embrace of traditional values as far as youth culture, fashion, sexual behavior and morals are concerned." Gudhov said the youths who self-organize via messenger chats and get beaten up by riot police are getting a crash course in political activism - and will soon form a solid opposition when they're older. "That protest-minded youth who get hit by batons... they will learn how to resist the pressure," he said. "And we can expect a consolidated resistance against the authoritarian regime before too long." FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 file photo, young demonstrators carry a police fence during a rally protesting retirement age hikes in Moscow, Russia. Street protests in Russia were once led by 50 and 60 year olds, and young Russians were long considered some of President Vladimir Putin's most loyal supporters, but their children have taken up the lead, taking anti-government protests further, ignoring official bans and unafraid of police brutality. (AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov, File) In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, 16-year old Viktor, center, chants at a protest rally in Moscow, Russia. Street protests in Russia were once led by 50 and 60 year olds, and young Russians were long considered some of President Vladimir Putin's most loyal supporters, but their children have taken up the lead, taking anti-government protests further, ignoring official bans and unafraid of police brutality. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 file photo, a Russian police officer detains a teenager during a rally protesting retirement age hikes in St. Petersburg, Russia. Street protests in Russia were once led by 50 and 60 year olds, and young Russians were long considered some of President Vladimir Putin's most loyal supporters, but their children have taken up the lead, taking anti-government protests further, ignoring official bans and unafraid of police brutality. (Roman Pimenov/Interpress photo via AP, File) In this photo taken on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, high school student Viktor, center, and a theater student Andrei Zabara, left, sit in a park in Moscow, Russia, during their interview with The Associated Press. Viktor, a 16-year old high school student who asked his last name not to be published for fear of trouble in school, said he started going to rallies last year. (AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov) In this photo taken on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, theater student Andrei Zabara speaks to the Associated Press in Moscow, Russia. Street protests in Russia were once led by 50 and 60 year olds, and young Russians were long considered some of President Vladimir Putin's most loyal supporters, but their children have taken up the lead, taking anti-government protests further, ignoring official bans and unafraid of police brutality. (AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov) FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 file photo, police try to block young protesters during a rally protesting retirement age hikes in Moscow, Russia. Street protests in Russia were once led by 50 and 60 year olds, and young Russians were long considered some of President Vladimir Putin's most loyal supporters, but their children have taken up the lead, taking anti-government protests further, ignoring official bans and unafraid of police brutality. (AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov) In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, a young protester holding a poster that reads: "Authority to Answer!" looks at riot police at an anti-government rally in Moscow, Russia. Street protests in Russia were once led by 50 and 60 year olds, and young Russians were long considered some of President Vladimir Putin's most loyal supporters, but their children have taken up the lead, taking anti-government protests further, ignoring official bans and unafraid of police brutality. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 file photo, Russian police officers push a teenager during a rally protesting retirement age hikes in St. Petersburg, Russia. Street protests in Russia were once led by 50 and 60 year olds, and young Russians were long considered some of President Vladimir Putin's most loyal supporters, but their children have taken up the lead, taking anti-government protests further, ignoring official bans and unafraid of police brutality. (AP Photo/Valentin Egorshin, File) In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, a young protester holds a placard that reads: "We're sick of you. I'm asking you to be understanding of this", in Moscow, Russia. Street protests in Russia were once led by 50 and 60 year olds, and young Russians were long considered some of President Vladimir Putin's most loyal supporters, but their children have taken up the lead, taking anti-government protests further, ignoring official bans and unafraid of police brutality. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) MUMBAI, India (AP) - About 150 Muslims protested in Mumbai, India's financial capital, on Friday to demand that China stop detaining thousands of minority Uighur Muslims in camps and political indoctrination centers in its Xinjiang region. The protesters chanted "Down with China'" as they demonstrated outside a mosque after Friday noon prayers. An organizer, Mohammed Saeed Nori, accused China of detaining many Muslims in camps and "snatching their religious freedom." Indian Muslims shout slogans during a protest against the Chinese government, in Mumbai, India, Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Nearly 150 Indian Muslims held a street protest in Mumbai, India's financial capital, demanding that China stop detaining thousands of members of minority Uighur Muslim ethnic group in detention and political indoctrination centers in Xinjiang region. Placards read "Chinese government must stop atrocities on Muslims," front, and "Indian government must put diplomatic pressure on China," top left. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade) China has tightened restrictions over the instruction of Islam and the Uighur language in an effort to assimilate the minority group into the Chinese mainstream, which is dominated by the Han ethnic group. It says the process will bring economic benefits to Xinjiang's poor people. China has denied operating the camps and said it is taking necessary measures to fight terrorism, religious extremism and separatism. Indian Muslims participate in a protest against the Chinese government, in Mumbai, India, Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Nearly 150 Indian Muslims held a street protest in Mumbai, India's financial capital, demanding that China stop detaining thousands of members of minority Uighur Muslim ethnic group in detention and political indoctrination centers in Xinjiang region. Placard reads "Chinese government must stop atrocities on Muslims." (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade) LONDON (AP) - Bank of England Governor Mark Carney warned Friday that developments surrounding Brexit are "the most significant influences" on the economic outlook for Britain. A day after he reportedly told Cabinet members that a disorderly Brexit could lead to economic problems akin to the 2008 global financial crisis, Carney said the bank was ready for any eventuality. "The Bank of England is well-prepared for whatever path the economy takes, including a wide range of potential Brexit outcomes," he said in a speech in Dublin, Ireland. Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, leaves from the back of Downing Street as a cabinet meeting on Brexit took place at 10 Downing Street in London, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) "We have used our stress test to ensure that the largest U.K. banks can continue to meet the needs of U.K. households and businesses even through a disorderly Brexit, however unlikely that may be." Brexit is officially due to take place in March but it's still unclear what Britain's relationship with the EU will be. On Thursday, the British government published another set of papers detailing what it thinks would happen in a disorderly Brexit, whereby Britain crashes out of the bloc with no deal. The government warned that British driving licenses may not be eligible in continental Europe in such a scenario and that mobile phone users may see hefty increases in roaming charges. At a special Cabinet debate on Brexit, Carney went further. According to multiple British media outlets, he warned ministers of a 35 percent crash in the British housing market, which plays a big role in the economy, as well as a severe increase in unemployment and disruptions in daily activities like air travel. Despite all the warnings, many Brexit-backers have dismissed Carney's warning as another piece of scaremongering from an official some have called the "high priest of Project Fear." Financial markets took in stride Carney's reported warnings, with the pound firm at $1.3123, while the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was up 0.2 percent at 7,297. Ahead of the Brexit referendum in June 2016, Carney was one of many officials warning that a vote to leave the EU could lead to a recession in Britain and a rise in unemployment. Growth did slow but the economy did not contract and unemployment has continued to fall to 43-year lows. "The problem with Carney's gloomy prognostications on Brexit is that his previous forecasts have been completely wrong on this subject," said Neil MacKinnon, global macro strategist at VTB Capital. Still, Carney is widely respected among investors and at the top of the government after helping to calm financial markets in the immediate aftermath of the Brexit vote. Earlier this week, he agreed to extend his time as governor by seven months until Jan. 2020. Britain's Treasury chief Philip Hammond said Carney can help "smooth" the Brexit process after the country's scheduled departure from the EU. CAIRO (AP) - Egyptian authorities deported a Lebanese woman who was jailed for insulting Egyptians in a video she posted online, days after she was sentenced to a suspended one-year sentence, her lawyer and airport officials said. Mona el-Mazbouh was deported Thursday. She was arrested in May after she posted a 10-minute video in which she used profanities to describe her vacation in Cairo, where she said she was sexually harassed. She calls Egyptians the "dirtiest people" and Egypt "the country of pimps ... of beggars." She later posted a video apologizing, saying "I definitely didn't mean to offend all Egyptians." In July, the 24-year-old el-Mazabou was sentenced to 11 years in prison but the sentence was later reduced to eight years. A higher court earlier this month approved her appeal and handed her a suspended one-year sentence. She was released and boarded a flight with her family to Lebanon late Thursday after paying a fine of 10,700 Egyptian pounds (around $598), her lawyer Emad Kamal said. Airport officials confirmed her deportation. They said el-Mazbouh arrived at the airport with police directly after she was released. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. El-Mazbouh posted on her Facebook account photos of her arrival at Beirut International Airport. "It was a nice experience. ... I was there (in prison) for three months and a half ... that's it. I am good, thanks God," she said in a posted video. In her first video, el-Mazbouh said she was sexually harassed by taxi drivers and young men in Cairo. She also said her money was stolen at some point during her vacation. She was arrested after the video went viral and accused by authorities of "deliberately broadcasting false rumors which aim to undermine society and attack religions." Sexual harassment, mostly ranging from catcalls to occasional pinching or grabbing, is rampant in Egypt. Polls have found that a majority of both men and women in the conservative Muslim country believe it is justified if women dress "provocatively" in public. The problem of sexual harassment in Egypt gained worldwide attention during and after the 2011 uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak, when women were harassed, groped and, in some cases, beaten and sexually assaulted during mass protests. A study released last year by the Thomson Reuters Foundation ranked Cairo as the most dangerous megacity in the world for women. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi questioned its findings, but acknowledged in TV comments last November that "there is sexual harassment in Egypt. There is a big percentage, but not to say it is the worst." Another last year by U.N. Women and Promundo, a non-governmental organization, found that nearly 60 percent of Egyptian women say they have been sexually harassed, and nearly 65 percent of men acknowledge harassing women, though they mainly admitted to ogling. The poll, which surveyed 1,380 men and 1,402 women in five governorates, found that 74 percent of men - and 84 percent of women - agreed that "women who dress provocatively deserve to be harassed." Forty-three percent of men said women "like the attention" when men harass them. Only 20 percent of women said they did. Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. FLORENCE'S OCEANWATER, FRESH WATER SURGES THREATEN CAROLINAS The storm, on the cusp on making landfall, has already inundated coastal streets with water from the Atlantic and left tens of thousands without power Thomas Lee, left, gets help from Stoney Williamson, right, lifting a generator into his home which flooded two years ago from Hurricane Matthew in Nichols, S.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. 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. "If it floods like this again, you can just tell Nichols goodbye," Lee said. (AP Photo/David Goldman) 2. AP EXPLAINS HOW HURRICANES' POWERFUL WINDS RAISE THE SEA Storm surges are more like domes of high water is destructive waves on top that form as the ocean spreads inland. 3. SOUTHEAST ASIA ALSO HIT BY CATASTROPHIC WEATHER Typhoon Mangkhut retained its ferocious strength and slightly shifted toward more densely populated coastal provinces in the Philippines, where a massive evacuation was underway. 4. WHERE CIVIL WAR HAS CREATED A POCKET OF FAMINE Many families with starving children in northern Yemen have nothing to eat but the leaves of a local vine, boiled into a sour, acidic green paste, The AP finds. 5. FOR PRESIDENT, THE NUMBERS DON'T ADD UP Donald Trump is disputing the official death count from Hurricane Maria and falsely accusing Democrats of inflating the Puerto Rican toll to make him "look as bad as possible." 6. GAS BLASTS WREAK DEADLY HAVOC IN NEW ENGLAND 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. 7. WHO DEFEATED A FORMER STAR OF "SEX AND THE CITY" Seeking a third term, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has easily beaten back a primary challenge from activist and actress Cynthia Nixon. 8. POSSIBLE SUMMIT SEQUEL IN THE WORKS Donald Trump wants to meet with Kim Jong Un again, and the North Korean leader has told the White House he'd like more face-to-face talks with the American president, but can it be in New York? 9. WHICH ICONIC VEHICLE IS BEING SQUASHED Volkswagen's American unit says it will end global production of the third-generation Beetle in July 2019 after offering two special editions for sale. 10. AWARDS DISTINGUISH WACKY SCIENCE RESEARCH Ig Nobel 2018 winners included a Japanese doctor who devised a revolutionary new way to give yourself a colonoscopy and a British archaeology lecturer who figured out that eating human flesh isn't very nutritious. A resident rides his motorcycle across a flooded area as rains from Typhoon Mangkhut begin to affect Tuguegarao city, Cagayan province, northeastern Philippines on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. 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. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Crews work to knock down a fire 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 are blaming over-pressurized gas lines and previously told all residents with Columbia Gas service in those areas to evacuate. (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via AP) In this Aug. 25, 2018 photo, a man feeds children Halas, a climbing vine of green leaves, in Aslam, Hajjah, Yemen. Yemenis in the isolated pocket in the north have been reduced to eating boiled leaves from a local vine to stave off starvation, with no aid reaching many families who need it most. The situation in Aslam district is a sign of the holes in an international aid system that is already overwhelmed but is the only thing standing between Yemen's people and massive death from starvation amid the country's 3-year civil war. (AP Photo/Hammadi Issa) QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistani police say a roadside bomb has exploded near a security convoy in the country's southwest, killing three security personnel. Local police official Mohammad Azmat says Friday's attack took place near the town of Pashi, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Pakistani militants and small nationalist groups have been blamed for previous such attacks in Baluchistan. Separatist groups also often target security forces in a bid to get a larger share of provincial resources and wealth or outright autonomy from Islamabad. Pakistan's government claims it has quelled the insurgency, but violence has continued. VIENNA (AP) - The Latest on the flow of migrants into Europe (all times local): 12:15 p.m. The European Union's border agency says the number of migrants crossing the western Mediterranean Sea into Spain more than doubled in the first eight months of this year, compared with the same period in 2017. Frontex said in a statement Friday that from January to August it recorded "some 29,600 irregular border crossings on the western Mediterranean route, more than double the figure from a year ago." Some 6,500 people reached Spain last month, also more than double the figure for August 2017. Most people were from Morocco, Guinea and Mali. Frontex said that, more broadly, the number of people crossing the entire Mediterranean fell by 40 percent from last year to around 86,500. This was due to a sharp drop in people leaving strife-torn Libya for Italy, a main migrant route to Europe in recent years. ___ 11:15 a.m. Austria's interior minister says the European Union's migration commissioner is prematurely "throwing in the towel" on the idea of setting up centers for migrants in North Africa. EU Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos was quoted in Austria's Die Presse newspaper Thursday as saying the idea of slowing the flow of migrants to Europe by establishing holding centers was "practically impossible." Avramopoulos says "no country in this part of the Mediterranean has accepted the establishment of such a platform to date." Austrian Interior Minister Herbert Kickl on Friday, before meeting with his EU counterparts and Avramopoulos, called the comments a "bad signal," saying the message should be "let's try to take on this hard task." He says: "The idea is roughly two months old and ... the EU commissioner's already throwing in the towel." MADRID (AP) - 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. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez steps out of the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. Sanchez, who became prime minister in June promising to root out corruption, lost a culture minister over a tax fine and Spain's health minister resigned Tuesday over irregularities found in her master's degree. His center-left government has been marred by erratic policy-making, with several U-turns on cabinet decisions. (AP Photo/Paul White) 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. ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - 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. FILE- In this April 16, 2017 file photo, the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy's legendary flight performance squadron, fly in formation over Cinderella Castle and the 'Partners' statue at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, in Bay Lake, Fla. Florida emergency officials said Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, they had no way of tracking how many residents from the Carolinas had escaped to Florida this week. But some hotels were offering special discounts for evacuees and Florida ports were opening their terminals to cruise ships making unexpected ports of call.(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP, File) 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 ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (AP) - Nearly 300 people will be compensated by the Roman Catholic diocese on New York's Long Island for sexual abuse at the hands of priests. Newsday reports that the Diocese of Rockville Centre has received 293 claims since it established a special compensation program last fall. The program's co-administrator, Camille Biros, says 221 victims have been offered financial settlements so far and the others will receive offers within a few months. Biros did not disclose an estimate for the total amount of the settlements. Lawyers for the victims say the awards range from $25,000 to $500,000. The diocese is not identifying the accused priests. The New York attorney general's office announced last week that it is investigating accusations of sexual abuse in all of the state's eight roman Catholic dioceses. ___ Information from: Newsday, http://www.newsday.com LANSDOWNE, Md. (AP) - Maryland police say a man who was shot to death at a funeral was attending a service for his younger brother when he was killed. Baltimore County police tells The Baltimore Sun 32-year-old Maurice Brown died Wednesday while attending the funeral of 18-year-old Marcus Brown, who was fatally shot last month. The shooting left another man seriously wounded. Spokeswoman officer Jennifer Peach said police believe there were two shooters in the funeral's crowd. Peach says police believe the shooting was targeted. The newspaper reports the father of the Brown brothers declined to comment. ___ Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com A court descended into chaos as a judge involved in handing the death sentence to a doctor who killed four people in bizarre revenge attacks collapsed and had to be carried from a courthouse on a stretcher. Anthony Garcia, 45, of Indiana entered the courtroom in a wheelchair and appeared to sleep through the hearing as a three-judge panel sentenced him to death. The judges, who heard arguments earlier this year during the sentencing phase of Garcia's trial, also had the option of life in prison. But as Garcia was sentenced Douglas County Judge Gary Randall, one of the panel, collapsed suffering a medical episode and had to be removed from court on a stretcher. Anthony Garcia slumps in his chair at the Douglas County Court in Omaha, Neb., Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Douglas County Judge Gary Randall is taken from the courtroom by gurney after feeling unwell during the sentencing of former doctor Anthony Garcia, in Omaha, Nebraska, who killed four people in revenge for being fired in 2001 Gage County District Judge Rick Schreiner took over, explaining that Randall had undergone a medical procedure earlier in the week that caused him extreme back pain. Garcia was convicted in 2016 for two attacks - that occurred five years apart - on families connected to Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha. Prosecutors argued the killings were motivated by Garcia's long-simmering rage over being fired in 2001 by Dr. William Hunter and another Creighton pathology doctor, Roger Brumback. Some of the victims' relatives testified Friday, including Jeff Sherman, whose mother was fatally stabbed alongside Hunter's young son when she worked at the Hunter family's home in 2008. "I'm left with constant images from courtroom pictures of what happened to my mom," Sherman said. "I can't ever get those images out of my head." Investigators said Garcia fatally stabbed 11-year-old Thomas Hunter and 57-year-old Shirlee Sherman at the family's home in an upscale Omaha neighborhood. Police collected a slew of evidence but struggled to find a suspect in the killings. 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. He was arrested two months later during a traffic stop in southern Illinois. On Friday, Thomas Hunter's mother, Dr. Claire Hunter, spoke of the agony of losing her young son so violently. She said the boy "was a joy in everybody's life." "You can't begin to enumerate what an event like has had on us, on the entire community," she said after Garcia was sentenced. Dr. Claire Hunter, mother of Thomas Hunter, speaks to reporters outside the Douglas County Court Garcia's parents and brother, who live in California, also attended the hearing. They were tearful as the verdict was read. His brother, Fernando Garcia, said it was hard for his family to imagine his brother committing the crimes. "We just want the victims' families to know we do pray for them. We feel their pain," he said. "We're sorry those things took place. We're not an evil family. We hope they find peace somehow." During the trial, prosecutors presented massive amounts of circumstantial evidence, including credit card and cellphone records placing Garcia in and around Omaha the day the Brumbacks were killed. One receipt showed Garcia eating a meal at a chicken wings restaurant within two hours of when police believe the Brumbacks were attacked. Fred Garcia, father of Anthony Garcia, speaks to reporters outside the Douglas County Court in Omaha, Neb., Friday, September 14, 2018 Prosecutors also presented evidence that Garcia had sought to attack another Creighton medical school faculty member on May 10, 2013 - the same day the Brumbacks were killed. Prosecutors said Garcia pushed in a back door of that woman's home but fled when the home's alarm went off. Police believe he then found the Brumbacks' address on his smartphone and attacked them. Roger Brumback was shot in the doorway of his home and then stabbed. His wife was stabbed to death, much the same way Thomas Hunter and Shirlee Sherman had been stabbed, according to investigators. Anthony Garcia slumps in his chair at the Douglas County Court in Omaha, Neb., Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Nebraska had not executed an inmate in more than 20 years until last month, when Carey Dean Moore died by lethal injection for the 1979 shooting deaths of two Omaha cab drivers. However, the state's mode of execution remains riddled with controversy and legal challenges in the face of difficulty in obtaining some of the drugs used to carry out lethal injection. Under Nebraska law, Garcia's sentence will be automatically appealed. WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. retail sales barely rose in August as consumers slowed their spending after a robust month of shopping in July. The Commerce Department said Friday that the value of purchases ticked up just 0.1 percent last month, the smallest increase in six months. But the sluggish figure may prove only a temporary blip. It partly reflected falling prices for items like clothing, and it followed a strong gain of 0.7 percent in July. Consumer confidence soared to its highest level in 18 years in August as Americans expressed a more optimistic outlook on the economy. That suggests that retail sales could rebound in the coming months. In this Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, photo, a prospective buyer looks over a 2019 Cooper S convertible on the showroom floor of a Mini dealership in Highlands Ranch, Colo. On Friday, Sept. 14, the Commerce Department releases U.S. retail sales data for August. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) "The trend in retail spending is still solid, fueled by job growth and rising wages," said Ben Ayers, senior economist at Nationwide. "We expect retail sales to pick up again in coming months to continue a strong 2018 for consumer activity." Still, auto sales fell 0.8 percent last month, and clothing stores sales plunged 1.7 percent, the steepest drop in 18 months, though that figure mostly reflected lower-priced clothing rather than declining demand. Retail sales are closely monitored by economists because they provide an early read on consumer spending, which drives about two-thirds of economic activity. Sales at gas stations jumped 1.7 percent, an increase that reflected higher prices at the pump. Excluding gas stations, retail sales slipped 0.1 percent, the first decline since January. Sales increased at electronics and appliance stores, sporting goods stores, restaurants and bars, and a category that includes online and catalog retailers. Online and catalog sales have jumped 10.4 percent compared with a year earlier, a much larger increase than the 6.6 percent rise in overall sales. There are other signs that consumers are optimistic and prepared to spend. Americans borrowed more in July, increasing credit card debt and student and auto loans - a sign of confidence in their ability to repay the debt. Retailers expect a solid winter holiday shopping season and are announcing plans to ramp up their hiring of seasonal staff. Target said this week that it plans to hire 120,000 temporary workers, 20 percent more than last year. The economy expanded at a robust 4.2 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter, the strongest growth in four years. That growth was lifted by solid consumer spending, which increased 3.8 percent. Analysts forecast growth will slip in the current July-September quarter to a still-healthy 3 percent annual pace. NEW YORK (AP) - A leading cancer doctor has resigned from New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center over his reported failure to disclose millions of dollars in payments from pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Jose Baselga resigned Thursday after The New York Times and ProPublica reported that he had not disclosed his financial ties to companies including the Swiss drugmaker Roche in dozens of articles he wrote for medical journals. Baselga said in his resignation letter than he feared the matter would be a distraction from his role overseeing clinical care at Sloan Kettering. He said he hoped the medical community would work to develop a more standardized system for reporting industry ties. Baselga said his failed disclosures were unintentional and should not reflect on the value of his research. ___ Information from: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com The POR 12 took place from February 1, 2016 to January 31, 2017.Specifically, shrimp exported by Sao Ta Foods JSC (FIMEX VN), the only mandatory respondent in the review, and over 30 other local shrimp exporters are subject to an antidumping duty of 4.58 percent.This final rate is far lower than the preliminary rate of 25.39 percent, first announced by the DoC on March 8. It is also slightly lower than the duty was in the prior period.Ho Quoc Luc, Chairman of the Directorate Board of Fimex, said Fimex cooperated fully with the DoC during its inspection and delegation period.In 2017, the export value of Vietnamese shrimp to the US fell 7 percent from the previous year because of the hefty anti-dumping duty. Meanwhile, the export value to other markets rose sharply, hitting 659 million USD, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).As a result, the US lost its spot as the fourth largest importer of Vietnams shrimp. The export decrease continued in the first eight months of 2018, falling 10.5 percent to about 372 million USD.With the new lower rate, Vietnams shrimp exports to the US are expected to recover in the coming months. Despite the expected rebound, the final number is expected to be 6.5 percent lower than it was in 2017. Vietnamplus THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - Police in the southern Dutch city of Roermond have detained a 16-year-old boy after he allegedly fired shots inside and outside a high school. Nobody was injured in the incident. Police say the student was armed with an ax and a firearm when he arrived at school Friday morning in the city 170 kilometers (105 miles) southeast of Amsterdam. In a statement, police say that based on initial information the possible motive for the gunfire was "an argument with a fellow student." They released no further details of the suspect or the weapons he was carrying. Incidents of students carrying weapons to school are very rare in the Netherlands, which has tight gun ownership laws. OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) - 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. CAIRO (AP) - 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. In this Aug. 25, 2018 image made from video, a severely malnourished girl waits for her turn to be treated at the Aslam Health Center in Hajjah, Yemen. 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. Yemen's civil war has wrecked the impoverished country's already fragile ability to feed its population. (AP Photo/Hammadi Issa) "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." ___ 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. In this Aug. 25, 2018 image made from video, a severely malnourished girl is weighed at the Aslam Health Center in Hajjah, Yemen. Around 2.9 million women and children are acutely malnourished; another 400,000 children are fighting for their lives. Yemen's civil war has wrecked the impoverished country's already fragile ability to feed its population. (AP Photo/Hammadi Issa) In this Aug. 25, 2018 photo, a severely malnourished infant is bathed in a bucket in Aslam, Hajjah, Yemen. Yemen's civil war has wrecked the impoverished country's already fragile ability to feed its population. 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. (AP Photo/Hammadi Issa) In this Aug. 25, 2018 image made from video, severely malnourished infant Zahra is bathed by her mother, in Aslam, Hajjah, Yemen. Yemen's civil war has wrecked the impoverished country's already fragile ability to feed its population. 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. (AP Photo/Hammadi Issa) This undated 2018 handout image provided by Dr. Mekkiya Mahdi, Head of Aslam Health Center, shows a severely malnourished infant at the Aslam Health Center in Hajjah, Yemen. The situation in Aslam district is a sign of the holes in an international aid system that is already overwhelmed but is the only thing standing between Yemen's people and massive death from starvation amid the country's 3-year civil war. (Courtesy of Dr. Mekkiya Mahdi via AP) In this Aug. 25, 2018 photo, a man feeds children Halas, a climbing vine of green leaves, in Aslam, Hajjah, Yemen. Yemenis in the isolated pocket in the north have been reduced to eating boiled leaves from a local vine to stave off starvation, with no aid reaching many families who need it most. The situation in Aslam district is a sign of the holes in an international aid system that is already overwhelmed but is the only thing standing between Yemen's people and massive death from starvation amid the country's 3-year civil war. (AP Photo/Hammadi Issa) This 2018 handout image provided by Dr. Mekkiya Mahdi, Head of Aslam Health Center, shows a severely malnourished infant at the Aslam Health Center in Hajjah, Yemen. The situation in Aslam district is a sign of the holes in an international aid system that is already overwhelmed but is the only thing standing between Yemen's people and massive death from starvation amid the country's 3-year civil war. (Courtesy of Dr. Mekkiya Mahdi via AP) RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - The parents of slain Brazilian councilwoman and human rights activist Marielle Franco demanded Friday that their daughter's killers be identified and brought to justice. Franco and her driver, Anderson Pedro Gomes, were shot dead in Rio de Janeiro on March 14 while returning from an event focused on empowering young black women. A large screen mounted on a truck near Rio's iconic Sugarloaf Mountain read: "Six months ago Marielle Franco was brutally killed, and we still don't have answers." The parents of slain councilwoman Marielle Franco, Marinete da Silva, left, Antonio Francisco da Silva, right, and Jurema Werneck, director of Amnesty International Brazil, pose for a photo holding signs with a message that reads in Portuguese: "Who killed Marielle Franco?" during a demonstration marking the 6th month since she was killed, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Elected in 2016, the 38-year-old Franco was a member of the left-leaning Socialism and Liberty Party and known for social work in poor and marginalized shantytowns, or favelas, and for her outspokenness against police violence. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) Antonio Francisco da Silva, Franco's father, joined activists near the screen and said that he is still waiting for authorities to tell him more. "Unfortunately, we still don't have the answers," he said. "The answers we want from the authorities are to know who ordered the killing, who carried out the killing, and why they killed Marielle Franco." Franco's mother, Marinete da Silva, said her daughter was the victim of a "cruel and evil" execution. "Every day I ask myself why they killed my daughter. It is very painful," she said. Jurema Werneck, executive director of Amnesty International Brazil, said that the six month anniversary marked the "continuing inability and apparent unwillingness of the authorities to properly investigate the case." "It is completely unacceptable that half a year has gone by and we are no closer to knowing who is responsible for Marielle and Anderson's senseless deaths," she said. BERLIN (AP) - Firefighters pumped fresh air into a makeshift tunnel Saturday beneath an ancient German forest that environmentalists are trying to stop from being chopped down for a coal mine, while protesters nearby engaged in a standoff with police. Aachen police said at least one person was believed to be holed up underground, and authorities ordered journalists out of the area while they investigated the tunnel system beneath Hambach forest, west of Cologne. Police spokesman Wolfgang Roethgens said officers earlier removed four protesters who had chained themselves to a facility at the Niederaussem coal-fired power station that is supplied by the nearby lignite strip mine, which is being expanded by utility company RWE. Hundreds of protesters tried to enter the forest but were blocked by police. Protesters are observed by the Police as they try to enter the Hambach forest in Kerpen, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. German energy company RWE plans clearing and grubbing the forest for their open-pit lignite mine nearby to continue digging for brown coal. (Henning Kaiser/dpa via AP) Police entered the forest earlier in the week to remove protesters who have been living in the forest for months in an effort to stop the cutting down of the woodland, which is believed to be up to 12,000 years old. By Saturday, officers had cleared 13 of about 50 treehouses in the forest. Environmental groups argue that Hambach forest should be spared while Germany mulls ending the extraction and burning of coal as part of the country's effort to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases. News weekly Der Spiegel reported Saturday that a government-appointed commission examining options for the future of Germany's coal industry is discussing a phase-out of the fossil fuel by 2038. Environmental groups planned to plant saplings between the forest and the mine Sunday. Protesters are observed by the Police as they try to enter the Hambach forest in Kerpen, Germany, Satrurday, Sept. 15, 2018. German energy company RWE plans clearing and grubbing the forest for their open-pit lignite mine nearby to continue digging for brown coal. (Jana Bauch/dpa via AP) Going to church, buying a second home or using a relatives address are some of the tactics used by parents to get their child into a good school, a report has revealed. Almost a third (30%) of professional parents said they know someone who has used ethically dubious means to get their children into a good school. According to the Sutton Trusts Parent Power report, published on Thursday, these include techniques such as buying or renting a second home to use that address, or using the address of a relative. The most common tactics for getting into a good school cited by parents include attending church services (31%) in order to get into a religious school, and appealing against admissions decisions (29%). The report draws on a YouGov survey of 1,017 parents of school-age children who were asked how they choose schools, the strategies they undertake to get into those schools, and the extra support they give their children. Half of the state school parents polled (49%) reported having been asked for an extra financial donation to their school in the last year. One fifth (20%) of parents from the highest social group said they know someone who has bought or rented a second home in the catchment area of a good school. This is compared to just 6% of those in the lowest social class. A total of 16% of all parents said they know someone who has used a relatives address. Both of these strategies are potentially fraudulent. Attending church and contesting decisions were popular among all social groups, potentially due to the lack of financial implications, according to the report. The report found parents are attending church services in order to get their children into a good school (Simon Galloway/PA) But there was a clear social gap when employing the strategies which cost money. Parents in the top social group were twice as likely to say they know someone who has moved to get into a particular school (33% vs 15%), and almost four times as likely to say they know someone who has paid for private tuition (37% vs 10%) to pass an entrance test. The survey also asked parents what they take into consideration when making their school choice. Local reputation (93%), meeting the particular needs of the child (92%), and proximity to the home (83%) were the most commonly cited reasons given by parents. Working class parents also raised concerns about the hidden costs of a state school education the cost of travel, uniforms, and the recent trend of schools asking parents for voluntary contributions. Parents said they felt under pressure to contribute, with 31% saying they feared there would be negative consequences for their child if they did not do so. Sir Peter Lampl, founder of the Sutton Trust, said: Parents from all backgrounds and walks of life want to do the best for their children. Those with money, education and confidence are more able to give their children the best possible chance of succeeding. Middle class and professional parents gain an advantage for their children at every turn. They do this by buying homes in the catchment areas of good schools, paying for private tuition and out of school extracurricular activities, and providing support with post-18 educational choices. However, there are some practical measures that can be taken to level the playing field, such as fairer school admissions and providing tuition to those who cant afford it. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: The reason that families use various tactics to get their children into certain schools is often that other schools are stigmatised by a punitive accountability system which labels them as under-performing. We need a new approach which is less harsh and more supportive, enabling sustainable improvement and ensuring every family has access to a good local school. Requests for voluntary contributions have increased because schools are so cash-strapped. This is a sign of the severity of the funding crisis caused by the Governments under-investment in schools. YouGov conducted an online survey of 1,017 parents of children aged five to 16 who attend primary or secondary school. School standards minster Nick Gibb said: If it is established that a school place has been offered on the basis of fraudulent or misleading information, then the local authority or an academys governing body may withdraw the place if appropriate. Last year, 93.8% of pupils received offers from one of their top three choice of secondary school and we now have 1.9 million more children in good or outstanding schools than in 2010. But we want to give parents greater choice when looking at the schools that are right for their children. The UK will not pay its 39 billion divorce bill to Brussels if it is refused a Brexit deal, Dominic Raab has insisted. The tough talking from the Brexit Secretary came after Prime Minister Theresa May made it clear Britain would rethink its agreement to pay the exit settlement in full if it did not achieve an arrangement on future trading relations. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Raab stated that if there was no deal the Government would not pay the terms of the financial settlement. Theres no deal without the whole deal, he added. The remarks came as the Government was releasing a new raft of technical papers on Thursday expected to focus on how a no-deal Brexit would impact on things such as mobile phone roaming charges. Mr Raab said the Government wanted a good agreement, but added: It will require our EU friends to match the ambition and pragmatism we have demonstrated. If that doesnt happen, the UK will manage the challenges of no-deal, so we make a success of Brexit. The Brexit Secretary also accused people who warned about shortages of food and medicines after a no-deal withdrawal of scaremongering, saying it was nonsense to claim UK supermarkets would run out of food. Contingency planning for short-term disruption was nothing new, he added. The stronger Government stance followed open talk at a meeting of Tory backbenchers in the hardline Brexit European Research Group (ERG) of a bid to topple Mrs May as PM unless she abandoned the Chequers strategy on EU withdrawal. ERG chairman Jacob Rees-Mogg told Channel 4 News: Chequers is a dying duck in a thunder storm, if it is not quite a dead duck. The move to release a fresh raft of technical Brexit papers comes amid speculation that leaving the EU without a solid agreement could see the return of levies for using mobile devices on the continent. The pro-Europe Best for Britain campaign said the re-imposition of roaming charges could cost business people visiting the EU up to 778 a month. In his column for the Telegraph, Mr Raab said the technical papers would include plans for protecting consumers from mobile phone roaming charges. Other areas covered by the documents will include the impact of a no-deal scenario on standards relating to the environment and vehicles. The papers will be published after a special meeting of the Cabinet focused on how a no-deal outcome could be handled. Mr Raab is due to meet with the EUs chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Friday (Niall Carson/PA) Mr Raab, who will hold talks with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels on Friday, said: With six months to go until the UK leaves the European Union, we are stepping up our no-deal preparations so that Britain can continue to flourish, regardless of the outcome of negotiations. These technical notices are part and parcel of our sensible, pragmatic approach to preparing for all outcomes. Getting a deal with the European Union is still by far and away the most likely outcome, and I will continue to champion our Chequers proposals with Michel Barnier as the best way of securing the deep and special partnership we want with the EU. Meanwhile, the first meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee on European Negotiations since Parliaments summer recess will also be held on Thursday. It will bring together senior ministers, members of the Scottish and Welsh administrations, and representatives from the Northern Ireland civil service where powersharing is currently suspended. London Fashion Week showcases the best in British and international design. Here are some of the names to look out for during the event. Burberry Burberry is always a highlight on the London Fashion Week schedule but this seasons show is one of the most hotly-anticipated yet because it is the debut from new chief creative officer Riccardo Tisci. Victoria Beckham poses in front of one of her collections in Selfridges, Manchester (Lynne Cameron/PA) The Italian former creative director of Givenchy was announced as Christopher Baileys replacement in March, and speculation is rife as to how he will revamp the British heritage brand. Victoria Beckham Victoria Beckhams fashion label is turning 10 and the Spice Girl turned designer is putting on her first show at London Fashion Week to celebrate. Fashionistas have been unable to resist the thought of a fellow Spice Girl or two gracing the frow. Celebrating 10 years! Share your pics with our hashtag #VBSince08 - Id love you see you all in your tees! x VB https://t.co/2mjOI8n2hS pic.twitter.com/ZiQyFnLgjX Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham) September 12, 2018 Jenny Packham Jenny Packham has become one of the UKs most successful fashion brands since launching in 1988. She is a longstanding favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge but red carpets the world over are graced with her gowns worn by stars including Taylor Swift, Uma Thurman, Angelina Jolie, Emily Blunt and Kate Winslet. Inspired by the Cosmos, the AW18 Collection is now in store at our London Flagship Boutique. For further information please contact boutique@jennypackham.com #jennypackham #aw18 #alula pic.twitter.com/HyCSVISixp Jenny Packham (@jennypackham) August 24, 2018 Alexa Chung The former model and television presenter launched her eponymous label last May after years of gracing London Fashion Weeks front row. She will present her own first show at the event on the second day, expected to reflect her anti-trend approach to her collections, which have previously channelled 90s Britpop and Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury Group. Julien Macdonald Julien Macdonald launched his own label in 1997 and has gone on to produce glamorous designs coveted by stars such as Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, Rihanna and Naomi Campbell. The superstar @MariahCarey gleaming in a champagne fringed and shimmering crystal embellished custom made #JulienMacdonald gown for her residency at @caesarspalace Las Vegas. Styled by the amazing @mr_nicolasbru . #mariahcarey #couture #thebutterflyreturns pic.twitter.com/fTGEk4rep8 Julien Macdonald (@JulienMacdonald) July 9, 2018 In 2001 he was appointed as successor to Alexander McQueen as creative director of the French fashion house Givenchy and was awarded an OBE in 2004 for services to the fashion industry. His eagerly anticipated shows always feature a high celebrity count. Hurricane Florence has been downgraded to a Category 2 storm but is still considered an extremely dangerous and life-threatening storm, US officials said. Faced with new forecasts that showed a more southerly threat, Georgias governor joined his counterparts in Virginia and North and South Carolina in declaring a state of emergency, and some residents who had thought they were safely out of range boarded up their homes. The National Hurricane Centres best guess was that Florence would blow ashore as early as Friday afternoon around the North Carolina-South Carolina border, then push its rainy way westward with a potential for catastrophic inland flooding. Night-time winds were down to 110mph from a high of 140mph, and the Category 3 storm fell to a Category 2, with a further slow weakening expected as the storm nears the coast. But authorities warned it will still be an extremely dangerous hurricane. Maximum winds from #Florence have decreased, but don't let that fool you. This "weakening" only refers to maximum winds. The wind field has expanded and rainfall/storm surge potential are still at catastrophic levels.https://t.co/meemB5uHAR pic.twitter.com/IRiuxeVeUf National Weather Service (@NWS) September 13, 2018 Do you want to get hit with a train or do you want to get hit with a cement truck? said Jeff Byard, an administrator with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Tropical storm-force winds extended 195 miles from Florences centre, and hurricane-force winds reached out 70 miles. The National Weather Service said 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. (PA Graphics) President Donald Trump touted the governments readiness and urged people to get out of the way of Florence. Dont play games with it. Its a big one, he said. Early on Thursday, the storm was centred 235 miles east-south-east of Wilmington, North Carolina, moving north-west at 17mph. The hurricane centre said Florence will approach the coast on Friday and linger for a while before rolling ashore. As of Tuesday, more than 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were warned to clear out. Airlines had cancelled nearly 1,000 flights and counting. Here are the 11 PM EDT Key Messages for Hurricane #Florence. Latest information available at https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB pic.twitter.com/Qckto38JyW National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 13, 2018 Home Depot and Lowes activated emergency response centres to get generators, rubbish bags and bottled water to stores before and after the storm. The two hardware chains said they sent a total of around 1,100 trucks. Power company Duke Energy said Florence could knock out electricity to three-quarters of its four 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. Residents prepare for Hurricane Florence by filling sand bags in Georgia (Stephen B Morton/AP) Boarding up his home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Chris Pennington watched the forecasts and tried to decide when to leave. In 12 or 18 hours, they may be saying different things all over again, he said. Computer models of exactly what the storm might do varied, adding to the uncertainty. In contrast to the hurricane centres official projection, a highly regarded European model had the storm turning southward off the North Carolina coast and coming ashore near the Georgia-South Carolina line. Based on the latest 11 a.m. forecast for the southward track of Hurricane Florence after making landfall and acting on a recommendation from @GeorgiaEMA officials, I have issued an emergency declaration for all 159 counties in Georgia. Read more here: https://t.co/FmO4iELdYq Former Gov. Nathan Deal (@GovernorDeal) September 12, 2018 Reacting to the possibility of a more southerly track, Georgia governor Nathan Deal declared an emergency but did not immediately order any evacuations. I ask all Georgians to join me in praying for the safety of our people and all those in the path of Hurricane Florence, Mr Deal said. The shift in the projected track spread concern to areas that once thought they were relatively safe. In South Carolina, close to the Georgia line, Beaufort County emergency chief Neil Baxley told residents they need to prepare again for the worst just in case. Weve had our lessons. Now it might be time for the exam, he said. In Virginia, where about 245,000 residents were ordered to evacuate low-lying areas, officials urged people to remain away from home despite forecast changes showing Florences path largely missing the state. Their entire neighborhood evacuated in Wilmington, North Carolina, David and Janelle Garrigus planned to ride out Florence at their daughters one-bedroom apartment in Charlotte. Unsure of what they might find when they return home, the couple went shopping for a recreational vehicle. Were just trying to plan for the future here, not having a house for an extended period of time, David Garrigus said. Melody Rawson evacuated her first-floor apartment in Myrtle Beach and arrived at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, to camp for free with three other adults, her disabled son, two dogs and a pet bird. We hope to have something left when we get home, she said. Sand bags surround homes on North Topsail Beach as Hurricane Florence threatens the coast (Chuck Burton/AP) Forecasters worried the storms damage will be all the worse if it lingers on the coast. The trend is exceptionally bad news, said University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy, since it smears a landfall out over hundreds of miles of coastline, most notably the storm surge. With South Carolinas beach towns more in the bulls-eye because of the shifting forecast, Ohio tourists Chris and Nicole Roland put off their departure from North Myrtle Beach to get the maximum amount of time on the sand. Most other beachgoers were long gone. Its been really nice, Nicole Roland said. Also, a little creepy. You feel like you should have already left. A gunman has killed five people, including his wife, before turning the gun on himself in southern California, authorities said. There was no immediate word on what sparked the shootings that took place at a home and a business in Bakersfield, which is some 90 miles north of Los Angeles. Obviously, these are not random shootings, Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood told KERO-TV. Six people died in a short amount of time, he added. The man first showed up at a trucking business with his wife shortly before 5.30pm local time, where he confronted another man. Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood updates the media (Sam Morgen/The Bakersfield Californian via AP) The suspect, the husband, shot the person at the trucking company and then turned and shot his wife, then chased and shot another man who showed up, Mr Youngblood said. The gunman then went to a home where he shot two people, the sheriff said. He then carjacked a woman who was driving with her child. The woman and child escaped and the man drove off before a sheriffs deputy saw him, Mr Youngblood said. When the deputy confronted him at gunpoint, the man shot himself in the chest, the sheriff said. His identity was not immediately released. Except for the gunmans wife, there was no immediate word on how the victims might have been related. About 30 people saw the shootings and were being interviewed by deputies, Mr Youngblood said. Ho Chi Minh City Party chief Nguyen Thien Nhan affirmed the sustainable development in relation between Vietnam and Italy, especially in the field of trade and investment. The bilateral trade turnover between the two countries reached US$4.4 billion in 2017. As of October, 2017, Italy had 83 projects worth US$381 million in Vietnam, ranking the 31st among 128 countries and territories worldwide that have the investments in the country. He also highly appreciated outstanding contribution of the Italian Ambassador in strengthening the relationship between two nations hoping that her successor will continue to connect and promote relation among economic planning units of the two sides in building a new cooperation mechanism to enjoy more benefits after the European-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) enters in force. Italian Ambassador to Viet Nam Cecilia Piccioni expressed her joy of the development in relation between Vietnam and Italy, especially in the fields of economy, culture and sport. On the same day, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong also hosted a reception for the outgoing Italian Ambassador, Cecilia Piccioni . By VAN DO - Translated by Kim Khanh Firefighters have worked through the night to tackle a major blaze which ripped through an indoor market in Dundees second major fire in less than 24 hours. At the height of the incident more than 60 firefighters were involved in fighting the fire which broke out at Hilltown Indoor Market shortly before 6.15pm on Wednesday. Two fire engines were still at the scene on 7am on Thursday damping down and dealing with any hotspots. The fire came less than a day after a major blaze at Braeview Academy which will be out of commission for some time after suffering extensive damage. The fire at Hilltown Indoor Market was the second major blaze in Dundee in less than 24 hours (Dylan Drummond/PA) The neighbouring Fit4Less gym was evacuated while fire crews dealt with the incident at the market in Main Street. Dylan Drummond, 48, a videographer and photographer from Dundee, said: On the day after a fire in one of our high schools, to see smoke on the Dundee skyline, close to the opening of the V&A museum is horrific. Theres smoke, its a clear sky, you can really see it from far away, the stink is horrendous. A building fell down, looked like the fire brigade were hosing it down. The flames are mental, it looks like the whole buildings on fire. There were no reports of any injuries. The blaze began in the roof of the building before spreading. Police Scotland closed surrounding roads while firefighters tackled the blaze. It is understood the market has been out of use for some time. Dundee City Council has said it is determined to minimise disruption to the education of the 570 Braeview Academy pupils but they will have to remain at home into next week. More than 50 firefighters worked through the previous night to tackle the blaze, which broke out at the school at around 9.40pm on Tuesday. No-one was injured and police will carry out a joint investigation into the school fire along with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Appeal for info after extensive fire at The Market in #Dundee last night (12 Sep). Building badly damaged. Joint investigation will take place with @fire_scot. If you have any info call Police Scotland on 101 quoting 3121 of 12 Sep pic.twitter.com/auS3iLK8pj Dundee Police (@DundeePolice) September 13, 2018 Police are also appealing for information about the fire at the indoor market. Inspector Cath Lannen said: Enquiries are at an early stage and we will work jointly with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to establish the cause of the fire. The building has been extensively damaged. There are road closures still in place at Caldrum Street and Thistle Street, and I would like to thank motorists for their patience whilst this is ongoing. I would appeal to anyone who was in the area around the time of the fire to come forward to Police Scotland and contact us on 101 or or Crimestoppers Scotland anonymously on 0800 555 111. Morrisons is shelling out extra cash to shareholders after sales growth hit a nine-year high in the second quarter. The grocery group announced plans to pay out 91 million to investors after raising its total interim dividend 2p, or 132%, to 3.85p. That is despite having logged a 29% fall in pre-tax profits to 142 million for the six months to August 5, down from 200 million during the same period last year. But that drop was due primarily to a 51 million net adjustment, including a previously announced bond tender offer, the company said. It also accounts for the way it now estimates stock provisions. Underlying pre-tax profits for the period were up 9% at 193 million. Morrisons cheered progress in like-for-like sales excluding fuel and VAT which grew 4.9% compared to a year earlier. Those figures were up 6.3% in the second quarter alone, marking a nine-year high, while total revenues for the half year were up 4.5% at 8.8 billion. Chief executive David Potts said: Strong growth, including our best quarterly like-for-like sales in nearly a decade, together with another special dividend for our shareholders shows how new Morrisons can keep improving for all stakeholders. Morrisons continues to become broader, stronger and a more popular and accessible brand, and I am confident that our exceptional team of food makers and shopkeepers can keep driving the turnaround at pace. The company made moves to expand its online grocery services to a larger area in the South and into Scotland for the first time during the first half of the year, making its service available to over 75% of British households. Morrisons boss David Potts has hailed the supermarkets results (Morrisons/PA) The grocer also highlighted international positioning, having agreed new wholesale supply deals with the likes of MPK Garages forecourt stores and Big C in Thailand. Back home, the companys wholesale deal to supply 1,300 McColls stores progressed more quickly than initially expected. Morrisons said: As a result, we now expect to achieve our target of 700 million of total annualised wholesale supply sales ahead of our initial end-2018 guidance. Our plan for 1 billion of annualised wholesale supply sales in due course remains unchanged. Looking ahead, it also expects lower costs of both its Morrisons.com expansion and the ramping up of its wholesale supply operations. We are confident that Morrisons has many meaningful and sustainable sales and profit growth opportunities ahead, the group added. Theresa Mays target to cut immigration to below 100,000 is out of reach, a former Home Office mandarin has claimed. Brexit is unlikely to lead to a reduction in the number of migrants moving to the UK, Sir David Normington suggested. The former permanent secretary said it would be very difficult to keep track of who comes into and leaves the country without introducing identity cards. A target to cut net migration to below 100,000 was introduced when Theresa May was home secretary (Steve Parsons/PA) A target to cut the net migration level the difference between the number of people arriving and leaving the country to the tens of thousands was introduced when Mrs May was home secretary but the level remains more than double that. The Prime Minister has remained committed to the aim despite calls from some Conservatives to drop it. Sir David said a hard cap on migration would be very inflexible and would probably not be met. He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I think it is fine for the Government to signal that it wants to reduce immigration over a period if thats what it decides to do. Targets get discredited if they are never met. Id say to the Government, if you are going to have a target it would be better that you set one that is achievable to begin with, and that what we dont have is one that is out of reach. I really do think that for the moment a target which is below 100,000, which is what they have always said, is out of reach. A big one. A monster. A once-in-a-lifetime storm. Hurricane Florence deserves all the names it is being called as it threatens to cause historic flooding, blow catastrophic winds and idle for days over the Carolinas and the Mid-Atlantic. Adding to the storm stress is uncertainty about exactly where Florence will make landfall, after a shift in its track put more of the south-eastern states in danger. By the numbers Get out: 1.7 million people are under mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders, and more than 10 million live in places under storm watches or warnings (PA Graphics) Grounded: Nearly 1,000 flights cancelled through to Friday Filling stations running on empty: 5% in North Carolina were out, plus 2.1% in South Carolina, and 1% in Virginia Going dark: Duke Energy anticipates one million to three million homes and businesses losing power How to make a monster storm Hurricane Florence off the eastern coast (NOAA/AP) Florence has it all: Hot ocean temperatures that fuel hurricanes, favourable wind patterns, higher sea levels that exacerbate storm surge, cloud cover that could encompass multiple states, and an unusual combination of other weather systems that are likely to stall Florence when it hits land, allowing it to sit for days and dump huge amounts of rain. What Trump said Worried about how the government will respond to Hurricane Florences devastation? President Donald Trump said there was nothing to fear because his administration did such good work responding to last years storms including Hurricane Maria, which killed 3,000 people in Puerto Rico. In a series of tweets on Wednesday, he said the government got A Pluses for storm recovery in Texas and Florida, and did an unappreciated great job in Puerto Rico. His remarks fell flat in Puerto Rico where islanders are continuing to struggle a year after the Category 4 storm. Military safeguards Florence is heading straight for some of the most well-known military bases in the country. The Navy, Air Force and Army have been moving people, ships and aircraft out of harms way, though evacuations were not mandatory at bases such as Camp Lejeune. Marines Prepare for Florence Marines with Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations East, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, set up cots at the Wallace Creek Fitness Center on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 11, 2018. pic.twitter.com/27WBCNI7UF U.S. Marines (@USMC) September 13, 2018 The commanding general says anyone remaining on base will have food, water and protection despite being in the projected path of the storm. Economic hit Businesses across the Carolinas, Virginia and Georgia are likely to suffer financial losses from the storm, with ports closing, farmers moving livestock and expected power outages that could last for weeks. A car parts store still open for business (Gray Whitley/Sun Journal/AP) The losses will not be easily or quickly overcome, but it could have been worse: Labour Day marked the end of the peak tourism season in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and other coastal getaways. There are now fewer tourists to send away. Toxic waters North Carolina has about 2,100 industrial-scale pork farms containing more than nine million hogs. Florences heavy rains could cause an environmental disaster if waste from manure pits, coal ash dumps and other industrial sites wash into homes or threaten drinking water supplies. When Hurricane Floyd made landfall near Cape Fear in 1999 as a Category 2 storm, bloated carcasses of hundreds of thousands of pigs, chickens and other drowned livestock bobbed in a stinking soup of faecal matter, pesticides, fertiliser and fuel so toxic that fish flopped helplessly to escape it. Gullah-Geechee John Brown prepares for the storm at his home on St Helena Island (Russ Bynum/AP) Elder relatives carry as much weight as meteorologists in a tight-knit community of slave descendants on the South Carolina coast. St Helena Island, near the South Carolina-Georgia border, is used to riding out big storms from one that killed an estimated 2,000 people in 1893 to Tropical Storm Irma last year. But barber Josh Dais says the islands 5,000 residents are trying to decide whether to flee ahead of Hurricane Florence. He says: If Mama and Grandma are going, then a lot of people are leaving. Racetrack camping Some Florence evacuees are steering towards Bristol Motor Speedway near the Tennessee-Virginia border and Atlanta Motor Speedway, where campgrounds have been opened for people fleeing the storm. REMINDER: BMS campgrounds are open free-of-charge to evacuees of #HurricaneFlorence. Please call toll free 866.415.4158 for more information. pic.twitter.com/ClFxkVHq9k BristolMotorSpeedway (@BMSupdates) September 12, 2018 At least two dozen utility trucks gathered near Charlotte Motor Speedway to prepare to move in and start restoring power as soon as conditions are safe. Valuable possessions What would you take if a major hurricane was threatening to inundate or pull apart your home? One North Carolina woman packed flowers to leave on her sons grave. Evacuees also loaded their vehicles with extra fuel cans, their pets mostly dogs, and one cockatoo coolers filled with sandwich meat, family photographs and blankets. Traffic backs up on a key route (Jonathon Gruenke/Daily Press/AP) The shopping list for people who have decided to ride out the storm at home: plywood to board up their windows, sandbags, bilge pumps, generators, rubbish bags, crisps, bottled water and wine. Morrisons bosses are hoping the grocery chain will avoid border delays in the event of a hard Brexit after authorities granted the grocery group permission for streamlined customs checks. Chief executive David Potts told reporters that Morrisons is now an authorised economic operator after getting the ball rolling nearly six months ago. In our case it means that we are considered by the authorities to be a company who has policies and procedures that are thorough and wholly trusted and therefore any hold-ups at customs are, to some extent, simplified, he said. David Potts is CEO of Morrisons (Morrisons/PA) I think it also avoids some fairly complex tariff refunds as well, so its not a big investment but it just felt like a sensible thing to do. Mr Potts said he did not know if other supermarkets had applied for the same status. The chief executive stressed that Morrisons was still focused on British produce, making it less likely it would face shortages if hard Brexit resulted in border delays. If youre running a company like Morrisons where two-thirds of what we sell is British, where local sales are 30% up on last year and where we remain the second British producer of British food in the world, and then I think to some extent weve got the wind at our backs in any event, frankly. And its our job to do the best we possibly can to move this company forward and continue with the recovery regardless of macro circumstance, and thats what I think shareholders expect us to do. Morrisons has suffered a 29% drop in pre-tax profits despite seeing sales growth reach a nine-year high in the second quarter. The grocery group released earnings on Thursday showing like-for-like sales excluding fuel and VAT grew 4.9% in the six months to August 5 compared to a year earlier. Those figures were up 6.3% in the second quarter alone, marking a nine-year high, while total revenues for the half year were up 4.5% at 8.8 billion. But top-line growth failed to salvage pre-tax profits, which fell 29% to 142 million, down from 200 million during the same period in 2017. The drop was due primarily to a 51 million net adjustment, including a previously announced bond tender offer, the company said. It also accounts for the way it now estimates stock provisions. Underlying pre-tax profits for the period were up 9% at 193 million. Chief executive David Potts said: Strong growth, including our best quarterly like-for-like sales in nearly a decade, together with another special dividend for our shareholders shows how new Morrisons can keep improving for all stakeholders. Morrisons continues to become broader, stronger and a more popular and accessible brand, and I am confident that our exceptional team of food makers and shopkeepers can keep driving the turnaround at pace. The grocery group also announced plans on Thursday to pay an extra 91 million to investors after raising its total interim dividend 2p, or 132%, to 3.85p. Morrisons shares were down 0.6% in morning trading. The company highlighted an expansion of its online grocery services to a larger area in the South and into Scotland for the first time during the first half of the year, making its service available to over 75% of British households. Morrisons boss David Potts hailed the supermarkets results (Morrisons/PA) The grocer also pointed to its international positioning, having agreed new wholesale supply deals with the likes of MPK Garages forecourt stores and Big C in Thailand. Back home, the companys wholesale deal to supply 1,300 McColls stores progressed more quickly than initially expected. Morrisons said: As a result, we now expect to achieve our target of 700 million of total annualised wholesale supply sales ahead of our initial end-2018 guidance. Our plan for 1 billion of annualised wholesale supply sales in due course remains unchanged. Looking ahead, it also expects lower costs of both its Morrisons.com expansion and the ramping up of its wholesale supply operations. We are confident that Morrisons has many meaningful and sustainable sales and profit growth opportunities ahead, the group added. Mobile phone companies have been urged not to introduce roaming charges on customers if Britain crashes out of the European Union. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said two companies Vodafone and Three have pledged not to hit phone users with massive bill hikes when they travel in Europe, and he called on other firms to follow their lead. But he said the Government would legislate to introduce a cap on charges if there is a no-deal scenario. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said consumers must not be hit with higher charges from mobile companies (Peter Nicholls/PA) Information about the potential impact on mobile phone users is being set out in a series of technical papers on what could happen if Britain leaves the EU without an exit agreement. Mr Raab told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Weve had some good news from businesses like Vodafone and Three. They have publicly said they wouldnt introduce any roaming fees for UK consumers travelling on the continent. What we have said is we would like to see other companies following suit, but, in any event, we would legislate for a limit on roaming charges to make sure in a no-deal scenario that we protect British consumers. The first interview with the prime suspects in the Salisbury nerve agent attack is expected to be broadcast by Russian state-funded news channel RT. The global news channel, funded by the Russian Federation, tweeted that the discussion with Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov would be aired soon. Editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan said the pair had called her mobile and the interview, which is in Russian, will be published later on Thursday. On Wednesday the British Government said it stood by its assertion that the two men were officers in Russian military intelligence service the GRU, after President Vladimir Putin described them as civilians. UK authorities believe the pair smeared the highly toxic chemical Novichok on a door handle at the Wiltshire home of former GRU officer Sergei Skripal, leaving Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia critically ill. Mr Putin said the men had been discounted as members of his security network. In an address to the Easter Economic Forum in Vladivostok, he said: Of course, we looked who these people are. We know who they are, we have found them already. CCTV of Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov at Salisbury station (Metropolitan Police/PA) He added: There is nothing special and nothing criminal about it, Im telling you. Questioned on whether the pair were civilians, he replied: Of course they are civilians. The Russian president said he hoped Mr Petrov and Mr Boshirov would appear in public to dispel doubt about their true identity. Spent an evening with Petrov and Boshirov. Yes, the Salisbury GRU agents. Interview coming later today. (@M_Simonyan) September 13, 2018 Detectives believe it is likely the two suspects, thought to be aged around 40, travelled under aliases and that Petrov and Boshirov are not their real names. Officers formally linked the attack on the Skripals to events in nearby Amesbury where Dawn Sturgess, 44, and her partner Charlie Rowley, 45, were exposed to the same nerve agent. Ms Sturgess died in hospital in July, just over a week after the pair fell ill. A police officer who visited the home of the Skripals shortly after the attack, Nick Bailey, was also left critically ill from exposure to the substance. 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. Chief vet Sheila Voas has insisted high animal welfare standards are in place when calves are transported from Scotland (Animal Equality/PA) 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. Vladimir Putin has insisted Russia is a peaceful nation after inspecting war games in Siberia which have been billed as the biggest in the countrys history. The week-long Vostok (East) 2018 manoeuvres span vast expanses of Siberia and the Far East, the Arctic and the Pacific Oceans. They involve nearly 300,000 Russian troops along with 1,000 Russian aircraft and 36,000 tanks and other combat vehicles. Military helicopters fire over a training ground in Siberia (Sergei Grits/AP) Speaking at a firing range in the Chita region on Thursday, the Russian president lauded the troops for their high-level performance and insisted the drills are not targeted at any other country. Russia is a peaceful nation, Mr Putin said. We do not and cannot have any aggressive plans. More than 3,000 Chinese troops have joined the Russian military in the manoeuvres aimed to showcase burgeoning military ties between Moscow and Beijing amid their tensions with the US. Russian President Vladimir Putin talks to a Chinese serviceman (Alexei NikolskyAP) The Chinese media described the Peoples Liberation Army involvement in the drills as the countrys largest ever dispatch of forces abroad for war games. As plan, Vietnam Airlines will cancel four flights on Hanoi/HCMC and Hong Kong including VN592, VN593, VN 595 on September 16. Two flights between HCMC and Hong Kong VN598 on September 16 and VN599 on September 17 will also be adjusted. Passengers on above memtioned flights will be supported to change free of charge to other flights on the next days. VNA said it will continue to eye on the weather forecast to update new schedule. It suggested passengers who plan to travel to and from Hong Kong in this time should keep a close watch on the weather forecast and VNAs information. BICH QUYEN Translated by Thi Quy SNP campaigners are to target 50,000 Scots as part of a national day of action on independence, the partys depute leader has announced. Keith Brown said he wanted conversations to take place in every corner of Scotland about the positive future of independence. The new push for independence comes amid growing concerns that Britain could have to leave the European Union (EU) without an agreed deal in place. SNP depute leader Keith Brown wants party members to speak to 50,000 Scots about independence as part of a special action day (Jane Barlow/PA) Mr Brown also wants to the SNP to take advantage of its size, with the party having recently overtaken the Conservatives to become the second largest in the UK in terms of membership. He stated: I am aiming to mobilise a huge number of party members to help make contact and have conversations with 50,000 people in every corner of the country on our day of action. The action day will take place on Saturday September 29, with much of the focus on how independence could offer Scotland an alternative to the threat of Brexit. It is also part of efforts to get the SNP on to a campaign footing in case there is a snap general election. Mr Brown said: With 125,000 members, the SNP is now the second biggest political party in the UK, we have more members than the Tories and proportionally more than Labour do UK-wide. It is vital for us to harness this strength and utilise the potential of so many people. @KeithBrownSNP announces SNP to target 50,000 conversations on independence on 29 September campaign day. https://t.co/DTKZLITGa6 The SNP (@theSNP) September 13, 2018 The former Scottish Government minister continued: The Westminster parties are riddled with division and on the brink of implosion over Brexit meanwhile our party and the independence movement have our sights on a far more positive future for Scotland as an independent country. A recent poll showed a majority would vote for Scottish independence after the UK leaves the European Union. The latest Social Attitudes Survey shows that the number of people view independence as a positive for Scotlands economy now outnumber those who believe otherwise. So, a fortnight on Saturday, well be talking to people on doorsteps up and down the country, listening to their thoughts and sharing new materials which will help win new supporters for an independent Scotland. SNP: Most people still dont like the idea of #indyref2 so were going to have a National Day of Action to see if we can just bother them into submission. Most people: pic.twitter.com/603GUOVf3T Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP (@agcolehamilton) September 13, 2018 Labours Neil Findlay said: Anyone who has spent time on the doorsteps in the past year or so knows that people are sick and fed-up of the SNPs obsessions with another independence referendum. The real divide in Scotland is between the richest and the rest of us not the false divisions of another referendum. By coincidence, Labour also has a campaign day on that date but well be focused on our positive vision for the economy, to deliver better-paid jobs and high-quality public services. Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said: The SNP would be better off holding a day of action on health or education and backing it up with some concrete action in government. Its absolutely indicative of the SNPs priorities that they would rather bother the public about an independence referendum it does not want than address the real challenges facing our public services. Regimes governing the use of some surveillance techniques deployed by Britains spy agencies breached human rights obligations, European judges have found. The case centred on complaints about powers given to security services under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (Ripa), which has since been replaced. In a judgment issued on Thursday, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) found violations relating to bulk interception and communications data regimes. The European Court of Human Rights found violations relating to bulk interception and communications data regimes (Yui Mok/PA) Bulk interception is used to collect communications, including their content, of individuals outside the UK to bolster foreign-focused intelligence and identify potential overseas threats. Communications data covers information such as who sent a message or made a phone call, when and where this happened but not the content. The ECtHR found, by five votes to two, that the bulk interception regime violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which covers citizens rights to have their private life and communications respected. A summary of the judgment said: While the court was satisfied that the intelligence services of the United Kingdom take their 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, in particular when it came to selecting the internet bearers for interception and choosing the selectors and search criteria used to filter and select intercepted communications for examination. The Strasbourg-based court found that the operation of a bulk interception regime did not in and of itself violate the Convention. Its ruling said the regime covering acquisition of data from communications service providers breached Article 8 as it was not in accordance with the law. The court also concluded that both the bulk interception and communications data regimes provided insufficient safeguards in relation to confidential journalistic material. However, the judges found no violation in the regime for sharing intelligence with foreign governments. Complaints relating to procedures for challenging surveillance measures and alleged discrimination were dismissed. The ruling follows a protracted legal battle sparked by Edward Snowdens revelations about surveillance techniques used by US and British security agencies in 2013. Since then, the Government has introduced the landmark Investigatory Powers Act, which brought a range of tactics used to fight terrorism and serious crime under one legal umbrella. It also introduced the double lock authorisation regime, meaning a judge is required to sign off warrants for the most intrusive powers. The ruling covers the previous arrangements under Ripa, and the ECtHR acknowledged that the IP Act makes significant changes to the bulk interception and communications data regimes. Big Brother Watch, which was among a number of organisations that lodged complaints, claimed it was a landmark judgment. Its director Silkie Carlo said: Under the guise of counter-terrorism, the UK has adopted the most authoritarian surveillance regime of any Western state, corroding democracy itself and the rights of the British public. The Government said it would give careful consideration to the courts findings. A spokeswoman said: The Investigatory Powers Act 2016 replaced large parts of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, which was the subject of this challenge. This includes the introduction of a double lock which requires warrants for the use of these powers to be authorised by a secretary of state and approved by a judge. An Investigatory Powers Commissioner has also been created to ensure robust independent oversight of how these powers are used. The Government has rejected calls for buffer zones to be introduced outside abortion clinics across England and Wales. Introducing protest-free areas outside clinics to prevent harassment of patients would not be a proportionate response, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said. While a Home Office review found examples of harassment and damaging behaviour, such as the handing out of model foetuses, displaying graphic images and blocking patients paths, these activities were not the norm, he added. There have been a number of protests - both pro and anti-abortion - at clinics across the UK (John Stillwell/PA) He said: Having considered the evidence of the review, I have therefore reached the conclusion that introducing national buffer zones would not be a proportionate response, considering the experiences of the majority of hospitals and clinics, and considering that the majority of activities are more passive in nature. The Home Secretary acknowledged all anti-abortion activities, passive or otherwise, can have an adverse effect and he expressed his sympathies to women impacted. The review received more than 2,500 responses from abortion service providers, abortion service clients, anti-abortion demonstrators, police forces and local authorities. Some 36 hospitals and clinics in England and Wales reported demonstrations outside their facilities. Of these, a small number reported aggressive activity, the Home Office said. The main activities reported as having taken place during protests included praying, displaying banners and handing out leaflets. The Post Office has notched up its second consecutive year of profits as it continues to benefit from bank branch closures. Trading profits at the network more than doubled from 13 million to 35 million in 2017/18, while turnover nudged up from 957 million to 961 million. The performance was driven by its financial services, telecoms and insurance arms. Profits are up at the Post Office (PA) Its high street banking arm processed over 125 million withdrawals from UK bank accounts in the period and customer cash deposits grew 28%. An influx of small business customers and individuals using the service while the likes of RBS and Lloyds shut hundreds of branches was behind the growth, the Post Office said. Boss Paula Vennells added: Millions of people and businesses rely on our services, especially as more and more banking customers are turning to our branches to undertake everyday banking services. We have made good progress in our transformation and there is more to do. We have set ourselves a target of 100 million trading profit within the next three years. We need to be able to invest in the future and respond effectively to the challenges which remain. However, the Post Offices retail arm had a difficult time, with mail, lottery, government services and payment services recording negative or flat growth. It blamed increasing competition in the letters market and a decline in stamp sales for the lacklustre performance in its mail division. It also saw foreign exchange turnover decline by 3 million as currency fluctuations resulted in lower volumes and fewer workers sending money home following uncertainty over Brexit. Last year the Post Office secured 370 million of Government funding to help protect village branches and modernise others. The firm said on Thursday that more than 7,500 branches have been transformed, offering customers 200,000 extra opening hours and 4,000 branches open on Sundays. Ms Vennells added: We need to speed up how we do business, and reduce our costs further, so we can work more efficiently to meet the demands of every single one of our customers whether they require physical or digital services. Dundee could be in line for a high-capacity events arena as the city seeks to capitalise on the opening of the V&A and the wider waterfront development. Leaders are looking to establish an indoor complex close to the city centre to host concerts and conferences for up to 6,000 people. Mike Galloway, executive director of city development at Dundee City Council, said there was a need to keep the momentum going after a surge of interest in the city brought by the 80 million design museum. The new V&A Dundee has seen a surge in interest in the city (Andrew Milligan/PA) It is part of a 30-year, 1 billion regeneration project which began in 2001 and has seen the development of new hotels, offices, green spaces and train station. Dundees biggest venue is currently Caird Hall with a capacity of 2,300. Mr Galloway told the Scotsman newspaper: There is definitely a gap in the market in Dundee for an indoor events arena that could double up as a conference and convention facility as well. Were not looking at anything huge which would directly compete with existing arenas in Aberdeen and Glasgow it has to be the right facility that fits into our market and Id really want it to be close to the city centre. We have a few options that we are looking at. Weve got to maintain the momentum from the V&A opening. Its a huge staging post. But were already working on the next projects. City council leader John Alexander said plans were under way for Dundee to host a major arts festival in four years time. Dundee lost out on UK City of Culture 2017 to Hull and the vote to leave the EU scuppered its bid to become European Capital of Culture 2023. The V&A will soon be open to the public @DundeeLeader John Alexander explains why all Dundonians & visitors to the city should come check out @VADundee A living room for the city pic.twitter.com/e3HxixVTJ6 Dundee City Council (@DundeeCouncil) September 13, 2018 The festival would last six to eight days and take place in 2022. Mr Alexander said: We have been working on proposals and I personally attended the Unesco Creative Cities conference in Poland in June and represented and promoted our ambition. It will provide a shopfront, a showcase of culture across every Unesco network. It will encompass literature, music, gastronomy and all of the other designations. We have made that offer to Unesco, we have the backing of the Scottish Government and the UK ambassador to Unesco and I have also met with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. We are now actively working on these proposals and are working to deliver them in 2022. The prime suspects in the Salisbury nerve agent attack have claimed they visited the UK as tourists. Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov told Russian state-funded news channel RT they travelled to the wonderful city in Wiltshire to see Stonehenge and Old Sarum after recommendations from friends. The pair claimed they have been left fearing for their lives after Britain pointed to their involvement and said they were officers in Russian military intelligence service the GRU. RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan said they had called her mobile because they wanted to tell their story. Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov being interviewed on Russian TV (RT/PA) In a translation from Russian, the broadcaster quoted Petrov as saying: Well, we came there on March 2, then went to a railway station to see the timetable. 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 couldnt 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). In the mens first interview since they were named publicly they denied carrying womens perfume. UK authorities believe the pair smeared the highly toxic chemical Novichok on a door handle at the Wiltshire home of former GRU officer Sergei Skripal, leaving Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia critically ill. Q: Did you approach Skripal residence in #Salisbury? A: We dont even know its location; we could pass it without even knowing whose house it actually is#SkripalCase https://t.co/18EqeN4zGX pic.twitter.com/pxRGbTp1Zx RT (@RT_com) September 13, 2018 Boshirov acknowledged they may have been near Mr Skripals house but they did not know where it was. John Glen, the Conservative MP for Salisbury and South Wiltshire, dismissed the statements from Petrov and Boshirov as not credible. He wrote on Twitter: 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. Salisbury welcomes tourists from around the world and is very much open for business. But the Petrov/Borishov statements are not credible and dont match the widely accepted intelligence we have on these individuals. President Vladimir Putin said the men had been discounted as members of his security network. In an address to the Easter Economic Forum in Vladivostok, he said: Of course, we looked who these people are. We know who they are, we have found them already. There is nothing special and nothing criminal about it, Im telling you. CCTV of Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov at Salisbury station (Metropolitan Police/PA) Questioned on whether the pair were civilians, Mr Putin replied: Of course they are civilians. Boshirov said his life had been turned upside down, according to RT. He said: Were afraid of going out, we fear for ourselves, our lives and lives of our loved ones. Detectives believe it is likely the two suspects, thought to be aged around 40, travelled under aliases and that Petrov and Boshirov are not their real names. Officers formally linked the attack on the Skripals to events in nearby Amesbury where Dawn Sturgess, 44, and her partner Charlie Rowley, 45, were exposed to the same nerve agent. Ms Sturgess died in hospital in July, just over a week after the pair fell ill. A police officer who visited the home of the Skripals shortly after the attack, Nick Bailey, was also left critically ill from exposure to the substance. Public Health England has defended its link-up with a charity funded largely by the alcohol industry. Professor John Newton, PHE director of health improvement, said the Government agency didnt make a mistake when deciding to work with Drinkaware on the Drink Free Days campaign. He told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 that there was no public money going to the campaign and PHE was simply providing advice. Alcohol Dozens of experts have written to PHE to oppose the tie-up, the BBC said. The letter, signed by 46 people in fields ranging from illegal drugs to alcohol, is reported to say that it will significantly damage the credibility of PHE. It is said to conclude that industry-funded messages and social marketing campaigns should not be a substitute for publicly funded campaigns providing independent and evidence-based information. Prof Newton dismissed the claims, saying: I can assure you that Public Health Englands independence has not been damaged one iota by this. This is about Public Health England influencing Drinkaware. We are very sorry that colleagues disagree with us on this topic. We hope they will reconsider. Earlier this week, Professor Sir Ian Gilmore and Professor John Britton, senior advisers to PHE on alcohol and tobacco, wrote a letter in The Times saying their roles had been undermined. Prof Gilmore was said to have left his role, and the newspaper added that Prof Britton would follow suit unless PHE changed course. The Drink Free Days campaign urges people to have two days off from alcohol a week. PHE has said the partnership with Drinkaware is a fresh and bold step in our work to reduce alcohol harm. It added that it is steadfast in its ambition to reduce the harms that drinking too much alcohol can cause and that it would work together with any partner that speaks to the evidence and shares the same commitment. Prof Newton told Today: Drinkaware is not the alcohol industry. Drinkaware is a registered charity. Its funded by a number of other people, including the alcohol industry, including supermarket chains and so on, but they are a registered charity. If people have a problem with Drinkaware they really should be taking it to the Charity Commission, not to us. Sir Leigh Lewis, chairman of the Drinkaware Trust, previously said the charity did not speak for the industry, adding: It is saddening to see that false allegations about our independence are being used to undermine serious and genuine attempts to help people moderate their drinking. A Drinkaware spokeswoman said: Drinkaware is an independent charity which is not part of and does not speak on behalf of the alcohol industry. Since our inception 11 years ago, Drinkaware has provided evidence-led advice, information and support to millions of people concerned about alcohol and its harmful effects. Our website and public statements consistently promote the Chief Medical Officers guidelines and the latest evidence and facts about alcohol and its harms. All of our output is overseen and verified by an independent medical advisory panel consisting of well-regarded and highly experienced health professionals. As well as this important campaign with Public Health England, Drinkaware works with organisations across a range of sectors from the police and Government departments to businesses in the night-time economy to promote tools, initiatives and campaigns aimed at informing the public about drinking and its harmful effects. Our commitment to helping people make informed choices about alcohol is unswerving and to suggest otherwise is to wholly and wilfully misrepresent the charity and its aims. Almost 1,800 women are being contacted by the NHS after it emerged they were not invited for breast screening appointments. It comes after a review of the Scottish Breast Screening programme found 1,761 women aged over 70 did not receive their final screening appointment with these being delayed for up to three years as a result. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman apologised to all those affected as she accepted it would be a worrying time for the women involved. The review of breast screening was carried out after a significant incident in England meant an estimated 450,000 women were not invited to final screenings between 2009 and 2018. Women in Scotland are invited to come forward for the screening checks, which are carried out in a bid to detect breast cancer before symptoms are noticed, between the ages of 50 and 70. However, delays in the programme meant the women affected were not invited for their final appointment at the age of 70. Ms Freeman said: I know this will be a worrying time for the women affected and I apologise fully for any distress caused. The women are being contacted as a priority and resources have been put in place to ensure they are screened promptly and offered any wider support needed. This additional screening will not delay other women attending their routine appointments. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman (Andrew Milligan/PA) This issue came to light following a due diligence review of the breast screening system in Scotland which was undertaken after a significant incident with Englands breast screening programme earlier this year. I have been clear that we must learn from this and act to minimise the risk of similar incidents in future. Screening the women who missed appointments should not affect routine breast check-ups, according to ministers, with NHS screening centres making arrangements for them to be seen as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, additional NHS staff are being put in place in a bid to provide reassurance to those affected. Hundreds of children across Scotland have been forced to hand back musical instruments because of unaffordable tuition fees, MSPs have been told. Holyroods Public Petitions Committee heard that in one instance a young girl had to give up her instrument in tears and was only able to rejoin lessons after her mother had a whip-round. Campaigners are warning of an unjust divergence in musical tuition as a result of fees, with instruments passing from the hands of poorer children to those whose parents can afford it, as well as a lost generation of musical talent. Campaigners have warned that some children have to give up musical instruments due to high tuition fees (Julien Behal/PA) A petition lodged at Holyrood by musician Ralph Riddiough calling for a change in the law to make free musical instrument tuition a statutory right in schools has attracted almost 10,000 signatures. Very cogent case presented by @RalphLRiddiough and fellow petitioners about the need to address the music tuition issue in Scottish schools. Liz Smith (@mspliz) September 13, 2018 He told the committee that over the last decade there has been a 50% reduction in number of specialist musical instrument teachers in schools while fees range from free in some council areas to a completely unaffordable 524 a year in Clackmannanshire. Its not fair, its not consistent and it should be a matter of grave concern to the Scottish Parliament, he said. Mr Riddiough said early indications from Clackmannanshire were of a 40% drop-out rate while in South Ayrshire 216 children out of a total of 1,200 had handed back their instruments, 100 of whom were on free school meals. Of West Lothian, where fees are 345 a year, he said: I have friends who teach in that area and they are telling me that 90% of their students have handed back their instruments. In East Lothian, where music tuition is 280 a year, he added: A teacher has approached me to say that a girl handed back her instrument in tears at the end of the year, cant afford the fees and then she reappeared after the summer to say that her mum had had a whip round and could she please have lessons again. In areas where theres sufficient affluence you will see an unjust movement of instruments from children who cant afford it who then have to watch the instruments turning up in the hands of children who can afford it thats divisive. No child should have to come back to school and say I cant afford to carry on with lessons. That is just wrong. He accused the Scottish Government and councils of playing a backwards and forwards blame game on the issue. I use the image of politicians shrugging their shoulders and blaming each other. It is not good enough. This is really important. Composer Mick Cooke, former trumpet player with the Scottish indie band Belle & Sebastian, said free tuition at schools had benefited Scottish musicians such as KT Tunstall, Ricky Ross and Eddi Reader. He told the committee: From a commercial music point of view, I dont think we would be where we are today without the support that people had when they were children. I think you are going to see a kind of lost generation, all that is going to die really without the support. The petition received cross-party support from the committee, with the SNPs Angus MacDonald saying it made a strong case and Tory MSP Liz Smith describing it as very persuasive. Members agreed to write to the Scottish Government, local authorities and unions to seek more evidence on the issue. Close relatives of Arlene Fosters former special adviser had 11 boilers in a botched green energy scheme in Northern Ireland, an inquiry chairman said. Dr Andrew Crawford denied any involvement but said his brother James and two cousins who lived within 10 miles of him installed wood fuel burners to heat chicken houses used to supply meat to producer Moy Park. The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was established to encourage businesses to switch to more sustainable fuel sources but ended up running significantly over-budget. Dr Crawford denies any efforts to delay the imposition of cost controls on the massively over-spending scheme in 2015 as civil servants wanted to take action and said the DUP wanted to pin the blame on him. His evidence conflicts with that given by another former DUP special adviser to a public inquiry established to probe the matter. Chairman and retired judge Sir Patrick Coghlin told Dr Crawford: You have three family members, one brother and two cousins within a 10-mile radius who have installed 11 boilers. The former senior DUP figure said he had purchased a smallholding which was completed in 2014. This meant he owned fields adjoining a poultry unit established by his brother which was in the RHI scheme. Dr Crawford said: There was no financial link between myself and my brother in any way. Chairman and retired judge Sir Patrick Coghlin (Colm Lenaghan/PA) James Crawford was given a quotation from a boiler installer outlining the potential for his initial financial outlay to be paid off within three years using lucrative official subsidies, leaving 17 years of profit, a lawyer told the inquiry. The judge asked: They never said, Is it worthwhile me putting in these boilers in the scheme?' He wondered: Would any of these close relations of yours with farms within a close geographical area never have said to you, I know you are working on this, it seems to be awfully profitable?' Dr Crawford said he had never discussed the finances. He still associates with members of the DUP despite having left his job following revelations about his role in the RHI. He said: In my mind I was blamed unfairly. He added: I believe there was work going on behind the scenes to possibly pin the blame on me if possible. Receiving Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser in Hanoi, the Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam welcomes Estonian experts travelling to Vietnam to support its e-government building process.Mikser said he hopes that his visit, the first of its kind, will create a new driving force for the bilateral relations, as cooperation potential remains huge, especially in the fields of e-government and e-governance.He also expressed his belief that the two countries relations will grow strongly in the time ahead.Digital technology will help Vietnam speed up the building of an e-government, intensify transparency and save budget, he said, adding that Estonia is willing to share its experience in this field.He stressed that Estonia will help boost the EUs signing of a free trade agreement with Vietnam, and will be one of the first countries to ratify the document.Acknowledging the guests ideas, PM Phuc said that two-way trade remains low. Therefore, he believed that after the visit, Estonia will review and step up measures to boost bilateral trade.He spoke highly of effective coordination between the two countries at multilateral forums, and agreed on the ministers stance that countries must respect international law and the United Nations conventions.Regarding the East Sea issue, the PM emphasised Vietnams consistent point of view of ensuring peace, stability and aviation and navigation freedom, and respecting the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Vietnamplus Royal Navy warships should intervene to help British fishermen in the scallop wars, a Tory MP has said. The call came after talks between the UK and France to end a dispute over scallop fishing in the English Channel ended without agreement. Crews clashed last month over laws that allow British boats to gather scallops year-round, but place restrictions on French vessels. Some 35 French boats confronted five British craft off the coast of northern France, with reports of rocks and smoke bombs being hurled at UK vessels. A Royal Navy fishery protection vessel (Carl Osmond/MoD) Tory MP Philip Hollobone, speaking in the Commons, said that British fishermen had the moral right to fish in the region and called for the Royal Navy to assist. He said: If this fishing is taking place outside of French territorial waters why cant the Royal Navy accompany our ships back into those fishing grounds? If weve got fishery protection vessels and type 23 frigates permanently positioned in the Channel, surely the Royal Navy should be at sea with our fishermen to protect their livelihoods? Environment minister George Eustice responded by saying it was the responsibility of the French authorities to police and enforce fishing activity in the area. He told MPs that he had written to his French counterpart to express his disappointment at an agreement not being reached to end the scallop wars in the English Channel. He told the Commons: The UK Government has offered to assist French enforcement authorities with MMO (Marine Management Organisation) personnel should they want to consider joint operations given the risk of further altercations. I have also asked the French government to consider the alternative options available to them. Firstly, it seems to me that putting back in place the agreement for the over 15-metre fleet, which has stood the test of time over the last five years, would be preferable to no agreement at all and I hope the French industry will reconsider their position in this regard. Secondly, it is open to the French government to lift the domestic restrictions they have in place earlier than they normally would in order to address concerns that their industry has expressed about the lack of a level playing field. The UK industry is legally allowed to fish in the Bay of Seine. They have shown considerable restraint during the negotiations and I welcome their cooperation and understanding. Mr Eustice said he has emphasised the absolute need for safety to remain paramount and he hoped a mutually beneficial outcome might still be agreed. Shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman said livelihoods of communities are being hurt by not being allowed to fish in the area. She said the French navy should have stopped the appalling violence and sought assurances over the measures in place to stop it happening again. Ms Hayman added: As we await the publication of the Fisheries Bill, the industry is looking to Government for some backbone and for the minister to fight for them, their livelihoods and their communities. She said ministers who failed to find their voice over the scallops wars would be responsible for sealing a deal with the EU on quotas and access to waters. A tourist tax is needed to prevent visitors being put off visiting the Highlands because they have to go to the toilet behind a bush, MSPs have heard. Holyroods Tourism Committee heard the six million annual visitors to the region bring 1.2 billion a year and support 20,000 jobs, but put pressure on roads, parking and public toilets. Our infrastructure is deteriorating and it will lead to a negative impression, and that will cause reputational damage, Highland Council convener Bill Lobban told the committee. Highlands tourism could suffer reputational damage if infrastructure is not boosted, MSPs were told (David Cheskin/PA) In some areas there is more tourist traffic on our roads than there are residents the local residents are actually paying for the tourists, who are not providing us with the income. He said a dependable long-term funding solution is needed otherwise we run the risk that visitors just wont come back. He added: Personally speaking, I dont actually accept the argument that visitors will be deterred from visiting the Highlands if we charge them a 1 a night bed levy. In the Highlands we have some of the best food in the world, the best accommodation and the most magnificent scenery, but all that can come to nothing if a tourist pulls a wheel off his car or has to go to the toilet behind a bush. No formal plans have been put foward for a tourist tax in the region but Mr Lobban said there is cross-party council support. Edinburgh City Council has led the way in plans for a tourist tax in Scotland and leader Adam McVey told the committee a 1 a night bed charge could generate about 11 million a year for the city. However, councils will be unable to introduce any tourist tax unless Scottish ministers hand over the necessary power. Conservative Jamie Greene highlighted a Federation of Small Businesses survey in which three-quarters of respondents were against the tax, complaints from the industry and a warning from the Tourism Secretary against bringing in measures which would hammer this industry. He asked: If the industry isnt in favour of it, if small businesses that it will affect arent in favour of it and it sounds that even the government itself arent supportive, do you feel like you are fighting a losing battle on this? Mr McVey said the reaction from business has been mixed and large firms such as Airbnb and Virgin back the plans. Councillor Gail Macgregor, from local authority umbrella body Cosla, denied fighting a losing battle on the tax, claimed engagement with industry would continue and warned against kneejerk reactions on both sides. Donald Trump has accused a bank chief of being a nervous mess after the head of JPMorgan Chase said he could beat the US president in an election. Mr Trump tweeted that the Wall Street banks CEO Jamie Dimon doesnt have the aptitude or smarts & is a poor public speaker & nervous mess otherwise he is wonderful. Mr Dimon caused a stir on Wednesday when he said he would be able to beat Mr Trump, though he quickly backtracked on those comments and said he is not running for president. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon claimed he could beat Donald Trump in an election (Scott Applewhite,/AP) He said his remarks were prompted by frustration over Washington gridlock. He also said he is just as tough as Mr Trump and smarter. Mr Trump tweeted: Ive made a lot of bankers, and others, look much smarter than they are with my great economic policy! EU citizens would have to compete on a level playing field with migrants from other countries after Brexit under a future Labour government, Diane Abbott has suggested. The shadow home secretary unveiled a plan to create a reformed immigration system after Britain leaves the EU, saying people should be treated equally and fairly. Non-EU citizens, including those from Commonwealth nations, are treated as second-class migrants under the current system. she said in a keynote address in London. Diane Abbott (Victoria Jones/PA) She said: Once trade deals have been struck and established there will be no unequal treatment based on which countries people are coming from. A fully qualified doctor from Pakistan will be treated just like a fully qualified doctor from Poland, and vice versa. The same is true of how we will allocate work visas, and the rights that will be attached to them. Ms Abbott attacked Government aims to bring net immigration below 100,000 a year by insisting economic needs must guide policy, not meaningless and arbitrary targets. She said a reformed immigration system is needed to put prosperity and jobs first. Ms Abbott called for a more flexible work visa scheme to ensure the UK attracts people with key skills from across the globe. She said: Sadly at the current time we have a class system for migrants. Commonwealth migrants and other non-EU migrants are treated in a way that is tantamount to making them second-class migrants. They struggle to bring partners or spouses here. They have to meet minimum income targets. They can lose their right to residency simply by travelling home for family reasons. Its not fair, its not humane, its not reasonable. Labour will end the established system of first and second-class migrants. And we will do so, not by treating EU migrants as appallingly as Commonwealth and other non-EU migrants have been treated for a long time. We will end the first and second-class system by treating everyone fairly. Ms Abbott said that after Brexit EU citizens already in the UK should retain the rights they already enjoy. She attacked Government policy for using Europeans as bargaining chips, adding: Anyone who arrived here under the freedom of movement provisions up to our exit from Brexit must continue to be accorded those same rights going forward. We also demand the same for our citizens in the EU. This is a reciprocal and an equal relationship. Britain has accused Russia of responding with obfuscation and lies after the prime suspects in the Salisbury nerve agent attack claimed they visited the UK as tourists. Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov told Russian state-funded news channel RT they travelled to the wonderful city in Wiltshire after recommendations from friends. The pair claimed they have been left fearing for their lives after Britain pointed to their involvement and said they were officers in Russian military intelligence service the GRU. In the interview, with RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, they said they worked in the fitness industry. In a translation from Russian, the broadcaster quoted Petrov as saying they arrived in London on March 2 and attempted to visit Salisbury on March 3 but were thwarted by snow. They returned the following day when it was warmer to see the cathedral. He said: Of course, we went there to see Stonehenge, Old Sarum, but we couldnt 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). In the mens first interview since they were named publicly they denied carrying womens perfume, after police discovered a counterfeit bottle that contained a significant amount of Novichok. Boshirov acknowledged they may have been near Mr Skripals house but they did not know where it was. They also asked for an apology from the UK authorities, adding: We just want this to be over. UK authorities believe the pair smeared the highly toxic chemical Novichok on a door handle at the Wiltshire home of former GRU officer Sergei Skripal, leaving Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia critically ill. Tests on the east London hotel room where the suspects had stayed showed contamination of Novichok. A Government spokesman said: 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. 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. Q: Did you approach Skripal residence in #Salisbury? A: We dont even know its location; we could pass it without even knowing whose house it actually is#SkripalCase https://t.co/18EqeN4zGX pic.twitter.com/pxRGbTp1Zx RT (@RT_com) September 13, 2018 John Glen, the Conservative MP for Salisbury and South Wiltshire, also dismissed the statements from Petrov and Boshirov as not credible. President Vladimir Putin said the men had been discounted as members of his security network. In an address to the Easter Economic Forum in Vladivostok, he said: Of course, we looked who these people are. We know who they are, we have found them already. There is nothing special and nothing criminal about it, Im telling you. CCTV of Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov at Salisbury station (Metropolitan Police/PA) Questioned on whether the pair were civilians, Mr Putin replied: Of course they are civilians. Boshirov said his life had been turned upside down, according to RT. He said: Were afraid of going out, we fear for ourselves, our lives and lives of our loved ones. Detectives believe it is likely the two suspects, thought to be aged around 40, travelled under aliases and that Petrov and Boshirov are not their real names. Officers formally linked the attack on the Skripals to events in nearby Amesbury where Dawn Sturgess, 44, and her partner Charlie Rowley, 45, were exposed to the same nerve agent. Ms Sturgess died in hospital in July, just over a week after the pair fell ill. A police officer who visited the home of the Skripals shortly after the attack, Nick Bailey, was also left critically ill from exposure to the substance. Nicola Sturgeon branded the Scottish Conservatives shameless opportunists who care not a jot about school children as she defended her governments controversial assessments for youngsters aged four and five. The First Minister has been under pressure over the introduction of standardised national assessments for P1 pupils, with teachers having claimed the tests left some children in tears. Holyrood is to vote on the issue on Wednesday, with opposition MSPs expected to defeat the Scottish Government. Nicola Sturgeon criticised the Tories at First Ministers Questions (Andrew Milligan/PA) While such a vote would be embarrassing for SNP ministers, it would not be legally binding on the government. Meanwhile Tory leader Ruth Davidson said schools were already failing to provide parents and others with the information they are required to make public by the authorities. She said that while Education Scotland regulations of 2012 were crystal clear that schools should publish comprehensive information on issues such as performance and the curriculum, only about one in 14 (7%) actually met this. Six years ago, this Parliament introduced new rules so parents could get more information about their local school. Six years on, how many schools are actually complying with these regulations? #FMQs Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) September 13, 2018 She said that was the finding of analysis by Professor Jim Scott of Dundee University, which is due to be published next week. Ms Davidson said: Schools should, according to this governments own rules, give parents clear data on the curriculum and on performance. Thats so parents can find out about the school they are entrusting their children with or, where appropriate, make an informed decision about which school to choose. Yet, according to Professor Scott, six years on the parent who wishes to make an informed choice of school has relatively little chance of doing so when more than nine out of ten schools fail to publish the information this parliament requires of them. Ms Sturgeon insisted while there was a wide range of information available to parents about the performance of schools, ministers wanted to do more, adding that is why we have introduced standardised assessments to replace the assessments that were previously under way by local authorities. @NicolaSturgeon exposes the "breathtaking hypocrisy" of the Tories on measuring the progress of school pupils. #FMQs pic.twitter.com/oshY0WClnm The SNP (@theSNP) September 13, 2018 The First Minister said: Contrary to what they have previously said, the Scottish Conservatives now appear to want us to move away from that. She accused Ms Davidson of breath-taking hypocrisy as she read out part of the Tory 2016 Holyrood election manifesto, in which the party said it welcomed the Scottish Governments recent decision to reintroduce national testing in primary schools. Ms Sturgeon went on: Yet I understand next week the Scottish Conservatives are going to bring forward a motion for the abolition of standardised assessments at P1. The hypocrisy on these matters is breath-taking. She continued: What we see from the Conservatives is that they are shameless opportunists, they do not care. They care only about the short-term political opportunity, they care not a jot about the school children, they care not a jot about standards in our schools, I think Ruth Davidson has revealed that yet again today. The SNP leader said: I want to see parents have more information about the performance of their children, that is why we have standardised the assessments that were previously in place, including at P1, in order that we are ensuring that teachers know whether young people are meeting the benchmarks set by Curriculum for Excellence. .@willie_rennie: It sounds like shes saying @EISunion are wrong. Just last week the First Minister said she was listening to teachers. Now shes ignoring them. #FMQs Scottish Lib Dems (@scotlibdems) September 13, 2018 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, who raised the same issue at First Ministers Questions, accused Ms Sturgeon of refusing to listen to teachers and the teaching union the EIS on the issue of P1 testing. The Lib Dem said: Just last week the First Minister said she was listening to teachers, now shes ignoring them. The evidence is mounting 170 pages of searing criticism from teachers, a damning letter from the EIS, the waste of resource, the useless value of the information, the high-stakes environment, the slippery path to league tables. Teachers are very clear, theyve said the tests should go, the union has said the tests should go. When this parliament votes next week to scrap the P1 tests for pupils, will she respect the will of parliament and scrap the tests? Ms Sturgeon said the government would make the case for the tests rigorously and robustly, adding that she had a difference of opinion with the EIS on the issue. She stated: I have spoken to many teachers who also have a difference of opinion about assessments. I want to see us raise standards in Scottish education and I want to see us close the attainment gap, and we need data to inform the action we take to do that, so I will continue to make what I think is the common-sense argument for this and I look forward to the debate continuing. Tory education spokeswoman Liz Smith said afterwards that her party firmly believe that there has to be a different approach in P1 compared to what happens further on in school. She said: The Scottish Conservatives will use our party business to demonstrate the educational evidence in this regard and why it has led to so much concern among teachers. We remain fully supportive of testing in schools among older children. Standardised tests at P4, P7 and S3 should be a key part of educational development and the monitoring of schools overall progress. The Duke of Sussex has told young Royal Marines recruits they face blood, sweat and tears in the months ahead but are in one of the worlds best jobs. Harrys pep talk to the young men came as he visited the Royal Marines main training base in Devon for the first time as the outfits Captain General. Harry inspects the ranks at Lympstone, Devon (Chris Jackson/PA) He watched recruits being put through their paces on a rope course above a freezing tank of water, and saw a number haul themselves out dripping after falling in. Speaking to another group who are a fortnight into 32 weeks of training to earn the coveted green beret, the duke quipped: Are you all a bit like rabbits in the headlights? Youre going to need each other, thats for sure. Harry meets the men (Ben Birchall/PA) Harry, a former Army captain who served in the forces for 10 years, added: Its going to be blood, sweat and tears. Every single time you end up going to bed where youre crying, or got a sore leg, or an emotional issue to have to deal with but it is without doubt probably one of the best professions you can ever be involved with. You guys are in one of the top jobs, you get to be a marine and get to do everything that comes along with it. Harry arrives by helicopter (Chris Jackson/PA) Harry, who took over the prestigious role of Captain General from the Duke of Edinburgh, was flown to the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, near Exeter, in a maritime attack helicopter. Wearing a smart casual jacket, shirt, tie and trousers, the former Apache helicopter commander jumped from the Wildcat, flown by 847 Naval Air Squadron from Commando Helicopter Force based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, to meet senior marines. Greek rescuers have been searching a beach for possible victims after a landslide left at least one woman injured. Firefighters and a sniffer dog were sent to the secluded beach on the western island of Zakynthos after the rock fall on Thursday. Witnesses reported that a large rock initially fell from a cliff into the sea at Navagio Beach, or Shipwreck Beach, on the north-western coast of the island, creating a large wave that capsized small boats. The cove, accessible only by sea, features limestone cliffs towering above a white sandy beach and crystalline water made famous by the wreckage of a small cargo ship washed up on the beach since the 1980s. People embark from a vessel after a landslide occurred at the popular beach of Navagio (imerazante.gr/AP) The spot is popular with tourists and locals, who get to the cove either on small tourist or private boats. Authorities were seeking to determine whether there were any people missing. The fire department said it had sent 18 rescuers accompanied by a sniffer dog, while a further nine-person crew headed to the site by helicopter. The coastguard said later that those who had headed to the beach on tourist boats had all been accounted for. One foreign woman was injured and taken to hospital. The beach was evacuated and boats were banned from approaching the cove until further notice. The second tranche of technical notices giving guidance on the impact of a no-deal Brexit has been released by the Government. Some 28 documents were published on the gov.uk website on Thursday, following the release of 24 in August. Among the topics covered are the validity of British driving licences on the continent, roaming charges for mobile phones and the future of the European space and satellites programmes. Brexit (Rick Findler/PA) Mobile phones bills for customers living near the border in Northern Ireland could spike after Brexit, one of the papers reveals. Papers setting out what could happen if no deal is struck warn how 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. UK firms currently working on the EUs Galileo satellite navigation system could be cut out of existing contracts under a no-deal Brexit, Government technical papers say. Firms have already been warned they faced blocks to bidding for new work on the programme, a rival to the US GPS system. But a technical paper released by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) says businesses and academics may face difficulty carrying out and completing existing contracts. Children from the former Calais jungle camp are set to be granted the right to remain in the UK. The Home Office has announced that more than 200 youngsters from the camp will be given a new status to allow continued access to study, work and the NHS until they can apply for citizenship in 10 years time. More than 750 unaccompanied children were brought to the UK from the makeshift camp in France in 2016. More than 200 youngsters from the former Calais jungle camp will be given a new form of leave (John Stillwell/PA) Around 550 went to live with family already residing in the UK and over the past two years the majority of the children were given the right to remain in the UK under existing international protections. But a small group fell through this gap as they did not qualify for the same protections. Immigration minister Caroline Nokes announced on Thursday that the new right would allow the group to remain. She said: We can be proud of our record of helping refugee and other vulnerable children affected by conflict, violence and instability. Since the start of 2010 we have provided asylum or an alternative form of protection to over 31,000 children. I am determined that we continue in these efforts and that is why we are introducing a new form of leave, exclusively for children brought to the UK from the Calais camp, so that they can continue rebuilding their lives with their families in the UK. Calais Leave will grant those who qualify the right to study, work, access public funds and healthcare, and apply for settlement after 10 years. It will only be available to those brought over as part of the Calais clearance exercise between October 2016 and July 2017, who were under the age of 18 at this time, and who had recognised family ties in the UK. Subject to Parliamentary procedure, this rule change will take effect in the autumn of 2018. The Copernicus Sentinel-1B satellite takes us over Semera in northeast Ethiopia. Semera is a new town with a population of just over 2600 and serves as the capital of the Afar region. The region spans an estimated 270 000 sq km, from close to the border with Eritrea towards the capital of Addis Ababa. We can see the regional capital in the top right of this false-colour image, with the larger urban centre of Dubti just south of the town. Both are found in the Great Rift Valley, which lies between the Ethiopian Plateau and the Somalia Plateau. The landscape of the Afar region is characterised by desert shrubland and volcanoes, particularly in the north. In this image we can see differences in altitude represented in the variations in colour. The left part of the image is dominated by yellow, signifying changes in vegetation found at higher altitudes. Two lakes, Hayk Lake and Hardibo Lake, are shown in the bottom left. South of Dubti we can see the Awash River, which flows into the northern salt lakes rather than into the sea. Salt trade is typical of the area, whilst cotton is grown in the Awash River valley. Maize, beans, papaya and bananas are also cultivated in the Afar region. It is thought that 90% of the region's population lead a pastoral life, rearing animals such as camels, sheep and donkeys. Dallol, to the north of Semera in Ethiopia's Danakil Depression, is frequently cited as one of the hottest inhabited places on Earth. Lying 125 m below sea level, with temperatures in the spectacular hydrothermal fields averaging 34.4 C year-round, and the area receiving just 100-200 mm rainfall a year, conditions are thought to be amongst the most inhospitable in the world. Sentinel-1B was launched in April 2016, carrying an advanced radar instrument to provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery of Earth's surface. Along with Sentinel-1A, which was launched in April 2014, the mission benefits numerous services, including monitoring land-surface for motion risks and mapping to support crisis situations. Larger image Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Almost 25,000 referrals for mental health treatment for young people have been rejected since Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister in 2014, Labour has said. Leader Richard Leonard called on Ms Sturgeon to apologise for the rejected referrals during First Ministers Questions at Holyrood. In June, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman accepted the system for referring children and young people for specialist mental health treatment was completely unacceptable following a review and set up a 5 million taskforce to improve child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). Richard Leonard called on Nicola Sturgeon to apologise over mental health referral rejections (Jane Barlow/PA) A new report from Audit Scotland has concluded that mental health services for children and young people are complex and fragmented and under significant pressure due to a big increase in demand. Almost 25,000 referrals to child and adolescent mental health services have been rejected since Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister. Labour welcomes new investment but it should have been delivered sooner, not after 11 years of SNP government. #FMQs pic.twitter.com/okjuRjArt9 Scottish Labour (@ScottishLabour) September 13, 2018 Mr Leonard said: Todays report calls for a step change and Labour will work with the government to deliver the changes that we need. Thats why we pressed for counsellors in schools and for a review of these rejected cases, but the reality is that the government has been too slow to act because it did not take this issue seriously enough. With thousands of Scotlands children rejected for treatment during her time in office, surely the First Minister must show an ounce of regret that her government did not act sooner. The new minister for mental health has today admitted that too many children and adolescents are being let down. So, will the First Minster admit that she has been too slow to act, that she has let these children and young people down for over a decade, and will she today offer them an apology? Ms Sturgeon responded: I regret and apologise to any patient whether they are an adult of a child who is not seen by the NHS, whether for mental health problems or physical health problems, as quickly as they should be, and I say that unreservedly. Share the facts on our plan to improve mental health services for children and young people. #FMQs https://t.co/WkhE3wfuXb The SNP (@theSNP) September 13, 2018 But I dont accept Richard Leonards characterisation. The Audit Scotland report recognises this: we have put additional resources into mental health, weve seen additional people employed to work in mental health since 2007 the CAMHS workforce has increased, I think, by 69% so we have recognised the rising demand on mental health services and weve acted on that. However, demand has risen faster than I think anybody necessarily anticipated, which I think is a good thing, so we recognise we must do even more, not just to build the capacity of specialist services but also to build the capacity of community services. On rejected referrals, it is exactly because we were concerned by rejected referrals that we set up the audit of rejected referrals. We are acting and weve set out further plans. If he is serious about working with the government to take forward these plans, then I welcome that and perhaps we can build some much-needed consensus on a very, very important issue. Outer bands of wind and rain from Hurricane Florence have begun lashing North Carolina as the monster storm moves nearer to the coast. Florences top sustained wind speeds dropped from a high of 140mph to 110mph which reduced the hurricanes power from Category 4 to Category 2. However, forecasters warned the widening storm, and its likelihood of lingering along the coast for several days, raises the risk of surging ocean water and torrential rain. For a meandering storm, the biggest concern as we saw with Harvey is the huge amount of rainfall, said Chris Landsea, head of tropical analysis and forecast branch at the National Hurricane Centre. As of 8am local time, it was centred about 170 miles east-southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina and about 220 miles east-southeast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, moving north west at 12mph. Hurricane-force winds were blowing 80 miles from its centre, and tropical storm force winds reached up to 195 miles from the eye. The hurricane centres best guess was that Florences eye would blow ashore as early as Friday afternoon around the North Carolina-South Carolina border. Then, it will probably hover along the coast on Saturday, pushing up to 13ft of storm surge and dumping 20 to 30 inches of rain on both states, before heading over the Appalachian Mountains. Maximum winds from #Florence have decreased, but don't let that fool you. This "weakening" only refers to maximum winds. The wind field has expanded and rainfall/storm surge potential are still at catastrophic levels.https://t.co/meemB5uHAR pic.twitter.com/IRiuxeVeUf National Weather Service (@NWS) September 13, 2018 The result could be catastrophic inland flooding that could swamp homes, businesses, fields and industrial sites. About 5.25 million people live in areas under hurricane warnings or watches, and 4.9 million more live in places covered by tropical storm warnings or watches, the National Weather Service said. Weather Underground meteorology director Jeff Masters said Florence eventually could strike as a Category 1 with winds less than 100mph but that is still enough to cause at least $1 billion in damage. (PA Graphics) Water kills more people in hurricanes than wind, and the rain and storm surge will make Florence extremely dangerous. President Donald Trump both touted the governments readiness and urged people to get out of the way. Dont play games with it. Its a big one, he said at the White House. It is unclear exactly how many people fled, but more than 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were urged to evacuate. Airlines cancelled nearly 1,000 flights with more cancellations to come. Here are the 11 PM EDT Key Messages for Hurricane #Florence. Latest information available at https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB pic.twitter.com/Qckto38JyW National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 13, 2018 Home Depot and Lowes activated emergency response centres to get generators, rubbish bags and bottled water to stores before and after the storm. The two hardware chains said they sent a total of around 1,100 trucks. Power company Duke Energy said Florence could knock out electricity to three-quarters of its four 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. Residents prepare for Hurricane Florence by filling sand bags in Georgia (Stephen B Morton/AP) Boarding up his home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Chris Pennington watched the forecasts and tried to decide when to leave. In 12 or 18 hours, they may be saying different things all over again, he said. Computer models of exactly what the storm might do varied, adding to the uncertainty. Based on the latest 11 a.m. forecast for the southward track of Hurricane Florence after making landfall and acting on a recommendation from @GeorgiaEMA officials, I have issued an emergency declaration for all 159 counties in Georgia. Read more here: https://t.co/FmO4iELdYq Former Gov. Nathan Deal (@GovernorDeal) September 12, 2018 Reacting to the possibility of a more southerly track, Georgia governor Nathan Deal declared an emergency but did not immediately order any evacuations. I ask all Georgians to join me in praying for the safety of our people and all those in the path of Hurricane Florence, Mr Deal said. The shift in the projected track spread concern to areas that once thought they were relatively safe. In South Carolina, close to the Georgia line, Beaufort County emergency chief Neil Baxley told residents they need to prepare again for the worst just in case. Weve had our lessons. Now it might be time for the exam, he said. In Virginia, where about 245,000 residents were ordered to evacuate low-lying areas, officials urged people to remain away from home despite forecast changes showing Florences path largely missing the state. Sand bags surround homes on North Topsail Beach as Hurricane Florence threatens the coast (Chuck Burton/AP) Forecasters worried the storms damage will be all the worse if it lingers on the coast. The trend is exceptionally bad news, said University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy, since it smears a landfall out over hundreds of miles of coastline, most notably the storm surge. With South Carolinas beach towns more in the bulls-eye because of the shifting forecast, Ohio tourists Chris and Nicole Roland put off their departure from North Myrtle Beach to get the maximum amount of time on the sand. Most other beachgoers were long gone. Its been really nice, Nicole Roland said. Also, a little creepy. You feel like you should have already left. Donald Trump has rejected the widely accepted death toll in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria and claimed without citing evidence that 3,000 people did not die. Mr Trump called the death toll a move by Democrats to make him look bad. The US president tweeted on Thursday as Hurricane Florence bears down on the Carolinas. President Donald Trump has rejected the widely accepted death toll (Susan Walsh/AP) He said: 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 Puerto Ricos governor raised the US territorys official death toll from Hurricane Maria from 64 to 2,975 after an independent study found the number of people who died in the aftermath had been severely under-counted. Maria devastated the island in September 2017 and knocked out the entire electricity grid. Researchers from the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University said the original estimates were so low because doctors on the island had not been trained to properly classify deaths after a natural disaster. The elderly and impoverished were hardest hit by the hurricane. The mayor of Puerto Ricos capital accused Mr Trump of being delusional. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz tweeted: Simply put: delusional, paranoid, and unhinged from any sense of reality. Trump is so vain he thinks this is about him. NO IT IS NOT. Simply put: delusional, paranoid, and unhinged from any sense of reality. Trump is so vain he thinks this is about him. NO IT IS NOT. pic.twitter.com/K96H5O3NKM Carmen Yulin Cruz (@CarmenYulinCruz) September 13, 2018 She also tweeted: Damn it: this is NOT about politics this was always about SAVING LIVES. Damn it: this is NOT about politics this was always about SAVING LIVES. pic.twitter.com/SjwywKN3Jh Carmen Yulin Cruz (@CarmenYulinCruz) September 13, 2018 Ms Cruz maintains the federal governments response to the hurricane was slow and inadequate while Mr Trump said it was a success. The festive traditions of the royal family from favourite Christmas cuisine to touching personal gifts are to be explored in a new book. A Royal Christmas, published by the Royal Collection, looks back at how Britains royalty has celebrated through the generations. A Royal Christmas which examines the history of royal Christmases (Royal Collection Trust/PA) Christmas dinner menus will feature in the illustrated book, along with more than 150 objects, photographs and documents from the Royal Collection and the Royal Archives, many published for the first time. Queen Victorias Christmas fare in 1899 was printed on an elaborately decorated menu, written in French and headed Her Majestys Dinner. Menu for QueenVictorias dinner,Christmas Day, 1899 (Royal Archives/Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2018/PA) It included numerous courses including roast beef, mince pies and plum pudding, as well as an indulgent buffet of Baron of Beef, Boars Head, Game Pie, Woodcock Pie, Brawn, Roast Fowl and Tongue. King George IV was partial to a plum broth on Christmas Day, made using large quantities of port, brandy, madeira, sherry and claret, while medieval monarchs dined on roast swan and gilded peacocks. Henry II ate boars head, pickled in brine and stuffed, braised and roasted, at his Christmas banquets. The book also charts the history of the monarchs Christmas Broadcast, watched each year by millions of people around the world. The Queen delivering her Christmas broadcast from the State Dining Room of Buckingham Palace (John Stillwell/PA) The royal family heading to church at Sandringham on Christmas Day last year (Joe Giddens/PA) A Royal Christmas is available from October 18 from royalcollection.org.uk/shop and Royal Collection shops for 9.95, and at various bookshops for 12.95. Anti-terror police have arrested more white suspects than people of Asian appearance in a year for the first time in more than a decade, figures reveal. Home Office statistics show a total of 351 arrests where there was a suspicion of terrorism-related activity in the 12 months to the end of June. Of those, 133 were white and 129 were recorded as Asian ethnic appearance. Police (Anthony Devlin/PA) Arrests of white suspects accounted for 38% of terrorist-related arrests in the latest period an increase of four percentage points on the previous year.The proportion who were of Asian appearance fell by seven points to 37%. The Home Office report said: 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. The figures, which cover the use of anti-terrorism powers in Britain, showed that 234 arrests were registered in the international category. This covers suspected activity linked to or motivated by terrorist groups based outside the UK, such as Islamic State. Seventy-five were logged in the domestic bracket, which relates to cases where there is no connection to either Northern Ireland or international terrorism. Further breakdowns are not given but this section would include arrests relating to suspected far-right activity. The total number of arrests fell by more than a fifth (22%) year-on-year, but police stressed this did not mean the threat has reduced. Officers said the fall was mainly due to a spike in arrests following terrorist incidents in the previous reporting year. There were five attacks in the UK in 2017, but only one, the attempted Parsons Green bombing, in the period covered by the latest statistics. In total, security agencies say they are carrying out an unprecedented 650-plus active terrorism investigations. Counter-terror police senior national co-ordinator, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon, said: 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 doesnt indicate a reduction in the threat we all face from terrorism. The step-change in terrorist activity is matched only by an increased effort from police and security services, and our officers are working incredibly hard to protect the public and to bring people to justice, which is evidenced by the impressive conviction rate achieved in the last year. Of the 351 arrests, 120 (34%) resulted in a charge, of which 92 (77%) were terrorism-related, 184 (52%) were released without charge, 29 (8%) were released on bail pending further investigation, and 18 (5%) faced alternative action. Of the 92 individuals charged with a terrorism-related offence, 48 had been prosecuted, of which 46 were convicted and two were found not guilty. Forty-one people were awaiting prosecution, two were subject to other outcomes and one was not proceeded against. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has apologised to almost 1,800 women who missed out on screening appointments for breast cancer. Ms 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. As a result, some women will have the checks delayed for up to three years with the charity Macmillan Cancer Support describing the situation as incredibly concerning. Women in Scotland are invited to come forward for the screening, which is carried out in a bid to detect breast cancer before symptoms are noticed, between the ages of 50 and 70. However, delays in the programme meant the women affected were not invited for their final appointment at the age of 70. Janice Preston, head of services for Macmillan in Scotland, said: Its incredibly concerning that so many women in Scotland have not been able to have their final breast screening appointment. This will undoubtedly create a great deal of concern and anxiety for the women affected. The Scottish Government has already pledged tests will be carried out as quickly as possible and that this should not impact on the current breast screening programme. Meanwhile, additional NHS staff are being put in place in a bid to provide reassurance to those affected. Ms Freeman said: I know this will be a worrying time for the women affected and I apologise fully for any distress caused. The women are being contacted as a priority and resources have been put in place to ensure they are screened promptly and offered any wider support needed. This additional screening will not delay other women attending their routine appointments. She continued: This issue came to light following a due diligence review of the breast screening system in Scotland which was undertaken after a significant incident with Englands breast screening programme earlier this year. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman (Andrew Milligan/PA) I have been clear that we must learn from this and act to minimise the risk of similar incidents in future. Tory public health spokeswoman Annie Wells said women would be extremely concerned that they have been overlooked. The Conservative said: These tests are absolutely crucial in identifying and treating cancer at early stages. This obviously improves the chance of a good outcome for the patient. It is truly concerning to think that almost 2,000 women have missed this important screening and that they are still potentially undiagnosed. The Scottish Government must identify and communicate with those who have missed their screening urgently as well as reviewing procedures to ensure this never happens again. Liberal Democrat health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton described it as a horrifying lapse of process. He continued: It will be an anxious time for the women who are now discovering they have missed out on key screenings. The Scottish Government must remedy this at speed and ensure that no other women ever face the potentially devastating consequences of such a blunder again. Mobile phone bills for customers living near the border in Northern Ireland could spike after Brexit, the Government has warned. Papers setting out what could happen if no deal is struck warn how 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. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said consumers must not be hit with higher charges from mobile companies (Peter Nicholls/PA) Which? chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith said: Two-thirds of people think it is important that free roaming exists when travelling in the EU, so the news that we could face the return of sky-high charges to use our phones abroad will come as a real blow. If the Government is to deliver a Brexit that works for consumers, it needs to not only maintain free roaming across the EU, but also look to extend the benefit of free roaming for people visiting countries worldwide. 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. Mr Raab told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Weve had some good news from businesses like Vodafone and Three. They have publicly said they wouldnt introduce any roaming fees for UK consumers travelling on the continent. What we have said is we would like to see other companies following suit, but, in any event, we would legislate for a limit on roaming charges to make sure in a no-deal scenario that we protect British consumers. The Government advice says if the UK leaves without a deal, customers should check their operators roaming policies, consider switching provider, know how to turn off roaming services and look at using wi-fi for making calls. If a deal is secured, surcharge-free roaming will continue during the transition period but arrangements after that are dependent on the outcome of the negotiations on the Future Economic Partnership. An O2 spokeswoman said: Were committed to providing our customers with great connectivity and value when they travel overseas. We currently have no plans to change our roaming services across Europe. We will be working closely with the Government and other European operators to try and protect the current arrangements so our customers can continue to enjoy free EU roaming once Britain officially leaves the EU. An EE spokesman said: EE customers enjoy great value products and controls offering inclusive roaming in Europe and beyond, and we dont have any plans to change these offers. We are working closely with government on this and hope they will put consumers at the top of their agenda in the Brexit negotiations to help ensure that UK operators can continue to offer low prices to our customers. 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. UK drivers could be turned away at foreign borders (Yui Mok/PA) 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. UK firms currently working on the EUs Galileo satellite navigation system could be cut out of existing contracts under a no-deal Brexit, Government technical papers say. The 10 billion euro programme has been at the heart of an access row between the UK and the EU that prompted Theresa May to announce 92 million seed funding for a British rival in August. Firms have already been warned they face blocks to bidding for new work on the programme, a rival to the US GPS system. British firms face being cut out of contracts under the Galileo sat-nav programme under a no-deal Brexit, technical papers have warned (Pierre Carril/ESA/PA) But a technical paper released by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) went further, warning the UK would no longer play any part in the development of Galileo or the related European Geostationary Navigation Overlay (EGNO) system. It added: This means that UK-based businesses, academics and researchers will be unable to bid for future EU Global Navigation Satellite System contracts and may face difficulty carrying out and completing existing contracts. For example, it may not be possible for businesses or organisations which currently host Galileo and EGNO ground infrastructure to continue to do so. Britain is keen to remain part of Galileo after Brexit if a deal can be agreed but the EU is insisting full membership of the programme is only open to member states. The row between Britain, the European Space Agency and European Commission centres on the level of access the UK will have to the Public Regulated Service (PRS) a navigation and timing signal intended for use by government agencies, armed forces and emergency services. The UK insists that for its involvement in the system to be worth continuing, it must be able to have detailed technical information about the PRS signal in order to rely on it for military purposes, something the EU is only prepared to grant to members of the bloc. In August, Theresa May confirmed 92 million would be used to develop plans for an alternative satellite navigation system amid doubts over the future of British involvement. The Prime Minister said the UK was clear it would withdraw UK support for Galileo unless it received assurances of close collaboration post-Brexit, adding: This is not an idle threat to achieve our negotiating objectives. Thursdays technical paper added: In the unlikely event of the UK leaving the EU without a negotiated agreement, the majority of position, navigation and timing services provided by Galileo and European Geostationary Navigation Overlay will continue to be freely available to all UK-based users. The Public Regulated Service will not be available to the UK; however, this is not expected to be completed until the mid-2020s and will not have immediate impact on users. The president of Sinn Fein has unreservedly apologised to an alleged sex abuse victim who claims the party covered up her allegations against one of its members. Mairia Cahill had demanded the apology from Mary Lou McDonald in the wake of a damning police watchdog probe into how her case was handled. As well as delivering a scathing critique into police 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. Ms Cahill, a grand-niece of prominent Belfast republican Joe Cahill, claimed she was sexually abused as a 16-year-old by alleged IRA member Martin Morris. Mr Morris, who denied all wrongdoing, was later acquitted of rape when the case against him collapsed. Ms Cahill had alleged the republican movements response to her claims was to subject her to an IRA interrogation. Mairia Cahill had demanded an apology from Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald (Brian Lawless/PA) She also accused Sinn Fein of engaging in a cover-up and waging a campaign to question her integrity ever since she waived her right to anonymity. In response, Mrs McDonald said Sinn Fein now had robust procedures in place for mandatory reporting of abuse allegations. I deeply regret that these procedures were not in place at the time of Mairia Cahills disclosure, she said. For this I unreservedly apologise. I wish Mairia Cahill every best wish for the future. The attempted prosecutions of Mr Morris for alleged sex abuse and IRA membership and four others accused of IRA membership linked to Ms Cahills claims of a republican internal inquiry never got to trial. As well as Ms Cahill, there were two other alleged victims in the case. The prosecutions collapsed in 2014 when the women withdrew their evidence. Dr Maguire blamed the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and its predecessor the Royal Ulster Constabulary, for a litany of failings linked to the cases. Mrs McDonald added: I welcome the publication of the Ombudsmans report and the fact that the PSNI have accepted and will implement the recommendations of that report. Mary Lou McDonald responds to Police Ombudsmans report https://t.co/nLroshlPc2 pic.twitter.com/077kfDjoAL Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) September 13, 2018 Abuse has scarred too many lives across Ireland. We all have a responsibility to keep children safe. I have no doubt that the three women at the heart of this report have been through an ordeal. I want to commend their bravery, in particular the bravery of Mairia Cahill for waiving her anonymity. Dr Maguire said four officers should be disciplined over shortcomings in the police response. Ms Cahills allegations shone a light on how the IRA dealt with alleged sex abusers during a time when co-operation with the police in republican communities was extremely limited. The Ombudsman found no evidence that anyone had been protected from prosecution or that the PSNI investigation became subject to adverse political interference. Three of the officers recommended for action have been disciplined. The fourth has retired. PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton said the three women were failed by the police. I apologise unequivocally for the hurt and distress caused to them and for the failures in the police investigation, he said. The Quebec Jockey Club will see its new series, the Quebec Plus Series, get underway this Sunday (Sept. 16) at Hippodrome 3R with two divisions for two-year-old pacers, one for colts and one for fillies. The series is for two, three, four and five-year-old horses that were eligible for the Quebec Series this summer, but did not make more than $7,500 this season as of September 10. There will be two preliminary rounds for $4,000 and then a $10,000 final on October 7. Fillies will race against colts. Due to lack of entries there will no series for the two-year-old trotters. The series gets started in the sixth race first division and is headed by trainer Maxime Velayes Dernier Essai, which translates to English as Last Test. This son of Mach Three starts from post four for driver Pierre Luc Roy. He has been dropping seconds since his first qualifier, Maxime Velaye explained. I think the reason he has yet to win a race is because he was beat by better horses. In the $55,000 Future Stars Final last week, Dernier Essai finished fifth and was race timed in 1:57.3, his fastest clocking yet. It is a great idea to have this Quebec Plus Series, Velaye said. To give these young horses, and I talking for myself as my horse is very, very green, and this series will help him a lot. I think he is the one to beat (and is still very green) but he is learning from every start he made so far. And where did this name, Dernier Essai, come from? His name came from the movie The Longest Yard with Adam Sandler, Velaye explained. In French the movie title was 'Dernier Essai' and his owner, Guy Corbeil of Mirabel, just loved that movie. Other horses to watch in the first division include Angelo Benjo (post five) with driver Jonathan Lachance and Moneymakehersmile (post two) for driver Stephane Brosseau. The second division is the eighth race and the morning line favourite is the filly Behavenmyself, who starts from post two for owners Jean-Roch Marois and the GLD Stables. This daughter of Badlands Hanover has never raced at 3R, and her career so far in Ontario has been competing in the OSS Grassroots for trainer Gerald Demers. While she has no wins in seven starts she has been race-timed faster than 2:00, the quickest in 1:55.3. She will be driven by Pascal Berube. Likely contenders in the race include Esprit Dequipe (post one) for driver Pierre Luc Roy, Lovelouguys (post seven) with driver Jocelyn Gendron and D Gs Fairystars (post nine) for driver Jonathan Lachance. The Open Handicap Trot in the seventh race will be perhaps one of the best races of the day. Capteur De Reve (post eight) is the favourite because he won this class his last two starts for trainer Maxime Velaye and shows that he can win from on or off the pace. The competition will be fierce with Rocky Boy (post seven) back in gear, Broadway Maija (post six) was second last week and the return of Fortunes Friend (post four) who returns from Rideau Carleton off a 1:59 victory. Also, of note, Precieuse CC, fresh off her triumph in the $65,000 Breeders Cup last week, faces the best trotters for driver/trainer Claude Beausoleil. Precieuse CC was given the rail as she is the only three-year-old in the field. She is going for her third straight win. Post time Sunday is 12:50 pm. For a free race program, visit quebecjockeyclub.com. To view the entries for Sunday's card, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R. (With files from the Quebec Jockey Club) More than 73,000 people have signed a petition against the deportation of a former UBS trader who was jailed for fraud in 2012. Kweku Adoboli was found guilty of two counts of fraud that resulted in losses of 1.4 billion and was released after serving half of his seven-year sentence. Since then he has been involved in teaching at several universities and working with the Forward Institute which aims to promote responsible leadership. The 38-year-old left Ghana at the age of four and has lived in the UK since he was 12. More than 73,000 people have signed a petition against his removal and 114 MPs and MSPs wrote a letter to Home Secretary Sajid Javid urging him to intervene in the case. A group of supporters and friends gathered outside Parliament on Thursday. Kweku Adobolis partner Alice Gray on College Green (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Mr Adobolis partner Alice Gray said she has visited him every day since his detention and that he is in good spirits. Despite being told that hes not allowed to be here which is not true, he is from here, he is a product of this system too Im proud of him that he still goes on fighting, she added. He deserves to be here, hes doing incredibly important work. Mr Adoboli was detained during a fortnightly check-in at Livingston Police Station, West Lothian, on September 3 and taken to Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre in South Lanarkshire. He is being moved to Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre at West Drayton on Thursday evening and faces being put on a deportation charter flight to Ghana on September 18. His lawyer Jackie McKenzie said the deportation policy is hostile and it is clearly linked with Windrush. We need to look a the case in the contest of what has happened with Windrush, she added. Kweku Adoboli worked for banking giant UBS (PA) I think there is racism in this deportation policy nearly everyone who is deported is not white. Generally I do think its racism underpinning the deportation policy. She described Mr Adoboli as a remarkable person and added: Ive not seen a case like it. He is de facto British all his main relationships and friendships are in the UK. Kweku doesnt even speak his native languages in the way he would be required to to work in Ghana. The Home Office said it does not comment on individual cases. A spokesman added: All foreign nationals who are given a custodial sentence will be considered for removal. Foreign nationals who abuse our hospitality by committing crimes in the UK should be in no doubt of our determination to deport them. British holidaymakers have described scenes like Dunkirk after tons of rock fell from a cliff face onto a packed tourist beach on the Greek island of Zante. Lynette Bridges, 58, from Horndon-on-the Hill in Essex, said her tour boat had just pulled up to the popular Shipwreck Beach when an enormous sheet of stone crashed into the sea, capsizing boats and flooding the crowded beach. We started to hear this almighty cracking sound and the first lot came down quickly followed by the second lot, she said. The noise and the sound and the amount of rock that came down was unbelievable, she added. It was like Dunkirk, all these people coming to the edge of the water, all these boats of people coming to get them and all this panic. Video footage of the moment showed the rock split and drop onto the shore, sending up a cloud of dust and speeding waves inland over the assorted tourists. Tourists on the Greek island of Zante as the rocks begin to fall (Josh OConnell/Facebook/PA) Sharon Robinson Palmer, also 58 and from Essex, said there were people snorkelling and sunbathing near the limestone cliffs when the landslide struck. Rescue services with sniffer dogs are searching the beach for possible victims. Greek authorities said one foreign woman had been injured and taken to hospital. Josh OConnell, from Kilkenny in Ireland, estimated there were more than a dozen tourist boats in the bay, and between four and five hundred people in the area. The 21-year-old, who works for a tour company on the island, said: The rock that fell, oh gosh, it would be like a four storey building falling onto the beach. The weight of the rock sent a small tsunami onto the crowded sands, he said, as families scrambled to get to safety. A capsized boat near the rockfall (Sharon Robinson Palmer/PA) He continued: I thought more was coming and with the size of the waves coming towards me I just started running. The water hit my feet with such force that it knocked me onto my back and covered over half of the beach. He described the aftermath as chaos, with families and children running to get to safety on the boats. The coastguard later said everyone who had visited the beach on tourist boats had been accounted for. A man who was gunned down in front of children was fighting addiction at the time of his murder, his sister has said. Gary More suffered significant injuries after a number of shots were fired at him in Gartness Drive, Airdrie, at about 8.10pm on Thursday September 6. Police and ambulance crews rushed to the busy residential area in North Lanarkshire but the 32-year-old died at the scene. Mr Mores sister Lynsey during a press conference appeal (Andrew Milligan/PA) His sister Lynsey More said: Its hard to find the words to describe the devastation we have experienced as a family losing Gary he was a son, brother, father and uncle. Life for all of us will never be the same again without Gary in it. He was my wee brother and as his big sister, I always felt it was my job to look after him. Addiction touches so many families and ours was no different. Gary was dealing with his own issues but he was trying to help other people at the same time. He used fitness as a way to help him through some difficult times and he encouraged and helped other people to do the same. She added: Gary had made a lot of progress recently and I was proud of the way he had been focusing on his training and building up his fitness classes at his gym. I was at one of his yoga classes on Tuesday night never knowing that the next time I seen him he would be dying in my arms. I pray that no other family has to go through this experience but unfortunately things like this seem to be happening more and more, and we all sit thinking it will never happen to us. Please dont let another family suffer the way are have if you know anything, tell the police. Detective Superintendent Allan Burton previously described the public response as `very poor (Andrew Milligan/PA) The suspect is believed to have got into a white Skoda Fabia which sped off with a number of people inside. The same model and colour of car was later found burnt-out near Craigmaddie Road in Balmore, Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, and is being examined by forensic teams. Police Scotland said enquiries have established the car was stolen on August 2 from the Pollokshields area of Glasgow. Its original registration was SH13 UMG but it may have had other plates fitted. Detectives are appealing for any information on the whereabouts of the car between August 2 and September 6. The response from the public was previously described as very poor, despite there being children and other people present at the time of the shooting. Drivers are also being asked for any sightings between 7pm and 11pm on Thursday. A control room supervisor who fielded 999 calls from Grenfell Tower felt very, very uncomfortable about stay-put advice one hour into the fire, an inquiry has heard. Residents inside the burning block were instructed to remain in their flats until 2.47am on June 14 last year, nearly two hours after emergency services were first called. Alexandra Norman, a temporary operations manager at the London Fire Brigade (LFB), lost confidence in the strategy by 2am, the inquiry into the blaze was told on Thursday. But a lack of communication from crews battling the inferno meant it was unclear whether it would be safe to tell residents to escape, she claimed. Stay-put advice is only considered desirable if a flat is not directly affected by smoke or fire. Ms Norman had spoken to callers who reported both. The fire quickly engulfed the 24-storey tower in June last year (PA) The LFB has faced fierce criticism for not ordering an evacuation of the 24-storey block until 2.47am. Ms Norman told a hearing at Holborn Bars: I had absolutely no confirmation of the conditions inside that building, we could be sending them into more toxic and worse conditions than their flats were at that point. Not knowing what you would be sending them out to felt more of a risk to me. The operations manager was the most senior figure in the control room in Stratford, east London, when the fire broke out at 12.54am. She spoke directly with several eventual victims of the disaster, including 56-year-old Denis Murphy. A transcript of her call with the trapped father showed her reluctance to accept flames had already reached his 14th floor flat from the original flat on the fourth floor. Their exchange underscored an apparent lack of awareness among LFB control room staff about how rapidly and catastrophically the block was being incinerated. Radio silence from those tackling the fire directly had been further compounded by the absence of live footage from helicopter cameras in the temporary Stratford control room, the inquiry heard. By 2am, Ms Norman was questioning the wisdom of stay-put advice, as she knew flats were usually designed to withstand fires for an hour. She told the inquiry: Coming up to that hour mark we were still getting lots of calls from people that were trapped and I was becoming very, very uncomfortable with it much more so than earlier on. That is the time that compartments are safe, you are safe to stay in your flat for up to an hour and we were approaching that hour. Asked by Richard Millett QC, the inquirys top lawyer, whether she took any action at that point, she said: Not at that point, no we didnt know what the situation was in the building. Pressed on when she first felt the fire was out of control, Ms Norman said: Probably around that time, about 2am-ish, it had been going on for a long time, over an hour, but we still had nothing back from the fireground and we had no details about what was going on. The control room received more calls requiring fire survival guidance (FSG) that night than in all of the previous decade across the capital. Due to the overwhelming demand, senior managers had no time to contact command unit vehicles at the west London block to ask for an update, Ms Norman said. Access to the helicopter footage would have meant there was a lot more awareness about what was happening, but the team would have still felt that it was safer to keep people in their flats because we couldnt see the interior, she added. It also emerged during Thursdays hearing that residents who had been told to stay put by 999 operators were not called back when the advice was ditched. LFB has a policy not to contact previous callers, meaning those instructed to await rescue inside would not realise evacuation was now recommended unless they happened to ring 999 again. Ms Norman said it would have been impossible and time-consuming to get in touch with everyone who had been told to stay put. Premier League champions Manchester City matched a record-breaking season on the pitch with unprecedented revenues off it, according to the clubs annual report released on Thursday. City reported record revenues of 500.5million during the 2017/18 campaign, with a profit of 10.4million making it a fourth successive year in the black. That coincided with a season in which Pep Guardiolas side broke a string of records and became the first Premier League side to amass 100 points, also recording the most wins, the most goals and the best goal difference in Premier League history. A successful season off the pitch and an incredible season on the pitch! ANNUAL REPORT: https://t.co/GCVzL16Hcm #mancity pic.twitter.com/jbYPmPLlHi Manchester City (@ManCity) September 13, 2018 City said commercial and broadcast revenues had increased seven and four percent respectively on the previous season. The half-billion pound revenues mark an increase of 44 per cent over the past five years. The financial statements attached to the report noted that the period covered ended before this summers transfer window. Riyad Mahrez was a big money arrival (Martin Rickett/PA) The report said the club had a net spend of approximately 42million over the summer following the signings of Riyad Mahrez, Daniel Arzani and Claudio Gomes, and the sales of Angus Gunn, Joe Hart, Bersant Celina, Rodney Kongolo and Jason Denayer. Additionally, the report said City could be liable for up to 158.9million in additional transfer fees, signing on fees and bonuses under existing contracts depending on future conditions being met. City recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of Sheikh Mansours takeover of the club in 2008, since when they have been transformed on and off the pitch, and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak traced recent successes back to that date in the report. Sheikh Mansours takeover of Manchester City was in 2008 (Martin Rickett/PA) He wrote: Most of the developments visible today are the result of a carefully crafted strategy one in which organic evolution has also been allowed to thrive and I have come to be as proud of many of those evolutionary elements of the plan as I am of those which were meticulously planned in 2008. In his own statement, the clubs chief executive officer Ferran Soriano pointed to the recently-released documentary Amazon series All or Nothing as a major part of the clubs strategy. Our fourth consecutive year of profit reported at 10.4 million for the financial year together with our breaking of the 500 million barrier with record revenues of 500.5 million are pleasing returns for our off-field efforts and the wage:revenue ratio of 52% is further evidence of the underlying strength of the organisation, he wrote. Ferran Soriano pointed to the Amazon series `All or Nothing as a major part of the clubs strategy (Owen Humphreys/PA) Commercial revenue grew with the closing of a number of new and innovative partnerships, perhaps the most notable of which was the strategic relationship with Amazon resulting in the production of Amazon Primes series All or Nothing detailing the remarkable season that 2017-18 turned out to be. The series aired in August and represented a completely innovative way to offer unprecedented access to the club on a globally accessible platform. Al Mubarak promised the club would continue to develop as they look towards their 125th anniversary next year. Our journey is not complete and we have more targets to fulfil, he wrote. There should be no doubt that we are looking forward to the challenges of the new season and those beyond it with equal commitment and determination to the 10 seasons that came before. Television and media productions made in the United Kingdom will still be classed as European after Brexit. The UK will still have to ensure that public broadcasting from the Republic of Ireland can reach a Northern Irish audience in any scenario. In the event of a deal being reached or a no-deal exit from the political bloc, broadcasters in the European Union can continue to air as many British shows as they wish. The EU currently demands that 50% of television output must promote `European Works, being produced in member states (Philip Toscano/PA) The EU currently demands that 50% of television output must promote European Works, being produced in member states. Today weve published the next batch of Technical Notices informing citizens and businesses on how to prepare for the unlikely event of a no deal #Brexit https://t.co/LMlF9XoQ9q pic.twitter.com/8UzxjUfh0J Department for Exiting the EU (@DExEUgov) September 13, 2018 An additional directive suggested a 30% quota on digital services like Netflix. Even in the event of a no-deal scenario, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has said British TV would still count as European and could be watched at will in the EU without the impact of quotas. Ofcom licences for broadcasters, as they comply with EU legislation, would still apply in any Brexit scenario and licensed broadcasters would be safe. However, the UK would be classed as a third party, and member states could take whatever action they wished within the EU to regulate British broadcasts. They will be obliged to permit broadcasting, under the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, of channels TG4, RTE1 and RTE2 into Northern Ireland. Broadcasters which do not air in EU countries after Brexit will not have to take any action, but other licensing arrangements will depend on the treaties of other states. British drivers might need new driving licences in order to hit the road on the other side of the Channel in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the Government has warned. Holidaymakers, lorry drivers and other business travellers may need International Driving Permits (IDP) if the EU does not agree to recognise UK licences, guidance released on Thursday says. They warn British drivers may be turned away at borders or face enforcement action if they have not obtained the correct documents before arrival. The warning was contained in a tranche of 28 technical papers released by Government departments on Thursday advising businesses and consumers on potential impacts of a no-deal Brexit. Today weve published the next batch of Technical Notices informing citizens and businesses on how to prepare for the unlikely event of a no deal #Brexit https://t.co/LMlF9XoQ9q pic.twitter.com/8UzxjUfh0J Department for Exiting the EU (@DExEUgov) September 13, 2018 Among the other advice was: Free mobile phone data roaming in the EU could no longer be guaranteed although Vodafone, Three, EE and O2, which cover more than 85% of mobile subscribers, have said they have no current plans to change their approach and bring in new charges. Transfers of personal data from remaining EU countries to UK companies and organisations could be restricted. UK firms working on the EUs 10 billion euro Galileo satellite navigation system could be cut out of existing contracts as well as barred from seeking new ones. Holders of legal firearms face additional bureaucracy if they want to take them to EU countries, because the European Firearms Pass would no longer be available to UK citizens. The Common Travel Area which has allowed British and Irish citizens to live, work and receive welfare benefits in one anothers countries since the 1920s, will remain in place The UK Government will guarantee funding for all projects receiving grants from the EUs Regional Development Fund. The release came three weeks after an initial set of 24 papers was released by the Government, with reportedly more than 80 earmarked for publication before the end of September. Businesses may not be able to complete existing contracts on the Galileo sat-nav project if there is a no-deal Brexit, the papers reveal (Pierre Carril/ESA/PA) The CBI said the notices also showed the extent of disruption consumers can expect if ideology wins over evidence. Director general Carolyn Fairbairn said: Efforts on all sides should be geared towards securing the withdrawal agreement to protect the transition period. This will provide temporary but essential relief for businesses of all sizes and sectors. Then attention can turn to the vital task of finalising our future economic relationship with the EU. Dr Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, added that key questions remained unanswered. Firms still need greater precision from the Government in order to be able to plan ahead with confidence, he said. In the unwelcome event of a no-deal, businesses need clear and comprehensive communication about how they will be affected, and the Government should be taking every possible step to minimise the disruption, bureaucracy and costs facing firms in the future. A fundraiser who pocketed cash collected for the young son of murdered soldier Lee Rigby has been found guilty of two counts of fraud. Jurors unanimously convicted Gary Gardner who had spent profits on producing a music single he knew would be a flop. Leicester Crown Court heard how the fraudster spent up to 5,000 donated by the public for Jack Rigby on producing a charity music single which only raised 200. Lee Rigby (Handout/PA) Gardner, 56, denied fraud, claiming his charity single was a flop because of atrocious weather at the launch event in Londons Trafalgar Square in February 2014. But the jury panel found him guilty after accepting that he used trust funds to prop up his overdrawn bank account a verdict which provoked no emotion from the defendant. Lee Rigbys widow Rebecca was in court to hear the two guilty verdicts on Thursday. Opening the crowns 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 in the Leicestershire villages of Medbourne and Market Harborough, and Stroud, Gloucestershire fundraisers which were attended by thousands of people, including Fusilier Rigbys widow and his son Jack. Rebecca Rigby and and son Jack (MoD/PA) In May 2013, Private Lee Rigby of the Royal Fusiliers was murdered on the streets of London and shortly after the soldiers death, Gardner said he wanted to raise money for Jack Rigby and local Medbourne village causes. 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 Gardners beneficiary, the trust set up for Fusilier Rigbys 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. Mr Kennell added: It was the prosecutions 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. Recorder Helen Malcolm QC granted Gardner conditional bail until sentencing at the same court on Friday. A flagship cross-border cancer hospital could be impacted by post-Brexit restrictions on moving radioactive isotopes, a health forum has heard. Services at the North West Cancer Centre at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry, which treats patients from northernly counties in the Irish Republic, might also be hit if a hard Brexit results in restrictions on the mobility of staff and patients across the border, the director of the Centre for Cross Border Studies said. Ruth Taillon, who heads up the think tank, was addressing an event at Stormont focused on the potential challenges Brexit poses to the health sector. Services at the North West Cancer Centre at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry might be hit by a hard Brexit, it has been claimed (Paul Faith/PA) During her address, she highlighted a possible consequence of the UK leaving the European atomic energy community, Euratom. Todays panel: Dr Mark Flear, Ruth Taillon, Brian OHagan & Patricia McKeown discussing the impacts of Brexit on health - hosted by Sinn Fein Health spokesperson @PatSheehanMLA #DiagnosingBrexit pic.twitter.com/8Ax5cf3ul8 Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) September 13, 2018 Altnagelvin has been one of the flagship cross-border facilities for radiotherapy, she said. Now that is not funded through Europe its an agreement between the two governments so the radiology service will be there (post Brexit). Where things might get a bit dicey is if there are problems transposing radioactive isotopes across borders once we lose the Euratom agreements. There could also be issues around the mobility of other medical staff or patients across the border and we really cant predict what those will be. Outlining the extent of healthcare co-operation on the island of Ireland, and across the EU, Ms Taillon said a divergence of regulations on pharmaceuticals and medical devices could have a significant impact in Northern Ireland. Ms Taillon was one of a number of speakers at the Diagnosing Brexit event in the Long Gallery of Parliament Buildings. The gathering was co-sponsored by Sinn Fein. Party assembly member Pat Sheehan said: Brexit presents a serious threat to the provision of health and social care in the north of Ireland and to cross-border and All-Ireland health care. A hard border would represent particular problems for cross-border and all-Ireland health services, particularly in relation to freedom of movement of people including health workers. As Brexit draws ever closer we all have a responsibility to engage in public discussion in considering its implications for our health and social care services. Nicola Sturgeon has backed a campaign to stop the deportation of two teenage asylum seekers, describing the brothers as a credit to Scotland. Somer, 15, and Areeb Umeed Bakhsh, 13, face being returned from Glasgow to Pakistan, where they fear for their safety. They fled the country along with their parents in 2012 after their father was said to have received death threats from Islamic extremists due to his Christian faith. The boys family fear they will be subjected to death threats owing to their Christian faith (Church of Scotland/PA) Fantastic that Scotlands First Minister @NicolaSturgeon recognises that Somer and Areeb are a credit to Scotland and should not be deported. @BobDorisSNP raised the case at #FMQs today https://t.co/iUBspcPLMs Church of Scotland (@churchscotland) September 13, 2018 A petition calling on the Home Office not to deport the boys started by Rev Linda Pollock of Possilpark Parish Church has been signed by more than 85,000 people to date. Speaking at Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government would look at what could be done to ensure the boys can remain. Maryhill and Springburn MSP Bob Doris raised the case during First Ministers Questions. The First Minister said: I am very heartened to hear how the local community has rallied round the Bakhsh family and about the response to the Rev Pollocks petition. I would also like to congratulate Somer and Areeb on what they have achieved in very, very difficult circumstances. They are an absolute credit to their parents, their school, their community and, indeed, they are a credit to Scotland. The Scottish Government will continue to look at what appropriate representations we can make. The petition was handed over to the UK Governments Immigration Enforcement Reporting Centre in Glasgow two weeks ago. More than 85k people have urged the UK Government to allow teenage brothers, Somer and Areeb, to stay in #Glasgow. Have you signed? #PMQs https://t.co/fwKdeWxpqz #TheresaMay Church of Scotland (@churchscotland) September 12, 2018 The family moved to Scotland from Faisalabad after two men friends of Mr Bakhsh were gunned down outside a court while in police custody. They were accused of writing a pamphlet critical of the Prophet Muhammad that flouted Pakistans controversial blasphemy law. It is understood the UK Government has rejected the familys plea for asylum largely because officials do not believe they would be at risk in Pakistan. After the petition was handed over, a Home Office spokesman said the UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need our protection and every case is assessed on its individual merits. Right Rev Susan Brown, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said: The story of this family has touched the hearts of tens of thousands of people who want those in authority to know how upset they are that they are being treated so dispassionately. If more than 85,000 people are willing to welcome them, why on earth cant the authorities? Donald Trump has rejected the official conclusion that nearly 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico from last years Hurricane Maria. The US president argued without evidence that the number was wrong and called it a plot by Democrats to make him look as bad as possible. As Hurricane Florence approached the Carolinas, the president picked a fresh fight over the administrations response to the Category 4 storm that smashed into the US territory last September. President Donald Trump was criticised over his response to Hurricane Maria (Susan Walsh/AP) Mr Trump visited the island in early October to assess the situation amid widespread criticism over the recovery efforts. He said: 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 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. Puerto Ricos governor last month raised Marias official death toll from 64 to 2,975 after an independent study found that the number of people who succumbed in the sweltering aftermath had been severely under-counted. Previous reports from the Puerto Rican government said the number was closer to 1,400. Mr Trumps comments drew swift criticism from elected officials and residents of the island, where blackouts remain common, 60,000 homes still have makeshift roofs and 13% of municipalities lack stable phone or internet service. Governor Ricardo Rossello said in a Facebook post in Spanish, the victims of Puerto Rico, and the people of Puerto Rico in general, do not deserve to be questioned about their pain. Mr Rossello said he left the analysis of the deaths in the hands of experts and accepted their estimate as the official death toll. I trust that this process was carried out properly, he said. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, a Democrat who has sparred with Mr Trump, tweeted that Trump is so vain he thinks this is about him. NO IT IS NOT. Simply put: delusional, paranoid, and unhinged from any sense of reality. Trump is so vain he thinks this is about him. NO IT IS NOT. pic.twitter.com/K96H5O3NKM Carmen Yulin Cruz (@CarmenYulinCruz) September 13, 2018 Damn it: this is NOT about politics this was always about SAVING LIVES. pic.twitter.com/SjwywKN3Jh Carmen Yulin Cruz (@CarmenYulinCruz) September 13, 2018 Luis Gutierrez, whose parents were Puerto Rican immigrants, spoke on the House floor in front of a printout of the Puerto Rican flag, saying Mr Trump is delusional and incapable of empathy or basic human decency. Mr Trump began to focus on Hurricane Florence earlier this week, calling for an Oval Office briefing to warn about the threat. But as the hurricane began to dominate news coverage, the administrations efforts after Hurricane Maria came under new scrutiny and began to infuriate Mr Trump, according to two Republican advisers. When a reporter asked Mr Trump about Maria in the Oval Office, he swiftly unleashed a defence of his response to the hurricane. Mr Trump told confidants that the media was underplaying the challenging circumstances in Puerto Rico and trying to exploit the storm to attack him. He told one adviser that he felt that the media would stop at nothing to undermine him and blamed local authorities for their inept response. The estimate of nearly 3,000 dead in the six months after Maria devastated Puerto Rico and knocked out the entire electricity grid was made by researchers with the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. The study said the original estimates were so low because doctors on the island had not been trained to properly classify deaths after a natural disaster. Watford boss Javier Gracia has played down suggestions Saturdays opponents Manchester United are in crisis. With four wins from four games, the Hornets are buzzing in third place behind Liverpool and Chelsea. United, meanwhile, have lost two of theirs and boss Jose Mourinho is embattled ahead of the Premier League clash at Vicarage Road. Watford boss Javi Gracia has downplayed suggestions of Manchester United being in trouble (Dave Howarth/PA Images) Gracia said: I dont understand that word crisis. I dont know if they are in crisis. I only know they have a very good squad and they can choose different players, most of them internationals. Im sure they play with 11 very good players and it will be very hard for us. But at this moment, playing at home, we feel we have the confidence to compete and to try to get points. The results help us to feel we can do it, but I know its only the feeling, because you have to do many things to win. Like Richard Branson, the Virgin entrepreneur who provoked the ire of his train companys passengers by writing of his disdain for being late on social media, Gracia believes timekeeping is important. Watford captain Troy Deeney revealed this week that players are fined 100 per minute for being late for training. The players log in at the security gate at the clubs London Colney training ground. And even the traffic on the nearby M25 will not be an excuse for lateness. Gracia said: All groups need discipline. I dont like to have many rules, because, for me, its important the players will be responsible. Its better if you dont have many rules. I prefer not to take away money. But I think we need some rules. They respect. Its a good way to achieve our objectives. Asked what is done with the money generated from fines, Gracia added: They players decide what they want to do (with the money). They have different options. One of them is charity. Most of them respect the rules. They dont need me to remind them what they have to do. Midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure admitted he has been fined for lateness. Im not always on time. I try, but if I come late I have to pay like everyone, Doucoure said. Doucoure was linked with a move to United last season, but signed a new contract until 2023 in the summer. He added: I was always focused on Watford. Im very happy to have my new deal. I dont think all the speculation was true. Tom Cleverly (Achilles) and Gerard Deulofeu (groin) are the only injury absentees for Watford. US emergency officials have warned time is running out for people to escape from Hurricane Florence as outer bands of wind and rain began lashing North Carolina. Florences winds have dropped from a peak of 140mph to 105mph, reducing the hurricane from a Category 4 to a Category 2. But forecasters warned that the widening storm and the likelihood of it lingering around the coast for days would bring seawater surging on to land and torrential downpours. It truly is really about the whole size of this storm, National Hurricane Centre director Ken Graham said. The larger and the slower the storm is, the greater the threat and the impact and we have that. Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Brock Long said storm surge warnings have not changed despite the weakening intensity of the winds. He urged people in the coastal Carolinas and living near inland rivers to evacuate. Please heed the warnings, Mr Brock said: Your time is running out. Hurricane Florence churns over the Atlantic as seen from the International Space Station (Alexander Gerst/ESA/NASA via AP) As of 11am local time, Florence was centred about 145 miles south east of Wilmington and its forward movement slowed to 10mph. Hurricane-force winds extended 80 miles from its centre, and tropical storm force winds up to 195 miles. Forecasters said Florences eye could come ashore early on Friday around the North Carolina-South Carolina border. Then it is likely to hover along the coast on Saturday, pushing up to 13ft of storm surge. Rain bands from #Florence are already well inland. This is just the beginning of a very long-duration, potentially-catastrophic flooding event well-inland. Keep up with the latest forecast at https://t.co/VyWINDk3xP, and obey orders from emergency management as this unfolds. pic.twitter.com/G8uUGrRyfK National Weather Service (@NWS) September 13, 2018 The forecast suggests as much as 40in of rain over seven days along the coast, with the deluge continuing even as the centre of the storm pushes its way over the Appalachian Mountains. The result could be what the Houston area saw during Hurricane Harvey just over a year ago catastrophic inland flooding that could swamp homes, businesses, fields and industrial sites. The result could be catastrophic inland flooding that could swamp homes, businesses, fields and industrial sites. Damaging hurricane-force winds are likely along portions of the coasts of South Carolina and North Carolina as soon as this evening, and a Hurricane Warning is in effect. Strong winds could also spread inland into portions of the Carolinas from #Florence. pic.twitter.com/nPHuWc3VfD National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 13, 2018 The police chief of a barrier island in Florences approach 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. (PA Graphics) North Carolina governor Roy Cooper urged residents to remain alert despite changing forecasts. Dont relax, dont get complacent. Stay on guard. This is a powerful storm that can kill. Today the threat becomes a reality, he said. Based on the latest 11 a.m. forecast for the southward track of Hurricane Florence after making landfall and acting on a recommendation from @GeorgiaEMA officials, I have issued an emergency declaration for all 159 counties in Georgia. Read more here: https://t.co/FmO4iELdYq Former Gov. Nathan Deal (@GovernorDeal) September 12, 2018 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, the National Weather Service said. Weather Underground meteorology director Jeff Masters said Florence eventually could strike as a Category 1 with winds less than 100mph, but that is still enough to cause at least $1 billion in damage. Water kills more people in hurricanes than wind does. It is unclear exactly how many people fled, but more than 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were warned to clear out. People have been urged to leave their homes as the hurricane approaches (Mic Smith/AP) Airlines cancelled nearly 1,000 flights and counting. Home Depot and Lowes activated emergency response centres to get generators, rubbish bags and bottled water to stores before and after the storm. The two hardware chains said they sent in a total of around 1,100 trucks. Duke Energy 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. 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 has since been downgraded, retired nurse Frederick Fisher grumbled in the lobby of a hotel in Wilmington several miles inland. Against my better judgment, due to emotionalism, I evacuated, he said. 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. Great Britains Simon Yates maintained his La Vuelta lead of 25 seconds as Jelle Wallays masterminded a remarkable breakaway to win Thursdays 18th stage. Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) safely marked his nearest challenger Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), and now only two stages remain before Sundays processional finish in Madrid. Enric Mas (Quick-Step Floors) remains in third place, one minute and 22 seconds behind Yates. Great Britains Simon Yates retained his La Vuelta lead with only two main stages remaining (David Davies/PA) #LaVuelta18: @SimonYatess finishes safely in the bunch to retain his lead as we head towards Andorra tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/MKRNNoKMk3 Team BikeExchange (@GreenEDGEteam) September 13, 2018 The 186.1 kilometres between Ejea de los Caballeros and Lleida produced a dramatic stage as Wallays (Lotto Soudal), Sven Erik Bystrom (UAE Team Emirates) and Jetse Bol (Burgos-BH) broke away inside the opening three kilometres. It had been expected that the flat stage would suit the sprint specialists, but Wallays and Bystrom worked well together after dropping Bol late on. The pair just had enough to hold off the fast-finishing Peter Sagan over the final 500 metres, with Belgiums Wallays taking the stage win from Bystrom. Un abrazo en el momento perfecto | Hug in the perfect moment Congratulations @jellewallays #LaVuelta18 pic.twitter.com/JB17zS0SLp La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2018 Everybody was expecting a massive sprint, Wallays told Eurosport. But I had something in my mind to do something in this stage, and I knew if I was good I could surprise many riders. Ive worked very hard for this and for me it is fantastic. Yates will face a big test on Fridays stage 19, which ends with the 17km climb of Rabassa. Britain has accused Russia of lies and blatant fabrications after the prime suspects in the Salisbury nerve agent attack claimed they visited the UK as tourists. Men who said their names were Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov told Russian state-funded news channel RT they travelled to the wonderful city in Wiltshire after recommendations from friends. The pair claimed they have been left fearing for their lives after Britain pointed to their involvement and said they were officers in Russian military intelligence service the GRU. Russian nationals Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov at Salisbury train station (Metropolitan Police/PA) Downing Street called the content of the interview deeply offensive to the victims and loved ones of this horrific attack. In a translation from Russian, the pair told RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan they worked in the fitness industry. The interviewer later told BBC Newsnight the pair had insisted on a series of conditions before agreeing to the on-camera interview, including limiting the scope of the questions so as not to allow other media organisations to track them down. She also said the pair agreed to send her pictures they had taken during their time visiting Salisbury cathedral, but their phone no longer appeared to be in use. During the interview, RT quoted Petrov as saying they arrived in London on March 2 and attempted to visit Salisbury on March 3 but were thwarted by snow. They said they returned the following day when it was warmer to see the cathedral. He said: Of course, we went there to see Stonehenge, Old Sarum, but we couldnt 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). In the mens first interview since they were named publicly they denied carrying womens perfume, after police discovered a counterfeit bottle that contained a significant amount of Novichok. Boshirov acknowledged they may have been near Mr Skripals house but they did not know where it was. They also asked for an apology from the UK authorities, adding: We just want this to be over. UK authorities believe the pair smeared the highly toxic chemical Novichok on a door handle at the Wiltshire home of former GRU officer Sergei Skripal, leaving Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia critically ill. Tests on the east London hotel room where the suspects had stayed showed contamination of Novichok. Scotland Yard said it still believed the pair were using aliases after the men claimed Petrov and Boshirov were their real names. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: The lies and blatant fabrications in this interview given to a Russian-state sponsored TV station are an insult to the publics intelligence. More importantly, the are deeply offensive to the victims and loved ones of this horrific attack. Sadly, it is what we have come to expect. An illegal chemical weapon has been used on the streets of this country. We have seen four people left seriously ill in hospital and an innocent woman has died. Russia has responded with contempt. Q: Did you approach Skripal residence in #Salisbury? A: We dont even know its location; we could pass it without even knowing whose house it actually is#SkripalCase https://t.co/18EqeN4zGX pic.twitter.com/pxRGbTp1Zx RT (@RT_com) September 13, 2018 John Glen, the Conservative MP for Salisbury and South Wiltshire, also dismissed the statements from Petrov and Boshirov as not credible. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the men had been discounted as members of his security network. In an address to the Easter Economic Forum in Vladivostok, he said: Of course, we looked who these people are. We know who they are, we have found them already. There is nothing special and nothing criminal about it, Im telling you. Questioned on whether the pair were civilians, Mr Putin replied: Of course they are civilians. Boshirov said his life had been turned upside down, according to RT. He said: Were afraid of going out, we fear for ourselves, our lives and lives of our loved ones. Officers formally linked the attack on the Skripals to events in nearby Amesbury where Dawn Sturgess, 44, and her partner Charlie Rowley, 45, were exposed to the same nerve agent. Ms Sturgess died in hospital in July, just over a week after the pair fell ill. A police officer who visited the home of the Skripals shortly after the attack, Nick Bailey, was also left critically ill from exposure to the substance. A 2.4 million fund to help Northern Ireland prepare for the UKs withdrawal from the EU was not all spent for that purpose, it has emerged. Northern Ireland received 2.4 million in the 2017/18 financial year from a fund announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond last autumn to help government departments and the devolved administrations prepare for Brexit. However, Ulster Unionist Party MLA Mike Nesbitt says the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service David Sterling revealed to him the 2.4m was not spent on Brexit preparations. In an email to Mr Nesbitt, Mr Sterling says the money came too late in the financial year for the civil service to spend. This was received very late in the year and was factored into the overall level resources available and as such was not used specifically for the purposes of EU Exit preparations, Mr Sterling wrote. Email received by UUP MLA Mike Nesbitt from David Sterling, head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Mr Nesbitt described the revelation as bizarre, and pointed out the anxiety over Brexit being felt by some in the business, community and voluntary sectors. It seems bizarre that they would not have either had something in the pipeline or attempted to at least spend some of the money on EU Exit, Mr Nesbitt said. Given the anxiety out there at the moment amongst the business, community and voluntary sectors, could they not have hosted engagement sessions to try and allay fears? Perhaps they could have commissioned academic research to broaden knowledge of the expected impacts and options available? 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 affected most is at least on some level prepared for our exit in March 2019. David Sterling (Niall Carson/PA) However, a spokesman for the Executive Office said it is not accurate 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. Since the suspension of the powersharing government in Northern Ireland in January 2017, civil servants have been running departments. Mr Sterling is effectively leading the government in the absence of a first and deputy first minister. Email received by UUP MLA Mike Nesbitt from David Sterling, head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. He wrote in the email to Mr Nesbitt that 14.5m has been allocated to Northern Ireland for the same fund in the 2018-19 year, and that has been ring-fenced to support EU Exit preparations. According to the 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). A former medical student who beheaded his friend in a betting shop has been given a hospital order after being cleared of murder on the grounds of insanity. Hassan Mustafa used a knife to decapitate Khalid Yousef and then mutilated the victims face and one of his hands, Birmingham Crown Court was told. Mustafa, who was 35 at the time of the killing, attacked his former housemate at a branch of Paddy Power in Handsworth in January. Police at Paddy Power in Rookery Road, Handsworth (Matthew Cooper/PA) Jurors at a four-day trial were invited to return a special verdict of not guilty of murder by reason of insanity, if they believed Mustafa did not know what he was doing was wrong. The court was told Mustafa, who is suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, believed he was killing a supernatural being rather than a human being as part of a competition. Opening the case against Mustafa on Monday, prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC said the defendant and Mr Yousef were Sudanese nationals who sought asylum in the UK five years ago, initially living in Liverpool. Mr Rees told the court that 28-year-old Mr Yousefs wounds suggested the mutilation had been carried out with some skill possibly reflecting the training the defendant received studying for medical qualifications. The barrister also reassured jurors that if they found the defendant not guilty of murder by reason of insanity, Mustafa would not be released until he was no longer considered a danger. Commenting after the case, Detective Inspector Jim Colclough, of West Midlands Police, said: This was a horrific and unprovoked attack on a young man who had his whole life ahead of him. I would like to thank the staff at Paddy Power for their brave actions, I cant imagine how terrified they were. Our thoughts also remain with Khalids family at this difficult time. A hospital nurse broke down in tears as she told an inquest of the moment she handed a patient a cup of Flash floor cleaner mistaken for water. Hours after, Joan Blaber was frothing at the mouth and fighting for her breath before dying six days later, the hearing on Thursday was told. The 85-year-old, from Lewes, East Sussex, swallowed the detergent which was in a water jug put by her bedside while she was being treated in the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton last year. Flash was not even a necessary cleaning product for the hospital to stock and was merely used to make the building smell clean, it also emerged during the hearing. Described as a chatty, lovely lady, Mrs Blaber was admitted with a minor stroke on August 22 but her condition worsened after the incident on September 17 and she died on September 23. Brighton and Hove Coroners Court heard staff nurse Alba Duran describe her normal shift in the Baily ward, which began at 7.45pm, before something really strange happened after she gave Mrs Blaber her medication at around 10pm. The pensioner was given a mixture of medication and pain killers on an empty stomach because a sore mouth had put her off her meal, the inquest heard. The young Spanish nurse told how she poured pink summer fruits squash into a beaker from a bottle on Mrs Blabers table and then added what she thought was water from a green water jug. Although bedside lights were not on, she said there was enough light to see in the ward. She said: I gave her the beaker. She took her medication. Around 15 minutes later Mrs Blaber started coughing, vomited twice and was very sleepy. Growing tearful, Ms Duran said: (My colleague) went to give her some water from the jug. She noticed that the liquid in the jug was not water, it was something else. I went to see what happened. I took the jug with me to see myself what it was. I poured the liquid from the jug and I could see it was a yellow/green. I put some of it on my gloves and rubbed my hands and could notice there were bubbles on my gloves. It smelt of lemon and reminded me of something (that might be used for) cleaning. She began searching the ward for products it could be and discovered a five-litre container of Flash in an open cupboard behind a trolley just metres from the bedside. Ms Duran said: I grabbed it. I thought this might be the same because it was the same colour. The inquest is taking place at the Jurys Inn hotel in Brighton (Andrew Matthews/PA) According to hospital protocol, the Flash should have been locked inside a nearby storage room with other chemicals. On the day of the incident the store was left unlocked, the inquest has previously heard. A doctor was called and the National Poisons Information Service consulted. Ms Duran sat with Mrs Blaber through the night and she was stable. But at around 7am the next morning she began to deteriorate and was moved to the high dependency unit. Ms Duran added: I was very nervous after that happened. As she left the witness box Ms Duran burst into tears and Mrs Blabers relatives reached out to take her hand as she passed them. Healthcare assistant Linda Stephens said in a statement a staff member told her that Joan was frothing at the mouth that morning (the next day) and fighting for her breath. She described Mrs Blaber as a lovely lady who was very chatty and also told how of an unofficial practice on the ward to use an old, white jug while cleaning floors. Mrs Blabers clear water jug had been removed part-way through the afternoon and was replaced with a solid green jug when returned, meaning no-one could see the liquid inside, the inquest heard. The hospitals system of using different types of water jugs to identify the needs of patients was a complete red herring because it was abundantly clear that no-one (ward staff) had any idea about the system of the jugs, senior coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley said. Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trusts lawyer Clare Hennessey said the system clearly didnt work. Barbara Kavanagh, a hospital training manager, also told the inquest Flash was not a necessary product because microfibre mops and cloths were used which are marketed as being able to clean without needing chemicals. She said Flash was used to enhance the confidence (of people) in the place being clean because of the scent, adding: We dont need it to clean. The inquest, taking place at the Jurys Inn hotel near Brighton Station, continues on Friday. A woman who was allegedly subjected to sexual abuse by a republican has slammed an apology from Sinn Fein leader Mary-Lou McDonald as woeful. Mairia Cahill had demanded the apology from Ms McDonald in the wake of a damning police watchdog probe into how her case was handled. Ms Cahill has claimed Sinn Fein covered up her allegations against one of its members. Mairia Cahill has claimed Sinn Fein covered up her allegations against one of its members (Brian Lawless/PA) Ms McDonald unreservedly apologised to Ms Cahill, but Ms Cahill has criticised the Sinn Fein leaders statement, saying she did not go far enough. I think Mary-Lous statement was cowardly and woeful, and that is me being kind to Mary-Lou, Ms Cahill said. Mary Lou McDonald responds to Police Ombudsmans report https://t.co/nLroshlPc2 pic.twitter.com/077kfDjoAL Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) September 13, 2018 Mary-Lou McDonald has failed to admit that there was an IRA investigation into my abuse. She has failed to admit that Martin Morris was a party member and that Sinn Fein suspended him three years after the first senior Sinn Fein people became aware that I was being abused, and thats what she needs to do. On Friday Police Ombudsman Dr Michael Maguire delivered a scathing critique into police failings, and also 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. Ms Cahill, a grand-niece of prominent Belfast republican Joe Cahill, claimed she was sexually abused as a 16-year-old by alleged IRA member Martin Morris. Mr Morris, who denied all wrongdoing, was later acquitted of rape when the case against him collapsed. Ms Cahill had alleged the republican movements response to her claims was to subject her to an IRA interrogation. She also accused Sinn Fein of engaging in a cover-up and waging a campaign to question her integrity ever since she waived her right to anonymity. In response, Ms McDonald said Sinn Fein now had robust procedures in place for mandatory reporting of abuse allegations. I deeply regret that these procedures were not in place at the time of Mairia Cahills disclosure, she said. For this I unreservedly apologise. The attempted prosecutions of Mr Morris for alleged sex abuse and IRA membership and four others accused of IRA membership linked to Ms Cahills claims of a republican internal inquiry never got to trial. As well as Ms Cahill, there were two other alleged victims in the case. The prosecutions collapsed in 2014 when the women withdrew their evidence. Dr Maguire blamed the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and its predecessor the Royal Ulster Constabulary, for a litany of failings linked to the cases. Ms McDonald added: I welcome the publication of the Ombudsmans report and the fact that the PSNI have accepted and will implement the recommendations of that report. I have no doubt that the three women at the heart of this report have been through an ordeal. I want to commend their bravery, in particular the bravery of Mairia Cahill for waiving her anonymity. Dr Maguire said four officers should be disciplined over shortcomings in the police response. Ms Cahills allegations shone a light on how the IRA dealt with alleged sex abusers during a time when co-operation with the police in republican communities was extremely limited. The Ombudsman found no evidence that anyone had been protected from prosecution or that the PSNI investigation became subject to adverse political interference. Three of the officers recommended for action have been disciplined. The fourth has retired. PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton said the three women were failed by the police. I apologise unequivocally for the hurt and distress caused to them and for the failures in the police investigation, he said. Ms Cahill met with Mr Hamilton on Thursday. Speaking afterwards, she said she was satisfied that Mr Hamilton told the truth in relation to his organisation. I fully accept the Ombudsman Report and we discussed how the organisation, and the criminal justice system, today is very different as a result of Mairias courage and strength in speaking out. We discussed how the Ombudsman noted that the previous intelligence failures would not occur today, Mr Hamilton said after meeting Ms Cahill. We also discussed the improvements driven by reforms in the PPS and PSNI, with investigators and prosecutors working more closely together to better support victims. This has been enabled by the formation of PSNIs Public Protection Branch and the PPSs Serious Crime Unit. A man has been jailed for at least 17 years for the murder of a restaurant manager almost a quarter of a century ago. Jagtar Singh, 51, stabbed Ansar Shah to death outside a restaurant in Ayr, South Ayrshire, in the early hours of October 4 1993. The fight nearly 25 years ago was the culmination of a dispute between staff of two restaurants, prosecutors said. Mr Shah died at the scene after being knifed a number of times by the attacker. Jagtar Singh was jailed for at least 17 years for murder (Police Scotland/PA) Singh fled to England the following morning and later set up a new life in France before being arrested in Frankfurt, Germany, on a European Arrest Warrant last year and brought back to Scotland to face justice. He was jailed on Thursday after being convicted of murder following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Judge Lord Beckett handed Singh a mandatory life sentence and ordered him to spend at least 17 years behind bars before he can be considered for release. Passing sentence, he said Singh had arrived at the scene with a large knife, ready for violence. He said: You stabbed Mr Shah three times on the left side of his chest. You inflicted wounds which he could not have survived. Two of the wounds, which required the application of considerable force, extended into the heart You fled the scene and fled the country, managing to avoid justice for almost a quarter of a century. He continued: As a result of your vicious and gratuitous assault, Mr Shah lost his life at the age of 38 and his family, whom he was supporting, lost him forever. It is plain from the evidence in the trial that Mr Shah was a responsible man who was well liked and respected by his colleagues and those he employed. Mr Shahs two daughters and their mother who was married to him at the time of his death have written of the terrible loss they suffered and the appalling consequences for their family. I have read heart-breaking descriptions of the scene when his wife and two young children learned of his sudden death. One daughter was born two months after he died and so she never met her father. His son never got over the loss of his father. The judges comments were released by the Judicial Office for Scotland following the hearing. Detective Inspector Mark Henderson, the senior investigating officer, described Singh as a coward who did everything he could to try to escape the consequences of his actions. The police operation to snare him involved working with law enforcement officers across Europe. Mr Henderson added: We hope that after almost 25 years of anguish and suffering, the Shah family, who have always acted with dignity, are able to try to take some comfort from the fact that the man responsible is now behind bars and they have the answers they have been looking for, for all those years. Nicola Patrick, procurator fiscal for homicide and major crime, said it was a challenging investigation. She said: The work of these specialists ensured that even 25 years on and despite Jagtar Singh having fled abroad in an attempt to evade justice, the killer of Ansar Shah is now behind bars. Northern Irelands police chief George Hamilton has commended an alleged sex abuse victim and vowed to learn from mistakes made in her case. Mairia Cahill, a grand-niece of prominent Belfast republican Joe Cahill, claimed she was sexually abused as a 16-year-old by alleged IRA member Martin Morris. Mr Morris, who denied all wrongdoing, was later acquitted of rape when the case against him collapsed. George Hamilton personally apologised to Ms Cahill on Thursday (Brian Lawless/PA) On Friday Police Ombudsman Dr Michael Maguire delivered a scathing critique into police failings in the case, and also 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. Mr Hamilton personally apologised to Ms Cahill on Thursday, and paid tribute to her resilience. I was struck by Mairias courage and resilience. I was also struck by the fact that she shouldnt have had to display that much resilience, had Mairia and the other victims been better supported by the Police Service and by the wider criminal justice system, Mr Hamilton commented following a meeting with Ms Cahill. We have all failed them and for that I once more apologise. The responsibility for the failing of these cases rest with the Criminal Justice system and not with Mairia or any other victim. Mairia and I agreed that this was the first of many conversations between her and the Police Service, as we seek to learn from our mistakes. I am keen to meet Mairia again to ensure that we improve these critical services to benefit all victims. France has issued a stark warning trains and planes from the UK could be turned back following a no-deal Brexit unless there are proper preparations in place. As the Cabinet agreed to ramp up planning in case they are unable to secure an agreement with Brussels, French Europe minister Nathalie Loiseau said action was needed to prevent chaos following a no-deal Brexit. Downing Street sought to play down her remarks, saying preparations were in hand to deal with all possible scenarios after Britain leaves the EU on March 29 2019. French Europe minister Nathalie Loiseau said France could turn back Eurostar trains in case of a no-deal Brexit (Stefan Rousseau/PA) It is in everybodys interests for that not to happen, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said. A no deal scenario is possible and we must prepare for it, says France's Europe Minister @NathalieLoiseau - 'I don't like what I have just said, I want a good deal but I don't want a bad deal either' Watch #CHevents live https://t.co/jNsZu32NqL pic.twitter.com/SP2eh6FXOz Chatham House (@ChathamHouse) September 13, 2018 However, speaking at the Chatham House international affairs think tank in London, Ms Loiseau suggested without a deal, the UK could be forced to negotiate dozens of new bilateral agreements with individual member states a process which would take years. Asked whether, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it was a real possibility Eurostar trains from London could be rejected and planes leaving Britain turned back, she said: The consequences of a no-deal which you mentioned are correct. If we do nothing and if we reach no agreement, this is what would happen, among other examples. She added: This is the reason why we need to prepare for a no deal because we cannot wake up on March 30 and say to our fellow citizens and to our businesses we thought it would not happen so we are not ready. Ms Loiseau, who held talks with Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, also made clear that under EU rules, Britain could not sign any new agreements with individual member states until it has actually left the bloc. Great to see French Europe Minister @NathalieLoiseau this afternoon. We discussed progress in the Brexit negotiations, and our mutual determination to reach a strong deal for the UK and the EU. pic.twitter.com/5o938gGyam Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) September 13, 2018 Until the moment you became a third country there are no bilateral agreements which can be signed regarding the issues that are covered by the European laws, she said. What we are preparing and probably what the British Government is preparing is a list of unilateral measures taken by each and every member state in different sectors to make sure we dont turn March 30 into chaos. And then we would have to start discussing with the British Government on bilateral agreements on dozens of topics for each and every member state. It would take us years. Following a special three-and-a-half hour meeting of the Cabinet to discuss progress on the no-deal preparations, Downing Street said ministers remained confident of securing an agreement based on Theresa Mays controversial Chequers plan. As a responsible Government, we need to plan for every eventuality. The Cabinet agreed that no-deal remains an unlikely but possible scenario in six months time, the Prime Ministers spokesman said. 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. Today weve published the next batch of Technical Notices informing citizens and businesses on how to prepare for the unlikely event of a no deal #Brexit https://t.co/LMlF9XoQ9q pic.twitter.com/8UzxjUfh0J Department for Exiting the EU (@DExEUgov) September 13, 2018 While Mr Raab said ministers had agreed a set of measures to manage the risks in the event of no-deal, he acknowledged there would be some disruption. We need to be honest about this. In the event of a no-deal scenario, which is not what we want, we would face short-term risks and short-term disruption, he told BBC News. The warning came as the Government released its latest tranche of 28 technical papers on the no-deal preparations. They include advice to motorists they may need to obtain International Driving Permits to continue driving on the other side of the Channel if the EU refuses to recognise UK licences. British drivers who fail to obtain the correct documents may be turned away at borders or face enforcement action, the papers warn. Among the other advice was: Free mobile phone data roaming in the EU could no longer be guaranteed although Vodafone, Three, EE and O2, which cover more than 85% of mobile subscribers, have said they have no current plans to change their approach and bring in new charges. Transfers of personal data from remaining EU countries to UK companies and organisations could be restricted. UK firms working on the EUs 10 billion euro Galileo satellite navigation system could be cut out of existing contracts as well as barred from seeking new ones. Holders of legal firearms face additional bureaucracy if they want to take them to EU countries, because the European Firearms Pass would no longer be available to UK citizens. .@cbicarolyn's response to technical notices: "Continuing regional funding & maintaining environmental standards are +ve. But extra costs, duplication of certification & interruptions to data would damage economy, w/ knock-on impact for living standards." https://t.co/Z5W1IHdDBa CBI (@CBItweets) September 13, 2018 The CBI said the notices showed the importance of securing a withdrawal agreement which will give businesses a 21-month transition period in which to adjust. Director general Carolyn Fairbairn said: Efforts on all sides should be geared towards securing the withdrawal agreement to protect the transition period. Sir Vince Cable has said a second referendum should be mandatory if Scotland ever voted to leave the UK, so that any terms of Scottish independence agreed could be confirmed by the voting public as acceptable. The Liberal Democrat leader pointed to confirmatory votes in countries like Switzerland, where such ballots are common. He also urged the SNP to come off the fence on a second EU referendum. The Scottish Government published detailed proposals on its vision for independence before the poll in 2014 (Danny Lawson/PA) Speaking to BBC Scotland, he said: If there ever were in future a referendum on Scottish independence and people voted for it, I think they would themselves have to accept that there should then be a confirmatory vote at the end. That would be the way referendums are conducted in places like Switzerland, which use these things commonly. So I dont think theres any inconsistency with (the SNP) supporting us on the principle of having a peoples vote on Europe. Both the Lib Dems and SNP want to keep the UK in the single market and customs union, but Nicola Sturgeon has not endorsed holding a second vote on any Brexit deal. Record numbers of criminals are being locked up after they are caught with knives or other dangerous weapons. Figures show that in the year to June, immediate prison sentences were handed out for 4,770 offences of possessing an article with a blade or point in England and Wales. In another 2,282 cases, individuals found with offensive weapons were jailed, as were 597 convicted of using a knife or weapon to make threats. In the year to June, immediate prison sentences were handed out for 4,770 offences of possessing an article with a blade or point in England and Wales A Ministry of Justice report said: Custodial sentences are now at the highest level they have been. In the year ending June 2018 over a third (36% or 7,649 offences) of all knife and offensive weapon offences resulted in immediate custody compared with just 6,212 offences or 23% in the year ending June 2009. The increase is partly driven by a two strikes regime brought in in 2015 for repeat knife possession offenders. Under the clampdown, minimum sentences were introduced for those aged 16 and over who are convicted of a second or subsequent offence of possession of a knife or offensive weapon. Prior to the change, about half (48%) of repeat offenders received an immediate custodial sentence a percentage that has now risen to just under two thirds (63%). Overall, the number of knife and offensive weapons cases being dealt with by the criminal justice system is at its highest in eight years. The figures show 13,248 offences of possession of an article with a blade or point, 6,865 of possession of an offensive weapon, and 988 where a knife or weapon was used to make threats against others resulted in a conviction or caution in the 12 months to June. The combined total of 21,101 is the highest for an equivalent 12-month period since the year ending June 2010. The statistics come amid major concern over knife violence after a spate of fatal stabbings, particularly in London. 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. 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. Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos has said he is giving two billion dollars to start a fund that will open pre-schools in low-income neighbourhoods and give money to non-profit groups which help homeless families. Bezos, whose stake in Amazon is worth about 160 billion dollars (122 billion), says he will call it the Bezos Day One Fund. An Amazon spokeswoman confirmed that the money would all come from Bezos, though there are few details about how the fund will operate. In a post to his Twitter account, Bezos said one part of the fund will give money to organisations and groups that provide shelter and food to young homeless families. The other part will launch and operate free pre-schools in low-income communities, where the child will be the customer. It is not yet known what his preschools will look like except that they will be based on the teaching philosophy of Maria Montessori, which focuses on play-based learning that caters to individuality and social-emotional development. Bezos, who founded Amazon as an online book store more than two decades ago, has seen his wealth surge along with Amazons stock. Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie Bezos (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Forbes magazine placed him at the top of its list of billionaires for the first time this year, surpassing Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and investor Warren Buffett. Bezos wealth has allowed him to pay for side ventures, including starting space exploration company Blue Origin and buying The Washington Post newspaper. Bezos hinted earlier this year that he would take on a major philanthropic project after asking his Twitter followers for ideas on how to give away his money. In January, Bezos also personally gave 33 million dollars (25 million) in college scholarships for young immigrants living in the US illegally. The UK investigation into what killed a Lancashire couple who died in Egypt could take several months, a senior coroner has warned. A Home Office pathologist began examining the bodies of John and Susan Cooper, from Burnley, on Thursday. Their daughter, Kelly Ormerod, has said she has no faith in the Egyptian authorities, which reported that E.coli killed her parents. (PA Graphics) Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, said: In view of the concerns raised by this case, analysis and evaluation of the findings at post-mortem and the associated samples may take some weeks or possibly several months to analyse. These results will need to be compared with the findings from the Egyptian investigation, when these are available to the Home Office pathologist and the coroner. Egypts chief prosecutor Nabil Sadek said on Wednesday that forensic examinations showed Mr Cooper, 69, suffered acute intestinal dysentery caused by E.coli, and Mrs Cooper, a 63-year-old Thomas Cook employee, suffered a complication linked to infection, likely to have been caused by E.coli. He said the bodies of the couple showed no criminal violence. Other tests of air and water at the hotel found nothing unusual, he added. The Coopers died on August 21 while staying at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada. The Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada, Egypt (AP) Mrs Ormerod, who was staying at the same hotel with her children, said: I have not seen evidence or facts of any E.coli. Thomas Cook put a report out that there were high levels of E.coli at the hotel. Whether the Egyptians have homed in on that, I have no idea. But anybody can Google what E.coli symptoms are and the progression of E.coli and it does not kill you within a matter of hours. They are either stuck for answers or dont want to tell the truth. Thomas Cook revealed last week that it had identified a high level of E.coli bacteria at the hotel, which would explain the raised level of illness reported among guests. But the firm said the independent specialists it commissioned to carry out the tests, and Dr Vanya Gant from University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, did not believe the results shed any light on the cause of the Coopers deaths. Thomas Cook moved 300 guests out of the hotel 24 hours after the couple died as a precaution. Hurricane Florences leading edge battered the Carolina coast on Thursday, as the hulking storm closed in with 105 mph winds for a drenching siege that could last all weekend. Forecasters said conditions would 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 of ocean water could cover all but a sliver of the Carolina coast under as much as 13 feet, and days of downpours could unload more than three feet of rain, touching off severe flooding. Florences 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 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. 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 pig-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 criticised as sluggish and unprepared for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year. Damaging hurricane-force winds are likely along portions of the coasts of South Carolina and North Carolina as soon as this evening, and a Hurricane Warning is in effect. Strong winds could also spread inland into portions of the Carolinas from #Florence. pic.twitter.com/nPHuWc3VfD National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 13, 2018 As Florence drew near, President Donald Trump tweeted that the Federal Emergency Management Agency 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 about 1,200 flights and counting, and coastal towns in the Carolinas were largely emptied. Around midday, Spanish moss blew sideways in the trees as the winds increased in Wilmington, and floating docks bounced atop swells at Morehead City. Hurricane Florence churns over the Atlantic as seen from the International Space Station (Alexander Gerst/ESA/NASA via AP) Some of the few people still left in Nags Head on the Outer Banks took photos of angry waves topped with white froth. By early afternoon, utilities reported about 12,000 homes and businesses had lost power. 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. Rain bands from #Florence are already well inland. This is just the beginning of a very long-duration, potentially-catastrophic flooding event well-inland. Keep up with the latest forecast at https://t.co/VyWINDk3xP, and obey orders from emergency management as this unfolds. pic.twitter.com/G8uUGrRyfK National Weather Service (@NWS) September 13, 2018 Homeless after losing her job 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. (PA Graphics) 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. People have been ordered to evacuate (Sean Rayford/AP) Authorities rejected 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. The Russian prime suspects in the Salisbury nerve agent attack have given their first and last interview about the case, the journalist who met the pair has said. Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Russian state-sponsored network RT, said the duo who identified themselves as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, the men suspected by British intelligence of carrying out the poisoning want this story to be over. Ms Simonyan told BBC Newsnight the pair contacted her mobile phone to set up the interview, but only if she agreed to a strict tranche of conditions that would minimise the prospect of them being tracked down. The RT interviewer told the BBC: We had a conversation before the interview and they said that they had several conditions on which they were ready to give an interview. And 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. As they said and this is their words not mine that this is their first and last interview to the media ever. They want this story to be over, and they dont want to give any hints or extra information to the media. Ms Simonyan said the two men had agreed to send her images of their visit to Salisbury Cathedral a landmark Boshirov had mentioned was one of the main draws for their visit to the Wiltshire city but had since failed to do so. The phone the pair used to make contact with the journalist no longer appeared 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. Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov at Salisbury train station (Metropolitan Police/PA) 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. UK authorities believe the pair arrived on a flight from Moscow in March and smeared the highly toxic chemical Novichok on a door handle at the Wiltshire home of former spy Sergei Skripal, leaving Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia critically ill. Officers formally linked the attack on the Skripals to events in nearby Amesbury where Dawn Sturgess, 44, and her partner Charlie Rowley, 45, were exposed to the same nerve agent. Ms Sturgess died in hospital in July, just over a week after the pair fell ill. A police officer who visited the home of the Skripals shortly after the attack, Nick Bailey, was also left critically ill from exposure to the substance. Russia has repeatedly denied involvement. The lives of babies and children could be saved if parents are given consistent, explicit advice about recognising meningitis and septicaemia (otherwise known as sepsis) from health professionals, a charity has suggested. The Meningitis Research Foundation said most children with meningococcal meningitis or sepsis display only non-specific symptoms in the first four to six hours of illness but can be dead within 24 hours. It said previous research found almost a third (30%) of young babies with bacterial meningitis receive inappropriate early treatment which delays parents seeking further help. And around half (49%) of children who have meningococcal infection the most common cause of bacterial meningitis are sent home after their first visit to a GP and not admitted to hospital. The charity said that because the early signs of meningitis and sepsis are often similar to the symptoms of less serious illnesses, it is very difficult to spot at first. Its latest report includes a summary of personal accounts of more than 100 parents whose children had meningitis but were sent home after their first visit to a health professional. It highlights examples of inappropriate advice given to parents, including being told that their childs fever was due to a change in milk formula, and that prune juice was recommended for fever and irritability. National clinical guidelines recommend that doctors listen to parents concerns because they know their child best, and recommend that safety netting information is given to parents or carers of sick children with suspected infection before they are sent home. The charity said this should include information about meningitis and sepsis and telling parents to return for medical help if they feel their childs symptoms do not improve or are getting worse, but in reality this information is not always given. Mother-of-two Kirstie Walkden, from Manchester, said her nine-month-old daughter Amy became critically ill with pneumococcal meningitis in August last year although it was not diagnosed straightaway. Amy Walkden survived pneumococcal meningitis last year (Meningitis Research Foundation/PA) She said: Amy had seemed a bit out of sorts for a day or two. I took her to A&E on the Sunday when her symptoms escalated; temperature, vomiting, mottled skin, fast breathing, lethargic. However, we were sent home with antibiotics for a suspected ear infection. I was surprised but felt reassured. Back at home her temperature continued to soar and by the Tuesday she was no longer eating or drinking and I couldnt get any normal response from her. My instincts were screaming this was serious so I made the decision to take her back to hospital where all hell broke loose. This time the hospital were amazing and within an hour they were treating her for suspected meningitis and sepsis. The diagnosis was later confirmed as pneumococcal meningitis. We were living a nightmare and pleading for her to keep on fighting, and on day 18 she was finally well enough to come home. Only time will tell what long-term impact the disease has had on her, but so far she has exceeded all expectations. 17th - 23rd September Are you ready to help us defeat meningitis & septicaemia? https://t.co/F3NWByt14t pic.twitter.com/Zmcj7OI4oY Meningitis Research (@M_R_F) September 12, 2018 I shudder to think what could have happened if Id not trusted my instincts and gone back so soon. The charity said there are an estimated 2,500 cases of bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease in the UK each year. Chief executive Vinny Smith said: Theres a real risk that doctors can easily miss meningitis and sepsis in the early stages. Offering patients or parents of children safety netting information could be life-saving if a child with a serious illness is sent home. Parents often have a gut instinct and know when their child is seriously ill. When a child is ill and getting rapidly worse, parents should not be afraid to seek urgent medical help even if theyve already been seen by a doctor that same day. The report outlines that existing safety netting information is varied in the advice given and may not pick up both sepsis and meningitis. An expert Meningococcal Working Group established in January at the request of then-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Jeremy Hunt recommended that it should be recorded in a patients notes that safety netting information has been provided to patients with suspected infection if they are being sent home. To help take this forward, the Meningitis Research Foundation is recommending a national audit of existing meningitis guidelines to ensure that safety netting information is being provided, along with future monitoring by the Care Quality Commission to ensure safety netting advice is delivered to parents. More support should be offered to those who represent themselves in court to ensure they get a fair trial, researchers have suggested. Ulster University academics have examined the barriers people face when they attend court without a lawyer. The resulting report has called for cultural change and more information to improve understanding of court procedures and the overall experience of going to court without a lawyer. Academics examined the barriers people face attending court without a lawyer (Clara Molden/PA) Ulster University Professor of Law and Social Justice Grainne McKeever led the research which was carried out in association with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) and funded by the Nuffield Foundation. It revealed that the main reasons why people represent themselves in court are financial, but that some choose to do so because of a negative experience of legal representation in the past. Many faced problems with completing and submitting the appropriate paperwork, as well as understanding the legal arguments in their case. The research identified a significant lack of public information and advice on the practical, procedural and legal issues relating to court proceedings. As part of the research, a procedural advice clinic for individuals representing themselves in matrimonial or family law cases was trialled, and received positive feedback. Professor McKeever said the research showed a clear need for a cultural change in the legal system towards litigants in person. We recommend putting those who wish to self-represent at the centre of the development of reforms alongside dedicated training to support judges and lawyers to provide recognition that individuals have a right to self-represent and should be supported to do so, she said. The creation of a central information hub is advised where a qualified lawyer can provide procedural advice as early as possible in the process to help people who go to court without a lawyer to participate effectively in their court proceedings. Although the help of the advice clinic was not enough to help litigants in person match the advantages of legal representation in most cases, there is clear evidence that improved access to legal services, better information on court procedures and relevant law, as well as guidance on how to complete court forms and documents would remove many of the barriers that threaten the right to a fair trial. Chief Commissioner of the NIHRC Les Allamby welcomed the research. The recommendations provide a road map for lawyers, judges, administrators and personal litigants to tackle the issues identified, he said. It is in all our interests to improve the experience for the thousands of people who have to represent themselves and to ensure justice is both done and seen to be done. Royal Bank of Scotland boss Ross McEwan could again be hauled in front of MPs after being accused of misleading a parliamentary committee over a police investigation into former bank staff. Mr McEwan is alleged to have withheld information from the influential Treasury Select Committee when he denied that he was aware of any criminal activity within the bank by its workers. But six months later The Times reported that Police Scotland were investigating criminal allegations in relations to a former employee of its RBS Restructuring unit. Mr McEwan has now defended his comments in a letter to Treasury Committee chairman Nicky Morgan, claiming the activities in question fell outside the period under discussion at the Committees January hearing, which related to the now-defunct Global Restructuring Group (GRG). RBS Global Restructuring Group (GRG) has been accused of pushing firms towards failure in the hope of picking up assets on the cheap, but was left off the hook in a recent ruling by the regulator. The criminal activity being probed by police is said to have taken place between 2014 and 2016. Nicky Morgan is a Conservative MP and head of the Treasury Committee (PA) We would entirely reject the suggestion that the Committee may have been in any way misled by the evidence that I gave during my appearance before you in January, Mr McEwan said. But Ms Morgan said his explanation was unconvincing. When asked in January if he was aware of any criminal activity at GRG, Mr McEwan withheld information of relevance and interest to the Committee, she said. His letter to me implies that this was not inadvertent, but because he considered that the criminal allegations and police investigation in question were not related to the subject matter of the Committees session. The Committee is unconvinced by that explanation. It expects clarity and openness from witnesses, and Mr McEwans evidence fell short of that standard. She also hit out at the tone of the RBS chief executives letter saying the Committee is concerned by the pattern of defensiveness, and a failure to acknowledge mistakes, demonstrated by RBS throughout its handling of the GRG affair. Mr McEwans letter to me is an example of this, and it casts doubt on his assurances that RBS culture has changed fundamentally since he took up his position five years ago. He could now be hauled back to Parliament to face MPs. If the Committee decides to ask Mr McEwan to provide further oral evidence, it will expect him to tell the whole truth, not an edited version to suit him, Ms Morgan said. Theoretically, anyone seen to be lying in evidence to a select committee could face a substantial fine or imprisonment, though it has rarely been enforced. Mr McEwan said he was disappointed by the Committees response. It is obviously of the utmost importance to me that the Committee is confident that it can rely on the accuracy of my evidence. I replied to the Committees questions in good faith and clarified my position in writing. He added: I am confident that when the legal process has run its course, this will be seen to be a unique case. There continue to be clear constraints as to what can be disclosed as we would not want to prejudice an ongoing police investigation. Brexit will cause more division in Northern Ireland and hamper relations with the Republic of Ireland, a new study has warned. The research by the Queens University, Belfast, Ulster University, and the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) contends the UKs departure from the EU will have detrimental consequences for the peace process and also weaken human rights and equality protections. BrexitLawNI is led by Professor Colin Harvey from the School of Law at Queens. He described Brexit as a profound constitutional moment for Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland. He added: 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. The report comes following 18 months of research involving interviews, consultations and town hall-style events. Researchers also met with politicians and officials in Belfast, London, Dublin and Brussels as well as with business representatives, trade unions and community activists. The academics say they detect widespread anxiety about the long-term impact of Brexit across Ireland. They have called for a bespoke solution for this region. Recommendations from the study include that Northern Ireland remains within the customs union and single market. It also warns against a hard border, arguing that would further undermine political relations and could become a target for dissident republicans. Fears are deepening on the Irish border over a hard Brexit, researchers found Professor Rory OConnell, director of the Transitional Justice Institute at Ulster University, warned Brexit risks unpicking the Good Friday Agreement. The 1998 Agreement found nuanced solutions to difficult issues of sovereignty, identity and the border, embedding these in a rights-respecting framework, he said. Brexit risks unpicking these carefully, painfully-worked out solutions. These reports identify recommendations that, going forward, maintain the centrality of rights and equality. Brian Gormally, director of the CAJ, said Brexit could even reignite the conflict. He added: 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 defence of Brexit and the border. The last thing we need is a new bone of contention between our people. We need to stop, take stock and together work out solutions for this region. 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. 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. 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. 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. The funerals for four children murdered in a petrol bomb attack will take place later on Friday. But the youngsters mother Michelle Pearson, 36, is unable to attend as she continues to battle horrific injuries suffered in the blaze. Mrs Pearson was expected to head hundreds of mourners at the service for her children who died in the firebombing on her home on Jackson Street, Walkden, Manchester, last December. But her mother Sandra Lever said on Thursday that due to unforeseen medical circumstances her daughter would now not be able to attend. Instead the funerals for her daughters Demi Pearson, 15, Lacie, aged seven and Lia, aged three, and son Brandon, aged eight, will be held without her. Forensic officers at the scene of the fire (Peter Byrne/PA) The mother-of-six had struggled to grasp four of her children were dead and has been in hospital for the past year. Her family said she had wanted to attend the funeral despite still being very poorly after suffering a series of infections that could threaten her life. The service for all four children will be held on Friday morning at St Pauls Church in Walkden. Their grandmother Mrs Lever, who described the children as four angels, has said the starting point will be on Jackson Street, where they lived, and the funeral procession will pause outside Bridgewater Primary School, where the two middle children attended. She asked for a dress code of black and pink for girls and black and blue for boys with locals invited to line the street and attend the service. They were murdered as they slept in their beds after Zak Bolland, 23, and David Worrall, 26, smashed a kitchen window and threw petrol bombs inside in the dead of night. Demi Pearson, 15, was the eldest of the four children who died (GMP/PA) Bollands bottle exploded near the stairs, blocking the only exit to the ground floor and trapping the victims upstairs. Mrs Pearson woke up screaming: Not the kids! Not my kids! as flames engulfed the house at 5am last December 11. She was rescued with her youngest daughter Lia, who died in hospital two days later. All four died a terrible death from smoke inhalation and burns, the trial of the killers heard. Mrs Pearsons son Kyle, 17, had been involved in a petty feud with Bolland over damage to his 200 car, prompting a series of tit-for-tat attacks. Zak Bolland was jailed for 40 years (GMP/PA) Bolland and Worrall were both given four life sentences for murder after a trial in May and must serve a minimum of 40 and 37 years respectively before parole. Bollands girlfriend Courtney Brierley, 20, was jailed for 21 years for four counts of manslaughter. Mrs Pearson had made a series of complaints to police and her housing provider Salford Council, asking to be moved. An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct is ongoing. 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. Gloucester Cathedral is advertising for a role on a zero-hours contract (David Davies/PA) 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. 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. Theresa May should stand down after next years Brexit day and pave the way for a new generation leader, her former policy adviser has said. George Freeman, who was chairman of the Prime Ministers policy board until November last year, 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 weve 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. His comments come after hardline Brexiteers attended a meeting looking at ways to unseat the PM. 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. 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. Theresa May should "seal the deal" on Brexit before handing over to a successor, George Freeman said (Kirsty OConnor/PA) He added: I think its 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 theyre bound by all sorts of promises that shouldnt 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: Ive been asked before whether its my intention to lead the Conservative Party into the next general election, I answered that question before Im in this for the long term. What Im 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. But what Im also focused on doing is delivering on the domestic agenda which is of concern to people. 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. More than four million people live in areas at most risk from the storm, which the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre in Hawaii categorised as a super typhoon with powerful winds and gusts equivalent to a category 5 Atlantic hurricane. (PA Graphics) Typhoon Mangkhut is on course to hit north-eastern Cagayan province early on Saturday. 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. Super Typhoon Mangkhut churns west towards the Philippines (Lauren Dauphin/NASA Earth Observatory via AP) With a massive rain cloud band 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 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. Images of Mangkhut, the most powerful typhoon this year (Aaron Favila/AP) 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, Chinas 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 typhoons 77-mile-wide eye. Nearly 48,000 houses in those high-risk areas are made of light materials and vulnerable to Mangkhuts ferocious winds. Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council operations centre (Aaron Favila/AP) 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 were moving them now because its very important that when it comes, people will be away from peril, Mr Mamba said. A change in the typhoons 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% 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 worlds 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. Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson has said she hopes taking her baby into a Commons debate signals a step forward in modernising Parliament. The partys deputy leader appeared in the chamber with Gabriel on Thursday to listen to the closing remarks of a discussion about proxy voting, which could allow MPs on maternity and paternity leave to nominate a colleague to cast their vote in their absence. Earlier in the summer Ms Swinson was furious when Tory chairman Brandon Lewis who she was paired with while on parental leave, meaning neither would take part in Commons voting joined a crunch Brexit vote in July. Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson with her baby Gabriel in her Commons seat (PA) Mr Lewis claimed he was not aware of the pairing arrangement at the time of the vote. But Ms Swinson told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: It was not an honest mistake. It was very deliberate and it transpired in the days afterwards that other MPs had been asked to break their pairs and very honourably had told their chief whip to get lost. Ms Swinson said that taking 11-week-old Gabriel into the chamber, in what is thought to be a first in a Commons debate, seemed the natural thing to do. She told BBC Good Morning Scotland: I spoke early on in the debate. The convention is that you come back at the end of the debate to listen to the final speeches. By that time Id had to leave the chamber, Id had to go and feed my baby and he had then fallen asleep on me in the baby carrier, and the options were: wake him up and hand him to somebody else for 20 minutes, or go in and sit down, do no harm, and he stayed asleep for most of it. I think its a step forward for modernising Parliament and for sending a message that it really needs to be possible for parents to be able to combine their responsibilities for their children with their working lives, and all too often that is made too difficult. That wont always mean taking your child to work, but in the case of very small babies, for people who are working at that stage then that can be just one of the ways in which workplaces can modernise and there could be flexibility in order to make it possible. Commenting on proxy voting, she said it would not be a difficult change to make to say someone else could vote on behalf of an MP. Ms Swinson, MP for East Dunbartonshire, said: We should take those opportunities to just make it a little bit more possible, because we are talking about Parliament that sets the rules for the rest of the country and also therefore can set the tone, and when weve got 54,000 women a year losing their jobs because of pregnancy discrimination it is particularly important that we get these kind of things right because we do need to, not just in Parliament but right across the country, modernise workplaces so that it is more possible for parents to balance their responsibilities. Prison staff have begun protest action after a damning report warned of a dangerous lack of control at HMP Bedford, their union said. Members of the POA, the trade union for prison staff, have been asked to demonstrate outside prisons in England and Wales from 7am until instructed otherwise. It follows a report on Thursday from Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke, who raised the alarm over the potential for a complete breakdown in order and discipline at the Bedfordshire prison. Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke raised the alarm over the potential for a `complete breakdown in order and discipline at the Bedfordshire prison (Niall Carson/PA) Inmates have effectively taken control at the violent, overcrowded and vermin-infested jail, his report has warned. 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 6 years. He told the Press Association: 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. Mr Gillan went on: Under legislation the Government and employer have a duty of care toward my members, and Im 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 whats going on. The POA said about 90% of prison staff were members of the union. It said it has 20,000 members in England and Wales. Thousands of students have marched through downtown Mexico City to protest against violence. They carried placards with slogans such as Being a student in Mexico is more dangerous than being a criminal in reference to an attack on students at the National Autonomous University earlier this month. It also referred to the 2014 kidnapping and disappearance of 43 students. Nobody has been convicted for those crimes. Thousands of students took part in the march (Marco Ugarte/AP) Thursdays march came on the 50th anniversary of the 1968 student protest known as the March of Silence, when demonstrators marched quietly to contradict accusations that they were unruly. Weeks later on October 2 1968, troops fired on protesters at Tlatelolco Plaza, killing as many as 300. Many in Thursdays march covered their mouths with tape to commemorate the 1968 march. A series of gas explosions have struck at least 39 homes north of Boston, Massachusetts. An 18-year-old died after a chimney toppled onto his car, and at least 10 other people were injured. Whole areas were evacuated as fire crews were scrambled to fight the flames. The company that owns Columbia Gas says its crews are performing safety checks (Suzanne Kreiter/Boston Globe/AP) Andover fire chief Michael Mansfield compared the conflagration to `Armageddon (Phil Marcelo/AP) Firefighters battle a house fire on Herrick Road in North Andover (Mary Schwalm/AP) A problem with a gas line that feeds homes in several communities is thought to be behind the explosion (Tim Jean/Eagle-Tribune/AP) Governor Charlie Baker said it could take days or weeks before the cause of the blasts is discovered (WCVB/AP) Evacuations were ordered in several areas (Phil Marcelo/AP) 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. The US National Hurricane Centre said that at 7am local time Florences centre was just five miles east of Wilmington, North Carolina. 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 city of New Bern say 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. RETWEET THIS: Shelters are continuing to open across North Carolina. An updated list of shelters can be found here: https://t.co/QbQMXXCFYh pic.twitter.com/du2sVnpjp3 Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) September 13, 2018 Screaming winds bent trees and led to near-horizontal rain as Florences leading edge whipped the Carolina coast on Thursday to begin an onslaught that could last for days, leaving a wide area underwater from both heavy downpours and rising seas. The storms intensity diminished as it neared land, with winds dropping to around 90mph by nightfall. Governor Roy Cooper has warned of an impending disaster. #Florence is expected to bring a life-threatening storm surge to portions of eastern North & South Carolina, and catastrophic flash flooding and prolonged significant river flooding are likely over portions of the Carolinas and the southern/central Appalachians. pic.twitter.com/j6HZco1Tsc National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 14, 2018 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. Hurricane Florence already has inundated coastal streets with ocean water and left tens of thousands without power (Gray Whitley/Sun Journal via AP) 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. Stay safe and shelter away from windows on the lowest floor thats not subject to flooding. If you get trapped in a flooded building, go to the highest floor but do NOT enter a closed attic. Call 911 If you need rescue.#Florence https://t.co/QGIzOGqq3w FEMA (@fema) September 14, 2018 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 storms 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. Leicester boss Claude Puel has warned Bournemouth Jamie Vardy is refreshed and hungry as he prepares to return to action at the Vitality Stadium. The striker has missed the last three matches through suspension following his straight red card during the home win against Wolves on August 18. Vardy, 31, has also had a more relaxed international break after asking not to be considered for England duty any more to allow younger players to get their chance, although he has not closed the door completely on playing for the national team again. Jamie Vardy is ready to return (Mike Egerton/PA) Leicester resume their Premier League campaign on the south coast on Saturday and ahead of the match, Puel said: Hes not played a lot but I hope he can find his rhythm and tempo. I was happy to keep him for a few weeks and hopefully we can have Jamie with good fitness to play the next game. Hes refreshed and will bring a good mentality, and he is hungry. Meanwhile, Caglar Soyuncu is fit and ready to make his Leicester debut. The 22-year-old centre-back has yet to feature since his 19million arrival from Bundesliga side Freiburg on the final day of the summer transfer window. Soyuncu was nursing an injury when he signed but played for the development squad last month and twice completed 90 minutes for Turkey during the international break. Puel said: He came back from the break with a smile, with good fitness and a good mentality. He is available. He comes into the competition between players. The most important thing is to have a strong squad. Of course it is difficult for me to make a choice but I prefer this problem. We will see when he can start with the team. He is fit and ready. Matty James is the only absentee for Leicester. The midfielder underwent surgery at the end of last season to correct an Achilles problem but he now requires another operation following a fresh injury issue. Prison staff are taking unlawful action by protesting over unprecedented violence and safety concerns in prisons, the Government has said. Members of the POA, the trade union for prison staff, have been asked to demonstrate outside prisons in England and Wales from 7am until instructed otherwise. It follows a damning report warning of a dangerous lack of control at HMP Bedford, their union 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. A protest outside HMP Wormwood Scrubs in London (Kirsty OConnor/PA) 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. 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. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it would be seeking an injunction to stop the action. 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 told the Press Association: 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. Mr Gillan went on: Under legislation the Government and employer have a duty of care toward my members, and Im 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 whats 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. Officers outside HMP Wormwood Scrubs (Kirsty OConnor/PA) 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. Inmates have effectively taken control at the violent, overcrowded and vermin-infested jail, his report has warned. Brian Cooper, POA branch chairman, was among some 50 officers picketing outside the prison, which he said was unsafe every day. He said staff are on long-term sick leave with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues created by the violent and drug-fuelled conditions, which he blamed on cuts to the prison budget. Those demonstrating have received a letter signed by governor Helen Clayton-Hoar ordering them to return to work and threatening disciplinary procedures and docked pay packets. 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. 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. Authorities are also faced with a major task to stem 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. In particular, new psychoactive substances such as Spice have been described as a game-changer for safety behind bars. A protest outside HMP Bedford (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Discoveries of mobile phones and SIM cards are also on the rise, going up by 15% and 13% respectively in 2017/18. Overcrowding remains a key issue, with the prison population almost doubling between 1993 and 2016. The prison population 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 on Thursday. It is also investing 40 million to improve the estate and tackle the drugs problem, with 3,500 new officers to help ease the burden. British Steel is planning to cut 400 jobs in countries including the UK under moves to secure a sustainable future, the company has announced. Managerial, professional and administrative roles will be affected, but the firm said no closures were being considered. British Steel employs 4,000 workers in the UK, mainly in Scunthorpe, but also with plants in Teesside and Workington. British Steel in Scunthorpe (Steve Morgan/British Steel/PA) Were committed to major investment in the next phase of our evolution but we need to further streamline our organisation. Sadly this means today were announcing the proposed loss of 400 jobs across our global operations. Read more https://t.co/z2i1HEh5MD pic.twitter.com/KbTHKCiJ2Z British Steel (@BritishSteelUK) September 14, 2018 Unions said the announcement was a body blow to workers. British Steels executive chairman Roland Junck 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. Weve already committed 120 million to capital expenditure projects and are pressing ahead with the 50 million upgrade to our Scunthorpe Rod Mill, which we announced in July. 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. 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 spokesman for the National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee said: This announcement will come as a body blow to the workforce who have already made huge sacrifices to make the business sustainable. 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 21 million. 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. Gill Furniss, shadow Steel Minister, said: This is extremely worrying news. Workers at British Steel fought against the odds to defend the companys future, even though the Government has refused to properly support the steel industry. Workers will see this as another blow to an already fragile situation and will worry its a prelude to further job losses. The Government has failed to support steel. They have failed to stand up to Donald Trumps aggressive policies, which threaten our industry and they have failed to produce a steel sector deal or address the vital issues facing steel companies, such as the disproportionately high electricity prices that hamper growth and investment. 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. 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. DUP leader Arlene Foster and deputy leader Nigel Dodds in Westminster (Stefan Rousseau/PA) 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. The Clan Buchanan has its first chief in more than 337 years following over a decade of genealogical research. John Michael Baillie-Hamilton Buchanan has assumed the chiefship which was last held by his ancestral kinsman John Buchanan, until his death without a male heir in 1681. It follows 14 years of research by genealogist Hugh Peskett, who studied lineage back to 1370 and established references in 300 documents from around the world to verify the claim to the chiefship of Clan Buchanan. The clan said the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court which regulates Scottish heraldry, has now formally upheld a petition for Mr Buchanan to assume the chiefship. The Buchanan with his wife Paula and son Bruce (Tony Marsh/PA) Mr Buchanan, who is now known as 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. It has been a long journey to prove our lineage. We first approached the Lyon Court informally over 20 years ago and it has taken decades of genealogical research to back up our claim I am indebted to Hugh Peskett, my fellow Buchanan clansman, for his meticulous research and enduring tenacity. The new chief is the manager of Cambusmore Estate near Callander and has four children with his wife Paula. While the Clan Buchanan can be traced back to 1010 AD in Scotland, it has several million members across Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Jamaica and elsewhere. Mr Peskett, who has also traced the lineage of former US president Ronald Reagan, 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. More than five million people around the world bear one of the recognised clan names, known as septs, such as Dewar, Gibson, Harper, Morris, Rusk and Watt. David J Byrne, president of Clan Buchanan Society International, said: After 337 years our clan is complete once again and we celebrate this historic event. I look forward to working with Michael as we continue to grow the traditions, history and honour of our clan name. Hurricane Florence has brought turbulent weather, power outages and flooding to the US east coast but its also proved an opportunity for one weather station to show off a little bit. A report by the Weather Channels Erika Navarro has gone viral after the station expertly used green screen to illustrate the dangers of storm flooding, and the results are pretty scary. Storm surge will be a huge factor for Hurricane #Florence Check out what it might look like with @TWCErikaNavarro: pic.twitter.com/TPqTZTmiAM The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) September 13, 2018 The incredible video sees Navarro stood in a mixed reality street during a virtual storm, with water rising around the presenter, showing what 9ft (2.7m) of flooding would look like. (Gray Whitley/AP) That level of storm surge is what Navarro describes as the reasonable, worst-case scenario for some areas such as North Carolina due to Hurricane Florence but elsewhere the channel reported a storm surge in New Bern had already reached 10.1ft (3m). Storm surge is the abnormal displacement of water both from the ocean and freshwater sources, which occurs during the strong winds of a hurricane. Significant storm-surge flooding is already inundating New Bern, North Carolina, as of this evening. Here's the latest on #Florence: https://t.co/fo9dYfhUD2 pic.twitter.com/kiuwURvXhn The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) September 13, 2018 Days of downpours could unload more than 3ft (91cm) of rain, adding to the 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, though winds upwards of 100mph are still being recorded. Roy Cooper, the governor of North Carolina, has warned of an impending disaster due to Hurricane Florence. The worst of the storm is not yet here but these are early warnings of the days to come, he said. Surviving this storm will be a test of endurance, teamwork, common sense and patience. #Florence is expected to bring a life-threatening storm surge to portions of eastern North & South Carolina, and catastrophic flash flooding and prolonged significant river flooding are likely over portions of the Carolinas and the southern/central Appalachians. pic.twitter.com/j6HZco1Tsc National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 14, 2018 The storm has left more than 80,000 people without power and put 12,000 in shelters, with 1.7 million across the Carolinas and Virginia told to evacuate though it is unclear how many did. Businesswoman Gina Miller has launched a national campaign to end the chaos of Brexit by publishing unspun facts so people can decide for themselves what they want to happen next. Announcing the movement in Dover on Friday, she said political infighting and other bitter tensions rising from the debate had mired the country. She hopes the light of transparency by spreading impartial information will disinfect the poisonous and unproductive Brexit debates the country is sick of. The GuyaneseBritish 53-year-old, who won a High Court case against the Government over the involvement of Parliament in Brexit, said in a speech: 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? What little confidence there might once have been is now, sadly, in very short supply. There is a panic in the air and time is fast running out. Many Britons, irrespective of whether they voted Leave or Remain on 23 June 2016, are beginning to wonder how this journey will end. The reality is that no-one truly understands what Brexit means for Britain. Speaking at a town hall in the Kent constituency which voted 62.2% to leave the EU, she described Dover as a beacon of Britains heritage. The Dover Strait, the worlds busiest shipping lane, was a vital lifeline for the country and crucial to the economy, she said, adding: It is the shortest possible distance across the Dover Strait to continental Europe. Just 18 miles. In fact, were closer to France than we are to Canterbury. She asked: Did Dover residents who voted Leave realise the outcome of that decision could potentially leave them marooned in their homes for up to three months following our departure from the EU on March 29 next year? Of course, they didnt. Quite naturally, they believed they had voted to deliver a safer, more secure country a more prosperous future for themselves and their families. What we have ended up with is a nation haunted by division, anxiety and unhappiness. Gina Miller speaks at the Town Hall in Dover (Gareth Fuller/PA) 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. 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. She said her inquiries revealed people were yearning for unspun facts free from ideological jargon, adding: We will aim to provide these in an understandable, honest and impartial manner. The campaign was prompted by a total lack of clarity over Brexit and because it was morally and democratically right to give people as much information as possible about the implications of Brexit so that they can make informed choices. A website, www.endthechaos.co.uk, will help people make their own trusted judgments, she said, adding: We aim to provide a public service, a trusted source of information from which people can decide for themselves what they think and want for themselves and our country. Calling for people to take part in the campaign, which will host events around the country, she said: Help us secure and sustain our nations place in the world by ensuring we continue to have a country that we can be proud of. A country that continues to make its way in the world. A place that is safe, secure, confident and prosperous. A country that we are happy to call home. Help us avoid the catastrophe of a future marred by self-inflicted wounds, squandered opportunities, and unfulfilled hopes and dreams. Anthony Joshua believes he was right to err on the side of caution against Joseph Parker in his last bout after watching Dillian Whytes struggles against the New Zealander. Joshua became the unified WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion when he defeated Parker by a landslide decision at the Principality Stadium in March. There were minor grumbles that Joshua failed to stop an opponent for the first time in his professional career, despite extending his perfect record to 21-0. Anthony Joshua is bidding to extend his professional record to 22-0 later this month (Nick Potts/PA) Make sure youre sitting comfortable September 22nd #AJBXNG pic.twitter.com/iZNuLI28UH Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) September 12, 2018 But Joshua pointed to Parkers fight with Whyte in July, in which both combatants were knocked down before the Briton claimed a narrow points win, as proof that his game plan was correct in the Welsh capital. If I didnt win that Parker fight, I wouldnt be here now, Joshua told Press Association Sport. If I went to try and knock him out, anything could have happened. Look at the fight with Dillian and Parker! By an inch he got that decision and I dont want fights like that. I want to win clear and make sure that it sets up bigger and better things. Joshua will put his unbeaten record and three world titles on the line on September 22 against mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium. How I approach this fight is going to be completely different to how I approach the Parker fight because hes a completely different style of fighter. But Im confident, Joshua added. So, too, is Joshuas trainer Rob McCracken although he believes his charge will need to remain sharp against an opponent whose only loss in a 35-fight career was against Wladimir Klitschko in 2013. The task at hand is really important, Anthonys got to be on point, hes got to be concentrating and hes got to be busy against Povetkin, McCracken told Press Association Sport. "I can't afford to make any mistakes. I'm going to go in there and mix it up which sets up a big night in April" - @anthonyfjoshua tells @SkySportsNews #JoshuaPovetkin pic.twitter.com/OUkfVVLZDT Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) September 14, 2018 Anthonys job is to control the pace and break him down and not be there for the hooks, the feints to the body and the right hook, and feints to the body and left hook. Anthonys got to be aware of that and alert to it every round for three minutes. Hes got upper body movement, Povetkin, so youve got to time him. Hes not always there for the jab and the right hand and hes always dangerous with his counters, you cant just let him walk in, dictate and throw, youve got to move and keep him off balance, as Klitschko did really well. Hes a top fighter and a dangerous opponent. It will be a tough challenge but one that Im sure Anthony will come through and Im sure hell learn a bit more on the night. Students and staff could be responsible for cyber attacks on universities and colleges, according to security analysis by a Government-funded agency. Jisc, which provides universities and colleges with digital support across the UK, say the timings of cyber attacks indicate organised criminals may not always be behind attempts to hack networks of educational institutions. The organisation said data from the past 12 months showed that attacks peaked during term time, and dropped dramatically during holiday periods over summer, Christmas, Easter and half terms. These included DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks, which aim to flood networks with traffic to crash computer systems. (Chris Ison/PA) This pattern could indicate that attackers are students or staff, or others familiar with the academic cycle, said John Chapman, head of Jiscs security operations centre. Or perhaps the bad guys simply take holidays at the same time as the education sector. Whichever the case, theres no point sending a DDoS attack to an organisation if theres no-one there to suffer the consequences. Some attacks started at around 9am, before finishing up between 3pm and 4pm, further fuelling the theory that it could be someone within the universities. Motivation for cyber attacks on universities is unclear, but Dr Chapman speculates it may be students looking to cause chaos for fun or a disgruntled member of staff. Although individual cyber criminals are difficult to identify, the organisation has managed to catch some perpetrators over the years, including one incident that lasted for four days and was traced to a student gamer in halls trying to secure an advantage over another player. In the last academic year, Jisc recorded more than 840 attacks on 189 universities and colleges, an average increase on 2016/17, when 139 institutions were attacked 578 times. (Joe Giddens/PA) While DDoS attacks are one of the most common cyber incidents we see, there are many other threats facing colleges and universities, including phishing emails designed to dupe the recipient into giving away sensitive information such as passwords, and malware and ransomware, Dr Chapman said. At this time of year we see an increase in phishing emails targeting students. Typically, they will receive an email that appears to be from the student loans company (SLC) which tries to trick them into giving away banking details or their login information to the SLC website. A new documentary highlights the effect Pope John Paul lls visit to Ireland in 1979 had on the Northern Ireland peace process. A Plea For Peace, directed by David Naglieri and narrated by The Passion Of The Christ star Jim Caviezel, features interviews with Seamus Mallon, Martin Mansergh, Rev Harold Good, Lord David Alton and former IRA bomber Shane Paul ODoherty. ODohertys letter-bomb campaign caused explosions at the London Stock Exchange, the Bank of England, and a government building, injuring secretaries and security guards. ODoherty, who joined the IRA in Londonderry at 15, found religion while serving a life sentence, and famously wrote to his victims from prison, crediting the Catholic Church for sparking a major turning point in peace negotiations. Pope John Paul II speaking at Dublin Airport (PA) When I first turned away from the IRA and apologised to my victims, I was not taken seriously, everyone thought I wanted early release. I was in prison in England when suddenly the Pope arrives in Ireland and speaks to these men, asking them to turn away from violence and make a new life. Suddenly I was taken seriously. Weeks after his visit, I had been visited by senior Labour MPs and Father Edward Daly. I was the first IRA man to publicly turn away from the IRA in 1977, and after the Popes visit, scores of other prisoners left. To put the Popes visit in context, 28 days before the visit, Mountbatten was killed along with 18 soldiers. I believe that was the closest Northern Ireland had ever come to civil war. The film focuses on the Popes famous appeal in Drogheda: On my knees I beg you to turn away from the paths of violence and return to the ways of peace, in front of a quarter a million people, and argues this sowed the earliest seeds of peace. Mr Naglieri said the film-makers discovered handwritten letters from Father Alec Reid to John Hume, which directly quoted the papal message. Through researching, at first we found a lot of cynicism people said the violence continued for two decades after the visit, and superficially it didnt have much effect but for us it was a lot of peeling the onion, he said. The thesis is not that the Good Friday Agreement wouldnt have happened if he didnt come, but were tracing the ripple effects of the Popes visit. For instance, Protestant leaders in the documentary say that speech was the break, where they first separated the Catholic Church from the IRA. However, the strongest case for the impact of the visit is the letters from Father Alec Reid. On May 19 1986 Father Alec Reid writes a seven-page letter to John Hume and references the speech in Drogheda twice, pointing to the part about dialogue being the way forward, and this ultimately sparks the secret meetings between John Hume and Gerry Adams, which lead to the peace process. The words germinated in the minds of peace makers, and without that happening Good Friday doesnt happen. John Paul II In Ireland: A Plea For Peace will have a limited theatrical release with Omniplex cinemas in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in late September. Prison staff accused of taking unlawful action by walking out over violence and safety concerns in jails will face an injunction, the Government has said. Members of the POA, the trade union for prison staff, were asked to demonstrate outside prisons in England and Wales from 7am over unprecedented levels of violence until instructed otherwise. The action had knock-on effects on court cases, with some defendants in custody unable to be transported to hearings. At Sheffield Crown Court, an important sentencing was abandoned involving a gang who sold drugs and guns in Hull after at least two defendants failed to arrive, while sentencing for a double stabbing was postponed at Luton Crown Court. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it was seeking an injunction. It is not clear when this will go before the High Court. It follows the latest in a series of damning reports which warned of a dangerous lack of control at HMP Bedford, their 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. Those demonstrating have received a letter signed by governor Helen Clayton-Hoar ordering them to return to work and threatening disciplinary procedures and docked pay packets. A protest outside HMP Wormwood Scrubs in London (Kirsty OConnor/PA) 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. 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. POA general secretary Steve Gillan said prison officers were demonstrating against the unprecedented decline in health and safety standards over past six years. He told the Press Association: Under legislation the Government and employer have a duty of care toward my members, and Im 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 whats 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. It estimated around 5,000 staff will take part in the demonstrations. Officers outside HMP Wormwood Scrubs (Kirsty OConnor/PA) 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. Inmates have effectively taken control at the violent, overcrowded and vermin-infested jail, his report said. 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. 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 that 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. Authorities are also faced with a major task to stem the flow of contraband, with discoveries of drugs, mobile phones and Sim cards on the increase. A protest outside HMP Bedford (Stefan Rousseau/PA) 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. It is also investing 40 million to improve the estate and tackle the drugs problem, with 3,500 new officers to help ease the burden. The man who plays Watford mascot Harry the Hornet has resigned from his role after facing criticism from Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson. Hodgson called the mascot disgraceful after he mocked Wilfried Zaha by diving in front of him during a match against Crystal Palace. But Harry is far from the first mascot to fall foul of authority. Here, Press Association takes a look at five of the more memorable mascot moments: Cyril the swan Cyril the Swan has a history of trouble (Nick Potts/PA) Swanseas Cyril had an incendiary disciplinary record highlighted by two matches against Millwall. In 1998, Cyril was banned from the touchline and fined 1000 for invading the pitch to celebrate a goal. When the two clubs met again three years later, Cyril went head to head with Millwall mascot Zampa the Lion, and proceeded to tear Zampas head off and kick it amongst the Millwall fans. Hercules the lion Hercules the Lion got fruity with a female (Nick Potts/PA) The Aston Villa mascot was sacked in March 1998 after attempting to hug and kiss the clubs reigning beauty queen at half-time of a match with Crystal Palace. The club came down hard, but Hercules protested his innocence, claiming: I growled then grabbed Miss Aston Villa round the waist with my paws. Then I gave her a kiss. But it wasnt much of a kiss because I still had my lions head on. Wolfie the wolf Wolfie has a penchant for little pigs (Tim Goode/PA) In possibly the most famous mascot moment, Wolfie could hardly help himself when faced with two little pigs present at the behest of a sponsor prior to a game between Wolves and Bristol City at Ashton Gate in 1998. Wolfies wind-up ended in a three-way punch-up which only ended when City Cat ploughed in to play peacemaker. Wolfie was taking his role a bit too seriously, suggested one of the pigs. Paisley Panda Paisley Panda cuts a controversial figure (Jeff Holmes/PA) The St Mirren mascot is the most notorious in Scotland. He enraged Morton fans by parading a giant air freshener in front of them, and Queen of the South fans by waving an inflatable sheep. He was finally booted out in 2003 after stealing a Morton tracksuit top and pretending to use it as toilet paper on the pitch prior to the start of the Renfrewshire derby. Herbie the hammer Herbie Hammer incurred the wrath of Timmy Mallett (David Davies/PA) The West Ham mascot suffered the bizarre fate of being dragged through the courts by childrens TV presenter Timmy Mallett, who said his foam rubber head too closely resembled his own, copyrighted outsize foam hammer, Pinky Punky. Pinky Punky is a groovy hammer and it is part of my name, said Mallett. It is important when you have something that is part of your life and livelihood, that you look after it. A terrorist wielding two foot-long knives could have been heading towards the Prime Ministers office looking for another victim when he was shot dead, an inquest heard. Khalid Masood, 52, repeatedly stabbed Pc Keith Palmer in New Palace Yard and appeared animated and frenzied as he lumbered over to the MPs entrance. Witnesses described the horrific scenes at the Palace of Westminster before Masood was brought down by a plainclothes officer, who shot him three times. Masood had crashed his hired 44 into railings and run into New Palace Yard where he stabbed Pc Palmer after he stumbled by a low wall. Pc Keith Palmer was stabbed by Khalid Masood (Metropolitan Police/PA) He stood over the officer, stabbing him before being distracted by another officer. Mortally injured, Pc Palmer got back to his feet but collapsed again on the cobbles as he bled out from wounds to his head and back. James West, who was inside Portcullis House, said Masood was stabbing downwards, like you see in a horror film in a Hollywood stabbing motion. I remember being amazed because the officer managed to get up after being attacked, after being stabbed so many times. Carl Knight, who was on the top deck of a bus, heard the load bang as Masood crashed his Hyundai. On being approached by a pedestrian, Masood said f*** off, you dont want to mess with me, Mr Knight said in a statement. A woman clutching a child said Dont kill me, while the aggressive knifeman ran towards Carriage Gates, behind a screaming crowd of people. Mr Knight told how Pc Palmer grappled with Masood before he was stabbed. John Campbell said the attacker seemed animated and frenzied afterwards, adding: He was looking for another victim. Pc James Ross, who was on duty close to Pc Palmer, said a passer-by shouted in his face: Theres a man with bloody big knives running this way. I saw the suspect had a knife in each hand with blades around a foot long and he was stabbing Pc Palmer in and around the head area. He was hitting with such force that the blade was bending. Masood was shot by a plainclothes officer (Metropolitan Police/PA) Pc Ross said he was trying to get his CS spray out and when he looked back he could only see Masood. He went on: The attacker was walking towards me. He had the knives in his hands. I had a moment at that time I have never been able to remember from when he was walking towards me. I still have no recollection of it. Referring to what he has since seen on CCTV footage, Pc Ross added: I have run to the gate, then stopped, turned around, then (I was) running at the suspect with some kind of plan in my head to try and tackle him before he got anyone else. A lawyer for Pc Palmers widow suggested there was no sign on CCTV of armed officers close to Carriage Gates for 46 minutes before the attack. Dominic Adamson said: In terms of events on the day, do you recall when you last saw AFOs (authorised firearms officers) in the vicinity of the gates? Pc Ross, who used to be an armed officer in 2013, said: No sir. He told the court armed officers used to be stationed at the heavy open gates but in 2017 they had a roving patrol. Senior Parliamentary Assistant Antonia Kerridge said: The policeman had collapsed and the attacker ran over to him and just stabbed him two or three or four times. Gareth Patterson QC, for families of some of the victims, said the attack came after Theresa May had finished Prime Ministers Questions. He asked: If he had made it to the members entrance does it allow him access to the Chamber? Ms Kerridge said there was a network of corridors and rooms, but they would eventually lead there. Mr Patterson continued: We know there had been PMQs that day at 12pm and PMQs had finished by the time of this attack. Is that the entrance the PM leaves the courtyard and she would no doubt have an office in the building beyond that entrance? The witness said: Presumably yes, along with other ministers who would work there. Frantic scenes of people rushing to offer first aid were captured on a mobile phone. In audio played at the Old Bailey, there were shouts of: Police officer stabbed in the head. Police officer stabbed in the head. He was described as having a weak pulse and losing blood while another person said: Hes been stabbed in the back. A man could be heard urging Pc Palmer to fight for his life, shouting: Keith, come on son. An ambulance arrived on the scene just before 3pm but efforts to save Pc Palmers life stopped at 3.15pm. The attack on Pc Palmer came after Masood had mowed down and killed four pedestrians on Westminster Bridge. Donald Trumps former campaign manager is facing a court hearing amid reports he is nearing a plea deal to avoid trial on charges stemming from work he did for pro-Russian political forces in Ukraine. Several media outlets reported that Paul Manafort is close to a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. It was unclear whether such an agreement would include his cooperation in special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russias election meddling during Mr Trumps 2016 campaign. The developments were first reported by ABC News, which said details of the deal would be announced in court on Friday. It is also unclear how any deal would affect Manaforts pursuit of an eventual pardon from Mr Trump. The president has previously signalled he is sympathetic to Manaforts cause. President Donald Trumphas signalled sympathy for Paul Manafort (Susan Walsh/AP) 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 did include an agreement to cooperate with the special counsel. With a plea deal, Manafort would avoid a trial that was set to last at least three weeks and posed the potential of adding years to the seven to 10 years he is already facing from his conviction in Virginia last month. There, 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 Manaforts political consulting and lobbying work, done through 2014, on behalf of then Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych and the pro-Russian Party of Regions. Prosecutors say that Manafort directed a large scale lobbying operation in the US 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 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 Manaforts jailing ahead of his trial. In addition to the witness tampering counts, Manafort is 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 filed in the case indicated that he could have faced between 15 and 19-and-a-half years in prison under federal guidelines. A protest by prison staff over 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. Protests outside HMP Bedford (Stefan Rousseau/PA) 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 told the Press Association: Im pleased with the outcome. Well, in actual fact Im saddened we had to do it in the first place. But now we hope for meaningful, constructive dialogue commencing on Monday. Thousands of prison staff took part in the demonstrations, the POA said, which Mr Stewart called unlawful and irresponsible earlier on Friday. 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. Those demonstrating have received a letter signed by governor Helen Clayton-Hoar ordering them to return to work and threatening disciplinary procedures and docked pay packets. 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. Inmates have effectively taken control at the violent, overcrowded and vermin-infested jail, his report said. 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. 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. Authorities are also faced with a major task to stem the flow of contraband, with discoveries of drugs, mobile phones and Sim cards on the increase. 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. It is also investing 40 million to improve the estate and tackle the drugs problem, with 3,500 new officers to help ease the burden. Prosecutors have filed new charging documents against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, signalling he may plead guilty ahead of a second trial next week. The charges were contained in a criminal information, a document that can only be filed with a defendants consent which typically signals a deal has been reached. The charges include conspiracy against the US and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Paul Manafort (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Manafort is expected to appear in court later on Friday. It is unclear whether any agreement with prosecutors would require him to co-operate with special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into possible co-ordination between the Trump campaign and Russia. Manafort was facing a second trial set to begin on Monday in Washington on charges related to Ukrainian political consulting work. One of Rwandas most prominent opposition leaders has walked free after the government approved the early release of more than 2,100 prisoners with little explanation. Supporters of Victoire Ingabire and the state-run The New Times newspaper posted photos of the opposition leader leaving Nyarugenge prison hours after the justice ministrys announcement. Ms Ingabires release surprised many in the capital, Kigali, because it is unusual for long-time President Paul Kagame to pardon potential challengers. Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire (Shant Fabricatorian/AP) Cabinet today approved the early release of 2,140 eligible convicts. Among them are Kizito Mihigo and Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, who received a Presidential commutation of the remainder of their sentences, following their most recent requests for clemency in June 2018. Ministry of Justice (@Rwanda_Justice) September 14, 2018 Also approved for early release was musician Kizito Mihigo, convicted on charges of conspiring against the government, who along with MS Ingabire received a presidential commutation. The ministry statement said both had made their most recent requests for clemency in June. Ms Ingabire, head of the FDU-Inkingi opposition party, was arrested in 2010 and found guilty of conspiracy to undermine the government and denying Rwandas 1994 genocide, charges that she denied. She was sentenced to 15 years. Human Rights Watch called the charges politically motivated and linked to her criticism of the government ahead of the 2010 presidential election. Rwandas government has long been accused by rights groups of suppressing the opposition and having a justice system that lacks independence, which the government has denied. Human Rights Watch has expressed concern that the government uses accusations of genocide ideology as a way to silence critics. Some 800,000 people, mostly ethnic Tutsis, were killed by Hutu extremists during the Rwandan genocide, according to the United Nations. Some in Rwanda objected to Ms Ingabires release. Anyone who peddles ethnic politics must be told in no uncertain terms that it wont be tolerated. Her release doesnt do that, Christopher Kayumba, a lecturer at the school of journalism at the National University of Rwanda, said in a Twitter post. Still detained in Rwanda is Diane Rwigara, who tried to challenge Mr Kagame in last years election but was disqualified from running over allegations that she forged some of the signatures on her nomination papers. She denied it. Ms Rwigara later was charged with inciting insurrection against the state. In recent months, the Sino-Indian relations have seemingly witnessed a thaw, especially after the visit of General Wei Fenghe, the Chinese defence minister, to Delhi and a few days earlier, the Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Abhay Krishnas trip to China. One can only be glad about the newly cordial atmosphere which follows the tense moments during the Doklam episode in June-August 2017. However, this does not mean that China is not preparing to open new fronts on the 4057km-long Himalayan border. In fact, Western Tibet (known as Ngari by the Tibetans) has lately seen rapid development, particularly of its infrastructure. As often on the Tibetan plateau, it starts with tourism. Post the Doklam standoff, Western Tibet has seen rapid development. (Photo: PTI) New model villages Last week, China Tibet Online reported that during the first eight months of 2018, nearly six lakh tourists visited Ngari and the revenue generated reached $106 million; a 30 per cent increase compared to last year. The website noted: With the completion of the paved National Highway 219, the building of Ngari Kunsha Airport, as well as improvements to tourist services in Ngari Prefecture, more and more tourists have chosen to visit Ngari in recent years. Incidentally, Highway 219 is the Aksai Chin Road. The Himalayan range, the source of the Yarlung Tsangpo, the Indus and the Ganges, without forgetting Mt Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, are promoted as the ancestor of ten thousand mountains and the source of a hundred rivers. During the last few years, Beijing concentrated on the development of the southeastern prefectures of Nyingchi and Lhoka, north of Arunachal Pradesh. This translated in the mushrooming of new model villages on the Tibetan side of the Indian border. This development was officially linked to poverty alleviation and the defence of the borders. The local populations are supposed to be the Guardians of the Sacred Land and Builders of Happy Homes. Several senior Communist leaders visited these new villages, either north of Kibithu (where a Memorial for the 1962 War has been built as a bonus); in Metok, north of Upper Siang district; in Yume, north of Takshing in Upper Subansari or in Lepo, Marmang and Tsona, north of Tawang. On July 25, even Li Keqian, the Chinese Premier, visited a village in Mainling County, north of West Siang district. A telling sign of the new move is the amount of archaeological excavations undertaken; as a colonial power, China needs to establish its bona fide in the region. The idea is to prove that Tibet was always part of the Belt & Road Initiative. Quoting Huo Wei, head of the School of History and Culture of the Sichuan University, Xinhua wrote: The discoveries showed that there was a long stage of civilisation in the Peyang Tunggar region, and the civilisation had close ties with the surrounding areas. Before Buddhism was introduced to Tibet in the seventh century, there was a period called Shangshung culture according to historical recordings. In July, The Global Times affirmed the excavation in Western Tibet will help archaeologists understand Tibetan cultural development. Banking on history Though hardly mentioned in these articles, a similar civilisation flourished in the Indian side of the Himalayas, in areas such as Spiti, Kinnaur or Ladakh which have been deeply connected (religiously, economically and also politically) with Western Tibet. But today the border with India is sealed! For Beijing today, the first step to develop the area into a tourist spot is to provide a solid historical (meaning ideological) background. The 4th Annual China Tibet Cultural Tourism International Expo is taking place from September 7 to 11 in Lhasa: the investment-attraction platform at the expo will not only improve Tibets cultural soft power, it will (help promoting) business collaborations in Tibet and boost the local economy. During the last few years, Beijing has concentrated on the development of the southeastern prefectures of Nyingchi and Lhoka, north of Arunachal Pradesh. (Photo: Reuters) Importance for India The official news agency added: The Ngari area, located in western Tibet, has an average altitude of 4,500 metres, the Chinese propaganda usually centres on the Kailash: a huge pyramid of strange black rock sticks up, head and shoulders above the other mountains surrounding it. Shaped like a 6,000-metre pyramid, this unique mountain is Mount Kailash, known around the world as the most sacred mountain in history. Dominating the region, both physically and spiritually, this surreal mountain holds sway over more than one billion people around the world, says the Atheist State. Beijing has started duplicating in Ngari what has been done in Nyingchi and Lhoka areas; first and foremost, improving the infrastructure of the border villages. Among the three new airports to be constructed in Tibet, Purang is located in Ngari prefecture. The construction should begin in 2019 and it will be functional in 2021. The objective of these airports is to strengthen the border's communications with surrounding areas. Let us not forget that airports and highways on the plateau legally have dual-use (civilian and military). Several roads branching from the Highway 219 are being constructed to the border with India. The project Guardians of the Sacred Land and Builders of Happy Homes is therefore not innocent. India needs to act accordingly and develop its borders. (Courtesy of Mail Today) Also read: Urban Naxalism is real in India Political parties are quite naturally inclined to talk up their successes and underplay the significance of setbacks. Under the circumstances, the elation in the BJP over the ABVPs victory in three of the four elected posts for the Delhi University Students Union is understandable. Likewise, it is also entirely predictable that the Congress has blamed faulty EVMs for its failure to hold on to the body. Blaming defeats on electoral irregularities has, it would seem, also become routine. Discounting the template responses, is there any significance to the outcome of the DUSU elections, some seven months before the general election of 2019? The answers are mixed. To begin with, student elections are only partially indicative of the larger popular mood. Despite the phenomenal expansion of higher education in India, universities especially those dominated by undergraduate-heavy constituent colleges tend to be middle class in character. The middle class in turn embraces a very social range in terms of income, social status and aspirations. It includes representatives of the traditional elite and those who are first-generation literates. In addition, apart from students rooted to the city, Delhi University has a large numbers of students who come to the Capital city from both neighbouring and distant States. Although not in the same bracket as the IITs or even Jawaharlal Nehru University, DU has a relatively more diverse character than, say, State universities. However, in the case of DUSU, some of this diversity is discounted by the fact that at least two of the most elite institutions St Stephens College and Lady Shri Ram College are not members of DUSU and, consequently, dont participate in the election. The DUSU election is at best a loose parameter of how Young India thinks. Yet, considering that nearly half the electorate is made up of under-35s, the age group that swung the 2014 election in favour of the BJP and Narendra Modi in 2014, its importance should not be entirely discounted. The DUSU election does have a qualified representative character. Consequently, the results are nominally indicative of larger trends in the country. If anything, this years outcome demolished an important but self-serving myth that has been doing the rounds for the past two years. This myth is centred on the belief that both Modi and the BJP have steadily lost ground owing to the tensions that have pitted rebellious instincts against the Government. For example, there is widely held view that the Rohith Vemula suicide in Hyderabad some three years ago has alienated young Dalits from the BJP. There is also a belief, in media circles at least, that the tensions over seditious slogans and the arrest of the so-called urban Maoists have made students concerned over the future of democratic freedoms. The Modi Government has been projected as being vehemently anti-student and even anti-intellectual. To what extent intellectualism is actually celebrated in Indian universities is a worthy subject of future inquiries. However, the ABVPs success does suggest that the adverse impact of the Modi Governments stand against those who have been caricatured as promoting the vivisection of India has been vastly exaggerated. The relative failure of the far-Left in the DUSU polls is significant. It suggests that conventional middle class opinion on issues that excite the imagination of intellectuals and the English-language media does not always resonate in the youth. Indias younger generation may convey an outward image of westernised modernity and carefree cosmopolitanism but this is tempered by a huge overlayer of conservatism. The Modi Government and the BJP have been able to tap into these impulses. The quest for radical alternatives is still a fringe preoccupation. Secondly, past experience suggests that students are rarely insulated from the larger unpopularity of any Government. Any feeling of hopelessness and economic despondency has an immediate effect. The ABVP, for example, was strongest in Delhi University in the 1970s when there was a feeling of gloom and doom over individual prospects. In places such as Kolkata, where economic prospects seemed even more dire, student unrest led to experimenting with Maoist politics. What the DUSU results tell us is that conventional politics as expressed in support for the ABVP and NSUI is both alive and kicking. That the ABVP enjoyed an edge also suggests that there is no real sense of anger at the Modi Government or any despondency over future prospects. Had that been the case, the support for the ABVP would have crumbled. That is not the case and would indicate that the Congress activism over Indias perceived economic decline isnt universally shared. Nor for that matter is there evidence that the thrust on the Governments alleged corruption finds a ready audience. Clearly, the Opposition belief that the BJP will be routed in the general election is an overstated claim. The BJP support base seems relatively intact as is the Congress support and the real fight will be for the floating voters. Finally, it must be noted that a student election isnt in any way a political referendum, although it does indicate the overall support for parties. How the injection of the Modi factor will change calculations will shift voting patterns is the key. That battle has not really begun in earnest. This time something unusual happened at the National Executive meeting of the BJP. Sources say the current burning issues, including the rising fuel prices, were not discussed anywhere neither in the meeting of party officials nor in the open session. On both days of the meet, Central Ministers such as Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Prakash Javadekar addressed the press but kept mum on these crucial issues despite repeated questions by journalists. In the same manner, no discussion was held over the agitation of forward castes against the SC/ST Act, as party leaders and spokespersons stayed silent. They briefed the media about all political resolutions passed in the National Executive, but nothing was mentioned about the foreign or economic policies. This must be noted that recently, India and the US held the 2+2 dialogue, and the Opposition is alleging that India has surrendered all its interests before America. The economic policies of the Narendra Modi Government are also being questioned, but the BJP leaders are maintaining stoic silence. THINGS GET TOUGH FOR KCR K Chandrashkhar Rao was running his Government with more than two-thirds majority, but he dissolved the Assembly. Now the question is whether this step will prove beneficial for the Chief Minister of Telangana or not. The scenario is reminiscent of how the UKs PM Theresa May put her majority Government at stake last year when she announced the dissolution of the House of Commons. She got a big jolt in elections and her party lost the majority. KCR might just land in the same situation; he hopes for the best but may get the worst. In the next two months, the Assembly Elections will be held in the State, and the Opposition parties have started coming together. The Congress, TDP, and the Left have already formed an alliance. The Left parties have a stronghold in a big part of Telangana. Though Maoist organisations have removed their base from the area, almost all big leaders of the CPI Maoist come from this area. In the last elections, the CPI and CPM had got one seat each and gathered good number of votes in almost a dozen seats. Apart from that, the BSP had won two seats. The Congress had got 21 and the TDP got 15 seats. The Congress, TDP, Left tie-up is bound to give KCRs Telangana Rashtra Samithi a big jolt. Although the organisation of the Congress has not strengthened much since the last elections, the alliance will have an effect on the chances of the ruling party. SENA-BJP ALLIANCE STRONG The NCP and Congress leaders, who earlier thought that the Shiv Sena would not go with the BJP, are now changing their views. They are ready to accept that the Sena would go only with the BJP, and three incidents in last month have forced them to change their mind. It is now being believed that the Shiv Sena and BJP will go into a pre-poll alliance on the old formula. The most recent incident is related to the soaring oil prices. Oil is the costliest in Maharashtra, with petrol prices touching Rs 90 per litre. When the Congress, NCP, and other Opposition parties called a Bharat Bandh on the issue, the Shiv Sena didnt support it. Before that, during the Monsoon Session, the Shiv Sena had supported the Government on the no-confidence motion moved by the TDP. In the same session, the party backed the BJP in the election of the Rajya Sabha Vice-Chairman. Though this is also true that the party always gives statements against PM Modi and the BJP on almost every issue, it nevertheless extends support to the BJP if the need arises. That is why the Congress is of the view that the BJP and Shiv Sena will go together. Earlier, the Congress and NCP were of the view that if the BJP and Sena go separately, they will be wiped out. But now the picture has changed. NO OPEN SUPPORT TO CONG The Congress is trying its best to unite the Opposition parties for the next Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections, but it seems that no parties other than those who were partners of the UPA are openly backing the Congress. In fact, some regional kshatrapas are in a dilemma. They are not very comfortable with the party as they feel that it is not suitable for their own regional politics. That is why almost all big regional kshatrapas kept away from the Bharat Bandh over soaring oil prices. The BJD, TMC, SP, BSP, TDP and other regional parties, which are openly against the BJP, didnt support the Bandh. It was expected that the ruling BJD in Odisha would probably go with the Congress, but Naveen Patnaik bluntly told the party that he was against the Bharat Bandh. The TMC also didnt participate in the agitation, though it gave its moral support. Since the ruling party in West Bengal didnt support the Bandh, no effect was seen in the State. In Uttar Pradesh, the SP and BSP didnt take part in the Bandh either. The SP leaders instead staged a dharna. In Andhra Pradesh, the TDP didnt support the Bharat Bandh. Only parties such as the RJD, the Left, NCP, and JMM stood behind the Congress. SINHA DUOS POLITICS Yashwant Sinha, who left the BJP some time ago, and Shatrughan Sinha, who is not happy with the party, are toiling hard to unite the Opposition. That is why they went to Ahmedabad to meet Patidar leader Hardik Patel and also participated in a function of the Aam Aadmi Party in Noida. In fact, the two leaders have come closer to Arvind Kejriwal. Some time ago, when Yashwant Sinha sat on a dharna at Vijay Chowk, Kejriwal told his supporters to participate in the agitation. But can Kejriwal make way into the Opposition bandwagon with the efforts of the Sinha duo? Kejriwal and his party leaders are working towards this goal, and are in talks with the Congress. The problem, however, is that nobody can read Kejriwals mind. On one hand, he is holding talks, and on the other hand, he is creating pressure. He divulged his plans for UP in the presence of Yashwant and Shatrughan. Before that, he had announced that he will fight on all seats in Haryana. His party is also gearing up to fight elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Though this is also true that wherever his party has contested, except in Delhi, it has created a new record of getting the lowest votes. This time, the Congress wants no party to hamper any chance of alliance. So, there will be an attempt to persuade Kejriwal anyhow. The recent fidayeen strike along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Jhajjar Kotli has once again exposed the gaping holes in the overall security 'bandobast' of 400-km long surface link between Lakhanpur- the gateway of J&K and Kashmir valley. According to the preliminary interrogation reports of driver and his accomplice arrested by the State police from Jhajjar Kotli on Wednesday, over 20 infiltrators have been ferried by them since January 2018 at different intervals. These sensational disclosures has already left all those senior security officers, entrusted with the job of securing national highway, red faced. Even huge presence of security forces at different locations, random patrolling by the Quick reaction teams (QRT's) of the Indian army, CRPF and random checking of vehicles at security check points set up by the State police could not detect presence of heavily armed terrorists in the truck, frequently used by the over ground workers of Jaish-e- Mohammad terrorist outfit to ferry them to Kashmir valley in the recent months. According to police the arrested driver and his accomplice has been identified as Riaz Ahmad son of Ghulam Ahmad R/o Hajin, Pulwama and Mohammad Iqbal son of Abdul Khaliq R/o Pakharpora, Budgam, a BSc Nursing student. Brother of Riaz was also a terrorist and had been killed in an encounter with the security forces. Official sources revealed they were both working as OGW's of Jaish-e- Mohammad terrorist outfit. The duo,seems to have ran out of their luck on Wednesday when they stopped at one of their favorite eating joints near Jhajjar Kotli for a sumptuous breakfast. The duo had no idea that a flying squad of a highway patrol party could chase them and take the lid off their secret operation. Three member fidayeen group, hiding inside the truck, also acted in haste by opening fire on the police party and exposed themselves.They were neutralised on Thursday during the day long operation in Kakriyal area alogn the national highway. Top brass of the State police has already taken note of the serious security breach. Director General of state Police Dilbagh Singh is most likely to chair a separate review meeting of senior police officers to further review and beef up security of the National Highway to prevent repeat of such episodes. Briefing media persons at the encounter site in Kakriyal on Thursday General Officer Commanding (GOC), Uniform Force Major General Arvind Bhatia had also told reporters,"these terrorists possibly infiltrated from the Samba sector and were heading towards Kashmir valley to carry out some major strike with the help of their handlers and vast network of over ground workers". Quoting preliminary police investigation in the case Major General Bhatia had also claimed, "the driver and co-driver arrested by the state police on Wednesday were engaged in the specific job of transporting infiltrating terrorists from Jammu to Srinagar using this mode of transport". "Police reports suggested over 20 terrorists have been transported by them in this manner only this year", he added. According to these reports the duo had travelled from Kashmir on September 9 to ferry these terrorists to the Valley. They waited in Jammu for a signal to pick them from the border belt of Samba district. The state police is still investigating this claim to establish the fact that these terrorists had recently infiltrated from across the International border to carry out terror attacks in Kashmir valley. When it comes to renewal and revival of the Yamuna and a reminder that Delhi is a riverine city, the thought bubble floats only in seminar rooms and has seldom become an actionable plan on the ground. Even when Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal talked of a determined effort at river rejuvenation, few had taken him seriously considering his clipped power portfolio given Delhis special status. But his trip to Seoul, to the Cheonggyecheon stream to be precise, has re-charged him. Cheonggyecheon stream was a much neglected waterway that was hidden by an overpass. The rivulet's remarkable replacement of a traffic-filled stretch of an elevated freeway with public space, water and vegetation, is an epitome of a modern urbanist's dream. In an attempt to preserve the unique identity of natural environment, the Seoul Metropolitan Government undertook a restoration project in 2005 and renewed it. If Cheonggyecheon stream could be turned from a dirty polluted 11-km stream into a tourist hotspot, why can't river Yamuna be revived? He could well borrow some river rejuvenation tips considering the Delhi Government has signed a twin city agreement, "'Establishment of Friendship City Relationship" with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Cities with rivers should consider themselves blessed as they anchor the biosphere and restore the natural cycle. Take Besos in Barcelona, for instance. Once known for being the most contaminated river in Europe, it was rejuvenated through bio-remediation techniques that helped in cleansing the soil and pollutants discharged into the river. Closer home, one may recall the success of the Sabarmati River rejuvenation programme, which showed determined political will turning the tide in favour of progress. The Goa unit of the All India Congress Seva Dal will launch Mandovi Bachao Andolan on October 2 to recharge the river that has made cruise tourism possible. If Kejriwal can indeed clean up the Yamuna riverfront and get boats to bob up and down in its waters, he would not only win hearts but be seen to be attempting the impossible as a doer who doesnt fight shy of challenges. In the shocking gangrape of a 19-year-old college girl student in Haryanas Mahendragarh district three days ago, one of the three accused is an Armyman posted in Rajasthan and a police team has been sent to arrest him, police said on Saturday. The Haryana police set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to their arrest, said Haryanas Director General of Police BS Sandhu. The victims father has said 8 or 10 men may have raped her but she could identify only three of them. The woman, who topped the CBSE Board exam and was felicitated by the Government, was abducted at a bus stop in Kanina town on Wednesday while she was on way to a coaching class, police said. She was then allegedly drugged and gangraped at a secluded spot. Sandhu confirmed on Saturday that one of the accused is an Armyman posted in Rajasthan. The hunt for the other two accused is also on, he added, expressing confidence that they will land in police net soon. All the three accused were known to the victim. Sandhu said the Armyman who allegedly raped the woman was identified as Pankaj, posted in Kota was on leave and expected to rejoin later in the day. In Jaipur, Lt Gen Cherish Mathson, who heads the South Western Command, said the Army will help bring the rape accused to book. We do not shelter criminals. We would facilitate in searching out the accused, and will make sure that if any Army man is found involved in the rape case, he is brought to the book, he told reporters at an Army event. Sandhu said an FIR was registered as soon as the victim lodged her complaint, and a medical examination conducted. She was kidnapped by three men who arrived in a car and was taken to a secluded place where she was gangraped after being offered a drink laced with sedatives, the complainant had alleged. The accused later left her near a bus stop in Kanina the same day. Also on Saturday, the National Commission for Women (NCW) condemned the incident and asked the Haryana police chief to give an update on the probe. The SIT led by Nuh Superintendent of Police Naazneen Bhasin, visited the crime spot. Bhasin told reporters in Rewari that the sketches of the accused will soon be released by police. Their antecedents are also being checked for any past criminal record. She said a medical examination had confirmed rape. The victims mother had accused police of delay in acting after a complaint was filed, but Bhasin countered the charge. She said police sent out raiding teams when they were told about the crime. But the accused had left the place on the day of incident, according to their mobile forensics. Multiple teams have been formed to nab them, she said. The SP said police personnel attended to the victim properly. The most important factor was to make the victim comfortable to take her statement in a sensitive way, she said, adding there was no delay in this procedure. The case evoked sharp reaction from the Opposition parties. They demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on moral grounds, saying the State had failed to protect its daughters. Haryana Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu on Saturday said the museum which is under construction in Rakhigarhi of Hisar district, will become the pride of Haryana leading to making Narnaund area as a destination of world class tourism. The Minister inspected the museum under construction in Rakhigarhi and also reviewed the progress of the construction of the museum being developed over an area of 5.5-acres including research centre and hostels for researchers. The consultants who were giving it a world-class look gave detailed information about the construction of the museum. They showed actual splendour of this museum through a 3-D film about the Museum. The Finance Minister directed the PWD (B and R) department that the film created on the museum should be shown to the children, the elderly and the villagers of Rakhigarhi to make them aware that they are residing in an important historic place. He also asked the Sarpanch of the village to provide 2 acres of land for museum for parking purpose and also to get a proposal passed in the panchayat about land for construction of road for bye pass on the back side of the Museum. The Finance Minister said that Rakhigarhi has unique treasures of Vedic civilization and history of mankind of Harappan period. The exploration of this ancient site older than Mohenjo-Daro will explore ancient civilization of India. A large number of people across the globe would come to see this world-class magnificent museum Rakhigarhi to know the history of human civilization and the journey so far. He said it will make the Narnaund region a world-class tourist destination. This museum, which will be completed in about one year, will show a variety of shows to the audience, he added. The first day of the country-wide Swachchhata Hi Seva campaign, initiated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was started off by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan by cleaning Ramanand Colony here. The campaign will conclude on October 2. Renowned personalities of the society will take part in the Swachchhata Hi Seva campaign. Starting the campaign, Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh will become the champion of cleanliness in the country. He said that this goal can be met only with the support of the people. He said that he will begin his day with cleanliness work every day till the campaign concludes on October 2. Turn to Page 4 CM kicks off Swachchhata hi Seva' campaign He said that to make the cleanliness campaign successful, participation of each citizen of the state along with the government's efforts is must. The Chief Minister administered the oath to the citizens to take out time and join the cleanliness campaign, get involved in cleaning their localities, workplace, hospitals, schools and roads besides devote at least 100 hours in a year to cleanliness. He said that taking one step towards cleanliness is the beginning of a healthier Bhopal. He said that Indore tops the list in cleanliness and Bhopal is second. This was possible only with the support of the public. The Chief Minister has also called upon people to take Bhopal to the first position in the Cleanliness Survey -2019. School students and elite citizens took part in the cleanliness campaign on the occasion of the launch of the campaign. Citizens saw the live video coverage of the launch of Prime Minister Modi's 'Swachhata hi Seva' campaign. Bhopal Mayor Alok Sharma, Chairman of Bhopal Municipal Corporation Surjeet Singh Chouhan were also present. East Singhbhum administration ushered into a new beginning of progress with Gunsan city agreeing in setting up a technology center at Electronic Manufacturing Cluster in industrial area of Adityapur. A meeting to this effect was held between East Singhbhum deputy commissioner, Amit Kumar, who is also the regional director of Adityapur Industrial Area Development Authority (AIADA) and the Mayor of Gunsan City, Kang- Imjune on Friday on the sidelines of the Gunsan Time Travel Festival at Gunsan City, South Korea. We have received overwhelming response so far. During my meeting we had a healthy discussion and spoke on technology transfer through cross exchange of delegation. The Gunsan City officials have showed keen interest in setting up a technology center in the under construction Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) in Adityapur, especially in the auto electronic components. It will be a boost for ancillary units Adityapur as Gunsan is a leader in automotive production, said Amit Kumar. The deputy commissioner was invited by the Gunsan City mayor for the Time Travel Festival from September 13-16 as part of sister city agreement signed between the two cities in 2004. The EMC has been planned with state of the infrastructure facilities providing opportunities for automotive electronics, telecom products, medical electronics, consumer and industrial electronics. One of the big Electronic manufacturing cluster is located in Adityapur, Jamshedpur which caters to the requirement of industries present in and around of Jamshedpur. EMC is a part of integrated township which houses IT/ITes Park, STPI along with other supporting facilities and infrastructure. It is a Greenfield Electronic Manufacturing Cluster under execution on 82.49 acres as part of an Integrated Township of 233 acres at Adityapur in the state of Jharkhand, India under Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MEITY), Government of India Electronic Manufacturing Cluster Scheme 2012. The agreement was signed by the then East Singhbhum DC Sunil Kumar Barnwal (currently secretary to Chief Minister) in 2004, after Tata Motors decided to take over Daewoo Motors in Korea. It facilitated an understanding of quality requirements in advanced markets which otherwise were largely centered on developing economy in India. We had healthy talk on several developmental issues. We also shared detailed information and plans about Gunsans eco-city and creative city concept for implementation of the same in Jamshedpur with exchange of delegation between Jusco and Gunsan Urban development authorities, said Amit Kumar. Later, in the day, the DC also visited the Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company in Gunsan and held meeting with its president and CEO Kim Kwan-Kju. The Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company (TDCV) is South Korea's second largest manufacturer of medium and heavy-duty trucks. Formerly part of the Daewoo Group, the company was acquired by Tata Motors in 2004. The Special Task Force (STF) of Haryana Police on Saturday said it has unearthed a manufacturing unit of illegal liquor operating from village Thol in Ismailabad police station area in Kurukshetra district and arrested 16 persons including 14 belonging to Uttar Pradesh in this connection. A spokesman of Police Department said that acting on a tip off, police team alongwith excise department personnel raided Surya Sheller in Thol village and recovered illegal liquor in huge quantity. The illicit liquor factory was being operated under the guise of sheller. STF sleuths also recovered illegal liquor and other equipments used in liquor manufacturing. 16 persons were arrested, while two other managed to escape. After getting input about the illegal manufacturing unit, the spokesman said that STF sleuths immediately raided and seized 5388 bottles and 9750 quarter bottles under the name of Malta, 1980 bottles and 17150 quarter bottles under the name of Raseela Santra, about 14000 empty bottles, 13000 empty quarter bottles, 15000 cardboard boxes, 1500 litres spirit, six tanks of 5000-litre capacity, one large RO, two canters and huge stock of seals, boxes, labels and holo-gram. A case under different sections of IPC and Excise Act was registered against all accused. Director General of Police, B.S. Sandhu has congratulated the police team which unearthed the illicit unit. STF had recently unearthed an illegal liquor factory engaged in bottling of IMFL and other brands operating from a house located in village Baiyanpur Khurd of Sonipat district. Woman injured in acid attack in Punjab Amritsar: A 23-year-old woman suffered severe burn injuries when two unidentified masked men allegedly threw acid on her at Thoba village, police said on Saturday. The incident occurred on Friday when the woman, a student of Bed, was returning from college when two motorcycle-borne men chased her after she got down from the bus at the village, nearly twenty 25 km from here. The accused fled from the spot after the incident, police said. Some passersby immediately admitted her to a village hospital from where she was referred to Amritsar Government Guru Nanak Hospital. A case has been registered against the unidentified accused under section 326 A of the Indian Penal Code for wilfully causing grievous injuries by acid. SJVN observing Swachhta hi Sewa Pakhwara Shimla: SJVN is observing Swachhta hi Sewa Pakhwara from September 15 to October 2 at all its offices and projects. In a series of activities that are planned for this fortnight, a pledge was administered to all the employees across all the offices and projects of SJVN. At Corporate Office Shimla, the pledge was administered by Chief General Manager Deepak Nakhasi where in the employees pledged to wholeheartedly adopt Swachh Bharat drive initiated by Prime Minister and to imbibe it in the daily routines of all their lives. Haryana CM approves Rs 222 l for roads Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal, has accorded administrative approval amounting to over Rs. 222 lakh for the improvement of road from G.A. road (Badshahpur) to Sakatpur and Palra School road in district Gurugram. Public Works (Building and Roads) Minister, Rao Narbir Singh said that over Rs. 222 lakh has been approved for improvement of road including providing concrete pavement and side drains for G.A. road (Badshahpur) to Sakatpur and Palra School road in district Gurugram. Similarly, administrative approval amounting to around Rs 97 lakh was given for the construction of new road from Garhi Sadhrana road to village Hamirpur upto Railway crossing in district Gurugram. 3 held with Rs 1.43 cr demonetised currency Chandigarh: The Haryana Police claimed to have seized demonetised currency worth Rs 1.43 crore from three persons. The seizure was made after police conducted a raid at a house in Navdeep Colony in Hisar on Friday night. Police spokesperson Harish Bhardwaj said on Saturday that the accused were identified as Guriqbal Singh, resident of Vikas Puri in New Delhi, Sunil of Girawar village in Rohtak district and Praveen Kumar of Samar Gopalpur village, Rohtak. During investigation, the accused admitted that they had procured demonetised notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 from a property dealer in Delhi by making a payment of Rs 7.50 lakh in the new currency. The police were yet to ascertain the purpose behind the purchase of the scrapped currency while the interrogation of the accused was underway, police spokesman said. A case has been registered in this regard, the spokesperson said. Red Cross Fair to be held on Nov 3 in Shimla Shimla: The State level Red Cross fair will be organised at Ridge, Shimla on November 3 this year. Governor Acharya Devvrat will inaugurate this fair while Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur will preside over the closing ceremony. Chairperson of the HP Red State Red Cross Welfare Section Sadhna Thakur presided over a meeting of the Section organised here and said that 28 stalls would be established during this fair and the stalls would be allotted on come first, get first basis. The Hospital Welfare Section would also distribute sweats in the hospitals, child and old age homes before the Diwali festival. Badnore kicks off Swachhata hi Seva drive in UT Chandigarh: To make Prime Ministers Swachhata hi Seva (Cleanliness is the only service) campaign a success, V.P. Singh Badnore, Governor, Punjab and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh on Saturday kicked off 18 days drive from Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh. The Administrator appealed to the residents to clean their surroundings and post photographs of it. He said that this 18 days campaign will end on October, 2, which other than being Gandhi Jayanti is also the fourth anniversary of Swachh Bharat Mission. The Administrator also flagged off Swachhata rally carrying all the information about Swachhata hi Seva and other IEC jingles, placards and pamphlets etc. Doing away with the western convocation robes, the outgoing batch of Jamshedpur Womens College wore especially designed Khadi dress at its graduation ceremony held at Tata Auditorium on Saturday. Students wore new khadi gowns in cream, red and blue. It has been designed by students of National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi. Ninety-eight toppers were felicitated with gold medals. Principal Purnima Kumar said they had a dream to re-introduce khadi. Degree holders in a black gown and cape are an enduring symbol of academic success, especially for girls. Thats been a symbol of emancipation for many women through the generations. Thats why we have kept the cape with gown, though the fabric and colours are different, said Kumar. Last year, Kolhan University broke the tradition of the quintessential black gown and cape and instead used traditional outfits accompanied by Jaipuri pagdis and Santhali stoles. Students should focus on research work and acquiring degree should not be the only aim of academic life. Jharkhand Governor cum chancellor of universities, Droupadi Murmu said this during second Graduation Day of Jamshedpur Womens College (JWC) . Altogether 98 students got gold medal while altogether 4003 graduate (2013 and 2014 pass out) and post graduate (2014 and 2015 pass out) got certificate on the occasion. Students, wearing fusion of Indo-western designed Khadi gown and hat, received medal from the governor. The autonomous college had adopted the new gown for the first time as students had been demanding to ban over the British period black gown on an auspicious occasion of their academic life. The college administration adopted Khadi gown, spreading the patriotic feeling and Kolhan University is likely to follow it in its upcoming convocation. Addressing to the students, governor said that teachers should act as mother while teaching student in colleges. The young generation should inculcate moral character within themselves during the whole academic life, she added. They should prove inner skill and try to achieve excellence in each respective field, she added. Sky should be limit for each student in academic and post academic life. They should try to be role model in the society. Girl student should come up with examples that orthodox people should get change their approach towards women, Murmu said. Rashmi Dubey of BSc 2013 and Sonali Roy of BSc 2014 declared as over all best graduate students in their respective session. Pinky Mahawar of Msc 2014 and Ruhi of Msc 2015 got Dr Anju Priya Akhouri Award on the Day. Vice chancellor of Kolhan University Shukla Mahanty said that the college is looking for world class quality education to women, once is starts functioning as first womens university in the region including Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal. The members of the Congresss student affiliate National Student Union of India (NSUI) staged protest demonstration against what they called the anti- people polices of the Centre here on Saturday. The NSUI activists assembled at the state Congress party office and then marched to the bustling Astley Hall area of the city near Parade Ground. There they torched an effigy of the Union Government while shouting slogans. Speaking on the occasion, the district NSUI president Bhupendra Negi said that due to wrong polices of the union government, industrialist Vijay Mallya had managed a huge loans worth Rs 9000 crores from the banks of the country and then had flown out of the country. He claimed that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitleys collusion with Mallya had helped the latter to run away with the loot. Negi further said that the government should set up an inquiry committee on the whole episode and Jaitley should resign from the cabinet. Other NSUI leaders said that the loan defaulters like Mallya, Neerav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Lalit Modi all are out of the country due to the collusion of the union government. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Friday said that AICC President Rahul Gandhi is visiting temples after fearing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Chief Minister was referring to Rahul Gandhis visit to Kailash Mansarovar and proposed visit to the prominent temples of Chhattisgarh. The AICC has sought the route map of several prominent temples in Chhattisgarh so is to include it in Rahul Gandhis visit to state. The Chief Minister said at least in the name of elections, those people who never visited temples, atleast have begun to visit the temples. Union Minister for Textiles Smriti Zubin Irani said that if any political party is asked, it would say they see the God in the people. But it is a happy moment that the person who has gone to tour the country, due to BJP, is forced to have a visit and pray at the temples. She said that one has to understand that politics in the country is based on development and if any party does politics by defining development, then it is only the BJP. Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CGPCC) President Bhupesh Baghel while reacting to the comment of Chief Minister said that what type of Hindu national party is it which objects to Congress President Rahul Gandhi going to the temple. How the Chief Minister is seeing politics while climbing the steps of temple, he said. Baghel said that BJP leaders are sitting without work and so watching the movement of Congress President. They (BJP) should turn the pages of Congress history before making any comment. It is Congress leader Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel who started the renovation of Somnath temple. It was President Shankar Dayal Sharma who dedicated the temple to the nation. Congress party follows path of Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi. BJP does not have the right to play politics on religion. It is an individuals privacy to follow any faith and no one can question it, he said . As the world celebrated 11th International Day of Democracy, on Saturday, a symposium on 'Challenges to Indian Electoral Democracy was organised by Vijay Dev, Chief Election Commissioner (CEO) of Delhi at India Habitat Centre. Speaking on the occasion, OP Rawat, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) India said, There has been so much noise about electronic voting machines (EVMs) or the misuse of social media platforms and about all kinds of ills. All these things affect elections. With this, legitimacy of leadership and elections suffers. These are the challenges to Indian Electoral Democracy, he added. The address was followed by a panel discussion on the issue. The panellist Dr SY Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner, addressed media by saying, In 1940, we had only 11 Parliamentary democracies across the world, now we have 23, which is not a big number. Quoting his article on the same issue in a leading newspaper today, he said, South Asia is home to 3 per cent of the world's area and 21 per cent of the world's population. He added by saying that it is significant that 50 per cent of the world's population living under some form of democratic rule resides in this region. He further said that in India, we have positive picture but in other democracies we do have this privilege. Delhi CEO Vijay Dev said that even though EC has done superb job in smooth conduct of polls of colossal magnitude, we have lot to do. We have to rise to the expectations of citizens in terms of decriminalising the politics, eradicating influences of bribery and inducements, ensuring transparency in the funding of political parties, ensuring inner party democracy, creating level playing field between independents vs parties and between party in power vs other parties and finally making ECI a fearless impartial electoral watchdog. These are the challenge, Dev said. While every channel and newspaper gives much importance to February 14, the Valentine's Day, I would say the real day is today. Today is a very beautiful day, another panellist, Dushyant Dave, Senior advocate of Supreme Court said. There is very little discussion about the day in media and common people, which is the real problem, he further said. Apart from them, the other were, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, senior journalist, Justice JD Kapoor, former judge, Delhi High Court and Niranjan Sahoo, senior research fellow. Af military helicopter crash kills four Herat: An Afghan military helicopter carrying weapons and ammunition burst into flames during an emergency landing in western Afghanistan, killing at least four people, including the pilot, officials said on Saturday. ISIS kills 20 US-backed gunmen in east Syria Beirut: A Syrian war monitor and a Kurdish official say members of the Islamic State group have killed 20 US-backed fighters in the countrys east. The attack occurred late Friday in Deir el-Zour province where the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces launched a wide offensive this week to capture the last pocket held by IS in Syria. Ethiopian airstrike kills 70 al-Shabab in Somalia Addis Ababa: A new report says Ethiopias air force has killed about 70 al-Shabab extremists in an airstrike in neighbouring Somalia. The state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate says the airstrike was meant to thwart an al-Shabab attack on an Ethiopian contingent of the multinational African Union force. Nepals ex-PM Prachanda leaves for China visit Kathmandu: Nepals former Prime Minister Prachanda left for China on Saturday on a four-day visit during which he is expected to hold meetings with the Chinese leaders and discuss issues of mutual concern. Prachanda, who is the chairman of Nepal Communist Party, before his departure said his visit is aimed at expanding relations between his party and the Communist Party of China. People in Tamil Nadu are realising that theyve been made pawns in Dravidian politics, which has cultivated ethnic separatism and divisive identity politics. The State is also desperate for a change from decades-old dynasty politics, says Kumar Chellappan Human civilisation undergoes major shifts from time to time. Tamil Nadu is experiencing such a civilisational change, a change in the basic political landscape. Whether the change is taking the State to better days or worse is being discussed widely all over the country. We have seen civilisational changes leading to destruction as well as reconstruction of societies. Culture, lifestyle, geography, climate, and ecology all vanish at one phase only to reappear in another form. There were instances of empires and kingdoms disappearing without any trace. We have seen the Vedic-era River Saraswati the banks of which saw a flourishing civilisation and which was said to be flowing through North India to discharge into the Arabian Sea disappearing from the face of the earth only to be retraced and reinvented thousands of years later by modern-day scientists. The same is the case with River Saradha, the remnants of which have been detected in Odisha. In Tamil Nadu, the present-day generation is witnessing the spectacle of a tectonic shift in the States political skyline. The Dravidian dream run is coming to an end even as the State is under the threat of a rapid regression. The stage for the de-Dravidianisation of Tamil Nadu began in December 2016 with the demise of Jayalalithaa, the then Chief Minister and AIADMK chief. Jayalalithaa, a spinster, passed away without nominating an heir and the result is there for all to see. The AIADMK disintegrated into three to four factions by 2017, the birth centenary year of MG Ramachandran, the founder of the party. There is no charismatic leader in the AIADMK and it was known that the party would soon weaken. Muthuvel Karunanidhi, the long-serving chief of the DMK too left this world early August, causing jitters in the party. Karunanidhi, who was elected president of the party in 1969, had over the past 50 years converted the DMK into a family enterprise. Nobody other than his close family members could dream of getting any important position in the party or in the Government (whenever the DMK was ruling the State). With his passing away, the General Council of the DMK, which had been jampacked with family loyalists, elected MK Stalin, his second son by his second wife, as the party president. MK Alagiri, his elder son, had made his displeasure known by openly revolting against Stalin and dragging the succession issue to the streets. The DMK Trust, which controls properties worth thousands of crores all over Tamil Nadu, too, has gone into the hands of Stalin and his family. The DMK has become the Congress of Tamil Nadu. With Alagiri, the former southern chieftain of the DMK declaring his battle royale against Stalin and his cronies, the Dravidian major too is in for a major crisis. The Dravidian regime in Tamil Nadu began in 1967 as a consequence of the anti-Hindi agitation which rocked the State in the early 1960s. Political commentators and authors describe the anti-Hindi agitation as a manifestation of the anti-Hindu feelings, especially the anti-Brahmin feelings prevalent in the State. The word Dravida itself is a misnomer and has been coined out of context by a section of politicians in Tamil Nadu to serve their vested interests. Scholars like Dr Subramanian Swamy say that the term Dravida and Aryan have been used to pollute Indian history to serve the causes of the British colonial masters. Dravida was first used by Adi Shankara in the famous debate he had with the Buddhist scholar, Mandana Misra. Adi Shankara was asked who he was and he said he was Dravida shishu or child. Dravida is a combination of Thra and Vidu, which means three and coast respectively. This means that Dravida is the land of three coasts. Aryan is not a word in Sanskrit. Aryaputhra or Aryaputhri were terms used to address men and women of learning and who possess good qualities, says Dr Swamy. The anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu went out of the Governments control following the suicide by a person at Thiruchirappali Railway Station on January 25, 1965, according to N Kalyanasundaram, a chronicler of Tamil Nadu politics. This man set himself ablaze following a quarrel with his wife. Anbil Dharmalingam, the DMK leader, portrayed it as a self-immolation against Hindi and it caught up with the people. Dharmalingam was later made a Minister by the DMK leadership for the service rendered by him, said Kalyanasundaram, who was a witness to the suicide. The word Dravidan has an inherent anti-India feeling in it. The average Tamilian, who grew up in an anti-Hindi and anti-Aryan surrounding, feels that he/she is not a part of mainland India. The Dravidian regime, which came to power for the first time in 1967 and is since ruling the State alternately by way of the two factions, has done a lot of damage to the national fabric. CN Annadurai, during his tenure as a member of the Rajya Sabha, is on record demanding the secession of Tamil Nadu from the Union of India and formation of a separate country by the name, Dravida Nadu. Though the DMK was forced to put the demand on the back burner following the 16th amendment of the Constitution, the clamour for Dravida Nadu is still strong in the DMK and some outfits with a Dravidian tag. Stalin had suggested on March 17 at Erode that the Southern States should come together and demand the formation of Dravida Land. K Thirunavakkarassu, the DMK historian, said it was a possibility. The DMK Constitution is clear on this. The party stands for the formation of Dravida Nadu, he had said following the demand by Stalin. Most Indians are not aware of the intensity of the anti-Hindi campaign by the Dravidian parties. Tamil Nadu is the only State in the country which does not have even a single Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, public schools offering free education to rural poor in the country. While all districts in the country have such schools in most backward regions, Tamil Nadus Dravidian parties, the DMK and the AIADMK, have declared such institutions unwelcome in the State. The Navodaya Vidyalaya system is a unique experiment unparalleled in the annals of school education in the country and provides the best residential school system irrespective of a childs economic condition. This was introduced as a part of a new education policy of the Rajiv Gandhi Government in 1985, said YR Johnson, a former principal of Navodaya Vidyalaya, who resides in Kanyakumari. Johnson and his friends had approached the Madras High Court with a plea to direct the Tamil Nadu Government to take steps to launch Navodaya schools in the State. Though the Madras High Court ordered the opening of such schools by July 2017, the Dravidian Government got the order stayed by the apex court. Such schools would lead to the imposition of Sanskrit and Hindi on Tamil students, argued the State in the court. Sreesailam Unnikrishnan, a Malayalam professor and a revered linguist, says that the Dravidian leaders passion for Tamil has crossed all limits of sensibility. They are still led by the arguments put forward by Robert Caldwell, an evangelist, who proposed the theory that Tamil was a unique language and part of the Dravidian language. There is no scientific proof for this theory. All languages are equally unique. Nobody questions on what authority an evangelist spoke about Tamil, said Prof Unnikrishnan. Interestingly, the children and grandchildren of all Tamil chauvinistic leaders study in high-end public schools where speaking Tamil is an offence punishable with hefty fines. Stalins daughter Chenthamarai owns Sunshine Public School in Chennai where speaking Tamil would land the students in trouble. This is a part of an attempt to make Tamil Nadu a separate country within India. The Dravidian party leaders would claim that the State is a separate entity where there is no Hindi and Sanskrit. Tamil Nadu is the only State opposing NEET and does not allow Hindi or Sanskrit in schools, said H Raja, National Secretary, the BJP. The sense of alienation, which is discernible among the average Tamilian, is the balance sheet of the 50-year-long Dravidian rule. It is sad to see that the Congress, which had ruled the State till 1967, stands as a mute spectator to the Dravidians resistance to launch Navodaya Vidyalayas in Tamil Nadu, a dream project of their leader, late Rajiv Gandhi. The industrialisation of Tamil Nadu had come to an end in 1967 with the change of Government at Fort Saint George in Chennai. The never-ending Cauvery River water sharing imbroglio, the demand for the retrieval of Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka, the campaign for the creation of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka are the major narratives in Tamil Nadus political discourse. What did the DMK do for the State when it was wielding power at the Centre from 2004 to 2013? Karunanidhis grand nephew, Dayanidhi Maran, was made a Cabinet Minister with the portfolio of Information Technology and Telecommunications, TR Baalu was made Minister for shipping and surface transport, two of the money-spinning Ministries. When fight erupted in the family over sharing of the booty, Dayanidhi was removed and replaced by A Raja, friend of Kanimozhi, Karunanidhis daughter by his third wife, Rajathi. The familys fortunes saw a manifold jump during this period. Following the disclosures by The Pioneer about the 2G scam, Raja lost his ministership. Both he and Kanimozhi were arrested and sent to Tihar Jail. By that time, Karunanidhi had lost much of his bargaining power with the Congress. The DMK withdrew support to the UPA Government in 2013, citing the failure of the Manmohan Singh-led Government to save the Sri Lankan Tamils from ethnic pogrom by the Army of the island nation. The Sri Lankan civil war got over in 2009 itself, with the Army killing Prabhakaran and his associates. But Karunanidhi had to give a valid reason to justify his decision to withdraw support to the Congress Government. The real reason behind the DMKs decision to walk out of the UPA Government was the failure of the Congress to save Kanimozhi from the ignominy of going to jail in the multi-crore 2G Spectrum scam, which is out of the public mind now. The demise of Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi within a span of two years has left a big void in Tamil Nadu politics. The strength of Dravidian parties, too, has eroded over the past two decades because of many reasons. Scientific breakthroughs in human genome sequencing and DNA studies have proved beyond doubt that there were no Aryans or Dravidians in the country. The concept was brought in by the East India Company and the British rulers as part of their plan to turn North India against South India. There is no historical, archaeological, literary or scientific proof for the Arya-Dravidian divide, said PG Haridas, professor of history, Mahatma Gandhi University. He pointed out that Breaking India, a comprehensive research work authored by Rajiv Malhotra and Aravindan Neelakandan, hit the last nail in the coffin of the Dravidian theory. Nicholas Kazanas, the Greek Indologist, expressed his shock over the infatuation of the Dravida parties for Dravidian theory. The whole world is saying that India is culturally, historically, and educationally ahead of others. But these politicians in Tamil Nadu are still hanging on to this outdated theory, said Prof Kazanas, an authority on Vedas and Sanskrit. What has happened with Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi leaving the centrestage is the sudden appearance of many fringe groups funded and sponsored by NGOs, the Church, and various Islamist organistions. There is a rapid regression in Tamil Nadu. What we saw as the farmers protest in New Delhi staged by Ayyakannu Ponnusamy and his associates was the manifestation of these fringe elements. They offered the international media an opportunity to portray India in a poor light, said an author who was forced to leave Chennai because of her open criticism of the Jallikattu agitation at Marina Beach in January 2017. No human rights organisation of which there is no dearth in Chennai came to her rescue when she was issued death threats by the fringe elements. If Tamil Nadu has to be saved from the grip of these anti-national elements, it will need a dose of nationalism. The BJP seems to be the only party capable of doing it, said Dr Swamy. The Congress, which has been riding piggyback on either the AIADMK or DMK, is a pale shadow of what it was in the 1960s. The other day saw the TNCC headquarters becoming a battleground, as the factions owing allegiance to various leaders scuffled in the presence of the media. The DMK is in for major trouble as Alagiri hinted on September 5 that he will create problems for his younger brother Stalin, who has become the party president. If Stalin antagonises Alagiri, a specialist in winning elections, his dream of becoming the CM of Tamil Nadu would remain unfulfilled. The DMK has degenerated into a family enterprise and that is the root cause of its weakening. Stalin is controlled by his wife Durga, son Dayanidhi, and son-in-law Sabareesan. Since Alagiris wife Kanthi belongs to the Scheduled Caste, other members of the Karunanidhi clan are yet to accept her as a member of the family and that is why Alagiri has been kept away from the party by Stalin, says Raveenthrhan Thuraiswamy, a close associate of the family and a political analyst in Chennai. The DMK is not free of caste politics, but it practices it secretly. It is through those who are close to the K-clan that information comes out through the iron curtains of Gopalapuram. Though the AIADMK has become weak, it has not enthused leaders like EVKS Elangovan, former Union Minister and Congress leader. Many fringe groups are showing keen interest in an alliance with the DMK. There are 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and it is going to be a tough job for Stalin to satisfy one and all, said Elangovan, who prefers a front lead by the DMK one that includes the Congress, the PMK (an outfit of the Vanniyar community), the Left, and Islamists. The splinter political outfits are causing concern to leaders of major political parties. Udhayakumar, the anti-nuclear power plant man; Seeman, who claims to be the spokesman of Sri Lankan Tamils and Eelam; Thirumurugan Gandhi, and a host of others who entered the political landscape after the death of Jayalalithaa are to be watched out for. They may not be commanding any major base in the State, but the damage they could cause is a worrisome factor. The agitation against the hydrocarbon plants, the opposition against the Chennai-Salem Green Corridor, the resentment against the Indian Nutrino Observatory, and the opposition towards NEET and the Enayam high end port are proof that something is brewing in Tamil Nadu. If the national parties play their cards well, the State may see a tectonic shift from Dravidian politics that has degenerated Tamil Nadu. Though there are fringe parties like the DMDK (led by film actor Vijayakanth), MDMK (led by the volatile Vaiko), and PMK (led by S Ramadoss, whose only mission seems to be to make his son the CM of Tamil Nadu), they are all of nuisance value only. Political commentator and thinker TM Menon, long-time resident of Tamil Nadu who watched the Dravidian politics for more than four decades, says that neither the DMK nor AIADMK are bothered about the welfare of the people or the progress of the State. Their humongous mistakes are elevation of Tamil sub-nationality to the highest pedestal, cultivation of the ethnic separatism, and divisive identity politics, the scorning of Indian national pride, all of which eventually led to the decline of patriotism in Tamil Nadus public space. The Dravidian parties are too dangerous for our nationhood, democracy and a true federal system, and hence unacceptable, said Menon. He is also of the view that the two superstars of Tamil filmdom, Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan, who have declared their political ambitions, are doomed to fail. One cannot understand what Hassan says; nothing makes sense. Both actors are on the wrong side of 60 and do not have time to reach out to the Tamil people, said Menon. People in Tamil Nadu are slowly understanding the frauds being played on them by the DMK and AIADMK. They are becoming conscious of the fact that the DMK is a family-owned enterprise where only members with the DNA of Karunanidhi can aspire for important positions. The rest have to be content with the crumbs thrown at them by Stalin and family members. There is a silver lining amidst all this chaos, though. More people in Tamil Nadu have started learning Hindi through the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha (DBHPS) in spite of State Governments hatred of the national language. Despite the fact that Hindi is not taught in Government schools in the State, 2017 saw 1.28 lakh students appearing for the basic examination held by the Sabha, said S Jayaraj, secretary, DBHPS. There are nearly 11,000 Hindi pracharaks working in the State, he added. Tamil Nadu is waiting for a leader who can connect with them and convince them that Tamils are equal to people in other States of the country. Air-conditioned caravans and chartered aircraft would not get you the loyalty and respect anymore. Take a cue from the style of late NT Rama Rao and late Rajasekhara Reddy of the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Or observe the likes of Capt Amarinder Singh of Punjab or Yogi Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh or Sachin Pilot of Rajasthan. Tamil Nadu is waiting for a change from the filmi style family-oriented dynasty politics and mafia rule. Tamilians want to get out of the Dravida Nadu phobia; lead them. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday demanded Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar resign following reports of the state police had refused to file an FIR and launch an investigation in a gangrape case. Kejriwal said the police showed lack of sensitivity in registering an FIR and delayed its investigation, resulting in rapists making good their escape. "Khattar (saheb) should resign. People want a government which is honest," Kejriwal tweeted. According to the report, the girl despite her condition had to travel all the way to Kanina on Friday to make a police statement. "Even after that, only three men were named in the FIR whereas her family has alleged the involvement of 12. Police also refused to make arrests, citing lack of staff who, they claimed, had been deployed at the CM's programme in Mahendragarh," it said. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at [email protected] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. Bacanora Minerals Ltd. is a developer and explorer of industrial minerals. The Company is engaged in exploration and development of mineral properties in Mexico. It is focused on its Sonora Lithium Project, and has a borates project located near the town of Magdalena de Kino, north of Hermosillo, Mexico. The Sonora Lithium Project consists of approximately 10 contiguous concessions covering over 94,186 hectares. The concessions include La Ventana, La Ventana 1, El Sauz, El Sauz 1, El Sauz 2, Fleur, Fleur 2, San Gabriel and Buenavista. These concessions are located approximately 190 kilometers northeast of the city of Hermosillo, in Sonora State, Mexico. The Magdalena Borate Project consists of approximately seven concessions, with a total area of approximately 16,503 hectares. The borate zones located on the Magdalena Borates Project are the Cajon Borate Deposit (Cajon); Bellota, and Pozo Nuevo. The Company's other target in Magdalena Borates Project includes the Represo prospect. Read More It has been a week since the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico, was shut down, evacuated, and visited by FBI agents and the undisclosed security issue behind all this activity remains a mystery to the public. Theories about the true reasoning behind the shutdown range from an accidental interception of military signals to captured proof of alien life. Now, James McAteer, director of the Sunspot Solar Observatory, has seemingly ruled out one of those theories. McAteer told local news outlet KOB that the telescope did not see aliens. All data will be made public in its unaltered form. Nothing is hidden or kept secret. McAteer, a professor at New Mexico State University, clarified that we probably wouldnt even find extraterrestrials with a telescope. Any aliens in our vicinity of the Universe are very likely microbial, McAteer said. He also dispelled other theories. There was no killer solar storm. Solar storms happen all the time. No observations of an imaginary planet. But he said he does not know why the FBI were involved. New Mexico State University runs the telescope, but the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) operates the property. AURA closed the site. It was their decision, McAteer said. Neither AURA or local police have confirmed why, but I suggest approaching them as primary sources. The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) has decided that the observatory will remain closed until further notice due to an ongoing security concern. The rest of the National Solar Observatory (NSO) facilities remain open and are operating normally. I really would like to know what is going on there! Follow us: Facebook and Twitter KOB4 Telescope did not see aliens, but Sunspot mystery continues Gizmodo Telescope Did Not See Aliens, Director of Mysteriously Shut Down Observatory Claims 1 hour ago Drive Shack Crushes With New Concept Puttery Expansion To Push Drive Shack Higher The pandemic put a tailwind into the golfing industry and Drive Shack (NYSE: DS) but thats not what has us excited now. The company recently launched a new concept called Puttery that we see driving this company to new highs. Read Article 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.. China Mobile Limited provides mobile telecommunications and related services in Mainland China and Hong Kong. The company offers local calls; domestic and international long distance calls and roaming services; and value-added services, such as caller identity display, call waiting, conference calls, and others. It also provides wireless Internet service, as well as digital applications comprising music, video, reading, gaming, and animation; wireline broadband services; and wireline voice services. In addition, it offers dedicated line and IDC services to corporate customers in a range of industry sectors; and basic corporate communication products comprising corporate VPMN and SMS, and tailor made solutions. Further, the company provides international telecommunications services, which includes IDD, roaming, Internet, MNC, and value added business services. Additionally, it offers telecommunications network planning, design, and consulting services; roaming clearance, IT system operation, and technology support services; value-added platform development and maintenance services; mobile data, and system integration and development services; network construction and maintenance, network planning and optimizing, and training services; electronic communication products design and sale of related products; and non-banking financial services. It also provides mobile cloud research and development services; call center services; e-payment, e-commerce, and Internet finance services; and mobile Internet digital content services, as well as operates a network and business coordination center. The company serves 950 million mobile customers and 187 million wireline broadband customers. The company was formerly known as China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited and changed its name to China Mobile Limited in May 2006. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is based in Central, Hong Kong. China Mobile Limited is a subsidiary of China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited. Read More Ei Group plc operates leased and tenanted pubs in the United Kingdom. It operates through three segments: Publican Partnerships, Commercial Properties, and Managed. The company engages in the rental of commercial properties, as well as financing and public houses management businesses. It is also involved in the sale of foods and drinks, as well as accommodation and gaming machines. The company operates approximately 4,400 pubs. The company was formerly known as Enterprise Inns plc and changed its name to Ei Group plc in February 2017. Ei Group plc was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Solihull, the United Kingdom. Read More Fortis Inc. operates as an electric and gas utility company in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean countries. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 433,000 retail customers in southeastern Arizona; and 98,000 retail customers in Arizona's Mohave and Santa Cruz counties with an aggregate capacity of 3,233 megawatts (MW), including 59 MW of solar capacity. The company also sells wholesale electricity to other entities in the western United States; owns gas-fired and hydroelectric generating capacity totaling 65 MW; and distributes natural gas to approximately 1,048,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in British Columbia, Canada. In addition, it owns and operates the electricity distribution system that serves approximately 572,000 customers in southern and central Alberta; owns 4 hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 225 MW; and provides operation, maintenance, and management services to five hydroelectric generating facilities. Further, the company distributes electricity in the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador with an installed generating capacity of 143 MW; and on Prince Edward Island with a generating capacity of 130 MW. Additionally, it provides integrated electric utility service to approximately 67,000 customers in Ontario; approximately 270,000 customers in Newfoundland and Labrador; approximately 31,000 customers on Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; and approximately 15,000 customers on certain islands in Turks and Caicos. The company also holds long-term contracted generation assets in Belize consisting of 3 hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 51 MW; and the Aitken Creek natural gas storage facility. It also owns and operates approximately 91,000 circuit Kilometers (km) of distribution lines; and approximately 49,500 km of natural gas pipelines. Fortis Inc. was founded in 1885 and is headquartered in St. John's, Canada. Read More Hermes Pacific Investments Plc is a private equity firm specializing in quoted or unquoted investments made by direct acquisition of an equity interest. The firm invests in companies, partnerships, joint ventures, or it seeks direct interests in projects. It considers investing in South East Asia. The firm invests in the financial sector but is not limited to that. The firm was formerly known as Indian Restaurants Group plc and changed its name to Hermes Pacific Investments Plc in August 2012. It previously operated restaurants. Hermes Pacific Investments Plc is based in London, United Kingdom. Read More Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom and internationally. It operates through three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance and Wealth. The Retail segment offers a range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings accounts, mortgages, motor finance, unsecured loans, leasing solutions, credit cards, and other financial services to personal and small business customers. The Commercial Banking segment provides lending, transactional banking, working capital management, risk management, and debt capital market services to small and medium-sized entities, corporates, and financial institutions. The Insurance and Wealth segment offers life, home, and car insurance products; and pension, investment, and wealth management products and services. It also provides digital and mobile banking, and telephone services, as well as advisory services for savings, investments, and planning for retirement. The company offers its products and services under the Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, Scottish Widows, MBNA, Schroders Personal Wealth, Black Horse, Lex Autolease, Birmingham Midshires, LDC, IWeb, and Agricultural Mortgage Corporation brands. Lloyds Banking Group plc was founded in 1695 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More Roots Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides apparel, leather goods, footwear, and accessories under the Roots brand in Canada and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Direct-To-Consumer, and Partners and Other. The Direct-to-Consumer segment sells products through the company's corporate retail stores and e-commerce. The Partners and Other segment primarily engages in the wholesale of Roots branded products to the company's international operating partners. This segment is also involved in licensing Roots brand to manufacturing partners; and wholesaling Roots branded products to retail partners. As of January 30, 2021, it operated 111 corporate retail stores in Canada, two corporate retail stores in the United States, 117 partner-operated stores in Taiwan, 26 partner-operated stores in China, and two partner-operated stores in Hong Kong, as well as an eCommerce platform and partner-operated eCommerce channels in Taiwan and mainland China. W. Roots Corporation was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More 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. Read More There is not enough analysis data for MedEquities Realty Trust. 4.3 Community Rank Outperform Votes MedEquities Realty Trust has received 224 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes MedEquities Realty Trust has received 126 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment MedEquities Realty Trust has received 64.00% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about MedEquities Realty Trust and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe MRT will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe MRT will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next WABCO Holdings Inc., together with its subsidiaries, supplies electronic, mechanical, electro-mechanical, and aerodynamic products worldwide. The company engineers, develops, manufactures, and sells braking, stability, suspension, steering, transmission automation, and air management systems primarily for commercial vehicles. The company's products include pneumatic anti-lock braking systems, electronic braking systems, electronic stability control systems, brake controls, automated manual transmission systems, and air disc brakes; and various conventional mechanical products, such as actuators, air compressors, and air control valves for medium and heavy-duty trucks, buses, and trailers. It also offers pneumatic and hydraulic braking and control systems for off-highway vehicles; conventional braking systems; electronic and conventional air suspension systems; steering technologies; and vehicle electronic stability control and roll stability support products, and advanced driver assistance systems. In addition, the company supplies electronic suspension controls and vacuum pumps to the passenger car and SUV markets, as well as provides remanufacturing services. Further, it offers replacement parts, fleet management solutions, diagnostic tools, training, and other expert services for commercial vehicle aftermarket distributors and service partners, and fleet operators. The company sells its products primarily to truck and bus original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), trailer OEMs, and car manufacturers; and manufacturers of heavy duty and off-highway vehicles in agriculture, construction, mining, and other industries. WABCO Holdings Inc. was founded in 1869 and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. Read More Western Asset Premier Bond Fund is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Western Asset Management Company. The fund is co-managed by Western Asset Management Company Limited, Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd., and Western Asset Management Company Ltd. It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. The fund primarily invests in investment grade bonds, including corporate bonds, U.S. government and agency securities, and mortgage related securities. It seeks to maintain an average duration of around two to three years with an average credit quality of BBB. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate High Yield Index and the Barclays Capital U.S. Credit Index. Western Asset Premier Bond Fund was formed on March 28, 2002 and is domiciled in the United States. Read More Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp. engages in the provision of equipment, systems, and value-added services for the rail industry. It operates through the following segments: Freight and Transit. The Freight segment involves in the manufacture and offers services components for new and existing locomotives and freight cars; supplies rail control and infrastructure products such as electronics, positive train control equipment, and signal design and engineering services; overhauls locomotives; and provides heat exchangers and cooling systems for rail and other industrial markets. The Transit segments includes the manufacture and providing services components for new and existing passenger transit vehicles, including regional trains, high speed trains, subway cars, light-rail vehicles, and buses; supplies rail control and infrastructure products such as electronics, positive train control equipment, and signal design and engineering services; builds new commuter locomotives; and renovate passenger transit vehicles. The company was founded in 1869 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. Read More During his 7-week adventure, the White Russian Blue found his owner a new home and a new job, thanks to the help of strangers Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. engages in the mining of copper, gold and molybdenum. It operates through the following segments: North America Copper Mines, South America Mining; Indonesia Mining, Molybdenum Mines, Rod and Refining, Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining and Corporate, Other and Eliminations. The North America Copper Mines segment operates open-pit copper mines in Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita and Miami in Arizona and Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico. The South America Mining segment includes Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. The Indonesia Mining segment handles the operations of Grasberg minerals district that produces copper concentrate that contains significant quantities of gold and silver. The Molybdenum Mines segment includes the Henderson underground mine and Climax open-pit mine, both in Colorado. The Rod and Refining segment consists of copper conversion facilities located in North America and includes a refinery, rod mills, and a specialty copper products facility. The Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining segment smelts and refines copper concentrate and markets refined copper and precious metals in slimes. The Corporate, Other and Eliminations segment Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise: 3Com International Inc., 3PAR Inc., Apogee, Aruba Networks Inc., Aruba Networks International Cayman, Aruba Networks International Limited, BlueData Software, Cloud Cruiser, Cloud Technology Partners, Cloud Technology Partners Inc., Compaq Computer (Mauritius), Compaq Trademark B.V., Cray, Cray Inc., EDS World Corporation (Far East) LLC, EYP Mission Critical Facilities Inc., H3C Holdings Limited, HP Enterprise Services Australia Pty Ltd, HP Financial Services (Australia) Pty Limited, HP Financial Services (Chile) Limitada, HP Financial Services (Japan) K.K., HP Financial Services Arrendamento Mercantil S.A., HP Financial Services Company (Korea), HP Financial Services International Holdings Company, HPE Government LLC, HPFS Global Holdings I LLC, HPFS Global Holdings II LLC, HPFS Rental S.R.L., Hangzhou H3C Technologies Co. Ltd, Hewlett Packard Caribe BV LLC, Hewlett Packard Colombia Ltda., Hewlett Packard Enterprise (China) Co. Ltd., Hewlett Packard Enterprise B.V., Hewlett Packard Enterprise B.V. Amstelveen Meyrin Branch, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Co., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Co. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Cie, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Costa Rica Limitada, Hewlett Packard Enterprise GlobalSoft Private Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise India Private Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Ireland Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Luxembourg SCA, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Polska sp. z o.o., Hewlett Packard Pathfinder LLC, Hewlett Packard Taiwan Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (Israel) Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (M) Sdn. Bhd., Hewlett-Packard (Nigeria) Limited, Hewlett-Packard (Schweiz) GmbH, Hewlett-Packard (Tanzania) Limited, Hewlett-Packard (Thailand) Limited, Hewlett-Packard ApS, Hewlett-Packard Argentina S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Australia Pty Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Belgium SPRL/BVBA, Hewlett-Packard Bermuda Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard Brasil Ltda., Hewlett-Packard Bulgaria EOOD, Hewlett-Packard Caribe B.V., Hewlett-Packard Caribe Y Andina B.V. LLC, Hewlett-Packard Chile Comercial Limitada, Hewlett-Packard Cyprus Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Hewlett-Packard Egypt Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Financial Services (India) Private Limited, Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Canada Company, Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Company, Hewlett-Packard France SAS, Hewlett-Packard G1 SPV (Cayman) Company, Hewlett-Packard Gesellschaft mbH, Hewlett-Packard Ghana Limited, Hewlett-Packard GmbH, Hewlett-Packard Guatemala Limitada, Hewlett-Packard HK SAR Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Hellas EPE, Hewlett-Packard Holdings Ltd., Hewlett-Packard International Bank Designated Activity Company, Hewlett-Packard International Bank Public Limited Company, Hewlett-Packard International Sarl, Hewlett-Packard Italiana S.r.l., Hewlett-Packard Japan Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Korea Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Leasing Limited, Hewlett-Packard Limited, Hewlett-Packard Luxembourg Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard Macau Limited, Hewlett-Packard Manufacturing Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Marigalante Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Hewlett-Packard Middle East FZ-LLC, Hewlett-Packard Mocambique Limitada - Sociedada em Liquidacao, Hewlett-Packard Nederland B.V., Hewlett-Packard New Zealand, Hewlett-Packard Norge AS, Hewlett-Packard OY, Hewlett-Packard Operations Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Hewlett-Packard Peru S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Philippines Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Portugal Lda., Hewlett-Packard SARL, Hewlett-Packard SIA, Hewlett-Packard Servicios Espana S.L., Hewlett-Packard Singapore (Sales) Pte. Ltd., Hewlett-Packard South Africa (Proprietary) Limited, Hewlett-Packard Sverige AB, Hewlett-Packard Technology Center Inc., Hewlett-Packard Teknoloji Cozumleri Limited Sirketi, Hewlett-Packard The Hague B.V., Hewlett-Packard Venezuela S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Vision Limited, Hewlett-Packard d.o.o., Hewlett-Packard s.r.o., Limited Liability Company Hewlett Packard Enterprise, MapR Technologies, New H3C Technologies Co. Ltd., Niara Inc., Nimble Storage, Nimble Storage Inc., Nimble Storage Israel Ltd, Nimble Storage Japan GK, Nimble Storage UK Limited, Plexxi, RedPixie, SGI (Silicon Graphics), Sapphire Holding Co, Scytale, Shanghai Hewlett-Packard Co. Ltd., Silver Peak, SimpliVity, Sinope Holding B.V., Trilead, UAB ES Hague Lietuva, and Unis Huashan Technologies Co. Limited. The following companies are subsidiares of BorgWarner: B80 Italia S.r.l., BERU AG, BW El Salto S.A. De C.V., BWA Receivables Corporation, BWA Turbo Systems Holding LLC, Borg Warner Europe Holdings (PDS) B. V., BorgWarner (China) Investment Co. Ltd., BorgWarner (Reman) Holdings L.L.C., BorgWarner (Thailand) Limited, BorgWarner Aftermarket Europe GmbH, BorgWarner Alternators Inc., BorgWarner Arden LLC, BorgWarner Arnstadt RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Asia Inc., BorgWarner Automotive Asia Limited, BorgWarner Automotive Components (Beijing) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Wuhan) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Brasil Ltda., BorgWarner Chungju Co. LLC, BorgWarner Comercial e Distribuidora de Pecas para Veiculos Automotores Ltda., BorgWarner Comercializadora PDS S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner Componentes PDS S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner Cooling Systems (India) Private Limited, BorgWarner Cooling Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Diversified Transmission Products Services Inc., BorgWarner Drivetrain Engineering GmbH, BorgWarner Drivetrain Management Services de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Drivetrain de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Electric Motors L.L.C., BorgWarner Emissions Systems (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Emissions Systems (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Emissions Systems Holding LLC, BorgWarner Emissions Systems India Private Limited, BorgWarner Emissions Systems LLC, BorgWarner Emissions Systems Portugal Unipessoal LDA, BorgWarner Emissions Systems Spain S.L.U., BorgWarner Emissions Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner Emissions Talegaon Private Limited, BorgWarner Engineering Ketsch RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Engineering Kibo RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Esslingen GmbH, BorgWarner Europe GmbH, BorgWarner Europe Holding S.a. r. l., BorgWarner Gateshead Limited, BorgWarner Germany Holding GmbH, BorgWarner Germany Holding Services GmbH, BorgWarner Germany REH GmbH, BorgWarner Germany REM GmbH, BorgWarner Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, BorgWarner Global Holding S.a. r. l., BorgWarner Heidelberg I RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Heidelberg II RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Heidelberg REH GmbH, BorgWarner Heidelberg REM GmbH, BorgWarner Holding Inc., BorgWarner Holdings Limited, BorgWarner Hungary Kft., BorgWarner IT Services Europe GmbH, BorgWarner India Holdings Inc., BorgWarner Investment Holding Inc., BorgWarner Ithaca LLC, BorgWarner Ketsch Plant RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Ketsch REH GmbH, BorgWarner Ketsch REM GmbH, BorgWarner Kft., BorgWarner Kibo RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Korea Holdings (PDS) B.V., BorgWarner Korea Holdings LLC, BorgWarner Korea LLC, BorgWarner Limited, BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH, BorgWarner Ludwigsburg RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Markdorf Plant RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Markdorf REH GmbH, BorgWarner Markdorf REM GmbH, BorgWarner Massachusetts Inc., BorgWarner Mauritius Holdings Ltd., BorgWarner Mexico Holding BV, BorgWarner Mexico Holdings II LLC, BorgWarner Mexico Holdings LLC, BorgWarner Morse Systems India Private Limited, BorgWarner Morse Systems Italy S.r.l., BorgWarner Morse Systems Japan K.K., BorgWarner Morse Systems Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Muggendorf RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner NW Inc., BorgWarner Netherlands Holdings (PDS) B.V., BorgWarner Oroszlany Kft., BorgWarner PDS (Anderson) L.L.C., BorgWarner PDS (Changnyeong) LLC, BorgWarner PDS (Indiana) Inc., BorgWarner PDS (Livonia) Inc., BorgWarner PDS (Ochang) LLC, BorgWarner PDS (Thailand) Limited, BorgWarner PDS (USA) Inc., BorgWarner PDS Brasil Produtos Automotivos Ltda., BorgWarner PDS Irapuato S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner PDS Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner PDS Technologies L.L.C., BorgWarner Poland Sp. z o.o., BorgWarner Pyongtaek LLC, BorgWarner Romeo Power LLC, BorgWarner Rzeszow Sp. z o.o., BorgWarner Shenglong (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner South Asia LLC, BorgWarner Southborough Inc., BorgWarner Spain Holding S.L.U, BorgWarner Sweden AB, BorgWarner Systems Lugo S.r.l., BorgWarner Thermal Systems Inc., BorgWarner Thermal Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems Beijing Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Tralee Ltd., BorgWarner Transmission Products LLC, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Arnstadt GmbH, BorgWarner Transmission Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Korea LLC, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Tulle S.A.S., BorgWarner Trustees Limited, BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems France S.A.S., BorgWarner Turbo Systems Engineering GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems LLC, BorgWarner Turbo Systems Worldwide Headquarters GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner Turbo and Emissions Systems de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner UK Financing Ltd., BorgWarner UK Holding and Services Ltd., BorgWarner US Holding LLC, BorgWarner USA Industries L.L.C., BorgWarner United Transmission Systems Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Waterloo Inc., BorgWarner Wrexham Limited, Cascadia Motion LLC, Creon Insurance Agency Limited, Delphi Technologies, Dytech ENSA, Gustav Wahler GmbH u. Co. KG, Haldex, Kuhlman LLC, Kysor Europe Limited, M. & M. Knopf Auto Parts L.L.C., NSK-Warner (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., NSK-Warner K.K., NSK-Warner Mexico S.A. de C.V, NSK-Warner U.S.A. Inc., New PDS Corp., Old Remco Holdings L.L.C., Old Remco International Holdings L.L.C., Remy International, SeohanWarner Turbo Systems LLC, Sevcon, Sevcon New Energy Technology (Hubei) Company Limited, and Transmission Systems AutoForm LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of The Procter & Gamble: "Procter & Gamble Services" LLC, "Procter & Gamble" LLC, Agile Pursuits, Agile Pursuits Franchising, Arbora, Arbora & Ausonia, Arborinvest, Billie, Braun (Shanghai) Co., Braun GmbH, Braun-Gillette Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG, Celtic Insurance Company, Compania Procter & Gamble Mexico, Compania Quimica S.A., Corporativo Procter & Gamble, Cosmetic Products Pty. Ltd., Detergent Products B.V., Detergent Products SARL, Detergenti S.A., Eurocos Cosmetic GmbH, FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd., Fameccanica Data S.p.A., Fameccanica Industria e Comercio Do Brasil LTDA., Fameccanica Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Fater S.p.A., Fountain Square Music Publishing Co., Gillette (China) Ltd., Gillette (Shanghai) Ltd., Gillette Aesop Ltd., Gillette Australia Pty. Ltd., Gillette Canada Holdings, Gillette Commercial Operations North America, Gillette Diversified Operations Pvt. Ltd., Gillette Egypt S.A.E., Gillette Group UK Ltd, Gillette Gruppe Deutschland GmbH & Co. oHG, Gillette Holding Company LLC, Gillette Holding GmbH, Gillette India Limited, Gillette Industries Ltd., Gillette International B.V., Gillette Latin America Holding B.V., Gillette Management LLC, Gillette Nova Scotia Company, Gillette Pakistan Limited, Gillette Poland International Sp. z.o.o., Gillette Poland S.A., Gillette U.K. Limited, Gillette del Uruguay, Giorgio Beverly Hills Inc., Hyginett KFT, Industries Marocaines Modernes SA, LLC "Procter & Gamble Novomoskovsk", LLL "Procter & Gamble Distributorskaya Compania", Laboratorios Vicks, Liberty Street Music Publishing Company, Limited Liability Company 'Procter & Gamble Trading Ukraine', Limited Liability Company with foreign investments Procter & and Gamble Ukraine, MDVIP, MERCK KGAA NPV, Marcvenca Inversiones, Modern Industries Company - Dammam, Modern Products Company - Jeddah, New Chapter, New Chapter Canada Inc., Olay LLC, Oral-B Laboratories, P&G Distribution Morocco SAS, P&G Hair Care Holding, P&G Industrial Peru S.R.L., P&G Innovation Godo Kaisha, P&G Israel M.D.O. Ltd., P&G K.K., P&G Northeast Asia Pte. Ltd., P&G Prestige Godo Kaisha, P&G Prestige Service GmbH, P&G South African Trading (Pty.) Ltd., PGT Health Care (Zhejiang) Limited, PGT Healthcare LLP, PPI ZAO, PT Procter & Gamble Home Products Indonesia, PT Procter & Gamble Operations Indonesia, Phase II Holdings Corporation, Procter & Gamble (Chengdu) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Sales Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (East Africa) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Egypt) Manufacturing Company, Procter & Gamble (Enterprise Fund) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Consumer Products Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Enterprise Management Service Company Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Health & Beauty Care) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Jiangsu) Ltd. China, Procter & Gamble (L&CP) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Procter & Gamble (Manufacturing) Ireland Limited, Procter & Gamble (Shanghai) International Trade Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Acquisition GmbH, Procter & Gamble Administration GmbH, Procter & Gamble Algeria EURL, Procter & Gamble Amazon Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Amiens S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Argentina SRL, Procter & Gamble Asia Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Australia Proprietary Limited, Procter & Gamble Azerbaijan Services LLC, Procter & Gamble Bangladesh Private Ltd., Procter & Gamble Blois S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Brazil Holdings B.V., Procter & Gamble Bulgaria EOOD, Procter & Gamble Business Services Canada Company, Procter & Gamble Canada Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Chile , Procter & Gamble Chile Limitada, Procter & Gamble Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Commercial LLC, Procter & Gamble Commercial de Cuba S.A., Procter & Gamble Czech Republic s.r.o., Procter & Gamble DS Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Danmark ApS, Procter & Gamble Detergent (Beijing) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Deuttschland GmbH, Procter & Gamble Distributing (Philippines) Inc., Procter & Gamble Distributing New Zealand Limited, Procter & Gamble Distribution Company (Europe) BVBA, Procter & Gamble Distribution S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Eastern Europe, Procter & Gamble Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Procter & Gamble Egypt, Procter & Gamble Egypt Distribution, Procter & Gamble Egypt Holding, Procter & Gamble Egypt Supplies, Procter & Gamble Energy Company LLC, Procter & Gamble Espana, Procter & Gamble Europe SA, Procter & Gamble Export Operations SARL, Procter & Gamble Exportadora e Importadora Ltda., Procter & Gamble Exports, Procter & Gamble Fabricacao e Comercio Ltda., Procter & Gamble Far East, Procter & Gamble Finance (U.K.) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Holding Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Management S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Financial Investments LLP, Procter & Gamble Financial Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Financial Services S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Finland OY, Procter & Gamble France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH, Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH & Co. Operations oHG, Procter & Gamble GmbH, Procter & Gamble Grundstucks-und Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Procter & Gamble Gulf FZE, Procter & Gamble Hair Care, Procter & Gamble Hellas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Holding (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Holding France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Holding GmbH, Procter & Gamble Holding S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Holdings (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Home Products Private Limited, Procter & Gamble Hong Kong Limited, Procter & Gamble Hungary Wholesale Trading Partnership (KKT), Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Limited, Procter & Gamble Inc., Procter & Gamble India Holdings, Procter & Gamble Indochina Limited Company, Procter & Gamble Industrial - 2012 C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Industrial S.C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Costa Rica, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Guatemala, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Panama, Procter & Gamble International Operations Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble International Operations SA, Procter & Gamble International Operations SA-ROHQ, Procter & Gamble International S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Investment Company (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Investment GmbH, Procter & Gamble Italia, Procter & Gamble Japan K.K., Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan Distribution LLP, Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan LLP, Procter & Gamble Korea, Procter & Gamble Korea S&D Co., Procter & Gamble Lanka Private Ltd. Sri Lanka, Procter & Gamble Leasing LLC, Procter & Gamble Levant S.A.L., Procter & Gamble Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Berlin GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania SRL, Procter & Gamble Marketing and Services doo, Procter & Gamble Maroc SA, Procter & Gamble Mataro, Procter & Gamble Mexico Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Mexico Inc., Procter & Gamble Middle East FZE, Procter & Gamble Nederland B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Investments B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Services B.V., Procter & Gamble Nigeria Limited, Procter & Gamble Nordic, Procter & Gamble Norge AS, Procter & Gamble Operations Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Overseas India B.V., Procter & Gamble Overseas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Pakistan (Private) Limited, Procter & Gamble Partnership LLP, Procter & Gamble Peru S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals France SAS, Procter & Gamble Philippines, Procter & Gamble Polska Sp. z o.o, Procter & Gamble Portugal - Produtos De Consumo, Procter & Gamble Product Supply (U.K.) Limited U.K., Procter & Gamble Production GmbH, Procter & Gamble Productions, Procter & Gamble Productos de Consumo, Procter & Gamble RHD, Procter & Gamble RSC Regional Service Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Retail Services BVBA, Procter & Gamble S.r.l., Procter & Gamble SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Satis ve Dagitim Ltd. Sti., Procter & Gamble Seine S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Service GmbH, Procter & Gamble Services (Switzerland) SA, Procter & Gamble Services Company N.V., Procter & Gamble Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Share Incentive Plan Trustee Ltd., Procter & Gamble South America Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Spol. s.r.o. (Ltd.), Procter & Gamble Sports and Social Club Ltd., Procter & Gamble Sverige AB, Procter & Gamble Switzerland SARL, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Limited, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Sales Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Limited, Procter & Gamble Technology (Beijing) Co., Procter & Gamble Trading (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Tuketim Mallari Sanayii A.S., Procter & Gamble UK, Procter & Gamble UK Group Holdings Ltd, Procter & Gamble UK Parent Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Universal Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Verwaltungs GmbH, Procter & Gamble Vietnam, Procter & Gamble d.o.o. za trgovinu, Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.C.A., Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.R.L., Procter & Gamble do Brasil S/A, Procter & Gamble do Brazil, Procter & Gamble do Nordeste S/A, Procter & Gamble-Rakona s.r.o., Progam Realty & Development Corporation, Redmond Products, Richardson-Vicks Real Estate Inc., Richardson-Vicks do Brasil Quimica e Farmaceutica Ltda, Riverfront Music Publishing Co., Rosemount LLC, SPD Development Company Limited, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Scannon S.A.S., Series Acquisition B.V., Shulton, Surfac S.R.L., Sycamore Productions, TAOS - FL, TAOS Retail, Tambrands Inc., Temple Trees Impex & Investment Private Limited, The Art of Shaving - FL, The Dover Wipes Company, The Gillette Company, The Gillette Company LLC, The Gillette co., The Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC, The Procter & Gamble GBS Company, The Procter & Gamble Global Finance Company, The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company, The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, The Procter & Gamble U.S. Business Services Company, This is L., US CD LLC, Vidal Sassoon (Shanghai) Academy, Vidal Sassoon Co., WEBA Betriebsrenten-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Walker & Company Brands, and iMFLUX Inc.. Invesco Dynamic Energy Exploration & Production ETF's stock was trading at $6.32 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, PXE shares have increased by 241.1% and is now trading at $21.56. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. The following companies are subsidiares of Iron Mountain: AB Archyvu Centras, AB Archyvu Sistemos, AB Archyvu Sistemos Estonia Branch, AKTATRADE Iratendezo Selejtezo es Megsemmisito Bt., AS Archivu Serviss, Accutrac Software Inc, Administradora de Informacion Ltda, ArchivesOne, Archyvu sistemos, Ausdoc Group Pty Limited, Ausdoc Holdings Pty Limited, Bonded Services Group, Box Butler, Britannia Data Management Limited, Connected Corporation, Cornerstone Records Management, Crozier Fine Arts, Crozier Philadelphia LLC, Custodia S.O.S. SA, Custodia de Documentos Limitada, Data Outsourcing Centre doo, Data Security Services Pty Limited, DigiGuard, Docu-File Cape Town Proprietary Limited, Docu-File Durban Proprietary Limited, Docu-File JHB Proprietary Limited, DocuTar Iratrendezo es Tarolo Szolgaltato Kft., DocuVault, Docufile (Pty) Ltd, Docufile Holdings (Proprietary) Limited, Docufile Lesotho Proprietary Limited, Docufile Services Proprietary Limited, Docugroup Papir Szolgatato Kft., Document Holdings Sweden AB, Docuscan Cape Town Proprietary Limited, Docuscan Proprietary Limited, EAC Invest, Endless Document Storage Services LLC, EvoSwitch, File Express Limited, Fine Paper Recyclers Sydney Pty Ltd, Fontis International GmbH, Fontis International Inc., Fortrust, G4S Secure Data Solutions Colombia, Hays IMS, Horanross Limited, IBEX IM Limited, IBEX Information Management Limited, IG2 Data Security, IMSA Peru SRL, IO.com, Information Storage Consolidation Co, Interfile Participacoes S.A., Intradis SA, Iron Mountain (Deutschland) Service GmbH, Iron Mountain (Espana) Services S.L, Iron Mountain (Gibraltar) Holdings Limited, Iron Mountain (Ireland) Services Limited, Iron Mountain (Nederland) Services BV, Iron Mountain (UK) EES Holdings Limited, Iron Mountain (UK) Limited, Iron Mountain (UK) Services Limited, Iron Mountain A/S, Iron Mountain Acquisition Holdings Pty. Ltd., Iron Mountain Argentina S.A., Iron Mountain Arsivleme Hizmetleri A.S., Iron Mountain Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd, Iron Mountain Australia Group Pty. Ltd., Iron Mountain Australia Group Services Pty. Ltd., Iron Mountain Australia Holdings Inc., Iron Mountain Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd, Iron Mountain Austria Archivierung Gmbh, Iron Mountain BPM International S.a.r.l., Iron Mountain BPM SPRL, Iron Mountain Belgium NV, Iron Mountain CIS LLC, Iron Mountain Canada Operations ULC, Iron Mountain Ceska Republika S.R.O., Iron Mountain Chile S.A., Iron Mountain Chile Servicios S.A., Iron Mountain Colombia S.A.S., Iron Mountain DIMS Limited, Iron Mountain Deutschland GmbH, Iron Mountain Do Brasil Ltda, Iron Mountain EES Holdings Ltd., Iron Mountain EES Sp. z.o.o., Iron Mountain Espana SA, Iron Mountain Europe (Group) Limited, Iron Mountain Europe PLC (fka Iron Mountain Europe Limited), Iron Mountain Finland OY, Iron Mountain France S.A.S., Iron Mountain Fulfillment Services Inc., Iron Mountain Global Holdings Inc., Iron Mountain Global LLC, Iron Mountain Global Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Iron Mountain Group (Europe) Limited, Iron Mountain Hellas SA, Iron Mountain Holdings (Europe) Limited, Iron Mountain Holdings (France) SNC, Iron Mountain Incorporated, Iron Mountain India Private Ltd, Iron Mountain Information Management LLC, Iron Mountain Information Management Services Canada Inc., Iron Mountain Information Management Services Inc., Iron Mountain Intellectual Property Management Inc., Iron Mountain International (Holdings) Limited, Iron Mountain International Holdings BV, Iron Mountain International Information Management Co. Ltd., Iron Mountain Ireland Holdings Limited, Iron Mountain Ireland Limited, Iron Mountain Latin America Holdings Sociedad Limitada, Iron Mountain Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Iron Mountain Luxembourg Services S.a.r.l., Iron Mountain Luxembourg Services S.a.r.l. Schaffhausen Branch, Iron Mountain MDM Limited, Iron Mountain Magyarorszag Kereskedelmi es Szolgaltato Kft., Iron Mountain Management Services GmbH, Iron Mountain Mayflower Limited, Iron Mountain Mexico Holding S. de RL de CV, Iron Mountain Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Iron Mountain Mexico Servicios S. de RL de CV, Iron Mountain Mortgage Finance Holdings LLC, Iron Mountain Mortgage Finance I LLC, Iron Mountain Nederland B.V., Iron Mountain Nederland Holdings B.V., Iron Mountain New Zealand Limited (fka Recall New Zealand Ltd), Iron Mountain Norge AS, Iron Mountain Participations SA, Iron Mountain Peru S.A., Iron Mountain Poland Holdings Ltd, Iron Mountain Polska Services Sp z.o.o., Iron Mountain Polska Sp. z.o.o., Iron Mountain Receivables QRS LLC, Iron Mountain Receivables TRS LLC, Iron Mountain Records Management (Puerto Rico) Inc., Iron Mountain Records Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Iron Mountain SRL, Iron Mountain Secure Shredding Canada, Iron Mountain Secure Shredding Inc., Iron Mountain Services Private Ltd, Iron Mountain Services S.A.S., Iron Mountain Shanghai Co Ltd, Iron Mountain Slovakia s.r.o., Iron Mountain South America S.a.r.l., Iron Mountain Southeast Asia Holdings Limited, Iron Mountain Switzerland GmbH, Iron Mountain UK Services (Holdings) Limited, Iron Mountain US Holdings Inc., Iron Mountain Ukraine LLC, Iron Mountain Vietnam Company Limited, Iron Mountain d.o.o. Beograd, Jin Shan Limited, KDM Spectrumdata Pty Ltd, KH Data Capital Development Land LLC, Kestrel Data (Canada) Ltd, Kestrel Data Services Limited, Kestrel Information Management Pty. Ltd., Livevault, Marshgate Morangis S.a.r.l., Mimosa Systems, Mobilshred Inc., Navbharat Archive Xpress Private Limited, Nettlebed Acquisition Corp., Pipax Security S.A., Preferred Media Limited, Prism Integrated Sdn Bhd, Recall, Recall (London) Limited, Recall (Schweiz) AG, Recall (Shanghai) Ltd., Recall A/S, Recall AS, Recall Asia Pte Limited, Recall Corporation Sdn. Bhd., Recall Enterprises (Thailand) Limited, Recall Enterprises Sdn. Bhd., Recall Europe Finance Ltd. (fka Recall Europe Finance Plc), Recall Europe Limited, Recall Finance Limited, Recall Finland OY, Recall France SA, Recall France SA Belgium Branch, Recall France SAS, Recall GQ Limited, Recall Holdings, Recall Holdings Limited, Recall Holdings Sweden AB, Recall Hong Kong Ltd., Recall India Information Management Pvt. Ltd., Recall Information Services SRL, Recall International Pty Limited, Recall Italia SRL, Recall Limited, Recall Overseas Holdings Pty Limited, Recall Shredding Limited, Recall Sweden AB, Recall Taiwan Ltd., Recall Technology Pty. Ltd., Recall Total Information Management India Pvt. Ltd., Recall Total Information Mgt Pte Ltd, Recall do Brasil Ltda, Record Data Limited, Royal Seal S.R.O., Safehouse Information Management Solutions Private Limited, Secur Archiv SA, Secure Paper Services Pty Ltd, Shuttle SRL, Silver Sky Limited, Sispace AG, Startify, Storbox SA, The Coding Company Pty. Ltd., The Imaging Centre Pty Ltd, UAB Confidento, Upper Providence Venture I L.P., Venues Australia Pty Ltd, and Xepa Digital. TCF Financial Corporation operates as the financial holding company for TCF National Bank that provides various financial products and services in the United States and Canada. It operates through Consumer Banking, Commercial Banking, and Enterprise Services segments. The company offers checking, savings, and money market accounts; certificates of deposit; individual retirement accounts; debit and credit cards; and check cashing and remittance services. It also provides investment management and custodial services, trust services, financial and estate planning, and retirement planning and employee benefit programs; residential, consumer, and small business lending products; and consumer real estate secured lending, consumer loans, loans secured by personal property, and unsecured personal loans. In addition, the company offers loans and lines of credit, deposits, cash management, capital market products, international trade finance, letters of credit, foreign exchange management services, and loan syndication services. Further, it provides commercial and industrial, commercial real estate banking, and lease financing; and treasury services comprising investment and borrowing portfolios, as well as manages capital, debt, and market risks. As of December 31, 2020, the company operated 478 branches, including 373 traditional branches, 102 supermarket branches, and three campus branches located in Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Colorado, Ohio, Wisconsin, Arizona, and South Dakota; and 1,062 ATMs. TCF Financial Corporation was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of The Sherwin-Williams: Acquire Sourcing LLC, CTS National Corporation, Comex North America Inc., Compania Sherwin-Williams S.A. de C.V., Contract Transportation Systems Co., Dongguan Lilly Paint Industries Ltd, Duron, EPS (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., EPS B.V., Geocel Holdings, Geocel Limited, Guangdong Valspar Paints Manufacturing Co Ltd., Inver East Med S.A., Inver France SAS, Inver GmbH, Inver Industrial Coating SRL, Inver Polska Spoka Z O.O, Inver Spa, Invercolor Bologna Srl, Invercolor Ltd, Invercolor Roma Srl, Invercolor Torino Srl, Invercolor Toscana Srl, Isocoat Tintas e Vernizes Ltda, Isva Vernici Srl, Leighs Paints, M.A. Bruder & Sons, Omega Specialty Products & Services LLC, Oy Sherwin-Williams Finland Ab, PT Sherwin-Williams Indonesia, PT Valspar Indonesia, Paint Sundry Brands, Pinturas Condor S.A., Pinturas Industriales S.A., Piton Paints Limited, Plasti-Kote Co. Inc., Plasti-kote Limited, Productos Quimicos y Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Quest Automotive Products UK Limited, Quetzal Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Ronseal (Ireland) Limited, SWIMC LLC, SWIPCO Sherwin Williams do Brasil Propriedade Intelectual Ltda, Sherwin Williams Colombia S.A.S., Sherwin-Williams (Australia) Pty. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Belize) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Caribbean) N.V., Sherwin-Williams (Ireland) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sherwin-Williams (Nantong) Coatings Technology Co. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Nantong) Company Limited, Sherwin-Williams (S) Pte. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Shanghai) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Vietnam) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (West Indies) Limited, Sherwin-Williams Argentina I.y C.S.A., Sherwin-Williams Aruba VBA, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Mexico S.de R.L.de C.V., Sherwin-Williams Balkan S.R.L., Sherwin-Williams Bel Unitary Enterprise, Sherwin-Williams Benelux NV, Sherwin-Williams Canada Inc., Sherwin-Williams Cayman Islands Limited, Sherwin-Williams Chile S.A., Sherwin-Williams Coatings India Private Limited, Sherwin-Williams Coatings S.a r.l., Sherwin-Williams Czech Republic spol. s r.o, Sherwin-Williams Denmark A/S, Sherwin-Williams Deutschland GmbH, Sherwin-Williams Diversified Brands Limited, Sherwin-Williams France Finishes SAS, Sherwin-Williams Italy S.r.l., Sherwin-Williams Norway AS, Sherwin-Williams Paints Limited Liability Company, Sherwin-Williams Peru S.R.L., Sherwin-Williams Pinturas de Venezuela S.A., Sherwin-Williams Poland Sp. z o.o, Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings, Sherwin-Williams Realty Holdings Inc., Sherwin-Williams Services (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sherwin-Williams Spain Coatings S.L., Sherwin-Williams Sweden AB, Sherwin-Williams UK Coatings Limited, Sherwin-Williams do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., Spanyc Paints Joint Stock Company, Syntema I Vaggeryd AB, Taiwan Valspar Co. Ltd., The Sherwin-Williams Acceptance Corporation, The Sherwin-Williams Headquarters Company, The Sherwin-Williams Manufacturing Company, The Sherwin-Williams US Licensing Company, The Valspar (Asia) Corporation Limited, The Valspar (Australia) Corporation Pty. Ltd., The Valspar (Finland) Corporation Oy, The Valspar (France) Corporation S.A.S., The Valspar (France) Research Corporation SAS, The Valspar (Malaysia) Corporation Sdn Bhd, The Valspar (Nantes) Corporation S.A.S., The Valspar (Singapore) Corporation Pte. Ltd, The Valspar (South Africa) Corporation (Pty) Ltd, The Valspar (Spain) Corporation S.R.L., The Valspar (Switzerland) Corporation AG, The Valspar (Thailand) Corporation Ltd., The Valspar (UK) Corporation Limited, The Valspar (Vietnam) Corporation Ltd., The Valspar Corporation, The Valspar Corporation Limitada, UAB Sherwin-Williams Baltic, Valspar (India) Coatings Corporation Private Limited, Valspar (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Valspar (Uruguay) Corporation S.A., Valspar (WPC) Pty Ltd, Valspar Aries Coatings S. de R.L. de C.V., Valspar Automotive (UK) Corporation Limited, Valspar Automotive Australia Pty Limited, Valspar B.V., Valspar Coatings (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Valspar Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Valspar Coatings (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Valspar D.o.o Beograd, Valspar Industries (Ireland) Ltd., Valspar Industries (Italy) S.r.l., Valspar Industries GmbH, Valspar LLC, Valspar Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Valspar Paint (Australia) Pty Ltd, Valspar Paint (NZ) Limited, Valspar Powder Coatings Limited, Valspar Rock Company Limited (Japan), Valspar Specialty Paints LLC, and ZAO Sherwin-Williams. The following companies are subsidiares of 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.. Kinder Morgan, Inc. operates as an energy infrastructure company. The firm engages in the operation of pipelines and terminals that transport natural gas, gasoline, crude oil, carbon dioxide (CO2) and other products and stores petroleum products chemicals and handles bulk materials like ethanol, coal, petroleum coke and steel. It operates through the following segments: Natural Gas Pipelines, CO2, Terminals, Product Pipelines and Kinder Morgan Canada. The Natural Gas Pipelines segment engages in the ownership and operation of major interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline and storage systems, natural gas and crude oil gathering systems and natural gas processing and treating facilities. The CO2 segment focuses on the production, transportation and marketing of CO2 to oil fields that use CO2 as a flooding medium for recovering crude oil from mature oil fields to increase production. The Terminals segment consists of the ownership and operation of liquids and bulk terminal facilities located throughout the U.S. and portions of Canada that trans load and store refined petroleum products, crude oil, chemicals, ethanol and bulk products, including coal, petroleum coke, fertilizer, Read More Grupo TMM SAB engages in the provision of multimodal transportation and logistics services in Mexico. It provides services related to trucking, third-party logistics, offshore supply shipping, clean oil and chemical products shipping, tug-boat services, warehouse management, shipping agency, inland and seaport terminal services, container and railcar maintenance and repair, and other activities related to the shipping and land freight transport business. The company operates through the following segments: Specialized Maritime Transportation, Logistics, Ports & Terminals, and Warehousing. The Specialized Maritime Transportation segment provides transportation of bulk liquid products, materials, and provisions for drilling platforms, as well as towing services for ships. The Logistics segment provides trucking services to major manufacturers, including automobile plants, and retailers with facilities and operations throughout Mexico. The Ports & Terminals segment involves in loading and unloading, storage at maritime port terminals, and shipping agency operations. The Warehousing segment includes storage and management of the facilities. Grupo TMM was founded on August 14, 1987 and Read More The following companies are subsidiares of The Travelers Companies: 10762962 Canada Inc., 350 Market Street LLC, 8527512 Canada Inc., Aetna Life and Casualty Co, American Equity Insurance Company, American Equity Specialty Insurance Company, Aprilgrange Limited, Arch Street North LLC, Auto Hartford Investments LLC, Bayhill Restaurant II Associates, Camperdown Corporation, Constitution State Services LLC, Discover Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Discover Specialty Insurance Company, F&G UK Underwriters Limited, Farmington Casualty Company, Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Company, Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Underwriters Inc., First Floridian Auto and Home Insurance Company, Gulf Underwriters Insurance Company, IHP Capital Partners Fund VIII L.P., Northbrook Holdings Inc., Northfield Insurance Company, Northland Casualty Company, Northland Insurance Company, Phoenix UK Investments LLC, SPC Insurance Agency Inc., Select Insurance Company, Simply Business Holdings Inc., Simply Business Inc., St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, St. Paul Guardian Insurance Company, St. Paul Mercury Insurance Company, St. Paul Protective Insurance Company, St. Paul Surplus Lines Insurance Company, Standard Fire Properties LLC, Standard Fire UK Investments LLC, TCI Global Services Inc., TPC Investments Inc., TPC U.K. Investments LLC, The Automobile Insurance Company of Hartford Connecticut, The Charter Oak Fire Insurance Company, The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, The Family Business Institute LLC, The Phoenix Insurance Company, The St. Paul Companies Inc., The Standard Fire Insurance Company, The Travelers Casualty Company, The Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company of America, The Travelers Indemnity Company of Connecticut, The Travelers Lloyds Insurance Company, TravCo Insurance Company, Travelers (Bermuda) Limited, Travelers Brazil Acquisition LLC, Travelers Brazil Holding LLC, Travelers Casualty Company of Connecticut, Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America, Travelers Casualty UK Investments LLC, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of Europe Limited, Travelers Commercial Casualty Company, Travelers Commercial Insurance Company, Travelers Constitution State Insurance Company, Travelers Distribution Alliance Inc., Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company, Travelers Global Inc., Travelers Indemnity U.K. Investments LLC, Travelers Insurance Company Limited, Travelers Insurance Company of Canada, Travelers Insurance Designated Activity Company, Travelers Insurance Group Holdings Inc., Travelers Lloyds of Texas Insurance Company, Travelers London Limited, Travelers MGA Inc., Travelers Management Limited, Travelers Marine LLC, Travelers Participacoes em Seguros Brasil S.A., Travelers Personal Insurance Company, Travelers Personal Security Insurance Company, Travelers Property Casualty Company of America, Travelers Property Casualty Corp., Travelers Property Casualty Insurance Company, Travelers Seguros Brasil S.A., Travelers Syndicate Management Limited, Travelers Texas MGA Inc., Travelers Underwriting Agency Limited, Ultramar Travel Management, United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, Xbridge Limited, Zensurance Brokers Inc., and Zensurance Inc.. Shares of iShares Gold Trust reverse split on Monday, May 24th 2021. The 1-2 reverse split was announced on Wednesday, March 3rd 2021. The number of shares owned by shareholders was adjusted after the market closes on Friday, May 21st 2021. An investor that had 100 shares of iShares Gold Trust stock prior to the reverse split would have 50 shares after the split. ConocoPhillips engages in the exploration, production, transportation and marketing of crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, natural gas liquids, and liquefied natural gas on a worldwide basis. It operates through the following geographical segments: Alaska; Lower 48; Canada; Europe, Middle East and North Africa; Asia Pacific; and Other International. The Alaska segment primarily explores for produces, transports and markets crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. The Lower 48 segment consists of operations in the U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico. The Canada segment is comprised of oil sands development in the Athabasca Region of northeastern Alberta and a liquids-rich unconventional play in western Canada. The Europe, Middle East and North Africa segment consists of operations and exploration activities in Norway, the United Kingdom and Libya. The Asia Pacific segment has explorations and product operations in China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. The Other International segment handles exploration activities in Columbia and Argentina. The company was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Read More 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. Read More New Jersey Resources Corp. is a holding company. The firm provides safe and reliable natural gas and clean energy services, including transportation, distribution, asset management and home services. It operates through the following segments: New Jersey Natural Gas, NJR Clean Energy Ventures, NJR Energy Services, NJR Midstream, and NJR Home Services. The New Jersey Natural Gas segment provides regulated retail natural gas service to residential and commercial customers in central and northern New Jersey. The NJR Clean Energy Ventures segment invests in, owns and operates solar projects. The NJR Energy Services segment manages a diversified portfolio of natural gas transportation and storage assets and provides physical natural gas services in the U.S. and Canada. The NJR Midstream segment serves customers from local distributors and producers to electric generators and wholesale marketers. The NJR Home Services segment provides heating, ventilation and cooling service, sales and installation of appliances services to its customers, as well as solar installation projects, and is the primary contributor to home services. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Wall, Read More Ormat Technologies, Inc. operates as a holding company. The firm engages in the provision of geothermal and recovered energy power business. It operates through the following segments: Electricity, Product and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment focuses in the sale of electricity from the company's power plants pursuant to PPAs. The Product segment involves in the manufacture, including design and development, of turbines and power units for the supply of electrical energy and in the associated construction of power plants utilizing the power units manufactured by the company to supply energy from geothermal fields and other alternative energy sources. The Energy Storage segment consists of battery energy storage systems as a service and management of curtailable customer loads under contracts with U.S. retail energy providers and directly with large commercial and industrial customers. The company was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Reno, NV. Read More The Howard Hughes Corp. engages in the development and management of commercial, residential, and mixed-use real estate. It operates through the following segments: Operating Assets, Master Planned Communities; Seaport District; and Strategic Developments. The Operating Assets segment consists retail, office, hospitality, and multi-family properties along with other real estate investments. The Master Planned Communities segment focuses in the development and sale of land in large-scale, long-term community development projects in and around Las Vegas, Nevada; Houston, Texas; and Columbia, Maryland. The Seaport District operates an approximately 453,000 square feet of restaurant, retail, and entertainment properties situated in three primary locations in New York, New York: Pier 17, Historic Area/Uplands, and Tin Building. The Strategic Developments segment involves in the other real estate assets in the form of entitled and unentitled land and residential condominium developments. The company was founded on November 9, 2010 and is headquartered in Woodlands, TX. Read More 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. The following companies are subsidiares of Tyson Foods: APF Legacy Subs LLC, Advance Food Company LLC, AdvancePierre Foods, AdvancePierre Foods Holdings Inc., AdvancePierre Foods Inc., Aidells Sausage Company Inc., Allied Specialty Foods Inc., American Proteins Inc, Artisan Bread Co. LLC, Australian Food Corporation Pty Limited, Australian Food Corporation Trust, BRF, Barber Foods LLC, Bosco's Pizza Co., Bryan Foods Inc., C.S. Grain LLC, C.V. Holdings Inc., CBFA Management Corp., Central Industries Inc., Chefs Pantry LLC, Clovervale Farms LLC, Cobb (Hubei) Breeding Co. Ltd., Cobb (Shanghai) Enterprise Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Cobb Ana Damizlik Tavukculuk Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Cobb Columbia S.A.S., Cobb Europe B.V., Cobb Europe Limited, Cobb Peru (Andina) S.A.C., Cobb-Heritage LLC, Cobb-Vantress Brasil Ltda, Cobb-Vantress Inc., Cobb-Vantress New Zealand Limited, Cobb-Vantress Philippines Inc., Coominya AFC Pty Limited, Coominya AFC Trust, DFG Foods Inc., DFG Foods L.L.C., Don Julio, Egbert LLC, Equity Group - Georgia Division LLC, Equity Group - Kentucky Division LLC, Equity Group Eufaula Division LLC, Equity Meat Corp., Flavor Corp., Flavor Holdings Inc., Foodbrands America Inc., Foodbrands Supply Chain Services Inc., Gallo Salame Inc., Global Employment Services Inc., Grow-Out Credit LLC, Grow-Out Holdings LLC, Haimen Tyson Poultry Development Co. Ltd, Hudson Foods Company, Hudson Midwest Foods Inc., Hybro Genetics Brasil Ltda, IBP Caribbean Inc., IBP Foodservice L.L.C., IBP Inc., International Affiliates & Investment LLC, Jiangsu Tyson Foods Co. Ltd, Keydutch Finance B.V., Keydutch Holdings I LLC, Keydutch Holdings II LLC, Keydutch Investments B.V., Keystone CLJV Holdings Limited, Keystone County House Road LLC, Keystone Foods, Keystone Foods (AP) Limited, Keystone Foods Holdco LLC, Keystone Foods Intermediate LLC, Keystone Foods LLC, Keystone Foods Pty Limited, Keystone Management Inc., Keystone Trading (Shanghai) Company Limited, LD Foods LLC, M & M Express LLC, M&M Restaurant Supply (MI/OH) LLC, MFG (USA) Holdings Inc., Mac Food Services (Malaysia) SDN. BHD., Madison Foods Inc., McKey Food Services (Hong Kong) Limited, McKey Food Services (Shandong) Limited, McKey Food Services (Thailand) Limited, McKey Food Services Limited, McKey Luxembourg Holdings APMEA S.a.r.l., McKey Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., McKey Luxembourg S.a.r.l., McKey VI Holdings Limited, Myung Seung Food Company Ltd., National Comp Care Inc., New Canada Holdings Inc., Oaklawn Capital Corporation, Oaklawn IT Solution Private Limited, Original Philly Holdings Inc., PBX inc., Pierre Holdco Inc., River Valley Ingredients LLC, Rizhao Tyson Foods Co. Ltd, Rizhao Tyson Poultry Co. Ltd, Rural Energy Systems Inc., Sara Lee - Kiwi Holdings LLC, Sara Lee Diversified LLC, Sara Lee Foods LLC, Sara Lee Household & Body Care Malawi Ltd., Sara Lee International LLC, Sara Lee International TM Holdings LLC, Sara Lee Mexicana Holdings Investment L.L.C., Sara Lee TM Holdings LLC, Sara Lee Trademark Holdings Australasia LLC, Saramar L.L.C., Shandong Tyson-Da Long Food Company Limited, Smart Chicken, Southern Family Foods L.L.C., Southwest Products LLC, TF 20 B.V., TF 5201 B.V., TFA Leasing LLC, TFA Opportunity Zone Fund LLC, TFI of California Inc., Tecumseh Poultry LLC, Texas Transfer Inc., The Bruss Company, The Hillshire Brands Company, The IBP Foods Co., The Pork Group Inc., TyNet Corporation, Tyson (Shanghai) Enterprise Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Tyson Americas Holding Sarl, Tyson Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Tyson Breeders Inc., Tyson Chicken Inc., Tyson China Holding 2 Limited, Tyson China Holding 3 Limited, Tyson China Holding Limited, Tyson Deli Inc., Tyson Europe Holding Company, Tyson Farms Inc., Tyson Farms QOZB LLC, Tyson Foods Brasil Investimentos Ltda., Tyson Foods Canada Inc., Tyson Foods Europe (Netherlands) B.V., Tyson Foods Europe GmbH, Tyson Foods France S.A.R.L., Tyson Foods Germany GmbH, Tyson Foods Group Limited, Tyson Foods Holland B.V., Tyson Foods Huadong Development Co. Ltd, Tyson Foods Iberia Alimentos S.L.U., Tyson Foods Italia S.p.A., Tyson Foods Korea, Tyson Foods Netherlands B.V., Tyson Foods Products Limited, Tyson Foods Scotland Europe Limited, Tyson Foods Scotland Sales (Europe) Limited, Tyson Foods UK Limited, Tyson Foods Wrexham Limited, Tyson Foods oosterwolde B.V., Tyson Fresh Meats Inc., Tyson Fresh Meats Sales and Distribution LLC, Tyson Global Holding Sarl, Tyson Hog Markets Inc., Tyson India Holdings Ltd., Tyson International APAC Ltd., Tyson International Company Ltd., Tyson International Holding Company, Tyson International Holding Sarl, Tyson International Service Center Inc., Tyson International Service Center Inc. Asia, Tyson International Service Center Inc. Europe, Tyson Mexican Original Inc., Tyson Mexico Trading Company S. de R.L. de CV., Tyson New Ventures LLC, Tyson Opportunity Zone Fund LLC, Tyson Pet Products Inc., Tyson Poultry Inc., Tyson Prepared Foods Inc., Tyson Processing Services Inc., Tyson Refrigerated Processed Meats Inc., Tyson Sales and Distribution Inc., Tyson Service Center Corp., Tyson Shared Services Inc., Tyson Storm Lake Holdings LLC, Tyson Warehousing Services LLC, Tyson of Wisconsin LLC, Uninex SA, Universal Meats (UK) Limited, WBA Analytical Laboratories Inc., Wilton Foods Inc., Xamol Consultores e Servicos, and Zemco Industries Inc.. The following companies are subsidiares of Thermo Fisher Scientific: 236 Perinton Parkway LLC, 27 Forge Parkway LLC, ABR--Affinity BioReagents, ACI Holdings Inc., ARG Services LLC, ASPEX Corporation, Abgene Inc., Abgene Limited, Acoustic Cytometry Systems Inc., AcroMetrix LLC, Acros Organics B.V.B.A., Advanced Biotechnologies Limited, Advanced Scientifics (ASI), Advanced Scientifics Inc., Advanced Scientifics International Inc., Affymetrix Biotech Participacoes Ltda., Affymetrix Biotech Shanghai Ltd, Affymetrix Inc, Affymetrix Japan K.K., Affymetrix Pte Ltd, Affymetrix UK Ltd, Afora S.A.U., Ahura Scientific, Alchematrix Inc., Alchematrix LLC, Alfa Aesar, Alfa Aesar (China) Chemical Co. Ltd., Alfa Aesar (Hong Kong) Limited, Allergon AB, Alphine Mountain Limited, Ambion Inc., Apogent Denmark ApS, Apogent Finance Company, Apogent Holding Company, Apogent Technologies Inc., Apogent Transition Corp., Apogent U.K. Limited, App-Tek International Pty Ltd, Applied Biosystems B.V., Applied Biosystems Finance B.V., Applied Biosystems International Inc., Applied Biosystems LLC, Applied Biosystems Taiwan LLC, Applied Biosystems Trading (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Applied Biosystems de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Applied Scientific Corporation, Avances Cientificos de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Avocado Research Chemicals Limited, B.R.A.H.M.S. Biotech GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. UK Ltd, BAC BV, BAC IP BV, Barnstead Thermolyne LLC, Beijing Phadia Diagnostics Co Ltd, Bender MedSystems GmbH, BioTrove Corporation, BioTrove International Inc., Bioanalysis Labsystems S.A., Biochemical Sciences LLC, Biolab, BmT GmbH Laborprodukte, Bonsai Tecnologies - Sistemas para Biotecnologia e Industria Unipessoal Lda, Brammer Bio, Bumi-Sans Sendirian Berhad, CAC Limited, CB Diagnostics AB, CB Diagnostics Holding AB, CEPH International Corporation, CHK Holdings Inc., CRS Robotics, CTPS LLC, Capitol Scientific Products Inc., Capitol Vial Inc., Cellomics Inc., CellzDirect Inc., Cenduit GmbH, Cenduit LLC, Cezanne S.A.S., Chase Scientific Glass Inc., Chromacol Limited, Clintrak, Clintrak Clinical Labeling Services LLC, Clintrak Pharmaceutical Services LLC, Cohesive Technologies (UK) Limited, Cohesive Technologies Inc., Columbia Diagnostics Inc., Compendia Bioscience Inc., Comtest Limited, Consolidated Technologies Inc., Consultores Fisher Scientific Chile Ltd, Core Informatics, Core Informatics LLC, Core Informatics UK Ltd., D-finitive Technologies Inc., DCG Systems B.V., DCG Systems C.V., DCG Systems G.K., DCG Systems GmbH, DCG Systems Korea Ltd., DCG Systems LLC, DPI Newco LLC, DSM Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Dharmacon, Diagnostix Ltd., Dionex (China) Analytical Ltd, Dionex (Switzerland) AG, Dionex (UK) Limited, Dionex Austria GmbH, Dionex Benelux B.V., Dionex Brasil Instrumentos Cientificos Ltda, Dionex Canada Ltd., Dionex China Limited, Dionex Corporation, Dionex Denmark A/S, Dionex Holding GmbH, Dionex I LLC, Dionex Pty Ltd., Dionex S.A., Dionex S.p.A., Dionex Singapore Pte Ltd., Dionex Softron GmbH, Dionex Sweden AB, Distribution Solutions International Inc., Doe & Ingalls Investors Inc., Doe & Ingalls Limited, Doe & Ingalls Management LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties II LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties LLC, Doe & Ingalls of California Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Florida Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Maryland Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Massachusetts Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of North Carolina Operating LLC, Doublecape Holding Limited, Doublecape Limited, Drakeside Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Duke Scientific Corporation, Dynal Biotech Beijing Limited, EGS Gauging Ltd., EGS Gauging Technical Services Company, EP Scientific Products LLC, Ecochem N.V., EnviroEquip Pty Ltd, Epsom Glass Industries Limited, Equibio Limited, Erie Electroverre S.A., Erie Finance Limited, Erie LP Holding LLC, Erie Scientific Company of Puerto Rico, Erie Scientific Hungary Kft, Erie Scientific LLC, Erie U.K. Limited, Erie UK 1 Limited, Erie UK 2 Limited, Erie UK Holding Company, Erie UK Senior Holding Limited, European Laboratory Holdings Limited, Eutech Instruments Europe B.V., Eutech Instruments Pte Ltd., Eutech Instruments Sdn Bhd, Ever Ready Thermometer Co. Inc., FEI Asia Pacific Co. Ltd., FEI Australia Pty Ltd, FEI CPD B.V., FEI Company, FEI Company Japan Ltd., FEI Company of USA (S.E.A.) Pte Ltd., FEI Czech Republic s.r.o., FEI Deutschland GmbH, FEI EFA Inc., FEI EFA International Pte. Ltd., FEI Electron Optics B.V., FEI Electron Optics International B.V., FEI Europe B.V., FEI France SAS, FEI Global Holdings C.V., FEI Hong Kong Company Limited, FEI Houston Inc., FEI Italia Srl, FEI Korea Ltd., FEI Melbourne Pty Ltd., FEI Microscopy Solutions Ltd, FEI Munich GmbH, FEI Norway Holding AS, FEI SAS, FEI Saudi Arabia LLC, FEI Servicos de Nanotecnologia Ltda., FEI Technologies Inc., FEI Technology de Mexico S.A. de C.V., FEI Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., FEI Trondheim AS, FEI UK Ltd., FHP LLC, FRC Holding Inc. V, FS (Barbados) Capital Holdings Ltd., FS Casa Rocas Holdings LLC, FS Mexicana Holdings LLC, FSI Receivables Company LLC, FSII Sweden Holdings AB, FSII Sweden Holdings I AB, FSIR Holdings (UK) Limited, FSIR Holdings (US) Inc., FSUK Holdings Limited, FSWH Company LLC, FSWH II C.V., FSWH International Holdings LLC, Fermentas China Co. Ltd, Fermentas Inc., Fermentas International, Fermentas Sweden AB, Fermentas UK Limited, Fiberlite Centrifuge LLC, Finesse Scientific Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Finesse Solutions AG, Finesse Solutions Inc., Finnzymes Oy, Fisher Alder S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Asia Manufacturing Ventures Inc., Fisher Bermuda Holdings Limited, Fisher BioImage ApS, Fisher BioPharma Services (India) Private Limited, Fisher BioSciences Japan G.K., Fisher BioServices Inc., Fisher Bioblock Holding II SNC, Fisher CLP Holding Limited Partnership, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 1, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 2, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 3, Fisher Canada Limited Partnership, Fisher Chimica BVBA, Fisher Clinical Logistics LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services (Bristol) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Colombia) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Korea) Co. Ltd, Fisher Clinical Services (Mexico) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Peru) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services Colombia S.A.S., Fisher Clinical Services GmbH, Fisher Clinical Services Inc., Fisher Clinical Services Japan K.K., Fisher Clinical Services Latin America S.R.L., Fisher Clinical Services Limited Liability Company, Fisher Clinical Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Clinical Services Peru S.R.L, Fisher Clinical Services Pte Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services U.K. Limited, Fisher Emergo B.V., Fisher Germany Holdings GmbH, Fisher Hamilton China Inc., Fisher Hamilton Mexico LLC, Fisher Holdings ApS, Fisher Internet Minority Holdings L.L.C., Fisher Laboratory Products Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Fisher Luxembourg Danish Holdings SARL, Fisher Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Maybridge Holdings Limited, Fisher Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific (Austria) GmbH, Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Fisher Scientific (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific (SEA) Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific A/S, Fisher Scientific AG, Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Limited, Fisher Scientific Biotech Line ApS, Fisher Scientific Brazil Inc., Fisher Scientific Central America Inc., Fisher Scientific Chile Inc., Fisher Scientific Colombia Inc., Fisher Scientific Company, Fisher Scientific Company L.L.C., Fisher Scientific Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Fisher Scientific Europe Holdings B.V., Fisher Scientific GTF AB, Fisher Scientific Germany Beteiligungs GmbH, Fisher Scientific GmbH, Fisher Scientific Holding Company LLC, Fisher Scientific Holding HK Limited, Fisher Scientific Holding U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific Holdings (S) Pte Ltd, Fisher Scientific International LLC, Fisher Scientific Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Fisher Scientific Ireland Investments Unlimited, Fisher Scientific Ireland Limited, Fisher Scientific Japan Ltd., Fisher Scientific Jersey Island Limited, Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd, Fisher Scientific Latin America Inc., Fisher Scientific Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Fisher Scientific Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific Mexico Inc., Fisher Scientific Middle East and Africa Inc., Fisher Scientific Norway AS, Fisher Scientific Operating Company, Fisher Scientific Oxoid Holdings Ltd., Fisher Scientific Oy, Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific S.A.S., Fisher Scientific S.L., Fisher Scientific SPRL, Fisher Scientific The Hague I B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague II B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague III B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague IV B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague V B.V., Fisher Scientific U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company 2, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company Limited, Fisher Scientific Unipessoal Lda., Fisher Scientific Venezuela Inc., Fisher Scientific Worldwide (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Holdings I C.V., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Inc., Fisher Scientific de Mexico S.A., Fisher Scientific of the Netherlands B.V., Fisher Scientific spol. S.r.o, Fisher Servicios Clinicos (Chile) LLC, Fisher Servicios Clinicos Chile Ltda, Fisher WWD Holding L.L.C., Fisher Worldwide Distribution SPV, Fisher Worldwide Gene Distribution SPV, Flux Instruments, Fuji Partnership, G & M Procter Limited, G V Instruments Limited, GV Instruments Canada Ltd., GV Instruments Inc, Gatan Inc, General Scientific Company Sdn Bhd (M), Genomed molekularbiologische und diagnostische Produkte GmbH, Gerhard Menzel B.V. & Co. KG, Gold Cattle Standard Testing Labs Inc., Golden West Indemnity Company Limited, Goring Kerr Detection Limited, Greenville Service Company Inc., HENO GmbH i.L., Hangar 215 Inc., Helmet Securities Limited, Henogen, HighChem, HyClone International Trade (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Hybaid Limited, I.Q. (BIO) Limited, IDnostics AG, ILS Laboratories Scandinavia AB, Inel Inc., Inel SAS, InnaPhase Inc., InnaPhase Limited, IntegenX, Intrinsic BioProbes Inc., Intrinsic Bioprobes Inc., Invitrogen (Shanghai) Investment Co. Ltd., Invitrogen Argentina SA, Invitrogen BioServices India Private Limited, Invitrogen Europe Limited, Invitrogen Finance Corp., Invitrogen Holdings LLC, Invitrogen Holdings Ltd., Invitrogen Hong Kong Limited, Invitrogen IP Holdings Inc., Invitrogen Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ion Torrent Systems Inc., Ionalytics Corporation, JSC Thermo Fisher Scientific, Jouan LLC, Jouan Limited, Jouan SA, Kendro Containment & Services Limited, Kendro Laboratory Products Ltd, Kettlebrook Insurance Co. ltd., Keystone Scientific, KonTEM GmbH, Kyle Jordan Investments LLC, LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, LTC Tech South Africa PTY Ltd., La-Pha-Pack GmbH, Lab Vision (UK) Limited, Lab Vision Corporation, Lab-Chrom-Pack LLC, Lab-Line Instruments Inc., Labomex MBP S. de R. L. De C.V., Laboratoire Service International - L.S.I, Laboratory Management Systems Inc., Laboratory Specialties Proprietary Ltd., LambTrack Limited, Laser Analytical Systems Inc., Liberty Lane Investment LLC, Liberty Lane Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Life Sciences International (Poland) SP z O.O, Life Sciences International Holdings BV, Life Sciences International LLC, Life Sciences International Limited, Life Technologies AS, Life Technologies Australia PTY Ltd., Life Technologies BPD AB, Life Technologies BPD UK Limited, Life Technologies Brasil Comercio e Industria de Produtos para Biotecnologia Ltda, Life Technologies Chile SpA, Life Technologies Clinical Services Lab Inc., Life Technologies Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Czech Republic s.r.o., Life Technologies DaAn Diagnostic (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Europe B.V., Life Technologies Finance Ltd., Life Technologies Finland Oy, Life Technologies GmbH, Life Technologies Holdings PTE Ltd., Life Technologies Inc., Life Technologies International B.V., Life Technologies Japan Ltd., Life Technologies Korea LLC, Life Technologies Limited, Life Technologies Magyarorszag Kft, Life Technologies New Zealand Ltd., Life Technologies Norway Investments US LLC, Life Technologies Polska Sp z.o.o., Life Technologies SA, Life Technologies SAS, Life Technologies s.r.o, Linkage Biosciences Inc., Linkage Biosciences S.a.r.l., Loftus Furnace Company, Lomb Scientific, Lomb Scientific (Aust) Pty Limited, MTI-GlobalStem, Marketbase International Limited, Matrix MicroScience Inc., Matrix MicroScience Ltd., Matrix Technologies Corporation Limited, Matrix Technologies LLC, Maybridge Chemical Company Limited, Maybridge Chemical Holdings Limited, Maybridge Limited, Medical Analysis Systems Inc., Medical Analysis Systems International Inc., Medical Diagnostics Systems Inc., Metavac LLC, Microgenics Corporation, Microgenics Diagnostics Pty Limited, Microgenics GmbH, Microm International GmbH, Microm Laborgerate S.L.U, Molecular BioProducts Inc., Molecular Probes Inc., Molecular Transfer Inc., NAPCO Inc., NERL Diagnostics LLC, NOVODIRECT GmbH Labor- und Industrie- Megerate, Nalge (Europe) Limited, Nalge Nunc International (Monterrey) LLC, Nalge Nunc International Corporation, Nanjing WeiKangLe Trading Industrial Co Ltd, NanoDrop Technologies LLC, National Scientific Company, Navaho Acquisition Corp., Neomarkers Inc., New FS Holdings Inc., NewcoGen PE LLC, Nihon Dynal K.K., Niton Asia Limited, NovaWave Technologies Inc., Nunc A/S, ONIX Systems Inc., OXOID CZ s.r.o., Odyssey Holdings Corporation, Odyssey Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 1 S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 2 S.a r.l., Odyssey Venture Corporation, Omega Data Systems, One Lambda Inc, Onix Holdings Limited, Orme Scientific Limited, Owl Separation Systems LLC, Oxoid (ELY) Limited, Oxoid 2000 Limited, Oxoid AS, Oxoid Australia Pty. Limited, Oxoid Company, Oxoid Deutschland GmbH, Oxoid Holding SAS, Oxoid Holdings Limited, Oxoid Inc., Oxoid International Limited, Oxoid Investments GmbH, Oxoid Limited, Oxoid N.V., Oxoid New Zealand Limited, Oxoid Pension Trustees Limited, Oxoid Senior Holdings Limited, Oxoid UKH LLC, PAX - DSI Acquisition LLC, PE AG, Pacific Rim Far East Industries LLC, Pacific Rim Investment LLC, Panomics L.L.C., Panomics S.R.L., Patheon, Patheon API Inc., Patheon API Manufacturing Inc., Patheon API Services Inc., Patheon Austria GmbH & Co KG, Patheon B.V., Patheon Banner U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon Biologics (NJ) LLC, Patheon Biologics Australia Pty Ltd, Patheon Biologics B.V., Patheon Biologics LLC, Patheon Calculus Merger LLC, Patheon Cooperatief U.A., Patheon Development Services Inc., Patheon Finance LLC, Patheon France SAS, Patheon Holdings B.V., Patheon Holdings I B.V., Patheon Holdings II B.V., Patheon Holdings SAS, Patheon I B.V., Patheon I Holding GmbH, Patheon Inc., Patheon International AG, Patheon Italia S.p.A., Patheon KK, Patheon Life Science Products International GmbH, Patheon Manufacturing Services LLC, Patheon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Patheon Pharmaceuticals Services Inc., Patheon Puerto Rico Acquisitions Corporation, Patheon Puerto Rico Inc., Patheon Regensburg GmbH, Patheon Softgels B.V., Patheon Softgels Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings LLC, Patheon UK Limited, Patheon UK Pension Trustees Limited, Pelican Acquisition Corporation, Perbio Science (Canada) Company, Perbio Science AB, Perbio Science BVBA, Perbio Science France SAS, Perbio Science Inc., Perbio Science International Netherlands B.V., Perbio Science Invest AB, Perbio Science Nederland B.V., Perbio Science Projekt AB, Perbio Science Sweden Holdings AB, Perbio Science Switzerland SA, Perbio Science UK Limited, Phadia AB, Phadia Diagnosticos Ltda, Phadia GmbH, Phadia Holding AB, Phadia International Holdings C.V., Phadia Korea Co. Ltd, Phadia Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Phadia Malta Holdings Limited, Phadia Oy, Phadia Real Property AB, Phadia Sweden AB, Phadia Taiwan Inc., Phadia US Inc., Phadia s.r.o., Pharmacaps Mexicana SA de CV, Phenom-World B.V., Phenom-World Holding B.V, Phenom-World Innovations B.V., Phinotex, Pierce Biotechnology Inc., Pierce Milwaukee Holding Corp., Pierce Milwaukee Inc., Polychromix, Power Sweden Holdings I AB, Power Sweden Holdings II AB, Power Sweden Holdings III Aktiebolag, Princeton Gamma-Tech Instruments LLC, Princeton Security Technologies, Prionics AG, Prionics Asia Ltd., Prionics Deutschland GmbH, Prionics France SAS, Prionics Italia S.r.l., Prionics Lelystad B.V., Prionics USA Inc., Priority Air Express LLC, Priority Air Express Pte. Ltd., Priority Air Express UK Limited, Priority Air Holdings Corp, Priority Solutions International, Promedica Pty Limited, Proxeon, Proxeon Biosystems ApS, Qiagen, REP GBP I-B Blocker Inc., Raymond A Lamb Limited, Remel Europe Limited, Remel Inc., Richard-Allan Scientific Company, Robbins Scientific LLC, Robocon Labor- und Industrieroboter Gesellschaft m.b.H, Rupprecht and Patashnick, Rupprecht and Patashnick (R&P), Russell pH Limited, S.C.I. du 10 rue Dugay Trouin, SCI Inno 92, STC Bio Manufacturing Inc., Samco Scientific (Monterrey) LLC, Samco Scientific LLC, Saroph Sweden AB, Schantz Road LLC, Seradyn Inc., Shanghai Life Technologies Biotechnology Co. Limited, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (C-I) Trading Co. Ltd, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (S) Trading Co. Ltd, Southern Trials (Pty) Ltd., Specialty (SMI) Inc., Spectra-Physics AB, Spectra-Physics Holdings Limited, Spectra-Physics Holdings USA LLC, Spectronex, Staten Island Cogeneration Corporation, Sterilin Limited, Stokes Bio Ltd., Sweden DIA (Sweden) AB, SwissAnalytic Group GmbH, Systems Manufacturing Corporation, TFLP LLC, TFS Breda B.V., TFS LLC, TFS Singapore HK Limited, TFSL Financing GP LLC, TFSL Senior GP Holdings 2 LLC, TK Partnership, TKA Wasseraufbereitungssysteme, TMOI Inc., TPI Real Estate Holdings LLC, TSP Holdings I LLC, TWX LLC, Technology Design Solutions Pty Ltd, Thermedics Detection de Argentina S.R.L, Thermo Allen Coding Limited, Thermo Asset Management Services Inc., Thermo BioAnalysis LLC, Thermo BioAnalysis Limited, Thermo BioSciences Holdings LLC, Thermo CIDTEC, Thermo CRS Holdings Ltd., Thermo CRS Ltd., Thermo Cambridge Limited, Thermo Cayman Holdings Ltd., Thermo Corporation, Thermo DMA Inc., Thermo Detection de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Dutch Holdings Limited Partnership, Thermo EGS Gauging LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings I LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings II LLC, Thermo Eberline LLC, Thermo Electron (Calgary) Limited, Thermo Electron (Chile) S.p.A., Thermo Electron (Karlsruhe) GmbH, Thermo Electron (Management Services) Limited, Thermo Electron (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Electron A/S, Thermo Electron Australia Pty Limited, Thermo Electron Export Inc., Thermo Electron Holdings SAS, Thermo Electron Industries, Thermo Electron LED GmbH, Thermo Electron LED S.A.S., Thermo Electron Limited, Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited, Thermo Electron Metallurgical Services Inc., Thermo Electron North America LLC, Thermo Electron Pension Trust GmbH, Thermo Electron Puerto Rico Inc., Thermo Electron SAS, Thermo Electron Scientific Instruments LLC, Thermo Electron Sweden AB, Thermo Electron Sweden Forvaltning AB, Thermo Electron Weighing & Inspection Limited, Thermo Elemental Limited, Thermo Environmental Instruments LLC, Thermo Fast U.K. Limited, Thermo Finland Holdings LLC, Thermo Finland Holdings MT1 B.V., Thermo Finland Holdings MT2 B.V., Thermo Finnigan LLC, Thermo Finnigan Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Malta Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN-I) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (CN-II) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings I Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings II Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings 2) LLC, Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) II Limited, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Heysham) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Kandel) GmbH, Thermo Fisher CHK Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust II, Thermo Fisher Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Thermo Fisher Cyprus Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Detection Mexico LLC, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics (Ireland) Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AB, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AG, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Aps, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Austria GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics B.V., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics K.K., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics NV, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.L.U., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.p.A. , Thermo Fisher Diagnostics SAS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Thermo Fisher Eurobonds Ltd., Thermo Fisher Financial Services Inc., Thermo Fisher GP LLC, Thermo Fisher German Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Germany B.V., Thermo Fisher India Divestco Private Limited, Thermo Fisher India Holding B.V., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Thermo Fisher Israel Ltd., Thermo Fisher Production et Services SAS, Thermo Fisher Project Cyprus LLC, Thermo Fisher Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Australia) C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Barbados) Holdings Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Breda) Holding BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (CN) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Co. 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Ltd., ThermoLase LLC, ThermoSpectra Limited, Trek Diagnostic Systems LLC, Trek Diagnostic Systems Ltd., Trek Holding Company II Ltd., Trek Holding Company Ltd., Trex Medical Corporation, USB Corporation, Union Lab Supplies Limited, United Diagnostics Inc., VG Systems Limited, Westover Scientific Inc., ZAO PE Biosystems, eBioscience GmbH, eBioscience Ltd, eBioscience SAS, and picoSpin LLC. Fitbit, Inc., a technology company, provides health solutions in the United States and internationally. The company offers a line of devices, including Fitbit Charge 3, Fitbit Inspire, Fitbit Inspire HR, and Fitbit Ace 2 activity trackers; Fitbit Ionic and Fitbit Versa family of smartwatches, as well as Fitbit Flyer wireless headphones and the Fitbit Aria family of connected scales; and accessories, such as bands and frames for its devices. It also offers Fitbit online dashboard and mobile apps that sync automatically with and display real-time data from its wearable devices; and Fitbit Care, a connected health platform for health plans, employers, and health systems. In addition, the company provides Fitbit Premium, a paid subscription service that uses the data of users to deliver actionable guidance and coaching to help users achieve their health and fitness goals, as well as includes Fitbit Coach that offers exercise programs through personal trainer and yoga apps. It sells its products through consumer electronics and specialty, e-commerce, mass merchant, department store, club, and sporting goods and outdoors retailers; wireless carriers; distributors; and Fitbit.com, an online store, as well as directly to consumers. Fitbit, Inc. has a collaboration with The Scripps Research Institute and Stanford Medicine to study the role of wearables to detect, track, and contain infectious diseases, such as COVID-19.; and partnership with Solera Health to reduce risk of type 2 diabetes. The company was formerly known as Healthy Metrics Research, Inc. and changed its name to Fitbit, Inc. in October 2007. Fitbit, Inc. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Read More One of three games between ranked opponents today sees #17 Boise State traveling to Stillwater to face #24 Oklahoma State. That matchup has a ton of potential, and as its on ESPN in the 3:30 PM Eastern window, it makes sense that SportsCenter would have Paul Finebaum analyze it this morning as part of the Saturday Selections segment. Unfortunately, Finebaum didnt really provide very helpful analysis, for a very simple reason: he apparently thought Boise State was playing #5 Oklahoma. At first it feels like maybe Finebaum just forgot to say State, but then it quickly becomes apparent that, no, he thought todays game was a rematch of the legendary 2007 Fiesta Bowl, and prepared an entire quick hit analysis accordingly. Give them credit, theyre playing a pretty good schedule with UCLA last week and now BoiseI like everything about this Oklahoma team. Im worried about losing the running back, Anderson. But Kyler Murray, is he in the Heisman race already? Not great! Twitter, understandably, was a combination of amused/angry, but even more than Twitter normally is: @finebaum I hate to point out small details to you, but on @ESPN you just said Oklahoma would beat Boise State. Boise State is at Stillwater to play Oklahoma State. Perhaps you should re-evaluate your prediction. Andy Clark (@poof0017) September 15, 2018 Pretty funny how @MattBarrie just stared into space and didnt say anything when Finebaum clearly picked the wrong Oklahoma team on @SportsCenter this morning Nathaniel (@Hoosier2012) September 15, 2018 There you have it. Finebaum says Oklahoma beats Boise #clown#clueless Todd Kerr (@TKSOONER) September 15, 2018 ESPN expert @finebaum picked Kyler Murray and the Oklahoma Sooners to beat @BroncoSportsFB. He May be surprised when the Broncos take care of business today against @okstate in Stillwater! Go Broncos!! Jeremy Aston (@Aston22Jeremy) September 15, 2018 Better luck next weekend, Paul. This page may be updated if the event is repeated Past Event - Saturday, October 05, 2019 This page may be updated if the event is repeated $40 per person, reservations necessary, limited to 30 persons over 18 Ghosties, and goblins, and things that go bump in the night Museum volunteers share stories of Waynesville's haunted past - and present! The Museum at the Friends Home in Waynesville, Ohio will be hosting its semi-annual ghost hunting class October 5, 2019 at 7 pm. Participants will be hosted by Paravizion Paranormal. Participants will examine and use ghost hunting tools, go on a ghost walk ,and will spend 2-3 hours in the museum seeking contact with some of our spirits. (Many times we experience the unexplainable). Cost is $40 per person and the number of participants is 30. Hyundai is mulling over the introduction of more EVs in the country with plans to even export some of the models from here. Hyundai is all set to launch its Kona EV in India in the second half of 2019. With this, the South Korean company will become the first carmaker to launch a long-range electric SUV in the country. Hyundai is mulling over the introduction of more EVs in the country with plans to even export some of the models from here. At the 2018 MOVE summit, which was held in India earlier in September, the carmaker confirmed that it will launch three EVs (including the Kona EV) in the country. While details of the Kona EV are already known, Hyundai has not said anything about the other two EVs. Since Hyundai plans to export EVs from India to other markets in South Asia, it might want to develop new and economical cars in the subcontinent. Related: Hyundai Mulls Production Of EVs in India For Export The other Hyundai EV could be a compact SUV based on the Carlino concept. A conventionally powered SUV based on the same concept is already confirmed and will go on sale in India by April 2019. Hyundai has not yet confirmed whether the new platform supports electrification or not, but given the global push for electric mobility, we believe it just might. If our assumptions are right, the economical EV from Hyundai will rival the electric version of the Mahindra S201, which is expected to hit the market by 2020. The electrified S201 will have a claimed top speed of 150kmph and a single-charge range of 250km. Hyundai is yet to give a timeline for the other two EVs that it plans to launch post the Kona Electric. Nonetheless, we expect the carmaker to bring them to our shores by 2023, which is when CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) norms will get stricter in India. Having more EVs would allow Hyundai to continue selling its conventional vehicles without the need to electrify them, and hence, remain competitive in the mass market too. Also Read: Hyundai To Launch An Entry-Level SUV Below QXi (Carlino) Disclaimer: This article has not been edited by Deccan Chronicle and is taken from a syndicated feed. Photos: CarDekho. Hyundais latest 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system that debuted with the Elantra facelift will be a perfect fit for the upcoming Santro Hyundais upcoming AH2 entry-level hatchback, which is expected to reboot the Santro nameplate in India, is likely to be feature-rich like most of its siblings. One of the goodies that it could be offered with is a new 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Pictured: Hyundai's Existing 5-inch System The infotainment system in question is a brand new unit that Hyundai introduced with the 2019 Elantra facelift. The new system packs a faster processor when compared to the existing 5-inch unit thats offered with the lower variants of the Creta and the Verna in India. More importantly, it offers support for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay too. Apart from the 2-DIN music system on the ageing Eon and the existing 5-inch touchscreen on the Creta and Verna, all other Hyundai cars offered in India support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The new Santro is expected to be priced from around Rs 3.5 lakh and is set to up against hatchbacks like the Tata Tiago, the Maruti Suzuki Celerio and the upcoming WagonR. None of these cars offer a touchscreen infotainment system as of now. However, the new WagonR is expected to get one and the Tiago is likely to borrow the touchscreen unit that is available on the Tigor sedan and the recently-launched Tiago NRG cross-hatch. Even the top variants of the entry-level hatchback, the Renault Kwid, pack a large 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Hence, we think Hyundai should consider offering the new 5-inch unit on its upcoming small car in the country. Whats your take? Check out: Tata Tiago NRG vs Tiago: Major Differences Disclaimer: This article has not been edited by Deccan Chronicle and is taken from a syndicated feed. Photos: CarDekho. Bangalore based payments technology company Cashfree, launches Cashgram, a smart payout system for one time payments, like Cash on Delivery refunds in e-commerce. Cashgram is an extension of Cashfrees Payout system that enables businesses to send money to their user and vendors. Using Cashgram, companies can send a web link to their users requesting bank account information. On receiving the information, a one click refund can be processed instantly. Currently, e-commerce companies do this manually over multiple emails between customer, finance team and customer support team, very often leading to errors and delays. Cashgram also gives the users the option of sharing their UPI IDs or PayTM, instead of their bank account. Akash Sinha, Co-founder and CEO of Cashfree said, Cashgram is a powerful product for businesses that need to pay their users - for refunds or otherwise. It not only saves operational overhead of processing payments but the customers trust on the e-commerce company also increases when they get their refunds instantly. This results in higher repeat rate. He further added, We saw this phenomena with our Payouts product that is being used to pay vendors and affiliates, pay salaries, distribute winnings in gaming, disburse loans, reimburse expenses and of course, process refunds. That is when we thought of introducing this special product for e-commerce companies. The product is live with popular e-commerce companies like Nykaa, Rentomojo, and Club Factory as initial customers. The payouts product is already doing about 50,000 transactions everyday. Disclaimer: This article has not been edited by Deccan Chronicle and is taken from a syndicated feed. Photos: NewsVoir. Indo-US relations seem to move into a closer accord following the 2+2 dialogue between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and their US counterparts, secretaries of state and defence, Mike Pompeo and James Mattis. India signed up to the US Communications Security Memorandum of Agreement (COMCASA), the second of the three foundational agreements that Washington has been pushing since ties moved into a different trajectory with the signing of the Indo-US civil nuclear energy cooperation agreement. To further emphasis the growing sense of ease on military cooperation, a major tri-service exercise is planned for next year on the Bay of Bengal coast. It was described as a historic moment by US spokesperson, an indication of the deepening strategic partnership between the US and India and Indias emergence as a net security provider in the region. The main outcome of the dialogue was defence related though the two sides also agreed to establish a hotline between their Foreign Offices in Washington and New Delhi. As Sitharaman said, the defence cooperation is a key driver of the Indo-US relationship. Comcasa creates communications compatibility, which would allow India acess to Americas super secure communications systems. As the agreement has not been made public, there is little clarity on what conditions India would have to meet to allow access. But it would open the doors for further defence contracts with the US. The implementation of the agreements would draw India closer to the American security architecture for the Indo-Pacific despite New Delhis aversion to being part of a formalised Quadrilateral rouping. During the talks in Delhi, Swaraj said that there was a growing convergence of view on the Indo-Pacific. We see the Indo-Pacific as a free, open and inclusive concept, defined by a common, rules based order. The US is keen to draw India closer into the Quadrilateral the informal grouping of the US, Australia, Japan and India, but New Delhi is reluctant to be part of an entity that can be perceived as targeting China. The Indian side agreed to continue informal talks at mid-level government officials. Officials have met twice already, in Manila during the Asean summit and in Singapore on the margins of the Shangri La dialogue. Despite the prevailing view in Delhi that Washington will allow a waiver to the US law, Countering Americas Adversaries through Sanctions, (CAATSA) American officials have pointedly said that no decision had been taken by the US regarding Indias plans to buy S-400 missile defence systems from Russia. The unilateral American decision to impose sanctions against Russia through enacting a stringent domestic law has a direct impact on India, especially as India still obtains about 60 percent of its defence requirement from Russia. Even if Washington agrees to a waiver for the S-400 missile as the deal was already under negotiation when the US law was enacted, the sanctions would surely apply to any further purchases from Russia. Neither was there any satisfaction on the other cause of concern, the sanctions against Iran and the demand that countries cut down to zero their imports of Iranian oil. Iran is Indias third largest oil supplier, supplying a grade of oil compatible for Indian refineries at a competitive cost. Instead American officials point to American oil and defence deals as good substitutes for Iranian oil and Russian arms. During the Trump administration it is the defence ties that have seen greater traction. India has been designated a major defence partner by the US and earlier this year Washington added India to the Strategic Trade Authorisation-l List that allows easier import of hi-tech equipment. But, India has not become a favoured American ally; the Indo-US relationship is still buffeted by Trumps unpredictability and his transactional style that intensifies the long pending trade and other issues. It is trade that continues to be flagged in Washington. Trump rails at China and India for the large trade deficit, as Trump famously declared last week, subsidies to China and India would be stopped. As Trump points to Indias US $23 billion trade surplus, Indian officials look at increasing shale oil purchases from the US and commercial aircraft deals to ward off the pressure. Shortly after the 2+2 dialogue, Swaraj left for Moscow for the annual Inter Governmental Commission meeting (IGC) with her counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Yuri Borisov. The IGC will prepare the ground for the next annual summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in early October in New Delhi. Both sides would give a push to enhance their ties under the shadow of American sanctions. New Delhi has been on edge over the rapidly expanding relations between Moscow and Islamabad, especially over the Afghanistan issue and closer ties between their defence forces. The summit will restore some balance in Indias global strategic relations. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is known for immersing himself into the character he plays. For his upcoming movie Manto too, the actor has transformed himself to get into the skin of the legendary poet who fearlessly spoke his mind. Deccan Chronicle exclusively spoke to the actor about doing yet another film with female director Nandita Das and his upcoming film Thackeray. Here are some excerpts from the interview: What was your first reaction when you heard that a movie is being made on the character of Manto? She (Nandita) told me in 2013 that she wants to make a movie on Manto. We were at the Cannes red carpet at that time when she approached me. I had read about Manto so I was fascinated. She took 4 years to research on him and got a script and then we began. Nandita Das herself has been a part of quite a few path-breaking movies like Fire and Earth to name a few, and she even made her directorial debut with Firaaq which also starred you. Was that the reason you thought you she would be the most suitable director to shoot such a film? Absolutely! I feel that there is only Nandita in the whole wide world who can do justice to Manto. I say this because she was too passionate when speaking about Manto, and is capable, educated and has sensibilities to see things. Looking at that, I felt that if theres anyone who can do Manto, it is Nandita. Partition is a sensitive topic for both India and Pakistan even today. In Manto, an Indian writer starts living in Pakistan and publishing books which people find offensive. How difficult was it for you to get into the nuances of the character? I can feel and imagine what he went through at that time. Theres no proof of anything because it was in that era. But Nandita did her research well. She even met Mantos daughters to understand what their father was like. I spoke to them on call. That actually helped a lot to understand his situation, thoughts etc. Apart from acting in the film, have you contributed in any other way like music or screenplay? It is all Nanditas thoughts. Im so busy acting at the moment that I cant even think of anything else. My expertise is nothing except acting. After Manto, you will also be playing the iconic Bal Thackeray. Is there a reason behind playing such controversial characters? When an actor does a character, he doesnt see controversy but challenges. I figure if it can help me in expanding my thoughts and discovering myself. As actors we are selfish and just see how we should play a character. People can think everything else. If I find any other normal character also challenging, I will take that up too. Mumbai: 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. 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. Their interactions, rolling and rubbing against each other near the water's surface and flashing their genitals, for example, suggests the narwhal has been fully accepted by the pod.(Photo: Youtube Screengrab/ AFP) A lonely narwhal that strayed far from its Arctic habitat has apparently found a new family in a pod of belugas in Canada's Saint Lawrence River, a marine conservation group said Thursday. The juvenile narwhalidentifiable from its tusk and grey spotswas filmed by marine biologists over the summer, swimming closely with about 10 white beluga whales. Their interactions, rolling and rubbing against each other near the water's surface and flashing their genitals, for example, suggests the narwhal has been fully accepted by the pod, said Robert Michaud, director of the non-profit Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM) in Tadoussac, Quebec. "He's found buddies," Michaud told AFP. "And they're treating him now like he's just one of the boys." Narwhals live in the Arctic waters of Canada, Norway, Greenland and Russia, and don't normally range so far south. This one was first spotted with the belugas in 2016 and again in 2017. Video of the whale with its new family was finally captured when GREMM researchers used a drone in July to get greater insights into the group's odd dynamics. The Saint Lawrence beluga population is the most southern of the species and is listed as endangered. While beluga and narwhal habitats overlap in parts of the Arctic, and the animals are closely related it is rare to see one species interact with the other. Young whales tend to wander. When unable to find their own kind, these very social creatures have been known to try to make friends with buoys or boatsat times risking fatal injury from propellors. Michaud said it was "lucky" that this narwhal was taken in by the belugas as other young whales with wanderlust often "end up in difficult situations." At this age, around five or six years old, young male belugas learn social graces and life skills from each other, and form bonds with other males that will carry into adulthoodwhich narwhal are not known to do. "For this young narwhal to right now survive he needs contact with others, he needs buddies," Michaud said. "Effectively he is learning how to be a beluga whale," he added with a laugh. "How will it turn out? Narwhal and beluga live up to 60 years. So it'll be a long story to follow. Stay tuned." The smaller idol made in gold plated silver which is studded with thousands of diamonds. (Photo: ANI) Surat: A Ganesha idol in Gujarats Surat has been adorned with diamonds, gold and silver ornaments worth lakhs of rupees. Dalia Sheri, the diamond hub of Surat, attracts thousands of people every year with its exquisite diamond and gold jewellery studded Ganesha idol. The pandal, which is themed around "golden temple and the movie Baahubali" has two Ganesha idols. Dalia Sheri, the diamond hub of Surat, attracts thousands of people every year with its exquisite diamond and gold jewellery studded Ganesha idol. (Photo: ANI) The bigger idol has diamond studded ears, hands and feet along with gold and diamond necklaces. Bigger idol at marquee (Photo: ANI) The smaller idol made in gold plated silver which is studded with thousands of diamonds. Smaller idol at the pandal (Photo: ANI) The organiser Gaurav Jariwala says that a devotee donated it to the pandal. According to Jariwala, over 4-5 lakh people visit the pandal every year during the 10 days of Ganesha Chaturthi and devotees whose wishes get fulfilled donate silver items. According to reports around 80,000 Australian and American diamonds are studded on this Ganesha idol and 10-15 kilograms of gold and silver mixture is used to make the plating for feet, ear and hands. CCTV camera have been places around the marquee to maintain security along with guards who have been stationed all across. New Delhi: On the occasion of 'Engineer's Day', Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday commended the hardworking engineers of the nation. The Prime Minister took to Twitter to honour engineering genius M. Visvesvaraya, whose birth anniversary is celebrated as 'Engineer's Day'. "On #EngineersDay, I congratulate our hardworking engineers and appreciate their dexterity as well as dedication. Their role in nation building is extremely vital. I also pay tributes to the noted engineer, Shri M Visvesvaraya, on his birth anniversary," he wrote. On #EngineersDay, I congratulate our hardworking engineers and appreciate their dexterity as well as dedication. Their role in nation building is extremely vital. I also pay tributes to the noted engineer, Shri M Visvesvaraya, on his birth anniversary. pic.twitter.com/A5ITMon7Up Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 15, 2018 Tech giant Google also celebrated the 158th birth anniversary of Visvesvaraya with a special Doodle. "Living by the phrase 'Work is Worship,' Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya-fondly known as Sir MV-devoted his life to engineering. A master of irrigation design, the world-renowned civil engineer became so respected in his field that India celebrates Engineers Day each year on his birthday," read the blog post. Google doodle The Doodle features a colour sketch of Sir MV and in the background shows the iconic Krishna Raja Sagar dam built across the Cauvery river in Mandya, Karnataka. "One of Sir MV's most notable projects-which we are excited to feature in today's Doodle-came some time after his return to India. In 1924, he oversaw the construction of his design for the Krishna Raja Sagara Lake and dam, creating the largest reservoir in India at the time, which provided drinking water for several cities. His flood protection system for the city of Hyderabad and his irrigation plans for Visakhapatnam made him something of a celebrity. Still he maintained a life of strict discipline and modesty, rising at 5am each day and working through the evenings," it added. Deferred visuals: A total of five militants were believed to be engaged in the encounter. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) Srinagar: Five militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) were killed in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir Saturday, officials said. Five militants have been killed in the operation at Chowgam in Kulgam district of south Kashmir, an Army official said here. He said weapons and war-like stores have been recovered from the encounter site. The operation is over, the official said. The encounter between the militants and security forces began this morning after the forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants there. While the forces were conducting the searches, the militants fired upon the forces, ensuing a gunfight. A police official said the militants belonged to two outfits of LeT and HM and their killing was a huge success for the forces. "It is a huge success for police and security forces. The militants belonged to both HM and LeT," he said. He said most of the slain militants were "involved in a series of terror acts including killing of two bank employees and many policemen". "They were also involved in bank robberies and weapon looting," the police official said. Meanwhile, clashes broke out near the site of the encounter as groups of youths started pelting stones on the forces, the official said. He said a few youths have been injured in the forces' action on the protesters. Train services between Baramulla and Qazigund have been suspended due to apprehensions of law and order problems. The incident took place at Thouroijam Awang Leikai area on Thursday. (Representational Image/PTI) Imphal: A man has been allegedly lynched in Imphal West district of Manipur on suspicion of stealing vehicles, a senior police officer said. Five persons have been arrested in the matter, he said. Two associates of the victim managed to escape from the scene, the officer said. The incident took place at Thouroijam Awang Leikai area on Thursday, Imphal West Superintendent of Police (SP) Jogeshchandra Haobijam said. Along with four persons, suspected to be involved in the lynching case, an owner of a two-wheeler, who had parked his vehicle in a garage, was arrested on Friday, the SP said. The reason for arresting the owner of the two-wheeler was not disclosed by the police officer. The five accused have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and remanded to police custody for four days by a city court on Saturday. The Manipur Human Rights Commission took up the case suo moto in connection with the incident and directed the state director general of police to probe the matter and submit a report by September 22. Locals of Thouroijam village on Friday gheraoed Patsoi police station on Friday, demanding release of the arrested persons. The spokesperson of a local club of the village said that instead of arresting the two vehicle-lifters, who managed to escape from the spot, the police arrested five persons, including the owner of the two-wheeler. The nun had recently written to the Vatican accusing Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal of raping her. (Photo: File) Kochi: Accused of raping a Kerala nun multiple times between 2014 and 2016, Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal stepped down on Saturday. The bishop is also expected to leave for Kerala soon. He said in a letter, "I am likely to be called for further clarifications by investigating officer in Kerala, appoint Rv, Fr Joseph Thekkumkattil & Rev Fr Subin Thekkedathu." The nun had recently written to the Vatican accusing Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal of raping her. The case has now been brought to the notice of the Vatican and the representative from India is in Rome to discuss the issue. The church representative is also expecting an intervention in the coming days, news agency ANI reported quoting sources. Meanwhile, BJP workers staged protest outside the Kerala secretariat on Saturday demanding action against Bishop Mulakkal. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) The Kerala High Court on Thursday had expressed satisfaction over the police investigation in the case. Trivandrum: Protests for action against rape accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal continue to intensify with BJP workers staging agitation outside the Kerala secretariat. Jaladhar Roman Catholic priest, Bishop Franco Mulakkal, is accused of raping a Kerala nun multiple times between 2014 and 2016. BJP workers, including women, raised slogans demanding immediate action against Bishop Franco Mulakkal. Police resorted to using water canon to disperse the agitators. The survivor nun, who is in her 40s, had earlier this week written a letter to the Vatican seeking justice. Bishop Franco always had an eagles eye on the sisters of Missionaries of Jesus congregation and whichever sisters he felt attracted to, he tried to trap them by force or taking advantage of their weakness, the letter read. In her letter, the nun mentioned that though she had filed a complaint with the police two months ago, no action was taken against the bishop due to his influence. 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. Meanwhile, the Kerala police have summoned Bishop Franco Mulakkal on September 19. Bishop Mulakkal on Saturday handed over the charge of Jalandhar diocese to his second-in-command amid an ongoing probe in the case by Kerala police. Read: Nun rape case: Bishop Franco steps down, to leave for Kerala soon The case has now been brought to the notice of the Vatican and the representative from India is in Rome to discuss the issue. Bishop Mulakkal in a letter dated September 13 mentioned that he would step down. He wrote, "I would like to thank all of you for your continued support and prayers for me at this time continued problems affecting my Episcopal ministry. As you have probably come to know from the media the investigation into the allegations raised against me there are several contradictions in the evidences collected against me as per the report of the police. It is reported I am likely to be called for further clarifications by the investigating officer in Kerala." The bishop further wrote that he leaves "everything into the hand of God as I await the result of the findings of the team probing the allegation." "In my absence Msgr. Mathew Kokkandam will administer the Diocese as is the normal practice when I am away from the Diocese," the letter mentioned. Also Read: Rape accused Bishop Mulakkal hands over administrative charge to fellow priest On Friday, Kerala police registered a complaint against the Missionaries of Jesus after the congregation flouted the countrys anti-rape law and released a photograph of the nun seated with her alleged tormentor. Also Read: Case against Missonaries of Jesus for releasing nun's photograph 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, however, cautioned them against publishing the photograph, saying it cannot be held responsible if the press violates the rule. The judge directed the CBI to file its counter petition and posted the matter to October 3. (Photo: File) Chennai: 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. Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Saturday. Parrikar, who returned from the US after a medical check-up last week, was admitted to a hospital in Goa Thursday evening, due to his deteriorating health. He flew to Delhi on Saturday for a health check-up at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Also Read: Ailing CM Manohar Parrikar to leave for Delhi today, to be treated at AIIMS "He is being examined by a team of doctors and will undergo a few tests," a source at AIIMS told news agency PTI. Michael Lobo, the Deputy Speaker of the Goa Assembly said that Parrikar will continue to serve as the Chief Minister. "Amit Shah and Modiji are monitoring the situation in Goa. Portfolios that were with the Chief Minister will be distributed among ministers so that administration runs smoothly," he told news agency ANI. Earlier in the day, Goa BJP held a meeting of its state-level core committee. The core committee later met Parrikar. Many leaders wished for the Goa Chief Minister's speedy recovery. West Bengal Chief Minister took to Twitter to express concern over his declining health. "Concerned about the health of Goa Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar. My prayers to give him and his family the strength at this difficult time," she wrote. Concerned about the health of Goa Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar. My prayers to give him and his family the strength at this difficult time Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) September 15, 2018 Among others, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti too wished for Parrikar's speedy recovery. Parrikar had undergone a three-month-long treatment in the US for a pancreatic ailment, returning to India on September 7. On Thursday evening he was admitted to a private hospital at Candolim in North Goa district. Modi said those working for the cleanliness campaign would be remembered like freedom fighters in the times to come and would be known as true heirs to Gandhi. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) New Delhi: Launching the "Swachhata Hi Seva" campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Saturday all sections of society and every part of the country have joined the cleanliness drive as he noted few would have thought that nine crore toilets would be built and 4.5 lakh villages declared open defecation free in four years. The "cleanliness is service" campaign will continue till Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2, with Modi asking people to rededicate themselves to fulfilling the father of the nation's dream of a clean India during an interactive programme. The prime minister spoke to groups of people from across the country besides several religious figures, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and personalities including Amitabh Bachchan and Ratan Tata through video-conference in which they shared details of their work for the campaign. #WATCH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi sweeps & cleans the premises of Baba Sahib Ambedkar Higher Secondary School in Delhi's Paharganj as a part of #SwachhataHiSeva movement. pic.twitter.com/sqjN7zxGmg ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 The sanitation coverage in India has increased to over 90 per cent from 40 per cent in four years, Modi said. "Had anybody imagined that more than 450 districts would be open defecation free (ODF) in four years or that 20 states and Union Territories would be open defecation free in four years," he said, calling it a historic day today as he launched the fortnight-long campaign. Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous and among the most poor state, would be ODF by October 2, 2018 as per a baseline survey of the clean India campaign. He said that his government is working to ensure that every family has a toilet by October 2019. His government had built over 1.36 crore toilets since it came to power last year and its emphasis on cleanliness has led to a drastic fall in vector-borne diseases. Modi lauded Adityanath for his government's efforts. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan cleans Delhi's Vasant Vihar area as part of Swachhata Hi Seva movement. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) The prime minister spoke to people in states such as Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Haryana. He also interacted with Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel involved in cleaning Pangong Lake and its surroundings in Leh, besides religious and spiritual figures like Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and Mata Amritanandamayi. He also interacted with Sikh religious figures from Patna Sahib gurudwara and Muslim custodians of Ajmer Sharif shrine among others. Modi said those working for the cleanliness campaign would be remembered like freedom fighters in the times to come and would be known as true heirs to Gandhi. Modi said his government is working for "waste to wealth" and sought contributions from everybody. The government alone cannot do it, he added. After his nearly-two-hour-long interaction, Modi took part in a cleanliness drive on the premises of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Higher Secondary School in Paharganj. Union ministers and BJP leaders and workers across the country also participated in the exercise following the prime minister's programme. CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said they have mentioned 'many times' that the change in the notice against Vijay Mallya was done as there was no sufficient ground to arrest or detain him. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Coming out in defence of its senior official, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Saturday termed the allegations of "allowing" fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya to escape baseless. CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said the "lookout circular" was not changed "individually" but the decision was taken at the "appropriate level". Terming the allegations against CBI Joint Director AK Sharma "baseless", spokesperson of the central investigating agency Abhishek Dayal said they have mentioned "many times" that the change in the notice against Vijay Mallya was done as there was no sufficient ground to arrest or detain him. The CBI's response came soon after Congress President Rahul Gandhi called AK Sharma, a Gujarat cadre officer PM Modi's "blue-eyed boy". Read: Rahul Gandhi targets PM Modi's 'blue-eyed boy' for diluted Vijay Mallya notice Earlier in the week, Rahul Gandhi had accused Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of colluding with business tycoon Mallya and helping him escape the country. The Congress chief demanded Jaitleys resignation. Also Read: Jaitley 'lying', Cong leader saw Mallya 'talking discreetly' to FM: Rahul Gandhi Congress leader P L Puniya also claimed that he had seen Jaitley and Mallya having a 15-minute sit-down meeting in parliament on March 1, 2016, two days before Mallya fled the country. Earlier this week, ahead of his extradition hearing at the Londons Westminster Magistrate Court, Mallya told the media, 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." Also Read: Met Arun Jaitley to 'settle matters' before leaving India: Vijay Mallya Speaking about the PNB fraud case, the agency official said the CBI received complaint against Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi almost a month after they had left the country. Dayal added that the "question of any CBI officer having any hand in their fleeing the country does not arise. Prompt action was taken by CBI in the case immediately after the complaint was received from the bank." Vijay Mallya, currently in London, is being investigated for fraud and money-laundering. He has been fighting India's attempts at bringing him back to face trial for the last two years. Both Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi are under probe by the CBI and ED. Nirav Modi left India with his family in the first week of January, weeks before the scam came to light and was reported to the CBI. Hyderabad: MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday challenged BJP chief Amit Shah to contest from Hyderabad and see how Telangana state defeats his strategy. Interacting with mediapersons here, Mr Owaisi reacted to Mr Shahs accusation against the MM and his declaration that the BJP would contest from all seats in the upcoming Assembly elections. Reacting to Mr Shahs remarks on Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao going in for early elections, Mr Owaisi said the BJP too had done the same thing in Gujarat after the 2002 riots. He also posted on his Twitter handle stating: Welcome, people of Hyderabad & Telangana will defeat your strategy I request @AmitShah to contest from Hyderabad and inshallah MIM will win & BJP will not be able to retain 5 Assembly seats inshallah. What is strategy to control Oil prices, Employment for Youth, BJP has NO Ans (sic). Responding to the challenge, BJP leader G. Kishan Reddy dared Mr Owaisi to contest from the Amberpet constituency against him, if he had the guts. Mr Reddy said the people would decide whether the BJP would retain its five seats and whether it would come to power or not. He said that the BJP would contest in all 119 seats on its own and would fight to form the BJP government in Telangana state. Thiruvananthapuram: A day after the Supreme Court came out with a historical judgment granting Rs 50 lakh compensation to former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan, who was allegedly embroiled in the infamous spy case, he stated that he is thoroughly happy. The 76-year-olds 24-year-long crusade has not left him weary. He says it was his conscience and his faith which kept him going all these years. Will you be pressing any further charges against the three retired police officials in the SIT? The Justice D.K. Jain Commission will be calling me, I guess. I am not going to press any charges against any of the three officers. Reason being that once the fight is over, there is nothing further to do. I dont know whether it was deliberately fabricated against me or they were forced to do it. But one thing is clear: This has been plotted by former ADGP and head of the Special Investigation Team, Siby Mathews. I am clear that I should be talking about him and not about someone else. Did Siby Mathews ever apologize to you? Well, I have neither told anyone nor written in my book, Ready to Fire How India and I Survived the ISRO Spy Case, that Siby Mathews had apologised to me. He had come and met me thrice. He never apologised to me; he remained firm that he had not done any wrong. But do you think he came to meet me to ask, How are you? He was feeling remorseful and was unable to sleep, I guess. Who are those erring officials mentioned in the Supreme Court judgment? I feel that it is not only these three officials, Siby Mathews and two retired Superintendents of Police, K.K. Joshua and S. Vijayan, who have been termed as the erring officials by the Supreme Court, but the whole team comprising the Intell-igence Bureau and even veteran journalists. I guess the Jain committee appointed by the Supreme Court will approach everyone including those senior journalists. I vividly remember with reprographic memory a person named Jayaprakash who was in the Intelligence Bureau team. In fact, I have mentioned in my book his uncivilized barbarous approach towards me. I included his name in my book so that at least his children realise what sort of a person he is. They are practicing and advocating false things. There were a dozen lawyers who had appeared for you in various courts. Since you recall the timeline of the spy case meticulously, any idea how much money you must have incurred over the last 24 years? I am a very simple man. I have been a retiree for the last 17 years or rather out of work since then. I survive on my pension. All the lawyers who had taken up my case have reached the top echelons in the legal fraternity. Now I hope that my current lawyer Unnikrishnan, who has so far not taken any fees from me, will reach greater heights. I came to know about him when he ensured that the family members of the fishermen who lost their lives in the Enrica Lexie case got `1 crore compensation. When I told Unnikrishnan I dont know about your fees, and this is what I can give you, he politely declined. Instead he said it is a privilege for him to appear for me in Supreme Court. It was a historical judgment for your lawyer Unnikrishnan on Friday. But your absence was conspicuous there. What happened? I was informed that my case would be taken by the three-member judges only on Thursday evening. I wanted to witness the proceedings. But unfortunately, air tickets were on the higher side. Usually, a ticket would be around Rs 8,000. That night, a ticket to New Delhi turned out to be Rs 16,000. And I dont have that much of money. Nambi Narayanas fight Oct. 20, 1994: Maldivian national Mariam Rasheeda arrested under Foreigners Act at Vanchiyoor police station. Police and Intelligence Bureau interrogates her, another case registered under Official Secrets Act alleging certain secrets and documents of ISRO had been leaked by scientists. Another Maldivian, Fousiya Hasan, arrested, case transferred to special investigation unit headed by DIG (Crimes) Siby Mathews. Nov. 21, 1994: Isro scientist D. Sasikumar arrested for allegedly passing on documents to Maldivian nationals. Nov. 30: Dr Nambi Narayanan arrested. Both were allegedly torture by police. Dr Narayanan spends 52 days in remand. Dec. 4, 1994: Probe handed over to CBI. May 2, 1996: Court admits CBIs closure report giving clean chit. CBI points to lapses on the part of Siby Mathews, DySP K.K. Joshua and inspector S. Vijayan. 2001: Based on CBI report, Dr Narayanan moves National Human Rights Commission for `1 crore compensation. Commission orders `10 lakh interim compensation. 2011: Kerala government decides not to take action against police officials involved in the probe 2012: High court orders government to pay compensation without fail; government pays the money to Dr Nararyanan Dr Narayanan moves high court on government order not to take action against police personnel involved in investigation. 2015: HC division bench leaves it to government to take action against police personnel. Dr Narayanan moves SC. Kottayam: Beleaguered Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal has handed over charge to another priest in the wake of the Kerala Police summoning him to appear in person on September 19 in connection with the rape allegations raised against him by a nun. Bishop Franco issued a circular delegating Monsignor Mathew Kokkandam to administer the activities of Jalandhar diocese in his absence. The circular dated September 13 maintained that as you have probably come to know from the media, there is an investigation into the allegations raised against me as there are several contradictions in the evidence collected aga-inst me as per the report of the police and it is reported that I am likely to be called for further clarifications by the investigating officer in Kerala. In my absence, Msgr. Mathew Kokkandam will adm-inister the diocese as in the normal practice when I am away from the diocese, it said. The bishop had personally received the Kerala Police summons on Friday evening. The circular said, I request you to continue praying for me and for the alleged victim and her supporters who have come out against me so that godly intervention may bring change in heart and the truth in the issue may be disclosed. I leave everything in the hand of God as I await the results of the findings of the team probing the allegation, he said. The nun had alleged that she had complained on several occasions against the bishop to the head of her congregation and to the Church leadership, including cardinal George Alenchery, against the harassment meted out to her. The nun had on September 8 written a letter to the Apostolic Nuncio of Vatican to India, Giambattista Diquattro, citing the harassments she faced from the bishop and demanding the Church intervention. She also had previously sent a complaint to the nuncio on January 28 through Bhagalpur bishop Kurian Valiyakandathil. Chennai: Governor Banwarilal Purohit has denied reports in a section of media that he had forwarded to the Centre the state governments recommendation to release all seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and asserted that a decision will be taken in a just and fair manner in accordance with the Constitution. A week after the Tamil Nadu government recommended the release of the seven convicts, Perarivalan, Murugan, Santhan, Nalini, Robert Pious, Jayakumar and Ravichandran, the Governor said that a decision has not yet been reached on the matter. On September 9, at a Cabinet meeting of state ministers, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami decided to recommend the release of all the seven serving life terms for assassinating the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, under Article 161 (Power of Governor to suspend or pardon sentences) of the Constitution. Following this a section of media carried reports on the Governor recommending the release of the prisoners. It is clarified that no reference has been made to the ministry of home affairs in the matter. The case is a complex one and involves the examination of legal, administrative and Constitutional issues, the Governor said reacting to media reports that claimed he had recommended to the Union home ministry on the convicts release. In a statement here on Saturday Mr Purohit made it clear that the files on the convicts from the Tamil Nadu government had only been received on Friday. The records which are voluminous are being received from the state government with the connected judgments having been handed over to the Raj Bhavan on September 14 only. All efforts will be made to process the papers scrupulously. Necessary consultation may be carried out when required in due course, the Governor said. The decision will be taken in a just and fair manner and in accordance with the constitution, he added. The Prime Minister was assassinated at a public rally in Sriperumbudur on May 21, 1991, by Dhanu, a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). HYDERABAD: BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday said that caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was going for early polls not in the interests of Telangana state but in the interest of his family. Addressing a press conference at the state BJP office, Mr Shah launched a scathing attack on Mr Rao and said that the TRS government had failed on all fronts and could not fulfil the promises made during the 2014 polls. Mr Shah said BJP will fight elections like a battle in Telangana state and contest all the 119 seats on its own. He asked Mr Rao to explain why he was imposing unnecessary expenditure on the people by going for early polls when the state had the option of going for joint polls to the Assembly and Lok Sabha in May 2019. Mr Shah specifically questioned Mr Rao on his reasons for changing his stance on joint polls within a month of supporting it before the Law Commission. Mr Rao is afraid of defeat if elections are held in 2019. Thats why he is going for early polls. Those who cannot win in 2019, how can they win in 2018, Mr Shah asked rhetorically. Mr Shah called Mr Rao the superstitious CM who avoided the Secretariat and indulged in vote bank and appeasement politics by promising 12 per cent quota for Muslims, despite being fully aware that it was unconstitutional and impossible to implement. Mr Shah asserted that BJP and Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi were sincere and committed to the development of Telangana and had released Rs 2.3 lakh crore to TS in four years while UPA Government had given just Rs 15,000 crore. Mr Shah also criticised on Mr Rao for not keeping his promise of making a Dalit as the first CM of Telangana in 2014. He might have forgot his promise but Dalits have not. They are angry with him. Let us forgive him and assume that he did a mistake in 2014. I ask him to give clarity at least now and let the people know whether he will make a Dalit as CM if TRS wins 2019 polls, Mr Shah remarked. Mr Shah also slammed the alliance between TRS and MIM. Both are trying to bring back Razakar rule in Telangana; BJP will resist any such attempts made by them, he said. He said if 12 per cent Muslim quota is implemented, it will adversely affect the Backward Classes. Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is planning to convene an assembly session that will run uninterrupted for 24 hours to mark the 15th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi. In this unique 24-hour assembly session, discussions and debates will be held on issues promoted by Mahatma Gandhi including cleanliness, non-violence, Khadi and rural development. This will be a unique event though modalities of the same are being worked out. The date is also yet to be finalised, said a government spokesman. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the committee set up for the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, headed by the chief minister. About 150 people who have done appreciable work in the fields of cleanliness, rural development, Khadi etc. will be felicitated by the state government. A special logo Gandhi 150 will also be released on October 2. Hyderabad: P. Sabita Indra Reddy shattered the political glass ceiling and made history by becoming the first woman to head the home ministry in any state in the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy Cabinet. Her husband, the late P. Indra Reddy, was home minister in the N.T. Rama Rao government. Fondly referred to by the late YSR as Chevella Chellamma, her constituency was almost always the preferred location for the launch of every programme by the then Congress government. Despite belonging to a powerful political family, she did not contest the Assembly elections in 2014 because the eldest of her three sons, Karthik Reddy, was given the party ticket from the Chevella Lok Sabha seat, which he lost. After biding for a turn in the tidings for over four years under the shadow of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Raos Telangana state, Ms Indra Reddy is raring to go, reading a deep-rooted angst against the TRS government in the people, and a strong mood and desire for change. In an exclusive interview, she explains why she thinks the Congress will return to power with a thumping majority and why Mr Chandrasekhar Rao will be consigned to history as a betrayer of the spirit of Telangana. When you look back at 2014, what do you feel? On the one hand, the successful culmination of the long-cherished dream for a separate Telangana state, but, on the other hand, the complete decimation of the Congress? The dream for a separate Telangana and its struggle has been very long, much longer than the Telangana Rasthra Samiti. It was led by Marri Channa Reddy garu but we did not succeed. When the movement and spirit became dormant, it was my husband, the late Indra Reddy garu, who sacrificed his political interest to rekindle the spirit and kept it going. KCR inherited it and benefited from the people before him who led the struggle. But it was the TRS led by Mr Chandrasekhar Rao which succeeded in getting a separate state. The Congress, led by Mrs Sonia Gandhi, decided we must respect the aspirations of the people of Telangana and fulfil the long-cherished dream. She made the promise at a public meeting in Karimnagar and kept her word, despite anticipating the political losses in Andhra and Rayalaseema. KCR led a misleading campaign that it was his achievement. It was the success of the struggle of the spirit and people of Telangana; respected and granted by the Congress. But the people chose TRS over Congress. The Congress knew the path to transform the success of the struggle into shaping a great state was long. The TRS made several false promises and created a myth: a job for every family, double bedroom houses for all, land for Dalits, drinking water for every household, reservations for minorities, KG-to-PG free education. People trusted KCR and gave him an opportunity. Wherever I go across Telangana today, people are expressing regret for having trusted the TRS. In his recent address, Mr Chandrasekhar Rao has spoken of delivering on all promises, and working on those remaining. Is the Congress overoptimistic on the premise of promises not kept? After all, if some promises have been half-delivered Not a single village has received drinking water from Mission Bhagirathi. We had the vision to deliver water in different ways. We had dug borewells in most villages and delivering water through tankers. He stopped them. We had almost completed drinking water projects. He scrapped it, redesigned it and gave it a new name, all at a cost of Rs 60,000 crore. If you take my own direct work in Ranga Reddy district and Chevella, we had water delivered to villages some from the Godavari, some from the Manjeera. We used local or closer-by sources and delivered water to most villages in Shamshabad, Vikarabad, Tandur, Rajendranagar, including from the river Krishna. In fact, Dr YSR had the foresight to realise that we couldnt risk having only one source of drinking water for Hyderabad in the long run and brought a Rs 3,500-crore drinking water back-up project to link the Godavari to the city. What did KCR do? He got the HMWS&SB to lay the final pipes from the outskirts through a different route and claimed credit. Everyone knows Mission Bhagirathi is a loot. When the Congress makes charges of corruption, does it hold water? It is not just about corruption. Its also about betrayal. Once we got our separate Telangana, we had a holy mission to build our great state as per the dreams of the people. To lay parallel pipelines to existing pipelines, same diameter, just to enable contracts for his party men and kickbacks for his family is not merely corruption, but also betrayal. He has behaved no differently from any oppressor. The Congress project, at around Rs 40,000 crore, had irrigated over 16 lakh hectares in (the-then) seven Telangana districts. Doubling that project cost, with a bit of redesign, he has achieved nothing concrete. A man who said he wont even ask for votes if he did not bring water yet another lie. Hyderabad has developed a lot under the TRS. Surely you wont say no? We had a vision for Hyderabad and created a structure. We created and left huge land banks for industries to come from Medchal, Shamshabad, Gachibowli, Kokapet, Serilingampally and so on. Under the TRS, barring KCRs son appearing in newspapers and on TV, what development has taken place? Is there a single good road to sustain during one good rain? Dont forget we had huge rains during our time too, but people did not have to suffer from such harrowing experiences. Young voters are crucial to elections. They are attracted to strong and charismatic leaders, and the TRS has not only KCR but a young KTR to reach out during the election campaign. Does the Congress suffer from a weakness on this count? The youth want jobs. We had a slogan during our struggle neellu, nidhulu, niyamakalu (water, financial resources and jobs). Water, failed. Money, stolen. It is on jobs front this government will find its biggest rejection from the voters. They promised to fill two lakh government jobs. Another betrayal. They promised 12 per cent reservation for Muslims. They promised a job to every family. Betrayal. At the peak of the agitation, we filled 1.25 vacant lakh government jobs and created over five lakh jobs in private sector through the Rajiv Kiranalu project, with each district having a nodal job officer ensuring private companies filled up jobs with lots of support from the government. Jobless youth will kick out TRS. Telangana is the first state to transform farming with an investment prior to sowing. Surely, the farmers are happy with Rythu Bandhu? The Telangana state government is the only one which handcuffed farmers who were agitating for their rights. KCR promised to waive farmer loans up to Rs 1 lakh on coming to power in one instalment. He did it in four, making the famers suffer the interest burden during that time. For the Congress, every person who tills land is a farmer, but not for KCR. Farmers on endowment land, fallow land and forest land were not covered under Rythu Bandhu. Everyone knows that 20 per cent people own 80 per cent land; Rythu Bandhu had people coming in cars, even from the USA, to take cheques. Tenant farmers were left out. This was a desperate attempt by KCR to buy votes in the plain guise of a scheme. As a woman leader, how do you see women voters choosing between the Congress and the TRS? When I was made home minister, women across the state felt proud. Till then, people referred to a homemaker as home minister. It was under the Congress that several women from Telangana held such high positions as home, I&PR or industry minister, and not just the women development portfolio. But KCR humiliated and disempowered women completely. It is a shame in todays world where women are equal in every field, there is not a single woman in KCRs Cabinet. Why? Does he think women are not competent? Does he not trust women? Or is he afraid of women? Every woman voter in Telangana state knows here is a man who will reverse a wave of women empowerment to keep his daughter ahead in the political race. How important are alliances in this election? This is where the real reason for the dissolution of the Assembly and seeking early elections lies. Aware that the Congress will win in the three states going to polls MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh which would have a cascading effect, and of the growing discontent against his government, KCR wants a dubious and clandestine alliance with the BJP and the MIM at the same time. In Assembly elections, the TRS-MIM will partner upfront, while the BJP will be the hidden partner, and other way around for the Lok Sabha. Your party has an unholy alliance with an anti-Congress party like the TD. It is an open alliance. We are not hiding it. If the TRS is confident let it openly ally with the BJP. Every force in Telangana state is coming together to oust a dictatorial force which has betrayed the original cause. The TD has brought the BCs angst to the Congress fold, which already represents the huge anger amongst Dalits, women, minorities, and youth. TRS says it will fight the elections on the plank of atmagauravam against parties which take orders from Delhi or Amaravati. We have our leadership in Delhi because we are a national party. But why does KCR take his orders from Delhi, from Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. Why has he staked the pride of Telangana at their feet? Congress often defeats itself with its leaders fighting itself. We have inner-party democracy. We discuss, debate and disagree. But we are united in fighting against the dictatorship of one family. Will early elections help the TRS? Even KCR knows he has made a mistake by calling for an early dissolution of the Assembly. It is this panic that has set in which is making him go for a dangerous caretaker emergency by foisting false cases against Congress leaders and trying to arm-twist the media from airing publics voice and truth. How do you see the chances of the Congress? The people are viewing this election as another struggle for the Telangana of our dreams. We have to free our state from clutches of a monarchy; the rule of four must end. We will come to power because people of Telangana have resolved to throw TRS out. Hyderabad: The TRS on Saturday alleged that AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had been misusing Section 8 of AP Reorganization Act, 2014 that makes Hyderabad the common capital for both Telugu states, and using the AP DGPs office in Hyderabad as a den for illegal activities and creating political instability and law and order issues. The party accused Mr Naidu of pumping thousands of crores of rupees into the state to win the elections. It said Mr Naidu was using APs intelligence wing police for political activities in Telangana state. Addressing a press conference here, minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, TRS MP Balka Suman, MLC Palla Rajeshwar Reddy and party secretary Gattu Ramachandra Rao alleged that Mr Naidu had deployed about 100 intelligence officials in TS, who are touring Assembly constituencies in the name of surveys. AP Intelligence head A.B. Venkateshwar Rao is heading this team of 100 officials in Telangana state. They are using the AP DGP office as a den for political activities and disbursement of money. The Governor should take action and check these activities. Else TRS cadre would be forced to take action, said Mr Rajeshwar Reddy said. The TRS threatened that the cadre would resort to attacks on AP officials and staff indulging in illegal activities and expose their misdeeds if Mr Naidu failed to withdraw AP intelligence officials from TS immediately. Stating that Section 8 did not confer rights to the AP government to deploy police or intelligence staff in the common capital, the MLC said, The Act clearly stipulates that Governor should act based on the recommendations of the Telangana Council of Ministers in Hyderabad. But Chandra-babu is misusing this Act and deploying police and intelligence staff here. Mr Suman said Mr Naidu was spreading 'money culture' in politics in Telangana state. Naidu looted thousands of crores in AP in four years. Now he is trying to use this ill-gotten wealth in Telangana elections and win some seats. TRS leaders and cadre will not remain spectators. We will attack AP staff if they resort to any unlawful activities and expose them before the public, Mr Suman said. Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal has stepped down and the process of a fresh inquiry can begin into the accusations by a nun that he had sexually assaulted her on several occasions. By dragging its feet over the issue for a long time since the brother of the nun complained about the charges of sexual shenanigans swirling around the bishop, the Catholic Church had not distinguished itself. Further, the congregation of the Missionaries of Jesus shamed the victim by releasing her photograph along with internal probe findings, an unheard-of transgression that is also against the law of the land. Only after the victim appealed to the Vatican in an emotive letter through the Apostolic Nuncio to India was the Church seen to move towards adhering to the simple principles of natural justice. The bishop should have stepped down until a proper inquiry is held and he can get back his position only if he can prove the innocence that he has been professing unabashedly through the media. As representatives of over 20 million Catholics, who form a sizeable section of over one billion Catholics in the world, the top of the Indian Catholic Church hierarchy had a duty to the public to have acted much quicker. By surrendering to conspiracy theories about revenge politics within the clergy, the Church had seemed to be complicit in belittling the serious charges of sexual misconduct against the head of the Jalandhar diocese, one of 174 in the country, until the Nuncio was called to Rome. The allegations of sexual assault relate to a period between 2014 and 2016 and it may be hard to gather the kind of credible evidence to condemn or exonerate the accused. But the Catholic Church, with its accent on celibacy within the clergy, has a far greater responsibility to institute probes into such serious charges as have been brought by one brave nun prepared to stand up for her rights. Pope Francis, known for his reformist zeal and progressive outlook in touch with modernity, has been under severe pressure around the world with regard to charges of sexual abuse of children by the clergy. In fact, the evidence rounded up and findings released by a grand jury in Pennsylvania in the US points to the abuse of more than 1,000 children by 301 predator priests in just that one state. The sexual scandals of the Church may date back to several centuries but the fact remains that the current Pope has to act to preserve his Church rather than see his silence or inaction interpreted as further self-preservation, towards which millions of dollars have already been paid in settlements of claims. The cross has stood as a moral compass for a little more than a couple of thousand years and Pope Francis is the one who has to be seen to save the Church from the depredations of a minuscule minority of priests who harm children or break their vows of celibacy. Unbiased probes to establish the truth would be a start, much as it will in the case of Bishop Mulakkal. If the arrest of UPs young dalit militant leader Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan in June 2017, after a hunt through several states, had created a sensation of sorts, the freeing of the 30-year-old lawyer and Bhim Sena founder from prison in the early hours of Friday was also somewhat dramatic. The release at 2.30 am was reportedly attended by hundreds of young dalits from different parts of the country. It is likely to be politically impactful in the election season. Azad rose to prominence in early 2017 after the dalits of Saharanpur in western UP resisted a campaign of physical assaults by an upper-caste group, which appeared to have the patronage of the ruling party. To publicise his cause he had addressed a gathering of some one lakh people in New Delhi. After he was arrested from Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh, the Bhim Sena founder was granted bail, but the UP government booked him under the draconian National Security Act in early November of 2017 under which detention for a year is permitted without the framing of charges. This was seen as a one-sided act, especially among dalits, as the other side was not proceeded against. A month short of a year, the state government has released the young militant, presumably on the assumption that he would queer the political pitch for BSP supremo Mayawati, with whom Azad is supposed to be at odds. But his public comments appear to dispel this notion. He has aggressively announced his intention to campaign for the defeat of the BJP a party he says is anti-dalit in the upcoming elections in several states and in the next Lok Sabha poll. This is expected to put pressure on the BSP and the Congress to reach an elusive electoral understanding in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and UP. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who is running a campaign against corruption, has reportedly sought the records of over 100 officials, including Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and state service, whose names have figured in corruption cases. Sources say that at least 300 officials and employees of the state government are under the chief ministers scanner for their alleged involvement in financial irregularities. The decision to crack down was reportedly taken at a recent meeting in the chief ministers office and attended by chief secretary Anup Chandra Pandey, principal secretary (home) Arvind Kumar and director-general of police O.P. Singh. It is being seen as a strong message about the chief ministers intention to crack down on corruption, not just in his regime but also during the tenure of his predecessors. He has also sought files of cases that took place during the SP and BSP rule. According to reports, following this order, babus in Uttar Pradesh are in a tizzy! Cadre allocation put off The Centre has put off implementing the proposal linking cadre allocation of new Indian Administrative Service officers with their performance in the foundation course. The department of personnel and training (DoPT) has, therefore, announced the service allocation of the 848 candidates who cleared the Civil Service Exam (CSE) last year as per existing criteria. Sources say that the reason is lack of consensus between the cadre-controlling ministries of various services on the issue. The proposal to tweak service allocation norms had also run into political trouble. However, it is not yet known whether the government has decided to shelve the proposal, made by the D.S. Kothari Commission back in the 1970s. As of now, the decision not to implement the proposal is only for the current year. This should give the government time to involve the Union Public Service Commission in the process since the proposal requires overhauling the entire CSE procedures. IAS losing grip Is it no longer important being an Indian Administrative Service officer in the Narendra Modi sarkar? The government seems to be increasingly relying on other all-India services for joint secretary-level positions rather than the heaven-born. According to sources, this year, the Centre so far has empanelled only 11 IAS officers for joint secretary-level posts, compared to 87 officers in 2014 when it came to power. On the other hand, it has empanelled 45 officers from the Indian Forest Service (IFoS), 56 officers from the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) and 70 officers from the Indian Police Service (IPS) for these posts. Is the Modi government consciously trying to dilute the IAS dominance by changing the landscape of Central deputation? Or is there a shortage of IAS officers caused by what has long been said about the reluctance of officials at the state level to move to Delhi and work under the Modi government? Obviously, the current government policy is a boon for the other services who are entering positions held earlier by the IAS. After all, they have always complained of discrimination in the rules of empanelment, which favour the IAS. Perhaps Mr Modi is trying to convey that talent is not restricted to the IAS alone. And allowing lateral entry to private sector talent in the higher echelons of bureaucracy is another sign that the ground seems to be shifting from under their feet. NASA is preparing to send a new rover robotic lander to Mars in 2020 and plans to send human astronauts in 2033. The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched and tested a new umbrella-like heat shield on Wednesday, opening the door to landing humans on Mars. The new technology - dubbed the Adaptable Deployable Entry Placement Technology (ADEPT) - stores like a folded umbrella inside smaller rockets, opening handle-up in space to protect larger payloads as they enter a planets atmosphere, said Brandon Smith, NASAs principal investigator on the project. The shape allows it to protect larger areas than current heat shields. At the larger scales, it could be used for something as grand as human Mars explorations, or potentially human cargo landings on Mars, Smith told Reuters at the Spaceport America launch site, about 50 miles (80 km) north of Las Cruces, New Mexico. NASA is preparing to send a new rover robotic lander to Mars in 2020 and plans to send human astronauts in 2033. The rover will search for previous signs on life on Mars and demonstrate technology that could help astronauts survive there. The goal of sending humans to Mars was set in 2010 during the administration of President Barack Obama and was affirmed by President Donald Trump last December. Before NASA can send humans to Mars, it will need to land a lot of cargo there and the new heat shield could help if it works, Smith said. The system also could also be used with crew capsules, protecting astronauts. ADEPT, launched with a Spaceloft suborbital rocket made by UP Aerospace, was tested at the spaceport in southern New Mexico. It deployed between 100 and 120 kilometers before opening and making its way back to Earth, landing at White Sands Missile Range. Data gathered from the test will not be available until the shield is recovered, officials said. The system, once implemented, will allow NASA to send more complex missions to other planets. Typically, heat shields are rigid structures, but this one can actually deploy in space, Smith said. What that allows you to do is to get around the volume constraints of a typical launch vehicle that are long and slender. The new heat shield also can be used to run recoverable experiments in Earths upper atmosphere and send probes to Venus, Smith said. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The Google Pixel 3 has been leaked so many times that theres almost nothing left to surprise us. The specifications have been leaked and we also know that like in the past, the handset will come in two sizes. Out of the two variants, the larger Pixel 3 XL has been the subject of the maximum amount of leaks. For those of you saving up your hard-earned cash and pondering which colour smartphone, you should get, Google has just teased that the handset will come in three colour variants. As per a report by GSMArena, Google is readying to introduce three colour options with the upcoming smartphone. This handset is expected to launch in Black, White and a new turquoise colour. These colour options have been leaked by Googles Pixel 3 promotional website. From the image, we can see that each handset comes with a separate background colour which appears to be the colour variants the handset will debut in. The report states that Google will keep the two-tone colours on the rear and they are expected to feature an all-glass back. This will be different from its predecessor that was fitted with glass as well as aluminium on the rear. The report goes on to add that the Pixel 3 with the white outline may suggest that you should expect another turquoise-colored power button. As of now, this is merely speculation and more will be known on October 9, when Google officially launches the Pixel 3. Disclaimer: The above report is completely based on online rumours and leaks from the respective sources. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Deccan Chronicle and/or other staff and contributors to this website. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. As part of the deal, Manafort, 69, could be required to cooperate with Mueller's probe into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election and whether Trump's campaign colluded with Russia in the 2016 US presidential election. (Photo: File) Washington: US President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort will plead guilty to two criminal counts as part of a deal with prosecutors on Friday, court documents showed in what could be a blow to Trump in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's long-running probe of Russian election meddling. As part of the deal, Manafort, 69, could be required to cooperate with Mueller's probe into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election and whether Trump's campaign colluded with Russia in the 2016 US presidential election. Details of the deal were likely to emerge in a plea agreement hearing scheduled for 11 am ET (1500 GMT) in federal court. Manafort would become the most prominent former Trump campaign official to plead guilty in Mueller's investigation, which has cast a shadow over Trump's presidency. It remains unclear if the deal will include Manafort's cooperation with Mueller's probe, dealing a blow to Trump ahead of congressional elections on Nov. 6. Another approach would be for Manafort to plead guilty without cooperating in hopes of a presidential pardon. Trump has not said whether he would pardon Manafort, but the president has not publicly ruled it out. Manafort will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy against the United States and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, according to documents filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia. Five other charges were dropped in the new court filing. A Virginia jury convicted Manafort last month on bank and tax fraud charges. Jury selection was due to begin on Monday in a 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. Manafort's decision could be a blow to Trump, who last month praised his former aide for not entering into an agreement with prosecutors, as the president's 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!" According to the court filing, the charge of conspiracy against the United States includes money laundering, tax fraud, failing to disclose foreign bank accounts, and acting as an unregistered lobbyist for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine. The second count, for conspiracy to obstruct justice, concerns attempts to tamper with witnesses related to Manafort's foreign lobbying. Manafort's conviction in Alexandria, Virginia, last month was at a trial arising from Mueller's investigation. Trump has denied colluding with the Russians and the Russians have denied interfering. Rick Gates, Manafort's former business partner and the campaign's deputy chairman, pleaded guilty to lesser charges in exchange for his cooperation, later testifying against Manafort in Virginia. Gates may have been a prosecution witness in his Washington trial as well. Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who is now representing Trump in the Russia probe, told Reuters on Friday that a guilty plea to avoid a second trial would not crush Manafort's chances of receiving an eventual presidential pardon. "It's not going to hurt him if he pleads guilty. Usually it helps you get a pardon down the road. It shows you've admitted your guilt," he said on Friday before a deal was announced. He declined further comment until after the hearing. Some of the worst flooding was in New Bern, where authorities were enforcing a curfew. (Photo: AP) Wilmington: A woman and her baby were killed when a tree fell on their house and several more storm-related deaths were reported Friday as Hurricane Florence slammed into the Carolinas, dousing the eastern US states with torrential rain and causing rivers to burst their banks. Four deaths were confirmed by officials as US media reported another. Hundreds of people needed to be rescued after becoming trapped in their homes by a storm surge of up to 10 feet (three meters) in New Bern, a town of 30,000 in North Carolina at the confluence of the Trent and Neuse rivers. As of 8:00 pm (0000 GMT), Florence was downgraded to a tropical storm by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) but authorities warned the danger was far from over, predicting "life-threatening storm surges and strong winds" would persist through the night. "We are expecting several more days of rain," North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said, describing the amount of rainfall from the hurricane as a "1,000-year event." "Into next week our rivers are going to continue to rise and there will be more significant flooding," Cooper said. There had been three confirmed deaths from the storm and several others were being investigated to determine if they were storm-related, he said. The mother and her baby were killed in New Hanover County when a tree fell on their house, the governor said, while confirming another death in Lenoir County. Local authorities reported a death in Pender County when downed trees prevented emergency units from reaching a woman with a medical condition. Local media said she had suffered a heart attack. US media later said a second man in Lenoir County died after heavy winds knocked him down as he tried to check on his dogs. "This storm is going to continue its violent grind across our state for days," Cooper said. "The storm is wreaking havoc on our state." More than 760,000 customers in North Carolina were without power and 21,000 people were being housed in 157 shelters across the state. The White House said President Donald Trump was to visit hurricane-hit areas next week "once it is determined his travel will not disrupt any rescue or recovery efforts." As of 8:00 pm (local time), maximum sustained winds had weakened to 70 miles per hour but the NHC warned Carolina residents to be alert for life-threatening storm surges and "catastrophic freshwater flooding." "Flash flooding will be extreme and flood waters will come up quickly and seemingly out of nowhere," the governor said. "We're deeply concerned for whole communities which could be wiped away." Some of the worst flooding was in New Bern, where authorities were enforcing a curfew. Both the Trent and Neuse rivers overflowed their banks, flooding homes, stores and streets and trapping many people in their houses. "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 authorities in New Bern said on Twitter. Governor Cooper said there have been "several hundred" rescue operations and "there are still some people they need to get to." Besides federal and state emergency crews, rescuers were being helped by volunteers from the "Cajun Navy" who also turned up in Houston during Hurricane Harvey to carry out water rescues. Hurricane Florence made landfall as a Category 1 storm at 7:15 am (local time) in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, after stalking the Carolina coast for days. The NHC described Florence as a "slow mover" and said it had the potential to dump historic amounts of rain on North and South Carolina, as much as 40 inches (one meter) in some places. "This is not the end of it," said Jeff Byard, associate administrator for response and recovery at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He said "24 to 36 hours remain for significant threats" from heavy rain, storm surge and flooding. A tornado watch was issued for eastern North Carolina. In Wilmington, near where the eye of the hurricane touched down, trees and power lines were felled and many windows had been broken. The streets were mostly deserted and some were blocked by fallen trees. The city awoke Friday to the sound of exploding electrical transformers with strong gusts of wind throwing street signs and other debris as well as water in all directions. In Wilmington, Mason Tarr said he spent the night at a friend's house but didn't sleep well. "Our house is on high ground so we're not worried about the flooding," he said. "But there are a lot of big trees around so we preferred to spend the night at a friend's to be sure. "We're out of power so we spent the first few hours of the day playing board games with candles," 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. 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. (Photo: File) Washington: 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, and 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. 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. (Photo: File) 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. Fed up with the BBMPs inability to check rampant commercialisation in Indiranagar, residents from the area met Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar in this regard on Saturday. The meeting was convened in order to bring to the notice of the authorities the rampant illegal commercialisation of residential areas and other related problems thriving in the locality. Under the umbrella I Change Indiranagar, a federation of eight residents welfare associations, the citizens filed a representation before the officer. The chief secretary listened to our appeal and has said that he will check the problems internally. We have been fighting against this for a long time and the civic body is even failing to implement the court orders in shutting down illegal commercial establishments in residential areas, said Rajesh Dangi, a resident of the locality. The meeting was convened with the help of Renuka Vishwanathan, who contested as an AAP candidate for the Shantinagar segment during the Assembly elections in May. The representatives also met PWD minister H D Revanna, who assured them of setting up a meeting with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy so that they could bring the issues to his notice. The residents are expecting that the meeting would be scheduled after the chief minister returns from his Kalaburagi tour. Indian patients, who received faulty hip implants from a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, have been compelled to run from pillar to post seeking justice due to the inaction and lack of due diligence by drug regulators, a retired government official claimed on Saturday. Because of a sleepy regulator, people are suffering. There are statutory provisions in the law to recall the faulty implants and take action against the guilty company. But the regulator, Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation, is at fault for doing nothing and should be investigated, said Mahesh Zagade, former Commissioner of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who probed the faulty implants in 2011. Zagade claimed he initiated an investigation based on patient complaints and even started a process to prosecute the company in Mumbai. Since patients from several states were involved, he suggested to the CDSCO to press for a CBI investigation. But no action was taken. I wrote to the Drugs Controller General of India, but there was no action, he said here at a press conference where recipients of the faulty implants and their family members shared their experiences. The regulator, in fact, renewed J&J's import license (for the faulty implants that released cobalt and chromium in the body) in 2010 without applying due diligence. A year before the Australian regulator Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) ordered its recall. Neither the company informed the CDSCO about the TGA order while applying for a renewal of the import license, a violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, nor the CDSCO checked. The CDSCO canceled the import license in December 2012 and issued the first medical alert a year later after the global recall of the implants. Till now the regulator didn't ask the company to trace the recipients, which can easily be done in a week's time. Instead, a voluntary recall mechanism has been created and a panel has been formed to discuss the compensation. Its all an eyewash, Zagade said. Patients and their family members demanded a seat in the compensation determining panel, which is to meet for the first time next week. The five-member panel was set up last week. To determine the compensation, the committee would take into account four factors, a base value of Rs 20 lakh as determined by a previous panel that probed the faulty implant episode, degree of disability and suffering of the patients due to loss of wages or other losses. A local court in Maharashtra issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and 14 others in connection with a 2010 case over agitation against the Bhabali barrage on Godavari river. The news reached Naidu while he was offering the traditional 'Silk Robes' to Lord Venkateswara at the Tirumala temple on the occasion of Brahmotsavams. N R Ghajbiye, Judicial (First Class) Magistrate, Dharmabad, Nanded district in Maharashtra has posted the case for September 21. The magistrate had ordered the police to arrest leaders who had protested and present them before him on that date, agency reports said. The agitation had taken place eight years ago when Naidu was the Opposition leader in the Assembly of combined Andhra Pradesh. Naidu, along with forty of his party MLAs, arrived at the Bhabali barrage project site and wanted to see the Babli barrage, allegedly built with an intention to divert Godavari water from Telangana. The Maharashtra police officers guarding the barrage resorted to lathi charge and arrested all the leaders there, including Naidu. They were then detained in a local ITI college. As Naidu refused to ask for a bail, he was then airlifted to Hyderabad by the Maharashtra administration. The police then booked Naidu and the others under several relevant cases for obstructing public servants from delivering duty, criminal intimidation, endangering life and for violating Section 144. The court order came after a petitioner wanted to know why an earlier warrant, issued eight months ago, was not implemented. Reacting to the court order, Naidu's son and state IT minister, Nara Lokesh, said his father will attend the court, even as he has sought legal opinion on the issue. "My father, along with other leaders, have fought for the rightful share of Godavari water for northern Telangana. But for their resistance, the area would have turned into a dry land," he said. Several TDP MLAs have claimed that the Centre has instigated the Maharashtra government to initiate action against Naidu after almost eight years for political vendetta. Besides the chief minister, state Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Social Welfare Minister N Anandbabu and Gangula Kamalakar, now a TRS leader, were among the others booked in the case. BJP president Amit Shah has said that the non-bailable warrant issued by a Maharashtra court is not a political vendetta against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu by the BJP, but by the Congress. It was the Congress government in power in Maharashtra in 2010 and in the Centre in 2013 when the charge sheet was filed," he said while addressing a press conference at the Telangana unit headquarters in Hyderabad on Saturday. Shah is here to launch the campaign for the forthcoming elections in the state. It was the same Congress with whom Chandrababu Naidu is getting ready to form an alliance and fight against the BJP, Shah added. In all, there are 25 summons issued in the name of Naidu and others. If no one responds to 25 summons, then the law is free to take its course of action. There were several summons issued against our leaders and they have all respected the courts order. If some want to gain sympathy, then the people know and have knowledge of how the court works, who filed the case and with whom Naidu has formed a 'Grand Alliance', Shah said. As per the Civil Judge, Junior Division, Dharmabad office in Maharashtra the first hearing of the case was set for 31 August 2013 and the next is scheduled for 21 September. The BJP president says that Naidu hasnt responded to the summons issued on his name during the past five years. Corporate Social Responsibility is a broad term that can involve philanthropy, volunteerism, and a way for employees to feel more connected. At PJM Interconnection, its all of that and the power behind what we do in the community. Our culture of caring is driven by our employees, supported by our leadership and recognized by our communities. Headquartered in Valley Forge, PJM coordinates the flow of electricity in 13 states and the District of Columbia for 65 million people. We are sometimes described as air traffic control for the electricity industry. While we have an awesome responsibility at work, our employees take tremendous pride in what they do off-hours. Last year, PJM employees served 5,400 breakfasts at an area homeless shelter, provided 350 holiday gifts to local families and sent 225 pounds of Halloween candy to deployed troops to give them a taste of home. Our employees donated coats for children in need, Thanksgiving meals to struggling families and employees donated money to non-profits across the Greater Philadelphia region. Our outreach, volunteering and donations made by our employees have been recognized with the Main Line Chamber of Commerce Gives Back Award in the large corporation category. We also received the United Way Impact Award from the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, which recognizes outstanding volunteerism and charitable contributions. This week, PJM kicks off its 2018 United Way campaign. Every employee is encouraged to spend a day giving back by volunteering in the community. Last year, nearly 300 employees participated in the United Way campaign volunteer day program, and we are looking forward to even more helping hands out in the community this year. PJM employees also inspire the next generation of energy professionals by actively supporting engagement in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) disciplines. By sharing our gifts through career fairs, job shadowing and mentoring, PJM employees ensure local students are exposed to learning opportunities in STEAM subjects. Its gratifying to not only help our communities thrive today, but also plant the seeds for tomorrows energy leaders. At PJM, we recognize that bringing light to our community involves more than electricity and transmission lines. It means giving back to our neighbors and making a difference in the communities where we live and work. We encourage other companies to embrace our culture of caring and help to make a difference. For more information on the ways PJM employees are making a difference in our communities, take a look at our most recent Corporate Social Responsibility Report. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. SALT LAKE CITY Cornerstone OnDemand, a cloud-based learning and human capital management software company, will expand its operations to Salt Lake City, according to the Governors Office of Economic Development. Under the terms of an agreement announced Thursday, the California-based firm will add up to 350 new jobs, generate $6 million in new state revenue and make an estimated $4.4 million in capital investment over a seven-year period. Employing nearly 2,000 employees in 43 countries around the world, Cornerstone recorded revenue of $482 million in 2017 up 15 percent year over year, a news release stated. The new Utah Operations Center will be the companys third office in North America and its 18th office worldwide, a GOED news release said. "Our continued growth and success have created a new opportunity to expand U.S. operations outside of our global headquarters in Santa Monica, California," Brian Swartz, chief financial officer for Cornerstone OnDemand, said in the statement. "Utah meets our goals of managing expansion in a cost-effective and thoughtfully planned manner." He added that Utah's robust technology presence, and a highly educated and trained workforce make it an attractive location for expansion. The state also offers "tremendous amenities for our employees, including cost-of-living and housing affordability," he said. "We have begun initial recruiting efforts and plan to be operational in Utah by the end of the year, Swartz added. Over the life of the contract with the state, Cornerstone is expected to create up to 350 permanent jobs in finance, global product support, engineering, product development and administration, the release stated. The total wages in aggregate are required to exceed 110 percent of the average county wage, with projected new state wages over the seven-year agreement estimated to be approximately $156 million, which includes wages, salaries, bonuses and other taxable compensation. Projected new state tax revenues, as a result of corporate, payroll and sales taxes are estimated to be $6 million over the contract period. Cornerstone may earn up to 20 percent about $1.2 million of the new state taxes the company will pay over the seven-year life of the agreement in the form of a postperformance Economic Development Tax Increment Finance tax credit rebate. Were excited that Cornerstone OnDemand a growing company known for its industry leadership and workplace culture is increasing its presence here in Utah, said Theresa Foxley, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah. This expansion represents a big win for Utah, and we look forward to seeing all of the benefits that the additional jobs and investment will bring to our communities. SALT LAKE CITY The former president of the Salt Lake Honorary Colonels a group that provides assistance to law enforcement families has been charged with pocketing more than $300,000 from two separate group funds for his own personal use. Michael Drury, 49, of Salt Lake City, was charged Friday in 3rd District Court with three counts of theft and two counts of unlawful dealing of property by a fiduciary, all second-degree felonies. On Jan. 22, Drury informed members of the Salt Lake Honorary Colonels that he had borrowed $100,000 from the group "as a short-term investment loan and was in the process of paying it back," according to charging documents. In February, members concerned about the group's tax-exempt status contacted the Utah Attorney General's Office to look into Drury's loan. An investigation found that Drury had actually transferred more than $300,000 from two honorary colonels accounts to several of his personal accounts, the charges state. The Salt Lake Honorary Colonels "is a group of civic-minded businesspeople who have pooled their energies and resources to assist and support the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office and Unified Police Department," its website states. The group typically provides assistance to the families of law enforcers killed in the line of duty, or who have become sick or inured while on the job, and also provides financial support to law enforcement agencies in developing drug prevention programs in schools. Starting in May of 2016, large sums of money were withdrawn from the group's account and deposited into the account for Big Shot Ranch in Grantsville, according to charging documents. Money was also allegedly transferred from the honorary colonels account to United Business Brokers. Investigators say both of those accounts belong to Drury, who is listed on the Big Shot Ranch website as president. He is listed as the chairman and founder of United Business Brokers on its website. The website describes the company as a business transaction firm. "A total of $182,789.05 was transferred by check or online transfer from SLHC's account to Drury's business or personal account," the charges state. "Additionally, there were large cash withdrawals from the account by Drury that are unexplained." On March 1, after investigators met with Salt Lake Honorary Colonels members to discuss Drury's loan, a large deposit of more than $106,000 was credited to the group's account, the charges state. In a separate investigation, the clubhouse of the Big Shot Ranch burned to the ground on March 19. The fire caused about $400,000 in damage to the clubhouse and was considered a total loss. A search warrant affidavit filed in 3rd District Court says investigators determined the cause of the fire was arson. No arrests have been made in that arson case. The Tooele County sheriff's detective investigating the fire was out of town Friday and unavailable for comment about it. Funds were also transferred from the account belonging to the Utah Honorary Colonels, which is associated with the Utah Attorney General's Office, the charges state. The account is controlled solely by Drury, according to investigators. Money was transferred from that account to United Business Brokers Inc., according to court records. "A total of $121,499.45 was transferred to Drury's business or personal accounts from the Utah Honorary Colonels account," the charges state. Although Drury's name has been removed from the Salt Lake Honorary Colonels' website, charging documents indicate that he "continues to speak and act on behalf of (the group) in order to solicit money for the organization." The state requested a $200,000 arrest warrant. SALT LAKE CITY Thanks to the delayed groundbreaking of the South Salt Lake homeless resource center site, the owners of the future homeless facilities have known the June 30, 2019, deadline to shut down the downtown homeless shelter was going to be tight. And while construction crews are still hopeful they can make up lost time with a little bit of luck and good weather, Shelter the Homeless officials have begun acknowledging the possibility a deadline extension request may need to happen. "It's definitely on our minds," Preston Cochrane, Shelter the Homeless' executive director told the Deseret News on Friday, noting "we want to be realistic" in case bad weather or other unforeseen complications further delay the 300-bed men's resource center. But at the same time, "we don't want to jump the gun and change the dates if we don't have to," Cochrane added. So, at least for now, the nonprofit organization and its board members are proceeding with plans that the three new homeless resource centers in South Salt Lake and Salt Lake City will be up and running and the Road Home's downtown shelter will shut its doors forever by the end of next June the deadline set in the state law that helped fund the facilities' construction. "We're monitoring that very closely," Cochrane said. "As we get closer, obviously it's very much weather-related and other things might be out of our control. Crews from Hughes Construction, the company building the South Salt Lake facility, have told Shelter the Homeless they're still shooting to meet the summer deadline, but they're "playing catch-up at this point," Cochrane said. The South Salt Lake site is supposed to be the largest of the three new homeless resource centers and is critical to the closure of the downtown homeless shelter. The other two, 200-bed facilities in Salt Lake City, one for women and one for both men and women, are on schedule, Cochrane said. Even before the South Salt Lake site's construction faced delays amid complications with its city permitting process, questions have lingered about the tight state-mandated deadline and whether the three shelters will have enough capacity to serve Salt Lake County's homeless population. Some political leaders, including members of the Salt Lake City Council, have occasionally raised doubts about whether the three shelters' combined 700 beds, along with the Road Home's 300-bed Midvale family shelter, will be enough to serve all homeless clients. The state's 2018 homeless Point in Time Count found more unsheltered people experiencing homelessness than previous years, from 291 in 2017 to 420 this year. The number didn't concern state officials, however, who pointed to perhaps better counting efforts and "a little bit of dispersion" as a result of Operation Rio Grande in Salt Lake City. State leaders have set aside $2 million for an overflow shelter as a worst-case scenario, but Shelter the Homeless officials still expect the three new shelters, along with other programs meant to divert people from homelessness, will be enough, Cochrane said. What remains a concern, however, is whether enough Utah communities both in rural areas and along the Wasatch Front are doing enough to create affordable housing so the state's homeless population doesn't increase over the next few years, Cochrane said. "It's everyone's responsibility to make sure we're doing enough to meet the needs of everybody," he said, noting that he hopes more cities follow the example of Salt Lake City in efforts to rapidly increase affordable housing stock. SALT LAKE CITY The Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City has received "credible allegations of sexual abuse" against 16 priests since 1990, Bishop Oscar Solis said in an open letter this week to Utah Catholics. Those allegations include complaints submitted against two priests this year. Bishop Solis' letter, published in the diocese's newspaper, Intermountain Catholic, said such allegations have also been submitted against one seminarian and one brother in that time period. The sexual abuse grievances filed with the diocese since 1990 "involved approximately 34 victims." Two of the accused priests were the subjects of complaints submitted this year, Bishop Solis said in the message. "Both have been reported to the authorities; investigation is ongoing and both are under temporary suspension from priestly ministry," he wrote. In his letter, he decried "the horrible sins of some priests against minors and the failure of some bishops in their responsibility to nourish and protect the little ones." "In the Diocese of Salt Lake City, we take our sacred responsibility of protecting our children very seriously. We are saddened by and ashamed of the sexual abuse scandal in our church," Bishop Solis said. "Some of our priests and bishops have committed harm and injustice to so many. On behalf of all my brother priests, and myself, I beg your forgiveness for their sins and failings." In August, the diocese announced it had placed the Rev. David R. Gaeta, a pastor in American Fork, on administrative leave while it investigates accusations of sexual misconduct against children between 1980 and 1984 when the Rev. Gaeta oversaw a parish in Ogden. Jean Hill, government liaison for the diocese, said at the time that the accusations involved two people who allegedly were inappropriately touched during that time, when they were boys. Hill did not know the age of those boys at the time of the alleged incidents. The Rev. Gaeta has denied the allegations, Hill said in August. She said at the time that the diocese had contacted the Division of Child and Family Services, and that police were investigating, but few other details were provided. The Rev. Gaeta was ordained for the diocese in 1980 and served in Ogden from 1980 to 1984 and left Utah in 1985, according to Hill. He returned to the state when he assumed leadership of the St. Peter Parish in American Fork in 2017. The other priest to be accused this year of sexual misconduct is the Rev. Jorge Martinez-Gomez, pastor of the Saint Francis of Assisi parish in Orem. An announcement to the congregation there in mid-July, shared Friday with the Deseret News, says the Salt Lake diocese received an accusation against the Rev. Martinez-Gomez on July 3 stemming from alleged misconduct "involving an adult male" in December 2016. He was placed on administrative leave the same day the allegation was received, the announcement said, pending the outcome of the diocese investigation. "This matter has been reported to law enforcement, and we will cooperate with law enforcement in its investigation," the announcement said, adding that "the diocese is unaware of any other allegations" against the priest. Anyone with "information or concerns" was asked to call the diocese's victims' assistance coordinator, Sandy Growe, at 801-328-8641. No other details about the allegations were released. Of the allegations against specific church leaders submitted since 1990, the incidents described by those who came forward go back to 1962, Bishop Solis said in the letter. "Most allegations were reported to and received by the diocese after the priest either had left the priesthood, had retired, returned to his country of origin or had died," he said of the cases reported since 1990. "All allegations were reported to the Division of Child and Family Services, and all victims were offered pastoral assistance with counseling and therapy." In addition, in the same reporting period four people have come forward about incidents they said happened between 1951 and 1975, but those four people "could not remember which perpetrator (priest or lay) had abused them," Bishop Solis wrote. Each of them were also "offered funding for therapy." It was in 1990, he said, that the diocese made it protocol "that future allegations would be reported to authorities and anyone found to have committed abuse would be held accountable and permanently removed from ministry." Bishop Solis said the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City continues to observe "strict implementation of the zero tolerance policy," including immediate reporting of sexual misconduct to law enforcement and the Utah Division of Child and Family Services. He said the diocese "extends pastoral outreach to the victims and their families that includes the practice of offering therapy." Bishop Solis also said "an independent review board consisting mostly of laymen and women with various professional backgrounds and experiences" helps the diocese investigate allegations of sexual misconduct, and have the authority to make "recommendations to remove a priest from ministry when it is appropriate." He added that the diocese gives children "age-relevant educational programs about sexual abuse" and helps them learn "how to avoid and report questionable behavior." Bishop Solis' letter also addressed a Pennsylvania grand jury report released last month that concluded an estimated 1,000 children across six dioceses in that state had been molested or raped by church clergy over a 70-year period. That report, he said, "revealed the harrowing history and sinful deeds of some priests and bishops as well as the attempted cover-ups or omissions of some leaders of our church who miserably failed in carrying out their sacred responsibility of protecting God's children in their pastoral care." "The Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City is committed to providing safe and loving care for young people in our parishes, missions, schools and other ministries," Bishop Solis wrote. "It is our serious intent to protect our children and to reach out to victim-survivors who have been abused by our clergy or other church personnel so they can receive healing, justice, reconciliation and peace." SALT LAKE CITY Five people face federal charges for allegedly trafficking in drugs and kidnapping a 17-year-old boy at gunpoint from his mother's West Valley City business while trying to collect a heroin debt. Some of the defendants scoped out the business for two days before going in and demanding $20,000 in heroin that police had seized from the woman when she was stopped while driving the drugs from Minneapolis to the Salt Lake area, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Utah. They told her she was responsible not only for the cost of the kilogram of heroin seized from her on Aug. 11, but for heroin seized from another member of the drug trafficking organization, according to a criminal complaint. Her son was abducted two days later. Charged in the case are Oscar Rene Chacon Lopez, 26; Jeanette Mejia, 25; Juan Carlos Moreno Trinidad, 41; Nadia Carolina Avalos, 33; and Issa Jassim Al-Sadoon, 26. Chacon is a Honduran citizen living in Nogales, Mexico, and the rest are from Phoenix. The five are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. Chacon, Moreno, Avalos and Al-Sadoon are also charged with kidnapping and extortion. Moreno, Avalos and Al-Sadoon are charged with brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Chacon and Mejia are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. Chacon sent numerous text messages and voice messages in the hours after the alleged abduction. The teenager called his mother and told her he had been taken by men who wanted money from her. Additionally, she received a short video of the inside of her truck showing that the kidnappers had also stolen the vehicle, prosecutors say. Moreno, Al-Sadoon and Avalos told police "they had been tasked by their boss who they know as Gio Chacon, to conduct the kidnapping," according to a search warrant in the case. They also told police that they had taken photos and video of the boy and sent them to his mother and to Chacon during the kidnapping, the warrant states. The complaint alleges the boy was kidnapped because of his mother's drug debts and he would only be released unharmed if she did what she was told and deposited at least $10,000 into bank accounts Chacon had provided. He threatened her son and other children at her home with physical violence, according to prosecutors. FBI agents, Utah County Major Crime Task Force detectives, and West Valley police were able to locate and rescue the boy later that evening from a Salt Lake County hotel room. The complaint alleges the defendants conspired to distribute at least 1,000 grams heroin in Utah. Moreno, Al-Sadoon and Avalos pleaded not guilty. A five-day jury trial in U.S. District Court is scheduled for Nov. 13. All three are being held in jail. Federal arrest warrants are pending for Chacon and Mejia, prosecutors said. SALT LAKE CITY A federal judge Friday in Michigan allowed a lawsuit to move forward that experts say impacts faith-based charities across the country that provide adoption services as well as LGBT couples seeking to adopt and foster children. The case, Dumont v. Lyon, focuses on whether faith-based adoption agencies that receive state funding can turn away same-sex couples for religious reasons. It's one of the first cases of its kind, and experts say it's likely to set a legal precedent for courts and legislatures nationwide. The Deseret News covered the case in-depth in May. In September 2017, the ACLU sued the state of Michigan on behalf of two same-sex couples and a former foster child, arguing that the state is violating the First Amendment's establishment clause by allowing faith-based agencies that receive state funds to deny services to same-sex couples. In July, the state and one of the faith-based adoption agencies, St. Vincent Catholic Charities of Lansing, Michigan, filed a motion to dismiss the case. Judge Paul D. Borman of the Eastern District Court of Michigan denied the motion. He wrote that St. Vincent's arguments that prohibiting the state from allowing the use of religious criteria would violate the agency's First Amendment rights of free religious exercise and free speech were irrelevant to the plaintiff's claims at this stage in the case, and he was not convinced that St. Vincent would prevail on that claim in the end. "Much of St. Vincents argument relating to its First Amendment claims relies on matters outside the pleadings that the court cannot consider at this stage of proceedings and that in many instances directly contradict the allegations of plaintiffs complaint," Borman wrote. But the judge found the plaintiffs, Kristy and Dana Dumont, and Erin and Rebecca Busk-Sutton, had suffered "stigmatic and practical harm" as a result of the state entering into contracts with agencies that used religious criteria to exclude same-sex couples. "The plaintiffs have adequately alleged injury in fact for both their establishment clause and equal protection claims," wrote Borman. "This injury is at least 'fairly traceable' to the state defendants based on the allegations before the court." Leslie Cooper, deputy director of the ACLU's LGBT & HIV Project, said she was "very happy" with the ruling. "Most important is that the judge recognized the general principle that if a state is allowing the use of religious eligibility criteria to cast aside prospective families, that states an establishment clause claim," Cooper said. "This is the first case that addresses that issue squarely, so it's a big deal for that court to have said that." Mark Rienzi, president of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty that represented St. Vincent, didn't comment directly on the ruling but said the lawsuit is aimed at "forbidding the state from working with faith-based agencies to help children in need." "Such a result would make it much harder for thousands of children to find the loving home they each deserve," he continued in a statement. "Becket is fighting to make sure that doesnt happen, and this is just one step along the journey in this case." The state of the Michigan had no comment on the ruling. The Michigan case is one of two being played out in the courts right now, but experts say it could have a significant impact because of the constitutional arguments on both sides and the impact it will have on child welfare services nationwide. The decision follows an August federal court ruling that found Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia couldn't contract with the city as a foster care provider so long as the agency violated the city's nondiscrimination policies by refusing to fully serve same-sex couples. Catholic Social Services says it would have to shut down its foster care program without the city contract. Meanwhile, academics and advocates across the country are taking first steps toward finding a solution to this high-stakes clash that has dragged child welfare into the culture war over LGBT and religious rights. A July conference at the Cato Institute aptly titled "Solomon's Decree: Conflicts in Adoption and Child Placement Policy" brought together scholars and activists on both sides of the issue to find solutions outside of the courtroom. We can take the children out of culture wars where they do not belong, Robin Fretwell Wilson, director of the Family Law and Policy Program at the University of Illinois College of Law, said at the conference. We need to do this now. LOGAN The body of a woman who had been missing for nearly a month was found Friday and police arrested a man who they say murdered her. Searchers located the body of Merrilee Cox-Lafferty, 37, about 8 miles "off the pavement" in Blacksmith Fork Canyon. Investigators said it was the woman's dog that ultimately helped them solve the case. Stacy Robert Willis, 41, of Hyrum was booked into the Cache County Jail Friday night for investigation of aggravated murder and other charges in connection with her death. Logan Police Chief Gary Jensen described Willis as a dangerous man with a violent history. Cox-Lafferty had last been seen in the Logan area. She was reported missing Aug. 21, three days after arriving in Utah from California to visit family members. After her disappearance, the Cache County Sheriff's Office put out an alert at the time that described her as having severe epilepsy combined with memory loss and mobility issues, and driving a car with California license plates. "The case soon became suspicious as detectives worked through leads of her disappearance," Jensen said. But it was the discovery of Cox-Lafferty's dog that "turned this case in the right direction," he said. Logan police investigators "took custody" of a stray dog and posted photos of it on Facebook. People came forward and identified the dog as belonging to Cox-Lafferty. The dog was pivotal. It offered us some information that we just simply didnt have and may not have had had we not taken custody of this animal and ultimately release it to people that knew more about Merrilee and her circumstance, Jensen said, declining to elaborate. The chief did not say how they believe the woman died nor what led detectives to Willis. "They were previously acquainted," Cache County Sheriff Chad Jensen said of Cox-Lafferty and Willis. "She came here to help another friend move. Being friends with Mr. Willis, she made a connection when she got back to the valley. They were known acquaintances." Deputies began searches in the canyon for Cox-Lafferty earlier in the week after receiving information that her body may have been in the area. They later received additional information that helped pinpoint the exact location Friday. Her vehicle was located in Boise and search warrants have been issued in Idaho and Utah, including at Willis' home in Hyrum. Willis was pulled over and arrested in the parking lot of a Hyrum business without incident. "We do not know the motive and we will get to the motive," the sheriff said. In addition to aggravated murder, Willis was also booked into jail Friday for investigation of obstruction of justice, criminal mischief, possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Willis was convicted of felony discharge of a firearm in 2014 after firing two shots at a couple trying to pull out of a Walmart parking lot in North Logan. Police say Willis flagged down the couple, pulled up parallel to their truck and accused the driver of owing him money all while holding a gun in his lap. The driver, who told police he had never met Willis, drove off, then later backed into Willis' vehicle when he followed him. Willis fired fired two shots at the truck, with one bullet entering through the rear window and exiting out the windshield. Utah court records show that Willis also has convictions for forgery in 2003, escape from custody in 2000 and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance in 1999. It looks like Asus current flagship smartphone in India, the Zenfone 5Z, may soon be updated to Android 9 Pie. A version of the smartphone running the latest version of Googles mobile operating system was spotted on Geekbench suggesting that Asus may roll out the update sooner rather than later. Google started rolling out the Android 9 Pie update to Pixel devices early last month and last week, it was reported that it was running on less than 0.1 percent of smartphones. Even then, some users reported a bug that caused the battery saver feature to turn on when the phone had 99% of charge. Coming back to the Asus Zenfone 5Z, the smartphone was launched in India back in July as a Flipkart exclusive. The smartphone features a 6.2-inch Full HD+ display with a 19:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC and is available in three variants. The 6GB RAM/64GB storage variant was launched at 29,999, while the 6GB RAM/128GB storage variant is priced at Rs 32,999. The top of the line variant offers 8GB RAM/256GB storage and is priced at Rs 36,999. At the back of the phone is a 12MP + 8MP dual-camera configuration, whil at the front is a single 8MP unit. The phone packs a 3300mAh battery and features Qualcomms QuickCharge 3.0 tech for faster charging speeds. You can check out our review of the Asus Zenfone 5Z here. Minister Joe McHugh has welcomed new grant funding for libraries in County Donegal worth 209,481. This initiative to modernise our library services is a brilliant example of smart thinking to improve access to a valuable community service and make it a hub of activity, Mr McHugh said. This funding of more than 200,000 is going to make a visible difference to the service and it will do wonders for keeping the library at the heart of our social fabric. It also comes on the back of this Government securing a 2.1million investment last May to redevelop the Donegal Town Library into a community facility, library and family resource centre with offices for An Foroige. Work is ongoing on that and we hope to see it open by 2020. Mr McHugh, Government Chief Whip and Minister for the Irish language, Gaeltacht and the Islands, said: I believe libraries are places to learn from people as well as from books and looking at the initiatives that this new funding will support you cannot fail to be impressed. It will enhance IT infrastructure, create new meeting spaces with state of the art technology and provide dedicated digital learning suites, all of which will attract new users of all ages. The funding is being provided through Minister Michael Rings Department of Community and Rural Development. Mr McHugh said: I cannot thank Minister Ring highly enough for his commitment in this sector and the initiatives that he is driving to bring new life and new dimensions to library services. Just look at what this 200,000 will help to fund iPads, tablets and smart devices for users and for staff; computers and workstations including image deployment technology; software to support design, gaming and coding; meeting space technology; podcasting equipment and workstations; mobile LCD screens with audio; interactive whiteboards and digital training suites. Alongside that the funding can also be used to create Dementia Tables which facilitate play and learning for people with mild to severe dementia as well as those with intellectual disabilities, learning difficulties and autism. It is a remarkable initiative and I wish the County Council and library staff huge success with it. The almost 8 million investment comprises of approximately 6 million from Minister Rings Department and a further 2 million contribution from Local Authorities. A total of 309 libraries will benefit. Donegal ETB has recently appointed a new Principal to Gairmscoil Chu Uladh, located in the Donegal Gaeltacht Centre, between Glenfin and Fintown. Mr Ciaran Mac Ruaidhri took up his post at the end of August following the retirement of Ms Fiona Ni Chnaimhsi, after 32 years of service, 14 of those as Principal. Prior taking up the mantle as Principal of Gairmscoil Chu Uladh, Ciaran worked as Deputy Principal in Errigal College, Letterkenny for four years. He has taught in Errigal College since 1999, teaching Irish and History. He also held the position of Programme Coordinator within Errigal College. He brings a wealth of experience to the post and has a particular fondness for the Irish language and Irish culture. Speaking about his new appointment, Ciaran said, 'I am really looking forward to working with the school community in Gairmscoil Chu Uladh. The school is a vibrant and innovative one which makes a huge contribution to the local community. Id like to wish Fiona all the best with her retirement. SEE ALSO: Presentation night at Errigal College Gairmscoil Chu Uladh currently has 186 students and 20 staff on the roll and is one of four all-Irish schools among the fifteen schools in the county managed by Donegal ETB. Speaking about Ciarans appointment, Donegal ETBs Director of Schools Dr Martin Gormley said, Congratulations to Ciaran on his new appointment. Im delighted he has joined the senior ranks of our post-primary management team and I very much look forward to supporting Ciaran in his new role in Gairmscoil Chu Uladh over the coming year. Chief Executive Anne McHugh said, We very much welcome Ciarans appointment to Gairmscoil Chu Uladh, one of fifteen post-primary schools managed by Donegal ETB. As the largest education and training provider in the county, his contribution to the management of this provision is central to our delivery of a quality, learner-centred education and training service." Donegal Sinn Fein Senator Padraig Mac Lochlainn has responded to the latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) confirming that the number of Donegal people on the Letterkenny University hospital waiting list has now passed 17,000. The August 2018 NTPF figures have revealed that 17,190 Donegal people are now on the Hospitals waiting list, up from 16,666 at this time last year. The highest numbers ever. Senator Mac Lochlainn said: Behind these numbers are thousands of people from every town, village and town land across Donegal living with ill health and in real daily pain. They are being forced to live over long periods of time waiting and waiting in growing anxiety for consultations, operations or procedures. "This is not an accident. This reflects a right wing ideological approach from Fine Gael and supported by Fianna Fail that pushes our people towards private health insurance and paying a second time for their health service. And handing more and more of our health services to the private for profit sector. "It is just straight out cruelty to leave so many of our people in agony and anxiety waiting and waiting while those with private health insurance can leapfrog over them. This two tier system has to end. Other countries have introduced health systems that are fair and free at the point of delivery, funded by a fair and equitable tax system. Why cant we do this here in the 26 Counties of Ireland? Sinn Fein will continue to fight for this system across the island of Ireland with our costed policies produced every year ahead of the budget. 30 months on, it is now clear that this Confidence and Supply or New Politics arrangement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail is failing our people. If they extend it again, it is not in the national interest but rather in their own selfish and narrow political interest. "The Irish people deserve a health system that is fair and efficient not this cruel, unequal, under resourced and mismanaged mess that we have today," he said. (Photo: Sean Hawkey)Patriarch Bartholomew at Chania airport in Crete for the Orthodox Holy and Great Council. The worldwide Orthodox Church has begun its historic move toward unity in Crete without some key players such as the Russian patriarchate but it is still a Pan-Orthodox meeting and its decisions will be binding says a spokesman from the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople arrived on the Greek island on June 15 with other patriarchs following him for the first such meeting in 1,000 years. On his arrival Bartholomew expressed his "joy of fulfillment of our historical mission" and urged the Orthodox Church across the world to join him. The Holy and Great Council, he said, is "our sacred mission". The Ecumenical Patriarch noted, however that the joy of the historic events is clouded by the decision of some churches not to attend. The June 16-27 council will take place without the Orthodox churches of Antioch, Bulgaria, Georgia and Russia which all call for a postponement and said they would not come. "The responsibility for their decision lies with those same churches and their primates, since, just five months ago, at the Synaxis of the Orthodox Primates in Geneva, we made a decision and put our signatures to it, that we should come to Crete in June and realize this vision held over many years," said Bartholomew. 'BINDING PAN-ORTHODOX COUNCIL' "It is a great council, a pan-Orthodox council whose decisions are binding for the Orthodox Church," said the Rev. John Chryssavgis, an Australian-born theological adviser to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Bartholomew had noted that in Geneva the intent had been that "all our churches cherish, to declare and proclaim the unity of our Orthodox Church, and to examine and reach a common resolution of the problems that are of concern to the Orthodox world." It is not too late for those churches to reconsider, noted Bartholomew "even at this very last moment, and honour their signatures and come to Crete, where, along with the joy of the fulfillment of our historical mission, we shall also have the joy of partaking of the hospitality and nobility of all Cretans, from the most elderly among them, to the youngest child." The Ecumenical Patriarch also thanked those who have worked for months in order for the Holy and Great Council to take place, "together as a group and each one individually who have worked zealously, selflessly and with great willingness for this great event of the Holy and Great Council of our Orthodox Church to take place." The Russian Orthodox Church is said to have 100 million followers making it largest church among some 300 million Orthodox believers, The Moscow Patriarch Kiriill is close to President Vladimir Putin. The Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is often described as as "the first among equals" among Orthodox Christians and is senn by many as the spiritual leader. Bartholomew has met Pope Francis a number of times and Kirill met the Catholic leader at a historical Havana encounter in February. Items on the agenda have been under discussion for more than 40 years by Inter-Orthodox Preparatory Commissions and Pan-Orthodox Pre-Conciliar Conferences. In preparation for the Holy and Great Council, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew convened a Synaxis of Primates of the Orthodox Autocephalous Churches at the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy, Geneva, from 21 to 28 January 2016. For months now, a Small Synaxis of the Primates has been scheduled for 17 June as well. (Photo: REUTERS / Yorgos Karahalis)Kirill, Russian Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, leaves Saint Dionysios Orthodox church in Athens June 1, 2013. Kirill is on a seven-day visit in Greece The Russian Orthodox Church said it has effectively cut diplomatic relations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, which has authority over some 300 million Orthodox Christians. It follows signs that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will recognize Ukraine's Church as independent from the Moscow Patriarchate under the leadership of Patriarch Kirill, formerly Archbishop of Smolensk and Kaliningrad. Ahead of the expected decision, Bartholomew sent two representatives to Ukraine this month, evoking the ire of the Russian patriarchate, AFP news agency reported. The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, its ruling body, called an emergency meeting in Moscow on Sept. 14 and decided to downgrade ties with the Istanbul-based patriarchate, which has long been viewed as its rival. "With profound regret and sorrow the Holy Synod the Russian Orthodox Church learned about the statement made by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople concerning the appointment of its two 'exarchs' to Kiev," the Moscow Patriarchate said in a statement. The BBC reported that many Ukrainian Christians reject Kirill's perceived support for Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine. Bartholomew I, known as Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, is regarded as the "first among equals" of the world's Orthodox Christians. Constantinople was the Greek name for Istanbul, Turkey's largest city. The city fell to the Muslim Turks in 1453 but has remained the historic seat of Orthodoxy, although there are only a tiny minority of Christians in modern Turkey. Russia is the nation with the largest number of Orthodox followers despite years of Soviet opposition to organized religion during the communist era. According to the Holy Synod's decision, the Russian Orthodox Church is to no longer conduct joint services with the Patriarchate of Constantinople and Patriarch Kirill will stop mentioning Bartholomew in his prayers. The Russian Orthodox Church will no longer participate in Episcopal Assemblies or any commissions or other structures chaired by representatives of Bartholomew, it said in its statement. It said if the Istanbul-based patriarchate continues its "anti-canonical activities" it will sever bonds completely. "In the event that the Patriarchate of Constantinople will continue to carry out its uncanonical activities in the territory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, we will be compelled to completely break off the Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. All the responsibility for the tragic consequences of this division will lie personally with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and the hierarchs supporting him," said the Moscow statement. Desperate attempts to prevent liquidation of power sector assets in companies that are defaulters point to a deeper crisis afflicting neo-liberal growth. A sector that was plagued by shortages was opened up to private participation, leading to rapid expansion in the expectation of large profits from liberalised prices. Public sector banks were called upon to finance that expansion with the government being complicit. Now, however, firms find themselves trapped between inadequate demand at prevailing prices and rising costs that precipitate default. Having overcome a legacy of extreme shortage of supply, Indias power sector is in the midst of a crisis with ramifications of a wholly different kind. The crisis arises because firms accounting for a significant proportion of power sector assets have defaulted on their debt-servicing commitments, and banks are not able to find ways of restructuring that debt or recouping their money. So the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) guidelines require that the assets should be liquidated to recover whatever is possible and compensate banks from which these firms had taken loans, and then defaulted. But the assessment is that liquidation would yield the banks little, if anything at all. There are 34 projects that have been identified as stressed, accounting for 24,405 MW of commissioned capacity and another 15,725 MW of capacity that is still under construction. The total outstanding debt in these projects is `1.74 lakh crore. The projects are stressed either because the loans concerned have been declared as non-performing assets (NPAs) or are identified as being potential NPAs. Gross NPAs in the power sector were, at the end of June 2017, placed at `37,941 crore, of which as much as `34,244 crore was in generation. But the magnitude of NPAs is set to rise in the coming weeks and months. All systems are go for launch in November of NASA's Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission, which will use high-resolution laser ranging to study Earth's forests and topography from the International Space Station (ISS). The scientific mission seeks to answer questions about how much deforestation has contributed to atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and how much carbon forests would absorb in the future. It is led by a research group at the University of Maryland, which is working in collaboration with a team at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration that is designing the laser for GEDI. During The Optical Society's Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science APS/DLS conference being held 16-20 Sept., 2018, in Washington, D.C., NASA Goddard Space Flight Center laser engineer Paul Stysley and colleagues Barry Coyle, Erich Frese and Furqan Chiragh will present their work designing and building the laser systems for the GEDI mission. They will describe the extensive testing that the systems were required to pass for both transport and subsequent operation in low-Earth orbit. The presentation will be part of the "Novel Devices Manufacturing and Testing" session, to be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, 17 September in the Jefferson West ballroom of the Washington Hilton hotel. "We wanted to design a laser that could enable LIDAR-based remote sensing for Earth science and planetary exploration missions," said Stysley. The team designed a laser system that "is comparatively simple, has appropriate margin on performance specifications, and is well understood," he added. "This, in turn, allows it to be efficient and adaptable to different missions, as well as robust in a space flight environment." Using light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology, researchers shoot laser energy pulses at the Earth's surface and precisely record their return timing. This data produces a 3-D image in the form of vertical observation or a full-waveform that shows the world's forest canopy and the topography of the ground beneath it. This is possible because the transmitted laser light pulses are reflected by the ground, trees, vegetation or clouds, and then collected by GEDI's receiver. The returning photons are directed toward detectors, which convert the brightness of the light to an electronic voltage that's recorded as a function of time in 1-nanosecond intervals. Time can be converted to range (distance) by multiplying it by the speed of light, and then the full waveform can be calculated by the recorded voltage as a function of range. The laser system allows full-waveform data to be collected, which will provide the ground elevation and vegetation canopy height measurements on a global level. "The canopy and 3-D waveform data products are based on ones that have already been provided by NASA's Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor facility on airborne LIDAR missions," Stysley said. "The GEDI lasers were internally designed, fabricated, assembled and tested by the Laser and Elecro-optics branch at NASA-Goddard." "Our design is easily adaptable for follow-on vegetation LIDAR missions or for planetary missions that need an efficient laser altimeter," Stysley said. When designing the laser system, Stysley said the NASA group had to ensure it would be able to survive the extreme heat and vibrations of being blasted into space on a rocket, as well as endure the harsh environment of space once installed on the Japanese Experiment Module-Exposed Facility outside the ISS. The group put the lasers through thermal vacuum testing for near-space flight simulation to ensure that the lasers can function and survive in space, as well as vibrational qualification testing of the lasers' final assembly. Stysley and his colleagues were somewhat surprised by how much you can learn about a laser as it undergoes space-flight environmental testing. "No matter how well you know a laser design, it's important to appropriately test it at the environmental requirements levied on you by a mission and to have enough performance margin on your design to be able to compensate for any minor 'surprises' that come up during testing," said Stysley. "Subtle changes in things like temperature profile can expose new things about how your laser behaves in relatively unusual situations and, often, resources -- money, time, and technical relief -- will be needed to meet requirements." The GEDI mission, scheduled to launch in November, will operate on ISS for up to two years. ### 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 A new tool developed by University of British Columbia researchers could help ensure limited conservation dollars are well spent by determining which actions would save the most species per dollar. In a case study published in Conservation Letters, researchers from UBC and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) applied the tool to endangered species in Canada for the first time, focusing on 15 species at risk in southwestern Saskatchewan. "Recovery of species at risk in Canada and around the world is failing--often we are spending our limited conservation resources on species with the lowest likelihood of recovery at the highest cost," said Tara Martin, lead author and professor in the faculty of forestry at the University of British Columbia. "We've developed the first scientific tool aimed at recovering as many species as possible within any given budget." The tool--a mathematical equation that draws on both empirical data and expert knowledge-- helps prioritize conservation strategies for species at risk by answering key questions like how much it will cost to recover all endangered species, which management strategies are likely to achieve the greatest recovery of species per dollar invested, how many species can be recovered for a given budget and which species are unlikely to be recovered regardless of investment. "We calculate the cost-effectiveness of different decisions every day, from what we're going to buy at the grocery store to which school we're going to send our children to, but in conservation we've been shopping with no price tags," said Martin. "This tool will help us make those calculations, put a price tag to conservation strategies and determine how effective they will be." Martin and her co-authors applied the tool, called Priority Threat Management, to 15 species considered lost, endangered or threatened in southwestern Saskatchewan, including animals like the greater sage-grouse, the burrowing owl and the swift fox. Thirteen of the species were included in a 2017 ECCC multi-species action plan that recommended 18 general management strategies and more than 200 actions to conserve the species. With insufficient resources to implement all recommended strategies, agencies found it difficult to discern which strategies would have the greatest impact across all species. "This tool helps us make those conservation decisions in a more transparent, repeatable and defensible way," said Paul Smith, an ECCC researcher involved in the project. By applying the tool, the researchers found that with minimal-to-no species management, only two of the 15 species were likely to achieve their recovery goals. However, if five of the 18 strategies were implemented, 13 of the 15 species were likely to meet their recovery goals. "We estimate the overall cost of deploying those five management strategies would be $126 million over 20 years," said Martin. "We can't recover all the species but can achieve the best possible outcome for at least 13 of those species." Martin points to the Canada Nature Fund--a $1.3 billion-dollar conservation fund announced by the federal government in February 2018--as an unprecedented opportunity for conservation in Canada. "This is more money than has ever been earmarked for conservation by any government in Canada's history and my hope is that by using tools like ours, we can demonstrate the conservation return on investment and ensure the recovery and protection of as many species as possible." ### Hi everyone, Few years ago, we decided to immigrate and to increase our chances we applied to both Australia and Canada. Our PR application to Australia got approved and we moved here more than a year ago. My wife was pregnant at the time and our child became Australian citizen by birth. In the meantime our Canadian application was moving slowly and finally was approved last Feb and we have till November to do the landing before it is forfeited. After all the efforts and expenses made to get the Canadian PR approval, we feel that it would be a great waste, and maybe a regret in the future, if we don't action it. On the other hand, we are not sure if having a PR in a different country, like Canada, will create issues while applying for citizenship in Australia in few more years. Would love to hear your suggestions and information. I tried to google this case but couldn't find anything except that it might be a problem in the opposite way (applying for citizenship in Canada while having a US green card or PR from another country). Cheers Privacy Settings This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. You may change your settings at any time. Your choices will not impact your visit. NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using. Friday, September 14, 2018 In a letter to President Trump and Congressional leadership, a leading expert on long-term care planning calls for the medical expense deduction to be maintained at its current level for 2019. Matt McCann, a nationally known Long-Term Care Insurance expert, told a group of insurance agents and financial planners that it is important public policy to keep the current deduction. The current 7.5% threshold was temporarily extended through 2018 in the 2017 tax cut bill which was signed by President Trump. The tax law temporarily lowered the medical expense threshold from the existing 10% at the time to 7.5%. It is scheduled to be returned to 10% for tax-year 2019 unless Congress and the President act soon. "Many Americans, especially seniors, need this deduction. With the high cost of health care, this deduction helps many American families. When you add the high cost of long-term care services and supports this deduction becomes a greater priority for many," McCann said. McCann reminded the group that Long-Term Care Insurance can be deducted as a "medical expense" for many people. He said as people get older they use this deduction which makes their long-term care plan even more affordable. The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance says millions of people who purchased tax-qualified Long-Term Care insurance policies might lose the option to deduct premiums if the deduction reverts to 10% of AGI. While other tax incentives exist, for self-employed individuals and business owners, the itemized medical deduction on individual returns is often used. "It is important public policy to provide some relief for hard-working American families. However, many Americans are not aware of the Long-Term Care Insurance tax incentives or the Long-Term Care Partnership Program which most states participate in. It is very important to educate the public of the need to plan for the financial costs and burdens of aging and the incentive programs which are available for many," McCann said. McCann said most states participate in the Long-Term Care Partnership program which provides additional dollar-for-dollar asset protection if a person owns a qualified Long-Term Care Insurance policy. However, he noted that many consumers are just unaware of their options. "Texas has done an outstanding job of promoting the Texas Long-Term Care Partnership Program. This is not the case for most states. For many American families, the partnership program provides essential asset protection. The partnership program, along with tax incentives, gives consumers many reasons to safeguard savings and reduce the tremendous burdens extended care places on loved ones," McCann explained. McCann's letter urged President Trump and Congress to take immediate action to maintain the tax deduction threshold. "While the economy has improved dramatically for many Americans, we must realize the impact the costs of health care, especially long-term care, as on people, especially after they retire. We must be able to help American families afford quality care and help them obtain and maintain Long-Term Care Insurance," McCann said in the letter. People purchase Long-Term Care Insurance, usually before retirement, as part of their overall retirement planning. The cost of long-term care services is high and most of the care is not covered by health insurance or, after age 65, Medicare and Medicare supplements. Long-Term Care Insurance pays for quality care options at home or in a facility. "Caregiving is hard on family members. Paid care drains savings and adversely impacts income and lifestyle. While Long-Term Care Insurance is very affordable, the tax deductions make it easier for consumers, especially after retirement. As one of the leading Long-Term Care Insurance specialists in the country, McCann helps people nationwide with his unique process where they speak with him on the phone while seeing his computer screen on their computer. He works with all the major companies in Long-Term Care and is endorsed by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. Consumers can learn more and get free quotes from all the major companies: https://mccannltc.net/free-quotes. You can find the cost of care in your state, as well as the availability of partnership plans and tax incentives here: https://www.ltcnews.com/resources/state-information McCann said the best time to add Long-Term Care Insurance is usually in your 40s or 50s as many people can take advantage of both low premiums and even preferred health discounts. Outside, the temperature is flirting with triple digits. But inside its beginning to feel at least a little bit like Christmas. At least in one Monte Vista house where a team of photographers and stylists is busy working on a holly jolly photo shoot of this holiday seasons hottest decorations. Once the weather finally does turn nippy, their photos of Christmas trees, stars, reindeer and the like will deck the aisles of most H-E-B Plus supermarkets. This 125-year-old Monte Vista house is enjoying a second career as a ready-to-go studio space. In addition to H-E-B Plus, the house has hosted photo and video shoots for companies as varied as PBS.org, Frontier Enterprises (Jims Restaurants), Scentsy candle company, Naturesweet produce, New Braunfels Smokehouse and more. But unlike most houses used for commercial shoots, no one lives in this one, so its always ready for its closeup. The place is only minimally furnished, and there are no messy family knicknacks pictures, books, artwork that have to be removed before, say, a luxuriously made-up bed can be placed in the living room or a Fourth of July barbecue is staged on the front porch. There arent many places like this to shoot commercial jobs, said Dallas-based photographer Rusty Bradford, who was brought in for the week-long job. Its so much easier getting our equipment in and out. And we dont have to worry about putting everything back exactly where it was. Related: The top trends in high-end kitchen countertops Todays shoot, for example, spotlights holiday decorations in sleek silvers, whites and golds. Earlier in the week, the team shot the trimmings in more traditional greens and reds. Another day it was childrens decorations. And the star most days was the living rooms classic brick-faced fireplace. Topped with an imposing mantle, it makes for the perfect backdrop for these and other product photos, which will start showing up in stores sometime after Thanksgiving. In the middle of it all is Alicia Ali Mendez, acting as both prop stylist and merchandise coordinator. Along with her husband Mendez and her husband Albert Clayton own the house, which they affectionately call Maggie for its location at 115 E. Magnolia Street. Constructed in 1890 by builder A.G. Dugger, the house was moved to its present site from its original location on East Mulberry in 1910, according to San Antonios Monte Vista: Architecture and Society in a Gilded Age by Donald E. Everett. Two stories with a basement (as unusual a feature then as it is today), it was known as the Sam Napel home, after the family that lived there from the mid-1930s. Claytons family purchased it in 1972. My husband grew up (in this house), and its been a location rental for photo and video shoots for six years, she said, adding that, depending on the client, they charge $300 to $500, all inclusive, for an eight-hour day. As Ella Fitzgerald songs play in the background they started with Christmas carols but needed a break after a couple of days the front living room is abuzz with activity. The crew arranges the merchandise on the mantle, lights are tilted this way and that and Bradford peers intently at his computer screen connected to the camera focused on the fireplace. Related: Hottest trend in outdoor furniture is indoor comforts In addition to the living room, the downstairs kitchen and two upstairs bedrooms are also available for photo shoots, as well as the ground level and second-story porches. Mendez said that, short of taking down walls, she lets production companies do almost anything they need to do to the house to get the look they want. But the contract stipulates that everything has to be returned to its original condition. I cant tell you how many times these walls have been painted and then repainted to the original color, she said. Maker of fine linens Lili Alessandra has done three photo shoots in the house, according to company founder and designer Sandra Hernandez Yedor. Were always looking for good venues and Alis house has a really nice home environment, she said. Theres good lighting, neutral, off-white walls and hardwood floors that all make for really nice pictures. During a recent shoot, the company backed a luxuriously made bed up to the fireplace so it looked like a headboard. The image can be seen on the Nordstrom department store website. Related: The Boerne hotel where polo was first played in U.S. maybe Mendez estimates that the house is used for commercial shoots only about 20 days a year. The rest of the time she uses it in her full-time job as a food stylist, recipe developer and product tester for clients such as Taco Cabana and Toyota. Any time companies shoot something that has food in it, theyll bring in a food stylist, said Mendez, whose upstairs prop room is filled with enough pots, pans, serving trays and more to stock a full-size restaurant. Finally, after many test shots, a photo is made that everyone agrees is just about perfect and the crew gets the OK to strike the scene and begin getting ready for the next shoot. Richard A. Marini is a features writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | rmarini@express-news.net | Twitter: @RichardMarini A petition calling for the release of convicted murderer Miguel Angel Martinez has garnered hundreds of signatures. Martinez, a native Laredoan, was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison for his role in a 1991 crime that shocked the Gateway City. Nearly 28 years later, people from around the world are rooting for his parole following the release of the Netflix docuseries, "I am a Killer." A show that drudges up the United States' most shocking crimes, the audience is introduced to Laredo's infamous "triple ax murders" in episode four. As the episode commences, a lingering question is left in the air, "Was justice served?" For Ricki Moore, 29, of Pennsylvania, her answer is "no." To learn more about the "triple ax murders" and Miguel Angel Martinez click here. Moore created a petition to free Martinez on change.org a couple of weeks ago after watching Martinez' episode. As of Thursday afternoon, the petition has received over 700 signatures worldwide, including many signatures coming from Laredoans, Moore said. "I was like, I have to do something to help him. When I watched the other episodes, I saw a couple of (inmates) that fit the title. They would interview the inmate and the guy would be like, 'yeah, I killed him.' Martinez' was not black and white," Moore said. Martinez was at the scene of the crime, but according to his report and that of the most active participant, Miguel Angel Venegas, his role was small. According to Venegas and Martinez, Venegas killed all three victims. Moore said she has been in contact with Martinez. When Martinez first found out about the petition, Moore was told that he became really emotional. "He thought people would see (the episode) and go about their lives," Moore said. Martinez has since given Moore permission to advocate for him and speak on his behalf. Corresponding by letters, Moore recalls asking Martinez if there was anything he would like her to share with people. READ ALSO: How Laredo's 'La Barbie' became the top-ranking leader of a Mexican drug cartel "He said, 'I want people to know if I was given the opportunity to parole, I would be an asset to the community and affect it positively.' He just wants the chance to live a good life," Moore said. During his 27-year prison stint, Martinez has earned a bachelor of science in business and two associate of art degrees, according to a website created by his family. Mariah Graves, Martinez' girlfriend, said he has also completed a number of reformative 12-step and 18-step programs including Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, a faith-based program and a program focused on financial and personal responsibility. In one particular program, Martinez met with victims of crimes, giving him the opportunity to hear victims' perspectives and to learn from his past behaviors, Graves said. "He has changed and grown as a person immensely while he's been incarcerated. I believe he would make an excellent candidate for parole if he was given the opportunity," Graves said in a statement to LMTonline.com. Things have come to light in the last 20 years that have caused normal, rational and sensitive people to question the fairness of treatment and the proportionality of punishment to those involved in the case." Graves said she hopes that for anyone who has heard about Martinez, they will take the time to review his case and see the injustice that was done to him. "I'm not saying he hasn't made mistakes or bad decisions. I do believe that he has served his time, though. He has proven himself. I want other people to see that as well," Graves said. Martinez has an upcoming parole hearing and Moore is urging for people to get involved in his release, sign the petition and write letters on his behalf to the parole board. "I just want (people) to know that he would just like to be given the opportunity to be free and live a good life," Moore said. For more information on Martinez and the petition, click here. JeriLynn Thorpe is a digital reporter for the Laredo Morning Times. Read more of her stories on LMTonline.com | jerilynn.thorpe@lmtonline.com WASHINGTON - It's not just that the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller is, in President Donald Trump's estimation, a partisan "witch hunt." No, that's just one small aspect of why Trump is frustrated by Mueller's work. There's Trump's worry that the probe "endangers our country," as he told reporters last week on Air Force One. Why? Because it is "hard for us to deal with other countries" because of it. And then there's the cost. On June 1, he took issue with the cost as reported by Mueller's team, tweeting: "A.P. has just reported that the Russian Hoax Investigation has now cost our government over $17 million, and going up fast. No Collusion, except by the Democrats!" That figure came from documents filed by Mueller's team with the Department of Justice. When former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos was sentenced to two weeks in prison last week for lying to federal investigators, Trump compared his sentence to a figure of $28 million, presumably also a reference to the probe's cost. Where that number came from, though, isn't clear. If we assume the same cost-per-day for the investigation that was reported through March of this year, the probe has so far cost the government about $26 million. That's the $17 million through March and another $9 million since. But, as journalist Marcy Wheeler pointed out on her personal site, the Mueller probe may have just paid for itself. Why? Because part of the plea agreement reached between Mueller and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort includes forfeiture of certain property to the government. While it's unclear how much value will be extracted from that forfeiture, there's reason to think it could more than pay for what Mueller's incurred so far. For example, five properties are being forfeited: Union Street, Brooklyn, $4.1 million; Howard Street, Manhattan, $3 million; Jobs Lane, Water Mill, $7.3 milllion; Baxter Street, Manhattan, $4.1 million; and Trump Tower, Manhattan, $3.7 million. (The document filed Friday with the court identified four properties being forfeited. A later document detailing the plea agreement identified the Baxter Street and Trump Tower properties as being substituted in for a property in Arlington, Virginia, and for a Charles Schwab brokerage account.) The combined value of those properties is about $22.2 million, according to estimates at Zillow.com and assigning the 2006 sale price to his Trump Tower property. If those were sold at the values identified above and the money returned to the government, that alone nearly covers our estimated costs of the investigation to date. Jennifer Rodgers, executive director of the Center for the Advancement of Public Integrity at Columbia Law School, explained in a phone call to The Post that unless Manafort owns the properties outright -- that is, without a mortgage or co-owner -- there will be an agreement on how to split assets from a sale. "Sometimes if it's joint ownership you do have to go through a process with the other owners, with the other parties," Rodgers said. "The government will do that as part of the forfeiture process. You can seize them, but seizing them doesn't mean it's all said and done. ... They do have to account for any other owners." If there's a mortgage, "the bank is not going to be out because he is a criminal," she said. Those properties also aren't the only items of value being forfeited. Manafort also has to give up his life insurance policy. It's not clear what the value of the policy is, but when he was first indicted he presented the court with a life-insurance policy or policies that he valued at about $4.5 million. Prosecutors were skeptical that the policies were worth that much. Then there are three bank accounts - two at Federal Savings Bank, one at Capital One -- that Manafort is also forfeiting. None of the values of those accounts is clear. But one, Wheeler notes, may be tied to a $16 million loan Manafort got from Federal Savings Bank. A bank executive testified in Manafort's Virginia trial that the institution had written off $11.8 million it was still owed; it's not clear if that value is tied up in property or in an account. We're left with a broad range, then. The government's seizures from Manafort could be worth some $42 million, including the upper estimates of just the properties, Federal Savings Bank loan and insurance policies. And that doesn't include the other accounts, which might contain some portion of the $30 million that Wheeler points to as having been identified by the government as ill-gotten gains. That's enough to pay for the Mueller probe for some time to come. What was seized could also be, and likely is, a much smaller amount. At the time that Manafort was first indicted, he claimed to be worth $28 million. That presumably includes the value of his properties, which would suggest very little cash on hand -- even before he spent months defending himself in court. That claim, though, is worth taking with a grain of salt. We know that Manafort's past assertions have proven to be inaccurate, to put it mildly. The plea agreement spells out that there is no restitution mandated of Manafort. In other words, what the government gets from the bank accounts, insurance policy and sale of the properties is the extent of its compensation, that $30 million notwithstanding. Former Assistant United States Attorney Mimi Rocah, who spoke by phone with The Post, indicated that the lack of mandated restitution was unusual. Since the agreement is essentially a contract between Manafort and the government, though, that was likely a subject of the negotiations. There have been rumors for some time that Trump might pardon Manafort. If he does so, both Rocah and Rodgers suggested, the government will probably get to keep what's been seized anyway. The plea agreement stipulates that Manafort "agrees to forfeit criminally and civilly the following properties." That "civilly" is important. "Civil forfeiture is separate and he stipulated to it, so it's going to be done now," Rodgers said. "A pardon wouldn't affect that." "I would think it would be very hard for him to get his property back," Rocah said. But "that doesn't mean he wouldn't try to pardon him." After all, Trump does have other concerns related to Manafort that a pardon might aid. Mayor Ron Nirenberg is under mounting pressure to act on a plan to revamp Alamo Plaza, with appeals coming from people on opposite sides of the hotly debated issue. Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush signed off on the plan Wednesday and publicly admonished Nirenberg to immediately do the same. That step would move the plan toward the final stages of approval. But Nirenberg said he wants to pore over the details and that he expects the City Council to vote on it in mid-December. Im confident this plan will finish the final approval stages before the end of the year. And well be proud of it, he said. On Friday, some opponents called on Nirenberg to reject it. State Rep. Kyle Biedermann, R-Fredericksburg, said he and other Texans have grave concerns about the relocation of the Cenotaph and a long-term lease that he said could expose the plaza to international influence to revise history. Mayor Nirenberg, dont sign, because we are not happy with the agreements that have been put forth so far, Biedermann said at a news conference at the Cenotaph, surrounded by a throng of opponents. This is the shrine of our liberty. And we want to keep it that way. So please dont sign it because were going to continue with the pressure. The makeover plan for the plaza includes construction of an Alamo museum, closure of plaza streets to traffic, demolition of commercial buildings and the Cenotaph relocation. The plaza would be enlarged and function as an outdoor museum. Access to it would be controlled, with as few as one entry point during daytime museum hours and six after hours. Bush and other supporters of the plan are eager to get moving on the project. He sent that message to Nirenberg via a news release and a posting on Twitter. Join me in executing this plan to treat the Alamo with the respect and reverence it deserves, he wrote and included a photo of a resolution, with a red sign here sticker. But Nirenberg noted that even though the plan has been painstakingly developed, he and Bush have different constituencies. Various groups turned out at public meetings this summer to support or oppose key parts of it. The controversy over the plan comes at the same time Nirenberg and the council are trying to fend off a push started by the firefighters union to win voters approval for significant changes to city government. Three measures that would amend the City Charter will be on the Nov. 6 ballot. In past media interviews, Nirenberg said he is concerned about the controlled access to the plaza and the potential demolition of up to five commercial buildings on its west side. The latest version of the plan shows the new museum in place of the Woolworth, Palace and Crockett buildings. The General Land Office bought all three in 2015. Decades ago, they were built where the Alamos west wall once stood. Officials behind the project said they would study their possible reuse for the museum, but they have indicated a preference for at least partial demolition. The Alamo Citizen Advisory Committee endorsed the plan Aug. 30. Five days later, the six-member management committee did the same. The next step is approval by the executive committee. It has just two members: Bush and Nirenberg, whose signature is required to formally move the plan forward. Nirenberg said he wants the council and two city review boards to have time to study and discuss the plan and that work sessions about it can begin now. Thats the level of due diligence that all parties deserve, he said. Before it reaches the council, the plan will go before the Historic Design and Review Commission and the Planning Commission. Nirenberg added that he is pleased with the work thats gone into the plan It has been by far the strongest, most comprehensive effort to preserve and revere the Alamo, he said. The Alamo concept, at every level, deserves as much oxygen as we can give it. Councilman Roberto Trevino, a management committee member and one of the chairmen of the citizens panel, hinted that there is a push to slow the process, and he pushed Nirenberg to move the plan forward. The work to get us to this point is now complete. Everyones heavy lifting has already been done, he said. Those seeking a delay of this project do not have the best interest of the Alamo nor the greater good for San Antonio in mind. Sharon Skrobarcek, a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and of the citizens committee, said she hopes the mayor will sign the resolution soon. She said shes worried that the project may not be done by its 2024 target date, if at all. My biggest concern is that the process is taking awhile, and that pressure is mounting, she said. Skrobarcek said she has heard unfounded rumors that the Alamo will be taken over by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO designated the Alamo and the other four San Antonio missions as a World Heritage Site. Biedermann brought up UNESCO on Friday. He said he and six other lawmakers signed a letter this week in which they criticize the proposal to move the Cenotaph outside the plaza, where most of the defenders are believed to have died. The letter raised concerns that UNESCO could dictate how the history of the Alamo would be interpreted. Biedermann said Texans have legitimate concerns about whats going on. When the legislative session begins in January, many legislators are ready to file bills to withhold state funds for the plaza makeover, and to take control of the Alamo out of the hands of the GLO, he said. Land Office Communications Director Bryan Preston said UNESCO has no control of World Heritage Sites. The missions are one of 1,092 such sites worldwide and 23 nationwide, and the only one in Texas. UNESCO has no role at the Alamo or at the Grand Canyon or at the Statue of Liberty, Preston said. Scott Huddleston 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. | shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA 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. 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. 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 Six weeks ago, Army Spc. Alec Alcoser and his working dog, Alex, turned the corner of a narrow street outside Bagram Airfield just after dawn and saw a young Afghan coming toward them. Two Afghan and three Czech soldiers moved between Alcoser and the civilian to conduct a search while he called the dog back and bent down to get a cigarette. And that's when the whole world just kinda went upside down. And it was all yellow and orange because of the blast, said Alcoser, 22, of San Antonio. Alex yelped. Alcoser went down. As a firefight broke out, the dog stayed at his side. I would yell at him and his ears would twitch, but he wouldnt look at me, Alcoser said. I think he was in a state of shock. He didnt growl, he didnt bark, he didnt cry. He stayed right there. On Friday, they were together once more, this time at the South Texas Veterans Health Care Systems Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center. It was an emotional reunion, with the Harlandale High School graduate wiping tears from his eyes at one point and Alex licking his face. It was the first time they had seen each other since both were in Washington, D.C., where both received the Purple Heart. And if all goes well in rehab over the next few months, theyll be together for good, buddies until the end. They were close in Afghanistan, where Alcoser was six and a half months into a nine-month deployment when they got hurt. They were together pretty much everywhere Alcoser went, except the dining hall. On his days off, they slept in the same bed together, rising late and enjoying the leisure time. On duty days, they had rituals. On a day with a mission, wed wake up, I would give him a doggie treat, and I would have some ice cream before we went out, and when we got back, we usually slept, Alcoser recalled. That was a normal day for me and Alex out there, he said, adding that a taste for sweets was born of his association with troops in special operations forces. It was kind of their thing to eat a sweet because you never know if thats going to be your last when you go out. The Aug. 5 suicide bombers blast left Alcoser with shrapnel wounds and broken bones. He also had a mild traumatic brain injury, but his physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, Dr. Blessen Eapen, said Alcoser escaped the explosion without any loss in cognitive ability. Alex lost his left rear leg near his hip. Both are learning to get around again. Snapshots show Alex reluctantly settling in an underwater treadmill at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. Alcoser took shrapnel in about 30 percent of his body most of it in his lower extremities. Some of it continues to come out, slowly, in an often painful process. The list of broken bones is long and includes both arms and legs. He walks with a cane or a walker. Alex sometimes limps around but occasionally moves as quickly as a dog with all four legs. When we say polytrauma, hes got multiple injuries, multiple fractures. Hes pretty hurt, Eapen said. There are goals to reduce Alcosers dependence on opioids and in time get him well enough to start work at the Center for the Intrepid at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. Theyre estimating about four to six months, and so Im already a month and almost half in, and Im already walking, so I think Im going to beat that time, he said. Either way, the doctors say I have a pretty good chance of making a full recovery, and thats all that matters. Ive got to get back to my dog. Thats the important part. There have been too many surgeries to remember, but theyre over for Alcoser. A good deal of rehab lies ahead for both him and Alex, but an interesting thing happened Friday afternoon to the 8-year-old German shepherd, who is headed to a medical retirement from the Army. It seems hes trying to get back on the job. Trained to detect explosives and corner suspects who try to run and hide, Alex tried to search a car after arriving at Audie Murphy VA Hospital. When theyre old and retired, they still dont know theyre not supposed to work, said Regina Johnson, a retired Army dog handler who works in the Defense Departments Military Working Dog Breeding Program at Lackland. They still have the same drives. They still want to search, they still want to find the same toy, they still want to be praised. Ask Alcoser if he finds the process of learning to walk again frustrating, and hell wave off the notion. He has a wife, Misty, and a 6-month-old son to look after, and then there is his mom. Ann Marie McGrew lives in Houston and drives to see him at the hospital every weekend. Alcoser hopes to return to work as a soldier, in time returning to his post, Fort Drum, N.Y., and eventually get promoted to sergeant. Give him the chance, and hed go back to the war zone. Alcoser has fallen brothers to honor. Those Afghan and Czech soldiers standing between him and the man with the suicide vest absorbed the worst of the blast. The Afghans survived. The Czechs were killed instantly. I dont have any frustrations. I just take it day by day, thats all I can do, he said. Theres no point in being mad or sad or anything like that. Ive got to live through the people who died for me, so they give me a lot of strength. And Alex aint complaining, so I dont think I should, either. His injuries are a little worse than mine, Alcoser added. A lot of people call him a dog, but I think hes a little more than that. Hes a soldier. Sig Christenson covers the military and its impact in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | sigc@express-news.net | Twitter: @saddamscribe On the morning of September 8, Congressman Will Hurd hosted a panel discussion at UTSAs downtown campus on the problem of bullying in our society. Hurd, a Helotes Republican, is engaged in a tough reelection battle with Democratic challenger Gina Ortiz Jones and surely wanted to demonstrate engagement with the district he serves. But the forum also fell squarely in his policy wheelhouse. Hurd has become something of a House authority on cyber issues and the panel discussion concentrated on the ways in which social media is used as a psychological weapon. So its either ironic or fitting that two days after the panel, the first lady of San Antonio took to social media to deliver an attack against Hurds anti-cyberbullying effort. Erika Prosper, the wife of Mayor Ron Nirenberg and the chairwoman of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, appeared to take issue with at least one of the panelists included in the event. Never have bullies on a panel against bullying, Prosper wrote in a Monday night Instagram post. It undermines your whole point. Prosper included a picture of a giant eyeball, along with the hashtags #wearewatching and #vote2018. By process of elimination, its not hard to guess who Prosper might have meant when she mentioned bullies on a panel against bullying. Surely, she didnt have in mind Maurine Molak, the mother of David Molak, a 16-year-old Alamo Heights boy who committed suicide in 2016 after being relentlessly bullied on social media; Justin Wren, an activist with Fight for the Forgotten; Sandy Detamore, the director of Drama Kids International; or T.J. Mayes, the chief of staff for Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. That leaves Hurd and Councilman Greg Brockhouse, a frequent critic of Prospers husband and a potential mayoral challenger in 2019. When I spoke to Prosper about the Instagram post, however, she insisted that the bullies on a panel line was not, in fact, directed at anyone on the panel she cited. Prosper said she was responding to a TV ad by the Club for Growth, which attempts to brand Democratic Senate candidate Beto ORourke as a bully. I was sitting on my couch and suddenly something came on around bullying in a Beto ORourke ad, which had been put out by a conservative PAC, Prosper said. Ive spent a lot of years working to try and have kids be more respectful of each other. When I saw the ad, my reaction was with regard to seeing that a party was using bullying as sort of a political tool. That same evening, I read about the (Hurd) panel and I remember thinking, I dont understand this. I dont understand that theres a party talking about anti-bullying but at the same time bullying is being used as a political tool. Prosper said her post was probably rash, but meant to convey to Republicans, As a party, please dont use bullying, when youre bullying yourself, to a certain degree. Prosper also said she didnt intend to take a personal shot at Hurd, adding, I know Congressman Hurd was trying to do something good by having that conversation. Brockhouse questions Prospers explanation and is convinced she had him in mind with her Instagram post. Its wholly inappropriate. This is whats wrong with politics, Brockhouse said. People try to do something good and to use something like cyberbullying for a political attack, thats just wrong. So, to keep the record straight, we have the first lady of San Antonio objecting to a bullying panel on the grounds that it was exploiting the bullying issue for political gain. On the other side, we have a councilman objecting to the first ladys objection and arguing that shes the one exploiting the bullying issue. If your head isnt hurting by now, you might want to consider that Brockhouse essentially participated in the panel at Nirenbergs invitation. Nirenberg couldnt make it (the panel conflicted with the kickoff rally for the campaign against the firefighters proposed charter amendments) and his chief of staff, Trey Jacobson, asked Brockhouses chief of staff, Mario Hune, if Brockhouse could fill in for the mayor. It was a rare conciliatory moment between the two camps, but it didnt last long. Jones strikes back on BRAC While were on the subject of Hurd, theres a new development in the congressmans attempt to define Gina Ortiz Jones as a candidate receptive to another round of military Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). Hurd recently debuted an ad featuring a clip of Jay Hulings, one of Joness Democratic primary opponents, saying that Jones was playing Russian roulette with peoples jobs. Jones struck back last week with a statement asserting, I do not support taking jobs from Texans I never have and I never will. Hulings chimed in with his own statement of support for Jones, saying Hurd had twisted his words It is time, Hulings said, for new representation for this district. @gilgamesh470 Gilbert Garcia is a columnist covering the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 The Macedonian Ministry for Transport and Communications has relaunched a tender to grant financial support to an airline for the launch of new routes, just over a month after annulling a similar public call. The newly published incentives will be provided to the winning airline between 2019 and 2021. Those applying must have carried at least ten million passengers in 2017 and recorded a net profit of 25 million euros. The selected airline must establish and/or maintain a base with at least one aircraft in Skopje or Ohrid by January 10, 2019 at the latest for the duration of the financial support program. Furthermore, the carrier in question must launch at least two new routes from Skopje by January 10 and four new routes from Ohrid, the first two in January 2019 and the rest within a year of being granted state support. The newly launched routes from Skopje and Ohrid cannot be served from the other airport and cannot have been served over the past two seasons. In addition, every new destination introduced at Macedonia's two international airports must be run at least twice per week throughout the year. Applicants are free to introduce additional new services, with the Ministry noting that the winner will be chosen based on the number of new destinations proposed. If two carriers commit to the same number of routes, the winner will be determined based on the number of frequencies. The financial support includes a one-time payment of 40.000 euros for each new route launched, as well as nine euros per passengers for each new destination from Skopje for the first year, eight euros during the second year and seven during the third. On the other hand, the carrier will receive thirteen euros per passenger during the first year of operations on a new route out of Ohrid, twelve during the second and eleven euros per traveller in the third year. A similar policy was enforced on two previous occasions, in 2012 and 2015, with Wizz Air being the sole beneficiary. Applications for the latest round of subsidies must be submitted to the Macedonian government by October 12. The Ministry for Transport and Communications annulled a previous tender held earlier this summer after it received one bid. According to the Ministry, the bidder did not clearly write its name and address on the submitted envelop as outlined in the tender documentation. "On this occasion, I invite all interested airlines to apply for the public call. The government of the Republic of Macedonia will remain committed to creating conditions for the development of air traffic in the country and the provision of affordable and cheap flights for citizens to new and attractive destinations", Transport Minister Goran Sugareski said. The government has set up a commission which will evaluate each bid and will determine the winner. Late last month, the head of the Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency, Goran Jandreoski, said, "It is not just Wizz Air, there is also interest from Ryanair and easyJet. The Agency is always at hand to provide support so everyone can enjoy the benefits of low cost travel for a long time to come", 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. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Teledyne Technologies: Alia Corporation Inc, Bolt Technology Corp, Bowtech Products, CARIS, CDL do Brasil Equipamentos e Servicos Submarinos Sociedade Empresaria Ltda., CETAC Technologies, DALSA, Demo Systems, Detcon Holdco Inc., Ensambles de Precision S.A. de C.V., Falcon Analytical, Frontline Test Equipment, GMI Group Holdings Limited, Hafmynd ehf, Hanson Research Corp, IST Oldham Instruments India Private Limited, Industrial Control Machines, Intelek, Intelek Limited, Intelek Pension Trustees Limited, Intelek Properties Limited, LeCroy (Beijing) Trading Co. Ltd., LeCroy Corporation, Lidar Aviation Services Inc., Maple Imaging LLC, Micralyne Inc, Ocean Design Ltda., Oldham Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Oldham Simtronics SAS, Oldham-Winter GmbH, PDM Neptec, Reynolds Industries Limited, Rhombi Canada LP, Rhombi Holdings Limited, Rhombi Netherlands B.V., Rockwell Scientific Company, Simtronics AS, TDY Jersey Limited, Teledyne Advanced Pollution Instrumentation, Teledyne Australia Pty Ltd, Teledyne BlueView, Teledyne Bogatin Enterprises LLC, Teledyne Bowtech Limited, Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc., Teledyne C.M.L. Group Limited, Teledyne CARIS B.V., Teledyne CARIS Inc., Teledyne CARIS UK Ltd., Teledyne CARIS USA Inc., Teledyne CDL Inc., Teledyne CDL Limited, Teledyne Catalyst Enterprises Inc., Teledyne Computer Access Technology Corporation, Teledyne Controls LLC, Teledyne Cougar, Teledyne Czech s.r.o., Teledyne DALSA (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Teledyne DALSA Asia-Pacific Ltd., Teledyne DALSA B.V., Teledyne DALSA GmbH, Teledyne DALSA Inc., Teledyne DALSA Industrial Products Inc., Teledyne DALSA K.K., Teledyne DALSA Semiconductor Inc., Teledyne Dalsa, Teledyne Defense Electronics LLC, Teledyne Denmark A/S, Teledyne Detcon Inc., Teledyne Digital Imaging Inc., Teledyne Digital Imaging US Inc., Teledyne Energy Systems Inc., Teledyne Europe Holdings C.V., Teledyne France, Teledyne France SAS, Teledyne Gas Measurement Instruments Limited, Teledyne Gavia ehf., Teledyne Germany GmbH, Teledyne Hanson Research Inc., Teledyne ICM SA, Teledyne ICM SPRL, Teledyne Innovaciones Microelectronics S.L.U., Teledyne Instruments Inc., Teledyne Instruments Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Teledyne Japan Corporation, Teledyne Korea Ltd., Teledyne Labtech Limited, Teledyne LeCroy AB, Teledyne LeCroy Delaware LLC, Teledyne LeCroy GmbH, Teledyne LeCroy Inc., Teledyne LeCroy India Trading Private Ltd., Teledyne LeCroy Japan Corporation, Teledyne LeCroy Korea Ltd., Teledyne LeCroy OakGate Inc., Teledyne LeCroy S.A.R.L., Teledyne LeCroy S.R.L., Teledyne LeCroy SA, Teledyne LeCroy Singapore Pte. Ltd., Teledyne Limited, Teledyne Micralyne Inc., Teledyne Monitor Labs, Teledyne Monitor Labs P.R. Inc., Teledyne Netherlands B.V., Teledyne ODI, Teledyne Optech Inc., Teledyne Paradise Datacom Limited, Teledyne RD Instruments, Teledyne RD Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Teledyne RESON, Teledyne RESON A/S, Teledyne RESON B.V., Teledyne RESON GmbH, Teledyne RESON Holding B.V., Teledyne RESON Inc., Teledyne RESON Pte. Ltd., Teledyne RESON UK Limited, Teledyne RISI Inc., Teledyne Rad-icon Imaging Corp., Teledyne Redlake MASD LLC, Teledyne Reynolds Inc., Teledyne SG Brown Limited, Teledyne Scientific & Imaging LLC, Teledyne Scientific Imaging GmbH, Teledyne Scientific Imaging Limited, Teledyne Signal Processing Devices Sweden AB, Teledyne Singapore Private Limited, Teledyne TSS Limited, Teledyne Taiwan Company, Teledyne Technologies (Bermuda) Limited, Teledyne Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Teledyne Technologies International Corp., Teledyne Technologies Israel Ltd., Teledyne Tekmar Company, Teledyne UK Limited, Teledyne VariSystems, Teledyne VariSystems Inc., Teledyne Wireless LLC, Teledyne e2v, Teledyne e2v (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Teledyne e2v (Overseas) Holdings Limited, Teledyne e2v Asia Pacific Limited, Teledyne e2v Limited, Teledyne e2v Semiconductors SAS, and The Oceanscience Group Ltd.. There is not enough analysis data for BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund. 4.7 Community Rank Outperform Votes BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund has received 84 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund has received 37 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund has received 69.42% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe MPA will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe MPA will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Genworth Financial, Inc. is a financial services company, which engages in the provision of insurance, wealth management, investment and financial solutions. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Mortgage Insurance, Australia Mortgage Insurance, U.S. Life Insurance, and Runoff. The U.S. Mortgage Insurance segment offers mortgage insurance products predominantly insuring prime-based, individually underwritten residential mortgage loans. The Australia Mortgage Insurance segment offers flow mortgage insurance and selectively provides bulk mortgage insurance that aids in the sale of mortgages to the capital markets and helps lenders manage capital and risk. The U.S. Life Insurance segment offers long-term care insurance products as well as service traditional life insurance and fixed annuity products in the United States. The Runoff segment includes the results of non-strategic products which are no longer actively sold but continue to service its existing blocks of business. Its non-strategic products primarily include variable annuity, variable life insurance, institutional, corporate-owned life insurance and other accident and health insurance products. The company was fo Read More iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF's stock was trading at $36.70 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, EWT shares have increased by 76.6% and is now trading at $64.83. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Tahoe Resources Inc., together with its subsidiaries, acquires, explores for, develops, and operates mineral properties in the Americas. It explores for silver, gold, lead, zinc, and copper deposits, as well as precious metals assets. The company holds interest in the La Arena gold mine located in the Huamachuco district of northern Peru; Shahuindo mine located in the province of Cajabamba in northern Peru; and La Arena II, a copper-gold porphyry deposit located in Peru. It also holds interest in the Timmins mines, including the Bell Creek and Timmins West mines, the Fenn-Gib project, the Juby project, the Vogel project, and the Gold River project located in Timmins, Ontario. The company was formerly known as CKM Resources Inc. and changed its name to Tahoe Resources Inc. in January 2010. Tahoe Resources Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Reno, Nevada. Read More RAVENNA, Ohio Farm profitability could remain low and decline even further if tariffs on trade remain in place beyond the current growing season, an ag economist told farmers and conservation leaders at the annual Portage Soil and Water Conservation District banquet Sept. 13. Ian Sheldon, an ag economist with Ohio State Universitys College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, said U.S. farmers are caught in a crossfire that could only get worse. He is also the Andersons Chair of Ag Marketing, Trade and Policy at OSU. If the U.S. leaves its tariffs in place and China continues to retaliate with its tariffs, farmers are caught in a crossfire through no choice of their own, at a time when theyre suffering from low farm incomes, and I think this has the potential to create serious economic harm for the ag sector, said Sheldon. The tariffs ultimately make U.S. farm products less attractive and less competitive in the world market. Currently, Brazilian soybeans are selling for about $10.18 a bushel, and U.S. soybeans are selling in the Gulf for only $8.50, as a result of the tariffs. This spring, the Donald Trump administration put tariffs on Chinese aluminum and steel, to combat intellectual theft, but China responded with its own tariffs on American farm goods, and the two countries have ratcheted up their rhetoric and policy all summer. Price factors Sheldon said part of the reason for low U.S. crop prices is undoubtedly due to high yields. However, he pointed out that China is the top foreign customer for U.S. soybeans, and that in Ohio, about a third of all beans get shipped to China. Last year, Ohio alone exported about $1.8 billion worth of soybeans, with one-third going to China. Thats a pretty significant market, both at the state level and obviously at the national level, Sheldon said. If the Trump administration continues down the same path, Sheldon expects farm income will continue to decline and the wedge between the price U.S. farmers and Brazilian farmers receive for beans will continue to widen. For an average farmer who farms corn and soybeans, he estimates farm income could decrease by 59 percent over the next several years. Sheldon said the government has stepped in by announcing a $12 billion trade aid package, but he said without the tariffs, the aid would not be necessary. Losing market share He said farm and commodity groups across the state are worried that losing trade with other countries could take a long time to restore, and rightfully so. Its extraordinarily hard to get that market share back, he said, pointing to the scares over mad cow disease, and other world events, which took many years before markets were restored. Sheldon admitted his talk was a bit doom and gloom, but it seemed to resonate with area farmers, who said his assessments were accurate of what theyre seeing at the farm level. Awards presented Prior his speech, Portage SWCD District Coordinator James Bierlair presented the Cooperator of the Year award to Dennis Wise, a 29-year board member who helped keep the district going during thick and thin. Bierlair said Wise helped keep the office open and vibrant, even during a time when staff and budgets were being cut, and that Wise was a driving force behind the countys farmland preservation efforts. Wise is a third-generation farmer with a little more than 219 acres enrolled in the state farmland preservation program. He is also a long-time supporter of on-farm conservation practices, like grassed waterways and buffer strips, which he installed on his own farm 30 years ago. He practices what he peaches, Bierlair said. He is an absolutely wonderful conservationist and he is somebody worth looking up to. Wise is believed to be only the second board member to have served consecutively for more than 25 years. Also at the meeting, the county elected Zach Alger and Tony Heppe, for board positions that begin in January. Intensive agriculture might be the least bad option for feeding the UK while saving its species and environment, say researchers. High-yield farming systems don't damage the environment as much as previously thought and could even help spare habitats. The study suggests that high-yield farming could be harnessed to meet the growing demand for food without destroying more of the natural world Agriculture that appears to be more eco-friendly but uses more land may actually have greater environmental costs per unit of food than intensive farming that uses less land, the study published in the Nature Sustainability explains. 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 that is farmed, 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. But the study says this is not necessarily the case. 'Major externalities' 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 studys 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 Cambridges 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, said study lead author Andrew Balmford, Professor of Conservation Science from Cambridges Department of Zoology. However, if we are to avert mass extinction it is vital that land-efficient agriculture is linked to more wilderness being spared the plough. 'Less ecologically damaging' 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 fertiliser 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. 'Higher milk yield' Co-author Professor Phil Garnsworthy from the University of Nottingham, who led the dairy team, said dairy farmers should "welcome the news" that more efficient systems have lower environmental impact. Across all dairy systems we find that higher milk yield per unit of land generally leads to greater biological and economic efficiency of production, he said. 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. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Hank wrote: "I wonder now about the idea that lenses are best stopped down two stops from wide open. That certainly is true of lenses from the film era, but I cant help but feel that todays (better) lens designs are made for wide open use. Its possible this was done to appease the bokeh-fanatics, but on some systems, such as Micro 4/3, it would seem to be a requirement, no?" Mike replies: A lens is said to be "diffraction limited" at the widest stop at which diffraction has the largest negative effect on image quality, the point at which stopping down further only increases diffraction* rather than further minimizing aberrations. That aperture is also known as the optimum aperture. A "diffraction limited lens" is diffraction limited at its widest stop. These are rare. As an illustration, take a look at Imaging-Resource's lens test of the Nikon 24mm /1.4G. At the link, go to "Lab Test Results" in the upper right hand side of the page. Then click on "Nikon D3x." That means you're looking at their test results for the lens on a full-frame camera. Now, run the aperture slider up and down the range. The lower and flatter the colored part of the 3-D performance map, the less blur. As you go up and down the aperture range, you can see the performance gets better as it is stopped down, until /4that's where aberrations are minimized. After that, the graph of performance begins to rise againthat's diffraction kicking in. So according to this test this lens's optimum aperture is /4, three stops down from wide open. You'll also note that the results for /4, /5.6, and /8 are quite close to each other, which is why photographers talk about "the middle apertures" as offering best optical performance. Note also that the middle part of the field is still pretty good with this lens even wide open. Looking at only the middle of the field is what leads some photographers to think that some of their lenses are just as good wide open as stopped down. You're right, however, Hank, that modern lensesespecially slightly longer ones, especially ones for smaller formatsdo suffer from fewer aberrations at wider apertures, and can be very good wide open. Let's turn to the Imaging-Resource test for the recent Fuji XF 50mm /2. As you run up and down the aperture range for that lens, you can see that its performance is admirably consistent from edge to edge and through the aperture range (the graph stays pretty flat and doesn't move up and down very much throughout the range). However, even with that lens, you can clearly see that performance improves as you stop down...even if only a little. That lens, too, is diffraction limited at /5.6three stops down, same as the Nikkor above. You'll find that most lenses are technically at their best 23 stops down. Even if their performance is very consistent and the differences are slight. You can see the same thing if you have a complete family of MTF tests, for every aperture. However, there's a bigger difference for photographers, in that some lenses are so consistent that for practical purposes the technical "sweet spot" doesn't really matter. The difference in the Fuji lens's performance at different apertures is minimal enough that you'd be likely to have trouble seeing it with general shooting, especially handheld. You can easily use such test information when shooting. For example, with the Nikkor 24mm /1.4G on FF, I'd shoot at /1.4 and /2 only if I knew that center sharpness was all I needed. If I needed the whole frame to be critically sharp, I'd know to stop down to the middle apertures. With the Fuji 50mm /2, on the other hand, I doubt I'd avoid any of the apertures for reasons of optical performancethey're essentially all "middle apertures" in the sense that all apertures would be decently sharp for ordinary pictorial subjects. Except for perhaps those few pictures in which resolution might be critical. In practice, with that lens, you can't see the tiny measured differences between /4 and /5.6, for instance, and I wouldn't hesitate to shoot with it at /16 based on I-R's test info. (But of course the final test is our own results according to our own eyes.) As to whether you need to stop down for best sharpness, it's seldom a bad idea, but then again with some lenses it's not particularly necessary. The best advice is simply to learn your lensescheck the tests, look at your own pictures, figure out what you might need to do and when, and then apply that knowledge as best you can! (Sometimes in the heat of the moment these things aren't that easy to remember. Having fewer lenses and keeping them longer helps your familiarity with them.) As an aside, a quick visit to Imaging-Resource's test graph for the Panasonic 1235mm /2.8II will show you why I like it. Mike *"Diffraction" in lenses refers to the way that rays of light spread out as they pass physical obstaclesin the case of a lens, the edges of the aperture blades. As the aperture gets smaller, the relative percentage of these diffused light rays relative to the area of the total light passing through the glass of the lens goes up. It's also why a pinhole image is always softthe diffused rays comprise such a large percentage of the light rays coming through the hole. Very small apertures will always show the effects of diffraction. Large apertures actually have more diffraction, but the diffused light is such a small percentage of the overall light coming through the lens that it's not significant. Original contents copyright 2018 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. B&H Photo Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon Germany Amazon Canada Adorama (To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.) Featured Comments from: Hank: "Thanks Mike!" Mike replies: Yer welcome. David A Edelstein: "It's been a while since I've looked at any of those sharpness testsmostly I shoot with what I shoot with and I don't care about what tests say. However, looking at the tests for the Zeiss 50mm /1.4 shows exactly why I love that lens: it's very, very weird wide open, gets 'normally unsharp' stopped down to /2, and then pretty damn sharp at /2.8 and smaller. Each of those give me specific visual styles I can use for different ideas." Mike replies: A man after my own heart. Exactly so, and just what I'm talking aboutif you know your lenses you can make use of everything they offer, not just their optimal sharpness. It can both help you avoid mistakes and also use their weaknesses to pictorial advantage. A great many art photographers liked less-than-optimal lenses for specific visual properties. SteveW: "The Nikkor 58mm /1.4G does not score well with the test chart scores online, and is a controversial lens in that regard: not sharp enough to justify the expense is the primary argument. However, the 58mm is pretty much the reason I stick with Nikon and not try a smaller sensor system. "The 58mm has interesting characteristics. From /1.44 it is one kind of lens, especially in the /1.4/2.8 range. From /5.6 and smaller it behaves more like a normal 50mm. To be sure, the 58mm has a wild blur chart on the Imaging-Resource test page: it's my most challenging and fun lens to use, and it won't win any sharpness awards to be sure. That said, I'd probably have switched to Fuji or Micro 4/3 if not for this lens. "I imagine a lot of folks who read Mike's blog will have similar stories of lenses they are fond of for reasons other than sharpness. In this sense I like Mike's idea of the 'nested' two lens kit. A standard zoom that is nice and sharp and 'normal,' and then a favored prime within the range that does unique things, even if only a really wide aperture or a micro or tilt-shift or whatever strikes one's fancy." Kasauri Zindagi Kay: Ekta Kapoor ADMITS mistake To Shweta Tiwari; here's why | FilmiBeat There has been a lot of buzz surrounding Kasautii Zindagi Kay 2's cast, ever since Ekta Kapoor announced the remake of the show. A fews days ago, actress Shweta Tiwari, who played the role of Prerna in the original series, told that her 16-year-old daughter Palak Tiwari was approached to act in Kasautii Zindagi Kay 2. She said she gave up the role of playing the new Prerna to focus on her academics. However, Ekta Kapoor reacted to Shweta's comment by saying that she wasn't aware of it at all. Now, the television czarina in a statement has told that she'd over-reacted previously. Shweta Tiwari, while talking to Hindustan Times about Palak acting in KZK 2, had said, "Yes, I would have told her to go ahead and do it. In fact, everybody was saying, even from Balaji (production house) that she should do it. It was she who said 'No mom, I don't think I can do a daily soap and work day in and day out. I cannot do that at this point in time". To this Ekta responded saying, "Aaah reaaaaaly?????????? How come I don't know?". Fans began to wonder if Ekta was taking a dig at Shweta Tiwari for reacting in that manner. Ekta and Shweta have been close friends for years, but the latest incident made everyone question the authenticity of their friendship. However, in a recent interview, Ekta Kapoor cleared the air surrounding this mis-understanding, she told in a statement, "Frankly, I don't want to comment on this. That child is like my child only. I overreacted to the post. I always react before I think. If Shweta is saying that, maybe she is right. I have seen Palak since she was so small." Meanwhile, the shoot for the show is being carried out successfully in Kolkata. The entire team has been sharing pictures from the shoot. Also, as a part of the promotions, 23-feet-tall statues of Prerna and Anurag were installed in 10 Indian cities! Bigg Boss 12: Confirmed Contestants! Bharti Singh & Harsh Limbachiyaa The Indian comedian Bharti Singh is married to writer Harsh Limbachiyaa. While Harsh is 25 years old, a few months back Bharti turned 34. Though they have an age gap of 9 years between them, they are never looked at as an odd couple. In fact, the fans look forward to seeing the fun-duo together on screen. Milind Soman & Ankita Konwar Milind Soman and Ankita Konwar became the talk of the town when they tied the knot last year. Milind is 52 and Ankita is 27, but the couple share so much in common that the drastic age difference has never stopped them from doing fun activities together, and the pictures they share with fans prove the same! Gautam Rode & Pankhuri Awasthy Gautam and Pankhuri fell in love when they were working on the show Suryaputra together. While Gautam is 41, Pankhuri is 27 years old. Until the couple decided to get hitched, they did a very good job at keeping their relationship a secret! Keerti & Sharad Kelkar Keerti and Sharad for years have been setting relationship goals! Their recent pictures from their holiday in Greece prove that they are not bound by the age factor and continue to inspire their fans. With Keerti being 34 and Sharad, 41, the couple has an age gap of 7 years. Kishwer Merchant & Suyyash Rai Who knew Kishwer Merchant and Suyyash Rai would end up as being one of the most-liked couples of television when they first met in Bigg Boss house? 37-year-old Kishwer is married to 29-year-old Suyyash Rai. The couple got hitched last year in the presence of their friends and family. President Xi Jinpings recent visit to Moscow for the Victory Day parade to mark 70 years since the end of the Second World War illustrates the booming business ties between Russia and China. Billions of dollars of deals promoting bilateral trade and investment were signed in sectors from financial services to electricity infrastructure to helicopter manufacturing. VTB the only CIS bank with a licence to operate in China inked agreements with China Development Bank, Export-Import Bank of China and China Export Credit Insurance Corporation. These deals expanded upon previous announcements, including a $24.5 billion currency swap agreement between the countries central banks to help facilitate the continued... Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - September 14, 2018) - FluroTech Ltd. (TSXV: TEST) ("FluroTech" or the "Company") announces that, further to its prior press release on September 10, 2018, the Company has refiled its June 30, 2018 interim financial statements and amended Management's Discussion & Analysis for the same period. The material changes to the interim filings were as a result of a change in the comparative periods presented in the interim filings, to properly reflect the change in financial year end of the Company. About FluroTech (TSXV: TEST) FluroTech is a technology and marketing company whose core business is focused on the commercialization of new technologies in the cannabis industry. FluroTech's proprietary spectroscopy-based technology allows for the testing and identification of organic and inorganic compounds contained within biological samples. Using the technology that was developed at the University of Calgary in conjunction with the University of Alberta, FluroTech has developed a two-part solution comprising an instrument called the CompleTest and consumable testing kits. To learn more, visit www.FluroTech.com. Contact Information FluroTech Ltd. Alistair Ross Technology Centre Suite 111, 3553-31 Street NW Calgary, AB T2L 2K7 info@flurotech.com Danny Dalla-Longa Chief Executive Officer 403.680.0644 danny@flurotech.com Prit Singh IR - Thesis Capital Inc. 905.510.7636 psingh@thesiscapital.ca FluroTech Logo Cannot view this image? Visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5928/38680_fllogo.jpg NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES By Christian Lowe MOSCOW (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia, the United States and Russia can between them raise global output in the next 18 months to compensate for falling oil supplies from Iran and elsewhere, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said on a visit to Moscow on Friday. By Christian Lowe MOSCOW (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia, the United States and Russia can between them raise global output in the next 18 months to compensate for falling oil supplies from Iran and elsewhere, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said on a visit to Moscow on Friday. 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 could push up crude prices, hurting consumers. But Perry, in an interview with Reuters, said he felt comfortable about the outlook for global crude output, and for oil prices. "I don't foresee spikes," Perry said, although he added there was always the potential for unforeseen events. Some analysts have expressed concerns about Saudi Arabias long-term ability to significantly boost output. But Perry said: "There's a number of things going on in the kingdom that continue to give me a very positive feeling about their ability to maintain their level and even increase their level" of crude production. He cited the prospect that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia would soon resolve a border dispute, unlocking access to an oil field in a contested area. "They are working towards a solution in the not too distant future," he said. On U.S. production, which has already been growing over the past few years, Perry said: "You look out 18 months, and I think you'll see even a more substantial increase in the United States because of pipeline capacity being built out." Russia, meanwhile, was "working diligently" to deliver its oil output to the world market, Perry said. GOOD CITIZEN Perry was in Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart, Energy Minister Alexander Novak. Visits by senior U.S. officials are a rarity after relations between Moscow and Washington nosedived, first over the Ukraine crisis and later over allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on Russia, and Perry said that, while he would rather not see any more, that was a real prospect. "You avoid that by being a good citizen. You avoid that by obviously tending to this issue with Ukraine, you do this by not meddling in our elections, you do this by not engaging in activities that are considered to be uncivilised, for instance, the poisoning of the people in the UK," Perry said. "Russia has the opportunity to send a message that they are going to be good neighbours, they are going to be civilised in the way they deal with their neighbours. That has yet to be seen, from our perspective, in dealing with Ukraine." Russia's conduct towards other countries would influence whether the United States was compelled to impose sanctions on the Russian-led Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. The project will expand the capacity for pumping Russian gas to northern Europe. Trump has criticised it, saying it will increase European dependence on Russian energy. Referring to an internationally-brokered roadmap for resolving a conflict in eastern Ukraine between Kiev and Russian-backed separatists, Perry said: "If Russia deals with the Minsk agreement in an appropriate way, there are some signals being sent to the rest of the European Union." "Until those signals get sent, the potential sanctions of Nordstream 2 are still very real ... I'll suggest to you that the ball is in Russia's court," he said. In the interview, Perry issued a message for the European Union, saying it needed to wean itself off its dependence on Russian energy supplies. "If you're a country in the European Union and you see how Ukraine has been treated by Russia, then (Russia) being the sole source or practically the sole source of gas to your country will give you a pause," Perry told Reuters. "And I think that's an appropriate and rightful position to take. Have alternatives. Have competition. Have other pipelines," he said. "So Europe by and large understand that they need multiple sources of energy and we agree with them." (Additional reporting by Dmitry Madorsky, Dmitry Zhdannikov and Timothy Gardner; Editing by Edmund Blair) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Founded in 2010, Fluido has offices in Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Slovakia. Its customers span industries like manufacturing, energy, retail and telecommunications. Bengaluru: India's second largest IT services firm Infosys said, on Friday, it will acquire Finland-based Fluido in a deal worth up to EUR 65 million (over Rs 544 crore). The acquisition - for up to EUR 65 million 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 at Espoo in 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 with 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 15 and 16 October to consider the financial results for the quarter ended 30 September 2018. "The financial results will be presented to the Board of Directors on 16 October 2018 for their approval," the filing added. By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York state's top banking regulator on Friday sued the federal government to void its decision to award national bank charters to online lenders and payment companies, saying it was unconstitutional and put vulnerable consumers at risk. By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York state's top banking regulator on Friday sued the federal government to void its decision to award national bank charters to online lenders and payment companies, saying it was unconstitutional and put vulnerable consumers at risk. Maria Vullo, superintendent of New York's Department of Financial Services, called the July 31 decision by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to let financial technology companies, or fintech firms, obtain charters "lawless, ill-conceived, and destabilizing of financial markets." She said New York could best regulate those markets, but the OCC decision left consumers "at great risk of exploitation" by weakening oversight of predatory lending, allowing the creation of more "too big to fail" institutions, and undermining the ability of local banks to compete. "The OCC's reckless folly should be stopped," Vullo said in her complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan. OCC spokesman Bryan Hubbard said in an email that the regulator, part of the U.S. Department of Treasury, would vigorously defend its authority to grant national charters to qualified companies "engaged in the business of banking." Vullo's complaint joins a slew of litigation from regulators in Democratic-controlled or -leaning states challenging Trump administration policies. It seeks a declaration that the OCC exceeded its authority under the National Bank Act and violated the Constitution's 10th Amendment by usurping state powers. The fintech industry includes such companies as the online lenders LendingClub Corp and OnDeck Capital Inc, and the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase. Fintech firms have long pushed for national bank charters to let them operate nationwide without needing licenses in every state, a process they say can impede growth and boost costs. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said easing regulation of newer financial companies can "encourage financial ingenuity to foster the nation's vibrant financial services and technology sectors." But critics believe granting national bank charters to fintech firms, including those that do not hold deposits, could shield unscrupulous companies from state oversight. Vullo oversees more than 2,200 banks, financial services companies and insurers with about $7 trillion of total assets. "Financial centers like New York, which have developed comprehensive and well-functioning regulatory bodies, should not needlessly bear the harmful brunt of an overreaching federal agency," the complaint said. The case is Vullo v. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 18-08377. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Bernadette Baum) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. 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. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump 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. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump 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 Trump was moving ahead on the tariffs despite Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's attempts to restart talks with China on resolving the trade war had an immediate effect on financial markets, leading U.S. stocks to reverse course and trade lower. The step comes one week after Trump 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 Chinese goods. 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. (Reporting by Lisa Lambert and Jeff Mason; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Phil Berlowitz) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Richard Cowan and David Ljunggren WASHINGTON/OTTAWA (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on Friday warned the Trump administration that NAFTA should be maintained as a trilateral pact between the United States, Mexico and Canada and not just as a U.S.-Mexico arrangement. By Richard Cowan and David Ljunggren WASHINGTON/OTTAWA (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on Friday warned the Trump administration that NAFTA should be maintained as a trilateral pact between the United States, Mexico and Canada and not just as a U.S.-Mexico arrangement. Pelosi's remarks are significant because whatever deal to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement is ultimately reached will be reviewed by the next Congress that convenes in January. Pelosi could be the speaker of the House if Democrats win this November's congressional midterm elections. Talks to update NAFTA, which U.S. President Donald Trump says is unfair to the United States and must be radically revised, have been bogged down amid disagreements between Canadian and American negotiators. Trump last month announced a side deal with Mexico and has warned Ottawa that he is prepared to leave Canada out if it fails to accept terms more favourable to the United States. As House speaker, Pelosi sets the legislative agenda, and often has the political muscle to assure passage or defeat of initiatives. "I think it should be trilateral," she told reporters, adding she did not think it would be "in the interest of this hemisphere" to turn NAFTA into a bilateral deal. The U.S. administration wants the text of a deal ready by Oct. 1 but Canadian officials say they are not rushing, given the remaining differences. The two sides are arguing over dispute settlement mechanisms and a U.S. demand that Canada open up its protected dairy market. Canadian officials say privately that some concessions will be needed on dairy, an approach that has alarmed the politically influential farming community. Most Canadian dairy farmers live in the populous provinces of Ontario and Quebec, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's ruling Liberal Party needs to do well if he is to retain power in an election set for October 2019. Pierre Lampron, president of the Dairy Farmers of Canada lobby group, planned to meet Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on Friday to ask her about NAFTA. The DFC said it had asked for the meeting. Freeland's office did not respond to a request for comment. Trudeau said on Thursday he wanted a good NAFTA deal as soon as possible, but did not answer directly when asked if he felt the end of September was the final deadline for talks. Mexico said on Wednesday it had to be ready to pursue a bilateral deal with the United States if Ottawa and Washington did not come to terms. But Pelosi said she was seeking more details on the results of the U.S.-Mexico negotiations, adding she had instructed aides to set up briefings for rank-and-file lawmakers. "Any arrangement of that kind, of that length of being in effect should be subjected to some scrutiny," she said. (Reporting by Richard Cowan and David Ljunggren; Editing by Marguerita Choy) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Volvo Cars has asked the Trump administration to exempt the company's Chinese-made mid-size XC60 SUV from new 25 percent tariffs, the latest automaker to seek relief from new levies on imports from China. The automaker confirmed on Friday it has sought an exemption with the U.S. Trade Representative's Office (USTR) for the popular vehicle that accounted for nearly a third of its U.S. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Volvo Cars has asked the Trump administration to exempt the company's Chinese-made mid-size XC60 SUV from new 25 percent tariffs, the latest automaker to seek relief from new levies on imports from China. The automaker confirmed on Friday it has sought an exemption with the U.S. Trade Representative's Office (USTR) for the popular vehicle that accounted for nearly a third of its U.S. sales in August. "The imposition of the additional 25 percent duty on mid-size SUVs would cause severe economic harm," Volvo said in an Aug. 16 letter to USTR that has not been previously reported. "The burden of the 25 percent duty imposed on vehicles imported from China will also be borne by American consumers." Earlier this week, Volvo Cars and its Chinese owner Geely postponed plans to float shares in the Swedish carmaker, blaming trade tensions and a downturn in automotive stocks. The XC60 in August accounted for 31 percent of Volvo's U.S. sales. Volvo said the XC60 was initially built only in Sweden and then it added production in China. From January to early March, Volvo was sourcing vehicles from both countries but since March U.S. XC60s have only come from China, the company said. Volvo recently started commercial production at its new Charleston, South Carolina plant, where it is building S60 sedans, it told USTR, "but over time given our global manufacturing footprint we could also anticipate production of the XC60 in the U.S. as well." A Volvo spokesman did not comment on whether new tariffs have affected vehicles now in U.S. showrooms or if the levies will prompt price increases. The Trump administration imposed new 25 percent tariffs on $34 billion in Chinese goods in July, including on Chinese-made vehicles. Volvo cited General Motors Co's July 30 request seeking an exemption for its Chinese-made Buick Envision SUV in its petition. GM's petition suggested a cap of 40,000 vehicles that could be exempted while Volvo suggested that the government not impose any cap. {nL1N1UU0XU] USTR has not ruled on either petition but has said if it grants exclusions they will apply retroactively to the data the tariffs were imposed in July. GM said in a separate response to Volvo's petition filed with USTR that it disagreed with Volvo's request, arguing Volvo should "submit its own exemption request to be adjudicated on the merits." GM, the largest U.S. automaker, told USTR Envision sales in China and the United States would generate funds "to invest in our U.S. manufacturing facilities and to develop the next generation of automotive technology in the United States." Geely, which paid Ford Motor Co $1.8 billion for Volvo in 2010, also has stakes in Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler , truckmaker AB Volvo and Lotus. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by James Dalgleish) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The Delhi High Court was told by the police on Friday that it has installed around 4,388 CCTV cameras in vulnerable areas of the national capital to ensure safety and security of women. New Delhi: The Delhi High Court was told by the police on Friday that it has installed around 4,388 CCTV cameras in vulnerable areas of the national capital to ensure safety and security of women. The Delhi Police made the submission in an affidavit filed in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) moved in March this year by some lawyers for safety of women after a few women complained about "urine and semen-filled" balloons allegedly being hurled at them in and around North Campus of Delhi University. The petitioner lawyers have sought formulation of guidelines to ensure safety of women during occasions such as Holi and New Year. The affidavit of the Delhi Police was placed before a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice VK Rao which did not hear the matter on Friday as one of the judges was not available. The court had on May 16 directed the police to indicate the status regarding installation of close circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the city. The police in its affidavit has also said that in the alleged incident regarding throwing of a "urine-filled balloon" at a woman in the campus area, the "complainant did not cooperate" and therefore, the case was marked as "untraced". With regard to the alleged throwing of a "semen-filled balloon", the police has said that the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) did not find any trace of semen on the complainant women's clothes. It said that it had arrested one person in March this year in connection with the second incident, but he was released on bail, adding that a charge sheet will be filed in the matter. Police said it was imparting self-defence training to women and also conducting programme to empower them. The petitioners, in their plea, have also sought setting up of women police control rooms (PCRs), increase in the number of women police booths and an anonymous drop box for written complaints, claiming that complainants are often bullied and harassed. Ajit Doval on Friday held 'broad-based' talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defence Secretary James Mattis and his American counterpart John Bolton. Washington: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Friday held "broad-based" talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defence Secretary James Mattis and his American counterpart John Bolton during which they discussed the "future direction" of the strategic India-US ties. Doval's meeting with the top three officials of the Trump administration came a week after the successful India-US 2+2 dialogue between the defence and foreign ministers of the two countries. This was Doval's first meeting with Bolton, the new National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump. Doval had met Pompeo and Mattis last week in New Delhi too. "During the three back-to-back meetings, Doval had a good chance to review the entire bilateral relationship after the 2+2 talks. They build upon the discussion in New Delhi last week," informed sources told PTI. India's ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna, accompanied Doval in these meetings. Describing it "as a very broad-based discussion", the sources said that Doval and the three top Trump administration officials talked about the "future direction" of the strategic relationship and identified areas of cooperation. Regional issues and global developments too figured in the talks, they said, without going into specifics. The US Ambassador to India, Ken Juster in a tweet said that the last week's 2+2 dialogue "set the course for even closer ties" between the two countries. He said India-US partnership are on an upward trajectory. "We've seen positive momentum regarding the US-India relationship these past few weeks with 2+2 dialogue and the progress continues with Doval's visit to the US," said the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF). India and the US signed the landmark Communications, Compatibility, Security Agreement (COMCASA) after the 2+2 talks that external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman had with Pompeo and Mattis on 6 September. The COMCASA will allow India to receive high-end military communications equipment from the US and will also help get real-time encrypted information from the US. During the the 2+2 talks, India and the US also expressed commitment to work together and in concert with other partners toward advancing a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. Early this week, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells told a Washington audience that the 2+2 significance was that it reaffirmed the strength of the India-US relationship. "It reaffirmed the alignment of our interests and our values in promoting an open and free Indo-Pacific. It also underscored our interest in amplifying what it means to have a major defence partner in India, and really provided the building blocks, not for the next six months or year, but for decades, of how we move forward carefully in building what is a very special relationship," she said. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence David F Helvey said the biggest thing that has come out of the 2+2 talks is that it puts the US-India relationship and the defence relationship in particular on a higher trajectory. "We look forward to deepening the cooperation as two strategic partners as we work together to have a, realise a safe, secure and free Indo-Pacific region, or as Prime Minister Modi has said, a place where nations, small and large, can prosper free and fearless in our choices," he said. Guha admits that his narrative of Jinnah in his new book, Gandhi: The Years That Changed The World, 1914-1948, is 'not sympathetic'. New Delhi: 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. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that preliminary talks held between both parties have yielded positive results. Mumbai: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) will forge an alliance for the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly polls in 2019, party leaders announced on Saturday. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi told PTI that preliminary talks held between both parties have yielded positive results. "(BBM chief) Prakash Ambedkar ji will be holding a public rally in Aurangabad on 2 October in which I too will be present. The formal structure of the alliance will be announced later," Owaisi said. Imtiyaz Jaleel, AIMIM MLA from Aurangabad, said the idea behind the alliance was that Dalits, Muslims and OBCs have been ignored for 70 years, have no proper representation in politics and were being treated as vote-banks. "It is a shame on all so-called secular parties that there is no representation from the Muslim community in Parliament from Maharashtra. Everybody wants their votes but does not want to give them representation. Similar is the case for Dalits," he said. He added that once both parties come together, they would be a force to reckon with. Jaleel, who called on Ambedkar at the latter's home in Pune to hold preliminary talks, added that Owaisi and Ambedkar will meet before the public rally on 2 October and will decide on the structure of the alliance. Haribhau Bhale, former MLA and BBM leader, said Dalits, Muslims and OBCs are upset with mainstream parties. "There is a growing pressure to form an alternative. Thus, all groups that have been ignored will come together. What shape the alliance will take will be decided by party leaders," Bhale said. The Assam Police on Friday arrested a close aide of suspected Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Qamar-uz-Zaman from Assam's Hojoi, New Delhi: The Assam Police on Friday arrested a close aide of suspected Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist from Assam's Hojoi. The accused has been identified as, Shahnawaz Alam. This came after the arrest of Qamar-uz-Zaman, who was suspected to be a cadre of banned terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, by Uttar Pradesh police, National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Anti-Terrorism Squad on September 13. Zaman was reportedly planning an attack during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. As per Uttar Pradesh police, he was in the city to identify targets for a terrorist incident. Police have also recovered a video from his mobile featuring images of a Kanpur temple. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Delhi had on Thursday clarified that the voting machines used in DUSU elections were not issued by the EC. New Delhi: The Delhi BJP asked the AAP and the Congress on Friday to introspect the loss of their student wing candidates in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections rather than blaming the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) for it. After the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABPV) won three key posts, including that of the president, in the polls on Thursday, the AAP and the Congress held 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 (EC) said on Friday that the EVMs used during the Delhi University elections were not provided by it. It also said the EVM 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 DUSU elections were not issued by the EC 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 on 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 re-polling, 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 Chatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) and left-backed All India Students' Association (AISA) failed to open account in the DUSU polls. In a statement, Mulakkal said that he was ready for a death sentence even if he was found one percent guilty. Rape accused bishop of Jalandhar diocese, Franco Mulakkal has stepped down from his position in the church amid growing outrage over lack of action against him even after over 7o days since a 44-year-old nun accused him of raping her. Mulakkal will hand over charges of the diocese as the police indicated that it could move court for his custodial interrogation. NDTV reported that the decision was taken with the church's consent after Mulakkal faced severe media backlash for questioning the character of the survivor. The TV channel, quoting sources, said that Mulakkal will move court to obtain an anticipatory bail. Mulakkal also released a statement seeking prayers for himself, the nun and her supporters and said that perhaps only a divine intervention could bring out the truth now. He said that he was ready for a death sentence even if he was found one percent guilty. Mulakkal had earlier refused to step down from his post. "I will not step down because that is what those behind the allegations want, why should I play into their hands," The Indian Express reported him as saying. Meanwhile, social activist Indulekha Joseph said that the move was a case of too little, too late but she welcomed it nonetheless. She said that the next logical step should be that Mulakkal cooperates with the investigating authorities. A group of nuns supporting the survivor had been protesting in Kerala demanding Mulakkal's arrest and that he steps down from his position. Mulakkal's decision to quit comes days after the survivor sought urgent intervention of the Vatican for justice and demanded the former's removal as the head of the Jalandhar diocese. The nun had questioned why the church was "closing its eyes to the truth" when she mustered courage to make public her sufferings even as a section of the religious Catholic organisations indulged in victim-shaming and sided with Mulakkal. In a scathing letter to the Vatican that was made available to the media Tuesday, the nun also asked will the church be able to give back what she has lost. She alleged that Mulakkal was using "political and money power" to bury the case against him. She had accused the clergyman of sexually assaulting her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016. The bishop had, however, dismissed the allegations as "baseless and concocted", insisting she leveled those charges as he had ordered action against her and the Catholic order had rejected her demand for favours. He said that the nun had an illicit relationship with one of her relatives following which he had ordered an internal probe against her. He alleged that the nun even considered leaving the congregation and getting married. However, supporters of the nun have termed this episode an attempt to shame the victim. Earlier, in a separate but related development, the Kerala Police had registered a case against Missionaries of Jesus, the congregation to which the survivor belongs, for releasing her photograph to the media. The congregation, which has been firmly supporting Mulakkal, 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. It claimed that the photograph was taken on 23 May, 2015, when the nun was attending a private function along with Mulakkal. They claimed that the nun had attended several such functions with Mulakkal. 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 Mulakkal to appear before the probe team on 19 September. With inputs from agencies Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 15 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Turkish air force has prepared a video dedicated to the 100th anniversary of liberation of Baku from the Bolshevik-Dashnak occupation. The video has been posted on the Twitter page of the Turkish air force. The video shows the greatness of the Azerbaijani and Turkish armies and congratulates the Azerbaijani people on the liberation of Baku. September 15, 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku from the Bolshevik-Dashnak occupation. It was on this day in 1918 that the Islamic Army of the Caucasus, which included the Azerbaijani corps, entered Baku, freeing the city from Bolshevik-Dashnak occupation. The liberation of Baku is an event of exceptional importance for the Azerbaijani-Turkish friendship and brotherhood. 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. New Delhi: 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 percent since 2000, but the rate of decline between 2010 and 2017 have been 27 percent, far behind the pace needed to reach the 2020 target of 75 percent reduction in new cases of such 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 Estimations 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 percent. While this is better than the global average of 16 percent, a new impetus is clearly needed to fast track HIV prevention efforts to achieve the 75 percent 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 percent), Assam (37 percent), Mizoram (18 percent), Meghalaya (10 percent) and Uttarakhand (four percent) where such cases increased last year in comparison to 2010. In Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, and Nagaland, the decline has been 10 percent or less. According to the report, HIV incidence per 1,000 uninfected population in 2017 was highest in Mizoram (1.32) followed by Nagaland (0.59) and Manipur (0.58). The incidence rate is the number of new cases per population at risk in a given time period. Telangana, Chandigarh, Delhi, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Daman and Diu and Puducherry had HIV incidence per 1,000 uninfected population in the range of 0.11 and 0.26. Sustained commitment and much more vigorous actions 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 percent, followed by Manipur at 1.43 percent and Nagaland at 1.15 percent. Telangana (0.7 percent), Andhra Pradesh (0.63 percent) Karnataka (0.47 percent), Goa (0.42 percent), Maharashtra (0.33 percent) and Delhi (0.30 percent) 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 percent. With 3.30 lakh people living with HIV, Maharashtra had the highest number of such cases, contributing 15 percent 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 percent. 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 percent 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. In Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, five terrorists were killed in an encounter that started late on Friday night in Chowgam area of Qazigund town and went on till Saturday morning. A top Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) commander is among five terrorists who were killed in a fierce encounter that started early morning in Chowgam village in Kulgam district of south Kashmir, reports said. Terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit were also killed in the encounter. The identity of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander has not been released as yet. However, an army official told PTI that weapons and war-like stores have been recovered from the encounter site. The encounter between the militants and security forces began this morning after the forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants there. While the forces were conducting the searches, the militants fired upon the forces, ensuing a gunfight. SP Pani, IGP Kashmir, confirmed the death of the five terrorists with ANI, adding that a search operation is underway. #UPDATE: Total five terrorists have been killed so far, search operation underway: IGP Kashmir SP Pani on Kulgam encounter https://t.co/CbDRwuU3cL ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 A police official said the killing of the terrorists was a huge success for the forces. "It is a huge success for police and security forces. The militants belonged to both Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba," he said. According to the police, the terrorists were trapped inside a house in Chowgam area of Qazigund town. According to Kashmir Reader, the police had neutralised three terrorists at a early stage of the encounter, and "there was a long lull after some blasts in the area however firing resumed after forces started searching for bodies". The security forces however managed to neutralise the other two militants as well following exchange of fire. The Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Saturday that the militants were involved in a series of terror acts including killing of two bank employees and several policemen. These militants, it added were also involved in bank robberies and weapon looting. A huge success for Police and security https://t.co/uuE58IFiES was a combo of HM and LeT terrorists.Most of them were involved in a series of terror acts including killing of 2 bank employees and many policemen.Also involved in bank robberies and weapon looting. J&K Police (@JmuKmrPolice) September 15, 2018 ANI tweeted that the train services between Baramulla and Qazigund have been suspended following the incident. Encounter between terrorists & security forces is underway in Kulgam's Chowgam. 3 terrorists have been killed so far. Train services between Baramulla-Qazigund have been suspended: #JammuAndKashmir Police (visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/FKpU426GVd ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 Earlier on Thursday, security forces had killed three terrorists of pro-Pakistan Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, a day after they fired on a police party in Reasi and escaped. According to PTI, 12 security personnel, including three officers, were injured in the encounter. Police had said the militants of Pakistani origin had crossed the International Border (IB) in Tarnah nallah and reached Kashmir from the Dayalachak area of Kathua district in a truck. The encounter had 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 Thursday afternoon, they said. With inputs from agencies 15:31 (ist) Independent allies, too, oppose handing over charge to one person in absence of Parrikar Independent legislator and State Civil Supplies Minister Govind Gawade has opposed handing over the charge to seniormost minister when Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is away for treatment. Question does not arise of giving charge to senior minister. What is important is his capability to handle the charge, Gawade said. Gawade said that MGP has a right to demand anything but they should also check their past history. MGP in the past had former government with Congress. Input from Rupesh Samant/101Reporters MGP, an alliance partner in the Manohar Parrikar-led government in Goa, said it was 'high time' the CM handed over the charge to the seniormost minister. The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), an alliance partner in the Manohar Parrikar-led government in Goa, on Saturday said it was "high time" the chief minister handed over the charge to the seniormost minister during his absence in the state. Parrikar, 62, was flown to Delhi on Saturday for a follow-up treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). According to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sources, he is scheduled to undergo a series of tests in the afternoon at the AIIMS. Parrikar has been undergoing treatment for his pancreatic ailment. Earlier this year, he had undergone a three-month-long treatment in the US. He had formed a Cabinet Advisory Committee to guide the state during his absence. MGP, with its three legislators, has given support to the BJP to form the government in the state along with the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and other independent legislators. Talking to reporters Saturday morning, MGP president Deepak Dhavalikar said, "It is high time Parrikar hands over the charge to the seniormost minister for smooth functioning of the government." When asked about Parrikar's replacement as chief minister, BJP President Amit Shah told reporters in Hyderabad, "We are praying for his health to improve and the party will take a decision at an appropriate time." Dhavalikar said in the last eight months, the government has not been able to function smoothly. He said Parrikar can remain the chief minister and hand over the charge to someone else in his absence. When asked whether he wanted his elder brother and MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar to be given the charge, he said, "I don't know...let them tell who is the seniormost. I am just saying that whoever is given charge should be the seniormost. Let them tell who is the seniormost." Sudin Dhavalikar, who is the the Public Works Department (PWD) Minister, is the seniormost member in the Parrikar-led Cabinet. The MGP chief also ruled out any possibility of the MGP's merger with the BJP. "There is no question of merger. We are not interested in the merger. It will never happen. We have built the party over several years and it is the hope for future of Goa's politics. We have 12-13 percent vote share in the state, so where is the question of merging the party," Dhavalikar added. According to 101Reporters, BJP leaders during their visit to Goa will offer a proposal of merger to MGP and Goa Forward Party on Sunday. The MGP's demand, however, met with resistance from other allies. "What can I comment on MGP's statement? Everything that MGP wants need not happen. In an alliance, decisions are taken collectively. It cannot be the demand of a single party," Goa Forward Party chief and state agriculture minister Vijai Sardesai said. He said that Parrikar had formed the Cabinet Advisory Committee to govern in his absence earlier by consulting allies, adding that, even at the time, he had not handed over the charge to the "seniormost minister". "Why should charge be given now? Parrikar is running the government and there is no vacancy," Sardesai said. Another minister and Independent legislator Govind Gawade also said that the question of handing over the charge to the seniormost minister does not arise and claimed that there have been no discussions about a change in leadership in the state. Taking a swipe at Dhavalikar, Gawade said "What is important is his capability to handle the charge. The MGP is raking up this unwarranted discussion as they are masters in such acts. There is no issue of handing over charge to the seniormost minister." The Opposition Congress, meanwhile, blamed the BJP and its allies for what it claimed was an administrative mess due to the prolonged absence of Parrikar. Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Girish Chodankar added that the latest developments were an internal matter of the alliance. "We don't know whether the CM is stepping down or not. We are watching the developments closely. The BJP and its allies are responsible for the mess that is happening in Goa since last 16 months," Chodankar claimed. Meanwhile, state BJP general secretary Sadanand Tanavade said, "All the decisions related to the government are a prerogative of the chief minister and the party has nothing to say about it." With inputs from PTI The CBI told the court that Sharad Kalaskar, one of the accused in Narendra Dabholkar's murder, disposed of four firearms in a creek near Mumbai in July this year. Pune: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday told a local court that Sharad Kalaskar, one of the accused in the killing of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, disposed of four firearms in a creek near Mumbai in July this year. The agency has claimed that Kalaskar was one of the two persons who shot Dabholkar on 20 August, 2013, on the Omkareshwar Bridge in Pune. The CBI also told the court that Vaibhav Raut, arrested by Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in the arms haul case in August, was with Kalaskar when he dumped the weapons. The duo was arrested on 10 August by the ATS following a raid in Nallasopara area of Palghar district, in which explosives and firearms were seized. The court of Judicial Magistrate SMA Sayyad extended Kalaskar's custody till 17 September. CBI lawyer Vijaykumar Dhakane told the court that on 23 July, Kalaskar and Raut dismantled four firearms and dumped them in a creek from a bridge while going from Pune to Nallasopara in Palghar, near Mumbai. Dhakane said the agency had yet to ascertain the location of the bridge from where the weapons were disposed of. "As they were travelling at night, the suspect cannot recollect whether it was Kalva, Ghodbunder or any other bridge from where he had thrown the firearms," Dhakane told the court. Meanwhile, a CBI officer said the agency suspects that one of the four weapons dumped in the creek was used in Dabholkar's killing. He added that Kalaskar and Raut may have decided to dispose of the weapons after developing cold feet following the arrest of Amol Kale in connection with the killing of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh. Kale was arrested in May this year by the Karnataka Police's Special Investigation Team, which is looking into Lankesh's murder. The CBI took custody of Kale earlier this month in connection with Dabholkar's killing. Launching his 'Swachhata Hi Seva' campaign, Narendra Modi interacted through video conferencing with several people, including Ratan Tata, Amitabh Bachchan, Yogi Adityanath, and Sadhguru. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched "Swachhata Hi Seva" (cleanliness is service) movement by interacting with people and personalities from diverse fields through video conferencing at 17 locations and said the country has achieved more in sanitation coverage in the last four years than that in the last 60-65 years. The interaction, stretching about two hours, included with industrialist Ratan Tata, actor Amitabh Bachchan, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, and spiritual leaders Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Maa Amritanandamayee, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Dadi Janki, besides devotees from Ajmer Sharif dargah and Patna Sahib Gurdwara. Modi performed "shramdaan" (manual labour) at Babasaheb Ambedkar Higher Secondary School in Delhi after his video interaction. An official release said the prime minister drove to the school and back in normal traffic without customary protocol and no special traffic arrangements were made for his visit. The Swachhata Hi Seva movement aims at boosting public participation in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and is being organised in the run-up to the fourth anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission on 2 October next month, which will also mark the commencement of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi. In his remarks during video conferencing, Modi said cleanliness coverage was 40 percent in 2014 and it now has grown to over 90 percent on account of people's efforts. "Who could have thought that we will progress so much in cleanliness coverage in the last four years that could not be achieved in the last 60-65 years. Could anybody have thought that nine crore toilets will be built in the country in four years? Had anybody imagined that about 4.5 lakh villages, over 450 districts and 20 states and Union Territories will become open-defecation-free in four years?" he said. Modi said the day marks a new resolve, new enthusiasm and a new dream. "Today, 1.25 crore citizens are going to repeat that the pledge of cleanliness is service. From today till 2 October, we all will contribute with new energy and enthusiasm to make the country clean," he said. "We can say with pride that every section, every community, every caste, people of every age are taking this big campaign forward. Whether it is village, city, street or a corner, no part of the country is untouched by the campaign," he added. Modi said that toilets can be provided and efforts made for proper waste management, but cleanliness is a habit which has to be included in daily experience. "This a yagna for change in behaviour in which all of you are taking part." He said the name of "swachhagrahis" (cleanliness workers) will be written in golden letters when history of this movement is written. "The way the freedom fighters and martyrs are viewed with respect, your contribution will also be remembered with the same respect as a true inheritor of revered Bapu's legacy, because you have become a soldier in efforts to rebuild the country, save lives of the poor and restoring the country's image in the world. "There is immense power in 125 crore citizens, our enthusiasm is on the rise and our pledge is to achieve success." The prime minister interacted with school children from Dibrugarh in Assam, members of milk and agriculture cooperatives assembled in Mehsana, Indo-Tibetan Border Police from the high-altitude Pangong Lake in Ladakh, women swachhagrahis from Dantewada in Chhattisgarh and Salem in Tamil Nadu, citizens from Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh and Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh, volunteers engaged in cleaning the Ganga from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh and railway employees from Rewari in Haryana. Adityanath, who was in Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh, said during the video interaction that the state would become open-defecation-free by 2 October, 2019, and his government had constructed over 1.36 crore toilets in the past 17 months. He said cleanliness was a distant dream for 99,000 villages of the state four years ago and only about 25 lakh toilets were built in the state by the previous Samajwadi Party government in about two and a half years since the launch of the "Clean India" campaign on 2 October, 2014. Amitabh Bachchan said he found TV to be an "effective way to spread the message of cleanliness" and people should focus on ensuring their immediate surroundings are clean. Ratan Tata said sanitation and cleanliness are important factors in ensuring good health of people. "To be a strong India, the foundation has to be strong and that foundation is the health of our people. We can reduce and eliminate several diseases if we support the Swachh Bharat movement," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Sikkim on 23 September to inaugurate the state's first airport at Pakyong, a senior official has said. Gangtok: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Sikkim on 23 September to inaugurate the state's first airport at Pakyong, a senior official has said. After inaugurating the airport, the prime minister will address a public meeting at St Xaviers School ground at Pakyong and return to New Delhi the same day, Chief Secretary AK Shrivastava said after chairing a high-level meeting. The greenfield airport, located 30 kilometres from Gangtok, will put Sikkim on the aviation map of the country. "I am very happy to share that the honourable prime minister is visiting Sikkim for the second time and this time he will be inaugurating the Pakyong Airport which is ready and has undergone trial on two occasions in the month of March, 2018," the chief secretary said. The state government has been intimated by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Union civil aviation ministry about the prime minister's visit and the airport inauguration, he said. After the formal inauguration of the airport on 23 September, the commercial operation of flights will commence from the airport in the first week of October, the chief secretary said. The NCW has initiated inspection of 12 government-run shelter homes for women. New Delhi: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has initiated inspection of 12 government-run Swadhar Greh, shelter homes for women, to ascertain the living conditions of their inmates. The move comes after a slew of cases of ill-treatment of inmates at shelter homes came to light. All shelter homes for women in the country will be surveyed within a period of one year and reports presented to the Ministry of Women and Child Development, NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said. Academicians, activists and women and child development officials have been asked to work out a plan of action for a comprehensive and in-depth survey of all Swadhar Greh in the country, she said. There are a total of 559 shelter homes across the country, Sharma added. "There is a need to carry out assessment of the implementation of the scheme (Swadhar Greh Scheme) at the ground level so that the functioning of these homes can be improved and the objectives of the scheme are optimally realised," she said. Sharma said the Swadhar Greh Scheme would lose its "sheen" if the implementation is not monitored effectively. The scheme was launched by the government to help women in need of institutional support for rehabilitation. Sharma pointed out that irrespective of the duration of their stay in Swadhar Greh, the women need to be prepared to join the mainstream society and also be empowered economically. The decision for inspection of all 559 shelter homes was announced by the commission last month. To start with, the exercise will focus on six states Bihar, Karnataka, Mizoram, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, Sharma had said. Last month, 11 girls went missing from a Swadhar Greh in Bihar, run by the NGO of Brajesh Thakur, prime accused in the infamous Muzaffarpur girls' shelter home rape case. This was followed by another case of deaths of two women under mysterious circumstances at another shelter home in Bihar. Similar cases were reported from shelter homes in Uttar Pradesh. The inspection would include interaction with inmates of the shelter home, authorities concerned, officials and non-officials, and other such persons as considered necessary to ascertain facts and to finalise its findings and make recommendations, an NCW official had said. In the encounter, which took place in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were killed and at least 12 security personnel were injured.fp The picture of the body of a militant killed in an encounter being dragged by Army personnel went viral on Friday as human rights activists condemned the incident and called it "barbaric". The image was reportedly taken after an encounter in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, in which three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were killed and at least 12 security personnel were injured. During a cordon and search operation in the Kakriyal area of the district, the security personnel found the three terrorists who had fired at two people on the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Udhampur district on Wednesday before escaping. They were tracked down to a house in Reasi district on Thursday, the police had said. As the security personnel narrowed down on the exact location of the terrorist, the encounter broke out. The picture, which shows a dead militant with chains around his legs being dragged on a road in Katra, has received sharp criticism from human rights activists. Khurram Parvez, a rights activist working in Jammu and Kashmir, took to Twitter and called the incident "barbaric". He said, "This explains Indian Army's human rights conduct." Barbaric. This explains Indian army's human rights conduct... pic.twitter.com/TTb5Ud3cp4 Khurram Parvez (@KhurramParvez) September 13, 2018 Kashmiri journalist Ahmed Ali Fayyaz said on Twitter, "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 two fresh militants and the cycle goes unending. It's illegal and condemnable." Hameedah Nayeem, a professor at the University of Kashmir, posted on Facebook that even the "vilest person" would respect a dead body. The most barbaric conduct of the most professional Indian Army. Have a look. This conduct fetches awards and trophies in India! Any surprises? she said. Responding to the criticism on social media, defence analyst Major Gaurav Arya defended the behaviour, saying that it was "common sense" for the body to be pulled with rope, as the body of a dead terrorist could be "booby-trapped" before death. "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 & grenade goes off, killing security forces. This is why body is pulled with rope. Its common sense," he tweeted. Before dying, a terrorist will remove the pin of a grenade & supress the lever with his body, effectively booby trapping his own body. When dead body is moved, lever disengages & grenade goes off, killing security forces. This is why body is pulled with rope. Its common sense. https://t.co/UEzs9QcX8L Major Gaurav Arya (@majorgauravarya) September 13, 2018 Outlook and The New Indian Express reported that attempts to get a quote from the Army were unsuccessful. Firstpost has not been able to independently verify the veracity of the photograph. By Sanjana Pegu & Sabina Yasmin Rahman for TwoCircles.net On July 30, 2018, people of Assam woke up to find themselves at the centre of a category 1 storm. The draft NRC was released, 40 lakh people were left out of it, and mainland India (and international media) were promptly outraged. A casual glance at the news reports streaming in implied that all 40 lakh people were on the brink of being deported at any moment. In keeping with longstanding tradition, when it comes to the North-Eastern states, lack of basic fact-check and unfamiliarity with background and contexts of issues form an integral part of the modus operandi of mainland Indians. For instance, the citizenship cut-off date for India is July 19, 1948, while for Assam it is March 24, 1971. This difference of almost 23 years, however, hardly merits consideration in mainstream media, let alone a thorough analysis of its potential impact for a state that is deemed backward. In the wake of fervent discussions around NRC, journalists scrambled to remote locations of Assam to cherry-pick anecdotes of paranoia and agony. Soon enough, everyone had also discovered Assam Accord and Nellie massacre, and those unfortunate enough to have their names on the NRC draft were slapped with choicest epithets they saw fit for murderous sub-nationalists. Support TwoCircles Most Assamese people found themselves at the receiving end of a vicious name-calling, insults, harassment, and concern-trolling an entire states citizens were collectively tarred as xenophobes, racists, nationalists, Nazis, genocidal, terrorists even while the NRC process itself was declared akin to the Rohingya genocide, despite no evidence of even minor NRC-induced kerfuffles. International media such as the BBC produced videos with clickbaity headlines such as 4 million rendered stateless. When asked why such misinformation was being spread when the Supreme Court had itself stated that no such step could be taken on the basis of the NRC, BBC referred to a CNN report as its source. There is enough reason to believe that this narrative was decided even before the draft NRC was published. For instance, a letter by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to the Ministry of External Affairs mentioned June 30th as the date for publishing the complete draft. Fallacious data has been a key weapon in the arsenal of this demonisation exercise but finds nary a word in reportage by bleeding-heart liberals. A petition circulated (with misleading data) by Avaaz, a New York-based NGO with dubious linkages and history, doesnt raise red flags but the counter-petition by NRC is heavily derided. Interestingly, the part draft NRC released on December 31, 2017, hardly met with a whimper from concerned mainlanders. However, this time they created straw men for their screechy, tiresome reportage. First strawman: 4 million Bengali Muslims declared stateless and await deportation Several fact-finding missions have been parachuted down to Assam from the mainland. Curiously, they have landed only on areas seemingly dominated by Bengali Muslims because those are the only people we get to read about. While in itself this isnt a problem, when the bulk of such fearless journalism is focused on a specific segment of the population whilst blithely ignoring others, legitimate questions arise as to whether the facts select themselves to suit pre-defined agendas. The voices of the indigenous tribal population who have legitimate concerns about losing their land, culture, language and the way of life find no space in this narrative. Even though NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela made it clear that details of the 40 lakh people left out of the NRC cannot be made public for reasons of confidentiality, this hasnt stopped famed journalists from touting that most of them are Bengali Muslims, conveniently eliding the fact that many Assamese and Bengali-speaking Muslims view the NRC as a possible solution against the Bangladeshi immigrant taint. Soon enough, reports started to emerge that should have put to rest baseless rumours, including one from Nellie itself, which documented Bengali-speaking Muslims and Nellie survivors speaking in support of NRC. Another report indicated that Muslims from the chars were able to finally wipe away the stigma of being perceived as illegals. Many indigenous Assamese and Bengali Hindu families too have not found their names in the draft. Yet mainland liberals continued to use Nellie as an excuse to dismiss the voices of the actual stakeholders of the process. On the question of deportation, Bangladesh Information Minister Hasanul-Haque Inu went on record saying that it is an internal matter of Assam, and India has made no official mention to Bangladesh on this issue. Others from Assam have posited workable options to resolve the issue once the NRC updation is complete and the extent of undocumented migration credibly detected. Second strawman: NRC is part of BJP-led Hindutva politics In their crusade against the current BJP government, mainlanders have presented NRC as a Hindutva conspiracy, casually brushing aside the fact that the roots of this exercise go back to the Partition, and made highly imaginative statements such as, (NRC) removed a huge number of voters who were likely to vote against the BJP without providing a shred of evidence. Teetering on the precipice of their own limited worldview and cluelessness about the North-East, such is their desire for their assumptions to be true that it takes only a gentle nudge to fall into the trap of fake data. Aspersions have also been cast at the SC bench monitoring the NRC process because one member happens to be Assamese despite the SC repeatedly stating that NRC cannot be the basis to throw someone out of the country. But then hyperbole sells, especially when the buyer is national and international media. The continuous protests by major students groups and civil society organisations of Assam against the BJP-sponsored Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 have been conspicuous by their absence in anti-NRC discourse, including the fact that BJP ally AGPs Prafulla Mahanta and BJP leaders are opposed to the Bill. This opposition can only be explained by the fact that Assamese society abhors forced demographic change based on religion. In fact, the whole North-East region supports the protection of rights of indigenous people through the timely implementation of NRC and ILP against unchecked state-backed immigration based on religion. It should be mentioned that the BJP government was reprimanded by the SC for dragging its feet on NRC. This makes sense because once the exercise is completed, it can no longer use the bogeyman of the illegal Bangladeshi Muslim immigrant to perpetuate its politics of hate. Myths versus facts: Competing internal narratives The Assam Agitation that began in 1979 claimed 855 lives and triggered a bloody insurgency leading to more lives being lost. Now, on the occasion of the NRC, there is a tendency in mainland media to portray Nellie massacre as yet another instance of a typical Hindu-Muslim communal violence. But such a view of the incident can only be termed ahistorical and dangerously out of line with ground realities due to its lack of nuance in the representation of how the groups involved identified themselves. Nellie has widely been understood within its specific regional and sociopolitical context as one of the worst instances of reactionary inter-ethnic violence an expected, but not entirely unavoidable, outcome of the unbridled exploitation of Assams natural resources by the colonial Indian states economic policies resulting in land alienation, and complete indifference to the aspirations of local people. This led to their wrath of being directed at a construed foreign (bidesi) enemy, who also happened to be Muslim. Scholars like Yasmin Saikia and Makiko Kimura have documented these stages of construction of the other in the context of Assam, and how the policy-induced migration of Bengali-speaking Muslim of a certain period in history was transformed into a credible threat in the form of Bangladeshi Muslims in another. Post Nellie, Muslims in Assam and ULFA in upper Assam maintained that Indian state was our real enemy. AASU leaders, on the other hand, were against the settlement of Bangladeshis and demanded deportation an already repugnant scheme made worse due to its timely hijacking by Hindu right-wing forces of India for electoral gains. Indeed, according to the interviews in Kimuras study, the Tiwas who are perceived as the attackers in the Nellie massacre felt cheated by the AASU and AAGSP leadership to whose anti-foreigner drive they had extended support as an indigenous community of Assam. Further, people on both side submit to the fact that there was no real conflict between the Tiwas and the Muslims of immigrant origin before the movement. In fact, the latter rightly felt that even if the cause and stated goal of the movement itself was legitimate, its scope of targetting immigrants who came before the partition and independence of India and leaving them in perpetual precarity was offensive. The 1971 cut-off date was a compromise and accepted by all communities including the Muslims. While the first NRC was conducted in 1951, this recent exercise has been borne out of the Assam Accord of 1981 and an updated NRC was to be conducted then with the Indian government required to detect and expel foreigners. It finally took a 2014 SC directive for it to be implemented. This chequered history is merely representative of the complexities and complications inevitable in a region that has seen continuous migrations for multiple decades. Despite repeated assurances by NRC officials that no one can be tagged a foreigner or infiltrator on the basis of the NRC, that this was indeed a draft version, that only the Foreigners Tribunal can pronounce someone an illegal immigrant, that everyone will get a chance to reapply, and that the final list will not be out till the end of the year, fear-mongering in mainstream media and social media reached such a fever pitch, some Assamese people felt a little bemused at this relentless attention accorded to a state, which hitherto was seen as little more than a green patch of land known for tea, floods, and illegal Bangladeshi immigration through porous borders. Knee-jerk reactions were the order of the day, especially from politicians who, before this, were not known to be champions of Bangladeshi immigrants, and Assamese people, en masse, were declared xenophobic. Since the demographic break-up of NRC data will remain confidential, one can only cautiously glean certain trends from rough surveys and anecdotal evidence. Prima facie, there is no indication that any particular group has been systematically targeted. There are no reports that districts with large Muslim populations such as Dhubri or those with a Bengali-speaking majority like Hailakandi and Karimganj have a higher rate of exclusion. This is indirectly validated by the absence of violence otherwise fairly common in the state even in the face of relentless provocation in the mainstream press. Now that prognostications of ethnic cleansing have failed to come about, will there be a mea culpa from mainland know-it-alls and their fervid allies in Assam? Perpetuating unconscious bias through aggressive denial What mainland liberals have done through their wild speculations and human rights posturing for Bengali Muslims is an act out of Arnab Goswamis play: construct a dubious narrative and then substantiate it with selective samples peppered with outright lies and misconstrued facts, resulting in a dangerously caricatured view of reality. In their zeal to appear progressive, they have only been patronising to the Muslims of Assam, exposing in the process, their unconscious bias that renders Bengali-speaking Muslims synonymous to illegal Bangladeshis in their statist mainland mental map. Even in their vehement denial to the many tribal and ethnic minority communities of Assam, the right to assert their indigeneity, mainland liberals only reinforced their deep-seated prejudices about Muslims in Assam, which is the exact opposite of what NRC is trying to achieve. While a good number of these voices pointing fingers and condemning Assam for deportations that havent taken place and perhaps, will not either belong to those of upper-caste mainland intellectuals, similar concern and consistency of politics over the large-scale deportation of illegal immigrants that has indeed taken place in the state of West Bengal between 1983-1998 under the Foreigners Act curiously finds no place in their self-righteous rage. These mainland narratives are, therefore, a stark reminder of the historical oppression and negligence of the AFSPA-imposing Indian state that persistently undermined the aspirations of the indigenous populations of the region, which ultimately culminated in Nellie, the ugliest blot in Assam history. If history has taught us anything, it is that when things go south, neither the State nor mainlanders will come to our rescue. Sanjana Pegu is a writer with CauseBecause.com Sabina Yasmin Rahman is a PhD Candidate in Sociology at Jawaharlal Nehru University. In Bundelkhand, the fact of political and business muscle being a very real danger to ones work is something that many journalists and reporters live in constant fear of. Rural press active in U.P.s hinterlands have good reason to be mindful of Lankeshs death hence. Gauri Lankesh, a bold and fearless journalist from Bangalore, who ran a weekly, regional news magazine Gauri Lankesh Patrika, which was known for its critique of the politics of majoritarianism and intolerance, was shot dead in her house on September 5 last year. The murder had a chilling effect on the freedom of the press nationally at least for a while; mainstream media memory on the case has been short-term otherwise. In Bundelkhand, the fact of political and business muscle being a very real danger to ones work is something that many journalists and reporters live in constant fear of. Rural press active in U.P.s hinterlands have good reason to be mindful of Lankeshs death hence. Mahoba resident Rasheed Qureshi, who works as a reporter at Zee India TV, speaks of Lankesh and the dangers surrounding news reports. She was an excellent journalist who was fearless in her reporting and writing. Although I am nothing compared to her stature as a journalist, after she was killed, her death has left me with an eerie and unsettling feeling. Sometimes, we have to go out in the wee hours of the night to report on an event. There are so many mafias and gangsters operating in this area that we often have to cover controversial news. But if we report on their illicit activities, I fear that they will take it out on us the same way it was done to Gauri Lankesh. It is no secret that the Bundelkhand region, where the district of Mahoba is situated, is overrun by the mining mafia who have both the local police as well as the press in their pockets. The journalists of Bundelkhand are no match for the mighty mafia, who seem willing to eliminate anyone who comes in their way. In fact, a journalist called Sandeep Sharma, who was investigating the sand mafia in MP, was recently overrun by a truck under mysterious circumstances. His death not only came as a shock but also as a threat to anyone who dared to take on the powerful. Those whose lives are spared are slapped with false lawsuits and criminal charges and harassed by the police, which, too, is in cahoots with the mafia. For instance, a reporter and his cameraman from Banda district were charged with criminal breach of trust and detained by the police for simply interviewing the village pradhan about the lack of development in the village and its nexus with the illegal mining of sand and stone in the region. As for the others, their silence is simply bought for money. An established system of payments exists to coerce the local press into remaining silent, with the money coming in from various sources like the police, the transport providers that shuttle the illegally mined sand, local mining officials or directly from the mafia. Khabar Lahariya reporter Geeta, talks about her apprehensions as a journalist operating in the district of Banda. When I cover big, controversial stories, especially those regarding the mafias, I have to think twice before doing it. We often get pressured and threatened to not pursue such stories and not report on them. But we must soldier on despite these things. Khabar Lahariya is a women-only network of rural reporters from Bundelkhand. A shutdown was imposed in Telangana's Miryalguda town on Saturday over the murder of a man from a Scheduled Caste community. Hyderabad: A shutdown was imposed in Telangana's Miryalguda town on Saturday over the murder of a man from a Scheduled Caste community in an apparent case of honour killing. Shops and business establishments remained closed in the town in Nalgonda district, about 150 kilometres from Hyderabad. Scheduled Caste organisations took out rallies, demanding justice for the family of 23-year-old Pranay Kumar, who was hacked to death on Friday as he was coming out of a hospital along with his wife Amrutha Varshini, with whom he had an inter-caste marriage six months ago. They were in love since their school days and had married against the wishes of the girl's parents. Since then, he was facing threats to his life, according to informed sources. Amrutha, who is five-months pregnant, told reporters that her father Maruthi Rao is behind the murder. She said he had been tracking their movements. The police have reportedly arrested Rao, who allegedly hired a killer to murder Pranay. Amrutha's uncle T Shravan was also detained. CCTV cameras near the hospital captured the gruesome crime. Scanning of CCTV images of the last few days by the police also revealed that the killer had conducted a recce of the area. A Samajwadi Party (SP) leader has been shot dead by his wife's lover in Uttar Pradesh. Sambhal: A Samajwadi Party (SP) leader has been shot dead by his wife's lover in Sambhal, the police said on Saturday. On Friday evening, SP leader Jagdish Mali (35) got into a fight with Dilip, with whom his wife was involved, in Nai Basti locality under the Chandausi police station limits, Superintendent of Police Yamuna Prasad said. During the fight, Dilip opened fire at Mali, who died at the spot, he said. An FIR has been filed against Mali's wife and Dilip on a complaint lodged by the deceased's brother, Prasad said. While Mali's wife has been arrested, efforts are on to nab Dilip, who fled the scene after the incident, he added. SP district unit president Firoz Khan, who met the deceased's family, described Mali as hard-working. He said Mali had sought the ticket for the chairman's position in Chandausi local body election. The silver lining is the storage in Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada, which, the government said, will be enough to meet the state's need for drinking water through the next summer. Ahmedabad: Gujarat is staring at water scarcity in coming days as the state has received only 73.87 percent of average rainfall this monsoon. The silver lining is the storage in Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada, which, the government said, will be enough to meet the state's need for drinking water through the next summer. "The state has received 73.87 percent rainfall as the monsoon is on the verge of receding," a government release said. The Kutch region has received a mere 26.51 percent of average rainfall so far, while North Gujarat has received 42.93 percent, central Gujarat 66.83 percent, Saurashtra 72.20 percent and South Gujarat the highest 94.79 percent. Kutch and North Gujarat are likely to face severe water scarcity this year, officials said. However, the Sardar Sarovar Dam is filled up to 125.82 meters, and it can provide drinking water for the entire state till the next summer, the government said. It will also be able to provide water from Narmada Dam for farming during Kharif (monsoon) and Rabi (winter) seasons, the government said. The Narmada water will also be used to fill up empty dams in Saurashtra including Aji 1, Macchu 2, Vadod and Ankadia through the Sauni scheme, officials said. "We have decided to supply water for irrigation too," Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel told reporters in Gandhinagar. He was speaking about decisions taken at a meeting on the water situation, chaired by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. "The state government will provide 20,000 cusecs water for the next 20 days to save the crops in water-starved areas," Patel said. "We plan to fill up 400 big and small ponds in North Gujarat by Narmada water through canals and pipeline network of the Sujlam Suflam scheme," he said. "We also plan to fill the dams in Saurashtra region and provide water for irrigation from Narmada Dam under the SAUNI scheme," he said. Supriya Jain, an accountant in a private organisation in Indore, succumbed on Friday night while undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital. Indore: A 24-year-old woman was killed in Indore after being slashed about 40 times with a sickle by a former classmate in a case of unrequited love, police said on Saturday. Supriya Jain, an accountant in a private organisation, succumbed on Friday night while undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital, said MIG police station in charge Tahzeeb Qazi. He identified the assailant as Kamlesh Sahu (24) who works as a waiter at a hotel, adding that the accused and victim studied together at Navodaya School in the state's Damoh district. He attacked her on Thursday night when she was returning home from work, the official said. According to Qazi, Sahu had sent a marriage proposal to the victim on Facebook Messenger a few days ago, which she turned down. The mobile phone from which Sahu sent these messages has been recovered, the official added. Sahu had been stalking Jain for the past several days and allegedly decided to kill her after spotting her talking to other men, Qazi said. Qazi said that Sahu, during their school days, had once expressed his love for her and then attempted suicide by slashing his wrist when she snubbed his proposal. Sahu has been arrested and further probe into the case is underway, Qazi informed. This years edition of Mountain Echoes coincided with festivities marking the 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan Now in its ninth year, the Mountain Echoes festival of literature, art and culture held at Thimpu between 23 and 25 August, addressed an exacting set of expectations. Hosted in the idyllic, eco-friendly setting of the Royal University of Bhutan, the fest had an unpretentious air with hundreds of students jostling for space in a small auditorium to listen to their favourite authors and musicians. The sessions chosen with unfettered eclecticism by festival directors Namita Gokhale, Pramod Kumar, Siok Sian Dorji, Tshering Tashi, and Mita, the CEO of Siyahi, teasingly tore the boundaries of different art forms, novelised slices of narratives and serious monologues and dialogues some of them achingly poignant, sparking imagination and fuelling new ideas. Corralled for the most part in a single performance, conversation space, this years edition coincided with festivities marking the 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan. The lineup included acclaimed columnists, editors, authors, teachers, philosophers, poets, musicians, dancers, artists, comedians, actors, film-makers, environmentalists, heritage conservationists and theatre activists. The festival began with a traditional Rapa dance performed by students of the Royal Academy of Performing Arts followed by buddhist chants by nuns of the Bhutan Nuns Foundation. A riveting, pitch-perfect opening address by Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, the royal patron of the festival set the tone of this unapologetically intimate festival. Dressed in a beautiful blue kira, she said that it was her belief that Buddhism, the shared spiritual heritage of India and Bhutan, is the unchanging constant in the relationship between the two countries. She reminisced about the time when the third king of Bhutan and Pandit Nehru laid the foundation of India-Bhutan partnership. Following Nehrus visit, Bhutan launched its first five-year plan in 1961, which along with the second, was financed by India. The sessions shoehorned into the programme on the opening day included conversations of rare originality of voice and vision with Khenpo Sonam Phuntsok on the spiritual wisdom of sutras, Dave Goulson on bumblebee ecology and conservation, Aparajita Jain, Malvika Singh and Tshering Penjore on living museums, Valmik Thapars exposition on the natural treasures of Rajasthan and their revival, Usha Uthups inimitable session with one of Bhutans iconic rock musicians Tenzin Dorji, and swapping of stories of Nilanjana Roys cats and Kunzang Chodens stray dog, Dawa in a delightfully whacky session called The Wildings Meets Dawa. Then there was Vani Tripathi Tikoo romancing the text of Naseeruddin Shahs memoir, And Then One Day, and Naseers own grotty reality-check of the state of Indian cinema. For me, the high point was Sarah Kays evocative, spoken word poetry, Love Letter from a Toothbrush to the Bicycle Tire, The Type, and a poignant poem written in memory of her elementary school principal: each with a special resonance and coming wholly to life when it was performed. Also Aditya Roys Gurudakshina, a performance that combined martial arts, theatre and music. Book lovers continued to queue on the second day to lose themselves in the magic of words and ideas, music and dance. The morning came alive with the beats of Drametse Ngachamm, a sacred dance from east Bhutan. My crotchety scepticism about the straitjacket of festival programming was replaced by a grudging admiration for the chic-contrariness that defined the choice of subjects and speakers. An effervescent dialogue between Sanjna Kapoor and Ratna Pathak Shah on theatre in contemporary India and their own individual trysts with theatre was juxtaposed with unravelling of the myth of the Yeti by Daniel Taylor and Tshering Tashi. Ajoy Bose, Bhutans heartthrob Dawa Drakpa and Usha Uthup shared their Beatles stories and songs, enthralling the audience when they were joined by Naseeruddin Shah. Sanjoy Hazarika, Tshering Tashi, Somi Roy were in conversation with Namita Gokhale on the underreported region of the Himalayan Arc, its complex politics, fragile natural history and the possibility of an interconnected future. A lively session appropriately named If Rivers were to Speak, explored the nuances of poetry as self-expression with poets Esther Syiem and Namgyal Tshering in conversation with Chador Wangmo, author of several books for children in Dzongkha and English. Naseeruddin and Ratna Pathak Shah were at their theatrical best when they enacted poems and stories of Vikram Seth and James Thurber. Tony Robinson Smith spoke of his wanderlust in an incredibly inspiring session. My own session with Dr Sonal Mansingh followed, with revelatory glimpses of the woman behind the celebrated persona. The fusion between modern medicine and traditional healing was highlighted by Dr Bjorn Metgaard, the Danish author of Medical History of Bhutan. Two extremely young authors, Pema Euden and Zuni Chopra, who debuted when they were adolescents, explained with elan what they thought was special about their work. Another afternoon dusted with magic ended with a performance by Gokab, a group that uses dance to communicate with young audiences. The last day began with a song that paid tribute to the friendship between India and Bhutan. Andrew Quintmans session on The Songs of Milarepa, with musician Chimi Wangmos exquisite rendition of Milarepas poetry, delighted the audience. Quintman, who has spent three decades researching the life of Milarepa later tweeted, Of all places to discuss Milarepa, this is the best place to be discussing him. Coming next, Daniel Taylor flagged the need for community support to develop and preserve natural differences. In a conversation on Challenges of Journalism, Suhasini Haidar and Tenzing Lamsang talked about the obstacles being faced by journalists. Somi Roy and Pramod Kumar discussed the chronicling of personal histories through family photos by focusing on the life and times of novelist, essayist and playwright, Binodini. Bhutans leading comedians, Gyem Tshering and Phurba Thinley interspaced their conversation with quirky comments that made the audience laugh. The exchange of energy between hip-hop performers who dominated two sessions and the audience was also extraordinary. The aspirations of young dreamers, Charu Singhs conversation with Quintman, Moon Moon Sens personal journey and Nilanjana Roys session on Eating Books: Reading, Writing and Creativity, kept the audience engaged, as did a voluble panel discussion on acting, filmmaking and the freedom to create. A plethora of parallel workshops on music, theatre for children, crafting stories, performance poetry, the Dzongkha script, storytelling through sign language and Karma Jurmis workshop on calligraphy, crackled with creative energy. The Royal Textile Academy was the venue of two painting exhibitions especially curated for the festival. Leaving some of the sessions behind, I managed to explore the city with my partner, amazed at the changes that have come about since my last trip around a decade ago. With dust and smoke billowing from construction sites, several high-rises, and a proliferation of shops, bars and internet cafes, Thimpu no longer looks lost in time. It is a city that is engaging with change, but cautiously. Tourism, not permitted till 1974, is still tightly controlled. The romantic, mystical feel of the city is intact. Its forested hills, gurgling river, crimson-clad monks, Buddhist prayer flags fluttering against ice-blue skies, well-fed, furry dogs sprawled all over the place, stone houses with ornate, painted Buddhist motifs in red, gold and brown, the lovely Termalinca resort where the Queen Mother graciously hosted the entire Mountain Echoes gang, and the night-view of the exquisitely lit-up Tashichho Dzong was enough to leave us enthralled. We skipped the special Masala Chowk dinner at Taj Tashi to eat jomja rice and buckwheat pancakes, and bowls of ema datse, delicious stewed chillies and cheese, at a hip Clock Tower Square restaurant, getting a taste of the nightlife at Mojo Park, one of the coolest live music clubs in Thimpu. On another clear morning, we drove to the enchanting Dochula Pass crowned with 108 spectacular chortens built to commemorate Bhutanese soldiers who died fighting Bodo insurgents in 2003. We returned without being able to see Gangkhar Puensum, the highest peak in Bhutan, which was shrouded by huge dragon-shaped clouds, a little disappointed but pleased with our stock of red and green mountain apples and dried yak cheese bought from little kiosks along the road. We also drove through lovely paddy fields, and quaint little wooden bridges of Paro to take a close look at Taktsang Goemba, the tiger-nest monastery perched precariously on a narrow stone ledge about 900 metres above Paro Valley. Built in 1692, legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava flew here from Tibet on the back of a tiger. We were washed over with joy just gazing at the nest, in that land of happiness, magic, legends, myths and poetry. The idea of putting together a litfest as unique as this took shape in July during a dinner-table conversation at the Queen Mothers residence. Namita was present, as was Ravi Singh, then at Penguin, and, author Pavan Varma, the erstwhile Indian ambassador to Bhutan. With Bhutan slowly opening up to the outside world, it was clearly an idea whose time had come. It took a lot of dedicated and sustained work to take the shape that it eventually did, recalls Namita. I was reminded of Bob Dylans lyric And she aches just like a woman, when I looked at Mita and Namita at the fest, with their somewhat strung-out, anxious faces, and scrupulous attention to detail. It was a festival with a fairytale feel. There were no dissenting flashmobs, unspoken attacks or disagreements. Everyone seemed to be in a state of poetic reverie, revelling in the serene conversations, immersive workshops, performances and art shows. Nestled in that oasis of calm, one did not mind the sensory overload. Amit Shah said that the elections in Telangana were supposed to be held in May 2019 and asked K Chandrashekar Rao whether he was not confident of his victory in May. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Saturday addressed a public rally in Mahabubnagar in Telangana. On a day-long visit to the state, Shah said that Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao called for early elections in the state because he feared losing. He pointed out that the elections were supposed to be held in May 2019 and asked whether Rao was not confident of his victory in May. KCR imposed early elections in Telangana because he feared losing in state assembly elections : Shri @AmitShah #AmitShahInTelangana BJP (@BJP4India) September 15, 2018 The BJP chief said the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) had promised a chief minister from the Scheduled Caste community in 2014, but did not fulfil his promise. He claimed KCR has not undertaken any development work during his tenure either. Shah also took a dig at Congress president Rahul Gandhi and said that he dreams of forming a Congress government in Telangana. "The people of Telangana have not forgotten how PV Narasimha Rao was insulted by his party," he added. The BJP president also emphasised that his party will form a government in Telangana that will not oppress people from the SC community and tribals. Talking about the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the state, he said that under the 13th Finance Commission, Telangana got only Rs 16,000 crore, which was increased to Rs 1,15,000 crore under the Modi government. BJP will form such a Telangana where neither the Dalits nor the tribals will be oppressed. Farmers will not be shot at: BJP President Amit Shah in Mahbubnagar, Telangana pic.twitter.com/kwhq7Pdho4 ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 He also mentioned the National Register of Citizens and said they had made an effort to remove infiltrators from Assam, but that the move was opposed by all major parties. "We will ensure that no infiltrator is allowed to live in the country," Shah added. After the public meeting in Mahabubnagar, Shah is scheduled to meet the party's state office-bearers and district unit presidents in Kothur to discuss the strategy for the elections before returning to Delhi. Earlier on Saturday, Shah said the TRS owes an explanation to the people for the additional poll expenditure Telangana will have by going for early elections to the state Assembly. He said at a press conference that Rao had initially supported Modi's idea of "one nation, one election", but he was surprised when he suddenly changed his stand. "Rao and TRS have forced a small state to bear the expenditure of two elections. The BJP believes that TRS has put an additional burden of crores of rupees on people to further its political interests," the BJP chief said. Claiming that the Modi government provided Rs 2.3 lakh crore to Telangana in the last four years against the Rs 15,000 crore given during Congress rule, Shah said, adding that the BJP showed no discrimination towards any state but was opposed to politics of appeasement. Virtually sounding the poll bugle, Shah also said that the BJP will contest the Telangana Assembly elections on its own. He asserted that his party hoped to emerge as a "deciding factor" in the upcoming polls. "We are not going to have any political tie-up with the TRS. The BJP will fight on its own strength. We will fight against appeasement politics also," Shah told reporters before leaving for Mahabubnagar. With inputs from agencies Kejriwal said the police showed lack of sensitivity in registering an FIR and delayed its investigation, resulting in rapists making good their escape. New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday demanded Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's resignation following reports of the state police had refused to file an FIR and launch an investigation in a gangrape case. Kejriwal said the police showed lack of sensitivity in registering an FIR and delayed its investigation, resulting in rapists making good their escape. "(Khattar) should resign. People want a government which is honest," Kejriwal tweeted. According to a report, the girl despite her condition had to travel all the way to Kanina on Friday to make a police statement. "Even after that, only three men were named in the FIR whereas her family has alleged the involvement of 12. The police also refused to make arrests, citing lack of staff who, they claimed, had been deployed at the chief minister's programme in Mahendragarh," it said. The local body polls are under a cloud of controversy as two major political parties in Jammu and Kashmir the PDP and NC have announced a boycott till the Centre clears its stand on Article 35A of the Constitution. The Jammu and Kashmir municipal elections will be held from 8 October, the state's Chief Election Officer Shaleen Kabra announced on Saturday. The local body polls will be held in four phases. With the announcement of the dates, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in Jammu and Kashmir, Kabra said. Kabra further said, "We shall be starting the local bodies elections for municipal bodies first and then the panchayat elections...The municipal elections will be four-phased and they will be held on party-basis," he told reporters. He said that for the first time, electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in the local body polls while migrant voters will be able to vote through postal ballot. Kabra said the notification for the first phase will be issued on 18 September. "The last date for filing nominations for the phase will be 25 September while the date of withdrawal of nominations will be 28 September. The date of poll for the first phase will be 8 October," the CEO said. He said the notification for the second phase will be issued on 20 September and the last date for making nominations for the phase will be 27 September. "The date of withdrawal of nominations will be 1 October and the date of poll for the second phase will be 10 October," Kabra said. For the third phase, the chief electoral officer said, notifications will be issued on 22 September and the last date for filling nominations for the phase will be 29 September. "The date of withdrawal of nominations will be 3 October and the date of poll for the third phase will be 13 October," he said. He said for the last phase, the notification will be issued on 24 September and candidates can submit their nominations till 1 October. The candidature can be withdrawn by 5 October and the voting will take place on 16 October. The poll hours for all the phases would be from 7 am to 2 pm, he said, adding the date of counting for all the phases will be October 20. The polls are under a cloud of controversy as two major political parties the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC) have announced that they will boycott them. Both parties have asked the Centre to clarify its stand on Article 35A of the Constitution, which allows the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to define the 'permanent residents' of the state. The Congress has also said that currently, the ground situation in the Valley is not conducive for holding these polls. On Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam had denied reports that the upcoming municipal elections are likely to be deferred. With inputs from agencies The counting process at JNU, which was suspended at 4 am, resumed at 6.30 pm after two teachers from the Grievance Redressal Cell were appointed as observers. New Delhi: Counting of votes in the JNU students union polls was suspended for over 14 hours on Saturday by election authorities citing "forcible entry" and "attempts to snatch away ballot boxes" at counting venue, after the ABVP staged protests claiming it was not informed about the start of the process. The counting, which was suspended at 4 am, resumed at 6.30 pm after two teachers from the Grievance Redressal Cell were appointed as observers for the exercise, officials said. The counting process was stalled after Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) which is the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), staged a protest alleging they were not informed about the process. The JNU Election Committee said, "The counting process, which began on 14 September at 10 pm has been suspended due to forcible entry into the counting venue and attempts to snatch away the sealed ballot boxes as well as ballot papers from our counting centres." The Left outfits alleged that the ABVP was involved in the violence but the saffron outfit denied it. The deadlock at the Jawaharlal Nehru University persisted till evening with the ABVP accusing the election authorities of bias towards the Left outfits and threatening to move court. The Election Committee, however, issued a statement saying it had made announcement for counting agents to come and was following the rules. It said, "A malicious lie is being spread on social media and among students that the Election Committee had not made three announcements and went forth with the entry of the counting agents for post of Central Panel for combined schools and Special Centres." The Election Committee would like to clearly state three announcement calls were made (with the third call announced as the last and final call) and communicated to the students gathered outside the counting venue) via loudspeaker, the committee said. "After that, the election committee members informed the security guards about it and asked them to gather any counting agents...Fourteen counting agents for ten different candidates had reported at the counting venue. After this, counting process had started and sealed boxes were opened in the presence of the counting agents," it said. As per the established norms, no new counting agents can enter the counting venue, once the seal of the boxes is opened. "The Election Committee (EC) had to reject the request of new counting agents being allowed inside that respective counting venue. A few students had forcibly entered the building and reached the counting venue, thus we had to suspend the counting process," it said. The panel also claimed that their members, including women, faced intimidation. President of ABVP-JNU unit Vijay Kumar said they will not hesitate to approach the Delhi High Court if they do not get justice. "Counting of votes is being done without adhering to the rules. The EC is not following even the bare minimum requirements of election procedure...The biased way of handling elections has put a question mark on EC's neutrality. We have approached the Grievance Redressal Cell to seek justice. We will not hesitate to proceed to Delhi High Court if we don't get justice," he added. The Grievance Redressal Cell is a body comprising the varsity's professors which addresses election related complaints. In the evening, it was announced that the Cell has appointed two observers for the counting if votes. The ABVP claimed their counting agent was not informed about the beginning of counting of votes polled in science schools. The Left bloc claimed that "around 4 am, ABVP broke the glasses of the School of International Studies building". They also claimed the ABVP counting agent was called but he did not turn up on time. Kumar claimed their counting agent was not called and the counting process was initiated in front of the members of the Left outfit. "We protested peacefully as the EC is biased towards the Left. We did not create any ruckus," he said. The voter turnout in the keenly contested JNUSU election on Friday was 67.8 percent, believed to be the highest in six years. Over 5,000 students cast their votes. 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 the Left bloc, there are candidates of ABVP, NSUI (National Students' Union of India) and BAPSA (Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association). Technical glitches in EVMs had marred the counting process for Delhi University Students' Union polls on Thursday, leading to its suspension for close to three hours. Former minister and senior politician Kapil Sibal recently released Shades of Truth-A Journey Derailed in which he minutely examined the claims the Narendra Modi government made during its 2014 election campaign and how it has failed to meet any of them Following the UPA government's defeat in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, a number of its leaders have taken to writing and come out with a spate of books. Former minister and senior politician Kapil Sibal recently released Shades of Truth-A Journey Derailed in which he minutely examined the claims the Narendra Modi government made during its 2014 election campaign and how it has failed to meet any of them. The book also looks at the gap between the promises and what he has delivered on the ground. Sibal talks about the book and more in an interview. Edited excerpts: Your latest book could well read like a Congress manifesto about the inability of the Modi government to keep its electoral promises... This is not meant to be a Congress manifesto. The purpose of writing this book is two-fold. At a political level, there is a need to analyse the policies of this government while at an individual level it is an attempt to highlight what the prime minister (Modi) stands for, supported by data. This data can be used by the Congress party. The book is an analysis of the missteps of both the prime minister and his government. I also want to show that I do not make allegations as was done by Modi during the election campaign of 2014 which are unsupported by facts. But the fact is that your government had come to be labelled as the most corrupt government the country had ever seen... It all started with CAG and the figure of Rs 1.76 lakh crore (figure given by the then CAG chairman Vinod Rai about the presumptive loss caused to the treasury by the telecom scam). The figure was just lapped up by the media. No investigation was done by the media as to how he had arrived at this sum. We came up with our defence but no one was prepared to listen to us. And then, of course, the courts entered the fray and gave a judgement which was unsupported by facts. We offered an explanation but no one was willing to listen. But the media even today gives much more credence to the BJP point of view. What do you have to say about that? The media no longer remains the only vehicle of perception. When a person driving a scooter goes to a petrol pump and buys petrol at Rs 90 per litre, the message need not be sent through the electronic media. This is a government that cannot provide healthcare to the people. The Lancet study has shown that largest number of women suicides in the world is taking place in India. Young people are not getting jobs. Everyone remembers the two crore jobs per annum he (Modi) promised during his election campaign. The electronic revolution was used by him to win the election. That same electronic revolution is going to prove to be his downfall in 2019. You sound very confident but the fact is that the BJP continues to win one election after another. How does Congress plan to stop the BJP? He succeeded in winning elections when the Opposition was not united. That is how he won Uttar Pradesh. In 2014, he would not have won if the Opposition had been united. Do not forget that he got only 31 percent of the vote. You saw how a united election (Opposition) won the Phulpur, Kirana and Gorakhpur bye-elections. Yes, but the Congress has no presence in UP and a lot will depend on former chief minister Mayawati. In fact, she even issued a statement recently on this, didn't she? Mayawati has not said anything on this. The Congress has now entered into an understanding with TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu for the forthcoming Telangana elections. But Chandrababu Naidu can hardly be described as a popular leader in Telangana. What's Congress strategy? There is anti-incumbency factor against K Chandrashekar Rao and Naidu does enjoys some support in Telangana. The impossible is going to become the possible. Everybody is sick of this regime. They are autocratic, intolerant and they persecute people. The Income Tax department, the ED, the CBI are being used to suit their own political ends. Their governors are partisan. Look at the functioning of the HRD Ministry and how the NCERT has gone about changing textbooks and introduced heroes who have never been heard of. Even the Statue of Unity is being built using Chinese steel. So much for their Made in India claims. Look at the scams around them. The Birla Diaries, the Sahara Diaries, the Chattisgarh Diaries, the Vyapam scam none of which have been investigated. They are using these investigative agencies to target others even as they protect themselves. Look at how the government formation took place in Goa and in the North East. Nevertheless, in Madhya Pradesh, a recent pre-election survey shows that while the Congress will improve its tally substantially, the BJP is expected to win the state elections. How does Congress plan to tackle that? The people of Madhya Pradesh are extremely unhappy with the present government. The members of the Congress party must come together to ensure that they convert this disgruntlement into votes. There are scams erupting every day in that state. What do you think has been the biggest shortcoming of the Modi government? Their inability to govern. They are simply not able to think far enough and take decisions that are in the countrys interest. Demonetisation has been the biggest policy blunder of the Modi government. It was taken to make a splash and he is going to drown in that. More than one hundred people died as a result of demonetisation. I want to ask in which other country in the world would the prime minister have survived this? A flawed GST without understanding realities on the ground is also a classic example of over-regulation. I have been told by many exporters that the present GST regime has so many hurdles in respect to exports which the government needs to sort out. Modis foreign policy has also been a disaster. Hes literally a fly away (from the country) prime minister. There was peace and tranquillity with our neighbours in 2014 and look at what has happened now. After declining the joint military exercise with India, the Nepal army chief has gone a step further and declined Indian army chiefs invite to attend the BIMSTEC conclave and here we have our defence minister saying there is nothing to be worried about. Or take our relations with China. I have highlighted in my book how the UPA government had been blamed for extending a hand of friendship to the Chinese especially when they were not willing to relent on issues regarding our border state of Arunachal Pradesh. Swaying with President Xi (Jinping) in Gujarat may make for a good photo-op but has little relevance to the Chinese attitude towards us. In 2017, there were 273 transgressions by Chinese soldiers into Indian territory but one year later the number had gone up to 423. Or take the recent example of Dokalam in June 2017 when Chinese troops entered Dokalam (a disputed territory between China and Bhutan) to build a road. Foreign minister (Sushma Swaraj) rightly told the Parliament that patience was the key to resolving the stand off. But the reality is that by January 2018, almost five months after India and China agreed to end their standoff, Beijing has taken control of the northern side of the disputed plateau. The fact is that the prime minister and the PMO have been sidelining the defence minister as was also seen in the Rafale deal with France. In the same way, the PMO has sidelined both the defence minister and the finance minister. Can you run a country of 1.3 billion in this manner? This has really been his biggest failure. And let me tell you that he talked about a policy paralysis but the same policy paralysis saw an 8.2 per cent increase in GDP. We now have a strong leader and our GDP is down to seven percent. Your book highlights how Kashmir has also been a failure. What do you have to say about that? Absolutely. He has recently changed the governor but the key players in Kashmir, both the National Conference and the PDP have announced they are boycotting the panchayat polls and have refused to collaborate with the government. Your book also talks about the lack of institutional framework to reduce crimes against women. What made you say that? The Nirbhaya (Jyoti Singh) case saw the UPA become the target of public wrath with candlelight marches being held against the mishandling of this case. But Modi has failed to put in place an institutional framework for reducing crimes against women. Look at the recent incidents of the brutal murder of a Dalit girl in Jind and the murder of an 11-year old girl in Panipat none of which evoked such reactions. Or, take the case of (UP chief minister) Yogi Adityanaths MLA Kuldeep Sengar being booked for raping a minor girl. His government left no stone unturned in an attempt to shield the accused. And now, we have the spectacle of Adityanath not granting sanction for his own prosecution. He also wants 131 cases against those accused in the 2013 communal riots to be withdrawn. How come the media is keeping silent about all this? What would you describe as being the UPA governments biggest failure? You can criticise us for having a democratic impulse. There was a conspiracy, a coalition of conspiracies whose key aim was to bring down our government. We even set up a committee in the spirit of democracy but what has happened in the last four-and-a-half years? The BJP government has chosen to the put the Lokpal and the Lokayuktas Act 2013 on the backburner. Questions need to be asked about who was funding the people who gathered at the Ramlila Maidan, who was bringing them lunch and dinner, and who was paying for that media coverage? The coal scam was said to be an even bigger scam than the 2G scam. What are your views on that? The presumptive loss figure on the coal scam by CAG was put at Rs 1.86 lakh crore. The logic of the CAG was based on the governments decision not to auction 194 coal blocks between 2004 and 2011 thereby suggesting that the country had lost a massive amount of revenue. The Supreme Courts judgment in 2014 cancelling the entire chain of allocation of coal blocks from 1993-2012 has wreaked havoc on the economy. Deallocating coal mines has impacted the availability of coal. Worse, loans to the tune of Rs 2.5 lakh crore given by banks to companies that were allotted to coal mines have become NPAs apart from causing a loss of Rs 4.4 lakh crore in terms of royalty, cess, direct and indirect taxes and today we are importing coal at very high prices. Look what has been the result of the cancellation of all telecom licenses in 2012 by the Supreme Court (122 licenses). Not only has it jeopardised consumer confidence but what was a booming sector has seen the cumulative debt of the five top telecom companies (Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Reliance Communications, and Jio) rise to Rs 4.59 lakh crore as of March 2017. The special CBI judge (OP Saini) did not find a shred of evidence against the accused in the 2G scam. The trial court judgment should make us think of the dangers that present themselves when the Supreme Court entertains PILs in a surcharged atmosphere and seeks to render findings without a full-fledged trial. We have had to pay a huge economic cost for this judicial activism. I believe, in matters of economics, the court should stay their hand. Has the Congress beefed up its media team and its organisational structure in the last four years? There are a lot of new technologies which are going to be used. The reason why the government is pushing for the Aadhar card is so that it can target data for each individual. But none of this individual streaming of data is going to make an impact because no one is going to follow this piped piper in 2019. Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who was admitted to a hospital in Candolim on Thursday, will be moved to New Delhi on Saturday for further treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who was admitted to a hospital in Candolim on Thursday, will be moved to New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for further treatment on Saturday. According to reports, Parrikar has expressed his desire to give up the chief ministerial position temporarily, owing to his declining health. NDTV reported that he spoke to BJP chief Amit Shah and conveyed his inability to work normally. To reduce his work burden, portfolios will be distributed among the existing ministers, said Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo on Saturday. "Portfolios would be distributed today (Saturday) to existing ministers so that the administration of Goa can run smoothly and ministers can take decisions on any files. He will distribute 48 portfolios, but will keep two or three like Home, Finance, GAD for himself," Lobo told reporters after meeting Parrikar at a private hospital in the beach village of Candolim. Lobo also said, that the decision of change of leadership has not been taken yet and that Parrikar would continue as the chief minister. Earlier on Thursday, Parrikar, who returned from the US after medical check-up on 7 September, was admitted to a private hospital at Candolim in North Goa district. The Goa chief minister has been suffering from a pancreatic ailment for the last seven months. A central team of Bharatiya Janata Party observers is also expected to arrive in Goa and meet legislators and representatives of allied parties, while also finalising an alternative leader of the BJP-led coalition government in Parrikar's absence. Earlier this year, he was admitted to a hospital in the US for nearly three months. Since his return last week, Parrikar has not attended any official meetings. CMO officials had said he was clearing files from home and would start attending meetings and functions after Ganesh Chaturthi. However, the festival which began Thursday, is over. In the backdrop of his hospitalisation, the Goa BJP held a meeting of its state-level core committee on Friday. While the party did not reveal details of the meeting, a participant, on condition of anonymity, told PTI it was a "general meeting" which discussed the "existing political situation" in Goa. The party's core committee, which met at Mapusa, comprised three Members of Parliament from the state (two Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha) as well as senior leaders. The core committee also later met Parrikar. Apart from Parrikar, two more members of the Goa Cabinet are currently hospitalised. Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar and Urban Development Minister Francis D'Souza are both hospitalised in Mumbai. Madkaikar underwent a surgery in June in Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital after he suffered a brain stoke. D'Souza, BJP legislator from Mapusa constituency, had come to Mumbai for a medical check up. Sudin Dhavalikar may be temporary Goa chief minister According to a Times of India report, there are talks of PWD Minister Ramkrishna 'Sudin' Dhavalikar of taking over Parrikar's position as a temporary chief minister. The report quoted BJP sources as saying that Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party's (MGP) Dhavalikar, the senior-most member of the Goa Cabinet, is likely to be given temporary charge of the 19-month old government. MGP is the coalition partner in the Goa government. "No decision is taken to give charge to Dhavalikar. It will be decided after the BJP observer meets MLAs of BJP and alliance partners on Monday," a BJP official told the newspaper. With inputs from agencies The Bhim Army founder has in the past voiced his dissatisfaction with the BSP supremo while praising party founder Kanshi Ram in the same breath. Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government in the wee hours of 14 September released Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, alias Ravan, from prison. His jail term was due to end on 1 November. He was jailed under the National Security Act (NSA) in connection with the Saharanpur riots of May 2017, in which clashes between Thakurs and Scheduled Castes had left 16 injured and one dead. A signboard that reads The Great Chamar erected outside Ghadkoli village is believed to be the initial feud, with the Thakurs objecting to it but the Bhim Army having its way, which led from one event to another resulting in the riots. Chandrashekhar was arrested in June, 2017, from Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh. The Scheduled Caste community in Uttar Pradesh was unhappy with the action taken by the police and government, which gradually led to mass scale conversions to Buddhism in Saharanpur and the community maintaining an arms distance from the BJP. Chandrashekhar, 30, who hails from Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur, founded the Bhim Army Ekta Mission in 2015 to counter the dominant Thakurs influence in the district. The organisation claims to have more than 40,000 members across seven states, including Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan. Two other persons Sonu and Shivkumar who were in jail in connection with the riots, were also released on Friday, as per a government order. The state government decided to release Chandrashekhar on grounds of sympathy, due to his mothers health, it states. After his release around 2.30 am on Friday, Chandrashekhar told mediapersons that he will continue his fight against the oppressive government in the state and strengthen the mahagathbandhan. He also said that the government could not prove any charge against him under the NSA and thus have released him before the next hearing in the case. After the Saharanpur riots, the Bhim Army had garnered the support of Scheduled Castes across the country, particularly in states like Haryana, Uttarakhand and Punjab, as several protests were held demanding Chandrashekhars release. Attempt to woo Scheduled Caste community? Post the Saharanpur riots, the impact of the Scheduled Caste community distancing itself from the BJP was seen to such an extent that despite the latter winning 312 out of 403 seats in the 2017 Assembly elections, the party lost both Kairana Lok Sabha and the Noorpur Assembly seats when bypolls took place in May, 2018. One of the main reasons behind the BJPs defeat is believed to be the Bhim Army extending its support to the Opposition (Congress + BSP + SP+ RLD) candidate Tabassum Hasan. Adding fuel to the fire, the police arrested multiple protesters, including minors, in connection with the violence that took place during Aprils Bharat Bandh. This further pushed away an already estranged community. In this background, it seems like the BJP is going to try hard to reach out to the community. According to documentary filmmaker Nakul Singh Sawhney, who has been documenting atrocities on Scheduled Castes in Saharanpur, it is a win for the movement for the community's rights. Ravan is the voice of the movement for the rights of the Scheduled Caste community in India, and not just in Uttar Pradesh or Saharanpur, says Sawhney. That Ravan had been a constant voice bringing to light atrocities committed against the community did not go down well with the government, and they unconstitutionally imposed the NSA on him, says Sawhney. The move to release him is not out of sympathy, but out of pressure from the Scheduled Caste community which has been protesting against Ravans arrest, Sawhney adds. Manjit Nautiyal, the national spokesperson of the Bhim Army, welcomed the decision, while also adding that they will not allow the BJP to use the issue for electoral gains in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. We extend our thanks, but if this has been done to woo the Scheduled Castes, then we are not going to let it happen, says Nautiyal, adding that the community will continue the struggle until they are treated equally. Pitching Ravan versus Maya? The governments move to release Chandrashekhar before his jail term ends could also be an attempt of the BJP to break the Scheduled Caste vote bank, which has so far supported Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh. Chandrashekhar has in the past voiced his dissatisfaction with the BSP supremo while praising party founder Kanshi Ram in the same breath. Votes from Scheduled Castes in Uttar Pradesh have been under the firm grip of Mayawati, which was evident with the mandate of the Phoolpur and Gorakhpur by-elections, where the SP-BSP alliance vanquished an over-confident BJP. However, according to activist from the community and former IPS officer SR Darapuri, Mayawati has been opposing the Bhim Army, and has once even said that Chandrashekhar is a product of the RSS. So, this move makes it very clear that Ravan will come out as a competitor of Mayawati and will downplay her, he says. To break it down, the BJP has made a calculated move to sway the votes of Scheduled Castes in its favour in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. However, it remains to be seen if voters from the community will align with the saffron party. Chandrashekhar enjoys the staunch support of youth from the community, which can be utilised against the BSP in the upcoming election. (Saurabh Sharma is a Lucknow-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com) 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. New Delhi: 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 1 March, 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 Prime Minister 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. tech2 News Staff Last month, Google had announced that Gboard is soon going to rollout a new feature called the Minis. While iOS has been enjoying the feature ever since, the day has finally arrived for Android users as well. The feature is a part of Gboard for Android version 7.5 and higher, which is now available on Google Play Store. Minis is basically this new feature on Gboard, which transforms your selfie into multiple stickers. As Google had explained, the uses a combination of machine learning, neural networks, and artist illustrations to make stickers out of your selfie. Minis also gives you the flexibility to customise various aspects of these selfie stickers, like the shape of your face, the eyes, eyebrows, hairstyle, and accessories. To create your Minis, open any app that uses the Gboard, then go to the stickers section from the keyboard and then find the 'Your minis' tab there. From here, tap the Create button, which will open your front camera, take selfie, and your process to create the sticker starts here. You will see after you take a selfie, that you get the option for two emoji stickers based on your selfies, which you can customise as per your preference. Once you save those changes, you will then see that there are a list of emoji stickers categorised under two different packs, one called the Sweet mini, and the other named the Bold mini. In addition to support for Minis, the app also adds support for 28 new languages to the Gboard, which include Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, Gheg Albanian, Betawi, Bukusu, Chiga, Dargwa, Extremaduran, Gondi, Garo, Hiri, Hunsrik, Jambi Malay, Kurukh, Lango, Kedah Malay, Sabah Malay, Masaba, Nyoro, Picard, Pfaelzisch, Balkan Romani, Tahitian, and Soga. Agence France-Presse 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 before with an announcement in 2017 that two people would launch in 2018 but 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 spacecraft the WhiteKnightTwo from which it will detach at around 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, organised 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. 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 years -- but 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. Agence France-Presse Mayors, governors, entrepreneurs, CEOs, investors and celebrities delivered a double-edged message Friday at the close of a climate summit in San Francisco: global warming is making the planet unliveable but we know how to fix it. "We are using the sky as an open sewer, it's insane," former US vice president Al Gore told the conference, noting that humanity belches 110 million tons of heat-trapping pollution into the atmosphere every day. "Will we change? That's what the Global Climate Action Summit is all about." Over three days, thousands of delegates from the private and public sectors showcased policies and innovations aimed at reducing that flow of greenhouse gases. Cities are converting to all-electric vehicle fleets and setting deadlines for banishing gas-guzzling cars from their roads; companies have vowed to operate only with renewable energy, including a few smokestack multinationals in the developing world. "Clean and green is profitable," Mahendra Singhi, CEO of Dalmia Cement Ltd in India told AFP. Investors managing fortunes said they were purging coal, oil and gas from their portfolios; young entrepreneurs showed off energy-efficiency apps and inventions. Provincial and state governors in tropical countries vowed to empower indigenous peoples who have been managing forests sustainably since before "sustainable" was even a word. Zero-carbon future But all these efforts may be in vain, the delegates warned, if national governments fail to do their part. "Now is the time for all leaders to step up and take bold action," they said in an appeal framed as a Call to Action. "We call on the national governments of the world to step up ambition now, and chart a clear path to your zero-carbon future." "We have enough critical mass in the private sector now to help spur that political process," said Paul Polman, CEO or Unilever, one of the world's largest consumer goods companies. The 196-nation Paris Agreement, inked in 2015, enjoins nations to cap global warming this century at "well below" two degrees Celsius (3.6 F), and to strive for a ceiling of 1.5 C if possible. With only one degree Celsius of warming so far, Earth has seen a crescendo of deadly heatwaves, droughts, floods and superstorms engorged by rising seas. But UN talks to implement the treaty, which goes into effect in 2020, have stalled over disagreements on money to help poor countries green their economies and brace for unavoidable climate impacts. More urgent still is the so-called "ambition gap" between voluntary national commitments to curb carbon pollution, and what is needed to keep global temperature rises under 2 C. Even if all nations honour current pledges many of which depend on climate finance that does not yet exist the world will heat up by an unbearable 3.5 C, scientists have calculated. 'Kick this monster's ass' A climate summit convened by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres next fall "is what is going to determine whether we can save the Paris Agreement or not," said David Paul, Environment Minister for the Marshall Islands. The transition to a greener global economy has been hampered by US President Donald Trump, who opted out of the Paris pact months after taking office, saying it would pose a "burden" on the US economy. Trump has also taken a sledge hammer to the climate policies of his predecessor, Barack Obama, relaxing pollution rules for coal-fired power plants and rolling back car-mileage standards. "Withdrawing American leadership from an issue that is life or death is one of the single greatest acts of irresponsibility of a president anywhere, anytime," former US Secretary of State and presidential candidate John Kerry told the plenary, to thunderous applause. But the American people are "way smarter," he added, pointing to the conference and climate change policies in dozens of states across the country. "The zero-carbon economy is the growth story of the 21st century," economist Nicholas Stern, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics, told AFP. "There is no long-run high carbon growth story." The final verdict was delivered by Hollywood veteran Harrison Ford. "Nature doesn't need people, people need Nature," he told the plenary. "So let's turn off our phones, let's roll up our sleeves, and let's kick this monster's ass." By Ernest Scheyder WILMINGTON, N.C. By Ernest Scheyder WILMINGTON, N.C. (Reuters) - Hurricane Florence crashed into the Carolinas on Friday, knocking down trees, swamping streets and causing four deaths before slowing to a pace that will lead to a dayslong deluge for the region. The storm's first casualties, which included a mother and her baby killed when a tree fell on their brick house in Wilmington, North Carolina, were announced about eight hours after Florence came ashore. The child's father was taken to a hospital. In Pender County, North Carolina, a woman suffered a heart attack and died because hurricane debris blocking roads prevented paramedics from reaching her. A fourth person was killed in Lenoir County while plugging in a generator, the governor's office said. After landfall, Florence slowed to a pace that meant it would plague the area with days of flooding. The hurricane's storm surge - the wall of water it pushed in from the Atlantic - "overwhelmed" the town of New Bern at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent rivers, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said. "To those in the storm's path, if you can hear me, please stay sheltered in place," he said at a news conference in Raleigh, adding that 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. The centre of the hurricane's eye came ashore at about 7:15 a.m. EDT (1115 GMT) near Wrightsville Beach close to Wilmington, North Carolina, with sustained winds of 90 miles per hour (150 kph), the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. By mid-afternoon the winds had dropped to 75 mph (120 kph) and the centre was moving west at 6 mph (10 kph), the NHC said, and parts of North and South Carolina would get as much as 40 inches of rain (1 metre). Cooper said Florence was set to cover almost all of North Carolina in several feet of water. As of Friday morning, Atlantic Beach, a town on the state's Outer Banks barrier islands, already had received 30 inches (76 cm) of rain, the U.S. Geological Service said. Twenty inches (50 cm) were reported by early Friday afternoon in the town of Oriental. (GRAPHIC: Hurricane Florence to pummel U.S. Southeast for days - https://tmsnrt.rs/2oZFKSb) Authorities in New Bern, a town of about 30,000 people that dates to the early 18th century, said more than 100 people had to be saved from floods and that the downtown area was underwater. Calls for help kept coming in as the wind picked up and the tide arrived, said city public information officer Colleen Roberts. "These are folks who decided to stay and ride out the storm for whatever reason, despite having a mandatory evacuation," she said. "These are folks who are maybe in one-story buildings and theyre seeing the floodwaters rise." Video reports from several towns in the Carolinas showed emergency personnel wading through rippling thigh-high floodwaters in residential neighbourhoods. President Donald Trump is expected to travel to areas hit by Florence next week, once it is determined his travel will not disrupt any rescue or recovery efforts, the White House said on Friday. 'IT'S INSANE' Florence also blew down trees, including one that went through the roof of Kevin DiLoreto's home in Wilmington. He said all roads leading to his neighbourhood were blocked by fallen trees. "It's insane," he said in a phone interview. "Everybody laughs at the fact that this storm got downgraded ... but I've never seen tree devastation this bad. "Afterwards, I'm going to drink a bottle of whiskey and take a two-day nap, but right now I'm walking the neighbourhood and making sure my neighbours are fine, because nobody can get in here." More than 722,000 homes and businesses were without power in North and South Carolina early on Friday, utility officials said. Utility companies said millions were expected to lose power and restoration could take weeks. Florence had been a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds on Thursday but dropped to Category 1 before coming ashore. It is expected to move across parts of southeastern North Carolina and eastern South Carolina on Friday and Saturday, then head north over the western Carolinas and central Appalachian Mountains early next week, the NHC said. Significant weakening is expected over the weekend. About 10 million people could be affected by the storm and more than 1 million were ordered to evacuate the coasts of the Carolinas and Virginia. Some of those who stayed went to shelters while others stuck it out in their homes. Maysie Baumgardner, 7, and her family sheltered at the Hotel Ballast in downtown Wilmington as Florence filled the streets with floodwaters. "It looks heavy outside," she said. "I'm a little bit scared right now, but I have my iPad and I'm watching Netflix." Florence was one of two major storms on Friday. In the Philippines, evacuations were under way with Super Typhoon Mangkhut expected to hit on Saturday in an area impacting an estimated 5.2 million people. (Additional reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh; Scott DiSavino and Gina Cherelus in New York; Makini Brice in Washington; Andy Sullivan in Columbia, South Carolina; and Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Writing by Bill Trott; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Nick Zieminski) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. In the absence of any waiver from the Trump Administration, it could have major implications for India, which is one of the biggest importers of Iran's oil Washington: The United States has warned of having a "fundamentally different set of rules" to deal with the countries continuing to have economic activities with Iran after its sanction against Tehran becomes fully operational on 4 November. Make no mistake about it, come 4 November (and) there will be a fundamentally different set of rules with respect to anyone who deems it necessary to engage in economic activities with the Islamic Republic of Iran, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters at a news conference in Washington on Friday. In the absence of any waiver or concession from the Trump Administration, it could have major implications for India, which is one of the biggest importers of Iranian oil and is currently developing the strategic Chabahar port. Officials of the two countries are having an ongoing discussion on both the issues. This includes the meeting between the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department. The meeting took place immediately after Pompeo's press conference. "There are still a number of decisions pending before the 4 November deadline that we've got to make about waivers or potential waivers, and we're working our way through each of them, Pompeo said. India is one of the countries which is likely to get some waiver, given the strategic nature of Indo-US ties, the strategic importance of the Chabahar port and its burgeoning energy needs. India, on its part has already started reducing its oil intake from Iran, but is unlikely to bring it down to zero. "You can see many countries already taking actions to move out of Iran, to discontinue doing business with them in advance of the November 4 deadline, Pompeo said in response to a question, adding these countries understand the seriousness of the US sanctions. Pompeo said they also appreciate that trading with Iran is "supporting the exact kinds of malign activity that President Donald Trump has been talking about since the first day he took office." The various "malign activities" that the US Secretary of State listed included alleged supply of missiles by Iran to Houthis to launch into Gulf countries airports. These activities further included "the activities we have seen taken by Shia militias against American interests or the assassination efforts underway in the heart of Europe," said Pompeo. The world is beginning to see that the challenge is much bigger than anything that the JCPOA even pretended to have addressed, he said. Pompeo said he has also seen the statements "the Iranians have said this week." They've said, boy, if we end up withdrawing, we'll start from a much higher level. I may have the quote off just a little bit but I'm very close. Wow, what does that say about the existence of the agreement, right? "They're going to start from a much higher level. It tells you that the agreement itself didn't stop all the paths to nuclear weapons in the way that it was sold to the American people," he said. During the news conference, Pompeo slammed the former Secretary of State John Kerry for having talks with the Iranian leadership. What Secretary Kerry has done is unseemly and unprecedented. This is a former secretary of state engaged with the world's largest state sponsor of terror. He was talking to them. He was telling them to wait out this administration, Pompeo said. You can't find precedent for this in US history, and Secretary Kerry ought not to engage in that kind of behavior. It's inconsistent with what foreign policy of the United States is, as directed by this President, and it is beyond inappropriate for him to be engaged in this, he said. I wasn't in the meeting, but I am reasonably confident that he was not there in support of the US policy with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran, who this week fired Katyusha rockets toward the United States embassy in Baghdad and took action against our consulate in Basra, Pompeo said. By Chijioke Ohuocha ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday accepted the resignation of Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun, who said she stepped down over allegations of using a forged certificate to avoid participation in the country's mandatory one-year national youth service scheme. Adeosun, a top cabinet member and a former investment banker who promoted the government's policy to boost growth following a recent recession, said in a statement that she believed she was exempt from the service scheme but felt bound to resign because of the administration's 'focus on integrity.' Allegations that Adeosun had used a forged exemption certificate to avoid participation in the youth service scheme surfaced in recent months in the Nigerian media. Adeosun did not comment on the claims initially, prompting criticism from her opponents. By Chijioke Ohuocha ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday accepted the resignation of Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun, who said she stepped down over allegations of using a forged certificate to avoid participation in the country's mandatory one-year national youth service scheme. Adeosun, a top cabinet member and a former investment banker who promoted the government's policy to boost growth following a recent recession, said in a statement that she believed she was exempt from the service scheme but felt bound to resign because of the administration's "focus on integrity." Allegations that Adeosun had used a forged exemption certificate to avoid participation in the youth service scheme surfaced in recent months in the Nigerian media. Adeosun did not comment on the claims initially, prompting criticism from her opponents. In her statement on Friday, Adeosun said her understanding was that she was exempted from the scheme because she had moved back to Nigeria from Britain, where she was born, after she had passed the required minimum age. "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," she said in her statement. "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." Adeosun was appointed by Buhari to manage the finances of Africa's biggest economy in November 2015. Her flagship policy was a bid to improve tax collection and shore up the country's finances by cracking down on mismanagement by government agencies. Adeosun also oversaw a strategy of restructuring Nigeria's debt portfolio into longer term maturities by borrowing more offshore and less at home to lower costs. Buhari took office in 2015 after an election campaign largely fought on his vow to fight corruption, but his detractors have accused him of failing to investigate allies accused of wrongdoing. The presidency approved that the minister of state for budget and national planning, Zainab Ahmed, would oversee the Finance Ministry with immediate effect, it said on its official Twitter account. The west African country emerged from recession last year, but growth remains sluggish and largely dependent on higher oil prices, despite the stated aim of Buhari's administration to increase non-oil revenues. The government's handling of the economy is likely to be a campaign issue in February's presidential election in which Buhari plans to seek a second term. (Reporting by Chijioke Ohuocha, additional reporting by Alexis Akwagyiram in Lagos; editing by Leslie Adler) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The new government of Imran Khan is set to take its first steps towards enunciating its Afghanistan strategy. The new government of Imran Khan is set to take its first steps towards enunciating its Afghanistan strategy. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will visit Afghanistan in his first visit outside the country. The visit comes just after a long meeting between the prime minister, army chief General Qamar Bajwa, ISI chief Naveed Mukhtar, and major ministerial heads on Friday where foreign policy matters were reportedly discussed. The visit of the foreign minister has its more-than-obvious backdrop. First, the Trump administration is breathing fire and brimstone at Pakistans clear and continued support for the Taliban in Afghanistan. The most recent in this regard were reports of Taliban militants being treated in Pakistani hospitals after the mass attack on Ghazni in August. Social media showed several pictures of Taliban dead arriving in Dir, in Khyber Pakthunkhwa immediately after the attack, which seemed to confirm the presence of Pakistani fighters. Since the report on medical treatment to Taliban fighters has been endorsed by no less a person than President Ashraf Ghani himself, there is potential for an extremely awkward meeting. But present and past presidents of Afghanistan have tried friendship, extravagant praise, and just about everything in the book to stop Pakistani assistance to death and violence. That hasnt happened yet. It's unlikely to happen this time around for many reasons, one of them being that the Taliban may see themselves as steadily winning important territory. The attack on Ghazni was known months in advance. As is now the norm, Taliban fighters were reported to be around the city months earlier, with experts like Ehsan Qaane detailing the slow surrounding of the city, as district after district was attacked by Taliban soldiers equipped with night vision devices and heavy equipment. Several times, the roads to Ghazni were cut off, demonstrating the capability of the terrorist force that took its time to entrench itself, at times even collecting taxes. The fall of Ghazni is an important milestone for the Taliban, putting them within shouting distance of Kabul. It also means the ability to cut off communications to the 203 Corps located at Paktia. When Qureshi goes calling, hes going with a full hand in this area. His group has all the cards and the trade in this regard will be in terms of what Pakistan can get out of talks whenever they happen. The talks about talks which at one level can be said to be ongoing since the last decade seem to have had some kind of a revival. Recently, a meeting of sorts between four Taliban officials and Alice Wells, deputy assistant secretary in the state department, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, was reportedly held at Qatar in late July. This preceded the fall of Ghazni, and its success lay in the ceasefire that was declared thereafter during Eid. That ceasefire which saw dramatic pictures of Taliban soldiers hugging Afghan security personnel had a hasty demise. The Taliban are back on the warpath, but seem to be still open to some sort of negotiations with the US, but on different issues altogether. The optimism is evident in that the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" seems to feel that the recent appointment of Zalmay Khalilzad, Trumps special envoy for Afghanistan, is something to cheer about. Its commentators compare his coming to that of Vorontsov, who was sent by the Soviet Union to pull out tired Soviet troops out of the hell hole into which they had fallen. According to Taliban back channel rumours, the only thing the US would or should want to negotiate at this stage is a continuance of its military bases. That premise whether true or not is interesting. It means that the Taliban may be open to some limited (and quiet) US presence in the future. The defining of that limited will again lie in Pakistans ability to persuade for want of a better word Taliban leadership. That old adage of a cat always falling on its feet completely describes Rawalpindis strategy. No, President Ghani needs Qureshi more than the latter needs him. President Ghani is particularly weak at the moment. His governments infighting has not just stymied efforts to build the country, but also specifically weakened the defence against the Taliban. The New York Times recently reported that the defence of Ghazni was worsened by the fact that the besieged force was sent the wrong type of ammunition. A spate of resignations followed, including that of powerful National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar, sparked by this as well as simmering differences between members of the cabinet, and a rocket attack on the Presidential palace on Eid. Then, there is also the fact that many of these cabinet members will want to distance themselves from the palace before they themselves stand for elections. Parliamentary elections are due soon, and presidential elections in 2019. There is little public confidence in the voting process, particularly the preparation of voter lists. In other words, the Pakistani foreign minister will be talking to a leader all but bereft of public support. It only remains to understand what the Pakistan foreign ministers brief was likely to be for talks. That meeting of the top brass would have counselled him to simply buy time. Rawalpindi will be aware that peaceful parliamentary elections are only useful where it brings the Taliban-backed candidates to power. That math will determine whether or not parliamentary elections remain peaceful or wracked with enough violence to bring in a sullen and divided Parliament. For Pakistan, this is a time for consolidation of its efforts, that will eventually give the Taliban some power at the top, just enough to keep them as a tool. It was never ever part of Rawalpindis vision to have a triumphant and victorious group that grows too big for its boots. As Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Hussain Qureshi packs his bags for Kabul, he can comfort himself with the fact that its not his bosss hands on the tiller. Prime Minister Imran Khans talk of peace with neighbours and goodwill towards all, never has and never will apply to Afghanistan. He simply doesnt have the clout. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Russia on Friday of actively working to undermine international sanctions on North Korea WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Russia on Friday of actively working to undermine international sanctions on North Korea. Speaking at a news briefing at the State Department, Pompeo said enforcement of United Nations sanctions was essential to achieving the denuclearisation of North Korea. 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 after it pushed for changes to an independent report on sanctions violations. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by James Dalgleish) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Nathan Layne, Jonathan Landay and Karen Freifeld WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort will cooperate with the federal investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, a dramatic turnaround in a probe that the U.S. By Nathan Layne, Jonathan Landay and Karen Freifeld WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort will cooperate with the federal investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, a dramatic turnaround in a probe that the U.S. president derides as a political witch hunt. After months of refusing to assist Special Counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry into Russian interference and possible coordination between Trump campaign members and Moscow, Manafort finally took a plea deal on Friday and agreed to cooperate in return for reduced charges. Trump had previously praised Manafort in an Aug. 22 Twitter post as "a brave man" for his refusal to cooperate with the inquiry. It is unclear what information Manafort, a longtime Republican political consultant who ran the campaign as it took off in mid-2016, could offer prosecutors but his cooperation might bring Trump, his family and associates under closer scrutiny. The White House distanced Trump from the man who helped get him elected in November 2016 against the odds in a bitterly contested campaign in which he defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton. "This had absolutely nothing to do with the president or his victorious 2016 presidential campaign," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement. "It is totally unrelated." Cornell University professor of law Jens David Ohlin said it was hard to predict what information a cooperation agreement will yield but that Manafort's deal could be a serious problem for Trump. "If Manafort is willing to give Mueller information about Trump's contacts with Russia, whether the contacts were direct or indirect, then this really is a disaster for Trump and his associates." Manafort is the fifth person linked to Trump to plead guilty to criminal charges. The others are his former longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen, former campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, Trump's first national security adviser Michael Flynn and Manafort's business protege Rick Gates, who also worked on the 2016 campaign. Manafort, 69, pleaded guilty in a federal court in Washington on Friday to conspiracy against the United States - a charge that includes a range of conduct from money laundering to unregistered lobbying - and conspiracy to obstruct justice for his attempts to tamper with witnesses in his case. The prosecution dropped five other counts. The plea, coming on the heels of a conviction in a separate case last month, concludes a steep fall from grace for a multi-millionaire who was often at Trump's side as he took U.S. politics by storm in 2016. The investigation has cast a shadow over the president as the leader of the Republican Party going into the Nov. 6 congressional elections that will determine whether or not Republicans keep control of Congress. Muellers team told the court that Manafort had previewed what information he could offer, leading to the deal. The plea agreement requires him to cooperate completely with the government, including giving interviews without his attorney present and testifying before any grand juries or at any trials. Manafort is facing up to 10 years in prison on the two charges in Washington alone, and another eight to 10 years on a conviction in Virginia in August on tax and bank fraud charges. But depending on the extent of his cooperation and the degree to which prosecutors argue for reducing his sentence, Manafort could end up getting anywhere from a year to five years in prison, according to Mark Allenbaugh, a federal sentencing expert. It would not surprise me if he got time served for both cases, Allenbaugh said. Manafort was convicted last month in Virginia on charges that pre-dated his stint on the Trump campaign and involved his work with pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine. The jury found that he hid from U.S. tax authorities $16 million he earned as a political consultant in Ukraine to fund an opulent lifestyle and lied to banks to secure $20 million in loans. TURNAROUND 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. Manafort made millions of dollars working in Ukraine before taking an unpaid position with Trump's campaign for five months. Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who is representing Trump in the Russia probe, said Manafort cooperating with Mueller was not a problem for his client. "He knows nothing harmful to the president and the plea is the best evidence of that," Giuliani told Reuters. Manafort was present at a June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with a Russian lawyer at which his son expected to receive possibly damaging information about election opponent Clinton. Trump's critics have pointed to the meeting as evidence of the collusion with Russia that Trump denies. Later in 2016, Manafort oversaw the Republican National Convention that nominated Trump for the presidency. During the convention, the partys platform on Ukraine was altered in a way that made it more in line with Russian interests. Trump has the power to issue a presidential pardon for Manafort on federal charges. The president has not said whether he would do so. Senator Mark Warner, the leading Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, said any attempt by Trump to pardon Manafort "would be a gross abuse of power and require immediate action by Congress." Prosecutor Andrew Weissmann walked the court through Manaforts efforts over a decade to influence power brokers in Washington without acknowledging that he was being paid tens of millions of dollars from pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine, a disclosure required by law. Mr. Manafort engaged in a variety of criminal schemes. He did so knowingly, intentionally and wilfully, Weissmann said. The plea agreement requires Manafort to forfeit millions of dollars worth of real estate, including a mansion in the Hamptons, a Brooklyn brownstone and an apartment in Trump Tower in Manhattan. Hes accepted responsibility," Manafort's lawyer Kevin Downing said outside the courthouse."He wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life." (Reporting by Nathan Layne, Jonathan Landay and Karen Freifeld; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey; Writing by Alistair Bell; Editing by Howard Goller and Grant McCool) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. It is a known fact that Google is said to be working on a censored search engine in China. Now according to a new report, the company has built a prototype of a censored search engine for China linking users searches to their personal phone numbers, making it easier for the Chinese government to monitor peoples queries. The search engine is codenamed Dragonfly. It is designed for Android devices and would remove content deemed sensitive by Chinas ruling Communist Party regime, such as information about political dissidents, free speech, democracy, human rights, and peaceful protest. Google compiled a censorship blacklist that included terms such as human rights, student protest, and Nobel Prize in Mandarin. Concerns from groups say that beyond the censorship, user data stored by Google on the Chinese mainland could be accessible to Chinese authorities, who routinely target political activists and journalists. The search engine would be operated as part of a joint venture partnership with a company based in mainland China. Furthermore, the venture would have the ability to update the search term blacklists. This raises new questions about whether Google executives in the U.S. would be able to maintain effective control and oversight over the censorship. That doesnt end here, a list of seven employees said to have quit their jobs at Google over a lack of corporate transparency is circulating within the companys ranks. This sudden departure follows the controversial revelation of Googles work on Project Dragonfly. Employees shared the list of names on an email list dedicated to discussions of ethics and transparency issues at Google. This group of software engineers weighs experience at Google between one and 11 years. One of the names on the list is that of former Google senior scientist Jack Poulson, who worked for the company in Toronto before resigning over Dragonfly last month. A spokesperson for Google said, It is our policy to not comment on individual employees. The revelation of Dragonfly provoked an immediate backlash within the company. In a statement, Jack Poulson said: Im offended that no weight has been given to the human rights community having a consensus, he said. If you have coalition letter from 14 human rights organizations, and that cant even make it into the discussions on the ethics behind a decision, Id rather stand with the human rights organizations in this dispute. Source 1, 2 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. Huawei claims its foldable phone will make laptops a thing of the past News oi-Vishal Kawadkar Huawei makes big claims ahead of its foldable smartphone launch. Huawei, as we all know is working on its version of a foldable smartphone. The company is expected to unveil the device by the end of this year. Now, company CEO, Richard Yu has gone on record to say that their foldable smartphones will make laptops obsolete. In a recent interview with German outlet Die Welt, Mr. Yu said are still reliant on laptops due to the small screens of their smartphones. However, a bendable phone would have the advantage of providing more screen space while keeping the form factor small. Yu also confirmed that the company will commercialize such a device in less than a year, the industry veteran said. If the new reports are to believed, Huawei might announce its first foldable display phone by the end of 2018, though Mr. Yu's latest comments on the matter hint towards a 2019 launch. While Samsung is expected to launch the first consumer-grade foldable phone, the two rivals are likely to display radically different smartphones. While Yu is talking about making the laptops obsolete, Samsung's mobile chief DJ Koh recently said that the company plans on using flexible screens and related technologies to create an entirely new line of smartphones, but doesn't plan on making a laptop alternative. We still don't have a clear picture on how both smartphones will shape up, though Samsung is expected to unveil the device in November this year. Rumor has it that Xiaomi has already started the development of its own foldable smartphone. The company is said to be working with the suppliers. Unlike, Samsung and Huawei which have in-folding designs for their devices, Xiaomi's version will have an outward folding design. What remains unclear is how the company would choose to price the device. While Samsung's device could cost up to $2,000, Xiaomi has committed to a maximum profit margin of 5% on its smartphones. This could mean that Xiaomi can significantly undercut its contemporaries. Besides, Oppo is also said to jump on the bandwagon soon, however, no specific timeframe has been provided. While there is no information about the existence of these devices, numerous recent patents hint towards what is expected from the companies. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Voto Mobiles to launch 3 smartphones in India under Rs.10K segment News oi-Priyanka Dua The company also plans to handset bundling with major telecom operators like Airtel, Vodafone-Idea and Reliance Jio. Chinese smartphone maker Voto Mobiles is all set to launch three smartphones in India, under Rs.10,000 segment. "More and more Chinese brands are entering in India and are now contributing to more than 3/4 of the total smartphone market. India is one of the most potential markets for Smartphones and demand for it is growing every year. In the initial phase, alongside India, we have plans to enter Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal too." said VOTO official from China. Meanwhile, the company also aims to achieve two percent of market share and project to sell more than a million smartphone units in India by the end of the ongoing financial year. "Voto mobile aspires to be one of the leading smartphone companies by offering its superior handsets at the most competitive prices. Simultaneously, it will generate tremendous value for its investors & stakeholders too." Said Santosh Singh, National Sales Head, VOTO India. The company also plans to handset bundling with major telecom operators like Airtel, Vodafone-Idea and Reliance Jio. According to a new report by research firm International Data Corporation (IDC), Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi maintained its leadership position with its highest ever shipments in a single quarter in 2Q18. Its four smartphone models captured the top four slots in top models ranking, namely Redmi 5A, Redmi Note 5 Pro, Redmi Note 5 and Redmi 5, together accounting for 26 percent of overall smartphone shipments, IDC said. While another Chinese player, OPPO slipped to 4th position, however, its shipments grew by 15 percent Year-over-year (YoY) in 2Q18 due to fewer marketing initiatives and absence of attractive offline channel schemes and Transsion continued to be at the 5th position, as its offline focused Tecno branded phones grew by 26 percent followed by itel with 14 percent QoQ growth in 2Q18. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Syska to manufacture camera module, join hands with two companies News oi-Priyanka Dua Syska Group has a 49 percent stake in the company whereas Biometronic has 41 percent stake and Suyin Optronics has 10 stakes in the new entity. Syska group has joined hands with Biometronic Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) and Suyin Optronics, Corp. (Taiwan) to set up India's first camera module factory. The factory will be set up in Noida with the total investment of Rs. 200 crores which will be utilized in three phases. Rajesh Uttamchandani, Director, Syska Group said, "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. Additionally, we have always been supportive of government's initiative of Make in India and setting up a factory in India will help us in contributing towards this initiative and also aid in generating employment opportunities." Syska Group has a 49 percent stake in the company whereas Biometronic has 41 percent stake and Suyin Optronics has 10 stakes in the new entity. Gary Lee, Chairman of Suyin Optronics, Corp. (Taiwan) said, "We are pleased to announce our manufacturing facility with our strategic partners. India's economic growth of 7.4 percent, it's domestic consumer electronic demands and the government's 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." 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 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, according to the statement. Best Mobiles in India Bellingcat: Russian Documents Suggest Novichok Suspects Were Operatives September 14, 2018 The independent Bellingcat research organization says it has reviewed Russian documents, which 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 man's 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 Skripal's 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. Peskov's comments come a day after the two men appeared in an interview on 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 the Kremlin-funded 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. 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kremlin-says-it-would- consider-british-request-over-skripal -poisoning-suspects/29489831.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Novichok Suspects: Gay Or Not Gay? That Is Russian State Media's Question RFE/RL September 14, 2018 "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." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/novichok- suspects-gay-or-not-russian-state- media-bashirov/29490426.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Ready For Serious Talks With London on Skripal Case - Lavrov Sputnik News 18:01 14.09.2018(updated 20:56 14.09.2018) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has announced that Moscow is prepared to conduct serious talks with London regarding the investigation of the alleged poisoning of Sergei Skripal. While Britain did not present any proof of Russia's involvement in Skripal affair, Moscow is ready and willing to hold serious discussion with London about this matter, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during joint press conference with his German counterpart Heiko Maas in Berlin. "Today we've confirmed to our German partners that we haven't seen any evidence. And I seriously doubt that the British presented anything other than what they publicly use to back their baseless accusations, to their NATO allies and to the European Union," Lavrov said. The minister also remarked that Moscow is ready for a serious discussion with London, based on the principles of the international law and not on the "highly-likely principle." "The 'highly-likely' principle won't fly here, even though our British colleagues employ it to demonize Russia and to turn all their European partners against us. This is being done during the Brexit process which is probably why London steps up these efforts," Lavrov remarked. He also stressed that there is no factual basis for somewhat meaningful discussion of accusations against Russia maintained by London with regard to the Skripal affair or the death of former Russian security officer Alexander Litvinenko. "Not only with regard to the Litvinenko case but also with regard to the situation around the Skripals as well as the deaths of other Russian nationals in London, including [former top manager of Russian flag carrier Aeroflot Nikolai] Glushkov, there are no facts whatsoever which could become a basis for meaningful consideration and discussion [on the issue]," Lavrov said. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas added that Berlin received a considerable amount of data regarding the Skripal case, and has no reason to doubt its veracity. "We maintain close contact with our partners in Britain. We've already received plenty of information regarding this matter and have no reason to doubt it," he said, adding that an exchange of information between the parties involved may help the investigation. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address AF announces corrective measures for oxygen breathing system in training aircraft Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs / Published September 14, 2018 JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- The Air Force will begin implementing a series of corrective measures, including redesigning the oxygen system and adjusting oxygen control levels in flight, to address persistent problems in training aircraft. In addition, Air Education and Training Command will increase maintenance on the oxygen distribution system, known as OBOGS, to curb problems identified in T-6 Texan II trainer aircraft. The measures came after a six-month examination of problems with the system by AETC and Air Force Material Command looking into fluctuating oxygen levels for pilots. A team of experts, including the Navy and NASA, have worked together to improve pilot safety and reduce physiological events in flight. Varying levels of oxygen concentrations in the cockpit was identified as the major factor in unexplained physiological events that affected T-6 pilots across AETC. "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," said Lt. Gen. Steve Kwast, AETC commander. "The varying levels of oxygen concentration, even though in excess of what the body typically needs, has caused physiological stress that most pilots on most days actually adapt to without noticing." The physiological stress results in symptoms that can be similar to hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, hypocapnea, or lack of carbon dioxide, or other related conditions, Kwast said. In February 2018, Maj. Gen. Patrick Doherty, 19th Air Force commander, directed an operational pause for pilots across the T-6 fleet. At the same time, AFMC stood up an independent review team to investigate potential causes, working with AETC to conduct a full inspection of the T-6 OBOGS. During the pause, AETC and AFMC conducted multiple inspections. During those inspections, the OBOGS filter and drain valves were found to fail at a much higher than anticipated rate. These parts were repaired or replaced as necessary. Because some oxygen system components were failing at higher than expected rates, the T-6 Program Office at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, directed inspections on a more aggressive timeline. In a process expected to take between two and four years, AETC, in partnership with AFMC, has initiated a redesign of the T-6 OBOGS system to stabilize the variation in the percentage of oxygen levels pilots breathe. Concurrently, AETC and AFMC are working with the aircraft manufacturer to adjust the OBOGS software algorithm to stabilize oxygen concentrations. While this should reduce physiological events, the Air Force will pursue a broader redesign. The Air Force will also introduce new maintenance procedures drawn from several different Air Force and Navy T-6 bases. For example, purging excess moisture from the system appears to keep the OBOGS operating more efficiently over time, Doherty said. Brig. Gen. Edward L. Vaughan, Air Force Physiological Episodes Action Team lead, plans to collaborate with Air Force officials and other military services to determine if the OBOGS measures planned for the T-6 will be applicable across other aircraft that use OBOGS. AETC officials are also adding study materials for T-6 pilots. The training will focus on identifying symptoms, responses and corrective procedures for all types of events, not just hypoxia. "Since our T-6 operational pause, we have made every effort to communicate with every instructor and every student exactly what we've found," Doherty said. "Transparency remains of utmost importance to use as we all work together to ensure that our pilots are safe and know the way ahead." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address JB Charleston evacuates aircraft, maintains airlift capabilities By Tech Sgt. Jonathan Lovelady, 628th Air Base Wing Public Affairs / Published September 14, 2018 JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. (AFNS) -- Joint Base Charleston personnel assigned to the 437th Airlift Wing and 628th Air Base Wing began evacuation flights for 24 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft Sept. 11, 2018, in anticipation of Hurricane Florence. The aircraft and supporting personnel planned and executed flights from JB Charleston to three designated safe locations within 48 hours of notification, a move designed to sustain the wing's airlift capability. The aircraft were relocated to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Mid America St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois, and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. In alignment with the limited evacuation order issued by Col. Terrence Adams, 628th ABW and JB Charleston commander, Col. Clint ZumBrunnen, 437th AW commander, made the decision to evacuate aircraft in order to protect valuable assets while allowing them to continue their previously scheduled missions. "The safety of our service members and their families is our priority," said Adams. "We're following the lead of the governor of South Carolina and issuing a limited evacuation order. At the same time, it is our responsibility to continue our global airlift operations in support of the Department of Defense, our nation and our partners and allies. I have the utmost confidence that our Airmen will continue to execute their missions in an effective and professional manner." ZumBrunnen echoed Adams' sentiment, adding that the evacuation and continuation of the mission required a team effort. "It is a testament to how the team that I inherited works together," said ZumBrunnen. "Essentially, within 36 hours of being told to go, we launched 24 aircraft, which includes maintenance and aerial port. The operations group came together to execute a plan that's very complex, and within that period of time, we got every airplane out of here. We couldn't do it without the air base wing [or] our partners in the 315th AW who had crews fly airplanes away for us." Lt. Col. Travis Elliott, 16th Airlift Squadron director of operations, not only led the execution phase of the aircraft evacuation effort, he also flew with a C-17 crew from JB Charleston to Scott AFB to ensure their readiness for any taskings received. "It's very important for the security of our personnel to get out of here, and get the aircraft out of here to make sure they don't sustain any type of damage," said Elliot. "It's also important that we continue the mission as well, so we're going to Scott [AFB] to continue the missions that we had already been scheduled for and evacuating aircraft allows us to do that. Plus, if there is any kind of recovery effort needed of course, we hope there isn't we'll be available to go and assist those folks." Having observed the mission planning process and one of the evacuation flights first-hand, Elliott expressed his amazement with the performance of everyone involved. "In just over a day and a half, agencies across the entire base got these aircraft off the ground and that is absolutely amazing," said Elliott. "It's been a great experience, great folks to work with across the board." Staff Sgt. Andrea Jansen, a 16th Airlift Squadron loadmaster on Elliott's flight, attributed the "seamless" execution of her crew's evacuation to effective teamwork, coordination and planning from units across JB Charleston. "I'm impressed with how flawlessly we were able to execute," said Jansen. "A lot of what we do, we couldn't do without the people that are supporting us [like] aerial port [and] maintenance. We can't get off the ground without them. I'm really proud to be a part of the team that's doing it." According to Jansen, getting off the ground means delivering "anything, anywhere, anytime, and providing support to people that need it." However the work doesn't end there. Her crew was scheduled to fly an overseas mission within days of arriving at Scott AFB. Back to back missions require extensive effort of the 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron as well. "It was really a testament to the capabilities of the individuals on both the [JB Charleston] side as well as the Scott Air Force Base side." said Capt. Christie Taylor, 437th AMXS Blue Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer in charge. "There was communication all throughout the night to make the mission happen and be ready to go the next day to be up in the air. It was really tremendous." The effort put forth by Scott AFB Airmen was a factor, which enabled her team to quickly get situated so they could focus on their mission and maintain readiness for the next phase of operations. Almost immediately after arriving, Taylor's team began performing inspections and maintenance on more than 10 C-17s that relocated to Scott AFB, roughly half of the total evacuated. "We have a potential for up to 14 aircraft and that's because we have aircraft that came in from Charleston, but we're also receiving missions here right now," said Taylor. "We're being fluid and flexible to be able to support not only the aircraft that left from Charleston, but the continuing missions that are still happening despite a hurricane." Taylor emphasized the importance of looking after the Airmen who look after the mission. "It's times like these where they're unfortunate, but it's really a time to appreciate what the Air Force does for our people," said Taylor. "Not only are we taking care of resources and aircraft and continuing missions worldwide, but we have families that we're calling out to people who are deployed. It's a time to be really proud of our Air Force and to see people coming together to make things happen. I'm really happy to be a part of that." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dunford Trip Aimed at Maintaining, Growing Alliances Sept. 14, 2018 By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON -- One of the tenets of the National Defense Strategy is maintaining and building alliances. Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford's recent trip around the world is an example of that in action. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff constantly works with allies to strengthen alliances. He also reaches out to prospective partners to encourage cooperation and interoperability. "Mutually beneficial alliances and partnerships are crucial to our strategy, providing a durable, asymmetric strategic advantage that no competitor or rival can match," it says in the National Defense Strategy. Since World War II, the United States has always fought alongside allies. U.S. treaty allies in the Pacific -- Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Thailand -- provide capabilities, advice and intelligence invaluable to mutual defense priorities. Allies and partners are in Afghanistan. They are in Iraq and Syria. They are working with the defeat-ISIS coalition. They provide a physical and moral edge that powers like Russia and China cannot duplicate. But the alliance process is a two-way street and requires listening, a frank exchange of ideas and positions and concrete steps that make an aspiration a reality. The chairman's trip covered stops in Greece, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Hawaii. Greece is a mainstay in the NATO alliance, and Dunford's counterpart, Greek Navy Adm. Evangelos Apostolakis, hosted the general. U.S.-Greek military-to-military relations have been good for decades, but the overall bilateral relationship between Greece and the United States "is probably as good as it has been in many, many years," the chairman said. Greece and the United States see the problems in the region alike and worry about Russian moves in Europe, in Syria and in the greater Middle East. The two nations are concerned with Libya and the growth of violent extremism. The two leaders discussed the refugee crisis and how to increase the exercise program between the two nations and the possibility of the United States having access to Greek bases. The chairman left Athens for Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan is key to the South Asia Strategy that President Donald J. Trump espoused in August 2017. Pakistan has to be a part of a solution in Afghanistan. Dunford joined with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to meet with Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Mehmood Qureshi and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa. "When we talked to General Bajwa on a military-to-military level, we listened to the prime minister very carefully [and] we listened to the secretary very carefully," Dunford said following the talks. "The objectives were very consistent between the secretary and prime minister. General Bajwa and I agreed that we will leverage the military-to-military relationship for the secretary and prime minister and, more importantly, for President Trump's South Asia Strategy." Actions speak louder than words and the Pakistani leaders agreed to "reset" their relationship with the United States. "What we want to see: The Taliban at the peace table dealing with Afghans," Dunford said. "And we believe the Pakistanis play a unique role in bringing the Taliban to the peace process." The chairman's next stop was New Delhi, India, where he joined his boss, Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, and Pompeo for the 2+2 Talks with Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj. During the meeting the leaders spoke to regional and global concerns like Afghanistan, North Korea and terrorism. Sitharaman said the U.S. military-to-military cooperation has been a "key driver" of the relationship. Pompeo stressed the shared values the U.S. and India possess. "We have a responsibility to advance those shared values: rule of law; national sovereignty; good governance; the protection of fundamental freedoms, rights and liberties; free, fair and reciprocal trade relationships and peaceful resolutions of territorial and maritime disputes," he said. Mattis and the chairman next made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan where they met with U.S., coalition and Afghan officials. The visit was a chance to hear directly from those most directly affected by strategies in the region. Finally, Dunford's journey led him to Hawaii where he and his senior enlisted advisor Army Command Sgt. Maj. John W. Troxell participated in a senior leadership meeting hosted by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The meeting allowed Dunford and his fellow chiefs of defense to discuss the military dimension of what a "free and open Indo-Pacific" looks like and how to best cooperate to ensure this environment continues. The chairman flew back to Washington, D.C., landing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, at 1 a.m. Sept. 12. He was back on an aircraft just over 12 hours later to fly to Mexico City to consult with leaders of the Mexican army and Navy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Exercise Rapid Trident 2018 enables relationships to cross borders By Lacey Justinger, 7th Army Training Command September 14, 2018 YAVORIV, Ukraine -- Multinational Soldiers from 14 countries spent two weeks working side by side during Rapid Trident 2018. Ukraine hosted troops from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Turkey, the U.K. and the U.S. at the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre, here, Sept. 3-15, for the annual exercise that can trace its roots back more than 20 years. "Strong relationships were formed and affirmed during Rapid Trident 18, and strong relationships here mean a stronger Europe going into the future," said U.S. Col. Timothy Cleveland, co-director of Rapid Trident and deputy commander of Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine, during the closing ceremony, Sept. 14, adding that the exercise required great cooperation and coordination among the participants. During the closing ceremony, Ukraine's Lt. Gen. Anatolii Petrenko, deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine for European Integration, also thanked the multinational crowd for its participation in the further development of peace and stability in the region. Rapid Trident builds military interoperability through establishing professional relationships and sharing shoulder-to-shoulder experiences, while also supporting Ukrainian Land Forces' sustainable training capacity and defense reform. "The joint effort of the Ukrainian personnel, together with their partners, are capable of the performance of any tasks for the sake of peace and stability," said Ukrainian Maj. Gen. Eduard Moskalov, exercise co-director and commander of Operational Command East. "I am absolutely confident that we shall be further developing our cooperation in support of the peace and stability of our countries." Building Strong Relationships While the training audiences were strictly Ukrainian, NATO Allies and Partnership for Peace nations helped to enable the event, serving in a variety of staff and support roles, from civil affairs to opposing forces. The mix of uniforms could be seen throughout the installation during all phases of the exercise. "Your combined efforts to make this year's exercise successful were tremendous - everyone should be proud of their contributions," Cleveland said. The first week included a brigade-level computer-assisted command post exercise for Ukraine's 54th Infantry Brigade headquarters, among others. Ukrainian troops also moved through the situational training lanes, where Ukrainian, Polish, Bulgarian, Romanian and the American trainers, observers and mentors facilitated the platoon-level tasks that included defensive operations and tasks like border control and security, cordon and search, medical evacuations and combat lifesaving skills, convoys and react to contact, and counter-improvised explosive device. The second and final week brought all the training objectives together into a live-play field training exercise for the Ukrainian training battalions. "I would like to congratulate the Ukrainian Armed Forces for bringing such a robust training package of units to Rapid Trident this year: Ukrainian Special Forces, Conventional Forces, National Guard, and Border Guard all worked together to successfully demonstrate the full capabilities of the military," Cleveland said. Leveraging U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard Assets The main bodies of U.S. forces included approximately 100 service members from California Army National Guard as well as almost the almost 200 Soldiers from Tennessee Army National Guard's 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, who are serving on the ground at Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine for nine months. "There are a tremendous amount of benefits for National Guard units to come over to Europe," said Maj. Gen. John Gronski, U.S. Army Europe's deputy commanding general for National Guard, during his visit to Rapid Trident. "First of all, it's important to develop those strong relationships with our Allies and partners over here. The second thing is when National Guard units come over to Europe and participate in the exercises, they build a tremendous amount of readiness here and it gives them an opportunity like no other training area does to train alongside Allies and partners." The connections between U.S. National Guard and Ukraine continue to grow annually as JMTG-U has been manned by several states during the past few years, including California, Oklahoma, New York and Tennessee. Additionally, Californian Army National Guard has also been connected to Ukraine since 1993 as part of the National Guard State Partnership Program. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-263-18 September 14, 2018 Readout of Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis' Meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg yesterday at the Pentagon to discuss the implementation of key outcomes from the July NATO Summit in Brussels and plan for the October Defense Ministerial. The leaders discussed a broad range of defense issues and agreed to work together in consultation with NATO allies on fairer burden sharing, readiness and mobility. Secretary Mattis thanked Secretary General Stoltenberg for continuing to encourage allies to meet their Wales Pledge commitments by 2024 and increase their contributions toward NATO's collective security. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1632692/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 14 Sep. 2018 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. That's 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 America's 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 NATO's 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 world's economic output. And while we now have our disagreements over tariffs, it does not change the fact that Europe and North America are each other's 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 America's 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 NATO's nuclear ballistic-missile-submarine fleet. America's NATO Allies also maintain dual-capable aircraft for nuclear delivery. To enhance our deterrence and keep the peace. Furthermore, America's 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 it's up. We still have a long way to go. But we are moving in the right direction. Let there be no mistake. NATO's 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. That's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Aloha USS O'Kane, USS Wayne E. Meyer Navy News Service Story Number: NNS180914-10 Release Date: 9/14/2018 11:08:00 AM From Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific Public Affairs PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM (NNS) -- "Aloha" means hello and goodbye. The guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) arrived in its new homeport, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in a homeport shift with USS O'Kane (DDG 77). O'Kane departed for San Diego this week after nearly 19 years of service in the middle Pacific. O'Kane was commissioned in Pearl Harbor October 23, 1999. O'Kane's namesake is World War II Prisoner of War and Medal of Honor Recipient Rear Adm. Richard O'Kane. During WWII, O'Kane, aboard submarines USS Wahoo (SS 238) and USS Tang (SS 306) earned an unprecedented and unrivaled record of victories against the enemy, destroying warships and supply lines. The guided-missile destroyer Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) arrived Sept. 13, just after Tropical Storm Olivia passed through the Oahu. The ship's namesake, Rear Adm. Wayne E. Meyer, is considered the father of Aegis, the Navy's computerized weapons system able to detect and counter threats from nearly 300 miles away. Aegis aboard ships and Aegis ashore help the Navy execute multi-mission tasking. Both USS O'Kane and USS Wayne E. Meyer, along with other DDGs, support forward presence, maritime security, sea control and deterrence. DDGs coordinate with units of a task group to conduct naval operations and execute the Maritime Strategy under a naval component commander. Maintaining the most technologically advanced ships is vital to support the United States' commitment to the security, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni army, allies target Aramco oil refinery in Saudi Arabia's Jizan border region Iran Press TV Fri Sep 14, 2018 06:12PM Yemeni army forces, supported by allied fighters from Popular Committees, have fired a domestically-designed and -developed ballistic missile at a strategic economic target in Saudi Arabia's southwestern border region of Jizan in retaliation for the Riyadh regime's devastating military aggression against their impoverished country. A Yemeni military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Arabic-language al-Masirah television network that the short-range Badr-1 missile struck an oil refinery of the Saudi Arabian national petroleum and natural gas company, Aramco, in the region, located 967 kilometers southwest of the capital Riyadh, with great precision, on Friday evening. Earlier in the day, Yemeni troopers and their allies had attacked a command center of Emirati military forces in the country's western coastal province of Hudaydah, using a domestically-built long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle. There were no immediate reports about possible casualties and the extent of damage caused at the site. Separately, a Saudi-led Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed in Yemen's eastern province of Mahra. An official of Provincial Supreme Security Committee, who asked to remain anonymous, said, "The Saudi-led helicopter crashed while conducting a reconnaissance mission over Tanhala Mountains." He confirmed that the Saudi pilot and his assistant died as a result of the helicopter crash caused by unknown reasons. Saudi media outlets later identified the pair as Captain Saud bin Nasser bin Jaris and First Lieutenant Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al-Dabian. Moreover, eight civilians lost their lives when Saudi warplanes bombarded Kilo 16 area in the al-Hali district of Hudaydah province. Later in the day, Saudi fighter jets struck Yemeni fishing boats in waters off the Seven Brothers Islands, also known as the Sawabi Islands or Seba Islands, in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, killing two people and injuring another. Yemeni sources say the fate of the fourth fisherman remains unknown after the airstrike. Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating military campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the aim of bringing the government of former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi back to power and crushing the country's Houthi Ansarullah movement. Some 15,000 Yemenis have been killed and thousands more injured since the onset of the Saudi-led aggression. More than 2,200 others have died of cholera, and the crisis has triggered what the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian disaster. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ex-Trump campaign manager pleads guilty in Mueller's investigation Iran Press TV Fri Sep 14, 2018 03:15PM US President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has agreed to plead guilty to two criminal counts in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. According to court documents released on Friday, Manafort pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy against the country and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who is now representing Trump in the Russia investigation, said that a guilty plea would not end Manafort's chances of receiving an eventual presidential pardon. "It's not going to hurt him if he pleads guilty. Usually it helps you get a pardon down the road. It shows you've admitted your guilt," he told Reuters on Friday before a deal was announced. Manafort made millions of dollars working for Ukrainian politicians before he worked with Trump's campaign for five months. Trump last month sought to distance himself from Manafort after he was found guilty in federal criminal investigations, saying the case "does not involve me." Trump said he felt "very badly" about Manafort's conviction. However, the president stressed that the crimes Manafort was found guilty of committing had nothing to do with his work on the Trump campaign. The case has raised questions about Trump's judgment as he hired Manafort after the alleged crimes were committed. Manafort was convicted in a federal court on eight counts of bank and tax fraud on August 21. He became the first campaign associate of President Trump to be found guilty by a jury as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's long-running investigation. Mueller, a former FBI director, is investigating alleged collusion between members of the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election. Meanwhile, Michael Cohen, the president's longtime lawyer, appeared to implicate Trump in a criminal conspiracy to pay hush money to women who alleged affairs with the president. Cohen said he made payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and a former Playboy playmate at the behest of a political candidate in order to silence the women. Cohen also pleaded guilty to eight felony counts of tax fraud, bank fraud and campaign finance violations. He spent years working for the Trump Organization and until recently served as the deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hungary's PM threatens to take EU to court Iran Press TV Fri Sep 14, 2018 02:47PM Hungary has contemplated taking legal action against the European Union after it voted for initiating disciplinary proceeding against Budapest. The majority of members of the EU parliament believe the ruling rightwing government in Hungary is posing a "systemic threat" to the EU's founding values. The European Parliament, this week, with 448 votes for to 197 against and with 48 abstentions, voted in favor of initiating Article 7 disciplinary proceedings against the east European country. Article 7, known by some as the "nuclear option," would take away Hungary's EU voting rights and demote the country to a non-voting member of the EU. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday that his government would consider launching a legal challenge against the European Union. Orban questioned the European Parliament's motivations for initiating disciplinary proceeding against Budapest. "In today's European Parliament, there is a clear pro-migration majority," the prime minister said, adding that MEPs are trying to change the composition of Europe's population. "We need a new European Parliament and another future," he said, while accusing the EU of financially supporting NGOs. The Hungarian prime minister also lashed out at German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He accused Merkel of trying to undermine the country's ability to defend its own borders using local troops. Merkel has called for the EU states to strengthen their borders by boosting the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, also known as Frontex. "So the plan is that if Hungary cannot be forced to let in migrants, then it must be stripped of its right to protect its borders," Orban said, accusing the bloc of wanting to "send mercenaries" to his country in order "to take away" the power of "Hungarian sons" to protect the country's borders. Hungary, along with Poland and the Czech Republic, have been opposed to EU's refugee policy. Despite repeated warnings by the EU, the three countries continue to pursue a course of non-compliance, arguing that refugees pose a threat to their security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi helicopter on recon mission crashes in Yemen, crew killed Iran Press TV Fri Sep 14, 2018 01:53PM A Saudi helicopter on a reconnaissance mission has crashed in Yemen's eastern province of al-Mahrah, killing its pilot and co-pilot. According to Arabic-language al-Omanaa news website, the chopper crashed into Tanhala Mountains on Friday. Colonel Turki al-Malki, a spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition against Yemen, claimed that the Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter went down due to a technical failure. The helicopter, which belongs to the Saudi ground forces, allegedly came down "when it was carrying out its tasks of fighting terrorism and smuggling in al-Mahra in Yemen," the Saudi Press Agency quoted Malki as saying. Yemeni sources said that Saudi forces are spread in the oil-rich areas of Mahrah, adding that Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi visited the province recently and was received by Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Yemen Mohammed al-Jaber. The news comes as the Yemeni army, backed by allied fighters from Popular Committees, has been conducting attacks against Saudi Arabia in retaliation for the kingdom's aggression on their country. On Thursday, the Yemeni forces fired a homegrown ballistic missile on a military base in the southern Saudi region of Najran. 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. A representative for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday that the ongoing conflict in Yemen has made the impoverished Arab country a "living hell" for children. Saudi jets kill more civilians in Yemen Yemen's al-Masirah news website reported that Saudi airstrikes claimed the lives of eight civilians in al-Hali district of Yemen's Hudaydah city on Friday. Saudi and Emirati troops and their mercenaries are currently waging an offensive against Hudaydah, the entry point for some 70 percent of Yemen's imports including food and aid. They began their assault in June despite warnings that it would compound the impoverished nation's humanitarian crisis. UN warns of 'alarming' situation in Hudaydah The United Nations on Friday warned of an alarming situation in Hudaydah, and said the Saudi airstrikes and renewed fighting have targeted humanitarian workers and infrastructure, putting millions at risk. The World Food Programme (WFP) said it was "extremely concerned about the series of security incidents in Hudaydah city these past few days in and around deconflicted sites critical for the humanitarian response in Yemen", describing the situation as "alarming". The UN Food 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." Talking to reporters in Geneva, WFP spokesman Herve Verhoosel denounced that a number of security incidences had been reported since Wednesday, including at the Red Sea Mill Silos, a facility critical for the agency's operations in Yemen. "The ongoing clashes could jeopardize the shipments of 46,000 tonnes of wheat expected to arrive to Hodeida within the next ten days," Verhoosel said, warning that fighting 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 said that a WFP warehouse "holding enough food to assist 19,200 very hungry people" in the city was also hit by a mortar shell launched by an unidentified armed group. A guard at the warehouse was injured in the attack. The spokesman added that clashes have also been reported "in extremely close proximity" to WFP's offices and housing. 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." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudis positioned to attack food reserves in Yemen's Hudaydah: Houthi Iran Press TV Fri Sep 14, 2018 08:31AM 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 Yemen's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Marines hold eight days of drills with militants in southern Syria Iran Press TV Fri Sep 14, 2018 05:14AM US marines have held eight days of unprecedented military exercises with US-backed militants in southern Syria in an attempt to send a "strong message" to Iran and Russia, a senior military official said. Colonel Sean Ryan, a US military spokesman, described the drills as "a show of force," saying that the Pentagon had notified Russia through "deconfliction" channels to prevent "miscommunication or escalate tension". "The exercise was conducted to reinforce our capabilities and ensure we are ready to respond to any threat to our forces within our area of operations,'" he noted. The eight days of drills ended this week at the US military outpost in Tanf, located 24 km to the west from the al-Tanf border crossing between Syria and Iraq in Homs Governorate, said Colonel Muhanad al Talaa, the commander of the US-backed Maghawir al Thawra militant group. He told Reuters the war games were the first such exercises with live-fire air and ground assault, involving hundreds of US troops and militants operating against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. Thawra claimed the drills were meant to send what he described as "a strong message to Russia and Iran" that the Americans and the militants intended to stay and confront any threats to their presence. The US presence in Tanf military base is illegal and lacks the permission of the Syrian government. Damascus, Moscow, and Tehran have repeatedly denounced the American military presence in Syria and called on the US to withdraw its marines from the base. However, the US has so far refused to pull its forces out, and even moved to deploy hundreds of more marines in Tanf earlier this month. The new forces have reportedly joined "special operations troops already based in the garrison" and are going to participate in the drills amid an escalation of US-Russian tensions in Syria and Russia's military exercises in the Mediterranean. Meanwhile, the CNN cited several US military officials as saying last Friday that Russia had warned the Pentagon twice in the past weeks that its forces, together with Syrian troops, were prepared to wage an attack on terrorists in the area where dozens of US troops are stationed - including those in Tanf garrison. Reacting to Moscow's warnings, US military officials "bluntly warned Russia and Syria not to go forward with an attack within a 35-mile-wide security zone that the US maintains around Tanf," Task & Purpose further reported. The US illegally built the military outpost in early 2016 under the pretext of fighting Daesh terrorists, but it has declared a 55 km-radius "deconfliction zone" off-limits to others, providing a safe haven for at least 50,000 militants and their families in the Rukban camp that lies within it. This is while US President Donald Trump had previously stated that he wanted American troops out of Syria as soon as possible and has also called for redirecting millions of dollars meant to help rebuild Syria to other military projects. Russian and Iranian military forces are in Syria at the official request of the Syrian government. This is while the US has involved itself in the Syrian conflict through an overt campaign meant to train and support anti-Damascus terrorists. The government of President Bashar al-Assad has repeatedly denounced the American military presence in the country and called on Washington to end what it has described as an "uninvited aggression" against Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pentagon Protests After U.S. Jets Intercept Russian Bombers Near Alaska September 14, 2018 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 of the Alaskan coast. The intercept occurred at the same time as Russia's 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pentagon-protests-after-u-s-jets- intercept-russian-bombers-near-alaska/29489285.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump's Ex-Campaign Chairman Manafort Pleads Guilty, Agrees To Cooperate With Prosecutors RFE/RL September 14, 2018 WASHINGTON -- Paul Manafort, the longtime U.S. lobbyist and former election campaign chairman for President Donald Trump, has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and witness tampering, and prosecutors said he had agreed to cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Manafort entered his plea in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. on September 14, just days before his second federal trial was scheduled to begin. Prosecutor Andrew Weismann told the court that the deal includes a "cooperation agreement," which could pose yet another major legal headache to Trump. It was not immediately clear either from Weismann's comments, or court filings, what that cooperation would entail. "It's tough day for Mr. Manafort but he's accepted responsibility. And he wanted to make sure that his family is able to remain safe, and live a good life. He's accepted responsibility, and this is conduct that dates back many years. Everyone should remember that," Manafort's defense lawyer Kevin Downing told reporters outside the courthouse. The plea, and cooperation, were an abrupt change for Manafort, who was convicted last month in the Virginia federal court on bank and tax fraud charges. Jury selection had been set to begin on September 17 in his second trial. As with the Virginia case, the trial in Washington focused on criminal charges that largely predated Manafort's time with Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders issued a statement, reiterating that point. "This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign," she said, according to pool reports. "It is totally unrelated." Manafort served for several months on the campaign, including as campaign chairman, until he was fired in August 2016, amid revelations of the scope of his consulting and lobbying work for Ukrainian politicians, including then-President Viktor Yanukovych. The main focus of prosecutors in the second trial was the allegation that Manafort lobbied on behalf of Ukrainian politicians without registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The charge of witness tampering -- formally called obstruction of justice -- was added earlier this year after prosecutors alleged the Manafort and his longtime Ukrainian point man, Konstantin Kilimnik, had contacted potential witnesses after Manafort had been indicted in an effort to persuade them to change or coordinate their stories when discussing the case with prosecutors. A guilty plea helps Manafort avoid the possibility of additional prison time in the event that the Washington jury were to have convicted him. But the court papers filed September 14 also indicate that Manafort will forfeit his four homes to the federal government. The Virginia case was the first brought by Mueller to go to trial, and the guilty finding by the jury -- on eight of 18 charges -- was a significant victory for Mueller's team. In addition to being the first conviction won by Mueller, Manafort is the fifth person to plead guilty to charges stemming from Mueller's investigation. That includes Manafort's former deputy, Rick Gates, who testified against Manafort in Virginia. It also includes Trump's longtime personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty last month to breaking campaign finance laws -- charges that were brought by the U.S. attorney in Manhattan -- after referral from Mueller. Another 26 people and three businesses, in Russia, have been indicted, including 12 Russian military intelligence officers accused of involvement in the hacking of the Democratic National Committee computers in 2016. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/manafort-pleads- guilty-to-two-criminal-charges/29490144.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defiant Orban Vows to Respond to EU Parliament's Punitive Measures Sputnik News 20:48 14.09.2018(updated 21:20 14.09.2018) The European Parliament has voted 448 to 197 in support of the initiation of the EU Treaty's Article 7 proceedings against Hungary, which, if implemented, may result in the country being deprived of its European Council voting rights, and possibly even sanctioned. Defying the results of Wednesday's vote to start legal steps against Hungary over Budapest's alleged "systemic threat" to the European Union's "founding values," Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused Brussels of double standards, and of trying to strip Hungary of the right to control its own borders. Speaking to the Kossuth Radio state broadcaster on Friday, Orban said Budapest was contemplating legal action against the EU over the vote, and that the government would make a decision on Monday as to what steps would be taken. According to the prime minister, the required two-thirds majority reached by European lawmakers on Wednesday didn't account for the 48 MEPs who abstained from the vote, which should have been counted as votes against disciplinary action. In effect, he said , the European Parliament has accused Budapest of ignoring the rule of law while disregarding its own procedural rules. "In today's European Parliament, there is a clear pro-migration majority," Orban said, suggesting that the body's lawmakers were trying to change Europe's composition with support of "Soros organizations." "We need a new European Parliament and another future," the prime minister added, pointing to the upcoming European Parliament elections next spring. Hungary's continued resistance to the EU's immigration policy has forced Brussels to change its tactics, Orban said. "The plan is that if they cannot force Hungary to allow migrants in, they will strip the country of the right to control its borders." "They want to stigmatize Hungary and weaken Hungary's resistance. They want to replace Hungarian border guards and soldiers who have taken an oath and for whom the homeland is paramount and send mercenaries from Brussels who will let migrants in," Orban added. The European Parliament voted to initiate Article 7 after approving the so-called "Sargentini Report," which accused Hungary of flouting EU standards on democracy, civil rights and corruption. Orban said the government had "responded" to all of the report's claims, and noted that it was filled with dozens of "factual mistakes." The report's adoption poses "no danger whatsoever" to Hungary, according to the prime minister. Hungary and its fellow Visegrad partners Poland and the Czech Republic have long been critical of the EU's open-door border policy, and have each rejected mandatory migration relocation quotas supported by Germany and France, among others. In December 2015, the European Commission launched its first infringement procedure against Hungary over legislation related to asylum claims. Budapest responded to the migrant crisis which struck Europe in 2015 by setting up border fences and beefing up border controls on its borders. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Troops Wrap Up Mass Drills With Militants Near Syria's al-Tanf Base - Reports Sputnik News 09:51 14.09.2018 Earlier, the US-led coalition rejected allegations that a Syrian militant group has set up training camps near the Pentagon's military base in the town of al-Tanf in southeastern Syria. Reuters has cited a commander of the Pentagon-backed Maghawir al-Thawra militant group as saying that the drills, which wrapped up near the US military base in the Syrian town of al-Tanf, were the first such exercises and involved hundreds of rebels and US marines. "These exercises have great importance and have enhanced the defenses of the area and improved the combat capabilities and morale and that of civilians in the area," Colonel Muhanad al- Talaa said. US military spokesman Sean Ryan, for his part, described the war games as a show of force, which he said were conducted "to reinforce our capabilities and ensure we are ready to respond to any threat to our forces within our area of operations." He added that the Pentagon used the so-called "de-confliction" channels to notify Russia of the drills in order to prevent "miscommunication or escalate tension." The remarks came after a spokesperson for the US-led coalition's Operation Inherent Resolve against Daesh* told Sputnik that "there is no terrorist camp within the al-Tanf de-confliction zone, which runs in a 55k diameter around the coalition's al-Tanf Garrison." In August, the Russian Defense Ministry blamed the US military for harboring Daesh militants within the al-Tanf area, where a 55 km (35 mile)-radius "deconfliction zone" was established earlier. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem has described the US military presence in the country as illegal, insisting that the American forces should withdraw from its base in al-Tanf. In May, Bashar Jaafari, head of the Syrian government delegation to the Astana peace talks, called the US military presence in al-Tanf and nearby Rukban refugee camp in the south of the country a"pure aggression and occupation." The US military currently occupies a 34-mile zone around its base in al-Tanf, where it has been training Syrian opposition forces since 2016. The base, however, has become the subject of criticism as Damascus and Moscow have expressed concerns that Washington was "spewing Daesh mobile groups who make inroads to launch subversive terrorist operations against Syrian troops and civilians." The US-led coalition has been carrying out airstrikes against Daesh targets in Syria since 2014, in a mission that that was never approved by Damascus or the UN. Currently, about 2,000 US troops are deployed in this Arab country. *Daesh (ISIL/ISIS/Islamic State), a terrorist group banned in Russia, the United States and many other countries Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen: mortar attack on UN food silo 'could affect vital aid deliveries to millions' 14 September 2018 - Fighting in the Yemen port city of Hudaydah which has damaged a World Food Programme (WFP) storage facility, threatens to hamper efforts to feed millions of people in the war-torn country, it said on Friday. Briefing journalists in Geneva, WFP spokesperson Herve Verhoosel, said that on-going clashes taking place near the Red Sea Mill Silos, which is "a critical facility for WFP operations", could impact the agency's ability "to feed up to 3.5 million very hungry people in northern and central Yemen for one month." He added that a mortar shell launched by "an unidentified armed group" also hit a WFP warehouse in Hudaydah city, holding enough food to assist 19,200 in need. According to WFP, the security situation in Hudaydah is "deteriorating rapidly" and threatens humanitarian assistance to the city and surrounding areas, where food supplies are critically low. In another incident at the end of last month, a WFP truck was hit by shellfire while carrying out a delivery to Al Tuhayta, in southern Hudaydah. The truck, clearly marked with a WFP banner, was carrying around 30 tons of food assistance, enough for nearly 2,000 people for one month. It was hit by an unidentified armed group two kilometres from its final destination, seriously injuring the driver. The continuing violence is part of an offensive launched on Hudaydah in June by coalition forces supporting the internationally recognized Government of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. It marks the latest escalation in more than three years of conflict between Government forces and the Houthi opposition, which controls the Red Sea port and the capital, Sana'a. Hudaydah port is critical to the humanitarian effort in Yemen, the UN insists, because it is a primary gateway for food, fuel and medicine into the impoverished country, which imports nearly all of its daily needs. Despite the deteriorating security situation, WFP's operations are ongoing, Mr Verhoosel said, "and we will do everything we can to ensure our operations continue throughout the region without interruption". He explained that in August "and despite high levels of conflict in southern Hudaydah, we provided emergency food assistance to around 700,000 people, out of 900,000 people in the governorate considered to be at highest risk". Throughout Yemen, around eight million people are close to famine "and we cannot afford any activities that would disrupt our operations aiming to provide food and nutrition", the UN spokesperson said. He also reminded the warring sides that humanitarian workers should not be targeted and that the UN agency would "hold parties accountable" for any attacks on its facilities. "We condemn any attempt by any side of the conflict to use humanitarian aid and facilities as a tool in this violent conflict and appeal to all parties to the conflict to let aid workers do their work," he said. "WFP warehouses, trucks, facilities, silos and most importantly staff are neutral and should not be used by any party to the conflict or targeted by any party to the conflict." On Thursday, Lise Grande, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen gave the stark warning that "hundreds of thousands of lives hang in the balance in Hodeidah." "The situation has deteriorated dramatically in the past few days. Families are absolutely terrified by the bombardment, shelling and airstrikes," she added. "People are struggling to survive", she said. "More than 25 percent of children are malnourished; 900,000 people in the governorate are desperate for food and 90,000 pregnant women are at enormous risk. Families need everything--food, cash, health care, water, sanitation, emergency supplies, specialized support and many need shelter. It's heart-breaking to see so many people who need so much." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Embraces Strong' Approach with Russia By Jeff Seldin September 14, 2018 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 a meeting at the White House with National Security Adviser John Bolton. "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 John Bolton, who met with Stoltenberg, 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, Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WFP Food Stocks Under Attack in Yemen's Port City of Hodeidah By Lisa Schlein September 14, 2018 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Top US Diplomat Takes 'Wait and See' Approach to South Sudan Peace Deal By David Manyang Mayar September 14, 2018 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 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hurricane Florence edges closer to East Coast, Hurricane Hunters continue reconnaissance By Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek, 403rd Wing Public Affairs / Published September 14, 2018 KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFNS) -- As the storm moves closer to the East Coast, members of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron continue flying through Hurricane Florence from the Air Dominance Center, Combat Readiness Training Center, Savannah, Georgia. "The mission has gone very well, with 100 percent mission success," said Lt. Col. Thomas Moffatt, 53rd WRS navigator and mission commander. "Our crews have responded well to the round-the-clock taskings, and we will continue to fly the storm until it makes landfall." The 53rd WRS, or U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters as they are known, having been flying through Hurricane Florence since Sept. 10. They receive storm taskings from the National Hurricane Center to provide critical weather data, which is used to assist the NHC in forecasting the path of the storms by "fixing" the center of the storm. "We fly through the eye wall and into the eye and 'fix' the center of the storm, which is like dropping a pin on a map," said Maj. Tobi Baker, 53rd WRS aerial reconnaissance weather officer. "We use a dropsonde, which is an instrument that sends data back to the aircraft, to gather the data we need to find the center of the storm." Having flown this storm multiple times, the Hurricane Hunters captured data showing a difference from the first storm models heading toward the East Coast making landfall between Georgia and Massachusetts, with the storm moving north up the coast, and the most recent models. These predictions from the data gathered by the Hurricane Hunters helped narrow that cone to hitting around North Carolina, and continuing to narrow the forecasts, which are now showing the cone making landfall near the border between North Carolina and South Carolina. "By flying into the storms and locating the center of the eye, the wind speeds from the outer edge, the eye walls, and then sending this data to the NHC, we are helping narrow the cone of uncertainty, which helps save lives, property, and money for both the people and the states," said 1st Lt. Garrett Black, 53rd WRS ARWO. "It is very important for people to listen to the warnings issued by their emergency management teams and evacuate as necessary. We take this job personally and seriously, and prepare our families for the storms, whether they stay or have to evacuate, and we hope everyone else does the same." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Oklahoma Guard Aviators Deploy to Aid Hurricane Florence Relief Effort Sept. 14, 2018 By Army Sgt. Brian Schroeder Oklahoma Army National Guard LEXINGTON, Okla. -- Soldiers from the Oklahoma Army National Guard departed yesterday from Muldrow Army Heliport here to provide search-and-recovery capabilities for East Coast citizens impacted by Hurricane Florence. Seven soldiers from Detachment 1, Charlie Company, 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, who trained in helicopter search-and-rescue operations, are tasked to assist in Hurricane Florence relief efforts. The unit flew to Knoxville, Tennessee, and is waiting on standby until called upon by one of the states affected by the storm. Once in Knoxville, the Oklahoma Army National Guard team of aviators, crew chiefs and an operations sergeant, will fly to and link up with Oklahoma's Task Force 1, which includes a collaboration of Oklahoma City and Tulsa firefighter-paramedics. The unified team of aviators and firefighters regularly train together to conduct swift water rescue using dynamic and static hoists. Rescuing Stranded Citizens Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Jenkins, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot assigned to Charlie Company, said the training for swift water rescues and hoists with the Task Force 1 has prepared the group to perform the potentially dangerous task of rescuing a person stranded after the hurricane subsides. Jenkins said he and his crew are excited to provide a helping hand to citizens outside of Oklahoma. "We all fall under the same flag, no matter which of the 50 states," Jenkins said. "That's part of putting the uniform on and doing the job. It's not the aspect of position, rank or title. It's about going out there and actually saving someone's life." The pilots, working with crew chiefs and firefighters, will locate and hover over stranded persons in need. The crew chief will then attach the firefighter to the hoist. Once safety checks are complete, the firefighter is lowered down to the stranded individual in a basket, seat or other floating rescue device. The rescue team member will then make contact with the stranded individual, secure the person to the hoist seat and both are lifted to the cabin of the helicopter. Depending on the number of remaining seats, Jenkins said the team will continue collecting stranded individuals, drop them at an established drop-off point, or fly the injured to an emergency facility for treatment. "Individuals who are trapped or stuck and are exceeding the means of a normal boat rescue, they call us to help assist," Jenkins said. "I'm looking forward to going out and taking care of the mission and making a change, not only in someone else's life, but also going out and reaching our hand out to South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, showing that Oklahoma is a helping state. We've always been that way." The crew's mission also includes operational support on the ground provided by Army Sgt. Tiffani McBride, an aviation operations sergeant with Charlie Company. McBride's primary role is to relay weather reports to the flight crew, track the number of rescues and the crew's flight hours to report back to her home station. "The key thing to take forward is just to be flexible," McBride said. "Everything can change in a matter of minutes. You've got to go with the flow, but it's all about helping people. I'm looking forward to it." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Navy Assists Typhoon Mangkhut Recovery Efforts in Marianas, Guam Sept. 14, 2018 By Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexandra Seeley Amphibious Squadron 11 PACIFIC OCEAN -- The USS Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group, with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are providing air assistance to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local officials in the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam 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 Marine Corps 1st Lt. Cameron Field, the 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, Task Force 76 is engaged in support activities on Rota, Tinian and Saipan islands in the Northern Mariana Islands. Two vessels with CTF 76 -- the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland -- are supporting FEMA requests for assistance through the tasking of personnel and distribution of supplies throughout the islands. Following Navy and Marine Corps aerial surveys to ensure the safe movement of equipment, multiple types of aircraft are on standby to assist in any future operations, including an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 and MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262. 'We Want to be Prepared for Anything' "We want to be prepared for anything," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Ryan McAllister, assistant officer in charge of Tactical Control Squadron 12, Detachment 1. "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 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," McAllister said. "Our ability to be closer to shore allowed us to be forward-pressing and flexible in accomplishing our mission." The Wasp group continues to work with officials with efforts focused on augmenting and supporting FEMA in conjunction with Guam and local officials. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kearsarge, Arlington, 22nd MEU ready to support Florence relief effort Navy News Service Story Number: NNS180914-12 Release Date: 9/14/2018 11:18:00 AM From Command Task Force 89 Public Affairs ATLANTIC OCEAN - (NNS) -- The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24), embarked with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), are ready to support Hurricane Florence relief efforts off the mid-Atlantic coast. These forces, led by Expeditionary Strike Group 2 and including Amphibious Squadron 6, comprise Command Task Force (CTF) 89, which is capable of providing medium and heavy lift air support, search and rescue, maritime civil affairs, maritime security and expeditionary logistics support. "The Navy and Marine Corps team are here and ready to support the lead federal agency with the diverse capabilities we have with our amphibious force," said CTF-89 Commander Rear Adm. Brad Skillman. "This is a team effort we're prepared to move into position when requested to provide life-saving and life-sustaining support to those in affected areas." When states request disaster response support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Northern Command is responsible for providing unique military capabilities, also known as Defense Support of Civil Authority. Under the direction of U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command, CTF-89 is part of the Department of Defense-wide relief effort synchronized by USNORTHCOM. The 22nd MEU brings along nearly 800 Marines, six MV-22 Ospreys, three CH-53 Super Stallion and three UH-1Y Super Huey helicopters, as well as a host of ground vehicles, generators and other expeditionary equipment. Kearsarge and Arlington bring Navy assets that include four MH-53 Sea Dragons, six MH-60 Sea Hawks, and three ship-to-shore landing craft utilities. The ships are also embarked with Disaster Recovery Teams (DRTs) from Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 202, which are specifically manned and equipped to provide damage assessments and conduct route and debris clearance. CTF-89 departed Naval Station Norfolk Sept. 10, when U.S. Fleet Forces Command/U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command ordered Sortie Condition Alpha. ESG-2 and Kearsarge provided Defense Support of Civil Authorities in 2017 for the relief efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico after Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Maritime Defense Support of Civil Authorities Capabilities The Sea-Based Capability provides logistic support, maintenance, maritime maneuver, and tactical control over embarked naval forces and equipment, capable of organizing and preparing purpose-built packages, then moving them to and from locations that best support the lead federal agency. The Air Capability provides robust, flexible, day or night, rapid air support and airspace control. Marine Mobile Teams (MMT) and Navy MMT Augmentation Teams (MAT) extend tactical control of aircraft to remote locations ashore. The Ship-to-Shore Capability facilitates transport of equipment, relief supplies, and displaced persons utilizing navigable waterways, ports, piers, and beaches. The Inland Water Capability aids in deep to shallow water transport of supplies, and gains access and recovery of isolated persons. The Inland Capabilities include self-sustained route/road clearance, command & control, dewatering, power generation for small critical facilities, potable water production, tactical ground transport and distribution of supplies. The majority of assets are capable of fording up to five feet of water. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ambassador Sales Signs MOU To Strengthen Counterterrorism Cooperation With Indonesia Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC September 14, 2018 Ambassador Nathan A. Sales, the U.S. Coordinator for Counterterrorism, and Commissioner General Suhardi Alius, Chief of the Indonesian National Counterterrorism Agency, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on Strengthening Counterterrorism Cooperation. The MOU was signed on September 14 in Jakarta. It enhances U.S.-Indonesia cooperation on counterterrorism by improving the exchange of information and best practices, and by building capacity through collaborative training and education. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Community Resistance to Ebola Growing in Congo By Lisa Schlein September 14, 2018 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Hole Truth: U.S.-Russia Space Dustup Threatens Rare Frontier Of Cooperation Matthew Luxmoore September 14, 2018 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." In the meantime, all appears calm aboard the Soyuz MS-09. On September 10, shuttle commander Sergei Prokopyev recorded a video from the affected section in which he showed viewers the hole at the center of the controversy and the substance used to seal it. "Everything is calm. We live as always, in peace and friendship," he said, before signing off with a wide grin. "Huge cosmic greetings to you all." With reporting from Washington by RFE/RL correspondent Mike Eckel Source: Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Space Industry Source Says No New Leaks Found at ISS Sputnik News 07:18 14.09.2018(updated 07:29 14.09.2018) MOSCOW(Sputnik) - The space crew at the International Space Station (ISS) has not found any new holes caused by an alleged drilling impact at the Soyuz spacecraft docked to the ISS, a source in the rocket and space industry told Sputnik on Friday. "There are no new signs of a drilling impact neither at the ISS, not at Soyuz spacecrafts docked to it," the source said. In late August, Roscosmos state space corporation head Dmitry Rogozin said an air leak and a subsequent drop in pressure occurred at the Soyuz spacecraft docked to the ISS. The ISS crew managed to cope with the problem. Later, Rogozin told reporters that the incident was caused by a hole in the spacecraft's skin, which could have been made through a deliberate drill impact. The spacecraft's manufacturer Energia Rocket and Space Corporation admitted that the hole was deliberately made but failed to name those responsible for that. However, a big roup of experts from Roskosmos have put under careful scrutiny the Soyuz MS-10 and Progress MS-11 spacecrafts at the Baikonur Cosmodrome after the air leak incident, a source in the rocket and space industry told Sputnik on Thursday. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov has slammed earlier media reports alleging a version that US astronauts might have been responsible for the emergence of a hole in the fabric of the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft as "absolutely unacceptable." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US imposes North Korea-related sanctions on Russian, Chinese tech firms Iran Press TV Fri Sep 14, 2018 06:50AM The United States has imposed sanctions on two tech firms, one in Russia and one in China, accusing them of moving illicit funding to North Korea in violation of American sanctions. The US Treasury Department said in a statement on Thursday that the new sanctions target China-based Yanbian Silverstar Network Technology Co, and a Russian-based subsidiary, Volasys Silver Star, Reuters reported. The US Treasury statement accused the companies for supporting North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. "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 the statement. He called on the companies across the world "to take precautions to ensure that they are not unwittingly employing North Korean workers for technology projects." Talking to Reuters, a manager at Yanbian Silverstar said the allegations were "impossible". "I've never heard of Jong Song Hwa," he told the news service. The administration of US President Donald Trump has maintained harsh sanctions against North Korea, despite a historic summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in June in Singapore. Russia of covering up breaches of N Korea sanctions: US The US has also accused Russia of violating UN sanctions on North Korea by allowing North Korean laborers to work in Russia. Moscow has denied it. US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Thursday that Moscow was seeking to cover up breaches of UN sanctions on North Korea by Russians. The Trump administration has demanded North Korea give up its nuclear arsenal but Pyongyang has given no such indication that it will meet the US demand. A report by sanctions monitors was submitted to the UN Security Council North Korea sanctions committee last month. The report claimed Pyongyang has not stopped its nuclear and missile programs and accused it of violating UN sanctions on exports. Western diplomats accused Russia of pressuring the independent sanctions monitors to amend the report. "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," she said. The Russian mission to the United Nations has not commented on the issue yet. Following the Trump-Kim meeting in June, the first between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader, the two leaders signed a joined document, committing to establishing new relations and achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula. Before signing the document, Kim said the two leaders had "decided to leave the past behind" and that "the world will see a major change." Trump said he had formed a "very special bond" with Kim and that Washington's relationship with Pyongyang would be very different. However, Trump later on declared North Korea an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to US national security. While the summit was seen as a test for diplomacy that could end the long-running nuclear standoff, foreign policy experts have warned that the stakes are still high for an armed conflict if diplomacy fails. The US seeks the complete and irreversible dismantling of North Korea's nuclear program. Pyongyang is demanding a solid guarantee of its security and the removal of Washington's nuclear umbrella protecting allies South Korea and Japan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Accuses Russia Of Altering UN Report On North Korea Sanctions RFE/RL September 14, 2018 The United States has accused Russia of altering an independent United Nations report to cover up Moscow's 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. Russia's 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 Washington's the request. Earlier on September 13, the United States imposed sanctions on two information technology companies based in China and Russia for supporting Pyongyang's 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-accuses-russia-of-altering-un- report-on-north-korea-sanctions/29489277.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pompeo Accuses Russia of Undermining Sanctions Policy on North Korea Sputnik News 23:54 14.09.2018(updated 00:27 15.09.2018) WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Russia is working actively to undermine US sanctions against North Korea, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a press conference on Friday, echoing accusations lodged a day earlier by US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. "I spoke with Ambassador Haley about this earlier today, Russia has actively attempted to undermine the UN Security Council resolutions, the work of the 1718 Committee, the committee of the UN that evaluates compliance with sanctions by attempting to change the language there," Pompeo told reporters. Pompeo was referring to the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea, a panel of experts created under UNSC Resolution 1718. Pompeo said he hoped the panel would remain independent and report on the facts and not allow a single country such as Russia to draft language. The top US diplomat said the committee should publish the unmodified document just as the originally intended to highlight the clear activities related to sanctions violations. He added that the United States was as committed as ever to enforcing UN sanctions in order to achieve full, verifiable denuclearization on the Korean peninsula. Haley on Thursday accused Russia of interfering in a UN report on the implementation of North Korea sanctions by pressuring the experts on the panel to make changes. On August 30, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said Russia has held up the publication of a report on North Korea by the 1718 committee because of disagreements over certain elements of the report, including the conduit of the business itself. He said he could not divulge details of the confidential draft compiled by the UN Security Council's 1718 Sanctions Committee but said member states were concerned about repeated internet leaks. The United Nations has introduced multiple sanctions against North Korea in response to its repeated ICBM launches and nuclear tests. The world body, in particular, has restricted oil exports to Pyongyang, banned imports of textile products from North Korea as well as the country's access to gas liquids. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pompeo: Sanctions Enforcement Key to N. Korean Denuclearization By Nike Ching September 14, 2018 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday that the enforcement of U.N. sanctions on North Korea was critical to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. His remarks came after the U.S. accused Russia of altering an independent U.N. report to cover up Moscow's alleged violation of U.N. sanctions on North Korea. "Russia has actively attempted to undermine the U.N. Security Council resolutions," Pompeo said during a news conference, "by attempting to change the language" of a report that evaluates compliance with sanctions against Pyongyang. Pompeo spoke with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Friday. A day earlier, Haley 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 United States is as committed as ever to continuing to enforce those U.N. Security Council resolutions. We believe they are central to President [Donald] Trump's efforts to convince [North Korean leader] Chairman Kim Jong Un that full, final denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula is necessary," Pompeo said. Both Russia and China are seen as having pushed for the council to ease sanctions on Pyongyang since the U.S.-North Korea summit in June. Tech companies sanctioned Thursday, Washington imposed sanctions on two information technology companies based in China and Russia for supporting Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs. Washington is accusing the companies, located in Beijing and Moscow but controlled by Pyongyang, of moving illicit funds to North Korea. "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," said Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin in an official statement. 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 sanctions come at a time when the U.S. is maintaining pressure on the North Korean government in its negotiations to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moon-Kim 3rd Summit to Top Trio of Inter-Korean Events By Steve Miller September 14, 2018 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, "It's 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 University's 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 Friday's 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 it's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Social Media Causing Sleep Deprivation in Pilots Indian Air Force Chief Sputnik News 16:15 14.09.2018(updated 19:28 14.09.2018) The Indian Air Force has witnessed 31 plane crashes in the last four years; 45 percent of them were reportedly caused by human error. Five aircraft were destroyed in 2017-18. The chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF), BS Dhanoa, has expresses serious concern over the excessive use of social media by fighter pilots, which causes serious sleep deprivation, ultimately increasing the chances of fatal accidents. Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa called upon medical practitioners to work on a solution to this problem while speaking at a conference on Aerospace Medicine: Field Applications in India's southern city of Bengaluru on Friday. He added that filters and mechanisms needed to be developed to deal with the excessive usage of social media. "Everybody seems to get on to social media late, it then keeps them awake. Flying sorties when the ambient temperature goes beyond 40 degree Celsius is discouraged so most of them take off early in the day. Flying happens early in the morning before they [the pilots] get into the cockpit, there is a briefing which happens at around 6 am. With such a schedule, they are required to sleep early, but unfortunately most people get active on social media very late in the night," Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said. The IAF had witnessed a fatal accident in 2013. Investigations had concluded that it was caused due to sleep deprivation. "We even had a fatal accident in 2013 because of this problem. It was found that continuous sleep deprivation was the reason for the accident," Dhanoa added. Dhanoa conceded that due to this rampant threat, the IAF was reviving the pilot physician program, which was discontinued decades ago. Under the program, IAF doctors who accompany crews on missions will also train to fly fighter and transport aircraft. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC official: US to lose any war it starts with Iran Iran Press TV Fri Sep 14, 2018 10:26AM A top commander of Iran's Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says a US war against Iran is no longer a possibility because Washington lacks the political means and international support to launch a new military campaign. Brigadier General Hossein Salami, the IRGC's second-in-command, said in a speech on Friday that Washington knows "it will be on the losing side if it ever starts a war with Iran and [this will] help further increase Iran's influence." "The US military is incapable of engaging us in a battle and the American economy wouldn't be able to support the war either," Salami added. He said the IRGC's recent missile attack against Iraq-based terrorists was a clear warning to Iran's adversaries that the Islamic Republic's response to slightest violations of its sovereignty would be decisive. The top commander argued that all US plans to isolate Iran had backfired and many countries were now following Iran's model of resistance against the US, Israel and other "bullying powers." "The Iranian nation defeated the US when it blocked America's 'New Middle East' project," Salami said. The Iranian nation, he added, also caused America's plan to retake control over the Islamic world to fail. According to Salami, the US had also suffered major defeats in Palestine, Syria and the rest of the Middle East region. Back in July, US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with "consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before." Trump's threats came after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned the US leader not to "play with the lion's tail" after the US unveiled a series of economic and political measures which Tehran said amounted to a declaration of war. Addressing a group of Iranian diplomats in Tehran, Rouhani said back then that "America must understand well that peace with Iran is the mother of all peace, and war with Iran is the mother of all wars." Trump's threat also drew a fiery response from Major General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the IRGC's Quds Force. "Come! We are ready. We are the man of this arena. You know that this war would mean annihilation of all your means. You may begin the war, but it is us who will end it," he said in a speech which was directed toward the US president. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran rejects French concerns, vows to keep fighting terror Iran Press TV Fri Sep 14, 2018 06:24AM Iran has dismissed France's "concern" about its recent retaliatory missile strikes against terrorists based in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, pledging to keep neutralizing terror groups that pose a threat to its sovereignty. "Iran has time and again made it clear by issuing necessary warnings that it will keep clamping down on all shapes of terrorism and violence on its borders and that it will continue implementing this substantive policy," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said in a press briefing on Thursday. The remarks came shortly after the French Foreign Ministry said it "strongly condemns" the Tuesday missile attack by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) against targets in northern Iraq. During the attack, which was carried out in retaliation for cross-border incursions by Iraqi-based terrorists, the IRGC fired no less than seven short-range missiles at a gathering of terrorist commanders, killing a number of them and destroying a militant training base in the process. The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it "reaffirms the importance of respecting Iraq's sovereignty and reiterates its concern over the development of Iranian missile programs." Qassemi slammed France's refusal to address terrorist attacks against Iran from the Iraqi side of the border in the past and called on Paris to be "more sensible." "Terrorism must be condemned regardless of how and where it takes place and without any political reservation," he said, adding that countries cannot be selective in condemning terrorism. Referring to a terror attack in July that had killed 11 Iranian guards near the border with Iraq, Qassemi noted that punishing the perpetrators and putting an end to such attacks was "the least that the Iranian nation expected." He said Tehran had long warned both Iraqi and Kurdish officials of terrorist activities taking place under their watch and expressed its determination to stop those activities. Iran has made it clear that its domestically-developed ballistic missiles are purely defensive and part of its national security doctrine. Earlier on Thursday, IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari hailed the missile attack as a "meaningful" message to the enemies. "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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Targets Thai Company Supporting Iranian Airline Mahan Air U.S. Department of the Treasury September 14, 2018 Washington -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Thailand-based My Aviation Company Limited for acting for or on behalf of Mahan Air, an Iranian airline previously designated for supporting Iran's terrorism activities. The action today was taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. "Mahan Air continues to fly into Syria every week, even as millions of innocent civilians in Idlib province are under threat of imminent attack from the murderous Assad regime and its backers in Iran and Russia. Treasury is cutting off yet another service provider acting on behalf of Mahan Air, a sanctioned airline that transports soldiers and supplies to Assad and fuels terrorist activities across the region," said Secretary of the Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin. "This Thailand-based company has disregarded numerous U.S. warnings, issued publicly and delivered bilaterally to the Thai government, to sever ties with Mahan Air. This action should serve as a warning that the U.S. is intent on ensuring that the aviation industry ceases providing services to, and profiting from, this terrorist-affiliated airline." Since the onset of the Syrian civil war, Mahan Air has routinely flown fighters and materiel to Syria to prop up the Assad regime, which has contributed to mass atrocities in the country and the displacement of millions of innocent civilians. Mahan Air continues to operate a regular schedule of three weekly flights to Syria, with additional flights periodically observed, totaling more than 170 flights since September 2017. My Aviation My Aviation Company Limited (My Aviation), headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, is being designated for acting for or on behalf of Mahan Air by serving as a Mahan Air General Sales Agent (GSA) in Thailand. A GSA is a third party that provides services to an airline under the airline's brand. There are several types of services and support that GSAs typically offer airlines, including sales and marketing, freight reception and handling, airport warehouse and ramp supervision, administration services, and financial services. My Aviation provides cargo services to Mahan Air, to include freight booking, and works with local freight forwarding entities to ship cargo aboard regularly scheduled Mahan Air flights to Tehran, Iran. My Aviation has also provided Mahan Air with passenger booking services. The designation of this GSA reinforces Treasury's notice to the international aviation community of the sanctions risk for individuals and entities maintaining commercial relationships with Mahan Air and other designated Iranian airlines. In addition to GSA services such as freight booking and handling, the civil aviation industry should conduct due diligence for other activities that, when conducted for or on behalf of a designated person, are potentially sanctionable. Such activities may include reservation and ticketing services, procurement of aircraft parts and equipment, maintenance contracts, airline grounds services, catering, interline transfer and codeshare agreements, and refueling contracts. Treasury also identified Mihan Travel & Tourism SDN BHD as an alias for Mahan Travel and Tourism SDN BHD, which Treasury designated on July 9, 2018 for acting for or on behalf of Mahan Air as its GSA in Malaysia. As a result of today's actions, all property and interests in property under U.S. jurisdiction of My Aviation Company Limited are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with it. Additionally, My Aviation Company Limited is subject to secondary sanctions pursuant to the Iranian Financial Sanctions Regulations (IFSR), which implement, among other authorities, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions and Divestment Act of 2010 (CISADA). Pursuant to the IFSR, OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account by a foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction for designated agents or affiliates of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or persons designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 in connection with Iran's support for international terrorism or E.O. 13382 in connection with Iran's proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. Mahan Air Background Mahan Air was designated in October 2011 pursuant to E.O. 13224 for providing financial, material, or technological support for or to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), which was itself designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 25, 2007 for its support to numerous terrorist groups. Mahan Air has transported IRGC-QF operatives, weapons, equipment, and funds abroad in support of the IRGC-QF's destabilizing regional operations. Mahan Air has routinely facilitated the movement of IRGC-QF personnel, fighters, and material, between Iran and Syria for military training, and has facilitated the movement of IRGC-QF members by bypassing normal security protocols and flight manifests. The airline also has moved weapons and personnel for Hizballah and regional armed groups whose actions fuel conflict and exacerbate regional instability. Hizballah was designated by the Department of State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in October 1997 and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to E.O. 13224 in October 2001. It was listed in January 1995 in the Annex to E.O. 12947, which targets terrorists who threaten to disrupt the Middle East peace process, and also designated in August 2012 pursuant to E.O. 13582, which targets the Government of Syria and its supporters. Today's actions demonstrate the U.S. Government's continued commitment to enforcing existing sanctions and to targeting those that provide support to terrorism. As a reminder, due to President Trump's May 8, 2018 decision to cease the United States' participation in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), following the 180-day wind-down period ending on November 4, 2018, all U.S. nuclear-related sanctions that had been lifted under the JCPOA will be re-imposed and in full effect. Identifying information on the entities designated today. #### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi PM Abadi says not seeking re-election after protests Iran Press TV Fri Sep 14, 2018 06:48AM As Iraq moves closer to forming a new government, the incumbent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says he is not seeking to serve a second term in office. "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," he said at a news conference in Baghdad on Thursday. Ayatollah Sistani, the country's most senior cleric, said earlier in the week that Iraq needed new faces in the government as protests escalated in the southern oil-rich city of Basra and Baghdad. "Our service for the people will continue until the new government is established," Abadi said on Thursday, calling for peaceful ways to change the government. Abadi has faced calls to resign after protests in Basra last Friday took an ugly turn when a group of masked assailants raided government buildings and offices of political parties and set them ablaze. After the protests, Muqtada al-Sadr whose Sairoon (Marching Towards Reform) bloc came first in the parliamentary elections has apparently backed down on his willingness to form an alliance with Abadi. Over the weekend, Sadr's bloc and the faction led by Hadi al-Amiri, the head of Badr Organization which is Iraq's biggest anti-terror paramilitary group, used an emergency meeting held at the parliament to call on Abadi to resign. The parliament is to elect a new speaker on Saturday, with Amiri saying he would work with Sadr to form a new government. Protesters in Basra are angry about endemic corruption, collapsing infrastructure, poor public services, high rates of poverty, soaring unemployment, and contamination of potable water. Abadi said on Thursday a team of advisers would "assure the immediate implementation" of new water pumping, routing, and filtration projects there. The prime minister paid a visit to Basra Monday at the head of a large delegation, including the ministers of information, defense, interior, health and water resources. "We came here to cooperate with local residents and to provide them with the services they need. We will not leave Basra until several projects aimed at improving public services are launched," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secret doc reveals Israeli military unprepared for war Iran Press TV Fri Sep 14, 2018 09:32AM A "secret" dossier has revealed that the Israeli military is unprepared to engage in new warfare, contradicting previous assertions issued by Tel Aviv to the contrary. The document prepared by Major General Yitzhak Brick, the ombudsman of the Israeli military, harshly criticized the military's readiness for war, the daily Ha'aretz reported on Friday. He sent his assessment to Israel's minister for military affairs Avigdor Lieberman and Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and others last week, calling for the formation of an external investigative panel into the forces' preparedness. Ha'aretz wrote that his demand for an inquiry reflected a deep concern over the state of the ground forces and a growing lack of trust in the Israeli military's ability "to investigate itself and correct what needs to be rectified." Some Israeli lawmakers expressed shock at the revelation and expressed support for General Brick's call for a probe into the preparedness of the Israeli military. The dossier "is a harsh report that details the problems stemming from massive cuts of thousands of officers and noncommissioned officers in recent years, whose shortcomings are felt in dealing with routine [operations] and will be felt even more so during times of emergency," Knesset member MK Moti Yogev said. The dossier was preceded by two detailed letters to Lieberman as well as others in which General Brick focused mainly on the military's manpower policies, describing a serious crisis that he said could have implications relating to the capabilities of the entire Israeli forces particularly the ground forces to fight a war, Ha'aretz added. In an annual report released in late June, General Brick had cautioned that the Israeli military suffered from an acute shortage of doctors and psychiatrists, as well as the negative effect of cost-cutting measures. The report had also found fault with the status of the forces' training, training exercises, and the state of the weaponry used by the ground forces. The assessment contradicts Eisenko who had asserted in a letter earlier sent to the security cabinet and a Knesset panel that Israeli forces were at a high level of readiness for war. As the person responsible for the readiness of the Israeli military to go to war, he believed that the Israeli forces were prepared and ready "for every mission they were called upon," Eisenko had claimed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moon says to find denuke compromise in summit with DPRK leader People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:14, September 14, 2018 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump admin authorizes $2.6bn missiles, spy planes sale to South Korea Iran Press TV Fri Sep 14, 2018 10:40PM The administration of US President Donald Trump has authorized the sale of around $2.6 billion worth of missiles and surveillance aircraft to South Korea. Under the deal, the US will sell six P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft to South Korea for an estimated cost of $2.1 billion and 64 Patriot Advanced Capability missiles worth around $501 million, the US State Department announced Thursday. "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," according to a State Department press release. If approved by Congress, the deal would allow Seoul to replace the aging fleet of US-made P-3 surveillance planes that it has been using for the 25 years with the newest maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft made by the US. "The proposed sale will allow the ROK to modernize and sustain its MSA capability for the next 30 years. As a long-time P-3 operator, the ROK will have no difficulty transitioning its MSA force to P-8A," the statement said. Besides surveillance operations, the Poseidon aircraft are capable of detecting submarines and firing a range of torpedoes to hunt them. South Korea was also going to receive tactical radio, navigation and early missile warning sensors for the aircraft as part of the deal. The State Department noted that the Patriot missile system would allow the South Korean military "to guard against hostile aggression and shield the allies who train and operate within South Korea's borders." While the US has long persuaded the South Koreans to buy American weapons to deter an "aggressive North Korea," the timing of this particular sale is questionable as it coincides with an international campaign that aims to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Following the historic meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jon-un earlier this year, Pyongyang has toned down its ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons programs to de-escalate tensions with the US and its regional allies. The North even decided to omit controversial missiles, which are said to be capable of targeting the US mainland, from a military parade that marked the 70th anniversary of its establishment. Two US military officials, however, told CNN this week that Washington and its allies were days away from launching a new effort to "name and shame" Pyongyang's violations of sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear and missile programs. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ankara Keeps Plans to Buy S-400 Systems Despite US Pressure - Russian Deputy PM Sputnik News 08:00 14.09.2018(updated 10:15 14.09.2018) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov's statement comes following earlier US media reports that Turkey has begun construction of a platform site for a Russian S-400 missile defense system, despite pressure from Washington to abandon plans to purchase the military equipment. Turkey will receive Russian S-400 air defense missile systems in 2019, despite constant pressure from the United States, Borisov told reporters. "I think that Almaz-Antey [the manufacturer] will not have problems with loading for the next decade. Not only our traditional partners, but also, as you know, NATO countries Turkey, despite all threats on the part of the United States, has not given up this contract. In 2019, it will receive all the equipment in accordance with our contractual obligations on time," the official said. On US Dollar Borisov also noted that Russia should abandon the use of dollars in its military contracts with countries other than the US, stressing that using the American currency was "a problem that has its own solution." "We do not need dollars. We need rubles. The ruble is a stable currency despite its volatility and exchange rate fluctuations Why should we have contracts with Iraq or China in US dollars? There is no need for that," the deputy prime minister said. On Nuclear Icebreakers Borisov also pointed out that Russian shipbuilding companies will build three nuclear icebreakers of the new Lider class (Project 10510) further stating that "the issue of funding has been resolved." The official added that the new nuclear-powered icebreakers would be built by the shipbuilding complex Zvezda in cooperation with other Russian shipbuilders, including the Baltic Shipyard where three project 22220 icebreakers were being constructed. The Lider-class icebreakers (Project 10510) are expected to be equipped with an engine that produces 120 megawatts, making them the most powerful icebreakers in the world. On French Components for Tank Sights The Russian official emphasized that only domestic components for tank sighting systems are now being used as replacement to French ones. However, Borisov admitted that after the introduction of sanctions and the refusal of the French partners to supply the components Russia experienced difficulties. Nevertheless, he noted that Russia no longer depends on anyone in this sphere, as the devices have been reproduced and the supplies of matrix photodetectors for Uralvagonzavod have started this year, primarily for tank production. On Ukrainian Components for Military Vehicles In addition, Borisov told reporters that Russia has completely substituted Ukrainian components for Russian military vehicles stressing that "the issue of dependence on Ukrainian deliveries has been completely settled" including the problems that Russia faced in 2014. The deputy prime minister further noted that in 2014 Russia depended on Ukrainian supplies of helicopter engines as well as turbine units for the vessels of corvette and frigate classes. The development on purchase of Russian S-400s missile defense system comes after Russia and Turkey signed a loan agreement to supply S-400s to Ankara. According to a statement by the Turkish defense industry secretariat, two S-400 batteries will be operated and serviced by the Turkish military. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian War Games Seek to Cement Ties With China, Send Message to West By Henry Ridgwell September 14, 2018 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 country's 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 country's eastern neighbors. "I would like to say a special thank you to the armed forces of the People's Republic of China and Mongolia. Our fraternity in arms has long and firm traditions," Putin said. 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 London's Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). "As well as demonstrating to the West that it has this alliance with China, it's also an opportunity for Russia to show what it's learned from its military interventions, for example in Syria, for example in eastern Ukraine," Ferris told VOA in an interview. Russia's invasion of Ukraine prompted the United States and its allies to impose sanctions on Moscow. "The Western sanctions have damaged Russia's ability to get, for example, military components that it used to get from its Western partners. And so, Russia's 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 China's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Spain gives in to Saudi pressure to deliver 400 precision bombs Iran Press TV Fri Sep 14, 2018 12:05AM Spain has backed off from its earlier decision to pull a contract for the sale of 400 precision bombs to Saudi Arabia over human rights violations by the Riyadh regime in its war on Yemen. Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell announced on Thursday night that his country will remain committed to a 2015 contract to sell Saudi Arabia 400 laser-guided bombs despite an earlier decision by the Spanish Defense Ministry to halt the deal. "The decision is that these bombs will be delivered to honor a contract that comes from 2015, and was made by the previous government," Borrell (pictured below) told Onda Cero radio. The about-face signals pressure from the Riyadh regime, which had reportedly threatened to scrap a $2.2-billion contract to purchase five Corvette warships from Spanish state-owned military shipbuilder Navantia. It is reportedly the biggest foreign contract in the company's history. Last week, Spain's Defense Ministry said it was halting the deal due to Riyadh's role in the Yemen war. The decision was largely believed to be a reaction to the Saudi-led coalition's massacre of 40 Yemeni children, whose school bus came under attack by Saudi jets in early August. 'Spain potentially complicit in Saudi crimes' Meanwhile, an NGO lobbying against arms sales to countries responsible for killing civilians condemned Madrid's Thursday decision as "disappointing." "This makes Spain potentially complicit in committing crimes of war with these weapons," said Alberto Estevez with Arms Control, an NGO campaigning with such rights groups as Amnesty International, Greenpeace and Intermon Oxfam. Apart from concerns for the warship deal, analysts say Madrid's efforts to appease Saudi Arabia are also aimed at averting a row with Riyadh similar to the one unfolding between the kingdom and Canada over human rights issues. Several human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned Western arms exports to Saudi Arabia, which has waged a devastating war against Yemen since 2015, killing some 15,000 Yemenis and injuring thousands more. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia will continue supporting Syria in combating terrorism IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Sept 14, IRNA -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow stands with Syria in the fight against terrorism, adding that the presence of foreign forces which have not been invited by the Syrian state is illegal. During the German-Russian Forum held in Berlin, Lavrov said that Moscow has provided information on chemical attacks being prepared in Idleb by the "White Helmets" organization which is cast by the West as an example of humanitarian assistance, but in fact it is the opposite, SANA reported. Lavrov said that accusing Syria of chemical weapons' use in Idleb and allegedly attacking it as a response is considered to be direct support for terrorists, which serves to prompt terrorists to fabricate a new play as they did in Eastern Ghouta. He pointed out that Idleb is the only remaining bulwark for terrorists who use civilians as human shields and continue attacks using drones against Russian forces, stressing that Russia will target the places where these drones are used. The Russian Minister said that work on reconciliation in Idleb is underway and Russia will not act in the same way as the Washington-led international coalition in Mosul and Raqqa where the cities were razed to the ground. He said that Moscow will create humanitarian corridors in Syria's Idleb, adding "we will do everything not to hurt civilian population." Lavrov pointed out that the unilateral coercive economic measures imposed by the West against Syria hinder the return of the displaced and the reconstruction process, calling for the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution NO.2254, which gives the Syrian people the right to decide the future of their country. 1396**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Luis Almagro is opening the door to OAS participation in invading Venezuela. With respect to a military intervention to overthrow Nicolas Maduros regime, I dont think any option should be ruled out, Almagro said at a press conference in the Colombian city of Cucuta. What Nicolas Maduros regime is perpetrating are crimes against humanity, the violation of the human rights and the suffering of people that is inducing an exodus. Diplomatic actions should be the first priority but we shouldnt rule out any action. As the article notes, Almagro supported the OAS role in the 1965 U.S. invasion of the Dominican Republic, but later recanted and said that sort of thing should never happen again.Almagro is not the OAS so we need to take this with a grain of salt, but the real danger is inviting eagerly waiting officials in the Trump administration to use the OAS as cover for a U.S. military action. Reading Fear , you see how bad ideas can find a home unless someone waves something shiny in front of Trump to distract him.Let's see how the leaders of the members states respond. They can tamp this down pretty quickly by condemning it. Unfortunately, at this point the region seems mostly content to do nothing and just respond to the immigration crisis. Russia's Putin concerned by terrorist moves in Syria's Idlib: Kremlin Iran Press TV Fri Sep 14, 2018 01:41PM Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his concern over terrorist activities in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, the RIA news agency cites the Kremlin as saying. President Putin discussed the latest developments in Syria's last stronghold of militants with members of Russia's Security Council on Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying. Syrian army troops are preparing to launch a full-scale military operation against different factions of militants that have practically held hostage the inhabitants of Idlib for a long time. Syria and Russia have warned that the US, along with Britain and France, is gearing up for a new military attack against Syria as the army prepares for the liberation of Idlib. On Wednesday, Syria's official news agency SANA quoted Russia's Defense Ministry as saying that the foreign-backed Takfiri militants have abducted 22 children with their relatives from Syria's Aleppo as well as a group of orphans to use them in a staged chemical weapons attack in Idlib to be blamed on the Syrian government. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said on Tuesday that the United States is using internationally-banned chemical weapons to invent a pretext for a military campaign against his conflict-plagued Arab country. Speaking in an exclusive interview with English-language al-Hayat magazine, Muallem said it is not the first time that chemical attack claims have been used to justify an attack on Syria. Both Damascus and Moscow, a close ally of the Arab country, have already submitted proofs and evidence to the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) showing that terrorists in Idlib are preparing to set up another false flag chemical attack to frame Damascus and pave the way for the US-led coalition to attack Syrian government troops. In an address to a key trilateral summit, hosted by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and also attended by Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Tehran on September 7, Putin said militants are preparing provocations, including the use of chemical weapons, in Idlib. "The remaining groups of extremists are currently concentrated in the de-escalation zone in the province of Idlib. Terrorists are making attempts to disrupt the ceasefire, moreover, they are carrying out and preparing various kinds of provocations, including the use of chemical weapons," the Russian president said. Russia will keep bombing Idlib if need be: Lavrov Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said in Berlin on Friday that Moscow would keep bombing targets of terrorists in Idlib Province if need be. According to the Interfax news agency, Lavrov, however, emphasized that Russia would also create humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to flee. The top Russian diplomat emphasized that his country's air force would strike terrorist weapons-making facilities as and when it found out about them. Moscow would also encourage local reconciliation deals, he pointed out. The Russian foreign minister also added that the Syrian government was not preparing a major offensive against the militant-held city. "What is being presented at the moment as the beginning of a Russian-backed offensive by Syrian forces is not a faithful representation of the facts," Lavrov said, adding, "Syrian forces and we ourselves are simply reacting to the attacks coming from the zone of Idlib." Addressing a press conference in Moscow on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said her country is concerned about the attempts being made by the United States to prepare the global public opinion for new military aggression against Syria. "Regarding the international political point of view, the most serious concern is using of a very serious range of opportunities by Washington: from statements by officials to comments by biased media, the goal seems to be the preparation of public opinion for new aggression against Syria," she said. Washington has accused the Syrian government of attacking civilians with chemical weapons in previous operations, including in Douma near Damascus and in Khan Shaykhun in Idlib. Syrian authorities have strongly denied any involvement in either case, saying the attacks had been carried out by militants to slow Syria's progress in the fight against terror. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria, Jordan in talks to reopen key border crossing, resume bilateral trade Iran Press TV Fri Sep 14, 2018 09:32AM Syrian and Jordanian officials have started talks to reopen the key border crossing of al-Nassib after a three-year hiatus in a bid to re-establish bilateral trade and help revive the economy of war-torn Syria. The first round of talks was held on Wednesday, with both countries agreeing to continue negotiations over the practical arrangements, from customs to security, in order to reopen the crossing in southern Syria, an informed source said Thursday. "The meetings will continue to put a complete view of all the arrangements linked to reopening the crossings in the coming period," the source told Reuters. Al-Nassib border crossing was closed in 2015 following attacks on the Jordanian security forces by foreign-backed terrorists, but the Syrian army managed to retake the vital route last July. Jordan seeks to reactivate billions of dollars of annual transit trade between Europe and Persian Gulf markets across Syria. Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said last month that his country wants to open its borders with Syria, but was waiting for a response from Damascus. Another Jordanian official said the al-Nassib crossing could open by the end of this year. The Syrian government also hopes that the reopening of the key crossing could help the war-torn country revive its economy and rebuild itself. Efforts to restore peace and stability to Syria come as government forces have managed to purge terrorists and anti-government militants from most of the country, and are preparing for a full-scale offensive to retake the northwestern Idlib province, the last stronghold of foreign-backed terrorists. Israel ends its 'humanitarian' aid for Syrians As the Syrian army regains full control of the country's southwestern borders with the occupied territories, the Israeli regime has declared the end of what it called "humanitarian" aid it used to offer to Syria's "civilians". What the Israeli army has described as its "humanitarian" assistance to "civilians" in its Thursday statement is indeed the arms and medical support it offered to the Takfiri terrorists in the occupied Golan Heights and elsewhere in Israel. While Israel claims it always sought to stay out of the war in Syria, evidence shows the regime has been overtly and covertly supporting terrorist fighting against the Syrian government. Israel has been providing the Takfiri terrorists in the Golan Heights with a steady flow of funds and medical supplies as part of Tel Aviv's involvement in the bloody conflict. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address - T. S. Eliot Thoughts After Lambeth "The World is trying the experiment of attempting to form a civilized but non-Christian mentality. The experiment will fail; but we must be very patient in awaiting its collapse; meanwhile redeeming the time: so that the Faith may be preserved alive through the dark ages before us; to renew and rebuild civilization, and save the World from suicide." GREENWICH Greenwich Public School students across the district reached a new high on a state-mandated standardized test for English and math, according to data from the state Department of Education. A total of 78 percent of the third- through eighth-graders who took the Smarter Balanced Assessment in the spring met or exceeded state expectations in English, and 71.4 percent did so in math. Math performance has made steady gains since the new test debuted in 2015, while English performance reclaimed lost ground this year. But while school officials were pleased with the overall results, the numbers continued to reveal a problem common to past assessments: Greenwich, like most diverse school districts in the nation, continues to show a persistent achievement gap among schools that breaks down largely on economic and racial lines. For example, 83 percent of Eastern Middle School students hit or exceeded the states proficiency mark in math, compared with 56 percent at Western. The gap was less stark, but still present, in English. Among elementary schools, 90 percent of Riverside students met or exceeded state standards in English, compared with 47 percent at Hamilton Avenue, 60 percent at Julian Curtiss and 66 percent at New Lebanon. In math, North Mianus and North Street students led with 86 percent hitting state benchmarks, compared with 47 percent at Hamilton Avenue, 47 at New Lebanon and 59 at Julian Curtiss. Growth But the SBA unlike previous incarnations of standardized testing does not stop there. State education officials refer to measurement of student performance on the test as a snapshot in time, letting schools know how well students are mastering the Common Core standards adopted by the state. The SBA adds another metric of student performance other tests did not have which follows each childs performance from one grade level to the next. To measure growth, the state sets performance benchmarks for each child every year. State officials call this measurement the golden standard because, according to those officials, it better measures whether or not schools are helping kids learn. It reveals some bright spots among Greenwich schools with the largest populations of students who typically score lower on tests those using special education services, learning English or qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The growth model reshuffles somewhat how Greenwich schools normally stack up. Western, in particular shows strong student growth, outpacing the other middle schools in both English and math. Growth is a much fairer system, Western Middle School Principal Gordon Beinstein said. Its nice to show a growth measure, which shows the work were doing is making an impact. Western students tested in the spring on average reached 74 percent of their target benchmarks in both English and math. Overall, Greenwich students on average reached 71 percent of their goals in English and 71 percent of their math goals. And graduating Western eighth-graders showed steady improvement in both achievement and growth all the way through middle school. As sixth-graders, 61 percent of them met or exceeded standards for English. As seventh-graders, 65 percent did so. By eighth grade, 76 percent met or exceeded standards. Each year, the average growth students displayed increased as well. The growth rates at the elementary schools typically on the short side of the achievement gap were mixed. But there, too, were signs of progress. Achievement The percentage of students who met or exceeded state-set standards for English language arts and math on the Smarter Balanced Assessments in 2017-18. Math Top 3 North Mianus School 86.3 North Street School 86.3 Old Greenwich School 84.8 Bottom 3 Western Middle School 55.9 New Lebanon School 46.7 Hamilton Avenue School 46.6 ELA Top 3 Riverside School 90 North Mianus School 89.2 Eastern Middle School 87.1 Bottom 3 New Lebanon School 65.8 Julian Curtiss School 60.2 Hamilton Avenue School 47.3 Growth The percentage, on average, of state-set performance goals that students achieved in English language arts and math on the Smarter Balanced Assessments. This metric shows how much individual students improved from the previous school year to 2017-18. Math Top 3 North Mianus School 94.9 Cos Cob School 85.4 North Street School 81 Bottom 3 Julian Curtiss School 57.1 Hamilton Avenue School 52.8 Parkway School 52.7 ELA Top 3 North Mianus School 84.7 Glenville School 83 Riverside School 77.2 Bottom 3 Hamilton Avenue School 67.6 Parkway School 64.3 Central Middle School 63 Source: Connecticut State Department of Education Overall achievement The percentage of students who met or exceeded state-set standards for English language arts and math on the Smarter Balanced Assessments in 2017-18. 2017-18 2016-17 Math North Mianus School 86.3 84.7 North Street School 86.3 84 Old Greenwich School 84.8 91.8 International School At Dundee 83.4 84.8 Eastern Middle School 82.8 80.5 Riverside School 82.5 88.7 Parkway School 74.3 84.1 Glenville School 70.4 70.8 Cos Cob School 69.6 64.3 Central Middle School 62.5 61.5 Julian Curtiss School 58.8 54.7 Western Middle School 55.9 52.6 New Lebanon School 46.7 48.9 Hamilton Avenue School 46.6 41.3 ELA Riverside School 90 88.3 North Mianus School 89.2 87.2 Eastern Middle School 87.1 82.5 Parkway School 86.2 86 North Street School 85.8 89.5 Old Greenwich School 84.8 87.7 International School At Dundee 83.4 86.8 Central Middle School 74.9 66.5 Western Middle School 72.3 67.9 Glenville School 71.7 74.3 Cos Cob School 67.4 71 New Lebanon School 65.8 59.9 Julian Curtiss School 60.2 59.4 Hamilton Avenue School 47.3 47.9 Source: Connecticut State Department of Education Overall growth The percentage, on average, of state-set performance goals that students achieved in English language arts and math on the Smarter Balanced Assessments. This metric shows how much individual students improved from the previous school year to 2017-18. 2017-18 2016-17 Math North Mianus School 94.9 88.2 Cos Cob School 85.4 72.1 North Street School 81 85.9 International School At Dundee 77.1 84.7 Western Middle School 73.9 75.3 Old Greenwich School 73.8 82.2 Eastern Middle School 71.1 77.9 Glenville School 70.6 87.9 Central Middle School 66.6 78.2 Riverside School 63.6 76.9 New Lebanon School 61.2 61.6 Julian Curtiss School 57.1 77.5 Hamilton Avenue School 52.8 61.5 Parkway School 52.7 74.9 ELA North Mianus School 84.7 80.1 Glenville School 83 77.1 Riverside School 77.2 72.9 North Street School 76.9 83.3 Western Middle School 73.9 64.5 Old Greenwich School 71.8 72.8 Julian Curtiss School 70.5 69.7 International School At Dundee 70.2 71.4 New Lebanon School 69 53.8 Cos Cob School 68.8 64.8 Eastern Middle School 67.6 57.9 Hamilton Avenue School 67.6 54.2 Parkway School 64.3 75.2 Central Middle School 63 55 Source: Connecticut State Department of Education See More Collapse New Lebanon fifth-graders, now in their first year of middle school, achieved an average of 91 percent and 92 percent of their goals in English and math, respectively. And while the average year-to-year growth mark at the school remained flat in math, it soared in English, from 54 percent to 69 percent. At Julian Curtiss and Hamilton Avenue, both schools saw a sharp drop-off in the average growth students made in math. In English, the student growth-rate ticked up at Julian Curtiss and spiked at Hamilton Avenue. Administrators said it is difficult to compare growth rates from one school to another, because the targets set for students can differ greatly. You cant compare Riverside and Hamilton Avenue, district research manager Jennifer Lau said. A school like Hamilton Avenue, which has fewer children at proficiency, their target for growth is so much higher than at Riverside. New Lebanon Principal Barbara Riccio was impressed with students growth, but, she said, they have further to go because theyve started with lower scores. Reasonable growth isnt what they need, they need to grow more, she said. Closing the gap Following the release of the data, some of which Hamilton Avenue Interim Principal John Grasso admitted was not very good, the principal met with teachers to discuss ways to improve scores. Grasso said he will examine how teachers administer STAR tests, given periodically and resembling the SBA tests. And his school will continue to work on closing the gap at home, including by hosting a resource fair that connects parents with services the community provides. Riccio said her teachers diagnose students before starting a new unit to see what standards they missed and why. Problems can be academic, but often there are other factors at work, such as difficulties learning English, traumatic home situations and poverty. Youre not going to go forward unless the holes are filled, she said. Core teachers will work more closely with specialty teachers (music, art, literacy and physical education) to make sure lessons inside and outside the classroom reflect each other and the needs of individual children, she said. Were hoping that that kind of fine-level calibration is going to make a difference, she said. Beinstein said closing the achievement gap starts with teachers boosting their students confidence and holding them to higher standards. Sometimes its an attitude, sometimes its a skill set, he said. At Western, Beinstein said a set of five core teachers stay with a group of 100 kids over the three years. The school also has initiated programs such as pairing students who need a mentor with an officer from the Greenwich Police Department, and having bilingual staff members lead workshops for Spanish speakers on how to parent children in American public schools. For the children that need to grow more to reach proficiency, the school has intervention classes. But Beinstein said any growth story begins with teachers, who work to forge connections to students. We spend a lot of time building relationships because kids work for staff, he said. They dont work for grades or test scores. Grasso takes the same approach, and said a recent survey his students took showed the strategy was working. Eighty percent of kids who took the survey said they felt that someone really cared about them in school, he said. Thats always been very important to me. For some students, stable connections with adults are few. The students who are able to have a meaningful relationship with an adult are able to move forward, but if you dont have that meaningful relationship, its extremely hard, said Deputy Superintendent Elizabeth Ann Carabillo. Both Grasso and Beinstein have restructured their staff over the years, hiring candidates who buy into the mission of relationship-building. We really need that total commitment, Grasso said. Since he arrived at Western, Beinstein has hired about 70 percent of his current staff through natural turnover, retirements and enrollment increases. Thats why were making the growth were making, he said. We have the right people in place so the kids are willing to take risks. While President Paul Biya appears to be a shoo-in to extend his 36-year rule in elections next month, he's had no success in stifling a rebellion in Anglophone regions that's threatening to split the mainly French-speaking central African nation. Africa's second-longest serving head of state, Biya, 85, is facing eight candidates in an Oct. 7 vote that will be overshadowed by insurgent attacks, a violent clampdown by the security forces and a drop in production in Cameroon's biggest cocoa-growing areas. Thousands of people have fled to neighboring Nigeria. The situation's become so polarized that days after Samuel Kleda, the archbishop of the commercial capital, Douala, called for mediation to avert "a useless, senseless civil war" and urged Biya to step down, shots were fired at the cleric's residence. Unrest that began in late 2016 with peaceful protests by teachers and lawyers against the dominance of the French language in schools and courts in the nation's two English-speaking regions has morphed into a conflict that's claimed the lives of more than 120 soldiers and police officers, destroyed schools and farms and blocked major roads. "I'm not surprised this happened," said Agnes, a 66-year-old former civil servant who fled her farm in the Southwest Region where she'd hoped to retire and now lives with her son in the capital, Yaounde. "When there's a lot of repression, there's going to be an explosion," she said, asking not to be identified by her family name. Like Agnes, many Cameroonians are afraid to speak publicly about the country's worst crisis in decades, fearing both the secret service and reprisals from the secessionists. In a bid to sabotage the start of the school year this month, separatists murdered the headmaster of a primary school and abducted six girls from a secondary school. On Saturday, gunmen seized an excavator and dug a trench in a highway to the Northwest's regional capital, Bamenda. They forced buses to stop and killed two passengers. The government responded by imposing an indefinite nighttime curfew in the Northwest Region. "Nothing can justify the atrocities committed by criminals who lay claim to the secessionist movement with their only goal being the disruption of the 2018-19 school year," government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary said on Twitter. "We must all condemn in the strongest possible terms this escalation of violence." Oil-dependent Cameroon is increasingly a key regional hub, with roads and ports that are vital for landlocked neighbors including Chad and Central African Republic. The only country in Africa with both English and French as official languages, Cameroon was split after World War I into a French-run zone and a smaller British-controlled area. They were unified in 1961, but the English-speaking minority, about a fifth of the population, has complained of marginalization for decades. Only in recent years did the struggle become violent. "It's taken this magnitude because there was no anticipation and no early efforts to quickly resolve the crisis," Manasse Aboya Endong, a political science lecturer at the University of Douala, said in an interview. "Now, the movement has been hijacked by radicals who want to split up the state and refuse all mediation." At the same time, advocacy groups such as New York-based Human Rights Watch have documented evidence of troops killing protesters, jailing hundreds of people and burning down villages -- allegations the government denies. The rebellion has highlighted widespread discontent with Biya and his handling of the crisis. Biya rules mainly by decree and often spends weeks at a time at the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva for "private visits." Government spokesman Bakary has defended the trips, saying Biya works very hard while he's in Europe. Biya has convened only one Cabinet meeting this year, the first since 2015, and hasn't addressed the revolt apart from a brief statement in November. His decision to run again was announced on Twitter. "Nobody knows what the guy is thinking," Akere Muna, a 66-year-old opposition candidate whose late father Salomon was Cameroon's first Anglophone prime minister, said in an interview. "We have tens of thousands of people who are internally displaced, thousands of kids who can't go to school, and yet the president doesn't speak. We are in a rudderless ship." Despite Biya's absenteeism, Cameroon's opposition has never been able to effectively unite and unseat him in elections. Calls for talks between the authorities and the insurgents have so far fallen on deaf ears. The government refuses to release secessionist leaders who've been in prison since January following their expulsion from neighboring Nigeria. That's left the movement without a visible leadership, while Anglophones who don't support secession are accused of being sell-outs by those who call for armed struggle. Moderate Anglophone leaders are now pushing for a general conference to choose representatives and persuade the government to hold talks. Initially scheduled for Aug. 28-29, the conference has been postponed to avoid tensions surrounding the presidential vote and to allow more time for Anglophones in the diaspora to attend, said Simon Munzu, a former senior United Nations official who is organizing the conference. "We believe that this will nudge them towards a national dialogue," Munzu said in an interview. "We can have federalism at a low cost now or separatism at an exorbitant cost on the population, and we have to weigh those costs." - - - Bloomberg's Divine Ntaryike Jr. and Pius Lukong contributed. 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0x00000000 0x0000001B 0x00000000 0x00006799 0x80000008 0x00003030 0x00001007 0x0000400F 0x00000000 0x80000009 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000000A 0x00000001 0x00008000 0x00000000 0x0001BCFF 0x8000000B 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000000C 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000000D 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000000E 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000000F 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000010 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000011 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000012 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000013 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000014 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000015 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000016 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000017 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000018 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000019 0xF040F040 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000001A 0x00000003 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000001B 0x000003FF 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000001C 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000001D 0x00004121 0x01C0003F 0x0000003F 0x00000000 0x8000001D 0x00004122 0x00C0003F 0x000000FF 0x00000000 0x8000001D 0x00004143 0x01C0003F 0x000003FF 0x00000002 0x8000001D 0x0001C163 0x03C0003F 0x00001FFF 0x00000001 0x8000001E 0x0000000E 0x00000107 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000001F 0x0000000F 0x0000016F 0x0000000F 0x00000000 MSR 0x0000001B 0x00000000 0xFEE00800 MSR 0xC0010114 0x00000000 0x00000018 MSR 0xC0010058 0x00000000 0xF8000019 MSR 0xC0010063 0x00000000 0x00000002 MSR 0xC0010293 0x00000000 0x009E0C84 MSR 0xC0010064 0x80000000 0x494D8894 MSR 0xC0010065 0x80000000 0x48164880 MSR 0xC0010066 0x80000000 0x459D8C84 MSR 0xC0010067 0x00000000 0x00000000 MSR 0xC0010068 0x00000000 0x00000000 MSR 0xC0010069 0x00000000 0x00000000 MSR 0xC001006A 0x00000000 0x00000000 MSR 0xC001006B 0x00000000 0x00000000 MSR 0xC0010299 0x00000000 0x000A1003 MSR 0xC001029B 0x00000000 0x212C8853 MSR 0xC001029A 0x00000000 0x01D2EAC5 MSR 0xC0010293 0x00000000 0x009E0C84 CPU Thread 15 APIC ID 15 Topology Processor ID 0, Core ID 7, Thread ID 1 CPUID 0x00000000 0x0000000D 0x68747541 0x444D4163 0x69746E65 0x00000001 0x00800F82 0x0F100800 0x7ED8320B 0x178BFBFF 0x00000002 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000003 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000004 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000005 0x00000040 0x00000040 0x00000003 0x00000011 0x00000006 0x00000004 0x00000000 0x00000001 0x00000000 0x00000007 0x00000000 0x209C01A9 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000008 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000009 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x0000000A 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x0000000B 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x0000000C 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x0000000D 0x00000007 0x00000340 0x00000340 0x00000000 0x0000000D 0x0000000F 0x00000340 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x0000000D 0x00000100 0x00000240 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000000 0x8000001F 0x68747541 0x444D4163 0x69746E65 0x80000001 0x00800F82 0x20000000 0x35C233FF 0x2FD3FBFF 0x80000002 0x20444D41 0x657A7952 0x2037206E 0x30303732 0x80000003 0x69452058 0x2D746867 0x65726F43 0x6F725020 0x80000004 0x73736563 0x2020726F 0x20202020 0x00202020 0x80000005 0xFF40FF40 0xFF40FF40 0x20080140 0x40040140 0x80000006 0x26006400 0x66006400 0x02006140 0x00808140 0x80000007 0x00000000 0x0000001B 0x00000000 0x00006799 0x80000008 0x00003030 0x00001007 0x0000400F 0x00000000 0x80000009 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000000A 0x00000001 0x00008000 0x00000000 0x0001BCFF 0x8000000B 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000000C 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000000D 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000000E 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000000F 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000010 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000011 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000012 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000013 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000014 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000015 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000016 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000017 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000018 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x80000019 0xF040F040 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000001A 0x00000003 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000001B 0x000003FF 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000001C 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000001D 0x00004121 0x01C0003F 0x0000003F 0x00000000 0x8000001D 0x00004122 0x00C0003F 0x000000FF 0x00000000 0x8000001D 0x00004143 0x01C0003F 0x000003FF 0x00000002 0x8000001D 0x0001C163 0x03C0003F 0x00001FFF 0x00000001 0x8000001E 0x0000000F 0x00000107 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x8000001F 0x0000000F 0x0000016F 0x0000000F 0x00000000 MSR 0x0000001B 0x00000000 0xFEE00800 MSR 0xC0010114 0x00000000 0x00000018 MSR 0xC0010058 0x00000000 0xF8000019 MSR 0xC0010063 0x00000000 0x00000002 MSR 0xC0010293 0x00000000 0x009E0C84 MSR 0xC0010064 0x80000000 0x494D8894 MSR 0xC0010065 0x80000000 0x48164880 MSR 0xC0010066 0x80000000 0x459D8C84 MSR 0xC0010067 0x00000000 0x00000000 MSR 0xC0010068 0x00000000 0x00000000 MSR 0xC0010069 0x00000000 0x00000000 MSR 0xC001006A 0x00000000 0x00000000 MSR 0xC001006B 0x00000000 0x00000000 MSR 0xC0010299 0x00000000 0x000A1003 MSR 0xC001029B 0x00000000 0x212D0CB3 MSR 0xC001029A 0x00000000 0x01D2F240 MSR 0xC0010293 0x00000000 0x009E0C84 BIOS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- UEFI Yes AMD AGESA PinnaclePI-AM4 1.0.0.2 Chipset ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Northbridge AMD Ryzen SOC rev. 00 Southbridge AMD X470 rev. 51 Graphic Interface PCI-Express PCI-E Link Width x16 PCI-E Max Link Width x16 Memory Type DDR4 Memory Size 32 GBytes Channels Dual Memory Frequency 1064.1 MHz (3:32) CAS# latency (CL) 15.0 RAS# to CAS# delay (tRCD) 15 RAS# Precharge (tRP) 15 Cycle Time (tRAS) 36 Bank Cycle Time (tRC) 51 Command Rate (CR) 2T Uncore Frequency 1064.1 MHz Memory SPD ------------------------------------------------------------------------- DIMM # 1 SMBus address 0x50 Memory type DDR4 Module format UDIMM Manufacturer (ID) G.Skill (7F7F7F7FCD000000000000) Size 8192 MBytes Max bandwidth DDR4-2132 (1066 MHz) Part number F4-3200C16-8GVKB Nominal Voltage 1.20 Volts EPP no XMP yes XMP revision 2.0 AMP no JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency JEDEC #1 10.0-10-10-24-34 @ 727 MHz JEDEC #2 11.0-11-11-27-38 @ 800 MHz JEDEC #3 12.0-12-12-29-41 @ 872 MHz JEDEC #4 13.0-14-14-32-45 @ 945 MHz JEDEC #5 14.0-14-14-34-48 @ 1018 MHz JEDEC #6 15.0-15-15-36-50 @ 1066 MHz JEDEC #7 16.0-15-15-36-50 @ 1066 MHz XMP profile XMP-3200 Specification DDR4-3200 Voltage level 1.350 Volts Min Cycle time 0.625 ns (1600 MHz) Max CL 16.0 Min tRP 11.25 ns Min tRCD 11.25 ns Min tRAS 23.75 ns Min tRC 35.00 ns Min tRRD 3.50 ns XMP timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC-CR @ frequency (voltage) XMP #1 16.0-18-18-38-56-n.a @ 1600 MHz (1.350 Volts) DIMM # 2 SMBus address 0x51 Memory type DDR4 Module format UDIMM Manufacturer (ID) G.Skill (7F7F7F7FCD000000000000) Size 8192 MBytes Max bandwidth DDR4-2132 (1066 MHz) Part number F4-3200C16-8GVKB Nominal Voltage 1.20 Volts EPP no XMP yes XMP revision 2.0 AMP no JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency JEDEC #1 10.0-10-10-24-34 @ 727 MHz JEDEC #2 11.0-11-11-27-38 @ 800 MHz JEDEC #3 12.0-12-12-29-41 @ 872 MHz JEDEC #4 13.0-14-14-32-45 @ 945 MHz JEDEC #5 14.0-14-14-34-48 @ 1018 MHz JEDEC #6 15.0-15-15-36-50 @ 1066 MHz JEDEC #7 16.0-15-15-36-50 @ 1066 MHz XMP profile XMP-3200 Specification DDR4-3200 Voltage level 1.350 Volts Min Cycle time 0.625 ns (1600 MHz) Max CL 16.0 Min tRP 11.25 ns Min tRCD 11.25 ns Min tRAS 23.75 ns Min tRC 35.00 ns Min tRRD 3.50 ns XMP timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC-CR @ frequency (voltage) XMP #1 16.0-18-18-38-56-n.a @ 1600 MHz (1.350 Volts) DIMM # 3 SMBus address 0x52 Memory type DDR4 Module format UDIMM Manufacturer (ID) G.Skill (7F7F7F7FCD000000000000) Size 8192 MBytes Max bandwidth DDR4-2132 (1066 MHz) Part number F4-3200C16-8GVKB Nominal Voltage 1.20 Volts EPP no XMP yes XMP revision 2.0 AMP no JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency JEDEC #1 10.0-10-10-24-34 @ 727 MHz JEDEC #2 11.0-11-11-27-38 @ 800 MHz JEDEC #3 12.0-12-12-29-41 @ 872 MHz JEDEC #4 13.0-14-14-32-45 @ 945 MHz JEDEC #5 14.0-14-14-34-48 @ 1018 MHz JEDEC #6 15.0-15-15-36-50 @ 1066 MHz JEDEC #7 16.0-15-15-36-50 @ 1066 MHz XMP profile XMP-3200 Specification DDR4-3200 Voltage level 1.350 Volts Min Cycle time 0.625 ns (1600 MHz) Max CL 16.0 Min tRP 11.25 ns Min tRCD 11.25 ns Min tRAS 23.75 ns Min tRC 35.00 ns Min tRRD 3.50 ns XMP timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC-CR @ frequency (voltage) XMP #1 16.0-18-18-38-56-n.a @ 1600 MHz (1.350 Volts) DIMM # 4 SMBus address 0x53 Memory type DDR4 Module format UDIMM Manufacturer (ID) G.Skill (7F7F7F7FCD000000000000) Size 8192 MBytes Max bandwidth DDR4-2132 (1066 MHz) Part number F4-3200C16-8GVKB Nominal Voltage 1.20 Volts EPP no XMP yes XMP revision 2.0 AMP no JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency JEDEC #1 10.0-10-10-24-34 @ 727 MHz JEDEC #2 11.0-11-11-27-38 @ 800 MHz JEDEC #3 12.0-12-12-29-41 @ 872 MHz JEDEC #4 13.0-14-14-32-45 @ 945 MHz JEDEC #5 14.0-14-14-34-48 @ 1018 MHz JEDEC #6 15.0-15-15-36-50 @ 1066 MHz JEDEC #7 16.0-15-15-36-50 @ 1066 MHz XMP profile XMP-3200 Specification DDR4-3200 Voltage level 1.350 Volts Min Cycle time 0.625 ns (1600 MHz) Max CL 16.0 Min tRP 11.25 ns Min tRCD 11.25 ns Min tRAS 23.75 ns Min tRC 35.00 ns Min tRRD 3.50 ns XMP timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC-CR @ frequency (voltage) XMP #1 16.0-18-18-38-56-n.a @ 1600 MHz (1.350 Volts) DIMM # 1 SPD registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 23 11 0C 02 85 21 00 08 00 60 00 03 01 03 00 00 10 00 00 08 0D F8 03 00 00 6E 6E 6E 11 08 76 F0 0A 20 20 08 00 05 00 A8 1E 2B 2E 00 78 00 14 3C 00 00 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 16 36 16 36 40 16 36 16 36 00 00 16 36 16 36 16 36 16 36 00 00 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 60 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 70 00 00 00 00 00 83 B5 CE 00 00 00 00 E7 C2 2D 24 80 11 11 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1C A0 100 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 110 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 120 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 130 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 140 04 CD 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 46 34 2D 33 32 30 30 150 43 31 36 2D 38 47 56 4B 42 00 00 00 00 00 80 AD 160 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 170 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 8E CF 180 0C 4A 05 20 00 00 00 00 00 A3 00 00 05 00 02 00 190 00 50 5A 5A 10 BE 18 F0 0A 20 08 00 05 00 C0 1C 1A0 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 DIMM # 2 SPD registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 23 11 0C 02 85 21 00 08 00 60 00 03 01 03 00 00 10 00 00 08 0D F8 03 00 00 6E 6E 6E 11 08 76 F0 0A 20 20 08 00 05 00 A8 1E 2B 2E 00 78 00 14 3C 00 00 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 16 36 16 36 40 16 36 16 36 00 00 16 36 16 36 16 36 16 36 00 00 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 60 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 70 00 00 00 00 00 83 B5 CE 00 00 00 00 E7 C2 2D 24 80 11 11 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1C A0 100 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 110 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 120 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 130 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 140 04 CD 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 46 34 2D 33 32 30 30 150 43 31 36 2D 38 47 56 4B 42 00 00 00 00 00 80 AD 160 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 170 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 8E CF 180 0C 4A 05 20 00 00 00 00 00 A3 00 00 05 00 02 00 190 00 50 5A 5A 10 BE 18 F0 0A 20 08 00 05 00 C0 1C 1A0 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 DIMM # 3 SPD registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 23 11 0C 02 85 21 00 08 00 60 00 03 01 03 00 00 10 00 00 08 0D F8 03 00 00 6E 6E 6E 11 08 76 F0 0A 20 20 08 00 05 00 A8 1E 2B 2E 00 78 00 14 3C 00 00 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 16 36 16 36 40 16 36 16 36 00 00 16 36 16 36 16 36 16 36 00 00 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 60 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 70 00 00 00 00 00 83 B5 CE 00 00 00 00 E7 C2 2D 24 80 11 11 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1C A0 100 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 110 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 120 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 130 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 140 04 CD 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 46 34 2D 33 32 30 30 150 43 31 36 2D 38 47 56 4B 42 00 00 00 00 00 80 AD 160 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 170 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 8E CF 180 0C 4A 05 20 00 00 00 00 00 A3 00 00 05 00 02 00 190 00 50 5A 5A 10 BE 18 F0 0A 20 08 00 05 00 C0 1C 1A0 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 DIMM # 4 SPD registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 23 11 0C 02 85 21 00 08 00 60 00 03 01 03 00 00 10 00 00 08 0D F8 03 00 00 6E 6E 6E 11 08 76 F0 0A 20 20 08 00 05 00 A8 1E 2B 2E 00 78 00 14 3C 00 00 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 16 36 16 36 40 16 36 16 36 00 00 16 36 16 36 16 36 16 36 00 00 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 60 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 70 00 00 00 00 00 83 B5 CE 00 00 00 00 E7 C2 2D 24 80 11 11 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1C A0 100 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 110 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 120 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 130 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 140 04 CD 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 46 34 2D 33 32 30 30 150 43 31 36 2D 38 47 56 4B 42 00 00 00 00 00 80 AD 160 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 170 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 8E CF 180 0C 4A 05 20 00 00 00 00 00 A3 00 00 05 00 02 00 190 00 50 5A 5A 10 BE 18 F0 0A 20 08 00 05 00 C0 1C 1A0 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Monitoring ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mainboard Model PRIME X470-PRO (0x000003AE - 0x9EAE4942) LPCIO ------------------------------------------------------------------------- LPCIO Vendor ITE LPCIO Model IT8665 LPCIO Vendor ID 0x90 LPCIO Chip ID 0x8665 LPCIO Revision ID 0x6 Config Mode I/O address 0x2E Config Mode LDN 0x4 Config Mode registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 86 65 06 40 3D D0 FF 01 00 95 00 49 85 08 00 00 30 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 60 02 90 02 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 70 00 02 00 00 04 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Register space LPC, base address = 0x0290 Hardware Monitors ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hardware monitor ITE IT8665 Voltage 0 0.78 Volts [0x48] (CPU VCORE) Voltage 1 2.52 Volts [0xE7] (VIN1) Voltage 2 2.02 Volts [0xB9] (VIN2) Voltage 3 2.06 Volts [0xBD] (VIN3) Voltage 4 0.03 Volts [0x3] (VIN4) Voltage 5 0.03 Volts [0x3] (VIN5) Voltage 6 0.03 Volts [0x3] (VIN6) Voltage 7 1.66 Volts [0x98] (VIN7) Temperature 0 45 degC (113 degF) [0x2D] (TMPIN0) Temperature 1 36 degC (96 degF) [0x24] (TMPIN1) Temperature 2 37 degC (98 degF) [0x25] (TMPIN2) Fan 0 1318 RPM [0x200] (CPU) Fan 1 983 RPM [0x2AF] (FANIN1) Fan 2 999 RPM [0x2A4] (FANIN2) Fan 3 573 RPM [0x49A] (FANIN3) Fan PWM 0 0 pc [0x0] (FANPWM0) Fan PWM 1 0 pc [0x0] (FANPWM1) Fan PWM 2 0 pc [0x0] (FANPWM2) Register space LPC, base address = 0x0290 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 09 18 FB 8F 00 00 00 00 00 C0 44 08 30 B6 A2 99 10 A7 C4 5E 70 C0 80 80 80 01 02 02 AF 39 C6 80 00 20 48 E7 B9 BC 03 03 03 98 95 2C 24 25 25 25 25 98 30 28 85 C0 19 C5 37 39 84 98 F2 E6 65 BB 15 67 0D 40 E7 99 F7 F5 AE 93 FB 8B AD 6A D4 00 5F 40 CF 19 50 FF 38 7F 7F 7F 40 00 00 90 00 00 12 60 00 00 00 60 80 14 3C 33 1D 00 0F 8D 80 1E 46 99 14 00 0F BE 70 80 1E 46 99 14 00 0F BE 80 14 46 33 16 00 0F 77 80 64 04 FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1E 00 3B 90 00 00 00 FF FF 00 00 FF 42 99 00 00 01 1A E0 36 A0 7F 7F 7F 80 00 00 0F 80 80 7F 7F FF 00 00 0F FF B0 0C 6C 00 00 3D 04 7C 8D FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF C0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF 01 D0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF 01 E0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF F0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF Hardware monitor Display API Hardware monitor AMD ADL Voltage 0 1.09 Volts [0x445] (GPU) Temperature 0 49 degC (120 degF) [0x31] (GPU) Fan 0 1256 RPM [0x4E8] (GPU) Clock Speed 0 316.62 MHz [0x13C] (Graphics) Clock Speed 1 1500.00 MHz [0x13C] (Memory) PCI Devices ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Register space PCI Express, base address = 0x0F8000000 Description Host Bridge Location bus 0 (0x00), device 0 (0x00), function 0 (0x00) Common header Vendor ID 0x1022 Model ID 0x1450 Revision ID 0x00 PI 0x00 SubClass 0x00 BaseClass 0x06 Cache Line 0x00 Latency 0x00 Header 0x80 PCI header Subvendor ID 0x1043 Subsystem ID 0x8747 Int. Line 0x00 Int. Pin 0x00 PCI registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 22 10 50 14 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 06 00 00 80 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 43 10 47 87 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 80 00 00 00 10 00 80 00 50 43 10 47 87 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 60 00 98 05 00 EF 0F 88 67 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 80 00 00 00 00 08 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 00 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 14 04 02 00 00 C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 46 00 30 01 FF FF FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 80 80 00 00 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF Description Host Bridge Location bus 0 (0x00), device 1 (0x01), function 0 (0x00) Common header Vendor ID 0x1022 Model ID 0x1452 Revision ID 0x00 PI 0x00 SubClass 0x00 BaseClass 0x06 Cache Line 0x00 Latency 0x00 Header 0x80 PCI header Subvendor ID 0x0000 Subsystem ID 0x0000 Int. Line 0x00 Int. Pin 0x00 PCI registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 22 10 52 14 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 06 00 00 80 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 60 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Description PCI to PCI Bridge Location bus 0 (0x00), device 1 (0x01), function 3 (0x03) Common header Vendor ID 0x1022 Model ID 0x1453 Revision ID 0x00 PI 0x00 SubClass 0x04 BaseClass 0x06 Cache Line 0x10 Latency 0x00 Header 0x81 PCI header Primary bus 0x00 Secondary bus 0x01 Int. Line 0xFF Int. Pin 0x00 PCI capability Caps class Power Management Caps offset 0x50 Caps version 1.2 PCI capability Caps class PCI Express Caps offset 0x58 Device type Root Port of PCI-E Root Complex Port 1 Version 2.0 Physical slot #0 Presence detect yes Link width 4x (max 4x) PCI capability Caps class Message Signalled Interrupts Caps offset 0xA0 PCI capability Caps class Subsystem Vendor Caps offset 0xC0 SubVendor ID 0x1043 SubSystem ID 0x8747 PCI capability Caps class HyperTransport Caps offset 0xC8 Interface type MSI Mapping Extended capabilities Caps class Vendor Specific Caps offset 0x100 Vendor ID 1 Size 16 Caps class Advanced Error Reporting Caps offset 0x150 Caps class 0x19 Caps offset 0x270 Caps class 0xD Caps offset 0x2A0 Caps class 0x1E Caps offset 0x370 Caps class 0x23 Caps offset 0x3C4 PCI registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 22 10 53 14 07 04 10 00 00 00 04 06 10 00 81 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 01 07 00 E1 E1 00 20 20 50 FE 70 FE F1 FF 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 00 00 00 00 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 FF 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 50 01 58 03 C8 00 00 00 00 10 A0 42 01 22 80 00 00 60 50 29 00 00 43 F8 72 01 40 00 43 70 00 00 04 00 70 00 00 40 01 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 BF 01 70 00 80 06 00 00 00 0E 00 00 00 03 00 1F 00 00 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 05 C0 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 0D C8 00 00 43 10 47 87 08 00 03 A8 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 100 0B 00 01 15 01 00 01 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 110 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 120 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 130 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Description Host Bridge Location bus 0 (0x00), device 2 (0x02), function 0 (0x00) Common header Vendor ID 0x1022 Model ID 0x1452 Revision ID 0x00 PI 0x00 SubClass 0x00 BaseClass 0x06 Cache Line 0x00 Latency 0x00 Header 0x80 PCI header Subvendor ID 0x0000 Subsystem ID 0x0000 Int. Line 0x00 Int. Pin 0x00 PCI registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 22 10 52 14 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 06 00 00 80 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 60 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Description Host Bridge Location bus 0 (0x00), device 3 (0x03), function 0 (0x00) Common header Vendor ID 0x1022 Model ID 0x1452 Revision ID 0x00 PI 0x00 SubClass 0x00 BaseClass 0x06 Cache Line 0x00 Latency 0x00 Header 0x80 PCI header Subvendor ID 0x0000 Subsystem ID 0x0000 Int. Line 0x00 Int. Pin 0x00 PCI registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 22 10 52 14 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 06 00 00 80 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 60 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Description PCI to PCI Bridge Location bus 0 (0x00), device 3 (0x03), function 1 (0x01) Common header Vendor ID 0x1022 Model ID 0x1453 Revision ID 0x00 PI 0x00 SubClass 0x04 BaseClass 0x06 Cache Line 0x10 Latency 0x00 Header 0x81 PCI header Primary bus 0x00 Secondary bus 0x08 Int. Line 0xFF Int. Pin 0x00 PCI capability Caps class Power Management Caps offset 0x50 Caps version 1.2 PCI capability Caps class PCI Express Caps offset 0x58 Device type Root Port of PCI-E Root Complex Port 0 Version 2.0 Physical slot #0 Presence detect yes Link width 16x (max 16x) PCI capability Caps class Message Signalled Interrupts Caps offset 0xA0 PCI capability Caps class Subsystem Vendor Caps offset 0xC0 SubVendor ID 0x1043 SubSystem ID 0x8747 PCI capability Caps class HyperTransport Caps offset 0xC8 Interface type MSI Mapping Extended capabilities Caps class Vendor Specific Caps offset 0x100 Vendor ID 1 Size 16 Caps class Advanced Error Reporting Caps offset 0x150 Caps class 0x19 Caps offset 0x270 Caps class 0xD Caps offset 0x2A0 Caps class 0x1E Caps offset 0x370 Caps class 0x23 Caps offset 0x3C4 PCI registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 22 10 53 14 07 04 10 00 00 00 04 06 10 00 81 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 08 00 D1 D1 00 20 20 90 FE 90 FE 01 E0 71 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 00 00 00 00 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 FF 00 18 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 50 01 58 03 C8 00 00 00 00 10 A0 42 01 22 80 00 00 60 30 29 00 00 03 79 73 00 40 00 01 F1 00 00 04 00 70 00 00 40 01 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 BF 01 70 00 80 06 00 00 00 0E 00 00 00 03 00 1F 00 00 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 05 C0 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 0D C8 00 00 43 10 47 87 08 00 03 A8 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 100 0B 00 01 15 01 00 01 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 110 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 120 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 130 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Description Host Bridge Location bus 0 (0x00), device 4 (0x04), function 0 (0x00) Common header Vendor ID 0x1022 Model ID 0x1452 Revision ID 0x00 PI 0x00 SubClass 0x00 BaseClass 0x06 Cache Line 0x00 Latency 0x00 Header 0x80 PCI header Subvendor ID 0x0000 Subsystem ID 0x0000 Int. Line 0x00 Int. Pin 0x00 PCI registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 22 10 52 14 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 06 00 00 80 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 60 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Description Host Bridge Location bus 0 (0x00), device 7 (0x07), function 0 (0x00) Common header Vendor ID 0x1022 Model ID 0x1452 Revision ID 0x00 PI 0x00 SubClass 0x00 BaseClass 0x06 Cache Line 0x00 Latency 0x00 Header 0x80 PCI header Subvendor ID 0x0000 Subsystem ID 0x0000 Int. Line 0x00 Int. Pin 0x00 PCI registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 22 10 52 14 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 06 00 00 80 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 60 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Description PCI to PCI Bridge Location bus 0 (0x00), device 7 (0x07), function 1 (0x01) Common header Vendor ID 0x1022 Model ID 0x1454 Revision ID 0x00 PI 0x00 SubClass 0x04 BaseClass 0x06 Cache Line 0x10 Latency 0x00 Header 0x81 PCI header Primary bus 0x00 Secondary bus 0x09 Int. Line 0xFF Int. Pin 0x01 PCI capability Caps class Power Management Caps offset 0x50 Caps version 1.2 PCI capability Caps class PCI Express Caps offset 0x58 Device type Root Port of PCI-E Root Complex Port 0 Version 2.0 Physical slot Integrated device Link width 16x (max 16x) PCI capability Caps class Message Signalled Interrupts Caps offset 0xA0 PCI capability Caps class Subsystem Vendor Caps offset 0xC0 SubVendor ID 0x1022 SubSystem ID 0x1454 PCI capability Caps class HyperTransport Caps offset 0xC8 Interface type MSI Mapping Extended capabilities Caps class Vendor Specific Caps offset 0x100 Vendor ID 1 Size 16 Caps class Advanced Error Reporting Caps offset 0x150 Caps class 0x19 Caps offset 0x270 Caps class 0xD Caps offset 0x2A0 PCI registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 22 10 54 14 06 04 10 00 00 00 04 06 10 00 81 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 09 09 00 F1 01 00 00 20 20 FE 40 FE F1 FF 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 00 00 00 00 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 FF 01 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 50 01 58 03 C8 00 00 00 00 10 A0 42 00 22 80 00 00 60 30 28 00 00 03 0D 70 00 40 00 03 71 00 00 00 00 70 00 00 40 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 80 00 00 00 00 0E 00 00 00 43 00 1F 00 00 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 05 C0 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 0D C8 00 00 22 10 54 14 08 00 03 A8 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 100 0B 00 01 15 01 00 01 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 110 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 120 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 130 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Description Host Bridge Location bus 0 (0x00), device 8 (0x08), function 0 (0x00) Common header Vendor ID 0x1022 Model ID 0x1452 Revision ID 0x00 PI 0x00 SubClass 0x00 BaseClass 0x06 Cache Line 0x00 Latency 0x00 Header 0x80 PCI header Subvendor ID 0x0000 Subsystem ID 0x0000 Int. Line 0x00 Int. Pin 0x00 PCI registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 22 10 52 14 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 06 00 00 80 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 60 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Description PCI to PCI Bridge Location bus 0 (0x00), device 8 (0x08), function 1 (0x01) Common header Vendor ID 0x1022 Model ID 0x1454 Revision ID 0x00 PI 0x00 SubClass 0x04 BaseClass 0x06 Cache Line 0x10 Latency 0x00 Header 0x81 PCI header Primary bus 0x00 Secondary bus 0x0A Int. Line 0xFF Int. Pin 0x01 PCI capability Caps class Power Management Caps offset 0x50 Caps version 1.2 PCI capability Caps class PCI Express Caps offset 0x58 Device type Root Port of PCI-E Root Complex Port 0 Version 2.0 Physical slot Integrated device Link width 16x (max 16x) PCI capability Caps class Message Signalled Interrupts Caps offset 0xA0 PCI capability Caps class Subsystem Vendor Caps offset 0xC0 SubVendor ID 0x1022 SubSystem ID 0x1454 PCI capability Caps class HyperTransport Caps offset 0xC8 Interface type MSI Mapping Extended capabilities Caps class Vendor Specific Caps offset 0x100 Vendor ID 1 Size 16 Caps class Advanced Error Reporting Caps offset 0x150 Caps class 0x19 Caps offset 0x270 Caps class 0xD Caps offset 0x2A0 PCI registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 22 10 54 14 06 04 10 00 00 00 04 06 10 00 81 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0A 0A 00 F1 01 00 00 20 80 FE 80 FE F1 FF 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 00 00 00 00 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 FF 01 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 50 01 58 03 C8 00 00 00 00 10 A0 42 00 22 80 00 00 60 30 28 00 00 03 0D 70 00 40 00 03 71 00 00 00 00 70 00 00 40 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 80 00 00 00 00 0E 00 00 00 43 00 1F 00 00 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 05 C0 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 0D C8 00 00 22 10 54 14 08 00 03 A8 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 100 0B 00 01 15 01 00 01 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 110 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 120 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 130 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Description SMBus Controller Location bus 0 (0x00), device 20 (0x14), function 0 (0x00) Common header Vendor ID 0x1022 Model ID 0x790B Revision ID 0x59 PI 0x00 SubClass 0x05 BaseClass 0x0C Cache Line 0x00 Latency 0x00 Header 0x80 PCI header Subvendor ID 0x1043 Subsystem ID 0x8747 Int. Line 0x00 Int. Pin 0x00 PCI registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 22 10 0B 79 03 04 20 02 59 00 05 0C 00 00 80 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 43 10 47 87 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 60 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Description PCI to ISA Bridge Location bus 0 (0x00), device 20 (0x14), function 3 (0x03) Common header Vendor ID 0x1022 Model ID 0x790E Revision ID 0x51 PI 0x00 SubClass 0x01 BaseClass 0x06 Cache Line 0x00 Latency 0x00 Header 0x80 PCI header Subvendor ID 0x1043 Subsystem ID 0x8747 Int. Line 0x00 Int. Pin 0x00 PCI registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 22 10 0E 79 0F 00 20 02 51 00 01 06 00 00 80 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 43 10 47 87 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 04 00 00 00 D5 FF 03 FF 07 FF 30 03 00 00 00 FD 50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 60 00 00 00 00 30 02 20 FF 00 00 0F 00 00 FF FF FF 70 67 45 23 00 0C 00 00 00 90 02 00 00 07 0A 00 00 80 08 00 03 A8 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 90 68 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A0 02 00 C1 FE 2F 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 00 E9 3F 00 00 00 00 C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 80 00 00 F7 FF D0 86 FF FD 08 42 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Description Host Bridge Location bus 0 (0x00), device 24 (0x18), function 0 (0x00) Common header Vendor ID 0x1022 Model ID 0x1460 Revision ID 0x00 PI 0x00 SubClass 0x00 BaseClass 0x06 Cache Line 0x00 Latency 0x00 Header 0x80 PCI header Subvendor ID 0x0000 Subsystem ID 0x0000 Int. Line 0x00 Int. Pin 0x00 PCI registers 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 00 22 10 60 14 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 06 00 00 80 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 13 00 00 00 2F 12 97 00 1F 1F 1F 0F 11 00 00 00 50 1F 07 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 60 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 80 41 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 90 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 05 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 A0 43 00 00 0A 40 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 B0 40 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 C0 13 D0 00 00 04 E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 E0 00 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 00 0 A biker who rode dangerously through city traffic reached speeds of more than 120kph, a court has heard. Adrian Alberto Sanchez Dubon (28) was also uninsured, as he said the cover for the motorbike was "too expensive". Judge David McHugh fined Dubon 350 and disqualified him from driving for two years. The defendant, of North Great George's Street, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving and driving without insurance or a valid licence. Blanchardstown District Court was told that the incident took place on the Navan Road last January 25. Gda Paul Doona said he was stopped at a set of traffic lights at the N3 and Auburn Avenue junction when a motorcycle came up at speed, filtering through the traffic. Dubon was driving at speeds of 100kph in a 60kph zone, the officer said. Gda Doona said the biker drove off at high speed through the traffic, reaching speeds of 120kph in an 80kph zone. Sirens The garda said that he activated his blue lights and sirens and followed the motorbike. Gda Doona said his patrol car was doing speeds of up to 160kph to keep up with Dubon, who pulled over a short distance away. The defendant was asked for his insurance documents but admitted to gardai he was not insured. He had a Venezuelan driving licence but it was not valid, Gda Doona said. The court heard that the defendant had never been in trouble before. Defence lawyer Ciaran MacLoughlin said Dubon had bought the motorbike the week before. He said Dubon had been insured on a previous bike, but he could not pay the insurance on the new bike because it was too expensive. Mr MacLoughlin said Dubon was originally from Venezuela, was married and had lived in Ireland for five years. He also said Dubon was no longer driving, and added that the defendant wished to apologise. Search and rescue workers from New York carry a man from the flooding caused by Hurricane Florence in River Bend, North Carolina. Photo: Reuters Hurricane Florence rolled ashore in North Carolina with howling 145kph winds and a terrifying storm surge early yesterday. Buildings were splintered and hundreds of people were trapped by high water as they settled in for what could be a long and extraordinarily destructive drenching. In Wilmington, a mother and child were killed when a tree fell on their house. More than 60 people had to be pulled from a collapsing motel and hundreds more were rescued elsewhere from rising water. Others could only wait and hope someone would come for them. "We are coming to get you," the city of New Bern tweeted at around 2am. "You may need to move up to the second storey, or to your attic, but we are coming to get you." Expand Close A North Carolina National Guard truck drives underneath a fallen tree in New Bern. Photo: Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A North Carolina National Guard truck drives underneath a fallen tree in New Bern. Photo: Getty Images As the giant, 650km-wide hurricane pounded away, it unloaded heavy rain, flattened trees, chewed up roads and knocked out power to more than 600,000 homes and businesses. The biggest danger, as forecasters saw it, was not the wind but the water. The storm surge along the coastline brings the prospect of up to a metre of rain over the coming days, which could trigger catastrophic flooding inland in a slow-motion disaster. terrifying By early afternoon, Florence's winds had weakened to 120kph, just barely a hurricane and well below the storm's terrifying category four peak of 225kph earlier in the week. However, the hurricane had slowed to a crawl as it traced the North Carolina-South Carolina shoreline, drenching coastal communities for hours. The town of Oriental received more than 45cm of rain only a few hours into the deluge, while Surf City had 35cm and it was still coming down. "Hurricane Florence is powerful, slow and relentless," North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said. "It's an uninvited brute who doesn't want to leave." 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 three metres. Florence made landfall as a category one hurricane at 7.15am local time at Wrightsville Beach, a few kilometres east of Wilmington, coming ashore along a mostly boarded-up, emptied-out stretch of coastline. 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. 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 flood waters. Authorities warned, too, of the threat of mudslides and the risk of environmental havoc from flood waters. North Carolina alone is forecast to receive 9.6 trillion gallons of rain, enough to cover the state to a depth of about 25cm. alarmed In New Bern, flooding trapped many, and Mayor Dana Outlaw said that about 200 people had been rescued by 5am. Restaurant owner Tom Balance had decided against evacuating his home and was alarmed to see the water getting higher and higher. Six sheriff's officers came to his house to rescue him, but he did not need to leave as the water was dropping by then. Still, he said: "I feel like the dumbest human being who ever walked the face of the Earth." Presidential candidate Gavin Duffy and his wife Orlaith after he secured the nomination of Wicklow County Council Businessman and former Dragons' Den judge Gavin Duffy has said he is "relieved" to have secured the final endorsement to allow him to run for the presidency. The 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, businessman Sean Gall- agher, President Michael D Higgins and an as yet unnamed Sinn Fein candidate in the election, while a number of councils have yet to vote on the matter, which could yield more runners. Endorsement Five hopefuls addressed the council in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, yesterday, including Mr Gallagher, who had already secured his nomination. He asked members not to put him forward for another endorsement. Four other can- didates had spoken to the council when they met in July. The only other candidate to be proposed and seconded in Waterford was journalist Gemma O'Doherty, who was backed by independent councillors Sean Reinhardt and Joe Kelly. Mr Duffy won the endorsement by 14 votes to two, with members of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour all supporting him. Sinn Fein councillor John Hearne abstained and there were some absentees. "On one level I am so relieved to have crossed the line in achieving the nomination," Mr Duffy said after the vote. "I am also very humbled to get that support from right across the chamber." Now that he has the required four council endorsements, he said he will not be asking any other council for support and will instead be asking them 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," he said. Earlier, Waterford councillors were addressed by former Dragon Peter Casey, as well as Ms O'Doherty, Sarah Louise Mulligan and Newry-based businessman John O'Hare, who entered the race on Thursday. Ms 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". Corruption She claimed 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 politicians and citizens". Ms O'Doherty highlighted issues including housing, healthcare, a free press and corruption as ones that are important to her. "The previous incumbents and the current president have been members of the elite that have brought our country to its knees time and again," she said. "I believe the previous incumbents and the current president have not pushed the presidency to the limits they can. "Their job is to be on the side of citizens and highlighting the needs of our people." Hundreds of children could lose out on their clubs only designated GAA pitch because of government proposals to develop the site of a Dublin barracks. Ranelagh Gaels, which has around 450 under-age members, currently rents the GAA pitch at Cathal Brugha Barr-acks from the Department of Defence. The site is the only specifically designated GAA pitch in the community used by the Dublin 6 club. However, members and officials have expressed concerns that the teams will be left without a playing surface because of a proposal to build houses on the site. Regeneration The Land Development Agency (LDA) was launched this week by Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, and several locations have been earmarked for building. Cathal Brugha Barracks, Harolds Cross greyhound stadium and Bolands Mill are among 30 locations in the capital being considered for regeneration work. A spokeswoman for the Department of Housing said the barracks is not on an initial list of sites, and that any development will be subject to community engagement. The 1.25bn initiative was launched to tackle the housing crisis. Ranelagh Gaels juvenile chairman David Coyle said the club only became aware that the future of its pitch may be in doubt after reading media reports of the proposal. The pitch, he said, is the only one in the Ranelagh area to cater for the communitys young players. As a community-based club we have no facilities or playing area for those children apart from that particular pitch in Cathal Brugha, said Mr Coyle. Pitches and land are at a premium and its difficult as it is already. We need to ensure that we can protect that particular piece of ground and designated GAA pitch for the kids. While the club currently rents a rugby pitch in Dartry Park for its under-age teams, the Rathmines pitch is the only designated GAA pitch in the Ranelagh and Rathmines area. Mr Coyle described the possibility of losing the pitch as a huge blow to the club and its children aged between four and 13 who play there. The Department of Defence and Cathal Brugha have been great in allowing us to share the pitch, which is used with Portobello GAA, he said. Theres no pitch in Ran- elagh, in the centre of that community. That pitch provides the option right in the middle of Rathmines and Dublin 6. Its an ideal location for kids in the local community to do their training. Speculation The Department of Housing did not respond to requests for comment when contacted by the Herald. Launching the LDA, minister Mr Murphy said the initiative aimed to address traditional volatility in land prices as a result of land speculation and address the delays in delivering housing. Establishing the LDA creates a powerful new driver of urban regeneration with the lands, skill sets and capital needed to assure housing delivery, including the social, affordable and market housing needed for our citizens, Mr Murphy said. Gardai have arrested a soldier on suspicion of dealing cocaine after drugs were found at a Dublin barracks. The 23-year-old was arrested after around 1,400 worth of drugs were found in a room during a search by military police officers. It emerged earlier this month that the soldier was under investigation and needed hospital treatment after becoming violent in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines. A search of his room was carried out and an unknown substance was recovered by military police, who handed it over to gardai. Officers from Rathmines Garda Station have been carrying out an investigation into the incident and last week arrested the soldier for questioning. He was held on suspicion of being in the possession of drugs for the purpose of sale and supply. A source told the Herald the soldier made admissions while in custody and admitted to being in possession of the drugs. Gardai believe the value of the suspected cocaine is in the region of 1,400, though further tests are being carried out on a second bag recovered. It is understood a small quantity of steroids, as well as legal fitness supplements, were also recovered during the search. A garda spokesman said a man in his 20s was arrested on September 7 in relation to the investigation. "He has since been released without charge and a file will be sent to the DPP," he said. Firearm A previous statement by the Defence Forces said military police were carrying out an investigation "following an incident in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines" on Friday, August 31. "A member of the Defence Forces was transferred to hospital for medical examination where he remains under medical care. "Following a search [that day], a quantity of an as yet unidentified substance was discovered which was handed over to gardai for examination. "At no stage during the incident was any individual threatened with a firearm." When asked about gardai arresting the soldier, the Def-ence Forces said it had no further comment to make at this time. It is the second time in recent months that a quantity of cocaine has been seized from the barracks. In December, military police found around 3,000 of cocaine in a common area of the base. A source said last night there was no apparent link between that bust and the most recent drug seizure. "The individual in question made admissions to the latest cocaine seizure, including admitting to dealing," the source said. "However, despite this, there is nothing to suggest that he was in possession of the drugs recovered in December and that matter is still being actively investigated." OROVILLE, Calif. - Oroville schools will soon have a four-legged friend keeping them safe from drug paraphernalia. The Oroville police department and school districts partnered together and created a new K9 program, for the high schools, middle schools and elementary schools. Frankie is a nine-month-old black lab from a kennel in West Virginia. She started working with specialized dog trainer, Tiffany Damm, in June. "It's nice to be able to do something that's gonna give to our community," Damm said. Police Officer Breck Wright said, Frankie will be used as a drug detection dog. He said instead of it taking 30 minutes or so for an officer to check a classroom, if there's an issue, Frankie will be much faster. "Check lockers check areas where children gather," Wright said. "Frankie's not gonna be utilized to sniff any students or any type of persons, but Frankie is gonna be utilized for say if we have an issue in a classroom we can clear out that classroom and have Frankie check the classroom in a two-three minute time frame." Officer Wright said that Frankie will hopefully be seen as a deterrent for kids to think twice about bringing narcotics to school. Although, he isn't "as" worried about a drug problem in the elementary and middle schools. "But it's the people who come on our campuses after hours we've had issues where we've had drug paraphernalia and drugs left behind on our campuses and Frankie's gonna be utilized to do those safety checks, do the playground checks to make sure all of our students are safe," Wright said. Frankie's trainer, Tiffany, gave me a small preview of the work frankie will be doing. She hid some heroin under a dumpster... said the magic words "search"... and Frankie took off on her mission. Officer Wright said they'll still be using Frankie even when schools out. "Utilizing her in our parks, we wanna keep our kids safe year round," Wright said. Frankie is almost ready to be working on school grounds. She has to be one-years-old to qualify as a K9 dog. January 15 will be her first day on the job. OROVILLE, Calif. - The Butte County Sheriff's Office detained three suspects in a marijuana investigation, which lead to the discovery of a major credit card fraud and identity theft scandal. On Sept. 13, the Special Enforcement Unit served a search warrant for Starziak Lane in Oroville. When they approached the resident, they found Nathan Kaopua, 45, of Oroville, standing next to a stolen Home Depot rental van from Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was detained without incident. Inside the home, they found Sonja Burns, 33, of Oroville, and Jesus Valencia-Navarro, 43, of Michoacan, Mexico. Both were also detained without incident. When the van was searched, the team found numerous items used to manufacture credit and debit cards using stolen credit card information. They also found a stolen Lime Bike rental bike. When the residence was searched, they found that Burns had been living in the home since May 2018 when she was not the proper owner. The true property owner lives out of the area and alerted the Butte County Sheriff's Office after they started receiving expensive PG&E bills, according to the release. A search of Burns' bedroom revealed methamphetamine, prescription pills, methamphetamine pipes and equipment to manufacture fraudulent driver's licenses. They also found a bag which contained hundreds of fraudulent credit cards, debit cards and licenses that they concluded belonged to Kaopua. In the living room of the home, police found a loaded shotgun that they concluded belonged to Valencia-Navarro and was used to protect two greenhouses containing marijuana on the property. The team found in the investigation that it appears that Burns illegally occupied the home and rented the land to individuals to cultivate marijuana illegally. A total of 174 marijuana plants were found on the property. Burns was arrested and transported to the Butte County Jail and booked on felony charges of maintaining a residence for drug sales, manufacturing fake access cards, cultivation of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia. Kaopua was arrested and transported to the Butte County Jail and booked on felony charges of transportation of marijuana into California, possession of a stolen vehicle, manufacturing fake access cards, forging state identification card, and a felony warrant out of Yuba County for being a felon in possession of ammunition. Valencia-Navarro was arrested and transported to the Butte County Jail and booked on charges of cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale. All gave some; some gave all. Here's how to honor veterans this year Too poor to afford a lawyer, but not poor enough to qualify for legal aid, this has been the situation for several years for thousands of people living in Canada. Hourly rates for Canadian lawyers could go as high as $450, which means a five-day long civil litigation is very much guaranteed to break the bank for the average middle-income earner and according to reports on cbc.ca, is roughly $16,000 more than the median take-home pay in a single-parent family. The Canadian Lawyer carried out a 2018 survey which revealed that the hourly rates for lawyers in the different practice areas. Lawyers who had been practicing for a year or less charged as follows: Business Law $196.14, Civil Litigation $192.70, Criminal Law $207.33, Family Law $199.52, Immigration Law $201.67, Intellectual Property Law $231.25, Labour & Employment Law $192.27, Real Estate Law $182.70, Wills & Estates Law $180.37. These charges went even higher as the lawyers years of practice experience increased, going as high as $457.22 for Intellectual Property Law for lawyers with up to 11 years of practice experience. These numbers have made it almost impossible for average income earning families to seek quality legal assistance, and has led many people to turn to self-representation. There are several arguments against self-representation;first, being that they are not lawyers, these people cannot fully understand the process or paperwork required for legal proceedings. It goes without saying that self-represented litigants would most times lose out against practicing lawyers. According to Andrew Feldstein in 2016 The situation is most dire in family law. As many as eight out of ten Canadians involved in family law proceedings represent themselves. According to cbc.ca, Ontario's single parents must make less than $20,994 to qualify for a certificate to cover lawyer's fees. They can get partial funding if their income stays below $25,282. This means that a single parent earning $30, 000 and going through a divorce would have no other options than self-representation as the legal fees would be too high, considering other expenses they have to consider such as mortgages and tuition. A few organizations exist, however, that offer pro bono work to people who cannot afford legal counsel. This seems to be the only hope for the poor in Canada. There is Pro Bono Law Ontario (PBLO) which is an organization that promotes access to justice in Ontario by creating and promoting opportunities for lawyers to provide pro bono (free) legal services to persons of limited. A similar organization is Downtown Legal Services in Toronto, which provides a service similar to full representation. There, law students, are guided by qualified lawyers to provide pro bono work for people who cannot afford lawyers. Sarah Lugtig, the chair of the Canadian Bar Association's access to justice committee, once stated on this issue, "People do better in court when they have legal representation, there's been research that's shown that very clearly," Lugtig said. "And it makes sense the system is actually designed for lawyers, it's not designed for people." Some critics have blamed mounting course of legal representation on lawyers, who graduate law school with massive students' loans to be repaid and as such focus only on making a profit, as soon as they are out of law school. It is obvious that a legislative reform in this area is long overdue. Comedian-actor Sunil Grover says Salman Khan is an inspirational figure, and he is excited to work with the superstar in Bharat. "I have grown up watching his films. So when the opportunity came my way, I was a little nervous about it because he is a superstar and I thought how will I manage to match up with him," Sunil told IANS without divulging anything about his character. "However, when I started working with him, I realised that he is actually an inspirational person who gives every actor full space. I feel very excited and fortunate to work with him in the film," he added. Sunil says "it is interesting that though there is so much riding on him, he moves around with such ease". "He is acting in films, doing television, his other production work is going on, but he is always doing something fun with all of us," he added. Bharat, being directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, is an official adaptation of the 2014 South Korean film Ode to My Father. It is scheduled to release on Eid 2019. At the moment, Sunil is looking forward to the release of Vishal Bhardwaj's Pataakha. It will open on September 28. Asked whether his popularity as a comedian is creating any obstacles to getting roles of different genres, Sunil said: "I don't think so. Because when a film comes to me with a role with traces of comedy, I think it is because people love and enjoy me doing such an act. And doing comedy is not an easy thing at all." He says he is "certainly not bothered about the genre of my character." Follow @htshowbiz for more President Donald Trump believes the US has the upper hand in the trade dispute with China and reportedly instructed aides to press ahead with tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports even as his administration renewed a push for negotiations. Trump asked for additional tariffs on Thursday during a meeting with senior trade and commerce officials, including treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, who invited the Chinese earlier this week to resume talks that had been inconclusive. The last round of talks took place in Washington. There has been no announcement about new tariffs as yet. We are under no pressure to make a deal with China, they are under pressure to make a deal with us, Trump tweeted ahead of the last meeting. 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? A higher tariff of 25% is already in force on $50 billion worth of imports from China, and the period for public comments on a proposal to extend it to another $200 billion worth of goods ended recently. Though an implementation schedule hasnt been announced as yet, Trump is pushing for it to be rolled out. Bloomberg, which first reported the new move to impose further tariffs, said when Trump was asked at Thursdays meeting if he worried about the impact of new tariffs on negotiations, he replied in the negative. Trump has hinted at another tranche of tariffs of $267 billion. The $200 billion we are talking about could take place very soon depending on what happens with them. To a certain extent its going to be up to China, Trump said. And I hate to say this, but behind that is another $267 billion ready to go on short notice if I want. That totally changes the equation. The Chinese have confirmed receiving Mnuchins invitation for talks and welcomed it. The escalation of trade conflicts doesnt benefit either sides interests, Chinese commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng said in Beijing on Thursday. But China is uncertain if talks are leading anywhere and whether the US interlocutors speak for their mercurial and unpredictable president. Trump has come under mounting pressure at home from sectors impacted by the tariff war, including soybean farmers in the American mid-west who have been among his staunchest supporters. His options have narrowed considerably as he looks for new levies on imports without driving up prices. Apple warned last week that some of its most popular products, which are made mostly in China, might become costlier because the $200 billion in tariffs Trump is pushing to be implemented. In case you were waiting with bated breath last weekend for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive to make some substantial statements on how the party plans to improve womens rights as it goes into election mode, you must have been disappointed. However, the Modi government could have spoken of the many schemes it has instituted which have benefitted women though not as much as they should have. The Ujjwala Yojana, which provides cooking gas connections to poor households, has meant much less manual work for many women and less danger of contracting respiratory diseases. The Swachh Bharat programmes have improved hygiene and safety for women. This is to mention just a few. But it would have been really heartening for the half the population had the party and others in the fray felt that womens issues were important enough to feature as an important aspect of their election blueprints. For one, all parties really need to sit down with their elected representatives and tell them that there has to be a culture of respect when speaking of women. A BJP MLA from Ghatkopar recently grandly offered to kidnap girls who refused offers of marriage from young men. The MLA felt it was his duty to fulfil the wishes of men who were rejected suitors and use force to make women comply. Then we had an independent MLA from Kerala who dismissed a nun rape victim as a whore. This disrespect cuts across party lines, from trivialising rape to attacking women for dressing in a particular way, many politicians have sought to diminish women and their rights. The message should come from the party leaders that any legislator found disparaging women will face the consequences within the party and within the law. These remarks cannot be dismissed as just loose talk. They are taken as licence to misbehave by the lumpen elements in all parties. How heartening it would be if political parties gearing up for elections were to discuss seriously how to push up the number of women candidates. Data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union ranks India 147 out of 188 countries when it comes to the representation of women in parliament. Most parties have now stopped even paying lip service to the womens reservation bill except that they agree in principle that such a move should be undertaken. One issue that should be taken up, and the BJP being the ruling party should lead the way, is the frightening rise in violence against women. Rapes and others forms of assault are now a daily occurrence, so much so that even violent rapes of children no longer make headlines or merit much attention from shrieking television anchors. This is one issue where schemes like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao could have been used to far greater effect. There is still time before real election fever kicks in. The BJP should lead the debate on how much the lack of inclusion of women in the labour force has hurt the economy. Indias female labour force participation is among the lowest in South Asia, according to the latest Economic Survey data. If Indian women had equal employment and work opportunities, McKinsey Global Institute estimates that it would add $ 770 billion to the economy. If the last election was about development, this one could be about development plus womens rights. It is amazing that all parties feel the need to institute women-centric schemes but feel no need to either showcase them or build on them. When elections come around, the discourse usually revolves around security or class-caste politics. The feeling is that womens rights just dont get you votes and that women are, by and large, not winnable candidates. It is no ones contention that electoral rhetoric should be focused only on women but half the population deserves much more attention than it gets now. As mentioned before in these columns, there is no womens vote like, say, a Yadav vote or a Bhoomihar vote. Women are fragmented and marginalised in all sections of society, so they have less political leverage. Perhaps civil society and womens groups, who are efficient influencers as seen in the Article 377 struggle, should put their minds to at least pushing for more women to enter politics. It may not bring about a revolution, but certainly womens rights would get a boost. And it might just make elections that much more interesting and varied. lalita.panicker@hindustantimes.com The Uttarakhand government may soon take the help of foreign investors to boost the declining farm sector. Plans are on to lease out abandoned land to foreign investors to grow crops, which would boost the hill farmers income and help check their forced migration. We have invited foreign investors to take up contract farming in the hills so that farm production gets a boost. They might also provide us technical know-how which we will give a fillip to the agro- based industry, said agriculture minister Subodh Uniyal who recently returned from a week-long trip to Denmark and Spain. State horticulture director RC Srivastava said the hill agriculture would get a boost if farm land is leased out to foreign investors. Such a move, if fructuous, would certainly give a boost to the farm sector, which will help us check forced migration from the hills, he said. The official clarified that there was no legal anomaly in implementing such a scheme. I dont see any problem on technical ground because all our laws relating to contract farming and lease related laws are in place, Srivastava said. Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat is on record saying that plans were afoot to lease out the agricultural land in the hills lying fallow and abandoned as their owners have migrated. As per a report by Rural Development and Migration Commission, about 734 revenue villages, including clusters of villages, have been emptied out about eight years after the 2011 census was completed. Similarly, as many as 1,18, 981 people have permanently relocated from 3,946 village panchayats in the past 10 years. Recently, the government tweaked its agriculture policy to make hill farming more remunerative to check forced migration. Its move to invite foreign investors to take up contract farming in the hills is aimed to achieve that objective only. Uniyal said during his recent visit to Denmark, he extended an open invitation to investors there to take up contract farming in the state or acquire farmland on lease. I also invited them to visit the state to attend a two-day Investors Summit to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 7, he said. We plan to rope in investors from Denmark because it is known for its integrated agriculture, hi-tech dairy farming and agro-based industry. About his visit to Pamplona, Spain, he said it was a brief study tour to understand hi-tech agro-based industry in that country. The technology being employed by people there particularly in that sector is very advanced, Uniyal said. We are planning to acquire the hi-tech system from Spain to replicate its efficient agro-based industry, he clarified. As a first step, the government would ensure that investors from Denmark take up contract farming in the mountain state or are leased out abandoned farmlands, he added. That is our first priority because their hi-tech farming techniques would boost farm production in the hills, which is very low, Uniyal added. If the plan takes off, foreign investors would be leased out land to grow millets, medicinal herbs and the off-season vegetables. We want them to boost production of those crops because they are our strengths as the states agro-climatic conditions are suitable for them, he said and added that there is a growing demand for crops such as medicinal herbs and more particularly millets both in the domestic and foreign markets. Uniyal clarified that after the production takes off, a marketing network would be put in place on the pattern of the hi-tech integrated agriculture practised in countries like Denmark. We will also set up agro-based industries based on foreign technology, he said. The Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) polls has revived the controversy around use of EVMs. Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken on Friday alleged that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in the Delhi University Students Union elections were tampered with and demanded re-elections using paper ballots. Though, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) steered clear of blaming the EVMs for its student wings (CYSS) poor performance, it did question how Delhi University had procured EVMs without the Election Commissions permission. The BJP, on the other hand, said that both the Congress and the AAP were blaming the EVMs for their poor performance. Our main charge is that the EVMs used in DUSU elections were tampered with, said Maken. He alleged that for the post of secretary, there were just eight candidates. But ballot number 10 got 40 votes. How is that possible? asked Maken. The Congress said that there was close fight between the NSUI and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for the presidents post. Till the sixth round, there was hardly any difference in votes. Why is it always that whenever EVM malfunctioning is reported, the results are in favour of the BJP or the ABVP? Maken said. Maken alleged that the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), which is one of the main companies that provides EVMs to the election commission, had provided EVMs to DU. When EVMs provided by ECIL can be tampered with in DUSU elections, what is the guarantee that the EVMs will not be misused during the national elections? said Maken. Saurabh Bharadwaj, chief spokesperson of AAP said, When we had raised the issue, the poll body had said that no one can privately procure the EVMs with its permission. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said that the NSUIs candidate had won the election for the post of secretary. Congress is alleging that 40 votes were cast on ballot 10 in the secretarys election. But their own candidate won that post, said Tiwari. The Delhi government on Friday signed a Friendship and Cooperation Agreement with the Seoul Metropolitan Government under which the two cities would exchange expertise for betterment in 12 fields including environment, transport, tourism, solid waste management and public health. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Seoul mayor Park Won-Soon in Seoul on Friday, sought cooperation from his South Korean counterpart, particularly seeking their expertise in dealing with transport and pollution. Both cities have been mandated to build a twinning cell for easy communication and knowledge sharing. In a speech prior to signing the agreement, Kejriwal said Delhi has twice the population of Seoul and roughly thrice the area. But, both cities have some common issues to be addressed, he said. Hindustan Times takes a look at some of the major issues that plague the two cities and the different approach they have followed to deal with these issues. Transport While Delhi struggles to have a unified policy for transportation, Seoul has already achieved setting up an integrated public transport system. Official data shows 74% of Seouls population use public transport for commute. Only 26% of residents use private cars. It is not just about providing public transport systems but about making it convenient. In Delhi last-mile connectivity despite having concepts like multi-modal integration has not taken shape because of multiplicity of agencies. In Seoul, modes are integrated so seamlessly that people want to avail them, said Anumita Roychowdhury, head of research and advocacy at Centre for Science and Environment. The Delhi government has also been trying to increase its bus fleet from a meagre 5,561 public buses to 11,000. However, at least four tenders for bus procurement have failed in the last eight years. Waste management As Delhi struggles to manage its four towering landfills, one of which has reached the height of Qutub Minar, South Korea has been powering the energy needs of its cities by utilising landfill gas to generate electricity. The perfect example for this is the erstwhile Nanjido landfill, which the Korean government says was 34 times larger than the Great Pyramid of Giza. It was then converted into a massive biodiversity public park. In Delhi, serious deliberations on landfills began only when a portion of the Ghazipur landfill site caved in killing two people in September 2017. The government called a series of emergency meetings which led to several suggestions and plans, all these remain on paper as of now. Waterbody revival While multiple attempts to revive the Yamuna have failed, in mid-2003, the then Seoul mayor Lee Myeong-Bak successfully initiated a $281 million project to remove a highway and restore the Cheonggyechan a stream that cuts through Seoul. Back home, multiple Yamuna Action Plans have failed and new plans such as the sewer interceptor project and Yamuna Revitalisation Plan 2017 have already missed multiple deadlines. Thousands of crores have been spent, but a clear policy and implementation is needed. If a small city like Seoul can do it, so can we. There is a lack of political will, said Manoj Misra, from the NGO, Yamuna Jiye Andolan. Environment With the threat of Delhi becoming the worlds most polluted city looming large, government agencies woke up to the urgency only in 2017 when the Graded Action Plan was notified. Action plans kick in based on severity levels of air pollution. In Seoul, public transport is free on days when pollution spikes. Apart from this high parking charges and other such measures have also helped. Out of the 21 confirmed cases of the dengue haemorrhagic fever so far in the district, 15 belong to the age group of 18 to 40 years, according to data with the district health department. Health department officials say that people under 40 years of age have been the worst hit by dengue, as they are exposed to environments that carry a higher risk of the infection. Only two cases of dengue have been reported in the age group of below 18 years, with none of the cases belonging to those who are 10 years of age. Five patients are above 40, including a senior citizen. People in the age of group of 18-40 years are usually more exposed to different environments that carry a higher risk of the dengue infection. Workplaces, parks, markets and community areas are often the breeding grounds for mosquitoes where people belonging to the active age group mostly frequents, said Dr Ram Prakash Rai, district epidemiologist. Rai added that this has been the trend in the district for the past several years. Last year too, out of the confirmed 66 dengue cases, over 70% cases were of people below 40 years, he said. Dengue is transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which typically attacks below the elbow and the knee. Doctors say that mosquito is most active during the day, for approximately two hours after the sunrise and several hours before the sunset. It is known to breed in fresh water, in areas which are cool and shaded. Dr Manjeeta Das, internal medicine specialist, Columbia Asia Hospital, too said that 90% of the cases she has seen this season which usually starts in June and lasts till mid-December belonged to the age group of 18 to 40 years. Young adults tend to be more callous towards their health. They tend to ignore the fever and take over-the-counter medicines, which only lower their platelet count, Das said, adding that the carefree attitude towards health among young adults might also be because of the fact that they tend to live alone in the city. Das said that children are equally vulnerable to the disease but they are usually looked after. Parents make sure their children apply mosquito repellents and wear clothes that cover most of their body. But they themselves wrongly believe that they are immune to the disease, she said. Dr Amitabh Parthi, head of internal medicine, Fortis Hospital, too confirmed that 60-70% of his patients who are tested positive with dengue belong to the younger age group. Majority of the victims are men, as they are more exposed to the potential breeding grounds, he said. Doctors recommended people under the age of 40 should take precautionary measures to prevent the disease. They should make sure that they eat healthy food on time and consume lots of water to boost immunity. They should also avoid self medication and go to a hospital in case of a fever that lasts for more than two consecutive days, Das said. The Hollywood Reporter said this week that Henry Cavill was most likely being dropped as Superman in Warner Bros evolving (and rapidly unraveling) DC Extended Universe. The actor quickly responded with a cryptic Instagram video which, if anything, only made things worse and Warners was quick to clarify that no firm decisions had been made. But pay closer attention to their statement and two things will pop out. One, theyve very conveniently avoided an outright denial (or confirmation) of that THR story. And two, theyve emphasised a little too enthusiastically that they (continue to) have a great working relationship with Cavill. But thats not what several journalists are reporting. According to multiple people with inside information on the matter, the blame just like it was during the moustachegate kerfuffle can safely be directed towards Mission: Impossible Fallout. But this time, instead of one studio playing the ultimate power move and forcing another to spend millions of dollars on digitally erasing the moustache Cavill had grown and was contractually obligated to keep while filming the sixth Mission Impossible film, Cavill believed his supporting role in the movie had somehow made him an A-list star. It hadnt. But with The Rocks ex-wife (and the mother of his child), Dany Garcia, by his side in a managerial capacity, Cavill believed he could engage Warner Bros the studio that picked him out of relative obscurity and made him Superman in a game of chicken. Because what youre seeing play out in public the curiously timed reports of Cavills dismissal and the enigmatic statements subsequently made by both parties is nothing but an ugly negotiating tactic. The THR story reported that the problem began when Cavill blamed scheduling conflicts for his refusal to film a cameo appearance in DCs upcoming Shazam! movie. Cavill reportedly still has one film left in his DC contract, and the cameo would have counted. Both ScreenRant and Beyond the Trailer report that the reason Cavill was holding out was because he felt that he was owed more money now that his star had risen. The strategy worked well for Gal Gadot, who not only negotiated a hefty pay-rise for Wonder Woman 1984, but also scored a producer credit. Its one thing for an actor to demand fair compensation, but Cavill is yet to deliver a solo hit. All three of his DC movies are commonly categorised as having underperformed which is the modern blockbuster code for films that flopped theatrically but will turn a profit in the long run. And only one of his non-DC movies is a bonafide hit the aforementioned Mission Impossible 6. As his next move, Cavill signed onto the Netflix fantasy series, The Witcher which is a good (but crucially not great) plan B perhaps to send the message that he was already moving on. And shortly after The Witcher was announced, THR broke the news of his dismissal. Again, it has been reported online that the story was leaked by Warners as an arm-twisting maneuver, but who knows? What we do know is that situations such as this have precedent. Theres no telling how this might end up, but as these five examples show, Cavill has little option but to lower his asking price. Terrence Howard Iron Man In one of the rare examples of roles being recast in the Marvel Cinematic Universe remarkable especially considering the sheer number of actors and schedules they have to juggle Terrence Howard was removed as War Machine for Iron Man 2. And Howard whose history of domestic abuse hardly makes him the victim in this situation has publicly blamed Robert Downey Jr for his ouster. It turns out that the person I helped become Iron Man when it was time to re-up for the second one took the money that was supposed to go to me and pushed me out, Howard said. The role was subsequently recast with Don Cheadle. It was going to be a certain amount for the first film, a certain amount for the second, a certain amount for the third, Howard continued. They came to me with the second and said, Look we will pay you 1/8th of what we contractually had for you because we think the second one will be successful with or without you. Howard added: I called my friend that I helped get the first job and he didnt call me back for three months. Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth Star Trek 4 It was recently reported that Paramounts talks with both Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth had broken down because they were asking a higher price to reprise their roles as James T Kirk and his father in the fourth Star Trek film. Hemsworth played a cameo in the 2009 reboot, before he became a household name thanks to the Marvel movies. The plot for the fourth film is rumoured to involve a time travel element, what with Captain Kirks father being dead and all. While neither Chris is a part of the Hollywood A-list, theyre certainly bigger stars than Cavill. And they know it, because even though Paramount wants to keep the budget for the new Star Trek in check, especially after the third one became the lowest-grossing of the reboot series, the actors are still holding out. Pine recently said that talks were ongoing and that he hopes to arrive at an understanding, but with the series flexible timeline and the option of another Trek movie (this one being written by Quentin Tarantino) available, the ball is firmly in the Chrises court. The cast of Modern Family In 2012, five lead actors of the hit sitcom Modern Family, excluding Ed ONeill - Sofia Vergara, Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet asked a judge to rule their contracts illegal, claiming that they were being underpaid and that the contracts restricted them from taking on other work. The actors at the time were being paid between $60,000 and $65,000 per episode, according to Variety, and were asking for at least $300,000 per episode were the show to last more than eight seasons, which it has. The same actors are now getting paid in the vicinity of $500,000 per episode. The cast of Friends In another example of TV actors successfully renegotiating their contracts, the main cast of Friends successfully convinced NBC to pay them a then-unheard of $1 million per episode. Mirroring everyones disbelief, co-creator Marta Kaufmann at the time said, A million dollars an episode is kinda ridiculous. Lets be honest, thats a lot of money. But they had two crucial points going in their favour: Friends was one of the highest watched shows in the history of TV and ever since the third season, theyd been negotiating their deals collectively. These days only one sitcom can afford to pay its cast a million dollars per episode and thats The Big Bang Theory. Mark Wahlberg Obviously, not all backroom contract negotiations are reported in the press. Johnny Depp continues to strike lucrative deals at Disney to keep doing the Pirate of the Caribbean movies although, a point can be made that considering the recent disintegration of his career and his reputation, he needs them more than they need him. But when Mark Wahlberg asked for $1.5 million to film nine days of reshoots for Ridley Scotts All the Money in the World, hed never have expected his fine business acumen to blow up in his face. Weeks later, just ahead of the Oscars, it was reported that his co-star Michelle Williams made only $80 a day for doing exactly the same work. And the cultural climate couldnt have been worse: The Me Too movement was at its peak and stars such as Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Lawrence had been campaigning vocally for equal pay. To his credit, Wahlberg donated the entire $1.5 million to the Times Up campaign in Williams name. Follow @htshowbiz for more The author tweets @RohanNaahar Three passengers who complained about mosquitoes in an IndiGo flight from Delhi in April this year will be paid Rs 40,000 each, a consumer disputes forum in Amritsar has said in its ruling. The forum took note of the complaint filed by three city lawyers that the airline hadnt acted on their complaints during the flight. IndiGo, in its submission to the forum had said that they took all reasonable care to avoid such instances but the entry of insects or flies cannot be completely guarded against. But the consumer forum did not find this argument satisfactory. This amounts to gross deficiency in service and unfair trade practice that caused mental agony and harassment to its three customers, Anoop Sharma and Rachna Arora of Amristsars consumer forum said in their ruling. Plus, the forum said, the airline and Airports Authority of India, or AAI, will have to deposit Rs 15,000 in its consumer legal aid account. Lawyer Deepinder Singh, who filed the complainant along with co-passengers Sukhandeep Singh and Updip Singh, said they had spotted the mosquitoes as soon as they entered the aircraft. We boarded the Indigo plane from T2 Terminal of Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. While entering the aircraft, we spotted a number of mosquitoes. When we complained to the staff, they showed helplessness. Instead of taking any remedial measures, they said it was a minor issue and flies or mosquitoes inside the flight were a routine affair. They said fumigation of the plane is not possible every time it takes off, Deepinder Singh recalled. But they quickly wrote an email to the airlines customer care cell with their complaint. After reaching Amritsar, we, along with other passengers, complained to the airport authority, but nobody took cognisance, he said. The lawyer said the airport authority was also treated as the service provider in this case because airlines charge an airport fee which is part of the air fare. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which sent a four-member team to Uttar Pradeshs Deoria in August after 26 girls were rescued from an illegally run shelter home where they were allegedly subjected to physical and sexual abuse, has found glaring inadequacies and insensitivity in the rehabilitation of the traumatised victims. For one thing, despite their distressed mental state, the inmates werent even provided a gender-appropriate and secure facility to move to, the countrys apex child rights body said in its report, which was submitted to the Union ministry of women and child development last week. The NCPCR sent the four-member team on August 9, three days after the rescue. The inmates of Maa Vindhyavasini Mahila and Balika Sanrakshan Grih in Deoria, being run illegally by a couple, were rescued after a 10-year-old girl escaped from the shelter and complained to the police.The girls complained of having been subjected to physical and sexual abuse. Immediately after the rescue, the victims were housed in a childrens home for boys, called Rajkiya Bal Grih, in Deoria, and were forced to share the facility for a week, according to the report. They were later shifted to separate government-run homes in Varanasi, Ballia and Allahabad. Against the gravity of the gruesome incident, the sexually abused girls were restored to a children home for boys. Thus failing to provide a secure, safe and comfortable space for (the) girls to recover from the trauma, (sic) said the report, a copy of which has been seen by HT. The infrastructure at the shelter home where the girls were taken to lacked any recreational facilities and didnt have adequate staff or a library, counselling room, store room and learning material. Nor did the premises maintain proper standards of hygiene and sanitation, the NCPCR team observed in its report. The team, which was led by NCPCR member, RG Anand, also found that in the immediate aftermath of the incident, hardly any measures were taken to address the severe trauma suffered by the girls, highlighting how the state government lacked any plan to rehabilitate the victims. No appointment of a qualified counsellor or a mental health expert was ensured within the premises of shelter home, clinical assessment of the victims was not conducted and no effective post-traumatic therapy or counselling was ensured to the victims, according to the report submitted to the women and child development ministry. The shelter home lacked any provision of a separate counselling room in its premises, let alone a counsellor visiting it on a weekly basis. ...no necessary measures were taken to ameliorate the negative psycho-emotional and psycho-social impact on the children due to the gruesome incident, the report said. The victims, the report observed, did not have even a single session with a trained counsellor. There were inconsistencies in the follow-up of cases with victims who were exposed to sexual abuse and harassment for a prolonged period of time, The superintendent of the shelter home hadnt yet prepared or initiated a course of psychological aid and therapeutic intervention based on the individual profile of each victim. Rakesh Srivastava, secretary of the women and child development ministry, said the ministry was writing to the district administration, seeking an explanation for the inadequate rehabilitation measures provided to the victims. NCPCR has laid down a detailed standard operating procedure on how to deal with sexual abuse of children in childcare institutions, mandating a medical examination of the victims, an assessment of his/her mental state and psychological intervention before they are questioned about their experience. Another senior ministry official, who did not want to be named, said, We are also seeking information from the state government about the current rehabilitation status of the girls. Amit Kishore, Deorias district magistrate, said the rescued girls had been shifted to government shelter homes in Ballia, Varanasi and Allahabad, but did not elaborate on the specific measures being taken to rehabilitate the victims after the trauma they had gone through. Psychologists say that in cases such as the one in Deoria in which victims have gone through severe trauma, counselling should be provided immediately and they should be housed in a proper environment with sufficient recreational space. Also its important that authorities handle such cases with sensitivity. These are unusual incidents. Authorities cant cover up their inefficiency with excuses such as lack of trained counsellors or psychologists. To start with, why cant they train the staff available in the shelter home to counsel the victims? said Rajat Mitra, a clinical psychologist and director of Swanchetan Society for Mental Health, a non-government organisation. (With inputs from Chandan Kumar) The Narendra Modi government will soon come out with an action plan to bring down the prices of petrol and diesel across the country, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president, Amit Shah, said on Saturday. We are also very much concerned over the steep increase in the prices of petrol and diesel and also fall in the value of the rupee against the dollar... We shall soon come out with an action plan, Shah said at a press conference in Hyderabad. The BJP president was on a one-day visit to Telangana to kick-start the partys election campaign with a rally in Mahbubnagar on Saturday. Shah said the steady increase in prices of petroleum products in the past few days was on account of international market fluctuations in crude oil prices. At the same time, dollar value is also going up not just compared to the rupee, but a host of other currencies as well. We know the people are agitated and the BJP is also worried over the rising prices, he said. The BJP president ruled out any kind of alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the ensuing assembly elections. We shall put up a strong fight against the TRS in the elections, with the objective of pulling it down from power, he said. Asked who the BJPs new allies in the south would be following the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) parting ways with it, Shah parried a direct answer, saying: We shall work out when the situation arises. He explained in detail what the Centre had done for Telangana in the past four years and how the TRS government had failed to implement several central schemes in the state. Haryana Police on Saturday released the photographs of the three accused in the Rewari gang rape case of a CBSE school topper, including that of an Army personnel, and announced Rs 1 lakh reward for information on the accused. An army soldier posted in Rajasthan named Pankaj was the main accused, state DGP B S Sandhu said, adding that efforts are on to arrest him. The other accused are Manish and Nishu. The three abducted, drugged and gang-raped the 19-year-old Rewari girl when she was on her way to a coaching centre at Kanina in Mahendragarh district on September 12. Read: Unemployed, frustrated men commit rape, says MLA on Haryana gangrape A top army officer said the force did not shelter criminals and it would facilitate the arrest of the accused. If an army personnel is involved in the crime we will facilitate that the person is caught and booked for rape. We do not shelter criminals, Lt Gen Cherish Mathson, general officer commanding-in-chief, south western command said, according to news agency ANI. The police also announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information about the three accused who are absconding. In her complaint, the woman said that Pankaj and Manish drugged her and took her near a well in a car where she recognised Nishu after gaining consciousness. However, she was again drugged and allegedly gangraped. Nuh superintendent of police (SP) Nazneen Bhasin, who is leading the special investigation team (SIT), said medical reports confirmed gang rape, but it was not clear how many committed the crime. Samples have been sent to the forensic lab for investigation, she said. Bhasin visited the victim in hospital and said her condition is stable. The police provided security to the victims family on the directions of Haryana State Women Commission chairperson Pratibha Suman. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set September 23 as the deadline for the nationwide launch of his governments flagship health insurance programme, but preparedness varies widely among states. Several states began six-month courses and hands-on training of community health officers more than a year ago, others are expanding existing state schemes to offer hospitalisation cover to everyone, while still others have yet to sign up to be part of the scheme. On Independence day, Haryana became the first state to launch Ayushman Bharat in all 22 districts and Mausami, 27, from Ghisarpuri village in Karnal, became the first beneficiary of the cashless health insurance scheme when she delivered her baby girl Karishma through Caesarean section on August 17. Mausamis family did not spend any money on for the surgery, which cost Rs 9,000 at the Kalpana Chawla Government Hospital in Karnal. Within a month, 1,900 beneficiaries were listed, and the treatment of 35 is underway under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme that offers up to Rs 5 lakh hospitalisation cover per year to 100 million families across India. In Haryana, 1.5 million families (600,000 in urban areas, and 900,000 in rural areas) will be covered under the health insurance scheme, which will benefit an around five million persons. While all government hospitals are empanelled, only 250 of the 2,400 private hospitals in the state have so far joined the programme. State health minister Anil Vij is confident of scaling up services to reach all beneficiaries over the next few months. It is not difficult, its just another way of serving our patients. In the past, a patient had to get a card made for free treatments, now he would have one already made by an Ayushman Mitra at every health centre. With the card, they would not have to pay anything, ever, said Vij. Patients are noticing the change. When daily wager Rekha, who goes by one name, was admitted at Karnals Civil Hospital for the delivery of her third baby, she was happy to find her name in the list of beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat. We have not paid anything for the treatment and medicines yet, said Rekha, 25, from Sekhupura Suhana village in Karnal district. The time we were here, we had to pay for medicines, besides other expenses but this time we paid nothing. This is a big support for people like us, who worry about medical expenses for their families all the time, said Kumar, who is also a daily wager. Work in progress Work on the ground has started, but is still far from fruition. A separate office at the state level is being set up and the staff is being recruited, and the process of recruiting information and technology coordinators at the district level is underway. While 200 Ayushman Mitras have been recruited and trained, 100 more are required to be trained for the civil hospitals and other centres. The private health care sector has chosen to wait and watch. Some of the conditions put up by state government for the private hospitals empanelment are not feasible, such as an ICU (intensive care unit) back-up and round-the-clock presence of a medical officer. Moreover, the rates for some treatment packages are too low and not viable, said Dr AP Setia, former president of the state unit of Indian Medical Association (IMA). Others are reluctant to get empanelled because of a trust deficit in claim settlement or grievance redressal procedures. Despite screaming headlines in the media following Karishmas birth, few people seemed to know about the scheme. Even in the chief ministers home city Karnal, awareness is low. People either dont know about the scheme or how to get in touch with an Ayushman Mitra, says a health official. The list of the beneficiaries is available at the website of Ayushman Bharat, yet people still harass doctors and other hospital staff for details, said Dr Piyush Sharma of Karnals Civil Hospital. As on September 8, the hospital had 14 beneficiaries on the Ayushman Bharat list. After spending over 15 months in jail, Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar aka Ravan walked out a free man on Friday. Talking to S Raju, Chandrashekhar hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and hinted that his organisation might support the possible SP-BSP alliance in the Lok Sabha elections. Excerpts: What do you think prompted the Uttar Pradesh government to announce your sudden release? My case was to be heard in the Supreme Court on Friday. And their (state governments) lawyer informed them two days ago that things may go against them in the court. If that were to happen, Dalits might have turned against the BJP. Therefore, they decided to release me. They want to gain political mileage out of my release and befool Dalits. Will you contest 2019 Lok Sabha polls? No. Bhim Army is a social organisation. I would prefer working for the welfare of the marginalised sections. Your organisation supported the SPBSP alliance in Kairana Lok Sabha byelection. Why? Bhim Army emerged from Saharanpur and two of the assembly seats of Kairana Will you forge an alliance with Mayawati? She is my bua (aunt). Our blood is the same as we both come from the same community. She has struggled a lot and I respect her. Yes, 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. Why are you against the BJP? They killed 12 of our people... They kept me behind bars for 15 months and did not even allow my family and Bhim Army leaders to meet me. Our ideology speaks of Bahujan Samaj while they talk about communalism. We cant tolerate communalism at any cost. Do you see the emergence of a new dalit movement? Movements create leaders. We will try to empower those who have been exploited for years . Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, a key member of the BJP-led coalition government on Saturday advised its senior partner to place someone in charge of Goa. For the last eight months Goans are suffering. Somebody needs to be in charge in Goa, MGP president Deepak Dhavalikar told HT, hours after Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was flown to the premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences in the national capital for treatment Parrikar had returned to Goa on September 6 after his third visit to the USA and had to be, almost immediately, admitted again at a private hospital in north Goas Candolim village, 10 km from here. There has been speculation that the BJP could be looking at making alternative arrangements to run the state known as a beach and nightlife tourism destination. BJP president Amit Shah didnt comment on the partys plans for Goa. For now, we only wish Parrikar a speedy recovery. The party will take a decision at an appropriate time, Shah said at a Press conference in Hyderabad, when asked if the Bharatiya Janata Party has taken a decision to find an alternative leader. The BJPs two alliance partners in Goa -- the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and the nascent Goa Forward Party say it was for the BJP leadership to take the call as the senior and larger member of the alliance. But MGP president Deepak Dhavalikar did come up with the seniority test. The charge needs to be given to somebody senior.... Let them (BJP) decide who it needs to be given to, Dhavalikar said. His brother, Sudin, is the senior-most minister in Parrikars team and would be entitled to get charge by this principle. Goa Forward Party, another alliance partner, and independent Govind Gaude, who is also a minister, dont favour the idea. Gaude defeated Deepak Dhavalikar in the elections last year. Goa Forwards supremo Vijai Sardesai said the MGPs opinion alone didnt matter; what mattered is a consensus. Its stance could throw the alliance into jeopardy. Leadership is a sensitive issue in Goa; Parrikar is seen as the glue holding the BJPs alliance together in Goa. Two of the BJPs allies, including Dhavalikars MGP, had made their joining the alliance in 2017 conditional on Parrikar leading the government. The BJP has 14 MLAs and the two major alliance partners have three MLAs each in the 40-member house. Parrikar had earlier made it known to the BJP leadership that he was open to his ministerial colleagues sharing his workload. He may keep one or two portfolios with himself but the rest he will redistribute. We have to hope for the best, BJP lawmaker Michael Lobo told Hindustan Times. The BJPs situation is complicated by the fact that the senior-most BJP leader and former deputy chief minister under Parrikar,DSouza, is also ailing and hospitalised in the US, the same facility where Parrikar was admitted earlier this year. The chief minister, as has been his style of functioning keeps most of the portfolios with himself and currently has 52 portfolios. Besides the main portfolios of Home and Finance, the chief minister also holds the crucial portfolios of mining, environment and forests. Besides his own, he was also officiating for two of his ailing cabinet colleagues; minister for urban development and law Francis DSouza and electricity minister Pandurang Madkaikar. A decision on allocation of the portfolios is expected only after Ram Lal, the BJPs general secretary (organisation) and his deputy, visit the state over the weekend to reach out to party lawmakers and allies. National security advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval held talks about the future of bilateral ties with the US in a string of meetings with top American officials on Friday, including with his counterpart John Bolton, as India pressed its case for the purchase of Russian-made S-400 missile systems. India conveyed to the US that the integrity of American military platforms in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and future acquisitions will not be compromised if New Delhi goes ahead with the purchase, backing its case with technical arguments. The NSA travelled to Washington to convey Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of the future direction of Indo-US ties. On the eve of the 2+2 dialogue, Modi shared his vision with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and NSA Doval. Sitharaman is expected to travel to Washington, after President Putins October visit to India, for a bilateral engagement with secretary Mattis. The dates of Sitharamans visit are being worked out and she is expected to travel to Washington not before November. At Dovals meetings with the three US principals, the two countries reviewed the progress in ties and also looked at regional and global developments in North Korea, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, West Asia and the Indo-Pacific. India and US are seeking conversion on their views on stability of Kabul regime with President Ashraf Ghani arriving in Delhi on September 19. It has been decided that the principals from India and the US will bilaterally engage with their counterparts apart from the 2+2 dialogue. Prior to NSA Dovals visit, a high-level Indian Air Force technical team led by an air marshal was in the Pentagon last month to convince US officials of measures India will take to ensure that electronic signatures of US aerial platforms are not shared even if it acquires the S-400 system from Russia. The meeting with Bolton was Dovals first engagement and was described as a good first meeting by an official who didnt want to be named. Bolton took office in April, and the two officials hadnt had a chance to meet before their talks on Friday. Doval also met secretary of state Michael Pompeo and secretary of defense James Mattis, for the second time in as many weeks. He had meet them in Delhi after their 2+2 ministerial with their Indian counterparts Swaraj and Sitharaman on September 6. The discussions were general and broad-based, said the official cited above, following up on the 2+2 and looking at the future direction of the strategic relationship. Dovals key task is to convince the Trump administration that the proposed S-400 deal does merit a US presidential waiver from the provisions of Countering Americas Adversaries Through the Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and that India will reduce its crude oil purchases from Iran before the November 4 sanctions kick in. Indias has cited its 70-year history of military hardware acquisitions from Russia. More than 64% of Indian military inventory is from Russia. The NSA travelled to the US ahead of a visit next month to India by Russian President Vladimir Putin and a possible deal on S-400 missile system on October 5. A waiver of CAATSA by President Donald Trump is essential because, in its absence, US defence contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon and Sirkorsky, which are supplying critical equipment to India like the C-17, C-130 J transport aircraft, Apache and Chinook helicopters, will come under sanctions. Both sides have described the 2+2 in glowing terms as historic and not simply because it was the first meeting of the four principals in this format, which the United States has with only its closest allies. Last week, I did go to India for what could only be considered highly successful consultations between the worlds two largest democracies, Mattis said to reporters on his return. There (were) no difficulties that we uncovered there in moving forward on a number of pragmatic steps to draw ourselves closer together in terms of security. And, he added: It was a -- it was a very heartening trip, historic Id even say and a defining moment for the relationship. The secretary of defense specially mentioned the signing for COMCASA Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement that allows India access to all defense-related US communications systems, enhancing defense trade and interoperability between the two militaries. Indian ambassador to the United States Navtej Sarna accompanied the NSA to these meetings.. Bolton is Dovals third US counterpart, following Michael Flynn and HR McMaster. The Indian NSA had had meetings with both Flynn and McMaster within days of their appointment respectively. Flynn didnt last long enough in the job, but his successor, McMaster became the first senior-level Trump administration official to visit India, in April, 2017, just days after his meeting with Doval in Washington DC. NSA Dovals visits to the US are generally low-profile and neither side has had much to say about them and, specially, the specifics. There were no readouts from India or the United States about his three meetings on Friday, except a mention in the state departments public schedule of events and engagements about his meeting with secretary Pompeo. While India is all for engaging Russia and China for better relations, it is clear in its mind that this will not be at the cost of India-US deep ties or vice versa. Perhaps the S-400 will turn out to be a classic example how close allies could handle tricky issues. Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday threw hints that the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh could include the Congress in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Today there is electric cycle... there are cycles having many pedals you can see on the streets of Manhattan. In todays time many people can ride the same cycle at the same time and it goes where it is supposed to go. The cycle will be run jointly, he said on being asked about the position of the Congress in his partys proposed alliance with the BSP in Uttar Pradesh for the next parliamentary elections. Cycle is the election symbol of the SP. The Samajwadi Party had a tie up with the Congress in the last Assembly elections in 2017 and the alliance had failed miserably and ever since there has been speculation whether the Congress would be part of the anti-BJP alliance. Speaking at the India Today Mind Rocks 2018 conclave, Yadav said his friendship with Congress President Rahul Gandhi was a nice one and is still the same. He also said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was afraid of the friendship between him and Rahul Gandhi. Asked about reports that the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) were coming together in Madhya Pradesh for the Assembly elections and whether the SP would be part of it, he said he was not aware as to who was aligning with whom in Madhya Pradesh. But if an alliance was to be made between the two parties, then we (SP) will like to be part of it, he added. To a question on how the SP can go with the BSP given their bitter rivalry in the past, the SP chief said if the BJP can make an alliance with 40 parties, whats wrong if SP goes along with BSP. On being asked about the reported quarrel in the Yadav family, he replied: There is fight in every family. Which family does not have a fight? Then in an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yadav said that a person who does not have a family, how can there be a fight. Attacking the BJP, Yadav said the BJP fought election not in the name of development but on the basis of caste and religion politics. BJP won election not on development but through caste and religious politics, he added. He claimed that people of the country were desperately looking to change the prime minister. Yadav said Modi should not mislead people in the name of corruption as demonetisation has not checked the evil. He questioned the BJPs claim on the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh saying maximum rapes and murders occurred in the state under its rule and several encounters during Yogi Adityanaths rule were under the scanner. He also accused the BJP of taking credit for expressway and metro that was built or planned during his regime. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the expressway built by my government. SP never given credit for its work, Yadav said. He also said his government had failed in marketing its development work. We could not match BJPs marketing acumen, he added. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday warned party leaders from Telangana of stern action if they take their internal struggles to the media, and also cautioned that indiscipline would not be tolerated in the organisation, as the southern state heads to early assembly elections. Gandhi issued the stern warning at a meeting he had with 38 leaders, including All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge RC Khuntia and state chief Uttam Kumar Reddy. He later met the leaders individually. Earlier this month, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president and chief minister K. Chandrasehkhar Rao dissolved the state assembly, paving the way for early elections in the state. The Congress, Telugu Desam Party and the Left have allied in a bid to unseat the TRS. The Congress president has asked all the leaders to bury their differences and unitedly work for the party. If any leader has any grievance, the person can approach the top central and state leadership for redressal, Khuntia said after the meeting. Gandhi warned the leaders against giving negative news to the media under any circumstances, he added. Infighting has plagued the Congress in Telangana for many years . A section in the party has repeatedly demanded removal of the state party chief for his failure in addressing factionalism in the organisation. On the proposed alliance with the TDP and other parties, Khuntia said the Congress is not averse to such a partnership to defeat the TRS in the upcoming assembly elections. Although the party is keen on an alliance, he added, it was also clear that it would not sacrifice seats it had a chance of winning. An alliance had to recognise the Congresss strengths, Khuntia said. Khuntia said state leaders have requested Gandhi to address 10 meetings in as many districts in the coming days. But these will not be regular public meetings. These will be on key issues such as atrocities on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, distress faced by the farmers, and unemployment, he added. Political experts said the warning was much needed at a time when the Congress was gearing up for a crucial election. Rahul Gandhi needs to enforce this warning strictly because the Congress is very weak in Telangana and to give a fight to TRS it needs to have a disciplined force, said Hyderabad-based political analyst C Narasimha Rao. A fire broke out at the Hotel Pamposh, one of Srinagars oldest hotels, and fire fighters were battling to extinguish it, officials said. There was no loss of life as people were evacuated while one firefighter was injured and sent to hospital, Srinagar district collector Syed Abid Rasheed Shah told ANI. He said that 20 to 22 fire tenders, teams of fire and emergency services, disaster management, and the State Disaster Response Force were at the spot to tackle the blaze. The blaze broke around 2 pm and within minutes, leaping flames had engulfed the six storey building, a police officer said. Hotel Pamposh, located at Regal Chowk, also has offices of several media organisations. The cause of the fire was not yet known. . Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar was flown to New Delhi for treatment at the premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon. Parrikar, who suffers from a pancreatic ailment, is being examined by a team of doctors. A special flight was arranged by the Prime Ministers Office after conversations between state and central government leaders. Parrikar had returned to Goa on September 6 after his third visit to the USA and had to be, almost immediately, admitted again at a private hospital in north Goas Candolim village, 10 km from here. His health condition is not good... We have to hope for the best, BJP lawmaker Michael Lobo, one of the many who had called on the chief minister before he was flown to Delhi, told HT. Lobo said the ailing chief minister had given the go-ahead to (temporarily) redistribute his portfolios among other ministers, Lobo, the deputy speaker of the assembly, said. Many of them could temporarily go to Sudin Dhavalikar, the public works minister and alliance partner Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), a BJP leader said. A decision on allocation of the portfolios is expected only after Ram Lal, the BJPs general secretary (organisation) and his deputy, visit the state over the weekend to reach out to party lawmakers and allies. Dhavalikar, who was appointed leader of the Goa Legislative Assembly during Parrikars earlier visit to the hospital, said on Friday that talk of a leadership change was premature. Leadership is a sensitive issue, with Parrikar seen as the glue holding the BJPs alliance together in Goa. Two of the BJPs allies including Dhavalikars MGP had made their joining the alliance in 2017 conditional to Manohar Parrikar leading the government. The chief minister had spoken to BJP president Amit Shah on Friday evening to update him about him about the political situation in the state and his health. The chief minister is said to have spoken about relinquishing at least some of the portfolios During his earlier period of absence, the chief minister had put in place a three-member cabinet advisory committee while he continued to personally monitor and clear files from the US. The chief minister was first hospitalised on February 14 for what was reported to be a case of food poisoning. He was later shifted to Mumbai and the state government had only said that he would be unavailable for next two days as he has to undergo a routine health check-up in Mumbai. On February 16, the government said the chief minister is well and under observation. He is likely to be discharged in a day or two. It is a case of mild pancreatitis. The next day, however, it was reported that the chief minister was under monitoring for his inflamed pancreas. The chief minister did present the states financial statement in the assembly on February 23, the same day he was discharged from hospital but had to be readmitted to hospital two days later. The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday asked the Haryana government to produce the Justice (retd) SN Dhingra Commissions report before it on September 26. The report was summoned on the petition of former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, challenging the constitution of the panel. The panel was set up in 2015 to probe allegations that laws were flouted in granting land licences in Gurugram during the Hooda-led Congress regime. Among the alleged beneficiary companies were one owned by Robert Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. The report was summoned by high court bench of justice AK Mittal after a demand in this regard was made by senior advocate Kapil Sibal. Appearing for the state, additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta had opposed the demand, contending that the report has to be tabled before the Vidhan Sabha and cant be taken up by the court. Later, the court sought the report in a sealed cover and said that it would decide on the next date of hearing whether it can be perused or not. In his submissions, Sibal had argued that after the report was submitted, the BJP ministers have been making statements of sending the Congress leader to jail. It meant there is something adverse in the report against the petitioner, he said adding that Hooda was not given an opportunity of hearing by the commission as mandated in the law. Hence, the court peruse the report and decide on it. The court was also told that no preliminary inquiry was made by the government. Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar did not have material evidence before him when he decided to order the commission probe on May 13, 2015, which, he said, is a prerequisite in ordering such a probe. Mehta, on the other hand, defended the government action, saying the CM passed the order after considering a report of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), news reports on CAG regarding Vadra; chargesheet submitted to the governor by Indian National Lok Dal etc. The Dhingra panel submitted its report on August 31 last year. Victory has eluded the Congress in Chhattisgarh in the past three consecutive assembly elections, but party leaders feel that 2018 could be their best shot at ousting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from power. Ousted in 2003, a leaderless yet aggressive Congress is pulling out all stops to prevent the BJP and chief minister Raman Singh from winning a fourth term in power in the upcoming elections. It smells power this time because of the strong anti-incumbency against the BJP that has ruled the state for the past 15 years. Congress leaders maintain that the BJP is not invincible since less than 1% vote share separate the two parties. In the 2013 assembly elections, the BJP won 49 out of the 90 seats with a vote share of 41.04% while the Congress bagged 39 seats and secured a vote share of 40.29%. For the first time in many years, we are seeing a pro-active Congress setting the agenda and the BJP reacting to that, said Raipur-based political analyst Parivesh Mishra. No mass-based leader The massacre of its frontline leadership in 2013 followed by the exit of its most powerful leader Ajit Jogi earlier this year has rendered the Congress faceless in this election. As far as Jogis desertion is concerned, Congress leaders count that as an advantage. There is a strong sentiment in favour of our party. People understand that vote for Jogi will mean support for BJP, said Chhattisgarh Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel. He is confident that Jogis Janata Congress Chhattisgarh will not cut into his partys vote share but help it in winning back the support of upper castes, other backward classes (OBCs), traders and employees who had shifted their allegiance to the BJP due to the former CM. In fact, Congress in-charge of Chhattisgarh PL Punia has repeatedly blamed Jogi for the partys defeat in the 2013 elections. It is well-known in Congress circles that Jogi used to call shots in the distribution of tickets and would often sabotage the prospects of his party opponents who posed a challenge to him in terms of being the chief ministerial probable. As part of its strategy, the Congress leadership has deliberately decided not to name a chief ministerial candidate following the assessment that announcing the face will trigger internal struggle and hurt the partys electoral prospects. Apart from Baghel, other senior Congress leaders such as TS Singh Deo, Charan Das Mahant and Tamradhwaj Sahu are the frontrunners for the chief ministers post but none of them is a towering personality to match Raman Singhs stature and popularity. All the leaders know that they need to get their 10-15 loyalists elected as legislators to claim the top post, said Raipur-based political analyst Ashok Tomar. Funds crunch Congress managers are confident that while issues such as corruption, unemployment, farm distress, tribal unrest and alleged mis-governance of the BJP will certainly help them in the elections, their party faces an uphill task in managing funds for its candidates. We are facing shortage of funds, rather we have no money, said a Congress functionary on the condition of anonymity. But we should also keep in mind what happened in Delhi and Bihar where the BJP lost despite huge resources, he added. No headway in alliance talks Time is running out for the Congress to firm up the alliance. The delay in taking the decision has caused unease within the state unit. Jogi tried to outsmart the Congress by initiating the alliance talks with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati. But there has been no headway in those talks since then given that the BSP is discussing the possibilities of an alliance with the Congress. A section in the Chhattisgarh Congress is pushing for an alliance with the BSP and the Gondwana Ganatantra Party (GGP) to prevent the division of anti-BJP votes. In the 2013 polls, the BSP had contested on all the 90 seats but managed to win just one seat. Its vote share stood at 4.27%. For her part, Mayawati had indicated that an alliance with the Congress is possible only if her party is offered a respectable seat share in the coalition. As of now, the Congress has offered 7-9 seats to the Bahujan Samaj Party. Bishop Franco Mulakkal on Saturday named a senior priest to administer the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar, a day after he received summons from the Kerala police to join an investigation into a 43-year-old nuns allegations that he raped her multiple times between 2014 and 2016. Mulakkal appointed his deputy, vicar general Mathew Kokkandam, to administer the Diocese, as is the normal practice, before he travels to Kerala . I leave everything into the hand of God as I await the result of the findings of the probe into the allegation. In my absence, Msgr. Matthew Kokkandam will administer the Diocese as the normal practise when I am away, Mulakkal said. On Friday, the 54-year-old Bishop received official summons served by the Jalandhar police on behalf of Vaikom deputy superintendent of police K Subhash, who is heading the investigation. Jalandhar commissioner of police Praveen Sinha received the summons from Kerala police to serve the papers on the Bishop, asking him to appear before the investigators on September 19. A representative of the Bishop said he hadnt resigned. He has only appointed Father Matthew to administer the functioning of the Diocese in his absence as the Bishop is going to join the investigation in Kerala. The nun has alleged that Mulakkal first assaulted her after summoning her on the pretext of a discussion in 2014. On Saturday, a group of Catholic priests extended support to the protest by Catholic reformation organisations and the survivors colleagues seeking justice for her. The group , belonging to the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church, visited the venue and assured support. We are not here to judge anyone. We wish to see the Church delivering justice to the nuns, a priest said. (With PTI inputs) Catholic nuns in Kerala who are demanding the arrest of Bishop Franco Mullakal of Jalandhar for allegedly raping a nun multiple times, have accused the church officials of trying to scuttle their agitation with a combination of promises and intimidation. The agitation by the nuns in Kochi entered its eight day on Saturday but the powerful church remains unmoved. Church authorities say it is a movement against believers and have issued a gag order to different denominations to watch out for those nuns and priests who sympathise with agitating ones. The protesters insist it is a cry for justice and not against the church. This is the first time that nuns are on warpath in the state that contributed three saints to Christianity, two of them were nuns. We turned to many superiors for help but they all ignored our repeated pleas. Wedded to Jesus, we came to nunnery on our own volitions. What do we do if basic tenets are stumped? As a last resort we were forced to hit the streets, said Sister Anupama, close to the victim who has accused Bishop Mullakal of rape. Agitating nuns allege that church authorities have tried to lure them with tall promises to back off. When that failed, they resorted to intimidation and foisted false cases on the protestors, Sister Anupama said. We are ready to die if it helps bring some relief to nuns whose lives are confined to four walls. We will remain nuns our rest of life even if they defrock us, she said adding the victim had narrated her plight in a 7-page letter she sent to the Ambassador of Pope. Once the victim approached a higher church authority she was advised to initiate a dialogue with the bishop in questions and sort out personal problems amicably, she said. Shall we again allow her to go with the accused and be a party to his wrong doings? she asked. On another occasion, she said, a prominent priest had offered them 10-acre land and a plum position if the victim withdraws her complaint. Despite rising support for the nuns demand, the church apparently has failed to see the writing on the wall and insists it is an attack against Christianity itself. On Thursday, the Catholic Bishop Conference of Kerala had issued a statement saying nuns stir had crossed all limits. It is being organized by some people with vested interests by keeping five nuns on the forefront, it said adding it was led by non-believers. But Sister Anupama said more than church what really shocked them is indifferent attitude of the police. We expected nothing more from church authorities but police let down us badly. If the accused was an ordinary man will the police give him so much of time? Despite a big outcry I dont know why they dread to touch the accused. It is nothing but his money and muscle power, she said. Former Kerala high court judge Kamal Pasha who had visited the agitating nuns at the start of their agitation, said the police inaction created an illusion that the accused was beyond the law of the land. It seems police have given a long rope to the accused. Even notice was given to the Bishop under section 41 A, not 41 B, where an arrest is not necessary and he was given one-week to appear before the investigating agency. If people think there is collusion between rulers, police and accused they cant be blamed, he said. However, the police insist there were contradictions in statements of both the accused and complainant and they needed more time. The victim had filed her complaint in June. Since iron walls are guarding monasteries little is known outside about the life of the clergy. Once you are young and kicking it is fine but if you refuse to oblige superiors you will fall from grace in no time, said another nun. Many eyebrows were raised last year when ten nuns of St Antonys convent in Thiruvananthapuram approached the city corporation for old-age monthly pension of Rs 1000. Later the church had forced them to withdraw their applications. Nobody is there to listen to us. We are like candles that melt slowly, said Sister Anupama. Amit Shah cleans Hyderabad road BJP president Amit Shah cleans Hyderabads Bheema Maidan road near NTR stadium in Domalguda as a part of the Swachhata Hi Seva Movement. BJP president Amit Shah cleans Hyderabads Bheema Maidan road. ( ANI/Twitter ) Union minister Piyush Goyal cleans Old Delhi railway station Union minister Piyush Goyal cleans Old Delhi railway station as a part of the Swachhata Hi Seva Movement. Union minister Piyush Goyal cleans Old Delhi railway station. ( ANI/Twitter ) Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad cleans Patnas Mithapur Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday took to cleaning Patnas Mithapur area as a part of the Swachhata Hi Seva Movement. PM Modi interacts with school students Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with students at Baba Sahib Ambedkar Higher Secondary School in Paharganj while sweeping the premises of the school in the Swachhata Hi Seva Movement. With enthusiastic young friends at the Baba Sahib Ambedkar Secondary School in Delhi. It is Indias youth that have led from the front and ushered in a positive change when it comes to cleanliness. #SHS18 pic.twitter.com/3xVxUPxZv5 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 15, 2018 PM Modi sweeps premises of school in Delhis Paharganj Prime Minister Narendra Modi sweeps the premises of Baba Sahib Ambedkar Higher Secondary School in Paharganj as a part of the Swachhata Hi Seva Movement. #WATCH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi sweeps & cleans the premises of Baba Sahib Ambedkar Higher Secondary School in Delhi's Paharganj as a part of #SwachhataHiSeva movement. pic.twitter.com/sqjN7zxGmg ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan cleans parts of Delhis Vasant Vihar Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan cleans parts of Delhis Vasant Vihar area as a part of the Swachhata Hi Seva Movement. Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan cleans parts of Delhis Vasant Vihar. ( ANI/Twitter ) Rajnath Singh sweeps streets in Faridabad Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday began sweeping the streets in Faridabad as part of the Swachhata Hi Seva Movement. Union home minister Rajnath Singh sweeps the streets in Faridabad. ( ANI/Twitter ) Only building toilets wont make India clean, cleanliness is a habit: PM Modi Terming it a historic movement to fulfil Mahatma Gandhis dream of a clean India, PM Modi launched the Swachhata Hi Seva Movement today, while interacting with volunteers from across the nation via video conferencing. He also said that only by building toilets India wont become clean, rather cleanliness is a habit which one has to adapt and follow everyday. PM Modi interacts with Mata Amritanandamayi Railways has done commendable work in furthering cleanliness: PM The Indian Railways has done commendable work in furthering cleanliness. A team of people of a Railway Station in Rewari are interacting with PM @narendramodi. Watch. https://t.co/SH8Fvytglv PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 15, 2018 Devotees from Ajmer Sharif Dargah connect with PM Devotees from the Ajmer Sharif Dargah are talking to PM Modi at the launch of Swachhata Hi Seva Movement. Need to keep our homes clean first: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar First of all, we must keep our homes clean so that we can keep public places clean too, said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, of The Art of Living Foundation. You have infused such fervour in people, especially the youth, that they have made it a mission to make their nation scale new heights: @SriSri to PM @narendramodi #SwachhataHiSeva #SHS2018 #SHS18 pic.twitter.com/4cRX2cLnTy PIB India (@PIB_India) September 15, 2018 Emphasis on cleanliness has changed condition of UP: CM Yogi Adityanath Earlier for UP, cleanliness was a distant dream. But your emphasis on cleanliness has changed the condition of the state. After March 2017, the movement towards a Swachh Bharat got a boost in our state, said UP CM Yogi Adityanath to PM Modi at the launch of Swachhata Hi Seva Movement. Need to improve waste management: PM Modi PM Modi said that there is a need to improve and make better the waste management system in the country so as to further the clean India drive. Swachh Bharat is nations movement: Sadhguru Swachh Bharat is not a movement of any government or any prime minister. This is a nations movement, said Sadhguru at the launch of Swachhata Hi Seva Movement. We are a nation with over 10000 years culture; the drainage systems of Mohenjodaro had left even the British in awe; India has a long history of both personal and public hygiene: @SadhguruJV #SwachhataHiSewa #SHS2018 @swachhbharat @swachhbharatgov @narendramodi @ishafoundation pic.twitter.com/MWMyhzwDh8 PIB India (@PIB_India) September 15, 2018 PM Modi extends regards to ITBP personnel During an interaction with the ITBP personnel at the launch of Swachhata Hi Seva Movement PM Modi extended regards saying, youre always there in the hour of need whether it be on borders or during a calamity. Youve made the country by being a part of this mission. Tata Trust supports Swachh Bharat Mission: Ratan Tata The Tata Trust is actively supporting the Swachh Bharat Mission and their support will continue in the years to come especially in bringing more technology, said Rata Tati to PM Modi at the launch of Swachhata Hi Seva Movement. TV an effective way to spread cleanliness message: Amitabh Bachchan Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan on Saturday while interacting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said that he found TV to be an effective way to spread the message of cleanliness. Four years ago, you (Modi) introduced the nation to the Swachh Bharat Mission. I too decided to get involved as a citizen of India. I have been associated with various cleanliness campaigns including the campaign to clean the Versova beach in Mumbai, Bachchan said to Modi during the launch of the Swachhata Hi Seva Movement via his NaMo App. People from all sections have joined the mission: PM From today till Gandhi Jayanti, PM Modi urged the nation to re-dedicate themselves towards fulfilling Bapus dream of Clean India. Swacch Bharat Mission that began 4 yrs ago has reached an important stage today, where people from all sections have joined the mission. Youngsters ambassadors of social change: PM During his address, PM Modi said that youngsters are ambassadors of social change and the way they have furthered the message of cleanliness is commendable. The youth are at the forefront of a positive change in India. Nari Shaktis contribution immense: PM The contribution of Indias Nari Shakti in the Swachh Bharat Mission is immense., says Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the launch of Swachhata Hi Seva Movement. Movement aims at fulfilling Bapus dream of a Clean India: PM Swachhata Hi Seva Movement aims at fulfilling Bapus dream of a Clean India: PM Narendra Modi on the launch of Swachhata Hi Seva Movement An army officer was among five men in uniform arrested on Friday for taking illegal possession of 15 kg gold seized from smugglers near Hasimara in Alipurduar district of West Bengal on Monday and letting the culprits go free. Lt colonel Pawan Brahma and jawan Dashrath Singh of the army intelligence unit at Hasimara, and police officers Anuruddha Thakur, SDPO at Jaigaon in Alipurduar, Satyendra Nath Roy, sub-inspector of Hasimara police outpost and Kamalendra Narayan, former officer-in-charge of the same outpost were arrested after hours of interrogation by state CID officers. Fifteen gold bars, weighing a kilo each that were supposed to be evidence were recovered from the two army personnel and three policemen. CID officers said that on September 10 the army intelligence unit received information that a huge quantity of gold would be smuggled from Bhutan. The army informed the officer-in-charge of Hasimara police outpost. A checkpoint was set at Torsha Bridge near Hasimara. The accused army and police personnel intercepted a car that had a Rajasthan registration number and allegedly seized the gold and allowed the smugglers to leave in the car. The information however got leaked and Ganesh Biswas, additional superintendent of police, Jaigoan, filed a complaint against the officers. Anand Kumar, inspector general of police, North Bengal, said, The five have been arrested on corruption charges because they did not report the seizure and allowed the smugglers to go. They have been booked for breach of trust, conspiracy and other sections of the Indian Penal Code and West Bengal Police Act. On Saturday, a court in Alipurduar sent them to police custody for four days. The Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squads (ATS) interrogation report in the arms case involving sympathisers of the right-wing spiritual group Sanatan Sanstha once again mentions a certain MD Murali as the mastermind behind all killings and terror plots involving the groups members or sympathisers. Hindustan Times reported on September 5 that officers of the ATS were investigating the role of Murali. HT has has reviewed the interrogation report (IR) of the five individuals arrested by the ATS in August 2018. To be sure, there is no other evidence other than the IR to even show that Murali, who is described as an elusive figure, exists. Still, the report names him as the brain behind several bomb blasts and the murders of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar in Pune, social activist and writer Govind Pansare in Kolhapur, Kannada writer and academic Dr MM Kalburgi in Dharwad and Bengaluru-based activist and journalist Gauri Lankesh. It also adds that he is the chief recruiter for a shadowy organisation spanning Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa that spread terror. The IR was filed in arms cases involving Vaibhav Raut, Sharad Kalaskar, Sudhanva Gondhalekar, Shrikant Pangarkar and Avinash Pawar. All five were arrested from different parts of Maharashtra last month for allegedly plotting terror activities in various parts of the country, and are currently in judicial custody. Bombs, detonators, and guns were recovered during the operation. According to the report, Murali headed the unit responsible for the blasts and the killings. Amol Kale, a 37-year-old engineer from Pune who was arrested for murdering Lankesh was his deputy. Virendrasinh Tawde, accused of murdering of Dr Dabholkar, reported to Kale The report mentions a 2014 meeting of right-wing organisations in Goa hosted by the Sanatan Sanstha which is headquartered in the state as one of the important milestones in the terror organisation built by Murali. It was here, it claims, that he met Raut and eight others, some of whom have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder of Lankesh. According to the report, Raut speaks of Murali as an inspirational figure who incited his recruits by highlighting alleged atrocities perpetrated by Muslims on Hindus. The report describes the entire indoctrination and training process: a training session with air guns soon after the 2014 meeting; indoctrination meetings at Belagavi, Aurangabad, Mumbai and Jalna, during which the recruits were shown inflammatory videos; another training session with air guns at Belagavi (and a subsequent session on making Molotov cocktails); a training session with pistols at the Aravalli Hills near Udaipur; and a final training session with pistols at a farm near Ahmedabad . It isnt clear how Murali communicated with the recruits. The report claims that all the accused got to know each other really well during these sessions. The recruits chose Ganesh festivities to test their skills with the explosives at Pangarkars farmhouse in Jalna, as they could couch it as crackers being burst. The IR adds that Murali, who was aware of the growing number of police-monitored closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in major cities, asked each of the recruits to wear caps and sunglasses to protect their identity. Under Muralis instructions, Raut and Pawar conducted reconnaissance in Mumbai earlier this year to target a person (HT has withheld the individuals identity due to security concerns). The reconnaissance was to be done in stages of three days each. After each stage, they would lie low for a fortnight before resuming the surveillance. However, before Raut and Pawar could execute the hit, the Karnataka Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing Lankeshs murder arrested Kale. After Kales arrest, Murali asked his recruits to go into hiding. The IR states that the recruits were given pseudonyms, and expected to address each other only by that name at all times, including phone conversations. A 26-year-old man has allegedly been lynched in Manipurs Imphal West district on the suspicion of stealing vehicles, a senior police officer said Saturday. Five persons, including a havildar attached to the India Reserve Battalion (IRB), have been arrested in this connection, he said. A purported video of the assault went viral on social media. Two associates of the victim managed to escape the scene. A hunt is on to find those involved in the lynching, Imphal West Superintendent of Police Jogeshwar Haobijam told PTI. The suspected car-lifter was assaulted at Thouroijam Awang Leikai area on Thursday. The accused succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital after a police team came to the spot and took control of the situation. The mob also set afire a car suspecting that it was used by the associates of the lynched man. Police arrested five persons suspected to be involved in the lynching case from their residences on Friday. One of them is an IRB havildar who is the owner of a two-wheeler and the victim had allegedly tried to steal that from his garage, the SP said. The five accused have been booked under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code and remanded to police custody for four days by a city court on Saturday. The SP said the Cyber Crime Unit of the police was also trying to track down those who uploaded images and videos of the assault. The Manipur Human Rights Commission took up the case suo motu and directed the state director general of police to probe the matter and submit a report by September 22. Locals of Thouroijam village gheraoed the Patsoi police station on Friday, demanding release of the arrested persons. The mob also brick bated the policemen following which the police used lathis and teargas shells to disperse them, police sources said. A man was beaten to death by villagers in Manipurs Imphal district on suspicion of being a motor vehicle thief, sparking fears of Hindu-Muslim tensions, police said on Friday. Farooq Khan of Thoubal district was beaten to death by villagers of Tharoijam on Thursday. Muslim organisations have demandeda 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. Concerned by the increasing conflation of Hindutva with an ideology that prescribes a theocratic state and is essentially anti-minorities, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leadership is seeking to change the perception that the Hindutva espoused by the Sangh is sectarian and discriminatory. Hindutva, as advocated by the Sangh, will be a central theme of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwats three-day lecture series in Delhi that begins on Monday, people aware of the development said. The focus will be on presenting Hindutva as an encompassing idea that does not differentiate on the basis of religion or caste, said one RSS functionary, not wishing to be named. Bhagwats comments about Hindutva have in the past fuelled controversy. In 2017, the Opposition parsed his statement that Hindustan (India) is a Hindu nation... Hindutva is the identity of our nation... (Hinduism) that can incorporate others (religions) in itself. Although the RSS immediately clarified that the Hindutva which Bhagwat referred to did not mean Hinduism but Hindu-ness, the comment gave the Opposition ammunition to dub the RSS divisive. The RSS wants to shift the focus from the political definition of Hindutva to a more philosophical one. The RSS is not anti-anyone or anything, the functionary cited above said. The attempt to redefine Hindutva coincides with an increase in factionalism between various Hindu castes, a phenomenon the RSS has been aggressively trying to counter through its Samajik Samarasta, or social harmony, initiatives and the growing conflict between religious sects. A second RSS functionary said the exercise to clarify the RSSs position comes in the wake of the brazen positions taken by the fringe on issues such as inter-faith marriages, food choices and even political stances that have created a misconception about the Sanghs ideology. The RSS wants anti-cow slaughter laws; it does not condone violence in the name of cow protection. Similarly, the RSS is not anti-Dalit, but there are periodic attempts to create a perception that the RSS wants caste-based quotas to be removed, said the second functionary, also on condition of anonymity. Seshadri Chari, a former editor of the RSS mouthpiece Organiser and an ideologue of the Sangh, also said Hindutva was a way of life rather than a religious identity for the Sangh. For the RSS, Hindutva is a group of ideas that has cultural, geographical and geo-political connotation. It cannot be seen through a narrow, political prism, Chari said. Bhagwats lecture series, which will be followed up with more meetings across the country with individuals drawn from a cross-section of society, have been planned with the purpose of demarcating the Sanghs ideology and activities and the recent spurt in vigilantism that has led to several cases of lynching in many states. While the RSS attempts to distance itself from the more militant Hindutva of Veer Savarkar, considered the exponent of the ideology, historian Aditya Mukherjee of the Jawaharlal Nehru University said: There is no question of distancing the RSSs idea of Hindutva from Savarkars. After Gandhijis assassination, they distanced themselves from Hindu Mahasabha and (assassin Nathuram) Godse anything that they dont feel comfortable with, its their strategy. Their idea of Hindutva is the same as Savarkars that anyone whose punyabhoomi (sacred land) is India, is an Indian which excludes Muslims and Christians (their holy places being outside India). National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Friday held broad-based talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, defence secretary James Mattis and his American counterpart John Bolton during which they discussed the future direction of the strategic Indo-US ties. Dovals meeting with the top three officials of the Trump administration came a week after the successful India-US 2+2 Dialogue between the defence and foreign ministers of the two countries. This was Dovals first meeting with Bolton, the new National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump. Doval had met Pompeo and Mattis last week in New Delhi too. During the three back-to-back meetings, Doval had good chance to review the entire bilateral relationship after the 2+2 talks. They build upon the discussion in New Delhi last week, informed sources told PTI. Indias ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna, accompanied Doval in these meetings. Describing it as a very broad-based discussion, the sources said that Doval and the three top Trump administration officials talked about the future direction of the strategic relationship and identified areas of co-operation. Regional issues and global developments too figured in the talks, they said, without going into specifics. The US Ambassador to India, Ken Juster in a tweet said that the last weeks 2+2 dialogue set the course for even closer ties between the two countries. He said India-US partnership are on an upward trajectory. Weve seen positive momentum regarding the US-India relationship these past few weeks with 2+2 dialogue and the progress continues with Dovals visit to the US, said the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF). India and the US signed the landmark Communications, Compatibility, Security Agreement (COMCASA) after the 2+2 talks External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had with Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mattis on September 6. The COMCASA will allow India to receive high-end military communications equipment from the US and will also help get real-time encrypted information from the US. During the 2+2 talks, India and the US also expressed commitment to work together and in concert with other partners toward advancing a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. Early this week, principal deputy assistant secretary of State Alice Wells told a Washington audience that the 2+2 significance was that it reaffirmed the strength of the India-US relationship. It reaffirmed the alignment of our interests and our values in promoting an open and free Indo-Pacific. It also underscored our interest in amplifying what it means to have a major defence partner in India, and really provided the building blocks, not for the next six months or year, but for decades, of how we move forward carefully in building what is a very special relationship, she said. Principal deputy assistant secretary of defence David F Helvey said the biggest thing that has come out of the 2+2 talks is that it puts the US-India relationship and the defence relationship in particular on a higher trajectory. We look forward to deepening the cooperation as two strategic partners as we work together to have a, realise a safe, secure and free Indo-Pacific region, or as Prime Minister Modi has said, a place where nations, small and large, can prosper free and fearless in our choices, he said. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) The election commission (EC) does not provide or sell electronic voting machines (EVMs) that are no longer in use to any local body, state or university to conduct elections nor can buyers procure machines from the manufacturers without the consent of the poll panel. Officials aware of the issue said on Friday that all obsolete machines that are older than 15 yearsare sent back to the manufacturers where these are destroyed as per protocol in the presence of EC officials. A decision was taken in 2010 that all machines that are discontinued will not be lent out to anyone; because when the machines were given earlier, the users did not stick to the necessary protocol for use. When glitches occurred thereafter, there was confusion and the EC ended up getting blamed, so a decision was taken that all EVMs that are discontinued after 15 years of use will be destroyed, an official requesting anonymity said. The ECs clarification comes in the wake of allegations that the machines used during the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections, the results of which were announced on Thursday, were faulty. The Commission has asserted that these machines were not supplied by it and DU authorities have also stated that the machines were procured from ECIL. HTs questions to ECIL about the protocol maintained for the machines used by DU went unanswered. The M1 model of EVMs produced up to 2006 were last used in 2014 general elections and were discarded as they were not compatible with the VVPAT or the voter verified paper audit trail machines that are now mandatory to use along with the EVMs. As for procurement of new machines from the two manufacturers, Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) and Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL), another official, also requesting anonymity, said, the poll panels nod is requisite. After Mat 2017, it was decided that EVM requirement of the EC will be prioritised and no other countrys request for EVMs will be accepted till their order is met. The only exception was made in the case of Bhutan, where 1000 units were required as part of an existing order. The EC has requests for procuring EVMs from Namibia, Nepal and Bhutan, the official said. EC officials said stringent protocol is also followed for repairs of the EVMs. EVMs found defective during the poll period or non-poll period and requiring electronic repairs are sent to the manufacturers BEL and ECIL for repairs and are tracked under ETS. The repaired EVMs are allocated by the Commission, the second official said. Highlights Technological changes were made in the EVMs in 2001 and the machines were further upgraded in 2006 The pre-2006 era EVMs are known as M1 EVMs, while EVMs manufactured between 2006 to 2010 are called M2 EVMs. The next generation of EVMs, produced since 2013 are known as M3 EVMs. Pakistan plans to use a report on Kashmir by the UN Human Rights Office to highlight the issue during a conference that will be held on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said. At the UN, there will be a separate conference on Kashmir on the sidelines. It happens every year, but it is different this time because a new UN report has come out which sheds light on (Jammu and Kashmir), Qureshi said. There has been a surge in the peoples interest in human rights abuses taking place in Kashmir, he said during a news conference he jointly addressed with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday. The UN report on the human rights situation in Kashmir, released in June, triggered a furore as it called for addressing past and ongoing rights violations in the region. Indias foreign ministry rejected the report, the first issued by the UN on the human rights situation in both parts of Kashmir, saying it was fallacious, tendentious and motivated and comprised largely unverified information. Cavusoglu said Turkey will stand by Pakistan in the group formed on Kashmir at the UN and support efforts for a peaceful solution to the long-standing Kashmir issue. He said it is Turkeys desire that the Kashmir issue is resolved in a peaceful manner. Qureshi also said the Pakistan-Turkey relationship is very strong as both countries understand each others sensitivities. He also thanked Turkey for supporting Pakistans application to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). For students of the Baba Sahib Ambedkar Higher Secondary School in Paharganj, Saturdays plantation drive with teachers in their school compound became a once-in-a-lifetime moment with a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. To launch the Swachhata Hi Seva Abhiyan (cleanliness is service movement), PM Modi visited the Baba Sahib Ambedkar Higher Secondary School in Paharganj. He paid homage to Dr BR Ambedkar, who had established the campus in 1946 with an aim to advance the educational, social and economic well-being of the scheduled castes, and swept the area around the statue. After the shramdaan manual labour), he then proceeded to interact with students, who had gathered around him excitedly. Our students started shouting Modi, Modi. I though they are doing so out of excitement, but within seconds I realised that the visitor was the Prime Minister himself, Rajbar Singh Bhandari, vice-principal of Delhis governments aided school, said. The quiet school activity was first interrupted by a handful of curious onlookers, who gathered at the schools entrance gate. Accustomed to the attention that follows political leaders, children and teachers of the school, which is in the same compound as the Bhawan, ignored the hubbub. Soon, a cavalcade of black SUVs entered the school premises. The area was immediately cordoned off by the Special Protection Groupthe elite security unit, which guards the Prime Ministerand the air reverberated with squeals of excitement from the children. Modiji asked me if I wash my hands after eating food. He also told us that cleanliness would lead to good health. He swept the complex area near the statue and it was great moment to see the Prime Minister do this job, said an excited Shivam, who is a student of class 6. He (Modi) asked students interesting questions about daily hygiene, such as whether they cut their nails regularly, have a bath or segregate garbage and discard it in the waste bin. He came around 11.15am and stayed for 20 minutes, Bhandari said. When Modi asked students if they were aware of any advertisements on cleanliness drive, an enthusiastic student was heard on tape, saying, We have seen so many advertisements, such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Swachhta hi Sewa. We even following these tenets in our day-to-day lives. The Swachhata movement aims at boosting public participation in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and is being organised in the run-up to the fourth anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission on October 2 next month, which will also mark the commencement of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi. The CBI on Saturday said its officers had no hand in the escape of diamond traders Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi in connection with the $2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam. Under attack from Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who has accused the agency of deliberately weakening the lookout circular against fugitive tycoon Vijay Mallya, allowing him to flee the country, the agency also reiterated that the decision was taken as there were not sufficient grounds to detain or arrest him. CBI Jt Director, A K Sharma, weakened Mallyas Look Out notice, allowing Mallya to escape. Mr Sharma, a Gujarat cadre officer, is the PMs blue-eyed-boy in the CBI. The same officer was in charge of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksis escape plans. Ooops...investigation! the Gandhi scion tweeted. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it had received a complaint against beleaguered diamantaire Modi and his uncle Choksi from the bank almost a month after they had fled the country. Therefore the question of any CBI officer having any hand in their fleeing the country does not arise. Prompt action was taken by CBI in the case immediately after the complaint was received from the bank, the agencys spokesperson said in a statement released on Saturday. Some media reports also named Sharma, now Additional Director, as the man who handled Mallyas case. Defending Sharma, its number three in command, the CBI said the decision to alter the circular was taken at the appropriate level as a part of process and not individually by the officer as alleged. The CBI had in October 2015 issued a look out circular against Mallya asking immigration authorities to detain him upon his return from abroad. Weeks later in November, the circular was changed from seeking his detention to merely informing the agency. Mallya whose extradition case is being battled out in a London court by India had taken refuge in the UK after fleeing on March 2, 2016 taking advantage of the diluted circular against him. The wife of Union minister Chaudhary Birender Singh, and BJP MLA from Haryana, Premlata Singh has said that rapes were committed by youths, who are unemployed and frustrated about their future, triggering a furore on social media. Youths who are frustrated, unemployed, do not have future in sight, commit such crimes (rape). This is a very bad trend, Premlata, legislator of Uchana Kalan, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. The MLA, who had defeated the powerful Dushyant Chautala of INLD to win the constituency, was commenting on the alleged gangrape of a 20-year-old woman in Haryanas Mahendragarh district on Wednesday. Her comments were widely criticised on social media. A Twitter user highlighted the number of unemployed people in his response. Note ban: CMIEs Vyas says 3.5 million jobs lost, Unemployment Rate in India: Nearly 31 million Indians are jobless Meanwhile Madam Premlata, BJP MLA from Haryana's Uchana Kalan Youth who do not have employment get frustrated and commit rapes.#BetiBachaoBetiPadhao pic.twitter.com/vJ491bu4By anupam chowdhury (@anupamkanu) September 15, 2018 "Youth who do not have employment get frustrated and commit such (rapes) crimes," Haryana's Uchana Kalan MLA Premlata said.#Haryana Another BJP bluff madam. Sherot (@terot_ubuntu) September 15, 2018 The victim in the rape is a Class 10 school topper and was awarded by the government. An army soldier posted in Rajasthan has been identified as one of the main accused in the case. Premlata is not the first leader to make such comments on rape. A khap panchayat leader in Haryanas Jind district had blamed eating noodles for the growing incidents of rapes, saying noodles led to hormonal imbalance evoking urge to indulge in acts of sex and rape. Several other leaders have blamed the rise of rapes on growing modernisation and on girls going out late in the night and dressing improperly. Despite the initial hiccup of Nepal not participating and Thailand only sending in observers for the Bimstec Milex 2018, the progress of exercise is on a strong footing. Bimstec (Bay of Bengal initiative for multi-sectoral technical and economic cooperation) nations have sent in troops to participate in the first joint training exercise with the focus of fighting terrorism at the transnational level. The inaugural multinational exercise is currently underway at the Aundh Military Station in Pune. The training has so far successfully increased camaraderie among the troops of the participating nations. This exercise not only gave us opportunities to exchange our cultures but will also help us operate efficiently and swiftly, in the future, if any of our nations face a threat, said Major Tshering Tobgay of the Bhutan contingent. In a glimpse of what members of the contingents go through every day during the exercise, troops showcased room intervention operations, cordon and search operations (CASO) and tactical exercises on the ground like handling and neutralisation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on Friday. The participating contingents are given detailed lecture cum demonstrations and then moved on to the field for practice rounds. Language is a hindrance for many of the south-east Asian country members, but officers double up as interpreters to help understand the tactics, said an official close to the training team. At the foreign training node on Friday, cordon and search operations, raid on terrorist hideouts, intelligence gathering ops, and hostage rescue operations were demonstrated by the troops. Troops also carried out a demonstration of precision shooting at the jungle lane shooting range as they moved through a thick jungle lane. A specialised training on hostage rescue by slithering from Mi-17 helicopters was also showcased, along with room intervention drills by participating nations. It is important to timely conduct joint training exercises in order to counter terrorist operations and Milex 2018 is a great opportunity to share our knowledge, experiences and thoughts with troops of participating nations, said Major Nalaka of the Sri Lankan contingent. The joint exercise will culminate on September 16, 2018, with a validation exercise and a closing ceremony. The chief guest for the event will be Subhash Bhamre, minister of state for defence. A case of child sex abuse was filed against a school principal who made a 14-year-old student watch porn and then tried to molest him and the school counsellor who asked the boy to remain quiet about the incident, police said. The police have invoked sections of The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, (POCSO Act) against the two accused. Investigators said that the principal forcibly showed the porn video to the victim and tried to molest him. When the boy went to the counsellor for help, he was of no help and instead told the boy not to speak about it, police said. The victim then went home and complained to his parents after which a complaint was lodged with the police. The traumatised class 9 student has refused to resume studies at the school. A group of five to six unidentified armed men looted gold ornaments worth crores of rupees from a jewellery shop in Guru Bazar here on Saturday night. The incident took place at around 7:40pm at Prem Kumar and Sons jewellery shop after the robbers entered the shop as customers. As per the police, before leaving the spot, the robbers fired some shots in the air. Though owner of the shop Prem Kumar didnt talk to the media after the robbery, but the president of jewellers association Ashwini Kumar Kale Shah said the looted ornaments could be worth around Rs 6 crore. Ashwini, the owner of the shop next to where the crime took place, said, At 7:40 pm, five to six men entered the shop as customers. Prem Kumar, 65, and his son Munish Kumar were in the shop. The robbers first asked Munish to show them a gold kara and a chain. As soon as he showed them the items, the robbers took out pistols and fired two shots inside the shop. They then collected all the jewellery and fled. Ashwani said he was busy with his customers and came out after hearing the noise. When I came out of my shop, the robbers were fleeing from the spot. Before leaving they also fired two shots in the air. Deputy commissioner of police (DCP-investigation) Jagmohan Singh, additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP-crime) Harjit Singh, ADCP (City-1) Jagjit Singh Walia visited the crime scene. The police were scanning the footage of the CCTV cameras installed in the market. Before fleeing the spot, the robbers also took away the DVR of the CCTV camera inside the shop. Recordings of a CCTV camera in the market show the robbers firing in the area while fleeing. DCP Jagmohan Singh said the owner of the shop is yet to ascertain the worth of the looted jewellery. On the complaint of the shopowner, we will register a case at Kotwali police station, he said. This is the second robbery in the market in last three months. In May, three assailants robbed a jeweller of gold worth Rs 33 lakh and Rs 2 lakh cash. The police, however, solved that case. The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday put the Chandigarh police on notice on a plea by a city youth, who was wrongly arrested in a rape case in December 2016. The petitioner, Wasim Malik, 28, who remained in jail for 16 months, has demanded Rs 20 lakh as compensation. Acting on the plea, high court bench of justice RK Jain has sought a response from home secretary, Chandigarh senior superintendent of police and five other cops, besides others, by October 21. Malik, who resides in Transit Housing Colony, Sector 52, was arrested by the police on December 17, 2016 in a rape case registered at Industrial Area police station on December 13, 2016. The court was told that Malik was arrested just in order to improve the polices sagging image before city residents and to claim that the case was solved immediately. It was also stated that the police had filed a challan before a city court claiming that he was arrested on the basis of his resemblance to the sketch prepared on description given by the rape victim, and intelligence report received by it. Before his arrest, the police did not verify his mobile location, CCTV footage of cameras in the area of crime, the petitioners counsel HC Arora told court, adding that the police got the petitioner identified by the victim as one of the accused persons. He was released from custody on April 9, 2018, after the real accused, namely Irfan Mohammed and Kamal Hasan, admitted to the crime when they were arrested in another rape case. The two were convicted in the second case that took place in Sector 53 in November 2017 and are currently facing trial in the 2016 case. The petitioner also rued that police moved withdrawal of case application in July, 2018, even as the real culprits were caught in March. The entire family has undergone untold sufferings during this period, the counsel had told court, adding that family, including his unmarried sister suffered social stigma. They borrowed money from friends, relatives and also sold the family owned mini-van for arranging litigation expenses, the court was told, adding that respondents be directed to compensate with 20 lakh. He also alleged that he is being harassed by the police even now. Paul Manafort, the former chairman of Donald Trumps presidential campaign, will cooperate with special counsel Robert Muellers probe of alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election as part of a plea agreement, prosecutors said on Friday. Manafort, 69, is already looking at between eight and 12 years in jail for his conviction of bank fraud, tax evasion and financial irregularities in a case tried by a federal court in Virginia state, where he lives. He was with Trumps campaign from March to August 2016, He will plead guilty to two of seven charges in the second case of conspiracy to defraud the US, and of obstructing justice, according to a court filing in Washington. Both cases emanated from work Manafort did as a lobbyist for the ruling party of Ukraine and its successor incarnation between 2006 and 2015 before he joined the Trump campaign. None of the charges brought against him relate to his work for the campaign or the Russian interference in the 2016 election. In a statement, the White House distanced Trump from Manaforts plea agreement. This had absolutely nothing to do with the president or his victorious 2016 presidential campaign, spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Friday. It is totally unrelated. Manafort is the fourth Trump aide to have pleaded guilty or been convicted in cases filed by Muller. The others are Rick Gates, a business associate of Manafort who was deputy chair of the Trump inauguration committee, former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and George Papadopoulos, a former foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign. Michael Cohen, a former Trump lawyer and fixer, has pleaded guilty in a related case that was bumped over to the New York US attorney by Mueller. Cohen was charged with bank fraud and campaign funding law violation, for which he has implicated Trump, alleging it was done at his behest and in coordination with him. Trump has discussed granting presidential pardon to his aides implicated in this case, his lawyers have said, but was dissuaded to hold off on a decision till the conclusion of Muellers investigation. Indias National Security Adviser Ajit Doval will meet his US counterpart John Bolton and secretary of state Michael Pompeo in Washington on Friday against the backdrop of New Delhi facing the impact of US sanctions against Russia and Iran. Bolton is Dovals third counterpart in the Trump administration and this will be their first meeting. It will also be Boltons first high-level interaction with an Indian official after he took over from HR McMaster in April. Doval will meet Pompeo for the second time in as many weeks. Dovals visit comes just a week after the inaugural 2+2 dialogue between the foreign and defence ministers of the two countries, effusively described by both sides as historic. During their visit to New Delhi, Pompeo and defence secretary James Mattis had also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Doval after the 2+2 talks. Both sides are tightlipped about the agenda of Dovals meetings, but they are taking place against the backdrop of India facing the unintended impact of US sanctions meant to punish Russia and Iran. The US has said waivers from these sanctions may be considered on a case-by-case basis but has fallen short of offering public guarantees to any of the numerous countries that find themselves in the cross-hairs. Indias planned purchase of S-400 air defence systems from Russia expose it to curbs in place against Moscow under the Combating Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), while oil imports from Iran too are set to face renewed sanctions. Officials and experts have said that given the trajectory of India-US relations, specially after the successful 2+2 talks, they dont expect the Trump administration to follow up with sanctions. US officials have repeatedly stressed India is not the intended target of these sanctions. After receiving a less clunky and actually inspired update, Allen Iverson's signature Answer 1 shoes are getting reissued for the first time in their original Sixers colours. For some reason, although they've been reissued before, most recently in 2013, the shoes have never been released in the colour that AI himself had: white and red. According to Sole Collector the shoes will be dropping on September 22nd in China and will make their way across the ocean later this year. It's been twenty years since the shoes were last available to the non-ebay-shopping public. Along with the new Answer 4.5 and the red-and-white Answer 1, AI has other shoes on the way too. Reebok and Iverson announced last December that they will release all of AI's classic shoes, plus one new one under the umbrella of the "Reebok I3 Legacy Collection." The new model is as of yet unnamed and has no release date, but is well documented in photos here. As for the Question, AI's other classic shoe, there's a Cam'ron version on the way, the colour of which will be (surprise!) purple. The new answer 1s don't yet have a price, but check back in for any and all updates as they arrive. Anna Kendrick appeared on The Late Show with Steven Colbert and dished about meeting Barack Obama while he was president. The actress says she received an email asking her if she would like to meet the president of the United States. She, of course, accepted the invitation. The comedian made her way to a campaign event, during which the president praised Up In The Air, a film included on Kendrick's resume. The movie dealt with economic issues during a recession, a topic the president was addressing during the event in LA. After his speech, the nervous actress finally got to meet Obama. Within moments of greeting each other, the pair shared an unusual moment. Obama checked in with the entertainer to make sure she wasn't too flustered by him mentioning her: "I hope I didnt embarrass you earlier?" Anna Kendrick had the audacity to insult the president in jest: "Yeah, youre such an asshole." Even though it was a joke, it takes a lot of guts to address the commander-in-chief like that. Thankfully, Obama bent over in full-blown laughter during the encounter. Kendrick recalls the friendly moment: "I called him an asshole and scolded him for not knowing enough about the 50 states so that was what made him double over with laughter." https://www.instagram.com/p/Uomy3FKdft Four people including an infant and the mother have died as a result of Hurricane Florence. The tropical storm has begun ravaging the coastline after being downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane. The first two casualties in Wilmington, North Carolina were reported after a massive tree came crashing down on their home. The father of the infant child was successfully evacuated and brought to a medical facility with serious injuries. His wife and child were pronounced dead on the scene. A third person was pronounced after first responders ran into a blockade created by another fallen tree, failing to make the house calls in a timely manner, the second incident occurring this time in Hampstead, North Carolina. The fourth casualty was a man in Lenoir County, who put himself at risk as he attempted the installation of a generator, according to a statement read by the state Governor Roy Cooper's administrative office. Elsewhere in the Carolinas, "Florence" has been causing inundations in flooded dwelling across both states. "The storm is going to continue its violent grind across our state for days," Cooper warned residents at a news conference this afternoon. The natural disaster prompted airlines to cancel the majority of outgoing flights, which in itself is cause for concern for resident's who've been flooded out their homes. Kanye West is back on his Candace Owens bullskit, so you know it's about to get testy on the battlefront. After relaunching his Instagram page a few days ago, Kanye West didn't waste any hitting the publish button. His most recent post focuses on his tenuous relationship with the liberal media, but also the people he respects in life. See for yourself. https://www.instagram.com/p/BnwDtRthIVx Within the comment section of the sketch drawing, some fans failed to read the underlying message, focusing solely on his drawing skills. But the majority of commenters seemed to comprehend the very essence of the character grouping. The drawing contains scratchy depictions of ten people, some carry heavy connotations, others like Consequence, GLC and Reese LaFlare are simply drawn because Kanye likes their company. It's a strange mock-up, any way you look at it. The characters who are most contentious are Candace Owens, Chance the Rapper and Jim Brown all for particularly different reasons, one would think. Jim Brown is a powerful figure in Black History for his decision to shape his own destiny following a contract dispute in the White male-dominated NFL. Brown would go onto moonlight as a screen actor and Civil Rights activist, after calling it quits on his playing career. He did so at the peak of his powers. Candace Owens, as you know, is a conservative pundit Kanye has grown to adore. Chance the Rapper is favorite of the liberal media, but also one of Kanye's close friends and collaborators. Taylor.. well that's just Chance's brother, don't get it twisted. The Machine Gun Kelly - Eminem rap saga has now become a battle royale like I said before. The "Rap Devil" incarnate was in a restaurant in Atlanta when an actor named Gabriel "G-Rod" Rodriguez came up to his table and taunted him over his feud with Eminem. To make matters worse, Rodriguez walked up to the table with his phone in hand, in the midst of recording his message to MGK. "I'm gonna say it because it has to be said, you're a pussy for going for family!" he yelled at MGK, in reference to disrespectful comments he'd made in the past towards Hailie Scott, Eminem's daughter. It should be noted, Rodriguez is himself a father of three kids. Within moments of making his presence known to the table, MGK's bodyguards descended upon Rodriguez, holding him against his will. The following video obtained by TMZ offers Gabriel Rodriguez's nuanced view of the incident. Apparently, after bodyguards took control of the situation, and only then did MGK started "acting tough." Before it could ever manifest into a fair fight, the restaurant owner sided with MGK, and booted Rodriguez from the premises. Rodriguez suffered the worst of it two hours later as he walked towards his hotel suite at the Hampton's Inn. According to a surveillance in the hands of local police, MGK's crew, who'd been trailing G-Rod for some time now, ambushed the actor when he least expected it. Rodriguez who has acting credits for Ozark, Power, and NCIS: New Orleans, says MGK was not involved in the second stage of their altercation. The external bruising on Rodriguez' face spares me the trouble of going into greater detail. A while back the Kardashian and Jenner's parted ways with their longtime makeup artist Joyce Bonelli because the famous family didn't see her as a fit anymore. After the media was alerted of the news, Joyce bounced back saying she wasn't fired, asking: Who hasnt gotten in a fight with their girlfriends? She added: Im inspired by that whole family I mean, just look at them [their] work ethic and each individually are amazing. We definitely are on the same level as far as working so many years together. Im so proud of Kylie and her Forbes cover. According to The Blast, Joyce has allegedly been pretending to still be in business with the family after being ex-communicated a long time ago. Joyce's latest Instagram posts show photos of the Kardashians but it's apparently apart of a plan to trick fans into thinking they still work together" since the videos were taken years ago. According to the publication, the famous family is disturbed that she is pretending to still be involved. Neither of the Kardashian or Jenner sisters has publicly stated anything about Joyce to let their fans know what's really real. The emergency management agency for New Bern, N.C., was skeptical when Matthew Marchetti initially called to explain how his crowdsource technology could help rescue people during Hurricane Florence. Then Marchetti said he was from Houston. Oh, oh, so you know the drill, was the response from North Carolina. Marchettis website, CrowdSource Rescue, is now in use in North Carolina as Florences powerful storm surge and torrential rains create widespread flooding, matching rescuers to people seeking rescue. The site, refined since Harvey, still relies on two simple buttons: I can help rescue and I need to be rescued. But it has had a profound impact. During Hurricane Harvey, the site helped connect some 30,000 people needing rescue to 12,000 volunteers with boats, trucks and airboats. We went through hell with Harvey. But it was battle-testing, Marchetti said. It was battle-testing for moments like these, I think, with larger purpose. George Ruiz, a retired Coast Guard member living on Dauphin Island, Ala., is now in North Carolina, leading a volunteer rescue group that he formed called Geaux Rescue. A volunteer rescuer during Hurricane Harvey, he didnt discover Marchettis site until Hurricane Irma hit Florida about a year ago, not long after Harvey devastated the Houston area. He recalled the difference was dramatic. In Houston, the rescue efforts were chaotic as one call for help would sometimes receive six or seven boats; during Irma, the right resources were deployed at the right time to get people out of danger. When we found this tool and started using it in Irma, everything started to go a lot smoother, he said. As Florence moved toward the North Carolina coast, Ruiz had already alerted CrowdSource Rescue that his team would be available as volunteers. On Friday morning, Ruiz received a text from Marchetti saying help was needed in Rhems, N.C., which is just outside of New Bern, the scene of catastrophic flooding. It took three hours to drive there from where his crew was staying in Willard, N.C., twice the normal time as they used chainsaws to clear trees off the roads. They arrived around 9 a.m. Friday and spent the morning knocking on doors and helping people evacuate The app that he built saves lives, Ruiz said Marchetti, a 28-year old software developer, was like so many in the community during Hurricane Harvey, wanting to help his neighbors. He initially got into a strangers boat and helped ferry people to safety. Then he started working with his church, Chapelwood United Methodist Church, to coordinate the rescue of its members. Marchetti posted on Facebook that those needing help should contact him. He started getting calls, texts, Facebook messages and GroupMe chats. He was quickly overwhelmed by the number of communication channels, people needing assistance and people wanting to help. So Marchetti and his business partner Nate Larson created a database of people needing rescued and people with boats. They pulled an all-nighter to complete the website, then called HoustonHarveyRescue.com, and went to bed at 7 a.m. When Marchetti awoke at 9 a.m., about 1,500 people needed help - and they had only three boats. My first thought was, Were going to be on the news and its not going to be a good story, Marchetti recalled. Its going to be: Two local idiots make website, dont rescue anybody. But throughout the morning and early afternoon, more and more rescuers start signing up. The Louisiana Cajun Navy, a group that helps people after disasters, promoted Marhcettis website on its Facebook page, giving it a huge boost. The crowdsourcing website was supposed to be a one-time solution. But after Harvey, came Irma. Then Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico. Then the California wildfires. Each time, Marichetti worked furiously behind the scenes to ensure the site was up and running and tailored to specific needs of each disaster. As a result, the site has evolved, becoming more functional and employing an app for rescuers that he developed. The site provides instantaneous background checks of volunteers and includes other new organizational features. His team also coordinates more closely with emergency workers and agencies. Marchetti began working to assist those in North Carolina well before Florence made landfall. Before the storm hit, he was connecting ranchers to people who could help evacuate their livestock. Reports of flooding began late Thursday night. He worked until 6 a.m. Friday monitoring the website and helping orchestrate volunteers to needed areas. Marchetti and his roughly 10-person team make no money off the endeavor. He, personally, can devote so much time because he previously created algorithms that bring in royalty money. CrowdSource Rescue recently became a nonprofit organization, and is accepting donations to help pay expenses for equipment and services such as servers and Facebook advertising. Typical software development has lost some of its appeal to Marchetti, compared to his work at CrowdSource Rescue. Hes proud to help facilitate civil engagement. Theres an entire movement going from disaster, to disaster, he said, kind of spreading. andrea.leinfelder@chron.com twitter.com/andrearumbaugh Note: This is the fifth column in a series in which Reid explores the origins and influences that make Southeast Texas barbecue unique. Most Houstonians associate the stretch of San Felipe between River Oaks and the Memorial area with the ritzy mansions, restaurants and shopping centers that line this prosperous thoroughfare often used as an alternate east-west route when traffic clogs Westheimer and Interstate 10. What many Houstonians dont realize, however, is that the full extent of the path taken by this street represents one of the earliest thoroughfares that connected the states most famous colony San Felipe de Austin, near present-day Sealy and the port city of Harrisburg (precursor to the city of Houston), just east of present-day downtown on the banks of Buffalo Bayou. The San Felipe Trail , as it was called, generally followed the south bank of Buffalo Bayou and acted as a trade route between the cotton plantations along the Brazos and Colorado rivers near the Austin colony and the improvised ports along Buffalo Bayou at Houston and Harrisburg. Riverboats would then take cotton and other materials to the port of Galveston for shipping nationally and internationally. When the riverboats steamed back to Houston, they were often carrying immigrants from Germany. The Germans headed west on the trail, famously settling in Central Texas and establishing towns such as New Braunfels and Fredericksburg. Love the smell of wood smoke in the morning? Join J.C. Reid, Alison Cook and Greg Morago as they discuss barbecue culture with special guests by subscribing to the Chronicle's BBQ State of Mind podcast on Apple's Podcasts, or visit houstonchronicle.com/ bbqpodcast. See More Collapse The eastern movement of cotton and the westward immigration of German immigrants along the San Felipe Trail would eventually lay the foundation for the two predominant styles of Texas barbecue the Central Texas style that developed around Austin and Southeast Texas style that developed in Houston and points east to the Louisiana border. In antebellum Texas, the cotton plantations along the Brazos and Colorado were worked by African slaves brought there by landowners from states such as Mississippi and Alabama. After the end of the Civil War and the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, former slaves traveled east along the San Felipe Trail, settling just outside downtown Houston, along the stretch of the trail which is now West Dallas Street. This area, known as Freedmens Town , became the center of Houstons African-American community starting in the late 1800s. It also became the center of Houstons own tradition of Southeast Texas-style barbecue that combined Southern U.S. cooking traditions brought here by slaves, as well as Cajun and Creole techniques brought here from Louisiana. By the early 1900s, Houston was booming and restaurants were opening at a rapid pace, including many barbecue stands. The 1912 and 1913 city directories listed 15 barbecue stands, with six of them in Freedmens Town (also known as Fourth Ward) and four in Fifth Ward , where African Americans of Creole origin settled. All 10 of these were owned by African Americans. The remaining five were downtown and owned by white proprietors. A typical Fourth Ward barbecue joint of the time was at 709 San Felipe, now a parking lot at the corner of West Dallas and Interstate 45. The proprietor is listed as Lavinia Camper, a widowed African-American woman born in Mississippi in the 1860s. Theres no way to know what was served at Mrs. Campers barbecue stand. But later barbecue joints in the Third, Fourth and Fifth wards reflected the mostly pork-based, sauced barbecue that would become the foundation for Southeast Texas-style barbecue. Its not a stretch to imagine that as former slaves traveled east along the San Felipe Trail, they passed bands of German immigrants heading west. These Germans, along with Czech immigrants, would become known for establishing meat markets in Central Texas, where they applied their knowledge of cooking and smoking to the plentiful beef of the area, creating the style of barbecue for which that region is known. Today, driving past the H-E-Bs, Whataburgers and Starbucks along San Felipe, its hard to envision this was one of the most important thoroughfares in the history of Texas and Houston, and the barbecue traditions that would eventually flow from it. J.C. Reid is the Houston Chronicles barbecue columnist. He also is the co-host of BBQ State of Mind, a podcast covering barbecue news from Texas and around the world, and co-founder of the Houston Barbecue Festival. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook, or send barbecue tips and questions to jcreid@jcreidtx.com. The water-buffalo horn bracelets are among Alicia Araujo-Elatassis favorite things from her recent family trip to Vietnam. They are beautifully displayed along with a few other finds at her Thinking Boutique, 1570 S. Dairy Ashford Road. In this west Houston store, in an area where fashion boutiques are few, Araujo-Elatassi says nearly every accessory has a story. The bracelets are recycled from the remains of dead water buffalo. The copper earrings and accessories on another table are from her trip to Cuba. There are also pieces from local artisans. I want women to feel a different experience when they come to my store, says the 43-year-old Houston native. This side of town doesnt have a lot of boutiques, so I want to create an experience. When you buy a piece of jewelry here, you get a story. I want customers to find something they wouldnt find unless they traveled to that country. Thats the idea behind her Thinking Boutique, which Araujo-Elatassi opened in 2015, after a 17-year career in education. This is a place where women can meet, shop and learn, she says. Ive always been interested in learning and taking classes, so I wanted to provide an opportunity to learn in a fun environment where women could network in a relaxed setting. The store started as a learning center for women where Araujo-Elatassi hosted classes and workshops on everything from how to write a book to how to build a brand through social media and style. In 2014, Araujo-Elatassi penned Querido Papa (Dear Dad), about her teen years with her father growing up on the citys north side as a guide to foster better father-daughter relationships. She also has a travel and fashion blog. The shopping center space grew into a womens clothing and accessories boutique, offering an array of wrap dresses, jumpsuits, chic pencil skirts and even sequin tops. She also provides wardrobe styling, branding consulting and personal shopping services. The boutique is a natural venture, since Araujo-Elatassi always wanted her own business. She started in education, with bachelors and masters degrees in education from the University of St. Thomas. She worked as an elementary and middle school teacher, then later as an education supervisor at University of Houston-Downtown. She met her husband, Rusk, in college. The couple has been married for 18 years and have two sons, Alexander, 15, and Maksim, 10. When Araujo-Elatassi is not empowering women through her in-store events or helping them to find the latest look, shes traveling the world with her family. She took her first trip, beyond Houston and Mexico, the native home of her parents, at age 22. My first trip was to New York. It was amazing the big city, the lights and energy. I knew I wanted to see more of the world, she says. Araujo-Elatassi has since traveled to countries in Europe, South America and Asia. In July, she and her family visited Vietnam for 10 days. It was an explosion of culture, a sense of tradition and community that you dont often see. Traveling, and owning her own shop, also has helped expand her style. Araujo-Elatassi shows off a coral, floor-length wrap dress that comes in several colors and is available in her store. My skin looks really good in coral, she says. I think Ive gotten bolder in my style since opening my store. I love classic staples like a Chanel suit and a little black dress. But I also love something bold. I just feel freer. Home: West Houston Style heroes: Nina Garcia and Rachel Zoe Favorite designers: Diane Von Furstenberg and Manolo Blahnik Pairs of shoes: About 25. I have a shoe doctor so I rarely buy new. Need to get rid of but cant: A pair of Levis jeans from college Trend youll never wear: Denim overalls Most regrettable purchase: Dooney & Bourke handbag First car: Toyota Corolla Beauty must-have: Rosehip Essentials Rosehip Facial Oil Go-to cocktail: A very dirty martini Favorite saying: So damn cute! Must-have dish: My mommas crunchy tacos. Never-forget travel destination: Croatia Worst job youve ever had: Laying floor tiles with my dad Best advice youve ever received: My husband says in business you have to remember the good days to get through the bad. Favorite movie: Good Will Hunting Best book: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Theme song: Im Not Afraid by Eminem joy.sewing@chron.com Local and state officials are designing and constructing a multi-billion expansion to the Northeast Water Purification Plant expansion, which will help provide sustainable surface water to the region for the forseeable future. The expanded purification plant will allow local water officials to extract 400 million gallons of safe drinking water per day from Lake Houston when it is completed in six years, officials said. Ravi Kaleyatodi, project director for the expansion, said the Harris-Galveston and Fort Bend Subsidence Districts has mandated a conversion to surface water from ground water to limit subsidence the sinking of land that threatens homes and businesses when water is pumped from the ground. Kaleyatodi said currently only 30 percent of the water supply comes from surface water. By 2025 about 60 percent of the water supply should come from the surface water and the percentage should jump to 80 once the year 2035 arrives. Why should we get off from ground water? One of the main reasons is because when you take water from the ground, it starts to subside, Kaleyatodi said. Second reason is growth. The region is growing at a rate of 1 million people per decade. We are expecting to see 2 (million) to 3 million more people by year 2040 in this entire region. This project is funded by the North Harris County Regional Water Authority, Central Harris County Regional Water Authority, West Harris County Regional Water Authority, North Fort Bend Water Authority and the City of Houston. Kaleyatodi said the City of Houston has approximately 560 million gallons per day of water rights in Lake Houston. Currently, Kaleyatodi said they are designing and constructing the Northeast Water Purification Plant near Summerwood. It is located on 12550 Water Works Way, Houston. The design of the plant is about 60 percent completed. A traditional job in Houston is design first and then after its designed we go out for bids. Then we get a contractor in and then start construction. That usually takes almost 7-12 years to complete. We dont have that kind of time on this particular project, Kaleyatodi said. Were going to start design and at the same time were going to start construction. The designer is also responsible for the construction. Kaleyatodi also said the clearing of the site is done and the design and construction for the intake pump station in Lake Houston is about to begin. That is the beauty of progressive design-build. The remaining design is still ongoing but the ones that are already designed are already in construction, Kaleyatodi said. According to a previous article, construction for the Northeast Water Purification Expansion Project began early this year. The water capacity at the existing plant, located near Lake Houston, will grow from 80 million to nearly 400 million gallons a day. Water will travel through through steel waterlines, and then through canals, to Lake Houston from the Trinity River. The plant will treat the water by ozonation, which disinfects the water and removes tastes, or odors. Kaleyatodi also mentioned that there will be two set of lines that will distribute the water to the area. The first line will be 17 miles long and is funded through a partnership with the City of Houston and the North Harris County Regional Water Authority. The second line will be 35 miles and is a partnership with the West Harris County Regional Water Authority and the Fort Bend Water Authority. The purification plant expansion is slated to be completed in 2024. To stay updated on the Northeast Water Purification Plant visit www.greaterhoustonwater.com or visit www.newppexpansion.com kaila.contreras@chron.com Whether just arriving, or leaving with a belly full of authentic Hawaiian cuisine, patrons of Humbles new Kealohas Hawaiian Kitchen get a friendly Aloha. Aloha means Love in Hawaiian and is used as both a greeting and farewell. Kealohas has been open for about two months now, but members of the community joined the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate Kealohas presence in the community with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, Sept. 14. The eatery is located at 8790 FM 1960 Business Road, Humble, which is west of Deerbrook Mall near the intersection of FM 1960 and Kenswick Drive. INDIA IN A BOX: Unique delivery concept gets rave reviews from Pearland diners Kealoha means The Love, said Shantell H. Kanehailua-Leleo, owner of Kealohas. Kanehailua-Leleos daughter was born nine months to the day that Kanehailua-Leleos mother passed away and both share the name Kealoha. So, when I was trying to figure out what to name the restaurant, that was just natural, she said. Plus, my grandma said that has to be the secret ingredient in all of our food. We have to put love into everything we do. For us, to live aloha is a lifestyle. Kanehailua-Leleo is originally from Hawaii. Her passion for tradition Hawaiian cuisine actually stemmed from her involvement in hula dancing. Ive been dancing hula since I was four years old, she said. I was the oldest granddaughter, so growing up, I hated to be in the kitchen. I wanted to be outside playing, but because I was the oldest granddaughter, I was always with my grandma. So, I was the only one that learned all her recipes, so it stuck with me throughout the years. Kanehailua-Leleo lived in Alaska for 20 years and continued dancing hula. That was the only thing culturally that kept me connected, she said. I had a school. I had 75 students. We did shows all over the place. Some people wanted to do a Hawaiian-theme luau, but didnt have anyone to cook. Kanehailua-Leleo offered her cooking services. So, then Im catering, doing the show, singing and theres such a passion for it, she said. In Alaska, she focused on the show and hula-side of her Hawaiian heritage. Now that her children are grown and have moved out of the house, Kanehailua-Leleo wanted to turn her focus to the food side. All the memories of my grandmas recipes really started coming back, she said. It was really nice to go through this process because I felt like both of them were with me my grandmother and my mom when Im in the kitchen. Kealohas menu includes a variety of lunch items, appetizers, sides, sandwiches, deserts, and plates featuring beef, seafood, and pork entrees. One of Kanehailua-Leleos personal favorites to make and to eat is her garlic shrimp, which are inspired by the shrimp she used to order from a shrimp food truck on the north shore of Hawaii. During the event, Stefani Kilgore tasted some of Kealohas samples, and stayed around to order a dish. Its nice to have something different and new for the community, Kilgore said. Its a fresh new palate and taste. Kanehailua-Leleo is in the process of opening their bar and then Kanehailua-Leleo wants to introduce a breakfast menu as well. Eventually, she would like to have Kealohas food trucks and introduce Hawaiian food as a go-to cuisine in the Houston area. Ive got big dreams to take Hawaiian food and spirit across Houston, she said. For more information about Kealohas, visit the Kealohas Hawaiian Kitchen Facebook page. mfeuk@hcnonline.com Paul Ryan, the outgoing House Speaker, is worried about the deinstitutionalization of society writ large. Hes also worried about tribalism and identity politics, which he described this week as politically effective but morally wrong. Im not particularly worried about Ryan, the Wisconsin Republican whos retiring from Congress at the end of this term. But his comments caught my eye because I share his concerns about political tribalism, and the deinstitutionalization of society writ large. Those are related phenomena, and neither of them serves us well. But Ryan is wrong to conflate tribalism and identity politics. Theyre similar, and sometimes coexist, but theyre not the same thing. The former prioritizes the interests of a group, usually in relation to other groups in a society. The latter prioritizes the interests of individuals who, as members of a particular group, have concerns related to that aspect of their identity. And tribalism is something that all Americans should be worried about. As Ryan said, its politically effective. He himself has been a direct beneficiary of the fierce partisanship that explains why most Republicans ultimately voted for Donald Trump for president in 2016, even if they hadnt supported him in the primary and why so few of Trumps detractors were willing to fully buck the party and back Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee. But Republicans may come to see Trumps election as a pyrrhic victory. Their prospects in this years midterm elections have been compromised by their own commitment to partisanship. They may lose control of the Senate as well as the House. In fact, they may lose control of the Senate as a result of losing a seat in Texas, a state that has been crucial to the GOPs overall electoral strategy since the dawn of the 21st century. Setting Trump aside, though, tribalism is inherently risky in a system where elections are supposed to serve as a safeguard against the elevation of a manifestly unsuitable candidate. It also makes no sense, given that there are plenty of buffoons on both sides of the aisle and that political parties are subject to failure, just like all other institutions. All things considered, I wouldnt necessarily say that tribalism is morally wrong, as Ryan did. But it definitely doesnt serve the public interest. And Americans who agree should reconsider their stance on identity politicswhich sometimes coexists with tribalism, but can also serve as a corrective to it. Theres a lot of knee-jerk antipathy to the concept, on the right. Some of it is sincerely felt. I am routinely annoyed by the ham-fisted appeals to identity that Democrats sometimes make while pandering to women, in particular. And theres a case to be made that identity politics ultimately has the effect of marginalizing the people making such arguments. In fact, the late Henry B. Gonzalez, the longtime Democratic congressman from San Antonio, made this case in the 1960s, in response to the rise of the Chicano movement. And yet Ive noticed that those fretting about identity politics lately, mostly white men, never even make reference to Gonzalez, who was the first Mexican-American to represent Texas in Congress and served nearly 40 years in Washington. Its as if critics of identity politics havent bothered to seek out other perspectives on the issue. The Americans raising identity-related concerns those who belong to the Black Lives Matter movement, for example are, in fact, experiencing differential treatment or differential outcomes. Its not as if such concerns, in general, are inherently frivolous, or only worth taking seriously if you happen to be a member of the affected group. And Americans who raise concerns about systemic injustices affecting them arent dismissive of the concerns that others might be harboring, along similar lines. In my experience, its the opposite. And that makes sense, actually: in a country as heterogeneous as this one, its hard to pursue identity-related concerns via the political process except as part of a coalition of voters. Tribalism encourages an us versus them mentality, in which success is measured by the outcome of an election, rather than what happens next. Proponents of identity politics are insisting that they, and we, should expect better than that. erica.grieder@chron.com twitter.com/ericagrieder Ive known Austin writer Sarah Bird for, Im guessing, 25 or 30 years. What I didnt know until recently is that for all those years and longer, my friend has been trying to tell the true-life tale of a remarkable woman almost lost to history. Now, after publishing 10 novels whose characters include Air Force brats in Japan, flamenco dancers in Albuquerque, society women in Austin and neer-do-well rodeo performers in Texas and New Mexico and after 40 years of contemplation, rumination and research, shes figured out how to introduce her readers to the only woman known to have served with the legendary Buffalo Soldiers while masquerading as a man. Sarahs new novel about the real-life Cathy Williams is called Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen, published by St. Martins Press. Read more: Creativity flows in a writers getaway with fluid future Talking by phone from the car as her husband George Jones drove through a thunder storm toward Houston a couple of days ago - she had readings this week at Blue Willow Bookshop and Brazos Bookstore - Sarah said she first heard of Cathy (sometimes spelled Cathay) Williams in the late 1970s. She was doing research in Houston at the time on African-American rodeos, specifically Mollie Stevensons Diamond L Riding & Roping Club, a few miles south of todays NRG Stadium. Since the first moment I heard about her existence, Sarah said, I was kind of haunted by why she alone made this choice -- both to be a soldier in the American Southwest during the Indian Wars and to masquerade as a man. She fictionalized Williams life, largely because shes a novelist, but also because the historical record is scant. Read more: Former Texas inmates story proves to be a page turner In pre-Internet days, she had research help from her friend Pam Black, an Austin kindergarten teacher who was looking for role models who resembled her predominantly African-American students. What the two women discovered is that Williams was born in about 1844 to an enslaved mother and a free father on a plantation near Independence, Mo. During her adolescence she worked as a house slave on a plantation near Missouris state capital, Jefferson City, a town occupied by Union forces during the early days of the Civil War. Captured slaves were designated as contraband and forced to serve the army in support roles. As a cook and washerwoman with forces commanded by Gen. Philip Sheridan, Williams witnessed the Battle of Pea Ridge, the Battle of Cedar Creek and other significant engagements while traipsing with the army across much of the southeastern United States. As a female, Cathy Williams was prohibited from serving in the military, but William Cathay could. Somehow, she/he managed to pass a medical exam and to enlist in 1866. During the Civil War, more than 400 women are known to have served while posing as male soldiers, but Williams was the first documented woman to enlist in the army after the war. Shes the only documented African-American woman to serve prior to the 1948 law that gave women permanent status in the armys regular and reserve forces. She was assigned to the 38th U.S. Infantry Regiment, the Buffalo Soldiers. Although we know little about her service, we do know she endured hard duty during a winter campaign against the Apache in southwest New Mexico. Williams managed to keep her secret for nearly two years, until she got sick while stationed in New Mexico. The post surgeon made the surprise discovery and informed the post commander. By Oct. 14, 1868, Private Bill Cathay was once again Cathy Williams. She received an honorable discharge. Read more: In a little West Texas town, Conans creator still lives So how did she get away with it? How did this ambitious young woman become Private Cathay, and why did she decide that the military was the life for her? What did she accomplish while serving in the ranks? And what became of her after her life as a soldier? Taking the fragments that we have from history and conjuring up answers to those basic questions, Sarah brings to life a flesh-and-blood human being who, in the words of Dallas writer Ben Fountain, fears and loves and wants and hurts just as fiercely as any of us. Its a superb achievement. She asserts her license as a novelist to diverge occasionally from recorded history. For example, she gives Williams an awareness of her noble African ancestry (daughter of a daughter of a queen). She has Williams and her regiment stationed at the fictional version of Fort Davis, in West Texas, because the New Mexico fort where the actual regiment was stationed was made of adobe and has dissolved back into the earth. Fort Davis, of course, is a reconstructed national historic site, thus making it easier to research the Buffalo Soldier era. She also put Williams atop a horse, in the cavalry, a more romantic endeavor than eating dust with the infantry. And she included a fictional love interest (fitting, it seems to me, since Sarah has published five romance novels under a pseudonym.) Following her discharge, the real Cathy Williams worked as a cook at Fort Union, N.M., and later moved to Pueblo, Colo. She married, although her husband stole her money and a team of horses, and Williams had him arrested. Fleeing the unfortunate union, she moved to Trinidad, Colo., where she worked as a seamstress and perhaps ran a boardinghouse. In 1876, the St. Louis Daily Times published an account of her military service. Around 1889 or 1890, Williams entered a local hospital and applied for a disability pension based on her military service. The government denied her application, even though she suffered from diabetes and walked with a crutch because all her toes had been amputated. She is thought to have died in 1893. A couple of days ago, Kiesha Lewis, a Southwest Airlines employee based in Omaha, Neb., was studying the Cathy Williams exhibit at Houstons Buffalo Soldiers National Museum. Lewis had been introduced to Williams the day before when she came across an exhibit while touring the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi Bay. She captivated me, Lewis said, standing before a mannequin dressed to represent Williams during her Buffalo Soldier days. I went through that whole ship, and I kept thinking about her. After all her years of research and her struggle to tell the story, Sarah Bird also cant get Cathy Williams out of her mind. I miss her, she said. Now that the books out, shes out in the world making new friends, and shes left me behind. Its sort of like post-partum depression. djholley10@gmail.com twitter.com/holleynews At least two people were shot in a drive-by in southeast Houston Friday night. Houston police officers were called around 10 p.m. to an apartment complex in the 6600 block of Madrid Street, off Yellowstone Boulevard. They found at least two people had been shot one in the back and the other in the buttocks, police said. Both were rushed to area hospitals by Houston Fire Department paramedics in unknown conditions. They've been identified as Terrell Williams, 18, and James Howard, 20. One of the victims was talking with paramedics as he was put in the back of an ambulance. Officers marked off several bullet casings along Madrid Street. A vehicle in the parking lot also has a bullet hole in its bumper. Houston officers are searching for the driver of a blue Honda vehicle, who is believed to be the shooter. No other information was available. Check back for updates as they come in. 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 Feeling unwell? asks Ada. She exudes a confident bedside manner, assuring you I get smarter the more you tell me, so Im going to ask a few questions that will help me help you. And in a few minutes, after she is satisfied with the answers you provided about your health concerns, Ada delivers the most probable diagnosis from your symptoms, adding a couple of secondary potential ones. She also gives you recommendations on how to take care of the problem, and advises whether you need to see a medical specialist right away. But she isnt a doctor, but the closest thing to one that you can carry in your pocket. Ada is a multilingual artificial intelligence health application for smartphones, and was created by a former student of the University of Houston. And after helping millions of satisfied users in English and German languages, the highly intuitive application is now adding Spanish and Portuguese to its suite of languages, with an eye towards serving the vast market of Latinos in the U.S. and worldwide. Now, with the expansion of the app translated into Spanish, we can extend the health platform to millions more users, said Daniel Nathrath, the CEO and co-founder of Ada, who said he was inspired by his time in Houston to create it. Considered one of the top apps in its category, Ada has accumulated about five million downloads for Android and Apple devices worldwide, and is now targeting the large Latino community, one whose health needs have been historically underserved particularly in the United States. More than 40 million people in the U.S. are native or bilingual Spanish speakers, and over 700,000 of them reside in Harris County. Nathrath attended the University of Houston Law Center from 1995-1996 while earning his master of law as a Fulbright Scholar. He earned an MBA at the University of Chicago and became an entrepreneur working with startups, focusing his interest in applying transformational technology to new industries. Ive seen first-hand that access to basic health care services is not something that is readily available to all, Nathrath said. One of the primary reasons we developed Ada was to address healthcare inequities and bring quality health care to all. He founded Ada in 2011, headquartered in Germany, with pediatrician and pathologist Claire Novorol and neuroscientist and innovator Martin Hirsch. Initially, Ada was created with doctors in mind as the primary users. Later, however, the founders changed the focus. Since we strongly believe that change in health care will be driven from the consumer side, we decided to make our AI (Artificial Intelligence) available to patients directly, Nathrath said. He explained that Ada was launched for public use in 2016 after five years of development and database building by a team of over 100 doctors, scientists and engineers. Large demand For Texans, affordable health care is at the top of their financial concerns, surpassing even making their mortgage payments and other costs of living categories, the Kiser Family Foundation indicates in a study. And as healthcare costs continues to rise in the country, Americans in general are delaying clinical visits. Nathrath said that before launching the new Spanish integration, the company received significant interest from people in the U.S. and Latin America saying that they wanted to use Ada but couldnt understand everything in English. Nathrath said living in, and later visiting, a diverse city like Houston to meet with health care providers, I know from first-hand experience that many people are more comfortable expressing their medical needs in their native language. Several studies have shown that Latinos are less likely than other populations to seek health care in spite of having the highest incidence of chronic illnesses such as diabetes. They also have a lower utilization of health services that are available to them. About 30 percent of Hispanics do not have a usual healthcare provider, which includes more than half who speak English and 45 percent who have health insurance, according to a study from Salud America (Health America), a project of The Institute for Health Promotion Research at the University of Texas Health San Antonio. It suggests, the report says, that language preference for medical services is a substantial factor, among others. Language is critical when it comes to healthcare so that the patient is understood well and both their language and cultural needs are addressed, said Kara Green, a nurse and Clinical and Quality Director at the HOPE Clinic, a Community Health Center with facilities in three Houston areas. Green considers that cost, cultural preferences and a complex medical system to find doctors matching their health plans are factors in the lack of healthcare utilization among this population. Many of my Latino patients work long hours in difficult conditions outside or in physically taxing jobs, so finding time to go to the doctors office is difficult if there are no extended hours, Green added. Green, who tested Ada, said the app has positives and I like that there are links for local sources of care (and) instructions for when to seek care is included. Ada is free of charge and has the highest consumer ranks among similar apps in the Apple and Android stores, with 4.8 and 4.7 stars out of five, respectively. It has been listed as the number one of most reliable among competitors by publications such as Wired. We are meeting an immense demand, Nathrath said. Besides the new potential Spanish speaking users, Ada is targeting English language consumers in the U.S. that may not be aware of this tool, the company said. There is a staggering amount of people without access to readily accessible, quality healthcare in the U.S., Nathrath said. Among them, he added, are the nearly 65 million U.S. citizens who live in federally-designated health professional shortages, often called healthcare deserts. The trend Unlike thousands of applications dedicated to health and fitness or specific kinds of illnesses, only a handful of apps are devoted to general, personalized medical consultation for consumers to help them with a diagnosis and providing guidance on when to seek professional care. Another application in the same group is the WebMD app, serving in the English language with 4.2 ratings among Android consumers. With increasing costs and innovation advances, consulting firms identify consumer-driven health care and artificial intelligence technologies as one of the top trends that will disrupt the medical industry, placing more power in the hands of patients. Cost alone is a big driver, not only for consumers, but also for the industry. We want to help the whole system drastically save cost, Nathrath said. As an example, he noted that people go to the emergency room when they shouldnt, a misuse of medical resources that costs the U.S. an estimated 38 billion dollars annually. With an option for app users to share information with their doctors, Ada would help physicians to save time and gain efficiencies, he added. And while doctors recognize the utility of Ada, they also warn the public about the importance of face to face consulting with health specialists. Doctor Lauren Krenek, a pediatrician for HOPE, said that Ada is a good app to help provide a general idea of when patients need to call and seek immediate help (and) can be useful for initial triaging. However, she suggests that patients seek professional advice in person when they are unsure about their health concerns. olivia.tallet@chron.com Twitter.com/oliviaptallet The largest ever study of silicone breast implants has found the devices are generally safe but associated with a slightly higher risk of a few rare diseases, a controversial conclusion that quickly reheated the seemingly settled issue. The finding by MD Anderson Cancer Center researchers was disputed Friday by many experts, including federal health regulators, who have nevertheless scheduled a public meeting of medical advisers next year to consider implant safety. The study was based on the outcomes of nearly 100,000 patients who received one of the devices since they returned to the market in 2006. These findings arent meant to suggest implants caused these problems, said Dr. Mark Clemens, an MD Anderson professor of plastic surgery and the senior investigator of the study. Theyre associations, which underscore the need for more research in this area, but do provide key safety information for women and their providers to consider when thinking about cosmetic or reconstructive surgery with breast implants. In a paper the Annals of Surgery will post online Monday, Clemens team is reporting that four health problems the skin cancer melanoma and auto-immune disorders rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and Sjogrens syndrome occurred more often in patients with silicon-gel implants than in the general population. The numbers were small but statistically significant, Clemens said. The Food and Drug Administration issued a statement in response Friday, urging the public and health-care community to view the studys conclusions with caution. The statement noted concerns about significant shortcomings with the studys methodology and data presentation and said we respectfully disagree with the conclusions. A number of other experts in the field echoed the FDAs concerns. The strong reaction to the study was reminiscent of the ruckus breast implant safety concerns caused in the 1990s and first half of the 2000s. Allegations that ruptured or leaking devices caused a variety of systemic auto-immune disorders in women led to huge pay-outs from high-profile class-action lawsuits. Dow Corning, the leading supplier at the time, declared bankruptcy because of all the claims against it. RELATED: FDA advisers reverse stand on silicone breast implants The issue was particularly big news in Houston, once dubbed "Silicone City" by Texas Monthly magazine. The birthplace of breast implants, Houston was the site of some of the biggest plaintiff victories, many secured by the late John OQuinn, the famed Houston trial lawyer. RELATED: Invention made Houston global hub for breast implants The FDA declared a moratorium on silicone-based implants in 1992, then lifted it in 2005, after concluding there was not sufficient evidence to tie implants to systemic auto-immune disorders. In 2006, it approved devices from Allergan and Mentor Corp., but required the companies to conduct studies on patient outcomes. It was data from those studies, made public last year, that the MD Anderson team analyzed. Undue alarm? Faced with criticism, Clemens said the team stands behind the data and feels this is the best data we have to date. He emphasized the findings were consistent with previous implant safety studies and added that the study found 90 percent of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with their decision to get the device. Clemens said he was heartened that his team and the FDA see a similar path going forward not just the planned 2019 public meeting, but also the establishment of a national breast implant registry and a call for more research. The study is reassuring in many ways, but I fear the parts associating implants with rare diseases could unduly alarm women, said Dr. Andrea Pusic, chair of plastic surgery at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston and president-elect of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. They needed to be interpreted carefully. The study drew criticism for what experts said were fundamental flaws in the data used for the research. That included inconsistent sources of outcomes one manufacturer required a doctors diagnosis of a complication; the other took the patients judgment at face value. As a result, disease risk rates could differ dramatically, even though the gels used by the companies are similar. Also, more than half the women dropped out of the study by the second year, which Pusic noted often happens when patients feel healthy. Their lack of updated outcomes likely skewed results, she said. In the paper, the MD Anderson team acknowledged those limitations in the data. The study was by hailed one health policy group. "The findings are consistent with what thousands of women with breast implants have reported in Facebook groups and other social media, and directly challenge the FDA's claims that breast implants do not cause such diseases," said Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Center for Health Research in Washington. Zuckerman urged the FDA "to be more patient-centered and finally require independent studies be conducted of women before and after their breast implants are removed." She noted that many women have reported their debilitating symptoms decreased or disappeared after their implants were removed, but added that "scientific data is needed to establish the rate of recovery." The study found no association between implants and lung cancer and suicide. Some previous studies had shown an association. Annals of Surgery is a monthly journal of surgical science that has existed since 1885. The journal has posted an FDA editorial about the study as well as a highly critical commentary co-written by plastic surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. One of the two surgeons is a consultant to Allergan. David Bernstein, a George Mason University law professor and silicone historian, said he doesnt think the study would result in new litigation because some of the data defies explanation, such as an association noted between implants and a lesser risk for fibromyalgia. He said a lawyer defending a manufacturer being sued for a slight increase in rheumatoid arthritis associated with implants could easily undermine such arguments by pointing to the devices possible protective benefit for fibromyalgia in the study. About 400,000 women get implants annually, most silicone. About 75 percent are for cosmetic reasons, the rest for reconstruction after cancer surgery. todd.ackerman@chron.com twitter.com/chronmed 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 The debate in Harris County over a residents challenge to 4,000 voter registrations ended with the county attorney declaring them invalid, but drew attention to a quirk in Texas law that bars voter registrars from investigating what they suspect are bogus addresses. Residents of a county are permitted to challenge the voter registration of other county residents if they have personal knowledge a voter has listed an incorrect address. The Harris County attorney concluded local Republican Party official Alan Vera could not possibly know where 4,000 voters lived, and rejected the challenges. Veras list, however, included thousands of voters who listed their residences at business addresses, such as parcel stores and post offices, raising questions about how those applications were approved, and what Harris County can do to correct them. Texas law requires voters to register where they live. At the same time, state law requires counties to take voters at their word that their voter registration applications are truthful. Registrars who suspect an address may be invalid can send letters to voters asking them to confirm where the live. If residents re-submit the same address, however, registrars must process the application. Sam Taylor, spokesman for the Texas secretary of state, said the only other remedy registrars have is to refer cases to district attorneys for prosecution. The Texas Election Code does not grant any sort of additional investigative authority to a voter registrar in that situation, Taylor said. Thats where investigators and/or law enforcement get involved. Taylor said the secretary of states office has received complaints about the issue in the past, but said instances in which voters insist they live at an address that appears commercial are not a widespread problem. It does occur occasionally and we do occasionally hear frustrations from county voter registrars, Taylor said. The Texas Election Code defines a voters residence address as the street address or the address at which mail is received if the residence has no address, along with the city, state and zip code. A voter registrar must register a person if the application is complete and the person otherwise is eligible, provided the registrar can determine the address claimed and assigned it to the proper voting precinct. The registrar can refer cases to the district attorney if he or she believes an applicant is falsely claiming a business address as a residence address. David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research in Washington, D.C., said it is common for district attorneys to serve as the registrar's only option for bringing charges. Election officials, he said, should reserve referrals to the DA for cases when "it looks like there's a potential criminal action." Harris County Tax Assessor Ann Harris Bennett, who also is the countys voter registrar, declined interview requests, but said in an email that her office checks several databases, such as those maintained by the Department of Public Safety and Harris County Appraisal District, to verify voter addresses. In August, her office initially bungled its response to the 4,000 registration challenges by placing 1,700 voters on its suspense list, but corrected the error within days. Voter registrars in other large Texas counties described a system in which clerks run voter registrations through a database that marks addresses that appear to be commercial. Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacquelyn Callanen said her office sends address confirmation cards to registrants whose applications are flagged. If it does not come back, we mark their record as a suspense record, Callanen said. So, when they go to the polls, they have the opportunity to give a residential address, but are still eligible to vote. Voters only are purged from the rolls if they are placed on the suspense list and fail to participate in two consecutive federal elections, Callanen said, a process that takes four years. John Oldham, the election administrator in Fort Bend County, described a similar process in which that countys clerks use a database to verify addresses. Texas has a statewide voter registration database, called TEAM. Some of the states most populous counties maintain their own local databases, as well. Oldham said registration applications on which voters list the physical address of a post office or P.O. box sometimes slip through the cracks, but said clerks seek to ensure voters list the address at which they live. We normally initially reject applications that have a commercial address, Oldham said. But if they resubmit with the very same information we send a letter to confirm. Oldham added that his office never has referred a suspected fraudulent voter registration to the Fort Bend County district attorney. The Chronicle reported last month that Bennetts office mailed letters to voters whose registrations were challenged, and asked them to confirm their addresses. The voters were not given the requisite 30 days to respond. Becker said federal law further mandates that officials complete their voter list maintenance 90 days before an election; in this case, Bennetts office was operating within the 90-day window. Instead of mailing the letters or putting voters on her office's suspense list, Becker said that Bennett could have kept a record of those named in Veras challenge, then checked after the election to see which of them voted. Becker said its likely more people placed on the suspense list were eligible and would like to vote, than were ineligible and attempting to illegally cast a ballot. "It's hard to get people to vote. It's really hard to get people to break the law to vote," he said. Galveston County Tax Assessor-Collector Cheryl Johnson says she does not permit voter registrations to list the addresses of P.O. boxes on voter registration forms. She said her office has seen many cases of residents who live on boats listing parcel stores as their home. Johnson sends letters asking these voters to instead list the nearest intersection or pier, to ensure they are registered to vote in the correct precinct. Johnsons two full-time clerks vet each application manually and work with voters to ensure their addresses are valid, she said. I dont think its ever a voter trying to scam the system, Johnson said. They just dont know what to do. Otis Evbagharu, communications director for the Harris County Democratic Party, said the party has yet to receive complaints from members about inaccurate voter registrations. He said the party has faith in Tax Assessor Ann Harris Bennett to ensure registrations are accurate. The Harris County Republican Partys spokesman, Vlad Davidiuk, said the mishandled voter registration challenge shook the partys confidence in Bennetts office. Davidiuk said he doubts the county voter registrar is sending confirmation letters to voters who appear to list invalid addresses. There was no evidence that corrective step was being taken previously, and I have no confidence it would be taken in the future, he said. zach.despart@chron.com Twitter.com/zachdespart OUT OF TIME Chapter 1: For a Houston family, the ICE crackdown shatters the good life they knew OUT OF TIME Chapter 1: For a Houston family, the ICE crackdown shatters the good life they knew Published June 3, 2017 Juan Rodriguez was pulled from the shadows more than a decade ago. Then life began to revolve around meetings with federal authorities. Twenty-five times, he and his family went in and came back out. But this last time, they knew. "This time was going to be different," Celia Rodriguez recalled, her right hand pressing against her chest, the left one hurrying to cover her face as a delicate cascade of tears fell. Celia doesn't like her daughters to see her that way, so she doesn't make any noise when she cries. The girls, Karen, Rebecca and Kimberly, were squeezed next to her on a loveseat in the den. The house fell quiet. It's a spacious home near the University of Houston in a majority Latino neighborhood. At the front, manicured grass gives way to a line of sages and young pink velour myrtles, a Texas favorite because they always bloom this time of the year, no matter the heat. Light filters in from the back of the house, and clean floors glow like mirrors. Juan broke the silence cautiously, patting his wife's back. Then he looked into Celia's eyes. "Vamos, vamos ," come on, he said one night last week. They didn't have much time to tell their story. On Feb. 10, all five members of the family woke at daybreak to initiate their ritual. Celia prepared breakfast, but nobody was very hungry. Her Salvadoran chia red lemonade was too cold, with more ice than they could handle. Celia hates the word "ice." They were agitated. They are always agitated when this time comes around. The first one was in 2007, when Juan was asked to initiate periodic check-ins at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters in Houston because he is an immigrant in the country illegally. During the first five years of check-ins with ICE, he was asked to present himself every three months. In 2011, it became biannual, and then once a year since 2014. He was the beneficiary of prosecutorial discretion under the Obama administration, for people with families and no criminal record. But he always knew that every check-in could be the last. He could be deported, and his family torn apart. He is the bread winner. The girls say he is also their nurse. When they feel sick, "we call Papi," Karen said. He knows he broke the law when he crossed the border, that it wasn't "correcto," but he felt desperate. The couple paid a coyote $7,500. Celia left El Salvador 18 years ago on a resident's visa. It was an opportunity to escape a country coming out of civil war and descending into gang violence. They didn't get married before she left, because that would have disqualified Celia from being claimed by her parents, already American citizens and living in Houston. Karen was then 9 months old. Juan came north two years later, and Rebecca, now 15, and Kimberly, now 10, were born in the United States. After he arrived, they met with lawyers, trying to make it right. The couple doesn't remember how many they have seen or what exactly the attorneys did or didn't do. Juan finds it hard to follow what they say. All he knows is what he's paid over the years: more than $30,000 in legal fees. He's gotten nothing in return. Every week, when he goes to the Pasadena Seventh-day Adventist Church near home, father Jesus Torres tells him that God has forgiven him. But Juan keeps trying to prove himself worthy of forgiveness. He doesn't want his family to pay for his sin. Juan never reached high school, but auto mechanics, he is good at that. Work keeps him busy even on holidays. The girls help him translate with clients, as English hasn't come easy. He doesn't drink or smoke, he said, because it would be a bad example for the girls, and "in this house, we always pay our taxes." He likes to repeat that. Celia has worked as a janitor and cleaning homes, but mostly part-time, because taking care of the girls has been a priority. As a couple, they have been inseparable. They even go together to drop off and pick up the girls from school every day. At 18, Karen feels responsible for her younger sisters, so she tries to control her fears in front of them. It doesn't work all the time. Candidate Donald Trump inspired anti-immigration fervor across the country. He inspired panic at the Rodriguez home. Last fall, Karen went to vote for the first time, and she prayed before casting her ballot: "Diosito, please, don't let Trump win. He will destroy my family." Late on election night, as the results became clear, the family turned off the TV and went silently to their rooms. Karen cried out alone. She is worried about Rebecca. The middle sister doesn't say much. The little one has become hyperactive. The sadder they all look, the more Kimberly jumps and talks and talks. The family doesn't watch the news much anymore. The Rodriguezes had been to the ICE office on Northpoint Drive so often that they always received friendly welcomes. But not on Feb. 10. They recounted what that day was like. The family didn't recognize any officers. No one asked, "Como esta la familia?" Celia was bothered right away by the sounds. She heard murmurs, nervous coughing. Beeps. A slamming door, the thud of another one. She counted about 70 people in the lobby. All waited to do what they were told. They jumped every time they heard an officer call a case number. Some people were told they would be allowed to go back to their homes. Others were informed they would be shipped to detention centers and confined, for days or months, until they were deported. "I already told you to wait there. You are going to be called," a new officer said to Karen when she asked why it was taking so long. Karen didn't like that guy. And why was he wearing that gray sweater? she wondered. She was feverish. Juan stood up when he heard an officer calling case number A-78 309 248. He walked forward, and Celia and Karen followed. But the officer stopped them. "Who is this girl?" he asked Celia, while pointing to Karen. "Ella es mi nina mayor," she answered. "My elder daughter." "And you are?" "I am the mother. Juan is my husband," Celia said, and the officer searched the folder he was carrying. Celia kept talking: "We have three girls. Those other two there are also our daughters " "Ma'am, you must wait here, you cannot follow us," the officer said in Spanish. He smiled at Juan. "Follow me, please. This way," he said. "Thank you, sir," said Juan, returning the smile. As the officer closed the door behind him, Celia and Karen stared into each other's eyes. That hadn't happened before. Juan had never been taken behind that door. "Karen, hija, don't cry. If you cry, las ninas will start crying, too!" Celia said. Karen walked away and began pacing. Celia found a corner and kept talking to God. Kimberly painted castles with crayons using a chair as a table and asked questions of Rebecca. Rebecca kept silent. Inside the small office, the officer asked if Juan had any criminal record. He knew the answer. It was in the file. Juan said no. The man started typing something on a computer. He stopped sometimes to ask more questions. "What do you do for a living?" "I am a mechanic, sir." "So you work in this country without authorization?" "No, sir. I have a work permit." "Who gave it to you?" "I have it here, sir, look, I got it here, from this office years ago. It's written in my file," said Juan, pulling a card from his wallet. The man kept typing. "Do you have problems with your wife? You know, have you come home with a few drinks and " "No sir. I don't drink. I love my wife " "How many children do you have?" "Three, sir. I have three daughters." "Did they come legally to the U.S.? "They are American citizens, sir." The officer stopped typing and took a long look at Juan, who remembers distinctly what he said next. "See, we have a problem here. You are not a priority for this country anymore " "But I am a father, sir. I have three daughters to take care of. I am a good man, sir. I am a good worker. I A New America Keep up with the latest immigration coverage here. To see more stories about the Rodriguez family, go here. And to see what the Rodriguezes are going through in photos, go here. "Things have changed, Mr. Rodriguez," Juan said the officer told him. "We will have to deport you. Stay here. I am coming back." After he left, Juan's heart raced, his ears began to hiss, and his hands got cold, anticipating the handcuffs. When the officer returned, he was flanked by a second man. The men talked to each other in English, and Juan couldn't understand what they were saying. The second officer turned to him and asked in Spanish, with a Puerto Rican accent, if Juan was a drug user. No, sir. Then came more questions. "How old are your kids?" The two men kept veering off in English. They couldn't seem to reach agreement. The first officer also was Hispanic, probably Mexican, Juan thought. Finally, he couldn't stop himself from crying out and pleading. "Please, please, please, my only crime is entering illegally, but I have always respected the law. I have always tried to go the straight path. I am a good father. I am a good father. ... My girls are American citizens. They are good girls. They are good girls. Who is going to take care of them?" The men looked at him but kept talking to each other. Juan couldn't stop. "Please, please, at least let me be here for my daughter's graduation. She is the first one in the family to finish high school. Please, sirs, only for my child's graduation. I beg you. ..." The men left the room without answering his pleas. Juan was exhausted. He said he "felt fire. Burning inside with my hands freezing. My whole body faded. I lost track of time." In the lobby, his family had been waiting for more than 30 minutes. They were praying when they saw Juan walk out the door with "El deportador," or the deporter, as the family called the officer who had taken him back. When Juan reached his wife and girls, they clung to him, kissing and hugging and flapping like butterflies. They thought everything would be all right. Together, they crossed the lobby toward the exit. Then the Puerto Rican officer followed them. He told Celia to move the girls away. "They should not be listening to this," he said. He asked Juan to turn over his passport. ICE had to prepare for his deportation. Celia and the girls realized that he had only been given a brief reprieve. He would be allowed to remain in the country until after Karen's graduation. "Ma'am, I am sorry that we have to do this," the officer said to Celia. "You are an American citizen. You have to hurry up and work with a lawyer before he is deported." He told her it would be nearly impossible to bring Juan back legally after he's gone. They drove straight to their lawyer's office. An ICE spokesman did not explain why the agency changed its practice with this case. After each of the other check-ins, the ride home had always been when they thanked God for keeping them together. This time, they did not pray. They did not offer thanks. They were just quiet. The officer's voice stayed frozen in Celia's mind, "Ma'am, you have to do something." And there was the echo of what he whispered in her ear: "Here at ICE, we don't like the media. We don't like cameras." Celia turned her head to her husband from the shotgun seat: "Juan, we have to tell our story. This is not fair. We have to fight for our family." Wednesday, May 24, 2017, in Houston. ( Marie D. De Jesus / Houston Chronicle ) Wednesday, May 24, 2017, in Houston. ( Marie D. De Jesus / Houston Chronicle ) Photo: Marie D. De Jesus, Staff Photo: Marie D. De Jesus, Staff Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close OUT OF TIME 1 / 9 Back to Gallery Sitting at home last week, the girls listened quietly while their parents talked. Like her mother, Karen patted her face. She fought to keep the tears from blurring her dark eyeliner. Rebecca wasn't moving at all, her face turned toward the wall. Kimberly played with her long, brunette hair and struggled to sit still. She extended her arms in all directions, leaned her body on Karen, twisted around with her feet up from the loveseat. Celia said she is hopeful that their lawyer is going to find a way to keep the family together. They have support, too, from FIEL Houston, an immigrants organization. "They are not alone in this struggle," said FIEL's Alain Cisneros. And too many others are going through the same thing, he said. "They are now deporting hard-working people without criminal records that go voluntarily to present themselves to the authorities, only to be betrayed for doing the right thing." That's how Juan feels. Betrayed. In the past, he occasionally toyed with the idea of not appearing for check-in. He knows that many people just disappear, move to other places, buy false IDs and Social Security cards. He could not bring himself to do that, because "I want to do the right thing." And now Karen's graduation has arrived. She will graduate this afternoon, at the Revention Music Center in downtown, one of about 130 seniors of the Cristo Rey Jesuit preparatory school who were accepted to college. She got into five universities, but she's not sure what she'll do. She is worried about her mother's ability to take care of the household if her father is deported. Watching her graduate, Juan said, will be like "observing the fruit of my work. It makes me feel like I've been doing a good job as a father." Still, since February, Celia said, "every day closer to the graduation has been one less day of him being with us." ICE expects him back June 29. olivia.tallet@chron.com Twitter: @oliviaptallet 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. Now Playing: Alex Boyer reports. Video: Fox4 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 Republican Ted Cruz and Democrat Beto ORourke will debate after all. The dueling U.S. Senate campaigns issued statements Friday evening verifying that they have agreed to three debates before the Nov. 6 election. They will be in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio and each will be an hour long. The first debate will be Sept. 21 at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and focused on domestic policy. The second debate will be at the University of Houston and be a town hall style-debate. The final debate will be in San Antonio at a studio to be determined. Just a few weeks ago, it looked like debates would be unlikely in what has become one of the most competitive U.S. Senate races in the nation. Both ORourke and Cruz had issued calls for debates, but the two sides couldnt agree on details. Cruz wanted five debates, and only on Friday nights, in cities and with moderators he chose without input from ORourke. ORourke wanted more debates, including one entirely in Spanish, which Cruz doesnt speak as fluently as he would like, he has said. Debate negotiations picked up again in late August when both Cruz and ORourke in separate interviews acknowledged they were trying again to reach an agreement. More Information U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Democrat Beto O'Rourke have agreed to three debates. Debate One: Sept. 21, Dallas at Southern Methodist University. Topic: Domestic policy. Debate Two: Sept. 30, Houston at the University of Houston. Topic: Domestic policy Debate Three: Oct. 16, San Antonio at a studio to be determined. Topic: 50 percent each domestic policy and foreign policy See More Collapse Cruz, a former college debate champion, has 20 major debates under his belt from the 2016 presidential campaign and from 2012 when he faced a large Republican field for the Senate, including Donald Trump. ORourke has never debated on a statewide stage but is getting something that challengers rarely get, an agreement to debate with the incumbent. Many of the other Democrats running statewide have yet to get debate deals with their Republican rivals. The agreement to debate comes as polls have shown a closer race than many expected at the start of 2018. ORourke, an El Paso congressman since 2012, has relied heavily on social media to grow his campaign into one that has landed him on national talk shows. Cruz, once a prohibitive favorite and the runner-up to Trump for the 2016 GOP nomination for president, is now telling supporters that they face a real battle in November in this traditionally Republican state and that they need to make sure conservatives turn out in big enough numbers to match Democratic anger against Trump. jeremy.wallace@chron.com The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission will establish the 2019-20 fishing regulations at its September meeting to be held in Knoxville. The meeting will be held Sept. 20-21 (Thursday-Friday) at the Holiday Inn Knoxville West, Cedar Bluff. Committee meetings start at 1 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday. The regular TFWC meeting begins at 9 a.m. on Friday. Among the fishing regulations proposed made during the August TFWC meeting included measures to continue the agencys effort to battle the invasive Asian carp. In TWRA Region I and II, if the proposals are adopted, skipjack herring, gizzard shad, and threadfin shad will not be able to be transported alive from the Mississippi River and Barkley, Kentucky, and Pickwick reservoirs and any tributaries or oxbows of these waters. The restriction would not apply to the Duck River above Normandy Dam. These bait species are similar in appearance to small Asian carp. This proposal would reduce the risk of accidentally introducing Asian carp into new waterways. Several proposals will change seasons on the Tellico River, Citico Creek, and Green Cove Pond. The proposals are aimed to allow optimal stocking and fishing conditions during the permit season. Another proposal would return Big Lost Creek, Goforth Creek, Spring Creek, and Greasy Creek and their tributaries in Polk County to statewide regulations. This adds fishing opportunity to these creeks which are currently closed on Friday. The complete list of the proposals has been on the TWRA website at www.tnwildlife.org since the August meeting. A comment period was also held. In addition to the setting of the fishing regulations, TWRA Fisheries Division chief, Frank Fiss, will introduce the agencys annual fisheries biologist and technician of the year. The commission will hear the results of the chronic wasting disease (CWD) risk assessment in Tennessee. Dr. Krysten Schuler, disease ecologist from Cornell University, will make the presentation. Dr. Schuler has helped TWRA use the risk assessment data to develop a weighted, risk-based surveillance plan that staff will begin implementing this fall. Dr. Schuler will share the general approach behind this surveillance plan. Results from the mail survey of residents within the elk restoration zone will be presented by Dr. Neelam Poudyal of the University of Tennessee. The study investigated opinions and attitudes regarding elk within the five county region. The study also characterizes the economic value of elk in Tennessee. The TFWC will be meeting for the first time in Knoxville since October 2016 and for the first time at the Cedar Bluff location since August 2013. [Thumbs down] If Houstons rainy days have you hankering for a big bowl of hot miso soup at your local Japanese spot this weekend, beware Ted Cruz might accuse you of not being Texan enough. The states junior senator went on a bizarre rant this week and alleged that his political opponents wanted the Lone Star State to be a place of tofu and silicon and dyed hair. So, the next time you see an Austin tech-bro and a Dallas socialite exploring Houstons foodie scene, let them know that Cruz is onto them. [Thumbs down] Speaking of un-Texan, it turns out that Attorney General Ken Paxton is prohibited from buying firearms. Why? Because hes under indictment for securities fraud. Consider this advice for aspiring GOP politicos: If you cant own a gun, please dont run. [Thumbs down] If hes found guilty, Paxton might have a familiar face as a bunkmate behind bars. State Rep. Ron Reynolds turned himself in to serve a year in jail for the misdemeanor crime of barratry, also known as ambulance chasing. However, that doesnt mean the Fort Bend Democrat loses his seat only felony charges would force him out of office. For those wondering: No, state reps cant vote on bills from jail. Ron, do your constituents a favor and resign. [Thumbs down] Speaking of jails, U.S. Rep. Pete Olson might want to check out Guantanamo Bay. The Fort Bend Republican told a black -ops worthy whopper this week when he accidentally blamed the 9/11 terrorist attack on Pakistan. In reality, most of the 19 al-Qaida hijackers on Sept. 11 were from Saudi Arabia. Hey, at least he didnt blame it on Iraq. That sure would look silly. [Thumbs up] Need to mellow after all that political news? Head to Bissonnet and Highway 6, where Houston is getting our first cannabis oil (CBD) store. No, it wont get you high like the stuff Willie Nelson smokes. Supposedly CBD helps treat all sorts of ailments, from epilepsy to anxiety. Still, dont be surprised if the nearby bodega has a run on Funyuns. [Thumbs twiddled] Or for those who prefer the finer things in life, Tilman Fertitas Post Oak Hotel at Uptown was granted AAA's only five-diamond rating in Houston. The billion-dollar buyer now boasts one of only three Texas hotels to achieve such a high standard of luxury. Not to mention high prices. Well keep our thumbs on the penny slots at The Golden Nugget. Ironically, this past Labor Day weekend, after three dreary days at an academic conference listening to tenured professors denounce the sins of America, I spent an uplifting 15 minutes listening to an immigrant who loves America. Immigrants like my late grandparents usually do love America because they have another place for comparison, and because they are can-do people crossing oceans to find something better. They dont whine. They act to make life better for themselves and their kids: When immigrants dislike America, they tend to leave it. Catching a van to Bostons Logan airport far too early in the morning, I struck up a conversation with the driver, who fled Haiti for Brooklyn, and then went on to Boston to find opportunity, taking care of his family. He had been working since 2:15 a.m., and would likely keep at it until late at night, making extra money serving the airport bound professors from my conference, and tens of thousands of college students moving back to their dorms in the Boston area. I always talk to van drivers and cabbies, at least when they know English and seem to want to talk. They are nearly always interesting, nearly always immigrants, and usually hard-working dads of upwardly mobile children. My loquacious driver had three kids, the oldest just going off to college, just like my son. Any dad can relate. I learned a lot in the 15-minute trip to the airport. After his daughter faltered in a local public school, he asked friends what to do. Just like my grandparents, strangers in a strange land must rely on personal contacts for information, to figure out how to advance their families. They cannot trust officials. Unlike many of us who have been here a while, the driver couldnt afford private school or moving to the suburbs, and likely lacked the clout to get his daughter transferred to a better public school. Luckily, a friend told him about a charter school, one I had actually read about in a book on successful schools in high-poverty neighborhoods. He signed up his oldest daughter for the school wait list, and in a year she got in. With sibling preference it was no problem getting the younger kids into the same school a few years later. They make you learn there, he said. She attended all charters in grade school, middle school, high school. What he said next was really interesting. They shouldnt be taking the kids here on trips to Washington or Philadelphia. They should take them to poor countries like Haiti, where the schools have nothing, not even paper, unless you pay for it. People [here] dont appreciate what they have. Amen to that. Like most immigrants, this fellow left a horror show elsewhere to find difficult opportunities here. He made the most of those, working hard to help himself and his family. As Jeff Stonecash and Mark Brewer show in Polarization and the Politics of Personal Responsibility, todays Democrats and Republicans diverge primarily in their approach toward personal responsibility. Philosophically, the man I talked with is Republican. Unfortunately, due to racial identity politics of the left and increasingly the right, he probably wont vote his ideals. Neither party wants him. We parted ways at the airport. The driver went back to serving all those professors and college students needing trips to flights and dorms. After I apologized for lacking an extra fiver for a decent tip, my driver assured me it was fine. Unlike professors who talk about helping the poor, the college students are actually good tippers. Maranto (rmaranto@uark.edu) is the 21st Century Chair in Leadership in the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas and edits the Journal of School Choice. 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 courts 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 committees chairman, Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., warned that, unless checks were placed on the ICC prosecutors 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 worlds 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 Authoritys 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 Venezuelas Nicol s Maduro, Nicaraguas Daniel Ortega, or Irans 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. Follow Marc A. Thiessen on Twitter, @marcthiessen. 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. Get more tasty tech news at TechBurger. And follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe to the Chronicle for regular access to TechBurger stories and to be able to comment. [contextly_auto_sidebar] AS recently as a few years back, it would have been hard to predict that controversial art dealer Jeffrey Deitch would have any reason to come back to Los Angeles for anything more complicated than a French Dip at Coles. But now the man pushed out of the Museum of Contemporary Art and for a while, synonymous with faux-sensational, shallow Warholism is one his way back. Near the end of the month, the Jeffrey Deitch gallery opens in Hollywood, and it looks to be more substantial than Deitch doubters would have guessed. (The opening show is dedicated to Ai Weiwei.) Im curious to see what this Deitch a divisive figure but a talented showman does with the space. My brief Los Angeles magazine story is here. Presidential Proclamation on National Hispanic Heritage Month, 2018 Washington, DC - Presidential Proclamation on National Hispanic Heritage Month, 2018: During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor all American citizens of Hispanic descent and celebrate their rich and vibrant traditions of faith, family, hard work, and patriotism. We are grateful for the innumerable contributions they make to our society, which are vital to our thriving Nation. We are especially grateful for the 1.2 million Hispanic-American men and women who have answered the call to serve in our Armed Forces, demonstrating remarkable loyalty, bravery, and dedication to duty. My Administration is continuing to create an environment in which all our citizens have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. We have enacted massive tax cuts for families and businesses, which means more jobs and better pay. We are eliminating unnecessary and burdensome regulations that constrain our entrepreneurial spirit. We are finally fixing our Nations broken trade deals so that we have free, fair, and reciprocal trade. As a result of our efforts, our Nations unemployment rate has reached its lowest level in 50 years, and the Hispanic-American unemployment and poverty rates have dropped to their lowest rates on record. Hispanic Americans help reinforce our relationship with our Latin American neighbors as we work to bolster liberty in the region and achieve free and fair trade with our regional partners. In April, Vice President Mike Pence joined leaders from the Pan-American region at the Summit of the Americas to affirm our collective commitment to liberty and government accountability and to confronting threats to freedom in places such as Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. We will continue to collaborate with Latin American and Caribbean countries to strengthen our trade relationships and to ensure a freer and more secure hemisphere. For generations, Hispanic Americans have played a pivotal role in our countrys strength and prosperity. Their spirit, energy, and leadership are woven into the culture of America, and enrich all our lives. To honor the achievements of Hispanic Americans, the Congress, by Public Law 100-402, as amended, has authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation designating September 15 through October 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 15 through October 15, 2018, as National Hispanic Heritage Month. I call upon public officials, educators, librarians, and all Americans to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-third. DONALD J. TRUMP Communication Is Key During An Evacuation Norfolk, Virginia - Many Navy personnel and civilian employees, and their families, have evacuated to safe havens in advance of Hurricane Florence. Some may be asking, "Now that I am safe, what is the next step?" Military personnel and civilian employees should contact their supervisors upon safe arrival at their respective safe haven location and stay in touch on a regular basis. Letting your command know that you have arrived safely takes just minutes and its a big part of the overall command plan during an emergency. Additionally, keep your chain of command informed about your whereabouts during a storm or evacuation. Establish a daily reporting routine. Some commands may require something as quick as a text message to your immediate supervisor at a pre-designated time each morning to report on your status, while others may have an assigned central phone line to contact the command. Take the time to understand what your specific commands reporting requirements are before you evacuate. All members of a family should have an emergency point of contact in case they cannot reach each other. A trusted relative living outside of the affected area is an excellent choice. A local point of contact should also be established. These names and phone numbers should be programmed into all family member cell phones, and written copies should be with each family member as well. Additionally, all evacuated personnel and family members should log into the Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS) website upon arriving at their safe haven location to update their status. A NFAAS app is available through your mobile app store for download at no cost to all active duty personnel, family members, and DoD and NAF civilians. You can also muster at the NFAAS website at https://navyfamily.navy.mil or call (877) 414-5358. NFAAS is used to manage and monitor your well-being during the recovery process. Sailors and families should only enter a needs assessment in NFAAS if there is an actual pressing need. The system allows families to assess their needs in 19 categories including: medical, missing family locator, transportation, housing and personal property, financial, employment, child care, education, legal services, and counseling. Continue to monitor your commands Facebook page for updated news. When you receive the "all clear" and are able to return back to work, contact your chain of command for reporting procedures. FireEye study examined half a billion emails from January-June of 2018 Silicone Valley, California - A newly released report from FireEye, an Enterprise cybersecurity company, has found that one out of every 101 emails sent is malicious. The report, titled All it takes is ONE, was compiled after researchers pored over nearly half a billion emails sent in the first half of 2018. Email is the most popular attack vector for hackers and cybercriminals by far. While the specific numbers vary by study, the vast majority of cybercrime starts via email, 91% according to a Radicati group report. A Verizon report states that 92.4% of malware is delivered via email. 76% of organizations say they experienced a phishing attack in 2017. The average employee receives 16 malicious emails per month. Think about that, thats one every other day. And your employees arent just dealing with the threat of malicious email, theyre also being worn down by a constant torrent of spam. While the percentage of spam email has declined from its halcyon days when it was up around 75%, at the end of 2017 it was was still 55%. All of this comes together to create a climate where people are just numb to email. Case in point: only 17% of phishing emails actually get reported. Email Threats Come Well Disguised We spend lots of time on phishing, but theres never a bad time to be reminded that the level of social engineering inherent in some of todays phishing and malware campaigns is staggering. The Democratic National Committee was undone by a convincing Google spoof. MacEwan University was bilked out of a small fortune after cybercriminals spoofed the websites of local construction companies to send phony invoices from. Hackers can use Unicode characters to make their domain names look more realistic. LinkedIn is used as a resource to research targets, which can make an email seem more convincing. Emails are crafted to create a sense of urgency. If it werent so duplicitous, it would be impressive. One of the trends Symantec pointed to in its most recent threat report was the rise of malicious links being used in malicious emails as opposed to attachments. In 2016, less than 2% of email malware contained a malicious link. Last year, in 2017, that percentage increased to 12.3%. This coincides with a considerable increase in phishing websites since the last half of 2017, with over 1.4 million new phishing sites created each month. Not surprisingly, Public Administration is the most frequently targeted industry. As for the way these emails are disguised and designed, the most common tactics are to disguise them as bills/invoices, legal notices, error messages and delivery notifications. There are specific words you that appear more frequently than others, too. As we discussed, the intention is to make the email seem as urgent as possible. Obviously, the aforementioned themes accomplish that. So does word choice. In web design this is sometimes referred to as a dark pattern. These words are meant to trigger a response, ideally causing the user to take the intended action. One technique for creating a sense of urgency is to mimic a Business Email Compromise (BEC). BECs embody all of the tactics we previously discussed, the social engineering, the background research. These are highly targeted campaigns that are aimed at getting a company to execute an unauthorized transfer of funds (as we saw in the MacEwan university phishing scheme). According to the FBI, BEC schemes cost US organizations $676 million in 2017. Here are some of the most commonly used words that appear in the subject lines of malicious emails: Payment (13.8%) Urgent (9.1%) Request (6.7%) Attention (6.1%) Important (4.8%) Confidential (2.0%) Immediate Response (1.9%) Transfer (1.8%) Important Update (1.7%) Attn (1.5%) And then here are some of those common words that appear in those emails. Delivery (12.1%) Mail (11.8%) Message (11.3%) Sender (11.2%) Your (11.2%) Returning (7.6%) Failed: (7.6%) Invoice (6.9%) Images (6.6%) Scanned (6.5%) In terms of payload, more than 3 out of every 5 malicious emails uses an infected script, just under a third use an executable. And then when we break the malicious payloads down into file type we can see that Visual Basic Script and JavaScript were by far the most common types of malicious attachment, representing just less than half (49.1%) of all malware delivered by email in 2017. As we stress all the time, your own employees are your greatest threat. And unfortunately, 70% of US employees have no concept of cybersecurity best practices. The only tried and true way to really defend against phishing, and really all forms of email malfeasance for that matter, is education. Fortunately, our own IT virtuoso, Ross Thomas, has written a phenomenal series on email security and the ways that you can lock down your own offices email servers. Federal Aid Programs for the State of North Carolina Washington, DC - Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Donald J. Trump's disaster declaration issued for the state of North Carolina. Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required: Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.) Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.) Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.) Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.) Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.) Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster's adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.) Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.) Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans benefits and social security matters. How to Apply for Assistance: Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Assistance for the State, Tribal, and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required: Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for debris removal and emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance (Categories A and B), including direct federal assistance is available to state, tribal and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.) Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas, and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.) Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state, tribal, and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.) How to Apply for Assistance: Application procedures for state, tribal and local governments will be explained at a series of applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies. Presidential Proclamation on National Farm Safety and Health Week Washington, DC - During National Farm Safety and Health Week, we recognize the vital contributions farmers, ranchers, and foresters make to our thriving economy. My Administration is committed to ensuring that these hardworking Americans, who provide our Nation and the world with food, fiber, fuel, and other essential goods, work in safe environments. As harvest time approaches, it is important to focus on the safety and health of our Nations farmers and their families, especially those in rural areas, and raise awareness to some of the risks that accompany farming life. The men and women of our great Nation who work the land are among our countrys greatest treasures, and we recognize that their labor is physically demanding and potentially dangerous. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 417 agricultural workers died from a work-related injury in 2016, with transportation incidents as the leading cause of death. As American agriculture continues to lead the world in both innovation and production, we must maintain efforts to address the hazards of farming by following safe standard operating procedures and pursuing effective farm safety education and training. Self-employed farm operators and their family members, as well as hired workers, manage and sustain our countrys farm production operations. This healthy and productive workforce is critical to ensuring the long-term sustainability and success of family farms, ranches, and overall rural prosperity. This week, let us resolve to integrate safe practices and technologies into our agricultural production systems. Together, we can continue producing reliable food sources for a growing global market and population in a manner that keeps our farmers, ranchers, and foresters safe and healthy. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 16 through September 22, 2018, as National Farm Safety and Health Week. I call upon the people of the United States, including Americas farmers and ranchers and agriculture-related institutions, organizations, and businesses to reaffirm their dedication to farm safety and health. I also urge all Americans to honor our agricultural heritage and to express their appreciation and gratitude to our farmers, ranchers, and foresters for their important contributions and tireless service to our Nation. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-third. DONALD J. TRUMP All Voting is Local Announces Campaign to Recruit Poll Workers for Election Day Washington, DC - A critical shortage of election workers nationwide causes long lines and frustration at the polls, endangering the democratic process. All Voting is Local is tackling that challenge by launching today a campaign to recruit poll workers for Election Day. Be the Difference, Be a Poll Worker, highlights the vital role that election workers play and aims to recruit people to meet the demand. The campaign includes digital, radio and billboard ads to recruit a diverse group of poll workers to serve in locations with the greatest needs in four target states: Arizona, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The effort is a core piece of All Voting is Locals mission to identify and fix systemic barriers that stand between voters and the ballot, particularly for communities of color. Poll workers are the backbone of our elections, said Hannah Fried, Campaign Director for All Voting is Local, a collaborative campaign of national civil rights organizations. But a critical shortage of trained election day workers threatens the integrity of the voting process. When polling places dont have enough trained workers, voters face long lines and burdensome delays that threaten their ability to cast a ballot. Together, we can fix this problem by ensuring this vital position is properly staffed at every polling location, no matter who votes there, so our democracy can work for us all. Election administrators nationwide report that recruiting poll workers is a major concern to running effective elections. During the 2016 election, nearly 65 percent of jurisdictions nationwide reported that it was very difficult or somewhat difficult to recruit enough poll workers, according to a study by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. All Voting is Locals poll worker recruitment campaign at www.beapollworker.com urges people to give voice to their community by serving as election workers. The website directly links interested workers to their local jurisdiction to sign up for the job, describes the essential tasks involved in being a poll worker and offers resources for more information. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Carl Risch Travels to United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan Washington, DC - Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Carl Risch will travel to United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan September 15-22 to meet with counterparts to discuss a range of consular issues, including international parental child abduction. While in the region, the Assistant Secretary also plans to review consular operations at our U.S. Embassies and Consulates in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Amman, and to meet with interagency partners. By 2004, Don Berwick realized he had reached a crossroads. His organization, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) had been working since the late 80s to promote the quality methods that had transformed manufacturing to do the same for medicine. He had made some headway, but felt that progress had been to slow. Things changed when he visited his son, who had been working on John Kerry's presidential campaign at the time. Impressed, Berwick invited some of the political operatives to hold a day-long seminar and train the IHI staff on how a campaign operates. That, in essence, is how The 100,000 Lives Campaign was born. In his plenary address at the IHI Forum later that year, he declared, "I think we should save 100,000 lives. And I think we should do that by June 14, 2006--18 months from today." What followed was a movement that not only achieved its seemingly impossible goals, but serves as a model for anybody who wants to create transformational change. Here's how they did it. Forming Common Purpose Berwick's vision of healthcare as essentially a production system was, in many ways, a hard sell. Doctors are high status professionals and many, at least at the time, weren't enthusiastic about concepts like checklists and tracking "defects." However, at the time the error rate in healthcare was about 10% and one report showed that as many as 98,000 people were dying in hospitals due to medical errors, more than those who died from car crashes. First, Berwick and his team got critical support from key institutions, such as government agencies and the American Medical Association, as well as insurance companies and hospitals that were already engaged on the issue. However, for the campaign to be successful, it had to move far beyond those early advocates. Maureen Bisognano, former President of IHI, told me that building an emotional connection was essential to building support. "We had to build the will for change. We would tell about a patient who experienced an error or contracted an infection. That engages them and gets to their heart. Then we would walk them through the numbers and get to their heads." "We were able to show how quality problems touched every part of the healthcare system," she continued. "The human cost, the financial cost. Everything. That's how we got a diverse set of stakeholders to buy in and say 'we want to solve this problem.'" Creating a Bias for Action Another key factor to success was to ensure that barriers to participation were kept as low as possible. So instead of requiring an extensive application, a simple fax from the Hospital CEO, along with a commitment to share mortality data, was enough to join the movement. The team also put a lot of thought into the changes it was asking hospitals to make. "Throughout IHI's history we had been identifying evidence based protocols that could really make a difference," Joe McCannon, a former Vice President at IHI told me. "We chose six that we thought would relatively turnkey, that most hospitals would be able to run with, but also have enough impact to give the movement were were trying to build momentum." For example, one of the procedures that the team identified was to keep the heads of patients on ventilators elevated at a 45-degree angle to reduce the risk of pneumonia. IHI suggested drawing a line on the wall behind the patient's bed so that it would be obvious when it dipped below that level, which enabled not only doctors and nurses, but families, orderlies and even janitors to monitor the 45-degree standard. For each protocol, IHI provided "change kits" complete with how-to-guides, to ease the transition and gain maximum adherence. Also the participating hospitals were not required to adopt all six procedures, but were free to choose those best suited to their organization. In every aspect, IHI sought to empower, rather than to overpower or shame. Networking the Movement IHI is not a large organization. In fact, at the time of the campaign it had a staff of less than 100 and, it should be noted, the campaign wasn't its only activity at the time. So to drive change at thousands of hospitals all across the country, it needed to find a way to leverage its resources to create an asymmetric impact. "We had to figure out how to support their learning," McCannon remembers. "So we identified certain facilities that could act as nodes and help support local initiatives for improvement. That's how we built scale. It was less about broadcasting information and more about harvesting the good work that was going on." Besides helping IHI to leverage its resources, designating selected institutions as "nodes" allowed them to take ownership of the campaign. It wasn't just IHI's movement anymore, it was theirs and they internalized its goals as much as they would have if they had started it themselves. Perhaps most of all, the network that formed built personal relationships that transcended traditional institutional barriers. When you work directly with someone to achieve a common goal, that bond doesn't just dissipate after the initial objective has been achieved, but forms a basis for future collaboration. Surviving Victory In his 2004 speech, Don Berwick set out the goals for the campaign as saving 100,000 lives at 1600 hospitals in 18 months. By the deadline, the participating hospitals saved an estimated 122,000 lives at 3100 institutions, which accounted for about 75% of US hospital beds. Clearly, The 100,000 Lives Campaign was a major success. Still if they had stopped there, the impact would have been somewhat limited. "The lasting achievement of the 100,000 lives campaign wasn't the immediate objectives we attained. We wanted to shift values in a way that would lead to institutional change at insurance companies, medical schools and government to improve healthcare in a lasting way," McCannon says. So IHI followed up with a 5 Million Lives campaign and then a 100 Million Healthier Lives campaign. It also created an Open School for health professionals, to continue to promote improving the quality of healthcare practices and runs numerous other programs. It also helped to inspire many of the improved regulations in the Affordable Care Act. The words we use are critically important. Even one word can make a huge difference. Case in point: This past week, Steve Bryant, the President of Columbia Gas, held a short press conference. As reported by the New York Times, the purpose of the statement was to calm the fears of residents who had lost their homes in explosions presumably caused by high-pressure gas lines around the Massachusetts area, close to Boston. "We are sorry and deeply concerned about the inconvenience," he said. "This is the sort of thing that a gas distribution company hopes never happens." There's one word that sticks out in that sentence. If you've been following the story, you know that one person died as a result of an explosion, an 18-year-old named Leonel Rondon. He was in his car when a suspected gas explosion caused a fireplace to collapse on top of him. At least 25 people were injured in the blasts, and thousands have been displaced, but so far the response has been inadequate, per officials. Mayor Dan Rivera from Lawrence, Massachusetts, held a press conference where he blasted Columbia Gas, suggesting that the leadership has mishandled the response. "There is not 100% knowledge of what the pressure was on those lines," he said, explaining that the evacuation process was not clearly explained. "Everything else has been obfuscation," he said. The words we use Can word one set off this type of anger and frustration? Yes it can. Using the word "inconvenience" was the tip of the iceberg, a poor choice of words by any stretch of the imagination. It's marketing spin on the actual circumstances. I can imagine many of the customers repeating this word to themselves. "Are you serious? An inconvenience? That's the apology?" they might have said. At least two Senators and one Governor toured the area, and the situation still seems out of control. How should the company have responded? For starters, saying "inconvenience" is a trigger word, a sign that there is a serious problem. Use any other word. Avoid saying words that make it seem like you're downplaying the seriousness of the problem. As the Mayor stated, the response has been underwhelming. By issuing an apology that didn't lay out any clear plan of action, and not accepting responsibility, it makes customers and the general public suspicious. You might say: Maybe there isn't enough information yet. That's possible, but the tone of the press conference should have been one of remorse, regret, and concern. It should have spelled out exactly what the next steps would be--an investigation, a thorough inquiry about who was responsible. Apologies should always be clearly stated, and explain the next steps involved with as much detail as possible, with as much empathy and emotional intelligence as possible. Twenty years ago, if you used the term foodie in conjunction with Abergavenny, youd be regarded as one choir short of an Eisteddfod. Not too long before that, according to Franco Taruschio grand old man of the Welsh gastro revolution it was still dark ages. The populace didnt know what lasagne was, never mind the vincisgrassi variant (wild mushroom and prosciutto) from Taruschios native Marche region, poised for transformation into signature dish of his celebrated restaurant the Walnut Tree outside of the town. Today, as 30,000 visitors throng the streets for the second largest event in Wales, the Welsh Tourist Board can refer to Abergavenny without fear of ridicule as capital of Wales foodie golden triangle. And the towns food festival can congratulate itself on having been both a reflection of the transformation and a central player in it. Recommended The ingredients that make Abergavenny a food haven The festival was started in 1999 by two small-hold farmers wanting to help redress the damaged public image and perilous financial state of their colleagues following the BSE catastrophe in the early 1990s. Id started making organic ice cream with sheeps milk and doing little events at agricultural shows, where the first British food halls were beginning to appear, says Martin Orbach, still a member of the festival board. The first festival was focused on farmers and producers with stalls selling the new organic foods, he adds. There was also debate: Franco Taruschio persuaded one of his customers, the BBC newsreader Martyn Lewis, to chair a session on GM crops. Around 3,500 people paid a pound each for access to the big stone spire-topped market hall, still the epicentre of the event, which now extends throughout the whole town centre. The event has been described as 'the Glastonbury of food festivals' (Kirstie Young) (Kirstie Young) And two decades on, the UK festival scene has exploded, with the country now awash with instant events flogging street food, artisan gin and wannabe celebrities. And so much produce is now readily available the market side is not enough by itself, adds Aine Morris, current Abergavenny festival chief executive, meaning the experiences on offer are now crucial. So the customary couple-of-hundred stalls of food purveyors still fill the area around the Market Hall, but a programme of dozens of book signings, tutored tastings, masterclasses, celebrity interviews, and guided excursions offers the real added value. This year theres a new farmyard precinct by the ruined castle on the hill which also hosts the big Saturday night party. Radio 4s Sheila Dillon is exploring "100 Years of Women in Food" in the Borough Theatre. The programme features dozens of book signings, tutored tastings, and celebrity interviews (Kirstie Young) (Kirstie Young) There are comparative tastings of three ways with goat, by goat rearer James Whetlor, four ways with mutton, by a panel of Welsh farmers, and Welsh wagyu beef, by chef Gareth Ward. Zoe Adjonyoh is demonstrating Afro-veganism, Skye Gyngell is cooking with leftovers, and 20,000 eels are to be released into Llangorse lake, followed by a barbecue with Freddy Bird, presumably not involving the eels. Much of this is conducted by cooks and writers attracted mainly by the lure of Abergavennys prestige; the festival, unlike some, doesnt pay fees even to star performers. The festivals lure does however include potential career advancement. Sarah Lavelle of Quadrille, one of half-a-dozen major publishers who attend regularly, comes to support appearances by her writers, who might sell a few dozen signed copies after the gig not to be sneezed at, unless youre Jamie Oliver or Tom Kerridge, who are used to sales in the hundreds of thousands. During the festival, The Angels public rooms are heaving with writers, chefs, farmers and all sorts of bon vivants (The Angel Hotel) (Angel Hotel) And Lavelle is also scouting for trends and talent, for which she considers Abergavenny unbeatable. I commissioned the Hang Fire Cookbook after trying their stall here two years ago. I also met Kate Hawkings whose book Aperitif weve just brought out at Abergavenny. While Abergavennys guests and events programme is central to its success, an equally important factor is the way the town and the festival have grown hand in hand, so that Abergavenny is in effect its own star exhibit. As Shaun Hill the Michelin-starred successor to Taruschio at the Walnut Tree comments, the festival is special because it reflects reality, not some marketing idea. Nothing more obviously demonstrates the symbiosis between town and festival than the tall grey Georgian hotel which officiates over the lower end of Cross Street. I remember forlornly consuming tea and biscuits in The Angel Hotel under the dreary regime of whatever brewery chain owned it back in the dark ages. Zoe Adjonyoh, writer and cook from South-East London, demonstrates Afro-veganism (Zoe's Ghana Kitchen ) (Zoe's Ghana Kitchen) Today The Angel is a model every market town would aspire to, and well-heeled tourists queue for state of the art afternoon tea presented by that most un-Welsh of tradespersons a tea sommelier. Though not this weekend. During the festival, The Angels public rooms are heaving with writers, chefs, farmers and bon vivants of all sorts, besieging the panelled oak bar rooms, luxurious lounges and smart restaurant. If Abergavenny is the Cannes of the food world, then The Angel is its Martinez or Carlton. This year theres a new farmyard precinct by the ruined Abergavenny Castle (Rex) Responsible for this is a golden triangle dynasty up there with the Taruschios, Orbachs and Hills, but little known outside town. Alun Griffiths, the patriarch, owner of one of the UKs biggest civil engineering companies, is a founding festival sponsor, and wife Pauline the creator of a portfolio of pioneering Abergavenny galleries and cafes. In 2002, the Griffiths son William steered into an international catering career by Franco Taruschio returned to buy The Angel. He joined in the festival as soon the hotels roof-downwards renovation allowed space, with the event's new clientele and publicity helping to drive improvement, and also to bring in new recruits, attracted by the foodie gravitational pull. A new Angel Bakery, run by a couple of sisters from east Londons Shoreditch, now turns out massive-crusted sourdough loaves and the food for the traditional Thursday night pre-festival community feast. The Griffiths' empire has incorporated, in partnership with Shaun Hill, the Walnut Tree, which it reclaimed from bankruptcy after the proprietors who took over after Franco Taruschios retirement allowed Gordon Ramsay to exacerbate their problems beyond redemption via an episode of Kitchen Nightmares. And to fill the still sparse middle ground of the Abergavenny restaurant scene, Pauline Griffiths converted Bethany Chapel cafe has just signed on Kevin McFadden, a young London chef with St John, the Oxbridge of serious cooking, on his CV, also keen for a slice of the action. Acclaimed chef and former Vogue food editor Skye Gyngell does workshops on cooking with leftovers (Rex) Notwithstanding all the buzz, the festival still needs subsidy to operate. The Welsh national and regional governments contribute a few thousand pounds, and another 40 or so sponsors and supporters include a fairtrade bank, distillers and food and kitchenware producers. Though for the first time this year, no supermarket. Marks and Spencer was politely rebuffed, as was Morrisons, whose huge new Abergavenny store dominating the old cattle market demonstrates so well the wider influence of the food festivals, with its in-house market street of locally sourced comestibles where once multinational brands would have reigned unchallenged. Festival input also comes from non-culinary Abergavenny. Last year Tom Kerridges appearance was underwritten by Premium Dental Implants, the high end Abergavenny surgery of a Dr Nigel Jones, providing a timely reminder that without adequate choppers, foodies might as well forget their 100-quid-a-go Welsh wagyu steaks and settle for Pedigree Chum. Dr Jones wanted to sponsor chef Jose Pizarro this year, having learned the London-Spanish tapas star had originally intended to be a dentist, but this heaven-made partnership was nipped in the bud by the organisers, whose new policy also drops individual event sponsorship. Even in such a success story of course, not everything is rosy. There are complaints about the closure of streets and loss of trade to all the weekend newcomers, though the festival claims theres a gain to the local economy of 4m per year. Are there any darker episodes hidden among the 20 years of files? It seemed that Saturday evening might be the time to find out, when all the founders gathered at a round-table event called Festival Stories and Secrets. Asked for a taster of scandal, however, Martin Orbach could only come up with the time he got the Welsh Development Agency to pick up the tab for Anthony Bourdains business class flight from New York and gargantuan bar bill. This is frankly so tame by cheffy standards its obviously a smokescreen for something far far worse. It may take another couple of decades, but the truth will finally emerge. The development of the Times Up and #MeToo movements have seen a multitude of people speak up about their experiences of sexual assault after years of silence. But while much progress has been made in revealing the prevalence of harassment and abuse across multiple industries, there remains a long way to go. A new study has revealed that many women still endure sexual harassment at work, and feel unable to report it for fear of losing their jobs. Recommended Vast majority of women say gender discrimination happens at work Young Womens Trust, a charity that supports women aged between 16 and 30 living in England and Wales who are on little or no pay, conducted a poll that investigated how gender discrimination still affects women in the workplace today. Gathering responses from 4,010 participants aged between 18 and 30, the survey found that 15 per cent of the women had experienced sexual harassment at work and didn't report it. It revealed that a third of women don't know how to report sexual harassment if it occurs at work and fifth state that they are too afraid to complain. Furthermore, 24 per cent of women fear being fired if they speak openly about being a victim of sexual harassment at work. Dr Carole Easton OBE, chief executive of Young Womens Trust, professes that much more needs to be done to improve conditions for women in the workplace. She proposes encouraging employers to deal with sexual harassment claims appropriately, make greater efforts to close the gender pay gap and pay closer attention to the mental health of employees. Sadly, even a hundred years after the first women gaining the power to vote, its still a rich mans world. Young women continue to lack workplace power and spending power, Dr Easton says. Four female pilots discuss life on the flightdeck Show all 4 1 /4 Four female pilots discuss life on the flightdeck Four female pilots discuss life on the flightdeck Jessica Sundquist: 787 Dreamliner captain at Norwegian Jessica Sundquist, a Swedish 787 Dreamliner captain for Norwegian, has spoken extensively about being a woman in the industry. In the past shes spoken about the concept of putting your femininity aside in order to succeed. Sundquist says today that she felt she didnt have to do it, but also wanted to fit into the industry without being known as the girl. Today, times are changing, she says, and more women are joining the industry but its not all good news. Despite working hard to get to where I am today as a captain at one of the most modern and exciting airlines, the industry still has a lot more work to do to give women more opportunities, she says In the future, shed like the discussion on gender inequality to remain open and ongoing, but argues that real action also needs to take place to make any difference. Norwegian Four female pilots discuss life on the flightdeck Joanna Riggs: A380 first officer at British Airways First officer Joanna Riggs says she was never particularly exposed to aviation as a career choice, but became a BA cabin crew member after university in order to see more of the world. She says that entering such a highly male-dominated profession wasnt daunting, but that she felt lucky to have two other females on her course. Colleagues have always been supportive in Riggs experience as have for the most part passengers, though some are surprised when they see a female pilot. I hope it will one day be normal to everyone, she adds. Some passengers give a thumbs up or a girl power sign. As for gender differences on the flight deck, Riggs says, We are very professional on the flight deck so it doesnt matter what the gender, race or sexuality of my colleague is. Flying with a fellow female is always a treat though. My brother is also a British Airways pilot, and although I havent flown with him, I get the feeling we would be very similar. British Airways Four female pilots discuss life on the flightdeck Lucy Tardrew: Boeing 747 captain at Virgin Atlantic Lucy Tardrew had always wanted to join the RAF, she says, but it was never allowed to happen because they werent taking girls at the time. Instead, she travelled to America, where she trained before becoming a flying instructor. After returning to the UK and converting her licences, she began flying night mail literally all the posts around the country at night before stints flying executive jets, and last-minute jobs including air ambulances and freighting transplant organs, before joining Virgin 23 years ago. Tardrew is enthusiastic about the company, but is saddened that the ratio of women in the industry as a whole remains low. As for challenges in the workplace, shes never experienced any discrimination. Noting the rare pay equality in the piloting industry, Tardrew feels the reason there arent more female pilots is down to the fact that there arent enough female role models for schoolchildren to think, Im going to become an airline pilot. Virgin Atlantic Four female pilots discuss life on the flightdeck Kate McWilliams: captain at easyJet At 26, Kate McWilliams became the youngest commercial captain in the world. I love being a captain for easyJet, she says. And Im really happy to be working for an airline that is working hard to increase the number of female pilots. Flying was always her goal but she didnt realise how far she could take it. I joined the air cadets at 13-years-old, but it wasnt until much later that I realised I could become a commercial pilot, she says. EasyJet is aiming to inspire young women, with the Amy Johnson Flying Initiative and their sponsorship of the Brownies, giving girls aged seven to 10 the opportunity to earn an Aviation Badge. The work its doing is really important. The Amy Johnson Flying Initiative was launched in October 2015 with the aim of doubling the number of female new entrant pilots, to 12 per cent, over a two-year period. After achieving its aim in the first year, the airline set a target of 20 per cent for new entrant cadet pilots in 2020. easyJet Our annual survey shows that young womens treatment at work, pay and wellbeing are trailing far behind those of young men. If 2018 is to be a turning point for womens equality and not just a footnote in history, then its clear that we need deeds, not just words. We need to be impatient for change: a lot has been achieved in the last 100 years but theres still a long way to go." In addition to sexual harassment in the workplace, many women also still face gender discrimination when it comes to their salary, the results found. A quarter of women aged between 25 and 30 claim that theyve been illegally paid a lower salary than male colleagues who are in the same or a similar position at work, and a third of women state that theyve experienced sex discrimination when applying for jobs. A London farm is pleading for 11 stolen piglets to be returned safely to their mothers before they die. Staff at Surrey Docks Farm in Rotherhithe, southeast London, are desperate to find the two-week-old piglets, who were snatched from two sows overnight on Friday. Farm manager Gemma Hooper, 33, says the young animals need round-the-clock feeding from their mothers, and that they will struggle to survive after 24 hours. They might be able to survive a little bit longer but they are going to start getting really weak, she told The Independent. "I'm devastated. We are a community farm that aims to educate city people about livestock and farming practices. The piglets have been such a popular attraction for our visitors, and our team of volunteers, trainees and youth clubs have all loved watching them grow and develop. We're shocked that anyone could do this and are so worried about the piglets. Police are investigating after 11 pigs were stolen from Surrey Docks Farm in Rotherhithe, southeast London The animals were last seen when Gemma locked up the farm at 7pm on Friday, 14 September, and they were gone when it reopened at 8am the following morning. Farm chairman Brett Bennett-Smith, 38, said there were no signs of forced entry or a break-in, and that nothing had been picked up on CCTV cameras as whoever stole the piglets had avoided the main routes. Its weird; whoever stole them hasnt left a mess and theyve shut everything behind them and everything was put back tidily as though they werent in a hurry, he said. Rotherhithe Street is really quiet so for someone to have stolen 11 squealing piglets there would have been a lot of noise. Brett added that it was odd only half of the piglets had been stolen from the farms two sows, Winnie and Marmalade. We just want them back safely for their wellbeing and so they can be reunited with their mothers, he added. Eleven piglets were stolen from Surrey Docks Farm in Rotherhithe, southeast London If they arent reunited with their mothers within the next couple of days they will eventually die. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "Police were called at 11.45am on Saturday, 15 September, to reports of a burglary at an address on Rotherhithe Street, SE16. "Officers spoke to the victim who told them that 11 piglets had been stolen. "No arrests. Enquiries continue." Anyone with information is asked to contact the farm at manager@surreydocksfarm.org.uk or police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting crime reference 3153/15SEP18. Boris Johnson has urged MPs to focus on dismantling the Chequers deal rather than ousting Theresa May, days after Brexiteers met to plot her downfall. Around 50 Tory MPs spent nearly an hour devising ways to replace Ms May on Tuesday evening amid anger over the Chequers plan for Brexit. Asked if he had a message for them, Mr Johnson told The Daily Telegraph: Its not about the leadership. Its about the policy. Its not about changing prime minister. Its about chucking Chequers. It comes as Lord Heseltine suggested the former foreign secretary will become the next prime minister. The Tory grandee insisted the recent barrage of negative headlines about Mr Johnson and Brexit have not done him irreparable harm, should he choose to launch a leadership bid. Lord Heseltine revealed he had substantial doubts about the controversial figures ability to unify the party or the nation but argued Mr Johnson was still extremely popular with party activists. My guess is that he will get the nomination, said the former deputy prime minister. The former foreign secretary has faced a Tory backlash over his claim that Theresa Mays Brexit strategy had put the UK in a suicide vest and handed the detonator to Brussels. Many of the Tory MPs who backed Remain are deeply hostile towards Mr Johnson over his support for a hard Brexit and association with Jacob Rees-Moggs right-wing European Research Group (ERG). Has he done himself any irreparable harm? Well I dont think he has, Lord Heseltine told BBC Radio 4s The Week in Westminster. What you have to say to yourself is who the Tory party membership of the House of Commons is going to choose to send to the activists of the Conservative Party in any leadership campaign. Whilst there is strong opposition to Boris, I find it difficult to think of two names that they will send that don't include him. And, if he gets before the activists, my guess is that he will get the nomination. 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 All that is one thing. But if you then ask a second question. Does that unify the party? Does that solve Brexit? Does it get Britain back into the centre ground? Those are the key questions about achieving power and my doubts and reservations are very substantial. Guto Harri, a key former adviser to Mr Johnson, told the BBC the MP for Uxbridge would be a hugely divisive figure if he did manage to win the top job. Mr Harri, who was Mr Johnsons communications director when he was Mayor of London, said his former boss was doing enormous damage to himself with his increasingly controversial use of language. He said: I fear that Boris is digging. Somebody needs to take the spade out of his hand or it looks to me like hes digging his political grave. At the moment [his gift for language] is being deployed in a really destructive and self-destructive way that I think is doing enormous damage to him as well as to the country. People always said he shot from the hip and used language loosely or gaffed. It was always very calculated. It was just calculated in a very, very clever way in the past. Mr Harri said his former boss successfully widened his appeal during his stint as Mayor of London, winning approval from some Labour supporters as well as traditional Tory voters. Now hes gone the other way. Hes become more tribal, and tribal within the tribe, so that he would now be if he were to become leader a hugely divisive figure, said Mr Harri. NHS bosses will be sacked if they fail to stamp out what ministers admit are alarming levels of bullying of hospital staff, under a new crackdown. A fit and proper person test is set to be toughened to include a legal duty to act on the victimisation of health workers by both patients and colleagues, The Independent has learnt. The move follows new research revealing abuse and harassment is taking place every day with ethnic minority staff in the firing line far more than their white colleagues. Almost 30 per cent of NHS staff said they had been bullied by patients or their families in the past year, with 25 per cent reporting abuse by other workers. Even more worryingly, while 6.6 per cent of white staff said they had suffered discrimination from managers or colleagues, the figure was 15 per cent for ethnic minority staff. Similarly, 4.5 per cent of white staff told an internal survey of experiencing discrimination by patients compared to 16.8 per cent of non-white staff. The findings mean that hundreds of thousands of NHS workers are suffering bullying or victimisation, in an organisation that employs 1.2 million people in England alone. Now Stephen Barclay, a health minister, has told The Independent he wants the fit and proper person test for NHS directors introduced in 2014 to be widened to require action on harassment and discrimination. He has asked Tom Kark QC, the lead counsel at the public inquiry into the care scandal at the Mid Staffordshire hospital trust, to carry out a review, which will report back within weeks. The new requirement would be imposed on nearly 2,800 directors, with each hospital trust in England having an average of 12. The largest have more than 20 directors. Trusts must not appoint or have in place a director who fails to meet the standards set down to be considered a fit person for the role. NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday Show all 18 1 /18 NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday Nurses test the hearing of a newborn child Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday The waiting room is busy in Milton Keynes University Hospital Reuters NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 24, two nurses work at the nurses station Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday In A&E, a porter rushes a patient through the corridor Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday A surgical team prepares a patient for their operation Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday In the physiotherapy department, patients are treated in the hydrotherapy pool Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 8, an inpatient awaits visitors Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday In the physiotherapy department, amputees take a class Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday A junior doctor is at work in the staff room Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday A surgical team prepares a patient for their operation Reuters NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday An inpatient has her hair washed by the staff hairdressers Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday In the audiology department, a mother watches on as her son is given a hearing test Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 8, staff serve lunch to the patients Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 24, a patient waits on their bed Reuters NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 8, a cleaner is at work Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday A nurse takes blood from a patient Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 8, an inpatient receives a visitor Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday Inpatient Donald Ritson lies in bed in Ward 24 in Milton Keynes University Hospital Reuters Mr Barclay said: That one in four NHS staff have experienced bullying, harassment or abuse and that more than twice as many BAME [black, Asian and minority ethnic] staff have suffered discrimination from their manager or colleagues than white staff is deeply alarming and should be a call to arms for urgent action across the NHS. I am determined to put an end to this, which is why the NHS is already working to close the equality gaps and tackle bullying. The minister said he wanted to hear directly from staff about their experiences and what can be done to support them, through a new a new online complaints box introduced this week. And he added: Alongside this, measures like body cameras for our paramedics, and strengthening the fit and proper persons test for directors, are part of tackling a culture that needs to improve. The initiative was welcomed by the Royal College of Nursing, which warned of the corrosive effect on individuals morale from bullying, with discrimination particularly worrying. Black and minority ethnic staff have less chance of being shortlisted, accessing career development training and are more likely to be formally disciplined than their white colleagues, said Wendy Irwin, the RCNs diversity and equalities coordinator. The RCN welcomes moves to strengthen the fit and proper person test, to help ensure NHS managers act positively to root out discrimination. Sara Gorton, head of health at the trade union Unison, described giving the directors the responsibility as a good first start. But she added: Shifting the workplace culture across the NHS so there is no hiding place for bullies, and ensuring there are always enough staff on shift so patients can't easily attack or abuse health workers, requires the whole system to change. The Department of Health and Social Care has identified the hospital trusts with the best and worst records for staff bullying, in order to find successful techniques for others to adopt or avoid. It is urging them to follow the example of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, which has appointed more than 20 learning and culture ambassadors, as a link between staff and management. The department praised them for providing clear and visible leadership to support employees in circumstances where concerns should be reported and lessons learnt. This helps create a better place to work, a safer place to receive care and an organisation that is led by compassion, it said. The move comes as the department prepares to begin trials which will see paramedics wearing body cameras, to deter abuse and make prosecutions easier. Action was taken against 354 abusers last year, but ministers say they are determined to increase that number. Also, this week, the department unveiled a Talk Health and Care app, allowing staff to voice complaints and express frustrations about their jobs and bosses on their phones and tablets. All NHS organisations are already responsible for protecting their staff from bullying and harassment, with easily accessible and effective policies drawn up in partnership with staff representatives. However, the fit and proper person test currently only imposes a legal duty on directors to ensure patient safety rather than to also prevent victimisation of staff. A no-deal Brexit is likely to plunge Britain into a recession, according to Sir Vince Cable, who also maintained that it is still plausible he could become prime minister due to the febrile atmosphere at Westminster. In an interview with The Independent, ahead of the Liberal Democrats annual conference, the former coalition cabinet minister made his gloomy economic warning 10 years on from the collapse of the Lehman Brothers and the global financial crash. His remarks echo those of former prime minister, Gordon Brown, and the governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, who was reported to have compared the outcome of failing to reach a deal with European Union to the 2008 crash during a cabinet meeting this week. There almost certainly would be a period of recession, Sir Vince said. I dont want to add to the drama the government itself is creating. The fact that they are talking about spending billions of pounds on preparations, the fact that they are talking about calling out the army for goodness sake. I think all the economic stuff suggests youd have a really big hit to the economy. It would be very difficult to see how recession conditions could be avoided. If you have a no deal then youve got a dramatic effect, even if Carney does what he has promised and inject liquidity into the economy. Recommended Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable to stand down before 2022 election If theres a big devaluation, which has negatives and positives, I would have thought several years of very difficult economic conditions, including recession, was a very likely outcome. Pressed on his assertion ahead of the partys 2017 annual conference that it was perfectly plausible he could become the countrys next prime minister and despite the fact he has already effectively handed in his notice as leader he maintained: Well, it is plausible, not perfectly plausible. Who knows? If the governments authority collapses, they are forced to have an election. Ive made it very clear that if there is an election in the chaotic consequences of Brexit, I would be leading it. We have no idea when that might happen. Were entering into very uncertain times. While Sir Vince has refused to outline an artificial timeline for his departure from the helm of the Liberal Democrats, he has made clear it will be a slow-motion resignation, with three issues he hopes to see through before throwing in the towel. Vince Cable: Lib Dem leadership election will take place 'once Brexit is resolved or stopped' I was very clear, he said. Im setting a series of specific tasks and people are perhaps jumping to conclusions. I said the Brexit process has got to be over, weve got local elections in May. Weve got these reformed proposals that have to be completed and there may be a general election and Im there for all those things. I dont know when that process will come to an end, he added. Among the far-reaching reforms to the partys rule book, he is aiming to alter the way future leaders are elected by allowing non-MPs to stand to be his successor and widen the electorate in a contest beyond the membership. Sir Vince said that while there are very good people internally, it would be good to have a wider talent pool in the next leadership contest. Merchandise on sale at the Liberal Democrats 2018 conference (PA) He does not have an individual in mind, he said, but added: I think in practice its very likely to one of the MPs weve got, and several of them are very good. We want to see what else is on offer. We know there are two or three people of the right age and calibre, who we know will be interested. I know when I do move on, or fall under a bus, there will be some good people there to contest it. Sir Vince said he is perfectly comfortable with the Liberal Democrats sticking to their branding and name, but if the new enlarged movement he hopes to achieve comes to fruition then were obviously open to it. There are people who think [names] matter and who think if you have the word new in front of something it makes a big difference, he said. Its not my field of expertise so I defer to others. If the new movement wants to go in that direction Ive got no problem with it. I personally am not pushing it. Sir Vince also rejected accusations that his leadership has been a failure, and is particularly dismissive of a recent article by the former Conservative MP and Times columnist, Matthew Parris, who last week wrote that Sir Vince is the biggest unsung failure of modern opposition politics. It ran under the subheading: The Lib Dem leader portrays himself as a wise elder statesman but has squandered a series of golden opportunities. I dont understand what these major opportunities were, Sir Vince said. Its not obvious to us. What we have done is trying steadily and solidly to rebuild but its not clear what the major opportunities are that we havent taken advantage of. Sir Vince, who now puts the chances of stopping Brexit at 30-40 per cent, said there hadnt been a particular favourite moment in his 12 months leading the Liberal Democrats, but he added: What Ive enjoyed doing is going around the country and meeting groups of activists in places like Sunderland, Hull and Manchester, where weve hitherto been marginalised. The other being at the centre of the Peoples Vote campaign, speaking at a big rally here of 100,000 people that was quite a substantial event. Its a combination of these grass roots activities where you can see the green shoots appearing again, combined with the big stuff. People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Show all 30 1 /30 People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Rex People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A young protestor shouts as she takes part in the People's Vote demonstration against Brexit Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A protester's pro-EU t-shirt EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Gina Miller and Caroline Lucas EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Tens of thousands of people march through London EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Demonstrators at the People's Vote March Getty People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal 'Two months too young to decide on my future' REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A young girl joins in the march PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal An EU flag is draped across the statue of Winston Chruchill in Parliament Square REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Vince Cable MP, Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller, Tony Robinson and Caroline Lucas MP join with crowds PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Crowds gather on Pall Mall PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A man resembling Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, joins EU supporters Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal People gather in Trafalgar Square REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller and Tony Robinson PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EU supporters, calling on the government to give Britons a vote on the final Brexit deal, participate in the 'People's Vote' march REUTERS But the 75-year-old leader failed to describe his worst moment and simply replied: Well, you know, everyday is difficult. I wouldnt say there are particular things. Before the summer recess, however, Sir Vince experienced one of the more embarrassing moments as leader of the unequivocally anti-Brexit party after he failed to turn up for a key Brexit vote in the Commons that the government won by just three votes. Well that was just silly actually, he said. It was just making a massive issue out of nothing. First of all, it was said to be a crucial vote, it wasnt a crucial vote. Secondly there was a failure... I was sitting there with my mobile at an event, waiting for the call to come and it never came. There was a failure of communication. It was unfortunate, it was embarrassing, but it wasnt a massive political event. It was an embarrassing event, I was blamed for it, but it was a collective kind of admin failure. It wasnt a big thing. Brexit casualties Show all 10 1 /10 Brexit casualties Brexit casualties Andrea Jenkyns - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary at the ministry for housing, communities and local government role May 2018 - The Morley and Outwood MP said: We want to see a new relationship with Europe, with a new model not enjoyed by other countries nothing that leaves us half-in, half-out. And in order to achieve this, we need to leave the customs union. Ms Jenkyns also said she wished to dedicate more of her time to Parliaments influential Exiting the European Union select committee, after a series of unbalanced reports produced by MPs PA Brexit casualties David Davis - Resigned from Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union role July 2018 - quit following a major row with May over her plans for post-Brexit relations with the EU. Davis resignation letter said: As you know there have been a significant number of occasions in the last year or so on which I have disagreed with the Number 10 policy line, ranging from accepting the [European] Commissions sequencing of negotiations, through to the language on Northern Ireland in the December Joint Report. At each stage I have accepted collective responsibility because it is part of my task to find workable compromises, and because I considered it was still possible to deliver on the mandate of the referendum, and on our manifesto commitment to leave the Customs Union and the Single Market. I am afraid that I think the current trend of policy and tactics is making that look less and less likely. He went on to argue that the general direction of Ms Mays policies would leave the UK in at best a weak negotiating position, and possibly an inescapable one. AFP/Getty Brexit casualties Steve Baker - Resigned from Minister at the Department for Exiting the European Union role July 2018 - Mr Baker, a key Tory figure in the Leave campaign, was David Daviss main lieutenant at Dexeu, and was hailed as courageous and principled by other Brexiteer Tories as he also left. Reuters Brexit casualties Boris Johnson - Resigned from Foreign Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. In his resignation letter to the prime minister, Mr Johnson said: "On Friday, I acknowledged that my side of the argument were too few to prevail and congratulated you on at least reaching a Cabinet decision on the way forward. "As I said then, the government now has a song to sing. "The trouble is that I have practised the words over the weekend and find that they stick in the throat." Reuters Brexit casualties Conor Burns - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary to Foreign Secretary role July 2018 - A Brexit supporter who worked alongside Boris Johnson stated in his resignation letter: I've decided it's time to have greater freedom. I want to see the referendum result respected. And there are other areas of policy I want to speak more openly on. Rex Brexit casualties Chris Green - Resigned from Department for Transport role July 2018 - The Bolton West MP said: "Parliament overwhelmingly decided to give the decision of whether to leave or remain in the European Union to the British people and they made an unambiguous decision that we ought to leave. "I have always understood the idea in 'Brexit means Brexit' is that the final deal should be clear to me and my constituents - that we have, in no uncertain terms, left the European Union. Twitter Ads info and privacy "The direction the negotiations had been taking have suggested that we would not really leave the EU and the conclusion and statements following the Chequers summit confirmed my fears. "I recognise that delivering Brexit is challenging, however I had hoped at tonight's meeting that there would be some certainty that my fears were unfounded but, instead, they have been confirmed. "I have been grateful for the opportunity to serve as Parliamentary Private Secretary and it is with regret that I offer my resignation with immediate effect." PA Brexit casualties Maria Caulfield - Resigned from Conservative Party vice-chair for women role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. Lewes MP warned that the direction of travel did not fully embrace the opportunities that Brexit can provide. Ms Caulfield said in her letter to the PM: The policy may assuage vested interests, but the voters will find out and their representatives will be found out. This policy will be bad for our country and bad for the party. The direct consequences of that will be prime minister Corbyn. PA Brexit casualties Ben Bradley - Resigned from Conservative Party vice-chair for young people role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. The Mansfield MP said: I admit that I voted to Remain in that ballot. What has swayed me over the last two years to fully back the Brexit vision is the immense opportunities that are available from global trade, and for the ability for Britain to be an outward looking nation in control of our own destiny once again. I fear that this agreement at Chequers damages those opportunities; that being tied to EU regulations, and the EU tying our hands when seeking to make new trade agreements, will be the worst of all worlds if we do not deliver Brexit in spirit as well as in name, then we are handing Jeremy Corbyn the keys to No10. PA Brexit casualties Robert Courts - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. MP Mr Courts said: I have taken a very difficult decision to resign my position as [parliamentary private secretary] to express discontent with the Chequers [plans] in votes tomorrow. I had to think who I wanted to see in the mirror for the rest of my life. I cannot tell the people of Woxon that I support the proposals in their current form. Getty Brexit casualties Scott Mann - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. "I fear elements of the Brexit white paper will inevitably put me in direct conflict with the views expressed by a large section of my constituents. I am not prepared to compromise their wishes to deliver a watered-down Brexit. "The residents of North Cornwall made it very clear that they wish to have control over our fishery, our agricultural policy, our money, our laws and our borders. I will evaluate those principles against the Brexit white paper and ensure that I vote in line with their wishes." Rex Asked whether he worried that the Liberal Democrats had become too narrowly associated with Brexit, he replied: Well, I dont think we should just be Ukip in reverse and were not. One of the things weve been doing over the last few months we use this expression of an ideas factory we are generating a lot of stuff around housing, building on the stuff around health. Developing ideas around life-long learning. They are not getting through because we dont have the access to the media that others do. I made that speech on new tech companies and housing, they were both very well received and people understood the issues, but we didnt get massive national publicity. So if youre sitting in Newcastle or Hull or whatever, I doubt many people would have been aware of it. The way in which we do get through to the wider public is primarily through our networks in local government, thats why Im pleased with the revival, not just in the Tory-facing heartlands, but in some of the Labour areas also. The Liberal Democrats still think they can drive a bus straight through the middle of British politics, but they havent worked out yet what to write down the side of it, or whos going to be behind the wheel. By now Brexit was meant to have made Lib Dem conference, which begins this weekend in Brighton, a much more relevant political event, but that has not happened and no one is sure why. Vince Cables big plan to change all that is to set up a registered supporters association, which has already acquired the unfortunate moniker Momentum for moderates, that even the moderates dont like. I like what Vince is trying to do, said one former Lib Dem special adviser. I think he deserves quite a bit of credit. It is brave and it is self-aware to realise that more of the same in contemporary British politics isnt going to cut it. The bit I dont like is that it is called this movement for moderation. Part of the problem is that the centre feels too insipid, too safe, too boring, too politics as usual, when in fact centrist thought, and small l liberalism, can give rise to radical ideas that disrupt elites, disrupt closed shops, ideas that can really change things. That is the market in which the Lib Dems should be operating. Another former Lib Dem staffer thinks it is not only the as yet unlaunched supporters association that will soon be needing a new name. It will be the whole party itself: All this stuff, having registered supporters, changing the rules so a non-MP can be leader, theyre setting it up so that the party can be negotiated away into a new party. You dont change the rules so that a non-MP can be leader unless youre thinking about closing the party down. Becoming the home for the army of radical centrists that must, surely, be out there somewhere, is one thing, but there are more pressing problems that people inside the party have come to think might not be solvable. There has been polling done to work out whether the party is toxic, and the results suggest it is, said a former adviser. The polling company, Populus, one of the seven groups they break the electorate down into is left-wing intellectuals. They used to be our core vote. Left-wing intellectuals voted for Charles Kennedy when they didnt like the centrist Labour Party. They were the main swell of support. Those people are gone. When we polled it in February 2017 we were at 10 per cent with them. Brexit casualties Show all 10 1 /10 Brexit casualties Brexit casualties Andrea Jenkyns - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary at the ministry for housing, communities and local government role May 2018 - The Morley and Outwood MP said: We want to see a new relationship with Europe, with a new model not enjoyed by other countries nothing that leaves us half-in, half-out. And in order to achieve this, we need to leave the customs union. Ms Jenkyns also said she wished to dedicate more of her time to Parliaments influential Exiting the European Union select committee, after a series of unbalanced reports produced by MPs PA Brexit casualties David Davis - Resigned from Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union role July 2018 - quit following a major row with May over her plans for post-Brexit relations with the EU. Davis resignation letter said: As you know there have been a significant number of occasions in the last year or so on which I have disagreed with the Number 10 policy line, ranging from accepting the [European] Commissions sequencing of negotiations, through to the language on Northern Ireland in the December Joint Report. At each stage I have accepted collective responsibility because it is part of my task to find workable compromises, and because I considered it was still possible to deliver on the mandate of the referendum, and on our manifesto commitment to leave the Customs Union and the Single Market. I am afraid that I think the current trend of policy and tactics is making that look less and less likely. He went on to argue that the general direction of Ms Mays policies would leave the UK in at best a weak negotiating position, and possibly an inescapable one. AFP/Getty Brexit casualties Steve Baker - Resigned from Minister at the Department for Exiting the European Union role July 2018 - Mr Baker, a key Tory figure in the Leave campaign, was David Daviss main lieutenant at Dexeu, and was hailed as courageous and principled by other Brexiteer Tories as he also left. Reuters Brexit casualties Boris Johnson - Resigned from Foreign Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. In his resignation letter to the prime minister, Mr Johnson said: "On Friday, I acknowledged that my side of the argument were too few to prevail and congratulated you on at least reaching a Cabinet decision on the way forward. "As I said then, the government now has a song to sing. "The trouble is that I have practised the words over the weekend and find that they stick in the throat." Reuters Brexit casualties Conor Burns - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary to Foreign Secretary role July 2018 - A Brexit supporter who worked alongside Boris Johnson stated in his resignation letter: I've decided it's time to have greater freedom. I want to see the referendum result respected. And there are other areas of policy I want to speak more openly on. Rex Brexit casualties Chris Green - Resigned from Department for Transport role July 2018 - The Bolton West MP said: "Parliament overwhelmingly decided to give the decision of whether to leave or remain in the European Union to the British people and they made an unambiguous decision that we ought to leave. "I have always understood the idea in 'Brexit means Brexit' is that the final deal should be clear to me and my constituents - that we have, in no uncertain terms, left the European Union. Twitter Ads info and privacy "The direction the negotiations had been taking have suggested that we would not really leave the EU and the conclusion and statements following the Chequers summit confirmed my fears. "I recognise that delivering Brexit is challenging, however I had hoped at tonight's meeting that there would be some certainty that my fears were unfounded but, instead, they have been confirmed. "I have been grateful for the opportunity to serve as Parliamentary Private Secretary and it is with regret that I offer my resignation with immediate effect." PA Brexit casualties Maria Caulfield - Resigned from Conservative Party vice-chair for women role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. Lewes MP warned that the direction of travel did not fully embrace the opportunities that Brexit can provide. Ms Caulfield said in her letter to the PM: The policy may assuage vested interests, but the voters will find out and their representatives will be found out. This policy will be bad for our country and bad for the party. The direct consequences of that will be prime minister Corbyn. PA Brexit casualties Ben Bradley - Resigned from Conservative Party vice-chair for young people role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. The Mansfield MP said: I admit that I voted to Remain in that ballot. What has swayed me over the last two years to fully back the Brexit vision is the immense opportunities that are available from global trade, and for the ability for Britain to be an outward looking nation in control of our own destiny once again. I fear that this agreement at Chequers damages those opportunities; that being tied to EU regulations, and the EU tying our hands when seeking to make new trade agreements, will be the worst of all worlds if we do not deliver Brexit in spirit as well as in name, then we are handing Jeremy Corbyn the keys to No10. PA Brexit casualties Robert Courts - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. MP Mr Courts said: I have taken a very difficult decision to resign my position as [parliamentary private secretary] to express discontent with the Chequers [plans] in votes tomorrow. I had to think who I wanted to see in the mirror for the rest of my life. I cannot tell the people of Woxon that I support the proposals in their current form. Getty Brexit casualties Scott Mann - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. "I fear elements of the Brexit white paper will inevitably put me in direct conflict with the views expressed by a large section of my constituents. I am not prepared to compromise their wishes to deliver a watered-down Brexit. "The residents of North Cornwall made it very clear that they wish to have control over our fishery, our agricultural policy, our money, our laws and our borders. I will evaluate those principles against the Brexit white paper and ensure that I vote in line with their wishes." Rex It means we dont really know what we are any more. Are we like the German FDP? Sensible, reliable and an adjunct to government? Or are we a Charles Kennedy style opposition party that opposes everything? Kennedy constantly attacked Labour from the left, on civil liberties, on Iraq, on detention without charge. That stuff chimed with the voters we then lost in 2015, and they havent come back. They are now enamoured with Corbyn. That was our base and the polling shows we have become toxic with them. The partys soul is with Charles Kennedy, but the future of the party is as an FDP. The idea of setting up a registered supporters association, which is what Momentum for moderates would be, is something that the party has considered doing for years. Tim Farron looked into it; even Nick Clegg looked into it. Party insiders suggest Sir Vince now imagines it will be his legacy. But they still fall well short on quite what a Momentum for moderates would do or stand for. If you want to talk about the need of something new in the centre, it cant be an existing brand, said one former Lib Dem adviser, who worked for the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, during the years of coalition. You have seen movements everywhere, whether its Macron, Momentum, or the alt-right in America, movements that work in conjunction with, alongside, in support of, and parallel to politicians have had success. But what we need is to be more radical about the platform, the offer to voters. Look at Labour under Ed Miliband. Youd see people from the left writing a 5,000-word essay in the New Statesman on why Labour must have something to say on immigration. And everyone agreed, but then they didnt have anything to say. The problem you might have is that everybody will say, the centre needs to be more radical, everyone will agree, but then you wont have any radical ideas or policies. People need to work out what the big spending measures the party would take are, what new environmental policies. It might seem very Lib Demmy, but people actually do moan about how parties dont represent them, about how the voting system is unfair and all that, so that is an area where we could offer change. There are lots of people in Westminster, in and around politics who, if not sympathetic to the Lib Dems themselves are sympathetic to Lib Dem ideas. Theres environmental charities, people who are interested in the reform of broken systems like tax, or the electoral system. And it just has got to feel a bit younger, a bit edgier. That is where Momentum has had success. Momentum is viewed as being only young people, but it really isnt. Its full of all sorts of people, some of whom have been around for decades, but the way they put themselves across makes people think its young and edgy. Next weekend at Labours conference in Liverpool, you can be certain that hundreds if not thousands of the nations youth will assemble for an eve of conference rally, fully energised, mobilised and committed to the Corbyn project. But Liberal Democrats do not feel their chance has passed. Not everyone under 25 in Britain is a socialist, or attracted to pretty hard left views, said one former staffer. But they do want some kind of significant change, and most of them want no Brexit so there is a market there. Privately, Lib Dems hope that Momentum for moderates might attract 100,000 members. But if the party decides it wants to survive the party will need to change too. Theyve got to overhaul the partys processes, said one ex staffer. Things like the leader not being able to sack anyone. And the leader cant set policy, which means they cant announce policy. We will see how we get on in the Sunday papers. But if youre not in power and you cant announce policy then what have you got to offer the media? Theyll just go to Labour instead. Who will the interviews be with on Sunday, Vince or Keir Starmer? If its not Vince then were not in the conversation any more. The Lib Dem fightback has been promised at every party conference since 2015 and, over the coming days, dont expect 2018 to be any exception. But the starting point gets further away, and the questions more challenging. It will need plenty of momentum, and there is no time for moderation. Donald Trump has declared North Carolina a major disaster, as officials warned of the potential for massive flooding from the epic amount of rainfall being unloaded by Hurricane Florence. With at least five fatalities confirmed as a result of the storm, emergency workers were going door to door in parts of the the state to urge residents to flee rising floodwaters. More than two feet of water had already fallen in some places and was not expected to stop soon. At a press conference in Raleigh, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper told residents that if they were safe they should stay put. We know people are anxious to go back. But dont go back until you get the official all-clear. This system is unloading an epic amount of rainfall. He said rivers were expected to rise in the days ahead and reminded people that most deaths following hurricanes came from people drowning in freshwater. Do not try and drive across a river, he said. Mr Trumps declaration, announced on Saturday by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in relation to eight counties in the state, means additional federal funding can be used to help people in Beaufort, Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, and Pender counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programmes to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster, FEMA said in a statement. It said it also provided assistance to local governments for clean-up efforts following the storm, including building repairs. Hurricane Florence: Reporter pummeled by extreme winds Meanwhile, with Florence having been downgraded to a tropical storm, by lunchtime on Saturday it was located about 40 miles west of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, moving west at around 2 mph. National Hurricane Centre Director Ken Graham said radar and rain gauges indicated some areas had received as much as two feet of rain, which he called absolutely staggering. He told the Associated Press: And were not done yet. 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 Meanwhile, the AP said that in towns such as New Bern, 90 miles northwest of the coastal city of Wilmington and where several hundred people had to be rescued, emergency workers were urging people to get out before worse flooding took hold. Officials in North Carolinas Harnett County, about 90 miles inland, urged residents of about 1,100 homes to evacuate because the Lower Little River was rising towards record levels. In New Bern, along the coast, aerial photos show homes completely surrounded by water, with rescuers using inflatable boats to go house to house to remove people. More than 360 people have been carried to safety since Thursday night amid rising waters from a river swelled by both rain and salty storm surge. Charlotte and Asheville in North Carolina, and Roanoke, Virginia, could be in for heavy rains as Florence plods inland, the news agency said. Areas like New Bern also could see an additional three to five feet of storm surge as high tide combines with the seawater still being pushed ashore by Florence. On Friday, Mr Cooper called Florence an uninvited brute who doesnt want to leave, and warned it could wipe out entire communities as it grinds its way across land. With unprecedented flooding expected in parts of North Carolina and other regions of the US east coast in the wake of Hurricane Florence and a disaster declaration from President Donald Trump already in effect thousands of evacuees spread across the state are stuck in a holding pattern. As the unrelenting rain pushes streams and rivers to capacity, many of those who heeded warnings from officials and moved to safety are stuck waiting at emergency shelters with little idea of how soon they can head home. Or, if they will have a home to return to at all. The storm has knocked out power in nearly 900,000 homes and businesses and caused at least eight deaths. This is the first time I have ever been to the shelter. Usually I ride the storm out, but, where I live, its so close to Cape Fear River it was starting to get pretty bad. I had no choice but to come, Eric Bradly, a construction worker who lives in Spring Lake, said. Mr Bradley said he decided to evacuate to the Pine Forest High School emergency shelter in Fayetteville after officials came to his door on Thursday and warned that circumstances could get bad real fast if he chose to stay. With the memories of Hurricane Matthew which flooded areas near where he lives he said he acted quickly, and left immediately. I dont know if my house is still standing, if my trucks still afloat, he said when asked when he plans on going home. And, from what they say now it may be an extra couple of days. Florence made landfall in North Carolina on Friday morning as a category 1 hurricane, after being downgraded from its previous strength as a category 4 storm earlier in the week. Over the next several hours, the weather pattern battered the east coast of the United States, bringing torrential rains to the areas of impact including North and South Carolina. Hurricane Florence: Firefighters gather to pray after mother and baby killed by tree falling in Wilmington, North Carolina Officials have warned repeatedly that the storm was not one that people wanted to take lightly, and continued to warn of the deadly nature of Florence even as it was downgraded to a tropical storm as it made its way further inland. The rains, the officials said, could lead to mudslides and deadly flooding. The hurricane force winds may have left, but the risk to life is still very real, they said. I can not overstate it: flood waters are rising, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said on Saturday during a storm update. If you arent watching for them, you are risking your life. Officials up and down the east coast had declared states of emergency in anticipation of the storm, with the governors of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland issuing those declarations. Washington DC, also declared a state of emergency. The storm prompted officials to announce evacuation orders for nearly 2 million people in the areas directly in the path of Florence, which curled southward near the shores of North Carolina before smashing inland near Wilmington, North Carolina, and heading towards South Carolina and western North Carolina. 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 Briana Reece said that she evacuated from her home in Linden, North Carolina, after the water lines to her home stopped working. She said that she and her fiance spent hours calling shelters before finding one in Fayetteville, which sent a school bus to pick the two of them up. Ms Reece has never evacuated her home for a storm in the past, even though she has lived in North Carolina for her entire life 27 years. Something about this storm or perhaps the fact that she and her fiance are expecting their first born child convinced her that she needed to get out. This is the first time that Ive ever gone to a shelter during a hurricane or any type of storm. This one, like I said, the water is different, Ms Reece said. We dont know how long this is going to last so we decided to call for help. There has been a massive response to help get people like Ms Reece back into their homes, and to limit the number of fatalities that result from Florence. Thousands of National Guard troops have been deployed to help in the effort, alongside a huge response from North Carolinas utility company, Duke Energy, which had prepared an unprecedented effort to get North Carolinas power grid back on track. Kristin Albertson said that she very well could have been one of those people in need of an emergency rescue if she had decided to stay in her trailer in Cedar Point, North Carolina. Ms Albertson chose to leave as Florence approached earlier this week, and as she saw intensifying winds and squalls that she had not seen in past storms that rolled through. So, she quickly packed her car with everything she could her husband, daughter, two dogs, and two cats included and drove to Fayetteville for shelter. Since then, Ms Albertson has been receiving updates from her friends back home who decided stay put. She has heard whispers of sightings of dead bodies. She has seen videos and photos of flood waters engulfing her home town that she evacuated with five dollars in her pocket and a full tank of petrol to her name. I have been through every hurricane in eastern North Carolina and I have been through every one, Ms Albertson said. This is the first one I have run from. 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. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh delivers opening statement 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. Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London Women's rights demonstrators hold placards and shout slogans during the Time's Up rally at Richmond Terrace, opposite Downing Street in London. Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London The Time's Up initiative was launched at the start of January 2018 as a response to the #MeToo movement and the Harvey Weinstein scandal. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Berlin Women's March in Berlin. EPA Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London The Time's Up Women's March marks the one year anniversary of the first Women's March in London and in 2018 it is inspired by the Time's Up movement against sexual abuse. Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Paris Women hold a banner reading "still feminist" with the Eiffel tower in background on the Trocadero esplanade in Paris. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London Protesters hold up placards at the Women's March in central London. Rex Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Paris A demonstator hold signs on the Trocadero esplanade in Paris during a women's march organised as part of global protests. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London Chanting Times Up in the cold rain - On the anniversary of the Women's March on London. Rex Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York Thousands of people gather holding protest signs on Central Park West. EPA Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York Demonstrators take part in the Women's March in Manhattan Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Chicago A woman holds a sign during the Second Annual Womens March in Chicago AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People gather near Central Park before the beginning of the Women's March in New York Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington Supporters gather during the Women's March in Washington AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York The crowd lines up near Central Park Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Chicago Demostrators attend the Second Annual Womens March in Chicago AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York Thousands hold signs and rally while attending the Womens March in New York Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People gather near Central Park before the beginning of the Women's March in New York Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People hold signs up during the women's march Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Philadelphia Oscar Janicki, 6, participates in the Second Annual Women's March in Philadelphia Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Philadelphia Crowds gather to participate in the Second Annual Women's March in Philadelphia Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York Women pose as they attend the second annual National Womens March in New York City AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People gather prior to the second annual National Womens March in New York City AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People take part in the Women's March in Manhattan Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People gather the second annual National Womens March AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington People participate in the Second Annual Women's March in Washington Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome A woman holds a banner reading "Womwn united will never be defeated" during Rome Resists demonstration part of the Women's March in downtown. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome Italian actress Asia Argento (3rdL) attends the Rome Resists demonstration part of the Women's March in downtown Rome. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome The Women's March Rome, designed to show solidarity for the protection of civil and social rights, women's rights and the environment included Italian actress Asia Argento, one of the first women to accuse US film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Zurich A US citizen holds a poster on the anniversary of the inauguration of President Trump apologising to the world on behalf of her country, in Zurich, Switzerland. A year after millions of people took to the streets across the US and countries around the world, women's marches are being held in lots of cities this weekend. EPA Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People take part in the Women's March in Manhattan Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome A woman holds a banner reading "The rising of the women means rising of us all" during Rome Resists demonstration. AFP/Getty Images Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome A woman lifts her fist while holding a banner reading "Hear our voice" during Rome Resists demonstration. AFP/Getty 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." Donald Trump has been rebuked by the governor of Puerto Rico, after repeatedly denying that almost 3,000 people died in the aftermath of two hurricanes last year. Ricardo Rossello said on Twitter he would explain to the president how the island had used a study into excess deaths carried out by experts from George Washington University to raise the official death toll from 64 to 2,975. This week, Mr Trump denied so many people had died, and claimed the number had been inflated by Democrats to make him look as bad as possible amid criticism of the federal response. Mr President Id very much be willing to walk you through the scientific process of the study and how @Gwtweets arrived at the excess mortality number estimate. There is no reason to underscore the tragedy we have suffered in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Mr Rossello tweeted. He added: In the meantime, I hope you consider sending a message of support to show you stand with all of the US Citizens in Puerto Rico that lost loved ones. It would certainly be an act of respect and empathy. Mr Rossello, a member of Puerto Ricos New Progressive Party who was sworn in as governor in January 2017, said last month he was using the figure reached by the universitys Milken Institute School of Public Health as the new death toll. Even though its an estimate....we are putting an official number to the death toll. We will take the 2,975 number as the official estimate for the excess deaths as a product of the hurricane, Mr Rossello said at a press conference. The study, carried out after the island was severely damaged by Hurricane Maria, and to a much lesser extent Hurricane Irma, reached the extrapolation of 2,975 by assessing how much excess mortality there was following Maria, a category 5 hurricane, which devastated the islands infrastructure and resources. Donald Trump: Our response to Puerto Rico was ten out of ten The researchers assessed typical mortality rates from 2010 to 2017, then compared that figure to the number of deaths in the six months after Maria. Overall, we estimate that 40 per cent of municipalities experienced significantly higher mortality in the study period than in the comparable period of the previous two years, it said. It also found that risk of death was 45 per cent higher for populations living in low socioeconomic development municipalities and men 65 years or older, The Hill reported. Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Show all 20 1 /20 Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Crew chief Kenney shelters under the blade of an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit preparing to take off during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Isla Grande, Puerto Rico, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico An HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit takes off behind Crew Chief Alexander Blake and his fellow soldiers during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Morovis, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Crew member Bynum stands in tropical rain as a HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit prepares to take off during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Isla Grande, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot Chris Greenway receives a hug from a woman thanking him for water as he works with the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Verde de Comerio, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico A man carries a case of water away from an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter after soldiers working with 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit dropped off relief supplies during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Jayuya, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Crew chief Alexander Blake from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit loads water into a helicopter during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Isla Grande, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Residents wait for soldiers in UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade to deliver food and water during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in San Lorenzo Reuters Bringing aid to Puerto Rico An HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit lands in a field to avoid lightning during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Manati, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Residents hold their hands aloft to signal that they need water as UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade fly past during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, near Ciales, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Tropical rain splashes on a runway as HH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit wait for weather to clear during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Isla Grande, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Pilot Eldwin Bocanegra Torres speaks with residents isolated by landslides in the mountains after unloading water and food from a helicopter during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, near Utuado, October 10, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Residents stand in front of wind-damaged trees as they wait for soldiers in UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade to deliver food and water during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in San Lorenzo, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico The contents of a home are seen from the air during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria near Utuado, October 10, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Thomas looks out of the window of an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit, loaded with relief supplies, during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria in Isla Grande, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico A message written on the rooftop is seen from the air during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria near Humacao, October 10, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico A HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit lands in a field during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria in San Sebastian, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Sergeant First Class Eladio Tirado, who is from Puerto Rico, looks for a landing spot for a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade, during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria near Ciales, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Boys carry water away from an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter after soldiers working with the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit dropped off relief supplies during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Jayuya, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Sergeant First Class Eladio Tirado from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade, who is from Puerto Rico, speaks with residents as he helps during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in San Lorenzo, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Residents peek through a fence at helicopters from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit that had parked in a locked field during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Lares, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson This week, while briefing reporters about the Federal Emergency Management Agencys (FEMA) preparations for Hurricane Florence, which is currently dumping huge amounts of water over the Carolinas, the president said his administrations response to the situation in Puerto Rico had been an unsung success a statement that triggered incredulity and anger among many. It was only in August that electricity was finally resorted to all of the Puerto Rico, a task that took almost a year. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, who has frequently clashed with Mr Trump, said on Twitter the president was delusional, paranoid, and unhinged from any sense of reality. She added: This is NOT about politics this was always about SAVING LIVES. Meanwhile, the Milken Institute School of Public Health issued its own statement saying we stand by the science underlying our study which found there were an estimated 2,975 excess deaths in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. Hundreds of police officers have started evicting protesters from tree houses in what remains of a formerly vast forest in Western Germany. Officers moved 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 tree houses 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. In recent weeks, environmentalists have drawn attention to the mine, which is operated by the energy company RWE in the Hambach Forest, east of the city of Aachen. They aim to highlight the disparity between Germanys pledges to reduce its carbon emissions and uphold its commitments to the Paris climate accord and the countrys heavy use of its only significant natural resource, soft coal, or lignite. The police set the stage to clear protesters from the trees Thursday, after the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia declared that the tree houses, many more than 80 feet off the ground, violated local fire codes. They ordered local municipalities to clear the structures in order to protect the bodies and lives of their dwellers, the city of Kerpen said in a statement. The Aachen police said that protesters had built barricades, some of which they set alight, and emptied the contents of their toilets from the tree houses onto officers below. Protesters have insisted the only threat comes from RWE, which has expanded the coal mine to the point that it now covers more than 90 per cent of the forest, which once stretched over nearly 10,000 acres. For the past six years, protesters have been actively squatting in the remaining 250 acres of trees, which RWE plans to begin clearing in October. RWE has said the forest must be cleared so the open-pit mine can be expanded to draw the lignite, nearly a mile underground, if Germany wants to keep the lights on and factories running in North Rhine-Westphalia, its most densely populated state and a key industrial base. The state is also the countrys largest emitter of greenhouse gasses, responsible for 10 per cent of all carbon emissions in 2014, according to government figures. They are destroying a lot already, said Michael Zobel, a forest ranger. He said that a court was still considering a lawsuit filed by Friends of the Earth Germany that would place Hambach Forest under protected status and prevent the trees from being cut down. But they are making it a fait accompli. Mr Zobel, who has given tours of the forest since 2004, plans to lead another group on Sunday, although he said they wont be able to access the forest, which is now sealed off by about 4,000 police. The Aachen police declared the forest, which contains English oaks and hornbeam, and has a carpet of lily-of-the-valley each spring, a dangerous area two weeks ago, allowing them to maintain a 24-hour presence and search anyone caught on the land. We have seen a spiral of violence coming from the forest that is more severe than what we have seen in the past, said Andreas Muller, a spokesman for the police, of the events of recent weeks. These included stones thrown at officers and explosive devices found attached to trucks owned by RWE. In the cat-and-mouse game that has ensued, the police have posted images of tyres bristling with spikes intended to hamper their approach, while protesters have circulated videos of squatters being forcibly removed from wooden platforms erected as barriers. Officers armed with shields and helmets and driving cherry pickers to help them reach the huts in the branches moved into the forest and began disassembling the elevated platforms and roadblocks. Last year, a court order prevented RWE from clearing the trees during a four-month season, limited to protect nature. In a meeting between RWE and several environmental groups, the energy company offered to halt the clearing until 15 December, if the activists would agree to leave the trees peacefully. The activists refused. New York Times Two years ago last May Londoners chose unity over division by electing me as mayor a working-class boy from south London in the face of a nasty and divisive Conservative campaign. The last two years have been tough for London. Weve had five terrorist attacks on our city, the Sandilands tram crash, the shameful tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire, the continuing chaos of Brexit, government austerity ravaging our police force and youth services and a resulting national rise in violent crime. For many Londoners, the future doesnt look any easier. Families are struggling to make ends meet. On average, Londoners are still earning nearly 8 per cent less now than they were before the global financial crisis a decade ago. Public services are at breaking point. Our celebrated multiculturalism and diversity is under attack not just here in London but around the world. And now Theresa Mays chaotic handling of Brexit means jobs and growth are at risk. Recommended Sadiq Khan calls for immediate pause to rollout of universal credit I could promise Londoners that Ill fix all these problems overnight but it simply wouldnt be true. There is no silver bullet for many. Some were decades in the making and will take years to fix. Some need extra funding and powers that the Mayors office simply doesnt have. And some will need a new government that genuinely cares and wants to do something about them. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying to you. But that doesnt mean there is no hope. Weve shown that progress, while hard fought, is possible. We are fixing the mess we inherited from Boris Johnson at City Hall and laying the foundations to build a better city. The job of the mayor of London is to make the small changes that make a real difference to Londoners daily lives changes that make things just a little bit easier. And that is exactly what Im doing. Ive introduced the unlimited Hopper bus fare with a staggering 220 million journeys made so far, saving Londoners money on every journey. Ive frozen TfL fares for four years, saving the average household in the capital 200 by 2020. And under my leadership, the number of days lost to strikes on the London Underground has reduced by 65 per cent compared to my predecessor. On my watch, City Hall started building more social homes last year than ever before and launched our first ever programme to build 10,000 new council homes. We also reduced rough sleeping by 7 per cent last year after it increased for eight years in a row and doubled under Boris Johnson. Ive made a start on tackling Londons dangerously polluted air investing in cleaner buses, with the Toxicity Charge already making a real difference and the worlds first Ultra-Low Emission Zone on the way next year. And because we can all see the impact of government cuts to youth services, Ive created a new 45m fund to create more positive opportunities for young Londoners and to support those at risk of being drawn into criminality to find a better path. Brexit casualties Show all 10 1 /10 Brexit casualties Brexit casualties Andrea Jenkyns - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary at the ministry for housing, communities and local government role May 2018 - The Morley and Outwood MP said: We want to see a new relationship with Europe, with a new model not enjoyed by other countries nothing that leaves us half-in, half-out. And in order to achieve this, we need to leave the customs union. Ms Jenkyns also said she wished to dedicate more of her time to Parliaments influential Exiting the European Union select committee, after a series of unbalanced reports produced by MPs PA Brexit casualties David Davis - Resigned from Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union role July 2018 - quit following a major row with May over her plans for post-Brexit relations with the EU. Davis resignation letter said: As you know there have been a significant number of occasions in the last year or so on which I have disagreed with the Number 10 policy line, ranging from accepting the [European] Commissions sequencing of negotiations, through to the language on Northern Ireland in the December Joint Report. At each stage I have accepted collective responsibility because it is part of my task to find workable compromises, and because I considered it was still possible to deliver on the mandate of the referendum, and on our manifesto commitment to leave the Customs Union and the Single Market. I am afraid that I think the current trend of policy and tactics is making that look less and less likely. He went on to argue that the general direction of Ms Mays policies would leave the UK in at best a weak negotiating position, and possibly an inescapable one. AFP/Getty Brexit casualties Steve Baker - Resigned from Minister at the Department for Exiting the European Union role July 2018 - Mr Baker, a key Tory figure in the Leave campaign, was David Daviss main lieutenant at Dexeu, and was hailed as courageous and principled by other Brexiteer Tories as he also left. Reuters Brexit casualties Boris Johnson - Resigned from Foreign Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. In his resignation letter to the prime minister, Mr Johnson said: "On Friday, I acknowledged that my side of the argument were too few to prevail and congratulated you on at least reaching a Cabinet decision on the way forward. "As I said then, the government now has a song to sing. "The trouble is that I have practised the words over the weekend and find that they stick in the throat." Reuters Brexit casualties Conor Burns - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary to Foreign Secretary role July 2018 - A Brexit supporter who worked alongside Boris Johnson stated in his resignation letter: I've decided it's time to have greater freedom. I want to see the referendum result respected. And there are other areas of policy I want to speak more openly on. Rex Brexit casualties Chris Green - Resigned from Department for Transport role July 2018 - The Bolton West MP said: "Parliament overwhelmingly decided to give the decision of whether to leave or remain in the European Union to the British people and they made an unambiguous decision that we ought to leave. "I have always understood the idea in 'Brexit means Brexit' is that the final deal should be clear to me and my constituents - that we have, in no uncertain terms, left the European Union. Twitter Ads info and privacy "The direction the negotiations had been taking have suggested that we would not really leave the EU and the conclusion and statements following the Chequers summit confirmed my fears. "I recognise that delivering Brexit is challenging, however I had hoped at tonight's meeting that there would be some certainty that my fears were unfounded but, instead, they have been confirmed. "I have been grateful for the opportunity to serve as Parliamentary Private Secretary and it is with regret that I offer my resignation with immediate effect." PA Brexit casualties Maria Caulfield - Resigned from Conservative Party vice-chair for women role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. Lewes MP warned that the direction of travel did not fully embrace the opportunities that Brexit can provide. Ms Caulfield said in her letter to the PM: The policy may assuage vested interests, but the voters will find out and their representatives will be found out. This policy will be bad for our country and bad for the party. The direct consequences of that will be prime minister Corbyn. PA Brexit casualties Ben Bradley - Resigned from Conservative Party vice-chair for young people role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. The Mansfield MP said: I admit that I voted to Remain in that ballot. What has swayed me over the last two years to fully back the Brexit vision is the immense opportunities that are available from global trade, and for the ability for Britain to be an outward looking nation in control of our own destiny once again. I fear that this agreement at Chequers damages those opportunities; that being tied to EU regulations, and the EU tying our hands when seeking to make new trade agreements, will be the worst of all worlds if we do not deliver Brexit in spirit as well as in name, then we are handing Jeremy Corbyn the keys to No10. PA Brexit casualties Robert Courts - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. MP Mr Courts said: I have taken a very difficult decision to resign my position as [parliamentary private secretary] to express discontent with the Chequers [plans] in votes tomorrow. I had to think who I wanted to see in the mirror for the rest of my life. I cannot tell the people of Woxon that I support the proposals in their current form. Getty Brexit casualties Scott Mann - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. "I fear elements of the Brexit white paper will inevitably put me in direct conflict with the views expressed by a large section of my constituents. I am not prepared to compromise their wishes to deliver a watered-down Brexit. "The residents of North Cornwall made it very clear that they wish to have control over our fishery, our agricultural policy, our money, our laws and our borders. I will evaluate those principles against the Brexit white paper and ensure that I vote in line with their wishes." Rex Above all else, I have loudly and proudly stood up for Londons values, defending our diversity and respect for one another in the face of an increasingly divided and intolerant world. It makes me immensely proud that Labour Party members have again chosen me to be their candidate for the next mayoral election in 2020. Winning that election will not be easy. Were not only running against the Conservative Party and we all remember how nasty the campaign was last time but also against former Conservative chancellor George Osborne, who is now the editor of the Evening Standard. Hes using the pages of his newspaper to try to rewrite history and cover up the massive damage that his cuts as chancellor caused to our city, whether to policing, housing or our public services. We cant let him get away with it. We simply must win London again in 2020. Weve got a lot done over the last two years. But there is so much more left to do over the years ahead and we can only finish the job with a Labour mayor in City Hall once again. Sadiq Khan is the mayor of London Front line of destiny: Catriona Walsh, a pupil at St Marys College in Derry, stands in a barley field along the Irish Border, which she crosses daily to and from school. Irelands economy cant afford to make the Border more than it already is, an invisible line that separates the country, she says. Checkpoints will take a great step back into the past and damage my future education and my pathway of study. Photo: Getty The Government is willing to soften the language of its "bulletproof" guarantee of avoiding a hard Border in order to prevent Britain crashing out of the EU next March with no deal. Senior Brexit sources have told the Irish Independent that EU and UK negotiators are searching for ways to "soften" the so-called Irish backstop in order for it to pass in the UK parliament. It is understood EU and UK teams, with the input of the Irish government, are now working on developing a new version of the backstop that "gives everyone cover until the future relationship is agreed". Britain would like a "UK-wide backstop" which would allow it to remain in the customs union and single market for goods until a new trade agreement has been agreed. But Brussels will likely oppose this as it amounts to the UK cherry-picking the single market. "The ingredients are there to get to an agreement on the backstop by November," said the source. It will still have to be "legally and technically operational, but politically palatable", they added. Brexit sources say they recognise London wont be able to sign off on the Border guarantee as it currently stands, and Ireland will face economic catastrophe if the UK leaves the EU with no deal. If we carry on the way were going, well have no transition, no deal, just economic catastrophe, said one source. The source said a change in language was aimed to put an end to the "histrionics" that emerged when it was initially published this year. The EU's lead negotiator Michel Barnier said the EU wants to "de-dramatise" the Border issue. The backstop is the legal commitment from Britain that there can be no hard Border on the island of Ireland regardless of the future relationship between the EU and the UK after Brexit. It was negotiated last December and vaunted by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as bulletproof. However, the Brexit source said the language around the backstop will have to be softened. "We'll need to amend it in order to achieve the greater good, rather than fight to the death on the existing backstop and push them over the edge with no deal," said the source. In spite of signing off on it last December, the British government rejected the text when the EU issued it in legal form in February of this year. British Prime Minister Theresa May dismissed the EU's version - which would keep Northern Ireland within the EU's customs union in the event of a no deal - as "inconceivable". She also said it threatened the constitutional order of the UK. Mrs May subsequently conceded that a backstop was necessary, but has failed to bring forward a workable, alternative version. Progress on Brexit has since faltered on finding a compromise on the language in time for the deadline of the Withdrawal Agreement which is due to be signed off by November at the latest. Read More The Withdrawal Agreement is the overall treaty containing the terms and conditions in which the UK leaves the EU. It also includes the Irish backstop and details of a two-year transition period where the UK will remain within the single market and customs union while a future relationship is negotiated with Brussels. The Irish government is also to leave open the idea that the backstop could be altered in the future, once the future relationship between the UK and the EU is clear. A source said "we are going to run out of time" and the Government needs to ensure the transition period is in place. "Let's face it, nobody is prepared for the UK crashing out," they added. The Government published some of its contingency plans in the case of this 'doomsday scenario'. It involves the deployment of around 1,000 customs officials to manage regulatory and customs controls. However, they won't be in place by next March when Brexit happens. "We're doing our contingency planning but there's no way we'll have 1,000 customs officials trained by March next year," said the Irish source. Dublin is willing to start a conversation about amending the backstop now in order to prevent a major climbdown at the last minute at a crucial summit in Brussels. "We don't want to be caught making this concession at one minute to midnight," they said, adding it's better to alter things now "rather than fight to the death and lose". "At the end of the day it will be for the greater good," said the source. So what are you going to do for the long winter nights? And, pardon me if this sounds preachy, don't anyone say, 'more work' or 'rest'; there will always be work to be done, and there will be plenty of time for the other when you're pushing daisies. So whether it's signing up for a woodwork class, joining a table tennis club, men's shed or the ICA, go for it. While learning a new skill or liberating a stifled one may be the supposed premise of such activities, the real point is meeting people. And that will never be more important than in these coming months. Technology means that anyone can take a fairly decent photo, and there are plenty of courses to enhance your photographic further. So seriously did I take this that I actually went out and did a book largely based on photos. And it was even a commercial success. If I could do it, anyone could. One of the most useful things I learnt in a METAC course with well-known photographer Alf Harvey was how to label and store images for easy retrieval. Or have you ever dreamed of penning a book? Or how about reading, and joining a bookclub? Having joined one for the first time last year, I can now understand why they are so popular. As someone once said, "there are no faster or firmer friendships than those formed between people who love the same books." I have always loved dancing. As a child, I used to have this recurrent dream about swirling around a grand ballroom to the Blue Danube in the arms of Prince Charming. Fortunately, I got to marry my Prince Charming, who is at ease in every social situation, except one - avert your eyes now all those of a sensitive nature - the dancefloor, where he demonstrates all the grace of a fly trying to extricate himself from a spider's web. So if I want to dance, it's going to be on my own. There is something very appealing about the freedom of Sean Nos dancing. Unlike many Irish families, when I was growing up, ours had no tradition of Irish dancing. While my classmates were heading off after school to learn their 1, 2, 3s, we were going home to ride our ponies before feeding the calves or doing other seasonal jobs. In my own head, if I were to take up Sean Nos, I would (of course) be some sort of geriatric sensation. I know dream on. My mother had a sweet voice and I have always loved to sing. Hence my decision last year to join the Munster Rugby Supporters Club Choir. Weekly practice is a 90-minute drive away in Charleville, which makes it a considerable commitment. But I'm really enjoying it. And I'm going to take this opportunity to put out a call for help - the choir needs more men. Membership promises fun, new friends, longer life (this has been proven!), and a cure for baldness (not yet proven!). Back to the dancing, I do have a small bit of form. When line-dancing was sweeping the country in the 1990s, there was a shortage of instructors, and an aerobics teacher friend mine was asked to take on a class on a particular night. She was busy and, half for a laugh, put me forward instead. We were just learning ourselves but, within a month I was teaching over 500 people a week over four weeknights out of five. (I had to take the other night off to do a class myself so I could stay ahead of my students). It was great fun, and great for the waistline. Last year, over 20 years on, I was even asked by a few friends to do a reprise. There are also some opportunities to do courses and participate in activities online, if you really don't have enough time or don't feel up to going out to meet people. A new interest might just get you through to the spring. John Groarke on the farm where he keeps horses and donkeys. He got out of suckler farming in 2016, saying he "nearly went bankrupt" due to lack of profit from it. Photo: Brian Farrell 'In comparison to the other candidates my lifestyle is very humble. This shouldn't be about money. It should be about taking part." These are the words of farmer John Groarke, who is seeking a nomination to contest the Presidency. Taking a glance around Mr Groarke's farmhouse, outside the village of Tulsk in Co Roscommon, it's clear that his comments have more than just an air of truth about them. The collection of clocks and crockery displayed in his kitchen hark back to a different Ireland that is long forgotten for some, but is still the reality for many. Spurred It was his frustration with farming and the Government's "lack of interest in life west of the Shannon", and in particular his native Roscommon, that spurred his decision to seek a nomination for the Presidency. "The central government pay no heed to life beyond the Shannon and never have," he says. Expand Close John Groarke on the farm where he keeps horses and donkeys. He got out of suckler farming in 2016, saying he "nearly went bankrupt" due to lack of profit from it. Photo: Brian Farrell / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp John Groarke on the farm where he keeps horses and donkeys. He got out of suckler farming in 2016, saying he "nearly went bankrupt" due to lack of profit from it. Photo: Brian Farrell "Co Roscommon is in a bad state of affairs and it needs a lift. I talk to people from Roscommon to Boyle to Ballaghaderreen and there's such a lack of services. "Boyle doesn't even have an industrial park. The people of Boyle deserve an industrial park to be built there. They need factories. "The people of Elphin are campaigning with the Department of Health for a dental service but are hearing nothing back. It's a disgrace." Mr Groarke is appalled by the recent announcement that over 150 post offices are set to close across the country. "It may be a good business decision to close them but it will only cripple and wipe out rural communities in the south, the west and the border counties," he says. Mr Groarke is aware that the office of President is "extremely limited" in its powers but feels that everyone should be given the chance to run. "I know the role is very limited. The sovereign has no control over the Government, which I think is a bad thing," he says. He believes the idea that a person has to seek nomination to run for Presidency goes against the notions of democracy, saying: "If Ireland were a true democracy, anybody would be allowed have their name on the ballot paper. Expand Close John Groarke from Tulsk, Co Roscommon wants to be President of Ireland. Image. Shannonside FM / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp John Groarke from Tulsk, Co Roscommon wants to be President of Ireland. Image. Shannonside FM "I have to travel across the country to try get a nomination for the Presidency, and I can't make all of the meetings. "This system should have begun back in March, but the main political parties don't want an election and are making us jump through hoops. "Every citizen should be allowed to run. "Everybody should get the chance to take part, and that would be the way if were living in a democracy." Mr Groarke accepts that he has little chance of getting a nomination, but he remains hopeful and even plans on asking one of the main political parties to help him out. "I'm going to ask Fianna Fail for a nomination. It would be a great help to me if they would," he says. "If Hollywood can give a person a script and turn them into a king, or queen, then why can't someone like me be president?" At last week's Cork City Council meeting, he said he would travel on commercial flights to save money. "You might say it will downgrade the status of President but if you're looking to save money and cut spending it would certainly be a help," he explains. Mr Groarke also feels the country should look to the system of the traditionalist Amish community in Pennsylvania in the US as a way of solving our housing crisis. "I don't know too much about the system but I know everyone in the Amish community owns their own house and it is a very successful system," he says. Computers "Our own system needs to change because at the end of the day everyone in this country wants their own house and that's all they have ever dreamed of down through the centuries." Mr Groarke is a fan of Rory Gallagher and old showband music. "Who doesn't like music? It breaks down barriers worldwide," he says. He is not "computer efficient", but he can "just about manage to access DoneDeal.ie". "We have a computer at home but the signal can cut out at times," he says. "If you wanted me to send you an email I wouldn't be able to do that, and I can't do online banking either." One benefit of barely being able to use a computer is that Mr Groarke hasn't been able to see if people have been giving him abuse online. "I wouldn't be clued in to any of that at all," he says. "People in the county councils have been very favourable to me. "I don't think anybody is against me. Maybe people might be saying things on the World Wide Web but I can't access that anyway. I'm probably better off in a way that I can't access it. You need to take these things with a pinch of salt." He has asked a number of people for funding for his campaign but has been unsuccessful so far and isn't sure if local politics is a path he would go down if he doesn't succeed in getting nominated. "It's too early for me to tell. We'll see how all this goes first and then come back to me." Farming He used to be a suckler farmer but got out of it in 2016 when he "nearly went bankrupt" due to lack of profit. "I just keep horses and donkeys now. I get some grants for keeping the animals and minding the land," says the 58-year-old, who lives with his sister Sheila. "Sucklers are a bad system anyway. There's no profit out of them and there never was. It's not paying. So much money is spent on plastic and manure and on meal from the co-ops but co-ops are in it for themselves." Mr Groarke adds that the IFA's current 200 suckler subsidy campaign is nowhere near enough to make a viable living out of the system. "200 per cow is no good. You need at least 500 per cow, if not 700, because there's so much expense," he says. The growing green finance market, and the funding required to bolster projects in the climate change battle, will be on the agenda at Europe's biggest climate-related conference in Dublin this year. More than 1,000 delegates, from the financial and sustainability sector, will gather at Dublin Castle for the Climate Innovation Summit in November, where leaders of ten European financial centres including London and Frankfurt will convene. Over the three-day event, some of the worlds top experts to discuss how best to unlock the trillions required to successful transition Europe and Ireland to a low-carbon economy. A new UN secretariat based in Dublin to promote sustainable finance in Europe will also be launched on the second day of the summit, the centrepiece of a week-long series of events focused on green and sustainable finance. Ireland's National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) has recently announced it is to issue its first green bond in the coming months. According to the CEO of Sustainable Nation Ireland, Stephen Nolan, this is a key instrument that will help Ireland to develop projects that tackle climate change. Read More "Over the past number of months, the Irish government has clearly identified the financing requirements to 2030 of Irelands national decarbonisation efforts and how much they are willing to invest alongside private capital," he said. "The decision to support the NTMA issuing a green bond is to be welcomed and establishes a new instrument for investors, both domestic and international, to embrace." The NTMA is expected to target potential investors through a series of roadshows. HSBC France and JP Morgan will act as advisers to the NTMA. In February, the government announced a 22bn low-carbon investment roadmap and a 500m Climate Action Fund was launched in May. Hosted by the EUs EIT Climate-KIC body, Sustainable Nation Ireland and partners including the Department of Finance, The Climate Innovation Summit will take place from November 6 to 8. Inspirational Vicky Phelan has been awarded for her contribution to society by exposing the CervicalCheck scandal earlier this year. The Limerick mother of two received the Trish Murphy Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution at the 2018 Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year awards last night which took place in The Galmont Hotel & Spa in Co Galway. The award is typically given by the president of Network Ireland, the volunteer-run womens business network. Roseann Heavey, President of Network Ireland 2018, described Ms Phelan as the embodiment of what the group stands for. When it came to a decision about who to award the Outstanding Contribution Award to, I didn't have to think too long. Vicky Phelan is an inspiration to us all, Ms Heavey said. Despite everything she has had to face, she has never given up, she is incredibly resilient. She has empowered other women, she continues to support other women and is an articulate voice for women who dont have a voice. She is the embodiment of what Network Ireland stands for. Also awarded on the night were couture designer Laura Jayne Halton, who won an Arts award, and Irene Twohig, owner of Educogym, Cork won the award for Large SME. Employee of the Year went to Laura Maher of Reillys Supervalu Sallins and Geraldine Jones of Mediskin took home the award for Best Small SME. The annual awards celebrate the excellence, professionalism, vision and leadership of business women in Ireland. Speaking about the 2018 awards, Ms Heavey said the standard of submissions were phenomenal this year. Our membership is growing which was reflected in the record number of awards entries this year. The independent panel of judges all agreed that there were some phenomenal submissions and the competition was very tough. Its great to see our members being rewarded for their extraordinary achievements. Gardai have been accused of failing to pursue people who make false insurance claims. Insurers said they handed gardai files on scores of fraudulent claims in 2016, but nothing has been done since. Junior Minister Michael D'Arcy, who is responsible for insurance, said he was "displeased" with the failure of gardai to prosecute insurance fraudsters. Businesses claim they are being besieged by fraudulent personal injury claims, and are often forced to pay legal costs even when they win. Insurance Ireland's Kevin Thompson said members of the representative organisation handed over 167 files on fraudulent cases in 2016. The cases were "resting" with gardai and it was not clear if there have been prosecutions. "It illustrates the dysfunctionality of our personal injuries and legal framework in assessing these claims and prosecuting people. It is deeply frustrating," he told RTE's 'Prime Time'. Mr D'Arcy said he was disappointed gardai were not showing more willingness to go after insurance fraudsters but denied there was any need for new legislation. "Unfortunately, whether I am pleased or not with An Garda Siochana not prosecuting people for obvious fraud, I can't instruct them. It is up to the gardai." Critics of the system argue there is no consequence for those who make false claims, whereas businesses have to pay legal costs to defend trumped-up claims. But Mr D'Arcy said there were sufficient sanctions in the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004, which allows for 10 years in jail or a fine. He denied he was opposed to Government plans to put in place a dedicated Garda fraud unit, to be funded by insurance companies but be independent of them. He said he had a problem with the funding model, not the concept. Peter Boland, of the Alliance for Insurance Reform, said businesses are besieged by fraudulent claims, and have to pay legal costs, even when they win. He said members have taken cases with CCTV footage to gardai, but the cases have not come to court. Small firms lobby group ISME said: "The Government isn't just ignoring this legalised theft. By its inaction, it is encouraging it." A Garda spokesman said: "There was never a decision made by An Garda Siochana not to investigate insurance fraud complaints. Each complaint is assessed on its merits. Where investigations are subsequently conducted, files are forwarded to the DPP. "Alleged cases of insurance fraud are reported by insurance companies to superintendents throughout the country and not just to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau. In that context, it is not possible for this bureau to confirm whether 167 cases of insurance fraud have been reported to An Garda Siochana at this time." Are there penalties for upgrading health cover and can I change my cover at any time during the year?. Stock Image Query: I have recently had to make a claim on my home insurance policy due to water damage. The insurer is being difficult and is now saying that its records show that I made a claim on a previous policy but never told them about that when getting a home insurance for my current home. In reality they are talking about a claim I had on a rental property I owned seven years ago. I didn't think it was relevant which is the only reason I didn't put it on the application form. What can I do now to get my claim paid? Answer: People think that when an insurer asks about previous claims they are referring to the property on which they are taking out the insurance. That is not the case. Insurers want you to disclose any claims on any property, according to Deirdre McCarthy of InsureMyHouse.ie. In theory, this non-disclosure on your part makes your insurance contract null and void. But all is not lost. Some insurers will take a reasonable approach to these situations if you can demonstrate that the non-disclosure was purely accidental. A couple of things are already in your favour, Ms McCarthy says. Firstly, the fact the claim was seven years ago and it could be considered a bit unreasonable to remember details from this long ago. Secondly, the claim was on a different property. If you used a broker you might get him or her to liaise with the insurer on your behalf. This can often result in a better outcome for claimants. If not, write a letter to your insurer, in which you can set your case out clearly and make the case for payment. Be honest about your understanding of the question on the application form, and make the point that you have always had home insurance and kept on top of premium payments, so that you would have the policy to fall back on if you ever needed it. Need to know: Insurers want you to disclose any claims on any property. Some insurers will take a reasonable approach if you can demonstrate that the non-disclosure was accidental. Query: We are reviewing our health cover now and realise that we are insured on a very basic plan. Are there penalties for upgrading and can I change my cover at any time during the year? Answer: It depends on your insurer. Vhi will only allow you to amend your cover annually at your renewal date, whereas Laya and Irish Life Health will allow you to make changes to your plan mid-year if required. When you are considering a change of plan, you should be aware of the upgrade rule which applies equally across all health insurers. Where a change of plan gives you increased cover for hospital treatment, all insurers will restrict your cover for any pre-existing conditions, to that payable on your previous plan for a further two years, according to Dermot Goode of TotalHealthCover.ie. Where a new condition presents after you have changed to the new plan, you will be on cover immediately, assuming all other relevant waiting periods have been served. The advice of Mr Goode is to try and include cover for private hospitals on your plan so that you are not reliant on our public system only. If you opt to upgrade from public hospitals only, you should consider the following plans across the market which cover public and private hospitals: Vhi One Plan 250 which is 832; Irish Life Health Benefit Plan at 899; and Laya Essential Health 300 at 895 per adult. Need to know: The best advice is to try and include cover for private hospitals on your plan so that you are not reliant on our public system only. Query: I have just been offered my first job since finishing college in June. I'm delighted - and I'm broke. I know that the last time I worked, which was the summer before last, I got stuck paying emergency tax for the few months or more. I can't afford this to happen to me again as I will have rent and other bills to pay. Is there any way I can avoid this? Answer: You can avoid this by giving your Personal Public Service (PPS) number to your new employer as soon as possible. This number can be found on tax documents or communications from a social welfare or tax office. It may also be on your payslips from previous employment. If you don't know your PPS number, you can contact your local social welfare office, according to Eileen Devereux, commercial director at Taxback.com. It is your new employer's obligation to then register your employment with Revenue. Revenue will issue your Tax Credit Certificate (TCC) to your employer which will have details of your tax credits. If you want to be proactive you could register your employment with Revenue yourself, which would ensure that your TCC is issued on time. It's best to sort out your tax affairs before you start work to give your employer and the tax office time to get things sorted out before your first payday. Insurers want you to disclose any claims on any property. Some insurers will take a reasonable approach if you can demonstrate that the non-disclosure was accidental. The best advice is to try and include cover for private hospitals on your plan so that you are not reliant on our public system only. Facebook, Whatsapp and Instagram are three of the most popular social media platforms used daily by the people of Ireland. While the internet and social media have become almost second nature for most of us, its not often that we step back and think about how the messages we send end up on another persons phone, sometimes on the other side of the world. And the answer lies on the outskirts of Dublin, inside Facebooks new data centre near Clonee in Co Meath. The centre became operational in December 2017, and helps brings Facebook apps and services to 2.5 billion people worldwide every day. Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Niall McEntegart (left) Facebooks Datacenter Operations Director for EMEA and APAC Niall McEntegart (right) Facebooks Datacenter Operations Director for EMEA and APAC Niall McEntegart (right) Facebooks Datacenter Operations Director for EMEA and APAC Niall McEntegart (left) Facebooks Datacenter Operations Director for EMEA and APAC / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Niall McEntegart (left) Facebooks Datacenter Operations Director for EMEA and APAC The hardware inside the centre is what lets people stay connected to friends and family, discover whats going on in the world and share their thoughts online - a pretty cool addition to a small village in Ireland. The centre was the largest construction project in Ireland at one point, with construction beginning in April 2016. Up to 1,550 worked on the site construction per day, but today there are 300 people working on site supporting day-to-day operations at the data centre. Over 7.2 million hours have gone into creating the site, with two buildings completed so far- progress on the third building began last October. And despite having a 250-acre site (the equivalent of four times the size of Dublin Zoo), the data centre hit a record breaking 4 million hours without any reportable accidents on site. Enough steel to fill two Eiffel Towers and concrete that could fill 23.6 Olympic swimming pools were used to create the buildings on site, which is supported by 100pc renewable wind energy. Read More Interestingly, Facebook are also supporters of saving the bees, with 10 bee hives with 50,000 bees per hive nestled on the grounds of the new centre. A third of Ireland's bee species are threatened with extinction because of the reduced number of flowers and safe nesting sites in Irish landscapes, so Facebook have added a wider variety of native plants, shrubs and trees on site to provide food for the bees. The bees fly up to 5km from the apiary, something they hope will benefit local farmers and crop yields with increased pollination. Now, the media giants have launched their Community Action Grants programme in Co Meath, to support local community projects related to culture or technology. The Facebook Clonee team are encouraging locals to submit ideas around topics that address community needs by putting the power of technology to use for community benefit, improving local STEM education or connecting people on or offline. To date, we've donated more than 2.5 million to community projects across all our regions which have included investments in tablets for programming classes to increase the students understanding of technology, contributed to family friendly events, games, concerts and community celebrations for our local communities, Clonee Data Centre Site Manager, Mark Hunter said. Were very excited to welcome applications from local community groups in Meath over the coming months. A comedy with brains and glamour, Crazy Rich Asians arrives in cinemas long after most of us had given up hope of ever seeing a really great romcom again. Hollywood has forgotten how to make them, the received wisdom went. Well, it seems as if someone has remembered. A comedy with brains and glamour, Crazy Rich Asians arrives in cinemas long after most of us had given up hope of ever seeing a really great romcom again. Hollywood has forgotten how to make them, the received wisdom went. Well, it seems as if someone has remembered. Expand Close Awkwafina gets some of the movies biggest laughs / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Awkwafina gets some of the movies biggest laughs Jon M Chu's film is old fashioned in the best possible sense, in that it abandons scattergun references to the male sexual organ in favour of sentiment, and actual romance, and pits an apparently perfect couple against the scheming interference of families and friends. It also has a thing or two to say about the shifting tectonic plates of geopolitical power, but more on that in a moment. New York Chinese-American college professor Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) has been dating the suave bachelor Nick Young (Henry Golding) for a year, but hasn't managed to find out an awful lot about him. So she's thrilled when Nick invites her to attend his best friend's wedding in his native Singapore, as it will provide the perfect opportunity to meet his extended family. Rachel is puzzled when they turn up at JFK and are ushered into their own private first class cabin for the flight: it's a business perk, Nick insists, and adds that his family are "comfortable". But when they arrive in Singapore, Rachel finds out they're a little better off than that. It turns out the Youngs are one of the richest families on the Malay Peninsula, making Nick the region's most eligible bachelor. He and Rachel's arrival has been anticipated by a wealthy network of international society spies, who quickly decide that she's both a 'nobody' and a 'gold-digging bitch', as one acidic text puts it. So the knives are out when Rachel attends a hen party on a nearby tropical island, and things get worse when she attends a party at the Young family's huge and imposing mansion. Nick's father is absent on business, and is apparently working himself into an early grave keeping the family's business empire going, but his mother Eleanor (an excellent Michelle Yeoh) is present, correct and not at all impressed. She dotes on her beloved Nick, and while it's doubtful if anyone would ever be good enough for him, some penniless academic from a family no one's ever heard of will certainly not do. Eleanor lets Rachel know exactly what she thinks of her and Nick's formidable grandmother isn't over the moon about their relationship either. Nick, meanwhile, is planning a proposal, but the odds seem stacked against its success. It's been pointed out that Nick and Rachel, while blandly pleasant, are possibly the least interesting characters in the film: we care about their happiness of course, but they're rather earnest. What makes this film work is the colourful gallery of eccentrics and gargoyles that surround them. Awkwafina, who you may remember from Ocean's 8, plays Goh Peik Lin, Rachel's Singaporean college friend who provides a lifeline when things get rough. Goh dresses loudly but fashionably, and combines the booming self-confidence of an American with the wiliness of a local: she earns some of the film's biggest laughs, and Ken Jeong, who plays her wealthy father, is even funnier. Video of the Day Jeong stretched my patience in the Hangover films, but is brilliant here as a cheerfully vulgar Singaporean businessman who talks first, thinks later. During a wonderfully chaotic dinner scene, he tells his two youngest children to eat up their noodles because "you know there are children in America starving". There's been moaning about the ethnicity of some of the actors (Henry Golding is part British) and complaints about a lopsided depiction of Singaporean life. But this is a romcom, not a social documentary, and it happens to be a very good one. Crazy Rich Asians (12A, 121mins) Rose McGowan has revealed she no longer speaks to her fellow #MeToo activist Asia Argento (Ian West/PA) Rose McGowan has revealed that she no longer speaks to her fellow #MeToo activist Asia Argento after a young actor accused her of sexual assault. Italian actress Argento was, along with McGowan, one of the first women to come forward to say they had been attacked by Harvey Weinstein. They have both been credited as prominent members of the #MeToo movement. Expand Close Rose McGowan has said she no longer speaks to Asia Argento after an actor said she sexually assaulted him (Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rose McGowan has said she no longer speaks to Asia Argento after an actor said she sexually assaulted him (Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP) In August, it emerged Argento had been accused of having a sexual relationship with an actor when he was 17. The age of consent in California, where the alleged incident took place, is 18. Argento denied the claims and agreed to pay her accuser 380,000 dollars (295,000) in a settlement. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, McGowan said the pair are no longer in contact, adding: Shes done a lot of good for the movement, and worked really hard for it. I dont think it [the allegations] discredits the work shes done, but it probably will going forward. I just dont know how someone picks up their life from where Asia is now. Earlier this month, McGowan became the first woman to win the Inspiration prize at the GQ Men Of The Year awards. Expand Close Asia Argento is accused of sexually assaulting a male actor (Ian West/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Asia Argento is accused of sexually assaulting a male actor (Ian West/PA) Video of the Day McGowan, 45, said it had been a fight since coming forward with allegations against Weinstein. She said: The weight is very heavy. Its been a fight. Its been a fight every goddamned day. Some fights, and justice, thats worth it. Cranberries star Dolores ORiordan died suddenly in January while she was in London for a short recording session. REUTERS The Cranberries have confirmed they will split following the release of their latest album, the last to feature the vocals and lyrics of the late Dolores O'Riordan. The Limerick star was found dead in a hotel in London in January and this week her death was ruled an accident as a result of drowning due to alcohol intoxication. Dolores was just 46. She had been in London to mix a record with her side project D.A.R.K. and she had been working with fellow Cranberries members Fergal Lawler, and Noel and Mike Hogan on a new album. At the time of her death, the new album was almost finished, and they completed it in the months following her passing. Expand Close The Cranberries / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Cranberries Speaking to The Guardian, they revealed that the band, which formed in Limerick in 1989, will release this album and then split up. We will do this album and then that will be it, Noel told the publication. There is no need to continue. Dolores had battled mental illness and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but Hogan reveals that she was doing well in the months before her death. She was a lot more herself, Noel told The Guardian. Especially last year, when we were rehearsing: you wouldnt even know, because they had found the right cocktail of whatever it was she needed to be on. There wasnt even a case of having to work around it." He said the "hardest thing" as her back injury which restricted her movement on stage. However, he said she was "psyched" about touring in China. Dolores had an awful lot going on and she was on a roll of being able to write, he added. Lyrically, the new album is very strong. She always said she found it hard to write songs when she was happy. She always said: put a bit of misery in her life and it was easier." Video of the Day A release date for the new album has not yet been announced. The bitch is back. Strong woman- cum-manipulative man-eater Ingrid Gleeson is about to return to Fair City after a five-year absence. The long-running RTE soap rang Vivienne Connolly in April to ask about her availability and interest in revising the role. The phone call came on the day of her son Ben Junior's Confirmation - his grandfather is Ben Dunne. "And it was funny because Katie," Vivienne says referring to her other child by ex-husband, supermarket heir Mark Dunne, "had only said a couple of weeks before that she'd love it if I was back on Fair City as she was so young the last time and wasn't allowed to watch it." "I was on Fair City in 2011 and 2012," says Vivienne. "I come back for a while to stir things up. I can't say much more than that at the moment! You'll have to tune in," she laughs. How did Ingrid acquire the reputation as a wicked, scheming hussy? "I think because she was having a relationship with another guy, and then came back and took Louie, her ex, back from Carol, broke up their marriage at the altar - and headed back to America with him. That will probably do it every time!" Acting came to her initially. In 1997, Vivienne, who was then one of Ireland's foremost models, was working on The Late Late Show fashion awards. "The cameraman on the show, Tim Lawless, was friends with Brendan O'Carroll, and Brendan was doing a play called The Course and he was looking for someone to play a certain role and Tim suggested me for it." Vivienne auditioned for the part and got it. "We played in The Olympia for six weeks and then in the Everyman in Cork. It was great fun." Despite this, Vivienne left acting "for a while" (actually a decade) as she was making more money modelling. She took it up again in 2009, training with The Irish Film Academy with Rachel Sarah Murphy and then intensive training with Terry McMahon and David Scott. It was in November, 2010, in Oedipus at Dublin's Smock Alley, that Vivienne's performance as another strong woman - Jocasta, the Queen of Thebes, who along with her husband King Laius, binds their child's ankles and sends him off to the wilderness to perish - caught the eye of Fair City producer Brigie de Courcy, who was in the audience. "She asked me to audition, which I did, and was lucky enough to get the part of Ingrid." Asked to describe her character, Vivienne says: "Ingrid is all about her family and kids. She will go to any lengths for her kids, she is a no-nonsense kind of person but I think she has a vulnerable side." And you? Video of the Day "Me? I am like her in that I will do anything for my kids," she replies. "I'm a strong person with a great sense of fun. I'm loyal and honest and always seeking new adventures. "I'm a strong person, but I'm very soft underneath. My dad always said my bladder was too close to my eyes, because I cry so easily." To the best of my memory, the 1913 author of A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu, Marcel Proust, has never been officially referenced on Fair City in its 28 years on the national airwaves. Be that as it may, Vivienne Connolly's memory is positively Proustian. She can remember going to her granny's house in Limerick, at four years of age, for Christmas. Her granny's name was Anne but people affectionately called her Bunny. She was, "a fab lady, who never drank or smoked. She was an amazing cook." That Christmas, in Limerick, the cooking was extra special, as was the festive atmosphere around the house. All her cousins were there too - Olivia, Cornelia, Darren, Gillian and Shane - "and I made everyone kneel in front of the crib on Christmas morning and pray and say happy birthday to Jesus before we opened our presents. I remember wanting to acknowledge the meaning of the day,'' smiles Vivienne before laughing. "Or, maybe, I was praying Santa had brought me the right presents." Growing up in a four-bedroomed house on two-and-a-half acres in Kilmeaney, Co Carlow, Vivienne Lee Connolly was born on November 23, 1972, the middle child in a family of five (between older siblings Derek and Lorna, and younger siblings Carl and sister Elaine). She went to school at St Leo's Convent nearby. The daughter of Liz and John, who ran a dry cleaners and drapery shop in Carlow town, she describes her childhood as "very happy, very carefree, fun, loving". "It was a very close-knit family, which gives you strength." Vivienne was very close to her aunts and uncles, Bernadette and Gerard Bourke, Teresa Lenihan, Anne Walsh et al. "They spent time with us and played games which I think gives a child self-esteem and self-worth - to know that these people enjoy spending their time with you, as your time is the most precious gift you can give to anyone," she says. "They would all play rounders and charades with us - the boys against the girls. There was good, healthy competition and a few obligatory rows thrown in, generally over the rules. It was always fun and we enjoyed winding each other up, and even the people who didn't want to play at the start ended up joining in and enjoying it." Her parents have been married for what seems like forever. Vivienne's high-profile marriage to Mark Dunne ended in 2010. They went for their first date in The Barge Pub in Ranelagh, Dublin, in 2000 and were married on December 3, 2005, in Ashford Castle. They were legally separated in April 2011. Did the break-up feel almost extra painful on some levels because Vivienne expected and wanted to have the same long marriage as her mum and dad? "Yes it did, because I never expected to be in that situation and obviously the hardest part was its effect on the kids. As I said, my family are quite traditional, so it was tough on everyone." Vivienne previously told me: "And without being selfish, that was one of the things I couldn't get past for a long time: I felt very selfish. I kept saying to my sisters - 'How can I do this to my kids? Take their father away? Take that whole unit away?' That's the one thing I always miss, the family unit, because I had it." I ask her how she dealt with that emotionally? "You just have to go with what feels right at the time, trust your guts and do your best. Sometimes you just have to learn on the job and that's what I did. I thought it was better to bring Ben and Katie up with two happy parents rather than in an unhappy environment where they were never going to flourish. "People kept saying me 'you're so brave'. My response was, there is a very fine line between brave and stupid. I just did what I had to do and it was the hardest thing I've every been through. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone," she says. "But I wouldn't recommend staying in an unhappy marriage to anyone either. Myself and Mark have two very strong personalities, I think that's one of the reasons it didn't work out." Why, in hindsight, does Vivienne think they broke up? "Neither of us was happy and it just wasn't working anymore. I would rather leave it at that. Mark deserves his privacy and so do the kids. Myself and Mark get on great now, thank God. He is a great father to Ben and Katie and they were our priority through all of this." She says that being a mother to Ben and Katie - born on April 22, 2004, and August 22, 2006, respectively - is "the best and most satisfying job in the world. It can also be one of the toughest. It has made me realise what life is all about, there is nothing more precious than your children. It has made me value my time a lot more as you see just how quickly it goes by," Vivienne says, adding that Ben started secondary school last Thursday. "Like how did that happen so fast? It's amazing watching them growing into young men and women. It makes you more appreciative and grateful, especially when you hear others aren't so lucky. It has definitely made me more patient, because you have to be, and probably taught me not to sweat about the small stuff. I always say to Katie, if something is stressing her to delay the worry. And it works." How does Vivienne look back on the somewhat precocious Carlow girl, who once said to her parents at the kitchen table: "I can't believe I'm nine years old and haven't been out of the country yet." What possessed her to come out with something like that? "You know, its funny because I remember saying that so clearly and I remember how serious I was, how much I meant it," Vivienne says, 35 years later. "I think it was a natural urge inside me to see the world. I was curious and wanted to see everything, and when I started travelling I didn't stop and I'm not done yet. I think it's so true that travelling broadens your mind. It just completely enriches your life and you gain experience that you can pass onto your children." Asked what it has taught her, Vivienne says "to really listen to my own kids and know that there is a lot of meaning in what they say and it can be quite revealing of their future personalities, because children shoot from the hip. They are honest - out of the mouth of babes and all that. Ben and Katie already love travelling and are very good at navigating airports and cities and other cultures which can only be a positive thing." One of Vivienne Connolly's favourite books is Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Spend a bit of time in her company and it kind of shows. Prone to much philosophical self-analysis, Vivienne believes that life is "a great teacher" and "all of our experiences form who we are. Life has taught me that sometimes, or even often, things are not within your control... that the stuff that you worry about is usually not the stuff that actually happens to you; things come out of the blue and bite you on the ass, but I do believe, what's meant for you won't go by you, and that there is a bigger picture. "It has taught me that time is the most valuable thing you have and spend it the best way you can with the people you love. Don't have regrets, they are a waste of time. Stop procrastinating and just do it!" she says, and then, without missing a beat: "Worrying never changes the result. So don't do it." Does ageing worry her? "My age has never bothered me," she says. "Ageing isn't easy for anyone, but it's inevitable. So my approach is just to embrace it and if you are having a tough day, just remind yourself how lucky you are to be here - a lot of sick kids and adults who didn't make it to this age would have given anything for the chance to grow old. It's the circle of life. Just make the most of it all." As such, Vivienne has been using up her air miles with the abandon of the nine-year-old child who admonished her parents for never having been out of the country. She went to Australia in January for five weeks. "It was something I have been trying to do for a long time as I have two good friends living over there, but it wasn't easy to get that block of time together and I was nervous at the thought of leaving the kids for so long, but I took the bull by the horns and decided it wasn't going to happen unless I made it happen. So I booked my ticket in November on my birthday - a birthday present to me! - and I had one of those moments when you press the button on your computer of 'Oh my God, I am really doing this!'" she laughs. "Obviously, I had discussed the possibility with Mark and he was more than happy to have the kids for that time," adds Vivienne, who has also travelled to Marrakech, Rome, New York and Paris over the last couple of years, and most recently, the Algarve, where she has a second home. "I'm heading back to the Algarve next week for Gail Kaneswaran's wedding." Apropos of all this consciousness-expanding travelling and accumulation of truth about the world from her own life experiences, former top model Vivienne is currently setting up her website. She will be blogging about fashion, beauty, travel and lifestyle. "There is also a parenting section and I will answer any questions people have, from single parenting to advice on separations. There are a lot of people out there who feel they are alone and I want them to know that they are not. There are a lot of girls blogging and covering fashion and beauty for the younger age group but there is a definite gap when it comes to women in their 40s," she says, "also we can work through navigating the dating scene". I ask her if there is any romance in her life? "Not at the moment," she says. "I need to get back in the dating scene." Clearly not overly keen to dwell on the subject of her love life, Vivienne changes tack. "I think life is short so I like to make the most of it. I love seeing other people happy and I love surprising people, like I did earlier this year, when I took my mum to Paris for her birthday, because she had never been before," Vivienne says. "She loved it. We did all the touristy bits for the first few days because I knew my sisters were flying in on the Friday." Vivienne and her mother were enjoying lunch by the Eiffel Tower. She had planned it so that her mother's back was turned, so she couldn't see her two other daughters, Lorna and Elaine "come up behind her and frighten the life out of her. We were all in tears." As the men on Fair City will be when Ingrid Gleeson returns next week. vivienneconnolly.com Two students staying in luxury student accommodation in Dublin claim that they became ill due to mould growing in the 1,000-a-month apartment. Ehsan Ghaffari and his flatmate Helen* are both international students at Trinity College and residents of Kavanagh Court student complex on Gardiner Street, operated by student accommodation firm Uninest. The complex is advertised on Trinitys website as "top of the range" student accommodation. Upon moving in, Ehsan, a fourth-year medical student who also works in a children's hospital, said he noticed an odd smell. "There was a smell like a dead animal that had been rotting in the room for 15 years," Ehsan told Independent.ie. "When I moved in the shower panel was missing, the toilet roll holder was broken, the chair and the mattress smelled, this I later found out was a result of the mould not the stains on it, and the room stank," he said. Ehsan said he had spotted some green mould growing on one half of a storage area under the bed, but when staff came to change the mattress he noticed it on the other half of the bed. "When I saw the black mould it chilled me. I was like s**t this was the smell, the whole time Ive been suffocating from this. I'd been getting light-headed while studying in that room, the smell was absolutely horrifying," he said. Expand Close Students describe mould in luxury student accommodation - at 1,000-a-month / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Students describe mould in luxury student accommodation - at 1,000-a-month Images and video obtained by Independent.ie show the extent of the mould. His flatmate, post-graduate student Helen, who prefers not to use her real name, had previously taken a year out of college as a result of health problems. However, she said she felt her health worsen after she moved into the accommodation. She told Independent.ie that she was reassured by the property manager the accommodation was in good condition and there was no mould in the rooms. "When I arrived at Kavanagh I was already starting to feel a bit off, having heart palpitations, some mild headaches and some mild insomnia but I tried not to think too much of it, attributing it to jet-lag and being fatigued in general just from travelling," she told Independent.ie. Expand Close Student claimed ill health: 'My whole body was pulsating, my head, chest, stomach legs were throbbing' / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Student claimed ill health: 'My whole body was pulsating, my head, chest, stomach legs were throbbing' "I discovered Ehsan had mould in his room," she said. "The next thing I know, the next day, they are remediating the mould in his room while the rest of the people were still living in the flat. "They did not inform us that they were going to start this remediation process. I noted people in Ehsans room, the affected mattress was in the hallway airing out in the common area for all to breathe." "They just went in, no masks, no gloves, they just went in with bleach started scrubbing it and released all of this mould into the air. "Not only did they approach this completely improperly they didnt even warn us that they were doing this." Ehsan said he was also surprised by the "lack of safety equipment" in the clean-up operation. Helen continued; "Over the next three days my symptoms skyrocketed. "Instead of just heart palpitations I had the sensation that my whole body was pulsating, my head, chest, stomach legs were throbbing, I started to develop peripheral neuropathy (losing feeling in the extremities), which is a condition that I had years ago due to Lyme disease and mould exposure but had been completely gone for months." Ehsan said; "I had throat pain and my wisdom tooth started killing me. At first I thought it was a teeth problem and had scheduled a dentist appointment to have it removed then I started to experience knee pain and I couldnt sleep at all. "After only one day they said the room was ready for me to move back in. Under the bed the concrete was exposed and there was still damp on it, there was a piece of carpet on all corners of it which they hadnt removed." Ehsan requested a meeting with the Kavanagh Court residence manager but claims the meeting was a no-show. Another meeting was set for the following morning, but Ehsan claims once again the residence manager didnt show up. It was agreed with the assistant manager that the pair would be moved to different rooms while the problem was treated. Helen said the assistant manager has since "gone above and beyond" in her efforts to help her. "It was bad enough that I was moved in to this building, even worse that I was moved into the flat that had the worse mould issue in the entire building, and they told me straight up that Ehsans room was the worst in the entire building," she said. "They had three chances to keep me from getting sick and they didnt on any occasion, so that was extremely disheartening, especially having worked so hard to get rid of these symptoms in the first place. "Its a total nightmare, this is supposed to be one the state-of-the-art student accommodation buildings, its advertised all over Trinitys website as what is meant to be an absolutely terrific experience so to have this happen having taken the extra precautions was really super-disheartening." A spokesperson from Uninest, said in a statement; "We want to make our students lives as easy as possible and as part of this approach we agreed to an early-move in date for one of our cluster apartments, which we later discovered had an issue. This is very unfortunate as we pride ourselves on providing the highest standards of accommodation. "We immediately offered alternative accommodation to allow for remedial works to take place. We have since met again with our residents and discussed the matter in detail, and have agreed a solution to ensure that the standards that are expected are restored as a matter of urgency." In a statement to Independent.ie. Trinity College said: Kavanagh Court is purpose built student accommodation that has been developed to a very high standard. As part of our relationship with Kavanagh Court it has an agreed service level for maintenance response." Kavanagh Court is operated by Uninest, a joint venture between the property management wing of Dubai based company GSA (Global Student accommodation) and Harrison Street Real Estate Capital. Their existing facilities include 406 beds at New Mill and 296 beds at The Tannery in Dublin's Liberties; 491 beds at Kavanagh Court in Summerhill, 100 beds at Broadstone Hall near Phibsborough, and Ardcairn House with 571 beds near DIT Grangegorman. The joint venture has plans to develop four further facilities with a total of 1,325 beds. Irish women's cervical cancer screening may now have to be outsourced to a laboratory in Sydney, Australia. It follows revelations that slides have been sent from Ireland to US labs in Texas, New Jersey, Honolulu, Las Vegas, and Orlando, as well as to London, in recent years. The testing is currently done in Medlab and the Coombe Hospital in Dublin. It is also outsourced to a lab in New Jersey, USA. However, the report by Dr Gabriel Scally reveals that Medlab, which is coping with a large volume of tests to process following the CervicalCheck scandal, may also have to send extra screening to be carried out at its lab in Sydney, Australia. Dr Scally's report said that Medlab and the HSE were in discussions on the matter. The surge in the uptake of tests by thousands of worried women has put Medlab under pressure. Women are now having to wait two months for the results of their tests. Meanwhile, although Dr Scally has said that, based on his evidence, CervicalCheck can continue to use existing labs, he is to conduct a number of further investigations. He is to examine further the standard of accreditation used by the labs in the United States. Accreditation - which is essentially a certificate of high standards based on external inspection - differs in Ireland and the US. Dr Scally discovered that the labs used by CervicalCheck in Texas up to 2013, and now in New Jersey, do not follow a system of accreditation known as ISO/CAP 15189, despite this being demanded in their tender contract. Last May, Health Minister Simon Harris told People before Profit TD Brid Smith in the Dail that all the labs used by CervicalCheck have this form of accreditation. "All labs contracted by CervicalCheck meet the programme's standards and have ISO accreditation," he said. But this has now been found to be incorrect. The US labs are compliant with their national form of accreditation as set out by the College of American Pathologists. However, Dr Scally said that it would appear the accreditation system used in Ireland "may be at a higher standard" as it involves full-time assessors. He is now going to carry out a comparative analysis of the systems. The inadequate oversight by CervicalCheck of laboratories used for cancer screening has also emerged. The five labs used at various stages since CervicalCheck was set up a decade ago were only each visited once by inspectors hired by CervicalCheck to get its own report, independent of regulators. The last visit was in 2014, and no inspection has been made by CervicalCheck since. The fact that one of the labs had in each of the five years between 2012 and 2016 picked up between twice and three times as many high grade changes in test readings was not properly probed. The HSE said yesterday it is still in talks with labs about extending their services from October. Two are demanding to break free from an indemnity agreement. Mr Harris said yesterday he will meet the Medical Council to discuss the disrespectful attitude of some doctors to several CervicalCheck victims and families. Cocaine has been seized twice in recent months GARDAI have arrested a soldier on suspicion of dealing cocaine after drugs were found at a Dublin barracks. The 23-year-old was arrested after around 1,400 worth of drugs were found in a room during a search by military police officers. It emerged earlier this month that the soldier was under investigation and needed hospital treatment after becoming violent in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines. A search of his room was carried out and an unknown substance was recovered by military police, who handed it over to gardai. Officers from Rathmines Garda Station have been carrying out an investigation into the incident and last week arrested the soldier for questioning. He was held on suspicion of being in the possession of drugs for the purpose of sale and supply. A source told the Herald the soldier made admissions while in custody and admitted to being in possession of the drugs. Gardai believe the value of the suspected cocaine is in the region of 1,400, though further tests are being carried out on a second bag recovered. It is understood a small quantity of steroids, as well as legal fitness supplements, were also recovered during the search. A garda spokesman said a man in his 20s was arrested on September 7 in relation to the investigation. He has since been released without charge and a file will be sent to the DPP, he said. FIREARM A previous statement by the Defence Forces said military police were carrying out an investigation following an incident in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines on Friday, August 31. A member of the Defence Forces was transferred to hospital for medical examination where he remains under medical care. Following a search [that day], a quantity of an as yet unidentified substance was discovered which was handed over to gardai for examination. At no stage during the incident was any individual threatened with a firearm. When asked about gardai arresting the soldier, the Defence Forces said it had no further comment to make at this time. It is the second time in recent months that a quantity of cocaine has been seized from the barracks. In December, military police found around 3,000 of cocaine in a common area of the base. A source said last night there was no apparent link between that bust and the most recent drug seizure. The individual in question made admissions to the latest cocaine seizure, including admitting to dealing, the source said. However, despite this, there is nothing to suggest that he was in possession of the drugs recovered in December and that matter is still being actively investigated. Fianna Fail is set to demand the flagship childcare subsidy to families is doubled in this year's Budget. The 80 per month universal childcare subsidy came under fire after it was first introduced by Children's Minister Katherine Zappone last year amid claims fees simply rose to absorb the benefit. With childcare costs amounting to a so-called 'second mortgage' for working families, the Government will face pressure from various quarters to move to address the issue. It is understood that Micheal Martin's party have urged the doubling of the subsidy to 160 per month in a bid to bring down childcare costs for hard-pressed families. With Budget negotiations ongoing between the two parties, the party's childcare spokeswoman, Anne Rabbitte, has also put a new proposal on the table which will be assessed by the party's negotiating team. She has suggested a 5 increase per child in the capitation fee paid for the first year of the free pre-school scheme. The move would cost 13m and it is hoped that the increase would be ring-fenced for staff wages to bulwark against a retention and recruitment crisis in the sector. A spokeswoman for Ms Zappone did not respond when asked if the doubling of the subsidy was included in her Budget wishlist. However, she defended the minister's track record on childcare. "Minister Zappone has demonstrated a commitment to making childcare in Ireland more affordable, more accessible and higher quality," she said. "The early years sector in Ireland has suffered from chronic under-investment from successive governments over the past decades. "Over the past two budgets, Minister Zappone has secured an increase of almost 80pc in funding to the sector. "Last year this funding was directed at addressing the affordability of childcare, with a 50pc increase in subsidies for families that need it most and a universal non-means-tested of over 1,000 per year for children under three. "These measures have benefited the families of more than 80,000 children since their introduction in September," she added. In relation to another of the Fianna Fail's demands - to increase funding to family resource centres nationwide - the spokeswoman said the minister "will continue to support the work of Family Resource Centres with a view to enhancing the services they provide to vulnerable children and families". Meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar yesterday insisted that the 600m overrun in the Department of Health will not see other departments lose out. "If we're overrunning in health we're overrunning for a reason, because those improvements are being made. On the Budget itself, no decisions have yet been made - there are moving parts. "Obviously there's an overrun in one department, there are underruns in other departments. "What was favourable in the last couple of days were very positive GDP numbers, not too positive the tax receipts for August, so lots of moving parts and it will be a number of weeks before I determine the Budget." Anyone who can help should contact Letterkenny garda station at 074-9167100, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station. Gardai have renewed their appeal for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision at Listillion, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, on Thursday, September 6 at around 7.45pm. A black Mazda 3 and a red Toyota Hilux pickup were involved in the collision that killed one of the drivers. Investigating gardai are appealing for witnesses or any drivers or taxi drivers who may have witnessed the collision. They are also appealing to anyone who may have seen either of the cars prior to the fatal crash and would like to hear from anyone who has dash-cam footage and who was on the Letterkenny to Stranorlar Road between 7pm and 8pm on Thursday evening. Anyone who can help should contact Letterkenny garda station at 074-9167100, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station. The HSE is paying recruitment agencies a 10,000 hiring fee for every nurse it employs in a desperate new bid to fill vital hospital jobs. The 10m recruitment drive hopes to attract 1,000 nurses to work in the health service, starting with 250 needed urgently. A tender, which is expected to share the work among a number of agencies, was issued during the summer in the hope of having nurses in place as the winter trolley crisis worsens. However, the 10,000 fee for each nurse hired will go directly to the recruitment agency. Expand Close Reliance on agencies: Health Sector Jobs chief Stephen McLarnon. Photo: Robbie Reynolds / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Reliance on agencies: Health Sector Jobs chief Stephen McLarnon. Photo: Robbie Reynolds It comes as the HSE is expected to have an overrun of 600m at the end of this year. This may leave less room for the Government to deliver on 'sweeteners' like tax cuts in the Budget and may even push up VAT rates. The costly HSE recruitment method has been brought to the attention of Health Minister Simon Harris by Stephen McLarnon, chief executive of Health Sector Jobs, which runs jobs fairs for nurses here and abroad. "The HSE and hospital groups rely heavily on recruitment agencies at substantial cost to the taxpayer," he said. At the same time, he said, they are failing to avail of the cheaper and potentially more effective jobs fairs at a fraction of the cost. "We invited Irish hospitals to come to a fair in Australia last June but the initial interest was not followed up. "We brought five NHS Trusts to Australia with us for a fixed fee. Kings College Hospital hired 30 nurses as result. "We met Irish nurses who emigrated during the recession and would like to come back but find the HSE application process very bureaucratic." The minister and health chiefs only have themselves to blame this winter if the trolley crisis is worsened by staff shortages, he added. In response, the HSE said it is "significantly challenged in sourcing a sufficient nursing workforce supply". "This is despite the substantial efforts already in place to attract and retain the necessary workforce, for example the offer of a permanent contract of employment to all graduating nurses in 2017 and again in 2018," it said. "The support of other recruitment methods are essential to support the ongoing efforts of the HSE. "The tender process will ensure the HSE receives the best value for money from any agencies awarded the contract." Meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar rejected claims health funding was going into a "black hole" and said more funds were being spent on hiring additional staff like nurses. He also claimed waiting lists were going in the "right direction" and the numbers waiting for surgery were down to 74,189. A record 514,585 are waiting to see a specialist. "I want to acknowledge in Ireland that there are far too many people waiting far too long to see a specialist or to have an operation for the procedure they need and I do want to acknowledge that," he said. "It will be a number of weeks before I determine the Budget. Obviously there's an overrun in one department and underruns in other departments. "What was favourable recently were very positive Gross Domestic Product (GDP) numbers. "There are lots of moving parts," he added. However, Fianna Fail spokesman on health Stephen Donnelly reminded him that 82,597 people have now been waiting more than 18 months to see a specialist. "This is despite the target set by Mr Varadkar as minister for health that by the end of June 2015 no one would wait more than 18 months," he said. The chairman of the Private Hospitals Association, Michael Cullen, said they have additional capacity to help reverse the growing national waiting list figures. He called for more funding for the National Treatment Purchase Fund. Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath has hit back at his Fine Gael Government partners as the row about health overspending escalates. Some Fine Gael ministers have been privately blaming the Independent Alliance for being responsible for a major part of a health overspend expected to reach 600m this year. It is seriously denting prospects of an easing of the tax burden in the Budget due to be delivered in little over three weeks, on October 9. The escalation in the row followed some terse exchanges between Fine Gael Cabinet members and Independent ministers at last week's meeting of the Government. Children's Minister Katherine Zappone and Mr McGrath are understood to have bluntly stated they expect a full funding allocation. Privately, one Fine Gael minister was extremely critical of Mr McGrath. "Finian McGrath should look more closely at his own brief. He is responsible for a large part of the health overspending," the minister told the Irish Independent. But Mr McGrath has openly rebutted these criticisms. "I make no apology for securing an extra 137m in funding for disabilities over the past two budgets. "We must realise that this comes after 10 years of shameful underspending," he said. The Independent Alliance TD for Dublin Bay North said he understood there are limited funds available and tough spending decisions have to be made. "But in a situation like that one you have to pull back and decide on priorities. That is my argument and I believe you cannot allow the most vulnerable people, like those battling disability and their families, to take the brunt of spending reductions," he added. In previous years, a surplus in welfare spending was used to bridge the health budget shortfall. This was mainly due to a significant fall in unemployment from a peak of 16pc in 2012 to the current level of 5.6pc. But the welfare budget is now just breaking even. Colm OGorman has spoken about Twitters messed up policies after the social media platform found no violations in a tirade of abuse sent to him this week. The executive director of Amnesty Ireland and outspoken victim of clerical abuse shared screenshot images of the tweets sent by the troll last night, alongside the response from Twitter. The homophobic tweets sent by the anonymous user targeted OGormans family, but a reply from Twitter said it did not go against the Twitter rules on abusive behaviour. Ive a very thick skin, I have to. But @TwitterSupport if this bile doesnt violate your rules against abusive behaviour, then your rules are seriously flawed. You cant claim to be anti-hate and permit this. Shame on you. pic.twitter.com/eTZXU2rYXJ Colm O'Gorman (@Colmogorman) September 14, 2018 The reply said: "Thank you for your recent report. We have reviewed your report carefully and found that there was no violation of the Twitter Rules against abusive behaviour." According to Twitter, abusive behavior is seen as an attempt to harass, intimidate, or silence someone elses voice. In order to facilitate healthy dialogue on the platform, and empower individuals to express diverse opinions and beliefs, we prohibit behavior that harasses or intimidates, or is otherwise intended to shame or degrade others, a statement on the social site reads. In addition to posing risks to peoples safety, abusive behavior may also lead to physical and emotional hardship for those affected. OGorman described the rules as seriously flawed for allowing the tweets and users account to remain public yesterday afternoon. Ive very thick skin, I have to. But Twitter if this bile doesnt violate your rules against abusive behaviour, then your rules are seriously flawed, OGorman said. You cant claim to be anti-hate and permit this. Shame on you. OGorman added that he wanted to highlight the issue to bring awareness to Twitters response. Point is this stuff causes real harm. And its targeted, he uses my kids' names. I highlight this not because I give a flying fig about what he or she thinks, but because of what it reveals about Twitters ongoing appalling attitude to such obvious and targeted abuse. They are cowardly people who use anonymous user names. They arent brave enough to use their real names because they know theyd disgrace themselves. People like that tend to be trolls. Rory Cowan (@1rorycowan) September 14, 2018 Former Mrs Browns Boys star Rory Cowan described the attack as cowardly. They are cowardly people who use anonymous user names. They arent brave enough to use their real names because they know theyd disgrace themselves. People like that tend to be trolls. Senator Catherine Noone also called on Twitter to explain their actions: Twitter need to explain this- it's simply unacceptable. The account has since been suspended. Earlier today, O'Gorman received a further update from Twitter that said after reviewing the account, it would be suspended for "violating Twitter's hateful conduct policy." Gavin Duffy: Relieved to have crossed the line and humbled by support received. Photo: Gerry Mooney Businessman and former 'Dragons' 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 put him on the ballot paper, adding to endorsements from councils in Co Carlow, Co Wicklow and Co Meath. Five hopefuls addressed the council in Dungarvan yesterday 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 Co Waterford was journalist and campaigner Gemma O'Doherty, who was backed by independent councillors Sean Reinhardt and Joe Kelly. Mr Duffy won the endorsement by 14 votes to two, 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: "On 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." Earlier, the members were addressed by another former 'Dragon', Peter Casey, as well as Ms O'Doherty, Sarah Louise Mulligan and Newry-based businessman John O'Hare, who only entered the race on Thursday. Ms 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". Separately, a woman who presented a satirical presidential bid for the Aras race before Dublin City Council on Thursday has said she "had to take it to an outrageous level" to make her point. Film-maker Norma Burke said she was protesting the quality of candidates presenting themselves for the 2018 presidential race. Using the alias 'Bunty Twuntingdon McFluff', Ms Burke introduced herself to the council as a PR executive and "the PR brains behind the Brexit bus". "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 on RTE Radio One's 'Today with Sean O'Rourke'. The council ultimately decided not to endorse any candidate. 'There's nothing in the Constitution to say I can't sing as President," Dana, also known as Rosemary Scallan, famously said during her surprise presidential campaign in autumn 1997. And how right the 1970 'Eurovision Song Contest' winner was about that - though she didn't get elected and we were never treated to her warbling in the Phoenix Park, that we know of anyway. But Dana also left us a rather mixed legacy as the first person in the then 60-year history of our Constitution, Bunreacht na hEireann, to take the "council route" on to the presidential election ballot paper. Her successful strategy was to simply appeal directly to councils on the democratic merits of being allowed to put her name before the people. Twenty years later, we absolutely expect that many councils will do just that. By now three independent candidates, Sean Gallagher, Senator Joan Freeman, and Gavin Duffy, have the necessary four councils' endorsement to get on the presidential election ballot for October 26 next. We expect outgoing President Michael D Higgins to nominate himself and Sinn Fein will go the only other nomination route, via endorsement of 20 TDs or senators. We have been treated to some strange goings-on for the past fortnight at council chambers as a variety of hitherto unknown characters have landed on the councillors seeking their support. On Thursday night at Dublin City Hall, we were treated to the ultimate illogical conclusion of these melodramas. Read More Actor and film-maker Norma Burke, who presented as Bunty Twuntingdon McFluff, advocated turning Aras an Uachtarain into a hunting lodge and spa. In a Swiftian turn of satire, she suggested homeless people living in the Phoenix Park could be hunted along with the deer. Many of the councillors suffered acute sense of humour failure, eventually deciding not to endorse any candidate. But Ms Burke/McFluff said something many of us have been thinking - she was pointing up how farcical this can get. "I did this because I got so angry listening to people who want to be candidates but haven't read the constitutional requirements," she said. Yet Bunreacht na hEireann is a surprisingly easy read and it sets out the obligations and limitations of the President clearly and swiftly. The biggest presidential power is absolute discretion to refuse a dissolution of the Dail at the request of a Taoiseach who has lost its support. No President has refused, but unsuccessful attempts were made to persuade Patrick Hillery to do so in 1982. The other discretionary power is sending draft laws passed by the Dail and Seanad to the Supreme Court for a test of their constitutionality. But, as has been shown by Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, the president can have big influence on the mood of the nation. Neither of these presidents was content to confine herself, or the office, to issues already spoken to by the rest of the political system. It gave new life to a job which, prior to 1990, had become a retirement home for long-serving Fianna Fail politicians. Part of that open presidency was thanks to the councils exerting their hitherto unused power to nominate candidates, and people like Dana, who took the plunge and stood. Access to candidature should always have been open - not just accessible to a privileged few. But some of the farcical events of the past fortnight tell us that it is time for some sort of filter to be put in before would-be contenders present to councillors. Securing the nomination of a number of councillors beforehand seems advisable. Few prospective employers would open their door to people without experience or qualifications. Why should councillors considering the presidency be any different? Pressure is mounting on the Government to reintroduce tax relief for renters as the housing crisis grows. The Irish Independent understands that the return of rent relief for tenants has been raised during Budget negotiations between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. Meanwhile, a tax incentive for landlords who provide longer leases has been tabled by Fianna Fail and Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy. It comes as this newspaper can reveal the number of tenancies has increased dramatically nationwide. As rocketing rents force people to rent outside cities and towns, housing charity Threshold warned: :: Rent pressure legislation is not working; :: Increases of up to 50pc in rents are forcing low and middle-income families into homelessness; :: Accidental landlords are leaving the market and being replaced by institutional landlords charging at the top end of the market; :: The Government's over-reliance on the rental market in lieu of social housing is adding to the crisis. A rent relief for tenants was phased out last year and reintroducing it is seen as an expensive move. However head of Threshold, Senator Aideen Hayden, said this Budget must address the rental crisis and look at ways to fix a sector that is not fit for purpose. Steps have to be taken to ensure there is affordable rental properties available for low and middle-income families, Ms Hayden said. Despite legislation limiting rent increases to 4pc in so-called pressure zones, people are reporting increases of up to 50pc in places, she said. The rental sector as it stands is not suitable for families she warned, noting that families currently do not have security which means they cannot put down roots in communities. A spokesperson for Mr Murphy would not be drawn on Budget measures being examined for renters. Previously the minister said Ireland needs to develop a mature rental sector and is bringing forward stricter enforcement and strengthened tenancy rights. Cost rental schemes are also included in the Governments long-term plan. It comes as the Irish Independent has found that every town in Ireland has seen a dramatic rise in the number of people renting their homes as the housing crisis deepens. An in-depth analysis of census data shows that families are being squeezed out of buying in our cities, towns and villages, with the number renting from private landlords increasing by 32.94pc in Templemore, Co Tipperary, and to a staggering 550pc in Stamullen, Co Meath. The data also shows that home-ownership rates have fallen. While more people own their homes outright, this is largely due to our ageing population. Read More But fewer people own their home with a mortgage or loan, with the numbers dropping from almost 570,000 in 2006 to 535,675 in 2016 as the lack of new homes coming onto the market means demand is not being met. The findings, based on an analysis of census data from 2006 and 2016, come as rents reach record highs and house prices continue to soar. Official statistics reveal that while local authorities and voluntary bodies supply around 160,000 units, the vast bulk of rental homes are sourced from private landlords who are increasingly snapping up properties in and around major urban areas. The data shows that in 2006, just over one in five households were rented, or 20.6pc. By the time of the 2016 Census, it had risen by 168,365 to almost 470,000, representing 27.7pc of all households. But the rise in the number renting from private landlords is even more stark. In 2006, just under 10pc of homes were rented from private landlords, or 145,317. By 2016, it had more than doubled to 309,728. This represents 18.2pc of all households. The highest proportion of people renting their homes is found in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, at 39.89pc. The highest rate in our cities is in Galway at 35.14pc. Of 205 towns for which data is available, private rental rates are above the national average of 18.2pc in 148. The numbers renting from private landlords has risen in all 195 towns for which data is available. The lowest rate of increase was in Templemore, and the highest in Stamullen. The numbers increased by 100pc or more in 159 towns. The highest proportion of those renting from a local authority was in Mountrath, Co Laois, at 25pc. More than 20pc of people rent from a council in 10 towns. But the data also highlights how difficult it is for people to buy a home. The number owning with a mortgage has dropped, with almost 47pc fewer households falling into this category in Bantry, Co Cork, the sharpest drop. Case Study A shrinking rental market and inflated prices means accommodation is nothing but a dream for many young people. I know this because Ive spent the best part of the past two months trawling through advertisements online in an attempt to rent a room in our capital, with no success. Im just one of the thousands out there, all in the same boat. We know this isnt specific to Dublin, as rents have climbed to record highs across the country. Landlords I speak to say they receive hundreds, some even say close to a thousand, enquiries from prospective tenants within hours of listing their ads online. Many of them say they have to take them down almost immediately because of the volume of interest. In fact, the whole process has become very close to applying for a job. They ask for a short bio indicating why you would be a good candidate, an opportunity to impress upon the landlord that you are the right fit for their often damp and overcrowded home. If you fit their criteria you are invited for a viewing which feels more like an interview. Bear in mind another 40 other ideal candidates have also been invited. Thats where you sell yourself to them, all the while knowing there is someone else outside to come in after you to do the same. And this is against the backdrop of paying huge rents if you are the successful candidate. A double bedroom in a four-bed house is going for up to a 1,000 a month in suburban Dublin. The alternative is to share a room with another person youve never met before, for around 500 a month. When people ask me why I dont look for a job outside of Dublin, I have to remind them that this is happening everywhere in the country. Apart from that, the reality is that working in the media means more than 90pc of jobs are in the Greater Dublin Area. Im not alone in that either. The technology sector is another area in which Dublin has locked down a massive proportion of those jobs. The good news is that I have a four-hour round trip every day to refine my sales pitch for future viewings. Conor McCrave Diarmuid McCleary (26) will embark on a journey around Scotland to raise money for Robyn's Life fund. A young Irish man will begins his journey around Scotland today with only a microwave in hand to raise funds for a 13-year-old girl with cancer. Diarmuid McCleary (26) made headlines in April after he decided to make his way around Ireland by hitchhiking with a microwave, in aid of mental health charity Jigsaw. Now, the former DIT student is taking The Microwave Express around Scotland to raise money for the Robyns Life fund. Robyn Smyth (13) has fought neuroblastoma four times since she was first diagnosed in 2007, and Robyns Life was set up to raise money for her treatment. Diarmuid came across Robyns appeal shortly after he finished the last trip, and decided he wanted to help. Someone tagged me in a post about a mother fundraising for her daughter, and I said Id do another tour with the microwave. Robyns mother was lovely, she sent me a t-shirt and wished me luck, Diarmuid told Independent.ie. The microwave idea came to the former DIT student's union member after reading about a man called Tony Hawks, who hitchhiked around Ireland in 1999 with a fridge. As for why he chose Scotland this time around, Diarmuid put it down to notions. I dont know why, I get notions sometimes, but hopefully it will put a smile on peoples faces, he said. Scotland is also said to be quite similar to Ireland. Its such a bizarre thing Im doing and some other countries are a bit more serious so they mightnt get the idea. Read More The trip is expected to last around 10 days, and Diarmuid isnt even bringing his bank card with him. Ill be taking four or five lifts a day, the big problem is walking to main roads. Its harder in the city because people arent as willing to give lifts. The journey starts as soon as I get on the ferry, Ill have no bank card or anything. It was important to me to make it a big challenge, to get people to donate it has to be as hard as possible. And the trip may well be a difficult one with the potential arrival of Storm Helene early next week, but Diarmuid has all received offers of transport and accommodation from members of the public. Some people, usually students, drive by and stop for me, and the only reason they stop is because they cant figure out why that guy has a microwave, he explained. There could be a big storm coming but since Ive posted about it Ive started to get more offers, like the ferry company offering me a free trip and a pub offering to collect me. Ive got the first half of the country pretty well sorted but its the Highlands Im finding difficult. More information on The Microwave Express journey and Robyn's Life fund can be found here and here. Finally there is the fear of a technological takeover. Current-day unintelligent but super-efficient machines already have the ability to learn. In the summer of 1989, as the Cold War was drawing to a close, a 36-year-old American political scientist, Francis Fukuyama, shot to global fame with his End of History thesis, celebrating the final victory of liberal democracy over its ideological rivals: fascism and communism. Today, less than three decades later, if anything, the world is preoccupied with the prospects of the end of democracy. Many believe the world today is close to where it was in the 1930s and the spectre of fascism looms large over countries as far apart as the Philippines, India, Turkey, Hungary, Russia, the US... With several books having already been written, How Democracy Ends authored by David Runciman, a professor of politics at Cambridge, is the latest and the most novel one on the subject. In our troubled times Runciman begins with the comforting thought that we are not at a second pre-dawn of fascism, violence and world war. Our societies are too different too affluent, too elderly, too networked and our collective historical knowledge of what went wrong then is too entrenched. Thats where the good news ends. Runciman too believes that the likelihood of democracys demise is real but he argues emphatically that history does not go into reverse. He cautions us to stop looking in the wrong places or else we may not even notice as democracy slowly unravels before our eyes. History is of course important concedes Runciman but warns that our obsession with a few traumatic moments in our past can blind us to the many lessons to be drawn from other points in time. The book draws lessons from the 1890s, 1650s and the direct democracy of the ancient world. Where then should we look, how do we begin? Runciman wants us to begin by thinking of Western democracy as a human being going through a full-blown, mid-life crisis. Contemporary representative democracy is, according to him, tired, vindictive, paranoid, self-deceiving and frequently ineffectual. It faces a real threat from three possible quarters: coups (violent overthrow of democratic institutions), catastrophe (nuclear war, calamitous climate change, bio-terrorism) and technological takeover (intelligent machines outsmart human intelligence). From democracys many past deaths across the world we have learnt to recognise a coup detat as a spectacular event: tanks surround the city overnight, soldiers seize key communication points, Prime Minister and important political opponents arrested, Parliament occupied, etc. Greek democracy, for example, was overthrown by such a coup in 1967 and the military ruled for over a decade. Since 2010 Greece has once again been in dire straits, with conditions that look ripe for another coup. But this time there has been no coup in sight. Runciman has an explanation: Greek democracy today is relatively battle-hardened, having been around for nearly half a century coups are only possible in nations where democracy has not had the time to develop roots. Not just Greece, citizens of any country who have tasted democracy will resist its violent overthrow, Runciman argues. However, for the enemies of democracy non-violent, non-spectacular coup options also exist. There is executive aggrandisement, for example: when those already in power chip away at democratic institutions without overthrowing them. This, according to Runciman, is what is happening today in India, Turkey, the Philippines, Ecuador, Hungary and Poland and possibly in the United States as well. To Runciman, executive aggrandisement looks like being the biggest threat to democracy in the 21st century. Executive aggrandisement becomes possible when citizens begin to take democracy for granted, when representative democracy degenerates into a zombie democracy. Then there is the threat of a catastrophe precipitated by a nuclear war, calamitous climate change, or bio-terrorism, spelling the death-knell of democracy. Runciman fears this danger is all the more serious today because of complacency, an apocalypse fatigue that has crept in. The possibility of disaster once had a galvanising effect on citizens. But now we have become relatively inured to apocalyptic descriptions of our future because we have been exposed to so many of them. Finally there is the fear of a technological takeover. Current-day unintelligent but super-efficient machines already have the ability to learn. It is machine learning that tells Google what you are searching before you have quite realised it yourself. What happens when intelligent machines with a mind of their own choose to take full control of our lives? Whenever we go online to dig up new information for ourselves, we end up handing ever more information about ourselves to all sorts of interested parties It wont be killer robots that enslave us. All it takes is ruthless individuals capable of using machines. At one point Runciman asserts that Mark Zuckerberg is a bigger threat to American democracy than Donald Trump. With so many dangers lurking on the horizon, does democracy have any future? Runcimans answer is a qualified yes. In countries, which have yet to get a taste of it, democracy may strike fresh roots and flourish in the coming period or they may opt for Chinese-style pragmatic authoritarianism. But after a remarkable 100-year run mature Western democracy is past its prime and is winding down in the places where it has had its greatest successes. Think of how modern science has given us an extra lease of life. Similarly, democracy will almost certainly have a drawn-out demise. Artificial enhancements, delays and technical fixes can keep it on life support almost indefinitely. How Democracy Ends makes for a fascinating, intriguing and challenging read because throughout the book even as Runciman talks of the end of democracy one moment, the very next moment he hastens to emphasise its resilience. Perhaps the enigmatic last two sentences of the concluding chapter say it all: This is not, after all, the end of democracy. But this is how democracy ends. Javed Anand is convener, Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy and co-editor, SabrangIndia The small proportion of households who use wood or peat as the main fuel to heat their homes is responsible for most air pollution in the capital, according to research. A study by NUI Galway has found that quality guidelines were breached once in every five days between November 2016 and January 2017, due to particulates arising from burning wood and peat. A pollution plume with a radius of 3km stretched across the city from UCD, where monitoring equipment was installed, on two days over the period. The instruments found "particularly high concentrations" of particulate matter. The findings of the study, published in the 'Nature Sustainability' journal, suggest that 'climate-friendly' fuels that produce fewer greenhouse gases have a detrimental effect on air quality. These can have serious health consequences. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has an air quality guideline, and researchers used new technology to analyse the make-up of particulate matter in the air. They found "extraordinary" levels of pollution, 10 times the quality guidelines. The report said few households used solid fuels as primary heat sources, with "relatively clean fuels" employed in most. But it added: "This study demonstrates how only a few households (less than 13pc) that burn biomass for heating, especially heat, could cause recurring extreme pollution events, influencing the overall air quality in the city." Co-author Dr Jurgita Ovadnevaite, from NUI Galway, said the study highlighted that low-carbon fuels could affect air quality and that while most homes were heated using cleaner forms of energy, many used open fires which added to the problem. On Saturday night I headed for Kennedys Bar where local football club the Gaels were hosting a bar-b-q as the finale of a fundraising day where over 100 members and their families took part in a sponsored walk in the Cooley mountains. The walk took place in beautiful sunshine between The Lumpers and Carnawaddy and back and is the only fundraiser the club hosts during the year. After a swift pint in the Lumpers it was back to Kennedys for a bar-b-q and a few laughs. I was only in the door when I met up with Walter and Brenda Lambert from Muirhevna who told me they had completed the walk with Tony and Sheila O'Connell from St. Malachys Villas, Peter and Catherine McGinnity from Rath and Andrew Coleman from Kingswood and had a fantastic day. He wanted to thank his brother Michael Lambert from Knockbridge who was the main organiser of the day on a really great job. After this I had the pleasure of talking to Rosemarie Coleman from The Loakers who told me she had had an epic day along with Elizabeth Coleman from Kingswood and were now going to ease the aches with a drink or two! Next I caught up with Anne Watters and Ashley Copas both from Muirhevna who were up for a night of it Sheila O'Connell from St. Malachys Villas and Una Connolly from Mount Avenue who had really enjoyed the walk and was looking forward to a good night with all the other Gaels. I then met up with a man who thought the walk was far too short, he is more of a 20 mile man, yes, it's Oliver McGinnity from Willow Grove who was with his wife Mary and daughter Olivia and he was still giving off about missing the sandwiches. They were enjoying a few drinks with Bruno and Anne Murphy from Muirhevna. Making my way through the crowds I then got talking to Teresa Oakes from Mount Avenue who was chatting to Maria McGuill originally from Kilkerley but home on holidays from Australia and was out with her parents Gerry and Maria to support the club. I then headed over a chat with the man described as a Gaels legend, Jasper McDonnell from Headford with his wife Margaret who were getting ready to make a night of it with James and Miriam Twomey and Kitty McCann all from Priorland Grove who was missing husband Pat. Jasper told me his injury kept him off the hills but was looking forward to the bar-b-q. Not too long later I then got a word with Mark Keller from Priorland who was there to support his wife Ciara who had taken part in the walk and assured me the night was going to be a cracker. Meanwhile up near the bar I got talking to Niall Morgan from Meadow View who said he had completed the walk with wife Karen and kids Sean and James who just managed to get finished before the heavens opened. After this I met up with Brian Conlon from Redbarns Road, Patrick Hearty from Park Avenue, Gerry Copas from Muirhevna and Tony O'Connell from St. Malachys Villas who told me it was great day and yes, Tony is still celebrating Limerick's epic All Ireland hurling win a couple of weeks ago! Just arrived in the door was Ciaran Boyle from Manydown Close who hadn't managed the walk, but was there for the bar-b-q and all the craic with the lads. Making my way through the crowds I then got talking to Ger Minogue from Carrick Road who told me that she had done the walk but husband Roddy didn't make it. They were enjoying the night with Gerry and Teresa Oakes from Mount Avenue who told me it turned into a real family day with all the kids that joined in. Finally I headed over for a word with club president Noel Connolly from Mount Avenue who said the day was a huge success and introduced me to Padraig Keenan from Chapel Road who provided the spiritual support on the day and they said the evening was only getting going and should be an epic too. On Monday night I headed for Colaiste Ris school where the crowds were gathering to send of this year's Debutants to their Graduation Ball in the Westenra Arms Hotel in Monaghan and a huge crowd had gathered to give them the send off they deserved. I was only there a couple of minutes when I met up with Ronan Daly from Point Road who told me he was looking forward to the party with all his mates, and no, he wasn't at the school but was ready for a major lads night out. Next I had the pleasure of talking to Vanessa Imeda from Dublin Road who was looking stunning in her black and gold dress and said she was going to be joining up with the girls for a fantastic night out. After this I then got talking to Medbh McCourt from Francis Street who was with Ryan Conophy from Garrybawn who were having a laugh with Amy Kelly from Avenue Road and Jamie Conlon from O'Hanlon Park who were all going for the matching D&Ts and said it was going to be an insane night. Just arrive there were Liam Gonnelly from Manydown Close and Sinead O'Reilly from Bay Estate who was looking extremely well with blue hair and a pink dress and who were more than enthusiastic about how good the night was going to be when I got taking to them. Next I had the pleasure of talking to Dara McLaughlin from Doylesfort Grove and Lauren McGuinness from Faughart who told me it was going to be an epic GNO and they couldn't wait for it to get going. I then had a great laugh with Aidan Quinn from Inniskeen and Sorcha McCooey from Louth Village who were armed and ready to get the night under way and all I could do was say all the wrong things! Making my way through the crowds I met up with Nathan Hoey from Muirhevnamor who said he was with Jordan Webb from Muirhevnamor and Megan Wherty from Hyde Park who were busy having a laugh with everyone who was arriving around the same time. One man who was looking very well in his suit was Damilola Akinade from Lios Dubh who was just after arriving and was looking for ChiChi Enyoazu from Clancullen Park who was already there and he assured me it was going to be an epic night for sure. Not too long after this I got talking to Raven Adams from Blackrock who was with Marco Antonio originally from Brazil but now hangings his tailored suit in Jocelyn Mews and they were having a chat with Sonia McKeown from Barton Park who was there to cheer Medbh McCourt on. Not too long later I managed a quick word with Jack Owens from Hillview who was there for a night with the lads and was wondering when the buses were eventually going to show up. Beside him I caught up with Shane Barron from Darver who was with Ciara Woods from Castletown Road who were in their burgundy combination and were joined by Michael McCahill from The Quay and Aoife Reynolds from Castlebellingham in matching pink. They said it was definitely going to be an insane night. After this I met up with Sean Byrne from Belfry Drive, Mia Byrne from Knockbridge who were armed and ready with Ciaran Black from Faughart and Sharanya McGuill from Lios Dubh who were all looking extremely well in their matching outfits. Next I met the man with all the tickets Padraig Fallon from Lis Na Dara who was with Ultan McEneaney from Carrick Road and Padraig was busy making sure that everyone was sorted before they got on the buses. Not too far away I had the pleasure of talking to Elizabeth Traynor from Blackrock in stunning green dress and she was ready to party the night away with Patrick McGeough from Mountpleasant. There to see their kids off were Tina Cassidy from Knockbridge and Annette Quigley from Plaster who were there for son Oisin Cassidy and daughter Sinead Quigley who had already started the celebrations and were in great form. I then had the pleasure meeting up with Lauren Sweeney from Blackrock and Tara Durnin form The Quay who were on a GNO and were looking sensational, certainly didn't anyone to slow them down! After this I caught up with a bunch of lads who were James Downey from Lennonstown Manor, David Lescano from Andorra, Cian O'Donoghue from Avenue Road and Conor McGailey from Doolargy Avenue who were all looking sharp in their suits and were ready for a major session. Finally, before I departed I got a quick word with Orlagh Conway from Littlemills and Caitlin Mulholland from Avenue Road who said they were actually there with Ciaran McGlynn and Peter McStravick who couldn't be seen anywhere, but were sure they'd be giving the ladies all the attention they deserved later on. Local artist Adrienne Finnerty is one of a hundred Irish artists creating unique artworks as part of aid agency Goal's 'What on Earth' project. The participating artists were given white resin globes and asked to come up with a design. 'My globe is called 'Today's World, Global Pop', says Adrieene, who divides her time between An Spideal on the Wild Atlantic way and Blackrock, Co Louth. It's her take on 'what is says in the papers,' she explains, as using paint and collage, her globe spins a tale and provides social commentary on both Irish and world affairs. Images illustrate Pope Francis' visit to Ireland and the impact of Trump on world affairs. It also pays homage to music legends Aretha Franklin and Dolores O'Riordan . Adrienne is well known for her work supporting charities the developing countries. The globes will be put on public display to form a series of public art exhibition's which will tour a number of key cities on the island of Ireland in this autumn before being auctioned off in November to raise funds for GOAL to enable the charity continue their work to ease the plight of some of the most vulnerable people in the world. A house along the Point Road, Dundalk current under refurbishment as part of a CPO project Louth has become a leading light in the development of abandoned houses under the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) scheme according to latest figures obtained by the Argus. A pilot scheme launched in the second half of 2015 has to date resulted in 92 dwellings across the entire county brought unto use for social housing as a result of CPO's by Louth County Council. Joe McGuinness, Director of Housing with the local authority explained that the process began initially with a plan to CPO 24 houses in Dundalk and 12 in Drogheda. 'We quickly noticed that there were fewer abandoned properties in Drogheda, likely due to its location closer to Dublin, so houses were more likely to be in use.' So far, of the 90 plus properties which have been taken over during the last three years, 39 are already providing homes or will soon be made available for people who were previously on the social housing list. 'Of those 39 tenancies, four have been delivered as specific disability refurbishments for high needs households,' added Joe. For these properties, the local authority will look at specific houses which are more accessible, possibly detached or end of terrace. A further nine of the assigned dwellings are currently being converted and re-furbished for council tenants, 'Our logic always has been, these houses are vacant, not for sale, and in many cases they are detracting from the neighbourhood at very least,' said Joe McGuinness. 'At worst they can be sources of antisocial behaviour or dumping and can attract vermin, and cause dampness which has impacted on neighbours.' The council' success in CPO's across Louth has drawn national attention, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy both over the last year citing Louth as an example for other local authorities to follow. 'We're delighted that the success of the pilot project in Louth has led to it being made a national initiative under the Re-Building Ireland umbrella,' said Joe. At a local level he adds that by enacting a CPO of these often abandoned and neglected units 'we are not interfering with the local property market, but are creating construction employment and improving the area and providing badly need social housing.' He points out that the majority of the refurbishments have been straight forward. 'Although a small number of properties have been difficult to address due to decades of neglect.' The refurbishment process can take either three months, or six months, depending on their condition, and the needs of new tenants. He admits that some of the houses are those taken back by the banks after the property crash, which are now proactively being put back into use. Local people have, in the main been receptive to the CPO initiative, with reports of potential vacant or abandoned houses coming in through the dedicated website www.vacanthomes.ie 'People tend to notice if a house in their street or their estate is abandoned, as it become run down, grass doesn't be cut. When we get reports through vacanthomes.ie we will look at them. But obviously not every property will be suitable for CPO,' added Joe. 'Another positive impact of the process though is that some property owners are conscious of our activities and have put their property into productive use as a result.' St Louis Dundalk opened its doors to more than 500 students last week after the devastating fire in May which led to the school re-locating to DkIT. A whirlwind of summer works has managed to blend the most high spec and up to date specialist rooms with the historic campus buildings The school has also been recognised nationally with two prestigious projects to assist teaching and learning for the next school year. Principal Michelle Dolan is delighted with the progress made in the three short months since the fire. 'The Department arrived on the morning of the fire and soon after instigated a series of upgrades, from the renovation of our 70 year old parquet floors, to the CCTV cameras, to the new reception area. We also had a full re-wiring, plumbing and heating overhaul, some new glazing and more fire security safety compliance work completed. It has been a dream come true in some ways. It is difficult to get funding for older schools so we were incredibly lucky that the Department has been as generous as they have been. There are further plans to upgrade more of the campus over the next two summers but it is quite staggering to see just how much was achieved in such a short space of time. Added to that of course we have a new Technology Suite and a beautifully bright new Art Room so we are really happy to be back on site this year.' Head of Art Aine McEnaney adds she is delighted with her the new art room. 'It's every teacher's dream to be given such a fabulous room, it's like having a blank canvas on which you can start all over again. New teacher and Head of Technology Derek Nolan who has over twenty years of experience is also very pleased with his new room. 'I know the old Tech room held many happy memories for past pupils, and for Jim Kelly who taught here for so many years but I imagine he will be happy to see his wishes come true, albeit after his retirement.' St Louis are also delighted to have secured the Trinity College Dublin 21st Century School of Distinction Award. This title recognises innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Winning schools demonstrated excellence in several core areas, including technologically rich teaching methodologies, strong mentoring programmes, robust leadership development and crucially, impressive progression to Third Level. The Guidance Department led by Guidance Counsellor Dara Mee will be presented with the Trinity School of Distinction Banner in October and will travel to Burlington, Vermont to the 'College for Every Student Conference' in November and avail of a wealth of educational expertise and career development resources. St Louis is also one of only nine schools in the country chosen this year for the Step Up Project, an innovation of the Department of Education aimed at supporting schools already at an effective level of practice to move to a highly effective level of implementation of the new framework for Junior Cycle. 'Memories of Home' is an exhibition of oil paintings by Ada McCune which will be on at Signal Arts Centre in Bray from Monday, October 15 until Sunday, October 28. 'I was born in 1937 in a small mining village called Moorends near the Yorkshire moors,' said Ada. 'I have always been interested in drawing and painting, and on countryside walks with my grandfather, I developed a deep love of nature and landscape. I have a vivid memory of seeing my first kingfisher while walking along a stream in the Dales - that flash of turquoise has stayed with me 80 years. 'When I moved to Dublin in 1961, the landscape of the Dublin and Wicklow mountains reminded me of Yorkshire. Having 4 children and all that entails, my painting was put on hold until the 70s. 'On family holidays to the west of Ireland, I spent time observing and sketching the beautiful landscape,' said the artist. I still go back to these dog-eared sketch-books from time to time. These drawings transport me back to a place and time - evoking memories. What is important to me in the landscape is light and form. On any given day in Connemara, the light can change a thousand times. I wish to describe the light as it bathes the landscape. Mist fascinates me - how it can soften and erase the harsh lines of a rugged landscape. I try to capture a landscape in north-west Donegal as the mist comes in from the sea. 'Recently I returned to Yorkshire for a holiday. I was struck by how similar the Yorkshire landscape is to parts of Ireland. Memories of my childhood are in the work. 'These days I paint in my small studio in Malahide for a few hours every day. I feel it's essential for me to have a creative life.' An opening reception will take place on Thursday, October 18, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Paul Costelloe will headline the Irish Fashion Collective Show in aid of St Joseph's in Shankill. The show will take place in the Conrad in Dublin on Friday, November 2. Costelloe will showcase highlights from his international Autumn Winter 2018 womens-wear collection, alongside a collective of other leading Irish designers. Paul will be joined by leading Irish designers, including Deborah Veale, Louise Kennedy, Aideen Bodkin, Sarah Murphy, Roisin Linnane & Mellisa Curry, Electronic Sheep and the Design Centre, with others to be announced. The show with be produced by stylist Catherine Condell and Lorraine Keane will be MC. An auction sponsored by Sherry Fitzgerald will offer guests a further opportunity to support the charity, and will include two business class tickets to Turkey compliments of Turkish Airlines. The Conrad Dublin is supporting the show and Cara Pharmacy Group will be supplying the gift bags with luxury Irish beauty products. All funds raised from the evening will go to supporting Saint Joseph's Shankill. Tickets priced 100 are available from www.saintjosephsshankill.ie or email Siobhan.grant@sjog.ie or by calling 01 2719204. Saint Joseph's Shankill is the only care home in Ireland that solely cares for people living with dementia. The centre aspires to demonstrate excellence in how people with this very difficult illness are cared for and looked after. It is home to 60 people who live in one of the six lodges with others who are at the same stage of dementia. They are cared for together in a 'homelike' environment where the focus is on people's emotions and making them feel like they really matter. A convicted child killer who was on the run for a week from a prison in Northern Ireland was discovered in Bray on Monday and subsequently conveyed to the North where he was arrested by PSNI officers in Newry. John Clifford was allowed out on day release from a Belfast prison on Sunday, September 9, but didn't return. After a week on the run he was spotted by members of the public near Bray Dart Station. Clifford was convicted in 1989 of raping and killing his eight-year-old niece, whose body was found near disused railway tracks near her Newtownabbey home. Gardai are believed to have approached Clifford in Bray but didn't have the power to detain him as an international arrest warrant hadn't been issued. However, a local source said that when the gardai left the area the killer feared for his own safety after being identified and asked that the gardai be called again. He was subsequently conveyed back up to the North where he was handed over to PSNI officers in Newry who immediately arrested him. A local source in Bray said the killer was believed to have been living in a tent in the north Wicklow area. An appeal by the PSNI and gardai for information from the public about Clifford's whereabouts had received a positive response with reported sightings of the killer in the Dublin area in the days immediately following his escape. A spokesperson for the PSNI told this newspaper that the force was very grateful to the gardai and the public for their assistance in locating the convict and facilitating his return to Northern Ireland. All those who know about Hollywoods Demi Moore making her Bollywood debut, be warned that she probably has a 10-minute walk in part! Rating: Cast: Mrunal Thakur, Richa Chadha, Adil Hussain, Manoj Bajpayee, Freida Pinto, Rajkummar Rao Director: Tabrez Noorani The modern-day times we all live in, has instances of many of the most gruesome acts of violence that we dont get to know much about. Day in and day out as we read or watch on television, some of the most horrendous stories of rape and murder, rarely do we realise to what extent the victims are tortured. A newspaper report, in that sense, is only a medium that doesnt give us a complete picture of the global sex trade world. Tabrez Nooranis debut film Love Sonia brings us closer to pimps, police, parents and victims who are responsible for the thriving flesh trade across the world. Inspired by real stories of young girls, Love Sonia gives us a dark uncomfortable watch of the plight of a 14-year-old village girl Sonia (Mrunal Thakur) and her sister Preeti (Riya Sisodiya), whose debt-ridden farmer father Shiva (Adil Hussain) is unable to produce the desired yield as wily moneylender Baldev Singh (Anupam Kher) has other interests to extract money from borrowers. Not being able to pay off his debt, helpless Shiva sells Preeti to him where a local procuress (Sai Tamhankar), promises to find his daughter a lucrative job in Mumbai. Sonia is very attached to her sister and wants to be with her. Of course, she is in the dark about Preetis fate and runs away to Baldevs house to request him to find her a job too. She reaches Mumbai and is thrown into a brothel run by Babu (Manoj Bajpayee). From then on begins Sonias most harrowing journey even as she continues to look for her sister. Slavery that is alive in many parts of the world thrives because of many reasons. In India, it may be the weak, impoverished and powerless who are often misled and duped into the complex web of by being offered cushy jobs. In Hong Kong and the United States, the variety of skin for sex-starved men comes from virgin girls from all over the world. As thousands of victims are trafficked throughout the country to satisfy Americas sex-trafficking industry, young innocent girls of unsuspecting parents girls lose their dear ones forever. The gritty brothel is almost a prison for Sonia where a social activist Manish (Rajkummar Rao) learns about her being underage, and promises to help her out. She is unable to flee herself from the organised and elaborate network of pimps, leaders and police who are all in collusion with such powerful men, and enslaved in a brothel. She finds Rashmi (Freida Pinto) and Madhuri (Richa Chadha) for company and together they dream of reclaiming their long-distant freedom. The brutality of child trafficking of young immature girls is a testament to the power and resilience of the human spirit. The film has elements of fiction, but the bleak and hopeless situations depicted in this two-hour film, take place every day to trafficked children. Sonias life takes a terrible turn when she is sent across to Hong Kong, from where she heads to LA to a mansion-like home of a millionaire looking for gratification from a virgin girl. Given the subject matter, it had to be an uncomfortable watch. In fact, in a few moments, when it tries to give us other glimpses of a victim Sonias life, its efforts look toned down. Her life getting the bright Good Samaritan also looks a little contrived. Films like these, designed to show us the hard reality through the telling of a dreadful story, are not only tough to pull off, but also hard to evaluate. By making a sincere effort to tell a story, Noorani does shock viewers. Only up to a pint though. Once it repeats showing scenes of monstrous torture, it just loses track. It may not go downhill, yet the point that it sets out to make gets diluted despite the ensemble cast giving splendid performances. Be it Thakur, or Pinto and Chadha or Bajpayee as well as Hussain, they all enact with complete honesty and earnestness in most of the non-sensationalised, yet still disturbing drama. After giving award-winning performances, its Rao who has little to do in a role that is too bland. All those who know about Hollywoods Demi Moore making her Bollywood debut, be warned that she probably has a 10-minute walk in part! Five employees of Bewley's wheeled into Wicklow last Thursday on the first day of a four-day cycle to promote Ireland's Biggest Coffee Morning. The cyclists, Eamonn Diver, Dylan Rafter, Jason Doyle, Ann Marie Raftice and Charlie Scully, visited the site of the Wicklow Hospice in Magheramore on Thursday to support the #coffee4hospice cause. They were joined on the day by Alan Donovan, who isn't a Bewley's employee. The five Bewley's employees undertook the 500km cross-country cycle to raise much needed funds for hospices nationwide as part of Ireland's Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley's which takes place on Thursday, September 20. In a bid to raise 5,000, the cycle took in six counties over four days, kicking off from Bewley's Head Office on Thursday last. During the challenge, the team visited five hospices and homecare services. The first stop on the cycle was the site of the under-construction Wicklow Hospice followed by a stop at Wexford, Waterford and Offaly with the final stop at Bewley's own local hospice, St Francis' Hospice in Raheny. Since the first coffee morning 26 years ago, over 35 million has been raised by people around Ireland. This year it is hoped that Ireland's Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley's will raise 2 million for local hospice and homecare services nationwide. Jason Doyle, Managing Director of Bewley's, said: 'Bewley's is proud to be the sponsor of Ireland's Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice since it first began in 1993 and we're looking forward to another fantastic coffee morning on September 20. 'The annual cycle is an excellent opportunity for us to not only raise much-needed funds but also visit the local hospices and see first-hand the essential work both staff and volunteers do and how vital these services are in the local community. With demand for hospice services rising year on year we want to make sure this year's cycle and coffee morning are the biggest yet and we're hoping to raise over 2 million.' Pat Quinlan, Chair of the Voluntary Hospice Group said: 'Fundraising is essential for our hospices as it ensures we can respond to the growing demand nationwide for hospice and homecare services. The annual Bewley's cycle is a highlight for us with the teams around the country, in particular because it allows the Bewley's team see how the money raised benefits hospices and home cares around Ireland. 'We are particularly delighted the cycle team will visit the site of Wicklow Hospice which is currently being built in part thanks to the support of Ireland's Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley's.' The public can support Ireland's Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley's by hosting a coffee morning, attending a coffee morning or texting COFFEE to 50300 to donate 4. Councillors sought more time to consider a proposal to delegate certain municipal district functions to Wicklow County Council. Matters included in a document presented to members last Tuesday evening included the consideration of Part 8 proposals. The draft policy document before the members related to reserved functions that may be performed under legislation by the Municipal District Members. The purpose of the proposed policy is to agree a set of circumstances where the functions are exercised by the district council, or the plenary council. The corporate policy group considered the draft in June and it is recommended to the council for consideration. Clllr Steven Matthews said that members had always had powers at district level to decide such matters. He said that there was wording in the document before them which may weaken the local position. Joe Behan said that prior to the dissolution of Bray Town Council in 2014, the local authority had immense powers in planning, finance and housing. 'That was butchered by Phil Hogan. He left the people of this town without a proper functioning democracy before heading off to Europe. 'People are being forced to pay through the nose for property tax, and getting far less service than they ever got from Bray Town Council because ever cent is going to Wicklow County Council. 'We are being asked to consider giving away more powers to make decisions locally if we agree to this document.' He said that the Part 8 process could have been decided around the table in Bray Town Hall along. 'That was never made clear by the executive.' He proposed that the draft not be accepted. 'If we hand back legal powers then we only have ourselves to blame,' said Cllr Behan. Clllr Christopher Fox said that he agreed with Cllr Behan. He said that it makes no sense if decisions on a development plan for Bray or Enniskerrry are made by people from Carnew or Arklow, and vice versa. 'It should be locally elected representatives,' he said. He said also that he would like more time to consider the matter. Cathaoirleach of Bray Muncipal District said that members could take another month. 'Any decision must be clearly thought out,' he said. Cllr Vance said that it was scandalous what happened to Bray in 2014. 'I told people at the time they would suffer,' he said. 'Nobody took any notice. 'The north of the county is a cash cow for Wicklow County Council. Every single penny goes there.' Cllr Vance said that Bray has half the staff of 2014. Primary schools across Co Wicklow are being urged to sign their budding young business brains up to the Junior Entrepreneur Programme, which was launched in recent days. The pr Junior Entrepreneur Programme (JEP) encourages children in fifth and sixth class to learn about entrepreneurship and launch their own businesses which, in the past, have ranged from clocks and games to books and solutions for everyday problems. Running over a 12- to 16-week period during the school year, JEP nurtures creativity, independence and problem-solving among pupils, with every aspect of the programme blending into the curriculum. Local entrepreneurs are invited to visit the JEP classrooms and tell the story of their business. Every child produces a business idea and entrepreneurs are invited to participate in a Dragon's Den-style session where they are helped with selecting one final idea for the class to pursue. Jerry Kennelly, chairman of JEP and founder of Tweak.com, which underwrites the JEP programme, said the JEP gives children an opportunity to learn more about business and the real world before they have to decide what they will study in second level. 'It gives children the opportunity to do something for themselves, to invest their money and get back profit they've made themselves. Along the way they learn the importance of entrepreneurs in their community and find out what they're good at,' he said. Participating classes will get a chance to showcase their classroom business at an All Ireland Showcase Day in Dublin next May. Fifth and sixth classes can sign up to JEP 2019 until Friday September 28. For more information, visit www.juniorentrepreneur.ie. Residents of Enniskerry heard last week that the National Transport Authority is aware of issues with proposed changes to the village bus routes and is keen to correct them. Cllr Steven Matthews said last week at a meeting of Bray Municipal District that a spokesman for the organisation had texted him to that effect. He urged residents, who had presented their concerns at the meeting, to go to a public consultation event, which took place at Tesco in Bray last Friday afternoon. Residents had made a detailed presentation about their reliance on the bus service, particularly for residents of Kilgarron Hill, Shop River and outlying areas, users of the post office at the top of the hill, and those with mobility issues. They had been in existence as the group 'Keep Enniskerry Connected' for just 12 days when they presented to the council last Tuesday night. Cllr Steven Matthews said that the chief executive of the NTA would be at the consultation in Bray. He said that the authority will seek to address and fix issues following the public consultation process, which ends on September 28. Cllr Matthews said that there is scope in the BusConnects plan to make changes, with the proposals before the public very much a first draft. 'Please go and see them on Friday, I think you will get some comfort,' said Cllr Matthews. Members agreed to write to the NTA proposing that routes 185 and 44 remain unchanged. A number of residents of Enniskerry took the '185 challenge' the previous Sunday afternoon, walking up Kilgarron hill, which could lose its bus service under proposed changes to the network. Under the proposed Busconnects changes, Shop River and Kilgarron Hill in Enniskerry and Palermo in Bray would no longer be served by buses. Locals say that elderly and otherwise immobile people rely on public transport to those outlying areas. They say they will be cut off from neighbouring towns and their health and well-being will suffer as a result of the changes. In Bray, volunteers have been going around the community with a petition opposing the proposed removal of the service from Palermo. The petition is also available in the library. Plans and maps can be viewed on busconnects.ie and public consultation will remain open until September 28. According to the NTA, the proposed plans will increase the frequency of all 'orbital services' connecting greater Dublin to the city centre and link them to new 'central spines' which are routes that have constant buses to the city centre. This will mean changes to the 145, 184 and 84. One key change locally would be a new circular route (204) around the Greystones area going through Greystones, from Victoria Road, Church Road (Main Street) along Mill Road and through Killincarrig, turning right at the roundabout and continuing past Tesco to meet the starting point. The proposals for Bray include Bray DART station becoming a terminus for all local routes, while the current 145 (which will become E1) will no longer serve the Killarney Road/Ballywaltrim area but there will be a new feeder route into it. The plan links Newtownmountkennedy and Kilcoole and would extend a route from Wicklow to link in with the LUAS in Cherrywood. Branch E1 of the E spine would begin at Bray station and extend north. Other routes would be the 212 (linking Bray and Ballywaltrim, leaving every 10 minutes), the 211 (taking in Dun Laoghaire and Sallynoggin to Kilmacanogue) and the 213 replacing the 185. The 84x would become 315, with another new bus service (301) to UCD. Health Minister Simon Harris and Wicklow County Council Chief Executive Frank Curran are spearheading the newly formed East Coast Greenway Task Force. The task force consists of members of the OPW, Irish Rail, Failte Ireland, National Parks and Wildlife and the Department of Transport. The 'Wicklow Town Team' has been leading the initiative and formed a East Coast Greenway sub-group, chaired by Ciaran Lally. Mr Lally has warmly welcomed the formation of the task force. 'We have long stated that the fastest way to see the creation of the long sought-after greenway is through a task force,' said Mr Lally. 'The fact that the Minister has managed to attract senior members from the OPW, Irish Rail, Failte Ireland, National Parks and Wildlife and the Department of Transport to work together is very significant. 'We are aware that this does not guarantee immediate success as a number of obstacles will need to be tackled, however having all of these bodies working together bodes well for the chance of a swift and positive outcome,' he said. The East Coast Greenway committee has thanked Minister Harris and Mr Curran for the priority they have placed on the project and are also grateful for the support they have received from Deputies Andrew Doyle, Stephen Donnelly and Pat Casey. 'We are thrilled with the response we are getting from the people of east Wicklow,' said Mr Lally. 'With well over 10,000 signatures to our petition already, there is no doubt that the people of Wicklow not only want to see the construction of a greenway - they are demanding that it happen quickly. As outlined previously, the economic, health and other benefits that will ensue, make this project extremely important for the region'. The planned greenway route from Wicklow town to Greystones would also pass through Newcastle and Kilcoole. Wicklow County Council also recently announced the appointment of consultants WS Atkins to look at the feasibility of different route options. Heritage is part of who we are as an Irish people, both at home and abroad. Such heritage and culture has a world of different artistic outputs and there has been great news regarding supports for such artistic endeavours, both through the announcement of Culture Ireland Funding for Irish Arts abroad and through funding announced for the promotion of traditional arts for young people in Gaeltachts across country. Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan T.D., has recently announced that 766,000 is being made available in funding by Culture Ireland for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide. The vast majority of the funding awarded will enable 115 Irish artists and arts organisations to present projects, covering dance, film, literature, music, theatre and the visual arts in 38 different countries later this year and in 2019. Announcing the funding the Minister said "The importance of supporting Irish artists to present their work worldwide has recently been further endorsed by Government under the Global Ireland initiative which aims to double Ireland's global footprint by 2025. "Our artists have an ambition and talent which has ensured that Ireland is known on the international stage for our creativity and imagination. This has distinguished us globally and has also helped us to engage globally." Highlights of the projects being funded include the presentation of the work of Irish visual artists at a number of major galleries around the world as well as a strong offering of traditional and new Irish music including tours of Europe, the US, South Africa and Australia and worldwide performances for International Uilleann Piping Day in countries such as Britain, the US, Argentina, Italy and New Zealand on 3 November 2018. For full details of the funding see www.cultureireland.ie. With regard to arts funding in our Gaeltachts, Joe McHugh, T.D., Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, has announced that he has sanctioned a grant of up to 325,000 for Ealain na Gaeltachta to promote a programme of activities in the traditional arts for young people throughout the Gaeltacht over the coming school year. In line with a commitment given in the recently published 5-Year Action Plan for the Irish Language, this allocation represents a 45% increase in the funding allocated for this programme in 2017/18. Under the new programme, the provision of music, dancing, singing and oral arts classes will be expanded and developed throughout all Gaeltacht areas including the provision of classes in the Ionad Cultuira in the Muscrai Gaeltacht. The Creative Ireland Programme in County Cork will also play a strong role in the promotion of the Irish language and culture and the Creative Ireland County Cork Conference is set to take place in Baile Mhuirne on November 9th and 10th 2018, in recognition of 2018 also being Bliain na Gaeilge. There will be more on this conference in the coming weeks and in the interim and/or to book a place, Cork County Council's Creative Ireland Office can be contacted by emailing creativeireland@corkcoco.ie. In terms of upcoming events of a cultural/heritage nature, there is so much happening over the coming weeks. Friday 21st September 2018 is Culture Night and over 100 events have already been organised for County Cork, taking in such locations in North and Mid Cork as Charleville, Mitchelstown, Fermoy, Macroom, Newmarket, Millstreet, Inchigeelagh, Mallow, Milford, Kanturk and Cuil Aodha. As part of Culture Night a number of events have also been organised for the County Hall. In the Council Chamber on Floor 2, commencing at 17:00, Peadar O Riada will give a talk about the great work of his father Sean O Riada. This promises to be an excellent talk and will be followed at 18:00 by a talk by Dr. Seamus de Barra on the great work of Aloys Fleischmann. All are most welcome to attend and for more information on Culture Night in Cork visit http://culturenightcorkcounty.ie/ For those planning a visit to the Cork Harbour area over the weekend of Saturday/Sunday 22nd/23rd September, the War of Independence weekend on Spike Island will be one to certainly take in. During 1921 there were approximately 1,300 Republican prisoners and internees held there and a fascinating weekend has been put together featuring exhibitions, re-enactments and prisoner lists. All are most welcome to pay a visit and for more information visit www.corkcoco.ie/upcoming-events. One of the year's heritage highlights - the Celebrating Cork Past Exhibition - takes place on Saturday 29th September and will feature dozens of heritage groups from throughout the City and County, who all come together on the day to promote their local heritage. The event takes place in the City Hall from 10:00 to 16:00 and everyone is encouraged to come along. The weekend of the 29th will also see a wonderful Thomas Kent Symposium in Fermoy and the Charleville Festival of History. More on these and other events next week. The Castlelyons man dubbed 'the forgotten patriot of 1916' was finally given a State funeral almost a century after he was executed by Crown forces. Remains exhumed three years ago from the grounds of Cork Prison were confirmed to be those of Thomas Kent, the only person outside of the capital, with the exception of Roger Casement, to be executed following the 1916 Rising. Mystery had surrounded the exact location of Thomas Kent's body following his execution in the prison on May 9, 1916. His remains laid in an unmarked grave up until the summer of 2015 when they were exhumed and formally identified following a joint operation by the National Monuments Service, the Irish Prison Service and the State Pathologists Office. The Kent family subsequently accepted an offer by the then Taoiseach Enda Kenny of a State funeral for Thomas, which took place in his native Castlelyons on Friday, September 18, 2015. The funeral was attended by thousands of members of the public, members of the Kent family and dignitaries including President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Chris O'Leary and County Mayor Cllr John Paul O'Shea. Thomas Kent had been due to take part in actions outside of Dublin on the day of the rising and was waiting in his Castleyons home, along with his brothers William, David and Richard, for orders to support the Dublin volunteers with a Cork rising. Despite receiving instructions to stand down, members of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the British Army raided the property of the well-known nationalist family just hours after fighting began at the GPO. The brothers refused to surrender and a four hour battle, the only armed engagement of the Rising outside of Dublin, ensued during which Richard was killed and David severely wounded. Following their arrest, Thomas and William were marched over Fermoy Bridge and taken to Cork where they were tried by court-marshal at Cork Detention Barracks (now Cork Prison). While William was acquitted, Thomas was sentenced to death, executed and his body interred in the unmarked grave. His family had long campaigned for Thomas' grave to be identified so that he could be reinterred at the family plot in Castlelyons. This became possible after documents, kept secret by the British were released identifying his grave. After a complex DNA testing process the remains found were identified as those of Thomas Kent. Public representatives in Mid-Cork have urged Cork County Council to come up with an engineering solution to a dangerous junction on the main Cork-Mallow Road to allow it remain open for local residents who say closing it will add miles to their local journeys. Fianna Fail Cllr Bob Ryan from Tower said that the proposal by Cork County Council to close the Waterloo Junction on the N20, some seven kms from Cork city, was not acceptable as it was causing huge inconvenience for locals in the Waterloo, Whitechurch and Blarney areas. "Councillors are totally opposed to the proposal to close the right of way and it will definitely be defeated. We met with the council engineers two weeks ago and are meeting with them again on 20th September and we'll see what they propose but there has to be a common sense resolution," said Cllr Ryan. Cllr Michael Creed from Macroom supported Cllr Ryan, saying that the council must take into consideration the view of locals in Waterloo and Whitechurch, and that an engineering solution has to be found to ensure the junction remains open for the benefit of everyone in the area. Both were speaking after the Waterloo Access Group delivered a petition signed by 1,000 people to County Hall seeking to keep the junction open as it cuts off the community in Waterloo from their local school in Whitechurch as well as social activities at the adjacent community centre. Chairperson of Whitechurch Parent's Association Cliona Browne told Cork's Red FM that closing the junction was adding an extra 12-14 miles for parents from Waterloo when they bring their children to school while it was also adding to their journey for social and sporting activities. According to a Cork County Council report, there have been 13 serious accidents at the junction in the last four years with the most serious all occurring when motorists coming south from Mallow on the N20 turn right and cross the outbound lane from Cork to turn off for Waterloo and Blarney. The report found seven of these accidents involved overseas tourists unfamiliar with the area and driving hired cars. Three of these involved in accidents confirmed that they were following satellite navigation instructions when they opted to cross the outbound lane at the junction. Cork County Council took the decision to close off the junction after two serious accidents in the past 12 months, including one when two American tourists were killed when their car was involved in a crash as it turned right at the junction on September 11, 2017. Just over six months later, an American tourist was seriously injured when executing a similar manoeuvre, turning right when heading towards Cork in order to visit Blarney Castle, with both American drivers following sat-nav directions on how to reach Blarney. Cork County Council engineers examined the junction and found that of the 21,725 cars and vans using the N20 daily, approximately 990 southbound vehicles were completing right hand turns across the northbound lane to turn off at the Waterloo junction. According to the council report, anecdotal evidence would suggest that the Waterloo junction is used by people from North Cork as an alternative means of accessing the Apple Campus in Hollyhill in Cork city and also as a means of getting to the Dell/EMC and VMWare sites in Ballincollig. Among the options proposed by county council engineers was closing off the right turn and allowing only left in and left out turns at the junction, which was supported by gardai. This would cost 150,000 and reduce accidents by an estimated 80% while keeping the junction open, said the report. Another option proposed by the council engineering staff involved improving signage along the route, directing traffic from Mallow and North Cork to use another access road to Blarney where they can cross via an underpass. This would cost 40,000 but which would reduce accidents by just 15%. A third option involved extending the existing dual carriageway, which leads out of Cork city, to cover the Waterloo Junction which would similarly cut off right hand turn access to Waterloo and would cost 10 million and reduce accidents by an estimated 95%. The final option, which council engineers recommended, was closing off the Waterloo Junction, which would cost 90,000 and would also reduce accidents by an estimated 95% but the move looks set to be defeated by councillors when they vote on the proposal later this month. Pa ODriscoll and Cllrs Kay Dawson & Noel McCarthy with Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney during his visit to Fermoy last Monday evening The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cork TD Simon Coveney, has reiterated that the Irish government would not be weakening on commitments made by both the UK and the EU in relation to the controversial issue of Brexit. Minister Coveney made the commitment during a public meeting held in Fermoy last Monday evening, during which he addressed a large crowd on Brexit and the potential repercussions it may have for Ireland. In his address, Mr Coveney outlined the Brexit negotiation process to date and offered his views on the likely outcomes are when Britain leaves the European Union next March. On a positive note he said that three of the four mains areas of agreement, the rights of EU citizens in the UK and vice-versa, the financial settlement to be made when the UK leaves the EU and the transition agreement for after Britain leaves, had been mostly settled. However, he said the fourth issue, that of Ireland, would be the focus of "intense negotiations" over the coming two months. "While the Irish government will not be weakening on UK and EU commitments, the next eight-weeks are likely to see a level of brinkmanship that will not be easy," he warned. Minister Coveney said that while the eventual result of Brexit negotiations were far from clear, it was his opinion that a 'No deal' Brexit was unlikely as no-body wanted that. He said that politicians on both sides of the negotiations were more likely to push back the Brexit time-line, rather than risk a 'No deal' situation. Following his address, Minister Coveney fielded questions from the audience covering a broad range of topics of interest to Ireland. These included the position on Northern Ireland, the impact of Brexit on the beef and equine industries, how it might affect Irish students studying in the UK and the role of the European Court of Justice during the transition period. Local Fine Gael general election candidate, Pa O'Driscoll, who organised the event, said that Minister Coveney gave an insightful and interesting account on the Brexit negotiations and "provided clarity on a number of important issues." "It was patently clear from those who attended the meeting that there is concern over how Brexit will impact on the country, our economy and our society," said Mr O'Driscoll. "There is a consensus across all political persuasions that the Irish government needs to maintain a strong line with the UK government and our EU partners to prevent an outcome that is destructive to north-south trade and trade across the Irish Sea," he added. Archbishop Eamon Martin with Mayor Didier Samain in Guillemont by the monument to the 16th (Irish) Division A French mayor will travel to Fermoy to pay personal tribute to the local soldiers killed fighting to liberate his own village during World War One. The Mayor of Guillemont Didier Samain will attend the inaugural Thomas Kent History Symposium in Fermoy to honour the north Cork soldiers who died fighting with the 16th (Irish) Division during the Battle of the Somme. Many of the Irish soldiers had enlisted with the Munster Fusiliers which had one of its most important recruiting and training bases in Fermoy. Mr Samain will be guest of honour at the Fermoy event which takes place from September 28-30 next. Symposium founder, Mary Colette Sheehan, said the event is about vital historical connections that exist but, until now, have been shrouded in darkness. "The connection between Guillemont and Fermoy has always been there. But no-one from Fermoy connected with the mayor - and no one locally had any sense of its significance in the Battle of the Somme or the gratitude of the people of France (to Ireland)," she said. "It has been waiting 102 years to be forged. The purpose of the Thomas Kent event is to illuminate material that exists but remains, until now, in darkness." Guillemont was the focus of some of the most savage fighting - as British and French forces attempted to capture the town - during the Somme offensive of 1916, with German troops mounting one of the most ferocious and savage defensive actions of the entire war.. When Guillemont was finally captured, more than 1,200 Irish soldiers had died in the battle to take it and its neighbouring village of Ginchy. The troops - hundreds of whom hailed from Cork, Tipperary, Limerick and Waterford - were killed fighting with the 16th (Irish) Division. One Irish soldier, Thomas Hughes (30) from Monaghan and a member of the Connaught Rangers, was awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest award for valour, for the single-handed destruction of a German machine gun unit at the height of the Battle of Guillemont. Every year, Guillemont pays a special tribute to Ireland in memory of the Irish troops killed in the fighting to liberate the village. Several members of the Regular Hamilton County Grand Jury gave their observations of their service: REPORT OF THE REGULAR GRAND JURY - August 29, 2018 The Honorable Barry Steelman Judge, Criminal Court Division I The Honorable Barry Steelman Judge, Criminal Court, Division I Hamilton County, Tennessee Judge Steelman: "Definitely not what I expected, highly recommend this experience, great experience and educational, eye opening to the amount of crime in our community." Those are some of the comments I was given by jurors when asked to describe their experience while serving on the Grand Jury for the May - August, 2018 term. I will say that after serving with them in this term, I know that they are all surprised and a bit saddened by the high number of cases that come through the Grand Jury and most disturbing of all, the number of repeat offenders. I know that most of them have expressed a renewed appreciation for Law Enforcement. They have been given an education into the daily operations of Law Enforcement and all the hazards and hardships they endure. They now have a better understanding of how a criminal indictment starts with an arrest and goes through the system. Most would say at times our criminal justice system seems in need of some work, but is better than other nations have. As part of their service, they toured the facilities of Silverdale, the Hamilton County Jail and Juvenile Detention Center. They were charged with reporting on the Hamilton County Jail and Juvenile Detention. HAMILTON COUNTY JAIL - The staff at the jail seemed to really know what they were doing. You could tell they are well trained and stay on top of things. It did seem as though they are short staffed and could use more officers. It would seem like a good idea to have more inmates involved in the cleaning and maintaining of the facility. Overall it was impressive how well everything ran in an unconventional space. - Running a jail takes more people than I thought. Processing people in and out takes a lot of time. Knowing what gangs they are affiliated with and placing them in the right cell to cut down on problems in the jail has to be hard work. I am amazed at the job these people do. I have the utmost respect for the men and women that work around the inmates. Mentally this must be a trying job. I did notice that the cells are very crowded but realize this will take a lot of funds to fix. - There were multiple comments from jurors stating the professionalism of the staff. Many of them expressed their appreciation for the chaplain and kitchen director. There were several comments on the crowded conditions of the holding cell and its cleanliness, but we realize in these circumstances conditions will not always be what we feel they should be. JUVENILE DETENTION - I was very impressed with the way the employees and supervisors were so caring and respectful of the children's lives. The facility was clean and well maintained The classroom teacher was amazing. They do need to update his GED software. I had several jurors comment on the cleanliness of the facility and especially its kitchen but as usual, overwhelmingly they were impressed with Mr. Weaver, the classroom teacher. He does need and deserves an updated GED software program. LAW ENFORCEMENT - My respect and admiration for Law Enforcement has increased tenfold. I've been telling my family, "be sure to respect our police officers and thank them" I think everyone should have to do Grand Jury because it is such an eye opener. I think it would help the current negativity towards our Law Enforcement if everyone got to see what they have to deal with day to day. Michael Lobo, the Deputy Speaker of the Goa Assembly said that Parrikar will continue to serve as the Chief Minister. Many leaders wished for the Goa Chief Minister's speedy recovery. (Photo: File | PTI) Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Saturday. Parrikar, who had earlier been admitted to a hospital in Goa on Thursday due to his deteriorating health, flew to Delhi on Saturday for a health check-up at AIIMS. Also read: Ailing Goa CM to leave today for treatment at AIIMS in Delhi "He is being examined by a team of doctors and will undergo a few tests," a source at AIIMS told PTI. Michael Lobo, the Deputy Speaker of the Goa Assembly said that Parrikar will continue to serve as the Chief Minister. "Amit Shah and Modi ji are monitoring the situation in Goa. Portfolios that were with the Chief Minister will be distributed among ministers so that administration runs smoothly," he told ANI. Earlier in the day, Goa BJP held a meeting of its state-level core committee. The core committee later met Parrikar. Many leaders wished for the Goa Chief Minister's speedy recovery. West Bengal Chief Minister took to Twitter to express concern over his declining health. "Concerned about the health of Goa Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar. My prayers to give him and his family the strength at this difficult time," she wrote. Concerned about the health of Goa Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar. My prayers to give him and his family the strength at this difficult time Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) September 15, 2018 Amongst others, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti too wished for Parrikar's speedy recovery. Parrikar had undergone a three-month-long treatment in the US for a pancreatic ailment, returning to India on September 7. On Thursday evening he was admitted to a private hospital at Candolim in North Goa district. (With inputs from Agencies) Diehard fitness fanatics are set to battle it out in an energy-sapping challenge at the Ballyhass Lakes Adventure Park, that will push their reserves of strength and stamina to win a cool 1,000 in cash and the inaugural #TheFittest crown. Entries are now being accepted for the inaugural Castlemagner GAA #TheFittest challenge on Sunday, October 7, which will see 180 hardy participants battle it out over a gruelling course, that will test their mental and physical fitness to their very limits. The event, in aid of the GAA club and its charity partners Marymount Hospice, will see teams of three tackle a series of lung-busting obstacles that have been specifically built to see if they have what it takes to survive the ordeal. Eoghan McCarthy promised the course would challenge both the participants fitness levels and their ability to work as part of a team. "It has been designed to test people in many different ways, with our land based activities such as the tyre flip and hay bale challenge, our water based activities such as the kayak and the hang tough and our exciting height events like Jacobs ladder and the famous crate stack," said Eoghan. "It will be a great family event with so much to do for spectators and participants alike. The team and I are really looking forward to welcoming everyone to Ballyhass on the day." Castlemagner GAA chairman Alan Morrissey said the event will raise some badly needed funds for the club. "We've taken on this ambitious fundraising project to raise essential finances for the running and development of our club," he said. "We will also be giving a donation to our charity partners Marymount Hospice who as we know provide tremendous respite and palliative care for people all across Cork and further afield," he said. "It will be a chance for the local community to come out and support the club in a family friendly and fun environment. I would encourage all those that think they have what it takes to tackle this exciting challenge to register early and make sure they sign up for what promises to be a fantastic event," he added. Irish Olympian and event ambassador Michelle Finn is also supporting the event. She also urged those who think they have what it takes to conquer the course to sign up. "I think the hang tough finale along with such great cash prizes on the line will make for an exciting end to the day. Ballyhass are known all over for their fantastic facilities and is a perfect setting for this event. I am really looking forward to it," she said. The event is open to anyone over the age of 14 and is expected to last in the region of three hours. For more information on the challenge and to register visit www.thefittest.ie. German discount giant Lidl has launched a stinging broadside at rival SuperValu, accusing them of using the planning process to delay a multi-million euro expansion plan at their Fermoy outlet. Last month Cork County Council planners gave the thumbs-up to the ambitious plan, which made provision for the demolition of the existing 1,342 sq metre Lidl store on the Courthouse Road and the adjacent, vacant, former Touch of Luxury premises. Under the provision of the plan these would be replaced by a new 2,167 sq ft store on the 2.7 acre site. A single submission in relation to the proposed development had been lodged with the planning authority in the name of Michael Riordan, the owner of the SuperValu store situated across the road from Lidl. While he insisted that he had no objection in principle to the development, it was his contention that "the design and layout of the proposed store are inappropriate at this location." "This prominent gateway site (to the town) demands a building of much higher quality and merit than is currently proposed," he wrote. While planners ruled the development was in accordance with the "proper planning and sustainable development" of the area, they did impose a schedule of 28 conditions attached to the planning approval. These related to issues such as road and traffic safety, the protection of existing amenities both during and after demolition/construction, the disposal of waste and noise pollution. This week it emerged that Mr Riordan has lodged a lengthy submission with An Bord Pleanala appealing the Council ruling, citing a number of further reasons why he believed that it should be rejected. These included a query over the issue of zoned land with Mr Riordan writing the proposal "cannot be considered in any sense" to support the zoning objective for open space lands or articles 10 of the Habitats Directive, as it for a development on lands that form part of the Blackwater Special Area of Conservation (SAC). "I submit that there was insufficient review of the SAC status of the site and the impacts of the subject proposal on the wider conservation area," wrote Mr Riordan. He also contended that there was potential for the development to have a "significant impact on the vitality of the town centre" through a significant increase in convenience retail floor space at an out of centre location. "There is no specific need for the level of floorspace proposed at this location, particularly at the cost of environmental impact and disposal of lands with a special area of conservation," wrote Mr Riordan. "While I acknowledge the subject site is the location of an existing site, the proposal (to demolish the store and replace it with a larger one) is considered to be a significant increase that should have been more appropriately assessed," he wrote. The full text of the appeal can be viewed on the planing section at www.corkcoco.ie. In strongly worded statements, Lidl said while the building design had been listed among reasons for objecting it was "clear SuperValu is continuing to use the planning process as a delaying tactic to thwart competition and expansion plans", which the company said, had been welcomed by locals. Lidl said that, if approved, the development would create 100 jobs during construction and 10 fill-time jobs post completion. "The multi-million investment in the store rebuild will now be delayed by up to nine months while An Bord Pleanala's decision is awaited, resulting in undue delays to investment and employment in the local area," read the statement. "Given the endorsement by Cork County Council and the strong local support for the development, Lidl are confident that An Bord Pleanala will recognise SuperValu's objections as an unfounded delaying tactic," it concluded. Mr Riordan was not available for comment at the time of going to press. Mary Colette Sheehan, director Thomas Kent Symposium; Cllr Frank OFlynn; Gerry White, military historian; Ian Fleming, Thomas Kent Symposium, Marie Barry, AIB Fermoy; Cllr Noel McCarthy; Dee McCarthy, Fermoy Forum; Kieran Barry, Fermoy Youth Centre and Cllr Deirdre OBrien at the launch of the 2018 symposium in Fermoy Preparations are at an advanced stage for the inaugural Thomas Kent School of History Symposium, which will take place in Fermoy over the final weekend of this month. The symposium is the brainchild Mary Colette Sheehan a PhD candidate at UCC where she is studying memory, how we remember and what we forget. This is somewhat apt as the focus of the three-day event will be 'Ireland at the End of the Great War in 1918', a time when the country was experiencing arguably one of the most turbulent periods in its history. Mary said the aim of the symposium would be to create a "convivial gathering to discuss and give voice to subjects relevant to the period, including the legacy of World War I, that have been neglected or have been too difficult to speak of." "It will be a series of conversations generating food for thought concerning overlooked and forgotten histories that will create debate about why we must, and how we should, teach history. It will paint a vivid picture of what life was like in Ireland as the First World War drew to its shuddering conclusion," said Mary Colette. "Another key element of the event will be to celebrate Fermoy's extraordinary military history through people and story," she added. She said it was fitting that Thomas Kent, the Castleyons native dubbed 'the forgotten patriot of 1916 should be the standard bearer for the symposium, which will feature presentations and speeches by leading Irish and international historians and political commentators at the Community Youth Centre on Ashe Quay. "Establishing a History School in the name of one of the forgotten patriots is a way of ensuring that the name of Thomas Kent cannot be overlooked in the future," said Mary Colette. The symposium will get underway at 11am on Friday, September 28 with a free open day for primary, secondary and third-level students with special guests award-winning graphic artist Sophia Kyriacou and history teacher Anthony O'Flynn who will talk about using film and technology to research and record history. Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental will l also speak about then reality of history and the lessons society must learn from the past. At 2.30pm author Dr Sheila Llewellyn will deliver a talk about shell shock and post traumatic stress disorder among front-line combat soldiers. Later that evening at 7.30pm the symposium will be officially opened by Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin followed by a keynote address by intentionally acclaimed historian Professor JJ Lee. A packed programme of Saturday will see presentations throughout the day by speakers on a variety of topics including 'How We Should Teach History and How Best To Do It', 'The Land Question and Land Ownership (c,1917)', 'The Hierarchy of Sacrifice' and 'Ireland at the End of WWI - The State of Things'. The day will conclude with 'The Convivium' an evening of locally produced food, readings, music and conversation. On Sunday the spotlight will be on local history, with a morning session featuring Dr Aoife Bhreatnach exploring what it was like to live in a garrison town in 1918, historian Gabriel Doherty speaking about Thomas Kent and Courts Martial and Dr Ida Milne speaking about the Spanish Flu and its impact on Ireland. At 2.30pm military historian Gerry White and archaeologist Damian Sheils will talk about Fermoy's built military heritage, which will be followed by a walking tour of historic Fermoy with members of UN post 25 and local historians. The symposium will draw to a close at 4.30pm with a discussion on its findings at Adair Hall. "Given the year that it is, the 100th anniversary of the ending of the war, what that means for the town of Fermoy, the local villages and the hinterland, I think this symposium is an act of making history by its very happening," said Mary Colette. "It has come together in such a way that I can only consider it was something that has been waiting to happen - it just needed the opportunity." Even before this year's event takes place, Mary Colette is already planning next year's symposium. "Difficult though they still are for some to talk about, the symposia in 2019 and the years to follow will open a national conversation about the War of Independence and the Civil War," she said. More information about the event, which has the blessing of the Kent family and is grant aided by The Heritage Council of Ireland and Cork County Council and supported by the UCC School of History and Fermoy Forum, at www.fermoysmemorybank.com. At one stage it was simply huge, especially for the people living in Mell. Wilson and McBrinn was based behind what is now the local service station, a hive of industry for decades. But exactly 50 years ago, they scored a wonderful first - bringing the jeans world to Drogheda. In 1968, the firm were appointed Irish distributors for the Levi Strauss company. According to the wonderful history of the place, produced many years ago by Victor Clarke and Breeda Tuite, Tom Carolan took the company van to Whitburn in Scotland twice a month to pick up Levi's for the Irish market. From Mell, they were delivered around the country. In 1971, the American firm set up their own distribution firm, but Wilson and McBrinn were already planning big and launched their own brand, Dingos. They sold 50,000 pairs in four months and they came in 47 different shades and fabrics such as velvet and cord. The Dingo van could be seen all over Ireland and Britain on deliveries. The driver, Tom Carolan, said that he became well used to being in Long Kesh! Every time he went over the border, the van was taken to the prison to be searched. In the early 80s, the factory was booming, Paddy Rock part of a group of 10 who travelled to the Iraqi embassy in London for a meeting and coming home with an order for men's and boy's jeans. Another order came from Libya in 1983 and after that orders came from Germany to the West Indies, Kuwait to Belgium and France. They used purnice stone to 'stone-wash' their jeans. Uniquely, they had one of their advertising films banned by the British censor but it was deemed fine in Ireland. I plan to return to the Wilson and McBrinn story by Victor and Breeda in the future. History was made in Bothar Brugha last week when St Brigid's & St Patrick's NS opened its door to girls and boys for the first time in over 60 years. Formerly St Brigid's GNS and St Patrick's NS, the newly amalgamated school will operate out of the two existing buildings. This is the culmination of many years of planning and consultation with parents and staff. All members of the school community are delighted with the transition from single sex to mixed classes. The children have adapted seamlessly to the changes. When 4 year old Roisin King was asked what she thought of having boys at school she said, "It's really fun; I had boys in my little school too". Eight year old Eoghan Clarke says, "I think it's good because girls and boys can play together for once. You can make new friends" When asked, second class student Rachel McNamara said, "I think it's good. It's better because boys are funny and I've made new friends" Parents have been extremely supportive of the new changes and are looking forward to their children spending many happy years in Bothar Brugha. Lourdes Pilgrimage The Meath Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2018 will take place from September 12th -17th and will be led by Bishop Smith. The fare is 749 for full board and inclusive of insurance and travel taxes (single supplement 180). To book, contact The Presbytery 041-9827384. Steam train The annual steam train excursions from Drogheda Rail Station to Dundalk and Skerries, which was cancelled in July, will now go ahead on Sunday September 16th .Tickets are on sale from Drogheda Tourist Office in the Tholsel, West Street costing 14 for adults and 8 for under 16's. These trips have proved to be very popular and are sold out each year. The trains are pulled by vintage steam engines and have both bar and snack cars. Slane History and Archaeology Society will present "Message of Peace" an evening of music, song and poetry commemorating the 150th anniversary of the sailing of the convict ship The Hougoumont carrying John Boyle O"Reilly and 63 other Fenians to Freemantle, Australia. With his renowned gift of storytelling, through song and poetry, Sean Tyrrell will recount O'Reillys amazing life - from his childhood in Dowth, his Fenian activities, his arrival in Australia, his escape and his life in America. This dramatic stage presentation will bring this extraordinary story to life and will be of great interest to all those who revere this local hero and to those who wish to learn more about him. This event will take place on Thursday 20th September in the Conyngham Arms Hotel Slane at 8pm. Tickets available from The Hub, Slane 041 9824000 and at the door. St Pio devotions St Pio devotions will take place in St Marys church Drogheda on Thursday 20th September,mass at 7.30pm followed by Eucharistic healing, blessing with relic of St Pio, rosary at 7.05pm.All are very welcome. Back locals with Tesco token scheme Tesco Ireland has announced the 453 local projects that will participate in the new cycle of the Tesco Community Fund commencing 3rd September. For the next eight weeks, customers are being encouraged to use their blue tokens in Tesco's 151 stores to vote for their preferred local cause enabling them to make a big difference in communities' right across Ireland. In Louth alone, the Tesco Community Fund has supported 261 local projects to date donating over 91,690.21. For the next eight weeks Tesco's stores across Louth will be using their blue token to support a wide range of local projects: Shoppers in Tesco Drogheda will be able to support Boomerang Youth Service, Drogheda Senior Citizens and Tullyallen Access the Glen Committee Tesco Drogheda Extra will be supporting Boomerang Youth Service, Drogheda Arts Centre and Tullyallen Access The Glen Committee Blood donation clinic in Duleek One in four people will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lives. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) provides the blood and blood products needed in hospitals to help these patients. Every week 3,000 donations are needed in Ireland. A total of 2,711 units were required in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda during 2017. If you'd like to help, there is an opportunity to give blood at the IBTS mobile clinic in Duleek Boys National School, Duleek on Monday 17th September, 2018 from 5:00pm to 8:30pm. For further details, please contact lo-call Donor Information Line 1850 - 73 11 37 or Finbar Gethins, Area Manager at Ardee Regional Office, 041 - 685 9994 or www.giveblood.ie Vintage Day at Townley Hall Meath Vintage Group will hold a vintage ploughing day at Townley Hall on Sunday 16th September. Townley Hall is about 6kms east of Slane and about 2kms from the M1. This is a day for the novice who wants to learn the art of ploughing and the expert who wants to tweak any issues with tractor and plough in time for the national competitions. 'We are planning to have some side events to entertain young and old. Good, old-fashioned games to exercise youngsters limbs, a fun dog show, guess the weights, fun tug-of-war and just for the ladies, a glamourous granny contest, a raffle and maybe even an auction!,' a spokesperson stated. No entry fees but donations will be most welcome with all proceeds going to The Tullyallen Carers. A new series of 'Brexit advisory clinics' being held to support Irish companies will take place in Dundalk next month. The new 'Prepare to Export Scorecard' has been developed by Enterprise Ireland to help Irish entrepreneurs and business owners with global ambition to self-assess how prepared they are to start exporting. The interactive online facility is a free, easy-to-use tool which acts as a starting point for companies interested in exporting and reaching overseas markets. Aidan McKenna, Regional Director -Border Region, Enterprise Ireland explained: 'Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting new and emerging exporters across the country to expand their global reach. With the prospect of Brexit and the associated challenges and opportunities, our team in Dundalk is working to help existing companies in Louth to start exporting and to achieve their global ambition.' He added: 'I encourage companies, unsure about how to take the first step to exporting, to use our new Prepare to Export Scorecard as a practical starting point when assessing their export preparedness for expansion into new overseas markets.' Enterprise Ireland has also launched its series of nationwide Brexit Advisory Clinics advising Irish companies on the supports available to help them address their Brexit exposure. The clinics, which include one-to-one meetings with independent experts, will continue in the Crowne Plaza, Dundalk on Monday 22nd October when companies will be briefed on the broad implications of Brexit, specifically around customs, strategic sourcing, financial management, employment law and the movement of people. Along with a series of practical seminars, the clinic provides the opportunity to get personalised advice specific to your business. This is delivered through one to one meetings of 40 minutes with independent experts across a number of business areas. Find out more about the Brexit advisory clinics at www.prepareforbrexit.ie A 36-year-old man who assaulted a taxi driver with a mirror he broke from the cab, has been warned a jail term is being considered by the court. Martin McDonagh, Paradise Place, William Street, pleaded guilty to assault and criminal damage charges arising out of an incident which occurred on 15 April last. Previously, Sgt Ray Brady gave evidence that a 1.30am a taxi driver was sitting in his vehicle in Peter Street when McDonagh got in. He had no money and was told to get out. He left but then got back in. He hit the driver a couple of times before breaking off the inside mirror to strike the man again. McDonagh has 55 previous convictions, and his solicitor Eleanor Kelly added he has for a long time had a difficulty with alcohol but has been sober for five weeks. At that hearing in July, Judge Coughlan said he wanted compensation in court on 7 September. Last week, solicitor Siobhan Murphy said Martin McDonagh had 250 compensation, adding that no exact amount had been indicated the last day. The judge decided to further adjourn the case to 28 September. He wants to see the taxi driver on that date. 'I'll be very blunt,' he told McDonagh, 'I am considering putting you in Mountjoy.' Gavin Duffy said Michael D Higgins has served the country well but he should have served one term as promised. 'People want to have a choice in this election,' he told Louth county councillors in Dundalk. He acknowledged the terms of office of Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese who knew there was a job the president could do 'beyond the strictures of the Constitution'. 'All my life I've worked with people to help them develop their talents. 'I'm basing my campaign on five key pillars, Youth, Older People, Diversity, Inclusion and Working Together.' Gavin Duffy was reared above the family shop in Drogheda. He did not go to third level education, rather went straight from school to work in Dundalk. 'I have worked hard. I'm a husband and a father. 'I have come amongst my people this evening. I have the courage to do this. Give me the opportunity to put my case before the people of Louth.' Replying to various questions from the floor, he said he has never been a member of a political party and is the only candidate personally funding his own campaign and has suspended his business in the meantime. 'There is nothing in my business background I would worry about.' On the subject of business, he feels he can bring an extra dimension on inward investment, as Asia is now where funding is coming from. 'I know Hong Kong. I've done business in Shenzhen.' Mr Duffy said he is very proud of founding LM FM which he did with the support of five people in Dundalk 'who backed a young lad of 28.' Asked why he is only entering politics now, and going for the role of President, rather than start at a lower level, he said he dedicated himself to the private sector which helped accumulate tax revenue. 'I still feel I have the energy to do something. I could be seen as a little arrogant, I know, but I've the skills set to do it, something that's not written down in the CV.' He said he has committed to a protocol of publishing the expenses of the Aras if in office. 'Not just the cost, but what value we are getting.' Mr Duffy continued it is best if the president and taoiseach have a good working relationship. As regards the diaspora and people in Northern Ireland being able to vote in a presidential election he said that's a Government decision to be made. 'We need to go beyond making nice noises about the diaspora.' When his 'public spat' with the Green Party over the Ward Union Hunt in 2010 was brought up, he said he stood into the breach to defend the hunt because it holds the only indigenous herd of Irish red deer. He said he is 'an equestrian person' and there is no way in the role of president he would be promoting or actively supporting blood sports. As the range of topics raised diversified, Mr Duffy pointed out he is very conscious of the undocumented Irish. If elected, he will be acknowledging the role of councillors, adding he is impressed with the amount of work councillors do. Tuesday September 18 promises to be a big night for the Dominican Community in Drogheda. Archbishop Eamon Martin will celebrate mass in St Magdalene's Church on Dominick Street on the night to mark a special occasion for the church. It is exactly 140 years since Archbishop McGettigan celebrated the first mass in the then new church. The mass, at 7.30pm, will also see a wreath laid at the resting place of Drogheda born Fr Meadthe at the side of the church. He was the one responsible for the construction. The Boyne Folk will also play at the mass. 'It will be a huge occasion for us to have the Archbishop here and we would welcome the wider community to come out and mark the occasion. 'The Dominicans have played a major part in the town's history and we are proud of that association,' stated Fr Jim Donleavy (right). PMs meeting with the religious head of the Bohra community comes ahead of the MP polls in Nov-Dec. Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanges greetings with Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the spiritual head of the Dawoodi Bohras, at the Ashura Mubarak programme at Indores Saifee Mosque. (Photo: PTI) 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 the 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. I enjoyed a good relationship with the community when I was chief minister of Gujarat. Every village in Gujarat has at least one Bohra trader, he said highlighting the role played by the community in development of Gujarat. This was the Prime Ministers first meeting with the religious head of the Bohra community and came ahead of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections in November-December. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was also present on the occasion. Bohra community population in Madhya Pradesh is around 2.5 lakh, with concentration in three districts of Indore, Ujjain and Burhanpur. In his address, the Prime Minister spoke about his governments initiatives like Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan, Make-in-India programme and the rollout of the goods and services tax (GST) and showcased the economys growth rate of more than eight per cent in the last quarter of the current fiscal. He said the members of the Bohra community took maximum advantage of his governments 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 business should be done within the purview of the rules and law. Honest businessmen are being encouraged through steps like GST and bankruptcy law, Mr Modi said. Mr Modi recalled Mahatma Gandhis 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 his governments Make-in-India programme, Mr 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 record investment. He said that in the last quarter of the current fiscal, the country has achieved a growth rate of more than eight per cent.We are eying the double digit. I believe that the country can reach the goal despite all the challenges, the Prime Minister said. Mr Modi also said that his government has given priority to health and nutrition sectors and is working to provide a house to every homeless poor in the country by 2022. A public meeting took place this week to discuss the infrastructural issues in relation to the Northern Cross Route and how the project can best be delivered in the shortest possible time. Fianna Fail councillor Tommy Byrne called the meeting and stated that with the 'proper will' in place, the expected timeframe of 10 years for the project can be halved. The route will be 3km in length and is single lane with room for a dual carriageway. It will start at the roundabout at Killineer on the Drogheda/Dundalk road and go to the port. 900,000 has already been allocated for it but that's just a 'pittance', the councillor states. The road will open up some 628 acres in total and at present there's full planning permission for 7,000 homes. Some 2,100 will be built in the first phase, with 2,500 in phase 2 and 2,500 in the last phase. 'The road can be completed in the medium term if the government shows leadership in funding the road in phases. The levies can be collected from the developers and the road will he much faster. I think it is too important for the town's future to rely on it to be completed by developers,' Cllr Byrne added. He also says it would take the huge amount of heavy vechicles presently driving through residential streets of the town. He says he can't understand why the port route is not a 'priority' for government and is the crucial 'missing link' to allow the town to grow. 'The employment alone would be awesome and that's in addition to Drogheda United's new stadium there.' He feels Louth CC are working hard on delivering the project but the 'stakeholders' - government, Drogheda Port and Irish Cement need to help fast track it. The Fianna Fail party Spokesperson on Transport, Robert Troy TD, was also invited to be a guest speaker. M1 Skillnet in conjunction with Drogheda & District Chamber are proud to present the M1 Leadership & Skills Summit which will take place in City North Hotel on September 20th from 8.30am to 1pm with a business networking lunch afterwards. Linda Ennis, Network Manager of the M1 Skillnet is delighted to bring the summit to business people in the North East "we have a great line up of experts speaking at the event, it will be an extremely informative event and also a great opportunity for business people to network at lunch. The evet is open for HR Leaders, Managers, Business Owners or anyone who manages or leads people and teams and will be of particular interest to those looking to keep up to date with what is happening in business in the North East Region ". The summit will cover topics such as business in the North East and the M1 corridor, the future skills needs for the North East and the benefits of impactful leadership. Speaking at the event will be Paul Healy CEO Skillnet Ireland who will be addressing current and future skills; and Gerry Duffy Professional Speaker & Author who will discuss the role of leaders in attracting and developing talent and what good looks like in companies with highly successful cultures. Thomas McEvoy Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office will also speak and highlight the benefits of the M1 corridor and Shona McManus President Drogheda & District Chamber will host the event and also a panel discussion with experts in the industry on the topic of "North East-Right Location Right Skills". Shona will contribute her industry experience as the CEO of Osborne Recruitment to this discussion and panellists include: Pete Rowan, Yapstone; Michael O'Dowd, Regional Skills Forum; Brian Drain, DAA; Roslyn O'Shaughnessy, BD Pharmaceutical and Dr Michael Mulvey, DKIT. Tickets are available to purchase now on www.m1skillnet.ie A number of students from St Joseph's Secondary School are continuing their fundraising exploits with the aim to raise as much as possible for a school project in India. St Joseph's have been involved in the setting up and development of a school in Schillong, Northern India, for underprivileged children who would not otherwise receive an education. Ten students and four staff members from St. Joseph's will travel to the region on October 20th for 11 days. Both students and teachers have been preparing for the last number of months and have been fundraising in the local community. The latest event last weekend was a table quiz in the Westcourt Hotel and it helped to further boost the campaign. Rylie Kelly cutting the ribbon with Minister Damien English TD at the official opening of the new Ard na hUrrainne housing estate on Monday While all over the country, local authorities are struggling to deal with a very real housing crisis, there was some cause for optimism in Enniscorthy this week as Minister of State with responsibility for Housing, Damien English TD arrived in town to officially cut the ribbon on a brand new 1.6million social housing development. Ard na hUrrainne is a new eight hours development of two bed and three bed houses just off the Ross Road roundabout. The development includes four specially adapted houses which have been designed and constructed to meet the specific needs of the new tenants, who were present for Minister English's visit and were excited to take possession of their new homes. The Minister got the chance to meet with some of the tenants and their families, as well as take a tour of the state of the art, super energy efficient homes. 'They are fine houses and I believe this site was in need of a clean-up beforehand as well,' Minister English said. 'I want to congratulate the new tenants and to wish them every happiness in their new homes. It is the real pleasure of this job that I get to come to an event like this one and meet on a face-to-face basis the people whose lives will be transformed for the better. Some of these people have been waiting three, four or five years for a house and we're focused on responding to these needs as quickly as possible.' While, rightly, the housing crisis is taking centre stage on the national agenda, Minister English said that very real progress is being made in Co Wexford. 'We accept that homeless figures are higher than we want and nobody wants to see families in hotel rooms and emergency accommodation,' he said. 'It's abundantly clear that houses are needed. Wexford is 50% ahead of its own target when it comes to social housing and is well ahead in terms of taking advantage of all the available schemes. We are all committed to an increase in the housing stock and in Wexford there are plans to increase this by 1,200 in the next three years.' As well as meeting with the families, Minister English also got the chance to meet with Chief Executive of Wexford County Council Tom Enright, council officials, elected representatives and oireachtas colleagues Minister Paul Kehoe and Deputy James Browne. The new homes were designed in-house by Wexford County Council Housing Department and built by local contractor Kilcavan Property Developments Ltd. on behalf of the Council and funding of just over 1.6 million was provided by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. One of Fingal's best known food companies, Country Crest is celebrating 25 years in business and threw a barbecue anniversary celebration at its Lusk headquarters to mark the occasion. The business can trace its heritage well beyond those 25 years to 1910 when the great-grandparents of the current business custodians, Michael and Gabriel Hoey began farming. More than 80 years later, in 1993, Michael and Gabriel established Country Crest to grow and pre-pack fresh potatoes for the Irish retail sector. They built strong relationships with growers, and they invested heavily in building a facility for washing and packing potatoes in order to supply the best produce possible to the retail sector. They went on to achieve a number of significant milestones. In 2005 the company revived an almost obsolete onion industry by investing in a state-of-the-art onion grading, packaging and storage facility. As consumers lifestyles changed and people's lives got even busier, they recognised the opportunity to provide quality vegetable side dishes in the marketplace. This ultimately lead to the creation of Ballymaguire Foods, now recognised as Ireland's largest producer of fresh prepared meals. In more recent years they launched their Farm Shop as an outlet to sell their Bord Bia Assured beef - which has now gained a reputation as some of the best tasting beef in Ireland. Underlying the company's success is their passion for innovation and sustainability. It was one of the first members of Bord Bia's Origin Green programme, and has won awards for its green initiatives; from generating 50% of its own electricity, to water and waste management, as well as improving biodiversity on its farm by introducing bee hives, a wildlife sanctuary and heritage orchard. The company also recognises the importance of helping to sustain local communities and giving back - and they do this in abundance. In addition to employing approximately 350 people locally, and working with local suppliers where possible, the company is committed to supporting initiatives such as: fund raising for charities, hosting free family fun days, and sponsorship of various local sporting clubs. This generosity extends to deserving projects overseas in Haiti, Ethiopia and Lesotho - providing funding and expertise to help promote food sustainability. Michael Hoey said: 'It is an incredibly challenging industry at the best of times, and along with other farmers, we are faced with many challenges from adverse weather conditions that hinder growth, the overall quality of the produce and supply. 'Thanks to the dedication and professionalism of our staff and our growers, the support from our families, and the loyalty from our customers - we are proud to be celebrating this great milestone. 'We are looking forward to continued growth throughout our business - of farming, producing and distributing fresh, great tasting food in the years to come.' Fingal is crucial to Ireland's food supply and at the centre of that supply chain is Country Crest. The company was delighted to celebrate 25 years of growth and commitment to the region and looks forward to lots more of the same in the future. The Irish Blue Cross closed their summer series of fundraising events in the stunning Ardgillan Castle where they held another 'Bark in the Park' where dogs and their owners were invited to have fun in the park. Dog lovers and Irish Blue Cross supporters enjoyed sun, fun and games on a glorious Sunday, taking part in the charity's final Bark in the Park fundraiser this year. With the support of event sponsors Maxi Zoo, the charity has hosted their sponsored dog walks for the last ten years, repeatedly attracting hundreds of dogs and their humans for a fun, family day out. This is the first year for the charity to host the event at the stunning Ardgillan Castle. The Irish Blue Cross is well known for the charitable veterinary services is provides from its small animal clinic in Inchicore and from the mobile clinics which operate in communities across Dublin every weekday evening. The charity relies on public support to continue their work and all money raised at the five Bark in the Park sponsored walks held this year will go towards helping the thousands of sick and injured pets the charity cares for each year. Before dogs and their humans commenced the walk, following a special paw-printed route around the grounds of the Castle, there was plenty to keep everyone entertained with games, dog training classes and a mini agility course hosted by Positive Dog Training. Dog training experts were also on-hand to offer tips and hints on all sorts of dog behaviour questions. There was plenty of excitement with the announcement of the dog competition winners, crowning the Dogs with the Happiest Smile, Waggiest Tail, Shiniest Coat, Best Bark and Best Overall Dog. Alison Kelly, Marketing and Events Manager at The Irish Blue Cross said: 'We've been really looking forward to hosting our first Bark in Ardgillan Castle this year and what an event it has been.' She added: 'We've been blessed with a stunning day and that really showcased what a beautiful location Ardgillan Castle is.' Ms Kelly explained: 'This is such a popular spot for local dog walkers and today gave everyone the opportunity to meet and mingle with other dog families. We had over 200 people and 100 dogs here today and they had a fantastic day out.' The charity hope to raise 25,000 from the five events it held this year and all the money raised will help fund its charitable veterinary work. The Irish Blue Cross is an animal care charity, founded in Ireland in 1945, well know for the provision of pet care amongst the least well off pet owners in the Dublin region. Its teams deliver in the regions of 27,000 veterinary treatments and procedures annually at our ten mobile veterinary clinics and the main Inchicore Clinic. Its vets ensure pets are restored to full health and receive the preventative care they require to defend against disease. Donations to the organisation can be made by visiting www.bluecross.ie. Fingal County Council Chief Executive Paul Reid, Cathaoirleach of Dublin County Board Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Mary Whelan and Fingal Mayor Anthony Lavin at the Launch of Fingal Fleadh at Swords Castle Chapel The streets of Swords were filled with the sounds of traditional music as the second annual Fingal Fleadh took over the town for four days. From a marquee on the grounds of Swords Castle the streets and pubs dotted around the town centre, Swords was alive to the sounds of trad. Some huge names in the field of Irish treaditional music were in town for the weekend with headlining gigs from the likes of Kila, The Whileaways and Danu. Just weeks after the national Fleadh in Drogheda, the Fingal Fleadh provided a second chance to sample the unique atmosphere of a Fleadh in a region with a rich heritage in this music. Fingal was of course the home of Seamus Ennis, the legendary piper and no doubt he would have been proud to see the Fingal Fleadh take place on his doorstep. A brilliant week of ceol, craic agus Damhsa was promised as the Fleadh returned to Swords from September 6 to 9 with a hugely exciting programme of free concerts, workshops and sessions from some of the biggest names in traditional Irish music. Swords Castle was again at the heart of the event with concerts from Kila (Friday), Danu (Saturday), The Dixie Micks and the Whileaways (Sunday) in the Castle Marquee, and lots more. But you could enjoy the tunes throughout Swords with the four day Pub Session Trail. Fingal County Council events team, working with many traditional groups, put together a four day programme of free events which will brought Swords Castle to life with music, dancing, lectures and an Artisan Food and Craft Fayre. Dublin Comhaltas performed as well as The Mulcahy Family and Dance Hall Academy Irish dancing school and there was a Street Seisiun competition. This year is Bliain na Gaeilge and the Irish language was also to the fore at the Fleadh with John Spillane treating people to Irish Songs we Learned at School in the Atrium County Hall on Saturday and Pop up Gaeltachts taking place. Local pubs were delighted to host the Session trail starting from Thursday night and continuing Friday and Saturday night and Saturday afternoon with artists including Niamh Parsons & Graham Dunne, Ciotog, The Mulcahys and John Spillane. Visitors to the Fleadh also found a huge variety of local eateries to check out during their stay. Fingal Council chief executive, Paul Reid said: 'The Fleadh, as well as giving Fingal residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy the very best of Irish traditional music and culture, will also be of great value to the local economy.' A wonderful evening of great storytelling took place at the Fingal Heritage Network 'Share a Story, Make a Connection' Heritage Week event in St. Sylvester's Parish Centre Malahide, recent. The evening began with Mayor of Fingal Councillor Anthony Lavin welcoming everyone to his native Malahide and Christine Baker, Community Archaeologist Fingal County Council thanking everyone taking part particularly Bernadette Marks, the MC and Roger Greene for arranging the venue. Also joining the enthusiastic audience from the various Historical Societies were Brendan Ryan TD and Deputy Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Grainne Maguire. The first speaker was Brian Dooley from Malahide whose talk revolved around the Talbots of Malahide, and a tragic death in a storm in 1944 as well as their connection to a series of chance meetings that led to the romance, including between a teacher and a nurse in Whitworth hospital. Kevin Murray from Loughshinny Rush in his talk 'Men of the Sea' told the story of the five men who make up the monument is Rush, including a Roman soldier and St. Maur himself. Myles Reilly from Cloghran spoke about the famous Fr. Mulcahy and the story behind the building of Cloghran School. The first half of the evening was brought to a close by a tale of Murder most foul in 1741 by Oona Roycroft of Skerries telling the tale of brotherly rivalry that came to a bloody end. Pat Kelly of Lusk got the second half going by telling 'A Lusk Man's Story' about a Lusk goldsmith and showing the participants examples of his work. She encouraged people to see the Lusk Heritage Group websites for more stories. Eamonn Madden of Feltrim entertained with the story of the Soap Box derby in Feltrim Hill, and Brian McAniff former Donegal manager who took part as a teenager. A chance encounter with the great Seamus Ennis was the basis of May McKeon from Balbriggan's story which had been published in Ireland's Own. James Bennett from Swords told of his first day teaching in the school he would spend 45 years. Having no classroom surprisingly didn't putting him off for life! Bernadette Marks MC, in thanking the speakers echoed the audience's appreciation of the highly entertaining stories, which gave a great insight into the local character of Fingal. Speaking at the event Mayor of Fingal Cllr Anthony Lavin said: 'I am delighted to be here this evening to celebrate the work of heritage groups and historical societies across Fingal. 'We are so lucky in Fingal to have so many groups in all parts of the county who work tirelessly to highlight and celebrate our rich history and heritage.' He went on to thank everyone for participating and a special thank you went to Roger Greene for organising the venue and Bernadette Marks for acting as MC. Christine Baker, Community Archaeologist said to the gathering: 'I want to thank you for all the excellent work you do with regard to the Heritage of Fingal, conducting historical research, organising talks, historical walks, running museums and even publishing books." Members of the Heritage Network are currently working with Fingal County Council on the Fingal Fieldnames Project to identify the names of all the fields in Fingal. The Network meets on a monthly basis with the Fingal County Council Heritage section. A man who stole groceries from a Swords supermarket was arrested and was subsequently found with a small bag of cannabis herb on his person. Anthony McClean (34) has been placed on a 12 month Probation Supervision Bond after he pleaded guilty to the offences. A positive Probation Report was handed into Swords District Court which recommended he be placed on the Probation Bond. The court previously heard that the defendant, of Ardeevin in Swords went into Supervalu in Pavilions Shopping Centre on February 26. He selected a number of grocery items to the value of 13.50 before passing all points of payment. He was stopped by security staff and all of the items were recovered. Gardai arrived at the scene and arrested him. However, they got a strong smell of cannabis from him and when they questioned him in relation to the cannabis, the defendant handed gardai a small bag of cannabis herb to the value of 15. The defendant was ordered by Judge Conal Gibbons to address his addiction issues with the help of the Probation Services Ruchi Ghanashyam said that the EU and India are like-minded partners with convergence of views on democracy, international order, and human rights. President of the European council, Donald Tusk, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jean-Claude Juncker, president of European Commission, during the 14th EU-India Summit in New Delhi. (Photo: G.N Jha) New Delhi: The European Union plans to adopt a new strategy for relations with India and will publish a policy on connecting Europe and Asia, said the EUs envoy in New Delhi on Thursday. Ambassador of the European Union to India Tomasz Kozlowski said that at the last EU-India Summit in October 2017, the leaders had agreed that both sides share a desire to work closely together, and with all relevant players, to support a rules-based international order that upholds international norms, global peace and stability. The EU plans to adopt a new strategy for relations with India, will publish a strategy on connecting Europe and Asia, and will host the summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Brussels in October, he said, without giving details of the strategy. We dont deny that there are fundamental challenges to the international system and we know that we all have to make adaptations to the ways we do things in politics and diplomacy, Mr Kozlowski said at a symposium titled EU and India partners for stability in a new international environment. But we are resolved to rise to the challenge, to preserve with persistence the existing global rules, mechanisms and institutions. With modifications, where and when needed, adopting them with the goal of our common interest, Mr Kozlowski added. In her address at the event, Secretary West, Ministry of External Affairs, Ruchi Ghanashyam said that the EU and India are like-minded partners with convergence of views on democracy, international order, and human rights. She emphasised that Indias cooperation with the EU currently spans 30 dialogue mechanisms. There is no sector of the economy and no aspect of society which has not been enriched by this exchange, said Mrs Ghanashyam. The EU and India, being natural partners, share the same values and an unwavering commitment towards multi-lateralism, she said. A new front has opened up this week in opposition to a controversial proposal to build a drive-thru fast food restaurant near a primary school and a creche in Skerries. The planning application for the development is being evaluated by planners at the moment and local residents, as well as public representatives in Skerries have come out against the plans despite assurances from the developers that the project would not have a negative impact on local schoolchildren. Cllr Tom O'Leary at Monday's meeting of the full council, had a motion on the agenda calling for the introduction of 'No Fry Zones' in Fingal which would insist on keeping areas around schools in the county, free of fast foood outlets. Cllr O'Leary who has publicly stated his opposition to the Skerries restaurant propsal, said his motion was about 'encouraging' Fingal planners to take account of the Goverment's Healthy Ireland policy when deciding on planning applications like the one in Skerries. Cllr O'Leary's Fine Gael colleage, and former Minister for Health, Senator James Reilly backed his call for 'No Fry Zones' in Fingal. The former minister who is also a GP, said that Ireland was facing a 'childhood obesity epedemic' and that it was 'not appropriate' to build a fast-food restaraunt 300m from a school and 50m from a creche. 'We form habits when we are young and if we are exposed to these things at a young age we are more likely to form bad eating habits,' the former Minister for Health said. He said that instead, children should be introduced to the wonderful natural produce that Fingal produces as one of the most important regions in the country for producing fruit and vegetables. A direct link to the city centre for residents of Seabury and West Malahide must be maintained, according to a local Fine Gael councillor. New National Transport Authority proposals under its BusConnects plan would see the loss of a direct busy service to the city centre from these areas to be replaced by shuttle services to Swords or Clongriffin where commuters could link to Dublin City services. Cllr Anthony Lavin (FG) proposed a motion to the recent meeting of the Malahide/Howth Area Committee calling on the NTA to preserve a direct bus link from these areas to the city centre. Cllr Lavin said that on the surface, the BusConnects plans 'sounds wonderful', promising shorter journey times to the city centre for most commuters. But he said that when it comes to the suburbs of north Dublin 'it seems to be serving people not as well as it could be'. He said he was encouraging commuters affected by the proposals to make their feelings know on the BusConnects website. He said: 'I have been agitating to have some kind of service maintained to enable commuters to commute from west Malahide to the city centre. Cllr David Healy (GP) said: 'It takes effort to understand enormity of these changes' and that a lot of people had misunderstood it. He said that for example, the Seamount area would have 'a better service with increased frequency' and there would be a more frequent service to schools from Seabury. But he acknowledged the difficult was in terms of the loss of direct access to the city and on that point, he said there was no reason to drop the 142 service and no reason was given in the NTA report. He said there was a lack of understanding in the BusConnects report that the Port Tunnel is now part of a major bus route and it was already at the level of efficiency that the NTA were trying to bring other routes up to. He said the 142 bus route which uses the port tunnel and would be scrapped under the new plans is 'a casualty of the resistance to using the tunnel' but instead, buses should be using the tunnel as much as possible. Cllr Brian McDonagh (Lab) acknowledged there were issues to be addressed in the plans but said that is what the public consultation period is for. Local TD and Fianna Fail Housing Spokesperson, Darragh O'Brien has said the failure by Government to meet the affordable housing needs of perspective home owners is crippling families in the Fingal area. Deputy O'Brien said: 'Fingal is the fastest-growing county in Ireland, and not only do young families moving here have to scramble for a school place for their children, they have to face the prospect of never being able to afford to leave the rental market.' He added: 'Fianna Fail introduced a Dail motion back in May to address the ongoing crisis, which called for the establishment of an Affordable Housing Scheme, but was shot down after Sinn Fein and Fine Gael joined forces to vote against it."' According to Mr. O'Brien, it is 'becoming increasingly more apparent' that neither Sinn Fein or Fine Gael are 'remotely interested' in delivering much-needed affordable homes. He said: 'It's a complete and utter contradiction to suggest that they are eager to support working people wishing to purchase their own home. 'It's time they realised that the lives of young people and families in the North County are far more important than playing party politics.' Deputy O'Brien went on to state that the establishment of an Affordable Housing Scheme was an 'absolute priority' for Fianna Fail, and that the party will be insisting on the inclusion of 100 million for such a scheme in this year's budget. Meanwhile, a Fingal Labour Party TD has called on Government to 'accelerate the delivery' of an affordable housing scheme. Brendan Ryan TD claimed The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme was helping some home buyers, but was not designed to help the many'. The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme was introduced by Government in to help first-time buyers get on the property ladder. Despite some success, Deputy Ryan does not believe the scheme goes far enough: 'In my constituency of Dublin Fingal, I am dealing with people every day who are above the threshold for local authority housing support but are not being given the time of day by the banks. They are shovelling greater percentages of their income into rent, which is decreasing their ability to save for a deposit. It is a knot that is just getting tighter and the Government are not acting quickly enough.' 'We need a rent-to-buy scheme as a minimum and the Government needs to target these in the rent pressure zones that already exist.' The Labour TD said: 'There are huge land banks in Fingal owned by the Council which need to be developed as a matter of urgency. The jobs economy is recovering but it is leaving the housing economy behind. In the last month alone, we have seen families sleep in Garda stations to avoid sleeping on the streets and protesters occupy buildings that have been lying vacant. Every month the homeless figures are rising and the numbers of children homeless are rising. This is not a sign that Rebuilding Ireland is working.' A local councillor has formally called on Irish Water to ensure there is the highest level of 'tertiary' treatment on wastewater outfall off the Portmarnock coast from the planned giant regional sewage treatment plant in Clonshaugh. Cllr Brian McDonagh (Lab) proposed that the Malahide/Howth Area Committee collectively call on Irish Water to apply tertiary treatment to the outfall in 'the interest of recreational amenity, environmental protection and protection of shellfish waters'. Currently, Irish Water and the Greater Dublin Drainage Project team, are arguing that the waters the outfall will pour into are not sensitive enough to require tertiary treatment and proposing only a secondary level of treatment. However, Cllr McDonagh did acknowledge the need for a single regional plant and said he was not convinced by the 'magical solution' put forward by some for a network of smaller plants. He also argued that there was misinformation circulating about the project which has led people to believe that raw sewage will be pumped off-shore at Portmarnock -- he said that was not true. He said that there were two separate issues. One is what is the most effective type of plant and the second was the level of treatment required for the outfall. He said that while he understood the concerns about the larger plant, he believed that was the right kind of plant but said that the highest standards in terms of the treating the outfall and controlling odours from the plant should be insisted upon. Cllr David Healy agreed that it was possible to build a plant like this without the kind of problems associated with them in the past but warned that it was difficult and that the concerns of those living near the plant could not be discounted. He said he was also concerns about the outfall's proximity to Ireland's Eye and its possible effects on recreational activity there in the absence of tertiary treatment. Cllr Cian O'Callaghan (SD) said that the local community 'deserve nothing less' than tertiary treatment of the outfall. Cllr Daire Ni Laoi said she had 'serious doubts' about what she called this 'monster plant'. Ultimately though, while councillors differed on the aspects of the proposal all agreed that if it did go ahead then the waters outfalling off Portmarnock would have to receive tertiary treatment and backed Cllr McDonagh's motion. Two businesses in Swords involved in the hair and beauty industry have triumphed at the Irish Hair and Beauty Awards 2018. Over 600 of Ireland's elite beauty professionals gathered at the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport Hotel for a star studded night, put on to recognise and reward the best in the beauty industry on Sunday September 2. That was the beauty edition of The Irish Hair and Beauty Awards 2018 which have been split in two ceremonies due to the high volume of guests attending the event. The Irish Hair and Beauty Awards 2018, now in their third year have become a staple event in the hair and beauty calendar. The awards celebrated the amazing breadth of talent as well as the efforts and dedication of the very best beauticians who invest in ensuring their customers always receive high-quality services and treatments, making them look and feel fantastic. As chosen by the public, finalists from across Ireland attended the glamorous ceremony, where the meritorious winners were announced by the well known Irish best seller author and TV presenter, Andrea Hayes. The winners of the Irish Hair and Beauty Awards 2018, included two business from Swords. Tanning Salon of the Year was the Kiwisun Tanning and Beauty Salon in Swords. Makeup Specialist of the Year was named as Lotus Makeup By Rachel in Swords. A spokesperson of the Irish Hair and Beauty Awards 2018 said: 'We are honoured to have welcomed some of the best beauty gurus of the industry at the third Irish Hair and Beauty Awards. 'It was definitely a memorable and inspiring night reflecting the style and talent that flow in this country.' A man who put a woman in fear when he followed her home continuously exposing his genitals in the early hours of the morning is to be sentenced later. Ian Brady claimed he had been drinking excessively beforehand and claimed it was completely 'out of character', his solicitor told Balbriggan District court. The 29-year-old Tesco worker followed the woman from a North Dublin train station at 7am. When she turned around he was exposing himself to her. Moments later the woman, who is in her late 20s, crossed the road and the defendant continued to follow her, the court heard. Sergeant Darren Farrelly said while the defendant was following the woman, he continuously exposed himself to her, putting her in fear and causing her to become distressed. 'She lost sight of him for a while but when she got to her home he was on the opposite side of the road, still exposing himself to her,' said Sgt Farrelly. The defendant, of Mourne Park in Skerries pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals in a manner likely to cause fear, alarm or distress on July 15, 2017 in a north Dublin town. He has no previous convictions. A solicitor told Judge Dermot Dempsey the defendant has been engaging with a social worker and a key worker since the incident and handed in a letter outlining the defendant's personal circumstances. 'He had been drinking excessively beforehand and has now reduced his alcohol intake,' the solicitor said, adding that he has tried unsuccessfully to get a place in a residential rehabilitation centre. The solicitor requested an adjournment of the finalisation of the case for six months to 'show his behaviour has improved' and that he will continue to engage with his social worker. Judge Dempsey agreed to adjourn the case until mid-October to 'keep him under review'. Claire OConnell from The Gaslamp Gallery and artist Susan Caplice who have teamed up to help raise money for Make_A-Wish Ireland through the sale of limited edition framed beach art pieces The Gaslamp Gallery in Gorey have partnered up with Wexford artist Susan Caplice, who will create a limited edition range of framed beach art pieces in aid of Make-A-Wish Ireland. All profits from these sales will go directly to the charity to help grant wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. These designs are on sale now in The Gaslamp Gallery. Susan will also make a special appearance on Saturday, September 15, and will personalise pieces purchased on the day. It is a great opportunity to meet Susan and see how she creates her artwork. Susan, who has been featured in Ireland's Homes Interiors and Living, is a mixed media artist based in Wexford, who creates framed art designs with pebbles, driftwood, seashells and other media found on the Irish beaches. Susan's work will feature in The Gaslamp Gallery, a successful business situated on Esmonde Street, Gorey. It features a large exhibition space and upstairs they have a bespoke framing service. As a gallery, it is an informal place where visitors can relax, enjoy the art and be guaranteed a warm welcome. Once the money is raised through Susan's pieces, it will be donated to Make-A-Wish Ireland who aim to grant the wishes of children aged between three and 17 years living with life-threatening medical conditions. They help to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. 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. 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. According to reports, two militants suddenly opened fire on the vehicles on the National Highway. Bhubaneswar: Ollywood actor-turned-politician Anubhav Mohanty had on Thursday a close shave from militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir, reports said on Friday. The incident occurred in Baramulla area of Kashmir valley on the National Highway on his way back from Doodhpathri, where Anubhav had been for shooting of his upcoming film Prem Kumar. According to reports, two militants suddenly opened fire on the vehicles on the National Highway. Anubhav and his associates including the film director, who were travelling in two separate vehicles during the period, were also targeted by the militants. Acting on tip off, the J&K police reached the spot and retaliated with the militants. Taking advantage of the situation, the driver attempted to take the vehicle from the area to safe location. Even as brake failure occurred on the way, the driver managed to control the vehicle. Camera man Rabindra Behera, make-up artists Rajkishore Behera and Sujit Dalei were with Anubhav in one vehicle. The film director Tapas Sargharia and five others were travelling in another vehicle. Mr Mohanty, who is also Rajya Sabha member from Odisha, safely returned to New Delhi following the incident. Earlier, Anubhav had sustained a minor injury during film shoot of Prem Kumar in April this year. He reportedly fell from a height of nearly 30 ft during shooting of an action scene. Bridget McDermott, who lost three children, William, Marcella and George in the Stardust fire in 1981, on Goreys Main Street seeking signatures calling on the Attorney General for a new inquest A campaign by the relatives of the 48 people who died in the 1981 Stardust disaster, who are calling for a new inquest into their deaths, received an overwhelming amount of support from north Wexford. Bridget McDermott, who lost three children in the fire - Marcella (16), George (18) and William (21) - along with her two daughters Selina and Louise held a stall on Gorey's Main Street on Saturday asking people to sign a postcard calling on the Attorney General to grant a fresh inquest into the tragedy. Selina, who was just 11-years old when her siblings sadly passed away in the tragedy, said she was overwhelmed with the amount of signatures they received from the people of Gorey. 'Exactly 801 post cards were signed,' said Selina. 'We have over 35,000 of the 48,000 postcards signed to date and within the next two weeks we will hand-deliver these to the Attorney General in the Dail in hope of a new inquest.' The 'Truth' campaign, which started earlier last month, is aimed at getting justice for the 48 who died in the fire. Campaigners are travelling all over the country to get as many signatures as possible. 'Last week we went to Enniscorthy,' added Selina. 'We are finished with county Wexford now and hope to move on to Waterford, Laois, Galway and other parts of Dublin.' Selina said the campaign has gone worldwide since it was launched. They are receiving postcards from family members of the Hillsborough disaster. The Stardust victims families legal team, consisting of Darragh Mackin from KRWL solicitors Belfast, was strengthened last month with Alan Straw, a London-based barrister who advised on the campaign to justice for 96 Hillsborough disaster. 'My mother Bridget raised three children and she lost three. Her life was all about family and it still is,' said Selina. 'She will keep the fight going and wants to see justice for her children before she passes away.' The fire at the Stardust nightclub in Artane, Dublin, on February 14, 1981, still remains the worst fire disaster in the history of the State. Inquests were held into the deaths in 1982, returning explanations as to the cause of death but no verdict. A 1981 tribunal of inquiry had found the most probable explanation to be arson. That finding was formally removed from the public record in February 2009 following a review of evidence by Paul Coffey. Last year, the Government requested retired judge Pay McCartan to look at the evidence provided by the families but his assessment found there was no new evidence and no new inquiry warranted. The families, who rejected Mr McCartan's findings, hope a new inquest will offer an opportunity to legally examine this and other evidence not considered at the original inquest. They also want verdicts on their loved ones' deaths. Selina said on behalf of her mother and the relatives of the 48 people who died in the 1981 Stardust disaster would like to thank everyone for their continued support. In recent years almost 100m has been invested in County Wexford's electricity infrastructure, with a further 20m spend under way, but problems persist. ESB Networks Ireland confirmed to this newspaper that the company has set up a working group to address specific concerns raised at a meeting of Wexford County Council this summer about poor electricity supply in the south east of the county. In early August a fault in Wexford town saw 1,760 customers lose power for an hour or more. Customers were left frustrated by the way power was restored - on and off again, multiple times, over a 20-minute duration, which negatively impacted electrical devices and surge protectors. ESB spokesperson Paul Hand said: 'Fault situations can occur to both overhead and underground networks for a variety of reasons - a tree falling on an overhead line, a civil works contractor hitting a cable, a lightning strike. In this case, a cable fault occurred in a section of line. Crews were immediately mobilised and restored supply to all customers within a number of hours. Supply restoration takes priority over fault location. The location of a fault is not always obvious and as such ESB Networks need to go through a process to locate the source of the fault.' He said this process can involve switching in and out different sections of network until the exact location is found - so hence the intermittent nature of supply while the fault location was pinpointed. 'ESB Networks are constantly seeking ways to improve the "fault hunting" process by using remote technologies. We are acutely conscious of the imperative for reliable information on restoration times. Our network technicians will generally have updated the Estimated Restoration Times on the PowerCheck app and www.powercheck.ie to reflect the time it will take to locate and repair the fault.' Mr Hand said a group is looking at existing data and gathering new information to determine what is causing the continuity problems in the Kilmore Quay, Our Lady's Island, Rosslare areas. 'ESB Networks will make the investment necessary to improve continuity in the area. The output from the working group is expected in the coming weeks and will result in a programme of work to address our findings. It could involve bird deterrents, cattle deterrents, greater use of smart technologies etc.' He said there are no capacity problems in the area that would prevent new business and domestic connections coming on stream in the future. 'We are working to create a more reliable, more resilient, more secure, cleaner and safer supply to homes, farms and businesses across the county.' ESB Networks is investing a further 20m worth of key infrastructure projects in other parts of County Wexford. These investments specifically target the southern portion of the county and are being introduced as part of ESB's continuity improvement plan. Mr Hand said. 'It means that cumulatively, 120m will have been spent on County Wexford's electricity infrastructure during the ten years up to 2020. These significant capital investments are already bearing fruit, facilitating a 26 per cent increase in business connections in the county in 2018 alone.' ESB Networks Divisional Manager Carmel O'Connor said that in the past decade, ESB Networks continues to invest in state-of-the-art infrastructure in Wexford. 'The enhanced network in the county will bring significant long term benefits for the people of Wexford, with a more efficient, cleaner and more resilient electricity system helping local businesses grow and attracting inward investment. ESB Networks is deeply embedded in the communities we serve, so we are dependent on the cooperation and understanding of homes, farms and businesses with all such upgrades, particularly in relation to accessing lands and planned electricity outages, so I would like to thank all those in Wexford for their patience.' Ms O'Connor said that with climate change increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, the investment in a resilient and smarter network for the county is timely and essential. A family of nine from north Wexford are faced with the agonising choice of either separating or moving to a house more than 70km away if they want to avoid being homeless. Gary and Rhona Breen from Ballycanew have been frantically searching for accommodation since receiving the letter from a representative of a Dublin law firm in July stating they needed to vacate the premises in seven days. The High Court order for the repossession of the house had been issued against Gary and Rhona's landlord. Since then, the family have been living under the constant threat of being arrested for being in contravention of the court order and are waiting for the day that they are thrown out. Despite their best efforts in securing a place to call home for themselves and their seven children ranging in age from seven to 23, Gary and Rhona now face the possibility of either being separated or moving to a home in New Ross district, which is 70 km away from their community. 'Emergency accommodation is currently full and we were told something might become available towards the end of summer,' said Gary. 'We might have to split up too because no where can accommodate all of us.' Rhona would take the girls, while Gary would go with the boys. 'Our two eldest children have even offered to stay with friends or family so their younger siblings would get a chance to stay somewhere with their mother and father,' added Rhona. To add to the pressure, Gary and Rhona said if they are left homeless or arrested, social care workers would have to intervene. 'We have tried everywhere for a house, between the Council and private rented premises, there is nothing,' said Gary. 'We understand why but where are we suppose to go when our time comes?' The family still occupy the house in Ballycanew and are anxiously waiting for the day when they are thrown out when it is repossessed. 'The only house available to us for our family size is down south of Wexford,' said Gary and Rhona, who have been on the social housing list since 2009. 'But even at that Wexford County Council said we might not even get it due to first priority on the list.' The family have been living in Ballycanew for more than 10 years. The children attend Ballycanew National School and Creagh College. One child is a member of the sporting community. 'We are willing to take the house if it becomes available to us but we would have to drive for more than an hour to drop the kids to school,' said Rhona. Breda Joy at her Eat the Moon signing with her brother Brendan, father Brendan Str, niece Mairead and sister in law Margaret at Easons, Main Street, Killarney on Saturday. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Kerry's newest author, Breda Joy, undertook her first official engagement with the signing of her book 'Eat The Moon' on Saturday afternoon at Eason's in Killarney. Friends, family and fans were all on hand to meet the well known Kerry writer and journalist as she signed copies of her debut novel. The Killarney journalist's first novel hit bookshelves across the country last week and is getting rave reviews. A former Kerryman journalist, Breda Joy, has always promised to put pen to paper to produce a novel and is thrilled to have her debut novel now on shelves across the country. The new book is family saga set in 1969 - the year of the moon landing - and tells the story of the O'Mahony family and especially the central character Kieran O'Mahony whose life is thrown into turmoil. Life back in rural Ireland is vividly captured for readers, including Irish traditions in the book which is set in rural Cork, where Breda's grandparents hailed from and where she spent many summers growing up. Breda was prompted to finally write her first novel after undertaking an MA in creative writing and earlier this year she signed a three book deal with Poolbeg. This is her first novel and she is thrilled with the reaction it has received. Breda is now currently finalising her next novel amid launching 'Eat the Moon'. "I've been interested in books and writing for as long as I can remember," Breda said. "I've written poetry, plays and short stories, but my big ambition was to write a novel. It' s taken me a while but here it is. So let's hope the story goes down well." 'Eat the Moon' is now on sale in bookshops across the country. They say it takes 21 years to master the uilleann pipes, but it seems Moyvane musician Timmy Flaherty is a quick learner. The 19-year-old is Kerry's first senior All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil uilleann pipe winner - despite having started with the instrument just six years ago. "There are definitely not many people playing the uilleann pipes in Kerry. I had heard of them, but didn't really see them being played," Timmy explained. "I actually decided I wanted to play them when I watched a video of the uilleann piper Mickey Dunne on YouTube; I thought they looked unreal. They have a very different sound. "I didn't realise at first how much there was to playing them, but it got easier over time. Mickey actually made the first part of the pipes for me." And after that, Timmy was hooked. Playing the pipes came naturally, and he juggled learning them along with four other instruments. "The instrument is like a band in itself - there's the drones, regulators, chanter, bellows and bag. I was first drawn to it because of all the different melodies that could be made, the sound is unbelievable off it ," he said. "I began playing with a half set, then in time a three-quarter set, and kept adding until it was complete. "Building the instrument and playing it is a very long learning process. They say it takes 21 years to master them and it's definitely true; you'd always be adding to them and learning new things." The uilleann pipes are the instrument that presents most challenges for the multi-talented musician, but they've been worth the trouble. "There are a good few challenges with playing the pipes. Tuning is a big process, and when we had the good weather spell it caused havoc. Humidity plays a massive part in how it plays - temperature affects the reeds, and mine are homemade, which makes them even more sensitive, I was trying to keep it cool during the weather to keep it playable. "A lot of people associate them with the Scottish bagpipes, but they're fairly different. The bag in the uilleann pipes is inflated by the bellows, but with the bagpipes it's blown with the mouth. Another challenge is that, unlike the bagpipes, you can't stand up playing the uilleann pipes, you have to sit down, because you strap the bellows to your right elbow to pump air into the bag. The chanter goes on the right knee, and you use your right hand to play those notes and your right wrist to work with the drones. It can be difficult." Difficulty regardless, Timmy left Drogheda and Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann last month with an All-Ireland trophy. He also came third with the mandolin. The wins bring his medal collection to five, having won titles previously at under-age levels - but he says the step up to senior competition was massive. "There were 13 of us in the senior pipes competition in Drogheda. Every competition is tough, but the standard is highest in the senior categories." Timmy plays the pipes, banjo, mandolin, tenor guitar and whistle. "I started playing the whistle when I was in school, in first or second class," he says. "Late in second class, I went out to Ballylongford, and I picked up the banjo; Willie Larkin taught me. He had group classes there, and then I began private lessons with Aisling Neville in Listowel and continued for a good few years. I still go to her to polish up on tunes if I'm getting ready for a competition." As tough an industry as Timmy says it is, he realises that it's an exciting hobby, and the appreciation for music in the county and country is strong. "When I was younger it was all sport with people my age, I just did it because everyone else was doing it. I wasn't the best at it, so I said I'd stick to the music. "Kerry is a very musical county. The county is great for promoting and supporting the arts. "Moyvane is big for its music. There's a fierce amount of musicians learning and teaching out there and living in the area." "In the future, I would like to focus on getting my degree and maybe keep the music as a hobby. If I got a permanent teaching job, then I would love to spend the summers travelling and playing music." And being the talented musician he is, Timmy has been exposed to a few high profile people. "I got to meet Prince Charles and Camilla this year. We got to play for them in Siamsa. It was amazing altogether having a chat with them. They're very nice, I got to shake hands and share a few words with them, they're the most famous people I've met anyway!" Along with owing great thanks and praise to his music teachers, he has also had a lot support from his family. "My mother and father have been fierce good to me throughout the years, driving me to lessons and supporting my music. Even my little brother and sister would be at competitions when they really didn't want to be there. I've had great support." For any other young musicians or those aspiring to play music, Timmy has some words of wisdom to share. "It's competitive in the industry, but you make friends for life, from all over the world. Its tough and requires hard work, but people shouldn't over-think things - it's only a competition. Yes, it's about talent but, being honest, it also comes down to having a bit of luck on the day!" Dean sticks to his own style Musician Dean Griffin's story shows us just how thin the line between losing and winning is. The 20-year-old from Kilcummin was the senior banjo winner at this year's All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, and he told The Kerryman that his quirky style of playing is the reason for both his successes and losses. "I wouldn't consider myself the most typical Fleadh contestant," Dean said. "In my opinion, the Fleadh and Comhaltas try to put you into a box. You can't be too fancy or play anything too modern, which is what I do, but I've pretty much said f*** that. "I've competed in previous years and never won because of my style," he believes. "But this year, that different style is exactly what was recognised. The judge said there is nobody doing what I'm doing, and that's why I won, but also why I lost several times before. "It took ten years to win it because my style is unusual. Worth the wait I suppose." A second-year performing arts student in University of Limerick, Dean said he plans on using his talents for good when he is finished with education. He currently teaches music lessons in Tiernaboul National School in Killarney on Saturdays and Sundays, and his own schooling at UL is progressing nicely, he said. "I'm back to college this week and, thankfully, I'm going into second year with good results. "I couldn't imagine not studying what I love most: music, and all that surrounds it. I plan on doing a masters degree, but I might not do it straight away; I might travel and do gigs for a few years and live a little. "In the future my plan is to work in music therapy. Music is so powerful and can really help people. "My mother, Donna, used to take care of a little fella with autism, and whenever I played music around him he always responded very well to it. "So, I started including him and playing with him. I realised that's the type of work I want to do, with both children and adults." Despite his All Ireland success, Dean admits it's still not easy to break into the local scene. Again, he puts this down to his somewhat unorthodox style, but also the strength of competition in his locality. "It's tough around Killarney as a young new musician, especially when my style is different," he said. "A lot of musicians already have their established place. Thankfully, in recent years, the scene is starting to accept more modern musicians, and it's diversifying. "I play traditional enough instruments; apart from the banjo, I play the bodhran, and I self-taught myself the guitar two years ago, I also sing. I just tend to play and mix up modern songs, make it all more interesting." For Dean, it all stemmed from him being nosey one day when he was 11. "I found my mother's banjo under her bed, wanted to play it, and that's how it started. I then did workshops in Abbeyfeale and continued with private lessons with Matt Griffin in Killarney. "Now, I'm working on my debut album with Matt in Dingle. I'm taking my time with it, I'm young and have a lot going on, so I'm taking it easy with this and not putting myself under pressure." His music might have something with influence from his parents, too. His Dad has a Fleadh pedigree himself, while his mother is multi-talented when it comes to music - not unlike Dean himself. And his brother is no stranger to the musical scene either! "My mother hasn't continued with music, but she can sing and play an instrument if she wanted. My dad, Paul, used to enter the Fleadh. My brother, Brandon, plays the tin whistle. My family have been great encouragement through it all." "My college work placement begins next summer and I'll be off to America. I'll be in Nashville for some time working in a music shop, then in Chicago and St Louis doing gigs, and seeing if there's any music shops willing to hire. The college is really supportive with this, and they just encourage you to really take chances. "I'm starting to move into different types of music; jazz is one I'm interested in. I've been exposed to so many different styles and musicians in Limerick, and that has helped. "I want to keep experimenting. It's important for me to be different with what I do - and that won't change." An 'invaluable insight into the commercial and social history of Listowel' is how Jimmy Deenihan has described the memoirs of the great Jack McKenna - being published in his hundredth year by the North Kerry Literary Trust. Spoilt Rotten: Memoirs of Jack McKenna of Listowel will be launched by Fr Anthony Gaughan in the Seanchai on Wednesday, September 19, in what's sure to be a deeply important event for the entire town. Jack, of McKenna's Hardware fame, is one of the best known of the town's business leaders; and a major contributing force within the community. But for him, the Lartigue Monorail revival project might not exist today - as Jack donated both the site of the former Lartigue to the project and 250,000 towards the cost of providing the Lartigue Museum. "This autobiography is a testament to the contribution that Jack McKenna and his family have made to Listowel and the area over the past hundred years. Its publication is a fitting way to celebrate his unique achievement of reaching his hundredth year in the world," Trust chairperson Jimmy wrote in the foreword. The title reflects the relative comfort Jack was born into at a time of grinding poverty for most of the population. From the year he spent in Switzerland to recuperate from pneumonia in childhood to his schooling at Clongowes Wood; his life in the hardware business and, of course, his beloved family, Spoilt Rotten promises a riveting read. Sadly, Jack's wife Susan did not live to see the book she for so long cajoled him into writing appear in print. "Susan always intended to write this preface herself, but unfortunately, death crept up on her without much warning in 2017, her 94th year," their daughter Louise wrote in her preface to the memoirs. "The story of individuals working together to improve their community, whether through business initiatives or fundraising and lobbying for public facilities, is reflected in towns and communities across Ireland. Modern challenges may be different, but the same spirit is needed to address them. "It has been a privilege to work on these memoirs and discover my father as a child and younger man," Louise added so poignantly. It's a must for all who love Listowel, as with its looming launch in the Seanchai. What's in a pageant winner? Drive, hard-work, intelligence and beauty are all logical characteristics and it seems Kerry has that pageant pedigree. Miss Ireland 2018 Grand Final takes place this Sunday and Miss Kerry 2018 Brogan O'Sullivan will not stand alone in representing the county as she will be joined by two other finalists with strong links to the Kingdom - Miss Kerry South Denise Hickey and Miss Dublin South Maria Murphy. After coming second in the Miss Kerry final back in June, Denise Hickey, from Rathmore but now living in Kenmare, was the winner of the wild card final in August, giving her another opportunity to become this year's Miss Ireland. The 24-year-old make-up artist said she has loved the experience so far. "I've met some amazing people and made some great friends with the other girls. I can't wait for Sunday, from what I've been told it sounds like it's going to be a spectacular night," Denise said. "I have really enjoyed the experience and am using my title to raise money and awareness for the Kerry Cork Health Link Bus." Maria Murphy is from Millstreet, Cork but the 23-year-old attended Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra in Rathmore before attending UCC. She now works with Sigmar Recruitment in Dublin. Miss Kerry, Brogan O'Sullivan's preparations for the night are in full swing and she said the support she has received from the county has made it all the more worthwhile. "I am feeling nervous and excited, but really looking forward to the night," she said. The 20-year-old from Killeen Wood, Tralee hopes to pursue a career in social care and is very passionate about female empowerment, and youth mental health. "The past few months I have gained so much confidence. I recently got involved with Jigsaw Kerry's Youth Advisory Panel and I am delighted to spend the year ahead with them promoting positive mental health in my community," Brogan continued. Miss Ireland 2018 Grand Final takes place this Sunday in The Helix Theatre, Dublin where one regional finalist will be crowned the winner to represent Ireland at Miss World in Sanya, China in December. The winner will be chosen by a judging panel including former Miss World Rosanna Davison and blogger and businesswoman Suzanne Jackson. There are increasing calls for the HSE and the Department of Health to make a definitive statement on the future of University Hospital Kerry. Last Friday a group of 24 consultants at the hospital met with CEO of the HSE South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG) Gerry O'Dwyer to discuss their serious concerns about how the hospital is being managed. In an unprecedented move the consultants previously wrote to the SSWHG warning that they cannot continue to operate at current levels unless urgent action is taken to increasing staffing levels and boost resources at UHK. The consultants claim that the SSWHG has left UHK "unresourced and unsupported" and that they fear the hospital is under "significant threat" of a downgrade from a Level 3 Acute Hospital to a Level 2 facility offering much more basic levels of care. Without a dramatic increase in funding and a major improvement in resources the UHK consultants say it will also be "impossible" to recruit new consultants to fill vacant posts. At present the hospital is without a full-time cardiologist or respiratory physician while a pathologist is due to leave the hospital in the near future. UHK's Clinical Director has temporarily stepped downMeanwhile a large number of consultants have left the hospital. These departures include exits from departments including the emergency department, radiology, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, cardiology and geriatrics. Friday's meeting with Mr O'Dwyer was described as 'useful' but consultants expressed disappointment that no significant offer of funds was made. If the matter is not resolved the consultants have threatened to go 'off-call' in protest, a move that could result in many Kerry patients being forced to travel to Cork for treatment outside of normal working hours. Several politicians including Junior Minister Brendan Griffin; Deputy John Brassil and Cllr Toireasa Ferris - all of whom are General Election candidates - have expressed serious concerns about the future of the hospital. Deputy Brassil and Cllr Ferris have echoed the consultants' concerns that UHK could be downgraded. Meanwhile Minister Griffin has said that UHK is being overlooked for funding in favour of Cork University Hospital. He has also called on Health Minister Simon Harris to intervene personally. The UHK consultants group have also called on Minister Harris to visit the hospital and see conditions for himself. The South/South West Hospital Group and HSE did not respond to a request for comment. It was described by Hugh O'Flaherty Memorial Society Chairman Jerry O'Grady as the most unusual nomination ever submitted for the O'Flaherty International Humanitarian Award - but a trio of Ireland's rescue services were nonetheless judged to be worthy winners of this year's prize in the face of competition from six other nominees. The award was inaugurated in 2009 as a mark of recognition to Killarney's renowned Monsignor who, with colleagues in the Rome Escape Line, saved more than 6,500 people in Nazi-occupied Rome during the Second World War. In this 11th year of the prize, and the 75th anniversary of the Rome Escape Line, the award has been given to not one but three Humanitarian Organisations - the Irish Coast Guard (including community and local rescue services); the RNLI; and Kerry Mountain Rescue Team (KMRT) - a first for the society. "This was unquestionably the most unusual nomination we have received over the last 10 years; it brought into focus the incredibly selfless humanitarian work done by the members of these organisations, the great majority of whom are unpaid volunteers," Mr O'Grady said. "Be it windswept high mountains, dangerous shorelines or stormy seas, when called upon, at a moment's notice and without regard for the race or creed of those in need, they put their lives on the line to help others. "Over the years, members of these rescue organisations have lost their lives while attempting to save others," he added. The recipients, honoured under the heading of 'Ireland's Rescue Services', follow in a long line of well-renowned winners such as the late Donal Walsh (2013); Fr Michael Sinott (2010); and Sr Orla Treacy, who was honoured last year for her work in schooling young girls in war-torn Sudan. And the significance of what this year's winner achieved was not lost on members from each group. "To receive the Hugh O'Flaherty Humanitarian Award in recognition of the work the RNLI does on the island of Ireland is hugely humbling, but to receive it alongside our colleagues in the Irish Coast Guard, Community Rescue Boats of Ireland, and Kerry Mountain Rescue makes it particularly poignant," RNLI Lifesaving Manager Sean Dillon said. "The men and women who volunteer and work in the RNLI could not do so without the support and acknowledgement of the public and are very grateful for it. RNLI volunteers go out in conditions that have others returning to shore, but they do so in the knowledge that they are bringing loved ones home or peace of mind when it is needed." "We are delighted on behalf of the Coast Guard to be included in the Hugh O'Flaherty Humanitarian Award along with our sister volunteer rescue services," Coast Guard Director Chris Reynolds added. "Service to protect and saving life was Hugh O'Flaherty's guiding principle and is carried on through the rescue services." Kerry Mountain Rescue PRO Colm Burke was similarly honoured at the accolade and also expressed his respect for his fellow life savers. "We are delighted to be receiving the 2018 Humanitarian Award along with our other colleagues from the Rescue Services," he said. "We would like to sincerely thank the Hugh O' Flaherty Memorial Society for this great honour." The winners will receive their prizes in Killarney on Saturday, November 3, coinciding with the annual Hugh O'Flaherty Memorial Weekend. No venue has been selected for the ceremony yet, but will be announced in due course, and Killarney Municipal District Cathaoirleach John Sheahan will make the presentations. The weekend itself will feature a photo and memorabilia exhibition in the town's library, open from November 2 to 10, as well as other celebrations of 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' himself. To keep up to speed with developments, one can visit www.hughoflaherty.com/, a treasure trove of information on O'Flaherty's magnificent deeds. It for the scientist to decide whether he wants to pursue the civil suit or not, the court said. New Delhi: 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 Rs 50 lakhs to him for malicious prosecution. Giving this relief to Mr Narayanan, a three-judge Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Kanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud also set up a committee headed by former Supreme Court judge D.K. Jain 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, Thiruvanan-thapuram, S. Siby Methews, the then DIG (Crimes) of the SIT who investigated the case. The bench 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 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 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 Naryanan and others. Instead the central agency, which had taken up the investigation on the request of the state government, had recommended disciplinary action against the erring police officers for malicious prosecution and custodial torture of the eminent scientist. The CJI who wrote the judgment said, In the instant case, keeping in view the report of the CBI, suitable compensation has to be awarded, without any trace of doubt, to compensate the suffering, anxiety and the treatment by which the quintessence of life and liberty under Article 21 (personal life and liberty) of the Constitution withers away. We think it appropriate to direct the State a sum of Rs. 50 lakhs towards compensation to the appellant. In this case on 20.01.1994, an FIR was registered at Vanchiyoor Police Station against one Mariam Rasheeda, a Maldivian National, under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and paragraph 7 of the Foreigners Order for alleged espionage activities. Subsequently in November the same year cases under the Official Secrets Act in which another Maldivian National Fousiya Hasan, D. Sasikumaran, a scientist and S. Nambi Narayanan, were all arrested. On December 4, 1994, upon a request from the state government the CBI took over the case. After the investigation, the CBI submitted a report before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Ernakulam, under Section 173(2) of Cr.P.C. stating that the evidence collected indicated that the allegations of espionage against the scientists at ISRO and the other accused were not proved and were found to be false. This report was accepted vide courts order dated 02.05.1996 and all the accused were discharged. On 27.06.1996, the State Government of Kerala, being dissatisfied with the CBI report, issued a notification withdrawing the earlier notification issued to entrust the matter to CBI and decided to conduct re-investigation of the case by the State Police. Narayanan challenged this notification for re-investigation before the high court, which on November 27, 1996 however, upheld the states decision to conduct a re-investigation. However, the Supreme Court on an appeal from Narayanan quashed the notification. The bench said there could 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. The CJI said 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. We are absolutely conscious that a civil suit has been filed for grant of compensation. That will not debar the constitutional court to grant compensation taking recourse to public law. The Court cannot lose sight of the wrongful imprisonment, malicious prosecution, the humiliation and the defamation faced by the appellant. While appointing the committee headed by Justice D.K. Jain, for suggesting disciplinary action against the three cops, the apex court asked the central government and the state to nominate one officer each from their respective sides. The Committee shall meet at Delhi and function from Delhi. However, it has option to hold meetings at appropriate place in the State of Kerala, the court said adding Justice D.K. Jain shall be the Chairman of the Committee and the Central Government shall bear all expenses incurred by the committee. Ms Ge Huijun meets Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council Norma Foley (FF) during last weeks visit to the Kingdom by the delegation she led from the Zheijiang Province in eastern China. Photo by Domnick Walsh An international relationship of mutual benefit in everything from education to economic development grew ever stronger last week as a delegation from the Zheijiang Province in eastern China visited the Kingdom. It was the third major trip in a partnership that was initiated in 2012 and saw some of the most senior political leaders of the massive province visit Kerry County Council, IT Tralee and Kerry Group's HQ. Chairman of the Zheijiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Ms Ge Huijun led the visit, meeting Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council Norma Foley who welcomed the visitors to Council chambers. The Chairman and Cathaoirleach exchanged gifts and pledged to further develop links between Kerry and Zheijiang. Zheijiang Province is home to 65 million people and much like Kerry it is renowned for its tourism sector and its people's entrepreneurial spirit. In May 2012, a delegation from Zhejiang visited KCC to explore links with Kerry and also to promote co-operation in the fields of education, tourism, science and technology, culture and economic development. A return visit was made by representatives of the Council in 2013 and that delegation was led by then County Manager Tom Curran. During that visit, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed, formalising the links between the regions. Subsequently, the Confucius Institute at University College Cork were contacted regarding a Chinese language and cultural programme for interested schools and Kerry schools were contacted with a view to linking them with schools from the province and building long-term relationships. Six Kerry secondaries participated, with students not only learning Mandarin, but also experiencing a taste of Chinese society and culture. The Kerry branch of St Vincent de Paul has adopted a compassionate and magnanimous attitude towards a student whose online boast about using money from the charity to fund a trip to the Listowel Races prompted a severe online backlash. This week it emerged that SVP cancelled a cheque that it had issued to a Kerry student after the young man posted a photo of the cheque along with a caption stating 'that's me sorted for the Listowel races' on social media. A specially convened SVP education committee had granted the money - understood to be a few hundred Euros - to the student so he could pay his college admission fees. While such grants are typically paid directly to the educational institution, in this case the emergency grant was given directly to the student as he had told the committee that he would lose his college place if he couldn't come up with the cash to pay the fees immediately. A post was subsequently made on the man's Instagram page showing him posing with a pint and the cheque along with a comment about using the cheque to fund a trip to the racetrack. The post prompted outrage online with several people contacting SVP and local media outlets to express their disgust. SVP acted quickly and within half-an-hour of receiving the complaints they made contact with the young man and cancelled the cheque. The student - who it is understood never even attended the race meeting - has since apologised unreservedly to the charity for his actions. Though the cheque was cancelled, SVP will continue to assist the young man and he has still managed to secure his college place. SVP South West Regional President Christy Lynch said that the incident stemmed from a moment of heedless 'bravado'. "He's a young fellow and it was bravado. He did it without thinking and he's very sorry about what has happened," said Mr Lynch. "We all make mistakes. He's learned his lesson and I'm sure he won't do it again," he said. "He had a rush of blood to the head and was boasting. It was very silly mistake but it has been sorted out and, at the end of the day, nobody died," said Mr Lynch. Mr Lynch said that the young man and his family are very upset about what has happened and had immediately apologised to the charity. Mr Lynch has also apologised on behalf of SVP for any upset the issue had caused to the public and to supporters of the charity. However, he said he still stands over the conference committee's decision, which, he said, was made in good faith. "We have a system where we have an educational committee who decides who gets what and how much they get. The conference, at the time, made the decision that they made and gave him what he was looking for," he said. "The good intentions were there by the conference, I stand behind them in that." Mr Lynch said that it was the first time he had seen such a cheque issued and that steps will be taken to ensure there is no repeat of the incident. In 2011 when the live register reached almost 450,000 nationally, the Government had the foresight to introduce a tourism VAT rate to promote much-needed job creation. That measure has been of enormous benefit to the local economy in Kerry by supporting growth and making our tourism offering more competitive internationally. Bringing the rate in line with the VAT rates of other competing European countries was the correct decision. It is allowing tourism businesses in Kerry to restore investment in product development and service levels whilst also aiding increased capacity - all critical for the long-term success of the industry. And as the biggest investor in Irish tourism, the hotels sector is playing a critical role. Hotels and guesthouses not only provide local employment opportunities, we buy local services, source locally produced food and provide a vital infrastructure in support of local business and communities. The return to the exchequer has exceeded expectations. This year, Irish tourism will yield over 2 billion in various taxes, equivalent to 23 per cent of tourism revenues and up more than 500 million per annum on 2011. Given the right conditions, the tourism tax take is projected to continue to grow strongly, reaching 2.7 billion per annum by 2025. On the employment front, the nine per cent VAT rate continues to be one of the most successful job-creation initiatives in modern times having created over 65,000 new jobs across the country since 2011. Tourism now supports employment for approximately 235,000 people - including 15,700 jobs in Kerry. The profile of these jobs is diverse and inclusive, ranging from highly skilled roles to entry-level employment that provides great opportunities for advancement. We are now on track to create a further 40,000 jobs over the next five years and it is vital that Kerry sees its share of these new jobs. What is sometimes lost in discussions about the economy is that tourism growth is one of the most effective ways to spread employment opportunities and prosperity across the entire country. With 70 per cent of tourism jobs based outside of Dublin, tourism's wide geographic distribution is critical to sustaining regional economies. This is particularly true for Kerry, where tourism contributes 533 million to the local economy each year. It is essential that economic policy does not become detached from the realities facing businesses in the regions - the engine behind Irish tourism. We know in Kerry how tourism remains very seasonal and a lot of our local hospitality businesses struggle to break even outside the peak seasons. The much-heralded recovery has been very uneven with many parts continuing to lag behind following a severe loss of ground during the downturn. Our focus should therefore be on creating the right environment to sustain further tourism growth. Appropriate taxation policy that supports competitiveness is a key element of this. Tourism should be treated as an indigenous export industry given that 78 per cent of tourism revenue is generated by visitors coming into the country and spending money in our economy. This activity is discretionary and would be put at risk by an increase in VAT and imposing hundreds of millions of euro in additional costs on visitors. The financial crisis showed just how vulnerable we are to external economic events beyond our control. Today we face enormous risks and uncertainty with Brexit. Some of the scenarios being forecast would have grave knock-on effects for our own economy, particularly at a regional level. The implications for tourism are stark given our heavy reliance on the UK - our largest market, accounting for over 45 per cent of inbound visitors. Since the 2016 referendum, the drop in value of Sterling has resulted in a marked reduction in the spending power of UK visitors and a significant drop in numbers. This is a particular worry for the tourism sector in Kerry. Added to the poor Sterling exchange rate, any increase in VAT could result in a tipping point that risks a significant loss of market share to other destinations. At a time of increased uncertainty it makes no sense therefore to jeopardise Irish tourism further and hinder our capacity for growth. The nine per cent VAT is a key part of the overall competitiveness of our tourism product. It has been a tremendous catalyst for growing tourism in Kerry. In light of the serious challenges facing the industry, any increase in VAT would be short-sighted in the extreme. Niamh O'Shea is the General Manager of Killarney Park Hotel and Chair of the Kerry Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation. Sligo's first-ever trail running festival brings a new adventure experience to the northwest over the last weekend of September. The Sligo Trail Running Festival, which takes place from Friday, 28 September to Sunday, 30 September, offers guided trail runs through some of Sligo's most beautiful mountain paths and wooded trails. It's a great way for everyone, from casual joggers to avid runners, to beat new paths and have a bit of fun in the great outdoors of Sligo! Along with over 60km of leisurely trail-running, the festival invites you to sip hot chocolate from the top of Union Rock, enjoy a mocktail while watching the sunset, and cool down with a yoga class at the base of Sligo's mountains. Sligo Trail Running Festival is the brain child of William Britton of Northwest Adventure Tours, a Sligo native who grew up on the trails. He's expanded that love of outdoors into a successful adventure company, which takes groups out into the wild for kayaking, stand-up paddle-boarding, camping and mountain biking. He knows Sligo's rugged outdoors possibly better than anyone in the area and has chartered some of Sligo's most scenic routes for the festival. The festival builds on Sligo's fast-growing trail running community, built up and organised by Britton. Every week a group of runners takes to the hills, beaches and woods of Sligo for a social run, and the numbers grow each week. It's open to everyone and offers a fun way to get outside and see new sights, often gaining a new perspective of familiar landmarks. In the same way, the festival invites locals and those from further afield to experience Sligo's abundance of beautiful trails and experience the stunning northwest from new heights. The weekend has a very social bent to it, with a focus on getting outside and enjoying Sligo's natural beauty. However, for the more competitive-minded there are plans in the works for a timed race, made all the more difficult by technical trails! Festival-goers have the option of attending the full festival and staying at the lovely Riverside Hotel at a great discount or picking and choosing events to try. All tickets include transportation to the trails as well as refreshments, and every Saturday ticket includes entry into the Festival Hub! Weekend tickets include some funky locally-designed festival swag, too. Friday evening of the festival brings a hilly 7-kilometer woodland run through Cairns Woods to watch the sunset, followed by specially-crafted cocktails in a local riverside bar. Saturday is packed with exciting events, from an early sunrise run through one of Sligo's stunning lakeside forests, followed by a tough mountain trek. The Altra Festival Hub that evening will be a way for runners to take advantage of new trends in the trail running community. Altra are an American footwear brand with a growing European market. The unusual foot shape of the shoe and zero-millimetre drop makes quick converts of runners who like a bit of comfort! If you haven't experienced Altra before, the Festival Hub is a great way to get introduced. The Festival Hub will also have workshops and panels from festival sponsors and local businesses Firefly Orthoses and RunPod, who specialise in running shoes and gait analysis. RunPod's goal of building an active, social community through running perfectly matches the goals of the festival. Saturday will wrap up with a dusk-to-dark run to Union Rock; keep fingers crossed for clear skies, as an astronomy expert will give festival-goers a tour of the night sky over a cup of hot chocolate. On Sunday, the festival will culminate with a long run to the top of Knocknarea for panoramic views of Sligo Bay, followed by a coastal route and finally finishing at the Strandhill People's Market. Runners are invited to have some well-earned coffee, sweet treats, and hot food, and stay to enjoy the fun and music. More events and add-ons will be announced as the festival grows closer. Festival-goers can choose from staying the full weekend with discounted accommodation, or picking and choosing from individual events. Updates and festival tickets can be found by following the festival on social media @sligotrailrunningfest or getting online at SligoTrailRunning.ie! And if you're out on the trails, stay in touch by using the #SligoTrailBlazing hashtag on social media. Ballymote native Kathleen Murphy (nee Wilson) and late of Kevelioc Road, London was a dedicated nurse who cared deeply for her family and patients alike. Formally of Kilmorgan Ballymote, Kathleen was the eldest of 8 children, born in 1941 to John and Catherine Wilson (nee Cunane). She grew up alongside her bothers and sisters in a small cottage in Kilmorgan, Ballymote. The cottage still stands today - her nephew Wayne Doyle often drives past it when in Ireland to soak up the old memories and wonder in amazement how on earth they managed, "but they did and were happy for it!" Kathleen often spoke of going to dances in Loftus Hall in Ballymote - she would smile fondly when recalling her love of dancing. Kathleen started her love of nursing in Sligo Hospital where she would cycle to and from every day all the way from Ballymote. Kathleen left Ballymote in 1962 to follow her calling as a nurse. She first trained and worked in St Brendan's Psychiatric Hospital, Grangegorman alongside her sisters Philomena and Patricia. On the 1st of April 1967 Philomena and Kathleen travelled to Whipps Cross Hospital in London to undertake their training as general nurses. Those were times Kathleen spoke very fondly of, herself and Philomena counting up their wages to see how much they could send back home to their mother and father which reportedly allowed her parents to buy their first few cattle. And from that same wage packet Kathleen and Philomena treated themselves to a record "the black velvet band" by the Dubliners. It reminded them of home and they played it so much the other student nurses would complain. Kathleen never lost her connection with Sligo and once established in the UK she would travel back every 4-6 weeks to see her parents and siblings. Kathleen was a unique woman from a generation of unique people, with qualities that are sadly missing from the younger generations. A beautiful soul has returned home to join those who have travelled there before her. Husband Bernard, her mother and father Catherine and John Wilson, her brother Sean, her sisters Philomena, Patricia and Bernadette, who no doubt welcomed her with open arms. Kathleen is survived and sadly missed by her loving brother Noel - "the best brother a sister could have" as she said almost every time she spoke of him - Liam and her sister Imelda. Kathleen is also deeply missed by her nieces, nephews and friends and most of all by the children she never had, Wayne and Catherine and the grandchildren she never had, Ciara, Moya and Amelia. Kathleen cared for both her patients and her family, she lived her work and gave endlessly of herself. Her total dedication, kindness and deep, deep compassion was all her souls journey in this life, that of committed service. This extended to her family and friends in all ways and at all times, always giving of herself no bounds/endless generosity. So long as we will live so too will she in our hearts. Kathleen died peacefully following a long battle with illness on the 2nd of September 2018. People Before Profit Alliance Councillor Gino O'Boyle has failed to get the backing of the Council for a call for a ban on controversial fur farms. Cllr O'Boyle's motion called on the Council to urge Agriculture Minister Michael Creed to ban fur farms. He told the meeting that the stress of confinement in tiny cages resulted in cannibalism. He said the minks were gassed to death before being skinned. "It's time to put an end to this cruelty," he told members. Fianna Fail Cllr Jerry Lundy said he didn't think the Council should be calling for a ban on any farm and said citizens should have the right to buy fur if they wanted. He described Cllr O'Boyle's motion as an "attack on the farming community" and said fur farms were "highly regulated." Cllr Lundy said fur farms were increasing across Europe and said many small farms were diversifying into fur farming which created local jobs. "Once you start banning any type of farming where will it end? Chickens or beef?" he said. Fianna Fail Cllr Seamus Kilgannon said he supported Cllr Lundy. Sinn Fein Cllr Chris MacManus said: "With all due respect to Cllr Lundy we need to differentiate between a small number of farms that provide luxury products and food producers." "People should be ashamed to wear fur," he added. Independent Cllr Declan Bree said it was "absolutely ridiculous" to even suggest Cllr O'Boyle's motion was an attack on rural Ireland. "The vast majority of people find it abhorrent to torture dumb animals for a luxury product," he said. Cllr O'Boyle said fur farms were closing down across Europe, "not expanding." Cllr Lundy replied that it was a question of "people having a choice." "Why should we block somebody from wearing fur, leather or eating meat?" he said, calling for a roll call of votes. The chamber was split evenly, with Cllrs Bree, Casserly, Keaney, MacManus and O'Boyle voting in favour of calling for a ban on fur farms. Councillors Baker, Kilgannon, Lundy, MacSharry and Queenan voted against the motion. Cathaoirleach Fianna Fail Councillor Martin Baker had the casting vote and voted against. Cllr O'Boyle said it was "disgraceful" and he was "not surprised." Aaron and Joan Daly with their daughter Sophia (12) who is awaiting a vital operation on her back One could feel the frustration in Aaron Daly's voice. His 12 year old daughter Sophia is in dire need of an operation to correct a curvature in her spine but she has been taken off an urgent waiting list and along with some 40 other children has been left in limbo. Another appointment with a consultant has been scheduled for October but Aaron says the situation is intolerable. Promises from Minister Simon Harris that he would tackle the problem of waiting lists for those with scoliosis so that no child would wait longer than four months has simply not come to fruition. Aarron stresses that the same commitment to tackle the problem has been given by every Minister for Health, going back to Mary Harney in 2009. Aaron, a native of Derry and his wife Joan who is from Manorhamilton, moved to Dublin so that they would be near Crumlin Children's Hospital where Sophia had to attend for treatment. She has cerebral palsy, arthrogryposis and scoliosis as well as epilepsy but thankfully with the latetr she hasn't had any seizures in a few years. Sophia, who was born at Sligo University Hospital, developed scoliosis in 2013 and underwent surgery two years later after spending 16 months on a waiting list. At that time, Aaron said the curve in his daughter's spin was over 100 degrees. "Sophia had progressed to a point where she was very ill. She was losing weight, her internal organs were squashed. "She was rapidly approaching the point of no return, as in they wouldn't have been able to operate if she got any sicker," says Aaron. A rod was successfully placed in her back. Little did the parents realise at the time that they would be facing the same situation three years later. The rod subsequently came loose and she urgently needs another operation. In April 2017 Sophia was placed on an active waiting list at Crumlin Children's Hospital to undergo surgery a second time. For Aaron and Joan it's been a long list of empty promises regarding waiting times. "Mary Harney made a statement in 2009 about scoliosis, James Reilly made a statement about scoliosis in the Dail and made promises too, Leo Varadkar made a statement on it and he sent me a letter back in 2015 assuring me it was all in hand and this would no longer be a problem. "Simon Harris has done the same but the reality is it hasn't changed. There's not one of them accountable for any of the decisions or promises they come out with," says Aaron. Sophia was placed on the urgent waiting list in April 2017. She went in for pre-operative tests in June and was taken off the list on August 4th, the reasons being outlined in a letter to the parents from Crumlin. It was stated that the pre-operative tests had shown a problem with Sophia's breathing and that she was no longer deemed suitable for surgery. It's a blow but one which Aaron and Joan are not prepared accept. Sophia's status now is that she is simply suspended off the urgent list. "And, this is where waiting list figures can be misleading," says Aaron. "If Simon Harris says today that there are 98 children on the scoliosis waiting list for surgery, Sophia isn't one them. She is one of a group of 40 who have been suspended off the list. "What you have is a manipulation in figures. so that it looks like they are doing better when in actual fact nothing has changed," he claims. Aaron is adamant that Sophia cannot wait. "She has to go for her surgery. Whether they do it now when she is in good enough health and at a good weight or if they leave it for another six months when her spine curvature has got much worse and is losing weight and in full time pain management. "There's a rod in Sophia's back that's severely stressed with loose screws in it for over a year now. "If that breaks in the morning or in the middle of the night, Sophia has to go for surgery anyway. So Sophia needs surgery whether it's now planned or not. "The problems they have identified in leaving things as they area for example is a heavy sleep apnoea that can be caused by the scoliosis. "By leaving her on the list complications can develop . There's nothing to say she won't develop more complication in a couple of months." Aaron and Joan say their daughter has never been better in terms of readiness for her second spinal surgery. "She has reached 20kgs for the first time in her life. The problem with the scoliosis waiting list is that they have to deal with the sickest kids first. "For your child to get dealt with they have to become part of the sickest children's group. "In effect, in Ireland in 2018 we have waiting lists for children where they have to get sicker to get treatment. "All the money in the country.......they (Government) are talking about putting aside rainy day funds, but none of them are responsible, none prepared to take responsibility for actually giving results. "How long has this Government been in power now? I have letters from Leo Varadkar when he was health minister saying this would all be addressed back then in 2015 in terms of a scoliosis action plan. "And the target is that children will be seen in four months but why has there been forty children waiting for over a year and some for over two years for surgery?" asks Aaron, frustration clear in his voice. Spohia's curvature this time around is almost 50 degrees. Aaron believes that if Sophia had been seen within four months back in 2013 a good correction would have been achieved in her spine. "Instead, what they have to do.......the treatment in the HSE is all reactionary and damage control. They have to try to get it before it goes too far instead of getting in early. "Ultimately, it is costing the HSE more because of the way the system is run and the poor management of the lists so each operation is more costly, there's more recovery time and ultimately less successful." Aaron says his daughter's conditions means she will always have problems but that she should always be getting preventative surgery but this isn't how he see the HSE working. The couple has emailed all politicians in their Dublin constituency with the "standard reply" from them all that they've forwarded their query to the Minister for Health. The Minister for Children, Katherine Zappone was contacted but she has stated this was an area for the Minister for Health to deal with. Aaron says the system isn't meeting the needs of children who need care the most. "The system is cruel. There's no other way to describe it," he says. Aaron says Minister Harris sent him a "cut and paste" letter regarding scoliosis waiting lists. It was sent to other parents too. A letter was also received in June 2017 informing them that by the end of 2017 no child would have to wait more than four months. "I have that in writing here." Sophia has been on the waiting list for 16 months or so again. The Department of Health said: "The Children's Hospital Group advise that while they cannot comment on individual cases, they are committed to meeting the four-month target in 2018 and beyond," adding "it is acknowledged that there is still room for improvement" on scoliosis care. The statement notes the additional 9 million provided to the HSE in 2018 will "stabilise and expand the current capacity to meet the demand for timely scoliosis treatment". Farmer's along The Sligo Way have lost thousands of euro in Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) funds as the Department of Agriculture is refusing the payment because their lands were burned outside of the permitted timeframes. In letter sent to the Council this July, the Department of Agriculture pointed out that "where land has been burnt it is not in a state for grazing or cultivation and therefore is not eligible" to receive the BPS. By law, it is an offence for anyone to slash or burn gorse between 1st March and 31st August. Thousands of hectares of lands on Killery Mountain were scorched after a gorse fire (which the farmers insist was not started by them) raged out of control for three days at the start of May 2017. It cost the County Council over 125,000 to bring the fires under control using Fire Services from across the North West. Sinn Fein Councillor Thomas Healy told The Sligo Champion last evening that he was "disappointed with the Minister and the outcome of this." "It's unfair and unjust. We know of other areas where fires broke out and payment wasn't stopped. Up in Mayo where there were fires, their payment wasn't stopped. It's yet another example of farmers in the North West being treated differently than in the rest of the country," he said. "The Department of Tourism paid out for the walkway - that was done the following week - if that Department can pay out how come the Department of Agriculture can't?" he said. The farmers have denied starting the gorse fires and say for them to be penalised is unjust. However the Department said: "the main issue is that the lands are ineligible for the purpose of BPS irrespective of how the fires started as the lands were burned outside of the permitteed timeframes." "Lands were identified in some 2017 BPS applications that were illegally burned and would therefore be deemed ineligible for payment," a senior civil servant told the Council. The Department treats these applications as "over-claims" and have in some cases imposed extra penalties. Where farmers have been able to provide evidence that they were not involved in the gorse burning, the Department will only waive the penalty but will still not make the payment. In a number of cases, the penalty has been waived but the burnt land remains ineligible for the BPS payment. According to Cllr Healy, the farmers are losing out on payments as low as 3,000 and in some cases, as high as 40,000. The burnt lands should be deemed eligible for payment this year. This summer, despite being one of the hottest on records, no forest or gorse fires broke out in Sligo. The Department claims that their BPS payment system is frequently audited by the EU authorities and "any weakness" in the system, such as payment for burnt lands, would incur "tens of millions of Euros" in penalties to Ireland. For many children, hospitals can be a very daunting experience as they are away from their friends and family and in an environment they are generally not used of. Since 1970, volunteers from the Children in Hospital Ireland organisation have been helping children and their parents during their hospital stay, playing with the children and offering respite to their mums and dads. Sligo University Hospital is among the hospitals where these helpful volunteers offer valuable support to families. There are currently 13 volunteers there at present and the organisation said that ideally they would love to double this number. They are holding an information and interview evening this evening in the hospital where people can come along and find out more about the volunteering programme. Gabrielle Armstrong is one of the volunteers and she told the Sligo Champion that she is really enjoying the work. The Ballyshannon woman added: "I was always involved in working with children and helped out in schools. I wanted to do something else and came across the volunteering for children's hospitals and I thought it was a great idea. "I went along to one of the information days in Sligo hospital and learned about the type of work that's involved. "I volunteer every Tuesday afternoon from 2-4pm. It suits me as I also work parttime as a beautician in Ballyshannon. "My kids are all grown up so that means I have the time to do it too. "What the volunteering entails is us being in the play-room with the children and there's loads of toys, lego, cards etc all those things to entertain them. Some of the children might have to fast for example and when that's happening it's hard to keep them entertained so we might do painting with them or play cards and make puzzles. A lot of the time too a parent may have another child in with them and we can bring that child to the playroom and let mum and dad spend time with the child who is in hospital." Gabrielle said that it is about making the hospital stay as comfortable as possible for the children. "It can be a stressful time for them and that's where we the volunteers come in. Say at Christmas time we decorate the place, put up a tree and I do the artwork that the children can hang up on the wall." Gabrielle said the reaction from parents has been very positive. "The parents are always very thankful and so glad that they can count on us to help entertain the children say when doctors come in to talk to the parents and the child may be giddy, we would play cards or monopoly with them. "It is very rewarding and the children are very happy and I go home knowing that I've helped in some way," Gabrielle added. The details regarding the information evening in the hospital is as follows: The Information and Interview Evening takes place this evening, Tuesday 11th September at 6pm in the Lecture Room, Library - Sligo University Hospital. Please register by calling 01 2903510 or emailing info@childreninhospital.ie for more. Speaking at the event, home minister Rajnath Singh said that language was not just an expression of cultural heritage but a matter of national pride. New Delhi: Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu has described Hindi as the countrys symbol of socio-political and linguistic unity stressing on the need to translate literature of regional languages into it. Speaking during an event to mark the Hindi Divas in the capital on Friday the Vice-President pointed out that Hindi was the main language for communication between the freedom fighters during the independence struggle as it was spoken and understood by most of the people in the country. The Hindi language has been the symbol of the countrys social, political, religious and linguistic unity. Perhaps, it is these qualities that make it most acceptable among all other languages even today. There should be more translation into Hindi specially of the literature of all regional languages, so that we can access these literatures easily, Mr Naidu added. Mr Naidu claimed the debate was not over if Hindi was the best among all Indian languages since some other languages were older and more vibrant than even Hindi. Mr Naidu further added that use Hindi and regional languages in the functioning of the Union government and the state governments respectively, is necessary for the progress and strength of our democracy. Every state has immense contribution in Hindi getting the present status, he said. Speaking at the event, home minister Rajnath Singh said that language was not just an expression of cultural heritage but a matter of national pride. He also asked to promote Hindi and other regional languages. A commemorative plaque to honour the memory of Hannah Rutledge Ormsby, the only Irishwoman to die in the Spanish Civil War, will be unveiled in her native Dromore West, on Saturday 15th September. Hannah Rutledge Ormsby, who was better known as Ruth, was born in Dromore West in 1901. A qualified nurse, she answered an appeal to travel to Spain in April 1937 to tend to wounded Spanish Republicans and members of the International Brigades who were fighting to defend the fledgling Spanish democracy against General Franco's Fascist rebels. Having survived the intense fighting, she tragically died in a fire in a medical aid apartment in Barcelona in May 1938. The unveiling of the commemorative plaque will take place at Orville Park on the Carrowcur Road, Dromore West, at 6.00.p.m. on Saturday. Later in the evening, in the McGee Memorial Hall at 8.00.p.m. the President of the Friends of the International Brigades in Ireland Mr Eddie O'Neill, will deliver a brief talk on Ruth Ormsby. The historian Mr Harry Owens will provide a synopsis of the Spanish Civil War and the role played by the Irish members of the International Brigades. The evening will conclude with a social gathering in the Flying Horse Lounge Bar. The commemorative event is being organised by the Friends of the International Brigades in Ireland (FIBI) and a local group including Mr Cillian Rogers, Ms Bernie Gallagher, Mr Blair Feeney and Ms Imelda Peppard. Speaking to the 'The Sligo Champion' Cllr Declan Bree said: "Ruth Ormsby was no youthful romantic when she answered the call - aged 36, she was a seasoned medical professional who could have chosen an easier path. "Instead, within weeks of arriving she was pitched into the frontline of this brutal war against fascism. "She experienced the full horrors of modern warfare. Ruth routinely worked in makeshift operating theatres around the clock in the sweltering heat and dust of a Spanish summer and early autumn as Nazi bombers tried to destroy the wooden huts that they had turned into rudimentary hospitals. "In the early months of 1938 the Republicans were forced to withdraw to their last remaining strongholds in the wake of the final Fascist onslaught. Ruth Ormsby found herself in Barcelona. "The circumstances of her death make it all the more tragic. She had survived unimaginable conditions but she and a colleague found themselves engulfed in a raging inferno in a seventh-floor medical apartment block in the centre of the city. Both nurses jumped in a bid to escape - her friend survived but Ruth was killed. We believe that her body was buried nearby. "In the bitter conflict between the Spanish Republican Government and Franco's fascist forces, Spain became an ideological battleground between left and right and the forerunner to World War Two. From 1936 many Irishmen left their homes and families to begin the long journey to Spain to enter into service with the International Brigades alongside numerous other nationalities. "The role of the Connolly Column and the Irish volunteers who served in the International Brigade is immortalised in Christy Moore's ballad, "Viva La Quince Brigada. While Ruth Ormsby was the only Irish woman to die in Spain, over 220 Irish volunteers served in the 15th International Brigade, 70 of whom made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives on Spanish soil. It is important we remember all of them." said Cllr Bree. Maps. Don't you just love 'em! Works of art. Tools of many trades. Big maps, small maps, functional maps, decorative maps. In an age of satellite guided navigation, Pat Reid still revels in maps, the older the better and best of all if Glendalough is featured. A Kildare man living in Glendalough, he is the leading light in the Heritage Maps project which is supported by the Heritage Council. And,with some backing from the county council, he has compiled an exhibition of maps now on show around the walls of the main function room at the Brocagh Centre. They range over time from the educated guesswork of the early 17th century to the high-tech imagery of the new millennium. The result is a step by step progression through human perception of place and landscape, covering more than 400 years. The show in the Brocagh has around 30 reproductions, the tip of a much larger iceberg. Pat reckons to have assembled at least 400 old maps of Ireland, the originals of which are held in collections around the world. The earliest he has on file date back to the 15th century, based on the work of Ptolemy who lived and worked in 2nd century Egypt. Spelling, as the first exhibit demonstrates, was not always the hard and fast thing of today. Yes, Glendalough shows up prominently in the map drawn by Matthias Quad published in Germany during 1600. But it is rendered 'Glandalag', close to the town of 'Wykelo', with 'Balkyglas' further inland - presumably that's Baltinglass in modern parlance. Hot on the heels of Quad came a Belgian effort of 1608 which dodged the issue of how to spell Glendalough very neatly. The famous place of pilgrimage is labelled 'XI Churches'. Presumably the XI is eleven in Latin numerals, though 'VII Churches' would probably have been more accurate. Glendalough was clearly big news in the 17th century. The map of Ireland compiled by Philip Briet for publication in Paris in 1648 shows 'Glandeloure' on a par with 'Vichlo' and 'Areclo', the only three towns in all of the county. Map making around this time was something of Chinese whispers exercise, as there was no way the compilers could visit all the places they showed on their charts. Instead, they plagiarised like mad from each other, with often dodgy results. Pat Reid includes a map issued in 1705 which suggests that little progress had been made since Briet's effort, with the addition of a jumble of crosses to underline the holiness of 'Glandeloure'. Shortly afterwards, a man called Nicholas Sanson presented Glendalough as '7 Churches' with a little circle to represent each church. Most reliable is the Down Survey of Ireland which was undertaken in the mid-1650s by William Petty, acknowledged to be the world's first detailed land survey. Petty's County Wicklow had room for 'Aghamanagh' and Hollywood while Glendalough was rendered 'Kildalagh, with the seven churches marked as seven black dots. A very well informed Herman Moll referred in 1714 to 'The 7 Churchs at Glandelogh'. His knowledge also stretched to 'Glenely' and Roundwood as well as the head of the river 'Liffy' - all in a correctly rendered Wicklow: 'Moll was a very famous German map maker,' stresses Pat. 'He included town plans on his maps. I don't believe he was ever in Ireland.' By 1755, it was common practice to render the letter 'S' in a form which looks to modern eyes like an 'F'. So we may admire detail such as the 'Black Catle' beside Wicklow town, with somewhere called 'Dunganton' not far away. Then in 1759 Thomas Jeffreys promised a 'New and Accurate Map of the Kingdom of Ireland'. Jeffreys proclaimed the locations of Rathdrum and 'Baltinglas' (just one 'S', thanks) without any shillying or shallying. But he was caught between 'The 7 Churches' and 'Glandelogh' so he included both names. Pat Reid has a particular affection for a man called John Roque whose map of the island - divided into provinces, counties and baronies - went on sale in 1790. Apparently, Roque was not content merely to transcribe from the work of his predecessors. He was active on the ground in Ireland for many years, employed by landholders to make plans of their estates. He died in 1762 but his work was so well thought of that Robert Sayer of London was happy to publish it almost three decades after his passing. The conventions of cartography were not entirely well established as one effort from 1791 shows. With north at the bottom of the sheet and south at the top, it makes for uncomfortable viewing through modern eyes. By 1811, London based Aaron Arrowsmith was making a decent effort to convey some notion of the hills and valleys around 'Glandalough' and, indeed, all of Ireland. The result gives the impression that his map has been man-handled by someone with very dirty finger-prints as neat contour lines were not yet in vogue Such was the price of technical progress, as the effect was not the most pleasing on the eye. It was not until 1830 that the familiar 'Glen' form of the word begins to take root in Glendalough. The exhibition presents a section of a map, issued in Leipzig in that year. The splendidly named William Ernst August von Schlieben was responsible and he clearly had good connections in West Wicklow. His map of Leinster picks out the likes of Dunlavin, Donard and Stratford. Glendalough is shown as 'Glendulogh', the start of a trend. Within a year of two, Arrowsmith had seen the error of his ways and his revised version of 1832 was 'Glendalogh', edging closer again to the up-to-date format. By 1838 the well-intentioned 'Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (Great Britain) was slap bang up to date with 'Glendalough'. The evolution of the name was complete, with Ashford, Roundwood, Annamoe and the Devil's Glen also charted, to name only a few. This was around the time that the measurements and observation of the Government sanctioned Ordnance Survey began producing maps and data which were definitive. 'Their maps were the most accurate and up to date in the world at the time and they still stand up today,' says Pat. The work of the Ordnance Survey fed into commercial productions which continued to find buyers. The map makers began to realise that Glendalough, for all its fame as a centre of pilgrimage and festive gatherings, did not have a large population. So it was in 1851 that an ornate map of Ireland appeared in New York with no mention whatsoever of the place, though the compilers found room for Kilbride, Redcross, Newcastle and somewhere they styled Killincarrig. Killincarrig? That must be Greystones, more recently one of the fastest growing towns in Europe but until late in the 19th century of little significance. The New Yorkers, by the way, made up for the lack of Glendalough by brightening up their publication with a grandiose illustration of a round tower which was certainly inspired by the tower at Glendalough. The name Seven Churches lingered on until at least 1933 as the brightest exhibit in the Brocagh Centre confirms. 'Pratts High Test Plan of Ireland' was circulated to motorists bent on exploring the countryside. The round tower is once more makes an appearance at Glendalough/Seven Churches. 'This map was published by the Anglo-American Oil Company and sent out to customers as a treat,' reckons Pat Reid. 'It is a fun map, with things to do in Ireland. There is an Esso version as well.' The Pratts map offered the following: 'Saint Patrick turned King O'Toole and his six big sons into the Seven Churches.' That is certainly good to know. The selection in the exhibition brings map-making into the 21st century, with techniques that go beneath the surface of the land deployed. In 2014, for instance, UCD archaeologists overlaid the old Ordnance Survey chart with the results of a magnetometer survey which assisted them in deciding where to dig. And last year Coillte used a technique called Lidar (the name stands for light detection and ranging) to peer down from above through the trees to pick out all the humps and bumps below The cold analytical insight of Lidar is a world away from the scholarly imagination of Matthias Quad. More than 100 concerned members of Coolgreany community packed into the school hall to vent their anger at the closure of Coolgreany Post Office, which is one of 11 post offices being closed across county Wexford. Closing the much-popular premises would mean regular post office users would have to commute to conduct their business through other offices in Ballyfad, Kilanerin, Gorey, Arklow or Avoca. Postmistress Norah Finn, along with local councillors Malcolm Byrne, who chaired the meeting, Fionntan O Suilleabhain and Joe Sullivan, were among those who spoke of their desire to fight to maintain the postal service in what is described as a village that is being left to die. One community member said 'the heart will be gone out of the community if the closure goes ahead'. The public meeting comes after last week's announcement that Coolgreany, and Camolin, will no longer have a post office in the next four months as part of a reorganisation plan involving the closure of 159 village postal services around the country. The post offices are set to close under the terms of a voluntary redundancy packages offered by An Post to postmasters and postmistresses. Norah, who has been postmistress in Coolgreany for 13 years from a rented premises in Jim Short's grocery shop, explained her situation to the people. Norah felt she had no other choice but to accept the package from An Post. 'I stressed to everyone about how it would cost me more to move premises,' said Norah. 'I don't know if we can change An Post mind on this.' Norah has already tried to push further for a review but believes she is at nothing. 'I appreciate everyone else coming on board to help me,' she added. She said she would like to thank all councillors and to those for the support. 'The older members of the community will miss it the most, hopefully this petition will work.' The locals are being encouraged to write to An Post Appeals, GPO, Dublin to make the case for the retention of Coolgreany Post Office. 'The crowd are determined to use An Post Appeals process to make the case strong,' said Cllr Suilleabhain. 'An Post say the population of 376 falls below the 500 threshold whereas the catchment area from Croghan to the sea takes in over 2,000.' More information of a plan of action will be posted over the following few days. Cllr Byrne pointed out in the meeting that just two of the 159 post offices scheduled for closure look likely to have that decisions reversed at present, one in Sligo and one in Mayo. 'The meeting heard so many personal stories about how people would be impacted if this busy post office closed,' said Cllr Byrne. 'We can't allow it to happen.' Subsequent to the meeting, Cllr Byrne secured agreement in principle that the abandoned building on the Main Street in Coolgreany, acquired by the County Council, could be offered on a long lease to An Post. Cllr Byrne said: 'We need to counter any possible argument that An Post could have for denying services in the area. If it is about space, I've secured Council agreement that the empty building on the Main Street could be offered. 'We will find solutions for every challenge.' Another major point to come up in the meeting was the fact infrastructure in the village has not moved on with the rest of county Wexford. Cllr Byrne advised the community a local builder could look into developing additional housing in the village. Norah said this gave the people a feeling of hope for their village. At the end of the meeting, the community thanked Norah and proprietor Jim Short for providing a fantastic service to the community over the years. Businessman Gavin Duffy received the nomination of Wicklow County Council to contest the Presidential election after Senator Joan Freeman withdrew having already received the four nominations she required. A special meeting of Wicklow County Council was held on Monday evening with Dragon's Den star Gavin Duffy and Senator Freeman, the founder of Pieta House, the two candidates proposed. Both Presidential hopefuls had outlined their goals at a county council meeting held the previous Monday. Cllr Christopher Fox proposed Mr Duffy and was seconded by Cllr Jim Ruttle. Cllr Fox stressed how important he felt it was for councillors to provide the electorate with different voting options. 'In my mind, I feel there should be as wide a choice on the ballot paper as possible. We need to vote for one or other of the proposed candidates and give them the opportunity. It would be disappointing if members decided to abstain as this would be in effect restricting the ballot for the electorate to very few people.' Cllr Fox then outlined why he was proposing Mr Duffy. 'He has a diverse background in business and is involved in certain charities. He struck me as someone extremely capable and competent and I think we should afford him the opportunity to get on the ballot paper'. Cllr Ruttle said he had been impressed by Mr Duffy's presentation last week. 'He completely answered all the questions put to him and also told us his values. I was particularly impressed by his knowledge of the Constitution and the history of the office'. While Cllr Joe Behan was proposing Senator Freeman, he was in agreement that all councillors should exercise their right to nominate a Presidential candidate. He went on to praise Senator Freeman for her work in forming Pieta House and her emphasis on mental health as part of her campaign. 'Coming from an educational background, I see the anxieties and mental health issues which is one of the major issues for children, both at primary and secondary level. The lack of services is also clearly evident and it's welcome that Senator Freeman had made mental health one of her key issues'. Cllr John Snell seconded nominating Senator Freeman, stating: 'It would be poignant on World Suicide Day to put our shoulder to the wheel and nominate Senator Joan Freeman as a Presidential candidate'. Cllr Tommy Cullen praised the Presidency of Michael D Higgins and outlined his support for the sitting President. 'He has been an ambassador of excellence and is highly respected internationally as the President of the Irish state. He played a vital role the 1916 celebrations and his visit to the UK was a diplomatic triumph,' he said. As Cllr Cullen continued speaking, Mr Duffy approached Cathaoirleach Pat Vance to show him a news update on his phone. Cllr Vance then announced a ten minute adjournment so it could be confirmed that Senator Freeman had just received her required fourth nomination from Galway County Council and was withdrawing her name from proceedings in Wicklow. The meeting resumed after a short break and Councillors were asked if they were in agreement on Mr Duffy's nomination or did they require a vote. With no dissenting voices in the chamber, Cllr Vance announced Mr Duffy as Wicklow's Presidential nomination. While Mr Duffy acknowledged that he 'wasn't expecting it to end like this', he described the nomination as a 'very special night for my family and myself'. He also acknowledged Senator Freeman for withdrawing her name. 'It is a mark of the type of candidate she is in that she was gracious enough to do that. We had an agreement to leave the field open for democracy if one of us already received enough nominations. The respect and regard we have for one another is special and will remain so heading into the campaign,' said Mr Duffy. Two walkers diced with death on Saturday evening after accidentally wandering onto the Glen of Imaal artillery range. The artillery range is an active military site and the area is considered hazardous even when live firing isn't taking place. The Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team and the Dublin and Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team were both tasked by An Garda Siochana to assist the two walkers at 7.53 p.m. on Saturday evening. Having realised they had strayed into the military zone, the two walkers immediately contacted the gardai, who in turn issued a call-out to Wicklow's two mountain rescue teams. A mountain rescue spokesperson praised the walkers for their quick-thinking. 'The pair made the right decision to call for assistance. The artillery range is extremely dangerous, even when live firing isn't taking place, because of unexploded ordinates and artillery shells. It's a place to be avoided. Fortunately, the two walkers made the correct decision once they realised they were somewhere they shouldn't have been'. Mountain rescue personnel contacted the Defence Forces and waited so they could be safely escorted onto the firing range by members of the Irish Army. The walkers' position was confirmed using the app device Sarloc. Mountain rescue and Defence Forces personnel walked to the incident site and accompanied the walkers to safety. The incident was stood down at 9.37 p.m. The range has two routes through it which are safe to use: Table Track and the route over Camara Hill. For safety, hillwalkers should only use these routes to cross the range. In April 1979, three people were killed after a group of teenagers taking part in an orienteering event wandered onto the range and triggered an explosive device. Ariana Grande has paid tribute to her former partner Mac Miller a week after his death (Ian West/PA) In this July 13, 2013 file photo, rapper Mac Miller performs on his Space Migration Tour at Festival Pier in Philadelphia. Miller, the platinum hip-hop star whose rhymes vacillated from party raps to lyrics about depression and drug use, has died at the age of 26. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, File) Mac Miller and Ariana Grande perform in Paris together in 2017 (REX). Rapper Mac Miller and singer Ariana Grande pose backstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) Singer Ariana Grande has posted a tribute on social media to her dearest friend and former partner Mac Miller one week after his death. The US rapper was found dead at his home in Los Angeles last week aged 26, following a reported overdose. Grande, 25, posted a short video on her Instagram account of Miller laughing while the pair had dinner together. In a caption next to the video Grande wrote: 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. In the video Miller wore a black hoodie with the slogan Everything will be OK emblazoned on the front. He appeared to be telling a humorous story to Grande but stopped and laughed when he realised she was filming him. Video of the Day Grande could be heard saying: It makes me happy. Miller replied: Ill tell you the story as many times as you want. Grande and Miller dated for about two years before breaking up earlier this year. Shortly after they parted ways, Grande responded to a fan on Twitter who criticised her for dumping him and said their relationship had been toxic. She tweeted: I am not a babysitter or a mother and no woman should feel that they need to be. I have cared for him and tried to support his sobriety & prayed for his balance for years (and always will of course) but shaming/blaming women for a mans inability to keep his s*** together is a very major problem. Miller performed with Grande at a memorial concert following the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing and the pair released music together before their split earlier this year. A coroner in California confirmed earlier this week confirmed that a post-mortem examination has been carried out, but further tests would be required to determine how he died. In a statement, his family said Miller was a bright light in this world for his family, friends and fans. Ed Sheeran, Drake, Chance The Rapper and Post Malone were among a stream of stars to pay tribute to the great talent, who released his fifth studio album, Swimming, in August. Actress Keira Knightley arrives at the Orange British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Opera House on February 10, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Orange) Actress Keira Knightley arrives at the Orange British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Opera House on February 10, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Orange) British actress Keira Knightley attends the press conference for "Colette" during the Toronto International Film Festival, on September 10, 2018, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP)VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images British actress Keira Knightley attends the press conference for "Colette" during the Toronto International Film Festival, on September 10, 2018, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) British actress Keira Knightley attends the press conference for "Colette" during the Toronto International Film Festival, on September 10, 2018, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) British actress Keira Knightley attends the press conference for "Colette" during the Toronto International Film Festival, on September 10, 2018, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP)VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images British actress Keira Knightley attends the press conference for "Colette" during the Toronto International Film Festival, on September 10, 2018, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP)V British actress Keira Knightley attends the press conference for "Colette" during the Toronto International Film Festival, on September 10, 2018, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) British actress Keira Knightley attends the press conference for "Colette" during the Toronto International Film Festival, on September 10, 2018, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) Keira Knightley attends The Hollywood Reporter and Hudson's Bay celebration of "Colette" and "What They Had" with Bleecker Street and Elevation Pictures at TIFF on September 10, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter) Keira Knightley attends The Hollywood Reporter and Hudson's Bay celebration of "Colette" and "What They Had" with Bleecker Street and Elevation Pictures at TIFF on September 10, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter) Keira Knightley attends The Hollywood Reporter and Hudson's Bay celebration of "Colette" and "What They Had" with Bleecker Street and Elevation Pictures at TIFF on September 10, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter) Keira Knightley and Hilary Swank attend The Hollywood Reporter and Hudson's Bay celebration of "Colette" and "What They Had" with Bleecker Street and Elevation Pictures at TIFF on September 10, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter) Keira Knightley attends The Hollywood Reporter and Hudson's Bay celebration of "Colette" and "What They Had" with Bleecker Street and Elevation Pictures at TIFF on September 10, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter) Keira Knightley attends the "Colette" press conference during 2018 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 10, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images) Keira Knightley stops by DIRECTV House presented by AT&T during Toronto International Film Festival 2018 at Momofuku Toronto on September 10, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for AT&T and DIRECTV ) Keira Knightley attends a dinner hosted by CHANEL & Variety to honour Keira Knightley at the Inaugural Female Filmmaker Dinner, Toronto International Film Festival, at La Banane in Toronto, Ontario on September 9, 2018. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Chanel) Keira Knightley attends the Chanel show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2018/2019 on March 6, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) Keira Knightley having lines on her forehead shouldn't freak me out, yet here I am. The best corner of the internet is the celebrity before and after analysis on The Skincare Edit, where readers are talked through photos of a star from a late teens' Disney red carpet appearance to her most recent Golden Globes sashay. Over the years, the hawk-eye Michelle Villett has pointed out trend-driven lips, career investment noses, cheekbones sculpted from filler and the onset of age paralysis. By journeys end, every woman looks like she can play 27 to 42 indefinitely. Its fascinating, depressing, and makes me feel less like a crone at the declining fertility age of 29. I will never look like Jennifer Lawrence. Neither will you. Jennifer Lawrence doesnt look like Jennifer Lawrence. Expand Close Keira Knightley attends The Hollywood Reporter and Hudson's Bay celebration of "Colette" and "What They Had" with Bleecker Street and Elevation Pictures at TIFF on September 10, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Keira Knightley attends The Hollywood Reporter and Hudson's Bay celebration of "Colette" and "What They Had" with Bleecker Street and Elevation Pictures at TIFF on September 10, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter) Then this week, I was looking at photos of Keira Knightley at the Toronto International Film Festival, wheres she promoting historical drama Colette, and I got a shock. Because the 33-year-old woman has lines on her forehead. Its disorienting I noticed that immediately. Its also disappointing. Why does my brain equate skins natural unironed state with a painting hung crooked? I was a writer in womens magazines for a huge chunk of my now-dwindling twenties. I can spot bad botox and guess at the good kind. Ive seen both. Neither bothers me. Its your face. In London years ago I got talking to an actress' make-up artist. She dispensed beauty advice I follow to this day. She also told me I was to start injections around now, the preventative kind of botox. I wasnt insulted. After all, shes close friends with one of the most beautiful women in the world. A TV actress over 40 premium glossies declare is ageing beautifully. Shes actually ageing like a science fiction princess at her teams edited rate. Its easy blame my old stomping ground of magazines for my eyes comfort with flat and plump in the right places faces. But the Instagram trend for drowning our faces in at-home acids and sheet masque selfies is as culpable for this distaste for ageing. Benjamin Button in a bottle doesnt exist, yet we cloak our quest as pricey self-care. Expand Close British actress Keira Knightley attends the press conference for "Colette" during the Toronto International Film Festival, on September 10, 2018, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP)VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp British actress Keira Knightley attends the press conference for "Colette" during the Toronto International Film Festival, on September 10, 2018, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP)VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images Keira Knightleys decision not to freeze her forehead shouldnt be revolutionary to me, yet it is. Here is a young woman fronting Chanel campaigns with visible lines. I cant wait to see her nab every role that isnt for the 27 to 42-year-old love interest, like her portrayal of Iraq invasion whistleblower Katharine Gun in the upcoming Official Secrets. I dont want before and after photos to soothe me anymore. Keira embracing her faces timeline is already helping me crack a skin-stretching smile. I feel relieved. Video of the Day How do you solve a problem called Viktor Orban? Since the combative Hungarian prime minister's government came to power in 2010, he has repeatedly undermined the rule of law at home and challenged some of the core values of the EU, becoming a darling of Europe's far-right in the process. For years, Brussels dithered over what to do, with the fact Orban's party, Fidesz, is a member of the key European People's Party (EPP) political grouping (which also includes Angela Merkel's party and Fine Gael) within the European Parliament hampering any moves to censure him. No longer. This week, MEPs voted by more than the required two-thirds majority to launch a process of sanctioning Hungary under Article 7 of the Lisbon Treaty for potentially violating democratic norms, the first time such an action has been taken. In an accompanying statement, MEPs said Orban's government posed a "systemic threat" to democracy and the rule of law, damning words against an EU member state. The unprecedented move came on foot of a report by Dutch MEP Judith Sargentini which detailed the ills of Orban's Hungary, from the undermining of judicial independence, the hollowing out of media and academic freedoms, the hounding of migrants and widespread corruption. Sargentini challenged her colleagues on the floor of the parliament: "Will you ensure the value of this union is more than just words written on a piece of paper?" The vote marks the first step towards possible sanctions on Hungary, which could even mean the country loses its voting rights. But, for that to happen, the leaders of the EU's other 27 member states would have to agree collectively to such a penalty. The prospects of this are slim, given Poland is currently faced with the same process and both Warsaw and Budapest have, unsurprisingly, promised to back each other. Last December the European Commission began Article 7 proceedings against Poland, largely due to concerns over the rule of law. The vote to penalise Orban was also significant because a majority of the EPP finally broke ranks with a man whose increasingly provocative behaviour and inflammatory rhetoric had become too much of an embarrassment to its centre-right alliance. A total of 115 members of the EPP bloc voted against Orban's government and only 57 voted to support him, with 28 abstaining. Notably, Manfred Weber, the EPP leader in the European Parliament, and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, whose own party formed a coalition government with the far-right, both supported the move to penalise Orban. The Hungarian prime minister's evolution from rather conventional centre-right politician to a firebrand accused of bigotry and blatant disregard for the rule of law has seen him lauded by the far-right in other corners of the EU. Orban boasts of what he calls the "illiberal democracy" he oversees at home - he has spoken of introducing the death penalty, outlawed by the EU - and calls for a "cultural counter- revolution" across Europe. In recent months, he has hobnobbed with Italy's far-right interior minister, Matteo Salvini, and Steve Bannon, Donald Trump's former chief strategist who is now engaging with far-right movements from France to Germany. Not surprisingly, Orban is defiant in the face of possible sanctions. True to form, he attempted to frame himself not as the enemy of European values but their main defender. "This is the first case in the history of Europe where a community condemns its own border guards," he told the European Parliament. Such bombast will play well at home, where Orban has won three elections in a row and his party still enjoys ratings of more than 50pc. The disconnect between Orban's attacks on the EU and the fact his government receives generous EU funding has not dented the effectiveness of his messages with his base at home. As for the EPP, with some of its members calling for Fidesz to be expelled altogether, Orban has indicated he could form a new bloc of the far-right with allies that would take on the long-standing alliance in next year's European elections. His cosying up to Salvini in Rome and warm relations with Polish leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski may be a sign of what such a front may look like. Orban's battle with the mainstream European body politic is far from over. 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. Lucknow: The release of Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar 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 Chandra Shekhar 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 Chandra Shekhars mother. Chandra Shekhar 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. Former IPS officer and social activist S.R. Darapuri also said on Friday: The release of Chandra Shekhar 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. Chandra Shekhar, founder of the Bhim Army, a dalit outfit, was arrested in June last year for the caste riots in Saharanpur in May 2017 and was booked under the National Security Act. His surging popularity was evident on his release on Friday. Thousands of dalit youths thronged Chandra Shekhars residence in Harijan Colony, shouting slogans in his support. Sonu Kumar, a Bhim Army leader, said: There are youths coming from Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and even Tamil Nadu to welcome our leader. This shows his popularity. It is this growing popularity of the Bhim Army chief that should be a major worry for the BJP, which has been making concerted efforts to win over dalits. On Thursday, when Yogi Adityanath announced the release of Chandra Shekhar from jail, the move was primarily seen as an attempt by the BJP to divide dalit votes by allowing the Bhim Army to encroach on the BSPs voter base. However, with Chandra Shekhar praising Ms Mayawati, this plan seems to have gone awry. Italy's interior minister has again clashed with the European establishment, earning a vulgar rebuke from Luxembourg's foreign minister over his views on immigration. Matteo Salvini addressed a migration conference in Vienna yesterday and outlined his opposition to Italy accepting any more migrants and refugees crossing the Mediterranean from Libya and Tunisia. "I've heard colleagues say we need immigration because the population of Europe is getting older, but I have a completely different viewpoint," said Mr Salvini, who heads the anti-immigration League party. "I believe that I'm in government in order to see that our young people have the number of children that they used to a few years ago and not to transplant the best of Africa's youth to Europe. "Maybe in Luxembourg they need to do this, but in Italy we need to help people have more children, rather than bring in modern-day slaves to replace the children we're not having." Luxembourg's foreign minister Jean Asselborn, who was sitting close by, started mumbling "Blah, blah, blah." Mr Salvini asked the minister if he could be allowed to finish his address, but Mr Asselborn, who is also Luxembourg's minister for immigration, interjected in French. "In Luxembourg, sir, we have welcomed thousands of Italians who came to work in our country, as migrants, so that you in Italy had money for your children." He finished with the words "Merde, alors". ( Daily Telegraph London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Paul Manafort, Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, has agreed to "fully" co-operate with the Russian election meddling investigation in a plea deal to avoid a second criminal trial, it emerged yesterday. Manafort will have to conduct interviews and debriefings with the probe's prosecutors, hand over documents and testify in future cases as part of the agreement, a judge said. It means that a member of the Trump campaign's inner circle has now agreed to tell Robert Mueller, the special counsel leading the Russia investigation, what really happened behind closed doors during the presidential race. Manafort pleaded guilty to two criminal charges - one for conspiracy against the United States and another for conspiracy to obstruct justice - but saw five other charges dropped as part of the deal. It brings the total number of Trump aides who have pleaded guilty to crimes to five. The others are Michael Cohen, his former attorney, Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser, Rick Gates the former deputy campaign chairman, and George Papadopoulos, his former campaign foreign policy adviser. Manafort's crimes relate to his business dealings in Ukraine as a political consultant before he joined the campaign. Sarah Sanders, Mr Trump's press secretary, said: "This had absolutely nothing to do with the president or his victorious 2016 presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated." Manafort has repeatedly refused to co-operate with the Mueller probe in the past. But last month he was found guilty of eight counts of tax fraud, bank fraud and failure to report a foreign bank account. He was expected to face a prison term of up to a decade. Mr Trump praised him shortly after the convictions as being "brave" for not "flipping" - agreeing to hand over information to prosecutors in turn for leniency. There were reports that the US president had discussed using his executive powers to pardon Manafort. However, with Manafort facing a second criminal trial, reports began to surface that he was considering a deal. Yesterday morning, Mr Mueller's team filed a new document outlining two criminal charges, down from an original seven. The first charge related to money laundering, tax fraud, foreign bank accounts, lobbying and making misrepresentations to the Justice Department. The second was linked to witness tampering. Appearing in court in Alexandria, Virginia, Manafort pleaded guilty. Judge Amy Berman Jackson said that as part of the plea deal he would have to co-operate "fully and truthfully" with Mr Mueller's investigators. Prosecutor Andrew Weissman said yesterday Manafort had struck a "co-operation agreement" and would plead guilty to charges related to his Ukrainian political consulting. "He wanted to make sure 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. Mr Mueller gained a key co-operator 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 Mr Mueller has heard testimony about the meeting. "The president did nothing wrong," said Rudy Giuliani, Mr Trump's attorney. "Once again, an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign." ( Daily Telegraph London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Even if you are sceptical of Bob Woodward's account of a vain, paranoid president obsessing over his enemies' attacks, the events of the past few days offer fresh evidence that Donald Trump is lost in his own chaos. Now he is using thousands of Americans' deaths to position himself as the victim of mendacious Democrats. It is difficult to imagine a more effective way to prove his detractors right. His argument, unveiled on Twitter (of course), is that his opponents have exaggerated the number of people killed when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. Their motive? To discredit his presidency. "3,000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico," he wrote, explaining that when he visited in the immediate aftermath the official toll was fewer than 20. Things have changed since then. The number has been growing steadily, as more reports were collated, and then last week came the big jump. Preliminary findings published by researchers at George Washington University increased the number of dead from 64 to 2,975. That's a huge leap, and Mr Trump thought he understood what was happening. "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," he wrote. His explanation that this was down to "bad politics" is an even bigger leap. In fact, the revision comes from the standard method of calculating excess deaths: counting the number of people who died and comparing it with what might be expected during that period based on statistical models and demographic information. It is a better way of estimating the numbers killed by the storm than relying on cause of death entered on death certificates. As the researchers pointed out, power shortages, lack of training and the confusion of the storm all contributed to delays, errors and inaccuracies in recording cause of death. So it is no great surprise the revised number differs so much from early counts. It is just what happens in disasters, more so when the island's lack of preparation and collapse into dysfunction was so apparent. Yet that is not good enough for this president, it seems. New information does not complete the picture. For him, the changes are incompatible with the first impressions, and can only be explained in terms of a conspiracy or plot against him. So forget any idea the new numbers represent more lives to be mourned, more sympathy and aid for Puerto Rico, which is after all part of the US. For Mr Trump, there's only one person that matters in all of this - himself. Never mind the suffering of people in Puerto Rico, can anyone see his pain? So while he disputes the accounts of books and briefings portraying him as an angry, paranoid man railing at the world from the Oval Office, that is exactly what he is doing. ( Daily Telegraph, London) One of Rwandas most prominent opposition leaders has walked free after the government approved the early release of more than 2,100 prisoners with little explanation. Supporters of Victoire Ingabire and the state-run The New Times newspaper posted photos of the opposition leader leaving Nyarugenge prison hours after the justice ministrys announcement. Ms Ingabires release surprised many in the capital, Kigali, because it is unusual for long-time President Paul Kagame to pardon potential challengers. Cabinet today approved the early release of 2,140 eligible convicts. Among them are Kizito Mihigo and Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, who received a Presidential commutation of the remainder of their sentences, following their most recent requests for clemency in June 2018. Ministry of Justice (@Rwanda_Justice) September 14, 2018 Also approved for early release was musician Kizito Mihigo, convicted on charges of conspiring against the government, who along with MS Ingabire received a presidential commutation. The ministry statement said both had made their most recent requests for clemency in June. Ms Ingabire, head of the FDU-Inkingi opposition party, was arrested in 2010 and found guilty of conspiracy to undermine the government and denying Rwandas 1994 genocide, charges that she denied. She was sentenced to 15 years. Human Rights Watch called the charges politically motivated and linked to her criticism of the government ahead of the 2010 presidential election. Rwandas government has long been accused by rights groups of suppressing the opposition and having a justice system that lacks independence, which the government has denied. Human Rights Watch has expressed concern that the government uses accusations of genocide ideology as a way to silence critics. Some 800,000 people, mostly ethnic Tutsis, were killed by Hutu extremists during the Rwandan genocide, according to the United Nations. Some in Rwanda objected to Ms Ingabires release. Anyone who peddles ethnic politics must be told in no uncertain terms that it wont be tolerated. Her release doesnt do that, Christopher Kayumba, a lecturer at the school of journalism at the National University of Rwanda, said in a Twitter post. Still detained in Rwanda is Diane Rwigara, who tried to challenge Mr Kagame in last years election but was disqualified from running over allegations that she forged some of the signatures on her nomination papers. She denied it. Ms Rwigara later was charged with inciting insurrection against the state. Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who has been accused of rape by a nun, on Saturday issued a circular stating that he is handing over charge of the administration of the Jalandhar Diocese to Fr Mathew Kokkandam. "In my absence Msgr. Mathew Kokkandam will administer the diocese as it is normal practice when I am away from the diocese," he says the circular dated September 13. Read more. Here's More Top News For The Day: 1) Petrol Prices Can't Be Raised Above Rs 99.99/litre Because Machines Can't Display The Figure! While the petrol users joked that this time the prices might hit a century, guess what fuel prices have already breached the Rs 100/litre mark! The good news is for those consumers who use normal petrol. Premium petrol consumers are bearing such a high cost as on September 08, the price of Octane quality petrol was increased to Rs 100.33/litre. Read More. 2) India Gain Only One Spot, Now Ranks 130th In UN's Human Development Index India climbed one spot to 130 among 189 countries in the latest human development index released Friday by the United Nations Development Programme. Within South Asia, India's human development index (HDI) value is above the average of 0.638 for the region, with Bangladesh and Pakistan, countries with similar population size, being ranked 136 and 150 respectively. Read More. 3) Humanity Buried Under Bhopal Shelter Home, Deaf-Mute Minor Rape Victims Tell Horror Stories In a horrific recall of the government hostel rapes that shocked the nation in August, teenaged inmates of a state-run shelter for the deaf and mute alleged that the owner has been raping and sodomizing boys and girls for years. Four boys and two girls came forward to say they had been sexually abused by M P Awasthi. Read More. 4) Security Forces Avenge Deadly Attack On J&K Cops In 2017, Gun Down 5 Militants In Encounter Five Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants, including the one involved in last year's deadly attack on a cash van (in which five policemen and two bank guards lost their lives,) were killed in an encounter in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, 15 September, police said. Read More. 5) With Lord Ganesha On Their Side, This Is How Activists Are Hoping To Save Mumbai's Aarey Forest While Maharashtra is celebrating one of its biggest festivals, it's an unusual sight in Mumbai - decked up trees! The trees in Aarey Forest are painted with images of Lord Ganesha in an effort to create awareness about its conservations amidst increasing threat of Mumbai losing its lungs for a metro construction. Read More. Forget rural even urban cities including national capital of India, New Delhi is facing water crisis these days. In rural areas, due to their remote location, many villages do not get a supply of water. The absence of any mode of transportation makes it difficult to supply water to these secluded places. The villagers, hence, either have to be dependent on rainfall which will help to conserve water or they have to travel to far-away places to fetch it. Lingaram Mandavi, a man from Chhattisgarh, decided to do solve the water problem in his village instead of just sitting on the issue. He fulfilled his grandfathers dream by building a water basin in the village. Representative Image The man who hails from Gadapal village in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district has built around 50-meter long water basin to provide water to the inhabitants, especially farmers, living in surrounding areas, news agency ANI reported. The man said that his grandfather didnt get adequate support from the authorities back then therefore, he wasnt able to build the basin. It took Mandavi full 10 years to complete the water basin work. To get water into the basin, he constructed a 300-400 metre long passage from the embankments of Duwali Karka river. The district authorities, however, still remain unaware of the basin. "We will verify the information and then the administration will help him," said Dantewada District Collector Saurabh Kumar told ANI. Five Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants, including the one involved in last year's deadly attack on a cash van (in which five policemen and two bank guards lost their lives,) were killed in an encounter in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, 15 September, police said. Security forces launched a search operation late on Friday, 14 September, in Chowgam area of Qazigund in south Kashmir's Kulgam district based on inputs about the presence of militants in the area, a police spokesman said. AFP/Representational Image According to the spokesperson, the militants fired on the search party during a search operation. Five militants were killed in the ensuing gunfight. "This was a group of terrorists belonging to proscribed outfits HM and LeT," the spokesman added. He said the killed militants have been identified as Gulzar Ahmad Paddar alias Saif, a resident of Adijan, Kulgam; Faisal Ahmad Rather alias Dawood, a resident of Yamrach, Kulgam; Zahid Ahmad Mir alias Hashim, a resident of Okey, Kulgam; Masroor Molvi alias Abu Darda, a resident of Fatehpora, Anantnag; and Zahoor Ahmad Lone alias Rehman Bhai, a resident of Nagnad Noorabad Damhal Hanjipora in Kulgam. AFP/Representational Image "Paddar was involved in a series of terror attacks including the killing of five police personnel at Pambay last year (on 1 May) along with two bank employees," the spokesman said, referring to the deadly attack on a bank cash van which was waylaid by a group of heavily armed militants, who then pulled out of the vehicle the five police personnel and two bank employees and shot them from point blank range," the spokesman said. The spokesperson also added that Paddar was also involved in the killing of a special police officer at Krewan Chidder in Kulgam. "Besides, he was involved in looting police guards at Damhaal and weapon snatching cases reported across Kulgam and many other bank robbery cases attempted in the area," the spokesman said. Mir was wanted for his involvement in the killing of policeman Fayaz Ahmad of Zainapora on Eid last month, the Spokesperson said, adding Rather was involved in the killing of policeman Gowhar Ahmad in Shopian last year. AFP/Representational Image "Lone and Molvi were involved in a series of terror offences besides recruitment bid in the locality," the spokesman said. Meanwhile, clashes broke out near the site of the encounter as groups of youths started pelting stones on the forces, the official said. He said a few youths have been injured in the forces' action on the protesters. Train services between Baramulla and Qazigund and mobile internet services in Anantnag and Kulgam have been suspended due to apprehensions of law and order problems. CBI's response came soon after Congress chief Rahul Gandhi called AK Sharma, PM Modi's 'blue-eyed boy'. CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said they have mentioned 'many times' that the change in the notice against Vijay Mallya was done as there was no sufficient ground to arrest or detain him. (Photo: File | AP) New Delhi: Coming out in defence of its senior official, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Saturday termed the allegations of "allowing" fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya to escape baseless. CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said the "lookout circular" was not changed "individually" but the decision was taken at the "appropriate level". Terming the allegations against CBI Joint Director AK Sharma "baseless", spokesperson of the central investigating agency Abhishek Dayal said they have mentioned "many times" that the change in the notice against Vijay Mallya was done as there was no sufficient ground to arrest or detain him. The CBI's response came soon after Congress President Rahul Gandhi called AK Sharma, a Gujarat cadre officer PM Modi's "blue-eyed boy". Read: Rahul targets PM Modi's 'blue-eyed boy' for diluted Vijay Mallya notice Earlier in the week, Rahul Gandhi had accused Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of colluding with business tycoon Mallya and helping him escape the country. The Congress chief demanded Jaitleys resignation. Also Read: Jaitley 'lying', Cong leader saw Mallya 'talking discreetly' to FM: Rahul Gandhi Congress leader P L Puniya also claimed that he had seen Jaitley and Mallya having a 15-minute sit-down meeting in parliament on March 1, 2016, two days before Mallya fled the country. Earlier this week, ahead of his extradition hearing at the Londons Westminster Magistrate Court, Mallya told the media, 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." Speaking about the PNB fraud case, the agency official said the CBI received complaint against Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi almost a month after they had left the country. Dayal added that the "question of any CBI officer having any hand in their fleeing the country does not arise. Prompt action was taken by CBI in the case immediately after the complaint was received from the bank." Vijay Mallya, currently in London, is being investigated for fraud and money-laundering. He has been fighting India's attempts at bringing him back to face trial for the last two years. Both Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi are under probe by the CBI and ED. Nirav Modi left India with his family in the first week of January, weeks before the scam came to light and was reported to the CBI. While Maharashtra is celebrating one of its biggest festivals, it's an unusual sight in Mumbai - decked up trees! The trees in Aarey Forest are painted with images of Lord Ganesha in an effort to create awareness about its conservations amidst increasing threat of Mumbai losing its lungs for a metro construction. Environmentalists and concerned Mumbikers have been fighting for years to save the 33 hectares of thick urban forest which the Maharashtra Government has denotified as an eco-sensitive zone for the construction of a car shed for Mumbai Metro. According to campaigners, Aarey Forest in Goregaon is the worlds only forest in the middle of a modern metropolis and is home to not just a huge diversity of rare insects, reptiles and mammals including wild leopards, but also more than 7000 indigenous tribal people who have been living here in 27 aboriginal Warli tribal hamlets here for centuries, in harmony with nature, protecting this forest. "We thought it is a good way to bring some light to the campaign and get some attention. In the past, on Rakhi we had done 'Vriksha Bandhan', and tied rakhi to trees. And when Ganesha festival approached, we thought, why not? Some very talented artists from our group went there and made all the paintings. These were all done using natural materials and colours," Yash Marwah, a campaigner with Youth For Aarey explained. Armed with a National Green Tribunal order, the environmentalists managed to get the construction halted, at least that is what they thought. But, Yash told Indiatimes that even while the NGT ban is in place the MMCR is going ahead with the construction work. He also alleged that the MMRC officials are involved in a disinformation campaign, and hiding the facts. "They are saying that there is no alternative line and if the metro is not built people will die in overcrowded trains. We had proposed 6-8 alternative plots for the same project, but from the each plot had one of the other problem and was rejected," Yash said. According to MMRCL Aarey was not a forest land and, therefore, it had the authority to construct there without permissions from the designated forest or local authorities. "There are 5 lakhs trees and the government says it is not a forest. It was always a no development zone, free of constructions. Now the government wants to build a service centre there, which will come up there at the expense of 4000 trees. That is what we are opposing," Stalin Dayanand who has been leading the camping explained. "Despite giving other options, the government is not willing to listen. It is not just the citizens who have wanted against this. Even two scientists who were a part of the government appointed committee to look into the matter said that do not destroy this area and there are other places and take it there," Dayanand added. For a concrete jungle like Mumbai, Aarey forest is often referred to as its lungs. Because it plays such a key role in keeping the air quality of India's financial capital somewhat breathable. "The suggested average ratio is six trees per person, but in Mumbai, it is one tree for four persons, that is how bad the situation is as of now. If you come to Aarey at any point of time, it is 2-3 degrees cooler than the rest of the city, and it is filtering out the pollutants of Mumbai's air," Dayanand explained. Every year Mumbai has a tough time battling the floods during the monsoon. Environmentalists warn that the situation will get even worse if the floodplains two rivers in Aarey Forest are covered in concrete. "Aarey doesn't just serve as a forest, it has two rivers, the Oshiwara River and Mithi River. So it is a total no-go zone if you look to form an ecological point of view. Despite an NGT order, MMRC had erected huge concrete pillars in one of the rivers. We have challenged it in the court, and if the verdict goes against them they will have to demolish it. We are not against the metro project, we don't want it at the expense of the Aarey forest," Dayanand said. Activists say they have pinned their hopes on the NGT order and are willing to go to the highest court to save one of Mumbai's last patches of greenery. Over the past month, Google has been in a bit of hot water over a new web browser. Dragonfly, as the name of the browser that leaked, is a special Google initiative for China, and people arent happy about how much it complies with local censorship. Dragonfly was revealed by a whistle-blower last month, who proved that Google was working on a secret project meant for China. The problem with it is that the browser and its tied search service comply with Chinas strict censorship requirements. That means website outside the Great Firewall of China wouldnt be accessible, and the government would be able to ban search terms from the service at will. As if that wasnt bad enough, reports now emerge that the browser might also aid in the Chinese governments surveillance. According to The Intercept, the Dragonfly Android app might be linked to a specific phone number. And since all phone numbers are strictly monitored in the country, that means the government can effortlessly tie web searches to the person that carried them out. Additionally, sources also told the publication the app may be hardcoded to switch out weather and pollution results with doctored data from the Chinese government. Google has yet to confirm the existence of Dragonfly, and has refused to comment to any publication for the most part. In the past, representatives have said simply that the company is conducting exploratory work on a search engine in China, but its not close to a launch. The leaks have been more than enough however, for both employees and lawmakers. Close to 1,400 Googlers have supposedly signed a letter to management, demanding to know more about the project. The leak was the first most had heard of it, and its still a secret within the company, which has led to the resignation of 5 employees, at least one of them high level. Meanwhile Google testified before a US House committee yesterday, where they were grilled about Dragonfly and its role in perpetuating human rights violations on foreign soil. In the past two years, the Green corridor has helped save a hundred lives, thanks to efficacy in speed and transport. This time again an 18-year-old boy's heart was transferred through the green corridor to save the life of a man in Noida. 18-year-old ITI student (Industrial Training Institute), Mihir Bharat Patels heart travelled 1,158 km in 117 minutes from Surat to give a new heartbeat to 32-year-old Govind Mehra. Facebook According to a report in The Times of India, a truck had hit Mihirs motorcycle on Hajira Road on September. When the boy was rushed to Sunshine Global Hospitals, the doctors detected a clot in his brain. Two days later, he was declared brain-dead. A green corridor was set up to help Mihirs heart reach Mehras body for transplant in less than 117 minutes. Mehra has been on the list since the valve of his heart was changed in 2012. Apart from his heart, Mihirs kidneys, liver, and eyes were also donated by his 42-year-old father, Bharat Patel; mother, Kokila Patel and older sister, 20-year-old Kajal Patel. Doctors of Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre harvested Mihirs kidneys and transplanted them to 34-year-old Sanjay M Kanani from Surat, and 12-year-old Adnan Ansari from Ahmedabad. Even after passing Mihir has saved lives, we salute his spirit and pray that his family finds the strength to grapple with the huge loss. U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna. The Indian American congressman said:For Aung San Suu Kyi to not speak out and to talk about a proportionate response to terrorism is a total abdication of any morality. (Twitter photo) What Is a Dealer Option? A dealer option is a contract issued on the physical inventory of a commodity. A dealer option is typically issued by companies that buy, sell, or otherwise use a commodity in conducting business. This type of option is not traded on an exchange. Rather, it is traded as an over-the-counter (OTC) security and is thus less subject to scrutiny and regulation. Key Takeaways A dealer option is a contract issued on the physical inventory of a commodity. Dealer options are not traded on an exchange, but rather as an over-the-counter (OTC) security, meaning it's less subject to scrutiny and regulation. Since the contracts are traded OTC, the parties can agree on personalized terms. Therefore, these types of agreements are made between firms or individuals that know each or have financially verified each other. Understanding Dealer Options Dealer options are typically written by firms, such as clearinghouses, that hold the physical commodities and then offer them to the public on the OTC market. While dealer options exist outside of traditional trading markets, their sale is still heavily scrutinized because they represent a contract between parties. The firms that deal in these types of contracts typically hold sufficient quantities of the physical commodity or cash to satisfy either a call or put contract, whichever they opt to enter. How Dealer Options Work Since dealer options are traded over the counter, typically by people involved with the physical commodity, the options can be used to take physical possession of a commodity, or transfer that commodity to another party via the contract. Since the contracts are traded OTC, the parties can agree on personalized terms. Unlike an exchange traded futures contract which involves a specific amount of a certain grade of the commodity, the dealer option could be for any amount or grade the two parties agree to. A dealer may have 150 ounces of gold to sell. Another party is interested in buying 150 ounces of gold, in the future, if gold prices continue to rise. Exchange traded futures and options are standardized to 100 ounces, leaving both the seller and buyer with 50 ounces to get rid of or acquire. A dealer option solves this problem. The price of gold is $1,500. The two parties agree that the buyer will buy at a call option with a strike price of $1,550. The call option will expire in three months. In exchange for the right to buy the gold at $1,550 per ounce, even if it goes much higher in the next three months, the option buyer agrees to pay the option seller a premium. If the price doesn't rise above $1,550, then there is no need for the option buyer to exercise the contract and buy the gold at $1,550, since it is cheaper to buy the gold on the open market where it is trading below $1,550. In this scenario, the option seller gets to keep the premium as well as their gold. If the price of gold moves above $1,550, the option buyer will exercise their option. It is worthwhile to do so since the price of gold is now above $1,550 an ounce. The seller will provide the 150 ounces of gold, potentially via a vault receipt, and the option buyer will pay the option seller $1,550 x 150 ounces. Dealer options are traded OTC and require that the other party be able to hold up their end of the deal. Therefore, these types of agreements are made between firms or individuals that know each or have financially verified each other. By Padraig Hoare A tussle for supremacy between Aer Lingus and Ryanair at Cork Airport is set to benefit passengers all over Munster, with new routes being announced and more in the pipeline. Ryanair has announced it will fly from Cork to the Hungarian capital Budapest from April next year, the fourth new route it has added in recent weeks. The airline said it is aiming to carry 1.1m passengers through Cork next year, or growth of around 20%, after it added Malta, Luton and Poznan to its schedule. Cork Airport is forecasting growth of 4% overall this year, with scheduled flights to over 40 destinations operated by nine airlines. Ryanair flights to Luton begin in October, Malta in March, and Poznan in April. The Michael OLeary-led airline is also extending its summer service from Cork to Faro into the winter season, making it a year-round service. There are now 16 Ryanair routes operating out of Cork. The ramp-up of Ryanair operations has not gone unnoticed by Aer Lingus. The IAG-owned airline is planning to combat Ryanairs bid for Cork Airport domination by extending its own services in the coming months. When asked by travel industry figures this week if it was committed to expanding in Cork, Aer Lingus chief executive Stephen Kavanagh was bullish. We are the largest airline in Cork and we intend to maintain that position, Mr Kavanagh said. He said Aer Lingus would be making announcements in the coming weeks focusing on expansion in mainly European cities. The new routes are a boon to Cork Airport chiefs, with Corks first ever transatlantic flights to Providence in Rhode Island postponed for the winter season, before returning next spring for the summer schedule. After falling numbers in recent years, Munster rival Shannon Airport has grown 5% in the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year, bolstered by the beefing up of north American routes. However, numbers at Shannon remain significantly behind those of Cork, which saw growth of 3.7% in the first six months against the same period last year, with just short of 1.1m going through the airport, according to CSO figures. Cork Airport managing director Niall MacCarthy said the facility was the perfect choice for Ryanairs new routes and its planned 20% passenger expansion. By Padraig Hoare Exports to EU countries rose 15% over the past year with more than half of Irish goods going to the Continent in July, official figures have shown, as calls grow for Irish ports to be funded post- Brexit. CSO figures for July showed the continental EU accounted for 5.65bn, or 51%, of exports in July, of which 1.44bn went to Belgium and 725m went to Germany. Exports to EU countries increased by 749m, or 15%, compared with July 2017, according to the CSO. Imports from the EU were valued at 4.8bn, or 63%, of total imports in July 2018 an increase of 1.43m, or 43%, over the same comparative period. Exports to the UK rose 56m, or 5%, to 1.16bn in July 2018 when compared with the same month last year, but are down 443m, or 5%, over the first seven months of the year. Imports from the UK increased by 97m, or 7%, to 1.43bn in July 2018, when compared with July 2017, the CSO said. The US was the main non-EU destination accounting for just over 3bn, or 28%, of exports in July 2018. Exports of medical and pharmaceutical products increased by 993m, an increase of 37%, in July 2018 compared to the same month last year. The value of goods exported from January to July 2018 was 80.32bn, an increase of 7.97bn, or 11%, when compared with the first seven months of 2017. Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly said that identifying additional funding for Irish ports was a key priority in the new EU Multiannual Financial Framework, the EUs budget for the years 2021-2027. He said he had put forward a number of amendments to the Connecting Europe Facility, a 42.3bn fund for European energy, transport and digital networks, in order to secure funding of Irish ports post-Brexit and reduce Irish exporters reliance on the UK. Earlier this week, the Irish Ports Association, an Ibec affiliate, called on the European Commission to enhance its proposals to mitigate the adverse impact of Brexit on marine passenger and freight transport between Ireland and Continental Europe. The commission is proposing to realign North Sea Mediterranean Core Network Corridor, which currently links Ireland to France via the British landbridge, but that measure needs to be further bolstered, the association said. Shah said TRS which supported 'one nation, one poll' initially, has gone ahead to disrupt it and dissolve assembly. Hyderabad: Kick-starting the Bharatiya Janata Partys election campaign in Telangana, party national president Amit Shah Saturday launched a scathing attack on K Chandrashekar Rao, accusing the chief minister of indulging in politics of appeasement. Addressing a press conference in the state capital, Amit Shah accused KCR's Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) of "working at the behest of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Left parties". He said that if TRS comes to power yet again, it will continue to play vote bank politics. "Is it not appeasement politics to propose 12 per cent reservation for minority? They know that our Constitution does not allow reservation based on religion. If the same government comes back to power, vote bank politics will continue in the state," the BJP chief said. Amit Shah further questioned K Chandrasekhar Rao on his stand of 'one nation, one poll' and said that the party, which supported the plan initially, has gone ahead to disrupt it and dissolve the Assembly. "K Chandrasekhar Rao had supported one nation, one poll but today his party has changed its stand and has forced a small state to bear the expense of two polls (Assembly and Lok Sabha). I want to ask Telangana CM, why have you put such an expense on the people of Telangana?" Amit Shah said, adding "Rao did not live up to the tall promises." Intensifying his attack on KCR, the BJP president claimed the Telangana government has failed at every front, be it law and order or development. 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. The BJP president further said that the BJP will fight elections on all seats in Telangana and emerge as a strong and decisive force in the state. Amit Shah who arrived in Telangana for a day-long visit on Saturday, also urged the people of Telangana to vote for the BJP this time. He is scheduled to give directions to the state BJP leaders on poll strategy and election manifesto. By Stephen Cadogan African swine fever has jumped across Europe, having been confirmed in wild boars in Belgium. African swine fever (ASF) was found last week in three dead wild boars and one live wild boar (which was put down and disposed of), in the forest at Etalle, Luxembourg, a province of southern Belgium, near the borders with France and Luxembourg. It is only 60km from the border with Germany, which has nearly one fifth of the EUs 150 million pigs. ASF is almost always fatal for pigs but poses no danger to humans. Limited outbreaks occurred in Belgium (1985) and the Netherlands (1986) and were successfully eradicated. Where ASF is confirmed, EU legislation requires that all infected and exposed animals are killed, carcases safely disposed of, premises disinfected, and surveillance and strict control be carried out on movements of pigs and pig products. Irish farmers and their EU colleagues are under notice to report immediately to the Department of Agriculture if they suspect the presence of the disease. Though there is no treatment or vaccine, ASF can be successfully eradicated if the disease is detected early and controls are rapidly introduced. EU veterinary emergency teams are ready to deploy rapidly to hotspots to advise on disease management. ASF has never occurred here in Ireland; like the UK, we can hope that being surrounded by water will help to keep it at bay. The Department of Agriculture says illegal importation of meat infected with the ASF virus, and subsequent feeding to pigs, is the main risk pathway for the introduction of ASF into Ireland, and the Departments awareness campaign focus is to prevent this happening. Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Mr Michael Creed said: "it is vital that biosecurity measures are reviewed, that unauthorised persons do not have access to pigs at any time, that food waste is not fed to pigs and that all workers on pig farms are fully aware of the necessary biosecurity measures." Since 2014, ASF has spread in the EU through Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and in August, Bulgaria (despite Bulgaria erecting an 81-mile fence at the border with Romania to stop wild boar, and increasing luggage checks at the border). China, home of the worlds biggest pig herd (estimated at 500m), confirmed its first outbreak in August (which is similar to the virus strain in Eastern Europe). There are concerns that water from rivers contaminated with pig or wild boar carcasses has contributed to some of the ASF outbreaks. This method of transmission had never been proven before, but it is being investigated by EU veterinary authorities. By Conall O Fatharta and Noel Baker The Government has been accused of insulting working families by stating that affordable homes provided by the Land Development Agency (LDA) will cost as much as 320,000. Initially, the LDA will deliver 3,000 homes on eight sites identified across the country. However, the Government believes it could deliver as many as 150,000 homes over the next 20 years. The sites are set to be made up of 30% affordable homes, 10% social housing and the rest would be private ownership. Pressed about how much an affordable home would cost, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said the target was that properties could be bought for 320,000 in Dublin and 250,000 outside the capital. Social Democrats political director and consumer affairs spokeswoman Anne-Marie McNally asked what planet Minister Eoghan Murphy lives on if he believes that 320,000 constitutes an affordable home. Under Central Bank rules, in order to afford a house of 320,000, a household would need to be earning at least 82k per year, and somehow have managed to save the 10% deposit of 32k. This is out of the reach of the vast majority of first-time buyers, and especially if those buyers are already paying our record-high rents. It is nonsense to suggest that 320,000 is affordable, she said. Ms McNally said pitching affordable homes at this level would mean that the only people who could qualify are two-income households and that, once again, single people need not apply. Speaking at the Focus Ireland annual conference at City Hall in Cork, AnnMarie Farrelly, director of planning and strategic infrastructure for Fingal County Council, said: The average industrial wage does not buy a house in Fingal. She referred to figures presented at the conference showing the average first-time buyer property price in Dublin is 386,484. She said the average price in Fingal was 8.7 times the average income, adding: That does not allow you to buy a house. It would cost a couple, each on average earnings, 4.3 times their income to buy a house there. The conference heard a single person would have to allocate 60% of their income in order to purchase their first house. CEO of Threshold John-Mark McCafferty said a reality check was needed because what the Government thinks is an affordable home and what families view as affordable are two different things. Niamh Randall of Simon Communities said that while the LDA was a good thing, affordable housing needed to be defined and determined by peoples income and ability to pay. THE usual ice-breaker in a conversation just before the Dail returns is to ask a politician how was their summer. But in the case of Brendan Howlin, it seems better to sidestep the question. Since the Dail broke for its summer recess in July, the Labour leader has faced growing calls from councillors across the country to step down and be replaced by party rival Alan Kelly. The comments, in a drip-drip of ones and twos at first before an open letter to him was signed by 14 councillors last month insisting on the need for change, have crystalised a genuine fear the party is going nowhere under Mr Howlins watch and needs an injection of new ideas to simply survive in the face of mounting challenges from Sinn Fein and other left-wing parties. However, speaking to the Irish Examiner ahead of the partys annual pre-Dail think-in this weekend, Mr Howlin is in no mood for giving up. Despite acknowledging the leadership issue will be raised at the partys meeting in Drogheda tomorrow and Monday, the former public expenditure minister believes Labour must put aside leadership disputes and circle the wagons on key policies such as housing, sensible taxation and helping Michael D Higgins retain the presidency. Anything else, he said, should be put to one side despite the fears of councillors facing local elections in just nine months time. We all want the Labour Party to succeed, it would be bizarre if everybody agreed on the right leader and as long as Im in the party there will be people with different views. But I think there is a fixed view within the party generally that what is important now is to close ranks, move forward with our agenda, and re-connect with people who vote for us. Anything else is undermining that objective, he said. It sounds practical, but now that the cat is out of the bag on where a number of councillors and Alan Kelly himself stand on the leadership issue, it is easier said than done. Alan Kelly is hoisted into the air as he celebrates being elected during the general election in 2016. While Mr Howlin has been keen to point to the fact that other than Mr Kelly, all of Labours TDs and senators continue to back him, the same cannot be said for those outside Leinster House. Asked if national politicians in Labour are out of touch with the reality of their dwindling support on the ground, Mr Howlin is defensive, insisting theres never been a motion from the executive board or anywhere else for him to go. However, while acknowledging he will have to address the matter with councillors this weekend, he was clear in ruling out any possibility of a leadership contest in the coming months effectively confirming he will remain as leader at least until the next general election. Im sure that would be a lovely thing to do [to hold a leadership contest] in the middle of all the crises Ive talked about, to go around the country and talk to ourselves again, Mr Howlin joked when asked if he will allow a leadership contest to bring an end to speculation. I believe anyone who believes you can just change the name on the door of the leader [and create wider reforms] is wrong, and I think most people youll find after this weekend will want us to close ranks, to work in consort as I intend to do with every member of the parliamentary party, with everybody, to a common objective, he said. What all this means for the partys health spokesperson Alan Kelly, who revealed Irelands worst kept secret last month by taking to the airwaves to say he wants to replace Mr Howlin and has support from councillors, is an open question, and one the Tipperary TD did not respond to queries. Alan Kelly has made several references to the leadership of the Labour Party. Picture: Eamonn Farrell However, for now, Mr Howlin seems intent on trying at least in theory on keeping the public image of a united front intact, regardless of whether it is believable or not. I spoke to Alan on the phone at some length, I spoke to Alan yesterday in person. We had a long discussion on this issue on the phone. Ive expressed my views and hes expressed his views to me, and he asked that we keep those discussions to ourselves and thats what Im going to do, Mr Howlin said, adding when asked to describe their faltering relationship by saying it is professional, before adding somewhat unconvincingly its... grand. Given the fact a new opinion poll is out this weekend, Mr Kellys own ongoing leadership ambitions and the concerns of councillors all too aware of local elections coming fast over the horizon how long that public attempt at a united front will last remains to be seen. Given the circumstances, the question over the coming weeks to Mr Howlin of how is your autumn now seems increasingly unavoidable. By Evelyn Ring and Juno McEnroe Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall has described the daily suffering behind the hospital waiting list numbers as appalling. Ms Shortall was commenting on the latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) which showed a record 718,165 patients on hospital waiting lists. She criticised the Government for its sluggish response. The endless cycle of upwardly spiralling waiting lists is inexcusable for a Government that is two-and-a-half years in office, she said. There is simply not enough urgency in getting to grips with the blockages and capacity needs within the health system. The NTPF released nine separate waiting lists for August that include 514,585 people waiting for an outpatient appointment. Not only are hospital waiting lists at an all-time high, but an overspend in health may obliterate many plans for #budget19... My report this evening for @virginmedianews: pic.twitter.com/TvTZexqcoW Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) September 14, 2018 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the figures include a lot of double counting but acknowledged there are too many people on waiting lists. He said the figures include people who already had an appointment and those suspended from waiting lists because they did not need a procedure anymore or were not fit to have it. There are people waiting for annual checks and people waiting for a scan and to see a specialist double counts. Mr Varadkar said most people now wait less than six months for an inpatient or day-case procedure. He admitted no progress is being made in reducing the number of people waiting for outpatient appointments, with 350,000 waiting more than three months. The Department of Health highlighted the 74,189 patients waiting for an inpatient or day-case procedure where significant progress had been made because of increased Government investment in the NTPF. From a high of 86,000 in July 2017, they have been on a consistent downward trajectory and now stand at 74,000, said the department. The figure was down 2,000 at the end of August compared to July and 10,000 year on year, it added. The Government is spending 50m through the NTPF to tackle waiting lists. An NTPF graph shows that 511,904 people were waiting for an outpatient appointment on May 31 and 510,718 on July 5. On August 9, there were 514,215 people waiting. After dipping slightly to 512,205 on August 23, the number steadily increased to 514,585. Hospital waiting lists have reached a record high. More than 718,000 patients were waiting for a hospital appointment at the end of August. The figures include almost 50,000 children. | https://t.co/ApEo7HwNp4 pic.twitter.com/oZp4CxwwBG RTE News (@rtenews) September 14, 2018 The department said the outpatient waiting list remained a challenge but is being targeted for progress in the same way as the inpatient/day-case list. 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. Mr Donnelly said the performance by Health Minister Simon Harris is not good enough and that it is clear the Government is bereft of ideas and competence on healthcare. Mr Donnelly said: 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. The Private Hospitals Association said it is willing to work with the Department of Health, HSE, and public hospitals to find new solutions to drive down waiting lists. Chairman Michael Cullen said it is regrettable that the group is still awaiting a promised outpatient list action plan that Mr Harris said in April would be delivered shortly. Waiting game Academics and the HSEs National Breastfeeding Coordinator have written to the organisers of the countrys biggest pregnancy and baby show asking them to reconsider its choice of sponsor. The SMA Baby Club Pregnancy and Baby Fair takes place at the RDS on September 29 and 30. In the letter addressed to organisers Claire Finnan and Jennifer Shaw, the group claimed the choice of SMA as sponsor breached the World Health Organisation Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes. The letter, sent to Huggy Bloom Enterprises, is signed by Laura McHugh, HSE national breastfeeding co-ordinator; Margaret Murphy, lecturer in midwifery at UCC; Liz OSullivan, lecturer in nutrition at Dublin Institute of Technology; and Marita Hennessy, BSc of the Health Behaviour Change Research Group at NUI Galway, and others. Voicing concerns of the signatories, i It said: Hosting an event that has a headline sponsor of a baby milk company not only breaches the WHO Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes but use of a brand name and its Baby Club very specifically draws attention to infant formula. We are particularly concerned that this event requires attendees to register with the SMA Baby Club in order to receive a free ticket to attend. SMA will therefore have contact details of all pregnant women attending the event and will use this information to market their products, which will have a negative impact on a mothers breastfeeding journey. The timing of the baby milk sponsored pregnancy and baby fair also diverts attention from National Breastfeeding Week which takes place October 1-7, 2018. We are aware that concerns about overt marketing of an infant formula brand have been brought to your attention previously; we now appeal to you to reconsider this sponsorship since parents and societys confidence in breastfeeding is undermined by the promotion of breastmilk substitutes. The letter, which also refers to Irelands low rates of breastfeeding, was also sent to Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health. Both Huggy Bloom Enterprises and Nestle Ireland said all its activities are compliant with the EU directive and the Irish legislation related to the marketing of breast milk substitutes. The event organisers said: We are very proud of our show and our long-running sponsorship with SMA Baby Club. As with any event, there are a number of ways to access tickets attendees can purchase tickets at the door of the RDS on the days of the event, they can purchase tickets online via Ticketmaster, or they can register to secure one of a limited number of free tickets from a range of our sponsors and exhibitors. Anybody who signs up for free tickets via SMA has the option to opt out from receiving information from SMA Baby Club, in line with GDPR requirements. A Nestle spokesperson said: This is our ninth year as a sponsor of the Pregnancy and Baby Fair. It is always a great event and we are proud to be involved as a supporter and a participant. We have not, and will not, be promoting infant formula through this event but instead we will again take the opportunity to let mums know about the SMA Baby Club service, which provides useful information for pregnancy, babys development and the importance of breastfeeding, with tips on how to breastfeed successfully. Brendan Howlin has ruled out holding a Labour leadership battle in the coming months, despite widespread calls from councillors for him to step aside and to be replaced by his rival, Alan Kelly. Mr Howlin said an internal leadership race in the immediate future would be wrong, while crises such as Brexit, housing, and budget talks are still taking place. Speaking to the Irish Examiner ahead of Labours annual pre-Dail think-in in Drogheda, which takes place tomorrow and Monday, Mr Howlin confirmed he has spoken privately with Mr Kelly twice since the Tipperary TD publicly called for him to go. However, despite saying he will listen during the think-in to the views of those who want him to step aside, he insisted there is no prospect of a leadership race in the coming months. Im sure that would be a lovely thing to do [to hold a leadership contest] in the middle of all the crises Ive talked about, to go around the country and talk to ourselves again, Mr Howlin said, when asked if he will allow a leadership contest, to end speculation over his future. Alan [Kelly] has had that view from the day I was elected, hes had the view that he should be the leader, and thats fine. I applaud and encourage ambition, but thats [a leadership change] not the view of the parliamentary party. So, no, he said. Mr Howlin said calls for him to resign are undermining his attempts to rebuild Labour and claimed the recent calls, from a significant number of councillors, for him to step aside, were just a sequence of events over the summer, when you had nothing else to write about. He rejected suggestions that Labour is split between TDs and senators, who want Mr Howlin to stay, and councillors, who believe a leadership change is needed, saying while it is understandable to be anxious over the partys poll position, it is important the party now closes ranks. Asked about his relationship with Mr Kelly, Mr Howlin said you have a professional relationship with everybody and any discussions the two have had will be kept to ourselves. The decision by Mr Howlin to rule out a leadership race in the coming months is likely to be welcomed by the vast majority of Labour TDs and senators, as only one of whom, Mr Kelly himself, has called on him to go. However, it is expected to infuriate a large number of councillors, who want a leadership change before next Mays local elections, including 14 who publicly wrote to Mr Howlin, last month, to insist there is a need for change. Looking ahead, Mr Howlin predicted the general election will take place in spring or early summer next year. Mr Howlin downplayed the risk of a snap general election in the immediate aftermath of next months budget and before Brexit. However, Mr Howlin said it is obvious there are TDs in both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail who want to go to the polls as soon as possible, but felt that it would be far more likely that nothing would occur until after Brexit. The Taoiseach, Leo, told me, some time ago, that hes not going to do a Theresa May, that whatever the opinion polls say, hes not going to cut and run. There are clearly people around him who are going to suggest that [to cut and run], and you never know, the day might come where hell say well now is my best chance. My judgement is it [the general election] will be in the spring or early summer of next year, Mr Howlin said. A fatal explosion at an Indaver waste plant in Belgium highlights the insanity of the companys proposed incinerator being located close to a bus stop used by college students in Cork harbour, opponents said last night. Waste management firm Indaver has launched an investigation after one worker was killed and four others were injured in a blast at its flagship Antwerp plant on Thursday. In a statement, the company blamed the explosion on the discharge of liquid waste into a storage tank and said an investigation is under way to determine the exact sequence of events. A spokesperson said: At this time, the focus is on the family of our colleague who sadly lost his life, and providing ongoing support to our colleagues impacted by this tragic accident. Indaver remains committed to the safe operation of its waste-to-energy facilities and the health and safety of all employees and the communities in which we operate. The company will undertake a robust internal investigation into yesterdays incident in Antwerp, in addition to co-operating fully with the regulatory authorities. The fatal blast occurred at the same plant that was rocked by a huge explosion in February 2016. A nearby road tunnel was closed and residents were advised to close windows and doors as up to 60 firefighters tackled a municipal disaster. A spokeswoman for Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment (Chase), the campaign group in the Cork harbour area which is leading opposition to Indavers proposed Ringaskiddy incinerator, said their sympathies are with the family of the deceased and they hope the injured recover. However, the spokeswoman said the company has some serious questions to answer. The company has assured us that this couldnt happen in Cork Harbour, but this second major explosion within the lifespan of their third application here makes it hard to take any assurances seriously, she said. This tragedy highlights and reinforces the insanity of locating this type of lethal facility yards from a bus stop for students to and from the marine college, and at the end of a cul-de-sac. Permission for the Ringaskiddy incinerator was granted by An Bord Pleanala in May, against the recommendation of the inspector who chaired the oral hearing. It was the third time the board had over-ruled one of its own inspectors in relation to this application. Chasewill present its legal challenge to that decision in the High Court next February. Since getting the green light in July to launch a judicial review of the decision, Chases legal team has served extensive court documents on the board and the developers. Earlier this week, the High Court fixed February 12, 2019 as the commencement date of the legal challenge. It has set aside eight days for the hearing. Mr Justice Barniville has also set out a timetable for various procedural steps that must be taken before the hearing. The board and the developers have been directed to file their full written responses to the Chase case by October 12 and 26 respectively. It is a pity, with all three of Bord Pleanalas inspectors recommending refusal of the project, that we have to turn to the court, but with the support of so many people in the harbour area, we have a chance to test the legality of the board decision and look forward to doing that, said the Chase spokeswoman. Security policing in Ireland is completely closed to public scrutiny, with serious concerns as to the extent to which it complies with human rights law, a major report has found. The research said Irish laws governing surveillance, interceptions, and data-retention are opaque, piecemeal, and out-of-date and that oversight structures are muddled and complex. The report, by Alyson Kilpatrick, former human rights adviser to the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said the fact that An Garda Siochana is both the policing and the security service should make it easier to assess and monitor compliance with human rights obligations but added that is not the case in practice. It said surveillance and interference with privacy must comply with the Constitution, the European Convention of Human Rights, and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. A new report from the Irish Council of Civil Liberties has strongly criticised the approach of An Garda Siochana to policing in several areas, including public order policing, as well as how Roma and Travellers are dealt with. pic.twitter.com/cPI630jtpR RTE News (@rtenews) September 14, 2018 The barrister said there is no dispensation for State security in human rights law, saying it applies in the same way to security policing as it does to community policing. The extent of compliance in state security policing is essentially a mystery, which is the greatest concern of all, the report said. It said that issues regarding the gardais approach to the rights protected by Article 8 ECHR (the right to privacy) raised concerns about the respect paid to the ECHR. This does not bode well for security policing, which is completely closed to public scrutiny, the report said. Dr Kilpatrick said Mr Justice Nial Fennelly found that no consideration whatsoever was given by Garda management or by the Justice Department to the legality of systematically recording calls on non-999 phone lines in garda stations. She said the problem was not just confined to the gardai, and former chief justice John Murray found the indiscriminate and unsupervised manner in which gardai, the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission , and other State agencies were currently entitled to require communication providers to retain and allow access to subscriber metadata was wholly contrary to the ECHR and EU law. The report said the domestic legal framework governing surveillance, interceptions, and data-retention was opaque, piecemeal, and out-of-date and that governance arrangements were muddled and complex. It said a comprehensive review was required, followed by, most probably, a radical reconfiguration. She said legal definitions of State security were not exhaustive and that it was impossible to ascertain the parameters of it. The report said the power to intercept communications, or phone-tapping, was not subject to judicial or independent authorisation and said a promised review of legislation had yet to be carried out. It also said there were gaps in laws around covert surveillance and covert human intelligence sources, commonly referred to as informants, and undercover police activity. Given the extreme risk associated with undercover activities, it is particularly concerning that there is not a clear and robust policy, the report said. Ireland is now very much out of step with Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The report said the EU Fundamental Rights Agency said intelligence services must be held accountable and by a range of actors, including parliament. In Ireland, state security is not subject to parliamentary oversight, it said. Every other member of the EU (save for Malta) provides parliamentary oversight. Questions over use of pepper spray People protesting in Dublin this week over a lack of housing. Alyson Kilpatricks report raised concerns about the use of the Garda Siochana. Gardai policing protests operate under guidelines that are entirely hidden from the public, making it impossible to assess if their actions are appropriate and proportionate, according to a report published by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) yesterday. Alyson Kilpatrick, a former human rights advisor to the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said there is also no legal definition of breach of the peace and she has been unable to find any guidelines for use of powers of arrest on the grounds of likely to cause breach of the peace. I do not suggest necessarily that the gardai have anything to conceal [its impossible at this remove to assess] but there is certainly nothing to debate or to hold them to account for, said Dr Kilpatrick. Many protests have given rise to concern among the public about tactics and potential political interference in policing operations but it remains shrouded in secrecy despite calls for public inquiry of certain operations. Dr Kilpatrick cited as examples the long-running Shell to Sea protests over the Corrib gas pipeline and, more recently, the Jobstown water protests. She says the deployment of up to 10 gardai at a time to carry out pre-dawn raids on the homes of protesters after Jobstown led to claims of political policing a serious concern that merits further consideration. Trust in the police can be easily undermined, particularly when public order operations end in violence, said Dr Kilpatrick. Scenes of police battling with protesters, for example, will be beamed across the country, drawing observers into a debate about the very legitimacy of the policing operation and the legitimacy of police themselves. The police will be compelled to justify their actions by reference to the law and human rights principles. Without a ready willingness to explain, provide justification, and answer questions, the police will be pitched against the community it is there to serve. Unanswered questions will invite speculation and silence will result in conspiracy theories. Dr Kilpatrick also raised concerns about the use of the Garda Siochana National Surveillance Unit to gather intelligence in relation to those organising or attending a protest. She noted that gardai have called for it to be made illegal to photograph or film members of the force during policing of protests. That would be a retrograde step and would bring Garda into conflict with human rights standards, said Dr Kilpatrick. She was also critical of the failure to make public statistics on the use of batons, shields, tear gas, and other deterrents during protests. While an accurate assessment of the propriety of use cannot be made merely from statistics on the rate of use, the rate of use by gardai certainly appears to be high and should prompt further consideration, she said. Doubt over custody death probe independence By Caroline ODoherty Serious doubt hangs over the independence of investigations carried out by the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc), the Garda complaints body, into the deaths and injuries of civilians in custody or during contact with members of the force. The report is critical of the fact that it is not mandatory that such incidents be referred to Gsoc, even if in practice they usually are. It says it is not appropriate that Gsoc, due to understaffing and underfunding, has to lease-back investigations to the gardai. Essentially, those who are, or might be, implicated are connected to those investigating and cannot be said to be independent, said report author Alyson Kilpatrick. She also said Gsoc does not publish statistics on the number of complaints relating to treatment in, or conditions of, detention. She describes the Garda Code of Ethics on arrest and detention of suspects as more abstract than practical. It represents a welcome commitment to ethical standards but it does not make clear how those ethical standards will apply operationally or how they interface with human rights obligations, said Dr Kirkpatrick. If gardai are to comply with their human rights obligations they must know what they are and how to apply them. That requires training. I am not convinced that training is adequate, up-to-date, delivered to all ranks and grades or effective. Detainees in custody facilities and in transit may have addiction issues, mental health problems, or suicidal ideation, which are often not adequately provided for. There is an obvious concern about the provision of medical services within Garda custody, which should be addressed as a matter of priority, said the report. Since 2014, the gardai have adopted a protocol of allowing detainees to have a solicitor present during interview but the report says that without this being a statutory right, the rigour with which that is pursued can vary greatly. Dr Kilpatrick said no external body has the power to carry out unannounced inspections of detention facilities in Garda stations, and while there are proposals to allow the Garda Inspectorate to do so, there is a stipulation that the Garda Commissioner would have to give permission first. Dr Kilpatrick advocated an independent custody visiting scheme such as in the North, where custody visitors with no connection with the criminal justice system make unannounced visits, interview detainees, inspect detention records, and report concerns to the Policing Board. Major deficiency in how gardai handle hate crimes By Caroline ODoherty The number of hate crimes reported to gardai is startlingly low and points to major deficiencies in the way such crimes are identified and handled. In 2012, 98 cases of hate crime were reported here. In the same year Scotland, with a similar population, recorded more than 6,000. In 2016, one in five incidents reported to an NGO were also reported to gardai. The report points out that there is no actual offence of hate crime in Irish law, nor any agreed definition, which may contribute to the massive under-reporting. Racist hate crimes in particular appear to be massively under-reported. Although the gardai have adopted a definition which covers any crime motivated by hate based on race, age, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, or sexual orientation, report author Alyson Kilpatrick said: Because there is no statutory basis in Ireland for racism to be considered as an aggravating factor, racist motivation is less likely to be recorded on Pulse. She noted that the 2017 Garda Policing Plan has hate crime as a policing priority but said: Anecdotal evidence suggests it is still not being recorded routinely and that gardai are requiring independent evidence of corroboration of motivation. Best practice states it should be sufficient that the victim feels the attack was motivated by hate for the incident to be recorded as such. Dr Kilpatrick notes the responses given by victims to NGOs as reasons why they were reluctant to report hate crime. They included lack of faith in the gardai to take them seriously and fear of having their immigration status investigated. She says it does not help that garda ethnic liaison and LGBT liaison officers are often seen to have drawn the short straw, being appointed to the roles without having any interest in them, doing the job on top of their other responsibilities, and are not available in that role at night or weekends. Travellers and Roma in particular have very low levels of trust in gardai, and relations with Travellers seem to be worsening, with complaints about the overuse of stop and search powers and that gardai investigating incidents at halting sites often arrive with an Armed Response Unit. While a number of initiatives are positive, they have been piecemeal, underresourced and not mainstreamed within the organisation, said Ms Kilpatrick. She called for the recording and analysis by gardai of detailed data on hate crimes and for the establishment of specialist hate crime investigation units across the country. A man in his 20s has been taken to hospital after being shot in Belfast in the early hours of this morning. Detectives are appealing for witnesses to the incident which happened in the New Lodge road area in the north of the city at around 1.30am. Zamans mother, however, told reporters that the security forces had done a good job by arresting him. Guwahati: In a major breakthrough, the Assam police Saturday arrested a close aide of a suspected Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist who had spent more than three months in Srinagar before starting his activities in central Assams Hojai district. The state authorities suspect that a much bigger Hizbul Mujahideen network may be operating in the state. Saying that the police had arrested Sahidul Alam from his residence, in the Lanka police station area of the district, Hojai superintendent of police Ankur Jain told this newspaper that Sahidul Alam was working in close association with Shahnawaz Alam, who was arrested on Friday. Saying these arrests came after the arrest of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Qamar-uz-Zaman, a resident of Hojai, by the Uttar Pradesh polices anti-terrorism squad and the National Investigation Agency in Kanpur on September 13, Mr Jain said it was found in the preliminary investigations that Qamar-uz-Zaman had gone to Srinagar after the return of Sahidul Alam. We are trying to find out their connections and other related activities in the state, he said, adding that the investigation had just started. Zaman hails from Jamunamukh in Assam. Security sources said Shahnawaz Alam had got training in Jammus Kishtwar district. Zaman, who was arrested in UP, was spotted on the social media early this year while he was brandishing an AK-47 rifle. Zaman had plans to carry out subversive activities during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in UP, security sources said. Zamans mother, however, told reporters that the security forces had done a good job by arresting him. Anybody who carries out a war against the country deserves such treatment. Zaman has brought a bad name to the family, she said. My son is not greater than the country, I will not see his face. I prayed to God that he should get arrested. We raised Zaman with a lot of trouble, she added. An Assam police team has, meanwhile, left for Lucknow to interrogate Zaman and find out his links to the state. Indicating that more arrests were likely in the next few days, the security sources said there were reports of a large number of youths missing from central Assams Hojai district. Saying that many of them were said to have gone to Jammu and Kashmir for work, the security sources said the police and the security agencies were advising their families to find out their exact whereabouts and the nature of work that they were engaged in. By Liam Heylin A solicitor, an engineer, and an auctioneer have objected to working cheek by jowl with the oldest profession in the world on the South Mall in Cork. The three professionals working at 17 South Mall became concerned about the opening of a spa and body massage service on the first floor of the building. Barrister Kieran Hughes brought the application on behalf of a solicitor, engineer, and auctioneer to close the first-floor business. He brought the application against the owner and landlord of the building, Liam Lynch, saying Mr Lynch has caused the first floor to be occupied by the oldest profession in the world. Mr Hughes said the gardai had obtained a search warrant to search the first-floor spa and body massage business. Donnchadh McCarthy, defending, objected to evidence being called yesterday from An Garda Siochana and said Mr Lynch had decided to terminate the lease of the first floor. Judge Gerard OBrien said he would hear the evidence in relation to the Garda search. Detective Garda Daniel McEnery and a garda colleague went to search the premises on the first floor of 17 South Mall, Cork, on August 30, as a result of a surveillance operation. He said two arrests were made in connection with the alleged organising of prostitution at the premises. Mr McCarthy suggested, on behalf of Mr Lynch: If it [the first floor] was vacated that would deal with the issue on the first floor, that would deal with the issue? The detective said: Yes. Not with all our issues. Mr Lynch, an auctioneer and owner of the building, was asked if he would take all steps within his power to have the first floor vacated. He said he would. Mr Hughes, for the applicant, asked the owner of the building, Do you have difficulty communicating by way of letter with people who write to you? Mr Lynch replied that he did not have any difficulty with that. Mr Hughes said: You just dont respond. That is why we are here today. Mr Hughes asked Mr Lynch what he meant by immediate action. Mr Lynch said that a woman acting on his behalf told him she would get the key back for the first floor of the building on Thursday. Mr McCarthy pointed out that the letting agreement for the first-floor was for one year. Mr Hughes suggested that the alleged activities in relation to prostitution would represent a fundamental breach of a letting agreement by way of creating a nuisance. Mr Hughes added: Some people would regard this as a nuisance. Judge OBrien listed the case for mention again at Cork Circuit Court on October 18. The number of planning permissions granted between April and June rose by more than 50% compared to the same period last year, as a conference was told that current planning guidelines are working well. Figures from the Central Statistics Office show that in the second quarter of this year, planning permissions were granted for 6,777 dwelling units, 52% more than the 4,453 in the same period in 2017. Permissions were granted for 4,951 houses in the second quarter (3,630 in Q2 2017), an increase of 36.4%. Planning permissions were granted for 1,826 apartment units more than double the number in Q2 2017. One-off houses accounted for 19.4% of all new dwelling units granted planning permission in this quarter. The overall picture was reflected at local level. The Focus Ireland annual conference in Cork was told that in Fingal there has been a 23.3% increase in sites with planning permission so far in 2018. Brendan OSullivan, the director of the UCC Centre for Planning Education and Research, told the conference affordability was not due to a shortage of buildings or a shortage of land. He said an analysis of North Main St in Cork City showed there could be a tripling in the number of homes there without any new construction, mainly through smart and flexible regulation. Mr OSullivan said planning was a perceived rather than real obstacle and that a scramble to rezone land was not the answer, with brownfield sites better for growth than greenfield areas. He said the country needed to stick to tried and tested planning principles adding we cannot pretend that land supply will solve the housing crisis. Irish Fiscal Advisory Council chair, Dr Seamus Coffey, said there was little sign of the economy overheating and it did not need a fiscal stimulus. He said given current growth rate of 6%, government spending should stay below that, whereas at present it was matching it. Roisin Shortall says the health service is dysfunctional "in lots of ways". The Dublin North West TD and former Minister of State for Primary Care has been addressing delegates from the Irish Medical Organisation at their conference in Croke Park today. Patient waiting lists and hospital overcrowding are among the topics being discussed. Deputy Shortall says it is difficult to even trust the data we have on the health service; "We've very little data about the health service," she said. "It's dysfunctional in lots of ways and what we need to do is reform it. "The Taoiseach was talking about 'can we believe the waiting lists?' - there is a problem there with data in the health service, but we also know that the reality is that very large numbers of people... are waiting for services." By Liam Heylin Another man bearing serious visible injuries was brought before Cork District Court accused of burgling a house in Cork city. A similarly injured co-accused was before the court earlier in the week where he applied unsuccessfully for bail where it was alleged that he was seriously assaulted at the scene of his alleged burglary. That man said he got a smack of a hammer in the head. Co-accused Paddy Shoer, of 15 Barr Na Cnoic, Summerhill, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was arrested by Detective Garda Pat Barry and brought before Cork District Court. He was also charged with trespassing at a house on Churchfield Avenue, Churchfield, on the citys northside, to commit criminal damage. Mr Shoers left arm was swollen and bruised and in a large black sling when he appeared in court. His face was badly bruised and cut. One cut was a long, jagged wound to his forehead. Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the accused was returning to live at his family home at St Josephs Park, Nenagh. Detective Garda Barry said that, in light of the defendants injuries, there was no objection to him being released on bail. Conditions require him to sign daily at Nenagh Garda Station, keep a curfew to be home between 10pm and 6am, not to drive, and to stay out of Cork except for medical and legal appointments. Judge Olann Kelleher remanded him on bail until October 25. Earlier in the week, Karl OBrien, who is now living at an apartment in the Blarney area organised through St Helens care centre, was arrested by Detective Garda Mick Dolan and brought before Cork District Court. When Inspector John Deasy suggested to him that he was off the rails at the moment and would not turn up in court if granted bail, Mr OBrien replied: How am I off the rails? I got a smack in the head with a hammer a few days ago. The 27-year-old had various cuts, abrasions, and bruises to his face, and both his eyes and mouth were swollen. Det Garda Dolan said the accused was assaulted by unknown parties at Churchfield Avenue at an alleged burglary. Judge Kelleher remanded Mr OBrien in custody until next Tuesday to allow time for gardai to obtain directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. By Elaine Loughlin and Conor Kane Ireland South MEP Liadh Ni Riada is to be announced as the Sinn Fein presidential candidate this weekend becoming the fifth person to enter the race for the Aras. Businessman and former Dragons Den star Gavin Duffy secured a nomination after Waterford City and County Council voted to place him on the ballot paper, adding to the endorsements he had received from councils in Carlow, Wicklow, and Meath. He joins fellow Dragon Sean Gallagher, senator Joan Freeman, and President Michael D Higgins, who will contest the presidential election on October 26. Speaking after yesterdays vote, Mr Duffy said he was relieved to have secured the endorsement of a fourth local authority which allows him to take his place in next months presidential election. I have spoken to about 450 councillors around the country and the amount of work, effort, and time that you put in, said Mr Duffy. I think its a shame its a secret to the broader world out there, the amount of work you do. Meanwhile, the Sinn Fein ard chomhairle is to meet tomorrow morning to formally select a candidate. Nominations closed this week with two names, Ms Ni Riada and Cavan-Monaghan TD Caoimhghin O Caolain, being put forward. Mr O Caolain has said he has no interest in running and so it is expected that Ms Ni Riada will be selected. Ms Ni Riada, who is the daughter of late composer Sean O Riada, has already indicated that it would be a huge honour to contest the election. Monday will provide the remaining hopefuls with a chance of selection when six local authorities meet. 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. Single-storey house with a raised wing was designed by an architect to maximise the Kenmare views, says Trish Dromey. This stylish, architect-designed property, Killaha East, near Kenmare, offers the type of sea and mountain views that tourists travel to see, and for which house buyers are usually willing to pay extra. When its owners found a site looking across Kenmare Bay to Carrantuohill, in 2005, they asked the Killarney-based architect, Harry Wallace, to design them a house worthy of the views. Hed already designed a few unique and unusual properties in the area, which we liked. We asked for modern and eco-friendly and gave him free rein, says the owner. The result was an unconventionally shaped, split-level, single-storey house, which has two wings, looks a little like the letter Z and fits snugly into the slope of the site. The wing at the front houses the main living areas and has a number of high windows with sea views, while the wing at the rear has most of the bedrooms. Modern and partly cedar-clad, its timber-framed, made by Cork company, Atlantic Frame, and has German-made, double-glazed, aluclad pine windows. Decorated with the assistance of Kenmare property company, House Doctors, the interior has tiled and timber flooring, mostly neutral grey, cream-and-brown colour schemes, and a sleek, Siematic kitchen. Behind five high windows at the front is an open-plan living area, where the kitchen, dining room, and sitting room are all on slightly different levels and are separated by low walls. The kitchen at the rear has cream units, a breakfast counter, and three steps down to a tiled dining room at the front. Alongside the dining room, at a slightly lower level, is a long, timber-floored living room with a wood-pellet stove set against a feature wall painted in a strong shade of turquoise. Next to the living room is a large, tiled master bedroom, which has a wood-pellet stove and three large doors/windows facing the McGillycuddy Reeks. Designed to be self-contained, this bedroom has both a dressing room and a large en suite with contemporary fittings. To the rear of the living room, theres a door to a reception hallway. It connects the front wing to the one at the back, which is at a slightly higher level. Here, there is a bathroom and three carpeted bedrooms, including one with an en-suite shower room. At one side of this wing, there is an integral garage and, on the first floor, there is a converted attic, which has two carpeted rooms used for storage. Designed to provide the energy efficiency requested by the owner, the 3,450 sq ft house has a wood-pellet heating system, solar panels, and heat-recovery ventilation, all of which earned it a high, B2 energy rating. Out-front, theres a large, split-level, raised patio, with a section sheltered by a glass balustrade, from which the owners can admire the view, while dining al fresco. From here, we get evening sun until late in the day, says the owner, adding that there is also a patio, which gets morning sun, at the other side of the house. Stretching to three-quarters-of-an-acre, the sloping site has a large, lawned area at the front, bounded by trees. Off the patio, there is a gravelled area and some trees and shrubs and, to the rear, theres an area of natural woodland that shelters the house and gives it privacy. One of five properties in a cul de sac off the Kenmare Road, the property has a gated entrance, with a tarmac driveway. Its four kilometres, or a five-minute drive, from Kenmare. Ron Kruger, of Engel & Voelkers, says the house, priced at at 525,000, is attracting both Irish and international interest. This is a stunning, architect-designed property in a very desirable location, with stunning sea views. We have had quite a few enquiries from both Germany and France. Verdict: Stylish and scenic The very parties like Sinn Fein and Solidarity who bemoan and decry the lack of action in relation to homelessness led the charge at council level to cut the budgets to deal with that very crisis. The duplicity was staggering. It is illogical and is always the low point of this council calendar every year, a vexed Duncan Smith said last Monday night. Smith, a Labour councillor on Fingal County Council, was speaking during the annual debate on the local property tax (LPT), where he and his colleagues would decide how much the rate would be for next year. Like the other three Dublin councils, Fingal had previously decided to cut the property tax by the maximum 15% permitted by law. Reducing it by that amount meant residents property tax bills were reduced, but it also meant less discretionary money by the councils for essential services. In Fingals case the difference was in excess of 2m. Fingal, last year, broke ranks with the other Dublin councils and decided to only reduce the LPT by 10%. This year, the council executive strongly urged council members to stick with the 10% and not consider reverting back to the 15% cut. While it probably would have much preferred no cut at all, the officials probably knew that was not feasible. As I was out in Fingal for the meeting, what was fascinating was the very parties advocating for the full 15% cut did not include the right-wing Fine Gael, as you would have expected. Right wingers always want lower taxes and often call for cuts in services to make such cuts happen. No, the parties calling for the full 15% cut were Sinn Fein and Solidarity, the very same parties on a national level who cry foul about our housing crisis. The same parties who have tabled motions of no confidence in Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy to be debated in the Dail shortly. The same parties [who are advocating the 15% cut] are the one who will jump up or roll around on the floor at every committee demanding extra services. We need to have a mature debate on one of the two reserve functions we still have as councillors. But 10% is still a cut, Cllr Smith said. Independent councillor Justin Sinnott struck a similarly frustrated tone. It feels like Groundhog Day. I think we need to be a bit more grown up about this. We need a list of projects that will be funded if the rate is kept and a list of projects that will be axed if the rate is moved to 15%. If the rate is reduced by 15% then there will be consequences and we need to be mature about it, he said. Council official Oliver Hunt, on behalf of the executive, set out the position against the deeper cut. He said a number of pressures on the councils finances would be affected by the deeper cut in the LPT rates, setting out that cuts to services would have to be implemented should they go ahead. These pressures included dealing with plugging a hole relating to Irish Water, dealing with the restoration of pay rates cut during the crash and homelessness. Paul Reid, Fingals chief executive officer, informed councillors that many other local authorities including nearby Meath were being urged to actually increase the LPT rate by 15% as opposed to cutting it at all. Mandated to bring in a balanced budget come November, Reid said starkly that, should councillors decide to cut by 15%, homelessness budgets among other services would have to be cut, but stressed that is a direction he would not like to consider. Despite this, the calls from the left-wing defenders of our most vulnerable, supposedly, were the ones advocating the tax cut. Cllr Malachy Quinn of Sinn Fein said he and his colleagues were opposed to the austerity tax and that struggling families needed a break. The LPT is punitive and is Dublin biased. I agree with giving the ordinary joe a break and that is why we in Sinn Fein are proposing a motion to reduce by the maximum 15%, he said. His colleague Paul Donnelly chipped in saying, in relation to homelessness, that: We didnt cause this crisis and we in this council have been the most proactive in addressing it. We didnt cause this so why should we have to pay more. The State are the ones who caused this and the ones who should pay for this through general taxation. Matthew Waine, of Solidarity, weighed in. What we dont hear is how ordinary taxpayers are scrimping and saving every month. This is a regressive tax, it is not going after those who have benefited most from the boom and the recovery. The reality is the pressure to pay rent, to pay mortgages to the cost of living has increased. That is the basis to the opposition to the property tax, he said. In the end, the illogical left were defeated amid some surprise when Fianna Fail councillors, who had previously backed the 15% cut performed a U-turn and backed the 10% cut instead. The illogical left were exposed less than two hours later at the same meeting when Mr Reid, as CEO, gave his response to a controversial letter from Mr Murphy last week, threatening to remove powers from them if they dont deal with their homelessness issue. Councillors from all sides rallied behind Reids rebuke of Murphy saying their record on homelessness was exemplary. But here was the kicker. The very people who attacked Murphy for failing to act to deal with the crisis, decided to prioritise tax cuts over raising more money to tackle the crisis in their area. They decided that even though 100 families in Fingal are in hotels and other emergency accommodation, they felt cutting the tax was more important. But it was not just in Fingal. On Thursday night, on the Sinn Fein controlled Dublin City Council, councillors agreed to a Sinn Fein motion to implement the 15% maximum cut, thereby reducing the councils budget to deal with the housing crisis. So chuffed were Sinn Fein, President Mary Lou McDonald tweeted about it. Surely, at a time of emergency you deploy all your resources until the emergency is over. Any party which advocated cutting taxes when nearly 10,000 people, mainly in the Dublin area, are officially homeless, really has no leg to stand on when it comes to being moral guardians. Just remember on Tuesday September 25, when Mary Lou, Eoin O Broin and the rest of Sinn Fein arise in the Dail and remonstrate about the housing crisis, when their own people were given a chance to do something about it, they chose not to. WHAT follows is the scene from a state in a state of emergency. JUST before 7pm, last Tuesday, a van pulled up on North Frederick St, in Dublins north inner city. A group of men wearing balaclavas got out of the vehicle. The van had no registration on its front, and a yellow, British plate at the rear. Soon after, members of the Garda public order unit appeared. They were accompanied by police dogs. The members were wearing face masks, which were later described as being fire-retardant. Why such masks were required in dealing with a bunch of young people, who had absolutely no history of violence, is beyond rational analysis. The identification numbers of the members were not visible, certainly not in the extensive footage available of the incident. Some reports had it that the members were brandishing batons and pepper spray, but there is no evidence either were actually used. The gardai stood guard as the balaclavas took possession of 34 North Frederick St, which had been occupied by groups of young people since late last month. These groups, including university students and housing activists, have come together under the banner, Take Back The City. On August 28, the High Court had ordered the protestors to vacate. Now, the balaclavas, their progress protected by the masked policemen, were carrying out the order. The balaclavas removed four people from the premises and secured the building. The sight of masked policemen facilitating men wearing balaclavas in entering premises, and in removing people, evokes images of authoritarian or even totalitarian regimes. Law enforcement agencies in such countries habitually present themselves in a manner designed to intimidate the wider public in order to suppress dissent. The scene on North Frederick St last night. Pic: John Rooney One might only have imagined such a sight in this country in a state of emergency. For instance, if organised crime gangs or paramilitaries were posing a real and present danger to the functioning of the state. There is no suggestion that anybody in Frederick St had any connections with subversive or criminal groups. Any such suggestion is laughable. Of course, there is a state of emergency at the moment, but not one in which law and order is under siege. The undeclared emergency is that 3,000 children are without a home. Further up the chain, the emergency has rendered as practically nil the prospect for many young people of ever owning a home. And for this demographic, just putting a roof over their heads, through rent, is crippling their standard of living. That is the reality of the housing emergency. On Tuesday, a visitor to Frederick St might have been under the impression that the country was in the grip of a different kind of emergency. The law is the law, even when its an ass, even in times of emergency. The owner was entitled to possession. The gardai were obliged to ensure that peace was maintained, while the balaclavas went about their business. But what of the law that the protesters are advocating: The issuing of compulsory purchase orders for buildings that lie vacant? Surely, such a law should receive serious consideration, in a time of emergency. Ownership of private property is not an absolute right. CPOs are routinely issued to build roads for the public good. How come, despite the emergency, precious little consideration has been given to elevating the public good, at a time when children are without homes and large cohorts are shut out of home-ownership? Crowd at Store Street now! Shame! Shame! Shame on you! pic.twitter.com/LE7GOqK06L Take Back The City - Dublin (@TBTCDublin) September 11, 2018 The law being advocated by the protestors is not even radical. It may well require a referendum, but so what? Big deal. The optics on Frederick St were appalling. Masked gardai and balaclava-hooded men were enforcing the law a civil matter in this instance on behalf of the owner, at a time when the law is chronically out of step with social reality. The initial response, from elements in the force to the ensuing controversy, was less-than-reassuring. In Thursdays Irish Examiner, the ebullient spokesman for the Garda Representative Association, John OKeeffe, was quoted as saying: The public-order unit should be especially commended for the typical restraint they always exhibit and, indeed, showed in the face of provocation in North Frederick St. The arrests, following assaults on gardai, show how important a presence they can be in certain situations. Assaulting a garda is a serious crime that often, correctly, attracts a prison sentence. Nobody who was at Frederick Street was charged with assaulting a garda. Why paint the protestors as the type of individuals who would assault a member of An Garda Siochana? That, unfortunately, also smacks of the kind of line spewed out when an authoritarian regime treats its own citizens with contempt. Next thing you know, theyll be branded as terrorists. Absolutely shocked and taken aback by the video and pictures coming through from the eviction of the #takebackthecity occupation. Sincerely hope everyone is ok. pic.twitter.com/kg1D53UZYL Cllr Carly Bailey (@CarlyBee25) September 11, 2018 The new Garda commissioner, Drew Harris, has at least acknowledged that how things were handled demands further inquiry. And the Policing Authority has expressed its concern through chairperson, Josephine Feehily. The word from within the ranks is that faces might have been masked because members are now apprehensive about their images being displayed on social media. Such concerns are entirely legitimate, but, unfortunately, social media has had an impact in many walks of life. If there is an issue around safety and security of members of the force, and their families, as a result of exposure on social media, that should be addressed. But An Garda Siochana cannot operate behind masks for a routine task, simply because they dont want their faces on social media. When, and if, we ever reach such a stage, serious questions will have to be asked about the state of our democracy. We are living in precarious times. People protesting outside Store Street Garda Station. Pic: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie This has been illustrated across western Europe and in the USA, with the rise of a virulent form of populism. Electorally, this country has remained stable, but things are far from hunkydory. As the tide has receded on the recession, following the 2008 economic collapse, it has become obvious that inequality is growing. The prevailing phenomenon has its expression in this country primarily in housing. This growing inequality is largely, but not exclusively, generational. In such a milieu, is it any wonder that there are protests to draw attention to the high volume of vacant buildings, to force the Government to inject more urgency, to highlight the injustices? Maybe the nightmare on Frederick St was a blip, a matter of somebody not realising how exactly it would appear. Time, and the next enforcement of a High Court order, may well tell. But a perusal of recent history, not to mind that of decades and centuries ago, would illustrate how counterproductive it is to come down heavy on people who are highlighting social injustice. China's homemade ARJ21 regional jets are expected to enter the African market, according to a memorandum of understanding between Hainan Airlines (HNA) and the Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) that was signed on Friday. The fourth ARJ21-700 made by the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC), the country's first indigenously designed regional jet, is pictured to leave Shanghai for Chengdu Airlines at the Shanghai Dachang Air Base in Shanghai, China, 28 December 2017.[File photo: IC] HNA will deliver ARJ21 regional jets into African countries based on its global airline network and partnerships with African airliners such as the Ghana-based AWA. HNA and COMAC will take an active role to assist African countries in building regional airline networks, carry out cooperation in areas including aircraft maintenance, aviation materials supply and personnel training. The two companies also set eyes on establishing a jet leasing company in Africa to support sales of domestically made planes. He Dongfeng, COMAC board chairman, said its partnership with HNA is conducive to helping Chinese commercial aircraft and aviation transportation industry expand into the global market. "The aviation sector in Africa has huge market potential," said HNA chairman Chen Feng, adding the partnership will promote the development of Chinese made jets. According to an agreement in June, HNA agreed to buy 100 ARJ21 jets and 200 C919 passenger aircraft from COMAC. As part of the campaign, Modi also cleaned the premises of Baba Sahib Ambedkar Higher Secondary School. Prime Minister Narendra Modi cleans the premises of Baba Sahib Ambedkar Higher Secondary School at Paharganj in New Delhi on Saturday as part of Swachhta Hi Sewa Abhiyan. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday gave a clarion call to the people of the country to rededicate towards fulfilling Mahatma Gandhis dream of a Clean India as he launched the Swachhata hi Seva(cleanliness is service) campaign, which is part of the Modi governments ambitious Swachh Bharat mission launched in 2015. The Swachhata hi Seva was announced to mark Mahatma Gandhis 150th birth anniversary and also the fourth anniversary of the Swachh Bharat mission. The PM said that those working for the cleanliness campaign would be remembered like freedom fighters in the times to come and would be known as true heirs of Gandhi. As part of the campaign, Mr Modi also cleaned the premises of Baba Sahib Ambedkar Higher Secondary School. The campaign saw many BJP leaders, including Union ministers, chief ministers of BJP ruled states, party workers, celebrities and notable personalities from different fields along with people from different walks of life participating in the cleanliness drive at different places across the country. Mr Modi also interacted with people including spiritual leaders Mata Amritanandamayi, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, industrialist Ratan Tata, actor Amitabh Bachchan, ITBP personnel involved in cleaning the Pangong Lake and its surroundings in Leh, devotees at Patna Sahib gurudwara and Aj-mer Sharif and people at different places to urge th-em to join the campaign. Cleanliness is playing an important role in improving peoples living standards, he said, citing a WHO estimate that over three lakh lives would be saved by it and also a study that cases of diarrhoea would fall by over 30 per cent. Lack of cleanliness play havoc, especially in the lives of the poor, pushing them into a cesspool of diseases. Indian culture has traditionally put an emphasis on cleanliness, said Mr Modi during his interaction through video conference. Describing the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan of the Modi government as arg-uably the most successful one of the government schemes with a difference, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said in the history of Independent India this is one scheme which the people of India snatched away from the government and converted into a peoples movement. In an article on his social media page, Mr Jaitley said when the scheme was announced in 2014, the rural sanitation coverage of India was at 39 percent which is now at a phenomenal 92 percent. Mr Jaitley said the PM announced a target that India will be made open-defecation free when the country will celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2019. This was not an easy goal to achieve. This involved a behavioural change of the people. Many in the rural areas were initially reluctant. But this peoples movement has today transformed into a womens movement with rural women playing a leading role, said Mr Jaitley. News This Week in Parliament Lawmakers attend a session of the Upper House of Parliament in Naypyitaw on Aug. 23. / The Irrawaddy Monday (Sept. 10) In the Union Parliament, Union Education Minister Dr. Myo Thein Gyi said his ministry would build around 44,000 school buildings and appoint 84,000 teachers at basic education schools over the next five years. In the Lower House, lawmaker Sai Thant Zin of Hsipaw Township called for the suspension of a 280-megawatt hydropower project on the Myitnge River some 20 miles to the south of Shan States Kyaukme Township, citing public opposition. Tuesday (Sept. 11) The Union Parliament approved the national planning bill for fiscal 2018-19. Parliament voted in favor of a proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation to provide an additional 14 billion kyats for the implementation of the Myit Tha Reservoir project in Gangaw Township, Magwe Region, over the opposition of some lawmakers. The cost of the project was estimated to be around 55 billion kyats when it was proposed in fiscal 2002-03. However, around 300 billion kyats have been spent on the project so far, which lawmakers pointed out is against financial rules and regulations. Wednesday (Sept. 12) While discussing the report of the Parliament Rights Committee in the Lower House, lawmaker U Pe Than of the Arakan National Party complained about the condition of the rooms provided for lawmakers at the municipal guesthouse in Naypyitaw. According to lawmakers, they have to pay 100,000 kyats a month to lodge there. Respected persons, said U Pe Than, referring to the legislators, should not be accommodated at a municipal guesthouse for a long time as if they were orphans. In the Upper House, Deputy Home Affairs Minister Major-General Aung Thu admitted that his ministry has not done enough to control smuggling of illicit drug precursors into the country. Thursday (Sept. 13) The Union Parliament approved the budget for fiscal 2018-19 starting Oct. 1 after slashing around 230 billion kyats from the initial 25-trillion-kyat proposal. Lawmakers discussed the draft taxation law for 2018-19 fiscal year, calling on the government to reduce tariffs on vehicle imports and re-impose taxes on diamonds, emeralds and gold bars. Friday (Sept. 14) In the Union Parliament, lawmakers continued their debate on the presidents proposal to obtain a $298.9-million loan from the Asian Development Bank to be used to improve the electricity network in seven of the countrys states and regions. The loan will be used to fund a six-year project (2019-2025) to be implemented in Yangon, Irrawaddy, Tanintharyi and Bago regions and Mon, Karen and Rakhine states. A prototype of a censored search engine developed for China by Google links searches to the phone numbers of the individuals making those queries, a report claims. The Intercept, which first broke the story about Google having cut a deal with Chinese authorities to develop a censored search engine, said on Friday that the censored product, codenamed Dragonfly, was built to run on Android, the mobile operating system developed by Google. It would strip out any content that was considered sensitive by China, such as information about political dissidents, free speech, democracy, human rights and peaceful protest, reporter Ryan Gallagher wrote. The censorship blacklist included terms like "human rights", "student protest" and Nobel Prize in Mandarin. The disclosure of the project has led to at least five Google employees, including senior research scientist Jack Poulson,in protest. 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. Quoting sources familiar with the project, Gallagher wrote that linking searches to phone numbers could mean that any user who looked for information on subjects that were not approved by Beijing were at risk of interrogation or detention if law enforcement agencies could obtain the search results. The Dragonfly project is to be operated as a joint venture with a Chinese company and its staff would have the ability to update the search blacklist, the report said, adding that this raised over whether Google's US bosses would have any control over the censorship regime. The Dragonfly project is said to have started after Google chief executive Sundar Pichai held discussions with Wang Huning, a senior figure in the Chinese Communist Party, in December 2017. Work was begun during the Western spring of 2017 and was 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, on 1 August, Google has made no public statement about the project, though it has been asked for a statement on more than 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. Google had a censored search engine operating in China from 2006 to 2010, but quit the country after its servers were hacked. Basslink, the company that manages the undersea data and power cable that links Tasmania to the Australian mainland, has issued a notice of dispute to Hydro Tasmania seeking to recover money that it claims it is owed for the failure of the Basslink interconnector in December 2015. The long-running dispute between Basslink and the Tasmanian Government Hydro Tasmania is a subsidiary of the government went to arbitration in April after the government notified the company of the same. In a statement issued on Friday, Basslink said it had always maintained that the six-month cable failure was a force majeure event an act of God under the Basslink Services Agreement. "Despite the independent investigation that was undertaken by independent experts appointed by Basslink, Cable Consulting International, which concluded that the cause of the incident was 'unknown', Hydro Tasmania did not accept the incident was a force majeure event and withheld, amongst others, facility fees on the basis there was no force majeure event," the Basslink statement said. "By issuing the notice of dispute, Basslink seeks to recover the withheld monies from Hydro Tasmania." The dispute centres around a Basslink outage that occurred in December 2015 and was not fixed for six months. In March, the government formally lodged a notice of dispute, claiming damages of $122 million for the outage. Charges have been flung back and forth over the incident. On 20 December 2017, Hydro Tasmania said it had identified the cause of the Basslink failure and cited two experts who said it was because Basslink had exceeded its design limit. But two days later, Basslink chief executive Malcolm Eccles dismissed the findings, saying that the expert reports cited as proof merely outlined one possible cause of the outage. For all its skill and dominance in artificial intelligence, Google can be surprisingly lacking in the natural kind. In move after move, Google snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. And all because the companys culture is blind to the value of passionate users. Im quite certain that Google watches user numbers and applies analytics to everything it can measure. A radically analytical approach is powerful, but it can blind you to the factors that cannot be measured. Factors such as user passion. My favorite example is Google+. After an initial surge of usage in the first couple of years, the social network gradually fizzled smothered by a reputation for low engagement. That reputation was largely false. But over time it became a self-fulfilling prophecy as Google took repeated action to hide and suppress engagement. It killed Circle sharing, the best way to discover high-quality active users. It added Communities, which reduced attention aimed at users. Its dumb algorithms flagged (and thereby hid from public view) high-quality comments, while simultaneously failing to flag obvious spam. (Eventually, Googles algorithms got much better, but only after most users had already abandoned the platform.) This is a great plan if your objective is to minimize user engagement. Google+ was, and still is, the online playground for Googles most loyal fans. Google could have brought a billion people into this playground, where Google fans could hold sway and persuade everybody else to share their enthusiasm for Android, Pixel phones, Pixelbooks, Google Search, Google Assistant, Google Home, Gmail, YouTube and all the rest. Instead, it actively buried or suppressed user engagement until Google+ became a shell of its former self. It has robbed its own most passionate users of audience, demonstrating that it doesnt understand the value of those users. And now its doing something comparable with email. Google giveth, and Google taketh away Google this week announced the end of two email-related products. The first is the experimental alternative to Gmail called Inbox. The other is a Chrome app for offline Gmail. The Gmail Offline Chrome app, which Google introduced seven years ago and hasnt updated for five years, will be removed from the Chrome Web Store on Dec. 3. It has been superseded in functionality by the web version of Gmail, which has supported superior offline capability for years. (You can turn on the offline feature by going into Gmail Settings, choosing the Offline tab and making sure the enable offline mail checkbox is checked.) But nobody cares about the Gmail Offline Chrome app. Good riddance to it. Technically, it never even made it out of beta. The termination of Google Inbox, on the other hand, is more problematic. Inbox will be killed in March, according to a Google blog post this week. Inbox, which is officially and oddly branded Inbox by Gmail, was launched as an experimental app in 2014. And probably in a panic. Back in 2013, Gmail was proudly text-based and largely devoid of significant interface design. The service was popular and growing, and it looked as if Google would rule the email roost indefinitely. Then catastrophe struck. In early 2013, a startup announced an app for iPhone called Mailbox. More than a million people signed up to try it before it even launched, based on the innovation and appeal of its user interface. The key Mailbox innovation common now but revelatory then was the use of swiping left or right to move or snooze messages. Mailbox emphasized other interface elements as well, including the containment of elements into boxes or cards. The combination of Mailbox features facilitated the quick achievement of zero inbox Mailbox made it easy to skim and process emails. Its possible that the interface of Mailbox, and the obvious appeal of it, shocked Google into rethinking its hyper-minimalist design and may have influenced the course of its design language, Material Design, which the company introduced in the summer of 2014. Google announced Inbox one of the first Material Design products a few months later. Google may have rushed Inbox to market to stave off the loss of users to swipe-centric, card-happy upstarts such as Mailbox and its subsequent imitators. Alas, poor Mailbox never had a chance. Its fatal flaw was that it wasnt an email service, but a front end to the email services owned by other companies. The companies that did control email services, including Google, easily copied the most appealing user interface elements of Mailbox, making them ubiquitous and Mailbox, therefore, worthless. Dropbox, having acquired Mailbox one month after its launch, killed it in December 2015. Gmail itself gradually got a Material Design makeover, as well as many (but not all) of the features popular in Inbox, such as Smart Replies. Gmail still lacks Inboxs Reminders integration, mobile app inbox swiping to manage messages, message bundling, inbox pinning and what fans call a cleaner UI. Importantly, the overall feel of Inbox and Gmail and the muscle memory required to use each are still very different. Why killing Inbox is a mistake Google probably has around 1.3 billion email users by now. Most of them use only Gmail. A sizable minority uses only Inbox. And lots of people including yours truly switch back and forth between the two. That switching is facilitated by a number of factors. One of these is that filters created in Gmail Settings function inside Inbox. Many users prefer using Gmail in their desktop browser because they like the granular control over everything, but they prefer Inbox on mobile for the Mailbox-like ease of use. Googles thinking appears to be that: One email system is better than two. More people use Gmail than Inbox. Gmail is close enough now to Inbox in interface and features, And, therefore, its time to kill Inbox. The problem with this thinking is that all users are being treated equally here. If Google were able to measure the passion of users, it would almost certainly realize that far more passionate users are using Inbox. Which is not to say that passionate Google users dont use Gmail. They do. Some power users love Gmail because it allows more user control. Still, many users stick to Gmail because they really dont care that much. Theyre used to it and dont feel like changing anything. Inbox users are the users looking for the newest thing, the users who can more quickly adapt to a new way of doing things, the users who jump on all of Googles newly launched innovations because they trust Google. The most cynical summary of this history is that Google had Gmail and everybody was happy. Then Google created a more innovative alternative, and its best and most active and engaged users loved that alternative. Then it killed that alternative after its most loyal fans had dedicated countless precious hours mastering it. This is a great plan if your objective is to minimize confidence and loyalty among your most passionate users. And thats why killing Inbox is a mistake. Its yet another slap in the face of the passionate minority. What Google doesnt understand is that not all users are the same. Passionate users are far more valuable to Google than indifferent users. They try new things. They buy stuff. They persuade the public in Googles favor. By mismanaging Google+, killing Reader and now killing Inbox, Google has been making passionate users less passionate. If it keeps this up, its most passionate users are going to take their passion somewhere else. According to the survey, one in every 10 voters in the Jaipur district is a fake. The shocking revelation has come after the election department recently found 6.5 lakh duplicate voters as part of its clean up exercise. (Representational image) Jaipur: What the Congress feared has come true. There are enough fake voters in Jaipur district to create a new Assembly constituency. This is not an allegation but finding of demographically similar entries (DSE) survey by district election department. According to the survey, one in every 10 voters in the Jaipur district is a fake. The district has 19 constituencies in which total 1.12 lakh bogus voters have been found. Each of these constituencies has 3,000 to 13,000 with similar names. The shocking revelation has come after the election department recently found 6.5 lakh duplicate voters as part of its clean up exercise. The DSE was conducted to verify voter list and remove duplication. The software has detected voters with similar face and details. We will cross check it, said Siddharth Mahajan district election officer. The Congress, which had alleged 42 lakh fake voters in the state, now feels vindicated. It puts a stamp of confirmation on our complaint to the election commission of India. With so many duplicate voters in just one district, it can be easily assumed how many such voters would be in the entire state. This is a matter of grave concern for free and fair elections, said Sachin Pilot, PCC chief. The maximum fake voters were found in Sang-aner, Vidhyadhar Nagar and Kishanpole Assembly constituencies. The detai-ls were extracted in auto scanning of voter list with help of the election commission software, which traced multiple entries, dead and shifted voters. In the election commission voters list for Kisha-npole, a woman had two voter ID cards in her name that too with the same address. Similarly, a male voter too was enlisted in two different wards of this constituency. How is it possible when revision of electoral rolls is conducted every six mont-hs? It is a conspiracy, said Congress leader Amin Kagzi who had contested from Kishanpole, last time. The Congress in its complaint to the election commission last month had alleged that there were 10.44 lakh voters with same name, relative name, gender and age while 91,261 voters had duplicate voter ID cards. Mr. Pilot now wants physical verification to be done on war footing as only two months have left in the Assembly polls. The booth level officers (BLO) have now been asked for random checking of voters above 80 years and those. They will also match pictures of all the voters from the photos present in the election commission software. Mount Yoshino (Yoshinoyama) in Nara Prefecture is one of Japan's most celebrated destinations, especially come spring when tens of thousands flock here from all over the country and beyond to witness the dazzling cherry blossom displays that illuminate the mountain's slopes. Sakura aside, the mountain and the surrounding town are well worth a visit all year round, with a great deal to offer tourists including temples, shrines and other sites that relate to the area's rich history, as well as an abundance of attractions that fall decidedly more on the indulgent side of things. The purpose of this trip was to focus on the latter, in investigating the town's sake scene by visiting a couple of the town's respected breweries before following the road up the mountain to arrive at a traditional Japanese inn and enjoy hot spring bathing and Japanese cooking before bedding down for the night. I started my journey at Osaka-Abenobashi Station in central Osaka from where Yoshino can be reached by Kintetsu Railway in just over an hour by a limited express train. I chose to take the Blue Symphony, a special train that makes two round trips per day between Osaka-Abenobashi and Yoshino stations and for which tickets must be purchased before boarding either online or at a ticket counter. Inspired by classical music, the train's interior strikes a balance between that reminiscent of decades past and the modern, and provided quite the luxurious and comfortable means of travelling to Yoshino. While on board I ordered a tasting set of three sake from Yoshino breweries (two of which I'd visit upon my arrival in the town) to get me in the mood. The three were very different but equally delicious and, paired with a portion of sesame bean curd made with local Yoshino ingredients and never-ending views of the quaint country side, they left my appetite decidedly whetted. I alighted in the heart of the sake-brewing area at Yamato-Kamiichi Station, just a couple of stops before the Yoshino terminus. After walking down the sleepy town's narrow, meandering streets, I ended up at Kitaoka Honten, a sake brewery that this year is celebrating its 150th birthday. I entered and was taken on a tour around the old complex by an English-speaking employee who dutifully informed me of the techniques involved in brewing the company's sake. I also got the chance to get up close to some of the impressive equipment that stands around this rustic complex. After the tour was over, I was guided back to the front of the complex where the sake tasting was to begin. I got the chance to try multiple different types of Yatagarasu (the company's sake brand) while the guide told me a little about the properties of each. The sake was delicious, with the brand's sakura-flavored sake striking me as especially light and refreshing and tasting similar to nothing I'd ever drank before. Kitaoka Honten's brewery tours can be booked in English either by phone (+81-746-32-2777) or email (yamauchi@kitaoka-honten.com) every day between 9:00 and 17:00. A few tumblers of sake down, I left Kitaoka Honten with a spring in my step and made the walk across town to the second of the sake breweries on my list, Miyoshino Brewery. Upon arrival, I was given a tour of the place, another old complex steeped in history, before being shown to the brewery's outdoor area where patrons can sit and sip sake in an idyllic setting by the banks of the Yoshino River. Tours are carried out here on Sundays from November to March between 14:00 and 16:00 and are in Japanese only, but the brewery's shop and tasting area (including the outdoor seating) is open every day from 9:00 to 17:00 making the brewery a great place to visit any time of year. It was now time to start my ascent of Mount Yoshino towards the traditional Japanese inn where I'd be spending the night, so I walked from the brewery to Yoshinojingu Station and took a train on the Kintetsu Yoshino Line one stop to the terminus at Yoshino Station. From here I began the relatively gentle hike up to the mountain's mid-levels, passing through the charming, hilly townscape along the way. I was by now ready for food and came across Hatsune, a delightful hillside restaurant serving traditional Japanese cuisine including a somen noodle and tempura set, which I ordered for lunch. In addition to the tranquil atmosphere created by its tatami floor and lightly colored decor, the views down the mountain that can be had from this place made it a great place to stop and rest. Evening was beginning to close in when I eventually arrived at the Honoya, a traditional Japanese ryokan in a stunning location towards the summit of Mount Yoshino and where I'd be spending the night. After a day of sake sipping and hiking, the first thing on my mind was to soak, which I was lucky enough to do in the ryokan's outdoor bath. The bath overlooks some of the surrounding mountain range, making the experience of soaking here quite spectacular. I was treated to a Japanese ryokan dinner, including traditional favorites such as sashimi, tofu and grilled fish as well as some succulent, high grade beef. The meal, washed down with a couple more alcoholic beverages, left me satiated and sleepy and signaled a delicious end to a fun-filled day. Access The one way ride between Osaka-Abenobashi and Yoshino stations takes 75 minutes and costs 1480 yen by limited express train (1690 yen in case of the Blue Symphony) or 90 minutes and 970 yen by express train. Limited express trains require seat reservations. The Kintetsu Rail Pass 2day offers unlimited use of Kintetsu trains within the designated coverage area, including trains between Osaka, Yoshino, Nara and Kyoto, and is only available to foreign visitors. Note that the supplement fee for limited express trains is not covered by the pass. A 1-day pass is also available. Links Parrikar had been unwell due to pancreatic ailment for the past eight months. New Delhi/Panaji: With Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar being admitted at the All India Institue of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Union minister Nitin Gadkari is expected to reach the state on Monday amid speculation that senior-most minister in the state government and Maharashtra Gomantak Partys Sudin Dhavilkar could be name the caretaker chief minister. Mr Parrikar had been unwell due to pancreatic ailment for the past eight months. Mr Gadkari is likely to discuss the issue with the BJPs state core group before any decision in this regard in announced. Mr Parrikar, 62, had returned from the US in the first week of September and was admitted at the Dukle Hospital at Candolim earlier this week from where he was shifted to the AIIMS on Saturday afternoon. Earlier this year, he had undergone a three-month-long treatment in the US. Mr Parrikar had formed a Cabinet Advisory Committee to guide the state during his absence. The two-day long state executive meeting of the BJP is also scheduled on September 29 and the state leadership want the party top brass to resolve the issue so that the state administration does not get affected, especially at a time when the opposition Congress is building pressure for fresh polls. On Saturday the MGP said that it was high time the chief minister handed over the charge to the seniormost minister during his absence in the state. The MGP with its three legislators, has given support to the BJP to form the government in the state along with the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and other independent legislators. It is high time Parrikar hands over the charge to the seniormost minister for smooth functioning of the government, said MGP president Deepak Dhavalikar. When asked about Mr Parrikars replacement as chief minister, BJP president Amit Shah, who was in Hyderabad, said We are praying for his health to improve and the party will take a decision at an appropriate time. Mr Dhavalikar said in the last eight months, the government has not been able to function smoothly. He said Mr Parrikar can remain the chief minister and hand over the charge to someone else in his absence. When asked whether he wanted his elder brother and MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar to be given the charge, he said, I dont know...Let them tell who is the seniormost. I am just saying that whoever is given charge should be the seniormost. Let them tell who is the seniormost. Mr Sudin Dhavalikar, who is the the Public Works Department (PWD) minister, is the seniormost member in the Parrikar-led Cabinet. The MGP chief also ruled out any possibility of the MGPs merger with the BJP. There is no question of merger. We are not interested in the merger. It will never happen. We have built the party over several years and it is the hope for future of Goas politics. We have 12-13 per cent vote share in the state, so where is the question of merging the party, Mr Dhavalikar added. The MGPs demand, however, met with resistance from other NDA ally. What can I comment on MGPs statement? Everything that MGP wants need not happen. In an alliance, decisions are taken collectively. It cannot be the demand of a single party, Goa Forward Party chief and state agriculture minister Vijai Sardesai said. He said that Mr Parrikar had formed the Cabinet Advisory Committee to govern in his absence earlier by consulting allies, adding that, even at the time, he had not handed over the charge to the seniormost minister. Reddit Email 167 Shares According to anti-occupation groups, United States law enforcement training with Israeli forces has increased human and civil rights violations. (TeleSur) The Researching the American-Israeli Alliance group, in partnership with anti-occupation group Jewish Voice for Peace released a report detailing the ways in which exchanges between the United States and Israeli state security agencies have reinforced a security model that justifies flagrant human and civil rights violations in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. This model, which relies on civilian surveillance and racial profiling along with suppressing public protests and critical social movements, does not target potential foreign enemy threats but civilian population and minority communities. The report titled Deadly Exchange: The Dangerous Consequences of American Law Enforcement Trainings in Israel details how the U.S. War on Terror paved the way for the increase in the militarization of domestic law enforcement, enhanced by the institutionalization of Israel-U.S. security exchanges. Months after 9/11, American law enforcement representatives (including police chiefs, FBI and CIA agents, future ICE officers, and MTA security directors) attended their first official training expedition to Israel, the report states. This was possible because after 9/11, U.S. and Israeli politicians proclaimed that they were fighting the same Muslim enemy the same terrorists. The U.S. has long supported the Israeli thesis that Palestinian resistance to military occupation, colonization, and apartheid is terrorism. Based on that assumption, Israel has been portrayed as an expert in counter-terrorism. While framed as an opportunity for U.S. law enforcement to learn policing strategies from a democracy with counter-terror experience, in fact, these are trainings with an occupying force that rules a population deprived of human and civil rights, the report contends. Israeli monitoring of the daily lives of Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank have inspired invasive practices in the U.S., like Atlantas center for collecting and monitoring footage from thousands of public and private 24-hour surveillance cameras or the New York Police Departments infiltration of Muslim communities and movements like Black Lives Matter. There are other ill effects of this profitable security cooperation, including blanket accusations of terrorism that enables the state to target any movement particpating in dissent and the deployment of indiscriminate and brutal force against protesters. The report draws parallels between Israels occupation forces response to Palestinian protests and U.S. polices brutality, which amount to the state targeting disenfranchised and racialized communities. \ These comparisons were first made by Black and Palestinian activists who share the struggle for racial justice, human rights, and civil liberties for all. Just as Jewish Israelis of Arab and North African descent have long been viewed by the Israeli police as prone to crime, and are subject to disproportionate policing and incarceration Black and Brown communities and social movements that seek racial justice are targeted in the U.S. Similar to how Palestinians in East Jerusalem are subjected to random body searches, Black youth in the streets are victimized by stop-and-frisk policies that disproportionately target minority communities. What American law enforcement learned from Israeli policing is an official policy of marking entire populations as suspect, a model that is in direct opposition to efforts to end the racial profiling that has long been constitutive of American policing, the report contends. The report also highlights the important role organizations like the Anti-Defamation League, which facilitates U.S. police training in Israel through its National Counter-terrorism Seminar, sending hundreds of top-ranking U.S. officials to Israel since 2003. Finally, it reflects on the role of media in justifying military actions, downplaying state violence, and silencing voices of dissent. These trainings encourage US law enforcement to adopt Israels view of the media as an arm of the government, responsible for working alongside it, the report warns. Via TeleSur - Bonus video added by Informed Comment: Occupation Free DC: Occupation of Palestine is no model for DC! Reddit Email 880 Shares Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) Trumps campaign manager April-August of 2016, Paul Manafort has agreed to plead guilty to conspiring against the United States. In return for a reduction of his sentence he must answer fully and candidly all the questions asked him by special counsel Robert Mueller and his team about criminal wrongdoing. Since Manafort is alleged to have had close relations with Russian oligarchs, money-launderers and even organized crime, he almost certainly knows about a fair number of crimes. Mueller is not interested in random crimes, however, but in any that may have been commmited by Trump or his close associates, especially crimes involving contacts with Russia during the 2016 campaign, of which Manafort was the chairman. In that period, Trump would call him 20 times a day. The two men were very close. A Washington, D. C., court was about to begin a trial against Manafort. Muellers side had easily won their first case against Manafort, in Virginia, and the likelihood is that they would have won the Washington one, as well. Manafort was looking at going bankrupt defending himself, and at being sentenced to life in prison (he is 69 so any long sentence amounts to a life sentence). As it is, Manafort has to give to the Federal government over $40 million in ill-gotten gains. Manafort has been convicted of lobbying for pro-Russian politicians and interests in Ukraine, of not registering as a foreign agent, and of keeping tens of millions of dollars in payments from Russian oligarchs and their Ukrainian counter-parts in banks in Cyprus while never paying any taxes on them. He got paid for doing things like circulating a false charge that Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko (anti-Russian) was guilty of ordering people killed (Manafort said he wanted to put some stink on her). Manafort colluded with an unnamed Israeli official to weaponize anti-Semitism for Russian aims in Ukraine, painting Tymoshenko as an anti-Semite. He then put pressure on the Jewish figures in the Obama administration to pressure Obama to oppose Tymoshenko, in favor of the pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych. The casual way in which the Likud government of Binyamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, throws around charges of anti-Semitism for narrow, everyday political gain has almost entirely undermined the force of the charge. When I see a campaign against Jeremy Corbyn waged by the British Israel lobbies, attempting to smear him as bigotted against Jews because he disagrees with Israeli colonization of the Palestinians, I am inclined to discount it. It is just more Manafortism, in which there is an attempt to have Corbyn Manafortized. All that speaks to Manaforts character but it is ancient history. The big story is that he attended the July, 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russian agent Natalia Veselnitskaya, in which the Trump campaign expected to receive damaging information on Hilary Clinton from Russian hacking of her accounts. The Russians wanted Magnitsky Act sanctions lifted on President Vladimir Putins cronies in return. Trump himself dictated a description of that meeting which is nothing but a lie. Don Trump, Jr., had called the meeting after receiving an invitation to meet by a high Russian source. That is, Manafort is potentially in a position to begin putting Trump family members in jail, and to provide the smoking gun to Mueller against Trump himself. Moreover, since Manafort knows the Russian oligarchs and criminal elements, it is not impossible that he has incidental information about Trump moneylaundering via Moscow. If Mueller indicts Trump, that is a constitutional crisis. If Mueller hands over irrefutable evidence of criminal wrongdoing to the Department of Justice, that is a constitutional crisis. If he hands the dossier over to Congress, that is a constitutional crisis. This plane does not have a soft landing, folks. Fasten your seatbelts. Bonus video: PBS NewsHour: What will Paul Manaforts cooperation mean for the Russia probe? Reddit Email 156 Shares Dublin (Irish Times) Twenty-five years ago on Thursday, a portly Palestinian boy scout raised the Palestinian red, white, black and green flag from the balcony of Orient House in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem as solemn compatriots spilled from the courtyard into the street. On the White House lawn in distant Washington, the Oslo Accord was signed in a ceremony seen on satellite channels around the world. US president Bill Clinton, standing between Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli prime minister Yitzak Rabin, coaxed the old enemies to shake hands. At Orient House, Palestinians sang their national anthem while small paper flags were handed around, deemed by Israel an illegal act until that moment. Youths carrying a vast flag walked down Salaheddin Street, the main thoroughfare of this sector of the city. Lads paced prancing horses, symbols of Arab independence, to accompany the flag. Palestinians pushed red and white carnations into the rifle barrels of confused Israeli soldiers standing outside the post office. Bystanders cheered as the flag was draped over Damascus Gate to the Old City. The next morning, the small Jordan Valley town of Jericho was festooned with bunting and flags. Israeli troops were to make initial withdrawals from Jericho and Gaza in preparation for Palestinian self-rule. People were optimistic the occupation would end and Palestinians would have a state in the 22 per cent of their homeland occupied by Israel in 1967. In Gaza, a two-hour drive away, Palestinians who believed in Oslo had danced in the streets the previous night and continued to party while Hamas members scowled in shadowed doorways. Best of times For Palestinians this was the best of times. The accord had not only been signed by Arafats deputy, Mahmoud Abbas, and Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres, but also US secretary of state Warren Christopher and his Russian counterpart, Andrei Kozyrev, committing the great powers to the accords implementation. Arafat believed, wrongly, that momentum could not be broken and the launch towards self-determination could not be reversed. The accord, negotiated in secret in Norway and initialled on August 20th, had remained under wraps until then. In early September I had been asked to go to Tunis by The Irish Times to cover a visit to Arafat by TD Brian Lenihan snr and two colleagues. On the morning after I arrived, I met Hassan Asfour, who, along with Fatahs Ahmed Qurei, Abu Alaa, and economist Mahr al-Kurd, negotiated the deal. All three were exiles rather than from the occupied territories. Scenes of Palestinian joy after the signing of the Oslo Accord in 1993. Photograph: Esaias Baitel/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images Scenes of Palestinian joy after the signing of the Oslo Accord in 1993. Photograph: Esaias Baitel/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images Asfour showed me the document but allowed no notes and described how the Palestinians, with no experience of such negotiations, dealt with Yair Hirschfeld and Ron Pundak, Israeli academics in the peace camp and, after some months, Uri Savir, Israeli foreign ministry director. Asfour said they would ring up colleagues to find out what key terms meant. The Oslo Accord promised Palestinians limited self-government but not self-determination and left for direct negotiations over five years the most important issues: Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, refugees, borders and security. Years later Ron Pundak told The Irish Times the Israeli negotiators had expected a Palestinian state to emerge. Main problems The two main problems with Oslo were the politico-military-economic disparity between Israelis and Palestinians and Israels refusal to halt settlement construction, which was ruled illegal under international law. If Rabin had done so at that time, Oslo might have succeeded. Unrestrained settlement activity has constantly altered the situation. Writing on al-Monitor website on September 10th, 2018, one of Israels Oslo architects, Yossi Beilin, called settlements the gravest Israeli provocation. In 1993 there were 111,600 settlers in the West Bank, 152,800 in East Jerusalem and 4,800 in Gaza; today there are some 400,000 in the West Bank and 200,000 in East Jerusalem. Gaza settlers and soldiers were evacuated in 2005. The settlements and the West Bank wall-and-fence complex create territorial obstacles designed to prevent the emergence of a contiguous Palestinian state in accordance with the two-state solution adopted by the Palestinians, the UN and international community. Squeezed out To accommodate settlement expansion Palestinians have been pushed off their land and squeezed out of West Bank villages into urban areas that have been turned into enclaves separated by Israeli-controlled territory, which is broken up by hundreds of checkpoints and closed military areas. Palestinians are denied freedom of movement and must obtain Israeli passes to visit East Jerusalem, once the religious, social, economic and cultural capital of Palestine. Instead of opening a route to resolution of the conflict, the Oslo Accord relieved Israel of responsibility for the inhabitants of the territories by establishing the Palestinian Authority without providing Palestinians with a political horizon. A quarter of a century after the Oslo Accord was signed, Palestinians face the worst of times. Israel retains East Jerusalem and 61 per cent of the West Bank, which Palestinians demand for their state; Gaza is isolated, besieged and blockaded by Israel. Reprinted from Irish Times with authors Permission. Bonus video added by Informed Comment: EuroNews: By Oslo they lay down and wept, peace hopes 20 years on unfulfilled 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. The slain men, belonged to proscribed Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfits, as per security forces officials. Kashmiri villagers watch the funeral procession of top rebel commander Gulzar Ahm-ed Paddroo in Aridgeen, about 75 kilometers south of Srinagar, on Saturday. (Photo: AP) Srinagar: In what was termed by officials as yet another breakthrough in their fight against terror the security forces on Saturday gunned down five militants in Jammu and Kashmirs southern Kulgam district. A local youth was also killed when hit by a bullet in the neck during the streets clashes in the area. The slain men, the J&K police and the Army said, belonged to proscribed Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) outfits. Their ringleader Gulzar Ahmed Paddar alias Saif figured in the list of most wanted militants for his involvement in a number of terror acts including the May 1, 2017 attack on a cash van of the J&K bank at Pombai village of Kulgam in which five policemen and two bank guards were killed, a police statement said. Defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that the encounter took place in Chowgam village of Kulgam where the security forces including the Army and J&K polices counterinsurgency Special Operations Group (SOG) had launched a cordon-and-search operation on Friday night after learning about the presence of militants. During the search operation, the militants hiding in a private house opened fire at the security forces triggering the encounter which continued through Saturday and ended with the killing of all the five holed up militants, a police official here said. The police claimed, Initially, the civilians were moved away from the site of the encounter to safer locations. The security forces then engaged the terrorists in an encounter. the police added. The other three slain militants have been identified as Faisal Ahmed Rather alias Dawood, Zahid Ahmed Mir alias Hashim, Masroor Molvi alias Abu Darda and Zahoor Ahmed Lone alias Rehman Bhai-all local Kashmiris. Gulzar Paddar, the police said, was a close associate of the HM commander Altaf Ahmed Dar alias Altaf Kachroo killed along with another militant in a fire fight in Anantnag district last month. The police also claimed that other militants Faisal Rather and Zahid Mir killed in Saturdays clash were also involved in the killing of policemen and special police officers and bank robberies in south Kashmir. Their accomplice Zahoor alias Rehman Bhai and Mansoor were involved in series of terror offences besides recruitment bid (of youth into militant outfits) in the locality, the statement said. While the encounter at Chowgam was underway, irate crowds of youth took to the streets in the village and its neighbourhood to chant pro-freedom slogans. They soon clashed with the security forces. The protests and clashes witnessed escalation after the killing of the militants, the witnessed said. The security forces fired live ammunition to quell the stone-pelting mobs at places in Kulgam resulting into injuries to over two dozen persons. A local youth identified as Rouf Ahmed Ganai from Chee area of Anantnag district was hit with a bullet in his neck and later succumbed to his injury in hospital, the hospital sources and witnessed said. The police said that the three civilians including Ganai were caught in crossfire at the encounter site itself. Most parts of Kulgam and Anantnag observed a spontaneous shutdown over the killings whereas the authorities snapped internet services in south Kashmir districts and also suspended train services between Srinagar and Banihal as a precautionary measure in view of rising anger in Kulgam, Anantnag and the neighbouring districts. Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), the alliance of key separatist leaders, has called for a one-day shutdown in Kashmir on Monday to mourn and protest the killings. The head of the Organization of American States on Friday said military intervention to overthrow Nicolas Maduros government must not be ruled out, as Venezuela suffers an economic and humanitarian crisis. With regards to a military intervention aimed at overthrowing the regime of Nicolas Maduro, I think we should not exclude any option, OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro told journalists in the Colombian city of Cucuta, near the border with Venezuela. Almagro dubbed an interventionist by Maduro said Caracas was committing crimes against humanity against its people. Suffering of the people, in the induced exodus that it is driving, puts diplomatic actions in first place, but we should not rule out any action, he said. The OAS leader on Friday ends a three-day visit to Colombia concerning the wave of migrants from oil-rich Venezuela fleeing there. Venezuela is mired in a deep economic crisis that has triggered the departure of 2.3 million people since 2014, according to the United Nations. Colombia has received more than one million. Samajwadi Party leader Jagdish Mali (35) got into a fight with Dilip, with whom his wife was involved. During the fight, Dilip opened fire at Mali, who died on the spot, police said. (Representational Image) Sambhal: A Samajwadi Party leader has been shot dead by his wife's lover, the police said on Saturday. On Friday evening, Samajwadi Party leader Jagdish Mali (35) got into a fight with Dilip, with whom his wife was involved, in Nai Basti locality under the Chandausi police station limits, Superintendent of Police Yamuna Prasad said. During the fight, Dilip opened fire at Mali, who died on the spot, he said. An FIR has been filed against Mali's wife and Dilip on a complaint lodged by Mali's brother, Prasad said. While Mali's wife has been arrested, efforts are on to arrest Dilip, who fled the scene after the incident, he added. SP district unit president Firoz Khan, who met Mali's family, described him as hard-working. He said Mali had sought the ticket for the chairman's position in Chandausi local body election. Gold worth Rs 28 crores seized by police. Kolkata: In a major crackdown by the criminal investigation department (CID), two Indian army personnel and three cops have been arrested on Friday for misusing their positions for grafting a consignment of 15kg of smuggled gold. The two army men that include a senior officer, were held for their role in graft in a case gold smuggling in Alipurduar of North Bengal. The police recovered 15 gold bars, weighing 1kg each from them. The consignment worth around Rs 28 crores was allegedly being smuggled from Bhutan, according to sources. This is one of the rare instances where both the army personnel and the police were caught in a case together. The accused are Lieuten-ant Colonel Pawan Brah-ma and Sepoy Dashrath Singh of the Army Inte-lligence at Hasimara, sub-divisional police officer (Jaigaon) Anuruddha Thakur, sub-inspector of Hasimara police out post Satyendra Nath Roy and former officer-in-charge of the Hasimara police outpost Kamalendra Nar-ayan. On Saturday, deputy inspector general (operation) Nishat Parvez infor-med that the five were booked in a case at Jaigao-n police station case over the allegation that on September 10 they had misappropriated and rece-ived illegal gratification for avoiding to take legal action against the gold smugglers whom they had detained with a consignment of gold on the same day. Sources revealed that the CID first zeroed in on Mr Thakur and his two subordinates after learning that they did not rec-ord any case about the seizure of gold consignment. During their questionning, the names of the two army personnel came to light and they were detained two. Judging the gravity of the case the state detective agencys top brass inform-ed the senior officials of the Mamata Banerjee government and the Eastern Command also. But senior officers at the Eastern Command have been tigh-tlipped. During the day the five arrested were produced at a district court which has remanded them in the police custody for four days. The CID is now interrogating them. Police on Friday has seized fake currency worth Rs 1 lakh from one Emjadul Seikh alias Amja Seikh from Samsergunj in Murshidabad. Berhampore: Police on Friday has seized fake currency worth Rs 1 lakh from one Emjadul Seikh alias Amja Seikh from Samsergunj in Murshidabad. From him, the cops seized 439 fake notes of Rs 2ooo denomination and 44 notes of Rs 500 denominations. More than Rs 1 crore has been seized in the town in the last nine months. Fake curencey smugglers are using borders of neighboring country Bangladesh, and Jharkhand, through Malda district and later enter Murshidabad by taking the river route. The town has become the hot bed for the fake Indian currency rackets. Police sources said that fake currency racket collected Indian fake currencey from Chapai Nawabganj area in Bangladesh, and entered Bhaishnavnagr and Kaliachwak in Malda and they crossed river Ganga aat Fakakka and Dhuliyan and later handed over fake currency to different parts of Jharkhand and Murshidabad. 121 Shares Share Each year, thousands of newly minted MDs are elevated from mere medical students to drumroll, please interns. If thats you, congratulations and welcome to the world of residency. Welcome to the world of motivation, inspiration and altruism where you wake up every day knowing this was what you were meant to do. And welcome to the world of the hungry, the tired, the poor. And Im not talking about the patients. As medical students, our duties were limited. We were there to learn, to observe, to absorb. As an intern, this all changes. Now, youre responsible for another human life. At times, you may be responsible for another 80 human lives. Point is, your duties have vastly increased, but the number of hours in the day have not. Its going to be tough. Your sense of altruism will be tested now more than ever. But this is when your patients need you the most. Even at your hungriest, your most fatigued and your poorest, you can still offer your patients what they cannot give themselves: hope, empathy and a chance to feel better. Ive compiled a list of tips, tricks and advice that helped me survive my first day as an intern and the rest of residency. I promise: Theyll help you too. 1. Get excited. This is what you wanted, right? Take a moment to appreciate how far youve already come. This is what those four years in medical school were building up to. Throughout residency, you will be tested day in and day out, but its important to remember why youre here in the first place. 2. Smile. The last thing a sick patient wants to see is your irritated face even if you had to get up at 5 a.m., or youre drowning in extra work when all they really want is to feel better. Plus, the nurses will be less likely to throw out your coffee. 3. Be prepared. When you were a medical student, knowing your patients symptoms, what their creatinine was or how they sounded on exam was usually enough to impress your residents and attending. Now, it really matters, because knowing whether or not your patient has acute kidney injury (AKI) could easily become a life-or-death situation. 4. Budget yourself. Internship and residency is a time where you learn a lot about yourself and how you operate. Your intern year is going to be demanding, so why not make it easier on yourself? If you know youre a little slower in the mornings, set your alarm a half hour earlier. If you know you might have a few spare moments, bring a copy of the Washington Manual with you and brush up. 5. Orders first, notes second. This is pretty self-explanatory. You can write a beautiful note but if you havent given the orders to make that note a reality, none of it matters. 6. Listen. As doctors, we love to talk. Well, maybe not if youre a surgeon or a pathologist. But for those of who do like the spoken word, talking is great. Listening is better. Your patients will provide you with valuable information if you just listen. Plus, many of them have unique stories to tellas do your colleagues and your support staff. We all come from different walks of life, and sharing your experiences will not only help you work better together, it will make those long hours in the hospital a little more enjoyable. 7. Lean on each other. Its OK to struggle. Youre not the only one. And when it gets too much to handle, there is help available. Chief residents and program directors always have an open door policy. If you dont feel comfortable talking with someone you know, every hospital has a counseling office for employees, which you should feel free to use. No one is meant to do this alone. 8. You want action? Go to the frontline. The best way to learn is getting your hands dirty. Need I say more? 9. Ask questions. Remember, this is about your education too. How else are you going to expand your knowledge base? Yes, dumb questions do exist. But there is no such thing as a useless question. And trust me, that dumb question you just asked? All 20 of your co-interns were wondering the exact same thing. Some of the residents, too. 10. Read something every day. This is probably going to be the hardest part of your job. After working for 12 hours, who wants to open a book, much less lift their own pinky finger? The only thing you think about is whether to eat or sleep or do both. I get it. Im not asking you to open up Harrisons and read a chapter every night. An attending once told me Read for 15 minutes a day and youll do fine. Its true. Spend fifteen minutes on UpToDate or Washington Manual reading up on the conditions you dealt with during the day. Youll become a better clinician. 11. Dont forget about yourself. Yeah, yeah, I know I gave you guys a long spiel on putting your patients needs before your own. Its a fact of life that youre going to experience those things as an intern. There have been multiple instances when I didnt eat for more than 12 hours because I was so busy. But that doesnt mean you shouldnt take care of yourself. You are important as well. Take that day off to recharge. Stay active. And even if you only have time to eat a small bite, make that small bite count. 12. Have fun. Residency marks the beginning of the rest of your life. Walk into Podunk Hospital with your Littman stethoscope and while you may not be the best intern there ever was, this is your opportunity to gain a ton of self-reflection, grow personally and intellectually, and become the best physician the world ever saw. Priyanka Jain is a pulmonary and critical care physician. Image credit: Priyanka Jain 34 Shares Share A good friend of mine, B., once told me a few years ago that before her divorce, her husband was verbally and occasionally even physically abusive toward her. Somewhat shocked by this news, I expressed how glad I was that she had gotten out of that situation. I did not think that B. would be a typical victim of domestic abuse. Coming from an affluent background, we met as co-workers in a laboratory after college. B. always came across to me as strong-minded, goal-oriented, and intelligent. It was her who convinced me to pursue medical school so many years back when I was considering declining the admissions offer I had received. When I graduated from medical school, she was my only guest at the commencement ceremony. She insisted on coming. The daughter and granddaughter of physicians, she had ambitions of becoming a doctor as well. I was so proud of her when she told me that she got in. Domestic abuse can, unfortunately, become a recurrent theme to an individual. Its victims appear to learn that abuse is the normal way relationships are formed, and indeed, it is common for people to be attracted to those exhibiting abusive behavior. It is an unexplainable magnet to those who have never been victims of abuse. My friend was no different. During subsequent relationships, her reports to me were that all was well, and nothing was out of the ordinary. Only after the break-ups did it become clear that some abusive themes had re-emerged over and over. It wasnt necessarily physical abuse, but it became obvious that her self-esteem was being attacked repeatedly. From unfounded jealous accusations to degrading comments regarding her appearance, she was not treated the way she deserved to be treated. Despite this, she stayed with these abusers and even longed for their affections after they dissolved the relationships. In speaking to the abused, it is not uncommon for the abuse to be downplayed. It is not likely that I will ever know how B. was really treated. Fear of retaliation, concern over spousal income support, and personal guilt are all reasons why the abused dont speak out. As the example here clearly demonstrates, even the most successful and intelligent people can be victimized. Even physicians are not immune to this epidemic. B. not only excelled in medical school; she took to it like no other medical student I have ever encountered. It was not uncommon for her to call me and ask me to quiz her over and over in preparation for her exams when I was a resident. She graduated at the top of her class and matched to her top choice highly competitive residency program which she graduated from this year. She recently relayed something to me that is even more impressive than these accomplishments. She called me and told me that she had gotten married again, over ten years after her divorce. I didnt even know she was dating someone. I learned that those other relationships were not normal, and after several months with this new person, there was no reason to put it off any longer, she told me. He respects me, isnt jealous, and made me look back on what was wrong with the other relationships. Thats my remarkable friend. It is important to emphasize that not every story has an ending like B.s. Countless victims remain in the shadows, afraid or ashamed to tell their stories, many of whom are ignorant to the fact that their relationships are not normal. If you know someone who is struggling with abuse or you yourself are, please seek out resources or talk to someone including your personal physician. You are not alone. Cory Michael is a radiologist. Image credit: Shutterstock.com The Duchess is determined to push ahead because she sees it as an issuea as big as climate change. Researchers have highlighted the importance of early intervention and how children from disadvantaged backgrounds who do not receive the right help at school age can suffer lifelong problems. (Photo: AFP) Kate Middleton is launching a campaign to help children failed by 'Broken Britain'. The Duchess of Cambridge believes the right support, from birth, can help disadvantaged youngsters reach their true potential. Accordingly, she is bringing together xperts from academia, education, health and other fields to work on how to help families tackle anti-social behaviour, addiction and mental health. The subject, on its part is already controversial with some blaming Broken Britain on parents and other blaming budget cuts, but sources say that the Duchess is determined to push ahead because she sees it as an issuea as big as climate change. Speaking to MailOnline, one royal source said, "She is looking at what she can do over the next five, ten, 15, 20 years. She wants to be able to look back and see what difference has been made. Thats what her position in public life allows her to do." Researchers have highlighted the importance of early intervention and how children from disadvantaged backgrounds who do not receive the right help at school age can suffer lifelong problems. The duchesss initiative, to be launched in the new year, is a major solo move, who until now has worked on campaigns alongside her husband William and brother-in-law Harry. By seizing on an issue she wants to campaign about for the rest of her life, she is following in the footsteps of Prince Charless decades-long campaign to highlight environmental issues. However, Kate insists she will steer clear of public policy, instead using her convening power to bring together experts, charities and academics in the field under the umbrella of the Royal Foundation, the charity for the younger royals. The findings will be published by Kensington Palace next year. by Bernardo Cervellera According to the Wall Street Journal the "historic agreement" will be signed by the end of September. But announcements of this type have been happening for years. The Pope and the Vatican are ready, but China is divided: it favors the foreign ministry; against the United Front and the Patriotic Association which continue unperturbed to persecute the Church and religions. The silence of Beijing and Xi Jinping. Rome (AsiaNews) - The authoritative Wall Street Journal (WSJ) yesterday released the news that China and the Vatican "are ready to sign a historic agreement" by the end of the month. The agreement concerns the procedure for the appointment of bishops, in which China has the power of appointment and the Pope would have the power of temporary veto or confirmation. On the other hand - according to the WSJ he would be recognized as "head of the Catholic Church in China" and "in exchange" should "recognize seven excommunicated bishops", elected and ordained without papal mandate. In reality, the lifting of the excommunication from seven bishops is the result of a personal journey undertaken by these pastors with the Pope and not "leverage in negotiations between the Holy See and the Beijing government. But beyond these canonical clarifications, it is worth pointing out what the WSJ says in the article: that "the agreement could still fail or be postponed, due to unforeseen events". And here is the point. For at least three years now, Italian and Vatican journalists have in turn announced that the agreement between China and the Vatican is about to be signed. It was discussed - always quoting anonymous people, but "with inside knowledge of the Vatican-Chinese dossier" - in November 2016, at the end of the Year of Mercy; then at the end of 2016; then in June 2017; then last March and now the end of September. And so far nothing has happened. Jokingly, one of my brothers says that these predictions are like those of Jehovah's Witnesses for the end of the world! Quoting the Gospel, we can honestly say that nobody knows "neither the day nor the hour" (Matthew 25,13). This "not knowing" does not depend on the Pope and the Vatican. In these years Pope Francis has shown a great love and respect towards the Chinese people and their history and has the desire to go to China; the Vatican delegation seems willing to grant any concession in order to have even a small, even temporary, agreement with the Chinese giant. The fundamental question - which few journalists and observers ever pose themselves - is whether China is really interested in this agreement. In the past, authoritative (?) commentators have attributed the reasons for the delay to the divisions among Catholics in China and in the world. In reality, the point is that the divisions are within the same Politburo. On the one hand there is the foreign ministry, open to international politics, which would be favorable to the signing of the agreement: there would be a massive gain for China in terms of its global image and international reputation, which right now is suffering because of the tug of war with the United States; it would shake Taiwan left only with the Vatican among EU nations that recognizes it from a diplomatic point of view. But there is also the United Front, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Patriotic Association, which govern the daily life of Christian communities, enriching themselves with their controls and expropriations of Church property. For them, any space given to relations with the Vatican represents a threat to their absolute power. For this reason they continue to resist showing their hegemony: churches and crosses destroyed; seizure of land; bans on young people attending churches; sinicization, that is the assimilation and submission of every activity and of all theological and liturgical thought. After the Chinese Communist Party Congress last October, the United Front was placed directly under the Party. This means that Xi Jinping, president and general secretary of the Party, is its maximum authority. For this reason, the waiting that lasts for years could be dissolved with a single decision by Xi Jinping in wanting to sign the agreement with the Vatican. But at present, Xi's authority is rather weakened: the frontal confrontation with the US could have disastrous economic consequences for China and for this reason there are criticisms addressed to him from inside the Party. In addition, his anti-corruption campaign against "tigers" and "flies" has created a great many enemies. In deciding to sign the agreement with the Vatican, he would have to stand against the United Front, boosting the number of those who would like to see him fall from power. This goes some way to explaining the silent reaction to the WSJ scoop in Beijing newspapers and the foreign ministry reaffirmation of its "sincerity" in wanting dialogue with the Vatican but no comment on the agreement; The Beijing Academy of Social Sciences claims to know "no details of the agreement, or when it may be signed"; while many in the Chinese Church want an agreement, but nobody knows when this will happen. Jaisalmer, September 15: The Indian Army successfully test fired from indigenous advanced gun K9-Vajra-T at Pokhran field firing range in Jaisalmer on Thursday. According to a report published in The Times of India, six rounds were successfully from the Howitzer after the 13 modifications were made. The gun is manufactured by the Larsen & Turbo (L&T) under Make in India initiative at defence manufacturing unit at Hazira. Senior army officers and officials of L&T were also present during the test firing. The K9 Vajra-T is a 155 millimetre /52 calibre Howitzer. The gun is a type of K9 Thunder artillery used by the South Korean army. The guns are being made with the help of "Hanwha Techwin" company of South Korea which is providing technical support to the process. Earlier, The army was received the first batch of 10 guns in June,but now it will receive the guns later this year. The total value of the deal was Rs 4,500 crore. The gun will be deployed along the western border with Pakistan. The weight of howitzer is about 45 Ton. The speed of the gun movement is 60-70km/ hour. According to experts, the howitzer self-propelled which meets the requirements of the 21st-century warfare and also ideally suited for mobile tank warfare. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 15, 2018 04:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Geneva, Sep 15: In what is believed to bring embarrassment to the nation, the United Nations has named India in its shameful list of 38 countries for harassment of Human Rights activists. The Union Nations in its annual report revealed that a rise in legal, political and administrative hurdles used to intimidate and silence civil society have been witnessed in countries including India, China, Isreal and Russia among others. The annual report from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also included allegations of ill-treatment, surveillance, criminalisation and public stigmatisation campaigns targeting victims and human rights defenders, reports said. In India, several human rights activist were arrested recently and charged under the UAPA for allegedly having Naxal links. The 38 countries included 29 countries with new cases, and 19 with ongoing or continuing cases. The UN report has accused these countries of torturing, killing victims and their human rights defenders, and also carrying out surveillance against them. China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Israel have also been included in the list. According to a report by Reuters, the new cases of violence have been reported in Bahrain, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, India, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Mali, Morocco, Myanmar, Philippines, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. According to the report, some of the countries listed in the UN report are current members of the Human Rights Council, which adopted a resolution last year reaffirming that everyone individually or in association with others had a right to unhindered communication with the UN. The report quotes the UN Secretary-General saying that the world owes it to those brave people standing up for human rights, who have responded to requests to provide information to and engage with the United Nations, to ensure their right to participate is respected. Punishing individuals for cooperating with the United Nations is a shameful practice that everyone must do more to stamp out, he added. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 15, 2018 10:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Seoul, Sep 15: North Korea has resumed flights between Pyongyang and the Chinese city of Dalian amid signs of improving ties between the allies, the media reported on Saturday. According to local tourism agencies, a passenger plane of Air Koryo, the North's flag carrier, landed in the airport in Dalian on Thursday and returned to Pyongyang with nearly 70 people on board, Yonhap News Agency reported. This marked the first North Korean airplane that had flown between the two cities since November 2006. There will be such flights every Thursday and Sunday. The resumption of the Pyongyang-Dalian flights may reflect improving bilateral ties between North Korea and China after chilled relations over the North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently sent Li Zhanshu, Beijing's third-ranked official, as his special envoy to Pyongyang on the occasion of the North's 70th founding anniversary. Li was seated next to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a military parade staged last week, and the North also hosted an art performance and banquet exclusively for Li and his delegation in an apparent bid to emphasize friendly ties between the two countries. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 15, 2018 10:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Kabul, Sep 15: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi arrived here on Saturday to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other senior officials during his first foreign trip after assuming office. "The main purpose of the Foreign Minister's visit is to improve coordination on security-related issues between the two countries," Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said. Qureshi will be in Afghanistan for a day. "Successful outcome of the visit will lead future efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation under bilateral frameworks of cooperation including Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity, Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Coordination Authority and Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Economic Commission etc," said Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal. He said that Qureshi's maiden foreign visit after assuming office underlined the importance that the government attaches to work closely with Afghanistan for regional peace and stability. Qureshi will be accompanied by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and the Director-General for Afghan relations along with other officials. The Pakistani delegation will also meet Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani. Apart from meeting Ghani, Qureshi will also meet Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. Bilateral trade matters, closure of the Pakistan Consulate General in Jalalabad due to a security crisis, terrorism and border management will be discussed among other matters, Geo News reported. The Pakistani Foreign Minister had expressed the wish to visit Afghanistan after taking office. Following that, his Afghan counterpart Rabbani extended an invitation to him to visit Kabul. Qureshi will also extend an invitation to the Afghan President on behalf of Prime Minister Imran Khan to visit Pakistan. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 15, 2018 02:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). 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. Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort departs from U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., February 28, 2018.[File photo: VCG] 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. A Bucks County man is accused of posting a message on social media where he threatened to "shoot up" a high school. A student reported receiving a Snapchat from an unidentified person at 12:40 p.m. Friday, threatening to shoot up Quakertown Community High School, borough police said. Police said they learned Idris Yuzon, 21, of Perkasie, sent the message. Perkasie police went to Yuzon's home Friday and he was arrested at 1:47 p.m., almost one hour after the message was posted. Yuzon is charged with two counts of making terroristic threats. His bail was set at 10 percent of $1 million. The high school, Sixth Grade Center and Quakertown Elementary School were put on "restrictive movement" after the message was sent and while police investigated. the status meant people were not allowed in or out of school, but classes continued on a normal schedule. "There was no reason to believe there was any imminent danger in our building," Principal David Finnerty said in a news release. "We took an abundance of caution to prioritize the safety of our students and staff." At the time, Yuzon was free on $25,000 unsecured bail while awaiting a preliminary hearing on charges of simple assault, disorderly conduct - engaging in fighting, and conspiracy, records show. The charges stem from an Aug. 27 incident in Perkasie. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Commuters using the rail service from the south side of Dublin city will be able to get home quicker without having to change trains. They will be allowed to board the train at Grand Canal Dock, Pearse Street or Tara Street stations and travel straight home on the Kildare line without having to leave the train to board another. Local TD James Lawless said that some additional services are coming into use from September 10 when Irish Rail introduce a new timetable for the Kildare route. The Sallins based TD is a frequent rail user. He said there will a new timetable with additional services via the Phoenix Park tunnel to Grand Canal Dock in the mornings and, crucially, in the evenings is also on the way. Dep. Lawless said: I understand new services making use of the Phoenix Park tunnel are coming, most likely, in early December. He added: Right now drivers are being trained following some industrial relations differences and will be ready for the new routes at the end of the year. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider subscribing to our ePaper and/or free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Discussions are continuing between Leitrim County Council and the bond holders to agree a financial settlement for the Cluain Alainn estate at Clooncorrick, Carrigallen. Cllr Paddy ORourke sought an update on the negotiations between Leitrim County Council and Liberty Insurance, who hold the bond at the recent council meeting. Noting the estate has been occupied for the last 13 years, Cllr ORourke said the residents are now anxious to know what stage the negotiations are at and when they can look forward to the completion of the necessary works and the estate being taken in charge. He was told that the responsibility for completing this estate rests with the developer. The Council is not responsible for this and will only become responsible for the maintenance of the roads and sanitary services once the estate is taken in charge, noted the Director of Services for Economic Development, Planning Environment and Transportation, Joseph Gilhooly. As part of the taking in charge process, the Council has had to make a call on the Bond attached to the estate on foot of a condition forming part of the grant of permission. It is a condition of all such Bonds that they will cease to exist once an estate is taken in charge by the Council. As a consequence of such conditions the Council cannot initiative any procedures or works on any estate where we will have to rely on the Bond to put towards any works necessary to bring an estate to a sufficient standard to enable its taking in charge, added Mr Gilhooly. The Director of Service said the Council and the bonds company have not agreed to a financial settlement procedure and discussions are underway as to the amount of the settlement. Once this is completed the Council can then consider taking the estate in charge. Also read: Over 190 jobs available at Cross Border Jobs Fair in Ballyconnell Domhnall Heron, from Drumshanbo recently climbed Europe's highest mountain, Mt. Elbrus. He is a doctor in Sligo Hospital and was the doctor for this expedition run by an Irish company called Earth's Edge. Here he writes about his experience: The time is now 11am. We have been ascending since 2am: 9 hours through the dark and dawn to the saddle between the Eastern and Western summits of Mt. Elbrus. Snow has been falling at our camp below since 9am but has not reached us yet. Dark clouds are rising. We are progressively enveloped in a white mist, the vanguard of the storm. Visibility is decreasing. Is it safe to continue towards the summit or do we make a hasty retreat to our camp? At 5642m Mt. Elbrus is the highest mountain in Europe. Situated in the Northern Caucasus Mountains in Russia why Elbrus is considered European is a question for another day. Elbrus is 5 1/2 times the size of Carrauntoohil and some 1000m taller than Mt. Blanc in the French Alps.A Dublin-based company called Earth's Edge offers Irish enthusiasts the opportunity of climbing this peak. On this expedition thirteen make the attempt. All four provinces are represented. We have electricians from Newry and Castlewellan in Co. Down and a truck driver from Wicklow. Four represent Cork including twins from Mayfield, a telecommunications engineer from Charleville and our mountain guide, John Healy. From Tipperary there is a second telecommunications engineer and a primary school teacher, a navy officer from Waterford and a Welch analytical chemist based in Clare. The lone lady is an accountant from Limerick who is well familiar with Leitrim having worked with the Credit Unions around the county. From Drumshanbo, I'm the doctor for the trip. After flying from Dublin to Moscow to Pyatigorsk in the Southwest of Russia our journey begins with a four hour bus journey to Elbrus Base Camp. The last hour is over steep dirt roads barely passable in a 4x4. At 2,200m Elbrus base camp is nestled well below the snow line. Our first day of hiking involves carrying the heavier portion of our gear to Camp One at 3,750m. We then return to Base Camp to spend the night at the lower altitude to allow our bodies recover better. This 'climb high, sleep low' method will be repeated over the next week to maximise the body's potential to acclimatise to the high altitude and reduce the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). AMS becomes an issue over around 2,500m. Our first day of hiking from Base Camp takes us up 1,500m vertically over 6.5km. The terrain is steep and rocky. We carry 15-20kg in our backpacks so the effort required is considerable. I'm on the lookout for people struggling with shortness of breath, headache, nausea or with the pace. Generally the group is very strong and moving well. At Camp One we deposit our gear, take some light refreshments and return to the relatively thick air of Base Camp to recover. We have taken 41/2 hours to ascend and 2 hours to descend. Overall 61/2 hours is a solid workout for Day 1. For Day 2 we retrace our steps back to Camp One bringing the remainder of our gear with us. The bags are lighter today as we carry around 10-12Kg. The well-worn path from Base Camp leads up the side of the V-shaped valley carved out over millennia by the river of glacial melt water below. At the top is a small plateau that gives the legs respite from climbing for the 20 minutes or so it takes to cross. At the far side the angle of slope shoots upwards as we climb up the lateral moraine with the view of the white glacier below and to our right. The lateral moraine is a high bank of rock and rubble pushed aside by the glacier many years ago as it moved down the valley. Like most glaciers, this one is smaller now due to global warming. When once it was larger extending sideways to the high rubble below our feet, now it is several hundred metres away in the distance. On reaching Camp One for the second time we are introduced to our lodgings for the next five nights. With thirteen people squeezed into a circular, beehive-shaped, wooden dwelling of 5m diameter conditions are cosy to say the least. We sleep on half inch foam mats on plywood flooring. There are two levels: nine lads sleep on the bottom divided into three sleeping in each of three partitions. Three more lads, including myself, sleep on the upper deck. The lack of guard rails makes me hope I dont roll around in my sleep. The 5ft drop would be a rude awakening. There is a coffin-like single sleeping space for the lucky Limerick lady in the group. However, Diamox does come with side effects. Tingling of the hands, feet and lips are common but Diamox is also a diuretic: it increases urination and can cause dehydration. To keep the body at optimum hydration we aim to consume 3-4 litres of water per day. An added complication is that our water source is from a glacier. Unlike bottled or tap water, glacial melt water contains no minerals. Dioralyte is added to prevent minerals like sodium and potassium being washed out of the body. Day 3 brings a relaxed and fun itinerary. Today is our first day on snow and ice. We take things easy but learn some valuable skills for the days ahead. We put on our double boots for the first time on this expedition. Double boots are essential to protect the feet from the cold during high altitude climbs. These boots have an inner, insulated, above ankle slipper that fits inside the rigid outer boot. The outer boot is made from thick plastic or a synthetic material. To the soles we attach 12 point crampons. These spikes provide grip on the steep slopes of hard, compact snow and ice. They take some practice getting used to them and trusting they will hold firm. The type of ice axe we use is not for climbing but rather for stopping our slide should we fall down the slippery ice: the so called ice axe arrest. Several times we deliberately set off sliding down the icy hill at speed to practice flipping over onto our stomach and jamming the ice axe into the ice to arrest our fall. Wearing a climbing harness we practice moving up and down a rope while passing people coming in the opposite direction. This mimics the fixed ropes and human traffic we will encounter in two days time near the summit. In the corrugated iron, cylinder-shaped canteen at Camp One we swap stories about trips we have been on. Our Irish guide, John Healy, is by far the most experienced having summited Mt. Kilimanjaro seven times as well as Denali in Alaska and multiple peaks in the French and Swiss Alps. The food is delicious. Various soups filled with a multitude of vegetables and meats are eagerly devoured. There is bread, cheese, cold meats, tea, coffee, green tea and hot chocolate. Breakfast is a particular favourite. Simple but tasty there are lashings of porridge sweetened with local honey, enhanced with flaked nuts, seeds and raisins. Accompanied with fried egg toast it sets us up nicely for the day. It is fine cuisine for 3,750m above sea level. Earth's Edge has also hired a local Russian mountain guide who has been with us since we arrived in Moscow. A balding man with grey moustache in his mid-fifties with limited English he doesn't say very much. His intense but friendly eyes, calm commanding presence and sure-footedness on the mountain hint at a kind of elder statesman with great experience. Viktor Volodin is no ordinary guide but a colossus within Russian climbing. Day 4 is a step up in intensity and is our first big day on the snow and ice. The plan is to ascend almost a vertical kilometre to a place called Lentz Rocks at 4,650m. This will give us a real impression of the effort required to reach the summit. We depart Camp One at 9am. The pace is brisk and the weather warm. Two people develop painful-looking blisters that need some patching up with Compeed. Though vital for protection from the cold we are learning that the double boots can be unforgiving too. After 4 1/2 hours we reach Lentz Rocks. It is harder to catch a breath up here but people are doing well. On the descent, the warm midday sun has created much slush and many melt water streams in the glacier. Crevasses have opened and snow bridges are not to be trusted. The area is much more unstable than when we passed this way earlier in the morning. We split into two groups and rope up. After a 6 1/2 hour day we arrive back at Camp One tired but happy. Blisters are the main side effect of the day. Some people have quite large skin breaks. My left lower shin has been cut. The treatment is the same for us all: clean the area as best we can with sterile wipes, remove any dead skin, apply Compeed and see how we feel tomorrow. Day 5 is a complete rest day though we will set out for the summit at 2am, weather permitting. It is difficult to sleep during the day but important to lie down as sleepless rest is better than constant activity. People make last minute alterations to boots by cutting up some foam matting to place under heels to reduce heel movement. There is a yoga session on the decking outside the canteen. At 3,750m under the shadow of Europe's highest peak the synchronized movement and poses of seven grown Irishmen makes for an interesting sight. Darkness has fallen by 7pm and dinnertime when we are introduced to a second Russian guide and third in total who will accompany us tonight. A third guide increases safety on summit night and maximizes our chances of success. Should someone be unable to continue and require a guide to descend with we would still have two guides for our large group. Andrey Fetisov is yet another impressively interesting Russian mountain guide and polymath. He is part of a Russian project that drilled through the Antarctic ice sheet to a 15 million year old lake in search of primordial biological particles. In his forties he spent four years studying Japanese culture and language and he has climbed Mt. Elbrus over 100 times. After cordial hellos and handshakes with Andrey we return to our beehive hut for sleep around 8pm. At midnight there is rustling all around with the darkness pierced by light from head torches. Our beehive hut is suddenly a hive of activity. Sounds of unrolling of duct tape, opening of Compeed packages, the fizz of electrolyte tablets dropped into water and rustling of layers of clothing been added mark the last preparations before the final, long push we've been waiting months for. We eat what little we can at this time of morning. The wind has picked up significantly but our guides confirm we will make the attempt. We set off at 2am sharp. Once more we cross the tricky rough rocks that lead to the edge of the glacier. By torchlight we attach our crampons and split into three rope teams. We don't want anyone falling into a crevasse in the darkness. Progress is swift and we pass the dangerous part in what seems like no time at all. We un-rope and continue upwards. I'm feeling good. My movement is smooth, my feet comfortable. Our procession by torchlight continues upwards at a fine pace as the darkness turns to grey then a deep blue band forms on the horizon along the curvature of the earth turning to deep red until the sun blazes through the Eastern sky behind us to our left. We take a short break below Lentz Rocks and swap head torches for ski goggles. Soon we are past out previous high point and turning to the right towards the col (or saddle) between the Eastern and Western summits. The distance looks small though the ascent to the saddle seems to go on forever. In truth it takes nearly five hours since turning right near Lentz Rocks but half an hour before we get there we are aware the weather is changing. John lets us know that we will decide on the saddle whether it is safe to go any further. We finally arrive at 11am. Snow has been falling heavily at Camp One since 9am. We have been above the clouds so far but the white mist is gaining on us. As we reach the saddle visibility has reduced to metres. We decide it is still safe. Viktor pushes on with five people who have volunteered to move at a quicker pace. As they disappear into the whiteness John and I follow with four others at a slower pace. Suddenly, as the cloud lifts, Viktor's group is out of sight but we see the fixed ropes 300m in the distance. We are now on a steep, hard, icy slope with rocks below. This is tricky terrain and dangerous if someone slips. As I am 5m from the ropes I look around and someone does slip. The scene unfolds in slow motion before my eyes. He is on his back sliding and out of control. He flips onto his front and bangs the thin end of his ice axe into the ice. It sticks. His shoulders jolt with the sudden deceleration but he has the upper body strength to hold on. Quickly he is helped to his feet and everyone reaches the ropes to clip in. Once clipped to the fixed ropes movement is much safer. The group fans out ahead of me. The sky is bright. I know we will make the top. My pace slows to make sure I'm not out of breath and to conserve energy. The descent could be long and treacherous. I meet the faster group of five on their descent. We congratulate then I move on over the narrow ledge and up the final 20m to the Western summit of Mt. Elbrus. The time is 12.15pm on 18/8/18. It has taken just over ten hours to ascend the 1,950m of altitude over 8km from Camp One. Various flags are flown and I make sure to get a picture with the Leitrim flag I have brought along for the occasion. We dont spend too much time before descending to our friends waiting at the saddle. Snow is falling heavily now with visibility down to less than 100m. Thunder echoes through the mountain. It seems far away at first until we hear one loud clap nearly overhead. Three people died on the mountain in a single day last month in similar conditions. The experienced Viktor leads the charge and we descend at speed. One of the members alerts me that another is swaying and stumbling. As I catch him we take a knee for a minute. He is a little tired and hypoglycaemic but nothing some water and a good dose of sugar won't fix. We call out to those below but they neither see nor hear us. Five of us have become separated from the group. To our right we see the rocks leading to Lentz Rocks so continue to descend using them as our guide in the near white-out conditions. Eventually we make radio contact. The others have noticed us missing and have waited a mere 300m below. However, we don't see each other until we are practically side by side. When together again the guides reinforce the importance of getting off the mountain quickly so we push on avoiding breaks. At the crevasses, which appear to have doubled in size, we rope up one final time. It is 4.30pm when we arrive having taken just over three hours to descend. Camp One is barely recognizable under a thick blanket of snow. After some food and prosecco we retire for an early night. Next day, Day 7, we carry heavy packs weighing up to 30kg back to Base Camp. This is our last hike of the trip bringing to an end a thoroughly enjoyable expedition. Here we treat ourselves to a nice warm shower and a few celebratory beers while listening to the All-Ireland Hurling Final on the radio. Also read: Dromahair volunteer says "hunger is still killing people" in Kenya VITAL plans for a 60-bed block at the University Hospital Limerick, needed to tackle chronic overcrowding, could be delayed due to a local residents concerns over trees and landscaping, among other issues. A Dooradoyle resident has lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanala (ABP), requesting that developers plant a line of trees at least five metres high to the rear of the Woodlawn Drive estate, which runs along the West of the proposed development. The resident has also requested that a fence or a hedge be installed to the rear of the estate along with the trees, similarly to what has been shown in architects drawings submitted by the developer. In my view it is inappropriate for the Developer to seek planning permission for a building and car parks of this scale without a landscaping plan that would help alleviate the negative effects on the residential amenity, the resident stated in their objection. In the objection, the resident also states there has been a massive intensification of use of the facility in the middle of a residential district, with 11 major projects carried out on the hospital in the last eight years. In my view the Applicant should submit a masterplan to enable the assessment of how this multi-storey building and car park that is the subject of this application fits in with proposed and past developments for the entire site. Finally, may I note that the decision to grant permission was taken with undue haste, seven weeks in total, by the planner in Limerick City and County Council, the objection states. INMO spokesperson Mary Fogarty said a report from 2007, before the reconfiguration of the Mid-West hospitals, found that 130 additional beds were needed at University Hospital Limerick. They don't have them, Ms Fogarty said. That wouldn't even be enough now. They would need 200 to 300 more beds, and when are we going to see that?" Mayor James Collins said he believes residents objected because there are issues in the surrounding neighborhood about how the hospital is run. It's a very tight space in a residential area and one local resident is unhappy with developments to date and the next proposed development, and it's going to make it more difficult." In a statement, a spokesperson for the UL Hospitals Group said: The additional 60 beds would directly increase capacity allowing patients access to an increased overall bed stock and improve patient flow across the hospital. We are hopeful the appeal will be resolved to all parties satisfaction and that it will not impact on the delivery of the project. With these additional single rooms, the initiative would help to improve patient comfort, safety, privacy and dignity and assist with the management of infection control in the hospital. LAST Saturday marked 850 years at Limericks longest serving cathedral, a beautiful and hallowed place and a story of continuity and faithfulness. St Marys Cathedral celebrated its 850th anniversary with a special Service of Thanksgiving, the liturgical highlight of this years celebration, according to Dean of St Marys, the Very Revd Niall J. Sloane. Former Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Rt Reverend David Chillingworth, who gave the sermon on Saturday, commending St Marys for its remarkable anniversary. It is an enormous span of time, a story of continuity and faithfulness, Rt Revd Chillingworth said. Ancient church buildings are extraordinary places. They are hallowed with the prayers of generations. They are a repository of memories, countless baptisms, weddings and funerals, alongside civic and community events of all kinds. This Cathedral of course matters deeply to the Church of Ireland community of the south and west. It symbolises our distinctive way of faith. But Cathedrals are much more than that, he added. They transcend the life of the Christian denomination which happens to hold them in trust. Look around at the ecumenical and community diversity of this congregation. We welcome one another and we support one another in ways which would have been unimaginable a generation or two ago. Its been a great privilege and pleasure for me to share this celebration with you. May the ministry which flows from this building grow and prosper in the years to come. Saint Marys, which was gifted to the Church by Donal Mor OBrien the last King of Thomond, has been a site of Christian worship since 1168. THERE will be a two-month delay on a decision on controversial plans to allow the use of recovered waste at Irish Cement in Limerick. It has emerged this week that it will now be November 4 before the environmental regulator decides whether Irish Cement should be given a licence to burn waste in Mungret. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was expected to make a decision on the proposals to switch away from fossil fuels to burn solid recovered waste and used tyres this week. It comes with more than 4,000 people now objecting to the proposals, which Irish Cement say will lead to a 10m investment in the area, plus the protection of its current jobs. Clare Keating, Limerick Against Pollution (LAP) has welcomed the delay. She said: We are still working on our submission that Jack OSullivan, our environmental consultant, is preparing. We want to make a very detailed submission against the grant of a licence. More time is good for all of us. Residents believe the reforms at Irish Cement will lead to an increase in dioxins into the local environment, and have numerous other public health concerns. But the firm has always maintained that since the burning will take place at high temperature, there will be no extra emissions. It also argues that the move is necessary to ensure the plant remains viable into the future. Id say they will make a decision pretty imminently after November 4, Ms Keating said. Weve been told this is the final extension. Its the first time the EPA has ever received more than 1,000 objections to a proposal. Were just hoping the EPA do the right thing and dont grant the licence, Ms Keating said. In the run up to November 4, LAP will run a series of community events. They are also considering organising a plebiscite among residents in Limerick to canvass their views on the proposal. Earlier this year, An Bord Pleanala gave the green light to the physical aspects of the Irish Cement proposal. It means the only hurdle the firm now has to clear is securing a licence from the EPA to operate. The permission granted following a three-day oral hearing last September means the firm is allowed to facilitate, store and handle waste materials at its plant. Irish Cement said it noted the EPA request for an extension. Communications boss Brian Gilmore added: This programme will reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, reduce CO2 emissions by up to 40,000 tonnes per year, and will help recover valuable resources that might otherwise end up in landfill. It will make the factory more competitive, and will support existing and future employment in the factory. A BRAND new one-stop-shop for potential learners has officially opened at the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) at its OConnell Avenue Campus. The new Information Hub serves as a one-stop-shop for those who wish to find out more about further education and training courses offered by the ETB. Learners will also be able to get advice at the Hub, from a member of the LCETB Information, Recruitment and Guidance team. LCETB is committed to the development of the Information Hub as a modern response to assist learners to access apprenticeships and further education and training courses as part of the National Skills Strategy, LCETB further education and training manager Eimear Brophy said. We hope this will be the first of a number of new hubs across our administrative region, she added. The Hub provides learners with touchscreen technology to access information on courses or find information on the kind of course thats right for them. According to LCETB, the location is also convenient for local enterprises to drop in and learn what training and education supports are available for their employees or to arrange a visit from the ETBs Enterprise Engagement Support Service. Situated in the historic former Municipal Technical Institute, now known as a Further Education and Training Centre, the building has been a landmark for Limerick City since it was first built in 1911. The raised writing on the hubs walls pays tribute to its history as the first meeting room of the Technical Instruction Committee, reflecting the skills that were in demand at the time including shorthand, millinery, art, engineering and commerce. The Hub was officially launched by Minister of State Patrick ODonovan TD and the launch was attended by Mayor of Limerick Cllr James Collins and LCETB chief executive George OCallaghan. Minister ODonovan said: "Having an accessible one-stop-shop where people will be able to drop in to get information on the education options available to them is important. I believe it will be a very valuable service for people looking at their options and I congratulate the ETB on the initiative." TENSIONS have risen behind closed doors over plans to reduce the amount of land currently available for housing in Castletroy in the middle of a housing crisis. The Castletroy Local Area Plan envisages the population of the area almost doubling by 2040, while at the same time proposing to reduce the total amount of land currently zoned for residential use by 22% by 2025. Tensions arose about this stipulation during a private briefing about the draft plan, according to Sinn Fein councillor Seighin OCeallaigh, who believes the instruction to de-zone land is being led by the central Government. There is no indication as to what (the land) should be used for, just that weve been told so far that we need to de-zone land, Cllr O Ceallaigh told the Limerick Leader. Were in the middle of a housing crisis, when prices are going through the roof particularly in the Castletroy area. Effectively when you reduce the amount of land zoned for housing, youre just pushing the prices of land up, which will push up the price of homes, which will, of course, then be passed on to the customer. The National Planning Framework: Ireland 2040 Plan has put restrictions on Limerick, by limiting its predicted future growth, he believes. This is the knock-on effect of it, ensuring that it doesnt grow to its full potential and not allowing it to do so. Mayor of Limerick City and County James Collins told the Limerick Leader he believes the Regional Planning Framework has been rammed through the Dail, and rammed through the local authorities. It hasnt been open to debate, Mayor Collins said. There is a great deal of frustration over the proposals to de-zone available land during a housing crisis, he added. We need homes for people to live in. We need social, affordable and private accommodation but Government policy is forcing us, not just to stop zoning land, but to dezone. We have the Minister for Housing criticising local authorities for not providing enough social, affordable housing and private housing, student rentals, everything. But then the much lauded 2040 Plan is actually putting a cap on Limerick City and County. The real effect of that is that it is forcing us to dezone land in Castletroy. They are telling us that we have more land zoned residential then the project population figures predict so we have to cut some back. This instruction also ties in with the future development of the Horizon Mall site, he added. In line with Government policy, planners here proposed that there would be 15% of the Horizon Mall site zoned for residential development. However, the owners have advised for the project to be viable they need in excess of 40% to be zoned for residential use, Mayor Collins explained. In Castletroy, there is nothing to buy and nothing to rent. For the Horizon Mall site to be developed, councillors here will have to defy Government policy. We will have to say We are in a housing crisis, there isnt enough accommodation in Castletroy. We would like to see the Horizon Mall being developed, it cant continue the way it is, nobody wants to see retail in there, said Mayor Collins But were being hamstrung because of Government policy. It will be very interesting to see on Monday (at a Council meeting of the Metropolitan District) if councillors defy the Housing Minister and go ahead and zone enough land residential as required. The Local Area Plan for Castletroy is the first case of this policy in action, he said, adding that this will be seen across both the city and the county. County councillors are going to be forced to dezone a whole load of land that was zoned for residential uses. METROPOLITAN mayor Daniel Butler has called for an express, limited-stop bus service between the University of Limerick, Horizon Mall and the city centre. In a week where fresh plans were revealed for the derelict Dublin Road site, which could see two hotels, an office complex and 191 apartments, many people have questioned whether the current traffic infrastructure can handle it. It has led to calls for improved public transport on the Castletroy/Limerick corridor. There were reports this week of the four-kilometre journey between the city centre and the college taking almost two hours. Public transport campaigner Thomas Bibby pointed out this is slower than walking pace. Cllr Butler said if the new development in Horizon Mall is to succeed, public transport must be provided. "There is a desperate need for a direct bus link from the Castletroy area right to the city centre. So a shuttle service almost, at peak times in particular, is crucial. It's a key corridor so we need to have a fast and reliable service. "Bus Eireann needs to consider direct, limited stop services from north to south, east to west, and in particular from the Castletroy area, with the growth it's experiencing, he said, arguing there should be just three stops between Castletroy and the city centre. Mr Bibby welcomed this suggestion but feels there needs to be a dedicated bus lane on the Childers Road. Straw poll of two people taking the bus to work on UL campus this morning, both journeys of ~7km: 1 hour 20 mins (1 bus); 1 hour 50 mins (2 buses). Slower than walking pace. Thomas Bibby (@thomasbibby) September 11, 2018 "For the dual carriageway going from the Parkway to the Groody Roundabout, you're talking 100 to put a white line on both sides. Getting from the city to Raheen, if the bus is stuck in UL, it affects you, he said, referring to the fact the Castletroy bus links with Raheen through the city centre. Mayor James Collins added: I don't think government realise the importance of the current traffic situation in Castletroy, which is only going to get worse with further developments. At the time of the Northern Distributor Road we had pushed for better public transport. Rather than spending 85m on this road, we asked could we look at better public transport to service Castletroy and the university in terms of improved buses, public and private." He said the existing rail network could be utilised to provide rolling stock to Colbert Station, pointing out both the Ennis and Castleconnell line run through the eastern suburbs. As exclusively revealed the Limerick Leader, the former Parkway Valley site could be set for a huge transformation, with the 90m proposals creating potentially up to 150 permanent roles. The plans from Singaporean investment vehicle Novelty Icav may also bring a car showroom, a petrol forecourt, and other light industrial units. The move has been broadly welcomed by the citys business community who had railed against previous plans for the site which would have seen a massive shopping mall, including Limericks first Marks and Spencer. 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. 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. Could big pharma eventually be cut out of the process by home brewers cooking up their own medications? (Image credit: Sanofi Pasteur, CC BY-NC-ND) 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. Industrial-scale production whether of hamburger or drugs makes it harder to zero in on the source of problems when they occur. (Image credit: David Tadevosian/Shutterstock.com) 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. 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 authors describe how biohacking insulin and other biologic drugs have important implications for the future of pharmaceutical drug regulation. 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. Jenna E. Gallegos, Postdoctoral Researcher in Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University and Jean Peccoud, Professor, Abell Chair in Synthetic Biology, Colorado State University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Follow all of the Expert Voices issues and debates and become part of the discussion on Facebook, Twitter and Google +. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. This version of the article was originally published on Live Science 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 "BPA-free" labels on plastic bottles serve as a reassurance that the product is safe to drink out of. But new research adds onto growing evidence that BPA-free alternatives may not be as safe as consumers think. Researchers found that in mice, BPA replacements caused decreased sperm counts and less-viable eggs. These effects were then passed on to next generations, scientists reported yesterday (Sept. 13) in the journal Current Biology. Though this research was done on mice, the researchers think the results could hold true for humans. But more research would be needed to confirm. BPA, which stands for Bisphenol A, is a chemical that has been used in food and beverage packaging since the 1960s, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Specifically, it is used to make a hard, clear plastic called polycarbonate that found in the protective lining on some metal food and drink cans. [5 Ways to Limit BPA in Your Life] The chemical gets into food and beverages from the containers especially if the plastic is old or damaged (which can happen, for example, by microwaving it). In fact, the chemical was so widespread that the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found detectable levels of BPA in 93 percent of over 2,500 urine samples taken in the U.S. Though there is growing evidence that BPA can cause harm to humans, experts are not certain how exactly BPA affects the body, nor do they know the levels at which the chemical becomes harmful, according to a previous Live Science report. The FDA's current consensus is that "BPA is safe at the current levels occurring in foods," according to its website. But there is some concern that BPA can mimic the hormone estrogen and could thus disrupt the natural hormonal system in the body, according to the Live Science report. Though the FDA currently only bans the chemical in baby bottles, sippy cups and infant formula packaging, growing public concern and pressure has, throughout the years, led to an influx of "BPA-free" products on the market. In those products, alternative chemicals are used to replace the function of BPA. And "there's growing evidence that many of these common replacements are not safe," senior author Patricia Hunt, a professor in the School of Molecular Biosciences at Washington State University, said in a statement. BPA-alternatives may not be that different In the new study, Hunt and her team were actually trying to determine what the effects of BPA were on the reproduction of mice, when they noticed something weird, according to an article in National Geographic. The mice, all in BPA-free plastic cages, were divided into two groups. One group received BPA through a dropper, while the other group did not. The group that didn't receive the BPA was supposed to be a control but then the control mice started to show genetic changes similar to the mice receiving BPA. They found that the control group was being exposed to the BPA alternative, bisphenol S or BPS from damaged cages. These chemicals were altering their chromosomes or thread-like structures that contain genes and leading to problems with egg and sperm production, according to the study. So they conducted follow-up tests, purposefully exposing the mice to these alternatives, such as BPF, BPS and BPAF. They found similar results. Both sexes had problems properly recombining DNA the process of forming new chromosomes by combining bits and pieces of genetic material from both parents to produce sperm and eggs. These changes could lead to less viable sperm and abnormal eggs, according to the statement. They further found that these alterations can be passed down from generation to generation and if they completely eliminated all BPA and alternatives, the effects would continue for three generations. The same team, 20 years ago, found that BPA itself damages egg chromosomes, according to the statement. The problem might be that the alternatives aren't much different than BPA itself all the new versions have the basic chemical structure, with only slight differences from BPA. Johanna Rochester, a senior scientist at the nonprofit The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, who was not part of the research, told National Geographic that the world should be moving away from BPA alternatives. "We don't really want to wait another 20 years for all these human studies to show that there is a problem," she said. BPA or BPA-alternative, "plastic products that show physical signs of damage or aging cannot be considered safe," Hunt said in another statement. Originally published on Live Science. Ladies and gentlemen of Earth, prepare to meet the world's first lunar tourist. According to an announcement on Twitter, SpaceX the independent space exploration company founded by billionaire Elon Musk has booked a "private passenger" on a round-trip journey around the moon. [Interstellar Space Travel: 7 Futuristic Spacecraft to Explore the Cosmos] This mission is "an important step toward enabling access for everyday people who dream of traveling to space," SpaceX representatives tweeted last night (Sept. 13). "Only 24 humans have been to the Moon in history. No one has visited since the last Apollo mission in 1972." (SpaceX has yet to release any information on how much a trip to the moon would cost, but whether a majority of "everyday people" could afford the fare seems dubious. For comparison, Virgin Galactic, which takes passengers on a 90-minute flight that includes several minutes in zero-gravity, costs about $250,000 a ticket.) The mysterious lunar passenger whose identity will be revealed along with other key details Monday night (Sept. 17) at 9 p.m. EDT via a live webcast will reportedly blast into space on SpaceX's newly redesigned Big Falcon Rocket (BFR), which was designed to carry a crew capsule holding up to 100 passengers on a trip to and from Mars. The massive spacecraft, which is still being developed, will have 31 engines on the booster vehicle alone and will be the most powerful rocket ever made, Space.com previously reported. In 2017, SpaceX announced plans to send two tourists on a trip around the moon aboard the company's Crew Dragon capsule as early as late 2018. However, earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal reported that the flight would not embark until 2019 at the earliest. No further details have been released about the date, duration or cost of Musk's moonshot vacation. At this point, it's also anyone's guess as to who the mysterious moon tourist will be. Could it be a protege of Billie, the moonwalking dolphin? Perhaps a representative from the The Flat Earth Society? Maybe Elon Musk himself? As likely as that last option may seem, Musk may have already denied that he'll be taking a seat on the BFR this time around. When a Twitter follower asked the billionaire, "Elon, it's you, isn't it?" Musk simply replied with an emoji of the Japanese flag. What does that mean? Tune in on Monday to find out. Originally published on Live Science. It's well known that organ transplants can pass infectious diseases from donors to recipients in rare cases. But even more rarely, transplants can transmit cancer, as a new case shows. In what's being described as an "extraordinary case," four people in Europe developed breast cancer after they received organs from the same donor, according to a new report. Three of the patients died from the cancer, which underscores the "often-fatal consequences of donor-derived breast cancer," the authors wrote in their report, published in the July issue of the American Journal of Transplantation. [The 9 Most Interesting Transplants] Undetected cancer The 53-year-old organ donor died from a stroke in 2007, according to the report, written by researchers in the Netherlands and Germany. She had no known medical conditions that would have precluded organ donation, and multiple tests showed no signs of cancer. Doctors transplanted her kidneys, lungs, liver and heart into the donor recipients. (The heart-transplant patient died of unrelated causes shortly after the transplant.) But 16 months later, a woman who received the lung transplant became ill and was found to have cancer in the lymph nodes in her chest. An analysis of the cancer cells revealed that they were actually breast cancer cells, and DNA in the cancer cells showed that these cells had come from the organ donor. The lung recipient's cancer spread, and she died about a year after her cancer diagnosis, the report said. At that time, the three other living patients who'd received the donations were notified. Doctors told them that the lung recipient had died from breast cancer tied to her transplant. These patients underwent tests for cancer, which were initially negative. But in 2011, the liver-transplant patient was found to have breast cancer cells in her liver. The patient didn't want to undergo another liver transplant, because she was afraid of potential complications. A radiation treatment for the cancer was initially helpful, but the cancer later returned, and that patient died in 2014. The patient who received the left kidney was also later diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 six years after her transplant. The cancer had already spread to many other organs, and the patient passed away two months later. A 32-year-old man who received the right kidney was also diagnosed with breast cancer cells in his transplanted kidney in 2011. But doctors were able to remove the kidney, and the patient stopped taking drugs to suppress his immune system. He also underwent chemotherapy. The treatment was successful, and the man was still cancer-free 10 years after the transplantation surgery. Low risk Passing cancer through an organ transplant is "a very, very uncommon event," said Dr. Lewis Teperman, director of organ transplantation at Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, New York, who was not involved in the case. Indeed, transplant recipients have a chance of between 1 in 10,000 and 5 in 10,000 of this happening, according to the report. "The organ supply is incredibly safe," Teperman told Live Science. That's because organ donors undergo rigorous screening, including family history for disease, such as cancer, and multiple laboratory tests. In this case, the 53-year-old donor underwent a physical exam as well as an ultrasound of the abdomen and heart, a chest X-ray, and an examination of the airways. Still, even with these robust procedures in place, "it's impossible to screen everything," and there's a very small chance that a donor will have an undetected disease that could be transmitted, Teperman said. In the current case, the patient had an undetected breast cancer. The donor may have had "micro metastases" or groups of cancer cells that spread from the original cancer site but are too small to be detected with screening or imaging tests, the report said. It's also easier for such cancer cells to grow in transplant patients, because the patients take drugs to suppress their immune systems. These drugs are needed so that patients' bodies do not reject the new organ, but any foreign cancer cells "would not be rejected either," Teperman said. It's possible that a CT scan of the donor in this case may have caught the cancer, but the authors noted that it would be impractical to screen all donors in this way, according to The Independent. Routinely performing such tests could lead to the detection of false positives and the rejection of healthy donors, which would lead to a "decrease of the already scarce donor pool," the authors wrote in the study. "You would have so many worries that you would never procure any organs," Teperman said. The report concludes that the low rate of cancer transmission from transplantation "implies that current practices of donor screening for malignancy are effective." If cancer does pass from a donor to a recipient, doctors should consider removing transplants from all other patients who received organs from that donor, the researchers wrote. Original article on Live Science. Albany The death of 29-year-old Barry Tyce, who was shot in the head earlier this week, marks the 11th homicide in the capital city this year. While Albany police note few of the killings have been random acts, it has been a particularly violent summer for the city. The last time the city had more than 11 homicides in one year was 2000. Albany has recorded nearly 50 shootings so far this year. Police Chief Eric Hawkins said officials believe the gunman who killed Tyce knew him, mirroring the trend in the recent spate of violence. "These are people who know each other, who have some issues resolving conflicts," he said Friday. "When you have individuals with conflict resolution challenges, these issues sometimes result in violence." Tyce, an Albany resident, died overnight Thursday following an early morning shooting Tuesday inside a building at 55-57 N. Swan St., police said. The building, covered with scaffolding for a construction project, is located on the block between Second and Third streets. It's just a few blocks away from where Mayor Kathy Sheehan and her husband, Bob, recently purchased a historic home on First Street they plan to renovate and move into. Sheehan did not return requests for comment Friday. Hawkins said he spoke to Tyce's sister and extended condolences. "It's really a traumatic thing to go through," he said. Since 1985, the city has averaged 7.76 homicides a year. According to statistics compiled by the FBI, Albany experienced the most homicides in 1987 when 16 people were killed. Fifteen people were killed in 2000, and 13 died in 1994. In the statistics they send to the FBI, Albany police include homicides carried out by police even if the conduct of the officer is found to be justified. Albany police shot and killed 20-year-old Schuyler Lake on June 22 after they came upon him stabbing his mother near the front door of her Partridge Street house. Community leaders as well as Hawkins have noted that even with spikes in violence, putting more officers on the streets isn't always the appropriate response. Hawkins said police will continue to work with the community as well as various social agencies that can help address underlying issues. "These are problems that have deep roots. Some of them are long-running disputes that people have been going through for months, and sometimes years," he said. Violence that occurs on a more intimate level makes it more difficult for police to see it coming, Hawkins said. "There are no signals when violence is about to erupt because it's such close quarters with people it's personal. We don't get alerted when things are going to happen." The North Swan Street shooting remains under investigation, and police are asking anyone with information to contact 518-462-8039. afries@timesunion.com 518-454-5353 @mandy_fries Two Mexican nationals have pleaded guilty in a Laredo federal court in connection with a deadly human smuggling case. READ MORE: Second woman found in rural Webb Co. with fatal wounds identified Mario Emiliano-Herrera and Julio Cesar Lopez-Nino, both 19, admitted they hoped to be paid $100 in exchange for each person successfully smuggled across the Rio Grande and into the United States. The men were arrested Feb. 27 after Border Patrol agents encountered them leading a group of undocumented immigrants through the brush in Laredo. Nine were ultimately apprehended, two of whom included Emiliano-Herrera and Lopez-Nino. Law enforcement learned one of the immigrants had passed out and had been left behind and attempted to retrace the group's steps to no avail. On March 7, a ranch foreman notified authorities that a body was found on the property just 1.5 miles north of the Rio Grande. The deceased male was identified as part of the group that Emiliano-Herrera and Lopez-Nino lead. According to witnesses, the victim could no longer keep up with the group, at which time Lopez-Nino kicked him repeatedly and left him behind. Sentencing will be set at a later date before U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo. Emiliano-Herrera and Lopez-Nino each face up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine. They remain in custody pending that hearing. READ MORE: LPD seeks suspect wanted for using vehicle without authorization Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation along with Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Giselle S. Guerra is prosecuting the case. 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. Longford Chamber of Commerce & Industry have announced details of Longford Business Expo 2018, which will take place in the Riverside Shopping Centre on Friday, September 28 and Saturday, September 29. It is the first time that the centre will open up to the public since the last Chamber organised Expo in 2012. Speaking at the recent launch, Chamber President, Niamh Donlon, paid tribute to Longford County Council and LCRL, who have helped drive the project along. She said: The project could not happen without the funding from LCRL and in particular I want to thank Margaret Walsh who was a fantastic link person with LCRL and then the board members of the LCRL and LCDC who ultimately approved the funding. The Chamber have been working closely with the team at the Local Enterprise Office Longford in the build-up to the Expo which will be one of the largest commercial events in the Midlands this year. The Expo will showcase over 120 local businesses and will also feature a number of guest speakers and workshops. One of the confirmed speakers will include former Dragons Den investor and radio host, Bobby Kerr. Said Ms Donlon: The weekend will showcase the many industries and service businesses in the County but there will also be a big focus on retail as we look to re-establish Longford as a retail force. Full details on the line-up of speakers and workshops will be announced next week. The event goes ahead with the support and co-operation of the new owners of the centre, Omniplex, and Ms Donlon also paid tribute to Omniplex Chief Executive, Mark Anderson. The Chamber President said these are very exciting times with a number of major projects in the pipeline for the town. There are still some slots available for businesses wishing to take part and those interested should contact Longford Chamber on info@longfordchamber.ie or register their interest online at www.longfordbusinessexpo2018.ie. For more details contact: Niamh Donlon, Chamber President 087 660 4010. Wilsons Auctions have been instructed to sell a large volume of assets on behalf of Longford County Council and Civil Defence. A range of assets from boats, trailers, vans, trucks and much more will be sold alongside over 400 lots of plant and machinery on behalf of other government bodies and local councils of Ireland by way of public auction. The auction will also feature ESB direct entries, finance and liquidation entries, as well as land & property. The auction takes place on Wednesday, September 19 from 11am at Wilsons Auctions Dublin branch, with online bidding available. Highlights will include a 2017 Ballynoe Animal Handling Cage C/W Controls, 2013 JCB 8065 RTS Excavator, 2007 Scania P380 6x4 Tipper Truck & 2001 Mercedes 1824 4x2 Roadmaster Patching Unit Truck. Viewing times of all lots will take place at Wilsons Auctions Dublin on Tuesday, September 18 from 10am 5pm as well as the morning of the auction. All lots can be viewed on Wilsons Auctions website and interested bidders are welcome to register via an online form on the website where a member of the team will be in touch. For those unable to attend, online bidding is available, please register no later than 24 hours before the auction starts by calling 01 464 2800 or email dublin@wilsonsauctions.com For further information go to www.wilsonsauctions.com, follow on Facebook @wilsonsauctionsltd or go to @wilsonsauctions on Twitter and Instagram. MONSON -- Massachusetts Residents Against Crumbling Concrete will host a public forum for homeowners who fear their homes were built with pyrrhotite-contaminated concrete at 7 p.m. Monday at Memorial Town Hall in Monson, 110 Main St. The purpose is to swap information and to make state and federal lawmakers aware that many Massachusetts homes already have crumbling foundations and likely will be rendered worthless, said organizer Michelle Loglisci. The group wants state and federal help. But they also want officials and homeowners to face up to what they see as an enormous and growing problem. "People really want to live in denial. Believe me, I understand," she said. "They want to write it off in their minds as normal cracking. What we are hoping to do is get residents to understand that denial is not possible." The mineral pyrrhotite is, and has been for decades, reacting with water and oxygen within Michelle and Joseph Loglisci's basement walls. That ceaseless reaction causes the mineral to expand, cracking the wall and pushing the structure apart. Michelle Loglisci said she knows this is happening. It's already cost her and her husband about $200,000 they thought they'd built up in their home on Wales Road in Monson. "What we have is probably the beginning stages," she said. "We definitely have it. We have cracks and we have water coming in." The now defunct J.J. Mottes mined stone containing pyrrhotite from its Becker Quarry in Willington, Connecticut, from 1983-2017, when it agreed to stop at the state's request. The concrete likely ended up getting used anywhere within ready-mix truck range of the quarry. "We know we have J.J. Mottes Concrete," Loglisci said. "We built the house ourselves as our own general contractor. We have the invoices." They completed the home in 1996. Russell Dupere, an attorney from Longmeadow, is in the process of spending $330,000 on a new foundation to replace the crumbling pyrrhotite-contaminated one his home was built with. Dupere said Connecticut authorities estimate that pyrrhotite got into at least 34,000 homes within 20 miles of the quarry. Complete that 20-mile radius into Massachusetts and that's at least another 10,000 homes, he said. There is no definitive accounting, but according to homeowners who have come forward and social media postings, the contaminated concrete was used in Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Ware, Monson, Wales and Palmer. Repairs are expensive because foundations need to be dug out and replaced. Homeowners, like the Loglisci family, have trouble financing repairs because the value of their home disintegrated with the concrete. "We can only get an equity note on the value of the land," Loglisci said. Insurance won't pay out because the building hasn't collapsed. It's only in the process of collapsing. Falling home values is a problem for towns and cities that depend on real estate taxes. Loglisci said she expects the first meeting of Massachusetts Residents Against Crumbling Concrete to draw dozens of homeowners, state Sens. Anne Gobi, D-Spencer, and Eric Lesser, D-Longmedow, as well as state Rep. Brian Ashe, D-Longmeadow, as well as representatives from the mortgage lending, concrete contracting and real estate industries. Also there will be Tim Heim, head of a similar homeowners group in Connecticut. Gobi and Lesser each put measures in the current state budget that help impacted homeowners. Both passed into law. One will reimburse people for having their concrete inspected or analyzed in a laboratory to see if it is contaminated with pyrrhotite. The other creates a commission to study the problem. SPRINGFIELD -- MGM Springfield officials, meeting with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission this week, raised hope that the long-delayed renovation of a vacant, historic block building at Court Square could become a reality. MGM Springfield has been considering an investment of $11 million toward the redevelopment costs of the building at 13-31 Elm St. as part of its commitment to create at least 54 units of market-rate housing downtown. At a Gaming Commission meeting Sept. 13, MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis said the discussions have a long way to go on the proposed housing redevelopment project, but there is "a little light at the end of the tunnel." Seth Stratton, vice president and general counsel of MGM Springfield, said there continue to be productive talks with city officials and the chosen development group, Opal Real Estate of Springfield and WinnDevelopment of Boston. There have been serious concerns about the rising cost of the redevelopment, which was estimated in recent months at $50 million to $55 million. It was previously estimated at $35 million to $45 million. Stratton said that with discussions continuing, "we have more hope than we had previously." The six-story block has been mostly vacant for 30 years, and sits directly across Court Square from the Municipal Group buildings -- City Hall, Symphony Hall and the Campanile -- and across State Street from the $960 million MGM Springfield casino. In April, the Gaming Commission agreed with MGM and city officials that the Elm Street project was worth pursuing due to its historic importance and location in Court Square. The commission voted to give MGM Springfield until March 1, 2019, to make a final commitment on the project or else proceed with development of the housing elsewhere downtown. Stratton said the discussions include how to narrow the gap on making the project financially feasible. "We're not there yet," Stratton said, adding that a decision can be finalized before the March 1 deadline. Mathis said there are very committed stakeholders in the Elm Street project. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and the city's chief development officer, Kevin Kennedy, have long lobbied for the project. Peter A. Picknelly, who is part of the development team, has stated that the stakeholders are striving to make the project a reality, but with great funding challenges. The investment will include private and public funding and historic tax credits. The property is owned by the Springfield Redevelopment Authority. Two men, both suspects in bank robberies, were arrested Friday afternoon after two high-speed chases. Dong Lee and Charles Wheeler were arrested Friday afternoon in separate locations after a State Police trooper recognized the two as suspects in area bank robberies. According to a release issued by the State Poice headquarters in Framingham, at about 3:40 p.m. a trooper attempted to stop the car Lee and Wheeler were traveling in southbound on Route 1 in Foxboro when the car pulled away and attempted to flee. The Toyota Avalon continued at a high rate of speed down Route 1, then entered I-495 to I-95. At Exit 5 in Attleboro, the fleeing vehicle attempted to exit the highway but crashed at the base of the ramp. Both men ran into nearby woods where Lee was arrested and taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. Wheeler ran from the crash scene and stole a car from a nearby gas station, starting the second high-speed chase. At about 4 p.m., a trooper saw Wheeler traveling south on Route 1 in North Attleboro and gave chase. As he fled police, Wheeler crossed over the median strip and continued at a high rate of speed in the wrong lane. He was eventually stopped at the state line and Wheeler was taken into custody. Both men were charged with receiving stolen property, receiving a stolen motor vehicle and on an active arrest warrant. Firefighters in Lawrence are responded to a gas leak just two days after a gas line issued caused explosions and fires that killed one and injured 25, according to multiple reports. Dozens of firefighters and utility workers were scouring Salem and Broadway late Saturday morning, investigating the leak. A spokeswoman for Columbia Gas company said the leak was not related to the explosions on Thursday and was isolated, residual gas. There is no risk to any people in the area, she said. Fire officials could not immediately be reached for more information. Fires sparked in 60 to 80 homes in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover Thursday, with gas-pressurization leading to explosions in homes serviced by Columbia Gas. Leonel Rondon, an 18-year-old from Lawrence, was killed. This is a breaking news story and will be updated when more information is available. Thursday started as a normal day for Ivan and Veronica Soto. Ivan joined the Lawrence police force this year and Veronica recently opened her own hair studio. For just about three years now, Ivan, Veronica and their two daughters, 15-year-old Destiny and 13-year-old Aalyah, have lived inside a quaint blue home on Jefferson Street in Lawrence. But everything changed Thursday afternoon when an explosion went off beneath Destiny's bedroom - while Destiny was still inside. Destiny was on the phone with her mother when the explosion rocked the house, starting a fire that would consume all their belongings, Veronica wrote on a GoFundMe page that has been started for her family. Destiny ran to the neighbor's house as the flames grew, one of as many as 80 structure fires that broke out after a pressurization issue with the Columbia Gas company line caused explosions in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. Ivan Soto was on duty when he found out his house was burning down. Though police relieved him of duty, he chose to stay on, according to the Eagle-Tribune. What still stands of the Soto family home on Saturday morning is charred remains. A family friend started the GoFundMe page Thursday for the family to help them get back on their feet and find a new place to live. "This power couple have been trying so hard to make it on top and just when they did this horrible disaster happened," wrote Olivia Tuccolo, who started the GoFundMe page. "I used to work with Veronica and became very close with her. She and her family are the type who would give the shirts off their backs for anyone in need." As of Saturday morning, the page had surpassed its fundraising goal and had nearly $48,000 in donations. Early Saturday morning, Veronica Soto wrote a long message on the page, thanking everyone for their support in the hours since their home was destroyed. She thanked the neighbors who were there when Destiny ran from the burning home looking for help. "If you look at the videos, which are hard to ignore as they are all over the news, her bedroom is those front 2 windows being ravaged," Veronica wrote. And Veronica had a special message for her husband. "Thank you to my husband, Ivan Soto, who in my eyes, after what has unraveled before us has become exactly what he set out to do and serve in our community, is my hero," she wrote. The Soto family and Tuccolo, the organizer of the GoFundMe page, could not immediately be reached for comment. Gov. Charlie Baker has declared a state of emergency as officials work to make the communities safe again. After public officials criticized the slow response from Columbia gas, Baker and the Department of Public Utilities named Eversource as the new project manager It is not yet clear when residents will be able to return home and Eversource officials said the multi-step restoration process will likely take weeks. Veronica wrote that it as someone who always wants to help others, it is hard to be on the receiving end. "I have a very hard time accepting help but I am slowly working on that and opening my mind to the fact that this is life," Veronica wrote. "This is now my, our new life." She urged people to help others in any way possible. "It doesn't mean you have to set up a page and collect money or anything like that. You can use your skills to help others out. If you can cook and you have spare time, maybe make a little extra and deliver where it's needed. If you can play an instrument, honestly, music is so therapeutic and can really help people cope and soothe the anxiety that could be building up," she wrote. "If you haven't cleaned out your closet in a while, NOW is the time. "If you have spare time on your hands, see if your community has somewhere that you can volunteer some time to," she continued. "Anything at all." Update: A husband and wife died in the crash. --------- A small plane has crashed in Woburn, according to State Police. The plane crashed near Henderson Road, State Police said. The Columbia Aircraft LC41 crashed in a wooded area about four miles from Hanscom Field in Bedford, the FAA said. It is not yet clear if anyone has been injured. State Police troopers are assisting Woburn police with the investigation. The FAA is en route to begin investigating. The National Transportation Safety Board will determine probable cause of the crash. This is a breaking news story and will be updated. The process to restore service to communities in three Massachusetts towns following a series of explosions and fires is multi-part and expected to take weeks, the state-appointed service provider said Friday evening. "Our priority remains getting electricity to the affected households as quick as possible while ensuring the safety of residents," Gov. Charlie Baker said. Fires sparked in 60 to 80 homes in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover Thursday, with gas-pressurization leading to explosions in homes serviced by Columbia Gas. More than two dozen were treated for injuries, an 18-year-old from Lawrence was killed and a yet-to-be determined amount of damage was caused to private and public property. Following what state and local officials have called an ineffective response effort, Baker declared a state of emergency Friday and appointed Eversource as project manager. Columbia Gas was "simply inadequately prepared to take the steps necessary to manage relief efforts," Baker said, while Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera had stronger words for the energy company. "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." Hours after Eversource was appointed project manager, the company's president of gas business, Bill Akley, outlined a three-part response plan. The immediate phase, he told reporters, is to ensure properties are secure. The second, to assess the energy distribution network. The third and final phase, is to ensure connections in every home are safe. "This is not a short-term restoration effort," he cautioned. "We have a huge task ahead of us." Asked of a timeline, Akley said "We're talking weeks," adding, "We're looking for every opportunity to expedite that but we will not risk public safety." SPRINGFIELD -- A Springfield nurse who was one of the first people to tend to the victim of a serious assault at the MGM Springfield casino last weekend says she could not believe the severity of the man's injuries -- or all the blood. "When I ran over there, there was a huge amount of blood," she said, describing it as gushing from the man's head and pooling on the floor. The woman, who cited privacy and safety concerns in asking not to be identified, said she didn't see the assault. But, she said: "The results of the attack were absolutely brutal. Absolutely brutal." The Sunday afternoon incident left a 55-year-old man from New York with serious injuries to his head and face. Police arrested a 27-year-old Springfield man, Devon Williams, and charged him with assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a shod foot. Williams pleaded not guilty Monday in Springfield District Court. According to police, Williams followed the New York man and his girlfriend into the casino, punched him in the face and then kicked him in the head. The attack was unprovoked, police said. A judge ordered Williams jailed until Sept. 17 dangerousness hearing that will determine whether he'll be granted the right to bail. Police said he is a suspect in other assaults earlier in the day, in different parts of the city. The Republican reached out to the woman the day after the attack. She returned a call Friday afternoon, and agreed to an interview on the condition she not be identified. She said she has 25 years experience in hospitals and private home care. The Republican verified her nursing license through state records. On Sunday, she was at the casino with one of her clients, an older man in need of home care. The client wanted to go to the casino and she went along to look after him. She said she had set him up on the gaming floor by the slot machines and was stepping away for a brief break. As she approached the door leading to Main Street she saw a man fall over. At first she thought he had had too much to drink, or that he simply tripped. Then she heard someone screaming. She ran toward him. When she got to the man, she said it was clear he had not simply fallen down. There were signs of trauma to his face, she said, and it was covered in blood. Police described his injuries as a large laceration to his forehead, a broken jaw and two fractured orbital bones, one over each eye. The nurse said one of the man's eyes was hanging out of its socket. "It was a horrible sight," she said. She said she and a man in a suit jacket were the first to reach the injured man. She assumes the man in the jacket was an MGM employee. She called out for towels in order to compress the injuries and slow the blood loss. Within seconds, several towels were brought over, and she and the man in the jacket held the towels on the man's head until EMTs arrived. The man was conscious, she said. "He kept asking me what happened," she said. "And I couldn't tell him." The screaming she heard was the injured man's girlfriend, who chased the assailant down the hall. When the girlfriend returned, the nurse was already tending to her boyfriend. She recalls the girlfriend sobbing and saying "why did he kick him like that?" "I didn't see it. I couldn't tell her," she said. After the EMTs took over, placing the injured man on the stretcher and rushing him to the hospital, casino security asked her if she wanted to wait and give a statement to police. But she told them she did not see the attack, only the immediate aftermath of it. State police on Friday did not immediately respond to a request to corroborate the woman's account. The woman said she stepped out the Main Street entrance for a cigarette, and found it sealed off when she tried to go back in. She walked to another entrance and circled back to find her client by the slot machines, maybe 20 feet from the scene of the attack. The bank of machines blocked the view of the scene where workers were cleaning up, she said. Within 10 or 15 minutes, she said, "There was no sign that anything had happened." She credited MGM staff with controlling the scene and getting help quickly. When she called 911 on her phone, a dispatcher told her an ambulance was already on the way. The security staff also did a good job clearing people away from the scene without creating a panic, she said, adding: "It could have been a huge fiasco." She downplayed her own actions in tending to the injured man, saying she offered help to someone she saw in need of assistance. "I don't want to use the word 'Good Samaritan,'' she said. "When something happens right in front of you, you help." WESTMINSTER - A man was killed in a rollover crash in Westminster Friday night, state police say. The victim has been identified as Craig Dougherty, 58, of Westminster. Police were called to the scene around 9:30 p.m. Investigation shows that Dougherty had been headed east on Route 2 in the area of the 92.8 mile marker when, for reasons not yet explained, his car struck a jeep from behind. The collision between the two vehicles caused Dougherty's car to rollover. Dougherty was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The two occupants of the jeep--a 25-year-old man from Arlington, Texas and his passenger, a 25-year-old man from Haverhill--were taken to Leominster Hospital. They were treated for minor injuries. The crash closed the right lane and breakdown lane for around 4 hours, while law enforcement investigated the scene. The cause of the crash is still under investigation by Massachusetts State Police. BOSTON -- The state's top prosecutor and consumer advocate is advising those affected by Thursday's Columbia Gas fires to hold onto receipts, photograph and list damaged items, and track all money spent in reacting to the disaster. She also warned against bogus charities and said people should give to established entities with experience in disaster response, such as the Lawrence Emergency Fund of the Essex County Community Foundation. Attorney General Maura Healey said the AGO's Consumer Advocacy & Response Division is ready to help as people displaced by the fires, explosions, and emergency response prepare their claims. The AGO's consumer hotline is (617) 727-8400. "If your home has been damaged or destroyed, it is important that you make a list as soon as possible of valuable items in your home (furniture, jewelry, electronics, cash, etc.). This will help complete claims paperwork later," said Healey in a release on Friday. She said those affected by the blasts and mass evacuations in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence should keep careful records -- including for hotel bills, payments to hospitals, replacement clothing, and the like. "If possible, document any damage with pictures or videos, and do not dispose of any damaged items unless instructed otherwise," Healey advised. Among other advice issued by Healey's office on Friday: * Use reasonable means to save and preserve property that has not already been destroyed: "For example, if possible, board or tarp open areas exposed to the elements to prevent water damage." * Public adjusters may contact you with offers to handle insurance claims for a percentage of the settlement. "There is no requirement that you hire a public adjuster to handle your claim, but if decide to enter into an agreement with a public adjuster, please read the contract carefully before signing it." * Renters should contact their landlord and notify them in writing about the extent of damage to rental units. Residents may want to document damage with photographs, if the unit can be entered safely. * If units are uninhabitable, renters should discuss alternate housing that the landlord can provide, or the possibility of withholding rent until housing can be found. * Renters should review the terms of their leases to hold informed conversations. All rental housing in Massachusetts must meet state standards for health and safety. * Never give to a charity you know nothing about, be wary of crowd-funding efforts, and visit the Donating to a Charity page on the AG's website. "The state's first priority is to ensure the safety of the Merrimack Valley, assist fire victims, and restore power and gas to residents," Healey said. "While state and federal safety regulators determine the cause of these explosions, my office will serve as a resource for homeowners, renters, and all residents trying to rebuild and recover from this disaster." Another man has been added to the Massachusetts State Police Most Wanted Sex Offenders list, police announced Friday. John W. Corbett, 60, is wanted for failing to register as a sex offender, said officials with the State Police's Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section. He is the fifth fugitive from justice added to the agency's list this week. Corbett, who is classified as a Level 3 Sex Offender, was originally arrested and convicted in 1990 for aggravated rape, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and breaking and entering. Corbett's charges stemmed from an incident in 1989, when he broke into a residence in Newton, proceeding to sexually assault a woman at knife point, police said. He is described as having brown hair, hazel eyes, and being 6 feet tall and weighing around 215 lbs. He also has tattoos on his left wrist and upper arm, and right upper arm, as well as scars on his abdomen, right fingers, thigh, and left elbow. Police say Corbett has ties to multiple communities in Eastern Massachusetts, including Boston, Lowell, Plymouth, Waltham, and Framingham. He is also known to have ties to Florida. Anyone who has information about Corbett's whereabouts has been encouraged to contact the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section at 1-800-KAPTURE (1-800-527-8873). WARREN -- Quaboag Regional Middle High School's mold problem has prevented its 620 students from starting school so far this year, but their summer vacation is finally coming to an end. Students in grades seven to 12 will begin classes on Monday inside the school gymnasium in Warren. Then, on Tuesday, and until the mold problem is completely remediated, they'll be at the former Converse Middle School in Palmer. The district has contracted with a new company to detect and clean the mold, after consulting with it insurance carrier and with Baystate Health. The Monday session at the Quaboag gym in Warren will be a half day, with early release at 10:30 a.m. The school administration said the gym is safe to assemble at, but inadequate as a dedicated instructional space. State and local inspectors have approved Converse for occupancy. Although the first full day of classes will be on Tuesday in Palmer, Quaboag officials still must get that building ready -- mainly by assembling the classrooms with chairs and desks. The district is seeking volunteers to work on Sunday to move the furniture. Coordinating that effort is Madeline Smola. Quaboag Superintendent Brett Kustigian is asking members of the community able to volunteer on Sunday to contact her via email at msmola@quaboagrsd.org. The Palmer School Committee closed Converse in 2017 when classes ended in June of that year, saying more than $1 million of repairs were needed. The building is a godsend for Quaboag, according to Kustigian, who said state officials indicated to him Converse is in pretty good shape, all things considered. "Thanks to the tireless efforts of many, Converse Middle School is ready for occupancy on Tuesday," Kustigian wrote in a letter to the school community posted on the school's website Friday. "It was inspected by state and local officials today and one state official is quoted as saying, 'Converse overall is in much better condition than some schools currently occupied,'" the superintendent wrote. He said a safety plan has been finalized after working with police. The Quaboag district includes the towns of West Brookfield and Warren. No timetable has yet been determined on when the Quaboag Middle High School would be remediated and safe for students to return. SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield Police Department will lend assistance to the Eastern Massachusetts communities affected by the recent string of gas explosions, officials announced Saturday. The Springfield Police Department will send over a dozen police officers to assist with recovery efforts in Lawrence and Andover and North Andover. The officers will work an evening and overnight shift beginning Saturday and going into Sunday. Mutual aid will continue to be provided by Springfield police in the days after that, if needed, said Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri. "We know first hand in Springfield the damage a gas explosion can cause and the resources it takes to recover," said Barbieri, in a statement. "Our Police Officers will do whatever is necessary to help our brothers and sisters in Eastern Massachusetts that are dealing with this catastrophe." In 2012, a building on Worthington Street in downtown Springfield exploded as the result of a gas leak from a Columbia Gas service line. Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno also announced that he had talked with Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera and offered aid as it may be needed. WESTFIELD - A 78-year-old West Springfield man charged with sexually assaulting a child is being held on $25,000 bail. Joseph L. St. Denis pleaded not guilty in Westfield District Court on Aug. 31 to aggravated rape of a child with force, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and intimidation of a witness. At a prosecutor's request, Judge William O'Grady set bail at $25,000. If bail is posted, St. Denis must submit to home detention, wear a GPS monitoring bracelet, have no unsupervised contact with minors and stay away from the victim, among other conditions. A summary of the investigation, including when and where the alleged assault took place and interviews with witnesses, was impounded following St. Denis' arraignment. In a statement explaining reasons for bail, O'Grady cited the nature and circumstances of the alleged assault and the potential sentence the defendant faces if convicted. The judge also noted that the alleged assault took place in violation of a permanent or temporary restraining order. St. Denis, a Vermont native, has no criminal record, court documents show. On Tuesday, defense lawyer Anthony Bonavita filed a request for an examination to determine if St. Denis is competent to stand trial. The motion will be considered at a pretrial hearing scheduled for Sept. 28. , Mediapool.bg, , - . - , . 18:00 . After having worked for almost half a decade on a script that is now taking shape, ace director Quentin Tarantino is set to make a back with a bang with 'Once Upon a Time In Hollywood'. The star-studded drama will feature top actors of Hollywood including Academy Award winner Leonardo Di Caprio and Academy Award nominee Brad Pitt in lead roles. Others actors including Al Pacino and Margot Robbie, Timothy Olyphant, Luke Perry, Damian Lewis, Dakota Fanning, Emile Hirsch, Clifton Collins, Nicholas Hammond and Keith Jefferson will also be seen in the film. 'Once Upon a Time In Hollywood' is set in Los Angeles in 1969 when the hippie revolution was at its peak. It was also the time when New Hollywood was gaining pace and things were transforming within the film industry at a fast rate. In the film, DiCaprio will portray former TV star Rick Dalton, while Pitt will be seen playing Cliff Booth. Both DiCaprio and Pitt will be seen as on-screen friends and Al Pacino will play Dalton's agent. Twitter Oscar nominee Margot Robbie who landed this project after her sensational performance as the lead in 'I Tonya' will be seen playing Sharon Tate (Dalton's neighbour). Earlier Roman Polanksi was cast in the film, as Tarantino was in search of an 'authentic Polish thespian' to play Sharon Tate's husband. However, due to the backlash received on casting Polanski in the film and the Academy's decision of expelling him, Tarantino is now in search for another actor for the role. The producers of the film are David Heyman and Shannon McIntosh, while Sony will be releasing the film. Twitter The film's shooting is on and various areas of Los Angeles were reported to be transformed into the "multi-colored era of Hollywood in 1969", by the film's team. 'Once Upon a Time In Hollywood' is going to be the 9th directorial project by Quentin Tarantino. His earlier works including 'Pulp Fiction', 'Django Unchained', 'Inglourious Bastards' were been nominated for the Academy Awards in multiple categories. Both DiCaprio and Pitt have worked with Tarantino in his previous films. Twitter 'Once Upon a Time In Hollywood' will hit the theatres on August 9, 2019. Interestingly, this date has got something to do with the past! The release date of the film will mark the 50th anniversary of the Manson-LaBianca murders and also the day after actress Sharon Tate and four others were killed. Major details about the film are not out yet because the script of Tarantino's previous film 'The Hateful Eight' got leaked before its release. However, one can smell that the film will definitely have some connections to Charles Manson and his vicious followers. Twitter What To Expect In The Film Quentin Tarantino is known as the undisputed king of crime-dramas. He is one film-maker who puts most of his efforts on the script and heavyweight dialogues, other than his work as a director. If we take a look at his previous works, the eight films had avant-garde plots, gore and extreme violence distinctly. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, the films were conversational extravaganzas. Each of his films speaks of his craftsmanship and distinctive narrative, and one must expect a robust screenplay, constraining lines and everything more powerful and thought-provoking in this ambitious flick. Though to many, the film's subject may not be that appealing, it is believed that one may get to see much more than the Manson Murders in 'Once Upon a Time In Hollywood'. The weekend is here, and it's time to return happily to our favourite spot on the couch and pick a show to binge-watch. Whether it's a working weekend, chilling scenes with your friends, or just lazy time with a tub of popcorn, here's a list of shows that will hook you to the screen within the first few episodes. This weekend, enjoy some brilliant narratives and appealing characters. Here we have for you some of the most highly acclaimed series from the West that can't be missed: 1. Damages: The award-winning legal thriller series 'Damages' revolves around Patty Hewes (Glenn Close), the New York-based ruthless lawyer who is best at what she does. Every season brings some interesting cases that Hewes and her law firm take on. With 4 Emmy Awards and 1 Golden Globe Award to its credit, 'Damages' rates high with an IMDB rating of 8.1, making it a pretty good watch. 2. Unforgettable: Starring Dylan Walsh as Lieutenant Al Burns, 'Unforgettable' is an interesting drama that's all about solving mysterious cases. Walsh is seen solving the cases with his girlfriend Carrie, which may remind you of 'Castle'. Carrie Wells, a former police detective, has a rare ability to remember virtually everything she experiences, including detailed visual recall. She returns to police work and uses her ability to solve crimes. 3. Timeless: The sci-fi drama 'Timeless' S1-2 stars some biggies like Abigail Spencer, Malcolm Barrett, and Matt Lanter. When a historian, a scientist and a soldier are assigned the herculean task of stopping a mysterious organization from changing the American history through time travel, their connection to the master plan is revealed. Witness the journey of an unlikely trio travelling through time in order to battle unknown criminals and protect history. 4. Dark: Another science fiction thriller makes its way to our list. Netflix's 'Dark' is set in an old German Town where children start disappearing from the fictional town of Winden. The disappearance of two young children exposes things that no one had thought of. Double lives and fractured relationships of four families come out, secrets are revealed. 'Dark' is a proper family saga with a supernatural twist. 5. The Tick: In the world of Superheroes, 'Tick' comes as another addition. A nigh-invulnerable superhero in a blue tick costume arrives in The City to help combat crime and uncover the mysterious figure behind the city's underworld. An interesting watch indeed! 6. Everything Sucks: 'Everything Sucks' revolves around the students at the Boring High School in Oregon in 1996. The show takes you back to teenage life in a simpler world without smartphones and other 21st-century technology. It is a story of two nerds from high school who try hard to get noticed and the things they do to get famous. A laughter riot dealing with different issues of teenagers, this show is a must watch. 7. The Red Oak: Another show that tops the comedy-drama series is 'The Red Oak'. The show is all about David, a college student, who just starts with his work in a New Jersey country club during his summer break in 1985. The show digs deeper into David's life, with small stories revolving around his family, friends, and co-workers. 8. Vikings: Not as famous as 'Game of Thrones' but this show is indeed as awesome as 'Game of Thrones'. This historical drama is inspired by the sagas of Viking Ragnar Lothbrok, one of the best-known legendary Norse heroes and notorious as the scourge of England and France. We see Ragnar as a farmer who rises to fame after successful raids in England and eventually becomes the Scandinavian king, with the support of his brother Rollo, his son Bjorn Ironside, and his wivesthe shieldmaiden Lagertha and the princess Aslaug. Aren't you now spoilt for choice? Make a pick and start binge-watching! Christopher Whiteside MBE is Conservative County Councillor for the Egremont North and St Bees Division of Cumbria County Council. The division includes St Bees, Bigrigg, Wood End, Moor Row, part of the Mirehouse area of Whitehaven, and surrounding countryside. He is also deputy chair (political and campaigning) of the North-West region of the voluntary wing of the Conservative party. Chris lives and works in Copeland with his wife and family. Traffic at some of the states general aviation airports including Danbury and Sikorsky has fallen at least 30 percent during the last decade as fewer planes take off or come in for a landing. Industry officials attribute the decline, which picked up after the 2008 recession, to the rising costs of owning a plane and obtaining a pilots license. Most general aviation airports in the country have experienced a downturn, said Kevin Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority. Since the recession people havent had the discretionary dollars to purchase an airplane or to pay for the time thats needed to get your license. As airports are seeing flight declines ranging from 30 to more than 50 percent, they are looking at ways to specialize their air fields and attract more business. Unlike commercial airports that offered scheduled flights, general aviation airports dont have regularly scheduled passenger service and cater to local businesses and aviation enthusiasts. While Danbury Municipal Airport was the busiest general aviation airport in the state last year and one of the busiest in New England with 49,083 operations in 2017, thats down from 73,609 in 2007. Operations are defined as the number of planes leaving and arriving at an airport, with each arrival and departure counting as a separate operation. Both Tweed New Haven International Airport, which does carry commercial services, and Hartford-Brainard Airport have seen operations decline by more than 50 percent during the same time period. Commercial airports have also seen a decline, in part, Dillon said, because they also provide services to the general aviation community and because commercial operators have been moving to larger aircraft that carry more passengers. More Information See More Collapse While operations are down at Bradley International Airport, for example, the number of passengers has increased over the past five years. Sky-high cost While fewer flights overhead might be comforting news to neighbors near the airports, its a growing concern of industry and government officials. Several airports in the state, including Sikorsky Memorial Airport and the Connecticut Airport Authority, which operates five airports including Waterbury-Oxford, had annual deficits in the millions of dollars. One of the problems is that the cost of aviation fuel has gone up exponentially in the past decade, said Wayne Toher, president of Reliant Air, a charter service based at Danbury Municipal Airport. It used to cost not much more than car gas at one time and there are a lot more regulations than ever before. The price of aviation gasoline has nearly doubled during the past decade alone. The fuel hovered around $2.50 per gallon in 2007 while prices are now about $5.35 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Aviation gas cost as little as $1 per gallon in the 1990s. The amount of flying time required to obtain a pilots license more than 60 hours is also a consuming effort, said Michael Safranek, assistant administrator of Danburys city-owned airport. Aircrafts are evolving and people have to learn a lot more than they used to, he said. If someone wants to get their private pilots license, it can cost more than $20,000, and thats a big endeavor financially. Of course, planes that used to cost $20,000 about 30 years ago now cost more than $200,000. Safranek said the Danbury airport saw the most operations in excess of 130,000 annually during the 1970s and 1980s. Upgrades At Waterbury-Oxford Airport, officials recently completed a $32 million upgrade to the runway and several businesses at the field have also invested in their facilities with new hangers and other amenities. At Waterbury-Oxford we are targeting corporate growth, due in part to its proximity to New York, Dillon said. And while city officials in Bridgeport considered selling Sikorsky, they now intend to keep the airport, which runs an annual deficit of about $500,000. The CAA runs an annual deficit of around $4 million. The city is drafting a new master plan for Sikorsky. Whether or not we bring back scheduled commercial service, thats something that definitely would be looked at, said Michelle Muoio, who just celebrated her one-year anniversary as airport manager. David Faile, who chairs Friends of Sikorsky Airport (FOSA), said that things arent quite as bleak as they might seem. I know that the traffic counts have been down and there was a recession in 2008 and some planes left the airport, he said. Its still a very, very viable business tool and its increasing like mad for the business community. Faile added there arent as many young pilots learning to fly as in years past. FOSA promotes the airport as an economic engine for the region. Toher said their charter services in Danbury have been growing but they turn down charter requests due to not having an available flight crew. The industry is experiencing a dearth of qualified pilots. Our operations are up but we could do more if we could find more pilots, he said. Expansion potential Linda Silvestri, who owns two businesses at the airport, including Danbury Aviation, said a longer runway would attract more business from airports such as Westchester County Airport. A plane that could cost as much as $9,000 a month to store at the Westchester airport would cost about $5,000 in Danbury, Safranek said. During the past decade, Silvestri said the only major airport investment by the city she recalls was the purchase of a new snow plow truck, and for tree removal on adjacent parcels to make the aircraft approaches safer. Oxford, which has been attracting more business flights, has a a runway thats nearly 6,000 feet, while Danburys longest is about 4,500 feet. Mayor Mark Boughton agrees that a longer runway would make the airport more popular, but its not something he said is in the cards right now. But unlike most airports, Danbury is self-sufficient and actually provides a surplus to the city of around $100,000 a year. Money that some local business owners say could be reinvested into the facility. When deciding about whether to renovate schools or the citys sewage treatment plant, it really comes down to priorities, Boughton said. I agree that a longer runway would increase the viability of the airport, but its also a very expensive and controversial project. Some at the airport note that recommendations from an airport task force convened five years ago by Boughton have yet to be followed up. Those recommendations included making more city-owned property at the airport available for lease, which would provide more revenue for city coffers and more regional marketing of the airport. Considering the number of jobs available in aviation, the airport also could be used to train residents for new careers, said James Cordes, chairman for the task force. Its not just about training pilots, but also about engineering and aircraft mechanics, he said. Many of the kids entering these professions can come out of school making more than $60,000 a year. dperrefort@newstimes.com Middletown police report the following incidents: FAILURE TO APPEAR: Michele Jovanovich, 46, of Grove, Oklahoma, was charged with second-degree failure to appear Sept. 6 after turning herself in on an outstanding warrant from 2014. She was sentenced that day to unconditional discharge, according to state judicial records. FAILURE TO APPEAR: Trent Soares, 28, of Mile Creek Road, Old Lyme, was charged with second-degree failure to appear Sept. 6. He was released on a promise to appear in court Oct. 2. NARCOTICS POSSESSION: Kara Bolduc, 33, of Cambridge Commons was charged with use of drug paraphernalia, possession of controlled substances, possession of less than 4 ounces of marijuana, interfering with an officer, assault of a public safety official and breach of peace Sept. 6. A man told police Bolduc was allegedly smoking a marijuana cigarette in front of his children who were waiting for the school bus on Main Street. Authorities said she had 3 grams of marijuana, three Suboxone films (used for pain, as well as addiction to narcotic pain relievers), a glass smoking pipe and marijuana grinder. Police say Bolduc pulled away from an officer and kicked him above the knee during the arrest. She was released on a promise to appear in court Oct. 4. IDENTITY THEFT: Daquan R. Jackson, 25, of Intervale Avenue, Bronx, New York, was charged with third-degree identity theft, criminal impersonation interfering with an office and attempt to commit larceny Sept. 6 after authorities recevied a suspicious person complaint from Seasons Federal Credit Union on South Main Street. Police said bank workers told them Jackson tried to withdraw $5,000 from an account, but gave the wrong account number and password twice. When asked for identification, the witness said Jackson offered another persons Florida drivers license, the report said. Police recognized Jackson as the suspect in the theft of a Meriden branch of the bank, they said. Jackson reportedly admitted he paid someone in the Bronx $300 for a falsified Florida drivers license and falsified Bank of America debit card. Hes being held in lieu of a $2,500 bond and due back in court Oct. 4. POSSESSION: Namir Walker, 19, of Roxbury Circle, Hartford, was charged with illegal sale of a controlled substance, distribution within a school zone, possession of narcotics and possession of less than a half-ounce of marijuana Sept. 6 after police found he and two other men at the Green Street Arts Center, a high-crime area, according to the report. Authorities say an officer was assaulted by one of two people he arrested Sept. 1 who were smoking crack cocaine. One of the men is a member of the Bloods street gang, and Walker was wearing Bloods colors, according to the report. Once other officers arrived, they searched Walker and allegedly found a bag containing 10 grams of marijuana in his pocket; and, in a sweatshirt near him, a baggie of uncooked rice with 52 wax-paper folds of heroin inside, and $203 in cash. Walker told officials they were not his, the report said. He was released on a promise to appear in court Sept. 18. DISORDERLY CONDUCT: Stephen T. Ross, 62, of Orange Road was charged with disorderly conduct Sept. 6 after turning himself in on a warrant. He was released on a promise to appear in court Sept. 19. LARCENY: Douglas C. Braelfort, 50, of Main Street was charged with sixth-degree larceny Sept. 2 following an incident at Union Park downtown, during which he took a womans bag with her wallet inside, according to the report. The victim said Braelfort ran north on Main Street, and authorities found him on College Street, the report said. He reportedly denied stealing the wallet, although a witness identified him, police said. Braelfort was released on a $5,000 bond and was due in court Sept. 14. LARCENY: Herbert King, 58, of Ferry Street was charged with sixth-degree larceny Aug. 29 after a shoplifting incident at Rite Aid on Main Street. Employees told officers King left with $85 worth of items in a backpack, setting off the security sensors, but still left the store, according to the report. He was released on a promise to appear in court Oct. 3 and turned over to Meriden police for a sixth-degree larceny charge there. Connecticuts natural gas utility workers will play a significant role in the recovery efforts associated with what are believed to be natural gas-related explosions and fires in three Massachusetts communities north of Boston. Hartford-based Eversource Energy has been selected by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker to lead the recovery efforts in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. Eversource has a natural gas service territory in eastern Massachusetts, but does not serve those three communities, which are served by Columbia Gas. Baker told the Boston Globe he made the decision to have Eversource lead the recovery efforts because he has been dissatisfied with the response of Columbia Gas officials. The follow-through just wasnt there, Baker told the Globe Friday, referring to Columbia Gas. Today on a number of very significant issues we heard one thing and something else happened. Baker declared a state of emergency in affected areas in order to be able to put Eversource in charge of the recovery. Eversource will have 133 people in the three Massachusetts communities to take part in the recovery effort, according to Mitch Gross, a company spokesman. Of that total workforce commitment, between 40 and 50 natural gas utility workers will come from Eversources Connecticut operations, he said. More for you Connecticut officials await answers on Mass. gas explosions At this point, we dont know how much of a time commitment were talking about in Massachusetts, Gross said, adding that aiding in the relief effort wont affect Eversources ability to deliver natural gas to its Connecticut customers. Bill Akley, president of the gas business at Eversource Energy, said in addition to providing workers to participate in the recovery effort, the company also is sending two emergency communications trailers and a mobile command unit. Ed Crowder, a spokesman with Orange-based Avangrid, said the natural gas utilities the company oversees are sending 77 workers to participate in the Massachusetts recovery effort. Of that total, 34 workers will come from Avangrids two Connecticut natural gas utilities, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas, Crowder said. Avangrid oversees the U.S. energy industry holdings of Spanish utility giant Iberdrola. The remaining natural gas wokers coming from Avangrid to work in the area where the explosions and fires occurred will be from Berkshire Gas Co., New York State Electric & Gas, Rochester Gas and Electric and Maine Natural Gas. Joel Gordes, any energy industry consultant from West Hartford, said he wasnt surprised Baker chose Eversource to lead the recovery effort. You wouldnt want the incumbent utility to be doing something where it was, in effect, policing itself, or where somebody could claim a conflict of interest, Gordes said. luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com Two business executives leading space travel and technology advancements will speak at next week's Air Force Association conference, just months after the president announced plans to create a new military branch devoted to space operations. Amazon's Jeff Bezos, who founded Blue Origin, the rocket and spaceflight company, will deliver the keynote address Wednesday, the final day of the conference. He will be joined by Gen. John "Jay" Raymond, head of Air Force Space Command. AFA officials could not immediately be reached to discuss the speaker lineup or conference themes, but Bezos is expected to give his take on innovation in the space industry. "[He] will offer perspective on the advancements of space and technology and how industry can better partner with the Air Force," retired Air Force Gen. Larry Spencer, AFA's president, said in a statement. Also on the agenda is Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of SpaceX, which manufactures and launches rockets into space. Shotwell is scheduled to speak Monday, as the three-day conference kicks off. With Trump administration officials saying an independent Space Force will be stood up as early as 2020, the conference lineup highlights the opportunity for partnership between the future military branch and private industry. The Air Force has certified SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket to carry national security satellites into space after awarding the company a $130 million contract to do so. The service has also made property available for commercial space launch activities at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Both SpaceX and Blue Origin have focused on creating reusable spacecraft. They also want to give regular people access to space and speed up travel on Earth. Bezos has called his work on space travel at Blue Origin "the most important" he's doing. The AFA conference, which saw nearly 10,000 attendees last year, will focus on multi-domain operations. In addition to challenges and opportunities that will arise in space, panels and demonstrations will address future air and cyber missions and improving the acquisition process. Top service leaders -- including Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson; Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein; and Chief Master Sgt. Kaleth Wright, chief master sergeant of the Air Force -- are also expected to address the crowd. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. A prominent veteran in the Senate received a rude surprise last year when she came off a flight to have her wheelchair collapse underneath her. It was a window into a problem faced by many paralyzed and disabled veterans who are now suing the Department of Transportation, saying their wheelchairs have been lost or damaged by careless airlines. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, described her story in a 2017 letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. "On a recent trip, I retrieved my wheelchair at the end of the jet bridge, but a titanium rod had been damaged during the flight and my chair literally broke apart while I was sitting in it," said Duckworth, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and helicopter pilot who lost her legs in Iraq in 2004. It was not the first time, she said in the letter. "In the past year, I have had my personal wheelchair mishandled and damaged several times. I have spent hours filling out paperwork and working with the carrier to replace damaged parts," she wrote. Duckworth's letter echoed long-standing complaints by the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), which has filed two lawsuits to force DOT to live up to long-delayed pledges to adopt new rules on air travel for the disabled. One suit, now in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, focuses on the handling and storage of wheelchairs in cargo bays. The second, in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, seeks to improve access to aircraft lavatories. Rep. Jim Langevin, D-Rhode Island, the only quadriplegic ever to serve in Congress, introduced a bill earlier this year to amend the Air Carrier Access Act, which prohibits discrimination against disabled travelers, in an effort to back up the PVA's actions. "Despite three decades of progress, I know firsthand the challenges of airplane travel for someone with a disability," he said in a statement. "This bill will promote inclusivity by making substantial improvements in ticketing, passenger assistance, and airplane accessibility and accommodation." In supporting the Langevin bill, PVA National President David Zurfluh said, "although the Air Carrier Access Act prohibits disability-based discrimination in air travel, too many of our members continue to suffer bodily harm in the boarding and deplaning process, and their wheelchairs sustain damage while being stowed and transported." Just how many wheelchairs have been lost or damaged by the airlines is unclear. In its last report to Congress on air travel complaints, DOT officials said that 34 U.S. carriers in calendar year 2016 reported receiving 27,842 disability-related air travel complaints, and 150 foreign air carriers reported receiving 4,603, for a total of 32,445 complaints. "Nearly half of the complaints reported [14,591] concerned the failure to provide adequate assistance to persons using wheelchairs," officials said, but there were no statistics on lost or damaged wheelchairs. Beginning Jan. 1, the DOT has pledged to publish new rules requiring airlines to provide more accurate data on wheelchairs and mishandled baggage in general, although airline lobbying has resulted in similar rules being delayed in the past. A government official, on background, said the new rules would "provide for the first time separate data for the number of wheelchairs and scooters that were transported as checked baggage and the number of these items that were mishandled." In addition, the DOT will require that data from the airlines "include not only mishandled baggage and wheelchair data on flights that they operate but also mishandled baggage and wheelchair data for flights." The same rules had been scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1, 2018, but the airlines requested a delay to implement them that was granted by the incoming Trump administration, which has put an emphasis on deregulation. The trade group Airlines For America, which represents most of the U.S. carriers, asked for more time for the airlines to comply, and the DOT went along with the request. In a court filing, DOT deputy general counsel Judith Kaleta said, "After carefully considering the requests, we have decided to grant an extension of the compliance date for the final rule on reporting of mishandled baggage and wheelchairs until January 1, 2019." "We'd like to take the agency [DOT] at its word" on putting the new rules into effect in January, but the lawsuits will continue, said Charisma Troiano, a spokeswoman for the legal advocacy group Democracy Forward, which is representing the PVA in the two cases. At a hearing last week in the Washington, D.C., Circuit Court on the PVA's wheelchair suit, Judge Harry T. Edwards appeared to express frustration at Justice Department lawyers representing the DOT on delays in changing the rules under the Air Carrier Access Act. "Can't the government do what is right because it is right?" Edwards asked. "This requirement has been kicking around for five years," Heather Ansley, the PVA's associate executive director of Government Relations, said of the proposed new rules. "In our opinion, the lawsuits are not moot" because of the pledge from the DOT to change the rules Jan. 1. Currently, the airlines are required to replace or repair wheelchairs or reimburse disabled passengers for loss or damages, but the PVA maintains that the issue goes well beyond the aggravation and inconvenience suffered by veterans. The PVA has cited cases in which veterans had to be put up in hotels for days while waiting for damaged wheelchairs to be repaired or replaced, and incidents in which veterans suffered pressure sores while sitting in hard airline wheelchairs while waiting for their own personalized wheelchairs to be returned. The PVA's lawsuit cites the experience of Larry Dodson, of North Augusta, South Carolina, who said that his power wheelchair had been damaged by airlines "on numerous occasions." After one flight, the chair was misplaced by the airline. White waiting for its return, he had to sit in an unsuitable chair, which left him with pressure sores that took three days to heal, Dodson said in the court filing. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Army fitness officials recently released the manual for the upcoming Army Combat Fitness Test, including tips for pleasing graders on each event. Beginning in October, the service will conduct a large field test of the ACFT, involving soldiers from 60 battalions across the active-duty, National Guard and Reserve components. "While the ACFT is backed by thorough scientific research and has undergone several revisions, there are still details that have not been finalized," according to the ACFT Field Testing Manual released Sept. 6. "The purpose of the Field Test is to refine the field administration and scoring of the ACFT." The six-event ACFT is scheduled to officially replace the Army Physical Fitness Test in October 2020. In addition to test preparation, equipment lists, event procedures and administrative guidance, the manual provides advice for graders scoring each event. "There are no test event re-starts. Incorrectly performed repetitions will not be counted," the manual states. Here is a look at what graders will likely be looking for on each ACFT event: Strength Deadlift This is a three-repetition maximum deadlift to test muscular strength. Graders will terminate a record attempt (which counts as one of two record attempts) if the soldier drops or bounces the weights off the ground or rests in the down position. Resting means no continuous effort is being made to lift the weight. Standing Power Throw This event involves throwing a 10-pound medicine ball as far as possible over the head and to the rear. The soldier must make one practice throw and two record throws. A record attempt will not count if a soldier steps on or over the start line during a throw. This is a fault, and the throw will be repeated. Two faults in a row will count as a record attempt, and the soldier will receive a "0" for that record attempt. Hand-Release Pushups This event forces the soldier to go all the way to the floor and raise his/her hands before coming back up again. A repetition will not count if the index finger is outside the outer edge of the shoulder, feet are more than a boot's width apart, the soldier fails to simultaneously raise the shoulders and hips (the whole body) off the ground in a straight alignment from the top of the head to the ankles, or the soldier bends or sags at the shoulders, hips or knees while in the front leaning rest position. After a warning, the test event will be terminated if the soldier lifts a foot off the ground, lifts a hand off the ground or rests on the ground or in any position other than the front leaning rest position. 250-Meter Sprint-Drag-Carry This is five different events within one event: a 50-meter sprint; a backward 50-meter drag of a 90-pound sled; a 50-meter movement; a 50-meter carry of two 40-pound kettle bells; and a final 50-meter sprint. Graders will call soldiers back to the start line or the 25-meter turn line to correct violations in performance to include: failure to touch the line with a hand and foot while sprinting or doing laterals or failure to pull the entire sled across the 25-meter or start line. A soldier's body must continue past the line pulling the sled backward until the entire sled crosses the line. The soldier may then turn the sled. Failure to pull the entire sled across the start line before beginning the laterals or throwing or tossing the kettlebells on the ground will also result in violations in performance. Leg Tuck A soldier hangs perpendicular to the pull-up bar and brings his knees up to his elbows and back down again for one repetition. A repetition will not count if a soldier: fails to touch both knees (or thighs) to both elbows, swings or twists to establish momentum to lift the knees, fails to return to a straight-arm position; has arms fully extended in the down position or pushes off the post, ground or bar with back or foot to establish momentum to lift the knees. Incidental contact with the ground, post or bar is not penalized if the grader deems the soldier has gained no advantage. The event will be terminated if the soldier drops from the bar or rests on the ground. Two-Mile Run The ACFT retains the two-mile-run portion of the APFT, which is designed to measure aerobic and muscular endurance. Soldiers must complete the event without any physical help. Soldiers may pace another soldier or be paced by another soldier. Leaving the course at any time during the event will cause the event to be terminated. After completing all six events, soldiers must review and sign their scorecards, the manual states. "Any discrepancies must be resolved at the test site," it adds. "Requests for reconsideration will not be permitted after the scorecard has been signed and turned in." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. China's Sub Force Is Growing More Powerful. This Is What the US Navy Needs to Do to Stay Ahead The Navy needs new and innovative antisubmarine warfare platforms to defend against Chinas stealthy and potent long-range... The Grand Valley State volleyball team earned their first conference win of 2018 in dominating fashion, taking down the Purdue Northwest Pride 3-0 by scores of 25-8, 26-24, and 25-16. The Lakers now improve to 8-4 overall and 1-3 in conference action this season while the Pride fall to 1-11 and 0-4 in the GLIAC. GVSU used an overwhelming attack to stifle the Pride in all three sets, combining to hit .400 on the night, which sets a new season-high. The Lakers were putting attacks down at a .444 clip in the first set, a .406 clip in the second set, and a .355 clip in the third and final set. They led Purdue Northwest in total kills 46-24, assists 43-24, digs 44-32, and team blocks 5-2. Leading the way once again on the attack for the Lakers was senior , as she put down 12 kills in 16 attempts, committing just one error, for a blistering .688 attack percentage. Not far behind Brower was fellow senior who picked up 10 kills and hit .450 on the match, while freshman nabbed nine kills and hit .316. Senior was big for the Lakers at the net defensively, accounting for two assisted blocks and a solo rejection to keep the Pride attack at bay. Graham also led the team with 13 digs with junior libero tallying 10 as well. Overall, the Laker defense held the Pride to just a .054 hitting percentage while no PNW player had more than eight kills. The first set belonged to the Lakers from start to finish, as GVSU came out firing in their first set on their home floor. After taking a 1-0 lead and the serve from PNW after a Murdock kill, Yerkes was able to serve four times in a row, giving GVSU the quick 5-0 lead. Following a little back and forth and a 9-5 Laker lead, the Lakers exploded for 11 straight points to take the dominating 20-5 lead. Following back to back points from the Pride, GVSU would score five of the next six points to earn the 25-8 blowout victory in the first set and the 1-0 lead in the match. The second set was much more competitive as the Pride found their footing on the Lakers home floor. Neither team would hold more than a two-point lead for the first 27 points scored, as GVSU would find themselves down 14-13 at the midway point of set two. A four-point swing for the Lakers gave them the 17-14 advantage however and forced the Pride to burn a timeout. Out of the break, PNW and GVSU both rattled off two straight points each and then traded a point to bring the score to 21-20 in favor of the Lakers. After ties at points 23 and 24, GVSU just managed to sneak out the final two points of the set for the 26-24 victory and the 2-0 lead in the match. The third set started out just like the second, as the teams would just trade points back and forth to kick things off. After going down 11-10, GVSU would score six of the next eight points to gain their biggest lead of the set, 16-13. After the Pride cut the lead to two, 16-14, GVSU would never lead by less the rest of the way. Following a 18-16 score, the Lakers used their final run of the night, this time seven points, to secure the 25-16 third set victory and the 3-0 sweep of the Pride. The Lakers will be right back in action tomorrow afternoon as they are set to host the Rangers of Wisconsin-Parkside at 4:00 PM inside GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. WEST BRANCH, MI -- As a small dog continues to recover from three bullet wounds she suffered in rural Ogemaw County, her family is seeking answers as to who fired the shots. The shooting happened about 3 p.m. on Sept. 7, according to Zoe Holbert, owner of year-and-a-half-old Dixie. Dixie is a Pomsky -- half Siberian Husky, half Pomeranian -- and weighs about 25 pounds, Holbert said. "My boyfriend takes Dixie with him to work, since we don't like to leave her at home as she has separation anxiety," Holbert said. "She always tags along with him and usually just lies down and doesn't go far." Her boyfriend, Tommy Johnson, is a contractor. On the day in question, Johnson was working on a site near Sterling Area Dental Center, 5095 Rifle River Trail in Mills Township. Dixie wondered off about 20 yards and when Johnson went to find her, he found her lying in the woods, covered in blood, Holbert said. Johnson hadn't heard any gunshots due to the noise of machinery being operated at his job site. Johnson gathered up Dixie and took her to an area veterinarian. The veterinarian determined Dixie had been shot three times: one bullet skimmed her head, another struck near her carotid artery in her neck, and a third entered near her shoulder/chest area, Holbert said. "We didn't really know if she would make it," Holbert said. "She's made a miraculous recovery since then." The bullet that entered near the shoulder remains lodged near Dixie's rib cage. The bullet's entrance path caused nerve damage and while Dixie is still ambulatory, she now limps on the opposite side and can't put much weight on her leg, Holbert said. X-Rays indicate Dixie was shot with a .22-caliber firearm. Holbert said she contacted area police, who declined to investigate the shooting, saying it was Dixie's owners' fault for not having her properly leashed. Dixie is recovering at her family's West Branch home and is taking a variety of medications. She has a scheduled veterinary checkup next week. While Holbert is grateful for her dog being on the path to recovery, she remains baffled as to why someone would shoot Dixie to begin with. "She is completely harmless," she said. "She's very friendly. She would never even hurt another animal. The most she would do is lick somebody." Holbert said she wants the public to be aware incidents like these occur, and she would also like to know the shooter's identity. PARK TOWNSHIP, MI -- The handgun found on a West Ottawa High School student was stolen out of Wisconsin and may have been the second stolen weapon he recently possessed, police said. Davian Joseph Weston, 17, was arraigned on two felonies and a misdemeanor Friday, Sept. 14 in Holland District Court. He is charged with receiving and concealing a stolen firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and violating a weapons-free school zone. Police say the gun was a .38-caliber handgun. Two school resource officers, also deputies, confronted Weston about 10:30 a.m Thursday, Sept. 13 as he was on school grounds between the north and south campuses. Other students had seen the gun and told school staff. The deputies were then alerted. The gun was in his backpack and deputies confiscated it and took Weston into custody. The incident caused a school lockdown and concern from many parents and students. In a probable cause affidavit filed in court, Ottawa County sheriff's Det. David Bytwerk testified that he interviewed a student who "gave statements to me, that this (.38-caliber) gun had been located after trading it for a gun which Davian had stolen, a different gun and then had traded this gun for the .38-caliber in this case." Weston's mother, contacted at her Holland Township home Friday, said her son found the handgun in a junkyard type area near railroad tracks. She said the handgun was broken. He put the gun in his backpack, she said, but forgot it was there until he was at school Thursday. Bytwerk, in the affidavit, said he obtained at least one cell-phone video taken by a student "and it does clearly shows the defendant in possession of the .38-caliber on this video, and he's handling it." Weston's mother, who didn't want to be identified, said her son never intended to cause any disturbance or panic at the school and was not looking to harm anyone. She said the gun was not loaded. Davian Weston was released from the Ottawa County Jail on Friday after he posted ten percent of a $5,000 bond. He has been ordered to stay off of West Ottawa High School grounds and must obey a curfew. WYOMING, MI -- A man wanted in an overnight homicide in Kalamazoo was captured in Wyoming, several hours after the fatal shooting at a party store. Wyoming police said they took the 27-year-old Kalamazoo man into custody on Saturday, Sept. 15 at a home in the 2900 block of West Avenue SW. The area is near 28th Street SW and Burlingame Avenue He was arrested without incident and turned over to Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety detectives. The fatal shooting happened about 1:20 a.m. Saturday at 110 W. Stockbridge Avenue, the J & B Discount Liquor store, in Kalamazoo. Police identified the victim as 23-year-old Tykarri Shaheed Lucas of Benton Harbor. Detectives said he was shot inside the store after some type of altercation. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers say the suspect is now at the Kalamazoo County Jail awaiting arraignment. JACKSON, MI - A special campaign is launching in hopes of getting $100,000 for the Jackson School of the Arts' relocation to downtown's Masonic Temple. A public launch event is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the Masonic Temple, 145-157 Cortland St. Jackson School for the Arts is partnering with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Patronicity in the campaign, according to a news release. If the school raises its goal of $50,000 in 30 days, MEDC will match those funds. The initiative is part of the MEDC's Public Spaces, Community Places program, which awards matching grants to communities that crowdfund. The grant period ends at noon Oct. 18. Tuesday's event will give the public the opportunity to ask questions and view the building. Jackson School of the Arts is more than halfway to its $3 million goal to move from its current location at 634 N. Mechanic St. to the Masonic Temple. Kim Curtis, the school's executive director, previously said the school is on target to be moved into the space in September 2019. "The Jackson School of the Arts has run out of space but not out of inspiration which is why we have embarked on a campaign to relocate our thriving organization to the Masonic Temple in downtown Jackson," Curtis said in the release. "In September 2017, the city of Jackson and Jackson School of the Art became partners, and our shared goal is to breathe life into this iconic building and with it create a compelling downtown destination that will benefit our community for generations to come." Donations can be made at the Sept. 18 event, in person at the current Jackson School of the Arts, by calling 517-784-2389 or online at its website. SAGINAW, MI -- As part of a counterculture folk-singing duo from the '60s, Art Garfunkel has gained a lot of perspective. Speaking on the phone from his Manhattan office ahead of his upcoming concert in Saginaw, the 76-year-old American music icon reflects on sociopolitical changes he's observed across his six decades in the public eye. "It's apocalyptic really, and I don't really use that word," says Garfunkel, performing Friday, Sept. 28 at Saginaw's Temple Theatre. That sentiment aside, Garfunkel is an affable conversationalist. At one point, he spontaneously sings a few lines from the Beatles' "Hello, Goodbye." He zestfully recaps his musical origins and getting onto the world stage. "It's a lot of fun to be me," he chuckles. "I'm a man from a middle-class Jewish neighborhood in Queens. My childhood is so middle of the road, so ordinary. And then I sing and listen to the radio and start getting into Chuck Berry and Little Richard. I'm 14, 15 and it's the age of Elvis, the mid '50s. I have a friend who lives a few blocks away, Paul Simon, who plays a sexy guitar with good rhythms, and I have a good voice. By the time we are in eighth grade, we have a great, really competitive sound." Simon & Garfunkel's debut album, "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.," was released in October 1964. About the same time, Garfunkel was attending Teachers College at Columbia University in New York City, earning his bachelor's degree in 1965. "It was a very curious life," he says, recalling juggling school with musician life. "I'd go out on the weekend, living the star trip. Then I'd be back in boring school, in a teacher's college, this whole other, buttoned-down life. It was incredible going from the rock and roll world of the '60s and hippies and joint-smoking to Columbia Teachers College Monday through Friday. What a schizophrenic trip. I must have learned to be an actor then." On why he stayed in school when fame was beckoning, Garfunkel is frank. "Why'd I stay in school? Because I thought I'd be drafted if I dropped out. It was all about save your neck, first and foremost." Asked which song he most enjoys singing live, Garfunkel doesn't hesitate in his answer. "'Perfect Moment,'" he says. "It's the one I wrote myself with two partners. It's just super pretty. I like the adjective 'pretty.' It has a pretty melody that just knocks me out." But will he play the Simon & Garfunkel song "America," which includes the lyric "Michigan seems like a dream to me now / It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw"? "I wasn't planning on it," he says. "Should I work on it? I should say there's a chance. I really should have it in my repertoire. I'll work on it." Asked how he compares or contrasts the politics of the '60s to those of today, he offers some insight stemming from his artist's perspective. "Things have gotten way more amateur," he says. "I can't say I can make a fair comparison. It sounds like, 'Here we go again.' There are cycles. It looks like that way, which is kind of a hopeless posture, a bit cynical." Garfunkel also speaks of "the pure spirit of protesters," though he expresses dismay at politicians' resistance to adopt their messages into practical applications. "They come, hold our attention, then we move on," he says. "When does that get transferred into politics? We get these fuddy-duddies in Congress. "In Vietnam," he continues, "we Americans threw our weight around the world in God-awful way. We acted like we had God on our side, and Dylan wrote that song title. Forty years later, we do the same thing in Iraq. 'We're more spiritual than the Middle East.' It's the same thing. We've learned nothing. Civilization has learned nothing. "It is disheartening." Tickets for Garfunkel's show at The Temple Theatre are on sale for $55, $65, and $80 and are available here. "This is our American story," he says in conclusion. "Here I am 50 years later with a god------ lucky life, and I'm aware of it. It's an extraordinary life. I've done all these creative things. It's fun to be me." Every time there is a story about a priest accused of wrongdoing, it makes its way into the newspaper. If the accused is a bishop, it merits coverage by all the big media: print, digital, radio, and television. But when a bishop gets cleared of wrongdoing, they go mute. On September 13, Dauphin County District Attorney Francis Chardo said that following a full investigation, it was determined that "there is no basis to conclude that Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades ever engaged in a criminal or otherwise improper relationship with a person whom we will refer to as J.T." Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is the seat of Dauphin County. Bishop Rhoades, who heads the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, and who was previously stationed in Harrisburg, was charged with molesting a teenager decades ago in Puerto Rico. But the stories told by J.T. (an ex-con) never added up. More important, his own mother said that Bishop Rhoades account was accurate. Bishop Rhoades has had his reputation smeared, and the media are letting the false accusation stand. The Associated Press was alone among the big media to run a story on his exoneration. The story was covered by newspapers in Indiana and Pennsylvania, but it received no mention in the evening news on any broadcast or cable channel. The New York Times, Washington Post, and all the other prominent newspapers, said nothing about it. Sadly, we have become accustomed to this kind of biased journalism. When a bishop is accused, the story is given high profile, but when a bishop is exculpated, the story is buried. Small wonder why the public holds the media in low regard. Catholics have more reason than every other segment of society to hold them in contempt. The worst financial crisis since the Great Depression hit the US markets and rapidly spread across the globe in 2008. There were warning signs as early as 2004, but a combination of exuberance, ignorance, complacency and greed ensured that the party in the financial markets went on uninterrupted for another three years before the problems became too big to ignore. Here's a timeline of how the events unfolded: 2004 May: Edward Gramlich, Governor of the US Federal Reserve says rapid growth of subprime loans is associated with higher levels of delinquency, foreclosure, and, in some cases, abusive lending practices. 2005 August: Raghuram Rajan, then Economic Counsellor and Director of the IMF's Research Department, warned the world about the impending doom in a speech. 2007 September: One of the UK's biggest mortgage providers, Northern Rock, seeks emergency funding from the Bank of England. 2008 March: JP Morgan Chase takes over Bear Stearns, another Wall Street giant that could not weather the storm without assistance. July: Merrill Lynch announces a $4.9-billion loss for the April-June quarter July: The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) bans naked short selling of shares in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, mortgage finance companies September 7: The US government commits to provide up to $100 billion to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that hold or guarantee $5 trillion, half of all US mortgages September 15: Lehman Brothers files for bankruptcy protection September 15: Bank of America buys Merrill Lynch September 16: The Federal Reserve bails out American Insurance Group with an $85- billion infusion. The government takes 79.9 percent stake September 18: The US announces $700-billion proposal to buy toxic assets from US banks September 30: Icelandic bank Glitnir is nationalized with a capital infusion of $1 billion October 3: The US creates the Troubled Asset Relief Programme (TARP) October 8: The UK announces its policy in bailing out delinquent financial institutions October 16: The Swiss government bails out UBS and Credit Suisse October 27: The International Monetary Fund bails out Hungary and Ukraine November 9: China announces $600 billion fiscal stimulus November 10: The US Treasury announces a new rescue package for AIG November 24: The US government bails out the Citi Group 2009 : President Obama signs into law a $789-billion stimulus bill. Trudeau said the proportion of women in the Indian workforce is "very low" at 26-27 per cent and exhorted companies to "pledge" for increasing their numbers during the Canada-India business forum in Mumbai on Tuesday. (Reuters) Canada is working on a project for the reform of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and aims to organise international talks on the subject next month, Canadian sources said Friday as US pressure on the body mounts. President Donald Trump threatened late last month to pull his country out of the WTO, which arbitrates trade disputes if it does not "shape up." He has previously criticized the WTO's dispute settlement system as being unfavorable to the US, although the body most often rules in favor of the United States when Washington brings cases before it. "We recognize the challenges at the heart of the WTO and believe it is necessary to find the means to do the necessary work to advance reforms," a spokesman for Jim Carr, Canada's Minister of International Trade Diversification, told AFP. "This work has started," he said, adding that "the WTO can overcome some of its historic challenges and make progress." A small group of like-minded trade ministers will gather in Ottawa October 24-25 "to discuss WTO reform," a Canadian government source told AFP, requesting anonymity given the sensitivity of the discussions. The group will "identify concrete means of improving the WTO over the short, mid and long-term," the source said, adding preparatory work has already begun. Australia, Brazil, Chile, the European Union, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea and Switzerland will be part of the working group, the official said. A European diplomatic source said the Ottawa gathering is "not totally confirmed" because a meeting of trade ministers from the G20 group of major economies was taking place, and Canada is still verifying if it has enough support for steering WTO reform. At their meeting Friday in Argentina, the G20 trade and investment ministers recognized "the urgent need to discuss current events in international trade and ways to improve the WTO to face current and future challenges," a communique said. In July, Trump won a commitment from visiting European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker to work together for WTO readjustment to address some of the US leader's complaints about China over the theft of US technology, the behavior of state-owned enterprises, and overcapacity in steel. Trump complained in April on Twitter that the WTO considers China a developing nation, despite its economic might. "They therefore get tremendous perks and advantages, especially over the US," he said. "The WTO is unfair to US." WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo has agreed with a call from French President Emmanuel Macron "on the need to strengthen the WTO and to make it more effective in addressing the trade challenges of today," as the protectionist US administration imposes tariffs on allies and trade disputes have multiplied. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) managing director Hemant Bhargava has stepped down from the board of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) with immediate effect. Sources told Moneycontrol that in its board meeting held on September 15, IL&FS was not able to arrive at a consensus on the fund-raising proposal. Former LIC chairman SB Mathur has been appointed as the non-executive chairman. IL&FS will once again present this proposal for approval during its annual general meeting on September 29. The infrastructure financing major was looking to raise Rs 3,000 crore of funds on an immediate basis to meet its cash needs. Sources told Moneycontrol that Bhargava stepped down from the non-executive chairman position to avoid a potential conflict of interest. IL&FS was looking for upto Rs 800 crore from LIC. Mathur, who was earlier an independent director on the IL&FS board, has been a veteran in the insurance industry and was also heading the Life Insurance Council after retiring from LIC. "Since LIC's investment into IL&FS was being discussed, it was imperative that an independent chairman preside over the matter," said an official who attended the meeting. At the meeting held on September 15, the credit rating downgrade was discussed but no concrete plan for debt reduction was given. With the absence of a roadmap, LIC was not ready to offer financial assistance. On September 10, rating agencies ICRA and CARE downgraded non-convertible debentures (NCDs) 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 Rs 40 billion 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, due to mature on August 28 and August 30. In a letter to its employees, IL&FS has 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. LIC is the largest shareholder in IL&FS with 25.34 percent stake as on March 31, 2018. According to insurance regulatory rules, an insurance company cannot have more than 15 percent stake in a single entity, but can seek IRDAI exemption for specific transactions. IL&FS has also informed the exchanges that the Commercial Papers (CP) which were due on September 14, 2018 could not be serviced by the company. In addition, the company has received notices for delays and defaults in servicing some of the Inter Corporate Deposits accepted by it, which resulted in downgrade in the credit rating of IL&FS. Infrastructure finance and leasing firm IL&FS is said to have defaulted further on unsecured loans worth Rs 150 crore to Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). According to a BloombergQuint report, the total default on inter-corporate deposits by IL&FS to SIDBI has now risen to Rs 450 crore. The report said that SIDBI has inter-corporate deposits worth Rs 500 crore with IL&FS. Further, another Rs 500 crore deposits from SIDBI is parked with IL&FS Financial Services Ltd, which is the non-banking financial company (NBFC) arm of IL&FS. These deposits are due in November. This is the second such case in the last few weeks where IL&FS has defaulted on a payment. Unlike a secured loan, an unsecured loan is issued on the basis of the creditworthiness of the borrower and does not require any collateral. An Inter-Corporate Deposit (ICD) is a type of unsecured loan. This loan is taken by corporates and financial institutions from other corporate entities that have surplus funds. It is a source of short-term funds. IL&FS is facing a special audit by the banking regulator after it failed to repay unsecured loans worth Rs 350 crore to SIDBI. Also read: HDFC refuses to give loans to IL&FS The default was followed by a ratings downgrade by rating agencies ICRA and CARE. 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 Rs 40 billion commercial paper programme of IL&FS Financial Services, a subsidiary of IL&FS, to 'A4' from 'A1+'. Crucial board meet today IL&FS board which has Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) managing director Hemant Bhargava as chairman will meet today to discuss a Rs 3,000 crore funding proposals. Moneycontrol had reported earlier that LIC will offer upto Rs 800 crore to pull the group out of the cash crisis. But this will be subject to IL&FS presenting a clear vision of debt reduction and sale of non-core assets. Vijay Mallya live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Loan recovery from Vijay Mallya, the poster boy for bank defaults, may seem to have got further complicated as it took more political turns this week. The 62-year-old liquor barons claims of meeting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley before he left India two years ago has stirred a hornets nest. Mallya said he met Jaitley before leaving India for a scheduled meeting in Geneva. I met the finance minister before I left, repeated my offer to settle with the banks... that's the truth," he told reporters outside the London's Westminster Magistrates' Court. He said he had also told the minister that he was leaving for London. This comes at a time when it looked like Mallya, who fled to London in March 2016 while facing legal proceedings for loan defaults, would likely return to India giving up on his defiance. Reports have also suggested that in February 2016, banks were advised to move the Supreme Court to stop Mallya from fleeing the country but the lenders took action four days after the defaulting businessman had left the country. While Jaitley has denied giving any meeting appointment to Mallya calling his statement as factually false", lead lender to the now-grounded airline, State Bank of India (SBI), has assured that actions are being taken for loan recovery. SBI denies that there has been any laxity on its part or its officials in dealing with loan default cases, including Kingfisher Airlines. Bank has been taking proactive and strong measures to recover the defaulted amounts," it said in a statement. The developments come nearly eight months before the national elections due next year. The Opposition has already attacked the BJP-led government for allowing the likes of Mallya, including another absconder and diamond trader Nirav Modi, who is at the centre of the Rs 14,357 crore-scam unearthed at Punjab National Bank in February this year. Promoter of the debt-ridden Kingfisher Airline, Mallya has defaulted on loans and other dues totalling about Rs 9,000 crore (as on March 2016) to 17 lender- consortium led by SBI and other institutions. Mallya is also fighting an extradition case on charges of fraud and money laundering in a UK court, which is expected to review a video of the Mumbai jail prison prepared by the Indian authorities. Also read: Where will Vijay Mallya be lodged when he is brought back to India? In recent times, Mallya has been sending feelers indicating his willingness to face the law and return to India by settling his dues with banks. The Parliament has also passed the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Bill, 2018, in the Monsoon Session to punish bank defaulters like Mallya and Nirav Modi. While they still remain out of India, by pushing this burning issue and making an example out of them, can the Narendra Modi-led government claim a symbolic victory over bad loans as the election season kickstarts? This, especially at a time of economic uncertainty in the country, is plaguing the 'Achhe Din' promise made by the BJP in the last elections. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The market continued its recovery for the second consecutive session on Friday, with the Sensex rising more than 400 points intraday on short covering as well as value buying ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's economy review meeting. Equity benchmark indices crossed psychological levels with the Sensex trading above 38,000 and the Nifty above 11,500, driven by rally across the board barring IT. The 30-share BSE Sensex ended 372.68 points or 0.99 percent higher at 38,090.64 and the 50-share NSE Nifty jumped 145.30 points or 1.28 percent to 11,515.20. The Nifty Bank, Auto, Metal, Pharma and Realty indices gained between 1 percent and 3 percent while the broader markets also participated in the up move with the Nifty Midcap index rising over 1.5 percent. Global investment firm Morgan Stanley has raised its 30-share BSE Sensex target to 42,000 for September 2019, implying a potential upside of 11 percent. Individual stocks as always didn't disappoint to give handsome returns. Let's take a look at the top 10 stocks which moved the most last week: Shree Renuka Sugar, up 29.26% Prices of sugar stocks including Shree Renuka Sugar zoomed close to 30 percent in the week gone by after the government approved increase in ethanol prices by 25 percent. The stock price zoomed 20 percent on Friday and it remained there and is expected to give more return in the coming days. KIOCL, up 27.53% Share price of KIOCL gained as company board is going to consider buyback of its shares on September 18. The meeting of board of directors of the company will be held on September 18 to consider the proposal for buyback of the fully paid-up equity shares of the company of face value of Rs 10 each. The trading window for dealing in the securities of the company shall remain closed from September 13 to 20, 2018 (both days inclusive). Hathway Cable, up 16.06% Earlier this month shares of Hathway Cable and Datacom jumped 20 percent after company entered in to partnership with Netflix to offer video streaming services to its subscribers. Netflix has partnered Hathway Broadband to offer video streaming services to the latter's eight lakh subscribers. Under the alliance, Netflix will be offered through Hathway's set-top box that includes a remote with a dedicated Netflix button to allow users to launch the service directly. Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilisers, up 7.56% Shares of Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF) gained as the company received an approval for sell of its TDR (Transfer of Development Rights). According to Mumbai Mirror report, the company can now sell the TDR that it got from the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) and the BMC. The Union cabinet on Tuesday permitted the RCF to avail a construction bonanza as compensation. ABB India, up 7.54% Earlier last week on September 8, ABB Chief Executive Ulrich Spiesshofer met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed how the company can help accelerate transition of public transportation to electric power, the company said Saturday. The meeting between Modi and Spiesshofer took place Friday during the Global Mobility Summit 'MOVE' here. In a filing to the BSE, power and automation technology firm ABB said Spiesshofer's talks with the Prime Minister focused on how ABB can support the government's renewable energy targets, and accelerate public transportation's transition to electric power. "By embracing e-mobility now, India can leapfrog other nations and become a world leader in e-mobility, while at the same time reducing emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. ABB is a technology leader for electric mobility and we are well positioned to partner Indias electric mobility mission 2030, Spiesshofer said. NMDC, up 4.2% State-owned NMDC said it has produced 9.85 million tonne (MT) iron ore in the April-August period of the ongoing financial year. The company produced 6.17 MT iron ore from its mines in Chhattisgarh and 3.68 MT from the mine in Karnataka, NMDC said in a filing to BSE. NMDC also said it sold 11.04 MT iron ore during the said period. Production and sales figures of iron ore are provisional, it added. "The prices of iron ore with effect from September 7 2018 have been fixed. Lump ore (65.5 percent, 6-40 mm) at Rs 3,550 per tonne. Fines (64 percent, -10 mm) at Rs 3,110 per tonne," it said. Grasim Industries, up 3.74% Aditya Birla Group firm Grasim Industries last month reported consolidated net profit of Rs 1,399.51 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, 2018-19. It had posted net profit of Rs 1,248.10 crore during the April-June period of last fiscal, 2017-18. Grasim said in a regulatory filing that its total income during the quarter under review stood at Rs 17,089.65 crore, as against Rs 11,222.17 crore in the year-ago period. IL&FS Transportation Networks, down 21.39% LIC, SBI and other key shareholders of debt-ridden IL&FS 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, sources said. The shareholders held a meeting Wednesday and it was decided that additional money would be given when Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) generates cash on its own by selling some of its assets, the sources said. IL&FS is seeking an immediate loan of around Rs 3,000 crore from key shareholders to help it tide over a cash crunch. Unitech, down 11.27% Earlier in the month of September, The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has asked real estate giant Unitech Limited to refund over Rs 40 lakh to a home buyer for failing to hand over the possession of an apartment. The apex consumer commission has asked the company to refund within six weeks Rs 42,58,475 and a compensation of simple interest at 12 percent per annum to Noida-resident Rishi Kapoor for a delay of over seven years in handing over the possession. "Refund an amount of Rs 42,58,475 to the complainant within six weeks along with compensation of 12 percent per annum from the date of payment till the realisation of the amount," Presiding Member of the Commission Justice Deepa Sharma said. LIC Housing Finance, down 4.24% LIC Housing Finance will offer loans up to Rs 15 lakh at concessional rate of 8.5 percent to customers in flood affected areas of Kerala. Under the scheme, loan up to Rs 15 lakh will be extended for properties located in the flood affected areas of Kerala for the purpose of reconstruction, repair, renovation or up-gradation of dwelling units, the company said in a statement. Announcing the plan Monday, LIC Housing Finance said 'Kerala Flood Scheme' will be offered at 8.5 percent special rate of interest. Customers can apply for loan till October 31. United Spirits, down 3.83% Global brokerage house Credit Suisse downgraded liquor maker United Spirits to Neutral and also slashed target price of the stock to Rs 610 per share. The research house cut earnings estimates by 9 percent /15 percent for FY19 / FY20 as sharp hike in ethanol prices for fuel blending is a major risk to the business. Gross margin expansion will become very tough, it feels. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Quantsapp Private Limited Week gone by saw immense volatility as Nifty fell from 11,589 last Friday to intra week low of 11,250 in first half however towards the end of the week Nifty recovered smartly and closed at 11,515 with loss of mere 0.6 percent week over week. Most of the sectoral indices like Pharma, Metal and Bank saw deep cuts at the start of week, however short covering led indices to recover majority of losses and close flat. Bank Nifty saw major correction as Index fell below its crucial support of 27,000 and made a low of 26,555 and ended down 1 percent at 27,163. IT stocks like Hexaware Technologies and Wipro remained safe bets during the past week. Foreign institutional investors (FII) were on a selling spree in Index Futures as well as Index Options. During the week they were seller of Rs 2,239 crore in Index futures with net short position addition of 15,600 contracts. Similarly on Index options front Synthetic long (Call long+Put Short)/Synthetic Short (Put long+Call Short) ratio fell further from 0.86 to 0.81. Fridays session saw short covering bout by FIIs. Put-Call ratio -Open interest wise corrected sharply in September to 1.28 level. However, as market recovered from sentimentally oversold level, PCR too closed at 1.38 for the week. India VIX, Volatility Index, another sentiment indicator to gauge Fear and Greed surpassed 14 percent and made an intra week high of 15.45 percent however, as Nifty recovered VIX fell drastically and closed well within the band of 11-14 percent. As it trades near the upper end of the band, some cool off is expected in coming week thereby providing support to the market. Option data suggest 11,400 is acting as a crucial support for the market. Despite Nifty falling below 11,400, Put writers were firm and did not cover much of the short positions indicating strong possibility of Nifty recovery. Higher end Call writers initially added short position in 11,400-11,500 strike but later on saw unwinding propelling the momentum on higher side. Overall Nifty moves back in the range of 11,400-11,800. Respite if nor, reversal from lower level looks like high probability along with further dip in volatility. With relatively less trading days left for the expiry, writer would have an upper edge due to higher faster decay in time premium. To take advantage of this, Ratio Call Spread is recommended in Nifty Ratio Call Spread is a Neutral to Bullish strategy that aims to make money from slower bullish momentum, time decay and falling volatility. Under this strategy we are buying 1 lot of lower strike Call and selling 2 higher strike OTM strike. Maximum profit would be realised if Nifty closes at higher strike. : The author is CEO & Head of Research at Quantsapp Private Limited. The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. State-owned engineering and construction company IRCON International will open its initial public offering for subscription on September 17 with a price band of Rs 470-475 per share. This would be the 9th company coming out with public issue in current financial year 2018-19 while it would the second company from Government of India coming out with IPO under divestment programme. The book running lead managers to the Offer are IDBI Capital Markets & Securities, Axis Capital and SBI Capital Markets. Equity shares are proposed to be listed on BSE and NSE. Here are 10 key things to know before subscribing the issue: Company Profile IRCON International is an integrated Indian engineering and construction company, specialising in major infrastructure projects, including, railways, highways, bridges, flyovers, tunnels, aircraft maintenance hangars, runways, EHV sub-stations, electrical and mechanical works, commercial and residential properties, development of industrial areas, and other infrastructure activities. The company provides EPC services on a fixed-sum turnkey basis as well as on an item-rate basis for various infrastructure projects. It also executes on build, operate and transfer mode in various projects in order to meet the requirements of its bids. In December 2017, IRCON bought back 0.49 crore shares at a price of Rs 386.72 per share. As of March 2018, IRCON had an order book of Rs 22,406.79 crore. The company has headquarter in New Delhi and overseas office in Malaysia. Additionally, it has 26 project offices in India and abroad (including in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa and Algeria) and five regional offices to support and manage business operations. Corporate Structure About Public Issue The public issue comprises an offer for sale of 99,05,157 equity shares by its promoter, The President of India, acting through the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. The offer includes a reservation of up to 5,00,000 shares for subscription by eligible employees. The offer and the net offer will constitute 10.53 percent and 10.00 percent of the post offer paid-up equity share capital of the company respectively. The issue closes on September 19. Retail investors and eligible employees will get shares at a discount of Rs 10 per share on the final offer price. Bids can be made for a minimum lot of 30 equity shares and in multiples of 30 equity shares thereafter. Fund raising IRCON aims to raise Rs 465.54 crore at lower end and Rs 470.5 crore at higher end of price band, through the public issue. Objects of the Issue The object of the offer is to carry out the disinvestment of upto 99,05,157 equity shares by the promoter; and to achieve benefits of listing the equity shares on the Stock Exchanges. Company will not receive any proceeds from the offer and all proceeds will go to the selling shareholder. Competitive Strengths > Construction business operates in diverse sectors covering many countries. > Company has excellent execution track record through strong operating systems and control. > Company has a strong credit profile that includes non-fund based standby bank limits of Rs 3,120 crore out of which Rs 1,664.77 crore has been utilised. As of March 2018, the financial profile of company is characterised by healthy profitability margins and a comfortable liquidity position. > Visible growth through robust order book and steady execution: Order book of Rs 22,406.79 crore translates into approximately six times total operating revenue in FY18, and provides evidence of healthy revenue profile. > It has qualified and experienced employees and proven management team. Business Strategy > Company will continue expanding geographical footprint within and beyond India. > Company is gradually moving from generating income only through individual projects to regularly generating revenue and profits through subsidiaries and joint venture companies. > Company will cocus on high value projects in the construction business to benefit from economies of scale. > Business growth continues to be attributed principally to increased bidding activities for more and larger projects awarded by government clients. > Its financial profile of healthy profitability margins with comfortable liquidity position has contributed to operational performance. It intends to continue this favourable capital structure with minimum debt by leveraging advances received from clients and internal accruals for working capital requirement towards projects. > Company intends to explore different models of project execution to optimise project portfolio. > Company also intends to explore potential ways to capture sectorial initiatives undertaken by the government to improve economic growth. > Company continues to focus on improving health, safety and environment for employees. It intends to further strengthen work force through continued on-job skill development and training. Financials On a consolidated basis, over FY16-18, IRCON posted revenue and PAT CAGR of 27 percent and 2 percent, respectively. Average EBITDA margins stood at 10.8 percent and return on equity (RoE) at 10.3 percent. The companys cash & bank balance stands at Rs 4,691 crore as of March 2018 and has historically been debt free. Management and Promoter Sunil Kumar Chaudhary is the Chairman and Managing Director of the company. He has been on the board of the company since October 29, 2016 and is spear heading the entire operations of the company. Board of Directors Promoter is the President of India acting through the Ministry of Railways. Promoter, along with its nominees, currently holds 99.71 percent of the pre-offer paid-up equity share capital of the company. After this offer, promoter will hold 89.18 percent of the post offer paid-up equity share capital. Dividend Policy IRCON has been consistently paying dividends to shareholders (56.3 percent dividend payout in FY18). Risks and Concerns Here are some risks and concerns highlighted by several brokerages: > The business and revenues are substantially dependent on construction and infrastructure projects undertaken or awarded by government authorities and other entities funded by the government. Any change in government policies, the restructuring of existing projects or delay in payments, may adversely affect the business and results of operations. > Delay in regulatory approvals could impact the execution timeline. > Prolonged time taken to secure international orders. > The portfolio will be increasingly concentrated in large-scale and long-term projects, specifically, projects in the railway sector (86.7 percent of March 2018 order book). Such concentration in the portfolio if not properly managed could lead to material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. > Vigilance issues raised by statutory auditors. > Materialisation of contingent liabilities can impact financials. > Pending legal proceedings, which, if determined against the company, may have a material adverse impact on business operations & financials. > Some of the employees are on deputation from Ministry of Railway and may not get permanently absorbed in the company. > Projects sub-contracted or undertaken through a joint venture may be delayed on account of the performance of the joint venture partner, principal or sub-contractor, resulting in delayed payments or non-enforcement of performance guarantee issued by the company, could lead to material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. > IRCONs subsidiaries are currently not compliant with DPE guidelines on corporate governance for central public sector enterprises. Representative image The opposition Congress in Kerala Saturday alleged that flood relief operations in the state have come to a standstill in the absence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is in the US for treatment. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president MM Hassan told reporters that the cabinet had not met after the Chief Minister left for the US on 2 September. The administration has also come to a halt, he said and alleged that the immediate flood relief of Rs 10,000 was not given to all those affected, though the government had promised that the amount would be disbursed within 48 hours. The KPCC chief also flayed the reported move to transfer employees who refuse to accept the 'salary challenge' of paying one months salary to the Chief Ministers Disaster Relief Fund. The government had said yesterday that Rs 1,236 crore had been spent so far on flood relief works to overcome the devastation caused by the deluge last month The immediate assistance of Rs 10,000 had been given to 5.70 lakh families so far, the government said. The trajectory of Chinese actions suggests 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 concurred 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 stumble into some situation that escalated. Bakshi said in the Doklam incident, military action lasted about 100 hours and nothing changed on the 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. Representative Image The Shiv Sena Saturday hit out at the Congress saying its allegations against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over fugitive tycoon Vijay Mallya's claims on meeting him were "ridiculous". The saffron party asked if the Congress knew about their meeting, why did it remain silent all these years. Wondering who was pulling the strings of the Congress and Mallya, the Sena said the controversy was a part of the preparation for the 2019 general elections. "Mallya is a liar. The statement he made in a London court has landed Arun Jaitley in trouble. He claimed that before leaving India, he had met Jaitley and offered settlement." "But what is the need of making Jaitley an accused in the case just on the basis of Mallya's statement? But Congress has done that," the Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'. "Mallya left the country without repaying loans worth thousands of crores. Currently, he is facing extradition trial in London. There are 16 banks in the country that are hit by NPAs and those who took loans from these banks were tycoons, including Mallya," it added. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party added that although Mallya tried to go for one-time settlement, the banks were not ready for it. "The banks were not ready for Mallya's offer and hence he met Jaitley in the Parliament. Being an MP himself, it was Mallya's right to roam on the Parliament premises. Therefore, the Congress leader P L Punia's charge that Jaitley is also an accused in the case is outrightly ridiculous," it said. In fact, the kind of people Congress and BJP have as their MPs, the ministers face a dilemma whom to meet and whom to avoid. Moreover, Mallya is not the only one who defaulted on loan repayment. There are many such loan defaulters roaming openly as MPs, the party said. "It has now come to light that Congress president Rahul Gandhi was present at a family function of (fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi. So, should Congress chief Rahul Gandhi be blamed for his escape?" the Sena asked. "Mallya made the revelations in the court after so many years. If the Congress knew about the meeting beforehand, why did it hide it for so long?" "Or is it that there is somebody else behind Mallya's revelations and the subsequent attacks by the Congress. It is all a part of 2019 poll preparations. Those unwanted are being removed now. It is happening with Jaitley," the Sena said. Mallya had last Wednesday claimed in London that he had met the finance minister before leaving for the UK, drawing a rebuttal from Jaitley who said he never gave him any appointment but the businessman used his privilege as an MP to accost him in Parliament. Latching on to his comments, the Congress president had accused Jaitley of providing Mallya a "free passage" to "run away" from India. The Sena said Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, an accused in the Bofors scandal, could not have left India without the help from the Indian government and the CBI. Quattrocchi had fled India in 1993 never to return and did not face trial in the cases filed against him. He died in July 2013. Amid a political furore over the multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet deal, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has suggested it is futile to engage opposition parties on the issue when all facts have been already placed before Parliament. She also alleged that the Opposition has "misled" the country and thrown unsubstantiated allegations on a sensitive issue concerning India's defence preparedness. She made the comments on Thursday during an interaction with PTI journalists. On Saturday, the Defence Ministry said Sitharaman had not said that the opposition does not deserve to be engaged. 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? You (opposition) 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 and should have taken them into confidence, 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, virtually ruling out any engagement with the opposition parties. On Saturday, Congress national spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi slammed the defence minister in a tweet, saying the "false bravado and arrogance seeps in when one has no answers". National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said, "The arrogance on display here is breathtaking. No government should refuse to engage with opposition parties. The current government keeps lowering the benchmark with amazing regularity." A defence ministry spokesperson Saturday clarified that the minister "didn't use the words 'opposition doesn't deserve to be briefed' and the contention was to state that facts have been placed before the Parliament". In the interview, 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 the Congress, opposition parties have 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 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 a 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 a 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 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. E-governance is easy governance, effective governance, and also economic governance. E-governance paves the way for good governance. (Image: Reuters) Launching the "Swachhata Hi Seva" campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Saturday all sections of society and every part of the country have joined the cleanliness drive as he noted few would have thought that nine crore toilets would be built and 4.5 lakh villages declared open defecation free in four years. Prime Minister sweeps the premises of Baba Sahib Ambedkar Higher Secondary School in Paharganj as a part of #SwachhataHiSeva movement. pic.twitter.com/ky55AHCQix ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 The "cleanliness is service" campaign will continue till Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2, with Modi asking people to rededicate themselves to fulfilling the father of the nation's dream of a clean India during an interactive programme. The prime minister spoke to groups of people from across the country besides several religious figures, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and personalities including Amitabh Bachchan and Ratan Tata through video-conference in which they shared details of their work for the campaign. The sanitation coverage in India has increased to over 90 per cent from 40 per cent in four years, Modi said. "Had anybody imagined that more than 450 districts would be open defecation free (ODF) in four years or that 20 states and Union Territories would be open defecation free in four years," he said, calling it a historic day today as he launched the fortnight-long campaign. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan cleans parts of Delhi's Vasant Vihar area as a part of #SwachhataHiSeva movement. pic.twitter.com/JYSKnqlqiW ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous and among the poorest states, would be OFD by October 2, 2018, as per a baseline survey of the clean India campaign. He said that his government is working to ensure that every family has a toilet by October 2019. His government had built over 1.36 crore toilets since it came to power last year and its emphasis on cleanliness has led to a drastic fall in vector-borne diseases. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh sweeps the streets in Faridabad as part of #SwachhataHiSeva movement. #Haryana pic.twitter.com/CIaw65N7mw ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 Modi lauded Adityanath for his government's efforts. The prime minister spoke to people in states such as Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Haryana. He also interacted with Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel involved in cleaning Pangong Lake and its surroundings in Leh, besides religious and spiritual figures like Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and Mata Amritanandamayi. He also interacted with Sikh religious figures from Patna Sahib gurudwara and Muslim custodians of Ajmer Sharif shrine among others. Modi said those working for the cleanliness campaign would be remembered like freedom fighters in the times to come and would be known as true heirs to Gandhi. rahul gandhi 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 a 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. BJP national president Amit Shah Blaming international developments for the rising petrol and diesel prices and dipping rupee value, BJP president Amit Shah Saturday said the Centre will come out with a solution soon. Petrol and diesel prices have scaled new highs since mid-August due to a combination of a dip in rupee value against the US dollar and the rise in crude oil prices. "The increasing petrol and diesel prices and sliding rupee against dollar are a cause of concern for both the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the government," Shah told reporters here. "It was due to some developments that took place globally. (The) Trade war between US and China and issues between the US and oil-producing countries. Because of these global reasons, these developments are taking place," he added. "We are also concerned about this. Solution is also being found out. Within short time, the government will take a stand on these issues and come out," he said further. But Shah made it clear that the impact on rupee was "far less" than compared to other currencies. The Opposition parties led by Congress had on September 10 called for a nationwide shutdown to protest against the escalating prices of fuel and other essential items. Replying to a query on the arrest warrant issued by the Dharmabad court in Maharashtra against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and some of his party functionaries, Shah said the BJP had got nothing to do with it. The warrant was issued in a case related to an agitation that Naidu, then in the Opposition in united Andhra Pradesh, undertook over Babli project on Godavari river in 2010. He said there were Congress governments in both Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra during 2010 when the case was taken up by the court. "Now Chandrababu is trying to have tie up with those pursuing vendetta against him. He was trying to gain sympathy out of the issue," Shah said. Goa CM Manohar Parrikar The Goa BJP held a meeting of its state-level core committee, on Friday, against the backdrop of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's hospitalisation. Parrikar, who returned from the US after a medical check-up on 7 September, was admitted to a private hospital at Candolim in North Goa district on Thursday evening. The party's core committee, which met at Mapusa on Friday, comprises three MPs from the state (two Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha) as well as senior leaders. While the party did not reveal details of the meeting, a participant, on condition of anonymity, said it was a "general meeting" which discussed the "existing political situation" in Goa. The core committee later met Parrikar. Leaders of the Goa Forward Party and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, both partners in his government, also met Parrikar for the first time since the chief minister returned from the US on 7 September. Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief Vijai Sardesai told reporters that he visited Parrikar to greet him on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi and inquire about his health. "I went to wish him on Ganesh Chaturthi. When I went there, he had gone to his ancestral house. I was feeling good that he is in a position to visit his home," state Agriculture minister Sardesai said. Parrikar had visited his ancestral house in Parra, on Friday afternoon. Replying to a query on GFP's stand in the event of Parrikar resigning, Sardesai said he wouldn't answer the question as "there is no vacancy right now." INDORE, INDIA - JUNE 2: Congress workers ride bullock carts and tongas during a protest against petrol and diesel price hike by Central government on June 2, 2016 in Indore, India. Petrol price has been hike by a steep Rs. 4.47 a litre and diesel by Rs. 6.46 per litre in the last five weeks, taking retail rates to their highest level in one year. (Photo by Shankar Mourya/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) The Tripura government said Saturday it would take action against its staff who did not attend office on 10 September, the day Congress observed Bharat Bandh protesting against the hike in petroleum prices. The BJP-led government in Tripura had earlier asked all staff to be present on the said date or face punitive action. The state government issued an office memorandum on Friday saying action would be taken against government employees who remained absent on September 10. The memorandum was issued from the office of General Administration (Administrative Reforms) by Under-Secretary M Rema asking concerned departments to take suitable action against the employees who remained absent on the day of Bharat Bandh. The Department of General Administration issued a separate memo ahead of the Congress sponsored strike and instructed officials to maintain normal functioning on September 10. The memo also summoned the attendance report of all employees by 12 noon on the day. The government has decided to take suitable action against those employees who did not attend office on 10th September, 2018 during Bharat Bandh, the memo said. According to official reports, over 80 percent attendance was recorded in the state government offices on 10 September. The Congress' nationwide strike had evoked a mixed response in the state. India and Serbia on Saturday signed two agreements, including one on air services, as Vice President Venkaiah Naidu met Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and held "fruitful" discussions with him on strengthening cooperation in a number of areas, including trade, defence and IT. Naidu, who arrived here on Friday, was welcomed by Vucic at the Serbia Palace. During the visit, the two sides signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of plant health and plant quarantine and a revised Air Services Agreement. "These agreements will contribute to further enhancing bilateral economic ties," Vice President's office tweeted. "New impetus to the partnership that is gaining momentum!Vice President @MVenkaiahNaidu & President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic led delegation level talks between the two sides where fruitful discussions on food production,agriculture, pharmaceuticals, defence industry, tourism & IT followed," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. The two leaders also discussed ways to strengthen economic cooperation and trade to expand the great potential of a partnership between two countries, he said. "India is the largest global player in generic medicines and with the new Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy, we have the potential to become the largest drugs manufacturer and exporter in the world, including in the East European region," Naidu said. "We greatly appreciate the growing interest and increasing popularity of Indian culture, especially in Yoga, Ayurveda and Homeopathy in Serbia," he said. Today India is one of the fastest growing major economies in the world, Naidu said as he invited Serbian companies to take advantage of the favourable trade and investment environment in India as well as major policy initiatives like Make in India, Smart cities, Digital India and Start-up India by participating in these programmes. "There is huge scope to promote collaboration in sectors like agriculture and food processing, science & technology, IT and Electronics, pharmaceuticals, education and tourism," the vice president said. The two leaders jointly presided over India-Serbia Business Forum meeting where leading businessmen were urged to explore new opportunities emerging in both the countries. The two leaders jointly released the postage stamp of Swami Vivekananda and Nikola Tesla, the great scientist from Serbia to commemorate 70 years of India-Serbia diplomatic relations. Earlier, Naidu was accorded a ceremonial welcome by Vucic. Yesterday, Naidu interacted with the Indian community in Belgrade and asked them to be part of India's growth story. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday met Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and held a fruitful discussion" with him on strengthening cooperation in a number of areas, including trade, defence and IT. Naidu, who arrived here on Friday, was welcomed by Vucic at the Serbia Palace. During the visit, the two sides finalised agreement on cooperation in the field of plant health and plant quarantine and a revised Air Services Agreement. New impetus to the partnership that is gaining momentum!Vice President @MVenkaiahNaidu & President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic led delegation level talks betwn 2 sides where fruitful discussion on food production,agriculture, pharmaceuticals,defense industry,tourism & IT followed. pic.twitter.com/uLDKprM4TT Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) September 15, 2018 "These agreements will contribute to further enhancing bilateral economic ties," Vice President's office tweeted. The two leaders also discussed ways to strengthen economic cooperation and trade to expand the great potential of partnership between two countries, he said. Earlier, Naidu was accorded a ceremonial welcome Vucic. This year India and Serbia are celebrating 70 years of establishment of diplomatic relations. "I am glad that we will jointly release the postage stamp on two great personalities, Swami Vivekananda and Nikola Tesla," the vice president said. Nikola Tesla was a Serbian American inventor and engineer who is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current electricity supply system. Yesterday, Naidu interacted with the Indian community in Belgrade and asked them to be part of India's growth story. Boko Haram gunmen killed eight people when they attacked two villages in restive northeast Nigeria in an attempt to steal livestock Friday, local militia said. The jihadists moved into Modu Ajiri and Bulama Kayiri villages in Borno state to take cattle and sheep but the villagers put up a fight to save their livestock. "Fighting erupted when the villagers tried to stop the attackers," local militia spokesman Bunu Bukar Mustapha told AFP. "Eight people were killed in the fight and four others were injured," he said from the state capital Maiduguri, 90 kilometres away. The militants opened fire on the villagers who were armed with machetes, bows and arrows, cudgels and swords, he said. "The villagers were no match for the Boko Haram terrorists who came with guns," said militia leader Babakura Kolo, who gave a similar toll. After the attack, the jihadists herded all the stolen livestock into the bush, he said. He said residents of the two villages had fled for fear of renewed attack by the insurgents. Mustapha said the bodies of the victims were recovered by soldiers and militia who took them to the nearby town of Nganzai, some 10 kilometres away. Boko Haram has intensified attacks especially against military targets in recent months. On Wednesday, scores of Islamists attacked a military base in Damasak in the far north of Borno state. They were repelled with aerial support after an hours-long battle. Boko Haram's nine-year insurgency has spilled over into neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon, killing thousands of people and displacing over two million. India and Serbia on Saturday resolved to fight the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and decided to enhance cooperation in areas like defence manufacturing, IT and infrastructure, as Vice President Venkaiah Naidu met Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Naidu, who arrived here on Friday, was welcomed by Vucic at the Serbia Palace. During the visit, the two sides signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of plant health and plant quarantine and a revised Air Services Agreement. "The agreement on cooperation in plant protection and plant quarantine would contribute to increasing bilateral trade in agricultural products. The Air Services Agreement would boost trade and tourism by the launch of direct air connectivity between India to Serbia in future," Naidu said in a statement. In their discussions, the two leaders we also exchanged views on multilateral issues and agreed to intensify cooperation in the areas of mutual interest. "India and Serbia have had close cooperation at the United Nations and other multilateral fora. We agreed that United Nations needs to be reformed to reflect the realities of today and address current global challenges, it is long overdue," Naidu said. "We resolved to fight the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism at various international fora. It is a global challenge and requires a global response. Terror has no religion. Terrorism is the enemy of humanity. We must all come together. I am happy that both of us agreed to move in the direction of creating the needed public opinion," he said. Naidu had an extensive discussion with Vucic on all important aspects of bilateral relations as well as global and regional issues of common interest to both of our countries. "We expressed our commitment to further build on long-standing friendly ties between our two countries," he said. During their talks, Naidu and Vucic agreed to expand the bilateral cooperation especially in the areas of economic and cultural relations. "In the area of economic cooperation, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of priority such as agriculture, food processing, defence manufacturing, science and technology, information technology, infrastructure, tourism and pharmaceuticals," Naidu said. He said India looked forward to further close cooperation with Serbia. "I have already assured the President that India stands for the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Serbia. There is no question of any dilution and deviation of our stand. I am also equally happy that the Hon'ble President has unequivocally publically declared their support to India's cause in the United Nations and also in the other international forums," he said. Naidu thanked Vucic for Serbia's unilateral decision to waive visa for short visits by Indians travelling to Serbia. Talks with North Korea are ongoing over the country's potential denuclearisation, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday, despite the appearance that discussions had stalled. "We are still continuing to have many conversations with the DPRK about how to effectuate achieving all the commitments that were made during the Singapore summit," Pompeo told journalists. At a landmark meeting on June 12 with US President Donald Trump, North Korea's Kim Jong Un pledged 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. Last month, Trump abruptly cancelled a planned visit by Pompeo to Pyongyang. But new ground appears to have been broken, as the White House talks of a possible second summit with the US president. Top US diplomat Pompeo Friday said the United States is "as committed as ever to continuing to enforce those UN Security Council resolutions." "We believe they are central to President Trump's efforts to convince Chairman Kim that full, final denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is necessary." Mike Pompeo US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday lambasted his predecessor, John Kerry, for meetings with Iranian officials in back-channel talks and accused him of "actively undermining" the Trump administration's policy towards Tehran. "What Secretary Kerry has done is unseemly and unprecedented," Pompeo told a news conference, adding that he "ought not to engage in that kind of behaviour. It's inconsistent with what the foreign policy of the United States is, as directed by this president. It is beyond inappropriate." Pompeo's sharp criticism of Kerry comes a day after President Donald Trump accused the former secretary of state of "illegal" meetings on Iran in a late-night tweet. "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 said on Twitter. Trump withdrew the United States from a nuclear deal that Kerry clinched in 2015 between Iran and six world powers. The Trump administration has pushed a hard line against Tehran, which it accuses of expanding its influence in the Middle East through support for proxy armed groups in countries such as Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. Kerry, in a radio interview with Fox News as part of a book tour, said he had met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif "three or four times" since the end of his term in January 2017. He has also accused the Trump administration of pursuing a policy of regime change in Iran. "Mr. President, you should be more worried about Paul Manafort meeting with Robert Mueller than me meeting with Iran's FM," Kerry said on Twitter shortly after Pompeo's remarks, referring to Trump's former campaign chairman who on Friday agreed to cooperate with federal investigators into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election. "Theres nothing unusual, let alone unseemly or inappropriate, about former diplomats meeting with foreign counterparts," a spokesman for Kerry said in a statement. "What is unseemly and unprecedented is for the podium of the State Department to be hijacked for political theatrics," he said. During interviews this week Kerry has accused the Trump administration of pursuing a policy of regime change in Iran. Pompeo pushed back, saying that was not the administration's intention. "This is a former secretary of state engaged with the world's largest state sponsor of terror ...," Pompeo said, adding: "He was telling them to wait out this administration. You can't find precedent for this in U.S. history." U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting at United Nations (U.N.) headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., August 23, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson - RC124DEAC600 The United States has presented a draft Security Council resolution aimed at toughening the UN response to failures by peacekeepers in their mission to protect civilians, US Ambassador Nikki Haley said Wednesday. UN peacekeeping missions are facing a damaging wave of allegations of sex abuse and of failing to come to the aid of civilians caught up in violence, notably in the Central African Republic and South Sudan. The draft text, seen by AFP, would reinforce measures such as repatriating peacekeepers, replacing units and withholding UN payments for soldiers involved in misconduct -- penalties that have irked troop-contributing countries. "We hear far too many stories of civilians who are vulnerable, who put their trust in peacekeepers, and our peacekeepers fail to protect them," Haley told a council debate on peacekeeping. The draft resolution will "accelerate progress on improving peacekeeping performance," she said. The United States, which is the number one financial contributor to the UN's peacekeeping budget of $6.9 billion, has moved to cut funding amid concerns over misconduct and poor performance of some missions. But Russia and China cautioned that the views of troop-contributing countries must be taken into account and called for improved training of peacekeepers, instead of penalties. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the council should not become involved in "micro-management" of missions and suggested that the council could show support for improved performance through a statement instead of a binding resolution. Pakistan, one of the top three troop contributors to peacekeeping, spoke out against a public "name-and-shame" approach and pointed that a lack of resources was undermining peacekeepers in their missions. Negotiations on the draft were continuing and a vote has not been scheduled. The United Nations has 96,000 peacekeepers serving in 14 missions worldwide. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has vowed to toughen the UN response to allegations of misconduct against the blue helmets and has appointed a victims' advocate to oversee the handling of cases of sexual abuse. His predecessor Ban Ki-moon took the unprecedented step of firing the commander of the mission in the Central African Republic over his handling of dozens of cases of sex abuse and misconduct by the peacekeepers. Ban also sacked the head of the mission in South Sudan following a report that showed peacekeepers did not respond to appeals for help from aid workers who came under attack at a nearby hotel compound. A decade can fly by pretty quickly, one minute youre watching the news of the Lehmann Brothers and the beginning of the GFC, you blink, and its 10 years later. Since the 2008 GFC, debt has been accumulating all around the world. And as is evident in Turkey, global debt could become a bigger problem than it already is. Central banks around the world used stimulus packages to boost their economies and in Australia, it also kept us out of a recession. For this to work, countries had to spend money, which has led to debt. With a decade-long buildup of debt, comes the glaring prospect that another global financial crisis may happen. Are we on the verge of another financial crisis? Just this week, the world has been given a shocking financial warning In this free report, economy expert reveals four ways you could cash in on the global infrastructure boom. Download now. Canada Pension Plan president Mark Machin expressed his concern for the future, stating, as reported by the ABC: One of the things that worries me in the longer term is just the amount of debt in the world. And while the worlds current debt levels are not on the same playing field that the US housing debt was in 2008, government debt is high. As Machin states, [world] debt might not be where it was, going into the global financial crisis surrounding real estate in the US, but theres an enormous amount of debt at government levels whether its in Europe, Japan or the US, where its $US21 trillion at a government level. Theres been a massive re-leveraging [since the GFC], much more debt generally in the world, and that debt ultimately has to be paid off. Thats one of the challenges when you look at some government debt, its becoming so owned by central banks that its becoming quite illiquid as well. Have we learnt anything from the last? Global debt has been a concern for quite some time now. September 2018 marks a decade since the GFC and analysts are starting to ask the question: Have we learnt anything? Well, it doesnt look like the answer will be a positive one. As global debt reached US$247 trillion in 2018, thats up from US$112 in 2007. Furthermore, in 2018 alone weve seen the collapse of the Turkish lira, and currencies continue to fall against the greenback. And Chinese debt continues to increase. Central banks and governments around the world have seen their debt increase exponentially since the GFC. The issues today are very similar to the issues in 2008. Investors, central banks, banks and financial institutions have seemingly forgotten the causes of the GFC. As the Conversation put it: Only a decade has passed since the collapse of Lehman Brothers, and it seems the mortgage crisis and subsequent Great Recession are already ancient history in the minds of many investors, bankers and regulators. All it took was a few short years of low default rates and good loan growth to re-create the kind of heady atmosphere of irrational exuberance that transforms staid bankers into high-wire risk takers. For those who have forgotten, such risk takers are the the [sic] ones who caused the 2008 crisis, which resulted in the collapse of investment bank Lehman Brothers on Sept. 15 and the worst recession since the 1930s. And if we were to find ourselves in another financial crisis? Well, Australia likely wouldnt be able to pay its way out of a recession once more. With rates at record lows, the RBA simply doesnt have the tools at its disposal to save us this time. If you are interested in a way to look out for your future, should global markets come crashing down, then check out controversial financial analyst Harry Dents Boom & Bust Letter. Harry predicted the 2008 GFC and his current predictions for Australia are equally grim. This week in Money Morning In Mondays Money Morning, Greg discusses how about 10 years ago, Australia made the decision to develop a LNG export industry. Multinational oil and gas companies invested $70 billion to build a number of LNG export terminals on Gladstone Island, in Queensland. This brought Australia closer to the international gas price, and saw us surrender the benefits of our abundance of cheap gas. Australias gas price is of course moving towards the price Asian importers will pay. As always, the economic imperative trumps the environmental onethere is nothing Morrison can do to get prices down aside from restricting imports. To find out more, go here. In Tuesdays Money Morning, Harje looks at how stocks, rather than float upwards, generally rise or fall in spurts. If youre going to invest large chucks of your wealth in stocks, Harje asks that you please dont speculate. Theres nothing wrong with speculation. You could earn serious returns betting on a few choice small-caps. However, these returns are far from guaranteed. Whats the alternative? Look for companies you can understand and have high certainty of reward. Consider that even a wonderful business can be a bad investment. This is where price comes into the equation. To find out more, go here. On Wednesday, Harje explained that with technology productivity increases, while hours worked and labour remains the same. Its how Alibaba has been able to grow from an online directory to one of the most dominate tech conglomerates in China. Its also how countries like China and India are going to get their second wind and continue growing at insane rates. China in particular has been planning their second wind for years now. The aim is to close the gap between Western hi-tech nations and try to lessen their dependency on imported technology. Should China or Indias Made in India plan be successful, you could see once in a lifetime opportunities emerge. To find out more, click here. In Thursdays Money Morning, Harje asks the question: Why has the stock (Telstra) risen more than 20% from its low this year? Everyone was so negative on the stock just months ago. What has changed now? Buying Australias largest telco near all-time lows might be one answer. However, Harje believes a lot of investors might have piled simply because a rising price reaffirms the view of a bargain price. Most will base their decision on earnings. But others are buying for a whole bunch of other reasons. And because the market is not always rational, its common to see stocks like Telstra rise in the short-term only to fall over time. Of course, we have no special insight into the future of Telstras stock price. But a missed opportunity in the short-term may not matter. To find out more, go here. In Fridays Money Morning, Harje asks the question: Did you know the earliest stock market investors were technical traders? It wasnt for another 100 years or so that investors started to emphasis business fundamentals (things like earnings potential, assets and debt). Rather than look at a company as the average of its past, economist John Burr Williams thought a company was worth its future earnings discounted to the present. Today, asset managers are again changing how they look at stock. Not only are they looking at charts and earnings expectations. Fundies are using mathematics to find non-correlated bets, risk adjusted returns or factor-based models. To find out more, go here. Kind regards, Alana Sumic, Editor, Money Weekend PS: Population growth is booming find out how you can make the most of a massive global infrastructure rush in this free report. Get access now. Regular readers of this column know that Morningstar has a thing for moats. We think that companies that have established significant competitive advantages--or in our parlance, that have dug moats--can better withstand competition and earn high returns on capital for years to come. However, valuation matters, too. As a result, we can be positive on a company but negative on its stock. Sure, our analysts may suggest on occasion that investors pick up shares of particular wide-moat companies that are fairly valued by our metrics. But you'd be hard pressed to find anyone at Morningstar who thinks it's a good idea to buy a wide-moat stock trading in 1-star range. (Bloomberg) -- Matador Resources Co. was the anonymous purchaser of drilling rights in the Permian shale that fetched a record $95,001 per acre. The shares dropped the most in more than a year. Chief Financial Officer David Lancaster confirmed on Wednesday that the record lease was part of the $387 million the Dallas-based company spent on 8,400 net acres in the Permians Delaware Basin. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management, which conducted New Mexico auction last week, had identified the winning bidder as Federal Abstract Co., a firm in Santa Fe that bids on behalf of anonymous investors. Were comfortable in what we paid, Lancaster said by telephone late Wednesday. We feel its some of the best acreage in New Mexico. The leases are for a 10-year term and a royalty of 12.5 percent, Lancaster said. That gives operators better terms than Texas properties on the other side of the border, where leases typically last up to five years with about 25 percent royalties. Still, Matadors shares dropped 7 percent in New York, the most since August 2017. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark oil price, fell 2.5 percent to $68.59 a barrel on Thursday. Matador hiked its production and capital spending targets after crude output from the Delaware Basin exceeded the companys expectations so far this year, according to a statement last month. The purchases wont affect its 2018 capital budget as they wont be drilled until late next year, Matador President Matt Hairford said by phone. The acquired acreage includes 2,800 acres in the State Line Area, the most prolific portion of the Permian, in our view, Scott Hanold, an analyst at RBC, said in the research note to clients. All leases purchased by Matador were for land in Lea and Eddy Counties in the state. The hefty price tag is causing some analyst jitters, since it amounts to about 10 percent of the drillers $3.7 billion market value, Neal Dingmann, analyst at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Inc., said in a research note to clients Wednesday. The purchased segments of land will allow the company to drill longer laterals of up to two miles or more. Since the late 1990s, when fracking began, shale production has meant drilling sideways, pumping water, sand and chemicals at high pressure to create cracks in rock deep in the ground to release oil. Slightly under half the acquired position offsets existing Matador acreage, while the other half is blocky and in well-established and very prolific areas, Dingmann said in the note. Matador now holds rights to a total of 123,800 net acres in the Delaware. The sale was a record-setter for the state, raising a total of $972 million for bids on 142 parcels of land. To contact the reporters on this story: Ryan Collins in Houston at rcollins74@bloomberg.net;Kevin Crowley in Houston at kcrowley1@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Simon Casey at scasey4@bloomberg.net, Carlos Caminada, Dan Reichl 2018 Bloomberg L.P. Midland County Sheriffs Office A former Midland County Sheriffs Office deputy sheriff and jailer who was arrested Wednesday after allegedly engaging in sexual contact with an inmate has been released on bonds totaling $50,000, according to Sheriff Gary Painter. The case of Midlander Sybil Jean Gentry, 25, will be submitted to the Midland County District Attorneys Office for presentation to a grand jury, according to a press release from MCSO. Living Lewis and Clark Program Returns to North Oregon Coast, Seaside Published 09/14/2018 at 5:17 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Seaside, Oregon) It's the return of the "Return of the Salt Makers" to the north Oregon coast. The October event answers the question: What do you do when you run out of salt and the nearest store is more than 2,000 miles away? When the explorers of the Lewis and Clark expedition arrived at the Pacific coast in 1805, they needed salt to preserve meat, along with adding a little flavor to their meals. But the supply of salt which they acquired in St. Louis, before they began their long and arduous voyage across the vast American West, was exhausted. So the members of the Corps of North Western Discovery as Captain Meriwether Lewis called the party in his journal did the only thing they could: make their own salt. On December 28, 1805, Lewis and Capt. William Clark sent forth a special detachment from their just-completed winter quarters at Fort Clatsop. Five men travelled overland from the Fort to the coast, searching for the best location for making salt. On January 1, 1806, the fifth day of their search, these men found the perfect spot: the beach of present day Seaside, Oregon. Here is where they set up camp. Along with several other men who rotated in and out of the salt camp, they proceeded to make salt by boiling sea water for nearly two months, all while enduring the wet winter weather of of the future Oregon coast, before they returned to Fort Clatsop. On October 6th and 7th, interpreters from the Pacific Northwest Living Historians (PNLH) will once again bring to life the salt camp which those explorers established 212 years ago, in a program titled Lewis and Clark Salt Makers - which has been called the Return of the Salt Makers in the past. The event site will be at the west end of Avenue U in Seaside, near The Tides By The Sea Motel. After a brief orientation, visitors to the program will enter the camp to meet members of the Lewis and Clark expedition, who will be busy making salt by boiling sea water over a fire. Although this living history program will be part of the 50th Annual Meeting of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation (LCTHF), it is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Oregon Chapter of the LCTHF. The PNLH will also stage the program in collaboration with the Seaside Museum & Historical Society, Seaside Public Works Department, Clatsop County Work Crew, The Tides By The Sea Motel and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The history program also acknowledges the hard work of Bev and Mike Carrick of Turner, Oregon; without whose assistance, this program would not be possible. For more information: contact the PNLH at privatejwhitehouse@gmail.com. Lodging in Seaside - Where to eat - Maps and Virtual Tours More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has announced his plans to send a search and rescue team to North Carolina to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. Rauner is sending a 13-member Swiftwater team to assist with rescues. The team conducts search, rescue, and recovery missions for humans and animals in flooded environments, as well as emergency medical care and emergency transportation. In summer 1814, skirmishes between the U.S. and British-backed warriors under the leadership of Black Hawk flared up and down river from Rock Island. Since 1803 the U.S. had owned both banks of the Mississippi River. Lt. Zebulon Pike had reached the Rock Island in 1805 and immediately recognized its strategic and tactical importance. The Rock Island Rapids raced for 12 miles upriver. From Rock Island, the Army could control the entire Upper Mississippi River Valley by controlling the rapids. Locally, the Sauk and Meskwaki, led by Black Hawk, opposed a disputed 1804 treaty that transferred over 50 million acres of land to the U.S. An Army post on the island could also keep an eye on Black Hawk and his followers. The battles of 1814 confirmed to the Army that it needed a presence on Rock Island. In May 1816, Fort Armstrong was built on the downriver end of the island. The small Army contingent there was tasked to control the Upper Mississippi River Valley by monitoring the Rock Island Rapids; maintaining observation of assumed anti-American Sauk Indians in the area; maintaining peaceful relations between the local Native American tribes; and, later, providing security as settlers moved into the area. Resistance from the Sauk culminated in the Black Hawk War of 1832. Fort Armstrong served as an administrative and logistic center for the war. Treaties after the Black Hawk War pushed Native Americans west of the Mississippi and, as a result, Fort Armstrongs security role was transformed into a logistics mission as a supply depot. That role ended in 1845 after supplies were issued for the Mexican War. Important meetings were held in George Davenports home in 1845. Not a single bridge crossed the Mississippi River and Rock Island was the only location where engineering of the day could build a commercially viable railroad bridge. The bridge could jump from the Illinois mainland to the island and then over the shallow rapids to Iowa. After 11 years of wrangling and overcoming resistance from the federal government, the first rail bridge over the Mississippi River opened in April 1856 spurring industrial and settlement growth in the area. Rock Island, using water and rail, became the transportation hub of the United States. Eventually, the Transcontinental Railroad crossed the island. In the late 1850s the Army was looking for a depot to supply the Army on the frontier. The bridge and rail distribution network, coupled with steamboat traffic and federal ownership of the Rock Island, influenced the decision to create the Rock Island Arsenal. President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation creating the Arsenal as a maintenance and storage facility on July 11, 1862. In 1863, construction started on a warehouse that is now called the Clock Tower. That building was not completed until 1867 and by then the mission had changed to manufacturing. With the end of the Civil War, plans were drawn up by Brevet Brigadier Gen. Thomas Rodman for a much larger complex. Construction began in 1866. That construction was an economic driver as Rock Island Arsenal became the largest federal public works project of the 19th century. The Arsenal produced artillery carriages and caissons, saddles, eating utensils, canvas products, bayonets, and, after 1903, rifles. It manufactured, repaired and stored everything a soldier needed. The Arsenals first major support to an American war was in 1898 during the Spanish-American War. Rock Island Arsenal became known for both speed and quality. As a result, it became the artillery development center for the Army. During World War I, the Arsenals employment mushroomed from 2,000 to almost 15,000. After World War I, the Arsenal became the Armys tank development center as well. During World War II, the Arsenal saw its greatest employment with almost 19,000 people on the island. A huge repair parts operation utilized the rail links east and west to the coasts. In addition, machine guns, artillery, tanks, aircraft engines and other goods were produced and sent to the fighting fronts. The Arsenal was also critical to support in the Korean and Vietnam wars. As the size of the Army and the requirement for manufacturing declined, other higher commands were located on the island. Today 1st Army, Army Sustainment Command, Joint Munitions Command and the Arsenal itself operate on the island. Today, the Arsenal more quietly continues to support the Army. In 1990-91 critical parts were made and shipped to support Operation Desert Storm. In 2003, when opposing forces began to ambush U.S. vehicles with roadside bombs, the Arsenal produced the first professional armor kits for Humvees in just weeks. Rock Island Arsenal has one of only two foundries in the Department of Defense and with modern technology can make one or 1 million of any item needed by the armed forces. While known and respected across the armed forces for its products, in the neighboring community the Rock Island Arsenal remains an economic engine and premier employer. Also on the island today are a national cemetery and a Confederate Cemetery holding the remains of Confederate prisoners held on island between 1863-1865. A monument to the First Bridge is on the island, along with George Davenports house which hosted the meetings that planned that bridge. In addition to that modest home, the island is also home to Quarters One, the largest house in the Army and second in size only to the White House in the federal inventory. The Rock Island Arsenal Museum, the second oldest museum in the Army system, tells the history of the Arsenal and has over 1,200 weapons on display. The Lock and Dam Visitor Center tells the story of the first completed Mississippi River navigation lock and dam that, when completed in 1933, removed the obstacle of the Rock Island Rapids noted by Zebulon Pike in 125 years earlier. Former Tuolumne County Sheriff Jim Mele at retirement party View Photos View Video Tuolumne, CA Peers, co-workers and community members got a final chance to praise and acknowledge the long career and well deserved retirement of Tuolumne County Sheriff Jim Mele. Meles retirement party was held last night at the Black Oak Casino Resort in Tuolumne. Commenting on his days as sheriff, Mele thanked his department, stating, Its the people, its the dispatchers. I love my little circle. I love my dispatchers. The time that we spent, I will cherish forever. He continued by taking a light hearted jab at deputies, I love my deputies that I got to work withGoing on a pursuit and then theyre out eating and Im the only one working (Laughter erupts). They hear me going in pursuit. So, theyre coming from Twain Harte, Jamestown, from everywhere. I got em [the suspect] on the street with my foot on em as they [Deputies] come in. Mele shaking his head adds, I dont need you guys. Youre a day late and a dollar short [more laughter]. Mele announced he would be retiring through a letter addressed to the community, as reported here in February, but gave no date. Then in May, he shared that he would retire on June 30, freeing up money for the next years fiscal budget, detailed here. Four days later at a Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors meeting, Sheriff Mele was recognized for his 30 years of dedication to his department and the county. The supervisors chambers were packed with those taking the podium to speak of their admiration for the Sheriff, including state and local leaders, as detailed here in this earlier report. Former Undersheriff Bill Pooley was elected to replace Mele in the June primary as he ran unchallenged. Last night was all fun and games with some toasts and a bit of roasting to celebrate not only his work as sheriff, but the man who committed his life to public service. 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. 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 San Francisco Chronicle All Interstate-280 northbound lanes are now open near the Avalon Drive off-ramp in South San Francisco after officials contained a bus fire Friday afternoon. California Highway Patrol was alerted of the bus engulfed in flames around 5:30 p.m. Friday, officials said. Using a device resembling an iPad, engineer Levi Armstrong taps out commands for the robot in front of him, simulating how the machine could pick up and move objects in assembly-line fashion. Then he grips the robot, maneuvering its hand to trace where he wants it to go and what he wants it to do a simple illustration of how robots and humans can work together to accomplish different tasks. The so-called collaborative robot, or cobot, is part of a lab at San Antonio-based Southwest Research Institute designed to help manufacturers figure out how their human workforce and robots can work together to make products. While conventional robots are usually surrounded by cages or gates, walled off from human contact, cobots can work safely alongside people. They tend to be easier to program, cost less and operate at a slower rate than traditional robots, lab officials said. Even their appearance is different: the rounded edges and gentle grippers of the cobots are quite different from the hulking arms and claws of conventional robots. We want to make it easier for people to use and teach robots, said Paul Evans, who directs SwRIs manufacturing technologies department. Thats the goal. There are different types of sensors in the lab, which can be used with the cobots to teach them how to perform more complex tasks, and meeting space for events. Companies can touch and feel the robots and see how they work in person, and SwRI has already hosted workshops and other events at the lab. The launch of the lab, announced in August, was prompted in part by inquiries from customers, Evans said. Theyd heard about a new class of robot and wanted to know whether it was a match for their operations and, if so, how to program and integrate it. SwRI and the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center, or TMAC, are working together to educate manufacturers on the cobots through seminars and other events, and to help companies determine whether a robot is a good fit for their operations. Theres a risk assessment involved to determine what a manufacturers goals are and how they would use the robot, said Matt Robinson, program manager for the ROS-Industrial Consortium Americas at SwRI. For example, a cobot is better suited to lifting bags of coffee and moving them than cutting parts, he said. Then theres the question of which kind of robot with what specifications would work best. The lab also serves as a testing ground for the organizations engineers as they develop software and work on research and client projects, and aids SwRIs work on its robot operating system, or ROS. The system, an open source project, is middleware that enables application development for robots, Robinson explained. SwRI also supports the ROS-Industrial Consortium, an international group of organizations that use ROS software to develop industrial applications. The consortium helps determine the priorities and works with companies to address their needs, Robinson said. You get a better solution when more people contribute, he said. Theres fear that robots will take away jobs, especially as they become more advanced, but Robinson argues that the inverse is true of the cobots. The collaborative robots are intended to work with humans, and as with the engineer maneuvering the robot in the lab, people can use them to ensure variation and perform different tasks, he said. Someone still has to program the robot, Robinson added. Improving education and awareness about the robots among manufacturers is one of the biggest challenges the team faces, Evans said. The robots can also be costly to implement. The price of the robot is one factor, but a manufacturer may need other pieces like a base for it, and they also need to learn how to program it, he explained. As the sector becomes more competitive and the labor market tightens, interest will likely grow, said Bill Rafferty, regional director for TMAC. With better tools you get a more successful economy, he said. miszler@express-news.net | @madisoniszler Sheriff: Man dies after crashing truck into rock WARRENSBURG The driver of a pickup truck traveling south on Route 9 died on Friday morning after he crossed into the northbound lane and then crashed into a rock, Warren County Sheriff's Office said. The crash involving a 2012 Ford F-550 pickup took place at 5:21 a.m. just north of Tripp Lake Road. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, deputies said. The truck's passenger was transported to Albany Medical Center with injuries that were believed to be life-threatening, deputies said. The name of the driver is being withheld until next of kin can be notified. The accident remains under investigation by the Warren County Sheriff's Traffic Safety Unit and the Criminal Investigations Division. The Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Warrensburg Fire Department., Warrensburg EMS, North Warren EMS and the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Staff report Milk tanker rollover seriously injures driver ANCRAM An 18-wheel milk tanker overturned on Route 82 on Friday afternoon, the Columbia County Sheriff's Office said. At about 2:58 p.m., deputies were called to the scene where a 2013 Peterbilt milk tanker, driven by 36-year-old Ronnie J. Hare of Poughkeepsie, overturned and spilled 30,000 pounds of milk. Hare was traveling south and lost control of the tractor trailer, going off the right shoulder of the roadway. The tractor trailer rolled over twice before coming to rest on its side, deputies said. Hare had neck, chest and abdomen injuries and had to be extricated from the truck by Ancram Fire Department and Community Rescue Squad. Hare was airlifted to Albany Medical Center. There were no passengers in the tractor trailer, the Sheriff's Office said. The tractor trailer is registered to Staats Transporting Inc. from Milan. The accident is still under investigation. Staff report Schenectady man charged with selling cocaine ROTTERDAM A Schenectady man was arrested on Thursday for alleged possession and selling of cocaine, Rotterdam police said. Eshaun A. Edmunds, 25, of Broadway has been accused of selling the drug in the town on two separate occasions in July and August, police said. Edmunds was charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, all felonies, police said. He is being held in Schenectady County jail on $35,000 bail. Staff report Man pleads guilty to weapons charge TROY A Troy man facing 10 drug- and weapon-related charges pleaded guilty on Tuesday to felony criminal possession of a weapon, Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove's office said Friday. Joshua "Pharoah" Aponte, 30, of 42 N. Lake Ave. was living under the name "Joshua Solano," the district attorney's office said. On Sept. 7, 2017, members of the State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team executed a search warrant on Aponte's residence following four controlled purchases of cocaine. The search turned up a loaded firearm, more cocaine and scales. Aponte also was wanted in Ulster County for a 2015 drug conviction. He had been convicted in 2009 of felony attempted criminal sale of a firearm. He was sentenced to 1-3 years in state prison. Aponte will be sentenced to 12 years in state prison, followed by 5 years of post-release supervision. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 8 at the Rensselaer County Courthouse before County Judge Jennifer Sober. Assistant District Attorney Carl Rosenkranz prosecuted the case. Staff report HURON COUNTY The Huron County Economic Development Corporation (HCEDC) recently secured funding from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA). The funds for the 2018-19 fiscal year were announced this week by the organization, and includes many counties and organizations across the state. The HCEDC was awarded one grant for $19,500 and a second for $7,000 for a total of $26,500. As a Regional Regranting agency, HCEDC will now be able to request applications from organizations in Huron, Sanilac, Tuscola and St. Clair counties to help fund their projects. "We're excited to be awarded the arts regranting program and the arts mini grants," said HCEDC Executive Director Carl Osentoksi. "Our awards to the other agencies in the region reflect the diversity of arts and culture in the Thumb area." Osentoski said the HCEDC has been participating in the MCACA granting process for about 15 years, using a review board to award grants to specific agencies across the Thumb. A few examples of this year's funded projects were Art in the Park in Huron County and Lawn Chair Music Series in Sanilac County. "We always get more application requests than we have funding for," Osentoski said of the competitive process. In total, more than $10 million in grants were awarded to programs throughout 59 of the state's 83 counties by MCACA. Grants cover costs associated with operations, projects, capital improvements, arts-in-education residences, services to the field and regional re-granting initiatives. In Sanilac County, the Lexington Arts Council received a grant for $7,500 50 percent of what it had requested. Every year the applications we receive continue to get better, which of course makes our job more difficult, said John Bracey, MCACA Executive Director. Much of the difficulty we have is due to the ratio of requests to awards. It becomes a matter of how to reach as many eligible organizations that scored in a fundable range as possible, statewide, with our limited funding. WESTBROOK Nine days after turning 35, a New Haven resident was killed in a crash in Westbrook. Shannon Marcus Carey-Wilson, 35, of Norton Street in New Haven, died Saturday after colliding with a state Department of Transportation truck at a work zone. Carey-Wilson was driving a 2008 Dodge Avenger, a Connecticut State Police report said. A spokesman for the Department of Transportation said a crew was doing tree work on Interstate 95 southbound between Exits 65 and 64 in Westbrook when a car hit a bucket truck being used in a work zone. State police said the collision happened around 7:20 a.m. Its unknown how the driver entered the work zone, the spokesman said. This incident still is under investigation, the state police said. No DOT workers were injured, but one crew member was stuck in the air in the bucket of the truck because the impact of the crash damaged the trucks hydraulic system, the DOT spokesman said. A local fire department sent units to help get him down. It took about 20 minutes. The accident report provided by state police indicated that Carey-Wilsons seat belt was on at the time of the crash. The crash caused the cars airbags to deploy, the report said. The report indicated the car Carey-Wilson was driving in suffered front end damage and the DOT truck suffered rear end damage. The southbound lanes of the highway were closed between exits 65 and 64, state police said. During the closure, traffic was diverted off Exit 65. The left lane was reopened around noon. By 4 p.m., traffic was flowing normally through the area. Mayor Ron Nirenberg, besieged with arguments for and against a plan to revamp Alamo Plaza, said he wants to pore over the details of the proposal. The mayor said he expects a crucial City Council vote in mid-December. James Durbin DALLAS Republican incumbent Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke have agreed to debate each other three times before the U.S. Senate election in November. In statements issued Friday, the two agreed to debate domestic policy before live audiences on Sept. 21 at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Sept. 30 at the University of Houston. A third debate on domestic and foreign policy issues is scheduled on Oct. 16 before a live television studio audience in San Antonio. No Taxpayer Dollars for Baby Body Parts WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2018 / Christian Newswire / -- National and state pro-life leaders sent a letter this week to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar urging the government to end the taxpayer-funded use of aborted fetal tissue for research. The letter reads, in part: "We were shocked and dismayed at the news report that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has signed a contract to purchase 'fresh' aborted fetal organs from Advanced Bioscience Resources (ABR), for the purpose of creating humanized mice with human immune systems. We expect far better of our federal agencies especially under the leadership of a courageous pro-life president entrusted with the health of American citizens. It is completely unacceptable to discover that the FDA is using federal tax dollars and fomenting demand for human body parts taken from babies who are aborted. ...The federal government must find ethical alternatives as soon as possible, and should end all association with those who participate in any trafficking or procurement of aborted baby organs. No taxpayer dollars should continue to go to this gruesome practice." According to GSA's federal contract database, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration signed a new contract on July 25 with ABR to acquire "fresh" organs from aborted babies to implant them into mice. The taxpayer-funded project includes paying nearly $16,000 to ABR for harvested organs, even though the organization remains under investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ). A new report shows that ABR has harvested aborted baby organs for research for more than what is legally reimbursable. The 11-page report details how ABR charged universities a significantly marked-up price for the organs it harvested from aborted babies received from Planned Parenthood. The Center for Medical Progress released a new report showing ABR charged researchers up to hundreds of dollars per harvested human organ in addition to packing and shipping fees prices that indicate the organization may have been marking up the cost of fetal tissue beyond what is legally reimbursable. Liberty Counsel is defending Sandra Merritt against 15 felony charges, brought by the Attorney General to punish her for undercover work in exposing Planned Parenthood's unethical and potentially illegal profiteering from the sale of aborted baby body parts. "It is horrendous that the FDA signed a contract to purchase aborted baby body parts with taxpayer dollars," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "It is a positive move that the Department of Justice is investigating Advanced Bioscience Resources, but then counterproductive to hand them money for their heinous crime. These despicable acts by these companies and their owners underscore why our client Sandra 'Susan' Merritt should be applauded for revealing the seedy underbelly of Planned Parenthood," said Staver. Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics. Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost. One by one, the defendants rise. A magistrate judge outlines charges for each defendant, asks if they are citizens and sets a nominal bail, maybe $500 or $1,500, before sending them off to jail. The hearings last maybe 15 seconds. They would be dull like waiting for your number to be called at the DMV if they werent so brutally efficient. They would be benign, if liberty didnt come at a price. The world knows how the wheels of justice clunk along in Dallas County, thanks to the release of three days of video footage from bail hearings this summer. We see whats before our eyes, but we also can see what is missing. There is no discussion with Magistrate Judge Hal Turley about a defendants finances, mental health, employment or risk to the public. There is no defense attorney. There are only defendants. Mostly minority. And there is bail and then jail. The images out of Dallas are similar to bail hearing footage, released in 2016, from Harris County. Indifference reigns in those videos, too, and so does meanness. Magistrate judges in Harris County berated defendants. One raised a defendants bail because she answered a question with a yeah. I dont expect anything other than a yes or a no, he said, doubling her bail to $2,000. And in Bexar County? We have no idea. Bail hearings here hum along in secrecy. Its unconstitutional for these bail hearings to be closed to the public, said Alec Karakatsanis, executive director of Civil Rights Corps, which has sued Harris and Dallas counties over their bail practices. The reason the First Amendment requires courts to be open is that when things happen in the dark, its a recipe for corruption and indifference. Maybe thats not happening here, but we cant say with certainty. There is no public access, and there is no video of these hearings. Michael Ugarte, Bexars presiding magistrate, never responded to email and phone messages. Bail hearings, especially for misdemeanors, are small moments in small cases, but they are a big deal because they often have outsized ramifications for poor defendants. The ability to secure bail often makes the difference between guilt and innocence, retaining employment and family obligations, and keeping a place to live, Shima Baradaran Baughman, a law professor at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, writes in a recent piece about the history of misdemeanor bail. A defendant who can afford an attorney can often afford bail. And that attorney, if notified early enough, can ask a judge for a bond reduction. I was a magistrate judge, said Joe Gonzales, a Democrat now running for district attorney. I did that for seven years, and sometimes a defense lawyer would call and request a bond reduction. But a poor defendant is never so fortunate, although that is about to change. Soon, the Bexar County Public Defenders Office will be present at bail hearings for indigent defendants. Its absolutely essential to even a chance of a fair hearing, Karakatsanis said. Progress, yes, but still not enough because, again, the hearings are closed. We and others will certainly take a look at Bexar County and think about whether it makes sense to get involved and, if so, how, Karakatsanis wrote in an email. Hopefully they will just agree to implement reforms that we can get made in Harris County and Dallas. There is an order of magnitude here to consider. Nearly 40,000 indigent cases passed through Bexar County courts in fiscal year 2017, according to state data. More than half of these cases were misdemeanors. Marijuana possession. Resisting arrest. Theft. Criminal trespass. Annoyances and potential crimes that merit potential punishment, but not necessarily reasons for people to sit in jail or lose their jobs, much less their right to a presumption of innocence. Now, Bexar County has instituted some reforms, partly out of concern about getting swept up in this wave of bail lawsuits. The 48-hour bond review hearings at jail court where Bexar County deputies once asked me to leave while simply observing court is a good policy created to avoid a possible lawsuit over jailing poor people. The temptation might be to say, enough is enough, and let the wheels of justice clunk along. But if representation at bail hearings is essential to any shot at fairness, then so is ensuring public access to a court where decisions about jail and bail have been cloaked in secrecy. jbrodesky@express-news.net I remember an out-of-town friend, moved by the story of the Battle of the Alamo and its terrible odds, wondering if she would have stuck around for the fight. They knew they were going to be killed, she reasoned, and in the days before the Geneva Convention, death could be long and brutal. If they had the option to leave but didnt, they really must have believed in what they were fighting for to have stood firm in the face of an army that outnumbered them by thousands. Maybe, for the soldiers, it was a sense of duty. Or maybe it was a sign of the times, a choice made because the other choices were at least, in some manner, worse. Either way, it must have been terrifying to sit there knowing that at any time, it was going to be over. For some of us, its impossible to tour a battlefield and not get a little deep. This is especially true when we talk about the men weve come to know as the heroes of the Alamo. The stories weve heard depict bravery: Col. William B. Travis drawing a metaphorical line in the sand, vowing victory or death while knowing full well that victory was a long shot; Juan Seguin crossing enemy lines and riding out to get help; Davy Crockett facing down dozens of soldiers and putting on a brave face till the end. Most of us will never have to gamble with our lives like that, so the stories of those who made that dicey choice loom very, very large. But I also remember being in seventh-grade Texas history at Nimitz Middle School. I remember asking why, if the Mexican army was just trying to squelch an uprising in what was part of Mexico anyway, they were the bad guys? And, incidentally, the Mexicans did win, so why were the Texans considered heroes? Wasnt it all a matter of perspective? My classmates piled on as 12-year-olds tend to do and, just like that, Mrs. MacDonald waved the figurative white towel as her lesson was successfully derailed. Middle school is all about challenging authority. That can be a good thing isnt that what those interlopers holed up in the Alamo were doing? So when faced with the question of whether Texas educators should use the H-word when referring to the heroes of the Alamo, the solution seems simple: Just tell the story and let the kids figure it out. This isnt about political correctness, or it shouldnt be, although in pleasant company, its always nice to consider how ones words affect everyone else. What this issue is really about centers around the word hero and what it means. Merriam-Webster defines hero as a legendary figure endowed with great strength or ability, and the kind of courage that would keep you on the losing side of that line in the sand. Certainly the defenders of the Alamo earned that label, so keeping it in the curriculum is fair. But the weight of their actions doesnt really sink in until youre old enough to truly understand what sacrifice means. Most Texans dont fully understand this word when they havent even earned their first paycheck. In seventh grade, theyre still mad when they draw the black bean and get picked to take out the garbage. Theyll get it when theyre older. And the State Board of Education which preliminarily rejected a proposal to delete the H-word last week and certainly middle school teachers have bigger battles to fight. mariaanglinwrites@gmail.com Once, on one of his television shows, John Stossel laid out dozens of consumer goods: a flashlight, a newspaper, a video camera and more. As he strode along the tables, he picked up and demonstrated some, then held up a smartphone and said, Now its all in my phone for a few hundred dollars. What a bargain! Back in the day when you fumbled your way to turn off the alarm clock, took your Walkman to the gym or mapped out a particular destination, did you ever think to yourself, Man, itd be great if I could access all my stuff at once in the palm of my hand? If you did, did you go around waving money, hoping someone would concoct and sell such a device to you? Doubtful. Make no mistake; for all but the most basic goods, supply creates demand. Many of us have had an idea that we thought could be turned into a worthwhile commercial venture, but who has actually done something about it? While were partying, playing ball or otherwise maximizing our leisure time, folks such as computer programming pioneer Rear Adm. Grace Hopper and Tony Fadell, co-inventor of the Nest thermostat, were determined to turn a vision into a reality. Entrepreneurial spirit is a personality trait that cant be taught. Without its creative spark, much land, labor and capital would lay idle; some of the latter two might not exist. There would be notably less progress without that applied imagination. While untold numbers of these dreams are never realized, some are: The tastiest recipe comes together; biology and chemistry are merged perfectly into a life-saving medicine. At that point a vital characteristic kicks in intestinal fortitude. Put yourself in their shoes for a moment, and you start to understand why a high school classmate recently told me hes gone crazy and started a second business. Many times, they are trading a regular paycheck for a world of uncertainty. These producers deserve the utmost respect and admiration for taking the dive. Unfortunately, too many people dont get it. You chose to do that, so deal with the taxes and regulations, someone once told a friend of mine who co-owns not one but two businesses. These are probably the same type of folks behind some of the more misguided, domineering initiatives to have sprung up across the country in recent years. In May, in an effort to deal with a growing homelessness problem, the Seattle City Council unanimously passed a so-called head tax of $275 on every employee of local businesses that earned at least $20 million annually. They wanted $500, but the mayor threatened a veto because apparently that was too high. Seattle-based Amazon issued a veto threat of its own, implying that a second headquarters might not be the only company growth that happens outside the city due to its hostile approach and rhetoric toward larger businesses. A month later, the city repealed the measure. A few years prior, the Emerald City boosted the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Even as this particular policy slips further into obsolescence due to automation and the fact that very few people support a family on such earnings, how insolent of a public body to commandeer the resources of those who risked their livelihood and financial solvency to get a new venture off the ground. In addition to having its own elevated minimum wage, the Washington, D.C., City Council recently raised by fivefold the revenue tax on Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing companies in order to provide funding for the government-run Metro transit system. What type of reasoning concludes that one way to fix homelessness is to tax employment, the very activity that produces the income needed to obtain shelter? What kind of imperious mentality endorses taking from succeeding companies to give to a failing entity? The irony with these ordinances is that the homelessness is exacerbated by restrictive zoning and a building code that is more than twice the size of Portland and Austin combined, and the overcharged Metro patronage is slipping in part because of safety and maintenance concerns. This kind of foolish, authoritarian approach has infected other parts of the country as well. In the Big Apple, Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council are going another round with those same ride-hailing services by capping new vehicle licenses and imposing an industry-specific minimum wage. Even here in the Alamo City an ordinance was recently passed to coerce businesses to pay for employee sick days. (Texas legislators say they will thwart this.) If politicians as high up as Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., are so confident in their business ability that theyll propose a jobs guarantee, why not strike out on their own, without the cushion of a taxpayer-supported slush fund? Because just like many other officials and activists, they have scant, if any, experience owning or running a business. It begs the question: Where does all this misplaced overconfidence come from? Innovators and producers dont ask for our gratitude, but neither do they welcome such arrogant policy supported and enacted by those with only a fraction of their guts. If these kinds of regulations continue to proliferate, the next big gadget or service could very well disappear from the future just like Marty McFly before his parents kissed. Perhaps these bureaucrats and advocates could instead become productive members of society and put their money where their mouth is, like the investors in the Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investment did a couple years ago. Led by former Executive Director Sister Patricia Daly, they spearheaded a shareholder drive to compel ExxonMobil to factor the realities of climate change into their policies. Sister Daly is currently on the advisory board of Jana Impact Capital fund, which along with the California State Teachers Retirement System, is pushing Apple to offer parents more tools to help them monitor their kids activities on their products. Or they could follow Howard Schultzs example. Under his leadership, in an effort to build the kind of company that not only cares for its people but gives them opportunities to be their best, Starbucks recently gave a healthy bump in pay to its employees, extended to most of them tuition reimbursement for an entire bachelors degree from Arizona State University, and expanded parental and sick leave benefits. If those avenues seem too daunting, they could open a lemonade stand and experience the wet blanket their ilk have thrown on preteen entrepreneurs. Fans of The Walking Dead will recall the first things the survivors did after escaping the biters. They gathered food, set up shelter and scavenged fuel. For the sake of survival, well always seek out these basic necessities before theyre presented to us. However, even the supply of these items has reached vast abundance and variety due to pioneering minds. One friend of mine was recently called by the ABC show Shark Tank to pitch his vision of revolutionizing urban agriculture by employing underutilized spaces such as city-owned vacant lots and drainage areas, while my aforementioned classmate tells me he will soon be machining new cost-saving equipment that will revolutionize the energy industry. We hear about heroes all the time: medics, teachers, first responders. These risk-taking creators of the future belong in the same conversation. Only they know the answer to the question with which Stossel ended his show: Who knows whats coming next that I cant even imagine? Christopher E. Baecker manages fixed assets for Pioneer Energy Services and is an adjunct lecturer of economics at Northwest Vista College. He can be reached at facebook.com/professormetal/ or professormetal@chrisbaecker.com. The economic recovery is really beginning to reach into Trump country. The president is famous for his extravagant promises, involving, invariably, the biggest and the best. The landscape is littered with examples, although he never promised to create blue-collar jobs at the fastest clip since 1984, something he achieved in the first half of 2018. A labor market that has been rocky since the financial crisis, and hasnt truly delivered for many workers for decades, is robust enough to reach all corners of the economy, including Trump areas that have recently been doing better than other parts of the country. As the Brookings Institution observes, goods-producing industries have been surging while services industries have seen their seasonally adjusted employment growth slow since 2016. This is good news for smaller, more rural areas, which are now actually outpacing the growth rate in large urban areas. According to Jed Kolko of Indeed Hiring Lab, job growth accelerated between 2016 and 17 in counties that Trump won by at least 20 points. Industries emphasized by Donald Trump have performed particularly well, in contrast to how they fared under President Barack Obama. Kolko points out that mining and logging employment has increased 9 percent the first 18 months of Trump, after declining nearly 14 percent over the last 18 months of the Obama administration. Manufacturing employment is up 2 percent in the first 18 months of Trump, whereas it was flat the last 18 months under Obama. Several things are going on. As the labor market has tightened in June, there were 6.7 million job openings and 6.6 million unemployed Americans it has benefited workers down the income scale. Among those without a college degree, Kolko writes, both non-Hispanic Whites, who lean red, and Hispanics and non-Whites, who lean blue, have seen strong gains under Trump. Relatively high oil prices give a boost to the extraction industry (and the manufacturers that make its equipment), while manufacturing in general benefits from a strong global economy. The administration, for its part, has leaned into a pro-growth tax and deregulatory program meant to spur more investment and remove burdens on business. The goal has been to defeat fatalist predictions of a secular stagnation that supposedly meant that we could never realistically expect anything more than middling economic growth. At the moment, the warnings are less of stagnation than of an alleged labor shortage that, according to CNBC, is nearing epidemic proportions. This is exactly what we need. As Josh Barro of Business Insider points out, a tight labor market puts welcome upward pressure on wages and creates an incentive for workers to get more training and employers to provide it. This dynamic still needs time to take hold. Wage growth, at least by traditional measures, has been surprisingly sluggish given the low unemployment rate (the White House argues that wages are being mismeasured and underestimated). But in August, encouragingly, average hourly wages increased 2.9 percent from a year ago, the biggest increase since June 2009. As for training, a report from the National Association of Manufacturers says that two-thirds of manufacturers plan to increase worker training in the next year. This is so important because its only possible to achieve sustainable wage gains by increasing the productivity of workers. And so far, despite the boom, productivity increases have still been lagging. The encouraging news for blue-collar workers is welcome. But we should set our sights higher. Regaining what was lost in the aftermath of the financial crisis isnt enough. The national priority should be, as Oren Cass of the Manhattan Institute argues in his forthcoming book The Once and Future Worker, returning to a lost golden age of work, when labor force participation rates and wage growth were both reliably high. The implicit Trump pledge in the 2016 campaign was of jobs good and stable enough to make a decent living and raise a family. That should never be overpromising in America. comments.lowry@nationalreview.com Wars, violence and human rights abuses cause the displacement of people who cross borders, seeking safety in a country of asylum. Unfortunately, many women are among those who suffer further human rights violations while in the host country. As a host country, the United States is no exception to these violations. Gender-based violence in Central America has motivated women to flee and seek asylum in the United States. Two criminal gangs, the Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, and the Calle 18 have terrorized families in the region. As a tactic to expand their control over territory, gang members show their masculinity by using rape, kidnapping, torture and sexual violence, predominantly against women and girls. Femicide, as a hate crime against women, has reached alarming proportions across Central America. In Guatemala, femicide exists because of the absence of guarantees to protect the rights of women at the national level. Due to the lack of political will and funding to investigate these crimes, the murders of women continue, creating a climate of impunity. The numbers are striking. According to a 2006 report from Amnesty International USA, more than 2,200 women had been reportedly murdered since 2001 in Guatemala. Data from the 2012 Small Arms Survey shows that El Salvador has the highest rate of femicide in the world, Guatemala is third and Honduras is close behind at seventh. Although these murders are often committed by the victims intimate partners, in a high proportion of cases, the murderers also seem to be men connected with criminal activities. In Honduras, as a result of male power and gang-related violence, womens naked, tortured and mutilated corpses are left in public places, spreading terror among female citizens. The exacerbated levels of crime against women and the weak intervention of Central American states have pushed women to seek safety in the United States, where they face additional human rights violations. President Donald Trumps administration policy of zero tolerance through U.S. Customs and Border Protection frequently deters asylum-seekers along the U.S. southern border and turns them away. In June, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a ruling instructing immigration judges to deny all asylum claims based on fear of domestic abuse or gang violence. This decision will leave many asylum-seekers who are victims of these forms of violence in particular, women unprotected and vulnerable to further human rights violations. According to the 1951 U.N. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 protocol, asylum-seekers cannot be deported if they have not had the opportunity to gather evidence for their credible-fear hearing. Deterrence practices such as border enforcement, immigrant detention and immigration courts have forced asylum-seekers to choose between deportation and prolonged detention. A 2017 report from Detention Watch Network shows that the population of detained immigrants increased from about 5,000 in 1994 to more than 34,000 in 2014. Data from the Department of Homeland Security in 2017 demonstrates that the detained population increased to more than 41,000 in the first 100 days of the Trump administration. Detention Watch Network has also reported that during 2017, the U.S. had 205 detention facilities. Currently, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has reported that 24 detention centers are in Texas. Two more detention centers are being built one in Conroe and the other along the Interstate 35 Texas corridor. Of the 24 Texas detention centers, two are dedicated family detention centers: Karnes and Dilley. The militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border and the criminalization of migrants in the first 19 months of the Trump administration have severe consequences for asylum-seekers. The current detention system in the United States is designed to ensure that individuals will attend deportation hearings. All asylum-seekers who present themselves at the Texas-Mexico border are detained until they gather the evidence to establish a credible fear of persecution in their home countries. However, the immigration detention policy provokes more vulnerability for female asylum-seekers and their children. The criminalization of asylum-seekers by the U.S. government violates the health rights of women in family detention centers. Many female detainees are survivors of domestic violence; nevertheless, detention facilities have no personnel or programs in place to address the mental health needs of victims of this type of violence. A large body of research indicates that immigration detention of asylum-seekers provokes high rates of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. During a conversation with an immigration attorney, I was told that one of the main problems he faces when trying to represent women is that they are unable to articulate their fear in the detention setting. The length of the interviews and the pressure to give appropriate answers may contribute to memory loss and inconsistent testimony. Female detainees have not recovered from traumas prior to detention, yet many need treatment for the mental anxiety created by detention itself. According to the 2002 Lawyers Committee for Human Rights Report, detention often exacerbates the symptoms of PTSD and depression for survivors of torture, rape and other forms of gender-based persecution. The detention experience promotes further psychological harm in those who have fled violence, increasing the already complex levels of anxiety and depression of detainees, but not just women. For example, the 2018 Human Rights First Report found that a Salvadoran asylum-seeker did not receive mental health treatment in spite of being placed on suicide watch for more than 10 days after his arrival at a Houston detention facility. This asylum-seeker, fearing deportation because he was convinced he would be the victim of gang violence, chose suicide while in detention. We can find alternatives to detention if the U.S. shifts the national security lens to one of solidarity regarding the human rights crisis in Central America. The detention system costs the United States more money than it saves. The American Civil Liberties Union estimates that alternatives to detention, such as home visits and check-ins at ICE offices or electronic monitoring, cost 17 cents to $17 per day, while each detainee in a family detention center costs the U.S. government $266 per day. Allowing individuals to request asylum through U.S. consulates in their home countries could be another solution if the U.S. Department of Justice changes its policies. These and other alternatives will reduce the levels of trauma women and their children experience in detention facilities. Medical care and psychological counseling are basic human rights that need to be respected by every U.S. administration. Women and children seeking asylum in the United States are not simply looking for a better life; they are searching for safety and security from torture and assassination in their home countries. Claudia Donoso, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of graduate international relations at St. Marys University and an expert on human security in border zones. - Lagos state APC governorship aspirant, Jide Sanwo-Olu, has said he would not think the party's national leader would ask him to step down for Ambode or any other aspirant - Sanwo-Olu, was reported to have been adopted by party chieftains loyal to Tinubu The former commissioner said he was motivated to seek the seat out of the need to deliver innovative and an inclusive government An All ProgressivesCongress (APC) governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Jide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, September 14, said he did not believe national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, would ask him to back down on his ambition. Sanwo-Olu made the statement during an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos. A journalist had asked him whether he would step down his ambition or not if Tinubu asked him do so. READ ALSO: FG defends appointment of Bichi as DSS boss NAN reports that Sanwo-Olu, a former Commissioner for Training and Establishment, was reported to have been adopted by party chieftains loyal to Tinubu and the 57 council chairmen to puncture the second-term bid of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode. Ambode had declared his second-term bid on Monday, while Dr Obafemi Hamzat, a former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, had also obtained and submitted his nomination form for the race. The state party chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun had told newsmen that the governorship ticket was open to all aspirants. Sanwo-Olu told newsmen that he did not think Tinubu would ask him to step down for Ambode or any other aspirant, as the party leader is a firm believer in internal democracy. Your question is if my national leader (Tinubu) asks me to back down at the end of the day, what will I do? You see, I really dont know which side of the divide you want us to stay. Sometimes, people will say this man (Tinubu) is imposing and he is not allowing aspirants to contest for positions. They say there is no internal democracy. But this man is a democrat who will allow democracy to rule and thrive. My aspiration has nothing to do with an individual; my national leader is my national leader and he is the leader of everybody. Therefore, his passion is about Nigeria and not Lagos alone. The movement we have started is participatory democracy, and so there is no basis for him (Tinubu) urging me to drop my ambition. Asiwaju is a democrat, and I trust he will allow the process to go on without any rancour. On September 25, by the grace of God, the entire APC members will vote for me as the candidate to represent them in the 2019 elections, he said. The aspirant said he was motivated to seek the number one seat in the state out of the need to deliver innovative and an inclusive government. He said he would bring about a state which everybody would be proud of, if elected as governor. The aspirant said he would be a listening leader and would do so many things differently to actualise the Lagos of everybodys dream. Sanwo-Olu decried what he called the filthy state of Lagos environment and said that he would restore the cleanliness of the state if elected. He said his mission to reposition the state was on course and he would formally declare his bid on Sunday. NAN reports that party chieftains, including the immediate past Vice Chairman of the party in the state, Chief James Odumbaku and former commissioner, Mr Tola Kasali, were with Sanwo-Olu at the session. Some federal and state lawmakers, including Rotimi Agunsoye, were also at the session. Council chairmen, councillors, members of his campaign team and other party members were in attendance as well. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app 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 over the alleged rift between Tinubu and the current governor of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode. The chairman of the Lagos state chapter of the APC, Alhaji Babatunde Balogun, said that the party and its mainstream were still waiting on Tinubu for direction in the face of what he said were three options. Senator Kwankwaso Rabiu announces his Presidential Bid (Election 2019) | - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - Some lawmakers have vowed to prevent the impeachment of Speaker Yakubu Dogara - The lawmakers said Dogara would continue to lead the House despite his defection to PDP Members of House of Representatives under the auspices of the Parliamentary Democrats Group (PDG) on Friday, September 14, said they would do anything within their power to prevent the impeachment of the speaker, Yakubu Dogara. In a statement signed by the group's spokesperson, Honourable Timothy Golu, the group vowed to protect Dogara against any threat from any quarters over his defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tribune reports. READ ALSO: Customs intercepts truckload of military uniforms in Imo The statement reads: Our attention has been drawn to media reports suggesting that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) is plotting to remove the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara after he accepted PDP nomination forms from his constituents to re-contest his seat Much as we believe that this is an exercise in futility, we, however, want to state categorically clear that any attempt to instigate crisis or undermine the authority, right or position of the Speaker on account of this political action, which is legal and constitutional will meet a brick wall from members. As it is now, not only Speaker Yakubu Dogara, we have many other members, including a principal officer who has signified interest to join the bandwagon. So we can effectively say that on resumption, Dogara will be presiding over a House with PDP in the majority "We have already mobilized our members to monitor situations and keep vigil 24/7 both in National Assembly and outside to ensure that no any act of impunity is brought to bear on account of Speakers political decision." PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng earlier reported that Yakubu Dogara 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. Senator Kwankwaso Rabiu announces his Presidential Bid (Election 2019) | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - A group of octogenarians, Southwest Veterans and Concerned Patriotic Elders (SouthWest-V and PE), held a rally in support of the successes against terrorism and insurgency - The rally started from Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos and ended at Lagos Government House with scores of elderly Nigerians paying glowing tributes to the Nigerian Army and its leadership. - Southwest Veterans And Concerned Patriotic Elders (SouthWest-V and PE), commended President Buharis successes against terrorism and insurgency in the country A group of octogenarians, Southwest Veterans And Concerned Patriotic Elders (SouthWest-V and PE), on Friday, September 14, commended President Muhammadu Buharis successes against terrorism and insurgency in the country. The group, during a rally which started from Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos and ended at Lagos Government House, saw scores of elderly Nigerians paying glowing tributes to the Nigerian Army and its leadership. Addressing the newsmen in Ikeja, the National President of SouthWest-V and PE, Elder Johnson Adebayo, said Buhari had conquered terrorism like Moses did in the Bible. READ ALSO: APC guber aspirant speaks on Tinubu asking him to step down for Ambode Southwest Veterans and Concerned Patriotic Elders (SouthWest-V and PE), held a rally in support of President Buhari Source: Facebook According to him, the president has liberated several communities held by the insurgents in the same manner the Biblical Moses liberated the Israelites from their Egyptian captors. We have seen a repeat of Moses leadership of the Israelites in their most difficult times reflected in the present leadership of our cherished country Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari. He has played the role of the Chief armour bearer of the defeat of the enemies of Nigeria, as directed by God. The group commended Buhari's success against terrorism and insurgency Source: Facebook The idea of this elaborate thousand-man rally march from us, Nigerians of septuagenarian and octogenarian ages is to drum support for President Buharis rewarding leadership. It is also our token of open appreciation of the Nigerian military for their courageous demystification of the formerly deified Boko Haram insurgents, Adebayo said. The octogenarian also thanked Buhari for the various reforms introduced, saying they had reduced corruption in the public service to the barest minimum. It has erased the bottlenecks strewn on the path of elderly citizens of this great nation in accessing their retirement entitlements. Our President is leading Nigeria on a progressive path in many ways. Some of us are proud beneficiaries of his welfare schemes like the Conditional Cash Transfers to the elderly and less privileged Nigerians under his Social Investment Programme. The school feeding programme for our children in primary schools across the federation is another unquantifiable assistance to the elderly. This has has lifted the burden of searching our pockets and bags every morning to find feeding money for our school children, he said. According to him, the group cannot overlook President Buharis resuscitation of collapsed infrastructure in the country. The railway is back; our refineries are back; textile and automobile industries are brimming with life now. Youths are being empowered through N-Power jobs, and dilapidated roads we never dreamt of seeing their rehabilitation in our lifetime have come to reality. We travel on it, but our old and tired bones do not get cracking with ache. He also commended the Service Chiefs for their splendid day to day leadership of the military, resulting in the spectacular job of defeating Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app The Southwest Youth Movement (SWYM) comprising six states in the region, lauded the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government for its achievements. Temitope Ogunlade, the Chairman of SWYM, made the commendation at a news conference in Abuja. Ogunlade said the group had monitored the programmes of the Buhari administration since inception in 2015 and found them to be beneficial to the people. Election 2019: President Buhari Proves He is Fit to Run in 2019 | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Newspaper - Police officers will no longer be promoted to the next rank without the requisite training programmes and examinations - The police before now had promoted officers several times without attending the requisite training programmes attached to the ranks - Before now police had promoted officers several times without attending the requisite training programmes The Police Service Commission says police officers will no longer be promoted to the next rank without the requisite training programmes and examinations. A statement by the commissions Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, said the commission`s Chairman, Musiliu Smith disclosed this at a meeting with the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force on Friday, September 14, in Abuja. From now and henceforth, one of the conditions for promotion must be attendance and passing the senior Command Course for senior officers and other prescribed courses for others, he said. READ ALSO: FG defends appointment of Bichi as DSS boss Smith said that the force before now had promoted officers several times without attending the requisite training programmes attached to the ranks. Henceforth, result of performance of officers from appropriate training courses must be attached to the recommendation to the commission for promotion, he said. Smith, who frowned at irregular postings of officers, said that officers should be allowed to stay at a new post for two to three years. He expressed displeasure on the long stay of officers posted to the Police Mobile Force and called that the practice be stopped. The chairman advised that every police officer should be a licensed driver so that during operations, in case of the sudden incapacitation of the teams driver, someone else would take over. He warned against the indiscriminate conversion of Police specialists to general duty without due consideration to their valuable role in the force. There is official procedure for conversion and henceforth, this should be strictly followed. Officers recruited to work in the workshop, signals and other professional departments/units should be left and encouraged to pursue their careers, he said. In his remark, the IGP said that the management was determined to transform the force to a more people-friendly organization. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Legit.ng previously reported that the Nigerian Police Force has revealed that candidates who are undergoing screening will have to pass a psychiatric and drug test. The police said this is to address unwarranted discharge of bullet and shooting and also ascertain the mental stability of the candidates. This was revealed by the deputy inspector-general of Police in-charge of Training, Emmanuel Inyang while monitoring the ongoing screening exercise at the Police College, Ikeja on Wednesday, May 9. He said the document screening would last one week. Is the Nigerian police your friend? - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - EFCC has acknowledged the receipt of Governor Ayodele Fayose's letter - Fayose had written the anti-graft agency over his resolve to submit himself for interrogation on October 16, a day after the expiration of his tenure - But the EFCC in its reaction told Fayose to make himself available to the commission on September 20 Following a letter written by Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to make himself available for questioning on October 16, the anti-graft agency has acknowledged the receipt of his letter and asked him to make himself available on Thursday, September 20. Nigerian Tribune reports that Fayose is being invited by the anti-graft agency to make clarification over some issues that affect him. Legit.ng gathered that the governor, in his letter to the EFCC dated September 10, 2018, said he would make himself available to the anti-graft agency on October 16, to make a clarification on investigations that affect him. READ ALSO: Breaking: Former Oyo state governor Ladoja reportedly collapses, rushed to UCH EFCC, in a letter dated September 13 and signed by its director of Operations, Umar Abba Mohammed, on behalf of the acting chairman of the commission, Ibrahim Magu, requested the governor to turn himself in for interrogation on Thursday, September 20, without prejudice to his immunity under section 308 of the constitution. The anti-graft agency appreciated Fayoses sense of duty and responsibility as a law abiding citizen who wishes to voluntarily submit himself to the due process of the law. Fayose, in his letter, addressed to the acting chairman of the EFCC, said his desire to submit to the commission was based on several and serial actions of your commission for some time now, including but not limited to, freezing of my accounts and attempts to secure temporary forfeiture of my properties. Fayose also stated in the letter that: I wish to inform you that my term of office pursuant to which I enjoy immunity against investigation and prosecution under the above provision shall lapse by effluxion of time on Monday, 15th October, 2018. As a responsible citizen of our great country, who believes in the rule of law, I wish to inform you of my decision to make myself available in your office on Tuesday, 16th October 2018 at 1:00pm to clarify issues or answer questions within my knowledge. Kindly confirm the suitability of the above date or indicate by return, the Commissions convenient date. A stamped copy of the letter, entitled Notification of my decision to make myself available in your office to clarify issue(s) or answer questions on issues within my knowledge, indicated that it was received in the office of the EFCC chairman on Tuesday, September 11. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app It would be recalled that Governor Fayose has been in a battle of wits with the EFCC and had also been in and out of courts with the commission over his personal and states finances. His tenure as governor of Ekiti state would elapse on October 16, when he is expected to hand over government to the governor elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the outgoing Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose, has abandoned his 2019 presidential ambition. He gave the hint about the development when he received the duo of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and former minister Kashim Taminu, on Saturday, September 8. 2019 Presidency: Fayose versus Buhari, who will you vote for? - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has lamented over the removal of Mr Matthew Seiyefa as the boss of the Department of State Security (DSS) - The umbrella body of all youths of Ijaw descent worldwide said the Seiyefa's removal is a a show of President Muhammadu Buharis profound nepotism - Buhari had removed Seiyefa and replaced him with Yusuf Bichi as the new boss of the intelligence agency earlier this week The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has described the removal of Mr Matthew Seiyefa and choice of Yusuf Bichi as the new boss of the DSS as a show of President Muhammadu Buharis profound nepotism. The group said the appointment was a true reflection of the presidents ethnic bias and which it said had been on display since he was sworn in on May 29, 2015. Secretary-General of the IYC, Alfred Kemepado, in a statement sent to journalists, wondered why the president would appoint a man who had finished his term and retired over six months ago, in place of a very qualified Matthew Seiyefa who it insisted was already doing a fantastic job. READ ALSO: Yusuf Bichi resumes as DSS boss IYC alleged that the next set of most qualified persons who should have been appointed were all from southern Nigeria, stressing that because of his sectional interest, the president went shopping for Bichi who had already retired. The IYC condemns the president for his insensitivity, outright disrespect and disregard for people of the south. With this provocative action, it has become obvious that Buhari no longer pretends about his dislike for the concept of 'Nigeria for All Nigerians'. We also charge members of the presidents cabinet from the south to protest the appointment of the new DSS helmsman by walking out of the government. By doing so, they will be demonstrating their patriotism, the group stated. It added: The removal of Mr. Seiyefa, who is by far more experienced and qualified for the number one DSS job should not be forgiven and forgotten. IYC calls on people of the region not to consider the president as an ally when it comes to their development. That the president has shown disrespect and consistently assaulted our collective sensibilities even in the way he has treated members of his cabinet from our region, shows his disdain for our people. According to the IYC, it is now obvious that despite the groundswell of criticisms against the presidents actions flouting the principle of federal character in the past, this latest decision only points to the fact that he (the president) is pursuing an agenda. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Similarly, some elders under the aegis of the Southern and Middle Belt Forum had condemned Seiyefa's removal. 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 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. DSS invade National Assembly - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - Second term ambition of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode still remains in doubt as the party leaders refused to shift their ground - Mandate Movement of APC in Lagos headed by Cardinal James Odunbaku has declared that Ambode must go - It was gathered that the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Friday, September 14, refused to intervene in the battle against Ambode;s second term bid The fate of the governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode, still hangs in the balance as he failed to secure the nod of a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for his second term bid in 2019. The Punch reports that Tinubu on Friday, September 14, allegedly refused to intervene in the intra-party crisis that has pitted Ambode against the leadership of the party in the state and members of the Conference 57. Legit.ng gathered that the Conference 57 is a forum of all the council chairmen in the state. It was gathered that discussion among members of the Mandate Movement of the state APC, headed by Tinubu, did not yield any result that favoured the incumbent governor. READ ALSO: EFCC replies Fayose, asks him to make self available on September 20 The party leaders are insisting that Ambode should not be given a second term ticket because he had neglected party members since he was inaugurated in 2015. The leadership of the Mandate Movement, it was learnt, insisted that they would prefer Olajide Sanwo-Olu as the candidate of the party for the 2019 governorship election. According to Punch, sources close to the leadership said the group had rejected all interventions made by Ambode and his supporters to convince the Mandate Movement. The leadership of the Mandate Movement of the APC decides who gets what in the state. It was gathered that to give a booster to their support for Sanwo-Olu, they attended a press conference the governorship aspirant addressed in Lagos on Friday, September 14. Notable members of the Mandate Movement including their leader, Cardinal James Odunbaku, popularly known as 'Baba Eto', members of the Conference 57 led by their leader, who is also the chairman of the Lagos Mainland local government, Omolola Essien, attended the event. Reports had it that shouts of in-coming governor rented the air as Sanwo-Olu arrived the venue in a convoy at 3:11pm. Before they allowed him to address the press, they sang the On your mandate, Tinubu, on your mandate, we shall stand, anthem amidst jubilation. After this, Sanwo-Olu while addressing the press said Tinubu would not force him or any member willing to contest governorship to jettison the idea. It was reported that though none of the members of the movement spoke with the press at the event, sources close to the leadership said they would rather prefer their candidate to lose at the primary than allowing Ambode to be imposed on us. The source said, We must go for the direct primary. Sanwo-Olu is the person we want, Ambode must go. But a source close to the governor said the issue would be resolved and Ambode would be given the ticket. But effort to get the reaction of Tinubu failed. His spokesperson, Tunde Rahman, said he was in Osogbo and was not ready to comment on the issue. Im sorry I cannot talk about the issue and in fact, Im in Osogbo, he said. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Jide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, September 14, said he did not believe national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, would ask him to back down on his ambition. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Sanwo-Olu made the statement during an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos. Senator Kwankwaso Rabiu announces his Presidential Bid (Election 2019) | - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said that the party would allow level playing ground for governorship candidates on September 26 - He was quoted to have told the general overseer of Redeemed Christian Church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye that his hands were tied on Ambode's second term bid - The former governor of the state said that it would be unfair to ask other aspirants to step down for Ambode The controversies trailing the second term bid of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state has taken another twist as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu reportedly told the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christians Church of God, Pastor Adeboye, that he (Tinubu), will not prevail on any of the aspirants to step down. New Telegraph reports that this was as one of the aspirants and former commissioner for works and infrastructural development, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat confirmed Tinubus stance on the September 26 primary, saying the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no anointed candidate among the contenders. Legit.ng gathered that the newspaper authoritatively gathered that Pastor Adeboyes intervention is one of the latest moves by Ambode to persuade Tinubu to support his second term bid just like he did in 2015. READ ALSO: 8 facts about Zainab Ahmed, new minister of finance It was learnt that the revered Christian leader had inquired through telephone conversation with Tinubu to know how the issue of the APC primary could be resolved. But the former governor insisted on direct primaries in the interest of fairness and justice for those who had obtained the APC forms for governorship primary in the party. Although the telephone conversation, which had been converted into a text was silent on what Pastor Adeboye said, Tinubu was quoted to have maintained his posture that all contenders should go to the field and test their popularity before the people they want to govern. The APC leader said he had been accused of imposition in the past and would not want to be seen as imposing any aspirant on the people in line with what democracy entails. Tinubu in the text message which was going viral on twitter told Pastor Adeboye that: Sir, people have been accusing me of imposition. "They say I imposed candidates at will. Thats why I said all aspirants including the governor to get to the field and test their popularity among the people in an open contest of direct primaries. Sir, my hands are tied on his matter, I cannot ask those who have picked the expression of interest and nomination forms to withdraw or not contest. That will be greatly unfair. We will ensure a level-playing ground for all the governorship aspirants including the incumbent governor. According to New Telegraph, a source close to Tinubu, who chose to be anonymous because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, confirmed that there was a conversation between the APC leader and Pastor Adeboye on Ambodes second term. He said: Its true that Baba (Pastor Adeboye) had intervened and Asiwaju also responded. It is not in doubt that Asiwaju has a tremendous respect for the man of God and this is clear from his response. I will leave you to interpret his response and decide whether Asiwaju will ask one aspirant to step down for another. Meanwhile, Hamzat has said politicians would tell all forms of lies to create impressions that they have been anointed by the partys national leader, saying that the former governor had promised to ensure a level playing field among them. Hamzat said: That was exactly what he (Tinubu) told me too. That was exactly what I am saying. He has said it publicly, so behind him, people can say anything. You will see all sorts of thing flying in the newspapers and social media that are not true. "That is what we know. He has said it repeatedly to everyone. He said it to me personally that he has no chosen candidate. Everybody should go and contest, should go and meet the people and talk to them and that is what I will do. Asked if he was not worried by the claim of the supporters of Babjide Sanwo-Olu that he has the blessing of Tinubu, Hamzat said: Well, I can only speak base on what I know. I met the national leader one-on-one and what he told me was what he said publicly. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app "He also said it at a stakeholders meeting that he doesnt have a candidate. So, everybody can say whatever they like but you know, all the candidates will say they have his backing. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported the fate of the governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode, still hangs in the balance as he failed to secure the nod of a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for his second term bid in 2019. Senator Kwankwaso Rabiu announces his Presidential Bid (Election 2019) | - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng It is heartbreaking how young guys and ladies find it so pleasurable to wear a rope round their necks and hang themselves on a tree while some go as far as drinking poisons in order to take their own lives. A young lady identified as Nwachukwu Stella has taken to her Facebook profile to break the news about how one of her school mates and close friend, Loius Chigozirim Ihejirika, killed himself. The deceased was a final year student of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia state. According to Stella, the incident took place at his hostel on Friday, September 14. It was gathered that he locked the door and closed the windows before committing the act. When access was eventually gained into his room, Ihejirika was found dangling from the ceiling fan. Lady pens down tribute after a final year student killed himself in Abia Photo: Louis Jackson Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Nigerian lady narrates story of her one night stand with Nollywood actor Mr Ibu (photos) Her post reads: THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF LOUIS IHEJIRIKA. With a heavy heart we the 400L students of B. Agric (SIWES STUDENTS) announces the death of one of us by name Louis Chigozirim Ihejirika who died mysteriously by hanging himself, at first we taught it was a joke but on getting to the scene ground I saw my man already dead, the whole doors and windows was locked but with the help of the 3 guys who went with me the almaco was forced open and behold Louis on a ceiling fan hook with white polo and his black jean trouser already dead. I know we can't question God but I strongly believe he should have an answer and reason behind this death, as we embark on a prayer we believe God will reveal everything hidden in the eyes of man that propelled this handsome, brilliant and sound young man to take his own life by Hanging. Louis you have been my close friend and departmental mate but at this point I am heartbroken because there is nothing in this life that can make you take your own life without seeking my advice. But I pray God to give your family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. RIP Louis Jackson. PAY ATTENTION: Join Africa Love Aid today for your daily relationship tips and advice See post below: RIP! What do you think will happen if women rule the world? (Nigerian Street Interview) | Legit.ng TV - on Legit.ng TV. Source: Legit - The leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing a lot of troubles at the state level - Some state chapters of the party are not interested in giving automatic tickets to some lawmakers who defected recently to their fold - The PDP national leadership had used automatic tickets to lure some lawmakers into the party The Bauchi state chapter of the PDP has ruled out automatic ticket for aspirants seeking various elective offices in the 2019 general elections. The state PDP spokesperson, Yayanuwa Zainabari, said there is no automatic ticket for anyone. He said the party has also not offered automatic tickets to serving members of the National Assembly who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC). READ ALSO: 2019: Election observers slam PDP over no confidence vote on INEC Senators Suleiman Nazif and Hamma Misau, as well as Speaker Yakubu Dogara, are the notable politicians who joined the PDP from the APC. Zainabari stated that all the defectors have to go through primaries to get the tickets, stressing that there are other politicians contending for the seats. The PDP national leadership had used automatic tickets to lure some federal lawmakers into the party, a decision that didn't go down well with some state chapters of the party. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Meanwhile, the APC in Bauchi has adopted President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Mohammed Abubakar of the state as its presidential and gubernatorial candidates respectively for the 2019 general elections. This was made known in a statement sent to journalists on Friday, September 14, by the press secretary to the governor, Abubakar Al-Saddique. Saddique said the party took the decision at its stakeholders meeting on Thursday, September 13, held at the Government House, Bauchi. Senator Kwankwaso Rabiu announces his Presidential Bid (Election 2019) on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - Sokoto state governor, Aminu Tambuwal has began consultations for his presidential aspiration - The front-line Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant was in Ebonyi recently to meet with party delegates in the state - Tambuwal's ambition was hailed by the governor of Ebonyi state and chairman of the South East governors' forum, Dave Umahi Sokoto state governor, Aminu Tambuwal has began consultations for his presidential aspiration, and Ebonyi state is his first port of call. The front-line PDP aspirant was in Ebonyi on Friday, September 13, to meet with party delegates in the state ahead of the presidential primary election of the PDP scheduled for next month. During the visit, governor of Ebonyi state and chairman of the South East governors' forum, Engineer Dave Umahi declared that Tambuwal has all it takes to lead Nigeria. Governor Umahi who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, said Tambuwal and his presidential campaign team at Government House, Abalaki, o said the former Speaker of the House of Representatives has the leadership qualities to lead Nigeria, especially at a critical time like this. Governor Tambuwal speaking at the event as Dr. Kelechi Igwe looks on. Photo credit: Sokoto Government House Source: Twitter READ ALSO: APC's change has brought hunger, unemployment to Nigerians - Kwankwaso The governor praised Tambuwal for promoting peace, securing lives and properties as well as ensuring infrastructural development in Sokoto state. Your democratic credentials are not questionable, your respect for the rule of law is not in doubt. Your records as the Speaker of House of Representatives and the governor of Sokoto state are obvious and testament of your qualities, he said. Igwe said that delegates from the state would follow the directive of Umahi in voting for the presidential candidate of the PDP in Port Harcourt. Tambuwal told his host and the delegates that he is on a mission to rescue Nigeria from abject poverty, abuse of power and incompetent leadership of the present government of the All Progressives Congress. He said Nigeria is on its way to another recession as the economy is in comatose without defined direction and policies. We have a responsibility to rescue our country from the drifting at the moment. I am sure we know what is going on in Nigeria; we are all feeling the pain of poverty in our country; the absence of the rule of law and the abuse of power by the current administration. That is why I said we need to rescue this country from collapsing. What is currently going on in the country is not the best, and must not be allowed to continue. We need leader that has complete knowledge of this country; that will be fair to all, irrespective of where you come from; irrespective of your religion, the governor said. He urged the delegates to support his mission by electing him as the presidential candidate of the PDP during the convention in October, promising to provide a credible leadership that will unite the country, promote the economy and protect all. His words: This is the time for us to work harder as Nigeria has become a laughing stock in the comity of nations. This is obvious by commentaries and news analysis. We must rescue our country from this slide. The unity of Nigeria is threatened. We need a leader that will put aside primordial sentiments, when it comes to getting the best brains to work for the best interest of our country, and when assigning national assignments; all these I will do if you elect me as the candidate of our party, and by the grace of Almighty God the president of Nigeria. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Meanwhile, the PDP says with the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari as its sole presidential candidate, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is now irredeemably doomed for a crushing defeat in the 2019 general elections. This was contained in a statement sent to journalists by the party's national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, on Thursday, September 13. The party said: President Buharis fear to contest an elective presidential primary, for which he and a few APC leaders scared away other presidential contestants within their party with threats and high nomination form fees, ended up ruining APCs chance of fielding a good candidate for the election. Senator Kwankwaso Rabiu announces his Presidential Bid (Election 2019) on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - A portrait of Governor El Rufai has been sold for two million naira - Adebayo Seun, a 200 level fine arts student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria painted it in two minutes - The portrait, painted during Kaduna Emerging Young Leaders Summit held in Kaduna was bought by House of Reps member, Mohammed Mamadi Mr Adebayo Seun, a 200 level fine arts student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, on Saturday, September 5, sold a portrait of Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state, which he painted in two minutes for N2million. The portrait, painted during Kaduna Emerging Young Leaders Summit held in Kaduna, was bought through an auction within five minutes by Rep. Mohammed Mamadi (APC-Igabi). Adebayo Seun, a 200 level Fine Arts student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria painted it in two minutes. Credit NAN Source: Facebook READ ALSO: 8 facts about Zainab Ahmed, new minister of finance Seun told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he has never made this much from a painting. The highest I ever made was N500, 000. I really thanked the organisers of the event for this life changing opportunity. I am so happy and feel so encouraged, he said. Another artist, Abubakar Umar did a pencil drawing of the governor. The portrait, painted during Kaduna Emerging Young Leaders Summit held in Kaduna was bought by House of Reps member, Mohammed Mamadi. Credit: NAN Source: Facebook NAN reports that the summit was organised by the state government to break the barriers to youth leadership in the state. Muhammad Abdullahi, commissioner, planning and budget commission, said at the opening of the summit in Kaduna that the gathering provided an avenue for the youth to discuss challenges and chart a course for a better tomorrow. The summit was organised to bring youth, young professionals and emerging leaders together to discuss societal issues with a view to bring positive change in their communities. `It is geared towards giving youth a platform to hear, learn, engage and collaborate with young professionals on academic, decision making, and advocacy for societal change and development, he said. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state said he did not have up to N20m in his bank account to purchase the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship nomination form which costs N22.5m. The governor made the statement on Monday, September 10, when some groups in Kaduna purchased the expression of interest and nomination form of the APC for the governor. Buhari to Contest for Presidency in 2019! Legit.ng TV Source: Legit This is the official Lehman anniversary. I havent felt inspired to write about it. I chronicled the crisis in great depth and hate to say I benefitted from it, since it made this blog. Being right about it didnt make it feel good to watch the horrible financial panic and the desperate ways the officialdom threw money at major institutions and hung the average citizen out to dry. Australia thwarts Japan bid to end 32-year commercial whaling ban SBS (Kevin w) Ramos returns to chair after Serena dramas as stats back him up Sydney Morning Herald (Kevin W) Serena Williams Serves Tantrum, Scores for Identity Politics The American Conservative Windows 10 Now Warns Users Not to Install Chrome or Firefox ExtremeTech (furzy) Washington, D.C. mass overdose: synthetic marijuana K2 suspected. Slate (furzy) Parents are hiring intimidating uncles to protect their child from school bullying All K-Pop. I could have used one of them when I was youngbut the guy in the photo look like a yakuza. BPA-Free Plastics Are Just as Toxic as BPA-Laden Ones, Study Says. Heres Why Fortune (David L) People wearing virtual reality headsets have worse balance and increased mental exertion PsyPost China? (LEAD) South Korea launches 3,000-ton homegrown submarine Yon Hap News Agency. Six vertical launching tubes capable of firing submarine-to-ground ballistic missiles.: Hmm. EU Copyright Fiasco The development below wont affect NC much (hat tip Ron A), but it now perversely makes us a beneficiary of Brexit, since these rules wont apply to the UK (eventually) where most of our EU readers are located. More generally, since we dont get paid for ads served to the EU and our level of donations from EU readers are microscopic, we will probably lose traffic but not income. However, I hate being denied input and insight from readers outside the US in comments, but we are certain to be blocked under the coming regime. I hope a high proportion of our EU readers continue to visit us and comment using a VPN. Do read the entire tweetstorm. In case you're wondering: the #EU just voted to impose filters on all the text, audio, photos, videos, etc you might post. If you think this will help photographers or other creators, you don't understand filters. son of an asylum seeker, father of an immigrant (@doctorow) September 12, 2018 EU approves controversial Copyright Directive, including internet link tax and upload filter The Verge (Ron A) Brexit Young Russians taking the lead in anti-Putin protests Associated Press Big Brother is Watching You Watch Heres How Your Unique Behavioral Psychological Profile Is Being Used to Manipulate You Alternet. Another reason, if you must use Facebook, to muddy your profile. Trump Transition Ocasio-Cortez to Trump on Puerto Rico deaths: My own grandfather died in the aftermath of the storm. Uncounted CNN Andrew Cuomo says progressive wave is not even a ripple after primary win Guardian How Centrist Is Colorado? Governors Race Will Test That Reputation Governing (UserFriendly) Massachusetts Police Tweeted a Screenshotand Accidentally Revealed Theyre Watching Left-Wing Activist Groups Slate (David L) Democracy, the presidency and views of the parties Pew Research Center (UserFriendly) Fake News CalPERS CEO Of Californias $350B Pension Fund Has No Degree Associated Press. Will have more to say about this. Black Injustice Tipping Point EXCLUSIVE: Video showing how heavy metal fire doors automatically slam shut in building where white Dallas cop shot her black neighbor and apartment numbers are lit up in NEON contradict her story Daily Mail Crisis Orgy On the anniversary of Lehmans collapse, a stunning trader default in Norway rattles nerves Quartz (Kevin W) Lessons From Tesla (the Man, Not the Car) Wall Street Journal (Brian C) Tesla Autopilot Not Working After Latest Over-the-Air Update, Owners Say Jalopnik (Kevin W) Wiping the Debt Slate Clean RT. An interview with Michael Hudson Guillotine Watch Class Warfare Antidote du jour. David D: A Costa Rican lizard practices hiding in plain sight. In the context of the busy, colorful forest, I almost walked right past without noticing. See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. 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) Google has become so unethical that even some of its own employees want nothing to do with it anymore. In the latest example of the company driving away valued workers, senior research scientist Jack Poulson has quit his job in protest of the companys plans to launch a censored version of the Google search engine in China. Last month, news emerged that Google was secretly working on a Chinese search app code-named Dragonfly for devices running Android. It removes any content that the Chinese government doesnt want its people to see, such as that pertaining to free speech, human rights, democracy, and political dissidents. It will also see queries that have been deemed sensitive blacklisted entirely, meaning that no results whatsoever will turn up if people type in certain terms or phrases. As part of the companys research and machine intelligence department, Poulson was tasked with improving their search systems accuracy. He raised his concerns with his managers but ultimately decided that he couldnt work for them any more in good conscience. He resigned at the end of last month, and he told The Intercept that at least four others have done the same. He said that the plan was a violation of Googles principles stating they will not design technologies whose purpose contravenes widely accepted principles of international law and human rights. Not only was the censorship itself concerning, but he also had reservations about the fact that customer data would be hosted on the Chinese mainland, where the countrys security agencies would have access to it. Given what we know about what the Chinese government does to journalists and political activists it wants to silence, hes right to be concerned about it. Poulson told his bosses in his resignation letter: 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. More than 1,000 employees concerned about companys ethics Poulson is hardly alone in his concerns. When the news of Dragonfly made its way throughout Google, there was a lot of protest within the company, with more than 1,400 employees signing a letter demanding the appointment of an ombudsman to assess the censorship plans urgent moral and ethical issues. They say they have a right to know what theyre working on. In other words, if Google is going to be carrying out unethical acts, they want no part of it. Some of those who led the letter effort were also behind protests of the firms work with the American military to build AI systems that could identify objects like vehicles in drone footage. Those protests ultimately resulted in Google letting its military contract expire. Googles response to the Dragonfly letter? They cut off employees access to documents about the Chinese search engine and tightened rules so that employees working remotely can no longer livestream meetings on personal computers after a leak last month. Earlier this month, the companys CEO, Sundar Pichai, refused to show up for a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing during which he would have faced questions about the Chinese censorship. In addition, Google has ignored countless journalists questions about the plan. Of course, this doesnt come as much of a surprise from a company that has been a bit China-like itself, exerting its power to censor search results and YouTube videos when the topic at hand doesnt serve its political agenda. As this behavior continues and employees grow increasingly wary of where the line will be drawn, there could well end up being a mass exodus. Sources for this article include: TheIntercept.com TheIntercept.com (Natural News) Cats whiskers, an herb traditionally used to treat gout, arthritis, and other conditions related to inflammation, has been confirmed to improve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. A team of researchers from Malaysia and Italy looked at the potential of cats whiskers extract to treat rheumatoid arthritis in a study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. For the study, the research team used 50 percent ethanol extract of cats whiskers to treat rheumatoid arthritis. In order to assess the effects of cats whisker against rheumatoid arthritis, the team used the in vitro heat denaturation test and arthritic mice. Based on the results of the study, treatment with cats whiskers ethanol extract inhibited paw edema in acute and chronic models of inflammation in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, treatment substantially suppressed the production of inflammatory signaling cytokines: tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 1 (IL-1), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). In addition, the treatment prevented paw edema and reduced the serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1. Based on the X-rays of the mices synovial joint of the hind leg, the team observed considerable improvement in joint strength and recovery of foot and ankle bones from degeneration and osteoporotic lesions. The cats whiskers ethanol extract also demonstrated significant protection of cartilage and soft tissue. Furthermore, the team discovered that cats whiskers ethanol extract contains anti-arthritic effects and powerful antioxidant activity, as well as high phenolic and total flavonoid content. The research team concluded that cats whiskers ethanol extract could potentially be used as an alternative medicine for the prevention and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic inflammatory disorders. Cats whiskers and its many health benefits Cats whiskers are widely used for various medicinal purposes. This herbal plant contains anti-inflammatory activities. It is available in the form of dried leaves, tablets, extracts, tea sachets, and capsules. Listed below are some of the health benefits cats whiskers offer: Cats whiskers aids in respiratory problems Cats whiskers can help treat respiratory problems, such as asthma and cough. It is often combined with other powerful herbs that are also effective in treating respiratory problems. Cats whiskers can help treat respiratory problems, such as asthma and cough. It is often combined with other powerful herbs that are also effective in treating respiratory problems. It lowers blood pressure Cats whiskers contains chemicals that help in lowering blood pressure levels. Cats whiskers contains chemicals that help in lowering blood pressure levels. It alleviates breathing and nerve-related problems Cats whiskers can treat shortness of breath and nerve-related problems. Cats whiskers can treat shortness of breath and nerve-related problems. It contains anti-fungal properties Cats whiskers contains compounds that help prevent the growth of parasites. This herbal medicine does this by interrupting the nutrient supply chain of the fungus. Thus, cats whiskers could be applied to the fungal-infected area. Cats whiskers contains compounds that help prevent the growth of parasites. This herbal medicine does this by interrupting the nutrient supply chain of the fungus. Thus, cats whiskers could be applied to the fungal-infected area. It treats and prevents bladder problems Cats whiskers is widely used for its diuretic action, which helps increase the flow of urine by relaxing the muscles of the walls of the internal vessels. Additionally, because of cats whiskers ability to cleanse tracts and ease the functioning of the system, this herb can effectively treat bladder infections and prevent bladder problems in the future. Cats whiskers is widely used for its diuretic action, which helps increase the flow of urine by relaxing the muscles of the walls of the internal vessels. Additionally, because of cats whiskers ability to cleanse tracts and ease the functioning of the system, this herb can effectively treat bladder infections and prevent bladder problems in the future. It treats kidney disorders Cats whiskers is widely referred to as the kidney plant because of its kidney-saving benefits. It is believed to remove kidney stones and treat acute and chronic kidney infections. Cats whiskers is widely referred to as the kidney plant because of its kidney-saving benefits. It is believed to remove kidney stones and treat acute and chronic kidney infections. It contains antioxidant properties Cats whiskers has been consumed on the islands of Java, where it is known as Java tea. The people of Java consume this herb mostly because of its detoxifying properties, acting as a natural cleanser and eliminating toxins in the body. Cats whiskers has been consumed on the islands of Java, where it is known as Java tea. The people of Java consume this herb mostly because of its detoxifying properties, acting as a natural cleanser and eliminating toxins in the body. It regulates blood sugar According to several studies, cats whiskers regulate blood sugar levels. (Related: Nutritional analysis PROVES the effectiveness of herbal medicine in treating diabetes.) Read more news stories and studies on alternative treatments for arthritis and similar conditions by going to AlternativeMedicine.news. Sources include: Science.news HealthBenefitsTimes.com (Natural News) If you have lower back pain, you may want to consider taking yoga as an option, aside from physical therapy: A study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine has found that yoga is as effective as physical therapy in treating chronic lower back pain. Researchers from Boston Medical Center (BMC) conducted the study in order to compare the effects of physical therapy and yoga in treating chronic lower back pain. Earlier studies have shown that yoga is effective in treating the condition, but it was not yet known how it would compare to other practices that are covered by health insurance. For the study, the researchers recruited 320 participants with chronic lower back pain from an academic safety-net hospital and its affiliated community. They were randomly divided into three groups: yoga, physical therapy, and educational groups. Participants in the yoga group took a yoga class every week for three months. Those in the physical therapy group visited a physical therapist for 15 times within three months, and those in the educational group received a back pain self-help book and educational newsletters. After the three-month study period, the participants underwent the maintenance period of nine months. During these nine months, the yoga group went to drop-in sessions or practiced at home, while the physical therapy group engaged in booster sessions with a physical therapist or practiced physical therapy exercises at home. Moreover, the participants accomplished a survey at the beginning, the third month, and the first year of the study that asked about their level of back pain, activity limits, and pain medication usage. Their satisfaction with the treatment and quality of life were also monitored. Based on the results, yoga was as effective as physical therapy in treating chronic lower back pain. Both treatments reduced pain, improved function, and lessened the need for pain medications of the participants at almost similar levels. In addition, the treatment satisfaction was the same among the physical therapy and yoga groups. Both yoga and physical therapy were also deemed safe. Furthermore, the researchers said that higher attendance to the yoga classes and physical therapy classes was linked to greater improvements for their chronic lower back pain and less pain medication usage. The findings of the study suggested that yoga should be considered as a treatment option for people with chronic lower back pain. As a health care community, we should collaborate with patients with chronic low back pain to determine their best options given their individual condition and preferences, and both physical therapy and yoga should be part of the discussion, said Rober Saper, the first author of the study. Yoga poses for back pain relief Not all yoga poses are appropriate for pain relief. Some poses could do more harm than good, depending on your condition. Here are several yoga poses that are beneficial for back pain: Extended childs pose with blocks: This pose is grounding and lengthens the sides of the body, providing gentle traction on the spine and bringing awareness to the midline of the body. Come onto your hands and knees, then place two flat blocks shoulder-distance apart at the front of your mat. Put your palms onto the blocks, and press your hips back and down toward your hells. Finally, press your palms into the blocks, straighten your arms, and lengthen through the sides of your torso. Cobra: This pose can help stretch out and strengthen the spine. Lie face-down with your forehead resting on the floor. Place hand on each side, at the middle of the ribcage. Put your legs together with the tops of feet pressing into the floor. Reach back through toes, lengthening legs, and press evenly through hands as your elbows draw near to your ribcage. Use your back strength, life your head and chest, then slide your shoulder blade down back. Take five to 10 deep breaths before gently releasing to the floor, turning your head to one side. Read more news stories and studies on alternative treatments for lower back pain by going to AlternativeMedicine.news. Sources include: Science.news BMC.org Prevention.com All northbound lanes on Interstate 280 are open after they were blocked for a couple of hours due to a bus fire on the border of San Bruno and South San Francisco Friday afternoon. The California Highway Patrol issued a sig alert at 5:44 p.m. after the bus caught up in flames around 5:30 p.m. Passengers were escorted off the bus and picked up by another bus and there were no apparent injuries. No additional information was immediately available. What to Know The Global Climate Action Summit was centered at the Moscone Center, but "affiliate events" sprawled out across San Francisco Green transportation companies showed off their innovations by shuttling delegates to and from hotels in style Talks and exhibits around the city showed off new solutions to save energy and reduce waste Though elected leaders and Hollywood stars graced the stages of San Francisco's Moscone Center during the Global Climate Action Summit, it was outside the heavily-guarded gates to the event that the city transformed for three days into a veritable utopia of environmental advocacy. Dozens of "affiliate events" each day clamored for the attention of dignitaries and influencers in the fight against climate change, offering food for thought and solutions to a warming planet. Perhaps the biggest event literally was the presence of a 35-foot-tall polar bear standing guard over Harry Bridges Plaza along San Francisco's Embarcadero. The hulking creature's "skin" was actually made of scrapped car hoods including a few with the Chevy logo still on them.[[493359581, C]] City Hall played host to a flurry of demonstrations and protests, while across the street in Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco's Department of the Environment gave away reusable coffee mugs in an effort to get people thinking about paper cup waste. Steps away at the public library, the Natural Resources Defense Council spoke to a packed house about how food waste is linked to climate change. Bay Area green tech companies came out in force, including the normally-secretive autonomous car maker Zoox. Along with electric bus maker Proterra, Zoox helped shuttle delegates from the Fairmont Hotel to the Moscone Center. Proterra hoped to show off the ease with which its buses climb San Francisco's infamous hills, while Zoox was more interested in demonstrating how its robots dodge double-parked cars and wayward pedestrians. A pavilion full of electric vehicles filled a gallery at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, where Charge Across Town brought together car makers with the companies working on new charging solutions. Those include a giant battery on wheels to charge cars literally anywhere, and a flat device that looks like a manhole cover, but is actually a wireless charger for the car parked above it. [[493359311, C]] Greener housing was the subject of a tour offered in the city's Potrero Hill neighborhood, where a new condo building called Sol Lux Alpha generates twice as much energy from the sun as it uses. The designers have dubbed it a "housing and transportation" solutions, since the excess power can be used to charge electric vehicles in the garage. The building is off-grid capable, so in a neighborhood power outage, everything keeps running as normal.[[493359531, C]] A few of the delegates were younger than the rest winners of Our Climate's Youth Step Up competition for new solutions to climate change. First place winner Michael Wong, a college student from Oakland, invented a magnetic snap-on motion sensor for light switches. The $30 device, now being sold to school districts, turns the lights off for you when you leave the room. Watch the video above to see how the Bay Area's innovators and activists painted the town green during this international event! A naval deck marker containing radium was discovered earlier this week at the former U.S. Navy shipyard site in San Francisco's Hunters Point, California Department of Public Health officials said in a letter to homeowners in the neighborhood on Thursday. In a letter to The San Francisco Shipyard Homeowners Association, state health officials revealed that a deck marker measuring 1.5 inches in diameter was found on the north side of the site's Parcel A, in an undeveloped area behind a fence. The marker was discovered by contractors being supervised by state health officials under about 10 inches of soil. The contractors scanned the soil around where the deck marker was discovered and found no radiation. State health officials said results from the scanning, which have the potential to detect even low levels of radiation, indicate residents are not at risk for any health or safety hazards, but that does not take away from their worry. Seray and Theo Ellington are counting the days to the birth of their first child, but they worry about the family's health and safety. "Were getting ready for the baby in the best way we can but you can only be so ready when youre potentially surrounded by radioactive material," said Seray. Parcel A is currently being scanned after it was alleged earlier this year that Tetra Tech, the firm paid $1 billion by the U.S. Navy in 2002 to rid the area of radiation, falsified soil samples. The scanning project at the parcel is more than 90 percent complete, state health officials said. Markers containing radium were used around the 1950s by U.S. armed forces to provide low-level light at night. The naval marker is one of eight anomalies discovered at the site, according to the letter. Tetra Tech has denied that it falsified soil samples, even though in December 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, along with other state agencies, independently reviewed a report by the Navy on the cleanup and found signs of potential falsification, manipulation and data quality concerns. In May, it was revealed that two former Tetra Tech employees, Stephen Rolfe and Jason Hubbard, each pleaded guilty in federal court in San Francisco to one count of falsification of records. Both Rolfe, 65, and Hubbard, 48, have been sentenced to eight months in prison. Also in May, attorney Charles Bonner filed a lawsuit on behalf of more than 40,000 plaintiffs, all Hunters Point and Bayview residents, accusing Tetra Tech of "blatant, conscious, callous disregard of Bayview Hunters Point residents' lives, born and unborn" and "unfair and fraudulent business practices." The suit is seeking $27 billion in damages. Longtime Hunters Point residents have complained of suffering from illnesses such as cancer and asthma because of the alleged contaminated soil A separate lawsuit filed in July by residents at The San Francisco Shipyard, the newly built residential neighborhood on Parcel A, alleges that homeowners were duped into buying homes on contaminated land and that Tetra Tech and Lennar Inc. marketed the 350 homes, costing about $1 million each, to the prospective buyers as clean and safe. "Nobody in their right mind should buy a house here anymore," said Bradley Angel from the Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice. Environmentalists and residents are now demanding a full re-testing of the entire Shipyard & a halt to anymore building there. "This is less about property values, this is about the health of our family," said Seray. "It's way more important to us to have a healthy baby." Don Deaver followed details of the destruction in Massachusetts from afar in Houston and struggled to find a comparison. And thats saying something for the natural gas expert, who spent more than three decades at Exxon. Hes also provided testimony as an expert witness in more than 100 natural gas investigations. I personally dont know of an event thats happened of this magnitude, Deaver told the NBC10 Boston Investigators. Like other experts who are scrutinizing the natural gas disaster across the Merrimack Valley, Deaver agrees the incident seems to be an obvious case of over-pressurized gas lines. A similar tragedy played out in Chicago in 1992, when a natural gas disaster killed three people, sparked 10 fires, and destroyed 18 buildings. Like any piece of equipment, they can suddenly or catastrophically fail, Deaver explained. Youve seen the warning signs on posts marking the location of gas transmission pipelines. Perhaps youve spotted the distribution facilities hidden in wooded areas of your neighborhood. But chances are, most people dont think much about how natural gas gets from transmission stations to business and homes. Deaver said gas travels quickly across the country in high-speed pipelines, usually with hundreds of pounds of pressure. It then moves through a series of step downs at regulator stations. Think of those as gatekeepers that reduce the pressure to safer levels, likely to 60 psi as gas reaches neighborhood distribution systems, and eventually down to just .25 psi as it gets to home utility meters. This animation illustrates how natural gas is transported via pipelines into homes. So there could be a 4,000 to 1 range of pressure thats in the transmission pipeline bringing gas to your area to your house where youre using the gas, Deaver said. Thats why its easy to imagine why its so destructive if something fails, and that high-pressure gas somehow ends up in a neighborhood system. You can get something that hits the whole system and creates an incredible amount of leaks, Deaver explained. It can spread at the speed of sound, so its very devastating. Ryan Kath can be reached at ryan.kath@nbcuni.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or connect on Facebook. 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. A California man has been charged with shooting a Cicero police officer during a chaotic rush-hour encounter that also prompted a concealed-carry permit holder to open fire Thursday afternoon on a busy Stevenson Expressway ramp. Daniel Mageo, of Long Beach, California, faces two counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery with a firearm, Chicago police announced on Saturday. Mageo, 27, is a convicted felon and a registered sex offender who had an active California parole violation warrant out for his arrest, according to Cicero town officials. Authorities say Mageo shot Cicero Police Officer Luis Duarte four times during the encounter near the 4200 block of South Cicero Avenue, but it might have been worse if the armed citizen hadnt stepped in. The incident began after Duarte, 31, and his partner tried to pull over Mageos vehicle about 5 p.m. in the 3900 block of South Cicero, but he took off until he got caught in traffic on the ramp to southbound Interstate 55, Cicero police said hours after the shooting. Mageo then got out and opened fire, hitting Duarte twice in the arm, once in the leg and once in the abdomen, officials said. Duartes partner returned fire, as did a concealed-carry holder who had been sitting in traffic on Cicero Avenue, police said. Mageo was shot once and taken to Stroger Hospital in serious condition, officials said. It wasnt clear if he was shot by police or the armed bystander. We were lucky enough to have a citizen on the street there whos a concealed-carry holder, and he also engaged in gunfire, Cicero Police Supt. Jerry Chlada Jr. said outside Mount Sinai Hospital, where Duarte underwent Thursday night. On Friday, police said the four-year veteran officer was recovering in good condition. Mageo, who was arrested by Chicago police because the shooting happened in city limits, was scheduled to be in bond court Saturday afternoon. Illinois State Police are investigating the officers use of force. Philippine officials say the death toll from Typhoon Mangkhut has risen to 28, mostly due to landslides in northern mountain provinces. Police Director General Oscar Albayalde told The Associated Press that 20 had died in the Cordillera region, four in Nueva Vizcaya province and another outside of the two regions, as the typhoon battered the rice-growing and mountain area on Saturday. Three more deaths have been reported in northeastern Cagayan province, where the typhoon made landfall. On Sunday morning, Mangkhut is barreling toward densely populated southern China and Hong Kong, where authorities raised the highest storm warnings and moved nearly half a million people to shelter from seven cities. The strongest storm so far this year in the world sliced across the northern tip of Luzon Island on Saturday, a breadbasket that is also a region of flood-prone rice plains and mountain provinces with a history of deadly landslides. More than 5 million people were in the path of the typhoon, equivalent to a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane when it hit the Philippines. It currently packed sustained winds of 155 kilometers (96 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 190 kph (118 mph). China and the Philippines agreed to postpone a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that was to start Sunday due to the typhoon's onslaught, which caused nearly 150 flights, a third of them international, to be canceled and halted sea travel. The Hong Kong Observatory said although Mangkhut had weakened slightly, its extensive, intense rainbands were bringing heavy downfall and frequent squalls. Storm surge of about 3 meters (9.8 feet) or above is expected at the city's waterfront Victoria Harbour, the observatory said, appealing on the public to avoid the shoreline. Francis Tolentino, an adviser to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, said many died mostly in landslides and houses that got pummeled by the storm's fierce winds and rain. Among the fatalities were an infant and a 2-year-old child who died with their parents after the couple refused to immediately evacuate from their high-risk community in a mountain town in Nueva Vizcaya province, Tolentino said. "They can't decide for themselves where to go," he said of the children, expressing frustration that the tragedy was not prevented. Mayor Mauricio Domogan said at least three people died and six others were missing in his mountain city of Baguio after strong winds and rain destroyed several houses and set off landslides, which also blocked roads to the popular vacation destination. It was not immediately clear whether the deaths and missing cited by Domogan had been included in Tolentino's count. Authorities were verifying the drownings of three people, including two children. About 70 men reportedly returned to their coastal village in Cagayan to check on their homes as the storm drew closer Friday, but Tolentino said he had received no reports of the men figuring in an accident. About 87,000 people had evacuated from high-risk areas of the Philippines. Tolentino and other officials advised them not to return home until the lingering danger had passed. In Cagayan's capital, Tuguegarao, where the typhoon made landfall, Associated Press journalists saw a severely damaged public market, its roof ripped apart and wooden stalls and tarpaulin canopies in disarray. Outside a popular shopping mall, debris was scattered everywhere and government workers cleared roads of fallen trees. Many stores and houses were damaged but most residents remained indoors as occasional gusts sent small pieces of tin sheets and other debris flying dangerously. The Tuguegarao airport terminal also was damaged, its roof and glass windows shattered by strong winds. The typhoon struck 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. In Hong Kong, Security Minister John Lee Ka-chiu urged residents to prepare for the worst. Cathay Pacific said all of its flights would be canceled between 2:30 a.m. local time on Sunday and 4 a.m. Monday. "Because Mangkhut will bring winds and rains of extraordinary speeds, scope and severity, our preparation and response efforts will be greater than in the past," Lee said. "Each department must have a sense of crisis, make a comprehensive assessment and plan, and prepare for the worst." In nearby Fujian province in China, 51,000 people were evacuated from fishing boats and around 11,000 vessels returned to port on Saturday morning. China's National Meteorological Center issued an alert saying Mangkhut would make landfall somewhere on the coast in Guangdong province on Sunday afternoon or evening. Ferry services in the Qiongzhou Strait in southern China were halted on Saturday and helicopters and tugboats were dispatched to Guangdong to transfer offshore workers to safety and warn ships about the typhoon, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported. 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. In 2013, 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. Associated Press writers Jim Gomez and Gillian Wong contributed to this report. Hartford Police have arrested a man who is accused of strangling and assaulting his ex-girlfriend on Friday. Police were called to a domestic incident around 11:09 p.m. According to police, the victim told officers that her ex-boyfriend, later identified as 32-year-old Juan Valle-Rivera, of Hartford, came to her house and forced his way inside. While inside, Valle-Rivera physically assaulted and strangled her, the victim said. The victim's injuries were considered non-life threatening, police said. Before Valle-Rivera left, the victim said he broke several of her personal items. Investigators developed information that later led to the apprehension of Valle-Rivera at his home. Valle-Rivera is facing charges including home invasion, strangulation, criminal mischief, assault and disorderly conduct. A New Haven, Connecticut woman is headed to prison for her role in a month-long crime spree in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including an attempted bank robbery in which she and another woman dressed as nuns. Swahilys Pedraza-Rodriguez received a 15-month sentence Thursday. The 20-year-old New Haven woman had pleaded guilty in June to robbing a bank in Garfield, New Jersey, while wearing a head covering and conspiring to steal money from an ATM at a bank in Scotrun, Pennsylvania. Bergen County Sheriff's Office Her co-defendant, 24-year-old Melisa Aquino Arias of Passaic, New Jersey, received a 37-month sentence Wednesday. The two were arrested last October, about two weeks after the Garfield robbery, when they went to a Teaneck bank and asked about opening an account. An employee recognized them and called police. Via Willmar City Council Member Ron Christianson's Facebook page, we learn of a new venue for Minnesota's anti-Muslim speaking circuit: the Let Freedom Ring forum, which will host anti-Muslim speaker Chris Gaubatz on October 2 at a location to be announced. The event is the second offering by the group, which brought Phil Haney to The Harbor church in Spicer on September 11. Read about Haney's beliefs at Right Wing Watch. Willmar Radio' spoke to Haney here. Let Freedom Ring events are hosted by the THEE Book Club (more about this group later). Judging from the Let Freedom Ring event post announcing the October event, Gaubatz spoke to the THEE Book Club in a non-public event earlier this year: With this newly added event, we will continue to review our ever-changing society, both nationally and locally. We strive to educate the public on these changes; where we fit in and how we respond. All the while, staying the course and reflecting on our chosen Bible verse Ephesians 6:12-14; standing on His firm foundation! Our key-note speaker for the evening will be nationally known patriot and speaker Chris Gaubatz. (yes, you can GOOGLE him). He will be recounting his story into a most secretive underworld. We were blessed to welcome him only a couple of months ago and he graciously accepted our second invitation! This is a 'CAN'T MISS" event! Please RSVP to receive details on the venue when that is revealed at a later date! Who is Chris Gaubatz? Gaubatz drew the attention of the City Pages late last August, with Susan Du reporting in Conspiracy theorist claims Muslims have 'no-go zones' in Minneapolis: Chris Gaubatz and his father Paul Gaubatz enjoy a hero status among those searching for evidence that national civil rights organizations like the Council for American Islamic Relations and the college group Muslim Student Association prop up international terrorists. The two co-authored a book in 2009 called Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld Thats Conspiring to Islamize America, which galvanized conservative members of Congress to accuse CAIR of planting spies on Capitol Hill. CAIR responded there was nothing sinister about encouraging young Muslims to get political internships, and soon sued both Gaubatzes. The suit swirls around the creation of the book. . . . Du discusses the lawsuit (latest court opinion we can find is here-) then reports: The Gaubatzes have been appearing on the conservative news site World Net Daily recently to stir up support for their legal fight. In an article published Wednesday, Chris claims, per his expertise on all things Muslim insurgency, that Muslims have taken over Minneapolis and created "no-go zones." Were seeing in Europe the migration of Muslims into European countries, completely changing the demographics of Europe, Chris told World Net Daily. You have entire enclaves that are essentially no-go zones, for not only law enforcement, but also citizens. Chris attorney did not respond for comment requesting the real-world location of these no-go zones. . . . The notion of "no-go zones" in Minneapolis--home to thriving Somali refugee communities--is a cherished article of belief in conservative anti-Muslim circles. The City Pages' Cory Zukowski reported in 2015 that Family Research Council president Tony Perkins Thinks Islamic Law Has Overtaken Parts of Minneapolis. In April 2016, Bluestem posted about how No-Go Zoner Clare Lopez spoke to Republican Seniors in Burnsville; group is MNGOP affiliate, after Right Wing Watch (April 5) and Joe Conason's National Memo (April 8) report that Ted Cruz advisor Clare Lopez brought up the debunked notion of no-go zones during an April 4 interview on Dan Ochsner's "Ox in the Afternoon" radio show which airs on St. Cloud's KNSI Radio. Young Gaubatz was late to the party for that urban legend. As for the veracity of the no-go zones, we recommend heading in and picking up some delicious sambusas. What is the THEE Book Club? The forum is sponsored by the THEE Book Club. The latter bills itself on Facebook as: . . .a small group of Christian patriots; small in numbers but strong in effort because we are obedient to the Lords Word, Will and Ways. We are not ones who believe in oneness because one does not make an army. We are minutemen who believe in many! We are a group that is Biblically foundational; we are driven by our love of God and love of our country! We pray on Ephesians 6:12-14 to give us strength and courage to journey into territories that may have struggle, strife and uncertainty at times but we know that no matter the path that lies ahead, our true victor has already WON! We believe in facts and truth, not hearsay, rumors and lies. We live by our Bible but secondly we live by the law of our land, our US Constitution. The very constitution initiated and written by founding father of this great country of ours. Men also guided by love of their God and love for their newly formed country. Men who sought life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness free from the dominance of monarchy and government restraints. THEE Book Club and its events appear to be organized--at least in part--by wife of Kandiyohi County Commissioner and former Willmar City Council Member Steve Ahmann. The public nature of the events appears to be fueled by the extreme conservative star-power of its speakers. Fagerlie-Ahmann posted about the announcement of group's first speaker, Phil Haney: Bluestem covered the unfolding story in several other posts: We'll keep an eye on this development in Willmar's culture wars. Photo: Spicer is Nicer. But not always. It's not clear if the next Let Freedom Ring event will take place there. If you appreciate our posts and original analysis, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post. Those wishing to make a small ongoing monthly contribution should click on the paypal subscription button. Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email sally.jo.sorensen@gmail.com as recipient. Emily Flower loves shopping at IKEA. Nearly every piece of furniture in her Terryville home comes from that store. I kind of enjoy putting things together and the prices are good as well, Flower said. She said she found a full-size bed frame for her daughter on the IKEA website and paid a little over $200, plus the $30 shipping fee to have it delivered. So, the day came and went that they were supposed to deliver it, said Flower. Flower called IKEA and the company told her she would have to call the delivery company. When she reached out to them, she said the delivery company told her that they hadnt received any order information from IKEA. After that point, I could never get anyone on the phone from IKEA, said Flower. I was calling the customer service number. I was calling the store. According to Flower, she was on hold for nearly an hour and didnt speak with anyone. I thought 'wow', by now all this time, Ive been on hold. I couldve driven there, got the bed, and come back and put it together, said Flower. She said she then contacted her credit card company to dispute the $242 purchase. Thats when Flower said she received an email confirmation from IKEA saying her order had been shipped. But it indicated the same delivery date that she had scheduled the first time. And again, Flower said there was no sign of her furniture. Still, unable to reach IKEA, she sent a direct message through Twitter telling the company that she wanted the order cancelled. She said IKEA responded that they would cancel her order but they told her the shipping fee is non-refundable. I love IKEA. I want them to fix whatever the problem is, said Flower. She reached out to NBC Connecticut Responds upset over her order. We contacted IKEA who told us: The customer opted to cancel the order, and had been refunded in full, as of Aug. 20, 2018. IKEA is committed to delivering customer service excellence across all touchpoints. In the past few months, we have seen a substantial increase in e-commerce traffic, and we regret that customers are experiencing delays in the Tri-state delivery areas. We are working diligently to resolve these issues as quickly as possible, and we will continue to work to improve our online infrastructure. Flowers credit card company worked with IKEA to ultimately refund the entire amount, including the shipping fee. After we reached out, IKEA sent Flower a $100 gift card. Even though, she appreciates gift card, Flower tells us she wants the company to do more. Ive never had a bad experience with them before and I thought its such a shame and dont what others to have the same experience, said Flower. Puerto Rican government officials resorted to mass finger-pointing after CBS News recently reported that thousands of water bottles were abandoned on the taxiway of a naval base in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. In a Facebook post written in Spanish, Thomas Rivera Schatz, Puerto Ricos Senate president, called out Wanda Vazquez, the islands secretary of the Department of Justice. "The discovery of a shipment of boxes containing potable water going to waste out in the open on Ceibas naval base possibly did not even provoke an investigation from the Department of Justice, Rivera Schatz wrote on his Facebook page. The Senate president also said it's necessary for someone to file a complaint regarding the incident. "We are waiting for the great explanation someone will offer, in some moment, that will justify everything, he continued. Viral images on social media show hundreds of boxes of water abandoned outside at the naval base Roosevelt Roads in Ceiba. Following Hurricane Marias landfall last September, many residents were left without clean drinking water for weeks. After falsely counting the death toll in the wake of the hurricane as 64, the government has since acknowledged the storm caused the deaths of almost 3,000 people on the island. Clinicians linked 26 of those deaths to leptospirosis, a bacterial illness spread through contaminated water and soil, according to an investigative piece by CNN and the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo. Thats double the amount of deaths the illness caused in Puerto Rico in 2016. As peak hurricane season approaches, Rivera Schatz said Puerto Ricans are once again preparing for the worst. This week, the people have massively resorted to buying potable water before the possible passage of a tropical storm that could become a hurricane, while there [on the naval base] waste thousand and thousands of bottles of water," the Senator leader added. "It is a real shame that this is occurring." Puerto Ricos Administrator of the General Services Administration, Ottmar Chavez, and Secretary of the Department of Public Safety Hector Pesquera offered explanations about the situation. The Federal Agency for Emergency Management reported that it had an excess of bottled water in April 2018, and GSA made an application to take custody that was approved and executed upon in May 2018 through the U.S. GSA Surplus Property program, Chavez explained during a press conference. In total, the administration requested about 20,000 pallets of the undistributed excess water, according to a press release written by a spokesperson for the Puerto Rican government. GSA took control of the inventory in May 2018 before I took over the agency's functions, Chavez added. Deliveries to two municipalities and the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Puerto Rico began that same month and continued through August 2018. Chavez said that after his agency delivered more than 700 pallets, recipients from the municipality of Barceloneta and the Corporation for Public Dissemination began sending complaints regarding the waters smell and taste. Based on those complaints, we contacted FEMA to return the water to the federal GSA inventory, the GSA administrator continued. The secretary of the [Department of Public Safety] specified that, based on the compiled documentation, in no moment during the digital communication about the surplus water was it evident that the bottled water was spoiled. The DPS secretary further highlighted the island governments lack of information regarding how FEMA stored and distributed the water. When GSA performed its merchandise survey, U.S. GSA photographs appeared to show bottled water in a warehouse, Pesquera said. We do not know when FEMA moved the inventory to the Roosevelt Roads Base in Ceiba. The secretary of DPS further explained that the Government of Puerto Rico never received the water from FEMA for distribution during the emergency, and it was not until April 2018 that we were notified of its availability. Chavez has ordered an administrative investigation to analyze the internal processes associated with this matter and to discuss possible follow-up measures. In a Facebook Live video, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello also questioned FEMAs handling of the water and the distribution delay. If we had the water supply available since January, why was it not declared until months later, when the bottles of water could possibly be contaminated due to having them exposed outside of a warehouse for so long? he asked. The question is should these containers have been kept in some sort of warehouse or storage facility and if they distributed potentially contaminated water? Ultimately, the governor believes FEMA is responsible for causing the water to possibly spoil. I demand answers from FEMA, because the evidence establishes that this was water that belonged to FEMA, and they left out in the open for so long and did not make it available to those who needed it until a few months later, Rosselo said. I guarantee to the public of Puerto Rico that we are in a constant investigation of these events and there will be significant consequences. FEMA Spokesperson Lenisha Smith responded to Rosselos claims by saying the decision to store the water at the naval base aligned with the agencys goal of providing the maximum support to disaster survivors, while also being mindful of our responsibility as stewards of taxpayer dollars. Smith claimed placing the water on the tarmac resulted in millions of dollars of savings. FEMA announced that the water would be available to any agency that needed it, and placed the water at the taxiway of Roosevelt Roads where it could be stored in an area that was free and secure, Smith wrote in the statement. The P.R. General Services Administration showed interest in this inventory and requested that it be transferred. Once the transfer of water took place, the water became property of the government of Puerto Rico. As family lawyers accused Dallas authorities of attempting to "assassinate" Botham Jean's character, protesters rallied in downtown Dallas again Friday night to condemn the man's shooting death inside his own apartment. Dozens of protesters rallied outside the Dallas Police Department Headquarters before marching to the South Side Flats, where Jean was fatally shot by Dallas officer Amber Guyger Sept. 6. The march, which appeared to be peaceful, then moved to Interstate 30, where demonstrators briefly blocked westbound lanes. They chanted "Shut it down!" before moving through downtown streets chanting slogans such as "Justice now!" along with the name of Botham Jean. No arrests were reported. The march, organized by the Next Generation Action Network advocacy group, came the same day attorneys for the family of Jean accused Dallas officials of trying to "assassinate Jean's character" and expressed fury that authorities sought a search warrant resulting in the discovery of marijuana in the victim's apartment. Rally for #BothamJean underway outside Dallas police headquarters. A few dozen people here. Protestors calling for officer Amber Guyger to be fired. Shes charged in his death. pic.twitter.com/5BRba0efCi Meredith Yeomans (@YeomansNBC5) September 15, 2018 At a news conference Friday, the lawyers said there was no reason for authorities to issue the search warrant specifically searching for marijuana unless they were trying to sully the victim. They called for the firing of police officer Guyger, who gunned down 26-year-old Jean in his own apartment on Sept. 6. She has been booked on a preliminary charge of manslaughter and is free on bond. Attorneys, as well as Botham's mother, spoke at a press conference Friday afternoon. Guyger told investigators she mistook Jean's apartment for her own, which is right below his, and that upon entering the dark home, she believed she had encountered an intruder and shot him when he didn't obey her verbal commands. In a speech at private luncheon Friday, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings addressed "false innuendos." We need to be like Bo. Sadly many arent," Rawlings said. "Today there are many on social media and news outlets that want to spread false innuendos. Bo was a great man. And I am disturbed today by those who try to besmirch his reputation. Shame on you. Stop it. There are others that want the same, to do the same to Chief Renee Hall, for her to lose her credibility. She has courageously made the right decisions and we should all stand with her." A search warrant obtained Thursday details crime scene evidence seized from Botham Jean's apartment the night he was fatally shot by a Dallas police officer. "Whether its smearing the ethical credibility of black elected officials that happened in our city horseshoe a couple of weeks ago or by attacking our first African-American female chief or dishonoring the life of Bo, it seems to be an insidious habit by some of being overly critical of black individuals with notoriety," Rawlings said. "This has got to stop on social media. We need them to stop and we must do our part. We must be united to honor these people not tear them down." Dallas police did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the criticism. Ryan Tarinelli of the Associated Press contributed to this report. What to Know Officials say a husband and wife have died in a plane crash in Woburn, Massachusetts. The Columbia Aircraft LC41 departed from New York and was scheduled to land at Hanscom Field in Bedford, Massachusetts. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. A couple from New York was killed following a small plane crash in Woburn, Massachusetts. The plane crashed into the woods behind a house on Minchin Drive around 11 a.m. Saturday. The victims were identified as 65-year-old Dr. Michael Graver and his 52-year-old wife, Jodi Cohen, of Manhasset. Investigators say the couple was headed to Massachusetts to meet up with their child when their plane went down less than seven miles from the airport and just minutes before its scheduled landing. Julianne Almeida heard something that didn't sound right seconds before the couple's single engine plane crashed. "You could hear something was wrong," she said. "It was definitely like in the movies when you hear it coming down." Moments later, Almeida says she "heard the boom." Almeida's husband Marc also heard the explosion. "The scene was pretty crazy how close everything was to the houses," he said. No one on the ground sustained any injuries, and no homes in the area were damaged. "There was stuff exploding, and there was debris all over the street," Almeida said. While Almeida has seen a lot in her 15 years as an emergency room nurse, she says nothing has shook her this badly. "Just yelling, 'can anybody hear me? Are you alive? Can you hear me?' Nobody was answering." Dr. Graver was flying at the time of the crash and was a "very experienced" pilot according to his family, District Attorney Marian Ryan said at a 3 p.m. press conference. The 2006 Columbia Aircraft LC41 departed from Republic Airport in Farmingdale, New York shortly around 9:33 a.m. and was scheduled to land at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Mass. just after 11 a.m., according to the Massachusetts Port Authority and the Federal Aviation Administration. Woburn police started receiving 911 calls regarding a plane crash around 11:03 a.m., according to DA Ryan. Dr. Graver was the chief of adult cardiac surgery at North Shore University Hospital, according to the Northwell Health public relations office. Cohen had been working for the past five years at Douglas Elliman Real Estate, where a senior executive manager of sales called her a "terrific class professional and a great woman." The 4-seat aircraft was co-owned by Dr. Graver and another man, who was not identified. The plane will be removed from the area over the next 48 hours. No foul play is suspected. The investigation into the cause of the crash is open and ongoing. The Middlesex District Attorneys Office, Massachusetts State Police, Woburn Police and Fire Departments, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Aeronautics Division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation are investigating this incident. 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. [[493160281, C]] 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. [[493160531, C]] 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. [[492883991, C]] 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. The testing of a new emergency system that will allow President Donald Trump to send messages to most U.S. cellphones has been postponed to Oct. 3, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Monday. All the major wireless carriers and over 100 mobile providers are participating in the rollout, FEMA stated in a message posted on its website. The testing was originally set to take place Thursday, but has been moved to the backup date of Oct. 3. FEMA said the decision was made to delay the testing because of ongoing Hurricane Florence response efforts. The test message will have a header that reads "Presidential Alert," according to the agency. "The EAS [Emergency Alert System] is a national public warning system that provides the President with the communications capability to address the nation during a national emergency," FEMA said. The wireless emergency alerts (WEA) system was authorized by Congress in 2015 under a law that states the "system shall not be used to transmit a message that does not relate to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster or threat to public safety." 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. 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. An inmate at a Florida prison strangled his cellmate, gouged the body's eyes and then strung the dead inmate's ear around his neck with a string before breakfast, according to a report. The Miami Herald reported that Larry Mark, 58, was killed early Thursday at the Columbia Correctional Institution. The incident occurred hours before an unrelated gang fight between the Bloods and the Cutthroats erupted in another building at the prison compound located in Lake City. Corrections officials said the prison houses some of the most violent inmates in the state. A Department of Corrections spokesman said Mark had been serving a life sentence for a 1981 murder in Broward County. Some sources told the Miami Herald that the cellmate became angry with Mark for pestering him. The cellmate strangled Mark, cut his ear off and gouged out his eyeballs before putting the ear on a string around his neck to show it off to inmates as he walked toward the prison chow hall for breakfast, according to sources. The inmate put Mark's eyeballs in a cup and told inmates he would eat or drink them in the future, sources said. Neither the corrections agency nor the Florida Department of Law Enforcement provided the name of the attacker. Any loss of life at the hands of an inmate is intolerable, and we are working with our partners at FDLE to investigate this death and ensure anyone responsible is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," Julie Jones, secretary for the Florida Department of Corrections, told NBC affiliate WTLV in a statement. 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. 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What to Know Henri Bendel, which first opened in Greenwich Village more than a century ago, is shutting down all its stores in January, its owner says Its Fifth Avenue flagship store became a landmark in the city -- that one and 22 smaller-format stores in 11 states will close for good L Brands Inc., which acquired Henri Bendel in 1985, says it wants to focus on larger brands with more growth potential Luxury retailer Henri Bendel, which opened its doors in Greenwich Village at the end of the 19th century and has a landmark flagship on Fifth Avenue, is closing. L Brands Inc., which acquired the brand in 1985, said that all 23 Bendel stores -- including the flagship Fifth Avenue location and smaller-format stores in 11 states -- and the website will shut down in January. The Columbus, Ohio-based international empire, which operates 3,084 company-owned specialty stores including Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works -- across the globe said it wants focus on larger brands with more growth potential. The brand is a New York City legend, established in 1895 by women's hat maker Henri Bendel who moved to the city from Louisiana. Bendel began catering to the city's elite, making the stores' brown and white striped shopping and bags and hat boxes a coveted status symbol. In the 1960s, its in-house illustrator was a young artist named Andy Warhol. It became the first retailer to have its own fragrance, offer in-store makeovers and stage its own fashion show. The franchise opened more than two dozen stores, selling high-end hangbags, jewelry and accessories that became favorited by celebrities who helped launch it into the upper echelon of fashion brands -- one that would later be accompanied by high-quality lines from Kate Spade and Michael Kors. It's the latest shutdown of an iconic retailer or its flagship in the city. Earlier this year, Lord & Taylor announced it was shuttering its Fifth Avenue flagship location after 104 years. The department store's owner sold the building to WeWork, who planned to turn it into its global headquarters. Fabled toy store FAO Schwarz shut down its Fifth Avenue shop in 2015. Just recently, it announced plans to reopen its flagship in Rockefeller Center in November (and you could land a job dancing on its iconic piano). What to Know Delaware's Supreme Court on Friday upheld a judge's decision terminating the disability benefits of a woman who is in the country illegally. Magdalena Guardado injured her left wrist in 2010, was paid periods of total disability, returning to work until undergoing surgery in 2014. Delaware's Supreme Court on Friday upheld a judge's decision terminating the disability benefits of a woman who is in the country illegally and was injured at work. In a two-sentence order, the court without comment rejected Magdalena Guardado's claim that the state Industrial Accident Board erred in terminating her total disability benefits last year, and that a Superior Court judge wrongly upheld that decision this year. At issue in the case was whether Guardado's former employer had adequately established that there are jobs available for her, given various limitations that have resulted in her being designated a "displaced worker." Under Delaware law, a displaced worker is entitled to disability benefits if he or she suffers a compensable injury and faces significant challenges in finding regular employment opportunities. At a hearing Wednesday before the full court, Guardado's attorney argued that Roos Foods had failed to establish that there are jobs available for her, given the "constellation" of restraints she faces. Those restraints include not just Guardado's undocumented status, but her limited education and experience, inability to speak or read English, and limited use of her left hand, according to attorney Walt Schmittinger. But Chief Justice Leo Strine, who issued Friday's order, noted that the court must give deference to the board, and that undocumented workers are regularly employed in Delaware. "The board made the decision ... she can find relatively entry-level employment in the retail or food industries if she tries. How can we say that there isn't substantial evidence that supports that decision?" Strine asked. Guardado, an El Salvador native who came to the United States in 2004, injured her left wrist in 2010 while working at Roos Foods, a cheese company that ceased operations in 2014 following a listeria outbreak and the suspension of its food facility registration. After being paid various periods of total disability, Guardado returned to work until undergoing surgery in 2014. A doctor cleared her to return to work less than two months later, and the company subsequently sought to terminate her total disability benefits. The Industrial Accident Board denied the company's petition in 2015, saying Guardado, while physically capable of working, was a "displaced worker" solely because of her immigration status, and that the company's labor market survey had not shown there were jobs within Guardado's reach. But the Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that a person's status as a worker living in the country illegally is not relevant in determining whether she is presumed to be a displaced worker. Following a rehearing last year, the board again concluded that Guardado was a displaced worker, based on her limited education and minimal work experience as an unskilled laborer with limited hand movement. The panel nevertheless found that Guardado was medically employable, and that Roos Foods had demonstrated the availability of jobs within her capabilities. Renowned chef Jose Andres has turned up in North Carolina to lead a hot food drive as the state deals with Tropical Storm Florence. Andres was in Wilmington, a city on the coast near South Carolina, on Saturday, running a kitchen full of volunteers cooking food to be delivered to shelters and emergency workers in the flood-stricken region. "I love these guys, they are really amazing heroes," Andres said in a video posted to Twitter as he toured the Wilmington kitchen where his organization, World Central Kitchen, had set up shop. Florence has caused major power outages in the Carolinas, displaced tens of thousands and killed at least five people. While it's been downgraded to a tropical storm from a hurricane, its slow speed meant it was still set to continue dumping an overwhelming, dangerous amount of rain on the area. Andres has become something of an expert in cooking during disasters. A Spaniard who rose to fame in Washington, D.C., he won the James Beard Award for the best chef in the U.S. in 2011, one year after he started World Central Kitchen in 2010 in the wake of an earthquake that heavily damaged Haiti. The organization is perhaps best known for feeding people in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria crippled the island. World Central Kitchen says it made more than 3.6 million meals in 25 kitchens there since the disaster last September. That work, along with responses to Hurricane Harvey in Houston and the wildfires in California, was cited when the James Beard Foundation awarded Andres its humanitarian of the year award this year. Andres is also known as an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump. He dropped out of a planned restaurant in the Trump International Hotel in D.C., citing Trump's comments "disparaging immigrants," which led to a two-year legal spat they eventually settled. This week, Andres reacted to Trump's denial that about 3,000 people died from Maria by blaming Trump and the federal government's handling of the devastation. "I was screaming for help, 'Please, let us help you federal government. We could feed the entire island,'" he said on MSNBC. Andres said in another video posted to Twitter Saturday, this one filmed as he drove through the rain on a delivery run, that it appeared in North Carolina that FEMA had learned lessons from Maria Andres saw power generators "all over the place." For those who want to help those displaced by Florence, Andres suggested donating blood to the American Red Cross as well as donating money to his organization, even if it's just $1. He also put out a call for more volunteers to come help at the kitchen on 127 S. College Road in Wilmington. The first inter-Korean summit of 2018, a sunny spectacle in late April, reduced war fears on the peninsula. The second, an emergency one in May, helped ensure a historic meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump came off. Now, at his third summit with Kim next week in Pyongyang, South Korean President Moon Jae-in faces his toughest challenge yet: delivering something substantive that goes beyond previous vague statements on denuclearization and helps get U.S.-North Korea talks back on track. Negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have sputtered in recent weeks, raising doubts about whether Kim is truly willing to relinquish his nuclear arsenal and putting pressure on Moon to broker progress once again. The result will likely be a crucial indicator of how the larger nuclear negotiations with the United States will proceed. Moon will try to get Kim to express more clearly that he's prepared to abandon his nuclear weapons, which could create momentum for a second Kim-Trump summit. Whether Moon succeeds, fails or falls somewhere in between, the third inter-Korean summit could help answer a persistent question: When Kim says he supports the "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," what does he actually mean? DENUCLEARIZATION DEBATE Moon heads to Pyongyang on Tuesday facing lingering questions over his claim that Kim, during his conversations with South Korean officials, has privately expressed a genuine interest in dealing away his nuclear weapons and missiles. The wave of optimism that surrounded the first two inter-Korean summits in April and May and the Singapore meeting between Trump and Kim in June conveniently overlooked disagreements about what exactly Kim had committed to. "The third summit will bring more clarity to what North Korea means with the complete denuclearization of the peninsula," said Kim Taewoo, former president of Seoul's government-funded Korea Institute for National Unification. "If the North has been negotiating with goodwill all this time, Moon will be able to return with good results. But, regrettably, I see that possibility as low." He said it will be crucial for Moon to get Kim Jong Un to give a clearer signal that he is willing to accept credible actions toward denuclearization, such as providing a detailed description of North Korea's nuclear program, a key first step toward inspecting and dismantling of it. At his meetings with Moon and Trump, Kim signed statements pledging the complete denuclearization of the peninsula. But the North for decades has been pushing a concept of denuclearization that bears no resemblance to the American definition, vowing to pursue nuclear development until the United States removes its troops from South Korea and the nuclear umbrella defending South Korea and Japan. The differences prompted Trump to cancel Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's planned visit to North Korea last month. After an earlier Pompeo visit, Pyongyang accused Washington of making "unilateral and gangster-like" demands on denuclearization and bristled at the idea that it must take significant steps toward dismantling its nuclear program before a peace treaty is signed or international sanctions are lifted. Moon, the son of North Korean war refugees, is eager to keep the nuclear diplomacy alive, not just to keep a lid on tensions, but also to advance his ambitious plans for engagement with the North, including joint economic projects and reconnecting inter-Korean roads and railways. These projects are held back by the sanctions against North Korea. "What the South and North now needs is not just another joint declaration, but finding ways to substantially develop relations," Moon said in a Cabinet meeting Tuesday. "We cannot cease our efforts to mediate and facilitate talks from the middle until dialogue and communication between North Korea and the United States flow smoothly." GETTING IT IN WRITING The issue of declaring a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War will be high on the agenda in Pyongyang. The fighting stopped with an armistice that has left the peninsula technically at war. Both Koreas are calling for a declaration by the end of the year, but the U.S. wants to see more concrete steps toward denuclearization first, and some analysts say a declaration could put pressure on the U.S. to withdraw its troops from South Korea. "With the declaration, North Korea's trying to put itself on equal footing with the United States so it could turn the process into a bilateral arms reduction negotiation between two nuclear states," Kim, the security expert, said. "The process can't have anything to do with a plan to denuclearize unilaterally." Chung Eui-yong, Moon's national security adviser, met Kim in Pyongyang earlier this month, and said the North Korean leader told him that an end-of-war declaration would not weaken the U.S.-South Korea alliance or lead to a withdrawal of U.S. troops. Chung also said Kim wishes to realize denuclearization before the end of Trump's first term. Chung conveyed similarly promising comments from Kim after a previous visit in March, when South Korean officials shuttled between Pyongyang and Washington to set up the Trump-Kim meeting. He said then that Kim had said the North would not need to keep its nuclear weapons if it received a credible security guarantee and that the North Korean leader understood that U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises must continue. The comments were seen as an important departure from North Korea's previous stance. But Kim has never made similar comments publicly or in writing. If Moon can't convince Kim to express a commitment to concrete denuclearization steps, he will at least have to get Kim to put the things Chung has said he was told in a written agreement, said Du Hyeogn Cha, a visiting scholar at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies. That would provide a starting point for establishing a timeline for denuclearization, reduce concerns over North Korea's intent and make it clearer that the North bears the greater responsibility in the efforts to resolve the nuclear crisis, Cha said. "The Panmunjom Declaration after the first summit only provided a time limit for the end-of-war declaration, which was the end of 2018; on denuclearization, the statement just said the Koreas would jointly work toward it," Cha said. "A failure to get something more specific out of Kim could cause the diplomatic efforts to lose much of their force." The Catholic Diocese of San Diego released the names of eight priests who at one time worked in San Diego County and have credible reports of child abuse against them. The eight names: The Reverends Jose Chavarin, Raymond Etienne, J. Patrick Foley, Michael French, Richard Houck, George Lally and Paolino Montagna, and Monsignor Mark Medaer. The cases against them date as far back as the 60s and 70s, and not all of the alleged abuse incidents happened in San Diego, the diocese said. Five of the eight priests are now dead and the diocese was only able to provide photographs of three. The addition of the names brings the total number of abusive priests connected to the diocese to 56. The previous 48 were identified after a 2007 settlement in which the diocese paid out almost $200 million to victims. It's entirely possible as we go through 50 and 60-year-old records that we will find new people, The dioceses Kevin Eckery said. Eckery said the church is experiencing a lot of pain and parishioners want to know that they can trust their bishops and priests. Eckery said releasing the names Is part of holding ourselves and this diocese accountable." Attorney Devin Storey helped represent dozens of victims in the 2007 settlement and says the list is still incomplete because there are priests who have been credibly accused but still not identified. He wonders why there cant be complete transparency when it comes to identifying all of the accused priests. I think that when you come forward and you identify these people that have been accused, the accusers, other people that were abused by them, they get some vindication knowing, Hey, this is true, this happened to me, people believe it now. A diocese spokesperson said there have not been any reports of abuse at the Diocese of San Diego since the early 2000s. The release of the names comes weeks after a grand jury report implicated hundreds of Catholic clergy members in six Pennsylvania diocese in the sexual abuse of thousands of children over several decades. You can read the entire grand jury report here. Included in that report is Father Ernest Paone, who volunteered at at least two San Diego County parishes while on loan from the Pittsburgh Diocese from the 60s to the 90s. According to page 218 of the 1,356-page report, on May 1, 1962, a fellow priest at a Pennsylvania parish "interceded to prevent Paone from being arrested for 'molesting young boys of the parish and the illegal use of guns with even younger parishioners.'" The report also stated "There is no indication that the [Pittsburgh] Diocese provided any interested parties information that Paone had sexually abused children or that the Diocese had played a role in preventing his prosecution for that conduct." Records also show Paone worked as a junior high teacher for two decades in at Potter Junior High School in Fallbrook. The University of Maryland's counseling center started a group called White Awake to give white students a place to discuss race relations. This week, flyers were posted around the school and on social media reading, Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable and confused before, during or after interactions with racial and ethnic minorities? The flyer went on to describe White Awake as a group that "offers a safe space for White students to explore their experiences, questions, reactions, and feelings." Some students took to social media to voice their displeasure at the creation of the group. One student tweeted, POC Students never had the luxury to be provided spaces to learn about the reality of the world. The counselling center stood by their decision to create the group but announced they will stop using the flyer and that they changed the name of the group to the Anti-Racism and Ally Building Group. The Counseling Centers website was edited to reflect the new name. Also, wording that mentioned white students was removed. Noah Collins, the leader of the group, and Sharon Kirkland-Gordon, the Counseling Centers director, released a statement Thursday night admitting fault with the unclear intentions of the flyer. They wrote that the purpose of the group was to help White students become more culturally competent, so they can better participate in creating a more inclusive environment at the University of Maryland. As of fall 2017, 43.3 percent of University of Maryland students were classified as minorities, according to university data. The group was set to meet Thursdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. What to Know A grand jury report said Cardinal Donald Wuerl allowed priests accused of sexually abusing children to be reassigned or reinstated. Wuerl started a Season of Healing to bring attention to the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. Wuerl plans to visit Pope Francis and ask the pope to accept his resignation. Embattled Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl and a survivor of sexual abuse by a priest spoke at an emotional Mass at St. Matthews Cathedral in Washington Friday. The Mass marked the beginning of Wuerls Season of Healing, meant to bring attention to the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. Michael Nugent shared his story of being sexually abused by a priest when he was a teen in Chicago. I went to the cardinal; I told him what I had to say; he said its perfect, Nugent said. Nugent said he was a 13-year-old altar boy when a priest sexually abused him. That priest is now deceased. He was a one-man crime wave, Nugent said. During the Mass Wuerl asked for prayers and healing for those assaulted by the sin of abuse. He lit a candle of healing with Nugent, who received a standing ovation. I think it was concise and powerful to hear, one parishioner said. Wuerl has denied allegations in a grand jury report that he moved or reinstated priests accused of abuse when he was bishop in Pittsburgh. This week he said he would ask the pope to accept his resignation. While Nugent supports Wuerl, parishioner Rachelle Nigro told News4 she does not. I hope the pope accepts his resignation, she said. The church will get healed once they start taking care of their survivors, Nugent told News4. 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. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is offering advice and resources to Merrimack Valley residents coping with the aftermath of the gas-related explosions. The Friday news release includes information for homeowners, renters, and ways for people to make charitable contributions to the victims. Here are the suggestions: Tips for Homeowners Who Suffered Damage If your home has been damaged or destroyed, it is important that you make a list as soon as possible of valuable items in your home (furniture, jewelry, electronics, cash, etc.). This will help complete claims paperwork later. Keep all receipts for any money you spend related to this emergency, such as hotel bills, monies paid to hospitals, replacement clothing or baby supplies, etc. If possible, document any damage with pictures or videos and do not dispose of any damaged items unless instructed otherwise. Use reasonable means to save and preserve property that has not already been destroyed. For example, if possible, board or tarp open areas exposed to the elements to prevent water damage. Public adjusters may attempt to contact you and offer to handle your insurance claim on your behalf. Public adjusters are supposed to act as your representative in dealing with an insurance company in exchange for a percentage of your insurance settlement. There is no requirement that you hire a public adjuster to handle your claim, but if you decide to enter into an agreement with a public adjuster, please read the contract carefully before signing it. Tips for Displaced Renters Many renters in the region may be unable to safely occupy their homes for days or weeks, depending upon the extent of the damage. Some housing may be permanently uninhabitable. Renters should contact their landlord and notify them in writing about the extent of damage to rental units. Residents may want to document damage with photographs from their unit, if the unit can be entered safely. If units are uninhabitable, renters should discuss alternate housing that the landlord can provide or withholding rent while the renter finds other housing. Renters should review the terms of their leases to hold informed conversations. All rental housing in Massachusetts must meet state standards for health and safety. Make Smart, Safe Charitable Contributions to Support Victims Never give to a charity you know nothing about. Well-established charities with experience in disaster relief, community foundations, or organizations established with support from government agencies are generally a good choice. One example is the Lawrence Emergency Fund of the Essex County Community Foundation. If you are contributing over the internet, make sure that the website you are visiting belongs to a legitimate and established charity. Most crowdfunding sites are not charities and many typically take a percentage of your donation as a fee. Ask lots of questions. How much of the money goes to the charity and how much to a professional fundraiser? Ask if your contribution is tax deductible and what the charity intends to do with any excess contributions that might remain after the victims needs are addressed. Beware of social media posts or emails soliciting donations to copycat organizations or fake websites. Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone soliciting money. Never pay by cash. Pay by check or credit card and make a check out directly to the charity, not the fundraiser or any other individual. Specify, on the check and in writing, whenever possible, the purpose of your donation. Visit the Donating to a Charity page on the AGs website. What to Know Arthur Medici died after being attacked by a shark off Cape Cod; 26-year-old victim was pronounced dead at Cape Cod Hospital. The shark attack happened around noon Saturday just off Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet. The attack is the first fatal shark attack in Massachusetts since 1936. A man boogie boarding off a Cape Cod beach was attacked by a shark on Saturday and died later at a hospital, becoming the state's first shark attack fatality in more than 80 years. Our redesigned local news and weather app is live! Download it for iOS or Android and sign up for alerts. Arthur Medici, 26, of Revere, succumbed to his injuries following the attack in the waters off Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet just after noon, Wellfleet Police Lt. Michael Hurley said. Police say Medici was attacked while at the beach with his family. Witnesses at the scene told officers that Medici and another male were in the water about 30 yards off the beach boogie boarding when the attack occured. They say Medici was wearing a wetsuit and flippers. A man boogie boarding off a Cape Cod beach was attacked by a shark on Saturday and died later at a hospital, becoming the states first shark attack fatality in more than 80 years. Joe Booth, a local fisherman and surfer, said he was on shore when he saw Medici and his friend boogie boarding when the attack happened. He said he saw Medici aggressively kick something behind him and a flicker of a tail from the water. He realized what was happening when the friend came ashore dragging his injured friend. "All of a sudden somebody yelled 'shark, shark!' and we noticed a big crowd at the end of the beach," Tony Sherwell said. Booth said, "I was that guy on the beach screaming, 'Shark! Shark!' It was like right out of that movie 'Jaws.' This has turned into Amity Island real quick out here.'' Julian Swistak said people started running down the beach, wrapping Medici's legs in their towels. "There was a lot of blood," Rich Littauer said. "A lot of blood." From Cape Cod to Revere, people are expressing their sympathies to Arthur Medicis family; and experts are discussing sharks after the 26-year-old man was killed in a shark attack on Saturday. Booth said others on the beach attempted to make a tourniquet using a boogie board cord while others frantically called 911. CPR was in progress on the beach when emergency personnel responded, at which time they took over. A group of people, including first responders, carried Medici down the beach to the parking lot, giving him chest compressions on the way to the ambulance. Hayley Williamson, a Cape Cod resident and former lifeguard who was on the beach at the time, was in disbelief after Medici was rushed in an ambulance. "We've been surfing all morning right here and they were just further down,'' she said of the two boogie boarders. "Right spot, wrong time, I guess.'' Life-saving measures were attempted on the beach before Medici was taken to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, where he was pronounced dead, State Police spokesman David Procopio said. The beach has been closed to swimming. The town of Wellfleet issued a statement Saturday night, saying they are "heartbroken by this tragedy," and they send their sympathies to Medici's family and friends. "We share the grief and pain you feel," Select Board Chair Janet Reinhart and Town Administrator Dan Hoort said in the statement. "We are grateful to the family, friends, beach staff, public and first responders who worked so valiantly to save his life. Everyone who lives in and visits Wellfleet is part of the Wellfleet community. Today we lost a member of our community and we grieve his passing." The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy also offered their condolences to Medici's family on Twitter. The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy offers our most sincere condolences to the family of the victim, and all who witnessed or are affected by todays tragic incident. Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (@A_WhiteShark) September 15, 2018 The attack is the first fatal shark attack in Massachusetts since 1936, and the second shark attack this season. A 61-year-old New York man was severely injured Aug. 15 after fighting off a shark off Truro, about 4 miles north of Saturday's attack. He's currently recovering in a Boston hospital. The man who was attacked by a shark off the coast of Cape Cod explains how he escaped from the animals jaws. There were 53 unprovoked shark attacks in the U.S. in 2017, but none were fatal, according to the International Shark Attack File. On average, there are only six deaths around the world each year from unprovoked shark attacks. "Today is just keeping everyone out of water,'' Hurley said. "There'll be a determination later about what the town wants to do with the beaches going forward.'' Beachgoers said the Wellfleet beach is popular with surfers, and with sunny skies and warm temperatures Saturday it was busy, even though the summer season was over and lifeguards were no longer on watch following Labor Day. "As you can see, there is signage that is posted here at the beach just advising people that there are sharks in the water and the potential of them being out there," Lt. Hurley said. "It's just crazy," Swistak said. "I come to this beach all the time so it's scary and a little sad." There have been frequent shark sightings this summer along the outer Cape, often leading to beach closings. The National Park Service, which manages many of the picturesque beaches where white sharks tend to congregate, said it closed beaches for at least an hour about 25 times this year, more than double the annual average. The harbormaster in Orleans, Massachusetts, issued a firm warning about shark activity Thursday, August 30, 2018. A Cape Cod politician said officials who did not more aggressive action against sharks bore some responsibility for the fatal attack. Barnstable County Commissioner Ron Beaty said he had warned something like this could happen and urged measures to reduce the number of white sharks. "It is my personal belief that the responsibility for this horrible shark attack rests squarely upon the shoulders of the aforementioned officials for their utter lack of attention and inaction regarding the growing shark problem on Cape Cod of the last few years,'' he said. The incident is currently under investigation by the Cape and Island District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police. The state's last shark attack fatality was on July 25, 1936, when 16-year-old Joseph Troy Jr. was bitten in waters off Mattapoisett. Troy, of Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, was visiting an uncle and was swimming about 50 feet offshore when the shark attacked. Thousands descend on Newbury Showground for annual event THIS years Berkshire Show is well underway and with the sun shining, crowds are continuing to flock to Newbury Showground. The judging for most of the livestock categories is currently taking place and will have finished by early afternoon. Hampshire-based Millers Ark Farm is proving a real hit with the kids as is the ferret racing, where races are competing every hour among the 51 ferrets at todays event. In the cookery tent, local chef Darren Booker-Wilson from Donnington Valley Hotel conjured up a tempting gazpacho starter and an alternative take on the traditional Sunday roast beef wrapped in a Yorkshire pudding with homemade horse radish. Environmental Secretary Michael Gove has also made an appearance, having been invited by Newbury MP Richard Benyon to give a talk on the Agriculture Bill. Meanwhile, the relocated Food Fayre has been buzzing all day with foodie enthusiasts and several local independents feature. Gin might have become one of the most fashionable spirits to sip these days, but that hasnt stopped a very different alternative from visiting this years show. Berkshire Blend is a non-alcoholic spirit alternative, founded by Rex Carter from Streatley. Reading-based Sweeney & Todd are also here and are hoping to serve up over 1,500 pies this weekend. Theyre joined by Shepherds Bakery from Cheiveley headed up by owner Tony Manley who is selling their famous Lardy cakes throughout the day. The younger ones like buying them for their parents and grandparents," said Mr Manley. We find people come back to us every time we come here its as if its their yearly treat. Amen to that. Dogs are even enjoying themselves this year, with pooches being allowed through the gates for the first time. 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. The New Preston Womens Club will begin the clubs 2018-19 year Sept. 20 at the Community House at 27 Church St. Light refreshments will be served at 6 p.m., followed by a short business meeting at 6:30 p.m. and a pot luck supper. The Jewish Community Center in Sherman will present a book talk and signing Heidi Fishman, author of Tuttis Promise, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. The book is based on the experiences of her mother, Ruth Tutti Lichtenstern Fishman, and her mother's family. Both women will be in attendance at the center on Route 39 South. Tutti's Promise recounts Tuttis journey beginning as a 1-year-old child, when her family fled Cologne, Germany, for neighboring Amsterdam in 1936. But four years later, the Nazis invaded the Netherlands. Unable to escape due to the Nazis' occupation of neighboring countries and the bordering sea, the Jews were eventually deported to concentration camps, mainly Auschwitz and Sobibor, where more than 102,000 of the approximately 140,000 Jews who had been living there were murdered. Twenty-five to 30,000 thousand Jews survived by going into hiding. Tutti's immediate family survived. The project began when Dr. Fishman realized that, though Tutti had been making presentations to students since 2007, in order to preserve her mother's story for history, she'd have to document it in a book. Dr. Fishman began researching, including making several trips to Europe. She knew that Tutti's father, Heinz Lichtenstern, was a trader in metals. But what she didn't know then was that his expertise was a major factor in the survival of the family. After they had all been transported to Westerbork, a transit camp, Heinz was able to save his family's life and those of many other Jews by helping to establish the camp's scrap metal sorting facility, which partially supported the Nazi war machine. Naturally, that's where the sabotage portion of the story comes in. Tickets are $10 per person and can be reserved by calling 860-355-8050. Some good news from the front lines of the heroin crisis: Half as many people tried heroin for the first time in 2017 as in 2016. That's according to data released Friday from the government's annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health. "This is what we were hoping for," said Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz, who directs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. "It tells us that we are getting the word out to the American people of the risks of heroin," especially when the drug is tainted with additional powerful opioids, fentanyl or carfentanil. The survey found that marijuana use, however, increased in 2017, especially among pregnant women and young adults. McCance-Katz said the increase was likely linked to the growing number of states that have legalized marijuana and the misperception that marijuana is harmless. McCance-Katz attributed the drop in new heroin users to increased government funding for prevention and public messaging on the local, state and federal levels. Dr. David Kan, president of the California Society of Addiction Medicine, was surprised by the heroin finding. "This report seems to run counter to the common wisdom that everyone is migrating from prescription medications to heroin," he said. Still, the number of drug overdose deaths continued to climb to a staggering 72,000 in 2017, with the sharpest increase among people who used fentanyl or other synthetic opioids. "All it takes is one exposure to fentanyl to die," Kan said. The survey also found a small increase in the number of people with substance use disorders who receive specialty treatment, particularly heroin and opioid users. Nonetheless, 92 percent of people needing such treatment do not receive it. "It's unacceptable," said Greg Williams, executive vice president of Facing Addiction, a nonprofit group that advocates for people struggling with substance use disorders. "We've had a 90 percent treatment gap in America for the two decades we've been tracking it, and we have not been able to close it." Despite all the news coverage of the drug crisis, he said, "the response has been woefully inadequate." As for marijuana, it appears that public health messaging has not been as effective as marketing efforts by the burgeoning cannabis industry. "When you have an industry that does nothing but blanket our society with messages about the medicinal value of marijuana, people get the idea this is a safe substance to use. And that's not true," said McCance-Katz. Cannabis does appear to have medical benefits in June, for example, the FDA approved the first cannabinoid-derived medication for the treatment of epilepsy. But McCance-Katz said there is already ample evidence that the drug can pose serious health risks, particularly for teenagers, young adults and pregnant women. The survey found that from 2015 to 2017 the percentage of pregnant women who reported marijuana use more than doubled, to 7.1 percent. Often, they use it to combat nausea and pain, believing it is safer than the FDA-approved drugs prescribed by their doctors. Mounting evidence, however, suggests that marijuana can cause preterm birth and long-term neurological problems in the babies of mothers who use it during pregnancy. "I'm going to talk about it every chance I get," said McCance-Katz. "Americans have the right to know that marijuana has risks." 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. An LSTM led partnership has been awarded nearly 1.5 million from the Medical Research Council (MRC) for the pre-clinical development of a candidate drug to treat onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis, by targeting the bacterial symbiont Wolbachia. Led by LSTM's Deputy Director, Professor Steve Ward, the partnership comprises of researchers from LSTM, University of Liverpool and the pharmaceutical company Eisai Co., Ltd. In this 18-month project, the team will perform a full pre-clinical program for the drug candidate, AWZ1066S, up to the first in man transition phase. Professor Ward said: "Over 157 million people globally are affected by lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis, which are caused by filarial parasites. Current treatment strategies involving the targeting of Wolbachia with antibiotics, such as doxycycline safely kills the adult worms, but the length of treatment and contraindications in young children and pregnant women mean that it is not suitable for widespread distribution. This particular molecule has the potential to shorten that timescale of treatments from weeks to days which could significantly impact the international timetable for the elimination of these two neglected tropical diseases. We are keen to get started and I would like to thank the MRC for their confidence in our project and in the partnership, which has developed over several successful collaborations." The MRC award is a culmination of previous work undertaken over the past decade (funded through AWOL / Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund) which has sought to target the bacterial symbiont that is essential in order for the parasites to live, rather than traditional treatments targeting the parasites directly. The starting points for this program emerged from screening activities in the AWOL program funded through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and managed by Professor Mark Taylor of LSTM, one of the first scientists to recognize the therapeutic potential of this strategy. Medicinal chemistry optimization of screening hits at the University of Liverpool, headed by Professor Paul O'Neill's group, along with the Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai Co., Ltd. eventually generated an optimized candidate, AWZ1066S for drug development. This funding from the MRC will support the critical formal pre-clinical chemistry, analytical, toxicology and safety pharmacology development program in order to progress AWZ1066S to the first into human transition over the next 18 months or so. Germany: Germany is one of the top destinations for international students when it comes to Europe. It is true that Germany is still not at the level of UK but slowly and steadily, the educational institutions are gaining momentum. In fact, Germany comes in the list of the top five destinations for foreign students given by UNESCO. Germany provides world-class education at much lower costs, most of the public universities charge very little and sometimes no fees at all. The economy too is extremely cost-effective. GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Charikar (Afghanistan) : Two security personnel lost their lives and two others sustained injuries as a blast rocked Afghanistan's Parwan province on Saturday, officials said. According to a police official, the security personnel were busy defusing an explosive device on a road in Khalazai area on the outskirts of Charikar, the capital of Parwan province, when it exploded, Xinhua news agency reported. The Taliban described the blast as a roadside bombing, claiming that it was planted by the militant group and struck a vehicle of security personnel, killing several persons. Hangzhou (China) : Thousands of technology geeks from across China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan have been thronging global e-tailer Alibaba's Taobao Maker Fest in China's ancient city of Hangzhou, about 180km southwest of Shanghai. Taobao, meaning "search for treasure" in Mandarin, is Alibaba Group's digital portal, opened in 2003 for consumers to buy and sell a variety of goods, ranging from electronics, home appliances, furniture, clothing, etc. The third edition of the digital platform's Maker Fest is underway by the iconic West Lake in the provincial capital of Zhejiang -- where $40-billion Alibaba is headquartered -- from September 13 to 16. It has over 200 Taobao merchants displaying their innovative technologies and products. "The fest has been receiving global attention from thousands of consumers visiting the four-day fest from countries, including China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, to witness the innovations of Chinese entrepreneurs," Alibaba Group's Chief Marketing Officer Chris Tung told global media representatives while flagging off the fest. The products being showcased by young entrepreneurs from across China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan and other regions include Internet of Things (IoT) devices for agriculture and businesses, giant robots for surveillance, virtual reality shopping experiences, inventive takes on traditional Chinese clothing, calligraphy, anime-inspired products and a vintage market. At the first glance, the notebooks on planets in the solar system displayed by the firm Astro Reality seem usual, but soon as its mobile application scans a particular planet, the planet comes alive allowing one to view its surface, using the data from the American space agency NASA. From reviving ancient Chinese calligraphy and prints through fashion, thereby blending in the tradition with contemporary products, to using technology for better shopping experiences like augmented reality-powered goggles to view a mall without being inside it physically -- the fest has been taking the visitors on a ride to the future of technology. With a large number of Chinese youth aged 19 to 38 turning entrepreneurs, the world is witnessing technologies and products not only "Made in China" but "created in China", said Tung, who was also the brain behind the founding of the festival. The technological innovations being made in the country will have an influence not on China alone but the world at large, an Alibaba spokesperson told IANS earlier. "The festival celebrates entrepreneurship and innovations, allowing us an opportunity to interact with hundreds of buyers and share with them the stories behind our innovations, which is not always possible through digital mediums," Marketing Director of a Chinese IoT firm Ruff Chain Susan told IANS at the fest. Paul Huang, a 30-year-old tech professional from Hangzhou and a regular at the fest since its inception in 2016, finds the platform a way to learn about the direction in which technology can take his life ahead. "I buy everything I need on a daily basis, including my everyday meals, online. The fest allows me to understand the newest of technologies that are available in the world and use them for making my life simpler," he said. The 19-year-old Chinese conglomerate Alibaba, which was founded in 1999 by Chinese teacher-turned entrepreneur Jack Ma along with 17 other partners (investors), has been holding the fest as an offline technology and product expo offering a forum for hundreds of merchants and consumers to interact with one another. The fest is being held days after company's co-founder and Executive Chairman Ma announced a succession plan earlier this week, appointing the Chief Executive Daniel Zhang as the group's next Chairman from September 2019. (Bhavana Akella is in Hangzhou at the invitation of Alibaba. She can be contacted at bhavana.a@ians.in) Sorry! This content is not available in your region Over vehement objections, the curator for the Lake County Historical Museum is forging ahead with plans to bring a 9-foot-tall statue of the obscure Confederate general to Tavares in 2020 when Smiths bronze figure is booted from its prestigious perch in the National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol to make room for a sculpture of African-American educator Mary McLeod Bethune. To some whites here, the St. Augustine-born Smith is a heroic figure worthy of honor a West Point-educated military commander who stayed true to his home states values, fighting fiercely in the Civil War, though on the losing side. But to others, especially blacks, Smith was a slave-owning traitor who reneged on his U.S. military oath and fought to preserve Southern life and slavery. Seeking compromise, Lake County Commissioner Leslie Campione proposed an alternative approach this week to resolving the conflict that would let the statue come to Lake County but require each side to give a little in the name of respect, education, empathy and forgiveness. The Lake County History Museum erected this sign in its military gallery, where its curator hopes to install a statue of Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith, who has no known ties to Lake County. (Stephen Hudak/Orlando Sentinel) She suggested creating an advisory group to oversee details of the statues display and create a surrounding exhibit to offer context while highlighting achievements of black residents who overcame adversity and racial obstacles. Perhaps, by some miracle, we may turn a negative into a positive, Campione said. In June, when a five-member Statue Location Selection Committee chose a bid by Lake County museum curator Bob Grenier as the best relocation option for the century-old statue, outraged blacks mobilized. They were angry Grenier hadnt sought their input before pursuing a military leader who advised his subordinates during the war to follow a policy giving no quarter to black Union soldiers and to kill captured blacks rather than take them prisoner as they did other Yankees. Who could honestly say they couldnt see any problem with this statue, said Michael Watkins, a black pastor who organized an appeal to Lake County commissioners. He and other activists, both black and white, also persuaded elected officials in Clermont, Leesburg and Tavares to adopt resolutions opposing the relocation of the statue to Lake County. All approved unanimously except Tavares, where Grenier, also a city councilman, cast the lone no vote. Identical measures will be presented Monday to the Groveland City Council and Sept. 20 to the Eustis City Commission. Lake County Historical Museum curator Bob Grenier and Maria Kirby Smith, great-granddaughter of Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith, stand before Lake County commissioners on Sept. 11, 2018. Grenier read a letter Smith wrote in defense of a plan to display the general's statue. (Stephen Hudak / Orlando Sentinel) The formal resolutions petitions to be forwarded to the state committee that awarded the statue to Lake County mention neither race nor the Confederacy but instead point out that Smith has no connection to Lake County. While the museum operates independently, its landlord in the historic county courthouse is the County Commission, which could shut the doors. The issue has opened old wounds for African-Americans in this county northwest of Orlando where no black candidate has ever won a countywide election and where the late Willis McCall, a notoriously intolerant sheriff, forged a legacy of brutality and racial injustice during a 28-year run as the countys top elected lawman. Much of that sordid truth is documented in historian Gilbert Kings book Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America, which won the Pulitzer Prize. Campiones proposal aims to bring the clashing sides together. Grenier, his voice trembling at times, embraced Campiones concept. Bring the statue here, he said. Lets do this as a community. Lets show the world: Here in Lake County, black, white, red, yellow, we can all get together and tell a beautiful, wonderful story. Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith, regarded by some as a traitor to the United States, resigned his U.S. Army commission in 1861 to join the Confederacy. A museum in Lake County hopes to display a statue of Smith that will be moved from the National Statuary Hall in 2020. (www.azquotes.com) He also read a letter written by Maria Kirby Smith, the dead generals great-granddaughter and a sculptor. A resident of South Carolina, she attended the commission meeting but was too shy and emotional to read her words herself, Grenier said. She denied her great-grandfather was ever a Klansman as has been alleged. She said he had wanted to be an Episcopalian preacher or mathematics teacher. I am not ashamed, she wrote. I will not deny my great grandfather nor will I vilify him for his time and place. Nicknamed Seminole by fellow cadets, Smith was the first native Floridian appointed to the U.S. Military Academy and the last Confederate general to lay down his sword. Confederate Army Commander Robert E. Lee surrendered in April 1863, Smith didnt give up until two months later. Those opposed to bringing the statue to Lake view Smith as a symbol of segregation and oppression who left Florida at age 12 rarely to return and then only to visit. He also brought a household slave to war to serve as his personal valet. Watkins said he would be agreeable to Campiones plan if the state relocation committee doesnt reconsider and the statue is forced upon the community. Blacks always seem to be the ones who have to forgive, to give in, he said. Floridas decision to take Smith out of National Statuary Hall, where each state is allowed two figures, gained momentum in 2015 after a racially motivated mass shooting at a church in Charleston, S.C., that left nine black men and women dead. A state committee chose to replace Smith with Bethune, a daughter of slaves, from a pool of nominees that included conservationist and author Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Publix founder George Washington Jenkins and Walt Disney. The Statuary Hall Collection, created by an act of Congress in 1864 the year after the Civil War ended was intended to allow each state to commemorate "deceased persons who have been citizens thereof, and illustrious for their historic renown or for distinguished civic or military services." Smith, who also was a veteran of the Mexican-American War, mathematics professor, published botanist and a co-founder of the University of the South in Tennessee, was among a dozen figures from the Confederacy enshrined there. Since 2000, when Congress passed a law allowing states to update their statuary representation, 12 new figures have been installed, including Helen Keller, who replaced Confederate officer Jabez Curry as one of Alabamas statues. Floridas other statue honors John Gorrie, considered the father of air conditioning and refrigeration. BETHEL Officers working the midnight shift on Friday were able to stop alleged burglars in their tracks, police said. Fabian Rodriguez, 34, of Jewett Street in Ansonia, was charged with attempted burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, interfering with police, larceny of a vehicle and criminal mischief, according to police. Shortly after 4 a.m. Friday, police pulled into the parking lot of the Wheels Sunoco gas station on Stony Hill Road and spotted a red Ford Econoline van parked in front of the building. At this time, the gas station was closed. Then, the officers spotted two people dressed all in black, wearing ski masks, trying to break into the front doors of the store on the property, police said. Upon seeing the officers, both suspects ran around the opposite side of the building and fled on foot, a news release said. Bethel police activated the towns mutual aid agreement and Brookfield, Newtown and Connecticut State Police units responded to help the Bethel officers search for the suspects. A state police dog, Union, tracked the suspects along the back of the gas station property and led police into Newtown. Around 4:33 a.m., Union apprehended one of the suspects, later identified as Rodriguez, and officers took him into custody. [Rodriguez] was transported to Danbury Hospital for injuries sustained from a K9 bite, police said. Officers allegedly found a pair of gloves and a ski mask in Rodriguezs possession at the time of his arrest. Rodriguez is being held in lieu of bail pending a court appearance, police said. His bail amount was not provided. During their investigation, Bethel police found that the van at the scene of the attempted burglary was stolen Friday morning out of Bridgeport. It was also determined that the front doors and lock mechanism to the Wheels gas station were tampered with and damaged as a result of both suspects attempts to break in to the establishment, police said. Nothing was taken from the establishment and suspects were unsuccessful in entering the store. The investigation is ongoing as police work to track down and arrest the second suspect. BRIDGEPORT This week American Airlines announced weekly, non-stop commercial passenger service from Tweed New Haven Airport to the plane operators second-largest hub, Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. The next 18 months will help determine if Bridgeport-owned, Stratford-based Igor Sikorsky Memorial Airport could ever celebrate similar aeronautic big news. The city is drafting a new master plan for Sikorsky the first since the mid-1990s. Whether or not we bring back scheduled commercial service, thats something that definitely would be looked at, said Michelle Muoio, who just celebrated her one year anniversary as airport manager. Its a very comprehensive study that looks at the physical, business opportunities and the financial, with public involvement (from) tenants and (the) local community. The master planning process, funded largely by the Federal Aviation Administration, also marks a change in how Mayor Joe Ganims two-and-a-half year old administration has approached Sikorsky. While campaigning in 2015, Ganim floated the idea of a selling Sikorsky and getting it off of financially challenged Bridgeports books. The airport has a $500,000 operating deficit. As of now were moving forward with the assumption the city will continue to own and operate the airport, said Dan Roach, a mayoral aide. Roach had been working over the last few years to get the Connecticut Airport Authority, which operates several state-owned airports, including Bradley International in Windsor Locks, to buy Sikorsky. We did run into some issues with identifying funds that the state would use to compensate us for the airport, Roach said. He said a deal with the state is not off the table but acknowledged the Ganim administration is more open to keeping Sikorsky: Theres some potential there that we werent fully aware of a couple years ago. Specifically, Roach said, Ive been approached by two different groups in the aviation business expressing interest in a long-term lease. He and Muoio declined to provide additional details. But, Muoio emphasized, Nobody is going to build new airports any time soon, so just in general airports are an asset. While it has been decades since Sikorsky hosted commercial passenger service, and, in fact, the old passenger terminal was torn down, the airport is frequently used for corporate and charter flights. The short runways are still a hurdle when it comes to luring back commercial passenger airlines. But Muoio and Roach said the master plan will determine whether technological advances open up Sikorsky to new possibilities. Thats a big piece of the study -- forecast and demand analysis, Muoio said. What type of operators are out there, who is interested and compare that with what you can actually support at the airport. Air traffic control The master plan effort also includes an updated study of noise and noise management at Sikorsky. That is important given the topic of increased airplane traffic has not, historically, been popular with some residents of the nearby Lordship section of Stratford. When youre talking about technology, a big word is quieter, Roach said. If were looking to move forward with more operations out of the airport, its not going to mean its a noisier airport. The FAA recently provided $450,000 for the master plan and $170,435 for the noise study. Bridgeport is chipping in $53,632, and the airport $51,822 out of its budget. Roach admitted the next challenge will be funding any recommended improvements to runways or other infrastructure: We are trying to avoid using any city money and are in the process of attempting to acquire government and other funds. Sikorsky could have a friend in gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont. The Democrat, in response to Tuesdays news about American Airlines and Tweed, Tweeted: Rebuilding and expanding ... transportation infrastructure will be a top priority in my administration. Airports, roads, and rail put the connect in Connecticut, attracting jobs and expanding opportunities for all. David Faile, president of the Friends of Sikorsky Airport, hopes to be involved in the master plan. He agreed with the premise that aeronautic advancements have compensated for the facilitys shortcomings: The corporate aircraft flying in and out are bigger than weve ever had, quieter than weve ever had and use less runway. But, Faile said, commercial passenger flights will need a terminal and he is not sure where that would be rebuilt: As soon as you have an airline service you have the Transportation Security Administration and all the security requirements. Stratford Mayor Laura Hoydick, who took office in December, has a seat on the Sikorsky Airport Commission mainly dominated by members from Bridgeport. She noted how Stratford receives property taxes from development at the facility and the airports proximity to the vacant army engine plant next door that her town hopes to revitalize. The airport is an asset to the region and state, in my opinion, Hoydick said. But, she added, when it comes to changes at the airport, We would have to have all the facts and presentations so the community at large can be involved in the discussion. Muoio said a goal of the master planning process is ensuring how we can be as best a neighbor as we possibly can be. Three October debates in the race to represent Connecticuts 5th District may be Republican Manny Santos best chance to close ground on Jahana Hayes, a charismatic Democrat and rising star in the party. Jahana Hayes is this national phenomenon and superstar, and Manny Santos didnt run much of a campaign or raise much money, said Gary Rose, a political science professor and chairman of Sacred Heart Universitys Department of Government, Politics and Global Studies. His only chance to gain for himself some type of credibility are these debates - thats it. Political leaders in both parties say Connecticuts most competitive Congressional race will come down to which candidates message reaches the most voters through television ads and media exposure. The debates could help Santos close the distance Hayes has created with superior fundraising and media exposure. Santos, a former one-term mayor of Meriden who is running as a Trump Republican, is coming off a solid primary win over two challengers in which he raised $26,000 the least amount of any candidate. Hayes, the 2016 National Teacher of the Year, is coming off an upset primary victory over an establishment Democrat by raising $500,000 the most money of any candidate. Danburys longtime GOP Mayor Mark Boughton, who lost a primary bid for governor in August, said Santos has his work cut out for him, but that he can help himself with a strong showing in the three October debates against Hayes. Jahana Hayes is lightning in a bottle who has captured the attention of a lot of voters, Boughton said. But Manny has a good story to tell. GOP state Rep. William Petit agrees. Petit, the survivor of the 2007 Cheshire home invasion, who briefly considered a run for the 5th District in the spring before supporting Ruby Corby ONeill in the Republican primary, said Santos resume as a combat Marine and an elected leader are strengths if he can get his story out to enough voters. Manny has run a city for a couple of years and is a bright guy if he can spread that message, Petit said. The challenge, of course, is Santos is up against a candidate who has already showed she can raise money from New York to California, and whose national profile continues to rise as one of the progressive candidates that Democratic voters want to send to Washington, D.C., in November. I think Jahana just has to be herself during these debates, and that is going to grow the contrast between these two candidates, and she will gain even more resources, said state Rep. David Arconti, a Democratic who represents Danbury. The first Hayes-Santos debate is an Oct. 4 showdown in Waterbury, where Hayes grew up with her grandmother in public housing, and where Hayes dropped out of high school when she became pregnant at 17. Waterbury is the city where Hayes worked as a single mom to earn her teaching degrees. Hayes has been the Waterbury school districts supervisor of talent and professional development since returning from her nationwide Teacher of the Year tour. Ken Curran, Waterburys Democratic Party leader, said he looks forward to the first debate on Hayes home turf. Debates are a great way for voters to find out about both candidates, but the more voters find out about Jahana Hayes, the more they are going to want her to represent the district, Curran said. The two other debates are Oct. 16 in Danbury and Oct. 17 in New Britain. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342 STRATFORD - Sikorsky has a new honorary test pilot. Hes six-year-old William Beyer from Collegeville, Pa., who has serious heart problems. All his young life he has dreamed of being a test pilot. On Wednesday, he got his wish. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, partnered with Make-A-Wish to give William and his family a Pilot for a Day experience at the Lockheed Martin Rotary & Mission Systems facility in Stratford. William was provided a perfectly fitted and personalized flight suit, a flight jacket with all the proper badges, and of course, shiny new aviator sunglasses, before taking to the sky in a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter with his parents, Wes and Michelle, and younger brother Jake, Sikorsky said in a release. Make-A-Wish, a national nonprofit organization that creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. William was born with a rare heart defect called Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome. At 10 months, he underwent a heart transplant and continues to work with doctors to prevent organ rejection. In addition to the helicopter flight, William and his family toured the manufacturing facility, raced in the S-97 RAIDER simulator, and enjoyed lunch with Sikorsky pilots as they shared their stories. Thank you for making his wish come true, wrote Wes Beyer on Sikorskys Facebook page. His mom and I were especially moved by all the workers who showed him support and gave him the great welcome as we toured the factory. William is truly blessed. John McGonagle, director of flight operations and chief pilot at Sikorsky, said their day with William was one the staff will never forget and was impressed with Williams questions and how he manned the controls during the flight. We were all-in from the start, said McGonagle said in the release. We were thrilled to partner with a great organization like Make-A-Wish. It was just amazing to see our entire company come together in support of a young child who wants to learn more about aviation - thats what our company is all about. The Sikorsky teams involvement to make Williams wish a reality is an inspiration to all of us, said Kim Smith, director of corporate and community giving with Make-A-Wish Connecticut. They honored William and his family in a way that words cant describe. Williams wish day at Sikorsky was a wonderful day filled with incredible moments that gave William and his family unforgettable memories. Along with McGonagle, Sikorsky Pilot Mark Ward made sure William had the proper gear and instructions to learn the basics of flying a helicopter. He also presented William with an honorary test pilot certificate. To have a childs top wish be for the job you do every day, really puts your own life into perspective. SUNSPOT, N.M. - At a small solar observatory tucked away in the woods of a national forest here, scientists and other personnel were commanded last week to leave at once. A week later, the facility remains vacant, and no one is willing to say why. The mysterious and lengthy evacuation, in a state known for secretive military testing and a suspected UFO crash, has spawned a wealth of speculation. Did the researchers spot something extraterrestrial? Was the solar telescope hacked by a foreign power and deployed to spy on, say, the state's missile testing range? Or is there an innocuous explanation, suppressed only because of corporate and government resistance to transparency? 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, New Mexico, didn't give their names, but said it was the first day the company was guarding the entrance and only the "director and an assistant" were allowed in. There was no obvious sign of law enforcement activity. "We don't know anything. We're just as curious as anyone else," one guard said. A spokeswoman for the nonprofit group that runs the facility said the organization was addressing a "security issue," but would offer no additional information, other than, "I can tell you it definitely wasn't aliens." She said Friday the facility "will remain closed until further notice." Neither the FBI - which was spotted on the premises around the time of the evacuation - nor those who worked at the facility would tell local law enforcement what had happened, said Otero County Sheriff Benny House. "They wouldn't give us any details," House said. "I've got ideas, but I don't want to put them out there. That's how bad press or rumors get started, and it'll cause paranoia, or I might satisfy everybody's mind and I might be totally off base." Unlike some of New Mexico's other research facilities, the solar observatory in Sunspot is not usually shrouded in such secrecy. The facility - in the Lincoln National Forest in the southern part of the state - is open to the public, and the scientists who work there offer guided tours of the site, said James McAteer, a professor at New Mexico State University and director of the Sunspot Solar Observatory consortium. When they're not doing that, they use a special telescope and other instruments to study the sun. There are homes on the site where staff members live. The Sunspot observatory sits at more than 9,000 feet and is part of a larger astronomy research facility on the site. The adjacent Apache Point Observatory, a collection of telescopes about a half-mile away, was operating as normal on Friday, with about a dozen cars parked outside. House, the sheriff, said that just before 10 a.m. on Sept. 6, staff at the Sunspot facility called to report they were "evacuating the building," and asked if deputies could assist. He said a sergeant and a deputy were dispatched and told upon arrival that the FBI had been there earlier. But neither staff, nor the bureau, would explain why the facility had to be vacated, House said. He said a volunteer fire chief claimed the FBI had told him there had been a "credible threat" but would provide no details. The sheriff's office, House said, saw no evidence of a threat, and left after a few hours. "We tried to find out the threat and what their concerns were," House said. "They wouldn't identify anything. They were pretty hush mouthed about it." McAteer said his consortium assigns four researchers to the facility, although the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), another consortium, manages the buildings and other infrastructure with another four or five people. That consortium, McAteer said, had ordered the site vacated, providing no other reason than a "security" issue. He said the researchers did not spot anything in the sun to necessitate them leaving, nor were they aware of any scientific reason - such as an anomaly in the data they were collecting - for doing so. "My people, we didn't do the evacuation, and we do the science," McAteer said. The property manager also came in to the post office on the facility and asked the woman working there to leave, but gave no indication why that was necessary, said Rod Spurgeon, a Postal Service spokesman. Spurgeon said post office operations have continued at the nearby Cloudcroft facility. Kinsey Featherston, a spokeswoman for Rep. Stevan Pearce, R-N.M., said the congressman's office had reached out to the FBI and were told "it is an ongoing investigation." "We will continue monitoring the situation, but at this time, we have no information," she said. An FBI spokeswoman declined to comment, referring questions about the matter to the consortium that manages the buildings. Shari Lifson, an AURA spokeswoman, said in a statement that her group was "addressing a security issue" and had "decided to temporarily vacate the facility as a precautionary measure." She said they were "working with the proper authorities on this issue," although she declined to specify who those authorities were. Lifson also declined to specify the security issue, other than to dispute the idea aliens were involved. The solar observatory is about a 2 1/2-hour drive from Roswell, New Mexico, the site of a now infamous crash in 1947 that the Air Force later claimed was an experiment designed to detect Soviet nuclear activity by monitoring sound waves. The incident sparked so much interest that there is now a UFO museum in the city. House said his deputies spotted a Black Hawk helicopter in the area around the time the building was evacuated - although he noted that is not uncommon. Sunspot and Apache Point offer scenic views of the Tularosa Basin, which includes two sensitive military sites, including Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range. A public affairs officer at White Sands said there was no testing or other activity at the range that would have prompted the evacuation in Sunspot. As of Friday, the observatory was still shuttered, although McAteer said the researchers were ready to return "as soon as possible." The observatory even seemed to embrace the interest in the mysterious evacuation, writing on its website, "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." - - - Zapotosky reported from Washington. The Washington Post's Shane Harris and Joby Warrick contributed to this report from Washington. Contributed Photo / Contributed Photo ANSONIA Residents without working smoke detectors in their homes are urged to reach out to Ansonia Rescue and Medical Services immediately. ARMS posted on Facebook that those without a working smoke detector should comment on the most recent post on the page or send a private message, and the agency will bring the resident a free, working smoke detector. In the background of a Coast Guard briefing on MSNBC on Friday evening, in a bustling aid center, a Coast Guard member flashed what some TV viewers claimed was a white power sign at the camera. In the clip, as an official detailed the efforts underway as Hurricane Florence tore through the Carolinas, a man with a crew cut sitting immediately behind him looked directly at the camera. Then he looked away and shaped his hand into the "OK" sign - a circle between his thumb and pointer finger, the rest raised. He seemed to try to camouflage it by scratching his face, but the gesture was fairly flagrant to many viewers. As the clip began to circulate on Twitter, many called for the member's firing and further investigation. The Coast Guard was quick to apologize via tweet, saying the organization was aware of the clip and clarifying that it does not condone the flashing of the sign or what it represented. "The Coast Guard has identified the member and removed him from the response," the official organization's official account tweeted. "His actions do not reflect those of the United States Coast Guard." The man in the clip has not yet been identified. This comes a little more than a week after Republican operative Zina Bash ignited a Twitter controversy when some viewers thought she flashed the symbol during Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing. Some considered it a brazen public promotion of white supremacy during a high-profile government preceding, a theory that went viral in the days following the hearing. Others, like Bash's husband, Western Texas U.S. Attorney John Bash, dismissed it is as a conspiracy theory, saying she was just resting her hand. Later, Taylor Foy, a spokesman for the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, said there was another, innocuous explanation for this second "OK" hand sign: The signal was aimed at a Judiciary staffer who fulfilled a request for the judge. The idea that the hand sign is a secret symbol for white power owes its mainstream spread to a viral troll campaign aimed at making liberals and the media look gullible. In February 2017, 4chan's /pol/ board discussed ongoing tactics to try to get the idea to go viral. "To any who haven't seen the original thread, our goal is to convince people on twitter that the 'ok' hand sign has been co-opted by neo-nazis," the original poster of the thread wrote. As BuzzFeed has reported, /pol/ was gleeful when the OK hand sign started to get mainstream traction. As the campaign spread, however, the symbol was simultaneously adopted by the alt-right - an umbrella term for those on the far right who embrace white nationalist views - and the pro-Trump Internet, both of whom seem to primarily use the gesture to "trigger" liberals who believed the hand sign was a decoder ring to detect secret Nazis. NEW HAVEN Musician Jackson Browne was honored Friday night for a lifetime of activism by Promoting Enduring Peace, accepting the Gandhi Award, which previously went to Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Martin Luther King, Dr. Benjamin Spock, Linus Pauling and Cesar Chavez, among others. Browne was the first performing artist to receive the award. Roosevelt was the first winner, back in 1960. Promoting Enduring Peace is based in New Haven. Im happy to be here to accept this tremendous honor, Browne told the crowd in the Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at Southern Connecticut State University. He added that he knew of a number of musicians he considered more deserving of the honor, but that so many of his heroes had received it in the past that he couldnt say no. The measure of a good song is that it doesnt need explaining, Browne said. He said that with all in the world that needs fixing, Ive always been drawn to those who try, and that, as an musician who is also an activist, my part of this has been to help bring people together. Music is good for that. Meanwhile, my education has been advanced by the contact with all those committed activists, working on all those fronts, he said. Brownes acceptance speech was political at times, with him saying, the United States must rejoin the world and put the planet first. He also suggested its time to move toward enduring peace rather than enduring war, saying that the U.S. hasnt really been at peace since before World War II. Browne was introduced by environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who said Browne walks the walk right down to having a windmill on his farm in California. He understands that the environment is intertwined with democracy, Kennedy said. Browne did not perform for this gig although he said he was a horrible speechwriter and would have preferred to sing. That honor went to Ben Grosscup and Luci Murphy of the Peoples Music Network, described as a group of people who follow in Jacksons footprints in terms of using music to promote activism. We are so happy to be part of this event, honoring Jackson for the work he has done, said Grosscup, the groups executive director. The award, named after Indian anti-imperialist and nonviolence advocate Mohandas Gandhi, comes with a $5,000 cash prize as well as a medallion forged from metals salvaged from the control systems of U.S. nuclear missiles. Promoting Enduring Peace President Paul Hodel said Browne employs an essential idea of Gandhis actions ... satyagraha, or holding onto peace. Other speakers included SCSU President Joe Bertolino, city Director of Arts, Culture & Tourism Andrew Wolf who read a proclamation from Mayor Toni Harp declaring it Jackson Browne Day in New Haven Frida Berrigan, Chris George of Iris, PEP Administrator Stanley Heller and PEPs James C. Van Pelt. Like so many of you and so many people around the world we were raised on the words of Jackson Browne, said Wolf. In its news release announcing Brownes choice for the award, Promoting Enduring Peace cited Brownes songs that have directly challenged imperialist foreign policy, environmental short-sightedness and corporate greed. Browne, in response to the Three Mile Island nuclear plant malfunction in 1979, co-founded Musicians United for Safe Energy, MUSE. The group had a series of benefit concerts in New York City that year and a movie of those shows, No Nukes, followed. In the late 1970s, Browne also joined the protests and occupation at the Seabrook nuclear plant site in New Hampshire. Browne also was active in the Central America solidarity movement, co-organizing shows in Nicaragua, Cuba and elsewhere. He is a member of the group Ocean Elders who more recently has focused on the environmental crisis in the seas, where plastics threaten wildlife. Browne last December released the song The Dreamer about the new deportation threat under the Trump administration for those who had been protected temporarily under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. HARTFORD The state Municipal Accountability Review Board working with West Haven to improve its finances voted Friday to hold a meeting to discuss forcing West Haven into the tighter control of Tier IV. But that doesnt necessarily mean Tier IV is inevitable, the MARBs chairman, Office of Policy and Management Secretary Ben Barnes, said after the meeting in the Legislative Office Building. Im not sure how I stand, Barnes said after the 5-4 vote, with one abstention. Tier 4, which several MARB members also have said they hope to avoid, is a higher level of supervision under which the MARB would have the power to pass and implement an interim budget, raise the citys tax rate or impose mid-year spending cuts and have greater latitude to approve or disapprove new labor contracts. The vote came at a meeting at which West Haven presented the latest draft of its proposed five-year plan MARB approval of which is required before $8 million in state emergency funding for last fiscal year and an additional $8 million for the current fiscal year can be released. The draft not yet approved currently calls for the city to raise its real estate tax rate from 36.26 mills to 39.99 mills over the five years. During the same period, the Allingtown fire tax rate would rise from 13.06 mills to 15.45 mills. Motor vehicle tax rates would remain at current rates. While Barnes voted in favor of the motion by MARB member Bart Shuldman to consider Tier IV, I actually really want to get the (five-year) plan together without moving West Haven into Tier IV, he said. But there are still some really important issues that West Haven must deal with. While Barnes is unsure of how he might ultimately vote, I think its not appropriate for me to set up procedural obstacles to going to Tier IV if thats where other MARB members want West Haven to go, he said. Im willing to set up a meeting to have the discussion, Barnes said. But Im not in a hurry to make a decision. Were West Haven to go into Tier IV, the MARB would be expanded to also include West Haven Mayor Nancy Rossi and City Council Chairman Ron Quagliani, D-At Large. Barnes said he would invite both of them to represent the city at the meeting. Its disappointing, because Ive really tried at all the meetings to take to heart all of what they have said, said Rossi after the meeting. Im just going to keep working to steer West Haven along the road to greater stability, she said. I think there are certain members of the state MARB that understand that theres got to be a degree of patience, and theres others that dont ... and theyre asking us to fix the issues of the past 25 years in one year, said Quagliani. Hopefully, theyll allow us the latitude that we need to get there, said Quagliani, who was unable to attend Fridays meeting. Im in the camp that we need to show the benchmarks to demonstrate progress, but we dont have to fix this in one year. It would devastate our community to try to do too much, too fast, he said. The vote to hold the Tier IV meeting grew out of Shuldmans irritation and impatience with West Havens response to various requests the MARB has sent its way in recent months. Shuldman expressed displeasure that West Haven didnt provide the MARB with detailed fiscal reports from July and August, as Hartford has done. Linda Savitsky, a former Office of Policy and Management staffer who until recently was the citys acting finance director, is now a consultant working with it, pointed out that West Haven doesnt have the staff to respond as quickly as Hartford. Were still trying to wrap our arms around fiscal 18, she said. Shuldman reiterated past MARB suggestions that if West Haven doesnt have enough staff, it should hire more people. As he spoke, Rossi was flanked by Savitsky now a fiscal consultant for the city and Jack Reagan, a partner in UHY Advisors, a national public accounting firm that West Haven also recently hired, at the MARBs urging, as a consultant to help write the five-year plan and guide the city to stability. Behind them sat Ronald Cicatelli, whom Rossi recently hired to be West Havens new finance director. Barnes told the MARB that OPM has been in contact with recently retired Cheshire Town Manager Michael Milone, whom it hopes to hire to represent us in West Haven. Milone previously spent a decade as Cheshires finance director, and before that spent six years as New Havens controller. The hiring of Milone is not yet finalized, but Barnes said he expects to be in a position to finalize it in early October. Shuldman, an appointee of House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, also appeared annoyed by the fact that Rossi provided the MARB with a new draft of the five-year plan just before Fridays meeting, after previously forwarding a new draft on Aug. 29. He initially wanted to take up the idea of pushing West Haven into Tier IV on Friday, but Barnes pointed out that Fridays was a special meeting and he could not vary the agenda. Shuldman and new MARB member David Walker both questioned why the city, despite its fiscal challenges, has three fire districts and hasnt made moves to consolidate. Why should you have three fire districts and why should the taxpayers of the state of Connecticut subsidize you for the operation of three fire districts? asked Walker, who was attending his first MARB meeting. Rossi said she recently held two meetings with the chief of the West Shore and West Haven fire department. But she pointed out that only the former Allingtown Fire Department is under city control and she has no authority to force the two fire districts that remain independent to consolidate. Reagan told the MARB that under the draft five-year plan, West Haven would expect to maintain a positive fund balance of two percent of city expenditures by the end of the five years, and would be fully funding police and Allingtown fire department pensions. The 2 percent, while short of the 5 percent fiscal experts recommend, I think is a good start, Reagan said. I think its something that would put them on the path to financial sustainability. Right now, West Haven, which last year sold deficit bonds to finance $17.35 million of the citys accumulated deficit, projects a deficit of nearly $8 million in the 2017-18 fiscal year in addition to approximately $1.4 million from the 2016-17 fiscal year for a total of about $9.3 million. mark.zaretsky@ hearstmediact.com After sending sexually explicit messages online to someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl, police say a middle school teacher arranged to meet her in person. He met a cop instead and now Jonathan Liano, 38, of Sicklerville is charged with several offenses, Camden County prosecutors announced Saturday. An investigation began Sept. 4 when Liana, a fifth-grade teacher at Dwight D. Einsenhower Middle School in Berlin, allegedly contacted the "teen," who was actually a detective working with the Camden County Prosecutor's Office High-Tech Crimes Unit. Sexually explicit online exchanges led to an agreement to meet in person and Liano drove to Pennsauken on Friday afternoon, where he arrested, authorities said. He is charged with luring, attempted sexual assault of a minor, attempted criminal sexual contact and sending obscene material to a minor. Digital devices in his possession were seized and will be analyzed, prosecutors said. Liano was placed in Camden County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing. He is a social studies teacher at the middle school and has taught since 2003, according to his biography on the school's website. Liano began as an in-house substitute at Lindenwold High School, before teaching at Lindenwold Middle School, then Camden's Promise Charter School. He taught at Eisenhower Middle School from 2007 until 2013, before moving on to John F. Kennedy Elementary School in West Berlin. He recently returned to Eisenhower. 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. Davone White, one of two men charged in the Art All Night shooting that wounded or injured nearly 30 people in Trenton this summer, hobbled in to court with his right arm in a sling Friday afternoon. He spent considerable time in a hospital and medical facilities recovering from being shot by a Trenton police officer at the scene of the June 17 shootout that garnered national headlines. His lawyer, Christopher Olsen, said his client is in considerable pain, is significantly weakened by his injuries, and is a "danger to nobody." He fought to have him set free from the Mercer County jail pending trial. A judge denied the request. White is a danger to the community, he brought a gun to a public art event attended by hundreds, and may have fired it, Judge Anthony Massi said in detaining White, 27. Massi, after reading through the allegations, and considering White's criminal record of felonies and failure to appear in court, said White and his alleged actions, were "clearly a danger." White and the other suspect, Amir Armstrong, 24, were coincidentally indicted Thursday, a development announced early Friday by the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. Davone White, charged in the Art All Night festival shooting in Trenton, appears in court for detention hearing 7 Gallery: Davone White, charged in the Art All Night festival shooting in Trenton, appears in court for detention hearing White was indicted on six firearm-related crimes, including two counts of fourth-degree aggravated assault and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Both men were wounded at the festival, White by a Trenton police officer. Authorities have not said how Armstrong was wounded. Another man, Tahaij Wells, 32, of Trenton, was shot dead during what officials say was an exchange of gunfire with arriving Trenton police officers. Senior Assistant Mercer County Prosecutor Heather Hadley said while ballistics in the investigation are pending, the office has evidence that White fired his gun before allegedly aiming it at a police officer. Hadley detailed that interaction in court Friday, saying Trenton Detective Eliezer Ramos arrived to assist Trenton officers already working at the festival and pulled his gun when they heard gunshots ring out. Ramos saw a male, later identified as White, running with a handgun in the "low ready" position. The male reacted to Ramos' commands by pointing the firearm at him, and Ramos fired until the man was down and no longer a threat, Hadley said. Police found a gun near White and detained him, she said. Olsen, in the courtroom hallway after the hearing, said White's position is that the officer shot him from behind. The defense attorney said he will appeal, on medical grounds, Massi's decision to detain his client. Olsen said in court White's not a flight risk either, and needs considerable assistance to physically move around. "He's not going anywhere," Olsen said. Massi had said there was nothing in the court record that detailed White's medical conditions. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook. NEW YORK -- The loudest roar on a night at Yankee Stadium that there was a whole night to cheer about came when the Yankees took the field for the eighth inning of their 11-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Just off the disabled list, No. 99 jogged out of the Yankees dugout to right field to play a little defense. Some of the crowd was slow to notice, but the cheers picked up quickly and soon Judge was receiving a standing ovation on his return from a broken wrist. "I took a second to kind of enjoy that and just to take a peek into how much (fans) appreciate him and just the kind of guy he is," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "It's good to see everyone get behind him. You could feel the buzz there." Judge heard it and felt "Pretty crazy," Judge said. "We've got the best fans in the world. It was great to hear that from them and hear their support. ... They turn Yankee Stadium alive. "It's amazing what those fans do. We saw what they did in the playoffs last year, so I'm excited to be back out there with them and get ready for these last couple games before the playoffs." Judge didn't get any action and he didn't get at -bat, which was planned, but his two innings in right was progress. "For him to get out on the field and get a couple innings on defense just to get a look, I was holding my breath just to do it, but just to see him get out on the field was a nice step forward for him," Boone said. "Any time you put your star player into a game like that just to get some reps, you just want to any (risky scenario) "But you also understand it's important to get out there because he's not necessarily going to play in games (for a little while longer), so if we can knock off a little rust with a base-running situation or to get out on the field for a couple innings, I think there's value in it. But you still kind of hold your breath on it." Activated from the DL earlier Friday, Judge isn't ready to hit in a game yet because he needs to shake off a lot of rust, but he's finally completely healthy after suffering a chip fracture in his right wrist on a hit by pitch on July 26. The Yankees expected Judge to be sidelined just three weeks, but his wrist took a lot longer than expected to heal and he wound up on the DL for 50 days. Before Friday's game, Boone made a surprising announcement at the start of his pre-game interview that Judge had been activated from the DL. Judge just resumed hitting last weekend in Seattle, and after a week of BP and no pain in his wrist, the Yankees opted to activate the face of the franchise, who went on the DL with a .285 average, 26 homers and 61 RBI in 99 games. Before the end of this last Yankees' homestand of the season - they're home through next weekend - Judge has a shot to be back in the lineup as a full-time player. "It's kind of what they trainers say, and once I clear all the checkpoints I'll be able to get back out there and start swinging again," Judge said. Judge can't wait, but two innings of right field Friday night was progress. "Oh big time," he said. "Any time you can get back on the field ... I was nervous just standing in the outfield. I didn't even catch any balls. Just getting those jitters out of the way now, it's good. And once I get that first at-bat, I'll be like I never left." Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook. The Times-Picayune is marking the tricentennial of New Orleans with its ongoing 300 for 300 project, running through 2018 and highlighting 300 people who have made New Orleans New Orleans, featuring original artwork commissioned by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune with Where Y'Art gallery. Today: Carol Bebelle. The icon: Carol Bebelle. The legacy: It is impossible to think of Carol Bebelle without thinking of the Ashe Cultural Arts Center, which she co-founded in 1998 at 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. as a showcase for African-American arts and culture. Back then, it was one of the few bright spots in the middle of a Central City thoroughfare that was once a thriving shopping area known as Dryades Street -- but which by the late 1990s had succumbed to decades of decay. But Bebelle persevered, drawing people with attractions such as lectures, plays, art exhibits and a celebration of Mardi Gras Indians. Soon enough, Ashe, along with such businesses as Cafe Reconcile, would become a catalyst for the gradual revitalization of the corridor, which now stands as a model for urban revitalization -- and inspiration for those who value the richness of New Orleans' patchwork of distinct, culturally vibrant neighborhoods. The artist: Jessica Strahan. The quote: "Art is an expression of culture, and when the art you see does not represent your lifestyle and culture, it's another way of saying you don't matter." -- Carol Bebelle, in a 2000 interview with The Times-Picayune Explore more of Jessica Strahan's work online at WhereYart.net and in person at the Where Y'Art gallery, 1901 Royal St. In the Yoruba tradition, Bebelle said, Ashe is a divine force that provides the ability to make things happen. By John Pope, contributing writer Sources: The Times-Picayune archives, Central City Renaissance Alliance, staff research More on 300 for 300: Monsanto Co. was sued Friday (Sept. 14) by Jefferson Parish Councilman Chris Roberts, who seeks to blame his cancer on 26 years of exposure to the company's Roundup herbicide. Roberts joins a growing number of plaintiffs fingering Monsanto in U.S. courts over Roundup ingredients that the St. Louis-based corporation makes at its Luling plant. Roberts' suit was filed in Louisiana's 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna one month after a San Francisco jury awarded $289 million to a former school groundskeeper who attributed his own cancer to Roundup. That was the first trial of more than 5,000 suits targeting the herbicide's key ingredient, glyphosate. Monsanto said it would appeal the California judgment. It says Roundup, historically one of the most popular weedkillers in the United States, "has a 40-year history of safe use and continues to be a vital, effective, and safe tool for farmers and others." Roberts is 41 and lives in Gretna. He was elected to the Parish Council's 1st District seat in 2003 and, after seven years, was elected to a parishwide seat. He disclosed his non-Hodgkins follicular lymphoma on April 5, 2006, at age 29. After 32 chemotherapy treatments over three years, he announced its remission May 6, 2009. In his suit, he says his father, James Roberts, worked for a Monsanto supplier in Harvey for more than 30 years and visited the company's Luling plant at least once a week. At home, Roberts says, he was regular exposed to Roundup not only via by his father but through routine household use, and that he continued using the product as an adult. He kept a bottle in his vehicle, his garage and his office. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "Basically there was almost never a time when Roberts was not in close proximity of Roundup ... or using Roundup since the age of 15," the suit says. The suit does not explicitly lay his cancer at Monsanto's feet. It says his lymphoma was diagnosed at a "highly unusual" young age, and that Roundup products were "contributing factors" to his "grave injuries." Roberts' attorney on the suit is Julie Quinn, the former state senator from Metairie. The case has been assigned to Judge Stephen Grefer. . . . . . . . Drew Broach covers Jefferson Parish politics and education, Louisiana interests in Congress and other odds and ends for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Email: dbroach@nola.com. Facebook: Drew Broach TP. Twitter: drewbroach1. Google+: Drew Broach. Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 5:26AM Something is coming in Samsungs world and its going to be 4X fun. The company just teased a surprise event for October 11th. Around this time, Samsung usually puts its focus on the Note but it looks like they have more up their sleeve. We arent sure what it is but as The Verge reports the invite supposedly said that Samsungs newest Galaxy device is bringing more ways to express yourself than ever before. Are they bringing in a new four-camera smartphone? Does this mean the Galaxy Zoom is coming back? Or perhaps Samsung is ready to show off its foldable phone? The event is coming up but we also wont be surprised if we hear more details about it ahead of the launch. Colin Demarest is the government and Savannah River Site reporter with the Aiken Standard. Follow him on Twitter: @demarest_colin Sep 15, 2018 NR The Team of Yuvasamrat Naga Chaitanya's Savyasachi is currently shooting the remix of Nagarjuna's Classic Song, Ninnu Road Meeda Chusinadi Lagayathu song in a special set erected in Annapurna Studios. With this song shoot, the entire shooting will be complete. The Post-Production works are happening at a brisk pace. The song is being shot on the lead pair. Savyasachi directed by Premam fame Chandoo Mondeti is being readied for November 2nd release. Click the Movie button below for more info: Savyasachi BUENOS AIRES Trade ministers from the Group of 20 countries said Friday that there was an urgent need to overhaul the World Trade Organization, which President Trump has threatened to withdraw the United States from. The statement by the G20 ministers after a meeting in Argentina was a tacit acknowledgment by world leaders that Mr. Trumps criticism of the W.T.O. and his tariffs have significantly weakened the international trading system. Just two years earlier, when Barack Obama was still president, the G20 trade ministers, who represent countries including China, Japan and the United States, called on world leaders to further reduce barriers to trade. Diplomats had said they hoped to use the trade ministers meeting in Mar del Plata, a coastal city, to defuse trade tensions and they claimed a modicum of victory on that score on Friday. The fact that we are talking about the reform of the World Trade Organization means that we all agree that we need to have an organization that allows us to establish rules and allows us to work within the framework of international trade, Jorge Faurie, the foreign minister of Argentina, said at a news conference. SATURDAY PUZZLE One of the things that struck me about todays excellent puzzle was the freshness of its two spanning across entries, which I always assume are the seeds or inspirations of a particular grid (which is not always true, in fact, but the norm). They seem to play off each other as hopeful signs of human evolution, one societal, one technological. Then David Mr. Liben-Nowell s notes came in, and he actually came up with this whole shebang back in 2015. I guess thats recent enough; besides, the path forward is always a series of ups and downs that evens out when viewed through the lens of time. Tricky Clues 1A: Theres something in the air right now that makes my mind tend toward interrogative possibilities, so I assumed Admissions would be of incriminating information. Instead, the academic meaning is meant here when you visit a college as a hopeful future student, you go to the admissions office for your CAMPUS MAP (unless youve already downloaded your interactive app with pop-up history lessons). This entry is a debut. Mr. Cuomo won the Bronx, where the poverty rate hovers just below 30 percent, by an 82 percent margin. And with his backing, Ms. James, New York Citys public advocate, beat Ms. Teachout, the law professor who has built her political identity on an enmity toward moneyed interests, in the race for attorney general. This summer, it appeared as if it would be problematic for Ms. James that she had said she would not be known as the Sheriff on Wall Street. In the end, it was not. Money still matters. Small donors can only love you so much. Several novice candidates won their primaries despite distinct fund-raising disadvantages, starting with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the June congressional contest. In statewide primaries, it clearly helped to have money. Mr. Cuomo outspent Ms. Nixon 10 to one, with lots of chunky donations coming from rich people. He had plenty of money to put toward ads that benefited his own campaign and Ms. Jamess. Big races need big dollars. Evelyn Rodriguez, who became a vocal advocate for victims of gang violence after members of the transnational gang MS-13 were charged with killing her 16-year-old daughter, died after being struck by an S.U.V. on Friday just before a memorial service for the second anniversary of her daughters death. The Suffolk County Police Department said that she had been involved in a dispute with a driver around 4 p.m. near where the ceremony was to take place, and that the vehicle struck her as the driver tried to leave. The memorial was set to be held in Brentwood, on Long Island, in a suburban cul-de-sac not far from where the bodies of Ms. Rodriguezs daughter Kayla Cuevas and her friend Nisa Mickens, 15, were found. Ms. Rodriguez, 50, a vocal advocate for crime prevention who was invited to President Trumps State of the Union address in January, had been preparing for the memorial on Friday evening to commemorate the anniversary of the day her daughters body was found. Its unclear if the two men a New York City correctional officer and a motorcyclist knew each other when they met along a quiet roadway in the Jamaica section of Queens early Friday morning, the police said. The correctional officer, Jonathan Narain, was on his way to work at Rikers Island when he stopped at a store for food. What happened next has shaken not only his family and friends, but also the entire Department of Correction. The police said Officer Narain got back into his red Honda Accord and made a U-turn when he encountered a motorcyclist. The two exchanged words, the police said. When Officer Narain stopped at a red light a couple of blocks away, the motorcyclist pulled up next to Officer Narains vehicle, the police said. Then the men exchanged words again for a few seconds, the police said, and thats when the motorcyclist fired a single shot into the left side of the officers head, killing him. Nancy Blomberg, who as a curator at the Denver Art Museum treated American Indian artworks as aesthetic creations, not artifacts, and championed the artists who made them, died on Sept. 2 at her home in Breckenridge, Colo. She was 72. The cause was accidental choking, her husband, Art Blomberg, said. Ms. Blomberg was chief curator at the museum and its Andrew W. Mellon curator of native arts, and during her 28 years at the museum she reimagined its extensive American Indian art collection. She emphasized that pieces often thought of as anthropological artifacts were in fact artworks; she also pushed to expand the collection with work by contemporary artists and set up residencies for them. Many places want to keep us in the past, Melanie Yazzie, a Navajo printmaker, sculptor and painter, said by email. Nancy made sure we had a place to help educate and share our point of view with the public. She also sought to change the way Native American art was presented. The practice at most art museums was to display such works as a museum of natural history or anthropology would, labeled by tribe and cited for their ethnographic rather than artistic significance. In 2011 the museum completed a seven-month overhaul of its Native American art floor, and among the changes was that when possible wall labels would carry the name of a person as well as a tribe. Walter Mischel, whose studies of delayed gratification in young children clarified the importance of self-control in human development, and whose work led to a broad reconsideration of how personality is understood, died on Wednesday at his home in Manhattan. He was 88. The cause was pancreatic cancer, his daughter Linda Mischel Eisner said. Dr. Mischel was probably best known for the marshmallow test, which challenged children to wait before eating a treat. That test and others like it grew in part out of Dr. Mischels deepening frustration with the predominant personality models of the mid-20th century. One model, rooted in Freudian thinking, saw people as prisms of unconscious, often conflicting desires. The other, based on personality questionnaires, or inventories, categorized people as having certain traits, like recklessness or restraint, at levels that were fairly stable over time. Neither model was particularly predictive of what people actually did in experiments, Dr. Mischel concluded, in part because the models ignored context: the specifics of a given situation, who is there, what a persons goals are, the rewards and risks of acting on impulse. Every now and then, when credulous Western observers arent fawning over Chinas high-speed rail network or calculating the precise moment when its economy will become the worlds largest, a news story breaks through to remind us that the Peoples Republic remains what it has always been: a place of fear and cruelty. One such story, by the Timess Chris Buckley, is worth particular attention. Writing from Hotan, a city in the western province of Xinjiang, Buckley describes a system of internment camps, brainwashing programs, and pervasive surveillance, all aimed at the regions Muslim majority, mostly ethnic Uighurs. The overall approach, he writes, is reminiscent of Maos draconian rule mass rallies, public confessions and work teams assigned to ferret out dissent. As with so much in China, the scale is vast. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese Muslims have been hauled into re-education camps for weeks or months at a time, often indiscriminately, with no clear idea of when, or if, theyll get out. The city itself feels as if under a siege by an invisible enemy, with ubiquitous surveillance cameras, metal detectors, checkpoints, police outposts, biometric data collection, and local residents assigned to spy on their neighbors. As with so much else in China, too, the government lies about what its doing. It flat-out denies the use of arbitrary detention, the targeting of an ethnic minority, or the existence of the re-education camps, which it described as job-training centers. That these denials are contradicted by the governments own documents, some of them publicly available, is a useful reminder that repressive regimes are frequently incompetent, too. Ms. Salazars first instinct was to accuse Tablet Magazine, where I used to be an editor, of practicing race science when it cracked open the story in August about inconsistencies in her background and raised questions about her account of converting to Judaism . A few days before voters went to the polls she softened it a bit for Rolling Stone: I regret not having the foresight to anticipate being misunderstood. But none of it mattered. She won 58.5 percent of the vote 20,603 to her opponents 14,614. In the run-up to the election, only Citizens Union, a good government group, dropped its endorsement on the grounds that Ms. Salazar had provided incorrect information about her academic credentials. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez doubled down on her support for the candidate, saying, through a spokesman, that she remained behind her 100 percent. Cynthia Nixon, who in July called Ms. Salazar the future of the Democratic Party, never wavered, nor did the New York City comptroller Scott Stringer. And the Democratic Socialists of America threw its organizing support behind her. A known liar is now heading to Albany. At least shell be in good company? No matter how many things Ms. Salazar makes up, it seems unfair to liken her to our post-truth president, who lies on a much grander scale and who has the power to do far, far greater damage. And yet, the willingness of Ms. Salazars supporters to look past her fabrications sounds eerily familiar to the justifications Trump supporters made in 2016: Yes, hes distasteful and prone to exaggeration. But hes promising to pass policies we like. Supporting him is a price worth paying in pursuit of our goals. Even the rights dismissal of anything critical of Mr. Trump as fake news has its left-wing equivalent. On Friday on the website Jacobin, a democratic socialist writer celebrated Ms. Salazars win and dismissed the presss unprecedented smears. There was, he says, no smoking gun and the whole thing could be chalked up to hostility to her political views or, worse, to some kind of right-wing conspiracy. In this, her supporters were helped by one story where her testimony rings true. Ms. Salazar is one of a dozen women who have accused David Keyes, until this week a top aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, of sexual misconduct. He denies the allegations, but I know several of the women who have accused Mr. Keyes and I am convinced they are telling the truth. Given the pattern of his alleged behavior, I have every reason to believe that Julia Salazar is, too. But her supporters are now using this episode to paint a broader falsehood. Theyre implying that the critical reporting was ginned up by right-wing Zionists to discredit her that shes a victim of a targeted campaign rather than a woman who was victimized by a man but also one who fabricated parts of her past for political gain. Just like Mr. Trumps supporters, her fans have reserved much of their hostility for the media, which had the chutzpah to ask basic questions of a person running for elected office. The right has been damaged beyond belief by its embrace of Mr. Trump. That Trumpian logic and Trumpian loyalty is now beginning to infect the left is nothing to cheer. The latest scandal marks an especially sad failure to meet those ideals. In statements to industry analysts and the American Association for Cancer Research, Dr. Baselga praised two drug trials that many of his peers considered failures, without mentioning that the trials sponsor, Roche, had paid him millions of dollars. He also withheld his financial conflicts from dozens of publications, including at least one journal that he edited. Those conflicts touched his own institution directly, in that several of the companies he advises have business with Memorial Sloan Kettering . Both Varian Medical Systems, which sells the hospital radiation equipment, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, which sells it medications, pay him several hundred thousand dollars a year for his role on their boards of directors. Likewise, Juno Therapeutics and Paige.AI, both tapped Dr. Baselga to serve as a chief adviser after securing exclusive rights to data and technology developed by the hospital. Neither Juno nor Paige are required to disclose exactly what theyve paid Dr. Baselga, because neither has brought a product to market yet. But if those payments are on par with what hes receiving from other companies, it would come out to hundreds of thousands of dollars for each. And if his compensation from these companies includes stock, he stands to profit personally, and handsomely, from intellectual property that belongs to the hospital. Sloan Ketterings other leaders were well aware of these relationships. The hospital has said that it takes pains to wall off any employee involved with a given outside company from the hospitals dealings with that company. But its difficult to believe that conflicts of this magnitude c ould have truly been worked around, given how many of them there were, and how high up on the organizational chart Dr. Baselga sat. It also strains credulity to suggest that he was the hospitals only leader with such conflicts or with such apparent difficulty disclosing them. After the initial report, but before Dr. Baselgas resignation, the hospital sent a letter to its entire 17,000-person staff acknowledging that the institution as a whole needed to do better. It remains to be seen what additional actions will be taken and by whom to repair the situation. Financial conflicts are hardly confined to Sloan Kettering. A 2015 study in The BMJ found that a substantial number of academic leaders hold directorships that pay as much as or more than their clinical salaries. According to other surveys, nearly 70 percent of oncologists who speak at national meetings, nearly 70 percent of psychiatrists on the task force that ultimately decides what treatments should be recommended for what mental illnesses, and a significant number of doctors on Food and Drug Administration advisory committees have financial ties to the drug and medical device industries. As bioethicists have warned and as journal publishers have long acknowledged, not all of them report those ties when and where they are supposed to. New York voters have spoken, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo remains the most powerful man in New York politics. The governor won a resounding victory over the actress and activist Cynthia Nixon in the Democratic primary, protected by a $31 million campaign war chest that helped clear the field of candidates who might have proven more formidable. His pick for state attorney general, Letitia James, also won big, making it likely his third term will unfold without the inconvenience of someone more independent, like Ms. Jamess opponent, Zephyr Teachout, examining his administration. Yet there were also signs that change was finally knocking on Albanys door. Even though it was held, unusually, on a Thursday, more than twice as many people voted in this years Democratic primary than did four years ago , a sign of an energized electorate that could pay huge dividends for Democrats in November. If Ms. James wins in November, which is likely, she will become New Yorks first black state attorney general and the first black woman to win statewide office. Pardon us, but was it only three weeks ago that President Trump expressed such respect for Paul Manafort, his former campaign chairman and freshly minted felon, who had refused to cooperate with the special counsels office and took his federal bank- and tax-fraud conviction like a brave man ? That tribute was meant to highlight the presidents contempt for the decision by his former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to plead guilty that same day to his own charges of bank fraud, tax fraud and campaign-finance violations. Unlike the weak Mr. Cohen, Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter, Mr. Manafort refused to break make up stories in order to get a deal. So much for that. Mr. Trumps expectation that there is any honor among thieves has been confounded once again. On Friday, Mr. Manafort broke in a big way agreeing to cooperate fully, truthfully, completely, and forthrightly regarding any and all matters the special counsel, Robert Mueller, wants him to. Ten years after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, and despite Congresss efforts to protect Mom and Pop with the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act, the small investor is increasingly vulnerable to shoddy practices on Wall Street. Dodd-Frank was passed to rein in too-big-to-fail banks and establish new protections for consumers and investors. That included marching orders for the Securities and Exchange Commission to look into reforms meant to level the playing field between everyday investors and the sales agents who try to separate them from their money. In the years since then, instead of enacting more rigorous requirements for the nations 629,032 stockbrokers, the agency has proposed a code that isnt much stricter than the rules we already have. The S.E.C. has also chosen to do nothing with the authority it received with Dodd-Frank to unshackle investors from contracts that prevent them from taking brokers to court when things go off the rails. The agencys official actions and failures to act are not the only problem. Last month, Hester Peirce, an S.E.C. commissioner appointed by President Trump, threw out a bombshell, signaling that she would support requests from companies looking to block shareholders from bringing class-action lawsuits. Ms. Peirce told Politico that public companies absolutely should have the option of demanding arbitration instead of allowing class-wide court actions to proceed. David Halberstam, in The Best and the Brightest, listed the virtues Americans have always respected as hard work, self-sacrifice, decency, loyalty. I dont believe thats changed since 1972. President Trump, in his sublime indecency, fails the test on all these qualities except perhaps hard work , yet tens of millions of Americans still admire him. Its tempting to dismiss this reality. Its tempting to focus instead on the pressure building on Trump from multiple sources: the Mueller investigation, Paul Manaforts cooperating with Robert Mueller, Michael Cohens guilty plea, the wins of progressive Democratic candidates, falling poll numbers. Its tempting to think Trumps finished, even if hes already been pronounced politically dead countless times. This would be a mistake. That the Democratic Party will take the House in the midterm November elections and start impeachment proceedings against Trump is plausible, even likely. Its unlikely, however, that the Democrats will have the numbers in the Senate to convict him. This may be a positive scenario for Trump. As the victim president, or acquitted president, hed fire up support going into 2020. The chances of a two-term Trump presidency remain significant. I came away from a recent stay in purple-state Colorado more persuaded of this than ever. The strong economy became strong under President Obama but to deny Trump credit for it is not going to wash with most Americans. They feel a new confidence. They see it in more clients at the hardware store, more people eating out, more business start-ups. WASHINGTON, N.C. After slamming into the Carolina coast on Friday with powerful winds and torrential rains, Hurricane Florence left a trail of devastation as it crawled over the southeastern part of the state, posing what may be its greatest threat in the days ahead as it roars inland with what are shaping up to be record-setting quantities of water. The storm, whose destructive power was unlike any the area has seen in a generation, had already caused at least five fatalities as of Friday afternoon, and rescue crews across a wide region were attempting to pluck distressed residents from rooftops. The victims included a mother and her infant in Wilmington, N.C., who were killed when a tree fell on their house, the police department said. Rescuers spent hours trying to reach the mother and infant, who were trapped by the tree and a portion of the roof that had collapsed on them, said Deputy Fire Chief J.S. Mason. Downed trees also delayed crews responding to a 911 call from the home of a woman who died of a heart attack Friday morning in Hampstead, an unincorporated area of Pender County, N.C., officials said. Another two people, both in their 70s, were killed in Lenoir County, one while trying to connect two extension cords outside in the rain, and the other when he went outside to check on his hunting dogs and was blown down by wind, the authorities said. A co-founder of the Podesta Group, Tony Podesta, told his team to operate on the understanding that Mr. Yanukovych is the client, while an employee at the other firm, Mercury Public Affairs, called the claim that the nonprofit was independent from Mr. Yanukovych nonsense, comparing it to Alice in Wonderland. Nonetheless, the Podesta Group and Mercury went along with Mr. Manaforts ruse, despite the reservations now coming to light. Relying on the written attestation from the European Center, which paid them more than $1 million each, the firms initially registered their engagement with the center under less rigorous congressional lobbying disclosure rules, and not under the foreign lobbying disclosure rules. It was not until last year, when the work came under scrutiny from the Justice Department about three years after it ended in 2014 that the firms retroactively registered their work for the European Center under the more rigorous Foreign Agents Registration Act. Now, that work, and the decision not to disclose it under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, has turned Podesta and Mercury into subjects of interest in a series of linked investigations that have roiled Washingtons lobbying industry by exposing the sometimes surreptitious ways in which foreign interests try to buy influence. The investigations were prompted by the inquiry of the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. This year, Mr. Muellers team referred cases involving possible illegal Ukrainian lobbying by Podesta, Mercury and the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom all of which Mr. Manafort had recruited to do work related to Ukraine to federal prosecutors in New York. And the evidence that Mr. Muellers prosecutors publicly unveiled on Friday could help their New York colleagues build the cases against the firms, including the correspondence that questioned the independence of the European Center. The firms were not named in the court filings, but they do not dispute that prosecutors are referring to them. WASHINGTON President Trump had a blunt message for Montana voters last week, an unapologetic reprise of the promise to protect Medicare and Social Security that he used during the 2016 presidential campaign to successfully appeal to older, blue-collar voters. Theyre going to hurt your Social Security so badly, and theyre killing you on Medicare. Just remember that. Im going to protect your Social Security, Mr. Trump said at a campaign rally in Billings on behalf of Matt Rosendale, a Republican Senate candidate. Do you remember when I ran? Mr. Trump asked the cheering crowd, recalling how he had accused the other Republican presidential contenders of wanting to destroy the safety net for older Americans. I said Im not touching Social Security. Everybody said well and everybody else wanted to do things with Social Security. I said, were not touching your Social Security. The presidents message once again runs counter to many in his own party, including Speaker Paul D. Ryan, who have long argued for cuts in entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security. But this time, as Mr. Trump made clear at the Montana rally, his target is not his fellow Republicans, but Democratic candidates in the midterm election contests this fall. Mr. Fords move to override the constitution provoked strong criticism from across the political spectrum, including from some prominent members of his own party, the Progressive Conservatives. But there is no question that the constitution gave him the rarely used power to ignore what the courts and the constitution itself say. After the dust died down a bit this week, I dipped into The Timess digital archives to look back at how we reported on the talks that created the 1982 constitution, including, to use The Timess preferred description, its override measure. [Digital and print subscribers have unlimited access to TimesMachine, which offers digital reproductions of all editions from 1851 to 1980, as well as our more recent online archive. Whats that? You dont subscribe? Well, we have a special offer for you right now.] A bit of condensed history for readers outside of Canada (Canadians, please skip ahead): The keystone of Canadas constitution when the country was created in 1867 was a piece of British law. Britain gave Canada full political autonomy in 1931, except for one thing: because Canada had not come up with its own constitution, Britain continued to hold the power to amend the countrys constitution. A decade ago this week, Wall Street imploded. New York Times reporters interviewed hundreds of people during the Great Recession, many of them in the midst of their darkest days. We spoke with five of them again. I remember some nights being so hungry that youre eating ketchup or mustard out of the containers, said Dante Whitfield, above, now a real estate agent in Tacoma, Wash. Business New York City Ballet fired two principal male dancers on Saturday morning after they were named in a lawsuit in which a woman accused a third dancer of inappropriately sharing texts of sexually explicit photographs. City Ballet said it moved to act after assessing the conduct of the dancers and its impact on the company. The company dismissed Amar Ramasar, one of its brightest stars, and Zachary Catazaro after they were implicated in a photo-sharing scandal that has roiled City Ballet and now created a significant gap in its male roster just before its fall season begins. The third dancer, Chase Finlay, resigned last month. He was accused in the lawsuit of sending explicit pictures and videos of Alexandra Waterbury, a young woman he had been dating, to his friends without her consent, and asking others to send back explicit photos of their own. The episode has now forced out three of the 14 male principal dancers in the close-knit company. Federal prosecutors have quietly dismissed charges against a former Senegalese government official who had been accused of conspiring with a representative of a large Chinese energy company in a bribery case. In a one-page filing, federal prosecutors in Manhattan said on Friday that they were withdrawing charges against the former official, Cheikh Gadio, but offered no explanation for the decision. Dismissals of this sort often come with agreements not to prosecute in return for testimony. The dismissal of the criminal complaint against Mr. Gadio, who had served as Senegals foreign minister, came roughly 10 months after he was arrested along with Chi Ping Patrick Ho in a high-profile foreign bribery case that could shed light on the operations of CEFC China Energy, an energy conglomerate with close ties to the Chinese government. The authorities have said Mr. Ho met Mr. Gadio at the United Nations in 2014 and later paid him $400,000 for helping to use his influence with the president of Chad to secure oil rights for the Chinese energy company in the African country. Mr. Ho, who worked for a Hong Kong research organization that got financing from CEFC, is separately charged with paying bribes to officials in Uganda to secure similar oil deals for the energy company. Lila Lancaster Seiler Dupree and Daniel Lee Adair were married Sept. 15 at Wasgat Cove, the summer home of the brides family in Northeast Harbor, Me. James Buchanan, a friend of the couple who became a Universal Life minister for the event, officiated. The bride, 38, is an actor, producer and writer in Los Angeles. She recently played Katya in a seven-week run of Patrick Marbers adaptation of Turgenevs Three Days in the Country at Antaeus Theater Company in Los Angeles. She is also the writer and producer for The Witch Hunt, an all-female comedy variety show currently in residence at the El Portal Theater, also in Los Angeles. She was also in Lethal Admirer, a Lifetime movie, which aired earlier this year. She graduated from Columbia and completed postgraduate training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and at the Atlantic Acting School in New York. She is the daughter of Sunny A. S. Dupree of Cambridge, Mass., and the late Frederick F. Dupree Jr. The brides mother retired as an assistant attorney general, in Boston, for the Massachusetts attorney general. The brides father was a real estate developer in Cambridge. The groom, 33, is a director of product at Scopely, a mobile game publisher based in Los Angeles. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University and received an M.B.A. from Columbia. Joanna Braun Levine and Yigit Bora Bozkurt were married Sept. 15 at Wave Hill in the Bronx. Gregg M. Rubin, a friend of the couple who became a Universal Life minister for this event, officiated, with Gloria Steinem, the writer and activist and a friend of the brides family, leading a ceremony that incorporated Jewish and Turkish wedding traditions. The bride, 32, will take her husbands name. She is a senior strategist at Agenda, a creative consultancy in Manhattan. She graduated from Emory University. She is the daughter of Suzanne Braun Levine and Robert F. Levine of Manhattan. The brides father retired as a founding partner in Levine, Plotkin & Menin, a Manhattan law firm, and was also a literary agent. Her mother, a writer, was the editor of Ms. magazine from 1972-89, and is the author of Inventing the Rest of Our Lives (Viking, 2004) and other books. The groom, 34, goes by Bora. He is an associate in the Manhattan office of Latham & Watkins, the Los Angeles law firm. He graduated from Yale, received a law degree summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and received a Master of Laws in taxation, with distinction, from Georgetown. Ruby Washington was an intensely private person. Her daughter, Courtney, said she had no idea her mother was the first African-American woman to become a staff photographer at The New York Times. Her editors said that while she won awards, she didnt go to galas to accept them. And when she fell ill with breast cancer in 2010, many of her colleagues had no clue, since she kept on working. This week, many of them were stunned when they learned that Ms. Washington, 66, died after her cancer returned earlier this year. Her reticence may have been more than just a quirk, but a survival strategy for someone who was promoted from lab technician to staff photographer, much to the intense resentment of some of the men who felt they had been passed over. Her response? Silence. In secondary school, Theo hated chemistry because his Francophone teacher barely spoke English, and when the confused students asked questions, the teacher flogged them, while swearing at them in French. Once, Francophone police officers stopped a bus that Theo was traveling on and singled out English-speakers, harassing them, calling them Anglo-fools. Theos uncle learned French and tried to pass as Francophone to get a job in Yaounde, the capital. Like many Cameroonians from both regions who suffer the bribe-seeking incompetence of government bureaucracy, Theos father, a court registrar, was not paid his pension after he retired. Theo traveled with him to Yaounde to inquire about the money. There, in a Civil Service office, his father spoke English. The official responded in French. This is a bilingual country and if you are employed in this position you should be able to speak English and French, his father said. (Theo adds, My father was a bit of a troublemaker.) Perhaps Theos father was tired of the malaise of marginalization, of feeling like a second-class citizen in his own country; perhaps he thought he could speak his mind with no consequences. But his pension was never paid. When he died, his extended family, who depended financially on him, was bereft. Theo wanted opportunity; he wanted choices. It was 2000, and there was great demand in China for teachers of English, as part of the Chinese passport to the world initiative. Theo responded to an online job advertisement. He was surprised to get an offer. With money saved from a small trade in rice and beans, he secured a visa and bought a ticket to China. There, he taught English. He learned Mandarin. He fell in love with Libby, her elegance, her intelligence, her quiet confidence. They bonded over their shared Christianity. They had a daughter. When Libby got pregnant again, they worried about the price they would have to pay for violating the one-child policy. They desperately wanted the baby. And so they came to America as asylum seekers. While Theo navigated the labyrinth of Americas asylum process, his home in Anglophone Cameroon was splintering. Teachers were on strike, protesting the imposition of French-speaking teachers on Anglophone schools. Anglophone lawyers wearing their white curly wigs poured into the streets to demand change. Cameroon has two often-conflicting legal systems, English common law in the Anglophone region and the French civil code in the Francophone. Francophone judges had long been employed in Anglophone courts, and the lawyers who had to argue cases before befuddled judges had had enough. Ordinary citizens joined the protests. They wanted autonomy. They wanted teachers who spoke English and judges who were trained in the law of the land. In response, in 2 016, the government unleashed an astonishing wave of violence. Protesters were tear-gassed. Soldiers shot into crowds. Scores of civilians were reported murdered . Women were raped. Villages were set on fire, and people who previously had homes became refugees overnight. Most Anglophones had only demanded autonomy, but against the glare of state violence, the movement for independence, which had been considered fringe and insignificant, suddenly seemed legitimate. One of the many paradoxes of the Trump era is that our unusual president couldnt have been elected, and couldnt survive politically today, without the support of religious conservatives but at the same time his ascent was intimately connected to the secularization of conservatism, and his style gives us a taste of what to expect from a post-religious right. The second point was clear during the Republican primaries, when the most reliable churchgoers tended to prefer Ted Cruz but the more secular part of the party was more Trumpist. But it was obscured in the general election, and since, by the fact that evangelical voters especially rallied to Trump and have generally stood by him. Now, though, a new survey reveals the extent to which a basic religious division still exists within Trumps Republican Party. The churchgoers who ultimately voted for Trump over Clinton still tend to hold different views than his more secular supporters, and the more religious part of the G.O.P. is still the less Trumpist portion meaning less populist on economics, but also less authoritarian and tribal on race and identity. The survey was conducted by the Cato Institutes Emily Ekins for the Voter Study Group, who analyzed the views of Trump voters based on their frequency of church attendance from never to weekly or more often. The trend was consistent: The more often a Trump voter attended church, the less white-identitarian they appeared, the more they expressed favorable views of racial minorities, and the less they agreed with populist arguments on trade and immigration. In a Pennsylvania congressional district, Conor Lamb defies the odds to beat his Republican opponent in a bitterly fought special election and the message is clear: Democrats must hug the center. Dozens of strategists take careful note. A hundred news commentaries bloom. In a New York congressional district months later, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stages an extraordinary Democratic primary upset and the wisdom inverts: Leftward lies glory. The strategists regroup. The commentators rewrite. Michigan delivers one verdict about Democrats best direction and then Massachusetts hands down another. What happens in the partys gubernatorial primary in Florida is contradicted by what happens in its gubernatorial primaries in Rhode Island and New York. And so it seesaws, over and over, as we rapt observers yearn for a pattern and persuade ourselves that weve found one only to have it vanish before our eyes. Thats because were staring at the wrong thing. Intent on some ideological takeaway, we miss the human moral. This years victorious candidates, like so many winners before them, arent prevailing simply or even mainly because of the labels theyre wearing or the precise points on the political spectrum to which they can be affixed. As the Carolinas grapple with devastating flooding from Florence, residents face the arduous task of cleaning up, repairing and rebuilding homes and businesses. If you want to help, we offer some guidance below, and a list of a few of the organizations involved in recovery efforts. First, keep in mind Sending money is almost always the most efficient way to help in a disaster, according to the Center for International Disaster Information, part of the United States Agency for International Development. Otherwise, valuable time might be lost sorting through a mountain of donated goods that do not serve peoples immediate needs. Of course, before you donate anything, its important to do a little research about an organizations history and reputation. One way to do so is by checking Charity Navigator, which grades established charities based on transparency and financial health and has put together a list of those active in the recovery from Florence. Before advancing to strike China, Typhoon Mangkhut, a powerful storm 550 miles wide, pummeled the Philippines, leaving destruction in its path. Some nonprofits that mobilized after Typhoon Haiyan hit the country five years ago, killing more than 6,000 people, said they were monitoring conditions in the Philippines while also managing their responses to Florence, the tropical storm battering the East Coast of the United States. If you want to help those affected by the typhoon, we offer some guidance below, and a list of a few of the organizations involved in recovery efforts. Things to keep in mind Sending money is almost always the most efficient way to help in a disaster, experts say. Otherwise, valuable time might be lost sorting through a mountain of donated goods that do not serve peoples immediate needs. Q: A candidate for the president of the board of my Park Slope, Brooklyn, condo has a past felony conviction. I believe that some states do not allow people convicted of felonies to run for seats on condo boards. What are the rules in New York? Can this person legally run for a seat on the board? A: Some states, like Florida, bar people who have been convicted of felonies from serving on association boards. But New York is not among them, according to Lisa A. Smith, a real estate lawyer and a partner in the New York City office of the law firm Smith, Gambrell and Russell. Your condo bylaws may address the issue when describing board member qualifications. But even if the bylaws are silent on the matter, the board should notify all unit owners before the election if the candidate was convicted of a serious crime, like a felony sex offense, sharing only facts available in the public record. Otherwise, the board could be held liable if the person later goes on to commit a crime in the building. An Upper East Side condo that displaced a popular Park Avenue preschool in 2013 and had to be scaled down to meet historic district requirements will finally start sales this month. The condo, 1010 Park Avenue, is an 11-unit offering from the Extell Development Company at East 85th Street, on the site of an annex to the Park Avenue Christian Church, whose small congregation reaped $25 million from the sale, plus two basement levels of new meeting and event space in the new building. But the deal uprooted a longtime annex tenant, the Park Avenue Christian Church Day School, an upper-crust preschool that had to abruptly relocate to the Upper West Side just as the 2013 school year was to start. At the time, angry parents called Extell to complain, the companys executives said. But if disgruntled families are no longer as much of a concern, the condo could face other headwinds. Five weeks ago, Brody Allens parents were told that their 2-year-old sons rare form of brain cancer meant he had two months to live. The boys family realized that he probably wouldnt be able to enjoy one more Christmas. So they decided to celebrate early, putting up a tree and decorations, and their Ohio neighborhood followed suit. In his mind it is just Christmas, said McKenzie Allen, 21, Brodys sister. He woke up one day and the Christmas tree was out. He doesnt know it isnt really Christmas. He is just enjoying it. Brodys health has deteriorated so that he no longer has the energy of a toddler or the use of his left arm and left leg. He likes to be outside, so he often sits in a red Radio Flyer wagon, a blanket thrown over him and a hoodie pulled over his head, while his siblings pull him around their neighborhood in Colerain Township, a suburb of Cincinnati. WASHINGTON, N.C. As the flat-bottomed fishing boat crept into a swirling river that had once been Summer Haven Lane, Tray Tillman scanned the brown floodwaters and half-submerged houses in search of somebody to save. Today its been women and kids, Mr. Tillman said. Mr. Tillman, 26, a construction foreman, was part of a makeshift rescue flotilla that has plucked hundreds of stranded people from attics, second-floor bedrooms, church vestibules and crumbling decks as relentless, record-setting rains from Tropical Storm Florence flood rivers across the Carolinas and send torrents of water through downtowns miles away from the coast. Inland flooding is perhaps the biggest continuing danger as Florence trudges through the Carolinas, and an improvised network of volunteers, some helping from as far away as Africa, has sprung up to locate and rescue people who did not evacuate. Harnett County, N.C., which is in the path of a river that was expected to crest overnight at 17 feet above flood stage, was one of many jurisdictions that ordered new evacuations. At least six deaths were confirmed by Saturday afternoon. Theyre used to flooding, but nothing like this, said Dan DiRenzo, who steered the boats with New Jersey Task Force One Urban Search and Rescue, one of the teams deployed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. There is a lot of rain to come, said Jeff Byard, associate administrator for response and recovery at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He spoke during a news conference on Saturday where a snapshot of the federal response so far emerged. The Coast Guard said 43 aircraft had rescued five people. The Army Corps of Engineers was engaging in a $6.1 million response, monitoring federal dams, helping with rescues, and deploying pumps and portable barriers. And while officials pleaded with residents not to try to drive on flooded streets, and warned that the slow-moving storm still posed a serious threat, they also began preparing for what will most likely be a long and costly recovery. Some who had evacuated returned home on Saturday evening to survey the damage. Tanya Caulder of Coward, S.C., found a giant tree in her front lawn after spending two nights at a shelter. Fortunately, the tree had fallen away from the house and just missed the pump house, which her family used to get water. But Ms. Caulder, who had stayed at the shelter with 12 relatives, said she was still worried about flooding. During Hurricane Matthew, she said, the nearby Lynches River had sent water into her mobile home. All 13 members of the family would be staying at the house that night, she said, since only her place still had power. But if I see water come up in the backyard, Im out of here, Ms. Caulder said. President Trumps major disaster declaration, approved Friday, paves the way for millions of dollars in aid for storm victims. David Maurstad, chief executive of the National Flood Insurance Program, said the program was readying to address claims. In Wilmington, the waters of the Cape Fear River were gray and roiling at daybreak. With up to 20 inches of rain forecast, roads were flooded in some low-lying areas and along stream and river banks. Emergency authorities warned that widespread flooding was still a threat from the storms trailing bands. WASHINGTON Back when their relationship was fresh and new, and President Trump still called his defense secretary Mad Dog a nickname Jim Mattis detests the wiry retired Marine general often took a dinner break to eat burgers with his boss in the White House residence. Mr. Mattis brought briefing folders with him, aides said, to help explain the militarys shared ready to fight tonight strategy with South Korea, and why the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has long been viewed as central to protecting the United States. Using his folksy manner, Mr. Mattis talked the president out of ordering torture against terrorism detainees and persuaded him to send thousands more American troops to Afghanistan all without igniting the public Twitter castigations that have plagued other national security officials. But the burger dinners have stopped. Interviews with more than a dozen White House, congressional and current and former Defense Department officials over the past six weeks paint a portrait of a president who has soured on his defense secretary, weary of unfavorable comparisons to Mr. Mattis as the adult in the room, and increasingly concerned that he is a Democrat at heart. Nearly all of the officials, as well as confidants of Mr. Mattis, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the internal tensions in some cases, out of fear of losing their jobs. The right candidate is particularly important in building coalitions for statewide races, the experts said. Progressive candidates like Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and Cynthia Nixon in New York failed to draw support outside of urban centers. In Delaware, two days after Ms. Pressleys victory, Kerri Harris had hoped to unseat an incumbent senator but secured only 35 percent of the vote. Step 2: Take advice from Silicon Valley: Test. Iterate. Repeat. A nimble, grass-roots campaign must also be responsive to voter feedback, the experts said. Whether its listening to the advice of on-the-ground organizers, or tailoring digital messages to response patterns, the advantage of a nontraditional campaign should be its ability to quickly adjust. The whole point of digital is you can test what messages are working, said Jessica Alter, the co-founder of Tech for Campaigns, a group of more than 8,000 tech workers who are volunteering to use their digital skills to help elect progressive candidates in November. Testing different messages on small groups of Facebook users before launching a large-scale ad campaign, for example, could reveal that voters in a candidates district prefer positive ads to negative ads. Or, it could identify a national issue say, immigration reform or marijuana legalization that stirs up passions among a candidates target voter groups and might be a good subject to include in a stump speech. Testing messages online can even work for old-fashioned print advertising. If youre going to spend $20,000 on direct mail, maybe spend $700 and test it on Facebook in a targeted way first, she said. Newer tools arent an automatic path to victory, of course. And social media popularity doesn't always translate to votes. In New York, Ms. Nixon dominated the conversation on Twitter, but she was handily defeated by incumbent Governor Andrew Cuomo, whose campaign quietly spent more than $2 million on digital advertising, with a heavy focus on Facebook. Ms. Pressleys campaign convened a weekly feedback circle of community leaders, local activists and volunteers. Sarah Groh, Ms. Pressley's 29-year-old campaign manager, said the advisers allowed the team to notice where their opponent was making gains. When the group felt some of the incumbents messages were beginning to take hold in the later stages of the race, they decided that Ms. Pressley should record another video ad, focused on delivering her final message to voters in an easy-to-digest fashion. This is very much a referendum on the president, Representative Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican, said of the November election. If we had to fight this campaign on what we accomplished in Congress and on the state of the economy, I think wed almost certainly keep our majority. Glen Bolger, a leading Republican pollster working on several top races this year, was even blunter: People think the economy is doing well, but thats not what theyre voting on theyre voting on the chaos of the guy in the White House. Democrats still face challenges of their own, namely the unpopularity of Representative Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, and the partys tilt left on issues like immigration, both of which could chill support from some otherwise persuadable voters. And the threat of a Democratic majority impeaching the president, which Mr. Trump is eager to raise, could rouse some of his supporters who otherwise may not show up in a year when hes not on the ballot. Even so, Mr. Bolger and many other prominent Republicans now believe they are likely to lose the House, where they have a 23-seat majority and as many as 60 seats are being fiercely contested by Democrats. The party is preparing to shift advertising money away from some of their most beleaguered incumbents toward a set of races in somewhat more favorable territory. In the narrowly divided Senate, both parties see eight or nine seats, most of them held by Democrats, on a knifes edge. And instead of attempting to highlight positive economic news like the 3.9 percent unemployment rate, Republicans have turned to a scorched-earth campaign against the Democrats in a bid to save their House majority and salvage their one-seat edge in the Senate. KABUL, Afghanistan Protesters demanding anti-fraud measures shut down the offices of Afghanistans election commission in three of the countrys major provinces on Saturday, just weeks before a vote for Parliament, the latest symptom of a political logjam that could turn violent amid a raging war with the Taliban. The last-minute jockeying over an election already delayed by three years has again exposed a depressing reality: that after five elections over 17 years, costing about $1 billion, Afghanistan still lacks the most basic consensus on how an election should be held and a credible body to oversee it. The offices were shut in Balkh Province in the north, Kandahar in the south, and Herat in the west, according to Abdul Aziz Ibrahimi, a spokesman for the election commission. The protesters, largely supporters of powerful regional figures who have intensely feuded with President Ashraf Ghani, locked the gates of the commissions offices in all three provinces and pitched tents outside to hold sit-ins. Gen. Akhtar Ibrahimi, the deputy minister of interior, said the government had instructed security forces to protect the election offices and to use force if necessary. BEIJING Over the past two decades, religion in China has boomed, and no faith has benefited more than Buddhism. The number of temples has tripled, monks and abbots have become well-known public figures, and China has used the faith to build ties around the world, sending out nuns and monks on good-will missions. The person most closely associated with this revival is the Venerable Xuecheng, a charismatic monk who was fast-tracked for success. He became abbot of his first temple at 23 and head of the Communist Party-run Buddhist Association of China at 49. His use of social media and emphasis on compassion attracted the sort of bright, white-collar professionals who once spurned traditional Chinese religions. Many rank him as the most important Chinese Buddhist reformer in a century. But over the summer, all of these worldly successes vanished. Accused of lewdness toward nuns and financial misconduct, Xuecheng, 52, has in recent weeks been stripped of his titles and banished to a small temple in his home province of Fujian. Government investigators now occupy the clerics main temple in Beijing, have purged his cadre of loyal monks and are scouring his books for financial wrongdoing. Neocom Systems did not come up at Mr. Manaforts first trial, nor was it mentioned in the plea agreement he signed on Friday. But Rick Gates, a former employee who became the star witness for the prosecution, testified that Ukrainian oligarchs had paid millions of dollars to Mr. Manafort through an array of offshore companies with obscure names like Novirex, Firemax and Telmar. Mr. Kaseyev said he first became aware of his unwitting role in the creation of at least three Ukrainian front companies a decade ago, when the tax police contacted him in 2007 about his purported $30 million tax liability at Regional Insurance Union, a company he had never heard of. His passport had been stolen in a burglary a year earlier. The scale of unpaid taxes, he said, suggested that there were larger sums moving through the company. A slender, soft-spoken young man then just getting his start as a beautician, and hence unlikely to have amassed such wealth, Mr. Kaseyev said he was able to quickly convince the police of the identity theft. Yet the companies continued to be used in deals, and one, April Limited, still appears to be open for business, a corporate registry shows. Some homeless men have achieved a measure of fame among activists who track corruption in the former Soviet states because they pop up so often at the head of multimillion dollar companies. One man identified in the Ukrainian media as a homeless Latvian named Erik Vanagels has been listed as the owner of hundreds of companies in Britain, Cyprus, Ireland, New Zealand, Panama and elsewhere. Companies in the network also helped finance the private zoo and sprawling estate of the former Ukrainian president, Viktor F. Yanukovych, who was the main client of Mr. Manafort. The inside rot: How govt employees are abetting terror in Jammu and Kashmir Blessings of 130 cr people with you: PM Modi celebrates Diwali with soldiers in J&Ks Nowshera 5 terrorists encountered in J&K; Fierce battle underway India oi-Pushyarag Shetty Jammu Kashmir, Sep 15: Total five terrorists have been killed so far, search operation underway, said IGP of Kashmir, SP Pani on Kulgam encounter. The encounter operation of the terrorists holed inside a house by the Indian army In Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, that started late on Friday night in Chowgam area of Qazigund town is underway. Train services between Baramulla- Qazigund have been suspended. The terrorists are said to have been trapped inside a house. Five terrorists are still trapped inside. Further details are awaited. Just a day a fierce battle among the army personnel and militants had taken place in Kakriyal area in Jammu. 13 security personnel were injured while three Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists were killed in the encounter. 7th Pay Commission: Variable DA for CG employees hiked, all you should know 7th Pay Commission: Here is why basic monthly pay of CG employees will not increase 7th Pay Commission: When will the new DA hike be effective from 7th Pay Commission latest news today: Good news for these employees of BJP ruled state India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 15: Amidst the row relating to the 7th Pay Commission, employees of this state are likely to get some benefits. The employees and pensioners of a north-east state will get a salary hike as per the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission soon. Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura Jishnu Devvarma, while ruling out reports of serious financial crisis in the state, said that there will be no dearth of money for implementing the recommendations of the pay panel. He however did not indicate when the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations could be implemented. Also Read | 7th Pay Commission latest news and updates: Excellent news, salary increase for 32 months However sources have indicated that the employees would get the benefits by December. On September 7 the Madhya Pradesh government announced that the professors of every college in the state funded by the government would get a pay hike as per the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. The Uttar Pradesh government had on September 5 decided to give the 7th Pay Commission pay scale to teachers and professors of state colleges and universities. Meanwhile the Central Government employees continue to wait for some good news in this regard. They were initially told that there could be some announcement, but nothing came out regarding the 7th Pay Commission. Also Read | 7th Pay Commission: Good news, the wait is finally over for these employees Upset over the inaction of the government the CG employees have decided to protest and demanding that they immediately be given hikes beyond what the 7th Pay Commission had recommended. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 15, 2018, 8:16 [IST] Army man involved in Haryana CBSE topper's rape, say Cops India pti-PTI Chandigarh, Sep 15: One of the three accused in the alleged gang rape of a 19-year-old woman is an Army man posted in Rajasthan and a police team has been sent to arrest him, Haryana DGP B S Sandhu said on Saturday. The trio allegedly abducted the woman from a bus stop and raped her in Haryana's Mahendargarh district on Wednesday. "Out of the three accused, one is an Army man and a police team has gone to Rajasthan to arrest him. I am sure that he will be arrested today," he said. The hunt for the other two accused is also on, he added, expressing confidence that they will land in police net soon. Sandhu said all the three accused were known to the victim. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been set up to probe the case. According to the complaint, the woman was allegedly kidnapped by the accused who arrived in a car and was taken to a secluded place where she was raped after being offered a drink laced with sedatives. The accused left her near a bus stop in Kanina later in the day. However, the father of the young woman, a school topper who was felicitated by the government, told reporters on Friday that she could have been raped by 8-10 persons. Her mother has accused the police of failing to take action in the case. She said on Friday that her daughter was in a state of shock after the incident, while the accused were "roaming freely" after the incident. PTI Ayush ministry official arrested by CBI for allegedly taking Rs 10 lakh bribe India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 15: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested an under secretary in the Ministry of Ayush on the charge that he had allegedly taken a bribe of Rs 10 lakh. CBI officials said that he had allegedly taken the bribe to clear pending files. R K Khatri, who holds the additional charge as managing director of Indian Medicine and Pharmaceutical Corporation under the ministry, was nabbed while allegedly accepting the bribe from a clearing and forwarding agent, officials said. Also Read | Time to draw the line on media trial: SC The CBI continued to carry out searches at the office and also residential premises of the officer. Further investigation is on. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 15, 2018, 7:44 [IST] Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar to emerge a big players in the UP politics India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Sep 15: In yet another move to woo Dalit community in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has released Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar from jail but he targeted the BJP immediately after getting released from the jail. A huge crowd awaited for its young, suave, dynamic and aggressive leader in solidarity but there is definite political meaning not only behind his release but his words. The BJP government has not only released Chandrashekhar but also promised to withdraw cases against all Dalit workers against whom cases were registered during protest in Saharanpur and even people involved in the violence on April 2, 2018 during Bharat Bandh called by the Dalit organisations. The BJP is trying to put across a message among the community that it is for the community. But political analyst see a bigger meaning in it. They feel that releasing Chandrashekhar and his subsequent attack on the party will not only create a parallel leadership to Mayawati among Dalit and also attack on the BJP might help the upper caste rallying behind the party. Both the condition suits the BJP as if Dalits are divided into three it is good for the BJP. One with Mayawati, other with Chandrashekhar and a section of Dalits supporting the BJP. Also Read | UP government releases Bhim Army chief early National Security Act (NSA) slapped on Chandrashekhar and he was expected to be released on November 18 but NSA was withdrawn so he got the bail and was released immediately. Not to ignore the fact that even during the Modi wave former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Mayawati has been able to retain her around 20 per cent vote bank in Uttar Pradesh however she failed to get even a single Lok Sabha seat. So for the BJP to win elections in Uttar Pradesh fragmentation of Dalit votes is necessary and this could be a right move for the party, political observer feel. Chandrashekhar is getting support from the young generation in the Dalit community, they say, "He is our hero as he has the answer for everything and the kind of politics that Mayawati do has created a vacuum. She does not communicate with people and moreover she is totally away from social media which is unpardonable in today's world. Chandrashekhar does everything that she does not do. Dalit youths are looking at him as their future leader and new role model." So there is an insecurity among the BSP leaders not only with his release from the jail but when the Bhim Sena started emerging on the horizon and started movement against atrocities the community. The insecurity was so much that Mayawati has gone up to the extant of saying him to be an RSS agent. This itself is enough to cause a chasm in the community which might increase with the passing time. Mayawati was confined to Uttar Pradesh and she was trying to spread her base in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and a few more state. She is even looking for alliance with the Congress in MP and Chhattisgarh but Dalit leadership is emerging like Jignesh Mevni in Gujarat and Chandrashekhar in Uttar Pradesh which they want to take to the entire country. Mayawati has the habit of not allowing any other leadership to emerge is now becoming a deterrent for her. If Mevani came to Delhi to support Chandrashekhar then Congress leadership helped him in legal matter. Some senior leaders of the Congress were provide legal assistance to Chandrashekhar and leader from Western UP Imran Masood too came to his help by taking into the confidence the top brass of the party. Chandrashekhar is saying at the moment that he will not join the politics but this was the same case with Mevani however in the same breath Chandrashekhar vows to rout the BJP in the state but keeping his political cards close to his chest. Who will be able to get political mileage out of it will be clear with the passing time but roads ahead is bumpy for the BJP and the BSP. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 15, 2018, 11:34 [IST] MP Board Class 10 result 2021 to be declared on July 14: Where to check Bhopal: Inmates of shelter home for disabled kids allege sexual abuse; Ex-Armyman arrested India oi-Deepika S Bhopal, Sep 15: Inmates of a privately run residential facility for disabled children in Bhopal Friday accused its founder of sexually abusing two girls and three boys. Based on their complaint, the owner, a 70-year-old ex-armyman, has been arrested on Saturday. 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 last year, submitted a complaint to police Friday evening. Earlier in the day, nearly 40 inmates of the shelter home visited the Congress office here, where the party's state media cell chief Shobha Oza held a press conference. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: Woman gang-raped by four men in Betul district "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 Friday. Also Read | MP: Four-year old rape victim from Satna to be airlifted to AIIMS, Delhi Later in the evening, the victims along with Congress leaders reached the TT Nagar Police Station here 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. OneIndia News (with agency inputs) Decision to change LOC against Vijay Mallya was not taken by any individual: CBI India oi-Vikas SV New Delhi, Sep 15: Under fire for changing the nature of the Look out Circular against Vijay Mallya which allowed him to leave the country, the CBI on Saturday said the decision was taken as there were "not sufficient grounds" at that time to detain the liquor baron. The Congress and the other opposition parties are attacking the Centre over changing the Look out Circular against Vijay Mallya, alleging that there was a political intervention in it. CBI said that no individual official was involved in the decision on LOC as it was part of a process. "As has been stated a no.of times earlier, the decision to change LOC against Vijay Mallya was taken as at the time there was not sufficient grounds for CBI to detain and arrest him. The decision was taken at appropriate level as a part of process individually by the officer as alleged," a CBI statement said today, as per ANI reports. 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. 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. [Why CBI changed the nature of LOC against Vijay Mallya] 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." For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 15, 2018, 19:49 [IST] Is it a new technology? According to UIDAI, it always had the ability to leverage the photograph taken during Aadhaar enrolment to verify the identity of the Aadhaar number holder. The inbuilt cameras on laptops and mobiles are good enough for this purpose and do not require any change in hardware, it says. Why does UIDAI want to click my face? The move is aimed at providing easy authentication for those individuals who face a difficulty in other biometric authentication like fingerprint and iris, the UIDAI said. Face authentication must be combined with either fingerprint or iris or OTP to be able to successfully authenticate an Aadhaar number holder, it added. But I've already given away my fingerprints and iris...? UIDAI has proposed a two-factor authentication for use of face recognition by telcos. Where an individual provides Aadhaar number, the authentication will be done using fingerprint or iris and face. For individuals providing Virtual ID, the authentication can be on basis of fingerprint or iris. UIDAI said in case where an individual is unable to authenticate fingerprint or iris, face authentication can be used as an additional mode, to make the system more inclusive. Why only Telecom Service Providers? The UIDAI had in fact asked all authentication user agencies (AUA) - banks, telecom companies, public distribution channels, income tax authorities, etc - to add facial recognition as an additional feature in their authentication devices by July 2018. However, the AUAs failed to meet the deadline. Since telcos are the ones that use outside agents and distributors to carry out the authentication most, UIDAI has decided to begin with them, and move towards others in a phased manner. Why were other AUAs not ready with the service? For enabling this technology, UIDAI will have to work with all biometric device providers to integrate face modality into the certified registered devices and also provide standalone registered device as and when required. UIDAI also provides software development kits and registered device services in various operating systems, which will have the ability to capture face image, check liveness, and create digitally signed and encrypted authentication input as required. The mobile operators have sought more time to implement the UIDAI-mandated face authentication feature, the rollout deadline for which is Saturday, citing non-preparedness of biometric device makers. Why telcos are seeking time Under the ambit of Apex Advisory Council for Telecom in India (ACT) , the operators have said that the date of implementation of face authentication should be at least two months from the date that the device ecosystem is ready, and till such time no penalty should be levied. Goa to get a new CM soon; Shripad Naik top contender for the post India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Sep 15: Due to the prevailing health condition of Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, the BJP leadership is planning to replace him with a new chief minister. Union minister of state for Aayush Shripad Yesso Naik is one of the most important contender for the post. However, names of the ministers in the Parikkar government are also being discussed. Meanwhile, Parrikar has reached Delhi and has been admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for treatment of cancer. Parrikar returned from the US after a medical check-up last week and was admitted to a hospital in Goa. The matter of Goa chief minister was discussed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah had met a couple of days ago and now BJP national organising secretary Ram Lal and senior BJP leader B L Santosh is being sent to Goa to look into the matter. [Manohar Parrikar health updates: Goa CM admitted to AIIMS for treatment] However, the name of an MLA is also being considered but the party is not ready to divulge the name. The name of Ramkrishna Sudin Dhawlikar and Vijai Sardeshai was doing round but both of them belong allies partners and were not ready to accept each other. There is a possibility of a minority chief minister in Goa with BJP's Francis D'Souza. Meanwhile, the Congress has also become active in the state and looking to form the government. The party is the single largest party in the state at the moment. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 15, 2018, 20:59 [IST] This man has a special car to vroom around in city and he made it all by himself Happy Engineer's Day 2018: Remembering Sir M Visvesvarayya India oi-Vikas SV Today (September 15) is Engineer's Day in India. 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. [Engineers Day 2018: Significance, Why is it celebrated?] 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: Saturday, September 15, 2018, 5:00 [IST] PM Modi, Shah meet Advani at his residence to wish him on birthday PM dedicates various National Highway and Road projects to the nation In PICS: Swachhata Hi Seva: PM Modi cleans school premises in Delhi India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Sep 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the 'Swachhata Hi Seva' movement today. The 'Swachhata Hi Seva' movement aims at generating greater public participation towards Swachhta (cleanliness) and 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 the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi. Soon after the formal launch PM Modi Saturday reached the city's Baba Sahib Ambedkar Higher Secondary School in Paharganj and took up a broom to clean the surroundings. Also Read | Swachhata Hi Seva: PM Modi launches movement for clean India As part of his 'shram daan' or voluntary work, he cleaned the school surroundings with a broom. Wearing a pale pink half-sleeve kurta, Modi was seen picking up pieces of paper and disposable plastic glasses with his hands. He also used a shovel to gather the garbage at one place. After reaching the school, he paid floral tributes at a statue of B R Ambedkar. He was seen interacting with some students, apparently giving them a talk on the importance of cleanliness. Earlier, he interacted with people via a video link to launch "Swachhata Hi Seva" movement, a fortnight-long event. Also Read | PM's new cleanliness drive to celebrate Gandhi Jayanthi The Prime Minister's Office said no special traffic arrangements were made for the movement of the prime minister and that he reached the venue in usual traffic conditions. Baba Sahib Ambedkar School near Ambedkar Bhawan on Jhansi Rani Road, Paharganj, is a higher secondary school affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education. Rajnath Singh takes part in Swachhta Hi Sewa' campaign The whole country is expected to be open defecation free by October, 2019, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday. The government is confident of fulfilling the prime minister's vision of making India open defecation free by October, 2019, Singh said after launching the Swachhta Hi Sewa' (Cleanliness is Service) campaign of the Ministry of Home Affairs here. Ravi Shankar Prasad cleans Patna's Mithapur area Taking to twitter RS Prasad wrote: "Took part in SwachhtaHiSeva Shramdaan at Patna today. Efforts of PM @narendramodi to create awareness about cleanliness has become a mass movement today. " To mark the start of Mahatma Gandhi Ji's 150th birth anniversary, let us all be a part of this Swachh Bharat Mission and fulfil Bapu's dream of a Clean India. Dharmendra Pradhan cleans ONGC premises Proud to be associated with the Swachhata Hi Seva Andolan. Sharing some moments with colleagues from ONGC at the cleanliness drive in Delhi today. Piyush Goyal cleans Old Delhi railway station Union Minister Piyush Goyal cleans Old Delhi railway station as a part of 'Swachhata Hi Seva' movement. Shah participates in Swachhata Hi Seva BJP chief Amit Shah on Saturday participated in the ambitious 'Swachhata Hi Seva' movement in Domalguda area in Telangana. A large number of people including party cadre also took part in the drive along with Shan. Lawyer without brief is like Tendulkar without his bat on cricket ground: SC ISRO spy case: Arrest of scientist was unnecessary says SC India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 15: The Supreme Court 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. Also Read | ISRO spy case: SC orders compensation of Rs 50 lakh to former scientist 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. Also Read | SC says spy case cost former ISRO scientist his reputation 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. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 15, 2018, 9:55 [IST] Amit Shah kicks off poll campaign in Uttarakhand, accuses Congress of doing appeasement politics Sardar Patel gave message to world that no one can destroy India's unity and integrity: Amit Shah PM Modi, Shah meet Advani at his residence to wish him on birthday BJP will fight on all seats in Telangana, KCR govt failed at every front: Shah India oi-Deepika S Hyderabad, Sep 15: BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday launched a scathing attack on K Chandrashekar Rao, accusing the chief minister of indulging in politics of appeasement. "K. Chandrashekar Rao had supported 'one-nation, one-poll' but today his party has changed its stand and has forced a small state to bear expense of two polls [state assembly and Lok Sabha]. I want to ask Telangana CM, why have you put such an expense on the people of Telangana?" Shah said. Addressing a press conference in the state capital, Shah also said that the BJP would fight on all seats in Telangana and emerge as a strong and decisive force in the state. Also Read | Telangana elections: KCR steps in to quell dissidence amidst ticket distribution row Shah accused TRS of doing politics of vote bank and appeasement in Telangana. "Is it not appeasement politics to propose 12% reservation for minority? They know that our constitution does not allow reservation based on religion. If the same government comes back to power, vote bank politics will continue in the state," he said. "Is it not appeasement politics to propose 12% reservation for minority? They know that our Constitution does not allow reservation based on religion. If the same government comes back to power, vote bank politics will continue in the state," the BJP president said. Shah accused KCR's Telangana Rashtra Samithi of "working at the behest of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Left parties". He said that if the party comes to power yet again, it will continue to play vote bank politics. Also Read | Telangana Mahakutami: Why has the CPI-M stayed away from TDP-Congress Shah arrived in Telangana on a day-long visit on Saturday morning, and is scheduled to give directions to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s state leaders on poll strategy and election manifesto. 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. Austrian priest who was accused of trying to kiss nun cleared by Vatican court Kerala nun rape case: Franco Mulakkal steps down as Jalandhar bishop India oi-Deepika S Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 15: Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of rape and sexual abuse by a Kerala nun has decided to step aside amid uproar over alleged inaction by the Church. "In my absence Mathew Kokkandam will administer the diocese as it is normal practice," said a circular. Fr. Mulakkal has also appointed Father Joseph Thekkumkattil as Dean of Tanda Deanery and Father Subin Thekkadathu as Parochial Vicar, St Mary's Church, Tanda. In a letter addressed to fathers, sisters, and brothers of the diocese on September 13, Fr. Mulakkal said: "As you have come to know from the media thr investigation into the allegations raised against me, there are several contradictions in the evidences collected against me as per the report of the police. It is reported that I am to be called for further clarifications by the investigating officer in Kerala. I request you to continue to pray for me and the alleged victim and her supporters who have come out against me so that divine intervention may bring about change of heart and truth of the matter may be revealed." The police team probing the alleged sexual abuse of the nun has summoned Fr. Mulakkal for interrogation on September 19. The office of the Archbishop of Bombay, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, on Wednesday expressed that Fr. Franco Mulakkal, the bishop of the diocese of Jalandhar, should step down and let an inquiry against him unfold. Women protest against rape accused Bishop in Jalandhar The Archbishop of Bombay says that the reputation of the church, not just in Kerala but all over the country, is at stake and stepping down would be the right thing to do, and if the bishop isn't guilty, then he can very well get back to his position. An official from the office of the Archbishop of Bombay said the Vatican could initiate an enquiry and take a decision on the matter. In June, a Kerala nun had filed a case against the Jalandar bishop, accusing him of raping her 13 times. Since then, the police has been investigating the case. However, the nun has also written to the Vatican alleging that the bishop is using his power and money to silence her and other nuns who, too, have come forward accusing the bishop of inappropriate bheaviour. Vijay Diwas: Rajnath Singh lauds Indian Army, says their sacrifice is source of inspiration to Indians Narendra Dabholkar murder case: Sharad Kalaskar's CBI custody extended till Sep 17 India oi-Vikas SV Pune, Sep 15: A Pune Court on Saturday extended the CBI custody of Sharad Kalaskar, an accused in the arms hauls case who is also being probed in connection with the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, till September 17. On September 4, the court had sent 10-day CBI custody which ended yesterday. The court had on September 3 granted the custody of Kalaskar to the CBI for probing his alleged role in the killing of Dabholkar. Kalaskar was arrested last month by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in connection with the seizure of arms and ammunition from different parts of the state. Kalaskar and three other accused in the arms haul case - Vaibhav Raut, Sudhanwa Gondhalekar and Shrikant Pangarkar - were produced before Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Padalkar after their police remand ended. The judge, responding to an application filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), allowed the agency to take the custody of Kalaskar in the Dabholkar killing case. [Narendra Dabholkar murder case: Sharad Kalaskar sent to 10-day CBI custody] On Aug 29, Court had rejected the CBI's plea to hand over Kalaskar's custody to the agency, which is probing the Dabholkar murder case, from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). The ATS arrested Kalaskar on August 10 and his custody was extended till September 3 with the ATS submitting that he had planned to hurl a bomb at a music festival in Pune. After the hearing, however, the CBI filed an application, seeking his custody. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 15, 2018, 17:22 [IST] Nikah halala petitioners knocks SCs door seeking protection India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 15: 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 court asked advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, counsel for Rani, to submit a copy of the petition to the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government. Also Read | Nikah-Halala petitioners Farzana and her brother stabbed; brother serious 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. Also Read | What is 'Nikah Halala?' 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. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 15, 2018, 13:51 [IST] Agree with Indian govt on need to safeguard citizens' privacy: WhatsApp State vs national issues: Key lessons for the BJP to learn in Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Haryana On cancellation of Chicago trip Mamata smells a deep-rooted conspiracy India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Kolkata, Sep 15: 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 2019 Lok Sabha elections. At a programme of a Bengali TV news channel, she charged the BJP with bringing in "militant Hinduism" and claimed many people had been lynched. "The BJP had secured only 31 per cent votes and won 283 seats (in the 2014 general election). It cannot be repeated. They have failed in all respects and cannot survive (in the 2019 Lok Sabha poll)," she said. Also Read | Mamata Banerjee mocks at BJP over 'Atal Kalash Yatra', BJP counters "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. She said in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, regional parties would play a crucial role and the issue of who will be the prime minister can be decided later. "The 2019 Lok Sabha elections will be a people's referendum. The people will say no to BJP and yes to other parties. A message has reached the common people who are the worst sufferers. They want a change. No one will think twice. Also Read | With an eye on UP, BSP and the Congress to join hands in MP and Chhattisgarh "They will throw out the BJP government. Then the question who will be the prime minister will rise. It will be a collective leadership," she said. Referring to the regional parties, she said they were becoming stronger every passing day. "The situation has changed now. Maximum regional parties are working together just like a family." She felt that earlier, there was a misconception that regional parties can't play vital role in national politics. But this has changed now and maximum regional parties are working together. Asked if the grand alliance will click, she said the BJP is attempting to create a rift among various parties but this time they will not succeed in their mission. Also Read | 2019 Lok Sabha Election: NRC, Citizenship bill on BJP's agenda Accusing the Modi government of showing "audacity and arrogance" after winning the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Banerjee said the government has failed in all aspects. "They carried out demonetisation but 99.3 per cent old currency notes have come back. What was the need for it. Was it for making the black money white," she asked. She said that crude oil prices were falling in the international market but petroleum prices in the country were rising. Corruption could be determining factor in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, she said. "How much truth was in Bofors issue we don't know, but Rajiv Gandhi's fate in the election was affected. On Rafale issue also, I am sure, corruption could be a determining factor. There must be something wrong in the Rafale deal," she said. Also Read | BJP to organise Rath Yatra in West Bengal after Durga Puja On cancellation of her Chicago trip, she said she smelt a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the Modi government. "This government is working like a militant, terrorist, religious organisation," she said. Criticising "discrimination" of people on the National Register of Citizen (NRC) issue, Banerjee said genuine people should not be excluded from the list. It is a matter of shame the way a large number of "genuine Indians" were excluded from the list. "Are they illegal immigrants?" she asked. Parrikar likely to give up CM post, may go to US for treatment India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Panaji, Sep 15: Goa Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar has expressed his desire to temporarily hand over the chief ministership and undergo further medical treatment in the US. Parrikar has been suffering from a pancreatic element for the past seven months. Parrikar who had returned from the US on September 6 after a week long treatment, his third visit was admitted to a local hospital on Wednesday. Sources tell OneIndia that he is likely to fly back for treatment to New York. After Parrikar discussed the issue with BJP president Amit Shah, the latter is said to have initiated the process to look for a temporary alternative. The BJP would be sending an observer, Vijai Puranik and organising secretary B L Santhosh to Goa on Monday. A senior member of the party is also likely to visit the state to hold discussions in this regard. Also Read | Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar admitted in private clinic in Goa The temporary assignment is likely to be given to Sudin Dhavalikar of the MGP which is a coalition partner in the Goa government. Dhavalikar however said that he had met with Parrikar, but there was no discussion on any leadership issue. Parrikar is understand to have told party leaders that he wants to hand over the charge due to health issues which was not allowing him to do justice to the job. Parrikar has not attended office since he returned from the US on September 6. Trevor Rockliffe UPDATE SEPT 15, 2014 AT 7:30 P.M. A wildfire burning near Princeton is now 70 per cent contained. According to Fire Information Officer, Kayla Pepper, crews were able to get a handle on the fire Monday. The fire grew to 182 hectares, however, Pepper says most of the growth took place Sunday night and overnight. Ground crews will continue to work the fire overnight. UPDATE SEPT 15, 2014 AT 5 P.M. Fire Information Officer Kayla Pepper says the fire has not grown this afternoon and crews are still working on containment. Ground crews will continue establishing hand guards and Pepper says they hope winds do not pick up this evening. UPDATE SEPT 15, 2014 AT 11:45 A.M. The Wildfire Management Branch says the Princeton wildfire is now sitting at 182 hectares in size, while ground crews continue to work Monday to get some containment on the blaze. The fire was originally estimated at 80 hectares Monday morning, but a helicopter was able to get into the air Monday to map the fire and get a more accurate size. The fire grew quite quickly yesterday evening due to the dry grass, dry timber and some fairly strong winds in the area, says Fire Information Officer Kayla Pepper. There are over 30 Wildfire Management Branch personnel on site, as well as a number from the Princeton Fire Department. There are no evacuation alerts or orders in effect but there are several buildings 500-600 metres away. Our top priority is protect those structures and we are working with the Princeton Fire Department to do that. The fire is not contained at all, but Pepper says conditions overnight were favourable for crews. The fire activity did decrease overnight but we are still going to be watching it for the heat of the day today. Winds could pick up again and we are expecting temperatures to get up to the low 30's even. Fire crews were on scene all night and ground crews are there today, supported by one helicopter. Pepper says air tankers are not currently attacking the blaze but are ready to be called in, if need be. So far this season, the Kamloops Fire Centre has responded 325 wildfires, approximately 50 per cent of which were human-caused. This fire serves as a reminder that extra diligence is needed with fire use in the backcountry. Update -- Sept. 15 8:15 a.m The wildfire burning near Princeton is now an estimated 180 hectares in size. It was first discovered Sept. 14 and quickly grew due to strong winds and dry fuel. The fire is suspected to be human caused, but that is still under investigation. A crew of 17 firefighters worked overnight on the blaze, and a unit crew, initial attack crew and officers from the Kamloops Fire Centre are currently on site with personnel and equipment from the Princeton Fire Department. More resources, including helicopters, are joining the effort this morning. Airtankers may also be called back to help meet fire suppression objectives. The fire is completely uncontained at this time. 1:57 a.m. Monday Update: Fire crews have made good progress on the wildfire burning near Princeton. No structures have been damaged and there are no reports of injures. Several fire crews will be working the fire overnight. 11 P.M. UPDATE: Princeton RCMP are saying there are currently no evacuations have been ordered. More details to come. 10:35 P.M. UPDATE: A witness told Castanet that the fire has jumped the Summerland Princeton Road near Wayne Lake and is now burning on the east side of the road as well. The fire began near Belfort Road which connects the Summerland Princeton Road with Highway 5A. The fire goes up the hill towards the Jura stock ranch and down the hill towards town. It is currently only a few kilometres away from the Princeton Fair Grounds and several businesses. It is unknown whether any evacuations are being ordered at this time. Photo: Trevor Rockliffe A large grass fire has broken out on the Princeton Summerland road. The fire is about six kilometres north of the Town of Princeton. It is currently suspected to be human caused and is under investigation. The Princeton Fire Department has been called out to assist forestry in fighting the blaze. Kayla Pepper with BC Wildfire Control said the fire is currently estimated at 60 hectares in size. There is an initial attack crew and a unit crew from Princeton on site for a total of 17 people fighting the fire. The Electra aircraft from Penticton and a group of four 802 aircraft fought the blaze until sundown. There is also a water tender and a bulldozer on site. Pepper said the fire activity has calmed with nightfall. If you have pictures or video of the fire, send to [email protected] Request to free Rajiv Gandhi's assassins not sent to Centre: Governor India oi-Deepika S Chennai, Sep 15: The Raj Bhavan in Chennai on Saturday denied reports that Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit had sent a report to the Union Home Affairs Ministry on the State Cabinet's resolution recommending the release of the seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. A press release from the Governor's office said that no reference had been made to the Ministry of Home Affairs in the matter. "The case is a complex one and involves the examination of legal, administrative and Constitutional issues. The records which are voluminous are being received from the State Government with the connected judgements having been handed over to Raj Bhavan on September 14, 2018 only," said the press release. "All efforts will be taken to process the papers scrupulously. Necessary consultations may be carried out, when required in due course. The decision will be taken in a just and fair manner and in accordance with the Constitution", the release added. Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Minister D Jayakumar said that the Governor has to accept the recommendations made by the state cabinet on the release of all 7 convicts of Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. Talking to reporters, the minister said, "We hope the Governor will take a good decision in this regard as it is the aspirations of Tamil people." Earlier on September 9, the state cabinet had decided to send the recommendation on the release of all seven convicts. The Supreme Court had also asked the Tamil Nadu government to seek redressal and direction from the State Governor for its demand to release the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. Manish One of the three accused in the alleged gang rape of a 19-year-old woman is an Army man posted in Rajasthan and a police team has been sent to arrest him, Haryana DGP B S Sandhu said on Saturday. Nishu A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been set up to probe the case. According to the complaint, the woman was allegedly kidnapped by the accused who arrived in a car and was taken to a secluded place where she was raped after being offered a drink laced with sedatives. Pankaj (The accused army man) The accused left her near a bus stop in Kanina later in the day. However, the father of the young woman, a school topper who was felicitated by the government, told reporters on Friday that she could have been raped by 8-10 persons. Her mother has accused the police of failing to take action in the case. Case registered. The 3 culprits have been identified,one of whom is an Army personnel. We're issuing warrant against him.Hope arrests will be made by this evening.ADG Rewari will conduct enquiry to see if there was a negligence by police dept: Haryana DGP on Rewari gang-rape case pic.twitter.com/YSWs2ltrQE ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018 Haryana DGP B S Sandhu Haryana DGP B S Sandhu had earlier saidall the three accused were known to the victim. PM Modi, Shah meet Advani at his residence to wish him on birthday Swachhata Hi Seva: PM Modi launches movement for clean India India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Sep 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off nation-wide Swachhta hi Seva cleanliness campaign on Saturday. The campaign will continue till October 2. Joined by superstar Amitabh Bachchan and industry doyen Ratan Tata in an interaction streamed live on the Narendra Modi app, the PM urged all Indians to take the Clean India pledge. "Swachhata Hi Seva Movement' aims at fulfilling Bapu's dream of a Clean India. From today till Gandhi Jayanti, let us re-dedicate ourselves towards fulfilling Bapu's dream of Clean India. 'Swacch Bharat Mission' that began 4 yrs ago has reached an important stage today, where we can proudly say that people from all sections have joined us in the mission: PM Narendra Modi said on the launch of 'Swachhata Hi Seva Movement'. Hailing the contribution of women in the cleanliness movement, the PM said, "The contribution of India's nari shakti (women power) in the Swachh Bharat (clean India) mission is immense." "Youngsters are ambassadors of social change. The way they have furthered the message of cleanliness is commendable. The youth are at the forefront of a positive change in India," Modi said while interacting with the students of Assam via his NaMo App. Also Read | PM's new cleanliness drive to celebrate Gandhi Jayanthi Ahead of the campaign, Prime Minister Modi wrote to almost 2,000 citizens from different walks of life, inviting them to be a part of the cleanliness drive. Those invited by Prime Minister to join the campaign include judges, retired government officials, winner of gallantry awards, Commonwealth and Asian Games medallists, Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers, Governors, Lieutenant Governors, journalists, sportspersons, film personalities and spiritual gurus. In his letter, the prime minister described the Swachh Bharat Mission as a mass movement that has ushered in a 'swachhata revolution' across India. He asked the recipients of the letters to support the mission and inspire others to do the same. KCR hints at another lockdown in Hyderabad as COVID-19 cases surge Telangana CM announces Rs 10,000 as relief to each flood-affected household in Hyderabad Telangana elections: KCR steps in to quell dissidence amidst ticket distribution row India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Hyderabad, Sep 15: With the dissidence increasing over the ticket distribution, K Chandrasekhar Rao has seeped in sort out the issue. The TRS is facing rumblings of discontent after several aspirants were denied tickets to contest the upcoming assembly elections in Telangana, with some of them coming out openly against the party leadership. KCR through a teleconference told his party candidates to quell the dissidence. He also asked them to discuss the matter with their rivals and sort out the issue. Also Read | Telangana elections: Rumblings within TRS over ticket distribution The election season is also witnessing leaders eyeing greener pastures shifting loyalties. TRS boss and caretaker chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao had last week released a list of 105 candidates for the state's 119 seats immediately after the dissolution of the assembly. Those left out were as quick to express their displeasure as Rao was with the list. Konda Surekha, a four-time MLA and former minister, who was denined nomination, fulminated against the party leadership, accusing it of perpetuating "family politics". Also Read | Telangana Mahakutami: Why has the CPI-M stayed away from TDP-Congress She is expected to announce her plans in the coming days. A supporter of Nallala Odelu, the sitting TRS MLA from Chennur in Mancherial district, attempted to immolate himself on Wednesday over denial of ticket to his leader. Odelu has, however, agreed to work for the party candidate, TRS sources claimed. In Adilabad district, Ramesh Rathod, who had quit the TDP to join TRS, has also voiced displeasure over denial of nomination. Some other TRS leaders who could not make it to the list have met their supporters and are chalking out further course of action. TRS troubleshooters, meanwhile, are busy trying to soothe the frayed nerves and hope things would be fine before the election schedule is announced. Also Read | Telangana: Mahakutami shapes up to take on KCR, but will it be a 2009 repeat? Election season is also the time for politicians to change their stripes. Senior Congress leader K R Suresh Reddy, a former speaker of the Legislative Assembly in undivided Andhra Pradesh, quit the party and joined the TRS on Wednesday. Former Congress MLA A Rajender, who had joined the TRS after the 2014 assembly polls, returned to the party fold the same day. With the Congress, TDP and the CPI, largely marginalised by the TRS in the state, announcing plans for a broad-based alliance ahead of the polls, many who failed to get tickets from their own parties might find shelter there. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 15, 2018, 7:58 [IST] Drunk on stage at awards show, Pakistan envoy recalled International oi-Vicky Nanjappa London, Sep 15: A Pakistan envoy has been called back from London to explain his behaviour at an awards ceremony where he is said to have made speech in an inebriated condition. Sahebzada Ahmed, a career diplomat was recalled by Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood, who had said in a tweet that he was dismayed with the actions of the envoy. In the videos that had gone viral, Khan can be seen behaving erratically and speaking incoherently for several minutes at the IPPA Awards ceremony held in London on September 9. It is said that the official was drunk while he was on stage. Also Read | Palestine reinstates Pakistan envoy who shared stage with Hafiz Saeed The audience can be heard laughing as the official engaged in lighthearted banter with veteran actor Javed Sheikh, who is seen having difficulty in understanding what was being spoken. 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. "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," Shah Mahmood tweeted. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 15, 2018, 8:53 [IST] UP govt to set up special research centres: Deputy CM Lucknow pti-PTI Mathura, Sep 15: To maintain quality of higher education and provide conducive environment for research work, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to set up special research centres in universities, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma said Saturday (Sep 15). "Rs 5 crore has been sanctioned for establishing a centre of excellence in DAV College, Kanpur in memory of its alumnus and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee," he said. The government has set up Deen Dayal Upadhyay Research Centre in 15 state universities and a decision has been taken to establish Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath Research Centre in Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University, he said. In Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath Research centre, the stress would be on reshaping theology, teachings and experiments of Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath, Sharma said. He said it has been decided to develop an international buddhist centre and centre for excellence in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism in Siddharth University Kapilvastu, Siddharth Nagar. According to Sharma, to augment capacity the state would encourage opening of more universities in the private sector. Under new norms for starting a university in private sector, the land requirement for urban area would be only 20 acres as against 40 acres now and in rural area only 50 acres as against 100 acres. He said 736 teachers working in aided private degree colleges on fixed remuneration have been absorbed as regular teacher. The government has also decided to open 48 new postgraduate colleges, provide more leave facility to teachers, relax experience limit for principals of private degree and postgraduate colleges, and increase by 20 per cent the house rent allowance of government postgraduate college teachers, he said. He said the aim was to provide conducive environment to teachers so that they can give their best to students. According to Sharma, the remuneration of teachers working in private aided colleges has been enhanced. Free Wi-Fi facility has been installed in 138 government colleges and 489 aided private colleges, the deputy chief minister said. For more Lucknow news, Click Here. PTI MHT CET Counselling registration begins: All you should know In Pics: India's first open-air rooftop, Jio drive-in theatre to open in Mumbai today 'Would have been Udta Maharashtra...': NCP leader Nawab Malik makes big claim on Aryan Khan drugs case Can rules be framed for parties to curb illegal hoardings, HC asks Election Commission Mumbai oi-Vicky Nanjappa Mumbai, Sep 15: 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. Also Read | To make up with girlfriend, Pune man puts up 300 'I am sorry banners' 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. For More Mumbai News, Click Here For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 15, 2018, 13:35 [IST] Diwali 2021: How to perform Lakshmi puja at home, puja samagri, vidhi and shubh muhurat 12 persons arrested for arson, firing in the air New Delhi oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 15: 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. Also Read | One person injured in firing at Gate no. 2 of Tis Hazari Court in Delhi 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. Also Read | Katihar SP fires bullets during farewell, top brass assures strict action 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. For More New Delhi News, Click Here For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 15, 2018, 12:41 [IST] Colton Davies Judging for the largest wine competition ever in B.C. is taking place in Penticton this weekend. More than 700 B.C. wines are being compared as part of inaugural BC Lieutenant Governors Wine Awards, hosted by the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society. Twelve acclaimed wine judges from across Canada and Washington state sommeliers, restauranteurs and media members are sampling and spitting those wines between Friday and Sunday. "They taste all over the world and these judges make their living at (judging) wine. They're highly, highly credible," judging manager Marjorie King said. "So I would say that if it's not the top group of judges we've had, it's very close to the top." King said the society is able to bring in top judges because of the quality of wines made in B.C. "We're offering them a window on what's happening in the industry right now. For many of them who are writing and staying current in world wines, that's an important value added." Vancouver-based wine journalist Anthony Gismondi is taking part in the judging, and he said the growth of the industry in B.C. has changed the conversation for winemakers. "There was a time when we were constantly comparing ourselves against the rest of the world, and I think what's great is that we're over that now. We're sort of just comparing ourselves against our peers here," Gismondi said. "The world is watching us now... They're saying 'gee, what's going on in the Okanagan?' Or Vancouver Island, or wherever in B.C. So I think that's the important point. The top wines will receive bronze, silver, gold or platinum medals, with the very best of them all receiving the Lieutenant Governor's platinum medal. Gismondi says an award-winning label from this competition is noteworthy for consumers. "It's a snapshot, it's not the total story but it's the story for the moment... Certainly with the people here in this room, whatever wines come out with medals are worth investigating." The winners will be announced at an awards reception on Sept. 27, taking place at the Laurel Packinghouse in Kelowna beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets for the reception can be found here. Beverage Refrigeration Market 2018-2024 | Electrolux, Daikin Industries, Avanti, Dover Corporation, KingsBottle, Whirlpool Corporation, Edgestar, Haier, Ford and General Electrics. Beverage Refrigeration Market https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2111 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2111 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/beverage-refrigeration-market https://www.gminsights.com/ North America Beverage Refrigeration Market is anticipated to surpass USD 1 billion by 2024. Escalating demand for refrigerators to store and serve drinks for social gathering and private events, is a key factor driving beverage refrigeration market growth. Ongoing technological advances to reduce the overall cooling time and consumer demand for distinctive features such as bottom freezer drawer and powerful filtered water will boost beverage refrigeration market.Beverage Refrigeration Market is estimated to exceed USD 4.5 billion by 2024. This can be credited to escalating consumption of refreshment drinks and technological improvements in refrigeration systems. In addition, government encouraging utilization of energy-efficient and eco-friendly technologies in refrigerators.Sample copy of this Report @Manufacturers are anticipated to invest in new product development to comply with new energy standards implemented by the regulatory bodies. Further, increasing penetration of refrigerators that employ specific features such as modifiable shelves to accommodate bottles and cans will boost product sales. Increasing consumer preference for packaged drinks which are convenient to consume at home will support the product demand.According to recent statistics, the global consumption of packaged drinks was estimated more than 1.05 trillion liters in 2016 and Chinese consumption amounted to about 178.6 billion liters.*Beverage Refrigeration Market, By Producto Under counter beverage refrigerator Gliding door Swing Dooro Countertop beverage refrigerator Gliding door Swing dooro Storage beverage refrigeratoro Milk coolersMake an Inquiry for purchasing this Report @Under counter beverage refrigerator was valued at over USD 1 billion in 2016. Product offering such as stainless-steel body or custom panel-ready fronts are stimulating the demand. In addition, better shelving and temperature control will support segment penetration over the forecast period.Rising demand to preserve milk in dairy shops will propel coolers demand over the projected timeframe. Diary companies are upgrading their existing capacities, and setting up cold storages along with the processing plant. This will generate the overall revenue over the forecast period.Asia Pacific market holds over 20% of overall industry share in 2016. According to industry estimates, the region is anticipated to account for more than two-thirds of the global beverages consumption by 2020. The region accounts for 60% of the world population and increasing consumption will provide lucrative opportunities for manufacturers.Browse Report Summery @Global Beverage Refrigeration Market is fragmented in nature. Key industry players are Electrolux, Daikin Industries, Avanti, Dover Corporation, KingsBottle, Whirlpool Corporation, Edgestar, Haier, Ford and General Electrics. Other Industry participants are Koolatron, Coca-Cola, Danfoss, Gamko, Liebherr, Marvel, Kegco, Danby, Johnson Controls, U-line, HABCO, Allavino, Kenmore, Marvel, United Technologies Corporation and Illinois Tool Works.About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone:1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb: Photo: Darren Handschuh/file photo A man who assaulted a member of the Vernon RCMP will not serve anymore jail time. Ryan Perreault was sentenced to time served and placed on two years probation for the 2017 incident. Staff Sgt. Annie Linteau said on Nov. 20 shortly after 2 p.m., Vernon RCMP responded to a male causing a disturbance at Polson Park near Highway 6 and 25th Avenue. Officers arrived on scene to find the male acting erratically by yelling, dancing around and hitting walls of the Lawn Bowling Club. Officers attempted to make contact with the male, however prior to, the male fled on foot, she said. Patrols were conducted and the man was later located on Highway 6 near Polson Place mall. The male was known to police to be on court conditions and was placed under arrest for being in breach of those conditions. Upon taking the male into custody, the male allegedly assaulted a police officer, causing the officer to sustain minor injuries. The officer received immediate medical treatment for the injuries sustained, said Linteau. Perreault has been charged with assault of a police officer causing bodily harm, assault with intent to resist arrest, fail to comply with a recognizance and causing a disturbance in a public place. Ball Valves Market 2025 Leading Key Players - Emerson, Flowserve Corporation, Crane Co, CameronSchlumberger Ltd, IMI Plc, Kitz Corporation and Metso https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/download-sample/?rid=1348 https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/ask-for-discount/?rid=1348 https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/global-ball-valves-market-size-and-forecast-to-2025/ The valve can be defined as a device which regulates the flow of fluid or air through a duct or pipe. It has a characteristic of either opening and closing it completely or partially obstructing it. Valves can have a metal or plastic body. There are various kinds of valves such as butterfly, cock or plug, gate, globe, needle, poppet, and spool. Ball valves have a simplified structure with a spherical ball on two sides of sealing.The ball valve has one, two or three piece designs. Ball valves used to be actuated manually by a means of the straight handle but now manufacturers have launched separated electric actuators which can be mounted on the top of the valve. Ball valves thus have wide applications in the oil and gas industry, aerospace industry, food, and beverage industry and many more.Increasing applications of the ball valve in the oil and gas industry and rapid modernization of process plant in terms of their equipment and mode of facilitation have been driving the global ball valves market. Apart from this, the increase in the raw materials costing and installation charges might hamper the market and act as a restraint for the market at a global level.Get | Download FREE Sample Copy @Leading Ball Valves Market Players:Emerson,Flowserve Corporation,Crane Co,CameronSchlumberger Ltd,IMI Plc,Kitz Corporation andMetsoWorldwide Ball Valves Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Ball Valves industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Ball Valves market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global Ball Valves market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Ball Valves 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 Ball Valves market based on product and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall Ball Valves 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.Ask For Discount @Also, key Ball Valves 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.Table Of Content1 Introduction Of The Global Ball Valves2 Executive Summary3 Research Methodology Of Verified Market Intelligence4 The Global Ball Valves Outlook5 The Global Ball Valves, By Systems6 The Global Ball Valves, By Service7 The Global Ball Valves, By Verticals8 The Global Ball Valves, By Applications9 The Global Ball Valves, By Geography10 The Global Ball Valves Competitive LandscapeReason to Buy- Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the global Ball Valves 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 Ball Valves 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 atAbout Us:Verified Market Research' has been providing Research Reports, with up to date information, and in-depth analysis, for several years now, to individuals and companies alike that are looking for accurate Research Data. Our aim is to save your Time and Resources, providing you with the required Research Data, so you can only concentrate on Progress and Growth. Our Data includes research from various industries, along with all necessary statistics like Market Trends, or Forecasts from reliable sources.Contact Us:Mr. AnkushCall: +1 (650) 781 4080Email: sales@verifiedmarketresearch.com Cyber Security Market Key Point Analysis On Symantec Corporation, Cisco Systems Inc., BAE Systems Inc., EMC Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise and Intel Security https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/cyber-security-market/request-for-free-sample https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/cyber-security-market/inquire-before-buying https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/cyber-security-market/ The Cyber Security marketis anticipated to reach over USD 269 billion by 2026. In 2017, the enterprise segment dominated the global market, in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global market revenue in 2017.Cyber security market major key player include Symantec Corporation, Cisco Systems Inc., BAE Systems Inc., EMC Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, Intel Security, Palo Alto Networks, Proofpoint Inc., LogRhythm Inc., IBM Corporation, Fortinet, Inc., and Centrify Corporation among others.Sample Copy Of This Report @The growing need for protection of sensitive data, and increasing cyber terrorism has boosted the adoption of cyber security solutions. The rising penetration of mobile devices, and increasing trend of BYOD further support the growth of this market. Additionally, the increasing demand of cyber security solutions from small and medium enterprises has supported market growth over the years. Increasing investments by vendors in technological advancements coupled with growing demand for cloud-based cyber security solutions would accelerate the growth of the cyber security market. However, However, growing use of pirated cyber security solutions, and complexities associated with device security hinder market growth. Growing demand from emerging economies is expected to provide numerous growth opportunities in the coming years.The cases of cyber-attacks in the healthcare sector have increased significantly over the years. The high demand for electronic health records in the black market has resulted in numerous cyber-attacks. The healthcare sector is prone to cyber-attacks owing to limited budget allocation by healthcare institutions for cyber security. The healthcare sector is dominated by small practices and rural hospitals, which lack the resources for investment in cyber security, thereby increasing risks of cyber-attacks. However, introduction of affordable cyber security solutions for healthcare sector, increasing awareness, and growing incidences of cyber-attacks are expected to promote the adoption of cyber security in this sector.Make an inquiry before buying this report @North America generated the highest revenue in the market in 2017, and is expected to lead the global market throughout the forecast period. The increase in number of cyber-attacks, and growing trend of BYOD drive the market growth in the region. The growing penetration of mobile devices, and technological advancements further support market growth in the region. The increasing spending on data protection in BFSI and defense sectors in the region further promote market growth in the region. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period owing to growing need for data privacy across various industries in the developing countries of the region.Major Points Table Of Content: -1. Overview and Scope2. Executive Summary3. Cyber Security Market Insights4. Cyber Security Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Type5. Cyber Security Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Deployment Model6. Cyber Security Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by End-User7. Cyber Security Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Organization8. Cyber Security Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Solution9. Cyber Security Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Component10. Cyber Security Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Region11. Company Profiles.Browse Full Report @The end-users in Cyber Security market include BFSI, IT & Telecom, healthcare, retail, defense and government, travel and hospitality, and others. In 2017, the defense and government segment accounted for the highest market share owing to increasing need to protect sensitive data and avoid cyber-attacks. The growing government spending to provide enhanced cyber security to the public sector and increasing implementation of cyber security installations in the defense sector, especially in developing countries, supports the market growth in this sector. The increasing adoption of cloud-based cyber security in this sector is expected to support market growth in the coming years.About us Polaris Market ResearchPolaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities.We mainly focus on aiding our customers with substantial competitive intelligence, helping them to secure a competitive advantage in the market and accomplish sustainable growth in different market domains. Adept with a highly competent, experienced and extremely qualified team of experts comprising SMEs, analysts and consultants, we at Polaris endeavor to deliver value-added business solutions to our customers. Through dedicated qualitative and quantitative primary and secondary market research and consulting assignments, we adeptly formulate competitive strategies to address business challenges for our clients through analyzing market trends and emerging technologies.Contact us-Mr. NeelPolaris Market Research30 Wall Street8th FloorNew York City, NY 10005United StatesEmail- sales@polarismarketresearch.comFollow us- LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook Unified Communications Market Detail Analysis focusing on Key Players like Cisco Systems Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Avaya Inc., IBM Corporation, Verizon Communications, Inc. https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/unified-communications-market/request-for-free-sample https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/unified-communications-market/inquire-before-buying https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/unified-communications-market/ www.polarismarketresearch.com The Unified Communications market is anticipated to reach over USD 186 billion by 2026. In 2017, the IT & telecom segment dominated the global market, in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global market revenue during the forecast period.Sample Copy Of This Report @The growing need to improve workforce productivity, streamline enterprise communication, and provide a collaborative working environment has boosted the adoption of unified communication. The penetration of mobile devices, and increasing trend of BYOD further support the growth of this market. Additionally, the increasing demand of unified communication from small and medium enterprises has supported market growth over the years.Unified Communications Market, By PlatformTelephonyUnified MessagingConferencingOthers.Unified Communications Market, By Deployment ModelOn-PremiseCloud-Based.Unified Communications Market, By End-UserBFSIIT & TelecomHealthcareRetailEducationTravelHospitalityOthers.Top Key Player:-Cisco Systems Inc.,Microsoft Corporation,Avaya Inc.,IBM Corporation,Verizon Communications, Inc.,Polycom, Inc.,BT Group,Alcatel-Lucent,NEC Corporation,Unify GmbH & Co. KG,Plantronics Inc.,ShoreTel Inc.Increasing investments by vendors in technological advancements coupled with growing demand for cloud-based unified communication services would accelerate the adoption of unified communication. However, growing concerns regarding data security, and lack of interoperability is expected to hinder market growth. Growing demand from emerging economies is expected to provide numerous growth opportunities in the coming years.Make an inquiry before buying this report @Segment AnalysisThe global Unified Communications market is segmented on the basis of platform, deployment model, end-user, and region. Based on platform, the market is segmented into telephony, unified messaging, conferencing, and others. On the basis of deployment model, the market is segmented into on-premise, and cloud-based. The end-user segment is categorized into BFSI, IT & telecom, healthcare, retail, education, travel and hospitality, and others. This report comprises a detailed geographic distribution of the market across North America, Europe, APAC and South America, and MEA. North America is further segmented into U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Europe is divided into Germany, UK, Italy, France, and Rest of Europe. Asia-Pacific is bifurcated into China, India, Japan, and Rest of Asia-Pacific. North America accounted for the largest share in the Global Unified Communications market in 2017.North America generated the highest revenue in the market in 2017, and is expected to lead the global market throughout the forecast period. The presence of established telecom and cloud infrastructure in this region, and growing trend of BYOD drive the market growth in the region. The growing demand of mobile devices, and technological advancements further support market growth in the region. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period owing to growing demand of effective enterprise communication technologies in the developing countries of the region.Browse Full Report @The end-users in unified communications market include BFSI, IT & Telecom, healthcare, retail, education, travel and hospitality, and others. In 2017, the IT & Telecom segment accounted for the highest market share owing to increasing need to improve enterprise communication, and improve productivity. The demand for unified communication has increased from startups operating in this sector to improve workforce collaboration, and reduce costs. The increasing adoption of cloud-based unified communication in this sector is expected to support market growth in the coming years.About us Polaris Market ResearchPolaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities.We mainly focus on aiding our customers with substantial competitive intelligence, helping them to secure a competitive advantage in the market and accomplish sustainable growth in different market domains. Adept with a highly competent, experienced and extremely qualified team of experts comprising SMEs, analysts and consultants, we at Polaris endeavor to deliver value-added business solutions to our customers. Through dedicated qualitative and quantitative primary and secondary market research and consulting assignments, we adeptly formulate competitive strategies to address business challenges for our clients through analyzing market trends and emerging technologies.Contact us-Mr. NeelCorporate Sales, USAPolaris Market ResearchPhone: 1-646-568-9980Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.comWeb: Electric Fence Market Complete Analysis Report on Tru-Test Group, Woodstream, Parker McCrory, Premier1Supplies, Kencove, PetSafe Electric Fence https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/886213 https://www.marketstudyreport.com/check-for-discount/886213 https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-electric-fence-market-professional-survey-report-2018 https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/blog/ MarketStudyReport.com adds a new market research report titled Global Electric Fence Market Professional Survey Report 2018 published to the Manufacturing and Construction segment of its online reports store2018-2025 global Electric Fence market report that offers an exhaustive coverage of the industry with brief analysis, data charts, figures, statistics that help take business decisions, company profiles and more.Request a Sample of this premium Research Report@This report studies the global Electric Fence market status and forecast, categorizes the global Electric Fence market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China, India, Southeast Asia and other regions (Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa).This report studies the Electric Fence market. Electric fence systems are used to control a wide variety of animals. A typical electric fence is a psychological barrier that keeps farm animals in and wild animals out, even over long distances. The animal will touch the electric fence and become trained not to go near the fence.In the last several years, global market of Electric Fence developed rapidly, with an average growth rate of 5.3%. In 2017, global revenue of Electric Fence is nearly 320.74 M USD; the actual production is about 702 K Unit.The classification of Electric Fence includes Permanent Fence and Portable Fence, and the proportion of Permanent Fence in 2017 is about 75%, and the proportion is in decreasing trend from 2013 to 2017.Electric Fence is widely used in agriculture, wild animals, pets, security and others. The most proportion of Electric Fence is agriculture.The global Electric Fence market is valued at 320 million US$ in 2017 and will reach 440 million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of 4.0% during 2018-2025.The major manufacturers covered in this reportGallagherTru-Test GroupWoodstreamParker McCroryPremier1SuppliesKencovePetSafeDare ProductsMpumalangaHigh Tech PetShenzhen Tongher TechnologyShenzhen LanstarRequest a Discount on standard prices of this premium Market Research Report@Geographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanIndiaSoutheast AsiaOther regions (Central & South America, Middle East & Africa)On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoPortable FencePermanent FenceBy Application, the market can be split intoAgricultureWild AnimalsPetsSecurityOthersThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Electric Fence capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key Electric Fence manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the market.To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Electric Fence are as follows:History Year: 2013-2017Base Year: 2017Estimated Year: 2018Forecast Year 2018 to 2025For the data information by region, company, type and application, 2017 is considered as the base year. Whenever data information was unavailable for the base year, the prior year has been considered.Key StakeholdersElectric Fence ManufacturersElectric Fence Distributors/Traders/WholesalersElectric Fence Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsAvailable CustomizationsRegional and country-level analysis of the Electric Fence market, by end-use.Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players.Complete report titled Global Electric Fence Market Professional Survey Report 2018 of 114 pages and published in August, 2018 is now available atAbout 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: Bleeding Disorders Treatment Market Prognosticate For a Ravishing Growth By 2026 Bleeding Disorders Treatment https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/527 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-discount/527 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/talk-to-analyst/527 A bleeding disorder is a state in which the normal clotting function of blood is adversely affected. On an injury to the body, blood normally starts to clot to prevent major loss of blood. Occasionally, certain situations prevent blood from clotting properly, which can result in heavy or prolonged bleeding. Bleeding disorders can cause abnormal bleeding both outside and inside of the body. Some disorders can drastically increase the amount of blood lost by the body. Others cause bleeding to follow under the skin or in vigorous organs, such as the brain. Normal blood clotting involves blood components called platelets and as many as there are 20 different plasma proteins in body called as blood clotting or coagulation factors. These factors interact with other chemicals to form a substance called fibrin which stops bleeding. Complications can occur when certain factors are low or missing in body. Bleeding problems can range from mild to severe. Some bleeding disorders are present at time of birth and some are passed through families (inherited).Reauest a Sample Copy:Generic Products To Be The Growth Factor For Bleeding Disorders Treatment MarketThe bleeding disorder treatment market is driven by the large customer base, growing awareness about the bleeding disorders and available cures, and favorable compensation policies. Patent expiry of existing brands will also provide generic drug manufacturers opportunities to enter the lucrative bleeding disorder therapeutics market. Market for bleeding disorder treatment is mostly focused towards western countries of North America and Europe, owing to the high price of branded drugs. Low cost drugs will help in market penetration in under developed and developing countries, where patients cannot afford high cost of medical treatment. Hence, availability of cheap generic drugs will boost market growth in the countries of Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific (APAC), and Latin America.North America is estimated to contribute the largest share of the market throughout the forecast period. The market in APAC is estimated to register the highest growth during the forecast period, owing to increasing awareness of these disorders in the emerging economies such as India and China.Ask For Discount:Bleeding Disorders Treatment Market:On the basis of type of disorder, the global bleeding disorders treatment market is classified into:Hemophilia AHemophilia Bvon Willebrand Disease (vWD)On the basis of drug class, the global bleeding disorders treatment market is classified into:Plasma Derived Coagulation Factor ConcentratesRecombinant Coagulation Factor ConcentrateDesmopressinAntifibrinolyticsFibrin sealantsOthersElse place an Inquire before Purchase Global Bleeding Disorders Treatment Market Report 2026":About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Air Compressor Market Detail Analysis focusing on Key Players like Sullair, LLC, VMAC Company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Atlas Copco, Ingersoll Rand Inc. Air Compressor Market 2018-2026 https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/air-compressor-market/request-for-free-sample https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/air-compressor-market/inquire-before-buying https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/air-compressor-market/ www.polarismarketresearch.com The Global Air Compressor Market report provides comprehensive analysis of Global Air Compressor Production, Supply, Sales and Demand of the Global Air Compressor Market. The purpose of the Global Air Compressor Market report is to support beginner as well as existing players in gaining insightful business intelligence and make appropriate decisions based on it. Global Air Compressor Market report also covers geographical analysis of the market with growth forecast till 2026.According to a new research published by Polaris Market Research the Air Compressor market is anticipated to reach over USD 45.6 billion by 2026. In 2017, the stationary air compressor segment dominated the global market, in terms of revenue. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the leading contributor to the global market revenue during the forecast period.Request For Sample Of This Research Report @The increasing applications of air compressors in industries such as healthcare, construction, mining, automotive, and oil & gas among others are expected to support the growth of this market. Other driving factors include high energy efficiency, low maintenance cost, environmentally friendliness, portability, ability to deliver variation in supplied pressure. The increasing awareness regarding use of energy efficient compressors would boost the market growth during the forecast period. However, rising cost of raw material, noise pollution, and contaminated compressed air hamper the growth of the market. Growing demand from emerging economies, and technological advancements are factors expected to provide numerous growth opportunities in the coming years.Air compressors are used to power a variety of equipment in diverse applications such as automated tools, spray painting equipment, material handling and separation equipment. There has been an increasing demand of energy efficient air compressor over the years. Use of energy efficient air compressors helps in conserving electricity and reducing costs. Thus, launch of energy efficient air compressors by leading players in the market would provide growth opportunities in the market.Enquiry Before Buying @Turbocor and thermoacoustic are some emerging technologies in the air compressor segment. Compressors based on turbocor technology offer an oil free design with comparatively lesser moving parts, and deliver high performance and reliability. Thermoacoustic compressors utilize a thermoacoustic engine and a positive displacement reciprocating compressor. These upcoming technologies along with research and development would provide new opportunities in the air compressor market.Asia-Pacific generated the highest revenue in the market in 2017, and is expected to lead the global market throughout the forecast period. The presence of emerging industries such as healthcare, agriculture, construction, and automotive, substantial initiatives in research and development, and favorable government policies drive the market growth. Rapid industrialization and growth of manufacturing industry further support market growth in the region.The different types of air compressors include stationary, and portable. In 2017, the stationary segment accounted for the highest market share. The stationary air compressors have higher capacity with large tank sizes, enabling them to operate with high-power motors. These air compressors are suitable for heavy industrial applications. They are widely used in industries such as automobile, mining, manufacturing, construction, and others. Oil lubricated air compressors, which support the heavy duty applications, are commonly used for stationary air compressors.Browse Full Research Report with Table of Content @The well-known companies profiled in the report include Sullair, LLC, VMAC Company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Atlas Copco, Ingersoll Rand Inc., Kobe Steel, Bauer Group, GE Energy, Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd., Oasis Manufacturing, Rolair Systems, and Kaeser Compressors among others. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers.Some points from TOC: -Air Compressor Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Type1. Key Findings2. Stationary3. PortableAir Compressor Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Lubrication1. Key Findings2. Oiled3. Oil freeAir Compressor Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Technology1. Key Findings2. Rotary3. Reciprocating4. CentrifugalAbout us Polaris Market ResearchPolaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities.We mainly focus on aiding our customers with substantial competitive intelligence, helping them to secure a competitive advantage in the market and accomplish sustainable growth in different market domains. Adept with a highly competent, experienced and extremely qualified team of experts comprising SMEs, analysts and consultants, we at Polaris endeavor to deliver value-added business solutions to our customers. Through dedicated qualitative and quantitative primary and secondary market research and consulting assignments, we adeptly formulate competitive strategies to address business challenges for our clients through analyzing market trends and emerging technologies.Contact us-Mr. NeelCorporate Sales, USAPolaris Market ResearchPhone: 1-646-568-9980Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.comWeb:Follow us- LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook Drill Pipe Market : Industry Analysis by Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share with Key Players - Premier Drill Products,Hilong Group, E&M Supply Group Drill Pipe Market https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/796 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/796 The Global Drill Pipe Market is anticipated to grow at over 2% CAGR to surpass USD 2 billion by 2025. Growing exploration of unconventional and conventional reserves will fuel the industry growth. In January 2017, according to Barclays international drilling budget will grow about 2%, national oil companys including Russia, Middle East plant to invest over 9%.Directional drilling, horizontal drilling, vertical drilling, well intervention & completion, drill bit and artificial lifting are some of the important services which will stimulate the drill pipe market. Global rig count in 2016 increased by 74 platforms compared in June 2016. Canada rig count escalated by 31 rigs to 94 platforms, U.S. installed 32 rigs to 449 platforms, Argentina added 9 platforms with the existing rig counts, Norway installed 4 rigs to the existing 20 units and Mexico rig count increased by 3 units.Request for a sample of this research report @Offshore was accounted for over 50% drill pipe market share in 2015 and is projected to witness a substantial growth by 2025. Growing offshore drilling activities in virgin areas will drive the business outlook. Myanmar is experiencing continuously offshore exploration and production projects. In April 2016, Total initiated 2D seismic survey in Yetagun West Block which resulted for higher returns to the company.API grade drill pipe market was over 60% in 2015 and is estimated to grow owing to its high quality and low cost. Premium grade segment will witness a strong growth pertaining to rising offshore production, which is more suitable for deep, ultra deep water extraction subjected to its high temperature and pressure standard. Gazprom plans to produce approximately 1.1 billion cubic meter (CM) of natural gas located in Kirinskoye field at Russia. China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has initiated exploration and production activity at Pearl River Mouth basin situated near South China sea.U.S. drill pipe market share will witness a significant growth due to large amount of exploration and production and rising investment for untapped shale oil and gas reserves. In April 2016, American Chemistry Council (ACC) announced that U.S. chemical industries are planning to invest over USD 164 billion for affordable natural gas liquids (NGLs) and natural gas from shale formation including 40% of the spending for 264 projects expansions and new facilities and they have commissioned for investing over 55% in coming years.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Saudi Arabia drill pipe market will witness a considerable growth owing to increasing demand for oil in sweltering Middle East. In 2014, crude oil, heavy fuel oil and diesel combustion was accounted over 68% of fossil fuel utilization to generate electricity.Russia drill pipe market was over 60% in 2015 and is projected witness high growth by 2025 subjected to increasing investment in development of gas field. Deutsche Erdoel AG (DEA) plans to spend USD 1.26 billion to expand Davlin natural gas field at Norway. In 2015, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) signed a contract with Medco Energi USD 600 million, to continue the development for 18 marginal and small oil field at southern Oman.Key players in drill pipe market are Tenaris S.A, Hilong Group, Tejas Tubular Products, TMK Group, DP Master, National Oilwell Varco, Drill Pipe International, Vallourec S.A., Jiangyin Long Bright, Texas Steel Conversion, Superior Manufacturing and Oil Country Tubular.Global Market Insights Inc. is a global market research and management consulting company catering to leading corporations, non-profit organizations, universities and government institutions. Our main goal is to assist and partner organizations to make lasting strategic improvements and realize growth targets. Our industry research reports are designed to provide granular quantitative information, combined with key industry insights, aimed at assisting sustainable organizational development.Global Market Insights, Inc.4 North Main StreetSelbyville, Delaware 19975 USAPhone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email:sales@gminsights.com Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Services Market Research Focuses on Keyplayers 8x8, Inc., Apple Inc. (FaceTime), Avaya, AT&T Inc., Verizon Wireless, Orange Coherent Market Insights https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-pdf/641 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/voip-services-market-641 Coherent Market Insights has announced the addition of the Voice over Internet Protocol Services Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Opportunity Analysis, 2018-2026, Report offering you more creative solutions that combine our deep geographic experience, intimate sector knowledge and clear insights into how to create value in your business. TheVoice over Internet Protocol Services is a communication platform that permits user to make calls over internet connection instead of conventional analog telephone lines. Increasing trend of bring your own device is one of the major factor for growth of the market. Most of the companies have implemented this services, owing to advantages such as employees satisfaction, increasing productivity, and cost saving. Furthermore, constant changes in work location and time zone barriers have increased the demand for BYOD trend in the organizations. BYOD allows for greater flexibility in working across borders, especially for people working on the go.Download Sample PDF@Increasing trend of mobile-based VoIP services such as WhatsApp, Line, Viber and Skype, in conjugation with increasing penetration of smartphones plays a major role in the growth of the mobile based VoIP market. According to Coherent Market Insights, in 2017, around 2.3 billion people were using smartphone. However, lack of established internet infrastructure, especially in emerging economies is hindering growth of the global Voice over Internet Protocol Services market.Corporate user is projected to hold the dominant position in global Voice over Internet Protocol Services MarketOn the basis of end users, the Voice over Internet Protocol Services market is segmented into corporate user and individual user. The corporate user segment held the dominant position in 2017 and it is projected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. In 2017, the corporate user segment generated the revenue of US$ 69.4 billion from US$ 63.4 billion in 2016. The cost reduction is major factor for growth of the segment in VoIP market, as most of the business organizations are implementing the VoIP systems to reduce their operation cost.Browse Detail Market Report @Increasing adoption of smartphones will increase the growth of Voice over Internet Protocol Services market.Rising adoption of smartphone across the globe is the major factor for growth of the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Services market. In 2016, Europe was the dominating region in the VoIP Services market. Countries such as Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Russia contributed to major growth in VoIP Services market. According to Coherent Market Insight in 2017, the VoIP Services market generated revenue of US$ 35.1 billion compared to US$ 32.7 billion in 2016. According to Statista, during 2016, the number of smartphone users in Western Europe was estimated to be 240.3 million which reached to around 258.1 million people in the year 2017. Therefore, increasing number of smartphone users has enhanced growth of mobile-based Voice over Internet Protocol Services market in Europe. Furthermore, increasing trend of digitalization has also increased growth in the VoIP Services market in this region. Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the Voice over Internet Protocol Services market during the forecast period. Rising startups related to digitalization in strong economies such as China, India, Japan, and Australia are expected to boost growth of VoIP Services market in this region. For instance, according to Government of India survey 2015 - 2016, about 19,000 technology-enabled startup was led by consumer Internet and financial services in India.Key Companies - Global Voice over Internet Protocol Services MarketMajor players operating in the global Voice over Internet Protocol Services market include 8x8, Inc., Apple Inc. (FaceTime), Avaya, AT&T Inc., Verizon Wireless, Orange, Deutsche Telekom AG, KT Corporation, Sprint Corporation, Telecom Italia, Telenor, T-Mobile, and Tata CommunicationAbout Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com TriMet has a nearly $500 million plan to phase out its diesel buses - significant emitters of carbon into the atmosphere -- while buying a new fleet of electric vehicles over the next 22 years. The agency currently has no single battery-electric buses in its 658-vehicle fleet. A pilot bus, part of the original five vehicles awarded in a 2016 federal grant, is still being tested and hasn't been deployed yet. The agency this summer won a second federal grant for another five electric vehicles, which are expected to hit city streets by 2021. The $498.9 million price tag is an estimate based on a slew of market uncertainties and potential technological changes over the next two decades, but TriMet's shorter-term strategy is rooted in reality. The agency said it hopes to use $53 million funneled to TriMet from the 2017 statewide transportation package to order 80 battery-electric buses over the next five years. It needs the TriMet board to sign off on the overall strategy later this month and the state's top transportation commission to approve the funding piece. This week, TriMet shared with its board for the first time the financial estimates behind its long-term strategy to ditch the diesel fleet. TriMet leaders said the strategy has been in the works for about a year. In addition to transitioning away from diesel, the plan calls for putting another 271 buses on the streets by 2042. "We want to make an effort to move in this direction" of moving away from diesel, Bernie Bottomly, TriMet's executive director of public affairs, said in an interview, "and address what is a gigantic issue around climate change." TriMet uses about 6 million gallons of diesel fuel every year, emitting about 57,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the region's air, according to its analysis. Diesel vehicles are a large contributor to carbon emissions, and freight traffic, school buses and other diesel-based industries also emit deadly exhaust in Portland's air. TriMet estimates its riders - by not using cars -- help reduce carbon emissions by 78,000 metric tons annually and its newer buses are equipped with better safeguards for spewing particulars. Nonetheless, it acknowledges diesel buses aren't the long-term solution. TriMet is not alone in exploring zero-emission or battery-operated buses. Thirty-eight transit agencies have a battery electric bus in hand already or have ordered one, most of which are in the test phase. China has an estimated 400,000 battery buses, Bottomly said this week. Washington state's King County Metro transit agency is planning to move its fleet to an entirely zero-emission service no later than 2034. No one is quite sure if battery power will be the answer or not. TriMet plans to leave the door open for potential alternative fuels, like hydrogen or natural gas, to gain steam in the coming years. "Don't discount hydrogen," Doug Kelsey, TriMet's general manager, told the board this week. But that hydrogen future isn't yet here, and he said the alternative fuel has a "very significant up-front cost." Inside the numbers: 658: total TriMet buses 8: TriMet diesel/electric hybrids 118 - C-Tran buses 56: C-Tran diesel/electric hybrids 929 - Total buses TriMet plans to have by 2042, when the new non-diesel fleet would be running 11: TriMet's rank, nationally, in number of total buses today 38: Transit agencies across country have battery-electric buses, most in the test phase (Source: TriMet/C-Tran) Kelsey attended a zero-emission bus conference this summer and said uncertainties abound. No one knows, he said, how this will shake out. Some long-time diesel manufacturers like New Flyer and Gillig are shifting to electric vehicles. New companies are jumping in, too. "They're in an intense, competitive market," Kelsey told the board, but it's unclear if electric vehicles can withstand the maximum 300-mile daily grind some buses need to operate on a given day (the average bus runs 100 miles a day). TriMet is renovating its bus depot on Powell Boulevard, and Kelsey said the agency is "going to put a stake in the ground" and install electric bus charging stations at that facility. "We've got to start somewhere," he said. TriMet says it would need one charging station for every 50 buses. At a Wednesday board strategy meeting, Bottomly said the agency is building a contingency plan into the 2024 fiscal year if electric buses aren't the best zero-emission option. That's the point when TriMet would need more money to complete the fleet transition, and when it would expect to more than triple its order of non-diesel vehicles to 62. At the strategy session, Bottomly told board members the transit agency had started discussing future funding sources to help TriMet pay for the buses. One option, he said Wednesday, could be seeking state money from another source, like a proposed carbon-pricing bill expected to be debated in the 2019 Legislative session. Gov. Kate Brown's office declined to confirm whether the agency had specifically discussed that possibility. "Our office has had many conversations with stakeholders about how to achieve carbon reductions at the lowest possible cost," the governor said in a statement. "Ultimately, the Legislature will determine how any proceeds from a cap-and-trade program are invested." TriMet's board will decide whether to approve the plan Sept. 26. -- Andrew Theen atheen@oregonian.com 503-294-4026 @andrewtheen Oregon Health & Science University is losing another cardiac specialist the fifth resignation in a month and the first since the Portland research hospital suspended its heart transplant program. The heart transplant team is made up of surgeons who perform the transplants and cardiologists who take care of the patients afterward. Dr. Jai Raman is one of three surgeons on the team. He follows all four cardiologists -- one who left earlier this summer and three more will be done by the end of September. Those departures prompted OHSU to suspend the heart transplant program indefinitely last week, as well as order a review of the program by outside consultants. Meanwhile, the Providence Heart Institute informed its team of heart failure specialists on Friday that they will take all OHSU patients who are not on the heart transplant wait list, according to an internal memo obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive. OHSU did not make a comment about what is expected from the remainder of the program. Previously, OHSU officials said that the cardiac team will continue to care for all other patients who do not have advanced heart failure. "These patients are vulnerable and we all know how important stability in a care team is," according to the memo signed by Dr. Dan Oseran, executive medical director of the Providence Heart Institute, and Jennifer Zelensky, executive director of Providence Heart Institute. In a letter to patients, signed by Dr. James Mudd one of OHSU's departing cardiologists -- and Providence Medical Director Dr. Jacob Abraham, said that patients who have ventricular assist devices will now be served at Providence. The devices are used to replace the functions of a heart, and often signal that a patient will eventually need a replacement heart. Providence employs nine heart failure specialists, including Dr. Jill Gelow, who was the first cardiologist to leave the OSHU transplant program. The 20 patients on Oregon's waitlist have transferred to lists in Seattle or San Francisco. Some have chosen not to transfer. OHSU has promised to be transparent about the results of the outside review of its heart transplant program and changes it makes subsequently. In the meantime, officials say they continue to try to recruit new cardiologists to the program. -- Molly Harbarger mharbarger@oregonian.com 503-294-5923 @MollyHarbarger Photo: Port Moody Police A Port Moody police officer pranked scammers who called him with the notorious CRA scam. Const. Jason Maschke recorded his call back to the con artists as a warning to the public. "Please don't fall victim to scams like this. CRA won't sue you!" the force tweeted. Maschke pretended to fall for the Canada Revenue Agency scam, in which people are told they owe money and could be arrested unless they pay immediately. The con artist identified himself as Nick Smith with the CRA. "Officer Nest Smith?" Maschke repeats. "No, no, Nick. Nick Smith," the scammer replies. "Mick, as in Michael?" Maschke asks. "No. N as in 'nice person,'" the scammer says. If you receive a scam call, just hang up, police advise and never give out credit card information. with files from CTV Vancouver Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke recently deemed environmental organizations "terrorist groups" responsible for the worsening wildfire situation in California. This exemplifies a widespread effort to mislead the public into supporting the timber industry over outdoor recreation and ecological conservation and has national implications for forest policy. The worsening wildfires in California occur at boundaries between urban and forested areas. Forest thinning is appropriate to reduce fire risk near human-populated areas. However, this is not where environmentalists oppose logging. Wilderness areas are, by definition, far from populated areas and allowing them to burn would not destroy homes or businesses. Not only that, but fire serves an important ecological role by clearing the understory, providing room for new growth. Fire is not the enemy of the wilderness, but it is the enemy of the timber industry. It means the loss of a crop that takes decades to grow. The idea of salvage logging is not intended to salvage forests--it is intended to salvage timber industry profits. The question, then, is whether the public values forests more for the services they provide alive or the materials and corporate profits they provide when killed. To make timber industry objectives palatable to the public, officials propose protecting against wildfires by eliminating the forest. By labeling those who disagree with him terrorist groups, Zinke pollutes public discourse and deepens the divide between Americans with differing values. We should not let Zinke's oversimplification of this issue cloud our forest policy decisions. April Hersey, Northeast Portland Wildlife officials believe the cougar they killed Friday is responsible for the death of an Oregon hiker because it walked through the scene of the attack. If testing finds the cougar killed avid hiker Diana Bober, it will mark the end of an emotional and grueling hunt that has been highly unusual for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Cougars rarely kill, so the discovery that a missing hiker might have been felled by one set off an aggressive search to find the animal before it could kill again. Brian Wolfer, who is leading the hunt and who is highly knowledgeable about cougars, said Saturday that the weeklong hunt has been emotional. His top priority, he said, is to ensure no other family experiences the loss Bober's family is going through. He said he'd spoken with her family, they had discussed what Bober's wishes may have been, and that he was grateful for their support. An initial search of the area where Bober's remains were found turned up no cougars, so the search team began to move away from where Bober's remains were found. Wolfer said his team had already scaled 3,000 feet of rugged terrain when cameras they had set up at the attack scene caught a cougar on film. Three hours behind the animal, the crew worked to catch up. "It was a Herculean effort on their part," he said. Using dogs and mules, the team tracked the animal, which climbed up a tree. After killing the cougar, the crew worked to preserve evidence to help ensure they had the correct animal. The cougar was female and was not lactating, so they know kittens were not involved, he said. The cougar's carcass was flown to Ashland for testing. Although wildlife officials believe this cougar could be involved in the attack, they won't stop monitoring the area until they are certain, he said. If this turns out to be the wrong cougar, wildlife officials don't want to be further behind in the hunt for the offending animal, he said. "This is not normal," he said. "We do not know how big the risk is, but it is an unacceptable risk." -- Bethany Barnes bbarnes@oregonian.com Hood River County has declined to release the monthly payment plan for nearly $37 million in restitution that a Vancouver teen must cover for sparking the Eagle Creek fire in the Columbia River Gorge last year. Johnson Dunn, general counsel for the county, said that information isn't part of a requirement under state law to publicly disclose the "legal disposition" of a juvenile case. "The requested information is confidential,'' Dunn wrote to The Oregonian/OregonLive this week in response to a public records request. Hood River County Circuit Judge John A. Olson in May ordered the teen to pay $36.6 million but recognized he couldn't pay that amount in full and authorized the county Juvenile Department to "establish a payment schedule.'' The boy was 15 at the time. Olson, in his written order, directed the Juvenile Department to consider the teen's financial resources, his other obligations and "the rehabilitative effect on the youth offender of the payment of restitution and the method of payment'' when creating the schedule. Attorney Charles Hinkle, who represents The Oregonian/OregonLive, said Oregon courts have long recognized the state has a "strong and enduring policy'' for open public records. "The Hood River County counsel's refusal to release information about how and when the juvenile who caused the massive fire in the Gorge is required to make restitution flies squarely in the face of this Oregon tradition,'' Hinkle said. "It is hard to imagine that the state or the juvenile himself has any conceivable interest in preventing the public from knowing this information.'' The teen, identified in court only by the initials A.B, admitted in February to throwing fireworks in Eagle Creek Canyon on Sept. 2, 2017. One ignited dry bush and triggered a fire that burned 49,000 acres. He admitted to eight counts of reckless burning of public and private property, two counts of depositing burning material on forest land, one count of second-degree mischief and one count of recklessly endangering hikers. He was sentenced to five years of probation and 1,920 hours of community service with the U.S. Forest Service. He also was ordered to write apology letters to 152 people trapped on the Eagle Creek trail because of the spreading flames, the city of Cascade Locks, the Forest Service, and many others. The restitution was broken down this way: $5,000 to Iris Schenk, who lost her Warrendale home in the fire; $8,111.44 to Allstate Insurance; $31,550.90 to Oregon State Parks; $100,000 to Heuker Properties; $168,000 to the Trails Club of Oregon; slightly over $1 million to Union Pacific Railroad; $1.6 million to the Oregon State Fire Marshal Office; $12.5 million to the Oregon Department of Transportation and $21.1 million to the Forest Service. Rachel Pawlitz of the Forest Service's Columbia River Gorge Mountain Scenic Area, said she doesn't know if any money had been paid yet to her agency or what the monthly payments are expected to be. Sheryl Wagner, of Trails Club of Oregon, an organization that sponsors hikes and other recreational activities, said the group hadn't received any money and doesn't expect to either. The club is rebuilding one of its bunkhouses that burned down, and won't be rebuilding another, Wagner said. "We are not counting on any money,'' Wagner said, adding that she doesn't know what monthly amount the teen has agreed to pay toward the full restitution. The teen's lawyer Jack Morris, who earlier this year called the full restitution order "pointless'' for a teenage defendant, didn't respond to a phone message or email. -- Maxine Bernstein mbernstein@oregonian.com 503-221-8212 @maxoregonian ROLLINSFORD, New Hampshire Officially, Sen. Jeff Merkley remains undecided on the prospect of a White House run. But his fourth visit this year to the state that holds the first presidential primary has the look and feel of a campaign swing. As for 2020, Merkley would only say that he and his wife, Mary Sorteberg, would wait until after the November midterm elections to make a decision. "We're going to wrestle with that right after the election, and we'll figure it out then and decide on what we're going to do," he said. Merkley is one of the most progressive members of the Senate and was the only Democrat in the chamber to endorse Sen. Bernie Sander in the 2016 primary over the party's eventual nominee, Hillary Clinton. Sanders was in New Hampshire on Labor Day amid reports the Vermont independent is mulling a second straight White House bid. Merkley said his decision won't be influenced by the possible candidacies of Sanders or Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. "I've always fought battles I believe in, and right now I believe that we have to do everything we can to take our nation back," he said. "The decision to be in the campaign will be based on whether it's a fight that Mary and I decide that is the right moment and that I can really contribute to." In a move that could position him for a presidential run in this crucial primary state, Merkley said that he's hiring some political staffers in New Hampshire through one of his PACs in the coming days to help local candidates running now. "I'm not staffing up here, but what I am doing is helping to hire folks to help out with some of the New Hampshire campaigns. So, hopefully, in addition to providing some assistance with resources, I'll be able to provide some assistance with some people on the ground as organizers," he explained. While Merkley's four-day trip sparked more 2020 speculation, it was officially about helping Granite State Democrats on the November ballot. The senator met Friday afternoon with the University of New Hampshire Democrats. In the evening, he headlined the Strafford County Democrats' annual fall fundraising celebration, an event that Sanders keynoted last year. In his speech, Merkley pointed to the record Democratic turnout days earlier during the New Hampshire primary. "I sense a difference between my last trip here and now," he said. "After this Tuesday primary and the huge turnout of Democrats, it is going to be a blue wave if we push right through November." He also highlighted his push for a single-payer Medicare-for-all; single payer health care; debt-free higher education and refinancing college loans at lower rates; ending partisan gerrymandering; his push to battle the opioid epidemic; and his "Mission 100" goal of moving toward 100 percent renewable energy. Sen. Jeff Merkley, speaking Friday in New Hampshire, says he won't decide on a White House run until after the midterms. On the increasing divisive battle over Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Merkley called the process "a rigged system" and vowed to push back against President Donald Trump's pick "until the last moment." And he discussed his trips to the U.S. border with Mexico, which inspired other Democrats to follow in his footsteps and helped spark national protests against Trump's "zero tolerance" immigration policy that separated children from their parents. Merkley vowed to fight a Senate bill that currently has 35 co-sponsors that would establish internment camps for immigrant families awaiting a hearing. "It is not going to pass," he said. "It is not going to get to the Oval Office." The senator's trip to New Hampshire comes a few days after he released documents indicating the transfer of nearly $10 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency at the forefront of the border controversy. Merkley's disclosure came during an interview on "The Rachel Maddow Show," one of three appearances he made this week on MSNBC. "It's $10 million that the administration chose in June to take out of FEMA and send to build prison camps," he told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Friday. "Why in the first month of hurricane season, after what we went through last year, would you take money out of FEMA?" he said. Merkely noted that "the Trump team's reaction was to attack me personally, which is generally their reaction to any policy issue ... attack the messenger. But all I was doing was taking numbers from their publication that they apparently didn't want the public to see." Also on Merkley's itinerary this weekend is a stop in Conway to open a county Democratic Party office, a house party in Concord and a fundraiser in Lee for an executive councilor's re-election, and plenty of meetings with Democratic officials, candidates and top activists. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee member closes out his trip on Monday morning with an address to the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire. Paul Steinhauser, for The Oregonian/OregonLive A Multnomah County grand jury has returned a one-count indictment against Nancy Lee Crampton Brophy, accused of fatally shooting her husband at the Oregon Culinary Institute where he worked. The indictment, filed in court Friday, alleges Crampton Brophy used a 9mm pistol to intentionally kill Daniel Brophy, her husband of 27 years. She's charged with murder with a firearm constituting domestic violence and is scheduled to return to court on the indictment at 9:30 a.m. Monday. A beloved instructor at the Oregon Culinary Institute, Daniel Brophy, 63 was found shot in a kitchen at the school June 2. Crampton Brophy, 68, a romance novelist who published the essay "How to Murder Your Husband" on the website See Jane Publish seven years earlier, was arrested at her home in the 3300 block of Southwest 108th Avenue on Sept. 5. State police forensic firearms examiner Leland P. Samuelson presented a report to the grand jury, according to the indictment. A neighbor who shared a fence line with the Brophy property and a pastry chef were among those who testified, as well as two Portland homicide detectives, according to the indictment. The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office took the rare step of petitioning a judge to seal the probable cause affidavit in the case, citing an ongoing criminal investigation. Crampton Brophy remains in custody at Multnomah County's Inverness Jail. Police ask that anyone who has knowledge of the shooting contact Detective Darren Posey at 503-823-0403 or Darren.Posey@portlandoregon.gov -- Maxine Bernstein mbernstein@oregonian.com 503-221-8212 @maxoregonian Photo: AP UPDATE: 8:45 p.m. Typhoon Mangkhut roared toward densely populated Hong Kong and southern China on Sunday after ravaging across the northern Philippines with ferocious winds and heavy rain that left at least 28 dead in landslides and collapsed houses. The strongest storm so far this year in the world sliced across the northern tip of Luzon Island on Saturday, a breadbasket that is also a region of flood-prone rice plains and mountain provinces with a history of deadly landslides. More than 5 million people were in the path of the typhoon, equivalent to a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane when it hit the Philippines. On Sunday morning, It packed sustained winds of 155 kilometres (96 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 190 kph (118 mph). Hong Kong and southern China issued the highest storm signals. The Guangdong provincial office in charge of flood prevention said Sunday that nearly half a million people had been evacuated from seven cities. The Hong Kong Observatory said although Mangkhut had weakened slightly, its extensive, intense rain bands were bringing heavy downfall and frequent squalls. Storm surge of about 3 1/2 meters (9.8 feet) or above is expected at the city's waterfront Victoria Harbour, the observatory said, appealing on the public to avoid the shoreline. The typhoon struck 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. In Hong Kong, Security Minister John Lee Ka-chiu urged residents to prepare for the worst. Cathay Pacific said all of its flights would be cancelled between 2:30 a.m. local time on Sunday and 4 a.m. Monday. "Because Mangkhut will bring winds and rains of extraordinary speeds, scope and severity, our preparation and response efforts will be greater than in the past," Lee said. "Each department must have a sense of crisis, make a comprehensive assessment and plan, and prepare for the worst." China's National Meteorological Center issued an alert saying Mangkhut would make landfall somewhere on the coast in Guangdong province on Sunday afternoon or evening. 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. In 2013, 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. ORIGINAL: 8:30 a.m. Typhoon Mangkhut lashed the northern Philippines with destructive winds and heavy rain that set off landslides and destroyed homes on Saturday, leaving at least 12 people dead, as Hong Kong and other parts of southern China braced for the powerful storm. The most ferocious typhoon to hit the disaster-prone Philippines this year slammed ashore before dawn in Cagayan province on the northeastern tip of Luzon island, a breadbasket that is also a region of flood-prone rice plains and mountain provinces with a history of deadly landslides. More than five million people were at risk from the storm, which the Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center downgraded from a super typhoon. Mangkhut, however, was still punching powerful winds and gusts equivalent to a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane when it hit the Philippines. China and the Philippines agreed to postpone a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that was to start Sunday due to the typhoon's onslaught, which caused nearly 150 flights, a third of them international, to be cancelled and halted sea travel. Francis Tolentino, an adviser to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, said the 12 died mostly in landslides and houses that got pummeled by the storm's fierce winds and rain. Among the fatalities were an infant and a 2-year-old child who died with their parents after the couple refused to immediately evacuate from their high-risk community in a mountain town in Nueva Vizcaya province, Tolentino said. "They can't decide for themselves where to go," he said of the children, expressing frustration that the tragedy was not prevented. Tolentino, who was assigned by Duterte to help co-ordinate disaster response, said at least two other people were missing. He said the death toll could climb to at least 16 once other casualty reports were verified. Mayor Mauricio Domogan said at least three people died and six others were missing in his mountain city of Baguio after strong winds and rain destroyed several houses and set off landslides, which also blocked roads to the popular vacation destination. It was not immediately clear whether the deaths and missing cited by Domogan had been included in Tolentino's count. Authorities were verifying the drownings of three people, including two children who reportedly died as the typhoon approached. About 70 men reportedly returned to their coastal village in Cagayan to check on their homes as the storm drew closer Friday, but Tolentino said he had received no reports of the men figuring in an accident. Mangkhut's sustained winds weakened to 170 km/h with gusts of up to 260 km/h after it sliced northwestward across Luzon before blowing out to the South China Sea, aiming at Hong Kong. About 87,000 people evacuated from high-risk areas of the Philippines. Tolentino and other officials advised them not to return home until the lingering danger had passed. "It's still a life and death situation," Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said by phone, citing past drownings in swollen rivers in mountain provinces after storms had passed. Photo: CTV Police in Vancouver arrested a man in his 20s who allegedly crossed the border into Canada without stopping on Saturday. The Vancouver Police Department was alerted by Surrey RCMP just before 8:30 a.m. that a blue Ford Ranger with Oregon plates evaded border guards and entered Canada, heading towards Vancouver. VPD officers found the truck near West 16th Avenue and Oak Street, and pursued the driver after he refused to pull over. The driver crashed into a Mazda sedan several blocks later before crashing into an empty retail store. The 32-year-old male Vancouver resident driving the Mazda sustained minor injuries in the incident. Police arrested the suspect driver after the crash and took him into custody. Charges related to dangerous driving and causing a police pursuit are being recommended, VPD Const. Jason Doucette said, with more charges likely to be pressed. "Efficient communication between agencies led to the swift arrest of this man who made unauthorized entry into Canada," Doucette said. Investigators are now working with our partnering agencies to determine who this man is and why he ran the border. Is your ISP delivering the data speeds you were promised? Is there even a way to find out? Should you just take their word for it? The answer to these questions, respectively, are "we'll see," "YEP!," and "HELL NO!" We can say that because you have access to free tools that will clock your own personal connection. One tip: before you run any of these tests, be sure to 1) turn off any downloads or uploads you have going on your system and 2) deactivate your VPN software for the duration of the test; both add a lot of overhead to the connection. You'll get a more accurate reading if the only traffic to the internet and back is from the test you're performing. PCMag Speed Test We have a PCMag Speed Test, which you can use any time, even on a mobile device. We use the data it gathers to determine the Fastest ISPs in the US and Canada. Click it below to give it a try. (Turn off your VPN and anything streaming to get the best results.) Ookla Speedtest The famed Ookla Speedtest also measures the time it takes for data to transfer between your computer and a remote server by way of your local ISP connection. The real benefit in using Speedtest.net comes from creating an account. With an account, you can change settings, like picking a server for testing, and make it permanent so it's saved for every time you visit. You can view your entire test history to see how your internet connection changes over time, which is handy if you go through an upgrade or downgrade in service and want to see the change reflected in real life, not just on a bill. Speedtest is still handy without an account. Use the mobile apps to test on your smartphone (iOS, Android); it also has native apps for Windows, Mac, Google Chrome, even the Apple TV. It determines your location and pairs you to a local Speedtest server. All you have to do is click the "Go" button. The whole process should take less than a minute to complete, and you watch it unfold in real time. After completion, view your connection's upload and download speeds as measured in megabits per second (Mbps). You have the option to share the information via social media by clicking the buttons at the top for social media. There's also a chain icon to grab a link you can post anywhere, as an image or weblink or even embed into a page. Run the test a few times by clicking the "Go" button again and againyou will see fluctuations in the data speed from test to test, depending on the network congestion at any given time. Once you've run it a few times, put those numbers in context: click the "Results" link. Even without an account, Speedtest will let you compare your results to global average speeds. Click the tab to switch from download to upload speed. If you used more than one connection (say you went from a hotspot to home and ran tests in both locations), or used more than one connection server, click "Filter Results" to narrow down which tests/servers you want to see. To compare your speeds with the rest of the world, go to the Speedtest Global Index, which offers average throughput for mobile and fixed broadband connections across the globe. Many ISPs run a version of Speedtest on their own servers for testing customer connections. Those tests become part of Speedtest's dataset, which is used to create the Global Index and other things. For example, we used global dataset to determine the Fastest Free Nationwide Wi-Fi. Disclosure: Ookla is owned by PCMag's parent company, Ziff Davis. Other Speed Options Speedtest is not the only game in town for measuring internet connections. There are others worth a try, and the more you test, the better your options are when you contact an ISP with complaints about your rated speed. Netflix, for examplewhich has a vested interest in making sure the internet used by its customers is lightning fasthas its very own speed test. Visit FAST.com and you don't even have to click a button. It starts an immediate download speed test. You can click for more results, get latency and upload test results, and share data on Facebook or Twitter instantly. With FAST.com, however, you can't pick the server you test against. There is also a FAST Speed Test app for iOS and Android. SpeedOf.Me doesn't look as polished as Speedtest or Fast.com, but many would claim that as a selling point. This zippy little test works on mobile devices and the desktop, offers a history at the bottom if you run multiple tests, and provides an "instant look" graph as the test runs multiple passes for download and upload. It has 116 servers (and counting ) all over North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and a couple in Australiait picks the fastest one for you, not necessarily the closest server. Go to your search engine of choiceif those choices are Google or Bingand search the term "speed test." Both will pop up a test in the top of the search results. Bing's test even looks like a speedometer, like Speedtest. But it's unclear who powers it, and you don't get any options to changeyou simply get quick and dirty ping (latency time in millisecondsthe time it takes for packets to travel from you to the server), download, and upload results. Google's test is run by Measurement Lab (M-Lab), but the results are the usual download and upload speed, with no tracking or adjustment to settings. Two incidents within the Harrisburg School District involved security and Harrisburg Police interception, the district announced Friday night. One incident involved a "false bomb threat" to Rowland and Cougar Academies by two young students, the district said. Police were notified immediately and the students were removed from school. The second incident involved as student who tried to go through the metal detectors at John Harris Campus with an airsoft BB gun, that the security team intercepted at the door. Police were notified immediately and the student was removed from school at the beginning of the school day. Building and district administrators took "immediate, appropriate and precautionary measures" to ensure the safety of all students and staff, the district said. "At no time was anyone in threat of danger and all buildings were kept safe at all times," the district said. The Districtwide School Messenger Notification message was used to inform parents of the incidents, the district said. Parents were encouraged to discuss the serious nature of threats and weapons with their students. Parents were directed to review the school district board policies on weapons violations, terroristic threats and the student code of conduct. "When students violate these important board policies, their actions have serious consequences that can include suspension, expulsion and possible legal charges," the district said. His reputation decimated by the Pennsylvania grand jury report on clergy sex abuse, Cardinal Donald Wuerl on Friday told parishioners that he is repenting for the poor judgment he used in handling the crisis. Wuerl, who is preparing to meet with Pope Francis to discuss his resignation, said he is repenting for the "wounds that were caused by my bad judgments or failures," according to a report in the Pittsburgh Tribune. Once a highly esteemed member of the Catholic Church, Wuerl has taken a major hit from the report by the 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, which uncovered the systemic sexual abuse of thousands of children by more than 300 priests over the course of seven decades. The report found that bishops and church officials concealed the crimes and protected predatory priests. The 900-plus page report mentions Wuerl more than 200 times and rebukes the once sterling reputation enjoyed by Wuerl of that of a church leader who stood with victims. Investigators found that during his time as bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh from 1988 to 2006, Wuerl protected accused priests -- in one case allowing an accused abuser to remain in ministry and in another presiding over a settlement agreement that banned the victims from speaking. Since the release of the report, Wuerl has had a book contract canceled and has had to cancel plans to attend the World Meeting of Families in Dublin. As archbishop of Washington, Wuerl has additionally come under scrutiny over what he knew about allegations of sexual misconduct against his predecessor, former cardinal and retired Washington Archbishop Theodore McCarrick. The tempest around Wuerl comes even as one of his peers has been cleared of any wrongdoing. 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) On Thursday, Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo cleared former Harrisburg Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of "criminal or otherwise improper relationship" with a now-deceased Dauphin County man identified by investigators as "J.T." Chardo's office confirmed to PennLive last week that it had received a complaint against Rhoades. In making his announcement, Chardo said he believed the original report was the result of an honest, mistaken recollection. Wuerl, during a special Mass on Friday at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C., delivered a homily filled with references to the damage the church has taken in the wake of the grand jury report and other escalating scandals. The archbishops said that he hopes that all church leaders will demonstrate transparency as the Roman Catholic Church moves away "from the darkness of sin and failure -- abuse and shame," TribLive.com reported. Wuerl expressed similar sentiments of remorse a blog post on Thursday, saying that he in regrets some of his decisions over the past 30 years. He said he believes "stepping aside" may be the only way the church can heal. "For my shortcomings of the past and of the present, I take full responsibility and wish that I could wipe away all the pain, confusion and disillusionment that people feel," Wuerl wrote in the "To Begin the Healing" blog post, "and I wish that I could redo some decisions I have made in my three decades as a bishop and each time get it right." Wuerl, for the second time in his career, has signaled to the Vatican plans to resign. In another era, a senior church official with the ecclesial prominence of Wuerl could expect a safe haven in the Vatican. 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. In the wake of escalating worldwide crisis, and in particular, the Pennsylvania grand jury report, such an ending for Wuerl is unlikely. A Harrisburg firefighter who died in the line of duty in 2017 will be honored at a national memorial service in Colorado on Saturday. Lt. Dennis H. DeVoe's name will be added to the International Association of Fire Fighters Fallen Fire Fighter Wall of Honor in Colorado Springs, according to a news release. The memorial service will be livestreamed on YouTube at 11 a.m. Saturday. DeVoe, 45, died in March 2017 from injuries he suffered while responding to a fire in the 2500 block of Lexington Street. A 4-year-old girl died of her injuries suffered in the fire that was caused by a hoverboard. DeVoe, of Stewartstown, was on his way to pick up his gear at Mt. Pleasant Station 8 near 13th and Market streets when his car was T-boned at 14th and Walnut streets. Khanyae Kendall was charged with DUI as a result of that crash, and has since been sentenced to prison. Three people have died as a result of Hurricane Florence ravaging the North Carolina Coast, according to media reports. Wilmington Police tweeted that a mother and infant were killed when a tree fell on their Wilmington home. The father was transported to a hospital with injuries. 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. https://t.co/FC5PAhuxig Wilmington Police (@WilmingtonPD) September 14, 2018 NBC News reported another woman died in Pender County, after suffering a medical condition. For more Hurricane Florence coverage, click here. An elevator that broke down at a Harrisburg high rise apartment building this week, forcing paramedics to hike six floors to reach a patient, was fixed on Friday. The elevator that serves Tower C at Bellevue Towers broke down Monday after rain leaked through the roof and ruined a selector board. Since the elevator is 79-years-old, replacement parts were not immediately available. But a custom-ordered part arrived and the elevator was fixed Friday morning, according to residents. "I can take my dad out tomorrow for the first time in nearly a week," said the woman whose father had to be carried down the stairwell Monday after a medical emergency in his apartment on the seventh floor. "He had cabin fever. He's glad too (that the elevator is fixed.) The four buildings at Bellevue Towers each are served by their own elevators that do not allow access to other towers. They are designed as individual silos, so when an elevator breaks down, residents' only option to get out is the stairwell. Residents on upper floors, especially those with medical problems, described hardships this week, including getting young kids and strollers up five flights of stairs and getting trash and laundry downstairs. But property managers said they were fixing the elevator as quickly as possible. The property manager said they have an elevator service company on-call 24 hours a day. Elevators are supposed to be inspected by state officials every six months or annually, depending on the type of elevator. It's unknown when the elevators at Bellevue Towers were last inspected because certificates of inspection were not publicly posted at the elevators and a woman in the off-site office said she didn't know where the certificates were stored. An inspection was scheduled for Tuesday. A spokeswoman for the state department of Labor and Industry could not provide the latest date of inspection and said inspection records are closed records in Pennsylvania. A Kentucky man fired several shots at a statue on the property of Hollywood Casino in East Hanover Township early Friday morning. Tyler Alexander Chapin, of Fort Campbell, yelled obscenities at security as he left the property at approximately 12:48 a.m. Friday, according to state police. Chapin also said he was going to come back with his 9mm Glock pistol, and fired his weapon several times at the statue as he left the property in his vehicle, state police said. No injuries were reported. Chapin, 26, was later arrested at the Fort Indianatown Gap military installation without incident. Court documents indicate Chapin faces charges of discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, terroristic threats, and harassment. The York County Coroner's office identified the man found in Codorus Creek last month and is now looking for his family. Charles Keitt, 57, was identified as the man found dead on a rock in the Codorus Creek in East Manchester Township on Aug. 28, 2018, according to the York County Cororner's Office. Keitt appeared to have died a few days before he was discovered. Officials believe Keitt was homeless, but may have lived in York County, the Philadelphia area, and Allegheny County. He was last seen at the LifePath Christian Ministries in the York area, around August 8, 2018. An autopsy was done on Aug. 31, but the cause and manner of Keitt's death was undetermined as of Sept. 14. The Coroner's office is asking for information about Keitt's next of kin. Anyone who knows anything about Keitt is asked to call 717-840-7617 or the Northeastern Regional Police at 717-266-6195. Keitt was identified through the efforts of the Northeastern Regional Police Department, the York County District Attorney's Office, Springettsbury Township Police, the York County Coroner's Office, NamUs and the FBI. WILLIAMSPORT - A Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board examiner has found a Williamsport police lieutenant was transferred in retaliation for his union activity. John Pozniak ruled the city committed an unfair labor practice when on Dec. 27, 2017, it reassigned the president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 29 and stripped him of his supervisory authority. The examiner ordered the immediate rescission of the transfer of Lt. Steven Helm from patrol lieutenant to support services lieutenant. He also ordered the city to stop discriminating by encouraging or discouraging membership in any labor union. The order, which must be posted for bargaining unit employees to read, underlines some of the issues the FOP has with the administration, Helm said Friday. Police Chief David Young said he could not comment because he was out of the city Friday and had not seen the order. Capt. Jody Miller who conducted Helm's annual employee evaluation, rated the officer satisfactory overall but commented "he borders on needing improvement based upon his allegiance to the union," the PLRB document states. It also cites Miller saying communications between the two were tenuous at times and that issues were not brought to his attention quickly because Helm wanted to discuss them in a FOP capacity rather than through the chain of command. Young last Dec. 27 by email notified Helm, a police officer for nearly 25 years, he was being transferred to support services lieutenant with duties that included daily vehicle maintenance, bidding, review procurement of supplies, abandoned vehicles and the ballistic vest program. A new organizational chart attached to the email indicated Helm no longer had supervisory authority over patrol sergeants, corporals and patrol officers. It also showed the department's other lieutenant who was transferred to special services retained supervision over detectives and property and evidence officers. Capt. Donald Mayes is alleged to have told Helm when he questioned him about the changes that "you're just a warehouse manager." The city was unlawfully motivated when it gave Helm his 2017 employee evaluation and reassigned him, Pozniak concluded. Helm's evaluation was replete with critical references to his FOP activity and his allegiance to the union, he wrote. Further, the city's proffered reasons for the reassignment lacked credibility, he said. Citing Miller's testimony at hearing on the FOP's complaint, Pozniak concluded the city used the purported reorganization of the department to mask its true unlawful intentions and retaliated against Helm by reassigning him. "There is little doubt" the city violated the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Act by criticizing Helm's FOP activities and his allegiance to the union in his employee evaluation, he wrote. The city must furnish the PLRB within 20 days evidence of compliance with the order. Barring an exceptions it then becomes final. By Marc A. Thiessen 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? Marc Thiessen (Washington Post photo) 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 Nicolas 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. Marc A. Thiessen is a columnist for The Washington Post. His work appears frequently on PennLive Opinion. Photo: CTV Crews are searching for a small private plane that vanished off radar in B.C.'s interior on Friday. The plane departed from Edmonton and was heading to Chilliwack, according to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre who was called in after that plane didn't arrive as planned. Two aircraft searched on Friday night along a large corridor of Highway 5, between Chilliwack and Valemount. On Saturday, two Royal Canadian Airforce planes and seven Civil Aviation Association planes were taking part in the search through mountainous terrain. Were working hard to try and track down this missing aircraft. As long as we think someone has survived, we are going to keep looking, Lt. Navy Tony Wright told CTV. It's believed the pilot was a man, but it's currently unclear how many people were on board the plane nor any of their identities. - with files from CTV Vancouver By Jim T. Ryan Staff Writer The YWCA of Greater Harrisburg has opened the first emergency shelter in Perry County to assist victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. While the county has always had programs to assist victims, often the nearest short-term and long-term shelters were in Dauphin and Cumberland counties. "What's been missing is an actual victim shelter in the county," said Rhonda Hendrickson, YWCA's vice president of residential programs, who also oversees victims' programs in Perry County. The shelter has been open only since August, but it's already about half full, she said. "It shows you the need that wasn't met in the county," Hendrickson said. The shelter -- the exact location kept secret for the protection of victims -- is meant to provide a safe harbor for women escaping violence. With about eight beds, the shelter can house victims on a short-term basis, usually 30 to 45 days. In that time, trained support staff help victims get their life back, which means developing safety plans, case management, and other services meant to help in those first days after victims leave violent or predatory relationships. All services are free and confidential. "We're looking at the immediate crisis and getting them past that," Hendrickson said. Overall, it can be said victims are underserved based on what's available versus the number of people in need. In 2016-17, there were 8,422 un-met requests for shelter in the state, usually because of a lack of space at local shelters, according to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The statistic is for the 60 member programs it funds, which have resources for victims in each of the state's 67 counties. Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland and Perry Counties is a PCADV member organization providing support for domestic violence victims in the both counties. Additionally, the National Network to End Domestic Violence found on its 2017 survey day that there were 1,003 unmet requests for services in Pennsylvania, with about 81 percent of those for housing, including emergency shelters. The YWCA also offers transitional housing for victims, which helps them work on long-term goals and independence, she said. That's housing for between six months and two years. There, staff help victims work on completing their education, building basic life skills, financial empowerment and independence. "It helps them have small wins, motivates them toward a life of self-sufficiency," Hendrickson said. Too often, violence and predation keeps victims completely dependent on their abusers, she said. That's part of the social, financial and physical control mechanisms that prevents victims from escaping or reporting abuse to law enforcement. "Many people come to us with nothing except the clothes on their back and their children," she said. The shelter also will provide victims with hospital, court and police accompaniment, as well as help getting protection orders through the courts. The shelter is being funded through a $125,000 grant YWCA received from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency through the Victims of Crime Act. Money is a big reason why a shelter hasn't been established in Perry County until now, Hendrickson said. The YWCA had plans ready to go, but state funding has been flat for victims' services and it's difficult to gather resources through other avenues. The recent state Victims of Crime Bill should be adding new money to as more people recognize the importance, and benefit to the community, of protecting victims and getting them back on their feet. The YWCA offers a 24-hour crisis hotline, 800-657-1211. It also has a victim service center at 16 W. Main St., New Bloomfield. Residents who want to help can make monetary and item donations. Food, linens, toiletries and everyday care items are always needed by shelters. For additional information readers may email Hendrickson at rhendrickson@ywcahbg.org. "If you're a victim or know someone who is," Hendrickson said, "you're not alone." This story was changed to clarify statistics about un-met needs for victims. There are more requests for services than there is space at local shelters. A PCADV member organization was also added to clarify services available in Perry County. Jim T. Ryan can be reached via e-mail at jtryan@perrycountytimes.com By Jim T. Ryan Staff Writer SENATORIAL SESSION -- U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (center right) discussed trade, tariffs and agricultural issues with local officials in New Bloomfield on Friday. From the left are business and community leaders Rich Pluta, Martha Roberts, and Frank Campbell, state Sen. John DiSanto and county Commissioner Brenda Benner. U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey visited with Perry County officials in New Bloomfield on Sept. 7 to give an update on senate matters and to assess local sentiment on issues, such as the opioid crisis, federal farm bill and trade affecting agriculture. In that meeting, Toomey said he's continued to bend President Donald Trump's ear on trade and tariff issues, trying to convince the president, unsuccessfully so far, that high tariffs and trade wars will hurt American agricultural producers and consumers in the long run. Toomey is a staunch advocate of free trade agreements as a way to open foreign markets to U.S. products. "I've got a lot of concerns and I've disagreed with the president on this," Toomey, a Republican, told local officials, including county Commissioner Brenda Benner, Perry County Economic Development Authority members Frank Campbell and Martha Roberts, and Perry County Chamber of Commerce's Rich Pluta. Toomey was particularly concerned with making sure a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) includes Canada, which is a huge market for American agricultural products. "It's a significant new source of buyers for dairy farms through New York to Pennsylvania," the senator said. Since NAFTA's signing in the 1990s, Toomey said, exports to Mexico have increased 500 percent, and lower-cost products have cut costs for American consumers. The president's seemingly singular focus on the auto sector and using "national security" as a reason to increase tariffs and restrict trade between the U.S. and historic allies is unjustified and bad for the economy, Toomey said. Canada and Mexico are not security threats to the U.S., he said, so national security shouldn't have been used against them. "I don't think the president should've done that," he said. There are more important trade issues, he said. "I'm trying to urge the president to focus on the real problem," which is trade issues with China, particularly intellectual property theft and the transfer of high-tech companies to Chinese ownership, Toomey said. State Sen. John DiSanto, who also attended the meeting, said "I'm not sure I agree with you on that." He would much rather see domestic manufacturers making products even if that meant consumers paid higher prices. Farmers and businesses, DiSanto said, also have unfilled positions. "I would like to see something done on the immigration end," DiSanto said, noting that many labor positions can be filled by legal immigrants and permanent residents. Toomey agreed that his discussions with business have centered around similar issues. While the U.S. needs better border security, he also wants robust immigration. Roberts asked Toomey why he voted against the federal farm bill and wanted an update on Congress's attempts to decriminalize industrial hemp. Pennsylvania started a hemp pilot program in 2017. Roberts' farm is one of those approved to grow up to 5 acres of the plant for research purposes. However, the plant (a relative of marijuana that doesn't produce a high) still remains on the federal Schedule 1 narcotics list alongside cocaine, heroin and other drugs. Toomey said he voted no because he wanted work requirements for food assistance programs and to open U.S. sugar markets to foreign producers. He seemed to indicate industrial hemp decriminalization has a good shot of staying in the farm bill. He agreed removing it from Schedule 1 made sense. "I think it's going to pass," Toomey said. He noted that Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) had sponsored the industrial hemp provisions in the farm bill so it's unlikely it will be taken out when the farm bill hits a final version. Kentucky also has a re-emerging hemp industry and is several years ahead of Pennsylvania. If not, there could be a separate bill on industrial hemp that works its way through Congress. "It could be a really important bill to Pennsylvania agriculture," Pluta said. When Toomey asked about the opioid crisis in Perry County, Benner said there's momentum to improve treatment here because Hamilton Health Center opened an office in Newport earlier in the year. Hamilton provides regular health care services for residents, including medical and dental checkups, as well as substance abuse treatment. "We're excited," Benner said. "We'll have a treatment facility here in Perry County." Jim T. Ryan can be reached via e-mail at jtryan@perrycountytimes.com The Republican and Democrat who want to be Pennsylvania's next lieutenant governor will face off in a debate on Oct. 6 in Pittsburgh. Republican LG candidate Jeff Bartos announced on Friday that a formal agreement was reached between himself and his Democratic counterpart, Braddock Mayor John Fetterman, to have this discussion of issues at WPXI studios. The debate will be taped and aired later on that Pittsburgh station at 7:30 p.m. It is unclear at this time if the debate will be broadcast in the Harrisburg area. "I am thankful to WPXI for hosting this debate so Mayor Fetterman and I will have an opportunity to discuss, in person, our very different perspectives on how to bring growth and prosperity to Pennsylvania," said Bartos, a Montgomery County real estate developer, in a news release. He pointed out that he and his gubernatorial running mate Scott Wagner have been calling for opportunities like this to give voters a chance to better understand and distinguish their positions on issues before voters head to the polls on Nov. 6 to cast ballots for governor/lieutenant governor. So far, this is the only debate scheduled between the lieutenant governor candidates but Andrew Romeo, a spokesman for the Wagner-Bartos campaign, said his team welcomes more opportunities like this. Wagner and Democratic incumbent Gov. Tom Wolf have agreed to only one debate at this point. It is being hosted by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry on Oct. 1 in Hershey and moderated by "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek. Wagner and Bartos have held 12 town halls since July in their travels around the state to share their views and answer voters' questions. Wolf also has been holding campaign events across the state in between official visits. "I look forward to this opportunity to share the Wagner-Bartos vision to lower taxes, grow the economy and improve our education system with the people of Pennsylvania," Bartos said about the debate. An attempt to get a comment from Fetterman's campaign spokesperson was unsuccessful. Music community steps up to help one of their own battling cancer As if Paul Manaforts flip wasnt bad enough, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen is talking to Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Vanity Fair reported: In recent weeks, it has also become common knowledge among close friends of Michael Cohen, Trumps former personal attorney, that Cohen is talking to the Mueller team, according to people familiar with the situation. (Cohen did not respond to request for comment, nor did his attorney, Guy Petrillo. A spokesman for the special counsels office declined to comment.) The extent and purpose of those talks is not entirely clear. Last month, Cohen pleaded guilty to eight counts of tax evasion, lying to a bank, and campaign-finance violations. During his allocution in front of a packed courtroom, Cohen read carefully chosen words stating that Trump had directed him to make payments to two women who had alleged affairs with the then-candidate, implicating the president as his co-conspirator. The Circle Is Closing Around Trump Trump has gone into hiding as his White House tries to change the topic on cable news back to Hurricane Florence, but the reality cant be denied. The only news that could equal or be worse for Trump that Paul Manafort flipping is Michael Cohen spending weeks talking to Robert Mueller. Trump has shown zero loyalty to those around him, which is why he is getting no loyalty now. It is every person for themselves and those who were closest to Trump are trying to save their own lives. Michael Cohen knows more about the Trump operation than Paul Manafort. Cohen is capable of doing exponentially more damage to Trump than Manafort. Paul Manafort is the connection to the Russia scandal. Michael Cohen knows the details of a decade-plus of Trump family crimes. Trumps world is collapsing as the long arm of the law is finally catching up with Donald Trump, his family, and the Trump Organization. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. 1.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard The AM Joy panel erupted Saturday when a Republican strategist quite stunningly defended Donald Trumps new assertion that 3,000 deaths in Puerto Rico didnt actually happen in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Former South Carolina GOP chair Katon Dawson brushed the presidents comments aside and said its time to move on. He claimed Trumps rhetoric is in line with how other U.S. presidents reacted to bad hurricane press. Politicians have the ability to try to dismiss bad things, the GOP strategist said. In response, the AM Joy panel particularly conservative columnist Jennifer Rubin teed off on Dawson for being a Trump shill and not denouncing the president. I still didnt hear Katon condemning the president for denying the death of 3,000 Americans and thats why, in my view, the Republican Party is unrescuable, Rubin said. You have too many people who are too invested in defending this guy and not calling him out and not calling him to account. You cant have a party in power that does that. Its totally irresponsible. Its morally and politically irresponsible. Video: It doesnt go well for a GOP strategist after he tries to defend Trumps Puerto Rico lie. #ctl #p2 #amjoy pic.twitter.com/wF1WEQkWZQ PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) September 15, 2018 Trumps Puerto Rico rhetoric is indefensible The half-assed non-condemnations Republicans have issued since the president claimed 3,000 Americans didnt die in Puerto Rico is just the latest demonstration of how far the GOP has fallen in the Trump era. As I said just after the president tweeted out his Puerto Rico conspiracy theory, this lie is on the same level as Alex Jones calling the Sandy Hook massacre a hoax. Right now, the InfoWars founder faces lawsuits and is being banished from social media platforms for pushing such dangerous lies. Sadly, the President of the United States wont face the same repercussions. Thats because, day after day, he is protected by a Republican Party that has long lost the ability to feel shame. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook. 999 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard The possibility of President Donald Trump thwarting special counsel Robert Muellers investigation has hung over the probe since the beginning. Countless articles have been written about Trumps ability (or lack of ability) to fire Mueller, or his boss Rod Rosenstein, or HIS boss Jeff Sessions. Doing any of these things would hurt Trump politically, and even his attempts to do them may not work. But at the end of the day the president has great power, and he could probably force Mueller out if he really tried hard enough. This is why many people have been afraid it would happen. If Muellers probe is shut down they fear that the public will be unable to get real answers about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. But there was an article in the New York Times yesterday that described another way that the public can find out what Mueller has learned in his investigation even if it is stopped by the president. The problem is if Trump shuts down Mueller, officials at the Department of Justice would then be in charge of the evidence that the special counsel has gathered. Whether that evidence ever gets released to the public would depend on the leadership in the department, who Trump can fire and replace if they dont do his bidding. But theres another powerful entity that on its own could release the findings of Muellers probe directly to Congress: the grand jury. The grand jury, impaneled by Mueller, is not within the control of the executive branch and thus not within Donald Trumps control. If granted permission by the presiding judge, the grand jury could release a summary of its findings in the Trump/Russia probe. According to the Times: Echoing a move by the Watergate prosecutor in March 1974, the grand jury with which Mr. Mueller has been working could send a report about the evidence it has gathered directly to the House of Representatives, starting with the 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. Yesterdays legal move asks for the release of a 55-page document, known as the Road Map, from 1974 which set forth all of the compiling evidence of President Richard Nixons misconduct as gathered by the Watergate prosecutor. The legal experts say it provides a key precedent for assessing the appropriate framework for Special Counsel Mueller to report to Congress any findings of potentially unlawful conduct by President Trump. According to the Times: It is uncertain how a Road Map-style grand jury report would play out in the Trump-Russia case. Justice Department rules permit Mr. Muellers supervisor to veto any unwarranted investigative or prosecutorial step, but it is not clear whether asking a grand jury to send a report to Congress qualifies as such. Mr. Muellers supervisor is currently Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, but that could change if Mr. Trump fires him or Jeff Sessions, the attorney general, who is recused from the Russia investigation, leaving Mr. Rosenstein as the acting attorney general for that matter. The option of a grand jury report could have implications if Mr. Trump were to force the Justice Department to shut down Mr. Muellers investigation. It is not clear what would happen if the grand jury members, on their own initiative, were to ask the judge presiding over their panel to transmit to Congress all the evidence they had gathered without the executive branchs request or approval. If Democrats win control of the U.S. House of Representatives after the November midterm elections, then Rep. Adam Schiff of California will become the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, replacing Rep. Devin Nunes. He could easily obtain the grand jury information from his counterpart in charge of the House Judiciary Committee. Schiff has been perhaps the leading spokesperson in Congress about the need for oversight of the Trump administration. He has said many times that Republicans have abdicated their responsibility to hold Trump accountable. He has also said that there is much existing evidence about a Trump/Russia conspiracy, but that evidence has not been made public. The possibility of Adam Schiff receiving information directly from the grand jury if Trump somehow shuts down the Mueller probe is very intriguing. We know what he would do with it: he would start up a new Russia investigation in his committee. He has also said he would begin an investigation into Trump money laundering. With Adam Schiff in charge of the House investigation into Trump and Russia there is no question that the truth will eventually come out, and that is what the American public wants and needs to happen. The British government has rejected the online petition seeking the deportation of the former Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. According to Geo News, the petition seeking Dar's deportation was filed by an activist from the UK was signed by more than 80,000 internet users and made a number of allegations against him. The petition alleged that Dar is an absconder "in a corruption reference filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of Pakistan," and further referred to him as a corrupt politician. They urged the British government to deport him to Pakistan where he can be held accountable. The British government, however, denied all the allegations against Dar and rejected the petition. The petitioners were informed that the British government does not have a formal extradition treaty with Pakistan. "Section 194 of the Extradition Act 2003 does allow special extradition arrangements in exceptional circumstances. However, under current law, an extradition process is initiated at the request of the government of the country in which the individual has been convicted of a crime. It would therefore be the Pakistani government's responsibility to initiate such proceedings," the petition committee informed. The committee asserted that the petition was reviewed after getting 10,000 signatures, but was later rejected on legal and technical grounds. This comes following the cancellation of the passports of Dar and his wife. The Pakistan government stripped Dar and his wife off of their diplomatic passports without providing the blue passport rendering them 'stateless'. Ishaq Dar was supposed to surrender the diplomatic passports within 30 days of ceasing office as the Federal Finance Minister and that his passport was cancelled over non-compliance, according to the Foreign Office. -ANI 11.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard One tweet from Trump showed that the in hiding president is holed up, watching Fox News, and insanely jealous of Obama. Trump tweeted: When President Obama said that he has been to 57 States, very little mention in Fake News Media. Can you imagine if I said thatstory of the year! @IngrahamAngle Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2018 One Tweet Says A Great Deal About What Is Going On With Trump Trump unleashed a few tweets where he is seething about the accurate death toll in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. Trump is also mentally wrecked by Paul Manaforts flip. He is depressed and holed up in front of his television. Trump is watching Fox News comfort and crying to himself about how unfair the media is to him. Trump has already been described as obsessed with the anonymous NYT op-ed author from within his administration. Trumps own son Donald Jr. is worried because his father is not sleeping and growing more paranoid by the day. The President Of The United States Went Into Hiding After Manafort Flipped Trump responded to Manafort flipping by going into even deeper hiding. It has gotten so bad that the White House called a lid, which means that there will be no more activity for the day, at 10:45 AM on Saturday: WH called travel/photo lid at 10:45 am. Day three of @realDonaldTrump hiding from the public and 1 year, 238 days, 0 hours, and 7 minutes of Trump doing almost no work and abdicating his responsibilities. Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) September 15, 2018 Trump is wrecked. He is sitting in the White House. He probably hasnt left the residence. Trump is comforting himself by watching the propaganda on Fox News and complaining about how much better Obama had it than he does. The White House can hide Trump from public view, but they cant hide the reality that Donald Trump is unraveling. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. 2.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Donald Trumps tweets denying the Hurricane Maria death toll in Puerto Rico may have been the last straw. For years he has been tweeting outrageous things and he has seemingly paid no political consequences for his actions. But that may be about to change. After the devastation caused by Maria last year in the island territory, over 200,000 Puerto Ricans relocated to the U.S. mainland. The majority moved to Florida where they already had relatives. A high percentage of them immediately registered to vote (which they could do as U.S. citizens) and they will be voting on November 6th. Although Trump himself is not on the ballot, the two most high profile (and nationally important) state races in Florida involve two Republicans who have closely aligned themselves with the president and his policies. They are current governor Rick Scott (running for the U.S. Senate) and current congressman Ron DeSantis (running for governor). Both of them are facing tough battles in Florida which some people call the swingiest of swing states. Florida is the classic purple state but in recent years Republicans have won most statewide races, primarily because of lack of turnout among Democrats. In the 2016 presidential election Trump won by about 110,000 votes which is just 1% of the over 10 million votes cast. In 2018 things may be different as the voter enthusiasm among Trumps base has waned, and the voter enthusiasm among Democrats has never been higher. Andrew Gillum won the Democratic primary for governor and he is leading DeSantis in the polls, which is surprising for the 39 year-old African American mayor of Tallahassee. Already he has inspired and energized both minority voters and young voters and record turnouts among those groups are expected in November. Many experts think that Gillums presence on the ballot will help Bill Nelson, the current Democratic U.S. Senator who has trailed Scott slightly in some recent polls. So now lets talk about the difference that the Puerto Rican vote might make, and why Scott and DeSantis and all other Florida Republicans are not happy about Trumps latest offensive tweets. First, we have to make very clear that all Puerto Ricans blame Trump for the slow government response and the lack of help for Puerto Rico after Maria hit. They all know that millions of people have suffered because of this, and thousands of people died. Almost every Puerto Rican voter in the United States has at least one family member who either died or was severely harmed by Trumps lack of response. Almost every Puerto Rican voter now despises Donald Trump and every politician associated with him. And that was before the horrific tweets Trump sent out this week, denying that thousands of people died because of Maria. Trump tweeted on Thursday that 3,000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico in September 2017, and that the figure was a made-up figure invented by the Democrats to make me look as bad as possible. He claimed that the actual death toll had not gone up by much after the initial count of six to 18 deaths from the storm. A recent article in the Miami Herald makes clear that Trumps actions have hurt Florida Republicans. It says: The best indication that Trumps callous statements about Hurricane Maria may cost him precious votes in November is how fast Trump-backed candidates are running away from the U.S. presidents claims. Shortly after Trumps tweets, Florida Gov. Rick Scott one of Trumps biggest loyalists, who is now running for a Senate seat felt forced to tweet, I disagree with POTUS (Trump.) Likewise, a spokesman for Ron De Santis, the Trump-backed Republican running for Florida governor, said that the candidate doesnt believe any loss of life has been inflated. When even militant Trump supporters who are running for office in November feel compelled to criticize the presidents claim that Hurricane Marias death toll was concocted by the Democrats, it means that they smell trouble in the polls. People were amazed when Trump, instead of apologizing after all of the outrage, doubled down and repeated his claims again yesterday. Trump doubles down, claims theres no way 3,000 people died from Puerto Rico hurricane Trump doubles down, claims theres no way 3,000 people died from Puerto Rico hurricane https://t.co/QRfHEFgsnj pic.twitter.com/x6jM3Wxh47 The Hill (@thehill) September 15, 2018 Trumps racist tendencies have caused him to deeply insult Puerto Ricans (and all other Hispanic groups as well). He has denied and mocked their pain and suffering, and implied it was their own fault. Because Donald Trump has no empathy, and has shown no sympathy for the Puerto Ricans who are citizens of the United States, it is very likely that they will in turn show him and his fellow Republicans no support in the polls on election day. It is not an exaggeration to say that Trumps tweets by energizing the Hispanic vote may cause both of Trumps favored candidates Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis to suffer crushing defeats in November. 4.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Yesterday the news came fast and furious about Paul Manaforts plea deal, against a backdrop of a major hurricane making landfall in North Carolina. So much was going on that it was difficult to absorb it all. What does the plea deal mean? How might it affect such people as Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Donald Trump, Jr., Jared Kushner and even Ivanka Trump? One thing for sure, the decision by Manafort to cut a deal with Bob Mueller and flip on the president came as a huge surprise. Neither Washingtons biggest political experts nor Trumps own attorneys saw it coming. Everybody seems to have been expecting a guilty plea but not a flip by the man who ran Trumps campaign for five crucial months in 2016.. Paul Manafort can be a golden goose for Muellers investigation because he has firsthand knowledge of many key issues and events. This means of course the June 9, 2016 meeting at Trump Tower which Manafort attended along with a Russian lawyer, Don Jr., and Jared Kushner. Bob Mueller now has an insider into the Trump Tower meeting with the Russians, said Glenn Kirschner, a former federal prosecutor in D.C., who called the cooperation agreement hugely consequential. But what may be most important is not what took place during this meeting. What took place before and after it may be the key to the entire Mueller probe. Many people think that there was collusion before the meeting even took place. And many people likewise think that after the meeting the parties acted together in a conspiracy to illegally influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. In fact, some people have gone so far as to say that Trump would not have won the presidency without Russias help, and that help came because of the role Manafort played as a go-between and deal-maker. All legal observers who commented after the deal was announced yesterday have said that it is highly significant, even though the exact nature of Manaforts cooperation remains unknown. In other words, we dont know what Manafort knows or what Mueller knows. But we can surmise that they both know a lot, and they have the evidence that might ultimately bring down the Trump presidency. For months now, we have thought Mueller is one of the two or three big witnesses if Mueller could crack him, and he couldnt, said Harry Litman, a former U.S. attorney. Now hes cracked him like an egg. Even some legal experts who are sympathetic to the president acknowledged how important the Manafort news could be in the long run. I think from the point of view of Mueller, this is a big win, this is a big gain, because he gets access to somebody, said law professor Alan Dershowitz on Friday. The Manafort deal potentially opens up lots of doors that probably havent been opened before. Trump and his team are probably very afraid of what might happen next. The prevailing theory is that prosecutors would not have been willing to strike such a sweetheart deal with Manafort unless he had very useful information to offer on bigger targets than himself. These bigger targets can only mean the president and his family, and that is probably where Mueller is headed now. If Mueller indicts Don Jr., Jared, and/or Ivanka, that will put pressure on the president like he has never seen before. This may be the one thing that could make Trump give up and fold his presidency like a cheap tent. Muellers plea deals so far have greatly favored the criminals who pleaded guilty because the agreed-upon sentences have been very light compared to what federal sentencing guidelines would have allowed. This means that the Trump associates who have flipped have given Mueller what he wants some very valuable information incriminating the president and his family. Seasoned prosecutors like Mueller dont hand out deals with greatly reduced sentences unless they receive a lot in return. And that is clearly what has happened here. Donald Trump, Sarah Sanders and Rudy Giuliani have all said that Manaforts crimes had nothing to do with Trump or his campaign. This is technically true, but it doesnt mean that Trump and his family are off the hook. The truth is that Mueller has been gathering evidence about Trumps crimes that he will reveal at a later date. (This could also include potential crimes committed by Don Jr. and by son-in-law Jared.) Even though Mueller has indicted Russians for interference in the election, and has charged Manafort and others in crimes unrelated to the campaign, he has not yet said anything about collusion or whether the president obstructed justice. But that does not mean Mueller will not eventually produce evidence of collusion, or other alleged crimes. It really is silly to say somehow this is evidence that exonerates the president, said Kirschner. No matter what Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Sanders say, Manaforts cooperation agreement with Bob Mueller is a disaster for Team Trump. Its only a matter of time now until the next shoe drops, and it likely to drop hard right on top of the President of the United States. Get the SC business stories that matter. Our newsletter catches you up with all the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina every Monday and Thursday at noon. Get ahead with us - it's free. 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. COLUMBIA Gov. Henry McMaster is lifting the evacuation order for Georgetown and Horry counties too, effective at 9 a.m. Sunday, allowing evacuees to return home before overflowing rivers are expected to shut down major arteries to the Grand Strand. McMasters latest announcement Saturday evening means all evacuation orders issued ahead of Hurricane Florence will soon be lifted. It came hours after people were allowed to return to Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties, as well as Edisto Beach, the only part of Colleton County that was under orders to leave. Orders were lifted for those counties at noon Saturday, after Hurricane Florence was downgraded to a tropical storm. More than 760,000 people from Edisto Beach to Little River were directed to leave, starting at noon Tuesday. An estimated 441,000 people actually left the coast about half of those from Georgetown and Horry counties. "Hurricane Florence, now a tropical storm, no longer poses an imminent threat to South Carolina," reads McMaster's executive order. The governor asks returning residents to be patient because there will be traffic congestion, as well as blocked roadways or detours. Don't drive around barricades or use emergency lanes needed for first responders, he said. Several main arteries to the Grand Strand are expected to wash out Monday as the feet of water Florence dumped in the Carolinas gushes downstream. When that happens, U.S. 378 from Columbia to Conway will become the main way in and out of Horry County, Hall said. Traffic will then flow to U.S. 501 to the beach. The state Department of Transportation is building two temporary dams to keep that route open. All state offices closed for the evacuation will re-open Monday. School districts ordered to close can now decide locally when to re-open. The governors latest executive orders, letting people return, do not prevent local officials from setting curfews. Curfews remain in effect in Horry and Georgetown counties as well as the town of Andrews, which is partially in Williamsburg County plus Marion, Dillon, Florence, Chesterfield, Darlington, and Marlboro counties. The curfew hours differ, with some directing people to stay off the streets either 7 p.m. to 8 a.m., or 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., said State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel. Hannah Alani is a reporter at The Post and Courier covering race, immigration and rural life across the Palmetto State. Before graduating from Indiana University and moving to Charleston in 2017, her byline appeared in The New York Times. David Slade is a senior Post and Courier reporter. His work has been honored nationally by Society of Professional Journalists, American Society of Newspaper Editors, Scripps foundation and others. Reach him at 843-937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com 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 news agency reported that it has also developed a new 2,500-tonne submarine fitted with a vertical launch system. -PTI Hurricane Matthew in 2016 left downed trees and other debris on land and in the lakes and rivers across South Carolina. File/Provided It was a quiet Sunday afternoon when you captured my heart. I was in town for the day to help out with a morning worship service in one congregation and an afternoon service in another. With a few midday hours unaccounted for, I found my way to Main Street. Id been to see you before, but this visit felt particularly special. The sun was shining, the skies were blue, and all around were signs of Minnesota at its best. The first stop was the Spam Museum. Being a fan of both canned meats and history, Id been to the museum a few times before. But Id never before met Jim! While I was exploring the historical exhibit, Jim stopped to say hello. Hes a Hormel retiree who now helps out at the museum. He greeted me and said, "I can share some more history if youd like." After a brief overview of the Hormel family tree, Jims eyes brightened with an idea, "Come and look at the information about the Hormel Foundation and the Hormel Institute." It was then that I learned about the 77-year history of the Hormel Institute as well as the pioneering cancer research of current Executive Director Dr. Zigang Dong. Jim also highlighted some of the projects made possible through the Hormel Foundation, which has given more than $197 million to the Austin community since its founding in 1941. After wrapping up my visit to the museum, it was time to head across the street to Sweet Reads Books. I was greeted by the bookstores owner, Lisa. The first thing I noticed was the lovely display of books by local authors. People of Austin, you are so fortunate to have this gem in your midst! Locally owned bookstores are so rare these days. While I explored the store and met a few other patrons, Lisa shared that she opened the shop just two years ago. "I just knew," she said about her decision to make her book store dream into reality. "Its not only about the books. Its about the relationships. The people." The walls of the back of the store are lined with bright, gorgeous portraits taken by Bill Taufic from his forthcoming book, "Our Austin, Our America." The portraits reveal that your community is culturally diverse in a profoundly inspiring way. With about 30 minutes left before it was time for me to lead worship for the afternoon service, I spent time driving around to get a more complete geographical lay of the land. I noticed the Buffy the Cow sculpture at the entrance of the Mower County Fairgrounds. Unable to help myself from stopping for a picture, I got out and walked up to the red and white fiberglass cow, which is referenced online on Roadside America and TripAdvisor. Just as the digital reviews had mentioned, Buffy is udderly delightful. When I got home that evening, I couldnt wait to tell my husband all about you, Austin. With a population around 25,000, youve got the benefits of accessibility, access to goods, education and employment while also exuding a sense of small town connectedness and familiarity. No community is perfect, and I know youre not either. Youre changing, growing and learning all the time. As you continue to explore what it means to Austin today and into the future, know that youre appreciated. Thank you for the gift that you are to southeastern Minnesota. Rochester is an amazing place to be, and Ill always be an Iowa girl at heart. but there was something about wandering around your downtown streets and neighborhoods that felt like coming home. With gratitude and appreciation, Emily On an early summer afternoon, I headed over to Dodge County to an area Id gone to the past few winters to look for snowy owls. Halfway between Claremont and Blooming Prairie, I would meet 89-year old Lowell Trom and his daughter, Sonja Trom Eayrs, to learn about their "legacy farm," and how the way of life surrounding it has changed life for its inhabitants. The Trom farm has been in the family since 1925, when Lowells grandfather emigrated from Norway. In the beginning, I envisioned the farm was typical of that period, with chickens, cattle and pigs all "free ranging," providing food for the family, as well as income for other necessities. Over time, Lowell states his "swampy" land was embedded with more than 750,000 feet of tile to dry it enough for pastures, and to raise crops such as corn and soybeans. He pointed out that before they drained the land, some areas were so wet and rich with waterfowl that ducks often "blackened the sky." Like many who did likewise, Lowell felt turning swampy land into productive farmland was a very good thing. But when I drive through these areas, I can only imagine the rich wetlands, Earths water filtration systems, that were once dominant in the state, here and further west. In time, the Trom farm focused mostly on raising corn and soybeans, which still is the main focus, with no farm animals, not even a dog in the yard, seen during my visit. Instead, large buildings with huge John Deere equipment and storage bins holding thousands of bushels of grains, and a grain dryer, dominated the multiacre farmyard. In recent years, another major change has taken place. Sterile-looking buildings loaded with pigs, cows or turkeys dot the landscape. Around the Trom farm, pigs rule, with 11 sites within three miles, each housing thousands of pigs. Although it is hard to see what they hold inside, at certain times the waft of pig manure permeates the air. The Troms have resisted this movement, with one family member, Sonjas sister and husband, getting out of farming rather than "going big" with one of the corporate setups. According to Sonja, "the operating loans they had relied on each year were no longer available, although the bank was willing to give them a larger loan if they put in a larger hog operation." While the smell of these hog operations, each with thousands of hogs, is often overwhelming, it is what these buildings sit over that has had the greatest impact on the environment. For, underneath most of the buildings that look clean from the outside, are pits that may hold a million gallons of manure, ultimately needing to be spread over the land. Based on data Sonja has gotten, the pig operations in Dodge County alone account for a manure equivalency of waste from 830,000 people. In all of Minnesota, this number is equivalent the waste of about 50 million humans, or roughly 10 times the state population. While most human waste is treated by wastewater treatment facilities, hog waste is not. And, although much of the manure spread on farmland is used by the crops it nourishes, some flows into local streams and rivers during rain events, or if it is spread when the ground is frozen. This pollutes rivers with nutrients they dont need, as well as E. coli and other pathogens that are not desirable. Therein lies the second problem, not only for the Troms and others who feel their quality of life has been ruined by corporate hog operations, but also for thousands of others living even many miles from the Dodge County farms. Some are concerned about the quality of water flowing in the Cedar River, which has its beginning on the original Trom farm, and flows through Austin. And, with some of the Zumbro River headwaters found in Dodge County, it even impacts us here in Rochester and beyond. Sonja said, "large corporate factory farms are inconsistent with our value system and, I believe, the value system of most people in rural America." And, although there is big money behind corporate farming, she is optimistic people will usher a return to the farming values she grew up with. In next weeks Nature Nut, I hope to explore what citizens, and the Izaak Walton League, are doing to bring attention to water quality impacted by these corporate farms. 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 PQ "It's clever for utilities to come back and stir the masses. ... It's a clever campaign that they've been doing for years." Jeff Voacolo, vice president, Micronesia Renewable Energy Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. As the Guam Power Authority continues to pursue changes to its net metering program, a photovoltaic company says the utility has yet to answer how it arrived at the proposed changes. Micronesia Renewable Energy Vice President Jeff Voacolo said MRE submitted about a hundred questions to GPA as testimony on the recommended changes. Under the current net metering program, a net metered customer is paid the retail rate for energy they produce which is pushed into the power grid. GPA is seeking to change this disbursement rate to reflect the utility's avoided cost the money GPA saves by using that customer's excess energy. The retail rate in fiscal year 2017 was about 21 cents per kilowatt-hour. GPA's avoided cost in 2017, according to the utility, is about 11 cents per kWh, mostly from fuel savings. Regular customers subsidize net metering customers about $3.5 million annually, according to the utility. Voacolo said GPA has not provided the formula on how it arrived at that conclusion. "That's the cost shift they're talking about. We've debated that. ... It's clever for utilities to come back and stir the masses. ... It's a clever campaign that they've been doing for years," Voacolo said. PQ "GPA is working hard to reduce expenses to avoid a base rate increase. However, to continue to subsidize net metering customers from base rates will result in rate increases in the near future for non-net metering customers." John Benavente, general manager, Guam Power Authority Voacolo referenced a 2017 study from Berkley Lab assessing the impact of distributed photovoltaic systems. The study concluded that, for the vast majority of utilities, the effect of distributed solar energy will remain negligible for the foreseeable future. This is because penetration rates for net metered solar customers remains low overall. According to the Energy and Policy Institute, a watchdog organization claiming to "expose attacks" on the renewable energy industry and counter misinformation from fossil fuel and utility interests, the report is "further proof that utility companies have been less than fully truthful in their concern over cost-shifts." Benavente: Current system cannot continue With regard to the impact the net metering program has on power costs on Guam specifically, GPA General Manager John Benavente maintains that the current system, of compensating net metered customers the full retail rate, cannot continue. "If this credit is left unchecked, subsidies could be several millions more in the next few years," Benavente said. "GPA is working hard to reduce expenses to avoid a base rate increase. However, to continue to subsidize net metering customers from base rates will result in rate increases in the near future for non-net metering customers. GPA has no control of this subsidy." With regard to Voacolo's claims that MRE's questions remain unanswered, Benavente said, he considered all major input submitted during the public hearings held on net metering. But GPA also was critical of power purchase agreements and zero-down programs, which MRE engages in with partner Sunnova Energy Corp. The net metering policy is a policy issue and not a finance structure matter, Voacolo said. The Consolidated Commission on Utilities is awaiting an updated report from GPA before deciding on whether to adopt changes to the net metering program. Afterward, if GPA's proposal passes, it will be forwarded to the Public Utilities Commission for final determination. CNN reports: Federal prosecutors in New York are weighing criminal charges against former Obama White House counsel Greg Craig as part of an investigation into whether he failed to register as a foreign agent in a probe that is linked to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, according to sources familiar with the matter. In addition, these sources said, prosecutors in the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York are considering taking action against powerhouse law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where Craig was a partner during the activity under examination. Apparently the fact that Skadden Arps and Paul Manafort collaborated in the conduct for which Manafort was prosecuted has been in the public domain for a while: The inquiry into Craig and Skadden is closely linked to a case against Manafort, and details about Skaddens work in the matter were disclosed in superseding criminal charges filed Friday by Muellers office against Manafort. According to the filing, which charged only Manafort, in 2012 Manafort solicited a law firm on behalf of the then-president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, and the Ukranian governments Ministry of Justice. The firm, which was Skadden, according to people familiar with the matter, was hired to write a report on the trial of Yulia Tymoshenko, the former prime minister of Ukraine and political rival of Yanukovych. In advance of the reports official release, Manafort arranged to have the law firm disseminate hard copies of the report to numerous government officials, including senior United States executive and legislative branch officials, the filing says. The partner who worked on the report according to court proceedings in another related case, that of former Skadden lawyer Alex van der Zwaan was Craig, CNN has reported. A former Skadden lawyer has already pled guilty to lying to federal investigators about Skaddens role. Skadden was paid $4.6 million for writing the report. Thats a heck of a report. I would think the fee can be explained only by the expectation that Skadden would use its political influence on behalf of the Ukrainian faction that paid for the report. In that case, presumably Skadden should have registered under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. It is not easy to see how Manafort can be prosecuted, but not Greg Craig and Skadden Arps. But then, there is this unintentionally revealing observation: Any action against Craig or Skadden would be an extraordinary step, given Craigs prominence and Skaddens position as one of the largest and most prestigious law firms in the country. As opposed to Paul Manafort, who is a nobody and a Republican to boot. Glenn Reynolds wonders, Will Greg Craig flip on Obama? If they go after everyone in Washington who should have registered as a foreign agent but didnt, the jails will be full. But if they dont, then why single out Manafort? I think we all know the answer to that question. Earlier this year I wrote a series of posts contra the dross of April Doss. The dross was found in the Weekly Standard cover story by Doss. The cover story disparaged House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes and asserted that he is retailing a conspiracy theory involving the Obama administrations misuse of FISA on Carter Page to surveil the Trump presidential campaign. Doss purported to lay down the truth about Nunes and FISA. The truth is that Dosss cover story was a disgrace. The FISA warrant applications on Carter Page open a window onto the biggest scandal in American political history. I have embedded them here previously and have embedded them again below. They are the ocular proof of the scandal. The invaluable Andrew McCarthy has now cracked open the window a little wider in two columns with one theme: FISA Docs Show: Long Before Mueller, Trump-Russia Was an Investigation Without a Crime. The first column (posted yesterday afternoon) is Reading the FISA redactions. The second is In the Russia Probe, Its Qui Sexcuse Saccuse (posted this morning the French expression is to the effect that he who excuses himself accuses himself). These are long, detailed, illuminating and educational columns that draw on McCarthys professional expertise. Stick with them both of them. Do not miss either one. Andy says he has read the FISA applications so you dont have to. He has performed a great public service in these columns. Even so, I say you have to review the FISA applications with your own eyes. They are shocking. Drawing from my series on Dosss Weekly Standard cover story, I want to restate the relevant background in the context of Andys linked columns: Under Title I of FISA see this useful House Intel Committee summary it was the burden of the government to establish probable cause that Page was engaging in espionage, terrorism, or sabotage by or on behalf of a foreign power that involved a violation of a criminal statute. (Doss stated: Although Page had left the campaign, the FBI feared Russia was using him for its own purposes. The application states that the FBI alleged there was probable cause to believe Page was an agent of a foreign power under a specific provision of FISA that involves knowingly aiding, abetting, or knowingly conspiring to assist a foreign power with clandestine intelligence gathering activities, engage in clandestine intelligence gathering at the behest of a foreign power, or participate in sabotage or international terrorism or planning or preparation therefor.) Doss to the contrary notwithstanding, the allegations cited by Doss in her article dont make out probable cause that Page is a Russian agent on any fair reading of the facts once the Steele dossier is seen for what it is. The FBI relied in substantial part on the allegations of the Steele dossier to obtain the FISA warrant on Page. Although the applications swear otherwise, these allegations were unverified. I observed in my series that Andy was one of the knowledgeable observers who disputes Doss on the propriety of this reliance. Doss simply omitted any acknowledgement of the related issues. The FBI nevertheless secured the FISA surveillance warrant on Page in October 2016 and renewed it three more times at 90-day intervals. I held out the possibility that the cited facts together with the redacted material fairly establish probable cause, but we have yet to see it. McCarthy now demonstrates that this is highly unlikely. Whether or not the FBI made out probable cause, it must have monitored Pages every communication by text, email and cell phone for a year. Yet Page remains a free man. No charge of any kind not even a process crime such the one used against Michael Flynn and George Papadoploulos has been brought against Carter Page. The circumstantial evidence strongly suggests that Page is not a Russian agent. Given the year-long surveillance on him without any resulting charge, Page might not only not be a Russian agent, he might be the cleanest man in Washington. Carter Page was a victim of government misconduct whose true object was Donald Trump. Quotable quote: [L]ets dispense with the tired claim that the Obama administration did not really spy on Trump and his campaign. Every one of the four FISA warrant applications, after describing Russias cyberespionage attack on the 2016 election, makes the following assertion (after two redacted lines): the FBI believes that the Russian Governments efforts to influence the 2016 election were being coordinated with Page and perhaps other individuals associated with Candidate #1s [i.e., Trumps] campaign.' One more: For Mueller, the Russia counterintelligence probe was cover to conduct a criminal investigation of Trump in the absence of grounds to believe a crime had occurred. CarterPageFISAfile by on Scribd According to Goldstein Research, China smart TV market is expected to reach USD 36.1billion by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 4.61% over the forecast period, 2016-2024. Growth in the trend of smart homes and smart offices in China is largely propelling the growth of the smart TV market. China Smart TV Market PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-15 06:50:05 Press Information Goldstein Research 99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527 Steve blade Global Sales Manager 6465687747 email https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/ # 465 Words 99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527Global Sales Manager6465687747 According to Goldstein Research, China smart TV market is expected to reach USD 36.1billion by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 4.61% over the forecast period, 2016-2024. Growth in the trend of smart homes and smart offices in China is largely propelling the growth of the smart TV market. China smart TV market segmentation has been done on the basis of screen type, display type, resolution type, screen size, distribution channel, end-users, and geography. Based on screen type, flat screen type smart TV accounted for the largest market share of 53.6% in 2017, due to its lower price and high demand majorly among the middle-income group of people. China Smart TV market is influenced by the fact that China is one of the major suppliers of smart TV across the globe with sales increasing that grew by 14% in 2017 as compared from the sales in 2016.Browse Full Report:Market SegmentationOn the basis of our in-depth analysis, ChinaSmart TV Market can be segmented as follows:By Screen Type Flat Screen Curved ScreenBy Display Type LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) LED (Light Emitting Diodes) Plasma OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) QLED (Quantum Dot LED)By Resolution Type 4K UHD TV HDTV Full HD TV 8K TVBy Screen Size Below 32 inches 32 to 45 inches 46 to 55 inches 56 to 65 inches Above 65 inchesBy Distribution Channel Online OfflineBy End-User Residential Commercial IndustrialChinaSmart TVMarket Outlook 2024 highlights a comprehensive overview of the China smart TV market. On the basis of our in-depth analysis, the market can be segmented in terms of market segmentation by screen type, display type, resolution type, screen size, distribution channel, end-users, and geography.Download Exclusive Sample Report:The ChinaSmart TV Market Report highlights the competitive outlook of major China players that includes the business strategies, product portfolio, revenue distribution, financial analysis, R&D activities, and investments. The in-depth analysis of the smart TV market report will help the clients to assess their business strategies as per the competitive environment in the market space.Major players of the China smart TV market discussed in the report are: TCL, Haier Consumer Electronics Group, Hisense, Changhong, Konka, Xiaomi, LeTV, Sony, Samsung, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Hong Kong Skyworth Digital Holdings, Logitech International, Onida Electronics, Toshiba, Videocon, Hitachi, Ltd., etc.Further, China Smart TV Market Report encompasses the major trends & growth opportunities, market dynamics, and other growth factors. The Smart TV Market outlook also comprises of key challenges for the market players, risk analysis, SWOT Analysis, USP Analysis, BPS analysis, and Market Attractiveness. The report also contains the expert analysis related to complete overview of the market post analysis of the economic, political, environmental & social factors of each region and country.Browse Similar Report: As per Goldstein Research analysis, Europe automotive aftermarket industry size is anticipated to be valued at USD 241.0billion by 2025, expanding at a CAGR of 3.1% over the forecast period, 2017-2025. Europe Automotive Aftermarket Industry PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-15 08:25:32 Press Information Goldstein Research 99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527 Steve blade Global Sales Manager 6465687747 email https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/ # 498 Words 99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527Global Sales Manager6465687747 As per Goldstein Research analysis, Europe automotive aftermarket industry size is anticipated to be valued at USD 241.0billion by 2025, expanding at a CAGR of 3.1% over the forecast period, 2017-2025. The improvement in the average age of a vehicle in Europe is one of the leading factor in the growth of the market. Based on the after-market products and services segmentation, the wear-and-tear parts segment holds largest market share i.e. 59.0% in 2017 and it is followed by services segment which tends to grow at a CAGR of +7% over the forecast period (2017-2025). Whereas based on geography, Europe automotive aftermarket industry is by large dominated by Germany acquiring 45.0% market share in 2017. On the other hand, as per our analysis, Eastern Europe region is witnessed to be the fastest growing automotive aftermarket at a CAGR of 7.3% during the forecast period.Browse Full Report:Market SegmentationOn the basis of our in-depth analysis, Europe Automotive Aftermarket Industry can be segmented as follows:By After Market Products and Services Type Wear-and-Tear Parts Crash-Relevant Parts Accessories and Appearance Products Diagnostics Products Services (Fleet Management etc.)By End Users Type Service Providers (Telematics, Fleet Management etc.) Independent Workshops Automotive OEM WorkshopBy Distribution Channels Offline Distribution Channel Online Distribution ChannelBy Countries The U.K. Automotive Aftermarket Industry Analysis, 2017-2025 Germany Automotive Aftermarket Industry Analysis, 2017-2025 France Automotive Aftermarket Industry Analysis, 2017-2025 Italy Automotive Aftermarket Industry Analysis, 2017-2025 Spain Automotive Aftermarket Industry Analysis, 2017-2025 Poland Automotive Aftermarket Industry Analysis, 2017-2025 Sweden Automotive Aftermarket Industry Analysis, 2017-2025 Russia Automotive Aftermarket Industry Analysis, 2017-2025 Rest Of Europe Automotive Aftermarket Industry Analysis, 2017-2025Download Exclusive Sample Report:Europe Automotive Aftermarket Industry Outlook 2025 contains a detailed overview of the Europe automotive aftermarket industry. On the basis of our in-depth analysis, the market can be segmented in terms of market segmentation by aftermarket product and services type, end-user type, distribution channel, and countries.The Europe Automotive Aftermarket Industry Report encompasses the competitive outlook of major players that summarises the business strategies, revenue distribution, product portfolio, financial analysis, R&D activities, and investments. The comprehensive analysis of the automotive aftermarket industry report helps the clients to assess their business strategies as per the competitive environment in the market space.Major players of the Europe automotive aftermarket industry discussed in the report are 3M, Continental AG, Delphi Automotive PLC, Denso Corporation, Federal-Mogul Corporation, MagnetiMarelliS.p.A ., Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Robert Bosch GmbH, etc.Further, Europe Automotive Aftermarket Industry Report encompasses the major trends & growth opportunities, market dynamics, and other growth factors. The Automotive Aftermarket Industry outlook also comprises of key challenges for the market players, risk analysis, SWOT Analysis, BPS analysis, and Market Attractiveness. The report also includes the expert analysis which provides a complete overview of the market post analysis of the economic, political, environmental & social factors of each region and country.Browse Similar Report: According to Goldstein Research, Europe craft beer market is expected to reach USD 37.8 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 9.1%. The advanced equipment and easy financing sources are inducing the launch of start-ups, which is thus driving the growth of the market. Europe Craft Beer Market PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-15 08:31:20 Press Information Goldstein Research 99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527 Steve blade Global Sales Manager 6465687747 email https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/ # 455 Words 99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527Global Sales Manager6465687747 According to Goldstein Research, Europe craft beer market is expected to reach USD 37.8 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 9.1%. The advanced equipment and easy financing sources are inducing the launch of start-ups, which is thus driving the growth of the market. Europe craft beer market segmentation has been done on the basis of product type, end-users, distribution channel, and geography. On-trade distribution channel acquired the largest market share backed by the large opening of new restaurants, clubs, pubs, and bars that have a huge demand for craft beers. Europe craft beer market is largely dominated by Western Europe acquiring 75% revenue share in 2016. Non-U.K. countries such as Switzerland and Turkey are expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.0% over the forecast period.Browse Full Report:Market SegmentationOn the basis of our in-depth analysis, Europe Craft Beer Market can be segmented as follows:By Product Type Pale Ale Craft Beer Seasonal Craft Beer Amber Ale Craft Beer Lager Craft Beer Wheat Craft Beer Bocks Craft Beer Fruit BeerBy End Users Regional craft breweries Microbreweries Brewpubs Contract breweryBased on Distribution Channel On-Trade Off-TradeBy Countries The U.K. Craft Beer Market Analysis, 2017-2025 Germany Craft Beer Market Analysis, 2017-2025 France Craft Beer Market Analysis, 2017-2025 Italy Craft Beer Market Analysis, 2017-2025 Spain Craft Beer Market Analysis, 2017-2025 SwitzerlandCraft Beer Market Analysis, 2017-2025 Rest Of Europe Craft Beer Market Analysis, 2017-2025Europe Craft Beer MarketOutlook 2025 contains a detailed overview of the Europe craft beer market. On the basis of our in-depth analysis, the market can be segmented in terms of market segmentation by product type, end-users, distribution channeland countries.Download Exclusive Sample Report:The Europe Craft Beer Market Report encompasses the competitive outlook of major players that summarises the business strategies, revenue distribution, product portfolio, financial analysis, R&D activities, and investments. The comprehensive analysis of the craft beer market report helps the clients to assess their business strategies as per the competitive environment in the market space.Major players of the Europecraft beer market discussed in the report are BrewDog, Chimay Brewery, DuvelMoortgat, The Boston Beer Company, MIKKELLER, BEAVERTOWN, AFBrew, Asahi Group Holdings (ASH), HimburgsBraukunstkeller, BUXTON BREWERY, STONE BREWING, Thornbridge Brewery, and Van Pur, etc.Further, Europe Craft Beer Market Report encompasses the major trends & growth opportunities, market dynamics, and other growth factors. The Craft Beer Marketoutlookalsocomprises of key challenges for the market players, risk analysis, SWOT Analysis, BPS analysis, and Market Attractiveness. The report also includes the expert analysis which provides a complete overview of the market post analysis of the economic, political, environmental & social factors of each region and country.Browse Similar Report: According to Goldstein Research, global cargo handling equipment market size is expected to reach USD 89.4 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 4.4% over the forecast period 2016-2024 Global Cargo Handling Equipment Market PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-15 09:31:42 Press Information Goldstein Research 99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527 Steve blade Global Sales Manager 6465687747 email https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/ # 444 Words 99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527Global Sales Manager6465687747 According to Goldstein Research, global cargo handling equipment market size is expected to reach USD 89.4 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 4.4% over the forecast period 2016-2024. The factors such as Stringent fuel emission norms, government initiatives to replace diesel combustion engines with hybrid and electric equipment, increasing awareness among service providers and cargo equipment operators towards electrification cargo operations are jointly driving the growth of global cargo handling equipment market. Geographically, global cargo handling equipment market share is by large acquired by Asia Pacific region, with 36.0% market share in 2016. Whereas, North America is estimated to be contributing nearly 28.0% market share in 2016.Browse Full Report:Market SegmentationGlobal Cargo Handling Equipment Market can be segmented as follows:By Product Bulldozers Cranes Electric Pallet Jacks Excavators Forklifts Loaders Man Lifts Rail Pushers Reach Stackers RTG Cranes Side Picks Tractors Truck Others (Top Handlers etc.)By Location Marine Ports Airports Rail YardsBy Region North America Cargo Handling Equipment Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Europe Cargo Handling Equipment Market Analysis, 2016-2024 The Middle East and Africa Cargo Handling Equipment Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Latin America Cargo Handling Equipment Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Asia Pacific Cargo Handling Equipment Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Rest of the World Cargo Handling Equipment Market Analysis, 2016-2024Global Cargo Handling Equipment Market Outlook 2024 contains a detailed overview of the global cargo handling equipment market. On the basis of our in-depth analysis, the market can be segmented in terms of market segmentation by product, location, and geography.Download Exclusive Sample Report:The Global Cargo Handling Equipment Market Report highlights the competitive outlook of major global players that includes the business strategies, product portfolio, revenue distribution, financial analysis, R&D activities, and investments. The in-depth analysis of cargo handling equipment market report will help the clients to assess their business strategies as per the competitive environment in the market space.Major players of the global cargo handling equipment market discussed in the report are: ABB Group, Pioneer Corporation, Liebherr Group, Kalmar Global, Toyota Industries Corporation, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Seehafen Wismar GmbH, Terex Corporation, JBT Corporation, Johnson Taylor Forklifts, Konecranes Plc, etc.Further, Global Cargo Handling Equipment Market Report encompasses the major trends & growth opportunities, market dynamics, and other growth factors. The Cargo Handling Equipment Market outlook also comprises of key challenges for the market players, risk analysis, SWOT Analysis, USP Analysis, BPS analysis, and Market Attractiveness. The report also contains the expert analysis related to complete overview of the market post analysis of the economic, political, environmental & social factors of each region and country.Browse Similar Report: Global Kitchenware Equipment Market PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-15 07:34:34 Press Information Goldstein Research 99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527 Steve blade Global Sales Manager 6465687747 email https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/ # 468 Words 99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527Global Sales Manager6465687747 According to Goldstein Research, global kitchenware equipment market is expected to reach USD 234.5 billion by the end of 2024 from USD 176.4 billion in 2016, growing at a CAGR of 3.6%. Technological advancement and digitization of kitchenware equipment to create a connected environment are driving the growth of global kitchenware equipment market. The online platform has gained significant growth in the supply of kitchenware equipment. The demand from a growing middle-class population has a major contribution in spurring the kitchenware industry. Global kitchenware equipment market is majorly driven by North America region which provides ample space for the installation of kitchenware appliances and the developed technology infrastructure in the region contributed to the largest market share. North America is closely followed by Asia-Pacific on the back of economic development activities that are impacting the supply of kitchenware equipment.Browse Full Report:Market SegmentationOn the basis of our in-depth analysis, Global Kitchenware Equipment Market can be segmented as follows:By Product Type Cook-wares Bake-wares Cutlery & Knife Accessories Appliances Utensils & small GadgetsBy Distribution Channel Online OfflineBy End Users Residential Kitchen Commercial KitchensBy Region North America Kitchenware Equipment Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Europe Kitchenware Equipment Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Middle East And Africa Kitchenware Equipment Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Latin America Kitchenware Equipment Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Asia Pacific Kitchenware Equipment Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Rest Of The World Kitchenware Equipment Market Analysis, 2016-2024Global Kitchenware Equipment Market Outlook 2024 highlights a comprehensive overview of the global kitchenware equipment market. On the basis of our in-depth analysis, market can be segmented in terms of market segmentation by product type, end-users, distribution channel and geography.Get More Insights Here:The Global Kitchenware Equipment Market Report highlights the competitive outlook of major global players that includes the business strategies, product portfolio, revenue distribution, financial analysis, R&D activities, and investments. The in-depth analysis of kitchenware equipment market report will help the clients to assess their business strategies as per the competitive environment in the market space.Download Exclusive Sample Report:Major players of the global kitchenware equipment market discussed in the report are Hobart Corporation, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Morphy Richards, Phillips, Electrolux, Whirlpool, Pyrex Cookware, Illinois tools Works Inc., Manitowoc Company Inc., Dover Corporation, etc.Further, Global Kitchenware Equipment Market Report encompasses the major trends & growth opportunities, market dynamics, and other growth factors. The Kitchenware Equipment Market outlook also comprises of key challenges for the market players, risk analysis, SWOT Analysis, USP Analysis, BPS analysis, and Market Attractiveness. The report also contains the expert analysis related to complete overview of the market post analysis of the economic, political, environmental & social factors of each region and country.Browse Similar Report: Ima Niboro, a journalist, was the special adviser on media and publicity to former President Goodluck Jonathan. He was later appointed the managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria. In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES Festus Owete and Kunle Sanni, Mr Niboro speaks on his plan to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives, Delta politics and the chances of his party, APC in the 2019 general elections. Excerpts: PT: Why do you want to run for the House of Representatives? Niboro: Well it might sound like a cliche when I tell you that my people want me to run. But in this case it is not a cliche, it is a fact because my constituency came together, made up a committee of friends and raised the funds for me to purchase forms. I told them if they want me to run they should go and purchase the forms themselves and deliver the forms to me. You notice that I have not been doing any consultations. Although, I had a mission when I decamped to APC, my intention was to run for House of Representatives. But when you join a party afresh you would want to build a consensus. I am a consensus person. I dont want to enter a place and begin to ride roughshod on the people you met there thereby causing hatred, enmity and all that. And I said the most important thing is to join the leaders of the party and build the party. And if at a certain point they think that you have an ambition of going to the House of Representatives and you think you can actualise that ambition, then I would accept it. When my people raised this issue very strongly, I went to the leaders of the party and I told them this is what my people are saying, what do you think and they gave me their blessings. PT: You said your people asked you to contest but there must be a reason why they said so. Is it that they have been underrepresented? Niboro: Completely so. It has been a tragedy because there is virtually no representation. The PDP person who is there, nobody sees him. I think they see him every four years for the next election and it has been like that consistently. And apart from that, we are from Delta Central Senatorial District and my constituency is the Ughelli South/Ughelli North/Udu federal constituency. And in the Central we are APC people. APC controls Delta Central. You realise that even our senator, Ovie Omo-Agege is APC. Our great leader like Otega Emerho is APC. Even Great Ogboru is a leader of the party. So those are the things that defined my movement to APC. Bill Clinton said all politics is local. I had to move in the direction of my people because as far as we are concerned we are disappointed in PDP. PDP has not served them the way they hoped and they have embraced the APC and I have to go in the direction of my people. PT: That means your constituency lacks basic amenities. Are there things you hope to bring, if elected? Niboro: In fact, what happened in our constituency is not a question of what they lack, it is a question of not having anything whatsoever. Eyara, Otu Jeremy and Utorogu are all within the same area. That Utorogu Gas Plant is the largest inland gas plant facility in Nigeria. There are bigger ones but they are either offshore or near shore. Our people have been peaceful. Although there have been agitations, you dont hear that our people have gone to put a bomb or set fire there because it is gas. If they put fire there you know what it would be. Our people have been very peaceful, law abiding in comparison to others, to our neighbours. See the Ijaws, the Itsekiri. And you know sometimes in Nigeria, it is the law abiding people that gets the shortest end of the stick. Sometimes, the younger generation start advocating violence. We have discouraged violence among our people, we have preached to them, we have begged them that we must not go this way. All through my years as a journalist, I did a lot of work in the Niger Delta area. Even the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, I was the only journalist that interviewed him in prison. He was in detention camp in Bori. We were that close. They smuggled me in as one of his staff. So, I have been involved in the Niger Delta struggle through the years and I have seen how it has helped other communities. It has helped other people but in our place we have somehow been unable to convert it to a momentous progress. And I feel very sad about it and I believe that if we are not going to do it violently, and we must not do it violently, we must do it peaceably. People who know the issues, people who know what can be done, people who have had relationship with the struggle through the years must be at the level where the laws are being made, where the laws are being refined and defined because we are a nation of laws. If we dont make and unmake the laws we cannot get there from here. That is why I want to go to the House of Representative, to be part of that process, to remake these laws. As a representative, you cannot directly bring development except as constituency projects but what is the value of constituency projects to that ocean of poverty? But if you make the right laws, those laws convert into possibilities, convert a new way of thinking and doing things and these conversions now lead to these same projects that we are talking about. Ima Niboro PT: We have always heard these things you just said. Politicians are always telling people about beautiful things they want to do but when they get there it is different thing altogether. Is it going to be the same way with you? Niboro: I dont really consider myself as a politician. I look at myself first as a journalist, an activist and somebody who has interest of the people at heart, somebody who understands the story of the people. I am only in politics as a vehicle to achieve it. If there is any other way to achieve it, I will but I have looked to the left and I have looked to the right, the only way to achieve it within the context of a democratic republic as we are is to join politics and be part of this process. Enough of standing on the side and criticising and writing beautiful prose. At this point in my life I am beginning to see that there is life beyond the headlines. The headlines sometimes tend to isolate one from the people we need to work together with, people we need to form the process with so we can achieve what we want to achieve. So, I want to move away from the headlines and move beyond the headlines, work behind the headlines. So, if they call me a politician, it is okay but I do not consider myself a typical politician. PT: You said Delta Central is APC but I also know there are some chieftains of PDP there. Former Governor James Ibori is from Delta Central, Ighoyota Amori is also from there and many others. With the presence of these PDP chieftains, dont you think your ambition will run into a hitch? Niboro: How has Omo-Ageges membership of the Senate run into a hitch? Did Ighoyota Amori not win the senate seat and the court removed him? PT: Dont forget that Ibori was not in town when the elections were held. Niboro: Was it not the same Ibori that went to the newspaper saying that he installed senators and governors from prison? It shows you where the people are; it shows you things have changed. Only last week the former governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, governor of the state for eight years, joined the APC. He was not just a governor, he is Iboris cousin and a leading member of the Ibori kitchen cabinet, which I also called the Ibori dynasty. I personally dont have any issues with Ibori, he is not my enemy. I consider him as a big brother who ran into bad weather. I feel sorry for him. I have no issues with him as a person. So, I dont think he should have any issues with me either. But even if he does have issues, he belongs to his party I belong to my party. I dont think he would have issues with Ima Niboro. PT: What people say generally is that Delta is a PDP stronghold because the governor is PDP and the party has been ruling the state. You still think this will not jeopardise your ambition? Niboro: When they say Delta is PDP, I modify it to say Delta used to be PDP. People are beginning to seek alternative platforms. People are dissatisfied, people are angry, people are saying no. We could have done better. Why are we the way we are? People are beginning to seek new platforms and in Delta State there is no alternative platform to the PDP than APC. Where do you want to go? Labour Party and Accord Party virtually dont exist. You see that all the angry PDP elements and they are the some of the strongest people and the grassroots mobilisers are drifting day by day into APC. You may not see them on the newspapers headlines but they are the strong local politicians. The wave of defections that is going on is amazing. Just two weeks ago, the former Chairman of the Delta State Revenue Mobilisation Board defected and has swung the entire Isoko area into APC because there is anger. Why is there anger? The person who is representing Isoko in the House of Representatives has done three terms and wants to go for the fourth term. There are some things that are not just done. A position that is meant to rotate among different groups, you would hold it for three consecutive terms, that is for12 years, and you want to go the fourth one. The same thing is happening in Delta South Senatorial District. Senator James Manager has been there for three terms and he wants to go for a fourth term. Remember that at the advent of this Republic, the first senator from Delta South was Stella Omu, an Isoko woman. She did one term and she handed over to James Manager, an Ijaw man who was expected would do one term and hand to an Itsekiri. All these are PDP politics and I dont want to get involved in it but what comes out of that PDP becomes a fact of life in terms of federal representation. So that is why people are angry. They say no, you must change it. When you say Delta is PDP, I say no. It is wrong. Delta used to be PDP. Ima Niboro PT: If you look at the APC in Delta State, it is in tatters. Members are fighting themselves. Do you think with this development they can win elections? Niboro: There is no ruling party that doesnt have issues. When PDP was ruling at some point they turned to their own opposition. It is always like that because when people see greater opportunity and greater possibility of changing things people are more interested. And everybody comes with his interest. It is not everybody that is like us who wants to place the interest of the party first. They want to play their interest first and let the party line up behind their interest. What is happening in Delta State is not different from what is happening anywhere else. But these things would be settled. I am happy that the national chairman is actively involved in the matter. He has started the reconciliation process. PT: The National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, was quoted as saying the APC will take over some states in the South South, including Delta State. Does the political environment in Delta State favour the taking over by the APC? Niboro: In fact, the takeover of Delta State is long overdue. Delta will be taken over by APC. PT: With these defections, does APC have any hope in the coming elections? Niboro: I tell you with confidence that APC will win the next election. You can see that the Kano calculation has crumbled. Shekarau has joined the APC. You can name the governors that have left. Who has left Benue, Kwara, Sokoto. What else? But look at what APC has gotten. Look at the big fish (Godswill) Akpabio from Akwa Ibom. In terms of budget, Akwa Ibom is up to five states elsewhere. PT: You believe Akpabios defection to APC will alter the political calculations in the South South? Niboro: Totally. Perception is everything. People now see that it is possible. So others that have been a little bit reticent can move. If everybody was bold and courageous like us who could move at the time we moved..They abuse me even on Facebook. If I posted something on Facebook hundreds of PDP people will abuse me and I will laugh. As a former press secretary, Im used to abuse. It doesnt do anything to me. But now all those people that abused me.. With the movements to APC now in Delta, my own friends on Facebook are asking them questions oh you were abusing this man, but you have now joined the same party. Some have even come to apologise, saying you saw it before we did. They have come to apologise. That is the way of politics. If you think because of abuse you will not do what is practical for your own people, you will never go anywhere. Akpabios movement has shown in the South South that it is possible. When Amaechi did it, they abused him. As Akpabio moved now they are saying who next? Look at Uduaghan, he has moved. All the big names are coming one by one. PT: It was reported in the social media that Ibori might join APC. Is APC talking to Ibori? Niboro: I will not be able to sit down here and confirm that. But if Ibori decides to join APC, all well and good. The more the merrier. PDP is finished in Delta and If Ibori joins, they will now be completely finished. PT: Some consider Buhari an abysmal failure? Do you share this view? Niboro: Not at all. Nigerians must learn to be patient with government. Britain which was our colonial ruler you have governments that are in place for 15 years. In the US, you hardly see any government that does one term any more. Buhari has come. The same hounds that hounded Jonathan have turned on Buhari. This is because some people thrive on the cycle of instability of this country. If you ask me, let Buhari do eight years. If Obasanjo did four years, Obasanjo wouldnt have achieved anything. I have been at the high level of government as presidential aide. That first term nothing meaningful happens. You use the first term to look around, get all the reports. You inherit the budget of the previous government. Before you start your own budget it is the following year. Then before you know it two years have gone. This is the third year. Elections are here already. Politics takes over everywhere. So, no government should be judged on a single term. It will be a disservice to Nigeria if we judge Buharis government on a single term. Allow Buhari to complete his two terms. Buhari himself has said before that he knows that Nigerians are suffering. This is a president that has been so honest with Nigerians. Global Fund, an international donor agency, has accused officials of a Nigerian civil society organisation (CSO) of stealing from money meant for their staff salaries. Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, is an international financing organisation founded by billionaire American couple, Bill and Melinda Gates; recently deceased former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan; Amir Attaran and Jeffrey Sachs. Since it started operation in Nigeria in 2003, it has disbursed $1.1 billion in the fight against the three major diseases; HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, making its investments in Nigeria one of its biggest. However, the latest report indicted officials of Civil Society for the Eradication of Tuberculosis in Nigeria (TB Network) of misappropriating $51,038 (N18.4 million). The principal recipients of Global Funds grants on TB in Nigeria are the Institute of Human Virology of Nigeria (IHVN) and the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH). TB Network has been a sub-recipient of the grants in Nigeria since 2013. The CSO currently implements activities on two tuberculosis (TB) grants: NGA-T-ARFH, under the Principal Recipient Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), working on its active case finding (ACF) programme and NGA-T-IHVN under the Principal Recipient Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), working on its multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB programme. TB Network was also a sub-recipient of the Global Fund HIV grant NGA-H-ARFH for the period January 2013 to December 2017, working on its community systems strengthening (CSS) programme. Nigeria is classified as one of the 10 highest Tuberculosis and Multiple Drug Resistance-TB countries in the world. Most of the TB interventions in the country are funded by Global Fund and the federal government. Nigerias TB burden is estimated at 219 per 100,000 people. About 100,433 TB cases were notified across the country in 2016. The treatment rate for new and relapse cases were 84 per cent, while treatment coverage was 24 per cent. However, in a report published on its website this month, Global Fund said Management of TB Network organised a scheme to misappropriate money from salaries and allowances paid to other TB Network employees over a period of 14 months. The Office of the Inspector-General (OIG) of the Global Fund said it was alerted to the fraud July 2017, a year after it started. OIG in its report also accused IHVN of wrongdoing because it failed to inform Global Fund about the fraud, despite having knowledge of it. This, they said breached IHVNs obligations to report back any concerns involving or affecting the integrity of Global Fund resources. Global Fund, an international donor agency. [PHOTO CREDIT: Official web page of Global Fund] The OIG said it was informed about the potential mandatory salary and Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) deduction scheme operated by the Management of TB Network. The information given to OIG indicated that the scheme used in misappropriating the fund had been in place since July 1, 2016. The OIG after authenticating the information carried out an investigation which covered July 1, 2016 to September 2017. It said after its investigation, it found the CSO culpable of non-compliant expenditure totalling $63,580. The OIG proposes recovering the total amount of non-compliant expenditure. The allegations against TB Network include coercion, collusion, fraud and non-compliance with Grant Agreement. According to the report of the OIG investigation, between July 2016 and September 30, 2017, 28 employees paid N16, 791,646 ($51,038) from their salaries and or Daily Subsistence Allowance entitlement to the scheme organised TB Network. This fraud was allegedly perpetuated by the National Coordinator of the CSO, assisted by the former finance manager and a programme internal auditor. Employees made payments to the personal bank accounts of the former finance manager and later to the programmes internal auditor who, acting on the instructions of the national coordinator, were responsible for collecting and distributing the funds, OIG said. It was also found that TB Network management also colluded to misappropriate funds paid as salaries to five employees, totalling N3,536,797 ($10, 750). These employees received salary payment for two months that they were not entitled to and which they were required to pay to the scheme. The operation of the scheme and the actions of TB Network management breach Global Funds Code of Conduct for Recipients, OIG said. OIG found out that TB Network management and its National Secretary benefitted substantially from the funds collected from the staff while misleading Global Fund that the deductions were paid for office support staff and running cost. However, the national secretary was not found to be involved in the implementation of the scheme and said the employees contributed to it voluntarily. OIG Investigation Report OIG found during its investigation that the management of TB Network informed the staff that the deduction in their salaries was to help run the office. According to the staff, they were told how much to pay by the former finance manager when they joined the organisation and some said they feared they would lose their jobs if they refused. The employee said they had initially paid their contributions into the personal bank account of TB Networks former finance manager. However this changed in April 2017, when they paid the contribution into the personal account of the MDR programme Internal Auditor who was responsible for collecting and distributing the funds. Meanwhile, the management of TB Network in their defence told OIG that the staff had voluntarily agreed for the fund to be deducted as a contributory scheme from their salaries and DSA to assist sustain the organisation. According to TB Network management, employees decided each month how much they wanted to contribute, and all agreed to pay 10 per cent of their DSA to the scheme. Both the former finance manager and the internal auditor told the OIG that the national coordinator instructed them how much to collect from employees and that he controlled the expenditure of the funds collected. Though the management of TB Network stated that the contribution was to the scheme and was voluntary, what the staff was unaware of was that almost half of the collected funds were paid to management and the National Secretary. TB Network management denied any wrongdoing; though they initially did not mention it when interviewed about the scheme. The national coordinator, programme manager and former finance manager did not tell the OIG that they had received any funds collected from employees. They only admitted to it once the OIG presented the investigations findings, including evidence that they received monthly payments from the scheme. They justified the monthly payments by claiming that grant budgets did not adequately compensate their work and responsibilities which, they said, increased in July 2016 when TB Network became a sub-recipient on the MDR and ACF programmes in addition to the CSS programme. OIG found that the national coordinator, programme manager and former finance manager received N4, 740,234 ($14,408) or 28 per cent of the total collected from employees during the period investigated. The national coordinator received N2, 712,398 ($8,244), or 16 per cent, the programme manager received N1, 176,100 ($3,575), or 7 per cent, and the former finance manager received N851, 736 ($2,589), or 5 per cent. TB Networks national cecretary also received NGN2, 930,000 ($8,906) from the scheme, or 17 per cent of the total collected. The national secretary said he received a monthly payment from the scheme on the authorisation of the national coordinator. Although not based at TB Networks Abuja headquarters, and not involved in the day-to-day implementation of the Global Fund programmes, he was considered a member of support staff and was involved in the organisations administration. TB Network Reacts National Secretary TB Network, Obatunde Oladapo, in a telephone conversation with PREMIUM TIMES said the report was accurate but he was not indicted as part of the management involved in the fraud. Mr Oladapo said the organisation has embarked on restructuring since the report of the investigation was released. He said The National Steering Committee, which is the executive committee of TB Network, had several meetings after the release of the report. In fact, when they accepted the first edition, the National Steering Committee conducted a preliminary investigation and there were some recommendations that were made to the management of the network. This includes national coordinator, the national secretary, programme manager as well as the finance manager. Based on our findings, we did not want the national coordinator to continue any more but apparently, he continued for some time. Based on that, after the release of the report by the OIG, we convened a joint meeting of the National Steering Committee and the Board of Trustees of the Network, where we examined the issues and we took some measures sequel to the report, he said. Mr Oladapo explained that one of the measures they took was appointing one of the members of the National Steering Committee to oversee the project of the Global Funds programmes of the network. The programme manager has ceased functioning in that position and we appointed somebody else as the acting programme manager. Beyond that, we also held meetings with the two principal recipients of the two Global Funds projects that were affected, these are IHVN and ARFH. He said the committee also visited the Executive Secretary of the Country Coordinating Mechanism to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria CCM. Mr Oladapo said the restructuring measures are still ongoing as they had agreed to talk about other matters at meetings scheduled for Thursday September 13 and Friday September 14. The two national steering committees will be meeting tomorrow to resolve the issue and take further steps. We are also holding the meeting on Friday in consultation of principal recipients, National TB and leprosy commission programme, and other for further consultations and final decisions. We are also strengthening our organsational policy to forestall such occurrences. So that is basically the step we are taking as an organisation, he said. The OIG had also recommended that based on the finding of the report, the Global Fund Secretariat will ensure that the principal recipients take appropriate action towards the individuals responsible for the prohibited practices described in the report, notably to ensure they are not involved with the implementation of Global Fund grants to those principal recipients. OIG therefore considers that the full amount collected from employees is non-compliant and potentially recoverable, it said Also, the Global Fund Secretariat was told to finalise and pursue an appropriate recoverable amount. This amount will be determined by the Secretariat in accordance with its evaluation of applicable legal rights and obligations and associated determination of recoverability, it said. The resignation of Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, from her post Friday evening did not come without high-wire drama and intrigues. It followed weeks of high-level horse-trading since PREMIUM TIMES exposed a certificate forgery scandal involving the minister. The ministers resignation was confirmed Friday evening via a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Femi Adesina. Mr Adesina announced President Muhammadu Buharis acceptance of the ministers resignation. He also provided the full text of the resignation letter. On July 7, this newspaper exclusively reported how the finance minister skipped the mandatory national youth service and forged an exemption certificate in lieu. PREMIUM TIMES had in series of reports between March and April painted a picture of unholy alliance between the minister and federal lawmakers, who used the discrepancy to blackmail Mrs Adeosun into illegally financing the legislature. Despite widespread outrage and condemnation from Nigerians, Mrs Adeosun maintained studied silence throughout. The minister was reportedly assured by some powerful forces within and outside the administration that nothing would happen to her as a result of the revelation. Officials at the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) also came under intense pressure to help save the ministers neck. But sources at the presidency said the NYSC Director General, Suleiman Kazaure, a brigadier general, resisted the pressures, insisting that there was nothing he and his officials could do on the matter. However, a section of the administration, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, was said to be uncomfortable with having Mrs Adeosun around, amidst the unresolved scandal. But President Buhari, who assured government officials who spoke to him that he would take action on the matter, took many weeks trying to understand the issues. THE EXIT Mrs Adeosuns journey into resignation started on Wednesday, with an order for her to resign. Impeccable sources told PREMIUM TIMES the minister was barred from the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting and told to submit her resignation to the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari. From the left, the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammadu Belo; Minister for Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; Minister for Foreign Affairs, Geofferery Onyeama and other Ministers singing the national anthem during the Federal Executive Council chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Aso Chambers, State House, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida 11/04/2018 (FILE PHOTO) The verbal instruction, which was relayed to her by Mr Kyari on behalf of the president, rattled Mrs Adeosun who went home downcast from the villa. She has been downcast and at home since she was given the order, a source close to her told PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday. The option of resignation was handed the minister as a way of giving her an opportunity to salvage whatever remained of her integrity. A leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, also reportedly advised President Buhari to ask the minister to resign. That was, however, not done before the president left for London on vacation in July. At least two officials who met with Mr Buhari around the time confided in PREMIUM TIMES that the president assured them that he was consulting before taking action. He said he spoke to about seven persons, including the Ogun State governor who brought her, to seek advise on the way out, a chief executive of one federal agency told PREMIUM TIMES at the time. LAST MINUTE LOBBYING After the communication of the presidential decision to her on Wednesday, Mrs Adeosun knew the game was up. But she soon activated an intense lobby to reverse the order hours after overcoming the initial shock. Governors sympathetic to her cause made spirited attempts to change her fate on Wednesday, but met brick walls. Seeing that her fate was sealed, Mrs Adeosun reluctantly called a meeting of senior finance ministry officials on Thursday. A senior ministry official who requested that his name should not be revealed, as he was not authorised to speak on the issue, said the minister turned in her resignation letter late Friday. At the brief meeting Thursday afternoon, Mrs Adeosun directed her staff to commence the process of tidying the books and preparing her hand-over note. The meeting was attended by the permanent secretary and the ministrys departmental heads. President Muhammadu Buhari Two senior finance ministry officials said there was directive to all the departments to immediately begin work on the hand over notes. The official said the directive to officials to delay the formal announcement of Mrs Adeosuns departure from the Executive Council of the Federation was given by the presidency to allow the minister sufficient time to complete her hand-over note. After spending the entire day in her office working to clean up her table and pack her personal belongings, the minister handed over to the ministrys permanent secretary, Mahmoud Dutse, Friday evening. But in its statement late Friday, the presidency directed the minister of state for budget and planning, Zainab Ahmed, to oversee the finance ministry. Mrs Adeosun graduated from the Polytechnic of East London in 1989, at the age of 22, having been born in March 1967. Having graduated at 22, the Nigerian law made it obligatory for Mrs Adeosun to submit herself for mobilisation to participate in the one-year mandatory national service, for her to qualify for any job in Nigeria. Following the report, the NYSC in its initial reaction disowned the purported exemption certificate the minister claimed she had. Days later, the NYSC asked for time to investigate and carry out verification of the ministers certificate. The result of that verification was never made public but PREMIUM TIMES learnt it played a key role in Mrs Adeosuns exit. Kemi Busari, a journalist with PREMIUM TIMES Nigeria, has made a shortlist of 12 to contest for the Thomson Foundations 2018 Young Journalist Award. The foundation (FPA) made the announcement on Friday. The award, in its sixth year, enables journalists aged 30 and under, from countries with a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of less than $20,000 (data from the World Bank), to send in their best stories. Independent judges at the FPA will select the three finalists from the 12 entrants on the shortlist to be revealed in October. The selected three will vie for the coveted Young Journalist Award on 26th November at the FPA Awards gala dinner in London. In announcing, the foundation stated that a remarkable number of entries arrived from all over the world for this years competition Burundi to Bulgaria, Ethiopia to Ecuador and the Philippines to Palestine. Each entrant needed to submit a portfolio of three published pieces of work produced in the 12 months preceding the deadline for submissions which was August 17th, 2018. Thomson Foundation judges pored over the entries and selected the shortlist based on criteria including originality, endeavour, interest to audiences, and the anticipated or actual impact of the story after publication or broadcast. As with previous years, some of the entrants were further into their respective careers than others, yet they all shared the viewpoint that its a journalists job to mainstream marginalised voices and nurture journalisms public interest role in democracy. Among the shortlist of 12 were young and aspiring journalists speaking up on a variety of matters corruption or abuses of power among the political elite, social injustices but also social cohesion and bringing people together. The shortlist of 12 includes journalists from Africa, Europe and Asia. The shortlist: Kemi Busari, Nigeria Rubatheesan Sandranathan, Sri Lanka Yen Duong Do Bao, Vietnam Dimuthu Attanayake, Sri Lanka Sabrina Toppa, Pakistan Valeriya Egoshyna, Ukraine Alisa Kustikova, Russia Asmaa Shalaby, Egypt Sheikh Saaliq, India Alice Aryeetey, Ghana Asad Pabani, Pakistan Bettie Kemah Johnson-Mayo, Liberia Struggle For Survival At Iwo Road in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, men and women shout as they make quick deals and hawk goods. However, among these sellers are children between the age of five-16, peddling vegetables, sachet water, groundnut, soft drinks, slippers, kerosene, bread and other consumables This is a reflection of hundreds of children who have been denied access to primary and secondary education in communities visited by PREMIUM TIMES in the capital. The communities are Olodo, Kajola, Iyana Church, Iyana Agbala, Gbagi and Iwo Road where enrolment into primary and junior secondary is in shambles. Some of these children even experience harassment, sexual abuse and cheating. Tearful Tobi On September 5, Tobi Popoola was seen crying at Olodo when this reporter moved closed to him to know the reason. The 13-year-old boy told PREMIUM TIMES that he misplaced N1600 he made from kerosene he was hawking for her mother. I have just misplaced N1600, the money made from the sales of kerosene and my mum will beat me for carelessness when I get home. Please, how much can you spare me?, the innocent boy speaking in Yoruba asked this reporter. Our correspondent assured Tobi that he will follow him home to plead with his mother but he protested saying: that will not stop me from being beaten, if not today, my beating will be doubled for the sin when you are gone. This reporter then assured him that he will make the payment as they both trek back home. The reporter asks Tobi why he was not in summer lesson with his colleagues ahead of the new session. I have stopped going to school since I finished my primary education. My mummy and daddy fought (and) we packed away from my daddy. Since then, I hawk and my mother also hawks. The little we made is what we use to feed ourselves including with my four-years-old brother, Aanu, and pay house rent, he explains. Iyana Church, Kajola, Iyana Agbala Iya Aina owns a food canteeen at Iyana Church; a road linking to Monatan High School. She has just instructed her daughter, Aina, between the age of 13 and 15 to help fetch enough water before going to her place of work. This reporter, however, requested to know the job the little girl does. Shes done with her (junior) WAEF and since then I have put her at a place where shes learning makeup and fixing of nails. She will make money from there and vend for herself. You know one must be serious and face reality. Even if she eventually goes to (senior) secondary and university, where is the job? After all, shes a girl. It is better to face job now and when she finds a man she wants to marry, she will continue her life and be independent, she tells PREMIUM TIMES. At Kajola and Iyana Agbala, PREMIUM TIMES observed that most of these kids work as maids in food canteens, provision stores, and recharge card stores. Kunle Ashiru, narrated why he prefers selling recharge cards to any other business. Although, the gain in selling recharge card is not really much ooo. But it is not a dirty job. Thats the reason why I chose the job, he said as PREMIUM TIMES questioned him about his parents. They are both fine. My dad is a barber and my mum sells groundnut. They told me they cant send me to university and truly I understand that things are not really rossy for the family. Except God sends an helper to us. But I still believe I will go to school and graduate one day. The case of Sade Okunoye is similar to that of Kunle, a 15-year-old lady who told this reporter that upon marrying husband, she will decide if education is right for her or not. I hope I will get a husband to sponsor me. Although, Im doing my best now but I have to feed myself before thinking about schooling. Iwo Road, Gbagi These two places are the headquarters where the menace persist most. The reporter got to Iwo Road around 11am on September 6 to observe how children were running after vehicles chanting buy your bread buy your chips handkerchief cold pure water Most of the kids could not speak with our correspondent as they showed determination pursuing vehicles and would not want any conversation to deny them the gains of the day. At Gbagi, they are mostly seen hawking sachet water, cold drinks and other products. It is for the main time. If I get money, I have the dream of even having a shop in this Gbagi. This is the dream I have with my parents. They only want me to learn how to sell raw foods and by the time Im done, they will provide with money to set myself up. I have been learning for the past one year now and very soon, I should do freedom. Yes, we also do freedom, it is like learning any other profession, Halimat told this reporter at Gbagi. We are many doing this same thing here in Gbagi. Just that the businesses we are learning are different. Some are learning how to sell cloth, some are learning how to sell provision, some are learning catering, some are learning hair making, makeup, and here I am learning how to sell elubo (cassava flour) and make profit. The only thing here is that no Oga will take you if you did not come with your parents to sign agreement and stand as guarantors for you, she says. States Reaction In June, the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, disclosed his intention to establish a child welfare centre to cater for street children and orphans while receiving members of the new governing board of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, led by the chairman, Bagudu Shettima, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office. The general wellbeing of the people of Oyo State is one of the top priorities of our administration and that is why we have invested heavily on health facilities and evolved policies in the health sector, which are today being emulated by other states across the country. I am, therefore, happy to inform you that plan is at an advanced stage for me to establish a child welfare centre, which will see to the welfare and wellbeing of those children in need of parental care. This will reduce the rate of child abuse, child trafficking and the use of our youth for nefarious activities like thuggery and brigandage, he said. However, when PREMIUM TIMES contacted the states commissioner for women affairs, children and social welfare, Atinuke Osunkoya, on the menace of child workers in the states capital, Ibadan, she told our correspondent to send a text message. Kindly send text message, she said. Weeks after this reporter sent her the text message, she has refused to reply or answer subsequent calls put through to her. Blame The Society? One of the coordinators of the Education Rights Campaign (ERC) Movement in Southwest, Dunsi Samuel told PREMIUM TIMES that blame should strictly not be on the parents of the kids but rather on the society. When education is being discussed, the rational thought that should come along is that -it is the best and most effective way to develop a society. Besides, education serves as a tool that liberates the mind. So, a society that is genuinely interested in development should consider education an important factor. Hence, the only way that citizens education can be ensured is when it is managed by the public through its resources because it is a social responsibility not an individual responsibility. Therefore the blame for child workers in Oyo capital should be placed at the doorstep of the Oyo State government. The knowledge gained from education when put into practical application does not only benefit the educated individual but the general society, he said. Highest Number Of Out-Of-School Children In The World A fact check by Dubawa; an initiative of PTCIJ, with principles of accountability, truth and collaboration; by creating a community for Nigerians to report and question the information posited by the media and the government reported that according the UNESCO Institute of Statistics (UIS) policy paper which was published in July 2016, 8.7 million Nigerian children were considered out-of-school. This figure, which is based on country information obtained in 2014 is periodically revised as new information surfaces on child literacy and access to education. The report states that there are 61 million out-of-school children in the world. Of the 61 million out-of-school children, 34 million or more than half live in sub-Saharan Africa, due in part to high population growth rates in the region. Southern Asia has the second highest number of out-of-school children with 11 million. In comparison to other countries within and outside Africa, Nigeria rates the highest. Nigeria has 8.7 million out-of-school children of primary age, followed by Pakistan (5.6 million), India (2.9 million), Sudan (2.7 million), Ethiopia (2.1 million) and Indonesia (2.0 million). These six countries (including Nigeria) are home to more than one-third of all out-of-school children in the world, according to UIS data. The most recent household survey done in Nigeria in 2016 and published in 2017, the fifth round Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS5) which was conducted by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) with the support of UNICEF inadvertently confirms the claim. The survey report shows that a total of 9.1 million children are out-of-school in Nigeria, a figure which is even higher than the figure quoted in the UIS 2016 report. Former Nigerian finance minister, Kemi Adeosun, who resigned her position on Friday on account of forging a certificate of national service risks jail term of up to 14 years. A lawyer, Shuaibu Sule, listed five offences he said the minister is liable for. The offences include forgery, possession of fake document, uttering, giving false information and skipping the national service. They carry jail terms of between one to 14 years, according to the Penal Code Law and the National Youth Service (NYSC) Act. Mrs Adeosuns certificate scandal was first blown by PREMIUM TIMES in a July 7 story which detailed how the minister skipped the mandatory national service and forged an exemption certificate to cover for it. The year-long service, organised by the NYSC is compulsory for all Nigerians who graduate from a university or equivalent institution at the age of 30 or below. In addition to being a requirement for government and private sector jobs in Nigeria, the enabling law prescribes punishment for anyone who absconds from the scheme or forges its certificates. On Friday, the Presidency announced her resignation from office, and released the resignation letter in which Mrs Adeosun owned up to the crime. She said she was helped by some unnamed associates to get the exemption certificate. Her resignation should not be the end of it. She should be investigated and prosecuted for committing a number of crimes, Mr Sule told PREMIUM TIMES Saturday morning. The lawyer said Mrs Adeosun could be charged for offences under Section 140 of the Penal Code, which borders on giving false information and attracts up to one year prison term and/or fine. What The Law Says The penal code operates in the northern part of Nigeria, including Abuja. While Mrs Adeosun is from Ogun in the south, lawyers say the law would apply as the offence was committed in Abuja. Sections 364 and 368 of the same law, according to Mr Sule, provides for up to 14 years in jail for faking a document and being in possessing of fake documents. They also have provision for fine that could go either as complement of substitution for jail term. Mr Sule said the former minister is equally liable for uttering presenting fake document as genuine, which could, on conviction, could attract maximum jail term of 14 years, as provided for in Section 366 of the law. Eligible Nigerians who skipped the service are liable to be sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and/or N2,000 fine, according to the section 13 of the NYSC law. Section 13 (3) of the law also prescribes 3-year jail term or option of N5,000 fine for anyone who contravenes provision of the law, as Mrs Adeosun is alleged to have. Subsection 4 of the same section also criminalises giving false information or illegally obtaining the Services certificate. It provides for up to three year jail term for such offenders. The lawyer said a level playing field should be provided to bring the former minister to justice. Civic groups have written to law enforcement agencies to demand for Mrs Adeosun;s investigation and prosecution. Prior to her resignation, a Lagos-based Civil Society Organisation, HEDA Resource Centre, had written to the Inspector General of Police in July asking him probe the forgery allegations against the minister. In August, the group the police authorities to the court asking for order compelling the police to investigate the scandal. The matter is yet to be heard. Genesis Mrs Adeosun graduated from the Polytechnic of East London in 1989, at the age of 22. By her curriculum vitae, Mrs Adeosun was born in March 1967. The institution changed name to University of East London in 1992. Mrs Adeosun has her certificate issued in the new name. By graduating at 22, it becomes obligatory for Mrs Adeosun to participate in the one-year national service, for her to qualify for any job in Nigeria. However, at the time of her graduation, the young Folakemi Oguntomoju, as she then was, did not return to Nigeria to serve her fatherland. Upon graduation in 1989, the young Applied Economics graduate pursued quick-paced career in British public and private financial sector. She landed an immediate job at with British Telecom Company, but left after a year to join Goodman Jones, an accounting firm and investment firm, as audit officer. She served there until 1993. In 1994, Mrs Adeosun joined London Underground Company as Internal Audit Manager, and switched to Prism Consulting, a finance firm, from 1996 until 2000. In 2000, Mrs Adeosun got hired by reputable financial services firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she worked for two years. When she finally returned to the country in 2002, Mrs Adeosun worked with a private firm, Chapel Hill Denham, without evidence of national service. However, for reasons that not clear, the finance minister purportedly obtained an exemption certificate dated September 9, 2009, just before she left Chapel Hill for another firm, Quo Vadis Partnerships and managing director. It is unclear of Mrs Adeosun owns, or is a director of the latter company, as she assumed duties directly as the managing director of the firm in 2010. lllegally Gotten Jobs On return to Nigeria, Mrs Adeosun served in four different positions, including her current post as the minister of finance. By the provision of Section 12 of the NYSC Act, employers must demand for the NYSC certificate of prospective employees. The law also mandates employees to present a genuine certificate for that purpose. Section 12 of the Act reads: For the purposes of employment anywhere in the Federation and before employment, it shall be the duty of every prospective employer to demand and obtained from any person who claims to have obtained his first degree at the end of the academic year 1973-74 or, as the case may be, at the end of any subsequent academic year the following:- a. a copy of the Certificate of National Service of such person issued pursuant to section 11 of this Decree b. a copy of any exemption certificate issued to such person pursuant to section 17 of this Decree c. such other particulars relevant there to as may be prescribed by or under this Decree. A legal practitioner, Sagir Gezawa, described jobs Mrs Adeosun has had in Nigeria as illegal. The combined effect of sections 12 and 13 of the NYSC Act is that it is illegal to hire a person who had graduated but without making himself or herself available to serve, or falsify any document o the effect that he has served or exempted from serving. However, without demanding or verifying the veracity of the certificate brandished by Mrs Adeosun, two companies, the Ogun State government and the federal government employed her at various times. Mr Amosun is believed to have used his well-known relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari to impress on him to pick Mrs Adeosun as his finance minister, following the ruling APC victory in 2015. In November 2015, Mrs Adeosun was sworn in as minister by Mr Buhari, and assigned to the all-important finance ministry, after a supposed state security and National Assembly screening. Nigerias former finance minister, Kemi Adeosun, has left the country, a day after her resignation, sources close to her told PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday. Mrs Adeosun, finance minister since November 2015, stepped down from office on Friday after owning up to parading a forged youth service scheme certificate. President Muhammadu Buhari accepted her resignation on Friday night, 69 days after PREMIUM TIMES first published a detailed investigation of how she obtained the fake document and went on to secure plush employments with it, including as head of Nigerias finance ministry. Mrs Adeosun explained in her resignation letter that the PREMIUM TIMES investigation was true, but said she did not know the certificate was forged as she relied on associates who helped obtain it after she returned from the UK. The former minister expressed her gratitude for the honour to serve her country. Although Nigerians welcomed her resignation, which many even complained was long overdue, they also demanded her immediate prosecution. Some civic groups have already instituted legal action to compel federal authorities to file charges against her. But a day after she stepped down, Mrs Adeosun, who was born and raised in England, departed the country, according to her associates who notified PREMIUM TIMES of the development Saturday evening. She has left Nigeria, a source said. She most likely is in the UK by now. When PREMIUM TIMES called her Nigerian line several times Saturday night, it rang through each time in the Europe internal phone ringing effect. Telecoms experts who also dialled her number at PREMIUM TIMES instance Saturday evening also said the telephone certainly did not ring in Nigeria. The government investigation into the scandal was coordinated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, PREMIUM TIMES found. Former senate president, David Mark, has visited Minna, capital of Niger state, where he held a private meeting with the former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida. The meeting lasted two hours at the residence of Mr Babangida. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr Mark arrived at about 1.30 p.m. in company of Zainab Kure, Tunde Ogbeha and Suleman Adokwe, current chairman of the senate committee on information and national orientation. The 70-year-old Mr Mark, who has been in the senate since 1999, recently declared that he was running for president. He is believed to have discussed his ambition with Mr Babangida, his former military boss. Several other aspirants have also met with the former ruler. Among them are the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former governors Attahiru Bafarawa, Sule Lamido and Ahmed Makarfi, all contesting under the Peoples Democratic Party platform. One of Mr Marks aides who did not want his name mentioned said, Yes my boss is discussing with IBB. First to brief him and seek his prayers and support for the task ahead. Ms Kure, who is the director general for the David Mark Presidential Campaign Organisation, told NAN that Mr Mark is a good material needed to reposition the country for optimal growth. He was a former military governor, communications minister and senate president of the Federal Republic. So he possesses all the required political acumen to lead our country, she said. Ms Kure also hoped that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would conduct a free, fair and credible election. I am appealing to all eligible Nigerians to support the electoral processes to enable the commission discharge its constitutional mandate, she said. She said the task to ensure a peaceful conduct of the 2019 election is the joint responsibility of everyone, especially the politicians. (NAN) The Nigerian Presidency has reacted furiously after British multinational bank, HSBC, issued a confidential business intelligence predicting reelecting President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 could plunge Nigeria into deeper economic hardship. In a July report recently cited by the Nigerian media, the bank had said a second term for Mr Buhari would greatly stunt the economic development of the country. In a statement Saturday, the Presidency accused the bank of thriving on grand corruption and helping past and present Nigerian leaders launder billions of naira. Read the full statement signed by presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu below: PRESIDENCY WANTS HSBC TO RETURN OUR STOLEN ASSETS, NOT GIVE US DOOMSDAY PROPHECY ON 2019 The Presidency wishes to make clear to all Nigerians, and particularly the global banking giant HSBC which said the second term of President Muhammadu Buhari would stunt the economy, that what killed Nigerias economy in the past was the unbridled looting of state resources by leaders, the type which was actively supported by HSBC. A bank that soiled its hand with millions of US dollars yet-to-be-recovered Abacha loot, and continued until a few months ago to shield the stolen funds of one of the leaders of the Nigerian Senate has no moral right whatsoever to project that a second term for Mr. Buhari raises the risk of limited economic progress and further fiscal deterioration. Rather, we ask them to heed President Buharis constant refrain: return our stolen assets, then see how well we will do. From the facts available to our investigation agencies, HSBCs put down on President Buhari is no more than an expression of frustration over the administrations measures put in place which has abolished grand corruption, the type which this bank thrives on in many countries. They may also just be out to discredit the President out of the fear of sanctions and fines following the national assets that are stolen. With the coming of President Buhari, it is not a secret that corruption, corrupt individuals, banks and other corporate entities that aided corrupt practices are under investigation for various offenses. For many of them, including their friends in the media, they would rather have President Buhari out of their way, for business as usual to return. Our investigation agencies believe that HSBC had laundered more than USD 100,000,000 for the late General Sani Abacha in Jersey, Paris, London and Geneva. Among these accounts on the records are: AC: S-104460 HSBC Fund Admin Ltd. Jersey ($12,000,000); AC 37060762 HSBC Life (Europe), U.K ($20,000,000) and AC: 38175076 HSBC Bank Plc. U.K ($1,600,000). The bank is also suspected in the laundering of proceeds of corruption involving more than 50 other Nigerians, including a serving Senator as earlier indicated. In a book, Secrecy World: Inside the Panama Papers Investigation, published in 2017, Jack Bernstein told the story of global money laundering highlighting the unenviable place of the HSBC. This is a bank that states and federal authorities in the U.S. forced to pay $1.92 billion to settle charges of money laundering; fined $1.2 billion in Hong Kong for systemic deficiencies in bond sales and was made to pay $100 million in currency rigging settlement as reported by The Telegraph of 18th January, 2018. Garba Shehu Senior Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) September 15, 2018 President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the sudden death of Nigerias Ambassador to Qatar, Mr. Abdullahi Bawa Wase. The President, while extending his condolences to the family members, the government and people of Plateau State, praised the roles played by the late Wase in conflict resolution efforts in Plateau State. He recalled that, even before his appointment as Ambassador, the late Mr. Wase was very prominently involved in community peace activism. A statement by a presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, quoted President Buhari as praying to Allah to forgive the sins of the late Ambassador and grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss. Gunmen killed two persons and rustled 70 cows in Turu village, Kuru District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau, police said on Saturday in Jos. Terna Tyopev, Plateau Police Command Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the incident occurred on Friday afternoon. Yesterday, at about 7.p.m, Mr Ezekiel Dalyop of Turu village in Kuru District of Jos South Local Government Area, reported at our division in Vom, that three herders entrusted with 70 of his cattle got missing, he said. We immediately swung into action and we were able to rescue one of the herders, 16 year-old Bitrus Joseph. Our team of detectives later recovered the missing cattle. Unfortunately, in the process of rustling the cattle, two of the herders: Meshack Dalton, 14, and Pam Danjuma, 10, were killed. Their lifeless bodies were dumped in a bush at Dahool Bob village in Kuru District, he said. Mr Tyopev said the bodies were recovered and deposited in the mortuary at the Vom Christian Hospital. Mr Tyopev advised owners of cattle in the state to desist from engaging underage persons to rear their animals, to avert reoccurrences of similar incident. While we commiserate with the families of those who lost their loved ones, we are urging owners of cattle to employ the services of mature persons who can take care of the herds and as well as sense danger when it rear its head and seek for safety, he advised. He said the command had intensified investigations to arrest the perpetrators.(NAN) A federal lawmaker, Kabiru Marafa, has called on the Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, to tender his resignation. He made the call while speaking to journalists at the State House on Friday after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Marafa was at the Villa to brief the president about the security situation in Zamfara. According to him, the president may be hearing all sort of things from different people and he felt he owes it a duty to go give the president the real situation. However, while addressing journalists, Mr Marafa was asked to react to the governors statement about resigning as the chief security officer of his state. The lawmaker dared Mr Yari to back up his claims with a proper resignation adding that he would initiate impeachment on the governor if he was a member of the state house of assembly. I heap a lot of blame on you the media the way and manner you handled it and number one culprit is the state house of Assembly if I was a member of the State House of Assembly I would have initiated impeachment of the governor because he lacks conscience, then the media ought to have done much more than what they did. This is part of the problem we have as a people, when problems happen in other states they tend to be overblown but when they happen in another state nobody cares and Nigeria is supposed to be seen as one country. For a chief executive to come out publicly to say that he has resigned as the chief security officer of a state he or she is supposed to accompany that statement with a resignation. You cannot be spending state funds on security and lives and property are not safe. Number one responsibility of any government is protection of lives and property any person that cannot protect the lives of people he superintends he or she is supposed to resign, he said. The Zamfara State governor had in June, said he had dropped his responsibility as chief security officer of the state as he had no control over security machinery in the state. He explained that his decision stemmed from the seeming helplessness of the state government and the people over recurring killings in the state. He also lamented that it was disheartening that killings in the state had continued in spite of Muhammadu Buharis order to security agencies to end the incessant blood-letting across the country. When asked if he was formally calling on the governor to resign, Mr Marafa said the governors conscience and knowledge of the teachings of Islam should prick him to resign. I dont have to call on him to resign, this is something that every Nigerian is supposed to say and if he has conscience and he knows what leadership is all about and if he took the teachings of Islam very seriously he would have resigned in the real essence of the word rather than making mere pronouncements that he has resigned as chief security officer. You only take the sunny side of opposition but the ugly side you say you are not responsible when it comes to the money of Zamfara state he is the governor of Zamfara state, when it comes to the protection of lives of the people of the state then it is President Muhammadu Buhari that is responsible, he explained. He further questioned the governors loyalty to the president as he feared that Mr Yari have been lying to him (the president) and Nigerians. Former Gov. Abdulazizi-Yari of Zamfara State. When he comes here he tells you that the president is doing very well, when he goes back to the state he says security is not his responsibility but that of the President and he didnt do it, he said. Mr Marafa is one of the contenders for the governorship seat of Zamfara State under the platform of the APC. He had on June 18 declared his intention to vie for the governorship slot in the state while addressing some party executives in the state. He said he joined the race due to numerous calls from members of the party in the 14 local government areas of the state. The lawmaker had pledged to fight corruption, injustice and provide the much needed leadership to stimulate the growth and development of the state. He also pledged to provide security as well as look at the states legal system to make it conform to the true teachings of Islam for the benefit of all. Overtime, Mr Mafara, has been the state governors political foe, though both men are members of Nigerias ruling party, APC. The state has been ruptured by violence in recent months with armed bandits killing hundreds of people and destroying several houses. Mr Marafa has continuously blamed the state governor, Mr Yari for the high rate of insecurity and poverty in the state. As the kick-off date of the Lagos States Bus Reform Initiative approaches, commercial bus (popularly known as Danfo) drivers in the state have expressed mixed feelings over the project. While some of the drivers agreed to buy into the initiative, others kicked vehemently against it. Removing yellow buses is not reasonable, said a driver at Ikeja Bus Stop who identified himself as Barckly. Although, the plan to bring in 5,000 buses to Lagos is a good one but the idea of banishing yellow buses is not commendable. Government should allow the new buses and yellow buses work, we all know that these new buses cannot go into the interior of Lagos to pull people out, which yellow buses do. If we also look at timing, these government buses cannot start working as early as 3 am which is the (time) people start leaving for work. An efficient transportation system that would move the over 21 million people in Lagos has remained a huge challenge for successive administrations. Last year, Akinwunmi Ambode, the Lagos State governor, announced a Bus Reform Initiative, a three-year plan aimed at introducing over 5,000 air-conditioned buses to replace the Danfo buses. Mr Ambode said the Danfo buses, which are mostly old and rickety, are no longer befitting for the states mega city status. More crimes A lot of the drivers believe phasing out the Danfo buses would cause a spike in the crime rate across the state. A driver who plies the Ikeja-Obalende/CMS route said the move would crimes and cruel acts that had never been recorded would begin to happen. It would cause chaos in the state because many people will be jobless and in annoyance will want to upturn the peace of the state, said the driver who preferred not to be named. The poverty in the country is killing already, the government should not add to the poverty, due to frustration, people will go into criminal acts without stop. Another driver who identified himself as Timi said the Danfo buses should be allowed to ply selected routes across the state. Lagos State is trying to monopolise the transport sector of the economy and this is not done even in civilised countries. A driver who said he had been working as a bus conductor because he couldnt get a bus to drive said the government should not compound their problems. I am a driver, an experienced one but here I am working as a conductor because I do not want to sit idle since I didnt get a bus to drive, said the driver who identified himself as Efe. There are other tons of people that are like me, many drivers because of ego cannot work as conductors, so they prefer sitting at the park waiting for when the day would be bright and they would get buses to drive. Part of the governments plan in the Bus Reform Initiative is to absorb the Danfo drivers into the project. But the drivers said they would not earn as much as they are doing now if they are working for the government or anyone. Government cannot pay me, the money they will pay as salary is what I can catch in one week, said a driver who plies the Mile 2-Orile route. Another driver who plies the Ikeja-Yaba route said he is not interested in becoming a government employee. I am CEO on my own, having worked on my own for more than 10 years, telling me to work under someone, and especially government would not be palatable, he said. The money government would pay those drivers cannot even be equivalent to what drivers make from their personal business, for instance, if the government pays between N40,000-N50,000, I can make that within two weeks and be comfortable. A driver at Oshodi who identified himself as Akindipe said it would be difficult for drivers who are their own bosses to suddenly become employees. Many drivers have never worked under a corporate organisation all their life and are not ready to due to the pressures involved, what will the government do to change their minds? We all know that government work is bondage, you resume at a specific time, you are no longer in charge of how your time is spent unlike when you work on your own and can decide to stay indoor for days so as to rest. However, a driver at a park in Ajegunle, welcomed the idea of working under the government as long as they will be well paid. The stress we encounter on daily with the Agberos, LASTMA, (and) taskforce is not palatable, said the driver who identified himself as Paul. Working under government would make us free from that. I have all my driving credentials, if the process would be fair enough, Ill be glad to work with the government. Since the state government announced the initiative last year, the kick-off date has been continually shifted. In August 2017, Mr Ambode said the first set of buses in the Bus Reform Initiative would be flagged off within the next six months. One year later, Ladi Lawanson, the commissioner for transportation, said the government had taken delivery of the first 300 buses and that they would be on Lagos roads from October 1 this year. Gbenga Adeniran, a driver who plies the Maryland-Ajegunle route, said the governments apparent triviality on the issue could be beneficial to the drivers We also know that government lacks maintenance, it is easy to embark on a project but maintaining it is always difficult for the government, he said. Look at BRT, many of them are now parked at terminals with one fault or the other while people keep waiting on an endless queue at the bus stop. Semiu Lasisi, who plies the Ikeja-Obalende route, said he had been driving Danfo buses for 40 years. If they will be fair enough to put us all on the same level, and not employ people because they have connections, it would be free and fair, said Mr Lasisi. However, government cannot remove all Danfo buses from Lagos routes. Rather, there should be a demarcation to enable drivers transport people from the interior parts of Lagos that the new buses cannot go to. A new political party, the Peoples Trust (PT) has offered its 2019 governorship ticket to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. According to a statement by PTs Lagos State Publicity Secretary, Segun Obe, his party and 30 others made the decision at the end of the election of its new state executives. Mr Obe said Mr Ambode should be encouraged to consolidate the great development he has already initiated in Lagos State. This endorsement comes barely 24 hours after a key gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), set up a 21-member campaign committee. PT, which is nationally led by legal practitioner, Olisa Agbakoba, and son of former Prime minister, Abduljalil Balewa, said Mr Ambode has proven to be a wizard of development in Lagos, and therefore should not be sacrificed on the altar of political intrigues and self-interests within Lagos APC. So, we as the main platform of the fresh breed credible third force stakeholders in Nigeria have mobilised 30 other political parties in our grand coalition to engage him for the purpose of fielding him in the 2019 elections. The official did not, however, list the 30 other political parties. The Peoples Trust, a product of the political long suffering of the Nigerian youthvand masses with over 500 thousand permanent voters cards, PVCs of its members in Lagos is set to adopt Ambode as its governorship candidate in Lagos, if the Tinubu led camp of APC rejects him. For us in the Lagos Peoples Trust, Ambode is a fresh breed industrious and resourceful governor, who has since changed the face of Lagos within the shortest possible time of his first term in office and should be encouraged to complete his second term in the interest of the welfare of the people of Lagos, which he has already started to take care wonderfully, part of the statement read. The new executive of PT in Lagos State is made up of Omowunmi Bajulaiye as chairperson, Ireti Duduyemi, secretary, Segun Obe, publicity secretary among others elected at the meeting, where the party vowed to take over Lagos in 2019. PTs support for Mr Ambode comes amidst alleged rift between the governor and APC chieftain, Bola Tinubu. It also comes amidst the decision by some Lagos APC members close to Mr Tinubu to support another aspirant against Mr Ambode. Already two names have been mentioned as possible challengers to the governor within the APC. They are Obafemi Hamzat and Jide Sanwo-Olu, with the latter rumoured to have Mr Tinubus support. Mr Ambode, has, however, said reports of a rift between him and Mr Tinubu, were untrue. The former speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Adejare Bello, has joined the All Progressive Congress (APC) after he resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). PREMIUM TIMES reported the resignation of the former speaker from the PDP on Monday while the decision of his new party was not yet known. Mr Bello, who served in the assembly from 2003 to 2011, said his reason for leaving the PDP was because the party has been allegedly hijacked. It is my sincere belief that some elements have hijacked the rudders of the ship of the party and changed its cause to an unknown path which I am not ready to take, Mr Bello stated in the letter without mentioning those who hijacked the party. His resignation letter was addressed to Soji Adagunodo, the PDP state chairman. Mr Adejare was received into the APC by Rauf Aregbesola, at a rally in Ede on Friday. The rally is sequel to the Osun State governorship election scheduled for September 22. No less than 48 candidates will contest the governorship seat. Mr Bello appealed to people of the state to massively vote for the APC in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections, adding that the APC candidate has better plans for the state. The decampee, in his address, also denied the allegation that he received N100 million to defect to APC. In a phone conversation with the former speaker on Saturday, he confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that he has officially joined the APC. I announced my resignation on Monday and I joined the APC on Friday, he said. Mr Bello was the PDP deputy governorship candidate to Iyiola Omisore in the 2014 gubernatorial election in Osun. The election was lost to the incumbent governor, Mr Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Prince William Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. 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. SINGAPORE, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- International cybersecurity company Resecurity is set to introduce the launch of its next-generation endpoint protection platform (EPP) and cyber threat intelligence solutions into Singapore and other Asian markets at GovWare 2018 in Singapore. As a Gold Sponsor of Govware 2018, Resecurity welcomes security professionals to visit its own booth (#J17) in Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre on September 18-20 2018. In its 27th showing, GovernmentWare (GovWare) is the region's most established premier conference and showcase for cybersecurity. GovWare 2018 will be the key event during Singapore International Cyber Week, highlighting the latest trends in technology, organisational implementation and user perspectives. Speakers at GovWare 2018 will include over 100 government officials, thought leaders, visionaries, technology experts and industry professionals. As a leading global financial centre, Singapore has become a key target for some of the world's most sophisticated cyber criminals and, as a result, is now rapidly shoring up its cyber defences. Singapore's Cybersecurity Act 2018 came into force on 31 August of this year and the Monetary Authority of Singapore has subsequently proposed converting the current cybersecurity guidelines to mandatory requirements to safeguard the IT systems of the country's financial institutions and build up their cyber resilience. GovWare 2018 will share global industry knowledge on how organisations worldwide can best respond to the constantly evolving threat landscape and today's increasingly sophisticated threat actors. But merely identifying the barrage of incoming cyberattacks is of limited practical use to most organizations which have been targeted by cybercriminals and hacktivists. The never-ending onslaught of new threats and security challenges requires effective tools for their timely identification and in-depth analysis. Without proper contextualization, an overload of raw intelligence can become a burden, leading to lack of actionable data and incorrect resource planning, which may increase the probability of risk and negative outcome. As a Sponsor at GovWare 2018, Resecurity will illustrate the vital role of actionable intelligence and data science in next-generation cybersecurity solutions and its applied use by cyber security engineers, intelligence officers, investigators and C-level security executives. Resecurity uses cutting-edge data science to enable organizations of different sizes to contextualise threat intelligence and identify imminent threats in real time, allowing resources to be directed where they are most needed. Resecurity will introduce the core products from its own portfolio: - Resecurity Context Cyber Threat Intelligence Platform Intelligence platform enabling enterprises and governments to accelerate analysis, prevention and investigation workflows with the goal of discovering high-value insights, and supporting better decision-making, using ultra-fast thorough search data science. Unlike others, Context is based on a classic six-step process called the Intelligence Cycle used by government agencies and industry experts, providing a balanced and comprehensive approach to intelligence gathering and analysis. Context includes over 9 million profiles of threat actors worldwide, while storing over 5 billion threat data artifacts, including indicators of compromise (IOCs), indicators of attacks (IOAs), tools, tactics and procedures (TTPs) of adversaries with valuable meta-data stored in historical form used for deep-dive investigations, together with over 300 million fully-indexed and translated Dark Web data entries with extracted artifacts, graphical screenshots and links visualisation. A built-in offline translation engine makes contextualized data available in over 40 languages. - Resecurity EPP Next-Generation Endpoint Protection Platform Resecurity combines a multi-layered protection stack to identify security anomalies with investigation and remediation capabilities needed to proactively respond to advanced cyber threats. Resecurity can be deployed on Windows, Linux and Mac, providing comprehensive security monitoring and full-stack visibility across endpoints, the enterprise ecosystem and cloud environment. Contextual Awareness a vital component, resulting in in-depth cyber threat analysis with historical introspection on the identified IOC/IOA, associated threat telemetry and potential adversary involved. - Resecurity Risk Digital Risk Monitoring Risk is a digital risk monitoring solution focused on comprehensive security monitoring of the business enterprise ecosystem, measuring digital risks to control the enterprise security posture. Resecurity provides proactive alerts and 360' visibility of internal and external risks targeting the enterprise, starting from Dark Web activity to misconfigured network services, applications and clouds leading to data breaches. Risk reduces potential blind spots and security gaps. About Resecurity Resecurity Inc., an international cybersecurity company, is focused on next-generation endpoint protection and intelligence-driven cybersecurity solutions. Resecurity combines robust protection stack to identify security anomalies with investigation and remediation capabilities. The company also provides security research services to leading Fortune 500 corporations and governments. Resecurity protects the enterprise ecosystem against cyber threats using a robust technology stack and built-in contextual awareness. Powered by the Resecurity Context, our solution provides you in-depth analysis of the identified cyber threats and associated threat actors in real time. Our key mission is to help enterprises of different sizes to be able to mitigate possible risks timely and effectively using cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions. Resecurity: Revolutionizing Cybersecurity. You can gain full access to Resecurity products by starting your free trial. Learn more: https://www.resecurity.com 2018 Resecurity, Inc. All rights reserved. Resecurity, Resecurity Context, Resecurity Risk and Resecurity Hunter are the trademarks of Resecurity. Contacts For further information, please contact: [email protected] Resecurity International, Inc. Anthony Glover, (800) 781-5698 [email protected] SOURCE Resecurity Inc. Related Links http://www.resecurity.com WILMINGTON, N.C., Sept. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Historic rains from Hurricane Florence caused the release of stormwater, which may have come into contact with coal ash from a lined landfill, at the company's Sutton Power Plant in Wilmington. Because of the heavy rainfall amounts, it is difficult to calculate the amount of water that may have reached Sutton Lake, the cooling pond that was constructed to support plant operations. Inspections today identified a slope failure and erosion in one section of the coal ash landfill, which displaced about 2,000 cubic yards of material and would fill about two-thirds of an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The majority of displaced ash was collected in a perimeter ditch and haul road that surrounds the landfill and is on plant property. Coal ash is non-hazardous, and the company does not believe this incident poses a risk to public health or the environment. The company is conducting environmental sampling as well. Site personnel are managing the situation and will proceed with a full repair as weather conditions improve. Ash basins, which are being excavated, and the cooling pond continue to operate safely. Duke Energy Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S., with approximately 29,000 employees and a generating capacity of 49,500 megawatts. The company's Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit serves approximately 7.6 million retail electric customers in six states North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Its Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in five states North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. Its Commercial Renewables unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the U.S. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center includes news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. 24-Hour: 800.559.3853 SOURCE Duke Energy Related Links http://www.duke-energy.com WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a joint statement from NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos about the investigation into a pressure leak on the International Space Station Aug. 29-30: "NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Roscosmos General Director Dmitry Rogozin met for the first time yesterday via teleconference to discuss the status of International Space Station (ISS) operations in response to a request from Roscosmos. "As part of their discussion, Dmitry Rogozin informed his American counterpart about Roscosmos' decision to establish a Roscosmos-led Commission to investigate the cause of the leak in the Soyuz (MS-09/55S) spacecraft currently docked to the station. "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. "They affirmed the necessity of further close interaction between NASA and Roscosmos technical teams in identifying and eliminating the cause of the leak, as well as continuation of normal ISS operations and NASA's ongoing support of the Roscosmos-led Soyuz investigation. They acknowledged the entire crew is dedicated to the safe operation of the station and all docked spacecraft to ensure mission success. "The Administrator and the Roscosmos General Director agreed to conduct their first face-to-face meeting at the Baikonur Cosmodrome on or about Oct. 10 when the NASA Administrator will visit Russia and Kazakhstan in conjunction with the upcoming Soyuz crew spacecraft launch of American astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexy Ovchinin." For information about the International Space Station, and its research and crews, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/station SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Quaker Heights Care Community in Waynesville, Ohio has joined Ohio Living as its 13th community. Ohio Living, headquartered in Columbus, is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit, multi-site aging services organizations and is Great Place To Work Certified. Now known as Ohio Living Quaker Heights, the campus's people and mission remain the same. Ohio Living Quaker Heights was founded by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1905 as a charitable institution caring for elders, operating with the belief that all should be treated with dignity. Today, Ohio Living Quaker Heights is a life plan community providing independent living, assisted living, long-term nursing care, memory care and short-term rehabilitation. "Working with key leaders at Quaker Heights Care Community over the past several months, it was clear we shared a similar culture, a strong set of values and a high commitment to quality and service excellence," said Ohio Living CEO Laurence C. Gumina. "We are excited to bring them into our family and honored to partner with the residents, families, staff and board as we assist them with their mission in Warren County." "I am pleased that our board members have demonstrated a deep commitment to continuing and enhancing the healthcare services we offer to our residents, and the employment opportunities we make available to our local community," said Donald "Gus" Edwards, presiding clerk of the Quaker Heights board of directors. "Because we endeavor to live by the Quaker values of integrity, equality, harmony and simplicity, our residents and their families feel respected, loved and at home. The transition to our new identity as a part of Ohio Living, another faith-based, not-for-profit organization that also believes in compassion and community, has seemed a natural fit." "The board had been exploring partnership opportunities that would sustain and expand our mission and ministry," said Sydney McBride, executive director of Ohio Living Quaker Heights. "We're excited that we chose Ohio Living, an organization closely aligned with our organizational culture and values, to ensure that the mission of our community will grow." Gumina agrees. "Our decision to operate as a not-for-profit organization means that people remain our first priority. We will help Ohio Living Quaker Heights continue to do the same through benefit of our systems and expertise in healthcare technology, regulatory compliance, business development, finance and investment, employee relations, fundraising and more." Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio Living is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit, multi-site aging services organizations, and is Great Place To Work Certified. Since 1922, Ohio Living has defined the highest standards of quality of life for adults through its 13 life plan communities and Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice. Our Ohio-based services range from a variety of housing options in one of our communities through the full continuum of care to post-acute home health and hospice support for adults, wherever they live. Additionally, the Ohio Living Foundation raises several million dollars annually to support charity care, special programs, capital expansion and endowment. CONTACT: Melissa Dardinger, Corporate Manager of Public Relations, Ohio Living 614.888.7800 [email protected] SOURCE Ohio Living Related Links https://www.ohioliving.org SAN DIEGO, Sept. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Fistel, LLP, a shareholder rights law firm, is investigating potential claims on behalf of investors of Danske Bank A/S (OTC :DNKEY) ("Danske"). Danske provides banking products and services to various customers. [click here to join this action] On July 18, 2018, Danske said it would forgo profits made from transactions in Estonia that are subject to a money laundering investigation and that its 2018 net profit would be at the low end of its target range. Danske stated that it wants to pay back approximately $230 million earned in profits in connection with its alleged role in an international money laundering scheme involving illicit funds from Russia, Azerbaijan, and Moldova. Following this news, the price of Danske's securities fell over 9.42% on July 18, 2018. On August 6, 2018, the Wall Street Journal disclosed that "Denmark's public prosecutor for special economic crime had begun a criminal investigation against Danske Bank . . .for potential money-laundering offenses," noting that the "Danish Public Prosecutor for Serious Economic and International Crime's investigation announced Monday relates to transactions carried out through the bank's Estonian branch." Then on September 4, 2018 Reuters reported that Danske handled up to $30 billion of Russian and ex-Soviet money via its Estonian branch in 2013 alone, the price of Danske ADRs fell over 6.0% to close at $13.73. Most recently on September 14, 2018, the Wall Street Journal reported the U.S. Justice Department, Treasury, and SEC are investigating the bank. Following this news, the price of Danske ADRs fell 1.98% to close at $13.15 on September 14, 2018. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss and are interested in learning more about your legal rights and remedies, please contact Jim Baker ([email protected]) by email or by phone at 619-814-4471. If you email, please include your phone number. Additionally, you may [click here to join this action]. There is no cost or obligation to you. About Johnson Fistel, LLP: Johnson Fistel, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York and Georgia. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.johnsonfistel.com . Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Contact: Johnson Fistel, LLP Jim Baker, 619-814-4471 [email protected] [click here to join this action] SOURCE Johnson Fistel, LLP Related Links http://www.johnsonfistel.com Mar Del Plata, Sep 15 : Senior officials of the G-20 nations reached a consensus here on Friday on an initiative to reform the World Trade Organization (WTO). "It is clear that we all share the idea that it is extremely important to draft proposals so the WTO can be more responsive to the current challenges in trade," Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie told a press conference in Mar del Plata. Detailed discussions on overhauling the WTO are set to begin in November in Geneva, where the organization has its headquarters, Efe reported. "We all agree that we need an institution that allows us to establish rules within the framework of international trade," Faurie said following a G-20 ministerial conference in this coastal resort city. "Everybody agreed that it is urgent to start discussing ways to improve the operation of the WTO in such a way that we address the challenges in trade," he said. "The institution should adjust to current challenges, to the technological revolution we are experiencing that is changing the way we work, produce and trade," Faurie said. The meeting in Mar del Plata came amid fears of escalating global trade wars as a consequence of US President Donald Trump's embrace of tariffs. Attendees included Deputy US Trade Representative Dennis Shea, Chinese Deputy Trade Minister Wang Shouwen, European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom and the director-general of the WTO, Roberto Azevedo. China and the EU, among others, have insisted for several months on the need to start discussions on reforming the WTO, to avoid a chaotic situation in the international political and economic system. The G-20 heads of state and government are scheduled to gather in Buenos Aires at the end of November for a summit. Seoul, Sep 15 : North Korea has resumed flights between Pyongyang and the Chinese city of Dalian amid signs of improving ties between the allies, the media reported on Saturday. According to local tourism agencies, a passenger plane of Air Koryo, the North's flag carrier, landed in the airport in Dalian on Thursday and returned to Pyongyang with nearly 70 people on board, Yonhap News Agency reported. This marked the first North Korean airplane that had flown between the two cities since November 2006. There will be such flights every Thursday and Sunday. The resumption of the Pyongyang-Dalian flights may reflect improving bilateral ties between North Korea and China after chilled relations over the North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently sent Li Zhanshu, Beijing's third-ranked official, as his special envoy to Pyongyang on the occasion of the North's 70th founding anniversary. Li was seated next to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a military parade staged last week, and the North also hosted an art performance and banquet exclusively for Li and his delegation in an apparent bid to emphasize friendly ties between the two countries. Guwahati, Sep 15 : A team of Assam Police reached Uttar Pradesh on Saturday after a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist from the northeastern state was arrested in Kanpur earlier this week. Qamar-uz-Zaman from Hojai district, was arrested by the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the UP Police on Thursday. He has been missing since 2017. "We have sent a team to Kanpur. They will coordinate with the ATS who are interrogating Zaman. We will try to get more information about the network in Assam," a senior police officer said here. Meanwhile, another person was arrested in Hojai on Thursday for maintaining close links with Zaman and the banned terror outfit. New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah's boast at the national executive meeting about the party ruling for 50 years may have been in keeping with his usual aggressive, bombastic style, but it has been interpreted in two contradictory ways. One was to see it as a sign of arrogance and the other was to discern in the seeming extravagant claim a hint of whistling in the dark to keep up the party morale. Both the surmises have an element of plausibility. If the assertion underlines hauteur, the reason undoubtedly is the BJP's belief that it faces no serious challenge at the moment. Notwithstanding the continuing unemployment, agrarian distress, high fuel prices, falling rupee, stagnant exports and the unease among the minorities and Dalits, the opposition has not been able to get its act together. Because of this failure, there are now doubts about how it will fare in the forthcoming assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh since the BJP's main opponent in these states, the Congress, which was earlier expected to have an easy run, has been unable to reach an understanding with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and is troubled by its familiar internal squabbling. Besides, the question as to who will be the opposition's prime ministerial face is yet to be settled while there has been no clearcut articulation of an economic blueprint. The BJP, on the other hand, is pursuing a well-defined path. Even as "vikas" (development) remains its catchphrase, it also cannily indulges in the ruses of what a dissident saffron intellectual and former BJP minister, Arun Shourie, has called a "one-trick pony". The "trick", according to him, is to foment divisiveness which has been highlighted by the communal uncertainties posed by the National Register of Citizens, which the Assam Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, wants to be extended from his state to the entire country so that the "ghuspetiyas" (infiltrators or illegal immigrants) can be summarily evicted. "Chun chun ke nikaloonga", as Amit Shah has thundered. The BJP's confidence apparently stems from the belief that while the promise of development will keep the youth and the middle class on its side -- as has been confirmed by the Delhi University Students Union election results where the BJP's student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), won three of the top four seats -- the party's nationalist plank targeting "ghuspetiyas" and the so-called urban Naxalites will keep the opposition off balance. It is obvious that the opposition has found no effective answers to the allegations of being soft on illegal aliens and Maoist sympathisers and has to depend on the judiciary to keep any excesses of the ruling party in check as in the matter of lynchings. How indifferent the BJP is towards such outrages or the disquiet expressed by the "secular" intelligentsia about its rule was evident from the seeming satisfaction which Amit Shah derived from the fact that the party keeps on winning despite the murder of Mohammed Akhlaq, allegedly for eating beef, or the "award wapsi" of the urban elite. It is not surprising that he believes that a combination of the promise of economic growth and a depiction of the opposition as unpatriotic will keep the "lion" safe from the "wild dogs", to quote the similes used by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat while addressing the World Hindu Congress in Chicago to describe the Sangh Parivar and its opponents. On its part, the RSS has been engaged in broadening its appeal by calling the non-saffronites to its conclaves. It goes without saying that a possible mainstreaming of the avowedly pro-Hindu organisation will help the BJP to shake off to some extent the taint in the eyes of its opponents of its association with the RSS and thereby help in the fulfilment of the dream of ruling India for half a century. It cannot be gainsaid that at the moment, much is going for the party. It has a Prime Minister whose popular appeal is testified by virtually all the opinion polls despite the government's palpable inadequacies. The party also has a chief whose micromanagement of the organization has turned it into a formidable election-winning outfit. In addition, its publicity is boosted not only by its members in the government and the party, but also by an army of trolls who lose no opportunity to pounce on the BJP's critics with venomous abuses. Not to be left behind in supporting the ruling dispensation are some 'nationalist' television channels whose commitment to neutrality is conspicuous by its absence. With so much in the BJP's favour, its 50-year project may not seem all that far-fetched -- except that the Indian voter remains famously inscrutable. Considering that the BJP secured no more than 31 per cent of the votes at the height of its popularity in 2014, it is obvious that a large percentage of the population do not think much of the party. It may be this inconvenient fact which made Amit Shah whistle in the dark. (Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. He can be reached at amulyaganguli@gmail.com) San Francisco, Sep 14 : India is already playing a leading role in lowering global emissions. The country's efforts in mainstreaming renewable energy and energy efficiency are remarkable. These, and its ambition in the electric mobility space, are admired across the globe, says Mahindra Group Executive Chairman Anand Mahindra. For him, climate change needs to be addressed and he has called on businesses worldwide to commit to science-based targets (SBTs), which aimed to reduce emissions as underpinned by the historic 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement, the first-ever legally binding treaty adopted by 197 countries that came in force on November 4, 2016. "India's social programmes like Ujala (bio-mass to LPG) and Swachh Bharat are very innovative and effective ways of addressing the issues of both planet and people on a large scale where they can actually create a positive impact," Mahindra told IANS in an interview here. He's hereto 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. A firm believer that climate change needs to be addressed, he was categorically clear in saying that no nation can afford to ignore this. "But as I said earlier, everyone needs to do more. There is a lot that developed countries are doing and we look forward to the steps they take as these actions help the global effort, due to advances in technology that others can learn from and emulate." On the status on the adoption of science-based climate targets, Mahindra said nearly three years on from Paris, the race is on to meet the target of holding global temperature rise to under two degrees Celsius, helping avoid the worst effects of climate change by achieving peak greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. "At this summit, new evidence will be presented to demonstrate that companies around the world, and in some of the highest-emitting industries, are taking action to make the transition to the low-carbon business models of the future." Currently, 20 Mahindra Group companies have signed up for the science-based climate targets, with Mahindra Sanyo Special Steels being the first steel company in the world to get its targets approved. This covers more than 90 per cent of the Group's emissions and other Group companies are in the process of signing up for these targets, he said. Mahindra sees business value in adopting these targets that he announced to commit at the World Economic Forum in January this year. "We have already seen remarkable value in reducing emissions through the EP100 programme which aims to double energy productivity in our main businesses -- auto, farm equipment and holiday resorts. Science-based targets are a way of ensuring that ambition is stepped up and action is aligned to the target set by the Paris Agreement." "The need for sustainability in business is creating a tectonic shift of mindset, as dramatic as moving from smoke signals to Skype. The scale involved in moving from combustion engines to electric, from conventional to alternative energy, opens up a new world of business possibilities." He said the creation of new technologies and leveraging them to create new businesses is a huge opportunity for the future. This includes retro-fitting homes, buildings, and factories, to make them more energy efficient; and manufacturing literally billions of energy efficient appliances for lighting, heating, cooking, cooling, and washing for every home. "We are talking about massive scale once consumers change their lifestyle. The potential investment in wind and solar energy alone, over the next two decades, is six trillion dollars. "Beside the business case for sustainability, we as a company have discovered that everything we have done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has given us a financial return." An optimistic Mahindra said the GCAS would encourage all stakeholders to raise their ambition with many new possibilities emerging out of the discussions. The commitments made in the lead-up to GCAS have already created momentum and GCAS will help carry this through. As a platform to address the challenge of climate change, the GCAS to my mind is already a success. "For me, the work toward GCAS began at Davos when we issued the SBT (science-based targets) challenge to other global corporations. The challenge has gained huge momentum and more than 470 companies have already signed up for these SBTs. "I am sure that the conversations at GCAS will sustain and even increase the momentum that has been created. We have Indian steel and cement companies that have come forward to sign onto these SBTs. These sectors are known to be hard-to-abate, yet Indian companies have shown vision and ambition in taking this action. These point toward strong signs of success for GCAS already," he said. The three-day climate action summit, an initiative by California Governor Jerry Brown, began here on Wednesday amidst the presence of 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". (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 ) Patna, Sep 14 : Bihar's seasoned politician and Lok Sabha member Pappu Yadav says that jailed veteran politician Lalu Prasad has become irrelevant in politics 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 politics 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 ) Panaji, Sep 12 : As colourful clay idols of Lord Ganesh are ushered into Hindu homes in Goa ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi, the symbolic significance of the deity, as a remover of obstacles and a god of new beginnings, may well dwell on the minds of state leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The party's top-rung leaders are battling a crisis of loyalty between their party and the ailing high priest of the BJP in Goa, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who in the past has cleared innumerable political obstacles and ushered new beginnings for the party and its cadre. The 62-year-old former Defence Minister's persisting illness is now threatening to weigh heavy on the fortunes of his party as well as the BJP-led coalition government that he heads. Parrikar returned from the US -- for the third time in six months -- after yet another round of treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer last week, but has failed to attend office. The question of whether and who will replace Parrikar is still not a subject for on-record conversations for BJP leaders like state party General Secretary Sadanand Shet Tanavde and South Goa MP Narendra Savoikar, who insist that "there is no question of a change in leadership". But in the sanctuary of an off-record conversation, there is anxiety, anguish and worry -- both for Parrikar's failing health as well as the gaining perception that the Goa BJP and the government are virtually leaderless entities. There appears to be neither hope, nor a consensus, among the party's senior leadership about who could potentially replace Parrikar for now, especially since his health is worsening, although the Chief Minister's Office as well as BJP spokespersons insist that the ailing leader is recovering just fine. Last month, perhaps Parrikar's only peer in the Goa BJP in terms of longevity and acceptability among cadre, Union Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Naik, made the first attempt to spark a conversation about "alternative leadership" in Goa, while conceding to a crisis. But within a matter of hours of his presser, a planned trip to Delhi to meet the party High Command by Naik himself and other top party functionaries was called off, after some leaders met Parrikar, who was admitted to a Mumbai hospital. Since then, Naik too toes the line of "no question of leadership change". Now that the cry for leadership change has been swiftly squelched, the question is now limited to sincere, but muffled murmurs among BJP leaders, who feel that political ground beneath them is slipping, in the face of a series of scandals -- the inaction against those exposed for using carcinogenic agent formalin to preserve fish in a seafood-loving state and the never-ending mining ban and the seeming lack of effort by the state government to overcome it, being the two most significant. It is not that there aren't options. One of the few propped up include Speaker Pramod Sawant, who Parrikar, ignoring protocol, had handpicked to lead the government during the state Independence Day parade. Alliance partners Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and the Goa Forward Party have also been sounded out or have pushed for merging their legislative units into the BJP as a pre-condition for the top chair, according to sources. Last week, Goa's political circles were in a tizzy about former Chief Minister and Congress MLA Digambar Kamat -- a favourite of the influential mining lobby -- along with other Congress MLAs joining the BJP with the Chief Ministerial berth as a prize for the coup. But Kamat, who on a clear winter day in February 2005 quit the BJP to join the Congress complaining of "suffocation" within the saffron party, has now formally said that no such move was on the cards. Former Goa Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Subhash Velingkar, who has groomed the top rung of BJP leadership, including Parrikar, Naik and state BJP president Vinay Tendulkar, blames Parrikar for the lack of credible second-rung leaders. "He (Parrikar) has ensured that there are no second-rung leaders. Laxmikant Parsenkar (former CM), Rajendr Arlekar (Speaker) and Naik have been systematically sidelined, which is the cause of this crisis. Leadership change right now is imperative," Velingkar told IANS. One would wonder if Ganesh Chaturthi, with all its inherent symbolism, would usher in a new beginning for the BJP in Goa or, at least for now, clear up the obstacles. (Mayabhushan Nagvenkar can be contacted at mayabhushan.n@ians.in) San Francisco, Sep 13 : Facebook-owned Instagram is rolling out a new "prompt feature" that would pop-up if users try to find substance abuse related recovery and treatment services or look to buy drugs illegally on the platform using certain hashtags such as "opioid", the media has reported. "Instagram says people are using hashtags to find addiction support and communities as well as illegal drugs. This prompt is an attempt to help people who are indulging in or fighting against addictions like opioid and other drugs," The Verge reported late on Wednesday. The prompt comes with three options to choose from -- "get support", "see posts anyway", and "cancel". "The new pop-up features aims to solve some of the platform's drug issues, even if it doesn't address the actual substance sales. It does at least give users a place to go if they're searching for help," the report added. The user can reportedly seek to get support resources that the photo-sharing platform has developed with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the Partnership for Drug Free Kids. The feature is currently available in the US with an international roll-out coming soon, according to Engadget. The Facebook-owned company previously rolled out a similar feature for users who search for hashtags related to self-injury and eating disorders. New Delhi, Sep 14 : 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 jail term and ignominy. 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 committee would be headed by a retired judge and have a representative each from the Centre and the Kerala government. The court verdict has come on a plea by Narayanan seeking a probe into the false case hurled by the Kerala Police and other agencies. Narayanan had 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. 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 on charges of espionage along with another top 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. Narayan 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. "This is a long fought case or rather a judicial war. 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. Mathew and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan refused to comment on the apex court verdict. New Delhi, Sep 14 : 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, environment 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. New Delhi, Sep 13 : Justice Ranjan Gogoi, one of the four judges who revolted against Chief Justice Dipak Misra earlier this year, was on Thursday appointed the next Chief Justice of India (CJI). President Ram Nath Kovind designated Justice Gogoi as the next CJI to succeed Chief Justice Dipak Misra who will demit office on October 2. Justice Gogoi will be sworn in by the President on October 3 and would preside over Court Number One, the Chief Justice's court. Justice Gogoi, known for his no-nonsense approach, will be the 46th CJI and will have a term of 13 months 15 days. He was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court on April 23, 2012. Along with three senior-most Judges of the apex court -- Justices J. Chelameswar, Madan B. Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- Justice Gogoi held an unprecedented press conference in January this year raising, among other things, questions over assigning cases to different judges by Chief Justice Misra. Born on November 18, 1954, Justice Gogoi was enrolled as an advocate in 1978. He practised in the Gauhati High Court on constitutional, taxation and company matters. He was appointed as a permanent judge of the Gauhati High Court on February 28, 2001. On September 9, 2010, he was transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He was appointed as Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court on February 12, 2011. Justice Gogoi is presiding over a bench also having Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman that is monitoring the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. He also heads a the bench that is hearing a plea for setting up special courts to exclusively try criminal cases against the sitting and former lawmakers across the country. In pursuance to his December 2017 order, 12 special courts were set up across the country to try criminal cases against the politicians. The emphasis is that in pursuance to 2014 direction of the top court, the trial in criminal cases against the lawmakers should conclude in one year. Justice Gogoi had on Wednesday said that if required they would monitor the compliance of its order as it asked 19 States and six Union territories to give the details of the number of cases pending against the lawmakers in these states. He is also on the bench along with Chief Justice Misra hearing the Sahara matter. Justice Gogoi had pulled up Justice Markandey Katju for adversely commenting on a top court judgment in which it had set aside the death sentence of a Kerala man accused of raping and murdering a young woman in 2011. Justice Katju had retired as judge of the Supreme Court on September 19, 2011. The bench headed by Justice Gogoi had on November 11, 2016 issued notice to Justice Katju as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him for casting aspersion against the judges in one of his blogs relating to a case. However, contempt proceedings were shelved on January 6, 2017, after the court accepted unconditional apology tendered by him. New Delhi, Sep 13 : Rejecting Rahul Gandhi's demand for resignation of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the BJP on Thursday sought to turn the tables by asking Congress President to quit from his post because of his alleged involvement in the National Herald case. The party also dismissed the claims of Congress leader P.L. Punia, who told the media that Jaitley and fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya met in the Central Hall of Parliament before the latter fled the country on March 2, 2016. "Rahul Gandhi, who is facing serious criminal charges, should first resign. The people of the country should thank Arun Jaitley, who is working to bring the money back which was looted during the Congress rule," Union Minister Piyush Goyal told a press conference in response to a question over Gandhi's demand for Jaitley's resignation. "Those, who took loans from hawala companies and accumulated wealth by taking government land free of cost or at lower rate from National Herald and whose case was rejected by the Delhi High Court, should resign first," he added. The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was responding to the charges made by Rahul Gandhi, who demanded Jaitely's resignation after accusing him of colluding with fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya "and giving him a free passage" to flee the country. Gandhi asked why the Minister did not inform the investigating agencies about Mallya's plans to leave India. Responding to the charges, Goyal said that comments of a criminal or a person who is under the glare of law cannot be taken for any credibility. "It was a one-way traffic. He (Mallya) was trying to talk to somebody in the passage. By that logic, I was watching Twitter. Lots of people have put up photographs where Rahul Gandhi was seen with Arun Jaitley. I don't think we can run away from Rahul Gandhi because he is a person accused of fraud of huge amount and high court has also dismissed his plea," he said. The BJP leader dubbed the charges levelled by Congress MP Punia as "incredulous" and suggested he appear before the investigative agencies. He claimed that Punia was forced to speak under pressure. "Where was he for the last two-and-half years. He should respond to the investigation agencies. Two-and-half-years later he remembers the conversation, the time and a so-called meeting which never took place. One suddenly raises questions on the credibility...a party colleague of Rahul Gandhi is making such incredulous claims," he said. Punia had claimed the meeting between Jaitley and Mallya lasted 15-20 minutes and alleged that Mallya took Jaitley's permission after holding consultations with him about his planned flight abroad. The Union Minister for Railways said that the Narendra Modi government never interferes in the work of investigative agencies. "This government has acted the most against bank defaulters. I think this government took such steps to get the money back looted during Congress rule...," he said. Showing video clips of the statements made by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi in 2010, which showed that the then government was trying to get Kingfisher out of trouble, the BJP leader accused the Congress of breaking rules to pave the way for restructuring loans to Mallya. "How since 2010, the Congress and the Gandhi family were having their say in the government? The PM also then said that they wanted to bail out Kingfisher airlines. This proves they allowed the loot... Congress, the Prime Minister, then Aviation Minister were also involved in the conspiracy to save Kingfisher Airlines," he said. "The Congress party should clarify what relations they had with Kingfisher Airlines. This shows the propensity to which the Congress can lie to cover up their sins," he said. San Francisco, Sep 14 : 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) Male, Sep 14 : 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. San Francisco, Sep 12 : Swedish communication services giant Ericsson and US-based wireless network operator T-Mobile on Wednesday signed a multi-year contract worth $3.5 billion to support the latter's nation-wide deployment of 5G network. As part of the agreement, Ericsson would provide T-Mobile with the latest 5G New Radio (NR) hardware and software compliant with the "Third Generation Partnership Project" (3GPP) standards. "We have recently decided to increase our investments in the US to be closer to our leading customers and better support them with their accelerated 5G deployments and we are excited about our partnership with T-Mobile," said Niklas Heuveldop, President and Head of Ericsson in North America. Deployment of 5G networks promises to deliver very high data speeds, extreme low latency, high reliability, energy efficiency and extreme device densities. Ericsson would also provide its digital services solutions to T-Mobile, including dynamic orchestration, business support systems (BSS) and Ericsson Cloud Core for faster 5G deployment, Ericsson said. As part of the deal, T-Mobile's already installed base of "Ericsson Radio System", radios will be able to run 5G NR technology with simple remote software installation. "With this new Ericsson agreement we're laying the groundwork for 5G," said Neville Ray, Chief Technology Officer, T-Mobile. Deployment of 5G networks would make way for the advancements and developments to come to Long-Term Evolution (LTE) -- which is a standard for high-speed wireless communication for mobile devices and data terminals. Washington, Sep 13 : Stormy Daniels, the porn star who sued Donald Trump over a hush agreement to keep her silent about their alleged sexual encounter, has written a book about her life which she says will include details of her tryst with the US President. Daniels said on Wednesday there will be new details in the book, titled "Full Disclosure", that the public hasn't heard, reports CNN. "Everybody knows that a lot of the '60 Minutes' (interview) was cut down for time and there are things that I said in my interview that I really wanted people to know that are very important to me that I didn't get to say," Daniels said in an interview. "I was like, I'm going to write everything and include it, and people can think what they want about me. But at least it's the truth," Daniels said, adding that the book has been many years in the making. Daniels also said when she heard that the President's former lawyer Michael Cohen told the court that Trump had directed him to make the $130,000 hush payment, she started crying. Cohen at the time, paid Daniels $130,000 for signing the non-disparagement agreement through a shell company 11 days before the 2016 presidential election. Cohen recently pleaded guilty to eight criminal charges against him involving that payment. He also admitted he did it on behalf of Trump to keep word of the affair from influencing the election. The book will go on sale October 2, Daniels added. Chandigarh, Sep 13 : Religion holds centre-stage in Punjab's murky politics, especially in the run-up to important elections, be it assembly or parliamentary polls. With the general election, scheduled in April-May next year, just months away, the religious issue of sacrilege cases of the Sikh holy Guru Granth Sahib is again at the forefront of Punjab political discourse. In 2015, less than 18 months before assembly polls in the state, the sacrilege cases mysteriously increased. The incidents led to protests and the government of the day -- of the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) alliance, which had been in power since 2007 -- reacted to these. The result was violence and police action which left two persons dead and many others injured. The opposition Congress took full advantage of the simmering situation to nail the Akali Dal. Sikh religious organisations, except for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and some other bodies which derive patronage from the SAD, too, were upset with the handling of the situation by the government led by Akali Dal stalwart and five-time Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The Congress romped home in the assembly polls with 77 seats in the 117-member assembly (the Congress strength now is 78 seats after winning another by-election). Of course, the party also used issues like rampant drug abuse and corruption to nail the SAD-BJP government. With the general elections just months away, the present Congress government in the state led by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has timed the inquiry commission reports on the sacrilege cases and the police firing related to it in a way that has forced the SAD to go on the defensive. The Akali Dal, which has always depended heavily on its "Panthic" (Sikh religious) agenda over the past few decades, has been defending itself following accusations that its government did little to stop the sacrilege of the Sikh holy book and the violent incidents in the aftermath of all this. Badal, who is over 90 years old, has been forced to defend the action (or inaction) of his then government in the sacrilege incidents. It is not for the first time that religious matters are dictating electoral politics in the state. The Akalis are themselves master players in this as their control of Sikh organisations, particularly the cash-rich SGPC, that have control over Sikh religious affairs. The SAD, in the past, has never lost an opportunity to highlight the "Panth nu khatraa" (threat to the Sikh religion) from the Congress party and others. The SAD has also used the 1984 Operation Bluestar attack of the Army on the Golden Temple complex and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots against the Congress party to serve its political interests. The Congress has tried several times in the past to break the stranglehold of the Akalis on the SGPC and other organisations but has largely remained unsuccessful. Even now, the Congress has been accused of covertly playing games against the SAD and SGPC through Sikh religious preachers, who have their own limited following in the state. With the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is now the main opposition in the Punjab assembly (relegating the SAD to the third slot), also being in the fray in Punjab's electoral politics, things have changed a lot for the traditional Congress and SAD opponents. The AAP too has tried its hand at mixing religion with politics in Punjab by aligning itself before the February 2017 assembly polls with radical elements. Of course, the move backfired and the AAP, which at one stage was expecting to win the assembly elections and form the government, had to contend with being in the opposition. The numerous "deras" (sects) and preachers who have cropped up in Punjab in the last two or three decades have given a new dimension to the mix of religion and politics in the state. Amidst all this politics of religion, the real issues of lack of development, drug abuse, industry running away, no fresh investments, unemployment and agriculture taking a hit in the agrarian state have been relegated to the background. (Jaideep Sarin can be contacted at jaideep.s@ians.in) Mumbai, Sep 12 : Actor Akshay Kumar shared the first official poster of his upcoming film "Kesari", which is based on the Battle of Saragarhi where 21 Sikhs fought against 10,000 Afghans in 1897. To mark the anniversary of the Saragarhi battle, Akshay took to Instagram to unveil the poster on Wednesday, suggesting that the film will be high on patriotism level. In the poster, Akshay, fondly known as Khiladi Kumar in Bollywood, can be seen as a turbaned Sikh warrior with his hand raised up and holding a rifle. It seems like he is leading an entire unit of turbaned warriors. He captioned the poster: "On Saragarhi Day, here's the first look of 'Kesari' - our humble tribute to the martyrs of Saragarh." Helmed by Anurag Singh, "Kesari" is scheduled to release on March 21, 2019. : New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis during a press briefing after ... Image Source: IANS/DPRO External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis during a press briefing after the ... Image Source: IANS/DPRO Islamabad, Sep 13 : 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." New Delhi, Sep 12 : The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday announced prohibiting the manufacture for sale or distribution for human use of 328 Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs) drugs with immediate effect. It has also restricted the manufacture, sale or distribution of six FDCs subject to certain conditions, the Ministry said in a statement. FDCs are two or more drugs combined in a fixed ratio into a single dosage form. The Centre, in March 2016, had prohibited the manufacture for sale and distribution of 349 FDCs but this was contested by the affected manufacturers in High Courts and the Supreme Court. Complying with the December 2017 Supreme Court judgment, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) examined the matter and, in its report to the Centre, recommended prohibition of the FDCs saying there was no therapeutic justification for the ingredients contained in them and that these FDCs may involve risk to human beings. Earlier, an expert committee appointed by the Centre too had made similar observations. Considering the recommendations of DTAB and the expert committee, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, through a gazette notification, prohibited the FDCs. New Delhi, Sep 14 : Jindal Global University has unveiled a handbook on the rights of transgenders and gender non-conforming people in India. The handbook, titled "Rights of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming People in India", was unveiled here by Professor C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, JGU, on the sidelines of a day-long legal training on the rights of transgenders and gender non-conforming people, as part of the 7th Annual Hijra Habba. The handbook was prepared by Dipika Jain, Associate Professor and Executive Director at the varsity's Jindal Global Law School (JGLS), in collaboration with civil society networks, NGOs and INGOs -- India HIV/AIDS Alliance, Multiple Action Research Group (MARG) and International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). "This handbook simplifies relevant aspects of constitutional and criminal law affecting everyday lives of transgenders and gender non-conforming people," Jain said in a statement. The handbook is divided into four chapters: Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Getting Government Identification, and the Right to Information. It promises to bridge the gap between law and society and serve as an educational and training aid for future legal awareness workshops, according to Danish Sheikh, Assistant Professor at JGLS, who translated the book in Hindi. The handbook will be made available online, and in additional seven regional languages, he noted. Ranchi, Sep 14 : Acting on a Jharkhand High Court directive, an FIR has been registered against the Hazaribagh Deputy Commissioner and 23 others in connection with an incident of police firing in the district in 2016, police said on Friday. The police fired on people of Chirudih village in Hazaribagh district during a protest against the NTPC plant, leading to the death of four youths. An FIR was lodged on Thursday in this regard. The National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC) had acquired 8,056 acres of land for one of its projects - the Pankri-Barwadih coal mining project in 2010. But work could not start as the villagers demanded higher compensation, employment and rehabilitation. The villagers intensified the agitation after NTPC reportedly initiated the mining work. Congress legislator Nirmala Devi, who was arrested then on charges of instigating the mob, had sought a FIR against the officials over the police firing. She moved the Jharkhand High Court. Besides the Deputy Commissioner, FIR has been lodged against NTPC General Manager Gopal Krishna, Assistant Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Kumar, Inspector Akhilesh Kumar Singh and Sub-Inspector Shakeel Ahmed. Agartala, Sep 15 : A group of 18 children who were rescued by the Bihar Police from a Buddhist School and Meditation Centre in Bodh Gaya have reached here, an official said on Saturday. The police said the children, all boys and aged between 12 to 14 years, were sent to the school by their parents six months ago. "The Bihar police last month rescued a large number of children including these 18 boys from the school after their parents complained of mistreatment by a monk," the official told the media. The Bihar police earlier this week handed over the children to a team of Tripura Police. These boys reached here on Friday night, Tripura Child Rights Commission Chairperson Nilima Ghosh told IANS. Tripura Health and Family Welfare Minister Sudip Roy Barman, who along with Ghosh received the children at the Agartala railway station, said the children were sent without any information or permission of the state government. Barman said the Tripura government would take up the matter with Bihar and the state and Bihar police would jointly probe the matter. Among the 18 children, 15 are from Tripura, two from Arunachal Pradesh and one from neighbouring Assam. Ghosh said that the rescued children, now under the care of an NGO, Child Line, would be sent back to their homes soon. New Delhi, Sep 15 : An Urdu version of the book 'Exam Warrior' penned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was launched here on Saturday, officials said. The book was launched at a function organised by the India Islamic Cultural Centre. The event was attended by three cabinet ministers, film actors and hundreds of school children. The book, which was launched earlier this year, already has versions in 14 languages including Hindi and English. Urdu is the 15th language in which the book has been published. Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, and MoS for PMO Personnel Jitendra Singh attended the launch, along with film actors Rishi Kapoor, Annu Kapoor and filmmaker Muzaffar Ali. "No one else could have written this book. Narendra Modi is the first Prime Minister to have come from the ground-level after many years....We have spent many decades in a feudal hangover," Singh said at the event. In praise of Urdu, he said there are many people who are not able to read Urdu script but want to read it, and for them it is not unlikely that an Urdu version written in the Hindi script may be launched in future. Javadekar, who had recently launched the Telugu translation of the book, said that it is not only for children but for parents also who unnecessarily pressurise their children during exams. The book, which has 25 chapters in all with lessons on how to beat stress during examinations, was distributed to all school children present there. Lucknow, Sep 15 : A District Judge on Saturday dismissed a transfer petition of former Uttar Pradesh minister and senior Samajwadi Party leader Gayatri Prasad Prajapati in over three-year-old false rape case. Prajapati's transfer petition was in response to a government's revision petition which came after a few sections in the police chargesheet filed against Prajapati in 2017 were removed. Activist Nutan Thakur had filed a case against Prajapati accusing him of framing her, her husband and senior IPS officer Amitabh Thakur in a false rape case. After the Lucknow police's chargesheet against the former minister, the chief judicial magistrate of Lucknow had taken cognizance of it, but some sections of it were removed. Prajapati presented a transfer petition making allegations against Additional District Judge (ADJ) Mukesh Kumar Singh-II, which was opposed by the petitioner. The Lucknow district judge on Saturday dismissed the transfer petition calling the allegations baseless and directed the ADJ to decide the revision petition at the earliest. Gayatri Prajapati was a powerful minister in the Akhilesh Yadav government and was close both to the then chief minister and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav. Kabul, Sep 15 : Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday held a one-on-one meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in the Afghan capital where the region's security situation and bilateral relations were discussed. This was Qureshi's first foreign trip after assuming office. Upon arrival at the Presidential Palace, the Pakistani Foreign Minister was received by his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani, Geo News reported. He was in Afghanistan for a day. The Office of the Afghan President, ARG Palace, said in a statement that the two sides discussed security, regional peace and stability, joint fight against terrorism, border management and other issues related to the Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity, Khaama Press reported. Qureshi also held delegation-level talks with the Afghan side during which bilateral trade matters and closure of the Pakistan Consulate General in Jalalabad due to a security crisis came under discussion. He was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and the Director-General for Afghan relations along with other officials. Qureshi separately met his Afghan counterpart Rabbani. The latter said that establishing peace was as important for Pakistan as for Afghanistan, while the Pakistani minister said that the sides should cooperate in dealing with various challenges. "Our challenges are similar and we have to deal with them through mutual cooperation," Qureshi said. He further said that there was a persistent need to focus on the working group in Afghanistan to move forward and proposed that a meeting between scholars from both sides could be arranged to resolve issues. Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry earlier said that "the main purpose of the Foreign Minister's visit was to improve coordination on security-related issues between the two countries". Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said that Qureshi's maiden foreign visit after assuming office underlined the importance that the government attaches to work closely with Afghanistan for regional peace and stability. New Delhi, Sep 15 : Actor Shahid Kapoor, who is quite active on social media, urged people not to make virtual reality their "everything" as he feels there is more to life than that. In an interactive session of the India Today Mind Rocks Youth Summit 2018 on Saturday here, the "Padmaavat" actor said: "Now a lot of kids are focusing on how they look and spending a lot of time on it. "We all are human beings, everybody wants to get dressed down. It is okay to wake up looking groggy. One should understand what matters the most. There is more to life than Instagram and selfies. People should take out time for the things which are far more important than just looks." Shahid also shared how he is taking out time from his work so that he can be with his family and his new born son Zain. "There was a lot of pressure on me, as I was constantly thinking should I spend my nights at the hospital or should I go out for work. But, It was important for me to recognise what is important for me at this point of time. "So, for me spending time with my family matters the most right now, my job being an actor and looking good and being presentable can wait for a few days." Shahid will be seen in the forthcoming film "Bati Gul Meter Chalu" alongside actress Shraddha Kapoor. New Delhi, Sep 15 : Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) O.P. Rawat said on Saturday the potential threat to democracy is due to rise of all kinds of machination such as data theft, data harvesting, profiling and targeted communication. "The rise of fake news, the make-believe things, the rise of all kinds of machinations such as data theft, data harvesting, profiling, targeted communication has affected not only elections but outcomes of referendums the world over. These tools change the outcome of any process which is meant to translate popular will in a healthy decision-making, in a healthy representative government," Rawat said. "That's the potent threat every democracy in the world is facing," Rawat said while addressing an event organised on the International Day of Democracy by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Delhi. "Here in our country, the Election Commission is seized of issues such as cyber-security and securing our data so that Cambridge Analytica kind of thing does not happen over elections," he said. At a symposium on 'Challenges to Indian electoral democracy,' Rawat said abuse of money power is the main concern during the elections. He suggested there is no legal framework to control the black money, adding the commission has recommended many reforms to bring transparency in campaign finances. He said that democracy requires courage, character, integrity and knowledge which are "diminishing and are on the verge of extinction in the country." He said management of media, social media and paid news are major challenges. He also referred to enormous changes that have taken place on the ownership of social media. He also mentioned "purification" of electoral rolls by removing bogus voters, saying the process will continue till the Election Commission is satisfied. New Delhi, Sep 15 : The 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), the External Affairs Ministry-organised conclave of the Indian diaspora, to be held in Varanasi from January 21 to 23, 2019, will be a bigger affair than all the past editions with a couple more programmes being added, it was announced on Saturday. Speaking at the launch of the official website for the event here, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that in addition to attending the three-day PBD in Varanasi, the participants will also be taken to Allahabad where the Kumbh Mela will be going on then and then brought to New Delhi for the Republic Day celebrations. Giving details of the programme, Sushma Swaraj said that on January 21, a Youth PBD will be held where Himanshu Gulati, an Indian-origin member of parliament of Norway will be the chief guest and Kanwaleet Singh Bakshi, also an Indian-origin member of parliament of New Zealand will be the guest of honour. On January 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the main event with Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth, who is also of Indian-origin, attending as the chief guest. The event will conclude on January 23 with a valedictory session that will be addressed by President Ram Nath Kovind. During the session, the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman will be conferred on 30 Indian-origin individuals for their exceptional and meritorious contributions in their chosen fields or professions. "On January 24, we will take the participants to Prayagraj (as Allahabad is also known) for the Kumbh Mela, which has been inscribed on the Unesco's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity," Sushma Swaraj said. Following this, the participants will be brought to New Delhi by special trains to take part in the Republic Day celebrations on January 26. After being an annual event for 13 consecutive years starting in 2003 at the initiative of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, PBD was turned into a biannual affair after the 2015 edition in Gandhinagar. After the 2017 edition held in Bengaluru, the External Affairs Ministry has now roped in Uttar Pradesh as the partner state with Varanasi as the host city. Giving the rationale behind turning PBD into a biannual affair, Sushma Swaraj said that after the 2015 edition, she realised that PBD was not yielding much in terms of results as an annual affair. "So, I suggested to the Prime Minister that it should be held every two years with the intervening year being used to hold meetings with groups of diaspora members on various issues and he agreed," she said. Though the earlier editions were three-day affairs ending on January 9, the day Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa, on January 9, 2019, PBD will be observed in Indian missions across the world. With the launch of the website, registration for PBD 2019 has started effective from September 15 and will continue till November 15 when the process will close. Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh said that more participation is expected in the Varanasi event than the last one in Bengaluru. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was also present, recalled his participation in the mini PBD held in Mauritius in 2012 and said that with the 2019 PBD being held in Varanasi, many participants will be able to trace their roots back in India. Many of the people of Indian origin in Mauritius are descendants of people taken from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during the time of the British Raj to work as indentured labour on the sugarcane plantations on the Indian Ocean island nation. New Delhi, Sep 15 : Congress on Saturday sought to fix accountability of Prime Minister Modi and Finance Minister Jaitley in the Rs 90,000 crore "loot of public money" and the escape of 23 fugitives, including Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. It also demanded an "impartial investigation" into it. "BJP is more loyal to 'con-man' than to a common man. PM Modi only promoted 'ease of looting and fleeing India" rather than promoting ease of doing business in India," said Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill. The party also released a list of 23 fugitives who fled under this government and are settled abroad. "The law-breaking and government organised escape episodes of Mallya, Nirav Modi and Chowksi prove beyond doubt that Modi Sarkar is not a guardian or protector of public money but a travel agency facilitating fraud and happy safe flying of willful bank loan defaulters," said Shergill. "BJP provides the "chor darwaza" (escape door) to all wilful defaulters looking to run away with public money," he added. The party stated total banking fraud cases from year 2014-2018 are 23,000. "Total amount involved in banking scams: Rs. 90,000 crore. In 2014-15 (Rs. 19,455 crore), 2015-16 (Rs. 18,698 crore), 2016-17 (Rs. 23,933 crore), 2017-18 (Rs. 25,459 crore)," the party stated. The leader said: "It is high time political and legal accountability is fixed on the Modi government as to how and under whose instructions the law enforcement agencies decided to conveniently look away while the 23 fugitives left India," he added. New Delhi/Shillong, Sep 15 : Five-time former Meghalaya Chief Minister Donwa Dethwelson Lapang, who quit the Congress, on Saturday said he will not reconsider his decision despite request from party president Rahul Gandhi. The BJP, which is keenly observing the political developments in Meghalaya, said the Congress would need to explain why Lapang had left party with which he was associated for over four decades. Lapang, who is camping at Delhi, refused to received calls from Rahul Gandhi's office, a senior Congress leader said. "He is not receiving any phone calls and his mobile phone remained switched off," said the Congress leader. "I have resigned. There is no way that I am going to reconsider my decision," Lapang told IANS over phone in Delhi. Asked about the reason that made him to quit the Congress party, the former Chief Minister said, "I have stated it in my resignation letter." Sources close to Lapang said he felt humiliated by Congress embarking on a policy of "phasing out senior and elderly people." "In my opinion, it means that services and contributions of senior and elderly people are not 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 in the party," Lapang noted in his resignation letter to Gandhi. Responding to a query if Lapang would be accommodated as Governor, BJP national spokesperson Nalin Kohli said: "He is a senior leader. I am aware of Lapang's contributions, and he enjoys that respect. But I cannot really speak anything on this because when I am not in touch with him or he is in touch with me." New Delhi, Sep 15 : As a part of his election campaign in Madhya Pradesh, Congress President Rahul Gandhi will be visiting the state on Monday. Gandhi will be welcomed by party workers in Bhopal around 1:15 pm. He will also address party workers at the ground at 4 p.m. Polls in Madhya Pradesh are due later this year along with Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Mizoram. Jaipur, Sep 15 : The Indian Army will mark the centenary celebrations of the Battle of Haifa (Israel), which took place during the First World War, on September 23, said Lt Gen Cherish Mathson, Army Commander of the South Western Command, on Saturday. "Few Indians know the significance of Haifa Day. But people in Israel celebrate it on September 23 every year. The Indian Army commemorates the Haifa Day to respect those Indian soldiers who participated in the battle to free the city as a part of the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade," said Gen Mathson. Gen Mathson emphasised the need for the youth to be aware of the scarifices of their forefathers and the necessity of preserving that heritage. "The whole of Israel knows about the heroes from India, but they are little known in their own motherland," he said. Sons of the soil from Rajasthan led by Major Dalpat Singh in a mounted Cavalry defeated a numerically superior force armed with more lethal weapons and liberated Haifa in the present-day Israel from the occupation of the Turks of the Ottoman Empire, the Gen said. Panaji, Sep 15 : The Goa Congress on Saturday squarely blamed the ruling BJP for the political and administrative chaos in the state, after Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was airlifted for treatment to New Delhi, even as the party is in the process of scouting for a replacement. "We would also like to remind the people of Goa that their well-being is the last thing on the mind of the ruling political parties who are unleashing the ugly game of power and clamouring for their benefit. "The greed for power of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies has exposed the fact that they can't give charge even to a trusted lieutenant in the absence of CM," state Congress president Girish Chodankar said in a statement issued here on Saturday. "The current confusion of epic proportions is only going to hurt the prospects of the state further, especially when the BJP does not even have a second-in-command to succeed Parrikar in his absence. "The very fact that a second-in-command was never allowed to be groomed by the BJP, shows how selfish interests have sacrificed the interests of the party and the state of Goa," Chodankar said, adding that the Congress sympathises with the health-related issues which confront Parrikar. BJP's central overseers are expected to visit the state soon to monitor the ongoing developments and decide a political course for the party in view of Parrikar's ailing condition, even as coalition partners have been demanding a bigger role in a dispensation without Parrikar at the helm. The alliance partners, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and the Goa Forward, with three MLAs each, have demanded chief ministership for their senior leaders Sudin Dhavalikar and Vijai Sardesai, respectively. Parrikar, who is suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer, was airlifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital for treatment. Since February this year, Parrikar has been in and out of hospitals in Mumbai, the US, Goa and now in Delhi owing to his ailment. His absence and his inability to officiate hands-on has been criticised by the opposition, civil society and also by the ruling alliance partners. Chodankar in his statement said that nobody is happy with the piquant political situation Goa is in at the moment. "No one in Goa is happy, BJP is not happy, allies are not happy, people of Goa are unhappy, bureaucrats and government officers are unhappy, even CM and ministers are unhappy. This happens when you don't respect people's mandate. BJP and its allies should take up responsibility of this mess created in Goa over the last 16 months," Chodankar said. The Congress had won more seats than the BJP in the 2017 state Assembly polls, but sluggish leadership and decision-making by the party's leaders and quick thinking by the BJP helped the latter cobble up a coalition with regional parties and Independent legislators to form the government. Dimapur, Sep 15 : Former Nagaland Chief Minister S.C. Jamir on Saturday asked the Modi-led government to make public the full contents of the framework agreement signed with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM). On August 3, 2015, the central government and the NSCN-IM signed the framework agreement. But neither side released its details. The separatist group has been in talks with the government since 1997 after the signing of a ceasefire agreement. "It is expected that whatever agreement is drawn up would be in the best interest of the Nagas," Jamir, a Naga political stalwart, said. Exhorting the central government to hammer out an honourable solution to the Naga insurgency problem without any further delay, the former Odhisa governor appealed to various Naga ethnic tribes to unite and recognise the "contemporary political reality". Jamir called for an end to what he called "political polemics". Voicing optimism about a new political environment, the Nehruvian leader said, "The people of Nagaland can embark again on a well-ordered and progressive administration to promote rapid economic development of the state in order to catch up with the rest of India." But he said this would require renewed determination, dedication and commitment for the people of Nagaland. However, he said: "Let the final political settlement be made first." Jamir said the pace of development in Nagaland should have picked up after the agreement of ceasefire was signed between the government of India and various Naga armed groups. "Sadly, that has not happened due to political instability, rank misgovernance and rampant corruption indulged in by those in power," he stated. Chandigarh, Sep 15 : The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Saturday allowed the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to hold a political rally in Faridkot town on Sunday. The Congress government in Punjab had earlier denied permission to the SAD to hold the rally citing law and order issues in view of protests by Sikh organizations against sacrilege cases being held at Bargari, about 40 km from the Akali Dal rally venue. The Punjab government, after the High Court allowed holding of the rally, filed a review petition, but the court allowed SAD to hold the rally on Sunday. SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal said: "The High Court has upheld the values of democracy by snuffing out Congress attempts to use repressive means as well as the bogey of violence to muzzle the voice of democracy." "The fate of the review petition should be a lesson to the Congress that no government could infringe upon the fundamental rights of its citizens to protest in a peaceful manner," Badal said. The SAD president alleged that Congress was instigating violence by actively encouraging radical elements to create a flash point. New Delhi, Sep 15 : The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Saturday started a 90-day "National Rath Yatra" protesting against foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail and the Walmart-Flipkart deal. The protest movement named "Sampoorn Kranti Rath Yatra" started at Red Fort here. It will cover various parts of the country and culminate at the national capital on December 16, according to the Confederation. "The yatra after covering almost all states of the country will culminate into a 'Mass Rally' on December 16 at Ramlila Ground, New Delhi," CAIT said in a statement. Besides, CAIT had also earlier called for a "Bharat Trade Bandh" on September 28 against the Walmart-Flipkart deal and FDI in retail trade. On August 28, the Confederation had approached the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) against the Competition Commission of India (CCI)'s approval for the Walmart-Flipkart deal. Last week, NCLAT issued a notice to Walmart, enquiring about its business model under an appeal filed against the Walmart-Flipkart deal by CAIT. On August 18, Walmart Inc acquired approximately 77 per cent stake in e-commerce major Flipkart. Walmart now holds approximately 77 per cent of Flipkart, while the remainder of the business is held by other shareholders, including Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal, Tencent, Tiger Global and Microsoft Corp. Walmart's investment includes $2 billion of new equity funding to help accelerate the growth of the Flipkart business and both companies will retain their unique brands and operating structures in India. Jaipur, Sep 16 : A total of 1,05,299 duplicate/fake voters appeared in Jaipurs electoral rolls and all these have been deleted, said district collector Siddharth Mahajan on Saturday. Congress had recently complained to the Election Commission demanding a probe into duplicate voters. The state election department identified the duplicate names with the help of a software, sources said. The software once installed starts recognising faces and names which are similar. It identifies 20 such people in a group which was highlighted in the Congress list. After reviewing its status, these were removed from electoral list, souces said. The process of identifying duplicate voters will continue till September 20 and the right figure will be known after the process is over, said official sources. Meanwhile, the duplicate/fake voter figure is 24,197 in Ajmer, 24,053 in Alwar, 32,886 in Banswara, 13,211 in Bara and 128 in Barmer. These names have also been deleted, said sources. Mahajan informed that names of 1,05,299 names have been removed from voters list in 19 assembly constituencies in Jaipur while the process is on to resolve the objections received in the matter. Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat and Election Commissioners, Sunil Arora and Ashok Lawasa, are making a two-day tour to Rajasthan on September 17-18 to monitor the preparations in the state for the forthcoming Assembly elections, said chief electoral officer Anand Kumar. Assembly polls in the state are due later this year. Los Angeles, Sep 16 : Actor Terry Crews said he has accepted WME agent Adam Venits apology. Crews tweeted a letter he received from the former WME agent earlier this year, reports variety.com. The "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" actor accused Venit of groping him at a Hollywood party in 2016, and filed a police report last November. Crews wrote on Twitter that he got Venit's letter in March, and accepted the apology on September 10, now that Venit has left the agency. Venit did not directly admit to Crews' allegations in the note, but wrote, "I know that you didn't ask for any of this. Again, I take responsibility for us being here now, together in this situation. I am sorry for all of it." "I want to use this moment to be a positive influence with you and not just another Hollywood story that becomes the narrative of who we both are. We both are so much more and have so much more to offer," Venit continued. "I even hope that someday we can come together and go forward with compassion and understanding, and be an amazing force for positivity and change in our culture." Venit is leaving WME less than a year after stepping down as the head of the company's motion picture department due to the sexual assault accusation waged by Crews, his former client. Venit was suspended for 30 days while the agency investigated the claims and was eventually cleared of charges. Crews filed a lawsuit, which is now in the process of being settled. Charges against Venit were also dismissed. Local South Florida air conditioning installation and repair company, All Year Cooling, is expanding their HVAC career workforce. To give an equal opportunity for their open positions, they will be holding their first ever Open House at their Fort Lauderdale office. Attendees and prospective technicians will learn more about All Year Cooling, job requirements, and will meet their senior technical director to ask any additional questions. The HVAC Technician Open House will be held at the Fort Lauderdale All Year Cooling office location on Thursday, September 20th, 2018 from 2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. and is open to the public. All Year Cooling is located at 1345 Northeast 4th Ave. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. Attendees of the Open House must bring a resume and complete the following questions (answers may be typed or handwritten): When mounting a new thermostat, what are the two most important things to make sure the customer is happy and the thermostat functions correctly? What are two critical measurements required to diagnose the refrigerant system? A float switch is connected to what two terminals? How would you greet your customer when you arrive at their home? As Tommy Smith, President of All Year Cooling states, We would like to host this open house to give everyone a chance to work with a great AC company. We have many opportunities throughout our company that we hope to find great candidates for. Established in 1973, All Year Cooling has been in business for the past 45 years and has over 350,000 satisfied customers in South Florida. All Year Coolings goal is to provide the consumer with the best overall value on new air conditioner installations, maintenance, and repairs. As a family-owned business, its their mission to provide quality service and remain a trusted part of the South Florida community. For more information on All Year Cooling, please visit their website (https://www.allyearcoolingcareers.com/) or call 888-204-5554. American IRA CEO, Jim Hitt There is a lot to learn about real estate and how a Self-Directed IRA can help people build a store of wealth for retirement Tuesday, September 18th should be a TREIA Monthly Meeting to remember. Thats due to an intriguing topic introduced by American IRAs Sean McKay: managing real estate deals within a Self-Directed IRA. The topic is expected to focus on flips, rentals, wholesale deals, and private lendingand Sean McKays presentation will help explain to the audience how to handle these various transactions within a Self-Directed IRA. The TREIA event represents the Triangle Real Estate Investors Association, an organization representing communities including Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. TREIA regularly holds real estate events with guest speakers like Sean McKay to keep real estate investors in the loop as to the latest strategies and developments in the real estate investing world. Sean McKays presentation on investing with various strategies through a Self-Directed IRA will take place on Tuesday, September 18th. We are really proud to see someone of Sean McKays knowledge and experience having a stage like this, said Jim Hitt of American IRA, the Self-Directed IRA administration firm based in Asheville, NC. Real estate investing can be difficult to understand, and many people think it is so complicated that it is not worth pursuing. A great presentation by someone as talented as Sean McKay will really help clarify some things for real estate investors, especially as it relates to retirement accounts. The presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, September 18th at the Embassy Suites Raleigh in Cary, NC. Members of the TREIA are able to attend for free, and nonmembers are welcome for a $15 fee, according to the information listed on the TREIA website. First time guests are also welcome to the event without having to pay a fee to see Sean McKay speak. We really recommend that people get out there on Tuesday and listen to what Sean has to say, said Jim Hitt. There is a lot to learn about real estate and how a Self-Directed IRA can help people build a store of wealth for retirement. And this presentation is going to shed light on those very subjects. For more information, interested parties can visit TREIA at http://www.TREIA.com or American IRAs website at http://www.AmericanIRA.com. To call American IRA directly, dial 866-7500-IRA. "About: American IRA, LLC was established in 2004 by Jim Hitt, CEO in Asheville, NC. The mission of American IRA is to provide the highest level of customer service in the self-directed retirement industry. Jim Hitt and his team have grown the company to over $400 million in assets under administration by educating the public that their Self-Directed IRA account can invest in a variety of assets such as real estate, private lending, limited liability companies, precious metals and much more. As a Self-Directed IRA administrator, they are a neutral third party. They do not make any recommendations to any person or entity associated with investments of any type (including financial representatives, investment promoters or companies, or employees, agents or representatives associated with these firms). They are not responsible for and are not bound by any statements, representations, warranties or agreements made by any such person or entity and do not provide any recommendation on the quality profitability or reputability of any investment, individual or company. The term "they" refers to American IRA, located in Asheville and Charlotte, NC." Dating.com Logo Global dating service Dating.com has successfully launched its new brand awareness campaign this September with the display of offline and online banner advertisements at one of Floridas busiest international airports located in Greater Miami. The initiative will inspire travelers to learn more about the chance of finding love online using the popular global dating brand Dating.com. Following the launch of the awareness campaign at this initial airport, Dating.com plans to expand its campaign to other Florida airports and more airports nationwide. Featuring the Dating.com floating heart logo and a simple but effective slogan, Online dating at its best on Dating.com, the eye-catching banner advert invites all who see it to Find Your Ideal Match Today!. Travelers will view the vibrant red banner adverts as they pass through the customs clearance zone and the waiting rooms located inside the airport, which in July saw over 470,000 passengers travel through its terminals. To ensure the campaign is a success, Dating.com has also arranged for the display of online banner adverts, which travelers will view when they connect to the internet via the airports Wi-Fi service. Dating.com expects the coordinated offline and online awareness campaign to be highly effective in encouraging new members to register and find out more about the service. With a large traveler base located in the Greater Miami metropolitan area of south Florida, the airport serves a steady stream of passengers throughout the year. International airports are bustling and stimulating environments full of positive emotions with people arriving to meet friends, family and loved ones. Many departing passengers often fly out on thrilling trips with hope in their hearts and adventurous dreams to follow. Dating.com regards the airport as the perfect setting for its new dating awareness campaign, which aims to inspire passengers to find love and romance using its iPhone and Android dating app and website. According to a study by OMC (Outdoor Media Center), 85% of passengers find airport advertising of real interest and are open to products they see through these channels. Singles who choose to register and date online using the services of Dating.com will find a global membership with a real buzz and plenty of exciting new people. Dating.com offers members a high quality dating experience with 24/7 customer care, verified profiles and an ironclad safety and security system. Members on Dating.com can find partners using the easy search tool or take advantage of the Lets Mingle dating invite service to attract matches fast. The popular global dating service offers a full range of features including video chat, direct email, instant messaging, and photo swap. Visit http://www.Dating.com to learn more and start dating worldwide. About Dating.com Dating.com is the place to meet people from around the world for exciting communication and online companionship. The service increases the chances of members to meet someone new, discover unique places, explore new cultures, and do things they would never have had the chance to do before. Dating.com covers over 32 countries and offers the technology to help members take communication further than ever. Media Contact: Company Name: Dating.com Contact: Dating.com PR Email: adv (at) dating (dot) com Phone: +1 (212) 609-0533 Port of Kalama exists to induce capital investment in an environmentally responsible manner to create jobs and to enhance public recreational opportunities. The Port is in close communications with the family who owns the totem poles to determine the best solution to potentially restore and maintain them. While the Lelooska Totem Poles are beloved structures hosted at the Port of Kalama, time and weather exposure have taken their toll. As a result, the Port of Kalama has engaged a team of industrial contractors to lower the tallest of the poles to examine its condition and determine next steps. Experts from JH Kelly industrial mechanical contracting and Ness Campbell crane and rigging are scheduled to be on site at Marine Park to lower the 140 icon the week of September 17thweather conditions will determine the exact day of operations. There will be two cranes on site to maneuver the totem pole to the ground and an I-beam will be installed along the back of the aging totem to offer additional support. Marine Parkincluding walking paths, playground and parking areawill be closed intermittently during the days of operations likely from September 17th through the 20th. The public is encouraged to avoid the area those days as there will be no safe area for viewing. Taking down a 140 structure will be a feat, and engineers will need a lot of space to work within so well be closing the area to support their efforts to lower the pole in one piece, says Liz Newman, marketing manager, Port of Kalama. Following this project, the Port will store the totem pole near the amphitheater and continue to work with the family that owns them to identify the next best steps. The Port earlier this summer engaged engineering experts to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the tallest pole and its current ability to withstand strong winds and other weather. Early findings show impairment has affected the structural integrity of the poleand thus the public safety of keeping it installed. Staff then worked with the engineering team to determine the best way to move the pole without creating further damage. Port of Kalama Board of Commissioners declared the project to take down the 140 pole an emergency action and instructed staff to immediately investigate options to remove the pole. An emergency action is taken when theres a risk to public safety. The Port is in close communications with the family who owns the totem poles to determine the best solution to potentially restore and maintain them. The Port encourages visitors to be aware of contractor activity in the area around the structures the week of September 17th and to watch for further updates on the totem pole on the Ports social media and blog pages. About Port of Kalama Where rail and water meet The Port of Kalama is located in Southwest Washington on the Columbia River and immediately off of Interstate Highway 5. The port exists to induce capital investment in an environmentally responsible manner to create jobs and to enhance public recreational opportunities. Port of Kalama's industrial area includes five miles of riverfront property adjacent to the 43' federally-maintained deep draft navigation channel of the Columbia River. The Port is served by the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe and Union Pacific railroads. There are over 30 businesses located at the Port of Kalama, employing over 1,000 people. Port of Kalama offers all the superior facilities businesses need to thrive, and an unsurpassed quality of life. The port offers shovel ready sites, a new Industrial Park, state of the art Marine Terminals and transportation accessibility to rail and highway all just a 30-minute drive to the Portland International Airport. Port of Kalama also offers high-bandwidth communications, with dual access fiber-optic service to Seattle and Portland. Properties currently available at the port for businesses wishing to expand and thrive: Visit http://portofkalama.com/available-properties/. Contact: Liz Newman, marketing manager, Port of Kalama, 360-673-2379 or Claudia Johnson, PR, 503-799-2220. If you feel overwhelmed or intimidated by the insurance claims process or feel your insurance company is not offering a fair settlement, consider hiring a public insurance adjuster to help with your claim. Hurricane Florence will cause widespread wind, water and flood damage along the North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia coasts from Charleston and Myrtle Beach SC to Wilmingon, NC and inland to Raleigh. This will trigger thousands of insurance claims from residential and commercial policyholders who may have never before filed a claim. The public adjusters at Tutwiler & Associates urge policyholders to take the proper steps to protect themselves and their claim to avoid some common mistakes that may create insurance claim settlement problems. 1. Do not go back into your home or mitigate damage until you know its safe to do so. If returning to your home after a power outage, do not turn on the power right away, especially if your home has been flooded. Have an electrician check the dwelling first to ensure that it is safe. 2. Dont make permanent or emergency repairs until you have documented the damage. After documenting the damage, mitigate your loss to prevent any further damage from occurring. Your insurance policy requires this. And dont throw away any damaged materials until the insurance adjuster has inspected your property. You do not want to prejudice the investigation of your insurance claim. While you are expected to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage from occurring, we often see policyholders rush to repair the property only to bring the actual damages into question. In some cases you are harming your claim by simply eliminating the evidence. So take pictures! 3. DO NOT sign over your claim to a contractor or restoration company. These are sometimes called Assignment of Benefit (AOB) clauses. Carefully review the restoration contractors Work Authorization Form and do not authorize any repair work until you get approval from your insurance carrier or adjuster. If no approval is agreed upon, your insurer may refuse to pay and you may find yourself saddled with a VERY BIG BILL or worse yet a lawsuit. You can have a restoration company clean-up the immediate mess, but you are not required to have them also do the repair work. This is very important as you want to make sure you are in control of your insurance proceeds so they are not being paid directly to your contractor. If you do sign a contract, it should be for Emergency Services ONLY and your insurance carrier should approve and agree to pay for them IN WRITING. Otherwise, you could be signing your claim directly to the contractor and you will never see a dime of your claim settlement. 4. Dont feel forced to use the contractors your insurance company recommends. They are referred by the insurance company for a reason, which is to keep the costs at a minimum. When insurers hire contractors based on cost only, you may not get the quality restoration work you require. If they get continual work from the insurer, their priority will be to keep them (not you) happy. Get independent estimates for the repair work to understand the true cost. Its your property and you should control who does the work and the quality of the work. 5. Dont forget that ALL damage repair estimates should include an additional 10% for Overhead and 10% for contractor profit. That extra 20% should be added as a standard on all estimates. Check for the 10 & 10 on the totals page of your estimate. 6. Dont believe it when a contractor says they can handle your entire claim. By law in many states, contractors are not allowed to negotiate a claim, only present an estimate to the insurance company. They are also not licensed or trained to interpret insurance policies and adjust a claim. If they do have a public adjuster on staff they are not allowed to both adjust and repair the claim as this is considered a conflict of interest. 7. Dont allow the insurance adjuster to unfairly depreciate the amount of your claim. Remember, these amounts are negotiable. For example: If it costs $5K to replace your sofa and it is five years old, dont let your insurance company pay you $2,500 (50% depreciation) if your belongings are in good condition. The most they should take is 15% and reimburse you $4,250. 8. Dont allow restoration companies to remove your belongings without a detailed itemized list of belongings. Take pictures of the process. Expect to be charged storage fees and remember that some items can be restored while others that could harbor mold need to be replaced and should not be cleaned. That is where the restoration companies make their money, so your claim needs to reflect that. Storage and cleaning costs reduce your policy limit and coverage amounts. Wouldnt it be cheaper to go out and buy new items rather than paying to clean damaged clothes and personal property which may not ever be fully restored to their pre-loss condition? 9. Dont be afraid to ask your insurance company for an advanced payment for any undisputed amounts until an agreement can be reached on the rest of your claim. This will help you get repairs started and avoid heavy out-of-pocket expenses. Take extensive photographs of all the damage, and keep all your receipts and documents, as well as records of conversations with the insurance company. 10. Dont wait too long to file your claim or respond to insurer inquiries. If you have a flood loss or your insurance company sends you a Proof of Loss Form, YOU have 60 days to submit your entire claim. If you dont comply and you do not get an extension, your claim could be void. Be proactive but patient and remember that this is a process and things may not happen as fast as youd like, comments public adjuster Charles R. Dick Tutwiler who is President of the firm. Hire the right professionals to help document your loss and damages. If you feel overwhelmed or intimidated by the process or feel your insurance company is not offering a fair settlement, consider hiring a public insurance adjuster to help with your claim, he says. The firm has established a Hurricane Florence Insurance Claims website where visitors can get additional information on how to handle their insurance claim. Public adjusters are licensed by the state and compensated a small percentage of your recovery (typically no more than 10%) to cover their time managing your claim. Often times they are able to recover their fees by identifying legitimate claim amounts the insurance company failed to offer and negotiating an increase in the settlement amount. Studies have shown that policyholders who use a public adjuster receive increased settlements above the insurance companys original offer. As a veteran of the Public Adjusting Property Insurance industry, Mr. Tutwiler is a frequent speaker and trainer at industry conferences. More of Mr. Tutwilers insurance tips and commentary can be read on his blog, On Property. Mr. Tutwiler can be reached at info(at)publicadjuster(dot)com. About Tutwiler & Associates: Established in 1984, Tutwiler & Associates Public Adjusters is a highly regarded, licensed public adjusting firm that represents commercial and residential property insurance policyholders in all property insurance damage claims. Tutwiler works exclusively for the policyholder to remove the stress of dealing with the insurance company and properly present their insurance damage claim to obtain a fair payment under the policy. The firm publishes the On Property insurance claim tips blog that provides practical advice on filing all types of property insurance claims. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida Tutwiler is licensed in Virginia, North and South Carolina and 12 other states. They can be reached at 1-800-321-4488 or by visiting http://www.publicadjuster.com Rabble Holdings, Pittsburghs newest digital media company founded by celebrated KDKA media personality Marty Griffin, has launched Sparkt.com with a social media campaign to bring awareness to a highly-preventable and often misunderstood form of cancer. HPV-related cancers threaten more than 80 million Americans who carry the Human Papilloma Virus, and its on the rise. Instances of HPV-related cancers in men, for example, have more than doubled in the last 20 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Marty Griffin is one of those men affected by this highly-curable, and very preventable, form of cancer. Now, Griffin is on a mission, not just to cure his own cancer, but to bring an end to all HPV-related cancers. The Sparkt campaign will document Griffins journey as he undergoes treatment for squamous cell cancer of the Oropharynx. I started Sparkt long before this diagnosis. I started the company to tell stories of change and hope, Griffin said. I never thought that I would become one of the first Sparkt stories. The campaign is designed to create awareness and encourage preventive vaccination so that others can avoid this cancer type. The campaign is the first example of Sparkts mission to use the power of storytelling to inspire, inform, and connect people to their communities. Sparkt stories provide users with unprecedented opportunities to take action and have a positive impact in their communities, and will create engagement opportunities for companies that care about the communities in which they do business. HPV Rates in Pittsburgh Nearly one in four Americans is infected with HPV, according the the Center for Disease Control. The most effective form of protection from the virus is a 3-injection vaccination series, typically administered to girls and boys in their early teens. HPV vaccination rates for girls and boys in the Pittsburgh area are still far below the Healthy People 2020 goal of 80 percent, although they are improving, according to Lyn B. Robertson, associate director of Health Equity, Education and Advocacy at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, as reported in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette earlier this summer. Still, less than half of 14 to 17-year-olds in Allegheny County had even started the eight-month vaccination schedule in 2014. Sparkt.com Is a New form of News Griffin has been developing the unique and inspiring concept behind Sparkt for much of the last two years, first through the prototype RabbleVID.com and now with the forthcoming Sparkt.com. So many news stories end after delivering bad news, Griffin said. I wanted to do the stories that just begin once the fire trucks leave and the police cars roll away. Thats when real help is needed. Thats when stories get personal. Thats when stories get hopeful. The complete Sparkt social media platform will launch in mid October. In the meantime, the company is beginning to tell its first story today, publishing on the companys website (sparkt.com) and social media outlets, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The story will unfold over the next 8 weeks as we join Martys Journey through the challenges and victories of Griffins his cancer treatment. Users can follow Martys Journey to eradicate HPV-related cancers at Sparkt.com and @sparktPGH on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. ABOUT SPARKT Sparkt is a new social media platform harnessing the power of storytelling to ignite the change-agent in everyone. The Sparkt platform creates meaningful relationships with Pittsburghers by giving them the opportunities to ask for help, offer services, express concerns, and celebrate local heroes. Sparkt also created unprecedented, cross-media opportunities for area businesses to more deeply engage in their customer community. ABOUT RABBLE HOLDINGS Sparkt is a media brand of Rabble Holdings, Inc., a digital media startup dedicated backed by Draper Triangle LLC and iNetworks LLC, both of Pittsburgh. Learn more at sparkt.com. Still photography to accompany this release is available at http://bit.ly/MartysJourneyPhotos. Sell exemplifies the new career path in comics: he started out making comics on his own, then did webcomics and self-published his work. His first graphic novel, The Cardboard Kingdom (Knopf, out now), is a series of short stories by different writers, all illustrated by Sell. The writers are Vid Alliger, Manuel Betancourt, Michael Cole, David DeMeo, Jay Fuller, Cloud Jacobs, Barbara Perez Marquez, Kris Moore, Molly Muldoon, and Katie Schenkel. We asked him to talk a bit about his career so far. When did you start thinking about creating comics? I was really lucky to have parents who encouraged my creativityI would eagerly create my own colorful superheroes in my childhood sketchbooks, and I did some webcomics in high school. What I love about comics is that truly anyone can make themjust draw some panels on paper and make fun stuff happen in them! But, of course, it can be exceedingly difficult to get your comics published and to actually make a living as a creator. When you started making comics, did you make webcomics, self-publish, or send your work to a publisher? Truly, all of the above! I did regular comic strips in both my high school and college newspapers. After college, I pitched a few projects to publishers and didnt have any luck with those, so I spent about 10 years self-publishing my work, putting stuff online, exhibiting at conventions, and generally honing my craft. The Cardboard Kingdom, my first published book, came out shortly after I turned 35! Why do you think diversity is important in comics? I grew up as an awkward gay kid in central Wisconsin, and I treasured any queer representation I could find in books, movies, and comics. I know how important it was to see myself in the works that I loved, and I hope that readers of every race, ethnicity, ability level, sexual orientation, gender identity, and socioeconomic status can find themselves in the books they read. When you were creating The Cardboard Kingdom, what instructions did you give the writers? What aspects did you think were most important? Making The Cardboard Kingdom with my team of 10 writers was an incredible, unique experience. I told each collaborator that I wanted our book to tell meaningful, complicated stories that didnt dumb things down for young readers. Many of the writers developed stories that drew heavily from their own childhood experiences, which gave each character their own gravity and particular voice. I also asked each writer to allow for some flexibility, particularly with their supporting characters, so that we could work in a variety of ways that the stories throughout the book would overlap and build upon each other. Most crucially, we maintained an open, positive, collaborative atmosphere that allowed us to craft our kingdom together. Hamilton Re-ups At Berkley Bestseller Laurell K. Hamilton inked a new three-book deal with her editor at Berkley, Cindy Hwang. The North American rights agreement, which Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House handled, will bring fans her first new series since 1999. The new books feature Detective Samuel Havelock, who works in the Metaphysical Coordination Unit. Berkley said Havelock exists in a universe where heaven, hell, and our own world converge, and he is all we have keeping the Apocalypse at bay. Also included in the agreement is a novel in Hamiltons Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series and a third book, which Berkley said is yet to be determined. Hamilton, according to Berkley, has sold more than 20 million books. Dutton Invests Further In Sager Riley Sager, whose debut novel, Final Girls, was published by Dutton last year, inked a new two-book deal with the publisher for a novel titled Lock Every Door and a second, currently untitled work. Maya Ziv took North American rights from Michelle Brower at Aevitas Creative Management. Final Girls nabbed the award for Best Hardcover Novel at this years International Thriller Awards, Dutton noted. Sagers sophomore release (covered under his previous deal with Dutton), The Last Time I Lied, debuted on the New York Times bestseller list when it bowed in July. Lock Every Door follows a woman hired to apartment-sit at an expensive Manhattan address where, Dutton said, she encounters mysterious disappearances and dark secrets among the very private residents. Womack Takes Collector to Picador In a North American rights agreement, Gwendolyn Womack (The Memory Painter) sold The Time Collector to Elizabeth Bruce at Picador. Brianne Johnson at Writers House, who represented Womack, said the novel follows two psychometristspeople who can sense the history of any object they touch. The pair become involved in solving the mystery behind a number of artifacts whose existence challenges the very idea of chronological history, Johnson added. Collector is slated for spring 2019. LB Spark Nabs Karens Power Dress Marisa Vigilante at Little, Brown Spark bought world rights to Dawnn Karens Life as You Wear It: How to Power Dress. The author is a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology who has been dubbed the dress doctor by the New York Times. In the book, which Spark said will be targeted to millennials, Karen breaks down the psychology behind fashion for readers ready to harness its potential. The author was represented by Sterling Lord Literistics Elizabeth Bewley, and the book is set for a spring 2020 release. For more childrens and YA book deals, see our latest Rights Report. Lessons Learned Debuting at #2 in hardcover nonfiction, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century is the latest from Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari. Our starred review said the book seeks to provoke debate without offering definitive solutions to problems associated with liberal democracy, nationalism, immigration, and religion. Hararis first book to be published in the U.S., 2015s Sapiens, moves up one position to #9 in trade paper; that title and 2017s Homo Deus have sold a combined 581K print units, and each book has enjoyed a stronger first week than the last. (See all of this week's bestselling books.) Three Lives A trio of memoirs, all of which received starred reviews, debut in hardcover nonfiction. #8 Every Day Is Extra by former secretary of state John Kerry details a remarkable five-decade-long career in public service, according to our starred review, and reveals a man of quiet, passionate patriotism; immense intelligence; and thoughtfulness. #9 Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs, whose father, Steve Jobs, initially denied paternity, is tinged with awe, yearning, and disappointment, offering a sincere and disquieting portrait that reveals a complex father-daughter relationship. #15 Fashion Climbing by the late New York Times street style photographer Bill Cunningham, is a masterful memoir, our review said, both because of his exuberant appreciation for stylish clothes and his sharp assessment of those who wore them. Movie Watch The 1973 middle grade mystery The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs, illustrated by Edward Gorey, heads to the big screen September 21, starring Cate Blanchett, Jack Black, and child actor Owen Vaccaro. The tie-in edition debuts at #12 in childrens frontlist fiction. The film adaptation of Angie Thomass The Hate U Give, starring Amandla Stenberg (Rue in The Hunger Games), opens October 5. The tie-in edition lands at #16 in childrens frontlist fiction; the conventional edition is #10 in the country. New & Notable The Tattooist of Auschwitz Heather Morris #2 Trade Paperback, #9 overall Based on a true story, the novel offers a powerful evocation of the everyday horrors of life as a prisoner in a concentration camp, our review said, while delivering the message that true love can transcend even the most hellishly inhuman environments. The Coddling of the American Mind Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt #10 Hardcover Nonfiction The authors expand on their 2015 Atlantic article of the same name, calling out the idea that all adverse experiences, from falling out of a tree as a child to experiencing a racial microaggression as a college sophomore, are equally dangerous and should be avoided entirely, our review said. Id Rather be Reading Anne Bogel #11 Hardcover Nonfiction Bogel, the What Should I Read Next? podcaster who blogs at Modern Mrs Darcy (52K Facebook followers), writes an ode to bibliophilia. Top 10 Overall Rank Title Author Imprint Units 1 Lord of the Fleas (Dog Man #5) Dav Pilkey Graphix 64,414 2 Girl, Wash Your Face Rachel Hollis Nelson 53,022 3 Crazy Rich Asians Kevin Kwan Anchor 33,521 4 Leverage in Death J.D. Robb St. Martins 28,002 5 In His Fathers Footsteps Danielle Steel Delacorte 20,774 6 China Rich Girlfriend Kevin Kwan Anchor 18,705 7 Rich People Problems Kevin Kwan Anchor 14,216 8 To All the Boys Ive Loved Before Jenny Han Simon & Schuster 13,513 9 The Tattooist of Auschwitz Heather Morris Harper 13,199 10 The Hate U Give Angie Thomas HC/Balzer + Bray 12,658 All unit sales per Nielsen BookScan except where noted. I grew up without a local public library. The Ramapo Catskill Library System in New York provided bookmobile service to my small town, so I at least had access to recreational reading, but it was limited. When my sister, Myrna, learned to drive, my parents joined the Ellenville Public Library, and every other week wed check out the maximum number of books to feed our voracious reading appetites. Growing up, libraries for me were almost exclusively places where I could find books I wanted to read. Years later, living in Madison, Wis., I came to appreciate the broader value of public library service. Using my neighborhood library branch, I found answers to questions about everything from my new community to what to read next and which brand of coffee maker to purchase. It was not long after that I entered the University of Wisconsin-Madison Library School. As a book lover in library school, professor Margaret Monroes visionary work Readers Services in the Context of the Public Library spoke to the heart of what brought me to librarianship: a love of reading. But I remember professor Jack Clarkes reference classes with equal fondness and appreciation. Clarke was passionate about the search, and, preinternet, one could get lost in the stacks looking for answers. Each class assignment was like a scavenger hunt, and it was great fun for a bibliophile like meafter all, the answers were all in books. After graduation, my first job as a professional librarian was as a teen librarian for the Cook Memorial Library in Libertyville, Ill. But at Cook, all the librarians did shifts on the reference deskand I loved it. As a person interested in pretty much everything, I derived great pleasure from helping patrons find answers to their questions, usually from almanacs and encyclopedias. I quickly became the mistress of irrelevant fun facts and quirky stories. And, of course, there were the more complex and pressing customer needs that required sections of the Illinois Revised Code, for example, or The Merck Manualrecommendations that always came with my librarian disclaimers to consult your lawyer or consult your doctor. I still remember life before the internet, when librarians helped people find answers to real-life problems. It felt powerfulas though librarians held the keys to lifes answers, and I couldnt understand why everyone didnt just ask librarians whenever they needed info of any kind. How things have changed. Then Came Google... In the late 1990s, as internet search engines were becoming more powerful and Stanford PhD students Larry Page and Sergey Brin were creating Google, that powerful feeling librarians once had at the reference desk began to dim. Initially, librarians called out internet search engines, criticizing them as imperfect and often inaccurate reference tools. But not for long. Sure, the publics willingness to take an answer rather than the answer was problematic. But immediacy has its advantages. For many simple questions, patrons could find answers quickly online. For the tougher questions, librarians soon came to use search engines at least as a starting point for research. And as the internet grew more powerful, connections got faster, and Google and other search engines rapidly improved, online research was embraced by librarians. Today, informationonce the domain of libraries, and the provenance of reference librariansis increasingly accessible, with answers to a range of questions available at the swipe of a finger. As we transitioned to a digital world, I, like many librarians, wondered what such powerful information technology would mean for librarians in the future. With so much information readily available, why would anyone need a reference librarian? Of course, there have always been critics of librarians work on the reference desk. I am surely not the only librarian to have freaked out at Peter Hernon and Charles McClures 1986 study that suggested librarians answered reference questions correctly only about 55% of the time. But by and large, public trust remains high for libraries and librarians. In fact, a 2016 Pew Research Center survey reported that 78% of adults feel that public libraries help them find information that is trustworthy and reliable, and 76% say libraries help them learn new things. This is excellent news for libraries, and for their role in the future. There is no question that the internet has changed how the public consumes information, how they seek information, and how librarians help connect the public to what they are looking for. But the change has largely been a good thingthe old model of reference librarianship could be intimidating for patrons. Today, what information seekers truly seem to want is the compassionate ear of a friend or the help of a neighbor. How Can We Help? Where is reference headed, and how is it being practiced in 2018? I asked some of my colleagues, and I heard a fairly consistent message: with so much information available online today, the value librarians add comes through their connection to the community. John Szabo, city librarian of the Los Angeles Public Library, said his library is capitalizing on the reference reimagined or reinterpreted theme. Rather than wasting time renaming reference positions, he is focusing on putting librarians in a better position to interact with customers. After all, when librarians are more visible, and more easily able to receive questions, they can better help people find what they need. And when that happens, Szabo says, we see our value skyrocket. The term reference does not contain the energy and activity we need and does not represent the enthusiasm we are generating in our communities. Siobhan Reardon, president and director of the Free Library of Philadelphia, also recognizes that librarians and staff need to be embedded in the community, not stuck behind a desk, and they need to be collaborating with residents to meet their information and learning needs. The library is creating specialties in everything from health issues to culinary arts, drawing patrons who want to learn into the library through programs at facilities such as Philadelphias renowned Culinary Literacy Center. Further, Reardon hires community organizers to supplement the outreach work of Philadelphias neighborhood libraries. Deepening engagement within library spaces is critical to a new vision for libraries across the nation. In Los Angeles, for example, a group of librarians have completed a rigorous Department of Justice training program to become certified in providing information about naturalization and citizenshipclearly an important need in many communities. Enriched support services for business startups, job seekers, and those in need of social benefits are also increasingly important for urban libraries. Pat Losinski, CEO of the Columbus (Ohio) Metropolitan Library, believes that one of the librarys biggest challenges is to better respond to social and human service needs in his community. And he has recruited an IT advisory committee made up of CIOs from outside the library profession who are assisting the library in designing an information solution to help citizens better navigate these critical needs. How reference is changing in fact speaks to how librarianship is changing, and it is an ongoing process. Ramiro Salazar, director of the San Antonio (Tex.) Public Library and Public Library Association president-elect, notes that, at his library, evaluation of all of the librarys services reference includedis constant. We understand that the way we deliver our services, including reference service, has changed significantly, he says. Our plan is to undertake a study that will allow us to redefine the roles of staff who we deploy throughout the library system. During a focus group on the development of ALAs Libraries Transform campaign, John Carlo Bertot, professor and associate provost for faculty affairs at the University of Maryland College of Information Studies, captured the future of librarianship succinctly. He said that the job description for todays librarian should simply read, Like people? Want to solve problems? This is the job for you. Whats in a Name? About a year ago, Armond Budish, the executive of Ohios Cuyahoga County, came to my library, the Cuyahoga County Public Library (CCPL) and asked us to train librarians and library assistants as benefits navigators to assist people enrolling in and complying with social benefits. I saw this as the opportunity to put Bertots prescient words into practice: We like people, and we want to solve their problems. This is our work. Whether or not we call this reference work or something else shouldnt matter. Libraries contain answers to a great many questions. But what we must realize is that to answer any question, we first need to seize the opportunity to hear it. In that respect, the term reference does not contain the energy and activity we need and does not represent the enthusiasm we are generating in our communities. Libraries today need to market themselves as places of learning and experience. Tracy Strobel, deputy director at CCPL, explains it perfectly. Using the term reference to describe what we do barely scratches the surface of what public libraries and librarians offer, she says. We are helpers, problem solvers, teachers, and connectors. Im not quite ready to pronounce reference dead, because there are still plenty of people on the wrong side of the digital divide. But I think the prognosis for reference as weve known it is poor. Because using the term diminishes what we do today and limits how well be thought of in the future. However you think of reference today, the reality is that librarians cant just sit back and wait to deliver information any more. Our future is in proactively helping our communities ask the right questions, find the right answers, make meaning of the information they find, and put it to productive use. PW libraries columnist Sari Feldman is executive director of the Cuyahoga County Public Library in Cleveland, Ohio, and a former president of the Public Library Association and of the American Library Association. Harper Collins is a subsidiary of News Corp, a global media and information services company, comprising businesses across a range of media, including news and information services, cable network programming in Australia, digital real estate services, book publishing, digital education, and pay-TV distribution in Australia. Headquartered in New York, the activities of News Corp are conducted primarily in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. News Corp split in two companies in 2013. Television and film assets were put into the new 21st Century Fox, while roughly 130 newspapers (including the Wall Street Journal and the Times of London), educational businesses and other assets formed a new company under the old News Corp name. The split completes a process that the company announced in 2012, and responds to investor concerns that the newspaper and book publishing divisions were dragging on the faster growing pay TV business. HarperCollins is one of the worlds largest English language book publishers. Furthermore, the company owns over 120 branded imprints, including Avon, Harper, HarperCollins Childrens Publishers, William Morrow and Christian publishers Zondervan and Thomas Nelson, which HarperCollins acquired in July 2012. In July 2014, HarperCollins completed its acquisition of Harlequin, the leading publisher of womens fiction, from Torstar Corporation. Analysis & Key Developments For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, revenues at the HarperCollins decreased by 10 million USD, or 1%, to 1.64 billion USD. The company pointed out that the decrease was mainly due to the absence of 42 million USD in sales of the previous bestseller Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee, in addition to the negative impact of foreign currency fluctuations and the impact from the absence of the fifty-third week of fiscal 2017. These losses were partially offset by strong frontlist and backlist sales in the general books category, as well as the 25 million USD impact of the continued expansion of HarperCollins global footprint. EBITDA at HarperCollins increased by 8% in 2017 and totaled to 199 million USD. The increase was primarily due to the mix of titles as compared to the prior year. Internal Organization Starting with April 2018, Judith Curr joined HarperCollins in the newly-created role of president and publisher of HarperOne, Amistad, and Rayo. She reports to HC CEO Brian Murray, and got a seat on the company's executive committee. In June 2017, the company announced that Christopher Goff, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, will retire effective September 30. William (Bill) Adams, Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel at Penguin Random House, has been named General Counsel Worldwide, and takes on oversight of all legal matters for the organization globally. In November 2017, HarperCollins Publishers announced the appointment of Ralf Markmeier as Managing Director and Publisher of HarperCollins Germany, effective January 15, 2018. In January 2018, HarperAudio announced the launch of a vinyl audiobook publishing program. The series began in April with the publication of Wild Horses Vinyl Edition + MP3 by Joe Hill and is distributed by Wax, an independent record label that specializes in unique vinyl releases. In October 2017, the company launched a new imprint named HarperCollins Leadership (HCL), which is focusing on content designed for individuals looking for inspiration, insight, and tools to help activate their inherent leadership potential, according to the publisher. In September 2017, HarperCollins announced the formation of another expanded international division, HarperCollins Hungary. Harlequin Magyarorszag Kft. (Harlequin Hungary Ltd.) and JV partner Vinton Kft. have operated successfully in Hungary for more than 25 years, directed by Dr. Jozsef Bayer, managing director and co-owner of the company. They will continue their JV partnership under the new name. In March 2017, HarperCollins Publisher launched a global campaign celebrating two centuries of publishing in commemoration of the companys 200th anniversary. The centerpiece of the yearlong celebration is a website, www.hc.com/200, that showcases HarperCollinss storied history and influence on readers of all ages around the world. In January 2017 HarperCollins took full ownership of HarperCollins Brazil after purchasing the shares owned by local publisher Ediouro. International The company runs worldwide operations in 18 countries and publishes and distributes consumer books globally through print, digital and audio formats. Moreover, HarperCollins offers a catalog of more than 200,000 publications in different formats, in 17 languages, and it licenses rights for its authors works to be published in more than 50 languages around the world. Digital The digital portfolio of HarperCollins includes e-books and audiobooks for tablets, e-book readers and mobile devices. As of June 30, 2017, the company offered approximately 100,000 publications in digital formats. Digital sales, comprising revenues generated through the sale of e-books as well as digital audiobooks, represented approximately 19% of global consumer revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017. Bestsellers During fiscal 2017, HarperCollins U.S. had 184 titles on the New York Times print and digital bestseller lists, with 20 titles hitting number one, including Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance, Commonwealth by Ann Patchett, Settle for More by Megyn Kelly, The Black Widow by Daniel Silva, Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines, Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Return to the full listing of the world's largest publishers. Cengage Learning is a leading educational content, technology, and services company for the higher education and K12, professional and library markets worldwide. The company provides superior content, personalized services and course-driven digital solutions that accelerate student engagement and transform the learning experience. Cengage Learning is headquartered in Boston, MA with an office hub located in San Francisco, CA. Cengage Learning employees reside in around 38 different countries with company sales in more than 165 countries around the world. During the first quarter of 2017 Cengage reconstructed its segment reporting from International and Domestic into Learning, Gale and International: Learning (renamed Domestic segment) includes a variety of digital and print educational solutions and associated services for the academic, skills and school markets in the United States. The Gale segment offers research platforms around the world, which provide access to the companys content. It includes collections of primary source materials and aggregated periodicals to learners at libraries, colleges, universities, schools and businesses. The International segment distributes educational solutions across all major academic disciplines for use in approximately 165 countries and territories around the world. Note: Cengages fiscal year runs from April to March. Therefore we summarize developments for both fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2018 in the current edition of this report. Analysis & Key Developments Adjusted revenues at Cengage, for the fiscal year ended in March 2018, remained flat to the prior year and amounted to 1.46 billion USD. Furthermore, the company's adjusted EBITDA decreased from 470 million USD in fiscal 2017 to 403 million USD in fiscal 2018. The Learning division closed the fiscal year 2018 again with a loss of 33 million USD compared to fiscal 2017, therefore adjusted revenues amounted to 945 million USD. The decline was due to lower enrollments, continued pressure on print products, and efforts to address student affordability. The International segment closed fiscal 2018 with an increased performance. In the fiscal year ending March 2018, the segments adjusted revenues rose by 30 million USD, or 12% compared to 2017 and totaled 284 million USD, primarily due to strong sales of higher education products in Australia, sales growth in our ELT products in EMEA and Latin America, partially offset by a decline in sales of higher education products in Asia. During fiscal 2018 the Gale segments adjusted revenues slightly increased by 1.7% to 233 million USD (2017: 229 million USD). The growth was primarily due to strong performance in Asia, Australia, Latin America, the U.S. public market, partially offset by the ongoing decline in the U.S. print business and declines in EMEA. Internal Organization During the third quarter of the fiscal year 2016, Cengage initiated a restructuring program designed to streamline operations and improve cost structure. The reconstruction resulted in three new divisions: Learning, Gale and International In March 2018, Gary Fortier was appointed the Chief People Officer for Cengage. In January 2018, Jamison Ely submitted his resignation from the Board of Directors and as a member and Chairman of the Compensation Committee of Cengage Learning Holdings II, Inc. He was replaced by Kermit Cook starting in February 2018. Also in January 2018, the executives Fernando Bleichmar and Todd Markson, were appointed Chief Product Officer and Chief Strategy Officer. In May 2017 Cengage announced that the companys executive vice president and chief financial officer, John Lehay, will step down at the end of 2017. Also in May 2017, Laura Stevens has started her new position as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Cengage. In May 2018, Cengage and Vidal Source, an Inclusive Access provider for higher education institutions, announced the expansion of their existing collaboration to support the distribution, fulfillment and marketing of Cengage Unlimited. In February 2018, Cengage and the technology company Chegg announced a partnership to increase students access to more affordable materials. In March 2018, Cengage and Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. announced that beginning in August, Cengage Unlimited subscriptions will be offered at Barnes & Noble Educations 1,480 campus stores and their school branded e-commerce sites through its Barnes & Noble College and MBS Textbook Exchange subsidiaries. In December 2017, the company announced the launch of Cengage Unlimited. The subscription service, a Netflix for education. is the first of its kind. In August 2018, students gained access to all the companys digital higher education materialsmore than 20,000 products across 70 disciplines and more than 675 courses. International In fiscal 2018 the company generated 1.15 billion USD of its revenues within the United States and 319.1 million USD from the rest of the world. Cengages four major regional markets are served by physical locations in Asia (based in Singapore), EMEA (based in Andover, England), Australia (based in Melbourne, Australia), and Latin America (based in Mexico City, Mexico). Digital For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018, the company's total Learning digital product sales comprised approximately 53% (2017: 50%) of the total Learning adjusted revenues. Over the last year, Cengage's core digital gross sales increased by 8%, while student activation of digital solutions grew by 17%. Moreover, the company's digital solutions were available for approximately 95% of the academic portfolio of learning solutions. Return to the full listing of the world's largest publishers. Despite a number of challenges, Pearson continued its reign as the worlds largest book publisher in 2017. The U.K.-based educational publisher topped this years Livres Hebdo/Publishers Weekly annual ranking with sales of over $6 billion. The revenue gain from 2016 was due to the positive effects of currency exchange; Pearsons sales in pounds fell 1% in 2017 compared to the prior year. Indeed, currency-rate fluctuations had a greater impact on the ranking than they have in most other years. Pearsons position as the largest publisher could be in jeopardy in 2018, as the company has placed its U.S. K12 courseware business up for sale. And in another move that reflects Pearsons ongoing restructuring efforts (though it didnt impact its top line), last year the company sold 22% of its stake in Penguin Random House to Bertelsmann, which now owns 75% of the international trade powerhouse, with Pearson retaining a 25% share. Total book revenue at Bertelsmann now includes results from its education group, which posted a 33% increase in 2017 but still accounted for only 1% of Bertelsmanns overall sales. PRH, whose revenues last year were up slightly, accounted for about 19% of total Bertelsmann revenue. PRHs 2017 revenue included five months of sales from Ediciones B, which the company acquired in July to increase its publishing and marketplace presence in Spain and Latin America. Overall, the top 10 largest companies performed well in 2017, with every company posting higher revenue in 2017 than in 2016. Financial results for the 53 companies included in the 2017 ranking were stronger overall than in 2016, when less than half of the listed publishers had increases over 2015. In 2017, only nine publishers had sales declines from 2016. The companies listed on the ranking have evolved over the years. Though we were able to get reliable information from a number of Chinese publishers for the 2015 ranking, changes in Chinese government policies prevented those companies from participating in either 2016 and 2017. Another company not on the list this year after a number of previous appearances is Italys RCS, following the sale of its Libri division to Mondadori, which was #27 on the 2016 list. Among the companies that hit the list for the second time in 2017 were the Quarto Group, which landed at #53 as sales fell 18% in the year, and Bloomsbury, which moved up to #50 thanks to a big sales jump. Top Publishers Worldwide by Revenue, 2017 2017 Rank 2016 Rank Publishing Group or Division Parent Company Country 2017 Revenue 2016 Revenue 1 1 Pearson Pearson PLC U.K. $6,070 $5,617 2 2 RELX Group Reed Elsevier PLC & Reed Elsevier NV U.K./U.S./Netherlands $5,609 $4,864 3 3 Thomson Reuters* The Woodbridge Company Ltd. Canada $4,941 $4,819 4 4 Bertelsmann Bertelsmann AG Germany $4,240 $3,697 5 5 Wolters Kluwer* Wolters Kluwer Netherlands $3,994 $3,384 6 6 Hachette Livre Lagardere France $2,735 $2,390 7 7 Grupo Planeta Grupo Planeta Spain $1,974 $1,889 8 10 Springer Nature Springer Nature Germany $1,956 $1,715 9 11 Scholastic Scholastic U.S. $1,742 $1,673 10 8 McGraw-Hill Education Apollo Global Management LLC U.S. $1,719 $1,757 10 9 Wiley Wiley U.S. $1,719 $1,727 12 12 HarperCollins News Corp U.S. $1,636 $1,646 13 13 Cengage Learning Holdings II Apax and Omers Capital Partners U.S./Canada $1,461 $1,623 14 14 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. U.S./Cayman Islands $1,408 $1,373 15 15 Holtzbrinck Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck Germany $1,403 $1,226 16 15 Informa Informa PLC U.K. $1,229 $963 17 16 Oxford University Press Oxford University U.K. $1,139 $939 18 17 Kodansha Kodansha Ltd. Japan $1,045 $1,004 19 16 Shueisha Hitotsubashi Group Japan $1,041 $1,053 20 19 Kadokawa Publishing Kadokawa Holdings Inc. Japan $998 $967 21 22 Shogakukan Hitotsubashi Group Japan $862 $818 22 23 Simon & Schuster CBS U.S. $830 $767 23 24 Grupo Santillana Prisa SA Spain $784 $668 24 21 Bonnier The Bonnier Group Sweden $759 $667 25 26 Klett Klett Gruppe Germany $731 $567 26 25 Egmont Group Egmont International Holding A/S Denmark $661 $605 27 28 Mondadori The Mondadori Group Italy $632 $501 28 27 Woongjin ThinkBig Woongjin Holding South Korea $584 $520 29 31 Les Editions Lefebvre-Sarrut Frojal France $538 $442 30 30 Groupe Madrigall Madrigall France $516 $461 31 33 Messagerie/GeMS Messagerie Italiane Italy $485 $431 32 32 Somos Educacao Somos Brazil $418 $426 33 35 Media Participations Media Participations Belgium $412 $372 33 36 Cambridge University Press Cambridge University Press U.K. $412 $332 35 37 Eksmo-AST Privately owned Russia $387 $314 36 39 Sanoma Sanoma WSOY Finland $382 $299 37 38 Westermann Verlagsgruppe Medien Union Germany $359 $317 38 41 Haufe Gruppe Privately owned Germany $356 $282 39 47 Prosveshcheniye Privately owned Cyprus $343 $207 40 40 Cornelsen Cornelsen Germany $310 $287 41 43 WEKA WEKA Firmengruppe Germany $288 $255 42 42 Gakken Co. Gakken Co. Ltd. Japan $279 $261 43 34 Kyowon Co. Kyowon Co. Ltd. South Korea $260 $253 44 47 C.H.Beck Verlag C.H. Beck Germany $235 $216 45 46 La Martiniere Groupe La Martiniere Groupe France $234 $217 46 48 Groupe Albin Michel Groupe Albin Michel France $229 $206 47 44 France Loisirs Actissia Club Luxembourg $212 $229 47 45 Bungeishunju Bungeishunju Ltd. Japan $212 $220 49 52 Thieme Georg Thieme Verlag Germany $218 $157 50 53 Bloomsbury Bloomsbury Publishing PLC U.K. $216 $154 51 51 Editora FTD Editora FTD Brazil $199 $184 52 54 Shinchosha Publishing Co. Shinchosa Publishing Co. Ltd. Japan $177 $154 53 50 Quarto The Quarto Group Inc. U.K. $153 $188 * The 2016 sales figures for these companies exclude revenue from divisions that have moved away from book publishing. Note: Figures are based on sales generated in each calendar year, or, for companies that report based on fiscal years, in each fiscal year. Companies must have annual sales of at least $150 million to be included. Data is from publicly available sources or from individual companies and includes sales of books, journals, professional information, and digital products. Pannini and Disney are excluded from the ranking because they dont report separate data for their publishing divisions. The listing was compiled by international publishing consultant Ruediger Wischenbart under the aegis of Livres Hebdo. Source: Livres Hebdo Purchase and read the full report: Women within the Christian writing and publishing community are coming forward with allegations and complaints of sexual misconduct ranging from accidental touching to being pinned against walls and fondled, and from invasive mentoring relationships to requests for sexual favors at writers conferences. These accusations follow the #MeToo movement that brought widespread sexual misconduct allegations to light over the past year, as well as the more recent #ChurchToo movement, in which several church leaders sexual indiscretions surfaced. The list of men in Christian publishing circles who have recently been accused of sexual misconduct include writing mentor Jeff Gerke, publishing professional Dennis Hensley, literary agent Chip MacGregor, magazine editor Ben Wolf. Numerous allegations surfaced in late 2017 as directors of Christian writers conferences began talking to one another via a private Facebook group about attendees reports of unwanted sexual advances. By January 2018, patterns of inappropriate and abusive behavior, as well as names, emergedand directors began taking action. The tipping point for many accusers was the resignation of Hensley from Taylor University in Upland, Ind., in July amid allegations of sexual impropriety. Hensley, who was a familiar face at Christian writers conferences and directed Taylors professional writing program, stepped down prior to the conclusion of an investigation into what the university called significant and credible allegations of serious misconduct. Jim Watkins, a friend of Hensley and former director of the St. Davids Christian Writers Conference, investigated sexual harassment claims against Hensley on behalf of Taylor University. I have... personally talked with many of his victims including a student and many at writers conferences, Watkins wrote in a statement posted on his website. My heart breaks for these women and the serious sexual misconduct they have endured. In an article in Fort Waynes Journal Gazette on July 13, Hensley is quoted as saying, I thought I should take the high road and retire... and just call it quits and let this thing die its own death. One of Hensleys early accusers, former Taylor student Rachel Custer, described to PW a 2004 event involving inappropriate hugging and attempts by Hensley to kiss her, saying they would be special friends and this would be their little secret. She immediately reported the incident to the Taylor dean of students. To her knowledge, a letter was placed in Hensleys file regarding the incident. In response, according to an article in the Chronicle Tribune, Hensley said, The way she remembered it was totally exaggerated. Also among the accusers willing to go on record is Brenda Wilbee, author of 10 books including the Seattle Sweetbriar series, who recalled an incident in 1983 at the Seattle Pacific University Writers Conference. She picked Hensley up at the airport, and he invited her to his room to continue their conversation about the Christian publishing business. He sprawled on the couch, promising to get her on the conference circuit if she agreed to a rendezvous with him, she said. Without him, I had no hope of succeeding. It was all about who you knew and he knew everybody. The threat was clear. I said no. Wilbee said Hensley begged her for sex, tried to block her escape, and followed her to her car, where he tried again to kiss her. The attack ended when she honked the horn, and then he blamed her for wearing a pretty dress. Hensley was contacted by PW and, on the advice of counsel, chose not to respond to any questions. Writers conferences and email exchanges were the venue for several womens allegations of harassment by MacGregor. However, out of fear for their careers, many of PWs sources refused to go on record with their accounts, which included inappropriate touching, lewd comments, and suggestive emails. Lorilee Craker, a former client of MacGregors and author of 15 books, including Money Secrets of the Amish, ran into a wall when she brought up sexual misconduct stories to other industry professionals, regarding inappropriate behavior and comments that occurred over the course of many years, starting in the mid-2000s. On the rare occasions when I would tell people in the industry about my experience with Chip, they would invariably shut me down, she said. Oh, I dont want you to get a reputation for talking out of turna silencing line if there ever was one. The message was that gossip was a worse crime than anything else. MacGregor, who lives in Oregon, spoke to PW about the allegations: I had acted like a jerk and been inappropriate on numerous occasions. Ive never attacked or harassed anyone, but my behavior was inexcusable, and Im sorry. He said that any sexual activity was, in fact, consensualbut looking back on that time, Im ashamed of who I was and how I acted. Wolf, editor-in-chief of Splickety Publishing Group, who has made the rounds of Christian writers conferences, has also come under scrutiny for allegations of sexual impropriety that include inappropriate emails and conversations as well as requests for sex. He responded to the allegations in a statement to PW: In the summer of 2017, I made inappropriate comments to a female peer in the publishing industry who had routinely exchanged similar inappropriate jokes back and forth with me for several years prior. I immediately apologized to all affected parties as soon as concerns regarding my words were brought to my attention, and I regret that any of it ever happened. This incident is the only one of its kind, and I will never repeat this mistake. Any other allegations leveled against me regarding supposed misconduct, harassment, bullying, and/or manipulation and the like are blatantly false, and I categorically deny them. Gerke, who started Marcher Lord Press, a Christian sci-fi/fantasy publisher (it has since changed hands and become Enclave Publishing), faces allegations of sending inappropriate emails, requests for sex, and suggestive photos. Hes been removed from speaker lists as a result of the accusations. When asked by PW about allegations of inappropriate behavior at certain faith-based writers conferences, Gerke admitted to one emotional affair: Because the emotional affair was consensual (and initiated by the other woman), Im surprised to see it depicted as sexual harassment. She was as fully engaged in it and as culpable as I am. Nevertheless, he added, Over the past few years, I have sought out and received intensive Christian therapy, deep retraining of my thinking and behaving, and excellent marital counseling with my wife. I am deeply sorrowful for my actions. Due to the rising number of sexual harassment accounts, conference directors are taking steps to safeguard attendees. Many conference directors, including those at the Florida Christian Writers Conference, SoCal Christian Writers Conference, and Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, have created codes of conduct for faculty members, spelling out appropriate behavior at conferences. Though it is often impossible to definitively prove allegations of sexual harassment, the accusations are being taken seriously by conference directors. Some encourage or require speakers to have roommates to allow for accountability. Faculty members are encouraged or required to eat conference meals with the group rather than leaving the grounds. Directors are also telling conferees and speakers to come to them if anything happens that makes them feel uncomfortable. Were not turning a blind eye anymore, said Florida Christian Writers Conference director Eva Marie Everson. Kathy Ide, director of the SoCal CWC and Mount Hermon CWC, is asking speakers and attendees to schedule one-on-one meetings in public settings, to never accept rides with anyone they dont know well, and to stay on conference grounds except during conference-planned group activities. Ide and other directors have started talking directly to conferees and speakers about appropriate behavior, as well as emailing the codes of conduct to faculty. According to directors interviewed by PW, sexual harassment at Christian writing conferences is generally considered uncommon, but more stories are coming to light and better responsiveness is needed. The most important thing for directors now is to just be aware, Everson said. Keep your eyes open, and dont think that it cant happen at your conference. Because it can, and it could be the last person you expect. SEC in a leaked letter warned Menzgold to shut down after weeks of investigation into activities of the company founded a young Ghanaian entrepreneur Nana Appiah Mensah. In a letter dated September 14, 2018 and addressed to the Deputy Director-General of SEC, Mr Paul Ababio and copied to the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Baker & McKenzie said Menzgold is in full compliance with the laws of Ghana. "The Company will, as a demonstration of good faith and willingness to fully cooperate with the SEC while this matter is resolved, desist in these specific activities outlined in the SEC Communications," it said. The law firmed further said: This voluntary and temporary cessation of these alleged activities is without prejudice to the Company's legal position nor any acknowledgement of wrongdoing in any way. It is a simple gesture of good faith to give all pause for consideration of the technical legal issues and to allow its lawyers to fully engage with the SEC on this matter. Meanwhile, SEC has set up a conditional meeting with Menzgold for Tuesday, September 18 to resolve issues arising from the directive to shut down, but SEC insists it will only meet with Menzgold if the latter provides some information requested of it.READ MORE: SEC says it's not out to destroy anyone's business The call follows tension between the Auditor General, Daniel Domelevo, and the board of the Ghana Audit Service led by Prof. Edward Dua-Agyeman. Mr Domelevo in a petition to the president accused Prof. Dua-Agyeman, a former Auditor General under the John Kufuor administration of 'unlawful interference' in his work. But the board in a counter petition said the Auditor General has said he is not ready to work with the board. Commenting on the development, Prof. Prempeh said it is impossible to appoint a board for statutory organisations without interference. He said: We must amend article 190 of the Constitution to abolish the appointment of boards for non-commercial, regulatory, oversight, or investigative bodies like the Audit Service, Bank of Ghana, EOCO, OSP, FDA, etc. "It is sufficient to require that such statutory bodies, which need professional and operational autonomy to be effective in the execution of their special mandates, make periodic reports to and be subject to the oversight powers of Parliament, in the same fashion as currently obtains for CHRAJ, the EC, NCCE, and the Judicial Service." He continued: "It is obviously impossible in our culture to appoint a board for any of these statutory entities without the chairman or some other director on the board thinking they are thereby entitled to boss over the CEO or meddle in the regular everyday business of the entity. Lets save boards for state commercial and industrial enterprises only. Meanwhile the Jubilee House has set-up a committee to probe the concerns of interference raised by Auditor General, Daniel Yaw Domelevo against the Board Chairman and board members. the newspaper wrote. The newspaper goes on to attack Mr Domelevo, writing that he has "embarked on a useless journey of seeking to convince the world that he is being hounded out of office. After an unnecessary garrulous presence on the public space, he has ended up shooting himself in the foot." It also described as "despicable and unbecoming" of the Audit General to think that he is being hounded out of office. "For him to think that there is a subtle plot to hound him out of office and to therefore resort to renting a civil society organization the way he has, is despicable and unbecoming of a public officer of his stature. We are paying as a nation for the consequences of injury time appointments." The strongly worded editorial of the biggest private newspaper in Ghana comes after the Mr Domelevo petitioned the President over the conduct of the Board Chairman of the Audit Service, Prof. Edward Dua-Agyeman. Mr Domelevo in his petition accused Prof. Dua-Agyeman, a former Auditor General under the John Kufuor administration of 'unlawful interference' in his work. A pistol and a dagger were found in their car. READ ALSO: undefined Other items retrieved from the car also included Indian and Ghanaian citizenship ID cards, drivers license among others. Speaking to Citi News, the commander further hinted that after arresting the five suspects they placed their details on the Ghana Police Service Platform adding that it was then that the Wassa Akropong Police hinted them of the robbery of some Indians living in Wassa Akropong. The suspects are Dickson Kumadzro 42 years, Kwaku Atatsi, 22, Adjevi Yao, 35, Kofi Amewugah, 28, and Divine Mawuli, 30. The five suspects were arraigned at the Ofaakor magistrate court today presided over by his Lordship Ebenezer Osei Darko and have been remanded for two weeks in police custody pending investigation. According to him, during state events, invitations are only extended to preachers who preach in English. Citing examples, he noted that during the President Nana Akufo-Addo's engagement with the clergy over the issue of the building of the national Cathedral, none of the Twi speaking pastors were invited except prophet Isaac Owusu Bempah because hes an avid supporter of the President Akufo-Addo. Seriously it is disheartening to know that, those of us who use Twi as our main language to preach are seen as illiterate in the society, we have been sidelined by the state because during state functions, invitation is only extended to the English speaking pastors, he said. Some of the members of the sect, who came from Sudan, Mali, Niger Republic and Cameroon had commenced the activities on Friday and spent the night in the open air praying for the unity of the country. The sect led by Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi prayed for peace, security, socio-economic and political development of the country. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that part of activities to mark the event include glorifying the name of Allah, recitation of the Holy Quran and special prayers for the country. Sheikh Bauchi Prayed to Allah to save the country from the calamities of armed robbery, kidnappings, insurgency, and peaceful conduct of the 2019 general election. He stressed the importance of glorifying the name of Allah (SWA) and frequent recitation of the Holy Quran especially during this period when the country was deviled by insurgent and others vices. The Head, Public Affairs of the council, Mr Damianus Ojijeogu, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos. Ojijeogu said this would help to further tackle the rising cases of examination malpratice among candidates in the country. He spoke against the backdrop of activities of some fraudulent persons who operated rogue websites and use it to defraud candidates by posting wrong questions and answers during its examinations. You know, WAEC is not a national body. It is a regional body and as a result, we must always strive to operate within the ambit of the law that sets up the examination body. The fight against malpractice has remained one of our key challenges in ensuring that the integrity of our examination is not compromised. As such, we want all stakeholders, especially the Federal Government to join hands with us in taking it seriously and fighting the scourge. Indeed we want to appeal to the Federal Government to assist us further by passing a law that will enable WAEC to jam the respective networks in all centres during our examinations. This is because countries where this has been successfully carried out, it is the governments of such countries that made it possible, for the sake of the future of their children and their education, Ojijeogu said. According to him, the council on its own, is doing all it can to tackle the menace by continually deploying cutting edge technologies and training and re-training of staff, to be able to detect and nip all forms of malpractice before it can be carried out. It will be recalled that we use persons who are not WAEC staff during the conduct of our examinations and therefore, we must always be proactive by being ahead. We are always putting measures in place to ensure that operators of those rogue websites are also apprehended and charged to court. In April this year, during the conduct of our West African Senior School Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates, some operators were caught and paraded, same as last year. For this year, we have also been notified about their activities at our ongoing second series 2018 WASSCE for private candidates and we are already investigating to find out their location. We are indeed working hard to get as much information as possible in order to assist the police to swing into action. So far, about 12 persons who have been arrested in connection with these fraudulent activities have been charged to court and our expectation is that the law will take its full course to serve as deterrent to others, he said. Ojijeogu noted that the fraudsters were currently working hard to defraud gullible candidates writing the WASSCE for private candidates by posting past questions of some subjects using various social media platforms. In a tweet on Saturday, September 15, 2018, around 2:52AM, Momodu took to his Twitter to say he refuses to believe the claims. He went ahead God would save Nigeria if the allegation was found to be true. He wrote, "I refuse to believe that anyone, in the name of politics, would freeze the bank accounts of a hardworking family THE ADELEKEs including that of this young icon DAVIDO who has done our country very proud... God save our dear beloved nation... I pray it is fake news..." ALSO READ: Dele Momodu says beef with Davido bigger than Abacha clash Davidos account allegedly frozen by EFCC There are allegations that one of the bank accounts of Davido has been frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The allegation was made by a Twitter account belonging to @PDP_2019 on Friday, September 14, 2018. Other popular acts in the movie are Hafeez Oyetoro, MC Abbey and Funny Bone. The movie is coming on the heels of the actress' success at her first shot as a filmmaker with the movie, "Christmas is Coming." About "What Just Happened" In a one hour journey to Ibadan turns into a long day of disaster when a returnee professor's superior attitude is tested. ALSO READ: Meet the cast of Ufuoma McDermott's What Just Happened During her testimony in a church, as the professor recounts her experience before an impatient crowd, more commotion ensues. The professor who goes in search of a man takes up her brothers offer for the position of a visiting lecturer at the University of Ibadan. DSP Terna Tyopev, Plateau Police Command Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that the incident occurred on Friday afternoon. Yesterday, at about 7.p.m, Mr Ezekiel Dalyop of Turu village in Kuru District of Jos South Local Government Area, reported at our division in Vom, that three herders entrusted with 70 of his cattle got missing. We immediately swung into action and we were able to rescue one of the herders, 16 year-old Bitrus Joseph. Our team of detectives later recovered the missing cattle. Unfortunately, in the process of rustling the cattle, two of the herders: Meshack Dalton, 14, and Pam Danjuma, 10, were killed. Their lifeless bodies were dumped in a bush at Dahool Bob village in Kuru District, he said. Tyopev said that the dead bodies were recovered and deposited in the mortuary at the Vom Christian Hospital. Tyopev advised owners of cattle in the state to desist from engaging underage persons to rear their animals, to avert reoccurrences of similar incident. While we commiserate with the families of those who lost their loved ones, we are urging owners of cattle to employ the services of mature persons who can take care of the herds and as well as sense danger when it rear its head and seek for safety, he advised. According to the South China Morning Post, doctors discovered a live tapeworm 'swimming' in the man's brain after he was diagnosed of unexplained epilepsy. The man, a 26-year-old Chinese, was simply identified as Liu in the report. How tapeworm was discovered in man's brain According to the report, 26-year-old Liu had been diagnosed with unexplainable epilepsy. ece-auto-gen Liu had been in good health until recently, when he experienced a number of epileptic fits. The diagnosis had baffled doctors led by Dr Wang Chunliang, who decided to run some tests on Liu. Dr Chunliang said series of blood tests carried out on Liu had alerted doctors to the enormous worm living in his brain. ALSO READ: 180 Shawarma lovers hospitalised for eating favourite snack The worm was still alive when we took it out. It was springy, white all over, and could swim, said Chunliang. Specialists at First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University removed the 10cm long tapeworm from Liu's brain after an operation. How 10cm long tapeworm was got into man's brain - Doctor According to Guo Hui, an expert, who heads the Shanghai Neuromedical Centre, there are several ways the tapeworm could have gotten into Liu's brain. The medical doctor said the occurrence can happen in cases where people regularly eat uncooked or half-cooked meat and seafood. In the case of Liu, he was reported have been a lover of grilled food. The Canadian man was disfigured in a 2011 hunting accident that damaged his facial nerves, muscles, and bones. A team that included nine surgeons and 100 medical staff led by Dr. Daniel Borsuk at Montreal's Hopital Maisonneuve-Rosemont completed the remarkable 30-hour operation. The procedure was five years in the making, as Borsuk's team planned, practiced, and waited for a suitable donor so they could transplant one man's face onto another's. The hospital performed the operation in May, but just announced it on Wednesday. "This delicate operation is the result of years of concerted, meticulous work by an incredible team and the incredible bravery and co-operation of the patient and his family," Borsuk said at a at news conference, according to CBC News. To perform this complex procedure, one group of surgeons removed the face from a recently deceased donor. It took 12 hours. At the same time, another set of surgeons removed Borsuk's face, leaving only his eyes, upper eyelids and forehead - a 17-hour process, The National Post reported. Their efforts gave Desjardins the one thing he wanted most: to spend time with his granddaughter free from the stares of strangers. "Already, he's leading more of a normal life," Borsuk said at the news conference. "He comes through to visit me every week and in the waiting room, nobody looks at him. They used to always stare at him, (but now) he's just another face in the crowd." Desjardins spent two months recovering in the hospital before transferring to a rehabilitation facility. Prior to the operation, Desjardins had five reconstructive surgeries, but was still unable to eat, breathe, or smell properly, according to La Presse. Now, the 65-year-old grandfather is able to swallow, chew, and even smile. He's still unable to speak, but he's in the process of relearning the skill, according to CBC News. Desjardins will take immunosuppressants medications to reduce the risk of his body rejecting the transplanted face. Mr Bola Oyebamiji, the state Commissioner for Finance, announced this at a news conference on Thursday in Osogbo. 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. This is coming after Adeosun tendered her resignation on Friday, September 14, 2018. She was accused of forging her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate. The PDP, while commending the minister for resigning, also called on President Buharis government to arrest and prosecute her. According to Daily Post, this was made known by the partys spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan. PDP said The party invites Nigerians to note that President Muhammadu Buhari, whose administration has become notorious for shielding its many fraudulent and corrupt officials, could not summon the rectitude to sack Mrs. Adeosun, adding that she would have still been in office, if not for the sustained uproar by Nigerians and international creditors. Our investigations reveal that the Federal Government, which earlier made efforts to defend Mrs. Adeosun, has already perfected a plot to help her to evade prosecution following fears that she could open up on the humongous corruption going on in the financial sector under the Buhari administration. The PDP is also aware of plots by the Federal Government to secretly move her out of the country, and for that, we urge the international community to be at alert and ensure she is repatriated to face justice in Nigeria should the Federal Government succeeds in its devious plan. PDP demands open investigation The PDP also called on the government to launch an open investigation into the affairs of the finance ministry under Adeosun. The party said Furthermore, we are also aware that President Buhari was not by any measure prepared to drop her from his cabinet but for the demand by those responsible for her appointment, who protested her continued stay in office, although for their own selfish gains. A case of corruption fighting back! The PDP therefore demands an immediate open inquest into the records of the Finance Ministry under Mrs. Adeosun, to unravel all improprieties by the Buhari Presidency cabal, including alleged diversion of oil proceeds, fraudulent oil subsidy deals, leading to high fuel price; depletion of our foreign reserves, embezzling of funds retuned by Switzerland and other huge sleazes in the ministry. The party also insists that President Buhari must be held responsible for all infractions in the finance ministry under Adeosun, as he appointed and retained her despite having information on the certificate forgery; a situation that confirms the decadence and lack of due diligence in the Buhari Presidency. Buhari, citadel of iniquity Nigerians already know that the Buhari Presidency is a citadel of iniquity with inherent proficiency in stealing, forgery and manipulation of processes. This perhaps explains why President Buhari has not relieved his Special Assistant on Prosecution and Chairman of the Special Investigative Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla of his appointment in spite of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) confirmation that he forged his Secondary School Certificate. ALSO READ: Adeosun explains certificate forgery scandal in resignation letter Is it not clear to all that the Buhari administrations so-called anti-corruption war and purported integrity are mere orchestrations to hoodwink Nigerians and the international community, while Mr. President oversees the most corrupt administration in the history of our nation? NAN reports that Sen. David Mark arrived at about 1.30pm in company of Sen. Zainab Kure, Sen. Tunde Ogbeha and Sen. Suleman Adokwe, current chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation. The 70 year-old Mark, who has been in the senate since 1999, obviously came to discuss his presidential ambition with Babangida, who had hosted several other aspirants. Among them were the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former governors Attahiru Bafarawa, Sule Lamido and Ahmed Makarfi, all contesting under the Peoples Democratic Party platform. Said one of Marks aides who didnt want his name mentioned: Yes my boss is discussing with IBB. First to brief him and seek his prayers and support for the task ahead. Sen. Zainab Kure, who is the director general David Mark Presidential Campaign Organisation told NAN that Mark is a good material needed to reposition the country for optimal growth. He was a former military Governor, communications Minister and senate president of the Federal Republic. So he possesses all the required political acumen to lead our country ,she said. Zainab also hoped that the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) would conduct a free, fair and credible election. I am appealing to all eligible Nigerians to support the electoral processes to enable the commission discharge its constitutional mandate , she said. The lawmaker, who represents Borno South Senatorial District also hailed the Armys effort in the war against Boko Haram. According to Punch, Ndume said I dont know exactly what is happening. The truth of the matter is that there is a resurface or escalation of intermittent attacks by the insurgents, over which I have raised the alarm and to which I have called the attention of the authorities. But I am happy with the response of the Nigerian Army particularly after the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, ordered and relocated the operational headquarters of the Army to Gozombali in Guzama Local Government Area. That is very commendable. I am hoping that at the same time they will also increase and intensify the fight against insurgency in other blackspots in the Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains in Gworza Local Government Area. Ransom for Leah Sharibu The lawmaker also said the recent attacks by Boko Haram in Borno state could be to get the government to pay for Leah Sharibus release. Sharibu was kidnapped along with her school mates from a secondary school in Dapchi, Yobe state. She was held back by the terrorists because she refused to denounce Christianity. According to him, The stronger ones who still have the audacity to carry out major attacks are those from Mohammed Nurus Boko Haram faction that is operating from the fringes, which is the group that we are suspecting got money from the negotiation for the release of the Dapchi girls. Now they are psychologically pressing for more money through propaganda by using Leah Sharibu. Yes, this is true because they must get money to carry out their operations, and the only source of money is the ransom paid to them. But then, the government is in a tight situation. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ex-PDP chairman had on Aug. 27 announced his exit from the PDP following what he called irreconcilable differences with some elders of the party. At an elaborate ceremony at the Agege Stadium, Salvador and many other defectors officially joined the APC. Some of those who joined with him are Mr Gbenga Oshinowo, a former senatorial aspirant of the PDP; Mr Idowu Adesanya, a former member of the PDP Elders caucus in the state; and Mrs Margaret Igwe, a former national officer of the PDP. They were received by the state Chairman of APC , Alhaji Tunde Balogun and other members of the party executive. Salvador, addressing a crowd of APC party faithful at the event, said his joining the APC meant that the state had become a one-party state. He said he was excited to be back in the fold of the progressives he was once belonged to. I thank you so much for receiving us with this glamorous celebration. Lagos State is now a one-party state. When we add the votes of APC and PDP in the 2015 elections, it will give us 98.08 per cent while the remaining other parties got 0.1 per cent. They are insignificant when we talk of political parties in Lagos State. The only two existing and dominant parties in Lagos State are the APC and PDP. Now that PDP has transformed into the progressives family, theres no other party in Lagos. My responsibility, aim, goal and target in Lagos State is for APC to have 99.5 per cent votes in Lagos, he said. Salvador said the APC would score between 2.5 million and 3 million votes for its gubernatorial candidate and above five million for its presidential candidate in Lagos State. Write it down, it is is a target; it is an assignment and we are ready to work towards it and achieve it. That will be my contribution to support my able Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun. I will do all humanly possible to achieve this goal so that APC will have 99 per cent of all the votes cast in Lagos State, he said. Salvador urged his supporters to throw away their PDP cards and register with APC across wards and local government areas in the state. He also appealed to the people of Osun to vote for the APC candidate in the Sept. 22 governorship election to continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy. Earlier, Balogun said the APC was glad to have Salvador and his teeming supporters in its fold. He said the defection of the ex-PDP chairman into the party showed that the APC was the party to beat, and that PDP had been completely depleted. Balogun described Salvador as an accomplished politician who would add value to the APC. In his remarks, a chieftain of the party in the state, Sen. Anthony Adefuye, expressed delight that APC was waxing stronger both at the state and federal levels. He said with the momentum the ruling party was gathering by the day, he had no doubt that the APC would surpass PDPs 16year rule to govern the country for 32 years. Adefuye commended Salvador for making the decision to join the APC, saying the PDP had been buried with his defection. Hon. Salvador in Lagos is the backbone of PDP. What we are doing today is the wake of PDP and by tomorrow, we will bury the party. The party is dead and buried in Lagos State, Adefuye said. The chieftain also expressed the confidence that the APC would win the Sept. 22 Osun gubernatorial election. He urged party members to redouble their dedication to the party to take it to greater heights. This is coming after news of the House of Reps leaders defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made the headlines. According to Premium Times, Dogara, on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, picked a PDP nomination form at the partys secretariat in Abuja. Speaking on the issue, the APC spokesman, Yekini Nabena, who spoke to Punch said the right thing for Dogara to do is to vacate his seat. Nabena also said It should be obvious to Dogara that his various anti-party activities have reached a final destination with his reported decision to leave the APC. He became Speaker because he was a member of our party -even though he has not formally told us of his defection, now that he is reported to have left, the right thing for him to do is to vacate the seat. Against the law of natural justice Also speaking, the APC National Vice Chairman (South-South), Hilliard Eta said that it is against the law of natural justice for the minority (PDP) to preside over the House. Eta said It is not in the intention of the framers of the Nigerian constitution that a member of a party that does not enjoy the majority in the National Assembly should head any of the arms of the National Assembly. We are going to impeach them and they will have their day in court. It is a directive of the party to members of our party in the National Assembly to impeach them and then they will have their day in court. Dogara has no electoral value In its response to the Dogaras defection earlier, APC said that the House Speakerdoes not have any electoral value. Dr Emeka Ononamadu, INECs Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Saturday. Ononamadu said that INEC had also started discussing with religious leaders on how they can be of help in mobilizing the people to collect their PVCs. He noted that the new strategy would ensure that all the uncollected PVCs were distributed to their owners before the 2019 General Elections. We want to distribute the serial typed and photocopied names of all people who have not collected their PVCs at our local council offices and registration centres to the IPAC leadership. IPAC will then, make photocopy of same and give to their members, who are the various political party leaders. The political party leaders will take same photocopied list and distribute to their local government and ward chairmen, who will then remind the people whose cards are still with us in their localities to go to any INEC office and centres to collect their cards. The action is to remind the people, through person-to-person contact as well as native community and families information system, to come to our headquarters or registration centres close to them to pick up their PVCs personally, he said. Ononamadu said that INEC believed that a bottom-up strategy of distribution would enable the commission to reach out to those that have not collected their PVCs to come and collect them since the commission does not give PVC cards by proxy. So, anybody who did not collect his or her PVCs until a week to the 2019 general election, may be someone who did not present himself or herself for the collection in the first place since we dont give out PVCs by proxy, he added. Ononamadu disclosed that Enugu State was fifth State in the country with the highest registration in the just-suspended CVR with 549, 326 new voters. This is an indication that so many Nigerians in Enugu State are now ready to participate in the 2019 general elections. The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that the rally was led by Olarewaju Oba, an aspirant into House of Representatives for llorin/Asa Federal Constituency, under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Youths, who ignored the scorching sun, were chanting in favour of Bukola Saraki presidential ambition. They went through major streets in the state capital and ended at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari. The organiser of the rally, Olabrewaju Oba while addressing newsmen during the rally said the youths in the state embarked on the rally in support of Sarakis ambition in view of his contribution to the passage of not too young to run bill. The House of Rep. aspirant expressed optimism that Saraki will further contribute to the development of youths and nation when he becomes Nigerias President. The rally was a testimony that youths in the North Central and Kwara are in full support of presidential ambition of the Senate President, he said. Oba advised the Nigerian Youths to always utilise available opportunities to be self employed instead of looking for ways of getting rich quick or engaging in drug and violence. The lorry was spotted by Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago who alerted the police after noticing it dangerously packed by the road side with suspicious activity going on. Mandago revealed that when he went to confront the driver of the lorry, he noticed that a consignment of fish was being moved from the lorry to a nearby garage. I saw the lorry parked on a pedestrian line and thought it was obstructing members of the public using the road. When I went to ask them why they had parked there I realized they were engaged in a different business, Mandago said. Some of the fish is rotten and already it's being offloaded may be to be sold to people here exposing them to high risks, he added. ece-auto-gen The governor alerted police, KRA and KEBS who responded promptly and discovered that some of the fish was already rotten. Those found at the scene not only lacked any documentation on how the consignment had made its way into the country, but could also not prove if they had complied with all legal and regulatory requirements. Am surprised that people of Eldoret eat fish imported from China. I dont think garage business had anything to do with food handling. This is clearly unhygienic. An Australian girl has been blasted for refusing to sing or stand during the national anthem. Harper Nielson, a nice-year-old student at Kenmore South State School in Brisbane, remained seated during the anthem because she felt it marginalised indigenous Australians. When she refused to do either, she was given a detention and made to sign a written apology or she would face suspension. Right-wing politician Pauline Hanson called the girl a brat who needed to be thrown out of school. All of us are interested by our environment, by our families, by our friends. Despite the criticism, The Courier Mail reported that Harper had also received support online with people commending her on her strength and character. In fact, Childrens Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft reckons children, like Ms Harper, should be consulted on legislation. We want to encourage them to partake and engage in our community, he told RadioLIVE. Mr Becroft says in his view, children are well able to express their own political views. When RadioLIVEs Ryan Bridge asks at what age a child is able to express their own views, Mr Becroft calls it a moot point. All of us are interested by our environment, by our families, by our friends. I dont think theres any magical age where children suddenly turn out into fully formed adults with views for life. Ms Harper argues that the Australian anthem is disrespectful to Indigenous Australians, particularly with the line "Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free. " When it says Advance Australia Fair, it means advance the white people," the 9-year-old told Nine News. And when it says 'we are young' it completely disregards the indigenous Australians who were here before us for 50,000 years." The childs father, Mark Nielson, said he was proud of how his daughter handled the protest and international backlash. Listen to the full interview with Andrew Becroft above. Drive with Ryan Bridge and Lisa Owen, 3pm - 6pm Weekdays and streaming live on 'rova' channel 9 - available on Android and iPhone. RadioLIVE. New Zealand's longest-running agricultural contest is set to undergo a makeover. The FMG Young Farmer of the Year, which has been running since 1969, announced a new strategy to maintain relevance and attract more women to enter. We need to start adapting some of this really cool stuff out there, said board member Cole Groves. Awards for the highest-scoring competitor in each of the five challenges will be replaced with new awards assessing contestants' skills and knowledge across innovation, food, people, environment and technology. The contest will also be used to better tell New Zealand's paddock to plate food story. Social media will be used to capture how the young farmers work on farm to produce their products, likely to be shared through snappy 3-5 minute videos. There havent been real significant changes to the contest since Ive been around, and Ive been involved for about 15 years, he told RadioLIVE. The changes will start rolling out at regional finals across New Zealand early next year. Watch the full interview with Cole Groves above. Rural Exchange with Hamish McKay, Sarah Perriam and Richard Loe, 5-7am Saturday and Sunday on RadioLIVE with Carters Tyre Service. Click here for all the ways to watch and listen. RadioLIVE. Germanys Super RTL kids channel, a joint venture of RTL Group and Disney, has selected Ooyalas Flex Media platform for video content supply-chain workflows for its OTT service. Ooyala is delivering an end-to-end solution with its local partner, Germany-based LOGIC media solutions GmbH, built using Microsoft Azure Media Services.Todays broadcasters and media companies typically face the question of whether to build or buy a solution to manage and deliver their video content, said Jonathan Huberman, CEO, Ooyala . By migrating to the Ooyala Flex Media Platform, Super RTL has the best of both worlds a solution thats quickly and efficiently deployed off-the-shelf, but is also highly customisable and that seamlessly integrates with existing technology.The project grew out of Ooyalas collaboration with Microsoft, who had been in talks with Super RTL on migrating its digital video platform to the cloud. Microsoft introduced Ooyala to Super RTL to provide the workflow and content management components. For the implementation and local support, Ooyala subsequently brought in LOGIC The media landscape is evolving faster than ever, introducing new and growing challenges that left our existing technology obsolete, said Boris Bolz, chief digital and marketing officer, Super RTL. We needed a solution that could provide greater flexibility and deeper insights across our entire operations, all while future-proofing our services. The Ooyala Flex Media Platform has allowed us to build the best solution for our needs, and being implemented on Microsoft Azure, it can easily be scaled as our service grows and new technology is introduced. , We're sorry, this article is not currently available R. Scott Freeman, the former Athens-Clarke County Chief of Police, speaks at a NAACP event about community relations and the rise of hate groups at the East Friendship Baptist Church, in Athens, Georgia, on Thursday, September 7, 2017. (Photo/Jane Snyder, www.janemarysnyder.com) Suicide and depression are difficult topics to discuss, but conversations around them can pinpoint their cause. The cause could be due to a sense of purposeless unique to the millennial generation. The news desk has compiled a list of events going on throughout the upcoming week that are open to Athenians and University of Georgia students. Spending a day with insects may not be everyones cup of tea, but this event is so much more 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. TORRINGTON A small historic cemetery where a Revolutionary War soldier is buried was recently rededicated, in a ceremony that honored Minuteman Elijah Pond and his family. The plot, surrounded by a fieldstone wall near 2360 Norfolk Road, was recently cleared of brush and fallen trees. Now, visitors can clearly see eight headstones dating back to 1799. Municipal Historian Ken Buckbee presented information at the ceremony about the settlers who are buried there. He said the soldier, Elijah Pond, moved from Massachusetts to Torrington in 1794. While still in the Bay State, Pond was a captain of a company of Minutemen, Buckbee noted. The company responded and helped to contain the British in Boston, Buckbee wrote in his presentation. Also notable is the grave of Abijah Holbrook, who also moved from Massachusetts to Torrington. He arrived circa 1787, Buckbee wrote, and upon his arrival, built a flour and saw mill. He was a wealthy man and a slave owner. Abijah was quite ahead (of) his time, wrote Buckbee. He freed two slaves in 1798. Those former slaves, Jacob and Ginnie Prince, were featured in the celebration of the citys 275th anniversary, Buckbee said. The re-dedication of the cemetery came about when Jennie Scofield, who lives nearby, noticed how badly the plot was overgrown. It was hard to get in there because of the trees, she said. Scofields grandmother, Lois Fields, owned the cemetery and the nearby house until 2012, Scofield said. Concerned about the condition of the historic site, Scofield started looking for someone who could help clear the area. Buckbee visited the cemetery when Fields lived there, he said, so he was familiar with the historic site. He heard about the cleanup effort and contacted the city. Ken came to my office and told me about this piece of history, said Mayor Elinor Carbone. It broke my heart to see how overgrown it was. The trees were falling and chipping away at the stones. A subcommittee of the City Council approved a small grant from the Community Development Stipend Program, which paid for the trees to be removed and Scofield helped clear vines and brush at the site. Im so grateful for the attention the cemetery has gotten and the steward, or guardian of our history, said Carbone. She thanked Scofield for recognizing the importance this has for the community. It was so overgrown, you would not have known it was here, Carbone said. Now, she thinks the site may get quite a few more visitors. As a Minuteman, (Pond) fought to make American what America is today, Carbone said. Buckbee and his wife, Judey,offered a poignant interlude at the ceremony by reciting a Civil War poem, Only a Soldiers Grave. Here is an excerpt: Yet, we should mark it the soldiers grave, someone may seek him in hope to save! Some of the dear ones, far away, would bear him home to his native clay: Twere sad, indeed, should they wander nigh, find not the hillock, and pass him by. Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. An Afghan official says at least five army personnel, all crew members of a military helicopter, were killed when their aircraft made an emergency landing and caught fire in the western Farah Province. Mohammad Noorzai, a Khaki Safad district chief, told RFE's Radio Free Afghanistan that the incident late on September 14 was the result of a technical malfunction. However, the Taliban claimed it shot the helicopter down. The Taliban are in control of most areas in Farah Province, especially Khaki Safad district. In the northern Parwan Province, a roadside bomb detonated September 15 near a military vehicle, killing four intelligence service members and a civilian, according to Wahida Shahkar, spokeswoman for the provincial governor. Shahkar said one military personnel and a civilian were wounded in the blast on the outskirts of Charakar, the provincial capital. "There was a report of a bomb in a village and when the military personnel rushed to defuse it another roadside bomb detonated near their vehicle causing casualties," she said. News of the helicopter crash and the roadside bombing come a day after at least 38 Afghan security personnel and civilians were killed in overnight attacks across four Afghan provinces, amid a spike in Taliban strikes on military checkpoints. With reporting by AP and dpa German Chancellor Angela Merkel says European Union sanctions on Moscow will remain in place until a sustainable cease-fire is achieved in Ukraine under the so-called Minsk accords. "Before the Minsk agreement has been implemented or progress has been made in that regard, we will not consider lifting sanctions on Russia," Merkel told reporters on September 14 in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius. "Restoring peace and territorial integrity of Ukraine remains our goal," she said. Sanctions were imposed against Russia for its support for separatists fighting Ukrainian government forces in eastern Ukraine in a war that has killed more than 10,300 people since April 2014. Sanctions were also slapped on Moscow for its seizure and annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. The United States also set similar sanctions. Russia denies involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, although the United States and the West have provided evidence that Moscow has provided military, economic, and political support to the breakaway movements in the region. Germany and France helped broker cease-fire deals as part of the Minsk accords -- September 2014 and February 2015 pacts aimed at resolving the conflict but they have failed to hold. During her trip to Lithuania, Merkel also visited German troops deployed to the Baltic country as part of NATOs force stationed in the region to reassure allies in the face of a more aggressive Russian foreign policy. "We are proud that you are here," she said during a speech at the barracks in Rukla. Germany has some 450 soldiers in Lithuania. Russia has complained that the NATO presence on its borders is a provocation. Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa Iran has accused police in Paris of failing to respond quickly to what it called an attack against its embassy in the French capital by Kurdish activists. A spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry confirmed on September 15 that the attack occurred a day earlier, "with a number of arrests" made. "The French government should take all necessary measures to protect Iranian diplomatic missions in that country," ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by the official government news agency IRNA. "Unfortunately, the French police did not arrive as expected on the scene on time, although the assailants were members of a terrorist organization," he added. The semiofficial Fars news agency reported that about 15 Kurdish activists burned the Iranian flag in front of the embassy during the incident and broke some windows with stones. A Paris police spokeswoman said only that "individuals" threw objects and smashed windows at the embassy. She said she did not have information about the motives or identities of the people who were outside the embassy. She said officers searched 12 people but that no one was taken into custody because embassy personnel chose not to file a complaint. Iran has accused France of supporting opposition groups seeking to overthrow the Islamic republic. France has rejected the allegations. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps fired seven missiles last week at the headquarters in northern Iraq of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, an armed opposition group that fights for more autonomy for Iran's Kurdish minority. Iranian media has reported that at least 11 people were killed in the attacks. With reporting by Reuters, IRNA, and FARS Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has indicated he may not seek a second term amid power struggles in the country, although observers say it was unclear if he was actually giving up any claim to power. I do not want a second term. I dont cling to a second term. We will rotate power peacefully, the U.S.-backed Abadi told reporters in Baghdad on September 14. Abadi and powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced in June that they had agreed on a political coalition in an effort to form a new government in the wake of inconclusive May elections. Sadr's political bloc, which includes communists, won 54 seats in the legislative elections, making it the largest grouping in Iraq's 329-seat parliament. Abadi's bloc came in third with 42 seats. Sadr has distanced himself from Abadi, a one-time ally. An alliance of pro-Iranian former paramilitary fighters led by Hadi al-Ameri -- which came in second in May -- has said it would work with Sadr to form a new government that excludes Abadi. Political analyst Ihsan al-Ashaari told the AP that Abadi's statement does not necessarily mean he is no longer seeking to retain his post and that the eventual decision will be made by the legislature after intense negotiations. Calls for Abadi and other government leaders to resign have intensified after an outbreak of deadly unrest in the southern port city of Basra, where at least 12 protesters were killed in antigovernment demonstrations. "We demand the government apologize to the people and resign immediately," said Hassan al-Aquli, a spokesman for Sadrs political list. Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to discuss peace and security between the two neighbors. The presidents office said in a statement on September 15 that Ghani met with a Pakistani delegation led by Qureshi in Kabul during an official one-day visit by the foreign minister. The two sides discussed the issues of security, peace, and stability in the region -- the joint fight against terrorism and the implementation of the Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity, the statement said. Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal said the visit shows Pakistans interest in peace and stability in the region. The successful outcome of the visit will lead future efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation under bilateral frameworks of cooperation, he said in a tweet prior to the meeting. U.S. officials have accused Pakistan of not doing enough to help defeat militant groups like the Haqqani network and the Afghan Taliban, which they claim have found safe harbors in areas of Pakistan near the Afghan border. U.S. intelligence officials say Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency and other military bodies have even helped fund and arm the Taliban, both for ideological reasons and to counter rising Indian influence in Afghanistan. Islamabad has denied the accusations. The Russian Orthodox Church has announced it will no longer take part in structures chaired by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and that a deepening row in Orthodox Christianity over the Ukrainian Churchs bid to formally break away from Russias orbit may lead to violence. The Russian Orthodox Church's Holy Synod ruling body met on September 14 to consider a response after the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate said last week it was sending two bishops to Ukraine in what is widely viewed as a step toward declaring ecclesiastical independence for the main Ukrainian Orthodox church there. "If the Ukrainian Orthodox Church [that answers to the Moscow Patriarchate] is declared [in Ukraine] the church of an aggressor country, if it is deprived of legal rights, then we can expect everything: that the schismatics will take control of the great monasteries, such as the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the Pochayev Lavra," Metropolitan Hilarion, the chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church's External Relations Department, said in a September 15 interview on Russian RT television. "Then, of course, Orthodox believers [loyal to the Moscow-affiliated church] will protect these holy places and bloodshed could follow," he added. That move by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I -- who is considered "first among equals" of Eastern Orthodox clerics -- was strongly criticized by Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, as he opened the September 14 meeting of the Holy Synod. Vladimir Legoida, a Russian Orthodox Church spokesman, said the Holy Synod had decided to suspend its participation in all structures chaired or co-chaired by representatives of the Patriachate of Constantinople. "Essentially this is a breakdown of relations. To take an example from secular life, the decision is roughly equivalent to cutting diplomatic ties," Hilarion was quoted by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti as saying. Metropolitan Onufriy, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that answers to the Moscow Patriarchate, told the Holy Synod via a video link that the special bishops, or exarchs, sent by Bartholomew had already arrived in Ukraine and established contacts with the heads of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that is loyal to Kyiv. The Kremlin said it was following the situation closely and reiterated its opposition to any split in Orthodoxy. "Of course for Moscow and indeed for the entire Orthodox world the single preferable scenario is the preservation of unity of this Orthodox world," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on September 14. The Moscow Patriarchate still has a large following in Ukraine. The Kyiv Patriarchate broke away from Moscow in 1992 after the fall of the Soviet Union. Its bid for recognition as a self-governing or autocephalous institution intensified after Russia's 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. The ecumenical patriarch, currently Bartholomew, also holds the title of archbishop of Constantinople, the old Greek name for Istanbul, Turkey's largest city. The city fell to the Muslim Turks in 1453 but has remained the historic seat of Orthodoxy. Russia, however, has long been home to the world's largest Orthodox Christian Church. With reporting by AFP, AP, Interfax, and Reuters Women have grown accustomed to being harassed by strange men on the streets of Dushanbe: "Is your mom looking for a son-in-law?" "I'm speechless." "Hey, $100 girl." Overtures can range from unsolicited "compliments" to personal insults to physical assault. Whatever the case they are not welcomed. Acting on complaints, police in the Tajik capital are flipping the script on catcallers with the introduction of strict measures intended to get them to keep their comments to themselves. Catcallers in Dushanbe now face the prospect of up to two weeks in jail, community service, and the humiliation of having their pictures plastered on police websites as a warning to others. Naming And Shaming Anisa Ibrohimova recently saw a melon seller get his comeuppance. The 19-year-old student was shopping earlier this month at a street-side market stall when a merchant, Muhammadjon Qurbonov, called her a "$100 girl," slang for prostitute. Ibrohimova says she confronted Qurbonov, telling him he had "no right to say that." "But he shouted: 'Get lost,' and pushed me," Ibrohimova told RFE/RL on September 9. The teenager managed to partially record the incident on her mobile phone and handed it to police. On September 6, a Dushanbe court convicted the 21-year-old Qurbonov of disorderly conduct and sentenced him to five days in jail and community work. Photos of Qurbonov sweeping streets, and cleaning and painting the walls of an old building were published on the website of the Dushanbe police department. Officials explained that they name and shame offenders to "make others think twice" about catcalling. "Citizens, especially young people, will see the photos of the offenders washing floors, sweeping, and painting walls," says Nusratullo Saidzoda, a spokesman of the Interior Ministry, which oversees the police in Tajikistan. "The pictures are aimed at making other people to think about the implications," Saidzoda told RFE/RL's Tajik Service. Dushanbe city authorities set up a special group to address women's complaints about street harassment after a group of women called on the officials in July to tackle the problem. Police say the city's 2,700 CCTV cameras help authorities monitor bad behavior by men. Women's rights activist Hilola Nazarova welcomes the measures against street harassment, saying they will help change attitudes. "Sharing these photos on the Internet will definitely have an impact," Nazarova told RFE/RL. "People see that there is punishment for bad behavior." 'Compliment' Nazarova says women are often subjected to comments from total strangers on the street, while using public transport, and at bazaars, making them feel uncomfortable and unsafe. Some men see their overtures as "innocent," says Behruz, a college student who spoke to RFE/RL on condition that his full name not be used. "I didn't know it was a crime, it was just a compliment, an innocent remark about someone's nice coat, for example," Behruz said. "I don't see it as a big deal if someone tells me the color of my shirt suits me," he added. Many women, however, say unsolicited comments are unacceptable, and are often sexually suggestive, gender-based harassment. Ibrohimova, the victim of harassment at the market, says it was a "painful" experience. "I often see young men in the streets saying extremely inappropriate things to women," Ibrohimova told RFE/RL. "It has to stop." Dushanbe authorities say they want to promote more respectful behavior among city dwellers and, in January, the city mayor issued a decree setting up special groups to promote good citizenship and raise people's awareness of their rights. Despite recent efforts, city police say they received about 10 complaints from women about street harassment in the past two weeks alone. Written by RFE/RL correspondent Farangis Najibullah based on a report by Tajik Service correspondent Mirzonabi Kholiqzod. See the original story in Tajik here U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized predecessor John Kerry for meeting several times recently with Iran's foreign minister, saying the Obama-era official was "actively undermining" U.S. policy toward Tehran. Pompeo on September 14 said Kerry's meetings with Mohammad Javad Zarif were "unseemly and unprecedented" and "beyond inappropriate." A day earlier, President Donald Trump had accused Kerry of holding "illegal meetings with the very hostile Iranian regime, which can only serve to undercut our great work to the detriment of the American people." Pompeo bashed Kerry as a former secretary of state for engaging with "the world's largest state-sponsor of terror" and telling Iran to "wait out this administration." "You can't find precedent for this in U.S. history, and Secretary Kerry ought not to engage in that kind of behavior," Pompeo told reporters. "It's inconsistent with what foreign policy of the United States is as directed by this president, and it is beyond inappropriate for him to be engaged," he added. Kerry responded on September 14 in a tweet, writing: "Mr. President, you should be more worried about Paul Manafort meeting with Robert Mueller than me meeting with Iran's FM." Kerry was referring to an announcement earlier in the day that Manafort, Trump's former campaign chairman, had pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and witness tampering and agreed to cooperate with Special Counsel Mueller. During a radio interview this week, Kerry said he had met with Zarif three or four times since leaving office, and that their discussions included the nuclear deal. He insisted the talks were appropriate, telling 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. Kerry and Zarif were part of negotiations that led to the 2015 nuclear deal that Iran signed with the United States and five other world powers. The pact led to an easing of financial sanctions on Tehran in return for curbs on Irans nuclear program. Trump attacked the deal during his presidential campaign and into his presidency, accusing Tehran of violating the spirit of the deal by testing ballistic missiles and by supporting militancy in the region. He pulled out of the deal in May and began to reimpose sanctions. Tehran denied the U.S. allegations and said its nuclear program was strictly for civilian purposes. Kerry has been highly critical of the presidents decision to pull out of the nuclear deal. Some political observers have speculated that Kerry, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2004 against George W. Bush, could run against Trump in the 2020 election. With reporting by AP, The Washington Post, and AFP The United States has called an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council for September 17 as it steps up pressure on countries it says are violating sanctions against North Korea. The U.S. mission said in a statement on September 14 that the meeting was called because of recent efforts by some member states to undermine and obstruct North Korea sanctions implementation. The agenda for the meeting, set for 10 a.m. (4 p.m. in Prague), will be "to discuss the implementation and enforcement of UN sanctions on North Korea." The statement did not name any specific countries, but U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley on September 13 accused Russia of altering an independent United Nations report to cover up Moscows alleged violation of the sanctions. Haley and other diplomats claim that Russia pressured 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. Haley said the panel should release the original report, which cited "a massive increase in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products" for North Korea in violation of UN sanctions. It said some products allegedly were off-loaded from Russian ships, which were identified in the report. Diplomats told news agencies that Russia blocked the original report because it disagreed with the findings. Security Council sanctions were imposed on Pyongyang in 2006 after its first nuclear test. It has increased their severity after further nuclear tests and an increasingly sophisticated ballistic-missile program by North Korea. 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. Based on reporting by AP and dpa WASHINGTON -- A U.S. program to promote the role of women in Afghanistan is falling short of its goals, a new report says. The report published on September 14 by the Special Inspector General for Reconstruction of Afghanistan (SIGAR) said the Promote program had spent $89.7 million in three years but had made little progress in efforts to improve the employment status of women in the conservative Islamic nation. The program by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was announced with funding of $216 million during the administration of President Barack Obama. Promote was designed to improve Afghan womens access to jobs in the public, private, and civil society sectors through training and other efforts over a five-year period. It is expected to run through 2020 or 2021, and USAID has said it does not expect the Afghan government to continue it afterwards. SIGAR, an independent watchdog, said that just 55 women had been able to get a job with the Afghan government through the program, far short of the target figure of 2,100. Another part of the plan was initially intended to help 12,500 women obtain new or better jobs, but USAID lowered the number to 1,824 women. A USAID spokesman insisted to The Wall Street Journal that the program remains on track to meet the target of helping 75,000 women in various sectors by 2020. He said the data had been given to SIGAR as part of an assessment agreed to by USAID. In June, Afghan first lady Rula Ghani appeared to criticize the program after complaints from womens groups that short-term training efforts did not create long-term employment opportunities. She told a development forum in Washington that women dont need workshops and certificates. They need real, hard skills. Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, have voiced concern about women's rights in Afghanistan, which in 2015 ranked 154th out of 158 countries in the UN Gender Inequality Index. With reporting by The Wall Street Journal, Tolo News, and dpa This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Car catches fire after driver crashes into pole along Cancun highway Cancun, Q.R. The driver of a car that crashed against a light pole along the Cancun-Puerto Morelos highway completely destroyed his vehicle. The accident was recorded just after 5:00 p.m. near the Moon Palace hotel after the driver reportedly lost control and hit a pole in the median. Overturning his vehicle, the driver managed to flee before the car caught fire. Photo: Bomberos Cancun Firefighters were called to quelch flames, however, the vehicle was already destroyed. The driver received only minor injuries. He was assessed roadside by paramedics and did not require a hospital transfer. Volkswagen to stop producing Beetle next year Puebla, Mexico Volkswagen has announced it will stop producing its iconic Vocho beetle next year. The German automaker says that they will stop production of the beetle in July of 2019 at their Puebla manufacturing plant and instead, focus on larger vehicles and electric cars. In a farewell bid to the model, Volkswagen says they will launch two last editions under the names of Final Edition SE and Final Edition SEL, a coupe and a convertible. In a statement, Hinrich J. Woebcken, president and CEO of the automotive company said The loss of the beetle after three generations, for almost seven decades, will evoke a lot of emotion from the Beetle fanatics, adding There are no immediate plans to replace it. The first model, known as VW Type 1, was designed by Ferdinand Porsche on behalf of Adolf Hitler and was considered one of the best-selling cars of all time with 21 million units. Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh 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. US President Donald Trump had earlier imposed a 25 per cent import tariff on steel Advertisement 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. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Saturday said the government's decision to increase the remuneration of Anganwadi and Asha workers by almost 50 per cent will go a long way in addressing the grievances of these 25 lakh workers. Stating that there has been a long-time demand of Anganwadi workers and their helpers to give them a reasonable remuneration, Jaitley said the governments in the past have always refrained from giving benefits to these workers ostensibly on revenue considerations. "Notwithstanding the pressure on the Budget, the Government has given almost a 50 per cent hike in the first go to these workers. This will go a long way in addressing the grievance of these workers," he wrote in a Facebook post. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a hike in the monthly honorarium for Asha and Anganwadi workers from October. The remuneration of the Anganwadi workers has been raised from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,500 per month; the mini Anganwadi workers' pay has been hiked from Rs 2,250 to Rs 3,500. Advertisement Remuneration hike to address grievances of 25 lakh Anganwadi workers Remuneration of Anganwadi helpers has been increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,250 per month. These workers will also get an incentive of Rs 500 per month and Rs 250 per month respectively on the basis of the real time monitoring of performance. Jaitley said the Anganwadi workers are the mainstay of the National Nutrition Mission. There are approximately 12.9 lakh Anganwadi workers and 11.6 lakh Anganwadi helpers in the country. These benefits would be available to these 24.9 lakh Anganwadi workers and their families, the minister said. In the post titled 'Two successful initiatives of the Central Government', Jaitley said in the past there has been a general distrust of government schemes. "The principal reason for this is that either the benefits don't reach the targeted or that the projected parameters are never achieved. However, there are schemes with a difference. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is arguably the most successful one," he said. Jaitley said when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Swachhata campaign in his Independence Day Speech of 2014, the rural sanitation coverage of India was 39 per cent. Advertisement Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is arguably the most successful one As we have completed nearly four years of the scheme, 39 per cent rural sanitation coverage has increased to a phenomenal 92 per cent. This was not an easy goal to achieve and this involved a behavioural change of the people, Jaitley said. He said when the Prime Minister announced a target that India be made 'open-defecation free' when we celebrate 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2019, some believed that the scheme would be a photo-opportunity with very little progress. But it turned into a 'people's movement'. "... this 'people's movement' has today transformed into a 'women's movement' with rural women playing a leading role in the programme. We all knew that the dignity of women demanded the privacy of toilet.... This scheme will go a long way in improving the quality of life of India's rural population, particularly women," Jaitley said. This is for the first time that the subject matter in the toilet construction campaign has taken central stage of the national agenda, he said. Advertisement Ayushman Bharat scheme "With rural roads, rural electrification, rural Awas Yojana, toilets and a cooking gas connection with foodgrain provided at a modest cost, the quality of life of India's rural poor will get a quantum jump," he said. Additionally, when the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which provides up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year as hospitalisation expense, is fully implemented, this will change the quality of life of India's rural population, Jaitley said. In addition to the federal lawsuits, more than 200 additional testosterone drug cases await judgment in Cook County Circuit Court, many involving Illinois plaintiffs with lawsuits against AbbVie. The preliminary settlement proposal may encompass the Cook County cases, but that has not been finalized, said Chicago attorney Gary McAllister, who represents the plaintiffs in those cases. The proceedings in the local court have also been halted until details are finalized, he said. Justin Yoshimura, CEO of Carsons and CSC Generation, said in a statement on Carsons website that the company was sprinting as fast as we can to rebuild the company. The Donerail Group, a nascent New York-based investment firm headed by former Starboard Value executive Will Wyatt, has been in negotiations to buy Tronc since early August. Sources familiar with negotiations say Donerail has offered between $19 and $20 per share for Tronc, valuing the newspaper company at upward of $700 million. Jerry Telfer, a San Francisco Chronicle photographer for 40 years, died Friday at a hospice in El Sobrante. He was 75 and lived in Richmond. The cause of his death was liver failure, said his son, Adam. Telfer covered the full range of newspaper photo assignments during his long career from the usual breaking news of fires, floods and accidents to feature photography, including portraits of musician Miles Davis and playwright Sam Shepard. He also photographed countless Bay Area scenes, including a notable shot of the Transamerica Pyramid at night only two years after it opened and a portrait of the famous Christmas tree that was put up every year in the rotunda of the old City of Paris department store. One of his favorite pictures was of Dianne Feinstein, then president of the Board of Supervisors, at Pier 39 on the day it opened in 1978. Feinstein made a bet with the developer that the noted tourist pier would never be finished on the announced schedule. In the unlikely event the project made it on time, she pledged to show up on opening day in a bathing suit. The developer won, and Feinstein appeared in a wool outfit from the old Sutro Baths. Telfer was on hand to record the moment. Jerry Telfer / The Chronicle Photography meant the world to him, Adam Telfer said of his father. He always wanted to record events so that other people could experience them as they happened. His father never posed a shot or re-created an event. He always wanted to get to the truth of things, his son said. Telfer was not afraid of danger. During a riot in 1969 at Peoples Park in Berkeley, a cherry bomb loaded with tacks went off at his feet. He was injured, shook it off and went on with the assignment. Telfer had a way of gaining the confidence of subjects who were wary of being photographed for a newspaper. Veteran Chronicle reporter Kevin Fagan remembered how, when he and Telfer were having trouble getting an interview with some very elderly women, Telfer sat down on a rug in front of them, and asked them to tell him stories of their lives. After a few minutes, they just melted for him, and he made the whole story so much easier to do, Fagan said. You could always tell Jerry had a big heart. He was a terrific photographer, too. Great combination. Telfer was born in Gary, Ind., moved to Arizona as a child, and graduated from Stanford University with a degree in journalism. He worked at the Arizona Republic newspaper in Phoenix for a while and joined The Chronicle in 1966. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. He also had a long-standing interest in community theater, particularly the Masquers Playhouse in Point Richmond. He photographed more than 100 productions there and occasionally appeared on stage as well, mostly in supporting roles. One critic noted his foggy growl of a voice. Telfer is survived by two sons, Adam of Oklahoma City and Jonathan of Las Vegas; a daughter, Jennifer Gupton of Fairfield; three sisters; and two grandchildren. A memorial service is pending. Carl Nolte is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cnolte@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carlnoltesf The managers of the sinking Millennium Tower in San Francisco said Friday that an overhead protection system the city ordered them to erect should be completed by Saturday. The citys Department of Building Inspection ordered the luxury condominiums operators to install the safety system, which will wrap around the entire 58-story building, after a window cracked on the 36th floor last week. What caused the window to crack and whether the crack is symptomatic of the buildings deeper problems remains unclear. Since 2009, the tower has sunk by around 18 inches and is tilting to one side. The department also required Millenniums management to tape up the window from the outside to prevent it from shattering or popping out. The window had already been taped up inside the homeowners unit where the crack occurred. Rachel Miller, an attorney for the towers management, told department Assistant Director Ronald Tom in an email Friday that the window had been successfully taped from the outside. On Wednesday, the department threatened to yellow-tag the building if its managers didnt take a number of safety measures by Friday afternoon, which could have limited access to the tower. 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. In addition to the overhead protection system, the department also mandated that management inspect all of the buildings 416 units, repair a broken window-washing crane to allow inspectors to evaluate the window from the outside and complete a forensic report on what caused the window to crack. But the department backed away from those threats on Thursday after meeting with the buildings operators provided that they kept in close contact. Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa The Catholic Diocese of San Jose will release names of priests accused of abusing minors and investigate its own response to such allegations, church officials said this week, a move that the Archdiocese of San Francisco also is considering. The announcement followed shocking report last month from a Pennsylvania grand jury that found the Catholic Church there guilty of covering up abuse by more than 300 priests over 70 years. The report said more than 1,000 victims had been identified, and there were likely many more cases involving people who never came forward. 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, Bishop Patrick J. McGrath of the Diocese of San Jose said in an open letter released Thursday. 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, he wrote. McGrath outlined his plan to examine sexual abuse in the letter, including releasing the names of priests who had been credibly accused of abusing minors within the Diocese of San Jose. The list will be released by mid-October. The Archdiocese of San Francisco has been discussing throughout the summer whether to open an investigation into clergy abuse similar to the probe announced by the San Jose diocese a spokesman said Friday. Were very openly discussing internally what or how to do this, said Mike Brown, director of communications for the San Francisco archdiocese. At the Diocese of Oakland, officials are reviewing their files, a spokeswoman said. No decision has been made regarding a release of names, although discussions are occurring, Helen Osman, the interim director of communications, wrote in an email. In September and October, McGrath will hold three listening sessions requesting comments from churchgoers and abuse survivors on how to improve the church. To determine if allegations have been mishandled, a consulting firm led by Kathleen McChesney, a former FBI assistant director, will conduct an independent review of all documents from the diocese related to clergy sexual abuse. McChesney also will make recommendations for how the church can improve its response to complaints and to survivors needs and how to prevent future abuse. Longtime critics of the church and its handling of abuse allegations said Friday that though they approved of plans to make some names public, they still expect more transparency, especially in regard to the investigation. That the San Jose investigation will be conducted by the diocese itself in comparison with the grand jury action in Pennsylvania means it will inevitably fall short, said Melanie Sakoda, a Bay Area leader with the national Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. It does help for him to release a list of names, Sakoda said. It will help survivors who may not realize they werent the only person abused by this person. And identifying them will help make sure theyre either not in the ministry or doing a job that puts them in contact with children. I wish that the other dioceses would do that. 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. But truthfully, what I would rather have is a grand jury report in California like they did in Pennsylvania, she added. They have spent so many years covering up and hiding. They created the problem how are we supposed to trust them to clean it up? The Catholic Church has been under pressure to face up to pervasive, deeply embedded problems with sexual abuse since the first widespread allegations were made public about 15 years ago, emerging from investigations in Boston. Since then, accusations have blown up around the world and involved high-ranking men in the church. In the Bay Area, the San Francisco Archdiocese quietly removed dozens of priests. In 2002, about 40 names of current and former priests in San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties were given to authorities for investigation, though that list was never made public. In 2005, John Salberg, 53, was awarded $1.58 million as part of a nearly $6 million verdict to three men and one woman who had been abused as children by a San Jose priest. Salberg said Friday that he was conflicted about the letter from the San Jose diocese. On the one hand, he wondered why it has taken so long for the church to commit to an investigation. But hes still a practicing Catholic and is committed to improving the church. Any action is good action, he said. I do believe that our diocese has taken steps and rewritten its policies to protect children. Ashley McBride and Erin Allday are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: ashley.mcbride@sfchronicle.com and eallday@sfchronicle.com Capt. Maggie McDonogh is mad as hell, and she wants everybody to know about it. She is the owner and operator of the tiny Angel Island Tiburon Ferry Co., and she is in the middle of a dispute that has been going on for 10 years now with the California State Parks system. Sometime this fall, McDonoghs company may well lose the contract it has held for close to 60 years to provide ferry service between Tiburon and Angel Island State Park. The dispute is over a contract, and McDonogh says the terms the state Department of Parks and Recreation is offering are so tough a small company like hers wouldnt be able to compete. They are trying to put me out of business, she said. Under the law, the concession contracts at state parks to provide services like transportation, food and tours must be put out to bid. The process is called request for proposal, or RFP, in government talk. The state is offering a 20-year, nonexclusive contract for the Tiburon-Angel Island service. A different run, between San Francisco and Angel Island, operated by the much larger Blue & Gold Fleet, is under a separate contract. McDonoghs mile-long run across Raccoon Strait takes only 15 minutes, but it is the bread and butter of her firm. My great-grandfather came to Tiburon with the railroad, McDonogh said. That would have been in 1884. The McDonoghs ran a boardinghouse and a small boat business. Tiburon and the water were their life. This was a blue-collar town then, a railroad town with tough bars all along Main Street, McDonogh said. The last train left Tiburon 51 years ago, and now its an affluent place. The average home is valued at $1.8 million, the average yearly family income is $149,510, and Main Street is squeaky clean. But the McDonoghs are still mainstays of the town, the kind who seem to know everybody. Besides the Angel Island ferry, the company offers sunset cruises along the Marin shore, whale watching beyond the Golden Gate and scenic tours. We are a locally owned, fifth-generation family business, McDonogh said. She figures that should entitle the company to special consideration. Now Playing: Capt. Maggie McDonogh on the Angel Island ferry. Video: SFChronicle She has a point. Capt. Maggie herself is often at the helm of one of the companys three boats. Or the skipper might be her 23-year-old son, Sam McDonogh III, named after his great-great-grandfather. I grew up on boats, Sam said. The atmosphere on board is hardly corporate. Maggie seems to know many of the passengers on a first-name basis, and on one trip the other day, passengers offered her some leftover picnic eats and chocolate cake. People love to go back and forth to Angel Island, which is so very interesting, McDonogh said. We make people happy for a living. And this, she said, waving her arms around the wheelhouse of the ferryboat Angel Island, this is my office. Almost all the passengers are day-trippers to the island for a picnic or a hike. Between 55,000 and 70,000 ride from Tiburon every year on McDonoghs boats. But some of the passengers are park staff, or some of the 30 or so people who live on Angel Island full time. If McDonogh loses the contract, things will be a bit different. Families dont like change, but change is in the air. The trouble began when the state offered a contract with what Maggie McDonogh considered onerous conditions and impossible demands. Among the conditions was a stipulation that the ferry operator had to maintain a dock on Angel Island and build a handicapped-accessible dock for state park staff in Tiburon, a project that McDonogh says would cost $1.8 million. 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 McDonoghs have been feuding with the state for a decade over the contract terms. This is not my first rodeo with the state parks, McDonogh said. When a new RFP was offered this year, she refused to bid on it. But Blue & Gold Fleet did after taking what the companys president, Patrick Murphy, called a hard look at the contract. Blue & Gold is the only bidder for the Angel Island-Tiburon service. McDonogh isnt giving up without a fight. The Angel Island Tiburon Ferry Co. has a petition going, asking that the state reconsider its bid process. She has lined up political support, from the mayor of Tiburon to the local legislative delegation in Sacramento. She is also planning a media blitz. Its Capt. Maggie against the state. It is a one-sided battle. The state Department of Parks and Recreation refuses to fight. It is unknown at this time how long the review process will last or its outcome, spokeswoman Gloria Sandoval said in an email. For her part, McDonogh says shell continue to operate the ferry service, contract or no contract. Im still going, she said, and we will still be going. Carl Nolte is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. His column appears every Sunday. Email: cnolte@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carlnoltesf The Global Climate Action Summit may or may not save the planet, but it did serve as a great platform for launching former New York Mayor Michael Bloombergs run for president in 2020. Not a word was said publicly, but I firmly believe the former maverick Republican is eyeing a run for the White House as a Democrat. In the past few years, Bloomberg has donated tens of millions of dollars to such causes as countering climate change, helping inner-city programs and fighting sugary-soda makers. All causes near and dear to the Democratic base. And he was one of the biggest contributors to Gov. Jerry Browns climate summit. What I noticed most in my visits to summit events was the absence of almost any other possible presidential hopeful. No Bernie Sanders, no Elizabeth Warren, no Joe Biden or Kamala Harris. John Kerry did make an appearance, but otherwise, it was pretty much a Bloomberg-Brown show. Come to think of it, Bloomberg-Brown might make a very interesting Democratic ticket. Friends: I had to chide Gov. Jerry Brown for appointing one of his old friends, former choir leader Juan Pedro Gaffney, to a $147,778-a-year slot on the Workers Compensation Appeals Board a scoop scored by The Chronicles Melody Gutierrez. I mean, its common practice to appoint friends to these commissions. But theyre usually lawyers, or at least former legislators. But a choir leader? Plus, there was a personal point here. You know, I defeated his father to win my seat in the state Assembly, I said. That was Ed Gaffney, whom I beat in 1964. What are you doing appointing his son to such a plum job? Nothing personal, Jerry said. Then he explained how he and the younger Gaffney had been schoolmates and friends at St. Ignatius High School in San Francisco. In fact, thats how I got through school, the governor said. What do you mean, thats how you got through school? The guy is really bright. I used to copy his papers. Di flies: I went to George and Charlotte Shultzs home for a big fundraiser to re-elect Sen. Dianne Feinstein. The senator was at her best, making just a few brief remarks and then opening the floor for questions. They centered around water needs, the possibility of impeaching President Trump and Brett Kavanaughs confirmation hearings to the Supreme Court. Feinstein had a good answer when she was asked about some peoples emphasis on replacing older officeholders with newcomers. She recalled that when she ran for San Francisco supervisor in 1969, she was the newcomer and that she worked to convince everybody that she could do the job and she underlined work. When she was asked about her opponent, Feinstein said, I believe that his name is Kevin de Leon. I believe he is a state senator, and thats all I know. Ouch. Asked what could be done to help her, she said, Vote for me, get everybody you know to vote for me, and then and only then, help me finance the campaign. 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. Biting the hand: Great piece from The Chronicles Matier & Ross about Proposition C, the November ballot measure that would tax big business to raise money for homeless services. It was pointed out that the city already spends $300 million a year on the homeless population, and Prop. C would double that. Im still waiting to hear from the companies that would pay the tax. Many are already big donors to the homeless nonprofit services that are backing Prop. C. They may keep making their donations, or they may say, I gave at the office. Movie time: Peppermint. Jennifer Garner plays a superhero out for vengeance against the corrupt criminal justice system in Los Angeles that cost the lives of her husband and 7-year-old daughter. She makes you recall Charles Bronson in Death Wish or Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher. The movie is that violent. Good eating: The line was out the door at Betty Lous Seafood and Grill on Columbus Avenue the other night, so I opted to try an old favorite, Firenze by Night over on Stockton. What a treat. The place has been around for as long as I can remember. The former chef is now the owner, and in the proud tradition of North Beach, his kids are helping run the place. I had Saltimbocca Alla Romana, veal prepared with prosciutto and fontina cheese, Roman style. Honest Abe: Public relations man Lee Houskeeper has updated Abraham Lincolns adage: President Trump is living proof that you can fool 33 percent of the people all of the time. Want to sound off? Email: wbrown@sfchronicle.com Ali Razavi, the new owner of the Mission Districts 500 Club, didnt pay $5 million for the business. He never told anyone that he always wanted to own a dive bar. And he isnt a tech guy from Los Angeles with plans of erasing the history at 500 Guerrero St. Those were just some of the rumors over the last few months, Razavi said. I didnt tell anybody that I was taking the place over. And, honestly, I dont know where the $5 million came from. The truth is Razavi is a San Francisco native. Hes also a first-time bar owner and said he paid approximately one-fifth of the rumored price for the location. Most importantly, he doesnt have grand plans to change the beloved watering hole. The 500 Club is a quintessential corner dive bar in the Mission its neon sign having beckoned locals, tourists and late-night revelers alike for decades. Having grown up in San Francisco, bars like the 500 Club, to me, mean everything to the city, he said. Theyre part of the fabric of San Francisco. Im going to keep it that way. But he will make some changes. Theres work to be done on the space to bring everything up to code, Razavi said, but it isnt a seismic retrofit as rumors suggest. Instead, the bar is in need of routine maintenance, a deep cleaning and equipment upgrades. Razavi said he will close on sporadic Mondays or Tuesdays to accommodate the work. The problem is that its been unloved for a while. I plan to make it seem like there was never a lapse in maintenance, he said, adding that people should think of the work like brushing dust from a carpet that hasnt been touched in years. Floors will be cleaned. The bar top will be refurbished. The black leather booths will be reupholstered. When it comes to the bars old photos and decorations, Razavi who has previously worked at bars and in the hospitality industry took a snapshot of the interior when he bought it and documented where everything was placed, including a Metallica poster that at some point went missing during the ownership change. He found it recently and plans to hang by the door where it was for years. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. From the customers point of view, the bar will remain a bare-bones drinking spot, meaning there wont be trendy $15 dollar cocktails. Theres no mixology or anything like that happening here. If I see a bartender taking more than just a few moments to make a drink, Im going to have to take them aside or something, Razavi said with a laugh. This has never been that kind of place. The work on the 500 Club should last a few months, Razavi said, but he hopes to have it done in ways that wont severely interrupt the bars normal operations. As much as the deal was about owning a piece of San Francisco lore, it was also about staving off change. My long-term plan is to some day let my unborn kids decide what to do with the 500, Razavi said. With my familys name attached to it, it will live to see its 100th anniversary. Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips The San Francisco online grocer Good Eggs wanted to give chef Nick Balla 550 pounds of extra dandelion greens, and he couldnt say no. It was a Prius worth of dandelion, says the chef, who turned the giant shipment of peppery greens into a version of saag, a braised Indian vegetable dish. A whole lot of saag. Since he has made his name fermenting and preserving all sorts of ingredients at the past restaurants where hes worked, like Bar Tartine and Duna, Balla has become a magnet for food no one knows what to do with. Long an enthusiastic user of overgrown cucumbers, misshapen tomatoes and surplus rhubarb, he now feels like the universe is conspiring to make those types of food central to his next business plan: a restaurant focused on food waste, which could be a first in the United States. Im turning into the person that everyone calls whenever they have leftover B-grade produce, says Balla, who gets offers for literally thousands of pounds of free food excess, ugly or orphaned a day. Food waste has become a hot topic in recent years, as an estimated 20 billion pounds of produce is wasted on U.S. farms each year, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, not to mention the millions of tons that get thrown out from homes, restaurants and grocery stores. As of yet, no one with a fine dining background has opened a restaurant in the U.S. that is centered around food waste, even though the issue has gotten international attention. High-profile chefs like Dan Barber of New Yorks Blue Hill have held food waste pop-ups, and the last documentary Anthony Bourdain produced was Wasted: The Story of Food Waste. Balla shared his business idea this week during the San Francisco Global Climate Action Summit at an event focused on reducing food waste, which presenters said is a better way to reduce carbon emissions than planting trees or building solar facilities. Balla catered the event with yuba noodles topped with crumbled sourdough bread made with okara, the leftover soy pulp from tofu making. Sparkling cocktails featured B-grade berries steeped in gin for preservation. For a certain demographic, there is this cool factor to using food that would otherwise go to waste, and having someone like Nick being part of that just adds to that success, says Bay Area food waste expert Dana Gunders, who organized the event. The Bay Area is already a hub for food waste businesses. Since its founding in 2015, San Franciscos Imperfect Produce, a delivery service for ugly and surplus food, has expanded to Los Angeles, Portland, Chicago and several other cities, while attracting $2.7 million in funding. Meanwhile, Alameda hunger relief organization Food Shift recently launched a catering program that makes use of unwanted, but fresh, food. Still, its not the easiest thing to convince a mass audience to buy into. Will the lettuce be wilted? The pears overly bruised? You can tell people not to waste food, but if you make it delicious to do so, it makes it a positive thing rather than a negative thing, says Anthony Myint, chef-owner of the Perennial, the environmentally focused restaurant where Balla is currently doing pop-up lunches while looking for a permanent space. Myint, who is also involved in a restaurant consulting business called Zero Footprint, says he can attest to the environmental impact of Ballas idea. According to Zero Footprints own research, 60 to 70 percent of carbon emissions in restaurants come from the ingredients they use. A restaurant that primarily uses food that would otherwise be wasted would likely either be carbon neutral, or carbon negative if its in a city like New York, where the waste wouldnt be composted, he says. But knowing how to utilize food waste isnt a skill, or passion, that everyone shares. Thats why Bay Area chefs frequently ask Balla to relieve them of extra cases of tomatoes or overripe avocados. He lives in the Bayview near the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market, which recently offered a pallet of mushrooms that the SF-Marin Food Bank couldnt take. Its in my breeding to have to process stuff, says Balla. I get extreme anxiety if Im not using stuff that needs being used. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. For his new business, Balla plans to have a central commissary and processing facility called Duna Kitchen, and to run Smokebread within it. The menu will have dips, spreads, soups and what he calls spoon salads chopped vegetables bathed in vegetable-juice dressings (pureed from extra produce) best eaten with a spoon. The space will have to have room for equipment needed to juice, dehydrate and jar the tons of food he hopes to go through. There will also be a bakery for incorporating leftovers into bread, with out-of-the-box ideas like using dehydrated, oxidized (as in blackened) avocado to color and flavor a dark rye bread. Balla says he would like to explore opening in the Bayview or another underserved neighborhood but says he wants to first make sure it is accepted by the community and would provide tangible benefits, such as job opportunities at living wages. He predicts that embracing surplus and ugly food will soon move beyond its buzzword status to national trend. The change in chef mentality would have to be to use whats readily available rather than ordering exactly what you want. Our restaurant culture requires a set menu because people expect certain things, but when youre working with nature, you have to be fluid with whats available, Balla says. You also have to change the way you sell the menu and the way you manage guest expectations. Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan It was her first morning event, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein already was running late. She was going to a South Bay wildlife refuge to give a speech that was billed as nonpolitical, but nothing an officeholder does in an election year is nonpolitical. So it was no surprise that Feinstein, who is being challenged from the left in November by a fellow Democrat, state Sen. Kevin de Leon, went straight to the pitch that has kept her in the Senate since 1992. The $177 million federal grant she pushed through for a 4-mile-long levee and wetlands restoration project at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge in Alviso came after more than 20 years of work and bipartisan negotiations, she said. We can get all people together, Republicans and Democrats, to work across the aisle for something we believe in, Feinstein told the crowd. But its a different political world than it was in the 1990s. With Donald Trump in the White House, Feinsteins kind of deal making isnt just out of favor many Democrats view it as collaborating with the enemy. In todays California, a kind word for Trump or almost any other Republican can be taken as evidence of a Democratic candidates unfitness for office. Feinstein learned that last year when a crowd in San Francisco booed her for saying that if Trump could learn and change, there was the possibility that he can be a good president. Her suggestion that people have to have some patience with the Trump administration contributed to the uproar. Those statements, de Leon has said, persuaded him to jump into the Senate race. In your state Senate, Democrats act like Democrats, de Leon told delegates at the state Democratic Party convention a few months later. We demand passion, not patience. The contrast between an understated old-school politician like Feinstein and the new breed of Democrat was on display during the Senate Judiciary Committees confirmation hearing for Trumps Supreme Court nominee, federal appeals Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Feinsteins California counterpart, Sen. Kamala Harris, got a tip that Kavanaugh had been talking with lawyers at a Trump-linked law firm about Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation. Harris didnt have enough to go public with the details, but that didnt keep her from using her question time to grill Kavanaugh who denied hed had any such talks. But when Feinstein received her own tip a letter that alleged Kavanaugh had attempted to sexually assault a girl while they were both in high school, according to the New York Times she said nothing at the hearing and refused to publicly discuss its contents when word of it leaked out last week. A spokesman said she wanted to go public, but that the alleged victim insisted on keeping the information private. Feinstein gave the letter to the FBI on Wednesday. Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press De Leon echoed the reaction of many progressives to Feinsteins overall questioning, saying she had pantomimed her way through (the) hearing without a single question about the content of Kavanaughs character. For Feinstein, her handling of the letter was a matter of passing up a chance to score political points, even against a nominee she opposes. Confrontation isnt her style. Shes given up hope that Trump will be a good president, she said, but he and the Republicans are still a fact of life. I dont agree with Donald Trump, I didnt vote for Donald Trump, I dont support Donald Trump, Feinstein said. He is not my person of choice for the presidency. ... But he still signs or vetoes bills. With Republicans in control of the Senate, the only way to get anything done is to work with the other party, Feinstein added. I have a bill that says (undocumented immigrant) children cannot be separated from their parents and every Democrat is on it, but thats not enough, obviously, she said. So Ive been trying to negotiate with (GOP Sen. Ted) Cruz to see if we can come up with a bill that we can both agree to. From the day the former San Francisco mayor was first elected to the Senate, that call for bipartisan engagement has been Feinsteins signature. When she pushed the California Desert Protection Act through the Senate in 1994, she did it by dealing with Republican concerns about private property and existing commercial uses on land that would be designated as wilderness. Most Republicans had opposed the bill, which had been introduced years before by Sen. Alan Cranston, D-Calif. But Sen. Feinstein showed a willingness to solve problems rather than trumpet the issue, said then-Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah. In 2008, Feinstein and then-Alabama GOP Sen. Jeff Sessions collaborated on a law that cracked down on online pharmacies that sold controlled substances without prescriptions. In 2006, she worked with then-Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., on a bill restricting the sale of ingredients needed to cook methamphetamine. In 2003, she and then-Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, helped persuade President George W. Bush to create the nationwide Amber Alert network for abducted children. I have to work with the other party when the other party is in control, Feinstein said. But even she admits that the Senate, and national politics in general, have become far more partisan. When Feinstein took up her landmark bill to ban the sale of assault weapons in 1994, the Democrats were in charge of the Senate. But Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, the GOP leader, called for a decision on the bill. Dole stood up and said, This is a big bill. This is an important bill. It deserves to be debated on the floor of the Senate, Feinstein recalled. The ban passed both houses of Congress but expired in 2004. In the current environment in the Senate, a bill that controversial would have no hope. On virtually every major legislation, you have to get 60 votes to bring it to the floor or 60 votes to close debate and 60 votes to pass it, Feinstein said. So it essentially changes a majority vote to a supermajority. ... It makes it very hard (for the minority) to pass anything. Feinstein admits that the hard partisan turn is a new experience for her. One thing Ive never been is a name-caller, she said. And if what people want is their senator shouting epithets, Im not the one. And its not going to accomplish anything. Before the Kavanaugh hearing, Feinstein fought to have Republicans release millions of pages of documents related to the years the nominee spent as a White House aide to Bush. When the time came for public testimony, however, Feinsteins questions were pointed but polite. She focused on issues such as his stands on abortion rights and gun control, mostly avoiding the harsh attacks that came from other Democrats. Zach Gibson / Getty Images When Feinstein apologized to Kavanaugh for protesters disruptions of the hearing, de Leon and other progressives argued that was proof she was the wrong person to represent California in the Trump era. Feinstein shouldnt be respecting country club rules, de Leon said. We should be praising the protesters and standing outside with them, not apologizing for their actions. Feinsteins moderate instincts were reinforced by her early days in San Francisco politics. She was the least political elected official I have worked with, said Jim Lazarus, a senior vice president of the citys Chamber of Commerce who was Feinsteins deputy mayor. Some of this may have come from the nonpartisan nature of local government until the early 1990s. Political parties couldnt endorse during her years running for supervisor and mayor. That also meant she didnt owe anything to Democratic Party leaders and activists, as they discovered when Feinstein ran for governor in 1990. An early underdog in the primary campaign against state Attorney General John Van de Kamp, Feinstein drew boos when she went to the state Democratic Party convention and talked about her support for the death penalty. But Feinsteins campaign had a film crew at the convention, shooting her speech and the angry reaction of the crowd. She quickly put up a TV spot touting herself as the only Democratic candidate in favor of the death penalty. She beat Van de Kamp in the primary, only to lose the general election to Republican Sen. Pete Wilson. She has moved leftward during her years in office. In particular, the tough-on-crime persona has mellowed. She no longer favors the death penalty and has dropped her opposition to legalization of recreational marijuana use. I dont want to not grow, I dont want to not learn, she told reporters in May. The world changes and views change and we change. Feinstein hasnt flipped on all the hot-button issues. She remains an opponent of single-payer health care, arguing that its hard to see where the money would come from. Instead, she said, Ive supported a public option of insurance to compete with the private sector. I support lowering the age of access to Medicare to 55. Feinstein also pushes back against progressive Democrats call for Trumps impeachment, which de Leon supports. What has to happen is an election, Feinstein said. And thats how people are replaced, in an election. She added, If you want to be a senator just to vote on impeachment, thats not a good reason to be a United States senator. But many Democratic activists are moving away from her. In a harsh rebuke to Feinstein, the state Democratic Partys 330-member executive board overwhelmingly endorsed de Leon in July. Feinsteins allies blamed that on the takeover of the partys internal apparatus by pro-Bernie Sanders progressives and said it wasnt representative of rank-and-file Democrats sentiments. But those progressives, impatient with Feinsteins collegial and compromise-friendly Senate style, may also be her partys future. There probably arent enough of them yet to blunt her re-election chances. She easily won the June primary, even beating de Leon in the legislative district he represents in Los Angeles. Having de Leon run to the left and seeking progressive support is the perfect strategy for Feinstein, said Darry Sragow, a former Democratic strategist who now publishes the California Target Book, which focuses on state political races. There are far more people to Feinsteins right than there are to her left. A bigger challenge to Feinstein could be her age. At 85, she is already the oldest member of the Senate. While de Leon and other opponents are careful not to raise the age issue directly, there are regular wink-and-a-nod calls for new blood and a new generation of leadership. Feinstein said she spent a lot of time thinking before she decided to run for re-election, looking at whether I wanted to do it, whether I felt I could continue to do it for a length of time. All the signs were yes on both. She said she doesnt let concerns about her age bother her. My health is good, she said. I dont think age is chronological. I think age is mental and its physical. In her view, the years she has spent in office, the work shes done and the contacts shes made are reason enough to vote for her. Before making her speech at the South Bay wildlife refuge, Feinstein played the politician and spent her first few minutes greeting old friends, people she had worked with for more than two decades to get the project moving. Youve been great, she said to one. Its been so many years, Feinstein told another. James Tensuan / Special to The Chronicle Her ability to cobble together bipartisan alliances and get things done is what people should focus on in November, she said after the talk. Im not one who beats people up, Feinstein said. I just want people to understand how much I care about this state and doing the right thing, the positive thing on behalf of the people who live here. John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth It's common now for a writer to assure me that she's a "laid-back bride." From what I can gather, a "laid-back bride" doesn't ask much of guests, but that's because she doesn't have any opinions and doesn't really care that much about her wedding. The whole endeavor is effortless to her! She's the matrimonial version of Gillian Flynn's Cool Girl, who understands that caring about things that other women care about is silly and stupid, and who definitely has not been dreaming of her wedding since childhood. And while this pressure to shrug off girlish interests has always been around, it was never so pointedly directed at weddings until the word "bridezilla" popped onto the scene. Now brides face an impossible, sexist double standard: You can want a memorable day, but don't you dare show how much you care. WASHINGTON For years, Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple have fought regulators in Europe on privacy, antitrust and taxes. In the United States, the tech titans were on friendly terrain. But on Thursday, the Federal Trade Commission kicked off a series of hearings to discuss whether the agencys competition and consumer protection policies should change to better reflect new technologies and companies. Joseph J. Simons, the agencys chairman, expressed openness to a new approach. The broad antitrust consensus that has existed within the antitrust community, in relatively stable form for the last 25 years, is being challenged, Simons said. I approach all these issues with a very open mind, very much willing to be influenced by what we see and hear at these hearings. The FTC hearings, the first of 15 to 20 over the next several months, are one of several efforts under way on the federal and state level that threaten to limit the expansion and power of tech companies. This month, Congress will bring executives from top tech companies to testify on proposals for privacy laws. The Justice Department has warned it may start investigations into whether Google and other social media sites are biased against conservative voices. The spotlight on the giants of Silicon Valley is a major shift for U.S. regulators. For years, they held up the growth of these firms as an emblem of American business leadership and ingenuity. But after a string of crises over privacy and misinformation on social media, a growing chorus of regulators from both political parties are casting a more skeptical eye on the industry. New regulations are unlikely to arrive anytime soon, and any new federal policies will probably be weaker than those in Europe and states like California. Tech firms have lobbied the Trump administration for voluntary rules and government officials have indicated their desire for light-touch regulation that would preempt some state laws. It will be a slow moving ship, faster on privacy than on antitrust, but its an important moment, said Blair Levin, a senior adviser at the research firm New Street and a former chief of staff at the Federal Communications Commission. Reaching an agreement on changes to antitrust policy will be particularly difficult. The field of antitrust law has focused for 30 years on whether prices increase when there is limited competition. Some academics and consumer groups have called for regulators to rethink that gauge. Amazon and Google, they say, defy that metric of antitrust law because the companies are gaining power even as they offer cheap or free goods. One proponent of this change of thinking, Lina Khan, is an assistant to a Democratic commissioner at the FTC. Her focus on Amazon has been buoyed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who has criticized the company and CEO Jeff Bezos for contributing to income inequality. Cecilia Kang is a New York Times writer. After it was forced to retreat from an effort to make challenging labor practices harder in many workplaces, the National Labor Relations Board is moving to achieve the goal through other means. The board announced last week that it is set to publish a proposed rule redefining a companys responsibility under labor law for workers engaged at arms length, such as those hired by contractors or franchisees. The proposal would make it less likely that a company in such a situation would be deemed a joint employer liable for labor abuses like firing workers seeking to unionize. In February, a majority on the board voted to vacate its earlier attempt to change the policy, in a decision involving a company called Hy-Brand, after the agencys inspector general concluded that one of the board members had a conflict of interest and should have recused himself. But the board has authority to change policy both by deciding cases and by putting forth rules. Having been stymied in its initial approach, it has decided to rely on another. Philip Miscimarra, who was chairman of the board when it issued the Hy-Brand decision, said that rule making is justified and that the task is urgent because the current policy had created uncertainty among employers, workers and unions. The agency has to fix it, Miscimarra, who was elevated to chairman by President Trump, said in an interview this year. Miscimarra left the board when his term expired at the end of 2017. Critics accused the agency of seeking to bring about an essentially illegitimate policy. After getting caught violating ethics rules the first time, Republicans on the board are now ignoring these rules and barreling towards reaching the same anti-worker outcome another way, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said in a statement. Warren and a fellow Democrat, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, played a crucial role in drawing attention to the conflict of interest that undermined the boards first attempt to revise its joint employer standard. Before 2015, the law typically required a company to exert direct and immediate control over workers at a franchise or subcontractor to be considered a joint employer. But in a ruling that year, when the labor board had a Democratic majority, it altered the standard so that even employers that controlled other companies workers indirectly could be considered joint employers. Noam Scheiber is a New York Times writer. One recent afternoon, San Franciscos 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 behavioral data. On my side: crippling indecision. This month, the city got its first cashier-less store, Standard Market. Shoppers who download the stores app can go into the 1,900-square-foot space, grab items and simply leave. There is no check-in gate or 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 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 cashier-less Go market in Seattle to the public; it has since opened more of the stores. In China, experiments in cashier-less 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 behaviors 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 behavior, 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 cashier-less technology could hurt the American labor 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 the Mid-Market neighborhood, 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. 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. Nellie Bowles is a New York Times writer. In airline route news this week, Hawaii gets an important new long haul route, JetBlue might fly transatlantic, United adds a California destination from LAX, fledgling California Pacific tacks on another destination, Hawaiian will begin a new East Coast route, American adds a pair of regional routes from Phoenix, Delta drops a Midwest regional run, Cathay Pacific begins service to a new U.S. gateway, new transatlantic service is coming from Air France, Royal Air Maroc, Aer Lingus, Primera Air. What's the largest U.S. market with no non-stop flights to Hawaii? It's Boston. And Hawaiian Airlines just announced plans to start flying between Boston and Honolulu on April 4, using an A330 to operate five flights a week. The carrier said the 5,095-mile route (10-11 hours nonstop) will be "the longest regularly scheduled domestic route in U.S. history." The aircraft will offer lie-flat first class, Extra Comfort and main cabin seating. This should be great news for Beantown flyers who frequent JetBlue because of its partnership with Hawaiian. It might not come in 2019, but JetBlue continues to stir the pot with speculation about the possibility of adding transatlantic service. At a recent aviation conference in London, CEO Robin Hayes called the current level of business class fares between New York and London "obscene," and suggested that JetBlue could bring them down considerably if it started flying Mint-equipped long-range Airbus A321neos across the pond just as it did in U.S. transcontinental markets over the past several years. He noted that Boston to London is only a bit farther than Boston-San Francisco and said JetBlue could easily serve the route with a single-aisle plane. United Airlines' newest California route will begin March 8 of next year when it launches daily service between Los Angeles International and Redding in the northern part of the state. The carrier will use a 50-passenger CRJ-200 for the flight, which will depart Redding at 6:45 a.m. and leave from LAX at 7:10 p.m. United already flies to Redding from San Francisco and Fresno. Meanwhile, California Pacific Airlines a new company based in Carlsbad, 50 minutes north of San Diego is adding another route to its small network. The carrier filed plans to start flying five days week from Carlsbad's McClellan-Palomar Airport to Phoenix Mesa (an eastern suburb) on November 15 with an Embraer 145. The airline is due begin flight operations on November 1 with service from Carlsbad to San Jose and Reno, adding Las Vegas flights on November 15. Other regional changes in the works include American Airlines' plans to expand its Phoenix hub on January 6 by adding new daily service to Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a mainline A319 and to Madison, Wisconsin, with a Mesa Airlines CRJ-900; and Delta's decision to discontinue its twice-daily Delta Connection service between its Detroit hub and Peoria, Illinois, in early November. On September 15, Cathay Pacific Airlines will add its newest U.S. gateway when it starts flying from Hong Kong to Washington Dulles. The new Cathay flight will operate four days a week, departing Washington on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Cathay said the route, at 8,153 statute miles, will be the longest non-stop in its network. The airline will use a brand-new Airbus A350-1000 on the route, equipped with business class, premium economy and regular economy seating. The new IAD flight is the fourth option for residents of the northeastern U.S., since Cathay already flies out of Boston, New York JFK and Newark. Various airlines have recently announced plans for new transatlantic service in 2019. Air France, a joint venture partner with Delta, plans to return to Dallas/Ft. Worth for the first time since 2002, inaugurating service to Paris CDG on March 31 with an A330-200. It will initially fly the route three days a week, increasing to five a week in July and August. Ireland's Aer Lingus will add yet another U.S. gateway on July 8 when it launches 757 service between Dublin and Minneapolis-St. Paul. It plans to operate to MSP year-round, offering daily flights during the summer and cutting back to four a week in winter. On April 3 of next year, Royal Air Maroc will begin the only non-stop service between Florida and Africa when it starts flying from Miami to Casablanca, with connections available there to dozens of points in Africa and the Middle East. The Moroccan carrier will use a two-class 787-8 on the route, which will operate three days a week. And low-cost Primera Air, which recently announced new service from the U.S. to Frankfurt and Berlin for 2019, now says it will also start flying to Madrid. The company plans three flights a week from Boston to Madrid as of August 17, and three a week from Newark to Madrid starting July 16, with both routes using 737MAX 9s. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Get twice-per-week updates from TravelSkills via email! Sign up here Chris McGinnis is the founder of TravelSkills.com. The author is solely responsible for the content above, and it is used here by permission. You can reach Chris at chris@travelskills.com or on Twitter @cjmcginnis. Multiple students were hospitalized Friday after a 13-year-old boy brought balloons full of cocaine to a Central Valley middle school, according to the Tulare County Sheriff's Office. At first, after students discovered the two balloons on the playground at Carl F. Smith Middle School in Terra Bella on Friday morning, school officials thought the substance inside was flour and intended to wash it down the drain but they called 911 as a precaution, and law enforcement advised them to wait, Sheriff's Lt. Kevin Kemmerling told the Visalia Times Delta. ALSO: Cops say man faked Down Syndrome and hired women to bathe him "The deflated balloons, similar to drug bindle packaging, had a white powdery substance inside and outside the packaging," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Narcotics officers from the Tulare Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team later determined that the mysterious powder was, in fact, cocaine. Traces of the drug were later found on the boy's shorts and at his home after a canine search, the Sheriff's Office said in a statement. The school was searched by deputies, a narcotics K9 and a drone; no evidence of additional drugs was found. CRIME: Man charged with killing two Arizona girls who went missing The scene at Carl F. Smith Middle School was a hectic one Friday as panicked parents flooded campus and tried to make sure their children were safe, the Times Delta reported. Thirteen students were exposed to the drugs, with two being transported 9 miles north to Sierra View Medical Center in nearby Porterville with complaints of dizziness, officials said. The medical transport was only a precaution, and the parents of all affected students have been notified, the Sheriff's Office said. "The school should give more attention to the kids," Maricela Madrano, whose daughter attends the school, told the Times Delta. "This is scary." Filipa Ioannou is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at fioannou@sfchronicle.com and follow her on Twitter On Saturday morning, citizens registering to vote in 10 districts across the country will be confronted by the prospect of gun violence, in statue form. A series of "pop-up" 3-D statues, depicting a young, female student cowering under her desk, will be placed at voter registration drives across the country in an effort to raise awareness about the rising number of deaths from school shootings in past 10 years, and urge voters to elect officials who prioritize gun control. The statues, called "The Last Lockdown," will be strategically placed in 10 notoriously pro-gun rights districts and will be paired with demonstrations led by student organizers, the Giffords gun safety nonprofit announced in a press release on Thursday. "I am proud of [young people] for making it clear to the gun lobby and the NRA that we will no longer tolerate a world where politicians vote against the public safety of the communities they represent," Gabrielle Giffords, the former congresswoman from Arizona who survived an assassination attempt in 2011, said about the events. The desks in each statue are actual desks, but the girls were made using 3-D printers, a commentary on the recent debate surrounding making 3-D guns. In July, the Trump administration created a controversy by legalizing access to 3-D gun blueprints. A judge later issued a preliminary injunction blocking the release of the blueprints. The desktops are emblazoned with a list of facts about school shootings, indelible like the deaths that stemmed from them. "You should feel unsettled when viewing these," Sean Leonard told the Washington Post. More for you Houston teen charged with killing NFL player dad and mom in Bellaire blames prostitution ring Leonard, a Texas advertising director, and his partner, Dan Crumrine, were the masterminds behind the artistic plans. The two designed the statue along with Florida-based artist Manuel Oliver, who lost his son during the school shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Fla., in February. The petrified girl underneath the desk will be familiar to many children around the country, for whom lock-down drills have become routine. The girl is also representative of something of the paralysis facing anti-gun groups that are trying to push gun-control legislation forward. But Leonard and his cohort hope that Saturday's protests will break that feeling of stasis by propelling voters and legislators alike to action. Emma Heath is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her with comments or questions at Emma.Heath@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @emmabheath. NEW BERN, N.C. The Marines, the Coast Guard, civilian crews and volunteers used helicopters, boats and heavy-duty vehicles Saturday to rescue hundreds of people trapped by Florences onslaught, even as North Carolina braced for what could be a fearsome new stage of the disaster: widespread, catastrophic inland flooding. The death toll from the hurricane-turned-tropical storm climbed to 11. A day after blowing ashore with 90 mph winds, Florence practically parked itself over land all day long and poured on the rain. With rivers swelling toward record levels, thousands of people were ordered to evacuate for fear the next few days could bring the most destructive round of flooding in North Carolina history. More than 2 feet of rain had fallen in places, and the drenching went on and on, with forecasters saying there could be an additional 1 feet by the end of Sunday. I cannot overstate it: Floodwaters are rising, and if you arent watching for them, you are risking your life, Gov. Roy Cooper said. Late Saturday, Florence was centered about 40 miles southeast of Columbia, S.C., and crawling west at just 3 mph. Its winds were down to 40 mph. But with half of the storm still out over the Atlantic, Florence continued to collect warm ocean water and dump it onshore. In its initial onslaught along the coast, Florence buckled buildings, deluged entire communities and knocked out power to more than 900,000 customers. But the storm was shaping up as a two-part disaster, with the second, delayed stage triggered by rainwater working its way into rivers and streams. The flash flooding could devastate communities and endanger dams, roads and bridges. Stream gauges across the region showed water levels rising steadily, with forecasts calling for rivers to crest Sunday and Monday at or near record levels. The Little River, the Cape Fear, the Lumber, the Neuse, the Waccamaw and the Pee Dee were all projected to overrun their banks, possibly flooding cities and towns. Authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of up to 7,500 people living within a mile of a stretch of the Cape Fear River and the Little River, about 100 miles from the coast. The evacuation zone included part of the city of Fayetteville, population 200,000. Record flooding is expected Tuesday on the Cape Fear. In the Fayetteville area, John Rose owns a furniture business with stores less than a mile away from the Cape Fear River. He moved quickly as workers helped him empty more than 1,000 mattresses from a warehouse in a low-lying strip mall. If the river rises to the level they say its going to, then this warehouse is going to be under water, he said. And on Saturday evening, Duke Energy said heavy rains caused a slope to collapse at a coal ash landfill at a closed power station outside Wilmington, N.C. Duke spokeswoman Paige Sheehan said about 2,000 cubic yards of ash were displaced at the Sutton Plant and that contaminated storm water likely flowed into the plants cooling pond. The company hasnt yet determined whether any contamination entered the Cape Fear River. Sutton was retired in 2013 and the company has been excavating ash to remove to safer lined landfills. The ash left behind when coal is burned contains toxic heavy metals, including lead and arsenic. In New Bern , along the coast, homes were completely surrounded by water, and rescuers used inflatable boats to reach people. Kevin Knox and his family were rescued from their flooded brick home with the help of Army Sgt. Johan Mackie, whose team used a phone app to locate people in distress. Mackie rode in a boat through a flooded neighborhood, navigating through trees and past a fencepost to reach the Knox house. Amazing. They did awesome, said Knox. New Bern spokeswoman Colleen Roberts said 455 people in all were rescued in the town of 30,000 residents without any serious injuries or deaths. But thousands of buildings were damaged in destruction Roberts called heart-wrenching. In Lumberton, Jackie and Quinton Washington watched water filling both their front and back yards near the Lumber River. Hurricane Matthew sent more than 5 feet of water into their home in 2016, and the couple feared Florence would run them out again. If it goes up to my front step, I have to get out, Quinton Washington said. The National Hurricane Center said Florence broke a North Carolina rainfall record that had stood for almost 20 years: Preliminary reports showed Swansboro got more than 30 inches and counting, obliterating the mark set in 1999, when Hurricane Floyd dropped just over 24 inches on the state. Forecasters said the storm will eventually break up over the southern Appalachians and then swing to the northeast. Allen G. Breed is an Associated Press writer. WELLFLEET, Mass. A man boogie-boarding off a Cape Cod beach was attacked by a shark Saturday and died later at a hospital, becoming the states first shark attack fatality in more than 80 years. The 26-year-old man from Revere succumbed to his injuries after the attack in the waters off Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet at around noon, police Lt. Michael Hurley said. Lifesaving measures were attempted on the beach before the man was taken to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, where he was pronounced dead, State Police spokesman David Procopio said. The beach was closed to swimming. The attack is the first fatal shark attack in Massachusetts since 1936, and the second shark attack this season. A 61-year-old New York man was severely injured Aug. 15 after fighting off a shark near Truro, about 4 miles north of Saturdays attack. Hes recovering in a Boston hospital. Today is just keeping everyone out of water, Hurley said. Therell be a determination later about what the town wants to do with the beaches going forward. Beachgoers said the Wellfleet beach is popular with surfers, and with sunny skies and high temperatures Saturday it was busy, even though the summer season is over and lifeguards are no longer on watch. Joe Booth, a local fisherman and surfer, said he was on shore when he saw the man and his friend boogie-boarding when the attack happened. He said he saw the man aggressively kick something behind him and a flicker of a tail from the water. He realized what was happening when the friend came ashore dragging his injured companion. I was that guy on the beach screaming, Shark, shark! Booth said. It was like right out of that movie Jaws. This has turned into Amity Island real quick out here. Booth said people on the beach attempted to make a tourniquet while others frantically called 911. There have been frequent shark sightings this summer along the outer Cape. The National Park Service, which manages many of the beaches where sharks tend to congregate, said it closed beaches for at least an hour about 25 times this year more than double the annual average. A Cape Cod politician said officials who did not take more aggressive action against sharks bore some responsibility for the fatal attack. Barnstable County Commissioner Ron Beaty said he had warned something like this could happen. It is my personal belief that the responsibility for this horrible shark attack rests squarely upon the shoulders of the aforementioned officials for their utter lack of attention and inaction regarding the growing shark problem on Cape Cod of the last few years, he said. Susan Haigh is an Associated Press writer. WASHINGTON When Defense Secretary Jim 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 only the President could restart exercises he had abruptly suspended after his June summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The unusual spat 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, reportedly mocking him as Moderate Dog. 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. 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. On the other side, associates say Mattis frustration at Trumps often impetuous style and penchant for blindsiding the Pentagon with major policy announcements could prompt him eventually 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 space force, his verbal attacks on NATO allies, his suggestions that he may cut U.S. troop levels in Europe and Asia, and on the timetable for removing U.S. troops from Syria. National security adviser John Boltons hard-line approach to Iran and other national security issues mesh better with Trumps disruptive instincts than Mattis often more strategic approach, according to the officials. Asked last week at the Pentagon to describe his relationship with Trump, Mattis replied, No problem. Its been the same all along. Pressed 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 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 has told associates 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 later described the account as fiction. 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 former senior official in the Obama administration who worked with Mattis. Its not surprising that to some extent he is losing altitude. David S. Cloud is a Los Angeles Times writer. DALLAS An undercover officer who was shot during a gunbattle between police and a group of robbery suspects outside of a Fort Worth bar has died, authorities said Saturday. The officer, Garrett Hull, 40, died at a hospital, said Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald. A suspect who was killed in shooting, Dacion Steptoe, was the person who shot Hull after Steptoe and two accomplices left a bar they had just robbed, the chief said. The two other suspects were arrested, and none of the 10 people who were in the bar was hurt. Weve lost a true hero, Fitzgerald said. Someone that dedicated more than one tour of service to this great city was senselessly killed by three known criminals, two of which are in custody now. Fort Worth police say that because Officer Garrett Hull died overnight, authorities expect to upgrade the charges faced by the two suspects Timothy Huff and Samuel Mayfield to capital murder. During a previous conference, Fitzgerald said Hull was part of a team of undercover and uniformed officers that was trailing the suspects and rushed into the bar when officers discovered it was being robbed. He later clarified that the officers, wary of endangering bystanders, waited for the three suspects outside the bar before they confronted them. Fellow officers rushed Hull to the hospital in a squad car instead of waiting for an ambulance. The sacrifices our officers make go unnoticed, unfortunately, until we have a tragedy such as this, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said. Fitzgerald said the crew is suspected in 17 robberies in and around Fort Worth in recent months, and that they primarily targeted bars popular with Latinos. He said the crew shot someone in the head during a recent robbery and at least one other person had been shot as well. Investigators believe the men focused on the bars under the belief that Latino victims would be less likely to report a robbery to authorities, according to a police spokesman, Officer Brad Perez. Fitzgerald said Hull, who is survived by a wife and two daughters, was well liked in the department and was a rock of the police intelligence unit. David Warren is an Associated Press writer. On what Leyva said was the worst day of her life, she was inside the house while her son was outside with two friends. A truck drove by them, occupied by people wearing bandannas covering their faces. From windows on each side, they started shooting up the whole block, she said. During that chase, prosecutors said an unidentified eyewitness to the shooting with a concealed handgun exited his own vehicle, fired three rounds at Mageo, but did not hit him. That witness then pulled his car up alongside Duarte, blocked traffic and rendered aid to the wounded officer with help from another witness. In the past year, the department has brought the number of clinicians to at least six, and is in the recruiting stages to bring the number up to 10, according to Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. He also noted the department has a peer-to-peer program for officers to offer support and mentorship to each other, as well as chaplains of different religious denominations who spend time out on the street overnight to reach out to officers and check on them. Karas, who was on administrative leave at the time, and OLaughlin were arrested about 1:30 a.m. Thursday when a Park Ridge police sergeant spotted a black GMC Canyon pickup truck that was similar to one described in alerts sent out about the robberies and began following it, Mellema said. The California Public Utilities Commission opened a formal investigation Thursday into San Jose Water Company's billing practices, the CPUC announced today. A previous informal investigation alleges the water company had, for nearly 30 years, failed to pro-rate customer bills when a change to service rates went into effect in the middle of a billing cycle - basically billing customers the increased rate for the entire cycle instead of just for the period after the increase went into effect, the CPUC said. In addition, the informal investigation alleges the water company double billed its customers when it converted from billing its charges in advance to billing in arrears. The informal report recommends San Jose Water implement a credit to customers of about $2 million for the period of Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 31, 2016, in addition to another $1.9 million for the 1987 to 2013 time period. Also, staff calculated that instances of double billing amount to nearly $5 million in overcharges. The formal investigation initiated Thursday will provide a forum to consider evidence and argument on these issues from all parties involved, according to the CPUC. San Jose Water did not immediately respond for comment. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. While in custody in 2014, Hodrick picked up a second murder charge for the 2012 slaying of a 17-year-old boy in the 7900 block of South Drexel Boulevard, not far from where Howard was killed. Hodrick is still awaiting trial in that case, Simonton said on Friday. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A naval deck marker containing radium was discovered earlier this week at the former U.S. Navy shipyard site in San Francisco's Hunters Point, California Department of Public Health officials said in a letter to homeowners in the neighborhood on Thursday. In a letter to The San Francisco Shipyard Homeowners Association, state health officials revealed that a deck marker measuring 1.5 inches in diameter was found on the north side of the site's Parcel A, in an undeveloped area behind a fence. The marker was discovered by contractors being supervised by state health officials under about 10 inches of soil. The contractors scanned the soil around where the deck marker was discovered and found no radiation. State health officials said results from the scanning, which have the potential to detect even low levels of radiation, indicate residents are not at risk for any health or safety hazards. Parcel A is currently being scanned after it was alleged earlier this year that Tetra Tech, the firm paid $1 billion by the U.S. Navy in 2002 to rid the area of radiation, falsified soil samples. The scanning project at the parcel is more than 90 percent complete, state health officials said. Markers containing radium were used around the 1950s by U.S. armed forces to provide low-level light at night. The naval marker is one of eight anomalies discovered at the site, according to the letter. Tetra Tech has denied that it falsified soil samples, even though in December 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, along with other state agencies, independently reviewed a report by the Navy on the cleanup and found signs of potential falsification, manipulation and data quality concerns. In May, it was revealed that two former Tetra Tech employees, Stephen Rolfe and Jason Hubbard, each pleaded guilty in federal court in San Francisco to one count of falsification of records. Both Rolfe, 65, and Hubbard, 48, have been sentenced to eight months in prison. Also in May, attorney Charles Bonner filed a lawsuit on behalf of more than 40,000 plaintiffs, all Hunters Point and Bayview residents, accusing Tetra Tech of "blatant, conscious, callous disregard of Bayview Hunters Point residents' lives, born and unborn" and "unfair and fraudulent business practices." The suit is seeking $27 billion in damages. Longtime Hunters Point residents have complained of suffering from illnesses such as cancer and asthma because of the alleged contaminated soil A separate lawsuit filed in July by residents at The San Francisco Shipyard, the newly built residential neighborhood on Parcel A, alleges that homeowners were duped into buying homes on contaminated land and that Tetra Tech and Lennar Inc. marketed the 350 homes, costing about $1 million each, to the prospective buyers as clean and safe. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN JOSE (BCN) The San Jose Diocese plans to publicly release names of clergy accused of sexual abuse as well as its plans for reform in response to more revelations about priest sex abuse in Pennsylvania and around the world. San Jose's Bishop Patrick McGrath has pledged that, in mid-October, he will release the names and status of every priest in the diocese who has "already been found to be credibly accused of abusing minors," he said in a lengthy statement posted on the diocese website Thursday. "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," McGrath wrote. "There is a need for reform; there is a need for transparency." To that end, he promised to provide a public accounting of previous incidents and accusations and has hired an outside investigator, former FBI Executive Assistant Director Kathleen McChesney and her firm Kinsale Management Consulting, to oversee an independent review of abuse records in the diocese. "I and the entire Diocese of San Jose stand with the victims, survivors and their families," he wrote. "We cannot defend priest-perpetrators and those bishops and others who enable or protect them." Melanie Sakoda, spokesperson for the Bay Area chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, SNAP, said the efforts are a positive move, but she remains skeptical of the investigative process. "Any time names come out it helps survivors to heal and helps to protect today's children," Sakoda said. "However, I'm leery of letting a diocese essentially investigate itself. "(Bishop McGrath) is saying he's turning this over to an outside investigator, but he's still the one calling for the investigation, still the one in control of what information is released," she said. The efforts by the San Jose diocese comes on the heels of a scathing Pennsylvania grand jury report released last week that suggested more than 1,000 children may have been abused by more than 300 priests over the course of 70 years in six of that state's eight Catholic dioceses. Locally, the president of Presentation High School in San Jose stepped down last week amid community allegations that she did not do enough to prevent sexual abuse and harassment at the private, all-girls Catholic School. Sakoda praised the Pennsylvania revelations. "The Pennsylvania grand jury worked because it had the power to subpoena documents and get testimony from survivors - not just letting church officials pick and choose what's provided to investigators," she said. "I'm not sure (McGrath's effort) will be a complete look at abuse in San Jose." Bishop McGrath also plans to hold "listening sessions" during the next six weeks throughout the diocese to get input from those who have been victimized and their families, he said. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Marin County elections officials are taking measures to reduce the estimated 20,000 eligible but unregistered voters in the county. A registration program called Take the Challenge is being held from Sept. 25-29 as part of National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 25. Events are scheduled at the Novato and San Rafael farmers markets, Dominican University of California and College of Marin. The challenge is to register five voters, which includes pre-registering 16- and 17-year-olds, before the Oct. 22 registration deadline. Marin County Registrar of Voters Lynda Roberts said more than 35 people have already accepted the registration challenge. "That will be at least 175 more people exercising their right to have their say in our democratic process. We're hoping that type of participatory spirit goes viral," Roberts said. Marin County traditionally has a high voter participation rate, but data from the California Secretary of State's office estimates there are more than 20,000 eligible but unregistered voters in the county. Other organizations participating in the effort include the Center for Independent Living, Latino Marin, the League of Women Voters of Marin County, Marin City Community Services District and among others the YMCA and YWCA. After Oct. 22, people will be required to register to vote in the Elections Department in the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael. Online registration forms are available at www.sos.ca.gov. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. MENLO PARK (BCN) Urban search and rescue team members from the Menlo Park Fire Protection District will return to the Bay Area today after responding to Hawaii for Hurricane Olivia just as other team members prepare to or deploy to the East Coast for Hurricane Florence, officials said. Thirty-six members of California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 3 were scheduled to return home this morning from Kona, Hawaii. At the same time, other team members were standing by or being deployed to North and South Carolina. "Last year, we responded to three hurricanes in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico," said Chief Harold Schapelhouman of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District. "So far this year, we have responded to Hawaii twice in the last three weeks and now have personnel either ready for response or en route to the Carolinas ..." all while other firefighters and emergency crews continue to battle California wildfires, he said. "That's just what you do in our fire service when people need your help," he said. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. EMERYVILLE (BCN) Officers have arrested a suspect in an assault in which a man hit a woman on the head with an axe in Emeryville Friday evening, police said. Christopher Jennings, 33, of Oakland, was arrested and jailed Saturday in connection with the assault, according to police. The case began when officers responded to a report of a man hitting a woman on the head with an axe at 40th and Hubbard streets, police said. A passing motorist gave the woman a ride to a gas station where police met with her. The woman was treated at the hospital for wounds not believed to be life-threatening, according to police. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at (510) 596-3752. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. There have been frequent shark sightings this summer along the outer Cape, often leading to beach closings. The National Park Service, which manages many of the beaches, said it had closed beaches for at least an hour about 25 times by the end of August this year more than double the annual average. She really was a foundational person in our community, said Tracy Baim, longtime editor of the Windy City Times who was recently named publisher and executive editor of the Chicago Reader. She never sought the limelight. She just did the work day in and day out. She really helped build the community as it is today by creating these long-lasting institutions. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 15) A fresh complaint is heading Senator Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV's way. Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras on Friday has filed inciting to sedition charges against Trillanes, who is still under Senate custody due to an amnesty row with the administration. Paras filed the new complaint at the Pasay City Prosecutor's Office. Under the country's Revised Penal Code, inciting to sedition refers to a crime committed by someone who "incites others to the accomplishment of any of the acts which constitute sedition, by means of speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, cartoons, banners, or other representations tending to the same end." The charge can also cover those who "utter seditious words or speeches, write, publish, or circulate scurrilous libel against the Republic of the Philippines or any of the duly constituted authorities thereof, or which tend to disturb or obstruct any lawful officer in executing the functions of his office, or which tend to instigate others to cabal and meet together for unlawful purposes, or which suggest or incite people against the lawful authorities or to disturb the peace of the community, the safety and order of the Government." In his complaint, the undersecretary cited Trillanes' seditious remarks against President Rodrigo Duterte and the current administration during his recent interviews at the Senate. The complaint adds up to the legal woes of the embattled senator, who is currently looking to stop the implementation of Duterte's Proclamation No. 572. The order, dated August 31, says the amnesty granted to Trillanes was null and void from the beginning. Trillanes has been staying at the Senate since September 4 when the presidential proclamation was published in newspapers. He was advised by the Senate leadership and his lawyers to stay within the premises to avoid any possible arrest. The Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 150 on Friday deferred the arrest and travel ban order against Trillanes. Makati RTC Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda had asked the Department of Justice reply within five days on Trillanes' comments. Earlier in the week, Judge Andres Soriano of the Makati RTC Branch 148 ordered Trillanes to file within 10 days his rejoinder to the newly-submitted pleading of the Department of Justice (DOJ). SAN JOSE, Costa Rica Thousands marching in the streets. Flaming barricades. Clashes between demonstrators and riot police in darkened streets. A semitruck hollowed out by fire. Costa Rica was rocked last week by the kind of protests rarely seen in the country in comparison with its more tumultuous Central American neighbors. It comes during a labor strike that has no apparent end in sight. Spurred by calls from public sector unions, demonstrators protested outside the presidential residence and blockaded roads in different parts of the country to demand President Carlos Alvarado scrap a proposed fiscal reform before congress that includes new taxes. Costa Ricas government is struggling with a deficit estimated at 7.1 percent of GDP this year, which has increased its need for revenue. Alvarado is proposing to implement a value added tax to replace the existing sales tax and expand it to goods and services that are currently exempt. One of the most controversial measures is a 1 percent duty on basic foodstuffs. Those and other changes that would limit unemployment assistance and the payment of some salary bonuses have met with vigorous opposition from public sector unions. Here are the people demanding no more taxes on the working class, no more burdens on workers, said Melida Cedeno, president of the APSE teachers union. This strike is indefinite, she added, and will end only when the government has the will to sit down at the table to talk with all the workers ... and withdraw the proposed law. Ahead of the strikes start Monday, Alvarado ordered police to reinforce ports and oil installations to keep protesters from disrupting commercial activity and fuel distribution. In a televised address, he called the strike illegal, promised to guarantee public order and said the reforms are the only way to avoid an imminent crisis. ... Today their approval is not only necessary but also urgent. Protests intensified Wednesday with a mass rally of public employees who filled a main avenue in the capital, San Jose. The march ended outside the Legislative Assembly with some clashes between protesters and police. Universities and Roman Catholic authorities have offered to mediate. The unrest followed a bitterly disputed presidential election in April that has left a polarized electorate in its wake. Javier Cordoba is an Associated Press writer. BEIRUT U.S.-backed Syrian forces entered an eastern village held by the Islamic State group where intense clashes were ongoing Saturday, a day after the extremists reportedly killed 20 fighters, the forces and a war monitor said. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said its fighters stormed Bagouz and were close to the center of the village. The forces added that they planned to open another front in the Sousseh area along the Euphrates river to increase pressure on the extremists. SDF launched with the help of the U.S.-led coalition a wide offensive last week to capture the last pocket held by Islamic State in Syria. The Kurdish-led forces have been among the most effective in the fight against the extremists in Syria, forcing them out of much of the countrys east. Despite losing most of the territory it held in Iraq and Syria since its peak in 2014, Islamic State remains a disruptive force in both countries. Its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, urged his followers to persevere in an audio tape attributed to him last month. The Islamic State-linked Aamaq news agency said the groups gunmen targeted advancing SDF fighters in the Bagouz area with mortar rounds, roadside bombs and sniper fire, causing casualties. The SDF commander of the operation in Bagouz, who identified himself as Shergo, said in a video statement that the fighting was intense from both sides and that his fighters controlled almost half of the village. Britains Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Islamic State fighters are relying on a network of tunnels in the area and land mines to slow down SDFs offensive. It said that some 100 women and 30 men, including Islamic State fighters, along with their children, surrendered to the SDF. The storming of Bagouz came a day after the Observatory said Islamic State gunmen took advantage of a sandstorm and killed 20 SDF fighters in the countrys east, wounding others. Bassem Mroue is an Associated Press writer. The deadline for entries is Oct. 20. Those entering must submit three items to info@downtownstcharles.org an entry application, insurance forms and an entry fee. All forms can be found on the event webpage at www.downtownstcharles.org/holidays, and the entry fee is $275 for businesses, $150 for partnership members and $25 for non-profit organizations. GENEVA Dutch authorities arrested and expelled two suspected Russian spies months ago for allegedly trying to hack a Swiss laboratory that conducts chemical weapons tests, Switzerlands government confirmed as it summoned the Russian ambassador to protest an attempted attack. Moscow rejected the accusation, the latest Western claim about Russian spying and other acts of interference. This time, the alleged target was the Spiez Laboratory, which analyzed samples from the March poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England. The Swiss confirmation came after Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad and Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger reported that two Russians suspected of being agents of military intelligence service GRU were kicked out of the Netherlands this year as a result of a Europe-wide investigation. Tages-Anzeiger said the two men were arrested in The Hague during the spring. Switzerlands Federal Intelligence Service did not provide details, but said it worked actively with British and Dutch partners on the case. The Swiss authorities are aware of the case of Russian spies discovered in The Hague and expelled from the same place, FIS spokeswoman Isabelle Graber said in an email. She said the agency helped prevent illegal actions against a critical Swiss infrastructure, and declined further comment. The Swiss attorney generals office said two individuals involved in the alleged hacking emerged during a broader investigation of alleged political espionage that was opened in March 2017. Switzerlands Foreign Ministry said it summoned Russias ambassador to protest against this attempted attack and demanded that Russia immediately end its spying activities on Swiss soil. The Russian state news agency Tass quoted Stanislav Smirnov, a spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Switzerland, as calling the Dutch news report absurd. We believe that this is a new anti-Russian bogus story made up by the Western media, Smirnov was quoted as saying. It is absurd, just new groundless allegations. Spiez Laboratory spokesman Andreas Bucher declined to comment on the events in the Netherlands, but said the lab had taken precautions and no data was lost. Jamey Keaten is an Associated Press writer. CUCUTA, Colombia The head of the Organization of American States has joined President Trump in holding out the threat of a military intervention in Venezuela to restore democracy and ease the countrys humanitarian crisis. OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro delivered the sharp warning during a visit Friday to Colombias border with Venezuela in which he also denounced President Nicolas Maduros socialist dictatorship for spurring a region-wide migration crisis. With respect to a military intervention to overthrow Nicolas Maduros regime, I dont think any option should be ruled out, Almagro said at a news conference in the Colombian city of Cucuta. What Nicolas Maduros regime is perpetrating are crimes against humanity, the violation of the human rights and the suffering of people that is inducing an exodus. Diplomatic actions should be the first priority, but we shouldnt rule out any action. Almagro has been Maduros most outspoken critic in Latin America, but until Friday he hadnt been willing to go as far as Trump, who last year raised the possibility of a military option against Maduro. In several meetings with aides and Latin American leaders last year, Trump also discussed the possibility of a U.S. invasion of the South American nation. Still, for many in Latin America, the prospect of a military intervention is bound to revive memories of the Cold War, when the U.S. gave backing to coups and rebellions from countries including Chile, Cuba and Brazil. For Almagro, the threat of military force is especially surprising given his condemnation of the regions support for a U.S. invasion of the Dominican Republic in 1965 to remove a democratically elected but pro-Cuban president. The invasion, carried out in the OAS name, left thousands dead and for decades stirred Latin American resentment against the idea of ever again using force against sovereign nation. Almagro in 2015 apologized for the OAS role in the invasion, saying such events should not be repeated. While circumstances in Venezuela are far different, and many still see an invasion as a remote possibility, Maduro has nonetheless held out the threat to try and rally Venezuelans behind him at a time of mounting hardships. Manuel Rueda is an Associated Press writer. TUGUEGARAO, Philippines Typhoon Mangkhut lashed the northern Philippines with destructive winds and heavy rain that set off landslides and destroyed homes Saturday, killing at least 28 people, as Hong Kong and other parts of southern China braced for the storm. The strongest storm so far this year in the world sliced across the northern tip of Luzon Island, a breadbasket that is also a region of flood-prone rice plains and mountain provinces with a history of deadly landslides. More than 5 million people were in the path of the typhoon, equivalent to a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane when it hit the Philippines. Early Sunday, it packed sustained winds of 96 mph and gusts of up to 118 mph. The Hong Kong Observatory said although Mangkhut had weakened slightly, it was bringing heavy rains. Storm surge of about 9.8 feet or more was expected at the citys waterfront. Francis Tolentino, an adviser to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, said the victims died mostly in landslides and houses that were pummeled by the storm. Among the fatalities were an infant and a 2-year-old child who died with their parents after the couple refused to immediately evacuate from their high-risk community in a mountain town in Nueva Vizcaya province, Tolentino said. They cant decide for themselves where to go, he said of the children, expressing frustration that the tragedy was not prevented. Tolentino, who was assigned by Duterte to help coordinate disaster response, said at least two other people were missing. He said the death toll could climb once other casualty reports were verified. Mayor Mauricio Domogan said at least three people died and six others were missing in his mountain city of Baguio after strong winds and rain destroyed several houses and set off landslides, which also blocked roads to the popular vacation destination. Mangkhuts sustained winds weakened to 105 mph with gusts of up to 161 mph after it sliced northwestward across Luzon before blowing out to the South China Sea, aiming at Hong Kong and elsewhere in southern China. About 87,000 people had evacuated from high-risk areas of the Philippines. Tolentino and other officials advised them not to return home until the lingering danger had passed. Its still a life and death situation, said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, citing past drownings in swollen rivers in mountain provinces after storms had passed. The typhoon struck 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. In Hong Kong, Security Minister John Lee Ka-chiu urged residents to prepare for the worst as the storm barreled toward the city. China issued an alert saying Mangkhut would make landfall somewhere on the coast in Guangdong province by Sunday evening. Aaron Favila and Joeal Calupitan is an Associated Press writer. Page Content A recent decision by the Australia Fair Work Commission in Gadzikwa v. Australian Government Department of Human Services, [2018] FWC 4878, has confirmed that employers are entitled to reject employees' medical certificates when they are too vague to enable the proper discharge of basic legal obligations. The matter heard by the commission in this case involved an employee who had been on extended unpaid personal leave due to a mental health condition. When the employee was due to return to work, he was advised he would need to provide his employer with proof of his fitness for duty. The employee provided a two-line medical certificate from his treating practitioner, stating he was fit to perform "light duties." The employer terminated the employee following an argumentative and incomplete response to a follow-up request for further specifics. The employee brought a claim for unfair dismissal alleging, among other things, that the information he provided was sufficient evidence of his fitness. The commission rejected the unfair dismissal claim and found the employee had failed to provide proper medical clearance at the conclusion of his authorized leave because the medical certificate: Did not specify the nature of the duties the employee was and was not fit to perform. Omitted any reasons for the employee being fit for work in circumstances where the same doctor and another doctor had previously concluded that the employee was unfit for work. Did not describe the necessary length of time for any modified working arrangements or a date when the employee could return to his substantive position. Was submitted two weeks late. This case is one of a number of cases highlighting that employers should reject medical certificates that do not provide sufficient information to enable proper protection of an employee's health and safety at work. However, employees must be afforded a reasonable opportunity to provide better evidence, and decisions to terminate or take other disciplinary action should never be taken hastily. Furthermore, all surrounding communications with employees must be clear, courteous and supportive to reduce the risk of successful claims. Employers should seek legal advice before rejecting an invalid medical certificate or dismissing an employee on the basis of one provided. Stella Gehrckens is a graduate lawyer with Macpherson Kelley, an Australian law firm. 2018 Macpherson Kelley. All rights reserved. Reposted with permission of Lexology. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Dongan Hills resident Sam Cannizzaro is now staying at his family's house in New Jersey because he wants to - not because he has to. The 82-year-old retired firefighter has been staying at his son's home since the end of August after National Grid turned the gass off in his home. Cannizzaro called National Grid after smelling a faint odor on Aug. 23, which resulted in the gas being turned off and a Type-A hazardous red-ticket warning being issued for multiple house pipe leaks. Plumbers told him it would cost between $4,000 and $7,000 to fix the leaks, including an asbestos inspection. One plumber told him he was "screwed" and refused to look at the pipes. He was without gas for two weeks when the Advance published a story detailing Cannizzaro's struggle trying to resolve the issue. William Abell, a retired National Grid worker and president of the Staten Island chapter of Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, saw Cannizzaro's story and knew he could help. Abell contacted a friend, local business owner Steve Thomas, owner of Steve Thomas Plumbing and Heating in Tottenville, about helping their fellow Staten Islander. "Working for National Grid, I saw this happen all the time and now I'm in a position where I could help," Abell told the Advance. Using his National Grid connections, Abell and Thomas tracked down Cannizzaro and were at his home the next day fixing the pipes. "He's a hell of a nice guy who just needed a hand and me and Steve were able to help," Abell said. "When you hear stories like this, it just kills you; it killed me and Steve. It all worked out, but it's a shame he had to go through this." Abell and Thomas did more than fix the leaking pipes, they did it with no cost to Cannizzaro, thanks to the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. Not only is Cannizzaro a Staten Islander who needed help, he's also an Army veteran - and that's what the organization is all about. He said he became president of the local chapter and continues to help those in need in memory of his father. "As far as not paying, I told them I would pay them -- I said I would gladly pay for their time, but they wouldn't take money. They said they were proud to do it," Cannizzaro said. "I didn't think there were people like that left in the world.'' The appropriate paperwork was filed with the Department of Buildings and National Grid turned the gas on at 10 a.m. Friday morning. For now, Cannizzaro says he's going to enjoy the remainder of his weekend in New Jersey with his grandson and will head back to Staten Island on Monday morning. For three years, there was a moratorium on OSLAD grants and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources just opened things up again, Maglio said. Given that, there could be an avalanche of requests. The state usually creates a long list and then a short list and we may never even make it on either of those. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Budget airline Tigerair Australia grounded one of its jets for three weeks last month after it flew back to Australia from maintenance work in the Philippines with serious undetected faults. The incident has prompted parent company Virgin Australia to end all maintenance work at the facility owned by Singapore Airlines - which owns 20 per cent of Virgin - and has raised questions about Tigerair's and the air safety regulator's oversight of offshore maintenance work. Tigerair discovered the fault when the plane landed back in Melbourne. Credit:James Morgan Tigerair flew one of its three Boeing 737s to Clark International Airport near the Filipino city of Angeles on July 17 to undergo heavy maintenance work. The jet returned to Melbourne with only crew on board two weeks later, on July 31, and Tigerair engineers discovered that a modification to the plane's cargo bay smoke evacuation system had been installed incorrectly. The pills, and some "powerful microwave technology", shunt the participants into dreamlike states where they encounter past traumas and current coping mechanisms. (Is it all in their heads? Probably.) Annie and Owen, whose psyches have become mysteriously linked, suddenly find themselves as Long Island high school sweethearts or a pair of ritzy 1940s grifters. And yes, in one sequence Stone plays Annie as an elf. "A half-elf," Stone clarified, speaking by telephone. "I have never wanted to play an elf." (Speaking a smidgen more seriously, Stone pointed to the attraction of signing on to the 10-episode project: "To explore a character in a kind of wider range than I'm used to was really exciting.") The tone mutates, too, swerving from light to dark, gentle to cruel, loopily surreal to bluntly aggressive, sometimes in a single episode. Even the scenes set in the supposedly ordinary waking life are meant to make you feel messed up. Maniac conjures a day-to-day world in which technological advances topped out sometime in the 1970s and society has fractured. The microprocessor never happened; smartphones don't exist. New drugs flood the market, cybersex has taken some odd turns and just to put the psycho firmly back in psychodrama there's at least one purple koala playing chess in Washington Square Park. The characters don't feel comfortable in everyday life. Neither should the audience. "I want the audience to feel slightly disoriented about what reality is," said Somerville, speaking by telephone. "I think that's cool." "Reality is weird!" he added. Reality seemed fairly stable if also fairly hectic on set last year. Filming was a little more than half completed and everyone was about to take a short break, which explained the cake decorated to read "Hiatus Time, Let's Party". The rooms housing the drug trial glowed eerily and variously caffeinated assistants rushed around, preparing the set and the actors for an upcoming scene. "Those scars look so real," Hill said as he passed Stone. (They met in 2007's Superbad and have remained close ever since; complimenting each other on creepy makeup is pretty much routine.) Maniac was filmed over four months, which isn't an absurdly small amount of time for a 10-episode series, but a snug fit when only one director, especially a director as meticulous as Fukunaga, is overseeing every episode. Even the first season of True Detective, which Fukunaga also directed in its entirety, had only eight episodes. And it didn't depend on "a globular cluster of arborised realities", Neberdine-speak for a branching system of distinct but not entirely separate worlds. "For what we were trying to accomplish, we had a pretty low budget" Netflix wouldn't reveal what that budget was "and a nearly impossible sort of schedule," Fukunaga said. At Silvercup, during a break between scenes, the production designer, Alex DiGerlando, summoned Fukunaga, who'd grown a mid-shoot near-beard and seemed to be surviving mostly on almonds and herbal tinctures, to a table where he'd assembled an assortment of rusty medieval weaponry: an axe, a halberd, some vicious hooked knives and more. Fukunaga nixed everything. It was too unspecific, too boring. The elves and half-elves deserved better. Director Cary Fukunaga, with actor Idris Elba, on the set of "Beasts of No Nation". The globular cluster of arborised realities wasn't only a hassle for the props department, it was also a strain on the actors involved. Many of the cast members reappear as multiple characters. And some of the characters seem aware that they're not entirely real. When Stone plays Arlie, the Gold Coast con artist, she also has to play moments in which Annie scrapes through Arlie's brilliantined exterior and then other moments in which the two characters seem to merge. That wasn't too hard for Stone. "Obviously, I thought, 'How the hell am I going to play five characters and switch in and out of them on a day-by-day basis'," she said, "but it was really kind of a joy." When it came to the moments where Annie bled through, it reminded her of all the moments in other projects when she'd let her own life, her own emotions surface for an instant before letting the character take over again. The other challenge, maybe the hardest challenge, was to make a series this weird, this wonky, this full of koalas and a cappella and chunky computer graphics, that also respected what Owen and Annie are suffering, the ways in which her PTSD and his schizophrenia are crippling their lives. Even in a series where reality is up for grabs, that had to feel real. Their pain is never the punch line. "Emotional realism is what matters and if we deviated from that, the whole thing would fall apart," Somerville said. (That was also true of The Leftovers, a show he described as a "spiritual distant cousin" to Maniac.) That realism was important to Stone, who has spoken about periods of debilitating anxiety. Depression and addiction Annie's troubles aren't her particular diagnoses, but she understands them. "There's nothing in me, or I believe in any of us, that wanted to diminish any of those struggles," she said. If Neberdine's ethics are a class-action suit waiting to happen, the show isn't arguing against traditional psychoactive drugs or forms of therapy. (Somerville's wife is a psychotherapist, so a show questioning the efficacy of that entire system wouldn't be a smart move.) It's suggesting, as Stone said, "How lucky we are, all of us, to reach out and find a friend in a time of need." The International Whaling Commission has rejected Japan's proposal to end the global moratorium on commercial whaling, which has been in place since 1986. At the 67th annual meeting of the IWC, this year held in Florianopolis, Brazil, Japan argued that stocks have recovered sufficiently for the ban to be lifted and that no good reason exists to maintain a measure that was meant to be temporary. It has repeatedly tried to lift the ban. Japan claims its annual whale hunt is required for "research" purposes. Credit:Greenpeace Japans proposal, called the "Way Forward", attempted to establish a so-called "Sustainable Whaling Committee" and a process to determine catch limits for what it calls "abundant whale stocks/species". Opponents - including Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama and Peru - put forward the "Florianopolis Declaration", which sought to change the role of the IWC from a focus on managing stocks to a conservation body. The declaration affirms the moratorium on commercial whaling and agrees that the use of lethal research methods - killing whales for so-called research - is unnecessary. Some parents said a third middle school at District 220 would ensure students at Rose Elementary would continue their education closer to their homes and neighborhoods something that would help the district achieve its policy of meeting childrens social-emotional needs, they said. Some parents even yelled out during the discussion Friday to pose the idea to voters in the Barrington area. It seems too good to be true straighter teeth for a fraction of the price and without ever needing to hop into the orthodontist's chair. Dentists say it is. Australian dentists are urging the public to steer clear of online, do-it-yourself orthodontic services, such as EZ Smile, saying they may exacerbate dental problems and lead to costly remedial treatment. EZ Smile, which is based in Sydney, offers cut-price, over-the-internet clear aligners. Credit:Screenshot EZ Smile, which is based in Warriewood, Sydney, offers "orthodontist prescribed" clear aligners from a laboratory using "world class" technology for "only $2149" with "no face-to-face dental visits". The Australian Society of Orthodontists (ASO) said the absence of clinical examinations, X-rays and ongoing supervision was concerning. The banking royal commission is cultivating a superannuation switching culture that could have a major impact on super fund memberships in the coming year, new research reveals. More than one in three Australians are more likely to review their superannuation fund in the next 12 months as a result of the royal commission. Young Australians appear to be the most rattled of all, with 42 per cent of 18-24 year-olds wanting to switch funds higher than any other age group. This compared with 37 per cent of people aged 25-34 wanting to switch, 34 per cent of 35-44 year-olds, 38 per cent of 45-54 year-olds and 34 per cent of 55-64 year-olds. New superannuation player Zuper commissioned The Digital Edge to undertake the online survey of 1,514 Australians. Residents are concerned over the safety of native wildlife after three electrocuted possums were found in one Macgregor street this year alone. The possums were all found underneath an electric power pole. RSPCA inspectors attended on one occasion and suggested electrocution as the cause of death. Macgregor resident Caroline Wenger, who has found three dead possums this year under a power pole near her home. Credit:Jamila Toderas One resident, Caroline Wenger, has lived on the street for almost 22 years and could not remember ever finding a dead possum before. She found one in January and then two more within three weeks of each other, with the most recent discovered at the end of August. Ms Wenger described the experience as distressing. Yet he envisages the private sector delivering hundreds of thousands of affordable rental dwellings over coming decades. It might sound like an ambitious dream, but it matches the scale of what is needed. In March 2018, at the National Press Club in Canberra, an alliance of not-for-profit housing and homelessness groups launched Everybodys Home, a campaign to fix Australias broken housing system. It calculates that Australia needs 500,000 social and affordable homes by 2026 - 300,000 new properties for social and Aboriginal housing and 200,000 affordable rental properties for low- and middle-income earners. It wants government to offer tax incentives or direct subsidies that will entice super funds and other private-sector players to invest in affordable housing. This is what Rob Pradolin is trying to do, too. But Pradolin does not think affordable housing can be left to the not-for-profit sector: Without private-sector involvement in such a campaign, government rolls it eyes and says, here they go again. Nor does he think that we can rely on our elected representatives. Government time horizons are too short. If there isnt a ribbon to cut while they are in office, then politicians are not interested. The private sector needs to show leadership on this issue, because it has long-term implications not only for the country, but for business as well. Loading Just like his contemporaries in the not-for-profit sector, though, Pradolin knows that affordable rental housing cannot be delivered without a subsidy. The private sector wont deliver without having the un-economic bit topped up, he says. They need to get a reasonable return on capital relative to the risks involved. Pradolins focus is on building affordable housing for rent that is, housing for low- and medium-income workers such as child-care workers, police, teachers, aged-care assistants or nurses rather than social housing for people who rely on government benefits like the disability or aged pension. His proposal is not unlike the Rudd governments short-lived but nonetheless effective National Rental Affordability Scheme. NRAS subsidised about 37,000 new homes that were rented out at a 20 per cent discount on prevailing market rates. One problem with NRAS, though, was that the dwellings only had to remain affordable for 10 years, after which they could revert to market rates. This made NRAS unattractive to investors with much longer time horizons. Super funds were not interested in NRAS because in year 11 they had the prospect of being the big bad super fund that was kicking granny out of her apartment, says Pradolin. Pradolin calculates that a private-sector investor currently achieves, on average, a return of between 3.5 and 4 per cent on a residential property and this without delivering affordable rents for tenants. Institutions like super funds would expect a return of at least 6 per cent. It is this gap that needs to be bridged before super funds will invest in building housing to rent, rather than housing for sale. Australia has never had a build to rent sector, so investors are wary of an untried product. Credit:James Alcock Unlike the United States, Australia has never had a build to rent sector, so investors are wary of an untried product. Everyone is scared of lending, says Pradolin. There is no track record and no data, so super funds perceive the investment as risky. Pradolin anticipates that once the model is established and the risk reduced, long-term investors like super funds will be happy with lower returns. But he maintains that low-income housing would still need a top-up from government. That does not necessarily mean providing cash. Another way to bridge the yield gap is to provide land. Pradolin says the government doesnt have to give the land away or sell it at a discount; it can lease it long-term to private-sector developers for a peppercorn rent. That land may be a strategic asset in future, he says. If you lease the land for 30 years with a right of renewal for another 30, this creates the incentive for super funds to build high-quality housing that last for more than 30 years and to keep it in good condition, he says. Private-sector developers are honest enough to admit that if they are building properties to own and rent long-term, rather than sell off the plan to individual purchasers, then they will build at a higher quality. Adam Hirst is the general manager for capital allocation with the multibillion-dollar property giant Mirvac, which is setting out to pioneer commercial build-to-rent projects in Australia. In a presentation to the 2017 National Housing Conference, he said that shifting from off-the-plan sales to renting puts a different lens on building apartments. It brings the life cycle of the entire building into focus and will prompt developers to use longer-lasting fixtures, more durable finishes and to think harder about sustainability. Loading Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp agrees. In her former role as Victorian executive director of the Property Council of Australia, she told me that investors who own and manage a building for 30 years or more are going to pay much more attention to energy use, maintenance and protection against floods and storms than developers who sell strata-titled apartments and pass future costs on to individual lot owners. And building to rent will change the way buildings are designed, because landmark apartments will no longer be the big money-spinners. She says this turns the housing model on its head and increases affordability, because developers will get a better yield by building small and medium-size units rather than luxury condos and penthouses. Supporters argue that build-to-rent offers a number of advantages. First, it can be brought onto the market quickly since, unlike strata-titled apartments, it does not need to be presold off the plan through a long marketing campaign before it can be financed. Second, it makes renting better and more secure for tenants. Unlike small private landlords, institutional investors dont want to kick tenants out so that they can turn the property over and realise their capital gain. They can also offer renters more attractive tenancy terms because they dont have all their eggs in one basket. Build-to-rent is predicated on stable returns over decades, more like leases in the commercial property market. There is a strong incentive to keep tenants happy so as to reduce turnover and to maintain the property in good condition to prolong the life of their asset. Third, build-to-rent suits the preferences of a younger generation who may not all be as driven to own a house as their parents were. It is also better aligned with a changing labour market with more uncertain career trajectories. The growth of a significant, professional, market-based build-to-rent sector would increase the supply of housing overall. It would help to entrench renting as a realistic, secure, long-term alternative to home ownership, rather than the second-best option that it largely is now. Given the right conditions, renting could be an attractive choice for middle- and high-income earners who want to combine flexibility with well-located high-quality housing. This should, in turn, help to stop house prices escalating so rapidly by reducing demand in the real-estate market. Supporters of a build-to-rent sectory say it would make renting better and more secure for tenants. Credit:Peter Braig Establishing a build-to-rent industry is not a silver bullet. It would require much stronger tenancy laws than Australia has now, lest the imbalance between big corporations and individual tenants results in slum-landlordism at an industrial scale. The sector would need to be well regulated, and Australia does not have a history of effective business compliance witness the problems with shoddily built apartment towers, or the scandals exposed by the royal commission into the banks. There is another catch with a commercial build-to-rent industry. As with Rob Pradolins dream of a business-led boom in affordable housing, the numbers dont stack up. Why would a developer borrow at 6 per cent interest to get a 3 or 4 per cent return building apartments for rent when they can make a 20 per cent return by building apartments for sale? One reason would be that the apartment-market goose has been well and truly cooked. Australias biggest cities may already oversupplied with large-scale residential projects that are complete or soon will be. Another reason is that there is a vast amount of capital in Australias superannuation system that is looking for reliable long-term returns rather than short-term profits. Australian super funds are already ploughing money into build-to-rent projects in the US. If build-to-rent is going to work financially, then developers will have to bring down their costs. Pradolin sees great potential in advanced manufacturing techniques, prefabrication and especially lightweight timber construction. Pradolin led the team at Frasers Property that designed and built The Green, Australias first five-storey lightweight timber residential apartment complex in Parkville in Melbourne. Construction costs on the 54 apartments were more than 20 per cent lower than building with conventional concrete. "No Place Like Home: Repairing Australia's Housing Crisis" by Peter Mares. High land costs are also a big hurdle for build-to-rent projects. Here, there could be a coincidence of interest for residential developers and the owners of existing commercial properties that want to maintain ownership of their land but could benefit from having more people living nearby. The air rights above clubs and shopping centres, or extra space around aged-care facilities and hospitals, are possible examples. Again, Australian businesses are already engaged in these sorts of projects overseas. Westfield, for example, has teamed up with the American build-to-rent operator Greystar to add 300 residential apartments to a retail mall in San Diego. Still, Mirvacs Adam Hirst says that if build-to-rent is to take off in Australia, government will have to help. Sally Capp agrees. She says bankers and valuers tell her it is too risky. They know build-to-rent happens overseas, but want to see it proven as a concept here before they invest. Regulators like APRA do not have appropriate rules in place either. This sounds like the top end of town putting its hand out for government money. Yet it is not as if the government is not subsidising the private rental market already - it just does so inefficiently and ineffectively through negative gearing, the capital gains tax discount and Commonwealth Rent Assistance. Collectively, these programs cost more than $16 billion a year in foregone tax revenue and budget outlays, yet they do nothing to increase the supply of rental accommodation, let alone affordable housing. When business asks for government support, it is also asking for changes to planning rules. In NSW, purpose-built student accommodation falls under the definition of boarding houses for the purpose of planning, which means standards are less onerous and costs lower when compared to other residential developments. Granting planning concessions to projects on the basis that apartments cannot be strata-titled and sold could be one way of supporting the build-to-rent sector. Changing tax rules would make an even bigger difference. State governments could change land-tax settings to even the playing field. They could, for example, offer a modest flat rate of land tax to institutional investors who add new non-strata-titled rental stock to the market, while still keeping the progressive tax rate for people who own $5 million holiday homes or luxury penthouses that only get occasional use. A more generous approach would be to offer a tax holiday of, say, 10 years to ensure a better return to developers and investors in the vulnerable early stages of a project. On their own, neither private enterprise nor community organisations have the means to repair Australias housing crisis. Business will never provide decent housing for the poorest 20 per cent of households in a market economy, because there is no profit to be made; yet private capital will remain the dominant source of investment in new housing overall. Business can be a source of innovation and dynamism, and the build-to-rent model has the potential to increase the supply of well-located dwellings that offer a secure alternative to home ownership. Yet if we are to achieve some measure of housing justice - to provide, as Pradolin puts it, the basic fundamental need of shelter for all, rich and poor - then there is no doubt that this is going to require large-scale public investment. There are tell-tale signs that vets notice when pets are brought in with injuries: things like multiple unhealed fractures, or wounds clearly caused by a weapon. Sometimes it's the fact that the symptoms don't match the story its owner tells that it slipped, for example, and fell. It's obvious to a vet when an animal has been deliberately hurt, and that's often a major red flag that family violence is occurring in the home where the pet lives. Dr Kirstin Diemer (L) and Dr Elise Boller (R) are at the forefront of fighting for better responses to the impact of and link between family violence and violence toward animals. Credit:Darrian Traynor In one Victorian study, 52.9 per cent of domestic violence survivors said their partner had hurt or killed one of their pets. Police have confirmed a fourth case of strawberry contamination in NSW after a Coles customer found pins in three pieces of fruit from a supermarket in Sydney's south. Officers from the Sutherland Police Area Command were notified on Friday about the dangerous punnet of Delightful-branded strawberries in Engadine, and seized it for their inquiries into what appears to be sabotage with nationwide range. A NSW Police spokesman said that in this instance, there were no injuries as a result of the contamination. High-rise parenting is putting kids at risk as they are raised in apartment complexes that were not designed to house them and are often unsafe for small children. The soaring number of families raising children in high-rise apartments in Sydney has highlighted the safety, technical and cultural flaws in many unit towers that were not designed with them in mind. More than one in four apartments in Sydney is home to a family with children, the most recent census data shows. The number of families with kids in high-rise units more than doubled between the 2006 and 2016 census, while the number of families living in suburban homes rose just 4 per cent during that same period. Justin Smirk and Sarah Imm, pictured with their children Julius and Ofelia, chose unit living for reasons including health and convenience. Credit:Steven Siewert Sarah Imm and her partner Justin Smirk chose to live in a two-bedroom unit in Surry Hills with their children, Ofelia, 11, and Julius, 7. Obama's hope is naive The presidential style of US election means it is the leader, not the party, that wins elections. And given President Trump's super sized, dominating and impulsive ego, Obama's hope that Trump's own Republican party will check on his policies or worst instincts is misplaced, if naive ("Obama pleads for honesty, decency", September 9) Steve Ngeow, Chatswood Well of course Donald Trump fell asleep while he was watching Barack Obama. It's what old folks do ... they fall asleep in front of the television. William Day, Hamilton Oldest pool part of Balmain's history I was saddened to read the historic Elkington Park Baths as they was known in my childhood are falling into disrepair and under threat from rising sea levels ("Battle to save Australia's oldest pool," September 9). I learned to swim there in the 1940s. As an 8-year-old I was taken there by my older sister. She would abandon me to dog-paddle in the shallows while she flirted with boys gathered around the diving board. Later I went there with other boys from the Balmain Christian Brothers school for serious swimming lessons. The baths are part of Balmain's history and of mine. It would be a tragedy if they were to become nothing more than a fond memory. Garth Clarke, North Sydney Time to ditch NAPLAN NAPLAN is not just a serious distraction, it confirms what everyone knows already: that students in better resourced schools tend to do better in tests of this nature than those in other schools ("NAPLAN a serious distraction: principal", September 9). It is time to ditch NAPLAN and focus on what really matters: a fairer distribution of educational resources so that students in all schools, not just the wealthier ones, can thrive and achieve their true educational potential. John de Bres, Rose Bay Joyce's sales tell a story The fact Barnaby Joyce's book Weatherboard and Iron has sold only 1570 copies is not surprising in fact it is indicative of what is felt by most of the population with regard to him ("Memoir sales show Joyce remains in the bad books", September 9). Truth be told, he should have more accurately named his book We're All Bored. Alicia Dawson, Balmain Bishop yet to condemn sexism Julie Bishop's belated conversion to the feminist cause is less than convincing ("Bishop lambasted for late arrival to feminist party", September 9). She still hasn't condemned the vicious sexist attacks on Julia Gillard when PM. At the National Press Club on March 6, 2013, Bishop claimed Gillard's problems were to do with competence, honesty and trustworthiness, rather than gender. She made similar comments on August 24, 2018. By comparison Ms Gillard readily expressed her sympathy for Ms Bishop, when poorly treated by colleagues in the recent leadership spill. Graham Lum, North Rock Milk and petrol prices A 60-year-old man is in hospital in a serious but stable condition after police shot him in the hip at a service station just outside of Canberra in the early hours of Saturday morning. Six police officers responded to multiple reports of a man firing shots at passing vehicles on Queanbeyan's main thoroughfare, Monaro Street, about 4am. Officers established a perimeter and confronted a man at the BP station on Lowe Street. Speaking outside Queanbeyan police station, Assistant Commissioner Peter Barrie praised the officers' actions to control the situation. Inner-city dwellers may look down on western Sydney, but life in the outer suburbs is superior to many other global cities. And the solution to Sydneys affordable housing crisis lies in building more residential dwellings in these areas, according to Janusz Hooker, the chairman of LJ Hooker. Janusz Hooker, pictured at Mosman Rowing Club, said the population of Sydney and Melbourne would continue to grow because both cities were such attractive places for people to live. Credit:Janie Barrett It might not be for the Sydneysider whos been here for a few generations wanting to live close to the CBD, but for anyone else - and the people driving the population growth - they would still see that as 10 times better than where theyve come from, he said. Mr Hooker said Sydney and Melbourne were unusual in being fast-growing cities that were also rated as highly liveable. Im really kind-of talking to them about the human-animal bond and why that is important as social workers to pay attention to, to not minimize a clients love for their dog, said Bretzlaff-Holstein. If you have a family who is wanting to put an older relative into a nursing home because they can no longer care for themselves, but they are resistant to that, part of the social workers assessment would be to find out whats going on. Is it money, is it the particular place or is it because the place wont allow the cat to come with? More than 500 people, black and white, gathered on the banks of Perth's Swan River on Saturday afternoon in a quiet, sombre ceremony to remember the two boys lost to its depths earlier this week. Police had responded on Monday afternoon to reports of a group of boys trespassing on the Maylands peninsula. Four boys jumped into the water to evade officers. Two came to shore, but Trisjack Simpson, 17, and his best friend Christopher Drage, 16, drowned. The balloons were released to the sounds of 'Forever Young'. Credit:Cameron Myles. The family invited media to the ceremony on Saturday "to show how these two boys were loved and cared for and also that they were good boys". Men and women hugged each other close as others laid tributes beneath a tree, including a frame full of photos of the boys, with the message "Nan and Pop love you". A 45-year-old man has died after a car rolled near Marble Bar on Friday night. The South Hedland man was the passenger in a Toyota Prado, sleeping in the rear passenger seat as it travelled along Marble Bar Road towards Port Hedland about 9.25pm. However, the driver lost control of the car, causing it to roll and throwing the man from the vehicle. The man was taken by ambulance to Hedland Health Campus, but died a short time later. The female driver of the car was also taken to hospital with serious injuries. Police are investigating the incident and are calling on anyone who saw the crash, or the white 2007-model Toyota Prado driving before the crash. Props to the PM for apologising, but the damage was surely done, just as surely as it was when, as head of Tourism Australia, Morrison oversaw a marketing campaign featuring Lara Bingle, and a borderline swearword, which was banned in the UK. Back then, at least Morrison knew what he was selling. What is he selling now? His government is a shopfront without a product - and by his own admission, Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear are manning the till. Loading If the Coalition was running a 7-Eleven you would cross the road to avoid it. You wouldnt trust it to serve you a pre-made slushie. But there was something lost in the furore over the video. Before the Prime Minister realised his mistake, what had he hoped to achieve with it? What message was it supposed to convey? What kind of political narrative is, You got a hundred dollar bill put your hand up!? Is it a hip message about the Coalitions economic credentials? Or just a boast about how much parliamentarians are paid? Morrisons inheritance - which he has dubbed The Muppet Show - means his biggest problem will be to cut through to jaded voters who have sought refuge in rejectionalism, the kind of voterly foetal position that is threatening democracies around the world. With so little time before the next election, Morrison seems to have abandoned the idea, for now, of marking out any great positive policy differences between his government and his predecessors. The PM compared the leadership crisis with the Muppet Show. Credit:Reuters During his first major speech as Prime Minister, in the historical Menzies heartland of Albury, NSW, Morrison was quite open about this. I havent come to you today with a to-do list of stuff, he said, an extraordinary admission for any prime minister, but particularly for Morrison, whose mantra as treasurer was that he was getting on with the job. Loading What we got instead was an exhortation to love one another and come together. Morrison's newly reshuffled frontbenchers, who have not loved each other very well in recent times, looked on with frozen smiles. On climate change, the National Energy Guarantee has been dumped, and we are told Australia will meet its Paris Agreement emissions reductions commitments without it. No one can answer, then, why we needed it in the first place, least of all the new Environment Minister, Melissa Price. Give me a break ... Ive just got my feet under the desk, Price said to Radio Nationals Patricia Karvelas on Thursday night. Senator Jim Molan, speaking on Sky News, repeated the give us a break line, as though the electorate is a needy toddler who needs to stop pestering its parents to meet its most basic needs. We are promised a political fix on the schools funding issue, which will almost certainly comprise a capitulation to the Catholic and independent schools lobbies, and a further watering down of the original Gonski reforms. There is no word on health funding, housing affordability, early childhood funding, industrial relations reform or tax reform. The economy is motoring along, and jobs figures out this week were strong. But who can hear the good news underneath the cacophony of bad? Most of the week was taken up with a nasty argument about whether or not the Liberal Party is hostile to women, with now-open talk of the Liberals woman problem. That was only relieved by Peter Dutton using parliamentary privilege to accuse his mortal enemy, former Border Force chief Roman Quaedvlieg, of grooming. Dutton showed up to question time with folders visibly marked with the names of Labor's Chris Bowen and Tony Burke, who preceded him in the immigration portfolio. It was an apparent threat, and a very bad show. Morrison is the frontman for it, and, absent any real policy to sell, his job, it seems, is to soften the image, or project the narrative, of a government with a hollow agenda and a complex web of competing hatreds. He is doing this through a combination of suburban daggy dad plays and Tony Abbott-style three-word slogans. Meanwhile, the Parliament has very little actual business in front of it, and each sitting week represents little more than opportunity for further disaster. > Credit:Reg Lynch Live exports could resume as early as November under a company connected to Emanuel Exports - the company that was banned from exporting after shocking footage emerged showing thousands of sheep cooking to death in searing heat. The revelation comes as two government MPs who were pushing for a ban, Sarah Henderson and Sussan Ley, retreated on Monday from their stance after being promoted to the frontbench, and rejected even debating their own bill to phase out the trade. Animal shipments have been on hiatus since June following a public outcry about the horrific conditions for animals onboard ships, particularly during the northern summer. Sheep and cattle being loaded onto an Emanuel Exports vessel earlier this year. Credit:AAP Fairfax Media has learned that Kuwait Livestock Transport and Trading (KLTT), which trades in Australia as RETWA, has applied for a licence to export livestock to the Middle East. In 2003, the then minister Warren Truss banned RETWA from exporting sheep after the death rate on four shipments in just six months exceeded 2 per cent and in once case 6 per cent. The United Nations is condemning a "direct attack" on its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan after a government soldier shot and wounded a Nepalese peacekeeper. The shooting on Saturday comes three days after South Sudan's warring sides signed a peace deal to end the civil war. The UN statement says the South Sudanese soldier fired into the air near the UN convoy in the town of Yei before shooting at one of the vehicles. It says the peacekeepers could not return fire because of the risk of hitting civilians. The UN mission chief, David Shearer, calls the attack "unacceptable"' and calls on South Sudan's government to bring its forces under control. The UN also says government troops earlier Saturday fired about 50 shots close to the UN base in Yei. The last Delta II rocket to launch went vertical on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in June 2018. VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, California It launched rovers to Mars, sent robotic probes to the moon, comets and asteroids, put astronomical observatories into orbit and deployed the first GPS satellites. And now, after three decades of service, the Delta II rocket is entering history. "I am a little bit melancholy about this. Delta II holds a really special place in so many folks in the launch industry's hearts," said Tim Dunn, NASA's launch director for the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) mission lifting off on the 155th and final Delta II rocket to fly since 1989. "It has been around for 30 years now and it really carried on the legacy of Delta I, which reaches all the way to May of 1960," said Dunn at a pre-launch briefing on Thursday (Sept. 13). Scheduled for a predawn departure on Saturday (Sept. 15) from Space Launch Complex-2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the final flight of the Delta II will not only mark an end for the venerable launch vehicle, but will also conclude the first pioneering era of U.S. rocketry. From missile to missions "Going back, this came out of the late 1950s, which was the world of Thor and trying to catch up with the Russians," said Jay Witzling, who retired in 2003 as Boeing's vice president for Delta II but whose history with the vehicle extends back to 1974 and the launch of the 100th Delta rocket. Born out of the original Delta which itself was based on the U.S. Air Force's first operational ballistic missile, Thor the Delta II's larger size and capability met the needs of its military, civilian and commercial customers. "The vehicle kept growing with respect to the payloads it needed to launch, but the basic fundamentals and the look of the rocket go way, way back. It is a legacy we continued up to this launch," Witzling said in an interview with collectSPACE.com. While the names "Delta" and "Atlas" will continue on with modern-era rockets, the Delta II is the last of the U.S. launch vehicles to still have a hardware lineage that can be directly traced back to the start of the Space Age. The Delta II's first stage engine, the RS-27(A), has its heritage in the H-1, which powered the main stages of the Apollo-era Saturn I and IB rockets. The AJ10-118K engine that powers the Delta II's second stage and the solid rocket boosters that fly attached to the first stage have their origins in the ballistic missile programs of the 1950s. "So it is definitely the end of a very long era," said Witzling. [A Tour of the Delta Rocket Family] Launch of the first Delta II rocket with the first operational Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite from Complex 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Feb. 14, 1989. (Image credit: U.S. Air Force) Here and there The Delta II first put itself on the map by enabling everyone else to do the same. Entering service on Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) 1989, the maiden Delta II lifted off from Launch Complex 17 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida with the first operational GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. It was the first of 48 GPS missions for the rocket. The launch vehicle also carried a series of commercial communications satellites, including deploying parts of the Iridium and Globalstar constellations into low Earth orbit. But the Delta II's most public role came in its service to space exploration. "NASA is celebrating its 60th year and of those 60 years, Delta II has been a prominent part of launching NASA payloads for 30," said Scott Messer, program manager for NASA programs at United Launch Alliance (ULA). "Of the 154 launches so far, 53 have been for NASA." With its final launch, the Delta II rocket (seen here in 2017) will have flown 100 consecutive successful times out of 155 launches over the course of its 30-year program. (Image credit: United Launch Alliance) The Delta II's first mission for NASA was the launch of the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) in November 1989. The satellite mapped the "afterglow" of the Big Bang, leading to a Nobel Prize in Physics for its two principal investigators. The rocket launched eight robotic explorers to Mars, including NASA's first rover, Pathfinder, in December 1996, and the twin Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, in June and July 2003, respectively. The Mars Global Surveyor (1996) and Mars Odyssey (2001) orbiters, as well as the Phoenix lander (2007) were also highlights among the Delta II's missions to the Red Planet. Delta II also launched NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) probes to the moon in 2011, marking the rocket's final launch from Florida; the MESSENGER mission to orbit the planet Mercury earlier that same year; and six asteroid and comet-focused spacecraft, including the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) probe in 1996, the Stardust comet sample return mission in 1999, and Dawn, which after leaving Earth in 2007 became the first spacecraft to visit two celestial bodies, the asteroids Vesta and Ceres. Other NASA Delta II launches of historical note included the 2001 Genesis probe that returned samples of the solar wind; the Spitzer Space Telescope in 2003; and the Kepler space observatory to find Earth-size extrasolar planets in 2009. The Delta II's final launch, NASA's ICESat-2, is designed to track changes in land and sea ice with unparalleled detail. A starry success The Delta II experienced only one complete failure in its 30-year history. On Jan. 17, 1997, a Delta II carrying a GPS satellite exploding 13 seconds into flight, raining debris down on the Florida launch complex and some nearby parked cars. "The remarkable part of it was how all of the different agencies came together. The Air Force, NASA, the contractors, range safety everyone came together to understand what the issue was and determine what we needed to do going forward," said Kathy McLaughlin, ULA's Delta II site manager, who has been with the program since its start 30 years ago. "It really was an incredible effort and we were able to launch again within three months of that." If all goes as planned, the ICESat-2 mission will mark Delta II's 100th consecutive success, an unprecedented record among launch vehicles. "We used to put stars on the vehicle to represent the number of successful launches we had. Several years ago we took those stars off, but for this last launch we decided to put those stars back on," Messer revealed on Thursday. "In fact, we got 200 stars and we sent them out to all of the people who had touched the rockets to retirees, to folks from our customer base and the Air Force range folks, and let them sign those stars." "So essentially we have about 800 people who have signed their name to the vehicle," Messer said. See the commemorative patch marking the final Delta II launch at collectSPACE. Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2018 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved. The village bought the home at 102 W. Haven in 2003, with an eye toward making that busy corner easier to navigate. It housed the villages cable TV studio until the current village hall opened in 2007, and has been vacant since then. The house was demolished last week. A $1 billion NASA mission that will use a laser to track changing ice levels on Earth soared into space early Saturday (Sept. 15), launching into a predawn California sky on a mission that also marked the final flight of a record-setting rocket. NASA's Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2, or ICESat-2, lifted off at 9:02 a.m. EDT (6:02 a.m. PDT or 1302 GMT) from Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Southern California. The launch marked the unprecedented 100th successful flight of the Delta II rocket built by the United Launch Alliance (ULA), which over the course of 30 years lofted the first GPS satellites, deployed commercial telecommunication constellations and sent NASA robotic probes to explore and study the moon, Mars and the asteroids. "It's been a very, very prominent part of space history," said Scott Messer, program manager for NASA programs at ULA, during a pre-launch press conference Wednesday (Sep. 13). [In Photos: NASA's ICESat-2 Soars on Last Delta II Rocket] "Wow," NASA launch director Tim Dunn said after the successful liftoff. "It was a thrilling day." For its 155th and final mission, the Delta II flew in its 7420-10 configuration, outfitted with four Graphite Epoxy Motor (GEM) side-mounted boosters, which were jettisoned 1 minute and 22 seconds into the flight, and a 10-foot-diameter (3-meter) payload fairing, which was similarly disposed of about 4 minutes later as the rocket climbed into space. The Delta II's second stage engine completed the first of its four planned burns 11 minutes after liftoff, placing it into an initial elliptical transfer orbit. The last United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket launches NASAs Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California on Sept. 15, 2018. ICESat-2 will use a laser instrument to measure the changing height of Earth's ice. (Image credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA) The Delta II's second stage AJ10-118K engine reignited for 6 seconds about 47 minutes into the mission before deploying ICESat-2 into orbit. Twenty-three minutes later, the stage fired again to set up the release of four small satellites. The tiny CubeSats were designed and built by UCLA, University of Central Florida, and Cal Poly to conduct research in space weather, changing electric potential and resulting discharge events on spacecraft and damping behavior of tungsten powder in a zero-gravity environment. The final telemetry in Delta II history is expected about 2 hours after launch, sometime prior to the second stage impacting and sinking into the South Pacific Ocean. Meanwhile, the ICESat-2 mission is getting underway. "About an hour after we launch, the spacecraft separates from the launch vehicle and then about within the next 30 minutes the solar arrays deploy," said Doug McLennan, ICESat-2 project manager at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, on Wednesday. The ICESat-2 spacecraft serves as a power and pointing platform for the mission's single instrument, the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System, or ATLAS. "We're not going to turn ATLAS on for about a week and then we're just checking it out. We dont open up the [telescope] door for about another week. And then we start collecting early data from ATLAS, turn on the lasers and start our commissioning process," said McLennan, adding that the commissioning period will last about 60 days. Once the science mission begins in earnest, ATLAS will begin directing 10,000 pulses of green light per second at Earth to record how long it takes some of those photons to bounce back. The transit time can be used to calculate ultra-precise elevation measurements from space, providing researchers with a map of changing ice levels and tree growth. "We're going to have measurements all over and we're going to have them at much higher resolution, so we can do a much better job tying the change [in ice levels and forest growth] to climate overall," said Tom Wagner, ICESat-2 program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. Editor's note: This story was updated at 11 a.m. EDT to note the successful post-launch engine burns to deploy ICESat-2 and the mission's Cubesats. Robert Pearlman is a contributing writer and the editor of collectSPACE.com, a Space.com partner site and the leading space history news publication. Follow collectSPACE on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. STAMFORD Dust was the first clue. It covered the windshields of several city cars parked in the government center garage. It led to a conclusion that the cars were not being used by employees of the city departments to which they were assigned. But something didnt jibe. Fleet Manager Mike Scacco was hearing that the city didnt have enough cars for all the employees authorized to use them. What was going on? After several checks of the garages fourth floor, where city cars are parked, Scacco saw that 30 to 40 of them rarely moved. But there was no way to tell how often cars were driven, by whom, and for what purpose, because the city didnt track it. That didnt make sense, Scacco said, because buying cars, fueling them, maintaining, repairing and replacing them costs taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. He examined one of the few sets of data available fuel reports. I checked the mileage. Utilization was extremely poor, Scacco said. The cars were not being driven. He spoke to city supervisors. He heard of one instance in which five employees of the same department each drove a city car to the same meeting 60 miles away. He learned of project managers who drove city cars of a mile to a work site and left it there all day. It was not a good use of an asset that costs the city $25,000 to purchase and another $3,500 to $6,000 a year to maintain, Scacco said. He decided to try a private-sector practice requiring employees to share. That was two years ago, when the city had 80 vehicles. Based on his observations, he took the 31 worst cars out of service. Using fleet management software, he created a motor pool with the remaining 49 cars. Under the program, the 100 or so city employees authorized to use a car reserve them with Scaccos department online. They enter their name, the date and number of hours needed, the type of car required, and the destination. The employee receives a confirmation number and goes to an electronic box in the security office of the government center lobby. The system allows you to take only the key that goes with the confirmation number, Scacco said. You return the key the same way. Once employees got used to the system, what he found surprised him, Scacco said. City employees not only didnt need 80 cars. They didnt even need the 49 he thought they would. The motor pool now has 26 cars, and Scacco thinks he may be able to eliminate a couple more. His data shows that, on average, only 68 percent of the cars are used each month. We have never not had enough cars for employees, Scacco said. There has not been a time when we couldnt provide a car for someone who needed it. Sharing pays Motor pooling has saved the city about $360,000 over the last two years, the data shows. It is projected to save $1 million over five years. Not only that, but each car in the pool is equipped with GPS to log whereabouts, mileage and driver behavior. Managers can track where their people are, if they are making their appointments in a timely manner, how many stops they are making, Scacco said. It also allows the risk manager to check for speeding violations. Thats enough to warm the hearts of Stamford taxpayers. In 2010, so many city cars were involved in accidents that officials instituted a safety campaign, slapping Hows my driving? stickers on the bumpers and inviting residents to report bad behavior online. In response, officials received detailed descriptions of speeding, sideswiping, improper passing, tailgating, aggressive lane-changing, cursing, and flipping of the finger. One resident reported a bright blue city-issued Dodge Neon that sailed through an intersection airborne. But the taxpayers lament over city cars goes back far longer than that. There was the former police chief who gave cars out as perks, including to officers who lived out of state and drove them home each day. There was the former public works supervisor who was caught with his city car at a New York airport, where he was catching a flight to a vacation spot. That was before Scaccos time. Ive heard that there wasnt much accountability, he said. Now there is plenty. The program allows his department to determine whos responsible for damage to a city car. It allows drivers to report mechanical problems. It allows his department to set up maintenance schedules based on mileage data. And Scacco was able to sell the unneeded cars for a total of about $200,000. An old sore Stamfords program was featured in the June edition of The Municipal, a newsletter about products and methods to improve operation of U.S. cities. But a taxpayer sore spot remains some city cars still are assigned to individual employees who are allowed to take them home. Mayor David Martin, who backs Scaccos efforts, said last year that 66 vehicles are individually assigned, and two-thirds of those individuals live outside of Stamford. City cars are individually assigned for four reasons, Martin has said. One is that an employee is required to respond to emergencies in a specially equipped vehicle. Another is that an employees job requires so much driving that a city car is less expensive than the cost of reimbursement for use of a personal car. A third is that the employee is a senior official such as director of operations or chief of police. The fourth is an old source of taxpayer dismay. Years ago, Mayor Dannel Malloy, now governor, took away about 30 cars from police and fire department employees because they did not meet new take-home criteria. The employees filed grievances with their unions, and Malloy lost the arbitration and had to give them back. The arbitrator ruled that the employees could keep the cars simply because the practice had been allowed for so long. acarella@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2296. Let's say you're an entrepreneur behind a small but growing company. Business is going well -- so well in fact that tracking your leads is getting tough to do on your own. So you're starting to research CRM software to handle lead management. It will be a big purchase for your bootstrapped little team, so it's important you make the right decision to get your hard-earned money's worth. Related: How to Deal With Fake Negative Reviews (Infographic) You start into your research and check out the product reviews for two solutions you're considering. One has 15 reviews and a full five-star average. The other has 200 reviews with a 4.4-star average. Which would you trust more? The solution with 200 reviews likely seems more trustworthy to most, even if it does have a lower rating than the other. When we see a five-star rating, our brains tell us there's something wrong -- we're more inclined to choose a product or service with more reviews, even if some of them are bad. According to a study from Reevoo, 30 percent of readers suspect censorship or fake reviews when all reviews are positive and 95 percent of consumers get suspicious of positive reviews when there are no negative reviews. Review sites have learned this, and are building algorithms that mimic the way we think. These newer, smarter systems can take metrics like user history into account and can see through gimmicks companies use to increase rankings. So, how can businesses get the kind of reviews that bring in business -- and capitalize on the opportunity that negative ones present? Related: California's Supreme Court Ruled Yelp Doesn't Have to Take Down Negative Reviews. What Does That Mean for Your Business? The upside of bad reviews Reading a one-star review about your own organization is never an enjoyable experience. However, once you get past the initial sting of customer complaints, the best thing you can do is to focus on the many benefits and possibilities that arise from receiving a poor review. For one, maintaining a strong but imperfect rating strikes customers as more realistic than all perfect reviews. Reevoo also found 68 percent of consumers trust reviews more when they see both positive and negative reviews. G2 Crowd data supports this: One- and two-star reviews receive up to three times more clicks and views than positive reviews. These customers who seek out low reviews turn out to be the best kind of customer -- both in terms of product knowledge and conversion. According to Mintel, 70 percent of Americans say they look at reviews before taking the next step to purchasing. Reevoo data shows that buyers who seek out and read bad reviews go on to make a purchase 67 percent more often than the average consumer. When it comes time to optimizing areas of the business, feedback from unhappy customers can also provide insights into shortcomings with your product, implementation process or customer support services. If the same few gripes come up again and again in customer reviews, that's a clear sign that it should be prioritized in finding a solution. On top of improving your business from the inside, a negative review literally provides a brand with a platform to improve the relationship with the customer. Ninety-five percent of unhappy customers will return to your business if an issue is resolved quickly and efficiently. Related: Respect People's Right to Review Your Company Online, Even When There's Bitching Involved Building a trustworthy review presence Negative reviews aren't such a bad thing, but the real strength in a review section is quantity and balance. A review section that appears trustworthy to a potential customer is one that has hundreds of in-depth reviews -- not all of them perfect, but the majority positive. To achieve a flourishing review section, you must champion the role of reviews. Here are a few tips on how to make review culture a central part of your brand. Encourage reviews: There's no harm in planting a seed in a customer's mind by asking them to leave a review. Consider incorporating the message into your marketing automation cadence and creating a product or financial incentive for customers to contribute a review. Interact with reviews: If you have an opportunity to connect with a customer over her recent experience with your brand, why wouldn't you take it? Whether taking the opportunity to say thank you to a glowing review or seeking to right a poor customer experience, responding to reviews helps your brand on its way to a highly interactive and thriving review page. Review interactions should only ever be done to serve the customer -- nothing is more off-putting than a business owner using a customer review as a space to retaliate. Point potential customers to your reviews: The work you put in to build up your reviews page as an honest element of your marketing plan will pay off. So, why not directly point researching customers to the profile every chance you get? The fact you willingly refer someone to a resource that contains a balanced perspective of your brand will speak volumes to the researching customer. Criticism is never fun, especially when it comes to our livelihoods. But, if we shift our view to see it as intel to the business, the results will present themselves. Customers can trust an imperfect brand, so embrace and learn from the imperfect experiences and do your best to make it right. In the long run, these negative reviews enable the business to get better internally while winning over the hearts and minds of new customers. Related: Don't Dread the 1-Star Review -- Capitalize on It How to Spot a Fake Review For Your Product How to Deal With Fake Negative Reviews (Infographic) Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved When Italian designer Riccardo Tisci replaced Christopher Bailey at the helm of Burberry earlier this year, most suspected a few changes were in the pipeline for the storied British house. While Bailey favoured ladylike silhouettes and romantic literary references, Tisci, who spent the previous five years steering Givenchy, is all about ultra- luxe sportswear and a tough, street wear- inflected aesthetic. On Monday 17th September, Tisci will unveil his much anticipated debut collection for the brand, which is likely to be edgier, sexier and feature plenty of black. Today however, Burberry fans have been given a sneak peek at the new look, as the brand reopens the doors to its newly renovated flagship store at 121 Regent Street. And boy is Tiscis Burberry looking different. Graham Hudson's installation in the atrium of Burberry's Regent Street store / Burberry At the heart of the newly transformed space, sits Sisyphus Reclined, a massive three-storey scaffolding-clad art installation by British artist Graham Hudson. The vast and sprawling sculpture dominates the main atrium to quite arresting effect. I was excited about Burberrys commitment to be open minded about what was possible, Hudson tells the Evening Standard, but I also thought, do they really want one of my big messes in their beautiful store? The installation features eighty cameras that take 360-degree photos and vinyl record players that play acapella DJ sets throughout the store. In the centre sits a robot, which creates sculptures of the human body that are then to be displayed around the installation for the public to view. The robot is preforming and is always doing something different every time, says Hudson. Its the ultimate modern selfie. The robot inside Graham Hudson's installation at Burberry's Regent Street store / Burberry Yet while the installation itself is high tech, for Hudson its beauty lies in the fact it cant be properly experienced online. You need to experience it in flesh and in time and space, which is what art is all about especially as we live in a world obsessed by social media, he says. Every visitor will have a unique experience, but if people reflect on life and death and futility of existence that will be a bonus. Inspired by the buildings history as a theatre, each room is wrapped in draped curtains and the floors are covered in a thick pile carpet, which will (apparently) be dry cleaned every evening during the launch period. As a gallery, the space once was home to busts on plinths and period abstract sculptures which we will be interpreting though our installation over the exhibition period, explains Hudson. The original use of the auditorium is evidence in the design of the art work. The building takes your breath away because it was designed to do that to make people gather around a space that is age old. The sculpture, all jagged edges and rough finishes, signals a marked change from the pristine lines and high-gloss of Christopher Baileys Burberry. If this store is anything to go by, Tisci could be about to bring some seriously outlandish edginess to the storied British house. 1. Dr Hannibal Lecter Dr Hannibal Lecter first came to life in the novels of Thomas Harris, before arriving on the big screen in some of the most accomplished thrillers of the last few decades. Anthony Hopkins performance in The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal and Red Dragon verge on pantomime-levels of camp and melodrama at times, but always incorporate shocking levels of violence and malevolent cunning not to mention the most piercing, unblinking blue eyes ever put to screen. Hes synonymous with the role, but hes not the only one to have inhabited the character. Brian Coxs more understated performance in Michael Manns 1986 movie Manhunter was the first big-screen appearance, while Mads Mikkelsens depiction of a more urbane, dashing Lecter was the heart of the cult Hannibal TV series. Lecter remains the most chilling, absorbing and singularly entertaining villain in movie history once seen, never forgotten. Alexa Chung is a seasoned professional as far as globetrotting is concerned. And so, for her London Fashion Week catwalk debut, it was no surprise that the model-turned-designer looked to a life lived in and out of departure lounges to create her dream jet-set wardrobe. Determined to prove shes much more than a clothes horse, Chung offered up travel-friendly clothing from one-stop denim jumpsuits to languid daytime PJs. Prints too were taken from postcards depicting British beachfronts, splashed across silk scarves knotted into bandeau tops, while hibiscus florals hinted at further flung destinations like Hawaii. Despite launching her label just over a year ago, Chung has had no problem establishing a signature aesthetic. Largely because she in possession of a highly recognisable approach to dressing long before she even thought about launching a fashion brand. Alexa Chung's debut was filled with holiday worthy prints / AFP/Getty Images As a result, the style icons firm favourites were all present and correct in this mornings showcase, with just-right jeans, vinyl macs and sweet striped cotton dresses suitable for the wardrobe of any It-girl. Backstage at Alexa Chung T hree teenagers have been arrested after a mass brawl involving up to 70 youths broke out outside a Clarks shoe store in a town centre in west London. Police were forced to set up a dispersal zone in Uxbridge after a fight between a swarm of schoolchildren erupted on Monday. The order means that anyone who refuses to leave the area or returns after being moved on can be arrested. Video footage of the fight shows several teenagers girls punching and kicking each other, with one ending up on the floor. It also appears to show adults attempting to break up the brawl as punches are thrown. Many of the youngsters in the video are wearing their school uniform. A security guard was eventually able to detain one of the teenage girls who appeared to be involved from the beginning of the fight. Met Police said on Saturday that three people had been arrested in connection with the disorder. A 17-year-old boy has been detained on suspicion of GBH, affray and handling stolen goods, while another boy, aged 14, was arrested for affray. A 16-year-old girl was arrested for affray and ABH. Police said enquiries were ongoing. M ore than 8,000 has been raised for the family of a young father who died in a motorbike accident in north London. Restaurant manager Adrian Cheung , 25, was killed in Kentish Town after colliding with a metal stand as he rode to work last Friday. A Gofundme page has since been launched to help support the fiancee and daughter of Mr Cheung, who worked at popular Japanese restaurant Kami. Friends and will-wishers have flocked to the page, set up by his brother Calvin, to pay tribute to a lovely, happy man. The money, which stood at 8,835 on Friday, will also be used for funeral costs. Adrian Cheung was described as 'the best dad' In a Facebook post, his fiancee Adelina Hodosan, 20, wrote: You were the love of my life and will always be. You gave me the most beautiful gift, our son Oliver, and I have to be strong for him. I love you more than anything. And life isnt fair at all, takes you away when youre the happiest person. Rest in peace my love. Mr Cheung was born in Hong Kong and moved to London in 2002 with his parents and two brothers, attending Highams Park School in north-east London. Until 1968, workers produced ketchup and other products in the vast, 550,000-square-foot facility on 19 acres. In the 1980s, it was redeveloped as the Blue Island Industrial Terminal and housed several small businesses as tenants. The last four tenants recently had to vacate the building when the city shut off the water due to a $9,000 unpaid water bill, Norman said. A survivor of the Parsons Green Tube bombing has told how the attack made him want to live life to the full on the one-year anniversary of the explosion. Carpet salesman Peter Crowley was hailed a legend when he turned up for work immediately after the bomb exploded metres away from him on the Tube train. The device only partly detonated, saving many commuters from death, but sent a fireball shooting through the train, leaving 23 passengers suffering burns. Speaking to the Standard, Mr Crowley said: Its made a difference to how I approach life. It made me realise how easy it is to be taken away from you. "I spend more time doing family stuff now. I feel lucky to be alive. Parsons Green victim Peter Crowley, pictured during a TV interview, was hailed a hero after he went straight to work following the attack / BBC Ahmed Hassan, of Surrey, was sentenced to life in March after an Old Bailey jury found him guilty of attempted murder. Hassan left a home-made bomb full of shrapnel on the District line train, which exploded as it stopped at Parsons Green. Peter Crowley suffered head burns in the attack, causing his hair to fall out / Peter Crowley Mr Crowley was one of the 23 people injured. He suffered head burns, causing his hair to fall out. A further 28 people were injured in the resulting stampede as commuters fled the scene. Mr Crowley, 37, of Sutton, recalled: I was on my phone, right next to the bomb. As the door opened, there was an explosion sound. Everyone was covered in powder. It was chaos. Everyone was panicked. CCTV shows the moment a fireball ripped through a Tube train at Parsons Green station I remember walking up to the platform and phoning my wife, just to let her know there had been an explosion and telling her not to worry. I thought it was a mechanism failure in the door. I walked back down and saw a guy whose jacket had melted at the back. There were shoes on the floor. There was money where people scrambled to get away. The empty Tube train after the bomb was detonated / Met Police/PA I headed towards a TfL worker who asked me to show where it happened. I took him towards it and then backed off in case it ignited. Firearms commander Jordan Lammas, of British Transport Police, was the first inspector at the scene. Ahmed Hassan was sentenced to life in March over the Parsons Green attack / Met Police He told the Standard: "People were in a state of shock, of panic. Some had burn marks. "But British Transport Police has well practised plans to rise to the terror threat and we put them into place." A forensic tent on the platform at Parsons Green station after the bomb explosion on September 15, 2017 ( Stefan Rousseau/PA) / Stefan Rousseau/PA Mr Crowley, meanwhile, who has since been promoted at work to become sales manager, said he was initially in denial about the explosion as he continued to work. He said: I didnt acknowledge it was a terror attack. I think I was in denial. I defaulted to a state of mind where this sort of thing doesnt happen to me. S ir Vince Cable has been quizzed by members of the Liberal Democrats over proposals to allow non MPs to stand for the partys leadership. The current party leader was questioned for over 30 minutes during a private meeting on the sides of the Liberal Democrat party conference in Brighton this weekend. Sir Cable wants to make it easier for non-members to have a say. He was warned by one activist that it is a sign the Lib Dems are "taking a step back from being a top flight political party". Another said: "We have a tough time already telling people who our leader is now, if we had two leaders, a Westminster leader and a party leader outside, I am concerned that we aren't going to effectively be able to communicate with people." Sir Vince Cable wants to make it easier for non-members to have a say / PA Wire/PA Images But one delegate drew applause for suggesting the party should get a "management consultant type of person with a huge personality who connects with the party" to lead. The meeting was billed as a listening exercise for the Lib Dem leadership team to take on board the concerns of members about proposals to open up the party. In literature circulated at the meeting, the motivation for opening up the leadership was stated as "our current parliamentary system is severely damaged, if not broken, and a forward-looking party has to look outside as well as inside". Speaking after the meeting, Sir Vince insisted he had not been given a dressing down by delegates, telling reporters: "Not at all, it was actually much, much more positive than it could have been. "I think the balance was very much in favour. The overall sense of the meeting was enthusiastic, and we had strong support from Paddy Ashdown." Pressed on whether he would drop the idea of a non-MP party leader, Sir Vince said: "No, not at all. As far as I could see, a lot of people were keen on the idea. It's not something we're pushing, we just want to keep the option open. "We want to widen the talent pool." Former Liberal Democrats leader Lord Ashdown came to Sir Cable's defence / Ian Gavan / Getty Images Responding to concerns at the meeting, Sir Vince had said: "We're mixing things up here, there's a difference between having traditional parliamentary skills which are important and the kind of political skills which enable you to communicate with millions of people. "I'm not suggesting for a moment that we switch whenever I step down, whenever it is, to somebody who isn't an MP, but why should we ban it, exclude it for all time and in all places? At least open the minds to the possibility." Former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown came to Sir Vince's defence at the meeting and told activists to "go in this direction". He said: "It is up to you to decide how far you take this and in what direction, but I do want to say to you that when Vince advises that I think we should go in this direction, I believe he is right. "I think there is risk, of course there is, but I think there is much more risk in staying as we are." A consultation on the proposed changes will run until October 14. A traffic warden in Birmingham was pulled from his moped and attacked by a gang of youths who then stole his vehicle. Police are searching for the five men following the violent attack in the Alum Rock area of the city on 14 September. Shocking video footage shows the warden being attacked by the youths in broad daylight as he went about his job. He was taken to hospital and according to West Midlands Police, he did not suffer any serious injuries. A 20-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and police have released images of the remaining members of the group they are looking to trace in relation to the incident. Detective Sargeant Tom Lyons said: I was absolutely furious when I saw the footage. Police are now appealing for any information on the men pictured in the video / West Midlands Police The level of violence used is truly shocking and I know every right-minded person who views it will share that anger. A ustralians have rallied around and shared their support for a nine-year-old who was handed a detention at school after she objected to singing the national anthem. Harper Neilsen refused to sing Advance Australia Fair during assembly at Kenmore State South School in Brisbane because she claims it ignores the countrys indigenous people. In response, she was handed a detention and threatened with suspension if she continued her protest. However a number of Australians including sports starts and celebrities have backed Ms Nielsen with the hashtag #ISitwithHarper trending online. Joe Williams a former boxer and rugby league player said in a video: Hi harper. I just want to say that Im standing directly beside you when it comes to support re the stance youve done or the sit down youve done. Josh Hoffman from the Parramatta Eels said: Just want to let you know youve got a lot of support behind you from myself included. I just want to let you know youre such a brave girl for standing up for what you believe in. Ms Nielsen told ABC news Australia: When it says we are young it completely disregards the Indigenous Australians who were here before us. Her opinions have caused a stir in the country with several politicians blasting the nine-year-old. The girl was handed a detention for her protest at Kenmore State South School in Queensland / Google Controversial MP Pauline Hanson called the child a brat. While Jarrod Bleijie, Queenslands shadow minister for education from the Liberal National Party wrote on Twitter: Shame on her parents for using her as a political pawn. Stop the silly protest and stand and sing proudly your National Anthem. Refusing to stand disrespects our country and our veterans. Suspension should follow if she continues to act like a brat. Queenslands Department of Education said in a statement: "The school has been respectful of the student's wishes and has provided other alternatives to singing the national anthem. A former British Army soldier has been sentenced to nearly eight years in jail in Turkey after he fought against the Islamic State terror group in Syria. 25-year-old Joe Robinson was arrested on holiday accused of fighting the Islamists alongside the Peoples Protection Units of Syrian Kurdistan. The Turkish state is hostile towards the group. Mr Robinson, formerly of Accrington, Lancashire, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison, but he reportedly remains on bail while planning an appeal. He has previously admitted fighting IS but went on to deny he acted alongside the Kurdish militia, considered by Turkey as a terror organisation because of its links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party which is fighting for autonomy for the region. Robinson instead insisted he travelled to Syria to provide medical aid. He was arrested last year alongside partner Mira Rojkan, a Bulgarian citizen who had been living in Leeds studying law, and she was accused of engaging in terrorist propaganda. Ms Rojkan was given a suspended sentence, the BBC reported Robinson's mother as saying. On Saturday, the Kurdistan Solidarity Campaign praised Mr Robinson for "selflessly" battling IS, and called on the Government to stand up for the former soldier. "Joe is a hero to all who value peace and freedom against the dark forces of oppression, enslavement, rape and terrorism which IS represent," a statement said. The YPG is not a proscribed organisation in the UK. The Foreign Office said: "We stand ready to provide consular assistance to a British national in Turkey." D onald Trump has repeated his denial of the Hurricane Maria death toll in Puerto Rico saying the figure rose "like magic". The presidents remarks come as he continues to denounce a government study stated 2,975 died within six months as a result of the disaster. Penning his latest thoughts on the figures he referenced old news reports which gave lower figures before a recent study put the estimated figure at nearly 3,000. He wrote: 'When Trump visited the island territory last October, OFFICIALS told him in a briefing 16 PEOPLE had died from Maria.' The Washington Post. This was long AFTER the hurricane took place. Over many months it went to 64 PEOPLE. Then, like magic, '3000 PEOPLE KILLED.' They hired GWU Research to tell them how many people had died in Puerto Rico (how would they not know this?). This method was never done with previous hurricanes because other jurisdictions know how many people were killed. FIFTY TIMES LAST ORIGINAL NUMBER - NO WAY! Puerto Rico's governor, Ricardo Rossello raised the official Maria death toll from 64 to 2,975 in August. This estimated figure was made by researchers at George Washington University. The academics reported the original estimates were low as doctors on the island were not trained to properly classify deaths after a natural disaster. On Thursday, the President stated that the reported number of fatalities was inflated by Democrats to make him look bad. He wrote: 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... A man walking through flooding in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria / AFP/Getty Images 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! Each set of tweets have been met largely with criticism. Some simply pleaded with Mr Trump that he stop making the claims. The president's initial drew criticism from Carmen Yulin Cruz, mayor of San Juan, who said his lack of respect was appalling. In response to some of Mr Trumps other posts about Hurricane Maria she wrote: Sticks and stones people; sticks & stones. Lets keep our eye on what is important: the people fighting for their lives in the Carolinas. N orth Carolina has issued a disaster declaration after Hurricane Florence battered the east coast of the US. At least eight people have died including a baby. Officials have warned that the state could experience its most severe flooding ever. Florence arrived in the state with 90 mph winds and more than 2 feet of rain. Forecasters warn there could be an additional one and a half feet by the end of the weekend. Mike Pollack and his wife Meredith Pollack walk away from their flooded waterfront home / Getty Images Rivers and creeks rose towards historic levels, threatening flash flooding that could devastate communities and endanger dams, roads and bridges. "I cannot overstate it: Floodwaters are rising, and if you aren't watching for them you are risking your life," the state's governor Roy Cooper said. Hurricane Florence - In pictures 1 /70 Hurricane Florence - In pictures Lt. Keith Ramsey with the Pender County Sheriff's Office walks out to a boat while taking part in rescue operations in Burgaw, North Carolina AP U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media prior to a Marine One departure at the South Lawn of the White House September 19, 2018 in Washington Getty Images Local residents walk along the edge of a collapsed road that ran atop Patricia Lake's dam after it collapsed in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, in Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina Reuters Teresa Nance is licked by her dog as she returns to dry land after checking on her home flooded by Hurricane Florence Getty Images US President Donald Trump greets residents with prepared meals in New Bern, North Carolina AFP/Getty Images Flood waters from Hurricane Florence surrounds two hog houses and it's lagoon near Kinston, N.C AP Jovani Quintano and Carlos Gomez (L-R) walk through a flooded neighborhoom after heavy rains brought on by Hurricane Florence on September 19, 2018 in Lumberton, North Carolina. Getty Images US President Donald Trump walks with officials in Conway, South Carolina AFP/Getty Images Old tree stumps that used to be at the bottom of Patricia Lake are revealed after it emptied when its dam collapsed in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, in Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina, U.S Reuters Water from the flooded Waccamaw River surrounds a house in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence now downgraded to a tropical depression in Conway, South Carolina, U.S. Reuters Dustin Mock navigates a flooded street as flood waters rise in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence now downgraded to a tropical depression in Conway, South Carolina, U.S. Reuters Jose Perez-Santiago, left, and Rosemary Acevedo-Gonzalez, walk with their daughter Jordalis, 2, after retrieving her clothing upon returning to their home for the first time since it was flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in Spring Lake, North Carolina AP Flood waters from hurricane Florence inundate the town of Engelhard, N.C. AP A downed tree rests on a house during the passing of Hurricane Florence in the town of Wilson, North Carolina REUTERS A member of the US Army walks in water while rescuing people during the passing of Hurricane Florence in the town of New Bern REUTERS A downed tree is pictured as Hurricane Florence comes ashore on Wilmington, North Carolina REUTERS Volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team help rescue three children from their flooded home in James City, Getty Images A downed tree blocks a local street during the passing of Hurricane Florence the town of New Bern, North Carolina REUTERS Waves slam the Oceana Pier & Pier House Restaurant in Atlantic Beach AP Shianne Coleman (L) gets a hand from friend Austin Gremmel as they walk in flooded streets as the Neuse River begins to flood its banks during Hurricane Florence Getty Images High winds and storm surge from Hurricane Florence hits Swansboro North Carolina. AP Russ Lewis looks for shells along the beach as Hurricane Florence approaches Myrtle Beach, South Carolina AP 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 in New Bern, North Carolina Getty Images Volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team help rescue three children from their flooded home in James City, Getty Images Jamie Thompson walks through flooded sections of East Front Street near Union Point Park in New Bern, North Carolina AP Portions of a boat dock and boardwalk are destroyed by powerful wind and waves as Hurricane Florence Getty Images People walk on a local street as water from Neuse River starts flooding houses upon Hurricane Florence coming ashore in New Bern, North Carolina Reuters Newlyweds Kathryn and Anthony Palmisano stand on the steps of the Charleston City Market in a deserted downtown in Charleston, South Carolina. Getty Images Doug Lewis and Chris Williams use plywood with the words 'Looters will be shot' to cover the windows of Knuckleheads bar as they try to protect the business ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Florence Getty Images Body surfer Andrew Vanotteren crashes into waves from Hurricane Florence AP Members of law enforcement work with the National Guard to direct traffic onto U.S. Highway 501 as Hurricane Florence approaches the East Coast AP A message is posted on a boarded up building before the arrival of Hurricane Florence on Oak Island, North Carolina Reuters People and pets evacuate ahead of the forecasted landfall of Hurricane Florence and seek shelter at Burgaw Middle School in Burgaw, North Carolina EPA Lisa Evers of Oak Island carries clothing to her car while evacuating her house ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Florence in Oak Island, North Carolina Reuters Brady Osborne ties freshly filled sandbags, in Virginia Beach, Va., as Hurricane Florence moves towards the eastern shore. AP Sand bags surround homes on North Topsail Beach, North Carolina. as Hurricane Florence threatens the coast AP This US Navy photo shows a Sailor as he heaves line during a heavy weather mooring evolution in preparation for Hurricane Florence AFP/Getty Images Sam Bedford, left, and Miller Richey move trash bins from the Isle of Palms Marina on the Isle of Palms, South Carolina. AP People wait before departure on an evacuation bus ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, North Carolina Reuters The bread shelves are bare in a grocery store as people stock up on food ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Florence Getty Images Mark Lewis, left, conservator, and Alisa Reynolds, associate registrar, secure the painting "The Shoppers" by William James Glackens at the Chrysler Museum of Art AP A boat is docked partially in the road as workers pull boats from the water in Wanchese Harbor in Wanchese, N.C. as Hurricane Florence approaches the coast of the Carolina AP Marge Brown, 65, says goodbye to her father, George Brown, 90, before he is evacuated from a healthcare home in Morehead City, N.C., as Hurricane Florence approaches the east coast. "I'd like to stay and see what happens. I'm 90 plus," said Brown, a WWII veteran who says he's survived a plane crash and severe burns from a laboratory fire where he once worked. AP U.S. Marine recruits at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island prepare to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Florence at Parris Island, South Carolina Reuters People evacuate ahead of the forecasted landfall of Hurricane Florence as they seek shelter at Emma B. Trask Middle School in Wilmington, North Carolina EPA People queue for shelters during the night ahead of the forecasted landfall of Hurricane Florence EPA People line up to enter a hurricane shelter at Trask Middle School in Wilmington, North Carolina AFP/Getty Images People evacuate ahead of the forecasted landfall of Hurricane Florence as they seek shelter at Emma B. Trask Middle School in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA EPA Up to a million people have been ordered to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Florence AFP/Getty Images People look on as water floods King Street in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, September 11, 2018, where sandbags are being distributed to businesses and residents in preparation before more rain arrives from Hurricane Florence AFP/Getty Images Chuck Ledford (L), watches Looney-Tunes with his daughter Misty as they evacuate ahead of the forecasted landfall of Hurricane Florence as they seek shelter at Emma B. Trask Middle School in Wilmington, North Carolina EPA People line up to enter a hurricane shelter at Trask Middle School in North Carolina on September 11, 2018 AFP/Getty Images A woman holds her dog as she waits to enter a hurricane shelter at Trask Middle School in Wilmington, North Carolina AFP/Getty Images Two women sit with their dogs as they wait to enter a hurricane shelter at Trask Middle School in wilmington, North Carolina AFP/Getty Images South Carolina state troopers work with D.O.T. employees at an access ramp to I-26 Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, in Columbia AP Families seek shelter during the night ahead of the forecasted landfall of Hurricane Florence EPA A woman closes her eyes in reaction to the line at the shelter EPA Kevin Orth loads sandbags into cars on Milford Street as he helps residents prepare for Hurricane Florence AP Hurricane Florence is seen from the International Space Station as it churns in the Atlantic Ocean towards the east coast of the US Reuters A beachfront home is boarded up ahead of Hurricane Florence, at Holden Beach, North Carolina Reuters An NOAA chart shows the predicted path of Tropical Storm Florence as she develops into a Major Hurricane over the coming seven days. NOAA Jim Craig, David Burke and Chris Rayner load generators as people buy supplies at The Home Depot on Monday. AP Customers line up to buy propane at Socastee Hardware store, ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Florence in Myrtle. Reuters Larry Pierson, from the Isle of Palms, S.C., purchases bottled water from the Harris Teeter grocery store on the Isle of Palms. AP Residents of the Isle of Palms, S.C., fill sand bags at the Isle of Palms municipal lot where the city was giving away free sand in preparation for Hurricane Florence. AP People shop at the Harris Teeter, filling up on water and supplies. AP Brian Franklin prepares more generators for sale as people buy supplies at The Home Depo. AP U.S. Airmen from the South Carolina Air National Guard and 169th Fighter Wing prepare to deploy to support rescue efforts. Reuters Chris Rayner helps customers load their cars as they buy supplies at The Home Depot. AP Walker Townsend, at left, from the Isle of Palms, S.C., fills a sand bag while Dalton Trout. AP In its initial onslaught along the coast, Florence buckled buildings, deluged entire communities and knocked out power to more than 870,000 homes and businesses. But the storm was shaping up as a two-part disaster, with the second stage consisting of inland flooding, caused by rainwater working its way into rivers and streams. The dead included a mother and baby killed when a tree fell on a house in Wilmington, North Carolina. South Carolina recorded its first death from the storm when officials said a 61-year-old woman was killed when her vehicle hit a tree that had fallen across a highway. Cars drive on a wet road as rain from Hurricane Florence falls in Wilmington / AFP/Getty Images Officials in North Carolina's Harnett County, about 90 miles inland, urged residents of about 1,100 homes to evacuate because the Lower Little River was rising toward record levels. In New Bern, along the coast, aerial photos show homes completely surrounded by water, with rescuers using inflatable boats to reach people. More than 360 people have been carried to safety since Thursday night amid rising waters. With the eye of Florence stalled near the coast, the half of the storm still out over the Atlantic continued to collect warm ocean water and dump it on land. M ichael Palin has told how North Koreans were transfixed at images showing their leader meeting South Korean president Moon Jae-in. The Monty Python star travelled to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on the day of a landmark meeting between the country's two leaders for a new documentary. His new show 'Michael Palin in North Korea' is his first travelogue in six years and took three years of planning. Speaking at the screening of the documentary, he said: When we got to the hotel, you couldnt get a waiter because they were all looking at the TV replaying this great moment. Michael Palin spent 13 days in the DPRK filming his new documentary / Getty Images Throughout the time we were there they were replaying the process that followed the handshake, the talks, every single aspect of that meeting was replayed and people were absolutely goggle eyed. "People were not looking in disapproval, not saying whats happening but actually looking at it with dare I say some hope. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with South Korean president Moon on April 27 in a meeting which signalled progress in relations between the two countries. North Korea's Kim Jon Un meets South Korea's President Moon Jae-in 1 /18 North Korea's Kim Jon Un meets South Korea's President Moon Jae-in South Korean President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during their meeting at the Peace House at the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone REUTERS North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shakes hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in EPA North Korean leader Kim Jong Un takes hand of South Korean President Moon Jae-in (R) to cross the military demarcation line Getty Images North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in cross the border line at the border village of Panmunjom in Demilitarized Zone AP North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shakes hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in Reuters Kim walks with Moon at the Joint Security Area (JSA) on the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) EPA North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in inspect an honor guard after Kim crossed the border into South Korea for their historic face-to-face talks, in Panmunjom AP The two leaders meet at the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea EPA North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in inspect an honor guard after Kim crossed the border into South Korea for their historic face-to-face talks, in Panmunjom AP South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attend the inter-Korean summit Reuters Kim Jong Un (2nd L) and his wife Ri Sol Ju (L) attend a farewell ceremony with Moon Jae-in (2R) and his wife Kim Jung-sook (R) AFP/Getty Images Ri Sol Ju (L), wife of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, and Kim Jung-sook AFP/Getty Images The couple's toast at a farewell dinner at the end of the summit AFP/Getty Images The official dinner at the end of their historic summit AFP/Getty Images An image of flowers is beamed onto the Peace House where the summit had taken place during a closing ceremony AFP/Getty Images Kyu Cho, 27, reads a newspaper with a front page story about the inter-Korean summit REUTERS A woman reads a newspaper with a front page story about the inter-Korean summit REUTERS A man walks past a newspaper featuring a front page story about the summit AFP/Getty Images Kim became the first ever North Korean leader to step foot in the South since the end of the Korean War 65 years ago. At the time he told President Moon: I feel like I'm firing a flare at the starting line in the moment of (the two Koreas) writing a new history in North-South relations, peace and prosperity. During his trip, Mr Palin managed to ride the Pyongyang metro / Getty Images Palins documentary follows the presenter as he travels to Pyongyang and into the North Korean countryside. At one point he can be seen riding the Pyongyang metro and also celebrating a national holiday in the park with the locals. Mr Palin also visited a park on a national day off / Getty Images Despite his past travels, the 75-year-old was slightly nervous about visiting the hermit kingdom. We were very prepared, we were briefed by Nick Bonner from Koryo Tours but I still didnt get a wink of sleep on the train that night. I thought should there be an international incident, wed have been stuck and we would have been stuck for a long time. Once we got there I didnt have that anxiety. We were well looked after and well treated. Mr Palin visited locations including the Juche Tower / Getty Images It is well known that North Korea restricts foreign tourists from certain areas and are chaperoned by government minders at all times. Despite having chaperones, Mr Palin said the film crew were prepared for the experience and tried to win their guides over. "We decided to be as straight as possible with them and to win their trust and we knew that was the only way to do it. "If they caught us being deceitful, I think things would have been very difficult and we wouldn't be able to operate the way we did in 13 days." A broadcast journalist was mercilessly mocked for being over dramatic about the winds while reporting on Hurricane Florence as two people casually walked past him. Footage shows Weather Channel meteorologist and reporter Mike Seidel bracing for his life against strong gales as two men strolled along the street behind him in Wilmington, North Carolina. With his hood pulled up over his head, he told the camera the gusts were about as nasty as it has been and swayed back and forth while holding the microphone. In the clip, he gave the impression that he was struggling to stay upright as he bent his knees and leaned forward. Mike Seidel reports on Hurricane Florence for the Weather Channel The Weather Channel defended Mr Seidel saying he was standing on wet grass and was absolutely exhausted. Its important to note that the two individuals in the background are walking on concrete and Mike Seidel is trying to maintain his footing on wet grass, after reporting on-air until 1am this morning and is undoubtedly exhausted, the Weather Channel said in a statement. A viewer tweeted a clip of the reporter online with the caption and it was shared hundreds of hundreds of thousands of times. It was uploaded with the caption: So dramatic! Dude from the weather channel bracing for his life, as two dudes just stroll past. Morones said if anyone in attendance has issues with family separations at the border or other immigration policies, voting in the November midterms is the answer. Weve got to get out there. Whichever side of the aisle youre on, it doesnt matter. Get out there (and vote). It is more than an honor because it is not just the personal relationship with Jack and (his wife) Marlene but his long service to the United Way, Karen Fox said. What Jack taught us is that he didnt just tell or ask to give, he showed us how. The A.J. Meerwald docked in Bristol, Pa. Photo by DRBC. Recently, members of the Pennsylvania Joint Legislative Conservation Committee (JLCC), Pa. House and Senate Appropriations Committees, staffers, and local leadership took part in an educational sail aboard the historic schooner AJ Meerwald to learn more about the DRBC and its programs. Preceding the sail, the legislators held a press conference at the Bristol Borough Wharf along the Delaware River recognizing the importance of the river to the Commonwealth and to the region. The JLCC is a bipartisan committee made up of members of the Pa. House and Senate whose mission is to assist the Pa. General Assembly in ensuring the sustainable use and care of Pa.s land, water, and air. Local members of the JLCC who participated on Friday include Sen. Andrew Dinniman (D, PA-19), Rep. Marguerite Quinn (R, PA-143), Rep. Perry Warren (D, PA-31), Rep. Donna Bullock (D, PA-195), and Rep. Mary Jo Daley (D, PA-148). Several of the JLCC members, including committee chair Senator Scott E. Hutchinson (R, PA-21) and Senator Scott Martin (R, PA-13), represent districts outside of the basin, but attended this event to learn more about the commission and show their support for the Delaware River. The event came to fruition based on a recommendation from JLCC member Bullock for DRBC to engage the committee on major DRBC water management programs. Instead of holding the meeting in a traditional conference space, the commission decided on a more experiential approach and reached out to the Bayshore Center at Bivalve to see if they would be willing to host the event aboard the schooner AJ Meerwald. What better way to learn about the Delaware River and DRBC than on an historic sailing vessel, and once on board, participants got right to work helping hoist the sails and then split into three groups for short educational sessions with DRBC staff. DRBC Manager for Water Quality Assessment John Yagecic, P.E., talked about the commissions programs that assess and protect water quality throughout the basin, for example, DRBCs efforts to reduce PCBs and other toxic pollutants in the Delaware Estuary (the tidal Delaware River and Bay); its Special Protection Waters program that protects the existing high quality waters of the non-tidal Delaware River; and a new, multi-year effort to examine whether criteria for dissolved oxygen can be improved to further support all life stages of resident and migratory fish in the Delaware Estuary and Bay. You cant manage what you dont measure, and monitoring is an important part of the commissions programs to manage and improve water quality for all those that depend on this resource for drinking, agricultural, and industrial use, as well as for aquatic life. View Presentation: DRBC Water Quality Monitoring Programs (pdf 2 MB) The lesson by DRBC Manager for Water Resource Operations Amy Shallcross, P.E., focused on flow management in the Delaware River Basin. Even though the Delaware River is undammed, its flow is still highly managed through reservoir releases and flow regimes. This is especially important in times of drought or dry periods to ensure that there is enough fresh water flowing downstream to repel the salty water from the ocean that could impact drinking water and industrial intakes along the tidal portion of the river. During past droughts in the basin, DRBCs drought management programs have proven successful in ensuring drinking water sources were protected and other water uses, for example, industry and power generation, were not curtailed. View Presentation: Flow Management in the Delaware River Basin (pdf 858 KB) DRBC Manager for Water Resource Planning Chad Pindar, P.E., focused his talk on various water uses in the basin and how DRBC manages water supply. Thermoelectric power generation, public water supply, out of basin diversions, and industry are the largest water users in the basin, and DRBC regulatory policies are in place to help balance these needs to ensure there is enough water for all uses, as well as for in-stream flow needs. The commission is also looking at projected demands to ensure a dependable water supply for the basin in the future. View Presentation: Overview of Water Supply and One Process - One Permit Program (pdf 1.2 MB) At the end of the sail, participants disembarked the AJ Meerwald with a greater understanding of the Delaware Rivers importance to the region and a new appreciation of the commission's efforts to manage and protect this resource, which provides drinking water for about 15 million people, including nearly 5.5 million Pennsylvanians. Special thanks also go to event sponsor Pennoni, the Bayshore Center at Bivalve, the AJ Meerwald crew, the Bristol Borough Council, and Rob Strasser of the King George II Inn. Minister of Justice, Tudorel Toader, announced, on Saturday, that in the coming period, on September 28, he will attend the meeting of the chairmen of the Courts of Appeal, and on October 10 he will be present at a meeting with all the prosecutors that have leadership positions. Minister Toader emphasized that the meeting with the heads of prosecutors' offices, which will take place in Bucharest, was scheduled on August 8, during discussions that the Minister had with General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar, ad-interim head of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), Anca Jurma, and the head of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), Felix Banila. Tudorel Toader announced the meetings in a Facebook post on Saturday, mentioning also that on May 18 he also attended the annual meeting of the chairmen of tribunals, taking place in Targu Jiu. The Houston police and fire departments were deeply involved in safety measures for the music festival where a surging crowd killed eight people.Now the citys police department is leading the criminal investigation into how the deadly chaos erupted during Friday nights performance by rapper Travis Scott. Minister of Justice, Tudorel Toader, announced, on Saturday, that in the coming period, on September 28, he will attend the meeting of the chairmen of the Courts of Appeal, and on October 10 he will be present at a meeting with all the prosecutors that have leadership positions. Minister Toader emphasized that the meeting with the heads of prosecutors' offices, which will take place in Bucharest, was scheduled on August 8, during discussions that the Minister had with General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar, ad-interim head of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), Anca Jurma, and the head of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism ( DIICOT ), Felix Banila. Tudorel Toader announced the meetings in a Facebook post on Saturday, mentioning also that on May 18 he also attended the annual meeting of the chairmen of tribunals, taking place in Targu Jiu. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 15) A security guard was crushed to death in Caloocan City after a wall collapsed on him amid heavy rains brought by Typhoon Ompong on Saturday, police said. The Northern Police District identified the victim as Domingo Penaflor, 58. Its initial police report said Porras was on duty when the wall fell on him at around 7:30 a.m. at Barangay 102 in 9th Ave. Metro Manila is under Signal No. 1, but the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Ompong is enhancing southwest monsoon (Habagat) that brings gusty winds with occasional moderate to heavy rains in the region. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has yet to release official data on the number of casualties caused by Ompong, saying it needs to verify if the deaths were indeed related to the powerful typhoon. An eight-month-old baby drowned in flood in Albay province early Friday, the regional police said. PAGASA said Ompong has weakened ahead of its expected exit Saturday night. The state weather bureau, however, warned of continuing hazards and threats that could be caused by the typhoon, including landslides, floods and storm surge. This is a developing story. Please refresh page for updates. Judge Gamrath had this as a check-in on the progress of the federal action, said Skokie village attorney Michael Lorge. Nothing changed and, in fact, she provided a long 90-day date continuing the stay on the state court action. During this time no rulings will be issued by her and the parties are on hold as to any litigation. One of the early indicators that the Trump administrations foreign and security policies would not be guided by the Presidents own preferences but by those of the supposed experts globalists, neoconservatives, and assorted retreads from the George W. Bush administration with whom he unwisely has surrounded himself was the announcement of a new strategy on Afghanistan in August 2017. It was neither new nor a strategy. President Donald Trump allowed his publicly stated preference to get the hell out to be overruled by the guys with the short haircuts who want to stay in Afghanistan, in effect, forever. But why? What possible national interest could be advanced from a permanent American military presence in a godforsaken piece of real estate about as remote from the United States as it is possible to get while staying on this planet? One answer was suggested by Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson (US Army-Ret.), former chief of staff to US Secretary of State Colin Powell, at the August 18, 2018, conference of the Ron Paul Institute. Wilkersons description of the subjective thinking of the US military has the ring of truth (presented here in authentic Pentagonese BLOCK LETTERS, emphasis added in bold): HERE IS WHAT THE MOST POWERFUL AND MOST STRATEGICALLY-ORIENTED BUREAUCRACY IN OUR GOVERNMENT, THE MILITARY, HAS DECIDED FOR AFGHANISTAN. THERE ARE THREE STRATEGIC REASONS WE WILL BE IN AFGHANISTAN, AS WE HAVE BEEN IN GERMANY SINCE WWII, FOR A VERY LONG TIMEWELL BEYOND THE ALMOST TWENTY YEARS WE HAVE BEEN THERE TO DATE. THESE REASONS HAVE LITTLE TO DO WITH STATE-BUILDING, WITH THE TALIBAN, OR WITH ANY TERRORIST GROUP THAT MIGHT BE PRESENT. THESE THINGS ARE ANCILLARY TO OUR REAL OBJECTIVES. THE FIRST REAL OBJECTIVE IS TO HAVE HARD POWER DIRECTLY NEAR THE CHINESE BASE ROAD INITIATIVE (BRI) IN CENTRAL ASIA. ASK DONALD RUMSFELD HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO GET MAJOR MILITARY FORCES INTO THIS EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT LAND-LOCKED TERRAIN IN THE FALL OF 2001. FOR THAT REASON, WE ARE NOT ABOUT TO DEPART. SECOND, IN AFGHANISTAN WE ARE RIGHT NEXT TO THE POTENTIALLY MOST UNSTABLE NUCLEAR STOCKPILE ON EARTH, PAKISTANS. WE ARE NOT ABOUT TO LEAVE THAT EITHER. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO POUNCE ON THAT STOCKPILE VERY SWIFTLY SHOULD IT BECOME A THREAT. THIRD, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MOUNT AND COVER WITH HARDPOWER CIA OPERATIONS IN XINJIANG PROVINCE, CHINAS WESTERNMOST SECTION. THESE WOULD BE OPERATIONS AIMED AT USING THE SOME 20 MILLION UIGHURS IN THAT PROVINCE TO DESTABLIZE THE GOVERNMENT IN BEIJING SHOULD WE SUDDENLY FIND OURSELVES AT WAR WITH THAT COUNTRY. I WILL WAGER THERE ARE NOT A HANDFUL OF OUR CITIZENS WHO REALIZE THAT WEOUR MILITARY, THAT ISPLAN TO BE IN AFGHANISTAN FOR THE ENTIRE TIME WE ARE CONSIDERING FOR OUR GRAND STRATEGYAND PERHAPS BEYOND. We are not yet overtly at war with China, but given Beijings quasi-alliance with Moscow and the growing prospect of a clash between the US and Russia in Syria or Ukraine its not too soon to suppose the self-proclaimed steady state already thinks of China as an enemy, or at least as a great power competitor that needs to be taken down a peg. Of particular importance, as noted by Wilkerson, is the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the centerpiece of a greater Eurasian partnership, a key component of Chinas bid to become a military superpower as well as an economic one. Beijings geographical weak link to Eurasian partnership is Xinjiang, which is BRIs logistics hub and Chinas gateway to the west towards Central Asia, Russia, and Europe. It also conveniently happens to be the home of restive Muslim ethnic Uyghurs. In short, Xinjiang is an ideal place for the CIA (per Wilkerson) to give Beijing a hotfoot and try to throw an impediment in the way of BRI and thus of Eurasian integration. Whenever you see western governments and the legacy media wailing about the plight of persecuted Muslims somewhere (in a way they never do for Christians anywhere) it should be a tipoff the boys and girls over at Langley are pushing the start button on a jihad against someone for geopolitical reasons having nothing to do with human rights, religious freedom, or other ostensible bleeding heart concerns. That appears to be what were seeing today in the strident chorus of alarm from Congress calling for sanctions against Chinese officials. Weve seen this movie before. Today we see it against China and Beijings Belt and Road Initiative (the Uyghurs, and connectedly the Rohingya in Myanmar, directed against BRIs China-Myanmar Economic Corridor through Rakhine State on the Bay of Bengal). In the past we saw it in Afghanistan (against the USSR), in the Balkans on behalf of Bosnian Muslims and Kosovo Albanians (against the Serbs), in the Caucasus on behalf of the Chechens (against Russia). Of course the successful overthrow and murder of the Libyas Muammar Kaddafi and the not-yet-abandoned effort to effect regime change in Syria depend heavily on support for various al-Qaeda affiliates and offshoots. Its significant that in all of our post-Cold War 1 military interventions every one (except for Bill Clintons invasion of Haiti) was ostensibly to free or rescue some suffering Muslims never mind that in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, etc. we somehow ended up killing large numbers of the supposed beneficiaries. Just imagine how many oppressed Muslims we would need to kill liberating Iran! Meanwhile, as we continue to support the Saudi slaughter in Yemen with a US quasi-alliance with al-Qaeda there, theres nothing to see, folks . . . Recognizing these crocodile tears for what they are isnt to suggest that bad things arent happening in Xinjiang. But based on past experience its reasonable to think that behind the fog of state-sponsored media propaganda the reality is more complex and involves a substantial element of western intelligence ginning up the jihadis against the kaffir Han as we have against many other targets. As is the case with Myanmar, where the governments claims of actual jihad terrorism including massacring Hindu villagers are dismissed out of hand, Chinas policy in Xinjiang is condemned without reference to the demonstrable reality of outside-supported attacks. As noted by Moon of Alabama: Since the early 1990s a number of terror incidents by the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) [also known as the Turkestan Islamic Party] killed several hundred people in China. ETIM is sanctioned by the UN as an al-Qaeda aligned movement. Three years ago China decided to attack the problem at its roots. It prohibited Salafist-Wahhabi Islamic practice, which was only recently imported into the traditionally Sufi Uyghur-Muslim areas, and it tries to weed out any such ideology. It also fears the potential growth of an ethnic-nationalistic Turkic Uyghur movement, sponsored by Turkey, that could evolve into a separatist campaign. People who are susceptible to such ideologies will be put through an reeducation training which includes language lessons in Mandarin and general preparation for the job market. This may not be the way 'western' countries mishandle a radicalization problem, but it is likely more efficient. There surly are aspects of the program that can be criticized. But to claim that these trainings happen in "concentration camps" and for nonsensical reasons is sheer propaganda. Further: Xinjiang province is larger than Great Britain, France, Spain, and Germany combined. It is a mostly uninhabitable landscape of mountainous and desert terrain with a tiny population of some 24 million of which only 45% are Muslim Uyghurs of Turkic ethnicity. It would be rather unimportant outer province for China were it not at the core of the new Silk road connections. It is a vulnerable point. An established insurgency in the area could seriously interrupt the new strategic communication lines. Chinese strategists believe that the U.S., with the help of its Turkish, Saudi and Pakistani friends, was and is behind the Islamic and ethnic radicalization of the Turkic population in the province. It is not by chance that Turkey transferred Uyghur Jihadis from Xinjiang via Thailand to Syria to hone their fighting abilities. That the New York Times publishes about the Xinjiang re-education project, and also offers the report in Mandarin, will only confirm that suspicion. China is determined to end such interference. The fact is that the CIA and MI6 spooks love jihadis theyre very operational as well as expendable. Case in point are several thousand Chinese Uyghurs fighting with the al-Qaeda-led terrorists in Syrias Idlib province, where Chinas President Xi Jinping no doubt will help Syrias Bashar al-Assad and Russias Vladimir Putin ensure as many of them as possible never make it back home. One inescapable irony is that the US and other intelligence services likely siccing their terrorist hounds on China represent governments that worship at the absurd altar of diversity is strength, unlike the countries they are targeting. Unashamed of their identity and culture, the Han Chinese arent buying it. As American nationalist Patrick Buchanan observes: Consider China, which seeks this century to surpass America as the first power on earth. Does Xi Jinping welcome a greater racial, ethnic and cultural diversity within his county as, say, Barack Obama does in ours? In his western province of Xinjiang, Xi has set up an archipelago of detention camps. Purpose: Re-educate his country's Uighurs and Kazakhs by purging them of their religious and tribal identities, and making them and their children more like Han Chinese in allegiance to the Communist Party and Chinese nation. Xi fears that the 10 million Uighurs of Xinjiang, as an ethnic and religious minority, predominantly Muslim, wish to break away and establish an East Turkestan, a nation of their own, out of China. And he is correct. What China is doing is brutalitarian. But what China is saying with its ruthless policy is that diversityreligious, racial, culturalcan break us apart as it did the USSR. And we are not going to let that happen. Do the Buddhists of Myanmar cherish the religious diversity that the Muslim Rohingya of Rakhine State bring to their country? If Donald Trump really were master of his own house, maybe he could move forward on his pledge of an America First, national interest-based policy that finds common ground (as articulated at the same Ron Paul Institute conference by Colonel Doug Macgregor (US Army-Ret.)) with countries like Russia and China we continue to treat as adversaries. But as things stand now, Trumps nominal subordinates continue to do as they please as though someone else occupied the Oval Office. Perhaps they anticipate that will soon be the case. However, he noted that Grand Avenue west of Mannheim Road is under state jurisdiction, which limits the villages options in addressing Houswerths request. He said the state has put up a small sign warning eastbound drivers not to block the condo driveway, but that the area would be improved by another sign west of the entrance, ideally a solar-powered flashing sign. Its a country known for its culture and traditions, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, delicious and diverse food, breathtaking landscapes, and history. But if you havent got the time or the funds to travel more than 9000km to visit Vietnam for yourself, maybe a taster of the country will suffice. Living in Harmony will be hosting a Vietnam evening on September 18 from 7-9pm at the Senior Citizens Hall at 14 Norris St. Organiser and ex-pat Landi Morrison says the evening will be a cultural feast for those interested in Vietnam. We will have a 15-minute presentation on the country and people, scenery and food, then we will have a couple of songs, one performed by children. The second part will be introductions for some people in the Vietnamese community that are living in the Bay of Plenty, what we do, and what we are up to. Then we have some food to share with everyone and we will have some items to display. Landi moved to New Zealand in 2002 and lived in Wellington for five years before moving up to the Bay of Plenty, which she says she loves. The Bay is a nice place, its warmer and sunnier compared to Wellington! The Bay is a cosy sort of place, and its good for kids to grow up here. Landi hopes to build a community for Vietnamese ex-pats here in the Bay of Plenty and says a support and social network for Vietnamese people would be a great addition to Tauranga. There are quite a few Vietnamese living in the Bay but I never really have much time to be social or hang out with them very much. So many Vietnamese girls are living here with no family. Sometimes we are pretty much on our own, so hopefully we can try to support each other somehow. Everybody is welcome to attend the Living in Harmony event Vietnamese ex-pats or just curious wannabe travellers. Please bring a plate of food to share and a donation. For more information search Multicultural Tauranga on Facebook. They play a clean game while theyre on the court, but when theyre off it, players from New Zealands Silver Ferns arent afraid to get their hands a little dirty. Players are rolling up their sleeves this weekend, ahead of their anticipated match against South Africas Proteas, to lend a hand where it counts at Waipuna Hospice Charity Shop in Mount Maunganui. Theyre encouraging more people to come on board and volunteer at Hospice Shops throughout Tauranga, so from 4pm-5pm this Sunday, players will be in store doing a push to get more volunteers. The drive is in association with Hospice New Zealand and House of Travel who have been national partners for more than 10 years. This an association we are extremely proud of, and which continues to go from strength to strength, says a spokesperson for House of Travel. Over the past decade, House of Travel stores throughout the country have supported their local hospices in ways as diverse as their communities; raising both funds and awareness and helping to educate the public about the invaluable services hospice provides. The partnership provides unique character and team-building opportunities for House of Travel teams, with many stores volunteering their time within the community and connecting with locals. The day will be an opportunity to not only meet Silver Ferns players, but to learn more about the ways people can volunteer. All proceeds made from Hospice charity stores are are used to provide palliative care services for people within the Western Bay of Plenty region. The stores would not be operational without the hours put in by a number of generous volunteers who work in each of the stores. Those interested in learning more about how to become a volunteer can head along to the event at Waipuna Hospice Charity Shop from 4pm-5pm this Sunday. Bay of Plenty rugby have won their first ever national under 19 title with a last minute intercept try in an exhilarating Jock Hobbs Memorial tournament final in Taupo. They've capped off a memorable tournament with a 35-30 victory over Canterbury to take the Graham Mourie Cup. It was a very different match for the baby Steamers after their earlier 90-0 and 46-12 romps over Hawkes Bay and North Harbour, and the fact they had to overcome serious obstacles presented by Canterbury notably an utterly dominant scrum will make the win all the more satisfying. They also had to show impressive resilience to come from behind against a team showing all the typical Canterbury traits of defensive discipline and forward power. The mainlanders were on track to take a 13-3 lead into halftime until New Zealand under 20 utility back Kaleb Trask, playing at fullback, added a try four minutes before the break to the penalty he'd already kicked. Then a halftime rev up from coach Mike Rogers reminding his team of their licence to play with a smile on their face did the trick nicely. The Bay's free-running game returned to the fore, and tries resulted to flanker Kohan Herbert, Trask again, and first five Cole Forbes, with the team making huge gains from the off-loading of right wing Emoni Narawa. With four minutes remaining another Trask penalty looked to have given them a degree of comfort at 30-23, but that's just not how this crazy match rolled. A charge down from a Cole Forbes clearing kick put Canterbury in under the posts, with the simple conversion levelling the scores. Then, just as extra time loomed, left wing Jayjay Suemai came up with his astute piece of opportunism to steal the pass as Canterbury attempted to run the ball out of their half and stroll 15 metres to the line. It was a triumph not only for Bay of Plenty rugby, winning the Graham Mourie Cup for the first time, but a personal one as well for Kaleb Trask, picking up the DJ Graham award for player of the tournament. Bay of Plenty 35 (Kaleb Trask 2, Cole Forbes, Kohan Herbert, Jayjay Suemai tries; Trask 2 con, 2 pen) Canterbury 30 (Finlay Brewis, Cullen Grace, Conor McManus tries; Fergus Burke 3 con, 3 pen) HT: 8-13 The return of Tyler Ardron and introduction of former Waikato and New Zealand under 20s lock Nick Ross are two of the key changes to the Steamers' lineup for their Mitre 10 Cup encounter with North Harbour this afternoon. Ardron would in all probability have slotted back in anyway after his quick jaunt home to Canada for a family wedding, but the inclusion of Ross, son of former Bay player Craig, is a slightly more leftfield move, designed to help deal with the lineout issues that showed up in last week's 29-28 loss to Hawkes Bay. Hes highly experienced in the art of lineouts, says Clayton. We feel with the addition of those two people theyll give us some mobility, some big engines, and a lot more accuracy in the lineouts in particular. Ross, who has just returned from a three year stint in Japan, probably would have played earlier but has been nursing a broken hand. He will partner Aaron Carrol in the second row, meaning last week's combination of Kane Leaupepe and Baden Wardlaw drop out of the 23. Ardron will slot onto the blindside, meaning Tanerau Latimer returns to the bench. All going well, Clayton says, that will give him the chance to use the 82 match veteran to spell openside maestro Mitch Karpik. Tanerau and Mitch have both got through 80 minutes in the last two weeks so were just mindful that we need to look after those blokes a little bit too. Another loose forward trojan who has got through a mountain of work this season is no. 8 Hoani Matenga, who will start once again. We just think that Hoanis getting better and better. He came to us a little bit underdone and hes played some big minutes but I think hes starting to get on top of his game. He hadnt played number 8 for a little while so hes getting his flow back in that position and hell start there again this week. Luke Campbell gets a shot in the number 9 jersey, Clayton says. Thats just to mitigate the fact that Richard Judd has played some big minutes and is feeling a little banged up. One of those bangs came in the process of scoring a try against Hawkes Bay. Clayton wasnt entirely happy with the late shot Judd took after touching down but took it philosophically that no action was deemed necessary by the officials. A hamstring strain to Matt Garland has ruled him out, meaning a start for New Zealand sevens star Trael Joass. He'll wear the 13 jersey with Liam Steel moving to take Garland's place on the left wing. After using some gentle rotation and trying a few different combinations in certain areas Clayton says the time is coming to settle on his preferred lineup. Weve had a little bit of transition through our squad - just through sickness and injury, and mitigating against short turnarounds. So everyones had a fair shake of the cherry, and Ive just said to them this week, approaching the midway point in the season, that assuming everyones fit and well the time for experimentation and rotation is nearing an end and well put our best team out on the park every week. He feels his side will have to give it their best shot to beat Premiership level North Harbour, despite the fact the hosts are backing up after going down to Canterbury on Wednesday night. Theyre coming off a couple of losses which never does a team any good when you play them it makes them desperate and hungry. They might have lost to Canterbury but they showed where theyre dangerous in unstructured play, they have a good kicking game, good organisation, and an experienced nine and 10. Theyll potentially be feeling the effects of a couple of games within a week but theyve got enough firepower and experience to be really dangerous and well have to be at our best to beat them. Bay of Plenty Steamers to take on North Harbour at QBE Stadium Albany this afternoon, kickoff 2:05 (appearances in brackets): 1. Solomona Sakalia (37), 2. Tom Crozier (2), 3. Ross Geldenhuys (4), 4. Nick Ross*, 5. Aaron Carroll (4), 6. Tyler Ardron (9), 7. Mitch Karpik (10), 8. Hoani Matenga (4), 9. Luke Campbell (20), 10. Mike Delany (76) , 11. Liam Steel (8), 12. Terrence Hepetema (23), 13. Trael Joass (4), 14. Faasiu Fuatai (4), 15. Chase Tiatia (30) Reserves: 16. Angus MacDonald (3), 17. Jame s Lay (14)**, 18. Jeff Thwaites (25), 19. Hugh Blake (22), 20. Tanerau Latimer (82) , 21. Richard Judd (14)**, 22. Jason Robertson (2), 23. Bailey Simonsson (1) DEWITT, N.Y. -- DeWitt police are asking the public for help finding a suspect in the homicides of two Chili's employees early Saturday. William D. Wood Jr., 32, is armed and dangerous and should not be approached, police said. But anyone who sees him or knows of his whereabouts should call 911, police said. Wood is described as a white man who is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and 170 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt and black pants and has been known to ride a brown- or orange-colored BMX bike, police said. Police did not say whether there were any other suspects. Tips can also be submitted to Tips@TownofDeWitt.com. Police also have not yet identified the victims. Police said officers responded to the restaurant by ShoppingTown Mall in DeWitt at 1:04 a.m., and found one employee dead at the scene. A second employee was transported to a local hospital, where he died, police said. DeWitt police are on the scene looking for physical evidence and interviewing witnesses, according to John J. Anton, DeWitt police chief. The restaurant, 3691 Erie Blvd. E. in DeWitt, normally closed at midnight, according to its web site. Wood has two previous arrests in the Syracuse area, according to news archives. In 2010, he was accused of criminal possession of a weapon, in addition to second-degree menacing and second-degree harassment. In 2004, when he was 18, Wood was accused of false impersonation and traffic violations. In both cases, he listed a Syracuse home address. Syracuse, NY -- A jury has found a Syracuse man guilty of murdering another man while wearing a unique red, white and blue outfit. Ali Muhmmad, 25, was found guilty of murder and illegal weapons possession after a weeklong trial, prosecutor Melinda McGunnigle said. The jury got the case after lunch today and returned its verdict at 4:30 p.m., she said. Key evidence in the trial included the red, white and blue hooded sweatshirt Muhammad wore at the time of the shooting at Oak and Park streets on the city's North Side. Muhammad also wore red and blue sneakers with white laces. Killed in the Dec. 17, 2017 homicide was Dunier Chestnut, who had gone to the Fastbreak Market with a friend. Muhammad arrived at the market and followed Chestnut across the street before firing four times, fatally striking him in the chest, McGunnigle told the jury. His unusual outfit became important because his identity was not known from security cameras that captured the shooting itself. But Muhammad was seen -- and identified -- wearing the same outfit hours before at the Tops supermarket nearby. Defense lawyer Patrick Hennessy said during trial that it must have been a coincidence. Someone else was wearing a similar outfit in the same time, he argued. Muhammad remains in jail. He will be sentenced Oct. 30. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison for murder. Its unclear if he could face additional time for the illegal weapons charges. DEWITT, NY - Two employees at Chili's Grill & Bar restaurant in DeWitt were shot and killed in a robbery early Saturday morning, according to DeWitt police. Police said officers responded to the restaurant by ShoppingTown Mall in DeWitt at 1:04 a.m., and found one employee dead at the scene. A second employee was transported to a local hospital, where he died, police said. DeWitt police are on the scene looking for physical evidence, and interviewing witnesses, according to John J. Anton, DeWitt police chief. The investigation is continuing, and DeWitt police are asking anyone with information to contact them at tips@townofDewitt.com. The restaurant, 3691 Erie Blvd. E. in DeWitt, normally closed at midnight, according to its web site. Onondaga County sheriff's deputies, New York State Police, and Syracuse Police K9 are assisting, police said. They may have called him the Butcher of Broadway for his harsh reviews, but former New York Times theater critic Frank Rich had a soft spot for "Noises Off" which he regarded as "the funniest play written in my lifetime" -- a high compliment for British playwright and novelist Michael Frayn who penned the comedy in 1982. Many agree that "Noises Off" is the gold standard of farce, a form of theater defined by the Oxford Dictionary as "a comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations." When directed masterfully, acted impeccably, and performed at breakneck speed, "Noises Off" is irresistible. Oddly enough, the current production at Syracuse Stage -- which opens the company's 46th season -- is a historic first. According to Artistic Director Robert Hupp who also directed the show, "For the past 30 years, Noises Off has been among the most produced plays in the country. But this is its inaugural launch at Stage, and I have been eager to direct this pedal-to-the-metal comedic classic." The script for "Noises Off" follows a typical three-act structure and is built around a devastatingly clever trick: it's a play-within-a-play seen from the front, back, and front again. Act I focuses on the mishaps of a company of actors as they struggle with a final rehearsal in the early morning hours of opening night. Act II revisits the production one month later, this time from the actors' perspective backstage during a performance. Act III returns us to the audience perspective nearly two months later, but now we're in on the joke; when what should happen doesn't, we know why. If you've never seen "Noises Off," you will enjoy this production. The acting is solid, the slamming doors and bumbling slapstick all go off without a hitch. Unfortunately, 'solid' is not what farce is about, and even the program notes -- written by Syracuse Stage Director of Marketing and Communications Joseph Whelan -- acknowledge this: "For some critics, Noises Off represents a kind of apotheosis for contemporary farce. In one play Frayn successfully parodies the form while achieving its ultimate goal -- uncontrollable laughter, the kind that has audiences falling out of their seats." I've seen "Noises Off" previously here in Central New York. The laughter was so uncontrollable my stomach ached by the end of the show, and around me others were equally uncomfortable; we all tried to lean back in our seats and straighten out to ease the cramps caused by not being able to breathe. Syracuse Stage's production does not produce those kinds of laughs. Their "Noises" is Slightly Off -- something critical is missing. Act I should be humorous, Act II hysterical, Act III practically life-threatening due to lack of oxygen. What I heard opening night was intermittent but not steady laughter. What I saw onstage was a good show but that's it -- it's not even close to Frank Rich's rapturous endorsement. I have my theories as to why this is so, but I'm a theater reviewer, not a critic, so I'll leave it at that. As a true ensemble show, the actors are evenly balanced and clearly give it their all. Scenic designer John Iacovelli's country house set is attractive with the right amount of kitschy decor. David Zyla's 1980s-era costumes are subtly comedic and consistent with the decade's unfortunate signature palette of turquoise and desert rose. And as comedy stunt coordinator, D.C. Wright staged one particularly stunning pratfall that had the opening night audience audibly gasping. In the program notes Hupp writes, "it seemed that a little escapism might be just what we need in a season opener." This is not a bad show -- it's just less of an escape and more of a staycation. "Noises Off" is well-intentioned, and maybe in this case, that's enough. The Details: What: "Noises Off" presented by Syracuse Stage Where: Archbold Theater in the Syracuse Stage/SU Drama Complex Length: 2 hours 30 minutes including a 15-minute intermission and a 5-minute stretch When seen: Opening night September 14 Family Guide: Ages 14 and above Runs through: September 30 Ticket information and reservations: 443-3275 and on the Syracuse Stage website. CNY Theater Guide AUSTIN, Texas -- History curriculum in Texas remembers the Alamo, but could soon forget Hillary Clinton and Helen Keller. As part of an effort to "streamline" the social studies curriculum in Texas, the State Board of Education voted on Friday to change what students in every grade are required to learn in the classroom. They voted to remove several historical figures, including Hillary Clinton and Helen Keller. The board also voted to add back into the curriculum a reference to the "heroism" of the defenders of the Alamo, which had been recommended for elimination, as well as Moses' influence on the writing of the founding documents, multiple references to "Judeo-Christian" values and a requirement that students explain how the "Arab rejection of the State of Israel has led to ongoing conflict" in the Middle East. The vote Friday was preliminary. The board, which is elected to represent geographic areas, will take a final vote on these curriculum changes in November and can make further amendments before then. The Dallas Morning News reached out all 15 members of the State Board of Education for comment about the Clinton and Keller deletions. Barbara Cargill, a Republican from Houston and former board chair, responded, saying, "the recommendation to eliminate Helen Keller and Hillary Clinton was made by (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) work groups. However, the board did vote to agree with the work groups' recommendations. In speaking to teachers and testifiers, they did not mention these specific deletions." High schoolers have been required to learn about Clinton, who was the first woman to win a major political party's presidential nomination, in history class. She was included in the curriculum under a section about citizenship, where students were required to "evaluate the contributions of significant political and social leaders in the United States," including Andrew Carnegie, Thurgood Marshall and Sandra Day O'Connor. Barry Goldwater was also removed from this teaching requirement. A work groups tasked with the streamlining recommended axing American evangelist and Baptist pastor Billy Graham, but the state board added him back earlier this week. Third-grade social studies teachers have also been required to educate kids about the life of Keller, who despite being deaf and blind went on to college and a life of activism and authorship. But Keller did not make the work group's cut, and students in other grades aren't required to learn about her life. Removing figures like these from the curriculum wouldn't mean teachers are forbidden from teaching them, but they will no longer be required to do so. So why didn't Clinton, Keller and several dozen other historical figures make the cut? The News spoke with two teachers who sat on a group of volunteers that made these recommendations to the board. Both said the state requires students to learn too many historical figures, so the kids fall back on rote memorization of dates and names instead of real learning. That 15-member volunteer work group came up with a rubric for grading every historical figure to find of who is "essential" to learn and who wasn't. They asked questions like, Did the person trigger a watershed change? Was the person from an underrepresented group? Will their impact stand the test of time? Out of 20 points, Keller scored a 7. Out of 21 points, Clinton scored a 5. Eliminating Clinton from the requirements will save teachers 30 minutes of instructional time, the work group estimated, and eliminating Keller will save 40 minutes. By contrast, local members of the Texas Legislature (who are taught in fourth grade) got a perfect score, as did Barbara Jordan, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin and Henry B. Gonzalez. President Donald Trump isn't included in the list by name, but students are required to learn about the current president, governor and mayor. Earlier this year, the work group split up and each took a group of figures to grade using the rubric, according to the two teachers, who both said they wanted to keep politics out of the decisions. "There were hundreds of people" kids had to learn, Misty Matthews, a teacher in Round Rock, told The News. "Our task was to simplify. ... We tried to make it as objective as possible." Jana Poth added that the work group did "not want to offend anyone" with their choices. "But there's too many people." Third-graders, for example, are required to learn about three dozen people. Fourth graders have to learn about 69, and in eighth grade, when students take the STAAR social studies test, they must learn about 50 historical figures. Neither Poth nor Matthews said they were in the small group that made the decisions about Clinton and Keller. In a note next to the deletion from the Grade 3 social studies curriculum, where Keller is included in a lesson about "the characteristics of good citizenship," the work group wrote, "Helen Keller does not best represent the concept of citizenship. Military and first responders are best represented." There was no comment next the recommendation to remove Clinton. Students in that grade are still required to learn about former President Bill Clinton's impeachment. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Chris Turner urged the board to reject these deletions at their November meeting. "If Helen Keller was an important historical figure when I was in school (and she was), then she still is today," Turner, D-Grand Prairie, tweeted. "Clinton is the 1st and only woman to be the presidential nominee of a major party in U.S. history. Enough said." Work groups were assigned to look at each grade's curriculum and suggest ways to streamline it. These groups -- made up of volunteers nominated by the state board -- made dozens of recommendations. The state board accepted many of the changes and rejected some. A small taste of the Civil War came to Waterloo, N.Y. on Sept. 12, 1923, 58 years after the war ended. Residents of the Seneca County village, best known for being the birthplace of Memorial Day, must have been surprised when three cannon balls were fired from a cannon from Lafayette Park while people and schoolchildren walked home for lunch. The Medina Daily Journal had a little fun with Charles Genung after volunteering to dislodge the cannon balls with gunpowder. The park had recently been struck by vandals, believed to be "mischievous boys," who had taken the eight-pound cannon balls from a pyramid-shaped display and dropped them down the muzzle of the cannon nearby. Park commissioners tried to remove them and successfully got all but three out of the cannon. That is when Charles Genung, who lived next door to the park, decided to try to help. Armed with two ounces of gunpowder and a fuse from a firecracker, Genung thought he could fire the balls out, figuring that the small amount of powder would prevent the balls from traveling too far. The Medina Daily Journal wrote that the powder Genung used should "have been only sufficient to dislodge the balls." Unfortunately, Genung was unaware of the extra powder already inside of the cannon, left over from a previous firing. Or he may have used more gunpowder than he figured. Instead of merely dislodging the three cannon balls, they were sent "soaring over the trees." (Thankfully the cannon was displayed with its muzzle pointed up rather than parallel to the ground which would have sent the balls screaming into a street of pedestrians.) One ball clipped large limbs from trees and landed in the yard of Charles Terwilliger. Another traveled 500 feet and crashed through the second story of the Waterloo Hotel. The third plowed into the west side of Genung's home, cut through one of the upper rooms and lodged inside a front wall. No one was injured in the so-called "Bombardment of Waterloo," though Mr. Genung may have been a bit embarrassed after the story was picked by newspapers across New York State. "Fools Not All Dead Yet" was the front-page headline of the Medina paper. This feature is a part of CNY Nostalgia, a section on syracuse.com. Send your ideas and curiosities to Johnathan Croyle: Email | 315-427-3958. Something to look forward to: Google appears to have given up on trying to surprise us at the Pixel 3 launch on October 9. Three new color combinations have been revealed on a Google hosted "Coming Soon" page. The rather colorful page, first noticed by Droid Life, gives you an interactive experience with the three new colors: black and dark grey, white and light grey and a funky minty green. You can cycle through the colors by pressing the G logo at the bottom of the phone. The color of the frame also provides some good insight into the colorful button the current Pixels have: the black model has light grey while the white and mint options have neon green. Now that we know the colors, its hard to imagine what Google is holding in reserve for the big day. We already know the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will have wireless charging, one rear camera with variable aperture and that the Pixel 3 XL has a massively thick notch. If youre the optimistic sort, you might like to believe this wild theory that all the Pixel leaks so far are secretly a misinformation campaign by Google and that on October 9th theyll reveal an awesome, completely bezel-less phone. These colors look cool, but I'm not holding my breath for bezel-less. Europeans now have longer average life spans, according to a new study. However, bad habits such as smoking and obesity are hindering the progress. The World Health Organization found that on average, people in Europe live a year longer compared to five years ago. Premature deaths that are caused by cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and chronic respiratory diseases have continued to decrease. However, all these are being offset by an unhealthy lifestyle. Going Forward And Backward The study conducted by WHO claims that the average lifespan for Europeans in 2015 reached 77.8 years. That is more than a year added to the estimated average lifespan in 2010. "People live longer, life expectancies are increasing, and premature mortality is falling and that, of course, is a great health message," explained Claudia Stein, director of the Division of Information, Evidence, and Innovation at WHO. "We're seeing it in practically all countries... we're not seeing it equally in all countries." The life expectancy across every country in Europe is varied. Most have taken significant steps toward becoming healthier but results are affected by lifestyle-related factors such as smoking, obesity, and alcohol consumption. Drinking and smoking have remained to be major health problems anywhere, but tobacco and alcohol consumption of Europeans are still the highest in the world. In the recent years, member countries also saw a rise in the number of people who are overweight or obese. More than half of Europeans are reportedly overweight. Non-vaccination is also becoming increasingly a problem as European countries see endemic transmission and sometimes, nationwide outbreaks of measles that can be fatal in children. Luxembourg currently has the highest life expectancy where the average citizen lives up to 83 years old in 2015. Meanwhile, Moldova has the lowest average at 72 years old. Women in the region also live 6.6 years longer than men. Health 2020 WHO publishes the European Health Report every three years to monitor the progress of each member state under the Health 2020 initiative that was launched in 2012. The health policy framework hopes to "significantly improve the health and well-being of populations, reduce health inequalities, strengthen public health and ensure people-centered health systems that are universal, equitable, sustainable and of high quality." Most member states have already exceeded their Health 2020 targets by reducing premature deaths across all member states. Premature deaths have also fallen steeply since the beginning of the millennium. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. CBS has axed Jeff Fager from 60 Minutes due to a threatening message he sent to a reporter. According to David Rhodes, CBS News president, the executive producer has left the network immediately. He added that the termination of Fager was not directly because of the allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Accusations Against Jeff Fager Fager also issued a statement and defended himself, saying that the move was not due to the wrong allegations that were published in The New Yorker. "Instead, they terminated my contract early because I sent a text message to one of our CBS reporters demanding that she be fair in covering the story," said the former executive producer. The news of Fager leaving the network coincided with the exit of its former president, Les Moonves, Julia Chen's husband. Mooves and Fager were the subjects of the investigation of The New Yorker's Ronan Farrow. Fager sent a message to one of the network's reporters, Jericka Duncan, who has been reporting about the fallout from Farrow's articles. The story has talked about allegations against Fager that claimed unwanted touching, however, such accusations have been denied by him. According to Rhodes, the text that Fager sent to the reporter violated the network's policy and it is CBS's commitment to stay true to those rules at all levels. Notably, Moonves stepped down from his duty after The New Yorker had posted the second story. When Duncan reached out for Fager's side, she received an alarming reply. What's In The Message "My language was harsh and, despite the fact that journalists receive harsh demands for fairness all the time, CBS did not like it," Fager admitted. He added that the message should not be the reason for his termination after 36 years of being with the network. His reply was shared by Duncan on Sept. 12 on CBS Evening News where he warned her to 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," reads Fager's message to Duncan. Jeff Glor Weighs In Anchor Jeff Glor commented that the message was unacceptable. He also assured Duncan that the people on CBS Evening News have her back. CBS network saw the message as a threat. The veteran correspondent for 60 Minutes weighed in on the issue by stating that Fager has done an amazing job in managing the show, but his message was inappropriate. The situation is something that brings him great sadness. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Startup company Kano took another step of turning kids into digital makers as it unveiled an updated version of its DIY computer. Kano's innovative Computer Kit Touch is set to come with a 10.1-inch HD touchscreen together with a bright orange wireless keyboard and a highly functional built-in trackpad. Just last year, Kano combined a keyboard-based interaction and touch into a single device. The Computer Kit Touch is now available at Kano.me for $279.99 and other bricks-and-mortar stores. Computer Kit Touch Is Packed With Extensive Features Apart from its touchscreen display, the Computer Kit Touch will also come with an increase storage capacity of 16 GB as well as a bolstered support for touch controls. In addition, the Raspberry Pi-powered gadget, which is primarily aimed at the 6 to 13 age range, will likewise feature a power cable, custom Pi board, battery, speaker, and an updated display driver board. In addition, its keyboard will also support text-based coding applications as well as exhibit a drag-and-drop block-based coding system. Other than that, the Computer Kit Touch will also let kids paint and draw, change the pitch of a loop, and generate a beat or a loop with the assistance of its touch-based digital audio workstation. Alex Klein, the founder of Kano, said that the company has polished a myriad of components, including its speed and battery life. He reiterated that the focal point of the upgrade is enabling its Computer Kit Touch to integrate with other kits. "On the touch kit itself there's also a set of new content that demystifies how touchscreens work and peels back the layer of the screen and shows you what's behind, and you're kind of touching the intersection of the different copper wires and seeing what's happening beneath," Klein said. The Computer Kit Touch is also capable of running popular applications such as Wikipedia, Google Drive, YouTube, LibreOffice, and Google Chromium. It is likewise built in with a small app store, wherein users can download Filezilla, Audacity, and Wolfram. Kano To Launch Harry Potter Wand On a related news, Klein revealed that the company will also be distributing a co-branded Harry Potter product known as the Kano Coding Kit. The Kano Coding Kit will give kids the power to create a motion-sensitive coding wand that will teach them how to generate their own digital spells. The Kano Coding Kit will start to ship next month. In the meantime, Kano will still continue shipping the speaker and camera kits. Aside from its computers, the up-and-coming London-based company also sells a build-it-yourself Pixel lightboard and a motion sensor kit. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Spotify has significantly increased the number of songs that users can download from the streaming service to their devices, in a bid to better challenge rival Apple Music. Downloading songs on Spotify, a feature that requires a Spotify Premium subscription, is a simple process. However, the previous limit on the number of songs that can be downloaded was a burden for the service's heavy users. Spotify Song Download Limit Increased Spotify used to limit the number of songs that Spotify Premium subscribers were able to download to 3,333 tracks per device, with a maximum of three devices. The latest update, however, has significantly increased that limit. After some heavy users started to notice that they were able to breach the 3,333-song limit, Spotify confirmed the change to Rolling Stone. From the previous limit of 3,333 songs per device on up to three devices, the new Spotify song download limit is 10,000 songs per device, on up to five devices. The Spotify song download limit was effectively increased by five times, from a total of 9,999 songs to a new limit of 50,000 songs. The song download limit implemented by Spotify was one of the biggest complaints of users against the music streaming service. The downloaded songs enabled Offline Mode, for when Spotify Premium users found themselves in areas with poor reception such as subways, or for when they are simply avoiding using up their data. Spotify seeks to better challenge Apple Music with its new 50,000-song download limit. However, in comparison, Apple Music does not have a song download limit, with the feature only limited by the amount of free space that users have in their iPhone. Spotify vs Apple Music After years dominating the music streaming space, newer rival Apple Music took over leadership in July in terms of the number of paid subscribers. It was only a matter of time for Apple Music, as the paid subscriber growth of Apple's music streaming service was far higher compared to that of Spotify's. Spotify is now playing catch up to Apple Music, with plans to reportedly license artists directly to the service to partially remove music labels from the picture, and to allow users to skip all advertisements to improve its streaming intelligence and deliver a better experience. It remains to be seen, however, if these efforts, including the increased song download limit, will help Spotify regain its throne in the music streaming industry. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Ortega-Murillo binomial surpassed 75 percent of the votes, which constitutes a categorical victory. | Read More Robert Simmons Jr. and his kitten "Survivor" are rescued from floodwaters after Hurricane Florence dumped several inches of rain in the area overnight, Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 in New Bern, N.C. (Andrew Carter/The News & Observer via AP) GONZALES All four people charged with luring a man with the promise of buying drugs and then beating him unconscious and robbing him have now pleaded guilty to charges in the case, prosecutors in Ascension Parish said Friday. Two of the defendants who pleaded guilty this week, David Gonday and Heather Firmin, received sentences of 15 and 6 years respectively, prosecutors with the 23rd Judicial District said in a statement. The third defendant, Richard Allen, won't be sentenced until 1 p.m. Oct. 9, court minutes say, but he has agreed to 15 years in prison under his plea deal. The severely beaten man was found on June 11, 2017, locked in the trunk of his car in a grassy area along the La. 70 service road near Convent after St. James Parish sheriff's patrol deputies had heard moaning sounds from the abandoned vehicle, prosecutors said. After a joint investigation by St. James and Ascension sheriff's deputies, investigators uncovered the planned kidnapping, beating and robbery. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Investigators found Firmin, 41, 42361 Moody Dixon Road, Prairieville, had called and lured the victim to Allen's home in Sorrento to buy drugs. Instead, Gonday, Allen, and the fourth defendant, Dustin Eddy, beat and robbed him while Firmin watched, a plea agreement says. The series of pleas before 23rd Judicial District Judge Thomas Kliebert Jr. came Monday in Gonzales about two weeks after Eddy reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in exchange for his testimony against the other three defendants. Eddy, 37, 601 Bourg St., Donaldsonville, received a 13-year prison sentence Aug. 27 after pleading guilty to counts of attempted second-degree murder and second-degree robbery, prosecutors said. On Monday, Gonday, 35, 43464 Norwood Road, Prairieville, pleaded guilty before Kliebert to counts of attempted first-degree murder and second-degree robbery, prosecutors said. Also on Monday, Allen, 55, 6100 Panama Road, Sorrento, pleaded guilty to counts of second-degree robbery and second-degree battery. Firmin pleaded guilty Monday to being a principal to second-degree battery. Adding that throughout the years, she has seen the city change with waves of immigrants from different parts of the world, Hazard said the exhibit also aims to present immigration as not just a policy issue but a personal one. From left, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speak to reporters at the Capitol as the Republican-controlled Senate unable to fulfill their political promise to repeal and replace "Obamacare" because of opposition and wavering within the GOP ranks, in Washington, Thursday, July 27, 2017. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Out now: new releases from The Light Set, Sexy Dex and more New Orleans artists The Jefferson Parish Council is poised to select a private contractor to oversee operations at its troubled Waggaman landfill, which has become the focus of controversy because of noxious odors invading neighborhoods on both sides of the Mississippi River. Three firms have submitted their names for the job of "providing oversight and technical assistance" at the parish-owned facility, and the council is scheduled to make its selection at a meeting Wednesday. The firms are Alabama-based PPM Consultants Inc.; Cornerstone Environmental Group, which is headquartered in New York; and Baton Rouge-based Fourrier & de Abreau Engineers. The firms were evaluated by a seven-member committee that included parish department heads and industry representatives. PPM scored the highest, with 873 points out of a possible 1,015, followed by Cornerstone with 846 and Fourrier & de Abreau with 831. Because it is a professional services contract, the council is not required to pick the highest-scoring submission. A contract with the company will be negotiated after the winner is chosen. The landfill has been under the supervision of the parish's Environmental Affairs Department director, Mike Lockwood, since the landfill engineer, a parish employee, resigned in July after the problems blamed on the facility became public. Several other companies are involved in the landfill's operations. The general operations contractor is Louisiana Regional Landfill Co., a subsidiary of Texas-based Waste Connections. Parish Council members regularly refer to the subsidiary by its former name, IESI, and IESI is named throughout the current operations contract, which was signed in 2012. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The contractor handling the landfill's gas collection and control system is APTIM Inc., while the company that owns the rights to the collected gas and sends it by pipeline to a nearby chemical plant is Renewable Energy of Jefferson, a subsidiary of River Birch, which operates landfills on either side of the parish-owned facility. Finally, the contractor currently working on maintenance and repairs at the facility is BLD Services of Kenner. A lot of its work is focused on fixing the system of pipes that remove the water, known as leachate, that flows through the mounds of buried garbage. It was the deterioration of this system in inactive portions of the landfill that is believed to have created the odor problems. As the garbage pits fill up with water, the vertical wells designed to remove the gases produced by the decomposing garbage become flooded and can no longer function, and the methane and hydrogen sulfide escape into the air. The parish and Waste Connections do not agree on who was supposed to be responsible for upkeep of the leachate removal system. The 2012 contract said the system needed to be in working order for at least 30 days before responsibility for it could be turned over to IESI. The company contends the problems with the system predated its arrival and that this standard was never met. The prior contract was held by Waste Management. Residents in Waggaman, Harahan and River Ridge who have been suffering from the foul odors believed to be coming from the landfill expressed new concern when the parish sent out letters last month to various state agencies and adjacent property owners indicating that it is looking at expanding the landfill. Lockwood said by email that the parish is in the early stages of applying to the state Department of Environmental Quality to renew the permit for the landfill. He said the reference to expansion is to a "vertical expansion" that would increase the allowed height of the waste after it is covered and capped. It is currently limited to 76 feet. Whether to allow any additional height would be determined by DEQ based on information yet to be provided by the parish. "This request is to ensure that the citizens of Jefferson Parish have adequate, economical solid waste disposal for many years in the future," Lockwood said. "Ultimately, the vertical expansion is a DEQ decision. As the process moves forward, DEQ will issue public notices and hold meetings that will solicit comment and input from the public. A 245-passenger riverboat being built using a former casino boat's hull will be constructed in Houma by a Gulf Island Fabrication Inc. subsidiary. Gulf Island LLC said Friday that it signed a contract for the expansion and delivery of the American Countess to the American Queen Steamboat Co.'s fleet. The new paddle wheeler will be built using the hull of the Kanesville Queen, a former gambling vessel built in 1995 and acquired in 2016. Kirk Meche, Gulf Island's president and chief executive officer, said the work will be done in Houma. Trade publications reported earlier this year that the American Countess will primarily sail the lower Mississippi River after its 2019 launch. We continue to break sales records and incredible demand remains for more capacity on the river with each of our boats continuing to sail full, American Queen Steamboat Co. Chairman John Waggoner said in a Gulf Island press release Friday. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The company operates three riverboats. The American Duchess is an all-suite paddle wheeler that can carry up to 166 guests. It too was created from a 1995 hull. The Duchess and 450-passenger American Queen sail the Mississippi and tributaries. The American Empress sails the Pacific Northwest. American Queen Steamboat Co. has led the market in a renaissance of domestic river cruising and our skilled team is honored to carry on the legacy of shipbuilding in U.S. building the American Countess, Meche said. Meche said revenue and man-hours associated with the Countess project will be reported in Gulf Islands financial results for the quarter ending Sept. 30. Gulf Island Fabrication Inc. is based in Houston, with fabrication facilities in Louisiana and Texas. The company fabricates steel structures and marine vessels used for oil and gas production and transportation; petrochemical and industrial facilities, power generation; and alternative energy projects. When crew members refused to serve him a fourth drink on a flight to New Orleans, a Southwest Airlines passenger threatened to put one of them in a body bag, punched two policemen in the face after landing, and was shocked with stun guns before he was arrested, federal prosecutors said this week. Joel Michael Bane, a martial arts trainer from New Jersey, pleaded guilty in New Orleans federal court Thursday to one count of interference with a flight crew. He and prosecutors agreed that his punishment should be limited to probation, but U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo could give him up to 20 years in prison as well as a fine of $250,000 if she disagrees. Bane can withdraw his guilty plea and proceed to trial if Milazzo decides to sentence him to more than probation during a hearing scheduled for Dec. 13. His attorney, Frank DeSalvo, described Bane as suffering from "totally permanent post-traumatic stress disorder" after having completed seven combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. "This is a true American hero a really, really good guy in a bad situation," DeSalvo said Friday. "The incident happened it shouldn't have happened. I don't know whose fault it was, but we're moving on." The trouble began on Oct. 13, when Bane downed three drinks on a roughly two-hour, 25-minute flight from Chicago to Louis Armstrong International Airport. Shortly before the plane was to land, he walked toward the front of the plane and asked two flight attendants for another drink, prosecutors wrote in a summary of the case signed by Bane. The flight attendants told Bane they couldnt serve any more booze so late in the flight, and one of them told him to sit down. But he grew angry, refused to sit and asked what the flight attendants would do about it, according to the summary. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up One of the attendants reported the commotion to the planes pilot, who announced over the intercom that all passengers should sit down if they didnt want security to greet you when we land. Well handle any customer issues that you may have when we land, the pilot said. Please take your seats now for safety. Thank you. Bane, prosecutors said, shot back, That captain has no authority over me. He continued refusing to sit, with at least one passenger recording video of him with a cellphone. That clip showed several people walking up to Bane in apparently fruitless attempts to calm him. Bane told one of the attendants that he was a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. He then said the flight crew, including the captain, would be nothing for (him) to handle and that he would put one of the attendants in a body bag. After landing, a Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office deputy and a levee district policeman boarded the plane. But he ignored Levee Police Captain Vincent Yettas commands to disembark, yelling, Move me! Yetta unsuccessfully tried to push Bane toward the door. Instead, Bane, who the court documents note is "large and very muscular," pushed Yetta into a corner and then punched both him and Sheriffs Office Deputy Carl Cade. Other law enforcement officers rushed aboard. He shouted profanities and refused commands to get on the floor or put his hands behind his back, prosecutors said. Officers finally shocked Bane with stun guns to arrest him. I suppose it's like being mugged by a corpse. Losing to Lehman Brothers in court, I mean. After all, the firm went under a decade ago. Everybody knows that. On September 15, 2008, Lehman declared bankruptcy. Following its collapse, the company was left to die in the dust, largely unmourned. But somehow its cadaver continues to drift about the financial landscape, still paying big lawyers, still winning cases. Ten years after, Lehman Brothers is still very much alive - at least in court proceedings. Credit:Bloomberg Just last month, a piece of Lehman's earthly remains won a lawsuit in the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, when the judges agreed that an employee's claim of retaliatory discharge had been properly dismissed. The dictionary offers two definitions of resilience: 1. the power or ability to return to the original form or position after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity; and 2. ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyancy. A: New parenthood is challenging for the most confident couple, and can expose fatal flaws in a relationship. In preparation you both need to build resilience. Some think this means being tough, or hard, and have little patience with sensitive, emotional reactions. Q: We're thinking about starting a family. My partner worries, can't cope when things don't go to plan, and overreacts to minor situations. I'm not sure how we are going to go with the stress of a baby. Bad things, many of them unfair, happen to even the wealthiest people. Some emerge from dreadful circumstances, and go on to have full, rich lives. Others cannot cope with the smallest setback, or frustration. However, anyone can learn to build resilience if they are willing to work at it. In her article "Building Resilience" (psychcentral.com), British psychologist and counsellor Jane Collingwood explains how. She says that the secret lies in how you think about problems. "It's a way of behaving and thinking that anyone can learn. Essentially, it involves an openness to finding your way through a situation and the determination not to see yourself as a victim try to manage your emotions by reacting to setbacks with grace, humour, strength and optimism." When a problem arises, take some time to think it through, and find the best solution, then make yourself take one step towards solving it. Turn to others for support. "Simply describing the situation to someone else can help by putting your feelings into words and making it a logical sequence. You may even come up with new solutions as you are describing it." Try to keep things in perspective. Remind yourself of all that is good in your life. Take a break to do something fun. Try to see the funny side of things. Imagine yourself, having pulled through with grace and courage, telling this as an anecdote one day. Then, when it is over, look back on what you learned, and what good has come of it. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information about the suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 630-420-6006 or go to www.napervillecrimestoppers.com. Callers can remain anonymous and still claim the reward. NSW Police have charged 26 people, including a 92-year-old World War II veteran, following protests at the Newcastle coal port on Saturday. Just after 7am, police were called to the Tighes Hill Rail Corridor with reports two people were on the tracks. Bill Ryan and Susie Gold locked on to Carrington Railway in Newcastle. Credit:Frontline Action on Coal Bill Ryan, a 92-year-old war veteran, and 72-year-old Susie Gold, had chained themselves to the railway in an attempt to stop coal trains from reaching Newcastle's Kooragang Coal Port. They were the first of dozens to be arrested and charged with numerous offences, including hinder working of mining equipment, cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock, enter inclosed lands interfere conduct of business, and armed with intent to commit indictable offence. Police have used medical and dental records to identify the bag of human bones found at Brisbane's Kangaroo Point cliffs on September 5 as missing woman Constance May Watcho. Homicide detectives have joined the investigation and set up a crime scene at a River Terrace unit in Kangaroo Point on Saturday, where Ms Watcho was believed to have lived before she disappeared. Homicide detectives have set up a crime scene at a River Terrace unit in Kangaroo Point on Saturday. Credit:Toby Crockford Detective Senior Sergeant Warren Gibbs said forensic officers were expected to remain at the unit for the next several days combing through the cluttered property searching for evidence. Police are currently executing a crime scene warrant in relation to the units directly behind you at an address at 138 River Terrace," Senior Sergeant Gibbs said at a press conference on Saturday. Police officers and paramedics have allegedly been spat on after a party at an Ipswich hotel turned violent and spilt out onto the street during the early hours of Saturday. Four teenagers have been charged after police were also allegedly assaulted when they tried to move on a crowd of partygoers who had been kicked out of Falvey's Grand Hotel in Yamanto. A fight broke out outside Falvey's Grand Hotel in Yamanto. Credit:Facebook - Grand Hotel Yamanto Police said officers were called to the hotel on Warwick Road after a party inside was shut down by venue staff and the partygoers were kicked out. It will be alleged when officers arrived a large group of intoxicated people had congregated outside the venue and started fighting. Tram patronage has more than doubled on some Melbourne routes in the past decade, with new data showing that weekend tram trips on some routes are almost as busy as trips during the week. Data obtained under Freedom of Information laws reveals that tram patronage is exploding, with the number of passengers rising by seven million people on one route alone in 10 years. Passenger numbers on weekends are almost as high as during the week on some of Melbourne's busiest tram lines. Credit:Joe Armao Booming growth in the CBD where there is a free tram zone and increasing housing density in the inner suburbs has led to crowding, with routes connecting the city and the south-east facing the biggest growth over the past decade. 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 latest dispute over Tony Abbott reveals the distrust at the heart of the Liberal Party in the wake of last months leadership spill in Canberra. The former prime minister had to stare down a protest vote from local branch members to hold on to his endorsement as the Liberal candidate for Warringah. Tony Abbott was forced to stare down a protest vote Credit:AAP The ballot to endorse Abbott is the subject of dispute. Some sources say he won by 46 to 38 votes, with nine people casting informal ballot papers. Others reject this but will not reveal what they believe the numbers to be. Abbott tells Fairfax Media he won roughly 70 per cent of the vote. Kerryn Phelps, the first female head of the Australian Medical Association, will put civil rights and action on climate change at the forefront of her bid to claim the federal seat of Wentworth as an independent. Dr Phelps, a GP and Sydney City councillor, on Sunday joined other candidates including Dave Sharma, pre-selected by the Liberals in a marathon session early on Friday morning, and Labor's Tim Murray. Voters will go to the polls on October 20 in the waterside seat vacated Malcolm Turnbull after he resigned following his ouster as prime minister last month. Kerryn Phelps will challenge the Liberals hold on Wentworth at the October 20 by-election. Credit:AAP The people of Wentworth are crying out for an authentic voice who will stand up to the major parties and rise above the bitterness and backstabbing that has taken over Canberra," Dr Phelps said in a statement. The i360 program can merge information with the Liberals existing campaign database, Feedback, providing instant access to masses of historic information about voters. Conversely, i360 also records the activities of Liberal candidates, monitoring whether they are meeting their campaign targets for phone calls and face-to-face visits. Victorian Liberal state director Nick Demiris said the party was using world-leading technology to engage with voters. Victorian Liberal Party director Nick Demiris says the party is using world-leading technology. Credit:Daniel Pockett We are working hard to ensure voters right around Victoria hear about our positive plans to jail gangs, cut the cost of electricity and ease the pressure on Melbourne while turbocharging our regions, he said. The Liberal Party used i360 to help win the South Australian election, with some insiders arguing their campaign methods helped exceed the expectations of political commentators. NationBuilder, a campaign platform used by the Greens and other groups, also creates comprehensive voter databases. It can match email addresses with social media accounts and monitor interactions on Facebook and Twitter. A blog post dedicated to Australian users on the NationBuilder website says the software can tap into social media profiles to add vastly more detail to databases of email addresses. You can spend less than two minutes searching social media bios and locations for key words to identify who lives in your city, what theyre up to and what they care about, the blog post says. But Greens state director Clare Quinn said the party used NationBuilder to help volunteers to communicate with each other and empower local teams to organise volunteer groups. Our campaigns software underpins our volunteer program, helping us contact more people, more efficiently [and] connect them with events, other volunteers and local campaign opportunities in their area, she says. Ms Quinn said the Greens had used NationBuilder since 2013 and insisted they did not use social media to create voter profiles. While there is some connection with social media, this isnt a significant focus of the platform, she said. NationBuilder vice president of business development Toni Cowan-Brown said the software was not designed to replace conventional campaign methods but rather placed huge amounts of campaign information in the one place. She said it helped political campaigners manage websites, donations, email marketing, social media and events. Ms Cowan-Brown said NationBuilder was the world's most-popular software for political parties but was also used by non-profit groups. The same organising methods that help politicians raise money, recruit volunteers and win votes are crucial for building loyal communities of customers, supporters, or constituents, she said. Ms Cowan-Brown declined to reveal which Australian groups had adopted the platform, but Environment Victoria confirmed it used NationBuilder to manage databases of voters. Mark Wakeham says NationBuilder software helps Environment Victoria keep track of voters who may be receptive to its message. Credit:Arsineh Houspian The non-profit groups chief executive Mark Wakeham said NationBuilder helped it record details of constituents in marginal electorates who cared about environmental issues and were perhaps undecided about who to vote for. Keeping track of interactions with voters was crucial for ensuring the groups message reached those who might be receptive to it, he said. Running a community organising program is an expensive business. The more that you can be sure that you are talking to the right people the more impact youre going to have. Environment Victoria is targeting marginal seats in Melbournes south-eastern sandbelt where just a few hundred votes could determine the outcomes in each of those electorates. It is also compiling report cards on the environmental policies of the major parties to help influence voting patterns. For several years, Labor has used Campaign Central software nationally to create databases that candidates and MPs can access. But Victorian Labor assistant state secretary Kosmos Samaras said human contact, in person or by phone, remained irreplaceable. He also doubted whether i360 was as effective an electoral weapon as its proponents suggested, saying he had heard reports of Liberal candidates trying to persuade committed Labor members to change their vote. We find that an odd use of resources, he said. Melbourne University politics expert Mark Triffitt said political parties and lobby groups were forced to adopt new technologies and campaign styles due to the difficulty in cutting through to voters. He said parties would increasingly craft personalised messages for voters that could be embedded in their social media feeds. Were basically entering a new age of political communication, Dr Triffitt said. Victorian Trades Hall Council has developed its own online petition platform, called Megaphone, which has helped it notch up signatures from more than 350,000 individuals on a range of issues from workplace rights to asylum seekers. Trades Hall assistant secretary Wil Stracke said for the first time at this election, its volunteers would phone people who had signed petitions through Megaphone as part of their campaign. Victorian Trades Hall assistant secretary Wil Strecke Credit:Eddie Jim Laura Chipp believes she has some inside knowledge thatll give her an edge in an election campaign on law and order. But the daughter of Democrats founder Don Chipp, who famously vowed to keep the bastards honest, will not run on a platform of cracking down on youth crime at the November state election. Instead, she will use experience gained in her day job as managing principal lawyer of the Childrens Court prosecutions unit with Victoria Police to argue that throwing the book at young offenders does not improve community safety. Laura Chipp is contesting the Victorian election in the upper house. She now works for the police in youth justice prosecutions, which will be a major election theme. Credit:Jason South Ms Chipp is standing as a candidate for Fiona Pattens Reason Party previously known as the Sex Party in the upper house district of South Eastern Metro. The survey showed seven of 10 seventh-graders and nearly eight in 10 sophomores say they experience moderate or high levels of daily stress. About half of both groups say the stress makes it difficult to perform daily tasks because theyre overwhelmed by anxiety and they lack focus and the ability to concentrate. Phnom Penh: The legal team for convicted Australian James Ricketson have submitted a request to the Cambodian monarch, King Norodom Sihamoni, seeking a royal pardon, his lawyer Kong Sam Onn said. He said he submitted the request through Prime Minister Hun Sen's office, which was expected to be forwarded to the monarch following a ministerial review. James Ricketson was sentenced on August 31. Credit:AP The request followed a decision by the Australian filmmaker not to appeal his conviction and six-year jail term for spying after a marathon trial that was widely criticised by human rights groups and led to calls by Australian politicians for a pardon. "I submitted the pardon letter to the Prime Minister's Cabinet on Thursday. The cabinet has already asked the Ministry of Justice to review the letter," Kong Sam Onn said. In March 2014, a court in the Egyptian province of Minya sentenced 529 people to death over the killing of a single police officer. In two sessions over three days, not a single argument from a defence lawyer was heard. Those who note that 492 of those 529 death sentences were later rescinded - with most of those charged instead sentenced to life in prison - miss the point of the exercise, which was repeated recently when a court weighed the fate of another 739 people linked to anti-coup protests in 2013, sentencing 75 of them to death. A great deal has been written about the movement across the Arab world in 2011 known as "the Arab Spring": whether it was an authentic expression of popular grievances; whether it has given way to an "Islamist winter"; and so on. But what cannot be disputed is that for a time the suffocating control of the state in every area of its citizens' lives in such countries as Egypt, Syria, Libya, Bahrain and Yemen was disrupted, and new conversations began. In Egypt, that disruption triggered a backlash in which the security state sought to re-assert its prerogatives, with the funding and support of the monarchies of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The state sought to control the conversation around its actions by targeting the media (and in particular the television network al-Jazeera, whose Australian reporter Peter Greste was one of several journalists incarcerated) and sponsoring a bizarre ad campaign discouraging Egyptians from discussing domestic issues with foreigners. New York: David Halberstam, in The Best and the Brightest, listed the "virtues Americans have always respected" as "hard work, self-sacrifice, decency, loyalty." I don't believe that's changed since 1972. President Donald Trump, in his sublime indecency, fails the test on all these qualities except perhaps hard work, yet tens of millions of Americans still admire him. Donald Trump has ordered the government to prepare sanctions against any foreign country that interferes with US congressional elections in November. Credit:Bloomberg It's tempting to dismiss this reality. It's tempting to focus instead on the pressure building on Trump from multiple sources: the Mueller investigation, Paul Manafort's cooperating with Robert Mueller, Michael Cohen's guilty plea, the wins of progressive Democratic candidates, falling poll numbers. It's tempting to think Trump's finished, even if he's already been pronounced politically dead countless times. This would be a mistake. That the Democratic Party will take the House in the midterm November elections and start impeachment proceedings against Trump is plausible, even likely. It's unlikely, however, that the Democrats will have the numbers in the Senate to convict him. This may be a positive scenario for Trump. As the victim president, or acquitted president, he'd fire up support going into 2020. 2018 Singapore Grand Prix - Saturday Lewis storms to pole position in the heat of Singapore Lewis claimed his 79 th career pole position his fourth at the Marina Bay Street Circuit and seventh of the 2018 Formula One season career pole position his fourth at the Marina Bay Street Circuit and seventh of the 2018 Formula One season Valtteri achieved his best ever qualifying result in Singapore and will start tomorrows Grand Prix from P4 on the grid Driver Chassis No. FP3 Q1 Q2 Q3 Lewis Hamilton F1 W09 EQ Power+/05 P3 6 Laps P14 6 Laps P4 5 Laps P1 1:39.403 UltraSoft 1:37.344 HyperSoft , HyperSoft 1:36.015 HyperSoft , HyperSoft Valtteri Bottas F1 W09 EQ Power+/06 P4 7 Laps P12 7 Laps P3 6 Laps P4 1:39.291 UltraSoft 1:37.254 HyperSoft, HyperSoft 1:36.702 HyperSoft, HyperSoft Lewis Hamilton That lap just started perfect and it just kept going it felt magical. It felt like one of the best if not the best lap Ive ever done. Its what my brother and me would call a sexy lap. I only had that one lap in me today, I just couldnt go any faster afterwards. This track is all about confidence, confidence in your braking points and the stability of the car, you only have a few laps to build your steps towards it. As soon as you lose it, its very hard to build back up to it. So Im grateful that I had the extra two laps on the HyperSofts in Q2 as I could try and understand the tyre a bit more. In Q3, it really felt like each corner was on the limit, but no more, I didnt have any wheel spin or any of that. I think the races have generally been quite strong for me this year, so I hope this will continue tomorrow. Im going to work hard tonight to make sure the start is good. After that it will be all about looking after the tyres; making the HyperSofts last long wont be easy, but were all in the same boat, so it should be interesting. The Ferraris and the Red Bulls in particular had good long-run pace, so we have a fight on our hands tomorrow. But Im just so grateful that we did a better job today and so grateful for the support from everyone in the team today; this journey that Im on with Mercedes and the entire team is just a remarkable experience. Valtteri Bottas P4 is obviously not ideal, I cant be happy with todays result. Everything was going pretty well from FP3 all the way up to Q2, but then the others could find big chunks in Q3 and I couldnt, I just didnt really feel the track improvement. Lewis put in a great lap, but seven tenths is obviously a big gap, so I will need to have a look and analyse what exactly the issue was. The long-run times between Ferrari, Red Bull and us looked fairly comparable, so its a shame I couldnt qualify higher and attack from the front row. We are definitely more competitive here than we were last year. The car has been improved and we also chose the right set-up direction. So Im optimistic for tomorrow; its a new day and at least one Ferrari will start behind me. We still have a long race ahead of us and I will push hard to try and get ahead of Sebastian. With three teams in the mix, everything is possible. Its difficult to overtake on this track, so both the start and the strategy will decide who wins this race. Toto Wolff That was an incredible, horrible session! Just a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish. We nearly dropped out in Q1 after sticking to the UltraSoft tyre, which was a nerve-wracking wait to make sure we didnt shoot ourselves in the foot at the first opportunity. Then Lewis produced one of the most incredible qualifying laps I have witnessed to take pole position. I just have to say a big thank you to all the team back at base in Brackley and Brixworth, who have worked so hard to understand our problems at this circuit and to improve on our weaknesses. Its incredibly encouraging to see the step forward in understanding we have made, with Valtteri splitting the Ferraris and Lewis right at the sharp end of the grid by a healthy margin. Now we need to put aside the happiness from today because we havent scored any points yet this weekend. The real job comes on Sunday and, like we have seen in recent races, the balance can swing very quickly. We will keep our heads down, focus on the job and make sure we deliver tomorrow. James Allison It is difficult to put into words how it feels on days like this. It is overwhelming on so many levels, first and foremost to have the privilege of being here to watch a lap of such rare quality by a driver at the peak of his powers, on a circuit that punishes even the slightest error. It was a breath-taking performance by Lewis. Until Q3, it had been a fractious qualifying session: we got through Q1 by the skin of our teeth after being overly brave running the UltraSoft tyre, and spent most of Q2 trying to get our pulses back until control before the final push. On a more profound level, this circuit has been a monkey on our teams back for several years, and it is hard for anyone who does not work in the sport to understand just how much thought, analysis and effort have gone into understanding why we have been weak here. So that makes it all the more special to have a day like today, when Lewis puts us decisively on pole position with the car handling sweetly. But that sense of satisfaction lasts only for a moment, now our attention turns to what really counts tomorrows race. Officers were waved down at 7:49 a.m. Thursday by a resident who said a person believed to be unresponsive was in their back yard area, Lt. Marguerite Wilder said Friday in a release. 19-Ton, 100-Foot-Long Fatberg Clogs Michigan Sewer A gigantic mass dubbed a fatberg was discovered in a sewer pipe serving Macomb County, Michigan. The mass of grease, fat, non-decaying cloth wipes, and other waste filled most of an 11-foot diameter pipe called the Lakeshore Interceptor, the Detroit News reported. The pipe collects waste from Clinton, Harrison, Chesterfield and Lenox townships along with the village of New Haven. Apparently residents in those counties dumped enough non-biodegradable material down their drains that it served to bind together fat and grease, which congealed into a solid, malodorous mass. Its comprised of what people inadvertently, or negligently, are putting down their sewers. That is greases, oils, all kinds of various things, Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller told Macomb Daily. Youll find this in a restaurant situation when theyre not inspecting and cleaning out their grease traps on a regular basis. In residential situations, youre making some hamburgers or whatever and you just pour the grease down the sewer. It shouldnt go down the sewer. Food waste is a main ingredient of the fatberg, but not the cause of the gelatinous blockage. The biggest problem is the baby wipes, Miller said. Even though the package says theyre flushable, theyre not biodegradable. Go ahead and use them, just dont flush them down the toilet. 19 Stubborn Tons of Stinking Waste The blockage built up at the Clintondale Pump Station in Clinton Township, about 15 miles northeast of Detroit, where the Lakeshore Interceptor ends and waste is pumped upwards from the 55-foot-deep Interceptor to the next pipe in the network, the 15 Mile Interceptor, which is about 20 feet higher. From there the waste is supposed to go to a processing plant in Detroit. The blob was about 100 feet long, six feet tall, and weighed about 19 tons when county officials decided it was time to remove it. If they had let it grow, the fatberg would have blocked the entire pipe and spewed sewage out into the environment. The county called Doetsch Environmental Services to remove the gooey mass. At first the company tried suction, but the fatberg was too dense. Next, the removal crew tired to cut up the fatberg with high-pressure waterbut it was too tough. Ultimately, Doetsch workers had to crawl into the pipe with handsaws and hack the stinking mass into portable pieces, some of which were sucked out, and some of which had to be carried out. Joe Schotthoefer of Doetsch Environmental said he had never seen a clog so large. There was so much sanitary trash intermingled with the grease that our normal methods were largely ineffective, he told the Macomb Daily. Everyone needs to be environmental stewards. This is all solid waste that should be on the curb, not down your drain. Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller wanted to make sure county residents knew that there was a cost to dumping the wrong stuff down the sink and toiletin this case, $100,000. We want to use this as a teachable moment if we can to get folks to change their behavior towards what theyre putting down in the sewer, Miller told a news conference on Sept. 13. Theres an enormous cost (to removing fatbergs) and were all paying for it. We dont want to continue to do it. Far From the Worst Fatberg While the Michigan fatberg was certainly as large and as foul as anyone would ever want, it is not as bad as fatbergs can get. Baltimore, Maryland residents found that out in 2017, when a giant fatberg completely blocked a pipe, forcing more than a million gallons of raw sewage to spill into a river, the Detroit Free Press reported. It gets worse than that, though. Update on the monster Whitechapel #fatberg 40 tonnes out of the sewer, 90 to go #BinItDontBlockIt pic.twitter.com/4eHvaTFg6U Thames Water (@thameswater) September 13, 2017 A 140-ton fatberg was discovered in the London, England sewer system in September 2017, according to the Baltimore Sun. That one was 820 feet long, Storyful reported, and took about three weeks to remove. Matt Rimmer, Director of Thames Waters waste networks division, said: This fatberg is up there with the biggest weve ever seen. Its a total monster and taking a lot of manpower and machinery to remove as its set hard, on the utilitys website. Its basically like trying to break up concrete. Its frustrating as these situations are totally avoidable and caused by fat, oil and grease being washed down sinks and wipes flushed down the loo. From NTD.tv Watch Next: Communisms Destruction of Civilized Debate An in-depth look at Communist policies that have destroyed civilized debate Lake Station Mayor Christopher Anderson told the city council the sale was being appealed at its meeting Thursday. From our standpoint, its a huge disappointment to us. We were looking forward to closing the deal and getting a better quality of water. Couple Whose Son Was Killed by Gator Has Another Child A Nebraskan couple whose son was dragged underwater and killed by an alligator on a trip to Disney World in 2016 has announced the birth of another child. Matt and Melissa Graves brought their children, 4-year-old Ella and 2-year-old Lane, to Disneyworld in Florida for a vacation in June of 2016. In a freak occurrence, an alligator grabbed Lane, who was playing in shallow water, and dragged him away, drowning him. In response, the family set up the Lane Thomas Foundation, which helps children get organ transplants. The Graves also decided to have another child. LT, we love you up to heaven and down to the grass. Hug, kiss, ugga mugga. We will fight every day to keep your memory alive and make a positive difference in your name. Posted by Lane Thomas Foundation on Thursday, June 14, 2018 On Sept. 12, the Graves announced the birth of their son, Christian Lane Graves. The new sons middle name honors his predecessor, so tragically lost. People Magazine quoted part of the announcement: Although we know the pain of losing Lane will never go away, we feel God has blessed our family with this precious miracle of life. We know Ella and Christian have their brother, Lane, watching over them as their guardian angel. The statement continued, The love and support we continue to receive from so many is greatly appreciated, but we ask that our desire for privacy continue to be honored. "A Beacon of Hope, A Light of Love" Posted by Lane Thomas Foundation on Saturday, September 17, 2016 Rare and Unfortunate Mishap Matt and Melissa Graves lost their 2-year-old son Lane in a freak incidentsomething the Nebraska couple would never have imagined. Lane was playing in shallow water near the shoreline of Seven Seas Lagoon at Disneys Grand Floridian Resort around 9 p.m. on June 14, 2016, when an alligator burst out of the water and grabbed the child, People Magazine reported. There were No Swimming signs posted, but no warning about alligators. Matt Graves saw the alligator seize his son and rushed into the water to rescue the child. When he did, a second alligator attacked him, causing injuries which needed stitches. Lanes lifeless body was recovered, thankfully intact, about 16 hours later. The body was about 15 yards from shore and in six feet of water, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Gators often store food to eat later. After the attack, Disney erected a rock wall along the edge of the lagoon, and added signs warning guests of reptiles in the water. There was no other alligator attack reported on Disney property since 1986, when an 8-year-old boy was bitten on the legs by an unidentified animal at Disneys Fort Wilderness campground. That child survived the attack, according to the Sentinel. Finding Light in the Darkness The Graves family could surely have sued Disney World, which is a tremendously successful company. Instead, they decided to turn tragedy into victoryto use their loss as motivation to help others. Lane had a very special light about him. We promised him at his wake we would turn this tragedy into good for many families, Matt Graves told Associated Press. The couple started the Lane Thomas Foundation to honor their son, Lane Thomas Graveswhen anyone would ask him his name, Lane would replay, Im Lane Thomas, Im two. The foundation helps parents whose children travel to Omahas Childrens Hospital or Nebraska Medicine for life-saving organ transplants. According to People, families whose children need organ transplants often spend weeks, sometimes months in the Omaha area while their children await treatment and recover from surgery. The cost of travel and care can devastate a family. The Lane Thomas Foundation tries to ease that burden. In recognition of National Lighthouse Day, please see the lighthouse created to honor our loving boy Lane. ? Posted by Lane Thomas Foundation on Monday, August 7, 2017 Recognition for Their Lossand Their Good Efforts In 2017 Walt Disney World unveiled a statue of a lighthouse in the park to honor the Graves lost child and the efforts his parents had made to find some good in their suffering. The lighthouse is the symbol used by the Lane Thomas Foundation. The plaque on the statue reads: Presented by the Lane Thomas Foundation. A Beacon of Hope. A Light of Love. Walt Disney World Resort President George A. Kalogridis issued a statement to The Orlando Sentinel regarding the statue. To provide continued awareness of the foundation and its mission, weve commissioned an original sculpture of the lighthouse the foundation uses as a symbol of love and hope, to be installed on our property this summer, that statement said. From NTD.tv Firefighters Kneel and Pray at Site Where Mother and Baby Killed by Hurricane Florence Firefighters in North Carolina took a moment to kneel and pray at the site where a mother and baby were killed by a tree that fell down during Hurricane Florence. The Wilmington Police Department said that the mother and her infant were killed on Sept. 14, when the tree fell on their house; the infants father was rushed to the hospital with injuries. The trio was trapped in the house for several hours as firefighters, paramedics, and other rescue personnel attempted to get to them. Difficult Rescue But the rescue effort was made difficult due to the size of the tree, Wilmington Fire Department Chief Jon Mason said in a statement. The rescue effort was so intense that a FEMA task force that had been pre-deployed to the area assisted with the recovery effort, Mason told reporters, according to WJLA. Describing the tree, he added: It was not something you could cut with a chainsaw and remove. Read More Family Trapped in Florence Floodwaters Kept Hearing People Screaming for Help Using heavy lifting, saws, and airbags, the rescuers were finally able to reach the family but found the mother and child were dead. The infant was approximately 8-months-old. Group Kneels Outside as Death Count Rises Sometime after the rescue, the group knelt outside the home and prayed. Our hearts go out to the family of these victims. Two people in Wilmington were killed when a tree fell on their home, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told WCNC. Our hearts go out to the families of those who died in this storm, Cooper said in a statement on Friday. Hurricane Florence is going to continue its violent grind across our state for days. Be extremely careful and stay alert. Florences fatality count rose to seven on Sept. 15, as the storm continued hammering the Carolinas and surrounding states. More Rain Several more days of rain are expected as Florence, now a tropical storm, hovers over the Carolinas. Forecasters are predicting that the Lumber and Cape Fear rivers will crest significantly higher than after Hurricane Matthew, and in some areas, Florence will bring 1,000-year rainfall totals, according to the governor. According to the National Hurricane Centers latest forecast on Sept. 15, the storm is projected to move northwest across the weekend before exiting the Carolinas and hitting Tenessee and Kentucky late Sunday into Monday. Florence is then projected to curve northeast, hitting West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and New England. From NTD.tv Florence Pushed Gators and Animals to Local Streets Hurricane Florence not only brought rain and strong winds, but also alligators to some local streets in Myrtle Beach. Local media re-posted a video, shot by some South Carolina residents, showing alligators strolling on the streets on the afternoon of Sept. 14, including one in the Osprey Cove neighborhood. No one was harmed by the gators. Florence also forced other animals to run for their lives. Myrtle Beach Police Department posted a video on Facebook showing them corralling ducks back to their cage. Police Identified Minnesota Teen on Scooter That Robbed Elderly Man On Sept. 14, the St. Paul Police identified the teen that robbed and assaulted an elderly man in St. Paul, Minneapolis on Sept. 11, TwinCities.com reported. People gave them tips after the police released surveillance footage of the assault. The police said on Sept. 14, that they believe they have identified him through tips provided by the public. Steve Linders, a St. Paul police spokesman, said that the police were called around 5 p.m. on Sept. 11, and went to the area of Farrington Street and Lawson Avenue, TwinCities.com reported. A juvenile had reported that a juvenile male followed grandpa and assaulted him and escaped on an electric scooter, said Linders. After the attack, Patrick Tobin, 77, was left on the ground bleeding from his right eyebrow and knee. Linders said that he refused medical attention and told the officers that he would go to the hospital later. According to Linders, Tobin told the officers that he parked his car in front of his house. While walking up to the house, someone came from behind, struck him, reached in his pocket, and stole his wallet. A phone alerted Aaron Jacobs that his surveillance camera detected movement in the driveway while he was working on a painting job, CBS reported. Aaron saw someone in an orange hoodie following Tobin home. Tobin usually looks after his granddaughter, Alena Jacobs, until her father, Aaron, comes home. I dont usually look at it, but at this time I swiped the screen and opened it up, Aaron said. and I witnessed live what happened. Aaron said Tobin hit his head on the ground and splattered blood on the driveway. Meanwhile, 10-year-old Alena and her friend witnessed the attack, CBS reported. It was scary when we seen him like get like pulled down and then his screams was like really sad, Alena said. She was crying and hiding in our closet with a steak knife, Aaron said. Alena called 911, but ended the call when the dispatcher told her that her grandfather had already called for help. This experience left Aaron a difficult parenting challenge; explaining that the dangers of the world in real life can happen right at your doorstep. Its traumatizing. What do you tell your daughter when something like this happens right outside your back door? Aaron said. You have go into the explanation of, Theres people in this world that arent nice, and its pretty tough to explain to a 10-year-old, CBS reported. Aaron said Tobin suffered from a chipped tooth and needed stitches for the cut on his head. I hope they throw the book at this guy. I hope they catch him. Cant miss him, bright orange sweatshirt, bright orange shoes, Aaron said. Now that the police have identified the suspect from one of the tips given, the investigation continues for the arrest of the teen. The suspect is described to be 5-feet-8-inches tall with a thin build, orange shirt, bright shoes (likely to be orange) and anyone with information on him should contact St. Paul police, 911 with emergencies or 651-291-1111 for non-emergencies. Reporter Interrupts Live Broadcast to Rescue Rottweiler From Florence Floodwaters A television reporter interrupted a live broadcast from Hurricane Florence floodwaters to help rescue a dog. Julie Wilson, an anchor for ABC affiliate WTVD, was broadcasting on Facebook Live on Sept. 15, from New Bern, North Carolina, when she jumped in to help rescue a Rottweiler. This communitys really pulling together, Wilson said, as she walked alongside a woman wearing a pink hoodie who said her name was Tasha. Here in New Bern, North Carolina, where the rains really coming down, and the streets are flooded, said Wilson. Do you think that is safe, Wilson asked Tasha, who said that she was trying to bring the dog to safety. Its my daughters therapy dog. I have no choice, Tasha responded. After Tasha entered the house to get the dog, Wilson announced Im on Facebook Live right now and panned with her camera to reveal a dog standing in the doorway of a house looking out at the floodwater. The ladys rescuing her therapy dog for a child, its the childs seventeenth birthday, said Wilson. Alright, here we go, shes got the dog, Wilson said as Tasha began to lead the Rottweiler through the water. The dog had been injured, according to Tasha, the Daily Mail reported. When Tasha began to have difficulty maneuvering the animal through the water, Wilson picked up the dog and asked Tasha to hold the camera. You are OK baby girl, Wilson said while carrying the dog to safety. Nobody is leaving the dog in this mess. Thats what we are doing out here. As Tasha and her dog began to walk in shallower waters, Wilson resumed her commentary. They are trying to get out folks. They are doing their best, Wilson said before continuing her live stream. In New Bern, population 29,000, flooding on the Neuse River left 500 people in peril. Swift-water rescue teams had saved more than 360 people in New Bern by midafternoon Friday, and another 140 were still waiting for help, a city spokeswoman said. WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU, the city tweeted during the height of the storm. You may need to move up to the second story, or to your attic, but WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU. The city was placed under mandatory evacuation orders prior to the storm, but many there and elsewhere chose to ignore the order. Reward: $100,000 for Information Leading to the Arrest of Strawberry Contaminator The Queensland Premier has offered $100,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the person who contaminated strawberries with sewing needles. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made the announcement after three more confirmed reports of contamination occurred, ABC reported. The NSW Police posted on Facebook, saying that although Berry Obsession, Berry Licious, and Donnybrook Berries have been recalled nationwide, they now believe that Love Berry, Delightful Strawberries, and Oasis berries are also contaminated. They believe the latter three brands are sold in stores in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory. Strawberries supplied by the Donnybrook brand come from three self-owned south-east Queensland farms. The three farms are close to the farms that produce for Berry Licious and Berry Obsession, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. A recall has already been issued for Donnybrook strawberries, who supply to Coles and Woolworths. Queensland Health confirmed the contamination of the additional three brands on Sept. 14, urging customers to return the strawberries or cut them up before eating them. UPDATE to affected brands of strawberries contaminated with needles Donnybrook is now affected. Affected brands: Posted by Queensland Health on Thursday, September 13, 2018 It is still unknown to the police whether the newly contaminated brands are connected to the original incident in Queensland on Sept. 9, or a copycat. They may find some clues when they forensically examine the products. According to the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association (QSGA), there are around 150 strawberry growers in Queensland, located between the north of Brisbane and Sunshine Coast. They contribute about 110 million punnets of strawberries between May to October each year. Jennifer Rowling, QSGA spokeswoman, said that the industry is currently struggling and their priority is to ensure that the growers are doing well in this period of time, ABC reported. The growers primary concern is the consequence the contamination will have on their revenue. They were already having a really difficult time with the prices being so low, Rowling said. So to have something so malicious and devastating happen to the industry, its really tough, ABC reported. The Google logo on display at the Smart China Expo at Chongqing International Expo Center in southwest China's Chongqing on August 23, 2018. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) Senior Employee Resigns From Google Over China Censored Search Engine Plans A senior research scientist at Google quit after news of a search engine project in China leaked to the media. Jack Poulson, who worked for the research and machine intelligence department, ended his employment on Aug. 31, The Intercept reported. An Aug. 1 story by The Intercept about Googles plans to build a censored search engine in China caused an uproar at the company. Sources leaked news of the project, which was only known by a fraction of employees. Poulson brought the matter up with his managers. He decided to resign by mid-August, seeing that Google would continue its plans. He did not want to be involved in a company that would censor information at the request of Chinese Communist officials, simply to re-enter the Chinese market. 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, Poulson wrote in his resignation letter, obtained by The Intercept. Giving benefit of the doubt until we learn more. But reading how @Google has plans to help #China set up a censored search engine is very disturbing. They wont help @DeptofDefense keep us safe but they will help China suppress the truth? https://t.co/S0X3VemOIT Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 1, 2018 Googles First Censored Search Engine in China, 2006-2010 For Google to have access to the Chinese search market again, they would have to host servers and store user data within mainland China. Chinese authorities would have access to that data. Poulson fears this situation would be used to oppress political dissidents. Google accused China of doing just that, when Google discovered China hacked the email accounts of political activists on its servers before their highly publicized 2010 pull out from China, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Spiegel Online. 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, Poulson continued, in the letter, seeing how Googles change of heart as a move that could set a bad precedent. 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. Google has not addressed questions from human rights groups, journalists, and others about Googles reversal on censorship. Employees inside of Google have also received silence from the company when seeking answers about the projects ethical implications. Some have left the company along with Poulson. Google was praised when it left the Chinese market in 2010. The move was spearheaded by Google co-founder Sergey Brin. He credited the decision to his experience of spending his early years under the Soviet Union, and noticing the same authoritarian earmarks of oppression in Communist China. Google had operated a censored search engine in China from 2006 to 2010. An engineer who worked on that project wrote a letter in which he expressed regret in helping Google in its collaboration with Chinese authorities back then, and advised Google against going back. This is strictly worse than the censorship scheme created in 2006, because it is apparently planning to both store personally identifiable info about users, but also linking it to searches with this data stored within the PRC. I wonder what Google's privacy team thinks? https://t.co/z2H4TSjD6J Brandon Downey (@bdowney) September 14, 2018 Formal Google engineer Brandon Downey criticized Googles basic rationalization for ever working with Chinese authorities. He described the companys decision like this: Look, China is already censoring the internet. So why dont we at least give people what information we can, because some is better than none? He responded to that rationalization like this: Google has already done this once, and it ended in disaster. He also offered an apology for being involved in Googles first censorship project in China. I want to say Im sorry for helping to do this. I dont know how much this contributed to strengthening political support for the censorship regime in the PRC, but it was wrong. It did nothing but benefit me and my career, and so it fits the classic definition of morally heedless behavior: I got things and in return it probably made some other peoples life worse. From NTD.tv The front between government-held Bahorak and Taliban-controlled Warduj in Badakhshan province, Afghanistan, on Aug. 25, 2018. The bend on the dusty road (centre, right) and the white house (centre) at the foot of the mountain, roughly mark,where Taliban territory begins. (Franz J. Marty/Special to The Epoch Times) Switching Sides: Defection in Afghanistans Conflict BAHORAK, AfghanistanFrom the outside, the conflict in Afghanistan between a democratic, internationally backed government and the Islamist Taliban insurgency might seem clear-cut. On the ground, however, things are much murkier, with fighters sometimes switching sides. I used to be among the Taliban, Abdul Manon stated nonchalantly when The Epoch Times met him near the front in Afghanistans northeastern province of Badakhshan in late August. That this may seem peculiar, given that he now fights with the Afghan Local Police against the Taliban, hardly occurs to him. But thats not the only time he switched sides: Before joining the Taliban, he served in the Afghan National Army. I served four years in the army before I quit over a fight with my superiors, he explained. Then I went home. Home is in Badakhshans district of Warduj, where the Taliban have been in control since October 2015. At first, I worked on my farm. But as my brother was with the Afghan Local Police, the Taliban threatened to kill me and my familyunless I would join them, he recounted. So, under duress, I did, and spent two years among the Taliban. They never trusted me and constantly threatened me, Manon said. They did trust him enough though to give him a gun and send him into battle. But I never fought seriously and was overshooting into the air, he said. Manons claims could not be independently verified. However, given that in late August, he manned the machine gun mounted on the Ford Ranger driven by the commander of his Afghan Local Police unit, it seems he was well-trusted by the commander, which makes it likely that he had joined the Taliban due to coercion. Such switching of sides is anything but new to the conflict in Afghanistan, although it was more prolific during the earlier, more fluid chapters of the decades-old Afghan war. The most prominent case-in-point is arguably Afghanistans current First Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostum, who started out as a commander of the communist Afghan regime in the 1980s. His 1992 defection to the resistancewhich counted among its ranks Afghanistans late national hero Ahmad Shah Massoudwas one reason that led to the fall of the regime. In the ensuing civil war, he turned guns on Massoud again, only to join forces with him against the Taliban again later in the 1990s. The extent of defections these days is difficult to gauge. The government sometimes touts the very few Taliban fighters that lay down their weapons to join the peace process, but it hardly, if ever, publicizes cases of defectors that choose to fight for the Taliban or come over from the insurgents to continue the battle on the governments side. Survival When asked why he defected back from the Taliban to the government side after only two years, Manon claimed there was no earlier opportunity to bring his family out of Taliban-controlled territory. Once there was a possibility, I called the commander of the Afghan Local Police to arrange my defection, he said. Under a pretext, he sent his family to the neighboring district of Bahorak, then waited until it was dark. During the night, I escaped via the mountains and met up with the commander at the agreed pointa bridge near the front, he said, overlooking the valley where he defected and where the front still lies now, about one year after he came over from the Taliban side. Determining the reasons for defections in Afghanistans conflict is not easy. Available research seems to not differentiate between defectors and deserters, who abandon their force without joining the other side. And defectors themselves likely understate certain aspects when talking about their defection after having switched fronts. Anecdotal evidence suggests, however, that defections are caused by very pragmatic considerationsin particular survivalrather than ideology. This is supported by a Columbia University study, though it focuses on the peculiar situation of Taliban members joining the government side right after the fall of their regime in 2001. Another Afghan, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to The Epoch Times, echoed this. The man claimed he had defected to the Taliban because of a probate dispute and that he later came back to the government side after a local powerbroker guaranteed him safety. My brother disagreed with the splitting of our late fathers land. Once, he beat me up with a spade and then he stood on my porch and threatened to kill me, the man alleged. And as my brother was connected to local officials, my only choice was to flee to the Taliban. Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology group line up for a photo at the extended Taiwan's Investment Promotion and Marketing Conference in Boston on Sept. 13. Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology Holds Expansion Conference in Boston Taiwans Ministry of Science and Technology group held an extended investment promotion and marketing conference for its three major science parks: Hsinchu, Central, and Southern science parks at the Hyatt Regency in Boston on Sept. 13. Yu-Chin Hsu, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, shared experiences with over a hundred guests attending the event. Hsu voiced the current status and future opportunities in both high tech companies and science parks in Taiwan. Hsu and his colleagues from Ministry of Science and Technology was in San Francisco for business on Sept. 7. The party visited several local companies including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and other enterprises. Hsu mentioned that semiconductors, precision machinery, and biomedicine were the fastest growing industries in Taiwan for the first six months of 2018 reflecting the developmental trend of the international industry. He believes that Taiwan has a solid manufacturing foundation and expects to attract new companies to develop in Taiwan science parks, such as software, artificial intelligence, big data, and other businesses. Hsu acknowledges Boston as a high-tech center in the US, with top universities and start-ups in artificial intelligence and biomedicine. He also believes that technology must be connected to manufacturers in the future. New technologies are combined with Taiwans mainstream and start-up companies, similar to many successful examples in Taiwan in the past. Yeong-Junaq Wang, Director-General of Hsinchu Science Park, expressed his interest in virtual reality technology when he visited Aemass in Silicon Valley. The group hopes that companies specializing in the field will reach out with Taiwanese manufacturers to find more applications for VR/AR technology. Weichen Lin, Director-General of the Southern Science Park, announced the 0th drone competition to be held next year in Southern Science Park. He intends to gain insight into drone competition in Taiwan before holding world-class competitions in the future. Our Science Park is most proud of the service, Wang said. He conveys that the one-stop service of the park allows foreign companies to run all procedures in one department, greatly simplifying administrative processes. On the same day, the group invites Dr. Hsiujuan Tsai from Tangsueng Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. to share the presentation entitled Innovative Development and Opportunities in Taiwan from the US Perspective. Chengfung Li, co-founder, and chief operating officer of Origin Wireless Intelligent Broadcasting Company, shares his investment experience in the Taiwan Science Parks with guests. Douglas Y. T. Hsu, Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston, was present to welcome guests. Mark Sullivan, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Trade and Investment Office, also attended the event. He introduced his responsibilities and briefed on the economic state of the Massachusetts industry. Sullivan praised Taiwan as an excellent investment location. Texas Police Officer Garrett Hull Dies After Being Shot in the Head A Texas police officer who was shot in the head during a bar robbery died in the hospital. Garrett Hull, an undercover officer, was part of a team who had been trailing three suspects. The team waited outside for fear of endangering bystanders before confronting the trio when the suspects exited the bar after robbing it on Sept. 14. Dacion Steptoe, the suspect who shot Hull, was killed on the scene. Hull was rushed to the hospital in a squad car after being shot in the head but died about 24 hours later, the Fort Worth Police Department announced. It is with profound sadness that we must inform you that Officer Garrett Hull passed away Friday at 9:40 p.m. He was with family, friends and fellow officers. Please continue to pray for his family and those that need it in this tragic time.#RIP #PoliceFamily Fort Worth Police (@fortworthpd) September 15, 2018 Undercover FWPD Officer Garrett Hull is fighting to survive after being shot in the head during a robbery surveillance. We're told hundreds of officers have gathered at JPS to support him. The city asks for the community's prayers this morning. pic.twitter.com/UMX9RBJaoL Lauren Zakalik (@wfaalauren) September 14, 2018 Officer Dies Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald, Mayor Betsy Price, and several police officers announced the news just after midnight on the morning of Sept. 15. I regret that I have to speak to you all this evening. I am even more dismayed by the fact that I have to announce that at 21:40 hours Police Officer Garrett Hull passed away, Fitzgerald said, reported CBS. Weve lost a true hero; someone who has dedicated more than one tour of service to this great city and was senselessly killed by three known criminalstwo of which are in custody now. Theres not a dry eye in this house, he added. Our whole department is hurting right now a situation like this is something thats going to galvanize this police department; galvanize the city. Hull had been a police officer for 19 years. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters. JUST IN: Two men accused in a string of robberies in Fort Worth that resulted in the shooting of @fortworthpd Officer Garrett Hull, have been identified: Samuel Mayfield, 23, (left) Timothy Kion Huff, 33 (right.) Third suspect, Dacion Steptoe, killed by police. @CBSDFW pic.twitter.com/3JRuH1bU2x MaryAnn Martinez (@maryanncbs11) September 15, 2018 String of Robberies Victor Zepeda, the owner of Los Vaqueros, the bar the crew robbed on Sept. 14, said there were more than 12 people inside when two men burst in wearing masks. We were here and they just bum-rushed the bar, told us to hit the floor and had the guns out, he told CBS. The robbers told everyone to empty their pockets and after gathering everything, left. Fitzgerald told reporters on Sept. 14, that the robbery crew is suspected in a string of robberies in and around the city in recent months. The numerous robberies the men are believed to have committed primarily targeted Latino-owned bars. A police spokesman said that the robbers targeted such bars because they believed the victims would be less likely to report the robberies to the police. From NTD.tv Unlike the two other defendants in this case, Edward accepted responsibility for his actions regarding his involvement in this case, a defense memorandum states. In fact, not only did Edward accept responsibility, but he also cooperated with the United States in the prosecution of the co-defendants and this matter. A policeman patrols the tourist Plaza Garibaldi after unknown assailants gunned down three men at an intersection on the edge of the plaza in Mexico City, Mexico September 14, 2018. (Reuters/Carlos Jasso) Three Killed in Mexico City Tourist Hotspot, Police Chase Mariachi Gunmen MEXICO CITYGunmen with rifles and pistols killed three people on Friday, Sept. 14, and injured at least seven in a tourist plaza in downtown Mexico City, police said, adding that they were chasing three men dressed as mariachi musicians who fled on motorbikes. After years of keeping a lid on the worst violent crime that has plagued Mexico, its capital has seen homicides surge since 2014 to record levels, presenting a major challenge to an incoming city government that has vowed a clean-up. In a statement, police said the three victims were killed at an intersection on the edge of Plaza Garibaldi, a major tourist destination packed with mariachi bars, just as the capital was kicking off independence day weekend celebrations. The victims had been at a restaurant when the shooting started around 10 p.m., media said, adding that forensic officials had counted more than 60 bullet cases at the scene. People were screaming and running, said a disabled woman who sells cigarettes in Garibaldi, shortly after having heard what she thought were fireworks. She declined to be identified. The identity of the three dead was not immediately clear, but the Milenio newspaper said they were men. Another newspaper said two of the injured were women. Four of the injured were hurt as the gunmen fled, Mexico City police chief Raymundo Collins told reporters. Nothing like this has ever happened before, said Samuel, a man who added that he had worked for thirty years around the square in one of the worlds biggest, most populous cities, but declined to give his last name. This undated photo that is part of a missing person poster released by Alaska State Troopers shows ten-year-old Ashley Johnson-Barr, who was last seen leaving Rainbow Park in Kotzebue at 1800 hours on Sept. 6, 2018 wearing a pink sweater and jeans. (Alaska State Troopers via AP) Troopers: Missing 10-Year-Old Alaska Girl Found Dead ANCHORAGE, ALASKAA 10-year-old girl has been found dead on Sept. 14, authorities said, more than a week after she was reported missing in a remote Inupiat Eskimo town on Alaskas northwestern coast. Ashley Johnson-Barrs remains were found east of Kotzebue, Alaska State Troopers said. Late Friday night, FBI spokeswoman Staci Feger-Pellessier said that 41-year-old Peter Wilson of Kotzebue is facing charges of making false statements to a federal agent investigating the girls death. Wilson is being transferred to Anchorage, Feger-Pellessier said. The girl was last seen playing with friends at a local park Sept. 6. Her cellphone was later found a half-mile from Rainbow Park, in the opposite direction of her home in the community of 3,100 people. The search included assistance from 17 FBI agents earlier this week. Troopers spokesman Jonathon Taylor says five of the agents left Kotzebue for other assignments on Sept. 13. The Alaska State Troopers are the lead agency in the case. No other information about the discovery of her body was immediately released. Kotzebue, 26 miles north of the Arctic Circle and 550 miles northwest of Anchorage, is a regional hub for northwest Alaska villages. The town is built on a 3-mile-long spit, and many there live a subsistence lifestyle far off the states limited road system, with 26 miles of local gravel roads used by vehicles in warmer months and snowmobiles in winter. The community has a chronically high unemployment rate, with the school district, state and local hospital among its major employers. On Sept. 12, evening, dozens of locals gathered at Rainbow Park to pray and share hugs and tears over the missing girl, an honor student, Anchorage television station KTUU reported. The girls father, Walter Scotty Barr, told KTUU TV in Kotzebue on Sept. 12, that he didnt know about the prayer gathering beforehand. It goes to show the love of the community and everyone who has helped, he said. Typhoon Kills 12 in Philippines, Heads to Southern China TUGUEGARAO, PHILIPPINESTyphoon Mangkhut lashed the northern Philippines with destructive winds and heavy rain that set off landslides and destroyed homes on Sept. 15, leaving at least 12 people dead, as Hong Kong and other parts of southern China braced for the powerful storm. The most ferocious typhoon to hit the disaster-prone Philippines this year slammed ashore before dawn in Cagayan province on the northeastern tip of Luzon island, a breadbasket that is also a region of flood-prone rice plains and mountain provinces with a history of deadly 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. Mangkhut, however, was still punching powerful winds and gusts equivalent to a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane when it hit the Philippines. China and the Philippines agreed to postpone a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that was to start Sept. 16, due to the typhoons onslaught, which caused nearly 150 flights, a third of them international, to be canceled and halted sea travel. Francis Tolentino, an adviser to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, said the 12 died mostly in landslides and houses that got pummeled by the storms fierce winds and rain. Among the fatalities were an infant and a 2-year-old child who died with their parents after the couple refused to immediately evacuate from their high-risk community in a mountain town in Nueva Vizcaya province, Tolentino said. They cant decide for themselves where to go, he said of the children, expressing frustration that the tragedy was not prevented. Tolentino, who was assigned by Duterte to help coordinate disaster response, said at least two other people were missing. He said the death toll could climb to at least 16 once other casualty reports were verified. Mayor Mauricio Domogan said at least three people died and six others were missing in his mountain city of Baguio after strong winds and rain destroyed several houses and set off landslides, which also blocked roads to the popular vacation destination. It was not immediately clear whether the deaths and missing cited by Domogan had been included in Tolentinos count. Authorities were verifying the drownings of three people, including two children who reportedly died as the typhoon approached. About 70 men reportedly returned to their coastal village in Cagayan to check on their homes as the storm drew closer on Sept. 14, but Tolentino said he had received no reports of the men figuring in an accident. Mangkhuts sustained winds weakened to 170 kilometers (105 miles) per hour with gusts of up to 260 kph (161 mph) after it sliced northwestward across Luzon before blowing out to the South China Sea, aiming at Hong Kong and elsewhere in southern China. About 87,000 people evacuated from high-risk areas of the Philippines. Tolentino and other officials advised them not to return home until the lingering danger had passed. Its still a life and death situation, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said by phone, citing past drownings in swollen rivers in mountain provinces after storms had passed. Storm warnings remained in effect in 10 northern provinces, including Cagayan, which could still be lashed by devastating winds, forecasters said. Thousands of people in the typhoons path had been evacuated. At daybreak in Cagayans capital, Tuguegarao, Associated Press journalists saw a severely damaged public market, its roof ripped apart and wooden stalls and tarpaulin canopies in disarray. Outside a popular shopping mall, debris was scattered everywhere and government workers cleared roads of fallen trees. Many stores and houses were damaged but most residents remained indoors as occasional gusts sent small pieces of tin sheets and other debris flying dangerously. The Tuguegarao airport terminal was badly damaged, its roof and glass windows shattered by strong winds that also sent chairs, tables and papers flipping about inside, Lorenzana said. The typhoon struck 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. A government damage assessment was underway except in areas still being battered by winds and rain. Two air force C-130 cargo planes and 10 helicopters were on standby in Manila, the Philippines capital, to help transport rescuers and aid supplies. In Hong Kong, Security Minister John Lee Ka-chiu urged residents to prepare for the worst as the storm barreled toward the southern Chinese city. Cathay Pacific said all of its flights would be canceled between 2:30 a.m. local time on Sept. 16, and 4 a.m. Sept. 17. Because Mangkhut will bring winds and rains of extraordinary speeds, scope and severity, our preparation and response efforts will be greater than in the past, Lee told a briefing on Sept. 14. Each department must have a sense of crisis, make a comprehensive assessment and plan, and prepare for the worst. In nearby Fujian province in China, 51,000 people were evacuated from fishing boats and around 11,000 vessels returned to port on the morning of Sept. 15. Chinas National Meteorological Center issued an alert saying Mangkhut would make landfall somewhere on the coast in Guangdong province on Sept. 16, afternoon or evening. Ferry services in the Qiongzhou Strait in southern China were halted on Sept. 15, and helicopters and tugboats were dispatched to Guangdong to transfer offshore workers to safety and warn ships about the typhoon, Chinas official Xinhua News Agency reported. 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 worlds most disaster-prone countries. In 2013, 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. By Aaron Favila and Joeal Calupitan Weatherman Dramatically Braces for Hurricane Florence While Two People Stroll By A Weather Channel reporter on the scene in North Carolina was seen dramatically fighting off the wind while two people in the same frame walked without any bracing, leading some to question if he was being too dramatic. Mike Seidel was reporting from Wilmington on Sept. 14, as Hurricane Florence stormed through the state and deluged it with rain, storm surges, and, in some areas, high winds. This is about as nasty as its been, said Seidel during the broadcast. But Seidels apparent bracing against high winds was undermined by the pedestrians who strolled around behind him, as they did not appear to be affected by the winds at all. So dramatic! Dude from the weather channel bracing for his life, as 2 dudes just stroll past. #HurricaneFlorence pic.twitter.com/8FRyM4NLbL Tony scar. (@gourdnibler) September 14, 2018 People Wonder About Wind The juxtaposition led some viewers to claim Seidel was making the wind force seem worse than it actually was. Those other guys probably have superhuman abilities, said one Twitter user. Read More Family Trapped in Florence Floodwaters Kept Hearing People Screaming for Help You cant trust the mainstream media. Ever, added another Twitter user. A snippet from the broadcast, shared widely across social media websites, was viewed millions of times in just several hours. Yet another #Florence tropical squall is slamming us at the intracoastal in Wilmington, NC. We've been in these on and off for 24 hours! Nearly 70 tropical storms and hurricanes and I've never seen this magnitude of wind and rain last this long. pic.twitter.com/D4Rq7EM1xU Mike Seidel (@mikeseidel) September 15, 2018 However, the Weather Channel defended Seidel against the attacks, saying he was in a different area than the two people seen the background, in a statement obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Its important to note that the two individuals in the background are walking on concrete, and Mike Seidel is trying to maintain his footing on wet grass, after reporting on-air until 1:00 a.m. ET this morning and is undoubtedly exhausted, the network said. Seidel himself has not addressed the video, instead, continuing to report from Wilmington. The reporter of over 25 years has been sharing a number of videos on Twitter, the last one showing intense winds. Nearly 70 tropical storms and hurricanes and Ive never seen this magnitude of wind and rain last this long, he said. Latest on Florences Effect MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.Florence, now a tropical storm, swirled at a near-standstill over the Carolinas on Sept. 15, dumping non-stop rain over areas already flooded by seawater and swelling rivers and creeks across both states. Some towns have already been soaked by more than 2 feet of drenching rains, and forecasters warned that totals could reach 3.5 feet, unleashing floods well inland through early next week. At least four people have died, a toll authorities fear will rise as the storm crawls westward across South Carolina. At 8 a.m. on Sept. 15, Florence stalled about 35 miles west of Myrtle Beach, moving forward at just 2 mph, with top sustained winds of 50 mph. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper called Florence an uninvited brute that could wipe out entire communities as it grinds its way across land. The fact is this storm is deadly and we know we are days away from an ending, Cooper said. With tropical storm-force winds swirling 350 miles wide, Florence continued deluging the Carolinas on Saturday morning after pushing surging seas far ashore. Rescue crews used boats to carry more than 360 people from rising water in the river town of New Bern, North Carolina, while many of their neighbors awaited help. Dozens more were pulled from a collapsed motel. Florence flattened trees, buckled buildings, and crumpled roads. The storm knocked out power to nearly 930,000 homes and businesses, and the number could keep rising. A mother and baby were killed when a tree fell on a house, according to a tweet from Wilmington police. A 77-year-old man was apparently knocked down by the wind and died after going out to check on his hunting dogs, Lenoir County authorities said. The governors office said a man was electrocuted while trying to connect extension cords in the rain. Storm surgesthe bulge of ocean water pushed ashore by the hurricanewere as high as 10 feet. Shaken after seeing waves crashing on the Neuse River just outside his house in New Bern, restaurant owner and hurricane veteran Tom Ballance wished he had evacuated. I feel like the dumbest human being who ever walked the face of the earth, he said. Florence peaked at a terrifying Category 4 with top winds of 140 mph over warm ocean water before making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane at 7:15 a.m. at Wrightsville Beach, a few miles east of Wilmington and not far from the South Carolina line. It blew ashore along a mostly boarded-up, emptied-out stretch of coastline. The storm became more about water than wind, though. Morehead City, North Carolina, had received 23 inches of rain by Friday night, and forecasters warned Saturday morning that parts of the Carolinas could get up to 15 inches more. The Associated Press contributed to this report From NTD.tv 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. 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." This appeared in Saturday's Washington Post. - - - During the 15 years she spent under house arrest, the cause of Aung San Suu Kyi was championed by Western journalists - including, in many instances, this page. She was seen to embody the struggle for freedom against the thuggish military dictatorship in Myanmar, also known as Burma. In 1991, she won the Nobel Peace Prize "for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights." 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 laureate's blessing. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo reported on a particularly grisly massacre in the village of Inn Din, where 10 Rohingya men and boys were slaughtered and dumped into a mass grave. Authorities acknowledged that the killings took place - but they also set out to punish the two journalists. A police official invited them to a restaurant in Yangon and, as they left, handed them rolled-up documents. Before they could even look at the papers, they were arrested. They were later charged with violating Myanmar's colonial-era Official Secrets Act. During an appearance in Hanoi, Aung San Suu Kyi underlined the secrecy act charge in claiming the two men were not "jailed because they were journalists." She claimed that critics of the case had not "bothered to read" the court judgment. That begs the question of whether Aung San Suu Kyi troubled herself to become familiar with the testimony at the trial, during which one police official said he had been ordered by a superior to entrap one of the journalists - a confession that cost him a one-year prison sentence - and another admitted that there was nothing secret in the documents the journalists were handed. When the campaign against the Rohingya began just over a year ago, Aung San Suu Kyi's defenders pointed out that she had no control over the generals who ordered and carried it out - a number of whom have been cited by a U.N. investigative panel as candidates for war crimes prosecutions. Yet as the horrific facts of the ethnic cleansing have emerged - with more than 700,000 people driven across the border to Bangladesh by murders, mass rapes and the torching of scores of villages - Aung San Suu Kyi has repeatedly minimized and defended it. "The situation could have been handled better" was her sickening understatement on Thursday. Now she is also justifying a blatant miscarriage of justice, though she has full authority to order the pardon of the journalists. Those who believed her when she claimed to stand for free expression, and advocated for her, no longer have reason to do so. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 15) Typhoon Ompong weakened as it moves away from the country. In its 8 p.m. update Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the storm has maintained winds of 160 kilometers per hour (kph), down from above 200 kph before it hit land in Baggao, Cagayan past 1 a.m. Saturday. Gusts also went down to 195 kph from 260 kph, though still dangerous according to weathermen. As of 7 p.m., the eye of the typhoon was at west-northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, and moving towards the West Philippine Sea. Ompong is expected to exit the country before 10 p.m. However, the storm will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon. Weather conditions are expected to improve by Monday, September 17. Alerts remain for fisherfolk and those with small seacraft against setting sail to the seaboards of Luzon and the Visayas. The weather bureau advised residents near river channels, low-lying, and mountainous areas to be still on alert for possible flooding and landslides, and to continue monitoring updates about the typhoon. Here is the complete list of storm signals nationwide: Signal No. 3 Ilocos Norte Ilocos Sur La Union Signal No. 2 Batanes Cagayan Babuyan group of Islands Abra Apayao Kalinga Mountain Province Ifugao Benguet Pangasinan Zambales Signal No. 1 Isabela Nueva Vizcaya Quirino Tarlac Pampanga Bulacan Nueva Ecija Aurora Bataan In 2016, we had a spring convention and we ended up giving $1,000 to the state and ended up with several hundred dollars, Buckley said. We discussed what project, and (Myrna Newgent of Questers Calumet 154) is passionate about nature and the dunes, very involved in the area, so we asked for a good project to donate our money to and we found this project and we voted unanimously for it. WESTPORT The Town of Westport and six members of Westport Police Department (WPD) have been named as defendants in an Aug. 18 lawsuit filed by a Westport couple in Stamford Superior Court after police allegedly set up surveillance video cameras adjacent to the couples home for a period of several months earlier this year. John and Alison Borg of Westport say police unlawfully installed cameras pointing at, and into, their home on the properties of two neighbors to monitor potential criminal activity, which they characterized as neighbors filing baseless complaints in a long-running feud. The Borgs' Hartford-based lawyer, A. Paul Spinella, told the Connecticut Law Tribune the cameras were a serious invasion of privacy and were installed without a warrant. He says one neighbor is retaliating against the couple after losing a legal battle over an easement between the properties. "There was a dispute over a land easement and my client won," Spinella said. According to the complaint obtained by The Hour, the lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Borgs and their minor daughter, and is based on violations of the familys fourth, fifth, and fourteenth amendment U.S. Constitutional rights, as well as a violation of 42 USC 1983 and 1988, and the common law of the State of Connecticut. The complaint alleges that "Beginning on January 30, 2015 and lasting until at least April 20, 2015, the Defendants began continuing, around-the-clock covert surveillance of the Plaintiffs' home in an attempt to obtain evidence of criminal activity." Defendants named in the lawsuit are: WPD Detectives John Rocke, George Taylor, and Anthony P. Prezioso; WPD officers John Lachioma and Daniel Paz; WPD Chief of Police Dale Call; as well as the Town of Westport. According to the complaint, on or about January 30, Rocke and Prezioso allegedly met with a neighbor of the Borgs, installed video surveillance equipment and covertly began filming the Borg's home. On February 12, Rocke and Taylor allegedly went to a second neighbor's home for the purpose of installing surveillance cameras, installed said cameras and began surveillance. On March 26, Lachioma allegedly downloaded the surveillance video footage and that footage was preserved as evidence to be used against the plaintiffs. On April 5, Paz reviewed the surveillance video footage to determine whether the plaintiffs had engaged in criminal activity. "The Defendants' continuing surveillance of the Plantiffs' home for the purpose of obtaining evidence of criminal activity, constituted a search within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment. The Defendants' did not obtain a search warrant prior to conducting the ongoing video surveillance, states the complaint. ...In commiting the acts complained herein, Defendants acted under color of state law to deprive Plaintiffs of certain Constitutionally protected rights under the Fourth and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States including the right to be free from unreasonable searches. "Constitutional law requires that a warrant be obtained for a search," Spinella said. "The allegations of criminal activity were baseless, there would have been no probable cause, they couldn't have gotten a warrant." The lawsuit seeks punitive damages for the Plaintiffs who "suffered and continue to suffer severe mental anguish and emotional trauma," based on "conduct of Defendants (that) was willful, malicious, oppressive and/or reckless." "This was more invasive than seeing who was coming and going from the home. This was a penetration of my clients' personal space," Spinella said. "Every homeowner has the right to feel comfortable when retreating into the privacy of their homes without intrusion from the State. Westport Town Attorney Ira Bloom has not returned calls to The Hour for comment The monetary amount in demand by the plaintiffs is in 'excess of $15,000' and the answer date for the suit is Oct. 6. The Associated Press contributed to this story EDWARDSVILLE On Monday, the Edwardsville District 7 Board of Education approved the addition of $7,500 of services to the original $9,900 contract with the Illinois Association of School Boards Professional Services, which has been contracted to conduct a superintendent executive search to replace the retiring Lynda Andre in June. These additional services will not exceed the $17,400 approved in the original board action taken at the Aug. 27 board meeting. Before beginning the discussion about the IASB, Monica Laurent, board president, offered her opinion of the role of the board. This is the most important job that any board of education will do is to choose a superintendent that leads the district, she said. Also Id like to stress that everything we do in a superintendent search in terms of determining timelines the process is all debated in public. So all of this is done tonight it all has to be done at our board meeting in the public. So thats why were staring our discussion tonight, and then well have board comments that will go out to everyone so that we make sure the correct information goes out to these stakeholders. The board, with the exception of Board Member Paul Pitts who also voted against hiring the IASB in the original Aug. 27 action, voted to approve the additional $7,500. Jim Helton, the IASB representative that will be working with District 7, explained that this additional cost would include staff and community and district interviews, two IASB consultants to interview candidates and to facilitate in-district stakeholder group interviews with the semi-finalists. Those would be the three components that would be added to the $9,900 to get to your $17,400, he said. As part of the extra $7,500 fees approved, Helton will be seeking input from the District 7 staff through large group district interviews. I would be the only one doing that, he said. Were looking at two days. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to do a large group. We listen. Thats what we do. We dont come in with preconceived ideas of what everybody is going to tell us. We act as an unbiased interviewer, facilitator to gather perceptions of key members of district administration, representatives of the staff and/or members of the school community regarding the characteristics and the skills to be sought in the new superintendent - both certified and non-certified staff. We ask basically four key questions about the uniqueness of the district, the strengths of the district, what traits the superintendent youre looking for and what will be an ideal candidate and then we record those things. And that data comes back to us and we report that to the board, Helton added. The board scheduled two open community forums to gather community input. Dates scheduled are Sept. 27 and Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. The location had not yet been determined, but Laurent noted it would be at a District 7 building. Helton suggested the board conduct these meetings themselves but with his guidance to avoid further costs. The board also scheduled an input forum for the CAC Advisory members on Sept. 17, which is the date of the next CAC Advisory meeting. John McDole, a CAC Advisory Member who was present at the board meeting, suggested that they could reach out to any Prop E Referendum committee members not already on the CAC and invite them to be attend this meeting to provide their input. As the board discussed how the superintendent search process would work, Helton noted that they needed to still talk about how the board of education wanted to handle the internal candidates. Do you want them processed just like the other candidates? Do you want to hold them in different regard where they make the final six or they make the final 12? he inquired. We dont have to have that decision today, but it is something that we will have to discuss. And probably the timing of that happens when I come back with the ideal candidate components all of the data we have collected we talk in an open meeting and then at that time the board tells me then how you want IASB to do it. I know that were going to talk about this and make a decision, but Im really hopeful that at least two or three of the candidates for internal will be a part of the six, Board Member Debra Pitts stressed. I agree. I think thats reasonable, Board Member Terri Dalla Riva said. That two or three of the six be internal candidates so that well have something to compare our outside candidates. I would hate that all of them be external candidates, Pitts added. Helton will be attending future board meetings to provide updates and discuss next steps in the process. The next board meeting is scheduled for Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in Woodland Elementary Schools cafeteria. EDWARDSVILLE - The question of whether city officials should permit LimeBike, an outside bicycle sharing company seeking to operate in the city of Edwardsville, has taken an unexpectedturn. The California-based company has long shown an interest in offering the sturdy lime green bikes here. But following a recent Intelligencer article on the topic, a LimeBike employee contacted alderman SJ Morrison and told him the company is really interested in Edwardsville if, and only if, Edwardsville also includes scooters, Morrison said Thursday at the Administrative & Community Services Committee meeting. All the sudden its different, Morrison told his colleagues on the committee. Thats not really what we were pursuing. The change in emphasis comes as Morrison has begun reaching out to Edwardsville Township and other entities to gauge their interest. He and other city officials have been looking into preferred parking zones that would discourage cyclists from walking away from their bike when theyre finished and leaving sidewalks strewn with bikes. Its a problem that St. Louis, Chicago and other cities around the country have also wrestled with. But Alderman Will Krause said that during a recent visit to the Central West End neighborhood in St. Louis he noticed that the lime green bicycles had been replaced by electric scooters. Most of the bikes have disappeared, he said. LimeBikes dockless electric scooter share program requires riders to have a drivers license and to be at least 18 years old, according to the companys website. The vehicles cost $1 to unlock and 15 cents a mile to ride. They have a 250-watt motor and reach a maximum speed of 14.8 mph. The question is, Do we want scooters, and only scooters? There may not be bikes, Morrison said. Krause said that while he likes the electric scooters, scooters are better suited to the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus. I can see it working out there, he said. Their sidewalks are smooth, their asphalt is smooth. Here is Edwardsville, I dont know that it would work as well. Morrison has said that if the city moves forward on bicycle sharing it would need to be with a considerably smaller number of bikes than the company has proposed. The ACS Committee will continue to discuss the topic in coming months. For me, it changes things a little bit, Morrison said. Im less excited about it. Individuals searching for new career opportunities across the St. Louis area are encouraged to attend the upcoming Jobs Plus 2018 Regional Job Fair, where nearly 60 employers will be seeking out potential employees to fill hundreds of job openings region-wide. The event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Sept. 19, from 1-5 p.m. at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, Ill. Job seekers will be able to learn about employment opportunities in a wide variety of industries, such as transportation, logistics, healthcare, utilities, the trades, customer service, sales and more. Parking and admission to the job fair is free. It is open to the public and will be beneficial for high school graduates, those with advanced degrees and anyone in between. The Jobs Plus 2018 Regional Job Fair is the perfect event for job seekers in the area, no matter what stage theyre at in their careers, said Mark Kern, St. Clair County Board Chairman. Anyone interested in new job opportunities should take advantage of the chance to meet the largest employers in the St. Louis area who have many open positions they are eager to fill. This wouldnt have been easily done if it werent for officers like Mrs. Short, he said. She was always there to listen and assist with correcting a situation. She took time out of her day and shift to make sure you understood what was happening. Plans to transport freight via innovative waterway vessels will revolutionize the inland waterway system and provide significant transportation cost savings for shippers, especially those accessing the Midwest by utilizing the Mississippi River and its tributaries, according to Sal Litrico, CEO for American Patriot Container Transport, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Patriot Holdings LLC. Litrico presented information about Container on Vessel (COV) innovations at two St. Louis Regional Freightway Industry Forums in late August in St. Louis, Missouri, sponsored by Americas Central Port, the Jefferson County Port Authority, Plaquemines Port Harbor & Terminal District, and Riverview Commerce Park, LLC. Litrico said shippers could potentially save between 30 to 40 percent versus other intermodal alternatives by using patented vessels capable of carrying mass quantities of containerized freight on an all-water route connecting ports in the St. Louis region and other ports in the Midwest to the lower Mississippi River, and ultimately to Asia, Europe and other foreign ports. Litrico said those projected savings would come without compromising the necessary levels of frequency and reliability. Stakeholders from all modes of the freight industry and the agriculture industry learned more at the St. Louis Regional Freightway Industry Forums from Litrico and others about plans for COV shipments coming to the Midwest. The expansion of the Panama Canal opened the door to an all-water route into the Midwest. The widened canal can accommodate larger vessels (from 5,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) to 18,000 TEU) whereas, previously, 60 percent of ocean going vessels could not fit through the canal. With the additional travel time to the Gulf Coast offset by congestion-related delays and longer dwell times at the West Coast ports, shippers now have a viable and efficient alternate route. That new all-water route for bigger vessels to access the heartland of America via the planned Plaquemines Port container terminal provides economies of scale which permits deeper market penetration into the United States from the Gulf Coast, eroding cost advantages previously associated with the East and West Coasts. Cargo flows to the lowest cost, most efficient route, so all we had to do was build the lowest cost, most efficient route, said Sandy Sanders, Executive Director of the Plaquemines Port Harbor and Terminal District (PPHTD). PPHTD has Memorandums of Understanding in place with the St. Louis Regional Freightway and various ports in the St. Louis region and throughout the Midwest, as well as an agreement with innovative marine transportation leader American Patriot Holdings LLC (APH). Were going to revolutionize onward movement of cargo to the Midwest and from the Midwest to the world, utilizing the first interstate highway, the inland waterway system, Sanders added. Sanders and Litrico said the goal is to develop a hub-and-spoke transportation system for container transport vessel shipments from Plaquemines, at mile 50-55 on the Mississippi River south of New Orleans, to Midwest markets, which represent 40 percent of U.S. land area and 15 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product or GDP. They view this COV approach as a way to move a critical mass of containerized product significantly faster than Container on Barge (COB), resulting in lower landed transportation costs. This insight indicates just how significant the cost savings could be for this new waterway transportation alternative that also would deliver many other benefits, including improved reliability, enhanced operational safety and reduced environmental impact. The specialized APH vessels that would be used to provide the COV service have patented features enabling high cargo payload and unprecedented upriver speeds. APHs Liner vessel will carry up to 2,500 containers at speeds of 13 miles per hour with virtually no wake, making round trips from Plaquemines to the St. Louis region possible in 10 days, significantly faster than other options. In contrast, COB transport, which moves at between 4 to 5 miles per hour on upriver trips, takes from 20 to 24 days of total transportation time. Despite the additional days of ocean carrier transit time from Asia to the U.S. Gulf Coast versus Los Angeles-Long Beach, the estimated net transportation time to St. Louis regional shippers is indistinguishable due to intermodal delays and West Coast dwell and delay times. Growth at the combined Los Angeles-Long Beach ports is anticipated to increase from 16 million TEU in 2017 to 40 million TEU in 2030 said another presenter, Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition. APHs Hybrid vessels would be a little smaller and more nimble, so that in addition to making direct trips between the Port of Plaquemines and Midwest ports along the Mississippi, they would also connect with other ports on the tributary rivers above the locks and dams, picking up additional freight and supporting the hub and spoke system. APH anticipates todays COB services would also support the system as a feeder vessel. Final engineering and designs are underway for the innovative APH vessels which recently completed model testing in Germany. Sanders said the new multimodal gateway terminal being built at the Port of Plaquemines would be capable of servicing the largest ocean carriers (20,000+ TEU) and could accommodate eight unit trains right up to the dock, in contrast to other large ports where one unit train would have to be cut three times to get through the yard. The new terminal will feature modern terminal technology to expedite container throughput and be served by 15 150-gauge cranes. Sanders also talked about recently securing permission at an adjacent naval airport for cargo planes to land. With the ability to handle so much cargo mass between the vessels, the gateway terminal, and additional terminals envisioned at Midwest ports, such as the Jefferson County Port just south of St. Louis, the all-water route from Asia, and other foreign ports, to the Midwest will significantly reduce shippers landed transportation costs versus rail and truck costs from other gateway ports. Litrico said a recent study indicates those savings would range from at least 30 percent for products being exported to 40 percent for imports, compared to shipping product to or from the Los Angeles-Long Beach ports to the Midwest via rail. Our mode of transportation is the principal driver of the savings, Litrico added. Its about critical mass, speed, optimizing logistics, vertical integration and providing the lowest landed transportation costs. What excites me about the APH model is that it allows these farmers to engage in the international marketplace without having to have huge economies of scale, said Steenhoek. He added, A supply chain is more viable if you can have a robust inbound movement and a robust outbound movement. Its encouraging that theres so much interest from non-ag industries in this alternative. Located at the multimodal crossroads of America, the St. Louis region is recognized as a leader in transportation, Dennis Wilmsmeyer said. Wilmsmeyer is the executive director of Americas Central Port. But those of us trying to get a piece of the projected growth in freight volumes need to get creative. Freight needs to find the lowest cost alternative, and the containerization of various products, ranging from tires and scrap metal to agriculture products, such as specialized soy beans, is part of the solution. The key to success, said Mary Lamie, Executive Director of the St. Louis Regional Freightway, is going to be the integration of all modes of transportation and building the partnerships to jointly create the volume needed to support this new option to transport freight. Its an innovative alternative that offers reliability, efficiency, cargo flexibility, sustainability, and a competitive price advantage. We are starting to engage with shippers and carriers to let them know about this new option. Ultimately, the world-class multimodal network in the St. Louis region helped it fit into the developing plans but given the need to create the volume required to make the service viable, partnerships with other ports in other Midwest regions is essential for success. Those partnerships are being forged and representatives from ports in Memphis, Kansas City, which are also in discussions with American Patriot Holdings, attended the recent St. Louis Regional Freightway Industry Forums along with representatives from ports in the St. Louis region. Similar events to update cargo owners, shippers, carriers and leaders in the freight and agricultural industries are planned, a clear indication that competitors recognize that the power of collaboration may be the key to success for this particular initiative as they work together create the volume needed to support the service. This type of program can really give us a visible implementation of the system which will make the Mississippi River and its tributaries a power house. It will literally be another Gulf Coast, said Randy Richardson, Executive Director of the Memphis and Shelby County Port Commission. Then we have a physical, tangible point to say this is a system and it needs to be funded as a system, and we need to look at it that way in congress and then we will have infinitely more power. Richardson attended the St. Louis Regional Freightway Industry Forum and shared his comments during the question and answer portion of the program. Sanders and Litricos next step to advance the COV effort is continuing to line up cargo for the return trips, the trips back down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. To that end, the STC/ISA (Soy Transportation Coalition/Illinois Soy Association) which represents 13 states and 85 percent of the soy production in the U.S. just completed a third party study. The study, conducted by Informa economics, evaluated grain exports from the Midwest utilizing the APH/PPHTD all-water route to Asia versus intermodal to the West Coast. The study concluded the all-water routing demonstrated significant savings. The full report and its findings will available on STCs website within the next few weeks. Infrastructure investment About St. Louis Regional Freightway The St. Louis Regional Freightway is a Bi-State Development enterprise formed to create a regional freight district and comprehensive authority for freight operations and opportunities within eight counties in Illinois and Missouri which comprise the St. Louis metropolitan area. Public sector and private industry businesses are partnering with the St. Louis Regional Freightway to establish the bi-state region as one of the premier multimodal freight hubs and distribution centers in the United States through marketing, public advocacy, and freight and infrastructure development. To learn more, visit thefreightway.com. A pair of premieres highlight the St. Louis Symphony Orchestras second weekend in its 2018/2019 classical season on Friday, September 28, and Saturday, September 29. Described as imaginative and unusual, Flounce, by Finnish composer Lotta Wennakoski, will receive its U.S. debut by the SLSO under the baton of Finnish conductor Hannu Lintu, who returns to St. Louis for his 7th stint as a guest conductor. The piece was commissioned by the BBC and made its world premiere at Royal Albert Hall in London by the BBC Symphony Orchestra in September 2017. A close SLSO collaborator, American-Canadian violinist Leila Josefowicz, returns to perform the SLSO debut of Esa-Pekka Salonens modern masterpiece, Violin Concerto. Josefowicz, a passionate advocate of contemporary music, has been heralded as a master storyteller. This is her 11th appearance with the SLSO. She was nominated for a Grammy award for a recording of composer John Adams Scheherazade.2 with the SLSO in 2016 in the Best Classical Solo Instrumental category. In addition to the U.S. premiere of Wennakoskis Flounce and the orchestra debut of Salonens Violin Concerto, the SLSO will add 10 other works to its repertoire during the 139th season, including the world premiere of Christopher Rouses Bassoon Concerto on Nov. 16. In the second half of the September 28-29 program, the orchestra will perform Shostakovichs massive Symphony No. 11, The Year 1905 a bold and cinematic depiction of the Bloody Sunday Massacre of 1905. Often dubbed a film score without the film, the four-movement symphony portrays the calm of the Palace Square in St. Petersburg, the massacre of demonstrators by the military, the ensuing solemnity and the eventual discord that leads to the Russian Revolution of 1917. Friday, September 28, 2018, 8:00pm Saturday, September 29, 2018, 8:00pm Hannu Lintu, conductor Leila Josefowicz, violin WENNAKOSKI Flounce (U.S. Premiere) SALONEN Violin Concerto SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 11, The Year 1905 Before both performances, SLSO Creative Partner Tim Munro will lead a free pre-concert conversation to share insight into the program. Tune in to St. Louis Public Radio on Saturday, September 29, at 8:00pm for a live broadcast of the performance. Listen on air (90.7 FM KWMU) or online (http://www.stlpublicradio.org/listen.php). About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Celebrated as one of todays most exciting and enduring orchestras, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 139th year with the 2018/2019 season. Widely considered one of the worlds finest, the SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community connections all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music. In addition to its regular concert performances at Powell Hall, which has been the permanent home of the SLSO for 50 years, the orchestra is an integral part of the diverse and vibrant St. Louis community, presenting free education programs and performances throughout the region each year. It presents St. Louis Symphony Live at the Pulitzer, a four-program series at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. The SLSO also serves as the resident orchestra for Opera Theatre Saint Louis, with this season marking the 42nd year of their partnership. The Grammy Awardwinning SLSOs impact beyond the St. Louis region is realized through weekly Saturday night concert broadcasts on St. Louis Public Radio, acclaimed recordings, and regular touring activity. A sought-after artistic partner by preeminent musicians and composers from across the globe, as well as by local and national organizations, the SLSO enjoys a long history of robust and enduring artistic collaborations that have developed and deepened over the years. Today, the SLSO builds on the institutions current momentum on all fronts, including artistic, financial, audience growth, and community impact, and looks toward the future with Stephane Deneve. Deneve, who has been a frequent guest conductor with the orchestra since 2003, begins his tenure as Music Director with the 19/20 season, following this season as Music Director Designate. For more information, visit slso.org. 11 hours ago Another day, another record on Wall Street as stocks inch up NEW YORK (AP) Wall Street clawed its way to more records on Monday, with stock indexes creeping higher after another listless day of trading. The S&P 500 inched up by 4.17 points, or 0.1%, to 4,701.70 after drifting between a small loss and gain through the day. Read Article Vernon Hills is pretty awesome. My husband and I are both hot weather people and we chose to raise our family here not because of the weather, which gets pretty cold, but because of how amazing this place is, Kari Brown told Pioneer Press. I want to keep it that great town that people want to live in and contribute to more of its success. 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. An atrocious start to low season FISHING: Ahoy me hearties! Once again its a foul weather report in fact neither my friends nor I remember such an atrocious start to the low season, but while most of the companies were busy returning deposits, PSTs website advised us that Thai 2 On managed to sneaked out between storms, mid-month, and bagged seven Sailfish, so the boys with the bills are back. That will make for a few Jolly Jack Tars Brilliant!!! Fishing By Jimmy Stewart Saturday 15 September 2018, 05:00PM Thai 2 On managed to bag seven Sailfish when sneaking out between storms. Photo: Supplied This month the organisers of PST (Phuket Sport-fishing Tournament) also announced the dates of the next PST competition which will be the November 21-24. Keep an eye open for those early bird entries. And for all you lucky, rich, old pirates, at the pinnacle of our celebrated sport, both Thai 2 On and the 60ft sport-fisher Deja Blue have advised me they are now taking bookings for the coming high season. Mid-February to Mid-April Thai 2 On will be returning to the Burma Banks for five to eight day trips while Deja Blue with her large fuel capacity and water maker will once again be visiting Indias Andaman Islands, (January to the beginning of May). Both boats can accommodate five, at a push, but like the day boats we recommend a maximum of four. These are undoubtedly the two best fishing areas here in the East and the nearest thing you will get to a guarantee while Big Game Fishing. Please e-mail me, via the web site, for further information on either of these truly amazing fishing adventures. This months humour relates to a Russian boat owner who took some Ballyhoo on board his boat. (Bait fish, for the uninitiated). He asked his new Thai decky, Do you know how to tie these? and was given an affirmative. The next morning you will never guess what he had fried for his breakfast. Yum-yum. Considering we have had weather warnings for small boats more or less continuously for the past couple of months, isnt it about time we changed our mental attitude? Isnt it strange how everyone seems to accept the weather as being its just the weather With half the world suffering fires and the other half floods, is it not about time something was done about it before the planet spins completely out of control, and demand that the worlds political ostriches remove their heads from the sand where they have been firmly buried for far too long. While plastic and all the other toxic waste we pump into our oceans should not be ignored, warming is already burning, drowning and burying us by the thousands. Am I the only voice in the wilderness shouting ENOUGH! Sometimes I wonder, am I completely alone on this planet? While I have experienced this/that incredible feeling of isolation combined with a sort of happily womb-like security that all sea fishermen can relate to, this is definitely not the case when returning to dry land, where every damned thing seems to want to take a bite out of you, one way or another. No one owns the water. No one owns the lands. No one owns the oceans. No one owns the sands. These are given by our Mother. The planet provides for free. Only by the hands of the greedy does the Earth require a fee. Anon. As usual, tight lines all round. Jimmy - fishinginphuket.com German expat gets eight years jail for slaying Phuket girlfriend PHUKET: German national Nico Papke, a 36-year-old fitness instructor in Phuket, has been sentenced to serve more than eight years in jail for the murder of his girlfriend Pischa Lek Nampadung, for stealing her ATM card and for a drugs-related charge. murdercrimepolice By The Phuket News Saturday 15 September 2018, 05:03PM German national Nico Papke lies in Vachira Phuket Hospital after attempting to slash his own throat with a box cutter as police moved in to arrest him at his rented home in Soi Saiyuan, Rawai, last year. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub German national Nico Papke lies in Vachira Phuket Hospital after attempting to slash his own throat with a box cutter as police moved in to arrest him at his rented home in Soi Saiyuan, Rawai, last year. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub German national Nico Papke, a former fitness instructor in Rawai, explains to police his actions that led to the death of his ex-girlfriend Pischa Lek Nampadung, last year. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub German national Nico Papke (left), a former fitness instructor in Rawai, explains to police his actions in disposing the body of his ex-girlfriend Pischa Lek Nampadung, last year. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub German national Nico Papke, a former fitness instructor in Rawai, explains to police his actions in disposing the body of his ex-girlfriend Pischa Lek Nampadung, last year. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub German national Nico Papke, a former fitness instructor in Rawai, explains to police his actions in disposing the body of his ex-girlfriend Pischa Lek Nampadung, last year. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Papke, from Altdobern, Germany, was arrested for the murder Ms Pischa, 35, on July 11 last year after her body was found dumped in the jungle in Wichit two days earlier. Ms Pischas body was found wrapped in blankets and bound with sticking tape beside the road about 600 metres along the newly graded track leading into the jungle north of the cement factory on Muang Chaofa Rd. (See story here.) She had been reported as missing on July 1. The charge was read to Papke as he lay at Vachira Phuket Hospital recovering from an attempt to slash his own throat with a box cutter as police moved in to arrest him at his rented home in Soi Saiyuan, Rawai, at 7pm on July 9. (See story here.) Piravut Bumrung of Phuket Provincial Prosecutors Office, and who was prosecutor for the case, confirmed to The Phuket News yesterday (Sept 14) that the sentence handed down totalled 16 years and 16 months in prison. The decision by the judge to sentence (Papke to) 16 years and 16 months in prison was for murder, theft and drugs, Mr Piravut said. Mr Piravut declined to confirm exactly what charges were finally pressed against Papke in court, saying that he could not reveal the details of the trial. However, he did add, But Mr Nico confessed to all charges, so his sentence was halved (on all charges. Pressed for more information, Mr Privaut only responded: I cant explain more because it is judge information (sic). You need to look up the judgment at the court. A clerk at Phuket Provincial Court who was willing to answer queries, but unwilling to be named, confirmed to The Phuket News that the trial concluded on June 27 this year, lasting only two months since it began on April 30. At that time police confirmed that in addition to the murder charge, Papke was facing an additional charge involving a Category 1 narcotic. (See story here.) Under the Narcotics Act, Category 1 drugs include heroin; amphetamine; methamphetamine; MDMA (Ecstasy) and LSD. However, no officers or prosecutors The Phuket News has interviewed regarding the Papke case has ever revealed exactly which drug Papke was allegedly found with, how much f the drug he was found in possession of, or when and where it was found. The Phuket News also notes that a separate charge of Papke concealing Ms Pischas body seems to have disappeared while bringing Papke to justice. Chalong Police Deputy Superintendent Lt Col Somsak Sopakarn, the senior officer overseeing the police investigation into the murder, told The Phuket News in March, We have enough evidence to prove that Papke murdered Ms Pischa and that he also attempted to conceal her body. (See story here.) Meanwhile, the charge for theft of Ms Pischas ATM card remains previously unreported with no one involved in the case willing to report any details on its sudden inclusion in the trial. Papke, who appeared sullen when interviewed by The Phuket News at Vachira Phuket Hospital last year, said that he and Ms Pischa had been in an unstable relationship for about 3-4 months and that they had a heated dispute on the night that Ms Pischa disappeared. Lek borrowed B20,000 from me and said that it had something to do with a car. However, she then told me that she no longer had feelings for me and that she missed her Israeli ex-boyfriend, Papke said. (See story here.) Regardless, the court official to The Phuket News spoke to did confirm the sentence and trial dates for the case, and that Papke is serving his sentence at Phuket Provincial Prison. In attempt to gain more information about the case, The Phuket News contacted Lt Chanat Hongsittichaikul, who was the Chalong Police officer actually leading the murder investigation last year. However, Lt Chanat has since been transferred to Patong Police Station. I cant remember details of this case because of it was many months ago. The case was sent to Phuket Provincial Prosecutor already. All I do remember is that Mr Nico (sic) admitted to all charges. 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." Its the money: Tour operator commissions key factor undermining Phuket marine tourism safety PHUKET: Whether tour operator commissions are the real killer in Phukets marine tourism industry was the shattering question posed at a high-calibre panel discussion at Phuket Boat Lagoon last Friday (Sept 7). tourismtransportmarineSafety By Chris Husted Saturday 15 September 2018, 09:00AM The discussion, titled The Expectations of the Phuket Hotel and Tourism industries from the Phuket marine industry, and vice versa was held at the Boat Point meeting room at Phuket Boat Lagoon and featured leading figures from the islands boating fraternity. The panel speakers comprised Lyndon Ellis, General Manager of Anantara Vacation Club Mai Khao Phuket; Zara Tremlett, the former GM of Yacht Haven Marina; retired international insurance broker Ian Lancaster; and Phuket Yacht Club Commodore Scott Duncanson. Wicky Sundram, Executive Director at Phuket Boat Lagoon and one of the key organisers of the event along with Harry Usher of Lady Pie, was moderator for the event. The panel in its presentation covered many of the clearly failing aspects of Phukets marine tourism industry, with specific focus on boat tours, including de facto overloading (as opposed to breach of number of passengers permitted in accordance with standing regulations) and boat designs that would obviously not pass international standards. However, unchallenged was the key perspective that bashing or otherwise harshly criticising those responsible for enforcing boating regulations was unlikely to provide the results sought. Consensus was that the way forward was to engage with local officials to support them as much as possible to improve the industry, especially with regards to safety. Mr Lancaster also pointed out that he had heard from his interviews throughout the marine industry that the Thai government was taking the issue very seriously and that the concerns had reached all the way up to the prime ministers office and hence that positive suggestions were likely to be well received by those in a position to effect genuine change. Yet, regarding the commissions demanded by tour operators, Mr Lancaster, who retired to Phuket with more than 35 years experience in insurance, pointed out that his research had discovered that commissions on tour tickets tended to account for 25% of the total cost of operating a boat tour. All other costs associated with operating a tour boat were drawn from the remaining 75% of ticket revenues. One attendee at the event, who raised the issue with a question from the audience, pointed out that he was aware of some operators demanding as much as 50% of the tour cost from each paying tourist. This single aspect, beyond greed, was depriving wannabe safe, reliable tour boat operators the funds needed to provide safe boats and tours and added such financial pressure that operators were forced to put a boat to sea in possibly dangerous conditions just to keep the operation financially viable. The only other option for honest operators is to remain uncompetitive and eventually go out of business, leaving just the unscrupulous operators the entire level of demand to themselves. Losing (revenue) from not going out on just one day can easily mean that the boat has to go out four or five more times just to recover the losses from that one day, Mr Lancaster explained. Mr Lancaster suggested a government policy to cover operators from losses in the event the government issues a warning preventing tour boats from leaving port for safety reasons. This is very common in many industries around the world, Mr Lancaster told The Phuket News after the event. Lyndon Ellis explained from the position of hotels, which have tour desks in their resorts where tourists book boat tours directly with the agent, that the relationship between the tour desk and the hotel was usually direct with the finance department, which are focussed on the numbers, he said. However, Mr Ellis pointed out that he was aware of the issue and that as soon as he sees a quiet conversation between a tour operator representative and the tour desk attendant that he makes a bee-line straight for them to intervene as soon as possible to prevent any clandestine agreement between the two. Mr Ellis strongly suggested that any persons with concerns about the commissions demanded by tour operators bring it to the attention of the hotel management responsible for the day-to-day operations of the hotel instead. These people are much more focussed on the quality of the service provided and the tour rather than just the numbers, he said. An outstanding suggestion from the panel was for the hotels themselves to devise their own rating system of preferred boat tour operators which would be able to drive safety and quality tours to the fore. This would include from the moment guests get in the minivan, Mr Ellis explained, adding that many complaints from guests departing hotels on day tours was about the unsafe driving of the minivan to and from the hotel itself. In concluding the event, Brent Harper from local boat-building company Marineworx, based at Boat Lagoon, gave a presentation highlighting the effectiveness of a high-buoyancy foam that could be added to the existing fleet of tour boats to make them literally unsinkable. Foam-panelling is not new elsewhere in the world as a boat-building technique, its been around since the 90s, but the cost of a new PET foam has fallen so much that it is now cost effective to have it added, he explained. We can calculate how much foam is needed and it can be built into the panels. Thai-built boats are all fibreglass panels, and if the worst happens, it just sinks, he explained. If that does happen, at least the people in the water will still have the boat to hold onto or climb on if it overturns until help arrives, he said. Resources available for those who want to kick smoking The smell of fish inside the processing plant was so strong, Albert Testa thought he might vomit as he and his partner tried to fix the problem that was about to cost them a small fortune, including $165,000 in legal fees. It was June, 16, 2011, 15 days after their fish processing plant in Leamington had been seized by receiver BDO Canada Ltd., acting on behalf of TD Bank. A freezer had malfunctioned, putting 93,000 pounds of frozen smelt in peril, and Testa and his partner had been called in to troubleshoot. Testa admits he and his partner had fallen behind on their payments on loans taken out to finance the purchase and operation of the fish plant, which is why the bank hired BDO. What happened next is the subject of a $750,000 lawsuit. Testas statement of claim states the BDO Canada Ltd. representatives who took over the plant did not know how to manage it and allowed fresh fish in the building to go bad. Then, to compound the problem, cases of spoiled, mushy fish were shoved into a freezer with previously frozen fish, ruining the entire fresh and frozen inventory and contaminating the entire building with such a terrible, indelible smell the building had to be sold at a loss when it could have been sold at a profit large enough to satisfy the outstanding loan. Testa is suing TD and BDO for destroying the inventory, for the devaluation of the property and the loss of the business as a going concern. Testa said in an interview that when he arrived at the facility on June 16, condensation in the freezer had created icy stalactites containing fish mush, hanging from light fixtures and stalagmites sprouting from the floor around the containers holding the spoiled fish. Testa maintains the odour was so foul it penetrated the walls, ceiling, equipment, furniture and other areas of the property. Anything thats porous, the smell gets into it, Testa said in an interview. The case is scheduled for pretrial in September and trial in January. The lawyer representing TD and BDO declined to comment when reached by phone and email. In a statement of defence filed in court, which denies the allegations, BDO and TD deny the inventory had any monetary value or that the value of the building was affected by any actions taken or not taken by the BDO agents. Laura Watt, a spokesperson for BDO Canada LLP, said the company stands by its statement of defence. BDO is committed to the highest level of quality and professionalism in all its work, and our firm fully complies with its professional obligations, Watt said. A spokesperson for TD said no comment will be provided as the matter is before the courts. After spending $165,000 on legal fees with his business partner, Testa has been representing himself for three months and plans to represent himself in upcoming court hearings. His partner, Michael Hillhouse, did not return a call for comment. Testa says TD has put a lien on his family home in Windsor, because the TD loan had been personally guaranteed by him and his wife, Brenda Testa, who died in June. The fish inventory, which could have been sold for just under $200,000, had to be discarded, which Testa said in an interview he estimates would have cost $50,000. The building was sold for $290,000 when it had previously been professionally valued at $620,000, and later at $750,000. The banks position is that the building was first evaluated before the financial crisis of 2008 and the later evaluation was based on an addition that was never completed. In October 2014, Andrea Orr, a partner at BDO Canada Ltd., testified at an examination for discovery that neither BDO nor the bank had any intention of selling the inventory because they would be liable for any problems, for example health issues, arising as a result. Orr also testified the company had not been a vital going concern when it was taken over, that the fish plant always smelled and even after the incident with the spoiled fish, it would have been possible to disperse the smell by opening the windows. In fact, from the very beginning, staff at BDO jokingly called it the stinky fish file, according to Orr. Testa purchased the plant for $600,000, part of a deal in 2007 merging the biggest Great Lakes fish producers to establish a dominant industry player, Great Lakes Fish Corporation. When plans to resell the plant fell through, Testa and his partner began renting the facility to Great Lakes Fish Corporation. In May 2010, Great Lakes Fish Corporation ran into financial problems and stopped paying rent on the plant. It became insolvent a few months later. In July, Testa and his partner began missing payments on the $570,000 in loans they had obtained from TD to finance and operate the fish plant. According to the statement of claim, Testa and his partner were successful in getting the Business Development Bank of Canada to agree to loan them money, but the agreement was conditional on TD continuing to delay foreclosure, and TD would not provide that assurance. TD tried to work with Testa and his partner, establishing a new interim payment schedule, but Testa and his partner missed payments in March, April and May of 2011. On June 1, 2011, more than a year after Testa and his partner first began defaulting, TD sent BDO in to take possession of the plant. By early June, 2011, it became clear to TD Bank that the Borrowers no matter how much additional time was given were simply unable to obtain alternate financing and make satisfactory arrangements for the payment of the loan, according to the banks statement of defence. In his statement of claim, filed in Ontario Superior Court, Testa says he met with the BDO agent the day the receiver took possession of the property. He offered to explain how to operate some of the equipment and machinery and to move the fresh fish that was in coolers into the freezer units. Testa said he warned that the fresh fish inventory in the coolers would spoil unless it was moved. He said in an interview that it seemed to him the agent just wanted him and Hillhouse out of the building as quickly as possible Testa believes the BDO agent didnt trust them. It seemed, to Testa, that the agent kept a close eye on them. They couldnt even go to the washroom, he said, without an agent standing at the door. It would have made all the difference in the world if they had allowed us to assist them, Testa said. According to Testas statement of claim, which has not been proven in court, the BDO agent called him June 13 to say the freezer alarms had gone off the day before. The alarms are triggered by a sudden rise in temperature in the freezer units, allowing repair work to be completed before the inventory is damaged. Testa said in an interview he offered to pay for the repairs but was told neither he nor any repair person he hired would be permitted access to the property. It wasnt until June 16 that Testa and his partner were finally permitted onto the property with an electrician to fix the freezer units, where the temperature had risen to +13 degrees Fahrenheit (-10.5 C). While still below the freezing point of + 32 Fahrenheit (0 C), it was higher than the company standard of -7 Fahrenheit (-21C). But the real damage had been caused by moving the spoiled fish in with the frozen fish, which contaminated the lot. As soon as he opened the door, Testa said, he could smell the rancid fish. In his statement of claim, he said the BDO agent told him she had not moved the fresh fish from the coolers to the freezer units soon enough and it had spoiled. Spoiled fish was then moved into the freezer unit with saleable inventory, according to Testas claim. It was then that the frozen fish became contaminated. In its statement of defence the bank points to numerous problems, beginning in the spring of 2010. Among other things, the property fell into tax arrears and cheques provided by Testa bounced. That summer, Testa and his partner defaulted on their loan payments. The bank and BDO also claim the frozen inventory was unfit for human consumption and had no economic value. Testa admits defaulting on the payments and falling into tax arrears which he says was the result of a property tax reclassification effort the bank was aware of. In court documents he said two cheques were cancelled by agreement with the bank. Testa said the defence is trying to portray them as deadbeats, but that doesnt change the fact the bank and BDO caused the inventory to be ruined and the building devalued. In a case such as this one, a receivers primary responsibility is to the person or company that hired them, according to Ira Smith, an insolvency and restructuring expert and founder of Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc., who declined to comment on this specific case. However, after saying that, its well-established in law that the receiver has to deal with property in a commercially reasonable manner. If the receiver fails to provide a basic standard of care, they can be held for negligence, said Smith. However, even if negligence can be proven, the value of the loss also has to be established, Smith said. Smith added it is sometimes agreed at the outset that perishable goods will not be dealt with by the creditor or receiver. But in such cases, it is standard practice at his firm, to advise the owners of that from the beginning. We would have done it in writing and from the beginning. That is our practice. We would have secondly, looked at what needs to be repaired, if anything, and act reasonably in preserving the value of the assets. Read more about: LONDONIncreasing numbers of workplaces around the world are embracing technology, and a greater array of tasks are being automated. In the eyes of one major British labour organization, that need not be a threat to workers, but may instead offer an opportunity: less time working. I believe that in this century, we can win a four-day working week, with decent pay for everyone, Frances OGrady, the head of the Trades Union Congress, an umbrella group, said in a speech at the labour federations annual conference. That would help workers reap the benefits of technological change. Economist John Maynard Keynes had predicted that people would eventually work for just 15 hours a week. Instead, technology has led to unpredictable, more intensive, and longer hours at work, the Trades Union Congress said. This is a return to the days of piecework, creating a culture where workers are required to be constantly available to work, the group said in a report. It is not the only organization scrutinizing how technology affects productivity and work-life balance. Who is experimenting with a shorter workweek? A trial of a six-hour workday in Gothenburg, Sweden, led to happier, healthier and more productive employees. The problem: It was too expensive. Perpetual Guardian, a firm that manages trusts and estates in New Zealand, instituted a four-day week and kept wages the same. It said productivity increased among its staff when their working hours were reduced to 32 hours from 40. The company is now considering whether to make the change permanent. In an effort to close a hefty gap in its state budget in the years after the 2008 financial crisis, Utah trimmed the workweek. Proponents said the move had the effect of improving the offering of government services available online and was better for the environment, but the state also benefited from volunteer groups picking up the slack when government organizations were closed. Amazon has tested a small pilot program for a 30-hour workweek, where staff worked reduced hours, though for reduced pay. What else is being done to guard against encroaching technology? France has created a law giving workers the right to disconnect. It requires companies with more than 50 employees to negotiate a new protocol to ensure that work does not spill into after-work hours, an effort to prevent cases of burnout, which officials say are becoming more prevalent. Several measures have been taken in Germany to improve work-life balance. The countrys labour ministry ordered its supervisors in 2013 not to contact employees outside office hours. In 2011, German automaker Volkswagen began shutting off its BlackBerry servers at the end of the workday. Daimler, another German car company, deletes emails sent to employees while they are on vacation. So will we all have three-day weekends soon? Unfortunately not. It may be feasible for some companies, but it is unlikely to happen across entire economies in the years to come. Any such change, even if it were possible, would not occur overnight, said Alex Bryson, a professor who specializes in labour studies at University College London. Companies that wanted to limit working hours would have to make investments to help their workers become more productive, which would take time and cost money, he said. Itll be a gradual switch, added Paul Swinney, head of policy and research at the Center for Cities, a London-based think tank. Well see a bit of that with some people deciding to work four days one week, and five another. Itll change gradually along with social norms. In 50 or 100 years time, it may be that four days is the norm, he continued, but we shouldnt expect it by 2020. The completion ceremony of the 230 KV Thavieng S/S-Laksao S/S and 115 KV Nam Phay HPP-Thongkoun2 S/S Transmission Lines Project undertaken by a Chinese company was held on Friday in Lao capital Vientiane. Over 200 Lao and Chinese participants, including Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Chinese Ambassador to Laos Wang Wentian, attended the completion ceremony. Khammany Inthirath, Lao minister of energy and mines, said in his speech that the success of the construction of the transmission lines is a major achievement of the country's National Grid Plan in 2016-2020, which will bring convenience to provide electricity to the northern and central provinces of Laos. Yuan Jun, general manager of the Chinese EPC contractor namely NORINCO International Cooperation Ltd (NORINCO International), said that the project is another successful example of the cooperation between NORINCO International and the Lao state corporation, Electricite du Laos (EDL), and also a milestone project of both sides actively promoting China-Laos economic cooperation in response to the Belt and Road Initiative. Boun Oum Syvanpheng, EDL managing director, said the success contributes greatly to the development of Lao electricity sector, as well as the country's industrialization and modernization, and will also help improve Lao people's living standard. It was introduced at the ceremony that the transmission lines project received preferential loans from the Chinese government during construction. Cannabis shouldnt be around kids, but Id bet cancer-causing second-hand cigarette smoke is way worse for them to smell while walking down a sidewalk, etc. Also, we should probably discuss drinking alcohol to excess in front of children. None of these three items need to be around children. But if I had to pick ... Marijuana shouldve been legalized decades ago. Then there wouldnt be the stigma there is today. Lets face it, alcohol and cigarettes are worse than pot. Time will teach society this. The Safer Choice With the legalization of cannabis/marijuana in Canada in just a month (Oct. 17), the comparison of relative risks of alcohol and cigarettes to children isnt the main issue to consider for now. We already know that cannabis is slated to become big business wherever its prohibition is ended, that it has recreational appeal and also, importantly, that it has a growing place in health care. But its use by children including teens and young adults is the worrisome aspect that still needs strong attention not only by parents but by regulators, marketers and retailers. Young people are by nature attracted to the newest shiny thing, especially when parents raise cautions. Add on the varieties of cannabis edibles coming on the market, and theres an urgency to focus on whats already a problem. I hear too often from parents whose once-motivated and bright offspring (usually sons) have lost motivation in school, instead hanging out for hours smoking pot alone or with friends. This, under marijuana prohibition. Now, the cannabis industry and enthusiasts like you have an opportunity to be loud and clear about why smoking or ingesting marijuana is a serious health risk for young people whose brains are still developing. Heres information from the Government of Canadas own website on health effects specific to young people: Cannabis use that begins early in adolescence, that is frequent and that continues over time, is more likely to bring about harms. Some of those harms may never fully go away. Research shows the brain is not fully developed until around age 25. This is because THC, the substance that gives the high in cannabis, affects the same machinery in the brain that directs brain development. The higher the amount of THC in cannabis, the more likely one is to be harmed by it. So, enough with how bad alcohol and cigarettes are for our kids and youth. Lets get it right on cannabis. Ive been married for 30 years to my first love. I make her feel cherished and loved. But 10 years ago our sex life declined to once a month, while her interest in social media took 40 hours weekly! Shes more focused on Facebook than on speaking to me. If Id left her 10 years ago, I wouldve put myself in a financially secure position. Now, shell get half of everything, so Im stuck. Im cost averaging and feel that rather than turn over all of my life savings, pension, etc., Im best off staying in my marriage. Not Cost Effective Well then, you might as well sleep with your accountant. Youve talked yourself into sticking it out though you rightly feel ignored. Yet you mention no discussions together about how you two could regain some intimacy And no seeking medical or counselling help to regain some needed physical connection. Until you at least try, I predict your bank book will be cold comfort. Tell her how you feel. Tip of the day Government and businesses must co-operate fully on protecting young people from legalized marijuana. Ellie Monday to Saturday. Email ReadMonday to Saturday. Email ellie@thestar.ca or visit her website, ellieadvice.com. Follow @ellieadvice EXPERT ADVICE. IN YOUR INBOX: Sign up for the Stars advice newsletter, get the latest on relationships, etiquette and more. Read more about: Boise derived from the French word for wooded, but a name that also reflects a confluence of frontier myth and speculation sits below the Rocky Mountains on a verdant plain known as Treasure Valley. Boise (BOY-see, if you are a local; BOY-zee if you are not), once a gritty stop along the Oregon Trail, is Idahos capital and, with a population of 223,000, its most populous city. It is a place that offers frontier charm, easy access to expansive wilderness, a reverence for modern art and creative restaurants. It is also a place where visitors will find Basque culture the most concentrated in the country throughout the city, especially in the Basque Block neighbourhood. The culture is an integral part of Boise, where children can take Basque dance lessons and adults can drink calimotxo, a red-wine-and-Coke libation. FRIDAY 3 p.m.: A falcons view Get sweeping views of downtown Boise and learn something about falconry when you venture into the lowlands, a 20-minute drive outside the city. There, on a plateau that more than a half dozen falcons and other birds of prey call home, the World Center for Birds of Prey (also the headquarters of the Peregrine Fund) offers live raptor presentations and one of the worlds most thorough falconry archives. There are displays on raptor diets and migration patterns, and an astonishingly in-depth exhibition that details how Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the former president of the United Arab Emirates, devoted much of his life to preserving the culture of falconry. General admission is $10. 6 p.m.: Pioneer libations A festival each summer commemorates Basque immigrants who settled throughout the rural areas in the 19th century, where they were miners and later shepherds. Evidence of the Basque diaspora is everywhere: a large mural of children playing pelota (similar to handball) overlooks downtowns Basque Block, where utility boxes display images related to Basque dance, paella, bocadillos and tapas at the Basque Market, and an artzainak (Basque for shepherd) exhibition at the Basque Museum. Cocktails at the Modern Hotel and Bar downtown offers Basque-inspired cocktails such as the Barbarella (Hacienda de Chihuahua sotol, Bozal Tobasiche mezcal, rhubarb shrub and fresh ginger, $10). After a drink, explore the nearby Julia Davis Rose Garden, which holds more than 2,000 rose bushes inside a 43-acre park. 8 p.m.: Eclectic eating Helmed by executive chef Christian Phernetton, State & Lemp sources Pacific Northwest and Idaho meats, cheeses and vegetables. The prix fixe menu, about $200 for two, changes frequently. On a recent visit, the menu included smoked sturgeon, octopus and fiddleheads, pork with rhubarb and a creme fraiche panna cotta. The venue is essentially an intimate art gallery with kinetic sculptures and other local artwork for sale. Reserve in advance. If French cuisine is more in line with your tastes, Le Coq dOr, in nearby Eagle (part of the metropolitan sprawl surrounding Boise), offers a menu that includes a tempura avocado crab boat (Dungeness crab with mango, cilantro and habanero ginger aioli, $14) and free-range chicken with truffle spinach and goat cheese risotto ($31). 10 p.m.: Mingle with locals Huddle around the bar with the casual date-night crowd at Bittercreek Alehouse, which offers more than two dozen rotating drafts from local breweries including Boise Brewing and Woodland Empire, as well as from breweries in Alaska and elsewhere. A late-night happy hour begins at 10 p.m. (try the poutine, $6, or the salmon croquettes, $5), but you will probably find yourself there past closing; guests are not kicked out they are usually invited to stay a while longer. SATURDAY 8 a.m.: Beyond breakfast Heed the call to an amazing breakfast at Wildroot Cafe and Market, tucked behind an unassuming facade and decorated with bright green furniture. You can delve into a plate of Wagyu steak and eggs (served with sweet potato hash and asparagus, $16) or migas (a queso fresco and scallion omelette-like dish, with chorizo, house-made avocado salsa verde, pinto beans and crispy tortillas, $10). For a taste of Basque cuisine, go to Txikiteo (Basque for pub crawl), which opened in March. For breakfast, indulge in the Gateau Basque (a fluffy cake topped with a cherry, $5) and the jamon serrano and manchego breakfast sandwich ($7). 9 a.m.: Beyond Boise Less than an hours drive from downtown is the city of Horseshoe Bend and the fantastical woodlands that surround it. Some of the best river rafting anywhere may be had on the Payette River ($60 for half-day trips). Or hike along the Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway and spy on mountain goats and elk at various overlooks. Idaho Mountain Touring offers mountain bicycle rentals ($15 to $60 for up to four-hour rentals, depending on bike model); check out the Bogus Basin, a year-round skiing and biking enclave with verdant trails once used for gold mining. Noon: A sky, darkly Rent a car to drive through the Sawtooth Mountain range (a roughly three-hour picturesque drive) for an overnight in the Sun Valley wilderness. Central Idaho is the only certified dark sky reserve in the country designated in 2017, it is one of 12 worldwide. (Though the designation applies to 1,416 square miles of craggy backcountry, anywhere outside of downtown Boise will do.) Set up your base camp in the town of Ketchum (try the Tamarack Lodge, where rooms start at $125), the final resting place of Hemingway. You will find his grave in the Ketchum cemetery. It is the one adorned with pens and bottles of whiskey. 3 p.m.: Hunker and head out Recover from your drive with a flight of local craft beer specials, a house-baked pretzel (made with duck fat, rosemary and saison beer cheese, $8) and the butchers cut steak (market prices vary) at Warfield. Then explore the Sawtooths by kayak (Backwoods Mountain Sports, daytrips from $30, depending on model) or join a Salmon River float fishing trip (White Otter Outdoor Adventures, $350 a person). You will wend past gold-mining ghost towns and hot springs while navigating the same rich waters that fur trader Alexander Ross and the Hudsons Bay Co. did in the 19th century. 8 p.m.: Ode to Hemingway Have a drink at Michels Christiania in Ketchum, where Hemingway spent his last night with his wife, Mary, and where you can enjoy the carpaccio de boeuf ($14) and escargots bourguignon ($15). Or save your appetite and go to the Town Square Tavern where you will find something like a Fifth Avenue vibe served alongside lamb burgers ($12), duck confit tacos ($13) and tapas ($6 to $12). Order a slice of Turkish coffee mud pie ($6) and then, as you head home, bask in the brightness of a blanket of stars. SUNDAY Noon: Potaytoe, potahtoe No trip to Idaho is complete without potatoes. Frites come as sides with most everything. But there is only one Ice Cream Potato. Back in downtown Boise, enter Westside Drive-In, a throwback complete with pink neon sign. OK, the ice cream is not actually made with potatoes. Rather it is frozen ice cream compressed into the shape of a russet potato then rolled in cocoa powder and slit down the middle. Filled with rich whipped cream, it is the perfect alt-snack in a place famed for its spuds. 2 p.m.: Gold dust When in the Gem State, do as the miners did: Head for the hills and the gold, which may or may not be there. Either way, appreciate the abundance of natural resources at the Idaho Museum of Mining & Geology (free), and then stroll through the Old Idaho Penitentiary ($6) next door, which offers a good introduction to Western prison history. There are several trailheads nearby, so hike into the rolling desert landscape, a vestige of what frontier remains. Lodging Once a ramshackle motel, the Modern Hotel and Bar (1314 W. Grove St., themodernhotel.com; queen rooms start at around $130) is now a chic boutique inn with reasonable rates and excellent cocktails. Built into the foothills overlooking the north of the city, the delightful Boise Hillside Suites (4480 N. Kitsap Way, boisehillsidesuites.com; from $85) is roughly five minutes from downtown and features landscaping stones from the Boise City Hall. Looking for camp and kitsch? The Anniversary Inn (1575 South Lusk Place, anniversaryinn.com; from $159) has been a stalwart in Boise for years and is part of a larger Midwestern chain, with rooms such as the Treasure Island suite, the Sleeping Beautys suite and a Swiss Family Robinson-style treehouse. KENORA, ONT.The Ontario government says a corrections officer has been released and was being assessed at a hospital after being taken hostage at a jail in Kenora. The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services says the officer was taken hostage at Kenora Jail on Friday, but didnt provide many other details. Ministry spokesperson Greg Flood says front line staff at the jail secured the release of the correctional officer. Flood says local first responders were also called to the jail to assist in the incident, which happened in a secure part of the facility. VANCOUVERIbrahim Ali, the man accused of killing 13-year-old Marrisa Shen, made a court appearance in Vancouver on Friday, the first since police announced his arrest and the charge of first-degree murder. Simultaneously, a group of about 100 people gathered outside the courthouse, some protesting refugee screening processes as a small group representing the Syrian-Canadian community attempted to hold a vigil. Ali, a 28-year-old Syrian national who has permanent residency in Canada, moved to Burnaby as a refugee 17 months ago. The charges against him have not been proven in court. Inside the courtroom, Ali walked into a glass enclosure wearing a plain pink T-shirt. Uncuffed, he kept his hands behind his back while listening intently to an interpreter who stood on the other side of the glass. The dark-haired, bearded Ali nodded in acknowledgement as the interpreter conveyed the words of his defence lawyer, Daniel Markovitz. Shens body was found in a wooded area of Burnabys Central Park the day after she failed to return home from an outing. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has called Shens murder random. According to Robert Bellows, a criminal lawyer not involved with the case, there could be a number of reasons that the murder charge against Ali is of the first degree. It could mean the killing was planned or deliberate, he said, or included a kidnapping or sexual assault. Every seat in the courtroom was occupied, and security had to turn a number of people away. The appearance was brief. Judge Harbans K. Dhillon adjourned the hearing within about 10 minutes, and Crown counsel was asked to provide its evidence to Alis lawyer. Ali did not appear to speak. The crowd outside chanted slogans such as Justice for Marrisa and Thank you police. All around, people expressed grief but some were also there to protest the countrys immigration policies, prompted by the fact that the accused is a refugee. Among the dozens of signs: Justin Trudeau, where is your heart now, Comprehensive security screening now and Canadian values back. Julie Deng, a Richmond resident who has a six-year-old daughter, broke into tears imagining what Shens last moments might have been like. Deng, who doesnt know the family but has been following news of Shens death, said her grievance is not directed toward refugees but the Canadian government. They should prevent dangerous people from coming in the first place ... Regardless of where the person comes from, he should be qualified. He should meet all of the requirements that make Canada a safe place, Deng said. Ali does not have a previous criminal record in Canada. According to immigration and refugee lawyer Erica Olmstead, all people who come to Canada as refugees are thoroughly screened for past criminal records. Specifically, she said, they must fill out detailed application forms, pass an in-person interview during which their credibility is assessed, and then their identification documents are screened with support from law enforcement and intelligence agencies from both Canada and wherever the person is coming from. They do check all criminal records, they use fingerprints, they get digital photos, they check any security databases, Olmstead said, and then theres also health screening. However, she said, theres no tool to tell if a person will commit a crime in the future. I dont know that there is any good tools ... out there to predict whether or not a person might commit a crime in the future, and that would be the same for Canadians or visitors or any refugee or immigrant to Canada, she said. Since 2015, more than 40,000 Syrians have resettled in Canada, some sponsored privately by individuals or community groups and others through a program led by the Canadian government. North Burnaby resident Vincent Zhu, who held a No bail and no more victims banner, said he supports the federal governments decision to accept refugees but has reservations. Some refugees are innocent, but there are some who are not, Zhu said in Mandarin. They might have extremist ideology or behaviour. They should not be allowed into the community. Olmstead said that screening people for extremist behaviour is already part of the process. People are also inadmissible to Canada if they have ever participated in supporting terrorist organizations, she said. While the majority of the crowd came from the Chinese-Canadian community, about a dozen of them came to represent the Syrian-Canadian community and hold a vigil. Its so sad, said Mohammed Alsaleh, a community organizer and member of the Syrian Canadian Foundation. My own sister is a 13-year-old; we live in the same neighbourhood (as Shen did). Those from the Syrian-Canadian community lit tea lights and held signs reading: Justice for Marrisa Shen and Syrians for Marrisa Shen. Our community is boiling with rage, Alsaleh said. Our community is boiling with shock and sadness, and our intention here is to show solidarity to the family and to call for justice for Marrisa. Earlier in the week, Alsaleh and more than a dozen other community leaders from across the country published a letter condemning the attack on Shen, expressing grief and asking the public to not conflate Alis alleged actions with those of the larger community. Its something that we are really sorry for, said Nasser Najjar, who attended as a member of Vancouvers Arab community. Its an individual act, it was an isolated act that does not represent either the Arab or the Syrian community. Within a few minutes of lighting the candles, some members of the Chinese-Canadian community approached the Syrian-Canadian contingent to place artificial white roses among the candles. Jeff Jiang, who described himself as a member of the Chinese community, said that although he didnt know Shens family, he was there to show his support. Jiang had been handing out the roses and said he gave them to the Syrians to show unity. I dont think its two different communities against each other; thats not right. This is peaceful, Jiang said. Despite some of the messaging expressed by others, Alsaleh said he felt the two communities were united. We realized we are all here for the exact same reason: all of us want justice, he said. The Syrian community wants justice for Marrisa, and her community wants justice for her, and thats why we as a collective Canadian community want justice for Marrisa. Alis next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 12 at BC Provincial Court in Vancouver. With files from Michael Mui Read more about: OTTAWAWhen it looked like Sudanese jailers would release Abousfian Abdelrazik, a Montreal man who Canadas spy agency suspected was tied to Al Qaeda, a senior CSIS officer fumed in an email to colleagues: So much for jail forever. The classified 2004 CSIS email filed Friday as part of the court record in a long-running lawsuit goes on to accuse Canadian consular officials who were seeking Abdelraziks release of just wanting to cover their asses. The writers name is blacked out. But the attitude is not. Abdelrazik, his lawyer Paul Champ, and Amnesty International say it, and a trove of other documents in the case, display a casual or callous indifference toward the mans plight that led directly to his detention and torture in Sudan. At best, the document demonstrates that for CSIS human rights of a Canadian citizen are a cynical joke, said lawyer Paul Champ. At worst, it is damning evidence of Canadian complicity in arbitrary and illegal detention of a Canadian by notorious torturers. Champ says that attitude continues to this day. Federal lawyers gave surprise notice they want to delay Abdelraziks civil lawsuit indefinitely. The 10-week trial in the $27-million lawsuit was supposed to start Monday in an austere Federal Court room in the same building as the Supreme Court of Canada. Witnesses including current and former government officials were booked, along with costly flights and hotels, said Champ. The move stunned Abdelrazik and his supporters. It follows a series of moves in recent weeks in which the federal government has: admitted it failed to disclose to Abdelrazik roughly 500 relevant Privy Council documents; sought to shield the identities of five current and former CSIS employees from the public when they testify; and now justice department lawyers suddenly want the Federal Court to adjourn proceedings indefinitely. They want another federal judge to review thousands of documents that have already been redacted and disclosed to Abdelraziks legal team in order to confirm those redactions under national security provisions in the Canada Evidence Act. The government has refused to clarify how long it thinks that process will take, said Champ. They had nine years to do that, said Champ. This action was started in September 2009. Abdelrazik, 56, denies he is a terrorist and is suing the Canadian government for an apology and compensation, claiming Canadian officials were complicit in the torture and mistreatment during his six-year ordeal in Sudan. He became a Canadian citizen in 1995 after arriving in Montreal as a refugee in 1990 and first came to CSISs attention in 1996 because of his association with other suspected extremists. When he returned to Sudan in 2003 to visit family, he was arrested, and detained without charge for three years, shuffled between prisons, held under house arrest, and lived for a year at the Canadian embassy in Khartoum after the Canadian government denied him a passport to travel. In an agreed statement of facts in the case, the government acknowledges CSIS officials sent questions to his Sudanese jailers, and twice travelled to Khartoum to interview him in the presence of Sudanese officials about his suspected terrorist connections. But Canadian officials deny any knowledge of or involvement in abuse. Champ accuses Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould of abusing a federal power to ask a judge for a delay in the name of national security. In our case conference with the judge, Department of Justice officials suggested that this was coming from the very top, he said. They advised that the Attorney General of Canada, Justice Minister Wilson-Raybould, has insisted that this must be done, that these documents have to be reviewed for reasons that they cant explain. He said courts properly defer to the executive on matters of national security, but in this case the government has gone too far and is further abusing Abdelraziks right to seek redress for human rights violations under international law. In criminal cases, a judge can halt proceedings if it takes too long to bring charges to trial. In civil cases, there is no such remedy. Champ says Abdelraziks civil case should go to trial or it should be settled out of court. This is how our court system provides justice for victims of torture, Champ said. Its unconscionable and a violation of Canadas international law obligations, he said. Alex Neve of Amnesty International Canada backed Champ at a news conference. He said Abdelraziks torment stretched beyond the six years he spent in jail or under house arrest in that country. It has been a much longer 15-year nightmare of complicity, callousness and duplicity on the part of Canadian officials who bear direct disgraceful responsibility for this human rights nightmare. Amnesty International supported the Trudeau governments principled decisions to settle other cases of deep injustice where national security cases went terribly wrong and Canadian officials bore some degree of fault, said Neve. In the past two years, Ottawa settled similar lawsuits in the case of Omar Khadr, and in three other unrelated cases: Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad El Maati and Muayyed Nureddin. Champ says there is no excuse for further delay. It was the government of Canada that asked for a mediation six months ago, said Champ. We wanted to go to trial over a year ago and they said, No, were prepared to resolve this case. But in April, the justice department backed out of formal mediation the day before a judge was to hold three days of hearings aimed at getting a settlement, he said. Abdelrazik at the news conference Friday accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of breaking a promise to help him. Sudanese intelligence secret police they tortured me physically and mentally. The Canadian government abused me and tortured me mentally and my family, my children, and it still continue to violate my rights. Neither the justice minister nor the public safety ministers office provided a response Friday to the Stars request for comment following the news conference by Abdelrazik and his team. The Ontario Medical Association has announced plans to ask the Supreme Court of Canada to hear an appeal of a lower court decision to make the names of top billing doctors public. The association, which represents the provinces 28,100 practising doctors, revealed Friday it intends to apply for leave to appeal to the nations court of last resort. Physician billings constitute private, personal information. Privacy is an important and fundamental right in Canada that is protected by legislation and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, said OMA president Dr. Nadia Alam in a written statement. If such information is to be made public, it should be up to the provincial Legislature to do, she said. Reporting billings without context would provide an incomplete and sometimes misleading picture of physician pay structure. In 2016, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario ruled in the Toronto Stars favour in ordering the release of names of doctors paid the most from the publicly funded Ontario Health Insurance Plan. The OMA twice appealed first to the Ontario Divisional Court, then to the provinces Court of Appeal losing both times. It is disappointing that the OMA feels obliged to keep fighting disclosure of the use of public funds, said Star lawyer Paul Schabas. Six judges have now had no difficulty upholding the IPCs decision that doctor billings to the government are not personal information and should be transparent, just as all other government spending, including salaries and consulting fees, are public, he added. The OMAs latest move will prolong what has already been a 4.5-year quest by the Star to end the secrecy surrounding OHIP billings. The case originated in 2014 when the Star submitted a freedom-of-information request to Ontarios health ministry for information on top billers. The ministry responded by providing the medical specialties of most physicians in question and the amounts each received in OHIP payments. But it stopped short of revealing names, saying doing so would be an invasion of their personal privacy. The Star then launched its successful appeal with the Information and Privacy Commissioner. The commissioner has placed on hold a separate FOI appeal from the Star for physician-identified billing data on all Ontario doctors. OHIP payments are not the same as salaries because they are also used to cover overhead expenses, for example, rent, equipment and office supplies. Taxpayer-funded, physician-identified payments are already public in British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick and the United States. Doctors who favour transparency have been speaking out more since last months dismissal by the Court of Appeal of the OMAs most recent appeal. I dont think it has any merit and I dont think the OMA should be spending its members money on it, said surgeon Dr. Lesley Barron, adding that two lost appeals are enough. If the profession wants to improve the lives and health of Ontarians, it should embrace disclosure and engage in a frank discussion about priorities in health and social spending, said infectious disease specialist Dr. Bryan Coburn. Without comprehensive and accurate public information on how physician billing is distributed and who it is benefitting, how can we have a meaningful public conversation about these trade-offs?, he continued, noting every dollar spent by government represents a trade-off. Coburn charged that the OMA leadership is not adequately representing the views of its membership. There is a segment of Ontario physicians who I suspect want to keep billing information private because they recognize that many Ontarians, like me, would believe their compensation to be excessive, he said. Other doctors have argued that more transparency would help in addressing pay gaps between and within different medical specialties, and between the genders. Doctors who specialize in what are known as procedural specialties including radiology, ophthalmology and cardiology are among the highest billers. Others such as geriatricians, pediatricians, psychiatrists and family doctors are among the lowest. Male physicians, in general, get paid more than females. The issue of the gender pay gap has recently exploded, particularly on social media. A Texas doctor sparked outrage for opining in a medical journal that the gap is fair because women doctors dont work as hard. The work of women is systematically devalued by our billing system, said surgeon Dr. Nancy Baxter, noting that the OHIP fee schedule favours procedural specialists, the majority of whom are men. In all these negotiations (with the province on fee contracts), it does seem certain specialties have done better. That has persisted because nothing ever seems to be done about it, she added. Getting relativity addressed would in turn help deal with the gender pay gap, Barron said. (Relativity refers to pay disparity between specialties.) Its better to shine the light of transparency than to be in the dark, she added. Police are searching for two suspects after a male in his late teens was fatally shot in Scarborough Friday evening. The suspects, both male, reportedly fled in a dark SUV. One was described as wearing all-dark clothing including a hoodie. The other was wearing a dark, hooded top and light-coloured shorts. Ricardo Brooks, who lives in the same building as the teenager who was killed, said he was always polite, friendly and a great kid. Another resident of the building, who declined to give his last name, described the victim as a super duper polite boy who mostly kept to himself. He had a really, really, really good heart, said Jeremy R. He would put himself in everybodys shoes before he made a decision. Jeremy said he had known the boy for years, and his killing comes as a total shock. Its a shame, he said. Im definitely going to miss him. Hes definitely in my thoughts. Toronto polices homicide unit has taken over the case as it has become the citys 77th murder of the year. Police responded to a call at an address on Bellamy Rd, near Eglinton Ave., at 6:45 p.m. after five or six shots were reported. When they arrived, the teenager was on the ground and police performed CPR. Paramedics arrived at the scene a minute later, and rushed the victim to a trauma centre. Police said there could be more than one gunman. Two to three males were seen fleeing the area when first-responders arrived. The victims identity has not been released. Bianca Bharti is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @biancabharti A Presto glitch that led to a Toronto boy being stranded at a GO bus station in Aurora last fall ultimately deactivated the transit-payment cards of more than 29,000 customers and sidelined TTC officials, newly released documents reveal. Metrolinx had previously told the Star an employee accidentally blocked thousands of cards last November. The agency has now specified the cards were briefly deactivated by an employee who was putting together a training module and cancelled the cards. While Metrolinx, the provincial agency that owns and operates Presto, says it reacted quickly to the problem, it was more than a week before it could get all of the accounts that had been accidentally blocked back online. Emails obtained by the Star through a freedom of information request show the TTC was concerned about impacts to its customers and lost fare revenue during the Presto outage, but had no ability to fix the Metrolinx-operated system. The incident underscores the limited control the TTC has over the fare-card program that will become its primary source of revenue collection after next year, when older forms of payment such as tickets and tokens will be phased out. Transportation reporter Ben Spurr discusses how newly released emails have shed light on a widespread glitch that hit the Presto system last year when a Metrolinx employee accidentally deactivated almost 30,000 transit fare cards. The TTC has already billed Metrolinx for $4.2 million in lost revenue it says was caused by Presto malfunctions over a period of two years. Metrolinx has not paid the invoices, and the agencys CEO has said the TTC hasnt provided substantiation for the alleged free rides. The emails show that shortly after midnight on Nov. 17, 2017, Allan Foster, the TTCs director of project management, wrote to his colleagues to alert them that Metrolinx had advised that a very large number of Presto cards had been inadvertently blocked. According to Foster, Metrolinx initially feared as many as 500,000 cards might have been affected, but the number known to be deactivated at the time was approximately 12,000. The problem only hit Presto card readers on GO Transit and transit agencies in the 905 area. As a result of the glitch, the devices blocked cards when customers tapped them to pay their fare. Once the cards were blocked, they wouldnt be accepted by any Presto readers, including those on the TTC. Tonya Richardsons 13-year-old son was one of the many riders whose cards were blocked. He was denied entry to a GO bus at the stop at Wellington St. E. and Hwy. 404 at shortly after 7 a.m. on Nov. 21 when his Presto card didnt work. He was stranded at the station until his mother was able to arrange for his grandfather to pick him up. Metrolinx later said his card was likely blocked as part of the wider outage. By later in the morning of November 17, Metrolinx had started applying a software update that automatically unblocked the deactivated cards the next time they were tapped on a reader that had the new software installed. But it took time for all the affected readers to receive the upgrade, and for all affected customers to tap their cards on an updated device. By Monday, November 20, the number of affected cards had grown to about 28,000, but 11,000 had been unblocked by the software fix. Four days later, one week after the problem began, roughly 29,000 cards had been deactivated, but 24,000 had been unblocked. No one at the TTC had the ability to unblock the cards, and the agencys front-line staff were told to tell customers whose cards were deactivated to call the Presto customer service number. TTC staff were also instructed to offer affected customers a free ride. Foster wrote that where possible the TTC should take an estimate or count of the number of customers who are allowed to ride for free to determine revenue loss related to this incident. Id like to get a letter to (Metrolinx) setting out our claim for lost revenue. We will need to make assumptions, wrote TTC chief customer officer Kirsten Watson. TTC spokesperson Stuart Green told the Star the agency has not yet billed Metrolinx for lost revenue related to the incident, but it is still reviewing the data and intends to sent the provincial agency an invoice for any lost revenue we can identify. The amount of lost revenue for the TTC is likely to be relatively small, because the problem originated with devices on GO Transit and 905 transit agencies. Only passengers who switched from those services to the TTC would have been unable to pay their fares. The bottom line is the Presto system is owned and operated by Metrolinx and we rely on them to provide a reliable system, said Green, when asked if the TTC was concerned about not being able to directly address problems with its fare system. We will, however, continue to work with Metrolinx to identify and correct any systemic issues we identify. Metrolinx spokesperson Matt Llewellyn declined to elaborate on how an employee working on a training program could inadvertently block thousands of cards on the Presto system, which Metrolinx has spent $1 billion implementing since 2002. But he noted the outage affected less than one per cent of Prestos more than 3 million registered card users, and the system no longer allows deactivations of multiple cards at the same time without a strict approval process. The mother of the 13-year-old boy who was kicked off the GO bus last fall said she was disconcerted that a single employee could cause a problem affecting so many transit riders. Its a system that does not work and continues to get people stranded, Tonya Richardson said. She has filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario alleging the driver discriminated against her son, who is African-Canadian. Llewellyn, the Metrolinx spokesperson, said he couldnt comment on the complaint because its still before the tribunal, but reiterated the agencys apology to the boy and said he should not have been kicked off the bus. We are very sorry this young man was not allowed entry to our bus. It is not in line with our policy, he said. Read more about: In the aftermath of Premier Doug Fords announcement that he will use the notwithstanding clause to push through his plan to cut the size of Toronto city council, many left-leaning incumbents in the downtown core are quickly making the decision on where to run. For Mike Layton, thats University-Rosedale. After discussions with members of the community and much personal reflection, I have decided that if Ford is successful, and we are forced to run in a 25-seat race, I will be running to represent the ward of University-Rosedale, Layton wrote in a statement Friday. In an interview with the Star, Layton, who currently represents Ward 19 Trinity-Spadina, said that despite his decision on where to run in the event the notwithstanding clause is passed, the fight continues to maintain the 47-ward model. Were going to fight for 47 until the last moment we can, he said. Were going to use every effort we can to stop this unfair and unprecedented intervention and rigging of the election that Mr. Ford is trying to do. He added: Its beyond disturbing the premier would take this route. Were going to need to elect progressive city councillors across the city no matter if its 47 or 25 wards, Layton said. That means Im going to have to decide which of the two because my riding is being torn apart into two. Ive got to decide which one in the event that we go to the 25 option which one I would run in. University-Rosedale represents, in part, the northern area of Laytons current electoral district. Major parts of the larger ward include the University of Toronto, Christie Pits, Little Italy and Yorkville. In response to Ford calling him a crony and a friend of Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath on Wednesday, Layton said, (Im) not sure really what he means by it There is no denying shes a friend. I like the hard work shes put in to being a public servant for so many years. Its not really customary for a premier to be bringing up the names of local city councillors in so frequently in debate, Layton added. The controversial Bill 31, which passed the first reading on Wednesday, has seen a handful of councillors express their disappointment and frustrations with Ford. This led to some, who had not previously announced which wards they would run under the 25-ward scenario, to do just that this week. Joe Cressy, Ward 20 Trinity-Spadina councillor, said Friday that he will be running in SpadinaFort York, which includes the southern area of his current ward. In a statement, Cressy criticized Fords plan to cut the size of council and his decision to continue with the notwithstanding clause. This uncertainty created by Doug Ford forces us to prepare for both scenarios, he said. In a 25-ward scenario, I remain committed to running for city council in Ward 10, SpadinaFort York to stand up for our downtown communities, our city, and our shared vision for a more livable Toronto for all. Kristyn Wong-Tam, Ward 27 Toronto CentreRosedale councillor, will run in the neighbouring district of Toronto Centre, Layton said on Twitter. Sarah Doucette, who represents Ward 13 ParkdaleHigh Park, said Wednesday that she will not run for re-election under the 25-ward system. This means she wont compete with fellow councillor Gord Perks for the expanded Ward 18. As we move toward the 25-ward system, I am sad to think that the hands-on community activity must be replaced, she said, as councillors roles will have to focus primarily on city wide issues, with the day-to-day operations being left to staff. The legislature will be meeting this weekend in a rare session in an attempt from the Ford government to have enough hours of debate so Bill 31 can pass. Attorney General Caroline Mulroney is also in court Tuesday to ask the Court of Appeal for a stay in the earlier decision to strike down the bills previous version, which was ruled unconstitutional. If the court grants the stay, Bill 31 will be unnecessary. With files from Bianca Bharti, David Rider and Robert Benzie Read more about: The embattled Progressive Conservative government is going on a midnight run. Amid a circus-like atmosphere on a rare Saturday sitting, Government House Leader Todd Smith announced the legislature will resume Monday at 12:01 a.m. to debate a controversial bill slashing the size of Toronto council. With the Oct. 22 city election hanging in the balance, Premier Doug Fords fledgling administration is scrambling. Smith tried and failed to get unanimous consent Saturday for further debate on Bill 31, the Efficient Local Government Act, and there was not enough time to secure Sunday proceedings in the legislature. Were going to bring the House back at 12:01 a.m. Monday. That way we will be able to begin debate on this bill, he told reporters after a 46-minute session that saw protesters in the public gallery denouncing Ford. The House leader said the second-reading debate would continue till the early morning hours of Monday morning. Then were going to return for question period (at 10:30 a.m. Monday) then our intent is to be able to head off to the International Plowing Match, he said, referring to the Chatham-Kent rural expo that most MPPs annually attend. TOP STORIES. IN YOUR INBOX: For the days top news from the Stars award-winning journalists, sign up for our daily headlines newsletter. Queens Park has been plunged into uncertainty since Superior Court Justice Edward Belobaba ruled last Monday that Bill 31s previous incarnation was unconstitutional because it infringed on Charter rights in the middle of an election. That forced the Tories to reintroduce the bill invoking the Charters notwithstanding clause, which allows the government to overrule the courts in order to proceed with its legislative agenda. Its the first time an Ontario premier has resorted to that nuclear option and constitutional titans like former prime minister Jean Chretien, former premiers Bill Davis, Bob Rae and David Peterson, and former justice ministers Roy McMurtry and Roy Romanow have denounced it. Ford, who never once mentioned reducing Toronto council to 25 from 47 members during the June 7 election campaign, was unrepentant for pushing a measure he maintains should save $25 million over a four-year term. We were given a mandate by the people to reduce the size and cost of government, while delivering services more efficiently and effectively, the premier said on Twitter after the House rose Saturday. Our government will be working this weekend to ensure that the people of Toronto get the better government they deserve, he said. NDP House Leader Gilles Bisson who wants Speaker Ted Arnott to rule Bill 31 out of order because it is virtually identical to Bill 5, which is against the rules said the havoc will be familiar to Torontonians. Listen, Ford has created this mess. Hes created this chaos. This is more of what we saw at city hall when the Fords were there, said Bisson, referring to the premiers tenure as a city councillor when his late brother, Rob Ford, was mayor between 2010 and 2014. They were really good at creating mayhem. This is mayhem at Queens Park a la Ford, he said. Arnott, for his part, said he will rule on Bissons concerns in due time. If second reading can conclude Monday, the bill could pass third reading on Wednesday or Thursday presuming MPPs still break Tuesday for the plowing match. Right now, we want to go to the plowing match on Tuesday because we are committed to our rural constituents as well as to show that the government supports rural Ontario, said Smith. The government is also hopeful Bill 31 may be moot if Attorney General Caroline Mulroney is successful at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday and wins a stay of Belobabas ruling. That would effectively neutralize the judges decision that Bill 5, the Better Local Government Act, was unconstitutional, rendering Bill 31 unnecessary and nullifying the need for the notwithstanding clause. Scores of legislative staff were called in on overtime Saturday, including security officers and those working in broadcast and recording services, the cafeteria, and the Hansard transcription bureau. There will be additional costs incurred with Mondays midnight sitting, but the government did not have a tally of the tab being foot by taxpayers. Green Leader Mike Schreiner asked, How much money is this premier willing to waste for his own personal political agenda? The government manufactured this crisis. The only reason Toronto elections are in doubt is because the premier has a personal political vendetta against the city of Toronto, said Schreiner. This is all about his battle with the city of Toronto. He manufactured this crisis, he said. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said we think there are more important things to deal with that dealing with the number of Toronto councillors. Theres one easy way to stop this circus from happening and that is to simply withdraw Bill 31, allow Torontos elections to go forward the way the way that they were supposed to and lets move on she said. Horwath said it was laughable for the Tories to try to blame the crisis in the legislature on the opposition parties when the premier is clearly still smarting from losing the 2014 Toronto mayoral race to Mayor John Tory. Mr. Ford has a singular focus on his grudge match. All of this is because of his petty vindictiveness and its no way for a premier to behave. Liberal MPP Nathalie Des Rosiers, a co-author of The Oxford Handbook of the Canadian Constitution, said shes discouraged and outraged about the cavalier nature in which this is proceeding. To have debates at 1 a.m. and expect that people will listen carefully and ponder? The uncertainty that theyre creating, the precedent that theyre creating for all Ontarians and for Canadians as well continues to appall, said Des Rosiers (Ottawa-Vanier). When the House adjourned at 1:46 p.m., two protesters were handcuffed and led from the public gallery amid of shouts of shame toward the Tory benches. Toronto city clerk Ulli Watkiss has warned that a fair municipal election was becoming virtually impossible to carry out. Court filings made Friday by Watkiss, who has hired her own outside legal counsel, say that in order to print a planned 2.6 million ballots on time, the printers would need to work 14 hours a day for seven days and the current schedule does not provide any room for slippage for unanticipated issues or the correction of errors. A contingency plan includes reduced testing and cancelling advanced voting days that had been set to begin Oct. 10, which could increase the risk of irregularities with the election. The clerk had originally planned to have all ballots printed, testing done and ballots and tabulators locked down for the October election by now. But ballots have yet to be printed because it remains uncertain whether there will be 47 council wards or 25. With files from Jennifer Pagliaro Read more about: China's copyright authority Friday summoned representatives from 15 major video-sharing platforms, including Douyin, or Tik Tok, Kuaishou and Bilibili, over copyright concerns. Noting the existing copyright problems and other issues reported in the enterprises' self-checks, the National Copyright Administration told relevant enterprises to further raise their awareness of copyright protection, improve copyright systems and perform their due duties in this regard. It asked the enterprises to strengthen copyright management of the content on their platforms to ensure that all copyrighted videos, music, photos and words are published with proper authorization. Also, copyright holders' complaints and relevant violations should be handled effectively, it required. The administration said it will also work to strengthen self-discipline in the industry and help promote a cooperation mechanism between organizations of copyright holders and video-sharing enterprises to ensure the healthy development of the industry. The administration as well as the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Public Security in July kicked-off a campaign against Internet platform copyright infringement, which will last more than four months. SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICORamona Gonzalez did not drown when Hurricane Maria drenched Puerto Rico. She did not die in the tempest, or from destruction wrought by the storms 248 kph 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 unfortunates like 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 U.S. President Donald 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, interviewing 204 families of the dead and reviewing accounts of 283 more to tell the stories of heretofore anonymous victims. 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 dire conditions created by the storms. Read more: Trump tweets rejection of Puerto Ricos death toll from Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico ups Hurricane Maria death toll to nearly 3,000 Report shows FEMA unprepared for Puerto Rico hurricane 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 centres 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 buildings 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 neighbouring municipality. 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 sister in her blacked-out home. The Gonzalez home is 4.8 kilometres from the convention centre 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 harbour, 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 fuelled 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 Ricos 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 administrations 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 islands 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 Ricos 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 Gonzalezs 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, Ramonas 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 Juans main public hospital rather than showing up directly for treatment, a complicated process. Maria Gonzalez tried unsuccessfully to get a referral from her sisters overwhelmed private hospital to the public one to the hospital ship. I called someone at the medical centre 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 shes 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. Navys 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 couldnt 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 werent, 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 per cent, to 325, when compared to the average of the previous three years. Kidney-related fatalities rose nearly 43 per cent, 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 islands 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 Ricos 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. territorys economic crisis. Rossello said two warehouses filled with water and food are operating in the islands 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 Ricos 46 private dialysis centres 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 doesnt have water, it hasnt arrived, Diaz said. They came, eventually. But the thinking at first was, theyre 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 centre in far western Puerto Rico where he received 4 1/2 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 colour completely. His face was really pale. He got dialysis and changed back, his face got colour. 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 Lopezs 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. Read more about: HOUSTON - Texas state troopers arrested a U.S. Border Patrol supervisor Saturday who they say went on a two-week serial killing spree that left four female sex workers dead and ended only when a fifth woman escaped from him at a gas station and found help. Juan David Ortiz, 35, an intel supervisor for the Border Patrol, fled from state troopers and was found hiding in a truck in a hotel parking lot in Laredo at around 2 a.m. Saturday, Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar said at a news conference in the border city about 145 miles (235 kilometres) southwest of San Antonio. Cuellar said investigators have "very strong evidence" that he is responsible for the deaths of the four women working as prostitutes. One of the victims was a transgender woman, said Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz. "We do consider this to be a serial killer," Alaniz said. Alaniz told The Texas Tribune that after the suspect picked up the fifth woman she quickly realized that she was in danger. "When she tried to escape from him at a gas station that's when she ran into a (state) trooper," Alaniz said. Ortiz will be charged with four counts of murder and one count of aggravated kidnapping, Alaniz said. He said that authorities believe Ortiz had killed all four women since Sept. 3. The names of the victims were not immediately released. Alaniz said two of them were U.S. citizens but the nationalities of the other two were not yet known. "The manner in which they were killed is similar in all the cases from the evidence," said Alaniz. But both Alaniz and Cuellar declined to discuss the evidence or say how the women were killed. Alaniz said investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the killings. Cuellar said investigators believe Ortiz acted alone. "It's interesting that he would be observing and watching as law enforcement was looking for the killer, that he would be reporting to work every day like normal," Alaniz said. Ortiz was a 10-year veteran of the Border Patrol. U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a statement saying that it was fully co-operating with the investigation. "Our sincerest condolences go out to the victims' family and friends. While it is CBP policy to not comment on the details of an ongoing investigation, criminal action by our employees is not, and will not be tolerated," the agency said.. The Texas Department of Public Safety, whose Texas Rangers are investigating, did not return several messages seeking comment. I heartily stand by and support Premier Doug Fords decision to appeal and use the notwithstanding clause to pass this legislation. The ruling smacked of judicial interference and a desire to save politicians jobs, not protecting my freedom of expression. In fact, for all the fuss and feathers council made about reduced representation, it smacks entirely of self-interest, not democracy. This is the change Ontarians voted for in June. Steps to impede the premier or others in this regard are the real hindrance to democracy and one I hope he is successful in defeating. Steven Eleftheriadis, Toronto Now is the time for Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell to stand up and do her job. She needs to refuse to sign Doug Fords so-called Efficient Local Government Act into law on the grounds that it is a grossly inappropriate use of the Charter of Rights notwithstanding clause. If she doesnt do this, then what good is she? Geoff Fridd, Toronto I think the electorate of Ontario needs to pull out their dictionaries and look up notwithstanding. The definition is in spite of or in defiance of. The latter meaning applies here. Look up integrity the quality or state of being of sound moral principle; uprightness, honesty and sincerity. Now look up sneak to behave in a stealthy, underhanded or cowardly manner. Consider Fords hidden agenda there was no mention of cutting Toronto council during the election campaign. John Berrie, Scarborough Readers who wish they could express their opinion directly to our provincial parliament about the use of the notwithstanding clause by the present government should be aware that they can do precisely that. Every resident of Ontario has the right to submit to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario a petition asking that body to act on or change its position on an issue. Your petition must be mailed (not emailed or tweeted, etc.) to any member of the legislative assembly. For the cost of a stamp and some stationery, this is your chance to record officially and for history your vote on the matter. Start the process by locating the postal address of your favourite MPP on the web at www.ola.org. Then go to www.ola.org/en/get-involved and go to Petitions for detailed instructions. A bit of bother, yes but how much do you care about your province and your country? Tell your member of the provincial parliament where you stand and where she or he should stand on this vital matter. Wayne Robbins, Toronto I feel compelled to join the chorus of those who object to the latest Doug Ford excursion into foolish, irresponsible governance. The current state of affairs is very sad, especially for those who remember Bill Davis and the way the PC party was before extreme right-wingers and so-called populists took over. All Ontarians, regardless of their political leanings, should reflect on what is happening at Queens Park, contact their MPP and urge him or her to rein in our premier before he embarks on more of his irresponsible schemes. Bill Wensley, Cobourg, Ont. It really is a shame to see two strong female politicians like Caroline Mulroney and Christine Elliott get in line behind Doug Fords delusional agenda. These two women were part of Canadian political cornerstones and now look like weak pawns trying to defend the premiers unprecedented move! Brian Lisle, Bowmanville, Ont. I thank the Toronto Star editorial board for weighing in on this fraught issue in the article, Doug Ford is trampling on the rights of all Ontarians. It appears now that Progressive Conservative MPPs agree with Ford: politicians whims trump human rights. So where do we go from here? Well, NDP MPPs set a good precedent when they engaged in civil disobedience until they were thrown out of Queens Park. Thats the commitment we need: we must do more than just protest; we must defy this government any way we can. Danielle Rae, Ottawa Many of our elected representatives, our trusted leaders, are betraying us. The guiding principles that have been the beacon of hope for our children have dimmed. Trumpism has taken root and is quickly darkening Ontario. Its not too late to stop this. Let us pray that soul-searching takes our elected officials to a better place, one in which true patriot love would once again see the rise of the true north, strong and free. Carol Mason, Etobicoke Another ignorant buffoon takes the helm. But, hey, we (well, not me) elected him. As the ads say, You get what you pay for. Could there be a hole deep enough in the sand for Mulroney to bury her head? Peter Lower, Toronto Our lieutenant-governor has an opportunity to prove our system of government actually works the way our countrys laws say it should. If the lieutenant-governor is more than a ceremonial figurehead, she should exercise her legal power to withhold approval of this unprecedented dictatorial legislation Ford is pushing through, and defend our constitutional rights. Lorie Marangoni, Weston I have been reading the Toronto Star for years. But Im thinking of switching papers because of your obvious bias. You are against Doug Ford, who, by the way, I didnt vote for. How you could put the absolutely childish behaviour of the NDP and others in a good light is beyond me. I read a paper for impartial information. I hope the Star starts showing a little restraint when it prints its papers with articles that are so one-sided. Cynthia Harvey, Brampton Where are the counter-demonstrations supporting Doug Fords efforts to curb the bloated, wasteful council? Mimi Khan, Scarborough Standing up for democracy? I dont think so. Doug Ford speaks the hollow words of the propagandist. He delivers only chaos. Anthony Irwin, Toronto Read more about: The Jewish relationship with God, Sept. 10 I had to do a double-take when reading Rabbi Marmurs assertion that, theres no sustained Christian effort today that seeks to persuade Jews to embrace Christianity. As a rabbi who has been carefully monitoring and countering this kind of activity since 1983, I felt like a scientist reading the latest claim that there is no global warming. While it is true that liberal Protestant denominations and the Roman Catholic Church dont target Jews for conversion, evangelical Protestants have been deeply engaged in such efforts for decades. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year by organizations such as Jews for Jesus, Chosen People Ministries, Jewish Voice Ministries, Friends of Israel Gospel Ministries, Christian Witness to Israel and One for Israel Ministry. Many such full-time ministries are operating here in Canada actively seeking to win Jewish souls. A recent study revealed that in Israel alone, there are over 300 different missionary congregations and organizations seeking to persuade Jews to embrace Christianity. Doug Ford, we hardly knew ye. Mouthing platitudes on the campaign trail, the strategy worked: The old Ford dysfunction became a distant memory, right up to election day. Whereupon the premier declared, A new day has dawned in Ontario. Indeed it has. Now, the wake-up call. All those ambivalent voters who held their nose for Ford never truly forgot the malodorous modus operandi. They just assumed a strong cabinet, rejuvenated caucus, resilient legislature and robust civil service could rein him in. Not to mention an independent judiciary. Voters were infused with the faint hope clause. No one fathomed the notwithstanding clause. But this column isnt going down that constitutional rabbit hole, where the fight over carrots and sticks is best left to lawyers and premiers. Suddenly, everyone is an expert on the notwithstanding clause not least Ford, who now cites and recites constitutional clauses almost like an elitist. Read more: Charter of Rights architects including Jean Chretien condemn Doug Fords use of notwithstanding clause Premier Doug Ford trying to save the legislation that will downsize Toronto council Expert warns provinces use of notwithstanding clause to cut Toronto wards could result in illegitimate city council At this point, its almost beside the point. Ford has decided, his cabinet has colluded, has caucus has acquiesced, the opposition is outvoted. Going forward, theres a bigger question: What has the premier done to our democratic norms? The Constitution is merely a piece of parchment. But our democracy is an unwritten code of conduct. To understand the risk to Ontarios democratic institutions, mind the premiers public musings. Never mind a columnists calumny or lawyers disputatiousness. Pay attention to Ford. Notwithstanding what the premier did with that contentious constitutional clause, its the why he did it that is so unforgiveable. People (and experts) can disagree on whether his charter override is draconian; its the disproportionate usage on such a mundane matter that is so undeniably disturbing. That the premier chose to invoke the notwithstanding clause for such a nonsensical cause a grudge match that, forgive me, rhymes with hissing match is a gratuitous violation of our democratic norms. Ford presumes to interfere in another level of government in the middle of a municipal election halving the number of wards despite never mentioning such meddling when seeking his provincial (not municipal) mandate. Whats the motivation? Why risk disrupting city hall, distracting the provincial legislature, and detracting from our democratic norms? My friends, were here to make sure that we have a dysfunctional government in the city of Toronto to turn it around, he told MPPs in a confrontational and barely functional emergency session convened to overturn a judges ruling, after his legislation was declared unconstitutional. Consider his most frequent, yet fearful, refrain: We were elected by 2.3 million people to move forward and make changes in this province. Is he not now premier of all 13 million Ontarians not merely those who cast ballots from his besotted base, or voters who held their noses? Is he merely leader of Ford Nation, or premier of our province? Defending the notwithstanding clause often dubbed the nuclear option by legal experts Ford demonstrated his newfound command of the law: Its part of his toolbox, and if it wasnt there to be used, it would not be there. A novel argument, unless an American president ever used that logic for his own (non-constitutional) nuclear arsenal: If its there, surely its there to be used, so why not press the nuclear button to break a deadlock? Just because you can, doesnt mean you should. Elucidating his thinking, Ford argued that suspending charter rights is wildly popular among the people the only people fighting this move are a small group of left-wing councillors (not how public critics such as Tory, a former Progressive Conservative leader, are typically described). We are prepared to use Section 33 (that clause) again in the future. We are taking a stand I wont be shy. Ford believes democracy is solely about elections, disparaging civil society as activist groups, insisting that judges should know their place. If government legislation is being shot down by the courts, thats scary. Thats disturbing. For the premier, suspending the charters protections was a no-brainer, and heres why: Let me tell you something I was elected. The judge was appointed. He was appointed by one person, (ex-Liberal premier) Dalton McGuinty. (In fact the judge was a federal, not provincial, appointment, as the premiers office later acknowledged.) Whatever one thinks of Fords invocation of the notwithstanding clause, never before used in Ontario, it is his demonization of the judiciary that is unprecedented in this countrys recent history. That not a single member of his cabinet or caucus dissented from his rhetoric is to their enduring discredit. Since this column is dedicated to the premiers sayings, it is only fitting that he get the last word uttered during the legislatures emergency sitting: As Ive always said, a new day has dawned in Ontario. Read more about: 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. Read more about: WHISTLER, B.C.Premier John Horgan says he will take an active roll on the vote Yes side in British Columbias upcoming referendum to change the electoral system. Horgan told municipal politicians at the annual Union of B.C. municipalities convention in Whistler Friday the current system of electing provincial governments must be amended and modernized to ensure political parties with 40 per cent of the vote no longer hold 100 per cent of the power. A mail-in ballot referendum set to conclude Nov. 30 will give voters the opportunity to choose between three forms of proportional representation or support the current first-past-the-post system of electing governments. Im going to campaign as hard as I can in the next month to convince other British Columbians to join with me and take a leap of faith on a change that works in jurisdictions around the world, said Horgan. This is not something thats never been tried before. Do not be put in a place of fear. The Opposition Liberals are opposed to the referendums options for proportional representation, with Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson saying the NDP wants an electoral system where one-party majority governments become rare or extinct. Horgan said proportional representation allows the voices of all voters to be heard. I believe the time is right, he said. Proportional representation will allow us to ensure every vote matters. I believe well get better outcomes. Two previous electoral reform referendums in British Columbia in 2005 and 2009 were not successful. Horgan told delegates he also expects an economic decision on a proposed liquefied natural gas plant and export terminal that could bring billions of dollars in economic activity to the provinces northwest. We are now very very close to realizing a final investment decision from LNG Canada that will transform Kitimat, most assuredly, but will provide certainty and sustainability for our gas sector from well head to waterline, he said. The $40-billion Kitimat project is a joint venture of Shell Canada, Royal Dutch Shell, PetroChina, Korea Gas Corp., and Mitsubishi Corp. LNG Canada said it will be up to them to determine a date for the decision. LNG Canada is currently conducting site preparation and marine work that is seasonally dependent to ensure the project is in the best place possible should our joint venture participants take a final investment decision later in 2018, said Susannah Pierce, LNG Canadas external relations director, in a statement. On Thursday, TransCanada Corp. said it had signed community and project agreements with all 20 of the elected Indigenous bands along its Coastal GasLink pipeline route in British Columbia. The proposed 670-kilometre pipeline is to be used to transport natural gas from northeastern B.C. to LNG Canadas proposed Kitimat facility where it will be super-cooled and loaded on ships for transport to mainly Asian markets. Horgan also appealed to all B.C. communities to send the government plans and ideas to combat floods and fires, which have resulted province declaring states of emergency for the past two years. I believe we need to do more, he said. We need to make sure we dont just do another review. We need a call to action. He hinted at a news conference following his speech that his government is considering a review of current policy for annual rent increases and may revisit an unfulfilled campaign promise of a renters rebate. VANCOUVERJ-50 in many ways represented hope for the future of the critically endangered southern resident killer whales in the Salish Sea. But the young orca had grown severely emaciated throughout this past summer, and despite a desperate month-long rescue effort by a team of Canadian and American scientists, J-50 disappeared. On Thursday evening, the Center for Whale Research, responsible for keeping official count of orcas in the waters off B.C. and Washington, declared the young whale was presumed dead. She has not been seen since last Friday, Sept. 7. J-50, also known as Scarlet, was born during the Christmas holidays in 2014. Marine mammal veterinarian Joe Gaydos with the SeaDoc Society recalled seeing her mother near Westsound, Wash., on Christmas Eve. I was out on the water with her that morning. It was a sunny, beautiful day, he said. Gaydos, who lives nearby, remembers that encounter distinctly because it is unusual for orcas to hang out in that area. The next day, he learned that a baby had been born in Jpod. J-50s arrival marked the beginning of a string of births among the declining orcas, what researchers dubbed the baby boom. Jpod, in particular, had not had a birth since 2012. Eleven orcas in total were born between 2014 and 2016, giving whale enthusiasts hope the critically endangered population was rebounding. Longtime whale researcher Ken Balcomb remembers seeing J-50 for the first time. There was a great deal of excitement with a brand new baby, and right away we found out it was a little girl, said Balcomb, founder of the Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbour, Wash. Researchers hoped that one day she would have calves of her own and contribute to the critically endangered population of southern resident killer whales. There are now only 74 individuals left. Read more: Daring rescue on the table if baby of B.C. orca family becomes too sick to keep up The whales have a big voice: By suffering publicly, B.C.s endangered orcas made a persuasive case against Trans Mountain We are starving them: Grieving orca mother belongs to endangered population facing grim future Even though the odds were against her J-50 had to be pulled out of her mother during birth with the help of a relative her spunky and tenacious personality was evident from the beginning, said Deborah Giles, a conservation biologist with the University of Washington. She was known for her breaches and often put on a show for researchers. She was just this really gregarious personality, so it was hard to ignore her when she was launching herself out of the water the way that she did, said Giles. It made it easy to fall in love with her. But as time went on, observers began to worry something was not quite right. She had always been small for her age, said Giles, and researchers hoped she would eventually grow to a stable weight. That didnt happen. This past summer, a joint Canadian and American team of veterinarians, government officials and whale researchers launched a desperate effort to save J-50. She had become extremely skinny over the course of the summer, pushing both American and Canadian authorities to issue permits allowing veterinarians to treat her with antibiotics and dewormer. She received two partial doses of antibiotics via dart in August. Giles was with Gaydos when he tried to deliver dewormer to J-50 last Friday. They were among the last people to see J-50 alive. When she died, J-50 was not yet four years old and was the size of a one-year-old. Veterinarians were unable to diagnose her before her death, and a necropsy is unlikely. Like most whales that die, J-50s body will probably never be found. Her body would have sunk to the bottom of the ocean, Balcomb explained, since she was so emaciated that there wasnt enough blubber on her body to keep it afloat. J-50 leaves behind her mother, two sisters, a brother and a niece. Her mother, J-16, is one of the oldest matriarchs in the area. She is a good mom, said Giles. She got her babies born, and born alive, and reared them up. But like many southern resident orcas in recent years, she is no stranger to tragedy. One of her sons, J-33, died in 2010 when he was 14 years old. She also had a calf in 2011 who died the same year. As of Friday, American and Canadian authorities were still looking for her, hoping she may have stranded and could still be saved. We still hold out hope she is out there, said Jim Milbury, spokesperson for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But veteran whale researchers are confident she is gone. When Giles looked in the database orca researchers use to keep track of individual whales and their families Friday morning, J-50 had already been removed. This is the third death this year for the southern resident killer whales. Experts agree the deaths will continue until the threats killing the whales are addressed. The orcas made international headlines this summer when one of its members, J-35, carried her dead newborns body around for weeks in a profound display of grief. The southern resident orcas are threatened by vessel noise, toxins and a lack of food. A lot of the attention has been focused on J-50, but our goal is always to bring back this entire population, said Gaydos. J-50s fight to keep up with her family, even in her last days, was an inspiration, he said. Just like she kept trying and trying, we have to keep trying too, he said. We would all be remiss to not see her as an ambassador for all of the southern residents. Read more about: ALTON The day was all about healing for the Schwartz family, as a ceremony held at the Burt Shelter Care Home Friday hosted community members and loved ones of those whom have served in the countrys armed forces. Its a good celebration for vets. Some people come home with problems having served in war, shooting at the enemies and defending and sometimes that has an effect on a person, said 63-year-old Army veteran and Alton native Wayne Buford. This ceremony promotes settling in, and getting in the right track. The facility, at 1414 Milton Road in Alton, has housed 45 veterans over the years. One of the four, other than Buford, is a 90-year-old Army vet, and had served in Germany during WWII. The purpose of the ceremony was twofold: to present a new U.S. Armed Forces memorial to honor veterans, both past and present, that have resided at the facility; and to allow for military rites for the Stephen Schwartz, after his recent death. Owner Mary Jo Swengrosh led the ceremony outside of her Alton facility, which offers supervision and oversight to residents with various needs. She organized the event with late resident Stephen Schwartz in mind. This ceremony is to help heal the family, and those who loved him, said Swengrosh. Today would have been his birthday. Schwartz served in the Marines, enlisting after high school in 1977. He was honorably discharged after serving four years in Morocco, Africa. The facility assisted him in coping post-war, and helped him care for his health he had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. Schwartz died peacefully in his sleep, the result of congestive heart failure, after supper on June 4, 2018 at the facility. He was 58 years old. At the service Friday, Schwartzs family, of Alton, was presented with the American flag from Alton VFW Post 1308. My team and I consider it an honor to go out and provide some measure of comfort to a family that has lost someone, said Dave Stout of Alton VFW Post 1308. This familys son never had military rites, so we are proud to do so to help with the grieving process. The men paid tribute to the life and service of those in armed forces, before Swengrosh unveiled the commemorative armed forces display. The display included smaller stones depicting each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, surrounding a larger monument at the base of a flagpole outside the front of the facility. The monument displayed a rifle, helmet and pair of boots like that seen in Afghanistan during the recent war, mentioned Leslie Schwartz, Stephens father. He and his wife, Geraldine, said they were pleased with the honor bestowed on their son. He was such a gracious man, said an emotional Geraldine Schwartz of her son. Daughter and eldest Schwartz sibling Susan Reagan was also present. He was proud to serve, said Reagan. We were very close. We had a wonderful childhood, I remember us playing freely together in the streets. He had such a happy presence. Swengrosh has seen countless people over her 45 years of operating the center. I have two families, she said. My residents and staff are included. She started volunteering at a state hospital before working with then-administrator James W. Burt at the facility. She later bought the space, and has since learned the operations and traversed the health care realm from the ground up. Swengrosh and about a dozen employees work to assist residents in the 29-bed facility, as well as direct those seeking assistance to other institutions or nursing homes depending on needs. The facility is funded after public aid determines a rate at which to offer a grant to be given to the facility, dependent on the particular residents monetary medical assistance thus income. I do what I can to find services for people. With the state of public aid, it is hard to find the right resources for people. There are a lot of road blocks for people in need, but we try nonetheless, she said. Following the ceremony, Swengrosh presented the family with gifts, including a card with comments from staff and residents and framed pictures of Stephen throughout the 17 years he spent at the facility. She also managed to gather small trinkets of his, such as an old military card, along with other snapshots to fill out a photo album as a keepsake for the family. When asked what prompted such an event, Swengrosh felt it was just the right time. Residents are starting to age out of our facility, and its time to show them and the veterans some respect, said Swengrosh. My dad was a vet and I know he would have liked the military rites we had for him, so I was sure Stephen would have been impressed with today as well. Reach reporter Brittany Johnson at 618-208-6460, ext. 1396. The adage that failures can teach many lessons seems quite... On May 28, a Mumbai-born and lovelorn Divyesh Nagwekar pleaded, on the prime ministers grievance portal, for changing Indias British-era gay laws that had criminalised same-sex liaisons. The next day Lucky Saxena of Lucknow joined the plea. Neither received a reply. The Supreme Court has now come to the aid of the thousands of Divyeshs and Luckys, and asked the state not to peep into same sex-shared bedrooms. The civil society has since been opening champagne bottles, and the political class is joining the party, flashing V-signs. Gatecrashers, all! Illustration: Bhaskaran The entire political classthe leftists, the rightists, the centrists and the provincialshad been meekly silent on an issue that had been agitating the court, the rights activists and the media for over five years. Conceded, stray voices had been heard from the politicos against the 2013 judgment that had recriminalised gay gallivanting and lesbian liaisons. Sonia and Rahul made half-hearted statements on the side of reform, but had done nothing when their party was ruling. Arun Jaitley and the RSS paid lip service to reform, but sat tight. A decision regarding Section 377 of IPC can be taken only after pronouncement of judgment by the Supreme Court, Narendra Modis junior Home Minister Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply. Straight! Simply put, our progressive Parliament was as prudish as the parlour in a middle-class home. Only Shashi Tharoor made himself bold to move two private-member bills seeking to legitimise liaisons lesbian and gay. Cheek!considering that he represents a constituency peopled mostly by the middle-class. But sad!considering that both his bills were trashed by our Parliament of prudes without as much as a discussion. Let the court carry the cross, the law-makers thought. Was it the courts cross? It wasnt; it was Parliaments. Both the Delhi High Court and the 2013 Supreme Court orders had made it clear, though their decrees disagreed. The High Court, which had decriminalised gay and lesbian liaisons, had said: We declare that Section 377 IPC... is violative of Articles 21, 14 and 15.... This clarification will hold till... Parliament chooses to amend the law. Parliament did not choose to amend the law; the civil society did not make a case to Parliament. As the case went in appeal to the Supreme Court, the latter failed even to do its homework. It could not prove to the court how the rights of sexual minorities were being denied. The court overturned the High Court order in 2013, resting themselves on the principle that all laws are presumed to be good till proven otherwise, and that smiting at laws with judicial lances should be the last resort. The court had then also found that Parliament had amended the IPC at least 30 times since 1950, but on no occasion had it even looked at Section 377. This shows that Parliament, which is undisputedly the representative body of the people of India, has not thought it proper to delete the provision. And added: [T]he competent legislature shall be free to consider... deleting Section 377 IPC from the statute book or amend the same. But the competent legislature, the Atlas of a billion citizens rights, shrugged and shirked shamefully. As they lost the case, the civil society simply cursed the court bell, book, candle and kamandal. Finally, the court took the burden of upholding the rights upon its shoulders again. It formed a larger bench, and delivered a progressive decree, but in anguish. We heard that anguish when, in a rare public outburst, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud wondered: Why do politicians sometimes hand over power to judges? Honourable MPs, you have to lead us from the front; not from the rear. Gays, pardon the pun, though intended. prasannan@theweek.in News Story not available This story has been published on: 2021-11-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. An open field, the blue sky above and kids playing around with a butterfly caught in a glass jar. It would be the most normal thing to find in an Indian countryside, in this case 1,400 km away from Mumbai. It is the opening scene of Love Sonia, Tabrez Nooranis directorial debut, which progresses on to become bleak and dark, as opposed to this bright and happy frame. The film, through the story of Sonia (a fantastic Mrunal Thakur) and her elder sister Rashmi (Riya Sisodiya), unravels the story of international flesh tradecapturing the red-light districts of Mumbai, Hong Kong and Los Angeles. As the film progresses, light plays an intrinsic part, taking the audience to the darkest of places while exploring flesh trade locations, and then transitioning into areas where there is hope and light. When we started to make the film, it needed to be authentic. So we went to a lot of real locations where there is very little light, says Noorani, also talking about cinematographer Lucas Bielan, who has masterfully used minimal lighting. In the classic way, evil men fall into darkness and the light emerges where it needs to. So, it all stems from being realistic when we set out to make a movie on sex-trafficking or situations in brothels. Noorani talks about many films made on the subject in the past that showcase red-light districts as brightly lit areas, where they look beautiful. But that is not really the case. Maybe some rooms are like that because the person has made it to look like that, but majority of these places are faintly lit and dingy. And that is why we took that approach. Noorani, who has been a producer for films like Slumdog Millionaire, Life of Pi, Eat Pray Love, Zero Dark Thirty among others, had been researching for the film for almost 10 years. Initially, we were under the guise of location scouts. Most of these places seem unreal. You enter a building and it becomes a mazecorridors and corridors, and levels and bunks. The way they use space, its crazy, of which I had to take photographs and a lot of it was [recreated] from memory. It was quite shocking to see all these places over the years. I was quite lucky that we actually got back to shoot in these places. Shooting was not easy though. It had to be done very carefully, and we were just in and out, he says. A lot of the real location scenes were shot in guerrilla style. The crew that Noorani works with is very particular about the permits for shooting, and they managed to get permits from almost everyone. But that didnt mean it was easy. Even if we had got the permissions from the society authorities and building owners, it didnt mean the inhabitants would be comfortable in letting us shoot there, especially when it is a brothel. That part was very tricky. Freida Pinto in 'Love Sonia' In desperate need of money, the father (Adil Hussain) of the two girls decides to sell the elder one to a village pimp, Dada Thakur (Anupam Kher). He is, however, clueless that the younger one, Sonia, would also submit herself to Thakur in her perseverance to find her sister. She does, and ends up in a Mumbai brothel run by the ruthless Faisal (Manoj Bajpayee, who is on a roll these days with varied roles including this one). A virgin village belle, Sonia is a great find for Faisal. She is tortured, beaten up, and taken to far off-shores and exploited. While the central theme of Sonias struggle to relentlessly find her sister runs through the film, other characters bring in layering. For instance, the vulnerability of the otherwise menacing madam of the brothel played by a superlative Richa Chadha. Or an older prostitute (Freida Pinto), sometimes playful and at other times insecure, and who has resigned to her fate. Then, there is an NGO worker, Manish's (Rajkummar Rao), constant attempt to rescue these girls. Some of these characters are well-defined and add depth to the disturbing plot. Towards the end of the film, however, the cameos by Demi Moore and Mark Duplass, start looking too constructed to give the film a hopeful ending. Perhaps a tool to make the film more likeable. Noorani says, a couple of years back, he was approached to make the script more commercial but he didn't. He rather found it best to stick to reality. However, as is evident, even with the darkness it takes us into, making it claustrophobic and difficult to watch, the film does fall into the trap of making it commercially viable. Love Sonia is in a territory familiar to us through films like Nagesh Kukunoors Lakshmi, or probably an upgraded version of Mira Nairs Salaam Bombay. But by emphasising at the end that there can be a silver lining to a journey interspersed with so much murkiness, Love Sonia falls short of being in the realistic space. In doing so, it dilutes the intricate message that was built through the course of the film. A former Army man, who is the owner of a shelter home in Bhopal, has been arrested after the inmates complained against him of sexual abuse. The sexual abuse and torture even resulted in the death of three children who are inmates of the shelter home, according to the complainants. More than 35 inmates of Sai Disabled Home in Bairagarh suburban locality of Bhopal registered their complaint at the Director of social welfare department, which is funding the shelter home. They said five inmates, including three males and two females, were sexually abused by the 70-year-old M.P. Awasthi. Later, the inmates, accompanied by Congress leader Shobha Ojha, went to T.T. Nagar police station where an FIR was registered after a delay of eight hours. All the inmates of the shelter home had to camp inside the police station to get the FIR registered under section 376, 377,354, 323, 506 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. Following the FIR registration, the girl inmates were sent for medical examination late at night. The police later arrested Awasthi who has been alleged to have committed similar crimes when he ran a shelter home in Hoshangabad district, 70 kilometres from Bhopal. Congress leader Ojha claimed that Awasthis NGO was blacklisted last year. Yet, it was awarded financial aid by the government. Awasthi retired from the Army in 1990 and had started an ashram for disabled children. He ran four such shelter homes for the speech-hearing impaired, and the orphans. "Awasthi had support and protection from the government and a few from the ruling party. That is why, even after a complaint of sexual abuse by a girl last year, the organisation continued to get government grant," claimed Ojha. The speech and hearing impaired inmates of the shelter home also addressed a press conference through sign language expert and social worker Shradha Shukla. They said that three of their companions died in the shelter home due to physical torture meted out on them by the director. The matter was exposed when one of the inmate sent a WhatsApp message to Shukla. However, their claim on the death of three children is yet to be substantiated. In a written complaint, one of the victims said she was repeatedly raped by Awasthi between 2010 and 2017. She said that Awasthi used to exploit her every Saturday. Another victim showed her bruised hand, while male children complained of sodomy. This is the second such case in last two months in Bhopal. Earlier, Ashwini Sharma, the director of another NGO, was accused by three girls of raping them over a period of time. Counting of votes for the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) polls was suspended on Saturday morning after members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested, alleging they were not informed about the process. The ABVP said their counting agent was not informed about the beginning of counting of votes polled in science schools. In a statement, the JNU election committee said it suspended the counting temporarily but refused to name the party that protested. Members of Left student unions alleged that the ABVP created a ruckus. The ABVP denied the allegation. "The counting process, which began on September 14 at 10pm has been suspended due to forcible entry into the counting venue and attempts to snatch away the sealed ballot boxes as well as ballot papers from our counting centres," said a Left bloc representative. Left bloc members also claimed that their members, including women, faced intimidation. The Left bloc claimed, "Around 4:00am, ABVP broke the glasses of the School of International Studies building. EC stopped the counting indefinitely." They also claimed the ABVP counting agent was called, but he did not turn up on time. Vijay Kumar, ABVP president of JNU, said their counting agent was not called and the counting process was initiated in front of the members of the Left outfit. "We protested peacefully as the EC is biased towards the Left. We did not create any ruckus," he said. The voter turnout in the keenly contested 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 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 the Left bloc, there are candidates of ABVP, National Students' Union of India and Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association (BAPSA). Technical glitches in EVMs had led to a ruckus during the counting process for Delhi University Students' Union polls on Thursday, leading to suspension of counting for close to three hours. The counting had resumed only after parties reached a consensus. The Vaimanika Shastra may not immediately ring a bell for a lot of people. But many of us who have been inundated by social media and email forwards on Indian achievements would remember claims of a certain Shivkar Talpade beating the Wright brothers to the first flight by eight years. Talpade's 'aircraft', supposedly flown at Mumbai in 1895, was believed to have been influenced by Vedic texts, in particular the Vaimanika Shastra, though no concrete evidence to substantiate these claims has been found. Thus, the Vaimanika Shastra has become a textbook example of the conflict between proponents of the knowledge contained in ancient Indian texts and supporters of modern science. A recent seminar on the Vaimanika Shastra, organised in Mumbai, not surprisingly, hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons as modern science and ancient knowledge 'clashed'. The Vaimanika Shastra claims advanced flying objects that could travel across continents and even into space existed in India nearly 7,000 years ago. However, an Indian Institute of Science study in 1974 claimed the Vaimanika Shastra was concocted with false claims and was dated back to 1904, rather than thousands of years before. The Mumbai seminar on the Vaimanika Shastra was organised by Bharatam Reawakening, an organisation that claims to be interested in ancient Indian knowledge systems, history and culture. Media agencies reported that three scientists exposed the alleged pseudoscience claims made at the seminar, leading to arguments with members of the audience and organisers. Some of the claims reportedly involved the descriptions in the Vaimanika Shastra of fuels that used donkey urine and an allegation that Talpade was imprisoned by the British, who stole his design. Aniket Sule was one of the three scientists who attended the seminar. Sule works at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, which falls under the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and is also a visiting faculty at University of Mumbai's Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences. Sule, who holds a doctorate in astrophysics from University of Potsdam in Germany, has worked extensively on the history of astronomy of India and has been associated with the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics. He has also been an activist, seeking to promote the spread of critical thinking and has been an opponent of pseudoscience. In a conversation with THE WEEK, Sule discusses the seminar on Vaimanika Shastra, the problems posed by pseudoscience and his decision to become a scientist-activist. What motivated you to go to the Bharatam Reawakening event on Vaimanika Shastra on September 9 as it could be argued that an event purportedly dealing with aeronautics doesn't strictly fall in your area of expertise, which is astrophysics? This issue is not a question about expertise. The claims about Vaimanika Shastra that were made at the event are based on school-level physics and other basic sciences, not principles of aeronautics. When you are involved in school-level education, you will immediately understand the dubious nature of the claims being made. Anyone who has studied till class 12 will understand that the devices being described in the Vaimanika Shastra wouldn't work. Teaching science is not just about teaching facts; it is also about teaching students how to raise questions by collecting their own evidence. Your version of what transpired at the Vaimanika Shastra seminar was covered in media reports. Do you think the 'ruckus' at the event could have been avoided? One aspect that has been wrongly reported about the Vaimanika Shastra seminar was that the event organisers removed me and the other two scientists from the spot. This was not the casethey had only threatened to do so. On whether the ruckus could have been avoided, I and my two associates decided to go for the event as the disputes on the authenticity of the Vaimanika Shastra have been going on for around 15-20 years and we had examined the previous work of the speakers. We decided to go for the event as we knew there would be members in the audience who weren't 'closed minded'. As the claims that would be made at the Vaimanika Shastra seminar wouldn't be based on scientific evidence, we felt compelled to present a scientific counter at the event. The problems at the event can be attributed to the fact that some members of the audience and event organisers were biased and felt that we shouldn't be part of the event, which was organised to brainwash the audience. What do you have to say about the official statement issued by Bharatam Reawakening on the Vaimanika Shastra event on its Facebook page? I am not asking anyone to accept my version of events as final; the organisers had video recordings of the event. If they make the recordings available, the readers can see for themselves and make up their minds. After the event, members of the audience actually came to us and told us that the questions we asked were relevant! Bharatam Reawakening describes itself as being interested in ancient Indian knowledge systems, history and culture and spreading awareness on these. By itself, it can be argued that these are noble goals. Why exactly would you oppose an event like the Vaimanika Shastra seminar? Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who has been admitted to hospital, spoke to BJP chief Amit Shah on Friday and it was decided that he would continue as the chief minister of Goa, a party leader said. The statement comes amid rising concern over Parrikar's poor health and reports that the BJP is exploring 'alternatives'. "Parrikar spoke to Shah and briefed him about the political situation in the state, and also informed him about his health condition. It was decided that Parrikar will continue as the chief minister, but he might give some of his portfolios to his cabinet colleagues," he told PTI. "By next week, the government will work out the exact arrangement through which the work burden on Parrikar could be reduced. A thought would also be given to replacing the two ailing ministers in the cabinet, Pandurang Madkaikar and Francis D'Souza," the leader said. Both Madkaikar and D'Souza are currently hospitalised. Earlier in the day, the Goa BJP held a meeting of its state-level core committee. The core committee later met Parrikar. News organisations reported on Saturday morning the BJP was planning to send a team to Goa to assess the political situation in the state and consider alternative arrangements after Parrikar reportedly conveyed to Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi it would be difficult for him to continue as chief minister. Parrikar, who returned from the US after medical check-up on September 7, was admitted to a private hospital at Candolim in North Goa district Thursday evening. Earlier this year, Parrikar underwent three-month-long treatment in the US for a pancreatic ailment. Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has for decades portrayed himself as a champion of the dalit cause, ever since he plunged into state politics in Bihar in the late 1960s and entered Parliament a decade later. After he entered Parliament, Paswan has continued to flaunt his pro-dalit credentials, even as he frequently shifted allegiances between the Congress and BJP in recent decades. However, now, Paswan's pro-dalit platform could face an embarrassing challenge from unexpected quarters: one of the two daughters from his first marriage. Paswan had divorced his first wife in 1981 and married a Punjabi Brahmin in 1983. Anil Sadhu, who is married to Asha, Paswan's daughter from his first marriage, has accused the LJP of treating dalits as bonded labourers and declared on Friday that he and his wife were ready to contest against Paswan in the coming Lok Sabha polls if offered a ticket by the opposition RJD. Sadhu alleged Paswan had projected Chirag, his son from the second marriage, as his political heir and given the two daughters from his first marriage a raw deal. Chirag won the 2014 Lok Sabha election from the reserved constituency of Jamui and has been the most prominent face of the LJP nationally after his father. Sadhu had been associated with the LJP for long, including with the Dalit Sena group that Paswan founded. Sadhu had been president of the Dalit Sena. Sadhu unsuccessfully contested the 2015 Assembly polls on an LJP ticket, but eventually distanced himself from the party and was seen at an RJD event this year, raising speculation about his political motives. Sadhu claimed he and his wife want to contest against Paswan and Chirag for allegedly deceiving the dalits by allying with the BJP, which he termed as an anti-dalit party. In the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls in 2014, Paswan disclosed, reportedly for the first time, that he had divorced his first wife in 1981 after the JD(U) questioned his marital status in his election affidavit as it mentioned only his second marriage. Flash 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. 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. [Photo/Xinhua] 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. BJP president Amit Shah appears to have finally stepped in to curb the squabbling in the West Bengal unit of the BJP. Shah has decided to personally look after the BJP's organisation in West Bengal in the run-up to the coming Lok Sabha elections. Peeved with the internal squabbling in the West Bengal BJP, Shah has decided to send central BJP workershailing from different parts of Indiato each of the 42 Lok Sabha seats of West Bengal. West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and the northeastern states have around 130 Lok Sabha seats and the BJP is looking to gain a majority of these seats to offset possible losses in north India, which gave the BJP 160 seats out of 190 in 2014. While prospects in the northeast, Bihar and Odisha appear bright for the BJP, the saffron party is lagging behind in West Bengal because of organisational woes. A major problem is infighting among the top leaders. According to a state BJP leader, Shah plans to create a 'war room' in each Lok Sabha constituency, consisting of 30 members (all outsiders), who will train local leaders from the village level upward. Consequently, 42 such 'war rooms' would be formed across the state and state party chief Dilip Ghosh has been asked to take such war rooms on rent till the Lok Sabha election. Shah's control of the BJP in West Bengal would be so strong that each Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal would have a social media portal and their passwords would all be with the Delhi office, not with the state office. "All the committees would not be reporting to any state leader but would report directly to our national party president Amit Shah," said the state leader. The state BJP leaders would have no control over such centrally controlled war rooms and instead such committees would send reports to Shah about the movement and activities of the state and central leaders. "The national president would thus now be getting reports from different leaders of the state or state prabharis. He would be able to know what is happening in Bengal from the rural level as committees would be connected through videoconferencing every day," the state leader said. Shah, along with national secretary in-charge of the Delhi office Arvind Menon, would monitor reports. The decision by Shah to get personally involved came after a barrage of criticism from many central leaders and even state leaders that too many cooks were spoiling the broths for the BJP in West Bengal. During a recent interview, BJP's state vice president, Chandra Bose, for the first time lashed out at Bengal BJP, alleging, It has four pillars of leaderships and workers don't know whom to move to during any crisis. Shah had sat together with Ghosh during the BJP's national executive meeting and told him about his "grand plan" for West Bengal. Shah was informed about the problems by state prabhari for West Bengal Kailash Vijayvargiya recently. Vijayvargiya recently told Shah, during the national executive, that unless something drastic was done, it would be difficult to achieve Shah's dream target of winning at least 25 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal. Interestingly, Ghosh felt there was nothing wrong in Shah 'centralising' the leadership in West Bengal. "In fact, central leadership would take more and more actions and we would win maximum seats from Bengal," said Ghosh. BJP activist held for accepting bribe The Kolkata Police on Saturday arrested a BJP activist, Ranjit Majumder, for allegedly accepting bribes in the distribution of gas cylinders and petrol pumps in Murshidabad and some other districts of West Bengal. A former BJP leader, Ashok Sarkar, had lodged a complaint against Majumder and Majumder was picked up from his home at Jonrasako police station limits in Kolkata. While some BJP state leaders claimed that Majumder was not a major functionary in the state, Ghosh admitted, "He is our party worker and was falsely implicated. Our workers across Bengal are falsely implicated in all cases and Ranjit is one of them. We will fight the case legally." THE SUPREME COURT verdict on Section 377 has not only caused consternation among various religious groups, but also posed a challenge to the armed forces. For the time being, they have the shield of a separate law; but, only until it is challenged. The Army legal wing is examining the landmark judgment, its implications, and how it becomes relevant for the Army. The Army Act is a separate act altogether and homosexuality is an offence under Section 46, which deals with unbecoming conduct, says Major General Nilendra Kumar, former Army Judge Advocate General (JAG), the highest legal officer of the Army. The Supreme Court did not have the occasion to examine Section 46 of the Army Act or similar sections in the Air Force and Navy Acts. Therefore, that law is very much on the book and has not been tempered or amended by the Supreme Court. Major Navdeep Singh, a retired army officer, says the term unnatural as it exists in Section 46(a) AA would have to yield to the same interpretation as the one upheld by the Supreme Court for Section 377. I do not agree with individuals who have commented that the term unnatural as it appears in Section 46(a) AA needs to be specifically stuck down by a constitutional court or repealed by Parliament, said Singh. It has already been held by the Supreme Court that homosexuality is not unnatural. But, it continues to be unnatural for Army personnel under Section 46(a) AA. Let us also remember that the Supreme Court has not stuck down Section 377, but has merely read it down and interpreted it. Bestiality will continue to be unnatural under Section 377 as per the judgment, and hence, would remain an offence under Section 46(a) AA as well. Boundless love: Ankit (left) and Deb enjoy taking selfies. They are open about their relationship on social media. Family time: The couple has lunch at Debs home with his mother and grandmother. Long-awaited party: Ankit and Deb celebrate the scrapping of Section 377 at a suburban hotel lounge on the night of the verdict. A day in the life: The couple lives with its three cats Mojo, Beauty and Moto. Deb told his landlord about his relationship, before Ankit moved in. The landlord accepted them for who they are. BARELY A FEW HOURS after the Supreme Court decriminalised gay sex, Debendra Nath Sanyal, 27, and Ankit Andurlekar, 25, flaunted their wedding bands, looking each other in the eyes, as they snuggled in a warm embrace. The couple met each other at a co-working space in Mumbai, and got engaged after more than three years of dating. They have always been vocal about their relationship status. In a way, we both proposed to each other, and now, hopefully soon, we can get legally married, too, said Deb. The couple have done up their cozy two-room apartment beautifully. Deb takes on the role of home decor and runs minor errands, including fixing the geyser and stocking groceries, while Ankit loves to experiment with food. There is no husband and wife in this relationship. I always maintain that we are both husbands here, said Deb. It was not easy for the couple to come out to their families. They said I must visit a doctor or some psychiatrist to get myself checked, said Ankit. They could not understand it was not a mental issue. And then, there was the fear of social ostracisation, which bothered them too much. But, the couple fought ridicule, anger and mockery. There was the emotional upheaval and estrangement from our families, for a while, said Deb. But, if you see now, both our parents are so welcoming. Ankits mother calls me first if she needs to know anything, be it how to use the [TV] remote or how to upload her WhatsApp status. The night before the verdict was out, Debs mother, Arundhati Sanyal, was in Ranchi. I had a restless night, she said. The next day morning I was in front of the television, biting my nails. When the verdict came, I pinched myself and cried. I called up my husband and exclaimed that our son is no longer a criminal. A social worker, Arundhati had to leave her MBA programme in social entrepreneurship midway, because it coincided with the time her son came out as homosexual. It was a difficult period for him, and he needed me by his side, she said. Unlike Debs parents, it took some time for Ankits parents to come to terms with their only childs sexual orientation. It was not easy for us, said his father, Vilas Andurlekar. The thought of how society would react was too bothersome, and we were very possessive of Ankit. But, as time passed, we came to terms with it, and accepted him for what he is. This is also because we are his biggest support system, and if our family is happy, then society does not really matter. It is good that the law is making everyone believe in the power of love. The camaraderie between the families is striking. Arundhati tells me that Debs grandmother buys more gifts for Ankit than for Deb, while Ankits mother prepares mouth-watering dishes for Deb, and is more pally with him that she is with Ankit. ON SEPTEMBER 6, the day the Supreme Court of India read down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalised homosexuality, Mumbai-based Chayanika Shah, who works with LABIA: a Queer Feminist LBT Collective, called up a woman she has known since 1998the same year Deepa Mehtas film Fire, about two sisters-in-law in love, was released. That day, the lady-with-no-name reminded Shah how she was the first lesbian in India to go to court for permission to marry her partner. While Shah is not sure if she was the first, she is fiercely protective of the womans identity and refuses to divulge further details. Recognise the vulnerability for what it is, is Shahs only plea. Legally, homosexuality in India is no longer a crime. But, the daily denial of dignity based on caste, class, religion, gender, looks and other intersectional oppressions will gradually emerge from the shadows, as more and more people come out. They will have to contend with bias in housing and employment when they leave their homes; they might be turned away at places of worship or denied access to health care; or might face trouble while nominating partners to secure bank loans, or while signing consent forms when their partners are hospitalised. Queer children might encounter bullying in school. There is a way in which public violence happens with impunity in our country, says Vivek Divan, independent consultant on health, sexuality, law, and human rights. If this violence is directed because of an antipathy towards sexual minorities, then it is something to be very concerned about. Divan was part of the original team that litigated the Naz Foundation case challenging Section 377 in 2001. The Supreme Court has already signalled a way ahead in the September 6 judgment, Divan says, by pointing out that the state needs to invest in protecting LGBT rights, just like it had given directions in the 2014 National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) vs Union of India judgment, which recognised the fundamental and civil rights of transgender persons. The courts, the police, the bureaucracy and the state machinery need to be more acutely sensitised about sexuality and sexual diversity. But, Divan is sceptical about the state machinerys readiness to invest and put its might behind introducing proactive measures which can address social persecution, considering how transgender persons are routinely harassed and discriminated against even after the NALSA judgment. According to him, fighting for marriage equality is not a priority. We will seek equality, and that may include to be recognised in civil partnerships, he says. Marriages have religious ramifications; those are more complicated issues. Besides, some queer people have been getting married in India for years now. Figuring out ways to deal with harassment of LGBTQ people in public spaces by the police and hoodlums and in private by the families should be the next focus, says Divan. It happens; it is a silent thing and we need to bring people who do this to book, says Divan. Manvendra Singh Gohil, the famous Gay prince of Rajpipla, was thrown out of his house in Gujarat and denied rights over ancestral property when he came out in public in 2006. Since then he has been working relentlessly for LGBT rights and is now the goodwill ambassador for AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a global non-profit. I am not going to talk about marriage, says Gohil. I am not going to talk about adoption; I am not going to talk about property rightsuntil I am sure the society has accepted us. Today, his parents have come around. His father recently gifted him a 15-acre royal estate in Vadodara, where the prince is developing an LGBTQA community centre. It will be the first-of-its-kind community centre for those who have been rejected by their families. It will help them in their financial empowerment, says Gohil. Even after securing legal recognition for same-sex relations, the trajectory of lesbian and gay rights movement in the US had to contend with traditional family values, police raids, local discrimination laws and the AIDS epidemic, before Obergefell versus Hodges verdict happened in 2016, granting same-sex couples the right to marry. LGBT marriage rights, adoption and inheritance in India can only be facilitated through legislation. And, marriages in India are governed by personal laws of religious communities, which Indian parliamentarians cannot afford to upset. At this juncture, it is important to expand the ambit of health care for the LGBT community. The current project that I am working on looks at experiences of discrimination in health care institutions across India, says Vinay Chandran, gay rights activist, counsellor and writer based in Bengaluru. We are seeing there is a lot of personal prejudice and homophobia within medical institutions, whether they are formal, allopathic or otherwise. Mental health will assume much greater salience as the need arises for specialised psychotherapists and counsellors. Sample this: Atey, a 13-year-old trans-child born to daily-wage labourers in Manipur, refused to go to school because the girls uniform was oppressive. But Santa Khurai, a transgender activist in the northeast, convinced the childs government school headmaster to let him come to school in a boys uniform. She made a film on Ateys tale of social acceptance. I will not stop this movie here. This is just a prologue, the introduction of a non-conforming child, says Khurai, who will now capture Ateys story in different parts, a la Boyhood, through the many changes and challenges he will inevitably encounter and navigate. The historic September 6 judgment is also a prologue, the formal introduction of a significant minority of Indian citizens with alternate sexual identities, needs and desires. The charged narrative of their fight for equal civil rights and non-discrimination will slowly gain momentum. It is hard to say how the celebrities who petitioned the Supreme Court in 2016 to reconsider its own ruling of 2013 are going to be involved in the fight going forward. For now, it is back to the grindstone for the many community-led LGBT collectives. New Delhi, Sep 15 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 2000 hours: FGN16 SERBIA-NAIDU-TERRORISM Artificial distinction between good and bad terrorism most serious threat: Naidu Belgrade: Artificial distinction created between "good" and "bad" terrorism is the most serious threat in today's world which can be defeated by organised international action, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday as he called for strengthening the global legal framework to combat the menace. FGN9 US-DOVAL-MEETING Doval holds talks with Pompeo, Mattis on 'future direction' of Indo-US ties Washington: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Friday held "broad-based" talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defence Secretary James Mattis and his American counterpart John Bolton during which they discussed the "future direction" of the strategic Indo-US ties. By Lalit K Jha FGN7 US-IRAN-WARNING US warns countries engaging in economic activities with Iran after November 4 Washington: The United States has warned of having a "fundamentally different set of rules" to deal with the countries continuing to have economic activities with Iran after its sanction against Tehran becomes fully operational on November 4. By Lalit K Jha FGN15 SERBIA-LD NAIDU Naidu discusses bilateral cooperation in trade and defence with Serbian President Belgrade: India and Serbia on Saturday signed two agreements, including one on air services, as Vice President Venkaiah Naidu met Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and held "fruitful" discussions with him on strengthening cooperation in a number of areas, including trade, defence and IT. FGN17 PHILIPPINES-3RDLD TYPHOON Powerful typhoon lashes Philippines, killing at least 12 Tuguegarao (Philippines): Typhoon Mangkhut lashed the northern Philippines with destructive winds and heavy rain that set off landslides and destroyed homes on Saturday, leaving at least 12 people dead and six missing, as southern China braced for the powerful storm. (AP) FGN8 US-2NDLD HURRICANE Florence turns deadly, unleashing torrential floods on Carolinas Wilmington: A woman and her baby were killed when a tree fell on their house and several more storm-related deaths were reported Friday as Hurricane Florence slammed into the Carolinas, dousing the eastern US states with torrential rain and causing rivers to burst their banks. (AFP) PTI CPS Flash 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. Kano (Nigeria), Sep 15 (AFP) Boko Haram gunmen killed eight people when they attacked two villages in restive northeast Nigeria in an attempt to steal livestock Friday, local militia said. The jihadists moved into Modu Ajiri and Bulama Kayiri villages in Borno state to take cattle and sheep but the villagers put up a fight to save their livestock. "Fighting erupted when the villagers tried to stop the attackers," local militia spokesman Bunu Bukar Mustapha told AFP. "Eight people were killed in the fight and four others were injured," he said from the state capital Maiduguri, 90 kilometres away. The militants opened fire on the villagers who were armed with machetes, bows and arrows, cudgels and swords, he said. "The villagers were no match for the Boko Haram terrorists who came with guns," said militia leader Babakura Kolo, who gave a similar toll. After the attack, the jihadists herded all the stolen livestock into the bush, he said. He said residents of the two villages had fled for fear of renewed attack by the insurgents. Mustapha said the bodies of the victims were recovered by soldiers and militia who took them to the nearby town of Nganzai, some 10 kilometres away. Boko Haram has intensified attacks especially against military targets in recent months. On Wednesday, scores of Islamists attacked a military base in Damasak in the far north of Borno state. They were repelled with aerial support after an hours-long battle. Boko Haram's nine-year insurgency has spilled over into neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon, killing thousands of people and displacing over two million. (AFP) RAX RAX Damascus, Sep 15 (AFP) An Israeli missile attack targeted the Syrian capital's airport late Saturday, activating air defences which shot down a number of the projectiles, state news agency SANA reported. "Our air defences responded to an Israeli missile attack on Damascus international airport and shot down a number of hostile missiles," a military source said, quoted by SANA. The agency, without giving any immediate report of casualties or damage, posted footage of the air defences being activated. In the shaky video, a small, bright explosion is seen in the night sky. AFP's correspondent in Damascus heard a loud blast, followed by several smaller explosions. In Jerusalem, the Israeli military declined to comment on the incident. This month, Israel acknowledged having carried out more than 200 strikes in war-ravaged Syria over the past 18 months, mainly against Iranian targets. It has also admitted to striking Syria to prevent what it says are deliveries of advanced weaponry to Lebanon's Hezbollah militia, which fights alongside Syrian troops and is an arch-foe of Israel. Syrian state media last reported Israeli strikes on September 4, when it said its air defences downed several missiles in the coastal province of Tartus and in central Hama. (AFP) RAX RAX Damascus, Sep 16 (AFP) An Israeli missile attack targeted the Syrian capital's airport late Saturday, activating air defences which shot down a number of the projectiles, state news agency SANA reported. "Our air defences responded to an Israeli missile attack on Damascus international airport and shot down a number of hostile missiles," a military source said, quoted by SANA. The agency, without giving any information on casualties or damage, posted footage and images of the air defences being activated. In a shaky video, a small, bright explosion is seen in the night sky, with city lights in the distance. AFP's correspondent in Damascus heard a loud blast late Saturday, followed by several smaller explosions. The Israeli military declined to comment on the incident. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said Saturday's strikes hit a weapons depot outside the airport. "The missiles, suspected to be Israeli, destroyed an arms warehouse near the Damascus international airport," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. He had no immediate information on casualties. Israel has vowed to prevent its arch-foe Iran, which is a main backer of Syria's government, from gaining a foothold in neighbouring war-torn Syria. Earlier this month, Israel acknowledged having carried out more than 200 strikes in Syria over the past 18 months, mainly against Iranian targets. It has also admitted to striking Syria to prevent what it says are deliveries of advanced weaponry to Lebanon's Hezbollah, an armed movement backed by Iran and which fights alongside Syrian troops. The last reported Israeli strikes on Syria took place on September 4, when Syrian state media said the military's air defences downed several missiles in the coastal province of Tartus and in central Hama. The Observatory also reported those raids and said they killed three Syrian soldiers. Syria's conflict erupted in 2011 and has since killed more than 360,000 people, with millions more displaced internally and to neighbouring countries. After losing swathes of territory to rebel groups, President Bashar al-Assad's troops have regained the upper hand and are now in control of around two-thirds of the ravaged country. They were bolstered by nearly three years of air strikes by their key ally Russia and Iranian, Iraqi, Lebanese, and other foreign fighters on the ground. Soldiers and other loyalist fighters had been amassing around Idlib, the largest rebel-held zone left in Syria, for several weeks. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied that Syrian troops were planning a major offensive for the area. (AFP) RAX RAX Guj: Cong to move no-confidence motion against BJP government Ahmedabad, Sep 15 (PTI) The Gujarat Congress Saturday said it would move a no-confidence motion against the Vijay Rupani government which it claimed had failed on all fronts and had lost the faith of the people. The two-day monsoon session of the Gujarat Assembly begins on September 18. Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar Saturday said that he had submitted a no-confidence motion notice against the BJP government in the state. "This government has failed on all fronts, whether it is the issue of farmers, rising cost of education and living, corruption...which is why we have moved the no-confidence motion," Parmar said. Parmar said that among the issues on which the government has failed are those related to farmers. He claimed that the state government did not come up with a loan waiver scheme for farmers nor did it ensure proper supply of water for irrigation or offer them a good support price for crops. The government had also not been able to control private school fees despite coming out with a fee regulation act which has been a failure, Parmar said. The government failed to initiate a proper probe into the alleged groundnut procurement scam, which involves some top-ranking government officials and ministers, he alleged. The Congress had demanded a probe by a committee headed by a sitting High Court judge, but the government, instead, set up a committee under a retired judge to look into incidents of fire in groundnut godowns, the MLA said. The state government had also failed on the law and order front, he said. "The government should discuss the motion if it believes in taking all stakeholders together in running the state. We will ensure that we are not suspended from the House," he said. Earlier, the opposition party had, during the budget session this year, moved a no-confidence motion against Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi after accusing him of being partisan. The opposition party withdrew the motion after the BJP agreed to reduce the duration of suspension of three Congress MLAs till the end of the Budget session. PTI KA PD BNM BNM Panaji, Sep 15 (PTI) Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will fly to Delhi Saturday for his follow-up treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), a senior official said. Parrikar, 62, is currently undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment at a private hospital at Candolim in North Goa. "He will be flying to Delhi around 10.30 am today by a special flight and would be admitted to AIIMS for his follow-up treatment," a senior official from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. Parrikar had returned from the US in the first week of September following which he was admitted to the hospital at Candolim. Earlier this year, he had undergone a three-month-long treatment in the US. Sources stated that Parrikar had Friday spoken to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah over phone, who enquired about his health. The Goa BJP had held a meeting of its state-level core committee on Friday. The core committee members had later met Parrikar. PTI RPS NP KJ KJ Panaji, Sep 15 (PTI) The BJP leaders from Delhi who are visiting Goa on Sunday to assess the political situation in the coastal state against the backdrop of the failing health of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, will ask the alliance partners of the saffron party to consider a merger with it, a senior leader said here on Saturday. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Michael Lobo, who is the deputy speaker of the Goa Assembly, told PTI that the party emissaries would suggest to allies Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) that they should become part of the saffron party. "Right now, our main focus is on increasing the strength of the BJP from 14 to 17 on the floor of the House," Lobo said. BJP national general secretaries Ramlal and B L Santhosh would be arriving here on Sunday afternoon, he added. "A proposal will be made to the GFP and MGP, asking them to merge with the BJP. Only after that, we will take up issues such as who will be the next chief minister or who will take over the charge or anything related to it," Lobo said. Parrikar (62) was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on Saturday morning. He had undergone a three-month-long treatment in the United States for a pancreatic ailment earlier this year. The GFP and MGP have three MLAs each and are supporting the BJP-led government in Goa. GFP president Vijai Sardesai was not available for comments, but MGP chief Deepak Dhavalikar ruled out a merger with the BJP. "There is no question of a merger. We are not interested in a merger. It will never happen. We have built the party over several years and it is the hope for the future of Goa's politics," he said. "We have a 12-13 per cent vote share in the state, so where is the question of merging?" Dhavalikar asked. Earlier on Saturday, the MGP had said it was "high time" Parrikar handed over the charge to the seniormost minister in his cabinet during his absence. PTI RPS KRK RC Mumbai, Sep 15 (PTI) The Shiv Sena Saturday hit out at the Congress saying its allegations against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over fugitive tycoon Vijay Mallya's claims on meeting him were "ridiculous". The saffron party asked if the Congress knew about their meeting, why did it remain silent all these years. Wondering who was pulling the strings of the Congress and Mallya, the Sena said the controversy was a part of the preparation for the 2019 general elections. "Mallya is a liar. The statement he made in a London court has landed Arun Jaitley in trouble. He claimed that before leaving India, he had met Jaitley and offered settlement." "But what is the need of making Jaitley an accused in the case just on the basis of Mallya's statement? But Congress has done that," the Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'. "Mallya left the country without repaying loans worth thousands of crores. Currently, he is facing extradition trial in London. There are 16 banks in the country that are hit by NPAs and those who took loans from these banks were tycoons, including Mallya," it added. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party added that although Mallya tried to go for one-time settlement, the banks were not ready for it. "The banks were not ready for Mallya's offer and hence he met Jaitley in the Parliament. Being an MP himself, it was Mallya's right to roam on the Parliament premises. Therefore, the Congress leader (P L) Punia's charge that Jaitley is also an accused in the case is outrightly ridiculous," it said. In fact, the kind of people Congress and BJP have as their MPs, the ministers face a dilemma whom to meet and whom to avoid. Moreover, Mallya is not the only one who defaulted on loan repayment. There are many such loan defaulters roaming openly as MPs, the party said. "It has now come to light that Congress president Rahul Gandhi was present at a family function of (fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi. So, should Congress chief Rahul Gandhi be blamed for his escape?" the Sena asked. "Mallya made the revelations in the court after so many years. If the Congress knew about the meeting beforehand, why did it hide it for so long?" "Or is it that there is somebody else behind Mallya's revelations and the subsequent attacks by the Congress. It is all a part of 2019 poll preparations. Those unwanted are being removed now. It is happening with Jaitley," the Sena said. Mallya had last Wednesday claimed in London that he had met the finance minister before leaving for the UK, drawing a rebuttal from Jaitley who said he never gave him any appointment but the businessman used his privilege as an MP to accost him in Parliament. Latching on to his comments, the Congress president had accused Jaitley of providing Mallya a "free passage" to "run away" from India. The Sena said Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, an accused in the Bofors scandal, could not have left India without the help from the Indian government and the CBI. Quattrocchi had fled India in 1993 never to return and did not face trial in the cases filed against him. He died in July 2013. PTI MM NP RHL RHL Agartala, Sept 15 (PTI) Eighteen tribal students were rescued from a Buddhist missionary school in Bihar and brought here, a Tripura minister said Saturday. The children, belonging to the Mog and the Chakma community at Pencharthal in the North Tripura district, were sent by their families for studies in Bodh Gaya, but the school was shut down two months ago without informing their parents, state Health and Family Welfare Minister Sudip Roy Barman said. The children were rescued by Bihar police which also brought them here by train. Roy Barman received the children Friday evening at the Agartala railway station. "There is a sigh of relief for all of us that the children have returned to Tripura. The Department of Tribal Welfare will ask the Bihar government for proper investigation of the incident. We don't want any child to go to other state without the knowledge of the Tripura government. It is an eye-opener for all of us," Roy Barman told reporters. Tripura State Child Welfare Society chairperson Nilima Ghosh, who met the children, alleged that she found marks of torture on their bodies. She also said their families had paid money to the authorities of the school for their study and subsistence. "I have met them and seen them wearing unhygienic clothes and having torture signs on their bodies," Ghosh told reporters. She said that the Child Welfare Society would soon start legal action against the school authority, following a discussion with the state government. She added that the police official, who handed over the children at the Agartala railway station, had said there were other children from Assam's Karbi Anglong district in the institution. They were handed over to the Assam authorities at the Guwahati railway station, Ghosh quoted the police official as having said. PTI JOY PR CK (Eds: Recasting overnight story with reactions of Congress, MoD) New Delhi, Sep 15 (PTI) Amid a political furore over the multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet deal, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has suggested it is futile to engage opposition parties on the issue when all facts have been already placed before Parliament. She also alleged that the Opposition has "misled" the country and thrown unsubstantiated allegations on a sensitive issue concerning India's defence preparedness. She made the comments on Thursday during an interaction with PTI journalists. On Saturday, the Defence Ministry said Sitharaman had not said that the opposition does not deserve to be engaged. 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? You (opposition) 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 and should have taken them into confidence, 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, virtually ruling out any engagement with the opposition parties. On Saturday, Congress national spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi slammed the defence minister in a tweet, saying the "false bravado and arrogance seeps in when one has no answers". National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said, "The arrogance on display here is breathtaking. No government should refuse to engage with opposition parties. The current government keeps lowering the bench mark with amazing regularity." A defence ministry spokesperson Saturday clarified that the minister "didn't use the words 'opposition doesn't deserve to be briefed' and the contention was to state that facts have been placed before the Parliament". In the interview, 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 the Congress, opposition parties have 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 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 MPB BJ VJ SMN New Delhi, sep 15 (PTI) Following are the top stories from the northern region at 9.30 pm SRINAGAR DEL22 JK-3RDLD-ENCOUNTER Srinagar: Five Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants, including the one involved in last year's deadly attack on a cash van in which five policemen and two bank guards lost their lives, were killed in an encounter Saturday in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. SRINAGAR DEL26 JK-POLLS-ANNOUNCEMENT Srinagar: Urban local bodies elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted in four phases starting October 8, state election commission said Saturday. CHANDIGARH DEL29 HR-2NDLD-RAPE Chandigarh/New Delhi: The National Commission for Women stepped in Saturday as an Army man and two others accused of raping a young woman in Haryanas Mahendragarh district three days ago continued to evade arrest. CHANDIGARH DEL36 HR-RAPE-BJP-MLA Chandigarh: A BJP MLA from Haryana, Premlata Singh, on Saturday blamed "frustration" among unemployed youths as the reason for rapes in the country, triggering angry reactions on social media. NEWDELHI DES18 DL-JNUSU- LD COUNTING SUSPENSION New Delhi: Counting of votes for the JNU students union (JNUSU) polls was suspended Saturday by election authorities citing "forcible entry" and "attempts to snatch away ballot boxes" at a counting venue, after the ABVP staged protests claiming it was not informed about the start of the process. CHANDIGARH DES29 PB-BLAST-RESPONSIBILITY Chandigarh: A pro-Khalistan militant group has claimed responsibility behind a low-intensity blast at a police station in Jalandhar city of Punjab on Friday night. Rohtak DES12 HR-IAF-EXAM Rohtak: Two people were arrested for allegedly hacking into the Indian Air Force's online exam to recruit non-commissioned officers in Rohtak, police said Saturday. ALIGARH DES14 UP-HINDU MAHASABHA Aligarh: In a letter signed in blood, the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of playing vote bank politics by bringing the recent amendment to the SC/ST Act, an office bearer said. CHANDIGARH DES22 PB-CHANDUMAJRA-SIDHU Chandigarh: Senior SAD leader Prem Singh Chandumajra Saturday said Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has no right to speak on Sikhism as he does not follow the tenets of the religion. PATIALA NRG11 PB-MAHAN KOSH Patiala: A high-level meeting here on Saturday to take a decision on scrapping of 24,000 copies of 'Mahan Kosh', an encyclopedia of Sikh literature, remained inconclusive. NEWDELHI LGD5 DL-HC-CCTVS-WOMEN SAFETY New Delhi: The Delhi High Court was told by the police Friday that it has installed around 4,388 CCTV cameras in vulnerable areas of the national capital to ensure safety and security of women. DELHI DEL3 DL-VIRAL-VIDEO-ARREST New Delhi: Two persons have been arrested in connection with the incident of a Delhi policeman's son allegedly brutally thrashing a woman, a video of which has gone viral, police said Saturday. PTI ASH ASH Flash 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. New Delhi, Sep 15 (PTI) Patients and family members of those affected by Johnson and Johnson's faulty hip implants gathered in Delhi Saturday demanding they be directly involved in the process of ascertaining the compensation. They asserted the amount should not only be based on the physical, medical criteria but also take into account the mental, social and economic harm faced by them. They expressed apprehension that the government could "toe the line" of the pharma giant as it was conducting an one-sided inquiry. The affected patients said the government was jointly liable as it was neither responsive to the safety concerns associated with the device in other countries nor did it take immediate steps to order a mandatory recall and cancel the license of the firm. Their demands came in the wake of news reports that the central committee being set up for compensation is likely to meet for the first time on September 18. The AIDAN, a network of patients working with the patients, called for criminal action against all involved, including people in government who failed to act against the use of such harmful implants. They also responded to claims of Johnson and Johnson that it has been unable to trace the majority of ASR -- anywhere between 2,400 to 3,700 -- because it did not have access to patient details which were only available to surgeons because of confidentiality. George Thomas, chief orthopaedic surgeon, St Isabel's Hospital in Chennai said, "All joints for human implantation have stickers which are used to trace the individual joint. As per normal protocols, one of these stickers has to be pasted in the surgical record of the patient. Therefore, it is difficult to believe that the patients cannot be found." He said the company itself, as well as the surgeons should be in a position to track the patients. Joint replacements are routinely followed till the patient expires, so the address is always obtained, he said. The victims and their relatives sought participation in any further meeting to decide on the compensation and action to be taken on a report submitted by a high powered expert committee set up by the Health Ministry. "What are the checks or balances on the working of the committees? What is the guarantee that the committee will be fair, just, equitable and reasonable in determining compensation?" said Vijay Vojhala, who had his initial surgery in 2008 and the revision in 2012. "The government is doing a one-sided inquiry and could easily toe the line of the company. We understand that the government has been closely consulting with J&J and yet, those who have suffered grievous injuries seem to have no seat at the table," he said, adding he was the only patient to have deposed before the Central Expert Committee. The report of the committee was only made public after determined efforts of patients demanding that the report be put in the public domain. The committee in its report stated that "the ASR (articular surface replacement) hip implants manufactured by DePuy International Ltd were found to be faulty which resulted in higher instances of revision surgeries globally including India". The report recommended that suggested that DePuy International Ltd, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson be made liable to pay at least Rs 20 lakh to each affected patient, and the reimbursement for revision surgeries should continue until August 2025. They said despite assurances that the costs of their treatment would be covered when their implant failed, the company left most patients to fend for themselves. "Compensation should be based on physical, mental, social and economic harm faced by patients. Not only the basis of physical medical criteria. It is important that patients, their representatives and a psychologist be part of the committee and their voices should be heard," said another victim Kabbir Chandhok. Former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Maharashtra, Mahesh Zagade, who had initiated probe into the faulty hip implants in 2011, accused the drug regulator of "inaction and sleeping over the issue despite enough proof". "The regulator could have taken action, including criminal prosecution, immediately under the existing law and provided relief to the patients," he said. He also questioned on the basis on which the company was given the import licence for the implants even though the company had officially recalled the product in 2010. "The J&J issue once again reminds us of the grim reality that in the current scenario it is the responsibility of all the stakeholders to be vigilant and ensure that the commercial interests of the pharma and medical device corporations do not take precedence over everything else and in the process endanger human life," he said. He also said as per the rules the importer has to maintain a registry of all the devices and products that are brought into the country and records are maintained. He said an FIR can be filed by the DCGI, which is the licence granting authority, under section Section 320 of the IPC against the firm for causing grevious hurt. The DCGI is completely accountable, he said demanding a CBI probe into the matter. PTI PLB TDS AAR (Eds: Updating number of militants killed) Srinagar, Sep 15 (PTI) Five militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) were killed in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir Saturday, officials said. Five militants have been killed in the operation at Chowgam in Kulgam district of south Kashmir, an Army official said here. He said weapons and war-like stores have been recovered from the encounter site. The operation is over, the official said. The encounter between the militants and security forces began this morning after the forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants there. While the forces were conducting the searches, the militants fired upon the forces, ensuing a gunfight. A police official said the militants belonged to two outfits of LeT and HM and their killing was a huge success for the forces. "It is a huge success for police and security forces. The militants belonged to both HM and LeT," he said. He said most of the slain militants were "involved in a series of terror acts including killing of two bank employees and many policemen". "They were also involved in bank robberies and weapon looting," the police official said. Meanwhile, clashes broke out near the site of the encounter as groups of youths started pelting stones on the forces, the official said. He said a few youths have been injured in the forces' action on the protesters. Train services between Baramulla and Qazigund have been suspended due to apprehensions of law and order problems. PTI SSB SMN SMN New Delhi, Sep 15 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday reached the city's Baba Sahib Ambedkar Higher Secondary School in Paharganj and took up a broom to clean the surroundings. As part of his 'shram daan' or voluntary work, he cleaned the school surroundings with a broom. Wearing a pale pink half-sleeve kurta, Modi was seen picking up pieces of paper and disposable plastic glasses with his hands. He also used a shovel to gather the garbage at one place. After reaching the school, he paid floral tributes at a statue of B R Ambedkar. He was seen interacting with some students, apparently giving them a talk on the importance of cleanliness. Earlier, he interacted with people via a video link to launch "Swachhata Hi Seva" movement, a fortnight-long event. The 'Swachhata Hi Seva' movement aims at generating greater public participation towards Swachhta (cleanliness) and 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 the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi. The Prime Minister's Office said no special traffic arrangements were made for the movement of the prime minister and that he reached the venue in usual traffic conditions. Baba Sahib Ambedkar School near Ambedkar Bhawan on Jhansi Rani Road, Paharganj, is a higher secondary school affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education. The school has been operating under a trust named as Delhi Schedule Caste Welfare Association registered under Society Registration Act. The Society has been registered on June 17, 1946. The campus was bought by Dr B. R Ambedkar himself in 1946 with an aim to advance the educational, social and economic wellbeing of scheduled castes. PTI NAB/KR SMN Amritsar, Sep 15 (PTI) A 23-year-old woman suffered severe burn injuries when two unidentified masked men allegedly threw acid on her at Thoba village, police said Saturday. The incident occurred on Friday when the woman, a student of Bed, was returning from college when two motorcycle-borne men chased her after she got down from the bus at the village, nearly twenty 25 km from here, they said. The accused fled from the spot after the incident, police said. Some passersby immediately admitted her to a village hospital from where she was referred to Amritsar Government Guru Nanak Hospital, they said. A case has been registered against the unidentified accused under section 326 A of the Indian Penal Code for wilfully causing grievous injuries by acid. PTI JMS VSD GS HP KJ KJ \R Jaipur, Sep 15 (PTI) South Western Command chief Lt Gen. Cherish Mathson said Saturday the Army personnel dragged bodies of terrorists instead of picking them up as they could be booby-trapped. The comment comes after a purported video of soldiers dragging a dead Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant by chains tethered to his legs in Jammu and Kashmir surfaced, triggering accusations of human rights violation. This followed an encounter in which three militants were killed and 12 security personnel injured in the state's Reasi district on Thursday. "Terrorists tie IEDs ( improvised explosive devices) and grenades around their bodies and there is a threat to army men if they pick up the body. It is a drill of the army to drag the body with ropes to save themselves from activated IEDs or other explosives," Mathson said on the sidelines of a press conference on Haifa Day celebrations. On the issue of force restructuring, Mathson said armies all over the world review themselves periodically to see whether its structure was aligned with its strategy. He a review had been ordered but nothing was finalised yet. On the occasion of the centenary celebrations of the Haifa Day, Army chief General Bipin Rawat would visit Jaipur and take part in the inauguration of the Haifa Statue, Mathson said. Haifa Day is celebrated to mark the liberation of the Haifa city during the World War I by the Allied Forces. The Indian Army commemorates September 23 every year as Haifa Day to pay its respects to the Indian soldiers who were part of the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade in that operation. He said very few Indians know and celebrate the day, but people in Israel celebrate the day every year. PTI AG HMB BCKV impasse resolved, classes may resume next week (Eds: With fresh developments) Kalyani/Kolkata, Sep 15 (PTI) The impasse at the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV) in Nadia district was resolved Saturday after West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee held talks with all stakeholders. Chatterjee asked the authorities to allow the students stay at the hostels and ensure that classes begin from early next week. Earlier in the day, the university authorities have declared indefinite suspension of classes and ordered the students to vacate the hostels with immediate effect. A top university official said they were hopeful about resuming classes from Tuesday next. Chatterjee, who met senior university officials and students, told reporters at Kalyani that the decision of the authorities to snap electricity and water supply to hostels from Friday night was unfortunate and those would have to be restored on an urgent basis. Following this, Registrar Jayanta Saha said the hostels would be opened for students with immediate effect and the facilities restored. On allegations that outsiders entered the campus on the night of September 12 and assaulted the students including girls, Chatterjee said, "No visitor will be allowed to enter the campus without permission." He said the entire campus needed to be brought under CCTV coverage and the number of security personnel will be increased. The developments took place two days after Vice Chancellor Dharani Dhar Patra was gheraoed by students for over 24 hours on September 13, demanding his resignation. The VC had fallen ill during gherao on September 13 evening and was allowed to leave the chamber by the students. The agitating students were demonstrating inside the campus since September 7 demanding the removal of Dean (Agriculture) Srikanth Das and Dean (Students Welfare) Goutam Chakraborty for some alleged irregularities. They had demanded that VC should be back in the office on September 14 and meet them to discuss the issue of taking action against the Dean (Agriculture) Srikanth Das and Dean Students Welfare (DSW) Goutam Chakraborty for some alleged irregularities, a representative of the organisation said. The students also demanded the VC's resignation blaming him for the alleged attack on them by outsiders. Patra, who did not return to office since September 13, was admitted to a hospital on Saturday as he complained of uneasiness, a family member told reporters. The VC, who was earlier gheraoed for 24 hours in his office on September 7, was not present at the meeting with the education minister. PTI SUS COR NN NN Ludhiana, Sep 15 (PTI) A court here has sentenced a man to death for killing his cousin and her mother in 2013. The court of Additional Sessions Judge Arunvir Vashishtha pronounced the verdict on Friday. The court in its order said the convict, Rishu Grover, "be hanged till death" for the crime. Grover (30) had killed Heena Grover (22) and her mother Usha Rani (55) on the intervening night of May 21 and 22 in 2013 at their residence in Mohalla Fatehgunj near Baba Than Singh Chowk here in the heart of the city. According to an FIR, Rishu and Heena were in a relationship and the accused was infuriated over Heena's marriage getting fixed with someone else. After committing the crime, he managed to escape with cash and jewellery, as per the FIR. PTI COR CHS KJ KJ Bishop Franco Mulakkal, facing probe over allegations of rape of a nun, hands over administrative responsibility of Jalandhar diocese. PTI COR TGB ROH SMN Hyderabad, Sep 15 (PTI) Blaming international developments for the rising petrol and diesel prices and dipping rupee value, BJP president Amit Shah Saturday said the Centre will come out with a solution soon. Petrol and diesel prices have scaled new highs since mid-August due to a combination of a dip in rupee value against the US dollar and the rise in crude oil prices. "The increasing petrol and diesel prices and sliding rupee against dollar are a cause of concern for both the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the government," Shah told reporters here. "It was due to some developments that took place globally. (The) Trade war between US and China and issues between the US and oil producing countries. Because of these global reasons these developments are taking place," he added. "We are also concerned about this. Solution is also being found out. Within short time, the government will take a stand on these issues and come out," he said further. But Shah made it clear that the impact on rupee was "far less" than compared to other currencies. The Opposition parties led by Congress had on September 10 called for a nationwide shutdown to protest against the escalating prices of fuel and other essential items. Replying to a query on the arrest warrant issued by the Dharmabad court in Maharashtra against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and some of his party functionaries, Shah said the BJP had got nothing to do with it. The warrant was issued in a case related to an agitation that Naidu, then in the Opposition in united Andhra Pradesh, undertook over Babli project on Godavari river in 2010. He said there were Congress governments in both Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra during 2010 when the case was taken up by the court. "Now Chandrababu is trying to have tie up with those pursuing vendetta against him. He was trying to gain sympathy out of the issue," Shah said. The BJP chief said the case was filed in 2010 and police filed a charge sheet in 2013. Naidu did not respond even after several summons were issued by the court against him, Shah alleged. PTI GDK ROH RHL Noida (UP), Sep 15 (PTI) Two men allegedly involved in several dacoities and killings in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh were arrested Saturday by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force following an encounter in Gautam Buddh Nagar, officials said. The accused - Deepak Bawaria and Pradeep Bawaria - members of notorious Bawaria gang were involved in dacoities and killings, they said. Deepak was from Farukkhabad in UP, while Pradeep a native of Bharatpur in Rajasthan. But both were staying in Delhi, STF officials said. "The Noida unit of the STF has been getting inputs about several dacoities carried out by the Bawaria Gang in Lucknow and Barabanki this year. Four of the gang members were held earlier this year, while these were absconding," a senior STF official said. "The field unit of the Noida STF had learnt from sources that the duo would be coming to Greater Noida to carry out another dacoity. They were held near an engineering college under Knowledge Park police station limits in the district at 2.05 am," the official said. According to officials, Deepak was carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his arrest. Police have seized two country-made pistols, bullets and a motorcycle belonging to the two accused. "During interrogation, Deepak (24), said his gang had carried out dacoities in several cities of UP, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh," the STF said. The two have been charged with criminal cases in various police stations, including in Lucknow and Barabanki. An FIR was registered against them at the Knowledge Park police station Saturday under Indian Penal Code sections 307 for attempt to murder and under provisions of the Arms Act. PTI KIS DPB You are here: World Flash China and Uruguay agreed to strengthen cooperation in Beijing on Friday. 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. [Photo/Xinhua] 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. Amritsar, Sep 15 (PTI) Gold ornaments and cash worth Rs seven crore was looted Saturday at gun point from a well known jewellery shop here, police said. The incident occurred at Prem Kumar Jewellers, a famous gold trader in the Guru Bazar Market here. Police said around five masked men looted the gold ornaments and cash worth Rs seven crore at gun point. They fled the scene after firing gun shots. They also took away CCTV camera installed at the showroom, the police said. Senior police officers reached the spot to take stock of the situation. President of Amritsar Jewellers Association Kale Shah said more than hundred traders shut down their business establishments after the incident. Police said various police teams have been searching places to nab the accused. PTI JMS CHS DPB Woman slashed 40 times, killed by former classmate in Indore Indore, Sep 15 (PTI) A 24-year-old woman was killed in Indore after being slashed about 40 times with a sickle by a former classmate in a case of unrequited love, police said Saturday. Supriya Jain, an accountant in a private organisation, succumbed Friday night while undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital, said MIG police station in charge Tahzeeb Qazi. He identified the assailant as Kamlesh Sahu (24) who works as a waiter at a hotel, adding that the accused and victim studied together at Navodaya School in the state's Damoh district. He attacked her Thursday night when she was returning home from work, the official said. According to Qazi, Sahu had sent a marriage proposal to the victim on Facebook Messenger a few days ago, which she turned down. The mobile phone from which Sahu sent these messages has been recovered, the official added. Sahu had been stalking Jain for the past several days and allegedly decided to kill her after spotting her talking to other men, Qazi said. Qazi said that Sahu, during their school days, had once expressed his love for her and then attempted suicide by slashing his wrist when she snubbed his proposal. Sahu has been arrested and further probe into the case is underway, Qazi informed. PTI HWP ADU BNM BNM RDS RDS Maha: Owaisi's AIMIM, Ambedkar's BBM to tie up for 2019 polls (Eds: Adding Congress, NCP quotes) Mumbai, Sep 15 (PTI) The All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) will forge an alliance for the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly polls in 2019, party leaders announced Saturday. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi told PTI that preliminary talks held between both parties have yielded positive results. "(BBM chief) Prakash Ambedkar ji will be holding a public rally in Aurangabad on October 2 in which I too will be present. The formal structure of the alliance will be announced later," Owaisi said. Imtiyaz Jaleel, AIMIM MLA from Aurangabad, said the idea behind the alliance was that Dalits, Muslims and OBCs have been ignored for 70 years, have no proper representation in politics and were being treated as vote-banks. "It is a shame on all so-called secular parties that there is no representation from the Muslim community in Parliament from Maharashtra. Everybody wants their votes but does not want to give them representation. Similar is the case for Dalits," he said. He added that once both parties come together, they would be a force to reckon with. Jaleel, who called on Ambedkar at the latter's home in Pune to hold preliminary talks, added that Owaisi and Ambedkar will meet before the public rally on October 2 and will decide on the structure of the alliance. Haribhau Bhale, former MLA and BBM leader, said Dalits, Muslims and OBCs are upset with mainstream parties. "There is a growing pressure to form an alternative. Thus, all groups that have been ignored will come together. What shape the alliance will take will be decided by party leaders," Bhale said. The Nationalist Congress Party, meanwhile, said that the AIMIM-BBM alliance was an experiment that would be "unimpactful". "These experiments were rejected in Nanded last year. People who rejected AIMIM in Nanded, from where it started, want to see the Sena and BJP and BJP defeated," NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said. "Why did people reject AIMIM in Nanded and BBM in Bhandara-Gondiya? Such experiments cannot gain any political benefits because people know what to do. They will prefer an alternative to the BJP and Shiv Sena. Nobody is interested in experiments. It will be unimpactful in the state," Malik claimed. The Congress termed Ambedkar's joining hands with AIMIM as "unfortunate". "It is very unfortunate that Ambedkar ji has to go with a communal party like AIMIM. AIMIM is a party supported by the BJP and drives its agenda. It is saddening to see Ambedkar ji associate himself with such a party," Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Sachin Sawant said. PTI MM BNM BNM RDS RDS New Delhi, Sep 15 (PTI) A woman has accused a senior official of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) of sexually assaulting her in south Delhi's Sarojini Nagar, police said Saturday. Based on a complaint filed by the victim, a case was registered at the Sarojini Nagar Police station, they said. In her statement to police, she alleged the accused called her at his residence in Sarojini Nagar on September 10 and sexually assaulted her, a police official said. When she resisted, he threatened her, he said. The victim alleged the accused was alone in the house at the time of incident, he added. After recording the victim's statement, the police began investigation into the allegations, he added. The case has been transferred to the crime branch. The victim was employed at an Aadhaar office situated near Pragati Maidan metro station, the police said. They are probing all angles, including the authenticity of the allegations levelled against the accused, since they also learnt the victim was removed from work the same day the alleged incident took place, the official said. Further investigation is underway, he said. PTI AMP SLB AAR You are here: World Flash 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. Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan (R) meets with Chile's Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 14, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua] 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. Bonus: Tantse Walter's earnings will pay for a trip to Colombia Companies sometimes pay existing customers who help to recruit new ones, writes LAURA SHANNON. The bonus is handed over when a customer can prove their personal recommendation convinced someone else to buy. Those making the most of refer-a-friend deals are earning small fortunes. Here, The Mail on Sunday looks at the rising trend of 'referral marketing' and explains how you can join in. Freelance photographer Tantse Walter has made nearly 800 in two years simply from recommending deals to friends and family. This financial boost means she has already covered the cost of a fortnight's accommodation for a holiday to Colombia later this year and has some money left over. Tantse, 28, who lives with husband Dave in Cheltenham, says: 'It is very easy, so why not do it? Most companies have a refer-a-friend scheme because it benefits them as much as it does the customer.' By referring friends to companies she has earned money from energy supplier Bulb, travel website booking.com, online supermarket Ocado, Virgin Media and even a month's free membership at a local gym. Tantse says her friends are supportive of her making money this way especially when there is also something in it for them. For example, Bulb electricity pays 50 to new joiners as well as the customer who made the introduction. Tantse says she always makes an effort to support friends in making money from referral schemes, adding: 'If I am ever looking to join a company I always ask if any of my friends have a referral code, so they can benefit from it in the same way I would when I offer a code to them.' Friend-referral etiquette also demands honesty. Tantse says: 'I would not refer anyone to a company just for the sake of getting a financial reward.' Why firms are using the 'refer-a-friend' schemes Referral marketing is a tactic sold on the basis of a win-win the company wins new business and a happy customer wins a reward for little effort. So someone who is likely to talk positively to those around them about a favourite business should consider whether there is a slice of revenue available to them for their informal marketing services. Adam Bullock, director at shopping website TopCashback, says: 'Companies know the importance of word-of-mouth recommendations and are willing to pay for them.' While celebrities are often paid big money to promote brands, businesses know that referrals from customers to their friends are just as valuable. This form of promotion is transparent because those buying recommended deals know the person who introduced them, how they truly feel about a product and what perk their friend is receiving in return. Bullock adds: 'Most brands have some form of friend referral scheme that gives you something in return for bringing them new customers, whether it is free products or cash. 'Check with any service you use, such as your bank or insurance provider, to see what they are offering as you could make some unexpected money.' Typically you are given an online referral link to share with your nearest and dearest. When they click on the link to sign up themselves, it tells the company how a new customer arrived at their doorstep. Alternatively you might be given a code that a new customer needs to enter online when they buy. Companies offering pounds for praise There are numerous companies offering friend referral schemes, covering everything from fashion and fitness to bills and food. BANKING AND FINANCE Banks paying for recommendations include Nationwide Building Society, HSBC and First Direct. Nationwide pays 100 per friend, up to a maximum of 500 each tax year. Customers recommending HSBC's Expat account can also share 200 with their friend while First Direct pays 50 as well as a 'hello' gift to the new joiner. Digital current account provider Monese will also pay 10 per person referred 5 to the newbie. Vanquis which offers a credit card that can help customers build a better record of borrowing and repaying on time pays 25 for each referral. American Express credit card customers can earn membership points, Avios points or cashback for recruiting others. The perk paid depends on the type of credit card. Prepaid travel card provider WeSwap pays up to 10 each for existing customers and their peers. Customers who bring three friends on board can also get 'free' foreign currency exchange for life. COMMUNICATIONS Mobile companies BT Mobile and Three pay 25 Amazon gift cards to both customers and their friends. Sign up someone new to Sky TV and you will both receive a 50 prepaid Mastercard while Virgin Media will give each of you a 50 bill discount. ENERGY OVO pays a 25 voucher Amazon, M&S or Argos to each customer, old and new. Bulb pays 50 to both parties. ONLINE SHOPPING When people shop online via the likes of TopCashback or Quidco they can get a percentage of what they spend back in their accounts. These companies link through to the websites of well-known companies selling anything from fashion to insurance. They act like a friend making a referral but pay the bonuses to their customers. But you can also earn extra from referring the cashback websites themselves with TopCashback paying up to 7.50 and Quidco 20 for each person creating and using a new account. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DO NOT GET THE CREDIT? There will be hoops to jump through to ensure you are paid for the referral scheme promised. For example, both parties are likely to need an email address. A new joiner will also have to provide any appropriate loyalty codes. These will identify the existing customer when they sign online. They must ensure to click on the correct links provided in an email. If you failed to be wowed by the three new iPhones launched last week or indeed the Apple watch though they seem a clutch of stunners be wowed by the Apple share price. It is within a whisker of its all-time high, reached earlier this month, valuing the company at $1.09 trillion. If you had bought its shares ten years ago, you would be up some ten times in dollar terms. Indeed, be wowed by the value the markets put on high-tech America, with Amazon nudging above $1 trillion a few days ago before falling back. On the attack: US financial community is not saying that the American economy is dominating the rest of the world in a burst of Trumpian triumphalism And, of course, there are the other giants, Alphabet (parent company of Google) worth $820 billion, and venerable Microsoft, now worth $869 billion. The bulls on Wall Street are talking of there being five separate trillion dollar companies by the end of the year. Who knows? What we do know is that it is the high-tech companies that have led to the divergence of US share prices from those of the rest of the world, including the UK. The S&P 500 index hit an all-time high at the end of August and is a few points off it now. By contrast, the FTSE 100 is about 8 per cent off its high in May, the German DAX down by the same amount from its high, also in May, and the French CAC index about 5 per cent off its high too. Were it not for the tech giants, US shares would have languished too; they would have performed much the same as the UK and European indices. So, to oversimplify, the US financial community is not saying that the American economy is dominating the rest of the world in a burst of Trumpian triumphalism. Rather, it is saying that the US has something special in its high-tech sector, a dominance that will run for some time yet. The big question is how long will this incredible run last and does it end with a whimper or a bang? You have to distinguish between the commercial dominance of these companies and the market's assessment of that dominance, but for guidance perhaps the best person to go to is Robert Shiller. He is an economics professor at Yale, a Nobel prizewinner, and best-selling author, notably of Irrational Exuberance, published in 2000, which warned of the excesses of the dotcom boom. He has also given his name to the Case-Shiller index of US house prices and the CAPE-Shiller index of share prices, regarded by investors as a key way of putting a value on stocks. In an interview with Bloomberg, Shiller has just acknowledged that shares are pricy, but could become pricier still. He says that while the soaring market has something to do with President Trump's business-orientated mantra of deregulation and lower taxes, 'it goes beyond the rational, logical effect, and it has something to do with our animal spirits'. 'Animal spirits' was the phrase coined by John Maynard Keynes in his famed 1936 work, The General Theory Of Interest, Employment And Money, to explain why people sometimes acted with 'spontaneous optimism rather than mathematical expectations' in other words, taking risks that were not justified by the information available. So maybe it is the Trump effect after all. There are two hints at the direction of US share prices in the short term each, rather unhelpfully, pointing in a different direction. One is that his CAPE-Shiller index (CAPE stands for cyclically-adjusted price-earnings) is now in the low 30s, but hit 45 in 2000. That suggests share prices are not as overvalued as they were in the dotcom crash, so could feasibly rise further. The other is that Shiller says he is not adding to his own US share portfolio right now. You know Harry Truman's joke about needing a one-handed economist: 'All my economists say, 'On the one hand...' but then 'On the other...'.' ..................................................................................................................................... The ultimate exercise in animal spirits over the past 12 months has been the crypto-currency boom, and what looks pretty much like a bust. They are on average down some 80 per cent from their peak. Question now is whether they are actually useful or whether as Agustin Carstens, head of the Bank for International Settlements in Basel pithily describes them: 'A combination of a bubble, a Ponzi scheme and an environmental disaster.' Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. P.F. writes: Last December, my wife and I went to the Furniture Village branch in Hull for two Rise & Recline chairs, priced at 1,165 each. We are both 75 and suffer from chronic arthritis. The sales manager said we could have a disability VAT exemption saving us 20 per cent, but we had to pay the VAT and then get a refund. Two weeks later, the shop told us we would have to wait 90 days for the refund. Then Furniture Village said there was a change in procedure and offered back just 10 per cent. Confusion: An email from Furniture Village said the chairs were not eligible for VAT relief You quite rightly said no to the 10 per cent refund. Furniture Village then offered you 300, with a promise to pay the balance of the VAT refund if you could prove your entitlement. You accepted the 300 on account and contacted the chair manufacturer Parker Knoll. It told you: 'This seems very unusual, and not something we know retailers have had issues with before.' Parker Knoll's brochure confirmed the zero rating for the chairs, and advice from Revenue & Customs backed this up. Meanwhile, Furniture Village remained confused. An email told you the Hull store had decided the chairs were not in fact eligible for VAT relief. But this was followed by another email saying the exact opposite, while adding that you had to return the 300 before Furniture Village would give you back the VAT of 466. I asked the company what had gone wrong. Why could it not just hand over the remaining 166? After its bad advice so far, it was easy to see why you would be reluctant to hand over cash you already had, in return for Furniture Village's promise of more cash later. When the company offered no comment, I told it last weekend that I would publish your complaint. Within hours, you had a call from the Hull store, apologising and offering 250 on top of the 300 which you of course were happy to accept. You asked the caller if he had heard anything from The Mail on Sunday, but he said he had only been asked by his head office to investigate. Then at about 5pm last Sunday, the same caller rang again to say he had just received an email from me. He wanted you to tell me the matter was settled. This was odd. I had not sent any such email. But I did receive one, from the Hull store, telling me you had 'agreed not to print this letter'. Riddle: MP Stephen McPartland Well, look how that turned out. You have very fairly asked me nothing of the sort, telling me: 'It has been a long drawn out nine months until your intervention and I would like to thank you for your help.' I did press Furniture Village for an explanation of its VAT mistakes, but all it said was: 'The Furniture Village customer service team apologises for the miscommunication.' The issue had been resolved and you were happy, it added. I had hoped for more. I did contact one of the directors of Furniture Village. His name is Stephen McPartland, Conservative MP for Stevenage. He is also former chairman of the all-party Furniture Industry group at Westminster, and former vice-chair of the all-party Disability group. Believe it or not, he was also chairman of The Furniture Ombudsman, the organisation that rules on complaints against furniture firms, including Furniture Village. McPartland did not respond to repeated invitations to comment. 475,000 binary options crook is jailed The boss of a scam binary options investment company has been jailed for four and a half years after he tricked victims into handing over 475,000 that he spent in posh hotels and high-class shops. No qualms: Lee Denton set up TB Options Lee Denton, 33, from Oxted in Surrey, set up TB Options Limited in August 2015. He claimed to offer profits of up to 20 per cent a month by betting investors' money on whether commodity prices would rise or fall within a set period. But the truth was that no bets were placed, no money was invested by Denton, and customers' online accounts showed fake gains to encourage them to invest more. In March 2016, I warned: 'This is a scam with more holes in it than a Swiss cheese.' Denton refused to tell me what experience he had of commodity trading, if any. His company's terms and conditions were also a legal mishmash, copied from the internet. Detective Constable Rob Leete, of the City of London Police Fraud Squad, said: 'Denton had no qualms in lying to these people to steal thousands of pounds from them, which for some may have been their life savings. Now they have been left with nothing.' Now... that's what I call a shambles L.S. writes: I switched phone and internet supplier from TalkTalk to Now TV, but several weeks later Now said another provider was taking over. I immediately denied making any such switch and they said the change was cancelled. But this morning my internet connection disappeared without warning. Now maintains it had switching instructions from another provider, but refuses to identify them. It gave me a number to call for details, but then my landline went dead. Shambles: Now maintains it had switching instructions from another provider It is hard to see how Now TV could take a switching request seriously. You had only just started a one-year contract with the company. After I asked staff to investigate, they admitted to you that despite their assurances, the switch had not been cancelled. Now still refused to name the new provider that insisted had you as a customer. Desperate to get things moving, you then ordered phone and internet services from BT, but only the order for a phone line was activated. Your son, an IT expert, was able to rig up a temporary internet link from your mobile, but this cost 100. Meanwhile, you and I went back to Now and this time the company moved quickly. Your phone and internet connections were restored and your account has been credited with 359. So you will face no monthly charges until this has all been spent. Flash U.S. aerospace manufacturer SpaceX is planning to fly a private passenger around the moon on one of its spacecraft, the company said in a tweet. In a messager on twitter on Thursday, SpaceX announced that it "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." "Find out who's flying and why on Monday, September 17," it added. The BFR, or the Big Falcon Rocket, is SpaceX's upcoming two-stage reusable spaceship system that will be capable of taking a 330,000 pound payload to Mars and lower-Earth orbit LEO. It will eventually replace SpaceX's other launch vehicles, the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, as well as its Dragon spacecraft. Given that the BFR has yet to be built, the around-the-moon trip presumably is at least a few years off, according to the CNBC. When asked about the identity of the passenger, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk responded on Twitter with an emoji of the Japanese flag, leading some to believe it might be SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son. SpaceX's mysterious passenger won't be the world's first space tourist. American engineer and multimillionaire Dennis Tito, who was the first non-astronaut to travel to the space, paid 20 million U.S. dollars to spend eight days on the International Space Station in April 2001. The seventh and last space tourist was Canadian businessman Guy Laliberte, who flew to the ISS aboard the Soyuz TMA-16 in 2009. A rail company took 10 per cent of the contents of lost wallets in exchange for handing them back. The lost property policy by Arriva Trains Wales came to light when a passenger complained about the 'outrageous' system. Adam Howells said he could only get his wallet returned if he paid a 2 fee and forfeited 10 per cent of the cash contents up to a maximum of 10. A rail company took 10 per cent of the contents of lost wallets in exchange for handing them back It meant the passenger, who had 86 in the wallet when he left it on a train from Cardiff to Lydney in August, had to pay 10.60 in total to retrieve the item. The 28-year-old later expressed his anger at the charge on Twitter and branded the fees 'theft by train'. He wrote: 'So my lost wallet was found by ArrivaTW and they charge me 2 to release it, then take 10 per cent of the cash that was in the wallet!' The rail firm has now been forced to change its lost property policy following an outcry. Under other lost property charges, customers also pay 25 to retrieve a laptop and 10 for a mobile phone. Fees are even charged for lost watches, cycle helmets and walking sticks. Mr Howells told the BBC: 'I understand there's a set release fee but it's odd why there's a different charge if you have more money. A wallet with 2 inside and a wallet with 100 go through the same process. I think people are shocked by their policy.' Arriva Trains Wales said the charges were in place because running the lost property office 'takes up a lot of resources'. Bosses insisted the charges were in line with other rail operators. Under other lost property charges, customers also pay 25 to retrieve a laptop and 10 for a mobile phone In a tweet, the company promised any valuable items are given to charity if they are not collected in 12 weeks. But social media users were quick to blast the operator for its 'playground bully behaviour'. One user tweeted that they were 'disgusted' by the policy, while another described it as 'outrageous'. Under National Rail Conditions of Travel guidelines, firms may charge up to 2 per item per day for storage and up to 30 for handing it back. Last night Arriva Trains Wales promised it would review the charges, saying: 'Our customers' feedback is really important to us, and following recent feedback on this issue, we will now be changing our policy with immediate effect. 'In this instance we are happy to refund the percentage that was charged to the customer who brought this to our attention. We are happy to begin the process of reviewing the lost property policy with customer groups and rail industry regulatory bodies.' There is not enough analysis data for Hudson's Bay. 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. Previous Next Library system offering road trip ALBANY The Upper Hudson Library System is hosting its 2018 Library Expedition running through Nov. 30. This self-paced road trip will take participants to 36 libraries around the Capital Region and prizes can be earned along the way. This journey is open to all ages and maps can be picked up at any library in Rensselaer or Albany Counties. For details, visit http://uhls.org/expedition. Concert series begins Sept. 23 KINDERHOOK Concerts in the Village begins its ninth season at 3 p.m. Sept. 23 at The School, Jack Shainman Gallery, 25 Broad St. in the village. This program is devoted to the performance of classical instrumental, vocal and choral music, particularly of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Each concert will feature music from the Broad Street Orchestra and others. The orchestra is conducted by David Smith and co-conducted by Noah Palmer. For details, visit http://concertsinthevillage.org. The schedule is: Sept. 23: The School, Jack Shainman Gallery 3 p.m. Oct. 20: Van Buren Hall 4 p.m. Nov. 11: Kinderhook Reformed Church 3 p.m. Feb. 24: Kinderhook Reformed Church 3 p.m. March 23: Van Buren Hall 4 p.m. March 24: Van Buren Hall 2 p.m. April 14: Kinderhook Reformed Church 3 p.m. Fiddler to headline mini-festival bash Fiddler Donna Hebert will headline a long list of musicians who will help her celebrate her 70th birthday in a Sunday, Sept. 23, folk-music bash at the Old Songs Community Arts Center at 37 S. Main St., Voorheesville. The event, a fundraiser for Old Songs, will also pay tribute to retiring founder Andy Spence. Concerts are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., with a potluck and cake at 5:30 p.m. and a dance at 7:30 p.m. In the lineup throughout the day: Lyn Hardy and The Cupcakes, Gretchen Koehler and Max Cohen, author Jane Yolen and 3 Ravens, Chanterelle, Rare Spirits and Mist Covered Mountains as well as Fennig's All-Stars featuring caller Tony Parkes. Tickets are $20 each for adults, $5 for children, and are available at http://oldsongs.org or can be reserved by calling 518-765-2815 or emailing sales@oldsongs.org. College Theater announces season "33 Variations" and "We used to wear bonnets & get high all the time" will be offered this fall on stage at Skidmore College. Performances for "33 Variations" will be held Oct. 12-14 and 16-20 in the Black Box Theater in the Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theater. In 1819, publisher Anton Diabelli commissioned 50 composers to write a variation on a waltz he had created. Beethoven rejected the invitation, dismissing Diabelli's waltz as ordinary. He then changed his mind and created not one but 33 variations on Diabelli's theme. Moises Kaufman's play, directed by Marie Glotzbach, weaves Beethoven's artistic journey with that of Katherine, a contemporary musicologist wrestling to pin down the source of the composer's fascination with the waltz. "We used to wear bonnets & get high all the time" runs Nov. 16-18 and Dec. 1-2 on the Mainstage Theater in the Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theater. Written and directed by Julia May Jonas, a 1890s factory becomes a 1940s photography studio becomes a 1990s live/work space becomes a present-day cultural landmark. A response to Eugene O'Neil's "Long Day's Journey Into Night" with an all-female cast, it is a theatrical exploration of inherited trauma, addiction and inter-generational forces beyond our control, as well as an inquiry into how families can become institutions. Tickets are $8-$12. For information, go to https://theater.skidmore.edu. Massry Center notes 10 years with shows ALBANY The College of Saint Rose's Massry Center for the Arts, located at 1002 Madison Ave. in Albany, is celebrating 10 years of performances. This season, Saint Rose partnered with Troy Savings Bank Music Hall to present the Premiere Performances Series: Sept. 22, The Saint Rose Camerata; Oct. 13, Lea DeLaria; Nov. 15, The Ballroom Thieves; Nov. 17, The Saint Rose Camerata; Nov. 30, Kaia Kater; Feb. 2, Regina Carter; Feb. 16, The Saint Rose Camerata; March 9, Aaron Goldberg Trio; March 30, The Saint Rose Camerata; April 4, The Secret Sisters; April 14, Aaron Neville; and May 5, Maceo Parker. For information, http://www.massrycenter.org or http://www.troymusichall.org. Brown's to host concert sessions TROY Brown's Brewing and WEQX announced the Brown's Fall Sessions Concert Series beginning at 6 p.m. Oct. 4 behind Brown's Taproom. This year was Brown's 25th year as an independent craft brewery. This two-week series will feature live music outdoors in the fall air along the Hudson River and craft beer from Brown's and R&D Brewery. Food will be available for purchase. The shows are free, open to all ages and will be held rain or shine. Gates open at 5 p.m. For details, call 518-237-2337. Schedule is as follows: (Shows begin at 6 p.m.) Oct. 4: The LateShift, The Blue Stones Oct. 11: The Parlor, The Moth & The Flame. Even in the well-trod genre that is the '80s drug movie, the true life story of teen drug kingpin Ricky Wershe Jr., aka White Boy Rick, stands out. The baby-faced baller moved serious weight in Detroit in the mid-'80s, and the legend surrounding him is larger than the real, tragic story. Director Yann Demange's film "White Boy Rick" balances these details, both outlandish and intimate, carefully. For the film adaptation, Demange conducted a search for a non-professional actor to embody the young, streetwise Rick and discovered the remarkable 15-year-old Richie Merritt from Baltimore to star. It was his first acting role. Merritt is charming, authentic and incredibly watchable, but he gets a heavy-duty assist from his most frequent scene partner, Academy Award-winner Matthew McConaughey, in his full sleazebag mode as Rick Sr., a shady gun dealer. Demange crafts an intoxicating world of '80s Detroit, at once a ghost town and a vibrant scene all its own, and it's clear why Rick wants in. Scenes at the local party spot, the Skate and Roll, are appealingly dizzying, hazy neon lights illuminating the dancers and dookie chains, the babes in sequins, the corrupt cops and city officials fraternizing with the dealers. Rick, a daring, tough, but ultimately sweet kid who boasts an entrepreneurial streak like his dad, insinuates himself with the baddest crews in town. He's an ideal mark for a pair of FBI agents (Jennifer Jason Leigh and Rory Cochrane), who groom him as a criminal informant for cash. Along with a narcotics officer (Brian Tyree Henry), they even push Rick into slinging rock himself to authenticate his cover. It's never clear if he fully understands the possible outcomes of his snitching, just trying to stay one step ahead of the gangs and the feds. Written by Logan and Noah Miller and Andy Weiss, the story of White Boy Rick has been a hot commodity since the publication of the 2014 article "The Trials of White Boy Rick" by Evan Hughes, which was nominated for a National Magazine award. Hughes details the myth of the teen Scarface, and the bewildering series of events and political corruption that led to his life imprisonment at age 17 under Michigan's draconian 650 Lifer Law, which specified a mandatory life sentence for possession of 650 or more grams of cocaine (it has since been overturned). "White Boy Rick" finds the best version of itself in its familial moments. Rick Sr. is ever the optimist, often to the detriment of his own family, but he never gives up on his kids. Bel Powley co-stars as Rick's sister Dawn, a junkie for whom her father and brother never stop searching throughout Detroit's crack houses. Bruce Dern and Piper Laurie also give memorable turns as his grandparents. From the high life to life behind bars, this is ultimately a father-son story, and McConaughey transcends the wilder aspects of his character to deliver a stripped-down and touching performance of a man utterly devoted to his children, ultimately devastated by the failures of the state that led to his son's imprisonment. This film doesn't hit hard enough as a drug-dusted fairy tale or a gritty criminal justice system indictment. But as a portrait of a family coming together and falling apart while beset by outside forces too strong to combat, it's tender and tragic among the glitz and the grime. Comedy director Paul Feig tries a thriller on for size with the juicy "A Simple Favor," a suburban Connecticut murder mystery that's "Gone Girl" meets "The Stepford Wives." Based on the novel by Darcey Bell, written 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 husband's tragic 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, she 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. Kendrick's schtick 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 pom-poms. 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 Emily's 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. Golding slides easily into this role as bewildered but easily distracted husband Sean. "A Simple Favor" proves his performance in "Crazy Rich Asians" wasn't a fluke Golding's 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 Emily's 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 wouldn't 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 isn't too much social commentary, despite the touchstones like "The Stepford Wives," and "Gone Girl," which are thematically much richer. Although there's a flicker of parody to the mommy vlogger videos Stephanie uploads while searching for Emily, they're 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 total incomprehensibility while plunging into full ridiculousness. But that's exactly what you want for this brand of soapy, stylized and sexy female-driven thriller. It's about as deep as a champagne coupe, but the performers, slick execution and pop-art style make it a delightfully fun and kitschy ride. SARATOGA SPRINGS Judith DeHart Ogburn isn't quite sure how many students she graduated with in 1943 at Saratoga Springs High School. But she remembers the old cheer with ease. "When the school goes down in history, it's just another SH victory. So let the cheers ring out for SHS, SHS. Saratoga High." The rousing rhyme for school spirit and more will be remembered on Saturday when her classmates, the few that remain, reunite for their 75th reunion at the Holiday Inn. There DeHart Ogburn, along with her old pal Henry Roland, who planned the reunion, will talk about "how it was." "Being there, seeing people I grew up with and went to high school with, is the reason I'm happy to go," said the 93-year-old who now lives in New York City. At the event, she will be escorted by her husband of 69 years, Eddie, and her son Craig. Roland's wife and daughter will be there, too. "People our age need our children to come with us," she said. While excited to see old friends, DeHart Ogburn knows there will be plenty she will miss including the late Charles Dake, aka Dakey, Theresa Wilson and Mabel McCoy, better known as Mia Mouzon, who died just last year. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "They were some of my favorites," she said. "I'm still looking forward to going. There are a few of us around 75 and counting." Considering her mother, Rhoda Kingsland DeHart lived to age 106 and was once hailed by The Saratogian as the oldest woman in the city, it wouldn't be surprising if DeHart Ogburn attends her 80th reunion. "I hope so," she said. "You've got to think positive." STILLWATER Trees with leaves hinting at the arrival of fall gave way to the wide, green meadows in Saratoga National Historical Park on Saturday as Paul Tofani marched alongside his comrades. Clad in Revolutionary War-era style clothes, the war reenactors were all busy at work, some with muskets slung over their shoulders, others cooking, washing clothes or doing other chores typical in a Revolutionary War camp. "To be able to step where they stepped, and be able to camp and live like they did and get the true feeling of what it was like in 1777 is really a gift," said Tofani, a New Jersey native who has been traveling to do reenactments for seven years. "Luckily what we have here is a very good image of reenactors who really relish in what we do." The reenactment focused not on a single battle but rather on the daily life in camp during wartime. There were two different stops, one an American camp and the other British, signifying the sides that clashed on this battlefield in the fall of 1777. Some of the reenactors showcased medical equipment of the time, others showed what a soldier on horseback would use and others even hawked vegetables at a wooden stand. Most of the participants clothes are hand-sewn or custom-made, and historical accuracy is paramount. The male reenactors are all clean shaven, as they would have been in 1777, and the group set up camp Friday night, sleeping on straw and eating salted pork stew all in the name of authenticity, several said. Aimee Toms, a student at Western Connecticut State University, said she spent 30 hours tailoring her own historically authentic dress which she uses in reenactment events around once a month. "I'm not as great as I'd like to be," Toms said jokingly, gesturing to a hole in her outfit's sleeve. "Everything about it is hand-sewn." Dozens of people visited the two camps at separate spots in the park, and one visitor, seven-year-old Oliver Theibault-Dean, strutted around in his bright red coat and authentic outfit. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The boy, well-known for being a Revolutionary War buff, got into history during a project in pre-school. "I got interested in George Washington, then I learned he was in the Revolution. Then my mom started buying a bunch of books, and I started reading," Theibault-Dean said, admitting his historical interest led him to wear one of his two revolutionary-era outfits to school for picture day. The reenactors travel throughout the East coast for events like this one, with some coming from Buffalo, New Jersey and Massachusetts, among other places. Some have been doing reenactments since the 1970s, and others have even completed the 11-mile trek from Trenton, N.J. to Princeton in the middle of a wintry night to recreate George Washington's march in late 1776. "We do this because we learn what it was like to do it, but we do it so we can present to the public," Tofani said. "It's up to the reenactor and the living historian to work with historic sights and museums to be able to bring that story to the public the best we can." Washington, N.C. After slamming into the Carolina coast on Friday with powerful winds and torrential rains, Hurricane Florence left a trail of devastation as it crawled over the southeastern part of the state, posing what may be its greatest threat in the days ahead as it roars inland with what are shaping up to be record-setting quantities of water. The storm, whose destructive power was unlike any the area has seen in a generation, had already caused at least five fatalities as of Friday afternoon, and rescue crews across a wide region were attempting to pluck distressed residents from rooftops. The victims included a mother and her infant in Wilmington, North Carolina, who were killed when a tree fell on their house, the police department said. Rescuers spent hours trying to reach the mother and infant, who were trapped by the tree and a portion of the roof that had collapsed on them, said Deputy Fire Chief J.S. Mason. Downed trees also delayed crews responding to a 911 call from the home of a woman who died of a heart attack Friday morning in Hampstead, an unincorporated area of Pender County, North Carolina, officials said. Another two people, both in their 70s, were killed in Lenoir County, one while trying to connect two extension cords outside in the rain, and the other when he went outside to check on his hunting dogs and was blown down by wind, authorities said. Rescue teams had to suspend some operations because of powerful winds in South Carolina's Horry County, which includes the coastal cities of Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. "We have now halted emergency responses until storm conditions allow for personnel to respond safely," said Jay Fernandez, the director of public safety for North Myrtle Beach, describing winds so strong that rescuers were at risk. "We put the message out that most likely we will not be able to respond to you," he said. "We will do everything we can and we give them advice." Winds of up to 90 mph downed majestic trees, tore statues from their moorings and knocked out power for 650,000 people in towns along North Carolina's coast on Friday. In Carolina Beach, water coursed through the streets, carrying tree limbs and debris. The hurricane, a Category 1 when it made landfall, was downgraded to a tropical storm on Friday. By evening, it was about 50 miles west-southwest of Wilmington, and its winds had dropped to 70 mph. It is expected to drift southwest into South Carolina before turning north. But state officials and federal weather authorities warned that the next few days, with an expected rainfall of up to 40 inches, hold new and serious hazards from the storm. With many roads impassable, Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina urged people not to return home and emphasized that there were many days of rain in the forecast. "If the storm hasn't reached you yet, it's coming," he said. The forecasts, Cooper said, were predicting 1,000-year rainfall in some areas rainfall so severe it has a 1-in-1,000 chance of occurring in any given year. President Donald Trump is expected to visit areas affected by the storm next week, once it is determined that his travel will not disrupt any rescue or recovery efforts, according to White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders. Officials said it was too early to gauge the hurricane's cost, but one expert, Gregory Daco at Oxford Economics, estimated the infrastructure damage at $30 billion to $40 billion, which would make Florence one of the 10 costliest hurricanes in U.S. history. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. As the storm took its toll, even some emergency shelters housing evacuees closed: 100 people were transferred elsewhere after the roof in a Lenoir County shelter was damaged by the wind, said Roger Dail, the county's emergency services director. Many rescue efforts relied on an aquatic approach to save stranded residents from flooded homes. As residents called 911 and posted messages on social media pleading for help, Christian Dreyer, a rescuer working in Washington, North Carolina, said his crew extracted some people in vehicles, but in other cases they had to drive boats up to the front door. In nearby New Bern, one of the hardest-hit towns in the path of the hurricane, more than 360 residents who were trapped in homes, cars and on their roofs had been rescued by Friday evening, while 140 were awaiting assistance. But the continued rainfall did not bode well for that tally. "With the deterioration of the weather, people are calling back and saying, 'The water is creeping back into my home,"' said Colleen Roberts, a spokeswoman for the city, late Friday afternoon. "'Can you please come get me?'" Florence made landfall at 7:15 a.m. at Wrightsville Beach, on the eastern edge of Wilmington, where roads were lined with tree limbs, street signs and other debris. By 9:45 a.m., sheets of rain were pelting homes and parked cars. Trees were bent over, their limbs scraping the soggy ground. Motorists slowed at blockages, flashing their headlights as they eased past split tree trunks and severed power lines. With electricity out since the early morning hours, the hum of generators cut through the roar of swirling winds. Neighborhood streets were deserted as those residents who chose to stay home hunkered down inside. Along North Fifth Street, a major artery in downtown Wilmington, live oaks and magnolias had toppled over, blocking sections of the road. Washington A secretive letter shared with senators and federal investigators by the senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee charges that a 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. The letter says that Kavanaugh, then a student at Georgetown Preparatory School in suburban Washington and now President Donald Trump's 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. Kavanaugh then got on top of the teenager and put a hand over her mouth, as the 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. The woman says she considered the episode an assault. She has declined to be publicly identified, and she asked Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, not to publicize the letter. In a statement shared by the White House, Kavanaugh said the charges were false. "I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation," he said. "I did not do this back in high school or at any time." The friend who is said to have participated, Mark Judge, also denied the episode ever happened. "I never saw anything like what was described," he said in an interview after being informed that he was named in the letter. Further, he said, it did not match Kavanaugh's character: "It is not who he is." He said the two were around each other constantly in high school, and recalled him as a "brilliant student," who was very into sports, and was not "into anything crazy or illegal." Judge, an author, filmmaker and journalist who has written for the conservative Daily Caller and The Weekly Standard, said the students were raised in Catholic homes and taught that the kind of behavior as described in the letter would not be tolerated. "Something like that would stick out," he said, "which is why I don't think it would happen." The episode took place more than 30 years ago, when all three individuals involved were minors. The New York Times has not seen the letter, but its contents were described by the three people. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. With speculation about the letter's contents circulating this week, Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, released a different letter Friday, sent to him and to Feinstein and signed by 65 women who say they knew 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." Grassley was still planning to move ahead with Kavanaugh's confirmation. The Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold a key vote to advance the nomination Thursday, and Republican leaders hope to hold a final vote of the full Senate before the end of September to allow Kavanaugh to be seated before the start of the Supreme Court's fall term next month. Grassley's aides said Kavanaugh had been the subject of six FBI background checks since 1993, and none had turned up anything like the episode in question. The White House and outside pro-Kavanaugh groups continued to accuse Democrats of playing dirty, withholding mysterious information until the eve of Kavanaugh's confirmation in a last-ditch effort to derail a nominee they have always opposed. The woman's letter first arrived on Capitol Hill in July, initially to the office of Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. It was quickly shared with Feinstein, as well, who from her senior position on the Judiciary Committee would lead Democratic questioning of Kavanaugh. But Feinstein was torn by competing concerns. The woman made clear that though she had shared the information because she felt it could be relevant to Senate consideration of Kavanaugh, she did not want to come forward or make the accusations public.For weeks, the letter and its contents were closely limited to a tight circle of aides. Feinstein chose not to raise the matter either publicly or privately during hourslong questioning of Kavanaugh by senators last week, or in written questions sent to the nominee afterward and she did not initially share it with colleagues, including Grassley. By the time Kavanaugh was on the witness stand, though, its existence had become an open secret on Capitol Hill. The Intercept first reported its existence Wednesday evening. Washington 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. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. White House press secretary Sarah 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." 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. 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. IFA president Joe Healy has said that the current environmental scheme available to farmers in hill areas is inadequate and needs to be improved in the upcoming CAP negotiations. Speaking at the annual IFA Hill Sheep Forum in Westport this Monday, Mr Healy said that GLAS did not reward farmers satisfactorily. It does not reflect the work hill farmers carry out in maintaining the landscape, nor did it recognise the unique benefits that hill and commonage farmers deliver in meeting the challenges of climate change, and the protection of the habitats that require good management practices, he said. Addressing farmers from around the country, Mr Healy launched a 10-point plan which includes greater ambition on environmental schemes, with farmers getting up to 10,000 annually for management practices. Higher payments should apply where farmers are asked to protect designated SAC and SPA land. At the forum where Minister Michael Ring performed the official opening, IFA hill chairman Flor McCarthy impressed upon the Minister the need for supports for farmers in hill areas. Among the measures which he could influence was a doubling of walks covered by the Walks Scheme. This was promised in the Programme for Government and has yet to be delivered, said Mr McCarthy. On ANC payments, he pointed out the increase for 2018 of up to 700 must be followed by further increases to bring the maximum up to 6,000. This would represent a significant boost to hill farmers. IFA sheep chairman Sean Dennehy said there must be a stronger viable price for light lamb. We need to properly market and promote the product, he said. Horan Automation and Consulting, a robotics and automation company based in Drangan, Tipperary today announces its partnership with Boxline Automation in Hebei, China. The joint venture company will operate its European base from Tipperary and hopes to generate 20-30 jobs in automation engineering and sales/marketing over the coming three years. Horan automation was first established by Gerry & 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. Mrs. Lacy continues 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 complimented their sales process and they complimented 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. Gerry Horan, Managing Director of Horan Automation explains 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. Boxline China is also delighted to partner with Horan Automation and the new Joint Venture brand will be trading as Boxline Europe. Mr. Du, owner of Boxline China recently visited his new partners in Tipperary to finalise the details of the business agreement. Boxline China enters into the partnership as a strong player turning over 127 million in robot sales per annum with 200 manufacturing staff. That equates to approximate sales of 400 Kuka robots in China alone. Boxline Europe has already begun trading in Europe. The design of the cells is carried out to the customers specifications from the European office in Tipperary, Ireland and the manufacturing is carried out in China. All machines are CE marked to EU specifications and the Ireland support staff are on hand to provide installation and service support. Enterprise Ireland is assisting the business across Europe and the company is fortunate to work with some excellent advisors. One such advisor, AnnMarie Carroll, has worked with Horan Automation since the inception of the Joint Venture idea. I am delighted to see the Boxline Joint Venture materialise. From the beginning, EI were excited about the prospect of a new technology company especially in the area of robotics and automation. We wish the new company the very best of luck and we look forward to supporting them along their journey in Europe. [September 14, 2018] Political, academic and business masters gather together to discuss on hot issues of network-based culture in the digital age China-ASEAN Information Harbor Network-Based Cultural Development Forum was held NANNING, China, Sept. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As reported by gx.cri.cn, on September 13, the China-ASEAN Information Harbor Network-Based Cultural Development Forum was held in Nanning, Guangxi. With the theme of "Humanities are fused with innovation to lead the digital life", this forum explored the path of exchanges of the network-based culture between China and ASEAN countries, gathered development consensus, and looked forward to cooperation prospects. Fan Weiping (Deputy Director-General of National Radio and Television Administration of China), Huang Junhua (Vice Chairman of the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autnomous Region) and Razmountry Sacankhone (Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos) attended the forum and delivered speeches. More than 250 guests including government officials, corporate executives, industry experts and media reporters from China and ASEAN countries attended the forum. They exchanged views on the achievements of network-based cultural cooperation since the establishment of the China-ASEAN Information Harbor and explored new concepts, new ideas and new thinking of network-based cultural development. The forum was guided by the Cyberspace Administration of China, hosted by the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and organized by the Bureau of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Cyberspace Administrative Bureau of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and CRI Online. It is the first high-level forum held in the field of network-based humanities in recent years, with great and positive significance for promoting the construction of digital Guangxi, facilitating its transformation into a strong network and cultural region, and enhancing the China-ASEAN network cultural exchanges and cooperation. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region will seize the opportunity of the digital economy wave, focusing on digital government, digital economy, digital society and digital infrastructure construction, to promote the deep fusion of new technologies, such as the internet, big data, and artificial intelligence, and the real economy, government management, social governance, people's livelihood services, and open cooperation. It will strive to create an important gateway for the new digital highland and digital Silk Road that is open to the cooperation of ASEAN countries, to inject new impetus into the deepening of China-ASEAN network-based cultural exchanges and cooperation and the promotion of the China-ASEAN Information Harbor construction. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180914/2238329-1 SOURCE gx.cri.cn [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 14, 2018] Western Union Announces Hurricane Florence Relief To support communities and families affected by the recent hurricane devastation in the Carolinas and surrounding areas, Western Union, a leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement, today announces a multi-faceted response providing support for communities most affected by Hurricane Florence. In total, contributions from Western Union (News - Alert) , the Western Union Foundation, Agents and employees through this comprehensive effort could total up to USD $355,000. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005616/en/ Western Union has committed an initial USD $100,000 to the American Red Cross. Consumers who want to take advantage of fee-free donations to the American Red Cross at Western Union Agent locations* in the US, can complete the transaction using "American Red Cross" as the Pay To recipient, "REDCROSS DC" as the Code City and "Hurricane Florence Relief" in the Account field. "We are guided by our purpose of moving money for better in all that we do and are committed to the communities that we serve," President and CEO of Western Union, Hikmet Ersek said. "While Hurricane Florence continues to make its impact on the region, we pledge our support to the American Red Cross and first responders who are providing critical emergency relief." At the same time, the Western Union Foundation has pledged USD $30,000 to the American Red Cross. The Western Union Foundation will also provide a 1:1 match of qualifying contributions from participating Western Union Agents, up to USD $75,000 and a 2:1 match from contributions made by Western Union employees in the U.S., up to USD $30,000. From September 14 to October 15, 2018, Western Union My WU members can redeem their points to support American Red Cross Hurricane Florence relief efforts: 10 My WU points equivalent to USD $2 donation or 50 My WU points equivalent to a USD $10 donation, up to USD $30,000. Western Union has a long history of being one of the lifelines for communities in need. In many instances, Western Union has been one of the few ways for people around the world to receive funds easily, with services available when no other infrastructure exists. Western Union and the Western Union Foundation were at the forefront of major natural disaster relief efforts, including Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Since 2001, the Western Union Foundation has donated more than USD $17 million for disaster relief, to aid 180 disasters in 80 countries around the world. Last year, the Western Union Foundation responded to 13 disasters around the world. * Available at locations that make Quick Collect bill payments. Find a location here. Offer is available for My WU members and Western Union employees in the United States. This donation may not be tax deductible. Due to the severity of Hurricane Florence, some Western Union Agent locations may not be immediately operational or possess sufficient funds. About Western Union The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement. Our omnichannel platform connects the digital and physical worlds and makes it possible for consumers and businesses to send and receive money and make payments with speed, ease, and reliability. As of June 30, 2018, our network included over 550,000 retail agent locations offering Western Union, Vigo or Orlandi Valuta branded services in more than 200 countries and territories, with the capability to send money to billions of accounts. Additionally, westernunion.com, our fastest growing channel in 2017, is available in 45 countries and territories to move money around the world. In 2017, we moved over $300 billion in principal in nearly 130 currencies and processed 32 transactions every second across all our services. With our global reach, Western Union moves money for better, connecting family, friends and businesses to enable financial inclusion and support economic growth. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com. About The Western Union Foundation The Western Union Foundation believes that education is one of the surest pathways to economic opportunity. Through collaborations with NGOs around the world, the Foundation has embarked on a five-year mission to connect 50,000 migrants, refugees, women and young people to the global economy through demand-driven skills training and workforce enablement programs by 2020. The Foundation also offers a global scholarship program that helps put a post-secondary education in reach for in-need students studying in the STEM fields and business. To date, more than $117 million has been given to fund projects affecting more than 800,000 people in 137 countries across the globe, including humanitarian relief for communities in crisis. The Western Union Foundation is a separate charitable corporation that is tax-exempt under 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code, and receives support from The Western Union Company, its employees, agents and business partners. Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible for US income tax purposes. To learn more, visit www.westernunionfoundation.org or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @TheWUFoundation. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005616/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 14, 2018] Wells Fargo Mobilizes to Support Customers and Communities Impacted by Hurricane Florence Wells Fargo (News - Alert) (NYSE:WFC) today announced $1 million in donations to support communities impacted by Hurricane Florence and the activation of special disaster assistance for customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia. "Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by Hurricane Florence," said Chief Executive Officer Tim Sloan. "Wells Fargo is committed to working with organizations and agencies to help our communities recover and to providing assistance to our customers and team members in the days and weeks ahead." Nationwide Relief Efforts The Wells Fargo Foundation will donate $1 million to support hurricane relief efforts with $500,000 going to the American Red Cross and the remaining $500,000 to be disbursed in the coming weeks to non-profits located in affected communities. Wells Fargo customers nationwide who wish to support American Red Cross hurricane relief efforts may also donate through Wells Fargo ATMs or by redeeming any amount of available Go Far Rewards for donation through September 28. Customers can go to any Wells Fargo ATM in the U.S. and select the option to donate. There is no fee and 100% of contributions will be sent to the American Red Cross. Go Far Rewards customers can access their rewards account at GoFarRewards.wf.com or by calling the service center at 877-517-1358 The company also announced that it is allocating $3 million to its WE Care Fund which provides grants to team members who face a catastrophic disaster or financial hardship resulting from an event beyond their control. This program is intended to help team members get back on their feet with basic necessities and, in particular, is intended to assist those team members who do not have other resources to help themselves. Disaster Relief Customer Assistance Information Wells Fargo is committed to providing support to customers and clients affected by Hurricane Florence. including reversing certain fees - such as late fees - for our lending products, including credit cards, auto loans, personal loans and lines of credit, and waiving Wells Fargo fees for customers using non-Wells Fargo ATMs. Customers who want to discuss their financial needs should call 800-TO-WELLS (800-869-3557), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and Home Equity customers can contact Wells Fargo to discuss potential payment and disaster assistance options or access information at Disaster Assistance and Property Damage Support site. Home Mortgage: 888-818-9147, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST. Home Equity: 1-866-355-1540, Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, and Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. Auto loan customers can request payment assistance for up to 90 days and discuss available options for the filing of a Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) claim, if applicable. Direct Auto customers: 1-800-559-3557, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. Indirect Auto customers: 1-800-289-8004, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST, and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST Wells Fargo Consumer Lending customers (credit card, retail services, student loans, personal loans and lines of credit) who are affected by the Hurricane can request payment assistance and waiving of fees for up to 90 days. Personal loans: 1-877-269-6056, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST. Credit cards and personal lines of credit: Call the number on the back of the card or call Wells Fargo at 1-800-642-4720 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Education financial services: 1-800-658-3567, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST. Wells Fargo Small Business Lending customers who are affected by the Hurricane can request a payment deferment and waiver of late fees for up to 90 days on their Small Business Line of Credit, Small Business Credit Card, Commercial Loan, Wells Fargo BusinessLoan Term Loan, Business PrimeLoan, Equipment Express Loan, Commercial Equity Line of Credit, Commercial Real Estate Loan, FastFlex Small Business Loan or FastFlex Small Business Line of Credit. Customers can contact the National Business Banking Center at 1-800-225-5935, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Retail small business customers impacted by the hurricane are encouraged to call Wells Fargo, 800-225-5935, for more information and to discuss their options. Wells Fargo Insurance Services has also contacted clients in impacted areas to provide support and expertise. Customers in the impacted area who participate in an employer-sponsored 401(k) plan provided by Wells Fargo may be eligible to access their retirement savings. For more information, customers should call 800-728-3123. Customers of Wells Fargo Merchant Services who are in need of assistance with their merchant processing due to the impact of Hurricane Florence can call 800-451-5817. Affected merchant customers who contact Wells Fargo by September 30 can receive a complimentary Clover Go card reader that works with a mobile device and, will enable their business to accept card payments. The one-time cost for the card reader is waived; however, payment processing costs from using the card reader will still apply, as will cellular service data rates as described by the provider. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 8,050 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 38 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 26 on Fortune's 2018 rankings of America's largest corporations. The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked Wells Fargo No. 3 on its most recent list of the top corporate cash philanthropists. In 2016, Wells Fargo donated $281.3 million to 14,900 nonprofits and Wells Fargo team members volunteered 1.73 million hours with 50,000 nonprofits. Wells Fargo's corporate social responsibility efforts are focused on three priorities: economic empowerment in underserved communities, environmental sustainability, and advancing diversity and social inclusion. News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories. * The American Red Cross name, emblem and copyrighted materials are being used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of any product, service, company, opinion or political position. The American Red Cross logo is a registered trademark owned by The American National Red Cross. For more information about the American Red Cross, please visit redcross.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005625/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 14, 2018] NEVRO SHAREHOLDER ALERT by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Reminds Investors with Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit against Nevro Corp. - NVRO Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until October 22, 2018 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Nevro Corp. (NYSE: NVRO), if they purchased the Company's shares between January 8, 2018 and July 12, 2018, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. What You May Do If you purchased shares of Nevro and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-nvro/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by October 22, 2018. About the Lawsuit Nevro and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On July 10, 2018, analysts reported that a tentative court ruling in patent litigation involving Nevro nullified at least five patents related to the Company's "proprietary" HF10 pain therapy and Senza delivery systems, which resulted in some analysts downgrading the Company. Then, on July 13, 2018, the Company disclosed pre-market that it had terminated the employment of James Alecxih, Vice President, Worldwide Sales. News of both events caused the price of Nevro's shares to plummet, wiping out over $650 million in market capitalization. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include the former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005570/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 14, 2018] Link Motion Announces Agreements with Zhongzhi And Changes to its Management Team BEIJING, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Link Motion Inc., (NYSE: LKM) ("Link Motion" or "the Company"), a leading smart car and smart ride company, today announced new agreements with Zhongzhi Hi-Tech Overseas Investment Ltd. ("Zhongzhi") and certain changes to its management team. The Company has entered into a non-binding MOU to further engage in business cooperation with Zhongzhi, and in connection, the Company has entered into agreements to pledge its Senior Note issued by Tong Fang and shares of NQ International Inc. to Zhongzhi as additional securities for the Convertible Note held by Zhongzhi. The Company is engaging in further discussion with Zhongzhi regarding the extension of the maturity date of the Convertible Note. The Company further announces the change to its management team. Mr. Zemin Xu, Chief Executive Officer of the company, has resigned and Mr. Jia Lian has been appointed as an Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Lian will restructure the management team and lead the Company's operations. Mr. Justin Chen, President and General Counsel and Mr. Roland Wu, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, have resigned from their management positions. Mr. Zemin Xu and Mr. Justin Chen have also resigned as board members. Ms. Joanne Zhu, a director designated by Zhongzhi has also been replaced by Mr. Vincent Wu, who is newly nominated by Zhongzhi to replace Ms. Zhu as Zhongzhi's representative on the Company's board. About Link Motion Inc. www.lkmotion.com or the company's U.S. investor relations site here. Forward Looking Statements This news release contains "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, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this press release are forward-looking statements and involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry in which the Company operates, but involve a number of unknown risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/link-motion-announces-agreements-with-zhongzhi-and-changes-to-its-management-team-300713252.html SOURCE Link Motion Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 15, 2018] E-Commerce Is Accelerating the Rise of a Common Southeast Asian Consumer Market SINGAPORE, Sept. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The rapid spread of e-commerce and embrace of digital technologies are binding together the economies of the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations into one of the worlds largest emerging consumer markets, helping fulfill a decades-old aspiration of the regions leaders. This is among the key findings of a report titled How the Digital Revolution Is Integrating Southeast Asias Consumers , which The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is presenting today in Singapore, in a partnership with the Singapore Summit. This digital revolution has been aided by the efforts of many innovators and entrepreneurs to drive a regional strategy across ASEAN, which includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Social media, the growing reach of e-commerce platforms, and investments in logistical infrastructure are helping connect buyers with sellers across Southeast Asia. As a result, e-commerce is projected to grow explosively by 36% per year through 2025, when it will reach around $88 billion. E-commerce is also projected to account for 6.4% of retail sales in ASEAN by 2025, compared with less than 1% today. This will create enormous new opportunities for companies to reach the regions middle-class and affluent consumers, whose ranks are projected to reach 400 million by 2020. A common market is emerging, due to similar consumer themes developing across ASEAN, said Aparna Bharadwaj, a BCG partner who leads the firms Centre for Consumer Insight and its Marketing, Sales & Pricing practice in ASEAN. Affluent consumers are growing more rapidly than the emerging middle-class. To capture the enormous opportunities, companies will not only need an ASEAN-wide strategy. They will need a digital ASEAN strategy. The rapid spread of e-commerce is also likely to help keep Southeast Asias economic prospects strong. The region's combined population is larger than that of the European Union and nearly double that of North America. Its combined GDP of $6.5 trillion, measured in purchasing power parity, is the equivalent of the world's fourth-largest economy in 2017. With a projected compound annual growth rate of 5%, GDP is on track to nearly double by 2030. Several powerful megatrends are accelerating the growth of e-commerce: Rising affluence: The percentage of Sutheast Asians with middle-class or affluent incomes is projected to rise from 40% now to 64% in 2030. The percentage of Sutheast Asians with middle-class or affluent incomes is projected to rise from 40% now to 64% in 2030. Increasing urbanization: Between 2015 and 2030, the percentage of the population in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam living in cities is projected to rise from 48% to 57%. Between 2015 and 2030, the percentage of the population in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam living in cities is projected to rise from 48% to 57%. Growing demand for convenience: As people spend more time commuting to work, and as traffic congestion grows more severe, Southeast Asian urbanites are fueling the so-called on-demand economy. Digitalization is making it increasingly possible for companies big and small to gain access to Southeast Asian consumers long separated by geography and a wide variety of languages and cultures, said Vaishali Rastogi, a BCG senior partner who leads the firms business in Southeast Asia. Companies need to engage with the rich new market segments that span Southeast Asia by analyzing the immense data generated by connected customers. Digital integration is still in its early stages, and different tariff and regulatory regimes across ASEAN will continue to have an impact on the physical movement of goods. But businesses can help ease cross-border data flows by working with the regions governments to update regulations and improve data privacy and security. Businesses can help governments gain a better understanding of how the evolving digital economy can be mobilized to boost economic growth, said Michael Tan, a BCG partner and coauthor of the report. By accelerating digital integration, ASEAN can become one of the worlds greatest growth zones for decades to come. A copy of the report can be downloaded here . To schedule an interview with one of the authors, please contact Eric Gregoire at +1 617 850 3783 or gregoire.eric@bcg.com . About The Boston Consulting Group The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm and the worlds leading advisor on business strategy. We partner with clients from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors in all regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their enterprises. Our customized approach combines deep insight into the dynamics of companies and markets with close collaboration at all levels of the client organization. This ensures that our clients achieve sustainable competitive advantage, build more capable organizations, and secure lasting results. Founded in 1963, BCG is a private company with offices in more than 90 cities in 50 countries. For more information, please visit bcg.com . About Center for Customer Insight (CCI) The Boston Consulting Groups Center for Customer Insight (CCI) applies a unique, integrated approach that combines quantitative and qualitative consumer research with a deep understanding of business strategy and competitive dynamics. The center works closely with BCGs various practices to translate its insights into actionable strategies that lead to tangible economic impact for our clients. In the course of its work, the center has amassed a rich set of proprietary data on consumers from around the world, in both emerging and developed markets. The CCI is sponsored by BCGs Global Advantage and Marketing, Sales & Pricing practices. For more information, please visit www.bcg.com/expertise/centers-accelerators/center-customer-insight/default.aspx. About Singapore Summit The Singapore Summit, supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board, GIC, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Temasek, is organized to bring together business and thought leaders from around the world to discuss future-oriented topics in business, economics, finance, and geopolitics. The by-invitation event is attended by Chairmen, Chief Executive Officers and prominent thinkers from Asia and globally who engage in discussions and exchange perspectives on opportunities and challenges that could impact regional and global growth, prosperity and stability. More information about the Singapore Summit can be found at www.singaporesummit.sg The Boston Consulting Group Eric Gregoire Global Media Relations Manager Tel +1 617 850 3783 Fax +1 617 850 3701 gregoire.eric@bcg.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 15, 2018] Enterprise Car Rental Victim Howe Provides FL AG Bondi and Senior Investigators Official Court Transcription and Much More, SubscriberWise Confirms SubscriberWise, the nation's largest issuing CRA for the communications industry and the leading protector of children victimized by identity fraud, confirmed today that the official court trial transcript from 'Howe vs. Enterprise Holdings' National Car Rental', along with the Lee Port Authority Police official criminal investigation and court exhibits, have been electronically prepared and emailed to Florida Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi's Office. The information was emailed directly by victim Howe on Thursday, September 13, 2018, almost immediately after the court reporter finished preparing the official transcription for delivery to Mr. Howe. For the record, Howe had to pay nearly $1200.00 to obtain the official trial transcript. This in addition to a mountain of costs in time and money pursuing truth and justice for all. However, according to sources close to the USA Credit Baron and national award-winning business executive, the investment in this 'pot of gold' is priceless well beyond dollars and imagination. The pursuit of equity and justice, they have no price too steep for Howe. Related: SubscriberWise to Lawmakers: Look at What Enterprise Manager Identifies as 'Damage' Under-Oath in Judge Archie B. Hayward's Lee Courtroom -- https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/subscriberwise-to-lawmakers-look-at-what-enterprise-manager-identifies-as-damage-under-oath-in-judge-archie-b-haywards-lee-courtroom-2018-09-11 The files were also sent by victim Howe to AG Bondi's Director of Consumer Protections, Victoria Butler, and a senior investigator who Howe had the pleasure of meeting along with Director Butler, following an in-depth presentation of crime scene evidence including civil theft and criminal fraud among others in 2017. "Two days ago, I again reached out to Florida's Chief Legal Officer, Attorney General Pam Bondi, to provide her office more than 100 pages of sworn courtroom testimony from Howe vs. Enterprise Holdings," acknowledged David Howe, Enterprise Holdings victim and America's Child Identity Guardian. "Of course, I was zealous in my desire to provide the Attorney General the critical trial transcript - a plethora of under-oath testimony. Why? Because it proved to be a goldmine of alleged acts of predatory behavior, cover-up, and false statements among a long litany of others - precisely as I knew it would and precisely the reason I flatly rejected mediation for which I'm, unfortunately, prohibited from discussing any of the details. "Regrettably, I didn't have the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Bondi personally during my visit last year but I nevertheless profoundly appreciate that she so kindly and promptly instructed her Office to contact me after I initially alerted her to this urgent and relentless consumer threat to the citizens of Florida and the United States of America, as well as our fellow sisters and brothers who visit here from around the world," Howe continued. Related: National Car Rental Crime Victim David Howe Meets with FL Attorney General Pam Bondi's Consumer Protection Investigators Including Director Butler -- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170303005471/en "Today, to be sure, I'm confident that once she and her staff sift through all the evidence - including the remarkable and undeniable contradictions to the other public-record report that I provided, namely, the Lee Port Authority Police report that was shamefully, repeatedly, and vigorously suppressed from the court's public docket and the discerning eyes of Honorable Archie B. Hayward Jr. - and also containing sworn witness testimony and a myriad powerful FACTS uncovered by a dedicated law enforcement professional that now contains evidence of perjury when contrasted with the court transcription, I'll indeed have the opportunity and pleasure to meet in person. At least I'll remain hopeful and optimistic for this possibility. "Yes, my fellow citizens of Florida and the world, stay tuned. There'll be much more news to trumpet in the coming days and weeks; many more facts to reveal and shine the light of day upon," emphasized Howe. "For now, though, I have some unfinished business with local law enforcement professionals in Fort Myers. I'm fairly certain that the law enforcement professionals aren't going to be happy when they learn just how concocting is the story Enterprise has created for the Lee County Justice System and beyond, including to their officer-colleague over the Lee Port Authority Police department who demonstrated remarkable competence and dedication with his sworn-duty to pursue the facts. "A task he accomplished like the pro that he proved to be. And for that, the Credit Czar humbly tips his hat to this most professional and praiseworthy police professional," stressed Howe. "And once finished with local law enforcement, I'll then narrow my attention on members of the United States Congress as well as federal and state law enforcement organizations. Indeed, and long over-due to say the very least, lawmakers everywhere are finally going to get the evidence they've - and the car renting public - have long known to be true about this industry." About SubscriberWise SubscriberWise launched as the first issuing consumer reporting agency exclusively for the cable industry in 2006. The company filed extensive documentation and end-user agreements to access TransUnion's consumer database. In 2009, SubscriberWise and TransUnion announced a joint marketing agreement for the benefit of America's cable operators (http://newsroom.transunion.com/transunion-and-subscriberwise-announce-joint-marketing-agreement). Today SubscriberWise is a risk management preferred-solutions provider for the National Cable Television Cooperative. SubscriberWise contributions to the communications industry are quantified in the billions of dollars annually. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180915005021/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 15, 2018] Foresters Financial and KaBOOM! Partner to Increase Play Opportunities for Detroit Kids The Detroit community was revitalized today thanks to a new playground built at Freedom Path Park. In just six hours, more than 200 volunteers from Foresters Financial, Grand Seven Detroit and the national non-profit KaBOOM! created the new playspace, which will serve more than 800 children and their families in the local community for years to come. "For over 140 years Foresters Financial has focused on our Purpose, which is to help families and strengthen communities," said Jim Boyle, President and CEO, Foresters Financial. "In 2018 we are excited to complete our 150th playground build with KaBOOM!. This partnership creates safe play areas where families can spend quality time together while developing young bodies and minds. We know the Detroit community will use this playground for many years to come." The design for the new playground is based on drawings created by neighborhood children at a special Design Day event held in July when community members met with organizers from KaBOOM! and Foresters Financial to design their dream playground. The drawings inspired the final playground design. Since 2006, Foresters Financial and KaBOOM! have built more than 144 beautiful playspaces across 86 cities in 31 states and provinces throughout North America and by the end of 2018, Foresters Financial will have funded more than 150 playgrounds. Thanks to the hard work of over 9,900 Foresters members, sales partners and guests for the last eleven years, we are positively impacting the lives of more than 5 million children by providing them with access to play. Through each new playground, families are better able to spend quality time together right in their own neighborhoods, playing alongside Foresters members and community partners. Grand 7 Detroit was started by leadership at Harvest Christian church with a desire to create a vibrant, thriving community near the intersection of Grand River and 7 Mile Road, near Harvest Christian Church. They now own 35 properties in this neighborhood and are offering low income rentals to people in the area. G7D is excited that this playground is not only a pinnacle of their efforts, but also creates a safe place for children to play, drawing more families to the neighborhood. Play is the business of childhood and is essential to the physical, cognitive, ceative, social and emotional development of every kid. It's how kids build strong muscles and healthy bodies; it's how they learn problem-solving, conflict resolution and creativity; it's how they make friends and build strong bonds with adults. Play is critical to a kid's ability to thrive. Foresters Financial is a KaBOOM! Founding Partner and National Partner. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has been dedicated to ensuring that all kids get the balance and active play they need to thrive. About Grand Seven Detroit Grand 7 Detroit is releasing life and hope into the community through the rehabilitation of homes, neighborhoods and the operation of recreation, education, and business facilities and services starting in Northwest Detroit. About Foresters Financial Foresters Financial is an international financial services provider with more than three million clients and members in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and total funds under management of $45.1 billion1. With a history of more than 140 years, we provide life insurance, savings, retirement and investment solutions that help families achieve their financial goals, protect their families and improve their communities. For more information, visit foresters.com. Foresters Financial and Foresters are trade names and trademarks of The Independent Order of Foresters (a fraternal benefit society, 789 Don Mills Road, Toronto, Canada M3C 1T9) and its subsidiaries. Products offered vary by country. Not all products are available for distribution in all jurisdictions. In the United States, products are offered by The Independent Order of Foresters and its subsidiaries, including Foresters Financial Services, Inc. a registered broker-dealer. Securities, life insurance and annuity products are offered through Foresters Financial Services, Inc. or independent producers. Insurance products are issued by Foresters Life Insurance and Annuity Company, New York, or The Independent Order of Foresters. Investment advisory products and services are offered through Foresters Advisory Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser. 1 in Canadian dollars as of December 31, 2017 About KaBOOM! KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids - especially those living in poverty - the childhood they deserve through great, safe places to play. KaBOOM! inspires communities to make play the easy choice and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of PLAYces. KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build or improve more than 17,000 playspaces, engaged more than 1.5 million volunteers and served over 9 million kids. To learn why play matters for all kids, visit kaboom.org and join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom, facebook.com/kaboom and instagram.com/kaboom. #playmatters #PLAYceforKids 414828G CAN/US (03/18) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180915005006/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The most prestigious offering of Open Spaces was an artistic triumph and an attendance disaster. About 100 people showed up for the ambitious collaboration between the Bang on a Can All-Stars, one of New York's most decorated new music ensembles, and the four-time Grammy Award recipients the Kansas City Chorale at the Folly Theater on Thursday. KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) - The police in Kansas City, Missouri shot a dog during a standoff on Friday. The incident happened around noon in the area of 50th and Park. Police went to the area after someone called and said someone was armed and refusing to come outside. SPRINGFIELD, MO (KCTV) -- According to President Trump's website, a "MAGA Rally" will be held in Missouri next week. The event will be held on Friday, September 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the JQH Arena. The arena is located at 685 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway. Doors will open at 4 p.m. editorial@tribune.com Vijay Mohan Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 14 Only around 35 lakh people in India hold gun licences not only because of several regulatory impediments but also due to limited choice and high prices. They can either purchase old weapons imported more than three decades ago or buy new firearms made by public sector Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). According to the industry, Punjab is the third largest state to hold maximum gun licences after Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Mohali-based Bhandari Gun House proprietor Akash Deep Bhandari says Punjab and Haryana are lucrative markets. However, due to ban on import of foreign firearms, people can buy weapons made by OFB only, which are nowhere in terms of quality as compared to foreign firearms, he said. The high prices of weapons produced by OFB for the civilian market also limit their export potential and in turn, impacting the governments efforts to promote products manufactured by Indian defence establishments in the international market. The .32 revolver, OFBs best selling civilian weapon, is priced 12 times the minimum cost of a weapon in the same class that is available overseas, according to a comparative cost study done by the OFB. Depending upon the demand, 12,000-13,000 revolvers are sold to civilians annually, sources said. The cost of a .32 pistol is over four times that of the minimum international price while the .22 and .30-06 sporting rifles are priced 2-3 times higher, the study said. The prime reason for the high prices of OFBs weapons is stated to be the high production costs incurred by the world's largest government-operated production organisation that consists of 41 factories spread across the country. Ordnance factories are expected to recover the cost of production from sales to the armed forces, while from other clients in the open market they are free to make profits. The civil trade accounts for about 8-10 per cent of OFB sales. Individuals possessing a valid arms licence can purchase specified non-prohibited bore weapons directly from the OFB or through authorised dealers. The cost of production in OFB comprises direct material, direct labour and overheads. In 2017, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) pointed out that overheads accounted for 30% of the cost of production in OFB, which was particularly high. Businessmen, builders, bank security staff, progressive farmers and senior executives in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh buy revolvers and pistols for personal safety made by OFB as the Indian government banned the import of firearms in 1986. Price comparison (in USD) Weapon Minimum international Price OFB price .32 Revolver 99 1,172 .32 Pistol 295 1,278 .22 Sporting rifle 305 701 .30-06 Sporting rifle 500 1,580 editorial@tribune.com New Delhi, September 14 Indias biggest lender SBI said on Friday there was no laxity on its part in dealing with loan default by now defunct Kingfisher Airlines of fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya. The comments by State Bank of India (SBI) came after reports suggested that the bank, which was the lead lender to Kingfisher Airlines, was in February 2016 advised to move the Supreme Court to stop Mallya from fleeing the nation but the lenders moved the apex court only after the tycoon had left the country four days later. Mallya left the country on March 2, 2016 while 13 banks moved the apex court four days later seeking its intervention to prevent the businessman from leaving the country. State Bank of India (SBI) denies that there has been any laxity on its part or its officials in dealing with loan default cases, including kingfisher Airlines. Bank has been taking proactive and strong measures to recover the defaulted amounts, the lead bank said. Mallya has been facing legal proceedings for defaulting on loans of more than Rs 9,000 crore from a consortium of 17 banks. However, Mallya, in an open letter, had defended himself and said the SBI and other banks had lent him money despite knowing about his companys financial situation. He claimed he was being made the poster boy for bank defaults, though the banks were also culpable. The Supreme Court had raised some unsavoury questions to the banks that approached. It wondered why loans were given to Mallya when he was already a defaulter and was facing proceedings in the court of law. It is to be noted that he had already announced his intention to shift to the UK in a statement issued after his deal with Diageo to step down from the chairmanship of United Spirits, a company he sold to the UK major three years ago. He was to get Rs 515 crore or $75 million from Diageo as severance package. SBI had in the first week of March 2016 moved the Debt Recovery Tribunal in Bengaluru claiming the first right on the payment by Diageo to Mallya and seeking to impound passport. However, the DRT reserved its order and set the next hearing for March 28, 2016, a good 21 days later. PTI What reports say editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 14 For almost half a century, a visually impaired ex-serviceman ran from pillar to post in dire straits as he had to do without pension that had been rejected by the Defence Accounts Department even though the Army had recommended it. Sepoy Mohinder Singh of the Sikh Regiment, now 70 years old and resident of Banur village near here, had joined the Army in 1968. In 1970, after having served for just two years and four months, he was invalided out on medical grounds due to failing sight. We were deployed near Babina on a field exercise when I fell in the darkness and received an injury on my head. Later, I donated blood for another jawan and suffered loss of vision, he said. I was kept for about two months at military hospitals in Gwalior and Bhopal and since my vision deteriorated, I was discharged with the promise that I would be given pension, he added. He was escorted home, then near Rajpura, by two of his unit personnel. Mohinder said he kept waiting for his pension, which never came. He tried to seek some help from various sources, but was unsuccessful. With no source of income, his wife took up petty jobs to keep the household running. About four years ago, he came in touch with our organisation and we took legal recourse to help him out by filing a petition before the Armed Forces Tribunal. It turned out that though his disability had been assessed at 40 per cent at the time of discharge, the erstwhile Medical Adviser on Pensions in the office of the Controller of Defence Accounts had rejected the claim for pension on the grounds that his disability was neither attributable to nor aggravated by military service, Lt Col SS Sohi, president of the Ex-Servicemen Grievances Cell, Mohali, said. The cell also approached the Army, Punjabs Department of Defence Services Welfare and other organisations for garnering financial assistance for Mohinder, managing to collect over Rs 1 lakh for him. The Chandigarh Bench of the tribunal, comprising Justice Mohamad Tahir and Lt Gen Munish Sibal, held that given the circumstances of the case, his disability was attributable to military service. Granting him 40 per cent disability and commensurate pensionary benefits along with arrears for four years that the case took to conclude and for another three years preceding the date of filing the case, the tribunal also ordered that his disability would be reassessed by a medical board within four months. Sohi said that since his disability was now 100 per cent, which had also been certified by the Civil Surgeon, Mohali, Mohinders benefits were expected to increase after reassessment by the medical board. Was invalided out on medical grounds Sepoy Mohinder Singh of the Sikh Regiment, now 70 years old and resident of Banur village, had joined the Army in 1968. In 1970, after having served for just two years and four months, he was invalided out on medical grounds due to failing sight. editorial@tribune.com Akash Ghai Tribune News Service Mohali, September 15 Around nine months after starting its direct flight to Bangkok, the Air India has discontinued its operations from the Chandigarh international airport here. MR Jindal, station manager of Air India here, told Chandigarh Tribune that the flight to Bangkok had been permanently discontinued. I have received a communique in this regard from the higher authorities, said Jindal. A decision in this regard was said to be taken during a meeting held at Delhi recently. Notably, the Chandigarh-Bangkok flight was suspended in mid-July and the aircraft (A320neo) was being used for Haj flights. Earlier, the airline had planned to resume the flight operations (Chandigarh-Bangkok) on October 1. Sources said the national carrier decided to discontinue the international flight after finding it commercially unviable. The flight was not generating revenue up to the expectations, claimed the sources, adding that the airline also wanted some other timeslot and a parking bay, which they did not get. When contacted, the spokesperson of the Chandigarh international airport claimed that they (the airport authorities) had no official information on the development. We have no official word in this regard, said the spokesperson. The flight was being operated four times a week before it was suspended. The Air India had started the flight on December 12 last year. With the Bangkok flight being discontinued, Chandigarh has direct air-connectivity with Sharjah and Dubai. editorial@tribune.com Ishrat S Banwait Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 15 A Mohali resident found a strand of hair in his chicken rice bowl at a KFC outlet in the city. The hair was attached to three chicken pieces in the bowl. After the KFC refused to resolve the issue, the customer took it to a government lab, got it tested and approached the consumer forum. As a result, the KFC has been fined Rs 40,000 for poor customer service. Sanjot Singh Sidhu visited the KFC outlet at Piccadilly mall in Sector 34 on August 28 last year and ordered a chicken rice bowl among other items. When he opened the box, he found a long hair in it. When he pulled out the hair, he found three chicken pieces attached to it. Sidhu immediately called the outlet authorities to change the rice bowl but they refused to do so or resolve the issue. The customer then approached the Food Safety Officer at the GMSH- 16 who opined that the sample was unsafe. Sidhu then approached the forum. In its reply, the KFC stated that the complainant never called them as alleged and the bill was not in his name. The Food Safety Officer never approached them to procure the sample and no report of the Food Analyst was ever received. It thus pleaded that there is no deficiency in service or unfair trade practice. The forum observed that a report dated September 7, 2017, of the Food Analyst, Haryana, Chandigarh, showed that the sample of the chicken rice bowl was analysed and it was found to have contained a strand of hair, about 15 cm in length. The Food Analyst had opined, The sample contains a piece of hair whereas it should be free from the same. Hence, the sample is of unsafe food. In the order, the forum observed, It is just so off-putting. One certainly does not expect to find a hair in the food which he/she has paid good money for. We are of the firm opinion that only vigilant person will try to approach the Food Safety Officer and then this forum to get justice. The forum added that restaurants should make things right and offer some kind of compensation when these things happen. Whether it is a free drink, taking a percentage off the bill or giving some kind of gift card to apologise for the bad experience. Not doing anything is just a bad customer service, reads the order. The forum thus ordered the KFC, Saphire Foods India Private Limited, Piccadilly Square, Sector 34, Chandigarh, to pay Rs 30,000 to the complainant as compensation for mental agony and physical harassment and Rs 10,000 as litigation cost. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 14 A 17-year-old girl got injured after members of two families residing at Daria village clashed following an altercation over filling water from a tap. The girl accidentally received an injury with a sickle during the scuffle. The police said both families, immediate neighbours, had an altercation over filling water on Thursday. Ram Sharma, along with his two minor sons, raised the issue again on Friday morning and entered into an altercation with their neighbour Sita Devi and her minor son and minor daughter. The situation turned ugly when both families clashed. In the meanwhile, Sita Devi got a sickle from her house to threaten her neighbours. A police official said Sita Devis daughter and son were trying to stop her when the sickle accidentally hit the girl on her back. The police were informed after which the injured girl was rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32. She was later discharged after treatment. The police said Ram Sharma had been arrested under preventive measures for instigating the fight. The fight could have been avoided had he acted wisely, said a police official. The matter is under investigation at the Daria police post. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 14 A local court today sentenced a 26-year-old Mohali resident to 20 years in jail for possessing 94 banned injections. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 2 lakh on the convict. The convict, Jaipal, a resident of Phase IX here, has been sentenced under Section 22 of the NDPS Act. The case dates back to April 12, 2017, when a team of the Maloya police had laid a naka near the Grain Market chowk near Maloya to check suspicious vehicles. A youth, who was coming on foot from the grain market, changed his direction on seeing the police team at the naka. The police got suspicious and stopped the suspect. During checking, the police found a packet containing banned injections from his possession. Jaipal could not produce the permit for carrying the injections. He was arrested and a case under the NDPS Act was registered against him at the Maloya police station. During investigation, the police found that Jaipal used to sell the injections to drug addicts in the city. Each injection was sold for Rs 200. Sartaj Chowdhury Sartaj Chowdhury AN Expert in international law Pakistans recently elected Prime Minster has finally said the much-expected. On Wednesday, PM Imran Khan, with conviction, said that, ``The ISI is our first line of defence and it is the worlds best Intel agency. The ISI takes great pride in the fact that our own former chief of RAW A.S. Dulat said: The most powerful intelligence agency is either the KGB which no more exists or ISI, because they are very anonymous. The Express Tribune in Pakistan reported with pomp and glory the next day: ISI most powerful spy agency in the world: ex-RAW chief. Deception is an art of war! Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese military strategist elaborates, ``When able to attack, we must seem unable; When using our forces, we must seem inactive; When we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; When far away, we must make him believe we are near.Sun Tzu makes clear that he does not seek fame or fortune via courage. Every thought and every action is devoted to fighting war in the most efficient, most effective manner possible, seeking to bring to an end war as quickly as is possible. Sun Tzu further enlightens, If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. Job well done, Dulat Sahib! Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi is an extraordinary man by all accounts. Long settled in Mianwali in Northwest Pakistan, the Khan family is originally of Pashtun origin. Imrans mother Shaukat Khanum hailed from the Burki Pashtun tribe (South Waziristan originally) settled in Jallandhar. He grew up as the only son in the family with four sisters. Khan founded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Pakistans Movement for Justice) in April 1996 but his party won the largest number of seats only this year. Upon assuming office, Khan promised a change. He said he would not be living in the Prime Ministers palatial residence. "Whatever the ruling elite has been doing in Pakistan so far with the taxpayers' money, I'm promising you today I will change all of that." The change was, (as is mostly the case!) short-lived. Weeks after coming to power, he came under fire for flying to his office a mere 15 kms away in a helicopter. Khans Information minister Fawad Chaudhry defended him at a press conference by claiming that the helicopter was an inexpensive option costing as little as 55 Pakistani Rupees per km. Chaudhry was widely scorned on the social media as a BBC research revealed that the Agusta Westland AW139 costs 1,600 Rupees per km, way higher than Chaudhrys claim. This indeed, is before all the other costs associated with running a helicopter are factored in. Given Imrans struggle and promises, he must not only be thoroughly honest but also above suspicion, like Caesars wife! Will things change? What needs to be understood is that Mr Khan is only a change of face. The real power still rests with the ISI. It is a part of the Pakistani army, but it actually operates beyond the control of the Pakistani Government as a whole. For Pakistan, the overwhelming obsession remains India. The eternal worry is that India is using Afghanistan to surround Pakistan - that is the central obsession. As PM, Benazir Bhutto tried warming up to India. She was reprimanded by the establishment and told to mind her own business and leave these matters of national importance and security in capable hands. In fact, as PM, she was kept in the dark about Pakistans nuclear programme! The fact remains that the Pakistani military does not want cordial relations with India. It jeopardises their power, influence and importance. Imran is bound to find himself on a collision course with the military establishment sooner or later as has been the experience of his two predecessors. This, is because, as he takes sight of the bigger picture, he will find that the route to improving economy, creating jobs, improving health and education, passes through territory appropriated by the military. The Pakistani Militarys welfare foundations run thousands of businesses worth tens of billions of dollars, ranging from street-corner petrol pumps to sprawling industrial plants. The Pakistani Army is Pakistans biggest business conglomerate! The bazaars of any Pakistani town bear testament to the economic power of the military. The Army owns bakeries, banks, insurance companies, universities etc. Ayesha Siddiqa, the author of Military Inc: Inside Pakistans Military Economy reveals that the Pakistani army exploits the economy through retired personnel. They act as primary conduits for the covert use of the countrys resources. With Imran coming to power in Pakistan, hopes are indeed high. Although given the past, there is no rosy future in near sight. By and large, the people of both the nations sincerely hope that the two countries enjoy cordial relations. A wish to wander the legendary streets of Lahore will remain unmet.. Hum ko maaloom hai jannat ki haqeeqat, lekin dil ko khush rakhne ko Ghaalib yeh khayaal achcha hai! monicakchauhan@gmail.com Sumedha Sharma Tribune News Service Gurugram, September 15 Claiming to have made some headway in the Rewari gangrape case, the Haryana Police today released the pictures of the three accused Manish, Nishu and Pankaj, who is in the Army. Also, an SIT headed by Mewat SP Naazneen Bhasin announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for any information leading to their arrest. Sources claimed Army man Pankaj had been traced to Kota, Rajasthan, and the police were on their way to nab him. We have spoken to the Army authorities, said state DGP BS Sandhu. Lt Gen Cherish Mathson, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Command, said the Army would provide all assistance in the arrest of the accused. On September 12, a 19-year-old girl was allegedly drugged and gangraped. The resident of Kosli, Rewari, was returning from a coaching centre in Mahendragarh when she was offered water by two persons at the local bus stand, following which she lost consciousness. The victims father said he suspected that more persons may have been involved in the crime. We have received threats to withdraw our complaint. We need police protection, he implored. It took 24 hours for the police to register an FIR as the police cited jurisdiction issues. We kept shuttling between Rewari and Kanina. My daughters statement was recorded though she could barely utter a few words, he alleged. The DGP said they were probing if there had been any lapses. Meanwhile, Haryana State Commission for Women chairperson Pratibha Suman spoke to the victim in hospital. I studied hard and was prepared to travel long distances for good education and coaching, and this destroyed me, she sobbed incessantly. Joblessness to blame: Haryana BJP MLA Even as Congress leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Capt Ajay Singh Yadav demanded the CMs resignation for the rising crime against women, BJP MLA Premlata from Uchana Kalan blamed it on unemployment. Youths who do not have employment get frustrated and commit such (rapes) crimes, she claimed, attracting severe criticism. Legal body gives Rs 2-lakh relief to victim Mahendragarh: Vivek Yadav, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary of District Legal Services Authority, on Saturday met the victim at the Civil Hospital in Rewari and handed over a cheque for Rs 2 lakh under the Haryana Victim Compensation Scheme-2013. A team of two advocates has been formed to provide all sorts of legal assistance to the victim, said Yadav. rchopra@tribunemail.com Vishal Joshi Tribune News Service Kurukshetra, September 15 The academic calendar of eight ayurvedic colleges in the state has been hit due to inordinate delay in declaring results and conducting annual examinations. Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that though the annual examinations of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) were slated to be held in June, Pt BD Sharma University of Health Sciences (PBDSUHS), Rohtak, is unable to issue even an examination schedule till date. Sources said teaching work at the colleges had come to a standstill. A final-year student said they were rendered unqualified for MD courses due to delay in the result declaration. Annual examinations for the BAMS were scheduled to be held in December, but these were conducted in April this year. As the result of the final year was declared on August 16, the six-month internship was further delayed. The inordinate delay did not render us qualified to apply for MD courses this year, and we suffered a loss of one precious academic year, said the student. Haryana Ayurvedic College Teachers Association president Dr Ashok Rana said the BAMS supplementary examinations of first, second and third years were also held in April after a delay of four months and the results were yet to be declared. Academic environment in the colleges has been affected and the PBDSUHS has failed miserably. The state government should take note of the situation in the interest of students, he said. Meanwhile, PBDSUHS blames a technical glitch by an agency outsourced for preparation of results for the delay. The official spokesperson said the datesheet would be announced only after results of the supplementary examinations were declared. PBDSUHS hopes to declare the examination schedule soon. Controller of Examination Antarix Deep has proposed an action against the erring agency for causing a delay in the service. Punitive action will be initiated after the declaration of results, said the spokesperson. editorial@tribune.com Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 15 IL&FS Transportation Network Limited (ITNL) has threatened to terminate the contract for the Raid Metro project in Gurugram city if the state government does not comply with some conditions of the agreement by Monday. The ITNL has sent a notice to the government and the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), accusing them of failing to comply with their part of commitments made in the concession agreement signed between the two sides for running the Metro services. The Tribune has learnt that the ITNL in its notice cites failure on the part of the government to ensure minimum ridership, providing property development rights and proper advertisement of the Metro services etc as the reasons for the warning to terminate the agreement. Sources said that the government was yet to reply to the notice. The Gurgaon Metro project, with two subsidiaries Gurgaon Rapid Metro and Gurgaon Rapid Metro South, provides interchange with the Delhi Metros Yellow Line at the Sikanderpur Metro Station. The Rapid Metro has a total length of 11.6 km, serving 11 stations. It connects the commercial areas of Gurugram, and acts as a feeder link to the Delhi Metro. The first route of 5.1 km starts from the Sikanderpur Metro Station and goes via Phase-II, Vodafone, Belvedere Towers, IndusInd Bank Cyber City, Micromax Moulsari Avenue and terminates at Phase-III. The second route also starts from the Sikanderpur Metro Station and goes via DLF Phase-I, Sushant Lok, Sector 53-54, AIT Chowk up to Sectors 55 and 56. Built and operated by Rapid Metro Gurgaon Limited (RMGL), the system is said to be the worlds first fully privately financed metro. Initially, the DLF-IL&FS consortium ran the RMGL. The sources said that ever since the DLF withdrew from the project and ITNLs parent company Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) ran into financial trouble, the ITNL has been finding it hard to run the Metro services. Meanwhile, the ITNL could not be reached for its comments. A senior officer of the HSVP admitted that the ITNL had sent a notice to terminate the agreement to the government and its period expires on coming Monday. We have engaged a law firm for sending a detailed reply to the ITNL. The points mentioned by the ITNL in its notice as the reasons for the intended termination of the contract were not part of the concession agreement signed between the company and HUDA (renamed HSVP). It was the company that came forward with a proposal and we never guaranteed any particular volume of ridership or advertisement etc, he said. editorial@tribune.com Sunit Dhawan Tribune News Service Rohtak, September 14 BJP general secretary incharge of Haryana Anil Jain on Friday stated that the party would win all 10 Lok Sabha seats and at least 65 Vidhan Sabha seats in the state next year. He ruled out the possibility of any alliance between the BJP and the INLD in the coming elections. Addressing a news conference on the sidelines of a meeting of the BJP state executive, Jain maintained that elections for Lok Sabha and state Assembly would be held separately. The BJP leader decried the Congress for maintaining that Vijay Mallya had met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley before fleeing the country. In response to a query, Jain stated that action would be taken against Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini, adding that the matter had been referred to the partys central leadership. Regarding the recent episode in the state Assembly involving Congress MLA Karan Dalal, Jain maintained that such a person had no right to enter the Vidhan Sabha, which was the temple of democracy. He disclosed that on completion of four years of the BJP regime in Haryana, several programmes featuring flagship projects would be organised in the state. He said lyrical tributes would be paid to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee while Prime Minister Narendra Modis birthday would be celebrated as Sewa Divas. He said September 29 would be observed as Shaurya Divas to mark conduct of surgical strikes. Chief Minister Manohar Lal, Union Minister of State Krishan Pal Gurjar, state BJP president Subhash Barala and other party leaders were present. editorial@tribune.com Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 15 More trouble is brewing for jailed Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Hans Raj Chauhan, who initiated the case of castration of sadhus against him, has now alleged in a complaint to the police that he was pressured at Ram Rahims behest to change his statement. In a first information report (FIR) lodged at Tohana City Police Station of Fatehabad on Friday, Chauhan alleged that Raj Kumar, aka Raju, another castrated sadhu from Kalyan Nagar colony of the dera, offered him money on Ram Rahims behalf and pressured him to change his ongoing evidence in the case. I had filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court demanding a probe into the castration of nearly 400 sadhus, including me, on the direction of Ram Rahim. On the orders of the High Court, the case against Ram Rahim and some others is being heard in the CBI Court at Panchkula. My evidence in the case is in progress and the next date of hearing has been fixed for September 19, said Chauhan in his complaint to the police at his hometown Tohana. He alleged that ever since he had filed the case, efforts were made from time to time to pressure him. He had complained to the police in this regard. On August 29, at 7 pm, Raj Kumar, whose name also appears in the list of castrated sadhus that I had submitted in the High Court, along with his mother came to my residence at Bajgar Mohalla in Tohana and offered to pay me money if I dont depose against Ram Rahim. He told me that they have come on Ram Rahims instructions and they could give me as much money as I demand for backing out from being a witness against the dera head, Chauhan alleged. He said that later the duo left in their car. The police said that a case under Sections 195-A (threatening any person to give false evidence), 214 (offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offenders) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC had been registered and investigation started. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Hisar, September 15 Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu has said that the museum showcasing the Harappan civilisation, which is under construction in Rakhigarhi village, will become the pride of Haryana, leading to making the Narnaund area a destination for world-class tourism. The minister said this in Rakhigarhi today while reviewing the progress of the construction of the museum being developed over an area of 5.5 acres including research centre and hostels for researchers. The consultants who were giving it a world-class look gave detailed information about the construction of the museum. They showed actual splendour of the museum through a 3-D film. The Finance Minister directed the PWD (B and R) Department that the film created on the museum should be shown to children, the elderly and the villagers of Rakhigarhi through projector so as to make them aware that they were residing in an important historic place. He also asked the sarpanch of the village to provide two acres of land for museum for parking purpose and also to get a proposal passed in the panchayat about land for the construction of road for bye pass on the back side of the museum. The Finance Minister said Rakhigarhi had unique treasures of Vedic civilisation and history of mankind of the Harappan period. The exploration of this ancient site, older than Mohenjo-Daro, will help unearth an ancient civilisation of India. A large number of people of the world would come to see this world-class magnificent museum to know the history of human civilisation and its journey so far. He said it would definitely make the Narnaund region a world-class tourist destination. This museum, which will be completed in about one year, will show a variety of shows to the audience, he added. AIJASS activists rounded up The police on Saturday rounded up 70 activists of the All India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) who were proceeding to show black flags to Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu during his function in Baddo Patti village. The police said they were brought to Sadar police station. The AIJASS, led by Yashpal Malik, has announced to protest against the Finance Minister during his public meetings, demanding the withdrawal of criminal cases against Jat youths. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Gurugram, September 14 A few weeks after a thaw, the city woke up to a tense Friday yet again. On the one hand, Muslims sat on a dharna over sealing of a mosque in Sheetla Colony here and, on the other, Hindus, who had been on a fast for three days, threatened self-immolation over offering of namaz in the open. Given the simmering communal tension, the police not only stepped up security at both protest sites detaining over a dozen activists threatening self-immolation, but also beefed up security around all places of namaz. The local administration, meanwhile, appointed 36 duty magistrates to tackle any untoward situation and managed to retain the citys calm. Both groups alleged that they were forcibly denied of their right to freedom of speech and expression. We were promised a complete ban on encroachment of public spaces for namaz almost two months ago, but nothing happened despite repeated reminders and thus we have to take to self-immolation to raise our demands. We have enough spaces for praying for the city Muslims, but parks and over 50 other places are being encroached upon to cater to people from Mewat and Palwal who come in trucks to pray here, said Vikram Singh, a member of the Bharat Bachao Sangathan. Representatives of the Muslim Ekta Manch, meanwhile, accused the administration of sealing the mosque at the behest of some Hindu leaders. They had a problem with loudspeaker so we reduced its volume, but still our mosque was sealed. We have right to pray and practice our religion and the administration cant snatch it away, said the manch in an official statement. The Hindu activists on a dharna outside the DCs office threatened self-immolation, while those demanding de-sealing of the mosque, too, threatened self-immolation. We have detained ruckus creators. The namaz was carried out peacefully at designated places. We appeal to all to express their dissent or demands in a proper way rather than trying to take the city to ransom, said Commissioner of Police KK Rao. There is a procedure for everything. The mosque lies in proximity to an ammunition depot where court has banned new construction. Similarly, namaz is being offered at designated places agreed upon by all stakeholders. Any protest on both issues is uncalled for and will invite penal action, said Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh. Divisional Commissioner D Suresh said he had discussed the demand of Muslims with the administration, but was informed that the mosque was sealed for violating the court orders. editorial@tribune.com Dipender Manta Tribune News Service Mandi, September 14 Over 4,000 families affected by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban on commercial activities in the Rohtang Pass are yet to be rehabilitated. Since 2015, the residents of nine villages, including Shang, Burua, Palchan, Solang, Kothi, Goshal and Kulang, have been requesting the state government to rehabilitate them so that they are able to make a living. The NGT had also directed the state government to develop eco-friendly markets in the area. Following which, the state government had indentified two places, one at Marhi and the other at Solang. At Marhi, the construction work is under way, while at Solang, the project is yet to take off. To give relief to the affected people, especially those operating snow-scooters, ATVs, pony owners and skiers, the Kullu administration has identified a few sites at Marhi and Solang, where these activities can be carried out in a restricted manner. In Rohtang, only photography and local attire are allowed in the name of tourism activity, while other commercial activities have been banned following the NGT order. Suresh Kumar, a resident of Burua, said after the NGT ban, his business had taken a hit. Earlier, I used to earn well by plying snow-scooters in Rohtang, which is covered with snow till July. I have no idea how to make ends meet as in the lower areas, snow melts quickly and there is no use of snow-scooters there. There are several others who have been rendered jobless, he added. Devi Singh, a local, said the Rohtang Pass was the favourite tourist destination in Kullu district, where every year, a large number of foreign and domestic tourists thronged. After the NGT ban, the livelihood of 4,000 families had been snatched, he lamented. Anup Thakur, president, Hoteliers Association, Kullu-Manali, said: We had submitted the rehabilitation plan for the affected people to the state government, but nothing has been done in this direction. Kullu Deputy Commissioner Yunus Khan said an eco-friendly market was coming up at Marhi, while efforts were on to start the construction of another market at Solang. To provide relief to the affected people, a few sites have been identified between Manali and Marhi to run tourism-related activities in a regulated manner, Khan said. harinder@tribunemail.com Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service Dharamsala, September 15 The tiff between Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Kishan Kapoor and ABVP activists turned ugly after the latter burnt effigies of the minister. BJP office-bearers have filed a complaint under the IT Act against people who made his doctored video viral. It all started at Dharamsala Government College, where the minister had gone to attend a function. He reportedly told the ABVP activists: You are lucky that a Cabinet minister is listening to your grievances. The clip went viral on WhatsApp. The minister was trolled by the ABVP activists on the social media and his effigies were burnt. He said the edited clip was made viral by his political opponents. Some students, who claimed to be ABVP activists, had come to him in the college. They initially complained that the roof of the college auditorium was leaking. I immediately called up the executive engineer of the PWD to look into the matter. Then they said outsiders were entering the college, following which I called up the Kangra SP. After that, the students said teachers were being shifted from the college. I called up the Director, Education, against shifting the staff, Kapoor said. However, it seemed that the students were hell bent on engaging me in a verbal duel. Later, an edited clip was made viral. It seems to be a well-designed conspiracy to defame me. Since the local BJP has filed a police complaint, I just hope that the culprits behind the conspiracy are brought to book, the minister said. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Shimla, September 15 Investors interested in tourism, power generation, agriculture processing, industries and infrastructure development will be provided assistance, said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. The Chief Minister, who was presiding over a meeting of the CII on Friday evening, said the government was establishing cement projects in Sirmaur and Chamba districts and efforts were afoot to make Himachal a favourite destination. Various issues concerning industrial organisations had been settled during the last few months and despite political opposition, various important decisions had been taken to encourage investment. He said Himachal was among the top states in social and economic indicators and there was negligible corruption. Himachal had tough geographical conditions and infrastructural development and connectivity were the major challenges but after the construction of 70 new national highways, expansion of helipads and completion of Chandigarh-Baddi and Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri rail lines, things would improve, he added. Additional Chief Secretary, Industries, RD Dhiman, in his presentation, said responsive governance, best social and welfare indicators, uninterrupted power supply at low rates, simple procedures and easy access to the Chief Ministers Office made Himachal an ideal state for investors. Dhiman said 47,321 industrial units with an investment of Rs 28,634.64 crore were functional in which employment had been given to thousands of the youth. President of the CII, Northern region, Sachit Jain said Himachal was a progressive state in the industrial sector where congenial industrial environment encouraged the investors. He stressed making further infrastructural development, improvement in connectivity and taking more steps to facilitate the investors. editorial@tribune.com Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, September 14 Faced with stiff competition from private players in the hotel industry, the state government is contemplating leasing out some of the 36 loss-making hotels out of the 55 properties owned by Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC). The HPTDC is undertaking an exercise to look into the reasons for the losses incurred by many of its prime properties for the past several years. The HPTDC is earning about Rs 100 crore every year but fails to earn any profit due to expenditure on hefty salary component and upkeep and maintenance of the properties. The HPTDC, which provided services in the most remote areas of the state where the presence of the private players was non-existent even a decade back, is finding it tough to match up to the professional services being offered at much lower tariffs by private players. The HPTDC has a total of 55 hotels, 64 restaurants and 14 cafeterias. Surprisingly, some of the loss-making units are located in locations with very high tourist arrivals. The loss-making units include Hotel Silver Moon (Kullu), Angler Bungalow (Katrain in Kullu) and cafe raft Kullu and cafe Nihal in Bilaspur. The profit-making units include Hotel Holiday Home, Hotel Peterhoff, Palace Hotel Chail and the Lift on the Mall. High employees ratio, hefty pay structure, disadvantageous locations and lack of proper upkeep and maintenance of many of the properties has created a situation, where we are struggling hard to make ends meet, said an official. He admitted that despite successive regimes being aware of the pressing need to gradually hand over hospitality sector to the private players, no government has been able to take a firm stand on it. The BJP regime has however chosen to tread very cautiously with the issue of roping in private players being a very contentious one. Attempts by the previous regime in this direction have been being met with stiff resistance, especially from the staff of the corporation. editorial@tribune.com Bhanu P Lohumi Tribune News Service Shimla, September 14 After stopping the annual increment of 38 postgraduate teachers (PGTs) for poor results (less than 25 per cent) in board examination, the state government is contemplating taking a similar action against teachers showing below 50 per cent result. The Education Department has reportedly prepared a list of 100 teachers (showing less than 50 per cent result) for penal action, ignoring the threat of the Himachal Government Teachers Union (HGTU) to lodge a statewide protests in case the annual increment of 38 PGTs was not restored. The lists of such teachers from nine districts have been received, while the lists from Kangra, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti are awaited. The government had taken a decision to stop the annual increment of teachers for consistently showing poor results as a measure to improve the quality of education. The names of the teachers and their schools have been uploaded on the website of the Higher Education Department. More teachers are expected to face the axe. The department also proposed to take action against such teachers. As per information available with the Higher Education Department, the pass percentage was zero in 55 government schools, which included 16 senior secondary and 39 high schools. The result of 396 schools, including 305 high and 91 senior secondary, was below 25 per cent in the classes X and XII board examination, and penal action had already been taken against 38 teachers. The department is all set to initiate penal action against teachers showing less than 50 per cent result. The names of the teachers, whose increment has been stopped, figure on the website along with the name of the schools. The second list of the teachers facing action will be released shortly, sources in the department said. President of the HGTU Virender Chauhan said the teachers alone were not responsible for poor results and there were many other factors like non-teaching work. editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondent Phagwara, September 15 Union Minister of State Vijay Sampla while commenting on claims of Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu about the Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan said no such suggestion was received by the Union Government till now and these claims are still limited up to Sidhu only. Talking to mediapersons at the residence of BJP leader Pankaj Chawla here on late Saturday evening, Sampla said if there was any such suggestion or consent of the Pakistan government, then both Sidhu and Pakistan should present this before the Centre. Commenting upon the Congress-led Punjab Government, he said democracy was being murdered during the Congress rule. He alleged that the Congress government was working in a frustrated manner thats why it was denying permission to the SAD-BJP for organising a protest rally. Sampla said the Congress wanted to create an emergency-like situation in the state. The minister alleged that the ruling party was adopting excessive attitude during the zila parishad and block samiti polls. At some places, candidates of the SAD-BJP were not being allowed to file nominations on the pretext of one or other objections being raised by polling officers. BJP leaders Tejaswi Bhardwaj, Om Parkash Bittu and Gurdeep Deepa were among those others present. editorial@tribune.com Jalandhar, September 14 A day after the Excise Department seized 250 liquor cases from a farmhouse at Pholwaiwal village, SAD MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu on Friday demanded an enquiry into the matter. He said a high-level inquiry should be ordered to find out from where the liquor came to the farmhouse. Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Tinu, who was accompanied by SAD district urban president Kulwant Singh Manan and SAD leader Baljit Singh Neelamahal, said, A huge amount of liquor cartons were found at the house of the Congress leader. The recovery of liquor from a Congress leaders residence ahead of the elections means the ruling party is trying to influence the voters through liquor and drugs. Party members of the Chief Minister, who said he would eradicate drugs in four weeks, are being found complicit in the liquor trade. Tinu said, A high-level enquiry should be conducted to ascertain from where the liquor come. There is also a need to investigate the officials and leaders, who are involved in the issue. Flaying the government to ban the SADs rally in Faridkot, Tinu said, The Congress governments decision to ban the partys Faridkot rally is a violation of the Constitution and an attack on democracy. It showed that the government is resorting to dire measures ahead of the rural poll. TNS rchopra@tribunemail.com Jammu, September 15 An Army jawan was injured in a ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, a defence spokesman said. The Pakistani troops resorted to small arms firing on forward posts in Noushera sector from across the border at around 10.30 am, the spokesman said. The injured was rushed to the Command Hospital at Udhampur, he said, adding that his condition was stated to be stable. According to officials, Indian troops guarding the LoC also fired in retaliation and the firing between the two sides continued for quite some time. PTI editorial@tribune.com Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, September 15 Even as the BJP and Panthers Party have hailed the announcement of the schedule for the much-awaited urban local bodies (ULBs) elections, the Congress is still in a dilemma. Instead of taking a clear stand, party leaders are trying to buy time for making the final announcement on the elections. We will take the final call within a couple of days, Ravinder Sharma, chief spokesman of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), told The Tribune. GA Mir, Pradesh Congress Committee chief, was hesitant to speak on the issue due to political compulsions in the Valley. We have never supported the boycott call. We only aired some apprehensions about the security scenario. Now that the government has announced the elections, we will take a decision within a day or two, said Sharma. On the other side, Sham Lal Sharma, Congress leader and former minister, has hailed the decision of the election department to issue a notification for the ULBs polls. Holding elections is mandatory, he said and put the onus of providing security to the candidates on the state administration. Kavinder Gupta, former deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader, while hailing the announcement, smelt a bigger game plan in the election boycott call of two arch political rivals the PDP and the NC. He regretted that the so-called mainstream parties had joined hands with separatist groups to deprive the people of J&K of their legitimate democratic rights. It is the outcome of the ongoing competitive separatism that the PDP has gone the NC way to trample the democratic institutions in a sensitive state like J&K, where a large number of people have sacrificed their lives to restore the sanctity of such bodies, he said. Defending the decision of his party to boycott the elections, Surinder Choudhary, MLC and general secretary of the PDP, said the security scenario was not conducive for the same. The elections would be a farce exercise as two main political parties of the state have already announced boycott, he said and lambasted the BJP for demonising the sanctity of the Legislative Assembly the highest democratic institution of the state. The Panthers Party has hailed the announcement of the schedule for the ULB polls, but reiterated its demand for dissolving the Legislative Assembly. The dissolution of the Assembly is a must to ensure free and fair elections to the ULBs, said Balwant Singh Mankotia, president of the party. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 15 A massive fire broke out at six-storey Hotel Pamposh in Srinagar's Center Lal Chowk on Saturday afternoon. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot and police, and fire and emergency services were trying to douse the flames, the official said. The building houses offices of several news channels. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, police said, adding there was no reports of any loss of life or injury to anyone so far. When truth is with you, don't be afraid, keep fighting 'corrupt' BJP govt: Rahul Gandhi on Rafale His remarks come a day after French investigative journal Me... vinaymishra188@gmail.com Applications are being invited for JK Lakshmipat University Innovation Challenge, a competition that encourages the school students with novel ideas to think about problem solving and innovation. The challenge is open to the students of classes XI and XII of schools around India The JKLU Innovation Challenge is themed at Finding solutions for tomorrow, today. The participants must provide innovative solutions to achieve for the any one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations Development Programme for the year 2030, to make a difference at the world, national, state, city or community level. The format of the competition is such that students, guided by their teachers and mentors, will describe, conceptualise, and build on an innovative idea in selected areas of social importance. Students can further give shape to their ideas through prototyping and by demonstrate them. The best teams will get awarded with prizes worth Rs 5 lakh. Along with this, the enthusiastic participants get to attend workshops on problem-solving and innovative 21st-century technologies. editorial@tribune.com Mona As the oil sizzles on the griddle and a little water is splashed... some hearts are set on fire at the very place where Chef TK Razdan sat with the other two Chef Sanjiv Verma and Chef Navdeep Sharma and conceived the idea of an association! The Chefs Association of Five Rivers (CAFR) brings together as many as 700 chefs for its third conclave and awards in Chandigarh. So what do chefs talk about when they gather? Obviously, food! As some delectable fare makes it to the table, the young and old, apprentices and experts, create a vibrant atmosphere at Pashtun-35. For the record Based out of Jalandhar, Chef Varinder Singh Rana, holds five Limca World Records largest kathi roll, longest sandwich, longest aloo parantha, 213 types of halwa in three hours and 567 kinds of raita in two hours! What makes him go for such large portions... err records? To show ones skill and attract attention. Going back to the roots is one trend that he along with the world is passionately following. The food is traditional, the presentation new. The old-good chana bhatura has fused with Lebanese and Punjabi hummus gaining ground, he smiles. Back to the roots Flying from Chennai to Chandigarh is Chef Saby. Kitchen is a place to stand in, admits the recipient of President of Indias award for best chef and the president of Young Chefs Forum of Indian Federation of Culinary Associations, who has his restaurants in most major metros. Meeting, greeting professionals in his field ranks high on his list and he is happy about many women donning the chefs hat, I am glad that women are able to join and continue in big kitchens. As for latest trends, Saby says, The super-foods trending today have always been part of Indian culture. Millet is the vrat rice; aloe, ragi and chia have been there all along. We just need to embrace our Indian roots with pride. Punjabi flavour Curry Singh Kitchen is Reetika Gills outlet in Gurgaon, which she runs with much humility and pride. I serve Punjabi food that I have grown up eating all along. At a given time, she dishes out only nine to 10 items all traditional fare. Big challenge Narendra Singh Jaravta is the chef behind Dominos Choco Lava Cake. Adapting to the digital onslaught in every field, he say, Any job is challenging, so is a professional kitchen, but I love the sight, smell and taste of it all. Also, smiles on our patrons faces are very satisfying. Progressive cuisine Back to roots is Harangad Singhs mantra. And he does it with a flourish. In his fancy - sounding restaurants Pra Pra Prank and Prankster it is all about progressive, nostalgic, cuisine. Let us explain. If growing up in Chandigarh, chole with fresh buns from Polka, smeared in butter, is how he remembers his best meals, he dishes out Savoury Donuts chole kulcha donut with gajar achar mousse! His dahi-bhalla ice-cream served on rumali roti reminds one of the chilled bhalla papri chaat! The idea is to revive the flavours from the past and present them in new avatar. Connecting all of these innovative professionals is the aim of CAFR, affirms Sanjiv Verma. Opines TK Razdan, The food industry is gearing up for conscious-eaters and these youngster chefs are doling out their best! mona@tribunemail.com editorial@tribune.com Mona Come October and the culinary capital of the country Amritsar hosts the first-ever World Heritage Cuisine Summit. As many as 40 countries bring their authentic fare to India in an effort to spread the best of the recipes that have stood the test of time. Changing times are making the world embrace the latest and in this rat race, we are losing a wealth of culinary heritage, opens up Chef Manjit Gill, who helms the upcoming summit. Qila Gobindgarh becomes the befitting backdrop for this fair. It has been the efforts of some three decades due to which India has registered its strong presence in the World Association of Chefs. Hosting food experts from different nations is a great way to showcase our rich culture. Watch out The three-day event would have World Kitchen, Tasting of traditional recipes by chefs from 15 countries; Master Classes: Plating and display of traditional food by chefs from 40 countries, and, 20 from India - regional specialties from across India with a special focus on Amritsar street food! Needless to say, a visit to Golden Temple figures prominently in the programme; in fact, there would be an early morning chefs procession. Chef Gill, President, Indian Federation of Culinary Associations, has been recently awarded the prestigious Escoffier Medal at the Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2018. Well-travelled, he considers Indian cuisine to be well-documented, The art and science of Indian food has ample to contribute to the world when it comes to healthy eating. He mentions how Punjabi food is synonymous with Indian worldwide, However, apart from Punjabi, regional dishes would also be part of the heritage summit. He continues to strive for getting Punjabi cuisine acknowledged and listed under the Food Edition of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. (Open to public, the Heritage Summit will be held from October 12-14 at Qila Gobindgarh, Amritsar) singhking99@yahoo.com Arun Joshi Tribune News Service Jammu, September 14 Former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today said there was no dividing line between separatists and the mainstream on the issue of Article 35A. We all stand for its protection. There is no line separating anyone from anyone in Kashmir on the issue, Mehbooba told The Tribune a day after an all-party meeting chaired by National Conferences Farooq Abdullah resolved that the issue be left to an elected government. The PDP did not take part because we had already made our stand clear to stay away from elections as it has been linked to Article 35A. That was avoidable, the government could have taken any other plea, she said. Article 35A grants special rights and privileges to the permanent residents of the state. We cannot brook any challenge to it. We dont want even a comma and full stop to be changed in it. This is part of the agreements between the Centre and the state and now the Centre cannot backtrack from it, she said emphatically. The legal challenge to Article 35A, she remarked, has hurt sentiments of all the people, so where does the question of the separatist line or mainstream line arise? We all are on the same page. When it was linked to the holding of elections by Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, it created a worse situation out of an already bad one, the former Chief Minister added. She, too, gave her voice to the proposition of the other parties that the matter should be left to an elected government. Yes, it is a sensible thing to do. The Governor is the Centres man, he cannot take a call on it. She said the removal of Mehta from the case is a must. My government had hired the services of leading jurist F Nariman. I dont know why the Centre removed him, Mehbooba Mufti added. Warning the Centre against violating the sanctity of the mandate by installing a government through horse-trading, she said if that happens, Delhi would be killing democracy in the state. I had not recommended dissolution of the Assembly to avert a vacuum and to keep a link between the people and the Governors administration alive through the Members of the Legislative Assembly, the former Chief Minister reasoned when asked whether she regretted not recommending dissolution of the House when she had resigned on June 19. The former Chief Minister disclosed that Governor Satya Pal Malik had visited her at her place. It was a courtesy call. There was no political discussion at all. uttara@tribuneindia.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 15 The 15th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas will be organised in Prime Minister Narendra Modis own constituency Varanasi with extended programme for participants added to the event. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath launched a dedicated website for the January 21-23 event. Minister Swaraj said the event had been postponed by a few days after non-resident Indians said they wanted it held around the Kumbh festival starting January 15 and also that they wanted to attend Republic Day celebrations in the country. After the main event, participants will be taken to Allahabad for the Kumbh on January 24 and then head to Delhi by special Pravasi Bharti train for the Republic Day parade. Adityanath said efforts are being made to showcase the Athithi Devo Bhava culture of Varanasi. Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth will be chief guest for the main event while Norway leader Himanshu Gulati and New Zealand MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi will be special guest for the January 21 Youth PBD event. The event is being hosted by Uttar Pradesh Government in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs. rchopra@tribunemail.com New Delhi, September 15 Two men have been arrested in connection with the incident of a Delhi policemans son allegedly brutally thrashing a woman, a video of which has gone viral, police said on Saturday. The accused were identified as Ali Hasan (24) and Rajesh (30), they said. The police said Hasan is the owner of a call centre at Hastsal road, where the video was allegedly shot and the Rajesh worked as a peon at the same call centre. The main accused, Rohit Tomar, 21, was arrested on Friday after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted that the video had come to his notice and he had directed Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to take action. The cases against the main accused--one of criminal intimidation and molestation and the other of rape--were registered based on the version of two women, police said. The first case was registered on Thursday at the Tilak Nagar police station in West Delhi following a complaint by Tomars woman friend alleging that he showed her a video in which he could be seen thrashing a woman, Deputy Commission of Police (DCP West) Monika Bhardwaj had said. Tomar allegedly threatened her with the same kind of treatment if she did not follow his instructions. The second case was registered at the Uttam Nagar police station after another woman, who was seen in the video, approached the police on Friday alleging that on September 2, Tomar had called her to his friends office in Uttam Nagar and raped her. He would be arrested on production warrant from court for further investigation in the case in Uttam Nagar, a senior officer said. In the video, Tomar is seen thrashing the woman when she threatened to file a police complaint against him. Apart from Tomar, one person is seen roaming around while another one filmed the incident. The person filming it could be heard asking Tomar to stop beating the woman. But Tomar continued thrashing the woman and abusing her. The woman, seen in the video shared widely on social media and shown on TV channels, told the police that Tomar called her to his friends office in Uttam Nagar and raped her, Anto Alphonse, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka), said on Friday. Tomar is the son of Ashok Kumar Tomar, an assistant sub-inspector with Delhi Police in the central district. The accused was employed with a call centre till last month and is currently unemployed. He is a second year student of Delhi University, where he is pursuing BA (programme) through correspondence. The police said the woman, who was allegedly threatened by Tomar with an assault video, was in a relationship with him for one-and-a-half years and they were about to get married. PTI editorial@tribune.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 14 India has more people living with HIV (PLHIVs) today than before and is witnessing more AIDS-related deaths than previously. The latest HIV/AIDS Estimation Report-2017 released by the government today shows at the end of 2017, India had 21.40 lakh people living with HIV as against 21.17 lakh at the end of 2015. AIDS deaths have risen from 67,612 in 2015 to 69,110 in 2017, while new HIV infections have declined marginally from 89,000 in 2015 to 87,000 in 2017. At the current pace of progress, India will miss the global target of 75 per cent reduction in new HIV infections from the base value in 2010. Annual new HIV infections have declined by more than 60 per cent since 2000. However, the rate of their decline has been much slower in recent years and far behind the pace needed to reach the 2020 target, the Ministry of Health says. The good news is that adult HIV prevalence in the 15 to 49 year age group continues to decline, though the rate of reduction is slow. From 0.28 per cent adult HIV prevalence rate in 2015, India is down to 0.22 per cent today. Chandigarh (0.20 per cent), Punjab (0.18 per cent) and Haryana (0.18 per cent) have a lower rate of adult HIV prevalence as compared to the national average. Mizoram with 2.04 per cent rate has the highest HIV prevalence rate among adults in India; Jammu and Kashmir at 0.03 per cent rate has the lowest. A major take-away from the findings is the continuing feminisation of the AIDS epidemic in India. Slightly more than two fifths (42 per cent) of the total estimated PLHIVs in India were females. Females constituted 40 per cent of new HIV infections among adults and 31 per cent of AIDS-related deaths among them. With 3.30 lakh PLHIVs, Maharashtra has the highest number of HIV-positive people in India contributing 15 per cent of the total PLHIV population. Telangana leads India in new HIV infections, contributing 9,324 infections out of 87,000. Nationally, 69, 110 PLHIVs died of AIDS related causes in 2017. AIDS-related deaths have dropped in all states, except in Haryana, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Delhi and Uttarakhand. The recent Supreme Court order de-criminalising same sex relationships among consenting adults is expected to help the MSM people report their disease and seek HIV treatment. India has pledged to end AIDS by 2030. The just notified HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Bill that guarantees legal rights to PLHIVs is also expected to help India achieve its anti-AIDS targets. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Naveen Garewal Tribune News Service Hyderabad, September 15 BJP chief Amit Shah on Saturday attacked the TRS government and alleged that no promises of teh past agenda were fulfill by them. Shah said the BJP would contest all seats in Telangana on its own and there would be no alliance with any party. He said the Chief Minister was fooling the people by announcing appeasement policies like 12 per cent reservation for Muslims. He hit out at TRS for not using central funds sent for the development of the state and alleged that he kept people dependent on the government. He said, A case against Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu was not a political vendetta, its a court case, in which he had not appeared for years. The case was registered in 2010 when the Congress was in power in Andhra and Maharashtra and now Naidu was forging an alliance with the same Congress party. He said the Congress ruled Andhra for 10 years before formation of Telangana but did nothing for the welfare of the people. Shah would be visiting a temple in the old city, an area considered to be a stronghold of the MIM. He said that the BJP has not taken any decision on the chief minister candidate as yet. He avoided questions on Ram Mandir, saying that the party had many enemies and opponents. editorial@tribune.com Naveen S Garewal Tribune News Service Hyderabad, September 15 Sounding the poll bugle, BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday said, The party will contest all 119 Telangana state Assembly seats on its own. In the city to formally launch the partys poll campaign at a public meeting in Mahabubnagar, 110 km from here, he said, The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has forced an early election after supporting the one nation, one election concept. The BJP will now contest the polls on its own with full force. Accusing Telangana Chief Minister Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao of promoting dynastic politics and retarding the pace of development, the BJP president said the Central grants to the state during the 14th Finance Commission was increased by over 20 per cent, but most of the money from over Rs 2 lakh crore had remained unused. The Chief Minister would have to give a lot of explanation to the people. This includes his friendly overtures towards Asaduddin Owaisi and his All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). Interestingly, just before leaving for Mahbubnagar, Shah paid obeisance at Lal Darwaza Mahankali Temple in old city. This temple falls in the stronghold of the AIMIM and is said to be auspicious for starting a new venture. Urging people of the state to support the BJP, he said after the polls his party would emerge as a strong and decisive force in the state. Speaking to the media before the rally, Shah said, KCR was pursuing the policy of appeasement and if TRS comes to power, the vote bank politics will continue. Is it not appeasement politics to propose 12 per cent reservation for minority (read Muslims)? Does he not know that the Constitution does not allow reservation based on religion? Shah said the TRS Government had failed on every front, be it development or law and order. Most of the election promises made by the TRS before the 2014 elections have not been fulfilled. He said the TRS had made 31 districts in the state, but most districts did not have even the basic infrastructure. On being asked if the BJP proposed to have a yogi as Chief Minister or someone from the present state leadership, the BJP president said the party was yet to give that aspect a thought. In the evening Shah held meetings with party leaders to work out a strategy. The BJP gave a slogan to the rally Markpu Kosam BJP Shankaravam (BJP for change). The BJP had won five segments in the 2014 Assembly polls. Sources said Shah was keen on finalising the list of candidates at the earliest possible as the TRS has already announced the names of candidates on 105 seats. The BJP strategy is to highlight programmes and policies of the Modi government. Over the next two months, the BJP is proposing to hold over 50 rallies across 31 districts. Fight from Hbad, Owaisi dares Shah Hyderabad: Asaduddin Owaisi, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and MP from Hyderabad, has challenged BJP president Amit Shah to contest elections from Hyderabad if he genuinely believed the BJP will become a formidable force after the elections. Owaisi, in a tweet, said BJP will not even be able to retain the five seats it had in current Assembly. amansharma@tribunemail.com Hyderabad, September 15 Blaming international developments for the rising petrol and diesel prices and dipping rupee value, BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday said the Centre will come out with a solution soon. Petrol and diesel prices have scaled new highs since mid-August due to a combination of a dip in rupee value against the US dollar and the rise in crude oil prices. "The increasing petrol and diesel prices and sliding rupee against dollar are a cause of concern for both the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the government," Shah told reporters here. "It was due to some developments that took place globally. (The) Trade war between US and China and issues between the US and oil producing countries. Because of these global reasons these developments are taking place," he added. "We are also concerned about this. Solution is also being found out. Within short time, the government will take a stand on these issues and come out," he said further. But Shah made it clear that the impact on rupee was "far less" than compared to other currencies. The Opposition parties led by Congress had on September 10 called for a nationwide shutdown to protest against the escalating prices of fuel and other essential items. Replying to a query on the arrest warrant issued by the Dharmabad court in Maharashtra against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and some of his party functionaries, Shah said the BJP had got nothing to do with it. The warrant was issued in a case related to an agitation that Naidu, then in the Opposition in united Andhra Pradesh, undertook over Babli project on Godavari river in 2010. He said there were Congress governments in both Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra during 2010 when the case was taken up by the court. "Now Chandrababu is trying to have tie up with those pursuing vendetta against him. He was trying to gain sympathy out of the issue," Shah said. The BJP chief said the case was filed in 2010 and police filed a charge sheet in 2013. Naidu did not respond even after several summons were issued by the court against him, Shah alleged. - PTI editorial@tribune.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 15 The Congress has begun preparing for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls with party chief Rahul Gandhi holding back-to-back strategy meetings today and announcing chairmen and conveners of partys key panels for the polls. Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram has been tasked with steering the partys manifesto with his appointment as chairman of the Congress manifesto committee for 2019 Lok Sabha polls. He will be aided by Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Gowda as convener. The Congress core committee will be chaired by former Defence Minister AK Antony with Jairam Ramesh as convener. Former minister Anand Sharma will head the publicity panel with Pawan Khera, close aide of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit as convener. Gandhi took meetings of all three panels and reviewed preparations of the party for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan polls. Potential alliance with Mayawatis BSP for seat-sharing in Madhya Pradesh was discussed with sources saying the Congress was keen to take BSP on board for both Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The BSP, however, continued to play hard to get on with negotiations. Rahul has asked all panels to meet routinely and take an early lead in strategising. The party leaders believe communications remain a weak spot with Anand Sharma being trusted to deliver in the face of BJPs aggressive communications and social media push. rchopra@tribunemail.com Washington, September 15 National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Friday held broad-based talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defence Secretary James Mattis and his American counterpart John Bolton during which they discussed the future direction of the strategic Indo-US ties. Dovals meeting with the top three officials of the Trump administration came a week after the successful India-US 2+2 Dialogue between the defence and foreign ministers of the two countries. This was Dovals first meeting with Bolton, the new National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump. Doval had met Pompeo and Mattis last week in New Delhi too. During the three back-to-back meetings, Doval had good chance to review the entire bilateral relationship after the 2+2 talks. They build upon the discussion in New Delhi last week, informed sources told PTI. Indias ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna, accompanied Doval in these meetings. Describing it as a very broad-based discussion, sources said Doval and the three top Trump administration officials talked about the future direction of the strategic relationship and identified areas of cooperation. Regional issues and global developments, too, figured in the talks, they said, without going into specifics. The US Ambassador to India, Ken Juster, in a tweet said the last week's 2+2 dialogue set the course for even closer ties between the two countries. He said the India-US partnership is on an upward trajectory. Weve seen positive momentum regarding the US-India relationship these past few weeks with 2+2 dialogue and the progress continues with Dovals visit to the US, said the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF). India and the US signed the landmark Communications, Compatibility, Security Agreement (COMCASA) after the 2+2 talks External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had with Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mattis on September 6. The COMCASA will allow India to receive high-end military communications equipment from the US and will also help get real-time encrypted information from the US. During the 2+2 talks, India and the US also expressed commitment to work together and in concert with other partners towards advancing a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. Early this week, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells told a Washington audience that the 2+2 significance was that it reaffirmed the strength of the India-US relationship. It reaffirmed the alignment of our interests and our values in promoting an open and free Indo-Pacific. It also underscored our interest in amplifying what it means to have a major defence partner in India, and really provided the building blocks, not for the next six months or year, but for decades, of how we move forward carefully in building what is a very special relationship, she said. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence David F Helvey said the biggest thing that has come out of the 2+2 talks is that it puts the US-India relationship and the defence relationship in particular on a higher trajectory. We look forward to deepening the cooperation as two strategic partners as we work together to have a a safe, secure and free Indo-Pacific region, or as Prime Minister Modi has said, a place where nations, small and large, can prosper free and fearless in our choices, he said. PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com New Delhi, September 15 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tributes to Bharat Ratna M Visvesvaraya on his birth anniversary and greeted the nation on the occasion of Engineers Day saying their role in nation-building was extremely vital. On Engineers Day, I congratulate our hardworking engineers and appreciate their dexterity as well as dedication. Their role in nation-building is extremely vital. I also pay tributes to the noted engineer, M Visvesvaraya, on his birth anniversary, Modi said in a tweet attaching the video of his recent monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat. In his radio broadcast message on August 26, Modi had said that there were several engineers in the country who made the unimaginable possible and presented such marvels of engineering before the world. In this lineage of great engineers, we were blessed with a diamond whose work is still a source of wonder for all. He was Bharat Ratna M Visvesvaraya. Lakhs of farmers and common people continue to benefit from the Krishna Raj Sagar Dam built by him. In his memory, September 15 is observed as Engineers Day. Following in his footsteps, our engineers have created their own identity in the world, the Prime Minister had said. IANS editorial@tribune.com Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, September 15 Ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the Maharashtra unit of the BJP has begun laying out the red carpet for state-level dissident leaders in the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis gave enough indication of the BJPs strategy when he visited the residence of former Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kripashankar Singh on Ganesh Chaturthi. He spent a few minutes at Singhs residence, sparking speculation in Congress circles even though Shiv Sena leader Milind Narvekar called it purely a courtesy call. Singh, who was forced to resign as Mumbai Congress chief in 2012 following allegations of amassing assets, is yet to be rehabilitated in the party, despite being cleared of all charges of corruption. The Mumbai unit of the Congress is headed by Sanjay Nirupam, who is said to be at loggerheads with Singh. The BJP stopped criticising Singh last year. On his part, the Congress leader, hopeful of being accommodated in the state unit of the party, stayed away from Bharat Bandh earlier this week. At a function in Ghatkopar last month, Singh had praised Chief Minister Fadnavis for his works. In private, Congress leaders say the BJP is looking for a North Indian face in Mumbai and has been in touch with Singh for a while. The BJP is seen as a party of Gujaratis in Mumbai and North Indians, who comprise 30 per cent of the citys population, are actively wooed by Nirupam, observed a Congress leader close to the partys Mumbai unit chief. Sources say the BJP is also looking at other dissident leaders. Supporters of senior Congress leader Gurudas Kamat, who passed away recently, are feeling ignored by the party leadership, claimed a party activist associated with the deceased leader. Some of Kamats supporters are expected to join the BJP and the Shiv Sena, say observers. editorial@tribune.com Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, September 14 A local magistrate in Nanded distrct of Maharashtra has ordered the arrest of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, a move that has triggered protests by his supporters. Sources said NR Gajbhiye, the Judicial Magistrate (First Class) from Dharmabad town, issued non-bailable warrants against Naidu and his associates, including several cabinet colleagues. As per 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 reduction in water supply to areas downstream in the neighbouring state. Naidu and others were arrested and taken to the Pune jail from where they were released after some time. The court order copies 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 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 Samithi have been named in the warrant. Sources from Nanded said 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 the Maharashtra government to ensure that water supply was not disrupted to villages downstream that lay in Andhra Pradesh. The magistrates order has sparked off protests in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Did no wrong, just fought for people I did nothing wrong 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). N Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh CM TDP calls It BJPs revenge politics singhking99@yahoo.com Kottayam/Kochi, September 14 Flouting the countrys anti-rape law, the Missionaries of Jesus, the congregation to which the nun who has accused the Jalandhar diocese bishop of rape belongs, on 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 nuns 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 vowsa very important step in the life of a nun in a convent. Framing charges against the nuns, the 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 Mulakkals 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. PTI editorial@tribune.com Indore, September 14 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 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. PTI harinder@tribunemail.com Ravi S Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 15 Launching the 15-day Swachhata Hi Seva campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took up a broom to clean a school named after Dalit icon BR Ambedkar in Paharganj as ministers of his government and BJP leaders and workers participated in similar exercise across the country. He launched the exercise to push for greater public participation in cleanliness. The campaign will conclude on October 2, which will mark the end of the fourth year of Swachh Bharat Mission and commencement of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, who is regarded as an apostle of cleanliness. After the launch, he shared experiences with a cross-section of people at 17 locations in 13 states through video-conferencing, during which he congratulated people for making the cleanliness drive a success. Subsequently, he paid floral tributes to the statute of Dr Ambedkar at Babasaheb Ambedkar Higher Secondary School. In his address before the interactive session, he said: Cleanliness drive cannot be successful unless adopted by people at large. He cited 450 districts and 20 states and UTs becoming Open Defecation Free (ODF) among key achievements during four years of Swachh Bharat Mission. Nine crore toilets have been constructed and more than 4.5 lakh villages have become ODF, he added. A WHO report has said the drive has increased hygiene and sanitary awareness level in India, he said. In his interface with students at Dibrugarh in Assam, Modi lauded women participation and said the cases of school dropouts had reduced on account of construction of toilets. Interacting with Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan and industrialist Ratan Tata at the Mumbai centre, he thanked them for their contributions and acknowledged the private sectors role to create a clean India. rchopra@tribunemail.com Gangtok, September 15 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Sikkim on September 23 to inaugurate the states first airport at Pakyong, a senior official has said. After inaugurating the airport, the prime minister will address a public meeting at St Xaviers School ground at Pakyong and return to New Delhi the same day, Chief Secretary AK Shrivastava said after chairing a high-level meeting. The greenfield airport, located 30 km from here, will put Sikkim on the aviation map of the country. I am very happy to share that the Prime Minister is visiting Sikkim for the second time and this time he will be inaugurating the Pakyong Airport which is ready and has undergone trial on two occasions in March, the chief secretary said. The state government has been intimated by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) and the Union Civil Aviation Ministry about the PMs visit and the airport inauguration, he said. After the formal inauguration of the airport on September 23, the commercial operation of flights will commence from the airport in the first week of October, the chief secretary said. PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com New Delhi, September 15 Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that it was the "blue-eyed boy" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the CBI who weakened the lookout notice against fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya and allowed him to flee the country. Taking to Twitter, Gandhi alleged that it was AK Sharma, a Gujarat-cadre officer in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who played a crucial role in weakening the lookout notice against Mallya. He also alleged that the same officer played a key role in the escape plans of fugitive diamond traders Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. The CBI, meanwhile, said its officers had no hand in the escape of diamond traders Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi in connection with the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam. "CBI Jt. Director, A K Sharma, weakened Mallya's "Look Out" notice, allowing Mallya to escape. Mr Sharma, a Gujarat cadre officer, is the PM's blue-eyed-boy in the CBI. The same officer was in charge of Nirav Modi & Mehul Choksi's escape plans. Ooops...investigation! (sic)," the Congress president wrote on the microblogging website. Under attack from Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who has accused the agency of deliberately weakening the lookout circular against fugitive tycoon Vijay Mallya, allowing him to flee the country, the agency also reiterated that the decision was taken as there were not sufficient grounds to detain or arrest him. The agency said it had received a complaint against beleaguered diamantaire Modi and his uncle Choksi from the bank almost a month after they had fled the country. "Therefore the question of any CBI officer having any hand in their fleeing the country does not arise. Prompt action was taken by CBI in the case immediately after the complaint was received from the bank," the agency's spokesperson said in a statement released on Saturday. Some media reports also named Sharma, now Additional Director, as the man who handled Mallya's case. Defending Sharma, its number three in command, the CBI said the decision to alter the circular was taken at the appropriate level as a part of process and not individually by the officer as alleged. Gandhi and his party have accused Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of "helping" Mallya to flee the country after defaulting on bank loans. The Congress has demanded Jaitley's resignation over the issue and a probe into how Mallya escaped. The 62-year-old tycoon, who is on bail on an extradition warrant since his arrest in April last year, is fighting extradition to India on charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to around Rs 9,000 crore. Gandhi's tweet came days after Mallya claimed that he had met Jaitley before leaving the country in March, 2016. "I met the finance minister before I left," the liquor baron had told reporters Wednesday outside the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, where his extradition case is being heard. Jaitley has, however, denied the charges against him. - PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com Sambhal, September 15 A Samajwadi Party (SP) leader has been shot dead by his wifes lover here, police said on Saturday. On Friday evening, SP leader Jagdish Mali (35) got into a fight with Dilip, with whom his wife was involved, in Nai Basti locality under the Chandausi police station limits, Superintendent of Police Yamuna Prasad said. During the fight, Dilip opened fire at Mali, who died on the spot, he said. An FIR had been filed against Malis wife and Dilip on a complaint lodged by the deceaseds brother, Prasad said. While Malis wife had been arrested, efforts are on to nab Dilip, who fled the scene after the incident, he added. SP district unit president Firoz Khan, who met the deceaseds family, described Mali as hard-working. He said Mali had sought the ticket for the chairmans position in Chandausi local body election. PTI editorial@tribune.com Sambhal (UP), September 15 A Samajwadi Party (SP) leader has been shot dead by his wifes lover here, the police said on Saturday. On Friday evening, SP leader Jagdish Mali, 35, got into a fight with Dilip, with whom his wife was involved, in Nai Basti locality under the Chandausi police station limits, Superintendent of Police Yamuna Prasad said. During the fight, Dilip opened fire at Mali, who died on the spot, Prasad said. An FIR has been filed against Mali's wife and Dilip on a complaint lodged by the deceased's brother. While Mali's wife has been arrested, efforts are on to nab Dilip, who fled the scene after the incident. SP district unit president Firoz Khan, who met the deceased's family, described Mali as hardworking. He said Mali had sought the ticket for the chairman's position in Chandausi local body election. PTI editorial@tribune.com Sreevalsan Thiyyadi Cryogenics might be niche term even today for students of physics in India even as its related history of rocket development in the country trails to the early 1970s. Yet, it had suddenly become a buzz word among the common people of Kerala in the mid-1990s. That was all because a fair share of masala attached to what is a serious subject: production and behaviour of materials at very low temperatures. Along with cryogenics, Malayalis those days relished a foreign-language word: espionage. And discovered the two were interrelated. After all, when the stories were all about a senior scientist illegitimately passing top-secret information to other countries, the expose lent them the thrill of detective stories. At village tea-shacks, people began their mornings discussing the ISI. The Pakistans intelligence agency was virtually concluded to be the beneficiary of betrayal by a middle-aged man being detained by the police in 1994. S Nambi Narayanan, who headed the cryogenic division at Bangalores ISRO, was jailed for 50 days and interrogated. Traumatised mentally and physically, the man was hospitalised. A bright career ended. Wind back a couple of decades, and Dr Narayanan pioneered liquid rocket fuel technology in his country. Two years before the arrest, his expertise was deemed crucial in an Indo-Russian pact that showed Indias prospects as a power of cryogenic-based fuel at low international costs. To the medias glee, the espionage story also got a sex angle. Mariam Rasheeda, a young Maldivian woman arrested for overstay in India, suddenly became a spy agent. If Dr Narayanan got fellow scientist D Sasikumaran besides Bangalore-based businessmen K Chandrasekhar and SK Sharma as accomplices, Fouzia Hassan, another woman from the same Arabian Sea archipelago, was made part of the racket. By when lack of evidence let the accused free, the political mission behind the fabricated story was clear: unseat then chief minister K Karunakaran (who resigned in 1995) alongside his blue-eyed IGP Raman Srivastava. Cut to September 2018. As the SC awarded Dr Narayanan Rs50 lakh as compensation for the false framing, the 76-year-old scientist isnt particularly thrilled. Sure I had faith in our judicial system. And in truth and god, he tells a TV channel, sounding philosophical, sporting a flowing white beard. As for cryogenic technology, India didnt have it in the 1990s, points out the expert. We had to wait till 2014 to get, he sighs, hinting at the damage the fictional story had done to the country than his career. The espionage charges demoralised scientists. Fear crept in, notes Dr Narayanan, whose autobiography came out last year and a movie on his life is to release next summer. In a part-resigned tone, he adds: I have brought the episode to this stage. Now I want to taste peace. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 15 Two prominent Members of Parliament Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi (New Zealand) and Himanshu Gulati (Norway), who trace their origins to here, will be special guests at a prime event associated with the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) being organised in Varanasi in January next. Bakshi, the first Sikh MP in New Zealand who was born in Delhi, along with Gulati, whose parents migrated to Norway from Delhi, will be part of the Youth PBD on the opening day of the January 21-23 event. In this edition, India added two more events for the participants to attend Kumbh and Republic Day. Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth will be the chief guest for the main event to be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi with President Ram Nath Kovind presiding over the closing ceremony where 30 pravasis (NRIs) would be honoured for their contribution. Announcing the details at the launch of a dedicated website for the event, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said for the first time the Ministry has expanded the programme to include a visit to the Kumbh at Allahabad on January 24 and then take the participants to Delhi by a special Pravasi Bharatiya train to witness the Republic Day parade. Instead of the traditional January 9 fixed date, the event dates were adjusted to accommodate requests from members of the Pravasi Bharatiya community. editorial@tribune.com Balwant Garg Tribune News Service Faridkot, September 15 With only four candidates appeared in the last round of counselling on Saturday against 205 vacant BDS seats, 201 of the total 1,230 seats remained vacant in six private dental colleges in the state. The Punjab Private Self-Financed Dental College Association has complained to state government, accusing the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) of not complying with the Supreme Court and Dental Council of India (DCI) directions on the admission process for the BDS course. There are a total of 15 dental colleges in the state, two government and the remaining private. September 15 was the last date for admissions. Known as a stray-vacancy round, the last counselling to fill the vacant BDS seats was conducted at BFUHS on Saturday. In their complaint, the colleges alleged that in violation of the SC and DCI directions, the BFUHS did not send them a list of candidates, equal to 10 times the number of vacant seats on September 12. Rather, the university conducted the counselling at its own level. Denying the charges, Dr Raj Bahadur, Vice Chancellor, BFUHS, said, Only those candidates who had been registered with the university were eligible for the last round of the counselling. As per the guidelines, no fresh registration was allowed at this stage. In the previous years, it was found that some colleges admitted candidates from other states violating the eligibility criteria of the Punjab government. These admissions had led to litigation, the VC claimed. At the college level, the choice of seat was limited to the candidates, he said. We have made all efforts to fill the maximum number of seats from the registered candidates, he said. Instead of referring the students, 10 times the number of vacant seats, to the colleges individually, the candidates get more choice of colleges if vacant seats are filled in centralised counselling, Dr Bahadur claimed. In some colleges, most of the seats are still vacant. Desh Bhagat Dental College, Mandi Gobindgarh, for instance, could fill only 18 of its 100 seats. harinder@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service & PTI Jalandhar/Kochi, September 15 Bishop Franco Mulakkal, facing a probe after a nun accused him of rape, has handed over administrative responsibility of the Jalandhar diocese to a senior priest even as a group of Catholic priests today extended support to the protest by Catholic reformation organisations seeking justice for the nun. Summoned by the Kerala Police for re-interrogation in the alleged rape case by September 19, Mulakkal in a circular said the administrative matters would be handled by the Vicar General (deputy bishop) in his absence. In the circular to priests, nuns and brothers of the diocese, the Bishop said: In my absence, Msgr Mathew Kokkandam will administer the diocese as is the normal practice when I am away. He requested them to continue to pray for him and for the alleged victim and her supporters who had come out against him so that divine intervention may bring about a change of heart and the truth of the matter may be revealed. The Bishop claimed there were several contradictions in the evidence collected against him by the police. I leave everything into the hand of God as I await the result of the findings (sic), he says. The circular was issued on September 13, a day after the Kerala Police asked him to appear. Those protesting in Kochi seeking justice for the nun welcomed the development. We are happy, but he still wields wide authority and power (over the diocese), said one of the five nuns staging a protest. As the protest entered its eighth day today, a group of catholic priests visited them, defying the stand taken by a powerful Bishop body, and vowed their support. The circular regarding handing over of administrative powers comes just days after the complainant nun had written to the Vatican about her plight. The matter was reportedly discussed in a C-9 meeting of the Cardinals recently in Vatican. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 14 In a setback to the state government, the CBI has allowed bail to one of the main accused in a sacrilege case. Shakti Singh, who was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by DIG RS Khatra, was granted bail by Special Judicial Magistrate, CBI, Jatinderpal Singh on Wednesday after the investigating agency said it had no objection to the same. The Congress government is under pressure from Panthic organisations to ensure exemplary punishment for sacrilege accused. The SIT had in June arrested Shakti and nine others, all associated with Dera Sacha Sauda, in the 2011 Moga arson case. A few days later, the SIT claimed that this group, headed by Maninder Singh Bittu, had stolen and torn pages of Guru Granth Sahib and strewn these in 2015. All these accused are under arrest. The SIT was working on the case even though the investigation was taken over by the CBI. Later, the SIT handed over all accused and the investigation report to the CBI. Punjab Police officials said Shakti was given bail as the CBI did not file the requisite challan against the accused within 60 days. CBI officials could not be contacted. DIG Khatra said Shakti would remain behind bars as he had not got bail in the Moga arson case. He declined to comment on the bail allowed by the CBI in the sacrilege case. As per the SIT report, Shakti had bought 10 blank pages from Gopal Kumar of Bargari village and later given these to co-accused Sunny for preparing controversial posters about the Sikh holy book. editorial@tribune.com Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 15 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is set to replace Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and wood as cooking fuel at Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji Langar Hall at the Golden Temple in October. The Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation, which has a network of over 16,000-km gas pipeline and 233 CNG stations, is executing the project. The Rs 500-crore project was sanctioned under a Central government-funded scheme. Municipal Corporation Commissioner Sonali Giri said they were employing sophisticated horizontal directional drilling process for the project. It is best suited for densely populated areas like Amritsar as the procedure for laying the pipeline is carried out without impacting the environment. On an average, 90 LPG cylinders are used to prepare langar for nearly 60,000 people daily at the Golden Temple. SGPC officials at the langar hall said the introduction of CNG would end the use of wood as cooking fuel. Initially, the CNG pipeline has covered the 4.5-km stretch of the Sultanwind road. Besides, work is underway for laying the pipeline on the 8-km stretch on Majitha and Court roads. Within a year after the supply of CNG at the Golden temple, domestic and commercial connections will also be made available. In the first phase, domestic connections will be provided to 25,000 households with priority to Central government colonies. Apart from this, there is also a plan to provide green energy to the kitchen of the langar hall. The authorities have also proposed setting up a biogas plant at the Golden Temple to utilise the large amount of vegetable waste being generated in the community kitchen. It will be set up in collaboration with the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited under its corporate social responsibility initiative. harinder@tribunemail.com Balwant Garg Tribune News Service Faridkot, September 15 Grappling with the drug problem in the state, Punjab Police are faced with a new challenge: handling anonymous complaints meant to harass individuals. A number of complaints have been filed with the Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Batala and Amritsar police, accusing Faridkot residents of indulging in drug trade. Similarly, the Faridkot police have received drug complaints against individuals living in Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Patiala. While most of these complaints turn out to be false after investigation, the police and the accused remain on tenterhooks. Those summoned have to travel to other districts to present themselves before the police, causing undue harassment. Jaswinder Singh of Sadhawala village, Faridkot, was recently summoned by the CIA Staff of the Jalandhar (rural) police, asking him to join investigation in a drug trafficking complaint. He reached Jalandhar with around 20 villagers, including panchayat members and the sarpanch, who vouched for him in writing, prompting the police to close his file. The complainant wrote under a pseudonym. amansharma@tribunemail.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 15 A Delhi Special Court has dismissed former Director General of Police of Punjab SS Saini's plea to recall Justice (retd) Rejive Bhalla of the Punjab and Haryana High Court as a witness for further cross-examination in a 24-year-old kidnapping case, saying "he has been sufficiently cross-examined". Justice Bhalla was counsel for Vinod Kumar, one of the three missing men feared murdered, before his elevation to the Bench as an HC Judge. He was appointed Chairman of the Punjab Education Tribunal after his retirement as a judge. "I find substance in the arguments of Ld (learned) Prosecutor that the defence has been adopting delay tactics so that the patience of the witness gets exhausted," Special CBI Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna said on Friday in her order rejecting Saini's application seeking recall of Justice Bhalla as a witness. Noting that similar tactics was adopted when another witness Smt Bala (wife of victim Vinod) was being examined, the court said "trial is not a matter of convenience nor the provision under Section 311 CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code) is meant for convenience of the defence". Justice Bhalla had deposed before then Special CBI Judge MK Nagpal in January this year as a prosecution witness. Saini's counsel had cross-examined him and the cross-examination ran into 22 pages. Special Judge Chandna also rejected Saini's plea to direct the prosecution to produce Justice Bhalla's statement purportedly recorded by the Investigating Officer during the probe after the retired judge categorically stated the agency had not recorded his statement and that it had only asked certain questions regarding the case. Saini is accused of being involved in the kidnapping and elimination of three persons in 1994. After a detailed investigation, the CBI filed a charge sheet; the trial court framed charges against him and the trial is on. He is on bail. Delhi businessman Ashish Kumar had alleged that his brother, Vinod, brother-in-law Ashok Kumar and driver Mukhtiar Singh were kidnapped and later eliminated. The CBI probe found Saini and three other senior police officials responsible for their disappearance and the agency accused them kidnapping the trio for murder. Vinod was picked up from parking area of the Punjab and Haryana High Court premises on March 15, 1994, after the conclusion of court proceedings, it was alleged. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Moga, September 14 Citing threats, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Jagwinderjit Singh Grewal has asked the state government to immediately transfer him from here. Grewal was allegedly threatened by Congress MLAs Dr Harjot Kamal, Darshan Singh Brar and Kaka Sukhjit Singh Lohgarh and Youth Congress leader Kamaljit Singh Brar (Darshan Brars son) after he refused to reject the nomination papers of some candidates in the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections. Claiming that Congress MLAs and their supporters had not deposited firearms at police stations or gun houses, the ADC feared that they may cause harm to him, his ailing mother and his children. Security personnel have been provided to me, but these MLAs supporters are roaming freely with firearms even on the premises of the mini-secretariat, violating orders of the district magistrate, he said. During the scrutiny of nomination papers, when I asked the policemen deployed outside my office to turn away armed persons, they did not act and remained mute spectators. The policemen are apparently working under the influence of Congress leaders, he alleged. In a letter to Deputy Commissioner Devinder Pal Singh Kharbanda, Grewal said the ruling party MLAs told him, The Congress is in power. We got transferred the previous DC. We will send you to a place which you will never forget in your life. The government takes no time to register a police case. Therefore, you listen to us and do what is desired from you. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 15 The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Saturday granted permission to Akalis to hold the rally in Faridkot on Sunday. Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain granted permission after hearing the case for almost one-and-a-half hour. Issuing notice of motion to the government and other respondents for Monday, Justice Jain asked the authorities concerned to make sufficient police arrangements to avoid any untoward incident. SAD counsel Ashok Agarwal had claimed that the venue of the rally was 40 km away from Bargadi where protests are under way. The High Court held a special hearing on the partys plea against the denial of permission to hold the rally. The Punjab Government had on Friday banned the rally of the SAD at Faridkot on Sunday, citing intelligence inputs that the rally could become a flashpoint between the radicals staging a dharna there and the Akali workers. Justice RK Jain questioned the SAD counsel on the number of rallies held by the party, the exact location of the rally, the number of people expected to participate and whether they would reach the venue through Bargari. The SAD counsel replied that the rally is scheduled at Dana Mandi between 11 am and 3 pm on Sunday and the venue could be reached through routes other than Bargari. The Bench was also told that 25 Pol Khol rallies had been held by the SAD. The Akali Dal has also changed the name of the rally to Jabar Virodh rallyrally against state oppressionsaid Party president Sukhbir Badal. Later in the evening, the court heard the Punjab Government's appeal against the order in a hearing that saw heated back and forth between the court and the Advocate General, but later stuck to its morning order. The court ordered Bargari route to be closed off to the public, sparking another round of arguments over what other routes could be opened to public going to attend the rally. Both Bajakhana to Kotkapura route via Bargari and the old route from Kotkapura to Faridkot will remain closed, but the new highway from Kotkapura to Faridkot and the road from Bajakhana to Faridkot via Jaito will remain open for public use. editorial@tribune.com Legal Correspondent Ludhiana, September 14 Additional Sessions Judge Arunvir Vashishta has awarded death penalty to local resident Rishu Grover (25) for the murder of two relatives. He had stabbed to death his cousin sister, Henna (21), and her mother, Usha Grover (55), on the intervening night of May 21 and 22, 2013. The court held that the prosecution had proved the guilt of the accused beyond doubt. He does not deserve a lenient attitude, the court observed while declining Rishus plea for leniency. According to the prosecution, the accused had tried to mislead the police by writing the name of one Babu on the wall with Hennas blood. The cops had initially rounded up a plumber, Babu Ram. Three days later, the then ADCP Neelambri Jagdale had cracked the case after zeroing in on Rishu. Rishu and Heena had reportedly been in a relationship. Her engagement to someone else upset him. The debt-ridden accused came to know that Heenas brother Rahul Grover had sent her money from Australia. Keen to repay his debts and avenge his humiliation, he murdered the woman-daughter duo before decamping with cash and jewellery. The prosecution claimed that 100 Australian dollars, Rs 2.11 lakh in Indian currency, two surgical gloves and a blood-stained knife were recovered from the accused. Denying illicit relations with the girl, Rishu had blamed Babu for the murder. After considering the evidence of 26 prosecution witnesses, besides being convinced by the submissions of victim familys lawyer Raman Kaushal, the court found him guilty and awarded death penalty. Did it to take revenge Rishu Grover and Heena had reportedly been in a relationship. Her engagement to someone else upset him. The debt-ridden accused came to know that Heenas brother Rahul Grover had sent her money from Australia. Keen to avenge his humiliation and repay his debts, he murdered the woman-daughter duo before decamping with cash and jewellery. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 15 Facing allegations of introducing distortions in the reproduction of Mahan Kosh, the Punjabi University authorities on Saturday decided to refer the entire matter to a panel of experts before taking any final call on the fate of printed volumes. The university had printed more than 6,000 copies of Mahan Kosh, each a set of four volumes, for Rs 2.75 crore. A meeting chaired by Dr GS Batra, Dean, Academic Affairs, was called to take a decision on scrapping the controversial copies. Sources said the university authorities placed an undertaking from Prof Dhanwant Kaur, who was responsible for publishing the encyclopedia, in which she stated that the Punjabi and Hindi versions of the work were published on the basis of original manuscript of Mahan Kosh. She said it was revised by Kahan Singh Nabha himself and was lying in library of the university. About English translation, she claimed that it was based on a print of the book, which came out in 1930. Following that it was decided that some pages of the encyclopedia should be referred to the experts for examination and any further action should be taken on the basis of their report. Earlier, a group of experts had viewed that there were some distortions and numerous mistakes in the reprint. The university had stopped the sale of the copies last year. Earlier, reacting to The Tribune story, 6,000 republished Mahan Kosh copies may be scrapped (September 11), the scholar who had translated the work into English, Prof Tejwant Singh Gill, had claimed that 132 pages comprising a list of words were not included as these would not have served any purpose. amansharma@tribunemail.com Ravi S.Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 15 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the forthcoming 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev will be celebrated across the world, and lauded the role of gurdwaras towards cleanliness. The PM stated this during his video conference interaction at various centres in the country after he launched fortnight-long "Swachhata Hi Seva Movement". In his interface with devotees at Patna Sahib Gurdwara, Modi said, "We will celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji all over the world." Modi chanted the traditional hosannas to the Almighty along with the congregation at the gurdwara. He said he has had experience of visiting gurdwaras and partaking of community kitchen ( 'langaar'), and added, "I was impressed by the cleanliness." He said Guru Nanak Dev was an apostle of cleanliness. "One is near the Almighty only when one's mind and soul are pure, which in turn can be attained only when the ambience and surroundings is clean." Earlier, Jathedar, Takht Patna Sahib Giani, Iqbal Singh lauded PM Modi for his initiative for cleanliness. "It is by God's inspiration that you have undertaken the initiative. Guru Nanak was believer in cleanliness. Mother Earth has to be kept clean," the head priest told Modi. He further told Modi's that it was due to his initiative of cleanliness that awareness on the issue has increased in Bihar where toilets are being constructed at a fast pace. He applauded Modi for his support to the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh in Patna. The grand celebrations have been recognised all over the world, he added. editorial@tribune.com Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, September 14 A day after the police booked a former inmate of Rajpuras SOS Childrens Village on the charge of raping a 16-year-old inmate, the latter on Friday retracted her allegations and refused to undergo a medical test. She now claims that her uncle had molested her. The girl told women cops that her initial statement to the police, was given at the behest of her maternal aunt. The police then presented her in the judicial magistrates court, where she claimed that she was not facing any problem in the SOS village. She said her aunt had instigated her to lodge false complaints of rape and sexual harassment on the premises. We will investigate the matter thoroughly. The girls allegations that her uncle touched her inappropriately would also be probed, said Rajpura DSP Krishan Kumar Panthe. A case under Section 376 (rape) of the IPC and various Sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act had been registered on Thursday against the ex-inmate, who is now working in Kansal, near Chandigarh. He had left the shelter home earlier this year. District Child Protection Officer Harpreet Kaur Sandhu claimed that the five children who had fled the shelter home earlier this week and were traced later had been handed over to their guardians. We will visit the SOS village and record statements. A team of senior officers from my department is also arriving from Chandigarh to ascertain the facts, she said. Meanwhile, the SOS village management denied wrongdoings on the premises and claimed that the maternal aunt of two siblings (both inmates) had a history of creating trouble for the shelter home. In February, she had visited the place without prior approval. On being questioned, she had confronted the shelter home workers. In the present case, the aunt is alleging abuse and ill-treatment. She insists on visiting the children regularly, disturbing their schedule and not letting them settle down in the SOS village, the management claimed. Girl retracts allegations editorial@tribune.com Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, September 14 Apprehending violence during the zila parishad and panchayat samiti polls, government employees are running from pillar to post to get exemption from poll duty. Teachers in many districts alleged that they had to suffer due to the poll-related duties as they had to attend two rehearsals on their off days. Studies would suffer in schools as they had to prepare for teaching students the next day, but would not get enough time for preparation. The Deputy Commissioners in various districts of Punjab, who are the District Electoral Officers, are dealing with hundreds of such applications. With applications in hand, employees are queuing up outside offices to somehow escape the poll duty. Sample this: Pain in heart, birthday of daughter, a sick relative, skin allergy, taking care of an infant, cooking for parents, attending to a pregnant wife. These are some of the excuses government officials are citing to seek exemption from the election duty. A majority of District Electoral Officers (DEO) have almost decided to sanction leave only in case of death. The offices of Additional Deputy Commissioners and the Deputy Commissioners-cum- District Electoral Officers are flooded with applications. I have received 130 applications, while there are 50 messages in my phone. Everyone wants exemption from election work, an IAS officer said. An official in Patiala wants to keep away from the polling duty, citing pain in the heart, which is yet to be detected by doctors, while another wants to look after his visiting relatives from abroad. In Ludhiana, an official wants to help his ailing father in taking care of his fields, while another wants to attend to his pregnant wife. And to ensure that applications are not turned down, officials are exploiting their connections in the police, political circles and even in the bureaucracy. Sources confirmed that employees with backing from Congress MLAs or senior leaders were being exempted from poll duties on priority, though senior officials deny this. Women officials want to stay away from poll duties, apprehending violence, while others fear repercussions for any lapse on voting day. In the previous elections, the EC had served a notice on my friend after he gave a clean chit to a liquor distributor against whom a complaint was filed. He is still fighting to save his skin, said a teacher tasked with election duty this time. I am still trying to get an exemption, but have no connection with any Congress leader, who can help me in that, she said. vinaymishra188@gmail.com Rana Siddiqui Zaman Though she was nominated for the Best Debut Filmfare award for Yahaan in 2005, Minissha Lamba barely made it to public memory, except for her innocent face and a child-like smile. Her most memorable character is from Yash Raj FilmsBachna Ae Haseeno. She also gave an impressive performance in Shyam Benegals National Award-winning film Well Done Abba. However, the 33-year-old is back and has swept the audience off their feet in her first-ever play, Mirror Mirror, wherein she plays 13 characters. The English drama was staged in New Delhi recently. The play is written and directed by Saif Hyder Hasan, known for bringing the love stories of Sahir Ludhianvi & Amrita Pritam and Geeta Dutt & Guru Dutt on stage. The 80-minute drama is a fast-paced psychological thriller on urban angst and sibling rivalry. The story traces the relationship between identical twins Minal and Manya. When the girls turn four, the father gives Manya away to his childless brother. But the foster parents meet with a fatal accident and Manya comes back to her biological family two years later. The arrival of a sibling disturbs Minals space. The play captures her feelings through family members, relatives and friends till the twins reach middle age. Two naughty kids, two teenagers, mothers, a matter-of-fact and authoritative father, a strict yet doting mother, Minals forever romantic lover-turned-husband Danish, a hero straight out of Mills & Boons, Jyoti mama, who Minal has a crush on, Manyas husband Kunal, chacha-chachi, Minals son and friend Rehan Minisshas effortless transition from one character to another weaves magic. She brings in the required voice modulation, body language, cynicism, arrogance, stubbornness, hatred, jealousy, agony, angst, love, laughter and tears. Her soprano is a new-found talent. I love listening to western classical and many pieces have touched my heart. I used Ave Maria here, she says. Hasan maintains his signature style of entwining euphonic ghazals when the girl is in love. His storyteller, Minal, keeps on munching, drinking, chopping vegetables, striding and strolling from one time zone to another. With crisp monologues, peppered with humour, Hasan doesnt allow a moment of boredom. Veteran art director Raghav prepared the roof with beam lights of a broken house with no walls. He explained, Instead of traditionally used fabric or ply, I used raw, unpainted metal to make windows, bar and painting of a semi-nude woman to represent the sharpness and hollowness of the ambience. The play is interspersed with some of Hasans personal moments the nakhras, balling actions of his six-year-old son and a calming lullaby he wrote for him. He lost his son a couple of weeks back and it is that lullaby which concluded this play, to a standing ovation vinaymishra188@gmail.com BN Goswamy According to an ancient Chinese legend,one day in the year 240 B.C., Princess Si Ling-chi was sitting under a mulberry tree when a silkworm cocoon fell into her teacup. When she tried to remove it, she noticed that the cocoon had begun to unravel in the hot liquid. She handed the loose end to her maidservant and told her to walk. The servant went out of the princesss chamber, and into the palace courtyard, and through the palace gates, and out of the Forbidden City, and into the countryside a half mile away before the cocoon ran out. [The legend in some versions dates to 2602 B.C.] Jeffrey Eugenides Even though Burma now Myanmar was a province of British India till as late as 1937, it has, for most people, always been another land, another place. Personally, however, I find reading about that country its history and its culture of great interest. There was that delightful book, The Burman, His Life and Notions, which Sir George C. Scott, journalist and eventual administrator of Burma, wrote as long ago as 1882 under the pseudonym Shway Yoe, and his highly informative Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States. But, more recently, I chanced upon a book that I must have picked up somewhere and then forgotten all about it: Silk in Burma. It was by a scholarly civil servant, J.P. Hardiman, who had worked earlier with Sir George Scotton on the Gazetteer volumes. The book was published from Rangoon in 1901; it disappeared then for a long time, but has recently been reprised, having been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and as a part of the knowledge base of civilisation as we know it. The book [as I read it from my copy which because of the acidity in the paper on which it was originally printed, kept crumbling or breaking in my hands] opens with a simple statement: There is no mention in authentic historical record or local legend it says, of the source from which the silk industry was brought into Burma, of the channel it followed, or of the manner or date of its introduction. But follows this up, in terse paragraphs, with all the argument about where the first silk was made, veering to the view that Chinas claims in this regard are the most credible. As far as Burma was concerned, in his view, it was introduced from Assam and China at an early date along the Irrawaddy Valley. In Assam, he picks on the Muneepoorians as the people who knew most about silk and its manufacture: a fact that really stands out in our own context. There is an absorbing reference to how the Muneepoorians from todays Manipur landed in Burma. Many years ago in the wars which were waged between the kings of Burma and the rajahs of Assam, it is recorded, victory generally crowned the arms of the rulers of Ava (in Burma). In those wars, the Muneepoorians, whose territories lie on the borders of Assam, suffered greatly ... (They) were taken prisoners and led into a condition of captivity at the Burmese capital. These people early turned their attention to different branches of industry, and among them was that of weaving the silks for the use of the royal family of the kingdom. The king, queen, and all members of the royal household dress invariably in silk garments. And then, one reads: Hundreds of these Muneepoorian captives were put to weaving. All the ingenuity, skill, and tact of which the people are capable were developed in the prosecution of the art of weaving, the art of dyeing, and the blending and arrangement of colours. This is followed by some figures. Over the whole of Burma, we learn there were silkworm rearers and cocoon gatherers, 3,229; silk carders and spinners, 9,724; silk-weavers and dyers, 11,660; and silk-printers and dyers, 386. In all, a total population engaged in processes dependent on silk was of 24,999 persons. This was in 1901: clearly, silk seems to have been everywhere. Hardimans documentation, which relies in part on earlier reports, is rich in technical detail, and goes into the economic dimension of silk production and that of marketing. To add to this, his publishers, the Government Press of Rangoon, also brought in some illustrators to show the various processes and samples of work being produced. All this makes for absorbing, if occasionally dense, reading. But every now and then, one comes upon passages as informative as diverting. He seems to have been very keen on following the evanescent life-span of the silkworm. Enormous detail of this he shares with his readers. Consider this: .the insect spins once a year in its natural state, though in domestication it will spin twice or even three times: once at the commencement of the rains, once during the rains and again at the close of the rains, the best cocoons being those formed towards the beginning of the cold weather. The cycle of its existence is from eighty-one days to eight or nine months. The female moth is very sluggish and seldom flies; the male, which has a powerful flight, usually seeking her out and fertilising her as she clings to the cocoon from which she has emerged; for this purpose the male is furnished with somesense, probably of smell, which enables him to find the female unerringly, however thick the foliage in which she is concealed. After fertilisation the female lays about three hundred eggsThey hatch about a week after being laid, and the caterpillars which emerge are generally indolent and solitary in their habits, seldom wandering to any distance from their birthplace, unless driven by scarcity of food. There is breathless narrative here even if it is a small part. As I said, the book makes for absorbing reading. vinaymishra188@gmail.com Nonika Singh ...and it is also possible, that Saadat Hasan dies, but Manto remains alive. More prophetic words could not have been uttered by none other than the man himself. Saadat Hasan Manto, a towering figure in Urdu literature who had the nerve to write his own epitaph in glowing terms, still lives in his writings today like only a few can. The relevance of his being and of his writings will soon be seen on Indian screens in Nandita Das film Manto that has been garnering accolades at various international film festivals. A biopic that brings many shades of Manto to life, his bebaak nature and his dare or as actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who plays his character in the film; Mantos truth. Indeed, Mantos is an unusual life, tragically cut short at 42, one that automatically lends itself to celluloid reality. Of course, this isnt the first time his persona will appear on the silver screen in the subcontinent. In 2015, Pakistan paid tribute to its own in Manto, a biographical drama, based on his life that starred Sarmad Khoosat in the title role. It was later turned into a TV series. Closer home J & K-based film-maker Rahat Kazmi wove Mantos four short stories together in the film Mantostaan. The reason Kazmi named it so was because he wanted to bring home the point that Manto belonged neither to Hindustan nor Pakistan but to humanity at large. Among Mantos many pluses Kazmi thinks the most remarkable was his ability to move beyond the simplistic good and bad binaries. Says Kazmi, His characters were never black and white; he never judged them either. For him a human being was a human being beyond caste, religion or nationality. Yet, he was a Punjabi to the core with his roots in a village near Samrala. Theatre-person Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry, who has adapted 10 of his stories in her three productions, feels he was so rooted to his terra firma that she could never uproot his stories from the original context in which the tales were written. She not only hails him as one of the greatest writers of Punjab but on par with world's best in the same league as Chekov and Maupassant. The man who wrote about what she calls desperate creatures was the voice of the disfranchised. His stories have many layers. Toba Tek Singh, a poignant tale about Partition, is a metaphor in itself; even his micro tales of barely two or three lines speak volumes and end with the same dramatic flourish as his long ones. Pata chala ki woh apne majhab ki thee... is how one of his succinct three-line tale climaxes. His own religion, however, was just a minor detail for him as he spoke on behalf of every religion. Indeed, in times where ultra-nationalism is being flaunted as a virtue, recalling a man who stood for values that transcended all barriers and borders, who even in the darkest corners of society saw light and humanity can never be underplayed. According to litterateur Gulzar Singh Sandhu, All of us face similar situations. But only a master like him can find a story in such a situation and who also possesses the craft to build its narrative arc; right from how to begin to how to end it. If Nandita talks of Mantoness, his undiluted stance against suppression of artistic liberty, Nawazuddin thinks he unveiled societal hypocrisy like no other. Human suffering, which sadly has a pattern of recurrence time and again, is yet another undercurrent. So even when he wrote about forbidden subjects such as sex, feels Sandhu, It was not to provide vicarious pleasure, never as a tool of titillation but to uncover human agony. Yet, he was charged on grounds of obscenity both in the country he was born into and the one he migrated to. While his works on Partition are considered to be seminal, his writing, often acerbic, invariably disturbing, at times laced with sex and violence, finds a resonance, as it deals with real issues, woven at a human and personal level. An indomitable writer, who never judged others, cant quite possibly be judged on the parameters known to mankind. Great, greater, greatest are mere epithets. Narrowing him down to being only a Punjabi, would be a disservice to his immeasurable calibre though many of his stories like Thanda Gosht, Toba Tek Singh did feature Sikh characters and Tamasha brought alive the horrors of Jallianwala Bagh massacre. However, playwright Dr Atamjit calls Manto quintessentialy a Punjabi, dabangg, frank and fearless, who said what he wanted to without mincing words. But above all he was a human being and like all humans he had follies such as boastful arrogance. As Manto is all set for release (September 21), it remains to be seen whether we will get to see the real writer who gave us many literary masterpieces or the man who was no stranger to narcissism and who fell prey to alcoholism. In Nawazuddins words, a man who was was full of contradictions. The actor, who has lived him for months, feels, There never is a difference between a person and his work. Thought is what defines and differentiates one human being from another not the biographical details that he was born in India in 1912 and died in Pakistan in 1955. With him lie buried all the secrets and mysteries of the art of short-story writing.... is how Manto may have desired his elegy to read. The film, hopefully, will decode many of those secrets. Holding a mirror to Manto and through him to society....for here lived a man, who exposed the truth through his stories. Mein apni aankhein band bhi kar loon par apne zameer ka kya karoon... it was a conscience that was as troubled as it was meant to jolt the status quo. vinaymishra188@gmail.com Salil Desai One of the most moving and poignant tributes to the victims of Hitlers final solution is the Holocaust memorial in Berlin. Located along the avenue that connects the Brandenburg Gate to Potsdamer Platz, the memorial comprises a playground-size sloping field dotted with concrete slabs of different heights, which remind one of a cemetery. This is known as the Field of Stelae. The rows and rows of those flat, grey structures rising from the ground evoke feelings of chaotic disorder and mourning. Steps lead to the basement museum. It feels like one is descending into the netherworld of Nazi crimes. A telling quote by Primo Levi solemnly greets one at the entrance It happened, and therefore, it can happen again. The chilling purport of that sentence is unsettling in this subterranean ambience as enlarged photographs of six victims, of different sexes, ages and nationalities look out at visitors, their eyes and expressions reflecting normalcy, with no hint of what gruesome fates they were to meet soon after. That moment onward, the Holocaust becomes disturbingly personal. The first chamber, known as the Room of Dimensions, unnerves one further. The backlit floor beams blown-up portions of letters, diary entries, poems and last thoughts scrawled by various victims. From 12-year-old Judith Wishnyatskaya to Hungarian poet Miklos Radnoti in stilted sentences or lucid verse profess love for their near ones, wait resignedly for their turn to die, and yet hoping against hope, experience the uncertainty and terror of facing death. The next chamber, the Room of Families, takes one into the pre-Nazi world of 15 Jewish families from different countries, which perished in the Holocaust. Sepia-coloured photographs show lifestyles, family occasions the men and women dignified, secure, alive and smiling while personal documents and other images outline their backgrounds, ancestry and belongings, brief life-stories or information on each individual member and how the Nazi killing machine finally got them. Whether its the Haberman family of modern-day Ukraine or the Grossmen family of Poland, one stares at their albums, at their ordinary lives and shudders to comprehend how devastatingly unfair life can be. Thousands of families like theirs have been wiped out just because of the fatal accident of their birth, during the era of a madman. Walls of black screens await visitors in the adjacent chamber known as the Room of Names. Azriel Zaks, Perl Becker, Golda Levi ... the names flicker one after the other, with brief biographies of every Holocaust victim. If one sat there to view all names thus, it will take more than six years to see the complete list. This chamber strives to remind us that every victim was a real, flesh and blood person, not some anonymous death statistic, just to be counted then forgotten forever. The final chamber, the Room of Sites, outlines the geographical distribution of the infrastructure of organised murder. The Nazis set up nearly 220 death camps across central and eastern Europe. Unique footage, paperwork and photographs from these camps are exhibited here, which send a chill down ones spine as one sees the sheer banality with which evil deeds were carried out, like routine tasks factories of death operating with sickening efficiency. The disconcerting question that bothers visitors is what kind of a twisted atmosphere prevailed that a camp officer felt the need to boast casually in a letter to his wife, that he had personally put to death some women and children. In the very next paragraph, he comes across as a loving parent and doting husband. It freaks one out beyond measure. As one emerges into the Field of Stelae again, the question that niggles is whether the world has learnt anything at all, because visceral hatred religious, ethnic, ideological thrives even today. Can it happen again, as Levi, so presciently cautioned? FS Aijazuddin FS Aijazuddin It took a jailed Caesars wife a spouse above suspicion to bring Pakistans hyena-herd politicians to their senses. Ever since she was diagnosed with cancer and admitted to a London hospital, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz had been the victim of snide snarls and gratuitous growls by opponents of her husband Nawaz Sharif. She is safe now, protected by the cold hand of death. Throughout her married life, Kulsoom Nawaz stayed behind the hoarding of her husbands public image, emerging only when neither he nor her brother-in-law Shehbaz Sharif were in a position to lead their PML-N party. Unquestionably more educated than her husband, she could have been the power behind his throne. More recent First Wives have succumbed to that temptation. Instead, she chose to be a supportive wife, a caring mother, and a devoted grandmother, rather than a political effigy. Yet, who can forget her courage when in 2000, on their behalf, she stood against Gen Pervez Musharraf, or rather sat in protest against him. In the heat of July 2000, for almost 10 hours she defied the Punjab police which tried to extricate her from a locked car. Eventually, her vehicle, with her still in it, had to be lifted by a crane. Guns were thwarted by a housewifes rolling pin. It is a measure of her Calpurnian reputation that so many persons from every political divide should have mourned her death and gathered to attend her funeral on Friday. After her burial, the family she tended over with such solicitousness will again be scattered some will go abroad, some in jail, just as the late Zulfikar Ali Bhuttos widow and children were cloven apart until death reunited them in the family graveyard at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh. Dictators are invariably narcissistic, in love with themselves. By contrast, political dynasties whether the Nehru/Gandhis in India, the Bandaranaikes in Sri Lanka, the Aquinos in the Philippines, or the Kennedys in the United States are doomed to be (in Keats words) half in love with easeful death. It might have been John F Kennedy who said one generation donates libraries, its second gives of itself. What he meant was that there can be no greater measure of patriotism than serving your own country. It is a fortunate national who can find room for his talents in his homeland. Over 125 years ago, MK Gandhi left South Africa and discovered himself in India. Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan quit Oxford University for Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. MA Jinnah left a comfortable home in North London for what ultimately became his Pakistan. Others like Leon Trotsky and Albert Einstein were not so lucky. In Pakistans history, two brilliant intellectuals Nobel Laureate Dr Abdus Salam and Nobel hopeful Dr Atif Mian found themselves disavowed by their greener compatriots for trying to cross the Muslim green/minority white divide on their national flag. There was a time when ones religion was never a bar to public service. Ahmedis such as Chaudhry Zafrulla Khan served as Pakistans Foreign Minister and MM Ahmed who headed the then all-important Planning Commission under Presidents Ayub Khan and Yahya Khan. But Dr Abdus Salams appointment as Ayub Khans scientific adviser raised the hackles of Pakistans bearded right. This month, Dr Atif Mian was invited by the new government, appointed to the Economic Advisory Board, and then disinvited. Both he and Dr Salam humiliated the right by offering to serve their country from wherever, Trieste or Princeton. One is tempted to recall the words one wrote for Dr Salam 25 years ago. Dr Salam then (and equally Dr Atif Mian now) have shown that they love their Athens more than Socrates did, for Socrates drank the cup of poison only once. The writer is Pakistan-based historian Ira Pande Ira Pande How ironic is it that as we progress into a new century, we are regressing with alarming speed towards an older India we thought we had put well behind us. Religious rituals and festivals have always been a wonderful means of celebrating the rich diversity of our multi-cultural and multi-faith country. All Indians celebrated Diwali, Dasehra, Eid and Christmas together regardless of their faith. Home-cooked sweets and goodies were exchanged among neighbours who professed different faiths and all this was done in a spontaneous manner, not because it was deemed politically correct. At some point and I would like all of us to reflect on this turning point we felt that another religion was becoming a threat to our own. So we invented ways of asserting our identity in a loud and intrusive way. I am not pointing fingers at the majority religious groups here but at all of us, whether Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian. Processions with swords and martial arts demonstrations, shobha yatras with loud music blaring from huge speakers, hysterical youths perched dangerously on tempos and motorcycles, veering this way and that to push people out of the way and lead this triumphal march through major roads, causing traffic woes for commuters and public transport when did this become necessary to proclaim ones allegiance to a faith? The recent Kanwariya season showed us the ugliest side of brute power but equally, we are also confronted with Muslim congregations spilling onto public areas and holding open-air namaz in cities as diverse as Mumbai and Gurgaon. If not checked in time, this tinder box will explode one day and no one may be then able to control the violent seizures that will surely follow. Every political party is now guilty of using religion as a mobilising force, so who occupies the moral high ground? Perhaps this disturbing trend owes much to the way history and mythology are now being merged in our curricula and popular imagination. The Indian way of remembering the past has much to do with the belief in its religious mythology that went side by side with empirical evidence. Who knows whether Lord Rama was actually born in Ayodhya? In fact, he may well have been born in his maternal home in Kosala (modern Punjab) since his mother was a princess from that land. To destroy a mosque built in Ayodhya simply because it outraged the bearded sadhus who thrive on the janmabhoomi commerce was an act of violence against the syncretic nature of our land. Today, this has become such an emotive issue that trolls hunt down anyone who dares to raise a voice against popular beliefs. This was made clearer to me when I recently attended a private gathering addressed by TV anchor Ravish Kumar. Anyone familiar with his Prime Time news programme will understand why he chooses to deliberately stay away from chalu news and raise questions that are based on historical facts and the Constitution. He recounted with pain and trepidation how he received death threats from the self-styled defenders of the Hindu faith for his apostasy. If this is how he feels, one can only imagine what happens to unprotected news stringers who dare to report unpleasant facts in our small towns. Something similar happened to several whistle-blowers during their pursuit of uncomfortable facts via the RTI. How can we call ourselves a modern country if this kind of bigotry and intimidation is being practised in the name of nationalism? Is this the freedom from repressive regimes that our parents generation fought for? In fact, when I look back, I am so proud of that generation and its commitment to truth and honesty. How many youths sacrificed lucrative careers and joined the Swaraj movement is a testament to how strongly they believed in non-violence and a united confrontation, drowning their individual religious differences and lifestyles! Does the young India of today have even an iota of that fervour? The answer is sadly a no. A big part of this is to do with our unwillingness to teach history without bias and in this all our historians left, right or centre are guilty. Their commitment to an ideological creed, left or right, has blinded them to a fair and equitable distribution of facts. If the current government must answer us for appointing academics of questionable merit to our institutions, it is merely continuing a tradition set in motion by its predecessors. These are unpleasant truths and the blame must be apportioned equally. Finally, the stranglehold of language over dominant political and historical discourse has to make way for those voices of reason that speak the truth. Whether they are fluent in English or not, regional aspirations and opinions have to be accommodated and given an equal place alongside all those who have the privilege of an English education but can speak no Indian language with any degree of fluency. Making fun of accents and clothes is the lowest form of academic bigotry. It has destroyed our great educational institutions and is now going to destroy our very beliefs. What needs to be done is speak of human rights, women empowerment and child protection. These are the eternal areas of discord and every religion has cheated the weak and dependent. It is time now to go back to our Constitution and set our compass to the way forward. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Sangeet Toor Social engineering is the art of psychological manipulation. At the centre of every cyber scam, there is a human being and their own vulnerabilities. Not very long ago, there was a Punjabi guy named Happy, who lived in a small village and studied BCA at a local business. One fine spring morning, when the overall weather was overcast with the Bitcoin clouds, he received a call from a woman who spoke English in thick Indian accent. She was calling from the United States of America, from a company called Nvidia. Her company sold Nvidia Graphic Processing Units (GPU) at reasonable rates. She claimed that Happy would be able to earn money in a Bitcoin wallet online and the company associates would help with the process of setting everything up over the Internet. The price for one GPU was Rs 30,000. They had an ongoing deal in which two GPUs were sold for Rs 50,000, but the deal would end the next day. More GPUs meant more Bitcoins. She was reasonable as she called out the short time span to arrange that amount. Happy could get the deal even if he paid Rs 25,000 by the evening. He asked for some time to think about it. She promised to call within half an hour. And you bet she did! Happy went online and looked into the company profile and products. In the meantime, she sent him a few testimonials and some certificates. Over the next couple of days, Happy paid the two installments to two different bank accounts within India. He called her when the GPUs did not arrive on time. There was a problem with the customs in America. He must pay Rs 30,000 for the items to be on their way. It did not end there. Happy paid six such installments as the plane fee, customs at the layover airport, customs in India, postal charges in India, and the repairs done to items as they were slightly damaged. The GPUs never arrived. Happys father, who is a decent farmer, went to the bank to withdraw cash and it was empty. Happy confessed to being duped. Remorse and shame dawned upon him. They went to the cyber crime unit in Chandigarh. There is little that law enforcement can do in such cases as the attackers mask their caller IDs to make it impossible to trace them, and the bank accounts are linked to other untraceable accounts by obscure routes. Why humans err Trusting and unsuspecting: Humans are social beings and trust is central to being social. We trust the person we interact with at the face value. Happy trusted Nvidia; the attacker established the associated trust and Happy did not question it. Greed: Our own hidden intent overpowers our ability to suspect. Mostly, it is greed (easy money, getting help for free, too good to be true deals) that drives two humans on diametrically opposite sides of social engineering. Curiosity: It has a special place in the evolution of humans, and the evolution of the cyber attacks also. The attacker engineers the call or email so as to pique the interest of the victim. Happy knew about Bitcoins and mining but it was the mining equipment that was of interest to him. Reaction to urgency: Humans rush to act and react in urgent situations. The attacker created a scenario where the deal would end next day. Happy must act immediately or the deal would slip out of his hands. Why personal info matters Identity: An individuals identity is the most valuable resource. Identity theft, which is common in Europe and USA, is going to be a collective migraine if we dont understand what is Personally Identifiable Information (PII). PII: Aadhaar Number and bank account information are sensitive PII. An attacker can launch a social engineering attack to get your PII and assume your identity in real life. Online identity: Email and social media account passwords are valuable to authenticate yourself on the Internet. An attacker can social engineer you to get the passwords and send malicious emails from your account. Computer and smartphone resources: An attacker can entice you to divulge your hardware passwords or delete crucial files or get remote access to use your device to launch attacks on other devices. The writer is a security analyst Types of attacks Phishing attacks: These are accomplished via email. Vishing attacks: When the social engineering is accomplished through Voice over IP calls, those are called Vishing attacks. Happy was a victim of a vishing attack. Facebook wants you to change your password: The email suggests that you click the link in the email to reset the password. The attacker acquires your trust by making it look like it came from Facebook. You had a distant relative by the name AkiyouAkhiya: The relative is now dead and wants you to get the inheritance worth millions of dollars. You must give your name, address, bank information, etc. to get the generous gift. Cry for help: These emails prey on the softhearted and generous people who legitimately want to help a stranger in a difficult time. To Do or Not To Do ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Purnima Sharma Till a few months back, the thought of traversing the long stretch of the road from Kochi to Delhi on motorbikes had not even crossed the minds of six bank employees from Kerala. These young women were too caught up in their lives to think about such a journey. But, once the idea got floated, there was no looking back. The excitement was all too evident after all, they were among the few chosen by their Federal Bank to go full throttle down the highway towards the countrys capital to promote gender parity. And no, they werent going as pillion riders but as drivers in full control. These six intrepid women Merlin Hamlet, Febina K B, Seetha V Nair, Lavanya, Surya Raveendran and Sangeetha Sikhamani were all set to change the mindset that motor bikes were for men only. Remember the 1967 Hollywood film Hells Angels on Wheels about a notorious gang of women bikers? Unlike them, these young women, who went with the moniker of Motorcycle Angels, were the fun-loving and gentle, modern-day avatars of this films popular characters. Their mission was not to play with danger but spread the message of women empowerment. And sure enough, when they set out on a fine August morning from Kochi, the Queen of the Arabian Sea, to cover a distance of more than 4,000 km through seven Indian states on their Royal Enfield Classic 350 CC, they were positive that the experience would be fantastic and incredible one that would remain with them for the rest of their lives. Other than Hamlet, who had driven to Jaipur a few years ago on her dirt bike, and Shikhamani who too had a few, albeit shorter, interstate rides to her credit, the rest were all highway novices. So you can imagine how excited we all were, says 27-year-old Hamlet. Get, set, go Preparations had begun a few weeks prior. The girls were not just given new bikes so that they get used to them but also training in basic first-aid, besides bike repair, should there be a breakdown. The momentum had been building up from much before and we were all waiting for our zoom-off date, says Sikhamani. The D-day, much to the girls surprise, was not just a regular flag-off but a grand affair complete with music by an all-women drum band. It not just served to heighten our excitement but ensured that we understood that we were carrying a great responsibility on our shoulders as well that of educating and empowering women wed be meeting along the way, adds the Thiruvananthapuram-based 32-year-old who picked up the biking bug from her father who, she says, continues to be a keen rider, even at 65. The oldest in the group, 40-year-old Seetha V Nair calls herself a veteran since she started riding from the time she was studying at the College of Agriculture in Kerala. Our campus was spread over 40 acres. I would often be giving a lift not just to my classmates but also teachers often taking multiple trips to ferry them back and forth, she remembers. All this stood her in good stead as being among a handful of woman riders of her time, she was always treated like a heroine even by her in-laws. This mother of two young kids, aged 8 and 14, got full family support, when she told them she wanted to be part of Motorcycle Angels. The drive down not just opened up a beautiful world for us but also proved to be a great learning experience making us all so zestful, disciplined, organised and tough. And yes, it also helped us come out of our shells, smiles Nair, a manager with the bank. As the journey progressed and word spread, biker groups in different cities they touched en route started coming forth to meet them. Nair recalls, Just about 15-20 km short of Udaipur, many Harley Davidson riders were waiting for us. Their encouragement gave us a big high. And then, together, we entered the city. The other high point was meeting not just members of the Bikerni biker womens group in Jaipur but also Vaishali Bhagat, the famous rider from the Pink City. Everywhere we went, we were treated like royalty, says Hamlet, whose affair with bikes started a few years ago. Memories forever Hamlet, who rides a Harley Davidson 750 at home, says the journey has opened many interesting, memorable chapters. It was humbling when many women we met along the way said wed become their inspiration. She recalls how near the Gandhi Ashram in Gujarat a little girl was crying when her mother told her to be brave and strong like us. It was so humbling. In a small village in Rajasthan, the bikers met many local women. They were intrigued that we had come so far away from home. Slowly, from behind their ghoonghats, they opened up about the everyday problems they faced not just issues like scarcity of water but also domestic abuse, says Kozikhode-based Hamlet. She adds that interacting with these women turned out to be a moving experience for all. All through their interactions, they stressed on the importance of education. Sikhamani recounts how at almost every place they halted, people would enquire about their families and how worried they must be about our safety. And the young banker laughs before letting on: We told them that yes, all our family members back home were indeed worried. During my entire trip, my mother-in-law sat in a temple praying for my safe return. Safety first On a serious note, safety was definitely a concern and everyones families kept track of them through GPS and social networking sites, says Febina KB. My husband, in particular was concerned because hes very passionate about bikes and was extremely excited about my trip. The couple is now planning to do Ladakh on their dirt bikes. While on the subject, it was drilled into them from the beginning that safety is not the first priority but the only priority, smiles the Kochi-based Raveendran, adding that the trip wasnt without its share of inevitable tyre-punctures that we took in our stride. There was a fall too but nothing serious, as we were all very particular about wearing the protective gear and following the traffic rules. The fun-quotient, the girls say, was added not just by a little bit of shopping, despite the paucity of time but also the number of times they would sit together at the end of the day and share their experiences. Besides the rip-roaring jokes, horror stories were inevitable too. And at our stopover at an old palace in Mount Abu that was said to be haunted, our bag of horror stories came out tumbling, laughs Nair. Sure enough, post-dinner and a session of scary tales, when it was time to retire, none of them had the nerve to go back to their respective rooms alone. We were so scared that finally, all six of us crashed in one single room just so that in case any ghost comes a-visiting, wed deal with it as one as an empowered lot of women! pardeepdhull@gmail.com Puyang (China), September 15 A government sign outside a Catholic church in central China warns that children are not allowed to attend mass. Illegal churches are being bulldozed. Priests are handing over personal information about their flocks to authorities. Roman Catholics in Henan province are running out of space to worship as the atheist Communist government steps up a campaign to Sinicize religions and demolishes old neighbourhoods to make way for development projects. The campaign has intensified even as the Vatican and Beijing, which severed ties in 1951, are reportedly close to resolving a longstanding dispute over who gets to appoint bishops. The standoff has split Chinas roughly 12 million Catholics between those who follow government-approved prelates and those in underground pro-Rome churches. A tattered poster of Jesus and a few wooden pews beneath bricks and broken planks are the only evidence that a church once stood in Puyang city before it was deemed an illegal construction. Liu Xueshang, a weathered old farmer who spent his life savings to help build it, searched fruitlessly through the fallen branches of the churchs crushed pomegranate trees for its cross. The church here is now facing a terrible future. We have nowhere to worship and dont know what well do, said Liu. Elsewhere in the province, nearly two dozen worshippers and clergymen interviewed by AFP detailed unprecedented measures imposed this year under new religious regulations. Crosses have been removed from church tops, printed religious materials and holy items confiscated, and church-run kindergartens closed. Churches have been required to display the national flag and constitution but take down religious imagery from public-facing spaces. In recent months, minors, college students and even infants have been barred from entering all church premises. On a recent Sunday at the officially-sanctioned Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Anyang, an official from the State Administration for Religious Affairs said she came to inspect as 800 people attended mass. Catholicism is not native to China, she said. And in Zhifang village south of Puyang, authorities welded shut the entrance of a kindergarten in a churchs courtyard. The school was shuttered because they want to prevent any cases of the church being involved in education, said a village leader who declined to give his name. Churches have also been told to hand over detailed information about each of their members, including their finances and ties to foreign influences, according to paperwork seen by AFP. One senior priest who requested anonymity said the data would be used to set up an online religious management system and monitoring app. Divulging the personal details of churchgoers has been a huge emotional burden on our clergy, who see it as a sin, he said, stating that guilt-ridden priests have come to him in tears. Most of the new measures were developed to rein in Protestantism, which authorities believe has been growing too quickly in Henan, he cited officials as saying, although Catholics are finding themselves targets too. Many Catholics in Henan, in eastern China, are paying close attention to the negotiations between Beijing and the Vatican. We hope the religion problems can be solved, we have the same faith, we want stability, we want to unite, an underground church member said. Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said in a brief statement to AFP that the dialogue between the Holy See and the Peoples Republic of China continues. The Henan and national religious affairs bureaus did not answer requests for comment. The crackdown in the province is amplified by the razing of old districts where most churches are located to make way for development projects. The rubble of the Puyang church lies in a construction site for high-rise apartments. The decades-old church was built with official permission and had a license to operate, but authorities abruptly declared it illegal a few months ago, said Liu, the farmer and local village leader. Without warning, bulldozers tore it down one night. The next day, all the old church members came and sat here, weeping, he said. A meagre compensation was not enough to secure a new place. Anthony Lam, a Chinese Catholic church expert at Hong Kongs Holy Spirit Study Centre, said urban development is being used as an excuse to demolish churches. Desperate underground priests have approached state-sanctioned colleagues for help to secure a place of worship in exchange for nominal oversight. A state-approved priest said the urbanisation and demolitions mean the space in which the underground can exist is getting smaller and smaller. Were speaking with the underground nowso as to protect them, not control them. This allows the government to know were monitoring them. This is our innovation in Henan. Many priests fear the restrictions will spread elsewhere in China. For many years, our feeling has been that Henan is an area of experimentation for the central government, said a senior clergyman with close ties to the government. We think this is just the beginning. AFP uttara@tribuneindia.com London, September 15 Iran said on Saturday that Kurdish activists attacked its embassy in Paris, breaking windows, and has accused French police of arriving late on the scene. A spokeswoman for the police was unable to comment immediately. Fars news agency reported that around 15 Kurdish activists burned the Iranian flag in front of the embassy during the incident on Friday, and smashed some windows with stones. They also threw fire extinguishers and computers at the gate, according to Fars, but did not manage to enter the premises. "The French government should take all necessary measures to protect Iranian diplomatic missions in that country," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA on Saturday. "Unfortunately, the French police did not arrive as expected on the scene on time, although the assailants were members of a terrorist organisation," he said. Qasemi said some of the attackers were arrested. Tehran has accused France of supporting opposition groups that seek the overthrow of the Islamic Republic and are classified by Tehran as terrorist organisations. France has rejected Iranian accusations. Last week, Iran's Revolutionary Guards fired seven missiles at the headquarters in northern Iraq 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. France has already told its diplomats and foreign ministry officials to postpone indefinitely all non-essential travel to Iran, citing a hardening of Tehrans attitude towards France. France is also investigating a foiled plot to bomb a rally held by an exiled Iranian opposition group near Paris that was attended by US President Donald Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani on June 30. An Iranian diplomat was arrested in Germany in connection with that plot. Any hardening of relations with France could have wider implications for Iran. France has been one of the strongest advocates of salvaging a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which Trump pulled out of in May. Reuters ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM WASHINGTON, September 14 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 November 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. 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. Reuters pardeepdhull@gmail.com Seoul, September 15 North Korea has resumed flights between Pyongyang and the Chinese city of Dalian amid signs of improving ties between the allies, the media reported on Saturday. According to local tourism agencies, a passenger plane of Air Koryo, the Norths flag carrier, landed at the airport in Dalian on Thursday and returned to Pyongyang with nearly 70 people on board, Yonhap News Agency reported. This marked the first North Korean airplane that had flown between the two cities since November 2006. There will be such flights every Thursday and Sunday. The resumption of the Pyongyang-Dalian flights may reflect improving bilateral ties between North Korea and China after chilled relations over the North Koreas nuclear and missile provocations. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently sent Li Zhanshu, Beijings third-ranked official, as his special envoy to Pyongyang on the occasion of the Norths 70th founding anniversary. Li was seated next to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a military parade staged last week, and the North also hosted an art performance and banquet exclusively for Li and his delegation in an apparent bid to emphasize friendly ties between the two countries. IANS pardeepdhull@gmail.com Islamabad, September 15 Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday embarked on his maiden visit to Afghanistan where he will hold talks with President Ashraf Ghani and other top Afghan leadership on security and other bilateral issues between the two countries. It is the first foreign visit of Qureshi since assuming the office of the foreign minister. FM Qureshi left for Kabul on his first foreign visit abroad underlining the importance government attaches to work closely with Afghanistan for regional peace and stability, Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said. Qureshi will meet his Afghan counterpart as well as Afghan President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah during the one-day visit. The two sides will also discuss the re-opening of Consulate General in Jalalabad which was closed due to security reasons last month. Faisal said successful outcome of the visit will lead future efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation under bilateral frameworks of cooperation including Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS). Qureshis visit comes amidst the US pressure on Pakistan to play more active role in arranging peace talks with Taliban rebels. On Friday, the countrys civil and military leadership held a meeting at PM Office to discuss foreign policy challenges. Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Inter-Services Intelligence director general Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, Qureshi, foreign secretary and other senior officials were present at the high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan. Bilateral relations with certain friendly countries and issues relating to security were discussed during the meeting, according to an official statement. PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com Paris, September 15 Europe should hold an annual car-free day in a bid to ease air pollution, the mayors of Paris and Brussels said on Saturday on the eve of a vehicle-free day in their cities. The call came in a joint statement by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and her counterpart in Brussels, Philippe Close, in which the two pointed to "the urgency of climate issues and the health impact of pollution". Both capitals will on Sunday hold their annual car-free day as part of the European Heritage Days 2018, a weekend of cultural events staged every year in countries throughout the bloc. In Paris, City Hall had on Friday said six areas at the heart of the capital would remain traffic-free on the first Sunday of every month, including Ile de la Cite and Ile Saint-Louis, Louvre, Opera, Chatelet and the Marais. The plan will kick in from October 7, with cars only allowed on the major roads crossing these neighbourhoods. Between 2017 and 2018, car traffic in central Paris fell by 6.0 per cent, which reduced air pollution "by a comparable proportion," City Hall said, describing it as a "record" drop. -AFP ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Tuguegarao, September 15 Typhoon Mangkhut lashed the northern Philippines with destructive winds and heavy rain that set off landslides and destroyed homes on Saturday, leaving at least 12 persons dead and six missing, as southern China and Hong Kong braced for the powerful storm. The strongest typhoon to hit the disaster-prone Philippines this year slammed ashore before dawn in Cagayan province on the northeastern tip of Luzon island, a breadbasket that is also a region of flood-prone rice plains and mountain provinces with a history of deadly landslides. China and the Philippines agreed to postpone a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that was to start Sunday due to the onslaught, which caused nearly 150 flights, a third of them international, to be canceled and halted sea travel. At least three persons died and six others were missing in the mountain city of Baguio after ferocious winds and rain destroyed several houses and set off landslides, which also blocked roads to the popular vacation destination, said the citys mayor, Mauricio Domogan. Authorities were verifying the drowning of three persons, including two children who reportedly died as the typhoon approached. They also were checking to see what happened to about 70 men who reportedly returned to their coastal village in Cagayan to check on their homes as the typhoon drew closer Friday, sparking concerns over possible storm surges. Mangkhuts sustained winds weakened to 170 kmph with gusts of up to 260 kph after it sliced northwestward across Luzon then blew out to the South China Sea, aiming at southern China and Hong Kong, where residents braced for the worst. With the weather easing, officials warned there was lingering danger. Its still a life and death situation, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said by phone. More than 5 million people were at risk from the storm, which the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre downgraded from a super typhoon. In Hong Kong, Security Minister John Lee Ka-chiu urged residents to prepare for the worst as the storm barreled toward the southern Chinese city. AP Beijing suspends ferry services China suspended ferry services in the Qiongzhou Strait on Saturday as typhoon Mangkhut approached the southern provinces of Hainan and Guangdong. Mangkhut is expected to land in an area between western Guangdong and eastern Hainan on Sunday night, packing strong gales and bringing heavy downpours. Risks $120 billion in damages uttara@tribuneindia.com Beirut, September 15 US-backed Syrian forces entered on Saturday an eastern village held by the Islamic State group where intense clashes are ongoing a day after the extremists reportedly killed 20 fighters, the forces and a war monitor said. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said its fighters stormed Bagouz and are close to the centre of the village. The forces added that they plan to open another front in the Sousseh area along the Euphrates river to increase pressure on the extremists. SDF launched with the help of the US-led coalition a wide offensive this week to capture the last pocket held by Islamic State in Syria. The Kurdish-led forces have been among the most effective in the fight against Islamic State in Syria, forcing them out of much of the country's east. Despite losing most of the territory it held between Iraq and Syria since its peak in 2014, the jihadist Islamic State remains a disruptive force in both countries. Its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, urged his followers to "persevere" in an audiotape attributed to him last month. The IS-linked Aamaq news agency said the group's gunmen targeted advancing SDF fighters in the Bagouz area with mortar rounds, roadside bombs and sniper fire inflicting many casualties among them. The SDF commander of the operation in Bagouz, who identified himself as Shergo, said in a video statement that the fighting is intense from both sides and that his fighters now control almost half of the village. "We will take all this place from ISIS," Shergo said in English, using a common acronym to refer to the Islamic State. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Islamic State fighters are relying on a network of tunnels in the area and land mines to slow down SDF's offensive. It said that some 100 women and 30 men, including Islamic State fighters, along with their children, surrendered to SDF fighters. The Islamic State gunmen were taken to tightly secured positions in the area, it added. The storming of Bagouz came a day after the Observatory and a Kurdish official said Islamic State gunmen killed 20 SDF fighters in the country's east. The Observatory said the extremists took advantage of a sand storm to launch a counterattack, which killed 20 fighters and wounded others. Kurdish official Ebrahim Ebrahim said the 20 fighters were killed in an ambush by Islamic State fighters. SDF said in a statement that only two of its fighters were killed and six others wounded in Friday's clashes. The Observatory said Saturday that since SDF launched its offensive on the IS-held pocket, including the town of Hajin, 53 extremists have been killed as well as 38 US-backed fighters. The Observatory said SDF brought in Friday some 1,000 fighters to fortify its positions and boost the forces carrying out the offensive. AP In this the final instalment of the story of Anthony Chow Lin On, aka Chinese Laundry, aka Chow, well explore the songwriter, singer and other exploits of the phenom. I cant, however, write another line without acknowledging a man who stood at Chows side in those Chinese Laundry parties, juggling as Chow hyped up the crowd. Who was there with Chow in the early days of WEFM, not only playing on air, but advising him. Sponsored: Ministry of Planning With heightened international awareness of the issues relating to hazardous chemicals and waste, ozone depletion and biodiversity conservation, there has been increased global action to address these issues. Trinidad and Tobago has been no different. More here wasn't able to find much info on this cruise which we loved so I am just doing a brief writeup. Please let me know if this is not right place and where I should post. Best option in my opinion for Narita to Yokohama: Limousine bus (Direct to YCAT (Yokohama City Air Terminal ) from Narita airport) Fare: 3600 yen per adult 2000 yen for those under 25! Duration: approx 85~110 minutes TIP: Ask about HAMA tix 4 adults roundtrip only 11,000 yen ***toilets on bus -I didnt use or check but I asked about. There are other discounts for round trip even if you cannot use HAMA tickets due to timeframe. Easy because it is right outside the airport right by the counter that sells the tickets, no rolling suitcases yourself until youre off the bus! Stay at Associa Shin Yokohama 2-100-45 Shin Yokohama, Yokohama, Kanagawa-ken, 222-0033 before cruise right by Shin-Yokohama station-Hotel is in Cubicplaza shopping building and attached to Shin-Yokohama Station (NOT to be confused with Yokohama Station which I did right up till I was leaving for trip!) Cubicplaza itself has shopping as well as restaurants on top 2 floors. First few floors have the open food areas, Starbucks etc . Lots of other food places nearby and pharmacy etc. Hotel was fine except beds were horrible, gave me back pain after 2 nights. Staff was friendly and helpful. TIP: fresh made onigiri in 2nd floor of Cubicplaza building. Also nearby is foodcourt like place with lots of smaller restaurant choices outside of Cubicplaza main building. Go towards Pharmacy and then keep walking to see it. Not convenient to Yokohama port at all! We decided to take taxi which wasnt cheap but didnt want to deal with the train transfers etc. Stayed at Hotel JAL City Kannai Yokohama 72 Yamashita-cho Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa-ken, 231-0023after cruise close to Nihon-Odori station which is 3 to 4 stations stops from Yokohama station. About 15 minutes walk to port for cruise terminal. Once you walk to port area, keep walking to Red Brick buildings then Yokohama World Porters shopping mall and across the street is Cup Noodle Museum. Wharf area has ferris wheel and other activities and another nearby shopping mall where there is a Pokemon Center for Japan only merchandise. Minato Mirai 21 area. TIP: rent a pocket WiFi, it is so useful. We rented from Japan Wireless whose prices were lower than most. Worked in every port except Kochi at first but later worked as well. Very useful for keeping in touch with home, checking email etc and with directions etc. Picked ours up at post office at Narita (you can choose hotel etc, we wanted to be able to use it right off the plane) and returned in post box at airport. Princess Diamond M826 11 day Japan We had cabins C108/IE Middle Forward & C111/IE Middle Forward The times printed on website was slightly different than when we got on ship. The timetable was provided first day and Ive updated below. Sat, Aug 4 Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan 04:00 pm Sun, Aug 5 At Sea Mon, Aug 6 Akita, Japan 07:00 am to 10:30 pm Tue, Aug 7 Aomori, Japan10:00 amto 10:30 pm Wed, Aug 8 At Sea Thu, Aug 9 Sakaiminato, Japan 06:00 am to 04:30 pm Fri, Aug 10 Busan, South Korea 07:00 am to 05:30 pm Sat, Aug 11 Kanmon Straits, Japan 05:00 am 07:00 am (at sea) Sun, Aug 12 Kochi, Japan 07:00 am to 11:30 pm Mon, Aug 13 Tokushima, Japan 07:00 am to11:30 pm Tue, Aug 14 At Sea Wed, Aug 15 Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan 06:15 am Impression of Ship: Diamond Princess is a bit older, I believe its maiden voyage was in 2004. It is not a huge ship but kind of nice for this trip which made it cozy. You run into people you recognize etc. The cruise director staff were great, lots of activities. Weve cruised before but never felt as engaged as this trip perhaps because it is a little bit smaller. As previous cruisers pointed out: the majority or cruisers were Japanese with rest from all over the world. It was not an issue at all if you learn a few phrases to interact. They even had an activity to pair up native Japanese and non-Japanese cruisers and my team won, it was a fun activity. The food was ok with special recipes by Curtis Stone on some or all nights (repeats). I would say it was not at the level of the Baltic Cruise I went on with them on Emerald Princess. I would give it a B+ whereas the Emerald I would give an A and just the level of cuisine. Staff were great as usual. The Horizon court also didnt have as much to offer. They did offer some Japanese food options but in dining room it was the same every night REALLY? Like not to offer at least one thing different every night? I would have tried them! There were some special Chocolate Journey desserts which were delicious that you should always get! The cabins were a little outdated. The highlight of Horizon Court area is the pizza place! Had a slice one day because I wasnt full and didnt like the buffet stuff. I wish I had gotten the chefs name one of the best pizzas I had! Did not try any of the grill stuff. You can see some wear and tear in the cabins. The showers were awful! Only 2 settings, one was so weak it was more dripping down which forced me to use the more powerful setting which was bit too much! 2 Formal nights. DO NOT PAY for their bottled waters! Just bring a water bottle and you can get water from Horizon court. Just takes a little time to refill your cups and pour into your own water bottle. Also once youre in a port and find a convenience store, bottle watered is super cheap unlike in Europe. The bar service guys by Explorers lounge were awesome. We hang out there a lot or by the side of the lounge. Look for Lester, super friendly and once after we ordered and then just got water, he gave us bar snacks without asking! We also won champagne twice from games/activities and just asked them to open the champagne and share with everyone at the event since only my son sips a little champagne and the rest of us dont care for it. For Port information: Princess had PAID shuttles from every port EXCEPT Tokushima. More on that later in that section. $5 to $10/person for shuttle but depending on port. Also we did not venture out beyond the main area since we were mostly interested in the festivals. We also did not join any Princess excursions as price was prohibitive for family of 4. We also wanted to be very relaxed so not getting up super early etc took time to have some breakfast. Also Princess doesnt like to list ahead of time the names of the piers for some reason. In Yokohama it is the Osanbashi pier. This is important in Tokushima, Ive listed pier names in each port section. Also each port has their food specialty, do try them as Ive had one of the best udons in one of the ports and wished I remembered to take pictures etc Akita (August 6, Monday 7am 10:30pm) Nakajima Berth 2 & 3 Kanto festival still happening when were there (8/3-8/6) In addition, there are Kanto competitions, held during daytime on the last three days of the event right by Senshu Park. Place: Chuo Dori Street, Akita City. About a 12-15 minute walk from JR Akita Station This is where the Princess shuttle bus dropped us off. We did not do anything near the port as we took the shuttle. Senshu Park is is nice. Route Inn's Hotel Grantia Akita Spa Resort - Short 8 minute walk away from JR Akita Station. You will immediately notice the hotel building the moment you are on the river stretch as it towers over the few buildings that are around the corner. 600 Yen in case you dont get a chance to go to onsens far away, an interesting experience we did this to pass some time while waiting for night time festivities and it was kind of too late to take shuttle to go back and forth. Akitas Specialty Goods Shop- with many goods to choose from is only a five-minute walk from the west entrance of Akita Station. You will find local sake and wine, as well as a variety of local arts and crafts such as kabazaikucherry bark art and magewappa woodwork. Rose ice cream refreshing and delicious kind of like sherbet but much better, sold by little old ladies with a cart Floor 12 of building of specialty shop fantastic crab restautant with set lunches, cant remember name but theres a giant crab in lobby pointing out the restaurant my Impression of port: Had a welcome center as soon as you got off ship (which set us up to expect the same in other ports but no one else had it). Nice port, night time festival was crowded and exciting with food stalls etc like youve read about. Aomori (August 6, Tuesday 10am-10:30pm) Okidate Wharf Warasse, a Nebuta festival museum, displays large lantern floats actually used in the festival along with other festival items. At the gift shop in the lobby, they and sell Aomori apple cider and juice very delicious. Right outside are festival good stalls and there was a young Shamisen player who performed periodically very good musician. We dined on sushi very fresh in a nearby fish market. OK a complaint about the shuttle here, they stop running at 5pm even though we are at the port till 10pm or later. Some excuse about a bridge not being available but yet we chose to stay out to see the festival during night and took a taxi back. Best taxi driver ever, drove us up to the gangway! So anyways how come the taxi can get to the ship but shuttle bus cant? Found the Aspam too crowded Nebuta Festival: stop by the visitor center to get a map of the route of festival. Unlike other ports, this one wasnt as crowded maybe since it was the last day of the festival. Im not sure if they normally parade during the day or because it was last day they did it in afternoon and at night. We ended up going towards a big intersection and was able to see all the floats well. At night, the floats are lit up and there is fireworks. We did not choose a good location but could still see. my Impression of port: loved this festival, so unique, good people, good food, good time. Sakaiminato (August 9, Thursday 6am-4:30pm) Showa South Wharf Mizuki Shigeru Road - The Sakai Port is the hometown of the manga artist Shigeru Mizuki. There are a total of 153 bronze statues of "Yokai" monsters, the main characters in Mizuki's popular cartoon GeGeGe no Kitaro on Mizuki Shigeru Road. Tip: If you have kids or young at heart, there are ink stamp stations throughout the area to collect. Go to the visitor center to purchase a stamp book 100yen (around $1) and look for the stamp stations, if you collect them all you go back to visitor center to get a certificate which makes a nice memento. Try the tuna Ramen delicious Prior to departure from Sakaiminato all guest have to attend a departure immigration imspection on board by Japanese immigration officials on board before heading to Busan South Korea really not too bad at all. THIS IS FOR EVERYONE whether you leave ship or not. When you go to the Busan port, South Korean immigration is done there. The ship cannot leave until EVERYONE does it and they will start announcing names dont be those people! my Impression of port: Its all about Mizuki Shigerus creations if you dont venture out too far but we enjoyed it and a good lunch. Busan (August 10, Friday 7am 5:30pm) Busan International Passenger Terminal 2 Jagalchi Fish Market is also close to the shuttle stop. If you're in Busan, then you must visit Jagalchi Fish Market, which Busan is famous for. This market displays freshly caught fish and various other sea creatures that are still alive. Gukje market is one of Koreas largest, with stalls flanking both sides of the alleyways. Gukje actually translates to international. You will be able to find lots of street food, clothing. It connects to other markets such as Bupyeong Market and Kkangtong Market, Nearest Station: Jagalchi My daughter bought 13 pairs of socks for 10000won (less than $10 USD) Yongdusan Park/Busan Tower - Nice views of the Busan on a clear day. Park is free but entry fee required for the tower BIFF Square - Center of Busan's annual film festival, there are handprints of Asian stars and lots of street food. my Impression of port: We have been to Seoul before and Busan looks older and not as sparkly new but still interesting visit. Kochi (August 12, Sunday 7am 11:30pm) Upon arrival, everyone has to do an arrival immigration into Japan (since we left to go to South Korea and now back to Japan port!) again not bad at all. Yosakoi Festival- This midsummer festival epitomizes the Nangoku-Tosa area. Started in 1954, it runs for four days from August 9 to 12 every year. Festivities are kicked off on Otesuji Street, the main dance venue, and dances are held in 16 dance and contest venues around Kochi City. There are gallery seats along Otesuji Street from which to view the dances. Aisukurin (derived form ice cream)- This cold dessert is a Kochi original. The mild sweetness and unique texture make it a beloved year-round treat. The standard flavor is banana, and it is sold under beach parasols at tourist spots and other locations throughout Kochi. Kochi Castle- TIP: You can see the dances on stage at Kochi castle first. When they perform in the covered shopping arcade, it can be very loud so bring ear plugs. Each team has different outfits and dance choreography, very unique. There is Daiso in the arcade, you can get a stool for 200-300yen only to save your tired feet! They might even sell earplugs. For those unfamiliar with Daiso, they are a Japanese chain dollar-ish store except filled with things that you want to buy and are useful! I wish there was one where I lived! my Impression of port: really enjoyed all the different teams with their unique costumes and choreography. No 2 were alike, dances are modernized at times and teams from all over Japan it seems. Tokushima (August 13, Monday 7am 11:30pm) For some reason Princess did not provide a paid shuttle and trying to find information even at the shore excursion desk was impossible because they want you to BUY THEIR EXCURSIONS. With 4 people shore excursions were too pricey an option for us. When they finally passed out the shore information turns out the City provided FREE shuttle bus to the train station. Princess is docked at a farther wharf named Akaishi Wharf in Komatsushima town rather than Tokushima. Once we were boarding shuttle they passed out information about a special train for Princess 2:30 departure but too late for us and we were on the train like sardines! the train station is called Minami-Komatsushima and take it to Tokushima station 260 yen one way. My Impression of port: The hype of the Awa Odori festival made this port a little bit of a tourist trap. The Awa Odori Kaikan building contains the store which is fine, the museum which is not all that interesting for higher fee than it should be and a fee if you want to see the dance on one of the floors which we did not do. The ride up the gondolas for Mt Bizan there is a fee that is ok. This is the first port I felt like they tried to upcharge tourists. Away from this building seemed fine. I found this festival personally just ok since most of the dance is the same. The live music accompaniment is interesting but did not make me feel like we had to stay out late to see it at night and therefore risk the whole train situation back to the ship Hope this helps future cruisers Hi guys, doing a trip from Mexico City to Bogota in February for roughly 4 months. I'm pretty much just sticking to the classic itinerary, which looks doable, but a bit tight. Interested in culture, food, Surfing, active outdoor activities - nothing too hardcore though; a two day trek is plenty for me, occasional nightlife. Learning Spanish at the moment and I realise its cheaper in Guatemala, but Oaxaca seems like a great place to brush up too. My main concern is Costa Rica. Despite being the most 'westernised' in Central America, so to speak, it seems like it's pretty hard to get around the country, and a lot of backtracking compared with the others, is this the case? I'm mainly up in the air about Santa Teresa and whether I should make the effort to get there. I surf but I'm happy just sticking to El Salvador for the surf if it's too much of a hassle getting to Santa Teresa. It seems like there really isn't much there in the area either? I like a few amenities around me at all times, although I realise there's probably not much in El Cuco either in el Salvador. I usually go to Indo to surf, I'm only at low intermediate level and usually ride a long board but used to perfect waves that aren't messy. From what I've seen in santa Teresa the waves seem a bit messy and close out quite often? Would tamarindo and the surrounding area be a better set up, as well as easier travelling logistics coming from nicaragua then travelling the rest of the country? And yes I do know about the crisis in nicaragua, but will still be going, just keeping a low profile. Is it still fine to get there from el Salvador? Here's the itinerary: Mexico city Oaxaca, with possible Spanish lessons San Cristobal Palenque Merida (possible) Cancun (possible) PDC Tulum Caye caulker San Pedro Tikal Semuc champey Atitlan Antigua Copan El Tunco El Cuco Leon San Juan del Sur Ometepe Granada (if safe) Santa teresa Fortuna Arenal Puerto vjejo Bocas Panama city Bogota San Gill Medellin Guatape Salento Bogota I pretty much know all the typical things to do and see so not looking for much info on that, just if this is doable in 4 months as Colombia seems like it'll be a bit of a squeeze. Copan is also to tick off Honduras, bit stupid I know but will be cool to hit every country during the trip. Lastly I'll be flying panama to Colombia. Sorry this is so long for my first post, thanks for the help one and all! Re: Very early stages of trip planning - thoughts please 1. Re: Very early stages of trip planning - thoughts please With the exception of Phu Quoc, you sort of have time for the rest. Work on a minimum of three nights in each place, except for Halong Bay where you can just spend a night. Sapa would usually be a night on the train either way, plus at least one night there. As far as how to get around, fly. Fly Hanoi to Danang for Hoi An, and then fly Danang to HCMC. Time of year wise, November won't be great for Hoi An. September / early October would be my preference. Scott I have gotten further in booking my itinerary - please can you help me with the logistics of the last part? This is it so far. Questions below :) Friday 28th DEC arrive 11.30am HCMC - *arrive at hotel around 3pm to explore HCMC in the early evening NIGHT 1 HCMC BOOKED Saturday 29th DEC Daytrip tour to Mekong Delta? NIGHT 2 HCMC BOOKED Sunday 30th DEC Full Day in HCMC - *fly to DANANG 8.30pm then taxi to Hoi An*BOOKED NIGHT 1 HOI AN Monday 31st DEC HOI AN full day 1 NIGHT 2 HOI AN Tuesday 1st JAN HOI AN full day 2 NIGHT 3 HOI AN Wednesday 2nd JAN *TBC* travel to HUE by motorbike transfer on the High Van Pass (4-6 hours)? then fly evening flight to Hanoi or fly to Hanoi from Danang? evening or morning? (evening flight gives one more day in HOI AN (3 total) or morning flight gives one more day HANOI 3 total which means potentially ninh binh tour?) NIGHT 1 HANOI Thursday 3rd HANOI full day 1 NIGHT 2 HANOI Friday 4th HALONG BAY boat tour pick up early morning for bus transfer to Halong Bay (3-4 hours) NIGHT 1 HALONG BAY BOAT Saturday 5th HALONG BAY boat tour transfer back to Hanoi by bus to arrive early evening NIGHT 3 HANOI Sunday 6th HANOI full day 2 NIGHT 4 HANOI Monday 7th 8.30am flight from HANOI via TAIPEI so my question is for the middle part of the trip as I havent booked that part yet. If we flew to hanoi in the morning from danang - could we potentially then do a ninh binh day trip from hanoi with out extra day in hanoi? or should we have the extra day in hoi an, but what else is there to do as it seems like a small town and I figured 2 days was enough to get a grasp of it. or should we do the motorbike transfer from hoi an to hue to see the high van pass and then fly to hanoi in the evening. Ive read conflicting info on how long this takes, seems that most get in around 5pm so too late for the night train I wanted, but ok for the 11pm flight.. Or is there another way of doing it where we train it to ninh binh and then to halong bay and then to hanoi? I kind of preferred having hanoi as a base and doing the trips out to ninh binh and halong bay really, to not have to carry bags and move about with our stuff. And I like the look of ninh binh and going on a boat and bike :) I'm aware its rushed but my mum didn't want to travel more than 10 days, and we had already booked our flight into HCMC and out of HANOI. in hindsight I would have perhaps skipped HCMC and just done between hanoi and hoi an area but can't change it so have to deal with it how it is. Thanks for any insight. Yes, your schedule is awfully ambitious, especially if you are in your 70's and not used to walking. (If you're from the west coast, I'm guessing you take cars to go everywhere.) Day 1. What time is your plane arriving? 5 am at Haneda, or mid to late afternoon at Narita? If it's the latter, your day will basically be shot. Just to get to your hotel and walking around the neighborhood to acclimate yourself will be enough. If you're landing in Haneda, you'll start feeling tired in the early afternoon. You can power through, but plan on an early bedtime. Plan on 30-60 minutes to get from point A to point B, even within the city. You'll be walking up and down the stairs... and looking at maps. How long to do plan to be at the museums? You could easily be at one place for 2 hours. Sky Tree would take at least a couple of hours, plus walking through the shopping mall. If it's raining, and not on a Monday, go to the Edo-Tokyo Museum. You could be there for a good half a day. Get a guide. Parks are beautiful in spring. Planning on spending a couple of hours walking around through each one. Make sure you pick places that are close to one another. You won't want to go from one side of the city to the other. (You're all over the place on Day 5.) Slow down at each location. You will have more than enough things to stimulate your senses. Have fun! -:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:- This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. Hello all. Like most people Ive been trawling this forum for months planning our new york trip and its time to fine tune our plans. Id really appreciate advice on timings and order of activities. My husband and i ( mid 40s) and 13 year old daughter arrive around 9am fri 28th sept and leave at 11 am fri 5th October. This trip is a birthday present for our daughter and my husband is celebrating his while were there. Were particularly looking forward to imbibing the citys buzz and energy, wandering around, shopping, and seeing a few sights. Neither my daughter or husband are keen on any of the museums ( and Ive been to MOMA, met n Guggenheim previously). Its my dsughters first time in NYC and my husband was last here pre 911. We dont want to be rushing around to a schedule so Im loathe to prebook too much. My daughter and i are vegetarian and as a family we love pizza/pasta Our rough plan is: ( Ive asterisked my questions!) Fri 28th Land around 9 at JFK- well have 3 large and 3 small ( hand luggage) bags. ** Should we order uber x or will a cab outside fit our luggage? Arrive at accommodation ( west 48th) around 11, freshen up and then lunch close by ( pizza or bagel) Walk thru Times Square down 5th Avenue to central park. Wander around park and relax ( well be coming from a 25 hour commute!) Staten island ferry for view of skyline around sunset ( want my daughter to see this on her first day here!) Early-ish night Sat Diner/pancakes for brunch Wander around ? Bryant park, library Nat geo underwater experience Jack rabbits store (73rd str west for specific running shoes for hubby) TOTR at sunset ( ** want to book but unsure if this will be too busy as were wanting to spend eve at chelsea market) High line walk to chelsea market. Spend evening at market Sun Dumbo smorgasbord Walk back via brooklyn bridge ( is this better on a week day to avoid crowds?) Dinner at gnoccheria (LES) ? Show or 4D movie Mon Woodbury for shopping (I KNOW!!! but no debates here please, daughter n hubby are SET on this!) Tues Sleep in Yummy pancake brekkie (*** any ideas? I loved the Clinton str bakery blueberry pancake stack when i stsyed in LES in May but may be too much of a commute) SOL- we have 12 noon pedestal tickets booked (** what time should we aim to arrive? Would we be better off having breakfast nearby?) OWO (** want to book tickets but not sure about timing) 911 memorial ( husband and daughter not keen on museum ) Wed Coney island and luna park Thurs Last day here so want to leave it open for last minute favorites/ central park/ things we didnt get a chance to do ** would also like to wander thru Little Italy, china town, greenwich, soho. When should we aim to do this in above itinerary? ** would like to attend a comedy show ? Stand up at apollo and PUFFS play. A musical would b fun too. Probably need to book, what do u recommend? Ive looked on todaytix site but $12 booking fee per ticket feels too steep! Im on broadway box and we can go to TKTS on the day if needed Fri Have to be at JFK by 8am for 11am flight. Will probably have more luggage, ***should we book an uber XL and what time would we have to leave W48th to get to JFK on time? Wed so appreciate ur input! Big thank u in advance - The woman Rep was attending the 80th anniversary of the school which is also her alma mater - She was in the company of Transport CS James Macharia and Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka - She also led in the fundraising of funds for the construction of the school's dinning hall - Deputy President Ruto send his contribution of KSh 1 million while Uhuru's was KSh 2 million Muranga Woman Representative, Sabina Wanjiru Chege, caused a stir on Friday, September 14, at Mugoiri Girls High School in Kiharu, after she attended the institution's 80th anniversary celebrations dressed in full school uniform. The MP received a rousing welcome after she trooped to the venue dressed in the attire comprising of a brown skirt, a brown short sleeved sweater, a white blouse, white pair of socks and black leather shoes. READ ALSO: Raila is the perfect example of a Statesman in Africa - City lawyer Ahmednasir Muranga Women Rep attends function dressed in school uniform Source: UGC READ ALSO: Murang'a Woman Rep Sabina Chege dazzles in school uniform Her arrival temporarily brought the meeting to a standstill with excited students and their parents surging forward to mob her. In her address, the legislator revealed after completing her primary school at Matu Primary School, she was admitted to join the school in 1993 for her secondary education and left in 1996. She later joined the University of Nairobi to study B.Ed and Masters in Communications. Thereafter she furthered her education at Mt. Kenya University and obtained an Executive MBA. READ ALSO: Uhuru wants MPs to lower 16% fuel levy by half amid cries from Kenyans Muranga Women Rep attends function dressed in school uniform Source: Facebook I came dressed like this because I have a very strong attachment to this school that moulded me to be who I am today. I also want to inspire our girls and to motivate them to realize that if they work hard and get good education, they can become anyone they aspire to be," Chege told the gathering. Besides the celebrations, a fundraiser was also held to raise funds to construct a dining hall to cater for the high number of students after the institution was elevated to a National School a few years ago. Deputy President William Ruto who was the chief guest at the function did not grace the ceremony but was represented by Muranga Governor Mwangi wa Iria. READ ALSO: NASA financier Jimi Wanjigi troubles persist as DPP Noordin denies withdrawing gun case Muranga Women Rep attends function dressed in school uniform Source: Facebook Mwangi gave Ruto's donation of KSh 1 million while Cabinet Secretary James Macharia handed President Kenyattas donation of KSh 2 million. The Presidents donation was on top of KSh 5 million assistance he pledged to the school through the Ministry of Education to meet the construction work of the dining hall. Other roles the woman rep performed was singing a hymn together with other alumni from the school and acting as matron in cutting a cake to mark 80 years of the school. The Justice Martha Koome and former Ambassador Emma Murai are some of the former alumni of the school. Story by Mark Wachira, TUKO. Correspondent 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.co.ke - Air Gate mall formerly Taj Mall is currently being demolished - The mall said to be on a road reserve and is being demolished two weeks after notice to vacate expired - The owner of the mall had however challenged the government to demolish it and that he would stay put Air Gate Mall, formerly Taj Mall, is being demolished a fortnight after expiry of a notice that was issued to the owner to bring down the multi-million building situated at the North Airport Road at the junction of Outering The green excavator which has now become a darling of Kenyans, was spotted at the mall on the morning of Saturday, September 15, with heavy police presence in the area. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Muranga Women Rep attends function dressed in school uniform The green excavator was spotted at the mall on the morning of Saturday, September 15. Source: Twitter READ ALSO: Raila is the perfect example of a Statesman in Africa - City lawyer Ahmednasi A public notice was issued on August 16, 2018, directing the mall's owner, Ramesh Gorasia, to remove the structure that, according to the government, was sitting on a road reserve and wayleave. The notice had indicated the mall encroached on road reserve and was hindering further construction and design of the Outering Road. READ ALSO: Uhuru wants MPs to lower 16% fuel levy by half amid cries from Kenyans A public notice was issued on August 16, 2018, directing the mall's owner, Ramesh Gorasia, to remove the structure. Source: Twitter However, Gorasia dared the government to demolish his building insisting that he would stay put. Gorasia, on August 16 went on and accused the government of frustrating investors in the country through the ongoing demolitions of building put up on riparian land The green excavator was spotted at the mall on the morning of Saturday, September 15. Source: Twitter The businessman asked the authorities to proceed with the demolition of his mall at their own risk and not to spare any part of the targeted building. "If you want to demolish the building, go ahead, I don't care. But If you have to demolish come and demolish it completely, don't come and demolish it partly. If you don't have money to clear it off please don't try to demolish it," said Gorasia. He added he was ready to face government in court, once the building is destroyed, and seek compensation for the losses accumulated from the demolition. He also offered to sell the property to the government for public use instead of destroying it. 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. Massive Demolition in Kileleshwa with JAVA House and Shell Station down - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko Breaking News Latest - The man had returned home to pick a document he had forgotten when the unfortunate incident happened - The child is reported to have sneaked out of the house unnoticed while the mother was attending to their twins - He crashed the child to death while reversing from the parking lot where the child was walking - Police are investing the incident but will not press criminal charges rather treat it as an accident - The 18-month child was the grandson of Pastor Moses Mutuma of Miathene Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church in Meru County - He will be buried in the US A Kenyan family in the United States (US) is in mourning after the man of the house crashed their 18-month son to death while reversing his car in their parking lot on Monday, September 10. The child, Mishael Mutuma, is reported to have sneaked out of the house and walked unnoticed behind the car when his father, Dan Mutuma, a nurse in Kansas City, crushed him. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Uhuru wants MPs to lower 16% fuel levy by half amid cries from Kenyans The child, Mishael Mutuma, is reported to have sneaked out of the house and walked unnoticed behind the car. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Taj Mall demolished According to a report by Fox 4 News, Mutuma had returned home to pick some documents he had forgotten while on his way to a university where he studies. He hurriedly picked the documents, bid his wife Loise, who was tending to their young twins and mother-in-law goodbye, and quickly left the house when the unfortunate incident happened. It is so painful to the entire family and especially to the father to have crushed his own son. There is no way he could have seen the kid who was playing behind. The child had run unnoticed behind the vehicle as the father was reversing," said Mutumas brother-in-law Ezra Kamencu Mingaine. READ ALSO: Raila is the perfect example of a Statesman in Africa - City lawyer Ahmednasir It also reported local Olathe police were investigating the matter but would not press any criminal charges from the incident which they are treating as an accident. The mother-in-law was in the kitchen while the wife was tending to the other twin children. It was so painful, nobody could be blamed for it, added Mingaine by phone. The child is reported be the grandson of Pastor Moses Mutuma of Miathene Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church in Meru County. READ ALSO: Murang'a Woman Rep Sabina Chege dazzles in school uniform Mingaine also noted seven family members, among them Pastor Mutuma were set to travel to the US where the child will be buried although the burial date has not yet been set. He added that the incident has triggered revival of a campaign to sensitize motorists on the need to check their vehicles to prevent such tragedies from happening. If the child were not his, it would have been a terrible case. I have started educating members of the public on the need to ensure they know where their children are while driving away, Mingaine said. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news One on one with Jasper Murume | Tuko TV Source: Kenya Breaking News Today - Police discovered a pistol and a combat gear resembling police uniform during the shooting incident - Hesy wa Dandora, a dreaded city crime buster identified the two as Ocampo and Denno - Police said the suspects have been terrorising the area residents Police in Nairobi recovered a pistol after gunning down two suspected criminals in Dandora, Nairobi on the evening of Friday, September 14. Hesy wa Dandora, a dreaded city crime buster identified the suspects as Ocampo and Denno and further revealed they have been on the police radar for sometimes despite numerous warnings to stop engaging in crime. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Nairobi, Kiambu and Meru lead in crime rates - police report READ ALSO: Nairobi police dismiss claims Nairobians have been advised to walk in groups to avoid muggers By the time of the shooting, Denno was wearing a combat resembling police uniform. Hesy had earlier warned youth against rocking the trendy combat wears without an official document from the office of the Inspector General Joseph Boinnet, saying some pose as police officers in order to commit crimes. Just few days ago, six masked young men in full clothes resembling police uniform with one of them armed with guns and hand cuffs, attacked and robbed mourners in Dandora on the night of Wednesday, August 22. READ ALSO: Dreaded Hessy wa Dandora gives gun-trotting Githurai woman few hours to surrender or be killed Hesy had sent a chilling message to a gun-wielding Githurai female criminal to surrender or get killed. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news Phenny Awiti Story: Meet HIV Positive Mom Raising HIV Negative Kids | Tuko TV Source: Breaking News - Two robbers were captured on CCTV terrorising a motorist in an area reported to be Nairobi West - The two were unable to rob the motorist who put up a brave fight but got his head injured and vehicle vandalised - The Directorate of Criminal Investigations requested for more information about CCTV footage, promised to narrow down on suspects Police have called on the public to furnish them with more information on CCTV footage showing two robbers terrorising a motorist in Nairobi in broad daylight. TUKO.co.ke had on Friday, September 14, reported about the incident which took place on Friday, September 7 at 1pm. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Police shoot dead 2 suspected criminals terrorising Dandora residents Directorate Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers asked a Kenyan who had posted the CCTV footage on Twitter to share with them more details to help crack down suspects. Photo: George Kinoti/Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Motorist robbed in broad daylight as Kenyans watch In response to a distressed Kenyan who posted the petrifying video showing how the thugs smashed windows of the motorist's car scaring him with a gun in the botched robbery on Twitter, the DCI assured they would leave no stone unturned in search of the suspects. READ ALSO: Kenyan dad in US crashes 18-month son to death with car The DCI urged the public to volunteer more information on all criminal activities reiterating the effectiveness of community policing in overcoming crime. The man managed to deter the thugs from robbing his car and his belongings but was injured on the head after he was bludgeoned with a hammer by one of the suspects. The robbers having sensed defeat, ran and hopped on two waiting motorbikes as residents of nairobi West where the incident is reported to have happened watched in shock. 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 - The governor condemned the killing of the two non natives by suspected al-Shabaab militants on Friday, September 14 - He said the militants were using isolation approach to breed enmity between locals and non natives - The county chief said his administration would stop at nothing to ensure every Kenyan felt secure in the area - Al-Shabaab militants killed the two after they were unable to recite Quran verses Garissa Governor Ali Korane has condemned the killing of two people by suspected al-Shabaab terrorists who attacked a bus belonging to Kilas company on Friday, September 14. The county chief said shooting of the two, a mechanic and passenger who were hauled out of the bus because they were non natives was a tactic by the militia group to breed animosity and create division. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Al-Shabaab militia kill two non-Muslims in Garissa for failing to recite Quran The Kilas bus was stopped by eight armed militia who forced out passengers only allowing back those able to recite Quran verses. Photo: Lordrick Mayabi/Twitter. Source: Twitter READ ALSO: Al-Shabaab militants raid Amisom camp, dozens feared dead Speaking during the launch of Horn of Africa eradication of polio in Garissa, Korane said ythe militants employed a tacting of isolating locals from non natives to create a notion that the latter were unwanted in the area which was untrue. "The militants are trying to wage unnecessary disharmony among Kenyans based on faith and ethnicity. I was personally taught by teachers who were not natives of the community here. Every Kenyan has a right to reside everywhere irrespective of race, tribe and faith. We will not be fooled by these tactics," said Korane. He said Kenyans from other parts of the country were free and had the right to be part and parcel of North Eastern communities, saying working in unity would help them defeat the militia who were throwing their last kicks. Garissa governor Ali Korane condemned the attack said he would work with security agencies to ensure every person was protected. Photo: Twitter. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Police forced to lob teargas to disperse looters as demolition of Taj Mall underway The terrorists intercepted the Kilas bus which was headed to Garissa town from Hulugho in Sebenal area. According to eye witnesses, eight militants armed with AK47 rifles emerged from a nearby thicket and trained their guns towards the bus,ordered the driver to halt and directed all passengers to descend and display their Identity cards. "They identified three non locals and ordered them to recite some Quran verses. Only one was able to recite it and was spared. The two others were shot dead immediately," one survivor narrated. One of the deceased was mechanic of the bus and the other was a casual labourer at Masalani town. Story by - Mohamud Ahmed Tuko correspondent, Garissa 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: Kenyan Breaking News - Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) acknowledged their kits had some inaccuracies - Medecins Sans Frontieres in 2017 released a report showing popular HIV kits used in five African countries did not meet important quality tests - MSF said seven out of eight kits were inaccurate with only STAT-PAK meeting WHO standards - The kits were being used in Guinea, Uganda, Cameroon and Democratic Republic of Congo - The US agencies said any HIV misdiagnosis is serious for patients and health systems Two US organisations have acknowledged some of their HIV testing kits used in Kenya and other African countries were faulty and had ended up giving wrong results. Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and prevention and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said the inaccuracies were minor and had minute effects on people they were used on. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Government bans use of HIV drug in Kenya and TUKO.co.ke has the details Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) survey of 2017indicated seven out of eight popular test kits were faulty and inaccurate. Photo: UGC. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Nairobi tops counties with scary new HIV infection statistics In a report by The Standard seen by TUKO.co.ke, the rejoinder came after Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) a charity group released a report showing most popular HIV kits used in five African countries including Kenya failed to meet vital quality tests. The two agencies responded to the report by MSF stating they had reviewed survey results and found out the inaccuracies were insignificant. In 2017 the MSF report which deduced seven out of eight popular Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) raised eyebrows in the international health sector. The kits also used in Guinea, Uganda, Cameroon and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were found not have met basic World Health Organisation (WHO) standards despite the latter having certified them and approving their use. USAID and CDC acknowledged findings of MSF report on five countries saying some of the kits were faulty but with insignificant effects. Photo: UGC. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Heartbroken Taj Mall owner turns to DCI for help following demolition of multi billion property "Majority of kits performed poorly that evaluated by WHO. Only STAT-PAK met reccomended thresholds," part of the MSF report authored by Cara Kosack read. MSF indicated it took to itself the responsibility to analyse the effectiveness of the kits after finding several cases of HIV misdiagnosis in their programmes in the five countries where the US agencies conducted their aid projects. The US, in a Journal of the International AIDS Society, dated Friday, August 31, acknowledged the five countries analysed by MSF were being covered under the US Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Our evaluation established some variation in diagnostic accuracy of the kits. This had a very small effect on concerned population. However, any misdiagnosis in HIV testing is serious to the affected individuals and general health systems," the agencies said. Since the worrying MSF findings, Kenya introduced self-testing HIV kits to make up for the shortcomings of the other kits. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news Phenny Awiti Story: Meet HIV Positive Mom Raising HIV Negative Kids | Tuko TV Source: Breaking News Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata has formalised his marriage. Bound by love and affection, the soft spoken slender lawyer exchanged vows of with his fiancee Mary Wambui in front of friends and families at a colourful wedding ceremony. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: All the gorgeous photos from Emurua Dikir MP Johanna Ng'eno's wedding Bound by love and affection, the soft spoken slender lawyer exchanged vows of with his fiancee Mary Wambui in front of friends and families. Photo: Wamalwa Allan/Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Washukiwa wengine wa mauaji ya Sharon Otieno wakamatwa, wahojiwa na makachero The lovebirds tied the knot at Gathinja Catholic Church in Kiharu constituency, Murang'a county. The 39-year-old former University of Nairobi students' leader has been married for eight years and their union is blessed with three children. Dressed in magnificent silky black suit, Irungu pledged to remained faithful to Wambui, in happiness and sorrow as nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura who was best man smiled. READ ALSO: Pastor Pius Muiru's son walks down the aisle in lavish wedding President Uhuru Kenyatta stepped onto the podium to congratulate and wish the newly weds God's favour as they seek to rekindle their love. Photo: Uhuru Kenyatta/Facebook. Source: Facebook In attendance were several politicians led by President Uhuru Kenyatta who stepped onto the podium to congratulate and wish the newly weds God's favour as they seek to rekindle their love. ""Marriages give birth to families which are the foundations of the nation and future generations, they should be cherished and kept together. Leaders should get married to become good examples in the society," challenged Uhuru. Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro was the groomsman at the yellow-themed wedding. 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 One on one with Jasper Murume | Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - The association appealed to public to demand registration details of the riders - Two robbers were captured on CCTV terrorising a motorist in an area reported to be Nairobi West - The armed robbers violently pounced on the unsuspecting man seated in a parked car Following a heart rendering shocking CCTV footage in which two robbers were captured terrorising a motorist in Nairobi, Boda Boda riders have called on public to be wary of criminals masquerading as riders. Through the umbrella body, Boda Boda Riders Association of Kenya appealed to demand registration details of riders to confirm or not they are registered in order to avoid falling into their criminal activities. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Detectives looking for Nairobi gun wielding robbers captured on CCTV after failed banditry attempt Boda boda operators ferry their customers in Nairobi Central Business District. Photo: Nation. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Police shoot dead 2 suspected criminals terrorising Dandora residents "We just request members of he public not to board a non-registered boda, ask them if they are registered with us to help us register as many as possible to avoid such incidences the type of data we collect no one can use his bike in this manner he will be easily traced (sic)," they said. 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 as everyone watched from a distance. READ ALSO: Motorist robbed in broad daylight as Kenyans watch One 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 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. They then hurriedly left and jumped onto waiting motorbikes and left to an unknown place. Below is the viral video, filmed on a CCTV camera. 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: Kenyan Breaking News - Osotsi has vowed to remain unbowed following suspected assassination attempt - Though the first time lawmaker survived, he believed it was an aborted plot to eliminate him - He has since reported to police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for investigations Vocal nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi has vowed to remain unbowed following a suspected assassination attempt at his residence on the night of Friday, September 14. Osotsi confirmed he escaped death in the hands of unknown three gunmen whom he said rode on a motorbike to his home. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Washukiwa wengine wa mauaji ya Sharon Otieno wakamatwa, wahojiwa na makachero Nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi narrowly escaped a suspected assassination attempt by three gunmen at his residence on the night of Friday, September 14. Photo: Godfrey Osotsi/Facebook. Source: UGC READ ALSO: I know the people who want me dead - Likuyani MP Though the first time lawmaker survived the night, he believed it was an aborted plot to eliminate him due to his tough political stand on issues. The Opposition legislator who is also the Amani National Congress secretary general, did not however clarify whether the chilling incident happened at his Nairobi or rural home. He has since reported to police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to launch investigations with a view to identifying and apprehending the suspects. "God is great. Last night I cheated death and escaped an assassination attempt by three gunmen on a motorbike at my residence gate. I have made a report to police and DCI. I will not be intimidated into cowardice and silence to reverse my stand on political issues. Watch this space," he tweeted. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news Phenny Awiti Story: Meet HIV Positive Mom Raising HIV Negative Kids | Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - David died on Saturday, September 15, evening aged 88 - His death was first shared by his granddaughter, Victoria Rubadiri - Professor David Rubadiri was a Diplomat, poet, novelist and playwright - Local leaders and celebrities took to social media to condole with the Rubadiris The family of sultry Citizen TV's news anchor Victoria Rubadiri is in mourning following the sudden demise of Professor David Rubadiri, who is the TV girl's grandfather. David, a renown diplomat, novelist, playwright and poet died on Saturday, September 15, evening aged 88. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Washukiwa wengine wa mauaji ya Sharon Otieno wakamatwa, wahojiwa na makachero READ ALSO: Sultry news anchor Michelle Morgan bids K24 farewell News of the late diplomat's death was first made public by Victoria who took to Twitter to mourn him in the best way she could. ''This literary giant now rests. Prof. David Rubadiri breathed his last today, but his words continue to inspire so many across this great continent. His legacy is one I could never live up to. The name he gave me is one I will continue to carry with pride. Rest in peace Babu.'' she tweeted. READ ALSO: Never seen before old photos of TV girl Betty Kyallo as a video vixen emerge Following the announcement, hundreds of Kenyans including local politicians and celebrities took to different social media platforms to condole with the Rubadiri family. Professor David Rubadiri was appointed Malawi's first ambassador to the United States and the United Nations during the country's independence in 1964. He however left the Malawian government in 1965 when he broke ranks with President Hastings Kamuzu Banda. READ ALSO: Kenyan musicians release tribute song to murdered Rongo University student Sharon Otieno In his creative world, his poetry was published in the 1963 anthology Modern Poetry of Africa, with his novel, 'No Bride Price', getting published in 1967. Rubadiri's novel strongly criticised the Banda regime. TUKO.co.ke understands the late taught at the University of Nairobi between 1976 and 1984. 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: Breaking News With the State of Emergency set to be lifted at the end of this month, could the government President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko coordinated with President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid the approaches to countering hybrid threats from Russia and steps to release Ukrainian political prisoners held by the Kremlin. "Petro Poroshenko and Kersti Kaljulaid, who became the first leader of a foreign state to visit the delimitation line in eastern Ukraine in May 2018, discussed the development of the security situation caused by the ongoing military aggression of the Russian Federation. The parties coordinated approaches to combat hybrid challenges from the Russian side, as well as urgent joint steps to liberate Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia," the press service of the Ukrainian Head of State reports. Moreover, the leaders discussed the topical issues of bilateral agenda, including further development of trade, economic and investment cooperation. Poroshenko also thanked Estonia and personally President Kaljulaid for the constant political support for Ukraine and active practical assistance, including through the implementation of specific projects on restoration of the infrastructure in eastern Ukraine. As a reminder, about 70 Ukrainian political prisoners are held in Russia and in the occupied Crimea, including Ukrinform correspondent Roman Sushchenko, who was sentenced to 12 years in a maximum security penal colony on trumped-up charges of espionage. ol Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman held a meeting with former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday evening. "We have very interesting discussions ahead, especially about the threats we face. We have internal challenges, external threats, and we appreciate the U.S. policy of supporting our sovereignty. We must build a democratic and secure future together. Weve got on the path of changes. The challenges are serious. Its time to make firm decisions," Groysman said, the Government portal reports. Ukraine is on the path of changes and this time requires firm decisions. In order to conquer the challenges we have to be strong, patient and full of support, including from our strategic partners. Discussed these topics with a former U.S. Secretary of State @CondoleezzaRice Volodymyr Groysman (@VGroysman) 14 2018 . In turn, Condoleezza Rice noted that she had visited Ukraine for the first time back in 1979. "I realized how much needed to be done, how difficult it would be, especially in the context of building democracy. I even wrote a book about the development of democracy. This process requires strength and patience. However, I think that the US is a support for Ukraine. Im glad we have strong ties, and they need to be supported - at different levels and in different spheres. I see your commitment to the reforms and I think that the US will be an important partner and support for you," she said. Condoleezza Rice takes part in the 15th Yalta European Strategy (YES) Annual Meeting held in Kyiv on September 13-15. ol Russia destabilizes the situation in many republics of the former USSR. "We see that actually almost all former Soviet republics, which are not EU and NATO members, face the internal conflicts triggered by Russia," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, addressing the German soldiers stationed in the Lithuanian city of Rukla, DW reports. Today, all these countries struggle to restore their territorial integrity, since Russia has either separated parts of their territories or sparked conflicts there, Merkel added. As an example she cited the situation in Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova and Azerbaijan. The units of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) stationed in the Baltic countries within the framework of the NATO mission are essential to deter the hybrid war waged by Russia. This war includes cyberattacks, Angela Merkel noted. About 4,500 NATO soldiers and officers are stationed on a rotational basis in the Baltic countries and Poland. ol The United States will never recognize Russias purported annexation of Crimea. Important discussion about next steps after the Crimea Declaration. Our Crimea Declaration is a serious statement that U.S. will never recognize Russias purported annexation of Crimea and that we will continue to push for restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker posted on Twitter. The Crimean Declaration was proclaimed by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in July. The declaration stipulates the call for Russia to stop the occupation of Crimea. The document, in particular, was praised by Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Poland and other countries. U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker arrived in Kyiv to participate in the 15th Yalta European Strategy (YES) Annual Meeting. He also met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and discussed the situation in Donbas, energy security and the sanctions policy. ol President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko says that Russia aims to occupy the Azov Sea the same way it occupied Crimea. "Russias purpose is to occupy the Azov Sea, the same way it did Crimea. This is a brutal violation of international law, and we cannot accept it. We are strengthening our military there and launching a case against Russia in the international Permanent Court of Arbitration," Poroshenko said in an interview with The Washington Post, the press service of the Head of State reports. As Poroshenko noted, Ukraine has absolutely clear legal status in the Azov Sea, and if Russia does not stop its illegal activity, there will be need to impose sanctions. "Russia has no right to attack or stop our vessels, which carry goods and passengers from two important Ukrainian ports, Mariupol and Berdyansk. If Russia does not stop, we have only one instrument, which is sanctions," he said. According to the Ukrainian President, the sanctions are needed to halt the potential danger of the Russian occupation of Azov. "If they block a vessel with Ukrainian iron and steel products from Mariupol for one day, the cost is thousands of dollars," he underscored. In addition, the President of Ukraine said, Russians are attacking Ukrainian fishermen in Ukrainian waters all the time the Russians arrest them, stop them and endanger them. This is part of the hybrid war against Ukraine that Russia has carried out since 2014, Poroshenko noted. As he added, it is absolutely not true that sanctions against Russia are not effective. "Sanctions stop Russias GDP growth, they stop the increase of Russian living standards, and they devalue the Russian currency. The Russian leadership pays a very high price for sanctions, which can keep Russia at the negotiating table and stop the aggression," Poroshenko said. ol Klimkin has also expressed conviction that political realities in Ukraine are not important for the Russian Federation. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has said Russia's main idea is to federalize and dismember Ukraine. Read alsoDW: Merkel rules out lifting EU Russia sanctions "The essence and tactics of the Kremlin is to dismember Ukraine. To use Donbas and push this territory of the conflict into Ukraine under the flag of the Russian idea of federalization," he said at the 15th Yalta European Strategy (YES) Annual Meeting titled "The Next Generation of Everything" organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, the TV news service TSN said. Klimkin has also expressed conviction that political realities in Ukraine are not important for the Russian Federation. The figures exceed the background level. Natalia Penkovskaya, the so-called "head" of the regional department of the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor), has said the excess of the maximum permissible concentration of harmful substances in the air was once again recorded in northern Crimea. Read alsoAnother "acid leak" reportedly hits Armyansk in Russian-annexed Crimea social networks "We have registered an excess of the maximum permissible concentrations of hydrogen chloride and sulfuric anhydride. The figures exceed the background level. The excess of the maximum permissible concentrations of hydrogen chloride is registered in the village of Perekop, this is the nearest point to the acid storage tank. The average daily concentration exceeds nine times," she said, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported. However, Penkovskaya said there is no threat to the health of residents. As UNIAN reported, in the early hours of August 24, an unknown chemical substance leaked into the air in the north of Russian-occupied Crimea. It has been established that the emission took place at the local Crimean Titan plant. The de-facto authorities did not announce an emergency situation, although children were evacuated from the area. The plant ceased its work for two weeks, the "authorities" alleged. However, Chairman of Kherson Regional State Administration Andriy Gordeev said the Crimean Titan plant whose chemical emissions had recently caused a sharp deterioration in the health of people in the nearby settlements was still working. Rapid Trident builds military interoperability through establishing professional relationships and sharing shoulder-to-shoulder experiences, while also supporting Ukrainian Land Forces' sustainable training capacity and defense reform. Multinational Soldiers from 14 countries spent two weeks working side by side during Rapid Trident 2018. The main bodies of U.S. forces included approximately 100 service members from the California Army National Guard as well as almost 200 Soldiers from the Tennessee Army National Guard's 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, who are serving on the ground at Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine for nine months, the National Guard of the United States reported. "There are a tremendous amount of benefits for National Guard units to come over to Europe," said Maj. Gen. John Gronski, U.S. Army Europe's deputy commanding general for National Guard, during his visit to Rapid Trident. "First of all, it's important to develop those strong relationships with our Allies and partners over here. The second thing is when National Guard units come over to Europe and participate in the exercises, they build a tremendous amount of readiness here and it gives them an opportunity like no other training area does to train alongside Allies and partners." The connections between U.S. National Guard and Ukraine continue to grow annually as JMTG-U has been manned by several states during the past few years, including California, Oklahoma, New York and Tennessee. Additionally, California Army National Guard has also been connected to Ukraine since 1993 as part of the National Guard State Partnership Program. Read alsoRapid Trident 2018 int'l drills in Lviv region move to practical phase (Video) Ukraine hosted troops from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Turkey, the U.K. and the U.S. at the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre, here, Sept. 3-15, for the annual exercise that can trace its roots back more than 20 years. "Strong relationships were formed and affirmed during Rapid Trident 18, and strong relationships here mean a stronger Europe going into the future," said U.S. Col. Timothy Cleveland, co-director of Rapid Trident and deputy commander of Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine, during the closing ceremony, Sept. 14, adding that the exercise required great cooperation and coordination among the participants. During the closing ceremony, Ukraine's Lt. Gen. Anatolii Petrenko, deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine for European Integration, also thanked the multinational crowd for its participation in the further development of peace and stability in the region. Rapid Trident builds military interoperability through establishing professional relationships and sharing shoulder-to-shoulder experiences, while also supporting Ukrainian Land Forces' sustainable training capacity and defense reform. "The joint effort of the Ukrainian personnel, together with their partners, are capable of the performance of any tasks for the sake of peace and stability," said Ukrainian Maj. Gen. Eduard Moskalov, exercise co-director and commander of Operational Command East. "I am absolutely confident that we shall be further developing our cooperation in support of the peace and stability of our countries." Only one time the "Ukrainian Orthodox Church" is mentioned and several times Kyiv is mentioned in the statement of the Synod. Yesterday, an extraordinary meeting of the Synod of the ROC took place in Moscow, the result of which, as the experts had previously assumed, was a "partial" cessation of the Eucharistic communication between the Moscow and Ecumenical Patriarchates. As explained in the Moscow Patriarchate, this partial dissolution of communication is manifested in the fact that from today the Divine Liturgy will not be commemorated by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in the temples of the Moscow Patriarchate, and the clergymen of the ROC will not perform joint worship services with the representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, according to the Ukraine-based Information Resistance OSINT community. Also, the ROC will not participate in joint events with the representatives of Constantinople. It is talking about the episcopal assemblies and other joint events. However, the Moscow Patriarchate allows to its followers to commune and participate in divine services conducted by the Greeks. This decision was quite predictable, as recently the chairman of the DECR, Metropolitan Illarion (Alfeev), informed about such possible steps of the Moscow Patriarchate. Therefore, this decision, in principle, does not cause much surprise. Read alsoHoly divorce: Russian Orthodox Church quits Constantinople-led structures According to experts, the surprise is called by quite different thing, namely, the holding of this Synod. As reported, the chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine, Metropolitan Onufriy (Berezovsky), for health reasons, could not arrive in Moscow and take part in the meeting of the Synod. Taking this into account, it was established on-line communication for him, which was shown in the video at the beginning of the meeting of the Synod. Of course, the video is short, and contains only the introductory speech of Patriarch Kirill, but at the same time it provokes extraordinary interest. At the beginning of the video, the head of the Moscow Patriarchate introduces the members of the Synod to only one topic on the agenda: the Ukrainian question, namely, the appointment of two exarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to Kyiv. And here the question arises: "Why does Patriarch Kirill not inform the members of the Synod about the recent meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew", which, in fact, is a traditional procedure for such meetings of the Synod. Patriarch Kirill always reported about his visits to other local churches and about the results of the meetings that he held during such trips. Now, the information about this meeting found its articulation only in several sentences of the Synod's statement, in which it is noteworthy that only the position of Patriarch Kirill to His Holiness is mentioned, but about the position of the Ecumenical Patriarch himself is not a word. It looks strange, because, as Patriarch Kirill told journalists after the meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch, the meeting took place in a warm and fraternal atmosphere; even Kirill himself approved it, saying "Good, good". "Of course, we can assume that Patriarch Kirill does not want to disclose the essence of this meeting without an agreement with Patriarch Bartholomew, but then the accusations put forward by the Moscow Patriarchate towards the Church of Constantinople regarding a unilateral solution of the issue of Ukrainian autocephaly seem even stranger. After all, as reported in the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Patriarch Kirill was informed about the intentions of Patriarch Bartholomew, and Kirill probably considered that it is unnecessary to acquaint his subordinates with these intentions," the OSINT community wrote. Read alsoMoscow Patriarchate in Ukraine says will not recognize local Ukrainian Orthodox Church, warns of "conflicts" Also, he considered that it is unnecessary to hear the opinion of the head of the MP in Ukraine, Metropolitan Onufriy. At the end of the abovementioned video, Patriarch Kirill with a smile informed Metropolitan Onufriy that a special discussion would take place at the Synod, and Metropolitan Onufriy himself would be informed about it. These words again arouse great interest, especially amid of a recent interview with the head of the ROC exarchate in Ukraine on one of the Ukrainian TV channels. In this interview, Metropolitan Onufriy said that only spiritual, cultural and prayer ties connect them with the Russian Church. Today we see exactly the opposite. The Russian Synod clearly and directly indicates about its canonical territory and resolves the issue unilaterally, without asking the head of the MP in Ukraine or his Synod. According to experts, without delving into the sphere of ecclesiastical relations of the Moscow Patriarchate and part of the dioceses in Ukraine, which call themselves the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (which, in truth, can serve as the theme of many scientific theological studies for obtaining a doctorate), but based on the theses voiced its head, here is not only surprise, and even an ordinary citizen will consider this an absurdity. After all, if church Moscow does not interfere in the affairs of the Church, which has its own center in Kyiv, because it is written out in the charter of the ROC (what are the speakers of this organization appealing to), then why is it considering issues concerning Kyiv now? In Kyiv itself, they limited themselves by the statement of the head of the "Ministry of Foreign Affairs" of the so-called "UOC-MP" Metropolitan Mitrofan. There was no decision from any relevant legislative body of this Church during this week. According to the logic of things, a Bishop's Council should be held in Kyiv, or at least an "extraordinary Synod", at which the decision of the Synaxis of the Patriarchate of Constantinople should be considered, as well as the decision to appoint the above-mentioned exarchs, and an appropriate decision must be made. Of course, given the limitations of its capabilities, this cathedral or synod could request about a kind of protection and support from Moscow, but this did not happen. "Now we see that Moscow and its Church directly point out that there is really no independence for church Kyiv, and all the problems that arise are its personal scores with Constantinople. And they decide this unilaterally, without asking about the opinion of the episcopate MP in Ukraine, but considering only notifying them about their decision," the Information Resistance group said. Of course, the official spokespersons of the Moscow Patriarchate appeal, pointing to the "meeting of the episcopate of the UOC", which took place in the summer. But it is perfectly clear to everyone that this meeting took place when there was still no Synaxis or decision on the appointment of the exarchs, and besides it took place under the sounds of the deceptive rhetoric of the bishops of the MP in Ukraine that Constantinople does not think to provide autocephaly for Ukraine. Now, when new circumstances appeared on the case, it would be logical to hold even a kind such of "meeting." Read alsoU.S. supports Ukraine in struggle for right to have independent church envoy The question arises why it is not carried out. Given yesterday's meeting of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church and its statement, it becomes clear that this is not the business of the so-called "UOC-MP", and this is directly of Moscow. And this can be traced in the statement itself, in which the representatives of the Synod recall Patriarch Tikhon, the Renovationists and the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch in the Russian Orthodox Church at the beginning of the last century. That is, they equated and identified Kyiv as their part, and not independent in its management, because if the memory does not change, the "UOC" did not have the right to make decisions concerning the theological dogmatic teachings of the Church. Only one time the "Ukrainian Orthodox Church" is mentioned and several times Kyiv is mentioned in the statement of the Synod, which once again confirms that the situation is solved unilaterally, without taking into account the opinions of the representatives of the "UOC" who, through their inaction, also showed that this is not their business. And again here it is questioned whether it is true that only the spiritual ties unite the ROC and the so-called "UOC"? "However, it is interesting how representatives of the MP in Ukraine will react now, after all, according to the amendments that were introduced into the charter of the Russian Orthodox Church in November last year, only the decision of the Bishops' Council, and not the Synod, is binding, and how now the spiritual ties of Moscow and Kyiv? After all, MP speakers in Ukraine have repeatedly claimed that through Moscow they are united with world Orthodoxy, including Constantinople. What will happen now? We are sure that we will see very soon a solution to this issue," the experts summed up. Ukraine's Joint Forces have reported no casualties in the past 24 hours. Russian-led forces mounted 25 attacks on Ukrainian troops in Donbas in the past 24 hours. "No casualties among the Ukrainian troops have been reported over the past day. According to intelligence reports, two occupiers were killed and another three were wounded," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in an update on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on September 15, 2018. Read alsoJFO: One Ukrainian soldier wounded in action in Donbas in past day Russian occupation forces opened aimed fire from grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns and small arms to attack the defenders of the towns of Svitlodarsk and Krasnohorivka, and the villages of Stanytsia Luhanska, Zhovte, Krymske, Novotoshkivske, Luhanske, Chermalyk, Pavlopil, Hnutove, Vodiane, Lebedynske, and Shyrokyne. The enemy resorted to 82mm mortars to shell the Ukrainian positions near Chermalyk and Vodiane in the Mariupol sector. In addition, the defenders of Chermalyk came under fire from weapons of an infantry fighting vehicle. "Since Saturday midnight, Russian-led forces have mounted four attacks on the Ukrainian positions near Krymske, Hnutove and Vodiane, using grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. The enemy also used 120mm and 82mm mortars three times against the defenders of the Ukrainian fortified positions in the Mariupol sector. There have been no casualties among Ukrainian troops from the start of the day," reads the report. No casualties among the Ukrainian servicemen have been reported. Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas four times from 07:00 to 18:00 Kyiv time on Saturday, September 15. Read alsoDonbas update: Ukraine reports 25 enemy attacks in last day "There have been no casualties among the Ukrainian troops," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in an update on Facebook. Russian occupation forces opened aimed fire from grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns and small arms to attack the defenders of the towns of Avdiyivka and Krasnohorivka, and the villages of Pisky and Chermalyk. In case of threat to life, military commanders made a decision to fire back to suppress the enemy's fire activity. The situation in the zone of the Joint Forces Operation remains under control of Ukrainian troops. Almost all the former Soviet republics that do not belong to the EU or NATO bear internal conflicts provoked by Russia, Merkel said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday that the European Union would maintain sanctions against Russia. Speaking during her tour of the Baltics, Merkel said that Moscow must progress towards fulfilling its commitment under a peace deal for east Ukraine before the EU would consider lifting the measures, according to Deutsche Welle. Read alsoEU prolongs sanctions over actions against Ukraine for another six months "Before the Minsk agreement has been implemented or progress has been made in that regard, we will not consider lifting sanctions on Russia," Merkel said following talks with leaders from Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. "Peace and reinstating the territorial integrity of Ukraine continue to be important topics for all of us here." "Almost all the former Soviet republics that do not belong to the EU or NATO bear internal conflicts provoked by Russia," she said. The sanctions which were introduced in 2014 after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula target Russia's state finances, energy and arms sectors. Stoltenberg said NATO would continue to support efforts by both Georgia and Ukraine to become NATO members, moves that Russia has long opposed. 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 a meeting at the White House with National Security Adviser John Bolton, Voice of America reported. "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. Read alsoRussia, West show war games arent just games: ex-NATO chief 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." 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. 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. Prosecutors say he collaborated with an Israeli official to spread the story that Tymoshenko was allied with anti-Semitic causes to make the administration believe "the Jewish community will take this out on Obama on election day if he does nothing." Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort sought to turn what he termed "Obama jews" against former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko as part of his lobbying work for former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, according to a Friday indictment prosecutors filed in federal court. Manafort struck a cooperation deal with federal prosecutors on special counsel Robert Mueller's team on Friday. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy against the United States and one count of obstruction of justice, two weeks before he was set to be tried on those and other charges in the District of Columbia, according to Business Insider. The superseding criminal information document filed in court details Manafort's lobbying activities on behalf of Yanukovych and the Party of Regions, which he pleaded guilty to conducting without registering himself as a foreign agent with the U.S. State Department. Read alsoPaul Manafort and special counsel reach tentative plea deal media The Yanukovych administration prosecuted and imprisoned Tymoshenko in 2011 for an energy pipeline contract she signed with Russia, but several Western nations, including the United States, argued that the trial was politically motivated and spoke out in support of Tymoshenko. Part of Manafort's efforts included proliferating the claim that Tymoshenko was part of an anti-Semitic political party. His aim was to galvanize "Obama jews," apparently referring to former President Barack Obama's Jewish supporters, to "put pressure" on senior Obama administration officials who had expressed support for Tymoshenko to disavow her, thereby benefiting his client Yanukovych. Prosecutors say he collaborated with an Israeli official to spread the story that Tymoshenko was allied with anti-Semitic causes to make the administration believe "the Jewish community will take this out on Obama on election day if he does nothing." "I have someone pushing it on the NY Post. Bada bing bada boom," Manafort wrote in an email to one his employees in his consulting firm, identified as Person D1 in the court documents. In addition to accusing Tymoshenko of anti-Semitism, Manafort also spread stories that Tymoshenko ordered the killing of a Ukrainian official, telling his deputies on his lobbying firm to promote it "with no fingerprints," the documents said. "It is very important we have no connection," he wrote, according to the court filing. "My goal is to plant some stink on Tymo." Manafort is now the fourth former Trump campaign official to reach a plea deal to cooperate in the special counsel's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. In August, a jury in Virginia convicted Manafort on eight federal counts of tax and bank fraud as part of a separate trial also prosecuted by the special counsel. China is ready to invest in the energy, land and maritime transport, as well as railway projects in Lebanon, said Chen Xiaojia, chairman of China's state-owned CITIC Construction Corporation, when meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun in capital Beirut. BEIRUT, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Sep, 2018 ) :China is ready to invest in the energy, land and maritime transport, as well as railway projects in Lebanon, said Chen Xiaojia, chairman of China's state-owned CITIC Construction Corporation, when meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun in capital Beirut. "We are also looking forward to cooperate with Lebanese government in implementing infrastructure and water projects based on the priorities set by the Lebanese president," said Chen, discussing ways of strengthening the Chinese-Lebanese relations with Aoun on Friday. China's interest in investing in Lebanon's projects goes in line with the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013, according to Chen. The initiative aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes. It comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. Meanwhile, Aoun renewed his support for the Belt and Road Initiative while praising the Lebanese-Chinese relations for its remarkable growth at different levels. He also thanked China for supporting Lebanon in regional and international forums in addition to its great help for the country at the United Nations. The president added that China's interest in investing in Lebanon's productive sectors and projects reflects its great willingness to lift the relation between the two countries to a new level. After Lebanon formed its cabinet, the country is expected to go ahead with a nationwide development project at the value of 11 billion U.S. Dollars pledged by international donors in soft loans. The program includes around 250 projects in the electricity, water, and waste management sectors, in addition to industrial, tourism and agricultural projects. (@ChaudhryMAli88) 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. LA PAZ, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Sep, 2018 ) :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. "Sharjah: The Gateway to Trucial States," SGTS, the management office of Sharjahs bid to include eight of the emirates cultural heritage sites on the prestigious list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, has conducted a series of community meetings in the nominated areas, as part of the continuous efforts by SGTS engage with local communities as they are essential elements for the collective protection of the cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value. SHARJAH, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 15th Sep, 2018) "Sharjah: The Gateway to Trucial States," SGTS, the management office of Sharjahs bid to include eight of the emirates cultural heritage sites on the prestigious list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, has conducted a series of community meetings in the nominated areas, as part of the continuous efforts by SGTS engage with local communities as they are essential elements for the collective protection of the cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value. The meetings included communities in UNESCO nominated as a world heritage property including Sharjah Historic Town, Khorfakkan, Wadi Al Helo, Fili and Al Dhaid. The delegates met with the local communities and explored their day-to-day practices that aim to preserve the oral, urban and architectural heritage and passing it onto the coming generations. These community tours were conducted in collaboration with municipal councils in line with SGTS Management Offices dedication to promoting the Emirati cultural heritage identity and Sharjahs role in preserving it. Khuloud Al Houli, Director of SGTS Management Office, said, "These meetings were aimed at interacting with the local communities of the nominated property, and discussing how we can all work together and participate effectively in the process of preserving Sharjahs rich heritage and share it with the world." "The local community is an integral part of the heritage and history of these sites, and has always played a crucial role in preserving and highlighting Sharjahs unique stature locally and regionally," she explained. "This national project is a great source of pride for every UAE citizen. Sharjah continues to play a pioneering role in preserving the heritage and culture of the UAE and the region. Our history and culture deserve to be showcased globally through UNESCO," she added. Dr Rashed Khamis Al Naqbi, Chairman of Khorfakkan Municipal Council, expressed his delight at having Khorfakkan as a nominated property on UNESCOs World Heritage list. He pointed out that this national project would proudly represent the UAE at one of the most important international forums in the world. He emphasised that the local community of Khorfakkan was dedicated to supporting the project, which will be in the best interests of all segments of society. Salem Khamis Al Mazrouei, from Wadi el Helo, said, "The inclusion of Wadi Al Helo on the nominated property is a source of pride for its people because they have been preserving the areas heritage for decades, and look forward to celebrating winning the bid to become one of UNESCOs World Heritage sites." "The nominated site, home to its residents for generations, has protected them throughout history, and now it is the time to give back," he added. The SGTS Management Office has also organised a workshop for a number of government directorates and entities at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage in the presence of Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, Manal Ataya, Director-General of the Sharjah Museums Authority, both members of the SGTS Nomination Steering Committee, as well as Khuloud Al Houli, Director of the SGTS Management Office. Many government directorates and entities also participated in the workshop. These included the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Sharjah Directorate of Antiquities, Sharjah Institute for Heritage, Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah Museums Authority, Sharjah Urban Planning Council, Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority, Directorate of Town Planning and Survey, Sharjah Directorate of Public Work, Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority besides many representatives of Sharjah, Al Dhaid and Al-Madame. The workshop enabled all participants to share their experiences and scale up collaboration and cooperation between each entity in their respective specialisation and expertise, to contribute to the success of the projects and place Sharjah on the map of World Heritage Sites. "Such workshops, which target state entities involved in preserving and monitoring Sharjahs cultural heritage sites, will continue to be conducted to ensure fruitful coordination, and set a productive mechanism for an action plan to transform Sharjahs historical and heritage sites into a premium touristic destination that attracts visitors from around the world, and preserves its unique heritage and nature at the same time," Al Houli stated. The SGTS nominated property includes eight sites, Historic Town of Sharjah (Heart of Sharjah), which is home to many historical buildings and traditional markets; Al Hisn (Sharjah Fort), one of the most important historical building in the emirate; Al Mahatta Airport, which served as a bridge linking the East and the West; Al Mirgab Military Camp, which was a symbol of security and safety in Sharjah; and Al Dhaid Fort and Oasis, an important agricultural area that was located at the crossroads of UAEs local communities. The UNESCO nominated property also features the Fili Fort, an important historical front that was used to protect the UAEs waters, which were key trade routes that extended from north of Al Ain and Al Buraimi Oasis; Wadi Al Helo, a nature reserve with valleys on the Hajar Mountains, and finally, the Khorfakkan Fort, with its village and surrounding archaeological area, which formed a marine gate for the east coast of the emirate. (@FahadShabbir) Mahash Saeed Al Hamili, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa, has presented his credentials to President of Namibia, Hage Gottfried Geingob, as a Non-Resident Ambassador to the southern Africa country, during a reception at the Presidential Palace in the capital Windhoek. WINDHOEK, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 15th Sep, 2018) Mahash Saeed Al Hamili, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa, has presented his credentials to President of Namibia, Hage Gottfried Geingob, as a Non-Resident Ambassador to the southern Africa country, during a reception at the Presidential Palace in the capital Windhoek. President Geingob wished the new diplomat all success in his mission while emphasising his readiness to provide every possible assistance and cooperation for his efforts to develop bilateral ties into close cooperation. Following the ceremony, the president held a meeting with the ambassador where he tackled issues of mutual concern. A number of ministers and senior officials attended the meeting. President Geingob praised the advanced level of progress the UAE reached in areas of education and infrastructure until it became a role model for other countries. He said his country was looking forward to viable relations so as to benefit from the UAEs experience in building its capacities. Namibia would work to conclude agreements and memoranda of understanding to boost bilateral ties, he said. He added that he would personally follow up implementation of these cooperation agreements. Ambassador Al Hamili expressed the UAE's desire to expand the friendship ties into constructive cooperation that served the interests of peoples in both countries. The ambassador affirmed the interest of the UAE leadership to further develop ties with Namibia and launch initiatives towards "our friends in Africa" so as to support economic growth and rural development and improve social and economic conditions in areas of health, education, youth empowerment and agricultural development. Other areas include building capacities of security agencies to counter terrorism, extremism and organised crimes and create an encouraging environment for trade and investment. ''The next few months will see many initiatives by government and non-governmental organisations to strengthen bilateral ties,'' he added. Issa Abdullah Al Nuaimi, has presented his credentials to Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili, as the Ambassador of UAE to the Eurasian country during a reception at the Presidential Palace here, on Friday. TBILISI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 15th Sep, 2018) ) Issa Abdullah Al Nuaimi, has presented his credentials to Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili, as the Ambassador of UAE to the Eurasian country during a reception at the Presidential Palace here, on Friday., has presented his credentials to Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili, as the Ambassador of UAE to the Eurasian country during a reception at the Presidential Palace here, on Friday. The ambassador conveyed the greetings of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to President Margvelashvili, as well as their wishes of progress and prosperity to the people of Georgia. President Margvelashvili relayed his regards to the UAE leaders, wishing the UAE people greater progress, development and prosperity. He underscored the outstanding ties between the two countries, saying he is looking forward to advancing bilateral relations to a greater level, specially with the opening of the UAE embassy in the Georgian capital. The reception was attended by a number of ministers and advisors to the Georgian president in addition to Obaid Khalifa Al Ka'bi, an advisor at the embassy. Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan Saturday visited WAPDA House, had a meeting with Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Muzammil Hussain and got briefing on the development schemes being implemented in AJK as part of WAPDA projects. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Sep, 2018 ) :Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan Saturday visited WAPDA House, had a meeting with Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Muzammil Hussain and got briefing on the development schemes being implemented in AJK as part of WAPDA projects. Paying homage to sacrifices of the people and support by the AJK government in completion of WAPDA projects, Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project in particular, the chairman reiterated his resolve for early completion of the development schemes under Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project for mitigating the environmental impact in downstream areas and socio-economic uplift of the locals. He assured the AJK PM that environmental flows and the needs of drinking water downstream Neelum-Jhelum Project would continue to be fulfilled in consonance with the environmental studies. The PM was briefed that a sum of Rs 2.27 billion which was initially earmarked, has been increased to Rs 5. 231 billion for 22 development schemes/ projects being carried out by AJK government, for which WAPDA is providing its fullest support. The AJK PM congratulated WAPDA on completion and commissioning of all four generating units of strategically important Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project. He expressed the hope that the project would go a long way in progress and prosperity of Pakistan and AJK alike. The progress on community development schemes under Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project was reviewed in detail during the meeting. It was agreed that all stakeholders would make concerted efforts for completion of the ongoing community development schemes at the fast pace. The matter relating to tripartite agreement among the Federal government, AJK government and WAPDA was also discussed in the meeting. AJK Chief Secretary and Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Company (NJHPC) Chief Executive Officer were also present during the meeting. Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that people's problems are his personal problems and he will go to every extent to solve them. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Sep, 2018 ) :Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that people's problems are his personal problems and he will go to every extent to solve them. The CM expressed these views while talking to different delegations at the CM Office, here on Saturday. He said that his holing of CM office is like a common man himself is holding it. "This is the responsibility of the departments and institutions concerned to resolve public complaints. The past is gone. Now it is time for institutions and departments to work deligently," he added. He said that departments would have to produce results and negligence in this regard would not be tolerated."I will not tolerate delay in resolution of public complaints," he added. He listened to the problems of the people and issued orders to resolve them on-the-spot. Usman Buzdar said that directions had been issued to the government offices to resolve public complaints on priority basis and an open door policy had been issued for the government offices. "People will be able to visit officers for resolution of their problems without any hurdle," he added. He said it was decided to set up a state-of-the-art complaint cell at the CM Office and the cell would be connected to all districts through modern technology whereas he would personally monitor this cell. The chief minister said the Punjab government is working to implement 100-day programme of Prime Minister Imran Khan and committees had been set up to implement 15 points of the programme concerning Punjab. "I am personally monitoring implementation of the programme," he added. He said work in the past had been done without any planning and no attention was paid to solve problems of people, but the PTI government was taking solid measures in this regard and effective measures would be taken in future as well. (@rukhshanmir) The Consul General of Indonesia in Karachi Totok Prianamto has said his country wants to further strengthen economic, trade, investment and people to people ties with Pakistan. HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Sep, 2018 ) :The Consul General of Indonesia in Karachi Totok Prianamto has said his country wants to further strengthen economic, trade, investment and people to people ties with Pakistan. The CG, during his visit to Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (HCCI) office here on Saturday, observed that Sindh province was very important for Indonesia notably in the economic, trade and investment sectors. Prianamto also noted that Hyderabad was strategically located in the middle of a busy trade route from Karachi to other cities and provinces. He informed that the trade between Indonesia and Pakistan was growing steadily over the years, adding that last year the two-way trade reached $2.63 billion showing 21.31 percent increase from 2016. During the same period, Pakistan's export to Indonesia recorded a 53.32 percent increase, he added. "During the first half of this year, the trade figure between the two countries has further increased by 19.37 percent with Pakistani exports recording an enormous 14.8 percent increase," he added. "This is also one of our mission to strengthen the people-to-people contacts between Indonesia and Pakistan, particularly in the economic sector," he underlined. The CG invited the members of HCCI to attend the 33rd Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) which would be held from 24 to 28 October, 2018. "This year the TEI is expected to attract more than 28,000 visitors. Last year, the TEI booked a $1.41 billion worth of transactions, a 37% growth from the previous year," Prianamto told. He said the TEI also provided opportunities for Pakistani businessmen to further explore their businesses with the Indonesian counterparts. The CG said textile was one of Hyderabad's most prized industries, adding that the TEI was planning to visit one of Indonesia's biggest textile Industry, the Sritex. He informed that the Indonesian government would provide local accommodation and transportation but the participants would have to bear the cost of return tickets from Jakarta to Pakistan. "We can also arrange a business meeting with interested counterparts and I am sure there are a lot of them who have interest in establishing business contacts with Pakistan. I believe such cooperation can benefit both parties," he said. Earlier, the President HCCI Muhammad Shahid welcomed the guest and briefed him about the trade and industry's potential in Hyderabad. He assured the CG that the HCCI would extend full cooperation to Indonesia by participating in the TEI event. The leading member of the business community, office bearers and members of HCCI were present on the occasion. (@FahadShabbir) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Minister for Communication and Works Akbar Ayub has taken notice of advance payment before initiating construction work of various government schools in PK-44, PK-45 and PK-46 Abbottabad according to old delimitation. PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Sep, 2018 ) :Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Minister for Communication and Works Akbar Ayub has taken notice of advance payment before initiating construction work of various government schools in PK-44, PK-45 and PK-46 Abbottabad according to old delimitation. The Minister has directed to conduct a fact finding inquiry, pinpoint the responsible ones and submit inquiry report within seven days. The minster during his surprise visit of various development schemes in district Abbottabad has suspended Sub-Divisional officer and two Sub-Engineers for using Sub-standard materials in the schemes. MNA Ali Khan Jadoon, concerned MPAs and high-ups of C&W department were accompanied the minister during the visit. Provincial minister expressed his anguish over using sub-standard materials in the under-construction college road and link road Abbottabad directed the suspension of SDO Tariq Shah, Sub-engineers Zaheer and Zahid Amin with immediate effect. During a briefing in the office of Chief Engineer (East), it was brought in the notice of Minister C&W that advance payments have been made before initiating construction work in PK-45, GGPS Dana Allabad, GGPS Missar, GGPS Upper Lahor, in PK-46 GGPS Soban Gali, in PK-44 Abbottabad GGPS Noor Bin Bazar, GGPS Guddy, GGPS Beerwal and GGPS Harian UC Kakul. The minister also took serious notice of using sub-standard material in Danna Behlolia road, Abbottabad and ordered conduction of a fact finding inquiry. He made it clear that no compromise would be made in the public welfare schemes while those found responsible for negligence would be dealt with iron hands. Akbar Ayub said people have elected the present provincial government for the second time therefore allresources would be utilized for completing the people welfare schemes anddevelopment and prosperity of the people on priority basis. The immigration office on the southern island of Jeju decided Friday to give 23 Yemeni asylum seekers humanitarian stay permits in South Korea, although it rejected their applications for official refugee status. JEJU, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Sep, 2018 ) :The immigration office on the southern island of Jeju decided Friday to give 23 Yemeni asylum seekers humanitarian stay permits in South Korea, although it rejected their applications for official refugee status. The 23 were among hundreds of Yemenis who arrived on Jeju earlier this year and applied for asylum. The immigration office has been reviewing applications of 484 people for months and has completed interviews with 440 of them. Background checks are underway for the remaining applicants. The 23 people were families with young children and those pregnant or injured. Humanitarian stay permits are granted when asylum seekers fail to meet the criteria for official refugee status but are allowed to stay in the country due to other circumstances. Permits should be extended every year, and holders can leave Jeju for other parts of the country. The immigration office plans to complete deliberation of the remaining 40 cases by next month. The arrival of Yemeni refugees sparked worries that many of them could be bogus claimants seeking jobs and other economic advantages. Some thought similar arrivals could follow and that the refugees' presence would lead to increases in crime and other social problems. The justice ministry has pledged to revise the Refugee Act to prevent fake asylum seekers from abusing the system and to take steps to significantly speed up deliberations on refugee applications. (@FahadShabbir) At least 10 people were killed in a fire that occurred on a ship off the coast of Indonesia on Friday, media reported Saturday. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th September, 2018) At least 10 people were killed in a fire that occurred on a ship off the coast of Indonesia on Friday, media reported Saturday. As a result of the rescue operation, the services managed to save 126 people from the ship, the Xinhua news agency reported citing a spokesperson for Indonesian National board for Disaster Management. The cause of the incident is not reported. Vienna, Sept 14 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Sep, 2018 ) :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". 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 crisisof 2015, the issue of immigration continues to be one of the most contentious within the EU and isexpected 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. (@rukhshanmir) Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Saturday dismissed the idea of one of the members of the European Parliament that the country could accommodate 50 Syrian orphans, noting that the republic should first of all take care of its own orphans but would continue to allocate aid directly to countries of migrants' origin. PRAGUE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th September, 2018) Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Saturday dismissed the idea of one of the members of the European Parliament that the country could accommodate 50 Syrian orphans, noting that the republic should first of all take care of its own orphans but would continue to allocate aid directly to countries of migrants' origin. "Why should we take in [Syrian orphans]? We have our own orphans, whom we should prepare for life ... The most important thing is that the Czech Republic demonstrates its solidarity with other countries. Since 2015, we have allocated 2.5 billion korunas [$115 million] in aid to stem migration, our doctors and experts are working in Syria, the Czech Republic has provided medical aid to 2,500 patients, including Syrian children," Babis said in an interview with Pravo newspaper. He also noted that during his recent visit to Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked him whether Prague could accommodate some of the undocumented migrants whom the union had been seeking to redistribute. "I replied that we cannot take in any of refugees. It is our symbolic position in response to the European Union's inability to resolve the migration issue," Babis pointed out. When asked to comment on the recent anti-immigration protests in the city of Chemnitz, which had been shattered by the murder of a local resident, allegedly committed by two migrants of Iraqi and Syrian decent, he said that it was an internal issue of Germany and there were various views on the event. "Anyway, it is clear that Germany has simply failed to tackle migration ... Therefore, it is important for Europe to send a clear signal that its doors are closed and that it will not take in any new migrants, and those who go to Europe on vessels must return. One can in no case say that if [such] a ship arrives, then we should redistribute refugees among us, as French President Emmanuel Macron suggests," Babis concluded. The European Union has been facing an acute migration crisis since 2015 when hundreds of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers arrived in Europe from Northern Africa and the middle East. Migration has been a thorny issue for EU members. The Czech Republic as well as Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, have been opposing the system under which each EU member state has to accept a mandatory quota of refugees. MAKHACHKALA (Russia) (UrduPoint news / Sputnik - 15th September, 2018) A counterterror operation regime has been introduced in two districts of the Russian Republic of Dagestan with search for gunmen being underway, a spokesman for the operation headquarters told Sputnik on Saturday. "Head of the Russian Federal Security Service's republican department decided to introduce the counterterror operation legal regime in some territories of the Buynaksky and Karabudakhkentsky districts of Dagestan," the spokesman said. According to the spokesman, search for the gunmen and their accomplices is underway. Czech Interior Minister Jan Hamacek said on Saturday that the Czech Republic had all the resources to accommodate 50 Syrian orphans as a good will gesture, thereby putting himself on a collision course with Prime Minister Andrej Babis. PRAGUE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th September, 2018) Czech Interior Minister Jan Hamacek said on Saturday that the Czech Republic had all the resources to accommodate 50 Syrian orphans as a good will gesture, thereby putting himself on a collision course with Prime Minister Andrej Babis. Earlier in the day, Babis, in an interview with Pravo newspaper, dismissed the idea of a European Parliament member from the republic that the country could accommodate 50 Syrian orphans, noting that the nation should first of all take care of its own orphans but would continue to allocate aid directly to countries of migrants' origin. "In my view, the Czech Republic, as a country with 10 million of population, could become a new home for 50 children who lost their parents during the war in Syria," Hamacek, who also holds the post of acting foreign minister, wrote on Twitter. The prime minister's position has also drawn criticism among other Czech politicians. Miroslav Kalousek, the leader of the liberal-conservative TOP 09 party in the lower house, for instance, expressed regret over Babis' stance. He noted that the country thereby "speaks to the world about its inhumanity," voluntarily drifting to isolation and contempt. Babis is known for his firm anti-immigration stance. During his recent talks with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, he told each of them, on separate occasions, that his country would not take in any of undocumented migrants, whom the union had been seeking to redistribute. (@ChaudhryMAli88) 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. Budapest, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Sep, 2018 ) :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. 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. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Five people were killed in a crash of a military helicopter in the west of Afghanistan, local media reported Saturday. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th September, 2018) Five people were killed in a crash of a military helicopter in the west of Afghanistan, local media reported Saturday. The incident occurred on Saturday in the province of Farah, the 1TV broadcaster reported. All the servicemen on board, including four passengers and a pilot, were killed in the crash, the broadcaster said, citing governor of the Khaki Safed district Mohammad Navrozi. According to Navrozi, the helicopter was fired at by the Taliban militants. However, the provincial governor's spokesman Naser Mehri denied it, saying the helicopter crashed due to technical malfunction, and not as a result of a Taliban attack. (@FahadShabbir) Rukla, Lithuania, Sept 14 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Sep, 2018 ) :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. vab/mas/bmm MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th September, 2018) One child was killed and another eight children were wounded as a result of shelling of Syria's Aleppo by militants, head of Russia's center for Syrian reconciliation Lt. Gen. Vladimir Savchenko said at a briefing Friday. "As a result of shelling of the outskirts of the city of Aleppo from a 82-mm mortar, 14 civilians were affected: an 11-year-old child died, 13 people, including eight children, were wounded," Savchenko said. 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. LIMA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Sep, 2018 ) :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. (@rukhshanmir) Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation Rosatom is preparing to put the first power unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (NPP) into commercial operation before 2020, the company's CEO Alexey Likhachev said on Saturday. MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th September, 2018) Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation Rosatom is preparing to put the first power unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (NPP) into commercial operation before 2020, the company's CEO Alexey Likhachev said on Saturday. "We have today ... the elder brother of the Belarusian NPP - the first unit of the second stage of the Leningrad NPP - has undergone industrial tests and is operating at full capacity. It will put into commercial operation by the end of the year. So, considering this experience, we are preparing for the same procedure here [in Belarus] next year, we proceed from the fact that this should happen before the end of next year," Likhachev said at a meeting with Belarusian Prime Minister Sergey Rumas in Minsk. He also noted that during the construction of the Belarusian NPP, a number of world records are being set - in terms of schedule, quality and involvement of local contractors in this work. "The plant is the flagship project, number one in terms of attention given by the management of the state corporation, the country's leadership, to this facility," Likhachev said. Rosatom CEO thanked the Belarusian side for cooperation at all levels - the construction site, Energy Ministry, Architecture and Construction Ministry, Emergencies Ministry. Likhachev expressed hope that the renewed composition of Belarussian government would preserve this cooperation. Rumas noted that the Belarusian NPP was a very significant and the largest project for Minsk, including from the investments perspective. "It is under the direct control of the head of state [Alexander Lukashenko]," the prime minister said. The Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built near the town of Astravyets in Grodno Region. The plant's general contractor is Atomstroyexport, subsidiary of Rosatom. The nuclear power plant will consist of two power units with a total capacity of up to 2,400 MW. The plant is designed to comply with the most modern, so-called "post-Fukusima" safety standards. The launch of the NPP's first power unit is scheduled for 2019, second is planned to be launched in 2020. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and several other law enforcement agencies extradited from Belgium wanted Russian citizen Ali Gekhaev, who financially supported the Islamic State terrorist group (IS, banned in Russia), FSB press service said Saturday. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th September, 2018) Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and several other law enforcement agencies extradited from Belgium wanted Russian citizen Ali Gekhaev, who financially supported the Islamic State terrorist group (IS, banned in Russia), FSB press service said Saturday. "Russia's Federal Security Service together with the Russian Prosecutor General's Office, the Russian Interior Ministry's National Central Bureaus of Interpol and the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service organized the extradition from Belgium of an internationally wanted Russian citizen Gekhaev Ali Abdul-Mutalipovich, born 1988," the statement said. According to the report, Gekhaev was a supporter of radical islam and has lived in the territory of the European Union since 2015, from where he financed IS militants in Syria. In May 2017, he was detained in Brussels and placed under pre-extradition arrest, the statement said. Gekhaev was extradited to Russia on Friday. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said on Saturday in an interview with Belgian daily La Derniere Heure that the country's security services had managed to prevent a number of terrorism offenses over the past few years BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th September, 2018) Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said on Saturday in an interview with Belgian daily La Derniere Heure that the country's security services had managed to prevent a number of terrorism offenses over the past few years. "The judges have tried dozens of terrorism-related cases. They have convicted dozens of people. Behind each verdict, there are potentially grave offenses that have been prevented," Michel said. He added that more staff and more technical facilities had been supplied for terrorism-related investigations over the past several years. "There is still a threat. It differs from the threat of the period when we faced structured and coordinated organizations. Today, we face individuals who radicalize themselves. Such actions are less noticeable, so we remain wary," Michel said. In late January, the Belgian Interior Ministry's Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis decided to reduce the terrorism threat in the country from level three to level two, which means that an attack is currently unlikely. On March 22, 2016, Brussels suffered two bombings at the Brussels Airport and one bombing at a metro station, located in the center of the city. The highest threat level of four, qualifying the threat as imminent, was introduced in the country, but it was dropped two days later, and the country maintained the level three threat since March 24, 2016. 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. Bangkok, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Sep, 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 throughpublic 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. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Several thousand people have taken part in a rally in the center of Latvian capital Riga against government plans to switch Russian-language schools to the Latvian language, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Saturday RIGA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th September, 2018) Several thousand people have taken part in a rally in the center of Latvian capital Riga against government plans to switch Russian-language schools to the Latvian language, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Saturday. According to the local police, over 5,000 people have taken to the streets. The protesters, led by Tatjana Zdanoka, the leader of the leftist Latvian Russian Union party, and European Parliament member Andrejs Mamikins, marched from the Dailes Theater to the Rainis monument in the Espalanade park, where the rally was held. Some of them were holding Latvian and Russian national flags, or posters reading "Keep your hands off our schools" in Russian and in Latvian. There were no incidents during the event, with dozens of police officers controlling the situation. On April 2, Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis signed into law a bill envisaging the gradual transfer of the national minorities' schools located in the county, including the Russian-language schools, to the Latvian language of teaching by the 2021-2022 academic year. Subjects, related to the minorities' languages and history, will be an exception. The population of Latvia amounts to over 1.9 million people, including 12 percent of Russians. According to the latest full census held in Latvia, over 37.2 percent of people living in the country speak Russian at home, while Latvian is the only official language. (@ChaudhryMAli88) A total of 130 illegal migrants, attempting to reach Western European states through the territory of the Czech Republic, have been detained in the Czech Republic in 2018, Jan Hamacek, Czech interior minister and acting foreign minister, said on Saturday. PRAGUE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th September, 2018) A total of 130 illegal migrants, attempting to reach Western European states through the territory of the Czech Republic, have been detained in the Czech Republic in 2018, Jan Hamacek, Czech interior minister and acting foreign minister, said on Saturday. He specified that the migrants did not consider the Czech Republic as their destination country. "In the midst of the migration crisis in 2015, our police have detained around 3,000 illegal migrants trying to get further, to the Western European states. This year, there have been far fewer of those [illegal migrants], only 130 people so far. From the very beginning, we have sent via our actions a clear message that we would rigidly identify and suppress any attempt to violate our borders, and we have thus cooled down the ardor of people engaged in refugees' transfer," Hamacek said. On Saturday, Hamacek supervised a police operation, envisaging control of cars and people at two border crossings in the vicinity of the town of Cheb, Karlovy Vary Region. A total of 552 cars and around 850 people were checked in the course of the operation, carried out by 40 Czech police officers and eight police officers from neighboring Germany with the use of advanced technologies. Petr Mahacek, the head of the police department of the Czech Karlovy Vary Region, told journalists that 19 minor offenses had been identified during the operation, which mostly came down to EU member states' citizens not having their identity documents with them, or drivers exceeding the regulation speed. While Europe has been facing a dramatic influx of migrants, fleeing crises in Northern Africa and the middle East, since 2015, the Czech Republic, along with Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, has been opposing the system under which every EU member state has to accept a mandatory quota of refugees. (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th September, 2018) General Dynamics - OTS has received a more than $44-million US Army foreign military sales contract to provide Hydra rockets to Afghanistan, Nigeria, Australia, Lebanon and the Philippines, the Department of Defense said in a press release. "General Dynamics - OTS [of] Williston, Vermont, was awarded a $44,353,964 modification to foreign military sales (Afghanistan, Nigeria, Australia, Lebanon and Philippines) contract to procure Hydra rockets," the release stated on Friday. Work will be performed in Williston, Vermont over the next two and a half years with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2021, the Defense Department said. Hydra rockets are lightweight weapons designed for use against point and area targets, according to General Dynamics. They are fired from seven and 19 tube launchers that are mounted on aircraft such as the US Army's Apache helicopter and the US Air Force F-16 combat jet. 4M trial (Barentsz, Netherlands) MRI-FIRST -trial (Rouviere, France) PROKOMB-trial (Baur, Berlin) MVP-trial (Nam, Canada) Milan, Italy (UroToday.com) Dr. Villeirs gave an update on the usage of MRI in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. He began his discussion on the scoring system of prostate MRI: The Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PIRADS), defining standards of high-quality clinical service for multi-parametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (mpMRI), including image creation and reporting. The PIRADS has been validated in a meta-analysis of 21 studies including over 3857 patients. This demonstrated a pooled sensitivity of 89% and a pooled specificity of 73%.These results were irrespective of the magnet strength (1.5 T or 3.0 T). Additionally, there have been multiple single-institution studies demonstrating fair sensitivity for detection of any cancer, and high sensitivity (90%) for the detection of clinically significant cancer (Gleason Grade group 3-5). Furthermore, these data demonstrate a high negative predictive value (90%) for the exclusion of clinically significant cancer (Gleason grade group 3-5).In a study evaluating the histologic significance of every level of the PIRADS scoring system, the correlation of the PIRADS scoring system to the Gleason Grade group was quite high (Figure 1).Figure 1: Correlation of mpMRI PIRADS 2 results and Gleason Grade Groups:These results demonstrate that there is a clear rationale for mpMRI. If it is negative with no suspected lesions, there is no need to do a biopsy, as it has a high negative predictive value for excluding clinically significant disease. If the mpMRI is positive, a targeted biopsy is required for the visible mpMRI lesion. mpMRI targeted biopsies can be performed in three ways: 1. Cognitive, 2. MRI-US fusion, 3. MRI in bore. A study published in 2017 had demonstrated no difference in results between these three techniquesThe European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines state the mpMRI should only be performed in the setting of repeat biopsy when clinical suspicion of prostate cancer persists despite negative biopsies. The guidelines also state that systematic biopsies should always be performed in addition to the targeted biopsies. The relative sensitivity of mpMRI targeted biopsy compared to standard TRUS biopsy in the repeat setting has been shown to be 1.45-1.62 higher.However, in the setting of initial biopsy, the guidelines show that the relative sensitivity of mpMRI compared to TRUS biopsy is 0.97-1.15, correlating to no significant difference.The first randomized controlled trial published in the setting of initial biopsy demonstrated that mpMRI compared to standard systematic TRUS biopsy has a 59% vs. 54% overall diagnosis rate, respectively. Additionally, mpMRI has 44% clinically significant cancer detection rate compared to 49% of TRUS biopsy. The PROMIS study was a multicenter, paired - confirmatory cohort trial, comparing TRUS biopsy to mpMRI targeted biopsy using Likert score.This trial enrolled 576 patients with no previous biopsy and with a PSA <=15 ng/ml. If mpMRI were used as a triage test in biopsy-naive patients with a high PSA (Likert>=3), the following results were shown: 27% fewer biopsies, 5% less insignificant cancer diagnosed, and 18% more significant cancer diagnosed in mpMRI targeted biopsies. The PRECISION trial was a multicenter, randomized, noninferiority trial, comparing MRI-targeted biopsy vs. standard TRUS biopsy using PIRADS v2. Overall it enrolled 500 patients, in 25 centers, both academic and non-academic, in 11 countries. All patients had no previous biopsy, and a PSA<=20 ng/ml. In this trial, if mpMRI were used as a triage test in biopsy-naive patients with increased PSA (PIRADS >=3), the results demonstrated: 28% fewer biopsies, 13% less insignificant cancer diagnosed, and 12% more significant cancer diagnosed in the mpMRI targeted biopsy. There are currently at least four ongoing trials attempting to answer the questions whether mpMRI can function as a triage test and avoid biopsies. These include:This interesting overview was summarized by Dr. Villeirs, stating that to date, mpMRI is recommended only after a previous negative biopsy, and there is promising data the in biopsy-naive patients, mpMRI used as a triage test will results in the performance of fewer biopsies overall, with more significant cancers and less insignificant cancers diagnosed.Presented by: Geert Villeirs, Ghent, BelgiumReferences:1. Woo et al. Eur Urol 2017; 72:177 2. Mehralivand S et al. J Urol. 2017; 198: 5833. Wegelin et al. Eur Urol 2018; 71:5174. Schoots, et al. Eur Urol 2015; 68:438 5. Panabianco et al. Urol Oncol 2015; 33: 17.e1-7 6. Ahmed et al. Lancet 2017; 389:815 7. Kasivisvanathan et al. NEJM 2018 Written by: Hanan Goldberg, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow (SUO), University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Twitter:@GoldbergHanan at the 2nd EAU Update on Prostate Cancer (PCa18) September 14-15, 2018 Milan, Italy Milan, Italy (UroToday.com) Dr. Joniau and Dr. Emberton gave an overview on the indications on which patients to refer for prostate biopsy. There is an impressively high prevalence of prostate cancer in men in each decade, which can roughly amount to 30% in age 60-69, 40% in age 70-79, and 50% in US and European Caucasian men aged 80-89. This data has been shown in autopsy studies, as can be seen in figure 1, stratified by race as well.Figure 1- Prostate cancer diagnosed by an autopsy by race:There are available calculators, such as the European Randomized study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) risk calculator that provide the risk of prostate cancer, even without the value of a PSA test. The Rotterdam ESPEC risk calculators can be found online and provide an estimated risk of having a positive prostate biopsy.The European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines recommend offering to screen for prostate cancer to well-informed men, after counseling them about the potential risks and benefits. In any case, a single elevated PSA should not prompt immediate biopsy. PSA should be verified after a few weeks in second testing before performing a biopsy. The past habit of providing empiric antibiotics in an asymptomatic patient to lower the PSA should not be undertaken.There has been much discussion and debate on the appropriate cut off value of PSA, and at what PSA value to refer a patient for a prostate biopsy. The classic cut off 3.1-4 ng/ml harbors a 26.9% risk of any prostate cancer, and a 6.7% risk of clinically significant prostate cancer (Gleason score 3+4=7), based on the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT). The PCPT risk calculator can also be found online When looking at the results of the ERSPC study at 9,11, and 13 years follow-up (Table 1) it is possible to see that with extended follow-up, the mortality relative risk reduction remains unchanged. However, the number needed to screen and to diagnose is decreasing rapidly (below the number needed to screen in breast cancer trials). Screening has both advantages and disadvantages. The befits include the reduction of prostate cancer-specific mortality and metastases. The disadvantages include the overdiagnosis of low-grade tumors and overtreatment of these tumors.Table 1- Key findings from the ERSPC study at long-term follow-up:Next, the speakers debated which patients die from prostate cancer. Figure 2 demonstrates the natural evolution of non-curatively treated prostate cancer in comparison to cardiovascular death and other cause mortality.As demonstrated by the figure, 10%, 20%, and 40% of patients with low-, intermediate-, and high-risk prostate cancer, respectively, die of prostate cancer.Figure 2- the Natural evolution of non-curatively treated prostate cancer patients:The problem of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of non-aggressive low-risk indolent disease is a real issue and needs to be addressed. A study published by Vickers A et al. demonstrated that a first PSA at the age of 45-49 could predict which men would die of prostate cancer in the future. The results demonstrated that 10% of men with the highest PSA (above 1.5 ng/ml) are responsible for 44% of prostate cancer deaths in the future. Another study published by Vickers A. et al.showed that PSA at the age of 60 could be correlated to the lifetime risk of prostate cancer or prostate cancer metastases. For example, figure 3 demonstrates a 60-year-old man with a PSA of 3 ng/ml, having a 30% lifetime risk of prostate cancer and a 15% lifetime risk of prostate cancer metastases. The Rotterdam ERSPC risk calculators mentioned earlier, allow us to incorporate the PSA value, the digital rectal examination result, prior negative prostate biopsy, and the prostate volume, to give a more accurate risk of positive prostate biopsy and more specifically, the risk of high-grade prostate cancer. A result of less than 12.5% should not mandate a biopsy, 12.5%-20% - should mandate a biopsy only if the risk of high-risk cancer is >4%, and above 20% must mandate a biopsy.Figure 3 Lifetime risk of clinically diagnosed prostate cancer and prostate cancer metastases based on PSA at age 60:Over the years, there has been an increasing number of tests on the market developed to help us choose which patients we need to refer for a prostate biopsy. These include the urine PCA3 test, the Prostatic Health Index (PHI), the SelectMDx test, and the 4Kscore test. The PCA3-RNA test is based on a pseudogene that, if transcribed, generates a non-coding RNA. It is selectively expressed in the prostate and is overexpressed in prostate cancer. The PHI test gives us a number resulting from an equation composed of [-2]proPSA + free PSA + total PSA. The PHI has an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.7-0.77, with a negative predictive value of 67-92%, a risk of missing prostate cancer between 8-33%, and resulting in 36% of unnecessary biopsies that could be avoided. SelectMDX, similarly to the PCA3 test, is based on mRNA biomarker isolated from the urine. The presence of HOXC6 and DLX1 mRNA levels are assessed to provide an estimate of the risk of prostate cancer in general, and high-risk prostate cancer specifically. It has an AUC of 0.9, with a negative predictive value of 98%, with a 2% risk of missing high-grade prostate cancer, and it can avoid 53% of unnecessary prostate biopsies. A more newly found test is the 4Kscore, which combines four prostate-specific kallikrein assay results with clinical information in an algorithm that calculates the individual patients percent risk for aggressive prostate cancer. It has an AUC of 0.82, a negative predictive value of 95%, a 5% risk of missing prostate cancer, and can avoid 36% of unnecessary biopsies.Dr. Joiniau concluded his encompassing discussion and showed the recommendations of the EAU guidelines on PSA testing. According to the guidelines PSA should be offered to well-informed men at elevated risk of prostate cancer. These include men above the age of 50, men above the age of 45 with a family history of prostate cancer, or men older than 45 who are African-American. For men who have had an initial PSA level, we should retest them in two years-time if they have a PSA above one ng/ml at the age of 40, or above two ng/ml at the age of 60. Men with lower PSA values should be followed up in eight years time. Men who have a life expectancy of <15 years are unlikely to benefit from PSA testing. Lastly, table 2 summarized the recommendations for PSA testing in men aged 50-70 according to the EAU guidelines.Table 2 PSA testing recommendations according to the EAU guidelines:Presented by: Mark Emberton, London, Great Britain and Steven Joniau, Leuven, BelgiumWritten by: Hanan Goldberg, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow (SUO), University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Twitter:@GoldbergHanan at the 2nd EAU Update on Prostate Cancer (PCa18) September 14-15, 2018 Milan, Italy References:1. Thompson IM et al. NEJM 350 (22):2239-46, 20042. Rider JR et al. Eur Urol 2012 3. Vickers A et al. BMJ 2013 4. Vickers A et al. BMJ 2010; 341 Milan, Italy (UroToday.com) Dr. Mottet and Dr. Stranne discussed PSA and its various roles in screening, local treatment and systemic treatment. The discussion began with a short explanation of what exactly is PSA. PSA is a protease, and a member of the Kallikrein family also called human kallikrein peptidase 3 (HK3). It is synthesized mostly by prostatic glandular cells through androgen-regulated genes, originally from chromosome 19, and weighs 300 kb. However, it is also produced (minimal amount) by breast, adrenal and renal cell cells. It has a concentration that is 10greater in the sperm than in the blood. Originally, it is secreted as pre-pro-PSA, which is PSA + 17 amino acids in the N terminal side. Later, it is cleaved to pro-PSA + 7 amino acids. These 7 amino acids (APLILSR) are called the peptide pro leader. The entire process of PSA production is depicted in figure 1.Figure 1 PSA production:PSA has been shown to have a direct correlation to prostate cancer risk. As the PSA rises, the risk of prostate cancer increases accordingly. Traditionally a cut off of 3 ng/ml was considered the classic cutoff from normal to a high risk of prostate cancer diagnosis, as can be seen in figure 2. A rise in age is correlated with an increased risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate cancer. At age 20-30 the risk of prostate cancer is 2%, and it rises to 64% at age 60-70.Figure 2 Correlation of PSA levels to prostate cancer riskThe speakers then discussed the role of the ratio of free/total PSA. This ratio is used in stratifying the risk of prostate cancer in men with a PSA between 4 ng/ml and ten ng/ml, and a negative digital rectal examination. It has been shown that the risk of prostate cancer is 56% if the free to total ratio is <0.1, and the risk is 8% if the ratio is >0.25. The free/total ration has no use during follow-up of known prostate cancer when the total PSA is below three ng/ml, and when it is above 20 ng/ml.There is a known variation with the accredited (WHO-calibrated) methods of PSA testing of +/-5%. However, there is also a known intra-individual variation of +/-15%, which physicians and patients need to remember. There are also several reasons for a falsely elevated PSA level. These include urinary tract infections (the PSA can take up to a year to normalize!), urinary retention, and a prostate biopsy. Additional sources that can cause an elevated PSA include chronic renal failure, hypogonadism, and mishandling of blood samples analyzed for PSA.PSA doubling time is an important parameter that we need to comprehend. This is based on PSA values analyzed over time. A minimum of two points are required, but more than 2 points are considerably more reliable. The equation for calculation of doubling time from two PSA values is the following: PSA doubling time = [ln(2)*/IT]/[ln(PSA final) ln(PSA initial)]. The PSA must be measured at least four weeks apart for the doubling time calculation. The minimal increase between the two values must be 0.4 ng/ml. The consensus today is that at least three values are required of the proper calculation of PSA doubling time. There is also an online tool that can assist in the calculation of the doubling time.Next, the large European Randomized study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) screening trial was discussed. This was a randomized controlled multicenter trial including eight centers, with men aged 55-69. In the intervention group, screening with PSA was performed every four years. Overall 182,160 men were screened, with 72891 men in the intervention group, and 89352 men in the control group. This trial demonstrated a clear advantage in prostate cancer mortality for patients in the screening intervention group. After follow-up for 13 years, screening was shown to have a beneficial effect on prostate cancer mortality, with a decrease of 21%, and a rate ratio of 0.79 (95% C.I 0.69-0.91). However, to save one life, the number needed to screen was 781, while the number needed to diagnose was 27. These numbers decrease as follow-up time was longer.This demonstrated how overdiagnosis and overtreatment are real issues in prostate cancer. The Gothenburg branch of ERSPC study had a follow-up period of 18 years, for 20000 men. This demonstrated a number needed to screen of 231, and a number needed to diagnose of 10, with a reduction of 35% in the risk of death. Amazingly, these numbers are better than those accepted for other types of cancers, with an accepted screening program, such as breast (number needed to screen 100-2000, with number needed to diagnose of 10), cervical cancer (number needed to screen 1140, and unknown number needed to diagnose), and colorectal cancer (number needed to screen of 600-1200, with an unknown number needed to diagnose).A previously mentioned, over-diagnosis is a serious problem, as it drives up healthcare costs, results in labeling healthy people as patients with cancer, and ultimately leads to overtreatment, which in turn reduces the quality of life of the patient. This problem needs to be managed, and here they discussed a few steps that can assist us with this. The opinions shared include:First, we should consider stopping PSA screening of men with a life expectancy of fewer than 10-15 years.Second, we need to risk stratify screening based on age, comorbidities, and PSA levels.Third, we need to sharpen our diagnostics through sequential screening. For instance, PSA followed by multiparametric MRI, and then perform a targeted biopsy. Lastly, we need to organize information/screening/PSA-testing programs.The next topic discussed was PSA relapse after definitive therapy for the local disease. PSA level is a sensitive marker of occult prostate-cancer relapse and provides early notification of recurrence, but a PSA relapse does not equal a clinical relapse or death from prostate cancer. The definition of relapse after prostatectomy is a consecutively rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values of >0.2 ng/mL. PSA measurements after radiation are even less predictable. After external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) the Phoenix definition is used to define PSA relapse. In the post-radiation therapy setting, the most widely accepted definition is a PSA that is seen to be rising from the lowest level (nadir) by at least 2.0 ng/mL. Factors that have been shown to predict systemic relapse include pathological T3b, positive lymph nodes on pathology, Gleason score >=7, relapse that occurs in less than two years from definitive treatment, and PSA velocity at relapse of more than 0.75 ng/ml/a year. Several studies have shown that PSA doubling time thresholds of between less than six months and less than ten months are significant predictors suggesting a systemic, rather than a local recurrence.Figure 3 demonstrates the correlation of PSA to time to survival, showing a hazard ratio of 19.6 if the PSA doubling time is less than three monthsIn post-radical prostatectomy patients, a short PSA doubling time is the key driver, with shorter doubling times correlated to a greater impact. In post EBRT, early relapse (<1 year) has the highest risk impact.Figure 3 Correlation between PSA doubling time (PSADT) and survival:The speakers moved on to discuss the PSA response in M1 patients and those treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). It has been shown that 7 months after beginning ADT therapy, if the PSA is higher than 4 ng/ml, the median survival is 13 months, if it is lower than 4 ng/ml the median survival rises to 44 months, and if it is lower than 0.2 ng/ml, the median survival elevates to a staggering 75 monthWhen assessing the role of PSA progression in castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), PSA reflects the androgen axis activity. It is linked to the disease when the axis is predominant (hormone-sensitive disease) but is quite different in CRPC status. In CRPC, PSA decline has been linked to increased survival, and when the decline is less than 30% after one month of treatment, it was shown to be associated with poor survival. In non-metastatic CRPC PSA doubling time is correlated with time to metastases. Some have suggested that a PSA rise in CRPC patients should trigger a treatment change. However, treatment for CRPC should be changed only if signs for unequivocal progression exist. This is defined by at least two of the following criteria: PSA progression, bone scan progression, CT progression, and quality of life symptom progression.In summary, PSA has a major role in all stages of prostate cancer, from diagnosis to end-stage disease. In the early diagnosis of the disease, it is limited by a lack of specificity. In local treatment follow-up, it is important to remember that PSA rise does not equal immediate treatment, and that not every rise, is a clinically significant rise. Lastly, in systemic therapy, PSA progression is but one of many other available signs of progression, and alone it is not enough to define unequivocal progression.Presented by: Johan Stranne, Goteborg, Sweden and Nicolas Mottet, Saint-Etienne, FranceWritten by: Hanan Goldberg, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow (SUO), University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Twitter:@GoldbergHanan at the 2nd EAU Update on Prostate Cancer (PCa18) September 14-15, 2018 Milan, Italy References:1. Thompson et al. NEJM 20042. Catalona, W.J. et al. JAMA, 19983. Hugosson J et al. Scan J urol 2018 4. DAmico et al. JNCI 20035. Hussain et al. J Clin Oncol 20066. Resciano et al. ASCO 2018 Milan, Italy (UroToday.com) Dr. Villeirs began discussing the imaging findings in post-radical prostatectomy patients. Since the prostate has been removed, there is a resulting descent of the bladder base into the empty prostate bed, as shown in Figure 1. Additionally, the bladder neck appears as a round, rectangular, or slit-like structure. The perianastomotic tissue is compact, averaging 2 cmand 1-1.5 cm CC. The seminal vesicle fossa appears as fibrotic strands and many surgical clips can usually be seen in this area. At times, there are seminal vesicle remnants (<20% of cases), and these appear as cystic pouches.Figure 1 - Bladder descent post-prostatectomy:Post-prostatectomy recurrence is defined as two consecutive PSA rises above 0.2 ng/ml. The recurrence can either be local or distant. In local recurrence, there are usually low PSA values and long PSA doubling time. The local recurrence predominantly occurs in the perianastomotic (52%) and retro-vesical area (20%), followed by the bladder neck area (16%), and circumferential areas (12%).The overall rate of MRI-detectable lesion in men referred for salvage radiotherapy is 24%.When stratifying the MRI detection rate by PSA values, a clear trend is evident with higher PSA values correlating to a higher rate of MRI-detection (PSA <0.2 ng/ml 8% detection rate, 0.2-0.3 ng/ml 18% detection rate, 0.31-0.72 ng/ml 35% detection rate, and >0.72 ng/ml 38% detection rate).When assessing the performance of the specific MRI phases for this state of postsurgical recurrence, T2 imaging has a sensitivity of 48-61%, and a specificity of 52-82%.The diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has a sensitivity of 94-98% and specificity of 92-96% and is correlated with the aggressiveness of the recurrence.The dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) demonstrates an earlier and faster enhancement than fibrosis, with a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 87%.. Therefore, according to the speakers, the recommendation is to perform T2+DWI+DCE MRI when there is suspicion of a local recurrence postoperatively, and when PSA is between 0.2-1 ng/ml (increasing accuracy with increasing PSA).Next, the changes occurring in the prostate after radiotherapy were discussed. Following either external beam radiotherapy or brachytherapy, one could expect to find inflammation, glandular atrophy, fibrosis, and prostate shrinkage. The MRI demonstrates diffusely decreased signal intensity and loss of zonal anatomy, as can be seen in figure 2. In this state of diagnosing postradiotherapy recurrence, T2 weighted MRI has a sensitivity of 26-44% and a specificity of 63%-86%.Due to this poor performance, other MRI phases are required. The DWI demonstrated a lower ADC than surrounding irradiated tissue, with a sensitivity of 49-97% and a specificity of 91-93%.The DCE demonstrates early enhancing areas, with a sensitivity of 70%-97%, and specificity of 73%-85%Similarly to postprostatectomy, the recommendation is to perform T2 + DWI +DCE when there is suspicion of recurrence in a postradiotherapy patient.Figure 2 Postradiotherapy MRI demonstrating diffusely decreased signal intensity and loss of zonal anatomy:The speakers concluded their talk mentioning the role of the positron emission tomography (PET)-based imaging. In recent years, PET/CT imaging has been used more prevalently in prostate cancer and could offer a promising alternative to conventional imaging for characterizing the true extent of the recurrent prostate cancer. In a recently published meta-analysis including over 3200 patients who underwent PET imaging using the radiolabeled tracers: 11-choline, 18F-FACBC, or 68Ga-PSMA, the reported results were quite promising.The sensitivities of these tracers were 80.9%, 79.7%, and 76.4%, for 11-choline, 18F-FACBC, or 68Ga-PSMA, respectively. The respective specificities were 84.1%, 61.9%, and 99.8%. Importantly, the recurrence detection rates ranged between 58%-82%. These results are quite encouraging, but further prospective trials are needed to validate them.Presented by: Wim Oyen, London, Great Britain and Geert Villeirs, Ghent, BelgiumWritten by: Hanan Goldberg, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow (SUO), University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Twitter:@GoldbergHanan at the 2nd EAU Update on Prostate Cancer (PCa18) September 14-15, 2018 Milan, Italy References:1. Sella et al. Am J Roentgenol 2006; 186:5392. Martino, et al. World J Urol 2011; 29:5953. Liauw et al. IJROBP, 2013; 85:3784. Casciani et al. AJR 2008; 190:1187-11925. Panebianco et al. Eur Radiol 2012; 23: 17456. Yu et al. Cell Biochem Biophys 2015; 72:6877. Rouviere, et al. Urology 2004; 63: 922-9278. Kim et al. JMRI 2009; 29:391-3979. Haider et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2008; 70: 425-430 10. Sathianathen NJ, et al. World J Urol. 2018 Pope Francis on Friday received, in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi. The Mozambican President was accompanied to the Vatican by First Lady, Isaura Nyusi, and other Mozambican government officials. Africa Service - Vatican City According to a statement issued by the Holy See Press Office, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the President of the Republic of Mozambique, His Excellency Felipe Jacinto Nyusi, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Msgr. Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States. During the cordial discussions, the good relations between the Holy See and Mozambique and the valued contribution of the Catholic Church in several sectors of society were underlined, with reference to the Bilateral Agreement signed in 2011 to facilitate the activity of the Church in the country. The socio-political situation of the nation was then discussed, as well as the process of national reconciliation currently underway, with the hope that a stable and lasting peace may be reached. The conversation continued with an exchange of opinions on the fight against poverty and corruption, as well as economic collaboration between Mozambique and other countries, reads part of the statement. In the afternoon, President Nyusi and his delegation were at the Vatican Radio studios, where he gave interviews discussing a wide range of issues in Portuguese and Kiswahili. In his homily at Mass in the Italian city of Palermo, Pope Francis contrasts belief in God with mafia membership, saying true victory comes from the loving gift of self. By Devin Watkins Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Saturday during his pastoral visit in the Italian city of Palermo, saying Christians must choose either love or selfishness, victory or defeat. You cannot believe in God and be a member of the mafia, the Pope declared. Those belonging to the mafia are not living as Christians, because with their life they blaspheme the name of God who is love. Don Puglisi: victory in defeat Pope Francis visit to the Sicilian city coincided with the liturgical memorial of Blessed Pino Puglisi, a local priest killed by the mafia 25 years ago. The Holy Father said Father Pinos life highlighted the Christians choice between self-love and selflessness. He said the priest showed how the victory of faith is born from the scandal of martyrdom. Listen to our report Pope Francis said Christians do not hate life but love and defend it, since it is Gods first gift! What brings defeat is love of ones own life, to love ones own life, he said. Those who live for themselves lose. He said advertising hammers into us the idea that those who live for themselves and multiply their income are victorious in life. Love over selfishness But this is the great illusion, Pope Francis said, money and power do not liberate the human person, but make us slaves. He said the reason is because having always leads to wanting. Jesus, the Pope said, turns this logic on its head. Those who live for themselves do not just lose something, but their entire life; while those who give themselves find meaning in life and conquer. Pope Francis said Father Puglisi knew that the true danger in life is not taking risks, living in comfort and by half-measures. Choose love Today we need men and women of love, not of honor; men and women who serve, not who oppress; men and women who walk together, who do not run after power. Finally, Pope Francis invited Mafiosi to convert to the true God of Jesus Christ. Change yourselves! Stop thinking of yourselves and your money, he said. Rather, he implored the people of Palermo: Choose love! Award-winning adult film actress, Vicki Chase, hosted a late-night party at Crazy Horse 3 in Las Vegas in celebration of Mexican Independence Day last night (Photo credit: Jeff Ragazzo). Photo credit: Jeff Ragazzo Chase arrived at the award-winning gentlemens club shortly before midnight, wearing a red cropped top with flowing sleeves all the way down to her ankles, paired with black stilettos, and posing for photos on the red carpet. In the spirit of Mexican Independence Day, she also took photos with a sombrero and maracas. Photo credit: Jeff Ragazzo Upon entering the clubs VIP lounge, Chase was surprised with an extravagant bottle presentation by Crazy Horse 3s gorgeous cocktail servers, complete with bottles of Grey Goose Vodka and a banner proclaiming Time to Fiesta. Photo credit: Jeff Ragazzo Chase spent the rest of the night sipping on Grey Goose, getting a lap dance from one of her favorite entertainers and mingling with fans. Photo credit: Jeff Ragazzo Best known for appearing in over 150 featured adult videos, Chase has won multiple awards throughout her career, including the Adult Video News (AVN) Awards for Best Star Showcase in 2015. Listen in on a lively discussion of the weeks top stories with Issues in the News. This week, as the United States marked the 17th anniversary of 9-11, Russia and China met in Eastern Siberia to show off their military prowess and perhaps their growing cooperation. Join host Paul Brandus of West Wing Reports, along with Emily Tamkin from BuzzFeed and Richard Latendresse of TVA Nouvelles as they discuss these and other stories, on VOAs Issues in the News. Music Time in Africa is VOAs longest running English language program. Since 1965, this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations. Ethnomusicologist and Host Heather Maxwell keeps you up to date on whats happening in African music with exclusive interviews, cultural information, and of course, great music -- including rare recordings from the Leo Sarkisian Library of African Music. Nineteen humanitarian aid groups are urging that steps be taken immediately to ease "desperate conditions" for more more than 17,000 migrants "crammed in Greek island reception centers with a total capacity for only 6,000." The groups, in a statement Thursday, said they were seeking "sustainable solutions" to relieve congestion and improve conditions. Migrants, primarily from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan but also from African countries, are living in squalor on several overcrowded Greek islands near Turkey's coast, according to the statement, whose signatories include Oxfam International. That organization released a separate statement of complaint earlier this week, noting that "thousands of refugees and other migrants are trapped in trailers and tents that are blazing hot in summer and freezing cold in winter. Access to running water is limited." With overcrowding, "the situation is particularly alarming for women, who are at heightened risk of sexual violence and abuse," the Oxfam statement said. "Living conditions are dreadful," Oxfam's advocacy officer in Greece, Marion Bouchetel, told VOA's English to Africa service in a phone interview Thursday. She said that Moria, a camp on the eastern island of Lesbos near Turkey, holds nearly 8,800 people, almost triple its intended maximum capacity of 3,100. The aid groups' complaints dovetail with those of local government authorities, who found that, at Moria, broken sewage pipes have spilled wastewater near the tents and shipping containers that provide housing. "The fact that there are too many people in tents and containers is also a risk for the spreading of diseases," Bouchetel said, adding that "there are problems with access to medical services." The regional North Aegean Prefecture warned in a Sept. 7 letter to Greece's Migration Policy Ministry that it would shut down Moria in 30 days unless health hazards there were corrected, various news media have reported. The Athens government has been transferring some asylum-seekers to the mainland and aims to improve efficiency in processing, Reuters reported this week. During the first full week in September, 504 asylum-seekers moved to the mainland, according to the U.N. refugee agency. Bouchetel said Lesbos has roughly 11,000 people anticipating asylum hearings, awaiting their interviews "for months and sometimes for years. We meet regularly people who have been stuck in Lesbos for over a year or even two years awaiting a decision or for an interview." Different procedures for different nationalities explain some of the holdup, she said. But she also blamed delays on "the lack of staff and the lack of capacity by the asylum service administration in Greece." The European Commission this summer announced plans to set up "controlled centers" in volunteer countries in the European Union to process the asylum claims of migrants rescued at sea. Bouchetel said the plan for controlled centers "would be a recipe for failure," instead serving as "de facto detention centers inside Europe and basically replicating a model that is very similar to the 'hot spots' that we see here in Lesbos. And it is obviously a system that is not working." Lesbos has been a favored entry point to the European Union since the migrant crisis unfolded in 2015. Since then, at least a million migrants have crossed Greek borders, the New Europe website reports. This report originated with VOA's English to Africa service. Media in Cameroon have accused the country's National Communication Council (NCC) of censorship ahead of Octobers presidential election after it issued a stern warning accusing the media of propagating hate language that can deepen fighting in the central African state. One supposed offenders - Amplitude FM, a radio station in Cameroon's capital Yaounde, which told potential voters to be ready for carnage that will spread all over the central African state should its president, Paul Biya, be reelected October 7. The broadcaster says that after 36 years as head of state, Biya should peacefully hand over power - and if he doesnt - be forced to do so. The radio stations program in question is called Polimetre. Less than a month ago, its host, Dieudonne Mbah, anchored another political program called Polifocus that was suspended by Cameroon's NCC, the country's media regulator, for spreading hate language. He simply changed the name of the program. Mbah says his program, like 12 others, was targeted because it takes a strong stance against Biya's long stay in power. He says if he should be punished for asking people to vote for change, so, too, should other journalists for asking potential voters to take a tougher stand against those who oppose Biya. "Some media houses like the state-run CRTV, television stations which are owned or backed by government ministers, seem untouched even when their journalists are known to have broken the same rules which other journalists and other media organs have been punished for, but they go unpunished. So I think that the NCC still needs to rise to that occasion where they can discipline any media houses irrespective of the name or irrespective of who owns it," Mbah said. Jude Kiven, president of the Yaounde chapter of the Association of English-Speaking Journalists, says politicians have manipulated many journalists who now no longer practice their profession, but take sides with some candidates. Jude says many producers of programs suspended by the NCC simply change their names or the names of the media organ. "It is important for the National Communication Council to sanction anyone or any media house that is guilty of hate speech, yet the National Communication Council can take decisions and sanctions that can be ignored by the journalist or the media house. Government did not give the National Communication Council enough powers to be able to enforce their decisions," Kiven said. Last month, a court in Yaounde asked the president of the NCC, Peter Essoka, to pay a fine of $30,000 as damages to Vision 4, a TV station in Cameroon. Essoka had suspended some of the station's programs, saying they could be compared with those of Radio Mille-Collines, the media outlet that was at the heart of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Essoka acted after journalists from from Vision 4 said all English speakers in the bilingual country where French also is an official language should be held responsible and punished for the crisis rocking the English-speaking northwest and southwest regions. Private media outlets in Cameroon also defied a ban on political programs imposed by the National Communication Council, which insisted political debates may cause conflict ahead of senatorial elections on March 25. In 2017, the NCC suspended 35 journalists and media outlets, accusing them of failing to respect professional norms and ethics. Some of those punished had criticized the government's handling of the crisis in the English-speaking regions. Others criticized senior state functionaries about the use of public funds. "It has been so insulting, abusive; it is becoming rampant, developing into a hate society, Essoka said. We cannot permit that some people destroy the state of the nation under the pretext that they are free. Freedom or liberty has its limits, and we shall insist on that limit. Part of the crisis in our country is based on the things that people say." Essoka said the NCC is committed to cleaning up the media landscape in Cameroon, but it doesn't not have a way to enforce decisions and must rely on administrative and security officials who very often refuse to collaborate. Essoka said he regrets that media rights group Reporters Without Borders thinks the NCC is taking a tougher line toward journalists and media. Cameroon was ranked 126 out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders 2016 World Press Freedom Index. Cameroon has more than 500 newspapers and 100 radio and TV stations which express divergent views about the presidential election. After leading a congressional fact-finding trip to Ethiopia, U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith said he's convinced the Horn of Africa country is making rapid progress toward democracy, thanks to new leadership. "Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is the right man at the right time and is therefore deserving our support," said Smith, a Republican from New Jersey who chairs the House subcommittee on Africa, global health, global human rights and international organizations. Smith shared that observation during a hearing Wednesday on Capitol Hill, at which he and U.S. Rep. Karen Bass, a California Democrat and ranking subcommittee member, discussed their late August trip. They were part of a five-person delegation meeting with Abiy and other Ethiopian officials, lawmakers, political and religious leaders, human rights activists and victims of detention and torture. The congressman is the architect of H.R. 128, legislation condemning human rights abuses in Ethiopia and outlining a number of reforms that the country must take to promote peace and democracy. The resolution passed in the House of Representatives earlier this year. Smith praised Abiy, a former intelligence official who, since assuming office, "has released thousands of political prisoners," lifted a months-long state of emergency and "initiated an historic peace deal between Ethiopia and Eritrea this past July." Expectations have been raised, he added, "and the reforms that have begun must continue." Smith said he and Bass met with a group of former prisoners and torture victims in the capital, Addis Ababa, "and what they described as having been done to them was horrific." They demand justice, he added. Smith and Bass also met with young people. Youth-led protests began in late 2015 and forced out Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in February after six years in office. Smith said the economy needs to grow to provide jobs for young people, including those who were active in protests and civil disobedience. Abiy has begun opening up Ethiopia's business sector, selling stakes in state-owned businesses such as telecommunications and airlines. Smith said he hopes to see additional economic reforms. The Ethiopian government faces an array of challenges, including a humanitarian crisis caused by fighting and recent flooding. The U.N. migration agency reports well over 2 million people have been displaced and need immediate attention. Bass acknowledged other daunting obstacles: "Regional security issues, the country's past human rights records [and] ethnic tensions across the country and hard-liners" among the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front party who hope to stall Abiy's reform agenda. But, she said, the hearing gave voice to Ethiopians about ways the U.S. could help its ally move forward. Girum Alemayehu, an Ethiopian community representative who testified at the hearing, said he was impressed by changes in his homeland but feared ongoing violence, including in the Oromia and Somali regions, could hinder full progress. "Create an independent commission to investigate the alleged security forces who have committed killings, mass detention and torture and used excessive force," he said, urging the U.S. government to prod Ethiopia's leaders on that front. Another speaker was Jamal Said, now living in Denver, Colorado. He's originally from Oromia, Ethiopia's largest state and home to ethnic Oromo. For years, they had found limited political and economic opportunity, and the state became a hotbed of anti-government protests. The Oromo celebrated when Abiy freed thousands of political prisoners, but, Said said, they still want to see Afaan Oromoo recognized as a federal language. Currently, only Amharic is recognized as an official federal language. This report originated in VOA's Horn of Africa Service. 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 Thursdays 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. This remains a tremendous inconvenience for many people, Baker said. Its essential for the crews to get this right. Baker authorized the utility Eversource to take management control over the effort to restore services. Even after residents return and their electricity is restored, gas service wont be turned on until technicians can inspect every connection in each home, a process that could take weeks. 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. Armageddon 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. The state Registry of Motor Vehicles said Rondon had been issued his drivers license only hours earlier Thursday. Widespread confusion Massachusetts State Police Thursday night 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. About 400 people spent the night in shelters, and school was canceled Friday as families waited to return to their homes. 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 President Steve Bryant wouldnt comment on the suspected cause of the blasts, deflecting questions about his companys 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 Senates Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to hold a hearing to determine what went wrong and how to make sure it doesnt happen again. Police officers heroism 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 dont 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. 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 Gentlemans Club, injuring about 20 people and damaging dozens of other buildings. The club owner and the gas company eventually settled the case. California Gov. Jerry Brown said Friday that the state plans to launch its own damn satellite into orbit to battle climate change. The man the late Chicago columnist Mike Royko famously dubbed Gov. Moonbeam made the announcement at the conclusion of a two-day climate summit he organized in San Francisco. Brown said state officials will work with the San Francisco-based company Planet Labs to develop a satellite to track climate-change causing pollutants. Brown said the earth-imaging company has launched 150 satellites. With science still under attack and the climate threat growing, were launching our own damn satellite, he said. The Democrat, who is leaving office at the end of the year, didnt announce a launch date or divulge a cost estimate. Browns office said government scientists and staff will work on the project, but that no state money will be spent directly developing the satellite. Private donations are being made by San Francisco investment banker Richard Lawrence and his wife, Dee Lawrence, along with the Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust. Idea from 2016 Brown foreshadowed the announcement in a December 2016 speech to the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco a month after Trumps election. The then-president elect had threatened to scrap NASAs climate change funding. If Trump turns off the satellites, California will launch its own damn satellite, Brown said at the time to cheers and applause from the geophysicists. Were going to collect that data. He also reminded them that he had floated a similar proposal during his first term as governor in the 1970s. The Chicago Sun-Times columnist gave Brown the Moonbeam moniker in 1976. Royko said that Brown appeared to be attracting the moonbeam vote. The name stuck for decades, even after Royko, who died in 1997, apologized and tried to retract it. Brown used to dislike the name but more recently has embraced it. Paris climate accord Before Browns announcement, two prominent Democrats and a Republican mayor criticized Trump for his decision to withdraw the United States from the landmark Paris climate accord. While Donald Trump may have pulled out of the climate agreement, the American people have not, former Secretary of State John Kerry said opening the second day of the Global Climate Action Summit. Kerry, also a Democrat, called Trumps decision the single greatest act of irresponsibility of any president of the United States at any time. Trump announced in June 2017 the United States intention to pull out of the international agreement, which Kerry signed while serving as President Barack Obamas secretary of state. The 195 countries that signed the treaty agreed to commit resources to combat climate change Trump said the agreement was unfair to the United States and would hurt the economy. Former Vice President Al Gore followed Kerry to the stage and got a rousing ovation when he said a new president can rejoin the Paris Agreement. Gore, a Democrat, also criticized Trumps recent denial that 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico in 2017 because of Hurricane Maria. Gore said its difficult to deny that climate change is causing more severe weather but that Its a little harder to deny the 3,000 deaths from the hurricane in Puerto Rico. Republican accomplishments James Brainard, Republican mayor of Carmel, Indiana, listed a number of Republican presidents and their environmental accomplishments, including President Nixons creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. He said he was disappointed Trump pulled out of the Paris Agreement. The president likes to talk about what a great country we are, Brainard said. Great countries honor their international agreements. Great countries show leadership to the rest of the world on critical issues. Great countries listen to their scientists and great countries strive to leave the world better than they found it. A major U.S. meatpacking company has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle charges of discrimination involving Muslim workers who walked off the job in a dispute over prayer breaks. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced the financial settlement Friday after several years of litigation between Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation and 138 Muslim workers, most of whom were Somali immigrants. The dispute began in late 2016 after the workers were fired following a three-day walkout at a meatpacking plant in Fort Morgan, Colorado. Management had changed policies allowing Muslim workers to take short prayer breaks. The EEOC said it had "reasonable cause to believe that Somali, African and Muslim employees were harassed, denied their requests for prayer breaks and fired." Cargill disagreed but said it settled the case to avoid further litigation. The company also said it was committed to allowing "Muslim workers to take short breaks to perform their obligatory prayers." A Teamsters union chapter representing the workers will pay them $153,000 to settle discrimination complaints related to the dispute. The EEOC said Teamsters Local 455 had failed to advocate for the workers who were dues-paying union members and had harassed them because of their race, religion and national origin. The union denied wrongdoing but also agreed to give their union officials grievance training and to publicize employee rights to work in an environment free of discrimination. The Council on American-Islamic Relations applauded the settlements, as did Denver lawyer Qusair Mohamedbhai, who represented the workers. "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 long-standing policy and values," Mohamedbhai said. Tim Piazza and Marquise Braham told their parents they just wanted to make some new friends by joining college social groups called fraternities. Neither of them got much of a chance. The two young men died after taking part in extreme rituals for admission into the all-male student groups. They were not even 20 years old. Now, their parents are launching a campaign to end these rituals across the United States. They are joined by the parents of Max Gruver and Brian Kowiak, two students who died in similar ways. And they have partnered with national leaders of fraternities, and of female student social groups called sororities. Fraternities and sororities are private social groups common to many colleges and universities in the U.S. They have a long history as part of the American higher education experience. Parties, housing, projects Students pay membership fees. The groups hold parties and other social events. Some offer shared housing. Members usually also must take part in community service programs. And members often help each other find jobs after they graduate. But there is a darker side to Greek life, as involvement in fraternities and sororities is often called. The term comes from the letters of the ancient Greek alphabet the groups use to make their names. The process of becoming a member sometimes involves what is called hazing. This is when current members force pledges, those interested in joining, to take part in dangerous, abusive or possibly illegal activities. Last week, Piazza's father, Jim, and Braham's father, Rich, began preparing for a number of television appearances. They will use those appearances to announce their anti-hazing campaign. "I know it might seem strange to some people that families who lost their children to fraternity hazing are now working with fraternities and sororities to eradicate hazing," Jim Piazza told the Associated Press. "But," he added, "we will do anything that we can to save a life and to prevent another shattered family." His 19-year-old son died last year after his fraternity "brothers" ordered him to drink a huge amount of alcohol. He became severely intoxicated. He fell repeatedly, including down stairs and into an iron fixture. It was almost 12 hours before the fraternity members called for medical help. He received treatment at a hospital, but it was too late. Tim Piazza died from his injuries. Numerous arrests Police arrested almost 30 members of Piazza's Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Pennsylvania State University in Centre County, Pennsylvania. All higher-level charges have been dropped. Three people have since admitted their guilt to lesser charges and one is already under house arrest. The Piazzas have reached a settlement with the fraternity to end the civil legal action the family had sought. Penn State student Marquise Braham, 18, killed himself in 2014. His suicide took place after a series of extreme Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity hazing rituals, about which he had protested to school officials. Currently, the legal system and that's the police, district attorneys and judges "seem to view hazing as it's kind of like kids' stuff," Rich Braham said. These fathers say they are happy to have found allies at the top of the North American Interfraternity Conference and the National Panhellenic Conference. Together, these organizations represent nearly 100 fraternities and sororities nationwide. And their leaders are ready and willing to work with Piazza and Braham. Judson Horras is the president of the North American Interfraternity Conference. He said a first goal is of this new joint effort is to press lawmakers in all 50 states to strengthen anti-hazing laws. They want lawmakers to make it a felony to force a student to drink alcohol. Some states reluctant Some state governments have been slow to strengthen such laws in the past. But Horras said he believes Greek organizations can get them to change their policies. "Keep in mind fraternities and sororities have 9.1 million students and alumni as members," Horras said. "That's part of the network we're building now to make this happen across North America." His organization is also trying to solve the alcohol issue itself. By this time next year, he said, highly alcoholic drinks will be banned from all fraternity housing of organization members. "We can do more together than we can alone to address this societal problem," said Carole Jones, chairman of the National Panhellenic Conference. "The fight against hazing requires that an entire community step up, including sorority women, who can and must do our part to create safer campus cultures." The Greek life leaders also plan to have parents like Piazza and Braham speak to as many as 25,000 college students this school year. They will talk about the dangers of hazing. And members of fraternities and sororities will be asked to speak to high school and middle school students. "We realize that it takes many years to change a culture," said Piazza. "We're not going away. We'll be here next year, the year after, the year after that." Typhoon Mangkhut lashed the northern Philippines with destructive winds and heavy rain that set off landslides and destroyed homes on Saturday, leaving at least 12 people dead, as Hong Kong and other parts of southern China braced for the powerful storm. The most ferocious typhoon to hit the disaster-prone Philippines this year slammed ashore before dawn in Cagayan province on the northeastern tip of Luzon island, a breadbasket that is also a region of flood-prone rice plains and mountain provinces with a history of deadly landslides. China and the Philippines agreed to postpone a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that was to start Sunday due to the onslaught, which caused nearly 150 flights, a third of them international, to be canceled and halted sea travel. Presidential adviser Francis Tolentino said the 12 died mostly in landslides and houses that got pummeled by the storm's fierce winds and rain. Among the dead were an infant and a 2-year-old child who died with their parents after the couple refused to immediately evacuate from their high-risk community in a mountain town in Nueva Vizcaya province, Tolentino said. They can't decide for themselves where to go, he said of the children, expressing frustration that the tragedy was not prevented. Tolentino, who has been assigned by President Rodrigo Duterte to help coordinate disaster response, said at least two other people were missing and added that the death toll could climb to at least 16 once other casualty reports were verified. Mayor Mauricio Domogan said at least three people died and six others were missing in his mountain city of Baguio after strong winds and rain destroyed several houses and set off landslides, which also blocked roads to the popular vacation destination. It was not immediately clear whether the deaths and missing cited by Domogan had been included in Tolentino's count. Authorities were verifying the drownings of three people, including two children who reportedly died as the typhoon approached. About 70 men reportedly returned to their coastal village in Cagayan to check on their homes as the typhoon drew closer Friday, but Tolentino said he had received no report of the men figuring in an accident. Mangkhut's sustained winds weakened to 170 kilometers (105 miles) per hour with gusts of up to 260 kph (161 mph) after it sliced northwestward across Luzon before blowing out to the South China Sea, aiming at Hong Kong and elsewhere in southern China. About 87,000 people evacuated from high-risk areas of the Philippines. Tolentino and other officials advised them not to return home until the lingering danger had passed. It's still a life and death situation, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said by phone, citing past drownings in swollen rivers in mountain provinces after storms had passed. Storm warnings remained in effect in 10 northern provinces, including Cagayan, which could still be lashed by devastating winds, forecasters said. Thousands of people in the typhoon's path had been evacuated. At daybreak in Cagayan's capital, Tuguegarao, Associated Press journalists saw a severely damaged public market, its roof ripped apart and wooden stalls and tarpaulin canopies in disarray. Outside a popular shopping mall, debris was scattered everywhere and government workers cleared roads of fallen trees. Many stores and houses were damaged but most residents remained indoors as occasional gusts sent small pieces of tin sheets and other debris flying dangerously. The Tuguegarao airport terminal was badly damaged, its roof and glass windows shattered by strong winds that also sent chairs, tables and papers flipping about inside, Lorenzana said. The typhoon struck 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. A government damage assessment was underway except in areas still being battered by winds and rain. Two air force C-130 cargo planes and 10 helicopters were on standby in Manila, the Philippines' capital, to help transport rescuers and aid supplies. More than 5 million people were at risk from the storm, which the Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center downgraded from a super typhoon. Mangkhut, however, was still punching powerful winds and gusts equivalent to a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane. In Hong Kong, Security Minister John Lee Ka-chiu urged residents to prepare for the worst as the storm barreled toward the southern Chinese city. Cathay Pacific said all of its flights would be canceled between 2:30 a.m. local time on Sunday and 4 a.m. Monday. Because Mangkhut will bring winds and rains of extraordinary speeds, scope and severity, our preparation and response efforts will be greater than in the past, Lee told a briefing on Friday. Each department must have a sense of crisis, make a comprehensive assessment and plan, and prepare for the worst. In nearby Fujian province in China, 51,000 people were evacuated from fishing boats and around 11,000 vessels returned to port on Saturday morning. China's National Meteorological Center issued an alert saying Mangkhut would make landfall somewhere on the coast in Guangdong province on Sunday afternoon or evening. Ferry services in the Qiongzhou Strait in southern China were halted on Saturday and helicopters and tugboats were dispatched to Guangdong to transfer offshore workers to safety and warn ships about the typhoon, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported. 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. In 2013, 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. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday that the enforcement of U.N. sanctions on North Korea was critical to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. His remarks came after the U.S. accused Russia of altering an independent U.N. report to cover up Moscow's alleged violation of U.N. sanctions on North Korea. "Russia has actively attempted to undermine the U.N. Security Council resolutions," Pompeo said during a news conference, "by attempting to change the language" of a report that evaluates compliance with sanctions against Pyongyang. Pompeo spoke with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Friday. A day earlier, Haley 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 United States is as committed as ever to continuing to enforce those U.N. Security Council resolutions. We believe they are central to President [Donald] Trump's efforts to convince [North Korean leader] Chairman Kim Jong Un that full, final denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula is necessary," Pompeo said. Both Russia and China are seen as having pushed for the council to ease sanctions on Pyongyang since the U.S.-North Korea summit in June. Tech companies sanctioned Thursday, Washington imposed sanctions on two information technology companies based in China and Russia for supporting Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs. Washington is accusing the companies, located in Beijing and Moscow but controlled by Pyongyang, of moving illicit funds to North Korea. "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," said Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin in an official statement. 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 sanctions come at a time when the U.S. is maintaining pressure on the North Korean government in its negotiations to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. Pope Francis appealed to members of the Sicilian Mafia on Saturday to give up on a life of crime, saying the island does not need men and women of honor but rather of love. The pontiff was paying a one-day visit to the southern Italian island to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the killing of Father Pino Puglisi by Mafia hitmen. Celebrating Mass for tens of thousands of Sicilians gathered in Palermo's port area, Francis said to members of the Mafia: "Change, brothers and sisters! Stop thinking about yourselves and your money. ... Convert yourselves to the real God, Jesus Christ." The pope added, "Mafiosi, if you don't do this, your very life will be lost, and that will be your greatest defeat." Puglisi kept unemployed youths in the rough Brancaccio neighborhood in Palermo from turning to local Mafia bosses for jobs. He was 56 when he was slain, and in 2013 he was beatified after being recognized as a martyr "killed by hatred of the faith." In his homily at the open-air Mass, Francis said: "A mafioso does not live as a Christian, because he blasphemes with his life the name of God-love. Today, we need men and women of love, not men and women of honor; of service, not of overpowering. We need men and women to walk together, not to chase power." Earlier, the pope visited Piazza Armerina, a small, poor town in central Sicily. He said to the faithful gathered: "I am happy to be here with you. The Sicilian sun is beautiful." Sicilians cheered and clapped their hands. He drew more applause when he said, "The wounds which afflict you are many, and they have a name: social and cultural underdevelopment, the exploitation of workers and a lack of decent work for young people." He also spoke about "extortionate money-lending" and "gambling." Francis also visited the house where Puglisi lived and met with the clergy in Palermo's cathedral before returning to the Vatican. One of Rwandas most prominent opposition leaders walked free Saturday after the government approved the early release of more than 2,100 prisoners with little explanation. Supporters of Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza and the state-run The New Times newspaper posted photos of the opposition leader walking out of Nyarugenge prison hours after the justice ministrys announcement. Also approved for early release was musician Kizito Mihigo, who along with Ingabire received a presidential commutation. The ministry statement said both had made their most recent requests for clemency in June. Ingabire, head of the FDU-Inkingi opposition party, was arrested in 2010 and found guilty of conspiracy to undermine the government and denying Rwandas 1994 genocide, charges that she denied. She was sentenced to 15 years. Human Rights Watch has called the charges politically motivated and linked to her criticism of the government ahead of the 2010 presidential election. Mihigo had been convicted on charges of conspiring against the government. Rwandas government has long been accused by rights groups of suppressing the opposition and having a justice system that lacks independence, which the government has denied. Human Rights Watch has expressed concern that the government uses accusations of genocide ideology as a way to silence critics. Still detained in Rwanda is Diane Rwigara, who tried to challenge longtime President Paul Kagame in last years election but was disqualified from running over allegations that she forged some of the signatures on her nomination papers. She denied it. Rwigara later was charged with inciting insurrection against the state. Rwandan President Paul Kagame has pardoned jailed opposition leader Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza. A cabinet statement issued Friday evening announced the pardon, part of an early release for 1,140 convicts. Another person who received a pardon by the president was popular musician Kizito Mihigo. The cabinet statement said the "sentences were commuted by presidential prerogative" following the convicts' most recent applications for clemency in June. It noted that Rwanda's constitution gives the president "authority to exercise the prerogative of mercy in accordance with the procedures provided for by law and after consultation with the Supreme Court." Ingabire, who was sentenced in 2013, was serving 15 years on charges of terrorism. Human Rights Watch said the charges against Ingabire, who was trying to challenge Kagame in the 2010 elections, were politically motivated. Ingabire was accused of collaborating with the mainly Hutu Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebel group operating in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kagame's government has often accused the FDLR of playing a part in the country's 1994 genocide in which hundreds of thousands of Rwandans were killed in a 100-day massacre. Ingabire had always denied the charges against her. Mihigo was sentenced to 10 years in 2015 for conspiring against the government. Mihigo, a Tutsi survivor of Rwanda's 1994 genocide, was well-known for singing the national anthem at official ceremonies. The year of his arrest, he released a song called Meaning of Death that was banned by the authorities, apparently for touching on sensitive issues about the genocide. The U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) warns it is running out of cash to provide life-saving assistance to millions of Syrian refugees and internally displaced living in dire and extremely precarious conditions. UNHCR says it urgently needs $270 million to make it through the end of the year. This, it says, will provide millions of vulnerable people living inside and outside war-torn Syria with the vital aid and protection they need to survive the rigors of the oncoming winter season. UNHCR cares for more than 5.6 million Syrian refugees, nearly half of whom are children, in neighboring Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq as well as Egypt. Without financial support, the agency warns people also will have to go without health care or education. It says many will have to resort to so-called negative coping mechanisms involving sexual exploitation, child labor and forced early marriage. The lions share of the needed money will be used in support of Syrian refugees outside of their homeland. UNHCR spokesman, Babar Baloch says $73 million of the appeal will help meet the most acute and pressing needs of people displaced by the conflict inside Syria. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced since the start of the year, and many now rely on humanitarian support to meet basic daily needs. Additional funding would allow UNHCR to rapidly scale up activities across key sectors such as protection, shelter, and the provision of basic aid, helping up to 1.8 million people, Baloch said. Earlier this year, the UNHCR appealed for nearly $2 billion to run its Syrian humanitarian assistance and protection operation for 2018. Only 31 percent of the funding goal has been met. The UNHCR says the $270 million dollars needed until the end of the year represents only a tiny fraction of this years total appeal. It says it will be used to cover the most pressing and critical needs of some of the most destitute, disenfranchised people in the world. The top U.N. refugee official says Europe has to agree on how to deal with migrants rescued in the Mediterranean Sea. After two days of talks with government officials in Italy, Filippo Grandi, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees, said Friday that European countries have to unite on addressing migrants arriving in Europe. Grandi was very clear about the need to rescue anyone found at sea in the Mediterranean. He said migrants should be taken to the nearest safe port. Speaking in Rome, he praised the work of the Italian coast guard. Italy recently closed its ports to nongovernmental organization vessels engaged in rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean. The Italian interior minister, Matteo Salvini, has said he no longer will allow migrants to disembark at Italian ports, and he urged other European states to allow vessels carrying migrants into their ports. Salvini has repeatedly said Italy will not continue to assume the brunt of the migration issue. Grandi said that although the flow of migrants has dropped this year, the lack of NGO vessels operating in the area has brought an increase in the number of migrant deaths at sea. He said he agreed with Italian government leaders on the need to provide more resources to end conflicts in the migrants' home countries and other root causes of the departures. More EU resources He added that he had discussed with Italy's foreign minister, Enzo Moavero Milanesi, the need to push for the next EU budget to include important resources strategically aimed at stabilizing situations in crisis areas in order to stem unnecessary flows of people. Grandi said people do not want to flee from their homes or end of up in the hands of traffickers. That's why offering economic security alternatives is very important, he said, but this can only occur with resources that go beyond those of each individual member state. It is essential, Grandi said, to establish a mechanism that will deal with the arrivals of migrants and what happens to them after their arrival, and this mechanism must be shared by European nations. He said it was not possible to deal on a boat-by-boat basis, as recently has been the case. The majority of refugees who flee crisis areas go to neighboring nations, Grandi said, but often these countries lack the resources to provide humanitarian assistance. Therefore, he added, transit nations also require reinforcement of institutions to deal with the migrant movements. He explained that at present, the most complex and dangerous transit country is Libya, which is torn by violent conflict. The UNHCR is present in Libya with the International Organization for Migration, he said, because in Libya there is a large population of refugees living in extremely difficult conditions. Many are locked up in detention centers, where the conditions are abominable and completely unacceptable, he said. Grandi said the U.N. works to assist the most vulnerable people and organizes repatriations and humanitarian corridors so that they may find protection elsewhere. He added, however, that these channels must be intensified and that efforts must continue to obtain an end to the conflict in Libya. The newly appointed United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian Nichols, says that Zimbabwe must follow through on promised reforms if it wants U.S. sanctions on the country to be lifted. In an interview Friday at the Voice of Americas Washington headquarters, the diplomat told VOAs Zimbabwe Service that the newly elected administration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa will get the U.S. government's full support if it implements legal changes it promised during the election campaign. Nichols said those reforms include observing the rule of law and allowing citizens such freedoms as access to information and free speech. Sanctions renewed Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump renewed sanctions against Zimbabwe and set out steps the country needed to take to have them removed. The presidential act, called the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act of 2018, also known as Zidera, set one such condition as ensuring that Julys national elections were free and fair. Following those elections, the ruling ZANU-PF was declared the winner, but the opposition challenged the results, claiming fraud. The Constitutional Court in August ruled against the oppositions claims of election rigging. The election, which many said was peaceful compared to previous elections, was not free of violence. The army reportedly used live ammunition and killed at least six people during opposition protests of the vote. Nichols said he has met both Mnangagwa and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa and looks forward to working with both men. I think they are both people who love their country and are committed to improving Zimbabwe and changing many of the problems of the past, he said. Targeted sanctions, remedies 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 former President Robert Mugabes rule for election rigging and human rights abuses. Zimbabwes Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo has said Mnangagwas government was shocked by the renewal of U.S. sanctions. Nicholas emphasized that the United States has targeted sanctions on only some individuals and entities in Zimbabwe, but not the entire country, and that U.S. businesses are not restricted from investing or doing business in Zimbabwe. He said that businesses want to invest in Zimbabwe, but also that investors want to see the implementation of reforms talked about by government officials. Decisions on investment in Zimbabwe are driven by the economic conditions in Zimbabwe, the rule of law, the assurances that peoples investments will be protected, that they have the right to have majority ownership in their businesses, he said. Economic potential Nichols says he believes Zimbabwe has much economic potential, especially in tourism, agriculture and mining sectors. Zimbabwe is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Zimbabwe should be capturing more tourists and providing them with a world-class experience, he said. In terms of agriculture, Nichols said he hopes reforms discussed by both candidates during the presidential campaign will be implemented to help build a more resilient and successful agricultural sector. Zimbabwes agricultural output plummeted under Mugabe, who seized white-owned farmland beginning in 2000 and gave it to blacks with little experience in large-scale farming. And then obviously the extractive industry sector, mining, is one where Zimbabwe has tremendous potential 40 different valuable minerals in Zimbabwe that I think, if properly managed, could provide tremendous, tremendous opportunities, Nichols said. Nichols also announced an initiative in which the United States would help Zimbabwe fight a cholera epidemic. He said the United States was working to provide Zimbabweans with more than 300,000 vaccinations that can help prevent cholera or speed recovery from its infection. Read the full transcript of the interview with Ambassador Nichols on VOA Zimbabwe Service's website. The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) says the mass migration of Venezuelans throughout South America in search of asylum and economic relief is plunging the entire region into crisis. The WFP says Colombia, in particular, is facing an unprecedented emergency because thousands of desperate Venezuelans arrive there daily to escape political and economic turmoil. It says Colombia is hosting nearly 1 million of the roughly 2.3 million Venezuelans who have fled their country. Colombia has emerged relatively recently from its decades-long war with FARC guerrillas. Dealing with its own political, social and economic needs after such a long period of conflict is difficult. WFP spokesman Herve Verhoosel acknowledges the burden the large influx of Venezuelans is placing upon Colombia. He said the government and citizens are doing all they can to step up to the challenge. The country has made progress in its peace process and ending hunger; however, as the migration crisis grows in proportion, it jeopardizes recent gains. The crisis is affecting host families and communities receiving large numbers of migrants, particularly indigenous communities, which welcome new arrivals but face very difficult living conditions, Verhoosel said. Many Venezuelans transit through Colombia and move on to Ecuador, Peru and other South American countries. Aid agencies say a lack of food, medicine and other basic goods, loss of livelihoods and growing political repressions in Venezuela are creating one of the largest mass exoduses in Latin American history. Verhoosel said the WFP is providing food rations to the most vulnerable migrants in Colombia and Ecuador, especially women, children and others living in temporary shelters and on the street. He said WFP urgently needs $22 million to scale up its aid operation. Newly appointed United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian Nichols, said he is looking forward to seeing Zimbabwe return to being the powerhouse it used to be, once it embarks on a path of reviving its economy through agriculture, tourism and the use of its resources. In an interview Friday at the Voice of Americas Washington headquarters, Ambassador Nichols told Marvelous Mhlanga-Nyahuye of VOAs Zimbabwe Service, that the newly elected government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa will get full support from the U.S. if it abides by its Constitution and implements the reforms it promised during the election campaign, such as observing the rule of law, and allowing its citizens such freedoms as access to information and free speech. On the removal of sanctions and the controversial Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act of 2018 (ZIDERA), Ambassador Nichols said Zimbabwe has to fulfill the requirements of its 2013 Constitution for the U.S. Congress and administration of President Donald Trump, to revisit the scrapping of ZIDERA. Ambassador Nichols also restated that the U.S. only has targeted sanctions on some individuals and entities, but not the entire country, and that U.S. businesses are not restricted from investing or doing business in Zimbabwe Marvelous Mhlanga-Nyahuye (M. Nyahuye): Ambassador, welcome. Everybody has that question about ZIDERA (Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act of 2018) and sanctions and you were trying earlier on to explain. What is the difference? As simple as it sounds, people still want to know. Ambassador Brian Nichols (Amb. Nichols): Thank you for having me. The U.S. policy toward Zimbabwe has a number of elements, but one of those elements is legal and thats ZIDERA. To put is as simply as I can, if Zimbabwe fulfils the requirements of its 2013 Constitution, it will meet the requirements of ZIDERA. ZIDERA covers lending by international organizations to Zimbabwe and forgiveness of the debt that Zimbabwe has to those organizations, and countries in the Paris Club. The sanctions that exist are executive branch sanctions on 154 individuals and entities and it prevents people from the United States or through the United States economic system from providing economic benefits to those people, or it can prevent them from travelling to the United States. So there are two different areas, but Zimbabwes progress in building a democracy that respects the tenets of the 2013 Constitution, is the key thing that it needs to do. M. Nyahuye: And we saw only yesterday the U.S. saying that they will not lift sanctions against Zimbabwe until there are reforms. What kind of reforms is the U.S. looking at? Amb. Nichols: Well, there is legislation that does not comply with the 2013 Constitution, POSA, AIPPA (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act), those legislations that cover the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), or freedom of speech restrictions. Those are things that President (Emmerson) Mnangagwa has said during the campaign that he was committed to repealing, or revising, and I think if he were to repeal those laws in concert obviously with the legislature, that would be an important step in fulfilling the requirements of the legislation. MNyahuye: And, on the health side, we know that the U.S. is really involved in PEPFAR (Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), but we have a cholera epidemic currently underway in Harare, and Zimbabwe. Is the U.S. going to step in and help? Amb. Nichols: Well, actually yes, I was just visiting the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, and had the opportunity to discuss this issue with them. We have an excellent relationship with Zimbabwe on issues of health, and I was very impressed to hear the close coordination and work thats being done. Cholera is a preventable disease, and one of the most important interventions is dealing with water and access to clean water. So we definitely want to work with the people of Zimbabwe on promoting access to clean, portable water. There is also a vaccine, an oral vaccine that can help prevent cholera. Now, its not 100% effective but it does help people either prevent infection or recover more quickly, if they are infected, and we are working with the government of Zimbabwe on a vaccination program, that hopefully will cover 300,000 people. M. Nyahuye: Thank you. Also, more on the social, the Diversity Visa. A lot of Zimbabweans have been asking, what is the current situation regarding that? Amb. Nichols: Well, the United States is a country that is interested in and welcomes immigration, but it has to be lawful immigration. The Diversity Visa is one of the ways that people can access lawful, permanent immigration to the United States. Every year, the level is set by the Administration and Congress, and well be looking forward to see what the level is for 2019. M. Nyahuye: And what kind of assistance in other programs are you looking at as the new ambassador who is coming into Zimbabwe? What areas will you be concentrating on? Amb. Nichols: Well, so many areas, but education and exchanges are very important, so hopefully people will be joining us with the Mandela Washington Fellowship, thats a great exchange program. We have other cultural and educational exchanges, bringing artists and athletes to Zimbabwe, and sending Zimbabweans to the United States to learn more about our country. Cultural preservation is an area that Im very passionate about, and we have some exciting things that we are going to be doing, and some of the most important cultural sites in Zimbabwe, going forward. M. Nyahuye: You also spoke about some areas that Zimbabwe can actually promote more, areas like tourism. Tell us a little about that. Amb. Nichols: Well, Zimbabwe has so much economic potential. When you look at the area of tourism, Zimbabwe is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. It has amazing wildlife, amazing natural vistas, Victoria Falls is a world renowned, and Zimbabwe should be capturing more tourists and providing them with a world-class experience. So hopefully well get to see more investment in that area. In addition, Zimbabwe agriculturally has been a powerhouse overtime and hopefully the reforms that both candidates talked about during the presidential campaign will be implemented to help build a more resilient and successful agricultural sector. And then obviously the extractive industry sector, mining, is one where Zimbabwe has tremendous potential 40-different valuable minerals in Zimbabwe that I think, if properly managed, could provide tremendous, tremendous opportunities for both employment and foreign exchange earnings. M. Nyahuye: Going back to the elections, you said you met both President Emmerson Mnangagwa and (MDC Alliance) opposition leader Nelson Chamisa. Whats your take? Amb. Nichols: Well, I think they are both people who love their country, and are committed to improving Zimbabwe and changing many of the problems of the past. I look forward to working with both of them, both of them were very gracious in receiving me on multiple occasions. I look forward to getting back to Harare next week, to talk to both of them shortly after my arrival, and helping to find a way forward of cooperation and engagement between Zimbabwe and the United States. M.Nyahuye: This is my last question, I am going back again to sanctions. Generally people in Zimbabwe believe that sanctions hurt the ordinary person on the street, not the ones that are on the target list. What can you say about that? Amb. Nichols: Well, Zimbabwe has an opportunity for growth, and the sanctions really do affect specific individuals. Decisions on investment in Zimbabwe are driven by the economic conditions in Zimbabwe, the rule of law, the assurances that peoples investments will be protected, that they have the right to have majority ownership in their businesses. Those are the kind of things that the private sector is interested in. There is a significant interest in investment in Zimbabwe, but investors want to see reforms that have been talked about, implemented. We need to see the implementation and action on the reforms, not just a list of reforms that are proposed. MNyahuye: Thank you very much Amb. Nichols: Its a pleasure, thank you for having me. This content is expired! Unfortunely this content is expired and cannot be viewed anymore; if You are the owner of this content please login to our Website, go to our access panel and enable this content again. The couple began repacking their belongings and calling family to say the wedding was off. They were devastated. Duchelle had grown up vacationing in the Outer Banks. They met each other at East Carolina University a decade earlier, and Lally had been stationed nearby in the U.S. Marine Corps. The couple had rented two large mansions on the beach for the week. They didnt know whether theyd ever be able to schedule a week with their relatives and friends again. Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Still, Elrich and Floreen agreed on several issues. Both said they would overhaul the countys procurement office to ensure more local businesses can contract with the county. Both agreed that the student achievement gap needed to be addressed through giving families more economic stability. Elrich said the countys move to increase the minimum wage, a cause he championed, would help do so, while Floreen said it could be done by fostering economic growth in the county. Denison, a master-at-arms senior chief now stationed in South Korea, was recognized with a Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his response to the shooting, as were two dozen others. He has moved several times with the military since 2013 and thinks often of that day, hoping everyone affected has been able to heal in their own way, Denison said in an email. He was unaware he had helped inspire the name for Stultzs company. On Sept. 6, he was taken from the jails infirmary to a hospital for additional medical attention, Fairfax County police said in a statement. On Thursday, Summers had a medical emergency at the hospital, authorities said. He received cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but he died at 6:03 p.m. In an alarming report from my colleague Kevin Sieff about a surge in passport denials for Latinos along the border, he details the experience of a former U.S. soldier. The man, who has an American birth certificate saying he was born in Brownsville, Texas, tried to renew his passport and received a letter from the State Department saying it didnt believe he was a citizen. The ballet company said principal dancers Amar Ramasar and Zachary Catazaro, as well as a third dancer, Chase Finlay, who resigned last month, engaged in inappropriate communications, that while personal, off-hours and off-site, had violated the norms of conduct that NYCB expects from its employees. Five years later, another Creighton pathology doctor, Roger Brumback, and his wife, Mary, were killed in their Omaha home on Mothers Day. Police recognized similarities between the 2008 and 2013 killings, and Garcia became a suspect. He was arrested two months later during a traffic stop in Southern Illinois. Kharnak demurred and tried to steer the conversation to the reason for her pain. She asked whether it could be a diagnosis she had read about: endometriosis. The condition, which affects an estimated 6.5 million American women and girls, occurs when the endometrium, tissue that lines the inside of the uterus, grows outside it, often on the fallopian tubes or ovaries. Sometimes the overgrowth spreads to more distant sites in the body. Abdominal pain, heavy periods and infertility are common. Once the shrike hoists its prey onto some prong, the bird will tug it downward so its on there to stay, says vertebrate biologist Diego Sustaita. He has witnessed a shrike, about the size of a mockingbird, steadying a skewered frog like a kebab for the grill. A bird might dig in right away, keep the meal for later or just let it sit around and demonstrate sex appeal. But there was still so much to do. The shelter was short about 100 green cots, and there were not any medical beds for an older woman named Mary, who had a bad knee and could not bend down. There was dinner to organize chicken and rice, fried okra, and pineapple tidbits, served on foam trays by the schools cafeteria workers. One woman had a panic attack in the chaos and had to get picked up by her son. I think a lot more people would have died if our first responders hadnt 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 didnt call for people to evacuate. I believe the evacuation saved lives. And the evacuation wasnt driven by the gas company; it was driven by local first responders. Throughout that time, researchers produced other estimates. The government of Puerto Rico came up with a figure of 64 excess deaths through October 2017; the New York Times, 1,052 through October 2017; a team at Harvard University, 4,645 through December 2017; and researchers at Penn State University, 1,139 through December. Of these, only the estimate by the government of Puerto Rico involved the examination of individual deaths to determine if the hurricane had caused them. The Harvard study, based on a household survey, was later found (by Milken Institute SPH researchers) to have overestimated the number of deaths because they did not adjust the household death reports for household size. When analyzed correctly, their study produces similar numbers. The other two studies, like ours, used death certificates. They question other theories: They doubt, for example, that Russian interference determined the outcome of the election. The release of hacked emails in July and October 2016 did not clearly affect Clintons favorable ratings nor perceptions of her honesty, they write. They also say that, given the billions of tweets and social media postings during the campaign, Russian content was probably only an infinitesimal share of the total. Claims that the Russians turned the election should be greeted with something between agnosticism and skepticism and probably leaning toward skepticism, they say. That official seems likely to have been Clinton, who was then finishing her four-year term as secretary of state and had become a vocal critic of what she called anti-democratic currents in Ukraine. The arguments pushed by Manafort match those in an article published on the Breitbart News right-wing website attacking Clinton. He said that authorities believe Ortiz had killed all four women since Sept. 3. The names of the victims were not immediately released. Alaniz said two of them were U.S. citizens, but the nationalities of the other two were not yet known. Jangra said he received no training for his job at the small sewage treatment plant, consisting of at least two tanks, below DLF Capital Greens. Two months ago, the tanks began to stink so much so that one resident said he could smell them in his apartment on the 19th floor. On Sunday afternoon, a supervisor ordered a group of young workers into the tanks, despite their protests, to resolve an issue with the waste flow, Jangra said. They wore no safety gear. Then the authorities started peeling off the churchs followers at home or work one by one, putting pressure on them to stop attending the church. Some had their children ejected from school, some had their company accounts inspected, some lost their jobs, Jin said. About 400 people left the church as a result. An official with knowledge of Longs schedule said that while Long has traveled home often, the demands of his job have also meant large blocks of time away from his family. During one stretch from late August to early December at the height of last years hurricane season Long did not return to North Carolina once while traveling to Texas for Hurricane Harvey, to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands for Hurricane Maria, to Florida for Hurricane Irma, and to California to assess FEMAs response to wildfires. In early August, Mueller offered to reduce the scope of questions he would pose, but Trumps team ultimately rejected the offer, saying it considered questioning the president about possible obstruction of justice to be legally inappropriate. Just before Labor Day, Mueller notified Trumps lawyers that he would accept written answers to some questions about the campaign and would delay making a decision for now about seeking answers from the president about his time in the White House. Mueller is interested in that later period as part of his probe of whether Trump tried to obstruct the Russia investigation. The only difference is while that catamaran might have had a few licks of paint in that time Austal has grown to an ASX-listed global shipbuilding force. Just like the company that built it, that boat has stood the test of time, weathered storms and 30 years later is still operating. In 1988 WA shipbuilder Austal built its very first boat a catamaran bound for a tour company on the Great Barrier Reef. This year the company will finish its biggest ever aluminium catamaran in its Henderson shipyard and over the next few years the company has been slated to build up to 15 per cent of the US Navys new fleet. Despite walking away from the $3.5 billion Australian Navy offshore patrol vessel contract earlier this year Austals Australian operations have a strong order book and it expects to turn a profit next year. So how has Austal seen out 30 years of ups and downs and bucked the manufacturing trend in Australia, which has been savaged by low cost international competitors? There are always good years and not so good years but its never been seriously worrying where I thought, well, Im going to lose the company, Austal founder and now chairman John Rothwell said. Its always been something we can manage. San Jose: Costa Rica has been rocked by the kind of protests rarely seen in the country in comparison with its more tumultuous Central American neighbours. Demonstrators have protested outside the presidential residence and blocked roads across the country to demand President Carlos Alvarado scrap a proposed fiscal reform currently before Parliament. Costa Rica badge. Credit:Fairfax Media Costa Rica's government is struggling with a deficit estimated at 7.1 per cent of GDP this year, which has increased the public debt load. A strike called by public-sector unions went into its fifth day on Friday with no apparent end in sight. 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. Florence made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane at 7.15 am (9.15pm AEST) at Wrightsville Beach, a few kilometres east of Wilmington, as the centre of its eye moved onshore, the National Hurricane Centre said. Debris from Hurricane Florence covers a street in downtown New Bern, North Carolina. Credit:AP 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 nation's electrical grid. Forecasters said "catastrophic" freshwater flooding was expected along waterways far from the coast of the Carolinas. Florence's fiercest winds will linger around the coast for hours since the storm was moving forward at only 6 mph (9 km/h). Hurricane-force winds extended 80 miles (130 km/h) from its centre, and tropical-storm-force winds reached out to 195 miles (315 km/h). High winds and storm surge from Hurricane Florence hits Swansboro, North Carolina. Credit:AP 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. Hurricane Florence, as seen from the International Space Station. Credit:ESA/NASAA. Gerst The storm's maximum sustained winds held at about 90 mph (144 km/h), 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 (169 km/h) was recorded at Wilmington airport, surpassing the power of Hurricane Fran two decades ago. The National Hurricane Centre said a gauge in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, reported 6.3 feet (1.92 metres) of inundation. Emerald Isle is about 84 miles (135 kilometres) north of Wilmington. And about 46 miles (74 kilometres) 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. The worst of the storm's fury had yet to reach coastal South Carolina, where emergency managers said people could still leave flood-prone areas. This satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Florence on the eastern coast of the United States. Credit:NOA "There is still time, but not a lot of time," said Derrec Becker of the South Carolina Department of Emergency Management. More than 80,000 people in North Carolina already were 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. North Carolina corrections officials said more than 3000 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. A boat became wedged in trees in Oriental, North Carolina on Friday. Credit:AP 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. Forecasters said conditions will continue to deteriorate as the storm 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. Loading Once a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph (225 km/h), the hurricane was downgraded to a Category 1 on Thursday night in the US. BRIDGEPORT The citys newest downtown parking meters are getting shorter, while the costs associated with parking at them and of failing to pay for it may rise. Nearly two years after Mayor Joe Ganims administration launched an initiative to upgrade the dated, coins-only meters, City Hall is still working out the kinks. The widely criticized, camera-equipped credit card-accepting meters launched in early 2017 were recently replaced with devices that still accept credit cards but require flesh-and-blood enforcement. Critics of the cameras complained they were too aggressive, not well-publicized and hurt the downtown economy. But the new devices that replaced them were not without their problems. John Ricci, director of public facilities, this week said his staff has to cut the newly-installed meters poles 600 in all because they do not meet the federal Americans with Disabilities Act standards that require meters be no taller than 48 inches above the ground. In recent years other cities from Hartford to Sacramento, CA., and from Durango, Colo., to Pittsburgh, Pa., have, reportedly, dealt with a similar problem. Ricci said the citys old coins-only meters were never ADA compliant, but height issues were not as noticeable because they and the camera-equipped meters faced drivers making payments. This third round of meters are operated more at an angle. Ricci said the pole adjustments are easy and should be completed by Tuesday or Wednesday. Meanwhile, behind-the-scenes, City Hall is looking at two changes to the parking rules that would reverse adjustments made last year amid the outcry that the meters with the cameras were scaring away visitors. One of those reversals raising meter fines from $20 to $30 was included in the 2018-19 municipal budget the City Council and Ganim approved in May and would increase parking revenues by $150,000. The council last summer had slashed the meter fines from $40 to $20. But Nestor Nkwo, Bridgeports budget chief, this week told council members they have to amend the parking regulations to implement the $30 change outlined in the budget. The council last year had approved free downtown parking on Saturdays. Ricci said he and his staff will talk with downtown businesses to find out whether owners want that decision reversed. Some merchants think its something we should do, others something we shouldnt, Ricci said. No overwhelming consensus The Downtown Special Services District,which works to improve the business climate, was not ready to take a position on either of the proposed parking changes. President Lauren Coakley Vincent is helping to organize Riccis meeting with neighborhood merchants. Last summer, the DSSD under different leadership endorsed reducing the parking meter fines from $40 to $20 but opposed free Saturdays. The organization at that time had also advocated for keeping the meters with the cameras, but wanted improved signage to better explain the changes to visitors. One of the complaints about not enforcing the meters on Saturdays has been that drivers abuse it by taking up spaces for hours. Dave Schneider, who operates his familys decades-old clothing store, said he likes the newest, camera-less meters. But he would hate to see the fines increase from $20 to $30. We lost a lot of customers already to the controversial meters, Schneider said. As for continuing with free parking on Saturdays, Schneider was torn. Youll see them parked in front of our store the whole weekend, Schneider said. But, he added, turning the meters off can help draw visitors downtown and benefit newer businesses like the Stress Factory Comedy Club. Its very welcoming for people to just pop in and park, Schneider said. Maybe, he suggested, the city could target only those drivers who abuse the system. Jocelyn Wright just opened JB Vibes Jamaican-inspired restaurant and rum bar downtown: I think it should be free on Saturdays. It definitely helps all businesses. Kelvin Ayala, owner of Moes Burger Joint and one of the most vocal of the business owners who criticized the cameras, wants zero changes made, period. The loss of downtown business has been astronomic over the last two years. The meters were a major role of it, Ayala said. If the city needs the revenues from increased violations and from Saturdays so badly, Ayala said, then instead expand the meters to the popular strip of restaurants, bars and boutiques on Fairfield Avenue in the Black Rock neighborhood. Parking is at a premium (in Black Rock) and business is booming, Ayala said. See how well it works over there. Jim was a hard-working man who always had a smile for everyone There are no bones about it: this is the biography of a doomed young man and his million-dollar fossil in ancient life, a hideous monster the size of a front-end loader with the wanton attitude of a serial killer, the predatory instincts of a hedge fund and, to enforce both, more teeth than a dental lab. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/9/2018 (1151 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. There are no bones about it: this is the biography of a doomed young man and his million-dollar fossil in ancient life, a hideous monster the size of a front-end loader with the wanton attitude of a serial killer, the predatory instincts of a hedge fund and, to enforce both, more teeth than a dental lab. The Dinosaur Artist is a good story by a good storyteller. Remarkably, this is Paige Williams first book. But given her background as a staff writer for the New Yorker magazine and a Neiman Fellow both prestigious credentials her initial success is not that surprising. Her true story is about a prehistoric nightmare called Tarbosaurus bataar literally, "alarming reptile" the top flesh-eater on Mongolias food chain 70 million years ago and Asias near-twin of North Americas scary Tyrannosaurus rex. An American paleontologist named Eric Prokopi bought the rare fossil under the table from Mongolian locals who dug it up in their barren Gobi Desert. They then smuggled it in furniture 9,600 kilometres to New York, so Prokopi could sell it at auction. And thats when he began to wish hed never seen the bones. They cost the 38-year-old his marriage, his money and his freedom. Tarbosaurus was most likely bloodcurdling in life, because even the reassembled skeleton (immature and short a few bones) he put up for sale in 2012 must have terrified some of the onlookers. More so, Williams describes the predator with such ardour its easy to believe T.rexs compatriot, if around today, would be licking his chops over Mongolians as finger food. The Mississippi-born Williams is such a skilled journalist and writer that when she breaks away from the narrative about fossil hunter Prokopi and his obsession with prehistoric life and the murky world of fossil thievery, corruption and marketing, interrupting the adventure to devote whole chapters to describing Mongolia, relevant sciences and the laws on fossil ownership and looting, the reader may ache with impatience to get back to Prokopi. This flatters Williams but not her editor. The drama of The Dinosaur Artist revolves around difficult questions: Who owns the natural world? Are fossils public or private property? Do the people who find them have a right to them? Do landowners own whats discovered on their property? Are fossils like most art the deepest pockets win? (Think actors and collectors Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicolas Cage.) Are fossil hunters scavengers of the worlds history? Should the state have first dibs on important fossils? Prokopis travails address these considerations, and his fate rests on the answers. Everything goes right for Prokopi at first. It is against the law to export Mongolias natural history, including fossils, and has been since the 1920s. However, the country is a fossil hunters paradise because of bureaucratic participation in the digging and smuggling, political indifference and the impossibility of policing such huge and barren areas of the Gobi, where in places the fossils are just sticking out of the ground begging to be picked. So, half the world is in on the act the Germans, Japanese, Italians, Americans, British, French. A California paleontologist says: "Mongolian fossils are spectacular selling them as mantelpieces is akin to using the Mona Lisa as a placemat." Williams quotes Canadas "eminent Tyrannosaur expert," paleontologist Philip Currie, as saying that since 2000, almost 100 T.bataar sites in Mongolia have been plundered. In 2012 Prokopis fossil is on display in New York when a woman named Bolortsetseg Minjin is having lunch on the Upper West Side and overhears a news broadcast about the T.bataars upcoming auction. A Mongolian paleontologist, Bolor has spent much of her adult life in the U.S. Its the first shes heard of the auction. She had been trying for some time to get Mongolian leaders to do something about dinosaur poaching without success, but had recently made an ally of an aide to Mongolias president. Both felt the rape of Mongolias priceless prehistory should cease. Who knows what would have happened if Bolor hadnt overheard that news bulletin. But since she did, it was the beginning of the end for Prokopi. Like the dinosaurs, Prokopi, too, ended up going to the birds. Barry Craig is a retired journalist. NEEPAWA Manitobas largest pork producer will receive provincial funding for the next two decades, Premier Brian Pallister announced in Neepawa on Friday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/9/2018 (1151 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. NEEPAWA Manitobas largest pork producer will receive provincial funding for the next two decades, Premier Brian Pallister announced in Neepawa on Friday. Planned tax increment financing will be used to raise approximately $9.5 million over the next 22 years for HyLife Foods Ltd., supporting the expansion of its facility in Neepawa and a new food mill in the Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain, Pallister said. HyLife has also received $2 million in funds from the joint provincial and federal government program Growing Forward 2. "Were creating a climate where were open for business, and this is exactly the kind of business we need to encourage," Pallister said. "We really respect the investment that these partners are making in the province, and we understand that going forward we want to build our private-sector investments because thats how we grow our economy." Tax increment financing is a government financing tool designed to encourage economic growth and development through incremental taxes generated by new developments. Tax increment-funded projects, such as those developed by HyLife, can help draw capital investments to the province, while fuelling job growth and the economy, Pallister said. He cited how HyLife construction projects and the continued maintenance of facilities have created jobs for local suppliers in the Neepawa area. Pallister said that during his partys first two years in government, Manitoba has led the country in private-sector public investment. "We have to encourage private-sector partners to invest," Pallister said. "We cant just depend on bigger government to create jobs for us." The importance of the food-processing industry on the Manitoba economy was highlighted by Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler at the event. Approximately 25 per cent of all manufacturing activity in Manitoba in 2017 was centred in food processing, generating $4.7 billion in sales, $2 billion of which was from meat processing. "Through this project, they are having a significant positive effect on Manitobas economy by using local trades and services during the construction of these facilities," Eichler said. "We pride ourselves in being community partners and we are proud of our employees and their contributions to the community," HyLife CEO Claude Vielfaure said. Having a government that supports rural businesses is important because it can aid in a companys global growth, enabling it to support its local community, Vielfaure said. He said over the next two years, they will begin reaping the benefits of its investments in their recent expansion. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. HyLife completed a $176-million expansion and modernization of its plant in Neepawa in April, creating 165 additional jobs in the community. Barns in Killarney are still under construction. The pork producer has faced a softening market this year, but Vielfaure said HyLife will continue to invest in Westman. Vielfaure said he had some concerns a growing threat of a trade war with the United States, Manitobas largest pork-importing partner, but other countries are available for trade. "When theres trade tariffs, like whats been happening with the U.S., China and Mexico, its always a concern it disrupts trade. It creates uncertainty," Vielfaure said. "Our perspective on trade is that we have free trade across the world." Brandon Sun Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/9/2018 (1151 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion The government asked. The public responded. Now the challenge will be overcoming the inertia that threatens to bog down the complicated task of developing Canadas first national food policy. If anything, the "What we heard" document posted on the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) website earlier this month underscores the growing disconnect between the agricultural sector and consumers. On the other hand, it also offers some insights into how to bridge that great divide. The consultations online, a stakeholder summit, regional engagement meetings, town halls and House of Commons hearings drew response from a wide cross-section of Canadian society. Department officials say it was the highest response to any consultation ever initiated by AAFC. The online survey alone drew responses from nearly 45,000 people. The demographic breakdown shows one-quarter of the respondents were 35 to 49 and nearly as many from the age 55 to 64 age group (24.2 per cent). More than three-quarters of the respondents were female, and more than half of them from large urban centres. All income brackets were evenly represented on the survey. Individuals working in an agriculture-related field represented 11 per cent of respondents; the general public made up 71 per cent. So what did they tell government to do? Food security was an over-arching theme, as was conserving natural resources. The people want government to increase access to affordable food. But in an interesting twist, this wasnt equated with making food cheaper. Many defined the issue of affordability as one of income rather than a need to drive food prices lower an unequivocal recognition of the reality that farmers need to make a reasonable living, too. Also dominant was a preference for stable and sustainable supplies of local food, which again reinforces support for a robust Canadian farming sector. That priority took precedence over the federal governments stated goal of increasing food exports to $75 billion by 2025. "Results suggest that respondents are very concerned with protection of land, rural and remote access to food, local and organic food production and food costs," the report said. "They were less concerned with exports, trade or the Canadian sectors global reputation." There was one exception: "Across consultations and submissions, Canadians and stakeholders expressed a desire to see Canada be a global leader in sustainable food system practices," the report said. The rankings of the four theme areas showed soil, water and air quality as the top priority for nearly half of respondents (45 per cent), followed by access to affordable food (32 per cent), improving health and safety (13 per cent) and growing more high quality food (11 per cent.) The responses also push the government towards integrated policy development. "There is an impression that the federal governments current approach divides health, environment, agriculture, social development and economic growth into distinct silos," the report said. Participants favoured a "systems" approach that finds solutions ensuring "international trade and investment aligns with public programs that enhance respect for human rights, sustainable livelihoods and food sovereignty." There were also calls for policy to reflect the distinctness and special needs of northern and Indigenous communities. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Many also felt that best practices in environmental sustainability and climate resiliency should be considered at the same time as policies around economic growth. As well, it was suggested that there are tensions among environmental objectives and goals for increasing food production and exports." This possibly explains why farmers and the agricultural industry dont get very far when they reach out to the public on issues of trust. The public wants to know how the sector is looking after the land and its people when, all too often, the industrys messaging is focused on its importance to the economy and export trade. Of course, the two arent mutually exclusive. Just because the industry is focused on creating economic wealth doesnt mean farmers dont or wont care for the environment. What it does mean, however, is that the vast majority of Canadians want government food policies to protect their interests, nurture their health and support their communities before we go about feeding the world. Laura Rance is editorial director for Glacier FarmMedia. She can be reached at 204-792-4382 or by email: laura@fbcpublishing.com. Elizabeth Betty Teillet was raised in an upper-class British family and never learned to cook. When her Canadian husband suddenly died, leaving her alone to raise five children, she took charge by going back to school so she could get a job and support her family. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/9/2018 (1151 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Elizabeth Betty Teillet was raised in an upper-class British family and never learned to cook. When her Canadian husband suddenly died, leaving her alone to raise five children, she took charge by going back to school so she could get a job and support her family. Teillet died at 94 on June 2, after living with Alzheimers disease for some time. Elizabeth Betty Teillet in her late teens. She was born in Ceylon and was sent to boarding school in England. David Teillet said his mother was raised in the high society world of teas and balls. She gave it up to marry a Canadian who had a modest background. "She was 100 per cent taken care of (while) growing up," David recalled recently. "Growing up, she didnt do cooking, she didnt make tea, she never did laundry. She was born privileged and could have done anything she wanted. She chose to marry my dad, who was a great guy, and she came here." When she was four, Bettys parents sent her from Ceylon present-day Sri Lanka to England so she could attend boarding school. She never returned home to live with her mother and father. The decision to send her away came after her older sister, Eleanor, died, possibly from a tropical illness. "It would have been halfway around the world on a steam ship so she just spent most of her vacations with a friends family during holidays," David said. "And, if that didnt happen, she would just stay at the school. "My mother said the day she left, she woke up and her mother was sitting on the bed crying. So it must have been hard." Teillets sister-in-law, Kathy, said Betty barely knew her parents. "She said once her dad was visiting England, and she went to meet him at the train station, and she worried she wouldnt recognize him." Betty with her father and mother, Arthur and Nora Dawson (nee Matheson). Teillet was born in Ceylon on Oct. 8, 1923, to Arthur and Norah Dawson. Her father was working there as the surveyor general in the colonial service when he met his future wife while she was on a world trip. David said while growing up, in the pre-internet age, he and his siblings had no idea about the history of their mothers family. When he was 10, his moms dad died, and he received a cigar case that had been given to his great-grandfather by Queen Victorias eldest son, who later became King Edward VII. At that point, David realized there was more to his familys history. And thats only one interesting branch on his mothers family tree. Bettys mother was a Matheson. That side of the family can be traced to the 13th century, during which they were powerful landowners. A baronetcy was created in 1851 for the head of the clan. The honour came after James Matheson and his partner William Jardine founded Jardine Matheson and Company in 1832. It became the largest British company in China, importing opium, tea and other goods from China. At the time, opium was legal in Britain and other western countries. Later, when the Chinese government attempted to stop cocaine exports, both Matheson and Jardine persuaded Britain to attack China, leading to the First Opium War in 1839 to 1842. The company still exists, but the family sold its interest in it several decades ago. "My mom didnt talk about all this," David said. During the Second World War, Teillet, who had recently graduated from high school, joined the Royal Air Force. Her family recalled that she learned to lie about what she was doing. Kathy said her sister-in-law revealed a few years later that she had been a radar operator at secret radar stations, which were set up to alert the air force when German planes were on the way during the London Blitz. "That would have been an important job," she said, "But she didnt talk about it much." Wedding photo for Elizabeth Betty Teillet in 1944 to Ted Teillet. While with the air force, she met Ted Teillet, an airman from Winnipeg. He had his own interesting family tree: he was a great grand nephew of Louis Riel. They were married on July 4, 1944, when he was 23 and she was 20. "She thought she would live like her mother did," Kathy said. "She went to finishing school and said she had never worked a day in her life, but then she saw Ted. She later got to know him and she married him." Turns out, Betty didnt know her husbands full name until the marriage ceremony. "They would have thought Ted was the short form of Theodore, but when it was announced during the wedding his name was Heliodore, she said the whole church burst out laughing," To join her husband in Canada, Teillet was issued Canadian Travel Certificate No. 4453, which was valid for a single journey to Canada, by Canadas high commissioner in London on Feb. 7, 1945. Her certificate was stamped on Feb. 27 in Liverpool and she arrived in Halifax as a landed immigrant on March 6. She soon arrived in Winnipeg. Kathy and her husband lived with Betty and Ted for a year while waiting for their own house to be built. "There was a shortage of housing because all the veterans wanted to come home and have families," she said. Kathy said after she moved in, she quickly realized her sister-in-laws housekeeping skills were almost non-existent. "Betty was educated to be a lady, and she was a lady," she said. Laughing, Kathy said Betty "told me When Ted proposed, he had always told me Im not in the same class as you. She said I thought it meant dusting. I didnt know it meant Id have to clean a toilet." But Kathy said because both of the young brides didnt know how to cook many dishes, they each subscribed to several magazines and traded recipes. Betty and Ted had three sons and two daughters, but in 1966, Ted had a heart attack while working near Kenora and came back to Winnipeg before seeing a doctor. Days later, he died. Betty suddenly had to get a job. "She was educated, but not for a living," Kathy said. "She knew how to serve tea, but she had been in boarding school until the war and then she met Ted. She was a widow when she was young, and she had nothing in her background for a job. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "We all thought she would go back to England, but she said Ive lived in Canada now longer than England, and I dont want my children to go to boarding school." She enrolled at Red River College and got a certificate that allowed her to find work at a doctors office and then in the medical records department at Health Sciences Centre. "She had the strength and the desire to do what had to be done," Kathy said. "She was a good mother. Her daughter, Lea, told me she doesnt remember her mother ever yelling at them. She had that gentle nature." Teillet is survived by her five children, 10 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca Jostling down the foundation of a road that has been more than 40 years in the making brings a noticeable measure of emotion to the eyes of Daryl Redsky, the operations manager and Indigenous consultant to Shoal Lake 40s Freedom Road project. According to Redsky, the communitys fight to get to this point, now less than one kilometre from the Trans-Canada Highway, mirrors the current condition of the road winding and a little bumpy, especially from the bouncing seat of an oversized dump truck carrying 40 tonnes of blasted rock. Since he was hired by the band council to work on getting the community a year-round land link in 2012, Redsky says hes committed 90 per cent of his time to seeing the project get to this point, despite only a handful of residents believing the road could happen. "We were told it will never happen and that youre dreaming," he says. "I can understand people being pessimistic about it, having been under isolation in the community for such a long time, that having access to the outside world was just a dream." More than a century ago the First Nations community of Shoal Lake 40 was forced onto an isolated peninsula protruding into Shoal Lake on the Ontario-Manitoba border to make way for Winnipegs aqueduct system. Shoal Lake is the source of Winnipegs drinking water. To get basic supplies the community is linked to the mainland through an expensive and troublesome barge. ANDREW RYAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Jim Sinclair claims to have only had one sick day since he started working on the project -- when his uncle (an elder on the island) passed away in July. The community has been beset by an acute housing shortage, a decades-long boil water advisory and other quality-of-life problems that many say are a result of the First Nations forced isolation. The original aqueduct, like todays construction of the Freedom Road, was built by members of Shoal Lake, including Redskys grandfather. At the height of the communitys involvement, there were 25 Shoal Lake 40 residents working on the 24-kilometre-long road, Redsky says, adding since construction began in 2017 about 50 of the First Nations approximately 200 members have participated well above the 20 per cent level mandated in the tripartite funding agreement. The City of Winnipeg and Province of Manitoba each committed $10 million and Ottawa is making a $20 million contribution. The project is scheduled to be completed by June 2019. There hasnt been substantial economic development in Shoal Lake for several decades, Redsky says, resulting in few employment opportunities for residents, unless they were working in the band office, school or daycare. Redsky is proud of his communitys involvement, saying the economic advantage has been a driving factor for getting many young people working on the construction. "To me, seeing these young people participating and building their own freedom, making their way to freedom, literally and physically, is amazing," he says. "Seeing them coming to work the ones that want to be out here every day they have a sense of pride and they value what theyre doing. They also know that this is an opportunity for them." While waiting for his next 40-tonne load of rocks, truck driver Jonathan Bruyere, 19, talks about how the job is more than a paycheque for him. In particular, Bruyere says hes really proud to be building a piece of history for his mom, who lives on Shoal Lake 40. "It means a lot, its something to be a part of something my communitys been wanting for so many years. Its nice to be a part of it, help build it for my mothers community. Im not out here just for the money, Im out here to get this thing done for my mothers community and say that I built it as a teenager." Bruyere expresses frustration that community members still have to risk their lives in order to get groceries in the fall, when the water on the lake begins to slowly freeze over. Although Bruyere lives with his father in Eagle Lake, near Dryden, Ont., he has come back to Shoal Lake 40 to work on Freedom Road and stays with his mother during his 21-day construction stint. ANDREW RYAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The sun rises on Freedom Road in Shoal Lake. The opportunities the project has offered to Shoal Lake hasnt been limited to young men. Anne Redsky, 50, used to be a caterer and cook for the community but has now seized the opportunity to drive a rock truck, and is the only woman in her community to do so. "It means a lot to me. Im really overwhelmed and proud to be a part of it. To be the first women to do heavy machinery and get this far," she says. Among her biggest supporters are her children, all in their 30s, who keep encouraging her to continue working on Freedom Road after she took a break when her father died. "They said, Mom, you started it, you might as well finish it," Anne says. Now back on the job, Anne exudes positivity and pride twisting her truck into a three-point turn on the narrow gravel road. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. ANDREW RYAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Fernando Paypompee, left, and Jonathan Bruyere tease each other after a 12 hour shift on August 25, 2018. It means a lot to quite a bit of us. Theres a couple of us out hereme and Fernando were working out here just to be a part of something were not out here for the money, said Jonathan Bruyere. Daryl Redskys deep commitment to the project hasnt come without its sacrifices; after spending most of his time fighting for Freedom Road, there wasnt much time left for his family. "Ive lost one family. I was married before and Ive lost that family because Ive committed so much of my time to fighting for Freedom Road. Ive separated from my wife and three kids because it was 90 per cent fighting for Freedom Road and 10 per cent family," he says. His children, however, have remained supportive through the project. "I told them even when they were here, that dad is building you a road so that you can come home whenever you want. I tell them that to this day." Daryl now lives with his partner and one-year-old son just steps away from the camp that acts as the base of operations for Freedom Road. Both, he says, are his main supports as the project continues. Ontario Premier Doug Ford this week announced the intention to use the notwithstanding clause of Canadas Constitution in his battle to shrink Toronto city council and reintroduce his controversial Better Local Government Act. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/9/2018 (1151 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Ontario Premier Doug Ford this week announced the intention to use the notwithstanding clause of Canadas Constitution in his battle to shrink Toronto city council and reintroduce his controversial Better Local Government Act. The unexpected announcement immediately followed a ruling by an Ontario Superior Court justice who ruled that the proposed legislation, which would reduce the number of wards in the upcoming Toronto municipal election from 47 to 25, violates the Charter rights of municipal candidates and voters. If Ford follows through, it will be the first time the notwithstanding clause has been invoked in Ontario. The move has sparked outrage from Fords political opponents and municipal candidates, who have decried Fords use of the clause as an undemocratic abuse of power. Even former prime minister Brian Mulroney, the father of Fords attorney general, Caroline Mulroney, has publicly called the move "a problem." Fords motivation to slash the number of council seats seems clearly motivated by his personal experiences as a Toronto city councillor, where he worked alongside his brother, the late and controversial Toronto mayor Rob Ford, to reduce the size of government programs, limit municipal spending and reduce government waste in Canadas most populous city. But Fords wielding of the notwithstanding clause should also be understood as part of a broader opposition to judicial activism that has developed among right-wing politicians and academics in the post-Charter era. Ford is not merely taking a political shot at Toronto city council, but instead is using Section 33 of the Constitution to reassert the primacy of representative institutions over judicial authority. Ultimately, this pushback against judicial activism is consistent with Fords populist drive to limit the influence of special interests and reinvigorate majority rule in Ontario. The Charter revolution The adoption of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982 had a transformative impact on Canadian politics. Charter cases have been used to resolve disputes and chart new policy direction over some of Canadas most divisive political issues. Issues such as same-sex marriage, abortion, assisted dying, Indigenous rights and religious freedom have all been subject to Charter jurisprudence. While the Charter has served as an long tool for the recognition of minority rights, its also invited a great deal of debate and criticism. In their widely influential book, The Charter Revolution and the Court Party, political scientists F.L. Morton and Rainer Knopff have argued that the Charter has undemocratically empowered the judiciary at the expense of elected bodies and the bureaucracy. Morton and Knopff argue that in empowering the judiciary and allowing for the adjudication of important public policy decisions and social issues, the Charter has helped to create what they refer to as the "Court Party." Comprised of a cadre of left-wing groups and social movements, the "Court Party" concerns itself with causes like feminism, gay rights, multiculturalism and environmentalism, relying on the Charter as a strategic tool to pursue their political agendas in the legal arena. The influence of these views on the Charter has extended well beyond the walls of academia to inform the opinions of political leaders. Stephen Harper was one such disciple of this view of judicial activism who, when in power, took steps to eliminate support for the funding of Charter challenges. It is within this broader intellectual tradition of opposition to judicial activism that we can understand Doug Fords decision to invoke the notwithstanding clause. A populist declaration against the courts In responding to the Superior Court judges ruling, Ford offered a response that harkened back to the notion of the "Court Party" while also , opposition to judicial activism on democratic grounds. Ford argued that the only opposition to his proposed legislation are "a small group of left-wing councillors" and "a network of activist groups who have entrenched themselves under the power of the status quo." This framing of his opponents as institutionally entrenched, left-wing social activists evokes many of the defining characteristics of the "Court Party." The response to the judges ruling is also consistent with what has become Fords governing mantra focused on limiting the influence and privilege of special interests while promoting the interests of "the people." Its along these lines that Ford has also voiced his opposition to judicial activism. Ford concluded his bombshell news conference by stating that "if you want to make new laws in Ontario or in Canada, you first must seek a mandate from the people and you have to be elected." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Challenged courts legitimacy In this statement and others, Ford did not challenge the legal reasoning behind the judges decision. Instead he chose to attack the democratic legitimacy of the courts to make a ruling that overrides elected decision-makers. Fords opposition to judicial activism on the grounds that it threatens the power and jurisdiction of elected institutions and representatives is clearly linked to his populist world view and vision of government. However, its important to recognize that Fords framing of his opponents and the role of the courts is not of his own invention. Its part of a longer intellectual tradition among right-wing thinkers in Canada. Brian Budd is a PhD candidate at the University of Guelph. This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca. In the early days of Canadas public conversation about medical assistance in dying (MAID), Dr. Jeff Blackmer, then vice-president of the Canadian Medical Association, expressed the gravitas of the policy choices that lay ahead as no less than a sea change to the ethos and culture of the medical profession. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/9/2018 (1151 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion In the early days of Canadas public conversation about medical assistance in dying (MAID), Dr. Jeff Blackmer, then vice-president of the Canadian Medical Association, expressed the gravitas of the policy choices that lay ahead as "no less than a sea change" to the ethos and culture of the medical profession. That was in 2016, after the Supreme Court had issued its landmark decision to authorize physicians to end the lives of consenting patients under certain strict conditions, but before the government of Canada had settled on its legislative response. In the two years since Blackmers assessment, a federal law on assisted dying has been enacted and operationalized, procedures and protocols are in place, and numerous court challenges and academic studies are underway. By the end of 2017, more than 3,700 Canadians had died as a result of our new medically assisted dying policy. Yet, an appropriate monitoring system is not yet in place. Rules to protect "vulnerable persons" are etched into the federal law. And professional authorities in each Canadian province and territory have issued practice directives and educational resources on MAID. A new professional body, the Canadian Association of MAID Assessors and Providers, has emerged and is focusing attention on refinements, such as whether practitioners are adequately compensated, or if MAIDs bureaucratic requirements need streamlining. But too little is known about how persons who are eligible for MAID actually experience this new "choice." And nothing is known about how those of us who care for those persons may have begun to calculate the value of their lives differently. Thats why the federal governments new regulations for the monitoring of medical assistance in dying, published mid-summer and scheduled to come into effect in November, are deeply disappointing. The regulations fall short of a good-faith effort to understand the role that social determinants of health, such as poverty, insecure housing, isolation or social stigma, may play in motivating a request to die. The monitoring promised to Canadians when the law was passed remains elusive, failing to provide the needed assurance, as a Globe and Mail editorial cautioned recently, that MAID "is never allowed to become a backstop for gaps in other care." There have been warning signs. When Archie Rolland requested and received a medically assisted death in Quebec in 2016, he made it clear that it was not his illness, but rather the distress and deprivations of inadequate care, that had made his life intolerable. More recently in Ontario, Roger Foley has reported that although his claims for disability support arrangements of his choosing have been denied, hes free to pursue a medically assisted death. Assisted life, no. Assisted death, yes. Are these isolated cases, or are they the tip of the iceberg? Genuine, comprehensive monitoring could help us know. But its not in place. Nor will it be, under the new regulations. The "impact assessment" report appended to the new regulations makes it clear that the governments expectation is that "approximately 10 minutes are required to electronically file each report submitted by a practitioner familiar with the reporting requirements" for MAID. Because medically assisted dying is, in fact, a narrow exemption to the criminal prohibition of homicide, and represents a departure from the Hippocratic oath by which physicians are bound, assessing its impacts must be more thorough than an electronic form where boxes are checked and cases are reported in 10 minutes or less. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. MAID monitoring must be far more than an administrative exercise. The act of ending the life of another human being raises fundamental questions of human dignity and rights. How will the most vulnerable members of our community be protected from the ultimate harm? How will persons with authority and power be held accountable? How will the kindly but insidious forces of inducement to MAID be kept in check? How will we ensure that the cost-effectiveness of MAID will not override our social commitment to shoulder the costs of care, and to promote equity and human flourishing? How will we track, and, as needed, correct for, any slippage in human rights norms and our collective notions of life worth living? To monitor MAID responsibly, we must hear more voices, consider more perspectives, probe for more answers and be more fearless in the face of what those answers might reveal. Catherine Frazee is a professor emerita in disability studies at Ryerson University, a contributor to EvidenceNetwork.ca, which is based at the University of Winnipeg, and an adviser to the Vulnerable Persons Standard. Troy Media One of the principles that sustains Winnipeg as a civil society is the tacit agreement that everyone adheres to a minimal level of acceptable conduct. This includes the understanding that criminal actions have consequences. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/9/2018 (1151 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. One of the principles that sustains Winnipeg as a civil society is the tacit agreement that everyone adheres to a minimal level of acceptable conduct. This includes the understanding that criminal actions have consequences. Thats why its alarming to learn Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries (MLL) officials have instructed its security guards not to intervene when they see thieves stealing bottles of liquor from retail outlets. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Theft at Manitoba Liquor Marts has increased sharply in the past year. It apparently didnt take long for word to spread that, at Winnipeg liquor stores, criminal actions seldom have consequences. There is an average of eight thefts per day at liquor stores. Its often more serious than someone slipping a bottle into their coat pocket. Some thieves are walking out with their arms full, unimpeded by store staff. So much is being stolen, some thieves have taken to selling the stolen alcohol online. There are several reasons why the public should be concerned that, apparently, word on the street is that its a free-for-all at Manitoba Liquor Marts. First, taxpayers have a vested interested in MLL, a Crown corporation, and want assurance that responsible people are in charge of the distribution of alcohol and the revenue it produces. That assurance is shaken when records show thieves stole $800,000 worth of alcohol products last year, at the same time as MLL executives told its security staff not to physically confront thieves caught in the act. Second, Winnipeg police say resources are being seriously taxed by the MLL practice of declining to deal with the problem on the spot, choosing instead to hand video footage to police well after the fact, when its much tougher to apprehend the culprits. MLL noted in a statement Wednesday that its wrong to think security staff are standing idly by while thieves peruse and purloin the products. It said staff "observe and detect" thieves, speak to them and "discourage" them from stealing. But security guards must avoid physical confrontation, a restriction apparently well known by thieves who view grab-and-run liquor as an opportunity to profit online. Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. MLL describes an unusually aggressive brand of shoplifters who are "brazen and dangerous" when confronted. In one case, an off-duty RCMP officer who confronted teenagers stealing from a Liquor Mart was attacked and pelted with bottles. The challenge facing MLL is understandable. No one wants security guards or customers to be endangered by liquor-store violence, which could easily escalate if thieves are armed. At the same time, police dont have the resources to adequately investigate and prosecute the 1,277 reports of thefts from Liquor Marts this year alone. "The Crown monopoly posted profits of more than $586 million last year; surely some of that revenue could be redirected toward store security and loss prevention." MLL, on the other hand, does have resources to beef up its security. The Crown monopoly posted profits of more than $586 million last year; surely some of that revenue could be redirected toward store security and loss prevention. The problem will be discussed at an upcoming meeting between MLL chairwoman Polly Craik and Crown Services Minister Colleen Mayer. It might be productive to include Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth and ask his advice on how liquor-store security could be better. In its statement, the MLL noted that its Liquor Marts currently employ industry best practices in combating theft, which are in line with those of most major retailers. Whats clear is that those "best practices" did not contemplate the current attitudes and tactics of thieves targeting Manitoba liquor stores. The task of the meeting, then, must be to arrive at a better set of best practices one that protects staff, customers, inventory and the tax dollars of Manitobans. Nuveen Georgia Quality Municipal Income Fund is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments, Inc. The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of the Georgia. The fund invests into undervalued municipal securities and other related investments the income from which is exempt from regular federal and Georgia income taxes. It seeks to invest in investment grade securities with an average maturity of around 17 years. The fund employs fundamental analysis with a focus on bottom-up stock picking approach to create its portfolio. It benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against Standard & Poor's (S&P) Georgia Municipal Bond Index and Standard & Poor's (S&P) National Municipal Bond Index. The fund was formerly known as Nuveen Georgia Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2. Nuveen Georgia Quality Municipal Income Fund was formed on October 26, 2001 and is domiciled in the United States. Read More Bank of America Corp. is a bank and financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking and nonbank financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth and Investment Management, Global Banking, Global Markets, and All Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers credit, banking, and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses. The Global Wealth and Investment Management provides client experience through a network of financial advisors focused on to meet their needs through a full set of investment management, brokerage, banking, and retirement products. The Global Banking segment deals with lending-related products and services, integrated working capital management and treasury solutions to clients, and underwriting and advisory services. The Global Markets segment includes sales and trading services, as well as research, to institutional clients across fixed-income, credit, currency, commodity, and equity businesses. The All Other segment consists of asset and liability management activities, equity investments, non-core mortgage loans and servicing activities, the net impact of periodic revisions Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Textron: AAI Corporation, AAI Services Corporation, ALSTOM Gears, Able Aerospace, Able Aerospace Services Inc., Able Engineering & Component Services, Aeronautical Accessories LLC, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company LLC, Arctic Cat, Arctic Cat ACE Holding GmbH, Arctic Cat France SARL, Arctic Cat GmbH, Arctic Cat Inc., Arctic Cat Production LLC, Arctic Cat Production Support LLC, Arctic Cat Sales Inc., Arctic Cat Shared Services LLC, Arctic Cat UK Ltd., Arkansas Aerospace Inc., Avco Corporation, Aviation Service servis letal doo Ljubljana, Aylesbury Automation, B/K Navigational Equipment sro, Beech Aircraft Corporation, Beech Holdings, Beechcraft Defense Support Holding LLC, Beechcraft Domestic Service Company, Beechcraft Germany GmbH, Beechcraft International Holding LLC, Beechcraft International Service Company, Beechcraft New Zealand, Beechcraft Service Company UK Limited, Bell Helicopter GK, Bell Helicopter KK, Bell Textron Asia (Pte.) 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KG, Kautex Textron Iberica SL, Kautex Textron Italia Srl, Kautex Textron Management Services Company de Puebla S. de RL de CV, Kautex Textron Portugal Produtos Plasticos Sociedade Unipessoal Lda., Kautex Textron de Mexico S de RL de CV, Kautex Textron do Brasil Ltda., Kautex of Georgia Inc., Kaywood Products Corp., Klauke, LCI Corporation International, LLC Textron RUS, Maag, McCord Corporation, Mechtronix, Medical Numerics Inc., Midland Industrial Plastics, MillenWorks, MillenWorks Themed Technologies, MotorFist LLC, OPINICUS Simulation and Training Services LLC, OmniQuip International, Opinicus, Optical Boring Co., Opto-Electronics, Opto-Electronics Inc., Overwatch Systems Ltd., PEINER Umformtechnik, Pirelli Tyres - General Rubber Goods (GRG) division, Premiair Aviation Maintenance Pty Ltd, Progressive Electronics, Ransomes, Ransomes Inc., Ransomes Investment LLC, Ransomes Jacobsen France SAS, Ransomes Jacobsen Limited, Ransomes Limited, Ransomes Pensions Trustee Company Limited, Replacement Part Solutions LLC, Response Technologies LLC, Rotor Blades Limited, Sukosim Verbindungselemente, TRU Simulation & Training Spain SL, TRU Simulation + Training Inc., TRU Simulation + Training LLC, TekGPS Engineering Srl, Textron Airland LLC, Textron Atlantic LLC, Textron Aviation Australia Pty. 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Ltd., Textron Finance Holding Company, Textron Financial Corporation, Textron Financial Corporation Receivables Trust 2002-CP-2, Textron Fluid and Power Inc., Textron France Holding SAS, Textron France SAS, Textron Global Services Inc., Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc., Textron Ground Support Equipment UK Limited, Textron IPMP Inc., Textron India Private Limited, Textron Innovations Inc., Textron International Inc., Textron International Mexico S de RL de CV, Textron Limited, Textron Management Services Inc., Textron Motors GmbH, Textron Motors North America Inc., Textron Outdoor Power Equipment Inc., Textron Realty Corporation, Textron Shared Service Centre (Canada) Inc., Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc., Textron Sweden AB, Textron Systems Australia Holding Pty Ltd, Textron Systems Australia Pty Ltd, Textron Systems Canada Inc., Textron Systems Corporation, Textron Systems Electronic Systems UK (Holdings) Limited, Textron Systems Electronic Systems UK Limited, Textron Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Textron UK Pension Trustee Limited, Textron Verwaltungs-GmbH, Turbine Engine Components Textron (Newington Operations) Inc., United Industrial Corporation, Westminster Insurance Company, Williams Machine & Tool, Wuxi Textron Specialized Vehicles Co. Ltd., and Zhenjiang Bell Textron Aviation Services Limited. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at conta[email protected] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. The following companies are subsidiares of American Tower: 10 Presidential Way Associates LLC, 3267351 Nova Scotia Company, 3286208 Nova Scotia Company, 3298099 Nova Scotia Company, 52 Eighty LLC, 52 Eighty Partners LLC, 52 Eighty Tower Partners I LLC, ACC Tower Sub LLC, AT Kenya C.V., AT Netherlands C.V., AT Netherlands Cooperatief U.A., AT Sao Paulo C.V., AT Sher Netherlands Cooperatief U.A., AT South America C.V., ATC Africa Holding B.V., ATC Africa Shared Services (Pty) Ltd, ATC Antennas Holding LLC, ATC Antennas LLC, ATC Argentina C.V., ATC Argentina Cooperatief U.A., ATC Argentina Holding LLC, ATC Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., ATC Atlantic C.V., ATC Atlantic II B.V., ATC Atlantic III B.V., ATC Backhaul LLC, ATC Brasil Servicos de Conectividades Ltda., ATC Brazil Holding LLC, ATC Brazil I LLC, ATC Brazil II LLC, ATC Burkina Faso S.A., ATC CSR Foundation India, ATC Chile Holding LLC, ATC Colombia B.V., ATC Colombia Holding I LLC, ATC Colombia Holding LLC, ATC Colombia I LLC, ATC EH GmbH & Co. KG, ATC Ecuador Holding LLC, ATC Edge LLC, ATC Ethiopia Infrastructure Development Private Limited Company, ATC Europe B.V., ATC Europe LLC, ATC European Holdings Inc., ATC Fibra de Colombia S.A.S., ATC France Cooperatief U.A., ATC France Holding II SAS, ATC France Holding SAS, ATC France Reseaux SAS, ATC France SAS, ATC France Services SAS, ATC GP GmbH, ATC Germany Holdings GmbH, ATC Germany Services GmbH, ATC Ghana ServiceCo Limited, ATC Global Employment B.V., ATC Heston B.V., ATC Holding Fibra Mexico S. de R.L. 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Ltd., Transcend Towers Infrastructure (Philippines) Inc., Turris Sites Development Corp., Turris Sites IWG Corp, Tysons II DAS LLC, UNIsite, Uganda Tower Interco B.V., Ulysses Asset Sub I LLC, Ulysses Asset Sub II LLC, UniSite LLC, UniSite/Omnipoint FL Tower Venture LLC, UniSite/Omnipoint NE Tower Venture LLC, UniSite/Omnipoint PA Tower Venture LLC, Vangard Wireless LLC, Verus Management One LLC, Viom Networks, and Virdi IWG Holdings LLC. FTD Companies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a floral and gifting company primarily in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland. It operates through three segments: U.S. Consumer, Florist, and International. The company offers floral, specialty foods, gift, and related products and services to consumers, retail florists, and other retail locations and companies. It also markets and sells gift items, including gourmet-dipped berries and other specialty foods, personalized gifts, gift baskets, wine and champagne, jewelry, and spa products, as well as gourmet food products; and provides point-of-sale systems and related technology services to its floral network members, including traditional retail florists, and other retail locations offering floral and related products. In addition, the company offers products and services to its floral network members, such as services that enable its floral network members to send, receive, and deliver floral orders, as well as other companies; and fresh-cut flower arrangements, occasion-specific gifts and plants, stuffed bears, and chocolates. It offers its products under the FTD, Interflora, ProFlowers, Shari's Berries, Personal Creations, Flying Flowers, Gifts.com, ProPlants, and Mercury Man logo names. The company provides its products through its Websites, related mobile sites and applications, and various telephone numbers. The company was formerly known as UNOL Intermediate, Inc. FTD Companies, Inc. was founded in 1910 and is headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois. Read More American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at contact@marketbeat.com | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. The Hershey Co. engages in the manufacture and market of chocolate and sugar confectionery products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: North America; and International and Other. The North America segment is responsible for the traditional chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery market position of the company, as well as its grocery and snacks market positions, in the United States and Canada. The International and Other segment is the combination of all other operating segments which are not individually material, including those geographic regions where the company operates outside of North America. Its brands include Hershey's, Reese's, and Kisses. The company was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894 and is headquartered in Hershey, PA. Read More There is not enough analysis data for Delphi Energy Corp. (DEE.TO). 4.3 Community Rank Outperform Votes Delphi Energy Corp. (DEE.TO) has received 216 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Delphi Energy Corp. (DEE.TO) has received 118 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Delphi Energy Corp. (DEE.TO) has received 64.67% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Delphi Energy Corp. (DEE.TO) and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe DEE will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe DEE will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Gerresheimer AG, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells specialty glass, plastic products, and drug delivery-devices and solutions primarily worldwide. It operates through three divisions: Plastics & Devices, Primary Packaging Glass, and Advanced Technologies. The Plastics & Devices division offers drug delivery systems, including inhalers, pen systems, and injection systems; sterile and non-sterile syringe systems for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries; and disposables for various analysis systems that are used in laboratories and medical practices, quick tests for patients in medical practices or hospitals, skin-prick aids and lancets for diabetics, disposables, and components for dialysis machines, and catheters and surgical devices. It also provides containers for the delivery of tablets and powders, liquid dosages, ophthalmic and rhinological applications, parenteral packaging applications, oral prescription medications, and cosmetics. The Primary Packaging Glass division offers glass primary packaging for pharma and cosmetics industries, such as ampoules, cartridges, vials, syrup and dropper bottles, tablet jars, and wide-neck jars, as well as injection, infusion, and transfusion bottles; flacons and pots for fragrances, deodorants, and care and decorative cosmetics; and bottles and jars for spirits and food. The Advanced Technologies division develops drug delivery products and platforms, such as micro pumps, which are used to self-administer medication for heart failure or Parkinson's for pharmaceutical and biotech customers. The company was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in DAsseldorf, Germany. Read More Deutsche Telekom AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated telecommunication services. The company operates through five segments: Germany, United States, Europe, Systems Solutions, and Group Development. It offers fixed-network services, including voice and data communication services based on fixed-network and broadband technology; and sells terminal equipment and other hardware products, as well as services to resellers. The company also provides mobile voice and data services to consumers and business customers; sells mobile devices and other hardware products; and sells mobile services to resellers and to companies that purchases and markets network services to third parties, such as mobile virtual network operators. In addition, it offers internet services; internet-based TV products and services; and information and communication technology systems for multinational corporations and public sector institutions with an infrastructure of data centers and networks under the T-Systems brand, as well as call center services. The company has 242 million mobile customers and 22 million broadband customers, as well as 27 million fixed-network lines. Deutsche Telekom AG has a collaboration with VMware, Inc. on cloud-based open and intelligent virtual RAN platform to bring agility to radio access networks for existing LTE and future 5G networks; and partnership with Microsoft to deliver high-performance cloud computing experiences. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Bonn, Germany. Read More Drax Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation and supply of electricity in the United Kingdom. The company operates through three segments: Generation, Customers, and, Pellet Production. It produces low carbon and renewable electricity; and provides system support services to the electricity grid. The company owns and operates Drax Power Station that produces electricity from biomass and coal with an installed capacity of 3,906 megawatts (MW) located in Selby, North Yorkshire; Cruachan Power Station, a pumped hydro storage station, with an installed capacity of 440 MW located in Argyll and Bute, western Scotland; and Lanark and Galloway hydro-electric power stations with an installed capacity of 126 MW located in southwest Scotland. It also owns and operates combined cycle gas turbine power stations, including Damhead Creek power station with an installed capacity of 805 MW; Rye House power station with an installed capacity of 715 MW; Shoreham power station with an installed capacity of 420 MW; and Blackburn power station with an installed capacity of 60 MW located in England. In addition, the company owns and operates Daldowie fuel plant that processes sludge from a wastewater treatment plant and converts it into dry and low-odour fuel pellets. Further, it manufactures and sells compressed wood pellets for use in electricity production; supplies and manages electricity and gas for large industrial and commercial sector customers, as well as small businesses; and provides debt recovery services. Drax Group plc was incorporated in 2005 and is based in Selby, the United Kingdom. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Eaton: ADF Systems SARL, Abeiron III Limited, Aeroquip (UK) Limited, Aeroquip Financial Ltd., Aeroquip Iberica S.L., Aeroquip International Inc., Aeroquip Limited, Aeroquip do Brasil Ltda., Aeroquip-Vickers, Aeroquip-Vickers Canada Inc., Aeroquip-Vickers International S.a.r.L., Aphel Technologies, Argo-Tech, Arrow Hose & Tubing, Arrow-Hart S. de R.L. de C.V., Azonix Corporation, Babco Electric Group, Beijing Internormen-Filter Ltd. Co., Beijing Yoosung Shinhwa Automobile Parts Co. Ltd., Blinda Industria e Comercio Ltda., Bussmann International Holdings LLC, Bussmann International Inc., Bussmann S. de R.L. de C.V., Bussmann do Brasil Ltda., CBE Services Inc., CEAG Notlichtsysteme GmbH, CI ESI de Colombia, CTI-VIENNA Gesellschaft zur Prufung elektrotechnischer Industrieprodukte GmbH, Cambridge International Insurance Company Ltd., Cannon Technologies Inc., Centralion Industrial Inc., Chagrin Highlands III Limited, Cobham, Componentes de Iluminacion S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper (China) Co. Ltd., Cooper (Ningbo) Electric Co. Ltd., Cooper B-Line Inc., Cooper Bermuda Investments Ltd., Cooper Bussmann (U.K.) Limited, Cooper Bussmann Hungaria Kft., Cooper Bussmann LLC, Cooper Capri S.A.S., Cooper Colombia Investments Ltd., Cooper Controls (Watford) Limited, Cooper Controls Limited, Cooper Crouse-Hinds (LLC), Cooper Crouse-Hinds (UK) Ltd., Cooper Crouse-Hinds AS, Cooper Crouse-Hinds B.V., Cooper Crouse-Hinds GmbH, Cooper Crouse-Hinds LLC, Cooper Crouse-Hinds MTL Inc., Cooper Crouse-Hinds Pte. Ltd., Cooper Crouse-Hinds S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Crouse-Hinds S.A., Cooper Csa Srl, Cooper Edison (Pingdingshan) Electronic Technologies Co. Ltd., Cooper Electric (Changzhou) Co. Ltd., Cooper Electrical Australia Pty. Limited, Cooper Electrical International LLC, Cooper Electronic Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cooper Enterprises LLC, Cooper Finance (Canada) L.P., Cooper Finance Group Ltd., Cooper Finance USA Inc., Cooper Germany Holdings GmbH, Cooper India Private Limited, Cooper Industrials, Cooper Industries (Canada) Inc., Cooper Industries (Electrical) Inc., Cooper Industries Colombia S.A.S., Cooper Industries FZE, Cooper Industries Finance B.V., Cooper Industries Finanzierungs-GbR, Cooper Industries Global B.V., Cooper Industries Holdings (Canada) Inc., Cooper Industries Holdings GmbH, Cooper Industries International LLC, Cooper Industries Japan K.K., Cooper Industries LLC, Cooper Industries Malaysia SDN BHD, Cooper Industries Middle East LLC, Cooper Industries Poland LLC, Cooper Industries Romania SRL, Cooper Industries Russia LLC, Cooper Industries Trading Limited, Cooper Industries UK Subco Limited, Cooper Industries Unlimited Company, Cooper Industries Vietnam LLC, Cooper Interconnect, Cooper International Holdings S.a.r.l., Cooper Investment Group Ltd., Cooper Investment Group S a.r.l., Cooper Investments Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Cooper Korea Ltd., Cooper Lighting LLC, Cooper Lighting de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Menvier France SARL, Cooper Mexico Distribucion S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Netherlands Investments Ltd., Cooper Notification Inc., Cooper Offshore Holdings S.a.r.l., Cooper Power Systems LLC, Cooper Power Systems do Brasil Ltda., Cooper Pretronica Lda., Cooper Safety B.V., Cooper Securite S.A.S., Cooper Security Limited, Cooper Shanghai Power Capacitor Co. Ltd., Cooper Switzerland Investments Ltd., Cooper Technologies Company, Cooper Univel S.A., Cooper Wheelock Inc., Cooper Wiring Devices Inc., Cooper Wiring Devices Manufacturing S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Wiring Devices de Mexico S.A de C.V., Cooper Xi'an Fusegear Co. Ltd., Cooper Yuhua (Changzhou) Electric Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Copperlogic, Cutler-Hammer Electrical Company, Cutler-Hammer Industries Ltd., Cutler-Hammer SRL, Cyme International T & D Inc., D.P. Eaton Electric, Digital Lighting (Dong Guan) Co. Ltd., Digital Lighting Co. Limited, Digital Lighting Holdings Limited, Dongguan Cooper Electronics Co. Ltd., Dongguan Fu Li An Electronics Co. Ltd., Dongguan Wiring Devices Electronics Co. Ltd., E. Begerow, E.A. Pedersen Co., EIC Holding GP I, EIC Holding GP II, EIC Holding GP III, EIC Holding GP IV, EIC Holding I LLC, EIC Holding II LLC, EIC Holding III LLC, EIC Holding IV LLC, EIC Holding V LLC, EIC Holding VI LLC, ETN Asia International Limited, ETN Holding 1 Limited, ETN Holding 2 Limited, ETN Holding 3 Limited, EX Innovations Limited, Eaton (China) Investments Co. Ltd., Eaton Aeroquip, Eaton Aerospace LLC, Eaton Ann Arbor LLC, Eaton Asia Investments Corporation, Eaton Automation G.m.b.H, Eaton Automation Holding G.m.b.H., Eaton Automotive Components Spolka z.o.o., Eaton Automotive Spolka z.o.o., Eaton Automotive Systems Spolka z.o.o., Eaton B.V., Eaton C.V., Eaton CHB LLC, Eaton Capital Unlimited Co., Eaton Controls (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Eaton Controls (UK) Limited, Eaton Controls S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Corporation, Eaton ETN Offshore Company, Eaton ETN Offshore II Company, Eaton Electric, Eaton Electric & Engineering Services Limited, Eaton Electric (Japan) Ltd., Eaton Electric (South Africa) Pty Ltd., Eaton Electric (Thailand) Ltd., Eaton Electric AS, Eaton Electric ApS, Eaton Electric Company Ltd., Eaton Electric G.m.b.H., Eaton Electric Holdings LLC, Eaton Electric Limited, Eaton Electric Manufacturing Middle East LLC, Eaton Electric S.I.A., Eaton Electric S.a.r.l., Eaton Electric S.r.l., Eaton Electric SPRL, Eaton Electric Sales Ltd., Eaton Electric Spolka z.o.o., Eaton Electric d.o.o., Eaton Electric s.r.o., Eaton Electric s.r.o. (Slovak Republic), Eaton Electrical (Zhongshan) Co. Ltd., Eaton Electrical Equipment Co. Ltd., Eaton Electrical IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton Electrical Ltd., Eaton Electrical Products Limited, Eaton Electrical S.A., Eaton Electrical S.A. (Venezuela), Eaton Electrical Systems Limited, Eaton Electro Productie S.r.l., Eaton Elektrik Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Eaton Elektrotechnika s.r.o., Eaton Energy Solutions Inc., Eaton Enterprises (Hungary) Kft., Eaton Enterprises Limited, Eaton Enterprises S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton FZE, Eaton Filtration, Eaton Filtration (Denmark) ApS, Eaton Filtration (Italy) S.r.l., Eaton Filtration (Poland) Sp. z.o.o., Eaton Filtration (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Filtration BVBA, Eaton Finance (Ireland) Limited, Eaton Finance S.a.r.l., Eaton Fluid Power (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Fluid Power Limited, Eaton Fluid Power S.r.l., Eaton France Holding S.A.S., Eaton Germany G.m.b.H., Eaton GmbH & Co. KG, Eaton Holding (Austria) G.m.b.H., Eaton Holding (Netherlands) B.V., Eaton Holding (UK) II Limited, Eaton Holding G.m.b.H., Eaton Holding I B.V., Eaton Holding I Limited, Eaton Holding II LLC, Eaton Holding II Limited, Eaton Holding II S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding III B.V., Eaton Holding III Limited, Eaton Holding III S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding IV S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding IX S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding International LLC, Eaton Holding LLC, Eaton Holding Limited, Eaton Holding S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding SE & Co. KG, Eaton Holding SRL, Eaton Holding V B.V., Eaton Holding V S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding VI B.V., Eaton Holding VI S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding VII B.V., Eaton Holding VIII S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding X S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding XII B.V./S.a.r.l., Eaton Holec AB, Eaton Holec OY, Eaton Hydraulics (Luzhou) Co. Ltd., Eaton Hydraulics (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., Eaton Hydraulics (Proprietary) Limited, Eaton Hydraulics LLC, Eaton Hydraulics Systems (Jining) Co. Ltd., Eaton I Spolka z.o.o., Eaton II LP, Eaton III LP, Eaton IV LP, Eaton India Innovation Center LLP, Eaton Industrial Clutches and Brakes (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Industrial Corporation, Eaton Industrial IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton Industrial Systems Private Limited, Eaton Industries (Argentina) S.A., Eaton Industries (Austria) G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries (Belgium) BVBA, Eaton Industries (Canada) Company, Eaton Industries (Chile) S.p.A., Eaton Industries (Colombia) S.A.S., Eaton Industries (Egypt) LLC, Eaton Industries (England) Limited, Eaton Industries (France) S.A.S., Eaton Industries (Ireland) Ltimited, Eaton Industries (Israel) Ltd., Eaton Industries (Italy) S.r.l., Eaton Industries (Japan) Ltd., Eaton Industries (Jining) Co. Ltd, Eaton Industries (Korea) Limited, Eaton Industries (Luxembourg) B.V./S.a.r.l., Eaton Industries (Morocco) LLC, Eaton Industries (Netherlands) B.V., Eaton Industries (Philippines) LLC, Eaton Industries (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Industries (Spain) S.L., Eaton Industries (Thailand) Ltd., Eaton Industries (U.K.) Limited, Eaton Industries (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Eaton Industries Company, Eaton Industries EOOD, Eaton Industries G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries Holding G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries Holdings Ltd., Eaton Industries II G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries KFT, Eaton Industries LP, Eaton Industries Manufacturing G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries Panama S.A., Eaton Industries Pte. Ltd., Eaton Industries Pty. Ltd., Eaton Industries S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Industries SAC, Eaton Industries Sdn. Bhd., Eaton Industries s.r.o., Eaton International B.V., Eaton International Corporation, Eaton International Industries Nigeria Limited, Eaton Japan Co. Ltd., Eaton LLC, Eaton LP, Eaton Leasing Corporation, Eaton Ltda., Eaton MEDC Limited, Eaton Madeira SGPS Lda., Eaton Manufacturing G.m.b.H., Eaton Manufacturing II G.m.b.H., Eaton Manufacturing III G.m.b.H., Eaton Manufacturing LP, Eaton Middle East LLC, Eaton Moeller B.V., Eaton Moeller S.a.r.l., Eaton Phoenixtec MMPL Co. Ltd., Eaton Power Quality (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Power Quality AB, Eaton Power Quality Limited, Eaton Power Quality OY (Finland), Eaton Power Quality Private Limited, Eaton Power Quality S.A.S., Eaton Power Solution Ltda., Eaton Production International G.m.b.H., Eaton Protection Systems IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton S.A.S., Eaton S.r.l., Eaton SAMC (Shanghai) Aircraft Conveyance System, Eaton SE, Eaton Safety IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton Safety Limited, Eaton Senstar Automotive Fluid Connector (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Services S.a.r.l., Eaton Solutions S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Switzerland Holding I GmbH, Eaton Switzerland Holding II GmbH, Eaton Technologies (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Eaton Technologies G.m.b.H., Eaton Technologies IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton Technologies Private Limited, Eaton Technologies S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Technologies S.A., Eaton Trading Company S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Truck Components (Proprietary) Ltd., Eaton Truck Components S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Truck Components Spolka z.o.o., Eaton Truck and Bus Components (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton US Holdings Inc., Eaton Worldwide LLC, Eaton-Powerware, Electromanufacturas S de R.L. de C.V., Electrum Group Ltd., Elpro Technologies Pty. Limited, Ephesus Lighting, Ephesus Lighting Inc., FHF Bergbautechnik GmbH & Co. KG, FHF Funke+Huster Fernsig GmbH, FHF New World GmbH, Fast Eaton (Xi'an) Drivetrain Company Ltd., Fifth Light Technology Ltd., Funke+Huster (Tianjin) Electronics Co. Ltd., Funke+Huster GmbH, GeCma Components electronic GmbH, Georgetown Financial Services Ltd., Gitiesse Asia Pte. Ltd., Gitiesse S.r.l., Green Holding Company, Green Motion, Guangzhou Nittan Valve Co. Ltd., Hein Moeller Stiftung G.m.b.H., Hernis Scan System do Brasil Comercio E Servicos LTDA, Hernis Scan Systems - Asia Pte. Ltd., Hernis Scan Systems A/S, IE Power, Illumination Management Solutions Inc., Iluminacion Cooper de las Californias S de R.L. de C.V., Innovative Switchgear Solutions Inc, Institute for International Product Safety G.m.b.H., Integrated Hydraulics, Integrated Partial Discharge Diagnostics, Intelligent Switchgear Organization LLC, Internormen Filters Private Limited, Internormen Technology, Jeil Hydraulics, Kaicheng Funke+Huster (Tangshan) Mining Electrical Co. Ltd., Lian Zheng Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., MP Group SAS, MTL Instruments (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, MTL Instruments B.V., MTL Instruments GmbH, MTL Instruments LLC, MTL Instruments Private Limited, MTL Instruments SARL, MTL Italia Srl, MTL Partners II Inc., MTL Partners Inc., Marina Power and Lighting, Martek Power F SAS, Martek Power GmbH, Martek Power Limited, Martek Power Limited (UK), Martek Power S.A. de C.V., Martek Power SA, McGraw-Edison Development Corporation, Measurement Technology Limited, Menvier Overseas Holdings Limited, Micro Innovation Holding, Moeller Electric (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Moeller Electric Ltda., Moeller Electrical Equipment (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Moeller Holding Gmbh & Co. KG, Moeller Industria de electro-electronicos do Amazonas Ltda., Morestana, Nittan BVI Co. Ltd., Nittan Euro Tech Spolka z o.o., Nittan Global Tech Co. Ltd., Nittan Valve Co. Ltd., Norex AS, Ocean Technical Systems Limited, Oxalis Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Oxalis Group, Oxalis Group Limited, PKL LLC, PT. Eaton Industries, PT. Fluid Sciences Batam, PerkinElmer - aerospace division, Phoenixtec Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Phoenixtec International Corp., Phoenixtec Power, Pigozzi, Polaron Components Limited, Polimer Hortum Teknolojileri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Polimer Kaucuk Sanayi Ve Pazarlama, Polimer Kaucuk Sanayi ve Pazarlama A.S., Power Distribution, Pringle Electrical Manufacturing, Productos Eaton Livia S.L., Pulizzi Engineering, RTE Far East Corporation, RTK Instruments Limited, Riseson International Limited, Rizhao Yoosung Shinhwa Automobile Parts Co. Ltd., Rolec Comercial e Industrial, SOURIAU, Santak Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Santak Electronics Company Limited, Saturn Insurance Company Ltd., Scantronic Benelux B.V., Schreder-Hazemeyer, Scoremax Limited, Sefelec GmbH, Sefelec SAS, Semelec SAS, Senyuan International Holdings Limited, Senyuan International Investments Limited, Shinhwa Precision Co. Ltd., Shinhwa Takahashi Precision Co. Ltd., Silver Light International Limited, Silver Victory Hong Kong Limited, Standard Automation & Control LP, Sure Power Inc., TGM Automotiva, TT (Ireland) Acquisition Limited, Tai Ah Electrical Ltd., Taiwan Nittan Industrial Co. Ltd., Telkom Kenya, The MTL Instruments Group Limited, The Oxalis Protection Technology India Private Limited, Tractech, Tractech (Ireland) Limited, Tractech Industries (Ireland) Limted, Tripp Lite, Turlock B.V., Tuthill Coupling Group, U.S. Engine Valve Company, UPE Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Ultronics, Ultronics Nordic Sales AB, Ulusoy, Vickers International Inc., Vickers Systems Limited, Viking Electronics Inc., WPI-Boston Division Inc., Winner Hydraulics Ltd., Wireless Power and Communications AS, Wright Line, Wright Line Holding Inc., Wright Line LLC, and Zhenjiang Daqo Eaton Electrical Systems Co. Ltd.. Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy operates as a clinical stage drug discovery and development company in Finland. It has a pipeline of drug development projects focusing on acute trauma, cancer growth and spread, and inflammatory diseases. The company's lead product candidates are Traumakine, a recombinant human IFN beta-1a, which is in Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); and Clevegen, an immunotherapy candidate, designed to prevent tumor growth and metastasis that targets the tumor immune suppressor molecule; and D-ARDS, a diagnostic tool to estimate ARDS severity and to follow ARDS outcome. Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy has a collaboration with MediCity unit of Turku University Medical School. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Turku, Finland. Read More GlaxoSmithKline Plc is a healthcare company, which engages in the research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products. It operates through the following segments: Pharmaceuticals; Pharmaceuticals R&D; Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare. The Pharmaceuticals segment focuses on developing medicines in respiratory and infectious diseases, oncology, and immuno-inflammation. The Pharmaceuticals R&D segment focuses on science related to the immune system, the use of human genetics and advanced technologies, and is driven by the multiplier effect of Science x Technology x Culture. The Vaccines segment produces pediatric and adult vaccines to prevent a range of infectious diseases including, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella, polio, typhoid, influenza, and bacterial meningitis. The Consumer Healthcare segment develops and markets brands in the oral health, pain relief, respiratory, nutrition and gastro intestinal, and skin health categories. The company was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Middlesex, the United Kingdom. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft: 87 Leonard Development LLC, ABFS I Incorporated, ABS MB Ltd., Acacia (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Accounting Solutions Holding Company Inc, Alex. Brown Financial Services Incorporated, Alex. Brown Investments Incorporated, Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft mbH, Amber Investments S.a r.l., Ambidexter GmbH, Ambidexter GmbH i.L., Argent Incorporated, BHW - Gesellschaft fur Wohnungswirtschaft mbH, BHW Bausparkasse Aktiengesellschaft, BHW Holding GmbH, BHW Kreditservice GmbH, BNA Nominees Pty Limited, BT Globenet Nominees Limited, BTAS Cayman GP, BTD Nominees Pty Limited, Baincor Nominees Pty Limited, Bainpro Nominees Pty Ltd, Baldur Mortgages Limited, Bankers Trust Investments Limited, Barkly Investments Ltd., Bayan Delinquent Loan Recovery 1 (SPV-AMC) Inc, Bayan Delinquent Loan Recovery 1 (SPV-AMC) Inc., Berkshire Mortgage Finance, Betriebs-Center fur Banken AG, Biomass Holdings S.a r.l., Birch (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Blue Cork Inc, Blue Cork Inc., Borfield Sociedad Anonima, Breaking Wave DB Limited, Cape Acquisition Corp., CapeSuccess Inc., CapeSuccess LLC, Cardales UK Limited, Cardea Real Estate S.r.l., Career Blazers LLC, Career Blazers Management Company Inc, Career Blazers Management Company Inc., Career Blazers Personnel Services Inc, Career Blazers Personnel Services Inc., Career Blazers Personnel Services of Washington D.C. Inc. Washington D.C., Caribbean Resort Holdings Inc, Caribbean Resort Holdings Inc., Carpathian Investments Designated Activity Company, Cathay Advisory (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cathay Advisory (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cathay Asset Management Company Limited, Cathay Capital Company (No 2) Limited, Cedar (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Centennial River 2 Inc., Centennial River Corporation, Chapel Funding, Charlton (Delaware) Inc, China Recovery Fund LLC, China Recovery Fund LLC, Cinda - DB NPL Securitization Trust 2003-1, City Leasing (Thameside) Limited, City Leasing Limited, Consumo S.p.A., Consumo Srl in Liquidazione, Cyrus J. Lawrence Capital Holdings Inc., Cyrus J. Lawrence Capital Holdings Inc., D B Investments (GB) Limited, D&M Turnaround Partners Godo Kaisha, D.B. International Delaware Inc., D.B. International Delaware Inc., DAHOC (UK) Limited (in members' voluntary liquidation), DAHOC Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, DB (Barbados) SRL, DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Asing) Sdn. Bhd., DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Tempatan) Sendirian Berhad, DB (Pacific) Limited, DB (Pacific) Limited New York, DB (Pacific) Limited New York, DB Abalone LLC, DB Alex. Brown Holdings Incorporated, DB Alps Corporation, DB Aotearoa Investments Limited, DB Asia Pacific Holdings Limited (in voluntary liquidation), DB Asset Finance I S.a r.l., DB Asset Finance II S.a r.l., DB Aster II LLC, DB Aster III LLC, DB Aster Inc., DB Aster LLC, DB Beteiligungs-Holding GmbH, DB Boracay LLC, DB Capital Investments Sarl, DB Capital Markets (Deutschland) GmbH, DB Capital Partners Inc., DB Capital Partners Inc., DB Cartera de Inmuebles 1 S.A.U., DB Cartera de Inmuebles 1 S.A.U., DB Chestnut Holdings Limited, DB Commodity Services LLC, DB Consorzio S. Cons. a r. l., DB Corporate Advisory (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., DB Covered Bond S.r.l., DB Credit Investments S.a r.l., DB Delaware Holdings (Europe) Limited, DB Direkt GmbH, DB Elara LLC, DB Energy Commodities Limited (in members' voluntary liquidation), DB Energy Trading LLC, DB Enfield Infrastructure Holdings Limited, DB Equipment Leasing Inc., DB Equipment Leasing Inc., DB Equity Limited, DB Finance (Delaware) LLC, DB Finance (Delaware) LLC, DB Finance International GmbH, DB Ganymede 2006 L.P., DB Global Markets Multi-Strategy Fund I Ltd., DB Global Technology Inc., DB Global Technology Inc., DB Global Technology SRL, DB Group Services (UK) Limited, DB HR Solutions GmbH, DB Holding Fundo de Investimento Multimercado Investimento no Exterior Credito Privado, DB Holdings (New York) Inc., DB Holdings (New York) Inc., DB Holdings (South America) Limited, DB IROC Leasing Corp., DB Immobilienfonds 1 Wieland KG, DB Immobilienfonds 2 KG i.L., DB Immobilienfonds 4 KG i.L., DB Immobilienfonds 5 Wieland KG, DB Impact Investment (GP) Limited, DB Impact Investment Fund I L.P., DB Impact Investment Fund I L.P., DB Industrial Holdings Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, DB Industrial Holdings GmbH, DB Intermezzo LLC, DB International (Asia) Limited, DB International Investments Limited, DB International Trust (Singapore) Limited, DB Investment Managers Inc., DB Investment Managers Inc., DB Investment Partners Inc., DB Investment Partners Inc., DB Investment Resources (US) Corporation, DB Investment Resources Holdings Corp., DB Investment Services GmbH, DB Io LP, DB Litigation Fee LLC, DB London (Investor Services) Nominees Limited, DB Management Support GmbH, DB Managers LLC, DB Municipal Holdings LLC, DB Nexus American Investments (UK) Limited (in members'voluntary liquidation), DB Nexus Investments (UK) Limited (in members' voluntary liquidation), DB Nominees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB Nominees (Singapore) Pte Ltd, DB Omega BTV S.C.S., DB Omega Holdings LLC, DB Omega Ltd., DB Omega S.C.S., DB Operaciones y Servicios Interactivos Agrupacion de Interes Economico, DB Overseas Finance Delaware Inc., DB Overseas Finance Delaware Inc., DB Overseas Holdings Limited, DB PWM, DB Portfolio Southwest Inc., DB Print GmbH, DB Privat- und Firmenkundenbank AG, DB Private Clients Corp., DB Private Wealth Mortgage Ltd., DB RC Holdings LLC, DB Re S.A., DB Service Centre Limited, DB Service Uruguay S.A., DB Services Americas Inc., DB Services Americas Inc., DB Servizi Amministrativi S.r.l., DB Strategic Advisors Inc., DB Strategic Advisors Inc., DB Structured Derivative Products LLC, DB Structured Derivative Products LLC, DB Structured Finance 1 Designated Activity Company, DB Structured Finance 2 Designated Activity Company, DB Structured Holdings Luxembourg S.a r.l., DB Structured Products Inc., DB Structured Products Inc., DB Trustee Services Limited, DB Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB U.S. Financial Markets Holding Corporation, DB UK Bank Limited, DB UK Holdings Limited, DB UK PCAM Holdings Limited, DB USA Core Corporation, DB USA Corporation, DB Valoren S.a r.l., DB Value S.a r.l., DB VersicherungsManager GmbH, DB Vita S.A., DBAB Wall Street LLC, DBAH Capital LLC, DBAH Capital LLC, DBCIBZ1, DBCIBZ2, DBFIC Inc., DBFIC Inc., DBNZ Overseas Investments (No.1) Limited, DBOI Global Services (UK) Limited, DBOI Global Services Private Limited, DBR Investments Co. Limited, DBRE Global Real Estate Management IA Ltd., DBRE Global Real Estate Management IB Ltd., DBRE Global Real Estate Management IB Ltd., DBRE Global Real Estate Management US IB L.L.C., DBRMS4, DBRMSGP1, DBUK PCAM Limited, DBUKH No. 2 Limited, DBUSBZ1 LLC, DBUSBZ1 LLC, DBUSBZ2 S.a r.l., DBUSBZ2 S.a r.l., DBX Advisors LLC, DBX ETF Trust, DBX Strategic Advisors LLC, DBO Vermogensverwertung GmbH, DEBEKO Immobilien GmbH & Co Grundbesitz OHG, DEE Deutsche Erneuerbare Energien GmbH, DEUFRAN Beteiligungs GmbH, DEUKONA Versicherungs-Vermittlungs-GmbH, DEUTSCHE BANK A.S., DG China Clean Tech Partners, DI Deutsche Immobilien Treuhandgesellschaft mbH, DIB-Consult Deutsche Immobilien- und BeteiligungsBeratungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., DISCA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, DNU Nominees Pty Limited, DSL Portfolio GmbH & Co. KG, DSL Portfolio Verwaltungs GmbH, DTS Nominees Pty Limited, DWS Alternatives France, DWS Alternatives Global Limited, DWS Alternatives GmbH, DWS Asset Management (Korea) Company Limited, DWS Beteiligungs GmbH, DWS CH AG, DWS Distributors Inc., DWS Distributors Inc., DWS Far Eastern Investments Limited, DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA, DWS Group Services UK Limited, DWS Grundbesitz GmbH, DWS International GmbH, DWS Investment GmbH, DWS Investment Management Americas Inc., DWS Investment Management Americas Inc., DWS Investment S.A., DWS Investments Australia Limited, DWS Investments Hong Kong Limited, DWS Investments Japan Limited, DWS Investments Shanghai Limited, DWS Investments Singapore Limited, DWS Investments UK Limited, DWS Management GmbH, DWS Real Estate GmbH, DWS Service Company, DWS Trust Company, DWS USA Corporation, De Heng Asset Management Company Limited, De Meng Innovative (Beijing) Consulting Company Limited, DeAM Infrastructure Limited, Deloraine Spain S.L., Delowrezham de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Deposit Solutions, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Capital Holdings New Zealand, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Foreign Investments New Zealand, Deutsche (Mauritius) Limited Port, Deutsche (New Munster) Holdings New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Access Investments Limited, Deutsche Aeolia Power Production Societe Anonyme, Deutsche Alt-A Securities Inc., Deutsche Alt-A Securities Inc., Deutsche Alternative Asset Management (France) SAS, Deutsche Alternative Asset Management (UK) Limited, Deutsche Asia Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd, Deutsche Asset Management (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Asset Management (Japan) Limited, Deutsche Asset Management (Korea) Company Limited, Deutsche Asset Management S.A., Deutsche Asset Management S.G.I.I.C. S.A., Deutsche Australia Limited, Deutsche Bank (Cayman) Limited, Deutsche Bank (Chile), Deutsche Bank (China) Co. Ltd., Deutsche Bank (China) Co. Ltd., Deutsche Bank (Malaysia) Berhad, Deutsche Bank (Suisse) SA, Deutsche Bank (Uruguay) Sociedad Anonima Institucion Financiera Externa, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Bank Americas Holding Corp., Deutsche Bank Bauspar-Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Bank Capital Finance LLC I, Deutsche Bank Capital Finance Trust I, Deutsche Bank Europe GmbH, Deutsche Bank Financial Company, Deutsche Bank Holdings Inc., Deutsche Bank Holdings Inc., Deutsche Bank Insurance Agency Incorporated, Deutsche Bank Insurance Agency of Delaware, Deutsche Bank International Limited, Deutsche Bank Investments (Guernsey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. - Fiduciary Deposits, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. - Fiduciary Note Programme, Deutsche Bank Mutui S.p.A., Deutsche Bank Mexico S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple, Deutsche Bank Mexico S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company Los, Deutsche Bank Nominees (Guernsey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Nominees (Jersey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Polska Spolka Akcyjna, Deutsche Bank Representative Office Nigeria Limited, Deutsche Bank S.A. - Banco Alemao, Deutsche Bank S.A. - Banco Alemao Sao, Deutsche Bank SPEARs/LIFERs Series DBE-8011 Trust, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Limited, Deutsche Bank Services (Jersey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Sociedad Anonima Espanola, Deutsche Bank Sociedad Anonima Espanola, Deutsche Bank Societa per Azioni, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Delaware, Deutsche Bank Trust Company National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Company National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Corporation, Deutsche CIB Centre Private Limited, Deutsche Capital Finance (2000) Limited, Deutsche Capital Hong Kong Limited, Deutsche Capital Management Limited, Deutsche Capital Markets Australia Limited, Deutsche Capital Partners China Limited, Deutsche Cayman Ltd., Deutsche Colombia S.A.S., Deutsche Custody N.V., Deutsche Domus New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Equities India Private Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 1 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 2 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 3 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 4 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Foras New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Immobilien-Leasing mit beschrankter Haftung, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Immobilien-Leasing mit beschrankterHaftung, Deutsche Global Markets Limited, Deutsche Group Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Deutsche Group Services Pty Limited, Deutsche Grundbesitz Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Deutsche Grundbesitz Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., Deutsche Grundbesitz-Anlagegesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Deutsche Holdings (BTI) Limited, Deutsche Holdings (Grand Duchy), Deutsche Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Deutsche Holdings (Malta) Ltd., Deutsche Holdings Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 3 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 4 Limited, Deutsche Immobilien Leasing GmbH, Deutsche India Holdings Private Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services (Ireland) Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services Limited, Deutsche International Custodial Services Limited, Deutsche Inversiones Dos S.A., Deutsche Inversiones Limitada, Deutsche Investments (Netherlands) N.V., Deutsche Investments India Private Limited, Deutsche Investor Services Private Limited, Deutsche Knowledge Services Pte. Ltd., Deutsche Leasing New York Corp., Deutsche Mandatos S.A., Deutsche Master Funding Corporation, Deutsche Mexico Holdings S.a r.l., Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group Limited, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group Public Limited Company, Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation, Deutsche Mortgage Securities Inc., Deutsche Mortgage Securities Inc., Deutsche Nederland N.V., Deutsche New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Nominees Limited, Deutsche Oppenheim Family Office AG, Deutsche Overseas Issuance New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Postbank, Deutsche Postbank Finance Center Objekt GmbH, Deutsche Postbank Funding LLC I, Deutsche Postbank Funding LLC II, Deutsche Postbank Funding LLC III, Deutsche Private Asset Management Limited, Deutsche Securities (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Securities (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities (SA) (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities Asia Limited, Deutsche Securities Australia Limited, Deutsche Securities Inc., Deutsche Securities Israel Ltd., Deutsche Securities Korea Co., Deutsche Securities Mauritius Limited, Deutsche Securities Menkul Degerler A.S., Deutsche Securities S.A., Deutsche Securities S.A. de C.V. Casa de Bolsa, Deutsche Securities S.A. de C.V. Casa de Bolsa, Deutsche Securities Saudi Arabia, Deutsche Securities SpA, Deutsche Securities Venezuela S.A., Deutsche Securitisation Australia Pty Limited, Deutsche Services Polska Sp. z o.o., Deutsche StiftungsTrust GmbH, Deutsche Strategic Investment Holdings Yugen Kaisha, Deutsche Trust Company Limited Japan, Deutsche Trustee Company Limited, Deutsche Trustee Services (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Trustees Malaysia Berhad, Deutsche Wealth Management S.G.I.I.C. S.A., Deutsches Institut fur Altersvorsorge GmbH, Durian (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., EC EUROPA IMMOBILIEN FONDS NR. 3 GmbH & CO. KG i.I., Elba Finance GmbH, Elizabethan Holdings Limited, Elizabethan Management Limited, Emerald Asset Repackaging Designated Activity Company, Erste Frankfurter Hoist GmbH, European Value Added I (Alternate G.P.) LLP, Exinor SA, FARAMIR Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs GmbH, FRANKFURT CONSULT GmbH, Fiduciaria Sant' Andrea S.r.L., Finanzberatungsgesellschaft mbH der Deutschen Bank, Franz Urbig- und Oscar Schlitter-Stiftung Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-037, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-039, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-040, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-041, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-043, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-044, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-047, Funfte SAB Treuhand und Verwaltung GmbH & Co. Suhl "Rimbachzentrum" KG, G Finance Holding Corp., G.O. IB-US Management L.L.C., G918 Corp., GAC-HEL Inc., GWC-GAC Corp., Galene S.a r.l., Gemini Technology Services Inc., German American Capital, German American Capital Corporation, Gladyr Spain S.L., Global Markets Fundo de Investimento Multimercado, Global Markets III Fundo de Investimento Multimercado - Credito, Greenwood Properties Corp., Grundstucksgesellschaft Frankfurt Bockenheimer Landstrae GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Kerpen-Sindorf Vogelrutherfeld GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Leipzig Petersstrae GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Wiesbaden Luisenstrae/Kirchgasse GbR, HTB Spezial GmbH & Co. KG, Hollandsche Bank-Unie, IOS Finance EFC S.A., ISTRON Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs-GmbH, IVAF I Manager S.a r.l., IVAF I Manager S.a r.l., Immobilienfonds Buro-Center Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben I GbR, Immobilienfonds Buro-Center Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben II GbR, Immobilienfonds Mietwohnhauser Quadrath-Ichendorf GbR, Immobilienfonds Wohn- und Geschaftshaus Koln-Blumenberg V GbR, J R Nominees (Pty) Ltd, Joint Stock Company Deutsche Bank DBU, Jyogashima Godo Kaisha, KEBA Gesellschaft fur interne Services mbH, Kidson Pte Ltd, Konsul Inkasso GmbH, Kradavimd UK Lease Holdings Limited, LA Water Holdings Limited, LAWL Pte. Ltd., Latitude Australia Secured Personal Loans Trust, Leasing Verwaltungsgesellschaft Waltersdorf mbH, Leonardo III Initial GP Limited, Lindsell Finance Limited, London Industrial Leasing Limited, MEF I Manager S. a r.l., MEF I Manager S. a r.l., MHL Reinsurance Ltd., MIT Holdings Inc., MIT Holdings Inc., MPP Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Maher Terminals Holdings (Toronto) Limited, Morgan Grenfell & Company, MortgageIT, MortgageIT Inc., MortgageIT Inc., MortgageIT Securities Corp., Motion Picture Productions One GmbH & Co. KG, NCW Holding Inc., Navegator - SGFTC S.A., Navegator - SGFTC S.A., New 87 Leonard LLC, Nordwestdeutscher Wohnungsbautrager Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, OOO "Deutsche Bank TechCentre", OOO "Deutsche Bank", OPB Verwaltungs- und Beteiligungs-GmbH, OPB Verwaltungs- und Treuhand GmbH, OPB-Holding GmbH, OPB-Nona GmbH, OPB-Oktava GmbH, OPB-Quarta GmbH, OPB-Quinta GmbH, OPB-Septima GmbH, OPPENHEIM Capital Advisory GmbH, OPPENHEIM Flottenfonds V GmbH & Co. KG, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Manager GmbH, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, OPS Nominees Pty Limited, OVT Trust 1 GmbH, OVV Beteiligungs GmbH, Opal Funds (Ireland) Public Limited Company, PADUS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, PARTS Funding LLC., PB Factoring GmbH, PB Firmenkunden AG, PB International S.A., PB Spezial-Investmentaktiengesellschaft mit Teilgesellschaftsvermogen, PBC Banking Services GmbH, PCC Services GmbH der Deutschen Bank, PT Deutsche Sekuritas Indonesia, PT. Deutsche Verdhana Sekuritas Indonesia, Pan Australian Nominees Pty Ltd, Peruda Leasing Limited, Plantation Bay Inc., Plantation Bay Inc., Postbank Akademie und Service GmbH, Postbank Beteiligungen GmbH, Postbank Direkt GmbH, Postbank Filialvertrieb AG, Postbank Finanzberatung AG, Postbank Immobilien GmbH, Postbank Immobilien und Baumanagement GmbH, Postbank Immobilien und Baumanagement GmbH & Co. Objekt Leipzig KG, Postbank Leasing GmbH, Postbank Service GmbH, Postbank Systems AG, QR Tower 2 LLC, Quantiguous, R.B.M. Nominees Pty Ltd, REO Properties Corporation, RREEF, RREEF America L.L.C., RREEF China REIT Management Limited, RREEF European Value Added I (G.P.) Limited, RREEF Fund Holding Co., RREEF India Advisors Private Limited, RREEF Management L.L.C., RTS Nominees Pty Limited, Reference Capital Investments Limited, RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., Route 28 Receivables LLC, Route 28 Receivables LLC, SAB Real Estate Verwaltungs GmbH, SAGITA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SAPIO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SCUDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SEDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SENA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Kamenz KG, SIFA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SOLIDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SP Mortgage Trust, SPINO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SPV I Sociedad Anonima Cerrada, SPV II Sociedad Anonima Cerrada, STATOR Heizkraftwerk Frankfurt (Oder) Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Sal. Oppenheim, Sal. Oppenheim Alternative Investments GmbH, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. AG & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Beteiligungs GmbH, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Komplementar AG, Sechste Salomon Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Sechste Salomon Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., Service Company Four Limited, Sharps SP I LLC, Singer Island Tower Suite LLC, Somkid Immobiliare S.r.l., Stelvio Immobiliare S.r.l., Structured Finance Americas LLC, Structured Finance Americas LLC, Swabia 1. Vermogensbesitz-GmbH, Suddeutsche Vermogensverwaltung Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, TAKIR Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TELO Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, TEMATIS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., TERRUS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., TESATUR Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Halle I KG i.L., TESATUR Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Nordhausen I KG i.L., TOSSA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TRIPLA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TRS Aria LLC, TRS Leda LLC, TRS Maple II LTD, TRS Oak II LTD, TRS SVCO LLC, TRS Scorpio LLC, TRS Tupelo II LTD, TRS Venor LLC, TRS Walnut II LTD, Tagus - Sociedade de Titularizacao de Creditos S.A., Tasfiye Halinde Deutsche Securities Menkul Degerler A.S., Tempurrite Leasing Limited, Thai Asset Enforcement and Recovery Asset Management Company Limited, Tianjin Deutsche AM Fund Management Co. Ltd., Treuinvest Service GmbH, Triplereason Limited, UKE Beteiligungs-GmbH, UKE Grundstucksgesellschaft mbH, UKE s.r.o., Ullmann - Esch Grundstucksgesellschaft Kirchnerstrae GbR, Ullmann - Esch Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Disternich GbR, Ullmann Ullmann Krockow Krockow Esch GbR, VCJ Lease S.a r.l., Vesta Real Estate S.r.l., VOB-ZVD Processing GmbH, WEPLA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, WEPLABeteiligungsgesellschaftmbH, Wealthspur Investment Ltd., Whale Holdings S.a r.l., World Trading (Delaware) Inc., World Trading(Delaware)Inc., Zumirez Drive LLC, db PBC, and norisbank GmbH. Westpac Banking Corp. engages in the provision of banking and financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Bank, Business Bank, BT Financial Group (Australia), Westpac Institutional Bank, Westpac New Zealand and Group Businesses. The Consumer Bank segment covers consumer banking products and services under the Westpac, St. George, BankSA, Bank of Melbourne and RAMS brands. The Business Bank segment involves in sales and customer service of small-to-medium enterprise, commercial and agribusiness customers under the Westpac, St.George, Bank of Melbourne and BankSA brands. The BT Financial Group (Australia) segment manages wealth and insurance division. The Westpac Institutional Bank segment delivers a range of financial services to commercial, corporate, institutional, and government customers. The Westpac New Zealand segment comprises sales and service of banking, wealth, and insurance products for consumer, business, and institutional customers. The Group Businesses segment treasury which is responsible for the management of the Group's balance sheet, group technology which includes functions for the Australian businesses, and core support which covers Read More 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. The following companies are subsidiares of Roper Technologies: 3089554 Nova Scotia ULC, AC Analytical Controls B.V., AC Analytical Controls Holding B.V., AC Analytical Controls Services B.V., Acumen PM LLC, Aderant Canada Company, Aderant Company, Aderant Holdings Inc., Aderant International Holdings Inc., Aderant Legal (UK) Limited, Aderant Legal Holdings (AUS) Pty Ltd, Aderant Legal Holdings (NZ) ULC, Aderant Legal Holdings Inc., Aderant North America Inc., Aderant Parent Holdings Inc., Advanced Sensors Limited, Alpha Holdings of Delaware I LLC, Alpha Holdings of Delaware II LLC, Alpha Technologies B.V., Alpha Technologies GmbH, Alpha Technologies Japan LLC, Alpha Technologies Services LLC, Alpha Technologies U.K., Alpha Technologies s.r.o., Alpha Trust Corporation, Alpha UK Holdings LLC, Amot Controls Corporation, Amot Controls GmbH, Amot/Metrix Investment Company Inc., Amphire Solutions Inc., Amtech Systems (Hong Kong) Limited, Amtech Systems LLC, Amtech World Corporation, Aplifi Inc., Ascension Technology Corporation, Assureweb Limited, Atlantic Health Partners Inc., Avitru LLC, Axium Holdco Inc., C/S Solutions Inc., CBORD Holdings Corp., CIVCO Medical Solutions B.V., Centurion Research Solutions LLC, Civco Holding Inc., Civco Medical Instruments Co. Inc., CliniSys Group, CliniSys Group Limited, Clinisys Scotland Limited, Clinisys Solutions Limited, Cointec Ingenieros y Consultores S.L., Compressor Controls (Beijing) Corporation Ltd., Compressor Controls Corporation B.V., Compressor Controls Corporation Middle East, Compressor Controls Corporation S.r.l., Compressor Controls LLC, Compressor Controls Mauritius Ltd., Compressor Controls Pty Ltd., Compressor Controls Saudi Arabia LLC, ConstructConnect, ConstructConnect Canada Inc., ConstructConnect Inc., Cornell Pump Company, DAT Solutions LLC, DATSolutions Private Limited, DCMH Group Holdings Inc., DCMH Group Holdings LLC, DCMH Holdings Inc., DI Acquisition Subsidiary Inc., DI Dutch Holdings LLC, DI Hong Kong Limited, Dash I Inc., Data Innovations, Data Innovations Canada Ltd., Data Innovations Cooperatief U.A., Data Innovations Europe S.A., Data Innovations LLC, Data Innovations Latin America Ltda, Dawning Technologies LLC, Deltek, Deltek Ajera Inc., Deltek Asia Pacific (HK) Limited, Deltek Australia Pty Ltd., Deltek Danmark A/S, Deltek France SAS, Deltek GB Limited, Deltek GmbH, Deltek Inc., Deltek Nederland B.V., Deltek Netherlands B.V., Deltek Norge AS, Deltek Sverige AB, Deltek Systems (Canada) Inc., Deltek Systems (Colorado) Inc., Deltek Systems (Philippines) Ltd., Deltek WST LLC, Dominion I Inc., Dynamic Instruments Inc., Dynisco Enterprises GmbH, Dynisco Enterprises LLC, Dynisco Europe GmbH, Dynisco Holding GmbH, Dynisco Hong Kong Holdings Limited, Dynisco Instruments LLC, Dynisco Instruments S.a.r.l., Dynisco LLC, Dynisco Parent Inc., Dynisco S.r.l., Dynisco Viatran LLC, Dynisco Viatran (M) Sdn Bhd, Dynisco-Viatran Instrument Sdn Bhd, FMS Purchasing & Services Inc., FSI Holdings Inc., FTI Flow Technology Inc., Fluid Metering Inc., Foodlink Holdings Inc., Foodlink IT India Private Limited, Foundry, Foundry Visionmongers (Ireland) Limited, GeneInsight Inc., Getloaded Corporation, HRsmart Canada Inc., HRsmart Czech Republic, HRsmart France SAS, HRsmart Germany GmbH, HRsmart Inc., HRsmart International, HRsmart International Holdings LLC, HRsmart Mexico, HRsmart SA (Pty) Ltd., HRsmart Talent Management Solutions Europe Limited, HRsmart Ventures LLC, Handshake Software Inc., Hansco Automatisering B.V., Hansen Technologies Corporation, Harbour Holding Corp., Hardy Process Solutions, Horizon Software International LLC, INPUT Inc., IPA Acquisition Subsidiary Inc., ISL Finance SAS, ISL Holding SAS, ISL Scientifique de Laboratorie - ISL S.A.S., IT Canada Holdings LLC, Innovative Product Achievements LLC, Inovonics Corporation, Instill Corporation, IntelliTrans Limited, Intellitrans Canada Ltd., Intellitrans LLC, Intellitrans Sweden AB, Job Access LTDA, K/S Roper Holding, K/S Roper Investments, Laser App Inc., Link Logistics Holding LLC, Loadlink Technologies Corporation, Logitech Limited, MED Professional Services LLC, MEDTEC Inc., MHA Long Term Care Network Inc., MHA Long Term Care Services Inc., MIPS Austria GesmbH, MIPS CZ s.r.o, MIPS Deutschland GmbH, MIPS France Sarl, MIPS Nederland B.V., MIPS Schweiz AG, MIPS Software Iberica SL, MPR Readers Inc., Managed Health Care Associates Inc., Marumoto Struers K.K., Medical Information Professional Systems NV, Medina Acquisition LLC, Metrix Instrument Co. L.P., NDI Europe GmbH, Navigator Group Purchasing Inc., Neptune Technology Group (Canada) Co., Neptune Technology Group Inc., Neptune Technology Group Mexico S.de R.L. de C.V., Neptune Technology Group Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Neptune Technology Group Services Inc., Nippon Roper K.K., Northern Digital Inc., Off-Campus Advantage LLC, Omega Legal Systems Inc., PAC (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PAC Denmark ApS, PAC GmbH, PAC Instruments (Thailand) Company Limited, PAC Instruments Asia PTE. Ltd., PB Bidco Limited, PB Holdco Limited, PB Midco Limited, PB Topco Limited, PGP UK Limited, Petroleum Analyzer Company L.P., Phase Analyzer Company Ltd., PowerPlan, PowerPlan Canada ULC, PowerPlan Holdings Inc., PowerPlan Inc., PowerPlan Intermediate Holdings Inc., PowerPlan Operations ANZ Pty Ltd, PowerPlan Operations Ltd., Project Diamond Intermediate Holdings Corporation, Project Torque Intermediate Holdings Inc., Project Viking Holdings Inc., Project Viking Intermediate LLC, QSC 1208 Limited, QSC 1209 Limited, RF IDeas, RF IDeas Inc., RI Marketing India Private Limited, RIL Holding Limited, RMT Inc., RT Merger Sub Inc., Rebate Tracking Group LLC, Resonant Software Inc., Roda Deaco Valve Inc., Roper Acquisitions Holdings Inc., Roper Brasil Comercio E Promocao De Productos E Servicos LTDA, Roper Canada Holdings LP, Roper Canada UK Limited, Roper Denmark UK Limited, Roper EUR Pte. Ltd., Roper Engineering s.r.o., Roper Europe GmbH, Roper GM Denmark Holdings ApS, Roper Germany GmbH, Roper Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Roper Holdings LLC, Roper Holdings Limited, Roper IH LLC, Roper Industrial Products Investment Company, Roper Industries Denmark ApS, Roper Industries Deutschland GmbH, Roper Industries Inc., Roper Industries Limited, Roper Industries Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Roper Industries Mauritius Ltd., Roper Industries UK Limited, Roper International Holding Inc., Roper International Holding Limited, Roper International Holding SCS, Roper LLC, Roper Luxembourg Finance S.a.r.l., Roper Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Roper Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Roper Middle East Ltd., Roper NL1 UK Limited, Roper NL2 UK Limited, Roper Pte. Ltd., Roper Pump Company, Roper Scientific B.V., Roper Scientific SAS, Roper Scot LP, Roper Southeast Asia LLC, Roper Swiss Finance GmbH, Roper UK Investments Limited, Roper UK Ltd., Roper US Finance I LLC, Roper US Finance II LLC, Roper-Mex L.P., Ropintassco 1 LLC, Ropintassco 2 LLC, Ropintassco 3 LLC, Ropintassco 4 LLC, Ropintassco 5 LLC, Ropintassco 6 LLC, Ropintassco 7 LLC, Ropintassco Holdings L.P., SHP Group Holdings Inc., SIRA LLC, Shanghai Roper Industries Trading Co. Ltd., Sinmed Holding International B.V., Societe de Distribution de Logiciels Medicaux, SoftWriters Inc., Softwriters Holdings, Softwriters Holdings Inc., Sohnar Pty Ltd, Star Purchasing Services LLC, Strata Acquisition Subsidiary Inc., Strata Decision Technology LLC, Strata Parallel II Inc., Strategic Healthcare Programs Blocker 2 Inc., Strategic Healthcare Programs Blocker LLC, Strategic Healthcare Programs Holdings LLC, Strategic Healthcare Programs L.L.C., Struers (Shanghai) International Trading Ltd., Struers A/S, Struers GmbH, Struers Inc., Struers Limited, Struers SAS, Student Advantage LLC, Sunquest Europe Limited, Sunquest Holdings Inc., Sunquest Information Systems (Europe) Limited, Sunquest Information Systems (India) Private Limited, Sunquest Information Systems (International) Limited, Sunquest Information Systems Inc., Sunquest Information Systems Pty Ltd, TLP Holdings LLC, Technolog Group Limited, Technolog Holdings Ltd., Technolog Limited, Technolog SARL, The CBORD Group Inc., The Foundry Bidco Limited, The Foundry Bidco No.2 Limited, The Foundry Holdco Limited, The Foundry Holdings Limited, The Foundry Intermediate Holdings Limited, The Foundry Midco 3 Limited, The Foundry Midco No 1 Limited, The Foundry Midco No 2 Limited, The Foundry Topco Limited, The Foundry Topco No.2 Limited, The Foundry USCo Inc., The Foundry Visionmongers Ltd., The Tidewater Healthcare Shared Services Group Inc., The Washington Management Group Inc., Torque Acquisition Holdco Inc., Transcore Atlantic Inc., Transcore CNUS Inc., Transcore Holdings Inc., Transcore ITS LLC, Transcore LP, Transcore Nova Scotia Corporation, Transcore Partners LLC, Trinity Integrated Systems Limited, UHF Purchasing Services LLC, Union Square Software (International) Limited, Union Square Software Inc., Union Square Software Limited, Union Square Software Pty, Uson L.P., Uson Limited, Utilitec Limited, Utilitec Services Limited, Utility Data Services Limited, Verathon Holdings (Delaware) Inc., Verathon Inc., Verathon Medical (Australia) Pty Limited, Verathon Medical (Canada) ULC, Verathon Medical (Europe) B.V., Verathon Medical (France) SARL, Verathon Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Verathon Medical (Japan) K.K., Verathon Medical (UK) Ltd., Vertafore, Vertafore Canada Inc., Vertafore Inc., Vertafore India Private Limited, Viastar Services LP, Viatran Corporation, Walter Herzog GmbH, WorkBook APAC Ltd., Workbook Software A/S, Zetec (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zetec France, Zetec Inc., Zetec Korea Inc., Zetec Rental LLC, Zetec Services Inc., iPipeline, iPipeline (TCP) Limited, iPipeline Canada Inc, iPipeline Co. Ltd., iPipeline Holdings Inc, iPipeline Inc, iPipeline Limited, iSqFt Holdings Inc., iSqFt Parent Corporation, iSqFt Sub Inc., iTradeNetwork Inc., and mySBX Corporation. The Boeing Co. is an aerospace company, which engages in the manufacture of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space and Security; Global Services; and Boeing Capital. The Commercial Airplanes segment includes the development, production, and market of commercial jet aircraft and provides fleet support services, principally to the commercial airline industry worldwide. The Defense, Space and Security segment refers to the research, development, production and modification of manned and unmanned military aircraft and weapons systems for global strike, including fighter and combat rotorcraft aircraft and missile systems; global mobility, including tanker, rotorcraft and tilt-rotor aircraft; and airborne surveillance and reconnaissance, including command and control, battle management and airborne anti-submarine aircraft. The Global Services segment provides services to commercial and defense customers. The Boeing Capital segment seeks to ensure that Boeing customers have the financing they need to buy and take delivery of their Boeing product and manages overall financing exposure. T Read More iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF's stock was trading at $123.88 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, LQD stock has increased by 8.6% and is now trading at $134.52. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. 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. Orchids Paper Products Company manufactures and sells tissue products for at-home and away from home markets in the United States. Its products include paper towels, bathroom tissues, and paper napkins. The company offers its products under the Orchids Supreme, Clean Scents, Tackle, Colortex, My Size, Velvet, and Big Mopper brands; and licensed brands, such as Virtue, Truly Green, Golden Gate Paper, and Big Quality. It also sells parent rolls to other converters. The company serves discount retailers, grocery stores, grocery wholesalers and cooperatives, convenience stores, janitorial supply stores, and stores in the food service market. Orchids Paper Products Company was founded in 1976 and is based in Pryor, Oklahoma. Read More Mediaset S.p.A. primarily operates in the television (TV) industry in Italy and Spain. The company engages in the content production and third-party acquisition; content distribution in linear and non-linear, and free-to-air and pay-per-view content distribution activities with a range of content centered on football, cinema, TV series, documentaries, and children's channels. It is also involved in the radio broadcasting activates; and other activities, including radio stations, movie production and distribution, teleshopping, publishing activities, licensing and merchandising, and foreign advertising concessions. The company is based in Milan, Italy. Read More There is not enough analysis data for BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust. 4.5 Community Rank Outperform Votes BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust has received 124 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust has received 61 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust has received 67.03% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe BDJ will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe BDJ will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next The following companies are subsidiares of Quest Diagnostics: AmeriPath, AmeriPath Cincinnati Inc. (OH), AmeriPath Cleveland Inc. (OH), AmeriPath Consolidated Labs Inc. (FL), AmeriPath Florida LLC (DE), AmeriPath Hospital Services Florida LLC (DE), AmeriPath Inc. (DE), AmeriPath Indianapolis PC (IN), AmeriPath Kentucky Inc. (KY), AmeriPath Lubbock 5.01(A) Corporation (TX), AmeriPath New York LLC (DE), AmeriPath Texas Inc. (DE), AmeriPath Tucson Inc. (AZ), American Medical Laboratories, American Medical Laboratories Incorporated (DE), Associated Clinical Laboratories L.P. (PA), Associated Clinical Laboratories of Pennsylvania L.L.C. (PA), Athena Diagnostics, Athena Diagnostics Inc. (DE), Blueprint Genetics, Blueprint Genetics FZ-LLC (UAE), Blueprint Genetics Inc. (DE), Blueprint Genetics Oy (Finland), California Laboratory Associates, Cape Cod Healthcare - Business, Celera, ClearPoint Diagnostic, Clearpoint Diagnostic Laboratories LLC (TX), Cleveland HeartLab, Cleveland HeartLab Inc. (DE), Clinical Laboratory Partners, Colorado Pathology Consultants P.C. (CO), ConVerge Diagnostic Services, Consolidated DermPath Inc. (DE), DFW 5.01(a) Corporation (TX), DGXWMT JV LLC (DE), Dermatopathology of Wisconsin S.C. (WI), Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma LLC (OK), Diagnostic Pathology Services Inc. (OK), Diagnostic Reference Services Inc. (MD), ExamOne Canada Inc. (New Brunswick), ExamOne LLC (DE), ExamOne World Wide Inc. (PA), ExamOne World Wide of NJ Inc. (NJ), Focus Diagnostics, HemoCue, Hoffman M.D. Associated Pathologists Chartered (NV), Institute for Dermatopathology Inc. (PA), Isabella Street Urban Renewal LLC (NJ), Kailash B. Sharma M.D. Inc. (GA), Kilpatrick Pathology P.A. (NC), LabOne, LabOne LLC (MO), LabOne of Ohio Inc. (DE), Laboratorio de Analisis Biomedicos S.A. (Mexico), Lancet Labs, MACL, Med Fusion LLC (TX), Med fusion, MedPlus, Mid America Clinical Laboratories LLC (IN), Nomad Massachusetts Inc. (MA), Nuclear Medicine and Pathology Associates (GA), Ocmulgee Medical Pathology Association Inc. (GA), Pathology Building Partnership (MD) (gen. ptnrshp.), PeaceHealth Laboratories, PhenoPath Laboratories, PhenoPath Laboratories PLLC (WA), Q Squared Solutions Holdings LLC (DE), Q Squared Solutions Holdings Limited (UK), Quest Diagnostics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. (China), Quest Diagnostics Brasil Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics Clinical Laboratories, Quest Diagnostics Clinical Laboratories Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics Domestic Holder LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics HTAS India Private Limited (India), Quest Diagnostics Health & Wellness LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Holdings Incorporated (DE), Quest Diagnostics Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (MD), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NV), Quest Diagnostics India Private Limited (India), Quest Diagnostics Infectious Disease Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics International Holdings Limited (UK), Quest Diagnostics International LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Investments LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Ireland Limited (Ireland), Quest Diagnostics LLC (CT), Quest Diagnostics LLC (IL), Quest Diagnostics LLC (MA), Quest Diagnostics Massachusetts LLC (MA), Quest Diagnostics Mexico Holding Company Trust (Mexico), Quest Diagnostics Mexico S de RL de CV (Mexico), Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute (CA), Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute Inc. (VA), Quest Diagnostics Receivables Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics Subsidiary Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics TB LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Terracotta LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Venture LLC (PA), Quest Diagnostics Ventures LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics do Brasil Ltda. (Brazil), Quest Diagnostics of Pennsylvania Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics of Puerto Rico Inc. (PR), Quest HealthConnect LLC (CA), ReproSource, Reprosource Fertility Diagnostics Inc. (MA), Solstas Lab Partners, Sonora Quest Laboratories LLC (AZ), Specialty Laboratories Inc. (CA), Summit Health, UMass Memorial Medical Center - Anatomic Pathology Outreach Laboratory Business, Unilab Corporation, and Unilab Corporation (DE). Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. is a supplier of precision instruments and services. The firm manufactures weighing instruments for use in laboratory, industrial, packaging, logistics, and food retailing applications. It also manufactures several related analytical instruments and provides automated chemistry solutions used in drug and chemical compound discovery and development; and also, metal detection and other end-of-line inspection systems used in production and packaging and provides solutions for use in certain process analytics applications. Its operations are conducted by the following segments: U. S. Operations, Swiss Operations, Western European Operations, Chinese Operations and Other. The U.S. Operations segment represents certain of the company's marketing and producing organizations located in the United States. The Swiss Operations segment includes marketing and producing organizations located in Switzerland, as well as extensive R&D operations that are responsible for the development, production, and marketing of precision instruments, including weighing, analytical, and measurement technologies for use in a variety of industrial and laboratory applications. Th Read More 1 Wall Street research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust in the last twelve months. There are currently 1 hold rating for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street research analysts is that investors should "hold" SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust stock. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in SPY, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares. View analyst ratings for SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust or view top-rated stocks. The following companies are subsidiares of Eli Lilly and: 1096401 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, ARMO BioSciences Inc, ARMO Bioscience, Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Alnara Pharmaceuticals, Alnara Pharmaceuticals Inc., Andean Technical Operations Center, Applied Molecular Evolution Inc., AurKa Pharma, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals Inc., ChemGen, CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, CoLucid Pharmaceuticals Inc., Dermira, Devices for Vascular Intervention(DVI), Disarm Therapeutics, Dista Ilac Ticaret Ltd. Sti., Dista S.A., Dista-Produtos Quimicos & Farmaceuticos LDA, ELCO Dominicana SRL, ELCO Insurance Company Limited, ELCO Management Inc., ELCO for Trade and Marketing S.A.E., ELGO Insurance Company Limited, Elanco Animal Health Ireland Limited, Elanco Switzerland Holding Sarl, Eli Lilly (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Eli Lilly (Philippines) Incorporated, Eli Lilly (S.A.) (Proprietary) Limited, Eli Lilly (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Eli Lilly (Suisse) S.A., Eli Lilly Asia Inc., Eli Lilly Asia Pacific SSC Sdn Bhd, Eli Lilly Australia Pty. Limited, Eli Lilly B-H d.o.o., Eli Lilly Benelux S.A., Eli Lilly Bienes y Servicios S de RL de CV, Eli Lilly CR s.r.o., Eli Lilly Canada Inc., Eli Lilly Cork Limited, Eli Lilly Danmark A/S, Eli Lilly Egypt for Trading, Eli Lilly European Clinical Trial Services SA, Eli Lilly Export S.A., Eli Lilly Finance S.A., Eli Lilly Ges.m.b.H., Eli Lilly Group Limited, Eli Lilly Holdings Ltd., Eli Lilly Hrvatska d.o.o., Eli Lilly Interamerica Inc., Eli Lilly Interamerica Inc. y Compania Limitada, Eli Lilly International Corporation, Eli Lilly Ireland Holdings Limited, Eli Lilly Israel Ltd., Eli Lilly Italia S.p.A., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Eli Lilly Kinsale Limited, Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., Eli Lilly Nigeria Ltd., Eli Lilly Norge A.S., Eli Lilly Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., Eli Lilly Polska Sp.z.o.o. (Ltd.), Eli Lilly Regional Operations GmbH, Eli Lilly Romania SRL, Eli Lilly S.A., Eli Lilly Saudi Arabia Limited, Eli Lilly Services Inc, Eli Lilly Services India Private Limited, Eli Lilly Slovakia s.r.o., Eli Lilly Sweden AB, Eli Lilly Vostok S.A. Geneva, Eli Lilly and Company, Eli Lilly and Company (India) Pvt. Ltd., Eli Lilly and Company (Ireland) Limited, Eli Lilly and Company (N.Z.) Limited, Eli Lilly and Company (Taiwan) Inc., Eli Lilly and Company Limited, Eli Lilly de Centro America S.A., Eli Lilly do Brasil Limitada, Eli Lilly farmacevtska druzba d.o.o., Eli Lilly y Compania de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Eli Lilly y Compania de Venezuela S.A., Glycostasis Inc, Greenfield-Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Heart Rhythm Technologies Inc, Hybritech, Hypnion, ICOS Corporation, ImClone GmbH, ImClone LLC, ImClone Systems Holdings Inc., ImClone Systems LLC, Imclone Systems, Irisfarma S.A., Ivy Animal Health, Kinsale Financial Services Unlimited Company, Lilly (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd, Lilly Asia Ventures Fund I L.P., Lilly Asia Ventures Fund II L.P., Lilly Asian Ventures Fund III L.P., Lilly Cayman Holdings, Lilly China Research and Development Co. Ltd., Lilly Deutschland GmbH, Lilly France S.A.S., Lilly Global Nederland Holdings B.V., Lilly Global Services Inc., Lilly Holding GmbH, Lilly Holdings B.V., Lilly Hungaria KFT, Lilly Japan Financing G.K., Lilly Korea Ltd., Lilly Nederland Finance B.V., Lilly Nederland Finance B.V. - GCC, Lilly Nederland Holding B.V., Lilly Pharma Ltd., Lilly Portugal - Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Lilly S.A., Lilly Suzhou Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Lilly Trading Co. LTD, Lilly USA LLC, Lilly Ventures Fund I LLC, Lilly del Caribe Inc., Lilly ilac ticaret limited sirketi, Lohmann Animal Health, Loxo Oncology, Lylly Centre for Clinical Pharmacology PTE. LTD., Novartis Animal Health, OY Eli Lilly Finland AB, Origin Medsystems, PT. Eli Lilly Indonesia, Pacific Biotech, Pharmaserve-Lilly S.A.C.I., Physio-Control, SGX Pharmaceuticals, SGX Pharmaceuticals Inc, Spaly Bioquimica S.A., UAB Eli Lilly Lietuva, Valquifarma S.A., and Vital Pharma Productos Farmaceuticos. 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. Read More UniCredit S.p.A. operates as a commercial bank. The company operates through Commercial Banking Italy, Commercial Banking Germany, Commercial Banking Austria, Corporate & Investment Banking, and Central Eastern Europe segments. It offers retail, corporate, and private banking services; investment services; leasing and factoring services; transactional, investment, and credit products and services; insurance solutions; and structured financing, hedging, and treasury solutions. The company also provides equity and debt capital market, corporate finance and advisory, syndication, and leverage buy-out services; and project and commodity, real estate, structured trade and export, and acquisition finance services, as well as wealth management services. In addition, it is involved in the structuring of products, such as FX, rates, equities, and credit products; and provision of cash management, e-banking, supply chain finance, global securities, and mobile banking services, as well as trade finance products. The company operates in Italy, Other European countries, America, Asia, and internationally. The company was formerly known as Unicredito Italiano S.p.A and changed its name to UniCredit S.p.A. UniCredit S.p.A. was founded in 1870 and is headquartered in Milan, Italy. Read More UniFirst Corp. engages in the design, manufacture, personalization, rental, cleaning, delivery, and sale of a range of uniforms and protective clothing. It operates through following segments: U.S. Rental and Cleaning, Canadian Rental and Cleaning, Manufacturing, Specialty Garments Rental and Cleaning, First Aid, and Corporate. The U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning segment purchases, rents, cleans, delivers and sells uniforms and protective clothing and non-garment items in the United States and Canada. The Manufacturing segment designs and manufactures uniforms and non-garment items primarily for the purpose of providing these goods to the U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment. The Specialty Garments Rental and Cleaning segment sells specialty garments and non-garment items primarily for nuclear and cleanroom applications and provides cleanroom cleaning services at limited customer locations. The First Aid segment provides first aid cabinet services and other safety supplies as well as maintains wholesale distribution and pill packaging operations. The Corporate segment consists of costs associated with its distribution center, sales and marketing, informatio Read More NGL Energy Partners LP is an energy partnership that transports, treats, recycles, and disposes of produced water generated as part of the energy production process. It also transports, stores, markets, and provides other logistics services for crude oil and liquid hydrocarbons. The firm operates through the following segments: Water Solutions, Crude Oil Logistics, Liquids Logistics, and Corporate & Other. The Water Solutions segment transports, treats, recycles, and disposes of produced and flow back water generated from oil and natural gas production. The Crude Oil Logistics segment purchases crude oil from producers and marketers and transports it to refineries or for resale at pipeline injection stations, storage terminals, barge loading facilities, rail facilities, refineries, and other trade hubs. The Liquids Logistics segment conducts supply operations for natural gas liquids, refined petroleum products and biodiesel to a range of commercial, retail and industrial customers across the United States and Canada. The Corporate & Other segment include corporate expenses that are not allocated to the reportable segments. The company was founded in 1940 and is headquartered in Tul Read More Yext, Inc. is an emerging growth company engages in software development. It offers a cloud-based digital knowledge platform, which allows businesses manage their digital knowledge in the cloud such as financial information, resources and performance of these resources on a consolidated basis and sync it to other application such as Apple Maps, Bing, Cortana, Facebook, Google, Google Maps, Instagram, Siri and Yelp. It offers the Yext Knowledge Engine package on subscription basis, which has an access to Listings, Pages, Reviews and other features. The Listing feature provides customers with control over their digital presence, including their location and other related attributes published on the used third-party applications. The Pages feature allows customers to establish landing pages on their own websites and to manage digital content on those sites, including calls to action. The Reviews presence enables customers to encourage and facilitate reviews from end consumers. The company was founded by Howard Lerman, Brent Metz, and Brian Distelburger in 2006 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Read More Nigerias finance minister has resigned after a government panel confirmed allegations that she had submitted a forged National Youth Service certificate of exemption to the government before being appointed to her position. Femi Adesina, a spokesman for President Muhammadu Buhari, said in a statement late Friday that the president has accepted the resignation of British-born Kemi Adeosun, who has been under pressure to step down after a local news website alleged that she had forged the certificate. The president thanked the minister for her service to the nation and wished her well in her future pursuits, Adesina said in a terse statement, hours after the rumor broke of Adeosuns resignation. Minister of State Budget and National Planning Zainab Ahmed has been asked to oversee the key ministry, according to the statement. A certificate from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is required for anyone entering or being appointed to a civil service or public service career. In her letter of resignation to the president, Adeosun said the exemption certificate had been received from a third party she thought had validly obtained it from the NYSC, a post-civil war initiative to unite the deeply fractured country. The mandatory national service scheme was established in the 1970s shortly after Nigeria fought a bloody civil war that lasted three years. The war followed attempts by the ethnic Igbo to secede from Nigeria, but it was crushed by federal troops. Established as a way of healing the nations wounds, it involves posting college graduates of the countrys south to the north and vice versa to deepen national cohesion. It is mandatory for all college graduates below the age of 30, while fresh graduates above the age threshold are required to get an exemption certificate instead. Having lived and studied in the United Kingdom until she was 34 years old when she first visited Nigeria, Adeosun insisted that she had never set out to deceive the country but had been misled into submitting a forged certificate. Having never worked in the NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to or familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine, she said. 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. A Lebanese woman who was jailed in Egypt over a video judged to be offensive returned to Lebanon Friday, the state-run National News Agency reported.Upon her arrival, she thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the Egyptian interior minister and the head of the Al-Qanater womens prison where she was held because "they treated her well," she was quoted as saying. She said the experience had taught her a valuable lesson, according to the NNA. She stressed that she did not mean to insult "all" Egyptians in the video she posted on her private Facebook page that lead to her arrest. In the video, Mazbouh described Egyptians as the dirtiest people on earth, after recalling alleged incidents of harassment. The video was later shared publicly by an anonymous user. Bazzi said that Mazbouh, 24, had previously undergone a surgical procedure, which helped the Egyptian court give her leniency in her sentence. Mazbouh's father has told Egyptian media that his daughter was 12 years old when she had the surgery. Confident of the opposition Labor Partys support, recently-installed Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week reinforced his governments determination to proceed with the extraordinary trial of an intelligence officer and his lawyer for exposing an Australian espionage operation against the tiny state of East Timor. Morrison told reporters he believes justice will be served by the prosecution, which began with a preliminary hearing in a Canberra court on Wednesday. Labors shadow attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, declared his partys backing, telling the Guardian: The charges are serious and it is important to let the judicial process take its course. Despite protests in East Timor and Australia demanding that the charges be dropped, and criticism by lawyers and human rights groups, the government is prosecuting a former senior Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) official, identified only as Witness K, and his lawyer Bernard Collaery. The pair face up to two years jail each for revealing that ASIS surreptitiously bugged East Timors cabinet meeting room in 2004, under the cover of an aid operation. The spying was part of a campaign of intimidation by the Howard Liberal-National government to secure Australian imperialisms hold over the lucrative oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea. Morrisons intervention, and Labors backing, underscore how much is at stake in this case for the entire Australian political establishment and military-intelligence apparatus. There is a bipartisan attempt to cover up and protect the operations of ASIS and the rest of the Australian intelligence agencies. The Timor incident is not just a damning exposure of the filthy, anti-democratic activities of the agencies and successive Australian governments on behalf of the corporate ruling class, especially throughout the Asia-Pacific region, as well as domestically. The Australian spy services are an integral component of the US-led Five Eyes global network that conducts mass surveillance on the worlds population and monitors other governments whose interests could potentially conflict with those of Washington. East Timor, a half island in the sprawling Indonesian archipelago, is of vital concern to the Australian capitalist elite, particularly because of the large Timor Sea oil and gas fields. It is also a key strategic location in the intensifying US economic and military drive to combat the rise of China and reassert the hegemony over the region that Washington established via its victory in World War II. There were protests outside Wednesdays hearing, addressed by independent MP Andrew Wilkie, a former intelligence officer himself, Greens senator Nick McKim and Centre Alliance MP Rebekah Sharkie. Both Wilkie and McKim argued that Attorney General Christian Porter, a senior Morrison government minister, could stop the case at any time, using powers that exists in section 71 of the federal Judiciary Act. The speakers also called on Labor to pledge to drop the charges if it took office, but Dreyfus flatly rebuked that plea. Inside the court, the governments lawyers confirmed that they were seeking to have most of the trial conducted behind closed doors, supposedly to prevent the disclosure of national security information. Barristers for Witness K and Collaery told the judge they wanted the case conducted as much in open court as possible, but were still negotiating with the prosecutors to reach an agreement on the handling of secret material. The hearing was adjourned until October 29. A veil of secrecy has been imposed on the case. Porter has refused to explain to parliament why the prosecution was launched in June, nearly four years after the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police raided the homes and offices of Witness K and his lawyer to seize material relating to the 2004 bugging operation. In early July, Centre Alliance Senator Rex Patrick asked a series of questions on notice in the Senate. He asked, among other things, when prosecutors began preparing the case, and on whose instructions, and whether senior intelligence and defence figures were informed of the plan. Porters response, two months later, was contemptuous of any right of the public to examine, let alone challenge, the machinations of the political and security apparatus. As the matter is before the court, it would not be appropriate to comment further, he said, adding it is the long-standing practice of the Australian government not to comment on the operation of our intelligence agencies. Witness K and his lawyer are also prohibited from speaking publicly about the case. Two weeks before the prosecution began, government lawyers wrote a warning letter to Collaery about the pending publication of his book on Australias covert spy operation against East Timor. The letter also said Collaery had agreed to a secrecy undertaking so he could legally represent Witness K. According to earlier comments by Collaery, he and his client do not consider themselves whistleblowers. The lawyer, a former Liberal Party attorney-general in the Australian Capital Territory, has described Witness K as a patriot who raised criticisms of the ASIS bugging mission through the proper channels. Collaerys comments indicate that his concerns, and those of the members of parliament opposing the prosecution, is to repair the damage done to ASISs credibility by the Howard governments use of it against East Timor. Among other things, the illegal bugging operation further exposed the fraud of Canberras claims to have intervened militarily in East Timor in 1999 for the benefit of the long-impoverished Timorese people. Whatever the motivations of Witness K and his lawyer, however, there is no doubt that the working class must demand the dropping of the charges. The people who should be on trial are members of the Howard government, such as its foreign minister, Alexander Downer, who was in charge of ASIS in 2004. Alongside them should be members of the subsequent Labor government, which authorised the raids on Witness K and Collaery in 2013. Labor also refused to renegotiate the 2006 treaty with East Timor, which was secured with the help of ASISs spying and retained the lions share of the oil and gas revenues for Australian imperialism and the conglomerates it favoured, including Shell, Woodside and ConocoPhillips. Earlier this year, the treaty covering the underwater boundary between Australia and East Timor was revised to give the appearance of allocating a fairer share of the energy reserves to the poor statelet. However, a new Timorese government, with former President Xanana Gusmao playing a leading role, is demanding that the oil and gas be piped to Timor for processing, not the northern Australian port of Darwin. Gusmao, who made a processing facility on Timors south coast a key plank in his election program, is reportedly exploring a bid to use $US5 billion of the countrys rapidly diminishing Petroleum Fund to buy ConocoPhillips stake in the Greater Sunrise gas and oil field in order to get a pipeline built to East Timor. Gusmao is also in talks with Chinese banks to fund such a processing facility, and made several trips to Beijing last year. These developments will only intensify the insistence of the security authorities in Washington and Canberra that the prosecution of Witness K and his lawyer continues, in order to shield the escalating activities of the Five Eyes network. The trial underway in Canberra is in keeping with the Morrison governments anti-democratic ban on US intelligence whistleblower Chelsea Manning entering the country, its refusal to come to the aid of WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange, an Australian citizen, and the recent passage of repressive foreign interference laws. These laws include sweeping provisions that will allow any intelligence agency whistleblowers, together with those who assist their disclosures, to be prosecuted on even more serious charges. The author also recommends: Australias foreign interference laws threaten whistleblowers and media freedom [9 July 2018] Australian government pursues prosecution of East Timor espionage whistleblower and lawyer [31 July 2018] In Thursdays Democratic Party primary election, the incumbent two-term governor Andrew Cuomo defeated actress Cynthia Nixon by 66 percent to 34 percent. The primaries are closed, meaning only registered Democrats could vote. There was a significant increase in voter turnout, from 500,940 in 2014 to 1,490,753 this year. Cuomo, the son of the late former Governor Mario Cuomo, is a conventional right-wing Democrat who has overseen massive budget cuts in social services and the pay and benefits of state workers. He bears political responsibility for the decaying Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the worlds largest public transit system, a constant source of frustration and physical danger for millions of passengers each day. Cuomo has sought to manufacture more left-sounding progressive credentials in the last few years by offering a variety of cosmetic policies such as a bogus program of free tuition to students at the State University of New York and the City University of New York. This has been combined with empty gestures, such as calls for fiscal support during photo ops in front of severely underfunded New York City public housing developments. Cuomo cast most of his campaign in the primary as an opposition to Donald Trump. Nixon was endorsed by the pseudo-left Democratic Socialists of America, which operates as a faction of the Democratic Party, after she praised the campaign of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who defeated incumbent long-time congressman Joseph Crowley in the Democratic primary in July for the 14th Congressional District in New York City. Nixons appeal was largely limited to a relatively narrow layer of the upper middle class in New York County (Manhattan) and Kings County (Brooklyn) and to some extent areas with populations of college students statewide. She campaigned on abolishing the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and proposed a single-payer medical insurance system. In the sole debate of the election, Nixon charged Cuomos administration with incompetence and corruption but said nothing about Cuomos subordination of the state government to the needs of the corporations and Wall Street. At no point in Nixons campaign did she address the vast and growing social inequality in the state, home to 93 billionaires, the largest number in the US after California, speak against the US war drive or call for the redistribution of the wealth of the corporate and financial elite. Cuomo had the backing of the dominant sections of the ruling class, raising over $25 million for his campaign, compared to Nixons approximately $2 million. Cuomo supporters also won the Democratic primary in two other statewide elections. Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul narrowly defeated New York City Councilor Jumaane Williams (a featured speaker at this years pseudo-left Left Forum). Fordham Law School professor Zephyr Teachout, Cuomos opponent in the 2014 primaries, was defeated by Brooklyn politician Letitia James in the race for the Democratic Party primary for attorney general. Both Williams and Teachout (as well as her opponent James) were endorsed by the Working Families Party, a largely ballot-line party that functions as a faction of the Democratic Party. The WFP, created by the trade union bureaucracy, this year split with Cuomo supporters. Williams was endorsed by the DSA and Bernie Sanders, and DSA member Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Teachout. Several of the supposed left Democrats also received backing and favorable coverage by the establishment media, with sections of the Democratic Party seeing their campaigns as useful in giving the right-wing party a progressive gloss. Both Williams and Teachout were endorsed by the New York Times and the Daily News. Six of the eight Democrats who had formed a faction in the State Senate (formerly known as the Independent Democratic Conference) that collaborated with Republicans were defeated by challengers, some of whom had support of the DSA, had a connection with Cuomo, or both. Cuomo himself had depended on this faction to blame for his own failure to implement supposedly progressive laws by the state legislature. Also winning the Democratic Party primary for State Senate on Thursday was Julia Salazar, a DSA member. Salazar is a dubious figure who until a few years ago held far right-wing, Christian fundamentalist and pro-Israel positions, which she has worked to cover up. She ran her campaign, backed heavily by the DSA-affiliated Jacobin magazine, almost entirely along the lines of her racial and religious identity, which was disputed in exposures by the media. The elections have been hailed by Democratic Party-aligned publications like Jacobin and In These Times, as well as the WFP, as marking a significant shift of the Democratic Party to the left. The center of gravity has shifted, and Andrew Cuomo will face a radically different Albany, WFP state director Bill Lipton declared. It is nothing of the sort. The role of Ocasio-Cortez, Nixon, Salazar, et al. is to try to bolster the credentials of the Democrats under conditions of mounting popular anger and hostility to the entire two-party system. The Democratic Party itself is moving sharply to the right, basing its criticism of the Trump administration in the midterm elections on its insufficiently aggressive actions against Russia and in the Middle East. In congressional races, it is running an unprecedented number of candidates drawn from the military-intelligence apparatus. The function of the pseudo-left-backed Democrats is not in conflict with the Democratic Party as a whole, but in conformity with it. Hurricane Florence continues to churn over North Carolina after making landfall Friday morning. As the storm slowly moved inland, it brought widespread flooding and power outages throughout the region. With an additional 15-20 inches of rain expected in the next day, the lives of untold thousands are at risk. Across the Carolinas, millions were unable to evacuate and have been left facing the perils of floodwaters, destructive winds and power outages, as overwhelmed first responders struggled to keep pace with the powerful storm. The storms impact has been compounded by the fact that it is impacting one of the countrys poorest regions. Once again, a natural disaster has exposed the totally inadequate state of public infrastructure in the United States. One year after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, killing more than 3,000 people, and Hurricane Harvey inundated Houston, no substantial preparations for mass evacuations or improvements to the countrys infrastructure have been made. The storm claimed at least five fatalities in North Carolina on Friday. A fallen tree killed a woman and her child inside their home in Wilmington. The child's father was injured and has been hospitalized. Another resident died after she suffered a heart attack and emergency crews were unable to reach her in time. A fourth man died after being electrocuted while plugging in a generator, and fifth was found dead after going outside to check on his dogs. The last time a major hurricane hit the state, Hurricane Matthew in 2016, there were 26 official fatalities. The greatest danger comes from the floodwaters brought by the storm surge and massive amounts of rain. As of Friday, the storm was reported to be moving at only five miles per hour. This has the effect of prolonging the storm's intensity, as hurricanes feed off the warm ocean waters. The faster the storm moves inland, the faster it will lose intensity and break up. Because this is an especially slow-moving storm system, it has the capacity to do far more damage than its Category One status indicates. The storm surge reached seven feet on Emerald Isle, North Carolina, and could climb as high as eleven feet in other parts of the state. Overall, there is expected to be more than 50 inches of rainfall in the coming days. FEMA issued a warning on Friday to residents who had not already evacuated, telling them to shelter in place. The agency has deployed 1,100 of its employees to North and South Carolina so far, along with 500 doctors and nurses and 7,100 members of the US Coast Guard. The National Guard from both states has also been activated. The US Army Corps of Engineers has been deployed to the area to assist in restoring power and to protect nuclear power plants. There are six nuclear power plants in the path of the storm. Approximately 20,000 people in North Carolina were in emergency shelters as of Friday, with an additional 5,500 in South Carolina. There are also an estimated 400 evacuees at shelters in Virginia. NPR reported that the influx of internal refugees from the storm in North Carolina is so great that shelters are running out of cots. Thus far, an estimated 686,000 people have lost power in North Carolina, a number that is sure to grow as the storm moves further inland. At least 80,000 have lost power in South Carolina. Crews of electrical linemen, brought in throughout the south to help in restoring power, will be unable to start repairing electrical infrastructure until the storm passes. The regions poor and more rural residents will face weeks, possibly longer, without electricity. Emergency responders rescued an estimated 300 residents in the coastal city of New Bern, North Carolina who became trapped in their attics or on their roofs when the flood waters rose unexpectedly fast. County officials estimate an additional 40 residents in that area still needed to be evacuated from their homes. The town's mayor, speaking to the media, said they had not experienced flooding like that since the 1950s. Sixty-two people were evacuated from the Triangle Motor Inn in Jacksonville, North Carolina after the hurricanes winds ripped off part of the roof at the motel. Firefighters responding to the scene found the entire structure to be unsafe, with some cinder blocks already crumbling. The evacuees were transferred to another shelter. The storm also has the potential to cause a widespread environmental catastrophe, as floodwaters will wash untold amounts of agricultural, municipal, and industrial waste into the state's water system. Many of those unable to evacuate, in addition to being poor, are also elderly. This creates additional obstacles to evacuation as older residents often have various medical conditions that need to be attended to, and oftentimes lack a reliable network of family and friends who might help them. The danger of death will continue for days after the storm, as power outages restrict access to needed medicines and equipment. Undocumented immigrants, who in the past have been threatened with detainment at shelters by state officials in Florida, are also particularly vulnerable. All the various local and national news offered blanket coverage of the storm. As usual various reporters could be seen wading through floodwaters, leaning into the tropical winds, and generally trying to sensationalize the catastrophe as much as possible. This is a yearly ritual, with the networks enjoying some of their highest ratings during natural disasters. Though most news anchors and weathermen express genuine sympathy and concern for the victims, the central question is always left unasked: Why does this keep happening? It has been one year since Hurricanes Maria, Harvey, and Irma killed thousands and dislocated millions. It has been over a decade since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. In the time that has elapsed since these catastrophes, there has been no significant action taken by the federal government to mitigate future disasters. The ruling class has proven incapable of taking the necessary measures to address global warming, which is fueling ever more powerful hurricane seasons. Instead of spending the necessary billions to finance new shelters, levees, and other storm infrastructure, the federal and state governments have left citizens to their own devices. Those who are homeowners might purchase flood insurance at grossly inflated rates, but this will not stop the floodwaters from turning them into refugees. The millions of renters, mobile home residents, and the homeless have only their own ingenuity and the charity of others to rely upon. In place of mobilizing all available trains, buses, and boats to evacuate the entire citizenry from the affected area and relocating them to decent temporary housing, the government instead opened the eastbound lanes of the highways to outgoing traffic, allowing those with the resources to flee while the poorest and most vulnerable citizens are left to seek shelter in overcrowded schools, hotels and churches. Finally, rather than expending the resources to completely rebuild the damaged areas, harden them against future destruction, and compensate those affected by the storm for their lost wages, destroyed homes, and psychological trauma, the government will instead deploy the corrupt, understaffed and inefficient FEMA bureaucracy to minimize the payouts victims of the storm will receive. The same day Florence made landfall in North Carolina also marked the tenth anniversary of the bankruptcy of the investment bank Lehman Brothers, the event which triggered the 2008 global financial meltdown and led to the impoverishment of hundreds of millions. In the subsequent decade, governments around the world, led by the US, pumped trillions of dollars into the banks to keep them afloat. This policy, supported by both Democrats and Republicans, has produced unprecedented wealth for the financial elite, while the wages and living conditions of workers around the world have stagnated or declined. The last decade has also seen the US spend hundreds of billions of dollars prosecuting its various wars around the world. It has occupied and waged wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Ukraine, all while spending further billions propping up dictatorships in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other US allies. Had only a fraction of the money the US spent to bail out the banks and pursue its wars been spent instead on improving storm infrastructure and preparedness, the thousands of people who have died in hurricanes over the past decade would still be alive today. This is an indisputable fact, and the lives lost so that the banks could be made whole stand as an indictment of the capitalist profit system. Thousands of residents across three Massachusetts communities were told not to return to their homes Friday morning after a sudden series of gas explosions and fires ravaged the area in the Merrimack Valley the evening before. The explosion left one dead and more than 20 injured, one critically. As many as 80 buildings were burned as terrified residents reported a blaze, an explosion, or the smell of gas. Fires lit up home after home as emergency responders attempted to extinguish them with hoses that were losing pressure from being overburdened. Firefighters were fighting multiple blazes at a time. Hundreds of public safety workers from Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire descended on the area Thursday evening. Andover police spokesman John Guilfoil said that in that town alone more than 200 firefighters were working at the peak of the crisis, along with 30 Andover police officers, 209 members of regional SWAT teams, and 13 State Police troopers. According to authorities, some 8,600 homes or businesses in the towns of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, north of Boston, were affected by an overpressurized gas line operated by Columbia Gas of Massachusetts. Stunned residents were told to immediately evacuate their homes, and most left with only the clothes on their backs, gathering up children and pets. Dazed residents left the area, some by foot, others by car. Those who had no nearby relatives were told to go to five shelters that were hastily opened, and about 400 people ended up staying in these shelters overnight. Family members used cell phones and social media to try to locate loved ones who had been at school or work when the blasts began just before 5 p.m. Electricity was also cut off to avoid igniting any gas. As night fell, local news helicopters recorded an eerie scene as the only light visible came from the headlights of vehicles jamming I-495 and emergency vehicles in the affected area that was cordoned off. As of Friday afternoon, some 18,000 National Grid electrical customers in the three communities were still without power. 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. News footage showed some houses reduced to rubble, reminiscent of a war zone. Killed was 18-year-old Leonel Rondon of Lawrence. Rondon had just gotten his license and was sitting in a car parked in the driveway with three friends when the house exploded. His friend Christian Caraballo told the Boston Globe, We heard a noise, then we felt it again and heard it. I seen the front of the house explode to the street. The walls of the house collapsed, then the chimney fell on the car, severely injuring Rondon, who died later at the hospital. His friends suffered lesser injuries. Lawrence, where Rondon lived, is a larger and far poorer city than the adjoining towns of Andover and North Andover. Lawrence was once a thriving mill town, attracting immigrants from around the world to work in its mills. With the decline of manufacturing in the 1950s, the city suffered a devastating economic decline. In 2016, the median household income was about $26,000, compared to the US average of $42,000. Columbia Gas technicians accompanied by firefighters, police or local officials began visiting every one of the 8,600 homes and businesses in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover affected by Friday nights events to shut off each gas meter and conduct a safety inspection. Residents can return to their homes only when their blocks are listed as safe on their city or towns web sites. Authorities say it will take days, not hours, for their inspections to be completed. Once residents are allowed to return to their homes, they are required to call the gas company to have their gas meters turned back on. While electricity may be restored within days to some homes, it may be weeks before gas service restored. Residents have received little to no information from Columbia Gas about why the explosions happened or when they can expect to return to their homes. The gas company dispatched representatives to answer questions, but repeatedly told angry residents that they had no answers. One woman asked whether it was safe to run a generator, and the Columbia rep said she didnt know. Milton Valencia of the Globe tweeted Friday: I am in No. Andover and Columbia gas reps just ran away from residents who were bombarding them with questions they didnt know the answers to. The rep told the residents that he would take your questions back to the company. Columbia Gas is part of NiSource, a utility company with 3.5 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers in seven states: Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The company has not given any explanation for Thursdays incident, saying only that they were investigating its cause. While Columbia Gas has been tight-lipped, Kurt Schwartz, the states head emergency management official, said at a Friday morning news conference that more than 8,000 gas meters were fed by distribution lines that were overpressurized. He said that the investigation would focus on the distribution system and the origin of the pressure. Experts indicate that overpressurization could be caused by someone opening a valve or a mechanical failure on a control valve. A press release posted Thursday on Columbia Gass website, before the explosions, announced work to upgrade natural gas lines and improve service, three ongoing projects in Lawrence, four in Andover, and two in North Andover. It is unclear whether these projects had any connection to Thursday nights events. In the months leading up to the incident, Columbia Gas sought to raise rates for consumers by $44.5 million, which they claimed was necessary in part to cover operating costs to comply with federal and state safety regulations that were causing a revenue deficiency. Columbia Gas agreed just last week to reduce the distribution rate increase for its 321,000 Massachusetts customers by about $11 million, to $33.2 million. A subsidiary of NiSource, Columbias parent company, was blamed by federal investigators for its role in a previous pipeline rupture in Sissonville, West Virginia The explosion and subsequent fire destroyed three homes, melted the siding on nearby houses nearby, and heavily damaged an interstate highway, according to federal reports. Whichever for-profit company sells gas in the Merrimack Valley or oversees the response to the explosions, the area is served by some of the countrys oldest and most leak-prone pipes. Columbia Gas has more miles of old, cast-iron gas mains than all but 15 utilities in the US, according to a USA Today analysis of federal safety data. The analysis shows that about every other day over the past decade, a gas leak in the US has destroyed property, hurt someone or killed someone. Since 2004, the most destructive explosions have killed at least 135 people. Because the energy conglomerates are not willing to pay the estimated $1 million per mile to replace these aging pipesunless customers pay to offset any drain on their profitscommunities such as those in the Merrimack Valley are sitting on virtual time bombs in the form of potentially deadly leaking gas pipes. As Canada and the United States enter the final stages of bitter negotiations over a revised North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the role of Canadas union bureaucracy as a key partner of Canadas big business Liberal government is becoming ever clearer. While stoking reactionary Canadian nationalism and boasting of their role as official government advisers during the NAFTA talks, leading union bureaucrats are pulling out all the stops to prevent an eruption of the class struggle. I cant think of any (previous) trade agreement, ever, where labour has played any sort of an active role, blustered Unifor President Jerry Dias in a CBC interview last week in which he boasted about the unions high-level access to government officials, including Liberal ministers. NAFTA has been a game-changer for the labour movement and how working class people are treated as it relates to trade. Apart from Dias thoroughly cynical invocation of the working class, upon whom he and his fellow union bureaucrats have for decades been imposing wage cuts and other givebacks at the behest of corporate management, the Unifor presidents comment contains a grain of truth. The game changer has been that the union bureaucracys long-standing corporatist alliance with the government and big business has dramatically expanded over the past year, with Dias and Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) head Hassan Yussuff accompanying the Liberal governments negotiating team to Washington and Mexico City. The CLC president is a member of the governments blue-ribbon NAFTA Advisory Council, while Dias and other bureaucrats are acting as unofficial advisors to Trudeau. Dias has also held meetings with Wilbur Ross, Trumps multi-millionaire Commerce Secretary. Dias has used his position as government partner to advocate virulent economic nationalism and protectionism, while at the same time boosting Trudeaus right-wing Liberal government as worker friendly. This began from the moment US President Donald Trump announced his intention to renegotiate NAFTA, a move hailed by Dias as offering an opportunity for workers to secure a more progressive trade deal. Summing up his pro-corporate and anti-working class position, Dias applauded the framework trade agreement that the US and Mexico reached last month. Continuing Unifors drive to divide workers along national lines, Dias gloated, There is no question that Mexico will lose some of the jobs that they have managed to take over the years. So, I think this is a positive development for Canada. The unions in the United States are playing an equally reactionary role. Under conditions in which Trump, in a desperate bid to offset US imperialisms protracted economic decline, has combined economic protectionism with an intensification of the ruling-class offensive on working people by means of a trillion-dollar tax handout to the corporate elite and super-rich, top union bureaucrats have praised his NAFTA strategy. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka declared in a statement released prior to a meeting with the US president last month that Trump had made progress. Washingtons embrace of protectionism, which has also seen it impose tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum products and threaten a 25 percent auto tariff, has thrown the Canadian ruling elite into crisis. Having for the last three-quarters of a century based the advancement of its global imperialist ambitions on its close strategic partnership with the US, Ottawa is deeply concerned that its economic and geostrategic interests will be hit hard by the surge in tensions with its neighbour to the south. Under these conditions, the ruling elite is preparing a vast escalation of the offensive against the working class so as to claw back the billions corporate Canada is threatened with losing due to trade war or reduced access to the US market in a renegotiated NAFTA pact. The Trudeau government has let it be known that its fall Fiscal Update will focus on measures to ensure Canadian competitiveness in the face of Trumps tax cuts. In other words, the Liberals are preparing another multi-billion dollar handout to big business through tax cuts and business subsidies, which will be paid for through further cuts to health care and other vital public services. Suppressing the class struggle In Ontario, right-wing populist Premier Doug Ford has vowed to counter US protectionism, by slashing corporate taxes, regulatory limits on big business, and worker rights. On Monday he gave a foretaste of the authoritarian methods he is planning to use to force through this hard-right agenda when he announced he was invoking the Canadian Constitutions notwithstanding clause to slash the number of Toronto city councilors by almost half. This reactionary provisionwhich has almost never before been invokedwill enable Fords Progressive Conservative government to annul an adverse court judgment and violate basic democratic rights guaranteed under the constitutions Charter of Rights and Freedoms,. Even more ominously, Ford has vowed he will if need be invoke the notwithstanding clause again, signaling that plans are well advanced to criminalize strikes and protests. It is in this context that the unions waving of the Maple Leaf must be understood. Their greatest fear is that, as the global capitalist crisis intensifies and workers bear the brunt of Trump and Trudeaus trade war measures, an independent movement of the working class in opposition to the pro-capitalist unions and the social order they defend could emerge. A prime example of this was provided by recent comments by Ontario Public Services and Employees Union President Smokey Thomas. Well aware that anger is approaching the boiling point among workers, Thomas inveighed against any talk of mass protests or strikes in his blog on the OPSEU website titled Steadiness, strength and discipline: a winning combination. With Ford having already announced plans to slash billions from public spending, imposed a hiring freeze on public servants, outlawed a strike of York University teaching assistants, and scapegoated refugees for the social crisis, Thomas preposterously hectored his members, I get ityour instinct may be telling you to fight. Were all strong labour activists, and I commend you for wanting to channel your concerns into actions [but we dont] even know what the Conservatives are going to do. Thomas went on to explain that his union has already begun collaborating with the government to impose the coming onslaught, adding, Were already engaged in dialogue with the new government, and Ive had a number of meetings with a host of new cabinet ministers. In other words, OPSEU has no intention of calling protests against the Ford government, let alone mobilizing the working class defeat the class war assault on public services and worker rights. Protectionism and war While the ruling class is preparing to offload the economic losses suffered by big business as a result of the rise of protectionism, Dias and his fellow union bureaucrats issue bogus statements portraying Trudeaus Liberals as the defenders of Canadian workers. Theyre not going to fold. Theyre not going to carve a bad deal just to appease the Trump administration, asserted Dias after the NAFTA talks failed to conclude in an agreement by Trumps self-imposed deadline of August 31. In April, following a vociferous union lobbying campaign calling for Trudeau to clamp down on unfair trade, the Liberals announced the creation of corporatist aluminum and steel trade monitoring committees, which include members from industry, the government, and the unions. One of the main tasks of such committees, stated Trudeau, would be to determine whether steel and aluminum products imported into Canada were coming from countries where the pricing was too low, a clear swipe at China. The Trudeau government also handed the USW and other unions the power to bring trade grievance cases before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal. Last month, Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced the opening of a consultation period to impose tariffs on seven different steel products mainly produced in Asia. The targeting of China, which the unions fully endorse, is aimed at convincing Trump to allow the Canadian bourgeoisie to operate inside his trade walls, as the Globe and Mail put it. By supporting Trumps trade war measures against Beijing, which go hand-in-hand with US preparations for a direct military clash with China, Canadas ruling elite hopes to diffuse the trade tensions with Washington and establish a North American protectionist bloc to assert Canadian and American imperialist interests the world over. The unions are fully on board with this aggressive militarist agenda. They have developed the closest ties with a federal Liberal government that is committed to hiking military spending by 70 percent by 2026 and that has expanded Canadas role in Washingtons principal military-strategic offensives, against Russia and China and in the oil-rich Middle East. These developments underscore the aptness of the appraisal the Socialist Equality Party made of the unions in our late 2017 statement on the program required to oppose Trudeau, Trump, and the growth of militarism. We wrote, The unions have repudiated all traditions of independent working class struggle, integrated themselves into management and tripartite union-government-company structures, and developed new sources of revenue giving them a direct stake in the exploitation of the working class Workers must beware: those who today wave Canadian and Quebec flags, inciting workers to align with their bosses against Mexican and Chinese workers, will on the morrow be the recruiting sergeants for war. The author also recommends Oppose Trudeau and Trump, the Canada-US alliance, and imperialist war! [4 Decembr 2017] The past week has seen a growing drumbeat of US threats against the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad and its Russian and Iranian allies that Washington and its NATO allies are preparing to launch a major military assault in response to the offensive begun by Damascus to reassert control over the northwestern province of Idlib. The Trump administration, which has twice carried out missile strikes on Syrian government targets on the pretext of responding to the alleged use of chemical weapons by government forces, is threatening to carry out significantly greater aggression this time around. While Washington and its allies have all issued repeated warnings about a supposedly imminent chemical weapons strike by Damascus, the Russian defense ministry has reported that it has intelligence that Western-backed rebels have brought quantities of chlorine into Idlib and are preparing to stage and film a bogus attack in order to provoke a US-led bombing campaign. US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley made it clear in an interview with Fox News this week that Washington would not rely on a fake chemical attack. Any offensive on the civilian people in Idlib was going to be dealt with, she said, warning Damascus, Tehran and Moscow, Dont test us again. Under these conditions, one of the most right-wing figures in the New York Times stable of opinion writers has issued an angry indictment of the Trump administration for failing to prosecute a direct military confrontation with Iran in Syria. The Trump administration has made clear that its top priority in the Middle East is to thwart Irans nuclear and regional ambitions. So why is it so reluctant to lift a finger against Tehrans most audacious gambit in Syria? demands the columnist, Bret Stephens, referring to Idlib. Stephens is an old hand at supporting and justifying US wars of aggression. In 2002-2003, his was one of the most vociferous voices in favor of an unprovoked war against Iraq. Writing for the Jerusalem Postwhere he became editorStephens published a fearmongering article warning that without a US invasion, an astonished world would wake up to the Arab worlds first nuclear bomb. This was despite ample evidence that Baghdads limited nuclear program had long since been dismantled and that the entire campaign over Iraqi weapons of mass destruction was phony propaganda used to drag the American people into a war based upon lies. While editor at the Jerusalem Post, Stephens led the right-wing Israeli newspaper in naming Paul Wolfowitz, the assistant defense secretary who was one of the main architects of the war, as its man of the year. It hailed him as the author of the criminal US preemptive war strategy that would underpin U.S. action against other rogue states, i.e., Libya, Syria and Iran. Despite the exposure of the Bush administrations WMD fraud, Stephens stuck to the propaganda narrative even a decade after the war, writing in the Wall Street Journal in 2013 that the self-evident charge that the Bush administration launched a war based upon lies was a libel and cheap slander. He claimed that the White House had based itself on testimony of U.N. inspectors like Hans Blix, itself a libel in that Blix had insisted that the Bush administration ignored his teams warnings that there was no evidence to justify a war. Stephens pulled up stakes at the Wall Street Journal, where he had become deputy editor, and moved to the Times after the election of Trump. He had been part of an anyone but Trump coterie of neocons and had announced that he would vote for Hillary Clinton, opposing the Republican candidate because of his failure to enunciate a sufficiently bellicose foreign policy, particularly toward Russia. He was brought onto the Times by the papers editorial page editor James Bennet, a state-connected figure whose brother is a right-wing Democratic senator from Colorado and whose father was a State Department official who headed the Agency for International Development (AID), an instrument for CIA provocations in countries around the world. Bennet wrote at the time that Stephens would bring a new perspective to bear on the news, along with a deep sense of moral purpose and adventure about our work. Such a glowing description for a right-wing warmonger. Stephens wants blood and he makes no bones about his main concern: US strategic interests. He demands that Washington ditch the chemical weapons pretext as its red line and instead answer any offensive in Idlib with full-scale war. If the Syrian government continues military operations to reestablish its control over Idlib, the US must destroy everything that remains of the Syrian Air Force and crater the runways Iran uses to supply its own forces in Syria. If Assad continues to move, his presidential palaces should be next. After that, Assad himself. By then he will have been fairly warned. This is by no means Stephens first time advocating assassination as an instrument of statecraft. In 2013, he demanded in the pages of the Wall Street Journal that, should the Obama administration decide to order a military strike against Syria, his main order of business must be to kill Bashar Assad. Also, Bashars brother and principal henchman, Maher. Also, everyone else in the Assad family with a claim on political power. That same year, he proposed a long list of attacks in a separate column, including sending in US ground forces. The Pentagon, he wrote, must disable the runways of Syrian air bases, including the international airport in Damascususe naval assets to impose a no-fly zone over western Syriasupply the Free Syrian Army with heavy military equipment, including armored personnel carriers and light tanks; and be prepared to seize and remove Syrias chemical weapons stockpile, even if it means putting boots (temporarily) on the ground. This time around, he writes: What the objective is not is to dictate Syrias future or solve its problems, much less get into the weeds of sorting out Idlibs bad rebels from the more moderate ones. Down that road lies Iraq II. The combination of hubris, ignorance and criminality here is breathtaking. After all, Stephens himself was a prominent advocate of going down the road of Iraq I that led to over a million deaths and decimated an entire society, creating the conditions for the growth of ISIS. As for the weeds in Idlib, they consist principally of the fact that the so-called rebels are dominated by an armed organization that was the Syrian affiliate of Al Qaeda. Any US intervention will serve to defend and strengthen these forces. It would appear that, instead of Iraq II, Stephens prefers the road to Libya II, the systematic destruction of what remains of Syrian society and government and the unleashing of Al Qaeda and other Islamist militias to dominate the country. American policymakers desperately need to learn how to find the middle road between overreaction and inaction; between a missionary zeal to solve other peoples agonies and the illusion that we can remain aloof from them, writes Stephens. Apparently, this middle road is to be paved with unrelenting cruise missile strikes and aerial bombardments, combined with wholesale assassinations and judicious ground occupations. Such bloodthirsty proposals coexist on the Times editorial pages with the newspapers own recent editorial warning of the risk of a humanitarian catastrophe in Idlib. No such concerns were evinced in the face of the US sieges of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria, where the dead number in the tens of thousands and the displaced well over a million. Published alongside these hypocritical attempts to swing public opinion behind a US war in Syria has been a column written by Leila Al-Shami, who is published by Haymarket, the outlet of the International Socialist Organization (ISO), the State Department socialists who have relentlessly campaigned for a US military intervention under the guise of promoting the Syrian democratic revolution. Her September 2 column in the Times made the incomprehensible argument that a Syrian government offensive against Al Qaeda in Idlib would eradicate the democratic alternative to tyranny, leaving the jihadistswho thrive on violence, oppression and foreign occupationas the last men standing. All of these arguments, ranging from the neocon right, to the erstwhile voice of Democratic establishment liberalism to the pseudo-left socialists, are pursuing the same end, that of promoting a military confrontation in Syria that can quickly spill over to a regionwide war and even a clash between the worlds two largest nuclear powers, the US and Russia. The fight to stop such a catastrophe can be waged only in irreconcilable hostility to all of these political forces and for the independent political mobilization of the working class against the capitalist system, the source of war, and the social system that all of these tendencies defend. A fire broke out at an Oakland, California homeless encampment early Tuesday morning, destroying the tents of about half of the 80 people who lived there. Luckily no one was killed in the blaze, despite reports of the fire department taking upwards of 15 minutes to arrive. Homelessness is a chronic and widespread social problem in the United States, with California being the worst hit state, due primarily to extremely high real estate prices. According to the department of Housing and Urban Development, there are 130,000 homeless in the state. The situation in Oakland can be seen as a particularly acute example of conditions that are growing nationally. The WSWS spoke this week with residents of the Oakland encampment about the fire and the conditions in the encampment. Needa Bee, an activist with The Village, a homeless advocacy group that helps maintain encampments, spoke about how the encampment was created by the city. This should have never happened in the first place. The people here were brought here by the city of Oakland. This overcrowding, it leads to the conditions for a fire of this magnitude to happen. The city should have left people alone, or given them permanent housing, not herded them over here. The mayor of Oakland is spending 3 million dollars to house 40 people in 27 tuff sheds. Shes picking the biggest encampments and doing thatthe one on Bush street with 110 people, the one over on Northgate that was 120 people, right now theyre going build a third tuff shed, theyre evicting the people today. Theres 150 people that live around Lake Merritt, but theyre only going to house 40 of them. But theyre using this temporary housing to get rid of the biggest encampments in Oakland. The tuff sheds are rudimentary structures, similar to a backyard tool shed with insulation and electrical outlets, which must be shared between two people. Those currently sleeping rough in the Lake Merritt area will be given until October to voluntarily relocate to a new shanty town being erected in the Henry Kaiser Convention Center parking lot. After the first week of October camping around Lake Merritt will be forbidden and the homeless cleared out. After the administration bulldozed our first village they were forced to give us this land, Needa said. Two days after, the city administration herded six encampments here without talking to us. They put them on trucks, and dumped people here. The creation of this encampment is a violation of human rights and a health hazard. Theres too many people here. Mouangjoi Saelee, a resident of the encampment, agreed, saying They put all our stuff in dump trucks and moved us here. They treat us like actual trash. When asked about the solution, she pointed to the irrationality of the housing market. Permanent housing. Thats the way to fix homelessness. Theres an old Walmart building in the city thats been doing nothing for four or five yearscollecting dust. How about making some housing there? Start with that. Oakland city council member Noel Gallos remarks this week were typical of the contempt of the ruling class for the working class and societys most impoverished layers, laying the blame for the fire with the homeless themselves, telling KRON4 news, Its not the first [fire], and Im sure it wont be the last one. These are individuals who, the way they get back at you is to set the place on fire. Mouangjoi commented that the city officials indifference was endangering and killing Oaklands homeless residents. People are dying waiting for housing. We found a neighbor here, Noel, dead here today. It had nothing to do with the fire. We dont need anything fabulous, just somewhere where we can be inside, safe, secure. Were targets out here. People are raped here, lots of people are sick. Noel was reportedly dead for over a week before being discovered. A federal appeals court ruled last week that cities could not make homelessness itself a crime and, on the grounds of preventing cruel and unusual punishment, said that cities could not force homeless people to move in absence of a place to stay. However, the court ruling was limited to the matter of the forced relocation of the homeless and said nothing about preventing homelessness itself. There is broad disgust with the prevailing politics of the citya bastion of the Democratic Party. Needa spoke about the relief efforts pursued by the government, and the accounts given by contacts working in city hall. [Theyre] telling us about the level of corruption, specifically around homelessness and housing. The money in there is being redirected and misappropriated to developers. The money in those programs is supposed to go to housing people permanently and its not. The question is not whether there is enough money to end this misery. Oakland itself is a wealthy city, home to one of the busiest shipping ports in the world. Just across the bay is the city of San Francisco, and due south is San Josethe heart of Silicon Valley. Collectively, these cities are home to more billionaires than London or Moscow. Rather, it is a question of who owns those resources. Jeff Bezos, the head of Amazon and the richest man in the world, recently announced that he would donate some 2 billion dollarsa small fraction of his fortuneto organizations that help homeless. Such initiatives are as cynical as the measures pursued by the city of Oakland. When relief and support programs such as these are created by the ruling class, they are invariably used to do more for the image of the city or the wealthy individual than the vulnerable. On the one hand, this accounts for the massive underfunding of these programs. On the other, it promotes lucrative business deals developers are able to pursue through programs ostensibly meant to alleviate homelessness. A crowd estimated at approximately 1,000 picketed East Stroudsburgs South High School on Friday morning as teachers completed their first week on strike against demands for major health care concessions. Teachers picket East Stroudsburg High School Teachers and professional staff in this northeastern Pennsylvania city of 11,000 people have worked for more than two years without a contract. In that time they have had no pay increases and regularly scheduled step salary increases have been on hold since a financial crisis in the school district during the 2014-2015 academic year. In real terms, teachers have suffered years of pay cuts. Contract negotiations, however, are not about returning pay to teachers. They instead revolve around how much more teachers will give upthe major issue being health care contributions. The local affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA) representing the teachers has repeatedly proclaimed its readiness to offer concessions. Emboldened by the NEAs capitulation, bargaining representatives for the East Stroudsburg Area School District are attempting to resolve the districts financial problems at the expense of teachers and students. State mediators involved in the negotiations have indicated that the size of managements offer is sufficient, but that the money might be parsed differently between nominal pay increasesas little as 11.5 percent over the next half decadeand increases to health care premiums. Despite the broad public support for the strike there is an imminent danger that the NEA will force teachers to accept a rotten deal, or that the state will seek an injunction to shut down the strike. Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor Pedro Rivera, a Democrat appointed by Governor Tom Wolf, used precisely this method to break a strike at nearby Dallas public schools in June. A correspondent for the World Socialist Web Site visited the picket line on Friday. It was immediately clear that local media accounts are playing down the level of support for teachers in the community. The crowd of pickets at South High School stretched unbroken for more than a city block, with teachers, students, and area workers marching two or three abreast and carrying scores of homemade signs. Teachers on the picket line are under instructions from the union to direct all media questions to designated spokesmen. On Friday, this individual was Scott Hnasko, a fifth grade teacher with 22 years experience, and also vice president of the local union, the East Stroudsburg Education Association (ESEA), which is affiliated to the Pennsylvania State Educational Association (PSEA) and the NEA. Scott Hnasko Weve actually been in negotiations for 2-1/2 years, unfortunately, trying to get a contract accomplished, said Hnasko. We have tremendous support. We have 583 members on strike. We are getting great support from the community, from parents and from students. Hnasko, who was aware of a previous WSWS article on the strike, pointed to the unreasonableness of the school district, noting that the union has already promised significant concessions. According to a union representative quoted in a local press account, the unions bargaining proposal would actually result in a pay cut for many teachers. The WSWS reporter asked Hnasko if he was aware of the teachers strikes in Washington currently underway, and those this past spring in West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Arizona. The reporter argued that teachers strikes across the country need to be linked up, pointing out that the problems are the same everywhere. The problem, the WSWS said, is that the NEA and the AFT (American Federation of Teachers) keep these struggles isolated from each other. Hnasko expressed support for the strikes by teachers in other states, but had no answer as to why the unions had kept them separate. That's a good question, he said, adding, Its hard to put it in perspective, but the PSEA has been supportive of us. Hnaskso also pointed to the appearance of local politicians on the picket lines as a sign of support. The WSWS correspondent pointed out that the current Pennsylvania governor, Tom Wolf and former President Barack Obama had done grave damage to education in the state and throughout the country. Im not gong to go there, Hnasko responded. Observing the unions directive not to speak to the media, only one teacher agreed to an interview with the WSWS, on condition of anonymity: Sandy is a veteran special education teacher in the district. Sandy said that the major issue in the strike is health care. She pointed to the fact that the district is sitting on nearly $60 million in financial reserves. The school board views us like glorified babysitters, she complained. When the WSWS correspondent asked her if she views the problem as a local issue, Sandy said emphatically, No. Its national. Teachers are disrespected everywhere. She expressed support for teachers in Washington, as well as last springs major statewide strikes. All teachers should go on strike all across the country, and we should march on Washington and all the state capitals, she said. I think that would be wonderful. Then they would respect us. Sandy expressed concern for students coming from schools denied adequate funding. Its a tough job market, she said. They come out of school and then they have to move from job to job. Sandy agreed that the attack on teachers comes from both the Republican and Democratic Parties. She expressed anger over the standardized testing imposed on special education students through Obamas Race to the Top Initiative. Some special ed students will never be proficient on those exams, she said. All the tests do is make the students feel stupid. Emma, 17, Marissa, 14, and Hanna, 15, were on the picket line to support their striking teachers. Emma, Marissa and Hanna Emma, a high school senior, said she was angry that paying teachers was not a top priority. I feel like our teachers need our support, she said. The school board is going to take away health care for their spouses, she added, referring to a proposal that teachers health care premiums for spouses be drastically increased. Emma said that lack of funding also affects students, pointing out that many student textbooks are badly outdated. This is a national issue, Hanna said. Teachers strikes are all over the news. Donovan and Kevin Jr. Donovan, a retired IT worker who immigrated to the US from Jamaica many years ago, said he was there to support the teachers and because he has four grandchildren in the district. All over the world public education is the bottom priority for governments, he said. My view on it is that teachers mold the future leaders and workers and they need to be compensated for their important work. Donovan picketed with his grandson, Kevin, Jr. Teachers deserve a raise, Kevin said. There should be enough money. Moscow announced yesterday the postponement of a planned joint offensive by Syrian and Russian government forces against Islamist opposition militias in Syrias Idlib province, after growing threats from the militias backers in Turkey and the NATO imperialist powers. Before yesterday, Moscow and Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime had made clear that they intended to crush the Islamist terrorist militias inside Idlib. The United Nations has estimated that there are 10,000 Al Qaeda-linked forces among the Islamist militias in the province, primarily from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militia. They are the last bastion of opposition support in Syria, after the lack of popular support for the NATO-backed forces and Russian and Iranian military aid to the Syrian regime turned the tide of the war against NATO. Over the last several days, however, US, European and Turkish officials blocked the Russian-Syrian offensive, at least temporarily, by drastically escalating military tensions in the region. They repeatedly threatened to strike Syrian forces and their allies, risking a direct military clash with nuclear-armed Russia, if the Syrian regime attacked Al Qaeda-linked forces in Idlib. Yesterday, the Times of London reported that Britain is preparing to join the United States and France in launching waves of airstrikes against Syria, identifying a long list of potential targets. It added, The Pentagon has begun drawing up a list of chemical weapons sites inside Syria that could be targeted in a far wider campaign of retribution than the single night of strikes in April involving British, American and French warplanes, after a chemical attack near Damascus killed at least 40 people. After conducting eight days of large-scale military exercises with US troops in Syria, Colonel Muhanad al-Tanaa of the Pentagon-sponsored Maghawir al-Thawrah (Revolutionary Commando Army) militia said US-backed opposition militias are staying whether the Russians or Iranians want or not. He added that if they approached restricted areas of Syria the Pentagon considers to be its territory, there is a big likelihood they will be hit by US air strikes. Yesterday, Turkey continued to send Special Forces troops, tanks and heavy artillery to reinforce its 12 military posts in Idlib. It also threatened to retaliate against any military attack on them. On Wednesday, a Turkish military source had told Reuters: We have a military presence there, and if that military presence is damaged or attacked in any way, it would be considered an attack on Turkey and would therefore receive the necessary retaliation. The official also threatened that if an offensive began, Turkey would close its borders to refugees fleeing fighting in Idlib. The refugees ... will not be accepted into Turkey because previous experiences have shown that with such migrant waves, the entrance of radicals and terrorists into Turkey have been too much, the official claimed. We will keep the refugees in Syria for the safety of both Turkey and European countries. Amid this growing US and Turkish pressure, Russian, Turkish, German and French officials met yesterday for talks on Syria in Istanbul. Those present included Russian presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov, Turkish presidential adviser Ibrahim Kaln, German Chancellor Angela Merkels foreign policy adviser Jan Hecker, and French presidential foreign policy adviser Philippe Etienne. Afterwards, the officials indicated that Moscow and Damascus were postponing their offensive. I believe that this offensive, if an offensive ever takes place, will not happen for several weeks, an anonymous high-level Turkish official told AFP (Agence France Presse) after the meeting. The official added that a compromise between Moscow and Ankara might take the form of Ankara agreeing to Russian air strikes targeting Hayat Tahrir al-Sham members, who control 60 percent of Idlib province and have attacked Russian forces from within that zone. Kaln told AP (Associated Press) that the four officials had agreed that a solution for the rebel-held Syrian province of Idlib should be a political, rather than military one. The Wall Street Journal praised Turkeys intervention in Idlib for blocking the Russian-Syrian attack. In an article titled Syrias Looming Idlib Offensive Is Stalled by Turkey, it wrote: The delay follows moves by Turkey to fortify its positions in Idlib province, the last major holdout for Syrias armed antiregime opposition, with troops and tanks. Turkey has also gathered forces on its own borders to deter Syrian civilians fleeing the fighting. Those efforts, say Western and Turkish officials, have helped temporarily stave off an attack... Moscow and Ankara confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet on Monday in the Russian resort town of Sochi, in order to discuss the Syrian crisis. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said, Such a meeting is within the realm of possibility and is currently being prepared. Despite the temporary reprieve in the fighting in Idlib, it is ever clearer that the Syrian war is the expression of ultimately insoluble conflicts between the major powers. Over the course of the past week, the war in Syria has balanced on a knife-edge, risking the eruption of a global war between the major nuclear powers. The NATO powers and Turkey are making clear that they will not accept defeat in the war, and are determined that their Islamist proxies will play a central political role in Syria. They are thrusting aside the Kremlins attempts to signal that it views the NATO powers regime change policy as a threat to its fundamental national security interests. Moscow is organizing its largest military exercises since World War II in eastern Russia, as Washington threatens nearby North Korea, and the Russian navy has just finished its largest naval exercises in the Mediterranean in decades. Yet the NATO powers are making clear that they intend to proceed with military action if needed, even against Russia, to secure regime change in Syria. In this reckless and politically criminal policy, they are proceeding with contempt for public opinion at home as well as abroad. The previous chemical attacks in Houla, Ghouta or Khan al-Assal that the NATO powers used as pretexts for escalating their intervention in Syria, or bombing the country outright, all proved to be provocations organized by NATO-backed opposition forces in Syria. Yet, even as Moscow has repeatedly warned that British and NATO intelligence are preparing chemical attacks as a new provocation in Idlib, the European powers are insisting that they will react to a new chemical attack by bombing Syriaas Washington, London and Paris did in April. After the German Foreign Ministry confirmed that it is in discussion with Washington over potential Syrian chemical weapons use, the Bild paper wrote that Berlin could bomb Syria: If Assad were to attack his own people with poison gas, then, besides the US being joined again by Britain and France (and possibly other new allies), armed Luftwaffe Tornadoes could fly missions against military infrastructure (barracks, air bases, command posts, ammunition depots, weapon depots, factories, research centres). On Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian indicated that Paris was ready to attack Syria again, declaring that the use of chemical weapons is a red line for France. LARAMIE Tuition for most University of Wyoming students will increase by 4 percent in the 2019-20 academic year, with the exception of online graduate programs for nonresidents and two other specific online programs. Following a multiyear tuition policy adopted in 2014, the UW Board of Trustees voted today (Thursday) in favor of the increase. Revenues will be used to fund services dedicated to student success, including recruitment and retention of high-quality faculty and staff and a sharpened focus on four-year graduation and job placement after graduation. The university has moved up the setting of tuition rates to be more transparent with prospective and current students and their families. Even with the 4 percent increase, UWs tuition and fees for Wyoming resident undergraduates will remain the lowest among the nations doctoral degree-granting institutions, and nonresident tuition and fees are still among the lowest in the country. The trustees action will increase tuition for Wyoming resident undergraduates from $134 to $139 per credit hour, while nonresident undergraduate tuition will go from $537 to $558 per credit hour. Most other graduate programs also will see a 4 percent increase. A significant exception is nonresident tuition for online graduate programs, which will see a 45 percent reduction -- from $780 to $432 per credit hour. UWs current rate for nonresidents in online graduate programs is the highest among its peers when fees are included, and it has resulted in a 40 percent decline in enrollment by these students since fall 2013. The tuition cut starting in the 2019-20 academic year will put UW more in line with its peers and make UW more competitive in the market for nonresident students in online graduate programs. The board also voted to establish a tuition rate for the online Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program that is more in alignment with the rates charged by peer institutions. The reduction from $537 to $350 per credit hour is expected to halt a decline in the programs enrollment in recent years. Finally, the trustees approved a 5 percent increase in tuition for UWs online resident, nonresident and executive Master of Business Administration Program. Supported by the College of Business, this increase will align UW with the market for professional business administration degree programs. The tuition rates noted above do not include the universitys mandatory student fees. At the graduate level, students in pharmacy, law, the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program, the Master of Speech-Language Pathology Program and the MBA Program pay differential tuition levels. 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. Story continues 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: ABC News Los Angeles' sweeping new vaccine mandate goes into effect Monday, which requires proof of vaccination in order for patrons to enter most public indoor spaces in the second most populous city in the U.S. Believed to be among the most far-reaching vaccination requirements in the nation, the ordinance from the Los Angeles City Council was signed by Mayor Eric Garcetti in October but took effect Monday morning, covering everyone who is eligible for a coronavirus vaccine (or people ages 12 and up). The mandate requires proof of vaccination to enter the indoor portions of any establishment where food or beverages are served (such as restaurants, bars, coffee shops, etc), gyms and fitness venues, entertainment and recreation venues (including movie theaters, music and concert venues, museums and shopping centers), personal care establishments (like spas and nail salons), and any facilities or buildings owned or operated by the City of Los Angeles. The Soviets launched the first satellite into space, and the US sent men to the moon, but that doesnt mean the two Cold War rivals have a monopoly on aerospace innovation. A new partnership between French companies has advanced perhaps even revolutionizedspace travel as we know it, and in probably the most French way possible. In collaboration with designer Octave de Gaulle, Frances Mumm champagne house has readied what they claim is the first bottle of bubbly built to withstand the rigors of space travel and the complexities of a zero-gravity environment. The result of three years of testing, this space-age champagne utilizes a dual-chambered bottle: the upper portion houses the wine, while the lower section uses a valve that controls the gradual release of the champagnes carbon dioxide with a twist of the fingers. This week, itll be put to the test on an Airbus Zero-G flight taking off from Reims, the heart of Frances champagne country. The plane will perform a series of maneuvers designed to simulate the weightlessness of space for up to 20 seconds at a time, allowing invited testers to scoop the foamlike champagne into a glass, eventually dissolving to liquid in their mouths. Mumms ingenious invention isnt designed for parties on the International Space Station (booze is banned up there because real astronauts need to be sober to do science stuff), but for the ultra-wealthy civilians who could soon launch into orbit on commercial space flights. With billionaires like Richard Branson, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos pouring their exorbitant wealth into vanity spacefaring projects, its only a matter of time before the rich leave the earths atmosphere behind. Luckily, now they wont have to eschew basic creature comforts like champagne while watching earth from afar. For the rest of us mere mortals, foam champagne could be pretty cool too, I guess. Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. FLORENCE MAKES LANDFALL IN NORTH CAROLINA WITH 90 MPH WINDS The storm has already inundated coastal streets with water from the Atlantic and left tens of thousands without power 2. AP EXPLAINS HOW HURRICANES' POWERFUL WINDS RAISE THE SEA Storm surges are more like domes of high water is destructive waves on top that form as the ocean spreads inland. 3. SOUTHEAST ASIA ALSO HIT BY CATASTROPHIC WEATHER Typhoon Mangkhut retained its ferocious strength and slightly shifted toward more densely populated coastal provinces in the Philippines, where a massive evacuation was underway. 4. WHERE CIVIL WAR HAS CREATED A POCKET OF FAMINE Many families with starving children in northern Yemen have nothing to eat but the leaves of a local vine, boiled into a sour, acidic green paste, The AP finds. 5. FOR PRESIDENT, THE NUMBERS DON'T ADD UP Donald Trump is disputing the official death count from Hurricane Maria and falsely accusing Democrats of inflating the Puerto Rican toll to make him "look as bad as possible." 6. GAS BLASTS WREAK DEADLY HAVOC IN NEW ENGLAND 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. 7. WHO DEFEATED A FORMER STAR OF "SEX AND THE CITY" Seeking a third term, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has easily beaten back a primary challenge from activist and actress Cynthia Nixon. 8. POSSIBLE SUMMIT SEQUEL IN THE WORKS Donald Trump wants to meet with Kim Jong Un again, and the North Korean leader has told the White House he'd like more face-to-face talks with the American president, but can it be in New York? 9. WHICH ICONIC VEHICLE IS BEING SQUASHED Volkswagen's American unit says it will end global production of the third-generation Beetle in July 2019 after offering two special editions for sale. 10. AWARDS DISTINGUISH WACKY SCIENCE RESEARCH Ig Nobel 2018 winners included a Japanese doctor who devised a revolutionary new way to give yourself a colonoscopy and a British archaeology lecturer who figured out that eating human flesh isn't very nutritious. Markets are expected to remain turbulent due to investors concerns over the consequences of President Donald Trumps protectionist trade policies, Chinas plan to put sanctions on America and the impending U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil. However, instead of staying away from the stock market, betting on stocks that have been faring well despite these concerns could be a wise decision. The S&P 400 Mid-Cap index has marginally outperformed the S&P 500 since discussions related to the trade policy started six months back. This indicates that investors preferred mid-cap stocks over others during this period. Moreover, evaluating the historical performance of mid-cap stocks against large-cap and small-cap ones, it can be seen that the former cohort has generated the best risk-adjusted returns. Before we present a few top-ranked mid-cap stocks, lets take a look at what might keep the markets performance subdued in the quarters ahead. No Immediate Solution to U.S.-China Trade War The Trump administrations business policies have no place for Chinas strategy of eliminating business competition for its own companies within its boundaries but to enter foreign markets for grabbing external business. The ongoing trade war is a result Washingtons intolerance to these unfair trade practices. The trade conflict, which started on Jul 6 with both nations slapping 25% tariffs on $34 billion worth of each others goods, has witnessed $50 billion worth of goods under tariff fire to date. Another $200 billion worth of Chinese products await levies to be put in place. Trump is considering taxes on $267 billion worth of more goods, which would bring practically every Chinese export to U.S. under the tariff blanket. The trade war has already affected U.S. agriculture, food, energy, auto and technology sectors among others, and some large-cap stocks exposed to the Chinese markets, taking a hit. Story continues China Seeks WTO Permission for U.S. Sanctions A dispute initiated by China in 2013 reached full scale this year, fueled by the continuing trade war with the United States. China has asked for a go-ahead from the World Trade Organization (WTO) before it puts sanctions worth $7 billion for damages suffered annually, owing to U.S. dumping duties. The United States put these duties on some Chinese products it felt were priced lesser than their American counterparts, thus making profits in the highly competitive American market. Dumping duties worth of $8.4 billion were put on Chinese exports of metals, minerals, electronics and machinery etcetera. The sanctions will be in the form of additional trade barriers on the United States and will worsen its trade relationship. Ongoing Trade Conflicts with Major U.S. Allies The Trump administration put steel and aluminum tariffs on its many trade partners in May. The tariffs werent taken lightly by Canada, Mexico and the European Union, which retaliated with different tariffs on American products. The bitter standoff was somewhat cooled by a possible U.S.-Mexico trade accord which is a revised version of the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement last month. Although Canada rejoined the talks, it hasnt confirmed if its a part of the revised agreement. The original agreement comprised the three nations. The conflicts have affected U.S. auto, agriculture, food and consumer discretionary among others. Unless a settlement is reached, more industries might suffer. Imminent U.S. Sanctions on Iranian Oil As U.S. gears up to put sanctions on Irans (effective Nov 5) crude oil, the latters likely retaliatory activities to stagnate oil shipments via the Strait of Hormuz have become a global concern. Almost one-third of the worlds sea-traded crude shipments from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iran and Iraq make their way via the crucial waterway. Irans measures could not only hurt global oil shipments but also invite military action by Saudi Arabia, United States ally. Geopolitical tensions mounting in the Middle East are likely to put an upward pressure on oil prices, hiking transportation and trade costs for American companies operating in the region. Stocks to Buy As mid-cap stocks are expected to perform better than the other segments, here we present five stocks that have a market cap between $1-$3 billing and carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). These stocks also carry a VGM Score of A or B. ArcBest Corporation ARCB provides freight transportation services and solutions. Market Cap: $1.3 billion VGM Score: A Estimated Earnings Growth for Fiscal 2018: 143.6% Price Return Performance Year to Date: 41.5% Atkore International Group Inc. ATKR manufactures and distributes electrical raceway items. Market Cap: $ 1.2 billion VGM Score: A Estimated Earnings Growth for Fiscal 2018: 92.3% Price Return Performance Year to Date: 22.4% You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. ULH offers transportation services to shippers in the United States and Canadas Quebec and Ontario. Market Cap: $1 billion VGM Score: A Estimated Earnings Growth for Fiscal 2018: 157.5% Price Return Performance Year to Date: 48.4% Werner Enterprises, Inc. WERN is a premier transport and logistics company. Its domestic and global subsidiaries operate transportation services via ocean, air and road. Market Cap: $2.7 billion VGM Score: B Estimated Earnings Growth for Fiscal 2018: 75.6% Price Return Performance Year to Date: -0.1% Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report ArcBest Corporation (ARCB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Werner Enterprises, Inc. (WERN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. (ULH) : Free Stock Analysis Report Atkore International Group Inc. (ATKR) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research From Esquire Before the Paul Manafort's Destiny Party really gets rolling-Vodka and ostrich meat for everyone!-let's pause for a moment and consider Vice President Mike Pence. The Choirboy (pace Doghouse Riley) was going nowhere in the winter of 2016. He had screwed up eight ways from Sunday as governor of Indiana, and it was better than even money that he wouldn't be re-elected. His career had kicked the ye oaken bucket. Then, that summer, a miracle happened, and the miracle was named Paul Manafort. From CBS News: First reported by the New York Post, an indecisive Trump had initially decided on Christie after the New Jersey governor made his final case to Trump on July 12. Christie, the first former presidential candidate to get behind Trump after a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary, had assumed a high profile role on the campaign prior to the Convention reaching out to donors and potential high profile supporters. Paul Manafort, Trumps campaign manager at the time, allegedly had another idea in mind. Manafort had arranged for Trump to meet with his first choice for the job on July 13: Indiana Governor Mike Pence. Afterwards, the plans was for Trump and Pence to then fly back to New York together and a formal announcement would be made, a campaign source said of Manaforts thinking. What had previously been reported as a lucky break by the New York Times was actually a swift political maneuver devised by the now fired campaign manager. Set on changing Trumps mind, he concocted a story that Trumps plane had mechanical problems, forcing the soon-to-be Republican nominee to stay the night in Indianapolis for breakfast with the Pence family on Wednesday morning. Other than softening the Republican Party's stance on Russian thuggery in the Ukraine, and maneuvering Mike Pence into the vice presidency, Manafort didn't do much in the short time he managed the president*'s campaign, except possibly commit some crimes. On Friday, the president*'s former campaign manager, and the person most responsible for the vice president's presence on the ticket, pleaded guilty to...wait for it..."conspiracy against the United States," which isn't really as serious as it sounds, but which is not something to which any president wants his former campaign manager to cop. Mike Pence has one foot in the barrel now, too. Story continues Photo credit: Chip Somodevilla - Getty Images Other than that, I don't have a lot to add to Friday's proceedings. Manafort clearly didn't trust the president* to deliver on a pardon. (Smart play, Paul.) I don't know how much, precisely, he can hand over to Mueller, but he can put other people who have more to offer into the frying pan. If I were either of the two Trump boys, or Jared and Ivanka, I'd be buying new court clothes tonight. They're pretty much the only ones left short of El Caudillo Del Mar-A-Lago. From The Washington Post: 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. "Safe" is a curious word in this context. Or, maybe it's not. Prosecutor Andrew Weissmann said at the beginning of Fridays plea hearing that Manafort has agreed to cooperate with investigators, saying the 17-page plea document included the terms of Manaforts 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. And Robert Mueller, with no expression on his face, reaches across his desk for another document. Respond to this post on the Esquire Politics Facebook page here. Photo credit: Alex Wong - Getty Images ('You Might Also Like',) By Christian Lowe MOSCOW (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia, the United States and Russia can between them raise global output in the next 18 months to compensate for falling oil supplies from Iran and elsewhere, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said on a visit to Moscow on Friday. 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 could push up crude prices, hurting consumers. But Perry, in an interview with Reuters, said he felt comfortable about the outlook for global crude output, and for oil prices. "I don't foresee spikes," Perry said, although he added there was always the potential for unforeseen events. Some analysts have expressed concerns about Saudi Arabias long-term ability to significantly boost output. But Perry said: "There's a number of things going on in the kingdom that continue to give me a very positive feeling about their ability to maintain their level and even increase their level" of crude production. He cited the prospect that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia would soon resolve a border dispute, unlocking access to an oil field in a contested area. "They are working toward a solution in the not too distant future," he said. On U.S. production, which has already been growing over the past few years, Perry said: "You look out 18 months, and I think you'll see even a more substantial increase in the United States because of pipeline capacity being built out." Russia, meanwhile, was "working diligently" to deliver its oil output to the world market, Perry said. GOOD CITIZEN Perry was in Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart, Energy Minister Alexander Novak. Visits by senior U.S. officials are a rarity after relations between Moscow and Washington nosedived, first over the Ukraine crisis and later over allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on Russia, and Perry said that, while he would rather not see any more, that was a real prospect. "You avoid that by being a good citizen. You avoid that by obviously tending to this issue with Ukraine, you do this by not meddling in our elections, you do this by not engaging in activities that are considered to be uncivilized, for instance, the poisoning of the people in the UK," Perry said. "Russia has the opportunity to send a message that they are going to be good neighbors, they are going to be civilized in the way they deal with their neighbors. That has yet to be seen, from our perspective, in dealing with Ukraine." Russia's conduct toward other countries would influence whether the United States was compelled to impose sanctions on the Russian-led Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. The project will expand the capacity for pumping Russian gas to northern Europe. Trump has criticized it, saying it will increase European dependence on Russian energy. Referring to an internationally-brokered roadmap for resolving a conflict in eastern Ukraine between Kiev and Russian-backed separatists, Perry said: "If Russia deals with the Minsk agreement in an appropriate way, there are some signals being sent to the rest of the European Union." "Until those signals get sent, the potential sanctions of Nordstream 2 are still very real ... I'll suggest to you that the ball is in Russia's court," he said. In the interview, Perry issued a message for the European Union, saying it needed to wean itself off its dependence on Russian energy supplies. "If you're a country in the European Union and you see how Ukraine has been treated by Russia, then (Russia) being the sole source or practically the sole source of gas to your country will give you a pause," Perry told Reuters. "And I think that's an appropriate and rightful position to take. Have alternatives. Have competition. Have other pipelines," he said. "So Europe by and large understand that they need multiple sources of energy and we agree with them." (Additional reporting by Dmitry Madorsky, Dmitry Zhdannikov and Timothy Gardner; Editing by Edmund Blair) INSIDER I've been traveling in a van for years and finding healthcare and community has been tough. Here are some downsides of this lifestyle to know. London Fashion Week is back in full swing. But amongst the on-trend seasonal brights a gloomy outlook for how Brexit will affect the UK fashion industry is looming. Designers and sector associations touted the industrys massive size and scope, how its crucial to the overall British economy, and warned that Brexit could cause great harm to it. Paul Algar, director of international business at the UK Fabric and Textiles Association told BBC Radio 4 that uncertainty surrounding Brexit was unhelpful to the industry. The EU is our largest export market by far If we are manufacturing products here and there is no [Brexit] deal, then we are looking at tariffs to get merchandise into Europe of 15% [to] 20%, depending on the product, and that will have a knock-on effect, he said. He also warned that EU fashion buyers may worry about making purchases now for deliveries that are made in 2019, which could be hit by post-Brexit tariffs or slowdowns at the border. The fashion industry is highly lucrative to the British economy. Data from the British Fashion Council and research firm Oxford Economics shows that the industry contributed 32.3bn ($41.8bn) to the UK economy last year, as it grew 5.4% in 2017 compared to 2016. Thats significantly faster than the overall economy. Meanwhile, the sector supported 890,000 jobs. Industry insiders have expressed concerns about getting UK work visas for international models after Brexit. Photo: Getty Stephanie Phair, chair of the British Fashion Council, echoed Algars comments to the BBC. It is the uncertainty that makes it difficult for the industry to figure out how to plan for Brexit in their strategies, she said. It is an industry that is complex. It requires manufacturing abroad, designing here, reshipping abroad. It is a mix of goods, services and talents, she said. So what we are talking to Government about is really frictionless borders, tariff-free access to the EU and the ability for talent to move, the free movement of people. We continue to have these conversations. Too Darn Hot lands the Champagne Stakes under Feankie Dettori Too Darn Hot was cut to a best-priced 4/1 favourite for the 2,000 Guineas with GentingBet after running out an impressive winner of the Howcroft Industrial Supplies Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. Under Frankie Dettori, the son of Dubawi took his unbeaten record to three in the Group 2 contest, after sitting off the fast early pace set by Cadini and Bye Bye Hong Kong. The Italian crept into the race and sent Too Darn Hot about his work with two furlongs to run and the 4/11 favourite quickly went to the front and stretched clear to beat Acomb winner Phoenix Of Spain by a length and three-quarters. READ MORE: Mayweather claims he will return to fight Pacquiao READ MORE: Serena Williams and Carlos Ramos to be kept apart at Australian Open READ MORE: Ronaldo better than Messi, says Theo Dark Vision never appeared happy and finished last under Silvestre de Sousa. GentingBet were impressed by the winner, making Too Darn Hot, owned by Lady Lloyd Webber, their new 4/1 market leader for next Mays Newmarket mile Classic. Winning trainer John Gosden said: He was very impressive and it took Frankie a long time to pull him up. He and Seamie went past the Leger start and up to Rose Hill. Its a long way to gallop out after a seven-furlong two-year-old race. Maybe they were trying to find out if theyll stay middle-distances next year! Im happy with him and he did everything right. He quickened up from a long way back hes a young, talented horse. Hes in the three Group Ones in October and therell be no decision (on which one he runs in) for 10 days. Dettori added: That was very special. What he did between the three and the one blew me away. I guess the next step is a Group One, but he is very talented. When you run him on a flat track you can really feel his gears. Hes learning how to race and everything he did today was amazing. New York Fashion Week has come to a close, but that doesnt mean that there still isnt plenty to discuss about this buzzy week. While some of NYFWs most memorable moments were carefully planned, like Pyer Moss showing their collection in the historic Brooklyn neighborhood of Weeksville (one of the first free-black communities in the United States,) others, like model Slick Woods going into labor after walking in the much-anticipated Savage x Fenty show, were not. From the runways to the after-parties, weve broken down the most show-stopping moments of this NYFW season below. Political Statements Reappear on the Runway: In recent years, talking about political issues in the fashion arena has become en vogue (the statement tee seems to be the preferred mode of protest) and this season proved to be no different. Jeremy Scott, who showed his collection during the first days of NYFW, used his final bow at his runway show to share how he really felt about President Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee, Brett M. Kavanaugh. Scott sported a homemade statement shirt that read: Tell Your Senator No on Kavanaugh,along with a phone number for people to call to express their dissent; the statement was more than timely when you consider that Scotts show happened on the same day that Kavanaughs four-day Supreme Court nominee hearing wrapped. At Christian Siriano, the political expression came in the form of an endorsement for New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon, who sat in the shows front row alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Judith Light, and Tiffany Haddish. Siriano sent a model down the runway in a shirt that read Im Voting For Cynthia then took his final bow in a matching shirt. The Party Scene Was One For the Books: The party circuit of this seasons NYFW wont soon be forgotten, thanks to a memorable dinner soiree for Ralph Laurens 50th anniversary as a brand and a dramatic altercation between Nicki Minaj and Cardi B at the annual Harpers Bazaars Icons party. At Ralph Lauren, Kanye West sat with Hillary Rodham Clinton and Oprah as the latter gave the toast to Laurens golden anniversary in the fashion industry talk about a power table! Story continues Fresh Locations and Formats: The new guard of New York fashion breathed life into an old tradition by selecting innovative locations, themes, and practices for their shows and presentations. Telfar, a unisex brand that won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund last year, showed on a helicopter pad on the East River and included musical performances by Selah Marley and Moses Sumney. Opening Ceremony chose to forego a runway show completely, opting instead for a performance extravaganza at legendary New York nightspot Le Poisson Rouge, that was curated by Drag Race star Sasha Velour. More than 40 models and performers, all of whom identified as LGBTQ, wore Opening Ceremony clothes during their performances, culminating in a stunning finale that starred Velour and other drag queens singing with Christina Aguilera. However, it was Pyer Moss moving show held in the historic Brooklyn neighborhood of Weeksville, that may have held the most gravitas. Weeksville, one of the first free-black communities in the United States, was a perfect setting for designer Kefrby Jean-Raymond to explore, as he told Vogue, what the African-American experience would look like without the constant threat of racism, a theme he drove home with the accompaniment of a gospel choir clad in white robes during the show and a post-show friends and family cookout. Unexpected Surprises at NYFWs Finale: In recent fashion history, two things are certain: Marc Jacobs closes out the week and hes fastidiously punctual. This year, neither statements were true. The NYFW vet was upstaged from his finale slot when Rihanna announced that she would be showing her show in Brooklyn at 7:30 pm, nearly an hour and a half after Jacobs show would start. This season, Jacobs ran into unforeseen challenges, which led to his legendarily on-time runway show starting an hour and a half late. It was my wishful thinking that we could accomplish all that needed to be done for this show with the circumstances we faced. I was wrong, the designer wrote on Instagram. Some editors left early to other shows, to Brooklyn for Rihanna, to catch flights to London Fashion Week, as one does but those who stayed were vocal in their rapture at his exceptionally dreamy designs this season. The drama didnt end with Jacobs though in Brooklyn, Rihannas inclusive fashion show for her lingerie line, Savage x Fenty, featured models of all shapes, sizes, and ethnic identities, including Paloma Elsesser, Molly Constable, and longtime Fenty muse, Slick Woods, who took to the runway 9 months pregnant and went into labor after she finished the show. Talk about going out of NYFW with a bang! Anyone who has tried to travel using mobile map navigation knows how frustrating road closures are, especially during storms. While navigation apps and tools are almost always reliable with clear weather, any change to road conditions, closures or flooding can render those maps undependable. When natural disasters strike, this becomes particularly dangerous to emergency responders and residents trying to evacuate and get to safety. With Hurricane Florence flooding streets, shutting down bridges and forcing mass road closures on the East Coast, the Crisis Team from Waze and the Esri Disaster Response Team are putting their mapping and navigation tools together to assist. evacuation sign Evacuation route sign in Florida. (Photo/Pgiam/E+/Getty Images) Waze, which is the world's largest community-based navigation app, and Esri, which is the global leader in geospatial intelligence software (GIS), formed a partnership in 2016 to "team share information to help citizens on the ground reach points of safety and emergency management officials get an operational overview of what's going on out there," according to Andrew Stauffer, head of civic engagement technology at Esri. For years, emergency response centers have utilized Esri to visualize data and collaborate efforts. Waze has grown popular for its Map Editors, who are active app users who can provide updates and feedback in real time. While emergency responders are usually aware of the large closures, it's the less populated or traveled areas that are sometimes struck hardest. This is where Waze comes in, Stauffer said. Hurricane Florence police 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) "Most of the time, emergency management officials will know about the large closures but they may not always have a hold on what's happening in more rural areas," he said. "The data from Waze helps fill that gap, so they can properly deploy resources to help people in need." Story continues "Real-time mapping can help emergency responders by offering a live view into areas they may not have access to." During Florence, live traffic alerts and data from the Esri Disaster Response Program have been updated every two minutes and will continue through recovery efforts afterwards. The mapping has also provided data from the NOAA about flooding, storm surge warnings and population numbers. This week, Esri has helped the South Carolina Department of Transportation organize evacuations, manage road data and predict road closures. The combined technology with Waze has also helped residents find directions to the nearest shelters. "Esri provides a set of tools for data management and spatial analysis, that allows city officials to look into spatial relationships in things like flood zones and rising streams or understanding common pathway in road networks," Stauffer said. "Just this week, we saw South Carolina DOT determine the correct lanes to open up to aid in evacuation, then share those maps and data with Waze so that they can be added to the application. Anyone using Waze has the most accurate pathway to safety and even to emergency shelters." Stauffer said this benefit of technologies can help responders in all types of disasters. As both Waze and Esri grow more popular, the data will only become more reliable and available with more users contributing information. Along with the real-time updates from app users, the artificial intelligence and machine learning will also improve with more data and become an even bigger assistance in predicting transportation issues, redirecting safety vehicles and deploying emergency resources. "The Esri Disaster Response Program has worked on just about every type of natural disaster around the globe," Stauffer said. "Situational awareness is critical to saving lives and having the correct data pipelines in place to support emergency response is where we work with our sophisticated partners to create that live view of what's happening out here: from street level images by GroundVu to working Teralytics to understand human movement patterns derived from cell phone locations, all the way into Waze with over 100 million users." Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort agreed Friday to cooperate in the Russia collusion investigation in a plea deal that left the White House looking increasingly under siege by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Manafort, who led Trump's election operation at the height of the campaign in the middle of 2016, admitted reduced charges of conspiracy just days before he was to go on trial for money laundering, illegal lobbying and witness tampering. The surprise deal brought to seven the number of people who have pleaded guilty in cases tied to Mueller's 16 month old investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia. It suggested that Mueller is getting ever closer to Trump, his family and top staff in an operation that many speculate could generate an impeachment motion against the president. The White House though insisted Manafort's admission of guilt, in charges that mainly related to his work in Ukraine for the decade before the 2016 election, was wholly unconnected to the president. "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 said. - Mueller probe speeding up - The Manafort deal came three weeks after Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen implicated the president directly as he pleaded guilty in New York to charges of campaign finance violations, related to buying the silence of women who allegedly had affairs with Trump. "I plead guilty," the 69 year old veteran Republican political consultant told the court after being read the charges against him. He faces a prison term of up to 10 years, and will see millions of dollars worth of real estate and financial accounts seized by US authorities. Manafort attorney Kevin Downing said his client had agreed to cooperate to "protect his family". Story continues "He has accepted responsibility for conduct that dates back many years," Downing added. Manafort's plea deal avoids a potentially explosive trial that could embarrass the president and his Republican Party during the seven weeks before hotly contested national elections on November 6. But it also demonstrated the rapid progress Mueller is making in the sprawling investigation. Last week George Papadopoulos, a foreign policy advisor to the 2016 campaign whose contacts with Russians set off the original collusion investigation, was sentenced to 14 days in jail for lying to the FBI. His sentencing had been held up for nearly a year while he cooperated with investigators. Former Trump national security advisor Michael Flynn, who also pleaded guilty for lying, is still cooperating in the probe as he awaits sentencing. - Charges tied to Ukraine work - Manafort was already convicted in a separate jury trial on eight counts related to financial fraud in August. Those charges, as well as the two counts covered in Friday's plea deal, derived from his work for former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych and his pro-Moscow political party between about 2005 and 2014. Prosecutors said Manafort acted illegally as a lobbyist for Yanukovych, laundered more than $30 million into the United States, and bilked the government of $15 million in taxes. Yet Manafort could have inside information on the Trump campaign's suspect interactions with Russians from his nearly six months with the campaign in the middle of 2016. US intelligence chiefs say Moscow interfered in the election extensively in order to help Trump defeat his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Documents submitted in his first trial showed Manafort maintained his own Ukraine and Russia contacts during the campaign, including with a longtime Ukraine aide who US intelligence says has close ties to Moscow's powerful GRU spy agency. In addition, Manafort was present at a meeting held by campaign executives, including Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. and son-in-law Jared Kushner, with a Russian lawyer who had offered them "dirt" on Clinton. That meeting is now a key focus of the Mueller investigation. Trump has repeatedly spoken out in Manafort's defense -- while also seeking to distance himself from his onetime associate. "I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family," he tweeted in August, one day after Manafort's first conviction. "Unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to 'break' - make up stories in order to get a 'deal.'" After that verdict, Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani confirmed to The New York Times that he and the president had discussed the possibility of a pardon for Manafort, and the political fallout that could follow. "He really thinks Manafort has been horribly treated," Giuliani told the Times. Reed Timmer reports on the landfall of Florence showing inland flooding and storm surge in New Bern, North Carolina where more than 100 overnight rescues are reported. More rescue crews are being deployed for extra help. By Patrick Rucker and Jessica Resnick-Ault RALEIGH, N.C./NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Florence could taint North Carolina waterways with murky coal ash and toxic hog waste as heavy rains test environmental rules written with milder weather in mind, carrying the risk of contaminating water with bacteria like salmonella, officials said on Friday. Many of the state's environmental codes were written to withstand a 25- or 100-year storm. But Florence promises heavy rains that some regions might not see in a thousand years, straining systems meant to keep state residents safe. The deluge could push industrial waste sites to the limit, Governor Roy Cooper said on Friday. "All of the infrastructure here is going to be tested," Cooper told a news conference. "We are deeply concerned about the inland flooding." Florence would not be the first test of North Carolina manure pits, or "lagoons." Sixteen lagoons flooded under the foot of rain that came with Hurricane Matthew in 2016. The southeast part of the state is expected to get more than twice that amount in the days ahead, said Bryce Link, a meteorologist at DTN Marine Weather, a forecasting service. There are 62 industrial hog farms within North Carolina's 100-year floodplain, environmentalists estimate, and Duke Energy Corp has four coal ash sites in the coastal area touched by Florence. If excrement escapes from the lagoons where it is stored, it could potentially contaminate drinking water with bacteria like salmonella, which can cause digestive problems, and, in certain vulnerable patients cause E. coli. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is working with storm-struck states and is ready to respond to any breaches, a spokeswoman, Maggie Sauerhage, said. Animal feeding operations above a certain size need to be "designed and operated to handle the rainfall and runoff from 25-year 24-hour storms," Sauerhage said in an emailed response to questions from Reuters. Even in the midst of a storm, these feeding sites must report leaks, she said. In North Carolina, hog and poultry waste pits make up 6,848 acres of land according to a report from the Environmental Working Group. Still, North Carolina has fewer flood-prone hog farms than it did when Hurricane Floyd inundated about 50 sites in 1999 and sparked statewide reforms. Ash pits and other embankments have ruptured under heavy rain in the past, and Duke Energy has agreed to secure the sites in North Carolina's lowland areas - but that work is ongoing. Erin Culbert, a spokeswoman for Duke Energy, said the utility was ready to respond as needed to the storm. There is, however, disagreement over the risk posed by Florence. Andy Curliss, head of the North Carolina Pork Council, said spill dangers are overblown, noting that hog farmers have faced severe weather before. "This is not the first hurricane to hit North Carolina," said Curliss, who noted that many lagoons are at a low point across the state at this time of year. But a state lawmaker said that hurricanes have led to dangerous spills in recent years and North Carolina's laws are too lax to confront severe storms such as Florence. "As a state, we have put our head in the sand," Representative Pricey Harrison said. "Past storms should have been a wakeup call." (Reporting by Patrick Rucker in Raleigh and Jessica Resnick-Ault in New York; additional reporting by Tom Polansek in Chicago; editing by Leslie Adler) Washington (AFP) - 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 before -- with an announcement in 2017 that two people would launch in 2018 -- but 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 spacecraft -- the WhiteKnightTwo -- from 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. Story continues 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 years -- but 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. burs-ksh/ia Inside the massive Russian war games involving 300,000 troops originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The huge war games that Russia is holding this week are taking place across the vast wilderness of the countrys Far East, close to the borders of Mongolia and China. The drills - called Vostok 2018 - are being touted by Russia's military as the largest in its history, involving a staggering 300,000 troops, almost 1,000 aircraft and over 36,000 tanks and armored vehicles. Located across nine training ranges and three seas off Russia's eastern coast, the war games began to swing into higher gear on Tuesday, with troops maneuvering in the taiga, or snow forest, and Russian warships practicing missile launches. PHOTO: Military personnel prepare Russian air defense missile systems during the military exercises in the Chita, Siberia, Sept. 12, 2018, during the Vostok 2018 exercises. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/AP) (MORE: Russia holding largest war games in its history) Russian air defense units fought a simulated battle against warplanes over a forested plateau in Buryatia, a Buddhist region located roughly 3,600 miles from Moscow and a few hundred miles north of Mongolia. The drills are meant to stretch the Russian militarys ability to operate over the countrys huge, inhospitable distances. Buryatia provides plentiful opportunity for that. The anti-air exercise site was a four-hour drive down a jolting mud road, through the blackwater swamps and flaming yellow trees that have grown up out of the taiga, where autumn is already turning to winter. Misty grey clouds hung in front of the observation post looking over the forest where Russian anti-air batteries sat. Some of Russias most advanced anti-air weapons were concealed in the forest undergrowth, among them the S400 anti-air missile system at the center of a diplomatic spat with the U.S. over Russia's plans to sell it to Turkey. A bus-sized radar dish daubed in thick, green paint rotated rapidly on the hill, among several others. After a few minutes, ground-to-air missiles began lifting off as brilliant white flares in the distance, billowing mist beneath them, then sliding easily upward into the gloom. Overhead, warplanes and cruise missiles could be heard rumbling. Story continues Afterwards, the Russian commanders informed journalists that the drill had been entirely successful, blocking all 30 targets. There was no way to verify that claim and the uncertainty echoed a larger one hanging over the exercises as a whole. Few experts believe that 300,000 troops are actually taking part, saying Russia lacks the capacity to move such numbers. Others have suggested obsolete tanks have been pressed into service to inflate the numbers. PHOTO: A Russian walks past a Nebo-M radar deployed in a forest during the military exercises Vostok 2018 in Eastern Siberia, Russia, Sept. 12, 2018. (Sergei Grits/AP) There is no doubt, however, that the drills are large, taking in a striking range of forces over huge distances. What is clear is the Kremlins desire to use the exercises to promote itself as a military super power. China's first-time participation in the drills, which were established under the Soviet Union, has been hailed in Russia as a sign of its restored importance in international security, as well as a symbol of the two countries' closeness. The Kremlin has downplayed the war games as routine -- even as its media has trumpeted them -- and has insisted they are not intended to combat any real-world opponent. Experts are confident, though, about the intended opponent in the mock drills. Pavel Felgengauer, a well-known defense commentator, said that, as with the Cold War exercises, Vostok is meant to test Russias militarys capacity to fight a major war with the United States. Russias defense ministry has been making explicit comparisons with "Zapad 81," vast war games held by the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries on Russias Western border in 1981. Russias military says this years Vostok surpasses those games in scale. The reasons for past war games varied, experts said. Besides the obvious military benefits, several suggested their real purpose was political. The main maneuvers of the war games are expected to take place on Thursday, when president Vladimir Putin is due to observe at the Tsugol range, where Chinas 3,200-strong troop contingent are mostly based. Putin will arrive on the heels of hosting Chinas leader XI Jing Ping at the Vladivostok Economic Forum. The timing of the two events appears intended to promote growing ties between the two countries. (MORE: A look at the Russian spy agency behind the election meddling) But many experts are skeptical about how significant the joint exercises are in this respect. Instead, some noted that the huge war games underline the limitations of Russia's foreign policy tools for exerting influence currently. "Russias claim to retaining the mantle of 'great power' is today backed up almost solely by its military force," Pavel Baev, an analyst, wrote in a recent Jamestown Foundation article. Noting that Russias economy and technology development are battered by poor investment and inefficiencies, and that the country is locked in increasing confrontations with the West, he said the Kremlin was often finding itself constrained in foreign policy to a threatening one-note diplomacy. Those limitations probably hold with China too, he said, despite the rhetoric. "In real terms," he wrote. "This much-trumpeted relationship is rather ambiguous." Port-au-Prince (AFP) - The Haitian senate Saturday approved the new government's general polices, a necessary first step before it can begin functioning, two months after the last premier was forced to resign after attempting to impose unpopular austerity measures. Prime Minister Jean-Henry Ceant, who has been head of government since early August, listened to the doubts expressed by the lawmakers angry at cabinet ministers suspected of tax evasion, before managing to obtain support of 21 of 28 senators. With the senate's approval secure, the new government now needs a vote of confidence from the chamber of Deputies, scheduled to meet later in the day. Ceant, a notary who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2010 and 2016, was named to the post on August 5 by President Jovenel Moise is Jean-Henry Ceant -- but in a sign of discord between the legislative and presidential branches it took a month to reach agreement on his 18-member cabinet. Before Ceant presented his general policy, senators meeting overnight Friday to Saturday discussed tax fraud suspicions that hang over some of the new cabinet ministers. "If tonight here we vote in favor of people who do not pay their taxes, then we must accept that tomorrow, people will start refusing to pay their taxes," said Senator Antonio Cheramy. On September 6, the day after president Moise announced his new cabinet, several nominees dashed off to the country's tax office to pay their back taxes - a rush that Senator Patrice Dumont derided as a "procession of shame." To be confirmed as a cabinet minister, candidates must show proof from the previous five years that all their taxes have been paid. Tension remains high in Haiti after riots in July against rising fuel prices wreaked havoc in Port-au-Prince, forcing the prime minister at the time, Jack Guy Lafontant, to resign. Deadly violence hit the Caribbean country in mass protests sparked when the government on July 6 announced major fuel price hikes -- 38 percent for gasoline, 47 percent for diesel and 51 percent for kerosene. How Will Homeowners Insurance Help Massachusetts A violent succession of explosions and fires tore through three Massachusetts towns near Boston Thursday evening, killing one resident and injuring more than 20 others. While officials are still investigating the cause of the conflagrations, one working theory is that natural gas had been over pressurized in the lines of the more than 8,500 buildings affected by the disaster according to reporting from the New York Times. With at least 80 buildings burned and thousands more still deemed unsafe by Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, many of the newly homeless will undoubtedly turn to their insurance companies to help them during a desperate time. But what sort of aid can they expect? For those residents whose houses were completely destroyed by a fire, rebuilding may be a more expensive proposition than they think. While about 85% of homeowners have some sort of home insurance, a 2017 survey by J.D. Power reveals more than half of policyholders don't have a clear understanding of what's covered. An individual policy may cover the value of a home purchased five years ago, but it probably doesn't take into account the labor and material costs of rebuilding a home on an expedited schedule, as many homeowners in southern California discovered after the wildfires that swept that region in 2017. In the country at large, roughly 60%, or three-in-five homes, are underinsured by an average of 20 percent of the home's full value according to a CoreLogic study reported by Consumer Reports. Residents displaced by the explosions can seek temporary shelter at ad-hoc government facilities set up for that purpose, but the length of time before they can safely return to their homes (assuming those are still standing) remains unknown. Most homeowner's insurance includes a provision for Additional Living Expenses (ALE) that pays for hotel lodging, restaurant meals and other day-to-day expenses. The amount of coverage you receive depends on your individual policy, but a report from the American Insurance Association cites a common policy equals 20% of the total home coverage. So if a home is covered for $200,000, that policyholder will have $40,000 to pay for groceries, meals, hotel (or apartment) bills, and similar expenses. Of course, ALE isn't a consequence-free slush fund for policyholdersinsurance companies want to make sure they find temporarily lodgings that provide roughly the same standard of living so they don't end up footing the bill for a penthouse suite and five-star meals. Policyholders should also save receipts and keep meticulous records of their spending in case their expenses are called into question by a claims investigator. By Jose Devasia NEW DELHI (Reuters) - 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 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. (This version of the story has been refiled to remove redundant word from first paragraph) (Writing by Malini Menon; Editing by Nick Macfie) Tehran (AFP) - Oil cartel OPEC has "not much credit" left as some members are turning it into "a tool for the US", a senior Iranian official said in comments published Saturday. "Saudi Arabia and the UAE are turning OPEC into a tool for the US and consequently the organisation has not much credit left," Iran's OPEC governor Hossein Kazempour Ardebili told the Shana newswire, affiliated to Iran's Oil Ministry. "It is a fact that OPEC is losing its organisational character and becoming a forum," he added. In a move heavily opposed by Iran, OPEC and other oil producers including Russia agreed in June to boost crude output by around a million barrels a day, reversing course after supply cuts that had cleared a global glut and boosted prices. Iran, a founding member of the cartel, had been against the move which came as the country faces renewed US sanctions after Washington's decision to leave the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. The US decision had stoked supply concerns on world markets. Ardebili also accused Saudi Arabia and Russia of taking the market "hostage" through increased production and said that OPEC's responsibility is to restore market balance, not to boycott its founding members. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged the cartel to raise its production and said that other countries must stop buying oil from Iran or face US sanctions. Meanwhile, output from Iran has hit its lowest level since July 2016 as top buyers India and China distance themselves from Tehran due to looming US sanctions on November 5, according to the International Energy Agency. Damas (AFP) - An Israeli missile attack targeted the Syrian capital's airport late Saturday, activating air defences which shot down a number of the projectiles, state news agency SANA reported. "Our air defences responded to an Israeli missile attack on Damascus international airport and shot down a number of hostile missiles," a military source said, quoted by SANA. The agency, without giving any immediate report of casualties or damage, posted footage of the air defences being activated. In the shaky video, a small, bright explosion is seen in the night sky. AFP's correspondent in Damascus heard a loud blast, followed by several smaller explosions. In Jerusalem, the Israeli military declined to comment on the incident. This month, Israel acknowledged having carried out more than 200 strikes in war-ravaged Syria over the past 18 months, mainly against Iranian targets. It has also admitted to striking Syria to prevent what it says are deliveries of advanced weaponry to Lebanon's Hezbollah militia, which fights alongside Syrian troops and is an arch-foe of Israel. Syrian state media last reported Israeli strikes on September 4, when it said its air defences downed several missiles in the coastal province of Tartus and in central Hama. TOKYO (AP) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears headed for a third three-year term as ruling party leader, extending his hold on power and giving him time to pursue a long-cherished goal revising his country's post-World War II constitution. Abe reportedly has the support of a large majority of party representatives ahead of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Sept. 20 leadership vote. "I will take on the task of revising the constitution, a postwar challenge that has never been achieved, in order to open a new era," Abe said Friday in a televised debate with his only challenger, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The 63 year-old Abe, prime minister since December 2012, is poised to become Japan's longest-serving leader with a third term. He reportedly has the support of 70 percent of the 405 parliament members from his party, and is expected to win about 60 percent of the other 405 votes allocated to regional rank-and-file members, according to media surveys. With Abe's victory widely expected, the focus has shifted to who will get key party posts and Cabinet appointments, and his possible successor. A revision to the U.S.-drafted 1947 constitution is a decades-old pledge of the Liberal Democratic Party that none of Abe's predecessors has been able to achieve. They include Abe's grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, who saw the constitution as a humiliation imposed on Japan following its World War II defeat. Abe said earlier this week that he hoped his party could submit a draft constitutional revision to a parliamentary session later this year. He is proposing to add a clause to Article 9, which bans the use of force in settling international disputes. The clause would explicitly permit the existence of Japan's military, known as the Self-Defense Force. His coalition government holds the two-thirds majority needed in both houses to approve a national referendum on constitutional amendment, but the issue is controversial and it's unclear whether Abe could get enough votes for passage. Story continues For the public, the constitution is a lesser concern than issues such as pay, education and the high cost of child care, surveys show. Abe's agenda will include the country's aging and declining population and a royal succession in the spring. He also has to deal with security concerns stemming from North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, as well as intensifying trade friction with the U.S. which could shake his friendly relations with President Donald Trump. Abe has survived a series of scandals, including cronyism allegations against him and his wife, Akie. Despite attacks from opposition parties and criticism in the media, his public support ratings have recovered to about 40 percent, considered high for a Japanese leader after five years and eight months in office. Party members credit him with leading the party to major victories in national elections. He has lasted so long because many lawmakers are primarily interested in getting his and other senior lawmakers' backing in elections, veteran political analyst Soichiro Tahara wrote in his blog. "Many Liberal Democratic lawmakers have become 'yes men' of the leadership," he wrote. ___ Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi Find her work at https://www.apnews.com/search/mari%20yamaguchi New research from Credit Suisse affirms that family-owned companies tend to outperform non-family owned businesses. Over the last decade, the annual return generated by family owned companies was on average 5% higher. The latest edition of the ongoing report, The CS Family 1000, also explored regional and generational differences between the two business models. Researchers used one of the two following criteria to define a family-owned business: direct shareholding by founders or descendants of at least 20% or voting rights held by the founders or descendants of at least 20%. Since 2006, these companies have generated a cumulative return of 126%, outperforming the MSCI AC World index by 55%. The report analyzed the top performing family and founder owned businesses by region on a three-year, five-year and 10-year basis. From a geographical perspective, the US and Asia (excluding Japan) have the top-performing family business concentration. However, Europe has the strongest out-performance: 5.1%, compared to 4.3% among their peers in the US, and 3.1% in Asia. Among the top North American family-owned businesses with the best performing growth and stability track record in their sectors: Constellation Brands, Rollins, and Nike Inc. lead the pack. Constellation Brands has a $36.1 billion market capitalization, Rollins is at $11.5 billion, and Nike Inc. is at $97.8 billion. Researchers identified three key contributing factors supporting the strong performance of family owned businesses compared to their peers: stronger leadership loyalty to the business, more stability and focus on the long term while also prioritizing quality growth over short term profits. Establishing cause and effect is not straightforward, although higher spending on research and development and capital expenditure, and less cash taken out of the business through dividends and share buybacks is a common trait, the report stated. A follow up survey by Credit Suisse showed that family-owned companies plan to keep it in the family. Seventy-five percent dont expect the family ownership to decline in the foreseeable future. LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party is set to vote against any Brexit deal reached by Prime Minister Theresa May and the lack of a viable exit from the European Union will force May from office before Christmas, a senior Labour lawmaker told the Financial Times. The United Kingdom is due to leave the European Union on March 29 and yet little is clear. There is, so far, no full exit agreement and some rebels in May's Conservative Party have threatened to vote down a deal if she clinches one. If rebels in her party do vote against a deal, the fate of May's government and the whole exit process would depend on Labour because she would not command the 320 votes needed to carry parliament. Emily Thornberry, Labour's foreign secretary in waiting, told the FT that a workable deal was "just not going to happen" under May. Labour has set six tests for supporting any Brexit deal but Thornberry said she saw little chance of any May deal satisfying them. "I cant see them coming back with a deal that is going to meet our six tests and I cant see them coming back with a deal that will unite the Tory party, for Heavens sake ," Thornberry told the FT. Thornberry said there would need to be a national election within months given the likelihood that the prime minister would be defeated on the crucial vote on any Brexit deal. "They are not capable of governing . . . Were either going to have a general election in the autumn or were going to have it in the spring," she said. Thornberry said she wanted a national election rather than another referendum. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Stephen Addison) WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on Congress and spending legislation (all times local): 4 p.m. Congress has approved a $147 billion package to fund the Energy Department, veterans' programs and the legislative branch. The bill is the first of three spending packages Congress hopes to pass this month to avoid a partial government shutdown when the new budget year begins Oct. 1. The House vote was 377-20 and it came a day after the Senate passed it. The bill now goes to President Donald Trump. The measure represents a compromise between House and Senate negotiators. The three-bill bundle features a $5.1 billion increase for the Department of Veterans Affairs, including $1.1 billion to pay for a law Trump signed in June to give veterans more freedom to see doctors outside the troubled VA system. ___ 12:05 p.m. Congressional leaders say they have reached agreement on a plan to pass a stopgap government funding bill through Dec. 7. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said the stopgap measure will allow Congress to complete work on a series of spending measures now being negotiated. The announcement comes as the House is set to vote Thursday on a $147 billion package to fund the Energy Department, veterans' programs and the legislative branch. The Senate approved the measure Wednesday night. The bill is the first of three spending packages Congress hopes to approve this month to avoid a government shutdown Oct. 1. The stopgap funding bill will be attached to a separate bill lawmakers are negotiating to fund the Defense Department and other programs. ___ 12:30 a.m. As a potentially catastrophic hurricane heads for the Carolinas, Congress is moving to avert a legislative disaster that could lead to a partial government shutdown just weeks before November's elections. The House is set to vote Thursday on a $147 billion package to fund the Energy Department, veterans' programs and the legislative branch. The Senate on Wednesday approved the measure 92-5. The bill is the first of three spending packages Congress hopes to approve this month to avoid a government shutdown when the new budget year begins Oct. 1. It represents a compromise between House and Senate negotiators. If both chambers approve all three compromise spending packages and President Donald Trump signs them, the bills would cover nearly 90 percent of annual spending, including the military and most civilian agencies. WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort (all times local): 12:45 p.m. Paul Manafort's lawyer says the former Trump campaign chairman cut a deal with prosecutors "to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life." Kevin Downing says Manafort, of Alexandria, Virginia, has "accepted responsibility." Manafort agreed to cooperate with the special counsel's Russia probe and pleaded guilty to two federal crimes as part of Friday's plea deal. The move allows him to avoid a second criminal trial. He was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia. Neither of the cases against Manafort relates to Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, the central issue in the special counsel's investigation. Instead, they focus on financial crimes and Manafort's Ukrainian political consulting work, including failing to register as a foreign agent. ___ 12:20 p.m. 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. 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. The White House says Manafort's decision to plead guilty and cooperate with Mueller is "totally unrelated" to President Donald Trump. ___ 12:15 p.m. A judge says former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort's plea deal requires him to cooperate "fully and truthfully" with the special counsel's investigation. Story continues Judge Amy Berman Jackson said in court Friday that Manafort must participate in interviews and debriefings, provide documents and testify in future cases. 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 special counsel Robert Mueller another successful conviction while allowing Manafort to avoid facing another costly public trial in Washington. Manafort was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia. ___ Noon The White House says former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort's decision to plead guilty and cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller is "totally unrelated" to the president. Press secretary Sarah Sanders says in a statement, "This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated." Manafort says he intends to plead guilty to charges including conspiracy against the United States and conspiracy to obstruct justice relating to his work for a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine. The plea deal allows Manafort to avoid a second trial scheduled to begin next week in Washington. Manafort was found guilty by a Virginia jury last month of multiple financial crimes. Manafort was instrumental to President Donald Trump's securing the GOP nomination in 2016 and served on his campaign until August of that year. ___ 11:40 a.m. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has cut a "cooperation agreement" with prosecutors and intends to plead guilty to charges related to his Ukrainian consulting work. 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. Prosecutor Andrew Weissman said in court Friday that Manafort had struck a "cooperation agreement." He did not elaborate on the agreement. Manafort told the judge he wants to plead guilty. Manafort's second trial would have been related to Ukrainian political consulting work, including failing to register as a foreign agent. ___ 10:10 a.m. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort is expected to plead guilty to federal charges as part of a deal with the special counsel's office. A court filing Friday shows a plea hearing is set for later in the morning. The plea deal would allow 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. Prosecutors had filed new charging documents against Manafort. The charges in Friday's filing were contained in a criminal information, a document that can only be filed with a defendant's consent and typically signals a deal has been reached. Manafort's second trial would have been related to his Ukrainian political consulting work, including failing to register as a foreign agent. ___ 9:30 a.m. Prosecutors have filed new charging documents against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, signaling he may plead guilty ahead of a second trial next week. The charges in Friday's filing were contained in 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. Manafort is expected to appear in court later Friday morning. It's unclear 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 in Washington on charges related to Ukrainian political consulting work. ___ 8:10 a.m. A court hearing was scheduled Friday for Paul Manafort amid reports that President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman was nearing a plea deal to avoid trial on charges stemming from work he did for pro-Russia political forces in Ukraine. Several media outlets reported that Manafort is close to a plea deal with federal prosecutors. The New York Times said it was unclear whether such an agreement would include his cooperation in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's election meddling during Trump's 2016 campaign. The developments were first reported by ABC News, which said details of the deal would be announced in court on Friday. The network cited three unidentified sources with knowledge of the deal. Manafort has already been convicted of financial fraud in Virginia. NEW YORK (AP) The Latest on New York's Democratic primary (all times local): 9 p.m. The polls have closed in New York, where Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo is trying to fend off a challenge from actress and activist Cynthia Nixon in the nation's last primary before Election Day. Results coming in Thursday night will show whether Nixon's liberal attacks on the centrist Cuomo resonated with voters in a season where left-leaning Democrats have won surprise victories. Voters across the state also cast ballots in a hotly contested party primary for the state's attorney general. Four Democrats are facing off for the party's nomination in a race that polls have shown to be very close. Several incumbent Democratic state senators are also facing primary opposition, including a group of legislators who have been targeted for breaking with party leadership and siding with Republicans. ___ 8:40 p.m. New York's attorney general is congratulating the four Democrats running in a primary to replace her and says she's proud to have kept the office going after Eric Schneiderman's (SHNEYE'-dur-muhnz) sudden resignation in May. Barbara Underwood tweeted Thursday before polls closed that the candidates "believe in the power of this office" and have given voters "a choice for the future." Fordham law professor Zephyr (ZEF'-er) Teachout, New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney and ex-Hillary Clinton adviser Leecia Eve are running for the Democratic nomination. Underwood declined to run for election. The winner faces little-known Republican attorney Keith Wofford in November. Underwood says she hopes it's clear the office "is the sum of all its staff. I am so proud to be your AG." ___ 8:30 p.m. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (dih BLAH'-zee-oh) says his son ran into bureaucratic trouble at a polling site and wasn't able to cast his ballot by machine in the state's primary. Story continues The Democrat said it happened Thursday at a polling station near Gracie Mansion, the mayor's official residence. He says his son, Dante, brought a card showing he was registered as a Democrat but was told his name wasn't on a list so he had to vote by affidavit ballot. Those votes do still get counted. The mayor is a critic of the city's board of elections. He says the episode is proof the "system is broken." The elections board responded with a tweet, saying that Dante de Blasio was not removed from the rolls and that his name was in polling site records. ___ 6:45 p.m. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and activist and actress Cynthia Nixon are making their final pitches as their closely watched and sometimes nasty Democratic primary contest comes to a close. Cuomo spoke to reporters after casting his own ballot in Westchester County on Thursday, saying he's the best-qualified candidate not only to govern but also to push back against President Donald Trump. Nixon cast her ballot in Manhattan and greeted subway riders. The activist and former "Sex and the City" star has faulted Cuomo's handling of the city's aging subways and says he isn't a true liberal. Democratic primary voters will also choose candidates for attorney general and the state Legislature in the nation's final primary before Election Day. ___ 12:45 p.m. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and activist actress Cynthia Nixon have cast their votes in New York's Democratic primary election. Nixon posed for photos with supporters in Manhattan's Union Square before she voted Thursday at a community center. Cuomo appeared at a polling station in suburban Mount Kisco with his girlfriend, Sandra Lee. Democrats across New York are also choosing their candidates for attorney general and the state Legislature in the nation's last primary election of 2018. The most-watched race is the fiercely fought contest between Cuomo and Nixon. She's a high-profile example of an insurgent left-wing trying to oust establishment incumbents. ___ 11 a.m. Democrats across New York are choosing their candidates for governor, attorney general and the state Legislature in the nation's last primary election of 2018. The most-watched race is a fiercely fought contest between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and activist actress Cynthia Nixon. She's a high-profile example of an insurgent left-wing trying to oust establishment incumbents. President Donald Trump might want to keep an eye on the attorney general primary. Fordham law professor Zephyr Teachout, New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney and former Hillary Clinton adviser Leecia Eve have all vowed to be a legal thorn in the Republican president's side. Polls show that race very close going into election day. Voting began in some cities early Thursday and starts in other places at noon. Nouakchott (AFP) - A low turn out marked the second round of legislative and local elections in Mauritania, a frontline state in the fight against Islamic extremists, seven months before key presidential polls in the West African country. President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz's Union for the Republic has already won 67 of the 157 seats in parliament at the first round of voting on September 1. The Islamist Tewassoul party was in second place with 14 seats from the first round. Tewassoul was one of several opposition parties to boycott the previous polls in 2013, but a record 98 parties took part this time. There were another 22 parliamentary seats up for grabs on Saturday with the ruling party needing 12 more to secure an absolute majority in parliament. Elections were also held Saturday for nine regional councils and 111 municipalities. Afternoon rains lashed the capital Nouakchott, where turnout was estimated to be between 20 and 30 percent, according to the national election commission. It put the national turnout at around 40 percent. The president, who voted in Nouakchott, hailed the results of the first round, saying: "Mauritanians have voted for stability, development and progress". They had "rejected religious extremists and racists who have destroyed the country and tarnished the image of Islam around the world," he said. Mauritania is a frontline country in the fight against Islamist extremists. Aziz, 61, came to power in a coup in 2008. He won elections in 2009 and again in 2014 for a second five-year term. He has been frequently accused by opposition figures and NGOs of rights abuses, and though he says he will not seek a third mandate -- which would be against the constitution -- statements by ministers and supporters have led some to suggest he might. Donald Trump speaks at a fundraiser in Fargo, North Dakota: AP Republicans could be swamped by a blue wave in Congress, according to a clutch of polls which show double-digit leads for Democrats in Novembers midterm elections. Midwest voters are fuelling a growing gap between the two parties as support for Donald Trump wanes in key states such as Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, one pollster said. Every way we are looking at the data, the same general pattern is emerging, said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, whose latest survey showed a 12 percentage point lead for the Democrats. The Midwest is an area that is getting restless about what they hoped was going to occur and what they feel is not occurring, he added. A separate poll published on Wednesday by Quinnipiac University showed a 14-point advantage for the Democrats, while a Politico and Morning Consult survey put the party 10 points ahead. All three polls asked voters whether they preferred the Democrat or Republican in their district, rather than about specific candidates. Democrats need to gain 23 seats in the 6 November elections to seize control of the House of Representatives and the power to thwart President Trumps agenda. Historically the sitting president's party tends to lose seats in congressional midterm elections and some analysts believe Mr Trump's low national approval rating will impact upon Republican candidates. Republicans have not only been fairly silent in opposition to the president, but theyve been driving very hard in the Senate when it comes to his Supreme Court nominee, Mr Miringoff told NPR, which commissioned Marists research. In terms of brand, they look totally in lockstep with the president and that has become extremely clear to voters. Polls in July suggested only a third of voters in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota thought Mr Trump deserved a second term as president. Mr Trumps waning support in the Midwest may be linked to the trade wars he has waged with other nations. The regions farmers and car manufacturers have been hurt by tariffs imposed on exports in retaliation for the president ramping up import duties. Story continues Half of US voters surveyed by NPR/Marist said they were more likely to vote for the Democrat in their congressional district, compared to 38 per cent who opted for the Republican. The Politico and Morning Consult poll found 45 per cent preferred their Democrat candidate, compared to 35 per cent Republican. The split in Quinnipiac Universitys survey was 52 per cent to 38 per cent. By a 14-point margin, Americans would rather vote for the Democratic candidate in their local race for the US House of Representatives. Could the blue wave become a tsunami? said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University research. There are a lot of factors, and eight weeks of campaigning, that make up the answer to that question. The Quinnipiac poll found 72 per cent of voters disapproved of the job US Congress was doing, and 58 per cent felt the house should be more of a check on Mr Trump. "Whoever wins, they're going into a Congress with an abysmal approval rating," said Mr Malloy. Census Bureau data published on Thursday contained one sign of hope for Mr Trump, with incomes posting strong growth last year in more than a dozen US congressional districts where Republicans face stiff challenges in the midterms. The bureau's annual American Community Survey showed that median incomes grew 6 per cent or more in 14 battleground districts, more than a percentage point higher than nationwide gains. All 14 districts are held by Republican candidates, who have made the strengthening US economy a dominant theme of their campaigns. HANOI/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Thursday the jailing of two Reuters journalists had nothing to do with freedom of expression and that they can appeal against their seven-year sentences, prompting a sharp rebuke from the United States. Suu Kyi, in her first public comment on the case since the two, Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were convicted last week, referred to the colonial-era law under which they were charged. "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 at a conference of the World Economic Forum in Hanoi. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley described Suu Kyi's remarks as "unbelievable," in what appeared to be the sharpest direct public rebuke of the Myanmar leader by a U.S. official. "First, in denial about the abuse the Burmese military placed on the Rohingya, now justifying the imprisonment of the two Reuters reporters who reported on the ethnic cleansing. Unbelievable," Haley wrote on Twitter on Thursday. Speaking at a later news briefing, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Washington disagreed with many of the comments Suu Kyi had made and added that the journalists should be released immediately. "That verdict calls into question press freedom in Burma (Myanmar), she said. The fact that those journalists were convicted despite testimony by police that they were ordered to frame those journalists, that in our view raises serious concerns about the judicial independence and the fair trial guarantees they are supposed to have in that country," Nauert said. "We continue to urge the government of Burma to take action immediately to correct this injustice." Suu Kyi made her comments in response to a question from a forum moderator who asked whether she felt comfortable about the reporters being jailed. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were convicted on official secrets charges on Sept. 3 in a landmark case that has raised questions about Myanmar's progress toward democracy. The two reporters, who had pleaded not guilty, were investigating the killing of 10 villagers from the Muslim Rohingya minority by the Myanmar security forces at the time of their arrest. The military later acknowledged the killings and said it punished several soldiers. The United Nations, human rights and press freedom groups and various governments criticized the convictions. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have called for their release. The United States was a strong backer of Suu Kyi as she emerged in the 1980s as a pro-democracy icon who endured years of house arrest for standing up to military rule and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her struggle. But Western criticism has mounted of Suu Kyi's failure to speak out against military treatment of the Rohingya and of her attitude to the treatment of the journalists. In Hanoi, Suu Kyi questioned whether people were aware of the details of the case against the reporters. "I wonder whether very many people have actually read the summary of the judgment which had nothing to do with freedom of expression at all, it had to do with an Official Secrets Act," she said. "If we believe in the rule of law, they have every right to appeal the judgment and to point out why the judgment was wrong." Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay was not immediately available to comment on Suu Kyi's remarks. He said last week the court was independent and followed due process. Reuters, in response to Suu Kyi's comments, said in a statement: "We continue to believe that Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo did not violate Myanmars espionage law, and at no point in time were they engaged in activity to hurt their country." PRESSURE During eight months of hearings, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo testified that two policemen they had not met before handed them papers rolled up in a newspaper during a meeting at a Yangon restaurant on Dec. 12. Almost immediately afterwards, they said, they were bundled into a car by plainclothes officers. On Feb. 1, a police witness said under cross-examination that information in the documents had already been published in newspapers. In April, a prosecution witness testified that a senior officer had ordered subordinates to plant secret documents on Wa Lone to "trap" the reporter. Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said Suu Kyi was wrong when she spoke about the verdict. "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." The convictions came amid mounting pressure on Myanmar over a security crackdown sparked by attacks by Rohingya Muslim insurgents on security forces in Rakhine State in west Myanmar in August 2017. Earlier on Thursday, Suu Kyi said that in hindsight, her government could have handled the Rakhine State situation better. "There are of course ways in which we, with hindsight, might think that the situation could have been handled better," she said. "But we believe that for the sake of long-term stability and security we have to be fair to all sides ... We cannot choose and pick who should be protected by the rule of law." More than 700,000 stateless Rohingya have fled into Bangladesh, according to U.N. agencies. Myanmar has denied accusations of atrocities made by refugees, saying it conducted a legitimate counterinsurgency operation against militants. U.N. investigators said last month that Myanmar's military carried out mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingya with "genocidal intent", and that the commander-in-chief and five generals should be prosecuted under international law. Haley said last month that findings of a yet-to-be released State Department investigation into the crisis were "consistent" with those of the U.N. report. However, Washington, which has been competing for influence in Myanmar with its strategic rival China, has so far spared the Myanmar's top generals from sanctions. (Reporting by James Pearson, Mai Nguyen, Khanh Vu in Hanoi, Simon Lewis in Yangon, Michelle Nichols at the United Nations and David Brunnstrom and Lesley Wroughton in Washington; Writing by A. Ananthalakshmi and John Geddie; Editing by Robert Birsel and Alistair Bell) Lagos (AFP) - Nigerians on Saturday welcomed the resignation of finance minister Kemi Adeosun, accused of forging a document to avoid compulsory national service, as the opposition called for her to be prosecuted. The scandal surrounding the key cabinet member was seen as a blow to President Muhammadu Buhari who is seeking re-election in February. British-born Adeosun, 51, said in a letter to Buhari late Friday she was quitting to protect government integrity. Appointed in 2015, the minister had come under pressure in recent weeks since independent online newspaper Premium Times accused her of obtaining a fake exemption certificate from the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC). Under the scheme introduced in the 1970s to foster unity after a 30-month civil war, graduates under 30 serve the nation for one year. Adeosun, who studied abroad, did not return to Nigeria until she was 34 and did not serve the mandatory one year. The main opposition party replaced by Buhari's All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2015 said on Saturday the resignation was belated. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called for her "immediate arrest and prosecution for deserting national service". The party accused the Buhari administration of "shielding its many fraudulent and corrupt officials" alleging it would now help her evade prosecution. Lagos lawyer Ebun-olu Adegboruwa told AFP the minister's departure had left "an indelible mark on the integrity and anti-corruption crusade of this government". He said she wouldn't have resigned without pressure from civil society groups. - 'Dent' to Buhari's image - "For four months, the presidency was dilly-dallying on the matter until the civil society groups mounted pressure on her to resign," he said. "Now that she has admitted that the document was forged, the security agencies should do the needful by arresting and prosecuting her." Debo Adeniran of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) lobby group said the minister should have quit as soon as the scandal broke. Story continues "She waited until a panel was raised which indicted her. Perhaps she was hoping Buhari would intervene to save her," he said. Adeniran however commended Adeosun for resigning and appealed to the government to pardon her. "That she resigned at all means she is a woman of honour and other senior government officials with similar infractions should follow suit," he said. In Nigeria, it is not common for indicted public officials to resign from their jobs. Eze Onyekpere of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) saw the alleged forgery as "a dent on the image of President Buhari who has simply left it to drag for so long." Adeosun is credited with helping Nigeria out of recession, plugging leakages in finances and shoring up foreign reserves. Buhari, who came to power in 2015 on an anti-graft platform, faces a formidable election challenge next year from an array of PDP candidates, including former vice president Atiku Abubakar and Senate president Bukola Saraki. Units with New York Citys Urban Search and Rescue team were dispatched to River Bend, North Carolina, on September 14, to aid in the response and perform rescues following Hurricane Florences arrival to the area. In a video shared to the NYC Mayors Office Twitter account, members of the unit can be seen assisting an elderly resident through high flood waters following the storm. The National Weather Service warned of life-threatening flash flooding and storm surges continuing into Friday, September 14. Credit: NYC Mayors Office via Storyful - REUTERS Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has agreed to fully cooperate with the Russian election meddling investigation in a plea deal to avoid a second criminal trial. Manafort will have to conduct interviews and debriefings with the probes prosecutors, hand over documents and testify in future cases as part of the agreement, a judge said on Friday. It means that a member of the Trump campaigns inner circle has now agreed to tell Robert Mueller, the special counsel leading the Russia investigation, what really happened behind closed doors during the presidential race. Paul Manafort is a former campaign chairman for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential bid Credit: AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN Manafort pleaded guilty to two criminal charges - one for conspiracy against the United States and another for conspiracy to obstruct justice - but saw five other charges dropped as part of the deal. It brings the total number of Trump aides who have pleaded guilty to crimes to five. The others are his former attorney Michael Cohen, former national security adviser Michael Flynn, former deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates and former campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos. The White House attempted to put distance between Mr Trump and Manafort, whose crimes relate to his business dealings in Ukraine as a political consultant before he joined the campaign. Sarah Sanders, Mr Trumps press secretary, said: "This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated." Manafort, who served as campaign chairman during the summer of 2016 and helped guide it through a turbulent Republican National Convention, has repeatedly refused to co-operate with the Mueller probe in the past. But last month he was found guilty of eight counts of tax fraud, bank fraud and failure to report a foreign bank account. He was expected to face a prison term of up to a decade. Mr Trump praised him shortly after the convictions as being "brave" for not flipping - agreeing to hand over information to prosecutors in turn for leniency. Story continues There were reports that the US president had discussed using his executive powers to pardon Manafort in private with aides. In public he did not rule out such a move. However with Manafort facing a second criminal trial - jury selection was due to take place on Monday - reports begun to surface that the former aide was considering a deal. On Friday morning, Mr Muellers team filed a new document outlining two criminal charges, down from an original seven - the first solid indication a plea agreement was coming. The first charge related to money laundering, tax fraud, foreign bank accounts, lobbying and making misrepresentations to the Justice Department. The second was linked to witness tampering. Donald Trump, left, and Paul Manafort at the Republican National Convention in July 2016 Credit: REUTERS/Rick Wilking Appearing in court in Alexandria, Virginia - just across the river from Washington DC - Manafort pleaded guilty to the crimes. Judge Amy Berman Jackson said that as part of the plea deal he would have to cooperate "fully and truthfully" with Mr Mueller's investigators. It remains unclear exactly what information Manafort has that was deemed of value to the prosecutors. It is also unclear whether the information relates to Mr Trump or other campaign figures. Kevin Downing, Manaforts lawyer, said that his client cut a deal with prosecutors "to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life. He added that Manafort has "accepted responsibility". Rudy Giuliani, Mr Trump's attorney, said: "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." A 5-year-old Detroit girl was fatally shot in the head while in bed with her mother, who was shot at least 16 times during an attack that may have resulted from a rift between the woman and her relatives, police said Friday. Palermo (Italy) (AFP) - Pope Francis visits the Italian island of Sicily on Saturday to pay homage to a priest murdered by the mafia 25 years ago after trying to save youngsters in poor neighbourhoods from falling into their hands. The Argentinian pontiff's visit will be brief but is part of a wider campaign he has been waging against organised crime. He is expected to arrive in Palermo at 10:45 am (0845 GMT) and will say mass, then head to the Palermo parish where Father Giuseppe "Pino" Puglisi lived. He returns to Rome in the early evening. Puglisi, known as the first martyr of the Mafia", was shot dead on September 15, 1993, his 56th birthday. He is said to have uttered his last words to his killer, "I've been waiting for you", before dying on the doorstep of his modest home. His assassination came at a time when Italy was already traumatised by the killings of anti-Mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino. For the previous two years Puglisi had been parish priest in the rough Palermo neighbourhood of Brancaccio, where he attempted to engage the local youth and keep them away from drugs and the mafia groups who supplied them. In 2012 Francis' predecessor Benedict XVI officially recognised Puglisi as a "martyr" who was "killed by hatred of the faith". The following year he was beatified in the presence of 40 bishops and 750 priests as well as the Italian interior and justice ministers. Beatification is the first step on the path to Roman Catholic sainthood. - 'Corruption stinks' - Since becoming pope in 2013, Francis has openly confronted the mafia -- often benefactors and practising members of Catholic parishes -- and called on the faithful to stop all collaboration with them. The pontiff has already visited Naples and Calabria, other Cosa Nostra hotspots in Italy's south. In 2015 in Naples, the notorious fiefdom of the country's oldest organised crime syndicate the Camorra, he condemned those "who exploit and corrupt young people, the poor and the disadvantaged". Story continues "Corruption stinks! And a corrupt society stinks. A Christian who allows corruption to enter is not a Christian. They stink," he proclaimed in an angry speech. In Calabria, he called on Catholics to combat the Calabrian mob, known as the 'Ndrangheta. "Those who in their lives follow this path of evil, as the mafiosi do, are not in communion with God," the pope said during his Calabria visit. "They are excommunicated" he declared to thunderous applause from the 100,000 people who came to hear him. Excommunication is the severest penalty for Catholics, banishing them from the spiritual life and sacraments of the church. Local bishops have already excommunicated mafia members but the Vatican is considering creating a new doctrine excommunicating organised crime group members worldwide. - 'God's banker' - The pope has often denounced the "money stained with blood, which leads to an evil power" and called on mafiosi to "change your lives. Convert. Stop doing evil". His comments hark back to an angry address by Pope John Paul II in the Sicilian town of Agrigente in 1993 when he called on mobsters to "convert yourselves!" and urged ordinary Sicilians to revolt against the mafia. The Sicilian Godfathers responded two months later with attacks against two Catholic churches. Despite the papal rhetoric, relations between the church and organised crime groups have often been ambiguous. The Vatican's bank, the Institute of Religious Works (IOR), became notorious after the 1982 death of Roberto Calvi, known as "God's banker" because of his links to the Vatican, whose corpse was discovered hanging from Blackfriars Bridge in London. Prosecutors believe it was a mafia killing linked to money laundering via the bank. There have also been attempts to bribe or otherwise influence priests and the misappropriation of resources from institutions and charities, and questions over the purchase of Vatican real estate in the past. In southern Italy religious processions sometimes stop outside the home of a local mafia boss. But some local bishops are taking a stand. Last year the bishop of Monreale, near Palermo, made headlines by criticising a priest who had allowed the son of one of Sicily's most notorious mobsters, Toto Riina, to act as godfather at a baptism. In late 2016, a priest in southern Italy who had wanted to hold a mass in memory of a 'Ndrangheta mafia boss murdered in Quebec was taken to task by the mayor, the archbishop and his parishioners. By Ernest Scheyder CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. (Reuters) - As Hurricane Florence bent trees and began to peel away part of his neighbor's roof late on Thursday night, E.J. Griffin wondered if he had made a mistake by staying at his house in Carolina Beach in defiance of a mandatory evacuation order. "There were a couple of points when I was kind of questioning my decisions in life," he said on Friday after a harrowing night of whipping winds and soaking rain as Florence bullied across the North Carolina coast. "But we made the decision, and now we just got to ride it out." State officials spent most of the week issuing increasingly dire warnings to people about the need to flee their homes in the face of Florence's fury. Residents cannot be forced to follow evacuation orders. "Don't risk your life riding out a monster," Governor Roy Cooper pleaded on Wednesday evening, as the storm neared the coast. But some hardy - or foolhardy - residents elected to stay, gambling that the storm would fail to deliver on the worst fears of forecasters. As of Friday morning, many of those holdouts appeared to have won that bet, with a handful of exceptions. In New Bern, on the Neuse River, more than 100 people had to be saved from floods, and the downtown area was underwater. Officials warned the weakened storm would still bring life-threatening flooding to huge swaths of the state over the next couple of days. "We've lucked out so far," said Cory Summer, 47, a 25-year resident of Carolina Beach, a shore town on a peninsula south of Wilmington, wedged between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic. It was virtually destroyed by Hurricane Hazel more than 50 years ago. Like many other holdouts, Summer said he had weathered numerous hurricanes in his house, evacuating only one time, for Hurricane Fran in 1996. He had bags packed just in case but decided to stay put on Wednesday, when forecasters downgraded the storm to a Category 2 hurricane. David Cain, who lives in Sea Breeze, just north of Carolina Beach, said he had two kayaks and life jackets on standby in case the storm's flooding threatened his home, which sits a few hundred yards from Cape Fear River. "Fortunately, we haven't found anything that's come down on the house," he said. "I'm pretty seasoned. We've done about 12 hurricanes." Many holdouts said they were wary of leaving their houses to the mercy of the storm and then finding themselves unable to return for days, or even weeks, if flooding washes out local roads. In Morehead City, Jim Howell, 65, said he and his wife, Betsy, have lived through about 10 hurricanes, evacuating only once. That experience involved hours of bumper-to-bumper traffic and a days-long wait for authorities to reopen the bridge that connects the mainland to Carolina Beach. They were convinced staying was the better option, unless Florence strengthened into a Category 3 or 4 storm. Ryland Mason, who owns a roofing business in Carolina Beach, said he wanted to stay put so he could help neighbors he has four-wheel-drive trucks, generators and chainsaws. "I just don't feel like I can leave this island," he said. "I just feel like I need to help my people. That's the only reason we stayed." But the potential threats presented by Florence are not yet over. With the National Weather Service predicting the slow-moving system could drop up to eight months' worth of rain in two or three days, the risk of flooding is still real. Storm surge is another danger. "If the flooding comes from the storm surge, we could have problems," said retiree Phil Auth, 76, who stayed behind on Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks, a string of barrier islands. Tom Pahl, a commissioner in Hyde County who lives on Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks, said he slept better on Thursday night in the midst of the storm than he had the previous three, when he was debating whether to evacuate. "It's not true with every storm, but in this particular case, the anticipation was more agonizing than the storm itself," he said. Kathleen O'Neal, 69, was also feeling good about her decision to sit tight on Ocracoke Island, having weathered more than 30 hurricanes in the past. She said the hurricane had passed by with little incident, though the howling wind kept her up much of the night and the power went out. "We made out very well here," she said. (Reporting by Ernest Schneyer in Carolina Beach, North Carolina and Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Additional reporting by Gabriella Borter and Joseph Ax in New York; Writing by Joseph Ax, Editing by Nick Zieminski) Klerk peninsula (Russia) (AFP) - Russian troops taking part in the country's largest-ever war games on Saturday held drills in the Sea of Japan, despite Tokyo's concerns about a Russian military buildup in the area. The exercises were part of the Vostok-18, or East-18, war games that kicked off in eastern Russia on September 11 and will run until Monday. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has described the week-long operation, which involves nearly 300,000 soldiers, 36,000 vehicles, 1,000 planes and 80 warships, as Russia's biggest-ever war games. They are also taking place in eastern Siberia and the far-eastern Pacific region, with Chinese troops involved. On Saturday, the armed forces simulated marines capturing a shoreline area at the Klerk military training ground on a peninsula in the far eastern Primorye region supported by aviation and artillery. "What's special about this exercise is that it involves the marines, aviation, warships from the Pacific Fleet, artillery, sappers and other specialists," Major-General Dmitry Kovalenko told journalists. Japan has raised concerns over Russia's military buildup in the region, particularly on the Kuril Island chain, four of which are claimed by Tokyo in a dispute dating back to World War II that has prevented the two nations from ever signing a peace treaty. Speaking Thursday as he watched the drill, President Vladimir Putin promised to "further reinforce" the armed forces and supply them with "the latest generation weapons and technical equipment" at a time of rising tension in Moscow's ties with Washington and Brussels. While Russia insists the war games are long-planned and purely defensive in nature, NATO has said that they are simulating "large-scale conflict." Salvatore Ferragamo is relaunching its fragrance series. The luxury Italian footwear and accessories brand is bringing back its 11-piece Tuscan Creations' unisex perfume collection, Women's Wear Daily (WWD) reports. Each of the scents is a different color, and the collection has been designed to pay homage to both the brand and the region of Tuscany. The perfumes are named: Bianco di Carrara, Calimala, La Commedia, La Corte, Convivio, Punta Ala, Rinascimento, Testa di Moro, Terra Rossa, Vendemmia and Viola Essenziale. Rinascimento' is a completely new addition to the family, while the other scents have all been revitalized for the relaunch. "In general, in the last three to four years the niche fragrances market has taken off, tripling its sales, so this was an opportunity not to be missed," Ferragamo Parfums chief executive officer Luciano Bertinelli told WWD. "Any luxury brand with a storytelling is entering in this market and we already had our heritage, we didn't need to invent a story so we did join [the market]." Luxury houses have been lining up to tap into the fragrance sector over the past year, with recent examples including fashion house Proenza Schouler, which unveiled its debut scent Arizona' back in February, and Louis Vuitton, which introduced men's scents to its portfolio this spring. In April, jewelry brand Graff Diamonds also declared its intention to take on the perfume market with a debut fragrance line set to launch in 2019. The Tuscan Creations line is now available online at Ferragamo.com, and is expected to launch in select stores from next month. San Juan mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz has criticized Donald Trump's tweets about Hurricane Maria: Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images The mayor of the capital of Puerto Rico has called President Donald Trump delusional for claiming thousands of Americans did not die in Hurricane Maria. Mr Trump tweeted on Thursday that 3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico last September a rejection of his own governments assessment that 2,975 people died as a result of Hurricane Maria and the months-long recovery that followed. The president claimed the recently updated death toll was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible, adding: If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico! San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, who has sparred frequently with Mr Trump about his response to hurricane, responded with a tweet of her own, calling the president delusional, paranoid, and unhinged from any sense of reality. This is NOT about politics this was always about SAVING LIVES, she added. The government updated the death toll from Hurricane Maria last month, in light of the finding by researchers at George Washington Universitys Milken Institute School of Public Health that nearly 3,000 more people died in the six months after the storm than usually would have during that period. The results supported a Harvard University study that found thousands more people died as a result of the storm than originally predicted. But Mr Trump has refused to back down from his claim that the government did a great job in its response to Puerto Rico, where power was only fully restored in August nearly a year after the hurricane hit. On Tuesday, days after the Government Accountability Office released a report showing that more than half the federal workers deployed to disaster zones at the time were known to be unqualified, Mr Trump called the recovery effort incredibly successful. "It was one of the best jobs that's ever been done with respect to what this is all about, he said at a briefing. Story continues Ms Yulin Cruz was an outspoken critic of the administration's response to Hurricane Maria in the direct aftermath of the storm, as well as in the months that followed. She first earned the presidents ire in a press conference days after the hurricane hit, when she begged for help and claimed the government was killing us with the inefficiency. The politicians seem not to have lost their animosity in the intervening months, with Mr Trump calling the mayor totally incompetent in a tweet on Wednesday. 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), he wrote. In reference to Hurricane Florence, which was expected to strike the East Coast any day, he added: We are ready for the big one that is coming! WASHINGTON (AP) Moving to head off a government shutdown that neither party wants, Congress has overwhelmingly approved a compromise spending bill and pledged agreement on a short-term bill to fund the government through early December. The House on Thursday approved a $147 billion package to fund the Energy Department, veterans' programs and the legislative branch. The 377-20 vote came a day after the Senate passed the measure, 92-5. The bill now goes to White House, where President Donald Trump is expected to sign it. The quick action in the House and Senate came as legislative leaders announced agreement on a bill to fund the rest of the government through Dec. 7. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said the short-term plan would be added to a separate spending bill that lawmakers are negotiating to cover the Defense Department and labor, health and education programs. The stopgap bill would not address Trump's long-promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. GOP leaders have said they prefer to resolve the issue after the Nov. 6 elections. It was not clear whether Trump would back this approach, but a Republican aide said the White House had not indicated any immediate opposition. The bill approved Thursday was the first of three spending measures Congress hopes to approve this month to avoid a government shutdown when the new budget year begins Oct. 1. Passage was so important to Republican leaders that they moved up the Senate vote, citing the threat of Hurricane Florence bearing down on the southeast coast. The House and Senate both adjourned for the week immediately following the budget votes. Approval of the spending bill marked a departure from recent years, when Congress routinely ignored agency-specific spending measures in favor of massive packages that funded the entire government at once. Trump has said he would not sign another bloated bill. The three compromise spending plans, if passed by Congress and signed by Trump, would account for nearly 90 percent of annual federal spending, including the military and most civilian agencies. Story continues "This package is not perfect, but that is the nature of compromise," said Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Leahy said he was concerned that the bill did not do enough to cover costs associated with a program that allows veterans to receive government-paid health care at private facilities. Across the Capitol, Rep. Mark Walker said he and other conservatives were disappointed by the absence of policy add-ons that were in a House-passed version before budget negotiations with the Senate. "House Republican priorities were shut out across the board," said Walker, R-N.C. He said conservatives expect the next round of budget talks to reflect their policy priorities. If not, it will be "difficult to support this funding," Walker said. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., disputed Walker's characterization. "I think we got a great amount of victories for our members," Ryan said. Ryan said the bill includes money for veterans' health care, military infrastructure, the electrical grid and nuclear weapons programs, and "represents a return to our most basic responsibility around here: passing appropriation bills." While generally upbeat about the progress on spending legislation, lawmakers from both parties are wary of a government shutdown, which Trump has threatened unless he gets billions of dollars for the wall. "We still are in favor of the wall, we still want to get funding for the wall, but we think the best time to have that discussion is after the election," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News. McConnell, R-Ky., said there's "zero" chance of a government shutdown. Even so, Trump held out the possibility of a shutdown, citing the need to protect the nation's border by following through on his signature campaign promise. "If it happens, it happens," Trump said last week. "If it's about border security, I'm willing to do anything." With Republicans running the White House and both chambers of Congress, GOP leaders worry that voters would blame them for a shutdown, worsening the party's prospects for retaining congressional control amid an anticipated "blue wave" for Democrats. The White House in a statement said Trump looks forward to signing the spending package, adding that it "aligns with many of the administration's priorities." The three-bill bundle includes: $97.1 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction, including a $1.1 billion increase to pay for a law Trump signed to give veterans more freedom to see doctors outside the troubled VA system. $44.6 billion for energy and water programs, including programs to ensure nuclear stockpile readiness and spur innovation in energy research. The bill also funds flood-control projects and addresses regional ports and waterways. $4.8 billion for the legislative branch, including Congress and the Capitol police. The bill would require Senate candidates to file electronic campaign finance reports nearly two decades after the requirement was put in place in the House. Senate candidates currently file paperwork with the secretary of the Senate. The bill omits several partisan policy riders approved by the House, including one that would have repealed an Obama-era clean water rule and another to limit spillovers at dams in the Pacific Northwest to protect salmon. The bill also eliminates funding for a long-stalled nuclear waste dump at Nevada's Yucca Mountain. The longest bull market in history we are experiencing right now may be unprecedented, but to Robert Shiller, the moment of irrational exuberance is coming back. The renowned Yale economist used the title of his 2000 bestselling book to describe an overheated market on Yahoo Finance on Friday. In 1996, the phrase became well known after then-Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan warned that the stock market might be overvalued. The burst of the internet bubble ended the previous record bull run from October 1990 to March 2000. Shiller voiced his concern back then, and now takes the bearish case again. Are you sensing a little irrational exuberance here? Yahoo Finances Alexis Christoforous asked. Well yeah, I think so. I like that term, Shiller said. The reason the phrase is so famous, by the way, is not because its so eloquent. Its because the markets all over the world dropped about 4% when [then Fed chairman Alan] Greenspan said those words. People said, No, this is absurd. If Greenspan uses some colorful language, should the stock markets of the entire world lose? It became a good word to describe the kind of craziness that happens in our markets. Though Shiller clarified that he was not predicting an imminent market crash. The market looks overvalued, he said. Im glad Im a professor and not a portfolio manager. You cant predict these things a boom can go on for longer than youd ever imagined. Robert Shiller speaks at a Wharton conference in New York about the impact of the 2008 financial crisis. (Credit/Shira Yudkoff) Shillers formula for stock valuation, known as the CAPE ratio, which is the price divided by a 10-year earnings average, has been on the rise in the past few years and now stands at 33. It got up to 45 at the height of the 2000 tech bubble. CAPE, while widely considered a useful metric in asset allocation, doesnt always work well in the short run. Last year, Shiller suggested investors look into emerging markets, which have better value than U.S. stocks. But the markets have seen a divergence in performance. While the U.S. continues its bull run after small corrections, emerging markets like Turkey, Italy, and China have experienced major meltdowns. Story continues The CAPE ratio a year ago made me think I want to underweight the U.S. In the last year, it wasnt a successful strategy, said Shriller. But I still believe it in the long run. U.S. Stock Markets 1871-Present and CAPE Ratio. (Credit/Robert Shiller) As populism rises worldwide, the strong capitalism in the U.S. encourages winners to win and ignore losers, which may help support the high valuation of big-ticket stocks, Shiller said. Like many economists, Shiller sees a recession following the historical bull run. I think its highly likely that well have a recession, he said, adding that most recessions in history are mild. The Nobel Prize-winning economist has been trying to understand market behaviors beyond metrics. He said the trigger for the next recession doesnt have to be anything concrete. The market pulled back sharply at the beginning of this year, but didnt tumble into a big correction. That didnt happen because people werent in the mood for further recession Its mainly psychological, Shiller said. Krystal Hu covers technology and the economy for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter. Read more: El-Erian: Trump has a 75% chance of winning the trade war Laffer: Trumps trade war pushes China to behave like a proper country Walmart buys from US suppliers, but that doesnt protect it from tariffs Nikki Haley, the current occupant of the US ambassador's residence, speaks during a press conference at the United Nations headquarters: Kevin Hagen/Getty Images The State Department spent more than $52,000 (40,000) last year on mechanised curtains for the residence of the US ambassador to the UN. The purchase, which a spokesperson for current ambassador Nikki Haley said was approved by the Obama administration, included a $29,900 (23,000) set of curtains and $22,800 (17,000) in hardware to open and close them automatically, according to government contracts. The total $52,700 (40,000) was almost as much as the government pays for Ms Haleys $58,000-a-month (44,000) apartment on Manhattans First Avenue, according to the New York Times. A spokesperson for Ms Haleys office told The Independent that the curtains were suggested by the State Departments Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations in July of 2016, as part of a plan to outfit the new ambassador's residence. Ms Haley did not have any say in the decision, the spokesperson said. An Obama-era official defended the purchase, telling the Times it was necessary for security and entertaining purposes. All shes got is a part-time maid, and the ability to open and close the curtains quickly is important, said Patrick Kennedy, the top management official at the State Department under President Barack Obama. The purchase occurred in March of last year, at the same time the White House announced a proposal to slash State Departments budget by approximately 30 per cent, with deep cuts to foreign aid and climate-change initiatives. The plan was eventually overruled by Congress. The department was also in the midst of a hiring freeze, which left dozens of top positions unfilled. The next month, then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson floated a plan to cut 2,300 jobs from the department a proposal that Congress also nixed. American Foreign Service Association President Barbara Stephenson wrote later that year that the departments leadership was being depleted at a dizzying speed. The rapid loss of so many senior officers has a serious, immediate, and tangible effect on the capacity of the United States to shape world events, the ambassador added. Story continues The State Department is not the government agency to face scrutiny for its spending in recent months. Former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price resigned last September amid outcry over his liberal use of taxpayer-funded private flights. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson sparked backlash after his office ordered him a $31,000 (24,000) dining table set, and the treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, faced scrutiny after ordering a government jet to take him on his honeymoon. Super Typhoon Mangkhut the biggest storm of the year smashed through the Philippines on Saturday, and claimed its first death as a woman was swept out to sea off Taiwan. Mangkhut tore through the northern part of Luzon island, where it made landfall in the pre-dawn darkness, ripping off roofs, felling trees and knocking out power. The area is home to around 10 million people, many of whom live in flimsy wooden shelters. As the powerful storm left the Southeast Asian archipelago and barreled towards densely populated Hong Kong and southern China, search teams in the Philippines began surveying the provinces that suffered a direct hit. We believe there has been a lot of damage, said Social Welfare Secretary Virginia Orogo as thousands of evacuees took refuge in emergency shelters. Mangkhut was packing sustained winds of 170 kilometers (105 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 260 km per hour as it left the Philippines. 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 storms arrival because of major flooding and landslide risks. In Taiwan, a woman was swept away by high waves caused by the typhoon, the government said. We are terrified Residents had started lashing down their roofs and gathering supplies days before the arrival of the storm. 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). After blasting the Philippines, Mangkhut is predicted to hurtle towards Chinas heavily populated southern coast this weekend. They (authorities) said this typhoon is twice as strong as the last typhoon, thats why we are terrified, Myrna Parallag, 53, told AFP after fleeing her home in the northern Philippines. Story continues 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 countrys 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 stories high, Michael Conag, a spokesman for local civil defense authorities, told AFP. As the storm heads for Chinas southern coast, Cathay Pacific airline said it expects more than 400 flight cancellations over the next three days. The Hong Kong government said Mangkhut will pose a severe threat to the region as many residents in the city and neighboring Macau stocked up on food and supplies. The president of neighboring Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, pushed citizens to be ready. The typhoon is powerful and even its not expected to make a landfall in Taiwan, we should be well prepared and not take it lightly, she wrote on Facebook. The post Super Typhoon Mangkhut smashes through Philippines appeared first on Coconuts. New York (AFP) - A teenager was killed and 25 residents injured after a series of gas explosions and fires rocked three US towns north of Boston, according to the state government. Massachusetts police said they had responded to 70 reports of fires, explosions and the smell of gas that began Thursday afternoon and triggered mass evacuations across the east coast towns of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover "The incidents have been traumatic," said Governor Charlie Baker late Thursday, confirming along with several other officials that a teenager was killed in a car when a chimney crashed onto it. Some 8,600 homes were directly affected, according to local utility company Columbia Gas, which said "we are focused on providing as much support as possible to our customers, residents and communities," in a statement issued Friday. Images on local television showed two houses that were destroyed and several more on fire, as well as dozens of emergency vehicles on the streets. "The focus remains on ensuring the public safety," said Baker. "Once that's complete, we will work with the federal government and others to investigate how this occurred and hold the appropriate parties accountable for their actions." Columbia Gas will likely be at the center of the investigation. North Andover Mayor Andrew Maylor tweeted overnight that the "unprecedented" incidents were caused by "over pressurization of gas lines" in the three cities. Schools, courts and many public services were to remain closed on Friday. 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." Story continues 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. The survey of more than 430 AmCham China and AmCham Shanghai member companies, including 36 in automotive and transportation, was conducted between Aug. 29 and Sept. 5. Members of AmCham China include local branches of General Motors (GM), Ford (F), BMW (BMW-DE), Goodyear (GT) and Harley-Davidson (HOG), according to the chamber's website. AmCham Shanghai does not publicly disclose its membership. But since companies submitted responses anonymously, it is unclear to what extent high-profile U.S. automakers are affected. Publicly, Ford said in late August that as a result of potential increases in U.S. tariffs, it has decided not to sell a small Chinese-made vehicle in America. Earlier in August, Morgan Stanley cut its price target and earnings per share estimates on General Motors due to concerns about a slowdown in the Chinese market. "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," Eric Zheng, chairman of AmCham Shanghai, said in a statement. "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." WATCH: New survey shows firms are feeling the impact of the US-China trade war The special counsel has secured multiple indictments, and an agreement with Paul Manafort that could pose a threat to Trump Robert Mueller and his team of investigators have let slip next to nothing about what they know. They have all the information, said Randy Credico, a comedian, about Muellers team. Photograph: J. Scott Applewhite/AP The comedian and activist Randy Credico met last week with investigators working with special counsel Robert Mueller. He came away impressed. I think these people know everything already, said Credico, who was there to answer questions about his old friend Roger Stone, a sometime adviser to Donald Trump. They have all the information. All the information grew significantly on Friday, as Mueller announced that the former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort had entered into a cooperation agreement with prosecutors requiring him to testify indefinitely about any matter of interest to investigators, potentially including the inner workings of the campaign, its contacts with Russia, Trump family business dealings in Russia or his own contacts with Russia. One former assistant US attorney called the plea deal an existential threat to the presidency. The fundamental focus and progress of the Mueller investigation is unknown, owing to the prosecutorial teams extreme informational continence. But by all reports, and judging by indictments handed down so far, Muellers flashlights have penetrated deeply into the side caverns and underground tunnels of the Trump campaign and presidency. His central mission is to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election and alleged cooperation by the Trump presidential campaign. So what is the status of the Mueller investigation, with the midterm elections less than two months away? What does Manaforts flip mean? Manafort, who was convicted last month on eight fraud charges, pleaded guilty on Friday to conspiring to defraud the US and conspiring to obstruct justice, and agreed to cooperate with the government. Manafort could help Mueller in many ways. Drawing on his long relationships and network of contacts in the former Soviet bloc, he might help prosecutors understand how the Russian interference campaign played out. Investigators are bound to be interested in Manaforts offer of private briefings to his former business partner Oleg Deripaska, the Russian industrialist. Story continues Potentially worse for Trump and his family, Manafort is well positioned to testify about any wrongdoing inside the campaign. He attended a June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russian operatives arranged by Donald Trump Jr. He was present at the Republican convention when the party softened its anti-Russia stance in Ukraine. Manafort understands the nature of the campaigns contacts with Russian operatives, and he was chairman when WikiLeaks began publishing emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) by hackers linked by US intelligence to Russia. He might be able to describe Trumps attempted business deals in Russia. Mueller just got a star witness. Will Roger Stone be indicted? Mueller is investigating Stone, who was in contact during the campaign with WikiLeaks, which in July 2016 published some emails stolen from the DNC and which later was in contact with Trump Jr. A second Stone associate, Jerome Corsi, was interviewed by Mueller on the same day as Credico. Stone has said he expects to be indicted but has denied all wrongdoing. Following the money Federal prosecutors are investigating suspect money flows during and after the election, although it is unclear how much of that investigation is in Muellers purview versus how much is being run, for example, out of the US attorneys office for the southern district of New York. Prosecutors are investigating large overseas money flows following the June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between campaign officials and Russian operatives, and also following the November 2016 election, BuzzFeed reported on Wednesday. Money flows originally tipped prosecutors off to the crimes of the former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty last month to fraud charges and campaign finance violations in a prosecution referred by Mueller. Other Trump Organization figures are now reportedly under investigation for alleged campaign finance violations, and the chief financial officer of the organization, Allen Weisselberg, is cooperating with prosecutors. The earliest cases brought by the special counsels office continue to play out. Former campaign aide George Papadopoulos was sentenced last week to two weeks in prison for lying to FBI investigators about contacts with Kremlin-linked figures. Papadopoulos was told in April 2016 the Russians had dirt on Hillary Clinton and thousands of emails, but later told reporters he did not believe he had passed that information up the campaign food chain. Meanwhile, Joseph Mifsud, the Maltese professor who told Papadopoulos that, is mysteriously missing. Trump and obstruction of justice Mueller is also believed to be investigating Trump, who denies all wrongdoing, for alleged obstruction of justice. Trumps firing of FBI director James Comey, his attacks on the attorney general, Jeff Sessions, and the justice department, and his alleged dangling of pardons to defendants such as Manafort all might qualify as obstruction. After Manaforts conviction on felony fraud charges in Virginia last month, Trump tweeted: 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! Will Mueller interview Trump? The presidents legal team, led by Rudy Giuliani, appears to be in negotiations with Mueller. According to a new book by Bob Woodward, the former Trump lawyer John Dowd counselled Trump not to grant an interview to Mueller because Dowd believed Trump could not keep himself from lying. The status of the negotiations is opaque, with only the mutterings of Giuliani to go on. He has contradicted himself, saying last week that Trump would refuse to answer any questions about obstruction of justice, and then saying were not closing it off 100%. Mueller is thought to be working on a report to the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein. He has secured guilty pleas or convictions from four ex-campaign aides. About 50% of voters support Muellers handling of the investigation, versus 30% who approve of Trumps handling of it, according to a recent CNN poll. Public faith in Mueller has been growing since June, when he was measured at 41% approval. President and CEO of JPMorgan Chase Co. Jamie Dimon arrives to testify before a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Capitol Hill: Mark Wilson/Getty Images Donald Trump has hit back at the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, after the bank executive suggested he could beat the president in a national election. 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, Mr Trump tweeted on Thursday, adding that the banker is otherwise wonderful. Ive made a lot of bankers, and others, look much smarter than they are with my great economic policy! the president continued. 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. Ive made a lot of bankers, and others, look much smarter than they are with my great economic policy! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018 Mr Dimon took swipes at Mr Trump during an event at his banks headquarters in New York on Wednesday, saying he was smarter than the president, and just as tough. I would be fine, the 62-year-old said of a contest with Mr Trump, according to CNBC. He could punch me all he wants, it wouldnt work with me. Id fight right back. He added: And by the way, this wealthy New Yorker actually earned his money. It wasnt a gift from Daddy. Mr Dimon later backtracked on the comments, saying he wasnt running for president and should not have said it. The outburst, he added, proves I wouldnt make a good politician. I get frustrated because I want all sides to come together to help solve big problems, he said in a statement. Mr Dimon previously served on the White House business advisory council, and was reportedly considered for the role of Mr Trumps treasury secretary. He refused to publicly disavow the former businessman in the early days of his presidency, but later issued a strong rebuke of the presidents response to a white supremacist rally in Virginia. Story continues I strongly disagree with President Trumps reaction to the events that took place in Charlottesville over the past several days, he said at the time. Racism, intolerance and violence are always wrong. Nevertheless, Mr Dimon who has previously described himself as barely a Democrat gave Mr Trump high marks for slashing taxes and regulations in his annual letter to shareholders this year. And he had some criticism for Democrats on Wednesday as well, saying they need to get their act together before the 2020 election and start supporting businesses. The following statements were posted to the verified personal Twitter account of U.S. President Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump) The opinions expressed are his own. Reuters has not edited the statements or confirmed their accuracy. @realDonaldTrump : - 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. I've made a lot of bankers, and others, look much smarter than they are with my great economic policy! [0722 EDT] - We are completely ready for hurricane Florence, as the storm gets even larger and more powerful. Be careful! [0739 EDT] - More text messages between former FBI employees Peter Strzok and Lisa Page are a disaster and embarrassment to the FBI & DOJ. This should never have happened but we are learning more and more by the hour. "Others were leaking like mad" in order to get the President! ........ [0806 EDT] - ....."It is a cesspool of corruption, and the people who did this need to be brought to justice." @GreggJarrett [0810 EDT] - "Middle-Class Income Hits All-Time High!" @foxandfriends And will continue to rise (unless the Dems get in and destroy what we have built). [0825 EDT] - 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... [0837 EDT] - .....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! [0849 EDT] - 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? [1015 EDT] - Thank you @USCG! http://bit.ly/2NevyUr [1114 EDT] - I was just briefed on Hurricane Florence. FEMA, First Responders and Law Enforcement are supplied and ready. We are with you! (link: https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-florence) [1326 EDT] - Thank you @USNationalGuard! #HurricaneFlorence http://bit.ly/2NeiA91 [1341 EDT] - Senator Debbie Stabenow and the Democrats are totally against approving the Farm Bill. They are fighting tooth and nail to not allow our Great Farmers to get what they so richly deserve. Work requirements are imperative and the Dems are a NO. Not good! [1356 EDT] - 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! [2110 EDT] - Gina is Great! https://bit.ly/2NciezN[2237 EDT] -- Source link: (http://bit.ly/2jBh4LU) (Compiled by Bengaluru bureau) Ankara (AFP) - A Turkish court has sentenced a former British soldier to seven-and-a-half years in jail for alleged links to a Kurdish militia that Ankara considers a "terrorist" group. Joe Robinson was arrested in July 2017 while holidaying in Turkey after he posted photos of himself in camouflage and posing next to fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria. A court in the western city of Aydin sentenced him for "membership of a terrorist organisation," the private DHA news agency said. The YPG is an ally of the United States in the fight against the Islamic State in Syria. But Ankara is hostile to the YPG because of its links with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which is fighting for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey. Robinson did not attend the trial for health reasons, DHA said. He is currently on bail and planning an appeal. His Bulgarian fiancee, arrested along with him, was also sentenced to nearly two years in jail for "terrorist propaganda," but she is currently in Britain, DHA said. According to British press reports, the 25-year-old Robinson is a former soldier who served in Afghanistan in 2012 and went to Syria in 2015 to work in the YPG's health unit. WASHINGTON (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." The Trump administration has maintained pressure on Pyongyang through sanctions in an effort to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, which are a threat to the United States. President Donald 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. (Reporting by Tim Ahmann and Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and James Dalgleish) By Lesley Wroughton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday lambasted his predecessor, John Kerry, for meetings with Iranian officials in back-channel talks and accused him of "actively undermining" the Trump administration's policy toward Tehran. "What Secretary Kerry has done is unseemly and unprecedented," Pompeo told a news conference, adding that he "ought not to engage in that kind of behavior. It's inconsistent with what the foreign policy of the United States is, as directed by this president. It is beyond inappropriate." Pompeo's sharp criticism of Kerry comes a day after President Donald Trump accused the former secretary of state of "illegal" meetings on Iran in a late-night tweet. "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 said on Twitter. Trump withdrew the United States from a nuclear deal that Kerry clinched in 2015 between Iran and six world powers. The Trump administration has pushed a hard line against Tehran, which it accuses of expanding its influence in the Middle East through support for proxy armed groups in countries such as Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. Kerry, in a radio interview with Fox News as part of a book tour, said he had met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif "three or four times" since the end of his term in January 2017. He has also accused the Trump administration of pursuing a policy of regime change in Iran. "Mr. President, you should be more worried about Paul Manafort meeting with Robert Mueller than me meeting with Iran's FM," Kerry said on Twitter shortly after Pompeo's remarks, referring to Trump's former campaign chairman who on Friday agreed to cooperate with federal investigators into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election. "Theres nothing unusual, let alone unseemly or inappropriate, about former diplomats meeting with foreign counterparts," a spokesman for Kerry said in a statement. "What is unseemly and unprecedented is for the podium of the State Department to be hijacked for political theatrics," he said. During interviews this week Kerry has accused the Trump administration of pursuing a policy of regime change in Iran. Pompeo pushed back, saying that was not the administration's intention. "This is a former secretary of state engaged with the world's largest state sponsor of terror ...," Pompeo said, adding: "He was telling them to wait out this administration. You can't find precedent for this in U.S. history." (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton and David Alexander; editing by G Crosse and James Dalgleish) 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. Story continues 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 labourers 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) United Nations (United States) (AFP) - UN member-states on Friday agreed on a global plan to step up the fight against tuberculosis, the world's number one killer among infectious diseases, settling a row with the United States over access to cheap drugs. Following weeks of tough negotiations, the text of a final declaration won approval and will be formally adopted at the first-ever TB summit on September 26, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. In July, South Africa clashed with the United States over proposals to water down language recognizing the right of poorer countries to access cheaper medicines. The contested language referred to the so-called TRIPS trade arrangements dealing with intellectual property rights. A compromise was reached that strengthened references to TRIPS. Medical charity MSF had backed South Africa's stance and urged countries to resist what it described as an "aggressive push" by the US pharmaceutical lobby to restrict access to low-cost drugs. At the summit world leaders will commit to end the tuberculosis epidemic by 2030 and come up with $13 billion annually to achieve that goal, according to the 53-point final declaration. An additional $2 billion will be spent globally to fund tuberculosis research -- up from $700 million currently. MSF policy advisor Sharonann Lynch said the final declaration was an improvement from the first draft, but added that world leaders must turn up at the summit. "Heads of state have to show up at the UN high-level meeting on TB and exercise their rights to protect public health over drug company profits and scale up effective and affordable, generic versions of expensive patented drug-resistant TB medicines," said Lynch. Last year, the World Health Organization sounded the alarm when it said tuberculosis had surpassed HIV/AIDS as the world's number one infectious killer and was the ninth cause of death worldwide. About 1.7 million people died from TB in 2016 out of 10.4 million worldwide who became ill from the severe lung infection, according to the WHO. Five countries are the hardest-hit by the TB pandemic: India, which accounts for a quarter of cases, Indonesia, China, the Philippines and Pakistan. Washington (AFP) - The United States is still studying possible waivers of sanctions against countries or businesses that continue commerce with Iran after November 4, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday. At the same time he maintained the US administration's firm position toward Tehran, which Washington accuses of interference throughout the Middle East. To the dismay of other signatories, Trump in May announced his pullout from the hard-won 2015 international accord under which Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear capacities in exchange for relief from crippling economic sanctions. Trump said the deal failed to block all paths to an Iranian nuclear bomb, and reimposed sanctions. These included secondary penalties against businesses or foreign countries which continue commerce with Iran. Those firms must now choose between their investments in Iran and their access to the US market. Washington gave them some time to pull out, leaving the latest sanctions related to financial transactions and petroleum to take effect after November 4. "There are still a number of decisions pending before the November 4th deadline that we gotta make about waivers, potential waivers," Pompeo told a news conference. Washington wants all countries to halt oil imports from Iran before November 4 if they want to avoid US penalties. Certain waivers have not been excluded, however, notably for India which depends heavily on Iranian petroleum. Responding to a question, Pompeo said he did not know if sanctions would hit managers of Swift, the international financial messaging system, if they continue to deal with Iran. "Come November 4th, there will be a fundamentally different set of rules" regarding "anyone who deems it necessary to engage in economic activity with the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is a big important day," Pompeo said. He underlined that many countries had already begun to disengage themselves. The European Union, which continues to back the Iran nuclear accord, has tried unsuccessfully to obtain widespread waivers and many of its bigger companies have already pulled out of the country for fear of US penalties. Iran in late August opened a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice, demanding the suspension of the renewed US financial penalties which it says are devastating its economy. Watergate figure and onetime Nixon White House attorney John Dean could hardly contain himself over news that former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort had agreed in a plea deal to cooperate with the special counsel investigation led by Robert Mueller. BOOM! Dean tweeted Friday, and he added that the entire Trump family now in jeopardy though he didnt explain why he thinks so. Dean said he could hear the sounds of broomsticks breaking, deriding President Donald Trumps repeated claims that Muellers inquiry is nothing more than a witch hunt. Manafort has flipped! BOOM (the sound of broomsticks breaking the sound barrier crashing to earth - NO witches). The entire Trump family now in jeopardy. No pardon for Paul from Trump. No nice things to say about Mansfort by Rudy. Nightmares at the White House will be unending. John Dean (@JohnWDean) September 14, 2018 No pardon for Paul from Trump, Dean noted. Trump had discussed pardoning Manafort, but that hadnt happened. And now its too late, said Trump defender and Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz. Theres no doubt Mueller is interested in information about Trump, Dershowitz said on MSNBC on Friday (beginning at 3:30 in the video below). And once Manafort agrees to cooperate, he has to cooperate about everything, Dershowitz added. Theres no such thing as partial cooperation. A presidential pardon now is off the table; its too little, too late, Dershowitz explained. It would backfire at this point. If hes given a pardon, then he [Manafort] cant take the Fifth Amendment to protect himself from self-incrimination. He would have to testify anyway. He could be called in front of a grand jury. From the point of view of Mueller, this is a big win, said Dershowitz. It potentially opens up lots of doors that probably havent been opened before. Manafort pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to obstruct justice and conspiracy against the United States, including money laundering, tax fraud, failing to register as a foreign agent and lying to the government. He also agreed to cooperate fully, truthfully, completely, and forthrightly with the government. Story continues Manafort was found guilty on eight criminal counts last month following a separate federal trial in northern Virginia. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Friday that Manaforts plea has nothing to do with the president. Trumps personal attorney Rudy Giuliani said theres no fear that Paul Manafort would cooperate against the president because theres nothing to cooperate about. Giuliani also told the New York Daily News that Trump hasnt ruled out a pardon for Manafort. Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. A North Carolina weatherman who remained at his post to provide live updates on Hurricane Florence was forced to evacuate mid-broadcast as the TV station began to flood. As the Category 1 hurricane bore down on the Carolinas on Thursday, WCTI meteorologists Donnie Cox and Shane Hinton continued to oversee coverage of the storm for the city of New Bern. However, as water built up around the building, Hinton and then Cox were forced to make their exits. The eerie final moments of the stations footage show Cox announcing that a sister station in Myrtle Beach would take over the coverage before walking out of the frame, leaving just the radar loop of Florence playing in the background. We have the situation that has developed here at the station, and that is that the water [is] getting [so] close to the building that the building has been evacuated, Cox said in a video posted to Twitter Thursday night. Just so you know that we are staying here to keep you up to date. On air meteorologists in New Bern casually explaining the building has been evacuated due to Florences storm surge but theyre sticking around to stay on air and inform the public pic.twitter.com/bOaaM8eP8n Brian L Kahn (@blkahn) September 13, 2018 (Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images) WASHINGTON The Economic Club of Washington threw a party for Jeff Bezos, the worlds richest man, on Thursday night in the fancy hotel ballroom that also hosts the White House Correspondents Dinner. Economic Club president and billionaire private equity investor David Rubenstein interviewed Bezos on a stage for the benefit of lesser rich people whod paid to attend. At one point near the beginning of the event, Rubenstein asked the crowd if anyone had taken the subway to get there, and everyone laughed. Bezos is CEO of Amazon, one of the biggest and most controversial companies in America, but the Economic Club exists for business boosterism, not the public interest. So Rubenstein asked the most flattering questions imaginable. You have become the wealthiest man in the world. Is that a title you wanted? Is there something in that neighborhood [that Bezos shares with Bill Gates outside Seattle] we should know about? Are there any more houses for sale there? From an early age, were you a pretty smart student? Where did you get that laugh from? You know, it is distinctive. How come you decided to go to Princeton? Where did the name Amazon come from? Who came up with the idea for Prime? You dont like meetings before 10 a.m., you like to get eight hours of sleep, and you dont like PowerPoints explain all that. When you buy over the internet, Amazon, do you ever get the wrong order, is anything ever wrong? What do you do? Do you call up and complain? At one point, Rubenstein veered into tough question territory, asking whether Bezos feared the U.S. or European governments might decide his trillion-dollar company is unfairly crushing its competition. Bezos said its good for the public to scrutinize large companies, nonprofits and governments, but that nothing could stop his business. We want to live in a society where people are worried about big institutions thats OK, he said, before adding that politicians should be nice. They shouldnt vilify big companies and they certainly shouldnt vilify business in general, for sure. Story continues Amazon has been getting vilified. Experts are increasingly wary of its budding monopolistic power. President Donald Trump hates the company. And in recent weeks, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has been harshly criticizing Amazons labor practices. The company employs more than half a million people, with some of them poor enough to qualify for safety net benefits. There were even some protesters outside the ballroom, but Rubenstein decided not to ask about Amazons labor practices. Rubenstein did note that Trump has criticized Bezos, Amazon and The Washington Post, which Bezos also owns. Bezos defended the Post but didnt do the same for his other company. I dont feel the need to defend Amazon, he said. Maybe he doesnt feel the need because Amazon has apparently started paying some of its fulfillment center employees to say nice things about the company on Twitter. Im glad I came to work at Amazon, wrote an FC Ambassador named Rick this week in one of the dozens of responses to mean tweets about the company. I enjoy my job here. I get paid well, time off if I need it. As a matter of fact, I just came back from my vacation at the beach. SO I think Im going good here. The median annual pay for an Amazon employee is $28,446, according to the companys financial disclosures. Bezos is worth more than $150 billion. Rubenstein asked, Do you intend to give away the bulk of your fortune at some point in your lifetime? I dont know how much of it Im going to give away, Bezos said, adding he would invest a lot in his space travel company. Other billionaires, like Bezos neighbor Gates, have pledged to give away the majority of their wealth. Rubenstein moved on. How do you stay in shape? Clarification: A previous version of this story referred to Bezos as the owner of Amazon. He is the CEO and owns a percentage of the company. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Plastic litter on a beach in Cornwall The world may be entering the 'plastic age', a leading academic has warned. Professor Dan Parsons, a geologist, said that plastic waste is now so widespread that it will create a new layer in the Earth's crust. Many scientists already believe that Earth has entered a new geological era - leaving the Holocene era and entering the Anthropocene era - because of the impact humans have had on the rocks that make up the surface of the Earth. The start of the new era was determined based on when radioactive isotopes start to be detected in the geological record, due to the fall-out from atomic bombs. But Dr Parsons said plastic was now also leaving an indelible trace. As we move from the Holocene to what is now termed the Anthropocene, whats the imprint of humanity on the geological record of Earth? asked Dr Parsons, professor of sedimentology at Hull University. So if we fast forward ten million years from now and we look back in the strata of the rocks, we will see a peak in radioactive isotopes from nuclear testing and we will see a load of plastics mineralised into the rock record. Thats going to be our legacy in future when geologists ten million years from now are looking back on us as a society, so there are some profound things to think about in terms of us and our record of looking after the world. The term Anthropocene was first coined by Nobel Prize winning chemist Paul Crutzen who in 2000 suggested that mans impact on the world was so substantial that we were no longer in the Holocene the era which began at the end of the last Ice Age around 11,700 years ago and saw unprecedented human expansion. Many scientists believe the world entered a new epoch on July 16 1945 when the first atomic bomb was detonated in the New Mexico desert. The blast scattered radioactive particles from the poles to the equator, leaving an indelible signal in the surface strata of the Earth. Story continues But in recent years plastic has been found in every ocean in the world, with 90 per cent falling to the sea bed where, according to experts, it will eventually be mineralised. It is estimated that by 2050 the weight of plastic in the worlds oceans will be greater than marine life. In the same way as you preserve a fossil from the age of the dinosaurs...bits of plastic can absolutely be incorporated into the geological record that is forming right now, and they can be mineralised and lithified in the same way as other lifeforms, said Prof Parsons. Many people are now advocating that were living in the Anthropocene and what do you use as that marker horizon - is it isotopes from nuclear tests that you see in the rock record of the future or is it the mineral deposits from a set of plastics? Some are arguing that it is actually the plastic horizon that will be the most distinguishable in terms of that rock record of the future. US President Donald Trump slammed Friday a former US Secretary of State John Kerry, who served in the White House during the Barack Obama administration, following Kerrys admission that since he left office, he had several meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter 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! the president wrote on his official Twitter account. Trump also implied that Kerry might be an agent representing the interests of foreign powers. 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! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 14, 2018 Was he registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act? the president asked via his social media account. Current US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also lambasted his predecessor for meeting Iranian officials in back-channel talks and accused him of trying to undermine the Trump administration's policy toward Tehran. "What Kerry has done is unseemly and unprecedented," Pompeo told a news conference, adding that he "ought not to engage in that kind of behavior. It's inconsistent with what the foreign policy of the United States is, as directed by this president. It is beyond inappropriate." Kerry admitted to having met with the Iranian official three or four times during an interview with Fox News on Wednesday. The former secretary of state also emphasized that he also had meetings with European diplomats, but stressed that he did not conspire to undermine the Trump government's policy. "We held talks regarding the situation in the world, we did not conduct negotiations in order to interfere with the current policy," Kerry stressed. "I was trying to understand what Iran is willing to do in order to steer the dynamics in the Middle East in a positive direction," Kerry said in an interview with conservative radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt. The State Department also criticized Kerry for his meetings with various foreign representatives. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Manisha Singh, called alleged meetings inappropriate. "I have no information regarding the meetings, but if they did occur, that would be very inappropriate," she vented. Kerry was one of the senior officials in the Obama administration who helped negotiate the Iran nuclear deal in 2015, from which President Trump withdrew earlier this year. MKs Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) and Betzalel Smotrich (Bayit Yehudi) announced on Friday that they will once again promote a High Court bypass law that will prevent the state from recognizing conversions performed outside of the Chief Rabbinate. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The MKs intend to draft a bill at the start of the Knesset's winter session, an initiative that has already caused a crisis in the coalition. Gafni; Smotrich (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) The Jerusalem District Court ordered the Interior Ministry to recognize the Jewish status of a woman, Y., who converted in a private religious court (Beit Din). This is a precedent that may affect the status of thousands of Israelis who have undergone an Orthodox conversion process outside of the Chief Rabbinate in recent years. In an interview with Yedioth Ahronoth, Y. expressed her frustration with the current conversion process. "I was waiting for this for a long time. The Rabbinate is making a mistake in its approach toward hundreds of thousands of immigrants without a religion status who serve in the army, pay taxes, and are denied the most basic right of marrying their loved ones," Y. said. Y. converted through "Conversion According to Halacha," a project established by senior liberal Zionist rabbis who maintain that the state system is too strict with the converts. Hundreds of Israelis, many of them minors, have already undergone conversion through the project, but no one has been recognized as a Jew by the Interior Ministry until Y. About a year and a half ago, Y. wanted to update her personal status in the government's population registry, so she petitioned the court. In response, the district court issued a declarative ruling confirming that she is Jewish. Despite the ruling, which recognized private Orthodox conversions officiated by a different court, the state objected to the woman's request and argued that it should be rejected. The state requested that the court wait until the High Court of Justice ruling regarding the Law of Return. Reform and Conservative activists petitioned the court for recognition of their conversions in accordance with the law. Their petition has been in filed in 2004 and hearings regarding the matter have been delayed ever since, due to changes on the political front. In the past, the state refused to recognize any type of private conversion that was conducted in Israel whether in the strictest ultra-Orthodox courts or in Reform conversions, for the purpose of marriage within the framework of the rabbinate, and for registration of converts as Jews in the population registry. In 2002, the court ruled that conversions performed by the liberal streams of Judaism would be recognized by the Interior Ministry for purposes of population registration, but not under the Law of Return; a matter which is still pending before the High Court of Justice. Rabbi Yehuda Gilad In 2016 , a nine judge panel recognized conversions performed by a private Orthodox court, and recognized one of those converted Jewish under the Law of Return. The Supreme Court ruling caused an uproar in the world of Halacha (Jewish law), but was not perceived as a principled ruling but rather as an individual ruling that dealing with that petitioner alone. In fact, Y. is the first woman to be recognized as a Jew on the basis of that precedent. The court that officiated her conversion was headed by Rabbi Yehuda Gilad, a former MK in the Meimad faction of the Labor Party. Following a day of silence, MK Gafni called Friday the precedent courts ruling as a "miserable decision" and said it could cause "irreparable damage." In his movement's newspaper, Yated Ne'eman, Gafni promised to "fix" the court's ruling after the holidays. A member of his faction, Yaakov Asher, added: "We will not allow this attempt to harm the concept of a Halachic conversion." The newspaper warned against "the danger of serious assimilation" following the recognition of private conversions. Uri Maklev (United Torah Judaism) slammed the High Court for the fundamental ruling claiming that "time and time again it intervenes and tries to wear down the authority of the religious courts, the principles of religious law, and the fundamentals of religion. "The court is despised among all sectors, it has lost public legitimacy, and its actions call for legislation that will reduce its power and authority," Maklev added. The editor of the n Yated Ne'eman, Israel Friedman, called the legal system "malignant", and referred to it as "anti-religious liberal terrorism." Betzalel Smotrich (Bayit Yehudi) (Photo: Motti Kimchi) The editorial then described the new decision as "an eruption into the Holy of Holies" and concluded that the court consists of "the new generation of the wicked of Israel" who wield "a destructive hammer. The Bayit Yehudi Party also promised to promote the conversion law at the first opportunity. MK Smotrich told Ynet: "I am not sure about the hesitancy of the ultra-Orthodox parties regarding this matter. I hope that it is not out of concern for the private court of Rabbi Nissim Karelitz (a senior ultra-Orthodox Haredi judge who performs private conversions), that they are willing to allow conversions approved by the Reform and the like." Smotrich was referring to the dilemma facing the ultra-Orthodox parties between the uncompromising struggle to preserve the religious status quo, and the graceful disregard of significant developments in the matter of religion and state. On the one hand, the Haredi electorate, with the backing of its media, expects them to fight against any attempt to constrict the rabbinate's authority regarding religious services. On the other hand, there is a clear political interest for quiet; at least until the status of yeshiva students is formalized and they are exempt from drafting to the army. The ultra-Orthodox parties fear that renewing the demand for approval of a conversion law bypassing the High Court of Justice could create a real coalition crisis and, together with the complex matter of enlistment, may even lead to the dissolution of the government and prompt early elections. Deri issues a weak response Accordingly, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri tried to minimize the significance of the court's decision to avoid being dragged into this conflict at a problematic time for him. Although a senior official involved in conversions claimed that the ruling was "earth shattering" and would lead to the "breaching of the dam" and the recognition of thousands of converts, Deri insisted that "this is nothing new" and stressed that in any case it does not constitute a "substantive recognition of conversions." Aryehu Deri (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky) The indifference of the interior minister is significant in light of the battle that the Haredi parties and the chief rabbis have fought over the past year. In fact, the bill promoted by the heads of Shas and United Torah Judaism in June 2017 (which was reintroduced in a more balanced version and abandoned again) was proposed as a measure against the recognition of private conversions. Precisely at the moment of truth, when his fears were realized, Deri chose to dismiss and belittle the issue. Syria is sharply criticizing an upcoming event on the UN 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 UN 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. Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer acknowledged Friday that journalist Bret Stephens had warned him more than six month ago about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's foreign media spokesman David Keyes's inappropriate behavior towards women, but added he had not informed Netanyahu on the matter. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The Israeli envoy released his statement after the New York Times had reported that a senior journalist and former colleague of the foreign media spokesman had warned Dermer that Keyes poses a risk to women. Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer (Photo: AP) The ambassador received a phone call from Bret Stephens more than six months after David Keyes assumed his post in the Prime Ministers Office, regarding behavior attributed to Keyes before he joined the office, according to the statement issued by Dermer's office. Information of the call was not conveyed to the Prime Minister's Office. If Stephens or anyone else had given the ambassador information on sexual assault or any other criminal act towards women perpetrated by anyone in the PMO whether before or after that person was appointed he would have notified the PMO immediately, the statement read. In addition, The New York Times published Thursday new details regarding the sexual harassments claims made against Keyes. David Keyes 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. "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, 27, revealed that she was sexually assaulted by the prime minister's spokesman in 2013. In an interview with the New York Times, 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. 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. Shayndi Raice 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. The US will halt funding for Israeli-Palestinian ties strengthening programs, as reported by the New York Times. US President Donald Trump's special Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt confirmed the report. US officials said programs for strengthening Israeli-Palestinian ties would not receive further funding to the $10 million which were already approved and are expected to end in September. However, it was reported funding would be given to programs in which only Israelis and Arab Israelis participate. Dozens of members of the ultra-Orthodox community demonstrated overnight Friday against light rail construction works during the weekends and holidays in Petah Tikva and adjacent to Bnei Brak . Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Social activists and rabbis from Bnei Brak's neighborhoods came to protest against light rail construction works executed during the Jewish day of rest and called to halt them immediately. Haredi demonstrate against light rail construction works X Chinese construction workers mainly work at the light rail construction site. The Haredi residents have been opposing in recent weeks to the light rail construction works, saying they will not allow Shabbat desecration. The police are preparing for a mass Haredi demonstration expected before the Mincha prayer. Ultra-Orthodox protest against Shabbat desecration Last week, severe damage was caused to construction tools in the light rail station in Ramat Gan due to heavy rains that flooded the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. In addition, a section of a paved road in Bnei Brak collapsed. The police said the Bnei Brak Municipality is responsible for repairing its roads and infrastructures. However, it was not done to avoid Shabbat desecration. A lawyer says an American university professor was detained by Israeli police for allegedly trying to disrupt security forces in the embattled West Bank community of Khan al-Ahmar. Gaby Lasky said Saturday that her client, Frank Romano, is being held in a Jerusalem jail. Lasky says police told her Romano would appear Monday before an Israeli military court. Romano was among dozens of activists spending time in Khan al-Ahmar to try to block the possible demolition of the Palestinian village. Activists say that on Friday, Romano stood in front of a bulldozer clearing barriers that had been set up to slow demolition. Israeli police said three people were detained for causing disturbances. Egyptian officials say police have detained two sons of former president Hosni Mubarak in connection with insider trading charges. They said the arrests were ordered Saturday by judge Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh before he adjourned the hearings until Oct. 20. The twowealthy businessman Alaa and Mubarak's one-time heir apparent Gamalwere taken to a prison south of Cairo after the hearing, said the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. A police representative said Thursday during a Jerusalem Magistrate's Court hearing that there is no indication that the Palestinians suspected of setting fire to the Einot Tzukim Nature Reserve near the Dead Sea had a nationalist motive. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter However, the police representative stressed that further investigation is needed in order to establish the motive behind the arson attack. The suspects of the attackwhich resulted in a massive fire that burned around 400 dunams of unique vegetation Suliman Batza, 23, and Muntasser Gitt, 19, residents of east Jerusalem with no previous arrest records, were arrested shortly after the fire broke out, and their remand was initially extended by 48 hours Suspects of Einot Tzukim arson (Photo: Amit Shabi) The police requested to extend the suspects' remand by eight days. Yet Judge Chavi Toker decided to extend their remand by merely five days. "The two suspects were detained on suspicion of carrying out an arson attack in the purpose of destroying a nature site," Toker said. "They are suspected of setting the nature reserve on fire out of malice, killing small wild animals, and destroying some 300 Tamarisk trees and about 10 Palm trees," the judge elaborated. "The investigation findings support a probable cause against the suspects. The evidence at the scene contradict their version and support the suspicion that the arson was deliberate," Toker added. "The suspects' young age and the fact they have no criminal record were taken into account," she explained. Einot Tzukim fire (Photo: Firefighters spokesman) According to the police, "The suspects' version does not match the findings on the scene. The police have evidence that discredit their story. The National Firefighting and Rescue Authority determined that flammable substance was used to spark the fire." One suspect's representative, attorney Ataf Farhat claimed Batza and Gitt did not know they were being chased after. Damage to the nature reserve (Photo: Amir Aloni) "There is no dispute they were stranded without gas and that their friend helped them transfer fuel from his vehicle to theirs," the attorneys argued. "The gas tank (used for the gas transfer) was found in the field and the suspects pointed to the exact location of where they were stranded," Rabah went on to say. "During the last hearing, the suspects asked the police to watch a video one of them uploaded on social media an hour and a half before the incident," he added. Aziz Bassem, the cousin of one of the suspects, explained, "When the police detained them they said they were high speed driving." "Later, the police changed their version, arguing they were detained on suspicion of arson and were taken into custody," he recalled. Fire damage (Photo: Yaniv Cohen) "Both of them were stuck without gas on their way home from a party. After a friend brought them gas, they left the area without knowing a fire is raging behind them. "I know them well, they had no intention of harming anybody. They are good people. God willing, they will be released in the upcoming days," he concluded. Syria is sharply criticizing an upcoming event on the UN investigative body that is assisting in documenting serious crimes committed during the seven-year Syrian conflict, including possible war crimes and crimes against humanity. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Syria's UN 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. Destruction caused by Syrian regime bombing in Idlib province (Photo: MCT) The event will take place on the sidelines of the 193-member assembly's annual gathering of world leaders. The UN 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 UN Charter. He said any evidence it collects "will be ineligible for future criminal proceedings." President of Syria Bashar Assad (Photo: Reuters) 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 UN 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 Idlib residents prepare for gas attack (Photo: Reuters) When the resolution was adopted, Ja'afari called the resolution "a flagrant interference in the affairs of a UN 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 UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura "is moving forward, but with caution and fragility." Syrian army celebrates capture of Daraa (Photo: AFP) 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 UN 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. BEIRUT -- US-backed Syrian forces entered Saturday an eastern village held by the Islamic State group where intense clashes are ongoing a day after the extremists reportedly killed 20 fighters, the forces and a war monitor said. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said its fighters stormed Bagouz and are close to the center of the village. The forces added that they plan to open another front in the Sousseh area along the Euphrates river to increase pressure on the extremists. SDF launched with the help of the US-led coalition a wide offensive this week to capture the last pocket held by IS in Syria. The Kurdish-led forces have been among the most effective in the fight against IS in Syria, forcing them out of much of the country's east. More than a year had elapsed since my last visit to Milgo & Milbar, the Tel Aviv restaurant helmed by acclaimed Chef Moti Titman. Yet it took me barely ten minutesthe time it took to sip a pre-dinner drink and eat an appetizerto remember that I was eating at one of the citys finest restaurants. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The talent in the kitchen extends to the bartending staff as well. The cocktail list features nine specialty cocktails and unique Milgo & Milbar takes on classic cocktails. Milgo & Milbar We selected the Beet and Limevodka, homemade beet syrup and lime, garnished with two large slices of raw beet and a twist of lemon peeland the Ginger Mojito, which blends two kinds of rum, mint and homemade ginger syrup, garnished with lemon, mint and ginger. Both cocktails were very refreshingthe former sweet with a tart finish, and the latter fruity with a kick. Beet-lime cocktail The extensive food menu comprises four sections: Appetizers, Mezzanine Courses, Entrees, and Daily Specials. Most dishes are based on fish and seafood, although there are also meat and vegan options. Ginger mojito Officially, the restaurant does not offer a tasting menu, but our friendly and knowledgeable waitress volunteered to craft a meal for us based on our preferences and dislikes, promising to bring us the best dishes of the evening. It was an offer we couldnt refuse. Grouper main course First came the Ortiz Anchovy Focaccia, the round flat Italian bread piled high with the salty fish, spicy tomato salsa, purple onion, cilantro and shavings of parmigiano reggiano cheese. Each bite of the pizza-like dish yielded a little explosion of flavor, which then subsided into a pleasant tingle of heat. Ortiz anchovy focaccia This was followed by White Fish Tartare with Green Mango, artistically topped with curlicues of razor-thin slices of kohlrabi. The nameless white fish rotates on the menu, depending on the fresh catch of the day; on our evening, it was grouper. The mixture of raw fish and unripe fruit also incorporated radish, fresh ginger, raisins, chopped herbs and spicy almonds, and was served alongside a piquant, bright green Jalapeno cream. With the chili cream kept separate, it was easy to modulate the dishs heat, while the tartare itself manifested a marvelous interplay of flavors and textures. White fish tartare Continuing the raw fish theme, next was tuna sashimi, with red tuna the white fish sashimi fresh catch of the day. The sashimi -- served with chopped charred vegetables, leeks and black sesame tuilepractically melted in the mouth, while the thin sweet wafers added both crunch and welcome counterpoint to the spicy chili. Tuna sashimi Our only mezzanine course dish was Scallops with shimeji and oyster mushrooms and black pasta in fish stock. The tender scallopslike little medallions of filet mignon from the seawere among the best I have had in Israel, while the al dente shell pasta was the first time I had seen black pasta in that distinctive shape. Scallops with black pasta Representing the main course category in our dinner was the Grouper Fillet and Baked Jerusalem Artichoke in a Jerusalem artichoke-vanilla cream. The fish steak was cooked perfectly, and enhanced nicely by the exquisite sauce. Four desserts are listed on the menu, from which we selected the cheesecake with lemon cream frosting and berries, which turned out to be fresh raspberries and blueberries. The heavenly cheesecake was accompanied as well by shards of meringue and black sesame Ice cream, resulting in a totally decadent finale to a truly memorable meal. Cheesecake Throughout our meal, the service was impeccable, as the thoroughly professional staff anticipated every need and desire. While our experience was certainly worthy of consideration as a holiday feast, Milgo and Milbar has an annual tradition of offering exclusive repasts in honor of the holidays of Tishrei. The Rosh Hashanah banquetcomprising four courses paired with six wineswill be reprised on Sukkot (September 23), while Yom Kippur is bracketed by a special brunch served on September 18 (two seatings, at 9:00am and 11:00am) and a post-fast decadent sandwich menu served throughout the evening on September 19, beginning at 9:00pm. Moreover, the restaurant is offering a special childrens menu throughout the intermediate days of Sukkot (September 25 until October 1st). JERICHO - The United States will not present its long-awaited plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace any time soon and is instead trying to unilaterally change the terms of reference for any future proposal, a senior Palestinian official said on Saturday. Echoing deep scepticism among the Palestinians, Arab countries and analysts, Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian chief negotiator, said that the Trump administration was siding with Israel on the core issues of the decades-old conflict, burying all chances for Middle East peace. "I don't think they will ever introduce a plan," Erekat said in an interview with Reuters in Jericho. "The whole world is rejecting their ideas. They are already implementing their plan by changing the terms of reference," he said. BAGHDAD -- Amid escalating political wrangling, Iraqi lawmakers elected an Iran-backed Sunni Arab as speaker of parliament on Saturday, the first step in forming a new government four months after national elections. The 37-year old speaker was supported by the pro-Iran bloc inside parliament, the Building coalition, which is mainly made up of Iran-backed Shiite militiamen -- underscoring the growing Iranian influence in the process of forming the country's new government. During a secret ballot, 169 lawmakers voted for Mohammed al-Halbousi, the former governor of Anbar, and 89 others voted for the former defense minister, Khalid al-Obeidi, lawmaker Ahmed al-Asadi said. Two deputies, a Shiite and a Kurd, will be elected later Saturday, al-Asadi added. An American law professor was detained Friday by Israeli police for allegedly trying to block Israeli troops from dismantling shacks built by Palestinian protesters near Khan al-Ahmar, a Bedouin encampment in the West Bank. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Frank Romano, 66, is being held at a lockup in Jerusalem and is to appear before a military court Monday, said attorney Gaby Lasky who is pushing for a hearing sooner. Arrest of Frank Romano (Photo: AP) Romano, who reportedly also has a French citizenship, was detained in the embattled village of Khan al-Ahmar, along with two Palestinian activists. Romano was found standing in front of heavy equipment being used to clear barriers that had been set up to slow demolition, witnesses said. Khan al-Ahmar is located beside an Israeli highway that runs through the West Bank from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. Israeli police said three people were detained for causing disturbances. Romano was initially taken to a West Bank police station where he briefly met with activists from an Israeli-Palestinian group, "Combatants for Peace". Nahoum Oltchik, a member of the group, said Romano told him he started a hunger strike and would refrain from eating until Israel halts plans to demolish Khan al-Ahmar, a hamlet of 180 Palestinians. Romano's LinkedIn page says that he teaches law, literature, history and philosophy at the Universite Paris Ouest Nanterre La Defense in France, and practices law in the US and France. Last week, the High Court of Justice rejected petitions to prevent the move, paving the way for Khan al-Ahmar's potential demolition. Israel says Khan al-Ahmar was illegally built and in an unsafe location near a major highway and has offered to resettle its 180 residents to a site 12 km (7 miles) away under improved conditions. Police in Khan al-Ahmar (Photo: AP) But critics say it's impossible for Palestinians to get building permits and the demolition is meant to make room for the expansion of an Israeli settlement. According to the court, no evidence was presented to warrant overturning the decision and there was no question over the illegality of the construction on the site. Therefore, when the temporary injunction forbidding the evacuation expires, the evacuation can begin. Judge Hanan Melcer noted that any further attempts to delay the demolition based on the fact that the school year has already begun for the local children will be rejected. "Studies in the Palestinian Authority began before the official start of the school year, with the clear intention of raising a future claim requesting to halt the demolishing process because the school year has begun" Melcer explained. Local school children (Photo: AFP) Following the court's decision, the Secretary General of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Saeb Erekat, said the Palestinians have filed a new complaint against Israel with the International Criminal court (ICC) to investigate Israel's demolition of the Bedouin encampment . Erekat added that the Palestinians have asked the chief prosecutor to meet with the village representatives and include Israel's actions against Khan al-Ahmar as part of its investigation into possible war crimes committed by the country, and stressed that Israel should be held accountable. Saeb Erekat (: AP) The government's decision has also drawn criticism from some European states, who cite the impact on the community and prospects for peace. "The community of Khan al-Ahmar is located in a sensitive location in Area C, of strategic importance for preserving the contiguity of a future Palestinian state," a statement made by the European Union (EU) read. Khan al-Ahmar (Photo: AFP) "The consequences of a demolition of this community and the displacement of its residents, including children, against their will, would be very serious and would severely threaten the viability of the two-state solution and undermine prospects for peace," the EU's statement continued The village is in the 60 percent of the West Bank known as Area C. The Palestinians claim all of the West Bank and say that Area C, home to an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 Palestinians, is crucial to the economic development of their future state. MK Michal Rozin (Meretz) asked Saturday Civil Service Commissioner Daniel Hershkowitz to order an urgent investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment agianst the Prime Minister's spokesman to the foreign media, David Keyes, and the conduct of the ambassador Ron Dermer. Rozin added that there are growing concerns regarding the "serial behavior of a senior official in the Prime Minister's Office and the public officials' disregard of testimonies concerning the case." Israel's ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer, admitted Friday that he knew about the allegations against Keyes, but did not inform the prime minister. The Syrian army claimed Saturday that "our air defense systems thwarted an Israeli attack near the airport in Damascus." According to a report by the Syrian news agency SANA, Israeli aircraft attacked the airport and several Israeli missiles were intercepted. No injuries or damage were reported. Syria's state media says Israel has launched a missile attack on Damascus International Airport Saturday, adding that Syrian air defenses shot down some of them. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter An Israeli military spokeswoman said Israel does not comment on foreign reports. The Saturday night attack shook the capital Damascus as blasts were heard in the city. Syrian media quoted an unnamed military official without giving further details. Israeli aircraft strike near Damascus airport Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the missile attack targeted an arms depot near the airport where new weapons recently arrived for the Iranians or Lebanon's Hezollah group. Israel rarely acknowledges strikes inside Syria but has said it would use military action to prevent weapons transfers to its enemies. "Our air defense systems thwarted an Israeli missile aggression on Damascus International Airport," Syrian state news agency SANA cited a military source as saying. Witnesses at a major trade fair in the capital Damascus said they saw flares shooting up into the night sky. Israeli aircraft strike near Damascus airport ( ) X Two weeks ago, the Syrian Human Rights Center reported that Israel was behind an attack on a military airbase in Damascus, and that people were injured and killed as a result. Syrian state media said loud blasts coming from an airbase were the result of an electrical problem, but an official in the regional alliance backing Damascus said they were caused by Israeli missile fired from across the Golan Heights frontier between the two countries. Earlier this month, a senior IDF source revealed that over the past year-and-a-half the army has carried out approximately 200 attacks in Syria. IDF attacks Iranian targets in Syria (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) According to the official, the strikes targeted mainly advanced weapon systems and infrastructure sites belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards located in Syrian territory. In total, some 800 missiles and bombs were launched at targets on Syrian soil, the majority by IAF fighter jets. Israel has repeatedly stated that it will not tolerate an Iranian military presence of any kind in Syria, which has been supporting President Bashar Assads regime and abetting terror proxies such as Hezbollah in the ongoing civil war. According to regional sources, Israel began carrying out military strikes in Syria in 2013 against suspected arms transfers and deployments by Iranian forces and their Lebanese Hezbollah allies, both Damascus's partners in Syria's civil war. Netanyahu, Dimona (Photo: Gov. Press Office) Last month, at the renaming ceremony of the Negev Nuclear Research Center near Dimona, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the agreement between Iran and Syria saying,"the IDF will continue acting with full determination and with full might against Iran's attempts to station forces and advanced weapons systems in Syria, and no agreement between Syria and Iran will deter us, nor will any threat frighten us." "We are working to prevent Iran's military buildup in Syria. We will not let go of this goal, just as we did not let go of the effort to bring about the cancellation of the nuclear agreement with Iran, which was perceived as impossible when I first placed it on the international agenda a few years ago," he stressed. MEXICO CITY - A shootout at a Mexico City plaza famed for its live music bars left three men and two women dead, officials said on Saturday, a day after gunmen said by witnesses to be dressed as mariachi musicians opened fire with rifles and pistols. Eight others, including one foreigner, were injured in the incident at the Plaza Garibaldi in the capital's historic downtown, the city prosecutor's office said in a statement, without disclosing identities of any of the victims. Four of the deceased victims ranged in age from 22 to 46 years old, officials said. One had not yet been identified. The Civil Service Commission reported Saturday that its Disciplinary Department will examine whether there is room for disciplinary action regarding the allegations of sexual harassment made against the Prime Minister's spokesman to the foreign media, David Keyes, and the conduct of the ambassador Ron Dermer. The Commission noted that, "To the best of our knowledge, all the allegations against Keyes relate to events that took place in the United States and before he became a civil servant. If this is indeed the case, these are not events that the Commission has the authority to investigate." Regarding the involvement of the Israel's ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer, and his failure to report the allegations to the Prime Minister's Office, the commission stated:" From media reports it is unclear what exactly was said, this too, shall be investigated." News Fort Collins, Colorado - Remarks by Second Lady Karen Pence to Military Spouses: MRS. PENCE: Thank you so much. What a great welcome here. Good afternoon. Thank you, Brigadier General Thigpen and Mrs. Patty George, for that kind introduction. I applaud you both for your service and your leadership. Hello, Colorado! (Applause.) As you heard, we traveled from Washington, D.C. with some very, very special guests today. And as I call their name I want them to stand. Join me in thanking Mrs. Leah Esper, wife of Secretary of the Army. (Applause.) Hollyanne Milley, wife of the Armys Chief of Staff. (Applause.) Mrs. Dawn Goldfein, wife of the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force General. (Applause.) Mrs. Sally Lengyel, wife of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau General. (Applause.) Mrs. Dawn Schultz, wife of the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. (Applause.) Mrs. Karen Kelly, wife of the Chief of Staff at the White House, John Kelly (applause) a Marine mom. So theres more than just one of us here today. (Laughter.) So thank you for all that you spouses do for our country. But I think it says so much that these military spouses wanted to come today and give their day to come and support you. I also want to thank Mrs. Jeanie Lamborn, wife of Congressman Doug Lamborn, for joining us today. (Applause.) Before I begin, I just want to say a few words about a matter that we are all watching very closely today and I know that its on the hearts of many Americans, and that is Hurricane Florence. So our thoughts and prayers are with all of those in the path of the storm. And weve been encouraging people to leave their homes and listen to their local authorities. So I know all you have that on your hearts today as well. And I know thousands of National Guard soldiers and airmen are gearing up to provide that support. The men and women who wear the uniform and bravely serve and protect our country cannot be thanked enough. But today, I come to Fort Carson to pay a debt of honor and gratitude to a very special group of people. It is an honor and privilege to be here at Fort Carson, also known as the Mountain Post and the Best Hometown in the Army Home of Americas Best. And the men and women here are certainly making our country proud. So thank you for your countless sacrifices and tireless devotion to our great nation. You know, military families hold a special place in my heart. As you heard, Im a proud mom of a Marine. And Im just going to clue you in on something, because I think normally you would think this is very rude and I would never do this, except right now right this very minute my son is flying his very last flight of flight school. (Applause.) Right now. And he and I share the pilot thing; Im a pilot as well. And so every time he finishes a solo flight, for the last two years of flight school, he lets his wife know hes safe but he calls me first. (Laughter.) And so, if he finishes while Im speaking, Im taking the call. (Laughter.) I thought you guys would appreciate that. But anyway, he and his wife are stationed at their Naval Air Station in Meridian, Mississippi. In a couple of weeks, well get to go and see him get those wings of gold. So were very proud. But Im also the daughter of an Air Force airman. I was born on McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas. I didnt live there long because my dad ended up retiring from the military and we moved back to Indiana. And my father-in-law, Ed Pence youll be happy to know served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War. (Applause.) I thought you might like that. But I can say without a doubt that the strength of our nation does not just come from the people in uniform who fight to protect our freedoms. The spouses and the families, who serve alongside them, also make tremendous sacrifices to the greater benefit of our country. Most military spouses do not wear the uniform, but they honorably serve our nation, frequently without their loved ones standing beside them. I understand that, here at Fort Carson, three 4th Infantry Division brigades, the 10th Field Hospital, and members of the special operations community are currently deployed, and a fourth brigade is getting ready to deploy later this year. Fort Carson, as you well know better than I do, has a distinguished history and serves as one of the busiest divisions in the Army with a high operational tempo. To honor those families, today were giving out kits called With You All the Way! Dealing with Deployment Comfort Kits to children who have a parent deployed from Fort Carson. Let me show you what they look like. They look like this. These are the kits. But inside we have a teddy bear. AUDIENCE: Aww MRS. PENCE: Isnt he cute? His name is Cuzzie. But we also have, inside the box, a journal, a guide for families, postcards, suggestions for ways to stay connected while that family member is deployed. And its just a little something that we can do. Last week we had about 30 spouses of congressmen come to the Vice Presidents Residence bipartisan and we assembled 500 of these boxes, and we brought them all with us here to Fort Carson. (Applause.) Those spouses packed each kit with care and respect for the sacrifices that military families make. And later today, it will be my honor to give these out to those children. I want to thank Comfort Crew for Military Kids for collaborating with us and helping us to make this happen. Ronda and Woody Englander, please stand so that we can recognize you. (Applause.) Ronda lost her dad in the Vietnam War, and she and Woody started this organization. And she told a great story to the congressional spouses that Im going to share with you. She said and this was a little girl who emailed her, and said, You know, I wrote in my journal while my dad was gone. And when he came home, he wasnt the same and I didnt know where my dad was. And she said, I gave him my journal to read, and he started reading my journal and he started to cry. And she said, I knew then that I had my dad back, because he was starting to show his feelings again. So these are powerful kits that were handing out today. But I also applaud Fort Carson for the support that you provide to spouses and their families during what can be a very, very stressful time. For example, the pre-deployment fair that you hold here helps prepare soldiers and their families by offering a multitude of resources to help mitigate stress. And I know during deployment, the family readiness groups and the family readiness liaisons frequently set up trainings for specific issues that arise and work to hold special events and share information, like Ivy Update. After deployment, the Army Community Services provides relationship enhancement classes, financial readiness classes, and employment opportunities. You have a strong reputation here for supporting spouses and families during all seasons. In the Trump administration, we feel it is imperative that we support our military spouses and their children, because you play a significant role in the defense of our country. Spouses do so much and ask for so little. And I admire your selfless support, your volunteer spirit, and the great contributions to our armed forces and the communities. You experience frequent moves thats nothing new for me, I can tell you job changes, periods of being a single parent while your loved one is deployed, all while exhibiting pride, and strength, and determination. You are the home front heroes. And thats why I get emotional looking at all you guys; youre so great. I really do. But as your Second Lady, I love to elevate and encourage you, and thank our military spouses wherever we go. And I couldnt think of a better place to start off than Fort Carson. So, since starting my role as the Second Lady, Ive participated in roundtable discussions with military spouses all over the country. You heard that we did a lot with art therapy in the beginning, and a lot of groups would come to me and say, Will you champion our cause? Will you champion this? Will you champion that? And I didnt see anyone who really was championing the military spouse. And I just thought, You know, Im a spouse who had to move because of her husbands job. So I kind of get it. Im a volunteer now because of my husbands job. So I understand a little bit of what you go through. But we decided, You know what? We really dont know what its all about. Its important for us to go (inaudible) have an adventure of a lifetime. You form lifelong friendships. You have unique experiences that only those in the military community can understand. And you take great pride in contributing to something greater than yourselves. Military spouses are incredible. And I just want to stop right here and if you are now, or ever have been a military spouse, please stand. (Applause.) Thank you so much. You are competent, smart, well-educated, flexible, hardworking, and tremendous assets to our country and your communities. You know, Ive heard it said, Anyone can give up; its the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, thats true strength. Your stories of strength and tenacity, courage and generosity, inspire me and so many other Americans. Like the story of Donna Handoe. Is Donna here? Stand up, Donna. (Applause.) Donna was recognized as one of the 2018 Volunteers of the Year. And her son, Ryan, was also recognized as a Youth Volunteer of the Year. Shes very involved in the community here, and she serves as the president of the Mountain Post Santas Workshop. And each year, they give toys and books and games to more than 1,200 children here at Fort Carson. I know that Donna is not the only spouse in this hangar with a heart of gold. Have you heard of MILLIE? Well, its a web-based, startup business focused on easing the stress that frequent moves can have on military families. Kelli is an Army spouse at Fort Bragg, and she is the COO for MILLIE. The business offers valuable resources, and many military spouses work for MILLIE. There is also the MILLIE Journal with stories from military spouses about how they have overcome the challenges of military life. We know that military life is not easy. Spouses have shared their stories with me about the difficulties of being hired, the inconsistent professional licensing requirements in each state, and childcare. We are listening, and the Trump administration is addressing your challenges. I am excited to tell you that the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act requires the Department of Defense to implement a new policy to reimburse service members for relicensing and recertification costs up to $500 incurred by their spouses when they have a permanent change of station. (Applause.) I know. I know. Youre sitting there saying, Put your money where your mouth is. And I get. Because those licensing is expensive every time you move. And LinkedIn has teamed up with the Department of Defense to help with employment opportunities. Military spouses can now access a free, one-year upgrade to LinkedIn Premium with each permanent change of station. Military spouse employment is a very important aspect of a strong and resilient military family. Our service members are fulfilling their jobs, but we want our military spouses to experience fulfillment as well. Whether you decide to be a stay-at-home mom, volunteer, work in your career field, we are working hard to improve employment opportunities for you. In May, President Trump signed an executive order to enhance opportunities for military spouses who are looking for employment in the federal government. And it directs agencies to recommend ways to improve license portability and remove barriers to the employment of military spouses. So the federal government will do its part. Theyre requiring agencies to hire a certain number of military spouses, and that can be sometimes a portable job that goes with you. Were trying to work now with more American businesses to find ways to hire and keep military spouses employed as they relocate. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundations Hiring Our Heroes just recently launched Hiring 100,000 Military Spouses. Its a three-year national call-to-action campaign for companies and businesses of all sizes across America to make a collective commitment to hire, over the next three years, 100,000 military spouses. This initiative already has the support of some of the countrys top employers, including Microsoft. Other businesses, such as Comcast, La Quinta, Deloitte, and Booz Allen Hamilton are also making it an important priority to employ military spouses through programs that they have developed. And have you heard of R. Riveter? Yes. (Laughs.) I love this company. The other day, I was just flipping through the TV and Shark Tank came on, and it was the episode that was just starting with R. Riveter. It was so great to watch that. They sell lovely canvas bags and leather handbags made by military spouses. And it was started by military spouses to employ military spouses. And what makes this company even more special is that you can work for them from anywhere. I happen to know, and just met one spouse here at Fort Carson who does this Jocelyn Velazquez. Shes worked with R. Riveter as a Remote Riveter since 2014. Jocelyn? Where did can you stand? Where are you, Jocelyn? Shes over here. (Applause.) And did you see her lovely bag? (Laughter.) There it is. Were excited because were actually going to visit Fort Bragg next week, and were going to see the warehouse where they make these. The great thing about R. Riveter is that you can make whatever part of the bag from wherever you live. And you just ship it to them, and they put the bag together. So when you move, you keep that same job. And Im grateful for these employment opportunities, but I hope to see many more businesses participate in this important initiative to employ military spouses. Its the right thing to do. The Department of Defense, through the Defense State Liaison Office, is working with states and occupations to develop a way to expedite licensure requirements. They contracted with the University of Minnesota to evaluate licensure a three-year study in each of the 50 states. And just two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go to Minnesota and meet with that research team. And they identified specific ways to improve licensure for military spouses. Great news for Colorado: The Department of Defense considers this state one of the leaders on the issue of occupational licensing. But compacts have been approved for physical therapy, emergency medical services, nursing, and psychology. Also, Colorado has acted to extend temporary one-year certificates for military spouses who are teachers. That touches my heart. And a DoD State Liaison Office is now asking states to hold their boards accountable for revising websites, training their staff, and modifying license applications. The thing that was troubling to me when I visited with them is that they said lots of work is being done with the legislatures all around the country, but the person who answers the phone doesnt know. The person who answers the phone says, No, we dont have anything special for military spouses. And its very, very frustrating. So were not only wanting to keep working with our legislatures because every state does not have this but we also want to work with those particular occupations so that the people answering the phone give the right information. Were also working with the National Governors Association. The Department of Labor has also created an interactive U.S. map, and you can look at that and identify what the licensing laws are in each state. Within the Office of Military Community and Family Policy, the Department of Defense is also funding the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities often called SECO a program which supports military spouses with information, resume assistance and employment opportunities, and associate degree scholarships up to $4,000. You can learn more about the spouse scholarship program through the Military OneSource Program. OneSource is I know some of you saw today is a one-stop shop to support military families with just about any problem or issue that you may have. It might be non-medical counseling, information for a new duty station, help for special needs children, elder care, tax help, financial counseling, adoption consultations, and much, much more. The great thing about OneSource is that their call center and their website, and their chat line are available 24/7, 365 days a year. So if you have trouble going through their website, call them. Call them to get help from them. And Im grateful to Military OneSource for joining us today. Theyre here to answer your questions. They brought tote bags, which each of you should have. And theres great information in the bag. These are just a few things that weve been made aware of as we start this campaign to help military spouses. It is by no means an end-all. We havent answered all of the questions that are out there. But I feel like its such a privilege for me to travel the nation and to meet with military spouses. Spouses have shared with me the challenges that you face, and we know they are many. And were focusing on one or two or three that maybe we can do something about in our short term. But there are a lot of other wonderful experiences to celebrate, and weve had the privilege of sitting with spouses all over the world who have shared some of their stories. A spouse at Fort Detrick told me last week: Deployments are hard, but homecomings are great. She said when her husband comes back home, she gets butterflies all over again, and she said, You know what, how many spouses get a chance again for that first kiss? I asked one specific spouse to tell me something positive about being a spouse of a soldier. She got very emotional, and she just said, I have never been more proud of any person than I am of my husband. A spouse on the military wife and mom blog said, Every minute feels like an hour, every hour feels like forever. But I will wait forever and a day for you. About a month ago, I hosted the Military Family Advisory Network at the Vice Presidents Residence. Chris, whos an Advisory Board Member, is an Army spouse and he is a stay-at-home dad. He says his greatest contribution to the military community is caring for his four children. And you can tell that he takes great pride in that, and that gives his spouse great comfort knowing that thats taken care of. A spouse at Luke Air Force Base shared with me, Weve been serving in the Air Force for almost three years now, and the pay and benefits for us have been a game changer. My husbands mentor always told him that you can serve God first by taking care of your family. And its true. We are proud to be a military family, and my husband is in his element serving the airmen as a chaplain. She also shared that they applied for and were awarded a scholarship that is open to active-duty military families. This scholarship has allowed their daughter to attend a Christian school near the base. The important thing is it was the other spouses that told her about that scholarship. Where theres a will, theres a way. And who knows that better than military spouses? Your network is immense, and your networking skills are to be admired. We are so proud of each and every one of you. You are the backbone of military families. You contribute directly to the strength and readiness of our armed forces. Its important to us that we take care of you and your children so that service members can stay focused on their missions and remain ready to fight and protect our freedoms. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything that you do. We can never thank you enough for the sacrifices that you make. Your service to our nation cannot be overstated. May God bless you. May God bless Fort Carson, the Mountain Post, home of the Ivy Division. And may God bless the United States of America. Thank you. News Washington, DC - Presidential Proclamation on National Gang Violence Prevention Week: Too many of our Nations communities are afflicted by terrible and senseless acts of violence committed by members of gangs and cartels. Horrendous, criminal acts have become increasingly common in our cities and towns where the notorious and savage MS-13 and other criminal gangs operate. During National Gang Violence Prevention Week, my Administration commits to continue its steadfast efforts to identify and eradicate the gangs that spread bloodshed, murder our youth, and lay siege to neighborhoods across our country. While my Administration has successfully indicted and convicted countess gang members, gang violence still destroys families and threatens our liberty. When street gangs smuggle drugs into our communities, violence, addiction, overdoses, and other criminal activities follow. Extortion, sex trafficking, murder, robbery, and witness intimidation are only some of the evils that trail in the wake of gang activity. Our brave law enforcement officers are fearlessly confronting gang violence. They routinely and courageously fight criminal organizations, even in the face of increasingly brazen, hateful attacks. The Department of Justice is partnering with State, local, and tribal law enforcement including our Nations 3,081 sheriffs to bolster efforts to combat criminal gangs through comprehensive violent crime reduction initiatives, such as Project Safe Neighborhoods. Additionally, it is increasing the number of Federal prosecutors focused on gang violence and is providing enhanced training on gang investigations to State and local law enforcement agencies. Because of these efforts, we have already seen tremendous success in prosecuting gang-based violent crime and reducing the influence of criminal gangs. I have also instructed my Administration to aggressively address transnational criminal organizations, especially MS-13. Organized and led from Central America, MS-13 has entrenched its claws in communities from the East Coast to the West Coast. Its growing influence poses a serious risk to our countrys youth and community safety. Through increased interagency efforts and the creation of collaborative task forces that include both Federal agencies and State and local law enforcement, we have made great strides in protecting our Nations most vulnerable communities from MS-13s violence and greatly diminished its ability to recruit new members. Earlier this year, Operation Matador demonstrated the success of these efforts, resulting in the indictment of dozens of MS-13 gang members for Federal racketeering offenses. While this progress is promising, the scourge of MS-13 and other transnational criminal organizations will not abate until our Nations borders are fully secure and those who seek to harm us are no longer able to exploit loopholes in our broken immigration laws. In the past year, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested more than 4,800 criminal gang members, including nearly 796 arrests related to MS-13. We are grateful for the often dangerous work ICE conducts each day to enforce the law, secure our border, and keep us safe. The Congress must take action to protect public safety and national security by providing the necessary resources to secure our borders and close the dangerous loopholes in our laws that leave our borders open to dangerous exploitation. This week, we rededicate ourselves to dismantling, and ultimately eradicating, criminal gang organizations, which threaten our way of life. Let us strengthen our resolve to protect our communities from gang violence and to ensure they are places where all Americans can live, work, and raise their families. We also reaffirm our duty to support members of law enforcement, who, every day, place their lives on the line to protect and save anyone in need be it family members, friends, neighbors, or strangers. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the week of September 16 through September 22, 2018, as National Gang Violence Prevention Week. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-third. DONALD J. TRUMP News Washington, DC - Presidential Proclamation on Constitution Day, Citizenship Day, and Constitution Week: On this day and during this week, we celebrate the signing of our Constitution, which has proved that Government established by the people through reflection and deliberate choice can thrive and endure, rather than devolve into chaos and upheaval. Our Nation began with the honorable determination, as James Madison put it, to rest all our political experiments on the capacity of mankind for self-government. We recognize the Constitutions role in securing for our country the blessings of liberty; we salute the service members, statesmen, and citizens who have defended it; and we commit ourselves to the active citizenship that self-government requires. The Framers established a strong Federal Government able to provide the energy and stability its people require while simultaneously limiting its reach and reserving all powers not expressly assigned to the Federal Government to the States and the people. When the Federal Government acts, it must do so with accountability. We are a Nation of laws, and laws must be enacted by the peoples elected representatives. The Constitution ensures that the Government acts only with the consent of the governed, as expressed by the representatives responsible to them. That vital safeguard is lost when obscure and unaccountable regulators impose unforeseen mandates on the American people or twist the plain meaning of statutes to regulate without authority from the Congress. Our constitutional system will be of little avail to the people, Madison said, when the law is little known, and less fixed. In my Inaugural Address, I promised to return power to the American people. As President, I have instructed my Cabinet and all agency officials to regulate only when, and how, authorized by duly enacted statute. I have also instructed agencies to eliminate regulations that are ineffective, that fail to address real-world problems, that are needlessly burdensome, and that prevent Americans from designing their own innovative solutions. I call on Federal agencies to make room for States and local communities, for religious and civic organizations, and for individual Americans to address problems with the ingenuity and determination that make our country great. On this day and during this week, I once again call on all citizens to reflect on the original public meaning of our Constitution. And I call on Government officials to be mindful that laws must be clear and intelligible, and enacted through an open, constitutional process so that the American people can hold their Government accountable. The Congress, by joint resolution of February 29, 1952 (36 U.S.C. 106), designated September 17 as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and by joint resolution of August 2, 1956 (36 U.S.C. 108), requested that the President proclaim the week beginning September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as Constitution Week. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 17, 2018, as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and September 17, 2018, through September 23, 2018, as Constitution Week. On this day and during this week, we celebrate the citizens and the Constitution that have made America the greatest Nation this world has ever known. In doing so, we recommit ourselves to the enduring principles of the Constitution and thereby secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-third. DONALD J. TRUMP Latest News Washington, DC - Tropical Storm Florence continues hammering the Carolinas with heavy rains, high winds and flash flooding today. Dangerous flooding is occurring across the impacted area, and residents and visitors should remain indoors until told by local officials that it is safe to go outside. Residents in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia should: Stay put. Stay indoors until you are told it is safe to go outside by local officials. Keep out of the water. Flood water can contain dangerous debris, downed power lines, and germs. Do not attempt to walk, swim, wade, or drive through flood waters. Let first responders do their job. Stay off the roads, beaches, and waterways. Use VHF Channel 16, or call 911 for emergency needs. Do not rely on social media if you are in danger. Send a text to check-in. Text instead of calling to let loved ones know that you are safe; keep phone lines open for first responders. President Donald J. Trump declared a Major Disaster Friday for North Carolina as a result of Florence, making federal funding available to affected individuals in Beaufort, Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico and Pender counties. Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can visit disasterassistance.gov to check eligibility for federal, state, local, and voluntary organizations in their community that best meet their specific needs. Survivors without internet access can check their eligibility for disaster assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 (Multilingual operators are available; press 2 for Spanish). Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT, daily. "Our job is to pre-deploy our assets and teams to help the heroes at the state and local level do their jobs and backfill their capabilities." -- FEMA Administrator Brock Long Federal Activities as of 5 a.m. Eastern FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Incident Management Assistance Teams are at state emergency operations centers in the Carolinas, Virginia and Washington D.C. to support readiness and response activities and ensure there are no unmet needs. Over 1,150 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue System personnel, in addition to U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue components, are positioned in the Carolinas, Maryland, and Virginia to support search and rescue efforts FEMA has Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) units in North Carolina and South Carolina with secure and non-secure voice, video and information services to support states emergency response communications needs. Additional mobile communications resources are pre-positioned in Alabama,Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia to support potentially affected areas as needed and requested. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is working closely with Insurance Commissioners in Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia to monitor the situation, and support any additional unmet needs. The NFIP held preparation calls with all NFIP Write Your Own private-sector partners to ensure they help deliver customer-centric claims service on the NFIPs behalf. Partners reported they have nearly 3,000 flood-certified adjusters ready to respond to Hurricane Florence. FEMA Logistics and Commodities Movements The private sector is the first source for goods in the potentially affected areas. When their supply chain is disrupted, or stores are unable to open, then state, local and voluntary agencies will provide needed supplies. FEMA, working in coordination with the state, will augment state and local resources as needed and requested. At all times, FEMA maintains commodities, including millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, FEMA is forward-staging meals, water, cots, blankets and other resources at Incident Support Bases, distribution centers, and pre-positioning sites in the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia and West Virginia, to support the needs of the state as they exhaust their supplies, until stores can reopen. The quantity of supplies on hand will fluctuate as supplies are continuously moving. U.S. Department of Agriculture Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) are deployed to FEMAs National Response Coordination Center, and Regional Response Coordination Centers in Philadelphia and Atlanta, in addition to state Emergency Operations Centers in North Carolina and South Carolina. USFS also has personnel positioned in Raleigh, N.C., and Anniston, Ala. should their assistance with incident management and coordination become necessary. USFS often supports states with emergency road clearing, incident management or other support following hurricanes or other disasters. USDAs Office of the Inspector General has 42 personnel in North Carolina to assist with public safety and security efforts. American Red Cross The American Red Cross is responding across six states as Hurricane Florence pounds coastal and inland communities with catastrophic flooding and life-threatening tidal surges. More than 17,000 people sought refuge in over 240 Red Cross and community shelters Friday night to escape the storms wrath. More than 2,000 disaster workers are on the ground to help and additional volunteers are being mobilized in case they are needed. The Red Cross has mobilized about 100 emergency response vehicles and more than 120 trailers of equipment and relief supplies to support relief efforts, including 100,000 ready-to-eat meals, and enough cots and blankets for more than 42,000 people. Working with partners, the Red Cross has served 47,000 meals and snacks in North Carolina and South Carolina. Corporation for National and Community Service The Corporation for National and Community Service has activated nearly 500 members of the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team. 20 teams will mobilize to FEMA sites to support distribution centers, incident staging bases, calling centers, disaster survivor assistance, and incident management assistance. Another nine AmeriCorps teams will deploy to support shelter operations in North and South Carolina. More than 150 AmeriCorps members remain pre-staged at the agencys Vicksburg, Miss., campus for swift deployment. All remaining available AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams (A-DRTs) are on standby, with 140 activated for potential deployment. A-DRTs are expertly trained crews that can provide support for shelter operations, call centers, volunteer and donation management, muck and gut operations, blue-roof tarping, debris cleanup, and other services. Of those activated for response, 260 are AmeriCorps members serving with FEMA Corps, an innovative partnership to enhance the nations disaster response and recovery capacity, while expanding career opportunities for young people. U.S. Department of Defense U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) is leaning forward and actively posturing U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) forces for response operations for Hurricane Florence. In response to potential flooding, DoD is preparing ground transportation/high-water capable vehicles to move personnel and cargo in the affected areas, is preparing to provide rotary wing aircraft, swift water boats and rescue personnel in support of flooding in the affected areas. National Guard Bureau The National Guard has approximately 6,500 force members activated for the response. Over 10 states are mobilizing critical support from their National Guard forces through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact to the anticipated impacted areas. Approximately 40 rotary wing aircraft are available for search and rescue, and the National Guard will provide general support missions with the local first responders. The North Carolina National Guard has over 2,800 personnel on State Active Duty with an additional 1,000 standing by. Capabilities to support North Carolina in the aftermath of a hurricane include stranded motorist and flood victim rescue using high-water clearance vehicles, swift water rescue support, warehouse and supply transport, power generation support, shelter support, food and water distribution, communications support, road closure support, site security, helicopter aquatic rescue teams, helicopter transport and damage assessment over-flights. The South Carolina National Guard has over 3,200 Soldiers and Airmen on duty, including support from the Pennsylvania National Guard who brought additional Army Aviation assets with 2 CH-47 Chinook helicopters and 2 UH-60 Black Hawks and 20 personnel with rescue swimmers. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) teams are on the ground in the Carolinas and Virginia to assist states and tribes with temporary emergency power, debris removal, infrastructure assessments, water and wastewater assessment and temporary roofing. U.S. Department of Energy Significant power outages are being reported from Hurricane Florence, and the Department of Energy (DOE) is continuing to work with its partners to respond to the impact of Hurricane Florence. DOE responders are working with their counterparts in the field, and more than 40,000 workers from at least 19 states have been mobilized to support restoration efforts. Crews will begin working as soon as it is safe to do so, though power restoration may take several days or even more in some areas. DOE has also begun to issue Event Summaries on the impacts of Florence to the energy infrastructure, which can be found here. Nuclear Regulatory Commission The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) oversees eight nuclear power plants, including 13 reactors, in or near the projected path of Hurricane Florence. (Three sites in North Carolina, three sites in South Carolina, and two in Virginia.) Plant procedures require operators to shut down the reactor before hurricane-force winds arrive on site. The Brunswick nuclear power plant and the Global Nuclear Fuels plant, both near Wilmington, N.C. shut down operations. Federal Communications Commission The Federal Communications Commission continues monitoring the status of communications networks and is prepared to provide emergency assistance to communications providers. Visit their for information about Hurricane Florence, including outage reports and tips for communicating during an emergency. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) medical personnel began providing care for residents who evacuated to general population shelters in southern Virginia. HHS now has more than 500 medical personnel pre-positioned from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, National Disaster Medical System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other HHS divisions, along with caches of medical equipment. Federal Medical Stations also are on standby. These assets are available quickly anywhere they are needed to help state and local authorities respond to communities medical needs. Approximately 300 ambulances and their emergency medical crews are on standby to assist. U.S. Department of Homeland Security National Protection and Programs Directorate DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) is coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration on drone policy and guidance to ensure adequate flight restrictions are in place. NPPD has been participating in the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC) daily coordination call with CEOs from companies in the forecasted path of Hurricane Florence, and with senior leadership from DOE. Industry and government executives discuss the steps that are being taken to prepare for the expected power restoration mission. NPPD is also linked in with the Oil and Natural Gas Subsector Coordinating Council to support unmet needs. The Shared Resources (SHARES) High Frequency Radio program, administered by NPPDs National Coordinating Center for Communications, is providing an additional means for users with a national security and emergency preparedness mission to communicate when landline and cellular communications are unavailable. NPPDs Office of Emergency Communications (EOC) has activated the Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) Program and Government Emergency Telecommunications Service/Wireless Priority Service program. The TSP is for authorized national security and emergency preparedness organizations to receive priority treatment for vital voice and data circuits or other telecommunications services. NPPDs Federal Protective Service (FPS) continues to monitor all facilities within its mission area, and is taking appropriate precautions to ensure the continued security of the closed facilities. Currently there are 69 Federal facilities under GSAs purview throughout coastal North and South Carolina, the Georgia coast, and Southeastern Virginia that are closed as a result of Hurricane Florence. Customs and Border Protection U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in consideration of disaster response activities, will not be conducting immigration enforcement initiatives associated with evacuations or sheltering related to Florence, except in the event of a serious public safety threat. Internal Revenue Service There are checks held for special delivery. IRS has a total of 2,111 checks totaling over $3 million. U.S. Department of Justice The U.S. Department of Justice is in touch with its prison facilities and law enforcement offices in the impacted region. Law enforcement components stand ready to answer calls for assistance from state and local entities. There are over 100 law enforcement personnel deployed to hurricane-impacted areas to assist in rescue and response operations. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Navigation Response Teams are ready to assist in re-opening ports as soon as possible. NOAA's National Geodetic Survey has aircraft on standby to support FEMA overflights of affected shorelines, and the Office of Response and Recovery is on standby to assist the Coast Guard with any possible chemical and/or oil spill. The SARSAT system is actively providing distress and specific location information to the Coast Guard, and NOAA is working with local emergency managers and industry to help amplify its forecasts including working through over 8200 Weather Ready Nation Ambassadors. Salvation Army The Salvation Army has staged incident command teams and more than 60 mobile feeding units are staged through North Carolina and South Carolina, and canteens are on stand-by in Virginia and Georgia to provide relief to survivors and first responders as soon as storm conditions allow. The main staging area is at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, where more than 20 canteens and one field kitchen (en route) are staged to deploy to impacted areas when weather permits. Social Security Administration In the Atlanta region, the Social Security Administration closed approximately 35 field or hearing offices in the affected areas. In addition, four disability determination services (DDS) offices are closed. Also, the Norfolk DDS is closed. In the Philadelphia region, all agency offices remain open. U.S. Department of Transportation The U.S. Department of Transportation established a Routing Assistance Hotline to support the movement of federal, state, and local response personnel, equipment, and goods during Hurricane Florence response efforts. Waivers have been extended for federal motor carriers in the impacted, and potentially impacted areas, to include Kentucky. Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration is warning drone owners and operators they may face significant fines if they interfere with emergency response operations in the areas affected by Hurricane Florence. If drone operators need to fly in controlled airspace or a disaster Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) to support the response and recovery, operators must contact the FAAs System Operations Support Center (SOSC) by emailing the information they need to authorize access to the airspace. Coordination with the SOSC may also include a requirement that a drone operator obtain support from the appropriate incident commander. USA.gov / GobiernoUSA.gov Continues to publish usa.gov/hurricane-florence and gobierno.usa.gov/huracan-florence as central hubs for communication efforts on what federal government is doing in response to Hurricane Florence. Updated our Tips for Preparing Published in English and Spanish -- Highlights included children's emotional welfare during emergencies. Department of Veterans Affairs Today A few clouds from time to time. High near 85F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight A mostly clear sky. Low 61F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Sunny skies. High 86F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Dengue cases are sharply rising across the country. People who get infected usually have mild or no symptoms. But please note that mild symptoms can be confused with Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. is an early-stage contract research company, which provides essential products and services to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, government agencies and academic institutions. It operates through the following segments: Research Models & Services, Discovery & Safety Assessment and Manufacturing Support. The Research Models & Services segment comprises of the production and sale of research models, and also offers services designed to support its client's use of research models in screening non-clinical drug candidates. The Discovery & Safety Assessment segment offers discovery and safety assessment services, both regulated and non-regulated, in which it include both in vivo and in vitro studies, supporting laboratory services, and strategic preclinical consulting and program management to support product development. 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The Ministry has been helping Christians who wish to embark on the pilgrimage, with the maiden edition coming on last year. Mr. Dzamesi confirmed that this year the ministry is sending about 200 pilgrims to Israel to pray for the nation. The Christian pilgrims at the Kotoka International Airport. Source: Adomfmonline.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: Deporting me to Ghana worse than being jailed in UK Adoboli The Minister himself joined in as part of the Christian pilgrims embarking on the visit to the holy site of Israel. He disclosed that, the pilgrims will visit various historical sites identified in the Bible, as part of their activities when they arrive in Israel. He said the Ministry is committed to ensuring the meditation of the religious bodies, while advising pilgrims to comport themselves and be of good behaviour. An Elder of the Church of Pentecost, Awoshie District, Emmanuel B.B. Akuamoah was pleased that government is helping to facilitate the pilgrimage. READ ALSO: PURC orders 10% reduction of water tariffs According to him, it is a significant initiative, which presents pilgrims the opportunity to experience some of the things they have read in the Bible about the birth of Jesus Christ. Each pilgrim will pay $2,700 as fare the same amount they paid during last years pilgrimage. Ghana News Today: Kofi Annan Burial Ceremony | Yen.com.gh READ ALSO: 9 footballers who came from wealthy homes and became rich in their career Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page Source: Yen - The woman in labour was seen in a viral video being carried on a cane chair to cross a river - It is unclear if the delay in getting her to the hospital contributed to the stillbirth as she had to travel some 20 kilometers to reach the nearest health facility A pregnant woman has suffered a miscarriage after she had to be carried across a river before reaching a delivery center. The sad incident is reported to have happened at Nangurma in the Northern Region, when the woman in labour was being transported to Yezhisi for delivery. Reports suggest that the woman had to travel some 20 kilometers to reach the nearest health facility, leading to a stillbirth. READ ALSO: Minister leads Christians on pilgrimage to Israel A video of some men trying to get the woman across a river to the health facility has since gone viral on social media. In the said video, the men are seen carrying the pregnant woman on a cane chair to cross a river in order to reach a hospital by a motorbike. More appalling is the information that a health facility has been established in the village since 2016 but is yet to be commissioned for use. This has been a huge problem for residents, who have to travel long distances to other neighbouring villages whenever they and their children need medical care. The development has driven Ghanaians crazy on social media. Below are some of the rage by Ghanaians; Unity Kobby Kpodo; A Cathedral is more important than providing our people with this basic social amenities such as hospitals, Roads, and so on.fire burn our leaders opinion leaders pastors who are brainwashed by politicians never say the truth. Fire burn them all Gifty Annobil :Everything is in the pipeline..that pipeline must be full by now..micheeew Is Kofi Annan an Example for All? - Ghanaians Speak | Yen.com.gh READ ALSO: Cedi hasn't been this better in 8 years - Bawumia defends Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page Source: Yen.com.gh Speaking in the wake of being granted bail by the courts, Dr Dominic Obeng-Andoh claimed he was not responsible for the murder for which he is charged. The Managing Director of Obengfo Hospital, Dr Dominic Obeng-Andoh has spoken for the first time on the issue involving a charge of murder that has been leveled against him. Dr Obeng-Andoh is accused of the death of Stacy Offei-Darko after the latter received medical attention from the doctor. The late Stacy Offei-Darko was the deputy CEO of the National Entrepreneurship Programme (NEIP). She is survived by her toddler daughter she allegedly had with Assin Central Member of Parliament (MP) Ken Agyapong. Dr Obeng-Andoh got into national prominence over the last five years having aggressively advertised his services over TV and radio. He offered among other things, liposuction and body-sculpting for mosly women. READ ALSO: Rosemond Brown reveals raw body in latest photo The doctor has claimed innocence from the beginning but the facts of the matter divide public opinion Source: UGC Many celebrities were even thought to have been former clients of the doctor. YEN.com.gh carried a story of how whistle-blower alleged that Moesha Buduong and others had been to the Obengfo Hospital. But speaking after his bail, Obeng-Andoh reportedly said: My client came for liposuction and I later heard that she had died but she didnt die as a result of the liposuction because there were no complications associated with the procedure. She has been at my hospital twice and so why would she come back again for the second time if indeed we didnt do a good job?". READ ALSO: Pregnant woman carried over river loses baby in stillbirth The doctor was charged with murder over a month ago but now on bail. The case is expected to be recalled before the courts soon. Is Kofi Annan an Example for All? - Ghanaians Speak | Yen.com.gh Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page Source: Yen.com.gh A former Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Dr Tony Aubynn, has asked the government to approach the developing Menzgold-SEC matter with the needed care so as not to endanger the investments of Ghanaians. Dr. Tony Aubynn, has cautioned government against dealing with Menzgold in a rash manner. He believes the investments of Ghanaians are at stake in any deliberation. Menzgold, owned by, Nana Appiah Mensah, was earlier this week instructed by the Security and Exchanges Commission (SEC) to shut down their investments in gold. After an initial refusal, Menzgold closed with a promise to their customers to sort things out in a week. They expressed disappointment with the SEC for "leaking" conclusions reached in the privacy of boardrooms. READ ALSO: Obengfo speaks charge of murder after being granted bail But speaking to Joy News, the former Minerals Commission boss said that government needed to take care in order not to ruin matters. Dr Aubynn is quoted as saying: "I tell you if caution is not taken, we are going to have a national funeral. Maybe the biggest funeral will happen in my hometown Tarkwa." According to Dr Aubynn, there were among the clients of Menzgold, soldiers, bankers and other even police officers. He spoke of personally knowing someone who invested GHC 500,000. READ ALSO: Pregnant woman carried over river loses baby in stillbirth In the business module of the company, clients buy gold collectibles and then deposit them with the company. A monthly guaranteed return of between 7% to 12% is given depending on how much was invested in the gold purchase. Is Kofi Annan an Example for All? - Ghanaians Speak | Yen.com.gh Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page Source: Yen Space News space history and artifacts articles Messages space history discussion forums Sightings worldwide astronaut appearances Resources selected space history documents advertisements Delta Blue: Last Delta II launches, leaves behind colorful legacy September 15, 2018 The final launch of the venerable Delta II rocket has left the world a little less blue. That is not to say that the rocket's retirement has not been met with a tinge of sadness. To the contrary, representatives from the U.S. Air Force, NASA and United Launch Alliance (ULA), the latter the company responsible for the vehicle, described the final Delta II launch on Saturday (Sep. 15) as "melancholy" and "bittersweet." No, it was not a matter of sentimentality. Rather, it is one of hue. After 30 years of the Delta II being the United States' only blue-colored launch vehicle, the rocket's end means a future without "Delta Blue." "They wanted future vehicles to be the same color, but there was an issue getting that approved," said Kathy McLaughlin, ULA's Delta II site manager, who had been with the program since the first launch on Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) 1989. A rocket by any other color The final Delta II to fly lifted off with NASA's ICESat-2 satellite at 6:02 a.m. PDT (1402 GMT) on Saturday from Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in southern California. The predawn liftoff, coupled with a low cloud layer, meant the rocket left Earth for the last time out of view for many of the spectators watching. But it was still blue. "I think because it was identifiable, it became a 'this-is-my-rocket' kind of thing," McLaughlin told collectSPACE in an interview. It is not clear who coined the name or when they did so, but the origin of the Delta Blue color itself harkens back to a time well before Delta II, when its predecessor was painted white. "The primer underneath the white paint happened to be this blueish, light blue color or 'Delta Blue' as a lot of people have called it," said Jay Witzling, who retired in 2003 as Boeing's vice president for Delta II but whose history with the vehicle extended back to 1974 and the launch of the 100th Delta rocket. "Delta was always fighting more for more performance and so the program elected to not put the white paint on." The move saved weight by omitting an unnecessary layer. Though some areas on the Delta II remained white for thermal reasons, from then on, it was easier and perhaps even grew to be preferred to keep using the primer than to find another solution, or color. "There were some customers, commercial customers in particular, who wanted their own colors on the rocket. They wanted a black color or they wanted a yellow color," recalled Witzling. "But we always found a way to way around that because of 'technical issues.' We maintained the color, that's for sure." Two-five-one-nine-three It took about 10 gallons of AkzoNobel's aerospace coating "Blue Fluid Resistant Primer" to cover a single Delta II. Between 1989 and 2018, 155 of the rockets flew. Outside the space program, "Delta Blue" is formally known as Federal Standard 25193. Considered a shade of cyan, it is comprised of 36.47 percent red, 55.69 percent green and 58.82 percent blue. Delta Blue has an approximate wavelength of 488.02 nanometers. Pantone, known for its color matching system, identifies "Delta Blue" as simply "5483-C." If you wanted to paint your rocket or your room Delta Blue then you could look for Dutch Boy's "Midnight Run," Sherwin-Williams' "Mountain Stream" (no. 7162) or Valspar Paint's "Ocean Voyage." If you wanted to order your next car in Delta Blue, Chrysler's closest match is "Neptune Green," General Motors' offers "Adriatic Turquoise" and at Ford it is just "Medium Turquoise." To the McDonnell Douglas, Boeing and United Launch Alliance teams that worked on Delta II for three decades though, it was and continues to be "Delta Blue." "I think everybody called it 'Delta Blue,'" said McLaughlin. "They likened it to the turquoise waters that the solids [boosters] and the first stage actually eventually went to and became a reef." The final Delta II rocket to fly is seen shortly after the mobile service tower at Space Launch Complex-2 was rolled back for the vehicle's 155th and last mission on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Team members referred to the rocket's distinctive hue as "Delta Blue." (NASA/Bill Ingalls) United Launch Alliance's Delta II rocket is seen rising from Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base for the final time after 30 years and 155 missions. (collectSPACE) "Delta Blue," the distinctive hue of the Delta II rocket, began as a primer under a coat of paint but came to represent the team behind the venerable launch vehicle. (collectSPACE / NASA/Bill Ingalls) 2021 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved. According to news sources, Welles' performance of War Of The Worlds had "upwards of a million people, convinced, if only briefly, that the United States was being laid waste by alien invaders." Quite the prank, except that Welles was as shocked as everyone else. His show, The Mercury Theatre On The Air, had been around for months, adapting famous literary works as radio plays every week without anyone ever thinking they were real. When they premiered the show with Dracula, it didn't cause people to loot their local garlic-and-stakes emporiums, so what was so special about War Of The Worlds? If anyone was to blame for tricking people into panicking, it was the newspapers. During the '30s, print media was in decline (can't imagine what that's like), with people preferring to get their news from their newfangled talkin' machines. So when they heard of Welles acting out a newsreader announcing the end of the world, they saw a chance to smear the radio as spreading fake news, proving that people should only trust print journalists -- which we now know is even dumber than believing aliens are invading. Continue Reading Below Advertisement However, the embarrassing truth for Welles was that not enough Americans even listened to his show for it to cause pandemonium. As the alleged mass panic was kicking off, a radio ratings service was telephoning households to ask what they were listening to. Only 2 percent answered that they were listening to "the Orson Welles Program," and none said they couldn't talk because they were helping Pa load his shotgun to stop the aliens from probing Ma. The only thing the "scandal" wound up doing was make the 23-year-old Welles famous throughout the country as the world's most convincing storyteller, which must've really helped his burgeoning film career. So what we're trying to say is this: Thanks for Citizen Kane, fake news. iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Businesses from Tesla to Pepsi to breweries both large and small have stepped in to offer help to victims of Hurricane Florence. Anheuser-Busch is sending more than 300,000 cans of drinking water in six truckloads to North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia from its brewery in Cartersville, Georgia, the company said in a press release. MillerCoors donated 80 pallets of water from its brewery in Virginia to American Red Cross shelters in the region, the company said. Smaller breweries are also joining in. Blue Blaze Brewing, which brews 5,000 barrels a year in Charlotte, North Carolina, filled its tanks with drinking water and sterilized its kegs for anyone, including from restaurants and other businesses, who may need to take a keg of fresh water. We wanted to be able to provide the community with fresh water in case of flooding, power outages, or downed trees, because the stores have run out," Blue Blaze owner Craig Nunn told ABC News. He said his company was preparing especially for needs early next week "when what everybodys bought runs out, if theres still infrastructure issues. Two other North Carolina breweries -- The Dreamchaser's Brewery and Resident Culture Brewing Co. - are also pitching in. Chef Jose Andres, who provided meals to Puerto Ricans after the devastation left by Hurricane Maria last year, is now in Wilmington, North Carolina, helping those in need. His team is delivering fresh food to evacuees, homeless shelters, emergency workers and local police. Pepsi is giving back to its birthplace -- New Bern, North Carolina -- which was overwhelmed by torrential flooding from Florence. The PepsiCo Foundation said it's donating $1 million to relief agencies and 350,000 meals to help those devastated by the storm. New Bern "is the birthplace of Pepsi," Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi tweeted. "We wouldnt be here without you and we are here for you now and always. #NewBernStrong" Further up the coast in New Jersey, Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City opened its doors to let Hurricane Florence evacuees stay for free. Amazon is also stepping in to help. It debuted a new Alexa donations feature, which enables customers to donate to the Red Cross by saying: Alexa, donate to Hurricane Florence disaster relief. Offline, the company has prepped 40 of its warehouses east of the Mississippi with Amazon-donated products that can be shipped as needed. The company, which recently hit a $1 trillion valuation, also donated 100,000 food items and more than 30,000 bottles of water to Feeding America, Amazon announced in a blog post. Tesla is helping its owners by expanding the battery capacity for affected customers until mid-October. The eligible Model S and Model X vehicles with 40kWh, 60kWh and 70kWh batteries will have their capacity expanded to 60kWh or 75kWh in the affected areas, according to a company spokesman. Tesla also opened up all of its express-charging stations in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia to allow free charging of its cars. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. 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. The government said that CID had no plans to arrest Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne as claimed by the media. He was only requested to make a statement regarding the allegations against him, Director General of the Government Information Sudarshana Gunawardena said. The reports said the arrest was to be made in connection with allegations of the CDS protecting a wanted Navy Officer. Some of the print and electronic media, saying that a high ranking figure of a security force is to be arrested, was apparently providing publicity to the opinion of the Opposition that the government was on a mission to hunt war heroes, state owned Daily News said quoting Mr. Gunawardena. From left: Deputy High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Dr. Shilpak Ambule, State Finance Minister Eran Wickramaratne and Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen checking out some products on display. Pic by Kithsiri de Mel Sri Lankan SMEs, a key driver of the countrys GDP are to collect a hefty packaging bonanza, the first such initiative by the State. Like in any other country, Sri Lankas packaging industry too is cross-cutting. Printing and packaging are important elements in branding Sri Lanka to the global markets, especially for our SMEs striving for international markets. Realising this, we have launched new initiatives to strengthen packaging for our SMEs recently, said the Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday addressing the launch of Lankapak 2018 International Packaging & Printing Exhibition. The new initiative for SMEs by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce is in two stages and involves Rs. 10.3 million and close to 150 SMEs as beneficiaries. In the first stage around 100 SMEs were trained and equipped in packaging at a cost of Rs. 6.2 million. In the planned next stage (2019) another 50 SMEs will be strengthened in packaging at a cost of Rs. 4.5 million. In addition, yet another project is also being planned by the Ministry to build skills for SMEs especially for promotions and market access. A great number of Lankan micro and SME enterprises are active in food, and an estimated 40 percent of Lankan SMEs operate in the food processing sector. We have launched new initiatives to strengthen packaging for our SMEs recently. Though high quality exports packaging is important for competitive international markets, many export items with cover packaging and non-recyclable packaging are now faced with increasing challenges abroad. Also the international packaging requirements are impacting on our exports. According to the global card firm MASTERCARD, clear packaging instructions and communication can help in effective and improved exports. We have also been seeing more and more innovative packaging solutions that can be re-used. The post-consumer packaging is a big challenge we are faced with both in our domestic market as well as export markets. Since the unity government promotes environmentally friendly policies, we encourage degradable packaging material in Sri Lanka. Lankan SMEs power more than half the Lankan economy with 35 percent - 40 percent of total employment. Around 60 percent of all Lankan enterprises are seen as SMEs. Deputy Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Dr Shilpak Ambule addressing the event said that packaging is as important as the product itself. Indian packaging industry has become the fifth largest packaging industry in the world. Huge investments in food and FMCGs have boosted the packaging sector in India. Sri Lankan industries partnering with Indian industries through outsourcing is an asset to India. Considerable volume of Lankan exports to India are in food products-such as tea. The process of recognition of Sri Lankan (food testing) labs by Indians has been a long-standing demand by Lankan industry. The Food Safety and Standard Authority India (FSSAI) is currently working on the certification of Lankan labs. We expect growth of export of food products from Sri Lanka to India even further. In 2017, Sri Lankas total trade with India stood at US$ 5.1 billion, increasing by 18 percent from 2017s US$ 4.3 billion. Exports from Sri Lanka to India was at US$ 689.5 million while total imports from India to Sri Lanka was at US$ 4,496 million. India is ranked as the 3rd largest export destination for Sri Lanka in 2017. School Safety Resolution does not represent parents community What happened over the last six months in our beloved DMUSD? After the tragic events in Parkland High School, Fla., the parents community of DMUSD called upon their board to pass a School Safety Resolution. The resolution was meant to be a statement from our community to state and federal officials about what measures parents in our district believe are needed for safer schools. This movement was started by parents, not by anti-guns activists, in reaction to the massacres of children by children in schools. The parents hope was that the DMUSD would join with San Dieguito Union High School District, San Diego Unified School District, Encinitas, Cardiff and other districts across the country that included specific language around reducing access to military-style weapons. To this end, multiple hearings, emails, letters and a petition were conducted and sent by hundreds and hundreds of parents to the board to express what they wanted to see in the safety resolution. Fast-forward six months, to the board meeting last month. Three members of the board (Doug Rafner, Scott Wooden and Kristin Gibson) refused to include language asking for a ban on assault weapons, armor-piercing ammunition and bump stock into the School Safety Resolution. They knew this specific language was overwhelmingly supported by the parents community, and was supported by other districts across the country. The meeting was the surreal scene of a 3-minute, uninterrupted string of threats uttered by a gun-owner lobbyist (non-DMUSD parent) towards any board member who would support the ban. Subsequently, the San Diego County Gun Owners newsletter was titled Victory at Del Mar Union School Board?! and went on to thank board member Scott Wooden for his leadership and wisdom. The parents community strongly feel they have been dismissed by their elected officials, and the School Safety Resolution does not represent their community. Helene Citeau Del Mar Viewpoints of parents should not be ignored I am outraged to hear that an NRA lobbyist hijacked a recent local school board meeting! As a parent of two former Hills and Heights students, I was stunned to hear from a parent who attended the meeting that three board members refused to support the inclusion of specific language re ban on assault-style weapons into the school safety plan. A gun owner lobbyist took the stand and threatened any board member who supported the inclusion of this language. Consequently, the inclusion failed to pass. A sad moment in the history of the DMUSD. Carole Bremner Fair Campaign Practices should be followed As a candidate for Del Mar City Council, I feel compelled to express my concerns regarding anonymous campaign materials that have been circulated against Measure R. The materials include insulting language directed against the proponent who led the effort to put Measure R on the ballot. They also used a website URL similar to the City of Del Mars website to deceptively distribute their hateful message. Personal attacks detract from open and clear discussion of the issues and must be discouraged. As a candidate, I voluntarily signed a State and a City pledge to adhere to Fair Campaign Practices, which include no use of anonymous materials, disclosure of who paid, and a focus on issue-based campaigning while avoiding personal attacks. However, I would encourage the residents of Del Mar to vote No on Measure R. Our city council has taken a unanimous position against Measure R and I fully agree with their position. Terry Gaasterland Two people were killed this morning, Sept. 15, when the vehicle they were in crashed into a tree in the Torrey Highlands area of San Diego. Officers responded at 1:40 a.m. to the intersection of Carmel Valley Road and Torrey Del Mar Drive and located a crashed Honda Accord and two victims, according to Officer Robert Heims of the San Diego Police Department. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene, Heims said. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Robert Haley Courtesy The San Dieguito Union High School District board has appointed Robert Haley as the new superintendent, pending negotiation and approval of an employment contract. The board voted 4-1 in closed session on Sept. 13 to select Haley, who has served as the superintendent of the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District in Sonoma County for the past seven years.Trustee John Salazar was the sole vote in opposition of Haleys appointment. Haley is a former member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve and has over 25 years of experience in education, serving as a teacher, principal and district level administrator in six school districts. He has a masters degree in special education from Chapman University and a doctorate in educational leadership from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. Dr. Haley is the ideal superintendent for our district, said San Dieguito Union School District (SDUHSD) President Beth Hergesheimer. He believes in the team approach to leadership, actively listening, collaborating and focusing decision-making on what is best for students. His school finance acumen and his special education background match with some challenges SDUHSD is facing. The board will vote to approve the contract at its next board meeting on Thursday, Oct. 11. Haley was selected following a national search conducted by Hazard Young Attea and Associates (HYA) this summer. The board was seeking a superintendent with experience at the middle school and high school levels and was guided by the leadership profile that HYA developed following numerous interviews and community meetings. I want to thank everyone who participated in the process by completing surveys, attending meetings and being interviewed, Hergesheimer said. We paid very close attention to the feedback we received and considered that feedback when we made our decision. The board spent two full days interviewing candidates on Sept. 7 and Sept. 8, which trustee Amy Herman said provided a great opportunity to do a deep-dive and learn more about the top choices. Salazar said business commitments kept him out of the state and country so he didnt attend any of the interviews. Im very happy with the selection weve made, Herman said of Haley, who was complimented for his work supporting effective board governance; his demeanor and ethics; his knowledge of school business and funding; his experience as a special education teacher and director; his curriculum and program development capabilities; and his familiarity with and commitment to San Dieguito for the long-term. Hergesheimer said Haley is well-versed regarding school finance issues and the operational aspects of school district management. During his time at Cohati-Rohnart Park Unified, the district was recognized by both the College Board and the Ed-Data Consortium for its curriculum improvements. He serves on the State of California Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team Board of Directors and is known for his research and work on school safety he is a member of the Association of California School Administrators Fatal School Violence Task Force. Haley is married and has four children, with his youngest being a senior in high school. His wife of 25 years is also an educator and is currently an elementary school principal. This was a family decision, we love the San Diego area and it has long been our desire to relocate here and put down roots, Haley said. The communities that make up the district are all unique and wonderful places to live. San Dieguito Union High School District is a great school district and one I am honored to have the opportunity to lead. With the appointment, Interim Superintendent Larry Perondi said his role at the district is now winding downhe was brought on in July and helped the board through the transition and successfully prepared the district to start the school year. KIEL, 7 September 2018 (UNESCO) This week, more than 300 scientists from 33 countries met in Kiel, Germany, at an international conference to discuss the decline of oxygen in the ocean, the causes and the consequences. At the conclusion of the conference, the scientists published a haunting appeal, the Kiel Declaration, in which they call urgently for more marine and climate protection. The numbers are alarming: over the past 50 years, oxygen has decreased by 2 percent in the global ocean. The volume of oxygen-depleted waters, has grown more than fourfold. The main reasons are the increasing global warming, but also the over-fertilization of the oceans. In the long term, these changes will not only jeopardize life in large parts of the worlds oceans, but also feedbacks to the atmosphere are expected, as greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide and methane form in oxygen-free water.Scientists from all parts of the world who convened in Kiel for a conference organized by the Collaborative Research Centre 754 (SFB 754) Climate and Biogeochemical Interactions in the Tropical Ocean agreed that this problem must be immediately and urgently addressed to develop solutions in order to stop the oxygen loss as soon as possible. Therefore, they unanimously adopted an appeal for more marine and climate protection, the Kiel Declaration.The ocean is in a global crisis, says Prof. Dr. Andreas Oschlies, spokesperson of the SFB 754 from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. For the very productive areas of the worlds ocean off Peru and West Africa, the supply of nutrients and oxygen is of vital importance, Oschlies continues. But particularly in these areas, the oxygen content has decreased significantly in the past 50 years. In addition, these coastal areas are particularly affected by overfertilization, which leads to algae blooms and ultimately to increased oxygen depletion through degradation of biomass.Comparisons between observational data and the results of complex numerical models show that even the best simulations underestimate the changes which are already observed significantly, Prof. Oschlies explains. Thus, nature is changing faster than we expected. Therefore, Oschlies and the more than 300 participants of the conference and the Global Ocean Oxygen Network (GO2NE) an expert group established in 2016 under UNESCOs Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission consider it important to publicize these changes and also to advocate increased ocean observations, leading to a better understanding of ongoing rapid changes and eventually to more robust predictions.In the document, they call for more international efforts to sharpen global awareness of oxygen depletion, taking immediate and decisive action to limit marine pollution and in particular the excessive nutrient input into the ocean and to limit global warming by decisive climate change mitigation actions.The researchers refer to the Paris Climate Change Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 for the sustainable development of the seas and oceans. We still have the chance to avoid strong and irreversible effects of climate change, pollution and overuse of the oceans through rethinking and immediate action, says Prof. Oschlies. But we are quickly running out of time! Thats why we want to set a clear and strong signal with the Kiel Declaration in order to stop the oxygen depletion of the ocean and thus, preserve the largest ecosystems on this planet. Contact 14 September 2018 (UN News) While health, education, and income levels have improved overall across the globe, wide inequalities both among and within countries, are casting a shadow on sustained human development, a new United Nations report shows.Looking at the widening gap in real terms, a child born in Norway today the country with the highest human development index (HDI) can expect to live beyond the age of 82, and spend almost 18 years in school. But the same child, if born in Niger the lowest HDI can expect only to live to 60, with just five years of formal education.While these statistics present a stark picture in themselves, they also speak to the tragedy of millions of individuals whose lives are affected by inequity and lost opportunities, neither of which are inevitable, said Achim Steiner, the Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), which released the report today.Inequality occurs in many countries, including in some of the wealthiest ones, but it ends up taking a much bigger toll on countries with lower HDI levels; with low HDI countries losing almost a third of their human development capacity. For countries with a high HDI, the average loss is 11 per cent.The striking differences both within and among countries, are stifling progress and the trend can be seen again and again, according to UNDP.Inequality in all its forms and dimensions, between and within countries, limits peoples choices and opportunities, withholding progress, explained Selim Jahan, Director of the Human Development Report Office at UNDP. Womens empowerment remains a particular challenge A key sources of inequality within countries is the gap in opportunities, achievements and empowerment between women and men. On average, the HDI for women is 6 per cent lower than that for men, notes the report.Furthermore, while there has been laudable progress in the number of girls attending school, there remain big differences in other key aspects of men and womens lives for instance labour force participation rates for women globally are lower than for men 49 per cent, versus 75 per cent.And when women are working, their unemployment rates are 24 per cent higher than their male counterparts. Women globally also do much more unpaid domestic and care work than men.Womens empowerment remains a particular challenge, underscored UNDP. Data tells a part of the story, quality of growth matters The Human Development Report 2018 update also shows tremendous variation between countries in quality of education, healthcare, and many other key aspects of life.This quality-difference can be illustrated by looking at the number of students per teacher, in primary schools. Sub-Saharan Africa has, on average, 39 pupils per teacher while in developed regions, there is an average of one teacher for every 16-18 primary school pupils.Similar difference exists in terms of health care: OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries and East Asia and the Pacific have, on average, 29 and 28 physicians for every 10,000 people respectively. In South Asia overall, there are only eight per 10,000, falling to less than two, in Sub-Saharan Africa. Much of the worlds attention is on data that tells only a part of the story about peoples lives, said Mr. Jahan, highlighting that it is clearly not enough simply to count how many children are in the classroom. The important dimension is to know whether they are learning anything.Focusing on quality is essential to foster sustainable and sustained human development progress. UN News spoke with Mr. Jahan about the reports findings. Listen to the interview here.Looking back over almost three decades, all regions and human development groups have made substantial progress.The global HDI value in 2017 was 0.728, up about 21.7 percent from 1990. Across the world, people are living longer, are more educated, and have greater opportunities. Shadow of persistent inequality is growing, key UN human development report reveals Published in Contemporary British Philosophy (2nd series), ed. J. H. Muirhead, 1925. Reprinted in G. E. Moore, Philosophical Papers (1959). A Defence of Common Sense G. E. Moore In what follows I have merely tried to state, one by one, some of the most important points in which my philosophical position differs from positions which have been taken up by some other philosophers. It may be that the points which I have had room to mention are not really the most important, and possibly some of them may be points as to which no philosopher has ever really differed from me. But, to the best of my belief, each is a point as to which many have really differed; although (in most cases, at all events) each is also a point as to which many have agreed with me. I The first point is a point which embraces a great many other points. And it is one which I cannot state as clearly as I wish to state it, except at some length. The method I am going to use for stating it is this. I am going to begin by enunciating, under the heading (1), a whole long list of propositions, which may seem, at first sight, such obvious truisms as not to be worth stating: they are, in fact, a set of propositions, every one of which (in my own opinion) I know, with certainty, to be true. I shall, next, under the heading (2), state a single proposition which makes an assertion about a whole set of classes of propositions -- each class being defined, as the class consisting of all propositions which resemble one of the propositions in (1) in a certain respect. (2), therefore, is a proposition which could not be stated, until the list of propositions in (1), or some similar list, had already been given. (2) is itself a proposition which may seem such an obvious truism as not to be worth stating: and it is also a proposition which (in my own opinion) I know, with certainty, to be true. But, nevertheless, it is, to the best of my belief, a proposition with regard to which many philosophers have, for different reasons, differed from me; even if they have not directly denied (2) itself, they have held views incompatible with it. My first point, then, may be said to be that (2), together with all its implications, some of which I shall expressly mention, is true. (1) I begin, then, with my list of truisms, every one of which (in my own opinion) I know, with certainty, to be true. The propositions to be included in this list are the following: There exists at present a living human body, which is my body. This body was born at a certain time in the past, and has existed continuously ever since, though not without undergoing changes; it was, for instance, much smaller when it was born, and for some time afterwards, than it is now. Ever since it was born, it has been either in contact with or not far from the surface of the earth; and, at every moment since it was born, there have also existed many other things, having shape and size in three dimensions (in the same familiar sense in which it has), from which it has been at various distances (in the familiar sense in which it is now at a distance both from that mantelpiece and from that bookcase, and at a greater distance from the bookcase than it is from the mantelpiece); also there have (very often, at all events) existed some other things of this kind with which it was in contact (in the familiar sense in which it is now in contact with the pen I am holding in my right hand and with some of the clothes I am wearing). Among the things which have, in this sense, formed part of its environment (i.e. have been either in contact with it, or at some distance from it, however great) there have, at every moment since its birth, been large numbers of other living human bodies, each of which has, like it, (a) at some time been born, (b) continued to exist from some time after birth, (c) been, at every moment of its life after birth, either in contact with or not far from the surface of the earth; and many of these bodies have already died and ceased to exist. But the earth had existed also for many years before my body was born; and for many of these years, also, large numbers of human bodies had, at every moment, been alive upon it; and many of these bodies had died and ceased to exist before it was born. Finally (to come to a different class of propositions), I am a human being, and I have, at different times since my body was born, had many different experiences, of each of many different kinds: e.g. I have often perceived both my own body and other things which formed part of its environment, including other human bodies; I have not only perceived things of this kind, but have also observed facts about them, such as, for instance, the fact which I am now observing, that that mantelpiece is at present nearer to my body than that bookcase; I have been aware of other facts, which I was not at the time observing, such as, for instance, the fact, of which I am now aware, that my body existed yesterday and was then also for some time nearer to that mantelpiece than to that bookcase; I have had expectations with regard to the future, and many beliefs of other kinds, both true and false; I have thought of imaginary things and persons and incidents, in the reality of which I did not believe; I have had dreams; and I have had feelings of many different kinds. And, just as my body has been the body of a human being, namely myself, who has, during his lifetime, had many experiences of each of these (and other) different kinds; so, in the case of very many of the other human bodies which have lived upon the earth, each has been the body of a different human being, who has, during the lifetime of that body, had many different experiences of each of these (and other) different kinds. (2) I now come to the single truism which, as will be seen, could not be stated except by reference to the whole list of truisms, just given in (1). This truism also (in my own opinion) I know, with certainty to be true; and it is as follows: In the case of very many (I do not say all) of the human beings belonging to the class (which includes myself) defined in the following way, i.e. as human beings who have had human bodies, that were born and lived for some time upon the earth, and who have, during the lifetime of those bodies, had many different experiences of each of the kinds mentioned in (1), it is true that each has frequently, during the life of his body, known, with regard to himself or his body, and with regard to some time earlier than any of the times at which I wrote down the propositions in (1), a proposition corresponding to each of the propositions in (1), in the sense that it asserts with regard to himself or his body and the earlier time in question (namely, in each case, the time at which he knew it), just what the corresponding proposition in (1) asserts with regard to me or my body and the time at which I wrote that proposition down. In other words what (2) asserts is only (what seems an obvious enough truism) that each of us (meaning by "us," very many human beings of the class defined) has frequently known, with regard to himself or his body and the time at which he knew it, everything which, in writing down my list of propositions in (1), I was claiming to know about myself or my body and the time at which I wrote that proposition down, i.e. just as / knew (when I wrote it down) "There exists at present a living human body which is my body," so each of us has frequently known with regard to himself and some other time the different but corresponding proposition, which he could then have properly expressed by, "There exists at present a human body which is my body"; just as I know "Many human bodies other than mine have before now lived on the earth," so each of us has frequently known the different but corresponding proposition "Many human bodies other than mine have before now lived on the earth"; just as I know "Many human beings other than myself have before now perceived, and dreamed, and felt," so each of us has frequently known the different but corresponding proposition "Many human beings other than myself have before now perceived, and dreamed, and felt"; and so on, in the case of each of the propositions enumerated in (1). I hope there is no difficulty in understanding, so far, what this proposition (2) asserts. I have tried to make clear by examples what I mean by "propositions corresponding to each of the propositions in (1)." And what (2) asserts is merely that each of us has frequently known to be true a proposition corresponding (in that sense) to each of the propositions in (1) -- a different corresponding proposition, of course, at each of the times at which he knew such a proposition to be true. But there remain two points, which, in view of the way in which some philosophers have used the English language, ought, I think, to be expressly mentioned, if I am to make quite clear exactly how much I am asserting in asserting (2). The first point is this. Some philosophers seem to have thought it legitimate to use the word "true" in such a sense that a proposition which is partially false may nevertheless also be true; and some of these, therefore, would perhaps say that propositions like those enumerated in (1) are, in their view, true, when all the time they believe that every such proposition is partially false. I wish, therefore, to make it quite plain that I am not using "true" in any such sense. I am using it in such a sense (and I think this is the ordinary usage) that if a proposition is partially false, it follows that it is not true, though, of course, it may be partially true. I am maintaining, in short, that all the propositions in (1), and also many propositions corresponding to each of these, are wholly true; I am asserting this in asserting (2). And hence any philosopher, who does in fact believe, with regard to any or all of these classes of propositions, that every proposition of the class in question is partially false, is, in fact, disagreeing with me and holding a view incompatible with (2), even though he may think himself justified in saying that he believes some propositions belonging to all of these classes to be "true." And the second point is this. Some philosophers seem to have thought it legitimate to use such expressions as, e.g. "The earth has existed for many years past," as if they expressed something which they really believed, when in fact they believe that every proposition, which such an expression would ordinarily be understood to express, is, at least partially, false; and all they really believe is that there is some other set of propositions, related in a certain way to those which such expressions do actually express, which, unlike these, really are true. That is to say, they use the expression "The earth has existed for many years past" to express, not what it would ordinarily be understood to express, but the proposition that some proposition, related to this in a certain way, is true; when all the time they believe that the proposition, which this expression would ordinarily be understood to express, is, at least partially, false. I wish, therefore, to make it quite plain that I was not using the expressions I used in (1) in any such subtle sense. I meant by each of them precisely what every reader, in reading them, will have understood me to mean. And any philosopher, therefore, who holds that any of these expressions, if understood in this popular manner, expresses a proposition which embodies some popular error, is disagreeing with me and holding a view incompatible with (2), even though he may hold that there is some other, true, proposition which the expression in question might be legitimately used to express. In what I have just said, I have assumed that there is some meaning which is the ordinary or popular meaning of such expressions as "The earth has existed for many years past." And this, I am afraid, is an assumption which some philosophers are capable of disputing. They seem to think that the question "Do you believe that the earth has existed for many years past?" is not a plain question, such as should be met either by a plain "Yes" or "No," or by a plain "I can't make up my mind," but is the sort of question which can be properly met by: "It all depends on what you mean by 'the earth' and 'exists' and 'years': if you mean so and so, and so and so, and so and so, then I do; but if you mean so and so, and so and so, and so and so, or so and so, and so and so, and so and so, or so and so, and so and so, and so and so, then I don't, or at least I think it is extremely doubtful." It seems to me that such a view is as profoundly mistaken as any view can be. Such an expression as "The earth has existed for many years past" is the very type of an unambiguous expression, the meaning of which we all understand. Anyone who takes a contrary view must, I suppose, be confusing the question whether we understand its meaning (which we all certainly do) with the entirely different question whether we know what it means, in the sense that we are able to give a correct analysis of its meaning. The question what is the correct analysis of the proposition meant on any occasion (for, of course, as I insisted in definin (2), a different proposition is meant at every different time at which the expression is used) by "The earth has existed for many years past" is, it seems to me, a profoundly difficult question, and one to which, as I shall presently urge, no one knows the answer. But to hold that we do not know what, in certain respects, is the analysis of what we understand by such an expression, is an entirely different thing from holding that we do not understand the expression. It is obvious that we cannot even raise the question how what we do understand by it is to be analysed, unless we do understand it. So soon, therefore, as we know that a person who uses such an expression is using it in its ordinary sense, we understand his meaning. So that in explaining that I was using the expressions used in (1) in their ordinary sense (those of them which have an ordinary sense, which is not the case with quite all of them), I have done all that is required to make my meaning clear. But now, assuming that the expressions which I have used to express (2) are understood, I think, as I have said, that many philosophers have really held views incompatible with (2). And the philosophers who have done so may, I think, be divided into two main groups. A. What (2) asserts is, with regard to a whole set of classes of propositions, that we have, each of us, frequently known to be true propositions belonging to each of these classes. And one way of holding a view incompatible with this proposition is, of course, to hold, with regard to one or more of the classes in question, that no propositions of that class are true -- that all of them are, at least partially, false; since if, in the case of any one of these classes, no propositions of that class are true, it is obvious that nobody can have known any propositions of that class to be true, and therefore that we cannot have known to be true propositions belonging to each of these classes. And my first group of philosophers consists of philosophers who have held views incompatible with (2) for this reason. They have held, with regard to one or more of the classes in question, simply that no propositions of that class are true. Some of them have held this with regard to all the classes in question; some only with regard to some of them. But, of course, whichever of these two views they have held, they have been holding a view inconsistent with (2). B. Some philosophers, on the other hand, have not ventured to assert, with regard to any of the classes in (2), that no propositions of that class are true, but what they have asserted is that, in the case of some of these classes, no human being has ever known, with certainty, that any propositions of the class in question are true. That is to say, they differ profoundly from philosophers of group A, in that they hold that propositions of all these classes may be true; but nevertheless they hold a view incompatible with (2) since they hold, with regard to some of these classes, that none of us has ever known a proposition of the class in question to be true. A. I said that some philosophers, belonging to this group, have held that no propositions belonging to any of the classes in (2) are wholly true, while others have only held this with regard to some of the classes in (2). And I think the chief division of this kind has been the following. Some of the propositions in (1) (and, therefore, of course, all propositions belonging to the corresponding classes in (2)) are propositions which cannot be true, unless some material things have existed and have stood in spatial relations to one another: that is to say, they are propositions which, in a certain sense, imply the reality of material things, and the reality of Space. E.g. the proposition that my body has existed for many years past, and has, at every moment during that time been either in contact with or not far from the earth, is a proposition which implies both the reality of material things (provided you use "material things" in such a sense that to deny the reality of material things implies that no proposition which asserts that human bodies have existed, or that the earth has existed, is wholly true) and also the reality of Space (provided, again, that you use "Space" in such a sense that to deny the reality Of Space implies that no proposition which asserts that anything has ever been in contact with or at a distance from another, in the familiar senses pointed out in (1), is wholly true). But others among the propositions in (1) (and, therefore, propositions belonging to the corresponding classes in (2)), do not (at least obviously) imply either the reality of material things or the reality of Space: e.g. the propositions that I have often had dreams, and have had many different feelings at different times. It is true that propositions of this second class do imply one thing which is also implied by all propositions of the first, namely that (in a certain sense) Time is real, and imply also one thing not implied by propositions of the first class, namely that (in a certain sense) at least one Self is real. But I think there are some philosophers, who, while denying that (in the senses in question) either material things or Space are real, have been willing to admit that Selves and Time are real, in the sense required. Other philosophers, on the other hand, have used the expression "Time is not real," to express some view that they held; and some, at least, of these have, I think, meant by this expression something which is incompatible with the truth of any of the propositions in (1) -- they have meant, namely, that every proposition of the sort that is expressed by the use of "now" or "at present," e.g. "I am now both seeing and hearing" or "There exists at present a living human body," or by the use of a past tense, e.g. "I have had many experiences in the past," or "The earth has existed for many years," are, at least partially, false. All the four expressions I have just introduced, namely, "Material things are not real," "Space is not real," "Time is not real," "The Self is not real," are, I think, unlike the expressions I used in (1), really ambiguous. And it may be that, in the case of each of them, some philosopher has used the expression in question to express some view he held which was not incompatible with (2). With such philosophers, if there are any, I am not, of course, at present concerned. But it seems to me that the most natural and proper usage of each of these expressions is a usage in which it does express a view incompatible with (2); and, in the case of each of them, some philosophers have, I think, really used the expression in question to express such a view. All such philosophers have, therefore, been holding a view incompatible with (2). All such views, whether incompatible with all of the propositions in (1), or only with some of them, seems to me to be quite certainly false; and I think the following points are specially deserving of notice with regard to them: (a) If any of the classes of propositions in (2) is such that no proposition of that class is true, then no philosopher has ever existed, and therefore none can ever have held with regard to any such class, that no proposition belonging to it is true. In other words, the proposition that some propositions belonging to each of these classes are true is a proposition which has the peculiarity, that, if any philosopher has ever denied it, it follows from the fact that he has denied it, that he must have been wrong in denying it. For when I speak of "philosophers" I mean, of course (as we all do), exclusively philosophers who have been human beings, with human bodies that have lived upon the earth, and who have at different times had many different experiences. If, therefore, there have been any philosophers, there have been human beings of this class; and if there have been human beings of this class, all the rest of what is asserted in (1) is certainly true too. Any view, therefore, incompatible with the proposition that many propositions corresponding to each of the propositions in (1) are true, can only be true, on the hypothesis that no philosopher has ever held any such view. It follows, therefore, that, in considering whether this proposition is true, I cannot consistently regard the fact that many philosophers, whom I respect, have, to the best of my belief, held views incompatible with it, as having any weight at all against it. Since, if I know that they have held such views, I am, ipso facto, knowing that they were mistaken; and, if I have no reason to believe that the proposition in question is true, I have still less reason to believe that they have held views incompatible with it; since I am more certain that they have existed and held some views, i.e. that the proposition in question is true, than that they have held any views incompatible with it. (b) It is, of course, the case that all philosophers who have held such views have repeatedly, even in their philosophical works, expressed other views inconsistent with them: i.e. no philosopher has ever been able to hold such views consistently. One way in which they have betrayed this inconsistency, is by alluding to the existence of other philosophers. Another way is by alluding to the existence of the human race, and in particular by using "we" in the sense in which I have already constantly used it, in which any philosopher who asserts that "we" do so and so, e.g. that "we sometimes believe propositions that are not true," is asserting not only that he himself has done the thing in question, but that very many other human beings, who have had bodies and lived upon the earth, have done the same. The fact is, of course, that all philosophers have belonged to the class of human beings which exists only if (2) be true: that is to say, to the class of human beings who have frequently known propositions corresponding to each of the propositions in (1). In holding views incompatible With the proposition that propositions of all these classes kre true, they have, therefore, been holding views inconsistent with propositions which they themselves knew to be true; and it was, therefore, only to be expected that they shoiMd sometimes betray their knowledge of such propositions. The strange thing is that philosophers should have been able to hold sincerely, as part of their philosophical creed, propositions inconsistent with what they themselves knew to be true; and yet, so far as I can make out, this has really frequency happened. My position, therefore, on this first point, differs from that of philosophers belonging to this group A, not in that I hold anything which they don't hold, but only in that I don't hold, as part of my philosophical creed, things which they do! hold as part of theirs -- that is to say, propositions inconsistent with some which they and I both hold in common. But this difference seems to me to be an important one. (c) Some qf these philosophers have brought forward, in favour of their position, arguments designed to show, in the case of some or all of the propositions in (1), that no propositions of that type can possibly be wholly true, because every such proposition entails both of two incompatible propositions. And I admit, of course, that if any of the propositions in (1) did entail both of two incompatible propositions it could not be true. But it seems to me I have an absolutely conclusive argument to show that none of them does entail both of two incompatible propositions. Namely this: All of the propositiofis in (1) are true; no true proposition entails both of two incompatible propositions; therefore, none of the propositions in (1) entails both of two incompatible propositions. (d) Although, as I have urged, no philosopher who has held with regard to any of these types of proposition that no propositions of that type are true, has failed to hold also other views inconsistent with his view in this respect, yet I do not think that the view, with regard to any or all of these types, that no proposition belonging to them is true, is in itself a self-contradictory view, i.e. entails both of two incompatible propositions. On the contrary, it seems to me quite clear that it might have been the case that Time was not real, material things not real, Space not real, selves not real. And in favour of my view that none of these things, which might have been the case, is in fact the case, I have, I think, no better argument than simply this -- namely, that all the propositions in (1) are, in fact, true. B. This view, which is usually considered a much more modest view than A, has, I think, the defect that, unlike A, it really is self-contradictory, i.e. entails both of two mutually incompatible propositions. Most philosophers who have held this view, have held, I think, that though each of us knows propositions corresponding to some of the propositions in (1), namely to those which merely assert that I myself have had in the past experiences of certain kinds at many different times, yet none of us knows for certain any propositions either of the type (a) which assert the existence of material things or of the type (b) which assert the existence of other selves, beside myself, and that they also have had experiences. They admit that we do in fact believe propositions of both these types, and that they may be true: some would even say that we know them to be highly probable; but they deny that we ever know them, for certain, to be true. Some of them have spoken of such beliefs as "beliefs of Common Sense," expressing thereby their conviction that beliefs of this kind are very commonly entertained by mankind: but they are convinced that these things are, in all cases, only believed, not known for certain; and some have expressed this by saying that they are matters of Faith, not of Knowledge. Now the remarkable thing which those who take this view have not, I think, in general duly appreciated, is that, in each case, the philosopher who takes it is making an assertion about "us" -- that is to say, not merely about himself, but about many other human beings as well. When he says "No human being has ever known of the existence of other human beings," he is saying: "There have been many other huma beings beside myself, and none of them (including myself) has ever known of the existence of other human beings." If he says: "These beliefs are beliefs of Common Sense, but they are not matters of knowledge," he is saying: "There have been many other human beings, beside myself, who have shared these beliefs, but neither I nor any of the rest has ever known them to be true." In other words, he asserts with confidence that these beliefs are beliefs of Common Sense, and seems often to fail to notice that, if they are, they must be true; since the proposition that they are beliefs of Common Sense is one which logically entails propositions both of type (a) and of type (b); it logically entails the proposition that many human beings, beside the philosopher himself, have had human bodies, which lived upon the earth, and have had various experiences, including beliefs of this kind. This is why this position, as contrasted with positions of group A, seems to me to be self-contradictory. Its difference from A consists in the fact that it is making a proposition about human knowledge in general, and therefore is actually asserting the existence of many human beings, whereas philosophers of group A in stating their position are not doing this: they are only contradicting other things which they hold. It is true that a philosopher who says "There have existed many human beings beside myself, and none of us has ever known of the existence of any human beings beside himself," is only contradicting himself if what he holds is "There have certainly existed many human beings beside myself" or, in other words, "I know that there have existed other human beings beside myself." But this, it seems to me, is what such philosophers have in fact been generally doing. They seem to me constantly to betray the fact that they regard the proposition that those beliefs are beliefs of Common Sense, or the proposition that they themselves are not the only members of the human race, as not merely true, but certainly true; and certainly true it cannot be, unless one member, at least, of the human race, namely themselves, has known the very things which that member is declaring that no human being has ever known. Nevertheless, my position that I know, with certainty, to be true all of the propositions in (1), is certainly not a position, the denial of which entails both of two incompatible propositions. If I do know all these propositions to be true, then, I think, it is quite certain that other human beings also have known corresponding propositions: that is to say (2) also is true, and I know it to be true. But do I really know all the propositions in (1) to be true? Isn't it possible that I merely believe them? Or know them to be highly probable? In answer to this question, I think I have nothing better to say than that it seems to me that I do know them, with certainty. It is, indeed, obvious that, in the case of most of them, I do not know them directly: that is to say, I only know them because, in the past, I have known to be true other propositions which were evidence for them. If, for instance, I do know that the earth had existed for many years before I was born, I certainly only know this because I have known other things in the past which were evidence for it. And I certainly do not know exactly what the evidence was. Yet all this seems to me to be no good reason for doubting that I do know it. We are all, I think, in this strange position that we do know many things, with regard to which we know further that we must have had evidence for them, and yet we do not know how we know them, i.e. we do not know what the evidence was. If there is any "we," and if we know that there is, this must be so: for that there is a "we" is one of the things in question. And that I do know that there is a "we," that is to say, that many other human beings, with human bodies, have lived upon the earth, it seems to me that I do know, for certain. If this first point in my philosophical position, namely my belief in (2), is to be given any name, which has actually been used by philosophers in classifying the positions of other philosophers, it would have, I think, to be expressed by saying that I am one of those philosophers who have held that the "Common Sense view of the world" is, in certain fundamental features, wholly true. But it must be remembered that, according to me, all philosophers, without exception, have agreed with me in holding this: and that the real difference, which is commonly expressed in this way, is only a difference between those philosophers, who have also held views inconsistent with these features in "the Common Sense view of the world," and those who have not. The features in question (namely, propositions of any of the classes defined in defining (2)) are all of them features, which have this peculiar property -- namely, that if we know that they are features in the "Common Sense view of the world," it follows that they are true: it is self-contradictory to maintain that we know them to be features in the Common Sense view, and that yet they are not true; since to say that we know this, is to say that they are true. And many of them also have the further peculiar property that, if they are features in the Common Sense view of the world (whether "we" know this or not), it follows that they are true, since to say that there is a "Common Sense view of the world," is to say that they are true. The phrases "Common Sense view of the world" or "Common Sense beliefs" (as used by philosophers) are, of course, extraordinarily vague; and, for all I know, there may be many propositions which may be properly called features in "the Common Sense view of the world" or "Common Sense beliefs," which are not true, and which deserve to be mentioned with the contempt with which some philosophers speak of "Common Sense beliefs." But to speak with contempt of those "Common Sense beliefs" which I have mentioned is quite certainly the height of absurdity. And there are, of course, enormous numbers of other features in "the Common Sense view of the world" which, if these are true, are quite certainly true too: e.g. that there have lived upon the surface of the earth not only human beings, but also many different species of plants and animals, etc. etc. II What seems to me the next in importance of the points in which my philosophical position differs from positions held by some other philosophers, is one which I will express in the following way. I hold, namely, that there is no good reason to suppose either (A) that every physical fact is logically dependent upon some mental fact or (B) that every physical fact is causally dependent upon some mental fact. In saying this, I am not, of course, saying that there are any physical facts which are wholly independent (i.e. both logically and causally) of mental facts: I do, in fact, believe that there are; but that is not what I am asserting. I am only asserting that there is no good reason to suppose the contrary; by which I mean, of course, that none of the human beings, who have had human bodies that lived upon the earth, have, during the lifetime of their bodies, had any good reason to suppose the contrary. Many philosophers have, I think, not only believed either that every physical fact is logically dependent upon some mental fact ("physical fact" and "mental fact" being understood in the sense in which I am using these terms) or that every physical fact is causally dependent upon some mental fact, or both, but also that they themselves had good reason for these beliefs. In this respect, therefore, I differ from them. In the case of the term "physical fact," I can only explain how I am using it by giving examples. I mean by "physical facts," facts like the following: "That mantelpiece is at present nearer to this body than that bookcase is," "The earth has existed for many years past," "The moon has at every moment for many years past been nearer to the earth than to the sun," "That mantelpiece is of a light colour." But, when I say "facts like these," I mean, of course, facts like them in a certain respect; and what this respect is I cannot define. The term "physical fact" is, however, in common use; and I think that I am using it in its ordinary sense. Moreover, there is no need for a definition to make my point clear; since among the examples I have given there are some with regard to which i I hold that there is no reason to suppose them (i.e. these particular physical facts) either logically or causally dependent | upon any mental fact. "Mental fact," on the other hand, is a much more unusu expression, and I am using it in a specially limited sense, which, though I think it is a natural one, does need to be explained. There may be many other senses in which the term can be properly used, but I am only concerned with this one; and hence it is essential that I should explain what it is. There may, possibly, I hold, be "mental facts" of three different kinds. It is only with regard to the first kind that am sure that there are facts of that kind; but if there we any facts of either of the other two kinds, they would "mental facts" in my limited sense, and therefore I must plain what is meant by the hypothesis that there are facts those two kinds. (a) My first kind is this. I am conscious now; and also 11 seeing something now. These two facts are both of the mental facts of my first kind; and my first kind consists clusively of facts which resemble one or other of the two in a certain respect. () The fact that I am conscious now is obviously, in certain sense, a fact, with regard to a particular individua and a particular time, to the effect that that individual is con scious at that time. And every fact which resembles this in that respect is to be included in my first kind of men fact. Thus the fact that I was also conscious at many diffe ent times yesterday is not itself a fact of this kind: but it tails that there are (or, as we should commonly say, becaxi the times in question are past times, "were") many other fa of this kind, namely each of the facts, which, at each of times in question, I could have properly expressed by "I conscious now." Any fact which is, in this sense, a fact regard to an individual and a time (whether the individu be myself or another, and whether the time be past or pr ent), to the effect that that individual is conscious at that time, is to be included in my first kind of mental fact: and I call such facts, facts of class (). () The second example I gave, namely the fact that I am seeing something now, is obviously related to the fact that I am conscious now in a peculiar manner. It not only entails the fact that I am conscious now (for from the fact that I am seeing something it follows that I am conscious: I could not have been seeing anything, unless I had been conscious, though I might quite well have been conscious without seeing anything) but it also is a fact, with regard to a specific way (or mode) of being conscious, to the effect that I am conscious in that way: in the same sense in which the proposition (with regard to any particular thing) "This is red" both entails the proposition (with regard to the same thing) "This is coloured," and is also a proposition, with regard to a specific way of being coloured, to the effect that that thing is coloured in that way. And any fact which is related in this peculiar manner to any fact of class (), is also to be included in my first kind of mental fact, and is to be called a fact of class (). Thus the fact that I am hearing now is, like the fact that I am seeing now, a fact of class (); and so is any fact, with regard to myself and a past time, which could at that time have been properly expressed by "I am dreaming now," "I am imagining now," "I am at present aware of the fact that . . . ," etc. etc. In short, any fact, which is a fact with regard to a particular individual (myself or another), a particular time (past or present), and any particular kind of experience, to the effect that that individual is having at that time an experience of that particular kind, is a fact of class (): and only such facts are facts of class (). My first kind of mental facts consists exclusively of facts of classes () and (), and consists of all facts of either of these kinds. (b) That there are many facts of classes () and () seems to me perfectly certain. But many philosophers seem to me to have held a certain view with regard to the analysis of facts of class (a), which is such that, if it were true, there would be facts of another kind, which I should wish also to call "mental facts." I don't feel at all sure that this analysis is true; but it seems to me that it may be true; and since we can understand what is meant by the supposition that it is true, we can also understand what is meant by the supposition that there are "mental facts" of this second kind. Many philosophers have, I think, held the following view as to the analysis of what each of us knows, when he knows (at any time) "I am conscious now." They have held, namely, that there is a certain intrinsic property (with which we are all of us familiar and which might be called that of "being an experience") which is such that, at any time at which any man knows "I am conscious now," he is knowing, with regard to that property and himself and the time in question, "There is occurring now an event which has this property (i.e. 'is an experience') and which is an experience of mine," and such that this fact is what he expresses by "I am conscious now." And if this view is true, there must be many facts of each of three kinds, each of which I should wish to call "mental facts"; viz. (1) facts with regard to some event, which has this supposed intrinsic property, and to some time, to the effect that that event is occurring at that time, (2) facts with regard to this supposed intrinsic property and some time, to the effect that some event which has that property is occurring at that time, and (3) facts with regard to some property, which is a specific way of having the supposed intrinsic property (in the sense above explained in which "being red" is a specific way of "being coloured") and some time, to the effect that some event which has that specific property is occurring at that time. Of course, there not only are not, but cannot be, facts of any of these kinds, unless there is an intrinsic property related to what each of us (on any occasion) expresses by "I am conscious now," in the manner defined above; and I feel very doubtful whether there is any such property; in other words, although I know for certain both that I have had many experiences, and that I have had experiences of many different kinds, I feel very doubtful whether to say the first is the same thing as to say that there have been many events, each of which was an experience and and experience of mine, and whether to say the second is the same thing as to say that there have been many events, each of which was an experience of mine, and each of which also had a different property, which was a specific way of being an experience. The proposition that I have had experiences does not necessarily entail the proposition that there have been any events which were experiences; and I cannot satisfy myself that I am acquainted with any events of the supposed kind. But yet it seems to me possible that the proposed analysis of "I am conscious now" is correct: that I am really acquainted with events of the supposed kind, though I cannot see that I am. And if I am, then I should wish to call the three kinds of facts defined above "mental facts." Of course, if there are "experiences" in the sense defined, it would be possible (as many have held) that there can be no experiences which are not some individual's experiences; and in that case any fact of any of these three kinds would be logically dependent on, though not necessarily identical with, some fact of class () or class (). But it seems to me also a possibility that, if there are "experiences," there might be experiences which did not belong to any individual; and, in that case, there would be "mental facts" which were neither identical with nor logically dependent on any fact of class () or class (). (c) Finally some philosophers have, so far as I can make out, held that there are or may be facts which are facts with regard to some individual, to the effect that he is conscious, or is conscious in some specific way, but which differ from facts of classes () and (), in the important respect that they are not facts with regard to any time: they have conceived the possibility that there may be one or more individuals, who are timelessly conscious, and tunelessly conscious in specific modes. And others, again, have, I think, conceived the hypothesis that the intrinsic property defined in (b) may be one which does not belong only to events, but may also belong to one or more wholes, which do not occur at any time: in other words, that there may be one or more timeless experiences, which might or might not be the experiences of some individual. It seems to me very doubtful whether any of these hypotheses are even possibly true; but I cannot see for certain that they are not possible: and, if they are possible, then I should wish to give the name "mental fact" to any fact (if there were any) of any of the five following kinds, viz. to any fact which is the fact, with regard to any individual, that he is timelessly conscious, to any fact which is the fact, with regard to any individual, that he is timelessly conscious in any specific way, to any fact which is the fact with regard to a timeless experience that it exists, to any fact which is the fact with regard to the supposed intrinsic property "being an experience," that something timelessly exists which has that property, and to any fact which is the fact, with regard to any property, which is a specific mode of this supposed intrinsic property, that something timelessly exists which has that property. I have, then, defined three different kinds of facts, each of which is such that, if there were any facts of that kind (as there certainly are, in the case of the first kind), the facts in question would be "mental facts" in my sense; and to complete the definition of the limited sense in which I am using "mental facts," I have only to add that I wish also to apply the name to one fourth class of facts: namely to any fact, which is the fact, with regard to any of these three kinds of facts, or any kinds included in them, that there are facts of the kind in question; i.e. not only will each individual fact of class () be, in my sense, a "mental fact," but also the general fact "that there are facts of class ()," will itself be a "mental fact"; and similarly in all other cases: e.g. not only will the fact that I am now perceiving (which is a fact of class ()) be a "mental fact," but also the general fact that there are facts, with regard to individuals and times, to the effect that the individual in question is perceiving at the time in question, will be a "mental fact." A. Understanding "physical fact" and "mental fact" in the senses just explained, I hold, then, that there is no good reason to suppose that every physical fact is logically dependent upon some mental fact. And I use the phrase, with regard to two facts, F 1 and F 2 , is logically dependent on F 2 ," wherever and only where F 1 entails F 2 , either in the sense in which the proposition "I am seeing now" entails the proposition "I am conscious now," or the proposition (with regard to any particular thing) "This is red" entails the proposition (with regard to the same thing) "This is coloured," or else in the more strictly logical sense in which (for instance) the conjunctive proposition "All men are mortal, and Mr. Baldwin is a man" entails the proposition "Mr. Baldwin is mortal." To say, then, of two facts, F 1 and F 2 , that F 1 is not logically dependent upon F 2 , is only to say that F 1 might have been a fact, even if there had been no such fact as F 2 ; or that the conjunctive proposition "F 1 is a fact, but there is no such fact as F 2 " is a proposition which is not self-contradictory, i.e. does not entail both of two mutually incompatible propositions. I hold, then, that, in the case of some physical facts, there is no good reason to suppose that there is some mental fact, such that the physical fact in question could not have been a fact unless the mental fact in question had also been one. And my position is perfectly definite, since I hold that this is the case with all the four physical facts, which I have given as examples of physical facts. For example, there is no good reason to suppose that there is any mental fact whatever, such that the fact that that mantelpiece is at present nearer to my body than that bookcase could not have been a fact, unless the mental fact in question had also been a fact; and, similarly, in all the other three cases. In holding this I am certainly differing from some philosophers. I am, for instance, differing from Berkeley, who held that that mantelpiece, that bookcase, and my body are, all of them, either "ideas" or "constituted by ideas," and that no "idea" can possibly exist without being perceived. He held, that is, that this physical fact is logically dependent upon a mental fact of my fourth class: namely a fact which is the fact that there is at least one fact, which is a fact with regard to an individual and the present time, to the effect that that individual is now perceiving something. He does not say that this physical fact is logically dependent upon any fact which is a fact of any of my first three classes, e.g. on any fact which is the fact, with regard to a particular individual and the present time, that that individual is now perceiving something: what he does say is that the physical fact couldn't have been a fact, unless it had been a fact that there was some mental fact of this sort. And it seems to me that many philosophers, who would perhaps disagree either with Berkeley's assumption that my body is an "idea" or "constituted by ideas," or with his assumption that "ideas" cannot exist without being perceived, or with both, nevertheless would agree with him in thinking that this physical fact is logically dependent upon some "mental fact": e.g. they might say that it could not have been a fact, unless there had been, at some time or other, or, were tunelessly, some "experience." Many, indeed, so far as I can make out, have held that every fact is logically dependent on every other fact. And, of course, they have held in the case of their opinions, as Berkeley did in the case of his, that they had good reasons for them. B. I also hold that there is no good reason to suppose that every physical fact is causally dependent upon some mental fact. By saying that F 1 is causally dependent on F 2 , I mean only that F 1 wouldn't have been a fact unless F 2 had been; not (which is what "logically dependent" asserts) that F 1 couldn't conceivably have been a fact, unless F 2 had been. And I can illustrate my meaning by reference to the example which I have just given. The fact that that mantelpiece is at present nearer to my body than that bookcase, is (as I have just explained) so far as I can see, not logically dependent upon any mental fact; it might have been a fact, even if there had been no mental facts. But it certainly is causally dependent on many mental facts: my body would not have been here unless I had been conscious in various ways in the past; and the mantelpiece and the bookcase certainly would not have existed, unless other men had been conscious too. But with regard to two of the facts, which I gave as instances of physical facts, namely the fact that the earth has existed for many years past, and the fact that the moon has for many years past been nearer to the earth than to the sun, I hold that there is no good reason to suppose that these are causally dependent upon any mental fact. So far as I can see, there is no reason to suppose that there is any mental fact of which it could be truly said: unless this fact had been a fact, the earth would not have existed for many years past. And in holding this, again, I think I differ from some philosophers. I differ, for instance, from those who have held that all material things were created by God, and that they had good reasons for supposing this. III I have just explained that I differ from those philosophers who have held that there is good reason to suppose that all material things were created by God. And it is, I think, an important point in my position, which should be mentioned, that I differ also from all philosophers who have held that there is good reason to suppose that there is a God at all, whether or not they have held it likely that he created all material things. And similarly, whereas some philosophers have held that there is good reason to suppose that we, human beings, shall continue to exist and to be conscious after the death of our bodies, I hold that there is no good reason to suppose this. IV I now come to a point of a very different order. As I have explained under I., I am not at all sceptical as to the truth of such propositions as "The earth has existed for many years past." "Many human bodies have each lived for many years upon it," i.e. propositions which assert the existence of material things: on the contrary, I hold that we all know, with certainty, many such propositions to be true. But I am very sceptical as to what, in certain respects, the correct analysis of such propositions is. And this is a matter as to which I think I differ from many philosophers. Many seem to hold that there is no doubt at all as to their analysis, nor, therefore, as to the analysis of the proposition "Material things have existed," in certain respects in which I hold that the analysis of the propositions in question is extremely doubtful; and some of them, as we have seen, while holding that there is no doubt as to their analysis, seem to have doubted whether any such propositions are true. I, on the other hand, while holding that there is no doubt whatever that many such propositions are wholly true, hold also that no philosopher, hitherto, has succeeded in suggesting an analysis of them, as regards certain important points, which comes anywhere near to being certainly true. It seems to me quite evident that the question how propositions of the type I have just given are to be analysed, depends on the question how propositions of another and simpler type are to be analysed. I know, at present, that I am perceiving a human hand, a pen, a sheet of paper, etc.; and it seems to me that I cannot know how the proposition "Material things exist" is to be analysed, until I know how, in certain respects, these simpler propositions are to be analysed. But even these are not simple enough. It seems to me quite evident that my knowledge that I am now perceiving a human hand is a deduction from a pair of propositions simpler still -- propositions which I can only express in the form "I am perceiving this" and "This is a human hand." It is the analysis of propositions of the latter kind which seems to me to present such great difficulties, while nevertheless the whole question as to the nature of material things obviously depends upon their analysis. It seems to me a surprising thing that so few philosophers, while saying a great deal as to what material things are and as to what it is to perceive them, have attempted to give a clear account as to what precisely they suppose themselves to know (or to judge, in case they have held that we don't know any such propositions to be true, or even that no such propositions are true) when they know or judge such things as "This is a hand," "That is the sun," "This is a dog," etc. etc. etc. Two things only seem to me to be quite certain about the analysis of such propositions (and even with regard to these I am afraid some philosophers would differ from me) namely that whenever I know, or judge, such a proposition to be true, (1) there is always some sense-datum about which the proposition in question is a proposition -- some sense-datum which is a subject (and, in a certain sense, the principal or ultimate subject) of the proposition in question, and (2) that, nevertheless, what I am knowing or judging to be true about this sense-datum is not (in general) that it is itself a hand, or a dog, or the sun, etc. etc., as the case may be. Some philosophers have I think doubted whether there are any such things as other philosophers have meant by "sense-data" or "sensa." And I think it is quite possible that some philosophers (including myself, in the past) have used these terms in senses such that it is really doubtful whether there are any such things. But there is no doubt at all that there are sense-data, in the sense in which I am now using that term. I am at present seeing a great number of them, and feeling others. And in order to point out to the reader what sort of things I mean by sense-data, I need only ask him to look look at his own right hand. If he does this he will be able to pick out something (and, unless he is seeing double, only one thing) with regard to which he will see that it is, at first sight, a natural view to take that that thing is identical, not, indeed, with his whole right hand, but with that part of its surface which he is actually seeing, but will also (on a little reflection) be able to see that it is doubtful whether it can be identical with the part of the surface of his hand in question. Things of the sort (in a certain respect) of which this thing is, which he sees in looking at his hand, and with regard to which he can understand how some philosophers should have supposed it to be the part of the surface of his hand which he is seeing, while others have supposed that it can't be, are what I mean by "sense-data." I therefore define the term in such a way that it is an open question whether the sense-datum which I now see in looking at my hand and which is a sense-datum of my hand is or is not identical with that part of its surface which I am now actually seeing. That what I know, with regard to this sense-datum, when I know "This is a human hand," is not that it is itself a human hand, seems to me certain because I know that my hand has many parts (e.g. its other side, and the bones inside it), which are quite certainly not parts of this sense-datum. I think it certain, therefore, that the analysis of the proposition "This is a human hand" is, roughly at least, of the form "There is a thing, and only one thing, of which it is true both that it is a human hand and that this surface is a part of its surface." In other words, to put my view in terms of the phrase "theory of representative perception," I hold it to be quite certain that I do not directly perceive my hand; and that when I am said (as I may be correctly said) to "perceive" it, that I "perceive" it means that I perceive (in a different and more fundamental sense) something which is (in a suitable sense) representative of it, namely, a certain part of its surface. This is all that I hold to be certain about the analysis of the proposition "This is a human hand." We have seen that it includes in its analysis a proposition of the form "This is part of the surface of a human hand" (where "This," of course, has a different meaning from that which it has in the original proposition which has now been analysed). But this proposition also is undoubtedly a proposition about the sense-datum, which I am seeing, which is a sense-datum of my hand. And hence the further question arises: What, when I know "This is part of the surface of a human hand," am I knowing about the sense-datum in question? Am I, in this case, really knowing about the sense-datum in question that it itself is part of the surface of a human hand? Or, just as we found in the case of "This is a human hand," that what I was blowing about the sense-datum was certainly not that it itself was a human hand, so, is it perhaps the case, with this new proposition, that even here I am not knowing, with regard to the sense-datum, that it is itself part of the surface of a hand? And, if so, what is it that I am knowing about the sense-datum itself? This is the question to which, as it seems to me, no philosopher has hitherto suggested an answer which comes anywhere near to being certainly true. There seem to me to be three, and only three, alternative types of answer possible; and to any answer yet suggested, of any of these types, there seem to me to be very grave objections. (1) Of the first type, there is but one answer: namely, that in this case what I am knowing really is that the sense-datum itself is part of the surface of a human hand. In other words that, though I don't perceive my hand directly, I do directly perceive part of its surface; that the sense-datum itself is this part of its surface and not merely something which (in a sense yet to be determined) "represents" this part of its surface; and that hence the sense in which I "perceive" this part of the surface of my hand, is not in its turn a sense which needs to be defined by reference to yet a third more ultimate sense of "perceive," which is the only one in which perception is direct, namely that in which I perceive the sense-datum. If this view is true (as I think it may just possibly be), it seems to me certain that we must abandon a view which has been held to be certainly true by most philosophers, namely the view that our sense-data always really have the qualities which they sensibly appear to us to have. For I know that if another man were looking through a microscope at the same surface which I am seeing with the naked eye, the sense-datum which he saw would sensibly appear to him to have qualities very different from and incompatible with those which my sense-datum sensibly appears to me to have: and yet, if my sense-datum is identical with the surface we are both of us seeing, his must be identical with it also. My sense-datum can, therefore, be identical with this surface only on condition that it is identical with his sense-datum; and, since his sense-datum sensibly appears to him to have qualities incompatible with those which mine sensibly appears to me to have, his sense-datum can be identical with mine only on condition that the sense-datum in question either has not got the qualities which it sensibly appears to me to have, or has not got those which it sensibly appears to him to have. I do not, however, think that this is a fatal objection to this first type of view. A far more serious objection seems to me to be that, when we see a thing double (have what is called "a double image" of it>, we certainly have two sense-data each of which is of the surface seen, and which cannot therefore both be identical with it; and that yet it seems as if, if any sense-datum is ever identical with the surface of which it is a sense-datum, each of these so-called "images" must be so. It looks, therefore, as if every sense-datum is, after all, only "representative" of the surface, of which it is a sense-datum. (2) But, if so, what relation has it to the surface in question? This second type of view is one which holds that when I know "This is part of the surface of a human hand," what I am knowing with regard to the sense-datum which is of that surface, is, not that it is itself part of the surface of a human hand, but something of the following kind. There is, it says, some relation, R, such that what I am knowing with regard to the sense-datum is either "There is one thing and only one thing, of which it is true both that it is a part of the surface of a human hand, and that it has R to this sense-datum," or else "There are a set of things, of which it is true both that that set, taken collectively, are part of the surface of a human hand, and also that each member of the set has R to this sense-datum, and that nothing which is not a member of the set has R to it." Obviously, in the case of this second type, many different views are possible, differing according to the view they take as to what the relation R is. But there is only one of them, which seems to me to have any plausibility; namely that which holds that R is an ultimate and unanalysable relation, which might be expressed by saying that "xRy" means the same as "y is an appearance or manifestation of x." I.e. the analysis which this answer would give of "This is part of the surface of a human hand" would be "There is one and only one thing of which it is true both that it is part of the surface of a human hand, and that this sense-datum is an appearance or manifestation of it." To this view also there seem to me to be very grave objections, chiefly drawn from] a consideration of the questions how we can possibly know with regard to any of our sense-data that there is one thing and one thing only which has to them such a supposed ultimate relation; and how, if we do, we can possibly know anything further about such things, e.g. of what size or shape they are. (3) The third type of answer, which seems to me to be the only possible alternative if (1) and (2) are rejected, is the type of answer which J. S. Mill seems to have been implying to be the true one when he said that material things are "permanent possibilities of sensation." He seems to have thought that when I know such a fact as "This is part of the surface of a human hand," what I am knowing with regard to the sense-datum which is the principal subject of that fact, is not that it is itself part of the surface of a human hand, nor yet, with regard to any relation, that the thing which has to it that relation is part of the surface of a human hand, but a whole set of hypothetical facts each of which is a fact of the form "If these conditions had been fulfilled, I should have been perceiving a sense-datum intrinsically related to this sense-datum in this way," "If these (other) conditions had been fulfilled, I should have been perceiving a sense-datum intrinsically related to this sense-datum in this (other) way," etc. etc. With regard to this thjird type of view as to the analysis of propositions of the kind; we are considering, it seems to me, again, just possible that it is a true one; but to hold (as Mill himself and others seemj to have held) that it is certainly, or nearly certainly, true, seems to me as great a mistake, as to hold with regard either to (1) or to (2), that they are certainly, or nearly certainly, true. There seem to me to be very grave objections to it; in particular the three, (a) that though, in general, when I know such a fact as "This is a hand," I certainly do know some hypothetical facts of the form "If these conditions had been fulfilled, I should have been perceiving a sense-datum of this kind, which would have been a sense-datum of the same surface of which this is a sense-datum," it seems doubtful whether any conditions with regard to which I know this are not themselves conditions of the form "If this and that material thing had been in those positions and conditions . . . ," (b) that it seems again very doubtful whether there is any intrinsic relation, such that my knowledge that (under these conditions) I should have been perceiving a sense-datum of this kind, which would have been a sense-datum of the same surface of which this is a sense-datum, is equivalent to a knowledge, with regard to that relation, that I should, under those conditions, have been perceiving a sense-datum related by it to this sense-datum, and (c) that, if it were true, the sense in which a material surface is "round" or "square," would necessarily be utterly different from that in which our sense-data sensibly appear to us to be "round" or "square. V Just as I hold that the proposition "There are and have been material things" is quite certainly true, but that the question how this proposition is to be analysed is one to which no answer that has been hitherto given is anywhere near certainly true; so I hold that the proposition "There are and have been many Selves" is quite certainly true, but that here again all the analyses of this proposition that have been sugggested by philosophers are highly doubtful. That I am now perceiving many different sense-data, and that I have at many times in the past perceived many different sense-data, I know for certain -- that is to say, I know that there are mental facts of class (), connected in a way which it is proper to express by saying that they are all of them facts about me; but how this kind of connection is to be analysed, I do not know for certain, nor do I think that any other philosopher knows with any approach to certainty. Just as in the case of the proposition "This is part of the surface of a human hand," there are several extremely different views as to its analysis, each of which seems to me possible, but none nearly certain, so also in the case of the proposition "This, that and that sense-datum are all at present being perceived by me," and still more so in the case of the proposition "I am now perceiving this sense-datum, and I have in the past perceived sense-data of these other kinds." Of the truth of these propositions there seems to me to be no doubt, but as to what is the correct analysis of them there seems to me to be the gravest doubt -- the true analysis may, for instance, possibly be quite as paradoxical as is the third view given under IV as to the analysis of "This is part of the surface of a human hand"; but whether it is as paradoxical as this seems to me to be quite as doubtful as in that case. Many philosophers, on the other hand, seem to me to have assumed that there is little or no doubt as to the correct analysis of such propositions; and many of these, just reversing my position, have also held that the propositions themselves are not true. Erdogan: Solving Upper Karabakh issue is vital Turkish President Erdogan said solution to the Upper Karabakh issue is "sine qua non" for mending relations with Armenia. Turkish President Erdogan attended ceremony in Baku and spoke 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku. In that ceremony Erdogan recalled the 1992 Khojaly massacre that killed hundreds of Azerbaijani citizens. "THEY SHOULD NOT GIVE TURKEY ANY HISTORY LESSON" "Those who cannot explain what happened in Khojaly 26 years ago, the massacre in Upper Karabakh, and declare the killers heroes, should not give Turkey any kind of history lesson," Erdogan said, referring to Armenia. "DON'T EXPECT TURKEY TO OPEN ITS BORDERS" Erdogan also added that "those who occupy 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands and prevent over 1 million Azerbaijanis to return to their land should not expect Turkey to open its borders". The Khojaly Massacre is regarded as one of the bloodiest and most controversial incidents of the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan for control of the now-occupied Upper Karabakh region. On the heels of the Soviet Union's dissolution, Armenian forces took over the town of Khojaly in Karabakh on Feb. 26, 1992, after battering it with heavy artillery and tanks, assisted by an infantry regiment. The two-hour offensive killed 613 Azerbaijani citizens, including 116 women and 63 children, and critically injured 487 others, according to Azerbaijani figures. Also, 150 of the 1,275 Azerbaijanis that the Armenians captured during the massacre remain missing. THE WA agriculture industry must do more to promote the science behind genetically modified (GM) produce to ensure the technology realises its potential in the States grain industry. That was one of the key messages taken home by Australias grain industry leaders who heard multiple presentations on the successes, developments and future prospects for GM technology from world-leading scientists at the 2018 AusCanola conference in Perth last week. Since WAs first commercial GM canola planting in 2010, the new technology has grown to account for about 20 per cent of the States total canola crop. According to the Grain Industry Association of WA (GIWA) about 410,000 tonnes of GM canola was grown last year, with close to two thirds of the Geraldton port zones canola deliveries made up of GM varieties. However, the pushback against the new technology from outside the industry continues in WA, with a parliamentary inquiry underway into compensation mechanisms for farmers who suffer economic loss caused by GM material. The inquiry was prompted by a petition tabled in State Parliament by Greens MLC Diane Evers last year, in response to the high-profile, six-year court battle between Kojonup organic farmer Steve Marsh and his neighbour Michael Baxter. GIWA chief executive officer Larissa Taylor said while the scientific community, supply chain and growers had all embraced developments in gene technology, there was still a major disconnect with urban consumers. With major agricultural benefits for many WA growers who use GM technology, including improved weed control and boosted yields, Ms Taylor said it was vital GM technology remained an option for farmers in the future. Social licence is still an issue around gene technology, Ms Taylor said. We certainly have got a lot more work to do to tell the good news story about the amazing science of agriculture and how we need that to feed the world, to remain profitable and to underpin our sustainability issues in WA. That technology is a part of our ability to manage soil erosion and water utilisation its a key part of the mix and weve got more work to do to sell the good news story of agriculture and do more to explain the incredible science behind agriculture. I feel like we have this peak food disconnect at the moment where we all love Masterchef and beautiful, well-presented food but weve got to do more to tell the story about how its produced and the science on which its produced. Its nothing to be threatened by. Australian Oilseeds Federation chief executive officer Nick Goddard said engaging consumers with the beneficial environmental effects of GM technology could be one way of endearing the public to the technology. This included the promotion of new GM canola lines that produce long-chain omega-3 oils, which were discussed at the conference. With omega-3 oils in demand for their human health benefits and as a feed additive in fish-farming industries, developments in GM technology have meant long-chain omega-3 oils that are normally sourced from marine plants, via fish, can now be sourced from a dryland canola crop. This development in GM technology is tipped to ease the heavy worldwide pressure on fish stocks. Mr Goddard said by highlighting consumer and environmental benefits of GM varieties, the public would be more inclined to embrace the technology. Heres an opportunity to get your long chain omega-3 fatty acids through plant-based, renewable resources, while the social and community aspect is the fact that your saving the seafood stock, so youre not overfishing, Mr Goddard said. I think when those sorts of benefits come through on the GM front, it starts to change peoples perception a little bit. I think when its a real consumer benefit that will start to turn, but it wont happen overnight. HE PRESIDENT JIOJI KONROTES ADDRESS AT THE LOCAL CONFERENCE OF YOUTH IN FIJI Mr Kevin Petrini, Team Leader for Resilience and Sustainable Development at the United Nations Development Programme Pacific Office in Fiji, Mr. Krishneil Narayan UNDP Pacific project officer, and founder of Project Survival Pacific, The Coordinator of the Local Conference of Youth, Ms. Ashna Pratap, The Youth Delegates, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,Ni sa bula vinaka and a very good afternoon to you all.I would like to convey my sincere appreciation to Project Survival Pacific for inviting me to deliver the closing remarks at the Local Conference of Youth on the theme Youth in Climate Action.Thank You, Dhanyavaad and Vinaka Vakalevu.I also wish to acknowledge and commend the presence of committed youth ambassadors representing the various thematic areas such as Climate Change and Gender, Ocean Protection, and Technology and Climate Change, at the closing of this very important conference. I am certain that you have had constructive discussions over the last three days, and that you have met the objectives of the conference. Well done and congratulations. The progress that you have made builds upon a number of other high-profile climate events that have been hosted in Fiji this year, all of which, together, are helping to move the needle and protect the future of our planet.I am advised that the Local Conference of Youth aims to provide a national platform for young people advocating on climate change to mutually discuss or talanoa and work towards producing an outcome document which will be presented to the Global Conference of Youth in Katowice, Poland, later this year. The Global Conference of Youth will take place a few days before the 24th Conference of the Parties or COP24. The Outcome Document and videos from your meeting over the past three days will also be used by COP23 during the COP24 meeting, and other events and awareness activities.The purpose of the Local Conference of Youth is to bring together local youths of various backgrounds who are passionate about addressing climate change, sharing their experiences, and help promote a sustainable lifestyle. Conferences such as this provides a platform for youth leaders around the Pacific to gather and create adaptive solutions to combat climate change issues.As Fijis President and Head of State, I am particularly pleased to see our youth actively participating in addressing issues that profoundly affect the lives of our people. Because as the leaders of today pass the baton in our fight against climate change, it is our young people who will carry us forward. As I see the faces in this room, and as I have seen young Fijians all across our nation passionately tell their stories of how severe weather events have impacted their lives, I am inspired, and I am given great hope. Its clear that you are a green generation unlike any our nation, or our world, has ever seen. You are a generation of conscious consumers, a generation of resilient storytellers, and a generation of climate warriors.And when I talk to young people of the Pacific, I am confident that this enthusiasm is not just a passing phase or a trend that will fade as you grow older. No it is clear that you feel the urgency to fight this battle deep within your core, and you will carry this principle, and this drive, within you for the rest of your lives.My friends, climate change already has negative effects on our people. We have started to lose vital land areas that contribute to our peoples sustainability and survival.In Fiji, we have started to relocate entire villages, and will continue to do so. Weve invested hundreds of millions of dollars in climate resilience and adaptation. Weve taxed plastic bags to discourage waste, with a plan to fully phase them out by 2020. Weve created innovative green funding mechanisms to attract private sector involvement. Because while the world negotiates to address climate change, here in the Pacific, we dont have the luxury of waiting. Our seas our rising, our cyclones are getting stronger, and we are taking action for our people today. The world realises that if we dont manage climate change now, it will ultimately affect the very survival of the future generations the world over.Your conference, therefore, is a most welcome addition to the efforts of the Fijian Government in addressing climate change through our presidency of COP23.Ten months since taking on this world leadership role, Fiji as a Nation remains committed to the global efforts to fight climate change. We have in fact done, and continue to do, all we can to convince world leaders to decisively address climate change.The Prime Minister and president of COP23, Honourable Voreqe Bainimarama continues to lead the charge in rallying the support of national, regional and international leaders to wholeheartedly embrace and expedite their Nationally Determined Contributions in order to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement. Just this week, hes been in San Francisco, California to continue to push for progress at the Global Climate Action Summit, where he is bringing the voice of Fijians, and all Pacific Islanders, to the international stage.I take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of Project Survival Pacific whose aims are to mobilise, influence, motivate, empower, and engage our youths. It was initiated out of the Survival campaign of the International Youth Climate Movement during the 14th session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations in Poznan, Poland, in December 2008.With the assistance of Project Survival Pacific, youths are part of programmes, projects and activities to help contribute to sustainable development. Some of the major events included the creation of an arts and community outreach, the youth-led climate ambassador programme, and the development of climate change policy, among others.I also wish to congratulate Project Survival Pacific on your 10th anniversary this year and your achievements so far which have included lobbying for the imposition of a tax levy on the use of plastic bags last year, the Germany-Fiji exchange programme, initiating the training of youth in capacity building, and the planting of close to 1000 mangroves on a monthly basis around Fiji.At last years Local Conference of the Youth, Fiji targeted 20 tertiary level students to share their perspectives and ideas on sustainable development. It created an opportunity for promoting the engagement of young people at all levels. Participants had the opportunity to work on local issues such as transportation, energy, agriculture, health and biodiversity. These Talanoa sessions included ways to reduce the use of vehicle emissions, eliminate single-use plastics and promote composting. One of the major outcomes was the implementation of the levy on the use of plastic bags, to help reduce the use of plastics and eliminate ocean pollution.I am pleased that the number of youths participating at this Conference has increased from last year with 44 youth delegates present at this years Local Conference of the Youth. The increase is indicative of the commitment and passion that Fijian youths have to help fight the impacts of climate change. This youth-led conference has promoted leadership opportunities and is an excellent indication that the voices of youths need to be heard.I encourage you to continue your noble work to motivate and further empower young people to raise concerns at the community and national platforms, and to provide sustainable solutions for these concerns for a better future.Vinaka vakalevu, thank you, and may Almighty God continue to bless you all and our beloved nation Fiji. Drew Barrymore is opening up about her childhood drug abuse. On Friday, Netflix's "Norm Macdonald Has a Show" aired an episode featuring Barrymore, 43, and according to People magazine, during her interview she was asked by host Norm Macdonald if she missed cocaine. No. Oh, God. Its been a very long time, but no, replied Barrymore, who has previously talked about her addiction, which per the outlet started when the actress was 12 years old. She added: Nothing would make me have a panic attack and seem like a bigger nightmare. Barrymore also went on say that she "never did hallucinogenics," stating "thats like a water bucket being thrown in your face but for hours. I drink, I enjoy my life and get out of my own head, Barrymore continued. Its not that Im this militant person of clarity and presence but [cocaine] literally seems like my worst nightmare right now. At the age of 7, Barrymore soared to fame after her breakout role in Steven Spielbergs 1982 film "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial." Looking back at her time as a child star, Barrymore said it was like a recipe for disaster. You know whats exciting? I got my s--t over with at, like, 14, Barrymore admitted. Like, midlife crisis, institutionalized, blacklisted, no family. Got it done. And then got into the cycle of being my own parent. Despite her troubled past, Barrymore has gone on to star in a handful of films including "Never Been Kissed" and "Charlie's Angels." Along with her acting career, Barrymore has two daughtersOlive, 5, and Frankie, 4with ex-husband Will Kopelman. "The Conners" is bringing in DJ's wife. The "Roseanne" spinoff has cast theater actress Maya Lynne Robinson as a new series regular for the upcoming season, ABC announced Friday. Robinson will play Geena Williams-Conner, DJ's (Michael Fishman) wife and Mary's (Jayden Rey) mother, who returns home from active duty overseas in Afghanistan. The character was first introduced in the Nov. 16, 1994, episode of "Roseanne" and was then played by Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly. On the "Roseanne" reboot, "The Mindy Project" actress Xosha Roquemore briefly played the role in the episode, "Go Cubs," and was seen via Skype. 'The Conners' First Official Photos Are Here: See John Goodman, Sara Gilbert and More Reunite Were thrilled to welcome the incredibly talented Maya Lynne Robinson to the cast this season. Her character, 2nd Lieutenant Geena Conner, whom a younger DJ was reluctant to kiss in his school play, comes full circle as his wife and Marys mother, bringing back a little piece of Conner history," showrunner and executive producer Bruce Helford said in a statement. "Yet, while Geena is no stranger to the family, viewers old and new will enjoy seeing how her military-style discipline meshes with the Conners more laid-back attitude." Roseanne Barr Reacts to Possibly Being Killed Off on The Conners (Exclusive) Robinson most recently appeared in theater productions of "A Streetcar Named Desire" as Stella and "Runaway Home" as Eunice. She has also appeared on the web series "HTMAST, GURL" and solo shows, "Character Breakdown" and "Straight A Student." Earlier this week, ABC released the first official photos from "The Conners'" first episode taping. According to the premiere episode, which will be titled Keep on Truckin, a sudden turn of events forces the family to face the daily struggles of life in Lanford in a way they never have before. 'The Conners' First Teaser Asks 'What's Next?' -- Watch Goodman spoke to The Sunday Times in August, where he said that Roseanne Barr's character will be killed off in the spinoff. "Roseanne" was canceled in May, after Barr was fired due to a racist tweet against Valerie Jarrett, a former senior adviser to Barack Obama. Its an unknown," Goodman said of whether or not the spinoff will be successful, before referring to his beloved character, Dan, and what's to become of Barr's character. "I guess hell be mopey and sad because his wifes dead. 'The Conners' First Look: See the Cast of 'Roseanne' Spinoff on Set Goodman also said he hasn't been in touch with Barr, but did thank her for clearing the way for "The Conners" to move forward with ABC. He also said that he knew for a fact that 65-year-old Barr was "not a racist." She had to sign a paper saying that she relinquished all her rights to the show so that we could go on," he shared. "I sent her an email and thanked her for that. I did not hear anything back, but she was going through hell at the time. And shes still going through hell. ET spoke with Barr earlier this month, and she teared up at Goodman's words of support. "I love him," Barr said. "So sweet of him to do that, so nice, 'cause he does know me." "The Conners" premieres Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. He wont be back. Arnold Schwarzenegger rejected a brief appearance in the Predator reboot as his character from the original 1987 version of the film, Major Alan Dutch Schaefer, director Shane Black revealed. There were a couple of ideas to include [Schwarzenegger], mostly in the third act, Black, 56, told Yahoo Movies UK. The reboot takes place in the present day, 31 years after Schwarzeneggers iconic first appearance as Dutch. The studio wanted, I think, something a bit fresh, that didnt rely on solely on Arnolds re-emergence, but they were open to the idea to the notion of having him in in a smaller role, he continued. I was fine with that, but it did present a problem, because when you call Mr. Schwarzenegger, you dont want to say, Hey, we got this smaller role for you if you want it. I felt embarrassed to ask him. In 2016, Schwarzenegger, 71, mentioned that hed planned to meet with Black to discuss the role. Black recalled, He said, Well, if I was featured more, yeah, but what youre suggesting is that youre creating this new thing and just using me to bless it. And so [I said], Ahem yes. And so I was not surprised when he said, Look, I wish you luck, but thats too small a role for me. This story originally appeared in the New York Post. New details in the arrest of "Bachelor" franchise star Amanda Staton have emerged since her Las Vegas arrest for domestic violence on Monday, September 10. In court documents obtained by Us Weekly, Stantons boyfriend, Bobby Jacobs, claimed that he was sleeping in his hotel room when his girlfriend came into the room around 11 p.m. Stanton, who had just returned from the "Magic Mike" show, allegedly yelled at her boyfriend for not responding to her calls or texts while she was out. Jacobs then claimed that his "Bachelor" star girlfriend began "to hit him while he was laying in bed," which lead to an argument that reportedly lasted for hours. Following their spat, Stanton's boyfriend alleged that he called her friends into the room. But reality star's friends soon left after they believed Stanton was sleeping. But that wasn't the end of the couple's fight. As soon as Stanton's girlfriends left the room, Jacobs alleged that the two began fighting again, at which point the 28-year-old, mother of two, swung the room's hotel phone at him and hit his body. After the telephone swing, Jacobs claimed that his girlfriend continued to be physical and attempted to kick him before falling. When Stanton was on the ground, her boyfriend alleged that he held her down to prevent her from hitting him. But despite being pinned to the floor, Jacobs claimed that she continued to scratch and pinch him on his arms and body. He then called in Stanton's friends once more who sent for the hotel security. In contrast to Jacob's explanation of what occurred after Stanton fell, the "Bachelor" star alleged in her court documents that Jacobs pinned her down on the bed, and she begging him to let her up." She also claimed that she only pinched her boyfriend to get free." The new details in Stanton's domestic violence and battery case come after the reality star, who was celebrating a bachelorette party at a hotel near the Las Vegas Strip with friends, was arrested for battery domestic violence, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed to Fox News. Steve Honig, a spokesperson for Stanton, said in a statement that "Amanda is embarrassed and ashamed this happened and sincerely apologizes to hotel security and the Las Vegas Police Department. "Amanda is a gentle, respectful person who has never gotten physical with anyone under any circumstance," Honig continued. "That evening she had a few drinks at a bachelorette party and when hotel security asked her and Bobby to quiet down, she got a bit rambunctious." Stanton, according to her rep, "gave Bobby what she thought was a playful shove," despite her boyfriend telling security it wasn't "ill-intended." Stanton competed in season 20 of "The Bachelor," vying for Ben Higgins' heart. She made it to a final group of four girls before being eliminated. Fox News' Nicole Darrah contributed to this report. Terry Crews said hes accepted Adam Venits apology and tweeted a letter he received from the former WME agent earlier this year. The Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor accused Venit of groping him at a Hollywood party in 2016, and filed a police report last November. Crews wrote on Twitter that he got Venits letter in March, and accepted the apology on Sept. 10, now that Venit has left the agency. Venit did not directly admit to Terrys allegations in the note, but wrote, I know that you didnt ask for any of this. Again, I take responsibility for us being here now, together in this situation. I am sorry for all of it. I want to use this moment to be a positive influence with you and not just another Hollywood story that becomes the narrative of who we both are. We both are so much more and have so much more to offer, Venit continued. I even hope that someday we can come together and go forward with compassion and understanding, and be an amazing force for positivity and change in our culture. Venit is leaving WME less than a year after stepping down as the head of the companys motion picture department due to the sexual assault accusation waged by Crews, his former client. Venit was suspended for 30 days while the agency investigated the claims and was eventually cleared of charges. Crews filed a lawsuit, which is now in the process of being settled. Charges against Venit were also dismissed. This story originally appeared in Variety. As Hurricane Florence lashes the Carolinas, some locals and visitors are firing up their Tinder to find dates. Claire Tran, a 21-year-old journalist in Washington, DC, told Insider shes seen more than 10 Tinder profiles with bios referring to the Category 1 storm. Theres a surprising [number] of people on DC Tinder from North and South Carolina that are just here for Hurricane Florence, Tran wrote on Twitter. Literally have hurricane evacuee or just escaping the hurricane as their bio. Tran told Insider that her Tinder matches bios included pickup lines like Got evacuated from SC so lets hurricane and chill? FLORIDA POLICE 'PULL OVER' COUPLE FOR MARRIAGE PROPOSAL, TWITTER USERS WORRIED ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS FATE Some people are even trying to meet up during the storm according to Mackenzie Leone, a 24-year-old travel nurse who lives in Greenville, NC. Ive had one person ask me to be his hurricane buddy and another guy even offered to come pick me up and take me back to his place to hang out before conditions get too bad to make sure Im OK since Im here all by myself, she said. Maybe my soul mate is out there in the storm somewhere. But others are just using Tinder to escape during a dangerous situation. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Nothing of depth has been said [in my conversations with Hurricane Florence evacuees], Lauren Yeary, a 26-year-old insurance agent from Knoxville, Tennessee, told Insider. However, those I have spoken with are just trying to enjoy themselves [theyre] treating it like an impromptu vacation. But Tran is still perplexed why people would get on a dating app in the middle of a storm. I feel like if I were escaping a life-threatening hurricane that could destroy my house I wouldnt even be changing my bio and trying swiping on Tinder, she said. This story was originally published by the New York Post. iStock/Thinkstock(DALLAS) -- An attorney for the family of the 26-year-old man shot and killed inside of his own apartment by a Dallas police officer is calling for her to be fired immediately. Botham Jean was shot and killed by Police Officer Amber Guyger in his apartment earlier this month. "We're here eight days after his murder. Specifically, we are calling, we are demanding that Officer Amber Guyger be fired, terminated, immediately," said family attorney Lee Merritt. "She should not still be on the payroll ... There's no place for her ... This is non-negotiable." The news conference Friday came after it was revealed in a search warrant that a small amount of marijuana had been found in Jean's apartment. The search warrant revealed that in addition to 10.4 grams of marijuana in Ziplock bags, two fired cartridge casings; a black backpack "with police equipment and paperwork"; and a black ballistic vest with "police" markings had also been found in Jean's apartment. An insulated lunchbox, laptop computer, metal marijuana grinder, two radio-frequency identification keys and two used packages of medical aid were also found in the apartment. It was not clear whether any of the items belonged to Jean. Attorneys for the family called it an attempt to smear and ruin Jean's reputation. "The taint on the investigation from the beginning was exposed through that warrant and through that content. It did nothing else," Merritt said. Merritt also called for an internal police investigation on alleged leaks in the case. Jean was killed Sept. 6 at the South Side Flats apartment complex when Guyger mistook his apartment for her own and shot him. She fired when she opened the ajar door of the unit and saw a "large silhouette," which she thought was that of a burglar, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. On Thursday, the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office released video of Guyger behind bars in handcuffs and jail attire. Guyger, who does not speak during the video, was later released after posting $300,000 bond. Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall last week turned over the investigation to the Texas Rangers. Hall is within her rights immediately terminate Guyger, but sources told ABC News that it would be rare to do so before the internal police report is complete. Hundreds of friends and family filled a Texas church Thursday to celebrate Jean's life and condemn the actions that "snatched" him in his prime. A spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety told ABC News affiliate WFAA-TV Thursday that the case was now with the Dallas County district attorney. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. The second British royal wedding of the year is just weeks away, and Princess Eugenie and fiance Jack Brooksbanks have reportedly mandated a stricter dress code for their nuptials than Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did for their May marriage. Exactly one month ahead of the October 12 festivities, Vanity Fair published an image of the invitation for the ceremony between the ninth-in-line to the throne and her entrepreneur beau. Requiring a day dress and hat for women, Princess Eugenies invite requests that male guests were a morning suit. MEGHAN MARKLE SUFFERS WARDROBE MALFUNCTION AT FRIEND'S WEDDING: REPORT In contrast, Meghan and Harrys invitation welcomed men to wear military uniforms, morning coats, or lounge suits, Town & Country reports. The outlet notes that the decision was likely due in part to the fact that Brooksbank never served in the military. It remains unclear at this time if Queen Elizabeth' staff will distribute a formal etiquette guide as they did for the 2011 wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Set to tie the knot at St. Georges Chapel in Windsor, just like the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Princess Eugenie and Brooksbank are said to have sent out 850 invitations to date, Vanity Fair reports. 1,200 members of the public, selected by lottery, will also be welcomed onto the grounds to witness arrivals and the happy couples departure from the church. Before Linda Kay Klein had a routine X-ray at the age of 23, she insisted the nurse gave her a pregnancy test so she would be better safe than sorry. It was one of many such tests Klein had undergone over the previous few years because of her fear of having a baby out of wedlock. Never mind that she was still a virgin. I would feel so much tension and anxiety taking the tests, Klein told The Post. Deep down, I knew the result would be negative, but I wanted to be sure. The excruciating worry was driven by her years growing up as an Evangelical in the Midwest in the late 1980s and early 1990s and by the purity movement that continues to this day. The first virginity-pledge program, True Love Waits, was started in 1993 by the Southern Baptist Convention and now claims more than 2.5 million pledgers worldwide. Hundreds of thousands of American teens have formally pledged to save themselves for marriage: attending purity balls where they often wear white dresses and are symbolically given to Jesus by their fathers, even accepting rings as vows of their sworn chastity. Although the culture largely consists of girls, boys do take part, including pop-star siblings Nick and Joe Jonas when they were younger. Now 39 and living in Manhattan, Klein has written Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement that Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free (Touchstone, out now). Part memoir, part cultural commentary, it chronicles her complex relationship with religion and sex. The good girl/bad girl thing is our default way of thinking, Klein said. I want to draw attention to the dangers of sexual shaming and purity teachings. The writer, who works as a consultant in the nonprofit sector, became a born-again Christian at the age of 13, following in the footsteps of her mother. Klein signed her so-called purity pledge at a regional youth gathering in her native Wisconsin two years later, in 1994. Growing up, shed been told by pastors and church teachers that she was a stumbling block of temptation for boys and men. This was largely presented as her problem, not theirs: It was made clear that she would be cast as a Jezebel with her character corrupted if she had sex before marriage. The message traumatized Klein and many of her peers, sparking fear, anxiety and, in the extreme case of one woman interviewed for the book, the symptoms of anaphylactic shock when she first had sex. (The woman started wheezing and breaking out in welts and wound up in the ER.) For Klein, the terror was enough that she broke up with her high-school boyfriend at the age of 16 because she was convinced it was Gods will. Wed French kiss and every sexual nodule of my body would go off, she recalled of the ill-fated three-month relationship. But every shame module in my body was alive, too, because I had been trained [by the church] to feel like that. I would beg God to be the refiners fire and tear us down so that our sinful desires burnt to a crisp, recalled Klein. I wanted Him to remake us into something more holy and pure and some day I could be with [my boyfriend] again. These issues continued into her 20s when, still a virgin, she attended Sarah Lawrence College and, later, New York University. By then, she had turned her back on Evangelism after beginning to doubt aspects of its theology and after a youth pastor at her old church was convicted of the sexual enticement of a 12-year-old girl. At age 22, shed been dating a man for three years without having had penetrative sex. She recalls how she would curl up into a ball of anxiety and cry uncontrollably while lying naked in bed with him. Often, she would break out in patches of eczema that shed scratch until her skin bled. The fictions I had learned in church haunted me, said Klein, who was on birth-control pills at the time. I thought if you were in a hot tub and someone ejaculated, [sperm] would somehow get over to you. Sex created such a sense of shame that not only could I not have [it], I had nightmares and constant nagging thoughts of how far we had gone sexually. The cycle came to an end in her mid-20s after she decided to discuss the damage that the purity ethic had done with female friends back in the Midwest, who admitted they struggled with similar issues. I realized . . . the problem wasnt with me, Klein said. She lost her virginity at the age of 26 to a man with whom shed been in a long-distance romance for about a year. The sex wasnt traumatic, it was quite beautiful because Id learned, by that point, to separate sexuality from spirituality, she said. It felt like a holy experience as if God was in the room with us. Now wed for four years (to a different man), Klein, who is still a Christian, is very grateful not to have brought any sexual shame into her marriage. As the stepmother of a 17-year-old girl, she hopes her book will help other women who have experienced the shame she did. The shame we are creating in our culture is not about bashfulness and shyness, she said. It is equated with worthlessness and isolation. She has launched a nonprofit, Break Free Together, which guides people of all ages on issues of spirituality and sexuality. We need to start laying the groundwork for kindergartners to have healthy conversations later, she said. There is a need to begin talking about these things early. This story was originally published by the New York Post. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The long 2018 political primary season has finally ended, exposing deep divisions between mainstream Democrats and those on the far left, including some who proudly call themselves democratic socialists. Now many in the party will seek to downplay their divisions and unite for victories in the Nov. 6 midterm elections. Heading into the midterms, the mainstream Democrats say they are in the best position to win the support of moderates in their own party, along with critically important independent swing voters and even some Republicans disenchanted with President Trump. This has been the strategy followed by many candidates of both parties in the past develop a centrist message with broad appeal. But those on the far left argue that they are in the best position to win in November because they will fire up the Democratic base and motivate millions of people who normally dont vote in midterm elections to turn out and cast ballots for Democrats. High voter turnout more often than not works in the favor of Democratic candidates on Election Day. Despite their divisions, the Democratic factions have far more in common with each other than they do with Republicans particularly Republicans who strongly support President Trump. Both Democratic camps want their party to achieve majority control in both chambers of Congress and to pick up more governorships, state legislative seats, and other state offices in the midterm elections. They just have different ideas about how to achieve their common goal. And both moderate and progressive Democratic factions are intensely opposed to President Trump to his policies and to the man himself, based on his conduct. A significant number of Democrats would like to see the president impeached and removed from office. The Democrats can enhance their chances of victory in November if they offer voters a clear policy agenda that is distinct and more compelling than what the Trump administration and Republicans have to offer. In the midst of the primary season in the summer, a Washington Post-ABC News poll found that Americans when asked if the Democratic Party stood for something or only in opposition to President Trump said by a 52-37 percent margin that Democrats were the anti-Trump party. While some voters so detest Trump that they will vote for just about any Democratic congressional candidate in hopes of impeaching the president or at least blocking his agenda and launching congressional investigations of his conduct millions of Americans want to know what candidates stand for not just who and what they stand against. The challenge both moderate and progressive Democratic candidates face between now and Nov. 6 will be to clearly articulate what they stand for and convince voters their policies are practical, achievable and beneficial. This years primary season ended Thursday in heavily Democratic New York, where the Democratic divide was on full display. It is clear that Democrats are far more energized than they have been in a long time. Polls indicate this as well. Mainstream Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, his lieutenant governor and the candidate he favored for attorney general all defeated opponents farther on the left on the political spectrum, and all are now expected to be elected in November. Cuomo won by an impressive 32 points over his well-publicized but poorly funded more progressive rival, former Sex and the City actress Cynthia Nixon. To be sure, the enthusiastic challenge from Nixon resulted in her receiving over 512,000 votes almost three times the amount Zephyr Teachout received in her 2014 left-wing challenge to Cuomo for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. But Cuomo won more than 978,000 votes Thursday. Teachout ran for attorney general in a hotly contested Democratic primary but lost to Cuomos choice for attorney general, Letitia James, by 10 points in a field of four candidates. Cuomos success went even farther, as his lieutenant governor, Kathy Hochul, beat her more progressive opponent, New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams, by six points. Nevertheless, a detailed look at these primary results indicates a much greater level of vulnerability for the Democratic Party. Although Cuomo won a decisive victory, a solid third of the vote went to Nixon, who was able to turn out thousands more voters than previous challengers to Cuomo. This is strikingly and notably similar to the recent U.S. Senate race in Delaware, where former governor and current senator Tom Carper captured 65 percent of the vote down from 88 percent in his last primary. Democratic primaries like these are showing that the power of the left while not as strong as the national media have made it out to be remains strong, enduring, and raises questions about the midterm elections, and even beyond to 2020. Given the strength of some of the progressive challengers who have won Democratic primaries this year to run in November including Andrew Gillum for governor in Florida; Stacey Abrams for governor or Georgia; and Ayanna Pressley for a U.S. House seat from Massachusetts it is clear that Democrats are far more energized than they have been in a long time. Polls indicate this as well. However, the primaries on Thursday also continued the streak of well-publicized progressive defeats. At this point its unknown if disappointed progressive Democrats will turn out in November to vote for more moderate Democratic candidates in order to defeat Republicans. The other more enduring question is how strong and united the Democratic Party will be in 2020, particularly if a far-left candidate runs for president. Right now, former Vice President Joe Biden seems to be the strongest Democratic candidate, though it is possible Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., or Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., could mount a credible challenge. Notably, even in states where the far-left fell short in the primaries, it was rare that the vote for progressive candidates fell below 35 percent. The clear surge of progressive candidates in the Democratic Party has caused candidates like Cuomo to move left on issues like legalizing marijuana and empowering felons to vote. What remains unclear is if this trend will result in a sustained leftward shift in the November elections this year, and in the general election in 2020. Leon Panetta, the former nine-term Democratic congressman and who served for 16 years as a top official in the Clinton and Obama administrations, said Democrats are going through turmoil trying to settle on a vision. Very frankly, its a party of a lot of very different voices right now, Panetta said. There is every reason to believe the energy and enthusiasm in the party is moving left, and ample evidence that Medicare-for-all, jobs-for-all, and a $15 minimum wage is the direction that the partys platform is heading towards. Just recently, former President Obama endorsed progressive ideas like Medicare-for-all, which has become almost a uniting rallying cry of the most left-leaning Democratic candidates. Yet not all Democrats support such leftist policy platforms. What will these moderate Democrats do in November if the Democratic candidates on their ballots are on the far-left side of their party? What will independents and moderate Republicans do? Will the most progressive Democrats succeed in increasing voter turnout? Well have the answers on the night of Nov. 6 and the early hours of Nov. 7, when the general election votes are tallied. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! As Tropical Storm Florence abates, millions of people remain at medical risk. For one thing, more than a million people are without power, which at the very least means that patients who are dependent on life-sustaining devices like ventilators or need to receive dialysis or intravenous treatments in order to survive are in great danger. The condition of medical facilities in the area along with patient needs are tracked by the Health and Human Services Command Center in Washington D.C. HHS Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency in the Carolinas ahead of Florence, and then suspended patient privacy sanctions which allows a free exchange of health information to save lives. Information is shared among federal state and local health authorities, so that if you are a sick patient on a ventilator, for example, and the power goes off, there is a knock at your door and a health official who already knows your needs is there bringing you an emergency battery pack. Fear, anxiety, and stress are very common among displaced people without electric power, especially those with chronic health problems. Significant medical risks lurk in the floodwaters, especially with power lines down, which is one reason that the prodigious emergency response from HHS, FEMA, the National Guard, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and the American Red Cross among other many other groups has been so important. Beyond electrocutions, falling trees, and the risk of drowning, overflowing sewers, toilets, and displaced animals contaminate the floodwaters, which quickly become sources of multiple bacterial infections/diarrheal diseases and hepatitis. People in the area may feel they are protected from floodwaters by rain gear, boots, and hip waders, but then they track the contaminated water on this apparel back into their homes. Debris and furniture and other protruding objects lurk below the surface of the water, causing falls, wounds, and fractures which are not easily treated because of the power loss and floods. Emergency responders have difficulty reaching patients. Health officials have learned a great deal from previous hurricanes, and the response to Florence has been effective so far. According to the White House, contributions from both the public and private sectors have led to more than 11 million meals, 18 million liters of water, 60,000 cots, and 1 million blankets, already in place. In addition to over two dozen HHS and FEMA medical assistance and rescue teams, FEMA is preparing shelters to handle over 100,000 people. Perhaps the most inspiring story involves the Cajun Navy, a flotilla of volunteer boats formed after Hurricane Katrina that rescues stranded victims. In Tropical Storm Florence so far, they have assisted dozens of people. The best of America is this spirit of altruism and heroism and eagerness to help those in greatest need. This co-operative spirit is being demonstrated once again with Tropical Storm Florence. Finally, as the floodwaters abate, people will be eager to return to their homes, and may do so prematurely, risking further injury and infection and asthma from the mold forming on the walls. Fear, anxiety, and stress are very common among displaced people without electric power, especially those with chronic health problems. This situational anxiety, while it is understandable, is counterproductive. As I wrote in my book False Alarm: The Truth About the Epidemic of Fear, the more worried you are, the fewer precautions you take. Calm information is the best way to survive in any disaster, including this one. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Its the Lord of the Flies on LaSalle Street, wrote columnist John Kass. In case the references are unclear, whether because high schools havent been assigning the William Golding novel in the last few decades or because out-of-towners unaccountably dont realize that Chicagos City Hall front is on LaSalle Street, Kass was writing about Mayor Rahm Emanuels announcement that he wont run for a third term next February. Should readers from outside Chicagoland care? Yes, because Emanuels 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: Hes done it all. Chicago's economic foundations 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. He gave up a House leadership post to be Barack Obamas 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). Emanuels 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 Daleys father before him. Instead hell 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. To continue reading Michael Barone on The New York Post click here. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Gary Johnson, a two-time Libertarian candidate for president who's now seeking a U.S. Senate seat in New Mexico, says the more than $250,000 in cannabis stocks he owns does not influence his position on legalizing marijuana. According to financial filings reviewed this week by the Associated Press, Johnson is said to own stocks worth more than $250,000 in the Nevada cannabis company Kush Inc. He also reported capital gains of at least $100,000 from stock in the company Cannabis Sativa, where he previously served as CEO between his 2012 and 2016 presidential runs. Johnson, 65, who also served as a Republican governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003, was required to disclose his personal finances after announcing his Senate candidacy in August. He defended his earnings Friday, saying he sees no conflict of interest because he has always supported the legalization of marijuana. "This was a career-ending move on my part in 1999," Johnson said, referring to his support for legalizing pot when he was governor, despite its unpopularity at the time. "The last thing that I ever dreamed of happening is that somehow I would make money off this." "The last thing that I ever dreamed of happening is that somehow I would make money off this." Gary Johnson, Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate in New Mexico Johnson's Senate campaign office did not immediately return Fox News request for additional comment. Johnson has long advocated for legalizing marijuana. Both he and his daughter are also investors in the cannabis-specific hedge fund CB1 Capital. He is running on the Libertarian ticket against incumbent U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, 46, a Democrat who recently embraced the decriminalization of marijuana at the federal level. The Republican contender on the ballot, construction contractor Mick Rich, opposes legalization. The Associated Press contributed to this report. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! President Trump will be visiting areas affected by Hurricane Florence next week, the White House says. At least four deaths have been reported in North Carolina and more than 720,000 people are without power. Trump is expected to travel to the storm-ravaged region by early to middle of next week, once it is determined his travel will not disrupt any rescue or recovery efforts, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement Friday. The president visited the Houston area last year in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and got blasted by many for not showing empathy toward the survivors. More than 80 people died as a result of that storm, according to officials. Trump made headlines during last years visit after he told people at an emergency shelter to have a good time just hours after many of them lost their homes and loved ones. At one point, while serving food, he joked about his hands being too big to fit in the plastic gloves. People appreciate whats been done, Trump said following the visit. Its been done very efficiently and very well, he added, referencing the recovery efforts. As tough as this was [the response] has been a wonderful thing, I think, even for the country to watch. With Post wires NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! California Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday said his state will launch its own satellite in a bid to combat climate change, following up on a promise he made after the election of President Trump. Were going to launch our own satellite our own damn satellite to figure out where the pollution is and how were going to end it, Brown told the audience at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco. "Were going to launch our own satellite our own damn satellite to figure out where the pollution is and how were going to end it." California Gov. Jerry Brown The Golden State will work with San Francisco-based Planet Labs to launch a satellite that would track climate-change-causing pollutants. The company has already launched 150 satellites, Brown said. In California, with science under attack, in fact were under attack by a lot of people, including Donald Trump, but the climate threat still keeps growing, Brown added. So, we want to know, what the hell is going on all over the world, all the time? PELOSI RENEWS OBAMA'S 'WAR ON COAL,' BACKS GROUP LOOKING TO SHUT DOWN COAL PLANTS The outgoing governor, who will leave at the end of the year and will be replaced by Democrat Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom or Republican businessman John Cox, didnt divulge any how much it will cost the state to undergo a space-related project that is generally done by the federal government. Browns office told the Washington Post that government scientists and staff will work on the project, but no money from the states coffers will be spent toward the development of the satellite. A number of donors have stepped up to fund the experiment, including San Francisco investment banker Richard Lawrence and the Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust. HARRISON FORD URGES VOTERS TO 'STOP GIVING POWER TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN SCIENCE' The intentionally worded announcement came nearly two years after the governor threatened the Trump administration that California will launch its own satellite. If Trump turns off the satellites, California will launch its own damn satellite, Brown said back in 2016, before lamenting the Governor Moonbeam nickname the media gave him for previously considering similar plans. I remember back in 1978 I proposed a Landsat satellite for California. They called me Governor Moonbeam because of that, Brown said. Over the last two years, Brown clashed with the Trump administration on multiple fronts, including immigration and environmental rules. Trumps decision to pull out the Paris climate agreement in June 2017 particularly infuriated the California governor. The Associated Press contributed to this report. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke, the Democrat seeking to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, called Friday night for the firing of a Dallas police officer who authorities say shot an unarmed black man in his apartment last week. ORourkes remarks came at a campaign rally ahead of his November midterm showdown against Cruz, FOX 4 of Dallas reported. Last week, Dallas police Officer Amber Guyger, 30, allegedly shot Botham Jean, a black man, inside an apartment she mistook for her own. Guyger was booked in the Kaufman County Jail on a manslaughter charge three days later. She was later released on a $300,000 bond and is awaiting trial. At the rally, ORourke called for law enforcement to be held accountable and do the right thing in firing and prosecuting Guyger. Earlier Friday, protesters gathered outside Dallas police headquarters, demanding that Guyger be charged with murder rather than manslaughter, FOX 4 reported. The group marched through downtown Dallas, stopping at various locations, before returning to police headquarters. Jeans mother, Allison Jean, on Friday denounced Guyger as the devil, and demanded she be fired, the Dallas Morning News reported. Meanwhile, the campaigns of both Cruz and O'Rourke issued statements Friday evening, confirming they have agreed to hold three debates before the Nov. 6 election, the Houston Chronicle reported. "To have my son smeared in such a way, I think that persons who are really nasty, who are really dirty and are going to cover up for the devil, Amber Guyger." Allison Jean, mother of slain man The first debate is scheduled for Sept. 21 in Dallas, with the others set for Houston and San Antonio. Each will be one hour, the report said. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday ripped into New Yorks Democratic socialist wave after he comfortably fended off a gubernatorial primary challenge from actress and activist Cynthia Nixon -- appearing to dismiss the movement as not even a ripple. That is a revolution, he said of his win, according to the New York Daily News. That is a wave. On the numbers. Not on some Twittersphere dialogue where I tweet you and you tweet me and between the two of us, we think we have a wave. Were not even a ripple. As Democratic socialists knock off long-standing establishment candidates across the country, Cuomo was a top-tier target for the Democratic Partys left-wing activist base. But, accompanied by a hefty campaign war chest and backing that included Hillary Clinton and labor groups, Cuomo was able to see off Nixon, despite her celebrity credentials as a former "Sex and the City" actress and her populist platform. In doing so, Cuomo had touted his progressive achievements on the minimum wage, gun control and same-sex marriage, but presented himself as one that could get things done. Nixon had claimed he dove to the left to fend off her campaign, calling it The Cynthia Effect. 'SEX AND THE CITY' STAR BOASTS CUOMO BEING DRAGGED TO THE LEFT BY 'THE CYNTHIA EFFECT' In his remarks to reporters on Friday, he looked to present himself as the pragmatic progressive rather than a "pontificator." "A progressive Democrat, a Democrat in New York state, these are not ivory tower academics, these are not pontificators, these are not people who live in the abstract or theoretical," he said according to the Daily News. "New York Democrats, these are hard-working men and women, theyre middle class, theyre working families, they have real problems, and they need real help in life, and they dont need theoretical or abstract solutions, they need real solutions in their lives." While an obvious dig at Nixon, Cuomo also appeared to take a knock at 25-year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who beat Rep. Joe Crowley in a primary in June. Ocasio-Cortez has become something of a national leader for progressives, pushing left-wing policies such as Medicare for all and the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "I am not a socialist. I am not 25 years old. I am not a newcomer," Cuomo said. "But I am a progressive, and I deliver progressive results." Nixons campaign, however, indicated that the race was less to do with ideas and more about money. We can maybe do it when were outspent three-to-one, or four-to-one, but not 10-to-one, or 20-to-one, Rebecca Katz, a top adviser to Nixon told The New York Times, which reported Cuomo is expected to have spent $25 million. Cuomo will face Republican Marc Molinaro and Independent Stephanie Miner in Novembers election. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The female cyclist who flipped off President Trumps motorcade last year will run for a local office in Northern Virginia in a bid to capitalize on the newfound fame. Juli Briskman, 51, will seek to unseat Suzanne M. Volpe, a Republican who represents the Algonkian District on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, in the 2019 election. The board has been consistently controlled by Republicans, despite that the county voting for Democrats in state or federal elections, the Washington Post reported. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton won the county by 17 points in the 2016 election. The woman captured headlines after she flipped off the presidents motorcade as an act of resistance to the administration. Her stunt, however, came at a cost. After the picture of her quickly spread on social media, she told her bosses at Virginia-based Akima LLC that it was her in the viral photograph. The government-contracting firm immediately fired her and escorted her out for violating the code of conduct policy. We have a right to peacefully protest and criticize and express dissent toward our government, Briskman told the Post regarding the controversy Ive gotten some feedback that folks say you should respect the president. Even if you dont like what theyre doing, you shouldnt show this sort of disdain. And I simply disagree, and I think the Constitution grants me that privilege, she added. "Ive gotten some feedback that folks say you should respect the president. Even if you dont like what theyre doing, you shouldnt show this sort of disdain. And I simply disagree, and I think the Constitution grants me that privilege." Juli Briskman Following her termination from the job, an individual on behalf of Briskman launched a GoFundMe campaign for her, which attracted nearly $140,000 in donations. In April, she announced that she would sue the company that fired her for violating her First Amendment rights. Her case was later dismissed, which prompted her to launch her political career. I made this decision, in part, because I feel I can more successfully effect change by serving in local government than by fighting an uphill battle in unfriendly courts, she wrote in a post on her crowdfunding page. I decided not to appeal the dismissal of the wrongful termination count of my lawsuit even though I still believe firing me was a clear violation of my First Amendment Rights under the Virginia Public Policy, she continued. And have agreed to accept payment for my severance from Akima, LLC so that the suit could be settled. While Briskman may try to capitalize on her known opposition to the president, Loudoun County Board members are hoping the election will be about local issues. "Right now, Im focused on doing the job that my constituents elected me to do: improving our transportation, making our community safer, creating jobs, being fiscally responsible, Volpe, Briskmans opponent, told the Post. Needless to say, Ill focus on the race at the appropriate time. The Associated Press contributed to this report. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Statues depicting people terrified by gun violence represent the latest effort by a gun-control group and its allies to win support for their cause, according to reports. The statues, created with 3-D printers, are to be "strategically placed in 10 notoriously pro-gun rights districts," the San Francisco Chronicle reported, while paired with demonstrations led by student organizers. The targeted locations are in Parkland, Fla.; Las Vegas; Denver; Minneapolis; Irvine, Calif., Milwaukee; Houston; Sarasota, Fla.; Spokane, Wash.; and Philadelphia, according to the website of Giffords Courage, a gun-control group. The statues were designed with help from Manuel Oliver, an artist who lost his son, Joaquin, 17, in the mass shooting last February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. One design in the project, callled "The Last Loockdown," shows a terrified girl huddled underneath a desk, the Washington Post reported. "I know my son -- he was a cool dude -- and I know he would think this statue is a really powerful way to get our message across," Oliver told the paper. The statues are part of a nationwide voter registration drive to urge voters to elect candidates who back gun-control measures, the report said. Giffords Courage is teaming up with the student leaders, the paper reported, citing the organization's news release. "I am proud of [young people] for making it clear to the gun lobby and the NRA that we will no longer tolerate a world where politicians vote against the public safety of the communities they represent," Gabrielle Giffords, co-founder of Giffords Courage, said, according to the Chronicle. Giffords, a former congresswoman from Arizona, survived an assassination attempt in 2011. Sean Leonard, a Texas advertising director, and his partner Dan Crumine were the "masterminds" behind the plans and also designed the statues along with Oliver, the Chronicle reported. Thats what art does, it stops people, makes them think. It connects with people in a more powerful way than trying to talk them into it." Manuel Oliver, artist and Parkland shooting victim's father The statues, made of bronze, have graffitti scratched onto their surface, with gun-control messages and information about registering to vote. Oliver said the statues have the goal of showing in one stark image what gun violence has come to in America, according to the paper. Thats what art does, it stops people, makes them think. It connects with people in a more powerful way than trying to talk them into it, Oliver told the Post. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! A lawyer with ties to the Obama and Clinton administrations may face federal charges for failing to register as a foreign agent, according to a report. Greg Craig, 73, a former White House counsel during the Obama presidency, is under investigation regarding whether he improperly worked as a lobbyist for a group associated with Ukraine, without first registering with the Justice Department, CNN reported, citing unnamed sources. Craig was a partner in the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, which may face charges as well, according to the report. Craig left the firm in April, the report said. An attorney for Craig told CNN his client was not required to register under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Previously, Craig held several posts in the Clinton administration, including helping to coordinate former President Bill Clinton's impeachment defense, NBC News reported. The probes of Craig and the Skadden firm are linked to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, the sources told CNN. In 2012, Manafort allegedly solicited the Skadden firm in the trial against Yulia Tymoshenko, according to CNN. Tymoshenko was a political rival of former Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych, who was Manaforts client at the time. Craigs former law firm is also facing criminal charges for its alleged role in Tymoshenkos prosecution. CNN said sources claim the Skadden firm was hired to write a report about the Tymoshenko trial. The New York Times reported that Craig was involved in promoting the report to members of Congress and the media -- efforts that would have required Craig to register as a foreign agent, according to the Times. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! President Trump has given the green light to proceed with tariffs against $200 billion in Chinese goods, sources told Fox News Friday. The timing of the actual application of the tariffs was not clear, but the move would mark the latest in an escalating trade war with Beijing as Trump seeks to combat what he sees as unfair trade practices from China. The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that the tariff level will likely be set at about 10 percent, which would be below the 25 percent the administration had initially floated. The President has been clear that he and his administration will continue to take action to address Chinas unfair trade practices, the White House said in a statement Friday. We encourage China to address the long standing concerns raised by the United States. China and the U.S. have imposed 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion of each others goods. This week, the U.S. invited China to hold talks on the tariff dispute. "We have indeed received an invitation from the U.S. side. We welcome it," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman told The Associated Press. "Now the two sides are in communication on relevant details." Envoys met in August in Washington but reported no progress. The Journal reported that the Chinese had hoped that any final decision on tariffs would be delayed until after the next round of talks. China has threatened to retaliate against $60 billion of American products if Trump goes ahead with his tariffs. Fox Business' Edward Lawrence and The Associated Press contributed to this report. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The U.S. on Friday called for an urgent meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the implementation of sanctions on North Korea, a day after Ambassador Nikki Haley accused Russia of meddling in an independent report on the sanctions. Given recent efforts by some Member States to undermine and obstruct North Korea sanctions implementation, the United States has called an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting for Monday at 10 a.m. to discuss the implementation and enforcement of U.N. sanctions on North Korea, a statement from the U.S. Mission read. The statement did not name countries, but it came a day after Haley accused Russia of interfering in a report from the U.N.s independent Panel of Experts on the implementation of sanctions. Haleys office said that the report submitted to the Security Council was amended at Moscows request, which it said included violations implicating Russian actors. 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. She also expressed her disappointment in the panel for caving to Russian pressure, calling it a dangerous precedent. Weve seen the original report and we know the truth the Panel should do the right thing and release it, she said. The Security Council, led by the U.S., ramped up sanctions on North Korea last year amid the rogue nations nuclear tests, imposing sanctions on exports from oil to seafood. The U.S. says that resolutions had cut off all North Korean exports, which make up 90 percent of its trade. The sanctions are seen as being partly responsible for a thaw in relations between North and South Korea, and a meeting in June between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Haleys call for the Security Council meeting on Monday was met with some bipartisan support in Congress. Sens. Cory Gardner, R-Colo, and Ed Markey, D-Mass., as chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, backed Haleys stance. Russia is acting in bad faith, and we join Ambassador Haleys call for transparency and accountability on sanctions enforcement at the United Nations against North Korea, the lawmakers said in a statement. "We urge the Panel not to cave to Russian pressure and to release the original version of the report. Countries not applying pressure are enabling North Korea's advancing nuclear weapons program. They also called for the administration to increase its diplomatic efforts to compel all parties to comply with U.N. sanctions. Without this pressure, North Korea will not denuclearize," Gardner and Markey said. Fox News Mike Emanuel and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Tropical Storm Florence made landfall Friday, bringing powerful storm surges and catastrophic flooding with it. But in addition to the destruction, the storm could also bring a wave of venomous snakes. Thad Bowman, with the Alligator Adventure zoo in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, told The Sun News that residents in the Carolinas should be on the lookout for venomous snakes such as cottonmouths and copperheads, which could be displaced from their habitats due the storm. The displacement could cause the reptiles to wind up in the floodwaters, he said. SNAKES ON A PLANE: PASSENGER FLEW FROM GERMANY TO RUSSIA WITH 20 SNAKES IN HIS BAG Although copperheads bites are rarely fatal, they are a species of snake that is the most likely to bite, Live Science reported. Cottonmouths -- sometimes referred to as water moccasins -- have a potent venom that can be deadly, the publication also reported. They inject venom, which causes tissue destruction, platelet loss, causes bleeding, it can cause death, Gerald OMalley, director of toxicology at Grand Street Hospital in Myrtle Beach, told the newspaper of the snakes. FLORIDA DISC GOLFER BITTEN BY ALLIGATOR IN POND Bowman warned that locals should stay indoors during the storm if they havent been asked to evacuate. However, if bitten by a snake swept into the floodwaters, Bowman said to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. While some area hospitals may be closed due to the storm, the Conway Medical Center is open, The Sun News reported. People cheat. Not everyone, not all the time, but extramarital affairs are downright common. Even now, in the age of serial divorces and polyamory, when marriage is as flexible and even disposable as it ever has been, devoted husbands and wives succumb to temptation. When looking for evidence, partners usually turn to spy apps. These secretive phone apps track everything a person does and where the person goes. Click or tap here for five smartphone apps that will get the job done. In addition, camera technology has advanced a lot in the past few years. They keep getting smaller and smaller, making it possible to conceal them any which way. Spycam manufacturers have been creative in producing some of the most cleverly disguised (and tiny) camera/DVR systems, complete with HD video, motion detection, large storage card support and remote controls. Click or tap here for 10 types of spy cameras people would not suspect are watching. In many ways, technology makes infidelity easier to pull off. Spouses can hold erotic video chats, send pins that mark their favorite meeting spots, and exchange images and text with their lovers in countless different ways. An actual tryst requires people to be physically present in the same place, but foreplay can happen anytime, anywhere and the faithful may have no idea. At the same time, years of marriage will hone a spouses instincts, and we often know when something seems funny. Computers, tablets, and smartphones absorb adulterous evidence like a sponge, and once suspicions are aroused, tech can offer many clues about a potential dalliance. Let me be clear: The best thing you can do is have a frank and honest conversation with your spouse about your marriage. Couples therapy can work wonders. However, if your relationship wasn't healthy to begin with, or you need something tangible before starting divorce proceedings, these are basic methods for busting a cheater. 1. A Hidden or Locked Phone Many people turn their phones away from others to protect their privacy. However, most of us don't hide our phones from our spouses. This gesture is subtle, but it can suggest illicit text conversations. Cheaters are often protective of their phones; they don't share their passwords, and they even change their passwords to keep their phones' content a secret. Push notifications are a nightmare for unfaithful spouses, because they may show snippets of conversation from texts, emails, and so on that could incriminate both parties. Spotting a suspicious push notification, or even noticing the sudden absence of them, can be suggestive. 2. A Second Phone The easiest way to keep two romantic lives separate is to buy two separate phones. That way, the cheater doesnt get confused and text the wrong person by mistake. The existence of this second phone is also a liability, even if it is described as a work or emergency phone. Another technique is to purchase a separate SIM card, which can be switched out of phones that have been jail-broken. This is a lot of work and unlikely for most cheaters, but if you find a SIM card lying around, you may be able to extract its data by inserting it into another phone. 3. Scanning Any Digital Receipts Receipts are often sent by text message or email. If you have access to your spouses online accounts, you may be surprised to find these digital receipts for products and services youve never heard of. (Read: hotels, restaurants, jewelry stores). Most people dont leave a physical paper trail, but virtual documentation often persists. The same goes for frequent flyer miles and credit card points, which a cheater may spend on a fling. Cheaters often go to great lengths to avoid using their checking and credit card accounts, but there are many other ways to pay for a rendezvous, from Groupon to Paypal to Venmo, and they will still leave a trace of their transactions. 4. Try to Find Their Phone Many popular devices utilize some form of location technology and often make it easier to have the service turned on than to disable it. If your spouse uses an Apple device that is connected to a family account and they have enabled location sharing, you can locate their device by logging on iCloud.com and clicking on Find My iPhone or by using the Find My Friends app. If your spouse uses an Android phone and is logged on to Google on a shared computer, you can type "Find My Phone" into the search bar, and you'll be provided with the phone's location. 5. Then, Look to GPS As we become more reliant on GPS these days, you may also want to take a peek at your spouse's location history. For Google users, the "previous destinations" menu option on the navigation system may chronicle your spouse's movements; for Android users, the Google Timeline feature (found in the Google Maps app or Google Maps online if they are logged in) functions similarly. If your spouse uses an iPhone, there is one place to be sure to look. Many people dont even know this treasure trove of tracking exists. You can find their frequent locations in Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations. It takes a fair amount of effort to consistently disable or delete these types of settings so if they are up to no good, youre likely to find something here. 6. Search Every Letter of the Alphabet Cheaters would have to be pretty stupid not to clear the search histories on their browsers. If they routinely access dating sites, especially hook-up services like Ashley Madison and AdultFriendFinder, they will probably think to cover their tracks, unless they like flirting with disaster as much as attractive strangers. Auto-fill is harder to remember. Search engines like Google do a remarkable job of guessing your search parameters, based on everything you have ever searched before. If you share a computer with a suspect spouse, you may intend to type Megalodon, and instead the words Megan Granger home phone number flash across the field. Take this a few steps further. Start typing each letter of the alphabet and see what pops up. 7. Check Any Cloud Services The most dangerous habit for cheaters is to send photos and video. These media may spice things up, but they are vivid evidence of an affair, and such materials can be used as evidence in divorce proceedings especially if a betrayed husband or wife can save or download copies. To keep these images and video covert, cheaters may have a special cloud service. For example, the Keepsafe Photo Vault is designed to both store these media files and prevent others from accessing them. Many customers use Keepsafe for work or personal reasons, but if you notice that your spouse has a Keepsafe account and you cant figure out why, you may be onto something. Two similar services are Vault and Hide It Pro, which were created to store photos and video and protect them with a PIN. They also function similarly to cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Apples Cloud, but security is their top priority. Be sure to check on Amazon Prime because this service gives you a place to store your photos, too. 8. Secret Messages Hidden in Audio or Photo Files If your cheater is savvy, he or she may know how to secretly embed an image into an audio or picture file. You think its a familiar song or a landscape shot but a steamy pose might be hidden behind the notes and trees. Its easy to make these files and even easier to distribute them unnoticed. Tools like DeepSound or QuickStego make this point-and-click work for the casual cheater. The snoop usually suspects nothing unusual. The files appear to be ordinary. You need to know a special keystroke or code to unlock the files. Technological espionage is the least-healthy way to address these problems, and you should only use these techniques as a last resort. Infringing on your spouses privacy can cause even more damage, and certain kinds of infringements are bona fide illegal. What digital lifestyle questions do you have? Call my national radio show and click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to the Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet or computer. From buying advice to digital life issues, click here for my free podcasts. Copyright 2018, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved. Learn about all the latest technology on the Kim Komando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com. One China Eastern Airlines flight attendant is reportedly out of a job, months after accepting a viral marriage proposal from her longtime boyfriend during the middle of a flight. On September 10, Channel 8 reported that the unnamed female flight attendant received a dismissal letter from the carrier in the mail over the May incident. According to Asia One, roughly 30 minutes after takeoff, the womans boyfriend got down on one knee at the front of the aircraft and popped the question. Accepting the offer, the two share a sweet embrace and the passengers applauded, in video footage that has since gone viral on YouTube. 61 PERCENT OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS SAY EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS HAVE CAUSED TROUBLE MIDFLIGHT: SURVEY "I really didn't know my boyfriend will be proposing to me on this flight, thanks for being my witnesses, she said in the moment, as per Asia One. Now, her employment with China Eastern Airlines has been terminated over concerns that she neglected passenger safety. According to Channel 8, the airlines letter detailed that the private romantic behavior caused turmoil among passengers and was extremely irresponsible for the safety of passengers. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Meanwhile, Asia One reports that the news has drawn mixed reactions among social media users in China. Some say that her firing was "inhuman" while others argue that handling private affairs during professional hours is wrong. Representatives for China Eastern Airlines did not immediately return Fox News request for additional comment on the story. Attorneys for the family of a black man who was killed in his own apartment by a white police officer accused Dallas police of trying to "assassinate his character" and expressed fury that authorities sought a search warrant that resulted in the discovery of marijuana in the victim's apartment. At a news conference Friday, the lawyers said the search warrant, which allowed investigators to look for drugs, should have never been issued. They also called for the firing of police officer Amber Guyger, who gunned down 26-year-old Botham Jean in his own apartment on Sept. 6. She has been booked on a preliminary charge of manslaughter and is free on bond. Guyger told investigators she mistook Jean's apartment for her own, which is right below his, and that upon entering the dark home, she believed she had encountered an intruder and shot him when he didn't obey her verbal commands. Lee Merritt, one of the Jean family attorneys, said Friday that investigators wasted no time in digging for dirt they could use to smear Jean's name. Within hours of Jean being shot, they asked a judge for a warrant to search his home for drugs, among other things. "On the night that he was killed, the Dallas Police Department investigators were interested specifically in finding information that could help assassinate his character," Merritt said. Dallas police did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the criticism. Jean's mother, Allison Jean, expressed disgust that on Thursday the results of the search of his home surfaced. They showed that, among the things, police found a small amount of marijuana 10.4 grams and a marijuana grinder. The news came the same day that mourners at her son's funeral remembered him for his religious convictions and kindness. "To have my son smeared in such a way, I think shows that there (are people) who are really nasty, who are really dirty and are going to cover up for the devil Amber Guyger," she said. She called on police to release toxicology results from a blood sample taken from Guyger on the night of the shooting. She said that she did not understand why Guyger was allowed to "roam the streets for three days" after killing her son. Guyger shot Jean on Thursday night and was arrested on Sunday. The local Fox television affiliate, KDFW, was roundly criticized for its initial reporting on the release of the report on the search's findings, drawing scorn from figures across the political spectrum for focusing on the marijuana, tweeting: "DEVELOPING: Search warrant: Marijuana found in Botham Jean's apartment after deadly shooting." On Twitter, the ACLU called the tweet an "attack on an innocent man." Fox News contributor Guy Benson commented on Twitter, "Irrelevant. 100% irrelevant." National Rifle Association spokeswoman Dana Loesch tweeted: "How is this germane to what happened?" KDFW, which later updated its story and added more context, declined to comment Friday about its initial coverage of the search affidavit. At his funeral, Jean was described as talented and passionate man, who confided to his uncle that he might want to become prime minister of his native Caribbean island country of St. Lucia someday. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall were among those who attended the hymn-filled funeral. Rawlings has described Jean as a young professional and man of faith who was "exactly the sort of citizen we want to have." In Texas, being caught with that amount of marijuana is a class B misdemeanor punishable for up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,000. Court documents obtained Friday revealed that an investigator from the Dallas County district attorney's office seized the electronic door lock to Guyger's apartment and downloaded data from the lock. Merritt, one of the Jean family attorneys, said Dallas police should have never issued the search warrant to look for drugs at Jean's apartment. In a statement, Kali Cohn, staff attorney for the ACLU of Texas, said they are "extremely concerned" by the search warrant and called on the department to offer up an explanation. The warrant, she said, was at best an overly broad search without cause. "At worst, it's an attempt to improperly bias the investigation and malign Mr. Jean after his death," the statement said. However, Texas District and County Attorneys Association executive director Rob Kepple said Friday that receiving a search warrant is considered a best practice. He said a search warrant can help avoid a situation where there's a question of whether investigators had authority to search a residence. "What they did here is absolutely typical," Kepple said. After reading the affidavit, association staff attorney Shannon Edmonds said the documents indicate police knew what was in the apartment before they asked the judge to search the residence. Edmonds said the warrant does not specify who the items belong to or how, if at all, those items were involved in the crime. An Arizona man was accused of pretending to have Down syndrome and hired caregivers to bathe him and change his diapers, police said. Paul Anthony Menchaca, 31, of Gilbert, Arizona, was arrested on Sept. 6 on fraud and sexual abuse charges. The Gilbert Police Department said Menchaca posed as a woman named Amy on a caregiver job site called CareLinx.com, saying she needed assistance with her adult son, FOX 10 Phoenix reported. Three caregivers, all women, were hired to care for Menchaca at various points over the summer, with the first woman saying she bathed and assisted him 30 times. Sgt. Darrell Krueger, a spokesperson for the Gilbert Police Department told The Washington Post, Menchaca asked the caregivers to meet him at restaurants to change his dirty diapers in the public bathrooms. FACEBOOK LIVE VIDEO FROM INSIDE JAIL MEANS ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR DETAINEE All three women said Menchaca became aroused during baths, police said. The caregivers said Amy texted them telling them to punish Menchaca if he soiled his diaper. The first caregiver became suspicious and followed Menchaca home earlier this month and met his parents. She discovered Menchaca did not have Down syndrome and did not require diaper changes, a probable cause statement said. The mans parents told investigators Menchaca does not have Down syndrome. In a video of an initial court appearance, Menchaca said he has special needs and a low IQ level. CONVICTED MURDERER ESCAPES FROM MAINE PRISON; HAD 2 PREVIOUS ESCAPES, OFFICIALS SAY My mom and dad both have paperwork to prove that, and started to talk to my dad about getting me some help, and getting me a counselor, Menchaca told the judge, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. Menchaca was slated to appear in court on September 17. It wasnt immediately clear if he had obtained an attorney. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Family and friends are mourning the 18-year-old man who died in the gas explosions in suburban Boston on Thursday afternoon. Leonel Rondon of Lawrence, Mass., was with two friends inside a car, celebrating after passing a driving test, a family friend told the Boston Globe. Then, a large brick chimney fell onto the roof of the car -- on the driver's side, the report said. Rondon was severely injured. His friends "desperately" tried to pull him out of the car, but his body was too "entwined" with the bricks and metal, the Globe reported. Eventually Rondon was transported to a hospital, where he later died. The family is broken apart. ... This family just needs to mourn their son. Luis Medina, longtime friend The family is broken apart, Luis Medina, a longtime friend, told the paper. This family just needs to mourn their son. Rondon's two friends remained hospitalized, FOX affiliate Boston 25 reported. Moments before the incident, Rondon was excited about a new car his mother promised him and a prospective new job, the Globe reported. He had a job interview on Sunday, Altabeira Ventura told the paper about her cousin. And his mom was going to buy him a car. He was a really good kid, really humble. Ventura, 39, also called Rondon a good boy with a bright future, the report said. Rondon was a student at Phoenix Charter Academy, Boston.com reported, citing a statement from the school. He was reportedly set to graduate this year. "Staff and students knew him as an outgoing, light-hearted, hands-on learner who particularly loved science and excelled in biology and math," the school's statement said The school said that "he will be greatly missed both in school and at home, and his family, friends and loved ones." "Woke up early thinking about Leo, still can't believe it," Shantel Polanco Baez wrote on Facebook. "Went to sleep in tears now in waking up in tears." The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team to Massachusetts to investigate the gas explosions that also injured at least 25 people and caused fires in dozens of homes, reports said. A convicted murderer escaped from a Maine prison late Thursday, with authorities confirming it was the third time he has fled. Arnold Nash, 65, escaped from the Mountain View Correctional Facility in Charleston, the Bangor Daily News reported. He was last seen in blue jeans and a white T-shirt around 8:20 p.m. local time, the report said. Hes dangerous, Stephen McCausland, a Department of Public Safety spokesman, told the Portland Press Herald. Hes a career criminal and residents in the Greater Charleston area need to be aware, be vigilant and take extra precautions. Hes dangerous. ... Hes a career criminal and residents in the Greater Charleston area need to be aware, be vigilant and take extra precautions. Stephen McCausland, Department of Public Safety spokesman Nash was serving a 45-year sentence for the 1991 murder and robbery of his neighbor, Wilfred Gibeault, 58, a disabled Korean War veteran, in North Sullivan, the report said. Nash had intended to rob Gibeault, who lived next door to him at the time, of his $1,400 veteran's benefits he received monthly, according to the Daily News. He was convicted in 1992. FRANCE'S 'MOST WANTED' SPOTTED NEAR PARIS AFTER HELICOPTER PRISON ESCAPE In 1981, Nash escaped from the Maine State Prison, where he was serving time for burglary, the Daily News reported. In 1973, when Nash was 19, he escaped from the Maine Correctional Center in Windham, while serving time for larceny, the Herald reported. Nash was scheduled to be released Dec. 14 this year, which would be 18 years before the end of his original sentence, the paper reported, citing a Maine Department of Corrections new release. Charleston is about a two-hour drive north of Portland, while North Sullivan is about a three-hour drive northeast of the city. A Dallas police officer's explanation that she killed a black neighbor who lived above her because she mistook his apartment for her own has been dismissed as implausible and self-serving by his family and their lawyers. But experts on police training and psychologists are split on the credibility of Officer Amber Guyger's story. Guyger's credibility will be key to whether a grand jury will indict her and whether she could persuade a trial jury that the killing of Botham Jean was tragic, but justifiable. Some experts who aren't connected to the case say Guyger should have recognized what was really going on and stopped short of using deadly force. Others say that even though Guyger was in the wrong apartment, she could have had a reasonable belief that she was defending her life and her property. Family members of Wanda Barzee, the woman who helped kidnap and torture Elizabeth Smart more than 16 years ago, say they wont be rolling out the welcome mat when the 72-year-old felon is released from prison next week. From what I know, no family can take her in or would take her in, Barzees niece Tina Mace said. Utah authorities announced last week that they had miscalculated Barzees sentence and that she would be released Wednesday. The news stoked fears about whether Barzee remains a threat and underscored serious concerns about mental health treatment in Americas prison system. Barzee has spent the past 15 years behind bars. She pleaded guilty to helping former street preacher Brian David Mitchell kidnap Smart in 2002. She was convicted on both state and federal crimes and was transferred to the Utah state prison in April 2016 after finishing a federal sentence in Texas. Utah's Board of Pardons and Parole had denied Barzee early parole following a June hearing, which she chose not to attend. They said she had also had refused to take a psychological exam and set a release date in January 2024. During her months in captivity, Smart said Barzee sat nearby and encouraged Mitchell as he raped the teenager. Smart, now a 30-year-old mother, speaker and activist, said shes deeply concerned that Barzee remains a threat, citing her refusal to cooperate with mental health treatment in prison and reports that she may still harbor Mitchell's beliefs. "Do I believe that she is dangerous?" Smart asked. "Yes, but not just to me. I believe that she is a danger and a threat to any vulnerable person in our community." Federal agents have secured a place for Barzee to live when she starts her five-year supervised release, said Eric Anderson, Deputy Chief U.S. Probation Officer for Utah. He declined to say whether she'll be in a private home or a facility but said she "will not be homeless," he said. Barzee's lawyer Scott Williams has maintained she's not a threat. Barzee was treated at the Utah State Hospital for about five years following her arrest, and testified in 2010 against Mitchell. On the stand, Barzee described a "hellish" first year of marriage that eased after she "learned to be submissive and obedient," and his later pronouncement that it was "God's will" they sell their possessions and travel the country wearing long robes. Eventually, Mitchell kidnapped then-14-year-old Smart at knifepoint, forced her into a polygamous "marriage" and raped her almost daily. She was found nine months later, while walking with Barzee and Mitchell on a street in the Salt Lake City suburb of Sandy. Barzee's testimony against Mitchell seemed like a turning point, but her mental state appears to have changed in her subsequent years in federal and state prisons, Mace said. She needs help, the niece told The Deseret News, adding that her family is not capable of taking care of Barzees mental needs. Mace told the newspaper how normal her aunt seemed in the past. She added that Barzee was always a little vulnerable and that Mitchell was manipulative. Im just glad she nailed Brian because he knew what he was doing, Mace said. Mitchell is serving a life sentence. Looking back on the captivity, Smart said Thursday that she believes Barzee treated her as a "handmaiden" and was a "slave" manipulated by her husband at times. "But she, in her own right, abused me as much as he did." Fox News' Samuel Chamberlain and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Tropical storm Florence will continue to crawl inland through the Carolinas this weekend. The forecast continues to be life threatening, catastrophic flash floods and historic river flooding for the Carolinas to through the Appalachians into Southwest Virginia. The rainfall totals have surpassed those experienced during Hurricane Floyd (24.06) in 1999 and now is the wettest tropical cyclone in North Carolina with numbers surpassing 30 inches if rainfall totals are accurate. Inland flooding is perhaps the biggest continuing with many rivers fearing historic levels in the next few days. Slow movement of the system will increase the duration of heavy rain and ongoing surge. Wind gusts of over 40 mph and storm surge could surpass 5 feet. Short lived, fast moving tornadoes will be possible in the rain bands coming onshore. Looking ahead, the storm will eventually pull north and then Northeast later this week. The Atlantic is still very busy. Well have to watch the remnants of Isaac in the days to come moving into the Gulf of Mexico. Torrential rains from Hurricane Florence will test South Carolina's infrastructure, which failed under historic flooding in 2015. The devastating 2015 floods contributed to 19 deaths and crippled parts of the capital city Columbia for months. The state's infrastructure, weakened by years of neglect, crumbled under the strain of nearly 2 feet (60 centimeters) of rain. Dams burst across the state. Roads washed out and bridges were compromised. South Carolina has 42,000 miles of state-maintained roads, according to the state Department of Transportation. Spokesman Pete Poore says the agency is positioning crews of its 3,200 maintenance workers across the state to be ready to fix broken traffic signals, barricade problem areas and do whatever else is needed to make the state's roads safe again after Florence. A man accused of killing his wife seven years ago was arrested in a cold case that has haunted authorities for years, Louisiana deputies said. Belgium-born Sylviane Fink, a French and Spanish teacher in Brusly, Louisiana, disappeared in 2011. East Baton Rouge deputies said she was slain by her husband, who fled to Venezuela with their 4-year-old daughter four days after her disappearance, Fox 44 Baton Rouge reports TEXAS MAN ARRESTED IN NEPHEW'S COLD CASE MURDER 37 YEARS LATER East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said Oscar Lozado, 43, was arrested in Mexico, where he moved a year ago, and has been charged with second-degree murder. "I can tell you in law enforcement, there are no cold cases, especially when it comes to homicides," Gautreaux said, according to the station. Lozado was brought back to the U.S. from Mexico on Thursday, along with his daughter, Angelina, who is now 12. MAN WHO JUMPED OUT OF FREEZER AND DIED WAS COLD CASE SUSPECT A relative of Fink is seeking custody of the girl, the station reported. Authorities suspect Lozado used bags of concrete, large buckets and plastic bags to dispose of his wifes body, which has never been found, according to the station. A man in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, has died after he was bitten by a shark around noon local time on Saturday. The man, identified as 26-year-old Arthur Medici of Revere, was seen boogie-boarding about 30 yards off the beach when the attack occurred, according to the Cape and Islands District Attorneys Office. WOMAN IN TEXAS CATCHES 8-FOOT 'DREAM' TIGER SHARK, WILD PHOTOS SHOW The Wellfleet Police Department said in a Facebook post that emergency officials performed CPR on the victim. Shortly after, he was rushed to the Cape Cod Hospital by officials with Wellfleet Fire Department but succumbed to his injuries. Medicis death is said to be the first fatal shark attack in Massachusetts since 1936. 'VEGETARIAN' SHARK DISCOVERY: FIRST OMNIVOROUS SPECIES OF SEA PREDATOR STUNS SCIENTISTS The death follows an Aug. 15 attack on 61-year-old William Lytton, who was swimming off Long Nook Beach in Truro, also on Cape Cod. The neurologist struck the shark in the gills after remembering a nature documentary that said that was the predator's most sensitive spot. His attack was the first in Massachusetts waters since 2012. The Scarsdale, New York, native hopes to be released soon from the hospital and rehabilitation center he's been in since but has one more surgery scheduled. It was not immediately clear what type of shark attacked Medici or what his injuries entailed. Lt. Michael Hurley of the Wellfleet Police Department was not immediately available for additional comment when contacted by Fox News on Saturday. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Massachusetts police officer put others before himself and went to help his community after a series of gas explosions ignited fires in at least 39 homes including his own home. Officer Ivan Soto of the Lawrence Police Department told Boston 25 News he witnessed his residence go up in flames but went back to work after ensuring his family was safe on Thursday. "I knew my family was okay, so as long as they were okay, I wanted to make sure everyone elses family was okay," Soto told Boston 25 News. BOSTON-AREA EXPLOSIONS HAVE MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR DECLARING STATE OF EMERGENCY Soto tried to save Leonel Rondon, 18, who was killed in the incident after a chimney toppled by an exploding house crashed into his car. He was rushed to a Boston hospital but pronounced dead in the evening. "We jumped on the car, and we were trying to pull the chimney," Soto said. "We just want to get it off of him, you know. We wanted to save him." A GoFundMe was set up for Sotos family by his neighbors to help raise money for the belongings they lost in the fire. Sotos wife, Veronica, told Boston 25 News the family lost their two cats in the fire. "We lost everything material which can be replaced," Veronica Soto said. "We did lose our fur babies, which that, thats the hardest part." BOSTON-AREA GAS EXPLOSIONS KILL AT LEAST 1, INJURE 20, TRIGGER EVACUATIONS, OFFICIALS SAY The officer said he was thankful for the donations but wanted the community to help Rondons family first. A GoFundMe page has been set up for Rondons family. "I just wanna make sure that Leo's family is taken care of, too, and people can donate," Soto said. The explosions injured at least 25 people and left an estimated 8,000 people displaced. State and local authorities were investigating. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Florence's strong winds may be dropping, but heavy rain and floodwaters are bringing wet misery to much of North and South Carolina. Here are snapshots of people struggling to cope in the aftermath of the powerful storm that made landfall as a hurricane on Friday: HOPING IT DOESN'T GET WORSE Police helped Debbie Covington's elderly parents leave their home in a low-lying neighborhood of Cheraw, South Carolina, early Sunday and shelter at Covington's house on higher ground next door. Several backyards were flooded by afternoon, swollen with rainwater that was running downhill. Soaking wet and without shoes, Covington was nervously watching the muddy water rushing nearby, wondering if they needed to seek shelter elsewhere. She had just run an errand and had some trouble returning home. "I was driving the truck and everywhere I went, I couldn't get here," she said. "One way some trees were down. Another was blocked by water." Still, Covington said she planned to wait a little longer before evacuating. "We're OK right now, as long as it doesn't get a lot worse," Covington said. Around the corner from Covington's house, a vacant lot was underwater with two heavy backhoes used in construction and a truck submerged to the tops of their tracks and tires. A portable toilet bobbed in the water, leaning at an angle. Samantha Graham's house sat on higher ground nearby, but still had water seep into her basement and soak the carpet. "It's a lot of water," Graham said as she walked her dog and looked at the flooded yards at the bottom of the hill. "Hopefully it doesn't cross the road more than it already has." 'SOON I'LL BE GOING BACK ACROSS THE STREET' Three straight days of rain sometimes pausing, but sometimes pouring brought floodwaters Sunday to the doorsteps of Mildred Smith and her niece, Jovanaka Smith, who live across the street from each other in the town of Bennettsville in northeastern South Carolina. First, Mildred Smith fled her own home, wading across Talon Drive through the muddy water as she leaned on grandson for support. "I almost drowned myself leaving my house," she said. "It was more than knee deep." Then the water kept rising and reached the top step to Jovanaka Smith's front porch. Finally a knock came at the door. A crew of firefighters wearing rubber waders were going door-to-door, encouraging residents to leave. Finally, both women agreed to go. They didn't evacuate far. The women were left on dry ground at relative's home two doors down. From there, they watched and waited for the water to recede. "The rain has ceased," said Mildred Smith. "So I figure soon I'll be going back across the street." WATCHING THE WATER RISE On a country road just east of Goldsboro and two state prisons evacuated earlier this week ahead of expected flooding, Zack Lollar watches drivers make the tough decision whether their trucks are high enough to ford the high water or turn around. The road Sunday was flooded about a mile away from the Neuse River's usual bank. Lollar is watching how far the river floods. His home's interior was flooded by more than a foot of water during Hurricane Matthew two years ago. Afterward, his family received Federal Emergency Management Agency money to raise the ranch house onto a new base of concrete blocks about four feet off the ground to prevent a repeat of flooding damage, said Lollar, 24. "The house will be all right, but I don't want to get stuck out here," he said. "Got nothing else to do but watch the water rise.'" CHECKING IN ON MOM Coffee from a fast-food restaurant in hand, 63-year-old Melvia Eato and her grown son and daughter watched from her front porch as the water rose on her street in Goldsboro, North Carolina. About 100 yards of the road was blocked Sunday morning by water lapping a few doors away, left by a deluge Saturday. Light showers lingered Sunday. Eato said she saw no reason to leave since only her basement flooded during Hurricane Matthew in 2016, a standard used to measure flooding in the town. "I was here during Matthew, doing what I'm doing now. Me personally, I don't have any fear," she said. Her son, 45-year-old Lionel Atkinson, said he came to check on his mother on Thursday and decided the many roads that have since flooded made it was too risky to drive home to LaGrange, about 15 miles east. "We all came down to make sure she was all right. I didn't think I'd get stuck," he said. "We came here and this is where we've been." ANXIOUS TO GET HOME When he heard a Category 4 hurricane was headed for North Carolina, possibly affecting his home in Goldsboro, Eugene Johnson and his wife packed their 4-year-old son into their car and headed west, ending up in Jackson, Tennessee. After hearing that the storm's force had diminished, Johnson drove nine hours through the night to arrive at his townhouse near Seymour Johnson Air Force Base early Sunday. "I heard the storm was over with and wanted to check my house, make sure everything was all right. There's a bunch of trees down and stuff, but that's about it," Johnson said. Back in the neighborhood that suffered extensive flooding two years ago after Hurricane Matthew, he pushed aside the sandbags pinned across the front door and found the electricity happily intact. He left solidly in place the protective barriers meant to keep potential flooding from rising under the garage door or back slider. Johnson said he wanted to get home while Florence was still in South Carolina and before it made its predicted northerly hook over the Appalachian Mountains that separate the two states. "I felt the storm was leaving, I heard it went down to South Carolina. So I figured if I leave now I ain't got to worry about running into it because it was going to the mountains and Asheville. I'm like, beat the clock." ___ Contributing to this report are Emery Dalesio from Goldsboro, North Carolina; and Russ Bynum, from Cheraw, South Carolina. ___ For the latest on Florence, visit www.apnews.com/tag/Hurricanes Deputy Prime Minister Bob Loughman (second from left) and Vanuatus Ambassador at the United Nations, Odo Tevi (second from right) with Vanuatu delegation at the Global Climate Action Summit. Hundreds of people were rescued in New Bern, N.C., on Friday as Tropical Storm Florence continued its assault on the Carolina coast after making landfall in the morning. More than 360 people were rescued as of midafternoon Friday, but another 140 were still waiting for help, city spokeswoman Colleen Roberts told the Associated Press. Sadie Marie Holt, 67, was among those rescued. "The wind was so hard, the waters were so hard that, trying to get out, we got thrown into trailers. We got thrown into mailboxes. Houses. Trees," Holt said. Holt, who has diabetes and clogged arteries, said she stayed for doctor's appointments that were canceled at the last minute. She tried to row out of her neighborhood Thursday night with a boat that was in her yard after her home began to flood, but had to retreat because of the poor conditions. Tom Ballance, New Bern resident and business owner, told the Weather Channel that he watched water rise around him while sitting in his home, according to the Charlotte Observer. Nobody expected this, Ballance said. We were fools. "Were a resilient community, we work well together, well get through this." Dana Outlaw, New Bern mayor New Bern, a city of about 29,000 people, sits on a peninsula between the Neuse and Trent rivers. Crews from the city and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were working with citizen volunteers to get people to dry ground, Roberts 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, New Bern Mayor Dana Outlaw said, according to the Herald Sun of North Carolina. When Florence started battering eastern North Carolina with record rainfall, the rivers began to swell and combined with high tide, made for dangerous flooding. The city has been placed under a 24-hour curfew until further notice, Roberts said, according to the Herald Sun. Were a resilient community, we work well together, well get through this, Outlaw said. "Nobody expected this. ... We were fools." Tom Ballance, New Bern resident and business owner Roberts said early estimates show about 4,300 residences and 300 commercial buildings had been damaged. She said that count is expected to increase significantly. There had been no reports of injuries or fatalities, though most of the city was without power and thousands of buildings had been damaged, she said. New Bern, a 300-year-old city that was once the state capital, is about a two-hour drive southeast of Raleigh. Even though Florence was downgraded to a tropical storm, it already has proven deadly with its nearly nonstop rain, surging seawater and howling winds. At least four people have died, but authorities fear the death toll with increase as the storm crawls westward Saturday across South Carolina. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Two Washington state men were indicted Friday, after a months-long investigation led authorities to seize $1 million in cash, 33 firearms, and thousands of fentanyl tablets, according to court records. Acting on a tip in late July, federal authorities monitored Griffin Thompson, 30, of Bellingham, as he stopped at the home of Bradley Woolard, 39, in Arlington before heading north, the Seattle Times reported. Woolard and Thompson were suspected of being involved in the distribution of fentanyl pills designed to look like oxycodone in several counties in western Washington, said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes for the Western District of Washington in a statement. At a traffic stop, investigators found $8,000 in cash and 1,000 pills of fentanyl packaged to look like oxycodone, court documents said, according to the Times. Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid more powerful than morphine. The next day authorities raided Woolards home and found 10,000 pills of fentanyl, 33 firearms, and $980,000 in cash, according to court documents. Woolard was arrested Sept. 1 while trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Thompson was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts: conspiracy and possession of fentanyl with intent to sell. He was scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Friday. Woolard, who has a priory felony drug charge from 2004, was charged Friday with five counts of drug distribution and illegal firearms possession. Prosecutors said he was being held in San Diego and will appear in court later this month, the Times reported. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Fort Worth, Texas, police officer died Friday, less than 24 hours after he was shot in the head following a confrontation with a group armed robbery suspects. Officer Garrett Hull, a 17-year veteran of the department, died of his injuries just after 9:40 p.m. CT, the Dallas Moring News reported. "Weve lost a true hero," Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald said at a news conference. "Someone who has dedicated more than one tour of service to this great city and was senselessly killed by three known criminals two of which are in custody now. Hull, 40, and 10 other officers were conducting surveillance Thursday night on three men suspected in at least 15 robberies of mostly Latino bars in the Fort Worth area when the group committed an actual robbery at the Los Vaqueros Bar. The officers confronted the suspects as they fled the bar. One of the suspects, identified by police as Dacion Steptoe, then opened fire. Hull was hit in the head and Steptoe was killed when the other officers returned fire. Hull was rushed to a hospital where officers across the region gathered to support his family, KVTV-TV of Laredo, Texas, reported. The officer is survived by his wife and two daughters, the Morning News reported. It was unclear how many shots were fired. The other two suspects tried to flee but were arrested soon after. Los Vaqueros Bar owner Victor Zepeda told KXAS-TV said there were more than a dozen people hanging out at the bar when two men wearing masks burst in and demanded customers hand over their wallets and cell phones, Surveillance video shows one of the robbers pistol-whipping a male patron. In a statement, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price called police officers heroes. We take for granted that we are protected by these men and women in uniform, who are serving out community every day and fighting against the criminals that took Officer Hulls life, her statement read. The U.S. Coast Guard says it removed a member from its Hurricane Florence response team Friday after he made an OK hand gesture on live TV that the service branch deemed offensive. The unidentified team member was caught looking into the camera and then swiftly making the hand gesture, prompting a backlash on social media. The hand signal was seen in the background of MSNBCs live interview with Sector Charleston Commanding Officer Capt. John Reed, who was providing an update on actions taken by the Coast Guard in response to Hurricane Florence. Many social media users called for the firing of the individual, accusing him of making a so-called white power hate symbol. The agency immediately responded to the outcry and distanced from the controversy. We are aware of the offensive video on twitter - the Coast Guard has identified the member and removed him from the response. His actions do not reflect those of the United States Coast Guard, the agency tweeted. The Guard is now investigating the matter. In a statement, the agency said the incident was a frustrating distraction amid the dangerous hurricane that is poised to affect more than 10 million people this week in the Southeast. There have been at least four deaths since the storm reached the coastline on Friday morning, according to officials. "This is a frustrating distraction for the Coast Guard during our hurricane response. This person has been removed from the response pending an investigation. These types of actions are not reflective of the core values of the Coast Guard." U.S. Coast Guard Theres no clear consensus whether the OK hand gesture constitutes a hate symbol. While it has been adopted by some fringe far-right figures, it has also been commonly used by many Trump supporters. The Anti-Defamation League previously noted that the OK gesture isnt a hate symbol. Has the simple thumb-and-forefinger OK hand gesture become a white supremacist hand sign? Well, no, it hasnt, but you are likely to hear just the opposite from social media, thanks to the latest hoax from members of notorious website 4chan, read a post from the anti-racism group. SOCIAL MEDIA USERS FALSELY ACCUSE EX-TRUMP OFFICIAL OF MAKING WHITE POWER GESTURE AT KAVANAUGH HEARING Earlier this month, liberal activists accused a Jewish-Mexican former Trump administration official, Zina Gelman Bash, of making the white power hand gesture during the confirmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, prompting derogatory descriptions of her as a neo-Nazi or white supremacist. U.S. Attorney John Bash, her husband, defended Bash: The attacks today on my wife are repulsive. Everyone tweeting this vicious conspiracy theory should be ashamed of themselves. We werent even familiar with the hateful symbol being attributed to her for the random way she rested her hand during a long hearing, the tweeted, noting that Bashs grandparents are Holocaust survivors. A dog in Virginia was rescued this week after plummeting down a 35-foot well allegedly left uncovered by a maintenance worker, the dogs owner says. Beasley, a 7-month-old Golden retriever in Goochland, was rescued by officials with Goochland Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services, the Henrico Fire Department and other emergency officials after he was trapped in the well for more than an hour, according to a GoFundMe created for the pup. Beasley's owner, Katie Allen, said the incident occured after the pup was let outside to relieve himself. KENTUCKY MAN LEAVES $190G IN WILL FOR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER: 'WE WERE ECSTATIC' "We could just kind of hear echoes of the dog barking and yelping and whining, splashing, kind of struggling," Allen told WRIC-News. Beasley, struggling in roughly three feet of water, latched onto inflatables thrown down the well before a firefighter rapelled down and pulled the dog out, the news station reported. Beasley was taken to a local veterinary clinic, where he was determined to be in critical condition. The dog had fluid around his heart and lungs, and was also hypothermic, Allen said. Beasley's oxygen levels were also affected due to the amount of carbon dioxide he inhaled. He has been on oxygen since arriving at the animal hospital. But the pup now appears to be on the mend. While Beasley isnt in the clear yet, he seems to be doing much better, Allen told Fox News on Saturday. They have lowered his oxygen and will hopefully be off of it later this evening. He could go into respiratory distress without it, but we are hoping he won't, she said. They still need to do additional X-rays on his limbs and a follow up X-ray on his heart. He tires easily. Still slightly critical but heading towards stability quickly. LENA DUNHAM SUFFERS TRAGIC LOSS, LOSES SECOND PET IN LESS THAN A YEAR Allen said she has considered taking legal action against the worker, whose identity is not currently clear. I'm definitely weighing all of my options and I am currently talking to a lawyer to see what options I may have available, she added. As Hurricane Storm Florence lashed through the Carolinas with howling winds and heavy rain, one reporter was captured attempting to keep it together as winds appeared to lash at him, but was mocked when two people were seen walking behind him with little difficulty. The viral video, which has more than 13.6 million views, showed Weather Channel correspondent Mike Seidel in Wilmington, North Carolina, trying to fight the heavy wind as he reported live from the storm on Friday. This is about as nasty as its been, Seidel said. NEW BERN RESCUES CONTINUE AMID FLORENCE FLOODWATERS IN NC A few moments later, the camera panned away and two people were seen walking behind Seidel, appearing to have no problem with the wind. Social media users mocked the reporter and claimed he was exaggerating the storm. So dramatic! one social media user tweeted with the video. Dude from the Weather Channel bracing for his life, as 2 dudes just stroll past. When two teenagers nonchalantly walk in the background of your shot and expose your acting job portraying that you can barely stand in the wind, a social media user wrote. The Weather Channel defended Seidel saying he was trying to maintain his footing on wet grass while the two people seen in the background were walking on concrete, The Washington Post reported. US COAST GUARD MEMBER REMOVED AFTER MAKING OFFENSIVE OK SIGN ON LIVE TV Its important to note that the two individuals in the background are walking on concrete, and Mike Seidel is trying to maintain his footing on wet grass, after reporting on-air until 1:00 a.m. ET this morning and is undoubtedly exhausted, the channel said in a statement. Hurricane Florence was downgraded to a tropical storm hours after making landfall on Friday. The storm was once a powerful Category 4 storm but became a slow-moving Category 1 storm when it made landfall near Wrightsville, North Carolina, on Friday. Hundreds of people were rescued in New Bern, North Carolina, on Friday. At least six people were killed in the storm. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 The first inter-Korean summit of 2018, a sunny spectacle in late April, reduced war fears on the peninsula. The second, an emergency one in May, helped ensure a historic meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump came off. Now, at his third summit with Kim next week in Pyongyang, South Korean President Moon Jae-in faces his toughest challenge yet: delivering something substantive that goes beyond previous vague statements on denuclearization and helps get U.S.-North Korea talks back on track. Negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have sputtered in recent weeks, raising doubts about whether Kim is truly willing to relinquish his nuclear arsenal and putting pressure on Moon to broker progress once again. The result will likely be a crucial indicator of how the larger nuclear negotiations with the United States will proceed. Moon will try to get Kim to express more clearly that he's prepared to abandon his nuclear weapons, which could create momentum for a second Kim-Trump summit. Whether Moon succeeds, fails or falls somewhere in between, the third inter-Korean summit could help answer a persistent question: When Kim says he supports the "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," what does he actually mean? ___ DENUCLEARIZATION DEBATE Moon heads to Pyongyang on Tuesday facing lingering questions over his claim that Kim, during his conversations with South Korean officials, has privately expressed a genuine interest in dealing away his nuclear weapons and missiles. The wave of optimism that surrounded the first two inter-Korean summits in April and May and the Singapore meeting between Trump and Kim in June conveniently overlooked disagreements about what exactly Kim had committed to. "The third summit will bring more clarity to what North Korea means with the complete denuclearization of the peninsula," said Kim Taewoo, former president of Seoul's government-funded Korea Institute for National Unification. "If the North has been negotiating with goodwill all this time, Moon will be able to return with good results. But, regrettably, I see that possibility as low." He said it will be crucial for Moon to get Kim Jong Un to give a clearer signal that he is willing to accept credible actions toward denuclearization, such as providing a detailed description of North Korea's nuclear program, a key first step toward inspecting and dismantling of it. At his meetings with Moon and Trump, Kim signed statements pledging the complete denuclearization of the peninsula. But the North for decades has been pushing a concept of denuclearization that bears no resemblance to the American definition, vowing to pursue nuclear development until the United States removes its troops from South Korea and the nuclear umbrella defending South Korea and Japan. The differences prompted Trump to cancel Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's planned visit to North Korea last month. After an earlier Pompeo visit, Pyongyang accused Washington of making "unilateral and gangster-like" demands on denuclearization and bristled at the idea that it must take significant steps toward dismantling its nuclear program before a peace treaty is signed or international sanctions are lifted. Moon, the son of North Korean war refugees, is eager to keep the nuclear diplomacy alive, not just to keep a lid on tensions, but also to advance his ambitious plans for engagement with the North, including joint economic projects and reconnecting inter-Korean roads and railways. These projects are held back by the sanctions against North Korea. "What the South and North now needs is not just another joint declaration, but finding ways to substantially develop relations," Moon said in a Cabinet meeting Tuesday. "We cannot cease our efforts to mediate and facilitate talks from the middle until dialogue and communication between North Korea and the United States flow smoothly." ___ GETTING IT IN WRITING The issue of declaring a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War will be high on the agenda in Pyongyang. The fighting stopped with an armistice that has left the peninsula technically at war. Both Koreas are calling for a declaration by the end of the year, but the U.S. wants to see more concrete steps toward denuclearization first, and some analysts say a declaration could put pressure on the U.S. to withdraw its troops from South Korea. "With the declaration, North Korea's trying to put itself on equal footing with the United States so it could turn the process into a bilateral arms reduction negotiation between two nuclear states," Kim, the security expert, said. "The process can't have anything to do with a plan to denuclearize unilaterally." Chung Eui-yong, Moon's national security adviser, met Kim in Pyongyang earlier this month, and said the North Korean leader told him that an end-of-war declaration would not weaken the U.S.-South Korea alliance or lead to a withdrawal of U.S. troops. Chung also said Kim wishes to realize denuclearization before the end of Trump's first term. Chung conveyed similarly promising comments from Kim after a previous visit in March, when South Korean officials shuttled between Pyongyang and Washington to set up the Trump-Kim meeting. He said then that Kim had said the North would not need to keep its nuclear weapons if it received a credible security guarantee and that the North Korean leader understood that U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises must continue. The comments were seen as an important departure from North Korea's previous stance. But Kim has never made similar comments publicly or in writing. If Moon can't convince Kim to express a commitment to concrete denuclearization steps, he will at least have to get Kim to put the things Chung has said he was told in a written agreement, said Du Hyeogn Cha, a visiting scholar at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies. That would provide a starting point for establishing a timeline for denuclearization, reduce concerns over North Korea's intent and make it clearer that the North bears the greater responsibility in the efforts to resolve the nuclear crisis, Cha said. "The Panmunjom Declaration after the first summit only provided a time limit for the end-of-war declaration, which was the end of 2018; on denuclearization, the statement just said the Koreas would jointly work toward it," Cha said. "A failure to get something more specific out of Kim could cause the diplomatic efforts to lose much of their force." ___ Follow Kim Tong-hyung on Twitter at @KimTongHyung The Dalai Lama said this week that Europe belongs to the Europeans and that refugees should eventually return to their native countries to rebuild them. The Tibetan spiritual leader made the comment during a conference in Malmo, Sweden's third-largest city, known for its large immigrant population, Agence France-Presse reported. "I think Europe belongs to the Europeans. ... Receive them, help them, educate them but ultimately they should develop their own country." The Dalai Lama He noted that although Europe was morally responsible for helping those refugees fleeing danger in their home countries, the countries should let the immigrants know that they ultimately should rebuild their own country and go back. Receive them, help them, educate them but ultimately they should develop their own country, the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner added. The Buddhist leaders comments came just days after the populist party Sweden Democrats made significant strides in Swedens general election. The party, which ran on a platform of opposing immigration, came in third, receiving nearly 18 percent of the vote, nearly 5 points up since the 2014 election. The small Nordic country reportedly took the most refugees per capita in 2015. The Dalai Lama, whos been living in exile since 1959 after escaping Tibet and settling in India following the Chinese communist takeover of the region, also echoed his remarks he made in 2016 concerning Germany and the influx of migrants from the Middle East. "Europe, for example Germany, cannot become an Arab country. Germany is Germany. There are so many that in practice it becomes difficult." The Dalai Lama Europe, for example Germany, cannot become an Arab country, he said, according to the Washington Post reported. Germany is Germany. There are so many that in practice it becomes difficult. From a moral point of view, too, I think that the refugees should only be admitted temporarily, he continued, adding that The goal should be that they return and help rebuild their countries. Acting on a judge's order, Egyptian police detained the sons of former president Hosni Mubarak on Saturday along with three others in connection with insider trading charges for which the five are on trial, security officials said. They said the arrests were ordered by judge Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh before he adjourned the case's hearings until Oct. 20. The Mubarak sons wealthy businessman Alaa and Mubarak's one-time heir apparent Gamal were taken to a prison south of Cairo after the hearing, according to the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media. The detention of the two brothers came as something of a surprise given that the trial has been proceeding without incident. It was not immediately clear if their detention has anything to do with a recent warning to Gamal Mubarak by a newspaper editor close to the government to abandon any political ambitions. The two sons and their father were sentenced to three years in prison following their conviction of embezzling funds set aside for the restoration and maintenance of presidential palaces, using the money to upgrade their private residences. The sons were released in 2015 for time served, while Mubarak walked free last year. The trio paid back to the state the money they embezzled. The three were first detained in April 2011, two months after a popular uprising forced Mubarak to step down after nearly 30 years in power. After a long trial, Mubarak was acquitted of killing protesters during the 18-day uprising against his autocratic rule. The ongoing insider trading trial centers on the buying by the two brothers of a large number of shares in a local Egyptian bank that they allegedly knew was to become the target of a takeover by an Arab Gulf investor, a move that was virtually certain to dramatically drive up share prices. One of the five ordered detained on Saturday is investment banker Hassan Heikal, son of Mohamed Heikal, a confidant of Egypt's late nationalist leader Gamal Abdel-Nasser and the author of a series of books giving insider accounts of Egypt's wars and peacemaking with Israel. He died in 2016. Preventing Gamal from succeeding his father was among the chief motives for the 2011 uprising and the military's subsequent support for the revolt. The years that followed saw most pillars of Mubarak's regime go on trial on corruption or power abuse charges, but almost all of them have since been acquitted or walked free after repaying part or all the funds they had illegally amassed. But while most Mubarak regime luminaries have since lived quietly on the sidelines, second-string Mubarak loyalists have found their way back to public life under the rule of general-turned-president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, particularly in parliament, a mostly rubber-stamp chamber packed with government supporters, and the media. However, Gamal Mubarak's frequent public appearances and the relatively warm reception he has received from members of the public have drawn the ire of el-Sissi's supporters. Yasser Rizq, possibly the closest newspaper editor to el-Sissi, sternly warned Gamal Mubarak in a May article against harboring political ambitions. He suggested that Mubarak's son may have forged an alliance with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood to run for president when el-Sissi's second, four-year term ends in 2022. El-Sissi led the military's 2013 ouster of Egypt's first freely elected president Mohammed Morsi of the Brotherhood and has since overseen a massive crackdown on his supporters, jailing thousands of them along with secular activists behind the 2011 uprising. Egypt's constitution prohibits el-Sissi from running for a third term in office, but his supporters have occasionally raised the specter of amending the constitution to allow him to do so or to extend the duration of his term. He won a second term in office this year in an election in which his only opponent was a little-known politician known to be among his staunchest supporters. The Iranian Embassy in Paris was damaged Friday by a group of people that a local police official says was made up of "individuals" and Iran's Foreign Ministry has accused of being extremists Saturday while complaining of an allegedly slow and weak response from law enforcement in the French capital. Iran's Foreign Ministry said protesters tried to attack embassy, the country's official IRNA news agency reported. IRNA quoted ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi saying officers did not arrive quickly after the disturbance was reported. He said the troublemakers were members of an extremist organization he did not identify, IRNA said. "It is necessary for the French government to take serious measures to protect Iranian diplomatic missions in that country," Ghasemi said, according to the news agency. A Paris police spokeswoman gave a somewhat different version Saturday of what transpired on Friday afternoon, when she said "individuals" threw objects and smashed windows at the embassy. The spokeswoman said the responding officers searched 12 people, but didn't take anyone into custody because embassy personnel didn't want to file a complaint. She provided information about the incident but would not give her name, a common police practice in France. Ghasemi said some suspects were arrested and Iran has asked the French government to prosecute and punish them, IRNA reported. Tehran is doing its own investigation of the commotion and the allegedly tardy arrival of Paris police, the news agency said. The Paris police spokesman said she did not have information about the motives or identities of the people outside the embassy. Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard last week claimed responsibility for a missile attack targeting an Iraqi base of Kurdish separatist group Party of Democratic Kurdistan of Iran. The Revolutionary Guard said the attack killed at least 11 people and wounded 50. ___ Vahdat reported from Tehran. Adamson reported from Paris. Amid escalating political wrangling, Iraqi lawmakers elected an Iran-backed Sunni Arab as speaker of parliament on Saturday, the first step in forming a new government four months after national elections. The 37-year old speaker was supported by the pro-Iran bloc inside parliament, the Building coalition, which is mainly made up of Iran-backed Shiite militiamen underscoring the growing Iranian influence in the process of forming the country's new government. During a secret ballot, 169 lawmakers voted for Mohammed al-Halbousi, the former governor of Anbar, and 89 others voted for the former defense minister, Khalid al-Obeidi, lawmaker Ahmed al-Asadi said. Two deputies, a Shiite and a Kurd, will be elected later Saturday, al-Asadi added. "This is a victory for the Building coalition," prominent Sunni politician Mahmoud al-Mashhadani told The Associated Press after the session. "No one can ignore the Iranian influence in Iraq, it's stronger than the U.S.'s (influence)," al-Mashhadani added. Early this month, the newly-elected parliament held its first session, but two Shiite-led blocs came into conflict, each claiming to be the largest bloc that should be tasked to form the new government. Namely, they are the Building coalition and the pro-U.S. Reform and Building coalition led by outgoing Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Alarmed by the political wrangling and the bloody protests in the southern city of Basra against poor public services and unemployment, the country's Shiite spiritual leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, called for the appointment of a new face to lead the government. On Friday, al-Abadi said he'll not "cling to power." Two Shiite politicians from the Reform and Building coalition who attended meetings between political parties to form the government, said Iran played a major role in undermining al-Abadi's efforts to secure a second term. Iran tried to bribe and threaten lawmakers, they said. Ahead of the parliament first session in Sept. 3, the U.S. brokered a deal to have Kurds join the Reform and Building coalition so that it becomes the larger bloc, the politicians said. Hours ahead of the session, a politician went to residence of the Kurdish diplomatic mission in the Green Zone to collect signatures from Kurdish lawmakers. "I was surprised when I saw the Iranian ambassador sitting at the restaurant of the Kurdish residence to discourage the Kurdish (lawmakers)," from joining the coalition, one of the politician said. "He left fifteen minutes before the session started." Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief media. Tehran had previously dispatched its top regional military commander, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, to Iraq to ensure the pro-U.S. coalition does not threaten its interests in the region. Baghdad-based political analyst Essam al-Faily said that contributing to Iran's successful sway in Iraq is that it "controls militias that have with influence on the ground. It has influenced even Sunni leaders." Under an unofficial agreement dating back to 2003, the position of prime minister is reserved for Shiites, the president a Kurd and the parliament speaker a Sunni. Parliament now has 15 days to elect the president who will task the nominee of the largest bloc to form the government. Political wrangling among the Shiite-led blocs and other factions will likely indefinitely delay the process of naming a prime minister. ___ Associated Press writer Sinan Salaheddin contributed to this report. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 Pope Francis appealed to Mafiosi to renounce their quests for power and money as he visited Sicily on Saturday to honor a priest slain by mob henchmen for trying to protect youths from the evil clutches of organized crime. The daylong trip by Francis in the Mediterranean island where the Cosa Nostra is rooted marked the 25th anniversary of the assassination in a Palermo slum of the Rev. Giuseppe "Pino" Puglisi, who was declared a martyr by the Vatican and beatified in 2013, the last formal step before possible sainthood. Francis was paying tribute to the priest who worked to keep unemployed Palermo youths in a poor neighborhood from turning to local Mafia bosses for jobs like pushing drugs. The papal pilgrimage came in counterpoint to revelations, battering the highest levels of the church and testing the faith of rank-and-file Catholics worldwide, that many priests and bishops sexually abused children or connived to protect the abusers in various nations. Tens of thousands of people cheered Francis at an open air Mass in late morning at an esplanade along the port city's waterfront. "Let's renew the church," read a large banner held by young people in the crowd as Francis was driven by in his white popemobile. Pressure is building on Francis to say what he knew about the sexual misconduct of U.S. prelate Theodore McCarrick, who recently was stripped of his cardinal's rank by the pope. In a city where local bosses exert their sway, often just by walking through the neighborhood, and many business owners systematically pay Cosa Nostra "protection" money to stay open, Francis drew applause as he told the crowd: "If the Mafioso litany is, 'you don't know who I am,' the Christian one is 'I need you.' If the Mafia threat is 'you will pay me,' the Christian prayer is 'Lord, help me to love.'" "Thus I say to the Mafiosi: change, brothers and sisters. Quit thinking about yourselves and your money," Francis continued in his homily. "You know, a funeral shroud doesn't have pockets. You can't take it with you," Francis said of organized crime's ill-gained wealth from drug and arms trafficking, extortion and betting and prostitution rackets. "You give life to others, not take it away. You can't believe in God and hate your brother, take away life with hatred," Francis said in his homily. On his 56th birthday, Puglisi was fatally shot in the neck in the doorway of his home by a gunman that courts later ruled was carrying out orders by Mafia bosses irritated by the priest's efforts to encourage young people to turn their backs on the mob. Puglisi was gunned down a few months after Pope John Paul II, during a pilgrimage to Sicily, angrily demanded that mobsters convert their hearts or face the wrath of God at the end of their lives. At that time, the island was still shocked by the 1992 bombing assassinations, by Cosa Nostra, of Italy's top anti-Mafia magistrates. ___ Frances D'Emilio reported from Rome. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 As alleged Russian plots, conspiracies and crimes unfold against the West, prosecutors and pundits routinely blame Vladimir Putin or a circle of Kremlin insiders said to be acting on direct orders from the president. Putin may indeed have involvement in some shadowy schemes, but is he micromanaging every suspected poisoning, computer hack and influence campaign? Experts say not necessarily. Instead, they say Putin and his entourage may be sending out signals about what he wants, and ambitious officials and individuals scramble to interpret and fulfill them to win his favor. The motley mix of Russians accused of meddling in U.S. politics seems to illustrate this. Gun activist Maria Butina, who is jailed in Washington on charges that she tried to infiltrate U.S. political organizations as a covert Russian agent, is among those on the margins of power who seemed to seize an opportunity to advance their own interests and potentially please their rulers by manipulating gullible Americans. It's unclear whether Putin was even aware of Butina's activities. But the initiative like Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya's efforts to meet with Donald Trump's campaign team, or online trolling credited to "Putin's chef" Yevgeny Prigozhin dovetailed with the Kremlin's dual goals of destabilizing Western democracy and ending sanctions against Russia. Only Putin can say for sure what strings he pulls. But some projects such as the attack in Britain with a military-grade nerve agent in March appear more likely to have his blessing. British authorities say the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal was carried out by Russia's GRU military intelligence agency, with a likely green light from the highest levels. Russia vehemently denies any involvement. "Russia is not as centralized as people sometimes think," said Alexander Baunov of the Carnegie Moscow Center. Incidents of election meddling abroad weren't part of "a single planned event, but separate people and actions" operating loosely under the same anti-Western banner. Such efforts don't always coalesce. Observers describe rivalries among Kremlin insiders as they jostle for favors or influence. Prigozhin's supposed financing of mercenaries in Syria, for example, is reportedly at odds with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu but helps Russia maintain a foothold in the Middle East. "Putin's state is like a court," said Mark Galeotti, a Russia security expert at the Institute of International Relations in Prague. "You have the people above making it clear what it is they are looking for, and then you have people below either looking to find ways they can leverage their existing opportunities and contact base to potentially provide value, or look to package what they've already got and sell it to advance their agenda." THE GUN ACTIVIST Butina, ordered Monday to remain in a U.S. jail while she awaits trial, seems to be a fringe figure, whose gun activism started in Siberia, far from Russia's decision-making core in Moscow. As Trump pursued the presidency, she and influential patron Alexander Torshin allegedly used their connections with the National Rifle Association to cultivate a back channel to Republican politics. They tapped a vulnerability on the American right: the growing number of conservatives who don't conform to the Washington establishment's consensus on Russia, said Michael Kofman, head of the Russian program at the CNA think tank in Virginia. Some on the right have shown great affinity for what they see as the unyielding patriotism, faith and imagery of Putin's Russia. The pair were oddly open about it, using their own identities on social media and advertising their networking successes. "One of the more remarkable aspects of this case is how not-covert, obvious and self-aggrandizing it really was," Kofman said. Torshin leveraged his connections as a lawmaker in the upper house of parliament, the Federation Council. The body is "a kind of trading post for different interests. Torshin has been a senior figure mediating between various different interests that come together there for over 10 years. He is a senior behind-the-scenes player," said Tom Adshead of Macro Advisory, a Moscow business consultancy. However, Torshin's powers were limited. Gun rights legislation that he championed failed miserably in Russia. And while the FBI says the pair developed ties to Russian intelligence, there's no sign Butina and Putin ever met. THE LAWYER AT TRUMP TOWER Another Russian alleged to have tried to influence the U.S. election campaign was lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, who met with Trump campaign aides in Trump Tower in June 2016, reportedly to offer Moscow's help in defeating Hillary Clinton. While Veselnitskaya has denied acting on behalf of Russian officialdom, scores of emails and documents shared with The Associated Press show she served as a ghostwriter for top Russian government lawyers and received assistance from senior Interior Ministry personnel in a case involving a key client. Still, she's not exactly part of Putin's inner circle. Instead, Baunov said, "she's a lady who was trying to advance her own personal career." The leaked documents suggest Veselnitskaya went to Trump Tower as part of efforts to help her clients try to overturn U.S. sanctions one of the Kremlin's strategic goals. "Some people in the Kremlin, in special services, could be aware of the existence of Veselnitskaya and what she was doing," Baunov said. "But that doesn't mean ... everybody asked in conference calls 'how is her project going?'" THE CHEF AND HIS TROLLS Proximity to Putin is a key in such initiatives, and one of the most successful was purportedly launched by a player in his court: Yevgeny Prigozhin. Dubbed "Putin's chef" for his well-connected restaurant and catering business, Prigozhin is considered the driving force in a media empire that includes the Internet Research Agency, the St. Petersburg "troll farm" whose members were indicted by U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller in February for allegedly waging "information warfare" against the United States through social media platforms and internet-based media. Observers say such projects generally go through layers of officialdom first vetting by Putin's spokesman, chief of staff, foreign minister, spy service chiefs who decide when and whether to inform the president himself. The troll farm was "a proxy body, not a government service," Baunov said. Its activities, including fake Facebook accounts and articles, "were not taken seriously but they were approved, as an attempt to show the West that the web and the internet don't belong only to the West." The indictment hasn't deterred Prigozhin. The agency still exists; it just moved across town. And its parent company started an English-language site this year called USAReally aimed at American readers, six months before the U.S. midterm elections. Prigozhin also is the suspected mastermind of a company called Wagner that sends private military contractors to fight in Syria, Ukraine and Africa. Three Russian journalists were killed in July in unclear circumstances while investigating Wagner's activities in Central African Republic. Prigozhin is among a string of powerful Russian businessmen sometimes referred to as oligarchs who have been hit with sanctions or otherwise implicated in investigations into Russia's role in Trump's 2016 election. They deny wrongdoing, but observers suggest they are paying the price for the very proximity to Putin that allowed them to build their fortunes. THE 'PATRIOTIC' VOLUNTEERS Among the accusations of foreign interference that have hit closest to Putin are those involving the GRU military intelligence agency: the nerve agent attack in Britain and Mueller's accusations that 12 suspected GRU agents hacked Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and the Democratic Party. Military analysts say operations by the GRU follow a strict chain of command that travels up through the military chief of staff, the defense minister and Putin himself. Putin, however, has suggested that the hackers could be independent operators. In a possible acknowledgment of the potential value of such outsiders, Putin signed a decree last week making information about freelance agents who help Russia's foreign intelligence services a state secret, according to Russian news agencies. In the past, only information about regular personnel earned such protection. Putin's entourage got a glimpse into his thinking when he likened hackers to "artists," saying last year: "If they are patriotic, they contribute in a way they think is right, to fight against those who say bad things about Russia." ___ Angela Charlton reported from Paris. Kate de Pury in Moscow contributed to this report. A French art school was forced to apologize to students after some noticed their faces had been darkened in an advertising photo to make the group appear more diverse. Other students saw they had been replaced entirely in the photo by images of darker-skinned people. A side-by-side comparison of the original and photoshopped images circulating on social media features some students from the Emile Cohl art school in Lyon with darkened facial features to make them appear black -- and two black students added to the middle of the group, the New York Post reported. The school denied allegations of "blackwashing" -- making itself appear more diverse in its advertising than in reality. The photo was posted to the schools new website to promote the opening of a Los Angeles branch within four years. The Daily Mail reported that part of the school's U.S. promotion effort was to bid for funding from American animation studios. Antoine Riviere, director of the school, told French site Rue89Lyon that a California-based ad agency, not the school, was to blame. The article did not name the firm. "This is an initiative of U.S. providers," Riviere said. "It's something that has completely escaped us." The image was immediately removed from the schools website and servers when students notified school officials after it was posted Sept. 5. The school has since cut ties with the firm, another officials said, according to the Post. nametalkam at 15-09-2018 07:07 PM (3 years ago) (m) Zainab Ahmed replaces former finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun who resigned over allegations of certificate forgery She will now act as the Nigerias new Finance Minister. Before her recent appointment by Buhari, Zainab was the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning. Zainab Ahmed replaces former finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun who resigned over allegations of certificate forgeryShe will now act as the Nigerias new Finance Minister. Before her recent appointment by Buhari, Zainab was the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmeds Bio: Mrs. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed had in the past served as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI. She holds a B. Sc degree in Accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and an MBA from the Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye. As a young accounting graduate, her aspiration was to become the Accountant General of her home State and possibly that of the Country. This was why she took up a career in the public service in 1982, with Kaduna State Ministry of Finance, North West Nigeria. In the last 28 years, she served in several accounting and public finance management positions in the Nigerian economy especially in the telecommunications industry at the time the Nigerian public and private sectors depended solely on NITEL for Communication services. From the rank of Deputy General Manager in charge of Corporate Treasury in 2002, she moved to Nigeria Mobile Telecommunications as General Manager Finance in September, 2005 and later became Chief Finance Officer of MTEL. She was appointment as the Managing Director of Kaduna Investment Company by the Executive Governor of Kaduna State in March, 2009 to help Kaduna State define, plan and implement an accelerated industrial development programme. This was the position she held until her appointment as member of the National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG, the Board of NEITI) and later the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) in October 2010. She was later elevated to the position of Minister of State for Budget and National Planning until her most recent appointment yesterday. Mrs. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed had in the past served as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI. She holds a B. Sc degree in Accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and an MBA from the Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye.As a young accounting graduate, her aspiration was to become the Accountant General of her home State and possibly that of the Country. This was why she took up a career in the public service in 1982, with Kaduna State Ministry of Finance, North West Nigeria.In the last 28 years, she served in several accounting and public finance management positions in the Nigerian economy especially in the telecommunications industry at the time the Nigerian public and private sectors depended solely on NITEL for Communication services.From the rank of Deputy General Manager in charge of Corporate Treasury in 2002, she moved to Nigeria Mobile Telecommunications as General Manager Finance in September, 2005 and later became Chief Finance Officer of MTEL.She was appointment as the Managing Director of Kaduna Investment Company by the Executive Governor of Kaduna State in March, 2009 to help Kaduna State define, plan and implement an accelerated industrial development programme. This was the position she held until her appointment as member of the NationalStakeholders Working Group (NSWG, the Board of NEITI) and later the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) in October 2010. She was later elevated to the position of Minister of State for Budget and National Planning until her most recent appointment yesterday. Post Reply I specialize in investigative reportage across several subject matter and sectors but mainly focus on metro events and investigation. Do leave your thoughts and opinion on my reports to let me know what you think about them. Thank you Posted: at 15-09-2018 07:07 PM (3 years ago) | Hero NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The NY Women's September Market, opening Saturday, September 15th through Monday, September 17th, is an elevated fashion showcase comprised of five unique shows: COTERIE, SOLE COMMERCE, Fame, Moda and Sourcing@COTERIE. Held at the Javits Center in New York, this marketplace features the most sought-after contemporary and progressive designers and brands in womens apparel, footwear, accessories and sourcing. This season, COTERIE, in partnership with ReMode, has proudly collaborated with the United Nations to support the UNs Sustainable Development Goals' Conscious Fashion Campaign. The initiative aims to harness the power of retailers, media and celebrities to embrace impact-driven fashion brands to create positive change and drive conscious consumerism. Show-goers can explore the range of Conscious Fashion Campaign brands including AMUR, DefineMe, ELK, Legami, Liverpool Jeans, Skazi, Washed Away, and B. Yellowtail, in an installation within the Crystal Palace. A large part of the initiative is supported by SheTrades , an organization that enables women entrepreneurs to improve the quality of their products and services. SheTrades was instrumental in introducing female-led African brands including AAKS, Afrodesiac, COCOLILI, Maki Oh, Mar Y Sol, and Beauty@COTERIE brand, R&R Luxury to the floor. We wanted to provide the fashion community with an experience that highlights the sustainable business practices and production methods of designers and brands at COTERIE. We are featuring a selection of brands; from woman-owned businesses in developing countries, to large US-based brands with domestic and overseas manufacturing. All have provided us with information regarding how they are addressing the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. We are proud to showcase their achievements, and the progress we are seeing in the fashion industry. Its been a pleasure working alongside SheTrades and the United Nations Conscious Fashion Campaign team to debut this at Coterie, states Womens Fashion Director, Danielle Licata. Each season, COTERIE sets the standard as the premier global event for womens apparel, accessories and footwear, offering an array of comprehensive neighborhoods across each category. The Spring/Summer19 season hosts inspirational collections from around the world including South American brands Agua de Coco, Azulu, and, Julian SanMartin, Australias Winona Australia, and American designers Gal Meets Glam Collection and Charmosa. Discover COTERIEs neighborhood highlights below: EDIT | Celebrating its 10 th edition, EDIT offers a highly-curated presentation of luxury and contemporary ready-to-wear and accessories for women. | Celebrating its 10 edition, EDIT offers a highly-curated presentation of luxury and contemporary ready-to-wear and accessories for women. TMRW | the ultimate destination for advanced contemporary lines and emerging designers with a global perspective including Eye Of P, LOL, Varque by Varun Nidhika, Wilde Vertigga and B. Yellowtail. | the ultimate destination for advanced contemporary lines and emerging designers with a global perspective including Eye Of P, LOL, Varque by Varun Nidhika, Wilde Vertigga and B. Yellowtail. Circuit @ COTERIE | This season Circuit welcomes Gladys Tamez Millinery, Guanabana, Lulu Frost, and Welden to its exhibition of designer and contemporary accessories for women. | This season Circuit welcomes Gladys Tamez Millinery, Guanabana, Lulu Frost, and Welden to its exhibition of designer and contemporary accessories for women. Footwear @ COTERIE | Stands as the ultimate destination for luxury footwear in the Northeast with not-to-miss spring collections from Frances Valentine, Ferri, Inukki, and Kanna. | Stands as the ultimate destination for luxury footwear in the Northeast with not-to-miss spring collections from Frances Valentine, Ferri, Inukki, and Kanna. Beauty @ COTERIE | A central marketplace for beauty and apothecary items and brands available for wholesale and retail including DefineMe Fragrance, Gem Water, Lab To Beauty, MakeUp Eraser, UASHMAMA, and Zero Gravity Skin. | A central marketplace for beauty and apothecary items and brands available for wholesale and retail including DefineMe Fragrance, Gem Water, Lab To Beauty, MakeUp Eraser, UASHMAMA, and Zero Gravity Skin. Vintage @ COTERIE | The elevated showcase of vintage dealers from across the US including, Classic Coco Handbags, Morphew, Orlando Vintage, and Upteam Corp, offers a one-of-a-kind apparel and accessories assortment | The elevated showcase of vintage dealers from across the US including, Classic Coco Handbags, Morphew, Orlando Vintage, and Upteam Corp, offers a one-of-a-kind apparel and accessories assortment Stitch @ COTERIE | Entering its second season as a neighborhood within COTERIE the show offers the right mix of contemporary, sportswear, lifestyle and international. Must-see brands include A-Marsi, Aventures Des Toiles, Beate Heymann, Donna Degnan, European Culture and Maria Grazia Panizzi, Italy. This season the NY Market announces a new floor plan: COTERIE is positioned as a townhouse style-split between level three and level one, with FAME, SOLE COMMERCE, and MODA positioned adjacent on the upper level three. Beauty@COTERIE will remain at level three registration. For more information on the show floor plan please visit: https://www.ubmfashion.com/blogs/ny-womens-september-new-show-hours-floor-plan Womens footwear and accessory event, SOLE COMMERCE provides footwear brands access to the countrys largest concentration of womens ready-to-wear retailers on the Eastern Seaboard. This season, SOLE COMMERCE welcomes Laurevan, Maison Si, Olympian Sandals, and Ted Baker London among others. Fame is the one-stop shopping destination where the retailers discover ready-to-wear young contemporary and trend-driven fashion for women. The Fame Lounge (booth #5411) celebrates Festival Season with Bohofaux who will be braiding and styling with artistic gem applications during show hours. Fame also welcomes Quiana Parks who will be onsite for a live artwork session. Within Fame, Fashion2Go presents a curated selection of the trendiest, young contemporary jewelry and accessories available for wholesale and cash and carry. This season, MODA will present a concise mix of modern contemporary ready-to-wear collections with brands such as Karen Kane, Hilary Radley for Katherine Barclay, Lynn Ritchie, and Suzy D London. This show also stands as the largest showcase of accessory brands on the East Coast this September including Rush by Denis & Charles, Sondra Roberts, Mary Frances, Yochi and Blue Pacific. On Sunday September 16th at 3:30pm COTERIE will celebrate the Conscious Fashion Campaign Collaboration, supported by ReMode. Welcome remarks and traditional land acknowledgement by Elder Gerrod Smith, Shinnecock, followed by a thanks and introduction by representatives from ReMode and United Nations. Prosecco toast sponsored by Principessa. The show opens Saturday, September 15th from 11AM 7PM, Sunday, September 16th from 9AM 6PM and closing Monday, September 17th from 9AM 5PM at the Jacob Javits Center located at 655 W 34th St, New York, NY. To learn more about the NY Womens September Show, new show hours, and a listing of events please visit: https://www.ubmfashion.com/shows/ny-womens Discover trend highlights and noteworthy brands from the NY Womens September Market here: https://readymag.com/u81963856/nywomens0918/ @coterie_show | @ubm_fashion | @sourcingatmagic #coterie About COTERIE | COTERIE is the premier global event within the New York marketplace that bridges women's apparel and accessories designers to the international 'Whos Who' of retailers that runs concurrently with Stitch, SOLE COMMERCE, Fame, Moda, The Accessories Show and The Edit. COTERIE builds exclusive shopping experiences from the ground up so that designers and buyers can create a synergy that fuels their businesses, continuing to be a platform for generating revenue and inspiring trends. About UBM Fashion | UBM Fashion is organized by UBM, which in June 2018 combined with Informa PLC to become a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B events organizer in the world. To learn more and for the latest information visit www.ubm.com and www.informa.com. Bonfire Interactive Ltd., (Canada) a developer of cloud-based sourcing and procurement software (Canada) a developer of cloud-based sourcing and procurement software CityBase Inc., (Chicago, Ill.) a developer of technology that also creates websites and mobile applications for utilities, self-service kiosks and point of sale tablets (Chicago, Ill.) a developer of technology that also creates websites and mobile applications for utilities, self-service kiosks and point of sale tablets eCivis Inc., (Pasadena, Calif.) a cloud-based grants management system provider for state, local and tribal governments (Pasadena, Calif.) a cloud-based grants management system provider for state, local and tribal governments Open Counter Enterprises Inc., (San Francisco, Calif.) whose software guides applicants through complex permitting and licensing procedures (San Francisco, Calif.) whose software guides applicants through complex permitting and licensing procedures Questica Inc. and Questica USCDN Inc., (Canada) a provider of budgeting software, performance management and transparency and data visualization solutions (Canada) a provider of budgeting software, performance management and transparency and data visualization solutions Sherpa Government Solutions, (Denver, Colo.) which provides public-sector budgeting software and consulting services In transactions totaling $497 million, GTY Technology Holdings is acquiring six government-serving technology companies at once, three of which hold spots on the GovTech 100 list The publicly-traded company was formed in late 2016 and has raised $552 million in financing for the purpose of building a digital gov tech platform through strategic acquisitions. The six acquisitions, which the company aims to complete in early 2019, would bring together a broad suite of Software-as-a-Service offerings tailored to city, county and state customers.These are solutions that complement our vision of a digital city hall, said GTY Chairman and CEO Stephen Rohleder. Thats basically a solution made up of multiple software solutions, something that not only improves the citizen experience but also automates and streamlines the back-office operations of the current civic environment.Of these, the three GT100 companies are OpenCounter CityBase and Questica The six firms have a combined customer base of about 1,500 companies or organizations mostly city and county users with some utilities and small state agencies, Rohleder said. Once under the GTY umbrella, the companies will keep their individual retail identities. There will be an overarching brand that draws them all together, but each will keep its existing brand because we feel there is strong value there, he said.The plan calls for individual CEOs to retain their positions, becoming CEOs of their respective business units within GTY.By uniting under the larger organization, the companies could potentially leverage their marketing power, while also making it easier for government entities to access needed services.There is not a lot of overlap in the customer base, so we see an opportunity to use master service agreements and other contracting vehicles to allow those clients to take advantage of the other solutions that are in our portfolio. Cross-selling and upselling is an important part of the proposition here, Rohleder said.Suppose, for instance, a client on the permitting-software side needs a new grants management tool. At the highest level, the CEOs already are looking for such windows, and over the next six to 12 months we will provide training so that all of the sales force can recognize the same opportunities, he said.More than just an expanded sales opportunity for the respective companies, Rohleder described this as a potential win for government customers, who may have easier access to needed services via the combined entity. Master agreements through GTY could make it possible to engage diverse SaaS offerings without having to undertake a prolonged procurement process.Among the companies to be acquired, some are describing GTYs move as not just a recognition of their individual successes, but also of the strength in the gov tech sector as a whole.The small but passionate gov tech industry has been distinguishing itself since 2012 by creating tools that advance the goals of civil servants to modernize the public-sector experience, CityBase founder and CEO Michael Duffy said in a press release. This milestone is a validation of our peers and clients collective work to date and of the tremendous opportunity in front of us all.Most of the products in the combined suite of offerings are SaaS-based, with an implementation timeline of 90 to 120 days. Theyre typically paid for out of operating funds, rather than as capital investments. GTYs market play is premised on high state and local demand for such services.The total spending for the North American state and local government market is roughly 9.1 percent of GDP, second only to manufacturing. The annual tech spending is roughly $115 billion and software spending is between $30 and 40 billion a year, Rohleder said. Its a very large market with a lot of runway for growth.After the acquisitions are completed the company says it will have approximately $237 million in cash on the balance sheet. FOCUS ON DEFENSE CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIA (TNS) - A mother and her infant were killed Friday in Wilmington after Hurricane Florence sent a tree crashing into their home, authorities said. The two are believed to be the first victims of the storm that has barreled into the state with powerful winds, sending ocean water surging over streets and into homes as rescue crews rush to save stranded people.Hurricane Florence is powerful, slow and relentless, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said Friday. Its an uninvited brute that doesnt want to leave.State and city leaders have urged residents to shelter in place, warning of extreme flash flooding and swiftly rising waters that will likely grind across the state for days.Wilmington Police said the father of the dead infant had been transported to New Hanover Regional Medical Center with injuries.A third person was killed in Lenoir County while plugging in a generator, Coopers office said in a statement.Despite its downgrade to Category 2, Hurricane Florence has shown little mercy, overwhelming cities like New Bern, where storm surges forced more than 100 swift-water rescues overnight.You may need to move up to the second story, or to your attic, but WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU, said the official Twitter account for the city, promising that swift-water rescue teams were mobilizing.According to the city, about 150 people were waiting to be rescued in New Bern, located where the Neuse River empties into Pamlico Sound at about the midpoint of the states Atlantic coast.Dana Outlaw, the mayor of New Bern, said the storm had uprooted oak trees and scattered power lines on the street. Its no time to be out. We want our citizens safe.In the town of Washington, N.C., floodwaters swamped an intersection, making it impassable for everyone except a few with pickup trucks.The metal roof of a warehouse across the street was shredded by the wind. A neighborhood grocery store flooded.At a used car lot, rising waters had already swamped two cars. I can live with two cars (being damaged), said the owner, Steve Griffin, 48, who lives nearby in Bath. I cant live with many more.The wind picked up and small waves of water continued rolling in. Although flooding isnt unusual in Washington, this is higher than its ever been in this lot, Griffin said.Gregory Sams, 60, a retired security guard, left his second-floor apartment to look for a store selling cigarettes but couldnt find any. Like everyone else, he wondered how high the water might rise.Your guess is as good as mine, he said as a light rain fell.The National Hurricane Center warned Friday that life-threatening flood danger could linger for days.More flooding is expected further inland, where rivers could overflow and inundate towns across the state.Fierce winds lashed at Wilmington, a port city near the southeastern corner of the state where many of the 120,000 residents had evacuated but some remain hunkered down to ride out the storm.About a dozen people in the breakfast area of the Country Inn and Suites stared out the window as the wind howled and trees swayed.The power went out at 6:45 a.m., and Alejandra Rubio, 40, clutched a paper cup full of coffee.I feel scared, she said.Outside, the sky was blank and gray, and 80 mph wind gusts tore through the trees. Debris began piling up in the streets and parking lots.The storm was generating sustained winds of at least 90 mph as it inched ashore, traveling only 6 mph. Hurricane Florence has lost some power over the last few days it made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, down from its earlier rating as a Category 4 with winds of 140 mph.But the slow speed of travel may end up increasing the storms danger as high winds and rainfall linger over the state.There could be other threats as well. A tornado watch was issued until 5 p.m. Eastern on Friday, and gusts of wind could reach 75 mph, according to the National Weather Service.Mandatory evacuations have turned large swaths of the state into boarded-up ghost towns, and government officials have urged residents to stay off the roads.More than 12,000 people are riding out the storm in shelters.Roughly 80,000 people have already lost power, and the number could reach closer to 3 million, according to Duke Energy, the states largest utility. The heaviest power outages are in the area around Wilmington and in the stretch of coastline between Emerald Isle and Pamlico Sound.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deployed a team to the area to help restore power and protect nuclear power plants, according to a statement from the Trump administration. Nearly 4,000 federal employees are working with state and local agencies on storm response.South Carolina was also bracing for the storm and for inland flooding that could have statewide effects. The governor implored residents to leave the coastal area as soon as possible.Remember this: Once these winds start blowing at that tropical storm rate, it will be virtually impossible for the rescuers to get in, Gov. Henry McMaster said.The region is expected to be hit hard by storm winds, persistent, heavy rain and possibly even tornadoes.Its knocking on the door, said Chase Dearman, a spokesman for the states emergency operations center. Extensive high winds and storm surge is going to be an issue as well as the rainfall.A mandatory coastal evacuation order left highways nearly empty in Charleston, the states largest city.The safest place to be is away from the coastline, Dearman said.Inland in Columbia, the states capital, residents prepared for flooding along nearby rivers.In Myrtle Beach to the east, residents made their way to rapidly filling shelters.At Palmetto Bays Elementary, school staff cleaned and cooked for more than 400 young families, elderly couples, immigrant workers who lined up for a hot lunch in the cafeteria.With four local hospitals evacuated, the American Red Cross had also set up a station at the school to care for those needing medical attention.The storm has time to regroup itself, said a worried Dr. Bill Capehart, the agencys shelter manager, who experienced Hurricane Matthew two years ago. When it rains upstate, look out. They all drain into here, and the rivers rise so suddenly.2018 Los Angeles TimesVisit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) As more and more Americans use Internet-based phone services like Apples FaceTime, for example, or Facebook Messenger calls states want the ability to tax and regulate them. But a new court decision just said they cant.The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals decision for Charter v. Minnesota confirmed that states cannot regulate these services, also known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, simultaneously setting a legal precedent for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to regulate them instead.The decision also suggests that the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals will rule in favor of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the repeal of net neutrality rules, despite Californias attempts to pass its own net neutrality legislation and other states lawsuits against the FCC over the repeal.The ruling taps into a growing trend as more and more telecom companies explore Internet-based services. Based on the 2017 reclassification of BIAS providers as information services, the FCC is giving more and more authority to the FTC for various Internet-based services.In the decision , the appellate court affirmed the United States District Court for the District of Minnesotas ruling that VoIPs are information services, and because of that, state regulation of Charter Advanced Services VoIPs is preempted by federal law.Roslyn Layton, a visiting scholar focusing on telecommunications and the Internet at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), told InsideSources there was a similar case in Minnesota eight or 10 years ago over the same thing, but was struck down.In Laytons view, this is really a battle over whether the states have regulatory authority over the Internet including broadband and net neutrality issues.Whats behind it is the money, she said. The Internet is about 10 percent of our economy, 9 percent of GDP. There are literally thousands of VoIP companies that can start at any day or time, picking whatever states they want to serve. In Minnesotas case, this was opportunism.Layton thinks this case shows that courts will rule in the FCCs favor regarding the repeal of net neutrality rules under Title II of the Telecommunications Act.I think its going to show theres about 22 states suing the FCC for the repeal of the 2015 Internet order. I think this is just showing how the courts are going to rule in that direction, she said.In 2015, the Obama administrations Federal Communications Commission (FCC) switched the classification of broadband Internet access service (BIAS) providers from information services to telecommunications services under Title II of the Telecommunications Act, allowing the FCC to regulate them. In 2017, the Trump administrations FCC reclassified BIAS providers as information services under Title I, essentially handing over their authority to regulate those providers to the FTC.Markham Erickson, chair of Steptoes Internet, Telecom, and Technology practice group, told InsideSources he doesnt think the ruling will have much impact on the FCCs decision-making, but said telecom companies that offer VoIP services are now in a bizarre situation where some of their services are regulated by the FCC, but VoIPs by the FTC.Theres nothing stopping the FTC from regulating Internet phone service [now], he said. (TNS) The Bay Area Rapid Transits Board of Directors approved a far-reaching surveillance measure Thursday that requires public hearings every time the agency purchases or seeks funding for new spy technology.It comes as BART reels from a recent string of violent crimes that prompted its general manager, Grace Crunican, to propose systemwide upgrades to the rail lines security cameras and even led some board members to float ideas about facial recognition software.But the new regulation bans testing of facial recognition software. It also requires BART to gather feedback from the public whenever officials want to expand the systems security apparatus I think there is always what I hope is a healthy tension between privacy and the need to promote public safety, said Brian Hofer, chairman of the Oakland Privacy Advisory Commission. He worked for two years with other advocates to draft BARTs privacy policy, which the board adopted as a binding ordinance.The process began in April 2016, after news reports of a license plate reader that BART police had installed in the MacArthur parking garage. When activists showed up to a board meeting to protest the equipment, the board voted not to use it until BART had written and approved a privacy policy.Although the board ordered BART police to turn the cameras off, they apparently were left on. BART Police Chief Carlos Rojas told reporters that his staff had no idea the system was up and running. Activists said at the board meeting Thursday that the cameras sent 57,000 license plate scans to a database that could be shared with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Rojas said he had no information that any data was shared with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or ICE.The new ordinance allows a 60-day testing period for new surveillance equipment before it goes before board. Crunican had asked for a slightly longer period of 90 days, saying that every piece of technology sucks when you first get it.Though several board directors urged their colleagues to adopt the privacy rules as a policy rather than a binding ordinance, the majority of the body said BART has a duty to protect the civil liberties of its riders.San Francisco Board Director Bevan Dufty called the new law an act of contrition.We are living in a time of lack of trust in government institutions, he said. Singapore GP 2018 Saturday Press Conference Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Singapore GP 2018 RV Press DRIVERS 1 - Lewis HAMILTON (Mercedes) 2 - Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull Racing) 3 - Sebastian VETTEL (Ferrari) TRACK INTERVIEWS (Conducted by Martin Brundle) Q: Lewis, an astonishing lap - 36.0. Where did that come from? Lewis HAMILTON: Wow, wow, that was a hardcore qualifying session. That felt like magic. I don't really know where it came from but it all came together. Naturally I want to say a huge thank you to all the team back at the factory. Everyone is working so hard, really, really so hard to pull out all the extra bits. Today I managed, just for that one lap, just to get it right. The next one obviously I was trying a bit more, but it's also great to see so many people here. Singapore is a beautiful track and honestly I'm super overwhelmed, absolutely overwhelmed, my heart is racing, I might have an anxiety attack in a second. I'm really happy. Q: As the laps was unfolding, was it, were you thinking 'hang on, this is feeling something special'? Hamilton: Yeah, definitely. Honestly I don't there was a moment in the lap that we went wide or there were any problems, it was just perfectly to the limit. It felt like one of the best laps I remember feeling. Did you guys enjoy it? They're happy, so we're good. Q: Second, Max. Still can't quite be the youngest pole sitter ever but you must be so, so satisfied with that lap? Max VERSTAPPEN: Honestly this feels like a victory. The amount of problems I've had today and even in qualifying with the engine, just not having a smooth run, cutting in torque, to be second is unbelievable and that just shows we have an amazing car. Q: Yeah, ahead of the Ferraris, ahead of one of the Mercedes and your team-mate. Last year you were so unlucky in this position. You've got a great chance this weekend? Verstappen: Absolutely. We just need to make sure that we have a clean start and from there everything is possible. We do have to sort out the engine for tomorrow but at least I'm very happy with the car. Q: Well done. Sebastian, third on the grid. Take us through qualifying for you? Sebastian VETTEL: Well, not ideal, obviously we wanted to get pole but we didn't. I think for us it was a bit of a messy qualifying session but in the end there was too much time missing, so no better than third. Q: You seemed to need to attack the out lap where the other cars were going very slowly. Did it compromise your approach a little bit? Vettel: Yeah, it's never ideal if you have a mini-race on the out lap, but there were a lot of cars always around. You can't blame it on that. In the end we had two laps and they were both not good enough. Not what I wanted and not what we wanted today. Q: Have you got a good race car? Vettel: I think so. Obviously it's a bit more difficult further back, but, yeah, I think we have. PRESS CONFERENCE Q: Well Lewis, it looked like we witnessed something pretty special out there tonight. Can you just talk us through it ? Hamilton: I'll tell you this track is epic. It's so difficult this track. It is the most challenging circuit for us in the year. It's Monaco on steroids really, being that it's a lot longer, a lot more corners. Yesterday was looking really good for us and then we came into today, we made some changes and we didn't have a good session. Everyone was starting on the hypersofts and they were getting the experience and we were starting on the softs and there is a huge difference compared to the hyper. Then I was a bit nervous going into qualifying because I didn't think we had the pace, we were half a second behind these guys and I was thinking 'there is no way I'm going to be able to find half a second'. And as we were going through the qualifying session again, it was a really challenge on the ultra. Then we obviously got into that last session and it was just about pulling all the little bits you found through practice and trying to see if you could put it into a perfect puzzle and 99.9% of time it doesn't go right, but that lap, honestly, I didn't have a wheel spin, I didn't have a snap anywhere. The car was just underneath me and I managed to maximise on pretty much any corner. I can't remember one where I thought I could do more. And it's so physical here, so naturally after the session you're shaking, your heart's racing. The second lap I tried to obviously go that little bit more, just half a metre braking later, but it was just too much and the car wasn't going to have it, so I really do feel I got absolutely everything possible on that first lap. I was definitely nervous when I came in at the end because naturally you want to deliver each time you have an opportunity. But I'm just so grateful; the team have been working so hard. I'm sure that everyone's team is, but the guys have just been flat out trying to see if we can bring little bits here and there and we knew we would come to this and the Ferrrari's particularly but also the Red Bulls would be hard to beat, so this is an incredible moment for us to be on pole here considering the circumstances. Q: Max, your second consecutive front row in Singapore. Given all of the technical issues you had coming into this session... Verstappen: Have! Still have! Q: ...talk us through, how satisfying is this P2? Verstappen: Totally unexpected. From FP3 onwards I was shaking with anger but now I'm just shaking with happiness. FP3, so many problems. I mean I was going into false neutral; car was stopping on the track; while driving in my fast laps just bogging down, and qualifying was exactly the same story, so we had to detune the engine - lost a bit of time there - to try and make the driveability better but it still didn't work like it should do. So, when I was going into Q3 I felt the car was working really well. I didn't really have anything to complain. So, when I saw second on the board I was actually quite surprised. With the problems I had. And then on my final run I tried to push a bit more, and I was another two-tenths up and then I arrived to 16-17, and when I had to short-shift again, the engine just cut out, so I had to abort. If it was going to be enough for pole, I'm not so sure - but at least it would have been closer than three-tenths. I'm already surprised to be second with all the issues I'm having. The only thing I can say is that it was a great qualifying. I think the best I've ever done and the car was also working really well. That definitely put us second today. Q: Sebastian, a frustrating session for you, can you just talk us through it, and also talk about your prospects in the race and how competitive you think the Ferrari will be on Sunday. Vettel: The race is a different story so I think by tomorrow things will look different but for sure not happy with how today went. I think qualifying today wasn't as smooth as it should have been, so yeah, I think other people obviously did better than us, and that's why we are third. QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR Q: (Stuart Codling - Autosport) Sebastian, just to pick up on your previous comment, we saw in Q2 you tried to run on ultrasofts, it didn't work. How damaging is it for your prospects, given that looked like you were going to go for a one stop strategy, how damaging is it for you to have to abandon that and then to qualify third on the grid? Vettel: Well, one doesn't have to do anything with the other. So obviously in Q3 is when you qualify your position and Q2 is when you qualify your tyre. So obviously it was clear what we tried to do. It didn't work, so... but overall I think qualifying for us today wasn't as smooth as it should have been so, difficult to get a rhythm, difficult to get a feel for the car and in the end the gap is quite big. I'm not worried about the gap because I don't think that shows how strong we are. Just disappointing obviously today that we didn't get the maximum out of our package. Q: (Christian Menath) Questions for Seb. Can you talk us through your problems? Obviously there were some problems on the car just before the start of the qualifying. Vettel: No. Q: No problems? Because we've seen the floor was taken off... Vettel: No problems, just final checks but no problems with the car. Q: And then in Q3, I think after the first try, you said you were in a 'nasty spot'. Can you explain how you prepared the car or the tyres, for the first and the second attempt in Q3? Vettel: Erm... no! Well, I think, as I tried to explain, for us the qualifying didn't go the way I think we planned it to be. Not just in terms of result - obviously we were hoping for more than third on the grid - but I think that's one thing. I think obviously the gap is quite big, which is one. I think Lewis had a really good lap, so congrats to him for the lap. I'm sure it was a good one. But I don't think he was unbeatable but for us today, the way we composed qualifying, I think it was difficult to get a rhythm. I was struggling in Q1, Q2, Q3. As I said before, I think other people did a better job. That's including Lewis' lap as an individual but also them as a team. And obviously it's not what we wanted today to get third. Q: (Luke Smith) Lewis, we saw Ferrari try and fail to get through Q2 on the ultrasofts. You did the same thing in Q1 but you managed to get through. Were you ever concerned that you might drop out in that session or were you always confident you would be able to get through? Hamilton: Yeah, I definitely was a little bit concerned but we were aware that we came here with the wrong tyre strategy in the sense that others had more hypers than us so we needed to get rid of a soft in P3 I think it was. Already from practice we weren't best prepared. Others started on softer tyres in P1 and also in P2 and P3 is where we had that. So we definitely lost some running because the tyres are massive, massive... you could see it's two or three seconds or whatever it was between the tyres. Then we got into qualifying and we had to start on the... We believed that in order to give us hypersofts in Q2 and Q3, that's the tyre we went out on and we definitely didn't expect to be on the pace that we were but the delta between the tyres was even bigger, once we got to qualifying. So yeah, and I couldn't go quicker so I was definitely a little bit nervous, but then we went back out and I'm not quite sure why the Ferraris did the run on that tyre - I don't know if they had four new sets of hypers, probably unlikely, so that's probably why they had to take another tyre, probably, but you could already have seen from our run that you were not going to get through there, so that just leaves me to believe that they probably just didn't have an extra tyre. But the Q2 was good and once we got to Q3 it was nice but the extra run that others got, I think they had an advantage going into qualifying just by having the extra run on the hypersoft. Q: (Jerome Pugmire - Associated Press) Sebastian, you said other people did a better job, including Lewis's lap as an individual, but also them as a team. In which area or areas do you think your team should have done better? Vettel: As I tried to explain, obviously I don't want to take anything from Lewis's lap and their efforts as a team - they did great and that's why they are on pole by quite a margin so that is not for debate. I think for us, it's clear that we could have done better and therefore we can't be happy. Now, going into detail I don't think there's much point. For sure here and there we could have done better, maybe preparing the lap, the qualifying but in the end I had the laps and they obviously weren't strong enough and good enough to be near. Q: (Joe Klausmann) Lewis, are you comfortable with the outside line into turn one tomorrow? Hamilton: The racing line, you mean? Pretty happy with it. I'll see where it goes tomorrow but it's the racing line. Obviously starts are always a difficult one but being on the racing line that we drive past hopefully it's equally as good as the inside starting line. You would normally chose to be on the outside for turn one. Q: (Arjan Schouten - AD) Max, we heard a lot of complaints about the engine on the radio. You also said already there are still some issues to fix. Will you go to bed as a happy man because of this surprise or also as a worried man because of the engine? Verstappen: I think normally in the race you have to turn down the power anyway. It's just when you go to the limit of the engine where we seem to struggle this weekend with it, with driveability and torque mapping and stuff. For example yesterday in the long runs I didn't have the problem. And if it breaks it breaks. You can't really change that so we will find out tomorrow. Q: (Erik van Haren - De Telegraaf) Max, with all the problems in mind today and yesterday, when you look at yourself as a driver, does it look like a perfect lap today? Verstappen: Well, like I said before, I think I feel like I've done my best qualifying ever in F1 so far. I think it was definitely a good lap which I can be very happy with. Daimler and Bosch announced the successful premiere of their joint Automated Valet Parking pilot in Beijing. The infrastructure-supported driverless parking technology, which made its debut in the parking garage at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart in 2017 (earlier post), marks the first pilot of its kind in China. Automated Valet Parking, to the extent legally allowed where used, enables vehicles to proceed to an assigned space and for the user to retrieve the vehicle via their smartphone. This will undergo further testing by Daimler and Bosch at the Mercedes-Benz Research and Development Center. In modern urban parking environments, shortages of parking spaces, locating suitable parking spots, and other issues, present inconveniences for vehicle owners. Automated Valet Parking has the capacity to ease difficulties involved in the parking process by automating it, saving time and effort, and opening up new possibilities for vehicle owners. Automated Valet Parking begins when the user parks the vehicle in a designated drop-off area before sending it to be parked using a smartphone app. After being registered by the intelligent system infrastructure installed in the car park, the vehicle is started and guided to an assigned parking space. Sensors installed in the car park monitor the driving corridor and its surroundings while steering the vehicle. The vehicles onboard technology safely maneuvers it in response to commands from the intelligent car park infrastructure, stopping the vehicle in good time when necessary. When a user is ready to pick up the car, it can be called through a smartphone app, after which it rolls to the pick-up area without a driver. The pilot in Beijing demonstrated Automated Valet Parkings upgraded and more practical, real-world functionality. At the event, two vehicles were tested simultaneously to mirror the unique and complex traffic conditions found in contemporary Chinese cities. Both vehicles were also able to successfully navigate to a service area that could be equipped with a diverse range of facilities in the future. These might include charging infrastructure, car washing stations, express package pick-up and other features designed to meet the unique needs of Chinese customers. Automated Valet Parking is an efficient solution for both car park management and vehicle users. Car parks equipped with this intelligent infrastructure as far as legally allowed can potentially accommodate up to 20% more vehicles, while users save time and enjoy greater convenience. The technology marks a milestone in automated driving for Daimler, which is one of the core pillars of the C.A.S.E. strategy. In July, Daimler announced it is the first international automaker to receive a road test license for highly automated driving research vehicles (level 4) in Beijing. Daimlers China R&D efforts began in 2005 with the first localized Mercedes-Benz E Class. In 2014 the Mercedes-Benz Research and Development China Center in Beijing was opened, allowing the company to better learn the needs and tastes of Chinese customers. The number of designers and engineers is now almost three times larger than in 2014. With the opening of three new FAW-Volkswagen vehicle plants at three locationsin Qingdao, Foshan and Tianjinas well as the Volkswagen FAW Platform Tianjin Branch component plant, the Volkswagen Group is strengthening its localization strategy in China. With the opening of a second vehicle production plant in Foshan, a mega plant has been built at the South Chinese location. In addition, vehicle and component plants in Tianjin, northern China, were bundled at a single location. Together with the existing gearbox plant, further synergies will be used there to increase production efficiency. All four new factories significantly increase the flexibility of Volkswagen Group China to react more quickly to customer needs. At the recently opened FAW-Volkswagen factory in Tianjin alone, more than 300,000 SUVs will roll off the assembly line each year, thus forming the basis for Volkswagen Group Chinas SUV campaign. With an annual production capacity now of 600,000 vehicles per year, the Foshan plant plays a pioneering role in the Volkswagen Groups electrification strategy (Roadmap E). In Qingdao, too, electrified vehicles will be able to roll off the assembly line alongside cars with combustion engines in future. We continue to expect the car market in China to develop positively. Volkswagen Group China will continue to grow accordingly. With the total market size of around 24 million cars sold, growth rates in the lower single-digit percentage range in the vehicle market already mean growth rates of several hundred thousand vehicles per year. That is why we kicked off our SUV and electric mobility campaign in China in 2018, so that we can respond to the needs of our Chinese customers even better than before. At Volkswagen we strive for continued success in this important market. Professor Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG and President and CEO of Volkswagen Group China In late August 2018, Volkswagen Group opened its new FAW-Volkswagen plant in Tianjin. SUV models, including plug-in hybrid versions, are produced here for the Volkswagen and Audi brands. Production capacity of the plant will be 1,200 units per day and 300,000 per year. In late June, Volkswagen FAW Platform Tianjin Branch opened a component plant to produce chassis for a variety of Audi and Volkswagen SUV models. The opening of a second FAW plant in Foshan marks a significant milestone for the Roadmap E electrification strategy in China. Owing to the plant expansion in June 2018, annual production capacity in Foshan has increased from 300,000 to 600,000 vehicles. In addition to new SUV models from Volkswagen and Audi, the vehicles currently manufactured on the MQB platform are gradually being electrified. Moreover, by 2020, production of modular electric drive matrix (MEB) vehicles as well as MEB battery systems is set to commence here. We want to make a significant contribution to electrifying the Chinese passenger car market. Around 40 different electric vehicle models are to be produced in China by 2025. Jochem Heizmann Production of Volkswagen models at the FAW-VW plant in Qingdao commenced in late May. This flexible manufacturing facility allows for MQB models with internal combustion engines as well as electric drive systems to be built on the same production line. FAW-Volkswagen will also produce battery systems for the MQB platform there. The Volkswagen Group now has over 23 production sites in China and 123 worldwide. The Volkswagen Group founded its first joint venture in China in 1984: SAIC Volkswagen, in which the Volkswagen Group holds a 50% stake. In 1985 the first Chinese series production model, the Santana, rolled off the assembly line here. Four years later, an additional joint venture followed with FAW-VW in Changchun. A third joint venture to develop and produce an electric vehicle was added together with Chinas manufacturer JAC in summer 2017, in which the Group also holds a 50% stake. The Volkswagen Group is represented in China with 12 brands and has delivered more than 35 million vehicles with its joint venture partners FAW (FAW-Volkswagen) and SAIC (SAIC VOLKSWAGEN) since entering the Chinese market in 1984. Volkswagen Group China has more than 100,000 employees at 34 Chinese production plants in 23 locations. In 2017, approximately 3,000 dealers (with 330,000 employees) sold 150 different Volkswagen Group models totalling 4.18 million vehicles in the Peoples Republic of China this represents an increase of 5.1% as compared to the previous year. As of August 2018, the Volkswagen Group holds an 18.3% share of the Chinese passenger car market. The Volkswagen Group has concluded the planned increase in its stake in the California solid-state battery company QuantumScape. (Earlier post.) The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) had no objection to the transaction. Volkswagen is investing 100 million USD in the battery specialist, thus becoming its largest automotive shareholder. Volkswagen will now take a seat on the board of directors of QuantumScape. Furthermore, Volkswagen and QuantumScape have formed a joint venture to enable an industrial level of production of solid-state batteries. Volkswagen and QuantumScape are combining their strengths in the new joint venture: Volkswagen is contributing its production expertise and know-how in scaling projects, while QuantumScape brings its technology leadership in the field of solid-state batteries to the joint venture. The shared goal is to enable an industrial level of production of solid-state batteries. One target is to establish a production line for these batteries by 2025. Solid-state battery cell technology is seen the most promising approach for the next-but-one generation of e-mobility. This battery technology has several advantages over the present lithium-ion technology: higher energy density, enhanced safety, better fast charging capability and a much smaller space requirement. The Volkswagen Group is substantially expanding its range of electric models and aims to offer an electric version of each of the present 300 models by 2030, so probing this battery technology is an important step. Volkswagen has already tested QuantumScape early-stage solid-state battery sample cells in Germany running at automotive rates of power. Founded in 2010, QuantumScape is headquartered in San Jose, California and holds more than 200 patents and patent applications for solid-state battery cell technology. Its deep expertise makes the company a leading pioneer in the development of this groundbreaking form of energy storage. CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States) is an interagency committee authorized to review certain transactions involving foreign investment in the United States. Haiti - FLASH : Vote of confidence in the Senate for Jean-Henry Ceant This Saturday, was still held the Senate session to ratify the general policy of the Prime Minister named Jean-Henry Ceant, a session that began Friday afternoon, in the presence of his cabinet and his advisers, and 18 senators who responded at the roll call. Discussions began on the final declaration of taxes and discharge of new ministers, and after 4 hours of heated debate there was a suspension of sitting. For their part, Senators Kato, Nenel Cassy, Latortue, Beauplan, Ricard Pierre, Dumont and Jean Mary Solomon called for the dismissal of ministers who did not get their discharge on time and who paid their income taxes late. At approximately midnight, Senate Speaker Senator Joseph Lambert said, "The Senate must remain the Mecca of democracy in Haiti. This evening the Senators assembly experienced the contradiction before admitting the report of the special commission that checked the pieces of members of the ministerial cabinet. In a political assembly, it is necessary to know how to assume the necessary leadership. To cultivate the firmness in the serenity and always remember that one is not more than the 'primus inter pares'. Senate President, I experienced it tonight... Haiti is waiting..." After long hours Jean-Henry Ceant was finally able to present the statement of his general policy. Almost all the senators present have already asked to speak, asking questions to the appointed PM, who in turn responded, he was questioned among other things about the time and means to apply the measures he announces without any details. Early this morning a little after 5 pm, the appointed prime minister had answered yes to virtually all senators' requests... Finally this Saturday shortly after 7 am; the General Policy Statement of Prime Minister named Jean Henry Ceant was approved by the Haitian Senate by 21 for 5 against and 2 abstentions. After the Senate, the Prime Minister named Jean Henry Ceant and his cabinet are expected this Saturday, September 15 to the Chamber of Deputies for the presentation of its general policy "The session of presentation of the general political declaration of the Prime Minister named Jean-Henry Ceant is scheduled for tomorrow in the Chamber of Deputies in the event of a favorable vote in the Senate," said yesterday the Speaker of the Lower House, Gary Bodeau. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25516-haiti-politic-senate-ratification-session-of-the-pm-s-general-policy-set-for-14-september.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25535-haiti-flash-polical-marathon-of-ratification-in-the-senate.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Culture : Local and international artists from street art to PAP's Festi Graffiti Until September 21, the 3rd edition of the International Festival of Urban Arts of Port-au-Prince "Festi Graffiti" around the theme "Reinvent the public space". During this Festival, invited artists or residents of street art will express their talents on the most representative places of the public space and will focus on drawing forms, sketching stagings, proposing courses that put in situation a way of thinking the city differently. For this 3rd edition "Festi Graffiti" will receive a dozen international artists from Switzerland (Industry 25), France (Doudou Style), the Dominican Republic (Azuei), Guadeloupe (B-BIRD), Canada (Beyung / Xavier L), United States (Luis-Valle) and Germany (ECB) They will be everywhere in Port-au-Prince this year with services at Bas-Peu-De-Chose, Cite Soleil, Bel-Air, Canape-Vert, Place Sainte-Anne, Place Jeremie and Petion-Ville. The Collective of Urban Arts and Contemporary Art (CPAUAC) invited as every year international graffiti artists: Many Haitian graffiti artists of different tendencies will also be present such as Jerry Rosembert Moise (Jerry Graffiti), one of the pioneers of this movement, known for his famous graffiti touching the Haitian social reality and the environment. Raynald Beaufort (Rayza), a portraitist with a refined taste. Gary Francois, with a penchant for the tag. Jean Marie Sanon (Epizod), who made his name with lettering on the walls of Delmas and Petion-Ville and his style that brings him closer to the ghetto. Hamson Elisha (Assaf), professor of drawing in some schools of the capital, master of the portrait. Delcin Livenson (Snoopy), passionate about art since childhood, Francisco Silva, Bungy, Adou, Sony and the famous painter Mario Benjamin. DJs will also be there : Arsenic, Black Diamond, ZZ, etc... Download the Festival Program (PDF) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/programmation_FestiGraphiti.pdf See also : https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25460-icihaiti-festigraffiti-new-dates-of-pap-international-festival-of-urban-arts.html HL/ HaitiLibre A PUBLIC access defibrillator has been installed at a disused telephone box in Emmer Green. The life-saving device, which can shock a persons heart back into a normal rhythm if they go into cardiac arrest, was officially unveiled by Reading East MP Matt Rodda on Friday. It cost about 2,000 and was paid for through a fund-raising campaign organised by members of the Emmer Green Residents Association. The money was raised with door-to-door collections and a sizeable donation made by Isabel Hatcher, from Glasgow, to commemorate her late uncle Dr Arthur Davidson, a retired GP who lived nearby in Burnham Rise. Mrs Hatcher travelled from Scotland to attend the ceremony and helped Mr Rodda cut the ribbon. Dozens of guests enjoyed snacks and drinks before speeches by the MP and project leader David White who thanked everyone who had supported the campaign. Last year, the association conducted a survey when BT announced that the 1935 K6 kiosk in Courtenay Drive was to be pulled out of service as it was no longer viable due to low usage. The ownership was then transferred to the association under Reading Borough Councils supervision. The residents purchased the defibrillator through the Community Heartbeat Trust, which supplies them for phone boxes across the UK and will provide training. Residents will maintain and check it is still working on a weekly basis. The device is kept in a locked box, the code for which can be provided by 999 operators, and is fully automated. Mr White, who lives in Burnham Rise, said: We looked at various ways to keep this box in use and the defibrillator was the most popular suggestion. Were very grateful for Isabels donation as we wouldnt be here without it. The box, which was built to commemorate the silver jubilee of George V, was in poor condition so Mr White replaced most of the glass panes, repainted it and installed new signage. He said: It was in a pretty poor state and took more than 50 hours but its great to have completed it. Mr Rodda said: My children often joke that Im from the Stone Age but I remember payphones well and its lovely to see this historic item being kept alive and in a way that benefits the community. It is a fantastic achievement for the association and and I hope to persuade other groups in this area to do the same. Mrs Hatcher said: You obviously hope nobody will ever need to use it but its good to know its there. Im really thankful to have been invited. The telephone box at the junction of Clifton Park Road and Albert Road, Caversham, was also taken out of service and was set to be adopted by the Caversham and District Residents Association but this deal fell though. Joe Raedle/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- After allegedly refusing to cooperate with investigators, Congressional leaders are ordering a senior Department of Homeland Security official to answer questions regarding reported retaliation against whistleblowers within the department, according to documents obtained by ABC News. The subpoena, issued Friday by the House Oversight Committee, directs DHS's Principal Deputy General Counsel Joseph Maher to appear for an interview after allegedly denying their request to comply with the committee's orders to turn over documents and answer questions for nearly two years. "With most government officials, subpoenas do not even have to be threatened, much less executed," Trey Gowdy (R-South Carolina) wrote in a letter to Maher, which was obtained by ABC News. "Therefore, your uncooperative posture is a telling and unacceptable outlier." The committee accuses the Transportation Security Administration, an agency under the DHS umbrella, of withholding and redacting documents in an effort to hide senior-level misconduct from investigators. Investigators believe the agency did so at the direction of Maher's office, according to the subpoena. But in a statement, DHS Press Secretary Tyler Q. Houlton, told ABC News that DHS "has cooperated and worked in good faith with the committee throughout its oversight of TSA." "The Department has provided the committee access to all documents requested; has had senior officials testify at hearings on the subject; has had multiple officials sit for separate interviews; has provided detailed, written explanations of its document production policies; and has repeatedly offered to meet with and brief the committee and its staff. The Department is also fully complying with legal requirements to provide documents to the Office of Special Counsel. Any assertion that our principal deputy general counsel has not cooperated with the committee is untrue. In December 2017, TSA Chief Counsel Francine Kerner testified on Capitol Hill that it was Maher who ordered staff to invoke attorney-client privilege, preventing committee investigators from obtaining full documents. The U.S. Office of the Special Counsel, the independent agency tasked with protecting whistleblowers, found three cases in 2014 where TSA supervisors were reassigned after disclosing airport operations and safety lapses to leadership. "TSA faulted the complainants for poor leadership and abruptly reassigned them from their airports," according to a release from the OSC. The OSC said in May 2018 that TSA had stopped "its discretionary practice of widespread geographic reassignments," and created a program to stop whistleblower retaliation. The committee's deposition of Maher is planned for Sept. 25, the day before TSA Administrator David Pekoske is scheduled to testify in front of the committee. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Yesterday, Bill Barrow at the AP ventured that Trump's midwestern wall is at risk . "The pendulum," he wrote, "could swing against Trump in the band of Great Lakes and Rust Belt states that delivered him to the Oval Office. Aided by a court-ordered redraw of congressional districts, Democrats will pick up at least a few seats in Pennsylvania. Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and Iowa each have multiple GOP House districts where Democrats have nominated competitive, if not favored, candidates. Republican governors in Wisconsin and Iowa are at-risk, and open GOP seats in Michigan and Ohio are toss-ups. Meanwhile, Democratic senators across the region are either favored or in re-election tossups-- but none are considered underdogs... Democrats have a younger, more liberal, and more diverse slate of candidates they believe can flip control of the House and reclaim several governors offices. Republicans, meanwhile, have doubled down on being the party of Trump." Diverse? Yes. Younger? They could hardly not be younger than the fossils that dominate the Democratic congressional caucus today. More liberal? Nope. Totally not. Although there are certainly some candidate who were inspired by Bernie to run, the DCCC sabotaged most of them and inserted their own very corporate, very conservative candidates instead. Leave it to any random AP "reporter" to look at a list of Democratic candidates, all GOP-lite, that includes Blue Dogs Jeff Van Drew (NJ), Ben McAdams (UT), Brendan Kelly (IL), Max Rose (NY), Anthony Brindisi (NY), Paul Davis (KS), Xochitl Torres Small (NM), Gretchen Driskell (MI), MJ Hegar (TX), Ron DiNicola (PA), Dan McCready (NC), Kathy Manning (NC), and call it "more liberal." And then there are the neo-liberal, New Dems, owned by Wall Street and backed by the DCCC. They're not Republicans and they're anti-Trump... but, unless we've changed the meaning of the word "liberal," they're not that by any stretch of the imagination. And some are cringe-worthy, like payday lender lawyer Jason Crow (CO), former NRA poster child Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ), former-- I suppose-- CIA operative Elissa Slotkin (MI), Mob-backed socialite Susie Lee (NV)... sure, real liberal. For the last several months, Blue America has been urging progressives to contribute to Bernie federal campaign account , not because he needs money for his Senate reelection, but because everything that comes into that can be used in his 2020 presidential run. Those midwestern states that Hillary lost to Trump... those were states Bernie did so well in during the 2016 primaries... especially when you look at the county levels. Hillary kicked Trump's ass in Democratic strongholds like Milwaukee, Madison, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis-- straight across the Midwest. Those cities are filled with voters far too smart to fall for Trump's gaslighting. But what about the rural areas and small towns where Trump beat her and took those states? Those were areas where Bernie didn't just beat Hillary, but, in many, outperformed Trump as well. Like In Wisconsin. Kenosha County has been a blue collar blue bastion but Trump beat Hillary 36,025 (47.5%) to 35,770 (47.2%). But, look what had happened on primary day-- not at how Bernie beat Hillary, but how Bernie's 14,612 votes were significantly higher than Trump's 11,139 votes. All over Wisconsin, Michigan... the whole Midwest you find that. Even in West Virginia. The Hill what we've known all year-- that And, sure, there are a handful of loud Hillary dead-enders out there who feel they were somehow wronged and would rather see Trump win than Hillary, but they are noisy and few. Ignore them; poor fools and tools without even knowing they're doing the work of corporate interests. Yesterday, Amie Parnes reported atwhat we've known all year-- that Bernie is running in 2020. Our Revolution chairman: "I expect him to run. Hes probably the most popular elected official." Sanders allies increasingly talk more confidently about the likelihood of a second presidential bid. Just a few months ago, the allies were more careful about his potential candidacy. Jeff Weaver, who served as Sanders's campaign manager in 2016, said Sanders is being very thoughtful about whether he enters the ace. He's very focused on the question of beating Trump and putting a Democrat in the White House, Weaver said. And if he runs it's because he thinks he's the one to do it. Weaver added that hes convinced that his former boss is the strongest candidate. Sanders has a lot going for him if he does decide to enter the Democratic primary, political observers say. For starters, he would bring an infrastructure built during the 2016 election, and his die-hard supporters give him a base that would be the envy of many candidates in what is expected to be a crowded field. He also seems to have momentum. Sanders has seen his brand of progressive politics take sway within the Democratic Party as reflected in policy and politics. A number of Democrats have latched on to his Medicare for all single-payer healthcare plan. And while Sanders has backed some losing primary candidates, his allies have also pulled off some huge upsets, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs defeat of Rep. Joe Crowley in a New York Democratic primary, and Ayanna Pressleys defeat of Rep. Mike Capuano in a separate Democratic primary in Massachusetts. Sanders scored another victory with Andrew Gillums win in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in Florida. Nonetheless, Sanders will face a lingering challenge in winning over former supporters of Clinton who remain stung by the 2016 battle. A number of Democrats continue to believe that Sanders has divided the party, was partly to blame for Clintons defeat and should not be considered as a party candidate. Sanders can continue on his quixotic presidential campaign but NOT as a Democrat, said former congresswoman Ellen Tauscher, who worked under Clinton at the State Department and served as a surrogate to the Clinton campaign in 2016. Hes completely using the party to serve his best interests, one longtime Clinton aide added. Hes a Democrat only when its convenient to be a Democrat. Ah, yes, Tauscher... someone wandered into the Graveyard of Political Corruption and dug up her fetid casket and dragged out her rotted carcass. When she served in Congress, she served corporations and big money interests-- only and always and in all ways. She was a New Dem chair who lived too collect Wall Street money. There's not a question in my mind that she would vote for Trump rather than Bernie. Think about that. This cycle she's been working to defeat progressives in California so that only corrupt conservative Democrats would be in the general election. Does she speak for Hillary? Probably. She's still bitter and blames everyone but herself but herself for a poorly-run campaign. Sanders endorsed her, campaigned for her and urged his followers to vote for her. Do you think she'll do the same for him? LOL! Weaver, who said Sanders isnt paying too much attention to polls as he considers another run, thinks the senator's independent status is a plus to a potential candidacy. If you look at the sentiment of the people, nobody wins the presidency with just the people in your own party, he said. Sanders has unique appeal with independent voters, which he said is an incredible strength. In his Senate reelection bid this year, Sanders ran as a Democrat but declined the nomination after he won the primary, only to run as an independent in the general election. By doing this, Sanders prevented a Democrat from opposing him in November. He used the same political maneuver in the 2006 and 2012 Senate elections. A cynic might say the guy who complained about the rigging of the 2016 Democratic presidential primary is kinda, sorta, rigging the 2018 Vermont Senate race for himself, journalist Aaron Blake wrote in the Washington Post in May. It all suggests a guy who is still very much using the Democratic Party when its convenient for him. Sanders allies say he has to run as a Democrat in 2020. The way the electoral college system works, it would be very unlikely for anyone to win as an independent, the Sanders ally said. And because of the electoral college system, you could select Trump without the party. In 2016, the Democratic Party was accused of tipping the scales in Clintons favor and turning their backs on Sanders. Asked if the party would support a Sanders candidacy during the primary, a Democratic National Committee official replied, All candidates must meet the standards that are set forth in the Rules and Call. The rules, adopted in June, states that at the time a presidential candidate announces their candidacy publicly they must publicly affirm that they are a Democrat. They also need to affirm in writing that they are a member of the Democratic Party, will accept the Democratic nomination and will run and serve as a member of the party. The Sanders ally said if the senator does run for president in 2020, he will accept those conditions. The ally added, And hell be happy to help lead the Democratic Party and build it. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Ayatollah Saidi said that the negotiations with the United States are nothing but deception and trickery and added, People expect the officials to participate with dignity and authority in global organizations and not fall into the traps of the deceitful disbelievers. AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Ayatollah Saidi said that the negotiations with the United States are nothing but deception and trickery and added, People expect the officials to participate with dignity and authority in global organizations and not fall into the traps of the deceitful disbelievers. In his Friday prayer sermon delivered to a large and fervent crowd of believers in Qoms Qods Prayer Hall, Ayatollah Sayyed Mohammad Saidi offered his condolences on the days of the commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn and said, Tasua and Ashura were two decisive days in Shiah history. The custodian of the Holy Shrine of Lady Fatimah al-Masumah stressed that the uprising of Imam al-Husayn was had an essence of anti-oppression and said, At that time, the tree of goodness of authentic Islam was under the influence of oppression, repression and distortion by the Umayyad dynasty but Imam Khomeynis uprising breathed a new spirit into Islamic society and revived the life of religion. He explained, The pure Shiahs never submitted to the tyrannical rulers. Ashura is a model for the uprisings against the oppressors, especially the Islamic Revolution. From the beginning of the movement, in the words of the Imam Khomeyni and the slogans of the people, it was clearly emphasized that the influence of the Islamic Revolution comes from the uprising of Ashura. The similarity of Imam Khomeynis movement with the uprising of Imam al-Husayn was that in the Islamic Revolution, wasnt only that there was opposition between the ruler and the people but there was opposition between two thoughts and two lines intellectual and political. Ayatollah Saidi explained that the perspective of Imam Khomeyni and the people was toward Imam al-Husayn and Ashura but the perspective of the Shah [Mohammad Reza Pahlavi] was toward Cyrus and the imperial monarchical regime. This regime decided to base the Iranian calendar on the beginning of the Persian Empire, cut off Irans links with Islam and tried to position Irans identity against an Islamic identity and assimilate Iran into the anti-value system of the West, he said. The representative of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei]in Qom said, The Iranian nation has always commemorated the days of Tasua and Ashura and were inspired by these days. Tasua and Ashura have played an important role since the beginning of the Islamic Revolution, during the Sacred Defense [Iran-Iraq War] and during the suppression of the sedition of 2009 and this year, the believing people will commemorate these two days by protecting the canonical standards and will engage in mourning. He highlighted the Quranic analysis in the words of the Supreme Leader and noted, The Quran states that friendship with ones sworn enemies doesnt make any change in their principled and rooted hostility as the enemies may pretend to be friends with believers and want to negotiate but they openly and secretly act with hostility and implement such hostility and if they overcome the believers, they will impose a variety of suffering, torture and grief. Ayatollah Saidi said that the Quran states that the main goal of the disbelievers is that they want to turn the believers into disbelievers and noted, The American leaders who want to negotiate are nothing but cowards and deceitful people. People expect the officials to participate with dignity and authority in global organizations and not fall into the traps of the deceitful disbelievers. The Friday prayer leader of Qom stated that today, in addition to the economic war, the enemies have invested in a media and propaganda war, said, The main roots of the propaganda war are in the hands of the United States and the Zionists, who are supported by some of the Qarouns [reference to arrogant, wealthy powers] in the region. He said that we must not exaggerate in our expression and criticism of the problems facing Iran and noted, These exaggerations pollute the environment of country and frustrate and make the people pessimistic. Pessimism towards the revolutionary forces and institutions is a dangerous issue. Criticisms must be friendly and such criticisms are considered as a gift from the point of view of Islam and alongside the criticisms, the good things must also be expressed Ayatollah Saidi said, If there are criticisms of the government organs, they must also state good things. Party and political motives must not disregard the good things. The important part of confidence building is the responsibility of the three branches of the government and government organs and the other part is the responsibility of the media organizations, the audience, the speakers on the pulpits as well as the people, because without the backing of the people, no government is unable to work. In conclusion, His Eminence made remarks about mourning and stressed, Any kind of movement and program that gives an excuse to the enemies and malicious people must be avoided. In the circles and mourning groups, the utmost attention must be given to increasing knowledge and creating familiarity with the culture of the Ahlul-Bayt. Passion is a very good thing but it must not be such that ones senses are lost in passion. /257 As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. BRASILIALeading cosmetic brands represented by the Brazilian Association of Personal Hygiene, Perfume and Cosmetics have taken an aggressive stand against cruelty-free beauty in Brazil by filing two constitutional challenges with the federal Supreme Court on August 23, calling for the repeal of state laws in Rio de Janeiro and Amazonas that ban animal testing for cosmetics. At the same time, ABIHPEC continues to obstruct the passage of a similar law at the federal level. Seven Brazilian states have outlawed animal testing for cosmetics, binding more than 70 percent of the national industry to a cruelty-free production model. Humane Society International Campaign Manager Helder Constantino said: This two-faced tactic puts the ugly heart of the beauty industry on full display. The brands are claiming not to oppose an end to cosmetic animal testing in Brazil while doing everything possible to block federal progress and tear down bans at state level. HSI invites progressive brands to stand with us in convincing the federal Senate to vote in support of a meaningful, nation-wide ban on cosmetic cruelty, ending this dispute once and for all. ABIHPEC is the trade association for major cosmetic companies established or operating in Brazil. In its pleadings to the Supreme Court, the association calls for the immediate suspension of Rio de Janeiro and Amazonas state bans until the Court pronounces its judgement on their merits. If either law is deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, similar measures in Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Para, Parana and Mato Grosso do Sul could also suffer the same fate, meaning that the use of animals to tests cosmetics could be reintroduced in these states in the future. Take the pledge to #BeCrueltyFree. HSI has offered its support and expertise to the legal teams of the assemblies and governments of Rio de Janeiro and Amazonas to counter these legal challenges. The organization is confident that the industrys rearguard action will fail in light of the power granted by the Constitution to states to take on additional measures to protect animals, and the fact that ABIHPECs case is built on a legal precedent that was recently overruled. HSI has also written to all companies represented on ABIHPECs Council to request confirmation as to whether they provided support and funding for the associations legal action. Most have either not replied or have declined to clearly distance themselves from the state legal challenges. So far Natura, Baruel and Procter & Gamble are the only brands that have expressly disavowed the ABIHPEC action in writing. HSI applauds these companies for choosing not to support a retrograde action that flies in the face of consumers wishes, and the worldwide trend to end these painful and unethical tests. Globally, cosmetic tests on animals have been banned in 37 countries, including the whole of the European Union, Israel, India, Norway, Switzerland, Taiwan, New Zealand and Guatemala, with similar laws being considered in the United States, Canada, Australia, Chile, South Africa and elsewhere. ABIHPECs Supreme Court challenges (Portuguese): Rio de Janeiro (challenging Law n7.814 of 2017) Amazonas (challenging Law n289 of 2015) Media contact: Helder Constantino, (21) 98342 4163, hconstantino@hsi.org Igor Greenwald continued his push for a Police Oversight Committee but the City Council's Ordinance and Rules Committee wants more information before proceeding. Pittsfield Continues Police Oversight Conversation PITTSFIELD, Mass. The National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement lists eight essentials for a civilian police oversight board : independence, funding, access to critical information, rapport, authority, the ability to review police policies, community support, and transparency. Igor Greenwald says the mayor's plan for such a board doesn't do that. "The problem with the mayor's proposal is essentially it is as if somebody in the administration looked at this list of all of the things that make a successful board and decided to check none of the boxes," Greenwald told the Ordinance and Rules Committee. Greenwald was an early petitioner for a police oversight board and early this year he and other stakeholders met with Mayor Linda Tyer to craft such a group. He envisions it as a group of civilians with the ability to dig into cases of police misconduct, question policies and procedures, and make recommendations for officer discipline and changes to procedures. He feels with proper authority, the board will serve an important role in providing transparency to the Police Department and holding the department accountable and giving residents more trust. "The only likely losers from it are officers and officials who don't want to be held accountable," Greenwald said. The mayor's proposal falls short of those goals, Greenwald said. He said the mayor cut off conversation after only one meeting and put forth her own proposal. Tyer's plan for a Police Advisory Committee is eyed to be stacked with mayoral appointments, has no funding, is only allowed access to internal affairs reports after the police complete an investigation, has already proven to be decisive between the major players, and has no real authority nor specific roadmap as to how the group will operate. The criteria cited by Greenwald was provided by Megan Whilden, the city's former cultural development director, who said a strong committee would serve a significant role in building trust between citizens and the department. Greenwald had previously shared his story about the procedures for well-being checks. His son was hauled in by officers a few years earlier based on limited information, he said. He questioned the procedure for handling such requests and he isn't the only one. Elizabeth Calkins provided a similar story of her being arrested during a well-being check. Jacquelyn Sykes provided another story about her boyfriend being shot and killed by officers. She questioned why it had to happen that way. In both types of instances, there hadn't been an independent review board to weigh in. Instead, the Police Department handled the incidents with an internal investigation. Greenwald used that as an example of how the committee could work. The group could look at the procedures for such reports as wellbeing checks and adjust the way officers approach it, and it could do an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting to determine if it was mishandled. The accusations of those wrongdoings didn't sit well with the Pittsfield Police Patrolmen Union (International Brotherhood of Police Officers) 447 and Pittsfield Police Superior Officers Union IBPO 447S. The two unions issued a statement following the testimony of the individuals saying Greenwald's efforts to display those incidents "belittled" the good work officers do every day. "This, in a job that continues to become more dangerous and thankless each and every day. Mr. Greenwald belittled some of the good work done by officers as 'simple photo opps' and used national statistics to downplay officers shot in the line of duty. The latter is a particular slap in the face as Massachusetts has seen four officers shot since April including the two officers in Falmouth only weeks prior," the union wrote. The unions refuted the claims that there is no accountability and said that in many of the cases Greenwald had mentioned in making his case for such a group, there had been discipline has been issued. The unions didn't discredit the idea of such a committee but called on it to be "unbiased and without personal agendas." But, with the negative experience Greenwald had, the unions questioned whether he is pushing the group because of a personal vendetta. Greenwald responded on Monday. "If any of us decided to discuss our traumas publicly in support of a moderate oversight plan out of a base desire for revenge, that's got to be the single worst revenge anyone has every concocted," Greenwald said. Greenwald said the issue should "never have been used to create an us-versus-them confrontation" and that such a board would be a "win-win" all around. He said it has been deployed successfully in other parts of the state and country. Former City Councilor Christine Yon took aim at the financial benefits of such a group. She cited a number of settlements outside of court the city had taken related to the Police Department. "I believe that an independent police oversight committee is a good idea because I have many questions about how much money this city has spent in legal fees relating to police officers," Yon said. And that is what the City Council's Ordinance and Rules Committee latched onto. It peppered City Solicitor Richard Dohoney questions about settlements with the Police Department despite the fact that Dohoney isn't the city's attorney for personnel issues, Fred Dupere is. Dohoney did, however, say that in most cases it is the city's insurance company which provides the defense. When an outside party sues the city for something frivolous or for something severe like Police misconduct, it is the city's insurance company will pay to defend it, he said. At that point, the company is really litigating for its best interest so if it will cost more to fight it than settle, that's what they'll do, he said. The settlement is paid by the insurance company, not the city. But, councilors added that those claims do contribute somewhat to the ultimate premium the city pays the insurance company per year. A detailed accounting of that is what City Councilor Melissa Mazzeo wants. Mazzeo said she is "just not ready" to vote on it without more information. And she is particularly concerned that such oversight committees as Greenwald proposes is rarely seen in Massachusetts outside of Springfield and Cambridge. The committee tabled the discussion again on Tuesday and it will be brought back up in another month. The mayor's proposal isn't without a lack of support. Drew Herzig and Joanna Rebecca Thompson both said the mayor's plan passes legal muster and provides a level of oversight not currently seen in the city. "I think this proposal needs to be adopted quickly and we need to move on this in order to ensure the relationships between the police and the community are improved," Thompson said. Related Stories: iciHaiti - Security : The PNH hunt down the dangerous Gang Leader Arnel Friday Michel Ange Commissioner Louis Jeune, new spokesman of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) since last August https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25136-haiti-news-zapping.html announced that a notice search and an arrest warrant had been issued against a dangerous and powerful Gang Leader, known as "Anel" who operates in Grand'Ravine, Martissant, village of God, among others became lawless, adding that several other search notices had also been issued against several of his alleged accomplices. A hunt that looks difficult "Arnel" being considered dangerous and armed. The PNH asks the cooperation of the population to get their hands on this criminal and his accomplices and definitively repacifier this area of Cite Soleil Recall that last April an attempt to stop "Arnel" had failed and badly turned due to a lack of cooperation from the population https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24138-haiti-flash-police-operation-failed-against-armed-gangs.html See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24138-haiti-flash-police-operation-failed-against-armed-gangs.html TB/ iciHaiti iciHaiti - Politic : Moise receives at the Palace the new Special Representative of the UN This week at the National Palace, President Jovenel Moise received in audience Helen Meagher La Lime, the new Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations and Head of the United Nations Mission for the Support of Justice in Haiti (Minujusth) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25129-haiti-politic-new-special-representative-of-the-un-in-haiti.html During this meeting, Moise reiterated his administration's commitment to creating the conditions for lasting stability and peace in the country. He reiterated that his whole effort is to ensure that the current actions of the international community in Haiti help the country to do sustainablly without international aid. He expressed his determination to ensure that the General Policy of the Prime Minister, will pass with his government this Friday in front of the Senate https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25536-haiti-flash-vote-of-confidence-in-the-senate-for-jean-henry-ceant.html La Lime, said her pleasure to be in this country where she lived when she was a child. She highlighted her mandate to ensure that Minujusth contributes to the ongoing strengthening of the judicial system, institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as the continuation of the process of strengthening the National Police of Haiti and insisted the urgency of strengthening the rule of law and definitively solving the problem of prolonged pretrial detention. Regarding the United Nations commitment to the development process of Haiti as advocated by the Haitian government, the Head of State asked, especially, the support of the Minujusth for a strengthening of the scientific police, the creatiioin of a rural police and strengthening the correctional system. See also ; https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25536-haiti-flash-vote-of-confidence-in-the-senate-for-jean-henry-ceant.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25129-haiti-politic-new-special-representative-of-the-un-in-haiti.html IH/ iciHaiti 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. You voted: At least 15 people have lost their lives in fresh air raids conducted by Saudi warplanes on a strategic road linking the Yemeni port city of Hudaydah to the capital, Sana'a. AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): At least 15 people have lost their lives in fresh air raids conducted by Saudi warplanes on a strategic road linking the Yemeni port city of Hudaydah to the capital, Sana'a. The al-Masirah television network affiliated to Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement reported that more than 20 people had also been injured in the aerial assaults on the Kilo 16 highway. Over the past few days, fighting has intensified between Houthi fighters and Saudi-backed militants loyal to former Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi around the critical highway, through which humanitarian aid is delivered to the Yemeni people. Amanda Brydon, humanitarian policy adviser at Save the Children NGO, expressed concerns about fresh tensions in Yemen. "What we are seeing with the fighting is [that] the critical junction at Kilo 16 is the artery towards Sana'a and other parts of the country," she told Al Jazeera. Hudaydah, she said, is a lifeline for the rest of the country, where over 80 percent of the country's commercial imports come through. Backed by Saudi airstrikes, Emirati forces and pro-Hadi elements launched the Hudaydah offensive on June 13 despite international warnings that it would compound the impoverished nations humanitarian crisis. Saudi Arabia claims that the Houthis are using Hudaydah for weapons delivery, an allegation rejected by the fighters. On Friday, Mohammed Hadi, a Hudaydah resident, reported fierce battles around the Kilo 16 route. "The main road was blocked and there are some by-streets, but they are not safe to go through because airstrikes target any car in those streets, he told the Middle East Eye news portal. He said pro-Hadi militants had advanced towards Hudaydah while Houthi reinforcements had arrived from the north and other parts of the city. Mohammed al-Boukhaiti, a Hudaydah-based member of the Houthi political council, said Yemeni fighters were still in control of the Hudaydah-Sana'a highway. "The Yemeni army confronted the attack of the coalition and today Kilo 16 is under the control of the army, but it is not safe for passengers because the airstrikes target them," he said. Saudi Arabia and its allies launched a brutal war, code-named Operation Decisive Storm, against Yemen in March 2015 in an attempt to reinstall Hadi, a staunch ally of Riyadh, and crush the Houthis. The Western-backed offensive initially consisted of a bombing campaign, but was later coupled with a naval blockade and the deployment of ground forces into Yemen. /257 Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal has urged Nigerians to elect a candidate who has a track record of transparency and accountability . Tambuwal, who dumped the All Progressives Congress(APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in order to grab the partys ticket for presidency has said a candidate that respects the rule of law is what Nigeria needs right now. Speaking via his twitter handle on Saturday, Tambuwal said his record are in public domain. While canvassing for support towards his presidential ambition, Tambuwal said he neither has baggages or any corruption case. He wrote: Th Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has said the All Progressives Congress(APC) should be held responsible if anything happens to Atiku Abubakar. Abubakar, whos one of the presidential aspirants of the PDP recently raised an alarm that he was getting death threats. Reacting to the claims, the PDP has said nothing must happen to Atiku or any of its other presidential aspirants. According to the party, president Muhammadu Buhari knows very well that hes no match for Atiku, hence has resulted to using unconventional methods. In a statement by the party on Saturday, it also charged the president to unfreeze the accounts of PDP candidate for Osun state governorship election. See full statement below On Atiku: The All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari should be held responsible should any harm befall former Vice President Abubakar Atiku or any of the PDP Presidential aspirants ahead of the 2019 general elections. Our position is predicated on our comprehensive consideration of all issues relating to the threats to the life of the former Vice President, Atiku as well as similar threats and harassments of other presidential aspirants in our Party. The APC knows that President Buhari is no match for any of our aspirants hence the resort to violence, harassment and death threats, with a view to frighten and put our presidential aspirants out of circulation ahead of the 2019 elections. Osun Guber: We charge President @MBuhari Buhari to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately unfreeze the private account of the PDP governorship Candidate in the September 22, 2018 Osun election, Sen. Ademola Adeleke Former Aviation minister, Femi Fani Kayode has hailed Kemi Adeosun for resigning after the certificate forgery scandal. Mr Fani Kayode who was Adeosuns biggest critics said the former finance minister did the most honourable thing by resigning. Fani Kayode speaking via his twitter handle on Saturday said it must have taken a lot of courage to do what Adeosun did. However, the former Aviation minister is calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to emulate Adeosun and resign as well. He wrote : President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, Friday 14th September, accepted the resignation of former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun. In the letter of resignation, Mrs Adeosun said she didnt know her National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) certificate was fake. Adeosun, who was called out some months ago over certificate forgery said most of her visits To Nigeria before she turned 34, were only holidays, and as such was unfamiliar with the NYSC process. Nigerians prior to the release of the resignation letter were calling for her prosecution but things soon changed after they found out she didnt know the certificate was fake. See reactions below If I were President Buhari, after reading the Kemi Adeosun letter & convinced it's genuine, I'll 1. Reject her resignation and retain her 2. Make the nation see reason how she was a victim of a corrupted system 3. Prosecute those whom she had trusted 4. Pardon her mistake Dalhat. MD (@dsalahu) September 15, 2018 https://twitter.com/Lummydonn/status/1040882834418876416?s=19 People get out of my mention. HM Kemi Adeosun said she did not know the certificate was fake. Investigation was completed, and it showed it was fake, and she did the right and honourable thing by resigning. That is what we know for sure. Temie Giwa-Tubosun (@temite) September 15, 2018 https://twitter.com/dmightyangel/status/1040848052435730432?s=19 The man who climbed a mast to protest against incumbent Nigerian president asking him to resign, Nura Iliyasu has according to a tweet, being picked up by the DSS and is currently in their custody. Activist, Adeyanju Dejis concerned Nigeria group are threatening to occupy the SSS office he wrote on his Twitter page, I have just been informed that this great Nigerian that protested the untold hardship in the country calling on President Buhari to resign has spent 3dsys in SSS custody. This is unacceptable. We @ConcernedNIG are calling for his unconditional release or we will #OcuppySSS. During the week, Nura Iliyasu climbed a telecom mast to protest the re-election of President Buhari. According to sources, he climbed the mast to also protest the economic hardship in the country, stating that President Buhari does not deserve another 4 years.. He was heard saying, I wont come down, until Buhari leaves the office He eventually came down, 24 hours later. Vanguard Sat, 15 Sep 2018 A second republic lawmaker, Dr. Abdullah Umar Madidi has asked the Senate President,Dr Bukola Saraki, to make up his mind and contest the 2019 presidential election, saying he possessed the needed capacity and acumen to reunite Nigerians as well as make the country the envy of other nations . The Nation There was excitement among party members in Lagos yesterday as All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in the state, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, unfolded his plans to reporters.Accompanied by party elders and other chieftains, Sanwo-Olu described himself as the candidate to beat at the proposed governorship primary of the party.He described his ambition as a reality, vowing to pursue it to the end in the interest of Lagosians.The 52-year-old former Commissioner ThisDay One of the Peoples Democratic Partys presidential aspirants, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, yesterday kicked off his campaign to get the ticket of his party in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, appealing to Nigerians to come together and rescue the .. The Sun Investigators established thatthe sacked DG gave directives for the opening of the account without The Authority The ongoing war against insurgency took an emotional twist on Friday after a group of octogenarians took to the streets. Daily Times The Federal Government says President Muhammadu Buhari is not lopsided in the totality of appointments made into public offices and cannot be judged only on Daily Trust Kemi Adeosun, the finance minister until yesterday, in her letter of resignation to President Muhammadu Buhari responded for the first time officially to the allegation of forging the NYSC exemption certificate, by expressing profound shock. Leadership The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the conduct of the Osun State governorship election will be a testing ground against vote buying. INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, stated this yesterday, during a programme, #Watchingthevote, an Election Dialogue Series of YIAGA Africa, headed by Mr Samson Itodo. Tribune Osogbo and other towns with government workers in Osun went into jubilation as workers and pensioners thronged banks and Automated Teller Machines (ATM) to draw full August salary and other arrears. Daily Independent Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Finance Minister, has turned in her resignation letter. President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted her resignation from his administration. The president on Friday thanked the minister for her services to the nation and wished her well in her future pursuits. A statement by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media The Herald Former human rights activist and SAN Mr. Festus Keyamo has said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party only exists on Whatsapp and Twitter and not in the reality of Nigerians. The one-time advocate of justice and the rule of law, who was appointed as the Director of Media for the Buhari Campaign Organisation Kemi Adeosuns resignation yesterday definitely broke the Nigerian internet. While many called for her prosecution over the issue of forging her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, well some others praised her for taking the bull by the horn and doing whats right. However, Most of these comments were based on the initial reactions upon hearing the news but This changed after people read her resignation letter. Reno Omokri had earlier asked president Muhammadu Buhari to treat her, how he treats members of Peoples Democratic Party but has now had a U-turn. According to the former presidential aide, Adeosun shouldnt be prosecuted because he believes the forged certificate was a honest mistake. He wrote via twitter thus: Iraqi security forces have found a mass grave in the countrys northern province of Nineveh, which contains the remains of 23 high-ranking commanders of the ISIS Takfiri terrorist group believed to have been executed by fellow militants for disobeying orders to carry out bombings and other acts of violence. AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Iraqi security forces have found a mass grave in the countrys northern province of Nineveh, which contains the remains of 23 high-ranking commanders of the ISIS Takfiri terrorist group believed to have been executed by fellow militants for disobeying orders to carry out bombings and other acts of violence. Colonel Saleh Sheef, an official from the media bureau of the Nineveh Operations Command, told Arabic-language Basnews news agency that federal police forces had made the discovery south of Mosul, located some 400 kilometers north of the capital Baghdad. Sheef added that identity cards showing the militants first names, surnames and ranks were recovered from the site. Meanwhile, local search teams in Nineveh province have found a mass grave containing the bodies of dozen members of the Izadi minority, who are believed to have been executed by ISIS Takfiri terrorists when they were in control of an area there. Arabic-language al-Forat news agency reported that the mass grave was located in the industrial neighborhood of Sinjar town. The site has been closed off to the public, and local authorities are waiting for international teams and competent officials to arrive and launch an investigation. On August 15, an official at the Endowments and Religious Affairs Ministry of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government said more than 3,000 members of the Izadi minority had remained unaccounted for ever since ISIS overran their hometowns in northern Iraq back in 2014. The fate of 3,102 Izadis remain unknown since ISIS terrorists attacked our towns and cities in mid-2014, Khairi Bozarni said at a conference on the Izadi genocide in Erbil, capital of Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. Bozarni added that more than 2,500 Izadi Kurds lost their lives at the hands of ISIS terrorists, while another 6,000 mostly women and children were abducted. He noted that 66 places of worship for the Izadis had also been desecrated or destroyed by the terror group. Whats more, more than 100,000 Izadis have fled [the] Kurdistan region and Iraq in general since the summer of 2014, Bozarni said. He also said that Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani had secured the release of more than 2,000 abducted Izadis. Back in August 2014, ISIS terrorists overran the town of Sinjar, killing, raping, and enslaving large numbers of Izadi Kurds. The region was recaptured in November 2015, during an operation by Kurdish Peshmerga forces and Izadi fighters. /257 The Saudi media announced that three members of the kingdoms military have been killed in a clash with the forces of Yemens Houthi Ansarullah Movement along the borders between the two Arab countries. AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The Saudi media announced that three members of the kingdoms military have been killed in a clash with the forces of Yemens Houthi Ansarullah Movement along the borders between the two Arab countries. In the clash between the Saudi-led coalition forces and Houthis, three Saudi servicemen were killed, the Arabic-language Al Jazeera TV reported late on Friday. In another operation, the artillery unit of the Yemeni army and Popular Committees pounded the enemys positions in al-Rabou'a in Saudi Arabias Asir Region, inflicting casualties on the Saudi forces. According to the Arabic-language al-Masirah TV, the Yemeni troops prevented the Saudi forces from advancing in Najran, destroying two of their vehicles. The attacks against the Saudi-led forces came in retaliation for the continued massacre of civilians and destruction of Yemens infrastructure by the coalition led by the Riyadh regime. Yemens defenseless people have been under massive attacks by the coalition for more than three years but Riyadh has reached none of its objectives in Yemen so far. Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia and some of its Arab allies have been carrying out deadly airstrikes against the Houthi Ansarullah movement in an attempt to restore power to fugitive former President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh. The Yemeni Ministry of Human Rights announced in a statement on March 25 that the war had left 600,000 civilians dead and injured until then. The war and the accompanying blockade have also caused famine across Yemen. /257 Washington is considering war in Yemen as a trade opportunity for gaining money, Spokesman of Yemen's Ansarullah Movement Mohammad Abdul Salam said. AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Washington is considering war in Yemen as a trade opportunity for gaining money, Spokesman of Yemen's Ansarullah Movement Mohammad Abdul Salam said. Due to the US supports of aggression and blockade in Yemen, the United Nations is not able to take any action, Yemeni TV Channel 'Al-Masirah' quoted Abdul Salam as saying in a Twitter message on Friday night. According to Yemeni media, Abdul Salam made the remarks related to his meeting with UN special representative on Yemen Martin Griffiths. During the meeting both sides discussed peace process, economic barriers, humanitarian crisis and releasing prisoners of war. Political situation and comprehensive solution to humanitarian and economic crisis were also reviewed in the meeting. Meanwhile, the London-based newspaper ' Asharq Al-Awsat' quoted some sources in Sana'a claiming that Griffiths had called for UN guarantee before start of talks with deposed government cabinet. Yemeni peace talks were supposed to be held on September 6 and with the attendance of Griffiths in Geneva, Switzerland. But Saudi-coalition measures to prevent Ansarullah delegation caused delay. Saudi Arabia and its regional allies attacked Yemen in March 2015 to bring back to power the deposed president of Yemen Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. The invaders have committed horrible war crimes against Yemeni civilians during the past three years. /257 At a Hanoi reception for Shinichi Kitaoka, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), 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. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) and Shinichi Kitaoka, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). (Photo: VNA) 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 Nguyen Xuan 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 Nguyen Xuan 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./. MEDFORD, Ore UPDATE: Murder suspect Jesse Allen "entered a denial" in response to a murder charged brought against him today, according to the Jackson County District Attorney's office. Allen was arraigned today on a District Attorney's Information charging him with Murder. The DA's office says that Allen entered a denial. Circuit Court Judge Timothy Barnack appointed an attorney to represent Allen, and set his next court appearance for September 24, 2018. The judge also ordered that Allen be held without bail. The case against Mr. Allen is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Alyssa Claseman and Deputy District Attorney Michael Cohen. (Updated 9/17/18 at 4:30 p.m.) UPDATE: The victim of a homicide in Medford on Friday has been identified as 21-year-old KayLynn Klosterman, according to a statement from the Medford Police Department (MPD). MPD says that they received information about suspect Jesse Allen's location on Saturday after the search began. They were told that Allen could be found inside a house in the 700 block of Linn Rd in Eagle Point. When the MPD SWAT team surrounded the house, Allen surrendered wthout incident. He was later interviewed by investigators and lodged in the Jackson County Jail. Allen has been charged with Murder, and MPD says that the weapon they believe was used in Klosterman's homicide has been recovered. An autopsy will be performed on Klosterman's body by the Oregon State Medical Examiners Office on September 18, 2018. (Updated 9/17/18 at 12 p.m.) UPDATE: The Medford Police Department posted on Facebook the homicide suspect, 20-year-old Jesse Allen, is now in custody. (Updated 9/15/18 at 5 p.m.) UPDATE: Medford Police say that suspect Jesse Allen's vehicle has been recovered but he is still outstanding. (Updated 9/15/18 at 1:56 p.m.) INITIAL REPORT: A woman is dead after police say she was gunned down in her Medford apartment. Police are now searching for her suspected killer, 20-year-old Jesse Allen. Allen is considered armed and dangerous. Police responded on Friday around 2:30 p.m. to the 3000 block of Arrowhead Drive after neighbors reported hearing several gunshots from inside an apartment. Witnesses also reported a male running from the location. When officers arrived, they found a woman who was already deceased. She had multiple gunshot wounds. Medford Police detectives are investigating this incident as a Homicide. Allen is described as a white male adult, 58 tall and 150 lbs. He has brown hair and brown eyes but may have a shaved head. He has several tattoos on both arms and very distinct tattoos on his neck that display the letters TVS in block lettering. Allen is believed to be driving a white 2013 Toyota Corolla with tinted windows, bearing Oregon license plate 431 KWV. The Medford Police Department is asking anyone with information regarding Allens whereabouts to call 911 immediately. Do not confront Allen as he is considered armed and dangerous. Police have not yet identified the victim. The POR 12 took place from February 1st, 2016 to January 31st, 2017. Specifically, shrimp exported by Sao Ta Foods JSC (FIMEX VN), the only mandatory respondent in the review, and over 30 other local shrimp exporters are subject to an antidumping duty of 4.58 percent. Processing shrimp for export (Source: VNA) This final rate is far lower than the preliminary rate of 25.39 percent, first announced by the DoC on March 8th. It is also slightly lower than the duty was in the prior period. Ho Quoc Luc, Chairman of the Directorate Board of Fimex, said Fimex cooperated fully with the DoC during its inspection and delegation period. In 2017, the export value of Vietnamese shrimp to the US fell 7 percent from the previous year because of the hefty anti-dumping duty. Meanwhile, the export value to other markets rose sharply, hitting USD659 million, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). As a result, the US lost its spot as the fourth largest importer of Vietnams shrimp. The export decrease continued in the first eight months of 2018, falling 10.5 percent to about USD372 million. With the new lower rate, Vietnams shrimp exports to the US are expected to recover in the coming months. Despite the expected rebound, the final number is expected to be 6.5 percent lower than it was in 2017./. EUGENE, Ore. -- A homeless camp on Chambers Street between 2nd and 5th avenues has been cleared out after Eugene Public Works gave the half-dozen campers 24-hours notice. Brian Richardson, a spokesman with Eugene Public Works, said they told the campers to move because they were blocking the public right of way -- the sidewalk. Richardson said personal items the homeless leave behind will go to a storage unit, and they will have 30 days to come pick any items up. "They still have the opportunity to go get those types of items and things, but we will remove them from the site so it is clean and useable for all folks," Richardson said. Police were also on scene making sure the campers were complying with the order and notified them of community services where they can get help. Police said while crews cleaned up the area around the camp at noon on Friday, they found broken glass, needles and a bucket full of human waste that a hazmat team had to dispose of. Camping in city limits is illegal, but at last check no citations or arrests have been made in connection with the camp being cleared out. The homeless campers spent most of their Friday morning gathering their things in preperation for the move. Janet Zoll and other volunteers helped them moved their things. Zoll allowed campers to put items in her minivan. "We're all in this together, and everyday more and more people find themselves in this situation," Zoll said. Camper Mark Sylvia said he plans to camp away from homes and businesses and look for some vacant property where he can stay. "We're just trying to survive," Sylvia said. "A lot of us don't have IDs or birth certificates and are stuck being homeless and can't get into a job or a shelter sometimes. It's just sad." Richardson said situations like this are not uncommon. He said public works crews clean up camps like this one and illegal dumping sites that block public right of ways around 12 times a month. MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) -- The Jackson County Sheriff's Office will use state grant money to go after black market marijuana producers and legal growers who harvest more than their license allows. The Mail Tribune reported Friday that the nearly-$600,000 grant will pay for three detectives, one crime analyst and a part-time prosecutor. RELATED: Josephine County seeks state help to curb illegal pot grows That's in addition to another federal grant of $250,000 that pays for two additional deputies tasked with pot enforcement. Jackson county is in a prime climate for outdoor marijuana cultivation and struggles with illicit grows. State lawmakers created the grant program this year to help pot-friendly parts of the state address those problems. The money gives rural counties the resources to investigate black market activity and to show the federal government the state is serious about dealing with illegal grows. At the height of the anti-US resistance war, Fidel became the first foreign leader to set foot on one of the fiercest battlefields at that time: Quang Binh province and the newly-liberated area in Quang Tri. He was very touched when witnessing the hardship and dramatic losses that the Vietnamese people were suffering. So he decided to help Vietnam build a modern hospital in Dong Hoi, Quang Binh province, to serve local people and soldiers returning from southern battle fields. Eight months after Fidels historic trip, the construction of the Vietnam Cuba Friendship Dong Hoi Hospital began with the participation of more than 100 experts and workers, together with machines, equipment and food transported all the way from Cuba. Salvados Valdes Mesa (front, second, left), First Vice President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba, visits the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Dong Hoi Hospital on September 14th (Photo: VNA) After seven years of construction, the hospital was inaugurated on September 9th, 1981. With 462 beds, 19 departments and very modern equipment for the time, the hospital has served as a spearhead in the provincial health care system ever since. The hospital has to date evolved into a general hospital at the top class with over 900 beds, 39 departments, eight functional rooms and over 700 staff including 190 physicians. In 2016, a high-tech building was put into operation, offering 180 beds and a system of advanced medical equipment. It has helped solve the overcrowding, brought alternative options for treatment and reduced the financial burdens for patients. Many other constructions have also been built or renovated to meet patients increasing demands. Hospital Director Duong Thanh Binh said that throughout its development, the hospital staff has always nurtured the close-knit bond with the Cuban people and the Cuban health care sector. The hospital has established cooperation with Cubas Generak Calisto Garia hospital and held regular exchange visits to Cuba. To express the hospitals deep gratitude to the Cuban party, government and people, a statue of Fidel Castro was built inside the hospital in mid-August this year. In April, a group of four Cuban physicians and experts came to work for the hospital. Cardiologist Piter Martinez Benitez said: I am happy to be invited to work here. We will try to share our knowledge and offer support in terms of expertise and techniques to improve the health care practice here. We want the people in Quang Binh and neighbouring provinces to enjoy better health care services. Director Binh said the development of the hospital is thanks to the great contributions of Cuba. In the coming years, the hospital will continue nurturing and further developing the bilateral relations, inviting Cuban experts to transfer advanced technology to the hospital, and sending the hospitals staff to Cuba for professional training, he said./. WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort agreed Friday to cooperate 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 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 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 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. 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. 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. 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 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 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, 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 coordinated 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 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 cooperation 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 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 hes 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 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 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 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. 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. EUGENE, Ore. -- A local man's effort to help people affected by wildfires in California will soon be moving into its next phase. KEZI 9 News spoke with Eugene resident Christian Oliver last month as he reached out to the community in an attempt to make a difference, and in only one week, he'll be loading up donation's he's collected and driving them down to California. RELATED: EUGENE FAMILY STARTS DONATION DRIVE TO HELP WILDFIRE VICTIMS For weeks now, Christian and his children have been collecting food, water, towels, blankets, diapers and other essentials. He said they've also been able to collect enough money to take everything to California and want to make a donation with the rest. "We are trying to donate as much funds as we can to the people and families affected by these fires, especially the ones dislocated right now," Oliver said. "There's a ton of people in the Mendo Complex Fires essentially that have lost their houses." Oliver said he wants to thank the community for everything they've done so far. "I also really want to thank the community for all the positive feedback we've gotten from this," Oliver said. "All you guys who have donated, you're awesome, thank you so much. We have one more week. We're going to try to push to get as much stuff as we possibly can. Everybody that's out there, just donate. If you have it in your heart to do it, we could definitely use the help." He also wants to thank Jason Gale, manager of the Santa Clara Les Schwab, for coordinating the collection effort through the Eugene and Springfield stores, as well as Coburg Road Storage. You can make any monetary donations through Fifth Avenue Church in Eugene. For a full list of items they're collecting, click here. MASON CITY, Iowa A jury of his peers has found a Clear Lake man not guilty of 3rd degree sexual abuse and invasion of privacy. That verdict was returned Friday after the four day trial of Issaac Emmanuel Watkins, 25. He had been arrested in January. Clear Lake police said they found someone unconscious in the backseat of a car on May 6, 2017, and a witness had identified Watkins at the last person to be with the person. Police said a search of Watkins phone found images of him committing a sex act of the victim, who claimed no memory of the event. FOREST CITY, Iowa There will be no prison time for a man law enforcement says had with 10 pounds of marijuana. Jaime Vega Nunez, 40 of Forest City was arrested after authorities said a search of his home on May 17 turned up the pot and several kinds of drug paraphernalia. Vega Nunez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Hes been given a deferred judgment and three years of probation. If Vega Nunez fulfills all the terms of his probation, this conviction will be removed from his record. DES MOINES, Iowa The Iowa Supreme Court has disbarred a northeast Iowa attorney accused of looting a woman's estate. The state's Attorney Disciplinary Board charged Todd Kowalke with violating the rules of professional conduct and the Grievance Commission later recommended revocation of his Iowa law license. On Friday, the high court found that Kowalke converted client funds for his personal use and revoked his license. In August, the 56-year-old Kowalke pleaded not guilty to a criminal theft charge. Hes accused of taking more than $35,000 from the estate of a Violet Brokken, who died in 2009, and using it for gambling and for business and personal expenses. Howard County authorities have filed an additional charge of 1st degree theft against Kowalke, saying he also embezzled over $110,000 from an investment group called Backwoods Partners. According to court records, Kowalke said he took the money to gamble. MASON CITY, Iowa - This weekend is Mason City High School's Class of 1953 reunion. And organizers say that the turnout is quite good, considering their class has lost over half of their members. "A lot of changes have happened." Brian Birch grew up in Mason City, but now lives in Sunfish Lake, Minnesota, just south of St. Paul. He helped organize the reunion, which nearly didn't happen after the last one. "It was disbanded entirely. They disbanded all the funds and the bank accounts." After getting ahold of classmates, it all came together. "We're 83 years old on the average of the class, and we're in the final stage of our life, and with this many people that wanted to come together and enjoy one another's company, possibly the last time, who knows?" Maureen 'Reenie' McCourt-Hague helped Birch with planning. "Everybody kinda decided 'oh, maybe not,' but then we started checking and here we are, another one gone." She recalls a recent encounter at the nursing home with former classmate, wrestler and Mason City icon Eddie Kline, who passed away on Wednesday. "He'd talk about all the things, 'oh, do you think people will remember me?' Oh yes, everyone remembers eddie. And then we'd talk a little more and he said, 'but you just can't get a kiss out of anybody.'" She and her friend planned to give Eddie a kiss on each cheek, but it turned out a little different for Reenie. "That boy gave me a wrestling hold, and I didn't hit his cheek at all. I got his lips. Eddie got everything he needed and wanted." Kline wanted to make it to the reunion, and classmates say he still will. "Eddie's here in spirit with us, that is for sure." The festivities continue on Saturday, with a picnic at City Park in Clear Lake from 1-5 p.m. Receiving Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser in Hanoi, the Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam welcomes Estonian experts travelling to Vietnam to support its e-government building process. Mikser said he hopes that his visit, the first of its kind, will create a new driving force for the bilateral relations, as cooperation potential remains huge, especially in the fields of e-government and e-governance. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) welcomes Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser (Source: VNA) He also expressed his belief that the two countries relations will grow strongly in the time ahead. Digital technology will help Vietnam speed up the building of an e-government, intensify transparency and save budget, he said, adding that Estonia is willing to share its experience in this field. He stressed that Estonia will help boost the EUs signing of a free trade agreement with Vietnam, and will be one of the first countries to ratify the document. Acknowledging the guests ideas, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that two-way trade remains low. Therefore, he believed that after the visit, Estonia will review and step up measures to boost bilateral trade. He spoke highly of effective coordination between the two countries at multilateral forums, and agreed on the ministers stance that countries must respect international law and the United Nations conventions. Regarding the East Sea issue, the PM emphasised Vietnams consistent point of view of ensuring peace, stability and aviation and navigation freedom, and respecting the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea./. MASON CITY, Iowa - Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! A group of motorcyclists from across the country rolled into Mason City Friday morning as part of the Motorcycle Cannonball Run. The group is using antique motorcycles to cross the country, covering 3,400 miles from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon. Michael Lichter is a well-known motorcycle magazine photographer who has been in the business for nearly 4 decades and has captured every mile of the rides, which have been held every other year since 2010. He says he wouldn't miss this unique tradition. "This is an amazing opportunity. You're talking about museum quality bikes, and over 100 of them. It's a rolling museum, going down the highway, stopping in little towns and cities along the way, people come out and meet you, it's all exciting. Where else can you get this?" Each ride goes along a different route, but it always goes east to west, and there's a reason behind this. "This way we let the weather go through quick. If you go west to east, you may be lingering in a storm for three days, so you hit hard and go through quick." The group stopped at the Indian Motorcycle Factory and Experience in Spirit Lake after leaving Mason City, and plans to take a break from the ride to spend a day in Sturgis on Monday. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) A federal agency has denied disaster assistance for residents and business owners of Marshall and Polk counties who endured tornadoes in July. Gov. Kim Reynolds' office announced Friday the Federal Emergency Management Agency had denied the governor's request for assistance through the Individual Assistance Program for losses from the July 19 tornadoes. In denying the governor's request, FEMA stated that the impact from the tornadoes wasn't severe enough to warrant the help. The program helps survivors with housing, property replacement, medical expenses and legal services. Reynolds has 30 days to file an appeal. In August, FEMA also denied Reynolds' request for assistance through the same program following severe storms from June 6 to July 2. The governor has submitted an appeal of that decision. WAUKON, Iowa An Allamakee County jury says John Michael Quanrude is guilty of 2nd degree murder. The 30-year-old Waukon man was arrested on April 16. Authorities say he shot his step-father, Dean Elliot Russell, in a mobile home in the Parkview Trailer Court in Waukon. Quanrude reportedly called 911 after the shooting and asked for help. Russells body was found lying inside the trailer with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to the hospital but pronounced dead when he arrived. Authorities say Quanrude and Russell were roommates. Quanrudes attorney had filed notice he was going to argue self-defense and diminished responsiblity at trial, which began Monday in Allamakee County. The jury did not agree, taking just one day to convict Quanrude after the trial ended on Wednesday. His sentencing is scheduled for October 1. ALBERT LEA, Minn. Charges are pending against a homeless man after a Friday night chase that hit speeds of 114 miles per hour. Brandon James Marquardt, 33, was booked into the Freeborn County Jail for possession of a stolen motor vehicle, fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, and driving under the influence. Albert Lea police were called to the 700 block of Main Street East a little before 8 pm Friday about a 2004 Buick LeSabre that had been stolen from a business. An officer located the vehicle a short distance away at McDonalds. Police spoke with the driver, who they say appeared to be intoxicated, and say there was an open container of alcohol on the passenger floor. Police say the driver, identified as Marquardt, refused to unlock the car, rolled up the windows, and drove across the grass to Clark Street. A chase began onto northbound Interstate 35 that reached speeds of 114 miles per hour. Freeborn County Sheriffs deputies joined the pursuit as it went into Steele County. A tire deflation device was deployed near the Ellendale exit by Steele County deputies and it spiked one of the LeSabres tires. The chase continued north, however, at speeds of 70 to 80 miles an hour until a Freeborn County deputy was able to force the LeSabre to spin out near mile marker 30. It went out of control and into the center median. Police say Marquardt then got out of the car and ran into a cornfield on the west side of the interstate. He was arrested shortly after that by an Albert Lea police officer. No one was injured in this incident. A Freeborn County squad car sustained slight damage. Evidence was located in the vehicle that police say may tie Marquardt to other crimes. The Minnesota State Patrol also assisted with this arrest. HAMPTON, Iowa A Franklin County woman accused of arson in pleading neither guilty nor not guilty. Dawn Renae Debell, 50 of Hampton, was charged with 1st degree arson. Police say she set fire to a Sheffield home on July 7. On Thursday, Debell entered a Alford plea to a lesser charge of 2nd degree arson. That means Debell will not admit guilty but concedes she could be found guilty at trial and will accept sentencing. 2nd degree arson is a class C felony in Iowa, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Debells sentencing is set for November 8 in Franklin County District Court. FOREST CITY, Iowa A man who broke into a womans home and attacked her is going to prison. Dustin James Olson, 36 of Buffalo Center, pleaded guilty to 3rd degree burglary and assault causing bodily injury. Authorities say he entered a home in Rake on July 12 through the garage door and tried to strangle a woman inside. The victim received bruises to her neck, wrist, and back. Olsons sentence is five years in prison, with credit for time already served, and a $315 fine. CLAREMONT, Minn. A September 7 crash in Dodge County has claimed a second life. The Minnesota State Patrol says Rachel Marie Harberts, 43 of Dodge Center, has died. She was injured in the collision that took the life of her 8 year-old daughter, Emerson, and seriously hurt her 12-year-old son, Jaxon. Rachel Harberts was taken to St. Marys Hospital for treatment after the crash but has now passed away. The State Patrol says Harberts car was stopped on Highway 14 and waiting to turn left onto County Road 3 when she was struck from behind by the Hummer driven by Tanner Ronald Kruckeberg, 24 of Dodge Center. Kruckeberg suffered non-life threatening injuries in the collision.